Secretary of the Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, Prof. Sani Malami; Chairman of the Taskforce and former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Minister of state for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako; Vice Chairman of the Taskforce, Dr. Bagudu; and Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu, as the minister presents the brochure of the Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination to the First Lady during a courtesy visit at the State House, Abuja, yesterday (SeestoryonPage8)
Continued on page 9
Nigeria’s Economic Team Set to Meet over Trump’s Tariffs
APC: Unlike Jonathan, Tinubu Won’t Allow Himself to Be Routed in 2027 over Insecurity Edun: There’s global uncertainty at
and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos
In a bid to navigate the turbulence and uncertainty in the global economy created by United States’ President, Donald Trump’s new tariffs on countries, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Economic Management Team (EMT) yesterday disclosed plan
to appraise the various scenarios in the ongoing trade war and advise the federal government on the way forward.
The EMT may advise the federal government to consider adjusting the 2025 budget.
The Minister of Finance and
Continued on page 9
DINNER TO COMMEMORATE OVIA’S ADMISSION TO THE FREEDOM
L-R: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Adaora
Founder/Chairman,
Bank
Jim
OF THE
President,
and Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY/ARISE
Obaigbena, during the admission of Mr. Ovia to the Freedom of the City of London in the United Kingdom, yesterday
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The African Export–Import Bank
CITY OF LONDON...
Umeoji;
Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote;
Zenith
Plc, Mr.
Ovia;
Media Group, Prince Nduka
L-R:
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Funmi Ogundare in Lagos, Fidelis David in Akure and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
The All Progressives Congress (APC), has said President Bola Tinubu would
The
General of
Presidency Targets $1bn Investment from Compressed Natural Gas Initiative in 2025
Says initiative attracted over $491m private investment in 12 months
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) is planning to attract $1 billion in investments into Nigeria’s alternative fuel sector by December, 2025.
The initiative’s Project Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, who made this known yesterday while speaking with newsmen at the State House, Abuja, expressed confidence that the ambitious investment target is achievable, citing recent progress in the sector.
He said: “We’ve set a goal of about $1 billion of investment for ourselves this year. I think we have made appreciable progress towards achieving that.
“If I just take the 100 additional NNPC investments in daughter stations, that’s close to $50 million, and the $27 million arrested, we’re already close to $100 million in the last one month alone.”
According to him, the continued growth in investment inflows could see the initiative surpass its target, saying, “so if I’m doing about $100 million a month, I think I will be close to $1.2 billion by the end of the year.
“So yes, I think I’m confident we’ll hit our $1 billion goal.”
Oluwagbemi also stated that the PCNGI had secured over $491
million in private sector investments within the last 12 months to boost the Automotive CNG sector.
The PCNGI, launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 1, 2023, is aimed at facilitating the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles (EVs) in Nigeria, as a response to the removal of fuel subsidies and the rising cost of transportation.
He also provided an update on the initiative’s infrastructure expansion, particularly in the areas of refueling and conversion capacity.
His words: “We have a goal of having 500 conversion centers set up this year. To have a total of 500 conversion centers at the end of the year means an additional 300 are supposed to be set up this year.”
He added that the expected increase in the conversion centers would significantly expand Nigeria’s capacity to transition vehicles from petrol to gas.
“That will increase our conversion capacity from about 65,000 a year currently, to about 250,000 to 300,000 a year at the end of this year. So it will also be a significant boost for conversions,” the CEO noted.
Oluwagbemi also revealed that PCNGI has attracted more than $491 million in private sector investments within the past 12 months.
Describing the milestone as the most important achievement of the
initiative to date, he stressed that it followed extensive stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns from May to November 2024.
“We have attracted over $491 million of investments in the past year to AutoNG and we are very proud of it. This has created over 9,000 direct and 75,000 indirect jobs,” he added.
According to him, the initiative was not only helping to reduce the cost of living but is also boosting job
creation, driving industrial investments, and promoting environmental sustainability.
He said Nigeria’s vehicle conversion capacity had increased dramatically—by almost 3,000 percent—thanks to private sector investments that established more than 200 new conversion centers, up from just seven at the start of the program.
“This has directly employed over 3,000 new technicians as a result of the Conversion Incentive Program,”
Oluwagbemi added.
“The Conversion Incentive Program (CIP), which was introduced in response to cost-ofliving protests in August 2024, is targeted at converting one million vehicles—primarily public and government-owned—either for free or at subsidised rates.
“So far about 22,000 conversion kits have been delivered, with 10,000 conversions expected to be completed by the end of the current quarter.
“We’ve also expanded the
program to allow deep discounts for public servants and will soon launch a financing initiative in collaboration with Credit Corp and public sector unions,” he revealed. Oluwagbemi also highlighted the procurement of 655 CNG and EV buses through the Federal Ministry of Finance. Of these, 421 CNG buses and 36 EV buses have been delivered, with 405 already deployed under various government and commercial transport schemes.
AfDB President Seeks Stronger Global Collaboration to Unlock Africa’s Economic Potential
Commends UBA’s role in deepening development finance on the continent
Nume Ekeghe
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has underscored the critical need for stronger collaboration between international financial centres and African markets as a means of unlocking the continent’s economic potential and driving sustainable development.
Adesina made the call during a courtesy visit to United Bank for Africa (UBA) UK Limited in London,
Afe Babalola Raises Alarm over Proliferation
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti Legal luminary, Afe Babalola (SAN) yesterday raised the alarm that the current trend of continuing mass approval of universities by the Nigerian authorities, without consideration for quality and infrastructure, will soon spell doom for the nation, if not stopped.
He gave the warning while speaking at the High Impact Research and Journal Advancement Workshop, organised by the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy.
Babalola recalled that during the era of Prof. Peter Okebukola, as the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), utmost excellence and national service was the determining factor.
of Substandard Varsities
Babalola said under his leadership, the NUC developed a reputation for careful, meticulous and painstaking approval processes for the establishment of universities.
“Not only was the visitation and accreditation process rigorous, it was also impossible for anyone to obtain approval to commence degree programmes, especially in Medicine, Engineering and Law, especially in the first few years of establishing a university.
“But what do we have today? Mass approval of mushroom and substandard universities, with some, lacking in even the basic learning facilities and infrastructure. As a result of this ‘anything goes syndrome’ approach to university licensing and accreditation, NUC’s ability to ensure quality control, and to stamp out substandard institutions, have been
seriously compromised.
“We currently have over 270 universities in Nigeria, and proposals for the approval of another 200 new institutions are currently under consideration by the National Assembly”, he said. According to him, the focus now seems to be on quantity, not quality, as the authorities continue licensing more universities without adequate plans for monitoring their standards.
“The end result is a rapid decline, and rot of our educational system, and in the quality of our graduates. What we need is quality education, because poor education is worse than illiteracy”.
According to Babalola, Nigeria can not seriously speak of advancing sustainable development, through high impact research, unless it first addresses the menace of proliferation of substandard universities.
recently where he engaged with senior executives of the pan-African financial institution on strengthening strategic partnerships and addressing long-standing misconceptions about investment risk in Africa.
In his remarks, the AfDB President challenged outdated narratives that continue to define the risk profile of African investments, citing research from Moody’s Analytics which places Africa’s investment default rate over the past 14 years at just 1.7 per cent markedly lower than Latin America’s 13 percent and Eastern Europe’s 10 percent.
Adesina said: “Our relationship with UBA represents one of many important partnerships the African Development Bank Group
maintains with financial institutions across Africa. Over the years, our engagement has evolved, reflecting our shared interest in supporting Africa’s economic landscape,” Adesina noted.
Welcoming AfDB’s delegation, in a statement, the Chief Executive Officer of UBA UK, Theresa Henshaw, provided an overview of her bank’s operations in the United Kingdom, stating, “Our core focus is to facilitate trade, investment and aid flows into Africa, leveraging our deep understanding of the African financial landscape.”
The meeting explored several other sectors of interest to the AfDB ‘s development agenda, including agriculture, energy, women’s financial
inclusion, and youth entrepreneurship. Adesina highlighted the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, which he designed and was officially launched by the French G7 Presidency in 2019. The program addresses the estimated $49 billion financing gap facing Africa’s women-led businesses. As of March 2025, the AfDB Group through AFAWA had approved $2.5 billion in financing, with more than $1.2 billion already distributed to women entrepreneurs through a network of 185 AFAWA partner financial institutions in 44 African countries. The initiative has benefited more than 24,000 African women through financing and capacity building programs.
EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General, Others for Alleged N8.3 Billion Fraud
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, and two others over allegations bordering on fraud. They were arraigned on a nine count charge on Monday, before Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The two other defendants included a bureau de change operator, Aliyu Abubakar, and a company, Jasfad Resources
Enterprise.
Others involved in the case, who are currently at large, include a former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, the incumbent Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, Saleh U. Mohammed and Balarabe Abdullahi.
They are being charged with bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds, and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N8,380,626,430.95
(Eight Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty Million, Six Hundred
and Twenty-six Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty Naira, Ninetyfive Kobo). They however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following their not guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand them in a Correctional Facility, while defence counsel, Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, representing the first and second defendants, and Chris Uche, SAN, representing the third defendant, moved applications for their bail.
Inspector
Police, Kayode Egbetokun (L), welcoming Vice President Kashim Shettima to Eagle Square during the National Police Day celebration held in Abuja, yesterday
PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI
STATE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING...
First Lady Donates N1bn to Support
Govt’s Fight against Cervical Cancer
Urges Nigerians to seek help on medical challenges
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday donated N1 billion in support of the federal government’s fight against cervical cancer.
She also called on Nigerians, especially women to speak up and seek appropriate help whenever they have medical challenges.
Speaking while playing host to a delegation of the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, at the State House, Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu pointed out that since no one chooses an ailment for themselves, there was no need to be ashamed to seek for help.
“I am in support of what you are doing. We are on track especially with the approach you have adopted, test, screen, vaccinate and treatment. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation”.
The First Lady noted the fight against cancer can be won if the patients present early and seek medical intervention.
She said: “The theme for World Health Day this year, Healthy Beginnings; Hopeful future, I believe is so apt for what we are doing here today. I believe you said most of my work is 70 per cent in health.
“A healthy nation is wealthy nation.
No matter what wealth you have as a nation, if your population or majority of your population is sick, you are just the poorest as far as I am concerned”.
On behalf of her pet project, The Renewed Hope Initiative the First Lady donated N1 billion to the National Cancer Fund to fight the scourge of Cervical Cancer in Nigeria.
Earlier in his remarks, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Salako, noted with appreciation the effect of the First Lady lending her voice to the introduction of the HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation program of the country.
He said this translated in the ministry being able to immunise 12 million girls between ages nine and 13 in the first nine months of its introduction.
Salako said the ministry hopes to immunise 6 million girls this year.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination and former Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole, stressed that Mrs. Tinubu demonstrated uncommon political will by supporting and flagging off the introduction of the HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation program of the country.
He said the eight-by-eight target (immunising eight million girls
every year) will be achieved thereby eliminating Cervical Cancer by 2030 if the First Lady lends her voice and also joins in the campaign which will be going through 12 states this year
and another 12 states next year.
On his part, the Country Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Walter Mulombo, appealed to the First Lady to lead the campaign
noting that every child and woman has a right to live. The visit of the Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination to Mrs. Tinubu also coincided with the
commemoration of the World Health Day, 2025 with the theme “Heathy Beginnings; Hopeful Future” during which she was presented with World Health Organization (WHO) souvenirs.
FG: No Saudi Entry Ban on Nigerian Travellers
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that there is no entry ban on Nigeria by the Saudi authorities, contrary to information that trended online throughout yesterday that the country had temporarily suspended 13 nations from entering the country.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to categorically refute the false claims circulating online, alleging that Nigeria has been included in a list of countries facing an entry ban into Saudi Arabia from April 13, 2025.
“The Saudi Arabian authorities have officially denied the validity of this viral memo, which falsely claims that several countries, includ-
1,147 School-based Management Committees Get FG’s
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
1,147 school-based management committees across the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory have received N2.035 billon from the federal government.
This comes with the launch of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) School-Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme and the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) activities.
Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the national flag-off of the UBE School based managementSchool improvement programme (SBMC-SIP), public presentation of the implementation guidelines and commencement of teacher professional development programmes.
Alausa identified six pillars to drive education sector renewal initiative to include increasing enrollment, reduc-
ing out-of-school children, enhancing technical and vocational education, advancing, girl-child education and strengthening quality assurance.
To implement these initiatives, the minister said the ministry plans to construct 7,200 new UBE facilities, provide 1,680,000 furniture pieces, renovate 195,000 classrooms, install 22,900 water boreholes and 28,000 toilets and provide perimeter fencing for 14,000 schools. He called on states and local governments to maximize federal government input and inject indigenous funds into the SBMC-SIP programme for greater impact.
He said: “While the Federal Ministry of Education intensifies its efforts in mobilizing resources to actualize the above ideals, it also recognizes the importance of improved partnerships and collaborations with all stakeholders in all aspects of education service delivery.
N2.035bn
“It therefore gladdens my heart to note the giant strides recorded by UBEC in the implementation of the UBE School Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme.
“The Teacher Professional Development programme aligns with the Ministry’s vision of improving learning outcomes through the strengthening of teacher quality in the sector to meet global standards”.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, said despite a 7 percent increase in enrollment between 2016 and 2021, around 17 million children, mostly from rural and low-income communities, are still out of school.
She said the government is launching an initiative to disburse N2.035 billion to 1,147 school-based management committees across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
ing Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and others, would be subject to visa restrictions and an entry ban.
“The Saudi Tourism Centre has confirmed that no such directive exists, and that the only official travel guidelines currently in place pertain to the Hajj pilgrimage.
“For clarity, the only restriction applies to tourist visa holders during the Hajj season. Individuals holding a tourist visa are not permitted to perform Hajj, enter, or stay in Makkah between April 29 and June 11, 2025 (corresponding to 01 Thul Quda to 14 Thul Hijjah 1446 AH). The Hajj visa remains the sole authorised entry permit for pilgrims during this period.”
The ministry urged the public to disregard the ‘misleading’ document and to always verify travel information from official sources before taking action.
“Spreading unverified information can cause unnecessary confusion and disrupt travel plans. For accurate and up-to-date information, travelers are advised to consult official Saudi government sources, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or accredited diplomatic channels,” it stated.
Earlier, there were reports that Nigerians and citizens of 13 other countries had been temporarily suspended by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from applying for certain categories of visas as preparation for this year’s hajj pilgrimage to the holy lands of Mecca and Medina begins.
The 13 other countries allegedly listed were: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, Tunisia, Iraq, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, Jordan and Indonesia.
According to Saudi authorities,
the suspension aimed to prevent unregistered individuals from attempting the pilgrimage without official permits, which poses safety and logistical challenges. The statement revealed that while Umrah visa holders will still be allowed entry until April 13, the broader visa suspension was expected to remain in place until mid-June, when Hajj concludes. Under Saudi Arabia’s quota system, each country is allocated a limited number of Hajj permits, typically distributed via a lottery. However, due to the high cost of official packages, many resort to unauthorised travel arrangements. Such unregistered pilgrims often lack access to essential amenities such as air-conditioned tents, healthcare services, and emergency medical care—making the physically demanding journey even riskier.
FG to Establish Global Cultural Hub in Katsina
Signs MoU with Katsina govt on ‘Renewed Hope Cultural Project’
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Katsina State on the ‘Renewed Hope Cultural Project’ to enhance cultural and economic expansion in the state.
The MoU between the partners will lead to the establishment of a global cultural hub in the state to preserve the state’s cultural heritage, promote tourism and drive economic growth.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, while signing the MoU Monday, said the cultural hub would be a global centre for innovations, training and capacity building for young Nigerians within and outside the state.
She explained that the project
would enable government to unlock Katsina’s transformative power of arts, culture, tourism, and creative industries for sustainable development and social cohesion.
Musawa added the project would also restore and conserve Katsina’s historic sites, monuments, palaces, artifacts and boost cultural education and capacity building in local crafts.
She said the cultural hub was part of the federal government’s ‘Renewed Hope Cultural Project’, aimed at preserving the nation’s cultural heritage, promoting domestic tourism and driving economic growth.
She reiterated that the Renewed Hope Cultural Project would change the narratives about the nation’s culture and creativity to ensure growth and sustainability of the country.
She said: “One of the great things that we are going to earn in this
wonderful project that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has envisaged is how we can build on domestic tourism.
“The MoU will lead to cultural expansion that is going to have an indelible impact on the economic expansion so thay the young people who are idle will add value to themselves, society and the country.”
Earlier, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, represented by the Commissioner for Rural and Social Development, Prof. Abdulhamid Ahmed, promised to support the federal government’s readiness to revive the nation’s culture.
He noted the state government would implement and sustain the agreements contained in the Memorandum of Understanding to preserve and promote the state’s cultural heritage and economic expansion.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga; Programme Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi; Coordinator, Regulatory Compliance and Facilitation, Engr. Zayyanu Tambari Yabo; and Sovereign & Subnational Coordinator, Engr. Tari Mayor-Bright, during the ‘Meet the Press’ programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI.
FG: Targeting 16M for Social Protection is a Milestone
Says
Nigeria
has
71 million citizens on its social register, 9.6 million under school feeding programme As World Bank says 2 billion
Dike Onwuamaeze
The federal government says it has achieved a milestone record by targeting 16 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians with social protection services based on a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that about 90 million Nigerians are poor.
The declaration was made yesterday by Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, when he featured as one of the panellists during the World Bank launch of its “State of Social Protection Report 2025: The 2-Billion-Person Challenge.”
The World Bank’s report stated that two billion people out of the 6.3 billion people in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Middle Income Countries (MICs), were either missed or inadequately covered by social
people in low, middle income countries missed or inadequately covered by social protection
protection systems.
But sharing Nigeria’s experience in providing social protection services to its vulnerable citizens, Yilwatda said, “We work with set of statistics from the NBS that showed that 42 per cent of Nigerians are poor, which covers roughly about 90 million Nigerians.
“And we are targeting 16 million out of this 90 million, which is a milestone for us as a country.”
He added, “Based on statistics, too, we have more rural poor than urban poor. And 68 per cent of the people we are reaching, out of this 90 million people, are from the rural poor and the rest 32 per cent are from the urban poor.”
He also identified social register as the bedrock of Nigeria’s social protection delivery.
The minister said, “We started social protection system in 2015 and was supported by the World
Bank in its implementation.
“Then, we had zero social register in 2015. But we have 71 million individuals today on the social register.
“But that is not just the impacts we have made. We have been able to make the giant stride in building the highest social and financial inclusion in the country.
“Today all of them now have bank accounts or an e-wallet for those who are in distant communities. This has helped to expand fintechs’ penetration in Nigeria because it has deepened access to financial services by these people.
“That has actually in itself built a new set of young people and young talents in fintech who are deepening technology and deepening income among the rural poor people.
“That is what we have done on the social register within the last one decade.”
Yilwatda added, “Social register has formed the bedrock for every other service that we are also working on starting with the conditional cash transfer that we have in Nigeria.
“Just over nine years, we were able to reach out to only two million households covering less than 10 million individuals. Today we are reaching out to 15 million households. This is growing from two million to 15 million households that cover about 60 million people.”
Yilwatda also disclosed that 65 per cent of household leaders covered by Nigeria’s social protection service were women because they had more chances to be poor.
He stated, “Most of the care givers are also women and that have deepened financial inclusion for the womenfolk. That has also improved their access to financial services and has impacted especially
NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC TEAM SET TO MEET OVER TRUMP’S TARIFFS
Coordinating Minister, Mr. Wale Edun, disclosed this in Abuja, while reacting to the global trade war, adding that the federal government would appraise the various scenarios and options and advise the government accordingly.
This was as the naira in line with global trend since the announcement of additional tariffs by Trump, depreciated further yesterday, closing at N1,629 per dollar at the official Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), a 1.81 per cent decline compared to N1,600/$1 on Friday, despite sustained interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
On the parallel forex market segment, the naira also weakened
to N1,565/$1, down from N1,550/$1. This represented a N15 depreciation in one day as demand pressure persisted across both the formal and informal markets.
Data from the NAFEM window showed that the naira traded between N1,590 and N1,655 per dollar on April 7, with a weighted average rate of N1,612.23/$1.
The fresh slide in the exchange rate came despite the CBN’s intervention of $197.71 million last Friday in a bid to calm volatility and ensure market liquidity.
But even though major stock markets tumbled yesterday owing to concerns over Trump’s global trade war, the US President insisted that he
won’t pause the tariffs and threatened China with an extra 50 percent levy while suggesting he was open to negotiations with other countries
The Trump’s administration recently imposed various tariffs ranging between 10 per cent and 65 per cent on different countries across the world, including Nigeria which got a 14 per cent tariff on its exports to the United States.
However, fielding questions from journalists on the sidelines of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Corporate Governance Forum, Edun noted that the US, which is at the centre of the tariff war, had on April 2, announced that it would exempt mineral exports, including oil.
“Therefore, it’s the price effect, the oil price effect that may affect Nigeria. And it is the job and responsibility of the economic management team of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amongst others, to look at the various scenarios that might play out.
“There’s global uncertainty at a huge level, so nobody knows exactly what will happen- the announcement that has been made. We’re not sure what will be delayed, what will be reversed, or what will be implemented.
“So, it is not an announcement that the budget is being reviewed. It’s an announcement that it is our responsibility to look at the various scenarios and options and advise government accordingly.”
APC: UNLIKE JONATHAN, TINUBU WON’T ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE ROUTED IN 2027 OVER INSECURITY
not allow himself to be defeated in the 2027 elections, unlike former president Goodluck Jonathan, who was defeated in 2015 as a result of intractable insecurity in the country.
The ruling party, which reacted following a spike in insecurity across the country, noted that if insecurity was what led to the defeat of Jonathan, then APC would not “blindfold itself and allow itself to defeat itself.”
But, Afenifere, yesterday, called on the federal government to collaborate with governors and urgently come up with strategies to confront the security challenges bedeviling the country.
This was as senators from the 19 northern states of Nigeria have condemned the rising insecurity in Plateau and Benue States, and vowed to resist any attempt to make it the new normal.
Curiously, a former minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has branded the killings in Plateau State communities as acts of terrorism, and not some farmer-herder conflict.
Nevertheless, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluyemi Oluyede, yesterday, visited the attacked communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, where he assured the people that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be arrested and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
At the same time, a security expert and former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor has blamed persistent attacks in Plateau communities and other areas across the federation on a combination of intelligence failure, inadequate manpower, limited deployment of modern defence and security technology, and several other factors.
Yet, the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has assured the people of the state that peace would ultimately return to Plateau with time and dedication.
However, APC Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Ibrahim, spoke to THISDAY on the speculations that the increase in insecurity in the country was politically motivated as part of the plots to ensure the defeat of Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Prior to the 2015 general election, insecurity in the country had continued unabated, which later led to the defeat of the Jonathan administration.
With the recent series of killings, kidnappings and all sorts of insecurity in the country, there have been speculations that the same script that was used for Jonathan was already being used for Tinubu.
But Bala, who differed, stated: “If indeed this is the observation or the thinking of the naysayers, the government cannot just fold its arms and allow itself to be caught napping.
“It is good that people are linking history to the political situation of the country. If that was what was responsible for the downfall of Jonathan, I can tell you, Jonathan was defeated by the APC, and the APC cannot blindfold itself and allow itself to defeat itself.
“So, President Bola Tinubu by your submission or by the submission of the naysayers is already aware of the problem that will take him to lose and he will not allow it.
“And that is why he has a capable hand in terms of National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, one who, as I talk to you now, is criss-crossing these hotspots with a view to reinvigorating the system, that is, fighting this insurgency and boosting the morale of those who are carrying out the fight.”
Bala recalled that recently, the President directed the Minister of state for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to the epicenter of banditry, which is the North-West, which resulted in victory for the military.
“In a nutshell, the president will not allow himself to be defeated by himself. He’s taking measures to ensure that results are obtained for whatever strategy that was put in place to fight this insecurity and he’s assuring Nigerians that the safety of Nigeria is on the front banner of this programme.
“And this insecurity is increasingly invigorated in a way and manner that is making movement in the areas that were hitherto impenetrable, so much so that people can now ply the roads from Abuja to Sokoto. They can ply the roads from Abuja to Maiduguri, and they can move about in areas that were no good areas before.
“Yes, there are spots where the heat is still on, but it’s only a sign that Uhuru is very close by. When you’re about to get to waterloo, you will see that the intensity of it becomes higher, and there are chances for more
casualty to be found. Definitely it is not to say the war is about to be lost. We are actually going for victory,” he said.
The ruling party, however, blamed the increase in insecurity on the frosty relationship between Nigeria and francophone neighbouring countries.
According to him, “Nigeria cannot operate in isolation and when you look at the relationship between Nigeria and its francophone neighbouring countries, you will see that of recent, ever since the change of government in Niger, there has been a kind of sour relationship that is threatening the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF).
“Nigeria is literally left alone to fight this war without the collaborative effort of its neighbours. If the President of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, has not been doing enough, probably they would have overrun Nigeria by now.
“But thanks to the initiative of the National Security Advisor (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who has been strategising and re-strategising. You
analysts.
A lack of storage infrastructure and older refineries with relatively small output capacity characterise the energy landscape of sub-Saharan Africa.
“The time has come for Africa to take control of its energy destiny,”
Executive Vice President, Kanayo Awani, at Afreximbank told an energy conference in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday.
Awani said the $3 billion revolving intra-African oil importing financing initiative will be used for products including premium motor spirit, automotive gas oil, heavy fuel oil, jet fuel, and kerosene, among others.
Afreximbank, which has invested in the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote refinery in Nigeria, and the Lobito and Cabinda refineries in Angola, has traditionally helped finance imports of refined products from outside the continent.
THISDAY recalls that Afreximbank is also playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB), a new financial institution with an initial capitalisation of $5 billion, aimed at addressing funding challenges in Africa’s energy sector, particularly
the rural women.”
He said Nigeria was also using social protection delivery, like the school feeding programme, to address the challenge posed by out-of-school children.
The minister said the school feeding programme had grown from covering just about five million pupils three years ago to about 9.6 million currently, and was presently targeting 11 million children in public primary schools supported by the federal government, while the remaining numbers were being supported by the state governments.
He added that the government was also leveraging on digital infrastructure to provide digital identity to the beneficiaries of its social protection programme for easy tracing and transparency.
Yilwatda stated, “We are also geo-tanking the homes of these
Earlier in his address at the event themed, “Ensuring Value Creation in State Owned Enterprises Through Better Corporate Governance,” Edun highlighted plans to look at budget adjustment, expenditure prioritisation as well as innovative non-debt financing strategies. According to him, Nigeria had recorded trade surplus in the last three years (2022-2024) with the US.
“Nigeria-US Trade has been in surplus in the last 3 years (2022-2024).
Nigeria’s exports to the US was N1.8 trillion, N2.6 trillion and N5.5 trillion in 2022-2024 respectively.
“Fortunately, oil and mineral exports accounted for 92 per cent. Implying oil and minerals exports amounted to N5.08 trillion in value while non-oil was just N0.44 trillion
see there is a decline in the ferocity of attacks.
“When last did you hear these bandits or kidnappers or insurgents coming to attack with such spectacular manners as they used to do. Even in areas like Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto, you found that the degree of attacks have reduced. Which is to say that these people who are attacking are increasing in being put under heat.
“And I assure you, the situation is going to continue improving with the initiatives of the government of the day.”
Afenifere to FG: Collaborate with Govs
Afenifere has called on the federal government to collaborate with governors and urgently come up with strategies to confront the security challenges bedeviling Nigeria.
The group made the call yesterday
Continued on page 29
in oil and gas projects.
The bank is partnering with the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), a group of 18 oil-exporting African nations, to bring the initiative to fruition, co-investing in the AEB and taking a lead role in advising on its management and implementation processes.
In all, Africa spends an estimated $30 billion in annual petroleum import costs due to inadequate refining capacity, Awani said. In Nigeria, for example, increased investments have helped create 1.3 million bpd of refining capacity, helping make the Gulf of Guinea a key refining hub for the continent.
“Our goal is to support 3 million barrels per day of refining capacity in the near to medium term, that is our ambition,” Awani told Reuters.
A joint report last year by energy consultancy CITAC and Puma Energy found that the demand for cleaner fuels was set to rise by 56 per cent from 2022 levels to reach 142 million metric tons by 2040.
Meanwhile, oil prices dropped to a near four-year low yesterday on worries U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest round of trade tariffs could push economies around the
“Consequently, the tariff effect on exports is negligible if we sustain our oil and minerals exports volume.
“The adverse effect on Nigeria will be through oil price plunge. We are intensifying efforts to ramp up crude oil production to curtail any price effect
“We are also focusing on non-oil revenue mobilisation by FIRS and Customs, budget adjustment and prioritisation where possible, and also and innovative non-debt financing strategies,” the minister said.
On MOFI’s focus on good corporate governance, the minister noted that at a time when nations across the globe were contending with economic uncertainties, financial vulnerabilities, and the demand for structural reform, the discourse on corporate governance assumes an even greater relevance.
“The interplay between economic performance and corporate governance is neither incidental nor superficial. Instead, it constitutes the bedrock for establishing sustainable development, investors’ confidence, and institutional
world into recession and reduce global demand for energy.
The session was marked by extreme volatility with prices in intraday trade down more than $3 a barrel overnight and up over $1 Monday morning following reports of what the White House called “fake news” that Trump was considering a 90-day pause on tariffs for all countries, except China.
Brent futures were down 79 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to $64.80 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 75 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to $61.24. That put both benchmarks on track for their lowest closes since April 2021, a Reuters report said.
Trump’s sweeping tariff plans battered global markets after he said foreign governments would have to pay “a lot of money” to get the levies removed.
Also, Goldman Sachs has forecast a 45 per cent chance of recession in the U.S. over the next 12 months and made downward revisions to its oil price projections. In the same vein, Citi and Morgan Stanley also cut their Brent outlooks. JPMorgan said last week that it sees a 60 per cent probability of recession in the
integrity.
“In this context, it is imperative that we not only discuss the state of our economy but also underscore the transformative role that sound corporate governance can play in fostering resilience, efficiency, and long-term value creation,” he said According to him, notably, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) form a critical component of the national economic framework as they wield considerable influence across key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, and financial services.
“However, their potential to drive economic expansion, job creation, and industrial growth has often been constrained by inefficiencies, poor financial stewardship, and, in some instances, governance deficiencies,” he said.
The Managing Director, MOFI, Dr. Armstrong Takang, said the aim of the corporate governance scorecard, which was launched at the event, was to offer a structured mechanism to evaluate how organisations align with both local regulatory requirements and international best practices. He stated that the goal was also to ensure that enterprises operate optimally, adding:
“We need them to be efficient, we need them to grow, and we need them to contribute substantially.”
Corporate governance, he stressed was an innovation that allows organisations to be aware of what they should be doing, how they should be doing it, and how they need to be transparent, frugal, and accountable.
Responding to questions, Takang said MOFI was currently undergo-
Continued on page 28
U.S. and globally.
Citi cut its Brent Crude forecast to $60 per barrel for the next three months on the back of last week’s tariff announcement by Trump. Responding to Trump’s tariffs, China said that it would impose additional levies of 34 per cent on American goods, confirming investor fears that a full-blown global trade war has begun. Imports of oil, gas and refined products were given exemptions from Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, but the policies could stoke inflation, slow economic growth and intensify trade disputes, weighing on oil prices. Adding to the downward momentum, the OPEC+ group comprising the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies decided to advance plans for output increases. The group now aims to return 411,000 barrels per day to the market in May, up from the previously planned 135,000 bpd. At the weekend, OPEC+ ministers emphasised the need for full compliance with oil output targets and called for over-producers to submit plans by April 15 to compensate for pumping too much.
19 million households and that in itself will help us to respond quicker, improve our transparency and build confidence among the people in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police declared a 38-yearold Lagos-based businesswoman, Oyedele Oyebola Adewunmi, wanted over alleged money laundering and fraud to the tune of $268,625.00. The declaration was contained in a Special Police Gazette Bulletin issued
through the Office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Interpol, and the Head of the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja.
A Magistrate’s Court in Lagos issued a warrant for Adewunmi’s arrest for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, misappropriation, cheating, money laundering, and misleading investors by convincing them to invest in a fraudulent scheme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
the name Crenos Consulting Nig. Ltd. at FCMB, which was reportedly set up to conceal the illicit funds.
The fraudulent activities involved the transfer of over $268,625.00 USD (Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Five Dollars) into a bank account under
The police urged anyone with information regarding Adewunmi’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or reach out to the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, or contact 08065175354.
The notice read, “The abovenamed person is hereby declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force Office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Interpol, Head, National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, The Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja.
World Health Organisation (WHO) said the African region had made some limited progress in lowering maternal mortality since 2000.
WHO, however, said the continent needed a 12-fold increase in the annual reduction rate to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030.
The statistics came from new estimates by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Interagency Group.
In a statement, the acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said despite a 40 per cent decline in maternal mortality, from 727 to 442 deaths per 100 000 live births between 2000 and 2023, the region still accounted for 70 per cent of global maternal deaths.
The report said each year, an estimated 178 000 mothers and 1 million newborns die in the Africa region – many from preventable causes.
Ihekweazu said, “At the current
annual reduction rate of 2.2 per cent between 2000 and 2023, the region is projected to have nearly 350 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, five times higher than the SDG target of fewer than 70 deaths.
“Likewise, although stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates have declined by 30 percent and 33 percent respectively between 2000 and 2023, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for 47 percent of stillbirths and 46% of global new-born deaths.”
Ihekweazu said the region was projected to record neonatal mortality rate of twice the SDG target of at least as low as 12 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030.
He said this year’s World Health Day, marked under the theme, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, called on governments, donors and communities to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and prioritise the longer-term health and well-being of women and children.
Ihekweazu stated, “In too many places, pregnancy and childbirth are still life-threatening events.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Every dollar invested in maternal and newborn health delivers major returns: healthier families, stronger societies and sustainable economic growth.”
The WHO scribe listed key barriers to progress to include inadequate financing, weak governance, health workforce shortages, and recurring shocks, such as disease outbreaks and conflicts, all of which disrupted maternal and child health services.
He said in fragile and crisis-affected settings, women and children were particularly at risk.
Ihekweazu also listed leading causes of maternal deaths in the region to include haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections, unsafe abortion and obstructed labour, conditions that were largely preventable or treatable with access to timely, quality care.
Among newborns, preterm births, complications during childbirth, sepsis and neonatal infections, as well as congenital anomalies were the common causes of deaths, WHO stated.
WHO said it was supporting
Cultural Diplomacy Key to Africa’s Sustainable Peace, Memunatu Pratt tells Pan African Leaders
Onuminya Innocent
Dr. Memunatu Pratt, former Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone, has called for a renewed focus on cultural diplomacy as a catalyst for sustainable peace in Africa.
Pratt made the call in a keynote address at the 14th Pan African Leadership Symposium and Awards (PALESH) 2025 held in Lagos.
The symposium which brought together African leaders and stakeholders, focused on the theme - “The Role of Good Governance and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms for Consolidating Peaceful Co-existence in Africa.”
Pratt’s presentation - “Cultural
Diplomacy: A Conceptual Approach Towards Sustainable Peace,”highlighted the importance of cultural exchanges through tourism, arts, education, and inter-cultural dialogue in fostering peace and cooperation. According to Pratt, sustainable peace requires not only the absence of war but also the presence of justice, equity, wellbeing, and shared values.
She cited global examples like the Fulbright Program, Alliance Française, and the British Council, demonstrating how cultural diplomacy has been an effective tool for fostering international relations and harmony.
Pratt’s advocacy for cultural diplomacy as a key to sustainable
peace in Africa is a significant step towards promoting unity, stability, and development across the continent.
Her speech was met with admiration and earned her the prestigious Commander of Peace Award, recognizing her contributions to peace building and cultural advocacy.
The PALESH 2025 symposium provided a platform for African leaders to share ideas and experiences on promoting peace, stability, and development on the continent.
Pratt’s presentation was widely praised for its insightful analysis and thought-provoking recommendations on the role of cultural diplomacy in African peace building efforts.
countries across the region in implementing a wide range of interventions. These included developing and rolling out maternal and newborn health acceleration plans and implementing antenatal and postnatal care guidelines, it said.
The specialised agency of the United Nations said other priorities included increasing access to skilled health personnel at birth and emergency obstetric care, expanding special care for small and sick newborns, and tackling the social and economic drivers of health inequities.
It said more than 60 per cent of countries in the African region now reported that over 80 per cent of births were attended by skilled health personnel, a significant improvement from just 28 per cent in 2010.
However, WHO stated that progress varied across the region, with rural and crisis-affected areas continuing to face acute service shortage gaps.
World Health Day 2025 marks the launch of a year-long campaign to drive investment and momentum in maternal and newborn health.
“A warrant of arrest has been issued by the Magistrate Court of Lagos.
“She is wanted by the Police for the offence of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, misappropriation, cheating & money laundering into Bank Account No: 4741882010, Account Name: Crenos Consulting Nig. Ltd. FCMB on the pretext of Investment in the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) to the tune of $US 268,625.00 (Two hundred and sixty- eight thousand, six hundred & twenty-five Dollars).”
The police added regarding Adewunmi, “She is a businesswoman, Yoruba by tribe, Aged 38 years, 1.6ft height, Thin Build, Square Face, Round Nose, Large Mouth, Thick Lips, Good set of Teeth, White Eyes, Copper in Complexion, Point A Chin, Thick Hair, Small Head, Low Forehead. Always dress in English /Native Wears.
“Last Known address: A904,9th Floor, Post Square Tower, Plot 1039, Ademola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.”
We Didn’t Sack Consultant Physicians, Says National Hospital
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The management of the National Hospital, Abuja, has denied allegations that it unilaterally relieved some medical consultants of their jobs.
A report had alleged that three experienced medical consultants were sacked effective from 31st March 2025 following a directive by the Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Raji Mahmud.
The aggrieved stakeholders said no tangible reason was given for the decision which they alleged was single-handedly taken by the CMD.
But the National Hospital management yesterday denied the allegation, saying no such thing happened.
It explained that what happened was that some medical consultants that have completed their residency training in the National Hospital and have been engaged on temporary arrangement popularly called Locum were laid off.
A statement signed by Mr. Maijamaa Adamu of the Information and Protocol Management Department at the National Hospital Abuja, said that those affected were engaged purely on an adhoc arrangement by the National Hospital, with a time frame of six months, renewable if
conditions warrant.
The hospital said that only three consultants were affected by the decision.
“We wish to state in categorical terms that, the National Hospital does not even contemplate laying off any category of its staff, talk less of doctors/consultants whose services are of great value to the hospital and the nation in general.
“In fact, our recent joy stems from approval granted by the federal government to recruit certain numbers of doctors and nurses, and the recruitment exercise is being meticulously carried out by a panel of inter-agency representatives including supervisory ministries, in line with recruitment procedures of the federal government.
“Perhaps, the bone of contention is consultants that have completed their residency training in the National Hospital and have been engaged on temporary arrangement popularly called Locum.
“This is purely an adhoc arrangement of the National Hospital, with a time frame of six months, renewable if conditions warrant, and does not in any way amount to employment, which the hospital management does not have such mandate”.
Explaining further, Adamu said: “when employment opportunities arise, considerations are given to those consultants as was the case when in late 2023 permission was granted to the hospital for eightythree slots of employment, ten of which were for consultants.
“In the magnanimity of the hospital management, all the ten slots were taken by the existing Locum Consultants in a bid to address the problem”.
Adamu further said: “For the avoidance of doubts, the official position is that, on completion of residency training such consultants are free to take their exit and seek for employment elsewhere in the absence of vacancy to absorb them in the National Hospital.
“Management in such circumstances gives six months exit notice to them as obtainable in other tertiary hospitals.
“Opting to retain them on the locum arrangement, is an extra magnanimous policy of the management that is mutually beneficial to both parties, and is absolutely subject to favourable operational conditions of the moment, as there is no formal commitment for absorption since that is beyond the powers of the hospital management”.
L-R: Hon. Tijjani Hamisu; Rev. Dr. Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Governor of Benue State; Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, convener, Arewa Think Tank; and Hon. Adamu Sani, during a courtesy call on the Governor in Makurdi…recently
Alex Enumah in Abuja
08033025611
Will Apex Court’s Judgement Resolve LP’s Leadership Crisis?
Chuks Okocha wonders if last Friday’s judgement by the Supreme Court can really resolve the real issues being misinterpreted by the two factions of the Labour Party laying claims to the national leadership of the party.
Like in the case of the People’s Democratic Party’s leadership struggle between the embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye, the Supreme Court last Friday left Nigerians confused in its judgement over the leadership crisis in Labour party.
In the PDP judgement, the apex court had ruled that the party should use its internal mechanism to resolve the leadership struggle between Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye. It ruled that the judgement “of the lower courts that heard the suit were not meritorious and subsequently dismissed the case”.
This has left members of the PDP more confused as Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye are still not clear on the actual position of the Supreme Court on who the PDP’s authentic national secretary is. Both Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye are still laying claim to the exalted position of National Secretary.
The same scenario played itself out last Friday when the Supreme Court urged the Labour party to use its internal mechanism to resolve the leadership crisis in the party.
The Supreme Court had reversed the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which recognised Abure as the National Chairman of the LP.
The apex court predicated its action on the grounds that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party after holding that the substance of the case borders on the party’s leadership.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, had on January 17, 2025 recognised Abure as the National Chairman of the LP.
Justice Hamma Barka, who delivered the lead judgement had said that their decision was based on their earlier judgement of November 13, 2024, which recognised Abure as national chairman, adding that the judgement subsists and has not been set aside by any court.
Dissatisfied, Nenadi Usman, who heads a committee set up by the LP to run the affairs of the party in the interim, alongside the caretaker committee, had approached the apex court to challenge the decision of the appellate court
recognising Abure as national chairman of the party.
Delivering judgement in the appeal marked: SC/CV/56/2025, Justice John Inyang Okoro, who prepared the lead judgement as delivered by Mohammed Baba Idris, held that the issue bordering on leadership of a political party remains an internal affair of that party, which no court has jurisdiction to entertain.
According to the judgement, the appellate court found that the main relief in the suit filed by the LP before the Federal High Court, Abuja, was predicated on the leadership of the party and therefore not justiciable.
Justice Idris explained that having found that the issue of leadership was not justiciable, the court below ought not to have gone further to pronounce Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
“In summary, both the trial court and the lower court have no jurisdiction to have entertained the suit by the first respondent (LP).
“Flowing from above, the decisions of the trial court and the court below, recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the first respondent are hereby set aside,” the apex court held.
Besides, the apex court urged political parties and their members to always endeavour to allow their constitutions and rules guide them in choosing their leaders as well as their candidates.
The court noted that by doing so the
incessant wrangling and recourse to court will be reduced, adding that officers of the parties, whose tenure of office has expired should not hesitate to vacate office.
After agreeing with the appellants that the lower court erred in law by acknowledging Abure’s leadership, the apex court subsequently allowed the appeal and quashed the Court of Appeal judgement.
The apex court also went ahead to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP for being incompetent and lacking in merit.
Recall that Justice Barka had while delivering judgement in two separate appeals filed by Senator Usman and the caretaker committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), held that it did not delve into the issue of the leadership of the Labour Party, because such issues are not justiciable.
It was the position of the appellate court that anything done outside jurisdiction amounts to a nullity, “Hence the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on October 8, 2024 by Justice Emeka Nwite is of no effect because it was delivered without jurisdiction.
“We cannot say this appeal fails or succeed because the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place,” Barka held.
While striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction, Justice Barka held that the appellate court relied on its previous judgement of November 13, 2024 to hold that “Abure remains National Chairman of the Labour Party”.
Flowing from the judgement, both Senator Nenadi Usman and Mr Julius Abure, are laying claims to victory as national chairman of the Labour Party.
The party will hasten to implement necessary mechanisms to restore internal peace and get the party back on track, to reassure its teeming members of the party’s viability for future elections and its commitment to leadership that prioritises the interests and welfare of the people.
In her reaction to the judgement, Nenadi Usman in a statement said: ”The recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman—declaring it meritorious—while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as unmeritorious, is a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.
”It is important to emphasise that this is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor and no vanquished. What matters most is our shared commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the Labour Party and the Nigerian people. We must now come together, united in purpose and vision, to move the party forward.
”The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and peoplecentred governance.
”We call on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to the democratic ideals that bind us. A New Nigeria is Possible!”
Still in the confused state on the actual position of the Supreme Court judgement, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour party, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement said, “The Supreme Court today, April 4, 2025 gave a judgement in the cases brought against the Labour Party. In its judgement, the court said the matter is purely an internal affairs of the political party of which courts have no business to dabble into them.
”The Supreme Court insists that the lower courts should have declined jurisdiction and shouldn’t have made pronouncement on the leadership of a political party. It therefore struck out Senator Nenadi Usman’s appeal at the Appeal Court and the Labour Party suit at the trial court.
”The Supreme Court judgement didn’t sack Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure rather it rightly upheld the preceding and accumulated High Courts and Appeal Court judgments upholding the immutability of responsibility of Labour Party structures to choose its leaders.
Abure
Usman
Good and inclusive governance in Kaduna is paying off, reckons NATHAN ADJOGRI-KUSU
A VOTE FOR UBA SANI
When the Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared on March 10, 2025, that it will not lose sleep over the defection of former state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), many people wondered why the party felt so unperturbed and where the confidence came from.
El-Rufai announced his exit from the APC, a party he joined others to form on an X post after playing ‘hide and seek’ for almost two months . Curiously, rather than stir up apprehension in many quarters as to what would the fate of the party in Kaduna State, his exit elicited jubilation and an unusual sense of freedom amongst party chieftains and stalwarts. For eight years, El-Rufai ruled the North Western state, which some have argued he did with iron fist. His sojourn in the Sir Ibrahim Kashim House, left a sour taste in the mouth many people in the state, particularly, those in the geographical region called Southern Kaduna.
The former governor had cited what he called a growing misalignment between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his decision to quit the party.
However, reacting to the defection, the Kaduna State Secretary of the APC, Yahaya Baba-Pate, said the party remained unperturbed by the defection of the former governor. He dismissed it in a manner that suggest there were better issues to discuss than dwell on an irrelevant development.
According to Baba-Pate, the party was focused on delivering the state to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027. Baba-Pate expressed confidence in the party’s growing strength in the state, citing the influx of high-profile politicians joining the party daily in the state. He assured that the party’s fortunes would not be affected by El-Rufai’s departure.
In his words: “We are unperturbed by former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to another party. Our main focus in Kaduna is on how to deliver the state to both President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.” That theme has continued to ring true and louder on a daily basis in Kaduna State such that one can say that ahead of the 2027 general elections, the state is on a lock down for President Tinubu and the APC by Governor Sani, who would be seeking a second term in office, anyway.
The party scribe added that “The APC in Kaduna State is growing day by day, judging from the calibre of politicians streaming into the party. So, we are not disturbed by anybody defecting to another party based on our governor’s inclusive governance in the state.
“We are not disturbed and we are not going to lose our sleep over El-Rufai’s moves. The party in the state is growing more than before.”
The same sentiment was expressed by Senator Shehu Sani in an even more forceful manner when he declared that El-Rufai was indeed a liability to the party. Shehu Sani, who is also from Kaduna like El-Rufai, believes the former Minister of the FCT holds no political relevance anymore.
“Well, first of all, for those of us from Kaduna State, his defection is a good riddance because he stands as a liability to the party in the state,” the former Kaduna Central senator said on national television.
“I can back this with facts. In 2015, APC had two senators. By 2023, all the senatorial zones were taken over by PDP. Out of the 14 House of Representatives seats in Kaduna State, by the time he left office as governor, almost nine of the seats were won by PDP, two by the Labour Party, and then three by APC. With him as a governor, the APC also lost the presidential election in Kaduna State,” he argued.
Interestingly, Sani also recently returned to the APC. He accused El-Rufai of destabilizing the party and believes his defection offered an opportunity for the APC to rebuild and come out stronger.
“So, you can see that by the time he left, already
the party was an unpopular platform in the state. So his exit now is an opportunity for the governor and party leaders of the state to embrace the people of the state and to reconfigure and reset the party towards the next election,” he said.
In the last four months, Governor Uba Sani has been notching up one endorsement after the other by party executives, stalwarts and caucuses across the state as a result of his inclusive, fair, open and good governance in the state. Last week, the executive committee and stakeholders of the party in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the State passed yet another a vote of confidence on both President Tinubu and Governor Sani ahead of 2027, declaring that there would not be vacancy in the Aso Rock Villa and Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
In a communiqué signed by Francis Danladi Kozah and Jerry Irimiya Mark, chairman and co-chairman of the APC stakeholders and read by the council chairman, Joseph Bege, the party in the local government stated that the decision was taken based on President Tinubu and Governor Sani’s commitment to the peace and security of not just Zangon Kataf, but Kaduna State at large.
“Their commitment to the peace and security of our people is evident in the sudden end to attacks on our communities. This move reflects the government’s understanding of the critical need for enhanced security measures in areas prone to conflict, thereby fostering an environment where citizens can thrive. We urge all residents of Zangon Kataf to remain vigilant and committed to fostering harmony within our communities, as peace is the cornerstone of development,” they said.
The stakeholders expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for appointing indigenes of Zangon Kataf, including Gen. Chris Musa as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Bishop Hassan Kukah as Pro Chancellor of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia. They explained that given the return of peace in the area and the tangible infrastructural development being witnessed, the re-election of Tinubu and Sani was a done deal.
They equally applauded Gov. Uba Sani for the ongoing multi-billion naira skills acquisition city that will provide “our youths with certified skills, thereby stamping out the root cause of criminality in our society”.
In a similar vein, stakeholders of the party across the state recently passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu and Governor Sani, for their “exemplary leadership and pro-people policies”.
The stakeholders gave the endorsement at a meeting which held at the Kaduna State Liaison office in Abuja. State Secretary of the party, Yahaya Baba-Pate, in a statement said the meeting was chaired by Governor Uba Sani, the leader of APC in Kaduna State, and was attended by Rt. Honourable Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker, House of Representative and former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.
Adjogri-Kusu, a politic affairs analyst, writes from Kafachan, Kaduna State.
KUNLE OSISANYA argues the urgent need to decentralise the Police Force
SELF-HELP AND THE ROAD TO UROMI
Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
Despite this lofty declaration, Nigerians are daily inundated with reports of bandits appropriating, administering territory and economic resources as well as kidnapping for ransom. Others include livestock rustling, farmer-herder clashes, vandalism of public infrastructure and separatist agitations, all enabled by military grade weapons. These vices negatively impact the socio-economic wellbeing of communities.
The above introduces some of the serious policing and security challenges across Nigeria, as exemplified by a recent event at Uromi which made national headlines. The sad event is the latest in a long list, and raises several questions which this write-up seeks to highlight, discuss and propose solutions.
On Friday 28th March 2025, Nigerians awoke to a widely shared video on social media which conveyed the gory sight of torched human beings. The victims of the barbaric act which occurred on 27th March 2025 at Uromi in Esan North local government area (LGA) of Edo State were said to be Nigerian citizens returning home from hunting expeditions in Rivers State, transiting to Kano State for the Salah celebrations.
While there are conflicting accounts of what led to the gruesome event at Uromi; however, there is no disputing the 16 fatalities and other injuries, after interception and lynching by a mob of locals. The first question is, why did the locals not hand-over the suspects to officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) but resort to self-help?
The shocking development generated reactions and widespread condemnation across the country with demands for justice for the victims whose kindred even threatened reprisals. Conversely, sympathizers of the perpetrators rationalized the dastardly act as self-help, due to previously unresolved cases of kidnappings and destruction of farmlands of the locals with passions further exacerbated by the discovery of hidden firearms in the trailer conveying the victims. A clear case of lack of trust in the police.
As the exchanges and saber rattling intensified and realizing the gravity of the incidence and the potential for escalation, relevant political leaders, especially Governors Monday Okpebholo of Edo State and Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State showed exemplary leadership to douse tensions.
Their de-escalation efforts include the apprehension of 14 suspected perpetrators, the suspension of negligent officials in Edo as well as condolence visits to the bereaved families in Kano, with assurances that justice would be served along with payment of adequate compensation.
But how well has government at all tiers in Nigeria fared in the provision of security?
One of the first remedial actions taken by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo was the suspension of the commander of the Edo State Security Corps, who is a retired Commissioner of Police. Furthermore, a statement by the SSG Edo informed that the local vigilante group that slayed the hunters was not registered and had operated illegally,
Interestingly, earlier on the 19th Feb, 2025, the Kano State Governor assented to a State House of Assembly (HoA) bill for its own security outfit. The bill empowered the Kano State Security Neighborhood Watch to bear arms and support security agencies to combat crime across the state.
Similarly, majority of the state governments in Nigeria have created agencies to address security challenges peculiar to their jurisdictions. Some of the state security outfits include ‘amotekun’ in the SW zone, ‘hisbah’ a shariah law enforcement agency in some northern states, Vigilante groups, Civilian JTF and Neighborhood Watch, amongst others. The proliferation extended to some LGAs and community levels.
• Does the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended allow states and LGAs to operate security agencies?
Part 1 of the second schedule (exclusive legislative list) of the 1999 constitution as amended lists items that
only the National Assembly (NASS) could make laws. Some of the relevant items that states and LGAs are precluded from legislating on include: (2) arms, ammunition and explosives, (28) fingerprints identification and criminal records, (45) police and other government security services established by law, (48) prisons and (63) traffic on federal trunk roads.
While the constitutional limits to states and LGAs participation in police and related services in Nigeria seem obvious; however, the reality is that many state governments make significant resource inputs to support the NPF and sister federal security agencies. This is in addition to setting up quasi police outfits to complement the management of traffic, waste, motor parks and markets.
Without a constitutional amendment to review the listed issues from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list, these well documented and commendable efforts by state governments and LGAs in policing their jurisdictions, still fall within the category of self-help.
It has been argued that the centralization of the NPF is a relic of Nigeria’s colonial past, which was reinforced by about 30 years of military rule. Centralized policing against a decentralized judiciary is contradictory to the aims of the administration of criminal justice system in Nigeria. Therefore, achieving uniformity of both is necessary for enhanced national security.
Also, the criminal enterprises seem to have mastered and dominated some of the vast ungoverned spaces and exploited the low-density presence of law enforcement in some rural areas to thrive. Finding alternatives and solutions by governments has become mandatory for national survival.
What is the way forward?
The use of the term ‘decentralized policing’ rather than the commonly used ‘creation of state police’ in this write-up is deliberate. The main arguments by opponents of state police are that state governors would frustrate neutrality and abuse it to intimidate political opponents. Also, they claim that it may not guarantee the fundamental rights of other resident Nigerians who are non-indigenes of a state. I am of the view that Nigerians need to rise above such dillydallying to address other existential threats to our future.
While some have expressed fears that achieving the requirement of approval by 2/3 of the NASS as well as states HoA may prove daunting, the past year has witnessed concerted efforts by both the legislative and executive arms of the FGN and states to take the bull by the horns. A bill to that effect passed second reading at the House of Representatives and supported by Speakers of the 36 state HoA. Equally, state Governors used the 147 National Economic Council meeting to announce unanimity and agreement with FGN initiatives towards the multi-layer policing.
Osisanya,fdc, olakunleosisanyag@gmail.com
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
ISSUES IN INCESSANT JAILBREAKS
The authorities should address issues of infrastructure and welfare of prisoners
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.
A BLOOD BATH IN BOKKOS
Killers have killed in Bokkos before. In fact, for more than 10 years now, the area has become a favourite stomping ground again. It is an area where history continues to be rewritten in blood by killers who care nothing for human lives.
On December 23, 2023, killers fell upon the communities like locusts. About 200 people were slaughtered. In the aftermath of the attacks, Kashim Shettima, who was only sworn in as the country’s vice-president in May 2023, visited the area, pledging
The killings in Bokkos have not been without a pattern. After previous attacks, residents have blamed killer Fulani herdsmen for carrying out the attacks to displace them and settle in their homes and their farmlands.
These attacks have also happened in other parts of Plateau State, where ethnic and religious fault lines have been exploited to fuel bloodshed.
Each attack in Bokkos always comes with immeasurable destruction of lives and properties. The attackers not only kill all within their sight, they also make sure buildings are torched.
These attacks leave wounds that will take a very long time to heal if ever, and there is hardly ever enough time for healing because before the surviving victims can put their lives back together, the attackers return, even deadlier than before.
The besieged families in Bokkos must be experiencing the kind of distress many families around the country have felt in the past 10 years. Men who have lost their wives and children, women who have lost their husbands and children, and children who have lost their parents must all be feeling the kind of unimaginable pain that many Nigerians have been forced to experience in the past 10 years due to these terrorist attacks.
With families ripped apart and livelihoods destroyed, these attacks are especially an attack on the family.
In any serious sovereign country under the authority of a serious government, a single security breach which claims lives and destroys property should be considered too much. When these attacks happen over and over again, claiming scores anded communities and making empty promises only to watch those attacks happen, such a government is weak. In a world
besieged by ruthless non-state actors, a weak state is an unforgivable aberration.
It is a sign of weakness for the government that citizens can be attacked right in their communities and slaughtered with chilling abandon by criminals. It is a sign of weakness that these killers can return again and again to the scene of their past crimes with nothing to stop them. These attacks weaken the legitimacy and authority of the government.
Which heads have ever rolled because the killings won’t just stop in Bokkos or in other parts of the country? Who has ever paid the price with their jobs for such deadly incompetence? Why is the government reluctant to investigate repeated claims of compromise and complicity by some security personnel operating around Bokkos and environs?
What steps were taken after previous attacks to resettle communities, empower them against future attacks, and discourage further attacks? Who are these attackers? Who is sponsoring their campaigns of death?
Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com
NNPCL: Arduous Tasks Ahead of Ojulari
As the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari settles down for his new assignment amid high expectation from the company’s and industry stakeholders, his jobs are already-well cut out for him and he has no other option than to deliver results, Peter Uzoho writes
Anew board and management team have now taken over the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), following the appointment of a new 11-man board by President Bola Tinubu last Wednesday, with the board headed by a non-executive chairman, Mr. Musa Kida and the management led by Mr. Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO).
The new team has been hailed and praised by many oil and gas industry stakeholders and analysts within and outside Nigeria because it is filled with notable seasoned oil and gas professionals who have had a record of excellence and success in their previous jobs and have earned the respect of the industry.
NNPC is at the heart of the Nigerian economy and the nation’s survival because of the size of the country’s oil and gas assets and resources placed in its hands which spans the upstream, midstream and downstream.
The company’s total asset, as of the end of 2023, was N246.8 trillion. Such a humongous asset, no doubt, needs to be properly managed to ensure value optimisation in a manner that ultimately results in a better life for all Nigerians via industrialization, job creation and poverty reduction.
THE TARGETS TO NEW TEAM
Interestingly, the president while announcing the appointment of the new board and GCEO, also handed out an immediate action plan, charging the new board and GCEO to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.
Tinubu emphasised that the board’s restructuring was crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification.
The current administration has so far implemented a rash of reforms to attract investment in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, resulting to new investment in the sector rising to $17 billion, with plans for further increase to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.
The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 and three million bpd by 2030. Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily (8bcf/d) by 2027 and 10bcf/d by 2030. Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 bpd by 2027 and reach 500,000 bpd by 2030.
“We
SUSTAINING CRUDE-FORNAIRA ARRANGEMENT
One of the key issues that should be on the table of the new GCEO and the board is the reactivation of the collapsed naira-for-crude arrangement between the NNPC and local refineries. The deal was introduced by the federal government in October 2024 to improve supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries, to save the country millions of dollars in petroleum product imports, and ultimately reduce the pump prices of fuel, which was selling above N1000 per litre at the time.
However, the deal has been stuck after the first one year of implementation as the parties have not been able to reach an agreement to continue owing to the risk the deal is posing to their profitability. Last Month, Dangote Refinery cancelled the sale of its product in naira, citing a mismatch with its crude purchase obligations.
The stalemate has led to the sharp rise in the price of petrol as all the marketers including NNPC and off-takers of Dangote products have jacked up their pump prices from the previous N850 to now N950 and above. It now means that the naira-crude arrangement should be urgently reactivated to ensure that petrol price does not continue to rise and also impact on cost of commodities in the country.
The Ojulari-led team should find a way to ensure that more feedstock is made available to Dangote and other local refineries to enable continue to made products available to Nigerians and ensure that the gains already made in reducing importation of products are not eroded.
To achieve this, the new NNPC management should take a second look at the existing forward sales agreement the company has with international lenders otherwise
known as crude-for-cash agreement, where it committed a lot of its future production in exchange for cash either to invest in its business or support the currency.
This has contributed to limiting the company’s ability to allocate the needed volume of crude to local refineries. While the company may have a genuine reason for entering into those crude-for-cash deals with lenders, which include momentary foreign exchange provision to the government, there is the need to end that arrangement as it amounts to mortgaging the livelihood of the future generation.
COMPLETION OF IPO
One other key area of focus for the new NNPC board and management is the completion of the company’s Initial Public Offer (IPO), which has become long overdue and has been prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. In a somewhat premature press statement issued but later withdrawn, last month, the immediate-past Mele Kyari-led NNPC had announced that the company had reached the final stage of getting listed in the capital market, in keeping with the provisions of the PIA 2021.
The statement said NNPCL was currently engaging with prospective partners in an exercise tagged: “NNPC Limited IPO Beauty Parade,” in line with capital market regulations before the commencement of the Initial Public Offer (IPO).
An IPO is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to institutional investors. The PIA provides for the NNPCL to list its shares in the capital market in line with the provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990.
Industry stakeholders have called for the new NNPC leadership to take IPO as one its priority to enable the company boost
need a total overhaul, reconfigure the management team, blend it up with brilliant and strong competent legal services. Commercial and financial accounting must be strengthened to allow for confidence from investors all over the world. This will assist the new Board to attract the best brains for the industry recovery in Nigeria.”
investor confidence, improve on its transparency and accountability and good corporate governance.
“I expect they should now complete the IPO, which is to take NNPCL to become a public company, which means it will be traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange,” Managing Director of 11Plc, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji told THISDAY. “And what that means is that the standard of governance has to improve and become more transparent and in line with other companies so that it will be operating according to the guidelines of the Stock Exchange and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
“So, I believe that should bode well for the company as many of the decisions will be more business-like and commercial-driven rather than being politically-driven,” he added.
While NNPC maintains that it has to guarantee energy security in Nigeria, many stakeholders say once the company can take the step of going public and floating its shares on the Stock Exchange, the corporate influence will begin to reduce and the influence of the shareholders will begin to become more important JP Morgan’s analysts also stated that the next catalyst for the Nigeria’s oil sector reform was new NNPC FX financing arrangements, which should boost FX liquidity in the near term, adding that, “media reports suggest NNPC is in the final stages of agreeing another medium-term FX financing arrangement, collateralized with future oil output.”
“If these arrangements are finalised in the coming months, the NNPC could have up to $9.5 billion in new financing, which could be used to clear arrears owed for petrol imports and potentially contribute to FX reserve rebuilding. However, while this financing arrangement had appeared imminent a few weeks ago, it is unclear what impact the change in management at the NNPC would have on its timing,” they added.
TOTAL OVERHAUL
In his intervention, Energy expert, Mr. Dan Kunle, called for a total overhaul of NNPC from personnel to assets.
“We need a total overhaul, reconfigure the management team, blend it up with brilliant and strong competent legal services. Commercial and financial accounting must be strengthened to allow for confidence from investors all over the world.
“This will assist the new Board to attract the best brains for the industry recovery in Nigeria. It will also help the NNPC IPO because investors will Trust the entire management team and processes.
“Most of the Subsidiaries of NNPC LTD must be yank off to stand on their own and subsequently privatised, such as the Refineries and NNPC E&P in Benin,” he added.
Ojulari
Envoy: Taiwan Awaiting Nigeria’s Consent on IPPA Renewal
AOluchi Chibuzor
The Representative and Chief of Taiwan Mission in Nigeria, Andy Liu, has said that his country is awaiting
President Bola Tinubu to consent to renewal of the 1994 bilateral Agreement for Investment Protection and Promotion ( IPPA). This is as emphasised
that the renewal signing would greatly encourage Taiwanese investors interested in visiting and investing in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press
BP Chair to Resign Amid Pressure from Shareholders
Abuja
The Chair of BP, Helge Lund, has announced plans to step down from the struggling oil company after growing shareholder opposition derailed its net zero agenda.
The oil company said that Lund planned to leave his post “in due course” once a successor has joined the board, which would “most likely” be in 2026.
His decision to step down from the role, which he has held since 2019, comes after the board was forced to reverse the company’s green agenda to defend it against Elliott, a feared New York hedge fund known for its attempts to shake up listed companies.
Elliot began to build a multibillionpound stake in BP earlier this year after growing dissatisfaction among shareholders over the company’s plan to curb its fossil fuel production in favour of green investments. It was widely expected that
the activist investor would call for a boardroom shake-up at BP, including the ousting of Lund, who played a leading role in setting the green agenda that ultimately failed to convince shareholders.
The net zero strategy was set by the former BP Chief Executive, Bernard Looney, who was appointed by Lund in 2020 to transform the oil company into an integrated energy company, the Guardian UK reported. However, the shift was undermined by a rise in global oil and gas prices – which handed bumper profits to companies growing fossil fuel production – and the shock departure of Looney after failing to fully disclose to the board past relationships with BP colleagues.
Helge Lund has been the BP chair since 2019. BP’s current Chief Executive, Murray Auchincloss, set out a “fundamental reset” of the company’s strategy weeks after Elliott took aim at the company.
Auchincloss promised investors cuts of more than £4 billion from
Amstel Malta Boosts Women Entrepreneurship with 12 Business Grants
Building on the momentum of International Women’s Month, Amstel Malta has taken a bold step to empower women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The premium malt drink brand has awarded business grants to 12 remarkable womenled businesses, reinforcing its commitment to fostering female entrepreneurship and financial independence.
The campaign, designed to blend the vibrancy of physical marketplaces with the expansive reach of digital media, spotlighted women-owned businesses across Nigeria. At the bustling Iponri Market in Lagos, Amstel Malta surprised two women entrepreneurs with a grant award of N200,000 each, amplifying their resilience and dedication to commerce.
Beyond the marketplace, the initiative extended its impact through a digital call for entries via Amstel Malta’s social media
platforms. The response was immense—hundreds of women entrepreneurs from diverse sectors shared their business stories, each reflecting ambition and perseverance. From this pool of inspiring entries, ten outstanding women were selected, each receiving N200,000 to invest in their businesses and fuel their growth.
Speaking on the initiative, Francis Obiajulu, Senior Brand Manager, Amstel Malta & Hi-Malt, Nigerian Breweries PLC, emphasised the brand’s dedication to supporting women:
“At Amstel Malta, we believe that true progress happens when people receive the right support.
Women entrepreneurs are shaping industries, creating jobs, and driving innovation, often with limited resources. This campaign was about recognizing their efforts and providing tangible financial support to help them scale their businesses. We are proud to stand behind them this Women’s Month and beyond.”
its low-carbon investment plans in favour of a r eturn to growing fossil fuel production.
The plan angered climate campaigners and did little to appease BP’s investors, who have seen BP’s shares underperform compared with its rivals.
conference in Lagos, yesterday, Liu said both countries share the same belief in upholding democracy and development as fundamental principles.
According to him, “Taiwan welcomes the Nigerian Federal Government’s approach to renew the 1994 bilateral Agreement for Investment Protection and Promotion (IPPA) and we are ready to sign for renewal, together with our counterpart Nigerian Trade Commission in Taiwan. This renewal signing will greatly encourage Taiwanese investors interested in visiting and investing in Nigeria.
“Taiwan welcomes the re-activating of Bilateral
Consultations of our two governments, and would like to propose consultations being hosted at Permanent Secretary level / decision-making officials. The Australian Government has practiced this consultation for at least two decades.
“Taiwan can be more than a valuable partner for both Nigeria and Africa, because Taiwan plays a significant role in global economy, democracy, science & technology, social development, and serves as a true model of non-oil economy. We, therefore, urge the Nigerian Federal or State Governments to
take up the world trend of collaborating with Taiwan to upgrade and deepen our bi-lateral relations in the near future.”
Liu stated that as a country, they remained committed to help the President realise his dream of making South-East the Taiwan of Africa.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu openly declared during the election campaign November 2022 that he would promote the South-East of Nigeria to become the Taiwan of Africa. We have never been so proud, and we’re ready to offer assistance to fulfill the great Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stated.
Sundry Foods Awards Scholarship to Students in Host Communities
Sundry Foods Limited (SFL) has awarded scholarships to several undergraduate students of tertiary institutions from its host communities.
Each scholarship beneficiary received N250,000, which will be disbursed annually for each academic year for a period of 4 years.
Executive Director at SFL, Mr Nnamdi Opara, who presented the scholarship to beneficiaries recently at the corporate headquarters of SFL in Port Harcourt, said in a statement that the award was instituted by the company as part
of SFL’s education intervention initiative for indigenous students of host communities impacted by its businesses in line with SFL’s corporate social responsibility policy.
Opara, said that SFL recognizes the importance of education in molding the character and empowerment of the youth so that they could become better equipped personalities ready to make positive impact in society after graduation.
“Education is the passport to outstanding future for the youths of our country and that is why our
organization seeks to reward and support exceptional under-graduate students especially the indigenous from amongst our host communities who have demonstrated academic excellence and good character in their chosen course of study in a tertiary institution,” Opara said
According to him the scholarship had become an annual event meant to contribute to the educational development of the host communities and position them rightly in the scheme of things in the country.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, he encouraged them
to continue to work hard at their studies, strive to achieve excellence in all that they do, and never stop giving their best.
SFL is an indigenous food services company headquartered in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The company owns and operates high quality brands and they include Nigeria’s leading quick service restaurantKilimanjaro; Nibbles Creamery; Nibbles Bread; Pizza Jungle, a pizzeria; Kiligrill, for hygienically prepared street food and SFS services for catering to the needs of corporate organiSations.
Banana Island Residents Express Concerns over Safety, Unjustified Fee Increases
Residents and tenants of Bella Vista Apartment in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos have called on Homeowners and the board representing homeowners to find lasting solutions to the issues affecting the overall quality of life of people living within the community.
The concerned residents and tenants, in a press conference, expressed their collective concerns regarding several ongoing issues affecting the maintenance and overall quality of life despite paying for maintenance services.
At the forefront of their concerns is the unresolved advances paid to Daleji remain unreconciled, with inaccurate records adding further frustration.
“We have a WhatsApp group that was set up by the BUSSECOM
Board & the Maintenance service provider. After the election of the new BUSSECOM board, the newly elected Chairman Abhulimen Victor shared on the Whatsapp group that the Board terminated the contract of erstwhile service provider Daleji, who served for over 10 years, and further that a new service provider, ATIS, was being introduced immediately.
“We expressed our concern about such one-sided decisions and a sudden transition to the new service provider and even bigger concern about the refund of our deposits that were parked with Daleji.
“The Chairman guaranteed in writing that all the deposits would be refunded or handed over to new service providers within two to three months, but it has been
more than nine months, and no refund has been made by Daleji.
“We shared a letter that they signed and sent to the BUSSECOM board highlighting the fact that Daleji refused to refund the funds on account of several residents & owners who were not paying their due charges including the current Chairman.
“Many other concerns were raised via this letter besides some suggestions that were put on the table to improve the ongoing situation. However, to date, residents have not received any response from the Board,” the concerned residents lamented.
Safety concerns were also raised, particularly regarding the elevators, which residents say are not maintained to proper standards.
Frequent breakdowns have left individuals stuck in lifts, while one of the two elevators in every building remains unavailable due to ongoing repair activity. The residents recall assurances from the previous board chairman regarding the replacement of lifts, but no progress has been made, adding to the frustr ation.
“The new service provider has not only failed to provide for uninterrupted supply of electricity and clean water but also failed to maintain the elevators, amenities including the gym, swimming pool, tennis courts & garden area besides also completely failing to provide general home maintenance services for which residents are being asked to pay every month,” the residents said.
Emmanuel Addeh in
Mary Nnah
L- R: Head of Corporate Coverage, CIB, Standard Chartered Nigeria (SCBN) Limited, Sola Bakare; CEO, SCBN Limited, Dalu Ajene; M D AOS Orwell Limited, Mr. Femi Omotayo and his wife Mrs. Halima Omotayo; and Mr. Kazeem Koleoso at an Iftar event organised for clients of the bank… recently
LAWYER
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025
Uromi 16 Killing: Failure of
Uromi 16 and the Dangers of Selective Justice
Introduction
General lawlessness and lack of accountability in the country which has continuously been participated in, condoned and encouraged by successive Governments, has led us to the era of mob/jungle justice we find ourselves in today. Take for example, the recent Kogi saga to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti; former Governor, Yahaya Bello, a person who is facing criminal charges of allegedly syphoning N110 billion of Kogi State funds, is running around the place without a care in the world, alleged to be the one who orchestrated the recall of Senator Akpoti, supported by Kogi State Government, plotting to replace her in the Senate! It’s so shameful. This kind of behaviour can be infuriating, making the people lose confidence in the State and its agencies, making them resort to self-help, believing that the State may not give them the justice their matters demand.
Are the people of Kogi saying that they would rather have represent them, a person who is charged with stealing their common wealth to enrich himself, acquire choice properties for himself, and pay his children’s school fees in a foreign school in Abuja until they all graduate from there, while failing to provide their own children with decent schools in Kogi State, contrary to the educational objectives set out in Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution)? I think not. What about the Kogi State Government issuing orders and blocking the roads to prevent her homecoming, in breach of Senator Akpoti’s right to freedom of movement (see Section 41(1) of the Constitution) necessitating her ‘triumphal entry’ into Kogi State by helicopter during the recent Sallah celebration to mark the end of Ramadan? All this is executive recklessness, and disregard for the rule of law!
Last week, the Federal High Court issued a restraining order, to stop commentary about the ongoing case to do with Senator Akpoti’s suspension. Section 39(1) of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression; of course, this right can be derogated from by Section 45 of the Constitution. But, I wonder if these particular circumstances warrant such an order? For one, Nigeria doesn’t operate a jury system where jurors who decide cases are ordinary members of society chosen randomly, not trained in the law, and can therefore, be influenced by public opinion. In Nigeria, judicial officers who are trained in the law, adjudicate upon and decide cases. Why should they be bothered by public commentary, when, by their training, their decisions must bear the elements of a good judgement, and not public opinion? See Mbani v Bosi & Ors (2006) LPELR-1853(SC).
Benue State
On January 1, 2018, at least 70 people were murdered in cold blood in Benue State by suspected Herdsmen following the enforcement of the anti-open grazing law there. President Buhari had instructed the then Inspector General of Police, Idris Kpotum, to relocate to Benue State and attend to the security crisis there. See Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution on the primary purpose of government, and Section 4 of the Police Act 2020 on the duties of the Police. Not only did Idris Kpotum disobey the President’s instruction by only showing up in Benue for one day and leaving, no one was brought to book for that attack, and the incident was soon forgotten, with many other similar incidents following without any consequences. Like Cacofonix, even though Governor Ortom had shouted himself hoarse at the time, blaming the attack on Herdsmen and asking the Federal Government to come to their aid, a couple of months later, President Buhari had issued a statement, feigning ignorance of Idris Kpotum’s disobedience, and didn’t discipline him for same, on discovery of his non-compliance. I had written about it then. That instead, President Buhari had rewarded Idris Kpotum for his failure, by taking him on Presidential trips, instead of sacking him for insubordination. Recently, some people of Naka, Otukpo, Benue State went on a rampage destroying some buildings, and part of their protest is that the Nigerian Army supports the Herdsmen and should be replaced with MOPOL.
Government’s encouragement of executive rascality, lawlessness and escape from culpability has permeated all spheres of our society, and this is why those who meted out jungle justice to the 16 Northern travellers in Uromi, Edo State, felt at ease doing so. It is rather unfortunate that we live in a society where it is acceptable for a crowd to simply throw a tyre on and set a person caught stealing ablaze, roast them to death in broad day light, instead of handing them over to the Police for prosecution for the offence of theft, which obviously has judicial remedy! Of course, we mustn’t forget that amongst these crowds that mete out jungle justice, are also hardened criminals who are happy to seize the opportunity to carry out such dastardly acts that bring them satisfaction, under the guise of being custodians of society.
Past Examples of Mob/Jungle Justice
Right from the time I became Editor of this esteemed publication in 2016, I had warned against the Nigerian
ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE
ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE
onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com
The Advocate
“….we cannot continue with this level of jungle justice and lack of accountability as if we are in a Hobbesian State, if we want sanity to return to our society….Building a better society cannot be done without justice; and, justice cannot be one-sided or selective; it must be for all. While I condemn the brutal killing of the Uromi 16 by mob justice….. Herdsmen/ Farmers/Criminal/Terrorist attacks must be treated with the seriousness they demand. For starters, the Betty Agbahime, Deborah Samuel Yakubu and David Imoh’s cases must be heard, and their killers brought to justice too”
State turning a blind eye to mob/jungle justice, and the dire consequences that could come with it.
1) Late Mrs Agbahime/Kano
The first time I issued the warning, it was about the lynching of 74 year old Mrs Bridget Agbahime, a plastics seller at Kofar Wambai Market in Kano. Late Mrs Agbahime had had issues with one Ahmed Dauda, who was identified as the ring leader of a mob that clubbed Mrs Agbahime to death on unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy. The accused persons were arrested and charged to court, and despite widespread condemnation, even by MURIC, the then Attorney-General of Kano State had entered a ‘Nolle Prosequi’ (refusal to prosecute), a power which can be exercised by an Attorney-General, if for instance there is insufficient evidence or no witnesses to testify in court, has the effect of abating the criminal proceedings and cannot be questioned by the trial Judge, resulting in the discharge of the Defendant. Consequently, Mrs Agbahime's alleged killers were freed, and that was that - see the case of Audu v AGF & Anor (2012) LPELR-15527 (SC) per Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, JSC.
In Mrs Agbahime’s case, not only was there positive identification of her killers who were well known, there were eye witness accounts of the attack; so, why did the Kano AG enter a Nolle? In this case, the Kano AG misapplied and misused his power, and entered the Nolle to protect criminal Defendants, instead of giving Mrs Agbahime justice.
I had commented then that, if Government failed to take the correct stance on murder/ mob/jungle justice in the name of blasphemy, it would send a message that Government condones cold-blooded murder, and would have the tendency of encouraging this kind
In 2022, when Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a Christian 200 level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto was murdered/ stoned and burnt to death in a mob attack by her fellow students for allegedly committing blasphemy against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the act was rightfully condemned by many, including His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and the Christian Association of Nigeria. Only 2 people out of the crowd were arrested for Deborah’s murder, and a mob of angry extremists subsequently, went on a rampage to protest their arrest. Nothing came out of that incident either.
Many innocent lives have been lost on account of extra-judicial, outright jungle justice, and perpetrators have been left by the State to walk free. People whose communities and relatives have been affected by horrible attacks, are naturally, emotional about the Uromi incident, and the argument of many of them today is that, if others have been allowed to escape culpability for heinous crimes which resulted in the killing and maiming of their loved ones, why should what occurred at Uromi be treated differently? That if Farmers can be murdered on their farms because others want to wrongfully graze their livestock there, communities murdered in their sleep because they are Farmers, while innocent commuters are simply kidnapped for ransom, raped, and murdered even when ransoms are paid, why should people who were allegedly found with guns and cash in an area where indigenes have been brutalised, not be suspected and given the same jungle justice treatment, particularly when the people are of the view that law enforcement may not be doing enough to protect them?
Restoration of Sanity
of horrible practice to become the norm, rather than the exception. No one listened or cared. Assuming without conceding that Mrs Agbahime had blasphemed, doesn’t the law make adequate provision for blasphemy/ insult against religion? It does. Blasphemy is a misdemeanour which attracts two years imprisonment, or an option of fine upon conviction. See Sections 210 & 204 of the Penal Code Act (PCA) and Criminal Code Act (CCA) respectively. Even in the Holy Quran, blasphemy doesn’t attract the death penalty - see Quran 33:49 & 4:41. Murder/Culpable Homicide, on the other hand, is a heinous felony that attracts the death penalty upon conviction. See Sections 220 & 316 of the PCA & CCA respectively.
2) Plateau Attacks
Again, in 2018, over 130 people residing in about 11 villages within 4 local governments in Plateau State were massacred. It was allegedly an extra-judicial mob action, in retaliation for the disappearance of 300 cows. I had asked then, how the lives of human beings could be equated with that of cows. I had also asked if it had been established that those people that were murdered were responsible for the disappearance of the cows, and even if they were, whether the law didn’t make adequate provision for dealing with thieves? In fact, some States had put in place, a system of compensation for Herders whose cows were stolen. As usual, no one was brought to book for this attack. Last week, several villages in Plateau were attacked, and over 50 people and counting are reported to have been killed so far. Some are arguing that this gruesome incident, hasn’t attracted as much attention as the killing of the Uromi 16.
3) Late Deborah Samuel Yakubu/Sokoto
However, the correct answer is that, we cannot continue with this level of jungle justice and lack of accountability as if we are in a Hobbesian State, if we want sanity to return to our society; it is time for accountability to start, if we want to build a civilised culture. And, even though the Constitution does provide for equality and equity amongst all Nigerians, and prohibits discrimination (see Section 42 thereof), I submit that the intention of the Constitution cannot be to measure equity/equality, by equating the number of Defendants that are allowed to escape from criminal liability for jungle justice zone by zone. No! Therefore, to address the issue of fairness and the bad optics of perhaps, Government appearing to allow a section of our society appear to be able to get away with more than others in times of crisis, past incidents should also be reopened. Luckily, while some offences may have a statute of limitation, I do not believe that murder/culpable homicide does. For example, in State v Ilori & Ors 1983 2 S.C. Page 155 at 195 per Aniagolu, JSC, the Supreme Court held this: “A Nolle Prosequi is only a temporary proceeding which has the effect only of a stay and not of quashing the indictment, which technically may later be prosecuted without a fresh indictment”. So, in the spirit of equity and fairness, the proper thing to do is to adopt a holistic approach. Nothing stops the Kano State Government, while rightfully seeking justice for its 16 indigenes who were allegedly brutally murdered by means of mob justice in Uromi, from reopening Mrs Agbahime’s case, and continuing with the prosecution of her alleged murderers. The same for Sokoto State, and Deborah Samuel Yakubu’s case - reopen, investigate properly and prosecute. In 2022, in Lagos, there was the case of David Imoh, who was beaten to a state of unconsciousness and then burnt to death, allegedly by a mini mob of okada riders of Northernish extraction, over a misunderstanding concerning N100. His two other colleagues were also beaten to a pulp, but were lucky enough to get away and be rushed to the hospital. Apparently, seven people were arrested for this horrific crime, and the Lagos State Government banned okada riders in certain areas. However, at the time, I read on social media that, instead of the Northern leaders in those areas to help fish out those who meted out mob justice on David Imoh and his two colleagues, they preferred to issue veiled threats on Mr Governor, that if he didn’t lift the ban on okada riders in those areas, he wouldn’t get their vote in the 2023 election.
Conclusion
Building a better society cannot be done without justice; and, justice cannot be one-sided or selective; it must be for all. While I condemn the brutal killing of the Uromi 16 by mob justice, and charge law enforcement to bring everyone responsible for this heinous crime to justice, previous injustice to others must also be acknowledged and addressed, while going forward, Herdsmen/Farmers/Criminal/Terrorist attacks must be treated with the seriousness they demand. For starters, the Betty Agbahime, Deborah Samuel Yakubu and David Imoh’s cases, must be heard, and their killers brought to justice too.
A society in which certain sections believe that attacks on their communities are not treated by Government with the seriousness their issues demand, while others appear to be put on a priority list, will only make for a dysfunctional, bitter society, where everyone will be seeking revenge on everyone. True healing can only be achieved by equity, equality, fairness and justice across board.
Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo
Distinction Between Grounds of Appeal of Law and Fact
Fact
s
The Appellants, acting under the belief that they and their family are the owners of a piece of land measuring 209 hectares at Ijoyi, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, filed an action at the High Court of Lagos State seeking inter alia, a declaration of title to the said parcel of land. Upon being served with the Appellants’ originating processes, the 2nd and 3rd Respondent filed a statement of defence and a counterclaim, seeking amongst other reliefs, a declaration that the descendants of the Arobieke Family whom they represent, are the persons entitled to the right of occupancy over the said land. The 4th-6th Respondent, on their part, filed a statement of defence and a counter-claim, in which they sought a grant of statutory and/or customary right of occupancy of the subject land against the Appellants; an order of forfeiture of the 2nd and 3rd Respondent’s customary tenancy on the land for misconduct; and an order granting possession of the land to the 4th-6th Respondent.
After the conclusion of trial, the trial court delivered its judgement in which it held that the Appellants failed to prove their claim to a declaration of title over the disputed land, while the 4th-6th Respondent established a better title. Consequently, the trial court dismissed the Appellants’ claims, and substantially granted the 4th-6th Respondent’s counter-claim. Dissatisfied, the Appellants appealed to the Court of Appeal. However, their appeal was dismissed. The Appellants thus filed a further appeal at the Supreme Court. The parties filed and exchanged their respective briefs of arguments. The 2nd Respondent argued a preliminary objection in his brief of argument. The Counsel for the 4th-6th Respondent also raised a preliminary objection in their brief.
The Supreme Court however, struck out the 2nd Respondent’s preliminary objection for being incompetent, on the ground that the 2nd Respondent did not file a formal notice of preliminary objection or include it in his brief of argument as required by law, before purporting to arguing his points of objection. Thereafter, the Court proceeded to consider the preliminary objection raised by Counsel for the 4th-6th Respondent.
Issues for Determination in the 4th-6th Respondent’s Preliminary Objection
The 4th to 6th Respondent’s Notice of Preliminary Objection was brought pursuant to Section 233(2) & (3) of the 1999 Constitution, Order 2 Rules 9 & 32 of the Supreme Court Rules 1985 (as amended) and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Apex Court.
The following issues were formulated for determination of the 4th-6th Respondent’s preliminary objection: i. Whether the Appellants’ Notice of Appeal is competent. ii. Whether there is a competent Appellants’ Brief before the court, in view of the incompetent issues for determination.
Arguments
Counsel for the 4th-6th Respondent submitted that the Appellants’ Notice of Appeal was incompetent because the appeal was initiated against deceased parties, and also because the Appellants failed to first seek leave of court before instituting the appeal which is against the concurrent findings of fact of the lower court. Counsel cited NZOM v JINADU (1987) 1 NWLR (Pt. 51) 533 at 544 C-D, and posited further that all the grounds of appeal in the Appellants’ Notice of Appeal are grounds of fact, or at best, grounds of mixed law and fact which require leave of court, and the failure by the Appellants to first seek and obtain leave of court to raise the said grounds rendered the grounds as well as the issues formulated therefrom incompetent, and liable to be struck out.
In response, Counsel for the Appellants argued that the death of the 4th- 6th Respondent could not truncate the appeal as they were sued in a representative capacity, with the effect that the
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja
On Friday, the 14th day of June, 2024
Before Their Lordships
Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju
Ibrahim Musa Mohammed Saulawa Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme Haruna Simon Tsammani Jamilu Yammama Tukur Justices, Supreme Court SC/946/2018
Between
1. HON. JUSTICE OLATUNJI AJOSE-ADEOGUN (RTD)
(Suing for himself as head and on behalf of the Shasore Abapo Chieftaincy Family)
2. WAIDI AYENE APPELLANTS
(Suing for himself as a Principal Member of the Shasore Abapo Chieftaincy Family and on behalf of other Principal Members of the Shasore Abapo Chieftaincy Family)
And
1. WING COMMANDER DR OLUSEGUN OLOJEDE
2. ALHAJI DALLY AKERELE
(For himself as head and on behalf of one Arobieke Family of Langbasa Village, Etiosa, Lagos)
3. ALHAJI LATEEF FAGBEMI
4. CHIEF SAHEED ADENIYI SANNI
5. ALHAJI GBADEBO ADESANYA
6. ALHAJI ADESINA HASSAN RESPONDENTS
(For themselves and on behalf of the Elejigbo Family of Langbasa)
(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Jamilu Yammama Tukur, JSC)
subject-matter of the appeal survived their death. He also submitted that the retention of the names of the 4th-6th Respondent was a mere misnomer, which would have been corrected if the 4th-6th Respondent’s representatives had duly informed the court of the occurrence of their death. He relied on LADEJOBI & ORS v OGUNTAYO & ORS (2004) LPELR – 1734 (SC).
Counsel for the Appellants also argued that the grounds of appeal in the Appellants’ Notice of Appeal are grounds of law and as such, cannot be said to run foul of the rule that requires seeking leave before concurrent findings of fact can be appealed, or the rule that requires seeking leave before filing of an appeal based on
“…..a ground of law is a ground of appeal that complains about misunderstanding of law or misapplication of law to settled or admitted facts, while grounds of fact refer to a situation where the court has to settle issues of facts or evaluation of evidence and the complaint of grounds of facts is that the Judge misapprehended the facts”
doubt that the death of a party is one of the instances that would warrant an alteration of the constitution of parties, subject to the leave of court; however, it is the duty of the Party’s representatives to bring that fact to the Court’s notice, and failure to do so would mean that the general rule, that parties must remain the same from commencement of trial through every appellate stage except leave of court is sought and obtained to do otherwise, would apply. The Court found that the failure to substitute the names of the deceased 4th-6th Respondent with the names of their living representatives would thus, not truncate the appeal.
The Supreme Court then proceeded to determine, whether the Appellants’ grounds of appeal were such that required leave of court. The Apex Court, relying on its decision in FBN PLC v NIMEX PETROCHEMICALS LTD & ORS (2023) LPELR-59983 (SC), held that by the combined effect of subsections (2)(a) and (3) of Section 233 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, for any appeal involving questions of facts and or mixed law and facts to be competent, it is mandatory for the Appellant to seek and obtain the leave of either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court; thus, where such an appeal involving questions of facts and/or mixed law and facts is filed without obtaining the leave of the Court, it would be deemed incompetent, null, void and liable to be struck out by the Court.
The Supreme Court in distinguishing grounds of law from grounds of fact, held that a ground of law is a ground of appeal that complains about misunderstanding of law or misapplication of law to settled or admitted facts, while grounds of fact refer to a situation where the court has to settle issues of facts or evaluation of evidence and the complaint of grounds of facts is that the Judge misapprehended the facts. The Court relied on its decision in C.O.P. v OGOK & ORS (2022) LPELR-57558 (SC) (PP 14-15) (PARAS A – B). The Apex Court then proceeded to examine each of the grounds of appeal in the Appellants’ Notice of Appeal to determine whether they are grounds of law, or grounds of mixed law and fact or grounds of fact alone. In its evaluation of the said grounds, the Apex Court held that what is essential in determining whether a ground of appeal involves questions of law or fact or mixed law and fact is not its designation as such by the Appellant, but the import and reality of the complaint such that, it is the nature of the ground of appeal read together with the particulars that determines what a ground of appeal is.
determination of facts. Counsel submitted that since the grounds are valid, the issues raised therefrom are competent. Reliance was placed on BOARD OF CUSTOMS & EXCISE vs. BARAU (1982) 13 NSCC 358 @ PG 389, PARAS 15-25.
Court’s Judgement and Rationale
In determining the 4th-6th Respondent’s preliminary objection, the Apex Court first expounded on the importance of a valid Notice of Appeal as a prerequisite to the origination of a valid appeal. The Court held that the Notice of Appeal, which is the fundamental instrument by which the constitutional right of appeal is implemented, just like an originating process at the trial courts, must be valid in form and substance and properly served, to ground a valid appeal. The Court held that one implication of the foregoing is that a defect in the Notice of Appeal can impugn the validity of the whole appeal process, as it is logically impossible to place something on nothing and expect it to stand. The Apex Court referred to its decision in NONYE IWUNZE v FRN (2015) 6 NWLR (PT. 1404) 580.
On the argument of the Counsel for the 4th-6th Respondent that the failure to substitute the names of the deceased Respondents rendered the appeal incompetent, the Court held that it is not in
The Court held that Ground 1 of the Appellants’ appeal and its particulars essentially challenge the evaluation of evidence by the trial court vis-a-vis the pleadings filed by the Appellant which led to its conclusion that the Appellants failed to establish that their fore-bearer was the first settler on the land in dispute. The Court held further that a community reading of the remaining grounds together with their particulars revealed that none of the grounds is a ground of law, as the grounds raised questions of appraisal or evaluation of facts and evidence on the traditional history about the founding of the area in dispute by the trial court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
The Apex Court found that the grounds of appeal being grounds of mixed law and fact required leave of the Supreme Court or the lower court to be valid and the failure of the Appellants to seek and obtain leave in respect of the grounds of appeal before filing the appeal rendered the grounds incompetent and deprived the Court of jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal. The Supreme Court consequently struck out the five grounds of appeal upon which the Appellants’ Notice of Appeal was predicated and the issues formulated therefrom for being incompetent Appeal Struck Out.
Representation
O. Shashore, SAN with others for the Appellants. Akintola Makinde with another for the 2nd Respondent.
A. J. Owonikoko, SAN with another for the 4th – 6th Respondent.
Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)
Honourable Jamilu Yammama Tukur, JSC
NBA Owerri Branch Rejects Appointment of Acting CJ
Stories by Steve Aya
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch has expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment of Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu as the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State by the Governor of Imo State on the 2nd of April, 2025.
Following this development, the Chairman, Chief Chris U. Ihentuge immediately on the same April 2, 2025, directed the Secretary to convene an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Branch, which was duly convened, and issued a press release pursuant to the unanimous resolution of the Exco members.
It said ‘It is a matter of public record and knowledge that Hon. Justice Nzeukwu is not the most senior Judge of the Imo State High Court, as there are three other Judges who are senior to him. The appointment of an Acting Chief Judge must conform strictly to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), particularly Section 271(4), which states: ‘If the office of Chief Judge
of a State is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, until a person has been appointed to, and has assumed the functions of that office, the Governor of the State shall appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court to perform those functions".
‘The Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch, insists that due process must be followed in the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge.
‘If, for any reason, the most senior Judge or Judges were bypassed, the rationale for this deviation must be immediately justified.
‘If there exists any
impediment preventing the senior Judges from assuming the role, such an impediment, if valid, should not only disqualify them from the position of Acting Chief Judge, but also from sitting as judicial officers at all.’
The Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch demanded that the Governor should, immediately, take
steps to address the situation and reverse the action which is inconsistent with the Constitution.
In a related development, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has stated that it wasn’t a part of the appointment of the Imo State Acting Chief Judge. In a statement signed by the NJC Deputy Director (Information), Kemi
said that Governor
had earlier written to the NJC requesting approval for Justice Nzeukwu’s appointment, but that the NJC was yet to consider the request. That deliberation on the Governor’s request will come up at the Council’s meeting on April 29 and 30, 2025.
Elias Confirmed as Chief Registrar of Lagos State High Court
Mr Tajudeen Adegbenga Elias has been officially confirmed as the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State, effective January 2, 2025. A graduate of Lagos State University, Ojo, Elias earned his law degree in 1994, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1996.
He began his legal career at the law firm of Sola Idowu, SAN & Co., where he practiced between 1997 and 1999 before joining the Lagos State Judiciary as a Magistrate.
Since then, Mr Elias has steadily risen through the ranks, serving in various judicial and administrative roles. His positions have included Coroner in the
Ikeja Magisterial District, Chairman of the Family Court, and Deputy Chief Registrar (Administration) at the High Court in Ikeja. Prior to his confirmation, he served as Acting Chief Registrar.
Over the years, Mr Elias has also engaged in professional development through international training. He participated in a training on Judicial Case Management (October 2011) and Effective People
Management (May–June 2012), both organised by RIPA International in London. In December 2006, he also attended a judicial training programme at the National Judicial College, University of Nevada, Reno, USA. He currently serves on several Committees within the High Court and chairs a number of them, contributing significantly to the administration of justice in Lagos State.
Lagos-Calabar Costal Road: Court Strikes Out Suit Against Project
The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has struck out the suit filed against the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Costal Road project, by some indigenes of Okun-Ajah Community and other concerned property owners at Okun-Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, for lack of jurisdiction.
Decongestion: LACON, Foundation, Secure Release of Seven Inmates from Nasarawa, Suleja Correctional Centres
A total of seven inmates from both the Nasarawa State Command and Medium Security Custodian Centre, Suleja, Niger State, have been released from custody. Their release was made possible by the payment of fines and compensations on their behalf by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), in collaboration with the Harrison Goday Foundation. According to a statement by LACON's Assistant Director, Press, Amaka Agbaih, a total of N1,050,000 was paid by Harrison Goday Foundation to secure the release of the inmates. The statement explained that the gesture was aimed at addressing the problem of congestion, by providing
relief to indigent persons who were convicted and sentenced to fines, but were unable to pay the fines imposed on them or compensation awarded against them.
"About three of them had served their sentences, but were unable to pay compensation to the victims as ordered by the court", the statement read in part. Meanwhile, the Director General of the Legal Aid Council, represented by the Head of the Decongestion Unit, Mr Oliver Chukwuma, has observed that the custodial centres are still plagued with the persistent challenge of overcrowding and under-staffing, leading to lack of adequate manpower/personnel to man the facilities. He
thanked the Foundation for the gesture, just as he expressed hope for future collaboration.
He also applauded the Nigerian Correctional Service for their cooperation, and assistance with the administrative procedures on the payment of the fines and compensations.
On his part, the Chairman of Harrison Goday Foundation, Mr Ogochukwu Nga, while addressing the released inmates, appealed to them to avoid actions, behaviours and associations that could lead them back into the correctional system.He emphasised the need for rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into the society as lawabiding citizens, while hoping to see them do well in future.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, struck out the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1488/2024, for lack of jurisdiction, while delivering a composite ruling on the notice of preliminary objections filed by some Defendant/Objectors to the suit.
The Judge however, transferred the main suit to the Lagos State High Court, as the appropriate court to hear the case.
The Plaintiffs in the suit are Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah Community); Noibi Issa Afolayan; Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman; Olufemi Fasehun and Adeola Tokunbo, all representing Okun-Ajah Community and other Concerned Property Owners at Okun-Ajah Community.
The Defendant/Objectors are the Honourable Minister, Dr Dave Umahi; Engineer Olukorede Keisha; Federal Ministry of Works & Housing; Attorney-General of Lagos State; Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development; SurveyorGeneral of Lagos State; General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority; General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency and Hitech Construction Limited.
The Plaintiffs’ through their Lawyers, A.O. Ajiboye, and E. C. Okorie had asked the court to stop the project on several grounds. They
sought the following reliefs: “An order to set aside acts of encroachment on their landed properties, setting aside designs, plans of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on their parcels of land.
“An order restraining the 1st-3rd and 9th Defendants from encroaching, trespassing and diverting the construction of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Road into their land.”
The Plaintiffs also made claims for damages, for acts of trespassing on the land in dispute.
But, the Defendant/ Objectors prayed the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. Specifically, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 9th Defendant/Objectors in their separate preliminary objections filed through their Lawyers who are Prof J.O. Olatoke, SAN; Y.A.H. Ruba, SAN; Roy U. Nwaeze, SAN and Ibukun Fasoro, asked the court to strike out or dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.
The Defendant/Objectors premised their preliminary objections on seven grounds, supported by an eight paragraphed affidavit. Based on the Defendant/ Objectors’ preliminary objections, the Plaintiffs filed an 11 paragraphed counter-affidavit.
Delivering his ruling on the arguments canvassed by both parties, Justice Aluko held that: “… coming from
the foregoing, the issues in the two NPOs of the 1st –3rd Defendants and that of 9th Defendant are resolved in favour of the Objectors against the Plaintiffs.
“Counsel to the Plaintiffs made an alternative submission in his written address, urging the court not to strike out this suit if the court finds that it lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate over the case.
“Counsel urged the court to transfer this suit to the State High Court, instead of striking out same.
“I agree with Counsel on this request, as this court possesses the needed power and jurisdiction to accede to such prayer.
“This court is fortified under Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, which provides thus: ‘No cause or matter shall be struck out by the court merely on the ground that such cause or matter was taken in the court instead of the High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in which it ought to have been brought, and the Judge of the court before whom such cause or matter is brought may cause such cause or matter to be transferred to the appropriate High Court of a State or at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in accordance with Rules of Court to be made under Section 44 of this Act.”
NBA Owerri Branch Chairman, Chief Chris Ihentuge
Director General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar
Babalola Ogedengbe,
Uzodinma
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Chief Registrar, Lagos State High Court, Tajudeen Adegbenga Elias
Introduction
In the long run, one of the Senatorial Districts or constituencies in Nigeria may provide the pathway to a good understanding of the constitutional and practical issues and steps, in Nigeria’s recall process. Of all the recall initiatives or attempted recall processes, only in Kogi State did the electoral management body reach the signature count and verification stage. However, the signature count and verification failed in both instances, and the subsequent referendum was not conducted. Therefore, the practice of recall remains inchoate, and in the long run, we may get to the referendum stage and have a good understanding of the processes and procedures of recall.
A few issues have emerged, in our recall practice. The first is that, the recall process is cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming. The second is that, the framers of the Constitution desire that members of the National and State Assembly must have the freedom to carry out their legislative duties, and take popular and unpopular positions on issues without the fear of being recalled by their constituents. The third is that, petitioners and the member-facing recall must not be hasty in casting aspersions on the electoral management body, in its approach to the law and practice of recall. Finally, the recall process is law, practice, and politics.
The Constitutional Imperative In some jurisdictions, constitutional provisions remain dormant until tested in the crucible of practice. Sometimes, the protagonists get the constitutional and practical issues right. At other times, the courts, and sometimes the Constitutional Court, intervene to establish the correct legal position and the practical procedures guiding the process. This is why the Supreme Court is called the guardian of the Constitution — it aligns with legal and practical dictates, and spares the country and all critical stakeholders the anxiety and cost of constitutional alteration when faced with a roadblock.
Fundamentally, initiating and responding to a recall are intertwined with politics. Politics brought the members whose recall has been initiated, and the recall itself is also political. The only difference is that, in both instances, the processes and procedures must be strictly adhered to. The National and State Assemblies can initiate the removal of a President or a Governor from office, when they commit an impeachable offence. Section 143 provides that the President or Vice-President may be removed from office whenever a notice of any allegation in writing, signed by no less than one-third of the members of the National Assembly, is presented to the President of the Senate, stating that the holder of the office of President or Vice-President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of their official functions. This is a significant responsibility, designed to check abuses of office and other constitutional and legal infractions.
The framers of the Constitution also decided that, since the National and State Assemblies are the tribunes of the people, the sovereign right to recall them must reside with the public. Section 69 of the Constitution provides that a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives may be recalled, if a petition is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in that behalf, signed by more than one half of the registered voters in that member's constituency, alleging a loss of confidence in that member. The signatures must be duly verified by INEC, and the petition must subsequently be approved in a referendum conducted by INEC within ninety days of receipt, requiring a simple majority of the votes cast by the registered voters in that member's constituency.
The Practice of Recall
On 19th September, 2024, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, signed the Regulations and Guidelines for the Recall of a Member of the National Assembly, House
The Law, Practice and Politics of Recall
This article by Festus Okoye takes us through the proper process for recalling a Legislator, concluding that the recall process is cumbersome, time-consuming, costly, and problematic, and therefore, shouldn’t be viewed as a joke, or a platform for grandstanding, particularly as it involves the use of taxpayers' funds
of Assembly of a State, or Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (2024). These Regulations and Guidelines restate the constitutional provisions on recall, and provide clear guidelines for the recall of a member.
The first hurdle for petitioners is that, the petition must be signed with signatures or thumbprints and shall include the names, Voter Identification Numbers (VIN), and signatures of the petitioners arranged by Polling Units in the constituency of the member sought to be recalled. The name(s), contact address(es), phone number(s), and email address(es) of the representative(s) of the petitioners specified in the cover letter forwarding the petition to the Commission.
Upon notification of the member subject to recall, the Commission must verify that the petition is signed by more than half (over 50%) of the registered voters in that member’s constituency. Following this, there will be a public notice or announcement stating the day, time, location, and other verification details.
After the publication, verification will be conducted in the polling units within the constituency of the member sought to be recalled. This will be carried out by Verification Officers (VOs), and supervised by either an electoral officer, assistant electoral officer, or any other officer designated by the Commission.
The petitioners and the member subject to recall, can appoint Verification Agents who must be registered voters for each polling unit and collation centre in their constituency. The signatures/thumbprints
“The recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District…Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District, the Commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/ thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners. This translates to 43.86% of the registered voters, which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories”
verification of the petitioners will be at the polling units, using the Register of Petitioners (Form EC 41) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The outcome of the verification exercise shall be announced at the polling unit, and collated by the Registration Area Verification Collation Officer and the Local Government Area Verification Collation Officer. The Constituency Verification/ Declaration Officer shall announce the outcome of the verification. The Commission shall not conduct a referendum, if the verification indicates that not more than one-half of the registered voters in that member’s constituency endorsed the petition. The conduct of the referendum shall follow the same pattern as the verification exercise, with the appointment of Referendum Officers. Voters shall select ‘YES’ or 'NO' on the ballot paper.
The Signature Count
The recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, ended at the level of signature count. At its regular weekly meeting on Thursday, April 3, 2025, the electoral management body among other issues considered and approved the report of its physical count of the signatures/ thumbprints forwarded with the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, in line with Clause 2(b) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. It pointed out that, the total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District is 474,554. More than one-half of this figure (that is, 50%+1) is 237,277+1 voters. “Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District, the Commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/ thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners. This translates to 43.86% of the registered voters, which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.”
The Signature Verification
The only recall process that reached the signature verification stage, was that of Senator Dino Melaye. Before the verification process, Senator Melaye approached the Federal High Court to stop the recall
process. On September 11, 2017, Hon. Justice Dimgba dismissed the suit filed by Senator Melaye, ruling that his suit was ‘hasty, premature, and presumptuous”. Senator Melaye then filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, arguing that the Federal High Court Judge “erred in law” when he validated the petition presented to INEC for his recall. On March 16, 2018, the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Tunde Awotoye, dismissed Melaye's appeal due to lack of cause of action.
The signature verification proceeded, and the electoral management body mobilised to Kogi West Senatorial District. On April 28, 2018, Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, the Declaration Officer for the exercise in the senatorial district, stated that only 18,742 of the 189,870 signatories to the petition for the Senator’s recall were verified by INEC. The verified signatories represented 5.34% of the 351,146 registered voters in the senatorial district. In his final declaration, he affirmed: 'I, Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, affirm that the verification of signatures to the petition for the recall of Senator Dino David Melaye of Kogi West Senatorial District has taken place on this day, the 28th of April, 2018, and that the verified signatures constitute 5.34% of the total number of registered voters in the constituency, and have therefore, not satisfied the legal requirement for a referendum.”
Recall is Cumbersome
The recall process is cumbersome, timeconsuming, costly, and problematic. The designers of the Constitution intend for members of the National and State Assembly to be free to exercise independent opinions, and take actions that may appear unpopular in some quarters. The petitioners' representatives must understand that taxpayers' money is used in the verification and referendum, and must be prepared to shoulder the consequences of any deliberate infraction of the essence of recall. We must not view the recall process as a joke, or a platform for grandstanding. Recall is part of the democratic process, and serves as an accountability mechanism. There is nothing wrong or odious about it. What can be problematic is the potential for abuse, which must not be allowed to occur.
Festus Okoye, former National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, INEC
Festus Okoye
Uromi 16 Killing: Failure of Security?
Life is precious, and when 16 souls are lost in one fell swoop under preventable circumstances, it diminishes the humanity in us. The recent wanton massacre of 16 alleged Hunters of Northern extraction, travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano by Vigilantes in Uromi, Edo State, calls for a volte-face and total rejig of the nation’s approach to local policing. Kunle Edun, SAN; Pius Damba Pius; Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja and Emmanuel Onwubiko delve into the issue, raising crucial questions including whether the victims were really hunters or kidnappers relocating to the North as alleged. They also make suggestions, as to how to tackle this insecurity menace more effectively
Uromi 16 Murders: Is Jungle Justice
Now the New Normal?
Kunle Edun, SAN
Introduction
Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended provides that the security and welfare of Nigerians shall ne primary purpose of government. The recent implementation of jungle justice by some vigilante groups at Uromi, where 16 alleged hunters were murdered allegedly, has been a talking point for some days. Let me quickly state that, the senseless killing is condemnable and is an impunity taken too far. No person has the right to take the life of another person. The Bible, Quran and moral codes do not support it. It is only in a lawless society, that people can just be picked up anywhere and summarily executed in public without any lawful justification. Resort to jungle justice is a throwback of the primitive state of nature where life was short, nasty and brutish. It should have no place in any
sane society. Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees to every person the right to life, and that no one's life can be taken except in the manner provided by the Constitution. Also, Section 41 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen of Nigeria the right to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part of the country. Therefore, it is taken for granted that every person, no matter where he is resident in Nigeria, can move to any other
“There are allegations of families of kidnap victims being demanded money from, before the Police will take up their case. There are also allegations of victims' families being told to pay for the use of the Police tracking equipment, which were bought with public funds. How true are they? Things like this destroy the image of the Police, and are likely to compel the citizens to resort to jungle justice, as in the Uromi case”
part of the country and consider that place as his residence without any inhibition from government, the local communities and/or any person. This accounts for why we have Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo settlements in areas different from their States of origin. Nigeria is, and ought to be, a brotherhood. It was therefore, a huge setback seeing the Uromi massacre. The incident almost rested the unity of Nigeria as a country, but for the commendable quick intervention of both the Edo and Kano State Government, in dousing the tension created by the sad incident.
The Government of both Edo and Kano States and the security agencies should not just stop at arresting the alleged killers and charging them to Court; they ought to do more. For there to be a lasting peace and prevent a resurgence of the same incident in Uromi and others, many questions are begging for answers and Nigerians want answers. We must stop playing politics with issues that border on security of the people. Governments and the security agencies must act in a manner that will be seen to be fair, transparent and candid in the interest of all the parties involved, that is, the deceaseds’ families and the people of Uromi.
In fact, an independent panel of inquiry that would include representatives of the security agencies, the Edo State Government, Kano State Government, the Uromi community and the NBA, should be set up.
The True Position of Things
For years now, many States in Nigeria have been plagued with the triple evil of banditry, kidnapping and herdsmen-farmer clashes. Kidnapping by bandits and persons masquerading as herdsmen, has been on the sharp increase overtime. Many lives have been lost, billions of Naira paid in ransom every month, farms destroyed, farmers can no longer go to their farms,
and many Nigerians are now afraid of travelling by road for fear of being kidnapped. Kidnapping is now a thriving business. The security agencies have largely been found wanting, in dealing with this menace.
Few days after the Uromi incident, it was alleged that another trailer carrying some persons from the North was stopped in Edo State, and guns were discovered hidden in wrapped materials. Why is it that easy for some persons to have easy access to guns, while many other Nigerians who truly need protection are denied the same weapons? Is it possible that these bandits and kidnappers are part of a well-oiled syndicate?
In spite of the widespread of banditry and kidnapping, there is no record of any big fish being caught. There was a time it was said that the Dubai authorities were willing to furnish Nigeria with the names of sponsors of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, but nothing was heard of same after then.
A Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and some other prominent Nigerians, once alleged that some of the bandits have sponsors in government. The increasing wave of banditry and kidnapping have impacted seriously on the nation’s treasury, with Nigeria’s defence budget being more than the budget for Education, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Internal Affairs and Transport, therefore, depriving the country of the much-needed funds to cater for critical areas of the economy that will drive growth. The cost of food has quadrupled in less than 4 years, majorly because of the effect of banditry. Farmers have been killed while on their farms. Women raped. This country cannot continue living a lie. Things are not alright. The mainstream and social media are awash everyday, with news of kidnapping and banditry. It is now the new normal. Because the security agencies are overwhelmed, Nigerians are now left at the mercy of kidnappers. Unless a kidnap victim is an important personality, the swift intervention of the security agencies cannot be assured. There
Uromi 16 Killing: Failure of Security?
This leads us to the next question 3. What should the Government do, to forestall future occurrences in other parts of the country?
Both the Nigeria Police and the National Centre for Small and Light Weapons, ought to open a National Register of all licensed firearms holders, including hunters.
In addition, to issuance of a firearms licence, after every three months, both the Nigeria Police and the National Centre for Small and Light Weapons must make it a mandatory requirement, for firearms licence holders to visit their offices for re-validation of eligibility to hold the said firearms licence. This re-validation exercise shall include mental and physical tests to ensure that firearms licence holders still meet the eligibility requirements.
All firearms licence holders should be mandated to carry a photocopy of their licences upon themselves at all times, when they are travelling with their firearms. This will enable them to show the said copy upon demand by anyone, especially law enforcement officials.
In accordance with Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Nigeria Police ought to conduct training for all members of vigilante groups who are in possession of firearms. This is in addition to the role of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who have the statutory responsibility to licence and regulate all private security firms operating in Nigeria.
Final Note: A Lesson from Lesotho Kingdom
On a final note, Nigeria can learn lessons from the Kingdom of Lesotho, which as at the year 2023 is fighting the epidemic of uncontrolled firearms that has made it the murder capital of Africa, and the country with the third highest number of murders in the world.
This is due to the illegal influx of firearms from South Africa, which is not strictly regulated by the relevant government agencies.
Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja
Uromi Incident: Failure of Security
Emmanuel Onwubiko
Introduction
deploy any number of armed Police operatives, that you can pay the big men in the Police to have. So in effect, the Police operatives available for the real job of combating criminality in the towns, villages and urban city centres are so few that it becomes increasing impossible to have them respond to distress calls in good time.
There is also this angle of the spectacular failure of intelligence and security architecture in the sense that the Department of State Services (DSS) right from Port Harcourt to Edo State couldn't get the intelligence that ought to reveal to them that a group of men who left such a commercially viable city of Port Harcourt enroute Kano, and who would go through several States were actually conveying weapons, even if these are dane guns.
violent crackdown by the Nigeria Army on the procession staged in Abuja by the Shiites, in which over a dozen persons were killed, just as the Rights group expressed shock and consternation at the gruesome mass murder of a group of travelling hunters mistaken for kidnappers in Edo State and massacred by vigilante members.
HURIWA said it is so unfortunate that Nigeria has become the killing field, whereby armed State and non-State actors are going about taking away precious lives of mostly innocent citizens, even as the Rights group wondered how and why the Government in Abuja has often permitted the military and Police to use lethal weapons and live bullets, instead of water canons and rubber bullets to break up demonstrations staged by citizens.
State Government to prosecute and punish the killers of these travelling hunters.
"We appeal to opinion leaders in the North, to stop ethnicising this criminality of mass murder of hunters. This crude crime is not something that we should look at, from the prism of ethnic colouration. We must not instigate reprisals with the panicky and ethnicity coloured reactions, the leaders from a section of Nigeria give to this act of despicable criminality. Let us condemn criminality, but let us not encourage reprisal killing of Southerners residing in the North by the way we paint this crime, as if it is South versus North. The crime is reprehensible and is not a war between sections of Nigeria, but between forces of good and evil which the law enforcement agencies should be allowed to handle.
The very sad mob attack on some alleged Northern travelling hunters, who were reportedly found with dane guns by the vigilantes in Uromi Edo State, can be attributed to the rapidly declining quality of security architecture in the country. Edo State specifically has been turned into a killing field by mostly armed Northern terrorists masquerading as herders, and the security forces have failed to combat these attacks and bring offenders to justice.
Pertinent Questions
This is so, for a number of fundamental reasons. The first one is to inquire into how a large group of men in a truck, travelled all the way from PortHarcourt in Rivers State to Edo State which is a considerable long distance, but yet these travellers were never intercepted by the security forces who often mount hundreds of road blocks, particularly in Southern Nigeria, and are often accused of extorting travellers and residents of South East who are going about their businesses.
The second question is to ask if these travelling hunters who were said to be returning to Kano from Rivers for the Sallah festivities, went along with their arms and ammunition on the highway in this period of heightened state of insecurity. Are these travellers not resident in Rivers State?
Thirdly, why did it take a long time for the Police in Uromi to intervene, or is it that there is no Police station or unit operating in Uromi which by all standards is not a village as such? The problem of lack of efficient and effective policing in Nigeria, can be found in the high number of armed Police operatives attached to politically exposed public office holders. Also, here in our country, once you manage to become rich by any conceivable means, you can literally buy your security by bribing the Police Commissioners in the State commands to
Effect of Use of Lethal Weapons by Security Against the People
There was a claim that AK-49 rifle was seen amongst the concealed weapons in the possession of these travelling 'hunters'. This is however, not any justification for the lynch mob attack and killings of the persons.
There is also a nexus between the rise in the use of lynch mob tactics of combatting crimes by the people who feel abandoned by the publicly funded security forces, and the frequent use of lethal weapons to quell peaceful protests by civilians all around the country.
So, we can as well blame the security forces including the President who is the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, for deciding that the best approach to control protests is to deploy armed operatives who easily use lethal weapons by soldiers and Police in the bid to quell peaceful assembly.
This is the primary source of encouragement for the rest of the Nigerian people who often think that the quickest way to deliver justice to suspected criminals is not to take such persons to the Police or the law enforcement agencies, but rather, to resort to self help measures since the people often witness how Soldiers and Police easily open fire using lethal weapons against civilians who are simply out in the streets of Nigeria to protest.
This Uromi incident took place a few months after Soldiers and Police were deployed, to quell peaceful nationwide protests in August of last year. It would be recalled that the security forces deployed lethal weapons and crude force, against the largely peaceful protesting Nigerian youths who turned up to denounce bad government and the cost of living crisis.
The Uromi incident happened a few days apart from the violent attacks of Soldiers against the protesting Islamic sectarian group known as Shiite, who were on procession after the Ramadan fast to protest against the Israeli killings of children in Gaza Palestinian homes. This informed the reason why the pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group: Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had condemned the penultimate weekend's
“All firearms licence holders should be mandated to carry a photocopy of their licences upon themselves at all times, when they are travelling with their firearms. This will enable them to show the said copy upon demand by anyone, especially law enforcement officials”
HURIWA said the rampant deployment of armed security forces to use weapons of death to quell civil protests, processions, demonstrations or even peaceful assembly, is what has provided the needed motivation for armed non-State actors to continue to kill citizens at the slightest opportunity available to them.
HURIWA recalled that clashes between protesters and Army at a march by a Shiite group in Nigeria, left a dozen people dead, according to a Government intelligence report seen by AFP on Saturday. Eleven protesters and one soldier were killed, the report said, at a pro-Palestinian demonstration held by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in the capital Abuja. Amnesty International’s Nigeria Branch said soldiers fired live rounds at the protesters. The IMN has been outlawed by Nigerian authorities, for advocating an Islamic revolution in the West African nation. However, at the time of its banning, in 2019, researchers characterised it as more interested in protest than political violence.
Barbaric Uromi Mob Attack
Besides, at least seven suspected kidnappers were set ablaze and killed in a "barbaric" mob attack in Nigeria's Southern town of Uromi, the Edo Governor said. Governor Monday Okpebholo condemned the mob killing of the individuals, pledging that those responsible would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims, identified as Northern Hausa hunters, were stopped by local security while travelling in a commercial truck. A search of the vehicle uncovered guns, triggering a mob attack by residents who accused them of being kidnappers and Fulani herdsmen.
HURIWA Condemns this unlawful killings of citizens just on mere and unsubstantiated allegations that they were kidnappers. "If they were kidnappers, why not hand them over to the Nigeria Police for the necessary legal prosecution?"
HURIWA said: "This kind of mob killing is what we have consistently condemned, and this is why we think the Federal Government should not flippantly permit armed security forces to open fire on civilian protesters, as we have continued to witness since President Tinubu assumed office. His administration has shown zero-tolerance for civil protests of any genre, and has often deployed armed security forces to use maximum and deadly force to quell the protests leading to fatalities.
"These State sponsored killings of civilian protesters, are exactly what motivate mobs and armed non-State actors to embark on instantaneous killings of persons suspected of committing a crime, either wrongly or rightly. Government must become a respecter of the sanctity of human life. We call on the Edo
Curbing Reprisals
On the best way to curb or stop reprisals, HURIWA called on the DSS and the National Security Adviser, to fish out the miscreants and outlaws in Northern Nigeria who are making videos being posted on social media calling for Northern Muslims to attack Christians and Southerners living in the North. In a media statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA warned that should the miscreants in the North make good their openly canvassed warmongering, the consequences would be far-reaching as the vicious circle of reprisals all over the South could unleash more violence. The security forces should make hay whilst the sun shines, and should chase these black goats now before the night arrives.
HURIWA said: "The media is replete with stories about certain identified miscreants operating from locations in the North of Nigeria, who are are circulating incendiary and divisive hate-filled messages through videos posted on social media advocating that Southerners and Christians residing in the North should be attacked as a revenge for the killings of some travelling 'hunters' in in Uromi Edo State.
"We are shocked that the DSS or the office of the National Security Adviser have maintained a frightening but loud silence about these ominous and warmongering messages, just as the security forces have, so far, not moved in to arrest and prevent the threats from coming to fruition. Or are the security forces waiting to see if those threatening will make good their threats, before they are decisively taken out and dealt the severest blow in line with the due process of the law?"
HURIWA recalled that a man from Northern Nigeria has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu and the Edo Governor, demanding swift action to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killing of 16 Northerners in Uromi, Edo State. In a video seen by the media on Tuesday, he threatened that failure to do so would lead to retaliatory attacks against Southerners residing in the North.
In the three-minute, 30-second video obtained, the unidentified man expressed his concerns over the killings, stating that Northerners wouldn’t remain patient in the face of such attacks. He implied that any reprisals in the North, should be blamed on Southerners.
Reacting, HURIWA warned that the DSS and other intelligence agencies, must swiftly move to arrest these persons instigating others and actually threatening to orchestrate a bloody revenge on Southerners living in the North and bring them to book. The Rights group said these threats are real, must be taken seriously and nipped in the bud before they are actualised.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, Founder, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA); former National Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria
The Central Bank of Nigeria has just injected a whopping $197.71 million into the foreign exchange market which reflects a strategic effort to stabilize the naira amidst global economic turbulence.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Director of the Financial Markets Department, Dr Omolara Omotunde-Duke, reiterating the bank’s stance on maintaining market integrity and operational transparency.
“This intervention aligns with the bank’s broader objectives of fostering liquidity and ensuring orderly market functioning, particularly in the face of declining crude oil prices and the ripple effects of U.S. import tariffs, the statement added
The move also underscored the CBN’s commitment to maintaining market integrity and operational transparency, even as Nigeria grapples with the challenges posed by a volatile global macroeconomic landscape.
For manufacturers, the stabilization of the foreign exchange market offers a glimmer of hope. The improved availability of foreign exchange and enhanced market transparency have begun to restore confidence in the sector. After enduring years of unsold inventory and economic uncertainty, manufacturers are cautiously optimistic about the future. The introduction of mechanisms like the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System has further bolstered market stability, enabling manufacturers to plan and price their products more effectively. This renewed confidence is evident in the emergence of new factories and the resilience of existing ones, signaling a potential rebound in the manufacturing sector.
The banking industry, however, faces a complex set of implications. While the injection of liquidity into the FX market may mitigate immediate pressures, the broader economic environment remains challenging. Banks must navigate rising operational costs, fluctuating interest rates, and the need for technological investments to maintain competitiveness. The anticipated stabilization of the naira could reduce foreign exchange revaluation gains, compelling banks to explore alternative revenue streams. Nonetheless, the sector’s recapitalization efforts and the gradual recovery of major enterprises offer a promising outlook for sustained growth.
The decline in official forex receipts and the depletion of foreign reserves can be attributed to several factors. A significant drop in crude oil prices, coupled with production challenges such as theft and pipeline vandalism, has reduced Nigeria’s petrodollar earnings. Additionally, the
global economic slowdown and the imposition of tariffs by major economies have dampened export revenues. The Central Bank’s consistent interventions to stabilize the naira, including sales to authorized dealers and support for Bureau de Change operators, have further strained reserves. Moreover, the high demand for foreign exchange to fund imports, service external debts, and meet other obligations has outpaced inflows, exacerbating the depletion.
To adopt a more flexible exchange rate policy that reflects market realities and reduces speculative pressures, the Central Bank should consider implementing a unified exchange rate regime to eliminate arbitrage opportunities and enhance transparency. This approach would involve the consolidation of multiple exchange rates into a single market-driven rate, which reflects genuine demand and supply dynamics. By doing so, the CBN can remove disparities between official and parallel market rates, thereby reducing incentives for speculative trading and curbing market distortions.
A unified regime should be supported by
transparent guidelines and active monitoring to ensure adherence among market participants. Strengthening regulatory oversight of trading activities will further bolster the credibility of this policy shift. Establishing a well-regulated interbank market where the naira’s value is determined transparently through competitive bidding processes can help achieve this goal. The Central Bank can also leverage technology-driven solutions to enhance the efficiency and security of forex transactions, minimizing risks of fraud and manipulation.
Periodic interventions should be strategically targeted and data-driven, avoiding excessive depletion of foreign reserves. Communication with market participants is critical to manage expectations and mitigate uncertainty, and the CBN should clearly outline its policy objectives and progress toward achieving them.
The Central Bank’s past injections of foreign exchange have had significant impacts on Nigeria’s economy. These interventions have often provided temporary relief to the naira, curbing sharp depreciations and stabilizing the forex market. By increasing liquidity, the CBN has mitigated the risk of market distortions and speculative pressures, fostering a more transparent and efficient trading environment. The injections have also bolstered investor confidence, attracting foreign portfolio investments and encouraging economic activity. However, the reliance on such measures has sometimes strained foreign reserves, highlighting the need for sustainable strategies to address underlying economic challenges.
The intervention also has direct implications for the standard of living of ordinary Nigerians. By stabilizing the naira, the CBN helps to curb inflationary pressures, which can otherwise erode purchasing power and increase the cost of essential goods and services. A more stable exchange rate can lead to lower import costs, making consumer goods more affordable and improving the quality of life for many Nigerians. However, the benefits may not be evenly distributed, as those in vulnerable economic positions may still face challenges due to broader economic uncertainties.
Political instability in many parts of Nigeria significantly affects the stability of the naira amidst global turbulence. Insecurity, ethno-religious conflicts, and governance challenges disrupt economic activities, deter foreign investments, and undermine investor confidence. These factors exacerbate the volatility of the naira, as reduced economic productivity and capital flight strain foreign exchange reserves.
Political instability also hampers the implementation of consistent economic policies, creating uncertainty that further weakens the currency.
To address these challenges, Nigeria must prioritize national security and political stability. Strengthening law enforcement, addressing the root causes of conflicts, and promoting inclusive governance can create a conducive environment for economic growth. Electoral reforms, anti-corruption measures, and judicial independence are essential to restoring public trust and fostering stability. Encouraging dialogue and reconciliation among diverse communities can also reduce tensions and promote unity.
Sustainable strategies to address underlying economic challenges must focus on diversification. Reducing reliance on crude oil revenues is crucial, with the government actively promoting non-oil exports through incentives, access to capital, and infrastructure improvements. Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and services can spur economic growth and reduce unemployment. Improved agricultural productivity, driven by modern farming techniques and policy support, can enhance food security and lessen import dependence.
In addition to diversification, enhancing fiscal discipline is essential. The government should prioritize efficient resource allocation, curbing wasteful expenditures, and ensuring that budgets align with developmental objectives. Strategic investment in infrastructure, including energy, transportation, and technology, can stimulate economic activity and attract foreign investment. Strengthening partnerships with international organizations and donor agencies can provide additional funding for key projects. To rebuild foreign reserves, the CBN should adopt measures to boost foreign exchange inflows, such as favorable policies for remittances and foreign direct investments. Streamlined processes and competitive incentives can make Nigeria a more attractive destination for capital inflows. Transparent governance and robust regulatory frameworks will further bolster investor confidence.
The future outlook for Nigeria’s economy hinges on the sustained implementation of strategic reforms and adaptive policies. The CBN’s efforts to stabilize the forex market, coupled with government initiatives to boost crude oil production and diversify the economy, are expected to drive economic recovery. Projections indicate potential GDP growth, reduced inflation, and increased foreign exchange inflows, supported by improved domestic production and investment in critical sectors. The interplay between global and domestic factors will continue to shape Nigeria’s economic trajectory, underscoring the importance of resilience, innovation, and disciplined governance in achieving long-term stability and growth.
#takeitback: Police Teargas Protesters, Journalists in Abuja, Rivers, Ibadan, Others
their elected governor and Rivers State House of Assembly members.
Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Otherwise peaceful protests in parts of the country, including Abuja, Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Ibadan in Oyo State, yesterday, turned into violence as some policemen allegedly attacked and teargassed the protesters, including journalists covering the demonstrations.
In Port Harcourt, the protesters led by one Amanye King, Coordinator of “Take it Back”, began their peaceful march from the popular Isaac Boro park in Mile 1 axis of Port Harcourt, and on getting to CFC junction on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, they had the attack from the police personnel.
Earlier, Amanye had explained that the purpose for the protest was to express their grievances over the repeal of the Cyber Crime Act, and also the unconstitutional removal of
“We are here as organisation affiliated with other groups, as Rivers people to march and express our grievances. We are not here to cause any harm and the security men are here with us.
“Our grievances are the repeal of the cyber crime act, as Rivers people, the unconstitutional removal of our elected governor and Rivers State House of Assembly.
“We are demanding a government for the people of Rivers State, because as it stands, this military government is alien to our people, so, we are here to demand that our governor comes back to office and lead us appropriately.”
Also, Solomon Lenu, who spoke for coalition of Rivers State civil society on the protest, said Nigeria was in a dictatorship rule and not democracy. He condemned the suspension of an elected government for a military administration.
But a few minutes into the protest, at CFC junction, some policemen trying to disperse the peaceful protesters shot tear gas canister at them including journalists who were covering the march.
A reporter with Channels TV was arrested and subsequently released, while other journalists from radio stations and newspapers had minor injury while trying to escape the canister.
Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, claimed that there was no attack on the protesters.
In a statement, she described the peaceful protesters as a group of miscreants engaging in criminal acts, including the theft of mobile phones and other valuables from unsuspecting members of the public.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the protesters defied heavy presence of the security operatives that were strategically positioned to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
The protesters, the majority of
whom were members of the African Action Congress (AAC), were seen singing solidarity songs, decrying the present state of the economy in the country.
The protest took off from the Iwo road end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the early hours of the day.
Coordinator, Comrade Dimeji Salako, while speaking with journalists, said the essence of the protest was to express displeasure against the Cybercrime Act, which according to him was to gag the people.
The state Chairman of AAC, Comrade Kayode Babayomi, in his own address, said the protesters, mostly youths, wre not pleased with the Act as it was sending people to jail needlessly becaue they chose to express themselves online.
From the federal capital city, police fired teargas canisters at protesters opposing the emergency rule in Rivers State, causing slow vehicular movement in the Maitama district of Abuja.
The protesters, who had gathered to voice their grievances over the state of the economy and the emergency rule in Rivers, were thrown into chaos as teargas filled the air, causing many to flee in different directions.
The demonstration was part of a larger nationwide action led by the Take It Back Movement (TIB), with Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), at the forefront.
“We have informed the political authorities that we will not accept any laws that infringe on our fundamental human rights. We will continue to speak out,” Sowore stated.
While the protesters rallied, Sowore criticised President Bola Tinubu’s absence, claiming, “While we protest here, Tinubu is busy enjoying himself in France. We will not sit idly while the president continues to suppress our rights.”
Juwon Sanyaolu, the national coordinator of TIB, outlined the
group’s core demands, including the repeal of the cybercrime act and the cessation of emergency rule in Rivers state, which they described as a “form of military dictatorship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.”
The Nigeria Police Force had urged the organisers to cancel the protest and encouraged them to engage in dialogue with relevant government authorities.
The protest, unfortunately, coincided with the National Police Day celebration on April 7.
In Lagos, young demonstrators under the TIB movement defied police warnings and came out very early in the morning to partake in the protest.
Clad in their signature orange berets, the protesters began their rally at the Ikeja under-Bridge, marching through major roads in the state capital while chanting solidarity songs, under the watchful eyes of police officers.
CBNGovernor,YemiCardoso
Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan, Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos and Blessing
London Honours Nigerian Entrepreneur, Humanitarian, Dr. StellaRita Asogwa, as Global Power Leader 2025
Mary Nnah
In a grand ceremony at the Global Business Conclave in London, Amb. (Dr.) StellaRita Awelle Nwachukwu Asogwa, a renowned entrepreneur and humanitarian, was conferred with the prestigious Global Power Leader Award 2025.
This esteemed recognition is a tribute to Dr. Asogwa's outstanding contributions to the global business community, as well as her tireless humanitarian efforts. Her achievements serve as a shining example of Nigerian excellence on the world stage.
The Global Power Leader Award is a coveted honour that acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to making a positive impact.
Asogwa's award is a welldeserved acknowledgment of her dedication to empowering communities, promoting entrepreneurship, and driving social change.
As a prominent entrepreneur, Dr. Asogwa has built a successful business empire, with interests in the food, fashion, and education sectors.
Her humanitarian work, through the StellaRita Awelle Humanitarian Foundation, has touched the lives of countless individuals, providing support, empowerment, and hope to those in need.
The StellaRita Awelle Humanitarian Foundation is also the host of the Zarita Fashion and Arts Fusion, an annual event that showcases and empowers African creatives in fashion and arts.
She is also the CEO of Marcoriano Chinese
Restaurant and Zarita Kouture and Academy Abuja, demonstrating her versatility and entrepreneurial spirit.
Recently, Dr. Asogwa launched her book titled, "Shaken, Stirred But Not Deterred", which she coauthored with 12 others.
The book celebrates the resilience of individuals from diverse backgrounds, showcasing their inspiring narratives that illuminate their path to overcoming adversity. The book was released on February 13, 2025, and is currently selling on Amazon.
Dr. Asogwa's achievements have not gone unnoticed, as she was also awarded the Global Women of Influence Award 2024 in Singapore. This recognition is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact.
The Global Business Conclave, held at the iconic House of Lords in London, brought together a distinguished gathering of business leaders, diplomats, and influencers.
The event provided a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and
celebrating excellence in global business and leadership.
Dr. Asogwa's Global Power Leader Award 2025 is a proud moment for Nigeria and a demonstration of the country's growing influence on the global stage.
As a role model and inspiration to many, her achievement will undoubtedly motivate a new generation of entrepreneurs, leaders, and change-makers.
Throughout her career, Dr. Asogwa has demonstrated a remarkable ability to balance business acumen
with social responsibility. Her commitment to philanthropy and community development has earned her numerous accolades and recognition.
Dr. Asogwa's latest achievement is a reflection of her perseverance, resilience, and passion for making a difference. As she continues to inspire and empower others, her legacy will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the world.
The presentation of the Global Power Leader Award 2025 to Dr. Asogwa was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including Katerina
Stavreska, Ambassador of North Macedonia, and Naima Ali, Mayor of Southwark, London. The ceremony was a celebration of Dr. Asogwa's achievements and a recognition of her status as a global leader and change-maker.
As Dr. Asogwa looks to the future, she remains committed to her mission of empowering communities, promoting entrepreneurship, and driving social change. Her Global Power Leader Award 2025 is a badge of honour and a reminder that one person can make a difference in the world.
Interswitch Champions Seamless Digital Payments for Hospitality Sector at Mega HORECA Expo 2025
Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading digital payment and commerce companies, showcased its cutting-edge innovations at the Mega HORECA Expo 2025, which held at the Balmoral Convention Centerin Victoria Island, Lagos recently. The event attracted business owners, hospitality stakeholders, and industry leaders looking to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency, ultimately elevating the world-class hospitality experience.
Organised by Elan Expo, this premier event for the Hotel, Restaurant, and Café (HORECA) industry featured a diverse range of products from both local and international markets, serving as a strategic platform for networking, fostering partnerships, and driving business expansion across the West African hospitality sector.
During the three-day exhibition, Interswitch showcased a robust suite of innovative payment solutions tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the hospitality industry.
The Interswitch Smart POS, designed for fast-paced hospitality environments, enables seamless transactions for guest check-ins, restaurant billing, and payment acceptance, enhancing operational efficiency while ensuring customer satisfaction.
The Interswitch Payment Gateway enables hotels and restaurants to offer frictionless online booking and reservation experience while also streamlining takeaway orders through secure and swift digital transactions. Also, the Interswitch Disbursement solution (Autopay) simplifies bulk payment processing, allowing businesses to efficiently manage vendor payments, staff salaries, and supplier
settlements with accuracy.
In addition, the Till Integration solution ensures seamless synchronisation between POS systems and tills, eliminating manual errors and transaction delays, thereby further enhancing overall operational efficiency. The company’s solutions attracted strong interest from industry professionals at the event. At the Interswitch booth, visitors experienced live demonstrations, gaining firsthand insights into how these solutions can optimise business operations and enhance service delivery.
Speaking on the company’s participation, Muyiwa Asagba, Managing Director, Commercial
Inclusion at Interswitch, highlighted the significance of the event in driving industry innovation: "The International MEGA HORECA 2025 was a fantastic opportunity to showcase how our solutions are reshaping payment experiences in the hospitality sector.
The engagement with industry stakeholders reinforced the growing demand for seamless, technology-driven payment systems that enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.
“At Interswitch we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that not only simplify transactions but also empower businesses to scale and thrive in an evolving
digital landscape."
Osasere Atohengbe, Vice President, Sales and Account Managementfor Commercial Inclusion at Interswitch, added: “We are delighted by the overwhelming response our solutions received at the International MEGA HORECA 2025 expo. The event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with hospitality professionals, understand their evolving needs, and showcase how our solutions can transform their businesses.
“From seamless payment acceptance to operational efficiency, our technology is designed to enhance customer experience while driving revenue growth for merchants. By leveraging insights gained at the event, we remain committed to delivering solutions that not only meet industry standards but also anticipate and address the future needs of the hospitality and food service sectors."
Overall, the Mega HORECA Expo 2025 highlighted the burgeoning potential of Nigeria's hospitality market, offering a comprehensive showcase of products and services designed to elevate the standards of the industry across the continent.
Interswitch's participation at the Mega HORECA Expo 2025 underscored its commitment to transforming the hospitality experience through seamless digital payments. By equipping businesses with cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency, enhance guest satisfaction, and optimise financial operations, Interswitch is setting new industry standards and redefining the future of digital transactions in the hospitality sector.
Award of Global Power Leader 2025 presented to Amb. Dr. StellaRita Awelle Nwachukwu Asogwa (middle) by Katerina Stavreska- Ambassador of North Macedonia (left) and Naima Ali-Mayor Of Southwark, London (right) at the Global Business Conclave, House of Lords, Palace of the Westminster, London
Muyiwa Asagba, Managing Director, Commercial Inclusion at Interswitch and Osasere Atohengbe, Vice President, Sales and Account Management for Commercial Inclusion at Interswitch, with others at the Mega HORECA Expo 2025, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos…recently
L-R: Human Resources/Admin Manager, Natures Gentle Touch, Joy Ebu; workshop participants, Grace Adeifa, Oluwatosin Oluwabummi, and Shaibu Raliat; and Branch Manager, Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute in Ikeja, Lagos, Bibian Ogunwa, during the Natures Gentle Touch Natural Hair workshop in Lagos… recently
L-R: Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Moniepoint Inc, Felix Ike; Head of Financial Services, Department for Business and Trade, DBT, Hugh de Lusignan; Co-Founder and Group CEO, Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda; and British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, during the British envoy’s visit to Moniepoint Inc office in the United Kingdom… recently
L-R: Route-to-Market, Tech Sales and Trade Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Yvonne Onyejiaka; Communications and Sustainability Manager, IBPLC, Damian Igwe; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Africa Vice President and NBA Nigeria Country Head, Gbemisola Abudu; and Castle Lite Nigeria Marketing Manager, Oluwatoyin Ogunjimi, during ‘The Lite Side of the Court’, an exclusive basketball event organised by Castle Lite in partnership with NBA Nigeria in Lagos… recently
L-R: Recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Maritime, Chief Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa, and the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Energy, Mrs. Eyesan Oritsemeyiwa, at the annual Women in Maritime and Energy Awards, held in Lagos… recently
Commissioner of Police of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Adewale Ajao (middle), flanked by other senior officers during his visit to strategic border locations of the FCT, Niger and Kaduna States to enhance and sustain security measures across the capital and its border communities, held in Abuja… recently
L-R: Corporate Affairs and Regulatory Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Temitope Oguntokun; Sales Director, IBPLC, Nicholas Kade; Route-to-Market and Trade Marketing Director, IBPLC, Yvonne Onyejiaka; Managing Director, IBPLC, Carlos Coutino; People Director, IBPLC, Esther Ezenwoko; and Procurement Director, IBPLC, Ogadimma Mordi, during the company’s World Water Day celebration in Lagos… recently
Experts Highlight Role of Technology, Youths in Deepening Insurance Penetration
Ebere Nwoji
Issues bothering on transformative role of technology in deepening insurance and pension penetration in Nigeria formed the trust of experts’ discussion at the 9th BusinessToday Annual conference held in Lagos.
Experts in insurance and pension who spoke at the conference focused their discussions on how Nigerian youths are increasingly embracing technology, leveraging tech hubs, startups, and digital skills training to become innovators in the digital economy.
They noted that these developments provided a unique opportunity for the insurance and pension sectors to extend their reach and drive socio economic progress.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Banking on the future: Youths, Pension and Insurance
Penetration,” the Managing Director, Cornerstone Insurance, Stephen Alangbo, emphasised on transformative role of technology in deepening insurance and pension penetration.
He threw light on the role played by the youths in this regard saying:
“Nigerian youths are increasingly embracing technology, leveraging tech hubs, startups, and digital skills training to become innovators in the digital economy. These developments provide a unique opportunity for the insurance and pension sectors to extend their reach and drive socioeconomic progress,” she stated.
He pointed out that Nigeria boasts one of the world’s largest youth populations, with 1.6 billion young people making up 70 per cent of the country’s total population. According to him, this
demographic shift presents an immense opportunity for industry growth, provided insurers and pension providers adopt digital channels to make their products more accessible.
“To reshape perceptions around pension and insurance, we must tap into mobile platforms and digital solutions that seamlessly integrate with the lifestyles of young Nigerians,” she said.
In his address, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Ayo Omosehin, who was represented by the Deputy Director and Head, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM ) Lagos Control Office, Dr. Julius Odidi expressed commitment to building trust and driving innovation which will pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable financial system, where the needs of the young generation were at the forefront.
Stakeholders Commend IBPLC for Water Conservation Commitment
International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability through innovative water conservation initiatives.
In commemoration of World Water Day, the company hosted a series of impactful activities across its four breweries, emphasising its dedication and leadership in responsible water management and environmental stewardship.
Reflecting on the company’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, the Managing Director, IBPLC, Carlos Coutino said; “Water conservation, and equitable
access to water should be a basic right of all human beings because water is life and an invaluable resource.”
“For us at International Breweries PLC, water is a vital resource in brewing, and we make deliberate efforts to conserve water. Understanding its importance, we have implemented industry-leading conservation practices, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and minimising our ecological footprint,” Coutino further noted.
To mark the 2025 World Water Day, IBPLC welcomed stakeholders to tours across its four
breweries to witness, firsthand, the company’s advanced water conservation systems.
During remarks at the IBPLC’s Gateway Brewery tour, the Commissioner for Environment, Ogun State, Ola Oresanya, who was represented by the Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), Hon. Abayomi Hunpe, noted that the physical inspections of IBPLC’s plant proved that the foremost brewer is doing great things around water conservation to ensure that it meets global standards.
CHI Pharma, PSN-YPG Partner to Highlight Importance of Daily Supplementation
CHI Pharma, a member of Tropical General I Group, recently sponsored the first-quarter general meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria – Young Pharmacists Group (PSN-YPG), Lagos Chapter. The event, held on March 29, 2025, brought together young pharmacists to discuss crucial aspects of proactive healthcare, with a significant focus on the benefits of daily supplementation for sustained well-being.
Keynote speaker and Chief Executive Officer of Primeah Pharmacy, Bunmi Olugbeja, delivered an insightful presentation emphasising the critical role of daily supplementation in addressing nutrient deficiencies prevalent in modern society. Olugbeja highlighted how contemporary dietary habits, the impact of medications, and food processing methods can deplete
essential vitamins and minerals, creating nutritional gaps that can impact long-term health.
“With the exception of Vitamin D, all micronutrients must be obtained from external sources,” stated Pharm. Olugbeja. “However, factors such as soil depletion, excessive cooking, and medication use often prevent individuals from obtaining the necessary nutrients for optimal health. It is crucial for healthcare providers and patients to recognize the potential for druginduced nutrient depletion and consider dietary adjustments or supplementation as a vital part of comprehensive treatment plans.”
During the event, Assistant Area Sales Manager at CHI Pharma, Joy Ndionuka, presented Supramult, a premium dietary supplement from CHI Pharma, as a key solution for bridging these nutritional gaps.
She detailed how Supramult, a comprehensive multivitamin and multimineral formula, is meticulously crafted to support overall health and well-being.
“Supramult is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, C, D, E, and Zinc, which are vital for boosting the immune system. It also supports bone and teeth health, enhances energy levels, improves cognitive function, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails. Its rich antioxidant content also helps protect the body against free radical damage,” Ndionuka explained. The Lagos Coordinator of PSN-YPG, Stephanie Obibi, commended CHI Pharma for its ongoing contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and for ensuring access to essential multivitamins and food supplements.
Blakskill, Sightsavers Partners on Career Fair for Talents with Disabilities
Sunday Ehigiator
Blakskill Limited, in partnership with Sightsavers, recently hosted a ‘first of its kind’, career fair for talents with disabilities, providing a platform for persons with disabilities to connect with potential employers and explore job opportunities.
The career fair, held in Lagos, brought together leading employers, hiring professionals, HR managers, and ecosystem partners to promote disability inclusion in the workplace.
The event featured a diverse range of activities, including a panel conversation on
‘Inclusion at Work: Creating Opportunities for Talents with Disabilities’, which explored practical strategies for building inclusive workplaces and promoting diversity.
Over 20 companies participated in the fair, with several holding on-the-spot conversations with job seekers and expressing intent to pursue inclusive recruitment initiatives.
Speaking with Journalists, the CEO, Blakskill Ltd, Michael Alasa, noted that the career fair was part of Blakskill’s and Sightsavers’ efforts to promote disability inclusion and empower persons with
disabilities to reach their full potential.
According to him, “For decades, talented persons with disabilities (PWDs) have been systematically shut out of the workforce not because they lack skill, intelligence, or ambition, but because of policies that were designed without them in mind.
“Only 3 per cent of persons with disabilities in Nigeria are formally employed. According to the World Bank, our economy loses over N10 trillion annually due to the exclusion of persons with disabilities from the workforce.”
(Gabon), Iran Heavy
Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).
Executive Director Sundry Foods Limited, Mr Nnamdi Opara (Left), presenting a Cheque to Ogbonda Chimzi one of the beneficiaries of SFL Education Scholarship Programme in Port Harcourt… recently
Shareholders Apllaud Africa Prudential’s N1.2bn Dividend Payout
Kayode Tokede
The shareholders of Africa Prudential Plc, yesterday commended the management for a dividend payout of N1.2billion, representing a payout of 60 kobo per share. at its 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The likes of Boniface Okezie, who is the Chairman of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, President Pragmatic Shareholders Association, Mrs. Bisi Bakare, among other share-
holders during the virtual AGM, appreciated the management of Africa Prudential for paying a total dividend of N1.5 billion for the 2024 financial year amid macroeconomy challenges.
The management also paid shareholders a bonus of 1-for1 to increase share capital of the company to N2 billion by creation of additional 2 billion ordinary shares of 50kobo each.
Addressing shareholders, the Chairman of Africa Prudential, Chief (Mrs.) Eniola Fadayomi,
noted: “Africa Prudential remains focused on driving strategic growth and transformation. In the past year, we recorded a 52 per cent increase in total assets, rising from N22.98 billion to N34.84 billion.
“This milestone underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering long-term value to our shareholders, even in the face of evolving market dynamics.”
She also spotlighted the company’s continued investment
in digital innovation and the shareholder experience:
“As part of our transformation journey, we introduced new innovative products and enhanced the functionality of our digital platform, Invearn. These improvements enabled shareholders to conveniently execute capital market transactions, with over N1.5 billion processed through the platform. We remain committed to building digital-first, customer-centric solutions that redefine ease, transparency, and
engagement in Nigeria’s capital market.”
In her remarks, Catherine Nwosu, Managing Director/ CEO of Africa Prudential, emphasized the company’s strong performance and strategic focus: “2024 has been a landmark year for Africa Prudential. With an 88per cent surge in Profit After Tax and a 95per cent growth in Profit Before Tax, our performance reflects not just financial strength, but the result of deliberate, focused execution
across the business. We have expanded our balance sheet by over 50per cent, introduced innovative product features, and enhanced shareholder experience across all touchpoints.”
She continued, “Our decision to introduce an interim dividend for the first time — followed by a final dividend of 60 kobo, culminating in a total payout of 75 kobo — underscores our dedication to delivering consistent and increased value to shareholders.
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INAUGURATION OF UNION BANK’S CRÈCHE AND DAYCARE CENTRE...
Oni, MD/CEO, Union Bank of Nigeria (centre, carrying a baby), with other Management Team members at the official inauguration of the bank’s crèche and daycare centre for employees,
DHQ: Generals Didn’t Contribute Ransom for Tsiga’s Release
Military lists efforts made to rescue retired top officer
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday reacted to a viral report claiming that serving and retired generals and other top government functionaries contributed ransom for the release of former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Mahrazu Tsiga (rtd), insisting that the report is misleading. A statement by Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen.
Tukur Gusau, said an article by Brig. Gen.Ismaila Abdullahi, which claimed that military generals contributed money to secure the recent release of Tsiga, after being held captive for 56 days, was baseless.
The article, he said, clearly contradicted the efforts made by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, who embarked on a Search and Rescue Operation to secure his release, in addition to other non-kinetic efforts.
“The publication includes an appreciation message from the senior officer, thanking other senior officers and civilian counterparts for their material and other support that contributed to the rescue of the former Director-General of the NYSC.
“While it may seem unproductive to engage with those who consistently criticise the military, especially those who have benefited from it, it is essential to clarify the relentless efforts undertaken by the
troops that facilitated General Tsiga’s release.
“It is noteworthy that the unfortunate abduction of the former DG of NYSC occurred in the early hours of 6 February 2025, in Tsiga, Kafur District of Bakori Local Government Area in Katsina State. Immediately, troops of 17 Brigade were alerted and responded to the situation around 0300 hours the same day, and in a commendable show of professionalism, swiftly went on pursuit in conjunction with
NIEEE President Canvasses Crackdown on Quackery as CIEEEN Launches
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), Engr. Felix Olu, FNIEEE, has called for urgent action against quackery in the electrical and electronic engineering profession.
He also stressed the need for the newly inaugurated Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria (CIEEEN) to enforce professionalism and eliminate unqualified practitioners.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting and oath-taking ceremony of the CIEEEN Council in Abuja, Engr. Olu described the event as the culmination of nearly two decades of advocacy to rid the profession of substandard service providers.
He warned of the economic, social, and health risks associated
with engineering failures, stating: “For too long, Nigeria has suffered the consequences of substandard service delivery by unqualified hands across all engineering cadres. Everyone knew professionalism was the solution, but the journey to achieving it through legislation took nearly 20 years.”
Engr. Ota traced the origins of the initiative to 2006 within NIEEE, then a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
He highlighted the persistent efforts that led to the passage of the CIEEEN Bill by the National Assembly and its signing into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2023.
The newly inaugurated CIEEEN Council comprises 23 members drawn from 13 key organisations, including NIEEE, COREN, SON, NCC, NITDA, NUC, and NERC.
Describing the council as a high-
level professional body, Engr. Ota emphasized its capacity to enforce standards and eliminate quackery in the field.
To ensure the institute’s effective takeoff, he outlined key priorities, including office setup, membership registration, publicity, and engagement with entities yet to nominate representatives.
He also called for rigorous enforcement of professional standards.
“The responsibility on the council is enormous; this is not a political appointment but a professional one.
“You must be courageous and resolute in upholding the standards of our profession. Opposition will come, but we must stand firm,” he charged the pioneer members.
Olu also announced a competition to design the official logo of CIEEEN, sponsored by NIEEE, with cash prizes
Property Developer Seeks N500m from Nasarawa Govt over Illegal Demolition
Alex Enumah in Abuja
A property developer, Mr. Robert Idoko, has demanded the payment of N500 million as compensation from the Nasarawa state government over the alleged unlawful demolition of his newly built house in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
The alleged unlawful demolition of the said property was carried out on the orders of the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB), now Greater Karu Development Control Agency (GKDCA).
Idoko’s demand was contained in
a pre-action notice titled: “Unlawful, unwanted and unprovoked demolition of a newly built edifice belonging to one Robert Baba Idoko and situated at Gbegyedna Community, behind City College of Education, Mararaba, Karu LGA of Nasarawa state on October 3, 2024.”
The pre-action notice addressed to the General Manager of the GKDCA (former NUDB), was copied to the Nasarawa State Governor, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The complainant in the letter
dated November 11, 2024, and signed by his lawyer, Mr. Ndubuisi Kalu, claimed that he bought the piece of land, measuring 120ft by 100ft from its rightful owner and that, he did all the necessary documentation with NUDB and got approval before he commenced building.
The lawyer said his client was shocked to see a legion of Police, Civil Defence, Vigilante and NUDB staff, who invaded his newly built house on October 3, 2024 at about 7am with bulldozer and brought down his newly erected building without any prior notice.
for the best submissions. The institute’s motto, “Regulating for Optimum Professionalism,” was unveiled at the event.
He urged members to elect officers with sincerity and unity of purpose, reaffirming NIEEE’s commitment to supporting CIEEEN’s growth while stressing that public awareness of CIEEEN’s role would be crucial in ensuring compliance and fostering trust in professional engineering services.
“The Nigerian public must be made aware that CIEEEN is here to protect them from unsafe and substandard engineering practices. Our work does not end here; we must move forward with determination,” he added.
the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma,” he said.
These combined efforts, he said, led to troops combing the assailants’ hideouts within Jeka, Areda, and Zango, all in Kankara Local Government Area, in search of the former DG. He stressed that the operation extended to Ruwan Lafiya, Mununu, Matallawa, and Bakkai in Faskari Local Government Area.
“Although no direct contact was made with the abductors, the troops successfully pressured the criminals, who abandoned rustled animals and some captives in their hasty retreat. The troops nevertheless sustained the pursuit of the terrorists with unwavering determination, despite facing difficulties due to challenging terrain.
“On 8 February, leveraging credible intelligence, troops intensified their manhunt for the abductors and conducted dawn attacks at Yankuzo and Gidan Dankaka in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where terrorist kingpin Ado Aliero was reportedly hiding. Furthermore, intelligence confirmed that he had links with the abductors.
“Unfortunately, the operations did not result in locating the terrorists. However, subsequent air operations at Dunya Hill, a suspected bandit stronghold where General Tsiga was held, disrupted the terrorists, leading to the escape of several
Int’l Trade Fair: Oyo Becoming
Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo
State said yesterday that his administration has been working hard towards making the state’s economy one of the fastest growing economies in the country.
The governor maintained that since the inception of the administration in 2019, it has placed a strong emphasis on infrastructural development, innovations and investments in order to build a vibrant economy.
He added the state has also focused on agribusiness with a view to achieving food security and economic stability, noting that the government will not relent in its vision to achieve sustainable development in the state.
Governor Makinde, represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo
Lawal, stated this while declaring open the Oyo State International Trade Fair tagged EXPOYO 2025, with the theme: “Achieving Food Security and Economic Stability in Oyo State Through Massive Investments in Agriculture,” held at the EXPOYO Permanent International Trade Fair Complex, Sango, Ibadan.
Makinde said that while the issue of food security is the responsibility of all stakeholders, the government has created an enabling environment for businesses as reflected in the ongoing improvements in critical sectors like transportation, energy, agriculture, and technology.
He maintained that the massive investment on infrastructure development through interconnecting the zones of the state with good
captives.
“Regrettably, the former DG was unable to escape due to health concerns. One of the captives, Barau Garba, a teacher at Government Secondary School in Tsiga, who was with General Tsiga, was rescued by troops and shared his experience via the attached video. Barau has since been reunited with his family in Tsiga town,” the defence headquarters narrated.
Gusau stated that in another instance, troops assaulted Pauwa Hills and the Matallawa area of Kankara Local Government Area in search of Tsiga.
He further stated that they were able to rescue 84 kidnapped victims from the area without locating him, adding that several terrorists were neutralised, while three personnel sustained gunshot wounds during the operation.
“Since Brigadier General Tsiga’s abduction on 6 February 2025, troops have remained relentless in their pursuit, conducting both air and ground operations within Danmusa, Kankara, and Faskari Local Government Areas, where he was supposedly held captive at different times.
“These operations kept pressure on the abductors. It is thus only fair to recognise the significant sacrifices made by these troops, who have worked day and night, often at great risk to their own lives, in their search for the senior officer.
roads, the investment on security of lives and property as well as the introduction of policies to ensure ease of doing business by the administration were necessary requirements for achieving food security and economic development. He said: “It is with high gratitude to the Almighty God that I stand before you today to officially declare open the 2025 Oyo State International Trade Fair. This event is a testament to the promise I made last year that the Trade Fair will be held at least once a year.
“This Trade Fair is an opportunity for us all to showcase our areas of natural endowment, cultural heritage and a remarkable platform to foster a business-friendly environment, which is in conformity with economic enhancement.
Mrs. Yetunde
held at Stallion Plaza, Marina, Lagos, last Friday
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
Linus Aleke in Abuja
2024 LAFARGE CUSTOMER AND TRANSPORTER AWARD...
Tinubu: We’ll Ensure Well-trained, Wellequipped, Technology-driven, Modern Police
Outlines decisive measures to improve welfare, working conditions of personnel Says FG has institutionalised April 7 as annual National Police Day
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s resolve to ensure a Nigeria Police Force that is well-trained, well-motivated and well-equipped with modern tools and technology to effectively combat crime in Nigeria.
This, he said, had become necessary to ensure the nation’s security forces were constantly “steps ahead of those who threaten the peace, welfare, and prosperity” of the nation.
Speaking on Monday during the maiden edition of the National Police Day celebrations, which climaxed a week-long activities to mark the 2025 Police Week at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the President formally announced the institutionalisation of April 7 every year as National Police Day to honour fallen heroes of the force and also acknowledge the heroics of its personnel.
Tinubu, who was represented
by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, declared that, “As President, I reaffirm this administration’s steadfast dedication to the welfare and empowerment of the Nigeria Police Force.
“A secure Nigeria is vital for our collective prosperity, and this vision begins with ensuring that our police force is well-equipped, well-trained, and well-motivated. We are resolute in our commitment to police welfare and comprehensive reform.
“To that end, let me assure you
that the Federal Government of Nigeria will institutionalise 7th April as an annual celebration of National Police Day, cementing its place in our national calendar and demonstrating our enduring appreciation for the Nigeria Police Force.”
The president outlined decisive measures his administration was currently putting in place to immediately engender an effective and formidable police force, including provision of modern tools and technology to
We’re Offered N200m to Frame Ex-Speaker in Rivers Assembly Bombing, Suspects State
Suspended commissioner says no plan to protest emergency declaration in state
Some of the suspects in the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly, recently released, have alleged that they were offered N200 million to frame Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in the crime that occurred in 2023.
This was as the suspended Commissioner for Youth Development in Rivers State, Chisom Gbali, has denied claims of a planned protests in Port Harcourt, stating that the planned presentation of a new 2025 appropriation bill by the sole administrator was illegal and unconstitutional
However, the suspects, who were recently exonerated and acquitted by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, while speaking with journalists at a press conference, alleged that they were forced to implicate Ehie, in the arson.
The exonerated suspects: Chime Ezebalike and three others, told journalists they were arrested, detained, and tortured for about eight months for refusing to link the suspended Chief of Staff in the incident.
Speaking, Ezebalike who led the other acquitted suspects, explained that they were implicated because of their relationship with Ehie, as the three of them, Ezebalike, Kenneth, and Oladele, were known friends of Ehie and Sokari Goodboy, while MacPherson was allegedly an unfortunate victim of mere proximity.
Narrating the ordeal, Ezebalike said, “Starting from December 2023 we: Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, Prince Oladele Lukman,
and MacPherson Olumini were individually and collectively subjected to arrest, intimidation, physical assault, psychological torture. All of this happened between December 5, 2023, and January 16, 2024.
“At some point, we were offered bribes in exchange for our freedom even though it was clear that we had committed no offence that warranted our being arrested and detained. Three of us – Chime, Kenneth, and Oladele are known associates of Rt. Hon. Ehie Edison and Hon. Sokari Goodboy, while MacPherson was an unfortunate victim of mere proximity.
“Our ordeal began with the arbitrary arrest of Oladele Lukman on December 5, 2023. On December 16, Chime and MacPherson were violently apprehended at Ogbakiri Junction along the East-West Road while returning from a funeral in Ahoada. On January 5, 2024, Kenneth Kpasa was forcefully taken in GRA, Port Harcourt, by a convoy of no fewer than three Hilux vans.
“We were blindfolded and taken to the Federal-Intelligence Response Team (F-IRT) unit along the Eastern Bypass in Port Harcourt, under the false pretence that the vehicle we were travelling in was stolen. It was later revealed that this was a ruse intended to force us into implicating Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie in three serious allegations: the murder of Supol Bako Angbashim, assassination attempt on Hon. Martins Amaewhule and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
“At the Federal-Intelligence Response Team facility, multiple attempts were made to coerce us into making false confessions. We were
denied access to legal representation and, when permitted to write statements, were stopped midway for not writing what they wanted – statements that falsely implicated Edison Ehie and others.
“When we resisted and refused,
they resorted to beatings, starvation, and psychological torture. Days later, we were offered money, alongside promises of a fully paid trip to Ghana or any country of our choice with our families, in exchange for implicating Edison Ehie. We rejected it all.
enhance the operations of the force, as well as adequate accommodations, accessible healthcare and quality education for families of police personnel.
“In this light, we are taking decisive steps to improve the conditions under which our police officers serve. Adequate housing, accessible healthcare, and quality education for your children are priorities we are committed to fulfilling.
“These promises will begin to materialise immediately. We are also determined to equip you with modern tools and technology to enhance your effectiveness in combating crime.
“Furthermore, we will ensure that your salaries and benefits reflect the gravity of your responsibilities and the risks you face daily. Anything less would be unacceptable,” he stated.
President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his government “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring effective policing, the safety of lives and property, and the resolution of internal security challenges such as banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping.”
He also maintained that his
NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC TEAM SET TO MEET OVER TRUMP’S TARIFFS
ing an asset monetisation exercise, “where we are doing due diligence on each of those assets and speaking to the respective managers and the boards of those companies to get a deeper understanding of where they are, where they intend to go in alignment with the agenda of the administration.”
On the audit of the assets, he disclosed that the asset management company was also currently going through a process of producing an annual assets report.
“Part of that work has been completed. It is now going an audit opinion process. Once the users have gone through and they validate those figures, we will publish them using the same forum, and you get to know the exact figures, but it will be significantly higher than the N18.2 trillion that we started off with.
“For those assets that have gone the due diligence are certain, and the auditors have independently verified the value of those assets. We will publish them in an actual report, and you will be the first to know once that is ready,” he said.
In his remarks, the outgoing World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiaye Diop, called for greater transparency on the part of Nigeria’s state-owned enterprises.
Diop, who has been elevated to Regional Vice President of the World Bank, remarked that to ensure that the federal government’s share of revenue was based on accurate financial reports, improving transparency was cardinal.
“It is also essential to ensure fairness and to build quality of how much discomfort and cost they pose for public resources.
“Full value of ongoing reforms can only be realised through strong corporate governance, driven by consistent effort and adherence to global best practices,” he said
Global Markets in Turmoil
Meanwhile, the S&P 500 lost more than 10 percent the last three sessions in its worst stretch since the outbreak of Covid in 2020.
Commodities prices fell further overall, with oil closing at $61 a barrel. Copper prices, often an indicator for industrial demand, fell too.
Asian equities collapsed on a black Monday on April 7 for markets after China hammered the United States with its own hefty tariffs, ramping up a trade war many fear could spark a recession.
Chinese stock market movements on a screen in Beijing on Monday.
Wang Zhao / AFP - Getty Images
The tariff meltdown on Wall Street earned Trump the distinction of presiding over the biggest losses in the S&P 500 of any president’s early term, going back to World War II, according to research from CFRA, an independent financial solutions firm.
According to CNBC, despite the sell-off, the White House has remained defiant, reiterating that the set of shockingly high tariffs unveiled last Wednesday would take effect April 9, as scheduled.
China retaliated on Friday and other countries are readying their own counter-tariffs.
Trump threatened Beijing yesterday with even higher tariffs via Truth
Social: “If China does not withdraw its 34 percent increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose additional tariffs on China of 50 percent, effective April 9th.
“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!”
Trump also reiterated to reporters later Monday that no pause in the tariff plan was being assessed.
“The president is losing the confidence of business leaders around the globe...this is not what we voted
administration remained resolute in its mission to restore peace and security across all regions of the country.
Emphasising the role of the Nigeria Police Force, he described the force as a cornerstone of the nation’s security, the first line of defence against crime, even as he maintained that the police were protectors of the nation’s democracy and the custodians of citizens’ safety.
“Your role is indispensable, and your contributions are immeasurable. Why have we established National Police Day? The answer is straightforward. This day serves to highlight your invaluable service and to honour the officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
“To their families, we extend our deepest condolences and our unwavering commitment to preserving their legacy. Let it be clear: 7th April is not merely a date on the calendar. It is a symbol of our enduring partnership and respect for the Nigeria Police Force – a day firmly entrenched in our national consciousness,” Tinubu added.
for,” wrote Bill Ackman, billionaire head of Pershing Square, on X.
“The President has an opportunity on Monday to call a time out and have the time to execute on fixing an unfair tariff system. Alternatively, we are heading for a self-induced, economic nuclear winter, and we should start hunkering down.” The administration said at least 50 nations had reached out to start negotiations.
Wall Street’s fear gauge, surged as high as the 60 level yesterday, an extreme threshold seen mostly only during bear markets.
“Margin calls are going out as we speak,” said Chris Rupkey chief economist at FWDBONDS. “For a third straight day investors in U.S. equity markets have turned (a) huge thumbs down on the White House Liberation Day tariffs which have rocked Wall Street.”
According to the NBC, US markets whipsawed as investors grasped for any shred of news that indicated Trump would relent on his tariffs plan. A widely circulated but false headline saying the president was considering a 90-day pause sent markets skyrocketing for a brief time. The White House debunked the news, and stocks again slipped into the red for a time.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Mary Nnah in Lagos and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
L-R: Head of Marketing, Lafarge Africa Plc, Oluyomi Moses; Commercial Director, Gbenga Onimowo; wife of the National Volume Champion, Eyoanwan Etim Okon; National Volume Champion, Etim Effiong Okon; Group Managing Director/CEO, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi; Head of Sales, Anthonilouis Okojie; and Logistics Director, Osaze Aghatise, during the 2024 Customer and Transporter Awards held at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, last Friday
L-R: Non-executive Director, United Capital Plc, Emmanuel Nnorom; Group Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ashade; Chairman, Board of Directors, Prof. Chika Mordi; Company
Dr. Leo Okafor; and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Sunny Anene, during the company’s annual general meeting held in Abuja… recently
LP Crisis: There’s No Vacancy, I’m Still the Substantive National Chairman, Says Abure
Obi, Otti summon emergency NEC Chair’s faction threatens to sanction leaders for anti-party
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
In spite of the recent Supreme Court judgment, the embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, yesterday, insisted that he remained the national chairman of the party.
This was as the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi; the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti and the chairman of the Party’s National
Caretaker committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, have summoned an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for Wednesday
Speaking at his factional NEC meeting, Abure told the meeting that there was no vacancy in the Labour Party.
He said by the judgement of the apex court, he remained the authentic national chairman of the party.
Abure subsequently said, ‘’The caretaker committee led by Nenadi
Usman and others are illegitimate and not recognised by the party’s constitution.
‘’As far as the Labour Party is concerned, the meeting held in Umuahia in Abia State where the National Caretaker was formed is illegal.’’
He said at the expiration of his tenure, the National Working Committee under his leadership conducted a national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State on March 29 2024,
APC: UNLIKE JONATHAN, TINUBU WON’T ALLOW HIMSELF
in a communique issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, shortly after a caucus meeting at the Akure home of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
The group said given the prime of position that security occupies in the the life of any society, it called on the federal government and security agencies to redesign the security architecture in such a way that those in charge of security would be able to dig deeper into its causes and deal with them decisively.
“In this wise, we are calling on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to, in collaboration with governors, urgently come up with strategies to confront the challenges and put them under control.
“While the above is going on, governors, particularly in Yorubaland, should further strengthen the security network in the region because of the upsurge of terrorism in our area.
“For instance, Amotekun personnel should be increased, motivated, trained and properly equipped. Besides, modern technology such as drones etc to tackle insecurity should be deployed.”
Afenifere, while noting that it was unrelenting in its insistence that a multi-level police system should take off immediately, called on governors to track unscrupulous herders terrorising farmers in the region.
“In view of the importance of food in any society, state governments in Yorubaland are called upon to pay more serious attention to agriculture. Policy papers on how farm settlements were established and run should be revisited and reviewed in line with the present reality for implementation purpose.
“This time around, local government councils should be given the mandate and leverage to establish farms in their respective areas. Farm inputs be made available to the farmers at subsidised rates. In the same vein, food items can be made available to the people at subsidised rates.
“Afenifere is very persistent on the need to ensure that Yoruba language is used more as a medium of communication. The body specifically called on governments in Yoruba-speaking states to make Yoruba the medium of teaching at elementary levels of
our education: kindergarten/nursery, primary and junior secondary schools.
“Afenifere also urged Legislatures in Yoruba-speaking states to make Yoruba the language of conducting their legislative businesses as much as possible.”
On the high costs of food items in the country, Afenifere urged states and local governments to empower local farmers by providing them with needed resources – even at subsidised rates, saying it would also enhance the council’s finances and boost the local economy.
It, therefore, called on President Tinubu to leverage on his known democratic credential as a federalist by quickening the country’s realisation of true federalism as soon as possible.
Current Insecurity Won’t Become New Normal, Northern Senators
Vow, Hail Gov
Senators from the 19 northern states of the federation, have condemned the rising insecurity in Plateau and Benue States and vowed to resist any attempt to make it the new normal.
The federal lawmakers under the aegis of Northern Senators’ Forum, made the pledge in a statement by their Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, in Abuja yesterday.
The senators noted with great concern that the death toll, from the recent attacks on five communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State had risen in numbers.
Regretting that many more lives had been injured and missing, they declared that, “Such situation, does not represent the values we stand for as a nation.
“This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the insecurity that has plagued some parts of our nation, and we cannot afford to let it become the new norm.
“We wish to commiserate with the families of the victims, the Plateau State Government, and the people of Plateau State over this tragic incident.
“We wish to also commend the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, for his efforts to restore calm and prevent retaliation between various ethnic groups.
“His leadership is a beacon of hope in these trying times, and we urge him to continue on this path.
where he was reelected as national chairman to lead other members of the executive committee of the party. However, in anticipation of any breakdown of law and order, the police on Monday took strategic positions at the Labour Party National secretariat in Jabi, Abuja.
As at press time, the Abure-led party was still holding an emergency NEC meeting where disciplinary action could be taken against Obi, Otti, Nenadi Usman and other members
TO BE ROUTED IN 2027 OVER INSECURITY
“The Northern Senators Forum renews its commitment to working with the government and security agencies to develop a robust security framework that protects the lives and property of our citizens.
“We can not afford to fail in this endeavor. This recent attack is a wake-up call for all Nigerians. We must come together to build a safer, more secure future for ourselves and future“Wegenerations. owe it to the victims of these senseless attacks to act decisively and ensure that such incidents do not recur. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims,” the statement read.
Solomon Dalung: Killings in Plateau Are Terrorism Act, Not Farmer-Herder Conflict
A former minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has said the killings in some Plateau communities were acts of terrorism, and not farmer-herder conflict.
He, therefore, called on the federal government to state what constituted the true nature of Nigeria’s longrunning security crisis in the region.
Speaking on the killings during an interview with ARISE NEWS, Dalung, delivered a blistering critique of what he described as a longstanding reluctance to confront the truth.
According to the former minister, “There is nothing like herder-farmer clashes on the Plateau. These are terrorists. They have enclaves. They grab land, wrestle cattle, and displace natives. In the bush, there is a government, and these places are known.”
Dalung further criticised the federal government’s narrative, particularly the introduction of the Ministry of Livestock as a solution, calling it a distraction from the real issue.
“Let us not be hiding about Ministry of Livestock. Ministry of Livestock cannot even do anything about this problem.
“If you sum up this, you will come back to this issue of lack of a political will because if the political will to deal with the situation is there, these people will be given their rightful designation. They are terrorists.
‘’There was no farm or other animals that were either wrestled by
the community or they trespassed into any farmland that resulted into this series of attacks we are hearing.”
He expressed disbelief at the excuses of poor road access cited by security agencies, pointing out that modern surveillance technologies could bridge such gaps.
“The security said, ‘well, we couldn’t do anything because there are no access roads’. I couldn’t fathom that because in a technologically-driven economy like ours, would the issue be that of access roads? What happened to drones and cameras, other sophisticated gadgets of intelligence gathering?”
Dalung warned that continued reluctance to name the violence for what it is — genocide — would only allow the attackers to remain on top of the situation while officials pretend to be. He also called on Nigerians to reject the ethnic framing of the conflict and demand a stronger, swifter response grounded in truth and justice.
“If we must be very honest in dealing with the plateau situation, first, we will have to stop pretending that it is herder-farmers’ clashes. Not at all. It is terrorism. It is genocidal because it has met the international definition of genocide.
“When a group of people attack another group with the intention of wiping them off the face of the earth, it is genocide. When you employ a policy of starvation and trying to use that to wipe a community or a group of people, it’s genocide. So, what is happening is genocidal.
“The problem is for the federal government to designate these people with their rightful names, consider them criminals, and stop even attaching ethnic identity to them. Yes, predominantly they belong to an ethnic nationality. But I don’t see them as operating in the overall interest of that particular ethnic nationality.
“Rather, they are criminals. And so, if we do not treat them as criminals, we will miss the point and we’ll continue to hold visits to Plateau State by government officials and they will be on top of the situation while the criminals are on top of the situation,” the former minister stated. Army Chief Visits, Pledges Reinforcement
of the party.
Also, Obi, and Otti, have summoned an urgent meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
The meeting is scheduled to hold in Abuja on Wednesday April 9, 2025.
In a notice jointly signed by Obi and Otti, the NEC meeting shall be followed concurrently by an interactive Town Hall Engagement by the leadership and other organs of the party alongside major stakeholders.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluyemi Oluyede, yesterday, visited the attacked communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, and promised security reinforcement.
The COAS, who led a delegation of senior military officers to assess the level of destruction caused by the assailants, assured the people that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be arrested and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
At a meeting with stakeholders and attended by General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, representatives of the state government, and leaders from religious organizations, the Army Chief, who promised to deploy more security personnel to affected communities, also called for peaceful coexistence amongst citizens of the state.
Assuring them that deployed troops would continue to be neutral, professional and fair to all irrespective of tribe and religion, the COAS pledged that all perpetrators of the crime would be arrested and prosecuted.
Major Gen. Oyinlola warned that any further attacks on innocent civilians would not be accepted.
“The senseless acts of violence that was witnessed in some of our communities must stop. Let me make it unequivocally clear that any further attacks on innocent civilians, destruction of property, or acts of lawlessness will be decisively dealt with.
“OPSH alongside other security agencies, will not stand idly by while criminal elements destabilise our communities. Those who think they can take law into their hands and go unpunished should have a re-think of their actions because the full weight of the law will be brought upon them,” he said.
He reiterated that troops under his watch would continue to seek sustainable solutions for lasting peace and ensure the safety of lives and property, adding that, “We must acknowledge that military action alone cannot bring about lasting peace. Sustainable peace is a collective responsibility which requires commitment from every stakeholder.
This meeting is scheduled to hold at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. According to a statement by Ibrahim Umar, the Spokesperson of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), “The meeting is in furtherance of the Supreme Court ruling last working terminating the Julius Abure-led NWC.” Nevertheless, the Labour Party executive loyal to Julius Abure after its NEC meeting, yesterday, accused Obi and Otti of of anti party activities.
“Let me quickly remind all the stakeholders that violence has never solved any problem. Instead, it leads to more pain, destruction and deepseated hatred. History has shown that even the most protracted conflicts in the world have only been resolved through dialogue and reconciliation.”
Expert Blames Intelligence Failure, Others
A security expert and former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, has blamed persistent attacks in Plateau communities and other areas across the federation to a combination of intelligence failure, inadequate manpower, limited deployment of modern defence and security technology, and several other factors.
Ejiofor, who spoke exclusively to THISDAY, also called on the federal government to withdraw security aides of National Assembly members to compel them to enact legislations that would improve security situation across the country.
To minimise the ongoing human carnage in the country, the former DSS director reiterated the call to arm communities as first line of defence.
Speaking on the recent Bokkos killings, Ejiofor said, “Though I have not been there, I will give you some instances. Plateau has a very difficult topography that provides shelter for criminal syndicates.
“Another important question that demands a sincere answer about the persistent attacks is: what are the aims of the attackers? Are they intended to cleanse the area of the indigenes and take over their place?
“Or what is actually their intention? Until these questions are answered, one will not be in a position to make a conclusive statement on this issue. I also understand that numerous commissions of inquiry have been established, yet none have been implemented, and we continue to witness these attacks.
“According to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, arrests have been made. If arrests have indeed been made, those detained will serve as a deterrent, as previously we had not heard of any arrests. In the past, we only hear that they attacked the community, and vanished.
DISCUSSING MARKET LEADERSHIP…
L-R: Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (left) and Founder, Beyond Limits and Convener, Digital Innovation and
when they participated in a keynote fireside chat at the DICE 3.0 event in Lagos…recently
Ohanaeze Youths Want Tinubu to Cancel Omokri’s Ambassadorial Nomination
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogoin Umuahia
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYA) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to drop Reno Omokri from the list of ambassadorial nominees over his untrustworthy inclination.
The OYC expressed its objection to Omokri’s nomination in a statement issued yesterday by its National President, Igboayaka Igboayaka, noting that it was contradictory that somebody that distrusted the president is now deemed fit to become Nigeria’s ambassador.
wall in December 2022, the OYC leader reminded Tinubu of how the now ambassadorial nominee caused a buzz in the internet when he called the president “a known drug lord, who belongs in jail, not Aso Rock.”
Citing series of posts that Omokri placed on his Facebook
NGO to Build Support Centre for Children with Disabilities
Wale Igbintade
A non-governmental organization(NGO), OAkonsult Disabilities Outreach, which focuses on care giving for children with special needs, is set to build a multi-billion-naira centre dedicated to supporting children living with disabilities.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Chief Responsibility Officer of OAkonsult, Mrs. Olufunke Adeloye, said the centre will be a one-stop hub for children with disabilities, offering services similar to those currently only available abroad, particularly in countries like the United Kingdom (UK)
and the United States (US).
She announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the OAK Centre Prime will take place on April 22, 2025, in Olo Town, near Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
According to Adeloye, the multi-billion-naira centre will be a one-stop hub for children with disabilities, offering services similar to those currently only available abroad, particularly in countries like the UK and the US.
While acknowledging the contributions of various organisations in Nigeria, Adeloye expressed concern over the lack of coordination and inadequate infrastructure to support these efforts.
Lafarge Takes Gender-Based Violence Campaign to School
Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company and manufacturer of a range of cement brands, has launched an awareness campaign on gender-based violence across its communities as part of activities to commemorate the International Women’s Day.
Speaking during the genderbased sensitisation and defence workshop held at Onitolo Community Senior High School, Lagos, the Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability
Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, explained that the workshop was organised with the aim of helping young girls to understand the meaning of gender-based violence and the right approach to address and avoid it.
According to Graham-Douglas, gender-based violence is not just about inflicting physical harm to the victims. She said: “Gender-based violence is any action that makes you feel unsafe, disrespected, or powerless because of your gender.
Nwapa’s Family Remembers their Matriarch
The family of Ogbuefi Georgena Efuru Nwapa (Nee Maduagwu) has remembered the numerous legacies of their matriarch who died last year, stating that her memories of good deeds still remain fresh in their minds.
He expressed surprise over Omokri’s clearance for ambassadorial position, saying it was evident that the security agencies did not carry out due diligence in their investigation of his past.
“Clearing Reno Omokri by security agents for ambassadorial post is an indication that his allegations against Bola Ahmed Tinubu is factual, because according to Reno, ‘Tinubu is a known drug lord’,” he said.
The Ohanaeze youth leader argued that “clearing Reno Omokri to represent Nigeria as a diplomat would mean a strong endorsement, institutionalization, and approval of his (past) statements about President Bola Tinubu”.
Niger Goes Tough on Thugs, Orders their Instant Arrests
Laleye Dipo in Minna
Following a week of unrest occasioned by the activities of ‘Area Boys’ in Minna, the Niger State Government has declared total war against these undesirable elements, instructing the police to hunt them and their collaborators.
This is even as the police claim
it has apprehended over 50 of the youths in connection with three days of unrests in parts of Minna, the state capital. The state Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, who issued directives to the police last Sunday also told officials of the state Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, officials of the Department of State Security (DSS), ward and
village heads to mount serious hunt for the miscreants that have been tormenting the state capital.
Similarly, Garba instructed these security operatives “to intensify operations in identified flashpoints, apprehend those involved in criminal activities, and restore peace to the state capital and surrounding communities.”
The deputy governor warned that any community found to harbor or conceal criminal elements without reporting to the authorities should be made to face the consequences, adding that village heads and parents of the perpetrators “may be held accountable” for the crimes committed by their subjects and children.
Edo APC Chairman Asks INEC to Fill Vacant Seats in National Assembly
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct bye-elections into the two vacant federal legislative seats in the state. In a statement issued in
Benin-city, Tenebe expressed displeasure over what he described as an unjustifiable delay in filling the vacant seats, warning that the people of the affected constituencies have been left without representation for over three months-an action he said, contravenes democratic principles and electoral guidelines.
The vacancies arose following the resignations of Senator Monday Okpebholo from the Edo Central senatorial seat to contest the governorship election in the state, which he won, and Hon Dennis Idahosa, who vacated his position as the representative of Ovia federal constituency where he emerged as the state deputy governor. According to Tebebe, “The people of Edo Central senatorial district and Ovia North East/South West federal constituency have been without proper representation for three months now. This is against the spirit and letters of our constitution and democratic norms.”
‘Infrastructure Devt, Effective Governance Needed to Unlock Rivers’ Blue Economy Potential’
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Stakeholders and experts have identified effective governance as the most potent tool to unlock the dormant wealth in the Blue Economy available to the Rivers State Government.
This was the highlight at the opening day of the Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of
the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Rivers State.
The stakeholders said infrastructure development, effective governance, and sustainable practices as well as stakeholders’ engagement are crucial to unlocking the blue economy potential of the state.
The Chairman of the Chapel, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo, stated this
in his welcome address during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Correspondents’ Week in Port Harcourt yesterday.
Okonkwo said Rivers State being as rich in ocean resources as in oil and gas, should also position itself as a premium maritime state by deploying the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation. He said: “The state possesses significant blue economy potential, particularly in fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, contributing about 35 per cent to the state’s GDP. To unlock this potential, infrastructure development, effective governance, sustainable practices and stakeholder engagement are crucial.
Ogun to Distribute Farm Equipment, Trains Beneficiaries on Effective Utilisation
James SowoleinAbeokuta
As part of efforts to enhance food security through mechanised farming, the Ogun State Government, through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), in collaboration with the World Bank, has organized a stakeholders’ engagement on the management, effective utilization, and sustainability
The statement added: “As you grew older, you technically lived with your children and that forged an even deeper bond than we had enjoyed when we were younger. The longer your parents live, the more entrenched they become in your life and more difficult it is to let them go.”
In a statement issued by her daughter, Mrs. Nancy Oji, on behalf of her family, they said: “Mommy, there are so many stories of how much of a trooper you were in almost every area of your life. You were simple but very fashionable, you could not be kept down, and you were very self-aware and could hold it down anytime, anywhere. “Mama, you hated injustice and people speaking out of different sides of their mouth and you would hurriedly discourage that. You cared for your own mother, ensuring she lived the last 10 to 12 years of her life in your house.”
of farm mechanisation equipment. The event, held in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, aimed to ensure the optimal use of procured equipment, including tractors, ploughs, harrows, planters, and combine harvesters, among others. In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Bolu Owootomo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kehinde
Jokotoye, emphasized the importance of proper equipment management to reduce maintenance costs, extend equipment lifespan, and improve fuel efficiency. He said: “You can see how responsive the government is to farmers. After we have produced what we need to produce, the government has gone beyond just providing processing equipment;
it has also ensured that we have a place to sell our produce.” In her welcome address, the Project Coordinator of OGSTEP , Mrs. Mosun Owo-Odusi, represented by the Project Manager for the Agriculture Sector, Dr. Oluseyi Olugbere, highlighted the need for collective responsibility in maintaining and sustaining the equipment.
NIEEE President Calls for Crackdown on Quackery as Body Launches Institute
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), Felix Olu, has called for urgent action against quackery in the electrical and electronic engineering profession.
This was even as he
emphasised the need for the newly inaugurated Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria (CIEEEN) to enforce professionalism and eliminate unqualified practitioners.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting and oath-taking ceremony of the CIEEEN Council
in Abuja, Olu, described the event as the culmination of nearly two decades of advocacy to rid the profession of substandard service providers.
He warned of the economic, social, and health risks associated with engineering failures, stating that: “For too long, Nigeria has suffered the consequences of
substandard service delivery by unqualified hands across all engineering cadres. Everyone knew professionalism was the solution, but the journey to achieving it through legislation took nearly 20 years.”
He traced the origins of the initiative to 2006 within NIEEE, then a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
Creative Excellence (DICE), Dr. Juliet Ehimuan,
Nigeria Expresses Interest to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Nigeria has fulfilled the deadline for expression of interest to bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2030 in Abuja.
A statement issued yesterday by Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tony Nezianya, said the NOC emerged from its executive committee meeting on April 3, 2025, in Abuja to say it had met the March 28, 2025 deadline for expression of interest for a bid process.
Nigeria can only commence a formal bid, if the Federal Government gives a backing to the project.
He noted that Nigeria’s bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Abuja will present a unique opportunity to showcase its development, enhance its global standing, and invigorate its sports culture.
Nigeria last hosted a major multisport event - the African Games in Abuja in 2003.
The country used the platform to demonstrate its capability and commitment to organising large-scale international events.
According to Nezianya, the experience will provide a solid foundation for Nigeria to host again, showcasing its ability to manage the logistics, hospitality, and infrastructure development required by such events.
It would also provide a compelling narrative for the nation’s progress and readiness.
A bid process would enhance an investment in sports infrastructure as bidding for the Games can catalyse investments in sports infrastructure and facilities across the country, particularly in Abuja, which can revitalise the local sports-economy and improve national sports facilities for future generations.
Hosting the Games would also initiate the construction and upgrading of sports venues, transportation systems, and accommodations, creating lasting benefits for the sports community and the general population.
This can significantly boost tourism by attracting visitors from around the world. This influx would undoubtedly support local businesses, create jobs, and boost the hospitality sector.
It would also position Nigeria
as a country that values athletic achievement and fosters talent.
It will serve as a compelling force for national unity by fostering peace and facilitating Nigeria’s cultural diversity
Meanwhile, other significant events
on the schedule include the Olympic Committees of African (ANOCA) School Sports’ Games in Algeria, to be staged from July 5 to July 13, 2025. The Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia are also scheduled to run from November 7 to November
Arteta Banks on Saka as Gunners Battle Real Madrid in London
Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta, believes that Bukayo Saka would be in a “much better place” to start against Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final tonight at the Emirates Stadium.
Saka, 23, scored on his return from 101 days on the sideline in Arsenal’s win against Fulhamlast week before his 45 minutes of football at the weekend
“I think mentally it was really good for me.” Saka said of the enforced break.
“Obviously it was really tough for me initially to find out the extent of
my injury and that I was going to have surgery but once it was done and successful I was just focused on coming back stronger. The past five years I’ve been playing game after game so it was the first proper break I’ve had. It was really good for me. I got to do a lot of things that I don’t normally do.
The Gunners have reached this stage of the competition just twice in the last 15 years and host serial winners - and holders - Madrid who
NDDC Weighs Return in 2027 as Curtain Falls
on Niger Delta Sports Festival
Bassey Okon in Uyo
After six days of sporting contests, the curtain was partially drawn on the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) with finals in football, athletics and wrestling.
For the close to 3000 athletes who made it to Uyo with their respective states, it’s possibly an experience they will live with even if they drop out of sports as a career in the future.
This was succinctly captured by Chairman of the NDSF Main Organising Committee (MOC), Alabo Boma Iyaye, when he addressed the media shortly after rounding up meeting of the organising body.
“This festival has provided opportunity for bonding among youths of our region, memories that they will carry all their lives. We are happy at NDDC to have made this platform available,” Iyaye remarked.
As is won’t to be on the eve of big events, all categories of participants are heard in clusters sharing experiences, laughing and backslapping.
For a festival that took off with all the trappings of a carnival on the opening night, the closing is not expected to be less of a spectacle.
Dunamis Icon Limited, the festival project managers are expectedly retaining the services of Smile Global
Entertainment, producers of the opening ceremony for an encore Brown Chinedu Wilfred, the Abia State born all-white dresser was all over the Uyo Township Stadium venue of the event, coordinating his team as they mounted exotic lights and high quality speakers.
“We are setting up differently from what we did on opening day but this time, it’s going to blow minds”, Wilfred boasted Itiako Ikpokpo, the Lead Consultant told Journalists that the Festival
objectives have been met but added, “We will surely put up a good show befitting all that was accomplished in attention to details we brought to organise this event.
However, the real accomplishment will be achieved when we are able to groom discovered athletes to be on the podium in years ahead”.
Earlier, Iyaye had announced the decision of the MOC to recommend that the Festival be a biannual event.
“We have received commendations from all over the country and the
MOC reached a decision today to recommend to the NDDC Board that this festival should hold every two years”, said Iyaye who is also the Executive Director Finance and Administration at the NDDC.
Present at the briefing and on hand to watch the final races was the Chairman of the NDDC Board, Chinedu Ebie.
David Akhalu anchored the Edo State 4x400 meters quartet to clinch the gold medal in the very last event that drew the curtains on
Balmoral to Host International Boxing Showdown April 18
Lagos is set to take center stage in the global boxing scene as six nations converge on the Balmoral Convention Centre on April 18, 2025, for “Chaos in the Ring” — an electrifying night of international boxing, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable entertainment. Organised by Game Rush and Balmoral Group Promotions, the event follows the massive success of “Chaos in the Ring” in December 2024 and the widely acclaimed launch of
Friday Fight Night in February 2025.
The upcoming edition will bring together top-tier fighters from Ghana, Tanzania, Egypt, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria, all set to clash in high-stakes bouts that promise adrenaline-pumping action and displays of championship-level grit. Headlining the night is Nigerian boxing sensation Basit “Jokerboy” Adebayo, who will go glove-to-glove with Tanzanian challenger Suleiman
Sheha for the prestigious WBO Youth International Lightweight Title. Adding a unique twist to the evening’s lineup, music stars Portable and Speed Darlington will settle their viral social media feud in a must-watch celebrity boxing match, blending pop culture with combat sports in an unforgettable face-off. According to organisers of the boxing show, tickets are now available at www.ariiyaticket.com.
have lifted the European Cup 15 times in their history.
Arsenal, like other sides, have been hit with injuries to key players this season and Arteta has to name a side without centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, who has been ruled out for the seasonalongside fellow defender Riccardo Calafiori who is out with a knee injury and Kai Havertz who had his season endedby a hamstring injury.
“There are things that we cannot control,” Arteta said. “What they (Real Madrid) are going to prepare, what they can do. We have to focus and our energy has to be on understanding our strengths, weakness and the direction that we want to play in the game.
“Obviously the intention of the team is very clear, we want to achieve on Tuesday and we are going to go for it.”
changes
Saka.
“At 8pm Tuesday night, (it is) 11 players and 60,000 people, (I am) really super convinced that we are ready to win and to beat them,” he said. “That’s the mindset that I want.
The UEFA Champions League has reached its most exciting stage, with the first leg of the quarter final matches tonight.
While the tournament has introduced a new format this season, the excitement, passion, and surprises remain the same.
And so does Heineken’s commitment to football fans. As teams battle for a place in the semi-finals, Heineken is extending its “Cheers to Hardcore Fans” campaign—celebrating the dedication and love that true supporters bring to the game.
With the New format, same Heineken passion campaign, the season’s Champions League has been tougher than ever, starting with intense qualifiers, a challenging league stage, and high-stakes playoff matches.
After the first-leg games of the
Round of 16, the final eight teams are in battle to decide who will make into the last four stage.
Fans have already witnessed big moments—Liverpool’s dominance, Barcelona’s strong form, and the shocking early exit of Manchester City. But through every victory and upset, one thing has remained the same: hardcore fans standing by their teams, just like they stand by Heineken on matchdays.
“Heineken understands what it means to be a real fan,” says, the Portfolio Manager Alcoholic Drinks at Nigerian Breweries Plc, Maria Shadeko “Whether your team is winning or struggling, true fans never stop believing. That’s why
*Cheers to Hardcore Fans* is not just a campaign—it’s a celebration of those who live for football.”
31, 2025. Conversely, Angola will host the ANOCA Youth Games Luanda between December 5 and December December 20, 2025.
The next Commonwealth will be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland from
March 17 to March 29, 2026. The Scots were the eventual hosts of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which could have served as the centennial Games of the amalgamation of Nigeria’s southern and northern protectorates.
Some of the athletes from the nine mandate states of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) rooting for their teams during the Men’s 4x400m final on Monday evening. Curtain will be drawn on the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo this evening
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (left) and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid to spearhead fireworks for their respective clubs at the Emirates Stadium in North London tonight
The Arsenal boss made five
for the 1-1 draw with Everton at the weekend and rested key players Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Bukayo
MISSILE
SERAP to President Tinubu
“We have urged President Tinubu to reject the recently approved $1.08 billion World Bank loan for Nigeria and instead recover the missing N233 billion from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The loan is neither necessary nor in the public interest” --Socio-EconomicRightsandAccountabilityProject (SERAP),asksPresidentTinubutorejecttheWorldBank$1.08billionloan.
TUESDAY WITH REUBEN ABATI
Plateau, Tsiga and Trump
“My brother, you do not look cheerful at all.”
“I am just overwhelmed by everything”
“Any personal issues? I hope there is no trouble in paradise and that Madam is still tolerating you.”
“Does she have an option? After many years together, where would she go? It is not even that. I am just wondering how we ended up where we are in this country. Who did we offend as a people? We never seem to get anything right.”
“Professor Chinua Achebe said it long ago, in 1984, I think if my memory serves me right, that leadership is the problem with Nigeria.”
“I have been hearing that for decades, I beg. And nobody can find any solution to this same problem. I think the people are a bigger part of the problem.”
“Bad leaders set bad example, the followers will soon start behaving like their leaders and then you have bad followers and all things equal, you get a bad society. What we need is a complete moral re-armament, an ethical revolution from bottom up, a rediscovery of the values of old, and a proper definition of what it means to be a Nigerian”.
“Right now, I don’t even know what it means to be a Nigerian”
“You have a national anthem that talks about who we are.”
“That Nigeria We Hail Thee actually says precisely what Nigeria is not. A banner without stain. Go and say that to all the families who have lost their loved ones just because they happen to be Nigerians. In brotherhood we stand. Which brotherhood. You and who? A nation where no man is oppressed. For where? Go and say that to the people of Rivers State, Southern Kaduna, Benue, or Plateau state, and watch the kind of side eye people will give you.”
“The story from Plateau is particularly sad, unfortunate and regrettable”
“That is the standard line from the Nigerian government. Sad. Unfortunate. Regrettable. But there is no guarantee that more people will not be killed again or that the state will be able to apprehend the criminals. Or that we will not wake up and not hear about another tragedy in any part of Nigeria. Was it not the other day, 16 persons were killed in Uromi, Delta State? Now the killing machine has moved to the Plateau. The Nigerian state is in retreat. It is not serving its purpose. Terrorists and kidnappers do as they wish. People cannot sleep with their two eyes closed.”
“Certainly not in Plateau state. Just imagine what happened. The terrorists attacked villages in Bokko Local Government Area on March 28, set homes ablaze and disrupted communal life. They were so bold they returned on April 2 to wreak more havoc. Between March 28 and the second attack, the state could not anticipate that the terrorists would return. The state did not provide the affected communities with security. The people were left on their own, at the mercy of the terrorists. Now the people are wailing and counting their losses in Ruwi, Hurti, Tadai, Gwande, Manguna and Dafo”
“Are those people even terrorists? I read that they made away with bags of potatoes from the houses that they attacked, and fled on the back of motorcycles. Terrorists who steal bags of potatoes!”
“There is hunger in the land. There are Nigerians who will kill because of a pot of soup. In some local communities, you have to padlock your pot of soup, otherwise it could be stolen overnight! Serious hunger crisis. That is how bad Nigeria has become.”
“And look at how the state has responded. The President has condemned the killings. He has directed the National Security Adviser to visit Plateau. He, the NSA says the perpetrators will be severely punished. The state government has expressed its condolences. Relief materials have been promptly provided for the affected communities. Press statements. Photo op. television cameras. In one week, everyone will move
on, until the terrorists strike in another community and state officials make the same statements and we move on. Nigerians are used to tragic melodramas.”
“If I may play the devil’s advocate though, I think it was good optics that the NSA and the Governor empathized with the people”
‘Will that bring back the dead? Will that stop terrorism, banditry and kidnapping? The people of the Plateau have not known peace for more than two decades. What difference will the routine visit of state officials make? In fact, very soon, these government officials would become so overwhelmed, they would not even visit any place where there is an attack, be it in Rivers, Southern Kaduna, Ondo or the Niger Delta.”
“To buttress your point, look at what nearly happened to the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Samuel Jatau over the weekend, on Sunday. He was on a visit to Bokko, when the same terrorists laid ambush for him around Hurti community and opened fire on his convoy. He had gone to the community on Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s instruction to deliver relief materials.”
“Mark my words, when next Jatau is sent on that kind of assignment, he will find a diplomatic way of advising his boss, the Governor, to send another state official, because he has been having a cocktail of chest pain, food poisoning and diarrhea and his doctor has advised him to go on bed rest! These terrorists and bandits in Nigeria have no respect for anybody.”
“You know they even go to people’s homes and abduct them. Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd) was in his house in his home town in Katsina when kidnappers visited him on February 5, and took him away. He and 18 other victims spent 56 days in the kidnappers’ den. They saw hell and hyena!”
“I have read General Tsiga’s story - an interview that he granted. This is the point. Not even a soldier is considered a man of war by training who could return fire for fire. If kidnappers could pick up a soldier who had served his county just like that, tell me who that ordinary Nigerian is, that criminals can’t pick up.”
‘I have also read that the General and other captives were rescued by Nigerian soldiers of Operation Safe Haven and were handed over to their families personally by NSA Ribadu. But I don’t believe that our soldiers rescued them. The kidnappers for example, placed a ransom of N400 million on General Tsiga’s head. His friends, family, former colleagues, serving and retired Generals had to contribute the N400 million. They even created a WhatsApp group named TSIGA.
When he regained his freedom, nobody talked about ransom being paid.”
“The Nigerian Government can never admit publicly that it was involved at any time in the payment of ransom to non-state actors, who have chosen to act as criminals. We have a law: the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2011, for example. Mallam Ribadu says over 2, 000 persons have been prosecuted under that law. I think the state is making an effort. You will recall that when he was in the kidnappers’ den, General Tsiga observed that his abductors did not fear God, but they became apprehensive whenever a military aircraft hovered overhead and they used them as human shield. That should say something about the efforts of the Nigerian security system.”
“That security system must be overhauled. There must be a re-thinking of the country’s security architecture.”
“Should there be the declaration of a state of emergency in Plateau state, then, after all the people of Rivers State are saying that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. They argue that Rivers is far more peaceful than Plateau, and Benue where criminals, enemies of the people of Agatu, have just rustled over 200 cows. In fact, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for a state of emergency in Plateau, Benue and other terror-prone states.”
“No. No. No. What is going on in Rivers state is problematic enough, let us not mouth ideas that could further complicate the situation. Many Nigerians do not even know what a state of emergency means.”
“But do you agree that nobody needs to quote any law in this matter? In simple straightforward language, it is obvious that the challenges of insecurity, hunger and poverty deserve to be treated as national emergencies. Government must invest in social infrastructure, secure lives and property, rebuild public confidence and trust, and restore hope, not by distributing palliatives, but by giving the average Nigerian an opportunity to have every reason to be proud.”
“One thing you can say in favour of the Tinubu administration though is that they have never toyed with that nonsense idea of buying Aso Ebi for terrorists, and giving them pepper soup, jollof rice and ice cream in the name of rehabilitation.”
“The kind of things we have seen in this country. You know that there was a time some state Governors were before our very eyes exchanging diplomatic niceties with terrorists and bandits. No. This President Tinubu will never do that. I may be speculating but I am convinced he is a much more capable and attentive President than his predecessor.”
“Except that he is also going up and down, and he spends too much time in France. Does he have French citizenship? Does he speak French? What Dubai is to some people, France is to Tinubu”
“I don’t know what languages he speaks, but it is just that he comes across as an improvement on the man from Katsina, whatever the skeptics may say.”
“Let him respect our rights as citizens.”
“How?”
“Our right to speak. Our right to assemble and protest, on any subject of our choice.”
“I don’t think that has been a big issue”
“It is for me. Where are you? Yesterday, the police tear-gassed protesters in Rivers and in Abuja. The youths of Rivers State raised their voice against the declaration of a state of emergency, with a retired soldier, acting as sole administrator now controlling the resources of the people. This is supposed to be a temporary appointment. But you and I know this country. When people get a temporary appointment, they will start praying that it shall become permanent! You should know the song: It shall be permanent… it shall be permanent…what the Lord has done… The only thing that can be permanent is the rule of law and democracy, not dictatorship. In Abuja, angry, Take-It-Back youths trooped out too. They were tear-gassed! The police are too fond of telling people
not to protest. What is that? Their job is to provide protection for whoever wants to protest, not to stop them. That is a settled matter of law. ANPP v. IGP. ”
“Bros., take it easy. Rule of law. Democracy. This is Nigeria oh. This is not America. You do anyhow, you collect wotowoto.”
“Oh, that reminds me. I am sure you saw the protests in the United States across the country against President Trump and Elon Musk. Millions of pro-democracy protesters trooped out to complain about the Trump administration’s hostile takeover of American democracy, and attack on American rights and freedoms. They want an end to the billionaire take-over of the US. Democracy not oligarchy. Hands off, they told President Trump. There were protests also in London and Paris. Trump has launched an assault against every fundamental thing that America is known for. Freedom. Rights. Free trade.”
“Just be careful. Let the Americans who voted for him be the ones to condemn him. In case you do not know, the Trump administration has been cancelling people’s visas to the US. You talk carelessly, you can even be banned from entering the United States.” .
“America was known as the land of freedom, until Trump’s second coming.”
“Just watch your mouth. Oscar Arias, Nobel Laureate and former President of Costa Rica, has had his visa revoked for daring to call President Trump a Roman Emperor. South African Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool criticized Trump’s crackdown on diversity and equity programmes. He was declared a persona non grata and advised to leave the United States. All US visas for the South Sudanese have also been revoked because South Sudan tried to reject its nationals who were expelled from the US. You are just an ordinary Nigerian, you talk anyhow, your entire generation may be banned from ever going near the US.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. President Trump has upended the global trade order. Trump tantrums, and his disruptions go beyond the United States. Across the world, investors are selling off stocks to avoid risks. Global markets are roiling. Wall Street is in bear territory. Trade wars have started. Inside America, there is the threat of recession and rise in consumer prices. The tariffs that Trump has imposed, both baseline and reciprocal tariffs will spread the cancer of recession throughout the world. Even Nigeria got 14%, and with oil prices down by more than 3%, we are in trouble with our 2025 budget benchmark, SMEs will suffer, AGOA has been thrown under the table. And you say we should not talk?”
“I am just looking out for you. Let the Nigerian government handle the matter. The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has already issued a position paper to say that Nigeria is talking to our valued trade partner, the United States and the WTO to identify what is pragmatic and mutually beneficial. Besides, Trump himself has said this is a necessary medicine that he has applied to global trade.”
“Meaning what? Medicine that is already making the patient worse off. And which counterparts is Nigeria talking about? Is the US ready to negotiate as equals with anybody?”
“I try to look at the positive side of things. One of my financial advisers has told me that this is the best time to buy stocks and crypto. While you are concentrating on crisis and tantrums, I am looking at what can be gained.”
“Nobody has ever won tariff wars. Tariff shock has already wiped out US$5.3 trillion of the S&P 500 Index in just 2 days. Nasdaq Composite is down 5.8%, Dow Jones Industrial Average – 5.5%”
“Stop worrying yourself. Let the Americans speak with their votes during the mid-term elections.”
“That is still far away. November 2026.”
“Their problem, not ours. For all I care, they deserve their Trump, and his Elon Musk. The beauty of democracy is that voters are also free to make mistakes, and either live with their mistakes or correct them.”
