The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • The eagle on the Iroko

    The eagle on the Iroko

    • By Mike Kebonkwu

    “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all”. Ecclesiastes 9:11 KJV.

    I am not a pastor but I could not find a better way to start this piece than the above scriptural epigram.   I know that God rules in the affairs of men; coming in time, chances and good luck in predestination! About a fortnight ago, everybody would have thought that it was over and finish with General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retired), the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, a four-star general.  His removal had elicited the usual unfounded national malaise and social media rogue theory of rumpus with the president who decidedly sacked him.

    This is not withstanding that his removal appeared clearly to have been premised on routine change by effluxion of time, and length of service being the only man standing in his 38th Course in the Nigerian Defence Academy after all, his course mates have retired. He reached the apex of his career in the armed forces as a four-star general and the number one soldier.  He appeared to have carried on with his life with measured equanimity to another phase of life, whether he was sacked or removed, after a fulfilled military career. 

    Just as he transits to navigate into the uncertain world of veterans, General Musa secured the nomination of Mr President to replace Mohammed Badaru Abubakar as Minister of Defence who, rumour had it, resigned, citing ill health.  

    Today, Musa sits at the pinnacle of the Nigeria’s Defence architecture like a desert eagle, not a peacock to oversee the entire Nigeria’s security network; arguably like the Dean of Ministers, and first among equals.

    There have been very positive comments from cross sections of Nigerians on the balance of his appointment, as a square peg in square hole, not based on any sectarian consideration.  No doubt, he is on a very familiar terrain with his appointment as Minister of Defence because he has never known any other job besides service in the military, and moving from one theatre to the other.  Even while in office as the Chief of Defence Staff, he was not trailed or tainted by negative comments of partisanship on cleavages. He appears a good mixer and a patriot. 

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    Today, different groups may want to lay claim and appropriate him in confraternity, holding unto the hem of his garment as their own.  That is a usual cultural behaviour with us, success in Africa has many parents and siblings, but failure is an orphan. 

    General Christopher Musa, a northern Christian is a detribalized Nigerian; I understand he is married to a woman from Delta State and his circle of friends to my knowledge is from the pot pourri of the Nigerian society; north, south, east and west.  He seemingly belongs to everyone, and belongs to nobody; not in the manner of late former Head of State and president, Muhammadu Buhari; again, it is up to him to prove himself. 

    Those celebrating and congratulating him as if he has won an Oscar Prize probably missed the point because his appointment is not a party jig of roses, but a clarion call to urgent national duty, and an invitation to carry a heavy cross for a daunting challenge to carry out clinical surgery and operation on the insecurity that has pinned the country down.  The General has to understand this fact before he gets carried away by the Nigerian stream. 

    Nigeria is immersed in insecurity that cannot be dealt with by political rhetoric and theorizing in unconventional or asymmetrical warfare.  There is great expectation from Nigerians who are weary and battle fatigued at the relentless siege from terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, unknown gunmen, armed herders etc., etc.  We are traumatized and terrorized on all fronts; we live in fear at home, we travel and move on the roads and places of work in panic.  Nigeria faces formidable non-state actors bent on destroying our values, with complicit lethargic political leadership unable to muster the political will.

    General Musa is very familiar with the Nigeria’s security terrain and environment and probably well equipped to handle it if he is able to navigate through the complex web of the politics driven by religion and ethnicity. To deal with the asphyxiating insecurity, he has to first compartmentalize the problems into its proper segments.  First, take on the behemoths that are the foot soldiers on the field with uncommon aggression and overwhelming lethal force; no retreat, no surrender!  Acquire the right platforms for the armed forces; drones, scanners and cameras, forensic intelligence and surveillance with curtain edge technology. He has to breathe on the necks of the Service Chiefs and constantly be on the same page with the Commander-in-Chief.  Carry the battle to the enemies in their camps; it is not number that wins battles; it is discipline, training, equipment and the men behind the equipment.  As it is often said, a soldier is as good as his training, weapon and equipment manoeuvrability. No appeasement, no negotiation and no taking of hostages!  The troops must be properly equipped and motivated to carry out the task; they have the capacity and capability driven by the right leadership. 

    In the task ahead, General Musa should be prepared to meet saboteurs,   friendly forces and foes alike cohabiting with him in the same camp.  No single Nigerian should be left in captivity of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists; we must stop the haemorrhage across the country from criminals. 

    The president may have come under sufficient pressure to get to where we are now looking for the right man for the job.  It goes beyond that; he must also give the security chiefs blank cheque and clear orders and set time line; “get me the head of John the Baptist on a platter”! Innocent people cohabiting with criminals should get out of harms’ way if they are not working in sync.  There must be full scale operation; no excuses. 

    The second phase is to go after the sponsors and deal with them in like manner and the heavens will not fall; they have blood in their hands.  Then, the final stage: we must cut off their lifelines and supply routes and chains.  General Musa must distance himself from religious zealots and tribal people.  He should engage true patriots across the length and breadth of the country that have genuine passion for the rebirth of Nigeria.  The General is experienced enough to know that in his position, he is walking on a mined field. It is going to take the sinew, sweat and blood of a true statesman to reclaim Nigeria.  Mr President may have made the right choice and so he also should be prepared for the consequences of his decision.  There is nothing for him to prove again; after all, he has had his hand on the pie as the president of Nigeria which he always wanted to be.     

    The insecurity in Nigeria is ethnic, politico-religious project.  We have zealots who spew hatred and bigotry in our places of worship with political backing and foreign franchise. Let professionals, not politicians handle our security challenges.    In his position like the eagle on the Iroko tree, General Musa should take a bird eye view of the security problems of the country and swoop on the enemies of the state without negotiation while overseeing the Ministry of Defence.  While every other person may be congratulating you, I will not sir, but I would rather wish you good luck, hoping that the entire country is behind you.

    •Kebonkwu Esq is an Abuja-based attorney. He writes via mikekebonkwu@yahoo.com

  • ‘Coup’ in Guinea-Bissau and the dilemma of ECOWAS

    ‘Coup’ in Guinea-Bissau and the dilemma of ECOWAS

    • By Hakeem Jamiu

    In his seminal work, Political Order in Changing Societies (1968), Professor Samuel P. Huntington argues that political order is essential for societal development. He emphasises that strong, adaptable political institutions are necessary to manage conflicts and meet growing societal demands during periods of rapid change. Huntington warns that failure to adapt swiftly to societal shifts often results in political decline and instability (Huntington, S.P. 1968, Political Order in Changing Societies, Yale University Press). These insights offer a valuable perspective for analysing the recent palace coup in Guinea-Bissau, a country on the verge of greater unrest.

    Between September 24 – 26, I was in Guinea-Bissau for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) pre-summit as the lead facilitator nominated by the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement (AIPLA). During this time, I predicted that political upheaval was imminent. It was no surprise, therefore, when, on November 26, a palace coup took place, leading to the forced evacuation of former President Goodluck Jonathan, head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission. He described the coup as a “ceremonial coup,” an unusual act where President Umaro Embaló himself announced the coup, despite claiming to be under arrest. This move was clearly staged to prevent the announcement of election results, ultimately undermining democracy in the country.

    Embalo’s strategy to consolidate power began long before the coup. He had previously excluded his main challenger, PAIGC’s Domingos Simões Pereira, from the electoral process through judicial manipulation by the Supreme Court, which barred Pereira from contesting the election. Pereira, a former prime minister, had supported the independent candidacy of lawyer Fernando Dias. Despite his official term ending on February 27, 2025, Embaló remained in office, citing a different inauguration date. His controversial decision to seek re-election, despite initial promises not to, prompted public protests, which were suppressed by force, with activists arrested and opposition movements restricted.

    The road to Bissau, however, was not just fraught with political instability but also physical danger. As I journeyed from Zinguinchor to Bissau, a typically two-hour trip extended to eight hours due to the dilapidated roads, squeezed between rising rivers. The road was perilous, especially when we learned of the armed insurgents operating along the route. The driver, having initially misled us about the road’s condition, almost abandoned us at the Senegalese border. Fortunately, immigration officials ensured we continued. Later, it was revealed that the road’s poor condition had been intentionally ill-maintained to prevent insurgents from easily reaching the capital.

    Despite the country’s dire economic situation, with infrastructure deterioration and widespread poverty, the people of Bissau maintained a remarkable sense of joy. Young men and women danced in the streets at 3 am, while others gathered at the hotel we stayed in, socialising late into the night. These youthful social gatherings reflected a society aware of global trends, including political unrest, despite being influenced by their leader’s poverty politics.

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    The summit, held at the Royal Hotel in Bissau from September 24 – 26, focused on the future of ECOWAS, marking its 50th anniversary. The theme, “Political Stability, Peace, and Security in West Africa,” seemed ironically prescient. The dialogue, involving civil society, youth, and security experts, examined the challenges facing ECOWAS, particularly addressing Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG). My prediction that Guinea-Bissau would face political turmoil was echoed by ECOWAS’s General Ojabo, who remarked that his troops were primarily tasked with “guard duties at the homes of politicians,” reflecting the mistrust between Guinea-Bissau’s political class and its military. “The minute ECOWAS pulls out from GB, there will be chaos,” he warned, a grim foreshadowing of what was to come.

    The coup led by General Horta Inta-A, just one day before the announcement of presidential election results, claimed that it was necessary to prevent “narcotics traffickers” from manipulating the election. Both President Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory, with Dias seeking asylum at the Nigerian embassy due to credible threats to his life. The people’s resolve for change had been underestimated by Embaló, who believed he could easily eliminate opposition. This turned out to be a grave miscalculation, and the coup was a direct result of the president’s failure to meet the people’s expectations. As Huntington’s theory suggests, political instability often arises when rising societal expectations are unmet, leading to frustration and disorder.

    ECOWAS, having strongly condemned the coup, has suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies and is advocating for the restoration of constitutional order. Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has also suspended Guinea-Bissau from its activities, calling for respect for the electoral process. The United Nations has urged restraint and respect for the rule of law. The coup in Guinea-Bissau presents another challenge to ECOWAS’s credibility, especially as the region has seen an alarming rise in military takeovers. The coup belt, stretching across West Africa, is increasingly a source of concern.

    Guinea-Bissau, with its fragile political and economic situation, faces considerable instability. With a population of only two million and a per capita GDP of $670, the country ranks among the poorest in the world. Around 70% of its population live below the poverty line, with limited access to essential services such as healthcare, roads, education, and sanitation. As the political crisis deepens, there are concerns that drug trafficking could intensify, further destabilising the region.

    For ECOWAS, the challenge is clear: it must persist in applying diplomatic pressure on the coup leaders to restore constitutional order. Military force alone is insufficient; what is needed is a sustained diplomatic strategy supported by respected statesmen. ECOWAS needs to rediscover its role as a facilitator of West African peace, rather than an end in itself. The organisation must act consistently and enhance its operational capabilities to tackle the root causes of instability. Unconstitutional government changes are not merely political anomalies but symptoms of systemic governance failures that must be addressed to prevent further crises across the region. The time for action is now.

    •Rt. Hon. Jamiu, PhD, an ECOWAS Facilitator, writes from Ado-Ekiti.

  • Why banning mother tongue instruction misses the point

    Why banning mother tongue instruction misses the point

    •  By Blessing Tarfa

    Nigeria’s decision to ban the use of indigenous languages in early education arrives at a moment when the rest of the world is moving toward decolonizing knowledge and reclaiming linguistic identity. The choice to ban mother tongue policy, also known as the Language in the Immediate Community reinforces a colonial mind-set that has shaped our educational system for decades. Declaring the policy ineffective under our current educational conditions is disingenuous and there is a need to interrogate the justifications for the ban.

    Blaming indigenous languages for poor exam performance distracts from the actual, well-documented reasons Nigerian children struggle academically. Standard examinations such as WAEC, NECO, and JAMB have never been neutral measures of merit. Using these metrics to declare the mother tongue policy a failure completely ignores the structural barriers that define education in Nigeria. Overcrowded classrooms, absence of adequate materials, poor infrastructure, lack of access to WASH facilities, prolonged school closures due to insecurity and climate-related disasters, trauma, malnutrition, and poverty are the real issues that children grapple with that impact their academic outcomes. It does not matter whether a child is taught in English or in their mother tongue; as long as the basic amenities for a safe and quality learning environment is not met, the education outcomes will reflect these poor structures. Acknowledging that these examinations inevitably privilege students with access to well-resourced schools is important. Socio-economic conditions are a truer determinant of achievement gaps than solely language of instruction.

    The ban also lacks empirical evidence that tracks where mother tongue instruction was effectively implemented and how those learners performed in Nigeria. There is no evidence that learners who were taught using the Language of the Immediate Community model could not transition to English or recorded poorer learning outcomes in foundational literacy and numeracy. It is methodologically inappropriate to link the JAMB, WAEC and NECO outcomes to a policy that does not immediately reach the children writing those exams. With this lack of data, the comparative logic used to condemn the policy falls apart when examined closely. We are left with the classic conditioning of biased interpretations of regional educational outcomes under the cover of English proficiency, rather than a critical analysis of educational quality.

    Other countries have recorded the impact of mother tongue instruction in improving enrolment rate. In Chile, the mother tongue policy led to an increase in enrolment by 50%. Nigeria has over 18 million out of school children; a number that has been on an incline despite the UBEC free education policy of 2014. Learning about the scope of positive impact of the mother tongue policy is key to supporting implementation practices and identifying the dynamic importance of the policy.

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    Furthermore, the ban itself disregards the realities of teachers who have long used indigenous languages as a practical tool to bridge learning gaps in overcrowded classrooms. Mother tongue instruction was not an ideological experiment to practitioners as much as it was a validation of what teachers were already doing to support learning. To suddenly criminalize a strategy that teachers depend on is to disregard their expertise and the challenges they face. Teachers understand the need for learners to learn in a language that they think, communicate and express themselves in coherently. Depending on English as a sole learning language creates fault-lines in learners’ development. Such learners may express English proficiency through rote learning, but lose the tendency for critical thinking and the ability to transfer their learning into their own creation. A ban such as this sends a message that the system does not see the teachers, children, parents, and caregivers who make education possible. This policy was an opportunity to standardize and strengthen the practices that already worked, to support teachers, and to bring structure to a multilingual system. The ban discards all this potential.

    It is also important to note that the MOTHER TONGUE or Language of the Immediate Community (LIC) measures are part of the Language-in-Education model for the implementation of the National Language Policy, launched in 2022. This comes decades after the Sixth Edition of the National Policy on Education of 2013, which also recommends learning through mother tongue instructions. The combination of these policies recognises Nigeria’s vast linguistic diversity and sought to standardize languages, develop orthographies, create curriculum materials, and expand the use of indigenous languages in media, administration, and the economy. Mother tongue instruction is therefore ideally a significant component and core element of nation-building in a multilingual and cultural nation contrary to how the ban views this as solely an isolated experience that happens in classrooms between teachers and learners. Educated Nigerians live in communities that speak languages other than English, and they deserve an education that equips them to serve those communities. For a policy that seemed important enough to receive duplicate recognition and significance in education, suddenly banning it contradicts our awareness of its importance. It reveals a lack of commitment to long-term reform of the education sector in two ways.

    Firstly, the policy itself provided a 10-year window for piloting, refining, and scaling the implementation models including the Language-in-Education model. A policy cannot be declared a failure when the systems required for its implementation were never created. No large-scale teacher training was conducted. Instructional materials were not produced. No comprehensive pilots were run. There were no evaluation frameworks, and no substantial budget allocations. The current budget allocation for education is 7.9% which still falls below the recommended 15-20% stipulated by UNESCO. Realistically engaging with this policy would have required better investment. The government did not invest in building the scaffolding that such a significant reform required. Instead of a premature ban, an ideal response is addressing and confronting the chronic underinvestment that has crippled Nigerian education for decades.

    Secondly, such a reform requires the acknowledgment of underlying nuances in the plights that face intercultural relationships within Nigeria. The socio-linguistic survey of language diversity and language use (National Educational Research Development Council – NERDC 2008, revalidated 2021) found that there are 540 languages spoken in Nigeria. There is hardly a homogenous cultural community in Nigeria; all are richly diverse in language, cultural practices, dialects and religion. This diverse landscape, otherwise an asset, has been weaponized to drive polar relations between cultures over the years. As such, we exist in a political climate of legitimate fear that any language declared as the language of instruction will signal the government’s credentialing of one language over the others. This can create explosive frictions in communities where a language assumes dominance and minoritizes others. This is a valid challenge; however, the government ought to deeply consider the role education can play in building intercultural tolerance and a viable peacebuilding tool in Nigeria. Multicultural consideration in education is not a mere tool of literacy for Nigeria. It is important and critical for the education sector to lead on all fronts of cultural preservation and take the reins in promoting education as a real instrument for social cohesion.

    The use of mother tongue as a language of instruction is not a novel idea, nor is it an impossible challenge. Other multilingual nations have faced similar complexities and responded with intentional investment, careful planning, and context-driven solutions. Nepal has developed reading materials in more than 20 languages, while the Philippines has aligned textbooks in 14 indigenous languages with its national curriculum. Nigeria can do the same or even more if it chooses to

    One way to reverse the longstanding inequities in foundational learning is to recommit to the National Language Policy and honour the 10-year implementation window it established. Following this commitment should be targeted investment in teacher training, development of instructional materials in the languages of the immediate community, and a transparent monitoring and evaluation framework. These are the minimum structural conditions that any policy needs for a chance to succeed.

    Ultimately, a nation that seeks improved learning outcomes must invest in solutions grounded in evidence, context, and cultural relevance. Besides, when we acknowledge that language is both a cognitive asset and a societal development asset, banning its role in the learning of children is an attempt to jeopardize progress in nation building.

    •Tarfa writes from Abuja.

  • ABUAD to launch ‘Air Purifier’ in another giant stride

    ABUAD to launch ‘Air Purifier’ in another giant stride

    • By Tunde Olofintila

    Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, is set to hit global headlines again as students of the 15-year-old university ranked by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings among the Best 100 Universities in the world and No. 1 in Nigeria for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, are set to launch “Air Purifier”, an ICT device/solution for gauging air humidity, in February next year, the first of its kind in Africa.

    The launch under the supervision of New Horizons, the world’s largest ICT training organization established in 1982, is the product of ABUAD/New Horizons’ partnership and determination to ensure the production of entrepreneurship-minded graduates and not those with mere academic certification that will be shopping for jobs after graduation.

    Speaking over the weekend when the university’s Founder & Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, was conducted round the ultra-modern Information Communication Technology Centre equipped with 150 sophisticated computers designed to further boost performances of students and lecturers of the university, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons, Mr. Tim Akano, said that through the launch, ABUAD students will be turned into marketable innovators while the attention of the world would be shifted to ABUAD.

    Akano emphasized that the launch will largely be predicated on “Internet of Things”, IOT, a concept which underscores the use of the internet to monitor virtually anything, adding that it will be beneficial to ABUAD students in many ways, including but not limited to the following:

    •          The launch and its continuous application will build the requisite confidence, focus and discipline in ABUAD students in the ever-competitive global job market, stressing that in the contemporary world, the would-be employers look beyond university certificates before offering their jobs to prospective employees,

    •          Product developed after the launch could be commercialized,

    •                      The launch will position ABUAD as a university that is entrepreneurship-focused, a university that will be producing job creators and not mere job seekers, and

    •          The launch will ensure that every student attending the university benefits from digital empowerment and practical exposure expected of a world-class institution of Higher Education.

    Speaking on a global note, Akano lamented that most graduates in contemporary times do not have the required requite skills the industries are looking for in addition to university degrees.

    His words: “Graduates of nowadays do not have what the industries require: skills in addition to academic certification. It must always be realised that as good as academic certificates are, they are not sufficient. We are therefore out to marry certification with the requisite skills required in today’s employment market”.

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    He added: “For graduates of today to thrive, they need ICT skills in their respective areas of study/specialization. ABUAD was established to teach others how a university, properly so-called, should be run. Our partnership will strengthen the ABUAD franchise in the comity of universities globally.

    “We want to put ABUAD in the Guiness Book of Records by ensuring that it will be the first university in Nigeria to have 2,500 computers in one hall. This will be in addition to producing and providing solutions of world standards. We want the world to shift attention to ABUAD. It is possible because we have done it in 90 different countries around the world, including USA, UK, France, Germany, China, Hungry and South Africa among others”.

    In Nigeria, New Horizons operates in 150 Universities and High Schools, training over 100,000 students yearly. Some of the New Horizons’ partnering universities include but are not limited to Babcock University, Ilishan, Remo, Redeemer University, Ede, BOWEN University, Iwo, BELLS University, Ota and Lead City University, Ibadan as well as University of Lagos.

    Reacting to the salutary development of the launching of Air Purifier in February next year, the elated Founder & Chancellor of the university, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, LL. D (London), Fellow, King’s College, London, FNAE, said the  launch will be a further realization of his dream and desire to make the university a shining example of how a university, properly so-called, should be run.

    According to him, the avalanche of national and international Awards, accolades and recognitions as well as encomiums so far showered on the university by notable Regulatory Bodies and Educational stakeholders have already confirmed his position.

    For example, the National Universities Commission, the Regulator Body for University Education in Nigeria, has acknowledged the university as “a model, benchmark and reference point” as well as “the pride of University system in Nigeria” and endorsed by the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) as “the most successful private university in Nigeria”. UNESCO also acknowledged it as “a world class institution of Higher Education”.

    The former Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos recalled what the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, said about him when he visited the university in June 2014.

    After touring the length and breadth of the university, the former CJN came to the ultra-modern College of Law Building. Looking round the massive building, the learned Jurist took a deep breath and asked rather rhetorically: “Aare Afe Babalola, what else do you want? If it is money, you have it. If it is goodwill, you have it in quantum. If it is success in your career, you are by any means successful. I don’t know what else you want to become”.

    Replying the learned Jurist, I said: “I thank God for what he has enabled me to achieve in my lifetime. My wish, my hope and prayer are that this university must, in my lifetime, be recognized by the international body as one of the Best 100 in the world. So, I still have a lot of work to do to bring this dream into fruition”.

    Now that the university has been ranked by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings among the Best 100 Universities in the world, Babalola has shifted the goal post of his dream and ambition about his university: He said his dream, prayer, wish and hope now are that his university, ABUAD, should be ranked among the Best 50 in the world before his very eyes on the planet earth.

    May his dream, prayer, wish and hope come true and before his very eyes.

    •Olofintila, ABUAD’s Corporate Affairs Director, writes from Ado-Ekiti.

  • Uba Sani’s new agenda for Kaduna’s rich mineral wealth

    Uba Sani’s new agenda for Kaduna’s rich mineral wealth

    • By Haruna Manzo

    Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, on the sidelines of the recent G-20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, (the first to be hosted anywhere in Africa), in which Kaduna State participated in the International Investment Forum and Roadshow for Solid Minerals in Nigeria), delivered a compelling keynote address titled “Unlocking Kaduna’s Green Minerals Future: From Exploration to Industrialisation.” In his speech, he presented Kaduna not as a mere supplier of raw materials but as a dynamic mining and industrial hub ready to integrate into the global green economy. A completely new agenda for the state’s rich mineral deposits.

    Kaduna State’s mineral wealth is reportedly staggering. Geological surveys have identified at least 23 key assets, including gold, lithium, tin, tantalite, iron ore, and limestone, with some sources suggesting the presence of up to 70 different minerals such as nickel, manganese, columbite, wolframite, titanium, cobalt, amethyst, tourmaline, sapphire, and garnet. These resources, scattered across the state’s diverse terrain from the Birnin Gwari goldfields to the lithium-rich zones in southern Kaduna, have long been underutilized. Governor Uba Sani, however, has signaled his determination to harness the mineral wealth of the state for the good of the people.

    Historically, Nigeria’s mining sector has been plagued by artisanal exploitation, illegal activities, and a heavy reliance on raw exports, which deprives local communities of value addition and sustainable benefits. Governor Uba Sani, recognizing this as a missed opportunity, has made it a cornerstone of his administration to pivot toward a “green minerals future”—one that emphasizes environmental sustainability. He highlighted the state’s deliberate strategy to prioritize value addition over extraction, through investments in processing, beneficiation, mineral certification hubs, and robust public-private partnerships. This approach, he argued, would establish Kaduna as a center for integrated industrial growth, contributing to Nigeria’s broader economic diversification.

    The keynote was more than rhetoric, it was backed by concrete actions. During the forum, the Kaduna State Government, through the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC), signed five strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with international partners. These agreements underscore Sani’s commitment to collaborative development all aimed at harnessing the mineral wealth in the state for the good of all indigenes of Kaduna State. For instance, the partnership with X-Calibur Smart Mapping focuses on advanced mineral mapping, tracking illegal mining activities, and developing bankable assets. Another MoU with Core International Mining & Marketing Co. establishes the $150 million Kaduna State Green Mining Investment Fund, a private sector-driven initiative to finance early-stage exploration for critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. This fund addresses a key bottleneck in Nigeria’s mining sector: the lack of risk-tolerant capital for initial drilling and project preparation. By committing anchor capital, Kaduna State signals its seriousness to global investors, aiming to de-risk the ecosystem and attract further funding.

    Additional partnerships include Rosebank Capital for investment mobilization and transaction advisory services, Vuka Group for integrating Kaduna into Africa’s broader mining ecosystem, and DCX Global & Precious Metals Tswane for establishing a gold aggregation and processing center.

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    These collaborations are designed to support artisanal miners through technology transfer, capacity building, and environmentally sustainable models. Governor Uba Sani has emphasized the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, ensuring that mining activities benefit local communities while minimizing ecological harm. Over the next two years, these efforts are projected to attract $2.5 to $3 billion in new investments, create more than 10,000 jobs, generate up to $90 million in household income gains, and lift 50,000 to 70,000 citizens out of poverty.

    For the record, Governor Uba Sani’s administration has already made significant strides in repositioning the solid minerals sector before the G-20 summit. One flagship project is the Lithium Processing Plant at Kangimi, along the Kaduna-Jos road—a pioneering facility in Nigeria, developed in partnership with Ming Xin Mineral Separation Nigeria Ltd. Launched with an initial investment of $20 million (set to rise to $50 million), the plant has a starting capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes per day, expandable to 3,000 tonnes. It not only processes lithium for use in batteries, glass, and aluminum but also plans to utilize by-products for tile production, creating an additional 500 jobs.

    This initiative exemplifies the value addition Governor Uba Sani has been harping on instead of exporting raw lithium. Admittedly, Kaduna is building an industrial ecosystem that retains economic benefits locally.

    To combat illegal mining, which has long eroded revenue and endangered lives, Governor Uba Sani has implemented enhanced surveillance and regulatory measures. Illegal operations have drastically reduced, and the administration is forming cooperatives for artisanal miners, transforming them into “foot soldiers” for legitimate investors. These miners, familiar with the terrain, can provide valuable intelligence and labour while benefiting from formal training and fair wages. The KMDC has acquired 18 additional mineral titles, further expanding the state’s portfolio and inviting reputable international operators to explore responsibly.

    Governor Uba Sani’s strategy extends beyond mining to other sectors, recognizing that mineral wealth must fuel broader development. At the same G-20 event, he showcased Kaduna’s priority areas: agriculture, transport, solid minerals, and renewable energy. Initiatives like the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) and the Agro-Industrial Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) link mineral revenues to agricultural industrialization. For instance, limestone and other industrial minerals can support cement production for infrastructure, while lithium enables renewable energy storage solutions. Partnerships with entities like Atlantic Mining Techniques Limited ($300 million investment) and Hebei Province in China (MoU for cooperation in solid minerals, energy, and infrastructure) amplify these efforts.  

    The results are already transformative. Over $2.1 billion in long-term investments have been attracted, signaling strong investor confidence. Exploration by international firms is widespread, and the focus on green minerals aligns with global demands for sustainable sourcing in the energy transition.

    Governor Uba Sani has called for a deeper Nigeria-South Africa cooperation in investment and technology transfer, acknowledging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms that enhance subnational autonomy and ease of doing business. Yet, Governor Uba Sani’s vision is people-centered. By emphasizing job creation, poverty alleviation, and community engagement, he ensures that mineral harnessing benefits all the people of Kaduna State. Artisanal miners are integrated rather than displaced, environmental protections are prioritized, and revenues fund social programs in education, health, and security. This holistic approach mitigates the “resource curse” that has afflicted many mineral-rich regions, but rather fostering inclusive growth.

    In essence, Governor Uba Sani is not just mining Kaduna’s earth; he is cultivating its future. The governor is thinking tomorrow’s challenges today—through innovative policies, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability—he is positioning Kaduna as Nigeria’s next frontier for green-minerals-driven development. As the state emerges as a beacon of industrial progress, Governor Uba Sani’s leadership serves as a model for subnational entities across Africa, proving that with vision and action, natural resources can indeed pave the way to prosperity for all.

    •Manzo, a development economist and good governance advocate, writes from Zaria, Kaduna State.

  • All for all

    All for all

    • Present Tinubu’s security measures call for the cooperation of all citizens

    Almost immediately after President Donald Trump’s threat, early in November, to stop aid, impose sanctions and possibly order military intervention in Nigeria to dislodge Islamic terrorists and check alleged Christian genocide in the country, there was a spike in violent insurgent activities in a number of states across the country. These included abduction of school children in Kebbi and Niger States as well as worshippers in a church in Eruku, Kwara State; kidnap of travelers and other citizens in parts of Kogi State and the killing of General Musa Uba, Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, Borno State, following the ambush of his troops by terrorists while on a reconnaissance patrol.

    It is difficult to dismiss the perception that the increase in the tempo of onslaughts against innocent citizens by bandits and terrorists was deliberately ochestrated to goad the American leader into carrying out his threat to attack Nigeria. The enemies of a peaceful, stable and cohesive Nigeria obviously anticipate that any unilateral external military action against terrorism in Nigeria will most likely have irreversible disastrous consequences including the destabilization and disintegration of the country.

    Instructively, however, even before the threat by Trump, President Bola Tinubu had undertaken a major reshuffling of the country’s military high command with the appointment of new Service Chiefs for the armed forces who were given marching orders to intensify and decisively defeat all forms of insurgency including terrorism, banditry and herdsmen violence. It is commendable that the President has since followed this up by declaring a national security emergency to contain the deteriorating situation and given specific directives on actions to be taken to restore normalcy and safety throughout Nigeria.

    From all indications, right wing American politicians, including President Trump, have realized that they were probably misled by disaffected Nigerian lobby groups into believing that there is ongoing Christian genocide in the country. Thus, the current preoccupation with high security level cooperation and coordination by both countries to counter the protracted multifaceted insurgency in Nigeria that has indiscriminately targeted people of diverse faiths, ethnicities, ages and genders.

    Yet, the truth is that if the Nigerian State had,  over the last one and a half decades that the insurgency has lasted, lived up to its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of its citizenry, there would have been no basis for Trump’s threat of external military intervention. President Tinubu’s national security emergency measures indicate a determination to act decisively to address the insecurity challenges at the roots and it is important that all stakeholders across levels of government and partisan political divides as well as in civil society work in concert to ensure success in this regard.

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    The stamp of authority given by the President for the establishment of State Police, a cardinal feature of the emergency measures, will help accelerate the process of enabling sub-national units to establish their own police outfits. From sustained opposition to the idea of State Police in substantial parts of the country for a long time, a consensus has over time been reached that it is a structural change in our security architecture that has become imperative. All 36 State governors as well as key socio-cultural groups across the six geo-political zones have since endorsed the concept.

    President Tinubu’s succinct and explicit call on the National Assembly “to begin reviewing our laws to allow states that require state police to establish them” should help break the inexplicable inertia that had stalled the much needed decentralization of our policing system. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is insufficiently manned to effectively secure a polity the size of Nigeria. Consequently, large swathes of land throughout the country have no security presence and are ungoverned spaces taken over by destabilizing non-state actors.

    We do not anticipate that any state government will be averse to establishing its own police outfit. After all, sub-national units of government now recieve substantially higher allocations from the Federation Account following the administration’s fiscal reforms. And the necessity of setting up and funding State police outfits should also compel State governors to more judiciously and productively utilize their security votes.

    Besides, in a complex plural, federal polity like ours, the ideal is for states to control police outfits recruited from local jurisdictions who are familiar with the peculiarities of their respective areas including the languages and cultures of the people as well as the geographical terrain. This will enhance operational efficiency and efficacy. We expect that the laws enabling State Police will provide sufficient checks and balances as well as operational guidelines to prevent the kind of abuses of native authority police by the regional governments of the First Republic. The over 11,500 men already withdrawn from providing security cover to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) will also boost police manpower while also creating opportunities for enterprising persons to set up qualitative, well regulated private security companies.

    Equally welcome is the authorization granted the NPF to recruit an additional 20, 000 men thus bringing the total of fresh incoming personnel to 50,000. It is important that the upgrade and modernization of Police training schools in the country earlier ordered by the President be expedited to allow for qualitative training of the new intakes. We also call on the police authorities to avoid blunders witnessed during such exercises in the past when new personnel were recruited with no provisions made for their accommodation for long periods.

    Another key component of the emergency security measures is the President’s directive to the Department of State Services (DSS) to “immediately deploy all the forest guards already trained to flush out the terrorists and bandits lurking in our forest”. The activation of the forest security architecture will address a critical source of danger to lives and property in the country. It is estimated that the country has a total of 1,129 gazetted forest reserves in addition to eight national parks as well as several game reserves and sanctuaries.

    Most of these have been virtually abandoned thus enabling undesirable elements including non-Nigerians to take over these spaces and run what can be described as autonomous communities in these forests. It is from the forests that terrorists and bandits emerge in most cases to attack communities and highways and where they retreat with their kidnap victims. Clearing the forests of criminals and ensuring effective continued security presence in those spaces will eliminate the vacuum exploited by terrorists and bandits to destabilize the country and snuff out innocent lives.

    The activities of bandits, terrorists and other undesirable elements in the forests including illegal land clearing and unauthorized timber logging have also compounded the very serious problem of massive deforestation in the country with devastating consequences. These, according to experts, include  loss of biodiversity, exacerbated soil erosion, water scarcity, altered local climate and disruption of livelihoods for forest-dependent communities. Nigeria must urgently take ownership of the security and governance of her forest spaces.

    We urge President Tinubu to set up a coordinating committee to oversee the implementation of the various emergency measures as well as give specific timelines for the attainment of specified targets.

  • Ikoyi Club ready for NNPC-SNEPCo Swimming meet

    Ikoyi Club ready for NNPC-SNEPCo Swimming meet

    The swimming section of Ikoyi Club 1938 is set to host a year-ending competition for the young ones with over 200 participants already registered for the event.

    Over 10 schools are expected to compete in the tournament sponsored by NNPC-SNEPCo to develop young swimmers and prepare them for future challenges.

    The annual competition will take place on Saturday December 13 at the swimming pool section of the Ikoyi Club.

    The Chairman of the Ikoyi Club Swimming Section, Akinbulejo Onabolu, told newsmen on Tuesday that all was set for the competition.

    He said the sponsors, NNPC-SNEPCo, has been in good partnership with the swimming section of the elite club over the years.

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     “We are happy to have NNPC-SNEPCo as partners and the fact that the competition put smiles on the faces of the young ones delights us in the club.  We are ready for the event.

     “It has been an amazing year for us and I am looking forward to a very exciting competition in which the young ones will exhibit their talents on Saturday,” Onabolu said.

    The competition will feature freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, individual medley, butterfly and the relays among others.

    According to the programme schedule, there will be a warm up session as early as 8am on Saturday while the competition proper stars at 9am.

     “It will be a carnival of sort because it’s the season of Christmas already. We expect a good show from the competitors just as our members are also looking forward to have a great time come Saturday,” Onabolu added.

  • AFCON 2025: Babangida, Ikpeba  back  Super Eagles to restore pride

    AFCON 2025: Babangida, Ikpeba  back  Super Eagles to restore pride

    1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medallists Tijani Babangida and Victor Ikpeba  believe the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco offers Nigeria a perfect chance to redeem its footballing reputation after the heartbreak of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Speaking in a separate interviews, both former Nigeria internationals noted that the pain of failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time still lingers among players, officials and fans, adding the  AFCON presents the “only opportunity” for the team to restore national pride.

    Babangida in an interview with Tribalfootball , lamented the Super Eagles’ performance in the shock defeat to DR Congo in the World Cup playoff,  describing the Congolese as “more organised and determined” on the day.

    According to him, winning AFCON would help heal the emotional wounds suffered by supporters who were left devastated by the defeat.

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    Babangida is confident Nigeria has the quality to reach the final and possibly end their 12-year wait for a fourth continental title. He, however, warned that head coach Eric Chelle must build a more balanced team and avoid over-reliance on Victor Osimhen, stressing that the team struggled once the striker was substituted against Congo. He urged the technical crew to instil collective responsibility, insisting that “Super Eagles should not collapse if Osimhen is unavailable.”

    Meanwhile,  Ikpeba  believes  the Super Eagles  can  reach at least the semi-finals  at Morocco 2025.

     “Reaching the last four of the AFCON will be a realistic target for the Super Eagles,” the 1997 CAF Player of the Year told SCORENigeria. “We’re certainly not one of the favourites to win the tournament and so we can only dream.”

    He added:  “African football can be humbling as we have again seen by our failure not to qualify for the World Cup.

     “I can recall that Morocco were big favourites to win the 2023 AFCON after they reached the semifinal of the 2022 World Cup, but again that was not the case.”

    But  looking ahead to the competition, Babangida acknowledged the strength of other contenders such as hosts Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia and even DR Congo. He praised Morocco’s recent developmental strides, which have seen the nation excel across various age grades. Still, he maintained that Nigeria remains a perennial favourite, especially when underestimated.

    Despite the absence of injured young defender Benjamin Fredrick, Babangida remains optimistic that the Super Eagles will rise to the occasion and challenge strongly for the AFCON title.

  • Kuti, others set for 11th  Elicris Table Tennis Cup

    Kuti, others set for 11th  Elicris Table Tennis Cup

    Nigeria’s finest table tennis players, led by the sensational Matthew Kuti, are gearing up for the 11th edition of the Elicris Table Tennis Cup, scheduled for December 22-23 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

    The two-day national tournament, organised in partnership with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) under the leadership of Adesoji Tayo, is sponsored by the Babatunde Abayomi Adejobi (BAA) Foundation.

    As the final major event of the year, it promises thrilling contests while reaffirming the foundation’s commitment to youth sports development.

    Babatunde Adejobi, founder of the BAA Foundation, explained that the competition was designed to help the NTTF identify new talents and prepare athletes for major events in 2026.

    “We are not going to relent in our efforts to support youth development. For over a decade, this tournament has fostered friendships among young people while helping the NTTF discover talent. Some of our players are now part of the national team, and what inspires us most is their enthusiasm and desire to excel,” Adejobi said.

    He added that beyond staging the tournament, the foundation would continue to support players in pursuing international exposure.

    “We will keep helping them achieve their dream of playing at a world level. We are satisfied with the quality of play and grateful for the support from NTTF and the Lagos State Sports Commission through the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA).”

    NTTF President, Tayo, praised the BAA Foundation’s consistency in sponsoring the tournament, describing it as a major boost to the federation’s efforts.

    “We appreciate what the foundation is doing because it makes our work easier.” Tayo said. “Sponsorship allows us to identify new talents alongside established ones.”

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    He added: “ Our focus remains on youth because they are the future of the sport. When you see teenagers like the Lebrun brothers of France defeating top Chinese stars, it shows us the importance of giving our young players opportunities to shine. We thank Mr. Adejobi for his commitment and for keeping faith with this tournament, which closes our calendar for 2025.”

    Chairman of LSTTA, Tunji Lawal, also commended the foundation’s vision, noting how the tournament has grown from a state-level event into a national competition.

    “We are happy with the management of the BAA Foundation for deciding to go national since last year, and the tournament is getting bigger every year. We believe more players will emerge again this year, and I thank Mr. Adejobi for his forthrightness and vision in making the tournament a national event.”

    Over the years, the Elicris Table Tennis Cup has evolved into more than just a tournament. It has become a talent pipeline for Nigerian table tennis, a platform for friendship, and a beacon of youth empowerment.

    As the 11th edition unfolds in Lagos, the event continues to strengthen Nigeria’s presence in global table tennis while inspiring the next generation of champions.

  • MOC & LOC Inauguration: Iyaye assures bigger, better  2nd Niger Delta Games

    MOC & LOC Inauguration: Iyaye assures bigger, better  2nd Niger Delta Games

    The 2026 edition of Niger Delta Games will record a greater success than the much celebrated inaugural edition held  this year. .

    This assurance was given by the Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Alabo Boma Iyaye, during the inauguration of  the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Edo 2026 at the NDDD Head Office, Eastern Bypass, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, December 9th.

    He lauded  members of both committees who were largely retained after they did “absolutely very well” in delivering a one-of-its-kind Games in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state last April.

    He said:  “We did absolutely very well at the first edition. There were cheers from the entire country, there was a celebration, and there was huge applause, simply because we brought the entire Niger Delta region together.

     “We brought happiness and excitement to our region. We harnessed talents beyond oil production beyond what we are known for. We gave opportunities to the young ones and empowered them.”

    The former Rivers State Commissioner for Sports then urged  members of the Committees to use the next edition of the Niger Delta Games to advance the objectives of putting together the multi-sport event.

     “I assure you 2026 will be bigger than 2025. Therefore, another opportunity has come for all of us to put in our best so that we will not just be celebrating another games, but we will achieve our objectives.

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     “We want to give opportunities for youths to compete and engage them through the power of sports so that they can become champions tomorrow,” added Iyaye.

    The 23-man Main Organising Committee is co-chaired by Iyaye himself and the Project Consultant, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, (KSM) and has all Sports Commissioners in the nine NDDC states as well as erudite sports technocrats on board.

    Speaking on behalf of the Sports Commissioners, Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports and a former Olympics gold medallist, Daniel Igali said  the Niger Delta region, through the NDDC, has now taken a lead in sports development which other regions are following.

     “As a development commission, it appears we have taken a lead in the area of sports development, and other regions are struggling to catch up.

     “We are hoping that the second edition will be better, we are hoping that it will be more memorable; and as the years go on, that we will continue to develop sports and promote the aspirations of Niger Deltans,” Igali noted.

    Ikpokpo, in a vote of thanks, applauded the NDDC for supporting the project, which has provided opportunities for youths in the region to find expression for their talents, and promised that through the games, “Nigeria’s next champions will be produced.

    Ikpokpo said 17 games will also be competed for, declaring that:  “We have put in measures to curb any form of cheating. We also would make sure that athletes’ buying is stopped such that only those from the region will represent their states. “

    Edo 2026 is scheduled to commence on February 20 and run until February 27 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, and other top sporting facilities in the Edo state.