The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • INEC gives recognition to Wike-backed PDP faction

    INEC gives recognition to Wike-backed PDP faction

    • Two new parties take off

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday conferred recognition on the Abdulrahman Mohammed caretaker committee as leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The electoral agency took the step in compliance with the last week’s Federal High Court judgment which voided the PDP’s November 16, 2025 convention in Ibadan.

    The convention, which produced the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) was held in defiance to two Federal High Court judgments, precluding it from being held.

    At the quarterly meeting between the commission and leaders of political parties, the Caretaker Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, and caretaker National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, represented the main opposition party.

    It was the first to be held since INEC Chairman Prof. Ojo Amupitan assumed office.

    Prof. Amupitan, who expressed worry over the multiple intra-party crises, said the internal feuds negatively impact on electoral integrity.

    READ ALSO: The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    He said although two associations that met the criteria for party registration – Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) – have been registered, following their compliance with the law.

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Netanwe Yilwatda, complained about the systematic disenfrachment of certain categories of Nigerians on occupational grounds.

    But his call for early voting was rejected by Amupitan,  who said it may breed distrust.

    The PDP factional Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, who chided the commission for recognising the Mohammed/Anyanwu faction, said in a statement that the NWC had applied for a stay of execution, adding that the umpire acted contrary to the constitution.

    He said: This action, though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal response.

    Intra-party crises erode electoral integrity, says INEC

    Amupitan said internal crises and lack of internal democracy in parties often undermine electoral integrity, urging party leaders to avoid frequent leadership squabbles.

    He said numerous litigations, in which the Commission often finds itself joined as a party, divert its attention from the primary duty of  ensuring free, fair, and credible elections.

     Amupita  said “Our collective commitment to maintaining the integrity of our electoral processes is being challenged by the unfortunate and increasingly frequent leadership squabbles within various political parties across our esteemed nation.

    “The essence of democracy is rooted in the ability of political parties to flourish, debate, and contest ideologies in a manner that respects the tenets of fair play and mutual respect.

    “However, it is with great concern that I note the current trend of infighting among party leaderships, which not only detracts from the core objectives of these political entities, but also spills over into unnecessary legal battles that tax our judicial system and public resources.”

    Two new parties registered

    The INEC Chairman announced the registration of two new political parties, bringing the number of parties to 21.

    He said out of 177 associations that sought for registration, 14  satisfied the initial pre-qualification while eight successfully uploaded their documents on the Commission’s dedicated portal.

    The eight are the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).

    Amupitan said: “Out of the eight above, only two qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act. After due consideration, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) was found to have complied fully with the requirements of the law.

    “Accordingly, the Commission has decided to register the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) as a political party, effective from today, 5th February 2025.

    “Furthermore, the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the Commission to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

    “The Commission has decided to comply with the order and is being registered as a political party. Certificate of Registration will be handed over to the two new political parties in due course”.

    Amupitan assured that the Commission will conduct free governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun, and  Area Council polls in FCT on February 21.

    The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, urged INEC to remain independent and provide a level playing field for all political parties.

    He urged party leaders to utilize IPAC’s internal alternative dispute resolution rather than resorting prematurely to the court after the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed lack jurisdiction over party leadership disputes.

    Dantalle said “As we approach the eighth general election under INEC’s supervision, we must resolve to get it right. There should be no excuse for elections that fall short of credibility, transparency, and public acceptability.”

    “The conduct of the FCT Area Council election and the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti State and Osun State will send a strong signal regarding expectations for the 2027 General Election. The Commission must rise to the occasion. Indeed, the eyes of the nation — and the world — are upon us.”

    Yilwatda, Amupitan disagree on early voting

    Yilwatda said the disenfrachment of election day workers contribute to low voter turnout in elections.

    He said thousands of Nigerians who are legally eligible to vote are effectively disenfranchised on election day because of the very roles they play in safeguarding the process.

    Yilwatda listed such individuals as INEC ad-hoc staff, security personnel, civil society observers, medical doctors, journalists, and other essential support staff who are deployed for election duties, but are unable to cast their votes.

    Noting that their absence from the polling booth is a direct consequence of national service, he call for a deep reflection on the proposal for early voting.

    However,  Amupitan explained that while early voting had been considered, it raised serious operational and cultural concerns.

    He cautioned against a system where votes are cast early and “warehoused” for counting after the general election.

    Amupitan said such an arrangement could expose the process to abuse, manipulation, and loss of public trust, with fears that “huge votes could suddenly appear from somewhere.”

    He stressed: “At the heart of the matter is Nigeria’s electoral culture. Nigerians are deeply invested in real-time voting and counting, wanting to see results as they emerge. Until the country builds a culture and system that enjoys absolute public confidence and is seen as incorruptible, adopting early voting may remain difficult.”

    The INEC Chairman also highlighted the heavy financial implications of conducting elections in a single day nationwide.

    He explained that doing so would require the Commission to almost double its electoral materials since the current staggered process allows for the reuse of some equipment.

  • Japa syndrome: Fed Govt’s measures reversing trend, yielding results, say Ganduje, NMCN boss

    Japa syndrome: Fed Govt’s measures reversing trend, yielding results, say Ganduje, NMCN boss

    • Council inducts 206 foreign-trained nurses

    Stakeholders in the nation’s health sector have said the recent government interventions at addressing the mass migration of health workers, popularly known as the ‘Japa’ syndrome, are beginning to yield results.

    The stakeholders spoke yesterday in Abuja at the induction ceremony of 206 foreign-trained nurses, where they assessed the renewed efforts to retain skilled medical personnel in the country.

    The nurses were inducted into the profession after completing a compulsory six-month adaptation programme conducted in 10 Nigerian universities and passing the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) professional examination.

    The inductees graduated from 15 institutions across several countries, including Niger Republic (62), Ghana (35), Cameroon (35), India (22), Cyprus (19), the Philippines (nine), Sudan (nine), Egypt (five), Turkiye (two) and Ukraine (one).

    As part of the registration process, all successful foreign-trained nurses are required to undergo formal induction, similar to their counterparts trained in Nigeria.

    The inductees also took the Oath of Allegiance, pledging to maintain confidentiality and abstain from acts harmful to patients.

    READ ALSO: The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, said reforms introduced by the Federal Government were gradually reversing the trend of outward migration.

    Ganduje expressed optimism that ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration would further strengthen the health sector and encourage professionals to remain in the country.

    “To now finish the internship and decide to go back to where they were coming from, after the government has spent some investment on them? I assure you it will be a different story because the reforms undertaken by the present government will turn the tide,” he said.

    The former APC national chairman noted that improvements in health service delivery were already influencing the decision of many Nigerians trained abroad to return and practise in their country.

    “I think it is a welcome development, because when we have our own children studying abroad and then coming back and joining the service, that is very encouraging,” Ganduje said elatedly.

    NMCN’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Al-Hassan Ndagi, said Nigeria was no longer facing a shortage of trained nurses, following the expansion of training capacity and the introduction of new retention measures.

    Responding to concerns about Nigerians studying nursing abroad, despite the availability of accredited programmes locally, he acknowledged the concern but said the number involved was relatively small.

    “Well, it is a matter of concern because we have a very large number of institutions in Nigeria. But the 206 that you are seeing is just a drop in the ocean of the number of nurses that we train in Nigeria,” Ganduje said.

    The APC stalwart said Nigeria produces no fewer than 27,000 nurses per examination cycle, conducted twice yearly, in addition to midwifery graduates.

    “In every year, we produce nothing less than 115,000,” he said.

    He explained that foreign-trained nurses are required to undergo an adaptation programme to align them with Nigeria’s professional ethics and healthcare delivery system.

    “The ethics and other principles of service here in Nigeria are not the same as those of the outside country. We have noticed the difference in them that does not align with our system. That is why we have to remodel them and make them conform to Nigerian society,” he said.

    Baring his mind on the retention of nurses in the country, Ndagi said existing policies ensure that newly inducted nurses remain in the country for at least two years.

    “They will go for a one-year internship. After that, they will also do another one-year National Youth Service. They will remain in the country for two years,” he said.

    To bolster the in-country retention of the nurses, the registrar announced that the Federal Government had approved a central placement system for newly inducted nurses, enabling authorities to deploy them to health facilities nationwide for service and further training.

    “While they are rendering the service, they are also acquiring more and more skills,” he said.

    Addressing concerns about shortages arising from previous large-scale migration, he said training quotas were expanded to offset losses.

    “About three years ago, in a single year, we recorded about 57,000 nurses leaving the country. So, it meant we were training for outsiders,” he said.

    Ndagi added that over 250,000 nurses are currently serving in Nigeria, while urging the government to accelerate recruitment to absorb available manpower.

    “My call to the government is that more and more nurses should be employed in the service,” he said, noting that Nigerian nurses remain highly regarded internationally.

    Ndagi urged the newly inducted nurses to prioritise the interests of Nigerians, particularly those in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.

    “I encourage you to be exemplary ambassadors of the nursing profession. Demonstrate humility, discipline and respect in your interactions with the public. Let kindness and compassion guide your care for all patients,” he said.

    He emphasised strict adherence to professional ethics and cautioned against unprofessional conduct, including on social media, “Please note that you are now solely responsible for your nursing actions,” he said.

    Ndagi also advised the nurses to embrace lifelong learning, pursue further training and contribute positively to the image of the profession.

    Other speakers at the event advised the inductees, who will proceed on a one-year internship followed by the National Youth Service, to take their training seriously, uphold confidentiality and adapt to the evolving needs of patients.

    The event also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding inductees and the institution that produced the overall best inductee, Cynthia Okwor.

  • 25m to benefit as Tinubu expands women’s economic programme

    25m to benefit as Tinubu expands women’s economic programme

    • Fed Govt rolls out Happy Woman App to connect women to finance, markets, skills, services

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expanded the Nigeria for Women Programme to reach 25 million beneficiaries nationwide.

    The President announced the expansion yesterday while unveiling a digital platform designed to connect women to finance, skills, markets, essential services and government support.

    President Tinubu launched the programme, now called the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), at the State House in Abuja, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

    The President said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable growth without placing women at the centre of national planning.

    He described the scale-up as a key pillar of his administration’s social and economic inclusion agenda.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, President Tinubu stressed that “a nation that relegates its women is a nation bound for implosion”.

    He added: “We have long understood this truth. That is why this administration has not only placed women at the forefront of decision-making but has also entrusted them with leadership in causes that redeem our national promise. Today stands as proof of that commitment.”

    The expanded initiative follows a pilot phase in six states, which, according to the Presidency, reached over one million beneficiaries.

    READ ALSO: President rallies relief materials to affected Kwara communities

    With the national scale-up, the government introduced the Happy Woman App Platform, described as a secure digital interface that links women to empowerment opportunities, including finance, skills training, market access, protection services and social support.

    The programme is headed by Dr. Hadiza Maina and is co-financed by the World Bank alongside the Federal Government and participating state governments.

    It is designed to strengthen women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and social development nationwide.

    President Tinubu said his administration had set a “bold but achievable national ambition” of reaching 25 million Nigerian women through the programme, while calling on the World Bank to strengthen its financing, technical support and innovation partnerships to sustain the scale-up.

    “Digital inclusion is no longer optional; it is foundational to effective service delivery and national competitiveness,” he said.

    In a related policy announcement, the President designated 2026 as the “Year of Social Development and Families in Nigeria,” directing coordinated action across all levels of government.

    The declaration, the Presidency said, followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during President Tinubu’s January official visit to Türkiye, aimed at strengthening family cohesion and social welfare systems.

    The President hailed the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for integrating technology into policy implementation and for reorganising social development into a more coherent system since the launch of the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention in Lafia last year.

    He also praised governors and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for aligning federal vision with state-level execution.

    President Tinubu stressed that “national transformation succeeds when all levels of government move with shared purpose”.

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the initiative as a major shift in Nigeria’s governance framework.

    “Today is a structural signal for Nigerian women, children, and families,” she said.

    “It is a signal that under your leadership, women are no longer treated as beneficiaries at the margins of development but as primary drivers of Nigeria’s economic, social, and democratic stability.”

    The minister said the programme builds on the achievements of Phase I of the Nigeria for Women Project in six states.

    She announced that 26,577 women’s affinity groups were formed with over 560,000 members.

    Hajiya Sulaiman-Ibrahim said participants recorded significant financial progress.

    “Through the Women Affinity Groups formed, they collectively saved over ₦4.9 billion of their own money and have inter-loaned significantly to expand their businesses, cover health costs, and pay school fees,” she said.

    The minister described the new phase as a major continental investment in women’s empowerment, noting that it is a $540 million programme co-financed by the World Bank and the Federal and State Governments.

    According to her, the initiative is designed to directly reach at least five million women across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while supporting national priorities such as job creation, food security, rural revitalisation and financial inclusion.

    Sulaiman-Ibrahim also said the programme had strengthened civic identity among women beneficiaries.

    “In Niger State, for instance, during programme rollout, many women, for the first time in their lives, obtained formal identification to participate,” she said.

    “The fastest and most accessible ID available to them was the voter card.”

    The minister added that the newly registered women “became politically visible”.

    Hajiya Sulaiman-Ibrahim announced that the Happy Woman App would serve as a central hub for women’s empowerment.

    “This platform will aggregate access to programmes, finance opportunities, skills training, protection services, and market linkages. Our target is 10 million verified women registrations within the next ten months,” she said.

    Also, the World Bank Regional Representative for Africa, Mr. Robert Chase, said the project was designed by the bank’s Social Policy Department to place women at the centre of development, stressing that investing in women remains the most impactful investment any nation can make.

    The Director of the Nigeria Country Office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Uche Amaonwu, noted that empowering women directly translates to healthier families and safer communities, noting that women’s empowerment significantly reduces disease and insecurity at the household level.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, expressed his ministry’s readiness to collaborate on women-focused empowerment initiatives across the country.

    Representative of the Senate President, Senator Ireti Kingibe, said the scale-up reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the needs of women, adding that the National Assembly would continue to enact legislation to expand women’s access to governance and economic resources.

    Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the NGF, Katsina State  Deputy Governor Faruk Jobe reaffirmed the commitment of state governments to providing counterpart funding for the successful implementation of women-focused projects.

    He announced that Katsina State, a participating state in the project, had earmarked ₦4 billion in its current budget to support the initiative.

  • Nigeria-U.S. security alliance transparent, policy-driven, says DHQ

    Nigeria-U.S. security alliance transparent, policy-driven, says DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed concerns raised by some citizens over the United States’ deployment of troops in Nigeria.

    It described the deployment as part of longstanding military cooperation between the two countries.

    The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, said in a statement yesterday that the partnership is structured, policy-driven and aligned with Nigeria’s constitutional provisions.

    The clarification followed confirmation by the U.S. that it had deployed a small number of troops to Nigeria to support efforts against terrorism and violent extremism.

    During a virtual briefing on Tuesday, the U.S. Africa Command described Nigeria as a “willing partner”.

    The development generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians questioning the basis of the deployment.

    Responding, Uba said all engagements under the partnership are conducted with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and within existing bilateral frameworks.

    He added that the cooperation focuses on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support and strategic dialogue.

    READ ALSO: The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    The director explained that a recent two-day high-level Working Group meeting between senior U.S. officials and Nigerian counterparts at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) formed a part of ongoing engagements, following earlier meetings in the United States.

    According to him, the discussions were aimed at strengthening cooperation, improving coordination and enhancing accountability in joint counterterrorism operations and other transnational threats, while prioritising civilian protection and community safety.

    Uba said proposals from the meeting are still under review by relevant Nigerian authorities, adding that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity without compromising national independence.

  • RMAFC: New pay package for political office holders ready

    RMAFC: New pay package for political office holders ready

    The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) yesterday announced that it had finalised work on a new remuneration for political office holders in the country.

    The commission said it had submitted the new pay package to the President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

    RMAFC’s Chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu, who announced this at a budget defence of the agency before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, said the new proposal is for ministers and political office holders.

    He said the President will soon forward the new salary package to the National Assembly for further scrutiny and approval.

    Shehu said the agency was also working on “vertical, horizontal revenue sharing formula. We are also on that. We will conclude this year”.

    The chairman, who provided an update on the ongoing review of the revenue allocation formula for the three tiers of government as well as the remuneration for political office holders, stated: “Very soon, we will conclude. We have done everything. We have concluded. We are just about to finish analysing the data and bring it before you.”

    READ ALSO: President rallies relief materials to affected Kwara communities

    “We hope that very soon this will be transmitted to you so that it becomes law. Of course, your own doesn’t require any legislation. It’s for the ministers and others.”

    He expressed concern over the interference of state governments in the fiscal governance of the local government areas over the years.

    Shehu said: “The commission would like to establish a Local Government Committee now, like we used to do before the Supreme Court said we were busy bodies. Now, we will monitor every single local government in Nigeria.

    “I’m glad that Mr. President spoke to the governors, that ‘if you don’t allow this, I will issue an Executive Order’. So, the commission is fully in support of Mr. President over this course.

    “The crisis we are having in Nigeria today is the lack of functionality of the local governments, and every single one of us knows this. Even under the military, the local governments performed much better. So, I thank you profoundly, sir; it’s your committee that initiated this.

    “Three years ago, when we came, we told you, you (Committee Chairman Abiodun Faleke) said you could handle this, and you guided me. I followed your advice and the rest is a success. So, we are grateful for this also.”

    “I sincerely thank this committee for what you have done for the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. You have brought us out. We are now being respected by almost all the revenue-generating agencies in Nigeria.

    “Even before we knock now, they are knocking at our doors, having discussions with us. Some of the issues that have been, over the years, are being addressed by some of these revenue-generating agencies; whether it is the Nigerian Customs, the NUPRC, and other agencies.

    “So, I thank you profoundly and I think you have done a great service to Nigeria. This is just the beginning. I will now go to the document before you.”

    Shehu told the lawmakers that the agency was carrying out an audit of the nation’s oil assets in the Niger Delta.

    He said: “What you have done for us and for Nigeria; your name will go down in gold, sir. We are being respected by all revenue-generating agencies. Anywhere we go now, everybody is like shivering, trying to really identify with us.

    “For the first time, the verification that we are doing of oil wells all across the Niger Delta region has never been done before. The equipment that we have; not even new precursors. No governor now will say, ‘When you come to my state, you have to beg me,” where even we are going to stay, provide vehicles and things like that. Now, we can do that.

    |My people spent three to four months in the field. Some of them went into the creeks, up to here, to identify those oil assets that we have in Nigeria. By the time we finish, when Mr. President receives this report, this country will shake. I’m not making it up. I have provided you with an internal report, but I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag. So, this is remarkable, sir.”

  • Kigali, echoes of Rwanda genocide, other stories

    Kigali, echoes of Rwanda genocide, other stories

    By Tunde Rahman

    I had long nursed the idea of visiting Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, given the exciting stories of infrastructure development, well-paved network of roads and other beautiful things I had heard about that country. When, therefore, I needed to travel to the United Kingdom in late last year, I decided to route my trip through Kigali aboard RwandAir. So November 28, 2025 was my first trip to Kigali and my first on RwandAir, as well.

    The wonderful experience I had on RwandAir more or less offered a pleasant hint of the trip itself. Indeed, everything about the trip was flawless. The aircraft we flew in was new and clean. The check-in formality was faultless; the cabin crew were excellent. It was a five-and-a-half hour or so flight, but it didn’t feel like I spent up to five hours in the plane. Everything went smoothly that it seemed time simply rolled by.

    Within minutes of arrival at Kigali International Airport, I had recovered my luggage and passed through immigration with the help of Oluwaseun Akande, a senior official from the Nigerian Embassy in Kigali, who was on hand to receive me and accompany me to the hotel.

    Kigali International Airport is quite small, but what it lacks in size it offsets with an appealing design. A first-time visitor like me cannot help but notice the sheer beauty and cosiness of this airport. It’s also very functional and efficient. The services available at the airport were excellent. The internet wifi was smooth and fast.

    READ ALSO: President rallies relief materials to affected Kwara communities

    Having effectively settled in 2000 Hotel in the heart of Kigali, described as a 4-star hotel, I now began to plan my itinerary.

    I decided to pick a hotel in Downtown Kigali because I really wanted to explore the city, catch a full glimpse of Kigali, meet and interact with the locals. As I indicated, I was en route to London and planned to spend only three nights in Kigali.

    The three nights must be well utilised, consistent with the trip’s objectives to know virtually everything about Kigali: the culture and tradition, the people, their history, and the tourist spots.

     Oluwaseun proved very useful in that respect. Along with a few tourists I encountered at the hotel, I visited several places including the Fazenda Sengha, Mount Kigali, Kimironko Market and, of course, the Genocide Memorial. Chauffered by my Rwandan cabbie, who simply gave his name as Godwin, I also went round the city centre to glimpse some of the important places like Kigali Government House, President Paul Kagame’s residence, some embassies, big conference centres and major hotels.

    Fazenda Sengha is an impressive recreational park. Its features include zip lines, archery, horse/donkey ride, train ride, paintball, and of course a restaurant and a bar. From this park erected on a mountain, one could get a bird’s eye view of Kigali. A river that snakes its way through the whole of Kigali can also be viewed. It was at this place that I saw donkeys again after a long time, and even rode on one.

    At Mount Kigali, a prominent hill in the city, which is 1,853 metres high, one can also have a panoramic view of the entire Kigali. Standing at the summit of Mount Kigali, this awesome hill is easily the main attraction in Kigali.

    Rwanda is a one-city country. Everything about the country revolves around the capital – Kigali. I was told there was no point visiting any of the other towns and villages, which are predominantly rural and far-flung places, because they featured virtually nothing remarkable. Notwithstanding this, President Kagame has made tremendous impact on Rwanda’s development. According to official documents in Kigali, the hallmarks of Kagame administration are peace and reconciliation, women empowerment, promotion of investment and entrepreneurship and access to information technology.

    On the streets of Kigali, President Kagame is good news. The people visibly adore him and commend his impact in the country. His residence is a sprawling structure next to the Government House. The sheer majesty of his residence is understandably so, given his status as the president.

    Reminded that Kagame has been in office since April 2000 and was recently sworn in for a new five-year term in August 2024, my cabman Godwin simply retorted: “That is not important to us. He is doing well and we love him. He treats all of us equally. Our country is okay. We don’t count how long he has been in power.”

    The impressive sights nonetheless, this is an unsolicited advice to President Kagame: after 26 years in power and still counting, it’s time he started thinking seriously of grooming a suitable successor to continue with his progressive policies, and quitting the stage when his present term expires. Otherwise, he would be putting at risk the good legacies he has built in the country and the huge impact he has made on Rwandan people.

    Like I said, that was unsolicited. The three-day trip to Kigali was generally eventful. It was exciting. There is so much to write about. Yet, there were also depressing and humbling moments during the trip. This was at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, built to commemorate the 1994 Rwandan genocide as a place of remembrance for the more than one million victims of the genocide against the Tutsi.

    Inside this memorial, the remains of over 250,000 people, the bones of those massacred – mostly of Tutsis – are interred. In this place, one is confronted with grim stories and pictures of how the Hutu turned against Tutsi; how brothers turned against brothers, friends against friends, families who had all along related well and inter-married turned against one another. The graves were well arranged in this large and sombre ground, evoking the tears and blood that flowed from the Rwandan civil war.

    Some accounts of those who survived the genocide were also pasted on the walls of the memorial centre.

    In his book “Conspiracy To Murder: The Rwandan Genocide,” Linda Melvern gave a chilling account of the killing in Rwanda during the war, quoting a part of the report of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued on April 29, 1994: ”Whole families are exterminated, babies, children, old people, women are massacred in the most atrocious conditions, often cut with a machete or a knife, or blown apart by grenades, or burned or buried alive. The cruelty knows no limit.”

    As I criss-crossed the memorial, moving from one room to another, from one point to another, reading the narratives and viewing the haunting and saddening pictures, tears welled in my eyes. I prayed silently that this should never happen anywhere again to any set of people or nation.

    Those alleging genocide in Nigeria and spreading the narrative of genocide do not know what they are talking about. Yes, Nigeria is battling security issues. Yes, there are killings, very unfortunate and disturbing, but the government is confronting them headlong. However, there is no genocide in Nigeria, whether of Christians or Muslims, and we should not pray for one. Anyone who has seen the magnitude of the Rwandan massacre as documented in Kigali Memorial will perfectly understand this fact.

    We must commend President Kagame for his post-war efforts on peace and reconciliation, and the people of Rwanda for how they have all embraced peace after the ruinous genocide. Speaking on his own personal efforts in maintaining peace after the war, Lydie Mutesi, a guide officer at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, wrote on the wall of the centre: “The memorial is a very important place. I feel responsible and humbled because I’m contributing to teaching the world and my community about building peace after genocide.”

    *Rahman is a journalist and media aide of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.

  • Celebrating 50 years of Ogun State

    Celebrating 50 years of Ogun State

    By Gboyega Nasir Isiaka

    When Ogun State was created on February 3, 1976, I witnessed that moment as a fourteen-year-old student on the assembly ground of Nazareth High School, Imeko. We stood under the watchful eyes of our Principal, Reverend Akosile, and cheered with the innocence of boys and girls who sensed significance without fully grasping its weight. History arrived quietly that day. Its meaning unfolded over time.

    That same year, my father, Prince Tijani Adebowale Isiaka, passed on. He was a transporter, a philanthropist, and a man devoted to community service. His life revolved around the people. His death left a deep silence. In that fragile season, the newly created Ogun State awarded me a scholarship that enabled my transition from a day student to a boarding student at Nazareth High School. The State became a steady presence when certainty disappeared.

    Life at Nazareth broadened my understanding of Ogun beyond geography. I studied alongside children of farmers, traders, artisans, and civil servants from across the State. We shared classrooms, meals, struggles, and aspirations. Those bonds endure. Many of my classmates chose paths outside politics and became teachers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in other fields. They became the quiet backbone of Ogun. When I meet them today, I am reminded that leadership finds its true meaning in how policy shapes everyday lives, often far from public attention.

    Secondary school formed my habits and values. Those habits later became the core of my ambitions. Discipline, fairness, teamwork, respect, and honesty defined daily life. Effort carried consequences. Responsibility demanded consistency. Through those years, Ogun was quietly forming my character, long before public service entered my thinking.

    READ ALSO: The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    After a brief stint in the Mass Communication Department of the then Ogun State Polytechnic, like many sons and daughters of this State, I stepped beyond its borders to prepare for professional life and higher responsibilities. University life at Ife expanded my intellectual horizon. I encountered new ideas and perspectives. I observed how institutions thrive under discipline and falter when values weaken. Education sharpened my capacity while my identity remained firm. I carried Imeko with me. I served first as Director of Organization, and then as President of the then Egbado Students Association. That role clarified the meaning of representation. You speak for people who trust you to carry their voice. You listen carefully, balance interests, and act responsibly.

    Ogun stayed present in my thinking, defining my sense of duty and restraint. Each step outward was taken to build capacity, and each time I returned to Ogun, I did so with deeper understanding.

    When I entered the corporate world, the lessons Ogun had planted in me proved essential. Corporate leadership demands discipline, accountability, and clarity of purpose. Targets must be met. Resource management requires prudence. I learned that leadership rests on systems, structure, and trust. The values instilled early prepared me for corporate responsibilities and equipped me to shoulder responsibility when opportunity arose.

    My formal entry into public service came through Gateway Holdings, the investment company of the Ogun State Government, as the pioneer Group Managing Director. The mandate centred on professional asset management, protection, and value creation. I approached the role with a clear sense of duty, serving Ogun as a son of the soil, conscious that every decision reflected on the communities that raised me. Gateway Holdings was a public trust, demanding transparency, method, and respect for resources. Through this work, trust grew steadily, anchored in accountability and fidelity to process.

    I subsequently entered into the journey of partisan politics and electioneering, taking me into the nooks and crannies of Ogun State. Those journeys deepened my understanding of the culture, diversity, and the peculiarities of our people. I saw their resilience, their aspirations, and the ways each community preserves its identity while contributing to the broader fabric of Ogun State. Every encounter reinforced my sense of duty and the weight of responsibility that comes with serving this State.

    Ogun has taught me that trust grows quietly. It is built through consistency, through sustained presence, and through genuine attention to people’s concerns. The confidence I enjoy today rests on years of engagement, patience, and respect for institutions.

    I have remained present beyond election cycles. I have listened more than I have spoken and consulted more than I have announced. I have learned that trust is gradual. It is earned through action, through reliability, and through a lifetime of shared experience.

    I have lived Ogun as a child. I have learned and impacted Ogun through growth and through the communities that nurtured me. Ogun has molded who I am. It has instilled in me values, discipline, and a sense of responsibility that guide every decision I make. The State is in me. Its lessons continue to inform my character, my purpose, and my commitment to service.

    My Ogun story did not begin with politics. It began in Imeko. It grew through experiences. It matured through service and has been sustained by impact. Ogun formed my character before public service shaped my path. It prepared me for leadership long before ambition took shape. It remains the foundation of who I am.

    As Ogun State celebrates its Golden Jubilee, I acknowledge the dedication of our leaders, past and present, whose vision and service have guided our growth and stability. Their efforts, sustained by the enduring belief of the people, continue to inspire our responsibility toward a brighter and more prosperous future.

    May this anniversary renew our resolve. May it deepen our belief in service that places people first, in institutions that endure, and in a future worthy of the trust invested in us. Ogun has given me its values. I continue to believe in its promise.

    Congratulations and happy Golden Jubilee, my dear Ogun State.

    • Isiaka (GNI) is Chairman, House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development

  • Empower Academy will unlock skills development

    Empower Academy will unlock skills development

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has described the Empower Academy Nigeria as a strategic national platform to accelerate skills development and unlock our healthcare value chain.

    He spoke after witnessing the inauguration of the academy.

    The Academy, unveiled as a phased programme beginning with a digital learning platform, will expand into hybrid innovation hubs and permanent world-class training centres in partnership with universities and research institutions.

    Prof. Pate said the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) to reposition Nigeria as a manufacturing hub while creating quality jobs for young Nigerians.

    He emphasized that Empower Academy Nigeria directly addresses the country’s critical gap in industry-ready professionals, especially in pharmaceutical manufacturing and life sciences. According to the Minister, while many Nigerians possess academic qualifications, there remains a shortage of practical “how-to” skills needed for regulated manufacturing, quality assurance, and regulatory science. The Academy is designed to bridge this gap by combining classroom learning, laboratory practice, mentorship, and factory-style training, equipping young people with both technical competence and purpose, while strengthening local production and global competitiveness.

    READ ALSO: President rallies relief materials to affected Kwara communities

    Also speaking at the event, PVAC National Coordinator, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, announced that the Academy’s courses will be offered free to qualified Nigerians for the next two years, adding that the curriculum is designed to be practical, realistic, and industry-driven. He called on private sector players and academic institutions to actively collaborate with the Academy to ensure learners gain real-world, hands-on experience.

    Prof. Pate commended the National Coordinator of PVAC, the entire PVAC team, Empower School of Health, Prof. Paul Lalvani, and all partners for bringing the vision to life. He also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for providing the leadership and policy direction that made the initiative possible.

    He noted that Empower Academy represents a growing narrative of innovation, hope, and opportunity in Nigeria. The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to expanding access for young talents nationwide, saying the programme marks a major step toward building a resilient healthcare workforce and a stronger Nigerian economy.

    Pate added: “I’ve heard from Dr. Mukhtar, and also Professor Albani,  is actually this Latin narrative.  The possibility of an exciting future,  repositioning Nigeria on the African continent  for its own people, but also on the global stage. What we’re doing here is world class.

     “And I believe this is just the beginning. That’s why when the President lists the Renewable Agenda, it’s not just a political slogan. There’s a vision, and there is an expectation  that there’s a different reality that you have to imagine,  and then walk the path to realize it.

    “Nigerians will see that this vision is real,  and that Nigeria can be a manufacturing hub, can unlock the healthcare value chain,  can create jobs, quality jobs, not any job.  Because here we’re not talking about just jobs,  because you can have jobs that are short term, no progression, not well-paying, those are not quality jobs.  That’s not the kind of jobs we’re talking about.”

    Prof. Lalvani said: “What we are providing here is practical accessible skills for industry. Good news, under the arrangement that we have under this partnership,  we are providing in the first instance, so this is going to be delivered in three phases that  Paul is going to demonstrate, but the first phase which we are launching today, the virtual platform  is going to provide about 40, at least 40 different courses, ready-to-use courses, and Honorable Minister, these courses are going to be free of charge to all Nigerians for the first two years, for the first two years, every Nigerian.”

  • Fed Govt ends use of tax credit scheme for road construction

    Fed Govt ends use of tax credit scheme for road construction

    The Federal Government has discontinued the practice of allowing large corporations to directly fund road repairs using their tax obligations.

    It mandated that such payments should instead be remitted to the national treasury.

    The government insists that all road projects must be handled through the normal budget process approved by the National Assembly.

    Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, said this change complied with the Constitution and financial laws.

    Under the old system, known as the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, the likes of Dangote, BUA, and MTN were allowed to fix federal roads and then subtract the cost from the taxes they owed the government.

    Adedeji said that even though the plan was meant to help the country, it was causing a problem with how the law works.

    He stated that the job of the tax office is to collect money, not to decide how that money is spent on construction.

    READ ALSO: The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    Adedeji said: “No matter how good a programme is, the first thing that it must have is good products.

    “The remits of the Nigeria Revenue Service is to assess, to collect, and to account for taxes. Appropriation is not part of the remits of the Nigeria Revenue Service.”

    He explained that when a company is given a tax credit to build a road, it is like the government is spending money without following the proper rules.

    He said the tax office must collect the money first and give it to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), which is the body mandated by law to share and handle public funds.

    “When you give tax credits for roads, it is an appropriation act, because you spent the money, but your remit is to collect and give it to the constitutional body that will sign that money,” he added.

    Apart from the law, the NRS boss said his agency does not have the engineers or the technical skills to check if a road built by a company is actually worth the amount of tax they are claiming.

    He said while companies are still welcome to fund roads, the government must be the one to approve how public money is used.

    This decision comes after a big gap was created when the NNPC stopped funding roads through this scheme in 2025, leaving about N3 trillion worth of projects without money.

    Before now, NNPC had paid for over 21 roads, including the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the government was now looking for new partnerships with private investors to finish these roads.

    Many big projects are affected by this shift. For years, Dangote Group used tax credits for the road leading to the Lekki Deep Seaport, while BUA Group worked on the Bode-Saadu-Lafiagi Road.

    Other companies like MTN worked on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, and NLNG funded the Bodo-Bonny Bridge in Rivers State.

    The government believes that by going back to the central budget system, they can make sure all spending is transparent and follows the law.

    This ensures that every kobo collected as tax is properly accounted for before it is spent on infrastructure.

  • APC plans inclusive congresses, convention

    APC plans inclusive congresses, convention

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday hosted key stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as part of the ruling party’s preparation for an inclusive congresses and national convention in line with its growth and expanding membership.

    The meeting, which held at the State House, Abuja, had in attendance party’s national leadership, sub-national leaders and the APC Caucus in the National Assembly. It was described as a strategic session to align preparations and ensure synergy among the various arms of government and the party structure.

    Speaking after the meeting, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, said the engagement with the President was to review the party’s readiness for the forthcoming congresses and convention.

    “It was just a brief meeting to review the preparations for the convention and the congresses and the synergy between all arms of government so that we can be on one page; the sub-national, the national, the National Assembly and the party,” Yilwatda said.

    According to him, the party leadership also assessed the prevailing political environment and resolved to ensure that the process would be broad-based and inclusive, particularly in view of the influx of new members and governors into the party.

    “Same timetable, the same planning activities, but just to study the environment and review our preparation as a party and ensure inclusivity,” he said.

    READ ALSO: President rallies relief materials to affected Kwara communities

    Yilwatda added that the APC was determined to carry all stakeholders along as it expands.

    He said: “Both at national and sub-national, I want to carry everybody along with the party. We have new members who have come in, new governors, new members, the party is expanding every day; we are growing beyond bounds. We want to ensure that in the course of this growth nobody is left behind,” he stated.

    At the meeting were: Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman, Governor Abdurahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State; Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; House of Representatives Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; House of Representatives Chief Whip Usman Bello Kumo; Chief of Staff to the President; Femi Gbajabiamila and the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru.

    On the President’s role in the party’s preparations, Yilwatda said Tinubu was fully supportive, describing his counsel as valuable.

    “Excellent. Mr. President, as you know, is a shrewd politician, very experienced, and his advice was remarkable,” he said.

    He also credited the party’s continued growth to Tinubu’s political experience and leadership.

    “The expansion, the growth, is because of his experience and his depth of knowledge in political cycle,” the APC chairman added.

    The party recently released the adjusted time-table for its various congresses and the National Convention.

    In the reviewed time-table, the ward congresses has been fixed for February 18; the local government congresses are scheduled for February 20; state congresses for March 7; zonal congresses for March 21; and the National Convention to hold between March 27 and 28, all this year.

    The APC is expected to intensify consultations across the federation ahead of the convention and congresses, as the party leadership seeks to consolidate unity and accommodate new entrants within its ranks.