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Author: The Nation

  • Sule, Diri, Okpebholo, Oyebanji sign N545.2b, N1.01tr, N415.57b, N939b 2026 budgets into law

    Sule, Diri, Okpebholo, Oyebanji sign N545.2b, N1.01tr, N415.57b, N939b 2026 budgets into law

    Governors Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) yesterday signed the 2026 Appropriation Bills into law. 

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill of N545.2 billion into law.

    The state lawmakers had jacked up the proposed budget from N517.5 billion to N545.2 billion, indicating a N27.6 billion increase.

    Speaker Danladi Jatau announced the passage of the Bill into law during proceedings in Lafia, the state capital.

    “The Capital Expenditure is N316,265,270,661.07 billion and the Recurrent Expenditure is N228.717,880,249.07 billion,” he said. Jatau urged the executive to ensure full implementation of the budget.

    The Speaker explained that the N27.6 billion increment was due to the current surge of inflation.

    “In the upward review, security votes and services in the Office of the Secretary (SSG) to the State Government and Ministry of Special Duties, Security and Sundry Matters received additional N14 billion, while the Ministry of Local Government got additional N7 billion.

    “The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism received a boost of N3.7 billion and the construction of the 55-kilometre Lafia-Kwandere-Garaku road, among others,” he added.

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    Majority Leader Suleiman Yakubu Azara moved the motion for the passage of the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law and Minority Leader Luka Iliya Zhekaba seconded the motion. The lawmakers unanimously passed the Appropriation Bill into law.

    In Bayelsa State, Governor Diri signed the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.016 trillion into law alongside six other Bills.

    The other legislations are: the Rural Access Funds Law 2025, Rural Access Road Authority Law 2025, Water Sector Law 2025, Statistics Law 2025, Harmonised Taxes and Levies Approved List for Collection Law 2025 and the Bayelsa Medical University Amendment Law 2025.

    The governor said N998.371 billion was initially presented to the House of Assembly on November 13 for scrutiny and approval.

    He said after a careful perusal and consultation with the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the Assembly increased it by N17.7 billion, representing 1.77 per cent.

    Diri assured the people that his administration would ensure the full implementation of the 2026 budget, as he was able to keep to the budget cycle of January to December in the outgoing year.

    He thanked the lawmakers for the timely passage of the Bills, stressing that the cooperation among the three arms of government would enable them to continue to address the developmental challenges of the state.

    “Let us continue to keep this mutual understanding and relationship to foster sustainable growth and development of our state. But, of course, there must be checks and balances.

    “If there is any implementation that is not going on well, exercise your powers to ensure that this law is adhered to. On our part, we will try our best to ensure full implementation of this Appropriation Law 2026,” Diri told the lawmakers.

    Presenting the Bills, Speaker Abraham Ingobere said the “Budget of ASSURED Prosperity II” was more than just a piece of legislation but a symbol of appreciation for the strides the state had made in improving the lives of the residents through infrastructure development, healthcare, public utilities, education, and agriculture, among others.

    In Edo State, Governor Okpebholo said the “Budget of Hope and Growth” would take the state to greater heights.

    Last week, the governor presented the N939 billion Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly for scrutiny and passage.

    The Assembly passed the budget into law after an interface with relevant commissioners and government agencies.

    Speaker Blessing Agbebaku noted that the governor has transformed the state, saying the people benefited from his practical governance style.

    He said: “History has been made by this administration. You are hungry to develop Edo State. Your administration is building the first and second flyover bridges in Edo State and you will be remembered by the people because these are landmark projects.”

    In Ekiti State, Governor Oyebanji assented to the 2026 budget of N415.573 billion.

    The governor also signed two other Bills – Ekiti State Revenue Administration Law, 2025, and the Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti Bill, 2025 – into law.

    The governor described the three legislations as critical to the realisation of his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

    He said the development was a product of collaboration between the executive and legislative arms.

    Oyebanji noted that the timely passage of the budget would ensure the sustenance of the January–December fiscal cycle in line with global best practices.

    The governor said the “Budget of Sustainable Governance” stood at N415,572,070,139.44, with 47 per cent allocated to Capital Expenditure and 53 per cent to Recurrent Expenditure.

    He explained that the budget was prepared after wide consultations with the people and that it aligned with the six pillars of his administration, which were derived from the Ekiti State Development Plan 2021–2050.

    Oyebanji stressed that the priority areas in the 2026 fiscal year include the completion of ongoing projects, food security, wealth creation and infrastructural development.

    The governor said the budget would also help his administration to consolidate its achievements as it approaches the end of its first term in office.

    He said the new legislation on Ekiti State College of Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, repealed the former College of Health Sciences and Technology Law of 2019, effectively upgrading the institution to a polytechnic.

    The governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting Ekiti State.

    He assured the residents that his administration would continue to pursue policies aimed at improving the welfare and prosperity of the people.

  • First Lady: unity is key to Nigeria’s prosperity

    First Lady: unity is key to Nigeria’s prosperity

    • Senator Tinubu urges peaceful co-existence among citizens

    The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday urged fellow Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence and unity as the surest pathway to national prosperity.

    She said that harmony among citizens attracts divine blessings and strengthens nation-building.

    Mrs. Tinubu spoke in Kaduna at the annual distribution of food items to the Christian Northern Nigeria Political Forum (CNNPF) for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    The First Lady drew lessons from the Holy Bible, stressing that when people live together in unity, God showers His blessings on them.

    In a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country, despite the prevailing global and local challenges.

    “Let us all stay and make Nigeria great again. Good things are already happening in this country,” she said.

    Mrs. Tinubu noted that peace and harmony remain indispensable to sustainable development.

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    The First Lady said true nation-building happens where citizens see one another as brothers and sisters, regardless of religious or ethnic differences.

    Praising Kaduna State for its strides in promoting interfaith harmony, Senator Tinubu gave Governor Uba Sani a pat on the back.

    She urged other states to emulate his administration’s example.

    Mrs. Tinubu thanked the governor and his wife, Hajia Hafsat Uba Sani, for their hospitality and for demonstrating that peaceful coexistence across religious and ethnic lines is achievable.

    The First Lady also urged Nigerians in the creative industry to partner the government in building the nation, noting that their growing global success positions them as key ambassadors of unity and national pride.

    “Our stars should please come and join us in building this nation. I am available, if they want me to partner with them,” she said.

    Governor Sani described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady as leaders who are deeply committed to service, compassion, and national unity.

    The governor said the First Lady’s philanthropy cuts across religious, ethnic and regional boundaries, reinforcing social cohesion and mutual respect.

    Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia noted that Kaduna State has enjoyed improved peace due to purposeful leadership, which he said mirrors the example set by the President at the national level.

    Also, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, assured Nigerians that ongoing initiatives of the APC-led Federal Government and APC-controlled states would translate into a better 2026 for the citizens.

    The National Coordinator of the CNNPF, Ibrahim Itodo, hailed President Tinubu for sustaining national unity and prayed for his successful re-election in 2027.

    He urged northern governors to adopt Kaduna State’s peace-building strategy to enhance harmony in their states.

    The annual food distribution programme, a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, uplifted over 48,000 people from 19 northern states at this year’s edition.

  • Turaki-led PDP accuses INEC of bias over non-recognition

    Turaki-led PDP accuses INEC of bias over non-recognition

    • Commission: we won’t make changes in party’s leadership now

    Few days after it met with the rival factions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined a request by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction for recognition.

    But the Turaki-led faction accused the electoral umpire of colluding with those bent on killing the opposition party.

    INEC told the faction through a memo that it would not make any change in the leadership of the party until all cases in court challenging the national convention have been determined.

    At a meeting on December 19, the commission told both factions that it would await the outcome of the cases in court before recognising any group laying claim to the leadership of the party.

    The electoral body followed its stand with a December 22 memo signed by its Secretary, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

    In the memo, INEC told the Turaki-led faction it would neither recognise nor post online the list of “national officers” who emerged from the November 15-16, 2025 national convention in Ibadan.

    The commission said any move to accept factional executives with the pending court cases would breach the subsisting judgments it is bound to respect, hence, the resolve to await the courts’ decisions.

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    In the letter addressed to Akintayo Balogun & Co, PDP’s counsel, the commission said the issue of the party’s leadership remains sub-judice and therefore cannot take any administrative action that may pre-empt the outcome of the legal processes.

    The commission said it would not update its records to reflect any change in the party’s national leadership pending the outcome of ongoing court processes challenging the convention.

    The memo reads: “In the light of the above pending suits, your request is prejudiced and cannot be acceded to until the determination of the pending appeals,” the letter reads.

    “In the circumstances, and in obedience to the rule of law and subsisting court orders, the commission is unable to accede to the demand to recognise or update the list of the national officers said to have emerged from the PDP national convention of 15th- 16th November 2025.”

    INEC bias

    The Turaki-led faction swiftly reacted to the INEC position, accusing it of bias in the crisis rocking the party.

    Its National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong accused the electoral umpire of working closely with those who wants to kill the party.

    In a statement, Ememobong alleged that the commission failed to, or refused to file documents that were in their possession and within their knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.

    He reminded the commission of the recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of Social Democratic Party (SDP), which provides that the commission has no business in the internal affairs of political party, including their leadership.

    The statement reads: “The leadership of the PDP reiterates that in law and fact, there is no faction in the PDP. This reiteration is necessary in the light of the INEC letter explaining their inability to recognise and upload the data of our legitimately elected leadership at the convention in Ibadan due to judgments of the Federal High Court.

    “The said judgments have been appealed and an application for the stay of execution filed against the judgments, and very soon the Court of Appeal will hear and give judgment in the matters.”

    “While that is being awaited, it is needful to state that INEC monitored and participated in the National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings where the convention date and venue were unanimously agreed and was also in receipt of the notice of the convention- a fact the commission has unconscionably suppressed in court in several cases.

    “Furthermore, the primaries in Ekiti and Osun were duly monitored by INEC, with communication emanating from the Turaki-led NWC. While we appreciate the monumental pressure that INEC has come under (after all he who pays the piper dictates the tune), we remind them that their constitutional responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and in the defence and protection of democracy.

    “While INEC claims to be neutral and is awaiting the Judgement of the court on the matter, we hope that they are mindful of the judgments of the Supreme Court, especially in the SDP case, being the latest delivered last week, barring INEC from interfering in the internal leadership affairs of political parties.

    “The truth remains that there is no faction in the PDP as all the legitimate organs and the administrative structure of the party are under the control of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).

    “In the past one month, the Board of Trustees, Governors Forum, State chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Caucuses, former governors and ministers and many other notable stakeholder groups have all met with and acknowledged the leadership of the current National Working Committee, led by Turaki SAN.

    “INEC must remember that democracy is hinged on majority rule, so the committee of friends of Wike and Anyanwu cannot be validly referred to as a faction of the PDP.

    “Finally, having held a meeting with the commission last week, and our correspondence, thereafter, further explaining relevant issues relating to the current situation, we should ordinarily not respond to this letter, except to point out the hypocrisy and consistent bias that has completely coloured the action of the electoral umpire.

    “INEC has continuously shown bias in this matter, even in the court, where they failed or refused to file documents that were in their possession and within their knowledge, obviously to aid those who are bent on killing the PDP and truncating democracy.

    “If INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN knew the matter was in court, what was the rationale for the contrived meeting of Friday last week? Except to paint a false perception of faction to justify their actions and inactions.

    “We, therefore, urge all Nigerians, particularly our members, to remain calm, resolute and continue to support the rebirth and renaissance moves of the party, as we reposition the party for electoral success in the coming elections.”

  • Fintiri frees Sunday Jackson, seven others

    Fintiri frees Sunday Jackson, seven others

    Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has pardoned Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death for killing his attacker, and seven other prisoners.

    Jackson, who was on death row in Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, was pardoned alongside Joseph Eugene, who was in the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Yola New, and Maxwell Ibrahim, who is serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kaduna.

    Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, announced the pardon in a statement last night in Yola.

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    The statement said the pardon was in commemoration of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    “Others who had the remainder of their sentences remitted whole include Joshua James Audo, Adamu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Usman, and Saidu Abubakar, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Numan, and the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Jada,” Humwashi stated.

    Fintiri said: “In the exercise of my prerogative of mercy, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with the recommendations of the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, I have granted pardon to three persons and directed the remission of the remainder of the sentences of five others who have served various jail terms and have significantly demonstrated good conduct over the years.”

  • Govt: Oil theft behind Ogoni oil spills

    Govt: Oil theft behind Ogoni oil spills

    • NSA, NNPCL, others tour Ogoni site, seek community cooperation

    The Federal Government has blamed the oil spills in Ogoni land on oil theft.

    It said oil thieves and their illicit activities caused the recent crude oil spill in Kpean community’s Yorle 14 Field in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The government spoke through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who led other key officials during an on-the-spot inspection of the government assets on Monday.

    The NSA was accompanied by the Minister of Environment, Balaraba Lawal; the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari; officials of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), among others.

    Addressing reporters at the site of the spill at Kpean, Ribadu described the situation as very sad.

    He said: “It’s a well that has been in existence for over 30 years. And some people, enemies of the people, unfortunately, very selfish, will come and damage it with the aim of stealing. The damage they are doing is incredible.

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    “You have seen the damage they have done. What we have done today is that all of us have come and we have shown concern. We are worried. It is directly from Mr. President.

    “We have visited the place and have seen the assets that have been mobilised to confront it and stop it. It has been stopped and recovery is ongoing.

    “Hopefully, we will see that it will not happen again. Part of what we have done, from the very beginning, is engagement with the Ogoni and Ogoni communities. All we are doing is community-driven. We put the community in front, we listen to them. We take orders from them and we manage it very well. We also address and then respond to their needs and demands, which the Federal Government has done fairly well.

    “That is the reason that today, since we got in here, we have visited a university that was established. We have visited health clinics. We are visiting a couple of other places now, and we are going to like two or three other places before the end of today. All of this is arising from this engagement with the community.”

    Ribadu hailed the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the efforts to foster forgiveness and reconciliation, restore peace, and unity to accelerate development in Ogoni land and other parts of Nigeria.

    The NSA called for the cooperation among all citizens.

    “The state government is also doing extremely well. But more importantly is what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing for our country. Ogoni today is different from what it used to be. The tragedy of 30 years has been completely addressed now and a new chapter is opening.

    “We want to use the opportunity at this moment to appeal to people. Let’s work together for the good of all of us. This wealth belongs to all of us.

    “Let’s make it work. Let’s not allow few individuals who selfishly do not just get it to come and damage, and the damage would be extensive. We are here as leaders from the Federal government, from the state Government, from the local government.

    “We are here with the chairman of the local government. We are here with the people of the state government. We are here with almost everybody. We have seen it. We are doing something we will continue to do. But the appeal is to people. As you are giving this support and cooperation, please, continue. It’s good for us, it’s good for everyone. Ogoni is changing and it will change, by the grace of God.”

    Also, Lawal stated that the Ogoni clean-up project would remain a priority for the ministry.

    He explained that the projects recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were progressing well, including mangrove restoration, healthcare delivery, human capital development, and women empowerment initiatives.

    Ojulari said the national oil company was fully committed to the Ogoni dialogue process.

    The NNPCL boss stressed that going forward, the focus would be on the people rather than oil.

    He added that the employment of 30 Ogoni indigenes by NNPCL had reached the final stage with the appointment letters already issued and resumption scheduled for January 2026.

  • Six Rivers PDP Reps defect to APC

    Six Rivers PDP Reps defect to APC

    Six members of the House of Representatives have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The members are: Dum Dekor, Solomon Bob, Hart Cyril Godwin, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi, and Felix Nweke.

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    Their letters of defection were read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during yesterday’s plenary.

    In their letters, the lawmakers said their decision was due to the unresolved leadership crisis in the PDP.

    They said their decisions were taken after due consultation with  their constituents.

    The lawmakers added that the APC, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is providing a better platform for them to serve their people.

  • NAF’s C-130 aircraft lands in The Gambia en route Portugal for maintenance

    NAF’s C-130 aircraft lands in The Gambia en route Portugal for maintenance

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said its C-130 aircraft on maintenance programme to Portugal, made a stopover in Banjul, The Gambia, yesterday.

    NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced this in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirms that its C-130 aircraft, which earlier made a precautionary landing during a ferry flight, has successfully continued its journey and landed safely in Banjul, The Gambia, today (Tuesday).

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    “This is after transiting Accra (Ghana) in line with an updated flight plan, routing through Casablanca to Portugal for scheduled depot maintenance. Ferry flights for aircraft programmed for maintenance are required to operate through designated airfields, with movements appropriately spaced in accordance with established aviation safety procedures. All personnel are safe and the aircraft remains serviceable.

    “The Nigerian Air Force appreciates the host authorities in Ghana, The Gambia, and other countries overflown for the kind support extended to the crew, and also acknowledges the concern and goodwill expressed by Nigerians. The Service reassures the public of its unwavering commitment to the highest standards of safety and professionalism in all operations.”

    The aircraft had made a precautionary landing at Bobo-Dioulasso Airfield in Burkina Faso on December 8, after the crew detected a technical issue a few hours after departing Lagos that day.

    Ejodame had said the Bobo-Dioulasso Airfield was the nearest available airfield at the time, noting that the diversion was in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.

    The aircraft is routing through Casablanca to Portugal for scheduled depot maintenance.

  • Destruction of PDP dangerous for our democracy, says Makinde

    Destruction of PDP dangerous for our democracy, says Makinde

    • Oyo governor alleges Wike pledged to ‘hold down PDP’ for President

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday warned that the collapse of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a result of its protracted crisis could spell doom for democracy and pave the way for a one-party state.

    He alleged a plot by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to “hold down” the main opposition party for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in 2027.

    Makinde, who is an arrowhead of the PDP, said that he rejected the President’s offer to him to dump the party and reorganise the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    The governor, who supported President Tinubu during the 2023 poll along with his colleagues in the “Group of Five Governors (G-5,” foreclosed similar support for his second term.

    He lamented that his support for the president during the last election did not produce the outcome he had hoped for.

    Makinde spoke on the PDP crisis, his rift with Wike, why he refused to defect to the APC, among other issues in a media chat from Ibadan which was aired on major television channels.

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    He fielded question from an array of top journalists.

    As a member of G-5, led by Wike, he worked against the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alleging the neglect of zoning by the party.

    Other members of the then G-5 governors are ex-Governor Ifeanyi Uguwanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

    Makinde said his decision to back Tinubu was based on the belief that he would act in the national interest if elected.

    He said: “I am human. I supported the current president, even though in another party at that time, because I thought we’ll do what is right for the country.”

    He added that he believed the president would “reset the country” and bring together competent individuals to address the nation’s challenges.

    Makinde added: “But unfortunately, that is not what we’re seeing. I regret that action. Yes, I do.”

    He said for democracy to survive, PDP should be kept alive.

    Makinde explained that Wike unilaterally promised President Tinubu to hold down the PDP without the consent of other party stakeholders.

    He stressed: “I was in a meeting with the President and Wike and a few others, and Wike said to the President that I will hold PDP for you against 2027. So, we got up, and I asked Wike, did we agree to this?”

    The governor said while Wike is entitled to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid, other PDP members also have the right to protect the PDP and oppose any move that could weaken democratic pluralism.

    ‘Why I declined offer to reorganise APC’

    Makinde explained that he turned down the president’s request to organise Oyo APC  because of his allegiance to the PDP.

    He recounted his discussion with the president on the cabinet composition and the upgrading of the Ibadan Airport.

    Makinde recalled that President Tinubu had requested him to nominate somebody with a professional background for ministerial appointment from Oyo State.

    He said: “When the president said we should nominate a person who will be a minister, I said, ‘Sir, what do you have for us? He said he wanted a developmental economist who can be a minister of budget and economic planning.”

    Makinde said although he complied with the request by recommending a qualified candidate from the state, the outcome differed from what was initially discussed.

    He stressed: “I sent someone who is from Oyo State, and somebody else was chosen. He was not taken to the budget and economic planning. He was made minister of power.”

    Makinde recalled that the ministerial nomination was discussed again when he visited the president to seek his approval for the upgrade of the Ibadan airport to international standards.

    He said: “Later, when I went to seek approval for the upgrade of Ibadan airport, he said he heard I was angry that my ministerial nominee was not chosen.”

    The governor said that he had no resentment over the cabinet decision, emphasising that the prerogative of appointing ministers rests solely with him

    He however, said the conversation took a new turn when it shifted to party organisation in Oyo State.

    Makinde said he told the president that the Minister of Power could not be relied upon to strengthen the APC structure in the state because he does not have the capacity.

    He added that President Tinubu then made a direct request to him instead.

    Makinde said: “He said no, it’s me that he wants to help him organise APC in Oyo State.”

    However, the governor said he immediately declined the request, citing party loyalty and his political principles.

    He added: “I told him no: ‘I cannot help you because I am of the PDP.”

    My grudge against Wike, by Oyo governor

    Makinde explained that he parted ways with his political ally, Wike, because he aligned himself with President Tinubu to weaken the PDP, particularly in Oyo State, ahead of the 2027 poll.

    Makinde threw a jibe at Wike’s antecedents as a man known only for his time in politics.

    Tendering a certificate of $1milion contract he won,  he said he started making money at the multi-national level long before the minister started practising as a lawyer.

    He recalled that at the age of 29, he was already earning millions of dollars in oil companies when Wike had just completed law school.

    Makinde said: “Within one year, I made $1 million in my pocket. I was 29 in 1997. Wike, perhaps, at that time, had just left the law school, and his next job was as a local government chairman.”

    ‘PDP’s destruction dangerous’

    Makinde warned that the plan to destroy the PDP could ultimately undermine democracy and erode multi-party system.

    He urged democrats to resist any plot to impose a one-party system on the country.

    The governor said he is eminently qualified to serve as president in 2027, if the opportunity comes his way.

    He said his qualifications for the highest office were not in doubt, pointing to his record as governor of Oyo State.

    Alluding to how President Tinubu got to office, he explained experience at the state level has  always historically prepared leaders for the presidency,

    Makinde also highlighted his professional background outside politics, noting that he successfully ran a private company from 29 yeas of age.

    He stressed: “I have heard that also, people saying, ‘Oh, is Seyi trying to position himself for the 2027 presidency?’

    “Let me make this very clear: to serve this country at the highest level, I am qualified. I am even overqualified. I have run Oyo State. Even the current president, what brought him to the table? He was governor of Lagos State. By the end of May 2027, by God’s grace, God sparing my life, I would have completed two terms as governor of Oyo State. Professionally, I ran a company from a very young age, at 29,” he said.

    Makinde also spoke about the legacy he would leave behind in Oyo State, saying that he hoped to be remembered for the institutions his government is building rather than for physical projects.

    He said he his focusing on creating systems that will ensure good governance, sustainable development, and growth long after his tenure.

    Makinde pointed out that infrastructure alone  does not guarantee a lasting legacy, unless projects are completed and embedded within strong institutions.

    Citing the example of a major ring road, he noted that once such projects are completed, people often forget who initiated them, while unfinished projects tend to be remembered more vividly.

    He added that his administration prioritises creating opportunities and a conducive environment for citizens to improve their lives, rather than relying on handouts.

    On the Ibadan Circular Road project, Makinde defended his administration against allegations of land grabbing linked to the 500-metre corridor.

    He explained that the land corridor was officially gazetted on November 19, 2018, months before he assumed office in May 2019.

    He said the 110-kilometre circular road is designed to ease traffic flow around Ibadan and  prevent congestion.

    The governor described the corridor as part of a modern motorway standard and a commercial corridor aimed at helping Oyo State to transit  from a consumptive to a productive economy.

    On compensation, the governor said his administration is adopting a humane approach by offering payments to residents without formal land documentation, provided they can show proof of residence, to enable them to resettle elsewhere.

  • NCTC boss: coups in Sahel worsening insecurity in Nigeria

    NCTC boss: coups in Sahel worsening insecurity in Nigeria

    National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser, Major General Garba Laka, has said the wave of military coups in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has significantly worsened insecurity in Nigeria by deepening instability across the Sahel region.

    He explained that the unconstitutional changes of government in the three Sahelian countries disrupted regional security coordination, weakened collective counterterrorism frameworks and created governance vacuums that extremist and criminal groups have exploited.

    Laka spoke during an end-of-year media parley with Defence Correspondents in Abuja.

    He said: “The Sahel region, particularly Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, has experienced increased instability and extremist activity, and that has a direct impact on Nigeria’s security.

    “You must have noticed that towards the end of 2023, the security situation in Nigeria was improving.

    “But immediately after the coups in these countries, that was when the situation began to deteriorate again, because terrorist groups do not respect borders. They are connected across the Sahel.”

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    He noted that the coups led to strained relations with neighbouring states and contributed to the withdrawal or weakening of cooperation under regional security arrangements such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), making cross-border operations against terrorists and bandits more difficult.

    According to him, as long as instability persists in the Sahel, Nigeria will continue to bear the consequences because of its geographic position, porous borders and economic weight in the sub-region.

    “As long as those countries continue to face these threats, Nigeria will continue facing the brunt,” Laka said.

    He added that Nigeria’s relative economic strength also makes it an attractive target for criminal groups operating across borders.

    “Nigeria is the richest country in West Africa. Nigeria is the only country where you can kidnap someone and demand N100 million and it will be paid.”

    “So these criminals come into the country to look for resources to sustain their operations across the region,” he said.

    Laka stressed that Nigeria must continue to play a leadership role in West Africa and the Sahel by pushing for regional stability, intelligence sharing and coordinated counterterrorism efforts, despite the political challenges posed by military regimes in neighbouring countries.

    On kidnapping, the NCTC boss said the crime has evolved into a complex enterprise involving multiple actors, including informants and facilitators, making it harder to dismantle.

    He noted that in some cases, individuals have been found to stage their own kidnappings and demand ransom from family members.

    Laka said security agencies have recorded successes through tracking and intelligence-led operations, but many details are not made public for security reasons.

    One major challenge, he said, is the use of Point of Sale (POS) operators to collect ransom payments, which complicates efforts to trace kidnappers.

    “You may see that a transfer has been made by a victim to a terrorist, but when you trace the account, it belongs to a POS operator. The kidnappers give the POS operator’s number, the victim transfers the money, and the kidnappers collect it from them,” he explained.

    He said the NCTC, working with relevant agencies, is addressing the challenge and has made significant arrests linked to ransom payments.

    Laka believes Nigeria’s efforts in tracking ransom flows and disrupting terrorist financing contributed to the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

    “The NCTC set up a joint investigation committee involving the EFCC, NFIU and ICPC. Through this collaboration, we tracked and recovered funds and made arrests. Some of this information cannot be disclosed because it is sensitive, but I can assure you that many arrests have been made,” he said.

    The NCTC coordinator said the Federal Government, in collaboration with major social media platforms, has blocked numerous accounts belonging to terrorists and violent extremists to curb recruitment and propaganda.

    “We have engaged TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X. Although they are businesses seeking subscribers, we explained the national security implications of certain content, and they took them down,” he said.

    “Even those videos you used to see of bandits displaying their loot on social media have been taken down.”

    Laka urged journalists to exercise responsibility in reporting security-related matters, warning that the disclosure of sensitive operational details could undermine counterterrorism efforts.

    He said national security and press freedom are complementary, not conflicting, pillars of democracy, and called for discernment in balancing public interest with security imperatives.

    “Our appeal is not for silence, but for responsibility. Not for avoiding accountability, but for caution in separating what should be reported immediately from what should be handled with care or deferred in the overriding interest of national security,” he said.

    Laka praised defence correspondents for their support, noting that accurate and responsible reporting has helped counter extremist narratives, improve public awareness and strengthen confidence in government efforts.

    He added that evolving terrorist and bandit tactics require stronger coordination, deeper intelligence sharing and strategic communication that denies criminals publicity while reassuring citizens of the state’s resolve.

    “With the President’s directive, we will step up our efforts going into 2026. Terrorism and violent extremism continue to evolve, and countering them requires national cohesion, efficient communication and a strong partnership with the media,” Laka said.

  • Yilwatda appoints special advisers, others

    Yilwatda appoints special advisers, others

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has appointed Special Advisers, Advisers and Senior Special Assistants to assist him in the discharge of his duties.

    The appointments were announced yesterday in a statement by Chief of Staff to the National Chairman Mustapha Bala Dawaki.

    Those appointed are:

    Special advisers: Senator Danladi Sankara, SA, Political Matters;  Daniel Reyenieju Oritsegbubemi, SA, National Assembly Matters and  Dr. Sorochi P. LONGDET, SA, Research, Strategy & Planning.

    Advisers: Jibrin Abdullahi Surajo, Adviser, Community Engagement; Mr. Paul Domsing, Adviser, Special Duties and Suleiman Bukari, Adviser, Intelligence Coordination and Prof. Taiwo Ajibolu Balofin, Honorary Adviser, Diaspora Coordination & Mobilisation.

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    Senior Special Assistants: Imran Muhammad, SSA, New Media; Mildred Bako, SSA, Civil Society Organisations;  Obinta Juliet Chinenye, SSA. Youth mobilization; Ismaila Sadis Mohammed, SSA, Conflict Management; Zarah Onyinye, SSA, Media (Public Affairs); Mrs Enenedu Idusuyi, SSA, Protocol; Yusuf Dingyadi, SSA, Media and SSA, Inter-Governmental Affairs

     The statement said the appointments are part of the on-going efforts to enhance effective coordination, policy formulation, and stakeholder engagement within the Party’s National Secretariat.

    “The newly appointed aides are expected to bring their wealth of experience and professionalism to bear in supporting the National Chairman in the discharge of his duties.

    “The National Chairman congratulates the appointees and urges them to demonstrate dedication, loyalty, and commitment to the ideals and objectives of the APC.

    “The appointments take immediate effect.”