The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 30 Nigerian children benefit from Saudi Arabia’s free hearing restoration surgery

    30 Nigerian children benefit from Saudi Arabia’s free hearing restoration surgery

    Thirty Nigerian children have benefited from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s specialised cochlear-implant and hearing-rehabilitation programme.

    The programme started on Tuesday with specialists operating severe hearing loss among Nigerian children.

    The intervention, funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, was carried out at the National Hospital in Abuja with each procedure costing between $20,000 and $25,000.

    The Chargé d’Affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Nigeria, Saad bin Fahd Al-Marri, said the initiative offers a full chain of care, from diagnosis and surgery to therapy and speech rehabilitation.

    “This programme reflects the Kingdom’s dedication to supporting vulnerable communities and strengthening health systems in friendly nations,” he said.

    The Charge d’Affaires explained that the project builds on KSRelief’s humanitarian footprint across Nigeria and Africa, aimed at supporting medical interventions, disease-control programmes and relief efforts.

    According to him, the initiative reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s commitment — under King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — to advancing health initiatives and supporting underserved populations worldwide.

    READ ALSO; Will Sujimoto bounce back?

    Addressing reporters after her daughter’s surgery on Wednesday, a lawyer, Mrs. Oluchi Olanipekun, said the procedure restored hearing to her five-year-old child after years of silence.

    She said her family first noticed the condition in infancy, prompting several hospital visits and tests that later confirmed a hearing impairment.

    “It’s a dream come true,” Mrs. Olanipekun said. “When this opportunity came, it gave her a chance at a better life — to hear, speak, and communicate. It’s a big relief.”

    Another parent, Ismail Ahmed, praised the Kingdom for giving his daughter the ability to hear, urging public and private supporters to extend similar help to families that cannot afford such specialised care.

  • ALGON, groups hail Uzodimma’s appointment as Renewed Hope Ambassador

    ALGON, groups hail Uzodimma’s appointment as Renewed Hope Ambassador

    Hundreds of leaders and groups across the country have applauded the appointment of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the Renewed Hope Ambassador by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    They described the appointment as well made given the track record of the governor.

    The Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) and groups such as Coalition of Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders of Nigeria (CENYLON), Arewa Youth Assembly, South East party leaders and business moguls, described Uzodimma as a great asset not only to All Progressives Congress (APC) but also to Nigeria.

    According to the Ethnic Nationality Youth leaders in a congratulatory message to Uzodimma, the appointment represents more than a recognition of the governor’s capabilities but also a testament to his status as an indispensable pillar of APC.

    In the message signed by the Chairman, Mohammed Aminu Danlami,  the Coalition declared: “Your collaborative approach,  your commitment to harmony and your dedication to ensuring that the benefits of governance reach every corner of our federation make you uniquely qualified for the assignment.”

    They pledged their unwavering support and full cooperation to Uzodimma as he embarked on the assignment, saying that all Ethnic nationalities will partner with him through the mobilisation of youths across Nigeria.

    READ ALSO: On Ezra Olubi’s nemesis

    Similarly, the Arewa Youth Assembly eulogised President Tinubu for choosing Uzodimma to head APC’s mobilisation campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.

    They described Uzodimma as one of the most distinguished figures in the progressive family, noting that his headship of the Progressive Governors Forum has strengthened APC and enhanced its policy coordination.

    “The Arewa Youth Assembly recognises your steady and impactful contributions to the success of APC and the new assignment presents another opportunity for you to deepen engagement with citizens, enhance the visibility of government achievements and promote unity across all geopolitical zones,” the Arewa youths submitted in a letter to Uzodimma signed by the Speaker, Mohammed Salihu.

    In his own Congratulatory message on behalf of APC members in the Southeast, the National Vice Chairman of APC, Dr Ijeoma Linus Arodiogbu, expressed profound gratitude to Tinubu for appointing Uzodimma as the Renewed Hope Ambassador.

    He said the people of the Southeast were happy with the president because Uzodimma is a leader with sterling performance and capacity who will execute the new assignment with diligence.

    In their tribute, Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria, ALGON, described Uzodimma’s appointment as placing a square peg in a square hole.

    In the Congratulatory message signed by Engr Ikenna Adikaibe, Chairman of ALGON , Imo State,  the local government chairmen pledged their unflinching support to Uzodimma to enable him succeed.

    Among top business moguls who have Congratulated Uzodimma on his appointment as the Renewed Hope Ambassador are Chief Tony Chukwu, Chief Charles Amadi  and Chief Alex Mbata.  They also resolved to work with the governor in the discharge of his new assignment.

  • Insecurity: Kogi bans social, religious gatherings after 4pm

    Insecurity: Kogi bans social, religious gatherings after 4pm

    Kogi State Government yesterday directed that all social, religious, and community activities across the state must terminate by 4pm daily.

    Governor Ahmed Ododo gave the directive in Lokoja during an expanded state security council meeting.

    He said the order takes immediate effect and be in place till further notice.

    According to the governor, any events or religious venue that flouted the directive will be demolished and the culprits arrested.

    The restriction, he said, was in the interest of all residents regardless of religious or political affiliation, adding that intelligence available to security agencies showed that social and religious gatherings were soft targets for terrorists.

    The meeting, attended by representatives of security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, came amid rising public anxiety over reports of bandits presence in parts of the state.

    The Nation reports that the directives came on the heels of incursions into Kogi by terrorists fleeing military onslaught in Kwara and Niger states.

    READ ALSO: On Ezra Olubi’s nemesis

    Sources revealed that some of the criminals infiltrated Kogi two nights ago, a move that has witnessed major offensive from security forces.

    Ododo who confirmed the presence of terrorists’ commanders in Kogi in the last three days, assured residents that the government was confronting the criminals.

    Ododo reassured the people that the present administration was working in synergy with traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, and youth to tackle insecurity in the state.

    He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his proactive leadership in the recent rescue of kidnapped students and church members, saying the federal government has shown commitment to tackling insecurity nationwide.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ayo Edun, called for calm, insisting that many of the circulating reports fueling panic were social media rumours.

    He urged residents to verify information before sharing it, adding that suspicious activities should be reported through circulated security hotlines.

    The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Highness Tijani Anaje, speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, pledged full cooperation with government and security agencies.

    He dismissed some videos and messages circulating on social media as false, calling for strategic collaboration among all community leaders to ensure peace across the state.

    In his reaction, state Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria

    (CAN), Pastor Adebayo Emmanuel Olaniyan, called on all churches in the state to adhere strictly to the directive as issued by the government.

    Relatedly, the Public Relations Officer, Kogi State University, Kabba, Oshaloto, refuted reports of an attack in the school.

    “There was nothing like that in our institution today. Everywhere was calm and students were going about their activities without hindrance,” he said on the phone last night.

    Spokesman for the police command, CSP William Aya equally debunked existence of such video, insisting “there was nothing like that.”

  • 11,566 policemen attached to VIPs withdrawn, says IG

    11,566 policemen attached to VIPs withdrawn, says IG

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, has confirmed that 11,566 police personnel attached to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) have been withdrawn following a presidential directive.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with top police officers and strategic commanders, the IGP said the affected officers have reported back to their respective commands and been redeployed to strengthen internal security, especially in rural and high-risk areas.

    The President had ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIPs nationwide as part of ongoing reforms of national security architecture.

    Under the new arrangement, VIPs requiring armed escorts must now apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The directive was one of the resolutions reached at the President’s recent security meeting with service chiefs.

    READ ALSO; Will Sujimoto bounce back?

    Egbetokun said the move was aimed at restoring policing capacity where it is most needed and improving community safety.

    He dismissed claims circulating online that over 120,000 police personnel were assigned to private individuals, describing the claims as false.

    “These claims are lies. How many police officers do we even have in Nigeria? The presidential directive revealed that 11,566 officers were engaged in such duties,” he said.

    The IGP stressed that the directive would be strictly implemented.

    “No governor, no friend, no family member will pressure me again. It is a presidential directive,” he said when asked who qualifies as a VIP under the new rules.

    He explained that the withdrawal will immediately boost manpower at a time the force is tackling significant operational challenges.

    “With over 11,566 officers returning to frontline duties, policing capacity will improve. Welfare remains a priority, especially for those posted to rural and high-risk areas,” he added.

    The IGP warned against misinformation or attempts to politicise the directive, saying clear guidelines will be communicated through official channels.

    Egbetokun highlighted recent achievements across police commands, including the arrest of 822 suspects for crimes such as robbery, kidnapping and homicide.

    Recovered items include 249 firearms, 20,989 rounds of ammunition and 38 vehicles, while 232 kidnapped victims were rescued during the period.

    With the festive season approaching, the IGP announced nationwide deployment plans involving reinforced highway patrols, intelligence-led operations, surveillance and joint security operations along major routes and borders.

    On school safety, the IGP said the School Protection Squad remains active and has prevented several attacks.

    He condemned the recent abductions in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger States, but stressed that the force responded swiftly and has not relented.

    “We might not have been doing enough but definitely not that we are not working,” he said.

    “We will not rest until every abducted child in Niger State is safely reunited with their family. Peace maintained in one location but violated in another is not peace.”

    He noted that the rescue of victims in Kebbi and Kwara demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated response and inter-agency collaboration.

    According to him, joint-response models will now be institutionalised as a national standard.

    “Crime is defeated fastest when response is unified, intelligence-driven and operationally coordinated,” he said, adding that fragmented responses only encourage criminal elements.

    Egbetokun announced an enhanced policing framework to improve territorial dominance and protect vulnerable communities.

    Commissioners of Police were directed to expand grassroots intelligence networks, strengthen community policing structures and increase police visibility through intelligence-guided patrols and lawful checkpoints.

    “Citizens must see us more often than they currently see criminals,” he emphasized.

    He also stressed that inter-agency synergy remains vital. “Security rivalry helps crime. Security synergy breaks it.”

    Responding to questions on state police, he urged officers to embrace community policing.

    On the recent confrontation in Abuja involving the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Navy Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, the IGP confirmed that the matter is currently under investigation.

  • Idris: recruitment of 20,000 personnel will boost battle against insurgency

    Idris: recruitment of 20,000 personnel will boost battle against insurgency

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive authorizing recruitment of additional personnel into the Army and Police and other measures will mark a turning point in the nation’s war against insecurity, the Minister of Information and National Orientation said yesterday.

    Idris also maintained that the policies and programmes of the Tinubu’s administration have started to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    The minister was quoted to have made the statement during an interaction with support groups of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), at Radio House, Abuja.

    On fresh directives of President Tinubu on national security, the minister emphasised that  these will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s war against insecurity.

    “We are faced with the urgent need to defeat terrorism and banditry, restore and keep the nation safe for everyone, irrespective of their tribe and tongue or their religious faith, as guaranteed in our national constitution,” Information Minister reaffirming Federal Government’s firm resolve to stop at nothing in keeping the country safe.

    He also disclosed that the administration has fulfilled many of its campaign promises.

    The minister said: “We have fulfilled many of our campaign promises. Students’ loans have been achieved, and we have put an end to fuel subsidy corruption. Our states are receiving more money, local government autonomy has come to stay, and every region now has its development commission.

    READ ALSO: On Ezra Olubi’s nemesis

    “Our economy has rebounded, our foreign reserve is growing, inflation is dropping. We have embarked on massive infrastructure development across all sectors of the economy in all the six geo-political zones,” he added.

    On youth empowerment, Idris gave the assurance that President Tinubu will continue to advance the interests of the youth, adding that under this administration, an unprecedented number of youths have been appointed to head Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

     Idris urged the groups to get more involved in promoting the programs of the government and amplifying their successes and impacts. He stressed that the collective must stay united, upholding the founding principles that guide and sustain the All Progressives Congress.

  • World Bank canvasses slash of import tariff to lower inflation

    World Bank canvasses slash of import tariff to lower inflation

    World Bank yesterday advised the Federal Government to urgently cut import tariffs and remove ban on some import items to reduce rise in prices of goods and services.

    According to the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, the measures, if applied, will reduce poverty rate.

    Verghis, who spoke on a cable television monitored in Lagos, noted that high inflation erodes the purchasing power of millions of Nigerians.

    In its Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report for October, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put the inflation rate at 16.05 per cent down from the September figure of 18.02.

    According to the NBS, it was the seventh consecutive month of decline and the lowest in three years.

    The Report was released on November 17.

    But Verghis said the bank’s projections show poverty levels in Nigeria may continue to increase through 2025 and possibly into 2026 if inflation is not decisively addressed.

    “The reason we are projecting poverty to continue to rise in 2025, and possibly into 2026, is because inflation remains high enough that it is undermining household incomes, especially for the poor, because food inflation remains at around 20 per cent,” the World Bank director said.

    READ ALSO: On Ezra Olubi’s nemesis

    Advising Nigeria to sustain ongoing economic reforms, Verghis said that India and China and other countries achieved stability through decades of consistent reform.

    He said: “Nigeria has high tariffs and, in some cases, import bans on goods consumed by the poor… One way of lowering inflation quickly is to reduce some of these tariffs and take away some of these import bans.”

    Speaking on the naira, Verghis said that raising export earnings represent a viable way to keep the naira stable.

    He said: “The best way to keep the Naira stable is to make sure that your exports are increasing and your foreign direct investment is increasing.

    “The primary objective is to get growth going, and a stable exchange rate that allows businesses to plan will contribute to that.”

    The director also praised progress in revenue diversification. “Nigeria is now, today, much less dependent on oil revenues than it was before,” he said and attributed it to a more realistic exchange rate and the removal of petrol subsidies.

    Verghis argued that higher non-oil revenues will allow greater investment in infrastructure and human capital.

    He said that Nigeria’s borrowing outlook is improving as seen in the reasonably moderate debt-to-GDP ratio but cautioned that borrowed funds should be spent wisely.

  • AU, ECOWAS, WAEF: no to coup in Guinea Bissau

    AU, ECOWAS, WAEF: no to coup in Guinea Bissau

    • Jonathan safely out of Bissau

    • Junta gets new leader Inta-A

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday joined other Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in an extraordinary virtual summit convened to address the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, following a coup in the country on Wednesday.

    The emergency meeting, held via Zoom, brought together West African leaders in a rapid diplomatic response to the unfolding situation.

    The Guinea-Bissau military, which seized power on Wednesday after arresting President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has announced General Horta Inta-A as the head of a transitional government for one year.

    A photograph released by the State House Media Department showed President Tinubu participating in the high-level virtual session from Abuja.

    President Tinubu was Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for two consecutive terms until June 2025, when he handed over to the Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio.

    ECOWAS has been grappling with a resurgence of coups across the region in recent years, and Thursday’s emergency summit signalled the bloc’s resolve to prevent further destabilisation.

    Nigeria joined the election observation missions to Guinea-Bissau set up by the African Union (AU), ECOWAS and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) in condemning the stoppage of the announcement of presidential and legislative elections, as well as the military coup in the West African country.

    The Federal Government urged all actors involved to exercise utmost restraint, prioritise peaceful dialogue, and respect the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau as expressed through their ballots.

    It said Nigeria, as a key member of the ECOWAS and AU, will work closely with regional and international partners to take all necessary measures to ensure the swift return to normalcy and constitutional governance in Guinea-Bissau.

    READ ALSO; Will Sujimoto bounce back?

    In a statement by the Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government urged the actors to allow the peaceful conclusion of the election with the announcement of results by the electoral management body.

    Ebienfa also assured the people of Guinea-Bissau of Nigeria’s support.

    The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has learned with profound dismay and deep concern of the unfortunate military coup which has led to an unconstitutional change of government in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria, in the strongest possible terms, condemns this act of military insurrection, which undermines the democratic progress, constitutional order, and stability not only of Guinea-Bissau but of the entire West African sub-region.

    “This coup d’état represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which explicitly rejects any ascension to power through unconstitutional means.

    “We stand in solidarity with the people of Guinea-Bissau and call for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order, the safety and security of all those detained and the full respect for the sanctity of democratic institutions in Guinea-Bissau.

    “We warn that those behind this act will be held accountable for their actions, which threaten to plunge the nation into chaos and reverse the hard-won gains of its democracy.”

    Also, a joint statement by the AU, ECOWAS and WAEF described the coup in Guinea-Bissau as “regrettable” and “a blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process”.

    The statement was signed by Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, Filipe Nyusi; Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, Issifu Kamara; and Head of the West African Elders Forum, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The missions called on the AU and ECOWAS to take necessary steps to restore constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.

    Also yesterday, the Federal Government confirmed that Jonathan was safe and had left Guinea-Bissau following the military takeover.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, assured the media that the former president is safe and has already departed Guinea-Bissau.

    Guinea-Bissau’s military high command inaugurated Gen. Inta-A as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period, according to a declaration announced on state television.

    “The inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate ultimately prompted the intervention of the armed forces,” said Inta-A, who was the army chief of staff until the coup and a close ally of deposed President Embaló.

    Embaló’s whereabouts remained unknown yesterday.

    He told French media on Wednesday that he was arrested by soldiers as gunshots rang out near the presidential palace.

  • Nigeria, U.S. Joint Working Group to hold security talks

    Nigeria, U.S. Joint Working Group to hold security talks

    • NSA Ribadu leads Fed Govt’s team

    • Coordinated abductions of 42 in Niger, FCT suburb

    As a follow-up to the Federal Government officials’ engagement with their United States (U.S.) counterparts over the labelling of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and threats by President Donald Trump, security talks have been scheduled between the two countries.

    The U.S. is expected to support Nigeria in battling the escalating insecurity in parts of the country.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised a team led by National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss with U.S. officials.

    Other members of the delegation are Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard Doro.

    Also on the team are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

    Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that Ms. Idayat Hassan of the NSA Office and Mr. Paul Alabi of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington will man the secretariat of the working group.

    The United States-Nigeria Joint Working Group is a bilateral mechanism for strengthening collaboration between both countries in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, an official said last night.

    The presidential approval followed last week’s high-level engagements in Washington, DC, where a Nigerian delegation, led by Ribadu, held extensive talks with senior US government officials.

    The creation of the joint working group was one of the key outcomes of those meetings.

    READ ALSO; Will Sujimoto bounce back?

    Onanuga said the Ribadu team would also be supported by a multi-stakeholder team drawn from security, diplomatic, defence, and humanitarian agencies.

    The members of the team will oversee the implementation of bilateral agreements, he added.

    Onanuga said President Tinubu had urged the newly constituted team to “work assiduously” with their U.S. counterparts to ensure the smooth operationalisation of all agreements reached during the talks and to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.

    He said the Joint Working Group is expected to fast-track the coordination of intelligence sharing, operational support, humanitarian response, and other bilateral commitments aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s national security architecture.

    The CPC labelling of Nigeria was premised on the complaint by Christian leaders who alleged Christian genocide, a claim the Federal Government has disputed.

    Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who faulted the claim, lamented the misunderstanding of the Nigerian security situation by Trump, despite concerted efforts by the Tinubu Administration to tackle terrorism and banditry.

    Despite the rescue of the 24 abducted schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State and the 38 worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, there were abductions yesterday in Niger State, where pupils of St. Mary Catholic School, Papiri, are still in kidnappers’ custody.

    A boy and six girls were also abducted yesterday in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) outskirts.

    Bandits abduct farmers in Niger

    Armed bandits launched coordinated attacks in communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and abducted farmers.

    About 10 farmers were kidnapped from Angwan-Kawo and Kuchipa villages in Erena Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area while harvesting crops.

    The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying efforts were underway to rescue the victims.

    The command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement: “On November 26, 2025, at about 8pm, a report was received indicating that suspected armed men abducted about ten persons from Angwan-Kawo and Kuchipa villages of Shiroro Local Government Area.

    “Effort is being made to rescue the victims.”

    In a separate incident within the same axis, bandits stormed the Palaita community and abducted about 25 farmers, including women, from a rice farm.

    Residents said the attackers also injured a visually-impaired villager during the raid.

    The latest assault comes barely a week after school children and teachers were seized from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of the State.

    Six girls, one boy abducted in Abuja

    In Abuja, panic spread in the Gidan-Bijimi community of the Bwari Area Council on Wednesday night when gunmen kidnapped a 16-year-old boy and six girls.

    The community shares a border with Kaduna State, an area repeatedly targeted by criminal gangs.

    A resident, Moses, stated that the attackers arrived around 9:30 p.m.

    “They raided two houses and went away with six girls and a 16-year-old boy,” he said.

    He added that vigilantes tried to respond but retreated due to the attackers’ heavy weapons.

    Another resident reported that the victims had travelled for a burial when the armed men struck.

    Efforts to reach the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not answered at the time of press.

    The incident came hours after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike held a security meeting with top law enforcement operatives on curbing persistent bandit raids in Abuja border communities.

    Communities in both Niger and the FCT have repeatedly called for stronger security intervention as bandit attacks continue to spread across farmlands and rural settlements.

  • New Excise Bill could undermine President’s fiscal reform agenda, Organised Private Sector warns

    New Excise Bill could undermine President’s fiscal reform agenda, Organised Private Sector warns

    The Organized Private Sector of Nigeria (OPS), comprising the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), has urged the National Assembly to withdraw the proposed amendment to the Customs, Excise and Tariff Bill stating that the current draft of the bill is misaligned with the Federal Government’s fiscal reform direction and contains several legal and administrative gaps.

    This was contained in the position paper presented by the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPS) on Thursday, November 27, 2025, during the public hearing on the proposed amendment bill, which recently passed its second reading in the National Assembly.

    The Organised Private Sector explained that the NAD sector is committed to supporting government revenue and public health objectives. However, policies must be holistic, harmonised, and context-appropriate, ensuring that they improve health outcomes without undermining jobs, investment, affordability, or industrial stability. 

    The OPS maintained that Nigeria’s excise framework is increasingly fragmented, as new levies are introduced without coordinated assessment of their combined effects on production, investment, backward integration, employment, exports, and inflation, which may result in unintended consequences negating President Tinubu’s administration’s key economic reforms without delivering measurable public health gains.

    It argued that a steep excise increase or introduction of a levy would impose substantial economic costs on businesses and consumers without delivering measurable public health gains. The group stated that the proposed excise amendment introduces mathematical, legal, and administrative contradictions, worsens Nigeria’s already fragmented fiscal environment, and directly conflicts with national industrialisation priorities, including the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan.

    READ ALSO: On Ezra Olubi’s nemesis

    OPS also warned that the amendment could weaken the beverage value chain, one of the country’s most significant contributors to non-oil revenue and a major employer. Industry experts added that the levy would push up operating costs, reduce capacity utilisation, and raise consumer prices at a time when households and small businesses are already under pressure, with many slipping deeper into poverty. This, in turn, could reduce VAT and CIT collections, placing additional strain on medium-term FAAC revenues.

    “Nigeria’s non-alcoholic drinks sector is a critical economic stabiliser, supporting 1.5 million jobs, driving backward integration under the NSMP II, and contributing 40 – 45% of gross revenues as taxes and yet already operating under severe macroeconomic strain and thin margins”, said OPS.

    According to the group, given that the beverage industry falls among the non-oil revenue contributors, passing the bill into law could undermine the administration’s ease of doing business objectives at such a sensitive economic period.

    The group faulted the National Assembly for advancing the bills without coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reform Committee, FAAC, and other responsible institutions. It noted that the bill contradicts the President’s emphasis on stability, predictability, simplicity, and non-disruptive tax reform.

    It further stressed that global and domestic evidence confirm that steep or ambiguous SSB taxes in low-income economies lead to job losses, contraction of MSMEs, reduced government revenue, and no measurable health benefits, while widening inequality and accelerating the growth of the informal market.

    “The amendment bill contains internal contradictions (“20% levy per litre of retail price”) that are impossible to implement consistently. Over-taxation may shrink the formal sector, reduce VAT and CIT collections and shift consumers to informal markets. The bill may cut medium-term FAAC distributions and weaken state-level revenue stability,” OPS added.

    The group added that it remains open to continued engagement with lawmakers, fiscal agencies, and civil society groups to ensure that any revision to the excise regime supports investment, jobs, and long-term revenue stability.

  • Timi Olagunju joins 2025 US public voices fellowship on technology

    Timi Olagunju joins 2025 US public voices fellowship on technology

    From Abuja to Washington, the conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) and digital governance is increasingly interconnected. 

    Nigerian lawyer and technology policy expert, Timi Paul Olagunju, is now at the centre of that global dialogue following his selection as one of 20 fellows for the 2025 Public Voices Fellowship on Technology in the Public Interest.

    The fellowship, a collaboration between the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The OpEd Project, convenes experts whose work addresses the social impacts of technology. 

    Each fellowship position is highly competitive, awarded to individuals whose voices can influence both national and international conversations on tech and society.

    African perspectives in global tech debates

    Olagunju’s inclusion highlights the growing importance of African perspectives in shaping global technology policy. 

    He is Founder of the AI Literacy Foundation and Youths in Motion, and Partner at Timeless Practice, as well as a 2025 Edward Mason Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.

    In Nigeria, Olagunju has contributed to the Startup Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). He has led coalitions defending digital rights and provided insights to the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on AI education, influencing Executive Order 14277.

    “This fellowship is an opportunity to bring experiences from emerging economies directly into global debates on AI, democracy, and youth development,” Olagunju said.

    The 2025 cohort includes researchers, journalists, and advocates from leading U.S. universities and institutions. Members focus on issues ranging from digital civil rights and AI governance to climate resilience and health equity.

    For instance, health equity advocate Oni Blackstock examines how digital tools affect disparities in care, while Krystal Kauffman explores power dynamics behind AI systems. Digital rights leaders like Nicole Ozer and Julie Wenah push for legal protections against surveillance and algorithmic bias. 

    Academics such as Princeton’s Marianne Aubin Le Quéré and Catherine Nakalembe from the University of Maryland use research and remote sensing to inform policy on climate and food security.

    Bringing Nigeria’s youth perspective to the table

    Within this network, Olagunju represents the perspective of a rapidly growing democracy, where young people adopt technology quickly but are often excluded from policy-making. Through the AI Literacy Foundation, he educates teenagers, university students, and early-career professionals on AI, digital rights, and civic participation.

    “Decisions made in Washington or San Francisco influence a student in Lagos or a farmer in East Africa,” Olagunju said. His work ensures that African experiences shape global rules on AI and digital rights.

    Global relevance

    As technology policies in the United States often become de facto global standards, Olagunju’s participation guarantees that voices from Nigeria are part of defining the future of digital governance. His appointment signals that Africa’s young, dynamic population has a seat at the table in international technology policy debates.

    The fellowship, which runs for a year, will see Olagunju collaborate with international peers to reimagine how societies harness technology for public good, ensuring that African insights are central to shaping global tech norms.