The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

Ekiti APC dismisses controversy over deputy governor’s WAEC certificate

Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressive Congress has dismissed as baseless and politically motivated the controversy trailing the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate of the Deputy Governor and APC deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Monisade Afuye, ahead of the June 20 governorship election.

The controversy followed the release of particulars of governorship candidates and their deputies by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which showed that Mrs Afuye sat for the WAEC examination in June 1978 at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti.

The deputy governor obtained credits in Literature-in-English and Economics, and passed in History and Mathematics.

The Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the allegations as a desperate attempt ploy by opposition parties to gain relevance ahead of the election.

The party spokesman accused PDP and ADC of sensationalising the issue to undermine public confidence in the ruling party, insisting that Afuye met all constitutional requirements to contest as deputy governor.

Dipe said Afuye’s academic credentials were duly screened and cleared by the party and relevant authorities, stressing that the deputy governor had served the state diligently since assuming office.

He added that the APC would not be distracted by the antics of PDP and ADC, urging the opposition parties to focus on presenting their alternatives to Ekiti voters rather than resorting to what he termed smear campaigns and recycled allegations.

However, the development has continued to attract criticism from the opposition parties.

The South-West PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, in a statement on Sunday, described the development as embarrassing and a “slap” on Ekiti State, which he said was widely regarded as a centre of academic excellence.

“This is a source of embarrassment for all Ekiti people. A state widely celebrated for academic excellence and intellectual prowess deserves better. It is disheartening that the APC is presenting a candidate with such a record for the sensitive office of deputy governor.

“Imagine someone who today submits a low-level and unconvincing school certificate being expected tomorrow to represent a governor at meetings of professors and technocrats. What exactly does such a person have to offer?”

“Ekiti is known nationwide as a state of scholars, a state with one of the highest concentrations of professors. It is often said, jokingly but truthfully, that almost every household has a professor. Is it not dehumanising for such a people to be represented by a mere school certificate holder?” he queried.

Similarly, Ekiti State Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Gboyega Aribisogan, also faulted the O-Level result submitted by Mrs Afuye to INEC, citing what he described as unresolved doubts about its authenticity.

Read Also: Nigeria are favourites, Mozambique coach admits

He said that Ekiti state,, regarded for its academic reputation, should not be led by people with questionable credentials and low education, recalling that similar concerns were raised in 2022 when she emerged as APC deputy governorship candidate.

He said, “This is not the first time these questions have come up. As far back as 2022, when she was announced as a deputy governor’s candidate of the APC, even members of her own party openly discussed the doubts surrounding her qualification.

“At one point, a group of people went to the archives to verify whether she truly sat for the GCE. What later emerged was that she did not complete her education at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti, which she claimed to have attended.

“Her colleagues from school reportedly said she did not finish there. Rather, she sat for the GCE outside the school, and that is where the problem of a doubtful certificate started.

“Many of our professionals and alumni spoke out against her nomination then, but because of the dictatorial tendencies within the APC party structure at the time, the issue was swept under the carpet, and she was imposed as deputy governor.

“As we head into another governorship election, our people are talking again. At the appropriate time, people will do the needful, and this could lead to another round of litigation that may truncate the ambition of both the governor and the deputy governor, he added.

January 4, 2026
Terrorists’ attack on Niger communities cruel, nefarious – Bago

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has condemned the recent terrorist attacks on communities in Borgu and Agwara local government areas, describing them as cruel and nefarious.

Governor Bago noted that the victims, drawn from different communities, were both Muslims and Christians, and expressed concern over the disturbing start to the year. He urged residents to remain resolute in God.

The Governor emphasised that his administration is working closely with the federal government and security agencies to restore peace in the affected areas. He confirmed that a joint security team is actively tracking the terrorists to rescue the kidnapped victims.

Read Also: 974 Nigerians awaits deportation from Canada

A statement from the state Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Obed Nuhu Nana, revealed that the attackers originated from Kainji Lake National Park and were moving toward Kebbi State and Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State, reportedly fearing further strikes from the United States.

According to the statement, the terrorists targeted Kasuwan Daji market in Sukumbara village, Borgu LGA, where they fired sporadically and killed about 35 people, mostly from the Kambari and other ethnic groups, including both Christians and Muslims attending the market.

“The terrorists had earlier killed several people in Shanga LGA, Kebbi State, during their return journey. They also attacked communities in parts of Rijau and Agwara LGAs, killing more innocent people. Additionally, they raided a police outpost in Shafacci village and a Catholic Missionary School in Sukumbara Village, seizing two motorcycles and destroying school property, though no casualties were reported there,” the Commissioner stated.

Governor Bago assured that all necessary measures are being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore security in the affected communities.

January 4, 2026
Factional Osun council workers warn against HLA takeover amid LG crisis

A faction of council workers under the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers, Osun State, has warned against actions capable of plunging local government administration into disorder amid the lingering leadership crisis.

The group faulted the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees for calling on Heads of Local Government Administration to take over the running of councils, describing the move as unconstitutional and potentially destabilising.

Addressing journalists on Sunday at the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel in Osogbo, the faction’s State Chairman, Adekunle Adedayo, accused the NULGE leadership, led by Dr Kehinde Ogungbangbe, of playing a partisan role in the control tussle between executives of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party at the local government level.

NULGE had embarked on a strike on February 17, 2025, but in December 2025 directed its members to resume work on January 5, 2026, while also calling on HLAs to assume control of council administration.

Reacting, Adedayo said members of his faction had continued to work peacefully with the APC-led council executives, noting that their salaries and other entitlements had been paid promptly.

“Our members are sincerely grateful to the APC ALGON-led executives for the prompt payment of our salaries and benefits after our names were unjustly removed from the payroll by the PDP-led state government because of our principled position,” he said.

Read Also: Nigeria are favourites, Mozambique coach admits

Citing several Supreme Court judgments, Adedayo rejected the call for HLAs to head local governments, arguing that political authority at the local level cannot be exercised by unelected officials.

“Any attempt by a Head of Local Government Administration to assume political powers amounts to usurpation of democratic authority and abuse of office. The call for councils to be headed by HLAs is not in line with the constitution and is therefore null and void,” he said.

He advised NULGE members planning to resume work to act within the confines of the law, stressing that the focus should be on utilising local government autonomy to improve grassroots development and public service delivery.

Meanwhile, the APC, through its Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, commended the Nigeria Police for what it described as a proactive approach to maintaining law and order ahead of the resumption of NULGE members.

“Our party remains grateful to the police and other security agencies for upholding the rule of law with diligence. This has ensured peace across local government areas under the APC-reinstated chairmen and councillors since February 10, 2025,” the statement said.

January 4, 2026
NCC marks World Braille Day

As Nigeria joins rest of the world to commemorate this year’s World Braille Day, the Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to a copyright system that is fair, balanced and humane; one in which authors are protected, rights are respected, and learning materials are accessible to a growing number of blind and print-disabled persons.

World Braille Day is dedicated to celebrating Braille as one of humanity’s most transformative innovations for literacy, independence, and dignity.

According to a statement by the commission, Dr. Asein said this year’s focus on inclusion, the bridging of digital divides, and the advancement of accessibility in education resonates deeply with the Commission’s long-standing advocacy.

He stated that under the banner Let the Blind Read, the commission reaffirms its belief that the copyright system must serve not only creators and markets, but also learners, students, and readers with print disabilities. He emphasised that access to knowledge is a right, not a privilege.

“Yet, the reality in Nigeria remains deeply troubling. Available studies indicate that less than one per cent of published materials in the country are available in accessible formats such as Braille, audio, or digital text compatible with screen-reading technologies. This acute ‘book famine’ mirrors broader challenges across much of the developing world and exposes the systemic barriers confronting blind and visually impaired persons. The Commission is therefore again drawing attention to the fact that the cost of inaccessibility is not merely social exclusion, but long-term harm to education, employment prospects, and the inclusion of the print disabled in the broader national development agenda,” he said.

Read Also: I will never give up on Nigeria — Gbenga Hashim declares

He recalled that for centuries, Braille has enabled blind and visually impaired persons to access knowledge, participate meaningfully in education, and live with dignity. He noted that this year’s focus on inclusion, the bridging of digital divides, and the advancement of accessibility in education resonates deeply with the Commission’s long-standing advocacy.

“Yet, the reality in Nigeria remains deeply troubling. Available studies indicate that less than one per cent of published materials in the country are available in accessible formats such as Braille, audio, or digital text compatible with screen-reading technologies. This acute “book famine” mirrors broader challenges across much of the developing world and exposes the systemic barriers confronting blind and visually impaired persons. The Commission is therefore again drawing attention to the fact that the cost of inaccessibility is not merely social exclusion, but long-term harm to education, employment prospects, and the inclusion of the print disabled in the broader national development agenda.

“It is against this backdrop that the Copyright Act, 2022, assumes particular significance. The Act marks a decisive transition from charity-based access to a rights-based framework for inclusion. Through section 26, Nigeria has domesticated the Marrakesh Treaty, expressly permitting the reproduction, distribution, and cross-border exchange of works in accessible formats for persons with print disabilities. Importantly, the Act also establishes safe-harbour protections for Authorised Entities, recognising that access must be enabled lawfully, responsibly, and in a manner that builds trust throughout the book value chain.

“In furtherance of this statutory mandate, the Commission has issued new Guidelines to strengthen the safe-harbour regime. These guidelines provide much-needed clarity, transparency, and safeguards for the production and dissemination of accessible-format copies. We are confident that they will encourage broader institutional participation, rebuild confidence among rights holders and intermediaries, and substantially increase the availability of books in Braille and other accessible formats. This regulatory effort will be complemented by sustained advocacy, awareness-raising, and capacity-building initiatives targeting publishers, libraries, educational institutions, and other concerned stakeholders.

“The World Braille Day ultimately reminds us that inclusion is not an act of generosity; it is a legal obligation, a moral imperative, and a development necessity,” Asein added.

January 4, 2026
Okpebholo threatens to revoke road contract in Edo

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has threatened to revoke the 1.4-kilometre Charismatic (Church) Road project in Ekhenwa Road if the contractor fails to execute the work in line with agreed specifications.

The project is being handled by Place of Peace Investment Limited. The Governor issued the warning while inspecting ongoing road projects in the Edo South Senatorial District.

In addition to the Charismatic (Church) Road project, Okpebholo also inspected the Old Sapele Road linking the Agip, Ohogbohi, and Ogheghe communities, Ogheghe Road off Sapele Road, and the Sapele Road Bypass.

He commended contractors delivering quality jobs but cautioned those lagging to improve their performance or risk losing their contracts.

According to the Governor, his administration is determined to ensure timely project delivery and value for public funds.

He said the inspection exercise was aimed at distinguishing serious contractors from those failing to meet agreed standards and timelines, noting that while some firms had demonstrated commitment and professionalism, others had fallen short.

Okpebholo warned that his administration would not tolerate unnecessary delays, particularly as the rainy season approaches.

Read Also: Nigeria are favourites, Mozambique coach admits

“We’ve gone round several places today. We were at Church Road, Upper Ekenwan road and we were not too happy with the contractor there. We have made our observations to the contractor on the need to meet with specifications, and by the time we return next time and nothing has happened the way we want it, we can revoke that job.

“We have gone to three other places, and I can see that everything is going well. I am very happy with the contractor handling the job in Ogheghe; they are doing a very good job. I am also very happy with the contractor handling this Sapele Road. They are doing a very good job.

“We will continue to monitor these projects closely, even at weekends. We won’t waste time because there is no time. The rainy season is almost here, and if we are not working, that means nothing will be achieved, he added.

Linking the projects to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the governor said road construction remained one of the most visible ways to restore public confidence in governance.

“We must work in line with Mr President’s Renewed Hope for the country. One of the ways to bring renewed hope is through the construction of roads. That is how our people will know that they voted for us and that we are delivering on our promises,” Okpebholo said.

January 4, 2026
Correctional Service faults report of tuberculosis outbreaks in custodial centres across Nigeria

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has faulted reports of outbreaks of tuberculosis in Correctional centres nationwide, saying that the report was not backed by any data or empirical evidence.

The Service dismissed the report as misleading, sensational, and inaccurate, and expressed concerns over its sweeping generalisations, irrespective of the structural mechanisms and protocols guiding the welfare and health conditions of inmates in Correctional facilities.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Jane Osuji, said the report as published in the Daily Trust newspaper, did not represent the true situation of the health conditions of inmates in the Correctional facilities.

Osuji, who is a Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC), described the approach adopted by the newspaper as misleading, unfair, and giving the erroneous impression of systemic neglect where none exists.”

“The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has noted with concern a report published by Daily Trust on 3 January 2026 titled “How Nigerian Prisons Became Tuberculosis Hotbeds.”

“While the Service recognises and welcomes responsible media engagement on matters of public health and inmate welfare, it is compelled to respond to the misleading narrative, sweeping generalisations, and inaccurate conclusions presented in the report, which do not reflect the true situation within Nigerian custodial centres,” Osuji said.

She explained that tuberculosis is a global health challenge that affects both custodial and non-custodial populations worldwide, stressing that Nigeria’s TB response is coordinated under the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP), in line with World Health Organization guidelines.

Read Also: Banditry, terrorism to end soon in Nigeria – Senator Adeola

She added that the NCoS is active in the management of tuberculosis in the country with strict compliance with its protocols.

She therefore dismissed the report, saying nothing in it claims, and narratives could portray custodial centres as tuberculosis “hotbeds,” as they are not supported by verified NCoS data.

“Notably, names and cases cited in the report do not exist in the records of any custodial centre known to the Service. Responsible journalism demands accuracy, balance, and reliance on verified, facility-specific data rather than conjecture, selective testimonies, or sensational headlines designed to misinform the public and malign public institutions,” Osuji stated.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service remains committed to safeguarding the health, dignity, and human rights of all persons in custody, recognising that custodial health is inseparable from public health.

“While the Service remains open to constructive criticism and informed public discourse, it strongly rejects reports that are misleading, deliberately alarmist, and designed to misinform the public or portray the Service in an unjustifiably negative light.

“The NCoS will continue to strengthen partnerships, improve healthcare delivery, and pursue reforms that promote humane custody, rehabilitation, and reintegration in line with national laws and international best practices,” the spokesperson of the NCoS said.

January 4, 2026
Nigeria ready to trade under AfCFTA preferential terms — Oduwole

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has disclosed that Nigeria is fully prepared to trade within Africa under the preferential terms of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, having fulfilled key obligations under the pact.

Oduwole said the country had complied with the AfCFTA requirements on trade in goods and services, as well as digital trade, by gazetting the relevant legal instruments.

She disclosed this during the presentation of the Nigeria AfCFTA Achievements Report 2025, noting that the ministry had taken deliberate steps to position and equip Nigerian businesses to compete effectively and benefit from preferential treatment within the AfCFTA market.

According to her, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment has implemented strategic initiatives to enable Nigerian businesses to succeed in the continental market, describing the AfCFTA as the culmination of Africa’s journey towards trade-led economic integration.

She said the agreement, through the progressive elimination of tariffs, removal of non-tariff barriers, and enhanced regulatory cooperation among state parties, provides a framework that allows African producers, investors, traders, and workers to convert opportunities into prosperity.

Oduwole noted that the central argument of the AfCFTA is that Africa retains greater value when it trades with itself, adding that the continent’s economic development ambitions are inseparable from the success of the AfCFTA market.

Read Also: Economy: Is this Nigeria’s boom year?

She described Nigeria as Africa’s champion of trade-led regional integration and the birthplace of several foundational continental instruments underpinning the AfCFTA, including the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 and the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community of 1991, also known as the Abuja Treaty.

She added that negotiations for the AfCFTA Agreement were concluded in Nigeria in 2017.

Oduwole recalled that Nigeria signed the AfCFTA Agreement in 2019 and ratified it in 2020, adding that in 2025, the Federal Government, through the ministry, reinvigorated implementation of the agreement.

She said Nigeria recorded several milestones, including becoming the first AfCFTA State Party to conduct a five-year review of AfCFTA implementation, ratifying the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, and establishing a dedicated AfCFTA air cargo exports corridor.

The report highlighted renewed implementation efforts and successes in 2025 that contributed to the advancement of a single African market. It noted that by July 2025, Nigeria became the first AfCFTA State Party to conclude and publish a five-year implementation review, as required under Article 28 of the AfCFTA Agreement.

According to the report, the review provided an objective self-assessment of challenges, frictions, and achievements, which have informed key policy actions by the ministry and the AfCFTA Coordination Committee.

January 4, 2026
Armed robbers kill POS operator in Edo

A 38-year old man, Raphael Eletanye, who operated a Point of Sales service along the Murtala Muhammed Way in Benin City, has been shot dead by armed robbers.

The robbers were said to be operating in an unregistered white mini-bus.

Witnesses said the incident occurred at about 9:50 pm on Saturday night.

It was gathered that the deceased was shot because he dragged his bag containing cash with the robbers.

Witnesses said policemen, who were at a checkpoint a few metres away from where Eletanye was shot dead.

Read Also: Jimoh Ibrahim hails Armed Forces as Nigeria ranks 31st in global military strength

Edo Police spokesman, Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident, said preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was shot on the thigh before the assailants carted away an unspecified amount of cash.

According to her, “The Divisional Police, Esigie Division, was immediately mobilized to the scene. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, was confirmed dead.

“The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday Agbonika, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident, and efforts are in top gear to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, while members of the public with useful information are advised to contact the Command through our 24/7 active emergency numbers.”

January 4, 2026
Police arrest two over killing of three women in Adamawa

The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed the killing of three women in an attack linked to a protracted communal conflict in Lamurde Local Government Area of the state.

The Command said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, which it traced to the renewed Bachama–Chobo communal crisis.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, the Command said the victims were attacked and killed on Saturday, January 3, 2026, while working on their farm around Tigno village in Lamurde LGA.

Read Also: Economy: Is this Nigeria’s boom year?

“The Adamawa State Police Command has swiftly responded to the renewed Lamurde tribal conflict between the natives of Bachama and Chobo, which led to the killing of three women and the apprehension of two suspects,” the statement said.

Nguroje disclosed that operatives recovered 29 rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle magazine, and ₦90,000, among other items, during the operation. He identified the suspects as William Joshua, 30, and Ezekiel Luka, 23, both residents of Tigno.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, has appealed for calm, assuring residents that the Command is making concerted efforts to apprehend all those responsible, including the instigators of the violence.

Lamurde Local Government Area has witnessed recurrent communal clashes in recent months, reportedly over land disputes, with more than 10 lives lost. Among the casualties were five women said to have been killed during protests against the handling of earlier incidents by security agencies.

January 4, 2026
Tinubunomics and the arithmetic of illusion

By Tanimu Yakubu

A striking feature of Nigeria‘s current economic debate is the enthusiasm with which huge numbers are circulated—and the casualness with which they are assembled. Tax collections are added to oil receipts; oil receipts are added again under customs or “subsidy savings”; borrowing is treated as income; and the resulting total is presented as proof of incompetence or theft.

This is not an economic analysis. It is an arithmetic illusion.

At the core of most viral critiques of Tinubunomics lies a fundamental failure to distinguish between revenue, cash, and financing, and between federation-wide collections and federal budgetary resources. These are not technicalities. They are the foundation of public finance.

Revenue is not the same as cash available to the Federal Government. Borrowing is not income; it is financing and creates future obligations. Federation receipts are not equivalent to what the Federal Government can spend.

Once these distinctions are ignored, any number—no matter how dramatic—can be manufactured.

The familiar pattern runs as follows. Aggregate tax collections are cited, often correctly, in gross terms. Oil revenues are then added without clarifying whether they are gross or net, federation-wide or federally retained, or whether costs, deductions, and under-recoveries have been netted off. Customs receipts are layered on, sometimes without stating whether they are already embedded in non-oil revenue totals. Borrowing is then added as though it were free money. Finally, “subsidy savings” are thrown into the mix, as if stopping a fiscal leak produces a vault of idle cash.

The result is a large headline number—₦150 trillion, ₦170 trillion, ₦180 trillion—followed by the question: where did the money go?

The answer is straightforward: much of it never existed in the form being implied.

Subsidy reform, for instance, does not conjure discretionary cash. It closes a hole. Under the old regime, underpricing manifested through arrears, opaque netting, and quasi-fiscal obligations. Reform first eliminates these hidden drains. The fiscal benefit appears gradually—through reduced deficit pressure, better budgeting discipline, and explicit, targeted support—not through a sudden pile of spendable “savings.”

Debt figures are similarly abused. A significant portion of Nigeria’s recent increase in debt stock in naira terms reflects exchange-rate revaluation of existing external obligations, not fresh borrowing. When the exchange rate adjusts, the naira value of dollar-denominated debt rises automatically. Treating this accounting effect as new borrowing is a category error, not a discovery.

Read Also: Banditry, terrorism to end soon in Nigeria – Senator Adeola

Most persistently, federation-wide collections are presented as if they belong solely to the Federal Government. They do not. Revenues in a federation are shared, earmarked, netted, and statutorily allocated. Federal budget reality is determined by FGN retained revenue plus deficit financing, not by gross federation inflows aggregated for political effect.

Tinubunomics was never a promise of instant abundance. It is a macro-fiscal reset undertaken within hard constraints: inherited debt service, FX realism, security spending, legacy arrears, and competing constitutional obligations. Its logic is structural—restoring price signals, strengthening revenue administration, rebuilding credibility, and re-pricing the public balance sheet while protecting the most vulnerable.

Those who insist on treating national finance as a household ledger will always find scandal where none exists. But accountability does not begin with social media addiction. It starts with audit logic.

The proper way to interrogate government performance is simple: examine federal retained revenue; separate it clearly from financing; track expenditure across debt service, personnel, capital, and transfers; and then assess outputs—roads built, power delivered, rail extended, schools and clinics rehabilitated.

Anything else is not subject to scrutiny. It is a theatre. And no amount of theatrical arithmetic can substitute for fiscal discipline.

– Yakubu is the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation.

January 4, 2026