The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Freedom, finally

    Freedom, finally

    Burkinabe authorities, mid-last week, let go 11 Nigerian soldiers they had taken into custody for alleged violation of that country’s airspace. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 transport aircraft that was impounded along with the military personnel was also released.

    Freedom came for the soldiers and aircraft following high-level diplomatic engagement by the Nigerian government with Ouagadougou. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, on Wednesday, met with Burkina Faso junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in the country’s capital. Tuggar, who led a Nigerian delegation, said at a parley with pressmen that the visit was at the instance of President Bola Tinubu.

    It was on the heels of the Ouagadougou meeting that the freedom deal was announced. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed on Wednesday night that the aircraft and personnel had been released.

    The C-130 NAF aircraft carrying nine passengers and two crew members got impounded on 8th December following an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second largest city. Initial reports said the aircraft was grounded by Burkinabe authorities for unauthorised incursion into the country’s airspace. Officials of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated that the aircraft lacked authorisation to fly through Burkina Faso’s airspace. AES is the breakaway umbrella body formed by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic after they pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for reason of coming under military rule.

    A joint statement by the junta alliance said investigation by Burkinabe authorities showed the aircraft did not obtain required authorisation to fly over their territory – something the body condemned as a breach of the sovereignty of its member-state. Speaking for the confederation, General Assimi Goïta of Mali described the NAF aircraft landing in Burkina Faso as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law,” and he warned that member-states had been authorised to neutralise any aircraft violating their airspace henceforth.

    The alarm of the AES states was obviously fuelled by the timing of the emergency landing in Burkina Faso – coming just a day after Nigerian airstrikes in Benin Republic that were instrumental in foiling an attempted coup against President Patrice Talon. On the previous day, the Nigerian government had deployed fighter jets and ground forces in the neighbouring country to help loyal troops thwart an attempted coup by dislodging soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, who had seized the national broadcaster and announced suspension of the democratic order. Acting on requests from the government of Benin, President Tinubu ordered NAF fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to dislodge the coupists from the national television station and a military camp where they regrouped, according to official statement. Within hours, loyal Benin forces aided by Nigerian troops reclaimed the national broadcaster and put down the coup attempt.

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    But the C-130 aircraft that was in Burkina Faso was neither on military operation nor espionage mission, according to the Nigerian military. It was on a ferry mission to Portugal, and it made a precautionary landing because the crew detected a technical issue shortly after take-off from Lagos on 8th December. In a statement, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, explained that the crew’s diversion to the nearest airfield was in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols. “Following take-off from Lagos, the crew observed a technical concern that necessitated a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, the nearest airfield, in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols,” he said, assuring that the personnel were safe and were being well treated by the host authorities.

    In a later statement, Ejodame fought back speculations that the aircraft was on intelligence mission in Burkina Faso, and that the personnel were intelligence officers trained in espionage who were on a clandestine intelligence operation. “The aircraft in question was on a duly authorised ferry flight to Portugal for scheduled periodic depot maintenance, a routine and mandatory lifecycle requirement for military transport aircraft and, therefore, had no operational tasking or mission of any kind,” he affirmed. “The flight was covered by necessary flight documentation, including provisions for diversion in line with international aviation procedures. The precautionary landing at Bobo-Dioulasso was initiated strictly on safety grounds, in full compliance with standard aviation protocols. At no time was the aircraft intercepted, forced to land, or found operating without authorisation, and claims of airspace violation or hostile intent are fabrications intended to misinform and inflame public sentiment,” he added.

    According to the NAF spokesperson, the personnel on board were “standard aircrew and mission-support officers conducting a legitimate military air movement, not intelligence operatives, and the aircraft was not equipped with surveillance or data-collection systems of any kind.” He  stated, however, that matters relating to the aircraft and its personnel were being handled through established diplomatic channels, and in line with international norms and bilateral relations.

    Well, diplomacy triumphed: the personnel and aircraft were let out after 10 days in custody. There are instructive takeaways, however. One is that junta-led countries of the sub-region may have brewed enough resentment to stand up to Nigeria, the biggest power within the bloc, whenever they perceive a red line crossed. It is almost like Venezuela standing up to the United States in the Americas. Whether they have the real capacity to live up that dare is another matter, though. With better intention, Burkina Faso could have verified that the aircraft was not equipped for any hazardous mission and that the personnel on board were non-combatants, and not hold them in custody until a diplomatic reprieve.

    Then, there was the gang-up factor in AES that made the precautionary landing at Bobo-Dioulasso to be viewed, not as potential violation against just Burkina Faso but the entire junta alliance. Notice that the three member-states of the alliance reacted concertedly and spoke jointly all through, not leaving the matter to Burkinabe authorities. It was Mali’s Goïta who called out the NAF aircraft emergency landing as an unfriendly act and served notice that AES member-states were poised to neutralise any aircraft violating their airspace henceforth. In effect, they served notice of a joint survival bond whereby assault on any singular member of their alliance is deemed an assault on all – the same creed espoused by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) alliance where attack on any member-nation is taken to be an attack on all warranting a collective response.

    Contrast that, for a moment, with the disposition within ECOWAS. Even though the sensitivity of the AES states to the NAF aircraft’s landing in Bobo-Dioulasso was accentuated by Nigeria’s role in thwarting the attempted coup in Benin, which was openly applauded by the regional body, the task of sorting out with Burkina Faso fell on Nigeria solely. And so, you never heard ECOWAS as a body or any member-state speaking up for Nigeria in rejoinder to the AES, or joining in negotiating the release of the seized personnel and aircraft. Maybe ECOWAS needs to learn about forging a united front against external threats to its member-states.

    Besides, the Bobo-Dioulasso incident highlighted the level of estrangement that has taken place within the sub-region. From being fellow members of the same bloc of interests under ECOWAS, the junta alliance now views other countries as potential enemies that stage “unfriendly” acts and deserve being neutralised in the event of future encounters. But that ill-will was only skin deep, apparently, because all three AES states yet maintain embassies in Nigeria, among others, to manage bilateral relations, trade and consular services. Nigeria also maintains diplomatic presence in those countries to promote regional cooperation.

    There were speculations that the Sahel states wanted to use the occasion as a bargaining chip to get some relief from the hurtful blockade of trade and movement of goods and services that ECOWAS imposed on them, which they believed Nigeria was in a position to influence within the bloc. That might well be so, but it did not justify their inflaming public passion with allegations of enemy action levelled against Nigeria. Regimes may come and go, but citizens will always live and inter-relate across country borderlines. No government should seek to upend that.

    •Please join me on kayodeidowu.blogspot.be for conversation.

  • State police, national security and the dignity question

    State police, national security and the dignity question

    By Lekan Olayiwola

    The renewed debate on state policing in Nigeria is often framed in terms of federalism, decentralisation, and efficiency. Yet national security is not only about structures; but about how authority is felt at checkpoints, in homes, and in markets, where Nigerians encounter power not as abstraction but as lived experience: protection, neglect, abuse, or survival.

    A reform that prizes proximity over civic respect and accountability risks collapsing into grievance, because in Nigeria, humane authority is inseparable from security. The country carries six overlapping histories of how force has been exercised, endured, resisted, and internalised. To imagine that a single reform can traverse these terrains intact is to misunderstand how insecurity perpetuates itself. The dignity question, therefore, is the true measure of state policing.

    What force fragmentation looks like across regions

    In the Northwest, insecurity is immediate and rural. Banditry empties villages, fractures trust, and normalises fear. Any state police force here would inherit a context already shaped by armed actors and survival logic. Hardening too quickly risks converting policing into counter-insurgency. Civilians become terrain, not partners. Security that saves lives but erodes dignity plants the seeds of future instability.

    In the Northeast, years of insurgency have left communities wary not only of militants but of uniforms. A state police force that re-enters civilian life without recognising trauma risks mistaking compliance for trust. Peace after conflict is not restored by surveillance alone; it requires restraint that signals a return to normalcy.

    In the North-central, conflicts over land, identity, and seasonal movement turn neighbours into adversaries. Policing here is always read through the lens of belonging. Who is protected, and who is suspected? Without visible neutrality, locally controlled forces can deepen perceptions of partiality, entrenching cycles of grievance.

    In the Southwest, administrative capacity is stronger, urban crime more legible, and informal security arrangements exist. Yet efficiency carries risks. Policing that prizes order can slip into over-policing, especially of youth and informal workers. When dignity is traded for convenience, legitimacy erodes quietly but steadily.

    In the Southeast, heavy security presence has not translated into a feeling of safety, and political grievances bleed easily into security encounters. Here, a state police could either de-escalate fear or institutionalise suspicion. The line between criminal enforcement and political repression is thin, and once crossed, difficult to repair.

    In the South-south, policing is inseparable from extraction. Oil, environment, youth unemployment, and protest are entangled. Security forces are often experienced as guardians of assets rather than people. Peace here is not merely absence of violence; it is presence of fairness.

    Why structure alone cannot carry the weight

    The appeal of state policing lies in proximity, local knowledge, faster response, cultural familiarity. These are real advantages. But proximity without restraint magnifies harm. Authority becomes humane not because it is local, but because it is answerable without humiliation. Institutions that cannot admit error resort to denial; those that fear collapse cling to silence. Force becomes defensive, not protective.

    The deeper problem is not lack of information. Nigeria already knows where insecurity lies and how it manifests. What it struggles with is incentive. Who bears the cost when force overreaches? Who pays when restraint fails? Without ethical infrastructure, new policing structures simply redistribute old fears.

    The risk of localising fear

    There is an unspoken hope that bringing force closer will make it more controllable. Yet without safeguards, the opposite occurs. Fear becomes localised, personalised, harder to escape. When authority answers only upward, communities learn quickly that silence is safer than complaint. When correction is costly, abuse becomes routine. Policing reforms that ignore this may reduce certain crimes while increasing alienation—they can produce order without peace.

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    Policing reform should be judged by how ordinary people experience authority. Not on paper, but in markets, along highways, during routine checks. Security that humiliates does not disappear; it returns as grievance.

    Young men stopped repeatedly without cause, women spoken to with contempt, communities searched without explanation—these are not marginal details. They are the emotional residue from which insecurity regenerates itself. Legitimacy does not flow automatically from effectiveness; it flows from dignified restraint, the visible capacity of power to limit itself.

    Comparative lessons from beyond Nigeria

    International experience suggests that proximity must be married to restraint. In India, state-level police often respond quickly to urban unrest but have struggled to build community trust in rural insurgency zones. Training in de-escalation and accountability mechanisms has proven essential.

    In Kenya, devolution gave counties local policing powers, yet uneven capacity and weak oversight have led to variable protection, with some communities experiencing force as predatory rather than protective.

    In Liberia, post-conflict policing reforms emphasised community liaison and trauma-informed engagement. Force without accountability risked replicating wartime fear networks; restraint and ethical oversight proved key to building enduring legitimacy. These examples illustrate that decentralisation alone is insufficient. Institutional incentives, oversight, and channels for complaint are equally critical.

    What a different design demands

    A careful approach starts by acknowledging limits. State policing will not automatically reduce insecurity. Decentralisation does not equal justice. Nigeria does not merely need the right structure; it needs a design that makes restraint possible and correction survivable.

    Officers must be protected when choosing de-escalation over domination. Communities must have channels to speak without fear of reprisal. This is not sentimentalism; it is practical governance. In pluralistic, historically wounded societies, peace is sustained not by absence of force but by the discipline of its use.

    A question before reform

    The harder question is not whether Nigeria should have state police, but what kind of peace it is willing to build. A peace that relies on fear travels quickly but collapses under pressure. A peace that protects respect and accountability moves slowly but endures. State policing will not be a single experience; it will be six different realities layered onto one constitutional change. Recognising this is critical to any reform effort.

    Security that listens before it acts may not appear strong at first glance. Yet it is the only kind that does not return later as crisis. Officers’ choices to restrain, to pause, to de-escalate, must be visible in both policy and practice; communities’ responses, their trust, and their ability to speak must be measurable through repeated engagement. Nigeria’s security future will be decided not by where power sits on paper, but by how it behaves in the lives of those it claims to protect. That is the test this moment presents

    •Olayiwola is a peace and conflict researcher and policy analyst. He can be reached at lekanolayiwola@gmail.com.

  • OAU academic attains professorship at 39

    OAU academic attains professorship at 39

    An  accomplished computer engineer, academic and entrepreneur, Dr Segun Aina, has been appointed Professor of Computer Engineering at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, becoming one of the youngest professors in his field in Nigeria at just 39.

     Aina’s elevation is a testament to his outstanding academic contributions, impactful research, and unwavering commitment to bridging theory and practice within Nigeria’s education and technology ecosystem.

    He currently serves in the Computer Engineering Department at OAU, where he also holds several departmental and faculty responsibility.

    A distinguished scholar, Aina obtained his Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, United Kingdom, in 2008, followed by a Master of Science (MSc) in Internet Computing and Network Security from the highly ranked Loughborough University in 2009. He later earned his Doctorate (PhD) in Digital Signal Processing, also from Loughborough University.

    Prof. Aina said: “This milestone is a humbling reminder that excellence, discipline and purpose-driven work can accelerate impact. I see this professorship not as a destination, but as a renewed responsibility to contribute more meaningfully to academia, industry and national development.”

    Beyond academia, he has built a reputation as a pragmatic academic and serial entrepreneur, committed to translating research into real-world solutions. In 2010, he co-founded Fluid Click Solutions Ltd, an IT services and engineering project management company. His business interests span EduTech, Agriculture, Hospitality, Capacity Building, and Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

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    He noted that his lifelong commitment has been to ensure that academic knowledge does not exist in isolation, but actively solves real problems.

    Aina said he remains passionate about mentoring the next generation of engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs who will shape Africa’s future.

    A COREN-registered engineer, he  is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

    He has served in key governance and advisory roles, including as a member of the pioneer Governing Council of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere, Ekiti, and as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Queensland Academy, Isolo, Lagos.

  • Microfinance bank strengthens communities

    Microfinance bank strengthens communities

    ASHA Microfinance Bank has concluded a three-day bursary and client empowerment programme across Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states, reinforcing its commitment to financial inclusion and sustainable community development.

    The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, held from December 16 to 18, was designed to support education and empower small business owners within the bank’s operating communities. The programme commenced at Ikotun Market in Lagos State, continued in Sango Ota, Ogun State, and culminated in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    As part of the initiative, 100 students were awarded educational bursaries, recognizing them as outstanding children of ASHA Microfinance Bank clients. The bursaries aim to ease the financial burden of education on families while encouraging academic excellence.

    In addition, 150 clients received eco-friendly deep freezers as part of the client reward and business support scheme. This intervention targets traders and small business owners, particularly in the food and retail sectors, to improve product preservation, reduce waste, and promote environmentally sustainable business practices.

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    Mrs. Funmi Paseda Oladoyinbo, the MD/CEO of ASHA Microfinance Bank, said: “At ASHA Microfinance Bank, we believe that true financial inclusion goes beyond access to finance. By investing in education and empowering entrepreneurs, we are strengthening families, supporting businesses, and contributing to long-term economic growth within our communities.”

    The bank’s commitment to community development was further highlighted by testimonials from beneficiaries.  Mrs. Odumayo Demola, a customer of the Shaki branch in Oyo State, said: “I am super excited. The freezer is truly God’s answer to my prayers. I had been looking for money to buy one, and this support came at the right time.”

    Similarly, Mrs. Basit Olayinka Oyetola, a long-standing customer from Sango Ota, Ogun State, said:

    “I have been an ASHA customer for 13 years. With the bank’s support, I built my house and paid my children’s school fees. The institution has played a major role in my growth.”

    ASHA Microfinance Bank reiterated that its CSR programmes are strategically designed to address real community needs while strengthening trust and long-term relationships with clients. The bank emphasized that these interventions remain a cornerstone of its operations, positioning ASHA not only as a financial services provider, but also as a catalyst for positive social and economic transformation across Nigeria.

  • Quickteller unveils all-star line-up

    Quickteller unveils all-star line-up

    Quickteller, one of Africa’s foremost digital payments platforms under the Interswitch Group, has announced the official artist line-up for the maiden edition of InsomniaQ, a first-of-its-kind, all-night music and entertainment experience set to elevate Lagos’ iconic December experience.

    The unveiling sets the stage for an electrifying night of unforgettable performances and immersive moments. The maiden edition will run from the evening of December 21 into the early hours of December 22, 2025, at the Ballroom of the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.

    Leading the lineup is Made Kuti and his band, whose distinct Afrobeat rhythms will set a powerful musical tone for the night. Joining him are some of Nigeria’s most celebrated acts, including Patoranking, Dr Sid, Niniola, Loud Urban Choir, Alternate Sound, and the soulful Brymo. Guests will also enjoy energetic DJ sets from DJ Xray, DJ Toh Bhad, and Maze Xtreme, ensuring non-stop music from dusk till dawn.

    InsomniaQ is designed to keep audiences awake, connected, and fully immersed in culture-rich, high-octane entertainment. With a line-up this dynamic, the event reaffirms Quickteller’s commitment to creating extraordinary experiences that bring people together.

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    Speaking on the announcement, Olawale Akanbi, Divisional Head, Growth Marketing (Merchants and Ecosystem), Interswitch, highlighted the brand’s intention to curate a line-up that truly resonates with its audience.

    “We are proud to present a lineup that reflects the richness and diversity of our music culture. For the first edition of InsomniaQ, it was important to select artists whose craft, energy, and artistry connect deeply with our audience. Each performer brings something distinct, and together, they embody the quality and cultural depth we envisioned for this experience. We are excited to deliver a night that will be unforgettable in every sense,” Akanbi said.

    Attendees can look forward to high-energy performances, soulful renditions, dance-floor moments, and artistic collaborations that elevate the experience beyond a typical performance showcase. From live bands to powerhouse vocalists and dynamic DJs, InsomniaQ is shaping up to be one of the season’s most anticipated entertainment highlights.

    With the line-up now revealed, anticipation continues to build as fans prepare for a night filled with rhythm, culture, and pure adrenaline. Quickteller invites the public to join the experience and create lasting memories at the debut edition of InsomniaQ.

  • Case for girls, women’s access to justice

    Case for girls, women’s access to justice

    To build a future that works for everyone, including women and girls, there must be reimagining access to justice, not as a privilege or afterthought, but as a fundamental promise of nationhood, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, has said.

    She spoke in Lagos at an event to mark the silver jubilee of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC).

    Its theme was: “Breaking barriers and building futures with women and girls in Nigeria.”

    Justice Ogunwumiju made case for Nigerian women and girls, stating that they should not be made to relive trauma repeatedly when seeking justice from sexual and gender-based violence.

    The keynote speaker lamented that despite constitutional guarantees, legislative advances and institutional reforms, women and girls in Nigeria continue to face deep-rooted barriers in accessing justice.

    She said that to end practices that force women and girls to repeatedly narrate their painful experiences while seeking redress, the judge held that such processes amount to secondary victimisation rather than justice.

    “Women must have somewhere or someplace where they can ask for help and they don’t need to explain their pain over and over and over again,” she said.

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    Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Ahmed Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo, reiterated the commitment of the legislature in strengthening laws and policies that would expand access to quality healthcare and protect the rights of women, girls and underserved populations.

    In her Speech, the Founding Director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said that the Center was not imagined as another organisation that produced reports while women continued to bleed quietly, but was conceived as a movement institution; one that would meet women where they were, translate law into power, and turn pain into political demand.

    Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi, also noted that oppression does not live only in urban areas, but also thrives in rural communities, informal settlements, markets, religious spaces, and households.

    “That understanding led to the establishment of 42 paralegal communities across Nigeria, where ordinary women were trained to document cases, challenge abuse, and claim justice within their own environments,” she noted.

    Lauding WARDC for its feats over the years, the former Chairman Board of Trustees, WARDC, Professor Akin Oyebode, advocated for inclusion of women in governance.

    “We have not  achieved the ultimate in terms of full recognition for the Nigerian women because we are still at the throes of passing a law that would create more seats for the women in the National assembly. Let us have commensurate numbers of women in our legislatures, because we all came to this world through women. If you don’t have women as your mother, you have them as your sisters, spouses and colleagues; so in a way, we are celebrating ourselves by coming to share fellowship with WARDC,” Oyebode said.

    The event also featured the unveiling of a new book authored by the Founder of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, titled Voice For Change Women’s Rights Activism in Nigeria (2000 – 2025), which was anchored by the Former Ekiti State First Lady, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi and reviewed by Ijeoma Thomas-Odia.

  • Mutfwang’s defection: what does it portend for Northcentral

    Mutfwang’s defection: what does it portend for Northcentral

    After months of rumours, denials, counter-denials and political shadowboxing, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has finally taken the step many had predicted but few could time.

    His defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has not only redrawn the political map of Plateau State but also reshaped its political landscape. Still, it has also handed the APC complete control of the North-Central geopolitical zone.

    The announcement came in Abuja during the APC’s 14th National Caucus meeting at the State House Conference Centre. National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, broke the news to party leaders and stakeholders.

    “With the defection of Governor Mutfwang, the entire North-Central region is now governed by the APC,” Yilwatda said, describing the move as a significant boost to the party’s regional dominance.

    For Plateau, the development ended over a year of intense speculation that had consumed political conversations across the state. From Jos to Shendam, from party offices to beer parlours, the question was the same: would Mutfwang defect or not?

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    The rumours gained momentum against the backdrop of a nationwide political realignment that has seen governors, lawmakers, and party heavyweights steadily migrate into the APC, leaving the PDP weakened and fragmented. The Plateau was no exception. Several PDP stalwarts, including former lawmakers, ex-senators, and top campaign figures from the 2023 elections, had already crossed over, fuelling the belief that the governor’s move was only a matter of time.

    Yet Mutfwang repeatedly dismissed the claims, insisting he had no intention of leaving the party that brought him to office. At one point, he even accused the APC of mounting pressure on him.

    “An attempt has indeed been made for me to join the APC, which I have refused to bow to,” he said at the time. “Only two people would authorise me to change my party. One is the God of heaven, and the other is you, the people.”

    Rather than calming nerves, those denials deepened suspicion. As more PDP leaders defected and APC influence grew stronger on the Plateau, the political atmosphere became increasingly tense.

    Reacting to the eventual defection, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Inter-Party Relations, John Akans, said the decision was neither sudden nor personal. In a telephone interview, Akans stressed that Mutfwang did not act alone.

    “This is not a unilateral decision by the governor,” he said. “It is the collective decision of stakeholders across the state. Consultations were wide, deep, and inclusive. Party leaders, political allies, and grassroots actors were all carried along before this step was taken.”

    Akans said the move reflected the prevailing political reality and Plateau leaders’ desire to reposition the state within the national power structure.

    “The stakeholders believe this move will better position Plateau State to attract federal presence, deepen political inclusion, and accelerate development,” he explained. “The governor remains committed to the mandate given to him by the people, irrespective of the party platform.”

    He described the defection as more than a routine political switch.

    “This is a movement, not just a defection,” Akans said. “It is a realignment aimed at strengthening governance and ensuring Plateau State is not left out of national political calculations and dynamics.”

    According to him, concerns that the defection might distract the government were unfounded. “The governor’s focus remains on peace, unity, and delivering good governance to the people of Plateau State,” he added.

    The decision, however, has not been without controversy. While pro-Mutfwang groups hailed it as a strategic move that would unlock federal goodwill and restore Plateau’s voice at the centre, some APC loyalists initially resisted the idea of welcoming a sitting PDP governor into their fold.

    Groups opposed to the move raised concerns about governance, internal party balance, and the fate of existing APC structures in the state. Others argued that aligning with the centre was a political necessity rather than an ideological choice.

    Despite the disagreements, the national leadership of the APC appears to have prevailed, seeing the governor’s entry as consistent with its broader expansion strategy. With Yilwatda, a Plateau indigene, as national chairman, Mutfwang’s defection also carries symbolic weight for the party.

    For the PDP, the loss is another painful blow in a season of steady decline. Once dominant in the North-Central, the party now finds itself shut out of the region’s governorship seats, raising questions about its ability to halt further defections ahead of future elections.

    For Plateau State, the long months of uncertainty have given way to a new political reality. Whether the promises of stronger federal ties and accelerated development will materialise remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the “hullabaloo” is over.

    Governor Caleb Mutfwang has made his choice, and with it, the APC has secured total control of the North-Central zone.

  • Is Edo rising under Okpebholo?

    Is Edo rising under Okpebholo?

    The mantra of Governor Monday Okpebholo is “A new Edo has Risen”. OSAGIE OTABOR reports on his activities and resolve to hire and fire any political appointee.

    Governor Monday Okpebholo has given his administration a thumbs-up for its achievements over the last year, especially in implementing his five-point “SHINE” agenda. To Governor Okpebholo and his supporters, the implementation of the SHINE agenda has improved critical areas of the Edo economy. The SHINE agenda is an acronym for Security, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Natural Resources & Agriculture, and Education.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said Edo was bleeding before the emergence of Governor Okpebholo. Afegbua likened Okpebholo’s intervention in Edo State to a panel beater fixing a badly damaged vehicle after an accident. Afegbua said the state was already being fixed in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and all sectors of the economy.

    Presenting his one-year report sheet, Governor Okpebholo said he met a state weighed down by rot, debt, insecurity, and distrust, but that with determination, prayer, and teamwork, his administration has begun to restore hope, rebuild institutions, and renew confidence in government. He has done away with the use of consultants to execute government business and ensure civil servants are adequately motivated to do their job.

     Governor Okpebholo resolved to end kidnappings, cult killings, cultism, and armed robbery. He saw the creation of a Special Security Squad in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies. He ensured that new anti-cultism and anti-kidnapping laws were enacted. Convicted kidnappers in Edo State now face the death penalty, while several houses suspected of being used for kidnapping activities have been demolished across the state. The governor said, “Edo was almost a war zone, plagued by cult killings, kidnappings, armed robbery, and cybercrime when he came on board.

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     “We acted decisively, repealed the weak anti-cultism law, passed a stronger one, supplied 60 Hilux vans and 400 motorcycles to security agencies, and recruited and trained 2,500 officers into the Edo State Security Corps. These measures have drastically reduced insecurity. Edo will no longer be a safe place for criminals.”

    In his pursuit of quality healthcare, Governor Okpebholo commenced construction of a new 100-bed Specialist Hospital and a new School of Nursing in Udomi, in the Esan Central local government area. His administration has also built over 50 Primary Health Centres across the state.

    Two legacy projects of Governor Okpebholo are the flyovers at the Ramat Park and Adesuwa Junction along Sapele Road. The governor said his administration has awarded 28 new road projects totaling 255 kilometers across the state.

    According to him, “We inherited over N600 billion in local and foreign debts and N180 billion owed to contractors. Through prudent management and transparency under our SHINE Agenda, we have significantly reduced this burden. We have also created over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and launched a N1 billion interest-free loan scheme for small businesses and traders.”

    However, political appointees of Governor Okpebholo now sleep with one eye open. They never know who will be sacked or suspended in the dead of the night. That has been the style of Governor Okpebholo toward his appointees: he can hire and fire. His former Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, was kicked out in the dead of the night. Besides Itua, others who were suspended or sacked at night were former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Osagie; former Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Hon Damian Lawal; former Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Isere; former Managing Director, EdoGIS, Tony Ikpasajah, amongst others.

    Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial district, said the ability for Governor Okpebholo to hire and fire showed he was a man of steel.

    “The remodeling and reconstruction of markets across Edo State is a testament to your connection with our womenfolk, who form the bedrock of our rural and urban communities.

    “Okpebholo’s actions speak louder than words. Edo State is once again shining as a beacon of progress and good governance.”

    The traditional institution got a taste of Governor Okpebholo’s resolve to right the wrongs. He has sacked four conventional rulers in his first year. They are Lukman Akemokue, who was appointed Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in 2024 by former Governor Godwin Obaseki. His appointment was revoked for failing to comply with succession laws, and Mike Sadoh was installed as the new Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in 2025. Laze Dr. George Oshiapi Egabor was removed as Okumagbe of Uwanno kingdom, Etsako East local government area, due to incessant kidnappings and killings in his domain. Other traditional rulers sacked were Bamidele Obaitan of Ososo Kingdom and Zaiki Luckman Odamah III of the Ikpeshi/Egbegere clan, both in Akoko-Edo local government area.

    At the inception of Okpebholo’s administration, residents raised eyebrows when the Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private firm owned by Tony Kabaka Adun, was engaged as Enforcement Consultant for the Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS). Moreover, several drivers’ unions returned to motor parks and bus stops. They included the Drivers Welfare Scheme, Professional Drivers on Wheels, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, and others. Commercial drivers who hitherto paid N800 daily were made to pay between N2,000 and N10,000. Besides the high payment, which does not go into government coffers, the drivers were daily harassed and beaten.

    Public outcry and a drop in Edo IGR led Governor Okpebholo to ban their activities in August this year. Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, said the groups violated the conditions of their engagement and resorted to cash collections, extortions, social harassment, and intimidation.

    Apart from the transport unions, Governor Okpebholo also banned unions in all markets in the state due to rising food prices.

    To the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Okpebholo’s achievements do not match the huge revenue accruing to the state. It said there was no evidence of the vast funds in the state.

    State Chairman of Edo PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, at a press briefing, said there was no corresponding improvement in infrastructure, no visible expansion of social services, no renewal of public institutions, and no measurable uplift in the lives of ordinary Edo people.

    “Roads are deteriorating, not improving. Public utilities are struggling. Local government areas are functionally paralysed, and basic governance is absent.

    “This stark disconnect between massive federal allocations and negligible outcomes raises serious concerns about fiscal responsibility, value for money, and the priorities of the current administration.

    “Even more troubling is the fact that statutory allocations continue to be released to unelected local government impostors, while duly elected chairmen, who have secured court judgments, are excluded from office. The Edo people are therefore forced to ask whether public funds are being deployed for development or merely circulated within an illegitimate administrative structure.

    “One year after assuming office, the Edo State Government has failed to articulate any coherent development blueprint, policy framework, or governing philosophy. There is no published agenda against which citizens can measure performance, no sectoral roadmap, and no clearly defined priorities.

    “What Edo people have experienced instead is drift, reactionary governance, policy inconsistency, propaganda without substance, and a steady erosion of democratic and institutional norms painstakingly built over the last eight years.”

  • Gunmen abduct woman in midnight attack on Niger Community

    Gunmen abduct woman in midnight attack on Niger Community

    •Govt House Police Officer arrested for ‘supplying’ arms to bandits

    Suspected armed gunmen have abducted the wife of a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator identified as Precious Musa during a midnight raid on Ebbo community in Lapai Local Government Area.

    It was learnt that the gunmen who were armed invaded the community around midnight yesterday, firing into the air for nearly an hour and force residents indoors before abducting their victim who just gave birth three months ago leaving her baby behind.

    A resident of the community said the attackers created panic, leaving the community deserted.

    “They came around midnight and kept shooting in the air for about an hour. Nobody could come out. They kidnapped a woman named Precious, the wife of Mr Monday Musa, a popular Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator in Ebbo. She gave birth just three months ago, but her baby was left behind. They also took one Mr Anthony, but he managed to escape and returned this morning,” the resident narrated.

    It was learnt that the residents had been on alert over the presence of unfamiliar faces in the community for about four days prior to the attack.

    The vigilante group, which conducts patrols, was reportedly not on duty at the time of the incident.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident.”

    Also, a Police Inspector attached to the Niger State Government House, Minna, has been arrested for allegedly selling arms and ammunition to bandits and other criminals across the state.

    The suspect identified as Inspector John Moses confessed to the crime, but he accused the late Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abdullahi Isah as a culprit too.

    The development followed an investigation that led to the death of the DSP. Isah was attached to the Police Mobile Force 12 in Minna before his death.

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    Moses have been arrested as investigations linked him to the diversion of firearms and ammunition meant for official security operations.

     Wasiu, who confirmed the incident, said Moses had said he sold the items to bandits and hoodlums in Erena community of Shiroro Local Government Area, using his brother as a middleman.

    An audit indicated that 13 AK-47 rifles and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition were missing, with discrepancies identified in the AK-47 inventory.

    It was during the investigation when Isah was escorted to the armoury for verification that he took a pistol and shot himself in the head, dying instantly.

    Everyone linked to the deceased in the sales of the arms have been arrested and under investigation, a source said.

  • Firm strengthens partnerships, honours suppliers at forum

    Firm strengthens partnerships, honours suppliers at forum

    New Star Metal International Limited (NSMIL) has held its third stakeholders/suppliers interactive engagement forum.

    NSMIL is a non-ferrous metals business organisation, transforming waste to wealth.

    The company’s top executives, management staff, invited dignitaries, suppliers and stakeholders from Lagos and beyond.

    The annual interactive season was organised to reflect on the company’s activities in the outgoing year with a view to projecting for future development and growth. It also provided an avenue for both the management and suppliers of the company to discuss issues of mutual concern.

    The forum aimsed at strengthening existing business partnerships, expanding business frontiers and positioning NSMIL for future growth.

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    At the meeting, NSMIL’s management reeled out the company’s performance within the year while suppliers reviewed their business activities, through which the company got feedbacks on peculiar challenges and made promises in possible areas of intervention and assistance.

    In his welcome address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of New Star Metal International Limited, Alhaji Abdulateef Sulaimon, while acknowledging the cooperation and collaboration of suppliers as being very crucial to expansion of business frontiers said: “The forum is not just an opportunity to celebrate our collaboration, achievements and success, but also a platform to explore innovative ideas, address challenges, align our expectations and strengthen relationships that drive our collective success”.

    Major highlights of the event included the illuminating session on Tax Matters anchored by a Tax Consultant, Dr. Obinna Okafor.

    The session intimated suppliers on the new government tax policies, its implementation and attached benefits for large, small and medium size business organisations.

    NSMIL ISO and Quality Control Consultant, Mazi Colman Obasi in his address, admonished suppliers on proper bookkeeping, company registration and the needs to regularize and formalize their businesses with relevant government authorities in compliance with industrial regulations. This, he emphasized, will enhance ease of business operations, growth and development.

    At the event, NSMIL top executives took turns to highlight their specific areas of operations, the challenges encountered and resilience to overcome such challenges for the recorded success. They, however harped on suppliers continuous adherence to company’s policies to promote harmonious business relationships, improved company’s fortunes and creating pathways for future prosperity.

    In the feedback session, suppliers, one after the other, while drawing attention to some of the identified challenges hampering their operations, expressed their gratitudes and appreciation to the Management of the New Star Metal International Limited for its commitment to implementing corporate social responsibilities, endearing corporate practices, fidelity to customer-friendly policies and best industrial practices that have added value and promoted their corporate entities.

    In appreciation of their commitments to NSMIL corporate aspirations, some outstanding suppliers were singled out at the ceremony for recognition and presented with awards of honour.

    The awards ceremony (in three categories) is yet a novel idea envisioned by the management of NSMIL to reward excellence and encourage ethical corporate conducts by staff, suppliers and staked of the company.