The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • The $200 billion quest for reliable electricity

    The $200 billion quest for reliable electricity

    • By Elvis Eromosele

    Sir: Nigeria is an energy starved nation. Today, homes flicker into darkness, businesses grind to a halt, and dreams of economic growth stall in the face of an unreliable electricity grid. The numbers paint a grim picture. Nigeria generates a mere 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity against an estimated demand of 40,000 MW needed for a stable, nationwide supply.

    The World Bank estimates this power deficit costs the economy $29 billion annually, an economic haemorrhage that highlights the urgency of reform. This may explain why Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, laid out a bold vision: a $200 billion investment over 20 years to deliver a 24/7 electricity supply. This staggering figure, $10 billion a year, has sparked both hope and scepticism. Can Nigeria transform its beleaguered power sector, and what will it take to light up the nation?

    Nigeria’s power crisis is a hydra-headed beast. The issues span generation, transmission, and distribution. The national grid, a relic of decades-old infrastructure, is plagued by inefficiencies. Reports indicate that for every 100 MW generated, 7.79 MW is lost in transmission, a figure that reflects both technical shortcomings and systemic neglect. Vandalism compounds the problem. Indeed, between January 2022 and October 2024, the government spent ₦29.3 billion (roughly $17.7 million) repairing 266 vandalised electricity towers, an average of $66,500 per tower. These fixes however are mere Band-Aids on a system that demands a full overhaul.

    The human toll is palpable. In Lagos, small businesses and homeowners alike are compelled to rely on costly petrol/diesel generators to keep their machines/households humming. Many businesses spend more than half of their earnings on fuel. Across rural Nigeria, entire communities remain off the grid, their potential stifled by darkness.

    The metering gap, less than half of customers have metres, further complicates matters, leading to estimated billing and revenue losses for distribution companies and discontent from electricity consumers. These challenges are not new, but the scale of the solution proposed is unprecedented.

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    The $200 billion goal is ambitious. It seeks to achieve a generation capacity of 88,000 MW, enough to ensure uninterrupted electricity nationwide by 2045. This figure encompasses upgrades across the entire value chain, generation, transmission, and distribution. It also accounts for the integration of renewable energy, grid modernisation, and policy reforms to attract private investment.

    Breaking down the numbers, the plan allocates significant funds to each segment. Transmission infrastructure, for instance, requires a massive investment. The Presidential Power Initiative, launched to modernise the grid, has already committed $1.9 million and €62.9 million in its first phase, boosting capacity by 2,000 MW. Yet, industry experts estimate that $100 billion over 20 years is needed just to maintain current service levels. Distribution upgrades, including metering initiatives, also demand substantial funding. The Nigerian Electricity Transmission Access Project (NETAP), backed by a $486 million World Bank credit, is a step toward addressing these gaps, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the broader need.

    So, while the government focuses on grid expansion, decentralised solutions like mini-grids and solar projects are gaining traction. In a country where vast rural areas remain unconnected, off-grid systems offer a lifeline.

    We can agree that the $200 billion price tag is daunting. But this is not just about money. Implementation efficiency, transparency, and anti-corruption measures are equally critical. Nigeria’s history of mismanaged projects looms large, with critics pointing to past initiatives that fizzled out despite hefty budgets. The truth is that the funds are one thing, but execution is another. Without accountability, $200 billion could vanish into thin air.

    Short-term goals offer a glimmer of hope. Experts estimate that $15-30 billion by 2030 could stabilise the grid, expand metering, and deploy more mini-grids. These steps wouldn’t deliver 24/7 power but could significantly reduce outages and connect millions more to electricity. For urban centres like Lagos and Abuja, grid upgrades could mean fewer blackouts. For rural areas, off-grid solutions could bridge the gap, promoting economic growth and improving quality of life.

    The stakes are high. A reliable power supply could unlock Nigeria’s potential, fuelling industries, creating jobs, and reducing poverty. The World Bank’s $29 billion annual loss estimate underscores the cost of inaction. Yet, the path to transformation is fraught with challenges, technical, financial, and political. As Nigeria grapples with its power crisis, the $200 billion question remains: Can the nation muster the resources and resolve to light up its future?

    •Elvis Eromosele,

    elviseroms@gmail.com

  • Anambra’s SASA: When the falcon cannot hear the falconer

    Anambra’s SASA: When the falcon cannot hear the falconer

    • By Chiedu Uche Okoye

    Sir: Before Governor Chukwuma Soludo became the governor of Anambra State, the state was the haven and stamping ground of touts and thugs, who would commit atrocious and heinous crimes under the guise of collecting road levies from commercial motorists. They were feared and dreaded. And their nefarious activities gave the state a bad name and scared investors away from the state.

    So upon taking over the reins of power, Soludo formed the Special Anti-Tout Squad of Anambra (SASA) to rid Anambra roads of touts, thugs, and miscreants whose activities endangered the lives of people. His decision to form SASA is not injudicious considering the fact that the misdeeds of the touts had made many investors flee Anambra State. Moreover, the road levies which they collected never entered the coffers of the state government, then. It was the hope of Soludo that SASA members would work within the ambit of the law to bring back sanity to our roads.

    But the obverse is the case now. The torrents of complaints, which have trailed the activities of SASA are indicative of the fact that SASA is abusing and misusing the enormous power entrusted to it. It is a perfect exemplification of the case of the falcon not able to hear the falconer, anymore.

    On July 1, SASA operatives went haywire in Chief Emeka Anyaoku’s home town of Obosi. Under the pretext of chasing fleeing drug peddlers, they barged into the Obosi town hall. They upturned chairs in the town hall and smashed the glass windows of the building. Cars, which were parked on the premises of the town hall, were not spared their anger as they were damaged, too. One of the operatives of SASA, in a moment of madness, drew his machete and dealt a cut on the hand of an infant.

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    So incensed were the Obosi people that they contemplated a protest to call Soludo’s attention to the mayhem that happened in their town. Thankfully, the Obosi Development Union president general, Chimezie Obi, dissuaded the people. Had they staged the protest, it would have turned violent.

    Expectedly, their outcry elicited response from the appropriate quarters. The state government promised to conduct an investigation into the operatives’ barbarity in Obosi as indeed other places, with a view to overhauling that security outfit and punishing its operatives found guilty of engaging in misdeeds.

    It is high time SASA was reorganized and the bad eggs removed. Just as throwing the bath water away with the baby is not good; disbanding SASA will not bode well for us all given the activities of touts and thugs on our roads and their penchant and knack for committing violent crimes.

    •Chiedu Uche Okoye,

    Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

  • Why ADC can never be like ANC

    Why ADC can never be like ANC

    • By Bishir Dauda Sabuwar

    Sir: I listened to Senator Ahmed Babba Kaita of Katsina North on Radio France International Hausa at the weekend saying that they would enthrone party supremacy in ADC. According to Babba Kaita, their aim was to transform ADC to be like ANC—African National Congress of South Africa.

    This is mere rhetoric. This is because at the beginning, the ANC was not hijacked from anybody. It had a solid foundation, clear-cut ideology, and discipline. It has never been a “special purpose vehicle.” Had it been that the ANC was a product of hijacking; it couldn’t have lasted for 113 years.

    From 1912, the year the ANC was founded, how many years did it take her to end apartheid and wrestle power? Was it in two years? They spent 82 years working tirelessly, including waging gruelling guerrilla warfare. Nelson Mandela had to spend 27 years in prison. Steve Biko was killed. Hundreds of people were murdered. The party was once outlawed. Yet it survived. You don’t build a party on quicksand.

    If the ANC could be established under apartheid and it survived all the intrigues and subterfuges, I don’t see why Ahmad Babba Kaita and coalition leaders couldn’t found their own political party instead of hijacking an existing party. Like what Dr. Umar Ardo said, you can’t liberate Nigeria on the platform of a special purpose vehicle. What happened in Abuja on the day the coalition unveiled their SPV was a scandal. It was laughable when Ralph Nwosu claimed that all the executives of the party had resigned. It showed that the party is not well organized.

    Just one man in Abuja would hand over a political party without following due process!

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    That is why I agree with APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, who described the coalition as “obsessed merchants of vendetta….A coalition of egotistical maniacs for whom power and patronage are the oxygen on which their lives depend.”

    The coalition would have been more convincing if they emulated the former president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, who left ANC and formed his political party called Umkhonto we Sizwe, and he performed spectacularly well in the last general election in South Africa.

    In the UK, the coalition could learn from British politicians like Nigel Farage of the Reform UK Party or Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana or even from Elon Musk in the US, who, instead of resorting to hijacking political parties, opted to establish their own from scratch.

    I don’t think someone can liberate Nigeria through political hijacking and manipulation. There is a world of difference between power grabbing and governance.

    •Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar,

     Unguwa Katsina.

  • The danger of online romance

    The danger of online romance

    • By Bilkisu Ahmed Shekarau

    Sir: We have heard the stories too many times—young women found dead in strange places, their lives cut short by people they once trusted. But the pain feels fresh every time.

    The shock never wears off, especially when the tragedy could have been avoided with a little caution and curiosity. Not long ago, in the heart of Abuja’s Gwarinpa district, a young woman checked into a hotel with a man. Hours later, during a routine inspection, hotel staff found her lifeless body, chained and motionless. The man had vanished without a trace. That woman was later identified as Aladi Offikwu Johnson, popularly known as Tessy, an indigene of Benue State. According to the police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, Tessy had checked in on June 16, , with an unidentified man. He left without her. She never made it out alive.

     The Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, ordered an immediate investigation and advised young women to be more mindful of whom they associate with—especially strangers. He also urged hotels to strengthen their guest verification systems, enforce identity checks, and install more surveillance cameras to deter crime and aid investigation when needed.

    While the details of how Tessy met her killer remain unclear, her story echoes a chilling reality: many of these encounters begin online. A growing number of women are falling victim to dangerous strangers masquerading as love interests or friends.

    Catfishing—pretending to be someone else, often online—has evolved into something deadlier. A person you meet virtually could turn out to be a predator in disguise. 

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    In another reported case earlier this year, a woman narrowly escaped death at the hands of a suspected ritualist. She had met the man online, where he posed as a supposed oil company employee named Michael Prince. He invited her to Delta State, but they eventually agreed to meet in Abuja. During the meeting, he turned violent—threatening her with a dagger, tying her up, and taping her mouth shut before locking her in a bathroom. He fled with her phones, leaving her for dead. Thankfully, she was rescued by the police.

    These stories are not isolated. They reflect a growing crisis—a silent war against women.

    Gender-based violence in Nigeria is escalating, and the numbers are heart-breaking. According to the Femicide Observatory run by Document Our History (DOHS) Care Foundation, 22 women were murdered in the first two months of 2025 alone. That’s a 240 percent increase from the same period last year. And that is only what was reported. A 2013 national health survey found that nearly one in three Nigerian women had experienced physical violence by age 15.

    These are not just statistics. These are daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends—real people who deserved better. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has continued to push for stronger policies on gender-based violence, but change must begin with awareness.

    It must begin with us. Women need not only protection but empowerment. We must teach young girls to investigate before they trust, to listen to their instincts, and to share their movements with trusted loved ones.

    Women are the backbone of our families and communities. They nurture, they lead, they build. They deserve to be seen, heard, and protected—not silenced by fear or buried beneath the weight of unchecked violence.

     Let every woman lost be a reminder. Let every survivor’s voice be heard. And let every budding relationship be approached with wisdom. Because love, real love, should never cost a life.

    •Bilkisu Ahmed Shekarau,

    <bashekarau@gmail.com>

  • More than a seat, Nigerian women deserve power

    More than a seat, Nigerian women deserve power

    • By Lekan Olayiwola

    Sir: Since 1999, barely 43 women senators and 119 House members have held elective seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly. Sometimes triumphant but often solitary, their journeys tell stories of structural exclusion, and individual determination. Over 25 years of democracy in Nigeria, women have held 162 out of 3,283 legislative seats. That means women have occupied fewer than 1 in 20 (or 4.9%) seats in Nigeria’s highest law-making body.

    This is not symbolic absence, but entrenched structural gap and systemic marginalisation of women in Nigeria’s political landscape.

    With women holding less than 5% of seats in the National Assembly, the country ranks among the lowest globally for female political representation. The proposed Reserved Seats Bill, if passed, aims to change that trajectory, even if modestly.

    The Bill offers access to formal political power, reserving 111 extra seats for women in the National Assembly, granting women a legally mandated political presence—a foot in the door. This signals constitutional recognition that gender exclusion is real. Although it could inspire a new generation of female political aspirants, critics regard it as a temporary structural fix because it’s not permanent—it designed to expire after 16 years.

    Critics say it doesn’t address root causes, tackle party gatekeeping, money politics, or political violence which are the real barriers. Without reforms to party primaries, campaign financing, and electoral safety, many qualified women will still be locked out. It neither empowers at scale nor match actual demographic or participatory parity. It may lead to tokenism if not followed by deeper institutional reforms.

     The Bill risks ghettoising women’s representation; by creating “special” women’s seats, it could reinforce the notion that women are politically “other” or only belong in segregated spaces. It doesn’t guarantee leadership influence because having more women in parliament doesn’t translate to women leading parliament, especially in key committees or power blocs.

     But while it may look like a small step, for generations of politically excluded women, this could be a giant leap forward. Around the world, gender quotas have proven to be not only effective, but transformative. They are not about charity. They are about legitimacy.

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    In Rwanda, a constitutional mandate reserves 30% of parliamentary seats for women. The result? Women now hold 61% of the lower house—the highest in the world. This didn’t happen by accident. It happened by design.

    Mexico took a different route. Through a parity law, political parties are required to nominate 50% women for all elected positions. The outcome? Near-equal representation in Congress. Not because women were given power, but because they were finally allowed to compete on equal footing.

    In India, the transformation began at the grassroots. One-third of all seats in local councils are reserved for women. Today, over one million women serve in local governance. That’s not symbolism. That’s infrastructure.

    Senegal passed a law mandating gender parity on party lists. Today, women hold 43% of seats in the National Assembly. And in Tunisia, a “zipper system” requires party lists to

    Let Nigeria be the next example others cite—not for how long we waited, but for how boldly we moved.

    Reserved seats alone party won’t dismantle the barricades of gatekeeping, money politics, and electoral violence. But here’s the opportunity: the bill can be paired with complementary reforms, such as mandatory internal party quotas for primaries, public campaign financing for women candidates and electoral safety protocols, especially in high-risk zones. Reserved seats can be the wedge that opens the door, but the rest of the architecture must follow.

    •Lekan Olayiwola,

    lekanolayiwola@gmail.com

    Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba,

    <shilgba@gmail.com>

  • Awaiting trial inmates

    Awaiting trial inmates

    It’s an old issue that has refused to go away. “Overcrowding, no doubt, stands out as the most pressing challenge of the NCoS,” the Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, noted during an interactive session with field officers on January 13.  He said 48,932 inmates in the country’s correctional facilities were Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs), many of them “on non-bailable offences.”

    He unveiled his plans to tackle the problem, saying, “I intend to interface with the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, the inspector-general of police, and other prosecuting-agencies and critical stakeholders to fast track the trial of these inmates. This is necessary, especially those on non-bailable offences like armed robbery, murder, and others that constitute over 60 percent of awaiting trial persons (ATPs).”

    He added: “While engaging state chief executives to expedite the trial of the over 90 percent state offenders in custody, the use of non-custodial measures and early release mechanisms will be taken up with the judiciary. We will also fast-track the construction of proposed 3,000-capacity ultramodern custodial facilities and other centres across the country.”

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    Notably, Segun Olowookere, who controversially spent 14 years on death row before he was recently pardoned by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, drew attention to prison conditions in the country in an interview published after his release.

    He was sentenced to death and life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and robbery with firearms, and to three years imprisonment for stealing. But the popular narrative that he was given a death sentence for stealing fowls ultimately led to pardon by the governor. 

    He was in Ilesa prison, Osun State, “throughout the trial of the case.” After the judgment, he was moved to Ibara Prison, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He was later moved to Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos, in 2016.

     According to him, “The major challenge was congestion. There were too many people inside a limited space. Because of the population, 50 inmates would occupy a room that should naturally contain a maximum of 10 people. We sleep like fishes packed in a carton because everywhere is measured for us. As an inmate, a space is measured for you to sleep because of congestion.”

    •First published January 29, 2025

  • Frivolous party applications

    Frivolous party applications

    No fewer than 110 applications for party registration were received by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as of 23rd June, the electoral body recently made known. Twelve more were reported to have been received by 2nd July, in the build-up towards the 2027 general election.

    INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu gave assurance that the commission was determined to conduct due diligence on all the applications in assessing their merit, and it would be impartial. “We will treat all requests fairly irrespective of the status of their promoters – be they ordinary or prominent citizens. Nigerians will be fully briefed of the actions taken by the commission every step of the way,” he said.

    Speaking at a consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja, the electoral chief recalled the trend that had characterised Nigerian elections. “For the 2019 general election, there were 91 political parties and 73 presidential candidates. The commission was criticised in some quarters for registering too many political parties. After the election, the commission deregistered over 70 political parties as provided by law,” Yakubu said, adding that as at Monday, 23rd June, the commission had received letters of intent from 110 associations wishing to freshly register as political parties. The commission currently has 18 registered parties on its roll.

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    Agency analysis of the official list of new applications published by INEC showed that two groups submitted multiple requests to the electoral body seeking registration of five associations as political parties. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), one particular group is seeking registration for three political parties, using same individuals for protem chairman and protem secretary, same address and logo but with slightly varied acronyms in the logos. The names of proposed parties are New Green Generation Coalition Party (NGGCP), New Green Congress (NGC) and New Green Coalition Party (NGCP), with the names of Malam Idris Abdulkarim submitted as protem chairman and Crystal Ogu as protem secretary in all three applications. Two other associations seeking registration, namely Zuma Reform (ZR) and Zonal Rescue Movement (ZRM), have Atanda Bamidele as the protem chairman and Udeze Azubuike as protem secretary for both proposed parties.

    It was further observed that many associations did not provide at least one of the required details in their applications like proposed acronyms, logos, names of their protem chairmen, secretaries and addresses. Others have duplicated identities, like the All Democratic Alliance and Advanced Democratic Alliance that filed ADA as their respective acronym.

    The obvious frivolity attending some of the applications betrays a cavalier disposition in the promoters that will become a clog in the electoral process if the associations get registered as political parties. INEC should thus subject the applications to the strictest provisions of the law as well as its regulations and guidelines, lest the country be saddled with a horde of electoral spoilers.

  • Oborevwori: Leveraging education for sustainable development

    Oborevwori: Leveraging education for sustainable development

    By George Etakibuebu

    On July 4, 2025, Delta State Governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, approved the extension of the retirement age for associate professors in state-owned universities from 65 to 70 years, a decision articulated by the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari, as a strategic and compassionate move to strengthen the academic workforce and align with federal policy. The policy which extends a 2012 federal law previously domesticated for Delta State University (DELSU) to all state universities, reflects the Oborevwori administration’s commitment to leveraging education for sustainable development.

    By retaining experienced academics, the state aims to enhance its academic quality, foster mentorship, and drive institutional growth, thus aligning seamlessly with the administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.

    The Honourable Commissioner described the extension as a timely and strategic decision rooted in the need to bolster Delta State’s higher education system. That the policy aligns with a 2012 federal amendment that set the retirement age for academic staff in the professorial cadre at 70, while non-academic staff retire at 65 is highly commendable. For clarity, the policy which had been initially domesticated for only DELSU, Abraka, has now received the approval of Governor Oborevwori to extend to all other state-owned universities, including Southern Delta University (Ozoro), Dennis Osadebay University (Asaba), and University of Delta (Agbor). Prof. Tonukari further explained that retaining the senior academics leverages their experience to mentor younger lecturers, strengthen postgraduate programs, and enhance academic excellence.

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    This move, certainly, will address the evolving needs of Delta’s university system, which has seen significant expansion. The rationale is multifaceted. First, it addresses the shortage of experienced faculty in Delta’s rapidly growing tertiary institutions. With the establishment of new universities and campuses, such as the Southern Delta University campus in Orerokpe, the demand for qualified academics has surged. Therefore, retaining professors ensures a robust academic workforce capable of meeting accreditation requirements and sustaining quality education. 

    Second, it fosters mentorship, allowing seasoned academics to guide younger lecturers in research, teaching, and administrative roles, thereby building a sustainable academic ecosystem. Third, it aligns with an existing federal policy, thus ensuring consistency and positioning Delta as a leader in educational reform.

    An important thing to note is the fact that this decision was not just merely administrative but an essentially compassionate act which recognizes the value of senior academics’ contributions to the state’s development. What is more, this policy also responds to global trends in higher education, where experienced faculty are retained to maintain institutional stability and competitiveness. By keeping professors in service longer, Delta can tap into their expertise to drive research and innovation – a critical components of a knowledge-based economy. As correctly argued by the Honourable Commissioner, the extension must not be viewed from the myopic prism of limiting opportunities for younger academics, no. On the contrary, the state’s expansion of tertiary institutions has created over 600 academic and non-academic jobs since 2023, ensuring ample opportunities for new entrants.

    The question that engages the mind is what are the possible immediate advantages of this policy? The immediate benefits of this policy are significant and directly support the M.O.R.E Agenda’s pillars. Under Meaningful Development, through this policy, the state will experience enhanced academic quality and mentorship. No doubt, retaining professors ensures continuity in high-quality teaching and research. Senior academics bring decades of expertise, which is crucial for developing robust postgraduate programs. As Prof. Tonukari rightly noted, Delta’s universities are witnessing a rise in strong postgraduate programs, largely due to the contributions of experienced faculty. This strengthens institutions like DELSU, which aim to become globally competitive in research and teaching. By mentoring younger lecturers, professors help build a pipeline of skilled academics, ensuring long-term academic excellence. This aligns with the M.O.R.E agenda’s focus on Meaningful Development through education as a catalyst for socio-economic growth.

    In terms of Opportunities for All, the policy will directly ensure institutional growth and accreditation. The expansion of Delta’s tertiary institutions, including new campuses and programs, requires experienced faculty to meet National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation standards. Retaining professors ensures that institutions like Southern Delta University and Dennis Osadebay University can sustain their growth trajectories. And as revealed by the Honourable Commissioner that since 2023 over 600 staff have been employed across Delta’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, this is a reflection of the administration’s commitment to creating opportunities for all. The presence of senior academics, therefore, supports curriculum development and program accreditation, enhancing the state’s reputation as an educational hub.

    Under the Realistic Reforms pillar, the fact that it aligns with a Federal Government Policy makes it a policy that is well thought out and realistic. By extending the retirement age, Delta aligns with federal standards, streamlining its higher education policies. This reform ensures that state universities remain competitive with federal institutions, attracting top talents and fostering collaboration. Tonukari emphasized that this move is a realistic reform, building on the 2012 federal law and adapting it to Delta’s unique needs. It also demonstrates Oborevwori’s commitment to governance that is responsive to both state and national priorities.

    Stability in academic leadership is sure to engender Enhanced Peace and Security which is the last crucial pillar of the M.O.R.E Agenda of the Governor Oborevwori administration.  Experienced professors provide stability in university governance, reducing disruptions caused by faculty shortages. This stability supports a conducive learning environment, which indirectly contributes to peace and security by ensuring that educational institutions function smoothly. The M.O.R.E Agenda prioritizes enhanced peace and security, and a stable academic system supports this by fostering an educated and productively engaged populace.

    There is no gain saying the fact that the policy has long-term benefits as it positions Delta State as a leader in educational and economic development, aligning with the M.O.R.E Agenda’s vision for sustainable growth. By retaining professors, Delta is investing in a sustainable academic ecosystem. Mentorship programs will produce a new generation of academics equipped with advanced research and teaching skills. This is particularly crucial for fields like science, technology, and medicine, where Delta’s universities, such as the Delta State University of Science and Technology, are expanding. The policy ensures that knowledge transfer continues, positioning Delta as a hub for innovation and research.

    Retaining experienced faculty supports the development of skilled graduates who can contribute to Delta’s economy in sectors like agriculture, technology, and healthcare. For instance, the new Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, will benefit from senior academics who can mentor students and drive research. This aligns with Oborevwori’s vision of leveraging education to create jobs and boost the state’s GDP.

    One thing that we not not lose focus of is tha fact that Delta’s universities aim to achieve global repute in research, teaching, and entrepreneurship. Retaining professors ensures that institutions can compete internationally by producing high-impact research and fostering innovation. Tonukari stated this much when he said during his interaction with newsmen that senior academics are key to building postgraduate programs that meet global standards, positioning Delta’s graduates to excel in a competitive global economy. This supports the M.O.R.E Agenda’s focus on realistic reforms that produce long-lasting results. The policy complements Oborevwori’s youth empowerment initiatives, such as the recruitment of 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff and bursary payments to over 60,000 students. By ensuring that experienced professors mentor younger academics, the policy creates a ripple effect, empowering youth through quality education and job opportunities. A robust education system contributes to social cohesion by providing equitable access to opportunities. The policy supports Delta’s multi-ethnic society by ensuring that universities serve all communities, aligning with Oborevwori’s commitment to unity and fairness. This will foster peace and security, a key component of the M.O.R.E Agenda, by reducing disparities and promoting inclusive growth.

    • Etakibuebu, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos.

  • Afe Babalola University: A flourishing empire of note

    Afe Babalola University: A flourishing empire of note

    By Tunde Olofintila

    The Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management, Ojo Cantonment, Lagos, Brigadier-General Jerry IB Manjang, has described the increasingly famous Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, as a successful and flourishing empire.

    Manjang who led a 51-man team of Officers and Students of the College to ABUAD yesterday in continuation of the College’s “environmental research visit to some selected states of the federation” predicated his position on what the university’s Founder & Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has made of the university in quality and functional education, healthcare delivery, human capacity development, employment and food security  within the university’s 15 years of its existence.

    The One-Star General said that with what he saw during the tour of the university,  Babalola has impacted many people in different callings in Nigeria and humanity in general.

    His words: “After touring the serene campus, the ABUAD Enterprise Farms, the  Independent Power Plant, the Industrial Park and the ultra-modern 400-bed Multi- System Hospital which has been endorsed by leading Healthcare Stakeholders as “the most well-equipped Hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa”, we saw the excellent work you have been doing to ensure human capital development and food security”.

    He added: “With the way the students we met on our way related with us, I have seen the good works the university has been doing in the lives of our youths.

    “For me, I have watched you from afar. But today, I am sitting next to you. Your life has imparted many in Nigeria and humanity in general. You are here to receive us personally. I Never expected that. I am highly delighted by your uncommon humility”.

    Commenting on Babalola’s contributions to Human Capital Development, he said: “In the area of Human Capital Development, I saw what you are doing to empower and liberate Nigerian youths. You do not only train them, but you also provide them with accommodation. You also feed them free.

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    “And at the end of their training, you give them starter packs and seed money to start their own Agri-businesses. It is my opinion that whoever benefits from your youth empowerment programme and is not liberated, has a problem”.

    Manjang’s position was corroborated by two of his junior colleagues: Major M. Hamji and Major WE Abanji.

    According to Hamji: “Aare Afe Babalola has taught all of us a big lesson on what we can do to ensure job creation, how to eradicate poverty and optimize security not only in Ekiti State, but also in the country at large.

    According to him, if there is one Afe Babalola in each of the country’s other five geo-political zones, there would be no unemployment or poverty in Nigeria as everyone would be gainfully employed with no time for frivolities or criminalities.

    Abanji, in a voice suggestive that she has already become a student of Afe Babalola’s Youth Empowerment Programme and Agri-business said she is enthusiastically looking forward to starting her own Green Farm in the nearest future.

    Responding, Babalola, who thanked Manjang and his team for visiting his university, wondered why people should be queuing for rice, beans and other palliatives in a country blessed with good arable land and supportive climate for anybody to grow food and feed himself, sell leftovers or give to others.

    He pleaded with those giving out food items and particularly those queuing up to receive them not to turn the country into a country of beggars amid plenty.

    Waxing biblical, the former Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, counselled that Nigerians owe it a duty to God to work so that they could eat, adding that “a person who does not work does not deserve to eat”.

    On the place of quality and functional education in the life of a people, he said: “Education is critically important to all of us. Once one has quality education, he/she is made, and it is bye-bye to tribalism, hunger, unemployment, bigotry and extremism”.

    He commended the Nigerian Army for its well-known discipline which he confirmed he saw first-hand when he was conferred with the Honourary Degree of the elite Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in 2016

    He words: “When I arrived Kaduna, I was surprised to see a “battalion” of fully dressed Military Officers waiting to receive me at the Kaduna Airport.  They ushered us to the Reception Hall of the Airport and they insisted that I and my team must eat before we proceeded to the Academy.  I told them I had had breakfast before leaving home.  But the leader of the team insisted that we must eat because that was the order from his Superior Officer. 

    “As we were going to the NDA, the entire road was lined with fully dressed military men.  When we got to the Main Building of the NDA, we were ushered into the office of the Commandant who, together with other leaders of the Academy, received us very warmly. 

    “During the Convocation and Award ceremony, I was pleasantly surprised that the hall was not only very quiet, but also nobody left his seat throughout the duration of the Convocation ceremony.  To me, that was the peak of orderliness and discipline. 

    “Before the 2016 NDA Convocation, I believed that my university, ABUAD, was the epitome of order, orderliness and discipline.  As a matter of fact, some people used to taunt us that our university is more of a military institution. But with what I saw in Kaduna that day, I gave, and I still give kudos to the military for its discipline. And we are taking after that here in our university”.

    According to him, people are not doing well because they lack discipline, but the Nigerian Army is the master of discipline.

    He hoped that one day, the level of discipline in the Nigerian Army will be embraced by the populace, adding that “the day the level of discipline in the Nigerian Army and ABUAD goes round Nigeria, there will be no problems anymore”.

    In her welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, recalled how the university navigated its way from a modest beginning when Academic works commenced on Monday, January 4, 2010, to a university of global acclaim which was recently ranked on June 18, 2025 by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings as No.84 in the world, No. 3 in Africa and No. 1 in Nigeria for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

    • Olofintila is ABUAD’s Director of Corporate Affairs

  • IDPs: A critical crisis

    IDPs: A critical crisis

    It is alarming that the number of Nigeria’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) keeps increasing. Indeed, with a figure of about 8.18 million IDPs, the country has the largest number in West Africa, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) June 2025 situation report. The agency says the number excludes nomads in transit and unregistered city migrants.

    Nigeria’s close neighbours, for instance, have significantly lower numbers of IDPs. Burkina Faso has 3.58 million, Niger 2.06 million, Mali 931,000, and Cameroon 1.42 million. Although Nigeria is far more populous, it is not just a question of population.

    The country’s displaced population is reported to have increased phenomenally since 2014 following Boko Haram attacks that devastated villages in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Tragically, the terrorist insurgency has continued, compounded by new terror factions operating in those states, banditry in Zamfara and Katsina states, farmer–herder clashes in Benue and Plateau states, and oil-theft-related violence in parts of the Niger Delta, among others.

    The complicated security crisis has resulted in displaced persons finding their way to informal host communities rather than purpose-built camps. This negatively affects aid delivery and leaves many outside formal structures.  

    Read Also: Delta community leader warns against sponsored protests against Tantita

    The drivers of the displacements are similar in the sub-region, including jihadist offensives in Burkina Faso’s northern provinces, Islamic State expansion along Niger’s Tillabéri corridor, and livestock conflicts in Mali’s Mopti region. However, Nigeria’s number of IDPs has risen faster than any of its neighbours. The report attributes this partly to the country’s population. But there is more to the problem.

     It is noteworthy that National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu described the security situation inherited by the President Bola Tinubu administration in 2023 as a “sobering reality,” while speaking at the 50th anniversary dinner of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18th Regular Course in Abuja, on July 4. He said: It was threatening the very cohesion, stability, and integrity of our Nigerian state. We inherited five intractable security challenges that had brought our nation to the brink.”

     He listed the five major security threats as the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, separatist agitations in the South-East, economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, and communal conflicts in states like Benue and Plateau.

    However, Ribadu’s description of the inherited insecurity’s scale cannot be used as an excuse in the fight against insecurity. There is no question that continuing insecurity fuels the IDP problem and is responsible for the increasing number of IDPs in the country.