The Nation Newspaper

Category: Discourse

  • Adenuga: Chronicles of African entrepreneurial giant at 72

    Adenuga: Chronicles of African entrepreneurial giant at 72

    By Dan Aibangbe

    Mike Adenuga, fondly called the Bull,” is a no-nonsense legendary entrepreneur and prominent African figure. Known for his unwavering dedication to hard work and excellence, he embodies a remarkable combination of discipline, visionary leadership, and entrepreneurship.

    Adenuga’s standout personal traits include meticulousness, determination, audacity, focus, competence, and dexterity. These qualities, undoubtedly, drive his impressive achievements in various industries, including telecommunications, oil, and banking.

    It is pertinent to point out here that the recent features in some renowned publications such as the Forbes have barely managed to scratch the surface of the empire built by this man, who has successfully established a diverse business portfolio encompassing telecommunications, oil (through Conoil Producing), banking, and real estate. His versatility and strategic insight are hallmarks of his success.

    Adenuga’s leadership style is characterised by a hands-on approach, a keen eye for talent and a readiness to take calculated risks. Unlike many business magnates, he avoids the limelight, allowing his accomplishments to speak for themselves.

    His ability to inspire loyalty among employees and stakeholders reflects a unique blend of authority and empathy, making him a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs. Those who know him describe him as a man who listens attentively, values loyalty, and treats everyone with respect, regardless of status.

    Often referred to as the “Spirit of Africa,” Adenuga leads a life of solitude, choosing to remain reclusive. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he refrains from engaging in political manoeuvrings for business gains or favours.

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    Adenuga firmly believes that nothing is impossible, a conviction that led him to single-handedly bring the Glo 1 international submarine cable from London to Nigeria, traversing 14 African countries.

    He is known for generously rewarding hard work and excellence while having zero tolerance for laziness. This is true despite the orumours suggesting he hires and fires employees at will. At Glo’s 20th anniversary in 2023, for instance, over 750 out of more than 4,000 staff members had been with the company for 20 years.

    Adenuga’s influence extends beyond business. He has consistently advocated for policies that encourage indigenous participation in Nigeria’s economy, challenging the dominance of multinational corporations. His commitment to creating jobs and empowering local talent has earned him respect as a patriot whose vision aligns with Nigeria’s aspirations for self-reliance.

    His impact reaches far beyond Nigeria, earning him international recognition and fostering connections that enhance the country’s global profile. In 2018, France awarded him the prestigious Commander of the Legion of Honour, acknowledging his contributions to cultural and economic ties between Nigeria and France.

    The Allianz Francais Centre in Lagos, established with his support, stands as a testament to his dedication to fostering cross-cultural dialogue. This state-of-the-art facility is one of the largest of its kind in Africa, promoting the French language and culture while serving as a hub for artistic expression.

    Adenuga’s commitment to the arts spans music, film, and literature. Globacom’s sponsorship of cultural festivals, such as the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode, underscores his dedication to preserving Nigeria’s heritage. The company supports the entertainment industry through endorsements of its stars and celebrities as well as concerts, thereby constituting the single most beneficial platform for the youths to express their creativity beyond Nigeria.

    His light continues to shine, illuminating paths for others to follow in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large. His investments in cultural institutions, such as the Allianz Francais Centre, have created spaces where creativity flourishes, nurturing a new generation of Nigerian artists.

    Family is central to Adenuga’s life. Married to Titi Adenuga, a woman of grace and strength, he is a devoted husband and father to his children, including Bella Adenuga-Disu, who is following in his footsteps as a business leader.

    The Adenuga family is known for its tight-knit bonds, with Otunba prioritising quality time with his loved ones despite his demanding schedule. His ability to balance professional success with personal fulfilment reflects his grounded nature and deep-rooted values.

    Adenuga’s philanthropy may be his most enduring legacy. Through the Mike Adenuga Foundation, he has quietly transformed countless lives, focusing on education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment. The foundation provides scholarships to indigent students, enabling them to pursue higher education and break the cycle of poverty. Its healthcare initiatives, including donations to hospitals and support for medical research, have all improved access to quality care for thousands.

    Adenuga’s philanthropic efforts are characterised by discretion. He avoids publicising his charitable acts, preferring to let their impact speak for itself.

    Notable charitable activities of the Adenuga foundation include donating about $3.2 million to assist flood victims in Bayelsa State. It also supports vulnerable communities through food distributions. Additionally, it contributed N1.5 billion to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

    Through strategic partnerships, the foundation creates sustainable social and economic development across multiple sectors in Nigeria and other African countries.

    Mike Adenuga is prominent in Nigerian business and society. His exceptional leadership qualities, extensive international connections, contributions to art and culture, humility, family values, and philanthropic efforts have made him a beloved personality among Nigerians and the global community.

    As we celebrate his birthday, we also honour his lasting legacies and the significant impact he continues to have on our nation and beyond.

    •Dan Aibangbe is a Media and Public Relations Consultant

  • 72 Hearty Cheers to Mike Adenuga jr

    72 Hearty Cheers to Mike Adenuga jr

    By Abayomi Agbetola

    A billionaire businessman whose investments cut across different sectors of the economy, Adenuga is known for always considering Nigeria first in his investment moves such that his MA Group can be termed Nigeria-centric, ensuring that Nigerians are the greatest beneficiaries of his multibillion investments.

    His support for the nation cut across different sectors of the economy. He is noted for:

    Wealth creation,

    Sports sponsorship,

    Employment,

    Massive philanthropy,

    Empowerment,

    Nation’s economic supports,

    No 1 in Ambassadorial supports

    Art and cultural supports and sponsorship

    Dr. Michael Adenuga, the God sent Chairman of Globacom Telecommunication has quietly been at the centre of massive support for Nigeria and Nigerians over the years.

    Very clairvoyant and tenacious, The guru operates codedly  in his business moves and his other investments in different parts of the world, yielding millions of dollars that are only known to few. No wonder people believe he is worth more than it’s being quoted.

    Apart from his family business which he helped to structure when he returned from United States, after his education, his businesses have been gigantic and big including banks: Equitorial Trust and Devcom which he founded at mid thirties, and the Oil and Gas audacious move which led to the rise of Consolidated oil, the first indigenous Nigeria Oil company to discover crude oil in commercial quantity.

    His other bold moves include acquisition of National Oil marketing company which is today Conoil Marketing and the Telecoms move which gave birth to Nigeria’s Telecommunication giant, Globacom.

     Adenuga loves to operate unnoticed, moving like a submarine and conquering territories after territories silently and taking over in style.

    Like a Volcano, Globacom entered the telecoms sector in Nigeria erupting the larva of ‘per second billing’ that other networks, which started operations about two years before it had claimed, was impossible. Glo under Adenuga came in powerfully and offered Nigerians the package with millions of Nigerians joining the network immediately to Glo with Pride.

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    Prior to the arrival of Globacom , GSM SIMs were selling for between N20,000 and N25,000. Glo brought this down to N6,999 and later to N100. Globacom also ensured that N50 per minute for calls were stopped. It crashed the tariff to as low as 1kobo per second.

    Glo became the first telecom company to single handedly build an international submarine cable, Glo-1, connecting thousands of kilometers of national fibres to all parts of Nigeria and neighboring landlocked countries across Africa to the world.

    The Globacom-1 (Glo-1) submarine cable system is a 9800km submarine cable connecting Bude in the UK to Lagos in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa. It has landing points in Nigeria, London, Lisbon in Portugal, Accra in Ghana, etc. It consists of 2 fibre pairs, with an initial design capacity of 320 (32*STM-64), and upgraded to 2.5Tbps.

    Landing in Lagos in Nigeria in September 2009, the whole project completed in July 2010. Globacom activated the Glo-1 cable system for service in October 2010 and since then has been providing bandwidth across the country and beyond.

    The Glo 1 submarine cable recently proved to be a strong force when it remained the only cable working when massive internet outages were reported in Nigeria and in some parts of Africa, following damage to international undersea cables supplying the country with connectivity.

    The damage affected major undersea cables near Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and has led to internet downtime across West and South African countries and Telecommunications companies and a number of banks in Nigeria which relied on the affected cables for internet services were affected by the outage which lasted for many days.

    It was only Glo 1, owned by Globacom, that  was not affected by the damage as Data users, internet service providers and financial institutions which run on Glo 1 have continued to operate normally all through the period.

    Adenuga has also been honoured across the world for these outstanding accomplishments including many  national and global awards,  as well as  the highest individual honour for a private citizen in Nigeria, GCON, and many others of high note like “The Companion of the Star of Ghana’’ from Ghana and “Commander of the Legion of Honour’’ by French President, Emmanuel Macron.

    His philanthropy is legendary. He is the biggest promoter of football in Nigeria.  At a time he gave Super Eagles whooping 1 million dollars after winning the African Cup of Nations in South Africa. This is in addition to the Premier League, national teams, the Supporters Club, Glo CAF Awards and Glo Soccer Academy’s sponsorships.

    Not forgetting art and culture. Top festivals in Nigeria including Ojude Oba, Lisabi, and Ofala festivals are still being sponsored by Globacom.

    Another milestone recorded by Dr. Adenuga was in 2022 when he quietly signed  a business contract in Paris between Globacom, and Eutelsat, the French Satellite conglomerate. Many communities across the country without access to internet links will benefit immensely from VSAT/Satellite-based internet service and Satellite-based community Wifi internet service, courtesy of Globacom.

    I salute the quiet billionaire and philanthropist par excellence. Happy Birthday, Sir. Many years ahead in good health and more investments in Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians, like you have always been doing.

    God bless Mr. Chairman

    •Agbetola is a Business Consultant.

  • Sani: Expanding access to education, redefining governance in Kaduna

    Sani: Expanding access to education, redefining governance in Kaduna

    By Adebambo Oluwaseun

    In an era where access to quality education remains one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State is setting a new standard by placing education, youth empowerment, and infrastructure at the forefront of his administration. In a significant milestone for his government, the Governor announced a 50% reduction in tuition fees across Kaduna State-owned tertiary institutions, a bold move that has begun to remove the socio-economic barriers hindering access to higher education for thousands of young people.

    The Governor’s commitment to inclusive governance and human capital development was reiterated during the inauguration of the Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter of the Kaduna State Students Union, where he was honoured with the Sword of Honour Award. Represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Professor Bello Ayuba, the Governor used the platform to reflect on the strides made by his administration, outline future goals, and reaffirm his allegiance to the welfare of Kaduna’s youth.

    Indeed, the decision to slash tuition fees is a philosophical statement about equity and opportunity. “We have removed one of the major barriers to acquiring tertiary education,” the Governor stated. This strategic policy shift has opened the doors of learning to students from less privileged backgrounds, allowing them to pursue university degrees without the crippling burden of unaffordable fees.

    The impact is already being felt. The student body acknowledged the effort as a turning point in the lives of many young Kaduna residents. Their decision to confer the Sword of Honour Award on the Governor reflects the deep appreciation and support his administration enjoys among the academic community.

    The Governor further showed magnanimity towards indigent students. He directed students to be allowed to sit for examinations regardless of outstanding tuition balances. This speaks volumes about his empathetic leadership.

    Governor Uba Sani’s administration is not only focused on access but also on capacity-building. Under his leadership, new faculties have been established at KASU, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Intervention Project for the Faculty of Engineering has been facilitated, demonstrating a strategic focus on technical and vocational education that aligns with global shifts towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

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    According to the KASU Students’ Union, these initiatives reflect the Governor’s visionary leadership and long-term planning for youth development. They called his approach “a testament to your vision for building a brighter future for the youth,” acknowledging his efforts to modernize the learning environment and equip students for a competitive future.

    Beyond education, Governor Uba Sani is working to restore peace and economic stability in communities once paralyzed by insecurity. “Kaduna State was under siege,” he recalled, “but today, our combined efforts with security agencies have drastically reduced these threats.”

    These improvements have sparked renewed confidence among the people. Farmers are returning to their lands, highways are safer, and local markets once abandoned due to banditry—such as the Birnin Gwari cattle market and those in Giwa LGA—have reopened after over a decade of closure.

    In the past 22 months, Governor Uba Sani has embarked on an ambitious infrastructural renewal program, with over 78 road projects spanning 775 kilometers across the state. Many of these roads link rural communities to urban centers, improving trade, mobility, and access to essential services. These roads  are lifelines of development, lifting isolated communities out of poverty and spurring grassroots economic activity.

    Additionally, the administration has initiated the remodeling of General Hospitals and the upgrade of 255 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to ensure quality healthcare delivery across the state. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to decentralize access to critical services and reduce pressure on urban health facilities.

    In education, more schools are being built, and existing ones refurbished to provide students and teachers with a conducive learning atmosphere. Governor Sani understands that quality education must be supported by quality infrastructure, and he is taking deliberate steps to ensure both.

    The Governor’s message to students at KASU carried a powerful undercurrent of unity and civic responsibility. He cautioned against allowing “agents of disunity and chaos” to manipulate students into actions that could derail their future and compromise the peace of the state. “No meaningful development can be achieved in a state of chaos, disunity and mutual mistrust,” he warned.

    He also acknowledged the students’ commendable conduct and emphasized their role as “reliable partners of progress.” The mutual respect between the state government and the student community is helping to build a culture of participatory governance, where young people feel seen, heard, and valued.

    What sets Governor Uba Sani apart is not just what he does, but how he does it. His leadership is grounded in transparency and empathy. He is redefining governance by aligning policy with the actual needs of the people, like slashing tuition fees, opening rural roads, or revitalizing public hospitals.

    For the students of KASU and the youth of Kaduna, Governor Sani is not just a politician; he is a leader with a plan and a partner in their aspirations. By placing education and youth development at the core of his agenda, he is planting seeds that will yield dividends for generations to come.

    Governor Uba Sani’s approach to leadership is a case study in responsive, people-centered governance. His achievements across education, security, infrastructure, and youth engagement are proof that with political will, visionary leadership, and the right policies, even the most entrenched challenges can be overcome.

    Kaduna is changing—and at the heart of that change is a leader who understands that the true strength of a state lies not just in its institutions, but in the empowerment of its people.

    •Oluwaseun writes from Abuja

  • NOA urges Nigerians to prioritise liver health

    NOA urges Nigerians to prioritise liver health

    To  improve public health through education, the National Orientation Agency has urged Nigerians to live healthier lifestyles as a way of protecting their liver.

    The call was made on the agency’s social media handles as part of the celebration of the World Liver Day.

     In a detailed advisory shared by the agency, it advised Nigerians against lifestyle choices that may jeopardise the health of their liver.

     This, said the agency, include excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle and use of medications not prescribed by qualified medical personnel.

    It urged Nigerians to engage in physical activities, consumption of diets rich in fruits and vegetables, regular hydration through generous water consumption of water and undergoing regular medical examination to be sure of their liver’s  function status.

    The agency noted the liver’s important role in aiding digestion, detoxification and overall well-being of the human body.

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    “The liver filters toxins, supports digestion and plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health,” the agency stated.

    Over the last two years, the NOA has undertaken a series of health-focused initiatives, using education, community engagement and strategic partnership.

     Through its Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs), it has carried out health advocacy through engagement with various groups, including traders, transport workers, farmers, women, youths, civil society and faith-inclined organisations.

     These have been backed by integrated infectious diseases prevention campaigns targeting Lassa fever, cholera, and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM).

     These campaigns have been backed by partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to disseminate accurate information and resources.

  • Adenuga, the gift that’s too blessed to stop giving

    Adenuga, the gift that’s too blessed to stop giving

    By Comfort Olorunfemi

    Just a few weeks ago, I was in Lagos to handle some briefs and happened to have witnessed staff of Globacom and their partners on Arise TV distributing packs of food items and other household materials to thousands of women in Ilaje community around Bariga in Lagos. A week after that, I also saw online the video and pictures of the same crop of people at Ikate around Ajah doing exactly the same thing.

    They were doing what the owner of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga, loves to do, which is to wipe away tears in his own little way and replace the tears with joy. His Glo Foundation is spreading joy to the most vulnerable people. The choice of these two communities, I later learnt, was informed by the prevalence of lack among the residents.

    Dr Adenuga is one of the few men who are deeply troubled when people lack. And it is a great thing that what he has been doing underground for quite some time now is being formally coalesced into the work of a Foundation where more people can benefit and the world can see it.

    Indeed, giving is clearly ingrained in every cell of his being and that cannot be disputed about the man who turns 72 years on April 29th. Giving is one of the secrets of rich men as they literally touch the heart of their Creator when the remember others, especially the less privileged and assist them.

    Since the establishment of Globacom, the company has been touching the lives of everyone associated with it. Setting out on per second billing was in itself, a sure fire way of touching people. Dr Adenuga literally liberated Nigerians from oppression. The story is known too well by many Nigerians and they are not likely to forget in a hurry what he did when he had the option of joining to exploit his people. He also ensured Nigerians who could not afford to pay N20,000 for a SIM card got the opportunity with a crashed price of Glo SIMs.

    Over the past several years, I have watched how Dr Mike Adenuga has touched the lives of thousands of customers of his telecommunications company, Globacom, with mouth-watering gifts and promotions that delivered value to people who never expected it. Houses and choice cars have been won by subscribers of Adenuga’s Globacom almost every year.

    Giving seems to be in Dr. Adenuga’s DNA, and it has only grown in importance since Globacom was founded. If I had to count, I could probably think of more than 20 of Globacom’s massive subscriber appreciation programs since the company first opened for business twenty-two years ago.

    The company has offered a number of subscriber-reward programs, including Text4Millions, 180 Cars in 180 Days, Made for Life, Recharge to Stardom, 500 Cars promo, Glo-CAF Award promo, Everyday Bonanza, Joy Unlimited Extravaganza, and others, in no particular order.

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    All of these programs shared the goal of elevating subscribers’ status through these promotions, including well finished apartments in choice cities across Nigeria. Some of the winners of various brands of vehicles had even seen the cars they won delivered to their local communities where they reside or work.

    The common thread among these programmes was the desire to change the status of subscribers through such promos. Some of them have had vehicles they won presented to them in their local environment.

    Lives have been transformed and statuses have been enhanced through Dr Adenuga’s passion to always give back. It goes beyond merely wanting to reward customers.

    However, Dr. Adenuga has donated residences in addition to cars! On television, I have seen a number of Glo promo prize winners regale the public with stories about how Globacom saved their bacon when complete shame was staring them in the face. A young man, if I remember correctly, won a 3-bedroom apartment in a Glo promo a few years back. When they were given the house keys, he and his mother couldn’t hold back the tears and they started crying. The young man had actually been conned the previous year. The apartment from Adenuga’s Globacom provided much-needed respite from his suffering.

    I also read the story of another winner of a house in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was on the verge of being evicted from a rented apartment after his landlord threatened to use fire and brimstone to chase him. Then, within days of his travail, Glo turned his life around and he became a landlord.

    Such is the power of a man many have come to see as an angel who intervenes when you are in a “quarter to disgrace” situation. And we all find ourselves in it now and then.

    There are numerous cases of his generosity that can fill several chapters, many of which were just like divine interventions in the life of others.

    Dr Adenuga goes beyond the realm of giving to individuals. He also extends a hand of support for causes that will last several generations. He has also been investing in promoting cultural exchanges, as he has done with single handedly building and donating a befitting structure that house the French cultural office, Alliance Française in Lagos. For his invaluable contribution in promoting Franco-Nigerian cultural, educational and business relationship, the French President, Emmanuel Macron decorated him with the French highest national honour, the Commander of the Legion of Honour.

    He also has been honoured at home and elsewhere with the highest civilian honour. He was decorated with the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, (GCON), Companion of the Star of Ghana, among others.

    Indeed, Dr Adenuga remains a gift to Nigeria and beyond. His proclivity to giving must be a trade secret to his business success and great health. He has wiped the tears off the faces of people who had once lost hope. At 72, he is still not tired of making more and more people happy through his exemplary passion for giving.

    May he continue to enjoy good health so he can continue his God-given assignments to humanity.

    Happy birthday to a titan who enjoys bringing joy to illuminate the lives of others.

    • Olorunfemi wrote from Akure, Ondo State

  • NNPCL: Ojulari’s ambitious five-year $60bn investment agenda

    NNPCL: Ojulari’s ambitious five-year $60bn investment agenda

    By Julius Omogbehin

    On Thursday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) unveiled an ambitious five-year growth and development agenda that will see it attracting $30 billion investments by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.   Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Bayo Ojulari, who assumed leadership of the NNPCL just two weeks ago on April 4, disclosed this and more to members of staff during a town hall meeting held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja. What happened that day can be described in other words as the unveiling of the agenda of the new sheriff at the NNPCL and the direction which he wants the national oil company to go in terms of focus, vision and developmental plans under his watch.

    If the 48 year old national oil company, founded on April 1, 1977 has been crawling all these years, it has now announced its readiness not just to start walking but get into running mode, preparatory to flying.

    In a detailed press statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye and made available to newsmen, Ojulari, the new set man at NNPCL was as clear and emphatic as he could possibly be when he declared that the NNPC Ltd under his stewardship aims to attract sectorial investments worth $30 billion by 2027 which it will ultimately scale up to $60 billion by 2030; raise crude oil production to over two million barrels per day which it hopes to sustain through 2027 and attain three million by 2030; expand refining output to 200kbpd by 2027, and 500kbpd by 2030; grow gas production to 10bcf per day by 2027, and 12bcf by 2030 and deepen energy access and affordability for all Nigerians. This is certainly sweet music to the ears.

    To avoid sounding as if he would simply wave some magic wands to achieve these lofty targets, Ojulari spelt out what must be done to arrive at the Promised Land. According to him, the company will be focusing on reconfiguring its business structure for agility and value creation; conducting independent value assessments to inform data-driven decisions; enforcing a robust performance management framework; building transparent, value-aligned partnerships with all stakeholders and most critically, taking control of its narrative.

    The GCEO was meticulous in explaining the imperativeness of pursuing the company’s bold and ambitious agenda. Ojulari declared that the targets are not just metrics, but indicators of hope, jobs, industrial growth, and energy security for millions of Nigerians.

    Describing NNPC Ltd as a renewed, forward-facing, and future-ready  organisation that is proudly leading Nigeria’s energy transformation, Ojulari declared that “it’s time we tell our story—one of innovation, reform, and national pride.”

    In what sounds like a new dawn at the NNPCL, Ojulari challenged the staff to be proud of NNPC Ltd’s recent transformation, stressing that the next journey to becoming a fully-fledged limited liability company will require a collective drive towards making NNPC more transparent, profitable and accountable.

    Ojulari then made a solemn pledge to give all employees the space to thrive and be able to outperform competitors in the oil industry, at least in Nigeria. “We will provide the best combination where the experienced and the young will both thrive towards achieving our set targets,” he assured.

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    He also did not overlook the work environment as he promised that his management will deepen collaboration with the company’s in-house and national unions to build a stronger, trust-based relationship that reflects shared purpose and mutual respect. He also called on all staff to lead with integrity, act with urgency, while bringing their very best to the table.

    “We recognize that our greatest asset is our people. Our success will be powered by empowered employees. As such, we are fully committed to creating a workplace where everyone is valued, motivated, and inspired to thrive. Together, we will build a high-performing, globally competitive NNPC Ltd that is proudly Nigerian and proudly world-class,” Ojulari stated.

    He vowed to pursue the company’s bold ambition and build an NNPC that will be the pride of all Nigerians.

    “We stand at the gateway of a new era—one that demands courage, professionalism, and a relentless drive for excellence. The task before us is great, yet the opportunity to redefine Nigeria’s energy future is even greater. Now is the time to turn our transformation promise into performance,” Ojulari submitted.

    Considering the pre-eminent position the NNPCL occupies in driving of the Nigerian economy, it would not be out of place to say that the appointment of Ojulari as the new GCEO of the national oil coy happened at the right time and marks a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. With a bold plan to attract $60 billion in investments over the next five years, Ojulari’s leadership is poised to significantly impact the nation’s economy, particularly in the context of President Bola Tinubu’s ambitious vision of transforming Nigeria into a trillion dollar economy. Ojulari’s multifaceted agenda which includes increasing oil production to 3 million barrels per day (bpd), increasing NNPCL’s crude refining capacity, enhancing gas production, and fostering a culture of accountability and transparency within the organization are all steps that should yield the desired result if pursued with the same vigour and passion with which they were reeled out, and there is no doubt that he would want to leave his foot print in the sands of time at the NNPCL.

    Ojulari’s planned strategy of ramping up oil production is to ensure that the NNPCL is able to not only meet domestic energy needs but also position Nigeria as a key player in the global oil market. This increase in production is essential for generating the revenue required to fund national development projects and social programs. Furthermore, it will create jobs and stimulate economic activities across various sectors, from transportation to manufacturing, thereby contributing to the overall growth of the economy.

    In addition by prioritizing gas production, he aims to leverage the country’s vast reserves to meet both domestic and international demand. This focus on gas not only aligns with global energy transition trends but also provides an opportunity for Nigeria to continue to upscale its diversification of her energy portfolio. Increased gas production can lead to the establishment of gas-based industries, which can further drive economic growth and create employment opportunities.

    An important point to note in Ojulari’s leadership philosophy is the emphasis on accountability and transparency. By fostering a culture of openness within NNPCL, he aims to rebuild trust with stakeholders, including investors, government agencies, and the public. This commitment to transparency is crucial for attracting the $60 billion in investments needed to realize his ambitious plans. Investors are more likely to commit capital to an organization that demonstrates integrity and a clear commitment to ethical practices. Moreover, accountability within the organization can lead to improved operational efficiency, reducing waste and enhancing profitability.

    Staff motivation and welfare are also central to Ojulari’s agenda. Recognizing that a motivated workforce is essential for achieving organizational goals, he has vowed to implement initiatives that prioritize employee well-being and professional development. By investing in training and creating a conducive work environment, Ojulari aims to empower NNPCL employees to perform at their best. This focus on human capital development will not only enhance productivity but also foster loyalty and reduce human capital quick turnover, ultimately benefiting the organization and the economy at large.

    Another critical aspect of Ojulari’s agenda is the plan to foster collaboration and dialogue with labor representatives. This approach certainly will engender a more harmonious and peaceful working environment, reducing the likelihood of industrial disputes that could disrupt operations and hinder progress.

    What Nigerians are about to witness in Ojulari’s leadership at NNPCL promises to be a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to the challenges facing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. His plans to attract significant investment, increase production, and foster a culture of accountability and employee welfare are certainly essential if as a major player in the nation’s economy, President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a trillion dollar economy within a decade is to be realised. If he can effectively execute this vision, Ojulari certainly will not only transform NNPCL but also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

    • Omogbehin, an Energy Consultant, writes from Abuja, the FCT.

  • Kaduna leads Nigeria’s agric revolution with SAPZ launch

    Kaduna leads Nigeria’s agric revolution with SAPZ launch

    • By Abel Musa

    It was a bustling affair on Wednesday as the Vice President, Kashm Shettima, laid the foundation for the construction of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna. And with that move,, Kaduna made history as the first Nigerian state to launch SAPZ.

    Indeed, when it comes to agri-business, Kaduna is damn serious and this is testament of Governor Uba Sani’s commitment.

    “You didn’t just put your money where your mouth is – you put your money where your mind and your body are,” Adesina said, referring to Sani’s input to developing agriculture in the state, particularly his input to SAPZ, an initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in conjunction with the federal government as well as other state governments.

    “Kaduna’s leadership on this project reflects not just a vision for food security, but a roadmap for economic prosperity and inclusive development. You are the first state to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. This is a great day for us all. We’re proud to partner with a government that listens, that leads with compassion, and that is open to all.”

    Backed with an investment of $538 million in SAPZ from AfDB, this initiative is set to be a game-changer in Nigeria’s agricultural revolution. In its first phase, the initiative aims to add value to the agri-sector in eight locations – Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory. It would connect  2,300 hectares of irrigated land and farms to market access roads. In Kaduna, SAPZ is focusing on tomato, maize, and ginger, three crops which the state has a comparative advantage in its production.

    According to AfDB, the huge investment in SAPZ is to address Nigeria’s $4.9 billion annual food security challenge and transform the country to global agribusiness leader. And in this light, it’s great that the bank is partnering with Kaduna. Adesina said this alignment would see the bank supporting Kaduna State in expanding school feeding programs and integrating them with the new processing zones. He also pledged additional support for primary health care improvements, health insurance, and infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and digitalization. It should however, be noted that this scheme is not peculiar to Nigeria but rather it is Africa-wide.

    “The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone is about developing new economic zones across Africa, close to where farmers are,” Adesina had explained elsewhere, stating that AfDB is investing over $3 billion in more than 11 countries. However, pertaining to Nigeria, an earlier statement by AfDB indicated the aim of SPAZ.

    “The initiative is being launched at a critical time as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy and combat rising food insecurity,” the statement read. “Kaduna and Cross River States will lead this agricultural transformation, marking a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s approach to agribusiness and food security. With an unprecedented investment of $538 million, SAPZ Phase 1 marks the African Development Bank’s largest programme in any African country to date, underscoring the scale and significance of this undertaking. The SAPZ initiative embodies President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening food security, generating sustainable employment opportunities, and revitalizing peri-urban economies through innovative public-private partnerships.”

    In his remarks, Sani said that the launch of the SAPZ is very dear to Kaduna State. He also lauded Dr. Adesina’s intervention in transforming agriculture across the continent and described him as “a blessing to Nigeria, Africa, and humanity.” He reiterated how Akinwunmi’s tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture benefited more than 15 million smallholder farmers across the country through his E-wallet initiative. According to Akinwunmi, the initiative would transform and address the challenges of financial exclusion faced by smallholder farmers.

    “It could have also addressed the problem of insecurity we are facing in Northern Nigeria,” Sani said, referring to the SAPZ.

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    “In Kaduna, agriculture contributes about 42 percent of our GDP and accounts for about 60 percent of employment in the state. This is why we believe insecurity has hindered much of the development we could have achieved through agriculture. Because we believe it is one of the most important sectors to invest in, part of what we did was to increase the agricultural budget from N1.4 billion, which we inherited in 2023, to N74 billion in the current budget. By doing that, we became the first sub-national government to achieve the 10 percent target of the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which set the goal of allocating 10 percent of the budget to agriculture.”

    In terms of developing the agriculture sector in the state, the Sani-administration deserves its flowers. Among the states, Kaduna leads in the cultivation of ginger. It produces bountiful amounts of crops like rice, maize, millet, soybean, groundnut and tomatoes. It would also surprise some people that Kaduna produces grapes, especially around Kudan Local Government Area which is responsible for 85% of the total grape production in the country.  And since assuming office, the Sani administration has also partnered with the private sector. It inked a $120m deal with StarAgri West Africa Limited to modernise state-owned warehouses and silos and deploy an electronic warehousing system in five years. The state also partnered with Sunagrow International Oil Ltd to build a $50 million soya bean oil refining plant in Kutungare, Igabi Local Government Area, capable of producing 500,000 litres per day.

    The Kaduna State government has also intensified on building rural roads to connect farmers from their farms to the markets. Also, with the Kaduna Model, which incorporates security agencies with the various stakeholders in the communities, insecurity is being eradicated across the state. In places like Birnin-Gwari, which used to be a stronghold of criminality, normalcy has been restored, with farmers returning to their farms and markets re-opened. Then, it is interesting to note that the administration audaciously increased its budget for agriculture from N1.4b in 2023 to N74b in 2025.

    In the first phase, the SAPZ is targeting eight states. And already, AfDB secured a $2.2 billion commitment for the Nigerian Phase 2 SAPZ at the recent Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco. While the second phase of SAPZ will bring onboard the other 28 states later, it is pertinent to remind the other state governors that they can preempt whatever AfDB intends to do. Take the case of Kaduna for instance. The present enviable position of Kaduna in terms of agriculture was revitalised by the current administration. All over Nigeria is arable land and other state governors can copy the little ‘agricultural’ steps of Sani as a blueprint for success.

    In less than two years as governor, Sani’s sterling performance across different sectors has earned him praise and accolades from diverse persons. And with the setting up of the SAPZ in Kaduna, there would be increased value-added to these agro-products which hitherto were solely disposed of in their raw forms. This move has started earning the governor laurels. Hear how the visionary AfDB president lauded Sani with endearing words, describing him as “a model leader – he’s a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer.” The governor has definitely worked hard to earn the praises.

  • Afe Babalola: Time is the greatest enemy of man

    Afe Babalola: Time is the greatest enemy of man

    • By Tunde Olofintila

    History teaches us that that there were Philosopher-Kings in Ancient Greece. Coming nearer home, here in Nigeria, there are Justice-Kings in the mould of the His Royal Majesty, the 85-year-old Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who bowed out as the Presiding Justice of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal to ascend the throne of his forefathers on August 18, 1995. Mention must also be made of His Royal Majesty, the Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammed I, who also bowed out of the Supreme Court to ascend the throne of his forefathers on December 5, 2019.

    Because that ends there, there must be the beginning of a new chapter. And so, if there are Philosopher-kings and Justice-kings, there must be Philosopher-lawyers in the mould of the Founder & Chancellor of the increasingly famous Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, the many-sided Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, LL. D (London) and Fellow, King’s College, London, among several other feathers on his well-adorned cap of national and international honours.

    Perhaps because of his country-side upbringing in Alayegbe in Ado-Ekiti, South-West Nigeria, Babalola, who has since carved out a niche for himself in personal discipline, industry, character, provision of quality and functional education, farming, provision of quality healthcare, philanthropy and community development among others, is well-known respecter of time.  

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    Because of this, he often feeds his audience with the following time-tested sayings about time and the need to use one’s time judiciously and optimally:

    •“A man’s life ticks away with the hand of the clock every second, yet not many people appreciate that every minute that is gone is irretrievable.”

    •“Time is life; Life is time; Time is the greatest enemy of man; Time does not wait for anyone; Lost time is irretrievable; Use most of your time gainfully; Devil finds work for idle hand;”

    •“It is not an offence under our laws for one to bury his talent through sheer inaction. But it is a sin to bury one’s talent through indolence.”

    Babalola’s penchant for time, timing and timeliness came to the fore again yesterday when Mr. Kayode Omotayo Fasae, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, led a seven-man delegation on a guided tour of ABUAD’s serene campus, its aesthetic structures, its Enterprise Farms, its Independent Power Plant, IPP, its bourgeoning 124-unit Small, Medium and Large-scale Industrial Park, its Herbarium and its 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”.

    Addressing the seven-man team in his office, Babalola said that there is no earthly reason why anybody should be poor if he/she uses his/her time and the resources at his/her disposal optimally.

    His words: “Time is the greatest enemy of man. Many of us human beings don’t use the bulk of the 24 hours in each day. We prefer to spend our time on unprofitable things. We often forget that any time lost is irretrievable”.

    He added: “At my age, I still work 18 hours a day. I am out of my house as early as 7.30 a.m. to go to my farm and see what is going on at the various construction sites. I remain in the office till 3 p.m. when I go for lunch and my daily siesta. By 8 p.m., I am back at my desk in the office, and I will remain there till about midnight. For instance, if you call me by 11 p.m., you will be surprised that I will pick your call.

    “I do this every day, 364 days a year, except on Christmas day. Why do I work this way? I work this way, because a man is the only person who can drive his own dream. And I thank God that I have benefitted tremendously from the way I spend my time right from the time I was young. There was no time for frivolities”.

    Delving into wealth creation and adducing reasons why no Nigerian should be poor in the midst of the avalanche of God-given natural resources, including eight months of rain and good vegetation available in the country, the former Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, said: “When I was growing up, everybody, no matter his business or vocation, had a small garden at the back of his house. This made it possible for everybody to have ready and easy access to food stuffs. Then, people were not only able to feed themselves, but they also were able to give freely to others as a result of which no one was hungry then. That time could be reinvented”.

    He added: “The country should borrow a leaf from former President Olusegun Obasanjo who introduced Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) during his first coming as a Military Head of State between February 13, 1976, and October 1, 1979.

    “Afterall, before the advent of oil in the 1960’s, Agriculture was the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy like in the United States of America, Canada, Argentina and Australia. This was the time when Western Nigeria was well known for the production of Cocoa, the Mid-West for the production of Rubber, the East for Timber and Palm Oil while the North was known for Groundnut and Cotton. But the equation changed soon after oil was discovered in Oloibiri. The people simply turned their back on Agriculture, an otherwise very lucrative business.

    “We must go back to Agriculture and reinvent the glorious days when Nigeria could fend for itself in all ramifications. Everywhere in the world throughout the ages, the place and import of agriculture have always been on the front burner of national priority. And this is not for nothing as Agriculture does not only provide food, employment, and security, it reduces the prevalence of poverty, promotes self-sufficiency and reduction in crime rate.

    “It is axiomatic that a man who has nothing to eat or feed his family with may not find it difficult to lapse into petty larceny to make ends meet. After all, a hungry man is an angry man.  Apart from affording man the opportunity to eat fresh food, agriculture allows man to stay close to nature”.

    Babalola therefore called on governments at all levels to go back to the practice of old when Local Governments used to assemble farm equipment such as Ploughs, Harrows, Ridgers and Harvesters among others in each Local Government for farmers to hire.  This is the more important because today, no father wants to send his child to school only to graduate and return to the farm to use cutlasses and hoes.

    A firm believer in the power of Cooperative Societies, Babalola suggested that farmers should organize themselves into Cooperative Societies. This would enable them to buy farm implements either with their own money contributed by members or borrow from the Bank of Industry or Bank of Agriculture at low rates.

    This was perhaps why the elder statesman donated N200 million to incorporate two Cooperative Societies, one for men and one for women, during the maiden Afe Babalola Day on October 18, 2024, with each of the two Cooperative Societies given N100 million to enable registered members to apply for loans to start their own business.

    According to him, this sum of N200 million will provide loans for 2000 members at the minimum rate of 5% interest to the cooperative society as against 20% charged by Commercial Banks.

    Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, welcomed and thanked Fasae for leading his team to visit ABUAD, to discuss the critically important areas of Labour Market Information System (LMIS), Employment Trust Fund, Wema Bank Training, Project TIDE/NASENI, the Electric Tricycle Initiative and Agency Banking system with an eye on partnership with the university.

    •Olofintila is ABUAD’s Director, Corporate Affairs.

  • 38 soldiers and need for justice

    38 soldiers and need for justice

    • By Tony Amokeodo

    “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

    There is no doubt that President Bola Tinubu inherited monumental assets and liabilities from his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, as the burdens associated with presiding over the affairs of over 200 million Nigerians are not for the faint-hearted. However, Tinubu has stated on many occasions that he is ready to tackle, head-on, the challenges arising from ruling the most populous country in Africa.

    It is on record that Tinubu has been doing his utmost since May 29, 2023, when he assumed office, to continue from where the previous administration left off regarding assets and liabilities, as the government is a continuous process.

    But one particular liability inherited by the Tinubu-led Federal Government is a gross injustice meted out to 38 senior officers who were prematurely retired by the Nigerian Army without cause. The situation was further exacerbated when the then leadership of the Nigerian Army refused to comply with valid court orders and the resolution of the National Assembly directing their reinstatement.

    One of the founding fathers of the United States, who was also a philosopher and the most influential intellectual in the US during his time, Benjamin Franklin, must be thinking of the unjust treatment inflicted on the 38 soldiers when he said, “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are outraged as those who are.”

    For the record, the 38 soldiers were forced into premature retirement on June 9, 2016, in an unjust exercise that affected nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels, and 11 lieutenant colonels. Incidentally, the news of their retirement on June 9, 2016, sent a wrong message, suggesting that it is an offence to offer meritorious service to Nigeria, as such patriotic officers can be dealt with by an overbearing leadership without due process. This is the fate of these 38 senior officers, who are now seeking justice and reinstatement from the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu.

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    It is worth noting that about seven of the 38 soldiers who were unjustly retired during the era of impunity that characterised the previous administration have secured court rulings ordering their reinstatement. However, the Nigerian Army has ignored these court verdicts.

    So, what were the reasons for their premature retirement from the Nigerian Army? The then spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. SK Usman claimed that the officers were compulsorily retired on “disciplinary grounds, serious offences.” According to Army authorities, these “serious offences” included partisanship during the 2015 general elections, involvement in arms procurement fraud, and jeopardising national security.

    The then Defence Minister, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Alli (rtd), and the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd), supported Usman’s statement, asserting that due process and a fair hearing were granted to all the officers, who were purportedly found guilty by a competent legal procedure.

    Buratai reportedly claimed, “It took us a painstaking procedure to ensure we did not pick innocent ones. We started with one inquiry from One Division GOC to the other. After that, we subjected it to legal review. After the legal review, we forwarded our recommendations to higher authorities for consideration. So, it took us time; we have our own process also; our administrative process dovetailing into legal review and so on.”

    However, it was later discovered that the 38 officers were never queried, charged, tried, or found guilty of any offence; they did not appear before any court martial. To further validate the claims that the officers were innocent of the allegations against them, it was reported that several of the affected senior officers were not even in Nigeria when they were compulsorily retired without a fair hearing.

    For instance, Lt. Col. Thomas Arigbe was a Directing Staff on a two-year Exchange Programme with the Ghana Armed Forces at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. He was lecturing in a class in Ghana when an SMS was sent to him about his premature retirement. Col. MA Suleiman, a national merit award winner for the safe rescue of several foreign hostages, was in Chad as a military attaché, where his experience in fighting insurgents was being utilised when he was also retired. This was also the case with Col. Hassan, who led the troops in recapturing Bulabulin and Damboa from Boko Haram in August 2014.

    But eight years after their unjust retirement, the 38 soldiers continue to hope for a better outcome from the country they had served with their lives on the line. They have also adopted constructive engagement with some stakeholders on the way forward, convinced that justice will prevail in their case.

    One such move was to approach a legal luminary and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), to take up the matter with the Federal Government. Falana has written a strongly worded letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Fagbemi (SAN), urging him to urgently intervene in the Nigerian Army’s refusal to comply with court orders regarding the wrongful compulsory retirement of 38 senior officers.

    Falana also, in a recent interview with journalists in Lagos, appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and reinstate the 38 soldiers without further delay. Incidentally, Falana is not new to this matter. He had previously intervened in the ordeal of certain soldiers and ensured their reinstatement.

    Regarding the need to reinstate the 38 soldiers, Falana said, “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, I wish to inform you that what happened to the 38 Army officers under the previous administration is incredible and unfortunate. I’m also using this medium to inform you that the infamous action on the 38 officers is patently illegal and unjustified.

    “The Nigerian Army cannot and should not be allowed to treat the valid and subsisting order of the National Industrial Court and the National Assembly resolution on the 38 officers with levity. Mr President, there is the need for you to intervene now because if you fail to intervene, the premature retirement of these 38 officers will send a wrong signal to serving military officers that it does not pay to offer selfless service to Nigeria.”

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Industrial Court had directed the reinstatement of the affected officers who had gone to court to challenge the injustice against them.

    “But the then military authorities and the present ones have continued to defy the court’s order. Several of the officers who felt the Army breached its extant rules and regulations in carrying out the retirements also took their complaints to the court to seek redress and clear their names, with the court ruling in their favour.

    “The development was after their appeal to former President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking his intervention and reinstatement, but there has been no response from the Presidency or the Nigerian Army up to date.”

    The seven officers who obtained judgments against the Nigerian Army are Maj. Gen. Ijioma, Cols. Hassan and Suleiman, and Lt. Cols. Thomas Arigbe, A.S. Muhammed, Dazang, and Mohammed. Two other officers also obtained National Assembly resolutions ordering their reinstatement.

    Some of the affected officers, who are still in their 40s, are optimistic that President Tinubu will carefully look into their cases and reinstate them in the interest of justice, so that they can continue to offer their military service to the country.

    Some analysts have also argued that if the Generals cannot be reinstated – because age and years of service have caught up with them – they should be paid their full entitlement, while the colonels and majors, who are much younger in age and years of service, still have a lot to contribute to the Force.

    These are few decided cases favouring the 38 soldiers: On June 28, 2022, Col. Danladi Hassan’s lawyers submitted a letter on his behalf to the office of the then Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), urging him to prevail on the Nigerian Army to obey the court orders that declared the retirement of their client illegal. The lawyers reminded Magashi that on January 25, 2022, they had forwarded to his office the judgment of the National Industrial Court that set aside the compulsory retirement of Hassan.

    The letter also noted that Hassan had been subjected to extreme hardship and emotional and psychological trauma for no less than six years, and still counting, “in disregard of a subsisting and valid judgment of the National Industrial Court, affirmed by the Court of Appeal, ordering our client’s reinstatement and payment of his salaries and allowances.”

    In 2018, the National Industrial Court in Abuja made a pronouncement in a suit filed by Col. Hassan, seeking N1 billion as damages against his compulsory retirement. The court ruled in favour of Col. Hassan and nullified his untimely retirement by the Army.

    The trial judge, Justice Sanusi Kado, held that the Nigerian Army failed to convince the court about the disciplinary grounds for the compulsory retirement of Hassan. The Army authorities, including the Nigerian Army Council, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Armed Forces Council, decided to appeal against the decision of the National Industrial Court.

    But in December 2021, Justice Stephen Adah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA—as he was then, as he is now in the Supreme Court Bench), read the lead judgment of the three-member Appeal Court panel, which vindicated Hassan again, saying that the appellants’ appeal was unmeritorious.

    The appellate court also noted that “it was in that respect that the court now held that the compulsory retirement of the claimant was declared null and void; letter of compulsory retirement also set aside and he was ordered to be reinstated and a letter issued to that effect, reinstating him into the Nigerian Army with all rights and privileges.”

    But the verdict, like others, has been ignored by the Nigerian Army.

    This writer is also calling on the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to call for the files of these 38 officers and review their matter for reinstatement in line with court orders and the National Assembly resolution. It is a fact that the incident happened before you assumed office, but you owe it a duty to correct the injustice meted out to fellow officers.

    The time has come for AGF Fagbemi to do the needful as the Chief Law Officer of the country and ensure justice for the affected senior officers. The AGF should, as a matter of urgency, give sound legal advice to the President on the need to revisit the injustice on the 38 soldiers and reinstate them. In view of the avowed commitment of President Tinubu-led Federal Government to the rule of law and constitutionalism, concerted efforts must be made to put an end to the era of impunity that characterised the previous administration and give solace to the 38 soldiers.

    Nigerians expect nothing less over the travails of these 38 senior officers. Mr President, this is the time to demonstrate that you are a listening President with a passion for correcting the injustices of the past against fellow Nigerians. The fate of these soldiers is in your hands, asking for similar treatment – for posterity and a legacy that will stand the test of time.

    •Amokeodo, a senior journalist and media consultant, writes in from Abuja.

  • Uba Sani: Positioning Kaduna as agro-industrial giant

    Uba Sani: Positioning Kaduna as agro-industrial giant

    Senator Uba Sani, the workaholic Governor of Kaduna State takes his mission of restoring Kaduna State’s status as the political, economic and industrial mainstay of northern Nigeria very seriously. In fact, the Governor is taking this task several notches higher: he is working assiduously to position Kaduna as Nigeria’s agro-industrial giant.

    The rise, or better still, the return of Kaduna State under Governor Uba Sani has been meteoric. By May 2023, when he assumed office, the state was a leader’s nightmare – fraught with problems that stem largely from insecurity, divisiveness among its peculiar ethno-religious mix, dilapidated public infrastructure including roads, schools, hospitals to name but a few. Kaduna was also in the throes of huge local and foreign debts and the resultant effects showed in the litany of abandoned projects, unmet commitments to contractors and labour unions.

    But Governor Uba Sani, a renowned activist, has since proven to be a methodical administrator. His dexterity at managing and surmounting the complexities he inherited in Kaduna, in such a short period, remains confounding. Like a scientist, Uba Sani literally took Kaduna State to the laboratory and meticulously titrated and dissected the state’s problems. First, he audaciously took on the big elephant in the room, which was insecurity across the state.

    Conscious of the fact that not much progress would be made in the great task of retooling and rebooting Kaduna, if the state remained notorious for banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious tension and other forms of criminality, very early in his administration, Governor Uba Sani declared an all-out war against insecurity. Interestingly, the Governor adopted a multifaceted approach that deftly combined kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in rescuing Kaduna. Working very closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff and the leadership of the nation’s Armed Forces, the Police and other security agencies, all the 23 local government areas of the State quickly came into full radar and the requisite platforms and personnel were deployed to mitigate the activities of bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the state.

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    But by far, the biggest weapon Governor Uba Sani deployed against insecurity in Kaduna State was inclusive, open and transparent governance. Being a true servant-leader, the energetic Governor found the need to directly and regularly relate with several strata of leaderships across the entire local government areas of the state. At regular stakeholders’ meetings he listened to the people and effectively communicated his vision and mission to them. He never failed to act decisively on feedbacks from these stakeholders’ meetings. For the first time, perhaps in a long while, citizens and residents of the state felt truly part of government. They were dealing with a Governor who was not barking orders at them or making unnecessary threats or generally grandstanding. They were dealing with a leader who saw himself as just one of them, a victim as well, hence the need to collectively talk things through. Governor Uba Sani, unlike previous Governors of the State, placed himself on the side of the people and viewed the state’s problems from the collective lens.

    Having speedily earned the trust and buy-in of the populace, it was only a matter of time that uncommon unity of purpose was achieved in Kaduna with the citizens, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic persuasions, deciding to queue doggedly behind their conscientious and well-intentioned Governor, Senator Uba Sani.

    With the burden of insecurity relatively lessened, Governor Uba Sani turned the entire state to a huge construction site of sorts. The Governor’s mission from the get go was very clear and unambiguous: to connect and interlink local communities to urban centres in the bid to seamlessly provide social and economic benefits to all persons. The guiding philosophy was, and remains, that no person or community in Kaduna State will stay underserved. Today, previously unreached, underserved, underserviced and neglected communities in Kaduna State have either been opened up or are being opened up and interlinked to urban centres and markets. Other than good roads, schools, health and medical facilities as well as public water projects are either being built or rehabilitated across the 23 local government areas of the state.

    Governor Uba Sani has concurrently been revving up infrastructure up-grade in Kaduna’s urban centres. The Governor believes that previously neglected poor urban communities deserve attention. To this end, he has been completing and flagging off major urban infrastructure projects. “Our administration is committed to massive infrastructure upgrades in rural and urban areas, supporting our communities in achieving rapid economic growth, addressing infrastructure deficits, curbing rural-urban migration, and improving the quality of life of our people,” the Governor said.

    In less than two years in office, Governor Uba Sani may have surpassed the target he set for himself. He is far from slowing down, however. With Kaduna State now secure and the people leaving in peace, safety and unity; and with first class infrastructure interlinking all parts of the state, it is not at all surprising that the restless Senator Uba Sani is now poised to harness the agricultural potential of Kaduna to fully establish the State as the Agro-industry giant of Nigeria.

    Though previous administrations in the state made attempts to deepen the agricultural potential of Kaduna State, several factors – notably insecurity, lack of policy clarity and of course, paucity of funds, hindered these efforts. But the very tenacious Uba Sani is not the type to be deterred, once his sights are set on a noble mission.

    On Tuesday, April 8, Governor Uba Sani hosted the world in Kaduna as a Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) was flagged off in the state. At the grandiose event, a thoroughly impressed Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who performed the ground breaking, lauded Governor Uba Sani for creating the needed environment and conditions in the state for the actualisation of the mega project.

    Addressing stakeholders at the vast expanse of land designated for the facility in Daki-Takwas, along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, Chikun local government area of Kaduna, Vice President Kashim Shettima posited that the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone will transform the Nigerian economy. He commended the Kaduna State Government for its leadership in agriculture, describing the state as a key driver of Nigeria’s agro-industrial future due to its abundant arable land and historical role in agricultural production. “Kaduna is not a stranger to agricultural leadership. What we are starting here today will become a model for other states to follow,” he said.

    Vice President lauded Governor Uba Sani for his inclusive governance, highlighting his prioritisation of development and the people’s welfare over political concerns. “We must commend Senator Uba Sani who place development and the interest of the people above politics. Chikun Local Government Area was one of the Local Government Areas we lost in the last election; but Governor Uba Sani is talking about governance; he is talking about inclusivity. Governor Uba Sani felt the need to have this project sited here in Chikun Local Government Area. Your Excellency we are most grateful for your generosity of spirit and inclusivity. The flag off of this project marks a new era for Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. With a tenacious and result-oriented Governor in the saddle in Kaduna State, I am confident that under his leadership, we will soon witness a fully operational and bustling zone with productive activities that will not only benefit Kaduna but also meet the development ambition of the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu”, Vice President Kashim Shettima enthused at the flag-off event.

    Indeed like, most dignitaries at the event, the Vice President was well aware that the previous administration in Kaduna State had, for rather primordial reasons – notably, doubts over the “political correctness,” of siting the SAPZ in southern part of Kaduna State, frustrated the commencement of the mega project.

    At the historical occasion also, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, commended the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani for leading the way by being the first to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. In particular, Mr Adesina praised Governor Sani’s commitment to agricultural transformation.

    The AfDB President cited Kaduna State’s remarkable budgetary increase for agriculture, from N1.4 billion to N74 billion, adding that the increase is an example of political will backed by substantial investment. “You didn’t just put your money where your mouth is—you put your money where your mind and your body are,” Dr. Adesina remarked. According to him, ”Kaduna’s leadership on this project reflects not just a vision for food security, but a roadmap for economic prosperity and inclusive development.”

    Adesina lauded Kaduna’s commitment to the actualisation of the SAPZ, highlighting the significance of agricultural industrialisation in the state’s economic growth.

    “Your passion for agriculture is impressive, and agricultural industrialisation remains the fastest way to develop the vast areas of Kaduna. It has taken us eleven years to get here, and I am delighted that we are finally here,” Adesina said while noting that the AfDB has committed over $934 million towards the SAPZ programme across Africa, with an additional $938 million mobilised from partners. The initiative is currently being implemented in 27 sites across 11 countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Madagascar.

    Mr Adesina emphasized the AfDB’s commitment to supporting Kaduna State in expanding school feeding programmes and integrating them with the new processing zones. He pledged additional support for primary health care improvements, health insurance, and infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and digitalization. “We’re proud to partner with a government that listens, that leads with compassion, and that is open to all,” the AfDB President said while describing Governor Uba Sani as “a model leader—who is a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer.”

    No doubt, it was a day Governor Uba Sani had been looking forward to. His excitement was palpable. The Kaduna State Governor, in his brief remark, described the processing zone as a strategic investment designed to accelerate industrial development across Nigeria.

    “The SAPZ is a huge investment designed to position Kaduna as a major player in Nigeria’s industrial development. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic development, this huge project is an actualization of a key ambition of the Tinubu administration, ” the Kaduna State Governor said.

    The Governor emphasised agriculture’s central role in Kaduna’s economy, saying it contributes 42 percent to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 60 percent of the state’s workforce. “In the 2023 budget we inherited, agriculture received just N1.4 billion. However, in 2024, we increased it to N23.4 billion, and in 2025, we have approved N74.2 billion,” he informed his guests. “By doing that, we became the first sub-national government to achieve the 10 percent target of the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which set the goal of allocating 10 percent of the budget to agriculture,” Gov. Uba Sani added.

    The Governor described the launch of the Agro-Industrial Processing Zone as a very important project for Kaduna State especially given his administration’s commitment to deepening safety, security and sustainable development across the state.

    Perhaps it was the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who aptly summed up the momentous event in Kaduna better when he described the SAPZ initiative as a turning point in Nigeria’s agricultural history. “This programme will be a game changer. It is designed to attract private sector investment in agro-industrial processing, drive value addition, and enhance rural development, I congratulate the Governor and the good people of Kaduna State,” Kyari said. Truly, Kaduna State is back to winning ways under Senator Uba Sani.

    •Ahmed, a freelance Journalist resides in Kawo, Kaduna