The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Two years of bold diplomatic moves tempered by lingering issues

    Two years of bold diplomatic moves tempered by lingering issues

    President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy marks a clear departure from the past, signalling Nigeria’s renewed determination to reclaim its voice on the global stage. Rooted in strategic realism and national interest, his administration’s diplomatic drive is not just about international recognition—it’s a calculated effort to attract investment, boost security cooperation and enhance development at home. In this special report, Assistant Editor BOLA OLAJUWON examines how Tinubu’s global moves are reshaping Nigeria’s fortunes from within

    In today’s interconnected world, domestic and foreign policy are no longer separate spheres. What happens beyond a country’s borders can profoundly shape its internal affairs—and vice versa. Recognising this, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sought to align Nigeria’s international engagements with domestic realities, blending both without compromising national interests.

    Foreign policy, in essence, is the formal, legal, and authoritative expression of a nation’s interests, articulated through the constitutional mechanisms of the state. It represents a strategic course of action undertaken by a government to pursue specific goals, and is often seen as the international extension of domestic priorities.

    Since gaining independence, Nigeria’s foreign policy has traditionally revolved around key pillars: the eradication of colonialism and imperialism in Africa, the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation among African nations, and a strong commitment to Africa as the cornerstone of its diplomatic engagements. Nigeria also embraced non-alignment during the Cold War, advocated peaceful resolution of conflicts, and upheld the territorial integrity and sovereignty of fellow African states—anchored on non-interference in their internal affairs.

    A strategic shift from the past

    Under President Tinubu, however, a notable shift is taking shape. The administration has begun redefining Nigeria’s external relations through a lens of pragmatic national interest, recalibrating the country’s Afrocentric foreign policy to drive economic diplomacy and real development outcomes. From the moment he was sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th President, Tinubu signalled a break from business as usual. His inaugural address sent a clear message—both to Nigerians and the international community—that his presidency would be defined by decisive action.

    Understanding that foreign policy cannot be divorced from internal realities, Tinubu immediately confronted long-standing economic challenges. He made a bold declaration: “Fuel subsidy is gone.” He followed this by unifying the multiple exchange rates, ushering in major economic reforms aimed at restoring investor confidence and spurring growth. These actions, while welcomed by financial markets and international observers, have also triggered significant domestic repercussions—including rising inflation and a surge in poverty. Yet, the Tinubu administration appears committed to staying the course, guided by the belief that long-term gains will outweigh short-term pain.

    Despite the hardship accompanying his reforms, President Tinubu has managed to rein in key labour unions—including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and unions in tertiary institutions—through the introduction of palliatives and salary increments for workers. Within months of assuming office, he suspended the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa. He also dismissed several ambassadors, dissolved governing boards of federal parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned enterprises. Behind the scenes, he has waged a quiet but resolute war against corruption and economic sabotage. The result: a more transparent fiscal system that has improved monthly revenue allocations to the various tiers of government.

    In a significant move, Nigeria has cleared its outstanding debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including the $3.4 billion emergency loan received during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the country will continue to make annual payments of about $30 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDR)-related charges for the foreseeable future. Demonstrating commitment to decentralised energy reform, Tinubu signed the Electricity Act into law, empowering states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. While the removal of fuel subsidy has saved trillions of naira, he has simultaneously approved relief measures and palliatives to help states cushion the impact on citizens. Tinubu’s assertive posture on domestic and West African issues reflects a deliberate foreign policy strategy. He has consistently signalled to the international community his intent to restore confidence in Nigeria’s fiscal governance and economic direction.

    At global platforms such as the G-20 Summit, the China-Africa Cooperation meeting, and the BRICS forum—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—President Tinubu has made strong representations for Nigeria, projecting the country as a serious player on the global stage. He has also negotiated key bilateral agreements with international partners to advance Nigeria’s interests.

    Gains of the 4-Ds diplomacy strategy

    After settling into office, President Tinubu unveiled a robust foreign policy framework popularly referred to as the “Tinubu Doctrine” or the 4-Ds Diplomacy Strategy. This approach is anchored on four pillars: Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora engagement, each designed to reposition Nigeria globally while driving national progress. The first pillar underscores Tinubu’s commitment to democratic governance and political stability in West Africa. As Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), he has taken a firm stance against military takeovers, demanding a return to democratic rule in countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. His assertiveness may have influenced the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (Alliance des États du Sahel – AES) by these military-led governments in response to ECOWAS pressure.

    On the development front, the Tinubu administration has prioritised strategic partnerships and foreign investment to boost economic growth. A major milestone includes the African Development Bank (AfDB) tripling its agricultural interventions in Nigeria—from $500 million to over $1 billion. Additionally, during the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, Indian firms pledged an impressive $14 billion investment into Nigeria’s economy. In another significant deal, John Deere, an American agricultural machinery giant, is set to establish a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria, further energising the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, China has reiterated its commitment to completing key railway infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kano, and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri lines.

    President Tinubu recognises that Nigeria’s youthful population is one of its greatest assets. His administration is working to harness this demographic dividend by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity among young Nigerians. This focus is not only aimed at domestic empowerment but also at engaging the global Nigerian community. The administration’s diaspora diplomacy strategy seeks to integrate the skills, investments and influence of Nigerians abroad into national development efforts. Key initiatives include the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, designed to provide affordable housing for Nigerians living overseas, and the proposed $10 billion Diaspora Fund, intended to support infrastructure and development projects.

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    Nigeria also recorded $20 billion in diaspora remittances in 2023, representing a substantial inflow that bolstered foreign reserves and supported economic stability. In a further boost to the agriculture sector, Brazil is investing approximately $8 billion in Nigeria through the Green Imperative Project (GIP). This initiative aims to empower small-scale farmers across all 774 local government areas, improve food security, and catalyse private sector participation in agricultural value chains.

    The administration has also introduced a bold economic directive known as the Nigeria First Policy, which prioritises the procurement of locally manufactured goods and services in government contracts. Announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the policy is expected to be formalised through an executive order. It is geared towards boosting indigenous industries, promoting domestic production, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign imports. “This policy means Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes. No foreign goods or devices that are already produced locally will be procured without a clear and justified reason,” he stated.

    Delay in appointing Nigeria’s heads of missions abroad

    Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has acknowledged delays in the appointment of the country’s ambassadors but insisted that the execution of Nigeria’s foreign policy has not been hampered as a result. According to him, the absence of formally appointed heads of missions has not led to a suspension of diplomatic activities at Nigerian embassies. President Tinubu had recalled all serving ambassadors in October 2023. While replacements have not yet been named, Tuggar downplayed concerns that the prolonged vacancy might weaken Nigeria’s bilateral engagements or frustrate the nation’s foreign policy objectives. He reassured stakeholders that the embassies remain functional and committed to advancing Nigeria’s interests.

    Highlighting his ministry’s achievements, Tuggar noted that Nigeria is being repositioned on the global stage with renewed national pride, improved global perception of Nigerian citizens, increased trust in the Nigerian passport, and a deliberate pursuit of economic diplomacy aimed at removing barriers for Nigerian businesses abroad. “Imagine a Nigeria where every citizen walks into an embassy, airport, or business negotiation not with fear or intimidation, but with confidence. Imagine a Nigeria whose passport opens doors, whose businesses lead global markets, and whose voice is not just heard but respected. That Nigeria is no longer a dream—the foundation is being laid through President Tinubu’s 4-D foreign policy doctrine,” the minister declared.

    Addressing the security situation, Ambassador Tuggar stated that despite lingering concerns, Boko Haram has been significantly degraded, and the government is actively pursuing efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate individuals affected by the insurgency. However, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, noted that the resurgence of attacks in Nigeria’s Northeast is linked to terrorist movements and activities across the broader Sahel region. The Boko Haram insurgency began in July 2009, when the Islamist extremist group launched an armed rebellion against the Nigerian state. Although the group has splintered and weakened over time due to military operations, it continues to pose threats alongside other factions and bandit groups.

    N4.91 trillion for defence and security

    In a bold reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment to national security, President Tinubu earmarked a record N4.91 trillion allocation for defence and security in the 2025 fiscal year. This marks a significant increase in funding following the upward review made in the previous year. Explaining the rationale behind the increased allocation, Tinubu said: “While addressing the critical sectors essential for growth and development, we envision securing our nation. Security is the foundation of all progress. We have significantly increased funding for the military, paramilitary, and our police forces to secure the nation, protect our borders, and consolidate government control over every inch of our national territory.”

    He further underscored the importance of equipping Nigeria’s security forces with modern tools and technology, noting that enhancing morale among service members is a top priority for his government. “The officers, men, and women of our Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force are the shield and protectors of our nation. Our administration will continue to empower them to defeat insurgency, banditry, and all threats to our sovereignty.”

    NiDCOM deepening engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has remained active in advancing safe, orderly, and regular migration while strengthening Nigeria’s engagement with its diaspora community across the globe. Key strides made by the Commission include the review and implementation of Nigeria’s Diaspora Policy, capacity-building for staff through training programmes and study tours, and joint awareness campaigns on the dangers of irregular migration. These campaigns were undertaken in partnership with international agencies like the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

    Notably, NiDCOM has played a vital humanitarian role in facilitating the rescue and repatriation of Nigerians stranded in conflict zones such as Libya, Ukraine, and other troubled regions worldwide, thereby reinforcing Nigeria’s global consular presence and commitment to the welfare of its citizens.

    Experts react

    Reacting to Tinubu’s mid-term achievements in an interview with The Nation, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, a Nigerian academic, author and the third Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State said talking of achievements in the area of foreign policy, Nigerians have to appreciate that foreign policy achievements are not very easy to quantify. “This is because, as far as foreign policy is concerned, it has what you can call the quality of evolving realities. The first thing I want to say in this respect has to do with what the Tinubu administration inherits in the area of foreign policy.

    “And in this respect, I must confess that the optics are not looking good, or rather, the optics did not look good. This is because Nigeria, a country that was once a reference-point in the world as far as African issues are concerned, became something of a backwater in global politics.

    “For instance, at a point in time when policemen were required for peacekeeping duties in Haiti, in the Caribbean, the world turned to Kenya. When medical doctors and medical students, i.e., Palestinians, were required to complete their respective courses in another country, they turned to South Africa. And talking of South Africa, it looks as if increasingly South Africa continues to champion African causes.

    “And to that extent, South Africa is seen now in contemporary international relations as the hub. So like I said, the optics are very bad. We need to ask ourselves, why are the optics bad? The optics are bad simply because at the domestic level, the Nigerian social formation is yet to acquire a vibrant profile.

    “Basically, when we talk of foreign policy, we are only talking of a dynamic that stems from domestic politics, or a dynamic that stems from domestic situations. And the Nigerian domestic situation is not on the positive side. One, we are indebted to the international financial institutions.

    “Two, the basics that should propel an economy are not still there in Nigeria. I’m referring here to the fact that Nigeria lacks a petrochemical industry. Nigeria lacks power.

    “Nigeria, till now, does not have a steel industry. And when you don’t have these three variables, your foreign policy is bound to be flabby. Another interesting example, which shows up Nigeria in a very negative light, is that till date, Nigeria has no airline. There is no air carrier.

    “So, in the light of this, Nigeria’s foreign policy under Tinubu has not been able to acquire a vibrant profile. But then, if we know the way forward, then the problem is half solved. In other words, for Nigeria’s foreign policy to acquire some fibre, to acquire some strength, to acquire some direction, the domestic base must be solidified. For instance, we must have a steel industry. We must have a coherent power system. We must have a petrochemical industry.

    On non-appointment of envoys to foreign missions, Prof. Soremekun said: “I must also mention that, till date, our embassies are yet to have substantive ambassadors. And since this is the case, our foreign policy under this administration has not been able to acquire the right kind of traction.”

    To Paul Ejime, a global affairs analyst and independent consultant on communications, media development, and governance issues, President Tinubu’s mid-term foreign policy performance presents a mixed bag of outcomes. Ejime said: “He came in, talked about trying to be more assertive and bold in terms of how Nigeria will rediscover its leadership position both at the regional and global level. He was fortunate, he was made the Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). And with that, he also launched what he called the four Ds, doctrine, diplomacy, talking about development, democracy, demography, and diaspora. And then, he later came up with what he called the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “It hasn’t been that rosy at home from the economic standpoint. He came in and then removed the fuel subsidy. But many thought that perhaps, well, it might be reasonable and an economic decision that Nigeria was bound to take anyway. But the point is how prepared, what was put in place to cushion the effect, because it is the fact that we are now having issues in terms of inflation, in terms of foreign exchange rate, and so on and so forth. And the fact that many Nigerians are complaining that their purchasing power has reduced and many are now finding it difficult to put food on the table.

    “So, it is that domestic policy where you now extrapolate it to the regional level.

    “And I think ECOWAS under him made the mistake of mishandling the question of particularly that of Niger, when they came up with trying to invade or trying to remove the military leaders by force. That was an unpopular decision that has snowballed into three countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, now exiting ECOWAS and then forming what they call the Alliance of Sahel States.

    “But you will also question if 150 or 100 ambassadors cannot do, whether the president in his position will be able to achieve much if he decides to run a Nigerian foreign policy without ambassadors.”

    But, former Director-General, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Prof. Bola Akinterinwa submitted that the achievement of President Tinubu in foreign affairs in the past two years may be difficult to objectively ascertain simply because foreign policy focus, foreign policy objectives and seeds are planted, but it takes time for the planted seeds to grow.

    “However, when we look at the approach to the conduct and management of Nigeria’s foreign affairs, it is significant to note that Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar came up with the diplomacy of four Ds. That is, development, democracy, demography, and diaspora. This in itself is quite commendable.”      

  • How I survived attack by herdsmen who murdered my husband -Pregnant mother of one

    How I survived attack by herdsmen who murdered my husband -Pregnant mother of one

    On June 1, majority of the residents of  Apa local government area of Benue State were in tears from the loss of 37 loved ones and the burninginto ashes of many houses and farm produce worth millions of naira as a result of  herdsmen attacks that saw the entire Esikwu Ankpali  communities deserted, LINUS OOTA reports.

    In the last one week,  houses, farm produce and other valuable properties in Esikwu Ankpali community of Apa Local Government Area, Benue State was in danger as the killing of 37 persons and burning down of houses culminated in a mass burial.

    While the effects of herdsmen attacks on the community were generally devastating, only one who has not heard details of the fate that befell Angelina Oguche would would consider her a lucky survivor of the June 1 attacks.

    A full account shows that her situation is as tragic as that of the dead. Her husband and father of her little girl and unborn child was killed when the rampaging herdsmen overran tthe entire Ankpali community. Widowed and now a refugee, the widow is condemned to continue life’s journey alone with the onerous task of bringing up her little child as well as  the unborn one.

    Our correspondent located the sorrowful widow in a hospital at the headquarters of Apa Local Government Area where she was receiving treatment, and she obliged to talk briefly to our correspondent with an emotional account of how her husband, Samuel Oguche, woke up on that fateful day without any premonition that his path would cross with that of the killer herdsmen that murder him in cold blood.

    Reconstruct the events of the tragic day, she said: “June 1 is a day I am trying to forget. On that fateful day, my husband and I were farming close to the house, I am heavily pregnant. My husband noticed that I was sad and asked what the problem was.

    “I told him that I didn’t know but that I was feeling uneasy and confused in my thoughts. I could not understand how I felt, but it was as if I was about to lose something dear to me.

    “A few minutes later, I felt like drinking water and told my husband that I was going to get water. He kissed me goodbye and told me not to be long. I responded with a smile, not knowing that tthat it was the last time I would see him or hear his voice.

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    “Upon my return, I could not find my husband, but I was not worried at first. I looked around but there was no sign of him anywhere on the farm.

    “I became worried and started calling out his name from one side of the farm to the other. Suddenly, I heard a response from the other end of the farm.

    “To confirm that it was truely a voice that I heard, I called out again and I got a response, but it did not sound like my husband’s voice. I then began to wonder what had happened to him.

    “I started walking towards the area where the voice I heard was coming from. Although I was not fully convinced it was my husband’s voice, I was determined to go and see what was happening.

    “When I got there, I saw my husband lying lifeless in a pool blood and his corpse was surrounded by a number of herdsmen.

    “One of  them who pretended to be my husband was the one that had lured me to where they were. It was like my heart stopped beating.

    “I suddenly developed cold feet, and there were goose bumps all over my body. I thought of my pregnancy and cried my heart out.

    “I was in a lot of pain, but when I saw them coming towards me, I began to run. Luck was, however, not on my side as I.stumbled and fell.

    “One of them aimed his machete at my stomach, but I quickly used my hands and head to shield my unborn child. I felt a cut on my leg, and it was so painful that I couldn’t even scream. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I used my left hand to try to stop the blood.

    “I had never felt so miserable. The pain I felt at that moment cannot be compared to anything on earth. I felt another cut at the back of my head.

    “Because of the injury, I suddenly felt dizzy, I saw one of them with a knife in his hand; he raised his arm to stab me, but I pretended to be dead. That, for sure, was my rescue.

    “After they left, a villager, who had been watching from a hiding place, rushed me to the hospital. I can’t thank God enough for keeping my baby safe in the womb and for sparing my life.

    “I am grateful to God for keeping me alive, I have learned to adjust and deal with this likely lifelong trauma, but my husband is no more.”

    The poignant recollection drew tears from the widow’s eyes, and she broke down again, wailing, “when my husband kissed me on the farm, little did I know he would not eat again and that it was the last time I would see him.:

     “Losing your partner in his prime is a lifetime scar that can never heal. It is traumatic”.

    Her husband’s death, she said, is like a bad dream she wished she could wake up from, “There is no day since June 1 that I don’t feel loneliness inside me,

    “Life has not been the same without him around and will not be same any longer.

    “Before death came knocking on June 1, we were inseparable. I’m mentally tortured when I realise he is no more,” she said amid tears.

    While the repirter was at the hospital, a young man rode in on a motorcycle carrying his deceased brother who was also killed by herdsmen. He had come to deposit the corpse at the hospital.

    The bereaved young man who was in tears could not have given account on how his brother was brutally murdered by the herdsmen. All he can say was “I still can’t believe the pain of this whole loss. My heart is broken.

    “I cannot believe that I backed my deceasad brother from the point he was killed to this place, I literally can’t bear it”

    Our correspondent gathered that the social and economic lives of the people were so devastated that schools, hospitals, businesses, government, and financial institutions closed down in the entire Ankpali area.  The destructions caused by the burning down of houses and farm produce as well as business ventures is reckoned to worth millions of naira.

    Going round some of the affected areas, our correspondent discovered that most of the villagers had deserted their homes and the few surviving houses had become a shadow of their former selves.

    Domestic animals like goats and fowls were seen moving around the deserted burnt houses in pristine innocence and without anybody to give them direction.

    Food items of different sorts  were burnt to ashes, signaling possible outbreak of famine in the coming season as bags of gari and yam flour were also not left out.

  • Residents count losses, begin new life after Mokwa flood disaster

    Residents count losses, begin new life after Mokwa flood disaster

    • Battle trauma, displacement, slow recovery

    Other than the massive loss of lives, among the damages caused by the flood disaster that occurred in Mokwa, a community in Niger State, penultimate Thursday was the sweeping away of three bridges connecting many communities to the outside world. Stranded residents can do nothing other than cross the stream with a canoe or by themselves.

    Residents of Rabba, one of the communities affected by the flood and had its bridge washed off are now left practically stranded. The community is home to more than 7,000 people, most of whom depend on that single bridge for their livelihoods and daily needs.

    The bridge had served as a lifeline, linking children to the two schools within the community, enabling access to a local health centre, and allowing goods to flow between Rabba and the nearby Mokwa town. With the bridge gone, movement is restricted.

    A visit by our correspondent revealed some school children wading through water to make their way to school, such that by the time they get to school, their uniforms were soaked.

    Fortunately, their books are wrapped in nylon while some other children who were afraid of the waters had to skip school for the week.

    Although Rabba, one of the communities affected by the devastating flood, recorded no deaths, there were other severe losses experienced by the people.

    According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the flood washed away the only bridge that connected them to neighboring towns, schools, markets, and hospitals with over 10 houses affected.

    Adamu Jubril Rabba said the flood disrupted lives as the collapsed bridge meant more than just inconvenience as it is also a daily reminder of isolation, struggle and neglect.

    Rabba said: “The flood has affected us badly because the bridge linking Rabba community to other communities has collapsed and some of the pupils from other communities come down to Rabba through the bridge to study.

    “Following the devastated flood, the students have to cross the stream to school daily.”

    He disclosed that several farms along with their crops were washed away while several health workers who lived in neighbourhood communities had not been able to get to the health centre, creating a gap in access to health.

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    A trader in Mokwa town, Hajiya Salamatu, bemoaned her loss when our correspondent spoke to her on Thursday. “We are now living like an island. Customers can’t come into our community and we can’t go out to buy goods. Everything is at a standstill,” she said.

    In the days following the disaster, the community launched a self-help initiative, raising funds and contributing labour to construct a temporary wooden bridge to enable movement.

    As at 2pm on Thursday, the wooden bridge was completed to enable movement for people, light vehicles and motorcycles.

    “It was purely a communuty driven effort. People donated money to us which we used in buying planks and wood. And the youths in the community joined hands to build the bridge, so we did not have to pay for labour,” Rabba said.

    One of the elders in the community said: “This bridge is the only route connecting us to Mokwa for food supplies, healthcare, and education. We could not wait indefinitely.”

    Some of the survivors are still looking for their loved ones with government declaring more than 2,000 people missing. A visit to the affected communities, especially Mokwa, revealed the youth and family members going round in search of their missing relatives. Dead bodies are discovered daily as the people are not relenting in their search.

    The moving tales of the victims appeared endless. Farida Isyaku, one of the victims who was still crying over the losses, said the water came from nowhere and swept away her husband, co-wife and seven children, adding that she was rescued and taken to the hospital while the water was sweeping her away on Rabba Road.

    Saying she was not able to save anything in the flood, she recalled that her husband had come home with a huge sum of money the nught before the flood occured but she lost everything, including her beloved husband.

    Farida said she had accepted her fate, believing that her loved ones had gone to Paradise

    The flood had left many people homelrss in Mokwa. At the last count, over 3,000 people had been displaced.

    The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said the devastating flood had left the victims traumatised, describing the situation in the area as “massive.”

    The Information Officer, Husseini Ibrahim, said the displaced persons were not willing to relocate to the temporary shelter provided for them due to the mental impact of the scale of the incident. He said majority of the affected people preferred to.stay with their relatives who were not affected to moving into relief camps for fear of congestion and discomfort.

    Ibrahim said: “There has been confusion everywhere. People lost their lives, their properties, and their means of livelihood.

    “That is what we call a disaster. Over 3,000 people were affected. Many are disturbed psychologically. This has distorted their normal ways of living.

    “Those that were easily affected are resisting going to the relief camps because the community is like a single community. They are all related to each other.

    “But we are gradually talking to them, and they are beginning to accept our position that they should be in the camps.”

    The Niger State Government has moved all its activities to the affected flood site in Mokwa to oversee the various humanitarian supports and donations it has been receiving.

    UNICEF has erected tents for the victims and has deployed a medical team to Tiffin Manza Primary School in Mokwa to assist children and pregnant women affected by the recent flooding in the Unguwan Hausawa area of Mokwa Local Government Area.

    The Agency is also helping the affected children to ease their emotional trauma by organising recreational activities.

    UNICEF’s Water and Hygiene Specialist, Teresa Pamma said the deployment aims to ensure that affected residents have access to essential healthcare services and to prevent the outbreak of diseases following the flood.

    Teresa explained that the team would also provide specialised care for pregnant women to ensure they receive proper medical attention and were protected from illnesses that could harm them or their unborn babies.

    One of the beneficiaries, Fatima Jibrin, who lost four children in the flood, expressed appreciation to UNICEF for the timely medical support, saying that it helped to stabilise her remaining child and helped other people who were affected.

    The state government has so far recieved over N400 million in donations from various individuals, organizations and groups in support to the victims alongside thousands of bags of rice.

    The town of Mokwa recieved its largest influx of guests it had ever seen since its existence as a result of dignitaries coming to condole with the victims of the flood disaster.

    From the Vice President to ministers, founders of organisations, international groups and associations.

    But despite these visits, the affected people are concerned as to when the bodies of their missing loved ones would be found.

  • ‘I’m carrying weight of tradition, expectation from ancestors, people’

    ‘I’m carrying weight of tradition, expectation from ancestors, people’

    Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal ascended the throne of his forebears five years ago as the Oniru of Iruland. In this chat with Halima Balogun and Zainab Olufemi, the royal father reflects on the journey so far, his vision, achievements, and the evolving identity of his domain.

    You’ve been the Oniru of Iru Land for five years now. What’s been the highlights of your reign so far?

    A profound transformation has taken place within our kingdom. The most significant highlight of my reign has been witnessing a collective shift in mindset and identity among our people. From the palace to the streets, a renewed sense of purpose has emerged – our kingdom is not just a geographical space, but a vibrant, living heritage that can evolve and thrive with the times.

    Seeing our youths step into leadership roles, cultural initiatives gaining momentum, and institutions aligning with our vision has been truly fulfilling. These moments demonstrate the enduring power of traditional leadership when harnessed effectively.

    As we continue to preserve and promote our heritage, we are also revitalising the physical symbols of our tradition – the palace structure and surroundings – to reflect the rich legacy of our ancestors. This harmonious blend of past and present will ensure our kingdom remains a beacon of cultural excellence for generations to come.

    Your domain is known for being home to influential people. How do you balance leadership with the diverse needs of your community?

    As the leader of Iru Land, I’m acutely aware that our domain is a vibrant melting pot of influential individuals, traditional leaders, corporate entities, and diverse communities. To effectively balance leadership with the diverse needs of our community, I prioritize inclusiveness, humility, and strategic communication.

    My approach is centered on creating harmony where diversity thrives. I listen deeply to the voices of our residents, from the youth to traditional leaders, and consult widely to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are considered. By doing so, I’m able to make informed decisions that reflect both our rich cultural heritage and our modern realities.

    Ultimately, my goal is to foster a sense of unity and purpose among our people, leveraging our collective strengths to drive progress and prosperity for all. By embracing our diversity and promoting inclusive leadership, I’m confident that Iru Land will continue to flourish and reach its full potential.

    You had a clear vision for your kingdom when you took over. How’s that vision shaping up, and what progress have you made so far?

    My vision for Iru Kingdom is centered around the #LeGIT agenda, which stands for “Let’s Grow Iru Land Together”. This vision is built on eight key pillars: tourism and culture, education and empowerment, healthcare, environment, security, welfare, infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement. As the Oniru of Iru Land, I’m committed to driving growth and development in our kingdom while preserving our rich heritage.

    Over the past five years, we’ve made significant progress in bringing this vision to life.

    Some of our notable achievements include:

    Empowering youths: We’ve launched initiatives like the Iru Leadership and Innovation Hub to support young entrepreneurs and creatives, providing them with the resources and guidance they need to succeed.

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    Cultural revitalisation: We’ve revived our cultural festivals and encouraged intergenerational storytelling to promote our rich heritage and sense of community.

    Strategic partnerships: We’ve built partnerships with key institutions, to drive growth and development in our kingdom. These partnerships have not only improved infrastructure and security but also enhanced our economic prospects.

    Community engagement: We’ve enhanced community engagement through digital platforms, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued in our decision-making processes.

    As we move forward, our focus remains on delivering tangible results and improving the lives of our people. We’re committed to building a prosperous and sustainable Iru Land that honors its heritage while embracing innovation and progress. With the support of our partners and the collective efforts of our community, I’m confident that we’ll achieve our vision and make Iru Land a thriving hub of economic and cultural activity.

    You’ve been visiting various institutions in Iru Land recently. What inspired these visits, and what do you hope to achieve from them?

    My recent visits to various institutions in Iru Land are part of a deliberate effort to strengthen relationships with the organizations that call our domain home. From banks and hospitality outfits to defense and educational establishments, these institutions are vital partners in our progress. The goal is to foster collaboration, ensure mutual respect, and align on developmental goals that benefit both the community and the institutions.

    Iru Land hosts a range of key national and international institutions across finance, education, hospitality, maritime, and more. These visits aren’t just ceremonial; they’re strategic. As traditional rulers, we must build bridges and engage institutions as development partners. Through these visits, we can have meaningful dialogue about how to work together for the kingdom’s benefit and ensure that growth is both inclusive and responsible. It’s about visibility, accountability, and collaboration – essential elements for driving progress and prosperity in our community.

    Looking ahead, what plans do you have for the people of Iru Land, and how do you see your kingdom evolving?

     Our plans for Iru Land are centered on sustainability and positioning our kingdom as a model of modern traditional governance. We’re committed to deepening our investments in key areas such as education, digital access, environmental sustainability, and grassroots enterprise. Our goal is to create a thriving economy that operates in harmony with our rich cultural heritage.

    “In the next phase of our development, we’ll be focusing on sustainable development and cultural renaissance. This will involve investments in youth empowerment, digital infrastructure, vocational training, women’s leadership, and environmental sustainability – with a particular emphasis on our coastal environment. We envision Iru Land as a beacon of urban traditional governance, where modernity and tradition coexist in perfect balance.

    Our vision is to build a kingdom that is people-oriented, globally relevant, and culturally grounded. We believe that by working together, we can create a brighter future for the people of Iru Land, one that honors our heritage while embracing innovation and progress.

    Being a monarch comes with challenges. How has this role impacted your personal life and lifestyle?

    I’ve experienced a profound transformation in my personal life and lifestyle. Kingship brings a heightened sense of responsibility, demanding discipline, empathy, and spiritual awareness. My life has become more structured and purpose-driven, shifting from personal ambition to a focus on legacy and service to history and humanity. This shift has been deeply enriching.

    Being a king is not just a title; it’s a lifelong transformation. It requires greater discipline, spiritual focus, and intentional living. I carry the weight of tradition, and expectations from ancestors, the people, and posterity. My lifestyle has become less private, but more meaningful, with every action guided by the lens of legacy.

    This role has taught me to prioritize the greater good, to lead with wisdom, and to leave a lasting impact. It’s a privilege to serve, and I’m committed to honoring the trust placed in me.

    Final word

    Five years may seem short, but it’s been a journey of continuity, change, and promise. Iru Land is rising, and with collective will, we’ll continue to build a future that honors our past while embracing the possibilities of tomorrow. Together, we’ll forge a legacy that reflects our values, our resilience, and our unwavering commitment to progress.

  • The quiet revival of traditional medicine

    The quiet revival of traditional medicine

    Amid rising global health inequities and dependence on foreign pharmaceuticals, Nigeria is quietly charting a bold, locally-driven path to healing. At the forefront is the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), which has recently birthed 23 scientifically validated traditional remedies. Grounded in ancestral knowledge and refined through scientific rigour, this transformation heralds a future where home-grown remedies—not foreign fixes—shape how Nigerians restore wellness, build resilience and assert sovereignty over their healthcare narrative, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

    In an age dominated by innovation and rapid-fire biotech breakthroughs—where medicines are engineered in glass-walled laboratories and prescriptions often guided by algorithms—Nigeria is silently crafting a more grounded narrative: one that begins in the soil, winds through roots and leaves, and draws from centuries of inherited healing wisdom. This is not nostalgia. It is renewal. At the heart of this revival is the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), a relatively young yet increasingly influential government institution that has long operated beneath the radar; its ambitions often stymied by years of chronic underfunding. Now, it emerges boldly as a beacon of health innovation rooted in the country’s rich medicinal heritage.

    On the second anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the agency unveiled something extraordinary: 23 newly developed traditional medicine products. These remedies, crafted with meticulous care and scientific rigour, address a diverse range of health challenges—from the scourge of diarrhoea and the persistent discomfort of peptic ulcers to the chronic battle against hepatitis B and diabetes, alongside formulations aimed at immune support and the natural process of aging. Each product embodies a fusion of ancestral knowledge and cutting-edge research, promising a fresh chapter in Nigeria’s healthcare narrative.

    While the formal unveiling of these ground-breaking medicines is scheduled for a forthcoming ceremony, it is expected to receive the endorsement of President Tinubu—a gesture that would mark a watershed moment in the integration of traditional medicine into Nigeria’s national health agenda. This anticipated endorsement not only lends political weight to the agency’s work but also signals a broader shift in how Nigerians may begin to view and access healthcare—one that blends scientific advancement with indigenous wisdom. More than a symbolic nod, the development underscores Nigeria’s growing capacity for innovation while reaffirming the timeless relevance of nature’s pharmacy in addressing today’s myriad medical challenges.

    For Prof Martins Emeje, the Director-General of NNMDA and a distinguished scholar of drug delivery and nanomedicine, this is more than institutional success. It is the rebirth of a national identity. “We didn’t just meet our target for the year,” he said with quiet pride at the agency’s public accountability event in Lagos. “We surpassed it. We promised 11 new products, but we delivered 23. That tells you the kind of transformation happening here.”

    While the world often looks to the West for medical marvels, the African continent has long possessed its own pharmacy—sprawling forests, sacred groves, riverbanks, and even beneath the surface of the soil. From the spine of a fish to the bitterness of a tree bark, traditional medicine in Nigeria has been both a sanctuary and a science, passed down in oral traditions that have survived conquest and modernity. What NNMDA is doing now is not merely validating these remedies—it is refining them. Through the lens of pharmacology, nanotechnology and standardisation, the agency is crafting medicines that marry the authenticity of indigenous knowledge with the rigor of global science.

    Emeje puts it succinctly: “We develop medicine from the soil, from plants, from water, from animals—even insects. One of our most expensive medicines comes from the spine of a fish.” The agency’s anti-diarrhoea remedy, created through nanotechnology from a native plant, recently clinched first prize at a national scientific conference. The formulation is so promising that the National Assembly allocated funds in the 2025 budget to advance its development. Diarrhoea is one of the leading killers of children in Nigeria, accounting for thousands of avoidable deaths annually. For Emeje and his team, this is personal. “That product is very close to our hearts. We are emotional about it—not just because we created it, but because of the lives it can save,” he said. So too with the peptic ulcer remedy. Or the hepatitis B formulation. Or the immune-boosting and anti-aging products that the agency began rolling out last year. These are not just formulations—they are lifelines, created with the needs of everyday Nigerians in mind. In rural villages where pharmacies are hours away, and in urban centres where imported drugs are too expensive for most, these products could be the difference between dignity and despair.

    The unveiling of 23 new natural medicine products isn’t merely a scientific achievement—it is the quiet stirrings of a movement. These innovations span a rich spectrum of therapeutic needs, each one rooted in centuries of indigenous knowledge and refined by cutting-edge research. Among them is a peptic ulcer remedy crafted from plants, designed to offer relief without the harsh side effects of conventional antacids. For hepatitis B, a disease long underserved by accessible treatments, researchers have turned to potent indigenous herbs with broad-spectrum potential.

    The range also includes a sickle cell solution formulated to work in tandem with conventional therapies, and a line of diabetes management supplements aimed at regulating blood sugar and supporting metabolic health. Immune boosters and anti-aging tonics—drawn from the adaptogenic wealth of African botanicals—speak to both preventive care and vitality. Perhaps most practically, the agency has introduced a malaria prevention kit that blends Amarus herbal tea with a mosquito-repellent cream derived entirely from local plants. Each product is more than a remedy; it is a declaration that Nigeria’s health future can be cultivated from its own soil.

    Read Also: Kano understudies Lagos in traditional medicine

    In March 2024, NNMDA also quietly stepped into a new chapter in its history, achieving a significant milestone that further cements its role at the crossroads of indigenous wisdom and modern science. At a public event held at the agency’s Lagos headquarters and attended by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, the agency unveiled its first set of herbal medicines developed in solid oral dosage forms—a major leap forward for a government agency once relegated to the margins of Nigeria’s health discourse. Among the innovations were medicines targeting diabetes, sickle cell disease, upper respiratory tract infections, and age-related immune decline. Developed from indigenous plants and natural compounds, the products represent a paradigm shift—offering affordable, locally sourced alternatives to imported pharmaceuticals. These formulations are not just a testament to the rich pharmacopeia found within Nigeria’s biodiversity, but also an embodiment of what is possible when traditional knowledge is refined through the rigour of scientific research.

    The Minister hailed the breakthrough as evidence of the untapped potential lying within Nigeria’s natural environment, emphasising the importance of translating such scientific achievements into commercially viable health solutions. According to him, the future of Nigeria’s health sector rests in the country’s ability to harness local knowledge systems to improve health outcomes and stimulate job creation. What was once an obscure agency has now become a national model for research-driven impact. With plans underway to launch even more products, the NNMDA is making a compelling case for the revival—and mainstreaming—of traditional medicine.

    Although established in 1997, NNMDA is only now stepping into its full potential. Under dynamic new leadership, the agency has evolved into a beacon of public-sector innovation—reigniting national interest in traditional medicine and repositioning itself at the forefront of health research. This recent surge in productivity marks a decisive break from its dormant past, signalling not just institutional revival, but a broader cultural and scientific awakening to the untapped power of Nigeria’s indigenous healing knowledge. “This is now a turnaround agency,” he declared, “in terms of productivity, in terms of attitude.” That turnaround isn’t happening in isolation. It aligns closely with President Tinubu’s broader directive for ministries, departments and agencies to adopt transparency, deliver value and publicly account for their achievements. In NNMDA’s case, the achievements speak for themselves.

    A call for commercialisation

    Innovation, no matter how ground-breaking, only matters when it reaches the people who need it – a fact NNMDA leadership clearly understands. For the agency’s products to move beyond the lab and into everyday use, strategic partnerships—especially with the private sector—are essential. “Research is just the beginning. We need industry players to step in,” he says. But this isn’t a plea for charity; it’s a call to invest in a burgeoning opportunity. With the global market for natural medicine projected to surpass $550 billion by 2030, African countries that prioritise and scale indigenous drug development today stand to become global players tomorrow.

    Yet the significance of this work goes deeper than market forecasts. For decades, traditional African medicine has been dismissed through a colonial lens—seen as archaic or unscientific. In truth, its principles align with many of the ideals now championed by global wellness movements: holistic care, sustainability, and prevention. By institutionalising and innovating around this heritage, Nigeria isn’t just advancing healthcare—it’s reclaiming its cultural narrative. “We’re restoring confidence in who we are. We’re saying our roots are valid. Our science is valid. Our future is ours,” Emeje says. In a country where billions are lost annually to medical tourism and local pharmaceutical manufacturing remains limited, NNMDA’s approach is both bold and timely. This isn’t a rejection of Western medicine, but an expansion of Nigeria’s healthcare possibilities—grounded in its own soil, shaped by its own science, and powered by its own people.

    A Presidential endorsement awaits

    President Tinubu is expected to formally launch the new range of products in the coming weeks, in what could become a landmark moment for the traditional medicine sector. That endorsement will not only signal federal support—it will surely open doors for further investment, cross-agency collaboration and policy alignment. For Emeje and his team, the future is already in motion. The focus now is on scale, on documentation, on regulatory approval, and on global standardisation. “We’re ready,” he said. “These products are ready. Nigeria is ready.” In the quiet corridors of the agency’s Lagos office, the air is thick with purpose. Batches of herbal teas, creams, capsules and concentrates sit ready for the next chapter. And somewhere between the soil and the microscope, the old ways and the new are shaking hands. It is the quiet revival of traditional medicine. And as Emeje hinted, it is just beginning.

  • How herdsmen wiped out my husband, three children months after killing my father, mother, siblings

    How herdsmen wiped out my husband, three children months after killing my father, mother, siblings

    • Assailants shoot Catholic priest, kill 27 others
    • 32 victims in critical conditions

    It was a well-planned mission executed in the evening hours with clinical precision. At about 4pm on the fateful Sunday of May 25, about 30 heavily armed men suspected to be herdsmen stormed Aondona, a district community in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State on an ungodly mission: to kill every resident and burn down the entire community.

    With some of them half-masked and others clad in military fatigue, the marauders announced their arrival with a staccato of gunfire, shattering the serenity of the community. They declared an ‘operation one man, one bullet’ on the local farmers, most of whom were returning to their farms after attending the Sunday service in their churches. Some were already on their farms while many others did not go to the farm because it was a Sunday.

    Their mission was well defined: hit each and everyone sighted with a bullet and burn down their houses and foodstuffs. Not even children and pregnant women were spared in their evil mission.

    To ensure that the inhabitants of the community did not decode the impending danger, the intruders had stealthily made their entry using farm routes. Knowing that it was a Sunday and most of the local farmers might not go to farm but rather gather together in their homes, they took the residents unaware in their trademark fashion.

    Soon, the bubble burst as sounds of their sophisticated weapons rent the air. The invaders swooped on the remote Aondona community and sent more than 27 innocent farmers into early graves. About 32 others were left critically injured while close to half of the buildings in the community were burnt down, rendering a population of about 50,000 people homeless and forcing them to seek refuge in neighbouring communities of Mbalim, Mbakyaan, Mbaba and Taraku all in Gwer East Local Government Area.

    While this operation one man, one bullet was going on in Aondona community, a Catholic Reverend Father, Solomon Atongo, was traveling to Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government, using the Makurdi-Naka Road. Unfortunately, he ran into some of the herdsmen, who promptly pumped bullets into his vehicle. They had presumed the Rev Father dead, but fortunately for him, he survived the attack and had to undergo treatment at a hospital in Makurdi.

    Hapless residents of Aondona community are now left to count their losses not only in terms of loss of lives but also in terms of destroyed foodstuffs, economic trees, houses, huts and motorcycles.

    Read Also: Five strongest currencies in Africa as of May 2025

    Among the women widowed by the tragic incident was Mrs Apesuur Ukechia whose husband was hacked to death while returning from the farm. The widow, who also lost all her three children in the horrendous attack, said it was a sword driven into her heart.

    “What did I do to deserve this? she asked repeatedly in a chat with our correspondent. “These Fulani people (herdsmen) have ruined my life. They have robbed me of all that I have in life.

    “I am finished. God, I need your divine intervention. Show your mercy,” she lamented as her husband’s corpse and those of her children were evacuated to the mortuary.

    To worsen her plight, Mrs Ukechia does not have a roof over her head as their house was burnt during the attack that saw the entire inhabitants of the community displaced. She has only managed to find refuge with a friend in Mbaba community of Gwer East Local Government Area, where she now lives on charity.

    Ukechia, who was yet to come to terms with becoming a widow, said she could not believe that all the hope that she and her husband had nursed about succeeding in life and training their kids had been dashed by her husband’s sudden death.

    Narrating the circumstances that surrounded the death of her husband and the three children as well as the entire operation in the community, she said although there had been threats of attacks by herdsmen around the local government in the last eight months, as most remote villages in the local government had been displaced and a lot of people had been killed, Aondona is not completely a remote community, being next in size only to Naka, the local government’s headquarters.

    Ukechia  said: “We never believed that herdsmen would plan an attack on Aondona despite their threats around the local government. We woke up on Sunday (May 25) with high hopes and went to the church as a family.

    “We came back and my husband decided that he would go to the farm with the children to uproot some cassava. I was tired and could not follow them to the farm.

    “On their way back from the farm with the cassava and approaching home, sounds of gunshots emerged from nowhere and I ran for my dear life.

    “It is unfortunate that the herdsmen were strategic with their gunshots. They were targeted directly at them and they all died on the spot. They burnt down the house, killed other people and also burnt down their houses too.

    “In fact, the entire community was confused when gunshots sounded from different corners and the inhabitants ran in different directions for safety.

    “When I could not find my husband and children, I thought they had also run in different directions. But when the dust cleared and they could not be found, some men who survived the attacks started checking until they found their corpses close to the house.

    “I didn’t believe that they were killed in the attacks until I saw their lifeless bodies in pools of blood.

    “I never thought they would leave me this early. We had good plans to train our children up to the university, but these wicked herdsmen ruined my life.

    “They have rendered me a widow without any hope in life again. Why can’t God take my life too so that I join them? I don’t need this life again.

    “How can God punish me this manner? Taking away my life partner and precious children in one clean sweep and leaving me lonely on this planet is quite frustrating.

    “I am highly traumatised by this experience. I had no inkling that Sunday church I attended together with my husband and children was my last movement with them on earth.

    “We were married for 27 years and had three children. My husband and I are farmers. It’s going to be quite challenging for me going forward. No mother, no father, no husband, no child, no family relations, how can I cope?

    “Where do I go from here? My husband was my last hope but he is no more. In spite of the spate of mindless killings going on in Gwer West Local Government, I never for once thought he would be a victim, talk less of my children.

    “Now they have both gone to meet their Creator, leaving me with no means of livelihood for now, because we can’t access our farm anymore.

    “The killer herdsmen have deprived me of peace of mind. Who takes care of me? Who will rebuild the house? Who will console me? These same Fulani herdsmen had earlier in the year killed my father and mother and younger ones. What a life!”

    Our correspondent gathered that the herdsmen chased the entire Gwer West Local Government farmers out of their farmlands, and anyone who attempted to go to the farm would be killed.

    Ukechia said: “We want help to return to our land. It appears our plight is not touching the heart of government. Our people are being killed like rats and nobody is showing concern.

    “The future of our children is in danger. Our land is being regularly soaked by the blood of our people. We need help. The state and the federal government should come to our aid.”

    Another victim of the attack, who gave his name as Japhet Atam, gave horrifying details of the attacks in a brief conversation with our correspondent, recalling how his younger brother and his wife were gruesomely killed.

    He said at about 4pm on that fateful day, some militia herdsmen invaded the Aondona community in large numbers and set their houses ablaze. “They picked on everyone who tried to escape. My younger brother and his newly married wife were all killed.

    “The militia men shot at defenceless men and women as well as children while others armed with machetes hacked other people to death.

    “The innocent and unarmed people ran frantically, looking for escape routes, but they were sprayed with bullets.”

    He feared that a bloody war would soon erupt between Fulani herdsmen and the local Tiv farmers in the state, saying that the killings were too much for the locals to bear.

    “If government cannot protect us, we will protect ourselves. We won’t allow them take over our lands,” Atam said.

    “Unless urgent steps are taken to halt the mindless and barbaric killing of Tiv farmers in Benue State, they would be left with no choice but to respond to the attacks,” he added.

    At the moment, there is high pitch tension in the state as the killings have left the people of Gwer West Local Government Area traumatised.

    The local government area has 15 wards, including Sengev, Teambe/Mbesev, Merkyen, Nyamshi, Gaambe-Ushin, Mbachohon, Mbaba, Tijime, Avihijime, Gbaange/Togo, Tyoughatee/Ijaha, Sengev/Yengev, Saghev/Ukusu, Ikyagev and Mbabuande.

    Our correspondent gathered that since late last year, residents of more than 11 council wards had been displaced and were taking refuge in Naka, the headquarters of the local government area.

    Speaking on the latest attacks which sent many residents into their early graves, the Executive Chairman of Gwer West Local Government Area, Victor Torsar Ormin revealed that the attacks occurred in multiple villages, including Yewa Biama, which lies in close proximity to a military base. Despite this, he said, there was no response from security forces during the carnage.

    He expressed sadness over the massacre of more than 20 people by herdsmen just as he decried the persistent violence and the inactions of the government.

    Ormin said: “More than 20 people, including a two-year-old child, were killed in a series of fresh attacks in Aondona and other communities in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

    “They say the local security does not have the mandate to engage these people; that only the federal government can give that mandate.

    “So should my people continue to die while we wait? What is the meaning of this?”

    He decried the killing of entire families, citing the burial of a father and his two adult sons in Tewa Bianca just a day before, very close to a military base.

    “What is the meaning of this? If they cannot help me, maybe I will leave this position as chairman and let it continue the way it is,” he added.

    Visibly distraught, the chairman said the psychological toll of the violence was becoming unbearable. “I don’t care about being chairman anymore. Look at a child of two years old butchered. It is too much for me to condone,” he said.

    He disclosed that more than 20 people were killed in Aondona village alone; an area with significant historical and political ties.

    “This is the village of the former First Lady of this state, Mrs Eunice Ortom. This is the village of the Tor Gwer, a first class traditional ruler. This is the village of Bishop Anangbe. Whatever will happen will happen. I don’t know what to do anymore,” he added

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Gwer West/Gwer East Federal Constituency, Asema Achado  vehemently condemned the continuous, unprovoked killings and violent attacks on innocent citizens of Benue State by armed herdsmen.

    Achado expressed grave concern over the growing intensity, frequency, and brazen nature of the attacks, describing the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe. He lamented the rising death toll and the deliberate targeting of women, children and the elderly—acts which he described as barbaric, inhuman, and a flagrant violation of both national and international humanitarian laws.

    The federal lawmaker recalled the incident in which Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu was shot along the Makurdi-Naka Road, alongside coordinated attacks on communities such as Tse-Orbiam, Ahume, and Aondona, where several lives were lost. He decried the silence and inaction of both the Federal and State Government authorities in the face of what he termed a “systematic extermination” of Benue’s rural population.

    An exasperated citizen of the area and public affairs commentator, Mr Agba Michael, said: “Anyone who has the means to mobilise their people to defend themselves and is still crying, shouting and calling on government to do something at this point is not serious. I say this without apologies to anyone. With all due respect, we have complained enough.

    “Someone should help me to tell the bishop that he has complained enough. We have seen his efforts. The world has heard his cry, but no one is coming to help him.

    “So, what next? Isn’t there anything else we can do other than condemn attacks and praying? Will the church miss the promise of Paradise if it mobilises to defend itself?

    “Someone help me tell the Gwer West LGA Chairman, all concerned citizens of Gwer West and Benue State at large that the time for complaints is long over. 

    No one will come if it’s just our people dying. We have been sold out. It’s obvious.

    “No one agrees they are in the position to do something. Not even the chief security officer of state, the governor.

    “Are we going to do something outside the box or we prefer to keep condemning attacks and praying until there is no one left to bury the other?

    “In case anyone cares to know why I think something unorthodox is justifiable at this point, here is my billion-dollar question: The people that are killing us, are they obeying the law? What has the law done to them in all these years?

    “The summary of it is this: they are killing us because they have weapons and the backing of our slave masters.

    “The silence of our leaders is enough reason for us to agree they have been bought. We have been sold out.

    “If we have to escape this, we need to accept that we have been enslaved, and ask ourselves whether we are going to fight for our liberation from our slave masters or accept our fate as slaves which we shall be till we are completely whipped out.”

    A Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Sebastine Tar Hon, also raised the alarm over the worsening security situation in Benue State and called for speedy action to prevent further loss of lives.

    In a detailed letter to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, he stressed the urgent need for a strategic overhaul of operations to stem the tide of violence and protect innocent lives.

    Chief Tar Hon, an indigene of Benue State, recalled that since May 2018, the joint military operation codenamed Operation Whirl Stroke has been tasked with tackling herdsmen attacks and militancy across Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Zamfara states. He aid initially, the operation showed promise, boasting significant successes including the elimination of bandits and the recovery of weapons, as reported in 2019. He however lamented that recent reports indicate a steep decline in the effectiveness of such operations.

    According to the legal luminary, in early 2024, reports emerged of soldiers and civilians being killed by heavily armed invaders, with Amnesty International estimating about 2,600 lives lost, mostly women and children, over the course of attacks on numerous communities, pointing out that the situation has since spiraled, with violence escalating unabated.

    Hon’s letter states that recent months have seen a surge in deadly attacks. It says in April 2025, dozens of innocent people were killed in Otobi community, Gwer West and other parts of Benue State, with casualty figures ranging between 56 and 70.

    The letter says in May alone, more than 166 persons had been reported killed across various local government areas of the state.

    Specific attacks, according to Prof Hon, include the brutal sacking of Aondona Village in Gwer West, where dozens of villagers and a Catholic church were burnt or destroyed, and a priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo was attacked and left for dead but was rescued after hours.

    “Killings in the state by the invaders have become a daily occurrence and no one is challenging the murderers. Benue people are greeted daily by/with reports of their loved ones being killed, maimed, attacked and dislocated from their ancestral lands. What a big existential challenge to the good people of Benue State,” he stated.

    Chief Hon also criticised recent military strategies, noting a shift towards targeting local militia gangs while neglecting the larger invasion by heavily armed Fulani herdsmen. He highlighted his belief that operations have become inconsistent, with conflicting directives such as the establishment of a separate “Operation Planning Cadre” by Nasarawa State, potentially hampering coordinated efforts.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also points to the inadequate deployment of police personnel who were sent to troubled areas on motorcycles, a tactical approach he says has proven insufficient against heavily armed invaders.

    He further made reference to the urgent ultimatums issued by the Traditional Councils of Tiv and Idoma asking herders to vacate their ancestral lands by the end of May 2025. These warnings, he said, have sadly have been ignored, leading to a full-scale invasion.

    Prof. Hon concluded that at least a quarter of Benue State has been forcibly occupied by armed herders, turning peaceful farmers into refugees on their own land, and called on the government to act fast to avert further bloodshed.

  • Rescued from licenced killers

    Rescued from licenced killers

    • Ex-chain smokers relive battle with cigarette addiction
    • Smoking kills more people  than terrorism -Investigation

    Cigarette smoking kills more people annually worldwide than terrorism, and this is an evidence-based fact. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports, cigarette smoking kills about eight million people annually worldwide while the highest number of deaths recorded from terrorism was 32,864 in 2018, according to data provided by Statista, a German online platform that specialises in data gathering and visualization. In spite of the staggering death figures and attendant health crises, tobacco companies keep amplifying their CSR and marketing strategies, especially online where young population is dominant.  As the world marks ‘World No Tobacco Day 2025’ today, INNOCENT DURU shares stories of chain smokers who have quit the habit to help those  still stuck to the addiction and risk contracting terminal illnesses or dying.

    Mohammed, a corporate event planner, was lured into smoking cigarettes when he was in secondary school.

    As a rural young boy going to a boarding school in an urban setting, shedding the toga of a village boy soon consumed Mohammed as he mixed with the city boys whose hobby was cigarette smoking.

    “I started smoking through friends, because my father wasn’t smoking. I didn’t know about cigarette smoking from home. I got to know about cigarettes in secondary school, because we were in a boarding house.

    There, you have boys who come from the city. I  was from one village where I had not seen a cigarette before and  met those kinds of boys.

    “Before I  knew it, I  started smoking,” Mohammed said.

    After his initiation, Mohammed said “I  smoked for more than 25 years. I think it got to a point, let’s say, I smoked  on the average, about 15 sticks  per day.There was a time I felt cigarettes were  helping me to go to the toilet; that without it, I would not be able to defecate. But it’s merely a psychological thing, it’s not true. After quitting, I still defecate without smoking.”

    He noted that he smoked for such a long period because among his fellow smokers they had a saying that “something must kill somebody. It could be cigarette, drug addiction, sex or anything else. In spite of all the campaigns,  this wrong belief made me and others to stubbornly stick to smoking.”

    Mohammed also noted that his love for alcohol also fired up his addiction to cigarettes.

    “Normally, smoking goes with drinking. If you are drinking and smoking, you believe that the smoke is helping to high you alongside the drink. If you watch, when people are drinking, they smoke a lot,” he said.

    After more than two decades of smoking cigarettes, Mohammed decided to end the addiction when he realised that there was no gain in it.

    “Generally, people have habits, and it is normally health issues that lead them to stop. But I just decided to stop smoking.

    “I think it was a revolution on my part, because the point is, I just felt I was tired of drinking.

    “So now, if I’m going to stop drinking, what is the need for smoking? So everything went together.

    “I stopped smoking  about 15 years ago. There was no gain in smoking; nothing at all.”

    After the first three months of stopping cigarettes, Mohammed said he observed that “my throat used to do me somehow reminding me about smoking.  But I ignored it. That ended the urge.”

    He replied in the affirmative when asked if he felt healthier without cigarette. “Yes,”, he roared. “I’m healthier. I feel healthier, because, you know, when I was smoking, I was drinking too. So, I cannot really know the effects separately. Many people who go through this thing, they don’t come out like that.”

    Mohammed said  as a father, “I cannot encourage my children to  smoke.  No right thinking parent would encourage their kids to smoke, because it is a bad habit.

    “Smoking is bad. Can’t you see the campaign all over the world about smoking? I was  just stubbornly smoking cigarettes back then, that’s all.”

    Like Mohammed, John, a media executive, also started smoking cigarettes from secondary school.

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    The pattern of  people learning how to smoke from secondary school informs why tobacco companies engage in aggressive campaigns online where young people are massively active. It is also  not surprising why the internet is flooded with pictures and videos of young people, including females, passionately smoking cigarettes.

    Sharing his experience, John said: “I started smoking in the second year during my secondary school days. It was peer pressure that made me to start smoking.”

    Like Mohammed, he said: “I was so addicted to cigarettes that I wouldn’t be able to use the toilet without smoking. I was also not feeling satisfied if I ate without smoking cigarette. When I woke up in the morning, the first thing that would enter my mouth was cigarette. It was a terrible addiction.”

    Recalling how he subdued the die-hard habit, he said: “I quit smoking not because it gave me any health problems but because smokers are often stigmatised. People tend to avoid them.

    “Once they perceive the smell, they will move away from you or make a sarcastic statement that I didn’t like. They would relate every bad thing, even those you know nothing about, to you. 

    “Again, going to church also helped me to overcome the addiction. Now, I don’t feel comfortable staying around smokers. It is irritable.”

    The story is not different for Francis, a businessman, who said: “I took to smoking when I mixed up with friends whose hobby is smoking.  They always competed to know who was the best smoker. 

    “They competed to see who had the capacity to puff out the smoke in the most unusual way. If you coughed while engaging in those deadly competitions, you were seen as a weakling,” he said.

    Francis said after many years of addiction to smoking cigarettes, “I saw that my set of teeth was having embarrassing colours that made people to easily identify one as a smoker.

    “I always felt sad when people, especially females that you were interested in, asked if you are a smoker, because your teeth give you out even without the smell that comes with smoking.”

    Music, Nollywood stars quit cigarette smoking

    Many people who engage in smoking because of what they watch in music and other kinds of video may be shocked to learn that many of their models are quitting the habit.

    According to Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video and Showmax providing streaming services on the go, contribute to tobacco promotion through various channels.

    “One key avenue is product placement within popular shows and movies. As characters smoke on screen, they glamourise tobacco use, potentially influencing viewers, particularly the younger generation.

    “The normalization of smoking in entertainment content serves as indirect advertising for tobacco products.

    “One population segment the tobacco industry continues to aggressively target is young people. The industry uses movies to portray smoking as cool and sophisticated, luring young people to trying tobacco.

    “It is important to note that these efforts to normalize tobacco on screen can lead to increased smoking initiation, addiction and long-term health harms.”

    Frontline Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, is one of the people who have done away with cigarettes.

    “I smoked for 21 years before I quit, and each time I got tensed up, I looked for a cigarette, and psychologically I was puffing away the anger.

    “But there is no other thing it does for you physically except to destroy your lungs,” the veteran actor said in an interview.

    Among popular entertainers who have publicly renounced smoking is Yeni Kuti, daughter of the late Afro Beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. 

    “Before my daughter went into the university, I used to smoke and suffer chest pains,” she said in a newspaper interview. “I was like if I continued smoking, I might die before my daughter graduated.

    “That was the inspiration I needed to stop smoking, because for years, I had been telling myself that I would stop smoking on the first day of January, but by January 4, I would return to smoking.

    “But this time, I didn’t wait for January 3 or 4. I simply told myself that if I continued smoking, I would die and never see my daughter graduate. That was just too important for me, so I just stopped.

    “I have stopped smoking for three years. The fear of not being able to educate my child gave me that inspiration. I was like, who will educate this girl if I die?”

    Another Nollywood veteran, Zack Orji has also parted ways with smoking. Zack said he experimented with cigarettes and Indian hemp but quit the bad habits when he realised that they only caused more harm than good.

    “I quit smoking because at a certain time, it was no longer pleasurable. As a matter of fact, I discovered that anytime I smoked over the years, I fell sick.

    “I gave it up the first time for three years, then I relapsed. But I finally stopped three years after I got married.

    “I just discovered that anytime I smoked, I did not feel comfortable with myself, so I gave it up.”

    It will also interest young music lovers desiring to start smoking that some of their hip-hop idols have signed off from the habit.

    Top on the list is frontline music sensation Kizz Daniel who shared a video of himself disposing of cigarettes via his verified Instagram account.

    The singer explained to his fans that smoking is not cool.

    He said: “To celebrate my birthday, for the sake of my kids and people that love me genuinely, I quit.

    “Those of you still struggling with the addiction, it is not cool and it is not good, trust me. May God save us.”

    The testimony of Korede Bello, a youthful artiste, speaks volumes about the need for young people to quit cigarettes.

    He told of how  his father’s health made him to quit the act of smoking.

    Korede said: “My dad used to smoke a lot of cigarettes, and as a child, he used to send me to get him cigarettes.

    “I noticed something then: he used to cough a lot. So I’d ask him, ‘Daddy why are you coughing?’ and he’d tell me ‘it’s because of the cigarette. So if you don’t wanna cough like me, don’t smoke.”

    Tobacco industry targeting young generation to find replacement consumers -WHO

    The World Health Organisation in a report last year raised concerns about the tobacco industry targeting the young generation to find replacement consumers in order to maximise profits.

    “To find replacement consumers and generate a lifetime of profits, the tobacco industry is targeting the young generation.

    “The industry uses sleek marketing campaigns with  new media tools and harmless looking products designed to appeal to young people, thus creating a new wave of addiction.

    “Hooking the next generation”, a new report jointly launched by World Health Organisation (WHO) and STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, highlights how the tobacco industry designs products, implements marketing campaigns and influences the policy environment to help them addict the world’s youth.

    The report shows that globally, an estimated 37 million children aged 13-15 years use tobacco, and in many countries, the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents exceeds that of adults.”

    The report noted that tobacco industry markets tobacco and nicotine products as less harmful novel products, like gadgets or toys in attractive packaging.

    “In reality, evidence shows that these products sold in fruit and candy flavours, and intensively marketed on social media platforms are hooking young people across the world.

    “Nicotine contained in tobacco is highly addictive and tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, over 20 different types of cancer, and many other debilitating health conditions.

    “Tobacco and nicotine products sold in any form are addictive and cause diseases and death.”

    Tobacco industry manipulative -Don

    Prof. Catherine Egbe of the School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa, exposed the manipulative nature of tobacco industry during a webinar on ‘World No Tobacco Day 2025’ attended by our correspondent on Wednesday, 

    She said: “The industry, when scientists started getting a glimpse of what was happening with cigarettes and disease, they started doing PR. 

    “So they employed a very highly placed PR agency or firm called Hill and Norton. 

    “They designed what the industry should do in order to make people not believe what the scientists were saying about the addictiveness of their product, about the harmfulness of their product. 

    “So, one of the promises they made was that if they found that cigarettes were harmful, they were going to stop making cigarettes.

    “So you can see several of their CEOs, their presidents at different times of the year saying that they would stop making cigarettes should they confirm that cigarettes were harmful.”

    The interesting thing, the don said, is that they already knew many years before the public even started getting a glimpse of it. 

    “So it’s also important to mention that the industry was not just using a naturally occurring product that is available for people to just put into a paper and smoke.

    “They were also engineering the products to become more addictive.  They were tweaking the nicotine so that it would become more addictive. 

    “And in their document in the 1960s, this one is 1963, they admitted that nicotine was addictive and that they were selling an addictive drug.

    “Guess what happened in 1994 when they were summoned to the U.S. Congress to say, you are selling an addictive product and you never disclosed that these products were addictive or harmful.  They said they never knew that nicotine was addictive.

    “They all raised their hand and swore that they believed nicotine was not addictive.

    “Remember, this was in1994. But in 1963, they already admitted.  And in 1997, even recently, they are still saying, oh, we will shut down our company.

    We’ll shut down our manufacturing if we know that cigarette causes cancer.”

    Continuing, Prof Egbe said: “The interesting thing is that as part of the propaganda machine, they have now come to accept that these products are addictive and harmful.

    And this was taken by me from the South African website where they mentioned that combustible cigarettes pose serious health risks, and the only way to avoid them is not to start or to quit.  So they admit.

    “But now they don’t admit with the position of going back to the drawing board and stopping to produce these products.  They still spend billions to propagate, to promote, to advertise, to hook, especially in Africa and other low and middle income countries. 

    “Africa, because they have a growing young population and our laws are weak.

    So they transitioned from cigarettes to other forms of tobacco or nicotine products as a way to avoid all the troubles they were getting from cigarettes.”

    Going down memory lane, she said: “As some of you may be aware, in 1998, they settled out of court for a class action suit against them.  They are paying billions, even to date, for selling their products to children, for targeting children, for advertising to children, and for not disclosing the harmfulness of their products.

    “They are doing this in the United States. And the big question I always ask whenever I mention this is, was it only in the United States that their products killed people? Did their products not kill people in Africa and other parts of the world? Why are they not being held accountable? 

    “Instead, when they come to this country, they are trying to reinvent themselves. 

    “They are trying to reinvent themselves even in other countries. But here in Africa, they are trying to really use the reinvention to have a leeway.”

    Tobacco kills eight million people annually

    The World Health Organisation has described the tobacco epidemic as one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, “killing over 8 million people a year around the world. More than 7 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 1.3 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.”

    WHO noted that all forms of tobacco use are harmful, and “there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide. Other tobacco products include waterpipe tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, heated tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, bidis and kreteks, and smokeless tobacco products.”

    While agreeing that tobacco kills in large numbers, American Lung Association said “but before you die, you could experience some pretty terrible diseases and health conditions from smoking. The association listed the most gruesome diseases caused by smoking to include lung cancer, noting that more people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer.

    “Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer; it’s responsible for close to 90% of lung cancer cases.”

    Other health challenges caused by smoking, according to the association, are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, stroke, asthma, reproductive health in women, premature, low birth-weight babies, diabetes, blindness, and over 10 other types of cancer, including colon, cervix, liver, stomach and pancreatic cancer.

    WHO, in one of its recent reports, noted that there is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests.

    “The tobacco industry produces and promotes a product that has been proven scientifically to be addictive, to cause disease and death and to give rise to a variety of social ills, including increased poverty.

    “The scale of the human and economic tragedy that tobacco imposes is shocking, and also preventable.

    “The tobacco industry is fighting to ensure the dangers of their products are concealed, but we are fighting back.”

    Terrorism kills 361, 010 in 17 years, tobacco kills 8million in one year

    Calculations from the above data provided by Statista regarding the number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide between 2007 and 2023, show that a total of 361, 010 people have lost their lives to terrorists globally in 17 years while cigarette smoking, from WHO’s reports,  annually wastes eight million lives. This revelation shows why governments across the globe need to  commit more resources and energy to addressing the disaster that the tobacco industry is causing to man and the environment.

    Tobacco industry exploits loopholes in Nigeria

    In its bid to regulate the tobacco industry, Nigeria has enacted tough regulations against cigarette advertising and consumption. Some of the regulations that were designed to check the industry include Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act which was signed into law on 10 June 2015 covers several areas of tobacco control including regulation of smoking, the prohibition of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, regulation of tobacco products, contents and product packaging, licensing, and protection from tobacco industry interference, among others.

    Regulations for implementing the Act, which came four years after and is now known as the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Regulations 2019, provide more clarity on stakeholders’ obligations for effective tobacco control.

    Nigeria is also a signatory to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which entered into force on January 18, 2006.

    Incidentally,  there are exceptions in the law regulating tobacco entities, the most notable of which can be found in Section 12(2) of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015. The section states, among others, that the provisions of subsection (1) do not apply to communication between manufacturers, retailers of tobacco or tobacco products and any consenting person who is 18 years of age or above.

    Laudable as these efforts are, the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Akinbode Oluwafemi, in a recent report of the organisation regretted that the players are exploiting the loopholes. His words: ‘Whilst Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act and its Regulations have largely checked the activities of tobacco corporations and entities, the industry has exploited some weaknesses in these laws and gaps in the system to interfere in tobacco control.”

    One such tactics, Akinbode noted, “is the tobacco industry’s use and loud celebration of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in the media and on social platforms as a way of enhancing its image to attract unsuspecting individuals, thereby creating a perception of the industry and its products as responsible and desirable. These CSR initiatives are further promoted by the endorsement of state authorities, who associate and collaborate with the industry to execute socio-economic empowerment programs.”

    Checks showed that tobacco companies support initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, empowering smallholder farmers, and promoting food security in parts of the country while encouraging tobacco leaves cultivation. WHO in 2023 lamented the rising number of arable lands devoted to the planting of tobacco leaf in Africa. According to WHO Africa Regional Director, Dr. Matshidisho Moeti, “while the area under tobacco cultivation decreased by 15.7% globally, in Africa it increased by 3.4% from 2012 to 2018.”

    This ugly development no doubt contributes to food insecurity and rise in cigarette addiction in Nigeria where cigarette smoking, according to reports kills  28,876 people annually.

  • NAHCON signs Mashaer facilities agreement

    NAHCON signs Mashaer facilities agreement

    •Lagos inspects Muna tents

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) yesterday said it has taken over the management of the improved Masha’er tent facilities from service provider, Mashariq Al-Dhabiyya.

    A statement by its Public Affairs Officer, Malam Muhammad Musa, in Makkah, said the commission took charge of the tent facilities management in collaboration with all state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions,

    He said the development aimed at enhancing the comfort and experience of Nigerian pilgrims.

    Musa said the handover, marked by mutual satisfaction and optimism, signified a new chapter in the provision of standardised, high-quality services for Nigerian pilgrims.

    “Among the notable upgrades are the installation of modern cooling systems, additional large shading umbrellas above the traditional tents,” he said.

    He said that for the first time, provision of seven extra tents were reserved as backups to cater to any unforeseen needs during the Hajj exercise.

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    “The agreement, described as a win-win for both parties, promises to deliver a unique and more comfortable Hajj experience for the Nigerian pilgrims in this 2025 operation,” Musa said.

    Meanwhile, representatives of Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, on Tuesday, joined officials of NAHCON and other states Muslim Pilgrims Boards, to inspect facilities available in the Muna and Arafah tents in preparation for the main Hajj rites.

    The Lagos State team, led by Chairman, Muna and Arafah sub-committee, Imam Shakiru Gafar, expressed satisfaction over the tents allocated to the state in the Mashaer.

    While stating that Lagos State and NAHCON were jointly allocated tent number 162 by the service provider, Ekram Aldyf Company, he added that there were a lot of improvements in the facilities provided in the tents aimed at making the stay of the pilgrims remarkable and comfortable to perform the Hajj rituals in Muna and Arafah.

    The main Hajj rites will begin on Wednesday when pilgrims would proceed from Makkah to Muna.

  • Rasaki Oladejo: Promoting inclusivity and tolerance through MUSWEN

    Rasaki Oladejo: Promoting inclusivity and tolerance through MUSWEN

    By Mikail Mumuni

    Since his assumption of office as President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) in November 2020, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo has been a pivotal figure in promoting inclusivity and tolerance within and beyond the Muslim community in Nigeria.

    A development economist and Head of Research and Information Technology at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from 1989 until his retirement as Deputy Director-General in 2003, Oladejo is also the Deputy President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

    His  leadership emphasizes unity, education, and peaceful coexistence, aligning with MUSWEN’s mission as the umbrella body for Muslims in Nigeria’s South-West states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo.

    The MUSWEN President has championed initiatives that foster inclusivity across diverse groups. Under his leadership, the organisation has awarded bursaries to many beneficiaries, prioritizing education as a tool to combat poverty and enhance opportunities for Muslim youth, particularly women. He is of the firm conviction that “Education is the master key to overcoming poverty,” highlighting its role in fostering inclusivity through skill development and job placement programs.

    MUSWEN, under Oladejo, has equally embraced all Islamic organizations, NGOs, traditional leaders, intellectuals, professionals, women, and youth in the South West , ensuring broad representation. This approach strengthens the organization’s ability to serve diverse community needs and fosters unity across ethnic and sub-sectional lines.

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    As Deputy President of the NSCIA, Oladejo operates within a framework that engages with national interfaith issues, as the NSCIA often collaborates with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other religious bodies under the auspices of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to address societal challenges.

    He encourages active participation in politics by  Muslims  to ensure that their voices are heard in governance. In doing that, Oladejo emphasises competence as well as fairness and justice to all, irrespective of obvious and not so obvious differences.

    All these resonated during the last electioneering period in Nigeria when he and other MUSWEN leaders endorsed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was then running for the Presidency.

    Although MUSWEN is of the view that  President Tinubu has not adequately reciprocated the support he got from Muslims in the South West by neglecting to give them  commensurate government appointments compared to their Christian counterparts within the geo-political zone , Oladejo and his lieutenants in the organization have avoided deploying inflammatory sectarian rhetoric, thus setting a good example that places national unity over other considerations.

    Oladejo’s tenure  has been marked by efforts to promote peace and mutual understanding. In response to divisive tendencies along political or ethnic lines, MUSWEN, under Oladejo, has maintained that the unity  and stability of the Nigerian nation is “sacrosanct and not negotiable.”

    This stance was evident in his statements following Nigeria’s #Endsars  protests, during which he urged peaceful dialogue and patience with government reforms. In 2024 also, Oladejo further called on Nigerians to exercise patience amid economic challenges, framing it as a divine injunction and encouraged affluent citizens to support the less privileged. These appeals promoted social cohesion and mutual support across socio- economic divides.

    In his 2020 acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to predecessors like Prof Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa and Justice Tijani Bolarinwa Babalakin, projecting a legacy of principled leadership.

    Oladejo outlined a vision for MUSWEN as a unifying force, leveraging his experience as a former President of the Nawair-Ud-Deen Society, NSCIA Finance Committee Chairman and former top functionary of the NSE to drive administrative and intellectual rigor.

    As Alhaji Oladejo continues to steer the ship as President of MUSWEN and Deputy President General South of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), one cannot but commend his sterling qualities in the service of God, humanity and the nation.

    •Mumuni,  a journalist and historian writes from Lagos

  • How the capital market endorsed economic reforms with record gains

    How the capital market endorsed economic reforms with record gains

    With a remarkable gain of about 110 per cent in just two years, the Nigerian capital market has sustained the unprecedented momentum that greeted the dawn of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Despite the hardship triggered by sweeping macroeconomic reforms, investors have shown a clear resolve to look beyond short-term challenges, anchoring their confidence on prospects for medium- to long-term stability and growth. Deputy Group Business Editor TAOFIK SALAKO reports that the renewed hope promised by the Tinubu administration is clearly mirrored in the bullish outlook of the Nigerian capital market

    The capital market is often regarded as the truest reflection of an economy. Beyond its catalytic role in financial intermediation, it stands as the stronghold of private capital, characterised by its far-reaching vision, swift movement and dispassionate assessment. Policy successes and failures become readily apparent through stock market trends—whether at the corporate, national or sub-national level.

    Although the market can react spontaneously to breaking news or emerging issues, it possesses an almost instantaneous self-correcting mechanism. Emotional or impulsive reactions are quickly realigned with verifiable facts, rigorous data and thorough analysis. This is why the saying goes: nobody fools the market. This dynamic ties closely to concepts such as “hot money,” capital flight and portfolio investment, illustrating how capital movement and stability depend on perceptions of macroeconomic stability. While the time horizons for assumptions may vary, there is invariably a point of convergence.

    Over the past two years, the capital market has narrated the story of President Bola Tinubu’s administration—a story marked by promises, hopes, challenges, achievements, and growing confidence. From the initial enthusiasm that greeted his election victory to the unprecedented rally at his inauguration on May 29, 2023, the market has navigated the pains of macroeconomic reforms with foresight and resilience.

    Today, benchmark indices in the Nigerian capital market boast more than 100 per cent capital gains over Tinubu’s two-year tenure. As the administration’s second anniversary approaches, all market indices—from value-based returns to participation, diversity, innovation, and outlook—reflect a continued positive endorsement of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This is significant, as the government is anchoring its ambitious $1 trillion economy goal substantially on the capital market as the cornerstone of the private sector. The strategy involves unlocking private sector potential alongside large-scale infrastructure investment to drive Nigeria’s GDP to $1 trillion by 2030.

    For example, the All Share Index (ASI)—the broad-based index tracking all shares listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX)—opened this week at 109,028.62 points. This represents a gain of 109.78 per cent from the 52,973.88 points recorded at the start of Tinubu’s administration on May 29, 2023, equating to a net capital gain of approximately N31.67 trillion on an index-adjusted basis. Similarly, the aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose from N28.845 trillion on that date to N68.752 trillion this Monday—an increase of 138.35 per cent or nearly N39.91 trillion in under two years.

    A rally for the President

    In a way, the market has rewarded the early adopters of the Tinubu’s administration while stronger macroeconomic outlook continues to build the momentum. The inaugural speech of Tinubu had triggered a scramble for Nigerian equities, with the stock market posting its best performance in two and half years on the first trading day after the Monday, May 29th inauguration.

    Comparative analysis of the first trading day after inauguration of a new president since 1999 showed only three positive marks, with the 5.22 per cent rally for Tinubu, the highest the market has ever witnessed. First day equity market response to the 1999 inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo was negative, with the market dropping by 0.07 per cent. The 2007 inauguration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was almost flat, with a tilt towards positive. The 2011 inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan was greeted with a modest 0.14 per cent. The 2015 inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari was negative, with a first-day return of -0.77 per cent. Then, in an all-week rally, the equities market closed the inauguration week with net capital gain of N1.55 trillion. Tinubu, in his inauguration speech, had shown a high level of awareness by directly addressing investors’ concerns on multiple taxations, returns repatriation and forex among others. “I have a message for our investors, local and foreign, our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions. We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard earned dividends and profits home,” Tinubu said, immediately after being sworn in at the Eagle Square, Abuja. The reforms that followed, as excruciating as they were, bore true for the investing public. The government abolished the absolute, fixed-exchange rate regime for a market-driven regime amidst a wave initiatives that have been credited with restoration of confidence and stability in the forex market. It launched tax reform and redirected the fiscal balance with the removal of the bogus petrol subsidy.

    By the end of 2023, the stock market closed with full-year average return of 45.90 per cent, equivalent to net capital gains of N12.81 trillion, one of the three highest returns globally. In 2024, the market turned in average return of 37.65 per cent, placing Nigeria as one of world’s three best-performing stock markets. Investors netted N15.41 trillion in capital gains in 2024, providing a cushion for the otherwise inflationary environment.

    Most analysts expected the Nigerian market to remain positive in 2025. Median estimate of projections on the outlook for the Nigerian stock market indicated that the market could sustain its double-digit return. A more bullish outlook suggests that the Nigerian market could pool capital gains in excess of N20 trillion, with market capitalisation of quoted equities expected to cross the landmark N100 trillion mark on the back of capital gains and major new listings. The ASI opens this week with average year-to-date return of 5.93 per cent.

    A mix of foreign and domestic

    The performance of the Nigerian market has been driven by increased inflows of foreign investments combined with resilient domestic demand. In both equities and debt segments, sustained investors’ appetite has enabled the market to function along its traditional line as the fulcrum for the private and public sectors.

    Total transactions at the Nigerian stock market rose to N2.23 trillion in the first three months of this year, its highest quarterly turnover. Official trading report at the NGX showed that total transactions at the stock market rose to N2.23 trillion in the first three months of this year, an increase 44 per cent on N1.55 trillion recorded in comparable period of 2024. The first quarter 2025 performance represented a new record for the market, driven by steady domestic transactions and upsurge in foreign transactions.

    Foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) now accounts for more than one-third of transactions at the Nigerian market, as against the situation in the previous year when foreign transactions amounted to about one-seventh of the market’s turnover.

    The latest quarterly report showed that total foreign portfolio transactions rose by 281.9 per cent from N213.18 billion in first quarter 2024 to N814.05 billion in first quarter 2025.  The proportion of participation by FPIs increased from 13.77 per cent in first quarter 2024 to 36.47 per cent in first quarter 2025, the highest so far.

    Domestic investors have also shown sustained strong appetite for quoted equities with a turnover of N1.42 trillion in first quarter 2025 as against N1.33 trillion in first quarter 2024, representing a modest increase of 6.2 per cent. The proportion of domestic investors’ transactions however dropped from 86.23 per cent of total market turnover in first quarter 2024 to 63.53 per cent in first quarter 2025.

    The report indicated upbeat across the buy and sell sides of foreign transactions. Foreign inflows jumped by 321.6 per cent from N93.37 billion in first quarter 2024 to N393.68 billion in first quarter 2025. Outflows, on the other hand, increased by 250.9 per cent from N119.81 billion in first quarter 2024 to N420.37 billion in first quarter 2025.

    FPI transactions at the NGX had more than doubled from N410.62 billion in 2023 to N852.03 billion in 2024. The increase in foreign transactions supported resilient domestic demand to push NGX to its highest-ever turnover of N5.587 trillion in 2024. It had recorded N3.578 trillion in 2023. There is expectation that the market may surpass its 2024 turnover this year.

    A January 2025 report at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) showed that inflows from foreign sources into the Nigerian forex market rose to their highest level in more than five years. Monthly inflows to the forex market rose by 53.5 per cent to $4.74 billion in January 2025, from $3.09 billion recorded in December 2024. The surge was particularly driven by inflows from foreign sources, which jumped to its highest level in more than five years, with an increase of 192.1 per cent from $790.3 million in December 2024 to $2.31 billion in January 2025. With these, foreign sources accounted for 48.8 per cent of total inflows into the forex market while collections from local sources accounted for 51.2 per cent.

    A recent report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the value of forex inflows to the economy through the International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) rose to $4.76 billion in 2024, 44.5 per cent increase on $3.30 billion recorded in 2023. This underscored the confidence of non-corporate sources in the forex market.

    Lagos billionaire, Mr Femi Otedola, summed up the drumbeat for the rallying market- investors are increasingly confident of the macroeconomic outlook.

    According to him, ongoing reforms by Tinubu’s administration have repositioned the economy and given investors renewed confidence to stake on a long-term growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

    Otedola, Chairman of First Holdco Plc and Geregu Power Plc, two publicly quoted companies, described Tinubu as a “bold and visionary” leader, whose courageous reforms have helped in reigniting investors’ hopes in the Nigerian economy.

    Otedola, who is scaling up his investment in Nigeria’s oldest surviving banking group, First Holdco Plc, to N320 billion, said Tinubu “deserves credit for championing tough but necessary reforms” that has given the economy a much-needed fillip.

    Speaking last week at the annual general meeting of First Holdco, Otedola noted that the pragmatic and courageous monetary reforms embarked upon by the CBN Governor appointed by Tinubu, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, are resetting the Nigerian financial system.

    “His actions are restoring credibility to the financial system and giving investors like me the confidence to commit long-term capital to this country,” Otedola said, in reference to monetary reforms by the apex bank.

    While several companies had suffered losses due to changes in the forex market, corporate decision-makers favoured the reforms than the chaos of the past. Group Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, said while the implementation of a market-driven mechanism for the forex market had faced initial challenges and several companies recorded forex-related losses, the new forex system has potential to address the flaws of the previous managed-float system.

    Manufacturers and other forex users had faced significant challenge of access to forex under the previous hugely subsidised managed-float forex system, forcing Nigerian companies to build up forex exposures to international creditors and parent companies. The liberalisation of the forex market saw several Nigerian companies, including Vitafoam Nigeria, with uncleared forex obligations incurring forex-related losses.     

    “But the worst is over on the challenges of forex with the liberalisation policy of the federal government,” Adeniyi, whose company had recorded forex loss of N12.7 billion during the year ended September 30, 2024, said.

    Most companies that had posted forex-related losses are bouncing back with impressive profits.  Vitafoam Nigeria returned to profit by the second quarter of its current business year. Six-month report for the period ended March 31, 2025 showed that Vitafoam recorded net profit of N6.70 billion compared with net loss of N5.58 billion by March 2024. Cadbury Nigeria, which suffered forex-related losses and had to undertake debt conversion, rebounded to profitability in first quarter 2025. The three-month report for the period ended March 31, 2025 showed that Cadbury Nigeria reversed its loss of N7.32 billion in first quarter 2024 with a net profit of N5.98 billion in first quarter 2025.

    Sovereign risk falling

    Nigeria’s sovereign risk has fallen to its lowest in five years on the back of the economic reforms. Data tracked by Bloomberg showed that Nigeria’s sovereign risk spread has fallen to the lowest level since January 2020, erasing the premium accumulated during the pandemic and subsequent strain on its economy. “Nigeria is finally getting a favourable nod from investors, pushing stocks higher and bond yields lower as painful reforms restore confidence,” Bloomberg reported.

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    According to the report, while United States President Donald Trump’s widening trade war has taken emerging markets on a wild ride, Nigeria has quietly held its own, attracting foreign capital reassured by currency reforms and other measures designed to revive the economy of Africa’s most-populous nation. “Nigeria appears to be back in business as long-awaited economic reforms take shape,” said Emre Akcakmak, portfolio manager at East Capital.

    Key measures attracting investors included improved currency liquidity, leeway for investors to repatriate their profit, and the stable naira. “Portfolio inflows have likely been supported by improved confidence amid key structural reforms, better forex market functioning and moderating dollar-naira volatility, as well as the still-robust nominal yield buffer,” said Samir Gadio, head of Africa strategy at Standard Chartered Plc.

    Yields on Nigeria’s $1.5 billion Eurobond due in 2034 have declined to 9.69 per cent, the lowest since its early December launch, and a domestic debt auction was three-times oversubscribed  during the same period. “We are bullish on the Nigerian reform story. The naira has been stable recently, largely driven by the growing confidence of offshore investors through foreign portfolio investment inflows,” analysts at Citigroup Inc wrote in a client note.

    Nigeria’s $2.2b Eurobond, launched in December 2024, the first in nearly three years, had recorded oversubscription of 300 per cent. The last sold Eurobonds were in March 2022. Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) Plc, Dr Umaru Kwairanga said Tinubu’s reforms have boosted investors’ confidence in the capital market, expressing optimism that there are significant opportunities ahead.

    He urged the president to encourage further reforms that will help to unlock increased prosperity for the Nigerian economy, including legislative adjustments that will make listing more attractive. Kwairanga also called for deepening of pension reforms and amendments to regulations governing free zone companies to facilitate their access to the capital market through listings.

    The World Bank, in its latest report on Nigeria, noted that the economic reforms have led to macroeconomic stability, with potential for the Nigerian economy to sustain growth and reduce inflationary pressure going forward. The World Bank, in its Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report titled “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth”, indicated that Nigeria’s economy recorded its fastest growth in about a decade in 2024, riding on the back of early gains of macroeconomic reforms by the Tinubu administration.

    The World Bank report indicated that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded 4.6 per cent year-on-year growth in fourth quarter 2024, bringing the economic growth for 2024 to 3.4 per cent, the highest since 2014. The country’s fiscal deficit also reduced from 5.4 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 3.0 per cent of GDP in 2024, on the back of significant increase in national revenue, which rose from N16.8 trillion in 2023 to N31.9 trillion in 2024. The World Bank expects Nigeria’s economy to grow 3.6 per cent this year. Sienaert said the Nigerian economy has continued to expand in early 2025 based on high-frequency business indicators.

    Repositioning the capital market

    Beyond the macroeconomics, the Tinubu administration has also focused on building the institutional capacity of the Nigerian capital market. It started with the reconstitution of the board of Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Tinubu combined a blend of technocracy with market experience to set a new tempo for capital market regulation. Dr. Emomotimi Agama, a longstanding staff of SEC, was appointed Director-General.

    Tinubu then turned to the institutional framework of the capital market with the recent signing into law of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, which repealed the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007. The new Act promises to reshape the Nigerian capital market in several ways. From investor’s protection to variety of issuable and tradable instruments to integration of the commodities sector to new innovations in derivatives, digital and paperless denominations to domestic enforcement and international cooperation, the ISA 2025 brought the Nigerian market to the most dynamic global level and provided enough headroom for regulatory ingenuity to meet future developments.

    There were several notable provisions that made ISA 2025 a landmark legislation, including explicitly recognising virtual and digital assets as well as investment contracts as securities and bringing Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Digital Asset Operators (DAOPs) and Digital Asset Exchanges under the SEC’s regulatory purview. There is also legal framework for commodities exchanges. Agama described the ISA 2025 as a game-changer with strong potential for stimulating growth for the Nigerian capital market and the economy.

    Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Sam Onukwue, said the Act would strengthen regulatory oversight of the capital markets with the overall objective of enhancing investor protection. He said: “We believe it will rekindle the confidence of market stakeholders, which will, in turn, engender significant growth of the market going forward.  For operators, it provides diversification opportunities with the expanded scope beyond traditional equities and fixed income”.

    Analysts’ consensus

    Market pundits agreed that the economic focus of the Tinubu administration has been beneficial to the capital market. They were unanimous that though there were consequential challenges such as the immediate steep rise in prices of goods and services, the outline for the economy remains promising.

    Managing Director, Arthur Steven Asset Management, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, said the past two years have been that aggressive reform of the economy through various policy changes. “If you look critically at where we were coming from as a country, it was clear the economy was on life support and on the brink of collapse before he came in. Policies such as the floating of the naira, removal of fuel and electricity subsidies and efforts at comprehensive tax reforms were read as positively accretive to the finances of the country and the stock market responded positively to those moves also,” Amolegbe, a former President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), said.

    Kurfi said the liberalisation of the forex market by the government was the main driver behind the return of foreign investors to the Nigerian market.

    Managing Director, Highcap Securities, Mr David Adonri, said Tinubu has impacted all segments of the capital market positively. “The primary market in these two years is akin to a candle that is burning from both ends. While capital raising through equities has been intensely increasing, debt capital raising by public and corporate Issuers also assumed unprecedented dimensions.  If the growth of activities in the primary market has been astonishing, it is difficult to describe the unimaginable dimension to which the secondary market has risen since President Tinubu took office,” Adonri said.

    But analysts also agreed that the government had lagged behind in unlocking values in sub-optimal government-owned enterprises and companies. For instance, the floating of the initial public offering (IPO) of the flagship Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which appeared to have reached final stages, had gone cold.

    Nothing speaks louder than facts. Tinubu has taken the bulls by the horns, and the bulls are tickled by the excitement of investment-savvy master. With the toughest decisions taken in the early years of his administration, there are reasonable basis to assume that the remaining years will see significant consolidation in tempo and diversity of policies. Sustainability is the key, Tinubu must not take his eyes off the market.