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Tag: President Bola Tinubu

  • Security emergency needs structure

    Security emergency needs structure

    President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency last week requires comprehensive follow-ups to be effective. The declaration followed a string of school and church attacks and abductions that once again exposed Nigeria to global ridicule. The continuing attacks, intensified in the past few weeks, indicate a mockery of Nigeria’s security paradigm and a scorning of American threats by President Donald Trump to attack terrorists and sponsors of terrorism on Nigerian soil. There is, however, also a growing suspicion that the synchronisation of the attacks is far more indicative of politics than anything else, whether they be scorning foreign threats or mocking governmental inertia. Whatever the reasons for the attacks, President Tinubu’s declaration is a step closer to fully taking on the evil coterie that has waged a relentless war on the country. The government may not have quite appreciated the declaration of war by terrorists on the country, but gradually, the whole picture appears to be getting clearer. The country is at war, even if the phrase seems harsh and apocalyptic.

    Last week, during a Christmas carol and praise festival in Jos, Plateau State, former president Olusegun Obasanjo strongly suggested the cessation of any negotiation or accommodation with terrorists. But in the view of the government there are actually extenuating circumstances that permit negotiations, especially in light of the permanent presence of hostages at terrorists’ lairs nationwide. Overall, President Tinubu’s security emergency declaration seems to acknowledge that public patience appears to be wearing thin. Indeed, Nigerian leaders know at the back of their minds that the country is just a few moments away from catastrophe. How they manage the next few months will, therefore, define the success of the administration itself and the future of the country.

    Read Also: Tinubu reaffirms security, unity, community resilience as core priorities

    If the security emergency declaration is to have teeth, the administration will have to go beyond mere declarations. It must put a structure in place, and forge a template and anchor staff to manage the emergency. It must not take for granted that the security agencies know what to do. The government has mandated the recruitment of extra personnel for the task, including 20,000 men for the police, and an indeterminate number for the army. In addition to explicating the ranching issue in line with the Livestock ministry mandate, the president’s statement also tasked the Department of State Service (DSS) with clearing the forests, in league with Forest Guards, of all terrorists. These are sensible but reactive measures that could give muscle to the anti-terrorism fight, though it is not clear why the government thinks the DSS should carry out an assignment the military has struggled with.

    But something is missing. An ad hoc team is needed, and it must be tasked with coordinating all the measures to stanch the flow of blood and curb abductions on a scale that must be seen as significant. The president must, therefore, task the service chiefs to draw up a plan, suggest a structure and composition, and list the desired objectives, including timelines. The security emergency declaration gives the impression that the administration and indeed the country have the luxury of time. They don’t. The terrorists are relentless and aggressive, and their sponsors, whether political (and invariably theocratic campaigners) or mining barons or even land grabbers, are determined to push through their sanguinary agenda as they gloat in accompaniment. These powerful non-state actors will do their worst to sustain the bloodshed. The genie they conjured and let out of the bottle more than 10 years ago will not let itself be put back into the bottle.

    As indicated in the main piece above, if the terrorists are not significantly degraded or even destroyed before the primaries some six months away, it could menace the country’s political calendar. More crucially, if the terrorism and abductions problem persist into the campaigns, not to say into the elections, the ruling party must prepare their minds for disaster. But for that disaster to be obviated, the administration must step on toes, face the problem more squarely than it has done in the estimation of the public, and decapitate the monster, not scorch it. Nigeria has been called many names, including ‘shithole’ and ‘disgrace country’. If the epithets are to prove undeserved, then the administration must see the current attacks and abduction challenges as threats to be confronted frontally and defeated with flourish for future generations to reference in their essays.

  • Transition to CNG will reduce transport cost, improve welfare – Stakeholders

    Transition to CNG will reduce transport cost, improve welfare – Stakeholders

    Stakeholders driving the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Nigeria have restated their commitment to ensuring a seamless national transition from petrol to cleaner gas alternatives.

    Speaking at the second edition of the Autogas Nigeria Annual Conference, held in commemoration of the World Sustainable Transport Day, participants emphasised that a shift to CNG would improve citizens’ welfare, lower transportation costs, and significantly reduce harmful emissions across the country.

    The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura (FUTD), Prof. Umar Katsayal, described the transition as “consequential to Nigeria’s economic growth.” 

    Represented by Dr. Ibrahim Ahmadu, Prof Katsayal noted that studies have shown that CNG vehicles emit lower levels of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide with carbon dioxide reductions of up to 20–30 percent.

    The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to positioning gas as Nigeria’s primary transition fuel.

    With an estimated 210 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Abdullahi said Nigeria’s vast reserves present a clear and compelling pathway toward cleaner and more affordable energy.

    He also commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PICNG), which has accelerated the adoption of CNG across the transport sector, especially after the removal of petrol subsidies.

    Abdullahi added that the initiative has increased public awareness of gas as a viable, cheaper alternative to petrol.

    The Managing Director of Automotive Gas Nigeria Services Limited (Autogas Nigeria), Maryam Ibrahim, reaffirmed Autogas Nigeria’s mission to expand the adoption of CNG through vehicle conversion services, nationwide refuelling infrastructure, and technical capacity-building. 

    Autogas Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer and Business Development Lead, Mr. Kennedy Osagie, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to powering Nigeria’s shift to cleaner and more affordable transportation energy.

    He highlighted some of the company’s major milestones over the past four years, including: Training and certifying over 1,000 Nigerian technicians in advanced green-energy skills and converting more than 2,000 vehicles to CNG, resulting in substantial cost savings for individuals and businesses.

  • Fed Govt inaugurates $400m terminal in Rivers

    Fed Govt inaugurates $400m terminal in Rivers

    President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the $400million Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) oil export terminal in Otakikpo, Rivers State. He yesterday assured the people that the government is already engaging them on the resolution of Ogoni issues.

    The facility being the first indigenous terminal, came five decades after the previous ones.

    Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, he said with the resolution of the issues, the Otakikpo terminal will evacuate the crude oil produced from their land.

    He said:  “It is important for me to state that in the commitment of the government that is already talking with Ogoni people to resolve the Ogoni problem.

     “And once the Ogoni problem is resolved, this will be the best terminal that will evacuate the crude oil we produce from Ogoni.”

    Tinubu who sought the cooperation of Ogoni leaders for the production of oil in their land, noted that the resource would never be beneficial to either the indigenes or government when it lays idle.

    Read Also: NUPENG president tells court how tanker drivers’ chairman escaped assassination attempt

    Tinubu said: “And that is why we are calling, you know, talking with Ogoni people, Ogoni leaders, to say let’s revert back. If these things are buried there forever, Ogoni will never get any value from those resources. Nigeria will never get any value from those resources.”

    He said the era of battling with lack of finance is over as the $5 billion African Energy Bank (AEB) is about to commence operations.

    According to him, the worst challenge in the upstream operation is access to finance and the promoters of AEB have met all its obligations for the operations.

    “Let me also, you know, assure Green Energy that the era of perhaps looking elsewhere for finance will soon be over.

     “We have discovered that the biggest challenge we have in Africa is access to, you know, finance. And that was why we’ve come up with the African Energy Bank, which is ready to go. Nigeria, as the host country, has met its obligations.

     “We have met all our obligations, legal, financial. We have met all our obligations. We are waiting, you know, for the bank to take off, which I think will take off, you know, any moment from now,” Tinubu said.

    He commended the management of GEIL, recalling that the indigenous firm started from a marginal field the same time with other awardees who spent their finances on private jets while GEIL decided to build an export terminal to create value in the industry.

    He assured the company and other operators that are keeping to the terms of their licenses of total support and collaboration.

    Speaking, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, said the terminal is historic on two levels.

    According to him, it expands Nigeria’s crude export infrastructure at a critical time and demonstrates the capacity of Nigeria operators to deliver world class projects once thought possible only for international major players.

    He further noted that the Otakiko terminal is significant to the present national crude oil production that is about 1.8million barrels because the efficiency of evacuation and export is critical.

    Komolafe also said by creating an alternative export hub in Rivers State, the Otakikpo terminal reduces over reliance on existing terminals many of which are operating at a near capacity and are exposed to security and pipeline challenges.

     He said the industry indigenous operators have evolved to the stage of accounting for 30 per cent of the national production.

    The Chief Executive Officer, GEIL , Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe said the storage capacity of the terminal is 750,000 barrels that is expandable to 3 million barrels.

    He also said it has a pumping capacity of 360,000 barrels per day. The CEO added that since June 2025, the company has already completed four export operations, totalling 1 million barrels of crude oil.

    He said beyond the numbers, the terminal is a catalyst for national renewal as it opens the door for more than 40 stranded fields in the region, with over 3 million barrels of reserves, long held back by lack of export infrastructure.

    According to him, the fields alone could contribute more than 200,000 barrels per day to the country:s production.

    Adegbulugbe added that “with this terminal, their potential can finally be unlocked.”

  • NATIONAL STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU AT UNGA

    NATIONAL STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU AT UNGA

    Madam President,
    Mr. Secretary-General,
    Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
    Distinguished Delegates,

    The chaos that shadows our world is a reminder that we cannot afford the luxury of inaction. We would have been consumed by our differences had there been no community such as this to remind us that we are one human family. Even in our darkest hours, we have refused to be broken.

    This community was born from the ashes of despair, a vehicle for order and for the shared assurance that we could not afford to falter again. Our belief in this community is not a posture of moral superiority but an undying faith in the redemption of humanity.

    It is, therefore, with profound humility that I stand before you today, as Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to renew this pledge on behalf of my country.

    Madam President,

    1. Nigeria joins the comity of nations in congratulating you on your election as President of the General Assembly for the 80th Session and assures you of our unalloyed support during your tenure.

    I commend your predecessor, my brother, His Excellency, Philémon Yang, and the Secretary-General, His Excellency, António Guterres, for the outstanding stewardship and unifying leadership during these extraordinary times.

    2. This anniversary must not be a sentimental retreat into nostalgia. It must be a moment of truth, a pause to measure where we have stumbled and how we might have done better in turning our values into action that meets the demands of today. We are here to deliver a world of peace and development, where the respect for human rights is paramount. We must recalibrate the delicate balance between our roles as sovereign governments and our duties as collective partners, to renew multilateralism in a world that has evolved far beyond what it was in 1945.

    3. The pace of change across borders is a force without pause. It manifests in the tools of technology, in the movements of information and finance, in the corrosive ideologies that preach violence and division, in the gathering storm of the climate emergency, and in the tide of irregular migration. We must own this process of change. When we speak of nuclear disarmament, the proliferation of small weapons, Security Council reform, fair access to trade and finance, and the conflicts and human suffering across the world, we must recognize the truth. These are stains on our collective humanity.

    4. For all our careful diplomatic language, the slow pace of progress on these hardy perennials of the UN General Assembly debate has led some to look away from the multilateral model. Some years ago, I noticed a shift at this gathering: key events were beginning to take place outside this hall, and the most sought-after voices were no longer heads of state. These are troubling signs. Nigeria remains firmly convinced of the merits of multilateralism, but to sustain that conviction, we must show that existing structures are not set in stone. We must make real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work. If we fail, the direction of travel is already predictable.

    5. We are here to strengthen the prospects for peace, development and human rights. Madam President, I want to make four points today to outline how we can do this:
    One: Nigeria must have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. This should take place as part of a wider process of institutional reform.
    Two: We need urgent action ⁠⁠to promote sovereign debt relief and access to trade and financing.
    Three: Countries that host minerals must benefit from those minerals.
    Four: The digital divide must close. As our friend the Secretary General has said: ‘A.I.’ must stand for ‘Africa Included’.

    6. On my first point: the United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was. Nigeria’s journey tells this story with clarity: when the UN was founded, we were a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken; today, we are a sovereign nation of over 236 million, projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth. A stabilising force in regional security and a consistent partner in global peacekeeping, our case for permanent seat at the Security Council is a demand for fairness, for representation, and for reform that restores credibility to the very institution upon which the hope of multilateralism rests.

    7. This is why Nigeria stands firmly behind the UN80 Initiative of the Secretary-General, and the resolution adopted by this Assembly on 18 July 2025, a bold step to reform the wider United Nations system for greater relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness in the face of unprecedented financial strain. We support the drive to rationalise structures and end the duplication of responsibilities and programmes, so that this institution may speak with one voice and act with greater coherence.

    Madam President,

    8. None of us can achieve a peaceful world in isolation. This is the heavy burden of sovereignty. Sovereignty is a covenant of shared responsibility, a recognition that our survival is bound to the survival of others. To live up to this charge, we must walk hand in hand with our neighbours and partners. We must follow the trails of weapons, of money, and of people. For these forces, too often driven by faceless non-state actors, ignite the fires of conflict across our region.

    Madam President,

    9. Nigeria’s soldiers and civilians carry a proud legacy. They have participated in 51 out of 60 United Nations peacekeeping operations since our independence in 1960. We have stood with our partners in Africa to resolve conflicts, and we continue that commitment today through the Multinational Joint Task Force. At home, we confront the scourge of insurgency with resolve. From this long and difficult struggle with violent extremism, one truth stands clear: military tactics may win battles measured in months and years, but in wars that span generations, it is values and ideas that deliver the ultimate victory.

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    10. We are despised by terrorists because we choose tolerance over tyranny. Their ambition is to divide us and to poison our humanity with a toxic rhetoric of hate. Our difference is the distance between shadow and light, between despair and hope, between the ruin of anarchy and the promise of order. We do not only fight wars, we feed and shelter the innocent victims of war. This is why we are not indifferent to the devastations of our neighbours, near and distant. This is why we speak of the violence and aggression visited upon innocent civilians in Gaza, the illegal attack on Qatar, and the tensions that scar the wider region. It is not only because of the culture of impunity that makes such acts intolerable, but because our own bitter experience has taught us that such violence never ends where it begins.

    11. We do not believe that the sanctity of human life should be trapped in the corridors of endless debate. That is why we say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine. For too long, this community has borne the weight of moral conflict. For too long, we have been caught in the crossfire of violence that offends the conscience of humanity. We come not as partisans, but as peacemakers. We come as brothers and sisters of a shared world, a world that must never reduce the right to live into the currency of devious politics. The people of Palestine are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order. They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted.

    12. We want to make the choice crystal clear: civilised values over fear, civilised values over vengeance, civilised values over bloodshed. We show the opportunities that peace brings, just as the extremist hopes to drive apart rival communities and different religions. We work through multilateral platforms within the rule of law, to build the consensus and support that makes this immensely difficult and dangerous task that much easier. This is how we deny our enemies the space they crave to fuel tension and despair. It is our experience that this offers the best, perhaps only hope for peace, reconciliation and victory for the civilised values of a shared humanity. Nigeria, as a diverse country, also recognises the variable geometry of Democracy, its different forms and speeds. For this reason, we are working with the United Nations to strengthen Democratic institutions in our region and beyond, through the Regional Partnership for Democracy.

    Madam President,

    13. Point two: the price of peace is eternal vigilance. The increasingly difficult security outlook has prompted many Member States to count the cost of the emerging world order. We in Nigeria are already familiar with such difficult choices: infrastructure renewal or defence platforms? schools or tanks? Our view is that the path to sustainable peace lies in growth and prosperity. The government has taken difficult but necessary steps to restructure our economy and remove distortions, including subsidies and currency controls that benefited the few at the expense of the many.

    14. I believe in the power of the market to transform. Our task is to enable and facilitate, and to trust in the ingenuity and enterprise of the people. But the process of transition is difficult and brings unavoidable hardship. This year, we held the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja to bring investors and opportunities together. The results exceeded our expectations and are a clear indication of what innovation can deliver.

    15. It is in that same spirit of dynamic review that I invite the United Nations to re-examine the best use of scarce resources. One critical area is climate change. It is not an abstract issue about an indeterminate fate, to be settled at some distant point in the future. It is not even solely an environmental issue. It is about national, regional, and international security. It is about irregular migration. Truly, this is an “everyone issue.” We are all stakeholders, and we are all beneficiaries of the best outcomes.

    Madam President,

    16. This is why relevant Ministers have been instructed to work with the UN to make the best use of climate funds. We believe there are huge, shared dividends to accrue from increased support for education, for resilient housing, for access to technology and financing to allow vulnerable communities to thrive: to become part of solutions, rather than problems.

    17. Nigeria and Africa have made significant strides in recent years to put our affairs in order. We can take that progress to the next level, a level that presents new opportunities for trade, investment and profit, if we can access reforms to strengthen the international financial architecture. We need urgent action to promote debt relief – not as an act of charity but as a clear path to the peace and prosperity that benefits us all.

    18. I am calling for new and binding mechanism to manage sovereign debt, a sort of International Court of Justice for money, that will allow emerging economies to escape the economic straitjacket of primary production of unprocessed exports.

    19. It has been over for decades since the Lagos Action Plan outlined a route away from debt and dependence that highlighted opportunities, that today should still be explored for local added value for processing and manufacturing in everything from agriculture to solid minerals and petrochemicals. The African Continental Free Trade Area is a remarkable achievement of co-operation. We remain fully committed to the achievement of SDGs – and are convinced this can be best delivered by focusing principally on our primary mission of growth and prosperity.

    Madam President,

    20. Our third point. We welcome steps to move towards peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We agree that international investment and engagement offer a way out of the cycle of decay and violence. Access to strategic minerals, from Sierra Leone in the 1990s and Sudan today, has for too long been a source of conflict rather than prosperity. Africa – and I must include Nigeria – has in abundance the critical minerals that will drive the technologies of the future. Investment in exploration, development and processing of these minerals, in Africa, will diversify supply to the international market, reduce tensions between major economies and help shape the architecture for peace and prosperity, on a continent that too often in the past has been left behind by the rivalries and competition between different blocs.

    21. We know in Nigeria, that we are more stable when those communities that have access to key resources are able to benefit from those resources. This has been our journey in the oil producing region of the Niger Delta. I believe that we will strengthen the international order, when those countries that produce strategic minerals benefit fairly from those minerals – in terms of investment, partnership, local processing and jobs. When we export raw materials, as we have been doing, tension, inequality and instability fester.

    Madam President,

    22. The fourth pillar for change that I am advocating, is a dedicated initiative, bringing together researchers, private sector, governments and communities, to close the digital divide. As we stand on the threshold of new and dramatic technological change, we are still absorbing the impact of the revolution in information and communication of the past 20 years. We understand better than we did, the opportunities technology offers as well as the safeguards we need to enable growth and mitigate the potential for corrosion. Some worry about fake news. We have plenty of that, with the potential of devastating real-world consequences in countries rich and poor. I am more worried about an emerging generation that grows ever more cynical, because it believes nothing and trusts less. As technology shakes up public administration, law, finance, conflict and so much of the human condition, I am calling for a new dialogue, to ensure we promote the best of the opportunities that are arising – and promote the level of access that allows emerging economies more quickly, to close a wealth and knowledge gap that is in no one’s interest.

    23. I join you today to reassert that Nigeria’s commitment to peace, to development, to unity, to multilateralism, and to the defence of human rights is beyond compromise. For none of us is safe until all of us are safe. The road ahead will not be easy, and we know there are no quick fixes to the trials that test the human spirit. Yet history reminds us that bold action in pursuit of noble ideals has always defined the story of the United Nations. Time and again, we have found the wisdom to balance sovereign rights with collective responsibility. That balance is once again in question, but I believe that a renewed commitment to multilateralism, not as a slogan but as an article of faith, remains our surest path forward. Nigeria dedicates itself fully and without reservation to that noble cause.

    24. I thank you.

  • Service chiefs deserve commendation, not destructive criticisms, says coalition

    Service chiefs deserve commendation, not destructive criticisms, says coalition

    A civil society coalition, Campaign Against Injustice (CAI), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to disregard growing calls for the removal of service chiefs, stressing that such demands could demoralize the Nigerian Army, whose personnel “daily lay down their lives to keep Nigeria as one.”

    In a statement signed by its convener, Abbey Jolaosho, CAI described it as unfair to blame service chiefs whenever security challenges arise without critically examining the broader situation.

    The group was reacting to a recent demand by the Northern Ethnic National Forum, led by Dominic Alancha, for the sack of the military leadership.

    CAI emphasized that Nigerians should commend the armed forces for their sacrifices, noting that many soldiers have paid the supreme price to defend the nation’s territorial integrity.

    It argued that terrorism is a global phenomenon and highlighted challenges the military faces, including inadequate equipment, poor remuneration in the past, and governance failures at state and local government levels that fuel frustration and armed rebellion.

    The group praised Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, for his leadership and commitment to troop welfare, as well as President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which increased daily allowances for soldiers from ₦1,500 and enhanced welfare packages.

    Read Also: CDS, service chiefs have made tremendous gains in war against terrorism, banditry – Agbese

    It further urged governors and local government chairmen to support the federal government’s efforts, pointing out that with increased allocations, they must play a bigger role in improving living conditions and complementing military operations.

    “Scrutiny should be directed at state and council officials who now have more than triple allocations to ease the people’s hardships and support the military, instead of transferring anger to the service chiefs who are doing all that is humanly possible to tackle insurgency,” CAI stated.

    The group added that unfair criticism of the military contributes to desertions and discourages young people from enlisting, stressing that “good governance at the grassroots remains the strongest non-kinetic tool against insecurity.” 

  • ‘New tax regime will accelerate development’

    ‘New tax regime will accelerate development’

    The new tax laws recently assented to by President Bola Tinubu would accelerate economic development and drive inclusive growth.

    A think-tank, Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI), yesterday said the new tax reforms would go down in the country’s history as Tinubu’s major legacy to Nigerians.

    According to the group, the new laws have potential to transform the Nigerian economic space more than any policy deployment in a generation, if well implemented.

    “In the tradition of objective analysts, we have reviewed the new tax laws within the framework of policy contextuality, realism, and pertinence. Our verdict is that Nigeria’s federal administration, led by President Tinubu, has gifted the country a body of legacy fiscal policies with the potential to transform the Nigerian economic space more than any policy deployment in a generation.

    “Based on our evaluation, the four tax acts — the Nigeria Tax (Fair Taxation) Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act — meet all the fiscal conditions required for accelerated and inclusive economic growth.

    “By our reckoning, these tax reforms, as reflected in the substance of the four tax acts, alongside the removal of fuel subsidies and the harmonisation of foreign exchange transactions windows, are at the heart of the coordinated effort to reset the Nigerian economy on a sustainable and inclusive growth path,” IMPI stated.

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    The group noted that an ideal tax system raises essential revenue without excessive government borrowing, doing so without discouraging economic activities or deviating too much from tax systems in other countries.

    The group stated: “On this count, we submit that President Tinubu has accomplished multiple fiscal objectives in a single strategic manoeuvre, consolidating and reshaping Nigeria’s fragmented and complex tax architecture and emphasising rebuilding trust in the system.

    “The new tax regime promotes tax compliance through fairness and positions the country as an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investments. In this light, Nigeria has just now commenced its long-held crystallisation of its economic renaissance”.

    The group, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, noted that the new tax law has multiple provisions targeted at boosting domestic and foreign investment.

    According to the group, with the implementation of the Nigerian tax laws starting in January 2026, foreign direct investment inflows into the country are expected to be reinvigorated. A major thrust in this regard is the adoption of the Minimum Effective Tax Rate (ETR) in the Nigerian Tax Act 2025 and other fiscal measures.

    The group pointed out that whereas the normal company income tax rate on a large company in Nigeria is 30 percent of the company’s profit, with the adoption of the ETR, Nigerian companies that are members of a multinational group with an aggregate group turnover of 750 million euros and above or have an annual turnover of 50 billion Naira and above will now be subject to a minimum effective tax rate (ETR) of 15 per cent of their net Income.

    IMPI stated: “The goal is to avoid the double taxation of dividends and unrealised gains or losses. This reduction in tax rates and clarity around double taxation for multinational companies will undoubtedly influence the flow of global capital to Nigeria.

    “This is in addition to introducing the Economic Development Incentive, which replaces the “pioneer” tax holiday incentive. This incentive introduces a 5% tax credit per annum for 5 years on qualifying capital expenditure purchased by eligible companies within 5 years, effective from the production date.

    “The Act further provides that if a company has unused tax credits or qualifying capital expenses, it can carry them forward for 5 years. The EDI effectively reduces the company’s income tax obligation for a five-year consecutive period if it is part of a multinational group. Another attraction for global entrepreneurial capital is the prospect of establishing a residence in Nigeria.

    “In addition, the tax exemption threshold for selling company shares in Nigerian companies has been increased to 150 million Naira (from 100 million Naira) in any 12 consecutive months, provided that the gains do not exceed 10 million Naira. This is another ease-of-doing-business policy.

    “The overall tax structure, including the progressivity of income taxes, can influence income distribution and aggregate demand, affecting economic growth. This is substantially reflected in the NTA 2025. Section 56 of the Act stipulates that small companies with a gross turnover of 100 million Naira or less per annum and total fixed assets not exceeding 250 million Naira now enjoy zero per cent income tax.

    “This is an extension of the threshold for benefiting companies from 25 million Naira in turnover under the 2020 Finance Act to 100 million Naira in the NTA 2025. This higher threshold captures more Nigerian companies, especially those considered to be medium-sized, in categorising companies that are no longer required to pay Company Income Tax (CIT).

    “The most profound provision of the NTA 2025 is the zero tax charge on the personal income of Nigerians earning between 0 and 800,000 Naira annually. Nothing demonstrates the progressive nature of the new tax laws than this.

    “We submit that this exposition of the progressivity of income taxes, as captured in the NTA 2025, will influence income distribution and aggregate demand, thereby driving economic growth. We can now envision the impact of the disposable income available to the approximately 5,800,000 wage workers in this category”.

  • Obi’s coalition project affront to party leadership – LP

    Obi’s coalition project affront to party leadership – LP

    The Labour Party has carpeted its former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, for associating with leaders of a coalition against President Bola Tinubu after it ruled out participating in any coalition ahead of the 2027 election.

    The party said that Obi’s continued association with the coalition was not only distasteful but unacceptable to it.

    The national publicity secretary of the Julius Abure-led faction, Obiora Ifoh, said this in a statement on Monday.

    The party said that Obi’s romance with pro-coalition leaders was confusing, adding that the former Anambra State governor had not come to terms with his intentions for the 2027 presidential race.

    The statement also said that the Labour Party presidential ticket for the 2027 election was open to anyone who wants to run under its platform.

    It said, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to the news trending in the media that the party is ‘celebrating’ that its candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has declared his intention to run on the platform of the party in 2027. I want to state emphatically that I was quoted out of context and therefore, the impression conveyed by the news was erroneous, inaccurate and does not in any way reflect the position and mood in the party.

    “First, while we are not opposed to anybody running under the platform of the Labour Party in the 2027 general election, we need to make it categorically clear that the party has a long-standing rule on how its candidates shall emerge, and an automatic ticket is not one of the routes.

    “Recall that at the party’s National Convention in 2024, the party had erroneously granted automatic tickets to our former Presidential candidate and the only governor of the party, however, that decision has since been rescinded and reversed after consulting the statute books.

    “Second, His Excellency, Peter Obi, hours after he spoke of his intention to run under the Labour Party, was on Sunday (yesterday Sunday) seen in a meeting of a pro-coalition group in Abuja without the permission and consent of the Labour Party leadership.

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    “This to us is confusing, and we think that Peter Obi has not come to terms with his intentions for the 2027 presidential race.

    “We have consistently said that the Labour Party will not go into any coalition or merger of any sort ahead of the 2027 general election, therefore, Obi’s continued association with the coalition is not only distasteful but unacceptable to the party.

    “It is also an affront to the party leadership, and we view his position as a total disregard for the party’s right to make decisions governing its affairs.

    “We are therefore, by this statement, letting Nigerians know that the presidency for 2027 is open to anyone who wants to run under the platform of the party.”

  • Presidential visit: Jalingo residents laud 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply

    Presidential visit: Jalingo residents laud 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply

    Residents of Jalingo, the Taraba capital, have lauded the 24- hour uninterrupted power supply in the metropolis ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s one day official visit to the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports on Wednesday that Vice President Kasshim Shettima is delegated by President Tinubu to represent him in the state and to declare open the Taraba International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) 2025.

    Mr Donald Musa, a resident of Nukkai, a suburb of Jalingo town, described the electricity supply as unprecedented.

    Musa observed that the city had experienced an epileptic power supply in the recent times and prayed that the stable supply continued even after the presidential visit.

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    Similarly, Mrs. Maimuna Abubakar, another resident of Jalingo, observed that the previous supply was four hours daily, noting that the sudden uninterrupted power supply may not be unconnected with the President’s visit to the state.

    She called on the Yola Electricity Distribution Company to improve its supply even after the presidential visit while also commending them for the feat.

    In the same vein, Mrs. Grace Ishaku, another resident, observed that the sharp improvement in the power supply was because of the presidential visit and urged that the development be sustained to boost the economy of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state is billed to host Taraba First International Investment Summit with very high profile guests expected during the event.

    (NAN)

  • Enough is Enough: A president’s swift response to a nation’s call

    Enough is Enough: A president’s swift response to a nation’s call

    As dusk settled over Abuja on Easter Monday, the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport stirred with renewed activity. At precisely 9:50pm, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aircraft touched down, marking his return to the country after nearly three weeks of a working visit to Europe. His arrival came as a much-welcome development for many Nigerians who had expressed concern over the mounting security challenges that plagued parts of the country, some of which happened during his time away.

    For others, particularly the opposition, his absence had been used as fodder for speculation, prompting a slew of unfounded rumors. But with his return and the decisive actions taken in the days that followed, President Tinubu once again demonstrated that leadership knows no geographical boundaries.

    The working visit that took President Tinubu to Paris and London was one not of leisure, but of strategic engagement. While the public discourse may have been fixated on his physical absence, the machinery of state continued to operate under his guidance. From Europe, he remained actively engaged with national issues, maintaining close communication with top government officials and offering directives on key matters, including national security.

    A highlight of his foreign engagements came in Paris, where he held a significant meeting with Mr. Massad Boulos, the United States Department of State’s Senior Advisor for Africa. The talks centered on strengthening Nigeria-U.S. collaboration in regional security and sustainable development. Notably, they discussed strategic steps toward achieving lasting peace in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, underlining Nigeria’s vital role in multilateral African stability efforts. Tinubu’s proactive diplomacy during the visit affirmed his enduring commitment to peace, security, and economic development, not only in Nigeria, but across the continent.

    Back at home, however, tensions were running high. Over the course of the previous few weeks, a troubling surge in violence had marred communities in Plateau, Benue, Borno, and Kwara states. Reports of brutal killings, destruction of property, and displacement of families were deeply unsettling, casting a sombre cloud over the Easter season. Calls for action grew louder, and there was widespread anticipation regarding how the President would respond upon his return.

    True to form, President Tinubu did not wait long to act. Barely 48 hours after his arrival, he convened an emergency security meeting on Wednesday with service chiefs, top intelligence officers, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The high-level session, which lasted over two hours, was both exhaustive and strategic. During the briefing, President Tinubu made clear his dissatisfaction with the ongoing security lapses and issued a clear directive: “Enough is enough.”

    According to Ribadu, the President was not only thoroughly briefed on recent attacks but had already been tracking developments and issuing instructions while abroad. “Even when he was out there, he was constantly in touch,” Ribadu told journalists. He further revealed that the President directed the security apparatus to adopt a “new approach”, one that includes deeper collaboration with sub-national actors; governors, local council leaders, and community heads, in a bid to arrest the causes and spread of insecurity at the grassroots level.

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    “This isn’t just a top-down issue,” Tinubu reportedly emphasized, noting that many of the challenges stem from community-level grievances and must be tackled with a more inclusive framework. His insistence on greater synergy between the federal government and local authorities reflects a nuanced understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape and a shift toward sustainable peace-building.

    While the President’s security directives dominated the headlines midweek, his engagement with global affairs remained undiminished. Also on Wednesday, from the comfort of the State House, Tinubu joined an exclusive high-level virtual dialogue on climate and just transition. The meeting, co-hosted by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, brought together leaders from 17 countries and major global blocs.

    In his address, Tinubu called for courageous and united global action on climate change, framing the crisis not as an environmental issue alone, but as a strategic economic imperative. “For Nigeria, the urgency of this moment is clear,” he declared. “We view climate action not as a cost to development, but as a strategic imperative.”

    He went on to outline Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), a bold roadmap aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. The plan targets five sectors — power, cooking, transportation, oil and gas, and industry — and identifies a financing need exceeding $410 billion. As part of these reforms, Nigeria finalised its Carbon Market Activation Policy in March, which aims to unlock $2.5 billion in investment by 2030. President Tinubu also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in the Mission 300 initiative, an ambitious programme, in partnership with the World Bank and African Development Bank, to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

    This vision, grounded in policy reform and innovative financing, positions Nigeria as a future hub for climate-smart investments. “We are working to position Nigeria as a premier destination for climate-smart investment,” Tinubu said, announcing plans for a Global Climate Change Investment Fund to de-risk green infrastructure and accelerate renewable energy adoption. His remarks earned commendation from international observers and reaffirmed Nigeria’s role as a pacesetter in Africa’s green energy transition.

    Even amid these weighty matters, the President found time for solemn reflection and statesmanship. On Monday, the world woke to the heartbreaking news of the passing of Pope Francis, the 88-year-old Pontiff whose decade-long papacy was marked by humility, justice, and unwavering commitment to the marginalized. President Tinubu was among the first global leaders to react. In a moving statement, he described the late Pope as “a humble servant of God, tireless champion of the poor, and guiding light for millions.”

    “His Holiness served the Church and the Master of the Church until the end,” Tinubu said. “He was an instrument of peace who deeply embodied the message of Christ: love for God and love for humanity.” In a rare moment of personal sentiment, the President recalled how he had referenced the Pope’s resilience in his Easter message, only to be saddened by his death a day later. To honor the revered pontiff, Tinubu dispatched a high-powered Nigerian delegation to the Vatican for the funeral, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Friday. The delegation also included respected religious figures such as Archbishops Matthew Hassan Kukah and Ignatius Kaigama, symbolizing the nation’s unity in grief and its recognition of the Pope’s legacy.

    On the regional front, President Tinubu also marked an important diplomatic milestone during the week — the 50th anniversary celebration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu in Accra, Ghana, the President used the occasion to reflect on ECOWAS’ journey as a beacon of regional integration. “Today, we celebrate numerous remarkable achievements,” Tinubu’s message read. “In five decades, we have established one of Africa’s most vibrant free trade areas.”

    However, he also acknowledged the work yet to be done, noting persistent issues such as youth unemployment and insecurity. In a stirring appeal, he called for a reimagined ECOWAS — one that puts people first and leverages the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a catalyst for transformation. His remarks were echoed by Ghana’s former President John Mahama, who called for an ECOWAS that understands and addresses the aspirations of its citizens. Ghana’s announcement of 1,000 university scholarships for ECOWAS students marked a hopeful start to this vision.

    Amid these high-level engagements, President Tinubu maintained his tradition of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements and milestones of notable Nigerians. On Monday, he congratulated Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on his 65th birthday, commending the former Abia State Governor for his patriotism and business acumen. The following day, he extended warm wishes to Barrister Adeniji Kazeem, newly elected President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Worldwide, describing his emergence as “a well-deserved recognition of exemplary leadership.”

    Also on Tuesday, the President celebrated the 85th birthday of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, praising the monarch’s decades of service and wisdom. Then on Thursday, he marked the 60th birthday of veteran journalist and City People publisher, Seye Kehinde, hailing his contributions to the media industry. These gestures, though symbolic, are testament to the President’s inclusive approach to leadership — one that values legacy, celebrates excellence, and promotes national unity.

    In all, the week of April 20 to 26 was one of extraordinary symbolism and substance for President Tinubu and his administration. It was a week that began with quiet anxieties over his brief absence, only to end in resounding demonstrations of leadership, both at home and on the global stage. Whether in addressing climate change, security, diplomacy, or the emotional resonance of a papal farewell, the President reaffirmed that he is not only aware of the pulse of the nation, but also responsive and engaged.

    As Nigeria continues to navigate the tides of transformation, President Tinubu’s recent actions underscore a simple truth: leadership is not merely about presence, it is about purposeful action. From the streets of Mangu and Otukpo to the chambers of the Vatican and the digital screens of global climate forums, President Tinubu showed that governance, when grounded in resolve and responsibility, transcends boundaries.

    If this week is any indication, Nigeria’s leader is not just back, he is firmly back in charge. What unfolded last week should be a mere tip of the iceberg, much more should be expected in coming weeks.

  • Why coalition against president will collapse, by Atiku’s ex-campaigner

    Why coalition against president will collapse, by Atiku’s ex-campaigner

    The opposition coalition formed to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 will achieve nothing, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse has said.

    Pearse, a former member, Atiku Abubakar 2023 presidential campaign council, said this an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday.

    He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.

    Pearse predicted that the coalition would collapse in no time because it lacked a clear winning strategy.

    According to him , disagreements arising from personal ambitions of the coalition sponsors will lead to its collapse.

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    Pearse said the PDP did not need to merge with any party to win in 2027, adding the party would emerge victorious with focus,unity and a sound strategy.

    “The coalition is reckless. It is not strategic.It is that of emotional distress and will be frustrated.

    “This coalition will collapse in no time,”Pease said.

    Pearse noted that opposition coalitions in Nigeria had not always been successful .

    “I personally have been through this before when we went from PDP To SDP in 2019 election. We were members of what  we then called Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

    “There were about 20 or 30 political parties in that group and all I can tell you is, the more the messier.

    “Everything came down to zero because every political party wanted to produce  the presidential candidate and that led to  the end of the coalition,” Pearse said.