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  • Presidency to Kwankwaso: Tinubu not neglecting North

    Presidency to Kwankwaso: Tinubu not neglecting North

    • Lists roads, rail, energy, health, agriculture, education projects across Northern geopolitical zones
    • President has been fair to all parts of the country – Umahi
    • Afenifere slams ex-Kano governor over ‘alarmist rhetoric’

    Brandishing figures and photographs, federal government officials yesterday rejected claims by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that the Tinubu administration has been concentrating federal projects in southern Nigeria at the expense of the north.

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, dismissed the allegations as wrong.

    He listed 43 projects spanning the health, road, rail/metro, agricultural, waterway/trade, energy/gas, housing and national programme sectors being executed or already in place in the north.

    Housing and Urban Development Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and the Minister of State in the ministry, Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, stormed Kano to  showcase the housing units, asphaltic paved roads, culverts and drainage systems, electricity and water in the Renewed Hope City (RHC) and Renewed Hope Housing Estate (RHHE) in the  state.

    Works Minister David Umahi published a list of road projects being handled by his ministry and declared that the President has been fair to all parts of the country in the distribution of roads.

    The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, said  Kwankwaso’s comments  were out of tune with the facts of the matter.

    It said the former governor’s criticism was grossly misleading, describing it as a deliberate attempt to paint President Bola Tinubu in bad light.

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    Dare, in a rebuttal on his verified X handle @SundayDareSD, said that contrary to Kwankwaso’s claims, President Tinubu has the North covered.

    “Senator Kwankwaso. You are wrong. North not neglected; President Tinubu has the North covered,” he said.

    He listed the samplers as follows:

    *Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway

    *Sokoto-Badagry Expressway

    *Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina Expressway.

    AGRICULTURE

    *$158.15m Agriculture Value Chain (VCN) Programme for nine Northern states

    * Kolmani Integrated Development Project (Bauchi and Gombe states)

    * Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) — a six-year World Bank–funded programme to restore 1 million hectares of degraded land and improve climate resilience in Northern Nigeria states.

    * Kano River Project (irrigation scheme) — large-scale integrated irrigation development in Kano State, commissioned in 2023 and operational under the current administration.

    HEALTH 

    * Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna (North West)

    * Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina (North West)

    *University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau (North Central)

    * Reference Hospital, Kaduna (North West)

    * Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto (North West)

    * Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi (North East)

    * Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin, Kwara (North Central)

    * Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe (North East)

    * Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau (North Central) — additional expansion

    * Reinvigoration of about 1,000 Primary Health Centres, PHCS in the North

    ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

    * Kano–Kongolam Road (Section II: Kano–Kanwar–Danja–Hadeji)

    * Yakasai–Zalli Road

    * 1,068 km Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway (Northern section including Sokoto and Kebbi)

    * 258 km, 3-lane Carriageway (Section 2, Phase 2A: CH 120+000–CH 378+000) in Gulumbe, Kebbi State

    * Abuja–Kaduna –Zaria–Kano Dual Carriageway

    * Biu–Kangiwa–Kamba –Gaya–Niger Republic Road (30 km segment)

    * Malando–Garin Baka–Ngaski–Wara Road (CH.0+000 – CH.79+586)

    * Koko–Besse–Zaria–Kala Road

    * Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Highway (375 km)

    * Repair of the Gamboru Bridge (Gamboru–Ngala –Kala–Balde Road in Borno State)

    * Expansion of Mararaba–Keffi Road (43.65 km)

    * Construction of Lafia Bypass Road (Nasarawa State)

    * Kano–Maiduguri Dual Carriageway

    * Adamawa–Taraba Single Carriageway

    * Adamawa–Borno Single Carriageway

    * Kaduna–Jos Road (Single Carriageway)

    * Zaria–Funtua –Gusau–Sokoto Road (Dual Carriageway)

    * Zaria–Hunkuyi–Daya Road (Sections I, II & III – 152.67 km) — rehabilitation project in Kaduna and Kano states

    * Reconstruction of Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala Road (49.55 km) — strategic corridor reconstruction in Borno State

    ENERGY AND GAS

    * Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline (AKK) (614 km)

    * Gwagwalada Power Plant (FCT, Abuja – connected with AKK pipeline)

    * ABIBA Solar Power Station, Kaduna (50 MW) — planned solar power plant to boost renewable energy capacity in Kaduna State

    RAIL AND METRO

    * Kaduna–Kano Rail Line (203 km, part of Lagos-Kano Rail Project)

    * Kano–Maradi Rail Line (285 km, linking Kano, Jigawa, Katsina to Maradi in Niger Republic)

    * Kaduna Light Rail System — N100 billion budget allocation to develop light rail public transport in Kaduna

    * Abuja Metro Line Rehabilitation (Abuja Light Rail)

    WATERWAYS & TRADE CORRIDORS

    * Trans-Sahara Trade Route — infrastructure development to connect trade routes from Calabar through Nasarawa and Abuja towards Northern Nigeria and beyond

    NATIONAL PROGRAMMES & INSTITUTIONS

    * National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) — renewed mandate and leadership for desertification combat in Northern Nigeria

    * Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) — ongoing erosion control and watershed infrastructure development in the North.

     In another post yesterday, Dare drew attention to the ongoing construction in Kano of 2000 units under the Renewed Hope Housing.

    His words: “The Federal Government through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is currently constructing 250 units Renewed Hope estate in 12 states across the six geo- political zones of the country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

    “The Federal Government is also constructing seven Renewed Hope Cities, one in each geo-political zone and FCT, with the Kano, Lagos and FCT cities in advanced stage, while the take- off in the remaining four zones of North East, North Central, South South and South East is in the offing.

    •Inset: Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, left, inspecting the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Kano, yesterday.

    Housing ministers inspect FG estates in Kano, express satisfaction

    Ahmed Dangiwa, an architect, and Yusuf Atah, a Kano native, were conducted round the estate by the site engineers.

    Speaking to reporters at the end of the inspection, the Housing Minister expressed satisfaction at the quality of work.

     “We have seen that the work is ongoing and confirmed that the quality is standard according to specifications,” he said.

    “Today, we have given the contractors a time limit – to complete the project in the next six weeks.

     “We want to ensure we commission this project by the end of August and start selling the houses to the Nigerian public who are interested.

    “There are no modifications due to the fact that we have the state controller of Housing who is doing a thorough supervision and gathering intelligence on the projects. And we are happy with the quality, pace and level of completion.

    “From the look of things, the remaining things are internal fittings, electrification and water.”

    Kwankwaso’s claims absolutely false, self-serving,says Umahi

     Works Minister Umahi gave a breakdown of the road projects being executd by his ministry across the country and said:

    “ Senator Kwankwaso’s claim that President Tinubu’s administration is marginalizing the North in road infrastructure development is absolutely false, misleading, and self-serving.

     “ As Minister of Works, I have verified facts to prove otherwise.

    “The four legacy projects of President Tinubu demonstrate a commitment to fairness and equity:

     – Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: 175km ongoing (South)

     – Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway: 378km ongoing (North)

    – Trans Sahara road: 118km ongoing in Ebonyi State (South)

     – Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road: redesigned and ongoing (North)

    “ In these projects, the North has 52% and the South has 48%.

    “ Moreover, ongoing projects in the North include:

     – Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road: 275km dualized, ₦824 billion

     – Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road: 350km dualized, ₦764 billion

     – BUA Tax Credit road: 256km dualized, Jigawa-Katsina-Kano

     – Kano Northern Bypass: 49km

    – Other projects in Borno, Kebbi, Benue, and Kogi states

     “ In contrast, major ongoing projects in the South include:

     – Completion of Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    – Completion of Lagos-Sagamu road – Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin road

    – Repairs of Carter bridge, Third Mainland bridge, and Eko bridge

     – Projects in South East and South-South regions

    “ I will publish a comprehensive list of ongoing projects next week, including those above N20 billion. President Tinubu is committed to developing every part of the country with fairness and equity.

     “Senator Kwankwaso’s statement is divisive and misleading. I challenge him to a debate to set the records straight.”

    Tinubu not marginalising North, Afenifere slams Kwankwaso

    Afenifere, in a statement in Akure, Ondo State by its National Organising Secretary, Otunba Kole Omololu, said Kwankwaso’s statement was not only grossly misleading but also deliberately incendiary.

    It said that contrary to Kwankwaso’s claim, no region has benefitted more from concentrated federal presence over the past decade than the North.

    It said the south has also at one time or the other suffered neglect and cited the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge, which it said were left uncompleted for many years.

    “But less than two years into President Tinubu’s administration, Kwankwaso is crying foul,” Afenifere said.

    Afenifere added that Kwankwaso may be unaware that the Tinubu administration has initiated and awarded several critical infrastructure projects in the North, including the dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega Road, and the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia corridor.

    Others are: the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, neglected by past regimes, is being fast tracked.

    “Just last week, President Tinubu approved billions of naira for infrastructure projects in Katsina, Borno and Niger states,” it said.

    Describing Kwankwaso’s comments as “alarmist rhetoric,” Afenifere warned that such statements not only distort the truth but could also inflame regional tensions.

    Continuing, Afenifere said: “Development is a gradual process, and Tinubu has not yet reached the halfway mark of his term. By 2027, and indeed by 2031, every region, including the North will feel the impact of this administration.

     “We must rise above ethnic saboteurs and sectional agitators masquerading as patriots. Let statesmen, not ethnic lords, shape the national conversation.”

    Kwankwaso, speaking during the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment on Thursday, had claimed that “most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country.”

    Kwankwaso said most roads in the north remained in deplorable conditions while the federal government continued to allocate lump budgetary allocations for infrastructural development in the southern region.

     “We are told that there is a road from the South to the East. We support infrastructure anywhere in this country…and any other thing that is good for the masses, but a situation where government is taking our resources and dumping it in one part of the country and other parts of the country are left just like that, I don’t believe that is the right thing to do by the government itself,” Kwankwaso had said.

  • Tinubu reunites with class of 1999 governors at State House

    Tinubu reunites with class of 1999 governors at State House

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday hosted members of the 1999 Class of Governors at the State House, Abuja, in a symbolic reunion that celebrated their shared political journey at the inception of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

    The delegation, led by former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, met with the President behind closed doors in what sources described as a warm and reflective engagement focused on national unity, good governance and continued contribution to democratic consolidation.

    President Tinubu, who himself served as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 under the banner of the now defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), expressed his pleasure at reconnecting with his former colleagues after more than two decades.

    The meeting reportedly rekindled old political camaraderie among the former governors, many of whom remain active and influential in national affairs. 

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    Discussions were said to have centred on how members of the class could continue to lend their experience to support Nigeria’s governance and nation-building efforts.

    The 1999 class of governors is widely seen as a cornerstone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, having been the first set of elected state executives following the country’s transition from military rule.

    Their tenure marked the beginning of the Fourth Republic, setting the tone for democratic governance after years of authoritarian military leadership.

    Present at yesterday’s reunion were: Chief George Akume (Benue) who is the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Chief James Ibori (Delta); Chief Lucky Igbinedion (Edo);Obong  Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom);Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi) and Mr. Donald Duke (Cross River).

    The rest were: Mr. Boni Haruna (Adamawa); Otunba Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti); Adamu Muazu (Bauchi);Ibrahim Saminu Turaki (Jigawa);and Mr. Jolly Nyame (Taraba).

  • ‘A BOLD FISCAL EVOLUTION’: Cautious Optimism Greets Signing of New Tax Reform Laws

    ‘A BOLD FISCAL EVOLUTION’: Cautious Optimism Greets Signing of New Tax Reform Laws

    By Keem Abdul

    There must be something about the tax reform bills signed into law last Thursday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that has gotten so many stakeholders across the nation so excited – because ‘on a good day’ as we say, people do not get excited at the prospect of more tax. Even in the advanced economies of the world, where taxation is a far more consequential (and structured) aspect of economic planning and growth, politicians and policymakers who dangle the prospect of ‘tax cuts’ usually attract more popular interest and following among the electorate – and the business class in particular – than those who would raise taxes.

    At a ceremony at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President signed into law four tax reform bills on key areas of Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework. The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. Beyond simply streamlining the existing tax codes, the new tax laws, when they become operational, would transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investment.

    A closer look at the provisions and peculiarities of each of the quartet of laws reveals the following:

    ● The Nigeria Tax Bill (which aims to improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business profile), also aims to consolidate Nigeria’s fragmented tax laws into a harmonized statute. By reducing a multiplicity of taxes and eliminating duplication, the law seeks to enhance the ease of doing business, reduce taxpayer compliance burdens, and create a more predictable fiscal environment.

    ● The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill seeks to establish a uniform legal and operational framework for tax administration across federal, state, and local governments.

    ● The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill signals the formal repeal of the current Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act and creates an autonomous and performance-driven national revenue agency – to be known as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). The law defines the NRS’s expanded mandate, including non-tax revenue collection, and lays out its transparency, accountability, and efficiency mechanisms.

    ● The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill provides for a formal governance structure to facilitate cooperation between revenue authorities at all levels of government. It introduces essential oversight mechanisms, including a Tax Appeal Tribunal and an Office of the Tax Ombudsman.

    President Tinubu touted these new laws (to be known as Acts following the presidential assent) as the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, adding that they would provide targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses and families who are struggling to make ends meet. Calling them the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution, he said they would unify the country’s fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level of governance. While acknowledging the complexities involved in tax reform at the best of times, the President was confident about their eventual outcome.

    These new laws have had a tortuous journey, from their formulation to this moment. Recall that back in July  2023, Tinubu had established a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, with Taiwo Oyedele (then a fiscal policy partner and Africa Tax Leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers), as its Chairman – at the head of a group of experts from both the private and public sectors, which the President saddled with a mandate to rework various aspects of tax law reform, fiscal policy design and coordination, harmonization of taxes and revenue administration. In October 2023, the Oyedele-led team presented a 30-day quick-wins report to the President, recommending the merger of over 200 taxes into just 10. The Committee followed that up by undertaking extensive engagements with stakeholders, culminating in the tax bills that were presented to NASS in late 2024.

    However, the bills faced serious political headwinds at the NASS and in many state capitals – particularly as they affected the revenue-sharing structure – with some Governors warning that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with the value-added tax (VAT), could tilt the fiscal balance in favour of the Southern states, which have historically enjoyed stronger consumption bases.

    After prolonged (and often heated) debate, compromises were reached – among which was that VAT would remain at 7.5%, along with new exemptions that would shield minimum-wage earners from paying the personal income tax. There would also be no increment to the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) which would still stand at 30%. In May this year, NASS passed the harmonized versions of the bills with broad support, thanks in part to pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.

    Also weighing in on the significance of the new laws, the Executive Chairman of the NRS (hitherto the Federal Inland Revenue Service), Zacch Adedeji, who spoke after the presidential signing ceremony, disclosed that the new laws would take effect on January 1, 2026 – to give stakeholders time to adjust to the new framework, and to allow for adequate sensitization, planning, and harmonization with the government’s existing budgeting frameworks.

    The aforementioned Oyedele had, in a recent TV interview described the laws as ‘pro-poor,’ adding that they would ease the burden on low-income earners, small business owners, and everyday Nigerians. “More than one-third of our workers in both the private and public sectors will now be exempted completely from PAYE,” he said. “Small businesses, i.e. over 90% of small and micro, nano businesses, will no longer have to worry about paying corporate income tax or charging VAT – or even deducting withholding tax or paying PAYE for their employees.” The Tinubu reforms, he added, would leave more money in the hands of ordinary Nigerians.  In also announcing a new zero‑rate VAT framework on essential items, Oyedele said, “any traces of VAT in food, in education, in medical and health care are now removed completely, so we should see prices of those items come down.”

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    The opacity of the previous system, Oyedele went on to say, enabled inefficiency and lack of transparency in the past. But the new laws, he said, require that government should of necessity be transparent – and would ensure almost compulsory adherence around the standard of reporting, the timeliness of those doing the reporting, as well as accessibility to the public on the part of the NRS and other government agencies. The NRS, Oyedele explained, will operate a digitized system that will collect data like National Identity Numbers (NIN), phone numbers, and bank information – to prevent tax evasion, especially by high-income individuals. The new laws, he explained, were designed with three principal objectives in mind – they were people-centric, efficiency-driven, and growth-focused. The motivation behind the tax regime, he said, was not to increase taxes, but to make the system more efficient, fair, and targeted.

    All in all, low-income households stand to benefit the most; a typical family in Nigeria, which spends most of its income on rent, food and transport, will see lower costs due to VAT exemptions. Small businesses will also see positive changes through streamlined bureaucracy, which would boost compliance and encourage informal traders to enter the tax system. To be sure, though, higher-income individuals and luxury consumers may feel the pinch – especially with higher VAT now expected on luxury goods and premium services.

    Following the signing of the new laws, a number of experts and economic expressed cautious optimism about their prospects. While approving of them in principle, they called on the Tinubu administration to muster the necessary political will to ensure their proper implementation. In particular, they zeroed in on its more radical provisions – e.g. the elimination of multiple taxes, a reduction in public borrowing, the lowering of interest rates, the stabilization of the naira, and a deliberate move to improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business profile with a view towards paving the way for more investments.

    Another long-term advantage of the new tax regime, they note, is that it will henceforth inculcate in Nigerians – especially the coming generations – a culture of tax-paying as a civic responsibility. It was the former British Prime Minister, Margret Thatcher who said, ‘When people pay nothing, they care for nothing’. Now, say these experts, the majority of Nigerians will pay taxes of some sort – and therefore will be emboldened to demand better accountability from government, which on its part will have to be more responsive to their needs and concerns.

    The President put it best when he said, “What we did … is the way forward for our country’s prosperity. Leadership must help people take off … and navigate every twist and turn … That is what we are doing. We are in transit, [but] we have changed the roads [and] some of the misgivings, and we have opened the door to a new economy.” A significant majority of stakeholders agree.

    Keem Abdul, is a public relations guru, publisher and writer, hails from Lagos. He can be reached via +2348038795377 or Akeemabdul2023@gmail.com

  • Former Jigawa AG lauds Tinubu, APC NEC on Yilwatda’s election

    Former Jigawa AG lauds Tinubu, APC NEC on Yilwatda’s election

    The former Jigawa State Attorney General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, SAN, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Executive Committee members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on the election of former Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda as the party’s national chairman.

    This was contained in a press statement made available to The Nation in Dutse, by Ruba’s Special Assistant on Media, Aliyu Ibrahim.

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    Ruba said Yilwatda would attract more support to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State, North-Central and Nigeria as whole.

    “The new national chairman would use his academic and political experience to promote unity and make the APC stronger in Plateau State North Central and Nigeria”.

    Ruba described Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe as “Intellectual, Brilliant, Integrity who can use his unwavering commitment to draw more admiration and attract more support and love for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country”.

  • We’ll continue to support, work with you, Tinubu tells Edo governor

    We’ll continue to support, work with you, Tinubu tells Edo governor

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the successful launch of the New Edo Line Transport Service, describing it as a bold step towards infrastructural renewal and efficient public service delivery in the state.

    The commendation came during the recent meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abuja, where President Tinubu addressed party leaders and stakeholders from across the federation.

    While reaffirming the APC-led Federal Government’s commitment to good governance at all levels, President Tinubu lauded Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to practical development initiatives that resonate with the people.

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    “I also congratulate the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on the Supreme Court affirmation of his mandate,” President Tinubu declared to resounding applause. “We will continue to work with you. We have seen and we congratulate you on the newly-launched Edo Line.”

    This public endorsement not only signifies the President’s admiration for Governor Okpebholo’s developmental strides but also reflects the deepening synergy between the state and the federal government under the APC banner.

    The President’s acknowledgment is an indication of strengthened confidence in the leadership of Governor Okpebholo, whose early months in office have been marked by bold reforms and a return to people-focused governance.

  • Create cottage industries to ease economic pain, Class of ’99 Governors urges Tinubu

    Create cottage industries to ease economic pain, Class of ’99 Governors urges Tinubu

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to prioritise the creation of cottage industries across local governments as a sustainable measure to reduce economic hardship and unemployment, especially in rural communities.

    Members of the 1999 Class of Governorswho visited the President at the State House, Abuja, made the call on Friday

    The delegation was led by former Governor Lucky Igbinedion (Edo) and included prominent figures such as James Ibori (Delta); Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti); Adamu Muazu (Bauchi); Joshua Dariye (Plateau); Victor Attah (Akwa-Ibom); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Jolly Nyame (Taraba); Boni Haruna (Adamawa); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Donald Duke (Cross River) and George Akume (Benue).

    Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Igbinedion said the visit was an opportunity for the group to share perspectives with the President on pressing national issues, particularly security, economic hardship, and food security.

    “We came to see one of our own in the Class of ’99 and to bring up topics about the state of the nation. We are glad that Mr. President received us warmly. We spoke basically about the security situation of the nation, the economy and, of course, agriculture,”, gbinedion said.

    The former Edo Governor noted that President Tinubu showed “deep concern” about the issues raised and welcomed their suggestions on how to bring succour to the people, particularly those grappling with poverty in rural areas.

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    “He assured us that he’s looking into it. We also spoke about the stability of the naira, which he addressed appropriately,” Igbinedion added, describing the conversation as “a very fruitful deliberation.”

    In their assessment of the administration’s current policies, the delegation acknowledged the steps taken so far but urged the President to deepen efforts at economic reform by focusing on job creation rather than short-term relief.

    “What is most important,” Igbinedion stressed, “is let’s create industries—especially cottage industries—that can employ people, rather than just giving out palliatives.”

    According to him, a decentralised model of micro-industries across the country’s 774 local governments would provide a more enduring solution to poverty and hunger than periodic cash handouts.

    “We implored him to try as much as possible to create cottage industries in all the local governments of the Federation where people can be employed. If you give palliatives to somebody today, what happens tomorrow? If he has ₦5,000 in the morning, what is he going to do by lunchtime or dinner time? ₦5,000 cannot buy much”, he said.

    The delegation also emphasised that without adequate security, no economic or agricultural initiative can thrive.

    “We told him, without security, there can be no progress, there can be no stability,” Igbinedion noted.

    He praised President Tinubu for being receptive to their views and committed to sustaining an open-door policy for continued engagement on national development.

    “He appreciated all we came to tell him. He assured us that whatever suggestions, way forward, that we might have, his doors are always open for such conversations”, Igbinedion concluded.

  • Tinubu not marginalising North, Afenifere replies Kwankwaso

    Tinubu not marginalising North, Afenifere replies Kwankwaso

    Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has criticised former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over his claim that the North has been marginalised under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

    Kwankwaso had, during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendments on Thursday in Kano State, alleged that national resources are increasingly tilted toward the southern region, leading to worsening poverty and insecurity in the North.

    He also lamented the deplorable state of federal roads in northern states, citing a recently cancelled flight that forced him to travel from Abuja to Kano via Kaduna by road, an experience he described as “hell.”

    In a statement on Friday, Afenifere dismissed the comments as a “grossly misleading” and “deliberate attempt to paint President Tinubu in a bad light.”

    It National Organising Secretary, Otunba Kole Omololu said it expected better from Kwankwaso as a former governor and minister, urging him to speak with facts and not emotion “laced with sectional bias.”

    “Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s recent outburst, alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is marginalising the North and concentrating national resources in the South, is not only grossly misleading but also deliberately incendiary,” the group stated.

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    Afenifere argued that, contrary to Kwankwaso’s claim, no region has benefitted more from concentrated federal presence over the past decade than the North.

    The group pointed to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, under which, it said, “critical national resources were disproportionately channelled to the North.”

    “The World Bank Managing Director publicly disclosed that President Buhari specifically directed the institution to focus its interventions in northern Nigeria,” Afenifere said.

    It also cited projects such as the Kano-Maradi railway extended deep into Niger Republic as examples of lopsided federal investments under the Buhari administration. “Was this done for national integration or to aid cross-border movement of Fulani kinsmen?” the group asked rhetorically.

    The group further highlighted that under Buhari, major southern projects like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge remained incomplete after eight years, even though they were initiated long before his tenure.

    “But less than two years into President Tinubu’s administration, Kwankwaso is crying foul,” the statement said.

    Afenifere added that Kwankwaso may be unaware that the Tinubu administration has initiated and awarded several critical infrastructure projects in the North, including the dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri road, Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega Road, and the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia corridor.

    Others are: the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, neglected by past regimes, is being fast tracked.

    “Just last week, President Tinubu approved billions of naira for infrastructure projects in Katsina, Borno, and Niger states,” it added.

    Describing Kwankwaso’s comments as “alarmist rhetoric,” Afenifere warned that such statements not only distort the truth but also risk inflaming regional tensions.

    “Development is a gradual process, and Tinubu has not yet reached the halfway mark of his term. By 2027, and indeed by 2031, every region, including the North will feel the impact of this administration,” the group assured.

    “We must rise above ethnic saboteurs and sectional agitators masquerading as patriots. Let statesmen not ethnic lords shape the national conversation,” Afenifere added.

  • Northern youth groups beg Tinubu to replace Yilwatda with Ja’oji

    Northern youth groups beg Tinubu to replace Yilwatda with Ja’oji

    A coalition of Arewa youth groups have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider Nasir Bala Aminu, popularly known as Ja’oji, for appointment as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.

    The coordinated Arewa Youth groups made the request during an emergency meeting by the Northwest branch in Kano.

    The meeting discussed the vacant position of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who previously occupied it, has been appointed National chairman of APC.

    Aminu, from Kano state, is a board member of the Governing Council of Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State, renowned for his philanthropy and humanitarian works.

    According to Arewa youths, “the Northwest has the largest concentration of All Progressives Congress (APC) members and therefore deserves the slot, and Jo’oji is fit for the office.

    “With the largest concentration of APC supporters from the northwest geo-political zone, we are respectfully calling the good attention of our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to kindly consider our zone, particularly Kano, which gave him the highest votes at the 2023 polls.

    “We are calling on Mr President to kindly consider Hon Nasir Bala Aminu (Ja’oji), who has been a voice for the voiceless youths across the North, for appointment to fill in the vacancy left by Yilwatda, the coalition’s communique signed by its Northwest Zonal Coordinator, Balarabe Abdullahi Jega, said.

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    Jega said Ja’oji’s contributions to human development are unwavering, as he also runs special scholarships for Nigerian students at home and abroad.

    “He is a grassroots mobiliser, who believes in APC’s and Mr President’s agenda, policies and programmes, with unwavering loyalty to the President and party.

    “We are assuring Mr President he would not regret appointing Ja’oji as next minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    “Jo’oji has all it takes for the position. His capacity and political will are undoubted, and his loyalty to the President will be his main thrust for engagements and commitments.”

  • Tinubu approves full payment of Super Falcons’ bonuses ahead WAFCON final

    Tinubu approves full payment of Super Falcons’ bonuses ahead WAFCON final

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the full payment of bonuses and allowances for the Super Falcons ahead of their crucial 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final clash against host nation Morocco.

    Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, confirmed that all entitlements have been released for immediate disbursement to the players and officials.

    Dikko described the move as a reflection of the Tinubu administration’s renewed commitment to supporting Nigerian athletes and boosting morale ahead of major competitions.

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    “This is the kind of sports administration we are building, one rooted in dignity, trust, and shared prosperity,” Dikko told reporters.

    “Future generations would appreciate President Tinubu’s reforms in the sports sector.”

    Nigeria and Morocco will do battle in the final at the Olympic Stadium, Rabat on Saturday.

    Morocco are looking to win their first-ever WAFCON title after losing to the Banyana Banyana of South Africa three years ago.

    The Super Falcons are targeting a record extending tenth title.

    The encounter will hold at the Olympic Stadium, Rabat on Saturday.

  • Tinubu reunites with 1999 governors’ class at State House

    Tinubu reunites with 1999 governors’ class at State House

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday, hosted members of the 1999 Class of Governors at the State House, Abuja, in a symbolic reunion that celebrated their shared political journey at the inception of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

    The delegation, led by former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, met with the President behind closed doors in what sources described as a warm and reflective engagement focused on national unity, good governance, and continued contribution to democratic consolidation.

    President Tinubu, who himself served as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 under the banner of the now-defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), expressed his pleasure at reconnecting with his former colleagues after more than two decades.

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    The meeting reportedly rekindled old political camaraderie among the former governors, many of whom remain active and influential in national affairs.

    Discussions were said to have centred on how members of the class could continue to lend their experience to support Nigeria’s governance and nation-building efforts.

    The 1999 class of governors is widely seen as a cornerstone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, having been the first set of elected state executives following the country’s transition from military rule.

    Their tenure marked the beginning of the Fourth Republic, setting the tone for democratic governance after years of authoritarian military leadership.