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  • Tinubu: How narrow victories can forge great legacies

    Tinubu: How narrow victories can forge great legacies

    • By Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

    Sir: In the halls of modern political history, few leaders were as underestimated at the start and as celebrated at the end as Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of post-war West Germany. Elected in 1949 by a razor-thin margin of just one vote, rumours swirled that he may have even cast the decisive vote for himself. His mandate was weak, his popularity uncertain, and Germany’s future hung in the balance.

    Fast forward to Nigeria in 2023. Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged President in a similarly contested fashion. His share of the national vote was under 40%, the lowest winning percentage in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. The opposition was split – Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar divided the votes of disenchanted Nigerians seeking change. The result? Tinubu won not by a landslide, but by strategic calculation and coalition craftsmanship.

    Predictably, allegations of electoral malpractice followed. Yet, like Adenauer, Tinubu weathered the legal storm. Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruled that while the election process had flaws, it did not breach the threshold for annulment.

    But what unites Adenauer and Tinubu is not the narrowness of their victories or their septuagenarian rise to power; it is the scale of their ambitions.

    Adenauer, though unpopular at first, led Germany into the Western alliance, laid the foundations for the European Union, and initiated the economic miracle that transformed his country. By the time of his re-election in 1953, and especially in 1957, he had won the trust of a once-cynical nation.

    Tinubu’s journey seems to mirror this trajectory. In under two years, he has enacted bold and controversial reforms. The removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of Nigeria’s exchange rates, in his words, were necessary to “free the economic jugular of the nation.” Painful? Undoubtedly. But transformative? Increasingly so.

    Government revenues have more than doubled. Nigeria’s $1.61 billion IMF debt has been cleared. Major infrastructure projects are in motion. Oil production is up. Youth empowerment schemes, student loans, and consumer credit initiatives have been launched. The NYSC allowance has been increased, and a new minimum wage of N70,000 has been signed into law. Notably, the revenue-to-debt service ratio has improved from a dangerous 97% to a more tolerable 68% (source: Budget Office of the Federation, 2024).

    Still, like Adenauer’s Germany in the 1950s, Tinubu’s early economic success has come at a cost. Nigerians are grappling with inflation, a weakened naira, and a cost-of-living crisis that strains household budgets. The challenge is clear: to translate macroeconomic progress into everyday relief.

    Adenauer bridged Germany’s transition with a robust Social Market Economy, combining free-market capitalism with social protections. Tinubu’s reforms, including the Student Loan Act and targeted social interventions, signal a similar approach. But more is needed: perhaps a constitutional or statutory ‘Social Code’ to institutionalise social protections and ensure continuity.

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    At this crucial moment, it is important to urge Nigerians, especially those grinding under the current economic hardship, to be a bit more patient and hopeful. Just as the German people endured Adenauer’s tough reforms, and later became proud of their country’s economic revival, so too must Nigerians hold on. The difficulties faced today are not permanent; they are the birth pains of a new economic era.

    If Tinubu’s reforms stay on track, they will not only stabilise the economy but also create a magnet effect, drawing back many who have “japaed” abroad. These Nigerians will return not out of compulsion, but out of pride and renewed hope to join hands in building a Nigeria that is stronger, more prosperous, and destined to be among the new global superpowers in the not-too-distant future.

    Remarkably, political momentum is shifting. Like Adenauer, once doubted and later revered, Tinubu is seeing opposition figures, including prominent politicians, endorsing his potential 2027 re-election bid. The ruling party is moving with urgency, buoyed by a sense that a second-term landslide may be within reach.

    If this trajectory holds, if inflation is tamed, reforms deepen, and social programs scale, Tinubu could emerge not merely as a tactician who won narrowly, but as a reformer who transformed a nation that was once said to be on the brink of collapse.

    Yet, much remains to be done. Poverty reduction, job creation, power supply and security are critical. Insecurity still haunts many regions and must be crushed decisively. The security architecture must be strengthened or overhauled, where necessary, to defeat insurgency, banditry, and criminality. And corruption, which undermines economic progress, must be fought with renewed political will and institutional strength.

    Only then will Tinubu’s bold economic reforms translate into real peace, prosperity, and national renewal.

    Leadership is not always about winning big. Sometimes, it’s about doing big things after barely winning.

    •Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

    osagieizeiyamu@yahoo.com

  • Tinubu: Two years on

    Tinubu: Two years on

    Today, the President turns two in office. It has not been a smooth ride since Asiwaju Bola Tinubu got into office on May 29, 2023. The campaigns and his election were tempestuous. There was a determined bid by his own party and its top echelons to stop him, even before the race began. There was no let up during the race itself as the party and the opposition almost coalesced to work against his election.

    The Jagaban of Borgu (Jagaban for short) has not known respite despite being President in the past two years. The opposition is still beating the drums of war, belching out threats of a coalition, the same arrangement that failed in 2023, to stop him in 2027. This is no time to talk about that major event coming up in two years. It is time to look at what President Tinubu has done in the past two years when the kingmaker became king. But then talking about the last two years will lead us to what to expect in two years time, precisely the 2027 elections.

    Tinubu came into office prepared. This is why he often says that he begged for the job and must deliver, and as such there cannot be any excuses for failure. He was determined from Day One to take hard decisions and the first one he took is still rocking the polity.  His ‘fuel subsidy is gone’ remark at his inauguration at the Eagle Square is the stuff of which legends are made. It was a bold and audacious statement not contained in his address but brought in at a moment only known to the President. It was a statement that showed that this President is not going to be one that played by prepared texts only.

    It will be a Presidency that breaks away from the norm, now and again, in order to achieve its objectives. Nigerians have seen that from his way of handling issues in the past 24 months. He is focused, knowledgeable and insightful. He does not play Mr I-Know-IT-ALL, and at the same time, he does not allow himself to be led by the nose. As expected, the ‘fuel subsidy is gone’ remark has come to be what his antagonists use to harangue him. To them, subsidy removal has become the nation’s headache because the price of petrol shot through the roof.

    They accuse the President of implementing the agenda of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which advocated subsidy removal before coming to the country’s economic aid. The truth is only the President can explain why he took that decision on the spur of the moment, so to say. No matter how you look at it, it has turned out to be a wise decision, after the initial protests against it. Though its price is high, petrol is now available all-year round, without the usual queues seen at filling stations at festive seasons. This is the result of the liberalisation (or is it deregulation?) of the downstream sector, which allows market forces to determine price.

    Though some are not comfortable with this principle of market forces, there is no doubt that in this circumstance, it has worked to the extent of ensuring regular availability of the product across the country, something that was strange before Tinubu’s coming. Tinubu’s flotation of the exchange rate almost at the same time with subsidy removal was also considered economically suicidal, with certain experts wondering how both policies could work simultaneously. The President listened to all these complaints, but stuck to his guns. Leaders are not known for allowing themselves to be blown here and there by the wind.

    They are known for their surefootedness and steadfastness. Taking a decsion and standing by it is the hallmark of a leader, but at the same time, he must also be prepared to admit it when he is wrong. But the fear of being wrong should not stop him from having the courage of his conviction. A leader should not be deterred by fear, but propelled by the will to do what is right for the common good. That the economy is bouncing back today is as a result of his keen foresight on what to do. The exchange rate may still be high at over N1500 to the dollar, but Tinubu is not resting on his oars to marry the fiscal and monetary policies to address the imbalance. But it will not happen overnight.

    Read Also: Senate passes N1.8trn 2025 FCT budget

    The public, according to analysts, are impatient. They want to see things corrected in no time. This is understandable considering what they have gone through. There are no quick fixes to any nation’s problems. These challenges are addressed with time. Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) is restoring hope in various facets of life. With infrastructure springing up here and there, the President has in 24 months done what his predecessors could not do, even during their two terms of eight years. Virtually rebuilding an economy from scratch the way he has done since 2023 is not easy. As he says, he is not in it for the blame game, but to turn atound the fortunes of hapless Nigerians.

    This is what his programmes on student loans, conditional cash transfer, power subsidy, youth empowerment, road construction and rehabilitation, healthcare delivery and affordable drugs, widening the tax net to get the rich to pay more in order to subsidise the poor, diversification from oil to non-oil economy and ease of doing business, amomg others, are about. It will take time for some of these policies and programmes that are in their gestation period to germinate. The results of some are already manifesting. For instance, over 500,000 students have benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), helping many students who would have dropped out of school to continue their education, without fear of where the funding would come from.

    As proof that Tinubu is building a resilient economy, the country has paid the $3.4 billion IMF COVID-19 loan, raising its status in the comity of nations and among multilateral institutions. The external reserve is about $40.19 billion, which is over $6 billion higher than what it was in 2023. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) also rose to $6.2 billion last year, reflecting a $1.4 billion increase in two years, while the gross domestic product (GDP) shot up by 4.6% last year, indicating the highest rise in 10 years. All these in the space of two years.

    Without being told, the President knows that it is not Uhuru yet. More still needs to be done, especially in the area of security. Insurgency has resurged in the Northeast, especially in some parts of Borno and Adamawa states. The military must step up the fight against insurgents and bandits who are making life difficult for the people. Whether by symmetric or asymmetric warfare, or whatever other action, the military and its sister agencies cannot and should not allow any part of Nigeria to be in the hands of non-state actors. They should be flushed out, no matter what it takes.

    It is only by so doing that the people can enjoy the dividends of democracy and the President will have the peace of mind to concentrate on their welfare, which is the primary duty of government.

  • Tax Reform Bills ready for Tinubu’s assent

    Tax Reform Bills ready for Tinubu’s assent

    The four Tax Reform Bills are ready for transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

    This followed the adoption of the National Assembly Conference Committee report by the Senate and House of Representatives during plenary yesterday.

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and leader of the Senate delegation in the Conference Committee, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, presented the report.

    The four tax reforms Bills transmitted in November 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are: The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 583); Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 584); Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2025 (SB. 585); and Nigeria Tax Bill, 2025 (SB. 586).

    Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke, who headed the House team to the conference committee, presented the report.

    He said the committee agreed on all areas of difference in the version passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.

    Faleke said there were 45 areas of differences in the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 12 in the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill, in the Joint Revenue Board Bill and 46 in the Nigeria Tax Bill.

    He added that the differences were agreed upon and resolved by the conference committee.

    While the committee agreed to retain the Senate version in some of the clauses, they also retained the House version in some others, amending a few others.

    The conference committee agreed to the imposition of a four per cent development levy on assessable profit of all companies chargeable to tax under chapters two and three, other than small companies and non-resident companies.

    They also agreed that the levy shall be collected by the Nigeria Revenue Service and paid into a special account created for that purpose.

    The committee agreed that 50 per cent of the tax will go to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, 15 per cent to Education Loan Fund (up from three per cent agreed by the House), eight per cent to Nigeria Information Technology Development Fund (up from five and 10 per cent agreed by both chambers).

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    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure is to get eight per cent (down from 10 per cent earlier agreed by both chambers), the National Board for Technology Incubation is to get four per cent from the fund, Defence and Security Infrastructure is to get 10 per cent while cyber security fund will get five per cent.

    The Social Security Fund, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, and National Sports Development Fund were excluded from the list of beneficiaries passed by the House of Representatives.

    The committee, however, adopted a new clause 158, which imposed a five per cent surcharge on chargeable fossil fuel products provided or produced in Nigeria and shall be collected at the time a chargeable transaction occurs.

    The contentious VAT-sharing formula was not part of the areas of disagreement between the two chambers.

    Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said with the passage of the bills, the country has moved from where it was to where it ought to be.

    He believes the four bills will position Nigeria on the path of growth.

    Ahmed Jaha warned those who will clean up the bill not to tamper with any of the clauses.

    “Where the T is not crossed, don’t cross it; where the I is not dotted, don’t dot it. We have the original copies of the bills as passed before and after harmonisation.

    “We have had cases where those in charge of cleaning up the bills tamper with them, and at the end of the day, the President will withhold assent. That must not happen,” he said.

  • Two years of Tinubu’s balancing act

    Two years of Tinubu’s balancing act

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year anniversary has provoked a mid-term assessment by observers. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines the achievements and constraints of governance in the last two years

    On May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took the oath of office under the glare of national expectation and global scrutiny. With his “Renewed Hope” mantra, he promised to steer Nigeria out of economic stagnation and chronic insecurity. Today, that hope remains alive, but its implementation has been tough for many Nigerians.

    Race against time

    President Tinubu launched his administration with the urgency of a man racing against time. His economic team wasted no time rolling out structural reforms long considered politically risky but economically necessary.

    The first was the removal of the decades-old fuel subsidy—a move that instantly freed billions for the federal treasury and earned praise from international observers. But it came at a huge cost. Fuel prices soared, cascading into food inflation and transport hikes that hit the average Nigerian like a hammer. Monthly allocations to states and local governments increased, but the impact on household budgets was immediate and painful.

    Another jolt came with the unification of multiple foreign exchange rates. While this eliminated the loopholes exploited by speculators to beat the system, it also triggered a naira free fall. The currency reeled under pressure, only to regain partial strength after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cleared a $7 billion forex backlog. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) even briefly became the world’s best-performing market—a rare bright spot in a turbulent economy.

    Inflation neared 35 per cent by the end of 2024, with food prices spiralling out of control. In recent times, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has indicated that inflation is easing.

    Laying the groundwork

    While economic reforms have dominated headlines, Tinubu’s ambitions stretch beyond fiscal arithmetic. Infrastructure has emerged as a central plank in his developmental blueprint.

    The Port Harcourt to Aba rail line signals a slow but welcome revival of the rail sector, and Tinubu has touted his administration’s resolve to rebuild the nation’s physical backbone. Yet, for all the ambition, execution remains the true test. Experts say bold blueprints don’t build roads, and that only consistent funding and competent oversight do.

    A fragile front

    Security remains Nigeria’s deepest wound. From Boko Haram’s enduring threat in the Northeast to the scourge of banditry in the Northwest and herder-farmer clashes in the Middle Belt, Tinubu inherited a nation on edge.

    In response, the administration allocated close to N5 trillion to defence in 2025 alone—the largest in Nigeria’s history. Police recruitment surged, with plans to bring in 30,000 new officers annually. But despite these efforts, attacks—especially in ungoverned territories in remote parts of the country —continue with alarming frequency.

    A more unconventional move has been the quiet reintroduction of Forest Guards. Trained to patrol Nigeria’s vast forests, these units aim to curb rural banditry, protect natural resources, and enhance community-based intelligence gathering. The new initiative could close key gaps in the country’s fractured security architecture.

    However, entrenched issues remain: underpaid personnel, outdated intelligence, and overlapping mandates across agencies still hamper progress. Experts argue that real reform will require not just new boots on the ground but a smarter, more unified strategy in the sky and cyberspace.

    Spotlight on ministers

    Security is not the only battleground. Several of Tinubu’s ministers have emerged as key players in driving reforms across various sectors, with results ranging from promising to outstanding.

    Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has drawn applause for revitalising infrastructure in Abuja, completing long-stalled projects, improving the road network, and commissioning the Abuja Light Rail—all within one year.

    Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, has made waves with his rapid clearance of a 200,000-passport backlog and the automation of the passport application process. His introduction of E-gates at airports is changing immigration procedures.

    Wale Edun, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, was at the helm of the fuel subsidy removal and has expanded direct cash transfer programmes to support the vulnerable. Under his watch, the debt-service-to-revenue ratio dropped significantly—from 97 per cent in 2023 to 68 in 2024.

    Muhammad Ali Pate, Minister of Health, introduced the HPV vaccine, boosted maternal health with Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, and secured a $1 billion memorandum of understanding (MOU) to fight neglected tropical diseases.

    Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, has overseen major infrastructure initiatives and advocated for concrete roads to ensure durability.

    Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, launched the “3 Million Technical Talent” (3MTT) programme and attracted $2 billion for national fibre-optic connectivity.

    Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation, focused on safety compliance, facility upgrades, and training of the workforce manning airports across the country.

    Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, secured $30 billion in foreign investment commitments and inked bilateral agreements to boost youth employability through skills certification. From August 2023 to last October, she served as the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

    Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals, revamped licensing processes, enhanced mining security, and signed MOUs for deep mineral exploration using advanced technology.

    Read Also: Group rates Tinubu high on second anniversary, backs Ojo for Ekiti Gov poll

    Public sentiment

    For many Nigerians, the pain of reform has felt personal. In 2024, protests and a nationwide strike over the high cost of living forced the government to return to the negotiating table, resulting in a minimum wage increase and renewed promises on infrastructure and welfare.

    Public perception remains deeply mixed. Some praise Tinubu’s decisiveness; others criticise the administration for moving too fast without cushioning the effect of the reforms on the populace. While cash transfers and wage hikes offer temporary relief, they have not resolved the deeper malaise of inflation, unemployment, and insecurity.

    Policy recalibration

    Observers argue that a mid-course policy recalibration could make the administration’s reforms more sustainable. Security analysts recommend integrating Forest Guards with local vigilante groups and investing in aerial surveillance to outmatch insurgents.

    Economists urge the government to tame inflation by improving logistics, supporting local agriculture, and stabilising the naira. Others call for deeper reforms in education, beyond student loans, to include infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and a nationwide school feeding programme.

    Above all, there’s a growing call for clearer communication.

    “Nigerians are tired, frustrated, and often in the dark—literally and figuratively,” said security expert Oladele Ajayi. “Members of Tinubu’s must engage more transparently, explaining what they are doing and why.”

    Tinubu’s biggest challenge in the years ahead will not just be launching policies—it will be delivering them in ways that resonate in the markets and Nigerians’ mouths. With rising inflation, a still-volatile security environment, and growing political impatience, the president’s legacy now hinges on a single, urgent test: Can bold reforms become tangible relief?

    Two years in, Tinubu has shown he’s willing to gamble big. Some bets are paying off; others remain in the balance. But for a nation long wearied by promises, only one thing will matter in the end: results that transform lives.

  • Tinubu’s reforms will address energy debt crisis, says ECN

    Tinubu’s reforms will address energy debt crisis, says ECN

    Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has said  President Bola Tinubu’s reforms and policy drive are pathways towards addressing the energy debt crisis.

    Director General, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, spoke yesterday in Abuja, while congratulating Tinubu on his second anniversary in office. According to Abdullahi, the energy debt crisis is an issue which the Federal Government is working to tackle.

    To further address the challenges, he said the Federal Government, through ECN, is committed to provide Nigerians with a more sustainable power alternative with its solarisation project; which will remove over dependence on the national grid that has suffered collapses, including attacks by criminals, vandals and insurgents.

    He said transitioning to solar energy is not just about cost-cutting; it’s about creating a model for efficiency and shielding Nigerians from rising tariffs.

    With the administration entering its mid-term, “the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the power sector, including providing stable electricity and prepaid meters nationwide”.

    According to him, the solarisation project is expected to deliver significant economic and social benefits, including job creation in solar manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, while fostering innovation among Nigerian engineers and entrepreneurs as it will also reduce pressure on the national grid.

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    He noted that the initiative is part of broader reforms across the power value chain, from generation to distribution

    “This is not just about powering Aso Rock; it’s about planting seeds for renewable systems to electrify rural communities, empower the underserved, and ensure energy equity.

    “History will remember this project as the spark that ignited Nigeria’s energy revolution, a future where clean, affordable power is accessible to all.

    “The solar initiative supports President Tinubu’s agenda to eliminate energy debt, reduce governance costs, and position Nigeria as a renewable energy leader.

    “This is the pathway to uninterrupted, sustainable electricity, and the cost is minimal compared to its transformative legacy,” Abdullahi noted.

  • 2nd anniversary: Sen. Bassey lauds Tinubu, Eno

    2nd anniversary: Sen. Bassey lauds Tinubu, Eno

    As Nigeria commemorates two years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno’s leadership, Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, has praised both leaders for prioritizing infrastructure and economic reforms that are transforming lives and revitalizing communities.

    Senator Bassey stated that both administrations have placed strong emphasis on sustainable infrastructure and economic inclusion, laying a solid foundation for long-term prosperity. 

    “From roads and bridges to power and education facilities, we are witnessing a governance model that understands the link between infrastructure and inclusive economic growth,” he remarked.

    At the state level, Governor Umo Eno’s execution of the ARISE Agenda has led to the construction and rehabilitation of over 599 kilometers of rural and inter-local government roads. 

    This, according to Senator Bassey, has unlocked commercial potential in previously isolated communities, expanded logistics networks, and enhanced agricultural trade.

    In the education sector, the development of 17 fully equipped model public schools with digital tools and science labs reflects the administration’s focus on future-ready infrastructure.

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    Senator Bassey also commended the healthcare system’s expansion, including 16 upgraded solar-powered health centers and a far-reaching medical outreach program.

    The agricultural sector has been energized through the Dakkada scheme, with thousands of farmers gaining access to modern equipment, inputs, and training.

     Meanwhile, targeted youth empowerment through ₦650 million in grants under the “One Youth One Skill” programme is spurring microenterprise development across the state.

    Nationally, the Senator highlighted President Tinubu’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure as a central pillar of economic transformation. 

    Projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway are opening up vital economic corridors. 

    Under the current administration, more than 400 roads and bridges have been reconstructed or initiated.

    “President Tinubu has demonstrated foresight by aligning infrastructure with national economic goals,” Senator Bassey said, citing the removal of fuel subsidy and exchange rate reforms as enablers of capital inflow and investment confidence. 

    He also pointed to the National Food Security Council and mechanized farming clusters as strong responses to inflation and food supply challenges.

    With ₦2.1 trillion allocated to security infrastructure and growing investment in digital innovation through the Digital Nigeria Programme, Senator Bassey emphasized that Nigeria is well on its way to becoming a more secure and economically competitive nation.

    He concluded by urging citizens and stakeholders to support infrastructure development and reform continuity: 

    “We must protect the gains we’ve made and support the policies that are building a stronger economic backbone for our country,” he said. 

  • Group rates Tinubu high on second anniversary, backs Ojo for Ekiti Gov poll

    Group rates Tinubu high on second anniversary, backs Ojo for Ekiti Gov poll

    The Tinubu National Think-Tank (TNT) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for what it described as remarkable progress in infrastructure development, food security, and shelter/security over the past two years.

    The National Coordinator, Amb. (Dr.) Adewale Adeogun, highlighted the administration’s achievements at a briefing. 

    The group also announced Engineer Kayode Ojo as its preferred candidate for next year’s Ekiti State governorship election. 

    According to Adeogun, the Federal Government has made significant strides in infrastructure development, including over 440 ongoing road projects nationwide and the construction of 2,700 km of superhighways.

    He noted that the administration has also addressed food security by tackling artificial price inflation and hoarding, making staple foods like garri more affordable for the poor.

    The TNT also noted improvements in security, with the military and other security forces making significant strides in combating insurgency and crude oil theft.

    “President Bola Tinubu and his team have achieved remarkable progress, akin to what we observe in countries like Dubai, particularly in infrastructural development,” Adeogun said. 

    “We currently have over 440 ongoing road projects nationwide, including constructing 2,700 km of superhighways. In the rail sector, the federal government plans to complete the 284-kilometre Kano-Jigawa-Katsina-Maradi Rail Project by 2026.

    Read Also: Tinubu saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse, says Kalu

    “Furthermore, President Tinubu has committed to finishing the Eastern Rail line that connects Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Notably, the 62-kilometre Port Harcourt-Aba railway project has been completed and is now operational.

    “This will facilitate improved commerce, allowing Nigerians to efficiently transport goods from ports to land. Regarding food security, we must recall the national protests held over the high prices of staple foods like garri and rice.

    “On shelter and security, the Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme aims to provide homes for low-income earners, the unemployed, vulnerable groups, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), encompassing both formal and informal sectors.

    “Security has also seen improvements. Numerous human rights and civil society organizations have acknowledged the enhanced state of security across the country. Terrorists, insurgents, and other criminal elements have faced intensified military operations, and we can confidently state that the security situation has improved over the past year.

    “The stay-at-home order in the South-East has faded, with residents feeling more at ease, similar to the North-East and North-West. The military and other security forces have made significant strides in combating insurgency in Nigeria.

    “In the fight against crude oil theft, our pipeline security forces have been relentless in pursuing oil thieves and economic saboteurs, significantly curtailing the activities of vandals, boosting oil production, and reducing theft.”

    Adeogun described Ojo as loyal, dedicated, and supportive of President Tinubu’s aspirations. 

    He added: “In our view, Engineer Kayode Ojo, in both his private and public lives, has proven to be loyal, dedicated, and supportive of the aspirations of our principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Gcfr over the years. His membership in this special group also gave us enough opportunity to assess him as a better option in Ekiti State.”

  • Address security challenges, Onaiyekan urges Tinubu

    Address security challenges, Onaiyekan urges Tinubu

    Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, on Wednesday pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, curb the security challenges in the country

    The cleric spoke at the 2025 Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) Communications Week Public Lecture, where late media Icon Raymond Dokpesi received a posthumous award.

    Cardinal Onaiyekan demanded that the President deliver more dividends of democracy. 

    He said, “My advice for Mr. President is to find ways and means of finding out what Nigeria is actually going through.

    He pressed for empathy with ordinary Nigerians, adding that, “I am not telling him to go and live in Mpape for two days, which would not be a bad idea. But he should know how people in Mpape survive. He should know how families manage with ₦30,000 salary a day.” 

    Assessing Tinubu’s two-year tenure, the Cardinal stated bluntly: “The government must ensure Nigerians’ well-being is maintained, if not improved.

    “He should just govern: make life livable, deal with security, improve the economy, and fight corruption. These were things his predecessor Buhari promised but didn’t deliver in eight years”.

    Addressing the lecture’s theme, “Media with Gentleness: A Path to Being Narrators of Hope in a Distracted Nation,” the cardinal said everybody relies on the media for information.

    “The question is: what kind do you get? Tell the story while leaving people with hope; it’s not all bad. It’s a task you must find a way to do.”

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    Earlier, Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, Secretary General of the CSN, honoured late DAAR Communications founder Raymond Dokpesi for embedding “African and Christian values” in broadcasting through Ray Power FM and AIT.

    Banjo lamented Nigeria’s media decline, “Today we see high-profile clerics brawling on social media, political debates degenerating into acrimony, and sensational content without accountability, a stark departure from Nigeria’s principled media foundations.”

    While quoting Pope Francis’ 2025 Communications Day message, Banjo warned against media that fuels “aggression, violence, and divisive ideologies,” urging a return to ethics exemplified by Dokpesi. 

    The Communications Week, established by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), aims to leverage media for evangelisation and promote responsible journalism.

    This year’s lecture highlighted the Church’s dual demand: accountable leadership and hope-driven media amid national crises.

  • Tinubu saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse, says Kalu

    Tinubu saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse, says Kalu

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu said on Wednesday that the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023 saved the nation’s economy from total collapse.

    Congratulating the President on the second anniversary of his government, Kalu said in a statement commended the President for the courage to remove subsidy on petrol.

    He said that the subsidies were draining the economy of the country with no significant benefits to the people.

    He also commended the President for many other landmark achievements, which included the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme with over 900,000 beneficiaries; students Loan Scheme with over 300,000 beneficiaries and the clearing of over $10 billion FX debt.

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    Others, according to him, include over 440 ongoing road projects, including over 2,700km of superhighways; 3.84% GDP growth in 04 2024, highest in 3 years; N70,000 minimum wage payment; the decimation of insurgency affecting over 13,500 terrorists; over $50 billion in new FDI commitments Net Foreign Exchange achieved; the reserve of from $3.99 billion in 2023 to $23.11 billion in 2024; the unlocking of over $8 billion in new oil @and gas investments; the passage of 4 new landmark tax bills and and creation of regional development Commissions.

    Kalu expressed confidence that the Tinubu-led administration will continue to drive positive change, urging Nigerians to support the government.

    He also assured that the parliament will continue to prioritise the enactment of people-oriented laws to complement the administration’s efforts.

  • Former IGP Adamu hails Tinubu’s giant strides in two years

    Former IGP Adamu hails Tinubu’s giant strides in two years

    Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, has commended President Bola Tinubu over the giant strides he has recorded during his two years in office.

    In his goodwill message to mark the second anniversary of Tinubu’s administration, the erstwhile top brass of the police force described the President’s leadership as highly impactful and transformative.

    He commended the strides made across key sectors and urged Nigerians to support the government’s reform efforts.

    Recall that President Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, has spent the last two years implementing wide-ranging reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The administration is credited with improvements in power supply, with generation rising to over 6,000 megawatts, and crude oil output increasing from 600,000 barrels per day to about 1.8 million.

    Economic indicators show steady progress. Inflation dropped from 34.8% to 24.48% by February 2025, GDP rose by 3.8%, the highest in five years, and debt servicing declined from 97% to 68%.

    The government also cleared $5 billion in outstanding foreign exchange obligations, just as revenue generation surpassed ₦9.1 trillion, while Nigeria’s trade surplus rose by 209.6% to ₦18.86 trillion in 2024.

    Federal allocations to states increased alongside the adoption of a unified foreign exchange system to strengthen economic stability.

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    Social interventions have also been a key focus. The administration disbursed N45.6 billion in student loans across tertiary institutions, while ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector are projected to unlock $700 billion in long-term revenue.

    Adamu praised the administration’s inclusive approach to governance, highlighting its achievements as clear evidence of a focused and determined leadership.

    He also expressed optimism that the next phase of the Tinubu presidency would deliver even more tangible results for the benefit of Nigerians.