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  • Tinubu hails Eze Ikonne at 97, 52 years on throne

    Tinubu hails Eze Ikonne at 97, 52 years on throne

    …celebrates Aba monarch’s enduring reign

    …salutes role as custodian of culture, unity and peace

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated His Majesty Eze Isaac Ikonne, Enyi I of Aba, on his 97th birthday and the 52nd anniversary of his ascension to the throne.

    In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President extolled the long-reigning monarch’s decades of service to his people and the nation, describing him as a symbol of stability and continuity in traditional leadership.

    President Tinubu noted that Eze Ikonne, a former chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, has remained a respected voice of wisdom and moderation throughout his reign, contributing significantly to peace and social cohesion in his domain and beyond.

    Saluting the first-class monarch, the President said Eze Ikonne is “not only the custodian of the culture and traditions of the people of Aba but also an anchor for peace, unity, and progress in the nation.”

    The President also acknowledged the monarch’s family, noting that Eze Ikonne is the father of Prince Paul Ikonne, a former chief executive of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority.

    President Tinubu joined the Ikonne family, as well as the people and government of Abia State, in celebrating the traditional ruler on the dual milestone, praying for his continued strength and longevity.

    He wished the monarch “many years of good health,” while also expressing hope for “more years of peace and progress” in his kingdom, describing the occasion as a moment to honour a life devoted to service, leadership and the preservation of cherished cultural values.

  • President gets kudos on security

    President gets kudos on security

    Former Vice Chairman of Igando Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Mrs Mojisola Badmus, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for tackling insecurity.

    She said the President should establish state police to further boost security.

    She said this while empowering the less privileged during the Yuletide.

    Badmus said: “President Tinubu has done so well since the past two years. He should consider setting up state police because of the security challenges facing the country.’’

    Read Also: Reps leadership declares 2026 year of hope, calls on Nigerians to stay united

    The ex-vice chairman, who donated items to the less privileged, running into millions of naira, said the government should be more concerned with the people living with disabilities.

    She added: ‘’I advise individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to come up with laudable programmes that will curb restiveness at the state and community levels. “We should give people a sense of belonging. This is the responsibility of government. It should come up with programmes that will make life more meaningful to the people at the grassroots. Let us support the re-election bid of President Tinubu in 2027.’’

  • 2025: What a defining year!

    2025: What a defining year!

    Sir: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had warned that national renewal would be neither fast nor painless. He described it as a painful surgery necessary to recalibrate the economy for future gains. By midyear, the warning had manifested. Inflation, driven by food and energy prices, persisted relentlessly. The naira existed in a state of limbo, neither collapsing completely nor regaining dignity. Salary-dependent citizens faced daily compromise, while speculators adjusted and profited. Official statistics merely confirmed what citizens already knew: adjustment had become endurance.

    Yet governance did not stand still. Revenue mobilisation improved. Leakages narrowed. By April, a comprehensive tax reform framework was unveiled, aiming to redefine who pays, how, and to what effect. Properly implemented, it could stabilise finances for decades. Miscommunicated, it risks deepening mistrust. In public policy, substance alone is never sufficient; legitimacy also requires understanding, transparency, and civic consent.

    Security offered evidence of the state’s potential when coordinated and intelligence-driven. Operations across Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna disrupted entrenched bandit networks. Camps once considered permanent were dismantled, and feared commanders neutralised. The significance was less in propaganda and more in the quiet lesson that impunity is not inevitable. Yet highways remained perilous, rural communities exposed, and kidnappings continued. Fear, while less permanent, had not fully dissipated. Structural justice, inclusion, and local legitimacy remain essential for lasting security.

    International and regional developments added further complexity to an already strained year. Statements by the United States President, Donald Trump, asserting that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria and describing the situation as a Christian genocide, drew strong domestic and international reactions, reopening debates about sovereignty, narrative framing, and the external politicisation of Nigeria’s internal security challenges.

    Almost simultaneously, a reported missile strike in Sokoto, justified as an operation against the so-called Lakurawa terror group, raised serious questions about intelligence credibility, civilian safety, and the expanding theatre of counterterrorism. Within the sub-region, Nigeria’s foreign and security policy faced its own test when Nigerian soldiers en route to Portugal were detained in Burkina Faso, a development that followed closely on the heels of an attempted coup plot in Benin Republic and Nigeria’s military support for the Cotonou government. Together, these events underscored the fragility of regional trust and the growing cost of instability beyond Nigeria’s borders.

    The health sector revealed fragility in stark terms. Nationwide strikes by resident doctors, followed by allied health workers, paralysed tertiary hospitals. Emergency rooms were stretched. Laboratories and pharmacies operated at skeletal capacity. Citizens faced delays, avoidable loss, and mounting uncertainty. Professional sacrifice, not institutional strength, sustained the system. No nation aspiring to seriousness can indefinitely rely on individual endurance while postponing structural repair.

    Read Also: New Year: First Lady urges Nigerians to choose peace, empathy, unity

    Midyear brought a moment of national reflection with the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Flags flew at half-mast. Tributes poured from private citizens, politicians, and international observers alike. Yet beneath ceremonial mourning lay questions unresolved: the legacy of decisions, the costs of policy, and the gaps left in leadership. History rarely closes neatly. It lingers, asking questions long after the ceremonies end.

    Politically, the year matured with quiet intensity. Alliances shifted, ambitions hardened. Northern cities, Kano in particular, became symbolic mirrors of broader anxieties. Silence, rather than violence, became the language of anticipation. Even without formal declaration, Nigerians understood that political calculation was underway, shaping the landscape for future contests.

    Amid pressure, civic life persisted. Humour flourished in the streets, on social media, and in private gatherings. Satire became a language of participation, reminding those in authority that power is both observed and interpreted. In a constrained civic space, laughter and critique became inseparable.

    By the year’s close, one conclusion is unavoidable. 2025 was not a season of miracles. It was a season of exposure. Governance demonstrated competence and direction in some areas, while revealing gaps in empathy and communication in others. Citizens displayed resilience, but also impatience and a refusal to be sustained by rhetoric alone. Reform is underway. Its success depends on trust, empathy, and the capacity of leaders to carry the public along honestly.

    Nigeria did not fall. But we keep hope alive that the giant will rise. It confronted itself, and comfort proved in short supply. This confrontation, uncomfortable as it was, may yet lay the foundation for a more serious engagement with the demands of nationhood. Nations rarely change because they are persuaded; they change because they are compelled to see themselves clearly.

    In this, 2025 may yet prove instructive.

    •Usman Abdullahi Koli, mernoukoli@gmail.com.

  • Solid minerals revenue triples under Tinubu’s reforms — Minister’s aide

    Solid minerals revenue triples under Tinubu’s reforms — Minister’s aide

    The determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to reposition the solid minerals sector as an alternative source of revenue has resulted in a significant increase in earnings from the sector over the past two years.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, who highlighted the operational turnaround recorded since the introduction of wide-ranging reforms and policies.

    Providing an overview of developments since Dr. Dele Alake assumed office as Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Tomori said revenue from the sector rose from N16 billion in 2023 to N38 billion in 2024 and is now projected to more than double within two years.

    According to him, the surge in revenue reflects the renewed focus of the Tinubu administration on unlocking the potential of the mining sector.

    Tomori explained that upon assuming office, the minister introduced a seven-point agenda aimed at attracting credible investors, restoring confidence and repositioning the sector for sustainable growth.

    He noted that part of the reforms involved cleaning up the sector through the revocation of licences held by non-performing operators. In late 2023, he said 1,633 licences were revoked due to default in payment of annual service fees, while another 924 dormant licences were withdrawn in early 2024 to create opportunities for serious investors.

    Tomori added that these measures have boosted both local and foreign investor confidence, leading to the emergence of lithium processing factories across the country, as well as plans for a $400 million rare earth metals processing plant.

    He said the renewed interest and rising revenue figures underscore the growing role of the solid minerals sector in Nigeria’s economic diversification drive.

    “It is estimated that close to $1.5bn in Foreign Direct Investment has been attracted to the sector since 2023,” Tomori said.

    The media aide to the minister also highlighted the revision of the guidelines for Community Development Agreements to ensure that the consent of host communities became an integral part of the license application process.

    On the disturbing challenge of illegal mining, Tomori said the establishment of a special purpose mining marshals in 2024 had begun to yield results. 

    “Just over one year after, over 300 illegal miners have been apprehended; about 150 are undergoing prosecution; and 98 illegal mining sites have been recovered,” adding that nationwide satellite surveillance of mining sites is expected to commence in 2026 to strengthen enforcement.

    In order to ensure inclusivity of all tiers of governance in the sector, the minister introduced a cooperative federalism approach that allows states to apply for mining licences and operate as limited liability companies.

    “This has produced tremendous results as several states now have joint venture partnerships that have yielded investments in Nasarawa, Kaduna, Abuja, Oyo, amongst others,” he said.

    Nigeria’s push for local value addition to refining minerals before exports is gaining continental acceptance, a development that led to the establishment of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group.

    “The body of African ministers of solid minerals unanimously elected Dr Alake as its pioneer chairman. This is a testament to how his vision has positioned Nigeria as leading the continent’s mining sector renaissance.”

    Tomori said reforms to improve the ease of doing business include the launch of the Nigeria Minerals Decision Support System, a web-based platform that provides investors with access to geoscientific and geoeconomic data, interactive maps and infrastructure details.

    He, therefore, said it is no surprise that Nigeria is set to cross the N70bn mark in 2025, noting that though unprecedented. The target is still a drop in the ocean, considering the vast potential of the mining sector.

    “The federal government is determined to build on the gains in 2026. “We go again in 2026 to surpass this record by consolidating on reforms to ensure solid minerals ultimately become a major contributor to our nation’s Gross Domestic Product,” Tomori added.

  • Why Tax Laws must take off fully now, by Tinubu

    Why Tax Laws must take off fully now, by Tinubu

    • President dismisses implementation postponement call
    • Law meant to reset tax system
    • NECA back s Fed Govt

    The final verdict on tomorrow’s full take-off of the tax laws came yesterday.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed that the date is sacrosanct.

    His position, made known in a statement, gave a stamp to Minister for Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris’ earlier statement that there was no going back on the January 1 commencement date.

    Following the observation by House of Representatives member Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP Sokoto) that the Gazetted version of the law is different from the copy passed by the National Assembly, opposition figures and some interest groups that have always opposed the tax reform process began agitating for the suspension of the laws’ takeoff.

    But Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, argued that it was too late in the day to stop the law because two of the four tax laws were already operational, arguing that the remaining two are billed to begin tomorrow.

    The President declared that the reforms represent a historic reset of the country’s fiscal architecture and not an attempt to impose higher taxes on citizens.

    In a statement personally signed by him, he said the tax reforms were “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria”.

    He stressed that the implementation phase would proceed as scheduled despite public controversy.

    President Tinubu said: “The new tax laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and the remaining acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will continue as planned.”

    He emphasised that the reforms were not revenue-hunting measures but a deliberate effort to harmonise Nigeria’s fragmented tax system, reduce duplication across tiers of government, and strengthen trust between citizens and the state.

    The President said: “The tax laws are not designed to raise taxes, but rather to support a structural reset, drive harmonisation, and protect dignity while strengthening the social contract.

    “I urge all stakeholders – state governments, businesses, labour unions and professional bodies –to support the implementation phase, which is now firmly in the delivery stage.”

    President Tinubu’s comments came amid sustained criticism over allegations that some provisions of the tax laws were altered after passage by the National Assembly.

    Some groups had faulted the discrepancies between versions passed by lawmakers and those later gazetted, prompting calls for a suspension of the laws.

    Rejecting such demands, the President said no material irregularity had been established to justify halting a comprehensive reform process.

    “Our administration is aware of the public discourse surrounding alleged changes to some provisions of the recently enacted tax laws.

    “No substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process,” he said.

    Read Also: ‘Tax Laws won’t push up air fares’

    Warning against what he described as reactive governance, President Tinubu added: “Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures.”

    He nevertheless reassured Nigerians of his commitment to due process, pledging continued engagement with the National Assembly to resolve any genuine issues that may arise during implementation.

    President Tinubu said: “I emphasise our administration’s unwavering commitment to due process and the integrity of enacted laws.

    “We will work with the National Assembly to ensure the swift resolution of any issue identified.

    “The Federal Government will continue to act in the overriding public interest to ensure a tax system that supports prosperity and shared responsibility.”

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disagreed, urging the President to suspend the implementation and “listen to the voice of Nigerians.”

    In a statement yesterday, the Turaki-led PDP faction accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising revenue over citizens’ welfare, citing alleged “dangerous provisions” purportedly smuggled into the laws.

    The PDP warned that insisting on the January 1 start date despite unresolved discrepancies “clearly shows where the priority of the government lies – between Nigerians and money”.

    It reminded the President that democratic obedience to laws depends on public trust in the legislative process.

    President Tinubu, on assumption of office, initiated a comprehensive reform of the tax regime in the country.

    He set up a presidential panel to put together a new system of taxation after consultations across the country.

    At the end of the panels’ work, four tax reform Bills were forwarded to the National Assembly.

    The proposal drew flak from North’s political leaders and governors, who expressed open opposition to tax reform.

    The National Economic Council advised the President to withdraw the Bills from the lawmakers to allow for wider consultation, but the President refused, urging those who had misgivings to table them before the lawmakers during the public hearing.

    Opposition figures also seized the opportunity to disparage the government, but the President was unyielding.

    The Bills were eventually passed by both chambers of the National Assembly – House of Representatives on March 18 and Senate on May 7. The President signed the Bills on May 26.

    The implementation started in June with two of the laws.

    Another round of opposition to the laws came after a lawmaker alleged differences in the version passed by the lawmakers and the law he gazette.

    NECA backs implementation of new tax legislation

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) expressed support for the implementation of new tax legislation.

    At a news conference in Lagos yesterday, NECA’s Director-General of NECA, Mr. Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, commended the presidential committee for constructively engaging with all stakeholders, in spite of efforts to misinform the Nigerian populace on its intention.

    He urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to collaborate with the organised private sector in a bid to deepen awareness of the new tax laws.

    The NECA boss said the tax reform legislation remained a significant item that had witnessed the most excellent form of organised chaos in Nigeria’s political history.

    He urged the Federal Government to proceed with the implementation of the laws, as the issue of alteration raised by the National Assembly is not sufficient to hinder it, considering its economic objectives.

    Smart-Oyerinde said: “We cannot continue to run the system the way it was run with a lot of inconsistencies. No law is perfect, and that is why we have made provisions for amendments.

    “As we proceed, we can make necessary amendments, and by doing so, we are building an institution.”

    He said the tax laws were aimed at creating a more conducive and productive business environment for the private sector, thereby generating jobs that would address the root cause of insecurity in Nigeria.

    Smatt-Oyerinde said the stiff resistance faced by the reforms alone was an indication that some forces were against the growth of the Nigerian economy.

    He said: “I have never seen a regulation or legislation that witnessed this kind of engagement or antagonism; I also probably have not seen an item in our lives that has witnessed this kind of organised chaos.”

    “However, the committee has done tremendous work, moving from one place to another.

    “We all saw the issues, until two weeks ago, when it was alleged that the version gazetted was different from the one passed by the National Assembly.”

    He urged that the tax legislation be allowed to run seamlessly, for the betterment of the nation.

  • Group lauds Tinubu’s power sector reforms, seeks more funding

    Group lauds Tinubu’s power sector reforms, seeks more funding

    The Network of Advocacy for Positive Impact Initiative (NAPII) has hailed the Federal Government for the significant and visible reforms in the electricity sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    The organisation said the sector is experiencing meaningful transformation for the first time in years.

    Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, NAPII Executive Director Comrade Williams Bassey acknowledged that the economic reforms introduced by the administration have placed considerable pressure on Nigerians but stressed that the measures were necessary to revive an economy that was in a critical state when President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

    He highlighted key interventions such as adjustments to petrol pump prices, the introduction of student loan schemes to ease challenges in the education sector, increased attention to national security, and the upward review of pension payments as steps that have helped stabilise important sectors of the economy.

    According to him, the electricity sector stands out as the area where the administration’s reforms have been most pronounced and impactful.

    Bassey recalled that in the past, the sector consumed hundreds of millions of dollars with little to show for it, despite several probes by the National Assembly.

     “Historically, the power sector was characterized by corruption, inefficiency, and repeated national grid collapses

     “Today, however, we are pleased to note that those challenges are gradually being addressed,” Bassey said.

    He explained that rather than merely criticising, the group conducted independent assessments of the sector, engaging members of the National Assembly, union leaders, and industry administrators, as well as visiting project sites to verify ongoing reforms.

    Read Also: Tinubu reconstitutes NERC board, charges members on power sector reforms

    He said the group inspected five facilities within the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas, including the Lugbe, Katampe, Lokogoma, and Kubwa main substations, as well as the Gwagwalada transmission line.

    The visits, Bassey said,  revealed extensive upgrades, such as overhauls of transmission lines, construction of new substations, installation of modern transformers, and delivery of critical equipment including circuit breakers and spare parts.

     “These developments reinforce the hope that national grid collapse will soon be a thing of the past,” he stated, noting that a stable electricity supply is crucial to national development and economic transformation.

    Bassey commended President Tinubu, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, for their foresight, professionalism, and effective leadership in the sector.

    He also praised the deployment of digital technologies, particularly the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, describing the transition from analogue to digital operations as a major boost to grid visibility, stability, and efficiency.

    According to him, more than 90 transformers have been installed within the FCT alone, while at least 175 new substations are being added nationwide, contributing to an increase in electricity generation and transmission to about 5,800 megawatts.

    To sustain the momentum, he urged members of the National Assembly to review budgetary allocations for the power sector and ensure timely release of funds to support ongoing reforms.

     “As we approach 2026, we call on the Minister of Power and the management of TCN to sustain the current pace of reforms in the electricity sector,” Bassey said, specifically praising Engr. Abdulaziz for his role in tackling persistent grid collapse challenges.

  • Plight of Nigerian diplomatic staff posted abroad

    Plight of Nigerian diplomatic staff posted abroad

    • By Idang Alibi

    It is a good thing that the executive branch and the National Assembly have finally put in place the top echelon of our diplomatic corps as President Ahmed Bola Tinubu recently submitted the full list of career and non-career ambassadors and their subsequent clearance by legislative branch.

    With the conclusion of the process, our country will be able to handle many of her diplomatic challenges which turn to prop up every now and then. The latest is the military collabo between the USA and Nigeria to deal with ISIS and the other terrorists’ threat in some parts of our country.

    However, while the process is being finalised, this reporter wishes to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to some of the murmurings, grumbling and complaining of a key portion of the middle level foreign affairs officers who are currently posted abroad. The aim of this to get the relevant authorities concerned to do what is necessary to urgently address the genuine plight of the above-mentioned officers so that their being on postings abroad will not be just in name but in the actual work they are expected to do on behalf of the country for its goodness and greatness.

    The first major trouble the diplomats have is with their salaries.  At present, all is not well at all financially with some, if not all, members of the foreign service staff as a result of which some, if not all of them, owe their landlords up to 8-12 months’ rent. These officers are in this embarrassing state of affairs because they have not been paid their salaries for the past six months. Surely, this is not good enough. Whether here at home or over there abroad, it is not pleasant to owe landlords rents. When that happens, relationship between the two parties becomes soured with the foreign tenants suffering the greater pain. None of them will have the necessary peace of mind to live their lives and carry out even their routine functions. And landlords are the same all over the world. To put it diplomatically, some of them are not gentlemen.

     In most cases, they seem to be mean, desperate and unforgiving individuals or corporate entities who build houses as a way to earn a decent income or something to supplement their earnings from some other sources. And if it is very unpleasant to owe a landlord at home here his rents, it is more unpleasant to do so abroad especially when you are a diplomat, a person sent purposely to create a good image for your country. That will be a contradiction in purpose and action. I think that it is mightily better not to send a diplomat to live abroad in another man’s country at all than send him in a manner or state that he is likely to ultimately bring shame and reproach not only to himself but to his country as well.

    Apart from the difficulty in paying rents, another issue which the diplomats contend with over there is fulfilling their other socio-economic responsibilities. It needs no stating to say that a person who owes his landlord will also be likely to be unable to take proper care of the education of his children or dependents even in countries where education is virtually free. The issue of education is even more humiliating and destructive of progress than the shame of inability to pay rents.

    As if all these stated deficiencies are not enough, the career foreign service staff in particular also suffer deprivation from a particular policy of government which they have no control over but which has created in them an intense jealousy and loss of morale. During the Muhammadu Buhari days, the federal government approved the monetization policy for the foreign service personnel.  Unfortunately for the career foreign affairs officers who are the core staff in the diplomatic work, they do not enjoy the monetization benefits while the Finance Attaches and the Immigration Attaches who are considered support staff, do enjoy those benefits.

    Read Also: Southeast will vote massively for Tinubu, Nwifuru — Umahi

    The diplomatic officers are human. Their jealousy is not founded on, or rooted in, a bitter, hateful and unreasonable ground. Rather, it arises from the human reasoning that it is unfair and unjust that they, for whatever reasons, are not or cannot, enjoy what their colleagues who are supposed to be support officers enjoy. Whatever is the reason or logic behind this particular reality/anomaly, those concerned should think quickly about what right and fair thing to do, and very urgently too, to ensure fairness and equity among all staff members.

    Another grievance of the diplomatic service staff posted abroad is that some of them have been waiting for over a year now without their families joining them and the reason is that the government has not released the flight allowances for their separated family members to undertake the trip of re-joining their spouses or family heads. This forced separation, so to say, causes not a little hardship and emotional pain for both parties involved and need to be addressed as soon as possible in order to boost the morale of those who are abroad to fight our many diplomatic fights for us and emotional stability to those left behind who have endured the pain.

    What some of the key figures in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comfortably seated at home here do not know is that when some of the career foreign affairs officers on posting abroad did when they realized that the flight allowances will not be released in time for them to take every member of their household with them abroad was that they borrowed huge sums of money to ensure that their spouses and dependents go along with them. Those monies borrowed are attracting huge interest which keeps growing by the day so long as the principal is not repaid.

    Whatever needs to be done now must include an emphasis on equal and fair treatment of all officers abroad. You cannot have a group of officers facing the same or similar challenges together abroad while policies are made which benefit others while others are deprived.  It is not good enough. Let no one be made to regret that he or she was not a Finance Attaché or an Immigration Officer on posting abroad. Any one charged with the responsibility of correcting these anomalies should act swiftly to ensure that all Nigerians on diplomatic posting abroad enjoy a fair and equitable benefit of full diplomatic service.

    In the eyes of many Nigerians, the Tinubu government is an offshoot of the Buhari government before it. Measures should, therefore, be taken urgently to implement the approved funding policy of the foreign missions done by President Buhari.

    As far as I am concerned, what the Nigerian government has done or fails to do to our diplomatic missions abroad and the officers who man those missions is a thing of great disgrace. This problem did not start yesterday. It has been so since when our country started witnessing the weak hands of administrators in the administration of our affairs. Ultimately, the poor treatment brings harm to those on posting abroad. But the greater harm comes on the image of our potentially great country. Something ought to be done to correct things. We have had enough of these problems.

    •Alibi a journalist lives as in Abuja.

  • ‘Tinubu governs with intent, structure, continuity’

    ‘Tinubu governs with intent, structure, continuity’

    Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has noted with amusement, the latest outburst by the African Democratic Congress’ (ADC’s) spokesperson, who has chosen to knock President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent Europe trip.

    The party says as expected, when faced with serious governance, strategic leadership and results-driven diplomacy, ADC resorts to noise, misinformation and pedestrian politics.

    Lagos APC, in a statement in Ogba by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, said: ‘’It is important to remind the ADC and its spokesperson that Nigeria is not governed from a village square. In an interconnected world, serious leadership entails constant engagement with global partners, investors, development institutions and strategic allies.

    ‘’President Tinubu’s Europe trip is rooted in this reality. It is about advancing Nigeria’s economic interests, strengthening bilateral relations, attracting investment and reinforcing Nigeria’s standing in the comity of nations-not embarking on sightseeing excursions, as the opposition will like Nigerians to believe.’’

    The statement added: ‘’Only the intellectually lazy will assume that leadership is confined to physical presence within national borders. President Tinubu governs with intent, structure and continuity. The machinery of government remains in motion at all times, driven by clear policy direction, delegated authority and institutional strength. Nigeria does not grind to a halt simply because the President is engaging the world on behalf of her people.

    Read Also: New tax laws take off January 1, 2026, Tinubu insists

    ‘’ADC’s fixation on travel once again exposes its chronic lack of ideas. Having nothing concrete to offer Nigerians-no roadmap, no credible economic alternative, no security blueprint-it has resorted to monitoring flight schedules and issuing press releases rooted in envy and ignorance. This obsession betrays a party still struggling to understand the demands of modern governance.

    ‘’Ironically, many of those now feigning outrage were silent, complicit, or enthusiastic cheerleaders during years of wasteful foreign trips that yielded little or nothing for the nation. Today, however, under President Tinubu, international engagements are clearly aligned with Nigeria’s economic recovery agenda, foreign direct investment drive, energy transition goals, infrastructure financing and renewed global relevance.’’

    Oladejo said Nigerians were not deceived, noting that they could clearly see the difference between a President working tirelessly-both at home and abroad-to reposition the nation, and an opposition permanently trapped in the politics of distraction and cheap headline-chasing.

    ‘’As the year winds down and Nigerians look positively to a new one with renewed hope and cautious optimism, the opposition must be advised to urgently up its game. Empty, meaningless noise-making has reduced it to a caricature and a running joke in the public space. Serious times demand serious alternatives, not recycled outrage and shallow theatrics.

    ‘’The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan; it is an unfolding process that requires bold domestic reforms and purposeful international engagement. President Tinubu remains firmly in charge-decisive, deliberate and globally engaged-for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.’’

  • Tinubu hails Uba Sani at 55, praises sacrifice, inclusive leadership

    Tinubu hails Uba Sani at 55, praises sacrifice, inclusive leadership

    …recalls Kaduna governor’s pro-democracy roots, reformist credentials

    …commends security gains, BOFIA legacy, and support for Renewed Hope Agenda

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid a glowing tribute to Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, as he marks his 55th birthday on December 31, praising his life of sacrifice, principled leadership, and inclusive approach to governance.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, President Tinubu described Governor Sani as “my younger brother and friend in the struggle for democracy in Nigeria,” whose political journey was shaped by conviction rather than personal gain.

    “The life, struggles, and triumphs of Governor Sani glisten with golden lessons, especially for our younger ones. As a young man, he identified a noble purpose for his life: the quest for a free and egalitarian society,” the President said.

    Recalling the years of military rule, Tinubu noted that Sani belonged to a rare generation of leaders whose entry into public office was preceded by sacrifice and courage.

    “As a young student leader and later a pro-democracy activist during the dark days of military rule, he stood firmly on the side of justice, freedom, and national unity,” Tinubu said, adding that “at a time when fear was widespread and silence tempting, he—like a few of us—chose the more challenging path of conviction.”

    The President said that the history of struggle had not been abandoned in power but had instead “matured into statesmanship, guiding his conduct in office with humility, empathy, and resolve.”

    Tinubu also highlighted Sani’s record in the 9th National Assembly, describing him as a reformist lawmaker with a deep understanding of Nigeria’s future.

    “His legislative contributions, particularly the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, demonstrated foresight. That legislation strengthened financial stability, embraced innovation, laid a solid foundation for fintech growth, and expanded access to credit for businesses and entrepreneurs,” the President said.

    Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Tinubu said Sani had brought “a refreshing tone to governance in Kaduna State,” proving himself to be “not just a man of conviction, but also a man of compassion.”

    He praised the governor’s inclusive governance model, saying it had helped to unite the people of the state and heal long-standing ethnic and religious divisions.

    “Through Governor Sani’s deliberate inclusive governance model, he has united the people, healed ethnic and religious divisions, and restored trust across communities,” Tinubu said.

    The President pointed to improved security in Birnin Gwari, once ravaged by banditry.

    “Birnin Gwari, which was once desolate due to banditry, has gotten its groove back, with farmers returning to their farms and agricultural commerce booming,” he noted.

    Read Also: Uba Sani boosts teachers’ welfare, extends retirement age to 65, approves rural allowance

    According to Tinubu, the gains were driven by Sani’s engagement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local communities as partners in peace, which had deepened security and fostered sustainable development.

    He also commended the Kaduna administration’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, industrialisation, and agriculture, saying the governor understood “that development must touch lives equitably.”

    Tinubu further described Sani as a trusted ally of the Federal Government and a committed member of the All Progressives Congress, noting his active support for the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “Governor Uba Sani has also been a trusted and reliable ally of this administration,” the President said, adding that his commitment reaffirmed “his belief that democracy must deliver tangible benefits to the people.”

    As the governor marks his birthday, Tinubu said he was proud of Sani’s journey “from pro-democracy activist to a key participant in the collective effort to consolidate democratic gains and good governance.”

    “I join your family, friends, and the good people of Kaduna State in wishing you good health, strength, greater accomplishments, and renewed wisdom to continue your selfless service to our country. May your leadership continue to inspire, and may Kaduna State and Nigeria benefit ever more from your service,” the president said. 

  • Group lauds Tinubu’s power sector reforms, seeks more funding

    Group lauds Tinubu’s power sector reforms, seeks more funding

    The Network of Advocacy for Positive Impact Initiative (NAPII) has commended the federal government for the significant and visible reforms in the electricity sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    The organisation said the sector is experiencing meaningful transformation for the first time in years.

    Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, NAPII Executive Director Comrade Williams Bassey acknowledged that the economic reforms introduced by the administration have placed considerable pressure on Nigerians but stressed that the measures were necessary to revive an economy that was in a critical state when President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

    He highlighted key interventions such as adjustments to petrol pump prices, the introduction of student loan schemes to ease challenges in the education sector, increased attention to national security, and the upward review of pension payments as steps that have helped stabilise important sectors of the economy.

    According to him, the electricity sector stands out as the area where the administration’s reforms have been most pronounced and impactful.

    Bassey recalled that in the past, the sector consumed hundreds of millions of dollars with little to show for it, despite several probes by the National Assembly.

    “Historically, the power sector was characterized by corruption, inefficiency, and repeated national grid collapses

    “Today, however, we are pleased to note that those challenges are gradually being addressed,” Bassey said.

    He explained that rather than merely criticising, the group conducted independent assessments of the sector, engaging members of the National Assembly, union leaders, and industry administrators, as well as visiting project sites to verify ongoing reforms.

    He said the group inspected five facilities within the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas, including the Lugbe, Katampe, Lokogoma, and Kubwa main substations, as well as the Gwagwalada transmission line.

    The visits, Bassey said, revealed extensive upgrades, such as overhauls of transmission lines, construction of new substations, installation of modern transformers, and delivery of critical equipment, including circuit breakers and spare parts.

    “These developments reinforce the hope that national grid collapse will soon be a thing of the past,” he stated, noting that a stable electricity supply is crucial to national development and economic transformation.

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    Bassey commended President Tinubu, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, for their foresight, professionalism, and effective leadership in the sector.

    He also praised the deployment of digital technologies, particularly the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, describing the transition from analogue to digital operations as a major boost to grid visibility, stability, and efficiency.

    According to him, more than 90 transformers have been installed within the FCT alone, while at least 175 new substations are being added nationwide, contributing to an increase in electricity generation and transmission to about 5,800 megawatts.

    To sustain the momentum, he urged members of the National Assembly to review budgetary allocations for the power sector and ensure the timely release of funds to support ongoing reforms.

    “As we approach 2026, we call on the Minister of Power and the management of TCN to sustain the current pace of reforms in the electricity sector,” Bassey said, specifically praising Engr. Abdulaziz for his role in tackling persistent grid collapse challenges.