The Senator representing Jigawa North-West Senatorial District, Babangida Hussaini, has reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi.
He, however, dismissed claims that he is preparing to contest the Jigawa governorship election in 2027.
In a personally signed statement made available to journalists in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, the senator described the reports as false, misleading and deliberately engineered to create tension and disunity within the APC.
Senator Hussaini stressed that his political priority remains supporting the Tinubu-led federal administration and the Namadi government to ensure the delivery of good governance and sustainable development to the people of Jigawa State.
According to him, certain individuals had recently appeared on radio programmes making unfounded allegations that he was positioning himself for the governorship race.
“Recently, certain individuals have appeared on radio programmes making unfounded allegations that I am preparing to contest for the governorship of Jigawa State,” the senator said.
He described the claims as entirely untrue and calculated to sow unnecessary discord within the party.
“These claims are entirely false and clearly intended to create unnecessary division and mischief within our great party,” the statement added.
The lawmaker also dismissed suggestions of any rift between himself and Governor Namadi, insisting that both leaders remain united and committed to a shared vision for the progress and stability of Jigawa State.
“His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, and I remain members of one united party, working collaboratively and respectfully towards the progress and stability of Jigawa State,” Hussaini stated.
The senator further alleged that an individual identified as Magaji Dogo recently appeared on a private radio station to repeat the false narrative, allegedly attempting to mislead the public by wearing a campaign T-shirt bearing the images of both the senator and the governor.
“He went as far as wearing a T-shirt with my image alongside that of the governor, complemented with a cap, to falsely suggest that such statements originated from me,” Hussaini said.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North-West Development Commission (NWDC), the lawmaker described the action as deceptive and completely untrue, while questioning the motive behind the propaganda.
“It is also important to ask: in his previous radio appearances, whose T-shirt was he wearing?” he queried.
Reiterating his political stance, Senator Hussaini said he remains firmly loyal to the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor Namadi, adding that his commitment to the development of Jigawa State remains consistent and unwavering.
“I wish to reiterate, without ambiguity, that I remain firmly loyal to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to the government of our governor, Malam Umar Namadi,” he declared.
He called on the leadership of the APC to take decisive steps to address and curtail the spread of falsehoods capable of undermining party unity and discipline.
According to him, safeguarding the cohesion of the party is critical to maintaining focus on governance and development.
“It is important to safeguard the unity, integrity and cohesion of the APC, ensuring that misinformation and mischief do not distract us from our collective responsibility to build a stronger Jigawa State and Nigeria as a whole,” the statement concluded.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, on his birthday, describing him as an audacious and results-driven public servant whose performance has stood out in his administration.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President celebrated the former Rivers State governor for a life marked by purpose, service and courage, while thanking God for his contributions to national development.
President Tinubu praised Wike as a top performer who consistently defies obstacles and delivers tangible results, particularly in the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through aggressive infrastructure expansion.
The President specifically highlighted the minister’s recent intervention that broke a 14-year deadlock on the construction of the Apo–Karshi Road, describing the development as emblematic of Wike’s problem-solving approach to governance.
Commending the minister’s resilience and “can-do” attitude, Tinubu noted that Wike’s commitment to excellence has translated into visible improvements across the FCT, reinforcing public confidence in the delivery of critical infrastructure.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal Capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers,” the President said.
He further acknowledged Wike’s role as one of the champions of the Renewed Hope Agenda, despite belonging to a different political party, describing his performance as a testament to national service beyond partisan considerations.
President Tinubu wished the FCT minister a happy birthday and prayed for renewed strength as he continues his work to advance development and service delivery in the nation’s capital.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”, the President said.
A group, The Tinubu Youth Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), has formally announced its endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) for the 2027 presidential election.
The group under the leadership of its Director- General, Hon. Innocent Egede, in a statement issued in Abuja, described President Tinubu’s leadership as “vision-driven, courageous, and transformative,” noting that the organisation has observed significant progress in critical national sectors, including economic reforms, digital innovation, infrastructure expansion, and youth-focused developmental frameworks.
Egede said the organisation has continued to expand its network nationwide and remains committed to mobilising broad support for national stability, democratic continuity, and progressive governance.
He emphasised that the Vanguard’s structure spans all 36 states and the FCT, creating what he called a “robust national youth platform” dedicated to democratic participation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown commitment to laying strong foundations for sustainable national growth. Our organisation aligns with this vision and will continue to play a constructive role in Nigeria’s democratic process,” Egede stated.
The Y2025 is approaching its end. In precisely five months’ time, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be clocking three years in the saddle. Today’s not a time for passing a verdict on the president’s administration. That’ll come later, but today’s a day to look at the president’s most recent appointment of a new minister of defence in view of the exacerbating insecurity in the land. Also, the need to look at how to forestall or deescalate foreign intrusion in the nation’s internal affairs.
Tinubu, as governor of Lagos State, was known more by the catchphrase: ‘Talent Hunter.’ And as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria with several federal appointments in his kitty, many believe the jury is still out on that catchphrase.
So far, the president has made appointments that have elicited mixed reactions from the Nigerian public since August 2023, when the first set of ministerial appointments of his administration were announced. However, never in the almost three years of this administration’s existence has any of the president’s appointments been widely celebrated as the president’s recent appointment of General Christopher Musa (rtd), as the country’s new Minister of Defence. Why this is so may not be unconnected with the ineptitude with which Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, minister of defence until few weeks back and his currently serving junior minister, Bello Matawalle, mishandled the recent spate of insecurity in the country. Clearly, these two appointments put to task the catchphrase of the president as a talent hunter.
No wonder that Nigerians, almost in unison, applauded the appointment of General Musa, whom the president, weeks ago sent on compulsory retirement from his erstwhile post of Chief of Defence Staff, alongside other Service Chiefs of his epoch.
Musa truly possesses a salutary profile. But despite this, he has an Herculean task ahead of him as the country’s man-of-the-moment because Nigerians truly look up to him to rescue them from amongst others, the pangs of banditry, the criminality of kidnappers and also the barbarity of armed miscreants disturbing ceaselessly, the spirit of Nigerians.
Questions: Can the retired but obviously not tired General Musa deliver Nigeria from the menace of insecurity that has become a routine recurrence in the country? Won’t the burden of expectations from Nigerians be too deafening for the new Defence Minister to bear? Being a significant part of our rotten system that created and nursed him to hierarchical recognition, will he be able to muster the requisite political will to quash our systemic monsters that might stand between him and his plans for ridding the country of insecurity? Can he stop the endemic corruption and systemic compromise that the unnamed architects of the ongoing insecurity have been inflicting on the country?
How’s Musa going to deal with the unimpressive military hardware on ground and the debilitating welfare of our military personnel, especially those on the battlefields that did not positively speak to the billions of dollars officially claimed to have over several decades allegedly spent in tackling insecurity in the country?
This military general, being a creation of this system, presumably knows what he wants to do and how. During his screening appearance before the National Assembly, he spoke smoothly and with confidence. But there is a clear distinction between talk, considered to be cheap, and implementation of the desired action necessary to bring about expected results to quell ongoing insecurity in the country.
Now is the time for Musa to walk his talk. Franz Kafka once stated that a wise man “starts with what is right than what is acceptable.” This statement should be Musa’s watchword if he intends to achieve anything meaningful as the country’s Defence Minister. Those currently responsible for the rotten state of affairs in the country will surely want him to do what is acceptable to them but to achieve anything tangible for self and country, he needs to depart from acceptable norms and take a detour to the pathways of what is right.
Yours sincerely can vividly recollect that while he was still in active military service, one or two of his video clips surfaced on the social media where he was seen lecturing his audience on what the country needs to do to win its current intractable insecurity conundrum. He should not detract from his position in those videos but stick to what he thinks should be done to effectively tackle insecurity in the country.
He was shown, in one of the videos, strongly advocating for the building of comprehensive border perimeter fences with neighbours like Niger Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Benin Republic so as to curb the infiltration and illegal crossings of insurgents into the country. He made comparative allusions to countries with similar issues that largely resolved their insecurity problems through perimeter fencing of their borders. He alluded to Pakistan that walled its borders with Afghanistan while Saudi Arabia equally walled its borders with Iraq. Musa wondered why the country was delaying in embracing this option months ago. But now that he’s now the country’s defence minister, he should make the achievement of this good idea one of his main critical priorities.
General Musa also advocated for the deployment of drones, cameras, and transponders, which he considered necessary security tools for effective border surveillance and intelligence gathering. It is sad that our country is yet to fully key into daily deployments of modern technology in combating its insecurity despite the vast resources at its firm disposal. Yet, it is still not too late if, as our new defence minister, Musa can forthwith make this happen.
The new defence minister should be focused and not be deterred by hypocritical commentators that see everything from the prisms of costs in a resource-endowed country like ours while downplaying such projects’ benefits to the security wellbeing of Nigerians. This geographical entity must be secure before there can be a government in place and even a country called Nigeria.
Musa should always ask himself about the desirability or otherwise of any project that comes to his mind. Once he is convinced that such project is really necessary for national security, he should pursue them no matter the cost outlay because a country that was recently reported to have spent a huge amount of N17.5trillion on pipelines monitoring in twelve months should be willing and ready to construct perimeter fence to protect its territory from infiltration by rampaging, mostly, Fulani herdsmen aggressors and Boko Haram/ISWAP criminal elements.
Another important battle General Musa must be prepared to wage and possibly win is that of the federal bureaucracy. Generally, bureaucracy creates a structure of rules/regulations deliberately designed to control governmental decisions. But these rules/regulations have grown to become avoidable bottlenecks of suffocating red tapism, loss of freedom to initiate, inefficiency, and sadly detachment from contemporary societal reality.
For Musa to meet up with the expectations of Nigerians, he must immediately commence how he truly plans to waltz through this government contraption called bureaucracy that is renowned for its frustrating procedures that stifle individual action and prompt problem-solving techniques. This new defence minister, that is once used to a ‘command and obey’ structure as a military general, needs a survival technique to manoeuvre the country’s bureaucracy.
More importantly, the president has removed Badaru from the defence ministry. Matawalle should also go for Musa to succeed? The allegations of insecurity misgivings heaped on Matawalle’s head by his successor as Zamfara state governor deserves the president’s revisit.
Musa truly projects an image of a fine gentleman but whether he’s President Tinubu’s best ministerial appointment so far stands to be seen in view of his also being a creation of the rotten system that spends trillions of naira on insecurity without commensurate results to show for such budgetary spendings. Time shall tell if he possesses the political will to stop the ongoing bleeding insecurity by weeding out dead woods on his paths to restoring Nigeria’s lost peace. He no doubts will need an unimpeded presidential support to deal with the unnamed power-bloc behind the country’s insecurity quagmire.
Again, time shall tell if Musa is indeed the president’s best ministerial appointee. He needs courage, confidence, undiluted determination, and presidential support to do and succeed in this insecurity extermination assignment of his.
Musa’s greatest challenge lies more in the fact that our society, as it stands today, values its privileges more than its principles. And in Dwight D. Eisenhower’s observation, any society like ours that “values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” Yours sincerely pray for Musa to survive this rotten system within which most Nigerians expect him to perform wonders.
Sanusi, former MD/CEO of Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency, is currently the managing partner at AMS RELIABLE SOLICITORS.
President Bola Tinubu has insisted that there is neither Christian genocide nor Muslim genocide in Nigeria.
Tinubu said this while declaring open the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) 8th Biennial Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja yesterday.
The theme of the conference was “Building Resilience in a Changing World: The Role of Faith and Community”.
Represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, the President said that what the country had was terrorism, driven by criminality and extremism.
He said that the Federal Government was working tirelessly to overcome the security challenges.
Tinubu said, “in recent times, the Federal Government and other persons of goodwill, had to address unfounded allegations.
“The allegations are not only false, but harmful, and capable of inflaming passions and disrupting the sustenance of the peaceful coexistence which we continue to build as a nation.
“Nigeria’s response was clear, firm, and measured. We reaffirmed that our nation does not foster or tolerate policies or actions aimed at persecuting any religious group,” he said.
According to him, security challenges are rooted in historical, economic and criminal issues, not religious issues.
“Muslims and Christians alike have been victims of terrorism in Nigeria. Muslims and Christians alike stand shoulder to shoulder in condemning violence from any quarter.
“As President, I reiterate with all sense of responsibility and fidelity to the constitution that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria, and there is no Muslim genocide in Nigeria.
“What we have is terrorism driven by criminality, extremism, challenges we are working tirelessly to overcome,” he said.
Tinubu said the Nigerian government would continue to promote firm national unity, religious freedom, and security of every human life.
“We must, therefore, reject narratives that seek to divide us, whether they come from within or outside our borders.
“We must neither allow internal or external forces to sow discord or feed dangerous stereotypes about our beloved nation,” he said.
According to the President, Nigeria’s strength has always been in its diversity, our ability to live together, worship differently, and still see one another as brothers, sisters, and compatriots.
He said that it was comforting to note that faith-based organisations such as NASFAT play an invaluable role in this regard.
“Your teaching on moderation, tolerance, and service to humanity provide pathways for resolving conflicts and deepening national unity.
“Let us continue to promote moderation, peaceful coexistence, and respect for our diversity.
“Our differences are a divine design, not a source of conflict,” he said.
He said the Federal Government remained firmly committed to building an inclusive, prosperous, and secure Nigeria.
“We are undertaking bold reforms to stabilise the economy, restore confidence, attract investments, and create opportunities for all Nigerians.
“While these reforms are necessary for long-term prosperity, I understand the inevitable temporary difficulties many citizens are experiencing.
“Let me assure you that we are working tirelessly to alleviate these pressures, expand social support, accelerate the benefits of the reforms, and above all,
“We will also reinvigorate our security architecture to protect all Nigerians, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or geography.
“However, government cannot build resilience alone. As we reform our economy and tackle insecurity, we rely on institutions like NASFAT to reinforce the moral and spiritual fabric of our society.”
The President said that good governance must work hand-in-hand with strong values, adding that development must be accompanied by discipline, passion and integrity.
According to him, faith must inspire action.
“We need your continued partnership in promoting peace, reducing tension, countering misinformation, and nurturing the values of unity and patriotism” he said.
A prominent bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, APC Aborigines, has expressed strong confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win re-election in 2027, citing what it described as his “enviable achievements” since assuming office.
The group made the declaration on Friday during the inauguration of its Local Government and Wards’ Coordinating Committees for the Tinubu 2027 Progress project held across Owo and Akoko South-West Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking at the event, the convener of the group and ambassador-designate, Chief Sola Iji, said President Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon courage and sincerity in implementing reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria for long-term economic growth.
Iji noted that despite the temporary pains associated with the administration’s economic reforms, Nigerians are beginning to witness signs of gradual recovery – especially in agriculture, infrastructure renewal, security operations, and social investment programmes.
He said the newly inaugurated coordinators are expected to immediately begin community-level mobilisation to canvass support for the President’s second-term bid, insisting that the mission “must be achieved with every vigour.”
“As you are inaugurated today as members of the Local Government and Wards’ Coordinating Committees, your immediate task is to join forces with other stakeholders of the party in your area and ensure the maximum delivery of votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential poll.
“This is our primary mission as a political group, and we must all see to its actualisation in the interest of our party and the country, considering the enviable achievements of Mr President in the last two and a half years,” he said.
Iji added that the APC Aborigines have begun mobilisation across all 18 local government areas of the state ahead of the 2027 general election, boasting a structure that includes ten coordinating members in each ward and five canvassers in every polling unit.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDA), Barr. Eniola Ajipe urged the committee members to embrace the task ahead and work in harmony with other party stakeholders to ensure the President’s return to the office.
He appealed to Nigerians to remain patient as the administration continued to roll out policies aimed at stabilising the economy and strengthening national security.
The Chairman of Akoko South-West Local Government, Hon. Ayo Ajana commended the Aborigines for their longstanding loyalty and charged committee members in his council area to work diligently to deliver one of the highest vote margins for President Tinubu in the state.
In their separate remarks, the local government coordinators for Owo and Akoko South-West, Dr. Folasade Ogunoye-Fabuluje and Barr. Bisi Ayeni assured the leadership of their readiness to deliver a strong outing for the group in the 2027 presidential election.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the APC’s grassroots structures while supporting ongoing efforts of the Ondo State Government under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“A leader,” said the great French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, “is a dealer in hope.”
His greatest strength lies not in the power he wields, but in the compassion he shows to every citizen, regardless of their station in life and background.
In his two years in office, and in previous capacities, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated this understanding in ways great and small. Even as he works to establish a political economy in which macro- and micro-economic growth impacts positively on all classes (including the business and professional elite, and the middle class) he has not forgotten those in the lower classes – and indeed the underclass – for whom living in Nigeria is a daily endurance test and a relentless battle for survival – people that, as we say in these parts, “Nigeria is happening to.”
He should know; as a former pro-democracy activist in the trenches during the days of military rule (when Nigerians squirmed under the jackboots of khaki boys as they strutted across our national landscape and trampled on the basic rights of all but a small and privileged few), he saw firsthand how a people could inhabit one of the most lavishly-endowed nations on the planet, and yet live below the bare minimum of human dignity and wellbeing.
His subsequent political odyssey has over the years reinforced the commitment that led him to those trenches – i.e. the restoration to Nigerians of the rights and freedoms that make life and dignity possible. In a world where true, principle-based leadership has become a rare commodity, Tinubu’s example shines like a steady beacon.
This commitment was on display in the aftermath of the tragic events that took almost two weeks ago in Eruku, a community in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, which came under a violent attack, leaving two people dead, and over 30 others abducted. When the shadows of tragedy descended on Eruku, the President responded with a resolve that turned fear into relief.
His swift coordination of rescue operations – defined by an alacrity that, stakeholders agreed, had not been seen in over a decade of Nigeria’s struggle with criminality and insurgency – saved innocent lives and reminded Nigerians that it is possible for a government in this country to act with urgency and heart.
On his instructions, authorities temporarily shut down schools in five districts of the state in a bid to forestall similar attacks by armed gangs.
In the same spirit, the rescue of 25 school pupils abducted from a girls’ boarding-school in Kebbi State, and that of 100 children in Niger State – part of the over 200 students (along with 12 staff members) kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri – have underscored Tinubu’s conviction that no child should be left behind.
Soon after the Niger abductions, the President canceled a planned foreign trip and dispatched his National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to Papiri, where he assured residents, local leaders and clergy that the children would be rescued and reunited with their families before long. And so it was – via a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven and multi-agency operations. Government has also responded in like manner to other crimes since then, in a series of operations that are still ongoing.
Although the administration has since rejected allegations of an exclusively ‘Christian genocide’ by international stakeholders such as the US government, it has not in the least downplayed the gravity of the current security crisis – and has acted accordingly. This President is fighting back – quietly, deliberately and consistently – and the results are unfolding across our national landscape. In moments when hope wavered and hearts grew weary, he has stepped forward, offering steady hands and a calm voice.
Add to that his recent appointment of a new Minister of Defence – a General widely-regarded for his competence and dynamism – and it is clear that there is a firm hand on the nation’s security wheel, and a heart that acknowledges the human cost of the tragedy, and empathizes with its victims.
Moments like these, though brief in the national narrative, and therefore easy to overlook, have etched themselves into the collective memory as symbols of decisive and humane leadership.
They also resonate with the overarching vision of the President’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ which aims to encompass the length and breadth of Nigeria with the benefits of his reforms and policies without exception on the basis of religion or region.
Tinubu has being heard to speak of a “United States of Nigeria,” a concept that, far from erasing the beautiful diversity of our people, weaves it instead into a stronger, more cohesive and more inclusive tapestry. To him, being Nigerian is not a matter of chance, but a shared destiny – a promise that every voice, from Lagos’s bustling markets to the quiet villages of the N/Delta, has a place at the table of progress.
Leadership, he has shown, is not a buffet where one can pick and choose what or whom to serve. It is a full‑course commitment, a mirror that reflects both the aspirations and the anxieties of our nation.
The President’s reputation as a nationalist and pan-Nigerian leader (as opposed to an ethnic irredentist, as claimed by some of his critics) was a matter for discussion and debate at a meeting earlier this year of critical stakeholders from the old Northern region, the focus being on whether he has lived up to his promises to that region prior to his election in 2023 – namely, to run an all-inclusive government, to utilise the vast natural resources of the country through strategic investment in infrastructure, to protect the national interest, and to be fair to every part of the country.
At the end of the meeting, interventions by Governors, government functionaries and other knowledgeable stakeholders – who reeled out impressive strides recorded by the Tinubu administration in infrastructure, social investment programmes and security – yielded an overwhelming approval rating and an outright rejection of politically-motivated allegations of marginalization. Whatever underdevelopment may exist in the region, they contended, should not be attributed to him, but to local leaders themselves, who have long neglected the region.
As in his country, so he has done beyond its borders – i.e. advance the ideal of African integration and the cohesion of its western axis in particular. As Chairman of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS), Tinubu has demonstrated his opposition to the rising spectre of military takeovers in the region, seeing it as a negation of its people’s yearning for participatory rule – one in which they have a voice (and a vote) in the decisions that affect them. His response to the recent attempted coup d’état in neighbouring Benin Republic – following his dispatch of Nigerian forces to prevent the overthrow of President Patrice Talon’s government – is an emphatic demonstration of his anti-junta stance, honed from his own experience as a pro-democracy activist. Benin, he recognised, was not a foreign entity, but a next-door neighbour whose fortunes, for good or ill, are intertwined with Nigeria’s.
As poverty threatens to encroach on our dignity as individuals, families and communities, and as insecurity threatens our very existence, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is fighting battles on multiple fronts at home and abroad – and winning, thereby rekindling hopes that have over the years been replaced by fear and cynicism. May those hopes continue to flourish. May his unwavering dedication inspire Nigerians of all stripes to also play their part in the great work of nation‑building, as we strive shoulder-to-shoulder towards a future defined by shared values, shared responsibilities, and shared benefits.
Keem Abdul
Keem Abdul, a public relations guru, publisher and writer, hails from Lagos. He can be reached via Akeemabdul2023@gmail.com
The President of Jama’at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria, Alhaji Hashim Oyekan, has described the federal government’s proposed tax reforms as a welcome development.
He made this known during a seminar organised by organization in Magodo, Lagos.
Alhaji Oyekan, an engineer, stressed that Nigeria must move away from its sole reliance on volatile oil revenues.
There is no fear about the new tax law, but there are rumours spread by people that all our accounts will be frozen, our children will not enjoy. That is why we decided to enlighten our people. To me, the proposed tax policy is a welcome development in the sense that governance is collective; it is not just for one sector, it is for everyone in the society.”
Alhaji Oyekan argued that citizens must contribute financially to the society to reasonably expect the government to provide essential services, security and infrastructure.
He highlighted the policy’s progressive nature, noting that low-income earners are often exempted, ensuring the burden is spread equitably.
“If it is spread, the burden will not be too much on one group,” he affirmed.
He also pointed out investment incentives, such as relief on start-up capital and pension arrangements, designed to encourage business registration and compliance.
An Associate Professor of Law at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Dauda Ariyoosu, asserted that the payment of tax is as old as the government and recognised in both Islam and Christianity.
“In Islam, Zakat is compulsory on certain amounts of income while in Christendom, tithe is as well compulsory,” he said.
He reminded the audience of the Islamic injunction to obey Allah, His messenger and those in authority, which, he clarified, refers to the government.
He cited developed countries where tax collection serves as the primary revenue source, advising Nigerians to embrace the reforms for the numerous ensuing benefits.
He, however, cautioned against witch-hunting by tax authorities and urged government parastatals to intensify efforts to educate the public on the mechanics of tax payment.
A Past President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Prince Rasak Kunle Qadri, reinforced the moral and divine obligation to pay taxes, warning that tax evasion is unacceptable and will inevitably be met with sanctions.
He maintained that taxation remains the most sustainable way for a government to fund its operations and fulfil its mandate.
“We should not see tax as a punishment because it’s something that you do in order for you to be able to ask questions. If you are a member of a community and you don’t pay subscription, you cannot talk. But once you start paying subscription, you can ask questions,” he said.
He criticised what he called the Nigerian populace’s tendency to be too lazy and too dumb to actively monitor and question government spending, even after paying their dues.
He appealed to the press to become a stronger voice for the unenlightened, consistently demanding proof of service delivery be it schools, hospitals or roads from the government.
• Fed Govt showcases impact of 3MTT digital skills programme
President Bola Tinubu yesterday declared that Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy hinges squarely on boosting productivity, deepening innovation and developing a workforce equipped with skills that meet global standards.
Speaking at the 3MTT Nigeria National Impact Summit held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President said the path to national prosperity lies not in chance but in deliberate investment in human capital.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, noted that in a world reshaped by rapid technological change, the nations that lead are those that strategically develop the skills of their young people.
Nigeria, he stressed, must therefore continue to treat human capital as its most valuable resource under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He maintained that digital skills now power growth across key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, education and public service, making programmes like the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative essential to the administration’s economic transformation blueprint.
According to him: “a strong digital workforce creates jobs, expands enterprise and positions Nigeria to participate competitively in the global marketplace. More importantly, it shifts our role in the world from passive consumers of technology to active creators and exporters of talent.”
The President hailed the 3MTT programme as proof of what focus and disciplined execution can achieve.
From more than 1.8 million applications drawn from every local government area to new startups and job opportunities emerging nationwide, he said the initiative has moved from concept to measurable impact across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Opportunity is no longer limited to major cities,” he added, noting that the programme is restoring confidence among young Nigerians that they can compete and thrive in the global digital economy.
Tinubu commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for stewarding the programme and acknowledged key private-sector and development partners, including IHS Towers, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Google, Microsoft, Huawei, Moniepoint, the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union, for giving the initiative depth and credibility.
While applauding the progress so far, the President said Nigeria must stay committed to the larger vision of transforming digital and technical skills nationwide.
This, he emphasised, will require continued collaboration among government, industry and development partners.
“To the young Nigerians gathered here, and to the millions you represent across every community in our nation, we believe in your capacity and your future. Through initiatives like 3MTT, we are building genuine platforms for progress, not ceremonial commitments”, he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed that the Nigeria of the future must be powered by skilled hands and driven by innovative minds ready to work, create and lead, adding that the government is determined to lay a strong foundation for a digital workforce that will propel the country’s next chapter of growth and shared prosperity.
The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani in his remarks said about 135,000 Nigerians have been trained within the past two years with some of them having opportunities to secure well paid jobs in tech companies, while others have had opportunities to travel to China, UK and other countries for further studies.
Dr Tijani who praised President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the 3MTT programme and other digital technology innovation initiatives, said within the first month of the launch of the 3MTT programme, over 1.8 million Nigerian youths signed onto the programme.
According to Dr Tijani the Commitment of the present administration to digital infrastructures development remains unparalleled as President Tinubu approved deployment of 4,000 telecom infrastructures to rural areas to ensure that 23 million Nigerians in unconnected areas are connected to the Internet.
The Minister who said by 2030 about 170 million jobs would be available for Nigerians who have tech skills, noted that the digital economy sector would remain vibrant and Nigeria would be in a position to fill vacancies in the sector with the approach adopted by the present administration to bring the youth on board the digital economy sector.
Dr. Tijani who highlighted the various supports and funding received by the government from the private sector and international institutions such as Google, Microsoft, IHS, Huawei, MTN, UNDP, African Development Bank among others, emphasised that the 3MTT programme is open to all Nigerian youths irrespective of status and class.
The Minister further said under the programme, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC made available about 1.5 billion naira worth of laptops and other gadgets to beneficiaries, noting that the beneficiaries of the programme secured 15,000 direct jobs from different tech companies after their trainings.
Dr Tijani who called for increased private sector participation in the 3MTT programme, said the initiative now has community managers in the 36 states of the Federation and one in the FCT, while over 600 facility agents are working across the 774 local government councils of the country.
Ekwunife at 55: President lauds her service, leadership
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as a model progressive leader whose actions and ideals embody the values of unity, innovation, and national renewal.
The President also congratulated Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife on today’s celebration of her 55th birthday.
In a personal birthday tribute ahead of today’s celebration of the governor’s 67th birthday, President Tinubu praised Uzodimma for being “the true representation of a progressive, both in ideal and action”.
He noted that the governor’s contributions to governance and national cohesion continue to strengthen the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Tinubu said Governor Uzodimma has emerged as a “beacon of unity and a force for positive change,” applauding his belief in Nigeria’s potential and his consistent efforts to break down social and political divides.
“He talks of unity and acts to strengthen our bond and blur the artificial lines that separate us. He is a patriot through and through,” the President’s tribute said.
President Tinubu highlighted the Imo State governor’s leadership style as “expansive and corrective, accommodating and decisive,” adding that his election as the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) reflects his broad-mindedness and proven ability to mobilise, inspire loyalty and build consensus within the ruling party.
Tracing Uzodimma’s public service record, the President recalled the governor’s tenure in the Senate, from 2011, where he represented Imo West, and lauded his “quality and impactful representation”.
He recalled that since assuming office as governor in 2020, Uzodimma has steered Imo State towards steady progress, with “remarkable footprints” in infrastructure, healthcare, education and security.
President Tinubu added: “At a personal level, Governor Uzodimma is very affable and has an admirable strength of character. He is a dependable ally. I admire his brilliance and proven problem-solving ability,” President Tinubu said.
Wishing him a joyful birthday celebration, the President joined the governor’s family, friends, associates and the people of Imo State in celebrating his leadership and service.
“I wish him many more years of good health and greater service to our country and humanity at large.”
Also, the President described Senator Ekwunife as a resilient public servant, an accomplished professional and a beacon for women in Nigerian politics.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President celebrated Ekwunife’s decades-long contributions to governance, community development and national progress.
He recalled that before venturing into politics, Senator Ekwunife had built a distinguished career in banking, a foundation that shaped her subsequent trajectory in public service.
She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 to represent the Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency, a seat she retained in 2011.
Her rise continued in 2015 when she was elected senator for Anambra Central, and again in 2019, during which she chaired the Senate Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation.
She most recently served as the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the Anambra State election.
The President said Senator Ekwunife’s public life reflects “resilience, service, and a strong commitment to development and empowerment,” praising her philanthropic engagements and the impact of her leadership on communities across Anambra and beyond.
President Tinubu praised her “contributions to governance and development in Nigeria,” noting that her example continues to inspire women seeking to participate meaningfully in politics and public leadership.
He wished the former lawmaker a joyful 55th birthday and prayed for more success in her future endeavours.
