₦airaland Forum

Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), says Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), needs to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the party to survive.

In an open letter to Umar Damagum, acting chair of the PDP, Clark said he would not allow Wike destroy the country’s main opposition party and Rivers state.

The PANDEF leader alleged that Wike is ready to use his “closeness” to President Bola Tinubu to exert his influence on Rivers.

“Wike must leave PDP for the party to survive,” he said.

“Mr. Acting National Chairman, as a matter of fact, it is not just the national legal adviser of the PDP that is shocked about your actions – all well-meaning, reasonable, patriotic, faithful and honest party members, including many Nigerians, are equally shocked.

“The obvious anti-party activities of you and the national secretary, both of whom are obviously tools in the hands of Barr. Nyesom Wike, used with all intention to bring down the government of Siminalayi Fubara, the executive governor of Rivers State, as confessed by Barr. Wike himself during his recent outing at Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, the local government of Sen. George Sekibo, is palpable.”

Clark said Wike’s desire to control Rivers is against the constitution.

“Barr. Nyesom Wike’s arbitrariness knows no bounds,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, his actions and attitude have become unconstitutional. His desire to control Rivers state using ‘his structure’ is against Section 1 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.”

The elder stateman berated Damagum for an alleged attempt at according legal validation to the Rivers lawmakers loyal to Wike.

“As acting national chairman of your party, you took your party’s NWC to court on the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers state house of assembly, that because they did leave the PDP properly, they are still members of the party, even after the 27 members had publicly declared that they have defected, and had already been received by the APC,” he said.

“Your position Mr. Acting national chairman is antithetical to the position of Section 109. You took your party’ s NEC to court, an organ you preside over.

“From all indications, you are conniving with detractors of PDP to ruin the party, for the APC.”

WIKE-FUBARA RIFT

For months now, Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers governor, have been at loggerheads over affairs of the state, and this has led to a crisis in the state house of assembly.

In[b] December, 27 members of the assembly defected from the PDP to the APC.

The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, died in September 2023.

In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly, after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule — amid the plot to impeach Fubara.[/b]

Edison later resigned as lawmaker to become chief of staff to Fubara. The lawmakers in the Amaewhule-led faction are loyal to Wike.

President Tinubu departs for France

President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, France using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.

The recommendation to replace the B737-700(BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria's parliament that questioned the plane's safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses.

The new plane is spacious and is furnished with the state-of-the-art avionics, customized interior and communications system.

The Federal Government has disclosed that sales of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries will commence October 1, 2024.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, made the announcement during a meeting with the Implementation Committee on Monday in Abuja.

According to a post on the official X (formerly Twitter) page of the finance ministry, the meeting was to review progress on key initiatives.

At the meeting, key roles were outlined for stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the African Export-Import Bank to ensure smooth implementation.

The post read, “The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, today led the Implementation Committee meeting on the transition to crude oil sales in naira.

“The meeting reviewed progress on key initiatives, including the upcoming commencement of naira payments for crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery starting October 1, 2024.”

Also, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji, and the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee reported that “The first PMS delivery from Dangote is expected next month under existing agreements.”

It also stated that updates were provided on the Port Harcourt and Dangote Refineries were also provided, with significant production increases expected from November 2024.

The minister emphasised the need for transparency and directed the Technical Sub-Committee to finalize details and prepare a report for the President, confirming that his directives are on track for implementation from September.

Recall that the Federal Executive Council had on July 29 okayed President Tinubu’s proposal for NNPC to halt the sale of crude oil to local refineries in foreign currency.

The Federal Executive Council approved that the 450,000 barrels meant for domestic consumption be offered in Naira to Nigerian refineries, using the Dangote refinery as a pilot.

The move is to ensure the stability of the pump price of refined fuel and the dollar-naira exchange rate.

Findings show that Dangote Refinery, at the moment, requires 15 cargoes of crude oil yearly.

In response, the finance minister inaugurated a technical sub-committee tasked with developing the framework for the sale of crude oil to local refineries in naira.

Monday’s meeting marks the second to be held in seven days.

DISCLAIMER

This is to inform the general public that the poster currently circulating on social media, claiming that the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is contesting for the presidency in 2027 with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as his running mate, is entirely false and a malicious piece of fake news.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to categorically state that this is the work of mischief-makers, likely in collaboration with certain elements within the Kwankwassiyya movement, who are determined to create disaffection between Dr. Ganduje and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains unwaveringly loyal to President Tinubu and is fully committed to supporting the President's vision and leadership. Dr. Ganduje believes that President Tinubu is on the right trajectory to steer Nigeria towards greater prosperity and unity.

We urge the public to disregard this fabricated story and refrain from spreading unverified information.

Signed

Edwin Olofu
Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman

Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has described the renowned Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, as an enemy of the state, due to his predilection for shoddy business deals.

Amosun, who stated this while responding to a post on X, where Utomi alleged that he (Amosun) did not honour an agreement preceding his administration, also hinted that the Ogun State House of Assembly had already declared Utomi persona non grata.

It would be recalled that Utomi, in his post on X handle, accused Amosun of cancelling contracts signed during the Otunba Gbanga Daniel’s administration, including his own contract and that of Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company Limited.

Utomi alleged that the decision of Amosun to cancel contracts by his predecessor, led to a prominent Ogun State citizen committing suicide.

Amosun noted that Utomi posted some snide remarks about him on X because he refused to feed his entitlement mentality or honour indecent influence peddling, as governor of Ogun State.

In his concise response to the Utomi diatribe, Amosun explained that, “before I came into office, the Ogun State House of Assembly had passed a personal non grata on Utomi, and put its resolution in the state’s black book.

“So, I was curious when I became governor and called Utomi to ask what the issue was. This was entirely at my discretion and not because he reached out to me. But I reckoned that as one with some degree of name-recognition, that should not be, and I wanted to know what happened.

“He, however, told me, amongst other things, that there was an ongoing construction in an Ogun State property that had become controversial.

“I immediately raised a team for verification and to know what to do. The team I sent said the land was inappropriate because the said construction was being done in the car park of the Ogun property on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Road in Lagos State. My team then suggested somewhere else.

“But he didn’t want another place because, according to him, the place in question gave more visibility. After our in-house assessment, my team concluded he could not have spent more than N35m or at most, N50m on the construction as of then. At that point, I decided to visit myself.

“In addition, it was discovered that the so-called work done was hurriedly executed in the wake of the realisation that another political party had won the governorship election and would take over the reins of leadership in the state.

“It was also obvious that what was being attempted was a move at ambushing the state government under my watch and presenting us with a Fait Accompli, a situation that would have generated a controversy about demolition of an on-going project.

“Just so that his investment in the state would not go to waste, I committed to making a refund of N100 million as against his claim of N200 million. He pressured me ceaselessly to pay him N200 million, but I did not yield.

“As part of his determination to sway me, he deployed his Centre for Value in Leadership, CVL, through the instrumentality of an Award. At first, it all looked curious that I’d just been in office for about two years, and here I was being given an award, so I rejected it.

“But he insisted that I honour his CVL SOLUTION CONFERENCE SERIES with my presence, which I did, and I was given a plaque for participating. But I did not change my position on the refund of N100 million as against his N200 million claim.

“A few years later, he complained to some people with the sole intent to malign me. When I heard, I called to tell him off because his problem was purely one of entitlement mentality. He even boasted, asking me: ‘Do you know who I am?’ Imagine! But I ignored him because I immediately saw through his true colour. In my book, it’s one law for everyone, no matter who you are.

“I challenge everyone, including journalists, to let us meet at the construction site and see the N200 million investment he claimed to have made there. Let them also ask what benefit the project would have been to Ogun State.

“Nobody can talk me down in order to look good. I served Ogun State passionately with all my strengths, and I did with my shoulders high. I stand by every decision I took, whether or not people like Pat Utomi were in agreement with me.

“Utomi knows his case did not even have any legs to stand on. He is not different from Zhongfu International Investment FXE. He knows he can not lay claims to any lawful damage done to his investment. All he has tried to do is a ‘me too’, which is very disgraceful.”

The former governor, however, contended that, for “Nigeria to become a better country, one law must be applied to every Nigerian, irrespective of your status, religion, or tribe”, insisting that “if Nigerians truly want a great nation, they should hold their leaders accountable for every action. But, if Nigerians allow people to hoodwink them with misinformation, mischaracterisation, and dubious tales by moonlight, it will be unfortunate.”

THE two suspects found with a human head exhumed from a grave at Amuloko Area in Ibadan, Oyo State, and arrested by the personnel of the state command of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Amotekun, have said that they used to get N5,000 as payment for the job done.

The suspects were identified as Mustapha Bello and Damilare Oladele.

Sunday Tribune learnt that while returning home, the suspects were accosted at dawn on Monday by a night guard who saw them carrying a bag, and when challenged, Bello, who was the one carrying the bag, tried to struggle with the security man, which gave Oladele the chance to escape.

Bello was eventually subdued and handed over to Amotekun for investigation.

When the news went round the city with the video recording of Bello when he was caught, it was learnt that a law enforcement agent who had noticed the closeness of Bello and Oladele suspected him of being the arrested suspect’s accomplice and challenged him same day in the evening.

The crowd, which had gathered, was said to have started beating the suspect, leading to his pleas and confession to being part of the operation carried out to get the human head.

He was also immediately transferred to Amotekun for investigation.

In an interview with Bello, a 32-year-old carpenter, he told Sunday Tribune: “I’m an Ibadan indigene living at Labo area. It is true that I went with my partner to exhume dead body and remove the head at Amuloko area.

“One Saheed was the one who brought me into this kind of work. He works as a security man. He asked me to follow him to work in a place when I told him I was not having money. He told me not to worry, promising to give me some money the following day. I asked him the kind of work we were going to do but he said he would let me know when we arrive the place.

“When we got to a gravesite in front of a residence at Ita Ege at about 1am, he opened up that we were there to get human head. We used cutlass and our hands to remove the mound of earth covering the grave. He removed the head and returned the remains into the grave.

“It is Saheed who used to sell the head. He used to give me N5,000 as my share.

“I went to the last operation with another accomplice, Damilare. After cutting the head, I was the one carrying it in a sack on our way back home when I was arrested by local vigilante. My partner escaped, and I was handed over to Amotekun.”

Explaining his involvement, the second suspect said: “I am Damilare Oladele. I’m from Ibadan and I live at Oranyan. I’m 25 years old. I’m a barber. I was arrested for exhuming a buried corpse and severing its head. Mustapha and I started working together in February this year.

“Mustapha was the one who really knew about the operation and invited me. My role was to watch out for any approaching security man while he would be digging the grave to exhume the buried corpse.

“Mustapha discussed the matter with me when we were relaxing one day. He had been doing it. The first time, he told me to go out with him that night as there was a task to be carried out. I asked him of the kind of task, and he opened up to me that we were going to get a human head. He told me that the one he targeted was already dry as it had been buried for long and it would not be smelly when being carried by us. He promised me the payment of N5,000 as my share.”

Disclosing his gang’s mode of operation, Oladele said: “We used to get to the area where we would get the human head at night at about 10 pm. We would hide in a place till after midnight when we would begin the exhumation at about 1 am.

“After the head had been removed, Mustapha would call me to cover the grave while he would go and hide the head. We would retire to our hiding spot and wait till dawn before we would go home.

“He was the one who would take the head to the buyer. After he had been paid, he would give me N5,000 as my share, except once when he gave me N10,000 because we went for a fresh head. I have worked with him five times.

“We did the last one at Amuloko in Ona Ara Local Government Area in the early hours of Monday. The place was described to Mustapha by one Afaa. They discussed it on the phone. The Afaa said that the corpse was recently buried.

“We went to work, removed the head and went to sleep in a nearby school until 5am when we left. Unfortunately for us, we met a night guard who sought to know what Mustapha was carrying. As they were dragging the issue with each other, I quickly took to my heels.”

How I Was Caught

“I went to my shop and returned to where I live in the evening to find out how things went with Mustapha. It was the person he used to give the head for sale who came to me. His name is Saheed. Saheed is a native doctor, and he was the one who introduced the operation to Mustapha. He stopped doing it and was only collecting the severed heads from Mustapha and paying him for the job done. That was why Mustapha asked me to join him in doing the work.

“He was the one who informed me that Mustapha had been handed over to Amotekun. He said he would be using his phone to monitor things.

“I was on my way back to my shop when I was seen by a security personnel. I learnt that the crowd recorded Mustapha’s arrest on video and posted it. The post was seen by the security agent and on seeing me, knowing very well that I was a close friend of Mustapha, he called me to come and take a look. He said that he believed I worked together with my friend. That was how the people around started beating me. I was handed over to Amotekun.”

Oladele confessed to smoking hemp and drinking alcohol but said that he stopped taking marijuana last year, sticking only to cigarettes.

Yusuf Tuggar, the minister of foreign affairs, says the federal government is working to resolve its dispute with Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment, a Chinese firm.

A French court recently ordered the seizure of three presidential jets belonging to Nigeria over a contract dispute between the Chinese firm and Ogun state government.

The court ruled that the firm should use Nigeria’s jets at the Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse international airports as “security for its claim of EUR 74,459,221”.

A US appeal court also ruled that Nigeria’s claim to sovereign immunity cannot stand in a commercial venture.

The court rejected Nigeria’s sovereign immunity defence to the enforcement of a $70 million investment treaty award won by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. in a free trade zone.

The Chinese company said it would release one of Nigeria’s seized presidential jets.

Speaking with reporters in Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea, on Friday, Tuggar said he and Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, are on top of the situation.

“This is part of the problem when sub-national actors like state governments take it upon themselves to go into agreements, go into international arrangements, without recourse to the ministry of foreign affairs, without recourse to the federal government, and then when it goes awry, we are left with the problem to deal with,” he said.

“That is why it is always important that such arrangements should be registered with the mission there, with the embassy, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the federal government.

“This is something that Ogun state, under a different administration, not this governor, entered into that we’re not aware of. All we know is that they’re going after Nigerian assets.

“That’s why, really, foreign or international negotiations are not the purview of sub-national actors.

“You should always have those that are experienced in such an area that have the necessary skills and the necessary training to negotiate these sorts of agreements.”

The minister said updates would be provided on the matter.

The Senate has refuted claims that lawmakers in the Red Chamber receive N21m in salaries and allowances.

The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), made this clarification on Thursday in response to statements by Senator Sumaila Kawu.

In an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service on Wednesday, Kawu claimed that he earns a cumulative N21m monthly in salary and allowances.

He also stated that his “monthly salary is less than N1 million. After deductions, the figure comes down to a little over N600,000.”

He further explained, “Given the increase effected in the Senate, each Senator gets N21 million monthly as running cost.”

In a personally signed statement, Adaramodu emphasised that running costs are distinct from the salary and personal allowances of lawmakers, which the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission sets.

Earlier, the RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, revealed that each Senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totalling N1,063,860.

Adaramodu clarified that running costs are not unique to the legislature and are used for the operation of their offices.

He stressed that “such funds are retired by relevant officers after being used for official purposes and proof of genuine expenditure.”

He added, “It’s not a personal allowance or salary of the legislator.”

He also noted that these funds cover expenses for constituency office staff.

Expressing concern over the narrative of wasteful spending by parliament, Adaramodu stated, “The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators, and captains of industry, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, but rather by their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life into Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones.

“For the umpteenth time, the Senate is compelled to respond to obsolete allegations of phantom salaries and personal emoluments spuriously credited to Senators monthly.

“The Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission, the agency of government that fixes political officials’ salaries and allowances, has duly disclosed the monthly personal take-home of Senators.”

He added, “However, all arms of government and their personnel—governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, Directors-General, state commissioners, and even boards and parastatals, including local government councils—run their activities with running costs, and the National Assembly is no exception.

“The funds referred to by Senator Kawu Sumaila are neither his salary nor personal allowance.”

Adaramodu further explained, “These funds are allocated for the daily operation of Senators’ offices and other statutory officials. They also provide for constituency office staff, oversight functions, and community engagements.

“These funds are not static; they are provided for in the annual budget and must be retired with proof of genuine expenditure. They are not personal allowances or salaries for legislators.”

He concluded, “The National Assembly receives about 1% of the federal budget and has never exceeded this, even in times of widespread financial constraints. The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished professionals, administrators, and industry leaders, who are motivated by patriotic zeal, not by financial gain.”

A group of retired Nigerian soldiers who fought during the Civil War have appealed to the federal government to pay their outstanding pension arrears.

The 63 retired Nigerian Army soldiers, who were enlisted between 1967 and 1978, claimed they had not received their pension payments despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of N134.7 billion for military veteran pensions in 2020.

This was revealed in a statement by the secretary to the retired soldiers, Alhaji Bello Oseni, who said their documentation was verified by the Military Pensioner Board in 2023, but they are yet to receive their dues.

The statement revealed that the retired soldiers, aged between 76 and 85, are struggling to make ends meet, with some still living in their father’s houses built in the 1920s and 1930s.

They have appealed to former presidents, Senate, House of Representatives, senior advocates of Nigeria, human rights activists, and influential individuals to intervene and help them retrieve their long-overdue pension payments.

They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate and House of Representatives to intervene.

They also called on civil societies to advocate for their requests.

Tanko Yakasai, founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, says Nigeria’s constitution is not the problem, but those operating it.

Yakasai said this in reaction to a call by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen who recently visited President Bola Tinubu and canvassed for a new constitution.

In a statement on Wednesday, Yakasai said without a change of mindset and conduct of the country’s leaders, “even the most perfectly crafted constitution will fail to deliver the progress and stability”.

The elder statesman said internal cohesion and “rigorous debate” must be prioritised by The Patriots before engaging in external advocacy.

“I have observed with deep concern the recent visit by some members of The Patriots to the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where they canvassed for a new constitution for our beloved country, Nigeria,” he said.

“As a founding member of this esteemed group and an elder statesman committed to the well-being of our nation, I must express my reservations about both the process and the content of the submission made during this visit.

“First, it is regrettable that due process was not followed in articulating the views that were presented to the president. A matter of such national importance requires thorough consultation, inclusive deliberation and the consensus of all founding members.

“The exclusion of key voices, particularly in a group like The Patriots, undermines the credibility and unity of our mission. It is essential that our decisions and representations are rooted in collective wisdom and not rushed or unilateral actions.

“Second, I align with the views expressed by President Olusegun Obasanjo that the core problem facing Nigeria is not necessarily the constitution or the tenure of office. The crux of our challenges lies in the attitude and character of those who operate the constitution.”

Yakasai said the president should tread carefully and consult widely on the demand by The Patriots.

TlNUBU:
Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Oyo miscreants.

The real Yorubas and owners of Lagos Igbos respect have spoken.

Be warned

Some Lagos indigenes under the auspices of De Renaissance Patriots have warned against linking them to the ‘Igbos must leave Lagos slogan’, saying such a call was shameful and irresponsible.

The group also condemned a report describing it as a far-right socio-cultural organization, saying such a claim is unfounded.

It emphasized that it would not back down in the mission to rescue indigenous Lagos from marginalization, lamenting that deliberate policies to dominate them had been implemented by non-natives ruling Lagos.

According to the group, the writer of the report was ill-informed about their antecedents, noting that facts were available to prove their position.

In a statement by its media office, the group insisted that the report was also wrong to have stated that their ideas conformed to the group instigating ethnic crisis in Lagos.

The statement reads: “We take an exception to the tag of far-right on De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. As a socio-cultural group of very senior eminent citizens of Nigeria that have been culturally and constitutionally blessed with indigeneship of Lagos State, we consider such uncharitable, wicked and unguarded use of vulgar language as unacceptable.

“That vitriolic name tag of the far-right on these very responsible citizens does not show sensibility on the members of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. We are not far-right in ideological description.

“It is a vitriolic name identity which blemishes our moral, social, intellectual and political struggle in ideological terms as a right-wing association. We are not. The ruling elites in Lagos State, whom we suspect are doing the hatchet job, belong to a formative association of narcissists, who have seized the state for themselves, family, and friends.

“The writer got his historical information and its linkage with Obafemi Awolowo wrong. If he could not understand what the outcome of the Constitutional Conference in London in 1952 was, we would avail him the details at the appropriate time.

“It is a shameful and irresponsible act to link the faceless hashtag #IgbosMustLeaveLagos (Lagospedia) with De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a highly responsible and respected socio-cultural organisation in Lagos. The organisation has, among its objectives, promotion of our social and cultural values, encouraging such factors that afford the citizens and, in particular, the natives of the state, to partake fully in the affairs of their own state.”

The Federal Government has advised those calling for a regime change to wait till the 2027 presidential election.

The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, stated this on Tuesday while addressing State House correspondents after the inaugural Council of State meeting under President Bola Tinubu.

Alake said the hunger protest held recently was a movement to effect a change of regime by force which was also resisted, adding that the council thanked Nigerians for resisting an unconstitutional move to change government.

He said, “Matters of state were discussed in a robust manner, and the National Security Adviser was on hand to present the security situation of the country, and he did inform the Council of State about the pre-, during and post-events of the last protest which I do not call a protest.

“I call it a movement to effect a change of regime by force which was also resisted. The council thanked Nigerians at large for resisting an unconstitutional move to change government. If anybody is not satisfied with the government, or the current administration, there is always an election coming, so you wait for the election and cast your vote.

“The NSA briefed the council on the security situation and laid bare. So after the NSA briefing, he allayed everybody’s fears and spoke on the tightness of the security around the country and also reassured all that nobody will be allowed to truncate our hard earned democracy.

“Any change of government has to be through the ballot and not through the barrel of the gun, or through insurrection or through any other unconstitutional means. Only through the ballot box can any government be changed and reassured of the security readiness of all security agencies in the country to secure our territorial integrity and to protect Nigerian’s democracy.”

Alake added that the presentations by seven ministers were to let the Council of State know the progress being made in each sector of the economy.

He said, “The agenda, is on economic diversification. And that’s why I was there. That’s why Agric was there. That’s why all the other ministers you know constitute, or the ministries that constitute, the plank of the Renewed Hope Agendas, economic diversification and transformation.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Governor’s Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, said the council also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu.

He disclosed that after the Council of State meeting, the governors also met with the President in an executive session where another vote of confidence was passed in the president

He said, “Council members, especially those of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, were satisfied with the presentation by the members of the Federal Executive Council, and after that meeting, there was an executive session between members of the Nigerian Governor’s Fprum and Mr President, and frank and fruitful discussions were held between both parties.

“I’m glad to say we’re on the right track. And to say in the same vein, members of the NGF also, like the members of the Council of State, passed a vote of confidence on Mr President. We also wish him well and pray for God and guidance for him.”

The Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, has revealed that the federal government is targeting to generate at least 6000 megawatts of power before the end of the year.

The minister spoke in Calabar when he paid an assessment visit to the Calabar Power Plant of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

He said the government of President Bola Tinubu met less than 3,000 megawatts of output from the power infrastructures last year but has now steadily stepped it up, ensuring that power generation is steadily available.

He said much of this power generation is from the Calabar power generation plant of the Niger Delta Power Holding company.

He stated that the plant, built about 15 years ago with a capacity of 625 megawatts of output, was largely unutilised.

According to him, the plant has five power turbines and each has over 125 megawatts but three are presently generating power optimally for the Southeast and South South parts of the country.

“Two are undergoing turnaround maintenance, which means that it is possible to generate over 500 megawatts from the Calabar power plant alone,” he said.

The minister also avowed that the federal government is consolidating reforms of the power sector.

The aim of the reforms, according to him, is to ensure stability of power supply in all parts of the country.

He disclosed that there has been an increase in energy demands and the government is poised to meet the demands.

While charging the players in the oil and gas sector to be proactive, he said: “The power sector is very critical to both the government and national economy. This is why the president has asked me to visit all the power plants in the country and assess their functionality.

“It is not going to be business as usual. Players in the power sector must be up and about as the federal government is reforming the sector for optimal power generation and distribution in order to meet the huge demands of Nigerians.

“From my assessment, the Calabar Power Plant of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, is the most active. I’m very satisfied. We’re encouraging power installation and generations.”

He further disclosed that the much-talked-about privatisation of the plant to the Cross River State Government is before the Federal Privatization Council and Federal Executive Council.

Cross River’s Commissioner for Power and Energy, Prince Eka Williams said the state government is very ready and capable of taking over and efficiently running the firm, given the expertise available in the firm.

The managing director of the firm, Chiedu Ugbo, said they are presently generating power to most of South South and South East regions of the country.

He stressed a need for more sub-transmission power stations to convey power to most places.

A Nigerian woman named Favour Igiebor, who tore up her husband’s passport at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, could face a jail term as punishment for her actions if found guilty, according to the Nigeria Immigration Service Act of 2015 (as amended).

The NIS had on Monday revealed that it had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the destruction of a man’s passport by his wife, identified as Favour Igiebor, stating that she had been summoned for questioning.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the NIS, Kenneth Udo, described Igiebor’s action as a violation of Nigerian law.

The investigation was prompted by a viral video showing Igiebor destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport, reportedly belonging to her husband, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

The NIS statement partly read, “The Nigeria Immigration Service has launched a formal investigation following the circulation of a video on social media showing a female traveller destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the provisions of the Immigration Act in the interest of national security and to preserving the dignity and integrity of the nation’s legal instruments.”

Amid the widespread condemnation of her action, Igiebor, in another viral video seen by our correspondent, explained that her action was due to the stress her husband had put her through.

She said, “You have to ask what happened; don’t just look at the action alone. I am not a mad woman who would just come and act like that. I have my reasons; I have gone through many things.

“When it gets to your neck, you have to act. I didn’t want to make him go through a lot of stress; that’s why I waited till we got to Nigeria to do it rather than in Europe, where I could have done it. Don’t make comments without knowing what happened. I have gone through a lot of family issues here and there.”

In response to his wife’s recent video, the man who didn’t disclose his name, said he chose to remain silent because he believed the issue could be resolved “as a family.”

“My wife has posted something this morning. I don’t want to say anything, but I will leave you to watch the video. It is on various social media sites. I have the full clips.

“She didn’t know that I had someone with my phone because my friend and I came down here to do some things. I will post the full clip. I never expected that she would come out and say what she said. These are some things that we can resolve as a family,” he said.

However, findings by PUNCH Metro indicate that according to Section 49 of the NIS 2015 Act (as amended), a person found guilty of changing or altering a passport may face imprisonment or a fine. However, there is no section for punishment in case of destruction in the act.

The section reads, “A person who alters or assists another in altering a travel document, or who produces or reproduces or assists in the production or reproduction of any travel document without lawful authority commits an offence under Section 59 of the Act and is liable on-conviction to a- term of five years imprisonment or to a fine of one million naira or both.”

In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, a human rights lawyer, Collins Aigbogun, stated that there is no section of the Act that explicitly outlines sanctions for passport destruction, emphasising that Section 49 of the Act only specifies punishment for alteration.

He, however, noted that the wife had violated her husband’s constitutional right to freedom of movement.

“A passport is essential for cross-border travel. Possessing a Nigerian passport is not a privilege but a fundamental aspect of the right to freedom of movement.

“When someone destroys a passport, it infringes on the ancillary right to freedom of movement granted to her husband by the constitution. In essence, she has put that right on hold,” he said.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, said the police are on the trial of a man who was actively involved in the Sudan crisis but is now in Nigeria.

Egbetokun, although he did not disclose his name, said the suspect was mobilising to destabilise the country.

The IG stated that the suspect was traced to a shop he was using as a decoy, which is located within the Nigeria Labour Congress building.

He denied that the raid was targeted at the NLC leadership.

Egbetokun spoke while responding to a question on why the police were against the hardship protest at the Youth Summit organised by the police.

He said, “My response to this will be in three parts. Number one is that, of course, our responsibility is not to protest but to manage protest. Two is that the intelligence at the disposal of the police, anyone who knows what we know about this protest, will not come out to protest.

“We had intelligence at our disposal that some agents of destabilisation are ready to use the hardship protest to destabilise our country.

“I won’t be able to share the details yet because we are still on the trail of these individuals. Some of them are already out of the country, and they immediately escape.

“Some of them are even foreigners. One of them was traced to the labour house the other day, and I was just wondering why the noise about the raid on the labour house when the police raided the labour house. We raided only a shop that the individual was using as a front and we have been monitoring his activities.

“He was very active in the Sudan crisis and he’s in Nigeria mobilizing people to destabilize our country. We traced him to that shop and our detectives raided his shop. We recovered valuable documents, so there was no need for the noise about the raid of the labour house.“

He also explained that the police were against the protest because of the ENDSARS experience.

Egbetokun noted that the mobilization for the hunger protests was carried out via social media, adding that such protests had the propensity of being violent.

He said, “I always refer to the ENDSARS protest which turned violent. It started initially as peaceful, but any protest that is mobilized on social media has the potential to be violent because when you are mobilizing on social media, you are mobilizing the whole population, including the criminals. So the idea of the protest being hijacked, I don’t believe that a protest that is mobilized on social media is hijacked.

“Hijacked by who? By the same people that were mobilized for the protest. So our experience in the past in previous protests would not make the police want to take part in any protest that we know is going to be violent.“

Responding to a question asked about what the police were doing to protect farmers, Egbetokun said the police had commenced farm patrols to give farmers confidence.

He said, “ We are doing a lot. In the North East, we have started farm patrol to give confidence back to farmers to return to the farm. Mr. President is very, very concerned about it, and we are doing our best.

“But let me also add that the security landscape in Nigeria is complex and diverse. Marked with a range of challenges requiring multi-dimensional responses. We have challenges in security.

“There are also economic challenges. There are political challenges. We have environmental challenges. All these challenges are interconnected. To solve these challenges we need to understand their interconnectedness. You can’t solve one challenge and leave the others. “

Responding to what the police were doing to get rid of bad eggs in the force, Egbetokun said he was doing a lot to flush them out of the system.

He said, “You said that a lot of bad eggs are in the police. That we have bad eggs. But the bad eggs are everywhere. They are not only in the police.

“Whatever you see in the police today is a reflection of what Nigeria is. It is called the Nigeria Police Force, not the Ghana Police Force. Members of the force are Nigerians. So a society gets the kind of police it deserves. That notwithstanding, we are fishing out the bad eggs because we are responsible leaders.”

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The Federal Government has said Nigeria will soon become become self-sufficient in local production of military hardwares.

The Minister of Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, made this known on Monday while briefing newsmen as part of activities lined up to celebrate Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) 60th anniversary.

The minister said that through collaboration and innovation, the corporation had established itself as a key player in the defence sector.

He added that as DICON continue to evolve, its contributions would remain crucial to Nigeria’s national security and economic growth.

He also said that the maiden edition of the Africa Defence Industries Conference (ADIC), which would be inaugurated during the the celebration would serve as a premier platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to collaborate.

“The ADIC which will hold between Wednesday and Thursday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja will also share insights, and explore the future frontiers of defence technology in Africa.

”The theme, DICON @ 60: Future Frontiers in Africa’s Defence Technology,” underscores our commitment to advancing defence capabilities through strategic partnerships, innovation, and technological advancements.

Matawalle noted that the new DICON Act 2023 had the potential to significantly contribute to Nigeria’s national development and national security by boosting foreign exchange earnings through local production of defence equipment.

He said that the Act also had the potential of creating jobs for skilled Nigerians, as well as reducing capital flight to foreign nations.

”DICON was established in 1964 and it has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s defence manufacturing, contributing significantly to national security and technological advancement.

”This 60th anniversary marks a significant milestone in our journey of innovation, resilience, and dedication to the defence needs of our nation.

”Today, DICON is celebrating 60 years of dedicated service in the production and repair of military hardware and equipment.

”Since its establishment, DICON has played a crucial role in Nigeria’s defence sector, collaborating with indigenous companies to achieve excellence in military manufacturing,’’ he said.

The minister added that DICON’s journey began with a modest start, focusing on the production of small arms and ammunition.

He said that over the years, the corporation expanded its capabilities, venturing into the manufacture of military vehicles, artillery, and other defence equipment.

”In spite of facing challenges, DICON persevered, driven by its commitment to self-reliance and national security.

”We therefore invite innovators, startups, and research institutions to present their cutting-edge solutions that can enhance national and regional security through the Defence Innovation Challenge.

”These celebrations, which commenced on Aug. 9, will herald a new era for DICON as a Military Industrial Complex, following the assent to the new DICON Act by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Nov. 23, 2023.

”We extend a warm invitation to all stakeholders, partners, and the public to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion,’’ Matawalle added.

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The Presidency has reacted to the raging controversy that had trailed the N573 billion received by states.

The response is coming in the wake of uproar the issue has generated between governors and the federal government.

Daily Trust reports that President Bola Tinubu had during his national broadcast on the just nationwide hunger protest said the federal government gave states N573 billion as support.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had contradicted the President, saying the money was not directly from the federal government.

But a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the status of the fund should not be the focus.

According to him, “The issue of whether it was a grant or a loan should not be at the centre of discussion but rather how the money can assist in the country’s development.

“I think the issue is not whether it is a loan or grant.

“The point, as clearly stated in the President’s broadcast, is that the states got money”.

Ajayi explained that “The amount, which is the second tranche under the COVID-19 livelihoods support scheme under the NG-CARES Programme funded by the World Bank, is N570 billion.

“The fact is states are getting needed support and funding to improve the lives of the people.

“The World Bank facility is guaranteed by the Federal Government because every multilateral loan must have a sovereign guarantee.

“There should be no hue and cry by any governor really if the objective is to serve the people and make life better for the masses.

“The President is elected to make life better for citizens the same way the governors are elected to do the same in their respective states”.

The presidential aide said Tinubu will continue to work to expand the economy and enable shared prosperity for all Nigerians.

“He considers the governors as partners in progress and the job of nation-building.

“What can’t be denied is that the states have more resources to deliver better service to the people, especially in critical areas of education, healthcare, security and physical infrastructure like roads among others”, he said.

Ajayi described the issue as more than just semantics, explaining that the payment was the second tranche, with the first paid in October or November last year.

“I think the issue here is one or two governors trying to reduce the matter to semantics. It is much more than that.

“The fact remains that the Federal Government paid the states the money and the N573 billion is actually the second tranche.

“The first tranche was paid sometime in October or November last year,” he said.

Makinde had described the president’s statement on the issue as “yet another case of misrepresentation of facts.”

The governor said: “The said funds were part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project—a Programme for Results intervention.

“The World Bank facilitated an intervention to help states in Nigeria with COVID-19 Recovery. CARES means COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus.

“It was called Programme for Results because states had to use their money in advance to implement the programme.

“After the World Bank verified the amount spent by the states, it reimbursed the states through the platform provided at the Federal level.

“The Federal Government did not give any state money; they were simply the conduit through which the reimbursements were made to states for money already spent.”

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has posited that food inflation is declining.

Onanuga stated that the prices of yam, tomatoes and other foodstuffs are drastically reducing.

Posting on X, he wrote: “Food inflation is coming down as prices of yam, tomatoes decline massively.”

He was reacting to a report that the price of a basket of tomatoes has dropped.

The report said a big basket of tomatoes in Ketu market is currently selling for about N55,000 to N60,000 — down from an average of N150,000 a few months ago.

He said a large basket of habanero pepper (rodo) is now selling for an average of N25,000, compared to N55,000 at the peak of the price surge.

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation says it has disbursed the insured deposits of N5 million each to 82.36 per cent of the total customers of the defunct Heritage Bank.

It also noted that 17.64 per cent of the insured deposits still pending payment mainly belong to depositors with accounts that have Post-No Debits instructions or lack a Bank Verification Number.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director, Communication and Public Affairs, Bashir Nuhu, on Sunday in Abuja.

On June 3, 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the banking license of Heritage Bank Plc due to persistent financial instability and regulatory breaches.

The decision, according to the apex bank, is in line with the CBN’s mandate under Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020, which aims to maintain a stable financial system in Nigeria.

Following the withdrawal of Heritage Bank’s licence, the NDIC stated that it would begin payment of the 2.3 million depositors of the bank.

Giving an update in the statement issued on Sunday, the director disclosed that disbursement to affected customers started four days after the liquidation.

He added that this feat was achieved using Bank Verification Numbers as a unique identifier to locate depositors’ alternate accounts in other banks.

The statement read in part, “In the discharge of its deposit guarantee mandate, the Corporation began the payment of the insured deposits of N5m maximum per depositor within a record time of four days of the bank closure.

“This was achieved using Bank Verification Numbers as a unique identifier to locate depositors’ alternate accounts in other banks.

“This unprecedented achievement of direct payment through BVN-linked alternate accounts without the need for depositors to visit NDIC offices or fill out forms marks a historic shift for the NDIC in the prompt reimbursement of depositors with payment of about 82.36 per cent of the total insured deposit to date.”

For depositors with more than N5m, the director explained that the remaining balances (classified as uninsured deposits) would be paid as liquidation dividends upon realization of the defunct bank’s assets and recovery of debts owed to the defunct bank.

“It is instructive to state that, the remaining 17.64 per cent of the insured deposits yet to be paid were largely depositors whose accounts have post no debits instructions or have no BVN. Others are those with no alternative accounts in other banks or accounts with a KYC limit on the maximum lodgment per day and are yet to come forward for verification.

“However, depositors with balances exceeding Five Million Naira have been paid the initial insured sum of Five Million Naira, while the remaining balances (classified as uninsured deposits) will be paid as liquidation dividends upon realization of the defunct bank’s assets and recovery of debts owed to the defunct bank,” the statement added.

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has called on Nigerians to take a collective stance in supporting the Dangote refinery project, warning against any attempts to impede its progress.

Abubakar’s statement comes amid a conflict between the refinery and Nigerian regulatory authorities.

On August 8, the Dangote refinery said the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been reluctant to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation (DCSO) to ensure that it receives its full crude requirement.

In response, the NUPRC denied the claim, stating that it facilitated the supply of 29 million barrels of crude oil to the refinery between January and June.

However, the Dangote refinery said it has not received the 29 million barrels of crude.

Speaking on the issue on Saturday, Atiku said the Dangote Refinery project is a significant investment that is “positioned to meet our energy and forex needs”.

The former vice-president also expressed concern over potential sabotage of the project.

He urged Nigerians to take “resolute actions” to ensure its success.

“Each parent eagerly awaiting the arrival of a child will dutifully undertake the necessary measures to ensure that the nurturing and development of this precious blessing remain a primary focus,” Abubakar wrote on X.

“This fundamental principle applies equally to investments, whether they be local or international.

“With this understanding, I am cautious in considering any deliberate attempts to impede the progress of the Dangote Refinery, a significant private sector project positioned to meet our energy and forex needs.

“Alongside numerous fellow citizens of goodwill, I call upon all Nigerians to take resolute actions to provide reassurance that both internal and external forces are not collaborating to prevent us from reaping the benefits promised by this eagerly anticipated transformative endeavour.”

On June 4, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, said some international oil companies (IOCs) are struggling to supply crude to his refinery.

Speaking on Arise TV on July 15, Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer of the NUPRC, described the claim as “erroneous”, noting that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has provisions that guide willing buyer-willing seller transactions.

But a few days later, the management of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) insisted that the IOCs were frustrating its request to purchase crude feedstock for the refinery.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the federal government should listen to the demands of citizens protesting against the country’s economic crisis.

Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun state, on Friday when he hosted some members of the national assembly.

On August 1, Nigerian youths in many states kicked off the #EndBadGovernance protest to demand an end to economic hardship, insecurity, and other challenges facing the country.

The former president said the youths took to the streets because the government failed to attend to their concerns.

“You are what you are today because you’re a Nigerian,” Obasanjo said.

“I am what I am also because I am Nigerian. So why should they be Nigerians and be languishing in poverty?

“Like I have warned earlier, we should know that we are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder if we fail to begin to do the right thing.

“For instance, what the youth are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to, or why should they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?

“They make demands, and we are not listening to them. Many of them are frustrated, desperate, angry, and unemployed.

“What do we expect? They deserve to be given listening ears.”

He said fixing term limits for public office holders is not the issue, noting that the mentality of the representatives in the government should change.

“The issue is not whether Nigeria should adopt a single six-year term or maintain the status quo,” Obasanjo said.

“If the mentality of the people in governance does not change, then Nigeria will remain where it is.

“For me, the issue is for us to get it right. Whether we have one term of six years or two terms of four years, where it’ll work is our mentality.”

The house of representatives members co-sponsored bills seeking a single six-year term for the president and governors, power rotation between the northern and southern parts of the country, and a single day for presidential, governorship, national assembly, and state assembly elections.

They were led by Ugochinyere Ikenga, representing the Ideato north and south constituency of Imo state.

President Bola Tinubu has told The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians, that retooling the economy for sustainable growth and development is the major priority of his administration and not working for a new Constitution.

The President, however, assured the group led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, who visited him at the State House on Friday, that their request for the convening of a national constituent assembly with the mandate to draft a new constitution will be reviewed.

Chief Anyaoku, speaking on behalf of The Patriots, appealed to the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, proposing two measures:

”The convening of a national constituent assembly with the mandate to produce a draft people’s democratic constitution. The constituent assembly should be of directly elected individuals, on a non-political basis, from the 36 states of the federation, possibly three individuals per state, and one from the FCT.

”They should be assisted by seven constitutional lawyers, one drawn from each of the six geo-political zones and the FCT. The deliberations of the constituent assembly should take into full account the 1960/63 constitutions, as well as the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference and indeed of the various national conferences that considered the Nigerian constitutions.”

Chief Anyaoku also said the Patriots requested legislating for a national plebiscite to which the draft constitution emerging from the constituent assembly should be subjected.

Responding to their requests, the President expressed his respect for The Patriots and their contributions to national discourse.

‘He said, “I want to assure all of you that as I listened to your two major requests on the path to referendum and that should lead to constitutional measures that will fit our diversity and governance so that we avoid conflicts and break-ups.


”I believe in the unity of this country and I want to assure you that whatever is necessary to put happiness and good governance in the hands of all Nigerians is what I would do,” the President said.

President Tinubu also noted that the clamour for constitutional reforms is a longstanding issue in national discourse.

He acknowledged the examples presented by the Patriots on pluralistic countries, such as Canada and India, which have maintained unity by addressing their diversity through their constitutions.

”The avoidance of chaos is necessary to build this country and move its aspirations forward for the benefit of all of us.

”I am currently preoccupied with economic reform. That is my first priority. Once this is in place, as soon as possible, I will look at other options, including constitutional review as recommended by you and other options,” the President said.

President Tinubu told Chief Anyaoku that he would be invited again for a more detailed conversation on the submissions of the Patriot.


”As you present this, just believe that it will be reviewed, and I commit myself to the belief that you want a stable and prosperous Nigeria,” President Tinubu concluded.

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it is investigating seven Polish nationals who were arrested in Kano over their alleged involvement in the widespread waving of the Russian flag during the #EndBadGovernance protest.

On August 5, the secret police said its operatives arrested some tailors sewing Russian flags for protesters in Kano.

On the first day of the protest, some protesters were seen in Kano waving the Russian flags while urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the situation in Nigeria.

On Saturday, another group of protesters in Jos, the Plateau capital, were seen with Russian and Japanese flags.

On Monday, some protesters were seen holding Russian flags near the Nyanya bridge, a suburb in Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).

The trend has elicited reactions on whether the protesters in northern Nigeria are being influenced by foreign elements.

However, the Russian embassy in Nigeria has distanced itself from the display of the country’s flags during the protest.

Speaking during a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with members of the diplomatic corps, Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, said the Polish nationals were arrested in connection with the waving of Russian flags during the protest.

Yusuf Tuggar, the minister of foreign affairs, conveyed the meeting.

Afunanya said the arrest of the suspects was not targeted at Polish nationals.

“For the persons that we have picked up from Kano, it was because of where they were found during the protest and display of the foreign flag in Kano that was two days ago,” he said.

“As a responsible security organisation, we owe it an obligation to do some verification and ascertain basic reasons and circumstances for some cases.

“They were picked as a result of security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened. It is not a targeted operation.

“As the foremost domestic security organisation, we believe we have to work in sync with all of you who are men of goodwill, and our operations must be governed by democratic principles and protocol that emphasise freedom and human rights and, of course, intelligence and security governance.

“We obey all of this whether we are dealing with Nigerians or foreigners.”

President Bola Tinubu has implored Nigerians to look beyond the “present temporary pain” and believe in the ability of his administration to turn things around.

Tinubu admitted that the current economic climate is “tough” on Nigerians, adding that his reforms “would work”.

In a video posted on his X handle, Tinubu said there was an “unavoidable lag between subsidy removal” and the execution of his plans.

“This period may be hard on us and there is no doubt that it is tough on us. But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pain and aim at the larger picture,” the president said.

“All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they would work.

“However, we are swiftly closing the time gap. I plead with you, please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence.

“Due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.”

The president assured Nigerians that the country is “exiting darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn”.

“Now, I must get back to work, in order to make this future come true,” Tinubu added.

Nigerians have taken to the streets since August 1 to rail against soaring inflation and the country’s worst cost of living crisis in decades.

The protest turned violent in some parts of the country, resulting in the looting and vandalisation of properties.

Tinubu ended a popular petrol subsidy regime and floated the currency in his first weeks on the job in 2023 — moves that immediately led to spiralling food inflation.

I stopped taking Nigeria's executive, legislature and judiciary serious long time ago and it really helped me.

As a full blooded Igbo man, no matter the matter; I Won't Be The Worst Hit.

The federal government says the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) has been restructured with a capital base of N110 billion to support youth-led businesses.

The minister of youth, Jamila Ibrahim, stated this in Akure on Tuesday during a town hall meeting for South-West youths.

Ms Ibrahim said since the relaunch of the NYIF, it had received over 200,000 applications in less than two weeks.

According to the minister, the programme is designed to empower youths by making it easier to obtain loans for personal and entrepreneurial use.

“It is also to enhance their financial stability and ability to contribute to the economy.

“Additionally, we are establishing a National Youth Development Bank to provide financial support for youth-led enterprises.

“This institution will play a crucial role in empowering young entrepreneurs, enabling them to drive economic growth and innovation.

“President Tinubu has approved a 30 per cent youth quota in all government appointments, underscoring his belief in the potential of Nigerian youths.

“We are working on legislation to institutionalise this great legacy initiative, ensuring that youth representation in government becomes a permanent feature of our democracy,” she said.

According to Ms Ibrahim, the FG is also implementing robust reforms to enhance the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience.

Earlier, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state had stated that youths were the backbone of society and emphasised the importance of their growth and empowerment for a prosperous future.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said his government was committed to creating an environment to foster innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, allowing young people to thrive and reach their full potential.

“We must invest in our young people, providing them with access to quality education, skills, training, and mentorship opportunities,” said the governor.

The governor expressed gratitude to the president for implementing policies under the Renewed Hope Agenda to address challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and inequality.

He commended the FG’s efforts to enlighten the youths and work toward a more inclusive and equitable society, stressing the moral, economic, and social imperatives of youth development.

“We believe in your energy, your creativity, and your passion. We believe that you have the power to transform our communities, our state, and our country,” he said.

Mr Aiyedatiwa also appreciated youths in the South-West region for rejecting calls for protests and maintaining peace and security.