₦airaland Forum

Abia South Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle, accusing him of showing the Southeast “renewed shege” (suffering).

Abaribe criticized the replacement of Minister of Women Affairs Uju-Ken Ohanenye with Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Abaribe expressed dissatisfaction with the reshuffle, stating it doesn’t feel like progress. “For my constituents, nothing has changed. They call it ‘Renewed Shege’ not ‘Renewed Hope’.”

The lawmaker alleged Tinubu breached the constitution by neglecting federal character in the reshuffled cabinet.

He said, “The president has breached it for the last 18 months. We thought that with these changes, maybe there will be some adjustments that will also put some balm on what is going on in the minds of people from the South East.

“I want to tell everyone that the Igbos want fairness and equity, which are in the constitution. Treat us as you are treating everybody else.”

Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has warned that the state could face severe risks from climate change, particularly the threat of submersion due to rising sea levels.

During a strategic meeting with state officials, he stressed that Lagos, with its 180-kilometre shoreline and dense population, is especially vulnerable.

Dr. Hamzat cited similar issues faced by New York City, stressing the need for immediate climate action to protect future generations and mitigate the effects of global warming on the state.

He noted that the most sig­nificant challenge in the coun­try is that “we don’t know how to manage land” and that “our physical plan is lost”.


He added: “In Lagos State, because of our geogra­phy, because of our popula­tion, because of our size, we are 22 million, we occupy only 0.4% or less than 0.38% of the land mass of Nigeria, and we are responsible for 10% of the people.

“In the UK, 14% is London City. The rest is the federal government. New York Un­derground, the same thing. So how do we manage our lands? So if our Ministry of Justice, our lawyers, and our judges don’t have this proper understanding that the future of our children is threatened when these cases come to court, then we are missing the point.”

He said that in New York, they’ve stopped approval for high-rises for the next few years because the city is sinking due to the number of high-rises.

President Bola Tinubu during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has dissolved both the Ministry of Niger Delta and the Ministry of Sports Development.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) will now assume the duties previously managed by the sports ministry.

Additionally, the FEC has approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that denying the Igbo people the presidency due to past secession attempts is unfair.

Obasanjo made the remarks during a meeting with the League of Northern Democrats led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo said that Nigeria’s three major ethnic nationalities – Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo – have all, at some point, attempted to break away from the country. He cited the North’s strong move to secede through the Araba movement, revealing that his friend Ahmed Jooda had confessed to being part of the plot.

“I think all of us in Nigeria have to rethink… It bleeds my heart when people say because the Igbo had carried out a secession, an Igbo man cannot be the president of Nigeria.



“I say what nonsense? There is no section of Nigeria that has not planned a secession. What is ‘Araba’ in the North? The North planned to break up Nigeria. Ahmed Jooda, a very good friend of mine, said that.

“What is treasonable felony? So, who among us can say I am better than the other? None! So, let us put our heads together and build a country together,” he said.

The Nigerian government has rejected Shell’s proposed sale of its onshore oil business in the country, dealing a significant blow to the energy giant’s plans to exit the sector.

The divestment, aimed at selling its Nigerian onshore assets to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, failed to meet regulatory requirements.


Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), confirmed the decision during the launch of the “Project One Million Barrels of Oil Per Day” initiative in Abuja on Monday.

He explained that Shell’s deal, despite years of negotiation and a pending $2.4 billion transaction, “could not scale the regulatory test.”

“In total, five divestment applications were submitted for approval. While four passed and secured ministerial consent, Shell’s proposal to transfer its assets to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited was rejected,” Komolafe said.


Shell had initially struck a deal in January with a consortium of companies, paving the way for the sale of its onshore business.


The transaction was to provide Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) with $1.3 billion upfront and an additional $1.1 billion upon consummation of the deal.

The sale came after Shell faced increasing challenges, including sabotage, theft, and environmental liabilities.

“This sale was a relief for Shell, as the company has been seeking to offload these assets since 2021,” said Komolafe.


However, Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its national interest trumped the transaction.


“The government remains committed to free entry and exit in business transactions, but such moves must align with national priorities,” he added.

Komolafe also noted that the country is committed to upholding the principles of fair business practice, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision.

“Nigeria fully supports the philosophy of free market operations as reiterated by our dear President in his recent Independence Day speech.


The NUPRC is guided by seven regulatory pillars in the upstream oil sector to ensure sanity and protect national interests.”

Despite the setback, Shell remains firm in its stance that it is not leaving Nigeria. Last week, Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director of SPDC, clarified that the company is merely shifting its portfolio to deep offshore investments.

“We are not exiting Nigeria. Instead, we are focusing more on the deepwater where our technological and financial capabilities provide a significant advantage,” he said at the Nigerian Economic Summit.

As the government continues to oversee the divestment process in the oil sector, Shell’s future strategy appears geared towards capitalising on offshore ventures, distancing itself from the challenges plaguing its onshore operations.

In recent months, the soaring cost of basic commodities, including toothpaste, has forced many Nigerians to revert to traditional practices, such as using chewing sticks to maintain oral hygiene.

With toothpaste prices skyrocketing, families across the country are turning to more affordable alternatives to manage their finances amidst the harsh economic conditions.

Chewing sticks, which have long been used in Nigeria for their medicinal and antibacterial properties, are making a comeback.


For many families, the price of toothpaste, which can now exceed N5,000 for a supply that lasts less than two weeks, has become a luxury they can no longer afford.

As a result, people like Mr. Vincent Osamese and Miss Adunni Hungbo have reverted to using chewing sticks, citing the financial relief it provides.

Osamese, a photographer, shared his experience with Vanguard: “A few months ago, I introduced the use of a chewing stick in my house when I realized I was spending N4,000 on toothpaste in just three weeks.


“My children use toothpaste like water, and my wife initially objected, but after experiencing the cost firsthand, she switched to chewing sticks herself.”


Similarly, Hungbo, a trader, noted how the sudden increase in toothpaste prices led her to find an alternative.

“The toothpaste I used to buy for N1,500 was now N2,000. I couldn’t afford it, so I switched to a chewing stick for N100, and it’s been working fine for me,” she said.


As Nigeria’s inflation and economic struggles persist, more families are looking for ways to cut costs.


Mr. Fehintola Ademide, a plumber, stated: “With rising fuel prices and the general cost of living, it’s becoming impossible to afford basic things.


“Toothpaste is just one of many items affected. I’ve switched to chewing sticks, and my wife has introduced powder paste for the children.”

Chewing sticks, derived from plants with medicinal properties such as Garcinia kola and Anogeissus leiocarpus, have been proven to have significant antibacterial activity.

According to research by the National Library of Medicine, these sticks are effective against various bacteria, including those associated with dental diseases.


For families like Maureen Agu’s, chewing sticks have become a practical and affordable solution.

“Myself and my two grown children now use chewing sticks, and I’ve introduced powder paste for my younger kids. We all have to cut costs wherever we can,” she said.

This shift toward traditional methods of oral care reflects the larger economic pressures facing Nigerians today.

As costs continue to rise, many are being forced to adapt to practices to save cost and survive the harsh economic conditions in the country.

Nigerians in the diaspora have been urged to return to the country to build a better nation.

This appeal was made to all Nigerians abroad by the Chairman, Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Dabiri-Erewa on behalf of the Federal Government said it is important that every Nigerian return to the country to contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

Speaking while delivering the 12th Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti ABUAD Convocation lecture on Saturday, the NIDCOM chairman said the experiences gathered by Nigerians abroad are needed back home.


According to her, such experiences would help proffer solutions to the socioeconomic challenges hampering Nigeria’s growth and development.


Dabiri-Erewa also noted that the commission is working effortlessly to support the framework for the facilitation of diaspora engagement in national growth and development.

A veteran journalist, Dan Agbese has said that several Nigerians underestimated what a former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon did for Nigeria as a country.

Agbese who at his time reported most of the activities of the former Head of State said Gowon saved Nigeria.

He also described the retired general as the most wonderful leader Nigeria ever had.

Urging people to ascribe the same regard they have for George Washington to Gowon, the journalist said the former Head of State did for Nigeria what Washington did for the United States of America.

His words, “General Yakubu Gowon is the most wonderful leader we have ever had. He did for this country what General George Washington did for the United States of America.

“Like Washington, Gowon saved Nigeria through the civil war and united the country,” Agbese said.

Noting that today, Washington is celebrated in the US and all over the world, Agbese said he finds it difficult to understand why Gowon is not celebrated.

“But while Washington is celebrated in his country, Gowon is not. I find that very painful because if not for his cool-headedness, the country would have disintegrated.

“He faced it and united the country and insisted that there was no victor, no vanquished.

“He did not punish the people who took arms against their country, rather reabsorbed them into the armed forces. I do not think there would be anybody else like him,” Agbese noted.

FG Fails to Pay Allocations Directly to LG Accounts Months After Supreme Court Ruling

The federal government, through the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has continued to pay allocations meant for local governments into joint state and local government accounts.

This is despite the Supreme Court ruling in July, which ordered the Federal Government to make direct payments to local government accounts.

The latest payment, totalling N1.298 trillion for September 2024, was shared among federal, state, and local governments in Abuja on Thursday.

The Supreme Court Ruling in July directed the Federal Government to start direct payment of local governments’ monthly allocations into the individual accounts of the 774 local government councils. The ruling aimed to grant autonomy to local governments and ensure transparent governance.

However, shortly after the judgment was delivered, the Federal Government cited operational issues that needed to be sorted out before the direct payment could be implemented. A three-month window was created to resolve these issues. The moratorium elapsed last week although the government at the grassroots are yet to receive funding directly.

The September 2024 FAAC allocation totaled N1.298 trillion. The Federal Government received N424.867 billion, while the state governments received N453.724 billion. The local government councils received N329.864 billion, and N90.415 billion was allocated as derivation revenue.

The distributable revenue comprised N124.716 billion in statutory revenue, N543.518 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, N18.445 billion in Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue, N462.191 billion in Exchange Difference revenue, and N150.000 billion in augmentation.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a fresh bail application by Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive facing money laundering charges.

Justice Emeka Nwite made the ruling, citing that Gambaryan’s first bail application, which concerned his health, has been appealed.

Nwite said that the current bail application amounts to an abuse of court process given that Gambaryan has a pending appeal against the refusal of the first bail.

Gambaryan, a top executive at Binance, was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on money laundering charges.

His lawyers have been clamouring for his release on bail, citing his deteriorating health condition.

Gambaryan’s lawyers argued that he suffers from a disk issue and requires urgent medical attention. They submitted medical reports from the State House Annex Clinic in Asokoro, Abuja, recommending surgery.

However, the EFCC contested these claims, stating that Nigerian hospitals are capable of treating Gambaryan. The commission also presented a report from Nizamiye Hospital, which countered Gambaryan’s family’s assertions that he “can no longer walk.”

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has appealed to Nigerians to offer prayers for their leaders, regardless of how bad the situation may seem.

The Sultan made the remarks during an event at the University of Ilorin yesterday.

The Sultan emphasized that instead of cursing or condemning leaders, Nigerians should pray for them, as such prayers might lead to positive changes.

He said, “Even if a leader is bad, pray for him. Almighty Allah can make him turn a new leaf and become a better person.”

He urged the public to adopt a supportive attitude towards leadership for the good of the country.

The event was attended by several eminent personalities, including the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Secretary-General of KU8+, Professor Francisca Oladipo.

Fagbemi, while chairing the event, echoed similar sentiments, encouraging Nigerians to focus on encouraging their leaders rather than constantly criticizing them.

Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has offered insight into his longstanding political rift with Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking with Igbere TV, Amaechi explained that Wike, who served as his Chief of Staff, was part of a generation of Rivers politicians who “passed through” his leadership.

“When I became governor, Wike became Chief of Staff,” Amaechi recalled, adding, “but I don’t like calling his name.”

Amaechi asserted his role in nurturing the political paths of Rivers politicians, remarking, “Name any Rivers politician that didn’t pass through me.”

Reflecting on his early political days, Amaechi contrasted the values that shaped his generation with today’s political landscape.

Entering politics at the age of 22, he was part of the Rufus George camp, a faction he described as “poor and broke,” yet built on principles. “Those of us who cared about character stood with Rufus. My father taught me character,” he said, citing how his commitment to character guided his political choices.

Amaechi also noted his support for Peter Odili, another Rivers leader, who, despite lacking funds, won loyalty for his integrity.

“The crop of politicians then are different from what we have now,” Amaechi lamented, underscoring honesty as a core value he instilled in those he mentored. “For anybody who passed through me, the first thing you learn is about honesty.”

This rift marks yet another chapter in Amaechi and Wike’s strained relationship, with both leaders consistently clashing on political ideology and governance styles in Rivers State.

The Federal government through the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast thundery weather conditions across the country from Thursday to Saturday.

According to NiMet’s weather outlook released on Wednesday, morning thunderstorms are expected in the northern region today (Thursday).

NiMet anticipated thunderstorms over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, and Kaduna states, as well as Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kebbi states later in the day.

For Friday, thunderstorms are expected over Taraba State in the morning, with afternoon and evening storms anticipated over Kaduna, Kebbi, Taraba, and Adamawa states.

On Saturday, morning thunderstorms are predicted over Taraba and Adamawa states, with later storms expected over Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Taraba, and Adamawa states.

In the North central region, morning thunderstorms are envisaged over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, and Benue states. Later in the day, thunderstorms are anticipated over most parts of the region. Similar prospects are forecast for Friday and Saturday mornings, with afternoon and evening storms expected over most parts of the region.

In the southern region, morning thunderstorms are expected over parts of Ebonyi and Enugu states today, with most parts of the region experiencing storms later in the day. On Friday, thunderstorms are anticipated over Abia, Imo, Enugu, Oyo, Ebonyi, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours, with most parts of the region experiencing storms later in the day.

NiMet warned of a high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities due to heavy downpours, advising residents to avoid flood-prone areas.

Strong winds may precede rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

The agency urged the public to adhere to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities and advised airline operators to obtain updated weather reports and forecasts for effective planning.

President Bola Tinubu has announced that his administration will kick start a National Youth Conference to address the challenges young Nigerians face.

The president made the declaration while addressing Nigerians this morning to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day.

His words: “I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference.

“This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60% of our population.

“It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

“The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice.

“The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.”

Tinubu stated that through the confab, the aspirations of young people will be met through the conference’s deliberations.

He added that his government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from the forum.

He added that his government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world.

”We are implementing, amongst others, the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.

“We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams.

“In addition, later this month, we shall launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP),” he stated.

Former local government chairmen in Rivers State who are loyalists of FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of sponsoring hunger protesters to invade the Port Harcourt home of the minister.

Amid the nationwide hunger protest, demonstrators had on Tuesday marched to Wike’s mansion along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt and laid siege to it.

Speaking on Wednesday under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, the chairmen, who were elected during Wike’s tenure as governor, warned Governor Fubara that he did not have the monopoly of violence.

Speaking, a former Chairman of the Emuoha Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, said, “We are aware that he (Fubara) directed the protesters to go to the residence of the minister.

“We will also organise our people and go to Forces Avenue where he is building on a 32-plot of land. Enough is enough. Fubara does not have the capacity to cow anybody here. He knows it. And we know his properties and those of his cronies.

“All they have achieved has just been mountainous looting of Rivers funds. So he should be very careful. He wants to incite ethnic bigotry here. If what happened yesterday at Ada George repeats itself Fubara will not even be here to govern the state.

“We will not allow him to destroy all that we have achieved in this state just because he knows nothing about leadership. So the protesters should gather in the government house and ask him what he has done with the N238bn he collected between May and June.”

“They’re recruited by enemies of the state”, Emir Sanusi reacts to violent protest in Kano | #Politicsnigeria


The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II on Wednesday, August 7, alleged that those who hijacked the nationwide protest in Kano state were recruited by enemies of the state.

Speaking after inspecting the destruction of property at the Kano State Printing Press and the NCC Digital Centre by hoodlums during the protest, Sanusi said the mission of the hoodlums is to destroy Kano.

He, however, said a prayer that the enemies of the state will not succeed with their mission.

The Emir further noted the importance of adopting proactive measures to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, especially in times of security threats like this.

Calling on security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident, Sanusi said he is optimistic that Kano State would overcome these challenges and bounce back for optimal growth.