₦airaland Forum

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday visited former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, at his hilltop residence in Minna, the Niger State capital, amid fresh speculation over their alleged involvement in manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obasanjo, who arrived via the Ahmed Bola Tinubu International Airport, Minna, was received by protocol officials from the Niger State Government House before proceeding directly to the elder statesman’s residence.

Sources told Daily Trust that the two former leaders held a closed-door meeting that lasted about 30 minutes, after which Obasanjo returned to the airport.

One of the sources said the visit may not be unconnected with national issues and the 2027 general elections, which are already gathering momentum.

Obasanjo has recently been in the news amid reports linking him to political permutations aimed at producing a joint ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The proposed ticket, according to the reports, is being positioned to first challenge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the party’s presidential ticket and, if successful, to mount a broader opposition challenge against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The reports further suggested that the arrangement, allegedly being spearheaded by Obasanjo, includes an alternative plan for Obi and Kwankwaso to contest on another platform should they fail to secure the ADC ticket.

It was also reported that Babangida had encouraged Kwankwaso to leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the ADC, a move observers describe as part of a wider political strategy.

Both Obasanjo and Babangida have yet to make any formal comments on the speculations.

However, their meeting on Monday has been interpreted in political circles as a further step in advancing these permutations.

kaltonga:
Then who are the hypocritical Nigerians blaming the Onitsha dude and other Nigerians who are saying their is a Christian genocide in Nigeria? If this is not one then tell me what it is ?

aswani:
Fair play award for routinely harassing the ref when things don't go their way and diving all over the place. This is a nonsense.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON came to a thrilling conclusion, with Senegal crowned champions and the standout performers recognized in the individual awards.

The tournament had everything — drama, controversy, record‑breaking goals, and unforgettable individual displays. As the dust settles, fans across the continent are celebrating the best performers of the competition.

Champions Senegal triumph in controversial final
Senegal clinched their second AFCON title, following a 1–0 extra‑time victory over Morocco in a final marred by controversy and chaos.

Senegal’s victory was sealed by a stunning strike from Pape Gueye, with hosts Morocco left to rue a missed penalty and a spirited campaign that fell just short.

Major Individual Awards

Player of the Tournament (Golden Ball): Sadio Mané — Senegal

Senegal’s talisman Sadio Mané was a standout figure throughout AFCON 2025. His leadership, crucial contributions, and consistent performances saw him named Player of the Tournament.

Best Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou — Morocco
Moroccan shot‑stopper Yassine Bounou, popularly known as Bono, claimed the Best Goalkeeper award for his outstanding performances during both the AFCON tournament.

Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Brahim Díaz — Morocco
Even though Morocco fell agonizingly short in the final, Brahim Díaz finished the tournament as top scorer (Golden Boot winner). Díaz scored five goals, making history as the first player in AFCON history to score in five consecutive matches in one tournament.

Fair Play Award: Morocco
Morocco was honoured with the Fair Play Award for their sportsmanship, respect for opponents, and adherence to the rules throughout the competition.

A mental health expert and clinical psychologist with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr Olanrewaju Sodeinde, has called for more collaborative efforts to stem the rising tide of drug and substance abuse in the country, saying that over four million people in the South-West are believed to be struggling with drug abuse, according to a UNODC report.

Dr Sodeinde, who is the Deputy Director of the Clinical Psychology Department of the hospital, said that contrary to the assumption that drug use is limited to men, one out of every four drug users is a woman, adding that the number of women involved in drug and substance use is steadily increasing.

The clinical psychologist disclosed this on Saturday in Abeokuta during a walkathon titled “Kick Against Drug Abuse”, organised by a socio-cultural group, the Lisabi Dynamic Sisters, to sensitise residents of the state on the need to stay away from drugs for a productive and meaningful life.

The group had earlier staged a sensitisation walk from the Sapon Flyover Bridge to the palace of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland in Ake, Abeokuta, sharing leaflets with people and urging them to shun drug and substance use.

Speaking on the rising cases of drug abuse, Dr Sodeinde said: “Globally, over 300 million people are said to be into drug use.

“According to a UNODC report, Nigeria is recorded to have over 14.4 million drug users, with the South-West prevalence rate estimated at 22.4 per cent, translating to over four million people using drugs in this region alone.”

He said the figures were also widely believed to be grossly underreported, as many individuals, out of fear of being stigmatised, do not present themselves to health professionals, and therefore many cases do not make it into official records.

Sodeinde said many individuals are treated outside formal healthcare systems by traditional healers, where some are restrained, beaten or subjected to unscientific methods of “treatment”, and as a result, such cases are neither properly managed nor reported.

He added, “Hospital admissions related to drug use are also on the rise. As a professional working in a neuropsychiatric hospital, I can attest that more than 80 per cent of patient admissions are drug-related.

“The cost of treatment is extremely high. Initial admission alone can range between ₦500,000 and ₦600,000, and treatment may last one month, two months or even up to six months.

“These costs place a heavy financial burden on families — resources that could have been used for education, nutrition or personal development.”

Sodeinde said the menace of substance abuse cannot be overemphasised, as it alters both the structure and function of the brain, affecting how individuals think, reason, and make decisions.


He explained that although drug abuse is often overlooked and underreported, its telltale signs are evident everywhere, affecting individuals, families, workplaces and communities.

He said, “Drug abuse impacts every area of a person’s life and creates a ripple effect that extends to families and society at large. Many individuals with great potential — who could have contributed meaningfully to national development — are instead lost to substance abuse.”

Sodeinde said one major challenge to tackling substance abuse is the high cost of treatment, urging the government to consider bearing a significant percentage of the cost, as is done in some other countries.

The mental health expert also called on parents and families to be vigilant about their children and seek professional help promptly when they notice any untoward behaviour.

He said, “Due to peer pressure, curiosity, financial temptation, experimentation or stress, many young people try drugs without understanding the consequences.

“When substance abuse takes hold, it affects their education, health and overall functioning. Many of these outcomes are preventable if adequate care, supervision and guidance are provided early.”

Dr Sodeinde commended the association for investing in efforts targeted at saving thousands of young Nigerians from the evils of substance use and its unpalatable consequences.

Earlier, the President of the association, Olori Aderonke Omolola Erinle, said the walkathon was organised to further drive community awareness and address the growing challenge of drug abuse and its harmful effects on individuals, families and society.

Speaking also, a retired Mental Health Information Manager with the hospital, Dr Oyinade Tomori, also called on parents to monitor their children and speak out if they notice any signs of drug use.

Dr Tomori said many cases of drug and substance abuse are presented when they have already become severe, a situation that sometimes affects the rate of recovery.

One of the leaders of the association, Mrs Kehinde Ogundipe, also hailed the initiative, saying it would go a long way in sending strong signals to residents of the state indulging in drug and substance use.

Mrs Ogundipe said the association would, from time to time, explore further ways to assist residents, adding that it plans to collaborate with another foundation to support the feeding of some primary school pupils in the state.

APC Calls Impeachment Proceedings Against Rivers Governor Fubara 'Legislative Coup D'etat'

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, to comply with an interim court injunction restraining him from receiving or acting on any resolution of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Darlington Nwauju, made the call in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Saturday and made available to journalists.

Nwauju, the spokesperson for the Emeka Beke-led Rivers APC camp, expressed concern over the decision of the state lawmakers, most of whom are members of the ruling party.

He described the move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, as a “legislative coup d’état” against the collective interest of the APC in the state, despite their earlier pledge of loyalty.

He described the action of the legislators as unfortunate, warning that it could become a dangerous footnote in the survival of the party in Rivers State.

The statement partly read: “We have painstakingly analysed the issues leading up to the latest step taken by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to proceed with the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu.

“Regrettably, we note that honourable members who trumpeted loyalty to our party and Mr President have now given themselves to a choreographed legislative coup d’état against the collective interest, growth and development of our party in the state.

“We warn again that this is a needless legislative overreach, having observed the recalcitrance on the part of members of the House of Assembly, including APC members."

The party noted that though “it is common knowledge that the legislature is empowered under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to conduct impeachment,” it, however, added that “paragraph 11 of the same section is subject to political interpretation, as what constitutes ‘gross misconduct’ is determined by the legislature itself”.

“Thus, no matter how beautifully crafted the allegations against the governor and his deputy may be, they remain largely subjective in the court of public opinion,” the party said.

The statement added, “This unfortunate path chosen by the legislative arm therefore serves as a dangerous footnote to the health and survival of the APC in Rivers State.

“Meanwhile, we call on the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State to respect the interim injunction in Suit No: OYHC/7/CS/2026, which restrained him from receiving or acting on the resolutions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Finally, we call on the national leadership of the party to immediately activate the internal mechanisms available to the National Working Committee under Article 21(b)(iii) of the 2022 APC Constitution (as amended) to save our dear party from an embarrassing situation.”

The statement comes amid heightened political tension in Rivers State following moves by the House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Odu.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt had restrained the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any correspondence from the Rivers State House of Assembly connected to ongoing moves to impeach Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu.

By the end of this year, the Federal Government would have spent, at least, N38.188 billion on the up-keep of former presidents, vice presidents and their families, over a period of 22 years, Saturday Vanguard’s checks have revealed.

Based on official exchange rates across the various years, the welfare of former leaders and their families has cost Nigeria $144.722 million in 22 years.

From N140 million in 2005, funds allocated to entitlements of former presidents/heads of state, former vice presidents or chiefs of general staff have risen rapidly to hit N2.3 billion since 2013 (See table).

The peak was in 2012 when the Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration budgeted N3.185 billion for the welfare of the ex-leaders.

The lowest allocation was in 2008 when N24 million was allocated. The figure for 2007 was not disclosed but unconfirmed estimates from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF’s, office put the figure at N102 million. Between 2013 and 2025, the allocation was constant at N2.3 billion for each year.

Also, in 2017, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, allocated the sum of N432.193 million for the purchase of cars for the nation’s seven former presidents/heads of state and four vice presidents.

For 2026, the federal government has proposed N2.3bn for the payment of benefits and entitlements to Nigeria’s former presidents, heads of state, and their deputies.

This is according to details contained in the 2026 N58.47 trillion Appropriation Bill under the item tagged: “Entitlements of former Presidents/Heads of State and Vice Presidents/Chief of General Staff.”
The allocation covers pensions, allowances, and other statutory benefits.

Budget documents show that the N2.3 billion provision applies to both civilian and military former leaders of the country.


Beneficiaries include former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, as well as former military heads of state General Ibrahim Babangida, General Yakubu Gowon, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Why Presidency raised 2026 budget to N58trn
The allocation also extends to former vice presidents and equivalent military positions. Named beneficiaries include Atiku Abubakar, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007; Namadi Sambo, Vice President between 2010 and 2015; and Yemi Osinbajo, who served from 2015 to 2023.

Also included is Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, retd, who functioned as de facto Vice President between 1985 and 1986 during the Babangida military regime.

Deceased ex-presidents, whose families are constitutionally expected to reap from the largesse are Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (prime minister), General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (ceremonial president), General Murtala Muhammed, General Sani Abacha and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Deceased former vice presidents or chiefs of general staff were Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon, Dr Alex Ekwueme and Lt General Oladipo Doya


N500, 000 Council of State meeting allowance
Apart from the N38.188 billion welfare package, each of the former leaders, who is an automatic member of the Council of State collects N500,000 whenever he attends the meeting that holds periodically, at least twice yearly, to deliberate and take decisions on crucial issues affecting the country.

Car purchase

Apart from these entitlements, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation allocated the sum of N986.19 million between 2016 and 2018 for the purchase of cars for the nation’s seven former presidents/heads of state and four vice presidents.

Origins of the welfare package
Adapted from the United States of America, which has an elaborate welfare package for former rulers, Nigeria started paying entitlements to former presidents by Decree 32 of 1999.

In 2001, it became the Remuneration of former Presidents, heads of Federal legislative Houses and Chief Justices of the Federation (and other Ancillary Matters) Act.


The Act was further amended by the National Assembly in 2008 and 2010 with the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC mandated to fix the remunerations of the ex-leaders from time to time in line with economic realities especially whenever the salary of the serving president is raised.

RMAFC’s power

The power is provided for in Sections 70 and 84 (4) of the 1999 Constitution and the specific legislation is in the Certain Political Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries, Allowances, etc) Act, 2002 and the Amendment Act of 2008.

The entitlements
At the beginning, the 1999 Law provided that each former President and former Head of state is entitled to N350,000 per month, while former Vice Presidents and former Chiefs of General Staff are entitled to N250,000 per month for their up-keep.

The Act states: “As from the commencement of this Act, all former-Presidents and Heads of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as “former Heads of State”) shall be-(i) paid the sum of N350,000 per month as up-keep allowance; and (ii) entitled to the perquisites of office specified in Part I of the Schedule to this Act; and (b)Vice-Presidents and Chiefs of General Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as “former Vice-Presidents”) shall be- (i) paid the sum of N250,000 per month as up-keep allowance; and (ii) entitled to the perquisites of office specified in Part II of the Schedule to this Act.’’


There are also provisions for domestic staff, security aides, vehicles and up-keep allowances for families of deceased presidents.

For former presidents
For instance, each former president is entitled to an officer not below the rank of a chief administrative officer; a personal secretary not below Grade Level 12; three to four armed policemen; one Department State Service, DSS officer not below Grade Level 10 as an Aide de Camp to be attached for life and paid by the State Security Agencies; three vehicles to be bought by the Federal Government and liable to be replaced every four years; and drivers to be paid by the Federal Government.

They and their immediate families are also entitled to free medical treatment within Nigeria; treatment abroad where necessary at Federal Government’s expense; a well furnished and equipped office in any location of their choice in Nigeria; a well furnished five-bedroom house in any location of their choice in Nigeria; and 30 days annual vacation at home or abroad.

For former vice presidents
For former vice presidents, the entitlements include: an officer not below the rank of a chief administrative officer; a personal secretary not below Grade Level 10, two to three armed policemen; one DSS officer not below Grade Level 8 as an Aide de Camp to be attached for life and paid by the State Security Agencies; two vehicles to be replaced every four years; drivers shall be selected by the former Vice-President and paid by the Federal Government; free medical treatment for them and their immediate families within Nigeria; treatment abroad where necessary; 30 days annual vacation within and outside Nigeria at Federal Government expense; a modestly well-furnished and equipped office in any location of their choice in Nigeria; a well furnished three-bedroom house in any location of their choice in Nigeria.
According to the 1999 law that has been amended, the remuneration of the former leaders shall be subject to review whenever there is an increase in the salary of the serving President and Vice-President; and the Federal Government shall in its annual budget make provision for the remuneration of former Heads of State and former Vice-Presidents.

In the case of death, the family of an ex-president, at the beginning, was entitled to the payment of the sum of N1,000,000 per annum payable in the sum of N 250,000 per quarter; and deceased former Vice-President was entitled to the payment of the sum of N750,000 per annum payable in the sum of N187, 500 per quarter.

The allowances applied to the up-keep of the spouse and education of the children of deceased former leaders up to the university level. However, the spouse of a former leader shall not be entitled to the allowance, if she re-marries.

Experience in other countries

US ex-president earns $205,700 a year
The United States via the Former Presidents Act, FPA, charges the General Services Administration, GSA, with providing former presidents a pension, support staff, office support, travel funds, and mailing privileges. The FPA was enacted in 1958 to “maintain the dignity” of the Office of the President by providing certain benefits to former Presidents — and their spouses — so that they would not have to enter unsuitable occupations after leaving office.

Former US presidents also receive a lifetime of Secret Service protection and their children remain protected until they are 16 years old. The pension for former presidents matches the annual pay for senior political officials of the Executive Level 1 ranking and their salary is equal to that of the incumbent. In 2016, the pension was $205,700. Widows of ex-presidents are entitled to $20,000 a year.

In 2017, President Barack Obama proposed a hike of about 18 per cent in appropriations for expenditures of former presidents.

Currently, all former US presidents collectively receive $3-$5 million a year

Ex-president gets $188,000 a year in South Africa

In South Africa, former presidents continue to have all the payments, salaries and other packages that they were receiving the day before they left office, for the rest of their lives. They will also have their medical insurance fully paid.

A resolution of the National Assembly also allows former presidents to have annual pay increases based on those recommended by the Remuneration Commission.

The resolution grants 50 per cent of the ex-president’s package to his widow, if he should die.
In 2017, the South African National Assembly voted to increase President’s salary to R2,716,798 per year or $188,000.

Indian experience, ex-president entitled to $13, 248 a year
In India, perks for former Prime ministers include lifetime rent-free accommodation, medical facilities, 14 secretarial staff, six domestic executive-class air tickets, unlimited train travel, office expenses against actual expenditure for five years and vehicles. All former prime ministers are entitled to benefits afforded to a cabinet minister, which includes 270,000 Rupees or $3, 974.

On retirement, a former president gets Rs.75,000 ($1,104) a month as pension; a furnished rent free bungalow; medical facilities; unlimited domestic travel reimbursement with a companion by train or air; Delhi Police security; five personal staff including two private secretaries, one peon, one official car; and office maintenance expenses of Rs 60,000 or $883 per annum.

UK’s $515,000 gold-plated pension for ex-prime ministers
In Britain, some former prime ministers earn what has been dubbed a “gold-plated pension,” which costs the United Kingdom’s taxpayers about £435,000 or $515,000 a year.

For instance, ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair drew the maximum Prime Ministerial pension – worth about £70,000 a year in 2017 and another £115,000 allowance to support his ‘public duties.’ The security team allowance was estimated to cost, at least, £250,000 a year.

According to the UK Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts, former prime ministers got £836,345 as Public Duty Costs Allowance, PDCA, in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

The PDCA is an allowance (reimbursements) to cover actual office and secretariat costs incurred while continuing public duties after leaving office for all living former prime ministers including staff pension contributions.

Budgets
How FG spent N38.2bn($144.72m) on ex-leaders in 22 years

Year /Amount
2005 – N140m($1.06m)
2006 -N105m($817,121)
2007 -N102m($850m)
2008 -N24m($207,792)
2009 -N250m($1.724m)
2010 -N250m($1.667m)
2011 -N1.2bn($8m)
2012 -N3.185bn($20.817m)
2013 -N2.3bn($14.375m)
2014 -N2.3bn($14.375m)
2015 -N2.3bn($12.095m)
2016 -N2.3bn($11.666m)
2017 -N2.3bn($7.541m)
2018 -N2.3bn($7.541m)
2019 -N2.3bn($7.541m)
2020 -N2.3bn($6.389m)
2021 -N2.3bn(6.590m)
2022 -N2.3bn($5.608m)
2023 -N2.3bn($5.279m)
2024 -N2.3bn($2.875m)
2025 -N2.3bn($1.533m)
2026 -N2.3bn($1.521m)
Cars -N1.418bn($4.65m)
Total – N38.188n($144.722m)

The African Democratic Party (ADC), the Obedient Movement and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) yesterday knocked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his absence at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.

The president is currently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is attending the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which kicked off on Monday.

Vice President Shettima led members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), leaders and members of the National Assembly as well as service chiefs, members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries to the Eagle Square in Abuja, where he represented the president.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an annual event marked on January 15 to recognise the sacrifices of the fallen heroes, honour the serving members of the military and the living veterans.

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The tradition is that during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day’s commemoration, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces inspects the Guard of Honour, lays the wreath, signs the Remembrance Day register and releases the ceremonial pigeons as a symbol of national peace and freedom.

President Tinubu was also absent at the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, as he was, just like this year, at the UAE for the 2025 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. At that time, he had on January 11 left Nigeria to participate in the summit held from January 12 to January 18.

The president personally attended the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

Last year, the federal government cancelled the Independence Anniversary parade that had been scheduled to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day on October 1, 2025. The government did not give any reason for the decision to cancel the parade.

The Defence Headquarters and the government dismissed reports linking the cancellation to an alleged coup plot against President Tinubu’s administration.

The DHQ explained that decision to cancel the October 1 parade had nothing to do with any alleged coup attempt but was taken to allow Tinubu to attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country and enable members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to sustain momentum in ongoing military operations against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.

Leadership can’t be outsourced – ADC

In its response, the ADC criticised President Tinubu for being absent at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day in Abuja.

The party described the president’s absence as “troubling,” arguing that the physical and moral presence of the Commander-in-Chief is a vital symbol of solidarity with troops and military families at a time of worsening insecurity.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, in a statement, noted that the day was set aside to honour the courage, sacrifice and patriotism of the men and women who have laid down their lives in defence of Nigeria.

He stated: “This is ordinarily a solemn national moment, one that demands presence, reflection and leadership at the highest level. It is therefore deeply troubling that the President of the Federal Republic is absent and unavailable on a day meant to symbolise solidarity with our armed forces and the families who continue to bear the cost of Nigeria’s security failures.”

ADC argued that at a time when Nigerian soldiers are overstretched across multiple fronts, battling insurgency, banditry and violent crime, “leadership cannot be outsourced, postponed or treated as ceremonial. The physical and moral presence of the Commander-in-Chief on this day is not optional; it is a statement of respect, responsibility and shared sacrifice.

“The ADC honours the fallen, stands with serving personnel and recognises the quiet resilience of military families who continue to pay the ultimate price for a nation that has yet to match their sacrifice with competent governance, clear strategy and genuine political will.

“Remembrance must go beyond wreaths and words. It must be reflected in leadership that shows up, takes responsibility and places the lives of Nigerians above image management, foreign trips or political convenience,” ADC said.


‘President’s absence, disregard for fallen heroes’

CISCLAC Executive Director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani and the Obedience Movement flayed Tinubu’s absence at this year’s Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day as a troubling signal of disregard for Nigeria’s fallen heroes.

Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, Rafsanjani said the president’s failure to attend the solemn ceremony undermined efforts to honour soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for national peace and security.

Rafsanjani said: “It doesn’t show encouragement, love or support for our armed forces.”

He stressed that symbolic gestures like attending memorials are vital for boosting morale among troops currently deployed across conflict zones in Zamfara, Niger, Plateau and Benue States and the South East.

“These men and women are battling terrorists and criminals so Nigerians can live peacefully. Recognising them publicly is the least the government can do,” he added.

Drawing comparisons with democracies such as the United States, Rafsanjani observed that military personnel are accorded priority in public institutions as a mark of respect.

He urged Nigeria’s leadership to emulate such practices, insisting that appreciation of the armed forces strengthens democratic control and national unity.

“The absence of the president sends the wrong message. Our heroes deserve recognition, and the government must show commitment to those who continue to sacrifice for the nation,” Rafsanjani said.

Also speaking to Daily Trust, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the president’s absence sent the wrong signal at a time the nation was expected to honour soldiers who paid the supreme price in defence of the country.

“Yes, I was saying that it goes to show you the level in which the country has been held. It’s a total disrespect and it shows lack of command that we are already facing in the country,” Tanko said.

According to him, the development further reinforced concerns being raised by critics about the president’s leadership capacity.

“This is just to confirm some of the suspicions that we are making as regards the state of the health of the president, whether he has the capacity to lead this country, considering the fact that we’re celebrating and honouring our fallen heroes,” he said.

Tanko argued that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day was too important for the president to be absent, regardless of other commitments outside the country.

“Mr President should have made sure he took care of this particular very important day, not to find him absentee,” he said.

He stressed that the occasion was meant to demonstrate national unity and solidarity with the armed forces and families of fallen soldiers.

“No matter what will happen outside the country, this is the most important day in the Nigerian emphasis where we respect them and show them that we are together with them, those who have committed and sacrificed their lives for the country,” Tanko added.


No response from Presidency, APC

Efforts by Daily Trust to get a reaction from the Presidency were unsuccessful, as the phone lines of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, could not be reached. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to Bwala were also not replied to.

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Felix Morka, neither answered phone calls nor responded to WhatsApp and text messages sent to him. The APC’s National Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, could not be reached either.

A medical doctor, Dr Ibrahim Abu Babatunde, has regained freedom after two weeks in captivity.

Dr Babatunde, who is currently undergoing his housemanship at the Edo University Teaching Hospital, Iyamho, was kidnapped on January 1, 2026, together with his younger brother, Abu Tahir, while returning home after closing from work.

The abductors reportedly demanded a ransom of N200 million for their release. However, before the ransom could be raised, they killed his younger brother, Tahir Abu, on January 6, 2026.

Following Tahir’s death, the kidnappers were said to have reduced the ransom demand to N100 million and later to N40 million.

The news of Dr Babatunde’s release became public through a viral video shared on various social media platforms.

In the video, a voice could be heard saying that hunters and local vigilantes from Auchi rescued him on Wednesday evening at about 8 p.m. in a forest area.

According to the narration, the vigilantes neutralised one of the abductors during the rescue operation.

The video also showed the vigilantes assisting the doctor into a waiting vehicle after his rescue.

It was further stated that the doctor sustained a gunshot injury to his leg.

Confirming the development, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the abducted doctor had been reunited with his family.

“Yes, he has been reunited with his family,” she said.

The federal government has halted the issuance of guidelines for the implementation of the new tax laws, citing uncertainty over the final version, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman, Presidential Tax Reform Committee, has revealed.

He said he had told the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) to wait because guidelines on the implementation of tax laws cannot be issued.

Oyedele spoke in Lagos yesterday while responding to questions after delivering a keynote address on the 2026 Economic Outlook organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, with the theme ‘ICAN@60: Accountability as the Bedrock for National Development.’

He said concerns over whether the documents currently in circulation represent the final version of the laws prompted him to instruct his team to buy a printed copy of the law from the government’s printer.

He said the feedback from his staff revealed that the National Assembly had taken custody of all printed copies of the tax laws and directed that they should not be sold or made available to the public until lawmakers conclude their review.

Efforts by Daily Trust to get a reaction from the Senate’s spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), were unsuccessful as he neither answered several phone calls nor responded to a WhatsApp message seeking his comments on the matter.

Also, calls to the mobile telephone line of the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, did not go through last night.

While acknowledging that legislative review is a normal part of the lawmaking process, Oyedele noted that the restriction on access has reintroduced uncertainty into the tax reform process.

He said: “The Acts Authentication Act says whatever the government printer publishes is the evidence of the law that was passed.

“That government printer published something, which we said is the official version. Lawmakers said it is not what they passed. So, they said they would do their own gazettes.

“They set up their committee, they did their own review, they did their own gazettes. They sent me a copy, soft copy. But that’s not what the Acts Authentication Act says.

“So, I sent my staff, go to the government printer and go and buy. They went there, but as of last week, they said it’s not ready. That they should wait.

“So, I also told everybody, the NRS, JRB, you too wait, because we cannot issue guidelines.

“We are not 100 per cent certain that this is the final official position. I called my staff this (yesterday) morning, I said go back there, follow up every day, go, go there, don’t call them, go and sit down there.

“And I got feedback as I was here that says that… I don’t even know whether I should say this or not because I don’t know what the press will report. But in the interest of accountability and transparency, my staff told me that they said everything that they printed, the National Assembly collected from them and said they shouldn’t sell to anyone; that they want to complete their review. While that is good, it also creates uncertainty again.”


Few changes shouldn’t affect tax laws – FG

The laws — the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Nigeria Tax Act — which took effect on January 1, had elicited criticisms following alleged alterations to the gazetted laws as against the versions passed by the National Assembly.

At the House of Representatives’ plenary in December, Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) had raised a matter of privilege, alleging discrepancies between the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions gazetted and made available to the public.

Rising under Order Six, Rule Two of the House Rules, Dasuki said his legislative privilege had been breached, insisting that the content of the gazetted tax laws did not reflect what members debated, voted on, and passed.

He said after spending the past three days to carefully review the gazetted copies alongside the Votes and Proceedings of the House as well as the harmonised version adopted by both chambers, he observed discrepancies.

The House later set up a seven-man committee to investigate the allegations and report within one week, which elapsed on December 25.

The legislature on January 3 released Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the approved versions of the tax laws as earlier passed by both chambers and transmitted for presidential assent.

A comparison of the CTCs to the earlier “altered” gazetted versions showed that the discrepancies had been addressed, with the National Assembly approving the versions it passed and disowning the controversial gazetted copies that had stirred public concern.

Few changes shouldn’t affect tax laws – Oyedele

Reacting yesterday to the allegations that the tax laws had been altered, Oyedele downplayed the impact of any changes, saying they should not affect the core provisions of the tax laws.

“So, in other words, what I’ll say to you is, the explanation we have provided about the law, because all this issue of they’ve altered, they’ve not altered, it’s not even a lot.

“There are few items that shouldn’t affect the main thing that people need, nothing about the tax rate, about the tax burden, the filing deadline.

“So, but this is the best I can say to you, as we speak,” he said.

‘Market lost N4.6trn in 1 day due to misinformation’

Oyedele expressed worry over stiff opposition to the tax reforms, including spread of misinformation aimed at undermining the reforms.

The tax expert said some Nigerians were being paid to protest against the report.

“We’ve seen people who have been paid to protest against this reform.

“You see a group, they gave them N30 million to go and protest. In the process of sharing N30 million, this agreement broke. Some of them went to the media and said, we are not doing it again,” he said.

He narrated how misinformation made Nigerian stocks lose a whopping N4.6trn in a day in November 2025.

“The new tax laws exempt someone who sells up to 150 million Naira a year. Why are people selling 1 million Naira in panic? The danger of misinformation. That fake news, because it’s fake, it’s not supported by data, led to real losses for people, including some people whose pensions are with PFAs, lost money,” he said.

Speaking on the theme, Oyedele described accountability as a bridge between reform and results.

“Your reforms can be brilliant. I’ve never seen any reform idea in Nigeria that is not brilliant.

“We’re just not very good with execution. And one of the reasons why execution failed is poor accountability,” he said.

He called on Nigerians and professionals to build trust and seek knowledge while demanding accountability.

“When trust rises, reforms are easier, and resistance to reform declines and results are better. Number two, let’s seek knowledge,” he said.

Experts urge inter-agency engagements for tax laws implementation

At the panel session, the Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr Chinyere Almona, demanded interagency engagement during the implementation of the tax reform laws in order to produce the desired result.

Almona noted that usually there are conflicts within the policy execution architecture, while calling for the use of technology and a centralized system in monitoring execution of the policies.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, called for the policy implementation that brings about inclusive growth “without compromising competitiveness.”

He said contribution of the manufacturing sector to the GDP has not been up to 10 per cent, while lamenting the myriad of challenges confronting the sector.

He also expressed worry over what he called escalation of the unsold inventory, which he puts at N2 trillion across the sector.

Earlier, the chairman in session, Mohammed Hayatudeen, noted that Nigeria was entering 2026 with a delicate but defining moment.

He said after the turbulence of the 2023–2024 reform cycle, the economy had regained stability with inflation moderated, the exchange rate stabilised, and external revenue strengthened.

Despite this, Hayatudeen expressed worry that the poverty rate is still high in the country.

He called for proper implementation of the tax reform laws into “favourable outcomes.”

He said: “This also raises important questions for practitioners and policymakers alike. Will ambition in tax policy be matched by capacity in tax administration and compliance? Laws alone do not raise revenue, capacity does. Systems do and professionals do. How these reforms are executed will test institutions in terms of their durability and efficacy.”


Accountability critical to economic stability – ICAN President

In his welcome remarks, the ICAN President, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, said accountability remains critical to Nigeria’s economic stability and long-term development, as the country navigates ongoing reforms and fragile recovery.

He said the 2026 ICAN Economic Outlook was a deliberate platform to link professional responsibility with national progress.

Yahaya noted that Nigeria’s economy showed signs of stabilisation in 2025, with real GDP growth rising above 4 per cent in the second quarter, driven by improvements in manufacturing, trade, and services.

He added that inflation eased toward the mid-14 percent range by the end of the year, reflecting tighter monetary policy and improved supply conditions, with expectations of further moderation in 2026 if fiscal discipline is sustained.

According to him, external buffers also strengthened as foreign exchange reserves rose to multi-year highs, supported by stronger exports and reforms in the foreign exchange market. He said trade and current-account balances returned to surplus, while private-sector activity improved, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reaching 57.6 points, indicating strong expansion and improved business confidence.

Despite these gains, Yahaya warned that progress remains fragile and could be undermined without discipline, transparency, and strong institutions.

“Accountability is not merely governance ideal; it is an economic imperative,” he said, stressing that weak enforcement of laws, corruption, and poor consequences for misconduct continue to erode public trust and slow economic transformation.

He cited global evidence showing that countries with strong institutions and transparent systems perform better economically than those with weak governance structures.

The ICAN president urged participants to move beyond diagnosis to proposing practical solutions that strengthen institutions and improve governance outcomes.

He expressed optimism that ICAN’s impact in the coming years would surpass its achievements over the past six decades, calling on members and stakeholders to remain committed to accountability as a driver of national development.

Few changes shouldn’t affect tax laws – Oyedele

Reacting yesterday to the allegations that the tax laws had been altered, Oyedele downplayed the impact of any changes, saying they should not affect the core provisions of the tax laws.

“So, in other words, what I’ll say to you is, the explanation we have provided about the law, because all this issue of they’ve altered, they’ve not altered, it’s not even a lot.

“There are few items that shouldn’t affect the main thing that people need, nothing about the tax rate, about the tax burden, the filing deadline.

“So, but this is the best I can say to you, as we speak,” he said.

‘Market lost N4.6trn in 1 day due to misinformation’

Oyedele expressed worry over stiff opposition to the tax reforms, including spread of misinformation aimed at undermining the reforms.

The tax expert said some Nigerians were being paid to protest against the report.

“We’ve seen people who have been paid to protest against this reform.

“You see a group, they gave them N30 million to go and protest. In the process of sharing N30 million, this agreement broke. Some of them went to the media and said, we are not doing it again,” he said.

He narrated how misinformation made Nigerian stocks lose a whopping N4.6trn in a day in November 2025.

“The new tax laws exempt someone who sells up to 150 million Naira a year. Why are people selling 1 million Naira in panic? The danger of misinformation. That fake news, because it’s fake, it’s not supported by data, led to real losses for people, including some people whose pensions are with PFAs, lost money,” he said.

Speaking on the theme, Oyedele described accountability as a bridge between reform and results.

“Your reforms can be brilliant. I’ve never seen any reform idea in Nigeria that is not brilliant.

“We’re just not very good with execution. And one of the reasons why execution failed is poor accountability,” he said.

He called on Nigerians and professionals to build trust and seek knowledge while demanding accountability.

“When trust rises, reforms are easier, and resistance to reform declines and results are better. Number two, let’s seek knowledge,” he said.

Experts urge inter-agency engagements for tax laws implementation


At the panel session, the Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr Chinyere Almona, demanded interagency engagement during the implementation of the tax reform laws in order to produce the desired result.

Almona noted that usually there are conflicts within the policy execution architecture, while calling for the use of technology and a centralized system in monitoring execution of the policies.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, called for the policy implementation that brings about inclusive growth “without compromising competitiveness.”

He said contribution of the manufacturing sector to the GDP has not been up to 10 per cent, while lamenting the myriad of challenges confronting the sector.

He also expressed worry over what he called escalation of the unsold inventory, which he puts at N2 trillion across the sector.

Earlier, the chairman in session, Mohammed Hayatudeen, noted that Nigeria was entering 2026 with a delicate but defining moment.

He said after the turbulence of the 2023–2024 reform cycle, the economy had regained stability with inflation moderated, the exchange rate stabilised, and external revenue strengthened.

Despite this, Hayatudeen expressed worry that the poverty rate is still high in the country.

He called for proper implementation of the tax reform laws into “favourable outcomes.”

He said: “This also raises important questions for practitioners and policymakers alike. Will ambition in tax policy be matched by capacity in tax administration and compliance? Laws alone do not raise revenue, capacity does. Systems do and professionals do. How these reforms are executed will test institutions in terms of their durability and efficacy.”

Accountability critical to economic stability – ICAN President

In his welcome remarks, the ICAN President, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, said accountability remains critical to Nigeria’s economic stability and long-term development, as the country navigates ongoing reforms and fragile recovery.

He said the 2026 ICAN Economic Outlook was a deliberate platform to link professional responsibility with national progress.

Yahaya noted that Nigeria’s economy showed signs of stabilisation in 2025, with real GDP growth rising above 4 per cent in the second quarter, driven by improvements in manufacturing, trade, and services.

He added that inflation eased toward the mid-14 percent range by the end of the year, reflecting tighter monetary policy and improved supply conditions, with expectations of further moderation in 2026 if fiscal discipline is sustained.

According to him, external buffers also strengthened as foreign exchange reserves rose to multi-year highs, supported by stronger exports and reforms in the foreign exchange market. He said trade and current-account balances returned to surplus, while private-sector activity improved, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reaching 57.6 points, indicating strong expansion and improved business confidence.

Despite these gains, Yahaya warned that progress remains fragile and could be undermined without discipline, transparency, and strong institutions.

“Accountability is not merely governance ideal; it is an economic imperative,” he said, stressing that weak enforcement of laws, corruption, and poor consequences for misconduct continue to erode public trust and slow economic transformation.

He cited global evidence showing that countries with strong institutions and transparent systems perform better economically than those with weak governance structures.

The ICAN president urged participants to move beyond diagnosis to proposing practical solutions that strengthen institutions and improve governance outcomes.

He expressed optimism that ICAN’s impact in the coming years would surpass its achievements over the past six decades, calling on members and stakeholders to remain committed to accountability as a driver of national development.

The Niger government has given a two-month notice to people living in hamlets around Kainji Lake to vacate the area so as to be resettled by the Emirate Council.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday by Mr Bologi Ibrahim, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Muhammad Bago.

Bago gave the directive when he paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammad-Haliru Dantoro, Kitoro IV, at his palace in New Bussa.

He told the traditional ruler that his visit was to commiserate with him and the entire people of the Emirate over the recent terrorist attack that claimed so many lives.

The governor said that the resettlement of the people had become necessary to avoid collateral damage, as his administration, in collaboration with the Federal Government, was determined to clear the forest.

He said that this was with a view to flushing out criminals who were using Kainji Lake as their camp and, as such, making the land very uninhabitable for the people around the area.

He decried the influx of people into the Emirates without profiling, noting that it had become a security concern even as the activities of informants had thwarted security efforts in the Emirate.

Bago therefore urged the Emirate Council to rise up to its responsibility and join forces with the security agencies and government at all levels to combat any form of insecurity in the Emirate.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the Emir and the people of the Emirate, especially the families of the victims, and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed.

In the same vein, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the Federal Government was also interested in ensuring that there was peace and security across the country.

According to him, “It will be a welcome development if some concrete actions are taken to get the people relocated while the forest is taken back and deployed for further community use.

Responding, the Emir pledged to work closely with relevant authorities to identify and prosecute informants in the Emirate, adding that the security of lives and property was paramount.

He promised that no stone would be left unturned in securing the lives and property of his people and the area.

Dantoro appreciated the governor for the visit and reassured him of the Emirate’s continued support for his policies and programmes geared towards improving the lives of the people. (NAN).

Yakubu Mohammed, a co-founder of Newswatch magazine and its former deputy chief executive officer, has died at the age of 75.

He was reported to have been battling an undisclosed ailment before his death. As of press time, an official statement from his family was still awaited.

His death comes barely two months after the passing of his long-time colleague and fellow Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died after a prolonged illness on November 17, 2025.

In October 2025, Mohammed published his memoir, Beyond Expectations, which chronicled the history of Newswatch and offered personal insights into the magazine’s formative years. The book revisited major moments in the publication’s journey, including the controversy surrounding the 1986 assassination of founding editor-in-chief Dele Giwa and the subsequent struggle for control of the influential magazine.

Mohammed, alongside Agbese, Ray Ekpu and Dele Giwa, founded Newswatch in 1984, establishing it as a leading voice in investigative journalism during Nigeria’s military era. His death marks another significant loss to the magazine’s founding generation.

Born on April 4, 1950, Mohammed hailed from Ologba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. He attended St Joseph’s Primary School, Ayangba, in 1964; Government Secondary School, Okene, between 1965 and 1969; the University of Lagos from 1972 to 1975; and the Glasgow College of Technology in Scotland between 1978 and 1979.

He began his journalism career at the New Nigerian Newspapers, where he served as associate editor from 1976 to 1980 and managing editor in 1980. He later joined National Concord as deputy editor between 1980 and 1982, becoming editor from 1982 to 1984.

At Newswatch, Mohammed served as co-founder and executive editor between 1984 and 1986, managing editor from 1986 to 1994, and deputy chief executive officer of Newswatch Communications Limited from 1994.

Beyond journalism, he was a director at Yadara Nigeria Limited and Lastop Limited. He was also a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

The veteran journalist also served as pro-chancellor and chancellor of the governing council of Ahmadu Bello University.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr Usman Bugaje, has criticised the political elite, accusing them of taking turns to destroy the country under the guise of zoning.

Bugaje noted that while the people have kept their own side of the social contract in the democracy by being law-abiding and paying taxes, the government has failed to fulfill its own obligations.

He claimed that Nigerians have not benefited anything from government.

Bugaje, who spoke as a panelist during the Colloquium for the 60th Birthday celebration of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in Abuja at the weekend, said Nigeria presently lacks the big idea to push its developmental agenda.

He explained that the problem starts from the political parties which are the foundation of democracy, “have no content, no conscience, and they have no courage. Just take any party, what does it convey to you? Where is the big idea? What is that thing that this party represents, in terms of the future of this country?

“We have a collection of big men, in parties, but you can’t find the big idea. Countries that have developed, like South Korea, in the 60s, was the second poorest country in the world within just three decades, it was on the cutting edge of technology. Because it has developed a big idea, it was pursuing. The same with Japan, with Singapore,” adding “Nigerian political parties have big men, but don’t have big idea”.

He stressed that democracy is sustained by a social contract, adding that government has failed on its side of the bargain, adding, “Ask yourself today, where is the security? Where is the welfare?

“Poverty has more than doubled. Insecurity has gone to levels unprecedented and, in fact, inconceivable 25 years ago. We have nothing to say that we have gained from democracy. So, on what basis should we have government?”

Speaking on the way forward, Bugaje expressed the need for the elite to develop and have a consensus on the big idea for the country, saying “Where do we want our country to be in 25 years? And what do we need to do to get there? There is no consensus. Everybody wants his own tribesman to be president. Because it’s like elites taking turns to destroy their own country.

“lf you ask yourself, the current regime, what is the consensus? They’re just talking about my turn. So, we are taking turns to destroy our country. So, the most important step, I think, is to have a consensus. Where do we want this country to be?”

He also called on the leaders to develop metrics for measuring governance and criteria for leadership, saying, “this country has no criteria for leadership and what happens if you don’t have criteria for leadership? Crooks and criminals will find their way. So we have to have the criteria that is in the Constitution, not criteria for eligibility.

“We have to develop a criteria for suitability. We cannot confuse eligibility with suitability. If the Constitution has not done so, the political parties will have to determine that anybody seeking to be president or seeking to be chairman of local government in our party must meet certain requirements.

“Requirements of character. Requirements of competence. Requirements of courage. That courage of conviction that allows you to do the right thing when you know this is the right thing not to bother about any other thing.”