₦airaland Forum

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has urged Nigerians to embrace federalism, credible elections, and elite consensus as the foundation for the country’s progress over the next 65 years.

El-Rufai made this call while interacting with clergy, professionals, and citizens, in Owerri, Imo State capital.

H stressed the urgent need for a collective vision to address Nigeria’s structural challenges.

The former FCT Minister also explained that while Nigeria has made democratic gains since 1999, including regular elections, participation has drastically declined, from over 60 percent voter turnout in 2003 to barely 27 percent in 2023, reflecting growing public estrangement from the electoral process.

“The evidence compels us to say it plainly. Nigeria is the world’s most populous Black nation, projected to exceed 400 million by 2050, yet remains structurally fragile,” El-Rufai said.

The politician highlighted high poverty rates, unemployment among youth, inflation, and mounting public debt as pressing concerns that threaten national stability.

El-Rufai stressed that a new elite consensus, an agreement among political, business, and civil society leaders on the nation’s direction, is critical.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has expressed deep concerns over the rising number of complaints against senior lawyers in Nigeria.

Speaking at a special court session to mark the beginning of the Supreme Court's 2025/2026 Legal Year and the inauguration of 57 senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Fagbemi lamented the rot in the Nigeria judiciary.

Fagbemi revealed that his office has been receiving several complaints against senior members of the bar, bordering on professional misconduct.

"My office has, in recent times, taken note of the increasing number of complaints against senior members of the bar," he said. "Thankfully, these are few and far between, but they still constitute such numbers as to be troubling."

The AGF also called for transparency in the judiciary, expressing concerns over adverse ratings and negative perception indexes of the judiciary.

"It is quite concerning to see the adverse ratings and negative perception indexes of our Judiciary," he said.

"Public confidence in the judiciary has been shaken by perceptions of undue influence, inconsistent rulings, and delays that frustrate justice."

Fagbemi emphasised the need for the judiciary to be principled, independent, and impartial, delivering justice transparently, consistently, and with intellectual rigor.

"It is therefore the responsibility of everyone present here and beyond to ensure that, like Caesar's wife, the judiciary is above reproach and suspicion," he said.

The AGF's remarks highlight the need for reforms in the Nigeria judiciary to restore public confidence and ensure that justice is delivered fairly and transparently.

Presidency Welcomes Jonathan To 2027 Race.

We welcome Jonathan to the 2027 race, but the court will decide if someone who was sworn in twice as president satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency again.

- Presidency

The Presidency on Monday said former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest the 2027 elections but warned that his “dismal record in office” remains fresh in the minds of Nigerians.

It described as “absurd” the Peoples Democratic Party’s strategy to field Jonathan for the presidency on what it called a “discredited platform” which “bequeathed a legacy of economic ruins, after 16 years of bad governance.”

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made these assertions in a statement he signed Monday evening titled, ‘Former President Jonathan is welcome to the race. Nigerians will remember his dismal record in office.’

Onanuga said while the administration “wholeheartedly welcomes” Jonathan to the race, should he decide to run, the former leader would have to contend with both constitutional hurdles and public perception.

He said, “President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again.

“But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land…and will also have his encounter with the people as to whether he has anything new to offer after his disastrous six years, for which they voted him out in 2015.”

The remarks followed comments by the former Minister of Information and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, Professor Jerry Gana, suggesting Jonathan could return to power on the platform of the PDP.

Gana said the ex-president, who left office in 2015 after losing to Muhammadu Buhari, would be well placed to challenge Tinubu in 2027.

But the Presidency dismissed the idea as political fantasy.

“Gana even deluded himself, asserting that the former President would defeat President Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years,” Onanuga wrote, cautioning Jonathan to be wary of “sugar-coated cheerleaders” in the PDP who, he said, abandoned him once before and would do so again.

The PDP governed Nigeria for 16 years before being unseated by the All Progressives Congress in 2015.

The APC has consistently blamed the PDP for what it describes as structural weaknesses in the economy and institutions.

Onanuga accused Jonathan’s government of fiscal irresponsibility, corruption, and waste during a period of unprecedented oil windfalls.

“We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground and put the country in dire straits,” the statement added.

Onanuga noted that Jonathan inherited $66bn in 2010, $46bn in reserves and $20bn in the Excess Crude Account, but left less than $30bn in reserves and only $2bn in the ECA by 2015, despite oil prices averaging $100 a barrel.

He added that the administration failed to pay federal workers’ salaries in its final months, while 28 states were left owing arrears.

He stated, “It is on record that between 2010 and 2013, crude oil sold for an average of $100 per barrel. By December 2014, however, the Jonathan-led Federal Government could no longer pay salaries to Federal Civil Servants. At least 28 states across the country owed workers huge salary arrears.

“In contrast, President Tinubu has taken bold decisions over the last 28 months to reset the economy, removing the ruinous fuel subsidy and abolishing multiple exchange rates, which paved the way for arbitrage to flourish. The President has stabilised the economy in slightly over two years in office.

“In 2025 Q2, the Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23 per cent, the highest in four years, outpacing the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation decreased to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. The foreign reserves stand presently at $42.03bn. The Naira has virtually stabilised. Investor confidence in our economy has been restored, and investors are betting on Nigeria.”

The Presidency also accused Jonathan’s government of mismanaging security funds saying, “Jonathan and his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), freely distributed security funds to friends and cronies.”

In contrast, it highlighted what it described as the “giant economic strides” of Tinubu’s two years in office, saying Nigeria had “turned the corner.”

Onanuga added, “In plain language, the nation has turned the corner. And our people have started reaping the gains of the bold reforms instituted by the Tinubu administration. Road infrastructure is being boosted.

“Old roads are being reconstructed while new ones, like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, among others, are springing up. The government is addressing security issues in some parts of the country.”

It cited the removal of fuel subsidies, unification of exchange rates, and increased infrastructure spending as evidence of progress.

“In 2025 Q2, the Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23 per cent, the highest in four years, outpacing the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund,” the statement noted.

It added that inflation had eased to 20.12 per cent in August, while foreign reserves had risen to $42bn and the naira had “virtually stabilised.”

“Investor confidence in our economy has been restored, and investors are betting on Nigeria,” Onanuga said, listing projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway as signs of reform dividends.

The Presidency said it was unfazed by a possible Jonathan candidacy.

Onanuga said, “President Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race.

“They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians who will not easily forget the recent past will not allow them to return to run it down again.”

Watch the moment an elderly man, upon spotting a banner of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, prostrates in honour to greet the King in Ibadan.

Watch the moment an elderly man, upon spotting a banner of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, prostrates in honour to greet the King in Ibadan. pic.twitter.com/RTvsBuJAbW

— Oyo Affairs (@Oyoaffairs) September 28, 2025

"Your suffering, like a painful surgery, has now turned to a moment of growth, and prosperity awaits us,” Tinubu tells Nigerians.#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/RtHvKXenFu

— Channels Television (@channelstv) September 26, 2025

Dangote Refinery Says Few Workers Affected By Sackings, Over 3,000 Nigerians Still Employed

The management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially responded to reports of mass layoffs, describing the action as an ongoing reorganisation exercise.

The company stressed that the move is aimed at safeguarding the facility and ensuring operational efficiency.

In a statement issued by the management on Friday, titled “Dangote Petroleum Refinery Reorganisation: Commitment to Safety, Integrity and Workers' Rights,” the refinery explained that the decision was necessitated by repeated acts of sabotage in some units of the facility, which posed serious safety risks and disrupted operations.

“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to clarify recent reports concerning the ongoing reorganisation within its facility. This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency,” it said.

“The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns.”

The refinery stated that it remains vigilant regarding its internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of what it described as a strategic national asset.

According to the statement, protecting the refinery is crucial not just for Nigerians but also for Africa’s energy independence and the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on it.

Management further assured that over 3,000 Nigerians are actively employed at the refinery, with only a “very small number” affected by the restructuring. It added that recruitment is ongoing through graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire processes.

“Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our Petroleum Refinery, at present. Only a very small number of staff were affected, as we continue to recruit Nigerian talent through our various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process,” it said.

“We recognise and uphold internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union. Our commitment to workers' rights is unwavering.”

Reaffirming its commitment to labour rights, the refinery stated that it recognises and upholds internationally accepted principles, including workers’ freedom to join or not to join unions.

“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, to strengthen Africa's energy independence, and to create decent, sustainable jobs. We will continue to work in partnership with our employees, regulators, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability,” the statement concluded.

Earlier, Daily Post reported that the refinery had dismissed all Nigerian workers less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The union's president, Festus Osifo, confirmed the development, stating, "Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night (Wednesday). I can assure you that they will recall all of them."

The Federal Government has announced a nationwide enforcement of the National Policy for the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank concerning academic credential verification.

This enforcement is scheduled to commence on October 6, 2025.

According to a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, dated 8 August and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and higher institutions in Nigeria must implement a structured verification process for the academic credentials of all current and prospective staff.

This process is to be conducted through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) under the NERD programme.


Akume emphasised that no appointment will be confirmed without NCVS clearance affirming the authenticity of academic qualifications presented.

He stated, “Effective from October 6, 2025, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as all higher institutions in Nigeria, whether civilian, military, private or public, are to commence the implementation of an intensive yet structured verification of the academic credentials of all staff and intending staff through the National Credential Verification Service of the NERD programme, and thereafter ensure compliance for each new recruitment by obtaining instant NCVS clearance.

“This clearance affirms the authenticity of each academic credential presented anywhere within the Federal Republic of Nigeria before confirming appointment.”


Each clearance will carry a National Credential Number and ancillary security codes for record purposes.

Akume explained that the reform means every certificate, diploma, honour, or award presented in Nigeria must be earned from an accredited institution and be identifiable, traceable, verifiable, and validated at the click of a button.

He added that the initiative moves away from the previous reliance on individual institutions to verify credentials, embedding a national quality assurance mechanism insulated from compromise.

The policy invokes Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, 1985, assigning enforcement responsibility to NERD, which was proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023.

Furthermore, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who introduced the NCVS in March following Federal Executive Council approval, described the scheme as a systemic quality assurance measure designed to curtail academic fraud, fake degrees, and bogus honours.

In a statement, Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity for NERD, confirmed that the agency’s services are ready for nationwide deployment.

She urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies, post-secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and the private sector to enrol their NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers via the agency’s website.

“NERD is a federation initiative and the federal standard for higher education digitisation, designed to protect national security and prestige, ensure education integrity, and digitally enhance the economic value of Nigeria’s education for global competitiveness,” Galadima said.

She added that NERD’s mandate also includes administration of the National School Number (NSN), National Credential Number (NCN), and National Document Number, as well as hosting a National Database of Resource Persons for instant verification of genuine honours.

“The federal government has created the nation’s official one-stop shop for data consistency.

“Each system remains autonomous; NERD facilitates organic cooperation and coordination of decentralised systems in the national interest,” she explained.

Galadima further disclosed that the NERD Governing Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, includes the leadership of the NUC, NBTE, NCCE, National Library, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and committees of vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts across the country.

Nasarawa State has lost one of its elder statesmen, Senator Solomon Ewuga, who was also a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Sources close to the family in Akwanga and Nasarawa-Eggon confirmed his passing on Wednesday to Daily Trust.

He studied Political Science at the University of Ibadan between 1974 and 1977, before moving abroad for further studies in Mass Communication at Stockholm University, Sweden.

Ewuga’s political career was defined by resilience and ambition.

He first rose to prominence in 1999 when he challenged Abdullahi Adamu, who would later become the National Chairman of the APC, for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Though Adamu emerged victorious, Ewuga was selected as his deputy, and together they won the state’s governorship election.

Barely months into that new era of democracy, Governor Adamu nominated him as minister from Nasarawa, and in June 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory.

His stint in the federal cabinet lasted two years before he was removed in a reshuffle.

He made fresh bids for the Nasarawa Governorship in 2003 and 2007, eventually defecting from the PDP to the ANPP and later to the CPC.

In 2011, he joined forces with Tanko Al-Makura to unseat then-Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma. That year, while Al-Makura was swept into power as governor, Ewuga secured a Senate seat to represent Nasarawa North in the 7th Assembly.

A veteran journalist, he once served as managing director of the Nigerian Standard Newspaper.

He also suffered tragedies that left indelible marks: his daughter, a pilot, was killed in a plane crash in Cameroon, and he himself endured a brutal kidnapping that left him nearly immobile for years.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said any leader who fails to perform should be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.

Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.

Jonathan spoke at the 2025 edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue, held in Accra, Ghana.

In a statement on Saturday, Communications Officer at Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Mr Wealth Dickson Ominabo, quoted the former President as saying that where democracy fails to meet expectations, desperation can open the door to authoritarianism.

He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.

He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.

“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.

“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.

“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”

He also spoke on youth participation in governance, describing it as very encouraging, but emphasisied that for the youth to succeed in governance, they need the wisdom and experience of older people to guide them.

Also speaking, President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, alongside former Presidents of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and other leaders and policymakers called for a rethink of Africa’s democratic practices to ensure that it delivers peace, accountability, and sustainable development to the people.

Mahama said democracy would not survive unless Africans actively worked to protect and strengthen it.

“Democracy will not survive if we don’t work for it. We need a reset of democracy and governance to ensure accountability. Anybody who wants to serve must be accountable to the people. Our citizens are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities.”

“To renew democracy, we must strengthen institutions, deliver development, and educate our citizens. We must protect the media and civic space. A free press is democracy’s immune system. Democracy dies when citizens lose faith, when leaders abandon integrity, and when institutions succumb to capture. But democracy can be renewed when citizens rise to defend it.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the chairman of the event, said Africa’s current democratic practice is unsustainable and must be urgently reformed.

The democracy dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic, church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.

A disturbing video has shown Shamsideen Adio, a top official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), beating a dispatch rider to a pulp.

The incident which occurred in Tapa Street, Lagos Island, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, according to eyewitnesses, began when Adio's vehicle was allegedly obstructed by the rider.

The situation quickly escalated, with Adio popularly known as "Shamelon" joined by friends and colleagues, who reportedly battered the rider mercilessly.

A video clip shared on Facebook by Chris Nwandu revealed the brutal assault, sparking widespread outrage.

In the video seen by SaharaReporters, Adio was seen punching the poor rider repeatedly alongside his friend, while a crowd of onlookers watched without intervening.

At one point, Adio and his friends wrestled the rider to the ground, removing everything from his pockets and attempting to strip him naked.

SaharaReporters gathered that this incident is not Adio's first alleged offence.

Sources close to the matter claim he has a history of violence against riders, particularly those operating commercial tricycle popularly known as Marwa.

It was reported that just a few days prior to Wednesday's incident, Adio dealt deadly blows to another rider, leaving him hospitalised.

Nwandu who shared a video clip of the incident on his Facebook page, on Thursday, wrote, "We are reliably informed that he's notorious for beating Marwa operators to a pulp whenever they offend him...It was reported that few days ago he also dealt deadly blows to a Marwa operator who ended up in the general hospital."

Nwandu is demanding justice for the victim. "It's a cry for justice!!!! As we don't know who his next victim will be, the state authorities should immediately look into this case."

The incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of riders in Lagos, highlighting the need for accountability and protection.

Dispatch riders play a vital role in Lagos' logistics and transportation ecosystem, navigating the city's notorious traffic to deliver goods and services.

However, their work often puts them at risk of accidents, harassment, and violence. This incident highlights the need for greater support and protection for the workers.

The Lagos State government is urged to investigate this incident and take necessary actions to ensure justice is served.

The NURTW leadership may also need to address allegations of Adio's past behaviour and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, has warned that those urging former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election are deliberately plotting to plunge the country into crisis.

Speaking on Channels Television “Politics Today”, monitored in Abuja on Wednesday night, Wike said it was hypocritical for the same people who frustrated Jonathan’s bid in 2015 to suddenly be calling on him to return, despite his established status as an international statesman.

“Anybody saying Jonathan should return because he will only do one term is only looking for crisis. These are the same people who abandoned him in 2015. Why now? Jonathan has made a name for himself globally and they just want to drag him into unnecessary conflict,” Wike said.


The minister cautioned against attempts to destabilise the political balance by fronting Jonathan or any candidate from the South under the guise of a “one-term presidency,” describing such moves as insincere.

On President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Wike admitted the country was passing through difficult times but insisted that the president had taken tough but necessary decisions to reposition the economy.

“Yes, there is hardship. I agree. But no one can deny that this government is making efforts to improve things. I see the projects in Abuja daily; they are evidence that something is happening,” he stressed.

Wike also dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent warnings of a looming revolution over hunger and poverty, accusing him of hypocrisy.

“Atiku was vice president for eight years. Why didn’t he lay the foundation to prevent hunger then? Now he keeps talking about hunger and revolution. For me, I don’t even bother reading what he says, because there is no truth in it,” Wike declared.

The FCT minister maintained that while Nigerians must be patient with the Tinubu administration, opposition leaders should not exploit current economic challenges for political gains.

The Naira yesterday depreciated to N1,537 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,535 per dollar on Wednesday.

Likewise the Naira depreciated to N1,498 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the exchange rate for the naira rose to N1,498 per dollar from N1,485.5 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating N12.5 depreciation for the naira.

Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate narrowed to N39 per dollar from N49.95 per dollar on Tuesday.