₦airaland Forum

•Say, having a credible election in 2027 a mirage
•INEC failed to improve its performance in off-cycle elections
•Call for urgent critical reforms before next election
•There must be consequence for electoral fraud

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu was part of the election observers who monitored the recent general election in Ghana which was widely celebrated for its transparency, fairness and credibility.

There was no report of Ghana’s electoral commission staff manipulating the results of the election. The security personnel were not seen snatching ballot boxes. And there was no glitch whatsoever in the electoral transmission of election results.

The experience in Ghana was a far cry from what happened in Nigeria during the 2023 elections. Nigerians were therefore scandalised and expressed shock when INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu came back home and attributed Ghana’s success at the poll to what they learnt from Nigeria.

Nigerians have passed a vote of no confidence on INEC to emulate Ghana’s transparency. They believed that INEC as it is today is incapable of conducting a seamless and credible election in Nigeria in 2027. They said that the electoral umpire has failed to improve on its performance in off-cycle elections that took place in Edo and Ondo and can therefore not be trusted to conduct a free and fair poll. They called for urgent critical reforms that must be put in place before 2027 and suggested how to make INEC free from the control and influence of politicians.

INEC needs true independence to shield it from manipulations —Prof Okaba

President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba said: “Judging by their recent performance, the Ghanaian Electoral Commission offers a near perfect example and model of a truly dependable, independent and efficient electoral body that Nigeria must emulate, if this nation sincerely desires to take the issues of good governance and development seriously.

For the INEC to conduct a credible and seamless election in 2027, Nigeria must undertake some urgent and critical reforms that would significantly enhance the credibility, fairness, integrity and general acceptability of its electoral system.

These include: Securing INEC’s true independence to shield it from undue political manipulation; Overhauling electoral laws to plug loopholes and ensure transparency; Ensure enforceability of these laws especially as they relate to the mandatory use of BVAS; Immediate transmission of results to the INEC portal after any vote is cast; Fostering internal democracy within political parties to prevent the imposition of candidates; Intensifying voter education and awareness initiatives and Harnessing technology to modernize voter registration, accreditation, and result transmission. We should be working towards total electronic voting and drastic reduction of the number of political parties to a manageable size to reduce operational cost and ensure greater effectiveness.

We need to redefine the role of security agencies during our elections in a manner that they should not be a deciding factor in any election. A special Election Offences Tribunal should be set up to promptly deal with the culprits. However, we must note that the problem of Nigeria is not the lack of laws but purely the lack of the political will and ethical determination to enforce our laws”.

There must be consequence against electoral offenders — Gbemre

Zik Gbemre, Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition posited: “The results from recent off season governorship elections in Edo and Ondo tell you we are not ready yet and we still have a long walk to credible elections.

The feedback from both exercises in which the nation mobilised the entire machinery of INEC and massive security deployment for the elections further affirmed that the problem with our election is not for lack of reforms or adequate laws.

The real challenge is the impunity to compromise the process and rules because the system shies away from enforcing consequence action against election offenders. INEC tried to live up to its commitment to start transmitting results from the field through its Results Viewing Portal, ‘IREV’ during the Edo and Ondo guber polls.

But the results it fed into the IREV, how credible were they? Many people as well as election observer groups affirmed that vote buying was rampant and even alleged that INEC officials in some instances manipulated the results before uploading into IREV. And all the compromises, stealing of materials, violence during campaigns or voting day, falsifying results, security aiding and abetting, all attract punishment, but how many people were punished to deter others from undermining the rule of law.

Stakeholders should respect the laws we have in the electoral process and offenders should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

Having a credible election in 2027 is a mirage — Kuejubola

A public commentator, Mr. Emmanuel Kuejubola said: “INEC does not have the will power and capacity to conduct free and credible elections because there is always this interference from the powers that be who believe that it is the destiny of some persons to determine the fate of others across the country and there is too much interference from the executive. All the electoral guidelines and the law guiding the conduct of the election are all good but the problem is the implementation. At the moment, it is near impossible for the executive not to interfere with the process. It is not just INEC, the security apparatus of the country is always tilted towards pleasing those who determine the fate of this country.

However, if Nigerians are determined to have free and credible elections, Nigerians must speak with one voice irrespective of who is contesting, his tribe or religion. It must be a national orientation that it is our desire to have credible elections”.

Political elite denied the electoral umpire autonomy since 1999 —Adewale

A public analyst and former Ondo state SDP chairman – Hon Stephen Adewale said, “INEC’s ability to conduct a seamless and credible election in 2027 is uncertain, given its challenges in the 2023 general elections. Despite efforts to review the Electoral Act, malpractices and electoral disputes marred the process. INEC has also failed to improve its performance in the series of off-cycle elections that have since taken place in Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, and Ondo.

However, there is still time for INEC to take the proper steps to ensure that it conducts a credible election in 2027, but achieving a credible election is not the sole responsibility of INEC. All hands must be on deck to ensure that INEC organises an election that Nigerians will be proud of. First, the presidency has to ensure that INEC enjoys autonomy and independence, which the political elite has denied the electoral umpire since 1999. This administrative independence will help reduce political interference. In a country where vote-buying has become the order of the day, the security operatives who are notorious for tacitly or openly supporting the ruling party must desist if we want to conduct elections that would not be marred by vote-buying.

“Security at polling units during voting and counting must be enhanced to prevent electoral malpractices. Also, internal democracy must be entrenched in the various political parties and to ensure political parties conduct free and fair primaries to avoid disputes and litigation. The Electoral Act should also be amended to provide clear procedures for party primaries, voter registration, and election dispute resolution which will go a long way in ensuring we have credible elections in Nigeria.

“Lastly, leveraging technology to enhance voter registration, accreditation, and result transmission is imperative if INEC wants to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.

Nigeria must learn from Ghana —Adekunle Ayoola, Nigeria Diaspora Europe

“As Nigeria gears up for the 2027 general elections, the question of whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can conduct a seamless and credible election looms large. Recent elections in Ghana have set a benchmark for electoral integrity in the region, raising expectations for Nigeria’s electoral body.

However, the challenges faced by INEC, including political influence and operational inefficiencies, necessitate a critical examination of its current state and the reforms required to enhance its credibility. INEC has made strides in improving the electoral process in Nigeria, particularly with the introduction of technology in voter registration and results transmission.

However, lingering issues such as allegations of bias, lack of transparency, and susceptibility to political pressure continue to undermine public confidence in the commission. The question remains: can INEC, in its present form, replicate the success of Ghana’s electoral system in 2027? Ghana’s recent election has been lauded for its transparency and fairness, largely attributed to the independence of its electoral commission.

INEC must take cues from Ghana’s approach, which includes a well-defined legal framework, robust stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to impartiality. These elements have fostered trust among the electorate and political parties alike, resulting in peaceful transitions of power. To ensure that INEC conducts credible elections in 2027, several reforms are essential: INEC must be insulated from political interference.

This can be achieved by establishing a clear, transparent process for appointing commissioners that involve civil society and stakeholders, thereby reducing the influence of political parties; Implementing measures such as open data initiatives, where election-related information is made publicly accessible, can help build trust. Regular audits of the electoral process and results can further enhance transparency; Investing in the training and development of INEC staff is crucial.

This includes not only technical training on electoral processes but also education on ethical standards and the importance of impartiality; INEC should actively involve civil society organizations in the electoral process. Their participation can provide oversight and ensure that the commission remains accountable to the public; Continued investment in technology for voter registration, results transmission, and monitoring can help minimize human error and increase efficiency.

A robust electronic voting system, similar to Ghana’s, could also enhance the credibility of the electoral process; Educating the electorate about their rights and the electoral process can empower citizens to demand accountability from INEC and political parties. By learning from the successes of Ghana and implementing necessary reforms, Nigeria can pave the way for a more transparent and trustworthy electoral process.

The journey towards electoral integrity requires collective effort from all stakeholders, including the government, political parties, civil society, and the electorate. Only through these concerted efforts can Nigeria hope to achieve a seamless and credible election.

INEC can’t guarantee free, fair, seamless poll —— Comrade Ashaye Wasiu, United Action for Democracy (UAD), Ogun State

“The Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC), can never guarantee a free, fair and seamless election as it is presently constituted, except the appointments and selection processes of the INEC Chairman, and the RECs are made open and competitive. Selection processes must be handled by professional and credible organizations devoid of political parties and government influence. Funding of INEC must come directly from the federation accounts while the commission must present an annual budget at a roundtable discussion before approval. Government must also collaborate with CSOs, NGOs, pro-democracy activists, media, and other stakeholders on genuine mobilizations for electoral processes, public awareness campaigns on education of the masses of their rights and demand for accountability from INEC and the political parties.

INEC can conduct credible polls but… Akene
For the chairman of Centre for Environmental Preservation & Development, CEPAD, Surv Furoebi Akene, he said: “It is not that INEC can not conduct free, fair and credible elections, but the leadership of the institution, the politicians, the judiciary and the security agencies are the major problems. Financial power is now the determinant factor which is used to compromise the electoral umpire, the judiciary and the security. Remember, officials purportedly take oath of allegiance to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but in the actual sense, the oath of allegiance is to the President, or anybody with strong financial strength.”

INEC should be determined to give Nigerians credible elections —Tejiri

On his part, Charles Tejiri, an activist, said it may be relatively difficult to have a credible election in Nigeria due to ethnic, religious and several other factors but that Nigerians should continue to demand it. Although I don’t see how there can be a credible election in the country but we should still keep hope alive with suggestions.

The INEC boss should be determined to give Nigerians credible elections in the first instance. But when an INEC boss comes in with the mindset that he or she is out to appease politicians we can never get a positive result. The same should go for those serving as Resident Electoral Commissioners. The entire system is rotten with corruption everywhere, so I don’t see how there can be credible elections from the electoral body. But we will continue to demand it. The literacy level is another problem militating against credible elections. Most of the voters are not enlightened enough to know the weight and power of their votes, so they allow ethnic and religious sentiments to guide voting patterns.”

Nigeria can have more credible election than Ghana — Akpan

Saviour Akpan, Executive Director, COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace Building Nigeria, asserted that: “INEC can conduct a more credible election in Nigeria than what was obtained recently in Ghana if Nigerian citizens want that to happen. Credibility is a product of responsible and patriotic citizenship. If we will take our suffering seriously and live by the rules and speak truth to power no matter who is involved, I believe we can do better and even become the best.

The needed reforms in Nigeria today must start from attitudinal changes. We must be conscious of our responsibilities and be committed to the ideals of participatory democracy which is respect for the rule of law and fundamental freedom.”

Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, former Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Ekiti state
“INEC’s ability to conduct a seamless and credible election in 2027 is uncertain, given its current structure and challenges. While INEC has made efforts to improve the electoral process, it still faces significant obstacles, including political interference and inadequate funding to be free from the control and influence of politicians. Several reforms are necessary, INEC should be granted financial autonomy to reduce its dependence on the executive arm of government. This would enable the commission to make independent decisions without any fear.

The appointment process for INEC commissioners should be made more independent and transparent to reduce political interference. The Electoral Act should be strengthened to provide clearer guidelines and penalties for electoral offenders .

“INEC should continue to improve its voter registration process and election technology to reduce the risk of electoral manipulation, They should copy from Ghana such an inclusive drive by adopting voting by proxy for the sick, the diaspora voting, People living with disabilities, PLWD, and possibly early voting. These reforms would help to strengthen INEC’s independence and credibility, enabling it to conduct more seamless and credible elections in the future elections”.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has blamed the President Bola Tinubu administration for the alleged hack of the website of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Atiku said the unprecedented claim “adds up to the bad tidings that have characterized the President Bola Tinubu administration.”


On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Statistics said approximately 614,937 Nigerians were murdered in one year.

The report titled, The Crime Experienced and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) 2024 was based on surveys conducted between May 2023 to April 2024.


The report disclosed that 2,235,954 Nigerians were kidnapped nationwide while N2.2trn was paid as ransom, an average of N2.7m per incident.

Meanwhile, Atiku in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja stressed on the fidelity of data and statistics for development purposes.

Atiku said, “The unprecedented claim that the website of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has been hacked is an unpleasant development that adds up to the bad tidings that have characterized the President Bola Tinubu administration.

“The development, which is coming on the heels of the recent data published on the website of the NBS on CESPS, underscores the credibility crisis of the current administration.


“Moreover, the coincidence of this so-called hack coming only shortly after the release of damning stats on security is suspicious. We may be tempted to assume that every stats released by the Bureau is an outcome of a hack!”

He said these are strange times in Nigeria, and it is hoped that the situation at hand is not an underhand attempt to pigeonhole the integrity of data majorly used for planning and development and research purposes.

Femi Adesina, the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has described him as a friend of the masses which underscored many of his policies and decisions while in government.

Adesina said such considerations were responsible for his decision not to remove fuel subsidies as Nigeria’s president.

He described him as ‘Ore Mekunu’, a Yoruba phrase for a friend of the poor adding that he ‘still draws the people like magnets even in retirement’.

Adesina who captured the several meetings the former president held with his cabinet and other agencies of government, said he refused to take decisions that would further impoverish the masses even when aware that some corrupt leaders are benefiting.

“The Big Elephant in the room (was the) removal of fuel subsidy. Did you think the Government didn’t know that the money guzzling monster had to be slain? It knew.


“But who ensured that subsidies remained as long as it did? Buhari. And why? The people, the ordinary people. His argument was always simple.

“When oil sold for at least $100 per barrel in the international market, rising even to as high as $140 per barrel, what did the ordinary people gain? Nothing! So why should they be the ones to bear the brunt when oil prices fall?”, Adesina stated.

The former presidential aide said even though Buhari may share the conviction to remove subsidies at the end of his administration like the presidential candidate then, “he didn’t want to do something that would throw society into a tailspin for the sake of the ordinary people”.

Almost two years into retirement, Adesina said people still continue to mill around him because of his disposition to the poor.

For that reason the Nigerian Police @PoliceNG has banned the following from now henceforth, nationwide.

(1) Arbitrary arrest and Detention.

(2) Unnecessary arrest and Detention of Youths.

(3) Collection of Phones, and checking of phones at checking points.

In their own words, they said all the listed evils being perpetrated by the police led to the 2020 #EndSars protest.

Bloggers, @PIDOMNIGERIA don feed una document, after a long break.

Nigeria’s annual inflation rate rose to 34.60 per cent in November from 33.88 per cent in October, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday.

This marks a continuation of the upward trend observed from September, when the nation recorded a reversal of a two-month decline.

The statistics office said the November 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.72 per cent points compared to the October 2024 headline inflation rate.

On a year-on-year basis, the NBS said the headline inflation rate was 6.40 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in November 2023 (28.20 per cent).


“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in November 2024 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., November 2023).


“Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in November 2024 was 2.638 per cent, which was 0.002 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in October 2024 (2.640 per cent),” it said.

This, it said, means that in November 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is slightly lower than the rate of increase in the average price level in October 2024.

According to the report, the Food inflation rate in November 2024 was 39.93 per cent on a year-on-year basis, 7.08 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in November 2023 (32.84 per cent).

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports that it invited former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race on its platform.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, denied the reports in an interview with BBC Hausa, saying the party did not issue its presidential ticket to Jonathan.

He said, “The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest the 2027 presidential election is not true.

“What happened is this: I had an interview with a journalist where we discussed some issues. But in the course of the interview, he mentioned President Jonathan, asking about our opinion of him, because there are reports that he is being urged to run for the presidency.

“I responded by saying that he (Jonathan) is eligible to contest the election, because he is a Nigerian and has the right to do that by the provision of the law, and he still has one more term left. So, there is nothing wrong about him contesting the presidential election because he is eligible in the face of the law.”

He also added that PDP had done enough for Jonathan and as a member of their party, there was no way they would woo him.

Abdullahi, who explained that they were yet to discuss the issue with Jonathan, said they have 12 governors and many other prominent politicians who are eligible and competent to contest the presidential election.

“It wasn’t long ago that his wife said nothing would make her husband run for the presidency, that he didn’t leave behind or forget anything in the Villa for people to think that he’d come back to contest the position again. How then can we consider him. Ticket is given to someone who has shown interest.”

Manufacturers, distributors and retailers may have thrown caution in the wind when it comes to the ban on alcoholic beverages in a sachet, small volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml, as the products that should have been out of stock could be seen everywhere and readily available to consumers.

Despite the ban on the sachet, pet bottles of 200ml and below of the products and the 2018 agreement signed by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, those in the production and distribution value chain of these products are still having a filled day.

Checks by our correspondent in some parts of Lagos show that retailers of the products and consumers were not bothered about the ban as the banned alcohol sachets and PET bottles were on full display at various parks and shops with the vendors attending to consumers of the products.

While vendors, retailers and some consumers at parks visited claimed they were aware of the ban, they insisted that with the current clampdown on the sale and distribution of the products, they don’t display it openly anymore and that customers only come to ask for it discreetly.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control had on February 1, 2024, begun the enforcement of the ban after the agency stopped the registration of alcoholic beverages in sachet and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml in January 2022.

The halt in registration of the product followed the recommendation of a committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and the industry stakeholders represented by the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers, Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, in December 2018.

As a result of the decision reached at the end of the committee meeting, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce the production by five per cent with effect from January 31, 2022, while ensuring the product is completely phased out in the country by January 31, 2024.

NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in February 2024, during a press conference, said the agency had commenced the enforcement of the ban on the importation, manufacturing, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.

“As of January 31, 2024, there is no alcoholic beverage in these categories that are registered by NAFDAC. I also want to inform you that the agency has started enforcement actions to enforce the implementation of this policy. The window period given to manufacturers by NAFDAC to sell off all alcoholic drinks in this category elapsed on January 31, 2024.

“To this end on the first day, after the expiration of the window period, the agency commenced nationwide enforcement actions on February 1, 2024 to enforce the implementation of the new policy,” she said.

She lamented that despite the ban, some manufacturers were still producing the products. “This situation is of course not acceptable, and the agency views this as flagrant disobedience to the laws of Nigeria. NAFDAC views this matter seriously and will engage all statutory means, which may include prosecution, to deal with the matter.

“I want to use this medium to ask all holders of alcohol in sachets, PET and glass bottles, empty sachets, PET bottles, empty glass bottles, and other packaging materials of these banned products to immediately report to the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC for hand-over of same to NAFDAC for destruction, to prevent sterner measures including prosecution,” she warned.

Meanwhile, the agency had during the week seized the banned alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and pet bottles below 200ml in Delta and Imo States respectively.

The agency’s enforcement team seized the banned products at the Asaba Ogbeogonogo Modern Market and the Midwifery Market, Okpanam in Oshimili Local Government Area of the state.


Some of the alcoholic beverages confiscated include Orijin Bitters, Action Bitters, Ayakaya, Ashanti Bitters, Odogwu Bitters, AVE Bitters and Best Dry Gin. Others are Gin Calidon’s Captain Jack, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps, Squadron and De Rock.

In Imo, no fewer than 40 cartons of the banned products were seized by the enforcement team which visited spots in Owerri and its environs, including the popular Douglas and Amakohia markets, Akwakuma, MCC and Tetlow roads, and Orji.

However, when our correspondent visited major parks in Berger, Ogba and Ketu axis of Lagos on Thursday morning, several sellers of the banned products were seen openly displaying the products with their customers right behind them on a chair provided by the retailers.

The majority of the customers, as observed, were motor park workers, including members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, with many holding sticks of cigarettes, and cannabis, alongside the sachet and pet bottle of alcoholic drinks, among others.

When approached, a seller of the banned sachet alcohol claimed that she was aware of the ban as some task force had been coming to confiscate her products, adding that they only do brisk business during the early hours.

We bail confiscated banned products with N50,000

The seller, who craved anonymity, said since the announcement of the ban, sales of the product have dropped, adding that whenever the banned products are confiscated by the said task force, they bail it in the region of N30,000 to N50,000.

“The ban announcement has destabilised the business. I, and others selling around are aware of the ban but since it is popular and easy to buy, we continue to sell. I covered the market with a sack because of the task force officials who came here on a coaster bus to seize our markets. Once they seize it, we pay N30,000 to N50,000 to bail the market, but look at my market (pointing to the sachet of alcoholic drinks), is this in total up to N50,000,” the woman in her mid-50s told our correspondent.


When quizzed about the identity of the task force officials, she said, “They come with unbranded coaster buses but we know them once they are here.”

Speaking further, she revealed that she had ventured into other businesses, adding that it was painful that the alcoholic beverage business she inherited from her mother had been disrupted by the ban.

“I have been doing the business for over 3o years because I inherited it from my mother. It is the profits from the business I used to fund my children’s education and other bills. It is disheartening that the ban has affected the business because we can’t operate as before and the pricing too has changed. Since one sachet is now N100, the profit margin isn’t great anymore and that is why I have started selling socks, handkerchiefs, and other stationery items to make ends meet,” she added.

Buyers still demanding

Another seller in the Ketu area of Lagos, who was reluctant to talk over fears that our correspondent may be working with the unnamed task force, explained that while the products had been banned, it was still demanded by the customers.

The lady, identified simply as Zahara, said task force officials recently seized the banned products in the area, but they were yet to visit her surroundings. “I heard the product has been banned but my customers are still buying it and we have to be in business.

“The customers are also aware that the sachet products have been banned but since it is affordable for many, they still demand it,” the lady in her late 20s said.

‘Govt not serious about ban

Meanwhile, a NURTW member, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the government was not serious about the ban.

He said though he was aware of the ban, there was still a lot of advertisement of the products on radio and television, adding rather than allowing airtime for the advertisement of the banned products, the citizens should be sensitised more.

“I know ‘afenuja’ (street name for sachet alcohol) has been banned but we still hear its advertisement daily. So, if the authorities are serious about the ban, there won’t be such advertisements,” he said.

He added, “The street sale of it is not like it used to be. The sellers now sell it discreetly and consumers also know how to get it from the sellers. It is not openly displayed even in parks anymore. I think it is popular and people find it difficult to do away with the sachet alcohol because it is affordable and can be consumed at once.”

Clampdown in Lagos soon – NAFDAC

Meanwhile, NAFDAC has vowed to begin total enforcement in Lagos, explaining that it was surprised that those in the product value chain are finding it hard to do away with the product.

The agency also revealed that it had stopped approving the products in the banned packages, warning consumers that they may be consuming substandard alcohol with their continued patronage of sachet and pet bottles alcoholic products.

Speaking to PUNCH Healthwise, NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, described the sachet and PET bottle alcohol in the banned categories that were available in markets across the country as “illegal”, while vowing that the agency’s officials would soon commence strict enforcement in Lagos.

On why the enforcement has not been felt in Lagos as being reported in other states, Akintola said, “The ban affects the entire country and its enforcement is an exercise that would go round. It is already going round and our officers are also in Lagos and will be coming out soon. The presence of our officials will soon be felt in Lagos on the enforcement.”

When asked if there is a hidden agreement between the agency and the producers of the product about continued production and delayed enforcement of the ban in Lagos, the media consultant maintained that there was no such agreement anywhere.

He said, “No, the agency is not a party to any backdoor agreement with anybody for an extended period for the phase out of the banned products. This policy is the policy of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC is just an enforcement agency of the policy. Our mandate is to control these products and ensure compliance

“You will discover that these products are everywhere and over five years ago when the government announced the ban, the agency agreed with the distillers till early 2024 that at least, after five years they would have sold out those products that had been banned and that five years ended in February 2024. NAFDAC has never approved any products in the banned packages since five years ago. So, anyone you see in the market today is illegal because it is not approved by the agency.


“The people are just being sentimental about it by citing the economic situation and the need to get affordable drinks, but what about their health concerns and the mandate of the agency to ensure Nigerians consume products that meet global standards? There are other products of the same brands that are allowed, so I don’t know why they are making it look like the products are being banned outright. It is just the sachets and pet bottles below the 200ml that are banned and, surprisingly, they are finding it difficult to do away with the products in these ranges.

“So, it is not as if we have completely jettisoned the idea of enforcement in Lagos, if you haven’t seen the presence of our officers in Lagos markets and shops, I am sure they will be there soon for enforcement exercises across the state.”

The Federal Government has called the bluff of the President-elect of the United States of America, Donald Trump, after he threatened to sanction countries that embraced BRICS.

In October, Nigeria emerged as a partner country of BRICS. This is a move towards becoming a full member in the next two years.

BRICS, originally an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanded in 2010 to include South Africa.

The group added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members, all of whom attended this year’s summit in Kazan, Russia, as full participants.


The alliance has been moving towards the development of a new currency to challenge the dominance of the US dollar in global trade. This effort, often referred to as the ‘BRICS currency project’ is not expected to be implemented until 2025.

Trump had, in a tweet, threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs on countries in the group if they created a new currency to rival the US dollar.

“The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the dollar while we stand by and watch is over. We require a commitment from these countries that they will neither create a new BRICS currency, nor back any other currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100 per cent tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. economy,” Trump posted on Truth Social.


Reacting, a source in the presidency who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said Nigeria did not feel threatened by Trump’s outburst.

The source said, “Nigeria is a sovereign nation that can decide its alliances.”

Also speaking on the matter, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Special Assistant on Media Communication and Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said Nigeria would continue to push for membership of international bodies to advance its economy, adding that the country reserved the right to align with any country it deemed fit.

“Nigeria continues to explore and advocate the democratisation of global institutions including the United Nations Security Council and G20, ultimately by becoming a member state.

“Nigeria is a country in a multipolar world and we have a history of non-alignment. Our strategic autonomy is sacrosanct,” Abdulkadir said.

Commenting on the issue, a retired career diplomat, Sola Abolurin, urged Nigeria to dismiss Trump’s outburst, describing it as an empty threat.

Abolurin said, “Trump has threatened so many countries, not only BRICS. He threatened Canada and China, so Nigeria should not allow any country to dictate for it. It will pay Nigeria more to be a member of BRICS.



“Russia has been surviving without the support of America and many other Western countries. When the Russia-Ukraine war started, Russia decided to do away with all the major currencies and started trading its goods in ruble and nothing has happened.”

The diplomat said Trump was not vast in international relations.

“I see Trump’s threat as empty; he is somebody who is by nature very dictatorial. He thinks he can bully everybody but the BRICS countries should not allow themselves to be bullied by Trump or America.

“If the BRICS feels they are going to have their currency to trade, it is all well and good, and if Nigeria decides to join BRICS, it will be better for it because BRICS has major economies and Trump’s threat will not have any effect at all on Nigeria if the country decides to be part of BRICS.

“If Trump carries out his threat, it is also going to have a ripple effect on the American economy because international relations is reciprocatory and other countries will also do the same for America,” Abolutin said.

A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, however, called for caution, urging Nigeria to prioritise its national interests over aligning with global power blocs.

“If Nigeria intends to challenge the dollarisation of the global economy, it must ask itself critical questions: Is this genuinely in Nigeria’s national interest? Or is it aligning with a foreign agenda?” Farounbi stated.


He tasked the Nigerian government to focus on national interest and ensure that its decisions on international matters were borne out of patriotism.

Farounbi said, “It is assumed that BRICS nations are acting in their national interests. However, Nigeria must ensure that it is truly prioritising its national interests and not serving those of another power.

“For Nigeria, such an alliance raises important concerns. How does this benefit an economy reliant on crude oil, one that produces little, consumes heavily, and struggles with basic infrastructure? How does it address the country’s lack of adequate electricity, potable water, roads, schools, and job opportunities?

“Nigeria must focus on its own national interests. As the late Obafemi Awolowo said in 1979, ‘If I become president of Nigeria, I would not travel out of the country for four years because Nigeria’s problems are right here.’”

He warned that if Nigeria involved itself in a global struggle it did not fully understand, it risked becoming a victim like Italy during World War II.

Ahead of future elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recommended using computer-generated voting slips for those without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during the quarterly consultative meeting with Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs), INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said PVCs should no longer be the sole requirement for voting, especially with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Yakubu said the commission, having released its 524-page main report on the 2023 general election, has consulted widely with its officials and externally with all major stakeholders.

He said with the conclusion of five major off-cycle governorship elections and nine out of 21 bye-elections since the 2023 General Election, this is the most appropriate time for INEC to commence the implementation of recommendations arising from her review of the General Election.

Yakubu disclosed that from the internal and external engagements, the Commission has identified 142 recommendations dealing with the general state of preparedness, voter management, voter education and public communication, political parties and candidate management, electoral operations, and logistics management.

Others are election officials and personnel, partnership and collaboration, monitoring and supervision, election technology, voting and result management, election security, electoral offences, and the electoral legal framework.

He said out of the 142 recommendations, 86 require administrative action by the Commission.

“This is followed by 48 recommendations that require action by a variety of stakeholders, including security agencies, mobile network operators, statutory bodies, political parties, transport unions, civil society organisations, and the media.

“On the legal review, there are eight recommendations that require legislative actions by the National Assembly. Very soon, the Commission will make a presentation to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters as they continue to deliberate on electoral reform.

“Among the major highlights of the Commission’s recommendations is the imperative of legal clarity in result management with regard to manual transfer versus the electronic transmission of results.

“The Commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed.

“Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation. This will not only save costs; it will also eliminate the issues around the collection of PVCs and the diabolical practice of buying up the cards from voters in order to disenfranchise them.

Early voting for journalists and other essential workers.

“The review report also contains recommendations on early/special voting for the millions of Nigerians who do not vote at the moment on account of the roles they play during elections, such as INEC officials, security personnel, ad hoc staff, observers, and journalists who are deployed outside the places where they registered to vote.

“There are also recommendations in support of diaspora voting, the unbundling of the Commission with the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal, and a separate agency to handle the registration and regulation of political parties. Similarly, the Commission will step up action on voter access and distribution to polling units,” he added.

The INEC Chairman also disclosed that as a matter of urgency, the Commission intends to develop protocols for the cleaning up of the voters’ register in collaboration with other agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Population Commission (NPC).

He said other areas of reform include advocacy for affirmative action for greater participation of under-represented groups and more robust voter education and public communication to combat fake news and misinformation.

“Furthermore, the Commission intends to review the mechanisms for a more effective implementation of agreements on logistics with the transport unions and other service providers by consolidating on the recent experience with early deployment and commencement of elections in the recent Ondo State Governorship election,” Yakubu added.

The Special Adviser on Public Communications and Media to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr Daniel Bwala, has declared that the president’s team will be fully prepared for the 2027 general elections.

Bwala emphasised that President Tinubu remains undistracted by discussions about the next election cycle, noting that the focus is currently on fulfilling campaign promises.


Speaking to journalists at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, Bwala said the administration is dedicated to governance and improving the lives of Nigerians.


“The time for politicking is not yet here, and when that time comes, we will be ready for everyone,” Bwala stated.

He added that Tinubu’s accomplishments would naturally secure support for a second term.

“The president’s agenda, which is yielding positive results, will naturally endear Nigerians to vote for him again. He is constitutionally more than qualified to contest for a second term.

“And, God willing, if he has the life and health, we hope he will pursue his mandate as provided by the Constitution,” he said.

Bwala highlighted Tinubu’s commitment to national progress, describing the president’s efforts as transformative.


Responding to concerns about the APC’s possible unease following the ruling party’s defeat in the recently concluded presidential election in Ghana, Bwala dismissed such fears, asserting that Nigeria is different.

“That cannot happen here because Nigerians have seen the progress being made under President Tinubu’s leadership,” he said.

The exchange rate between the naira and dollar slid back to around N1,745/$1 on the parallel market a sharp reversal from the sub N1,600 levels recorded at the end of last week.

An earlier article by Nairametrics quoted the exchange rate at around N1,685/$1, however quotes quickly depreciated as business activities resumed fully.

Checks by Nairametrics as of 10am Wednesday December 11 show several rates above the N1,700/$1 mark suggesting that the gains seen last week may have been a “dead cat bounce” a market terminology for temporary gains.

Residents of Unguwar Yargaladima in Zamfara State have disputed claims by the Police that the bomb explosions along the Gusau-Dansadau road was carried out by Lakurawa terrorists.

The two explosions, which occurred on different occasions, claimed several lives.

A resident of the area, Mallam Ibrahim Usman, narrated that the Police’s claim was wrong.


He attributed the attack to a local bandit kingpin, Dogo Gide.

Usman told journalists in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, that the Police do not want to come out and tell the whole world the truth.

He said Gide and his gang members have been targeting Unguwar Yargaladima in retaliation for the recent killing of a bandit kingpin, Sani Black, by the villagers.


“This attack has nothing to do with Lakurawa terrorists,” Mohammed said in a phone interview.

“It was planned perfectly by Dogo Gide’s gang. They have been planning to attack the community for a long time, but failed because we were prepared.

“This time, they planted explosives on the road after learning that security personnel were on their way to protect us.”


According to him, Lakurawa terrorists, who he said are foreigners from Niger Republic and Mali, are different from the Fulani bandits operating in Zamfara State.

“These bandits belong to the late Buharin Daji’s group, now led by Dogo Gide. They’re locals, unlike the Lakurawa group mentioned by the Police.”

As Christmas approaches, many Nigerians are gearing up to travel back to their respective states or visit loved ones across various Nigerian states to celebrate the holiday season.

Christmas is a time for celebration, and meals like jollof rice, chicken, salad, and moin-moin are essential parts of the season.

However, the rising cost of living and increasing gas prices have made holiday cooking more expensive in some Nigerian states.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the cost of refilling cooking gas cylinders has gone up significantly in the past year.

The price of a 5kg cylinder increased by 51.58% between October 2023 and October 2024. A 12.5kg cylinder saw an even larger rise, going up by 58.68% in the same period.

Here are the 10 most expensive Nigerian states to spend Christmas based on the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas cylinder:

Rivers State – N17,895.00
Rivers has the highest gas prices, with residents paying N17,895.00 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder. This makes it the most expensive state for holiday cooking.

Osun State – N17,739.06
Osun follows closely, with an average price of N17,739.06. Cooking gas costs here add significantly to holiday expenses.

Benue State – N17,731.25
In Benue, refilling a 12.5kg cylinder costs about N17,731.25. The state also has high prices for smaller gas cylinders, making cooking more expensive for many families.

Cross River State – N17,563.89
Cross River residents pay N17,563.89 for a 12.5kg refill. This adds to the cost of celebrating in a state known for its lively Christmas events.

Bauchi State – N17,500.00
Bauchi is the most expensive northern state on this list, with gas prices at N17,500.00.

Sokoto State – N17,480.00
In Sokoto, the cost of a 12.5kg cylinder is N17,480.00. This makes it one of the priciest states for holiday preparations.

Ogun State – N17,392.86
Ogun residents pay about N17,392.86 for a 12.5kg gas refill, making cooking during Christmas costly in this South-Western state.

Imo State – N17,371.91
Imo has an average gas price of N17,371.91 for a 12.5kg refill. This adds to the expenses for families hosting Christmas gatherings.

Edo State – N17,359.38
In Edo, residents pay N17,359.38 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder. This makes holiday cooking more expensive in this South-South state.

Ebonyi State – N17,196.43
Ebonyi rounds out the list, with residents spending N17,196.43 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder.