₦airaland Forum

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his commitment to replicate China’s infrastructure in Nigeria, following his visit to China.

He made this known during a meeting with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community in Beijing.

Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement, that his discussion with President Xi Jinping and participation at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy, and mining.

He emphasised the need for innovative teaching methods and a flourishing business environment.

President Tinubu urged Nigerians in China to be good ambassadors and represent Nigeria positively.

He stressed the importance of discipline and commitment to national service, citing China’s disciplined society as an example.

“I cannot tell you more, except from the embassy, that China is a disciplined society and we have to be disciplined too. Without discipline and commitment, we cannot build a nation that is respected everywhere in the world.

“We must exploit our diversity and be ready to do everything required of us within the laws of the communities that we live in and reflect a good image of our country,” the President said.

The President assured Nigerians in Diaspora that the Bank of Industry was prepared to collaborate with them to leverage opportunities in Nigeria.

He acknowledged the impact of investments in China’s economy and the need for bold decisions to drive Nigeria’s prosperity.

Dr Oche Barnabas, President of NIDO China, commended President Tinubu for strengthening Nigeria-China relations.

He requested the President’s assistance in advocating for Nigeria to be officially recognised as a native English-speaking nation, which would open up job and educational opportunities for Nigerians in China.

The Chairman of NIDO China pledged the organisation’s continued support for President Tinubu’s administration and efforts to elevate Nigeria’s global standing.

Fuel Price Hike Total Madness, No Sane Person Will Vote Tinubu In 2027 – Islamic scholar

Popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Aliyu Ibrahim has expressed sadness over the current economic reality occasioned by the increase in the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise called petrol.

DAILY POST recalls that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, on Tuesday increased fuel price from N617 per litre to N897.

The development has been causing chaos across the country with transportation fares and prices of goods and services skyrocketing.

In a viral video, the Islamic scholar, who lamented the situation, described the hike as madness.

According to him, the development will cost President Bola Tinubu his re-election bid in 2027, stating that no sane person would support his re-election.

He said, “The hike in PMS price is a total madness, whoever advised the president to do this is mad.

“And this is yet another sign that Tinubu would lose his reelection bid, because no sane person would vote for those who took the PMS price from N180 – N1,000”.

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SOURCE




Donald Rukare
President, Ugandan Olympic Committee





Peter Ogwang
Uganda 's Minister of State for Sports & Education



Kenyan Olympic Committee


Dickson Ndiema (in 4th pix) - Graphic

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the recent hike in the pump price of fuel to as high as N1,000 per litre in some parts of the country.

The opposition party labelled the development as a "brutal assault on the sensibilities and wellbeing of Nigerians," attributing the blame to the "insensitive and arrogant" administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).


The PDP expressed deep concern over the timing and manner of the price increase, which it described as "thoughtless" and potentially explosive.

The party warned that the escalation in fuel costs could exacerbate the already dire economic conditions facing Nigerians, leading to widespread unrest and further destabilising the country.

In a statement released on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the opposition party said there is practically no hope in sight under the current APC government’s policies.

Ologunagba explained that the secretive and corrupt administration of the petroleum sector and persistent increase in fuel price under the Tinubu-administration without due regard for the wellbeing of the people is akin to pushing Nigerians to the wall and daring them to do their worst.

The statement reads, "The APC administration has consistently shown itself to be anti-people, unconcerned and deaf to the agonies of millions of Nigerians who can no longer afford their daily meals, medications and basic support for families due to the catastrophic high cost of living occasioned by the insensitive and reckless policies of the Tinubu administration.

"Today, under the Tinubu-led APC administration over 150 million Nigerians have sunk below poverty line, businesses are collapsing daily as the Naira now exchange for over N1,600 to a Dollar with over 34% inflation rate and over 40% unemployment rate which are expected to rise further with the latest draconian increase in the price of fuel."

Ologunagba noted that there is practically no hope in sight under the current APC government as major multi-national companies continue to exit our country in droves in the face of ill-conceived and ill-implemented macro-economic policies.

He said, "The admission by the APC-led Federal Government that it has handed the fate of Nigerians to oil racketeers in the name of free market economy further validates the position of the PDP that the Tinubu-led administration has abdicated the primary purpose of government; which is to provide for the welfare and security of the citizens.”

According to him, President Tinubu is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and cannot exonerate his government and officials from the secretive and fraudulent management of the petroleum sector which is fast pushing the country’s economy to the precipice.

"Moreover, it is inexplicable that the APC administration continues to increase fuel price despite the scandalous revelation in the public domain that it is secretly paying a whopping N5.4 trillion as fuel subsidy for 2024," he said.

He added that the APC government has now become an enabler of a cabal of corrupt APC rent-seekers who apparently derive pleasure in inflicting pains on Nigerians while hugely benefiting from the proceeds of incessant increase in fuel price to satisfy and fund their luxury appetite and consumption.

The party said, "With the hopeless state of affairs of our nation today, our Party wonders what President Tinubu, during his numerous trips abroad, says to his foreign counterparts in nations where leaders prioritize the welfare of their people.

"Nigerians will recall that the PDP had on several occasions offered constructive advice and suggestions on the management of the economy which the APC government in its arrogance in failure ignored.”

"Our Party restates that with a deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage and national refining capacity, petrol should not sell more than N250 per liter in Nigeria," Ologunagba added.

The party called on President Tinubu to save the country from further socio-economic dislocation by immediately reversing the latest provocative increase in fuel price and revisiting all life-discounting and suffocating policies of the APC government.

Oando Plc has announced the resignation of Mr Tanimu Yakubu as a non-executive director of Oando Plc to undertake a national assignment with the Federal Government.

In a statement by the Chief Compliance Officer & Company Secretary, Ayotola Jagun, noted that Yakubu was appointed to the board on June 30, 2015.

During his tenure, he served as the Chairman of the Board Audit, Strategic Planning & Finance Committee, and was also a member of the Statutory Audit Committee.

With his extensive experience in finance and strategic planning, Yakubu brought invaluable insights, financial acumen, and a strategic mindset that significantly contributed to the growth and stability of the company.

“His leadership was instrumental in guiding the company through various financial strategies and audits, ensuring robust governance and compliance,” it stated.

“The board and management of Oando Plc extend their deep appreciation to Mr Yakubu for his significant contributions and exemplary service.

“We wish him continued success in his new role and are confident that he will bring the same dedication and excellence to his work with the Federal Government as he did at Oando Plc,” the firm noted.

The naira slumped significantly against the dollar at the foreign exchange market amid another Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) pump price hike in Nigeria.


FMDQ data showed that the naira weakened to N 1611.34 per dollar on Tuesday from N 1585.77 exchanged on Monday. This represents N25.57 loss.

Similarly, the naira lost N10 at the black market to close at N1640 per dollar on Tuesday.

This comes as foreign exchange transaction turnover increased to $206.61 million on Tuesday from $71.18 million the previous day.

DAILY POST reported that the pump price of petrol increased to N885 per litre from N617 at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Tuesday.

Billionaire businessman and Chairman of Geregu Power PLC, Mr. Femi Otedola, has hailed his friend and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for rolling out petroleum product from his refinery.

Otedola said by building the 650,000 barrel per day refinery, Dangote has liberated Nigeria from the chain of economic dependence.

In a post on his verified handle, Otedola recalled that the journey started 25 years ago.

He also hailed President Bola Tinubu for his “his unwavering support and belief in actualizing this monumental achievement under his administration.”

Otedola said, “This day belongs to every Nigerian who has dared to dream of a better future. Congratulations to our great nation—today, we all stand a little taller.

“Aliko, it feels like just yesterday, but it has been 25 long years since we first set our sights on transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape. I remember vividly when we set up the Blue Star Consortium to acquire stakes in the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries—20% for me and 51% for you.

“We were ready to change the game, but fate had other plans. The government of the day, in an act I can only describe as utterly obnoxious, canceled our stakes and thwarted our vision.

“But, as always, you refused to be deterred. You never gave up on the dream we shared. You carried the torch forward, igniting a spark that has today become a roaring flame. And now, 25 years later, here we stand on the precipice of history, with the first fuel shipment from the Dangote Refinery—a feat that is nothing short of miraculous.

“While the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries have remained dormant, their promise unfulfilled despite billions of dollars spent on so-called turn-around maintenance, you have achieved what many said was impossible. You have beaten all the skeptics, silenced the naysayers, and proved wrong those who doubted your resolve, even those who never wanted this project to succeed.

“You have not just built a refinery; you have liberated us from the chains of economic dependence that have held this nation back for far too long. The days of bowing to foreign powers for our fuel needs are over, thanks to your vision and determination.

“You have dealt a death blow to the so-called local cabals who have fattened themselves for years, feeding off our nation’s economic slavery. These cabals, who have grown rich by keeping Nigeria in a perpetual state of dependence, must now face the reality that their era of easy gains is coming to an end. I am reminded of the time you revolutionized the cement industry in Nigeria.

“Ships that once brought in cement turned into rusting relics, scraps of a bygone era. Now, with your refinery in full swing, I foresee a similar fate for fuel imports. The depot owners should take heed—it’s time to dismantle those depots and sell them as scraps while the market is still high. The world has changed, and those who do not adapt will be left behind.

“When I ventured into the depot business with Zenon, it was in response to the inefficiencies of the NNPC. Zenon pioneered the diesel business in Nigeria and quickly became the largest in the country, filling the gaps left by our inefficient system. But today, your refinery stands as a beacon of what is possible when one has the audacity to dream and the tenacity to see it through.

“Aliko, you have my deepest admiration and respect. Congratulations to you and the entire board, management and staff of Dangote Refinery on this monumental achievement. This is not just a victory for you but for every Nigerian who dares to dream. May this be just the beginning of even greater things to come.”

The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gilly-Harry has warned of a possible hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol, in the coming days.
This is despite Dangote Refinery on Monday commencing the production of petrol, a development some believe could help crash the current retail price of petrol.

According to Gilly-Harry, the current price hovering around ₦600 per litre is unsustainable as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited struggles to maintain an adequate supply of the product nationwide.

“We’ve been raising alarms that the NNPC has been selling products at ₦590 per litre. But the question is, who is bearing the brunt? We can’t continue to play politics with everything; the reality needs to be addressed

“My advice to Nigerians is to brace themselves to buy petroleum products at prices dictated by market forces. While we recognize that fuel subsidies exist globally and that oil and gas are natural blessings for Nigerians, we must weigh the benefits of subsidizing PMS against other pressing challenges, such as health,” Gilly-Harry disclosed during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.

NNPCL had admitted that it owed its petrol suppliers the sum of $6bn, which it said was the reason for the fuel queues in filling stations across the country over the past weeks.

Gilly-Harry meanwhile praised the national company for being transparent, though he noted that the situation remains challenging for retail outlet owners.

He also mentioned that PETROAN and other industry stakeholders are exploring innovative solutions to address the current crisis.

“NNPCL is currently the only entity with the financial muscle to import PMS due to its access to dollars and a guaranteed market.

“However, this situation demands creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to ensure that Nigerians are adequately served,” he noted.

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Corps members seen enjoying a ‘free’ ride to their PPA in a car trunk.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psxyb2mDI2U

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has, for years, been a cesspool of endemic corruption.

He said this while demanding that President Bola Tinubu immediately put in place measures to list NNPCL on the stock exchange in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election who spoke through Mr Paul Ibe, his Media Adviser, said, “The NNPCL is supposed to have been listed on the stock exchange in line with the Petroleum Industry Act. This would make the company more profitable and enhance transparency and corporate governance.

“Currently, the NNPCL claims to be private, but this is only a ruse to fool the feeble-minded because it remains the ATM of the Federal Government. Anything short of listing the NNPCL on the stock exchange is nothing but a cosmetic development.”


Atiku further stated that the NNPC Limited continues to provide a cover of political protection to the Tinubu government’s policy inconsistency on the payment of subsidy, raising questions about the independence that the PIA requires of the NNPC Limited as a private business concern.

He said previous arrangements and concessions had not worked because of a lack of transparency in the contract award process as well as the failure of the government to attract investors.

The former Vice President said for such a deal to succeed at all, the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and a credible technical partner like Standard and Poor’s must be part of the process.

Atiku added, “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo revealed recently that even Shell, one of the world’s wealthiest oil companies, rejected the offer to operate Nigeria’s refineries. This is because the NNPCL has, for years, been a cesspool of endemic corruption.


“This is why over $20bn that has been spent on the refineries in the last 20 years has led to nowhere. It is also curious that a government that is still paying petrol subsidy is trying to make its refineries profitable. Which businessman will invest in a refinery that has been programmed to operate at a loss?”

Atiku questioned the feasibility of the NNPC’s latest plan even as he pointed out that such arrangements in the past had not been profitable.

He added, “The manage and operate approach has not always worked. The Manitoba Hydro International, which was handed the Transmission Company of Nigeria led to nowhere. Similarly, Global Steel Limited, which was handed the Ajaokuta Steel Company, was not able to make the facility profitable.

“The contract was questionably revoked by the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, and Nigeria ended up paying Global Steel a compensation of nearly $500m while Ajaokuta remains comatose 17 years later.”


The opposition leader therefore advised the NNPCL not to make the contract process opaque like it did with OVH last year, which was not only dubious but has still failed to boost the NNPCL’s petrol sufficiency as evidenced by the months long fuel scarcity.

Global suppliers of petrol are no longer enthusiastic about supplying the product on credit to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) due to piling debts, Sunday Vanguard has learnt.

Competent industry sources told our correspondent last night that NNPCL, which solely imports the product using supply agents, is apparently weighed down by over $6 billion in debt, which the firm has not settled over time.

The setback, according to informed sources, is apparently responsible for the lingering hiccups in fuel supply in recent weeks, our correspondent gathered.

One of the sources familiar with the PMS importation into the country revealed that, at the moment, no fewer than five vessels which were primed to supply petrol to Nigeria have refused to discharge the product to NNPC due to fear that they would not be paid cash on delivery.

The insider pointed out that the mounting debt has heightened the pressure on the petroleum company, which has now resorted to rationing its stock and appealing to its long-term suppliers to not cut off supply.

A senior official at the NNPC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the company is struggling to supply dealers due to a shortage of products at its disposal.

The official lamented: “Bulk sales of ships and trucks to depot owners have slowed down in the last five days due to shortage of supply”.

The source added that no bulk sales had taken place since Tuesday, resulting in the scarcity in the downstream sector.
Another NNPC staff told this newspaper that fuel shortage, which resulted in the long queues being experienced in the last two months, was principally caused by the reduction in supply of products by suppliers who are being owed by the Nigerian oil firm.

The top official admitted: “I was aware that at some points in mid-August, the Federal Government had to come in by giving money to NNPC to defray some of the outstanding liabilities and boost the confidence of the suppliers to continue.


“However, what was paid was about $300 million, which only helped us get some reprieve for about a week before the queues fully returned,” he said.

Credit transaction common in the oil business – NNPC
Responding, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Mr Femi Soneye, said it was a common practice in the global oil industry to trade on credit but would not say more than that.

Soneye said: “In the oil trading business, transactions are often carried out on credit; so it is normal to have outstanding balances at certain times.

“Additionally, through our subsidiary, NNPC Trading, we maintain open trade credit lines with several traders.”

But when asked to confirm the exact amount the company owes its PMS suppliers, the spokesperson declined, saying, “I will need some time to provide you with the exact amount”.

Bismarck Rewane, a popular economist and the Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives has said that Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy target under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be possible in the next four to five years.


Rewane said this recently during an interview on Arise Television.

Speaking on Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product which grew to 3.19 percent in the second Quarter of 2024, he posited that the growth rate is too slow to achieve the $1 trillion economy target.


He noted that Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP increased from around 4 percent to 9 percent, and there is no noticeable improvement in the well-being of Nigerians.

He added that global economic shocks were impacting Nigeria’s economy negatively.

“What are the broadmark economic goals of this economy? We wanted to be among the top 20 economies in the world, and then we were 26. Today, we are 32 so we have worked our way down the ladder of success.


“Secondly, we now said that we want the economy to be a $1 trillion economy but now we are $384 billion which means we have to have like 200% growth in the next 4 to 5 years, that is not going to happen,” he said.

Recall that in 2023, Tinubu at the Nigerian Economic Summit announced that the $1 trillion economy target is doable in three years.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited says it is seeking to engage reputable and credible Operations and Maintenance companies, to operate and maintain the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday on its official social media handle.

The Warri refinery located at Warri in Delta State was commissioned in 1978. Warri is a complex conversion refinery with a nameplate distillation capacity of 6,250,000 MTA (125,000 bpd). The refinery complex includes a petrochemical plant commissioned in 1988 with production capacities of 13,000 MTA of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black. The refinery is meant to supply markets in the south and southwest regions of Nigeria.

On its part, the Kaduna refinery was commissioned in 1980 to supply petroleum products to Northern Nigeria with a capacity of 50,000 B/D. In 1983, the capacity was expanded to 100,000 B/D by adding a second 50,000 B/D crude train dedicated to the production of lubricating oils (lubes). In 1986, the capacity of the first crude train was expanded to 60,000 B/D. The expansions have increased the current nameplate capacity of the refinery to 110,000 B/D.

There is tension in the Ajiran community of Agungi Area, Lekki, Lagos State, as gunmen shot and butchered Demola, the first son of Ojomu of Ajiran land, Tijani Akinloye, in the community.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the weight of the matter disclosed that the assassination took place on Monday along Chevron Drive, close to Ebano Supermarket.

The PUNCH also gathered that the community is being deserted because of the tension created by the killing.

Also, a notice sent to our correspondent from the management of an estate in the community confirmed the incident while appealing to the residents to avoid the Chevron, Agungi, and Ajiran areas.

The statement read, “This is to notify all residents that Ajiran (Agungi) king’s son was assassinated today along Chevron Drive (close to Ebano Supermarket) this morning.


“We therefore plead to our esteemed residents to avoid Chevron area, Agungi and Ajiran for now for their safety.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was not privy to the matter, assuring that he would brief our correspondent when he gets the information.

“I am not aware, I will contact you once I’m privy to the information,” he said.

The district head of Garu Kurama community in the Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Yakubu Jadi and six other members of Gurzan Kurama village have been kidnapped by bandits.

Among the victims include the catechist of the Catholic church in the community and the daughter of the district head.

Although the police authorities in Kaduna State are yet to confirm the incident, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) said in a statement issued by its public relations officer, Josiah Abraks, that the district head and the other victims were abducted on the night of Friday, August 23rd.


He also said that the bandits were yet to establish any contact with the families of the victims of the community members.


Describing the incident as unfortunate, alarming and worrisome, SOKAPU called on security agencies and relevant authorities to put in their best to ensure the quick and safe release of the victims.

It also asked the Federal Government to do more in protection of the lives and property of its citizens, urging the communities to be more organised and vigilant against unusual faces and movements in their environments and report such movements to appropriate authorities.

Immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has said the decision to write the story of his life and time as judicial officer in a book is to make Nigerians know that anyone can reach his peak not minding the person’s background.

This was part of Ariwoola’s remarks at the public presentation of his autobiography written by a lawyer and author, Mr Olanrewaju Akinsola.

His remarks came as President Bola Tinubu extolled Ariwoola’s virtue, describing him as an epitome of excellence stating that “his sojourn on the bench was a testament to the reward for hard work, dedication and service to Nigeria and humanity.”

The book, ‘Judging with Justice: The Autobiography of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola’, was formally presented at the International Conference Centre in Abuja to mark his 70th birthday and his formal retirement from office as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Ariwoola, who thanked almighty God, his family and those who have helped him one way or the other to reach the pick of his career, noted that the book presented was not published to raise money but to put the story of his humble beginning and what he was able to achieve into writing for others to read and gain from.

He called on all authorities, institutions and members of the Bar and Bench particularly at the Supreme Court of Nigeria to extend their unwavering support to the new Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for the betterment of country.
Born on August 22, 1954, Justice Ariwoola was elevated to the Supreme Court on November 22, 2011, and was appointed substantive CJN on June 27, 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor, Justice Tanko Muhammad.

The Senate formally confirmed him the Chief Justice of Nigeria on September 21, 2022.

President Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the occasion said: ”His Lordship’s long and inspiring career on the bench is a testament to the reward for hard work, dedication, and selfless service to the nation and humanity.

“As Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Justice Ariwoola has used his vast experience and capacity to address the challenges facing the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary,” the President said.

Recalling the reforms and advancements in the administration of justice during Justice Ariwoola’s tenure, including an increase in the retirement age for judges and other judicial officers to 65-70 years, Tinubu said: “As Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Justice Ariwoola has used his vast experience and capacity to address the challenges facing the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary.

“The pensions of judicial officers have been fairly secured as retired judges will now enjoy their full pay as their pension for life.


Incisive judgements that provide extensive societal reforms, such as the one that recently liberated the local government councils from the shackles of financial lack, are critical to our society’s growth and development.”

He noted that the former CJN’s career was a sterling example of what a hard work, dedication, and a passion for public service stand for.

“From humble beginnings at the Local Authority Demonstration School in Iseyin, Oyo State, to the launch of his career as a law officer at the Oyo State Ministry of Justice and now as a leading figure in the judiciary, his story inspires us all.

“The vastness of His Lordship’s academic and professional career is not in doubt. His Lordship’s commitment to the ideals of a just and fair society can also not be overemphasised.

“We have seen this in his exemplary leadership of the Judiciary, and I am thankful for the support the judiciary has extended to the growth and development of our dear country,” he added.

Tinubu said as President, he was happy to witness these laudable achievements in the nation’s judiciary under the leadership of outgoing CJN, even as he implored the third arm of government to live up to its constitutional mandate and not be perturbed by critics who always fume whenever they don’t get a favourable judgment.

“I hope his (Justice Ariwoola’s) successor in office will carry on the baton passed on by His Lordship. I urge the Nigerian judiciary to live up to its constitutional mandate and ignore those who never see anything good in the Judiciary unless the pendulum of justice swings their way.

“I am hopeful that as His Lordship retires into other endeavours, his successors will continue to deliver on the ideals of justice and improve the standards set by Honourable Justice Ariwoola, GCON.

“As Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Justice Ariwoola has used his vast experience and capacity to address the challenges facing the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary,” the President said.

Wishing Justice Ariwoola a happy retirement and more success in his future endeavours, he expressed hope that “his legacy inspires us to strive for excellence and justice in our public service”.

Earlier, the acting Chief Justice of the apex court, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, shared her experience working closely with Justice Ariwoola, invoking a quote from James Baikie’s “Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Rome.”

“When a nation becomes great, it is never by ferocity or falseness, but always by something in the nation that is good and sterling. We have in the person of Justice Ariwoola a living embodiment of these qualities,” the new CJN stated.
She said, a foray into His Lordships autobiography, “paints a clear picture of his journey and the various influences that have contributed to the man he is today. A quality that stands out clearly is his abiding faith in the Almighty Creator.

“With a combination of discipline, forthrightness, foresight, intellectual prowess, an all-inclusive vision for advancement, coupled with an unmistakable passion for judicial reforms, His Lordship has made immense contributions to the growth and stability of the Nigerian Judiciary. I have no doubt that these contributions, which have been etched in the sands of time, will continue to be remembered for years to come.

“And so today, I join my brother Justices of the Supreme Court, the Nigerian Judiciary and indeed the whole nation in celebrating greatness and excellence and commending a pacesetter who has donated thirty-two (32) rich years of meritorious service to the Bench and who has distinguished himself in many ways.” She added.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was not left out in highlighting Ariwoola’s significant contributions, particularly his role in the recent Judicial Office Holders Salaries and Allowances Act 2024.
Wike said: “This landmark achievement reflects his deep commitment to ensuring that the judiciary is independent, well-resourced and motivated.”

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), commended Ariwoola’s leadership, saying, “Your chairmanship has witnessed unprecedented stability in the justice sector, and because of your focused leadership, Nigeria has emerged more united.

“I am delighted that our country has continued to weather the political storms as a result of the collective will of all Nigerians to make a success of our democracy,” he added.

Emphasising the book’s title as a potential creed for all judges, Gen. Abubakar asked every judge to ask themselves, ‘Have I judged with justice?’ He said the book should be a guiding principle for everyone, no matter their profession.

Book reviewer and President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Bawaph Kanyip, noted that the autobiography primarily focuses on Justice Ariwoola’s background and guiding principles.

Kanyip noted that a key theme of the book is that “the only client a judge has is justice.”

Other dignitaries at the occasion extolled the virtues of the retired Chief Justice, while wishing him well in retirement.

Those present at the event included the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, representatives of governors of Ebonyi State and others; President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem; Chief Judges of some states Attorneys-General of States; Senior Members of the Bench and Bar; Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, among others.