Category: Business Day

Men from various sectors have stepped forward to take an active role in the fight against gender-based violence, as the Male Feminist Nigeria (MFN) Project was launched in Pankshin, Plateau State, on Tuesday.

The event, organised by the Kozaki Transformation and Development Foundation, brought together stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious leaders, transport union executives, barbers, and other key actors united in the mission of promoting male engagement in ending gender-based violence.

The stakeholders’ engagement meeting, which marks the advancement of the MFN Project across North Central Nigeria, focused on engaging men as allies in promoting gender justice and challenging harmful societal norms.

In his address, Akighir Caleb Akighir, Communication Officer of the MFN Project, emphasised the need to confront entrenched patriarchal ideologies.

He warned that negative masculinity is damaging not only to women and girls but also to men, who are often confined by unrealistic and harmful gender expectations. Expanding on this, Manfred Akpen, Program Officer of the MFN Project, delivered a keynote presentation titled ‘Becoming a Male Ally: From Conviction to Consistency.’ He called on men to go beyond symbolic gestures and instead demonstrate consistent action in advancing gender equity within their communities.

The participants embraced the message, expressing readiness to become ambassadors of male feminism in their communities. Representatives from transport unions, barbers, local academic institutions, religious and traditional councils, and community-based groups pledged to actively promote positive masculinity and help dismantle violence-supportive norms.

Kashim Basil, a Catholic priest and the Coordinator of JDPC Caritas, welcomed participants on behalf of Isaiah Ter, also a Catholic priest and a lawyer who is the Executive Director of the Kozaki Foundation, while prayers were offered by Fr. Gogwim to open the session.

The engagement marks a significant milestone for the MFN Project in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria and sets the tone for further expansion across the region. As the initiative gains ground, Pankshin now serves as a critical hub in a growing movement for male-led advocacy against gender-based violence.

Nigeria is a sinking ship whose occupants are swimming to safety on the pieces of lifebuoy thrown to them. Are Nigerians not leaving in droves for foreign countries? And are they not serving as food to the famished sharks and whales in foreign seas?

The fact is that Nigeria, a well-endowed country, has become an unlivable geographical space from which her citizens are fleeing. Daily, in Nigeria, hundreds of people are needlessly killed by bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and the killer herdsmen. The nightmarish security challenges in our country seem to be unending. And millions of Nigerians, who have been reduced to subhumans through our political leaders’ mismanagement of our economy, are living below the breadline now.

Nigeria’s sad and bad condition is attributable to the leadership crisis, which has affected the country over the years. Since our country’s attainment of political sovereignty in 1960, good political leadership has continued to elude her.

Until 1999, dictatorial military regimes, which alternated with corrupt political leaderships, stunted our economic development, stymied our technological advancement, worsened our infrastructural rot and deficit, and caused the deepening of our religious and ethnic fissures.

In 1960, six years after we had achieved political emancipation, the Nigeria-Biafra civil war raged with its calamitous and disastrous effects. The fratricidal civil war caused the depredation of our economy, the destruction of our national infrastructure, and the decimation of our population. Thereafter, we experienced a military interregnum, which culminated in the birth of the second republic in 1979.

The second republic was truncated by the coup d’état executed by Muhammadu Buhari. It took place on December 31, 1983. Before the execution of the coup by the beret boys, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a political dark horse, had piloted the affairs of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983. His government was toppled because it was alleged to be corrupt.

And between 1983 and 1998, save the brief period when Chief Ernest Shonekan held the reins of power, military officers took turns to rule Nigeria. While Muhammadu Buhari, who was known for his Spartan lifestyle, enacted draconian and retroactive decrees to rule Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida institutionalised corruption in the country. And he took Nigeria on a transition to civilian rule rigmarole that landed us in a political cul-de-sac. But in the midst of the political quagmire into which Nigeria was thrown owing to the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, the vampiric Sani Abacha shoved aside the interim government of Ernest Shonekan to take the saddle of power. Sani Abacha was a blend of thieving tendencies and sanguinary proclivities.

Not only did he steal Nigeria blind, but he also liquidated some democracy activists, who were agitating for the revalidation of the late MKO Abiola’s stolen political mandate.

Happily, Nigeria transitioned to democratic rule upon Sani Abacha’s demise in 1998. And since 1999 and until now, we have enjoyed twenty-six years of unbroken democratic governance with one political leader handing over political power to another political leader without the country descending into an anarchic situation. That in itself is a milestone achievement considering Nigeria’s deep-seated disunity, which is caused by the existence of ethnic animosity and religious intolerance among Nigerians. However, the fact is that the elections that produced our past successive national leaders in the Fourth Republic were marred and marked by election malpractices. For example, in 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was helped to become the president of Nigeria to placate the indignant Yoruba people regarding the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who succeeded Chief Obasanjo as the president of Nigeria, confessed that the election that brought him to office was deeply flawed.

And the declaration of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the president-elect in 2023 was hotly contested in the court then.

It is a known fact that when the electoral processes that bring a politician to power are flawed, the political will and choices of the people will be subverted. And that situation negates the political axiom, which says that political sovereignty belongs to the people. And a national leader who enters the saddle of power via electoral malpractice will not be accountable to the people.

So, not surprisingly, corrupt political leadership has become endemic and pervasive in our country. Now, our political leaders who hold sway at different governmental strata perceive their occupation of exalted political offices as opportunities for them to acquire money by dipping their fingers into our exchequer.

Consequently, our country’s economy oscillates between slipping into recession and exiting from it. So millions of young Nigerian graduates pound the streets daily in search of the non-existent white- and blue-collar jobs. And innumerable Nigerian workers, who are not paid living wages, live below the breadline. They scrounge for food, which they will eat, sacrificing their dignity in the process.

Again, Nigeria suffers from an infrastructural deficit and rot. Long stretches of some federal roads have fallen into a state of disrepair. And the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria is comatose. Consequently, rich Nigerians, who are ailing, embark on health tourism in foreign countries for the treatment of their various health conditions. And the dysfunctionality of our educational system, which is caused by decades of governmental neglect, is at the root of our universities’ production of unemployable graduates, who are found wanting in character and learning.

Worse still, Nigeria is ravaged by grave security challenges, which have returned her to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is short, brutish, and nasty. Is the north not still in the firm grip of Boko Haram insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and the killer-herdsmen menace? And in the southern part of Nigeria, kidnapping rich people for ransom has become a lucrative business venture for kidnappers.

Nigeria, as she is now, is a rudderless ship cut adrift on the tempestuous sea of political, technological, economic, and educational uncertainties. As it is on autopilot, it is being tossed about on the choppy water by the pitiless currents.

But the solution to our many hydra-headed problems lies in our electing patriotic leaders who possess probity and leadership qualities. It is only they who can fix our national problems and entrench unity among us. And it is only they who can give Nigeria a people’s constitution, which will transform Nigeria into a true federal state.

Uba Sani, the executive Governor of Kaduna State, has approved the 100 per cent implementation of the revised 2024 CONMESS and CONHESS, worth over ?518 million monthly and ?6.2 billion annually, a move that ended more than a decade of stagnation in health workers’ pay and restored dignity to medical practice.

Health sector unions in Kaduna State, through a joint press conference, have commended Governor Uba Sani for what they described as historic reforms that have transformed the state’s healthcare system. These were the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (AMLSN), and the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

The unions hailed directives for local councils to begin payment of 60 per cent CONHESS for primary healthcare staff, automatic employment of 2025 Kaduna State University medical graduates as House Officers, and the reintroduction of a three-year bond system for state-sponsored medical students and resident doctors. They also praised infrastructural strides, including a new 300-bed specialist hospital, renovation of 15 general hospitals, revitalisation of 200 primary healthcare centres, construction of oxygen plants and baby-care units across senatorial zones, procurement of advanced equipment and ambulances, and annual recruitment of 1,800 health workers.

‘Governor Sani has restored confidence, strengthened retention, and positioned Kaduna as a model for others to emulate,’ the unions declared.

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called for more robust access to environmental information in Nigeria, warning that the absence of timely and reliable data is undermining efforts to address the country’s worsening environmental and climate challenges.

The call was made on Monday during the launch of a new report, ‘Access to Environmental Information and the Cost of Ignorance in Nigeria,’ which coincided with the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

The report highlights the mounting risks posed by deforestation, flooding, desertification, oil pollution in the Niger Delta, poor plastic waste management, and declining air and water quality.

According to MRA, these issues are not only threatening ecosystems and public health but are also costing Nigeria billions of dollars in infrastructure damage, displacing communities, and endangering national stability.

Speaking at the launch, Ayomide Eweje, Programme Officer, MRA, said Nigeria already has a layered framework of laws and international obligations that could serve as a strong foundation for environmental accountability, including the Freedom of Information Act, Climate Change Act, and Environmental Impact Assessment Act.

However, she noted that weak enforcement, lack of proactive disclosure by public institutions, and poor citizen engagement remain major obstacles.

‘Without meaningful and effective access to environmental information, citizens cannot protect their health and livelihoods or hold decision-makers accountable’, Eweje said. ‘Ensuring access is not just about legal compliance; it is about empowering people to safeguard their future.’

The report also underscores the potential of digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to strengthen environmental monitoring and public access to real-time data.

Yet, it warns that structural inequalities-particularly the exclusion of rural communities and women from decision-making-continue to threaten Nigeria’s environmental governance.

To address these gaps, MRA urged federal and state governments to strengthen and enforce laws mandating proactive disclosure of environmental data in digital, user-friendly formats, establish centralised, open-access data portals on pollution, deforestation, water quality, and climate risks invest in broadband expansion, solar-powered hubs, and community ICT centres to bridge the rural digital divide.

The organisation also called on civil society, the media, academia, and the private sector to collaborate in monitoring environmental hazards and ensuring that information is accessible, comprehensible, and actionable.

Eweje stressed that transparency and public participation are critical to preventing further environmental devastation in Nigeria.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has donated ?26 million in educational support for children affected by conflict in Plateau State, marking a major intervention in the region’s long-running humanitarian crisis.

Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs at ECOWAS, announced the donation on Monday during the launch of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Dialogue at a two-day workshop in Jos.

The workshop, organised through a collaboration between the ECOWAS Commission, GIZ, the European Union’s Support Programme for African Peace and Security, attracted the Child Protection Network, PLACEMA and the Press Research and Development Institute, among others

Ugbe said in addition to the education fund, ECOWAS also committed ?56 million worth of food and essential non-food items to displaced families across affected communities. According to the director, the gesture was more than charity-it was a ‘powerful affirmation’ of solidarity with children, families, and communities who continue to suffer the effects of prolonged conflict.

‘This is not just another talking workshop, as ECOWAS, we are demonstrating solidarity through action:26 million Naira in educational assistance to children affected by conflict in Plateau.

‘This is not charity – it is an affirmation. It says to every child in Plateau State: You are seen. You are valued. You are not alone. ‘This dialogue – as you are aware – is anchored on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus. It is an integrated approach that seeks to support women and children in communities affected by conflict. These are the voices too often silenced, the lives most disrupted by violence – yet they are at the very heartbeat of our communities.

‘This collaboration brings together the ECOWAS Commission, GIZ, the European Union’s Support Programme for African Peace and Security, the Plateau State Government, and many of the agencies represented here today. It is a shining example of how the HDP nexus works in practice,’ she said.

Ugbe described the HDP Dialogue as a movement that places women and children at the centre of recovery and peacebuilding. Julie Sandra, the Director, Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA), highlighted the findings from recent assessments, which revealed that over 30,000 people have been displaced in Plateau State, many of them children facing exploitation, trauma, and lack of access to education and healthcare.

According to Sandra, 72% of displaced children have experienced violent attacks, while 55% have endured prolonged school closures.

Samuel Jatau, the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State (SGS), represented by Timothy Gayi, permanent secretary, policies and general services reaffirmed government commitment to aligning relief efforts with the administration’s first policy pillar-Peace and Security.

He emphasised that sustainable peace requires access to livelihoods, social protection, and resilience-building, not just emergency aid.

In Nigeria, the condition of roads can be challenging for drivers during the rainy season, ranging from full drainage systems to potholes and traffic jams, making it difficult for car owners to navigate their way. Therefore, knowing how to take care of your vehicle is essential for safety and avoiding costly repairs.

Rainy seasons can cause rust and corrosion, especially on metal parts, while also damaging electrical components through moisture ingress, which can lead to short circuits and malfunctions in systems such as the engine, lights, and sensors.

Water entering the engine can cause damage, while persistent exposure to rainwater can promote mould and mildew growth inside the car. Other components, like brakes and batteries, can also fail due to increased usage and exposure to moisture.

Keeping your cars in good condition in all seasons not only preserves value but also keeps them safe on the road.

Regardless of these challenges, in no particular order, here are several car care tips every driver needs to know this rainy season.

Windshield wipers

Windshield wipers should be replaced either 6 months to a year or as soon as you notice some difficulties in driving visibility in the rain. Keep your wiper fluid filled to the brim

Replace wipers if they leave streaks or squeal. Squeaking, skipping, and smearing begin when your wiper no longer makes proper contact with your windshield. Clean, check, or change if needed.

Check your tyres

This is one of the basic car care tips you should know. Check the thread depth, maintain your tyre pressure; both over- and under-inflation can be risky in wet conditions.

Bald tyres increase the risk of hydroplaning (that’s when your tyres lose grip and your car feels like it’s ice-skating)

Hydroplaning is when water builds up between your tyres and the road, making you temporarily lose control. Brakes

Get your brakes checked (pads, discs, and fluid), avoid sudden braking in rain; pump brakes gently, and listen for any screeching or softness in the pedal. You need to have a good braking system.

Don’t be in a hurry while driving in the rain; slowing down will reduce the risks of being in an unexpected event, just relax.

Car battery

Check your car battery condition always, as heavy use of electrical components in the rain can strain it.

Keep the battery and its terminals clean to prevent corrosion, and check its terminals for any signs of damage or corrosion. If the battery gets wet, allow it to dry completely before use.

Car lights

Rain reduces visibility for everyone, so you need to check if your lights are functioning properly, both the headlights and brake lights.

Clean headlights to prevent cloudiness and check for cracks that could let water in. Good lighting is one of the simplest safety tips for rainy season driving. Use hazard lights while driving in the rain.

Rusting

Do not drive through deep water, as it can cause significant engine and electrical damage.

Apply an anti-rust coating to the undercarriage, use silicone-based lubricants on door hinges and locks, and clean your car regularly to avoid mud buildup.

Anti-rust coating is a spray or sealant that protects your car’s metal parts from rusting due to moisture.

JAC Motors, a leading Chinese truck manufacturer, has urged the federal government to fast-track the signing of Nigeria’s automotive policy into law, describing it as a critical move that will unlock foreign investments, deepen local assembly operations, and reduce reliance on imported used vehicles.

The call was made by Oscar Yu, general manager, JAC Motors, during a strategic visit to Lanre Shittu Motors’ JAC truck assembly plant located along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos.

Describing Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM) as a great partner, Yu praised the company’s efforts in assembling JAC trucks locally, amidst Nigeria’s economic challenges.

He stressed that a properly legislated automotive policy would attract more Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) into the country, enabling the production of affordable, brand-new trucks with better return on investment for buyers. ‘We are ready to work closely with the Nigerian government to grow the automotive sector. Signing the policy into law will help stabilise investors’ confidence and encourage more local assembly,’ Yu said.

He also highlighted the potential of Nigeria’s vast market of over 200 million people, noting that with the right policy environment, JAC could help bridge the gap between the dominance of used vehicles and the availability of affordable, high-quality new trucks.

Yu noted that continued importation of used vehicles hurts the economy by limiting job creation and undermining local production capacity.

‘Nigeria is a huge market with great potential. With local technical talent and a supportive government policy, the country can become a hub for truck manufacturing in West Africa,’ he added. On the partnership with Lanre Shittu Motors, Yu expressed satisfaction with the progress so far, pledging continued support in areas such as technical training, spare parts supply, and after-sales service.

‘We take care of our partners, customers, and staff. Our products are of high quality, and we believe that’s our biggest selling point. We’re happy with what LSM has done and are fully committed to growing this partnership,’ he affirmed. LSM recently commenced delivery of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered JAC trucks equipped with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), among others, for maximum safety features.

Taiwo Shittu, managing director of Lanre Shittu Motors, in his remarks, described JAC as an exceptional partner.

‘JAC is the most supportive company we’ve worked with. They are sincere, respectful, and always deliver on their promises. They value our culture and treat us as true partners,’ he said.

Saheed Shittu, executive director of finance at LSM, called the visit by JAC’s top management historic and strategic, noting that it would further cement the relationship between both companies.

Lanre Shittu Motors assembles JAC heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks in Nigeria and has consistently won awards for its quality by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards.

‘We remain committed to providing customers with reliable automotive products, backed by strong after-sales service and genuine parts. This partnership is helping us achieve that,’ Saheed said.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister has formally apologised to Qatar after an unprecedented Israeli missile strike in Doha earlier this month killed a Qatari citizen and several Hamas members, sparking global outrage.

The apology was delivered on Monday during a joint call with Donald Trump, United States president and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime minister, following a White House meeting.

A White House statement said Netanyahu expressed ‘deep regret’ over the September 9 attack, which targeted Hamas leaders during ceasefire negotiations but ended up killing Badr Al-Dosari, a Qatari serviceman, and violating Qatar’s sovereignty.

‘He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future.’ the statement added.

The missile strike killed at least five Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer but failed to eliminate Hamas’s top leadership, who were present in Doha for US-backed mediation efforts. It marked Israel’s first military strike on Qatari soil, a move that shook diplomatic channels given Qatar’s role as a key mediator in ceasefire talks and its hosting of the US military’s largest Middle East base, Al Udeid.

Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed the call, describing the attack as a ‘blatant violation of sovereignty’ and stressing that assurances had been received from Washington to prevent any recurrence. The Qatari leader thanked Trump for ‘guarantees of US defence partnership with Qatar’ while also welcoming Netanyahu’s apology.

Netanyahu himself was quoted on his official X account telling the Qatari prime minister: ‘Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike. I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris. I also want to assure you that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future.’

However, he also underscored Israel’s grievances with Doha, citing Qatar’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, its support for Hamas.

The strike drew swift and widespread condemnation. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it a ‘flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’ Within days, nearly 60 Muslim-majority countries gathered in Doha in a show of solidarity with Qatar.

For now, both governments have sought to contain the fallout. Qatar said it remained committed to ‘contributing to regional security and stability,’ while the White House framed Netanyahu’s apology as a step toward de-escalation.

By asking members to proceed with industrial action and disconnect the gas supply to Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN has eventually revealed its ulterior motives as a destructive force in the oil industry. In a statement issued on Saturday by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the union asked members working across field locations to withdraw services from 6 am on Sunday, September 28. ‘This includes all control room operations, panel operations and outfield personnel,’ according to the statement. The directive also orders all PENGASSAN members across all offices, companies, institutions and agencies to withdraw services and specifically directs that all processes that involve gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be let off effectively immediately. In other words, PENGASSAN has disrupted Nigeria’s crude oil business and is out to cripple the $20 billion refinery and return the country to the era of fuel importation and scarcity. This is an act of economic sabotage, and I call on the federal government and law enforcement agencies to step in and terminate this criminal action by the trade union. From what I have read across many social media platforms, Nigerians are understandably horrified by what PENGASSAN wants to do.

‘No investor will invest in any country where a union leader can easily destroy a multibillion-dollar private investment without cause. No serious nation will even allow such unions to survive.’

At the centre of this dispute is the freedom of employers to operate their businesses without unions and the right of workers to unionise. The petrochemical company has recently fired 800 workers for engaging in trade unionism. While PENGASSAN wants Dangote Refinery to recall the 800 workers, the company insists that it does not want any worker to be involved in trade unionism. Nigeria’s trade union and international labour laws allow workers the freedom to join or refuse to join a trade union and employers the liberty to disallow unionism in their organisations. That is why there is no ASUU in private universities and NUBIFE (National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees) in privately owned banks and insurance companies. NUBIFE was a very powerful union in the financial industry till the privatisation of the banks and insurance companies in the late 1980s and early 1990s. NUBIFE fought and nearly crippled government-owned banks like Union Bank, Afribank, UBA and First Bank, which in those days were banks, for all sorts of reasons. NUBIFE leaders were a terror in those days, and they were dreaded and feared by management.

With privatisation, new investors and owners of banks were quick to disallow unionism in the industry. In place of unionism, workers were rewarded with a very attractive reward system. That’s why NUBIFE, a once-powerful trade union, is now almost nonexistent. Similarly, when the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbenedion, founded the first private university in the country in 1988 (Igbenedion University), he made it clear that he didn’t want any staff member to join ASUU. Till today, ASUU does not exist in any of the 149 private universities in the country. Union activities are also restricted or disallowed in other industries like aviation, tourism and even electricity, where private investors are the major operators. An employer has the right to refuse the existence of trade unions in their businesses, and a staff member has the right to walk away from any employer who doesn’t want unionism. Why is Dangote Refinery treated differently and not allowed the liberty to do away with unionism? Why have certain interest groups, including PENGASSAN, NUPENG and even industry regulators, been fighting Dangote Refinery since it began production last year?

As President Obasanjo was preparing to leave office in 2007, he offered to sell the moribund Port Harcourt refinery to Aliko Dangote, and the man agreed to buy. But it was these same unions and the NLC that rose and opposed the sale, prompting the businessman to move on to establish his own, which is the largest single-train refinery in the world, while the government-owned refineries continued to gulp billions of dollars in endless fraudulent turnaround maintenance. While the government refineries waste away, the two trade unions continue to profit from check-off levies paid by members who work in the moribund plants. The members continue to earn salaries and even get promoted without working, while the unions and their leaders continue to profit from dues and levies. By calling on members to disrupt gas supply to Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN is out to kill the $20 billion investment. It’s criminal, unpatriotic and economically disastrous. No investor will invest in any country where a union leader can easily destroy a multibillion-dollar private investment without cause. No serious nation will even allow such unions to survive.

Even after disengaging the 800 workers, Dangote says, ‘Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively’ at the refinery, in addition to indirect employees, suppliers and contractors who make a living from the plant. The federal government should do everything to protect Dangote Refinery from economic saboteurs and parasitic interest groups.

Intelligence agencies from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have announced plans to unveil the identities of senior Nigerian politicians allegedly linked to bandit groups wreaking havoc across Nigeria’s North-West.

Officials of the agencies confirmed that they are already in possession of names of some politicians believed to be providing support and resources to the criminal gangs.

According to Zagazola Makama, a Counter-terrorism expert on the lake Chad, several individuals suspected of supplying arms to the bandits have been arrested, with investigations currently underway to establish the extent of the networks’ reach.

Makama reported that the disclosures are part of regional initiative aimed at dismantling cross-border criminal operations that sustain insecurity in West Africa.

The report also noted that the move underscores growing concern over how political influence and illicit arms trafficking intersect to fuel violence across the region.

‘This latest development comes at a time of deepening collaboration among Sahelian states in addressing insecurity.

‘Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, countries that have experienced their own struggles with insurgencies and armed groups are increasingly coordinating intelligence, border patrols, and security operations to stem the flow of weapons and fighters’, the report said.

The analyst suggest that the revelation of Nigerian political figures allegedly tied to banditry could intensify pressure on Abuja to strengthen internal oversight, tighten border controls, and work more closely with neighboring governments.

Banditry in Nigeria’s North-West has escalated in recent years, with armed groups responsible for mass kidnappings, deadly raids on rural communities, and attacks on security personnel.

Authorities in Abuja have long accused foreign arms dealers and cross-border smuggling networks of fueling the crisis.