Category: Daily Trust

Recent revelations that more than 300 containers of critical electricity equipment imported by the Federal Government remained stranded at Nigerian ports for years have exposed the administrative bottlenecks and institutional inefficiencies undermining efforts to improve electricity supply across the country, experts have said.

The equipment, some of which have reportedly been trapped in the ports for close to two decades, were procured under various government-funded and development-partner-supported electricity projects, including the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) donor-funded projects and the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

Despite their importance to the country’s electricity infrastructure, the equipment have been unable to reach their intended destinations because of unresolved import documentation, disagreements over duty exemptions, mounting shipping demurrage, port charges and bureaucratic delays involving government agencies.

President Bola Tinubu has consequently directed the immediate clearance of the stranded containers, a move that has generated mixed reactions among stakeholders in the power sector.

While some experts have welcomed the directive as a demonstration of political will to address longstanding challenges in the electricity industry, others believe the development exposes years of institutional failures that cannot be resolved through presidential orders alone.

What power minister said

Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe, who disclosed the presidential directive after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, expressed dismay that equipment meant to strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure could remain abandoned at the ports for such an extended period.

Tegbe said: ‘Those containers are not empty. It is appalling to see that we find ourselves in such situations.

‘They were imported by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power/Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) under various power projects over the years.’

However, industry experts said the circumstances surrounding the stranded equipment reveal structural weaknesses in government procurement, importation and project implementation processes.

Nigeria has an installed electricity generation capacity of approximately 13,014.40 MW to 13,625 MW, while available or generated power fluctuates between 4,000 MW and 5,403 MW.

This was largely attributed to ageing or inadequate infrastructure to support transmission and power distribution.

It would be recalled that the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) recently recovered abandoned power equipment worth billions of naira from various seaports across the country, following an intervention by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, said during a visit to the NPA in August that the released items were in 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages.

Some experts called for a critical evaluation of the equipment in order to retrieve those that are still useful.

A former Chief Technical Officer, Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) and MD/CEO, Idfon Power Engineering Consultants (iPEC) Limited, Engr. Idowu Oyebanjo, said the situation arose when the projects were awarded to contractors at low cost without demurrage.

According to him, some of the contracts are structured on Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) Lagos terms, meaning the equipment are delivered to the Lagos port without sufficient arrangements to ensure their prompt clearance and transportation to the project sites.

He explained that the difficulties begin even before the containers arrive in Nigeria, as critical import documentation and duty exemption approvals are often not completed before shipment.

Oyebanjo stated that upon the arrival of the containers and notification sent to the shipping agents, the agents approach TCN to obtain an Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC).

However, TCN would reportedly inform them that the relevant file was with the Ministry of Power, while the ministry, in turn, would say it was with the Ministry of Finance.

He added that the Ministry of Finance often views the imported equipment as potential revenue for the government and consequently seeks to impose a five per cent import duty.

He noted that such equipment should ordinarily benefit from the relevant government exemptions, considering that they were imported specifically for public electricity infrastructure projects.

According to him, some of the consignments arrive without properly processed Form M, the mandatory import declaration form; Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR); Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) certification; and Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC).

These omissions, he said, leave the equipment exposed to additional clearance requirements and charges.

Oyebanjo said the situation becomes more complicated after the containers spend 90 days at the ports without clearance.

He disclosed that a particular batch of 22 containers accumulated liabilities of N483.88m because of the conflicting classifications and the continued accumulation of shipping charges.

Providing details of the contents of the containers, Oyebanjo said they include critical electricity infrastructure approved by the Federal Executive Council for various transmission projects.

Among the equipment are 300 Mega Volt-Ampere (MVA), 330/132/33 kilovolt (kV) transformers intended for Ikeja West, Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) spares, 33kV double-circuit lines for Katampe and materials for the proposed Super Grid.

He said some of the equipment had remained in the ports for about 20 years.

Oyebanjo alleged that the prolonged delays had also created opportunities for an auction racket, claiming that some overtime cargo were auctioned to cronies at about 10 per cent of their value before being resold to TCN.

‘How to avoid recurrence’

To prevent a recurrence, he recommended the establishment of a dedicated TCN desk at the Nigeria Customs Service, rather than leaving the process entirely within the purview of the Ministry of Finance.

Such a desk, he said, should operate with pre-approved duty waivers to ensure that documentation and clearance arrangements are completed before the equipment arrive in the country.

He also called for a change in the procurement structure for future electricity projects, recommending that all new contracts adopt Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) arrangements, under which contractors would be responsible for delivering equipment to the project sites rather than simply bringing them to Lagos ports under CIF terms.

On his part, a power expert, Engr. Ibrahim Sulu said since 2016, presidential approvals have cleared stranded power equipment again and again, only for it to pile up.

He said the country needs a standing rule that does not depend on whoever is minister, adding that all contracts are Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) to the project site, with the contractor bearing demurrage.

A power stakeholder, Duru Oguzie, expressed dismay over the prolonged abandonment of the equipment, describing the situation as evidence of a lack of patriotism among some Nigerians entrusted with managing public resources.

He criticised the Nigeria Customs Service for allowing the equipment to remain stranded for years when they could have been released earlier for use in the country’s electricity infrastructure.

He described the development as a show of shame, arguing that the equipment had lost much of its potential value to the country because of the prolonged delays.

Oguzie urged the Federal Government to maintain zero revenue charges on the stranded electricity equipment to ensure their immediate release.

He argued that the government should prioritise the national interest and the potential benefits of deploying the equipment rather than focusing on revenue collection from assets already procured with public funds or development financing.

However, another stakeholder, Saka Mohammad, questioned the political narrative surrounding the presidential directive.

He said the applause generated by the presidential directive was undeserved because the clearance of the equipment should be viewed within the broader context of the government’s responsibility to address the longstanding weaknesses in the power sector.

He maintained that the Federal Government should take more proactive measures to ensure that the problems responsible for the abandonment of critical electricity equipment do not recur.

However, energy expert Rasheed Adeleke described the clearance of the stranded equipment as a positive development that could support improvements in the electricity sector.

He lamented that the equipment had remained trapped at the ports for almost two decades, saying the situation exposed the persistent institutional failures and unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles slowing the development of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.

Beyond the stranded equipment, concerns have also been raised about the direction of the country’s transmission infrastructure development and the feasibility of some newly announced projects.

A competent source with knowledge of the industry said, ‘Now, as elections approach, the President has promised Nigerians that he will fix the power sector and end estimated billing. He even challenged Nigerians not to vote for him if he fails to deliver on these two promises.

‘They have now introduced the East-West transmission project without publishing the necessary details, technical studies or implementation plan. Yet, they claim it will be completed in two years and add 14,000MW to the national grid. This is being presented to Nigerians without adequately explaining the technical and commercial realities.’

The source added, ‘Electricity is not generated simply by making political promises. It requires properly coordinated investments in generation, transmission and distribution, supported by credible technical studies, financing and implementation capacity.

‘Without addressing these fundamental issues, the promise of adding 14,000MW in two years raises serious questions about the feasibility and credibility of the project.’

The recurring incidents of building collapse in Nigeria has again raised questions on structural and regulatory supervision in the real estate sector.

Checks by Daily Trust show that about N4.6 trillion has been lost to building collapse which led to the destruction of goods and valuable items.

Additionally, between January 2020 and June 2026, Nigeria recorded dozens of building collapses that killed hundreds and injured many more. Nationwide, more than 650 collapses have killed over 1,600 people since 1974, according to figures the Federal Government cited last month.

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital accounts for over half of all recorded incidents. High-profile collapses there in 2021, 2022 and 2024 claimed dozens of lives and destroyed livelihoods.

Consequently, incidents continue to climb: residential blocks, commercial properties and even schools have given way, often during heavy rains or while occupants slept.

These are not isolated tragedies but symptoms of systemic failure in materials quality, regulation and enforcement.

Experts attribute these incidents to substandard block-moulding combined with defective materials , unprofessional construction practices, inadequate supervision and the push to cut costs

In Nigeria, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), state works ministries and local councils are mandated by law to regulate and and ensure that building materials are up to standards

N4.6trn lost

The Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), in partnership with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has set up an initiative to curb building collapses, noting that Nigeria is currently lossing trillions

Speaking at the induction of the inaugural cohort of CEFFI professionals, Dr Iliyasu Gashinbaki, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIFCFIN, said the initiative stemmed from disturbing findings in a 2026 engineering study.

According to Gashinbaki, the study identified 111 validated building-collapse incidents in Nigeria between 2015 and 2025.

He said the incidents resulted in 321 deaths and 344 injuries, representing an average of approximately 32 deaths and 34 injuries annually within the dataset.

Gashinbaki added that fire-related losses were equally sobering.

He said a recent analysis of documented incidents between 2022 and 2025 estimated at least N4.6 trillion in destroyed goods, property and business assets.

He said this amounted to roughly N1.15 trillion annually across the dataset.

Gashinbaki said the figures demonstrated the need for Nigeria to move from reactive responses to evidence-based investigation and accountability.Buy Maps

He said the CEFFI initiative would bring together engineering, forensic science, law, regulation and investigation to strengthen the response to engineering failures.

He said a recent analysis of documented incidents between 2022 and 2025 estimated at least N4.6 trillion in destroyed goods, property and business assets.

He said this amounted to roughly N1.15 trillion annually across the dataset.

Gashinbaki said the figures demonstrated the need for Nigeria to move from reactive responses to evidence-based investigation and accountability.Buy Maps

He said the CEFFI initiative would bring together engineering, forensic science, law, regulation and investigation to strengthen the response to engineering failures.

‘Where there is suspected negligence, fraud, malpractice or deliberate compromise of safety, properly conducted forensic engineering can preserve the technical evidence required,’ he said.

He urged regulators, project owners, contractors, professional bodies and law-enforcement agencies to ensure that engineering failures did not end with repairs, abandonment or silence.

Gashinbaki said the initiative would help promote safer infrastructure, stronger institutions, better stewardship of public resources and the protection of human life.

Only recently, Daily Trust reports that one person was injured after a five-storey building under construction partially collapsed on Durban Street, Wuse II, Abuja.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, confirmed the incident, which occurred at about 6:30 pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

In a statement issued by its Press Unit, the agency said its Abuja Operations Office received an alert about the collapse and immediately activated relevant emergency response agencies.

NEMA said the FCT Fire Service and its AYA Emergency Response Ambulance Bay team were among the responders mobilised to the scene to coordinate search and rescue operations.

The agency confirmed that no life was lost in the incident, while the injured worker was evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

What can be done

Two measures matter most. First, criminal and civil liability must extend to manufacturers, suppliers and complicit professionals where negligence leads to collapse, with State Houses of Assembly legislating penalties stiff enough to deter, alongside whistleblower protection.

Second, SON must move from paper standards to street-level enforcement: mandatory certification for block producers, regular market sampling and lab testing, and tighter import checks. Supporting this, local councils should license and inspect block-moulding sites, publishing lists of certified producers and revoking licenses for repeat offenders.

Approval processes must include mandatory on-site inspection at foundation, lintel and roof stages, not just at submission – with inspectors trained, equipped and rotated to reduce corruption. Digital permit platforms publishing inspection status would add pressure that paper files cannot.

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have rescued a kidnapped tanker driver, identified as Usman Abubakar, in the state.

The victim was reportedly kidnapped along the Benin-Lagos Road by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on October 31, 2026.

It was gathered that the victim and his motor boy were heading from Lagos towards Kano State when some armed men emerged from the bush at Ugbogun, along the expressway, and intercepted the vehicle.

The gunmen reportedly kidnapped the driver and whisked him into the bush, while his motor boy, identified as Imran Sokoto, escaped.

The Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the victim had been rescued by the police.

She said the police received information that a tanker driver had been kidnapped by gunmen along the Benin-Lagos Highway and whisked into the bush.

Ikoedem said the police mobilised a security team to Morgan Forest for a bush combing operation aimed at rescuing the victim.

She said the hoodlums, on sighting the police, opened fire on them, prompting the officers to respond and in the process, the suspects fled into the bush with bullet wounds, abandoning their captive.

She added that the victim was rescued unhurt and continued his journey.

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to embrace unity, peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and cultural differences.

Tinubu made the appeal on Sunday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, while hosting members of his delegation to a dinner.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to transform Nigeria’s diversity into a source of prosperity, unity, peace and sustainable development.

‘May Almighty Allah bless Nigeria, convert our diversity into prosperity as a country,’ he said.

The President also sought divine guidance for the country’s leaders and protection for Nigerians at home and abroad.

He called for stronger bonds of brotherhood, patriotism and compassion, expressing confidence in the ability of Nigerians to overcome the country’s challenges through collective efforts.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources, coupled with the talents and enterprise of its diverse population, provided a strong foundation for inclusive growth.

Speaking at the dinner, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commended Tinubu’s commitment to national development.

He pledged the governors’ continued prayers for the President and Nigeria, seeking divine guidance and strength for the administration.

‘Only Allah can reward you; we will continue to pray for you daily and pray for Nigeria that you lead.

‘May Allah continue to strengthen you in making the right decisions, strengthen your wisdom, your boldness, your audacity and your courage.

‘May Allah lead you to the right path,’ AbdulRazaq said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also prayed for divine strength for Tinubu.

He sought Allah’s guidance to enable the President to deliver justice and good governance to all Nigerians.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, have arrested two Nigerians travelling to Paris, France, for allegedly ingesting 200 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.46 kilogrammes.

The suspects, identified as Aliocus Godian Odife and Sam Blackborn, were intercepted on Wednesday, October 28, during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 832 from Abuja to Paris.

The NDLEA said in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, that the suspects subsequently excreted all the cocaine wraps while under observation by agency operatives.

According to the statement, Odife, who claimed to live in France and work in a factory, arrived in Nigeria on October 21 for a short holiday.

He was arrested while attempting to return to France after a body scan revealed foreign objects in his stomach.

The agency said he admitted ingesting 110 pellets of cocaine and subsequently excreted all of them. The wraps tested positive for cocaine and weighed 1.901 kilogrammes.

His co-traveller, Blackborn, was also arrested after a body scan indicated that he had ingested drugs.

He admitted swallowing 90 pellets of cocaine and later excreted all of them under observation. The wraps tested positive for cocaine and weighed 1.559 kilogrammes.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the interception as a warning to drug traffickers who believe that living abroad would shield them from detection while trafficking illicit substances across Nigerian borders.

Marwa, according to the statement, said officers at the country’s entry and exit points remained vigilant. He warned against the dangers of ingesting illicit drugs for financial gain.

Other seizures

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 976 kilogrammes of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, in two separate operations on Sunday, October 25.

The agency said 537 kilogrammes of the substance were recovered from a white Volkswagen LT 28 bus intercepted along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, while another 439 kilogrammes were seized from a brown J5 bus along the Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway.

In Oyo State, two suspects, Oguntona Nasiru, 46, and Soji Balogun, 47, were arrested on Thursday, October 29, while allegedly loading 554 kilogrammes of skunk into a Volvo truck along Idere Road, Igboora.

The operation targeted a suspected drug dealer identified as ‘Omo Oba’, who escaped arrest on October 25 when NDLEA operatives seized 309.5 kilogrammes of cannabis, known as Ghanaian Loud, allegedly linked to him.

In Kano State, operatives raided a location in the Tsamiya area of Gezawa on Monday, October 26, recovering 247,500 tablets of diazepam weighing 57.7 kilogrammes and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5 weighing 38.7 kilogrammes.

Two days later, officers arrested Ziya’ulhaq Abdullahi, 35, and Garba Muhammed, 52, in the Dorayi area with 19,250 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 13.6 kilogrammes.

The agency also reported the arrest of a woman, Aisha Isah, with 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition at a tollgate along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

On the Zaria-Kano Expressway, a 68-year-old man, Ifeanyi Egwolonwu, was arrested at Gwargwaje, Zaria, with 2,770 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 100 ampoules of diazepam injection, 11,000 tablets of diazepam and 4,500 tablets of Exol-5.

In another operation at Tashan Banke, officers arrested seven suspects, including Faisal Adamu, and recovered 178.85 kilogrammes of cannabis alongside quantities of diazepam, tramadol, Exol-5 and pregabalin.

In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid on cannabis farms in Ijare Forest on Sunday, October 25. The suspects included Bassey Okon, 24; Abraham Edet, 20; and Oto Udo, 24. Officers recovered 16 bags of processed cannabis weighing 180 kilogrammes.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, raided Eko Camp in Ilushi, Esan South-East Local Government Area, on Wednesday, October 28. They destroyed a cannabis plantation measuring 1.646 hectares, with an estimated yield of 4,115.53 kilogrammes.

Marwa commended officers and men of the NDLEA commands at the Abuja airport, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Ondo, Oyo and Edo for the arrests and seizures.

He urged them to sustain operations against drug trafficking organisations while intensifying efforts to reduce drug demand through the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programme.

The 10-member Independent Committee to Investigate the Reported Deaths of 33 People in NSCDC Custody on September 17, 2026, headed by Mr Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, submitted its report last week, a few weeks after its constitution. In its report, the committee provided a thorough and far-reaching account of the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, leaving no doubt that it painstakingly examined the facts, reviewed available evidence and engaged relevant stakeholders before arriving at its recommendations.

In line with earlier eyewitness accounts, the committee found that the deaths of the detained miners resulted from environmental asphyxia caused by severe overcrowding, poor ventilation, extreme heat and dehydration in an unsuitable detention facility. The panel concluded that the tragedy was entirely preventable and stemmed from unlawful detention conditions, failure of duty of care, inadequate supervision and the disregard of repeated distress calls from detainees who pleaded for help throughout the night. Before the investigation, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State sought to explain the deaths as possibly resulting from an unspecified disease outbreak. They later stated that the cause of death had not yet been established. That position was a disservice to the Nigerian people, who fund the activities of the NSCDC. Rejecting the disease outbreak claim, the committee further established that the arrests and detention of the alleged illegal miners were carried out without proper planning or authorisation.

In its report, the committee made a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring accountability, justice and institutional reform. Foremost among them was that officers found culpable in the deaths of the detainees should be dismissed from service and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Significantly, the committee identified the officers involved and specified the roles each played in what amounted to an unnecessary loss of 37 lives. The committee also urged the federal government to provide compensation to the victims’ families, educational support for their dependants, and medical and psychological care for survivors and affected relatives. In addition, it called for a formal government apology in recognition of the gravity of the tragedy. On the institutional front, the panel recommended a comprehensive overhaul of detention practices within the NSCDC. This should include upgrading detention facilities, ensuring stricter adherence to constitutional safeguards and human rights standards, enhancing the supervision of detainees, improving officer training, and strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms. The committee further stressed the need for proper operational planning, record-keeping and authorisation procedures for future enforcement operations, warning that systemic failures and negligence must never again be allowed to cause such a preventable loss of life.

International human rights law and Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantee the right to life, a fundamental right that does not cease to apply simply because a person is under arrest or in detention. Detainees and inmates remain entitled to the protection of the law, humane treatment, access to medical care where necessary, and the constitutional safeguards of due process and fair hearing. The committee’s findings indicate that the deceased detainees repeatedly cried out for help and showed signs of severe distress before their deaths, yet those warnings were allegedly ignored. No domestic law or international human rights standard permits security personnel to stand by while people in their custody face a life-threatening emergency. The reported failure to respond raises serious questions about the training, judgment and conduct of the officers involved. Whether the neglect resulted from inadequate human rights training, gross indifference or an attempt to conceal wrongdoing, the tragedy represents a profound breach of the duty of care owed to every person in lawful custody.

While the officers directly implicated in the deaths of the detained miners must face the full weight of the law, it would be a grave mistake to treat the Niger State tragedy merely as the misconduct of a few individuals. The findings of the Independent Investigative Committee point to deeper institutional weaknesses, including poor supervision, inadequate detention conditions, operational failures and disregard for established standards of care.

The needless loss of lives has inevitably placed the NSCDC under intense public scrutiny and raised troubling questions about its procedures, oversight mechanisms and accountability structures. The government must therefore go beyond disciplining culpable officers and undertake a comprehensive review of the organisation’s operations nationwide. Such a review should examine detention practices, operational protocols, training standards, command responsibility and compliance with constitutional and human rights obligations. The tragedy in Niger State should serve as a wake-up call and an opportunity for meaningful reform. Anything short of a thorough institutional overhaul would risk leaving the conditions that produced this disaster unchanged, thereby exposing citizens to similar tragedies in the future.

Residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say extreme heat is harming their health, raising household expenses and disrupting businesses and livelihoods.

The residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the intense heat had increased their dependence on electricity, water and other cooling measures, while inconsistent power supply made coping more difficult.

They said the situation had resulted in food spoilage, increased operating costs, changes in working hours and health-related discomfort, particularly among households and people whose occupations exposed them to direct sunlight.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in an Oct. 23 advisory, had warned Nigerians to prepare for hotter days, increased heat discomfort, dust and possible water scarcity as the country transitions from the rainy to the dry season.

The agency identified dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke among the health risks associated with excessive heat, warning that prolonged exposure could affect people’s health and productivity.

To reduce heat-related risks, NiMet advised Nigerians to drink water regularly, wear lightweight and breathable clothing, and limit prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, particularly during the hottest hours of the day. (NAN)

It also recommended scheduling strenuous outdoor activities for cooler periods.

In Sokale community, Bwari Area Council, Mrs Patient Ndidi said coping with the heat had become an additional financial burden, particularly as a mother trying to keep her children comfortable while managing household expenses.

‘The sun was so intense that it felt as though it was draining my blood.

‘Even when the children returned from school, I had to tell them to go and take their baths because the heat was so much,’ she said.

Ndidi said the situation had increased her household’s electricity consumption because the family needed to run its fans for longer periods whenever power was available.

‘We use more units now because whenever there is electricity, we tend to leave the fan on throughout the day.

‘As a result, we are constantly recharging our prepaid meter,’ she said.

She explained that inconsistent electricity supply had also made food preservation difficult, as cooked meals could easily spoil during prolonged power outages.

According to her, foods such as egusi and groundnut soup, beans and other cooked meals were particularly difficult to preserve, forcing her to prepare smaller quantities that could be consumed at once.

She said the adjustment had increased the frequency of cooking and sometimes resulted in food wastage, additional expenses and stress.

Ndidi added that when electricity was unavailable, members of her household sometimes poured water on their bodies for temporary relief.

‘Actually, it has not helped us at all because once there is no electricity, you return to square one,’ she said.

She called on the government to improve electricity supply and consider reducing electricity tariffs to ease the financial burden on households.

Similarly, Mr John Anthony, a resident of Kubwa, said coping with the heat was more challenging at home than in his workplace, where air-conditioning provided a comfortable environment.

‘Office is not a problem at all; there is AC, so everywhere is always cool until we go home,’ he said.

Anthony said his family sometimes opened their windows and doors to improve ventilation, while drinking sufficient water to cope with the heat.

He, however, urged the government to ensure stable electricity supply to enable residents to use cooling appliances.

‘Government should please help us to ensure there is stable light so that we will be able to cope and it will reduce it,’ he said.

Another Kubwa resident, Mr Ignatius Ikechukwu, a Point of Sale (POS) operator who works under the sun, described coping with the heat as challenging.

He said drinking sufficient water was his major strategy for managing the situation while carrying out his daily activities.

‘I do not joke with water at all,’ he said.

The effects of the extreme heat have also extended to traders and other business owners, particularly those dealing in perishable goods and products requiring refrigeration.

In Jikwoyi, Miss Lovina Obiyi, a trader dealing in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry, said the excessive heat had resulted in the loss of considerable quantities of poultry.

‘We specialise in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry.

‘Due to the heat, we have lost quite a good amount of chickens and turkeys to the point that we need to open the place for ventilation,’ she said.

Obiyi stated that the heat had also influenced consumer preferences, increasing demand for cold drinks and frozen food products.

‘There is a rise in the purchase of cold things. Nobody buys normal temperature water; it has to be cold water.

‘When it comes to foodstuffs, people prefer frozen food rather than smoked ones,’ she said.

She explained that while perishable products were preserved in freezers, tomatoes and peppers were kept in open spaces to allow ventilation, adding that goods that could no longer be salvaged were discarded.

According to her, the heat had reduced profit margins because some food items ripened faster than expected, resulting in losses.

‘The heat affects a lot of things. Profit margin is low because things get spoilt a lot.

‘When you keep plantain, they all get ripe at once. There is a lot of loss and risks now due to the heat and also the death of livestock,’ she said.

Obiyi added that the heat had also affected her personal comfort, causing heat rashes and making it difficult to sleep without a fan.

Mr Chimezie Samuel, a business owner in Dutse, said the increased demand for cold drinks and other chilled products had created additional pressure on his business because of unreliable electricity supply.

He said customers seeking relief from the heat sometimes could not find cold drinks when power was unavailable.

Although he had not recorded significant losses from spoiled goods because most of his products were not highly perishable, Samuel said maintaining adequate cooling remained a challenge.

He disclosed that he had invested more than N1.7 million in a solar power system to keep his business running despite electricity challenges.

He urged the government to improve electricity supply, noting that the effects of extreme heat extended beyond business operations to residents’ ability to rest comfortably after work.

He also highlighted the importance of adequate water supply, saying electricity challenges could affect access to water and make coping with the heat more difficult.

For Mr Henry Chinonso, a welder and fabricator, the heat had forced changes in working hours to reduce exposure to direct sunlight.

‘I come out in the morning. I rest immediately it is 12 o’clock during the hot weather. When the heat reduces, then I will start again,’ he said.

Chinonso said he and his workers now suspend activities during the afternoon and resume in the evening when temperatures become more bearable.

He expressed concern that prolonged periods of extreme heat could affect work schedules, reduce customer patronage and slow productivity.

He identified adequate shade as one of the measures that could help outdoor workers cope with the situation.

Beyond its economic consequences, extreme heat has also raised concerns among residents and healthcare workers over its possible effects on health.

Mr Jeffrey Onu, a nurse at Olohi Gocho Pharmacy, Sokale, said some people visiting the facility had complained about the hot weather.

He advised residents to drink sufficient water regularly, get adequate rest and maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the risk of heat-related health problems.

Onu also urged people to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, and to seek shade or remain in cool, well-ventilated places whenever possible.

He further advised residents experiencing skin irritation to avoid scratching affected areas and using harsh creams or skincare products that could worsen the condition.

‘My advice is that in this hot weather, people should drink enough water and take their rest.

‘Excessive heat causes a lot of sicknesses in the human system, some of which may not even be detected on time,’ he said.

Ms Tope Ayoola, another FCT resident, said the intense heat had left her exhausted, caused excessive sweating and made it difficult to sleep comfortably at night.

‘The heat is too much. It makes me feel tired and weak. I sweat a lot and I can’t sleep well at night,’ she said.

Ayoola said she coped by drinking more water, staying indoors during the afternoon and taking cold baths.

She added that she had experienced headaches and heat rashes, which she attributed to the excessive heat.

Similarly, Ms Tolu Idayat said the hot weather had affected her concentration and productivity, sometimes leaving her with headaches and tiredness.

She said she coped by drinking plenty of water, wearing light clothing and bathing regularly.

Idayat appealed to the government to improve electricity supply and access to clean water, while creating public awareness on measures residents could adopt to protect themselves from excessive heat.

Mr Israel Bulus, a resident of Apo, described the hot weather as a seasonal experience to which residents had continued to adapt.

He said he sometimes took baths up to three times at night to obtain relief from the heat, adding that he remained concerned about its possible health implications.

Across the communities, residents called for improved electricity and water supply, saying reliable access to both services would reduce the financial pressure on households and businesses while making it easier to cope with extreme temperatures.

The public presentation of the book Tinubu: From Renewed Hope to Despair was a launch like no other – for two reasons. First, the launch came beset with all sorts of controversies. The book’s title alone was enough to draw the ire of those in government, particularly in an election period. It was supposed to have been launched at a ceremony billed to take place at Arewa House, Kaduna, on October 15. For some inexplicable reason, ABU Zaria, which owns Arewa House, scuttled the ceremony a few days before the event.

To compound matters, the launching committee could not lay their hands on any alternative venue in Kaduna. It looked as if unseen forces had directed all hoteliers and event-centre owners to stay clear of this book launch. That made the book singularly popular and aroused the interest of yours sincerely to look forward to where else the launch would take place. Fortunately, the editors chose to come to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. Somehow, the unseen forces did not interfere, and the launch went ahead on October 16.

Secondly, during the ceremony, the authors offered the book at the ridiculous fee of only N5000. Prof. Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, who made the announcement, explained that producing the book cost about N4000 per copy and that they added only N1000 to offset residual expenses, including transportation and venue hire. I was stunned by this candid revelation. I recall that in this year alone, I witnessed ceremonies in the same venue, where book prices at the launch ranged from the princely sum of N50,000 to the outrageous amount of N100,000 per copy.

But this is typical of the publishers, Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (Ceddert), whose primary aim was not profit but delivering an informed treatise to the public, at basic cost. The centre itself was established in the early 1990s by a group of high-minded professionals from ABU’s history department led by their mentor, the indomitable Dr Yusuf Bala Usman. Since his death in 2005, Professors Siddiq Mohammed, Alkassum Abba, Aliyu Sanusi, and a host of others, all in the mould of town-and-gown public intellectuals, have carried the banner of Ceddert even higher. Over the years, the centre has been quite prodigious in churning out well-researched papers on many social issues affecting the north of the country. I have particularly noted their contributions to the debate on the Almajiri and rural banditry issues.

The gathering that morning at the Yar’Adua Centre was like a festive affair, a meeting of old friends, many from the university days of the 1970s. I spotted Adamu Maina Waziri, the ABU SUG President during my time in the 1974/75 session and Dr Usman Bugaje, also an active student leader of the time. Also present were those known to be in the trenches as field politicians and civil rights activists. These included, among others, the SDP presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo; the ADC vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi; the PRP Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed; Dr Usman Yusuf; and Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, who gave a riveting keynote address.

As you would expect, many rousing speeches were made at the occasion. However, Prof. Mohammed put the contents of the book in perspective. Quoting from an earlier Ceddert press statement, he said: ‘There is nothing in this book that is not already in the public domain. The book examines the record of the Tinubu administration, interrogates its policies and assesses their implications for Nigeria’s economy, security, national unity and democratic development. Its purpose is to contribute to public understanding and stimulate informed debate. These are legitimate and necessary activities in any democracy.

‘If those in power disagree with our analysis or conclusions, they are free to challenge them with evidence, reasoned arguments and alternative explanations. They may publish their own assessments, organise public discussions or respond directly to the issues raised in the book. What they should not do is seek to prevent the public from hearing arguments they dislike. The proper response to criticism is engagement, not suppression.’

The book itself is divided into seven chapters, with each of the four editors taking one or two. As its compelling blurb explains, the book critically analyses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies, ‘examines the first three years of the administration against the promises that preceded it and the realities Nigerians experienced. The book interrogates the widening gap between policy intentions and lived experience, focusing on the consequences of economic reforms for household incomes, food prices, purchasing power, public debt, agriculture, industry and infrastructure.

Beyond the economy, the book examines concerns over national unity, federal character, regional equity and the changing geography of federal power. It considers whether the distribution of political appointments, federal institutions, infrastructure and economic opportunities is strengthening or straining confidence in Nigeria’s federal system.’

On reading the book, one is immediately struck by the thorough preparations undertaken by the editors. Their data collection from verifiable sources was meticulous. Their analyses are very profound. Their conclusions and verdict may seem brutal, but this does not detract from the book’s overall quality. The book is good reading material for those of us trying to make sense of how we came to be where we are now. It might even be more of a recommended read for those at the top levels of government.

The Kano State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of the chairmen of Rogo, Bagwai and Bebeji Local Government Areas by another three months.

The Assembly also extended the mandate of its ad hoc committee investigating allegations of violations of due process and administrative procedures against the three council chairmen.

The extension followed the expiration of the initial three-month suspension and investigation period earlier granted by the House.

In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Assembly, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, said the extension was to enable the committee to conclude its investigation, examine the petitions against the chairmen and submit its report to the House.

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The statement added that the committee, constituted under the leadership of Speaker Jibril Ismail Falgore, had been given another three months to complete its assignment.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded blame following an attack on the convoy of the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya.

Dan’iya had alleged that personnel of the Marshal and Community Guard, state-owned security outfits, attacked his convoy around the Sokoto Airport at about 9 pm on Friday, October 30, shortly after he escorted former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the airport.

The ADC candidate, in a statement by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, claimed that security personnel blocked his convoy and prevented it from passing, allegedly acting on orders from above to stop ADC members from entering Sokoto.

He alleged that gunshots were fired during the confrontation, his vehicle was damaged, and two Department of State Services (DSS) officers attached to his security team were detained.

Dan’iya described the incident as a threat to his life and called on the police, the DSS and other relevant authorities to investigate the matter and establish those responsible.

The ADC candidate further alleged that earlier in the day, personnel of the security outfits had been deployed at entry points into the state, where vehicles bearing ADC inscriptions were reportedly stopped from entering.

The Director-General of the ADC campaign council, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the alleged attack on Dan’iya.

Goronyo, in a statement, described the incident as a threat to the safety of the party’s governorship candidate and members of his entourage.

He maintained that no governor, political party or security commander had the authority to prevent citizens from entering a state because of their political affiliation.

The ADC director-general also accused the state government of allegedly deploying public security resources for partisan activities, arguing that security personnel should concentrate on addressing banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges facing communities.

However, the APC dismissed the allegations, describing them as fabricated claims intended to attract public sympathy and divert attention from the ADC’s political challenges.

The state APC Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Adiya, said the allegations were part of what he described as a propaganda campaign against the state government.

Adiya, in a statement, questioned the credibility of the account, particularly the claim that personnel of the state security outfits detained DSS officers and interfered with their vehicles.

He also faulted what he described as inconsistencies in the ADC’s account of the incident, arguing that while the party’s media aide reportedly claimed that security personnel prevented Dan’iya from entering Sokoto metropolis, the candidate’s statement indicated that he had visited different locations in the city to pay condolence visits and attend to other engagements.

The APC chairman also dismissed claims that security personnel were deployed to restrict ADC members from entering the state, explaining that Sokoto was preparing to host a major traditional title conferment ceremony scheduled for Sunday.

He said the event was expected to attract prominent personalities and visitors from different parts of the country, making adequate security arrangements necessary.

Analyst condemns attack

Speaking on the issue, Dr Aminu Hayatu, a political scientist at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), said the growing tension between political parties in some states was being fuelled by alleged attempts to suppress opposition activities.

He warned that the situation could degenerate into widespread violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said although heightened political tension was expected as the country moved closer to another election, the pattern of developments in some states over the past month suggested that the situation required serious attention.

He said the alleged restrictions, which he claimed were deliberately targeted and controlled by actors within the ruling party, had deepened opposition grievances over the political environment ahead of the elections.

According to him, the growing frustration had also contributed to retaliatory actions by opposition supporters, who sometimes resorted to tearing down ruling party banners whenever they sighted APC members or their campaign activities.

He warned that the situation could trigger more political violence as the election approached and potentially worsen during the polls if urgent steps were not taken.

Hayatu said security agencies had a critical role to play in containing the situation.

He, however, stressed that they could only do so by remaining neutral and resisting attempts by political actors to use them as instruments of intimidation or suppression.

He said the perceived involvement of security operatives in actions against opposition parties could further undermine confidence in the electoral process.

He argued that political parties must be allowed to operate freely and enjoy a level playing field to prevent existing tensions from escalating and threatening the conduct of free and fair elections.

Hayatu said suspicions that the ruling party was attempting to influence the electoral process had also contributed to the growing political hostility, noting that civil society organisations had raised concerns about the situation.

He urged political stakeholders to take the warning signs seriously.

He described Nigeria as an increasingly fragile polity, already grappling with economic difficulties and persistent security challenges, saying the addition of political violence could further destabilise the country.

The political scientist said the violence witnessed in Sokoto reflected what had been happening quietly in some parts of the North, warning that the situation could spread to other states if left unchecked.