Category: Daily Trust

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to reject attempts by mischief makers to sow division in Nigeria, calling on northern leaders to unite behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from the ACF led by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Shettima said it was time for northern leaders to stand together in support of the administration’s efforts to steer the nation out of economic and social difficulties.

He warned that divisive elements were exploiting religious and ethnic sentiments to fragment the country, urging the ACF to resist such manipulation.

‘We must continue to resist all attempts to divide us or stir mischief among us. Our future depends on unity, and unity must remain our creed,’ the Vice President said.

Shettima explained that while some agitations stem from legitimate grievances seeking fairness, others are driven by greed and the desire to exploit chaos.

He said the Tinubu administration was committed to identifying genuine calls for justice and inclusion while isolating those seeking to profit from disorder.

..Reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusivity, Shettima said, ‘Every group, every faith, and every voice has a place in our national conversation. We will never accommodate marginalisation. Our policies are designed to create opportunities for all through education, inclusion, and enterprise.’

.He reminded the northern elders that they remain key stakeholders in the Tinubu administration and assured them of continued partnership to advance the region’s development.

.’This government is yours. Your interests shall always find representation here, for I am one of you,’ he added.

.Shettima noted that the North, once defined by stability and vision, now faces challenges of insecurity, mistrust, and economic decline, stressing that these issues must not be allowed to persist.

‘We owe our people the duty of ending the cycle of killings and destruction and ensuring justice for victims of violence and deprivation,’ he said.

According to him, the administration is transforming agriculture from subsistence to large-scale commercial ventures by investing in agro-processing industries, microfinance systems for smallholder farmers and MSMEs, and industrial zones in states such as Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto.

On security, Shettima said the government’s coordinated operations had neutralised several bandit leaders and restored relative peace in affected communities.

Earlier, ACF Chairman Bashir Dalhatu commended the Tinubu administration for its bold reforms and praised Shettima for his dedication and support in advancing national development.

He said the ACF delegation was at the Villa to express solidarity with the government and invite the Vice President to the forum’s 25th anniversary celebration.

Dalhatu disclosed that the ACF plans to launch an endowment fund to promote socio-economic growth across the northern region.

He added that the anniversary would provide a platform for engagement with other socio-cultural groups to foster unity and national progress.

Also speaking, ACF National Executive Committee Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, said the anniversary would showcase the North’s potential and reaffirm its commitment to a united and prosperous Nigeria.

Other notable ACF members at the meeting included Sen. Ibrahim Ida, Murtala Aliyu, Amb. Ibrahim Mai-Sule, former IGP M.D. Abubakar (rtd), Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, and Lt. Gen. Abdurahman Bello Dambazau (rtd).

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri is set for a significant spell out after suffering a tear in his hamstring.

Yesterday, Barcelona confirmed that the 22-year-old had a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh.

The biceps femoris is part of the hamstring group at the back of the thigh.

The club did not give a recovery timeline, instead stating that ‘the player’s recovery will dictate his return to action’.

Pedri had played in 41 consecutive games for Barcelona, and has missed just one of Hansi Flick’s 73 matches as manager.

The midfielder was set to miss Barcelona’s next La Liga match against Elche after receiving a red card for a late challenge on Aurelien Tchouameni during Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid.

Pedri has made 215 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona since joining the club from Las Palmas in 2020 aged 17.

The Spaniard has suffered several hamstring injuries since joining the club, including one that kept him out for over three months between September 2021 and January 2022.

He joins a long list of Barcelona injury absentees including Gavi, Raphinha, Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, though Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo have returned to training.

Flick’s side are second in La Liga, five points behind leaders Real.

A Magistrate’s Court in Jos on Wednesday sentenced one Abdul Ado, a 23-year-old carpenter, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing his neighbour’s cellphone.

Magistrate Irene Pati sentenced Ado after he pleaded guilty to charges of trespass and theft.

Pati, in her judgment, however, gave the convict an option of a fine: N30,000 or six months in prison for trespass, and N60,000 or one year for theft.

She also ordered him to pay a compensation of N158,000 to the complainant.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 3 at the ‘A’ Division police station by Chinonzo Isaac, the complainant.

Gokwat said that the convict trespassed into the complainant’s room while he was sleeping, stole his cellphone worth N158,000, and sold it for N25,000.

Nigeria’s pastoralist economy remains one of the largest in Africa, with millions of households’ dependent on cattle, sheep, goats, and camels for livelihood. Livestock contributes significantly to the country’s food security, employment, and rural income. According to estimates by the National Bureau of Statistics and development partners, Nigeria’s livestock sector is valued at over N30 trillion, with pastoralist markets forming the heartbeat of this economy. Each year, more than 20 million cattle and over 40 million sheep and goats exchange hands across Nigeria, generating billions in cash flow and sustaining rural communities.

To put this in perspective, Nigeria’s entire oil and gas sector-the backbone of its export earnings-generates about N19-21 trillion annually, depending on global prices. Crop farming, the country’s other major agricultural subsector, is estimated at around N25 trillion yearly. This means that pastoralist markets, if properly structured, already match or even surpass other key sectors in value. Yet, despite this immense net worth, they continue to operate largely in the informal sector, plagued by poor infrastructure, lack of standardization, crude transport, and systemic inefficiencies.

Recent efforts at the continental level, particularly the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) African Pastoral Markets Development initiative, presents Nigeria with a unique opportunity. For the first time, the country can align with continental standards while empowering its newly created Ministry of Livestock Development to provide leadership in modernising pastoralist markets. Unless Nigeria seizes this momentum, inefficiencies that deny pastoralists fair value and limit economic growth will remain entrenched.

Across Nigeria, pastoralist markets-from the sprawling Kara markets in Ogun State or Enugu to the bustling Mubi or Azare markets-remain vibrant but largely unregulated. Livestock are moved weekly from one end of the country to another, creating a complex web of transactions that sustain millions. Yet these markets expose a paradox: great economic value sustained by archaic systems.

Infrastructure is either absent or grossly inadequate. Many markets lack loading ramps, watering points, veterinary clinics, quarantine facilities, and holding grounds. Livestock are often traded in open fields without shelter, exposing animals to stress, disease, and injury. Poor roads, insecurity, and weak logistics add another layer of difficulty, inflating costs for both producers and consumers.

The absence of standardisation undermines both value and trust. Livestock are rarely weighed or graded according to internationally recognised systems. Prices are negotiated based on rough visual assessment rather than transparent criteria. This lack of standard measures discourages investment, creates information asymmetry, and weakens Nigeria’s ability to integrate into regional and global livestock value chains. Insecurity, middlemen dominance, and weak institutional oversight further complicate the system. Pastoralists often sell at distressed prices, while market middlemen capture a disproportionate share of value.

Perhaps one of the most damaging bottlenecks is the crude way livestock is transported over long distances. Animals are trekked for weeks under harsh weather or crammed into overloaded trucks without water, rest, or adequate space. By the time they reach destination markets, many are emaciated, dehydrated, or injured.

The consequences are severe. Live weight and market value are reduced, undermining pastoralists’ earnings. Meat quality deteriorates-stressed and weakened animals produce tough, less tender beef, falling short of both domestic consumer expectations and international standards.

Nigeria must urgently modernise livestock transport systems. Purpose-built haulage trucks with ventilation and watering facilities should be introduced, and rail transport revived as a humane and cost-effective alternative. Regulations must mandate animal welfare standards in transit, backed by livestock inspection points. By treating livestock as a perishable commodity that requires care during movement, Nigeria can preserve meat quality, reduce losses, and meet global benchmarks.

AU-IBAR’s African Pastoral Markets Development is coming in as a turning point. It is providing a continental framework for improving infrastructure, introducing standardisation, promoting traceability, and enhancing market access. Crucially, it recognises livestock mobility and trade as regional phenomena that sustain millions across Africa’s drylands.

For Nigeria, this is timely. As one of Africa’s largest livestock producers and consumers, the country sits at the heart of West Africa’s pastoral economy. Cattle, sheep, and goats are routinely traded across borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. By aligning with AU-IBAR’s framework, Nigeria can benefit from harmonised standards, improved cross-border market infrastructure, and greater access to continental and international livestock trade networks.

The creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development is Nigeria’s boldest institutional innovation in decades. This Ministry now stands as the anchor for transforming pastoralist markets. It should develop and upgrade livestock market infrastructure – equip them with veterinary clinics, quarantine stations, water systems, and digital management facilities, introduce national standardisation and grading systems – supported by digital weighing scales, certification processes, traceability tools, promote humane and efficient transport – by regulating animal welfare standards, supporting livestock rail corridors, and incentivizing investment in specialised haulage trucks.

The Ministry should strengthen governance and regulation by setting rules for market operations, addressing middlemen exploitation, and curbing illegal fees, enhance cross-border market integration – by working with ECOWAS and AU-IBAR to harmonise standards, reduce trade barriers, and boost Nigeria’s regional livestock exports.

The Ministry should also leverage technology by introducing mobile apps for block chain based livestock identification, improving transparency with embeded security measures to protect livestock corridors, curb cattle rustling, and restore investor confidence and empower pastoralists.

The AU-IBAR African Pastoral Markets Development initiative offers Nigeria a continental framework for reform. But the real work must be driven from within, and the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development is the most strategic anchor to make this happen.

We can unlock the true value of the trillions Naira pastoralist markets. Doing so will not only uplift pastoralist communities but also position Nigeria as a continental leader in livestock trade, with resilient, profitable, and sustainable markets that feed the nation and earn global respect.

There is a Hausa/Arabic colloquialism that offers a master key to understanding the Nigerian psyche: ‘Wa man taraka bati siddan. wa huwa jahilun.’ Roughly translated, it means, ‘Whosoever passes up a freebie bonanza is clueless.’ This isn’t merely a quaint cultural artifact; it’s the unofficial national motto, a philosophical blueprint that has so thoroughly permeated the Nigerian consciousness that it has become the operating system for everything from petty bribery to grand political theft. The sentiment has mutated from personal opportunism to a societal cancer, creating a bizarre reality where citizens not only condone corrupt leaders but actually applaud them with the enthusiasm of a studio audience, all while being systematically picked cleaner than last year’s Sallah meat.

At its heart, the ‘bati’ ethos is a get-rich-quick doctrine dressed in cultural attire. It champions the idea that any windfall, regardless of its origin or morality, must be seized. To do otherwise isn’t just foolish-it’s a violation of an unwritten social contract. This mindset provides the perfect cultural Petri dish for corruption to flourish. It transforms the act of passing up an illicit gain from an ethical choice into a character flaw.

This philosophy manifests in everyday life through a series of socially numbing adages. As an objective analysis of Northern Nigerian communities would reveal, sentiments like the one coined from the misrepresented Qur’anic quote ‘wa la tajas-sasu’ which translates into ‘do not insist on thorough investigation’ effectively train society to turn a blind eye to shady dealings. Similarly, ‘idan mutum ba zai fai al’khairi ba, ya kame bakin sa’-‘if you can’t say something good, then kindly shut up’ has been twisted into a conspiracy of silence that protects the morally compromised from criticism. These sayings collectively create an environment where curiosity is sinful, criticism is forbidden, and the only remaining option is to celebrate the very villains picking one’s pockets.

Nowhere is this Stockholm syndrome more visible than in Nigeria’s bizarre political culture, where alleged looters receive hero’s welcomes that would make a returning astronaut blush. When former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha-arrested in London with £1 million in cash and subsequently escaping disguised as a woman-returned to Bayelsa, he was met with jubilant celebrations from his people, the same people he robbed. Similarly, when James Ibori, another former governor, faced arrest for corruption, his people set up bonfires and roadblocks to protect him from EFCC operatives. More recently, Yahaya Bello, currently standing trial for alleged theft, made a triumphant return to Kogi State upon securing bail, turning what should have been a moment of shame into a spectacle of adulation. When the former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa was detained on suspicion of corruption, many people in Jega denied their eyes sleep for many nights so they could petition God on his behalf.

This phenomenon represents what psychologists might call freudenfreude-the pleasure derived from someone else’s good fortune, even when that fortune is stolen from you. For many Nigerians, corrupt politicians represent an aspirational ideal-they have successfully gamed a system that ordinary citizens find impossible to navigate. When we see a politician who has allegedly stolen billions, we don’t see a criminal; we see someone who has won the ultimate Nigerian lottery, and we celebrate them as we would a family member who hit the jackpot, hoping for a share of the loot.

Nigeria’s political history reads like an all-you-can-steak buffet for successive administrations, each outdoing the last in creative appropriation of public funds.

The ‘get rich quick’ syndrome has even spawned a distorted spiritual economy where traditional values have been replaced by what Catholic priest Fr. Michael Banjo describes as ‘neo-paganism’. Nigerian youths, facing desperate economic circumstances, increasingly abandon ethical pathways to wealth, sometimes resorting to ritual wealth practices in their desperation for quick money. This represents the ultimate perversion of the bati mentality-where not just moral boundaries but spiritual ones are crossed in pursuit of instant wealth.

Simultaneously, religious interpretations have been twisted to justify inaction in the face of corruption. Sayings like ‘Bakin da Allah Ya tsaga ba zai hana shi abinci ba’ or ‘God shall always provide’ have been misinterpreted to promote attitudes of indolence rather than encouraging hardwork and innovation. Similarly, ‘Jarrabawa ce daga Allah’ or ‘it’s a test of faith from God’ is routinely invoked to explain away everything from traffic accidents caused by recklessness to building collapses resulting from corner-cutting. In this theological framework, every misfortune becomes an ‘act of God,’ and every ill-gotten gain becomes ‘God’s blessings,’ effectively making the Almighty the divine accountant for the corruption balance sheet.

The tragic irony of Nigeria’s bati culture is that nothing is free. The cost is paid in crumbling infrastructure, in a healthcare system so inadequate that it is easier for lightening to strike the same spot twice than it is for the political elite to die in a Nigerian hospital.

The path to redemption requires nothing less than a complete rewiring of our national psyche. We must transition from a society that venerates wealth without questioning its source to one that celebrates integrity and hard work. This begins with rejecting the twisted interpretations of religious and cultural sayings that have numbed our moral senses. It requires holding our leaders-and ourselves-to account and recognising that the greatest bonanza isn’t a stolen billion but a functioning society where success is measured by contribution rather than accumulation.

Until then, we remain the hopeless ones-not for passing up batis, but for failing to see that the greatest thing we’ve collectively abandoned is our national dignity.

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has announced plans to commence mass metering across its franchise areas under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP).

The initiative, backed by a $500 million loan from the World Bank, is aimed at improving the financial and technical performance of electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) through the large-scale deployment of advanced prepaid meters and Meter Data Management Systems (MDMS).

KEDCO in a statement on Wednesday by its head of Corporate Communication, Sani Bala Sani said the rollout marks a major milestone in its efforts to close the metering gap, eliminate estimated billing, and boost customer confidence.

He said at least 128,000 prepaid meters are expected to be installed free of charge for customers in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.

Managing Director/CEO of KEDCO, Dr. Abubakar S. Jimeta, said the initiative aligns with the company’s transformation agenda.

‘The metering initiative is not just about installing devices; it’s about improving service delivery, customer satisfaction, and financial sustainability for the betterment of the power sector,’ the statement quoted the DisCo’s CEO.

He explained that the exercise will focus on metering existing unmetered customers and replacing faulty meters, following a structured and transparent plan.

The Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) yesterday stated that the removal of fuel subsidy has ushered in a new era of deregulation in the downstream sector.

According to the group, this has paved the way for innovative business models such as Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS), integrated multi-energy hubs, Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), and peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading.

Chairman of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Mr. Huub Stokman, stated this at the OTL Downstream Week 2025 during a panel session themed: ‘Navigating the New Frontier: Competition and Market Access in the Downstream Oil and Gas Industry.’

He stated that the entry of the Dangote Refinery is reducing Nigeria’s import dependence and reshaping local supply dynamics.

However, he stressed that ‘greater regulatory clarity and stability’ are still required to reduce ‘investment risks’ and drive long-term growth.

According to him, significant capital is needed across refining, storage, distribution, and low-carbon infrastructure to support Nigeria’s energy goals.

The association urged industry leaders to adopt strategic investments, partnerships, and digital solutions to enhance competitiveness, improve efficiency, and support Nigeria’s drive toward a balanced and sustainable energy future.

Stokman stated that the current downstream landscape has significantly evolved, adding, ‘We are witnessing a redefined downstream environment. Policymakers are now recognising gas as a cleaner transition fuel, with rising demand for CNG and LNG.

‘At the same time, the industry is adopting sustainable and digital technologies – including solar, biofuels, and advanced monitoring tools, to improve efficiency and enhance service delivery,’ he said.

Stokman described Africa’s evolving energy landscape as a ‘dual reality,’ one that must simultaneously tackle energy poverty, affecting over 600 million people-and the global energy transition.

‘We must manage both traditional fossil fuels and the accelerated adoption of renewables. Natural gas-whether LNG, LPG, or CNG-remains a critical transition fuel for Africa, providing a cleaner alternative to heavy fuels and biomass, and supporting industrialisation and access to energy,’ he explained.

He added that decentralisation and digitalisation are reshaping the market, with renewable energy technologies driving distributed energy systems that can reach underserved populations.

‘The biggest frontier is addressing the 600 million people without access to energy. This represents a massive high-growth market for decentralised renewable energy solutions,’ Stokman said.

Stokman also called for regional energy integration through cross-border gas pipelines and harmonised regulatory frameworks within ECOWAS and SADC, to overcome single-country supply vulnerabilities and achieve economies of scale.

Stokman further encouraged industry players to adopt pay-as-you-go distribution channels, local micro-depots, and data-driven maintenance and monitoring tools to cut operational costs and boost efficiency.

‘Companies must pursue cross-border joint ventures, strategic acquisitions, and partnerships with financiers and technology providers.

‘The priority should be green hydrogen, decentralised solar in resource-endowed countries, and expansion into BESS as a service-offering bundled LPG, CNG, and hydrogen solutions that increase customer lifetime value,’ the MEMAN Chairman said.

A former governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, yesterday confirmed that military operatives raided his Abuja residence.

Sylva, in a statement by his media aide, Julius Bokoru, also denied involvement in any attempt to topple President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.

It was gathered that soldiers had, on Sunday, raided Sylva’s Abuja and Bayelsa residences and arrested his brother.

The managing director of a federal agency located in the South-South was also said to have been arrested and interrogated by security agencies for allegedly transferring funds to Sylva for the purported coup financing.

Penultimate weekend, there were reports that 16 army officers were arrested and detained over an alleged coup attempt which was rumoured to have forced the president to cancel the October 1 Independence Day Anniversary parade.

But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed the report as false and malicious, claiming the cancellation of the parade had nothing to do with any alleged coup attempt.

The DHQ had also clarified that the arrest and ongoing investigation of the officers reported in the media was a purely internal process aimed at upholding discipline and professionalism within the ranks, not a politically motivated action.

This is even as Daily Trust learnt yesterday that the number of army officers detained over the alleged coup plot had grown to 42.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on Friday, made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in what the Presidency explained was part of efforts to strengthen the national security architecture.

Major-General Olufemi Oluyede replaced General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff, while Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke was appointed Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas became Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, was retained.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that a former governor from one of the southern states was being investigated for alleged links with the detained army officers.

Sources had told this medium there was suspicion that the former governor financed the alleged plot, which was reportedly scheduled for October 25.

Sylva’s media aide, while responding to reports linking his principal to the rumoured coup, stated yesterday that some politicians were taking their desperation to a sickening level following his ‘intimidating political presence and credibility’.

He described the former governor as an unrepentant and thoroughbred democrat, who had shown unwavering support to Tinubu and his administration.

He recalled that Sylva recently mobilised the entire structures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa to unanimously endorse President Tinubu at the APC Bayelsa expanded stakeholders’ meeting.

Bokoru said the security operatives that raided Sylva’s house did not provide any reason for their action.

He confirmed that Sylva and his wife were already out of the country at the time of the raid.

Explaining their absence, Bokoru said Sylva was in the United Kingdom for routine medical checks and would soon be on his way to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.

Bokoru said: ‘In the past forty-eight hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has ‘fled’ the country in connection with certain purported matters.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.

‘Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently.

‘It is important to state unequivocally that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, and his esteemed wife, Her Excellency, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident.

‘As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.

‘The next development I was made aware of, regrettably, were reports circulating across social media and other platforms concerning the raid on his residence.

‘While the Defence Headquarters has already debunked the swirling rumours of a coup in Nigeria, it is important to state emphatically that Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, has no involvement whatsoever, either in planning or in logistics with any such plot.

‘Chief Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat, whose entire political journey has been defined by his faith in democratic processes and institutions. From the 1990s, when he was first elected into the Old Rivers State House of Assembly, to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva has achieved every milestone through transparent, democratic engagement and the will of the people.

‘His unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a matter of public record. It remains fresh in memory how he mobilized the entire Bayelsa APC structure to unanimously endorse President Tinubu at the APC Bayelsa Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting.

‘These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle-a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions,’ he said.

Daily Trust yesterday sought to know from the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, why Sylva’s home was raided, but calls to his mobile telephone line were declined. Gusau did not reply to text and WhatsApp messages sent to him either.

‘Detained military officers now 42’

Sources at the Defence Headquarters, who spoke anonymously to Daily Trust, revealed that more officers had been detained in connection to the alleged coup attempt, bringing the number of the detainees to 42,

‘So far, 42 officers have been picked up. They are being interrogated to establish the depth of involvement and whether there was any concrete plan beyond mere discussions,’ one of the sources said.

Another source stated that the number could rise as the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the military police continued to trace communication links and funding trails.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, Sunday Dare, while appearing TVC yesterday, said the Presidency aligned with the position of the military authority on the rumoured coup attempt.

He noted that the Armed Forces remain the constitutionally empowered institution to secure Nigeria’s unity and territorial integrity, adding that the Tinubu administration has confidence in their loyalty.

‘We are going to stick to the narrative of the military because they are the ones constitutionally empowered to secure this country. They are given the power, arms and ammunition as the intelligence power.

‘So, when the military says these are the reasons why we have this development, we are going to stay with that narrative because that is the brief that is out there.

‘Until the military comes with a different narrative, we are going to stay with that narrative,’ Dare said.

‘Why FG may not confirm coup plot attempt’

In an interview with one of our correspondents, a security expert and retired military officer, Bashir Galma, said the government might not confirm the alleged coup plot in order not to scare investors away.

He said, ‘In Nigeria, we always claim that we are progressives, we have a way of doing things, if you remember, there is something they call FOI.

‘This is the time we are going to ask ourselves questions. Is that FOI working at all? Secondly, I am not going to blame the government if they deny that there is something like that for so many reasons.

‘This is a country that is looking for investors to come. This is a country where tension has not really eased due to the condition of living of the general populace.

‘However, it is not good for a country like Nigeria. If something like this happens, let them not just deny it vehemently like this. To come out and deny, and the truth comes at the end of the day, then it means in the future, if the government says something serious, doubts will be in the minds of people.’

The Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT, Alhaji Usman Yahaya, has promised to establish a drug revolving scheme in all functional rural health centers across the ten wards of the council if elected.

Yahaya, a three-term Secretary of the council, made the promise on Tuesday when he met with several village and district heads, and community leaders in Gurfata community.

He said setting up of the scheme would create a robust supply and accountability mechanism that would enhance rural dwellers’ easy access to healthcare services.

Governors of the six South-West states have reaffirmed their commitment to regional unity and solidarity, stressing that political differences must never undermine regional cooperation and development.

They also pledged to strengthen collaboration with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration while advancing the collective interests of the Yoruba people.

The pledge was made at the South-West Stakeholders’ Dialogue, a citizen-government interactive town hall session hosted by Ondo State Government in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere.

In his welcome address, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa called on Yoruba leaders to chart a common course for regional integration and sustainable development. He praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms as ‘bold and transformative steps’ that have helped stabilise the nation’s economy, increase non-oil revenues, and promote fiscal discipline.

‘It takes courageous, visionary, and transformative leadership to take such bold decisions,’ Aiyedatiwa said. ‘We, the sub-nationals, are happy as we now have improved allocations to embark upon various developmental projects for the good of our people.’

He urged continued federal-state collaboration and called for true federalism through dialogue and institutional reform. ‘Dialogue must bring action. We must reform and strengthen our institutions to work for our people,’ he said, stressing that unity, not division, remains the key to Nigeria’s progress.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, said the zone must re-enact its legacy as the country’s economic powerhouse, urging leaders to embrace Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as a vehicle for collective prosperity. ‘Nigeria is being reshaped by President Bola Tinubu’s vision, and the South-West must lead that transformation,’ he said.

Other governors and representatives at the event included Osun Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi (for Governor Ademola Adeleke), Ogun Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele (for Governor Dapo Abiodun), Ekiti Secretary to the State Government Prof. Habibat Omolola Adubiaro (for Governor Biodun Oyebanji), and Oyo Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal (for Governor Seyi Makinde).

The dialogue also featured key Yoruba leaders and thinkers who stressed the need to revive regional solidarity and welfarist ideals.

Afenifere leader Chief Reuben Fasoranti, represented by Dr Femi Okunronmu, urged the governors to return to the development model of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, anchored on education, healthcare, and social welfare. ‘The Yoruba nation is only strong in its unity. Party politics must never weaken Yoruba solidarity or make brothers turn against one another,’ he warned.

In his keynote address, Femi Awoyemi lamented the absence of innovative governance in the South-West for over three decades, saying leaders had ‘spent more on politics than on policy.’ He urged the region to ‘think big’ and build enduring structures that promote collective growth.

Other notable figures at the dialogue included former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko; Coordinating Minister of Finance Wale Edun; Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of State for Health Dr Iziaq Salako; and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola.