Category: Daily Trust

I write this column with a heavy heart on the occasion of my country’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary. We must acknowledge the sacrifices it took us to come this far, from those who gave their lives and offered years of dedicated service to ensure that Nigeria is not worse than it is right now. We may not be where we want to be, but the journey has not ended yet.

Still, tragedies like the death of the journalist Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, and the thousands of avoidable tragedies unfolding across the country daily, do not only dampen days like this, when the country should be celebrating a milestone, but continue to shred the already battered optimism Nigerians have about this country.

That optimism we had from commemorating Independence Day as schoolchildren back in the day, standing along the street or in the stadiums with shiny lotioned faces, stiffly pressed uniforms, and hearts full of euphoria to wave past our governors and cheer on the impressive parades all seem so far away now. The children growing up in this generation will only vicariously experience that euphoria through our nostalgic recollection of those days. Sadly, not many Nigerians like to recall those days because it will just retraumatise you over the pains the country has inflicted on us.

Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who died at 29 on Monday morning, somehow retained her optimism for Nigeria. She studied in the UK, returned home to Nigeria, and was enthusiastic about participating in politics because she believed she could contribute to making the country better.

The fact that she died during an armed robbery invasion of her residence in Katampe, Abuja, is shocking enough. What makes it even more painful are the circumstances surrounding this death.

Crime is a universal phenomenon, and there is hardly any society in the world, no matter how wealthy or advanced, that has been able to eradicate it completely. The objective of any well-governed society has always been the mitigation of crime to the barest minimum, and crucially, prompt and effective response to distress calls when crimes happen.

Over the last 65 years of independence, we have not really improved on our crime rates or notably improved our responses to crimes commensurate with our development and population growth.

With increasing access to small arms and light weapons, coupled with increasing social, political, and economic discontent, crime rates over the last 20 years have continued to soar. For example, over the last few months, homicide rates rose by 25 per cent in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with 222 tracked cases against 177 previously, according to the Lagos-based Nigeria Risk Index. In February 2025 alone, there were 83 cases recorded. Mind you, this data is limited and often excludes incidents from hard-to-access regions of the country, of which we know there are far too many.

Over the last few months, we have also witnessed an increase in deaths from banditry and insurgency, with the data showing that at least 2,266 people were killed by bandits or insurgents in the first half of 2025, already exceeding last year’s total.

With one out of five surveyed Nigerians reporting that they were victims of crimes (violent and non-violent) in the last year, it is clear that safety is a major concern in the country and we must actively work to curb crime.

What the numbers mean is that criminals have the audacity to colonise parts of the country, as they have done in parts of the Northwest, the Northeast, and the Southeast, or raid huge apartment blocks and take their sweet time breaking in from one apartment to the other, as they did in Katampe in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the death of Somtochukwu and one of the security men protecting the building.

In all these cases, our security responses have been lamentable, sometimes deliberately slow because even our security personnel sometimes fear to confront the criminals, preferring to show up well after the goons have left with their loot. Far too often, their sacrifices for our safety are ignored, and their families left to suffer in vain.

The most heartbreaking part about Ms Maduagwu’s death is the reported decision of the Maitama General Hospital not to treat her immediately when she was eventually brought to the hospital. Reportedly, they refused to do so until identification was provided and they obtained clearance from the police.

The law has been clear about this. Section 20 of The National Health Act (NHA) 2014, for instance, stipulates that every healthcare provider or health establishment is legally prohibited from refusing any person emergency medical treatment for any reason. Failure to comply constitutes a criminal offence, punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

The fact that we needed the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Wounds Act 2017, and the Patients’ Bill of Rights 2018, both of which mandate all hospitals, public or private, to accept and treat patients needing emergency care, including those with gunshot wounds or accident victims, without waiting for police clearance or upfront payment, means there is a deeply entrenched culture that needs to be uprooted.

However, the laws notwithstanding, hospitals have continued to refuse patients urgent care over police clearance or upfront payment. For decades, law enforcement has harassed hospitals and law-abiding citizens who have offered emergency assistance or reported crimes or made distress calls on behalf of accident or crime victims. Rushing an injured person to a hospital may as well see you being harassed by law enforcement as a possible perpetrator of a crime. This doesn’t only disincentivise rendering urgent assistance but imposes a habit of wanting to avoid police drama by walking away or hesitating when urgent intervention is required.

With hospitals, the privileging of profit over saving lives, and the fear of police harassment is a violation of the Hippocratic Oath that guides medical conduct. And as we have seen with Somtochukwu’s death, the law notwithstanding, this deeply entrenched culture still persists.

It is this culture that is referred to when Nigerians talk about Nigeria not happening to you. The normalisation of this culture of unjustifiable neglect and lack of empathy or the prioritisation of profit over the sanctity of human life is the bane of our country. And it is not only the hospitals that favour payment over saving lives. Even the police have done this far too often. I have reported before how an accident victim on the Abuja-Keffi express road was allowed to bleed out by the police, who instead of getting him immediately to a hospital, preferred to wait over the offending car that amputated the young boy, to make some quick bucks off the driver.

Or how often have we witnessed or heard tales of police officers refusing to convey victims to emergency medical care because the police vehicles ‘no get fuel,’ and how the car miraculously starts moving once bribes are offered.

So, while people in countries like the US or even the relatively low-crime countries of Scandinavia may be shot in their homes, because people will always have reasons to unleash violence on each other, or suffer accidents, they are almost always assured of emergency help and care. The fact that we cannot say the same about Nigeria is the biggest tragedy of our 65 years of independence, as epitomised today by Somtochukwu’s death.

While there is nothing that can be done to bring her back, to undo the damage that this culture has done to her and her family, and thousands of Nigerian families, there is something that could be done for millions of others, who inevitably will be needing urgent interventions to save their lives. Her death could be a turning point, from which the negligence of both law enforcement and the hospital, if any is detected by the investigation, is properly sanctioned as an example for others. If any parties are found culpable, through negligent conduct or clear violations of the law and the demands of their sworn duties, they should be indicted and penalised as stipulated by the law.

At the same time, we must retrain both security and medical personnel on prioritising human lives ahead of payment or the myth of some police procedural, and commend private citizens who offer emergency assistance instead of harassing them. We must be deliberate about eliminating this detrimental culture that we have imbibed. Until we do, may Nigeria never happen to us.

A medical practitioner, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, has urged operators of medical facilities in Nigeria to always attend to victims of gunshots and robbery before demanding a police report.

Speaking during an interview with newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday, Olamitoye noted that prioritizing treatment would save many victims from preventable deaths that often occur while waiting for clearance from the police.

Olamitoye, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ibadan Central Hospital, suggested that all medical facilities should establish a good working relationship and have the contact phone numbers of police divisions within their jurisdictions for such emergencies.

‘We need to start attending to the victims first, then demand a police report. If a victim or a relative cannot provide a police report in the process of treatment, then hospitals can call the attention of the police, since the victim is under their care and cannot escape in such a condition.

‘The patient must be kept alive first; then we can now talk about the police report, price, hospital card, and other necessary things,’ he said.

The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the statement credited to the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan is better than those of Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu combined.

The party described the statement as laughable, saying, ‘This is nothing but another vain attempt by a perennial critic to rewrite history and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.’

Spokesperson of Lagos APC, Seye Oladejo, said, ‘It is sheer obscenity on the part of Chief George to attempt to compare orange with apple in the name of politics.

‘In fact, he owes Goodluck Jonathan an apology for the embarrassment of dressing him up in borrowed robes that neither fit his record nor reflect reality. ‘Nigerians know better. Jonathan presided over the most wasteful and corrupt administration in our recent history, one that squandered an unprecedented oil boom, institutionalised looting, and left behind a broken economy and a bleeding nation. His government is remembered more for missing billions, oil theft, insecurity, and unbridled impunity than for any tangible achievement.’

The Lagos APC stated that President Buhari’s administration, ‘for all its challenges, restored the integrity of our armed forces, mounted an unprecedented anti-corruption campaign, completed long-abandoned infrastructural projects, and laid the foundation for fiscal discipline.’

‘These are facts that cannot be denied. Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has gone further, confronting the structural rot left behind by Jonathan and his ilk.

‘Among others, the removal of the subsidy scam, reforms in the foreign exchange market, bold interventions in agriculture and food security, free technical education with stipends for students, and infrastructural renewal are already resetting Nigeria for sustainable growth. Only mischief-makers like Chief George would compare this boldness with the inertia and incompetence that defined the Jonathan era.

‘We are reluctant to have a conversation about Chief George’s public service record which is in the public domain , either as the military administrator of Ondo State or the Chairman of Nigeria Port Authority- NPA- and makes him eminently disqualified to access any office holder. Bode George’s desperate revisionism cannot erase PDP’s legacy of failure.

‘Chief George has made a career out of political flip-flopping – praising and attacking different leaders at will, depending on which side of his bread is buttered. His inconsistency betrays a lack of principle and exposes him as a man driven not by patriotism but by bitterness and personal grievances.

‘For the record, Chief George is a political paperweight in Lagos – a man who has never won his polling unit, ward, or local government for his party. He should also provide for public scrutiny his records as the so-called leader of the opposition PDP in Lagos, a party perpetually in crisis, one that only comes together during electioneering season to share the crumbs of election funds. A man that cannot maintain a peaceful and stable homestead should humbly keep mute at town hall meetings.

‘His defense of Jonathan only reminds Nigerians why the PDP was roundly rejected at the polls. History is clear: Jonathan’s record was one of waste and failure, Buhari stabilized, and Tinubu is reforming. Nigeria is in safe hands.

‘If we are to accept the erroneous belief that politicians have no retirement age, perhaps they do have an expiry date – and Chief George’s shelf life in Nigeria’s political space expired long ago. He would do well to finally bow out gracefully and spare Nigerians his constant outbursts, distortions, and bitter tirades. The nation has moved on – and so should he.’

Georgian Cup kings, El-Amin Polo Team, are gearing up for a grand 30th-anniversary celebration of their high-goal dominance at the much-anticipated 2025 Kaduna International Polo Tournament, scheduled for mid-October.

El-Amin patron and President of Kaduna Polo Club, Mohammad Babangida, had earlier promised that this year’s edition will be the best-organised in years, featuring more teams, thrilling games, and a re-laid pitch at the Murtala Square venue.

While full details of the anniversary festivities are yet to be disclosed, the team’s storied history – including multiple Georgian Cup triumphs and tournament sponsorships – signals that a glamorous celebration awaits fans and players alike.

Babangida further revealed that extensive preparations have gone into making the 2025 event a landmark in the club’s history, adding that the Ahmadu Yakubu Club House will be alive with activities throughout the 10-day fiesta.

‘It’s a new beginning for Kaduna Polo Club, it’s a new leadership, we have been elected for about a year plus and we have been working, renovating the pitch and putting the facilities in the best shape.’

‘We want to host a unique tournament to showcase the pitch, we want to bring back the glory days of the premier club, Kaduna Polo Club and the most prestigious trophy in Africa, the Georgian Cup,’ he added.

‘We hope to host a special tournament that will celebrate special milestones of the game of Kings in Kaduna and indeed across the country that would help everyone participating. We are on the goodwill of everyone, our sponsors and partners to support us to make this tournament thrilling and memorable, he stated further.

El-Amin Polo Team, Nigeria’s most dominant high-goal side, has carved an unmatched legacy with 15 Georgian Cup titles, while its patron, Mohammad Babangida, boasts 16 victories-15 with El-Amin and one with Kaduna Kakuri in 2000.

The team also made history as the first African side to feature in the Dubai Gold Cup series and Al-Habtoor Cup Challenge. Beyond El-Amin, Babangida has been pivotal in Nigerian polo, captaining the Polo Eagles at the 2011 FIP World Cup in Malaysia.

The 2025 Kaduna Polo Festival promises top prizes including the Emir of Katsina Cup, Imani Cup, and El-Amin Cup.

‘We are in high spirits preparing for the 2025 Kaduna International Polo Tournament. Right now, Kaduna Polo Club is ready as we are expecting lots of new selected cups because there are lots of sponsors that have shown interest in sponsoring our tournament, Gen. Kapeh assured.

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday sentenced ex-president Joseph Kabila to death in absentia for ‘treason’.

Kabila, 54, who was not present at the trial in the capital nor represented, was found guilty of complicity with the M23 anti-government armed group, which has seized swathes of the resource-rich Congolese east with Rwandan help.

He left the vast central African country in 2023 and briefly reappeared in Goma in the volatile east in May, causing disquiet in Kinshasa.

Observers say the death sentence aims to remove the possibility he could unite the opposition within the country, despite his exact current whereabouts being unknown. The DRC, ravaged by violence for more than three decades, lifted a moratorium on the death penalty last year, but no judicial executions have been carried out since.

Military prosecutor General Lucien Rene Likulia had demanded the death penalty for Kabila, whose party slammed the proceedings as ‘a political trial’.

Likulia accused the ex-leader of plotting to overthrow President Felix Tshisekedi, and further charges against him included homicide, torture and rape linked to M23.

Likulia said Kabila, in coordination with Rwanda, sought to spring a coup against Tshisekedi, notably with the help of Corneille Nangaa, who presided over the electoral commission during the 2018 presidential election, which Tshisekedi won.

Kabila ruled the country between 2001 and 2019, taking power following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila.

On his visit to Goma in May, Kabila met local religious leaders in the presence of M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka.

Tshisekedi has branded Kabila the brains behind the armed group, while Kabila has dubbed Tshisekedi’s government a ‘dictatorship.’

Rwanda denies providing military backing to the M23, but UN experts say its army played a ‘critical’ role in the group’s offensive.

Nigeria’s top golfer, Sunday Olapade, lit up the greens over the weekend, as he claimed the professional round title at the 2025 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic. Olapade carded a superb ten-under par over 54 holes, sealing victory in style.

Golf Manager of Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Femi Olagbenro, hailed the champion’s brilliance, noting how close he came to breaking the course record set by Ghana’s Vincent Torgah.

‘I believe every player showing up at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club puts in an extra effort to match the pedigree of the course and the tough field that is always on parade at each Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic event,’ Olagbenro said.

The 2025 edition drew West Africa’s golfing elite, including Ghanaian stars Emos Korblah and Barry Yaw, alongside Nigeria’s Oche Odoh, Kamalu Bako, Gift Willy, Godwin Okoko, Michael Ubi, and Francis Epe.

Backed by major sponsors including Oando Nigeria, GAC Motors, Providus Bank, ARM Holding Company, Mixtafrica, Newmark, and International Breweries, the competition lived up to its reputation for intensity.

Olapade posted rounds of 69, 65, and 72, finishing five strokes clear of runner-up Emos Korblah. His victory earned him a ?5 million purse plus an additional ?2.5 million ARM Champion bonus, bringing his total prize to ?7.5 million.

Reflecting on the triumph, Olapade said he was glad to see his efforts crowned with success.

‘This is a very satisfying win, given the effort I have put into my game in the past few months. I have just come back from a training round in Kenya. It’s been a very challenging routine, which is why this is satisfying. I want to thank everyone who has supported me this while, and believe in me.’

In the same vein, young talent Godwin Okoko also made headlines with a third-place finish in the professional round. He then inspired his amateur teammates – Ikechukwu Boniface, David Maji, and Frances Omaruaye – to victory in the Team Event.

The runner-up team, led by Kingsley Oparaku, featured Roland Alexander, Terry Paul, and Abe Ayodeji.

At the closing ceremony, Deji Alli, Chairman of Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, reflected on the wider significance of the tournament.

‘The game of golf has impacted on my person, and outlook of business for Lakowe Lakes project, despite the challenges of running a world-class facility like Lakowe Lakes Golf Club,’ Alli said.

Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions over recovery of the country’s economy, raising concerns about how it has fared over the last 65 years.

They shared their views in separate interviews with Daily Trust, calling on the federal government to take decisive actions to reflate the economy.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had recently declared that the economy has rebounded, saying the local currency and foreign reserves continue to improve.

Adu Abiodun expressed concerns over the borrowing spree by successive administrations, saying it has plunged the country into a huge debt profile without sustaining the economy.

‘Nigeria is like an old man at 65, who has obviously advanced in age but is still struggling to figure out life. There’s a syndrome bedeviling the nation, and from diagnosis, it’s a case of two steps forward and ten steps backward.

‘For instance, former President Obasanjo was able to secure debt clearance for Nigeria, marking a remarkable era and setting the trajectory for economic growth. However, subsequent presidents have incurred debts that even our great-grandchildren might inherit,’ he said.

He urged leaders at the helm of affairs to focus on governance and bury partisan politics, describing misplaced priorities as the bane of the country.

‘In my opinion, the bane of this country is that we put politics ahead of governance. Hence, the ‘anyhowness’ we witness among government officials and those tasked with the delicate responsibility of piloting the affairs of this country.

‘At 65, I desire and hope that our leaders will relegate stupendous partisan politics, put the people first, roll up their sleeves, and do the real work for which they were elected-or selected, as the case may be,’ he said.

Paul Oyewusi, however, expressed optimism, commending the policies initiated by President Bola Tinubu and describing them as a pathway to economic recovery.

‘I would like to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiatives he is putting in place and the amazing professionals working with him. Nigeria is not where we want it to be, but I believe we are heading in the right direction with the right policies, initiatives, and encouragement. I believe we will get there someday,’ he said.

He urged the federal government to build a culture of resilience and a ‘we-can-do’ spirit, describing them as the bedrock of nation-building.

‘We cannot always compare ourselves with the United States or Britain-our colonial masters-who have been around for hundreds of years. They didn’t get there in a day. One thing I see in them is a culture nurtured over the years that has improved their societies. I think it is high time Nigeria also started nurturing a particular set of values.

‘We need to nurture the culture of resilience and the spirit of ‘what we can do.’ There are things unique to us as a nation. If we stay true to them, teach the next generation, and give due spotlight to those doing well, I believe things will keep getting better for us as a nation.

‘We are not there yet. In fact, we are far from it, but we are heading in the right direction. As a country, it is a good thing that we are growing. I would say Nigeria is actually making progress under the current administration. Many things are not yet the way we want, but judging from the previous administration up until now, I think we are moving in a promising direction,’ he said.

Charles Apoki stressed that the oil greasing the country’s wheel of progress has not stopped in the last 65 years, noting that Nigeria is still faring better than some countries on the continent.

‘Nigeria has made tremendous progress. In several aspects, we are not where we used to be, though we are not yet where we ought to be. What seems to frustrate Nigerians is that we are too intelligent for our leaders.

‘Our leaders are several miles behind us, while the public is more intelligent and more ambitious. That is why we see the criticism and frustration around us. Even if you look at Nigerian roads, compare them with those in Madagascar or Niger-we are far ahead.

‘But there is hope with technology, AI, and social media revolution,’ he said.

Economy facing significant challenges – NES

Speaking with our correspondent, the President of the Nigerian Economic Society, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju said while a lot of gains have been made in the last 65 years, the economy is still bedeviled with a lot of challenges.

He said the country’s economy is not as diversified as expected, especially in the area of exports.

‘Economy still driven by primary production, no productivity, no value added, manufacturing is still very weak. It is less than 10 per cent. In terms of the social sector, education, health, gender related issues. We are not doing very well,’ he said.

However he stated that the macroeconomic outlook is becoming a bit brighter. ‘Inflation is decelerating; we have an exchange rate now appreciating and it is stable. Output in the petroleum sector is inching towards 2m barrels per day. We have the Dangote Refinery producing and exporting petroleum products except for the strike now we have stability in the petroleum market,’ he added.

Opportunity to reset economy

On his part, Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director/Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) stated that Nigeria’s economic history at 65 is one of resilience, missed opportunities, and enormous untapped potential.

‘The current reform agenda presents a rare opportunity to reset the economy on a path of stability, competitiveness, and shared prosperity. Seizing this moment will require consistent policies, institutional strengthening, and a deliberate effort to ensure that economic growth translates into improved living standards for citizens,’ he stated.

He listed strategic priorities for the next decade to include deepening economic diversification by scaling up value addition in agriculture, manufacturing, and solid minerals; strengthening governance and institutions by ‘enhancing transparency, reducing the cost of governance, and improving fiscal responsibility and management and investing in human capital.

He stated that Nigeria must accelerate infrastructure development saying Power, transport, and broadband must be prioritized through PPPs and innovative finance.

He said, ‘In the last two years, the government has implemented bold reforms, including exchange rate unification, fuel subsidy removal, and tax policy adjustments. These measures have imposed short-term pain – high inflation and reduced household purchasing power – but early signs of macroeconomic stabilization are emerging.

‘To sustain reform momentum, these measures must be complemented by targeted social protection programs – cash transfers, food security interventions, and job-creation initiatives – to shield vulnerable households and maintain public support.’

Yusuf further stated persistent macroeconomic instability continues to weigh on growth, saying, ‘The naira’s dramatic depreciation – from being stronger than the U.S. dollar in the 1970s to N1,600/$ in 2024 – has eroded purchasing power, raised production costs, and discouraged investment. Rising public debt and unsustainable debt-service-to-revenue ratios have constrained the fiscal space, limiting governments’ capacity to fund critical infrastructures.

‘Policy priorities must focus on restoring currency stability through credible monetary policy, expanding foreign exchange supply by growing non-oil exports, improving public spending efficiency, plugging fiscal leakages, and raising non-oil revenue without stifling private enterprise. The good news is that the economy is beginning to experience a remarkable degree of stability over the last one year.’

He added that despite challenges, Nigeria has achieved notable successes, adding, ‘The ICT and telecommunications sector has grown from fewer than 20,000 telephone lines in 1960 to over 165 million active lines today, transforming commerce, banking, and governance. Financial services have deepened, fintech has flourished, and capital markets have expanded. Nollywood and Afrobeats have turned Nigeria into a global cultural powerhouse.’

Too much money with little accountability- CEPTI

Providing his assessment, the Executive Director, Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Dr. Umar Yakubu noted that since the inception of the current administration, there have been reforms especially the fuel subsidy removal and the exchange rate unification so that Nigeria will have a more determined value for the Naira.

He however lamented that since then, there hasn’t been accountability on how these monies are spent.

‘The removal of fuel subsidy has led to a high increase in revenue for the government as revenue for states and local governments have doubled but the issue we have is that there is a lack of transparency and no accountability mechanisms.

‘This is why anti-corruption agencies seem to be battling more with corruption cases because there is so much money but a low accountability mechanism,’ he said.

Speaking further, he noted that ‘Because there is so much money, we now have misplaced priorities as governments is now spending money on bridges, roads, and investments that are so capital intensive but don’t show the impact on people and the federal and state governments are just reckless in their spending,’ he further lamented

He advised that going forward there should be set mechanisms to checkmate how public funds are spent.

The Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, says the audit initiatives being undertaken by his Office, the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Nigeria, to enhance public finance system is achieving the desired results in terms of improving transparency and accountability, while urging MDAs to improve on weak internal audit mechanisms

The Auditor-General, who made this remark on Tuesday during an interactive session at the sidelines of a public event to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, maintained that through innovative approach, modern technological deployment, human capital capacity building and commitment to best global standards in auditing, the Office had over the past few years aligned the nation’s public finance system audit processes with global best practice.

Specifically, he listed some of the major public audit transformational initiatives embarked on by his Office and the results achieved as including the improved Implementation Rate of Audit Recommendations; Improvements in Financial Management Practices; Strengthened Legislative Oversight; Public and Stakeholder Engagement; Enhanced Transparency in High-Risk Sectors; and improved Feedback and Independent Assessments.

The Auditor-General said: ‘In essence, the impact of our audit reports is evident not only in improved financial compliance but also in the broader culture of accountability, transparency, and fiscal prudence they are helping to entrench in Nigeria’s public sector.’

According to him, the Office has been able to achieve these results through collaboration with other relevant government, the National Assembly and international organizations.

Chira explained that with the EFCC and ICPC, his Office had strengthened the accountability chain by sharing audit intelligence that has facilitated investigations, prosecutions, and recovery of misappropriated funds by many agencies.

He added that the engagement with the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees has improved the timeliness and depth of legislative oversight, while the partnership with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has helped the Office in advancing due process in public procurement audits, reducing loopholes for financial misconduct.

On collaboration with international organisations, he disclosed that the partnership with AFROSAI-E and INTOSAI, had benefitted the OAuGF in terms of peer reviews, technical assistance and adoption of international best practices, which have strengthened the quality and credibility of our audits.

The Auditor-General further clarified that the Office’s cooperation with development partners such as the World Bank, and donor agencies had provided capacity-building support, enabling it to integrate advanced audit methodologies such as performance and IT audits as well as driven reforms in public sector financial management, improved compliance with IPSAS, and enhanced Nigeria’s global standing in accountability and transparency indices.

However, Chira lamented that despite the improved performance of his Office, the most significant challenges being faced by the Office in ensuring compliance with financial regulations and standards were still being faced in the MDAs.

He grouped these into four broad categories, namely Capacity and Awareness Gaps, the use of Outdated and Fragmented Financial Systems, Weak Internal Control and Oversight Structures, Limited Enforcement of Sanctions, and Resistance to Change and Institutional Bottlenecks.

The Auditor-General maintained that despite these challenges, his ‘Office continues to close the gaps by intensifying capacity-building, leveraging digital audit tools, working closely with the National Assembly to enforce sanctions, and engaging MDAs through proactive audits and compliance reviews.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has officially flagged off the construction of a 7-kilometer road project from the Bill Clinton Drive of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Tunga Madaki community in Abuja.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Abuja on Monday, the FCT Minister emphasized that the project, which will bypass the Airport’s second runway, is a direct fulfillment of a promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the nine affected communities within the airport precinct that gave up their land for the construction of the second runway. The Minister said, ‘One of the things that the communities asked for is that they had to be connected and linked up with roads; it would be quite unfair that their land was collected for a second runway, yet they have no access to even go to the airport. It does not make sense. I had to take this matter to the President, and Mr. President said, ‘Whatever they ask for, give it to them’.’

President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria will not disintegrate under his watch.

This is just as he asked Nigerians to stop talking about the country in the negative tone.

Tinubu spoke on Wednesday while unveiling the renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre in Lagos.

Tinubu arrived at the venue at about 6:24 p.m for the reopening ceremony of the monument.

The President had in July 2024 renamed the edifice the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel Laureate.

The renovation of the Centre was funded and overseen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee.

The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy provided policy direction and oversight, guiding the transformation of the facility into a national asset and a launchpad for Nigeria’s creative industries.

At the unveiling on Wednesday, Tinubu was joined by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, H.E. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the host of the occasion, Professor Wole Soyinka.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu reiterated his position that the worst is over the economic crisis and urged Nigerians to believe in themselves and give others hope they need.

‘From now on like I said yesterday, the worst is over, the economy has recovered. I’m confident that prosperity will come. Believe in yourself and give everybody the hope they need. Lift the spirit of our people.

‘This is the giant of Africa, it won’t fall on you, it wont disintegrate in my hand,’ he said.

He also urged Nigerians to stop talking about the country in the negative tone.

‘Tonight, let me say something that is very important to me, to you, government and Nigerians in diaspora, which is – stop talking about Nigeria in the negative tone. This is a country of very proud people. It is about ourselves, believing in something we inherited from our parents and great forebearers. A nation of great people, confident and dedicated.

‘Let’s build it together, this country will succeed and it is with you, myself and many other people who may not be here.

‘Please, lift Nigeria, believe in Nigeria, put Nigeria first. That’s all I need to emphasize tonight. It has been a wonderful evening, I have enjoyed myself.’

Tinubu described Soyinka as one of the greatest assets of the world, saying he has contributed to nation building, courage and freedom.

‘So, it couldn’t have been anything else and I know definitely you (referring to Soyinka) will not disobey this president. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre,’ Tinubu said.

In his welcome remarks, the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, said the Wole Soyinka Centre is more than a renovation, but a rebirth.

He said the centre’s iconic silhouette has been preserved while delivering world-class performance halls, cinema spaces, exhibition galleries, an African literature library,

rehearsal rooms, media and medical facilities, and fully modernised

infrastructure.

According to him, the surrounding grounds now offer gardens, outdoor exhibition

areas, upgraded access, and seamless integration with the Lagos Blue Line

rail, placing culture at the heart of city life.

He said ‘This edifice has stood for nearly half a century as a proud symbol of our

heritage. Completed in 1976 and inaugurated at FESTAC ’77, it became a

beacon of African creativity and a repository of our shared history. Many here

will recall both its golden years of cultural vibrancy and the long period of

neglect that followed. Even in silence, however, the Theatre remained the

soul of our cultural identity, awaiting revival. Today, that day has come.

‘The performances we have witnessed today by ensembles from across

Nigeria bring this Centre to life and remind us that its true power lies not only

in its architecture but in the voices, movements, and stories it will host.

‘Allow me to emphasize that none of this would have been possible without

extraordinary partnerships. The Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bankers’

Committee, the Lagos State Government, and the Ministry of Art, Culture, and

the Creative Economy came together with a shared purpose to deliver this

national project, with the Bankers’ Committee alone committing

approximately ?68 billion, not as corporate social responsibility but as a

deliberate investment in Nigeria’s cultural future. This project stands as proof

that when the public and private sectors unite behind a shared national

purpose, there is no limit to what Nigeria can achieve.’

Responding, Soyinka said ‘In all seriousness, I want to thank you for this honour. Those of you who’ve been involved in it, including your president, who’s a great conspirator, who knows how to lay ambush here and there. It’s okay. This netted yet another victim, and I want to thank you. And for all those who’ll be using this hall, let me remind you that I really represent the preoccupation, the commitment, the commitment of others. My hope is that with the recreation of this building, this institution, we won’t be going all the way to Abu Dhabi to watch African theatre.’