Category: Daily Trust

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into office in May 2023, his policy blueprint framed as the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’- an audacious attempt to reset Nigeria’s economy, restore investor confidence, and tackle long-standing structural problems – kicked off boldly, signalling a determination to take very bold decisions. If anything, since inauguration, the Tinubu administration has been highly decisive in pivoting the country towards a more desirable future.

The Renewed Hope Agenda as an overarching policy framework has unleashed a raft of reforms targeted at Nigeria’s long-standing challenges in economic stability, security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, health, and social inclusion, while fostering sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

At present, the Agenda has moved past the honeymoon phase into the more critical phase of a massive governance overhaul. For decades, Nigeria’s economy was like a house built on sand and propped up by unsustainable policies that distorted the fiscal base and benefited only a tiny elite, while the nation hemorraghed greatly.

Now, the focus is hinged on fiscal discipline, market-oriented transformations, and infrastructure-led growth. The Agenda operates along eight defined priority areas including: reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth; strengthening national security; boosting agriculture for food security; enhancing infrastructure and transportation; improving education, health, and social investment; expanding energy, oil and gas investments; reinforcing the digital economy; and enabling related sectors.

The courageous macroeconomic reforms that have been emplaced have seen to the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of exchange rates, thereby ending decades of unsustainable market distortions, while freeing up resources for purposeful development and improving greater levels of financial accountability and transparency in the country.

Restoring Fiscal Sanity and Revenue Growth

Before these reforms, fuel subsidies alone consumed over ?4 trillion annually – a sum larger than the combined national budgets for health and education. Consequently, the savings accruing are now being redirected towards the building of infrastructure, education, and social programmes. Equally, more prudent debt management has became prioritised, with the debt servicing ratio, which stood at a dangerous 98 per cent in 2023 before President Tinubu’s assumption of office, was reduced to 68 per cent by mid-2024.

The liberalisation of the foreign exchange market narrowed the parallel market premium from nearly 100 per cent to less than 2 per cent by 2024, thereby signposting macroeconomic stabilisation and growth. While real GDP growth accelerated from 2.9 per cent in 2023 to 3.84 per cent in 2024 – the fastest in three years. And, the country’s foreign reserves rose from $32.9 billion at the end of 2023 to over $38.8 billion by mid-2024.

Some of the most notable indicators of progress were not only in the fiscal but also the tax reforms. The government moved to streamline Nigeria’s chaotic tax system by reducing overlapping levies and digitising revenue collection. Early results suggest improved non-oil revenue performance, a critical shift for a country long dependent on crude oil income.

With the modernisation of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (now Nigeria Revenue Service) and NIN integration, over three million new taxpayers were registered by March 2025, improving the tax-to-GDP ratio from 10 per cent to over 13.5 per cent. And the bold economic reforms saw Nigeria raise, in December 2024, $2.2 billion through its first Eurobond placement in nearly three years, signaling the return of international market confidence.

Closely tied to the foregoing has been the broader attempt at fiscal discipline. Budget restructuring efforts – such as plans to align Nigeria’s fiscal cycle and eliminate overlapping budgets – signal a seriousness about governance that previous administrations often lacked. And, at this juncture in 2026 (over 2 years in), both local and international sources are highlighting measurable progress, despite adjustment pains, and the trending down of inflation, now at 15.38 per cent, as at March.

As a long-term vision, the Renewed Hope Agenda drives towards an integration with the 2026-2030 National Development Plan targets of ambitious goals like attaining a $1 trillion economy, with focus on private sector participation, and regional projects, with crucial anchors like the need for energy security, such as the CNG transition, etc. It equally centres

people-oriented programmes, through initiatives like National Education Fund (NELFUND), housing programmes (Renewed Hope Cities/Estates), and minimum wage adjustments.

Key Economic Indices

As alluded to above, there have been several areas of progress, including economic stabilisation and growth, with annualised GDP growth around 4.2%+, and the strengthening of the external reserves to $45.4 billion+, which is the strongest in recent history. There have been non-oil revenue records over ?20 trillion reported in some periods, the clearing of the forex backlog that makes Nigerian banking instruments return to global acceptability, and rising FDI pledges of about $50 billion+, according to some reports. Equally, inflation has been easing, with disinflation in food and energy prices, alongside improved balance of trade and reduced petrol imports via local refining.

In terms of energy, power generation rose to as much as 6,000+ MW, and there have been

improvements in oil production to between 1.6-1.7 mbpd and the launch of CNG initiatives. Also, major infrastructure projects are advancing, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, rail expansions, port upgrades, and construction of other major roads.

Also, as mentioned, on social investment and education, NELFUND disbursed significant funds estimated at over ?206 billion to 1.1 million students, while there have been expanded safety nets, presidential loans/grants, the skills programme for youths, and women empowerment initiatives, etc.

While insecurity remains an ongoing concern, still the situation has been impacted with the reductions in banditry, insurgency, and related incidents through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. Thousands of terrorists have been neutralised or have surrendered, with huge caches of weapons recovered. In places like the Niger Delta, the improved security environment is enabling projects like the resumption of oil exploration in certain areas, etc.

Consolidating an Architecture of Resilience

The Renewed Hope Agenda was never going to be an easy project. It attempts to fix deep-rooted structural problems such as subsidy dependence, weak institutions, low productivity, and fiscal leakages, were inevitably going to come with short-term pain.

However, to ensure this agenda ultimately succeeds, the government must:

1. Humanise the Reform: Scale the Social Protection Response, and the current cash transfers are too small and slow to offset the ‘inflationary shock’. Hence, targeted cash transfers must be scaled to better cushion the impact of inflation on the most vulnerable.

2. Prioritise Security: No economic pillar can stand if the ‘farming belt’ remains insecure. Insecurity is not just a defence issue; it is a direct driver of food inflation.

3. Transparency Dashboards: A public ‘Reform Progress Dashboard’ should be designed, as this would build citizens’ trust by showing real-time project milestones.

4. Hold the Line: As the 2027 election approaches, the temptation to return to populist, ‘crowd-pleasing’ spending will be high. Reversing these reforms now would mean the pain of the last

The Renewed Hope Agenda has been a significant attempt to transition Nigeria from an ‘arbitrage economy’ to a productive one. While the macroeconomic indicators and infrastructure projects represent significant high points, the ultimate success of the agenda depends on whether these structural foundations ultimately translate into improved household welfare and sustained per-capita growth over the coming years. This is the next stage of the task ahead.

Overall, while there is mixed public sentiment towards the Agenda, with many noting that it is ‘working,’ though there is need for faster household-level impact, its long-term legacy will depend on sustained implementation (which makes a strong case for continuity in governance), the inclusive distribution of benefits, and deeper dive into resolving persistent security/poverty challenges.

Mark Odigie is a technology, media entrepreneur and publisher of Zeal News Africa based in Lagos.

In a heartwarming celebration filled with love, prayers, and admiration, one of the strongest members of Team Makinde and the Chief Executive Officer of Bullion Records, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has celebrated his beloved wife, Mrs. Oyindamola Ajadi, on the occasion of her birthday today, Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Speaking during a private prayer session held in the early hours of the morning at his residence, Ambassador Ajadi described his wife as a rare gem whose unwavering love, support, and devotion have remained a pillar of strength in his personal and professional journey.

‘Behind a successful man, there must be a good woman,’ Ambassador Ajadi said while expressing gratitude to God for the gift of his wife. ‘Oyindamola embodies kindness, passion, patience, loyalty, and perseverance. Today, as she celebrates another beautiful year of life, I am reminded once again of how blessed I am to have her beside me.’

The businessman and politician further poured out emotional and romantic birthday wishes to his wife, appreciating the joy and peace she has brought into his life.

‘Happy birthday to you, my darling,’ he said. ‘I celebrate your special day with my heartfelt, romantic, and sweet wishes that make you feel cherished and deeply loved. My love, every year with you is better than the last. Happy birthday to the one who makes my heart skip a beat. Love you forever.’

Ambassador Ajadi also offered fervent prayers for his wife, asking God to continually guide, protect, and prosper her in all areas of life.

‘Oyindamola is not just a wife and a mother; she is a beacon of love, wisdom, and support. I vow to always celebrate her and cherish every precious moment we share together. May Almighty God bless her with long life, sound health, endless joy, divine wisdom, peace of mind, and abundant prosperity. May her days be filled with happiness, favor, grace, and fulfillment beyond expectations,’ he prayed.

He added, ‘I celebrate a beautiful soul today. On your special day, I want to shower you with all the love and affection in my heart. May your light never dim, may sorrow never come near your dwelling, and may God continue to uplift and strengthen you in all you do.’

The birthday celebration attracted goodwill messages and prayers from family members, friends, political associates, colleagues, and admirers, many of whom described Mrs. Ajadi as a humble, supportive, and virtuous woman whose kindness and warmth continue to positively impact lives around her.

As she marks another milestone, Mrs. Oyindamola Ajadi remains a source of inspiration to many, with loved ones joining Ambassador Ajadi in praying for greater accomplishments, divine protection, and many more fruitful years ahead.

At a time when Nigeria’s music industry is increasingly dominated by label-backed campaigns and algorithm-driven visibility, a growing number of independent artists are proving that sustained audience traction can still be built through consistency, collaborations, and digital community engagement. Among the names quietly building measurable momentum across streaming platforms is Nigerian artist Skelvin, whose catalogue has continued to record notable streaming activity without the backing of a major record label.

Born Salami Kasimu Kelvin in Edo State and raised in Abuja, Skelvin has steadily developed a reputation within Nigeria’s independent music scene through emotionally driven records rooted in street realism, personal reflection, and Afro-influenced storytelling. Operating through his independent imprint DRG Record, which he founded in 2021, the artist has built a growing digital footprint across platforms including Spotify, Audiomack, Boomplay, TikTok, and Apple Music. His verified Audiomack profile currently reflects approximately 29.5 million total plays, over 120,000 followers, and nearly 269,000 monthly listeners, while his Spotify catalogue has surpassed 30 million cumulative streams.

One of the earliest major turning points in Skelvin’s catalogue performance came with ‘Only Hope,’ his collaboration with Corizo. Released during his early independent run, the record entered Apple Music Nigeria’s all-genre chart and later accumulated millions of streams across Boomplay and Audiomack. For many observers within Nigeria’s digital music ecosystem, the track demonstrated an unusual level of traction for an unsigned artist working outside traditional label infrastructure. The song’s performance also introduced Skelvin to a broader audience beyond campus and underground music circles, helping establish his name within the country’s rapidly expanding streaming market.

That visibility expanded further in 2024 following the release of ‘Cana,’ a collaboration with Nigerian rapper Erigga. The single entered Apple Music Nigeria’s Top 100 chart and later climbed into the top ten, marking one of the strongest commercial moments in Skelvin’s catalogue to date. Industry observers noted that the collaboration reflected growing recognition from established artists who increasingly saw value in partnering with emerging independent acts already generating organic engagement online. Unlike many collaborations driven by label strategy, the release gained momentum largely through listener discovery, streaming traction, and social media conversation.

By late 2025, another single, ‘One Life,’ added to the artist’s growing streaming footprint after appearing on Shazam Nigeria’s Top 200 chart. The song charted alongside records from mainstream Nigerian artists including Rema, Joeboy, and T.I Blaze, reflecting increasing discovery activity around Skelvin’s catalogue. Shazam trend data at the time also highlighted notable engagement from Nigerian listeners, suggesting the record was benefiting from both active streaming and broader cultural circulation across digital platforms.

Part of what continues to distinguish Skelvin’s growth trajectory is the absence of heavy institutional backing during the period in which much of his streaming activity accumulated. Rather than operating through a conventional label structure, DRG Record has primarily served as a release and distribution vehicle supporting his independent rollout strategy. Over the years, Skelvin has also expanded his network through collaborations with artists such as Magnito, Jaywillz, Hotkid, Rybeena, and Smur Lee, building a catalogue that reflects both regional influence and evolving industry recognition.

As Nigeria’s streaming economy continues to reshape how artists emerge and sustain audiences, Skelvin’s catalogue growth offers a visible example of how independent musicians are navigating the market outside traditional systems. With millions of documented streams, growing cross-platform engagement, and increasing recognition across Nigeria’s digital music landscape, the Lagos-based artist is gradually positioning himself within a new generation of acts building careers through long-term audience connection rather than short-lived viral moments.

A Presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has charged Nigerians to use the ADC to finally break away from the cycle of recycled faces and broken promises that has held this country back for too long.

Hayatu-Deen made the call yesterday when the ADC Vanguard Support Group (ADC – VSG), formally endorsed his candidacy at an event in Abuja attended by more than 500 party supporters and associates.

Addressing his supporters and members of the vanguard after the endorsement, Hayatu-Deen said the ADC is not just another political party, ‘it is the vehicle through which Nigeria can finally break from the cycle of recycled faces and broken promises that has held this country back for too long.’

While promising his commitment to the Nigerian project, Hayatu-Deen asked ADC members and Nigerians to join hands with him to get the job done.

The endorsement marks the most significant digital and grassroots show of support for any aspirant in the ADC presidential race.

Speaking at the event, Convener of the support group, Comrade Abdul Abdulkadir, said the party and Nigerians need a leader like Hayatu-Deen that has shown capacity in the private sector.

ýDespite being Nigeria’s third most exported product and generating over ?1 trillion in 2024, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said sesame seeds continue to face widespread rejection in international markets.

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ýNEPC North West Regional Coordinator, Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, said the rejection is due to safety and quality lapses.

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ýSpeaking at a stakeholder training in Kano on Thursday, the coordinator warned that indiscriminate chemical use and poor post-harvest practices are undermining the country’s position as the world’s fourth-largest sesame exporter.

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ýShe revealed that many farmers apply paraquat directly on sesame seeds to speed up drying, leaving harmful residues that trigger rejection abroad.

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ýAbdulmalik said, ‘Quantity is not the issue, quality is. If Western buyers reject it, why should we consume it locally?’

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ý’When farmers earn more, Nigeria earns more. But only if our sesame meets global standards, and that is why we are trying to sensitise these farmers on the causes of the rejection,’ she added.

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ýAlso speaking on the strategies to avoid the frequent rejection, a retired Deputy Director at Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (KNARDA), Ibrahim Umar Halilu noted that contamination and pesticide misuse remain recurring problems.

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ýHe also stressed that Nigeria risks losing its competitive edge unless farmers adopt global best practices in site selection, planting, harvesting, storage, and transportation.

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ýThe training aimed to equip farmers with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to produce cleaner, safer sesame that can pass international inspections and command premium prices.

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ýDaily Trust reports that sesame ranked as Nigeria’s third most exported product in 2025 when 338,000 metric tonnes were shipped abroad.

Parents of pupils at the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Affa II community, Gudun-Karya ward of Kuje Area Council, have raised alarm over the condition of the school, warning that pupils and teachers are at risk as children continue to learn inside a mud-built classroom.

The concerned parents told Abuja Metro on Wednesday that the only classroom serving the school was constructed several years ago by members of the community using mud blocks due to the absence of government intervention.

They said the school currently has about 98 pupils but operates with only one classroom, one teacher and the headmaster, who assists in teaching the children.

A parent, Zakari Musa, described the situation as unfortunate, noting that the community had struggled for years to provide basic education for its children despite poor infrastructure and lack of support from authorities.

‘It is unfortunate that a community with close to 100 pupils still has no standard school building. The only classroom was built by the community with mud blocks, whereas government should ordinarily have intervened,’ he said.

He lamented that the absence of conducive learning facilities continues to hinder efforts by parents to provide quality education for their children.

Also speaking, chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Danjuma Bako, expressed concern over the poor condition of the school, saying pupils had been forced to learn under unsafe and unhealthy conditions for years.

According to him, repeated appeals to the council authorities and the Local Education Authority (LEA) management for intervention had yet to yield meaningful results.

Bako recalled that the Chairman of the council, Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, visited the school last year after receiving complaints and promised to address the challenges facing the school.

‘Unfortunately, nothing has been done since that visit,’ he said.

He added that the situation has become more dangerous with the onset of the rainy season, warning that the aging mud structure could collapse and endanger the lives of pupils and teachers.

‘Because we are already in the rainy season, the classroom built with mud blocks now poses a serious threat to the children and teachers,’ he stated.

The PTA chairman also decried the shortage of furniture and teaching materials in the school.

He, however, acknowledged the intervention of a Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mrs. Abiodun Essie, who visited the school in November 2024 after seeing reports about its condition on social media and donated uniforms, school bags and writing materials to the pupils.

Bako said despite such gestures from individuals, the community still urgently requires government intervention, including construction of a standard classroom block and deployment of additional teachers.

Reacting to the concerns, a senior official in the education department of the council, Michael Moses, said the construction of a standard school for the community had already been captured in the council’s budget.

Similarly, a senior official at the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), who spoke anonymously, disclosed that plans for the construction of additional classrooms and recruitment of more teachers had also been included in the budget.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has intercepted 425.5 kilograms of tramadol and cannabis including, foreign rice and other smuggled items worth over N204 million.

The seizures, recorded between March and May 2026, came as the command also announced a first quarter revenue generation of N3.89 billion.

This is despite the continued closure of Nigeria’s land border with the Republic of Benin.

Acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Ogundeyi, disclosed this during the command’s third press briefing of the year in Ilorin.

Ogundeyi said the operations targeted notorious smuggling flashpoints including Bukuro, Gurumi, Sikira, Okuta, Boriya, Tewu, Bero, Sango, Okeoyi, Alapa, Malete, Bani, Offa, Idofian, Eiyenkorin and the Lagos-Ilorin Expressway.

According to him, the areas have remained under surveillance due to persistent attempts by smugglers to move prohibited and uncustomed goods into and out of the country.

He disclosed that the command seized 49.5 kilograms of cannabis and 376 kilograms of tramadol during separate operations carried out by operatives.

Other intercepted items included 155 bags of foreign parboiled rice valued at N52.4 million, 3,697 packages of macaroni pasta worth N110.9 million and 418 jerrycans of vegetable oil with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N27.1 million.

The command also confiscated 237 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit totaling 5,925 litres, 70 used tyres, 18 bales of second-hand clothing and 19 jerrycans of corrosive oxidizer chemicals.

‘In summary, between the month of March 2026 to date, the command operatives have successfully recorded nine different seizures with a total Duty Paid Value of N204,763,439,’ Ogundeyi said.

He said the seizures underscored the commitment of the service to suppressing illegal trade and protecting national revenue.

The acting controller added that the command generated N3,895,333,182.94 in the first quarter of 2026, attributing the performance to excise revenue and strengthened enforcement activities.

He appealed to residents of border communities to support the service with timely and credible information capable of aiding anti-smuggling operations.

He assured that the command would remain resolute in pursuing individuals involved in illegal trade while safeguarding the nation’s economic interests.

Nasarawa State governor, Governor Abdullahi Sule, has commissioned a solar-powered borehole built by the Society for Family Health, SFH, in Tudun Adabu, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State as part of joint efforts by government and development partners to tackle water scarcity and water-borne diseases in rural communities.

Sule, represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Mustapha Agah Muluku, described the project as ‘another significant milestone’ in the state’s drive to expand access to clean, safe and sustainable water.

He noted that the facility will reduce the burden on women and children, especially the girl child, who often trek long distances for water, while also improving hygiene and community well-being.

The governor said the government has maintained a ‘productive and impactful partnership’ with SFH under the WASH project for over four years, covering selected schools, communities and health facilities in four LGAs.

He added that the collaboration aligns with the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy, NEDS, which prioritises equitable access to potable water.

Speaking on behalf of SFH Group Managing Director, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, a representative, Abdulsamad Salihu, said the commissioning was ‘more than just the unveiling of a physical infrastructure’ and represented ‘hope, dignity, and improved quality of life’ for residents who had long struggled with unreliable water access.

WASH project Director, Jane Adizue, explained that the WASH for Healthy Lives project, funded by Procter and Gamble, began in 2022 with behavior change communication on safe water, hygiene and sanitation in high-risk communities identified by the state.

After three years of sensitisation across several LGAs, SFH sought infrastructure support in 2025. ‘Beyond just telling people how to maintain hygiene and keep their water safe, we saw that there were needs in communities where there was no source of water,’ Adizue stated.

Funding was then approved for boreholes in six Nasarawa locations. The commissioning train has covered Toto LGA and will move to Nasarawa and Karu LGAs. The same project runs in Edo State.

Adizue said ownership ‘is actually with the state’ and urged maintenance so the structure will still stand in years to come. The SFH representative added that ‘sustainable water supply systems require not only infrastructure but also strong governance, community engagement, and long-term planning.’

Speaking on behalf of the community, a community leader Alanana Ibrahim said residents had long struggled without a reliable water source.

The conviction of a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on 12-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N33.8 billion has once again beamed a searchlight on the failed Mambilla power project.

The 3,050MW Mambilla plant in Taraba State was designed to be Nigeria’s largest power plant, but it has been stalled for over 40 years despite billions of naira sunk into the project.

When completed Mambilla project will be Nigeria’s biggest power plant. It is aimed to increase electricity access to the country; stimulate economic growth, enhance the living standards of millions of Nigerians and increase power export to Niger, Togo, Benin and Chad.

The project is also expected to increase Nigeria’s current electricity generation by 30 per cent and the country’s baseload electricity generation capacity, thereby improving grid stability.

Experts say the project will be a major source of additional power generation capacity that will make Nigeria meet its 90% electricity access rate by 2030.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday convicted the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on 12-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N33.8 billion.

The former minister, who was absent in court, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mamman recently joined the Taraba State governorship race under the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The charges

The EFCC had alleged that Mamman, sometime in 2019, while he was the Minister of Power, conspired with other officials of the ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of N33,804,830,503.73.

The sum was said to have been diverted ‘through various private companies which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commmited an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.’

The charge further stated Mamman, sometime in December 2019, conspired with one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of US$665 to Mohiba Investment Ltd – acting through one Mohammed Asheik Jidda – without going through a financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

Justice Omotosho had slated the judgment for Thursday after parties in the case were duly served with hearing notices. However, when the matter was called, the ex-minister was not in court.

Defence counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that, although his team was duly informed that the matter was slated for judgement on Thursday, they could not get in touch with him on time.

‘My Lord, the defendant is not in court. We received a message that the matter is for judgment, and it was delivered on Tuesday.

‘Since then, we have been trying to reach him (Mamman), but all efforts made have not been successful. But yesterday (Wednesday), one of his associates informed us that he is indisposed,’ he said.

EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, confirmed that the prosecution received the hearing notice and that judgement was scheduled for Thursday. He faulted Ahmed’s claim that Mamman was ill, stressing that there was no evidence to back up his submissions.

The prosecution lawyer said that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the court has the discretionary power to proceed with the ruling.

After lengthy arguments between the prosecution and defence counsel, Justice Omotosho frowned at Ahmed’s remarks on the whereabouts of the former minister.

‘The defendant is not here, and there is no medical report to back this. We are all ministers in the temple of justice counsel,’ the judge said. Oyedepo then urged the court to proceed with the judgment.

Justice Omotosho consequently convicted Mamman of the 12-count charges of money laundering and deferred the sentence to May 13, 2026 because the former Minister was not present in court.

To prevent Mamman’s escape from the country before the sentencing, Oyedepo applied for a bench warrant to produce him in court. The application was granted.

The project

Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the award of the 3,050MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Project to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis for $6bn in May 2003.

Olu Agunloye, the then Minister of Power, signed the contract on behalf of the Federal Government. The contract was to be financed by China EXIM Bank, with Nigeria providing 15% counterpart funding.

After the award, the FEC reportedly directed that the contract memo be withdrawn for renegotiation because the terms needed review and the financing structure wasn’t finalised.

The EFCC, in December 2023, charged Agunloye with fraud and forgery over the Mambilla contract, accusing him of awarding the contract without FEC approval and costing the federal government over N65bn in loss.

Agunloye pleaded not guilty. He argued that he acted within his authority as minister and that the contract was validly approved by FEC. The trial is still ongoing at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The EFCC also alleged that Agunloye’s actions created the legal foundation for Sunrise’s $2.3bn arbitration claim against Nigeria at the International Court of Arbitration in Paris, France.

Mamman’s conviction has beamed a searchlight on the over 40-year-old Mambilla project, which had over the decades enjoyed a series of fund approvals by successive administrations in Nigeria but still has zero megawatts on the national grid.

The 3,050MW plant was designed to be Nigeria’s largest power plant, but has sadly been at the pre-construction stage without installed turbines and generating electricity.

Over $1bn has been spent on feasibility studies, consultants, and preliminary works since the 1980s, yet the project remains on paper.

However, the 2017 contract awarded to a Chinese consortium was contested by a Nigerian-Italian consortium, Sunrise Power, which claims it had the original 2003 contract.

How court cases stall project

Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) had on October 10, 2017, dragged the Nigerian government to the International Court of Arbitration administered by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for the alleged breach of a 2003 agreement to construct the 3,050MW plant in Mambilla, Taraba State, on a ‘build, operate and transfer’ basis for $6 billion.

The federal government insisted that the contract award was irregular and did not pass through due process.

But Sunrise headed to court when a bid process for the civil works was announced by the government in 2007 and a series of litigation stalled the project.

A former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in 2017, had described Sunrise Power as a middleman.

The minister had said the Buhari administration was directly contracting the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, Sinohydro Corporation Limited, a Chinese firm, currently handling the project.

After several negotiations, Mamman had, in 2020, reportedly said the parties had reached an out-of-court settlement of $200 million.

The court battle took a new turn when Sunrise later filed a $400 million compensation claim at the ICC against the government for allegedly breaching the new agreement.

The company had said the sum was to serve as an out-of-court settlement, which the government allegedly failed to honour as it had agreed to pay in 14 days after it was signed by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and Sale Mamman for the government and the Chairman/CEO of Sunrise Power, Leno Adesanya.

The company’s legal representative, Femi Falana, then filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Arbitration on May 11, demanding $400 million as overall claims, including penalties.

According to Sunrise in its claim document, the amount was to be paid ‘within 14 days’ of the execution of the terms of the agreement on January 21, 2020, along with a 10 per cent penalty if there was a default in the settlement terms.

The company had also said it was agreed that it would be restored as the local partner for the current $5.8 billion Mambilla power project.

A follow-up on this showed that the pact was revised and the local partner condition was removed. The federal government later requested a review of the negotiation, citing the COVID-19 pandemic effects on the Nigerian economy.

Obasanjo, Buhari testify in court

The court case made former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari to testify before the ICC in 2025. Sources confirmed to Daily Trust then that both leaders were in Paris in respect of the matter.

Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, then told Daily Trust on the telephone that his principal was in France. He, however, said he was not privy to what took the former leader there.

‘I can confirm to you that the former president is right now in France and that is the only thing I know,’ he said.

Obasanjo had, in an interview with TheCable in 2023, said: ‘If a commission of inquiry is set up today to investigate the matter, I am ready to testify.’

Project suspended under Tinubu

Daily Trust reports that since the inauguration of the Tinubu presidency in 2023, the government has stopped funding the project.

The former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had attributed the suspension to the court cases involving the project ownership.

The minister, who spoke at the 2024 budget defence session organised by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Power, said the zero allocation to the project was deliberate since nothing could be achieved until the arbitration was settled.

He said, ‘For Mambilla, there is no provision for it in 2024. It isn’t a mistake. It is deliberate. It is under international arbitration. Until it is resolved, we can’t do anything about it.’

Stakeholders hail Mamman’s conviction

Stakeholders in the energy sector commended the conviction of the former Minister, saying it’s the beginning of the long-term solutions to the issues that have stalled the completion of the multi-billion-naira Mambilla project.

Tayo Adegbemile, Executive Director of Power-Up, a not-for-profit organisation, told Daily Trust that while the judiciary did well by prosecuting Mamman for his involvement in the Mambilla mess, other actors therein shouldn’t escape the long arms of the law and should be punished accordingly.

He also emphasised the need for the government to publish details of allocation and reallocation of funds gulped by the project with a view to informing Nigerians of the amount sunk therein and those who contributed to its current ill-fate.

According to him, Nigerians deserve to know the challenges crippling the project and must be told in clear terms by the current handlers of the sector.

He also told Daily Trust that there is a need for the federal government to bring in another foreign company that will help resuscitate the ambitious project, especially now that Nigeria needs increased power stability to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Blaming politicians for stalling the power infrastructure, Rasheed Adeleke, an energy expert, told one of our correspondents that Nigeria must revisit the earlier contract details and court filings relating to the project.

He explained that the development would provide a fresh direction to the issue and guide Nigeria on how best to handle the legal impediments.

He regretted that successive governments in the country showed an unenthusiastic attitude to the project, adding that such a stance was counterproductive to industrialisation.

Former Southeast spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has paid tribute to renowned broadcaster and conservationist Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday, describing him as the most influential figure in his life outside his late mother.

In a public letter released Friday, Onoh said Attenborough’s century of work has ‘illuminated the world’s understanding of nature and inspired generations to protect the fragile wonders of our planet.’

Onoh recalled first meeting Attenborough as an eight-year-old in England, saying the encounter left an indelible mark and shaped his lifelong commitment to conservation.

‘Your gentle wisdom and boundless passion for the natural world left an indelible mark on my soul,’ he wrote.

He credited Attenborough’s guidance and example with giving him the courage to establish the Woodland Park Zoo Coal City, a sanctuary for public connection with nature, and the Onoh Memorial Wildlife Conservation Trust, which works to preserve habitats, protect endangered species, and educate future conservationists.

‘Your words of guidance, your example of quiet determination, and your infectious enthusiasm gave me the courage to dream big and the resolve to act,’ Onoh said.

The tribute highlighted Attenborough’s global impact through documentaries, books, and advocacy, noting that his work has changed how humanity views its relationship with nature. ‘You have changed how humanity sees itself – not as masters of nature, but as its caretakers and fellow inhabitants,’ Onoh wrote.

He added that Attenborough’s legacy lives on in protected landscapes, awakened young minds, and in the work of individuals like himself who strive to follow the path he laid.

‘Thank you for believing in the power of knowledge, wonder, and compassion,’ Onoh concluded.

‘May this 100th year bring you peace, joy, and the deep satisfaction of knowing how profoundly you have enriched our world.’