Category: Daily Trust

The new salary structure recently approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for personnel of the Armed Forces will raise the monthly pay of a general to N3.25 million and that of a Private to N187,200.

The pay rise, which takes effect from September 1, 2026, provides increases ranging from 30 per cent to 80 per cent across different ranks of military personnel.

About 250,000 personnel are expected to benefit from the new pay package, which will increase the annual salary bill for the Armed Forces from N660 billion to N924 billion, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Under the new arrangement, officers above the rank of Colonel will receive a 30 per cent salary increase. This applies to brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals.

Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase, while privates to staff sergeants will receive an 80 per cent increase.

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, had, in an interview with News Central last month, disclosed that the Tinubu administration had increased the minimum monthly salary of soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000.

A Daily Trust analysis had revealed that the N100,000 could only feed a soldier for 21 days based on the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) report, which put the cost of a healthy diet – breakfast, lunch or dinner – for one adult at N1,589 daily.

The analysis also showed that soldiers in other African countries such as South Africa, Niger and Benin Republic earned as much as 200 per cent to 800 per cent higher than their counterparts in Nigeria.

Civil society organisations had queried whether the pay would be enough to support a soldier and his family in an economy where the cost of living continues to climb.

Also, a former Defence Spokesperson, Major General John Enenche (rtd), had called for an upward review of the soldiers’ salary, recommending a minimum monthly pay of N250,000 because the current remuneration no longer reflects the country’s economic realities or the sacrifices demanded by military service.

Speaking on the latest salary review, President Tinubu explained that the decision to increase the military personnel’s pay was aimed at recognising the sacrifices of servicemen and women confronting banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.

‘The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation,’ Tinubu said in the statement.

He added that his administration would continue to prioritise troop welfare while modernising the Armed Forces with weapons and technological tools.

An analysis of the salary figures by Daily Trust based on the current salary scale obtained from RecruitUltra – an online platform that publishes salaries of military and paramilitary forces – and the percentage increases announced by the President, shows the scale of the changes across the ranks.

What each rank will earn as new salary

Among non-commissioned personnel, a private whose current salary is N104,000, will earn about N187,200 under the new structure, representing an increase of N83,200 monthly.

A lance corporal will move from N112,000 to N201,600, gaining N89,600; and a corporal, from N115,000 to N207,000, an increase of N92,000.

A sergeant will see his or her salary rise from N125,000 to N225,000, representing an additional N100,000 monthly.

For a staff sergeant, the salary will be increased from N150,000 to N270,000, giving the rank N120,000 more each month.

A warrant officer will move from N170,000 to N255,000, an increase of N85,000; while a master warrant officer will earn N315,000, up from N210,000, representing a N105,000 increase.

An army warrant officer will move from N230,000 to N345,000, gaining N115,000 monthly.

The salary gains become considerably higher in absolute terms for commissioned officers. A second lieutenant will move from N240,000 to N360,000, representing an increase of N120,000 monthly; a lieutenant, from N280,000 to N420,000; a captain, from N320,000 to N480,000; a major, from N380,000 to N570,000; a lieutenant colonel, from N420,000 to N630,000; and a colonel, from N580,000 to N870,000.

As expected, the highest-ranking officers will receive the highest pay under the new structure.

A brigadier-general will move from N750,000 to N975,000, representing an additional N225,000 monthly; a major-general, from N1.15 million to N1.495 million; a lieutenant general, from N1.9 million to N2.47 million, an increase of N570,000; and a general, from N2.5 million to N3.25 million.

Salary not the only package

The Manual for Financial Administration of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA), signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26, 2018, states that ‘personnel remuneration is governed by the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure, CONAFSS, alongside other financial guidelines, including directives of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Public Service Rules and the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service.’

The CONAFSS package does not consist of basic salary alone. The MAFA provides for a range of consolidated mandatory allowances approved by the President as Commander-in-Chief.

These include rent subsidy, utility allowance, leave grant, uniform maintenance allowance, hazard allowance, house upkeep allowance, general services allowance, entertainment allowance, transport allowance, non-practising allowance, hardlying allowance, torchlight allowance, retention incentive allowance, qualifying pay allowance, furniture allowance, command expenses allowance and meal subsidy.

Officers may also receive personal servant allowance. For example, personnel posted from one duty station to another may receive Packing on Posting Allowance equivalent to five per cent of annual CONAFSS on Step 5 of their rank where official transport is not provided. The allowance is payable once a year and does not apply to postings within the same location or personnel proceeding on courses.

Retiring or discharged personnel are entitled to a Terminal Packing Allowance equivalent to 10 per cent of annual CONAFSS on Step 5.

The manual also provides a lodging allowance equivalent to 40 per cent of CONAFSS for personnel who are not provided accommodation in military barracks or government quarters, subject to the conditions prescribed in the manual.

Military personnel deployed on specialised operations may also qualify for additional allowances.

The MAFA provides, among others, allowances for amphibious duties, diving, special warfare and counter-terrorism/counter-insurgency operations, subject to prescribed training, deployment and approval conditions.

These benefits mean that the salary figures alone do not represent the complete financial package available to every member of the Armed Forces.

Soldiers’ pay still below counterparts’ in Togo, Gambia, others

Daily Trust reports that despite the new review which pushes soldiers’ salary to N187,200, the pat still falls short of what their counterparts in several African countries earn.

A private in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) earns between R8,500 and R12,000 monthly, equivalent to about N715,607 and N1.01 million using an exchange rate of R1 to N84.19, according to the 2026/27 South African National Defence Force salary schedule published by MoneyToday, a South African publication tracking salaries.

The gap is equally pronounced in East Africa. Estimates published by BusinessThisday in Kenya show that privates and corporals in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) earn between KSh19,941 and KSh70,000 monthly, equivalent to about N212,908 and N747,383 using an exchange rate of KSh1 to N10.68.

Even among Nigeria’s West African neighbours, soldiers generally earn considerably more. According to World Salaries, an entry-level soldier in The Gambia earns about 125,100 Gambian dalasi annually, equivalent to approximately N2.35 million or about N195,910 monthly.

The same database estimates that entry-level soldiers in Togo receive about 3.83 million CFA francs annually, equivalent to approximately N9.21 million, or about N767,564 monthly, using an exchange rate of 1 CFA to N2.41.

Comparable entry-level salaries stand at roughly equivalent of N526,962 per month in Niger Republic, about N661,892 in Benin Republic, around N547,000 in Senegal, and approximately N803,046 monthly in Cameroon.

Salary increament must match living costs – CSOs

The Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, said the real measure of the military salary increase should be its impact on the purchasing power and living standards of personnel and their families.

Odeh said the issue should not be limited to the size of the salary increase announced by the government but whether the new pay can adequately meet the basic needs of personnel expected to protect the country.

‘As you said, the issue is not whether salaries increased, but whether they can meet the basic needs of the military personnel and their family expected to protect Nigeria,’ Odeh said.

He said increasing salaries was positive but argued that public policy should be assessed against the prevailing cost of living rather than nominal figures.

‘Doubling pay is good, but public policy should be compared with purchasing power on the ground, not numbers,’ he said.

The Accountability Lab country director said the government had a responsibility to ensure that security personnel receive wages capable of preserving their dignity and wellbeing.

‘Government has a responsibility to ensure that all security personnel receive wages that preserve their dignity, support their wellbeing, and reduce vulnerabilities connected with financial hardship,’ Odeh said.

He called for evidence-based and regular reviews of military compensation to ensure that salaries reflect inflation and changes in the actual cost of living.

‘Beyond announcing salary increases, there should be evidence-based reviews of military compensation that reflect inflation and the actual cost of living,’ he said.

From the civil society perspective, Odeh said government spending on military welfare should ultimately be judged by its practical impact on personnel rather than the size of the figures announced.

Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR), Omenazu Jackson, also said the salary increase was welcome but questioned whether the remuneration was sufficient to provide military personnel with a decent standard of living.

He said the rising cost of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education meant that many soldiers, particularly those supporting families, continued to face severe financial pressure despite the salary adjustments.

Jackson called for a broader review of military welfare beyond salaries, including housing, healthcare, insurance, pensions, educational support for children and adequate equipment, arguing that proper remuneration was essential to maintaining morale and professionalism.

‘A nation that values security must value its soldiers. Paying them a living wage is not an act of charity; it is a necessary investment in national security, discipline, and patriotism,’ he said.

The President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Debo Adeniran, commended President Tinubu on the military personnel’s salary increase.

On concerns that Nigeria still ranks low among neighbouring African countries in terms of remuneration for military personnel despite the recent increase, he said the government had to begin from somewhere.

‘The journey of 1,000 miles starts with the first step. It is better we start the journey than to sit at one point or two because we cannot take a leap to meet all our peers where they are.

‘We have to face the reality that our economy can offer. The government has started from somewhere and could do more with time and improved economic conditions,’ he said.

Soldiers want inflation, cost of living crisis tackled

Some personnel of the Armed Forces, who spoke anonymously to Daily Trust, called on the federal government to tackle inflation and the cost of living crisis.

‘A lot of us are not happy. At this point, with the current state of the economy and the recent salary increment, there is really no significant difference, especially considering the challenges we face. The cost of living, school fees, and other expenses keep rising,’ one of them said.

He noted that military personnel also bear several service-related expenses from their salaries, further reducing the impact of the increase.

‘Naturally, in the service, you provide almost everything for yourself. You buy and maintain your own uniforms, boots, and other necessities from the same salary you earn. So, in reality, there is no difference between what we were being paid before and what we are receiving now.

‘Many of us had hoped the salary would be increased to around N250,000. At least, that would have made a meaningful impact,’ the soldier said.

‘But with this increase, we are still complaining because we never expected it to be this low. The soldiers make enormous sacrifices, yet the pay remains very small. It feels as though you are working without your efforts being properly appreciated,’ he stated.

‘If you have a family, you have to pay school fees, provide food, buy clothes, and meet many other responsibilities, all from the same income.

‘So, while we appreciate the government’s effort, it is still not enough. The government needs to do more.

‘They should consider the welfare of military personnel, our families, and the many financial responsibilities we face,’ the officer said.

Some of the soldiers, including two privates, explained that personnel without rank are mostly the ones posted to dangerous terrains.

They noted that they are still receiving meagre monthly take-home pay while appealing to the government not to create further inflation.

‘Well, we appreciate the fact that our salary has increased, but that’s not the issue. The main issue is what we buy, what our family members who depend on us buy. The value of our money is more important than the increment.

‘Even if we are collecting N100,000, and we’re able to buy different basic needs, it is better than collecting N180,000 and use it to buy just two or three basic needs. The problem is inflation,’ one of the soldiers said.

A yet-to-be-commissioned officer said, ‘Like myself, my family is not living in the barracks. I pay their house rent annually because I am yet to build one. And the way house rent increases in some parts of the country appears crazy.’

Another soldier said, ‘For now, my own problem is not about an increment in salaries. The federal government should help us address the issue of nepotism.

‘Some of us have spent four to five years in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other war-torn zones without hope in sight that we will leave here anytime soon. Yes, it is supposed to be two years, but if you’re not connected, you will be here for long.

‘Many of us have not gone to see our family members for months. Even if you want to go, the transport fare to and fro is very high.

‘Apart from nepotism matter, we need motivation. I mean motivation regarding what we’re going to embark on after serving this country for 35 years. There must be a genuine hope at the end of everything for us. Not only monthly pay.’

Calls placed to the Director, Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, for a reaction were not answered and he did not reply to text and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile telephone line.

But a senior military officer at the Defence Headquarters told Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, that the military high command aligns with the position of the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

‘The DHQ has not issued any statement on this. The Minister of Defence and Minister of State for Defence have each issued statements on the issue on behalf of the Armed Forces. We align and identify with those statements,’ the official said.

Last week, Musa commended President Tinubu for approving a 30 to 80 per cent salary increment for the Nigerian Armed Forces personnel in a statement, describing it as ‘a decisive morale booster that reinforces the administration’s dedicated vision for security sector reform’.

He noted that with this development, the President had demonstrated leadership and empathy for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line daily to preserve the peace and territorial integrity of our nation.

‘By raising the annual personnel cost from N660 billion to N924 billion, the President has matched words with concrete action, proving that the welfare of our troops remains paramount.

‘This subversion of financial hardship for our officers and soldiers will resonate across every theatre of operation, from those confronting insurgency in the North East to troops tackling banditry, oil theft, and kidnapping across the country.

‘On behalf of the entire defence structure, we assure Mr. President and the Nigerian public that this gesture will be met with renewed vigour, uncompromising discipline, and heightened operational effectiveness. Troops are urged to redouble their efforts in neutralising all national security threats, safeguarding civilian lives, and restoring total stability across every corner of the country,’ he said.

The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has stated that the reforms introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, especially in the area of technology infrastructure is repositioning the Service.

The Senate made during a two-day retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise aimed at strengthening legislative oversight and reviewing the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

As part of the programme, members of the Committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were taken through the Service’s ongoing modernisation initiatives, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms.

A key highlight of the engagement was a series of technical presentations by heads of various units of the Service, who provided the lawmakers with detailed insights into the systems, technologies and innovations being deployed to strengthen Customs administration.

Among the presenters was Deputy Comptroller Daniel Antia, who delivered a presentation on the Management Information System (MIS) and its role in enhancing data-driven decision-making, operational coordination, institutional efficiency and modern Customs administration.

The presentation demonstrated how the deployment of integrated information systems is supporting the Service’s transition towards a more connected, transparent and technology-driven operational environment.

Other lead officers also made presentations on various areas of Customs operations and institutional development, showcasing the technological innovations and reforms being implemented across the Service to enhance trade facilitation, enforcement, revenue collection, intelligence gathering and overall service delivery.

The presentations provided the Committee with a firsthand understanding of how the NCS is translating its modernisation agenda into practical systems and operational solutions across its various units.

Speaking after the tour, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, said the visit had afforded lawmakers the opportunity to witness the Service’s transformation firsthand.

According to him, ‘We have heard about these reforms from afar, but today we have seen them ourselves. The transformation taking place in the NCS is remarkable, particularly in the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations that are repositioning the Service for greater efficiency.’

Senator Jibrin added that the retreat had further convinced lawmakers that public funds appropriated for the Service were being judiciously utilised, stating, ‘When the NCS comes before the National Assembly seeking approval for capital expenditure, we now have a clearer understanding of what those resources are being used for. The reforms we have seen today clearly demonstrate that government funds are being invested responsibly to strengthen Customs operations, improve trade facilitation and enhance national revenue.’

Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the Service’s progress to the deliberate deployment of technology across virtually every aspect of Customs administration.

He explained that, ‘Technology helps us to work faster and more efficiently. We started by deploying digital solutions into personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before extending them to our core operational responsibilities, and we will continue until virtually every aspect of Customs operations is technology-driven.’

CGC Adeniyi disclosed that the Service had also introduced advanced technological solutions into its enforcement operations through virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance.

‘We are deploying geospatial intelligence to map our patrol routes and position our checkpoints more efficiently across the country. Combined with modern training facilities such as our virtual shooting range, these innovations will significantly strengthen our enforcement capabilities,’ he said.

According to him, ‘The law requires us to modernise our operations. Initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study, scanner deployment and other technology-driven reforms are all backed by the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act. Our responsibility is to continue implementing them to support the Federal Government reform agenda.’

The engagement further underscored the NCS’s commitment to building a modern, technology-enabled institution capable of responding effectively to the demands of contemporary Customs administration while supporting national economic growth, trade facilitation and revenue generation.

The Senate Committee’s commendation therefore represents not only an endorsement of the reforms under the leadership of CGC Adewale Adeniyi, but also recognition of the collective efforts of officers across the Service who are driving innovation and institutional transformation in their respective areas of responsibility.

Industry leaders and economists have identified private sector capital as the major drive to unlock Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy vision by 2030.

They stated this at the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria, NBGN Q2 Quarterly Webinar, warning that the government alone cannot fund the transition.

Speaking at the webinar, Chief Strategist at ECOWAS Commission, Prof. Ken Ife, said Nigeria needs $1.74 trillion in cumulative investment to reach the target.

He stressed that 81 percent or $1.41 trillion of the $1.74 trillion in cumulative investment must come from the private sector, while the government provides $330 billion.

‘The public treasury cannot fund this transition. The government’s role must shift from running businesses to creating market-enabling policies and structural de-risking,’ he said.

The webinar, themed _’Global Challenges: Survival Strategies, Building Resilience and Driving Sustainable Prosperity’, drew over 200 participants from the Organised Private Sector (OPS), public institutions, academia and civil society.

Prof. Gafar Tunde Ijaiya of the University of Ilorin and Dr. Ibilola Amao of Lonadek Global Services urged federal and state governments to dismantle regulatory and bureaucratic bottlenecks frustrating private investments.

In its communique, NBGN said states must stop functioning only as administrative centres, stressing they should build integrated Special Purpose Vehicles, SPVs, around transit, energy and agriculture to drive regional industrialization.

The group called for a phased ban on export of unprocessed raw materials, adding that Nigeria should set up domestic processing hubs for minerals and agricultural produce to capture full value-chain earnings.

The group also canvassed a circular bioeconomy where agricultural and municipal waste are converted to biofuels and fertilizers.

It further recommended a ‘Triple Helix’ model linking government, industry and universities to commercialize local patents.

The forum urged banks and fintechs to collaborate on low-interest, digitized credit for micro-enterprises, which form the backbone of Nigeria’s informal economy.

Chairman of the group, Bashorun JK Randle, said the group will engage the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to implement the resolutions.

‘This is not just another talk shop,’ he said, adding that an Academic-Industry Commercialization Desk will also be set up to help SMEs scale local inventions.

In 2012, Michael L. Ross published a book entitled: THE OIL CURSE: HOW PETROLEUM WEALTH SHAPES THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONS. The book turned out to be a landmark. It made waves and it elicited rave reviews and comments.

The book generated more than casual interest because of the painful paradox it aptly captured in the oil, and by extension, the extractive eco-system.

THE OIL CURSE argued that oil wealth creates less economic growth than it ought to; that it creates more jobs for men than women; that it creates more challenges for the poor than the affluent; that oil companies drill more in poor nations thereby spreading the curse; and that ‘good geology often leads to bad governance’.

Additionally, countries flush with petroleum dollars are hardly democratic. They are usually less stable economically. And they are prone to frequent upheavals and civil wars.

A cursory look at the countries blessed with petroleum, from Saudi Arabia to Venezuela justifies Ross’s arguments.

By the same token, the same incubus that afflicts the petroleum sector appears to be the case with Africa’s mineral-rich countries. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the most blessed with solid minerals on planet earth, is a basket case. Niger Republic, in spite of its endowment with the highest grade of uranium, and now petroleum, is merely struggling to survive. Until now, it lived on aid, niggardly dolled out by donor countries.

Nigeria, another intriguing case, is said to be blessed with 44 solid minerals across its 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Its major minerals are: oil, gas, tin, columbite, tantalite, gold, coal, limestone, iron ore, kaolin, barite, bitumen and lately, lithium in Nasarawa and Kaduna states.

In the past two years, the mineral sector has contributed significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to previous years. In 2026, the mineral sector, as at March, had contributed 1.8 per cent to GDP, all thanks to localised processing investments and regional value addition strategies.

Part of this dramatic growth is related to limestone, which accounted for nearly 69 per cent of total mineral production. With companies such as Romolus Mining scaling up their gold and lithium portfolio investments to $150 million and other domestic beneficiation plants, including the $600 million plant in Nasarawa State and another $200 million in the FCT, the solid mineral sector is surely going to get a shot in the arm. Its contribution to GDP is also expected to increase, by leaps, in the coming years.

Matters are also helped by the government’s resolve to subscribe to the high-minded control of these minerals by way of local processing and refining as being canvassed by the African Development Bank (AfDB). This is, incidentally, in tandem with the Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso models.

Even before the advocacy of mineral control by the AfDB, Zimbabwe, which has significant lithium deposits, and Burkina Faso, which has gold aplenty, have insisted that their endowments will not merely be extracted, in raw form, and shipped abroad. Instead, they would have to be processed in-country, thereby creating jobs, adding value to the minerals and transferring technical know-how to their compatriots.

By so doing, Burkina Faso, in the past three years, has raked in a whopping $18 million from gold. In the first six months of 2026, it has made over $6 million. A tidy sum, by whatever account.a

It is salutary that the Nigerian government has set up the MINES MARSHALS, an elite unit from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to guard our mines. This has helped to mitigate, even if it has not completely solved the criminality being perpetrated at Nigeria’s mining sites, particularly, in Zamfara, Plateau, Kaduna and Niger states.

In spite of these modest gains, the solid mineral sector remains fragile and in great peril. And in spite of some of the investments and measures taken, aforementioned, they may not, after all, lead to a narrative that has a happy ending.

Consider: Some of the mineral bearing states are entering into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with foreign entities in clear contravention of Section 44(3) of the Constitution which vests the federal government the management of these minerals through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

In Zamfara State, where gold is being extracted by big time politicians and deep-pockets, there is no clear picture as to how much is being processed and how much is going to the public treasury. This is in spite of the fact that gold bars were once presented, with fanfare, at the presidency as coming from that state.

In the same Zamfara State, proxies of these deep pockets maim and kill each other in order to take over prolific mine fields. The same thing is occurring in Niger and Kaduna states, thereby fueling and adding to the insurgency in the three states.

The same criminality afflicts the mines on the Jos-Plateau. The mines here, dominated mostly by artisans, are carried out indiscriminately and without regard to the sanctity or beauty of the environment. At one point, a government facility in Jos-South perched precariously on a tunnel that had been hollowed out by devil-may-care miners.

In Osun State, where there are gold deposits, the picture is blurred. Little or nothing is known about the prospecting going on here.

Nasarawa State, blessed with lithium in commercial quantity, has aroused a mad scramble by miners, particularly foreign ones. But against the grain of competition and due process, exclusive mining rights for lithium are being allegedly reserved for a favoured company.

In spite of the fact that some communities had consented to particular companies to mine in their domains, the state government is said to foist its preferred companies on such communities. As if that were not a recipe for chaos, mining companies here are allegedly being coerced by government officials to shell out $2 million per annum and for five years, in lieu of prospecting. There are also reports that these officials are demanding that mining companies allocate equities to them to the tune of 50 per cent. This has reportedly compelled prospectors either to abandon the mines, in droves, or sell them outright at rock bottom prices.

These allegations are, no doubt, hair raising and troubling. The state of the mineral sector as a whole is deeply concerning. These altogether call for urgent, comprehensive review and investigation. Mining activities, across the board, must be regulated and they must accord with international best practices.

Transparency must inform and guide the mining sector. There should be surveillance and proper audit of the sector. Concerted efforts should be taken to check smuggling. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which statutory duty it is to promote transparency, due process and accountability in the management of oil, gas and solid mineral revenues, should bring vigour to bear on its oversight and reporting of the mining sector.

The solid mineral sector should be structured, delineated and made inclusive so that big and small time actors can be accommodated. Members of the female gender should also be co-opted.

The Burkina-be gold success story was informed by improving transparency, state vigilance, delineation of mining corridors and intensified control measures to strengthen the sector. We should follow the same path if we want the solid minerals sector to impact the economy and Nigerians positively. That way, we shall be making the mineral sector a blessing, and not a curse.

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has pledged between 100 and 300 hectares of land for the establishment of the newly approved Nigerian Army 10 Division in the state.

Fintiri made the commitment while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Yola, saying the establishment of the division would strengthen security operations in Adamawa, Taraba and other parts of the North-East.

The governor assured the Army that the state government would provide the necessary support to facilitate the establishment of the new formation.

He also directed that all relevant land documentation, including the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), be processed and completed within two weeks to ensure that the project commences without unnecessary delays.

Fintiri said the state government remained committed to supporting security agencies operating in Adamawa and would continue to provide the necessary cooperation to enhance peace and security across the state.

Speaking during the visit, Major General Bassy O. Ime said the Nigerian Army would assess suitable locations across Adamawa State for the establishment of the new military formations.

The establishment of the 10 Division is expected to further strengthen the Army’s operational capacity and improve security coordination across the North-East.

Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc, has launched new padel courts at Transcorp Hilton Abuja as part of efforts to expand the hotel’s recreational and lifestyle offerings.

Padel, a racket sport that has recorded growing popularity globally, is the latest addition to the hotel’s sports and leisure facilities, which include tennis and squash courts, swimming pools and wellness facilities.

Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Uzoamaka Oshogwe, said the new facility was designed to provide guests and visitors with more opportunities to combine leisure, fitness and social activities.

She said, ‘People want more from hospitality today. They want places where they can work, unwind, stay active, and create meaningful memories all in one destination. That is what we are offering at Transcorp Hilton Abuja. Our new padel courts are another way we are bringing people together and creating experiences our guests will love.’

The company said the launch formed part of its ongoing investments in facilities and experiences at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

It said the new courts would complement the hotel’s existing accommodation, dining, wellness and recreational facilities, while providing an additional sporting option for guests, families, professionals and residents of Abuja.

The hotel also houses the Transcorp Centre, an events and conference facility with a reported capacity of 5,000 seats and a soundproof partitioning system designed to accommodate different types and sizes of events.

The facility hosts conferences, corporate meetings, exhibitions, weddings and cultural events.

According to the company, the addition of the padel courts is expected to further broaden the range of activities available at the hotel, particularly for visitors seeking sports and recreational experiences alongside accommodation and business facilities.

The launch is part of Transcorp Hotels’ broader efforts to develop its hospitality offerings and provide spaces that combine business, leisure and recreational activities.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he will not become a political godfather who dictates the affairs of government to his successor after leaving office in 2027.

Makinde made the declaration on Monday while hosting members of the Muslim community at a Hijrah 1448 luncheon held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital.

He said after spending eight years in office serving the people of Oyo State, he would ensure a smooth transition and allow his successor to provide leadership without undue interference.

Makinde said: ‘I won’t be a political godfather to my successor. After eight years of serving the people of Oyo State, I will ensure that there is a smooth transition and that whoever succeeds me is given the opportunity to develop and implement policies in line with the aspirations and yearnings of the people.

‘The essence of political leadership should not be the ability to control those who come after a public office holder, but the willingness to serve humanity and leave behind institutions and structures that can continue to benefit the people.’

The governor also urged eligible voters to scrutinise the qualities of candidates seeking political offices ahead of the 2027 general elections, rather than allowing ethnicity, religion or other primordial considerations to influence their choices.

He said voters should assess aspirants based on their competence, character, track record and commitment to public service.

‘Leadership should be about service to humanity, not about control. As we approach another election period, I want to urge our people, especially our Muslim brothers and sisters, to hold those seeking political office accountable.

‘Do not assess political aspirants based on ethnicity, religion or other primordial considerations. Look at their competence, their character and their commitment to public service. Ask yourselves what they have done, what they can do and whether they genuinely have the interest of the people at heart.

‘Governance is about improving the lives of the people. Those entrusted with public office must always put the interest of the citizens above their personal interests or political interests. That is the essence of leadership and that is what our people deserve,’ he said.

The governor assured residents that his administration would remain focused on delivering good governance and consolidating its achievements during the remainder of its tenure.

‘Our remaining period in office will be dedicated to consolidating the achievements we have recorded so far and delivering more impactful projects and programmes for the benefit of our people across the state.

‘Until the expiration of this administration, we will continue to make decisions and take actions that will promote development, peace and prosperity in Oyo. We will continue to work for the people and ensure that the resources entrusted to us are used for the benefit of the people,’ Makinde said.

He thanked the people of Oyo State for the confidence and support they had given his administration.

He also expressed appreciation to the Muslim community for its partnership and contributions to the growth and stability of the state.

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s COAS Intervention Battalion 3 under 8 Division, personnel of the Mobile Police Force and the Air Component of Joint Task Force Operation FANSAN YAMMA are currently engaged in a fierce battle with a large group of armed bandits along the Zamfara-Kebbi border.

The bandits, estimated at about 240, reportedly emerged from the Sangeko Gap in Zamfara State before advancing towards Makuku town in Kebbi State.

According to sources within the security circle, the armed group was moving on motorcycles and had divided itself into three formations as it advanced into the area.

The development has heightened tension in communities around the border, with some residents reportedly fleeing their homes and moving to safer locations as security forces intensify efforts to contain the attackers.

The ongoing operation involves coordinated ground operations by troops and police personnel, with aerial support from the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

The security forces are said to be working to prevent the bandits from gaining access to surrounding communities and disrupting their movement across the border axis.

The movement of such a large number of armed men has raised fresh security concerns among residents of communities close to the area of confrontation.

Residents have been advised to remain vigilant and comply with directives from security agencies while the operation continues.

The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, confirmed the development to Daily Trust, saying the operation was still ongoing.

He said further details would be provided after the operation.

The operation is currently ongoing as the latest development comes amid sustained military operations across the North-West to disrupt bandit networks, rescue kidnapped victims and restore security in affected communities.

The push for a united opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections has entered a new phase.

This is as a group, the G100, revealed that it has held consultations with six opposition political parties and is now preparing a summit to advance talks on a common front.

The group said representatives had engaged the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

It said the consultations, which involved national chairmen, presidential candidates and running mates, had produced a broad convergence around the need for opposition parties to work more closely together.

The development comes eight days before the planned Opposition Parties Summit scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Abuja.

According to the G100, the summit is expected to provide a platform for the parties to begin detailed discussions on how greater cooperation can be achieved ahead of the 2027 elections.

The group, in a statement signed by Salihu Mohammed Lukman on behalf of the G100 on Monday, said the consultations were deliberately conducted away from public scrutiny because of the sensitivity of the issues being discussed.

It said the decision was intended to give political leaders room for frank and constructive engagement without the pressure associated with premature public disclosure.

‘Achieving a credible and effective opposition will require sacrifice, compromise and a willingness to place the larger interests of the country above narrow partisan or individual considerations,’ the group said.

The G100 said its consultations followed an open letter issued to opposition leaders on August 2, 2026, in which it advanced the ‘Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition’.

It said the doctrine was premised on the argument that Nigeria’s democracy would be strengthened if voters were presented with a credible opposition capable of effectively competing for their mandate.

It maintained that the continued fragmentation of opposition parties could undermine efforts to provide such an alternative.

‘Fragmentation among those seeking to provide that alternative serves neither the opposition nor the Nigerian people,’ it said.

While the consultations have reportedly established common ground on the need for greater cooperation, the G100 acknowledged that converting such goodwill into a workable political arrangement would be more difficult.

It therefore said the next phase would involve discussions on the practical modalities of cooperation, including issues of sacrifice, accommodation and collective action among the participating parties.

The group stressed that it would not determine the outcome of the process. It said its responsibility was to facilitate dialogue and build confidence among the parties.

‘The G100 does not presume to dictate the outcome of these conversations. Our role is to facilitate dialogue, build confidence and help create the conditions in which the participating political parties can openly consider the difficult questions of cooperation, sacrifice, accommodation and collective action,’ it said.

It further said any eventual arrangement must take into account the interests and concerns of the participating parties while placing the broader interest of Nigerians above individual or partisan considerations.

The group also linked the ongoing initiative to the principles contained in the Ibadan Declaration, particularly the call for Nigeria’s opposition to develop a credible route towards presenting a united and competitive alternative in 2027.

It said sustainable cooperation could not be achieved through imposition, but would require negotiations and ownership by the parties involved.

The G100 said the consultations conducted over the past week were only the beginning of what it described as a difficult political process requiring ‘patience, courage and, above all, sacrifice.’

It added that preparations were ongoing with representatives of the parties to finalise the modalities and arrangements for the August 18 summit.

The group expressed optimism that the convergence recorded during the consultations could provide a foundation for deeper cooperation, while cautioning that goodwill alone would not be sufficient.

It said the process would be deliberately pursued on the basis of inclusiveness and mutual respect.

The G100 reiterated its commitment to facilitating the unity of Nigeria’s major opposition political parties.

It noted that the initiative was being pursued in good faith and in the overriding interest of the country and its democracy.

Daily Trust reports that the latest move comes against the backdrop of a series of attempts by opposition parties and political leaders to build a common platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

This is amid concerns that continued fragmentation could work to the advantage of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Analysts have pointed to internal crises, defections and competing presidential ambitions as major obstacles to the emergence of a formidable opposition bloc.

The opposition’s unity efforts received a major push at the National Opposition Political Parties Summit in Ibadan in April, where participating parties resolved to work towards a single presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The Ibadan Declaration also warned against alleged attempts by the ruling party to establish a one party state and called for the protection of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

However, the coalition-building process has since faced setbacks, with divisions emerging within the opposition camp.

Two prominent figures associated with the earlier ADC-led coalition, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, subsequently withdrew from the arrangement.

The developments have also fuelled allegations among opposition figures that the ruling APC is deliberately exploiting or encouraging divisions within opposition parties to prevent the emergence of a united challenger to President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Some opposition politicians have gone further to allege attempts to weaken major opposition platforms through internal crises and institutional pressures.

The allegations have, however, been rejected by the APC, which has described claims that President Tinubu or the ruling party is working to destabilise the ADC and other opposition parties as unfounded.

The party has instead maintained that opposition crises are largely self-inflicted and that Nigeria’s multiparty system remains open to competition.

It is against this increasingly competitive and fractured political environment that the G100’s consultations with six opposition parties and its planned August 18 summit assume significance.

The Federal Government has inaugurated a dedicated security team, Coastal Highway Guards, to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from vandalism and other unauthorised activities.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, inaugurated the team on Sunday with an initial deployment of 40 officers.

The development was announced in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos State Governor, Jubril Gawat.

The 750-kilometre, 10-lane highway is designed to connect Lagos with Cross River through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

Gawat said the guards would maintain a security presence along the highway, report suspicious activities, monitor vandalism and prevent hawking, the use of motorcycles and tricycles, and loitering.

He said the team, led by retired General Adekunle Shodunke, would work with other security agencies in Lagos State.

Umahi said the deployment was a full-time security assignment to protect national assets, not an empowerment programme.

The minister had earlier expressed concern over the removal of construction materials and illegal occupation of sections of the highway.

‘We have had very terrible, unpatriotic elements removing the blocks, breaking the fence, removing the rods and treading on the highway. This must stop,’ he said.

He directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos to keep motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers and other unauthorised users off the highway.

Umahi said he saw people sleeping on the road during an inspection of the project with members of the National Assembly at about 11pm.

‘No hawking, no occupation illegally along the entire coast,’ he said.

He also urged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to strengthen the protection of strategic national infrastructure.

The minister disclosed that the Ministry of Works had opened its ongoing projects to scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.