Category: Nigerian Tribune

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has distributed appointment letters to 2,367 newly recruited health personnel as part of efforts to address manpower shortages in healthcare facilities across the state.

He said the first phase of the recruitment included 250 medical doctors, 40 pharmacists, 250 nurses, 250 midwives, 150 senior community health extension workers, 50 junior community health extension workers and 50 epidemiologists.

Yusuf said the recruitment was necessitated by identified manpower gaps in health facilities and the need to improve access to quality healthcare services for residents.

The governor, who spoke during the distribution of the appointment letters in Kano, said the shortage of medical personnel had become a major challenge, particularly as doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals continued to move to other institutions and locations.

According to him, hundreds of other healthcare professionals across various cadres were also recruited under the exercise.

Yusuf said the deployment of the newly recruited personnel would strengthen hospitals, primary healthcare centres and other health institutions, particularly facilities experiencing critical shortages of healthcare workers.

He congratulated the new employees, describing their appointments as a call to service and urging them to demonstrate compassion, discipline, integrity, commitment, and respect for human dignity in discharging their duties.

The governor directed the health workers to provide services fairly and with dignity to all patients, irrespective of their social status, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or economic circumstances.

He also urged them to maintain punctuality and dedication, pursue continuous professional development and ensure responsible use of public resources.

Yusuf assured the new health personnel that the state government would provide the necessary support to enable them to perform effectively, while holding them accountable for delivering quality healthcare services to the people.

He commended the Ministry of Health, State Hospital Management Board, Primary Healthcare Development Agency and other institutions involved in the recruitment exercise for their contributions towards its success.

Sixty-six years ago today, our flag was raised, for the first time, over a free and sovereign nation. Since then, we have journeyed together as one nation, bound by our collective trust in the great promise of Nigeria: that a country of our size, our bountiful resources, our cultural diversity and, above all, our extraordinary people can build a giant in Africa; that in this blessed and fertile land we can build a united, strong and prosperous nation; a land of regional authority and global consequence.

Our journey has not always been easy. In truth, it has generally been too hard for too many. We have known moments of great hope and periods of profound disappointment. We have endured war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheaval. Yet through it all, Nigeria, with the indomitable spirit of its people, has endured.

It has endured through the efforts of the farmer who rises before dawn to work his land. The trader who opens her shop each morning, hopeful for a productive day. The teacher who believes in the children entrusted to her care and the young entrepreneur who refuses to surrender ambition to circumstance. We are grateful for the men and women of our Armed Forces and security services who place themselves in harm’s way so that the rest of us may live in peace.

Through every difficulty, generations of Nigerians have continued to believe in one thing: that this country of ours will be better.

This faith, which sustains us all, is the inheritance of independence. Our founding fathers did not struggle merely for a flag, an anthem or a place among the nations of the world. Independence carried a larger promise: that Nigerians would have the freedom to shape their own destiny and build a nation capable of providing opportunity, dignity and a better life for its people. Sixty-six years later, Almighty God has made it our responsibility to deliver that promise.

Today, as we celebrate our independence, we must speak honestly about the journey so far, the choices we made, and the country we are determined to build from here.

For too long, the promise of Nigeria was undermined by choices that postponed difficult decisions and allowed deep economic distortions to grow.

By 2023, poverty was rising, and hope was nearly gone. The country’s situation was darker than ever. We had no choice but to act.

Nigeria was like a sick patient who receives the terrible news that he has cancer. His doctor explains that the treatment will be difficult and painful, but that it offers a strong prospect of recovery. The patient has a choice. He can begin treatment, endure its discomfort and fight the disease. Or he can ask only for morphine, dull the pain and leave the cancer to spread.

For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came.

They focused on symptoms while allowing the disease to take hold deep within the fabric of our society. We spent enormous sums sustaining inefficient arrangements that were never intended to last. We hid from difficult truths and passed the consequences from one generation to the next.

When this Administration assumed office, we resolved to do things differently. We chose to excise the cancer. The reforms that followed were difficult. The side effects were real. Yet, we must never confuse the medicine with the disease.

Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them. Now, as certain influential but regressive voices would have us abandon the treatment and return ourselves to the abuse of addictive subsidies, we must resist their siren song. We must remember why we began this journey and how far we have already come.

Three and a half years later, the evidence that Nigeria’s economic outlook has improved is undeniable. Our economy has grown by over 4 per cent this year. Both oil and non-oil sectors have contributed to the renewed period of stable growth.

Oil theft is down. Inflation has fallen substantially from its peak. Our foreign reserves have been rebuilt, our foreign exchange market has stabilised, and in 2025 this country recorded its highest revenue from non-oil exports in its history, exceeding $6 billion. This is real money being made by real Nigerian businesses.

These are not idle claims. International observers, journalists, NGOs and multilateral institutions can see the change. Each has concluded that our reforms have strengthened Nigeria’s economic stability and resilience. The private sector has long since delivered its verdict, and foreign direct investment continues to rise each year.

My fellow Nigerians, we have reached a turning point.

The emergency treatment is over. The foundation has been repaired. The central economic task before us has changed. For three years, our overriding purpose was to correct our nation’s course.

Now, our purpose is simple: shared and widespread prosperity.

When I speak of prosperity, I do not speak merely of a larger economy, abstract numbers or better statistics. I mean something much more personal.

I mean a Nigeria in which the farmer can cultivate his land safely, produce more at lower cost, and earn a decent return for his labour. A Nigeria in which factories have reliable power, businesses can obtain credit, and young people can find productive work. A Nigeria in which food and transportation are affordable, education is within reach, and hard-working families can look towards the future with confidence.

This is the promise we must now fulfil.

Our priority is to bring down the cost of living. We will achieve this by lowering the cost of producing and moving the things Nigerians consume.

We have the land and people to feed ourselves. My government is therefore focused on expanding mechanised irrigation and dry-season farming, improving access to seeds and fertiliser, holistically increasing mechanisation, and investing in storage and transportation. We are building and completing the roads, railways and ports that connect farms and factories to markets.

Our logic is simple. When a farmer produces more cheaply, when fewer crops are lost between the farm and the market, when a manufacturer spends less on electricity, when a truck reaches its destination faster, and when the business environment fosters fair competition, all those savings will ultimately find their way into the price of goods in the market.

But prosperity requires more than cheaper goods. It requires productive work.

Nigeria is a young country. Millions of young Nigerians enter adulthood every year with talent, energy and ambition. Our responsibility is to ensure that this great demographic strength becomes an engine of production rather than a source of despair.

We are therefore placing jobs, enterprise, and industrial growth at the heart of our government’s policies.

We will use our gas to power new industries. We will support businesses that work to bring factories back to life in our great industrial centres. We will expand digital connectivity into communities that have waited too long to participate in the modern economy. We will invest in the skills employers demand and support Nigerian businesses with the infrastructure and finance they need to grow.

I want to see more Nigerians making things. I want to see more Nigerian farms feeding our cities and supplying our factories. I want to see Nigerian businesses selling Nigerian goods to the whole world. I want young Nigerians building unicorns and creating opportunities for others here at home.

I am also conscious that millions of our fellow citizens cannot wait for tomorrow. Some Nigerian families still struggle today for the next meal, the next school fee, the next medical bill, or simply enough money to get to work. Their circumstances did not begin with the reforms of the last three years. Their struggle is the accumulated consequence of decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient opportunity and institutions that too often failed those who needed them most.

We cannot erase in four years what accumulated over generations. But we can change its course. We can build an economy that steadily lifts people out of poverty while ensuring that those who remain vulnerable are not abandoned along the way.

That is why we are strengthening direct support for the poorest households and improving the National Social Register so that assistance reaches those who genuinely need it.

It is why the Nigerian Education Loan Fund is ensuring that the child of a low-income family need not surrender the dream of higher education simply because his parents cannot afford the fees.

It is why CREDICORP is giving working Nigerians access to consumer credit, allowing people to acquire vehicles, solar systems, digital devices and other essential assets without first having to accumulate years of savings.

That is why, working with our states and local governments, we will continue to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education, and the essential public services poorer Nigerians depend on most. Since 2023, we have paid salaries and pensions on time and in full. We have reformed the national pension program to benefit retirees and the vulnerable.

These programmes are not substitutes for prosperity. They are a bridge to aid our nation’s citizens on their path towards it. Our objective is not to manage poverty more efficiently.

We will defeat it.

It will take time. It will require discipline. It will require sustained growth year after year and the creation of millions of productive opportunities across our country.

But for the first time in decades, we embark on this task from a position of strength; with an economy whose fundamental direction has been corrected. We confronted the difficult choices we faced and have laid the foundations for lasting prosperity. Rather than fail the promise of a better future for our children, the time has come for us to build that future.

The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity. An age in which the promise of this great nation must finally become the lived experience of Nigerians from all walks of life.

We have travelled through difficult years together. We have made hard decisions together. And now, still together, we must build the country those decisions have made possible.

I believe deeply in what lies ahead.

I believe in the millions of ordinary men and women whose work, courage and determination have always been the true strength of our country. The road ahead will still demand much from us. But we now travel it with firm footing, a clear direction, and renewed hope in our collective future.

Nigeria has corrected its course. We have passed through our own Red Sea. This is not the time to look back. Let us go forward together, with faith in ourselves, faith in our country, and faith that the sacrifices we have made will yield their reward.

The Promised Land before us is a Nigeria of abundance and opportunity; a nation where prosperity is broadly shared, where every child can dream beyond the circumstances of his birth, and where our country’s immense promise is finally reflected in the lives of our people.

Our destination is in sight. Our foundations are strong. Our direction is clear. So let us go forward. No looking back.

Happy Independence Day, my fellow Nigerians. God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Less than a week after the official registration for the 2027 Hajj exercise, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved an additional 10,000 slots for Nigeria and conveyed the approval to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), despite the ministry’s initial rejection of the commission’s request for additional slots.

The Saudi authorities had last year reduced Nigeria’s allocation from 95,000, which the country had maintained for nearly two decades, to 50,000 for the 2025 Hajj exercise and maintained the figure for the 2026 and 2027 Hajj exercises.

Based on the 50,000 slots allocated to Nigeria for the 2027 Hajj, NAHCON had distributed the slots among states and private tour operators, with states and the armed forces getting 35,000, while the remaining 15,000 was allocated to tour operators.

Following persistent requests for more allocations from state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards and private tour operators, NAHCON approached the Saudi ministry for more slots to be allocated to Nigeria for the 2027 Hajj.

However, on 17 September, NAHCON announced that the Saudi authorities had declined Nigeria’s request for an upward review of its 2027 Hajj allocation.

The decline, according to the management of the Hajj commission, meant Nigeria’s earlier quota of 50,000 slots remained unchanged despite growing demand from intending pilgrims across the country.

The commission disclosed that it had formally engaged the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, seeking additional pilgrimage slots to accommodate the increasing number of Nigerian Muslims desirous of undertaking the sacred journey and to address appeals from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards for enhanced allocations.

According to NAHCON, Saudi authorities communicated their inability to grant additional slots, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints within the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of strict adherence to approved country quotas under the current operational framework.

However, Tribune Online learnt that the Saudis made a U-turn as a result of diplomatic engagements involving higher authorities from both countries, prompting the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to formally notify NAHCON of the approval of an additional 10,000 slots to Nigeria’s earlier allocation of 50,000 slots.

Reliable sources in NAHCON informed Tribune Online that the commission received a letter informing it of the allocation of the additional slots to Nigeria before the close of work on Wednesday. This now brings Nigeria’s total allocation for next year’s Hajj exercise to 60,000 slots.

‘Following diplomatic engagements between the Federal Government, NAHCON and Saudi authorities, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Wednesday communicated approval of an additional 10,000 slots to Nigeria.

‘This means that we now have the opportunity of registering more intending pilgrims for next year’s Hajj. This is, indeed, good news,’ an insider in NAHCON told Tribune Online.

Asked what would happen after the 26 September deadline set by the Saudi ministry for all intending pilgrims’ registration data to be uploaded on its Nusuk Masar platform, another source said the Saudis would leave the platform open for the data of new registrants to be uploaded.

As of the time of filing this report, NAHCON had not made any official statement on the development, and it was not clear how the additional slots would be distributed, given that both states and private tour operators had agitated for more slots.

Deputy Director-General, Media and Communications of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Chief Dele Momodu, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast on Thursday, describing it as ‘uninspiring’.

Momodu, in reaction, posted on his X handle, said he watched and listened to the President’s speech on television and was not impressed, saying day meant for celebration was turned into day of lamentation.

‘Dear Mr President, please permit me to wish you Happy Independence on our 66th anniversary. I will not waste too much time Sir. I have just watched and listened to your speech on television and I must honestly say I wasn’t impressed. Today is supposed to be a day of celebration but your speech turned it into a day of lamentation,’ he said.

He faulted President’s analogy of Nigeria as cancer patient that survived on painkillers before his administration, noting that the President mentioned morphine as the drug of choice by predecessors.

‘My heart bled as you went into morbid analogy of Nigeria as being cancer patient that merely survived on pain killers before your arrival as celebrated surgeon. You specifically mentioned morphine as drug of choice by your predecessors. I’m not sure this analogy was appropriate. At time you assumed power, Nigeria probably had stage two cancer at worst. You were expected to stabilise it and not to metastasize it into stage four cancer,’ Momodu said.

He said President’s decision on fuel subsidy on first day in office was hasty and sent economy into crisis.

‘Your first prescription on day one was monumental disaster. You took no time to properly examine your patient. You were too much in a hurry to administer your jab, which automatically sent Nigeria into instant coma. And you’ve not been able to revive it. Least we expected from you was to stabilise and not to destabilise everything in sight,’ he added.

Momodu said fuel subsidy removal was a misadventure and that Nigerians expected an apology.

He listed challenges facing country, including rising debt, insecurity, poverty, and profligacy, saying renewed hope has collapsed into hopelessness.

‘Sir, your fuel subsidy stunt was misadventure. I expected apology for medical calamity. So Nigeria has made more money, amassed more loans, insecurity has increased, poverty has escalated, profligacy is palpable, politicians have remained insensitive, elections have taken priority over governance, renewed hope has collapsed into hopelessness and abject despair,’ he said.

He said Nigerians have given up on promises and may not endure endless excuses barely three months to the next elections.

‘Nigerians have mostly given up on your promises. I doubt they are able to endure and accept endless excuses barely three months to next elections. Four years may not be able to contain and solve all our problems but hope should be glaring by now,’ Momodu said.

The Obidient Movement has appointed Dr Moses Paul as its new National Coordinator, following the reassignment of its immediate past coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, as Special Adviser to presidential candidate Peter Obi on Northern Nigeria.

The changes were announced after a virtual meeting of national leaders and state coordinators of the movement with Obi on 30 September 2026.

In his new role, Tanko is expected to lead mobilisation efforts aimed at strengthening the Obi-Kwankwaso presidential campaign’s presence and grassroots engagement across Northern Nigeria.

Tanko, who served as National Coordinator for three years, expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the movement for their support during his tenure and highlighted some of the organisational structures established under his leadership.

He said a major focus of his tenure was strengthening the movement’s organisational and institutional framework.

‘A central focus of my leadership over the last two years was strengthening the Movement’s organisational structure and institutional framework. We established a National Advisory Council to deepen strategic engagement and to move the Movement beyond election-cycle activism towards a lasting institution,’ Tanko said.

According to him, the movement established offices in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, while five Regional Coordinators and a Regional Collegiate Council were appointed to strengthen regional leadership.

He also cited the establishment of grassroots structures across the 37 state coordination areas and 774 local government areas, as well as the development of the Obidients.com platform for mobilisation, engagement and recruitment.

Tanko further listed an election-results monitoring system linked to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing (IReV) platform among the initiatives undertaken during his tenure.

The system, he said, was designed to provide real-time updates from polling units across the country.

Leaders of the movement commended Tanko for his contribution to its organisational development and engagement with communities, stakeholders and support groups.

Following the meeting, Obi announced Tanko’s new appointment and named Moses Paul as his successor as National Coordinator.

In his acceptance remarks, Paul thanked the leadership for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to build on the structures established by his predecessor. He said the movement remained a citizen-driven platform rather than one centred on individuals.

‘With grace, humility, courage and determination, I accept the appointment to serve as National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement. Dr Tanko’s shoes are quite big, and I will need your prayers and support to move the Movement forward. We have to continue building with determination, knowing that a New Nigeria is possible,’ Paul said.

He reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to people-centred leadership, national unity and accountability, while calling for the support and cooperation of its leaders, members and supporters.

The movement said the new leadership arrangement was intended to strengthen its structures and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has directed civil servants across the Federal, State and Local Governments to commence a three-day warning strike from midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, following the expiration of the deadline earlier given to the Federal Government to address its demands.

The directive was contained in a circular signed by the National Secretary of JNPSNC, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga, and addressed to the National Presidents and General Secretaries, as well as State Chairmen and Secretaries of the council.

The council recalled that its national leadership had earlier resolved to commence the three-day warning strike if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu failed to address the issues contained in its letter to him dated September 21, 2026.

It had given the President till October 2 to heed and implement its demand that the Federal Government either reduce the price of fuel to N500 per litre or approve an immediate wage award for workers to cushion the impact of the high cost of transportation and goods and services resulting from the recent fuel price increase.

The council said the deadline had now elapsed without the demands being addressed, prompting the commencement of the warning strike.

‘Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight of Friday 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday October 4th, 2026,’ JNPSNC stated.

Directing workers across the three tiers of government to join the action, the council said the prevailing economic hardship was affecting workers, their dependants and vulnerable Nigerians.

‘In the same vein, all Public Servants in the services of Federal, State and Local Governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all,’ it stated.

The council said the worsening economic situation had made life increasingly difficult for workers and other Nigerians, particularly against the backdrop of rising transportation costs and the increasing prices of goods and services.

‘The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating,’ it stated.

JNPSNC consequently directed its national and state structures to commence immediate mobilisation of public servants for the three-day warning strike.

‘The time to act and mobilise workers for the three days warning strike is now,’ the council declared.

The warning strike is scheduled to commence at midnight on Friday, October 2, and run through Sunday, October 4, 2026.

The council urged its leadership structures to disseminate the directive to workers across the country.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the All Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast, saying the latter’s claim of prosperity does not reflect reality of Nigerians.

Atiku, in a speech delivered at ADC Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, said 66 years after independence, millions of Nigerians are fighting for food, living wage and safe journey home.

He said past three years under Tinubu have plunged Nigeria into most severe cost of living crisis, with families skipping meals, delaying treatment and borrowing to survive.

‘What has this government asked of them? More patience. More sacrifice. More faith in figures they cannot eat,’ Atiku said.

He said, ‘Bola, your speech is full of ‘we will.’ We will make farming cheaper. We will power factories. We will create jobs. We will bring down prices. You have been President for more than three years. Nigerians are entitled to ask what you have done with the time already given to you.

‘My dear Bola, you said the people ‘cannot wait for tomorrow.’ On that, I agree with you. Yet almost every answer in your address was about tomorrow. But Nigerians are hungry today. They pay transport fares today. They need jobs and safety today.

‘Bola, the Promised Land is not in sight merely because you can see it from the villa. Nigerians must be able to reach it. We have chosen a different course, peacefully and together, through the power of our votes; the message is clear: Tinubu must go.’

He criticised removal of fuel subsidy with one announcement and no credible protection for families, saying petrol, transport and food costs rose.

Atiku said the President’s Independence Day speech claiming ’emergency treatment is over’ and ‘age of prosperity has begun’ does not put food on the table.

‘Bola Tinubu told us that the emergency treatment is over and the age of prosperity has begun. A President may announce new chapter in speech. He cannot announce food onto family’s table or money into worker’s pocket. Bola, where is this prosperity?’ he queried.

He said a slower rise in prices does not restore what families have lost, adding that growth must improve lives.

Atiku faulted the analogy of Nigeria as a cancer patient, asking why it is harder to buy food, medicine and transport after three years of treatment.

He said Nigerians are not asking for morphine but asking what happened to subsidy savings.

Citing the cost of living, he said in April 2023, N30,000 minimum wage could buy about 118 litres of petrol, while today N70,000 minimum wage buys just 50 litres.

He also said the average price of one egg rose from N88 in April 2023 to N261 in May 2026, and a sliced loaf from N500 to about N2,000 for a smaller loaf.

He announced a plan to introduce a capped, budgeted production subsidy tied to verified fuel refined in Nigeria, including from modular refineries, with costs published and audited.

Atiku also faulted the government’s fiscal management, questioning the extension of the 2025 budget till the end of 2026 while the 2026 budget exists alongside it.

He alleged lack of transparency in the award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contract to Hitech, a company linked to Chagoury Group, and called for publication of invitations, bids, evaluations, and contract details.

He urged the government to pay local contractors who completed projects and are being owed.

He said public debt stood at N166.79 trillion at the end of June, and the government is discussing another $1.5bn World Bank loan, demanding accountability on what borrowed money delivered.

Atiku questioned the claim that over 10 million Nigerians received N75,000 each in cash transfers, asking for an auditable account of how the money reached beneficiaries.

He recalled the stampede at Niger State Government House where three people died amid reports of N10,000 distribution.

He dismissed the promise of lower transport fares from October 1, asking the government to publish routes, fares and beneficiaries.

On political freedom, Atiku called for rule of law, raising concerns over the detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and said the right of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to lawful appeal must be respected.

He also called for the release of five young Nigerians arrested in Borno after wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirts, saying political slogans must never become a reason to imprison citizens.

Atiku promised to end election rigging if elected, respect INEC’s independence and ensure vote buying and result manipulation are punished.

‘Our founders did not win sovereignty so that few could prosper while millions merely survive,’ he said.

Atiku said from his first day in office, he would put affordability and the protection of life at the centre of government.

‘We will begin bringing down the costs of food, fuel and power, improving access to healthcare and education, and restoring security to communities living in fear. I will account for public spending and measure progress by what Nigerians can afford and whether they can live safely.’

The Ambassador of Nigeria to Spain, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has called for stronger economic cooperation between Nigeria and Spain, particularly in renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and the creative industries.

Ikpeazu said deeper bilateral relations would create opportunities for investment, trade and business partnerships, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

The Ambassador made the call in Madrid, Spain, while addressing Nigerians and other dignitaries at an event marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

He said Nigeria and Spain had continued to strengthen their relationship through mutual respect, constructive dialogue and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

According to him, Spanish companies, including GB Foods, have continued to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s dynamic market, while Nigerians living in Spain are making significant contributions to the country’s social and economic development.

Ikpeazu said Nigeria valued Spain’s partnership and was committed to deepening collaboration in areas of shared interest, adding that the Federal Government would continue to create opportunities for investment and business-to-business matchmaking.

Congratulating President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians, particularly those residing in Spain, on the anniversary, the Ambassador paid tribute to the country’s founding fathers and nationalists whose sacrifices secured Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

He said the anniversary provided an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the ideals of freedom, unity, progress and dignity, which continue to shape the country’s national aspirations.

According to him, Nigeria remains Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies, with abundant human talent, cultural diversity and natural resources.

He also highlighted the country’s democratic institutions, youthful population and contributions to regional peace, security and development across Africa and beyond.

The Ambassador, however, acknowledged the country’s economic challenges, expressing optimism that ongoing reforms under the Tinubu administration would support economic diversification, improved governance and inclusive growth.

‘We are not satisfied with the present economic realities, but we are making progress as a people,’ he said.

Ikpeazu said the Federal Government remained committed to harnessing the potential of Nigerian youths, the creativity of its people and the country’s diversity to build a more prosperous and secure future.

He stressed that the support and partnership of countries such as Spain would remain important to achieving these objectives.

Addressing Nigerians living in Spain, including students, professionals and entrepreneurs, the Ambassador described them as valuable representatives of the country, whose conduct, achievements and contributions could strengthen relations between both nations.

He urged them to remain united, law-abiding and committed to upholding Nigeria’s image through hard work, integrity, innovation and resilience.

Ikpeazu said the contributions of Nigerians in Spain continued to reinforce the bonds of friendship between the two countries, urging them to sustain their positive engagement with their host community.

He called on Nigerians to use the Independence Anniversary to renew their commitment to building a peaceful, prosperous and respected nation.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that sustained cooperation with Spain and other international partners would help Nigeria expand investment opportunities, strengthen economic ties and advance its development objectives.

He urged Nigerians to remain united in pursuing the country’s aspirations, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining friendly relations with Spain.

The Coalition for Good Governance in Nigeria (CGGN) has reaffirmed the importance of NAICOM’s regulatory role in Nigeria’s insurance sector and retracted its earlier call for the removal of the Commission’s Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin.

In a statement dated 29 September 2026 and signed by Salisu Mohammed, the group withdrew its earlier demand for Omosehin’s resignation or suspension, admitting that the allegations on which the demand was based were inaccurate, incomplete and unsupported by verifiable evidence.

The Coalition also retracted its characterisation of NAICOM’s regulatory actions during the recapitalisation exercise as unlawful.

‘Upon rigorous internal review, further engagement with relevant documents, and careful consideration of additional facts that have since come to light, the Coalition has determined that the assertions contained in that earlier statement were inaccurate, incomplete, and not supported by verifiable evidence,’ CGGN said.

‘We therefore withdraw the statement in its entirety.’

The group withdrew claims that NAICOM made unlawful demands, forced insurers to transfer capital into Central Bank of Nigeria escrow accounts or collected funds for consultants who were never engaged.

It also abandoned its earlier assertion that Omosehin’s continued stay in office constituted a ‘clear and present danger’ to the insurance sector or an affront to accountability.

According to the Coalition, its earlier description of NAICOM’s regulatory actions as unlawful or lacking legal foundation was based on incomplete information and a misunderstanding of the applicable legal and regulatory framework.

‘The characterisation of NAICOM’s regulatory actions during the ongoing recapitalisation exercise as unlawful or lacking legal foundation was erroneous,’ it said.

CGGN expressed regret over any distress, reputational harm or public anxiety its earlier statement may have caused Omosehin, NAICOM’s management and staff, insurance operators, policyholders and the general public.

It also offered an unreserved apology for publishing claims that subsequent scrutiny had shown to be incorrect.

‘Good governance requires not only the courage to speak when concerns arise, but also the integrity to correct the record when those concerns are shown to be misplaced,’ the Coalition said.

The group formally withdrew its demand for Omosehin’s immediate resignation or suspension, as well as its suggestion that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy should take disciplinary action against him on the basis of the earlier petition.

‘We therefore retract, without reservation, every demand for the immediate resignation or suspension of the Commissioner for Insurance,’ CGGN stated.

‘We further withdraw any suggestion that the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy should take disciplinary action against him on the basis of the earlier petition narrative.’

The Coalition, however, said the retraction did not diminish its interest in the orderly and lawful conduct of the recapitalisation exercise.

It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the strengthening of Nigeria’s financial services sector, while recognising the importance of an independent and professional insurance regulator.

CGGN urged stakeholders to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Federal Ministry of Finance and NAICOM to discharge their statutory responsibilities without distraction from unsubstantiated public campaigns.

It said the retraction was issued in the public interest and in the spirit of fairness and accuracy that should guide civic advocacy.

OPPOSITION, at its best, is democracy’s conscience, a disciplined force that interrogates power, enriches public debate, and offers citizens a credible alternative. In Oyo State today, however, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation appear to have drifted far from that noble responsibility. What should be principled engagement has been reduced to a cycle of accusations, theatrics, and unfocused hostility. In place of ideas, they offer indignation; in place of solutions, spectacle. Rather than strengthening democratic discourse, they diminish it and, in doing so, undermine their own claim to leadership. Increasingly, their conduct follows a predictable pattern: reflexive allegations that collapse under scrutiny. Claims are announced with theatrical certainty, yet when evidence is demanded, none is produced. Assertions replace facts; outrage substitutes for insight. The result is an opposition bloc that weakens itself rather than enriching the democratic process. One of their most persistent claims is that Governor Seyi Makinde has ‘paralysed’ local government administration. Yet the facts on the ground tell a different story. Local governments continue to meet their obligations: salaries are paid, projects are executed, and essential services are delivered. Roads are being rehabilitated, primary health centres are functioning, community facilities are being upgraded, and grassroots interventions have not stalled.

This allegation is not rooted in the performance of the councils but in the opposition’s need to sustain a narrative of dysfunction where none exists. It collapses under basic verification, yet is repeated with the confidence of a script rehearsed for effect rather than truth. This is not oversight; it is political theatre and not even a convincing one. In effect, the APC is telling the public that it has nothing to offer. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the APC and the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation’s approach is not the allegations themselves, but the silence that follows when the question turns to their own vision. For all the press releases, briefings, and indignation, neither the party nor its candidate has told the people what they would do differently if entrusted with power. There is no blueprint. No policy direction. No economic plan. No governance philosophy. No roadmap for security, education, infrastructure, or youth development. Just noise. Opposition is not merely about pointing out what is wrong; it is more about illuminating what could be right. Yet the opposition has offered nothing, not even a sketch of the future. This vacuum is worsened by the APC’s internal dilemma: its standard bearer, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, lacks the stature, clarity, and policy grounding required to inspire confidence across the state.

Political analysts often observe a familiar pattern: when a party lacks a coherent agenda, credible policies, or a strong candidate, it substitutes substance with spurious allegations. Noise becomes a shield for emptiness; outrage becomes a distraction from the absence of ideas. This pattern is unmistakable in the behaviour of the APC and the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation. Their barrage of accusations is not evidence of vigilance; it is evidence of a vacuum. Instead of presenting solid plans or strong alternatives, they resort to sensational claims that collapse under scrutiny. In politics, this is not a strategy, it is a confession of incompetence and unpreparedness. A campaign confident in its candidate speaks of ideas and possibilities. A campaign uncertain of its candidate resorts to noise. The absence of a coherent vision is not a trivial flaw; it is a fundamental failure. A political organisation seeking to govern must articulate what governance under its leadership would look like. It must present a philosophy, a direction, a plan. It must show that it understands the complexities of the state and has the capacity to address them. When a campaign cannot do this, it forfeits the right to be taken seriously.

This contrast becomes even sharper when placed beside the consistent elucidation of plans by the Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate, Honourable Bimbo Adekanmbi. While the APC and the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation rely on allegations, the APM candidate has repeatedly articulated clear, structured, and people-centred proposals for the future of Oyo State. His engagements focus on policy, not theatrics; on solutions, not sensationalism. Where the opposition offers noise, Adekanmbi offers direction. Where they recycle accusations, Adekanmbi outlines programmes. Where they evade scrutiny, he welcomes it with detailed plans. Adekanmbi’s contributions have reinforced the seriousness of the APM’s agenda. In education, he emphasises modernised learning environments, teacher retraining, and curriculum upgrades that prepare students for a competitive global economy. His focus on STEM, digital literacy, and school infrastructure stands in sharp contrast to the opposition’s fixation on allegations. On capacity development, he outlines programmes aimed at equipping young people with practical skills, from vocational training to entrepreneurship, ensuring that Oyo’s workforce is prepared for emerging opportunities. His advocacy for strengthened primary healthcare, improved hospital facilities, and community-based interventions demonstrates a clear understanding of the state’s needs. These proposals show what governance looks like when grounded in data and compassion, not theatrics.

Similarly, Adekanmbi has repeatedly stressed the importance of positioning Oyo State as a digital-economy hub through broadband expansion, tech-startup incubation, digital-skills training, and partnerships with private-sector innovators. These ideas reflect a modern, future-ready vision, the very thing the APC has failed to articulate. Adekanmbi’s clarity underscores a simple truth: serious politics is about ideas, not accusations. His coherence only magnifies the emptiness of the APC’s approach. History offers a warning. This was the fatal flaw that weakened the UK Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn. Between 2015 and 2019, Labour perfected the art of destructive opposition: loud, accusatory, ideologically rigid, and internally divided.

It hurled allegations at the ruling Conservatives but failed to offer coherent alternatives. It embraced ideological grandstanding instead of practical governance. And when voters finally asked, ‘What will you do differently?’ Labour had no answer.

The result was historic: Labour suffered its worst electoral performance since 1935 because voters concluded that ‘The Labour people are not serious.’

Oyo APC and the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation are now walking that same path.

Every unsubstantiated allegation chips away at their credibility.

Every burst of drama shrinks their relevance.

Every moment spent shouting instead of explaining signals to voters: ‘These APC people are not ready to govern.’

Internal disunity only deepens the problem. The party is battling schisms, contradictory public statements, and leaders undermining one another. Instead of presenting a united front, the opposition is divided and reactive, more focused on internal supremacy than public service. This is not the posture of a party determined to win an election; it is the posture of a bloc preparing for a catastrophic defeat.

Desperation is not a strategy; it is a symptom. And the desperation now visible in the APC and the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation is tied directly to the weakness of their candidate. A strong candidate inspires confidence, rallies supporters, and anchors a campaign with clarity and purpose. A weak candidate forces the campaign to rely on noise, sensation, and distraction.

When a political organisation believes its candidate cannot win on ideas, it tries to win on agitation. When it fears its candidate cannot inspire hope, it tries to manufacture fear. When it knows its candidate cannot articulate a credible future, it tries to discredit the present.

But voters are not fooled. They can distinguish between genuine oversight and political theatre. They can tell when criticism is grounded in fact and when it is driven by desperation. They can see when a campaign is offering a future and when it is merely shouting at the present.

Opposition, when exercised with integrity, is one of democracy’s highest duties. It demands clarity of purpose, steadiness of vision, and a commitment to the public good that rises above partisan impulse. When a political party abandons these obligations and embraces a politics of accusation, noise, and internal discord, as the APC has done, it does not weaken the government; it weakens itself.

With its theatrics and noise, it is clear that the Oyo APC is warming up for another four years in the cold as an opposition party as APM’s Bimbo Adekanmbi coasts home to victory.