Category: Nigerian Tribune

As the nation’s celebrates her 65th anniversary on October 1, this year, stakeholders have warned that such celebrations should be done cautiously, since the state of the nation’s economy still calls for sober reflection.

The stakeholders, comprising the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN); Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (AS BON) and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); have therefore charged the government on the need to intensify efforts at easing the reforms-induced pains individuals and businesses have continued to endure in the past two years.

They argued that, while there seems to be some form of positives in the fact that the non-oil sector of the economy, unlike in the past, now contributes significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), they are however of the opinion that the real sector, such as Manufacturing, which should have been the major driver of the nation’s economic growth has not been able to perform such role, due to a myriad of challenges, ranging from inflation, to high interest rates, huge electricity rates, and diminishing consumer purchasing power, among others, facing the sector.

For instance, in his review of the performance of the sector in 2024, the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Francis Meshioye, believed the sector was not able to contribute maximally to the nation’s GDP, due to different macro-economic and infrastructural challenges facing it, during the period under review.

For instance, manufacturing’s share of the economy dropped significantly from 16.04 per cent in Q4 2023 to 12.68 per cent in Q2 2024, indicating a contraction in economic activity within the sector.

‘In 2024, Nigeria’s manufacturing encountered a myriad of macroeconomic and infrastructural challenges that severely impacted its performance. The sector faced mounting pressure from high inflation, a depreciating Naira, rising interest rates, escalating electricity tariffs, record low sales, multiplicity of taxes and levies and militating security concerns, which affected profitability and hindered the sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP,’ he stated.

On inflation, the MAN boss described as alarming, the 34.6 per cent inflation figure recorded in November 2024, a development, he argued, diminished consumers’ purchasing power and caused a decline in demand for manufactured goods.

According to him, another of the consequences of all these, was the huge unsold inventory of N1.4 trillion, recorded across companies in the sector, during the period.

Meshioye also identified the steep decline in the value of the Naira, from N666/$ in mid 2023 to over N1700/$ by mid-2024, due to the floating of the exchange rate, as another major factor for the sector’s non-performance in 2024.

He noted that the interest rate figure at 27.7 percent, recorded by November 2024, also made it difficult for operators in the sector to access financing for expansion, since it raised borrowing cost for expansion and modernisation; thereby limiting, severely, the potential for investment in the sector, impeding long-term growth prospects.

Interestingly, one challenge that seems intractable in the sector remains the issue of high electricity tariff. A drastic rise in electricity tariffs by over 250 per cent, manufacturers complained, have made energy costs become one of the highest operating expenses for businesses in the sector in 2024.

In a bid to remain in business, they argued, manufacturers now seek alternative energy sources, a development that has further strained their financial resources and complicate their ability to remain competitive.

Speaking in this same vein, the President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr. Femi Egbesola, noted that the impact of the reforms on small businesses, in the past two years, had been very negative, since over 2 million businesses had shut down over the period due to the reforms.

He added that small businesses had also continued to groan under the heavy burden of multiplicity of taxes. Egbesola, however expressed the optimism that the new tax reforms, expected to kickoff in January next year, would serve as a form of relief to small businesses.

‘A lot of things will change for good. And if nano, micro and small businesses which form about 96 percent of businesses that we have in Nigeria, are positively impacted by these tax reforms, it would also impact the economy, positively,’ he stated.

He said part of the survival strategies adopted by operators in the sector, has been the decision to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to enhance their fortunes.

‘We are beginning to look at how we can be innovative in the way we run our business. That is why you see some of us involved in exports, especially non-oil export. We are also leveraging AfCFTA, ECOWAS and technology to be able to survive at this time,’ he stated.

While expressing the optimism that, with time, businesses would begin to reap the fruits of the reform, he however charged government on the need to begin to think of how to give soft landing to small businesses by cushioning the effects of those reforms.on their operations.

In its review, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI expressed the delight that key indicators are showing some positive trends, with GDP growth accelerating to 4.23 percent in Q2, of this year; and headline inflation gradually easing, to 2012 percent as of August.

The Chamber, however , called for sober reflection on the state of the nation’s economy, and the business environment , since sustained reforms still remained imperative to unlocking the country’s full potential.

‘At 65, Nigeria stands at a pivotal juncture. We need to deepen structural reforms that ease the cost of doing business. With the benchmark rate still as high as 27%, weak power supply, high energy costs, and an expensive exchange rate for critical imports, businesses are operating in a harsh business environment.

‘We must prioritise infrastructure investments, particularly in power, logistics, and broadband. We need critical infrastructure upgrades to support innovation, digital transformation, and industrialization,’ it added.

The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has dismissed reports circulating about the existence of an interim leadership within the association, insisting that its current National President, Dr Ojo Joseph Ajanaku, remains the duly elected and recognised leader.

In a statement issued by the association, NCAN described the claims made at a recent press briefing by an unnamed group as misleading, stressing that the purported interim executives do not represent the cashew industry.

According to the association, its national election was held on 23 November 2024 at the FACAN Headquarters in Abuja, where Dr Ajanaku was elected and sworn in by the Board of Trustees.

It noted that any insinuation of a leadership crisis was an attempt to misinform stakeholders and distract from ongoing efforts to develop the cashew subsector.

On allegations that NCAN had stalled the cashew industry road map, the association clarified that the document in question was produced by an international development partner and was being reviewed in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS). NCAN explained that the review was necessary to ensure the policy framework aligns with national interests.

‘The association remains united and focused on promoting Nigeria’s cashew industry. We assure Nigerians and international partners that NCAN, under the leadership of Dr Ajanaku, is open for business and committed to supporting the sector’s growth,’ a statement from NCAN read.

While urging stakeholders to disregard the claims of the self-acclaimed interim executives, NCAN reiterated its commitment to working with government and private sector players to strengthen cashew production, processing and export in Nigeria.

Stakeholders in Edo State have laminated what they described as the continuous loss of revenue to neighbouring Delta State through taxes.

The people made the claim at a stakeholders meeting, organised by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), on Wednesday in Benin

The interactive session of the one day programme had in attendance top government functionaries, heads and representatives of ministries, departments and agencies

Engr Stainless Ijeghede, Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency, said he had made reports on the payment of taxes of oil company workers in Edo State to Delta, noting that the Edo State government was yet to take any action.

He said, ‘When I was working at that place, at the end of the month, I saw in my pay slip that the tax was paid to Delta.

‘What that means is that those people who work in Oben pay tax to the Delta State Government.’

While agreeing with Ijeghede, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Samson Osagie, said many of Deltans came into Edo State as settlers but because the people of the state were fond of migrating to the city, the settlers claim ownership of those places and that led to lose of revenue for the state.

He, however, said that several meetings on the boundary issues have been held and adjustments made, noting that he expects the National Boundary Commission to visit the areas and ratify the boundaries to stop the revenue loss.

Osagie also said his ministry is proposing a revenue court Law that would create specific courts to try tax offenders.

‘There is the need for Revenue Court Law that will see to the setting up of a specific court to try offenders.

‘The whole idea is to ensure that the entire gamut of our tax system is put together in a way that enforcement and prosecution of tax offenders are easy.

‘As I speak, we are proposing a draft using our neighbouring Delta State as a model to have revenue courts law of Edo State so that all tax offenders will be sent to those courts and make trials fast and easy.’

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman of EIRS, Barr. Oladele Bankole-Balogun, said though, the EIRS was making progress in terms of revenue collection, there was the need for all the stakeholders to work together and increase the state’s revenue base.

He said that a fundamental tool for achieving this is the Single Treasury Account which the state have begun to institutionalise.

He noted that this would ensure a transparent flow of resources into a centralised account thus eliminating cash handling, reducing leakages, and, most importantly, improving accountability.

Bankole-Balogun added, ‘So going forward, we want to encourage that all revenue streams be remitted into the state IGR account with proper digital records and accountability.

‘Remember that revenue is not an end in itself. It’s just a means to enable the state to provide better roads, stronger health systems, vibrant education and safer communities.

He said the state was waiting for the commencement of the new national tax law which the state would key into.

A review of Reverend Sam Adesua’s book, Israel and The Rest of Them: Perspective of a Christian by Adewale Oshodi

AT a time of chaos in the Middle East, Reverend Sam Adesua, through his new book, Israel and The Rest of Them: Perspective of a Christian, has been able to delve into the history of the Jewish state and how if found itself in the midst of ‘the rest of them.’

Reverend Adesua, whose work is from a personal perspective based on his knowledge of the Bible, highlights the relationship between Israel and the countries/peoples surrounding it since time immemorial.

The 20-chapter book starts with an introduction before the second chapter delves into, ‘Israel: A Panoramic View,’ where the author takes the reader to beginning of the Jewish state, which he described as a long turbulent history.

The author documents the challenges Israel faced to the extent that it was out of existence for about 2,000 years following series of perennial political crises and wars. Of note was the determination for total subjugation of Israel by the Roman Empire in the middle of the first century, as the Roman Legion, led by General Titus, defeated Israel as a nation in 70 A.D. The result of this was that the Jewish people remained seemingly lost among other nations worldwide for about 2,000 years.

‘However, one of the unique notable characteristics of the Jews from ages was that, as much as possible, they always tried to maintain their Jewish identity anywhere they found themselves,’ the author writes.

After being scattered all over the world, the Israeli nation, however, reemerged as a corporate political entity on May 14, 1948, and since then, the nations around them had been locked in battle with the new state. The author documents some of the existential wars the Israel nation had fought to ward off their enemies. Among the wars was on May 15, 1948, just a day after Israel became an official state, its neighbours, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, invaded the new state.

‘Their sole aim was to mercilessly kill the new nation of Israel at birth. To the Arab enemies, the new state must not be allowed to even take off, not to talk of surviving. (Pg127).’

That war lasted from May 15, 1948 till March 10, 1949 and an armistice agreement formally ended the war and established a green line between the adversaries. There was also the six-day 1967 Arab-Israel war, the 1973 Yom Kippur war, among others, but in all, Israel emerged victorious. The latest war, which started on October 7, 2023, is also documented, with the author describing it as a misadventure by Hamas.

However, before then, the author writes that Israel came into existence from an ancient man called Abram, who is popularly known as the progenitor of the Jewish people or Israelites.

Adesua traces the history of Abraham, who was the first man to be referred to as a Hebrew and how the people who emerged from his family finally became Israelites. The book further takes the reader to the period of Moses, Joshua and how they led the Israelites at various times during their challenging periods.

He further writes about the Jewish peoples’ turbulent years, which particularly came as a result of their stubbornness and disobedience to the laws of their God. The world-wide persecution of Jews also took centre stage in the book, before the rebirth of the modern Israeli state, which came shortly after the end of the second world war.

Of all the challenges the Jewish people faced, they always emerged victorious and stronger, which the author traced to the divine hand of God in action.

The final chapter, ‘Genesis of the Problem and Solution,’ is perhaps the most important aspect of the book, as the author lays the blame of the crises in the region at the feet of the United Nations, which he said made a mistake in the partitioning of Palestine through the allocation of land between the people of Israel and their Arab neighbours, as: ‘Both Arabs and Jews at this time were just Palestinians because they resided and operated in the area. There was no recognised nation-state there at the time.’

The author then said the solution to the chaos is the one proposed by United States President Donald Trump for peace to reign in the region.

Adesua, a former Managing Director/Editor in Chief (EiC) of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc and retired Senior Pastor of the Foursquare Gospel Church, has done a great work in tracing the history of Jewish people from the Biblical period to the current war Israel is waging in the region, which began following the October 7, 2023 invasion of the Jewish state by Hamas.

This book is, therefore, a must read for lovers of global affairs, history students, academic, religious leaders, among others, as it will give them a sound perspective of what is really happening in the Middle East and how it got to where it is today.

President Bola Tinubu has declared that the 10 years’ existence of the APC in Nigeria has brought to an end the worst period, even as he urged Nigerians not to lose hope or go back.

The President said this on Tuesday in Owerri during his one-day official visit to Imo State for the commissioning of some gigantic projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

He said that the 10-year milestone already recorded by the All Progressives Congress is worth celebrating given the litany of successes made within the period.

The projects include the Owerri/Umuahia road, the Assumpta flyover and the gigantic Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Centre, Owerri.

He said that his administration, on assumption of office, promised change as well as renewed hope to Nigerians, assuring that rather than go backwards, Nigerians should continue to look and move forward.

President Tinubu acknowledged the fact that Nigeria as a country is not yet where it ought to be but assured that with the collaboration and support of all, the country will get there.

He said that as it stands, Nigeria’s economic growth rate shows that inflation has fallen to 21.12 per cent, which is the lowest in more than three years.

While thanking Nigerians for being patient, resilient and committed, President Tinubu assured that Nigeria will certainly be better.

In his welcome address cum public presentation of his book, A Decade of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria, at the commissioned rebuilt Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Centre, Owerri, Governor Hope Uzodimma recalled that Nigeria’s story is never written by one person but written together.

He described the book as the product of months of deep reflection, careful research and honest writing, which offers a clear account of the APC’s journey in government from 2015 to 2025: the milestones, the challenges and the lessons.

Governor Uzodimma said that he was partly inspired to write the book out of curiosity, pointing out that the All Progressives Congress entered government in 2015 with enormous expectations on its shoulders.

He said that the APC inherited a fragile economy, deep security challenges and a weary citizenry, adding that in the next decade, Nigerians faced storms, some of them global, some of them homegrown.

He said: ‘This is my fourth book, and certainly the most demanding. I approached it not necessarily as a political figure but as a citizen with a responsibility to document this pivotal decade in our national history. I felt duty-bound to tell the story as it is, no sugar-coat.’

He acknowledged President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose pragmatic ideas and decisive leadership inspired many of the chapters.

He pointed out that from the moment the APC made history in 2015 by defeating an incumbent party, it had become more than just a political vehicle, but a movement, a courageous response to the yearnings of Nigerians for real change.

Uzodimma paid tribute to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose courage and clarity have carried the APC and the country through many transitions.

He said: ‘Long before he became President, his ideas and his persistence shaped the progressive family. Many of the reforms we now take for granted had their roots in his insistence that Nigeria must do things differently.’

He said that in Imo, improvements are the fuel behind an infrastructure renaissance that touches every local government, adding that roads, bridges and urban renewal projects are moving at a speed that was once impossible.

According to him, beyond infrastructure, the new fiscal space has allowed the government to invest in people: in education, in healthcare, in welfare, agriculture and food security.

He said: ‘One area that gives me special pride is how we have treated workers and pensioners in our state. For years, Imo workers cried out for wages that reflect their effort and the realities of daily life. I dare say without any fear of contradiction that Imo workers are happier today than they were some years ago. Our senior citizens, who once endured neglect, now receive their dues promptly and respectfully.’

TODAY, at least in political circles, Nigeria is ensconced in song and drum. It is 65 years since the founding fathers and mothers of Nigeria lowered the Union Jack, brimming with optimism that self-rule would usher in a country that Black people the world over would be proud of. Nigeria entered into the First Republic with hope and confidence, ruled by patriots who, even though they had their own fair share of human foibles, were all fairly united in their vision for a country that would hold its own among the comity of nations.

As we observed exactly one year ago, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has in the last six decades weathered a lot of storms to be one of the world’s most remarkable, even notorious, countries. We noted that globally, Nigerians rule every sphere of life, from the economy to religion, sports and entertainment; that the Nigerian military and the police have made remarkable strides across the African continent and on the global stage; and that Nigerian cuisine is fast gaining the trust of people around the world, from Europe to America, and Asia. We added, however, that Nigeria’s leadership problem remains at the core of its troubles. Really, the tragedy of the Nigerian condition is that if you change the date of our October 1, 2024 comment to today’s date and publicise it, anyone who did not read that editorial would think that it was published today. Nigeria’s case is like that of the proverbial passenger in a vehicle (in the epochal song by the juju maestro, King Sunny Ade) who does not know where the driver is conveying him to, whether forward or backwards.

The newspapers today are naturally replete with the good wishes and achievements of officialdom: politicians never pass up an opportunity to blow their trumpet. They also never fail to sermonise on how to make Nigeria better, usually pointing attention to what the long-suffering populace need to do, not what they who criminally manage an abundantly blessed country need to do. It is a wonderful formula: lecture the same people you daily oppress. As Nigeria turns 65 today, we do not dispute the fact that the government, from federal to state, has something to celebrate. Road projects, some of them massive, are ongoing, and so are various poverty alleviation programmes, not to mention programmes in the education, health, tourism, agriculture, and sports sectors, among others. But as we noted last year, only the rulers are happy with Nigeria’s current state: the masses of Nigerians remain wrapped up in despondency and despair, trapped in appallingly horrendous living conditions that are hardly ever addressed by the feeble efforts of officialdom. It can be no cheering news that Nigeria is home to the world’s poorest, and is the global capital of out-of-school children, open defecation, and worst electricity access.

Beyond lamenting the failures of the ruling class, we aim at the higher responsibility of suggesting a pathway forward; a pathway which is not perfect, yet holds enormous promise. Across the land, citizens unencumbered by the traps of politics have proposed solutions to Nigeria’s various problems, and those solutions are rooted in the restructuring of the polity. The government is in possession of the report of the 2014 National Conference but has not acted upon it in its customary lethargy and lack of interest in things profound. We ask that it dusts off that report and take appropriate steps to implement it. Beyond that, it would be doing the country and posterity a whole lot of good by taking a hard, constructive look at the resolution of the end of the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy held from 16th to 17th July, 2025 at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by a group of eminent Nigerians called The Patriots, in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG).

The conference attended by civil society groups, women, the academia, ethnic nationalities, Nigerians in Diaspora, professional groups, faith-based organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, market men/women, security experts, student leaders, the private sector and persons with special needs across the country noted the inherent flaws in the existing constitutional frameworks. Those flaws manifest in the decline into a unitary system, poor leadership and weak delivery of governance arising from weak political structures and institutions; declining sense of citizenship and patriotism; an increasing multi-dimensional poverty and inequality that threaten peace, unity and development; widespread fear, anxiety and an increasing feeling of hopelessness; acute corruption and lack of accountability/transparency; insecurity across regions; sectional, ethnic, and religious conflicts with various dimensions and scope that have further weakened national unity and mutual distrust; poor infrastructure; poor management of the economy manifesting in disconnection from human capital development as well as environment mismanagement; and poor adaptation strategy resulting in increasing vulnerability of Nigeria and Nigerians to climate change.

The recommendations of the summit include a new, people-driven, inclusive, democratic Constitution anchored on ‘true federalism.’ The President is urged to introduce an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise elections to a national Constituent Assembly comprising delegates elected on non-partisan basis as well as representatives of special interest groups. The objective is a constitution that will return Nigeria to a truly federal system of government where the federating units will enjoy their autonomy as obtained in the First Republic and other genuine democracies of the world. According to the summit, the current presidential system is too expensive, prone to abuse, constitutes a hindrance to people’s welfare and a major threat to the future of democracy in Nigeria. It also recommends that the present six geopolitical zones should be restructured in such a way as to ensure a truly federal system of government. It recommends the devolution of powers from the centre to the federating units, agrees that a two-chamber federal legislature is unsustainably expensive for Nigeria, and recommends a more appropriate cost-effective system. It recommends that each federating unit should have its court hierarchy up to the Court of Appeal, thereby leaving the Federal Supreme Court to deal with heavy constitutional matters like interstate disputes, and disputes between the federal and subnational governments.

In addition, it recommends that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and that of the Minister of Justice as well as the office of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice at the state level should be separated to enable the appointment of non-politically partisan Attorneys-General; that all elections be conducted in a single day, that an amendment be made to the Electoral Act and the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and that electronic transmission of results in real time be made mandatory. It asks that the new Constitution should include provisions for independent candidacy, and that once a person is elected on the platform of a political party, he or she shall not defect to another political party till the tenure is over.

We believe that these recommendations provide a profitable pathway forward. Reworking Nigeria will make all Nigerians happy. The government should implement the recommendations to make Nigeria better at 66, and thereafter.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed delight that the state has witnessed what he described as a ‘phenomenal progress’ in the last 29 years of its existence as a political entity.

Reflecting on the journey since it was created on 1 October 1996, the Governor noted that God has been kind to Ekiti, judging by the notable landmarks recorded in infrastructure, health, education, economy and social development.

The Governor made the remarks on Wednesday during a statewide broadcast aired on all electronic media channels to commemorate the 29th anniversary of Ekiti State and the 65th anniversary of Nigerian independence.

Oyebanji also used the opportunity of the broadcast to appeal to political parties, political leaders and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully as the state is already in campaign mode ahead of the parties’ primary elections later this year and the main governorship election in June 2026.

He congratulated the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the anniversary of Independence Day, expressing the profound gratitude of the Ekiti people for his support for the state, and also rallied their support for the Renewed Hope Agenda, ‘which has seen the economy on a positive trajectory never seen in almost two decades.’

Reminiscing on the journey so far, Oyebanji stressed that the memory of the landmark speaks to the dream of Ekiti State’s founding fathers, the resilience of forebears, the sweat of its traditional rulers and the steely determination of the generations before, which eventually became a reality.

The Governor used the opportunity of the broadcast to pay tribute to Ekiti patriots and distinguished citizens who were part of the vanguard for the creation of the state, adding that while the state might not have reached its destination yet, considerable progress has been made on all fronts of development.

He said, ‘I pay homage to every man and woman who was part of the Movement for the Creation of our State. I thank all the leaders before me who have had the privilege to lead Ekiti at one time or the other. Many thanks to our dogged civil and public servants for staying the course; just as I commend the resilience of our people for keeping the dream.

‘With our collective effort, Ekiti has witnessed phenomenal progress in the last 29 years of her creation. We may not roll out the drum for elaborate celebrations, but we have every cause to thank God in the life of our dear State. My message to you today, as we celebrate the 29th anniversary of our State, is that we thankfully reflect on the journey so far.

‘As someone who had the rare privilege of being part of the Creation Movement, I have a very big reason to acknowledge that God has been kind to us in Ekiti. When we look back in time, it is undeniably clear that we have made some major landmarks in infrastructure, health, education, economy and social development. We may not have reached our destination, but we have recorded considerable mileage.’

Appealing for a peaceful electoral process ahead of the 2026 governorship poll in the state, the Governor added, ‘Ekiti kete, another governorship electoral cycle is here already and interested persons and parties are already in campaign mood. This is how it should be in a democracy.

‘I would like to reiterate my earlier appeal to all political stakeholders in our State to remain peaceful as we enter into the electoral season. The political environment must remain peaceful, our contest must be for ideas and not for violence.’

As his administration marks three years in office on 16 October, the Governor expressed delight at the various achievements recorded across the six-pillar development agenda, which he said has touched every community in Ekiti, adding that he is proud of the fact that ‘Ekiti has sustainably and continuously been on a positive trajectory since we have been in the saddle.’

The Governor disclosed that he would appear before the State House of Assembly to give the full account of his stewardship on 16 October as required by law, calling on Ekiti citizens at home and abroad for their continued support as the journey to shared prosperity continues.

Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of worsening poverty and hardship in Nigeria, saying that over 15 million citizens have been pushed into acute poverty in just one year.

In a statement titled ‘A Great Nigeria is Still Possible’ issued on Wednesday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Obi said the country has drifted under the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he described as ‘incompetent, divisive, and corrupt.’

‘Today, the picture is bleak. Our total debt stands at about N175 trillion, nearly 50 percent of GDP, without any improvement in productive sectors. Nigeria has fallen to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, behind South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria.

‘Our democracy is now described as ‘undemocratic.’ In just one year, this administration pushed over 15 million Nigerians into acute poverty. Today, more than 150 million Nigerians lack access to basic healthcare, education, water, and sanitation,’ he said.

The former Anambra State governor criticised the government for reckless borrowing, heavy taxation of citizens, and alleged wasteful spending on luxury items while basic needs remain neglected.

‘This government taxes struggling citizens and small businesses heavily, while indulging in extravagance. Billions are spent on new presidential jets, yachts, and luxury cars that cost more than the entire 2024 budget for primary healthcare,’ Obi stated.

He added that insecurity and corruption have deepened Nigeria’s economic woes, leaving citizens in fear and discouraging investors.

‘Insecurity has further crippled our economy. Nigerians now live in fear of travelling by road. Kidnapping has become rampant, with billions paid in ransom. Incompetence in security management has turned our country into one of the most terrorised and unsafe nations in the world.

‘Cronyism, corruption, and disregard for the rule of law have scared away investors, while other African nations overtake us as preferred investment destinations.’

Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history by becoming the first female Nigerian artist to sell over 10 million units in the United States.

The feat was confirmed on Tuesday by Chart Data on X, which announced that ‘WAIT FOR U,’ Tems’ collaborative hit with American stars Future and Drake, had officially crossed the 10 million sales mark in the US.

The track, which won a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance, adds to her growing list of international achievements. Tems had earlier become the first African female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify, underlining her dominance on the global stage.

Rising to international prominence after featuring on Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ in 2020, Tems has since established herself as one of Africa’s most influential voices.

She began her career in 2018 with her debut single ‘Mr Rebel’ and has since earned multiple accolades, including BET Awards and NAACP Image Awards.

Currently on her 2025-2026 world tour, which began on September 28, Tems is performing across cities such as Nairobi, Salvador (Brazil), and Los Angeles, where she will headline at Dodger Stadium.

Her record-breaking achievement follows Wizkid’s, who remains the first Nigerian male artist to hit the milestone when his feature on Drake’s ‘One Dance’ was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2022.

Tems’ latest triumph cements her status as a trailblazer for African women in music, inspiring a new generation of artists and further solidifying Nigeria’s global presence in the entertainment industry.

Ahead of the February council polls in the Federal Capital Territory, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has pledged support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Dr. Moses Paul, stating that he would join him in campaigns across the FCT.

Obi gave the assurance on Wednesday at the Merit House in Abuja during a special Independence program organised by Dr. Paul to sensitise AMAC residents before the official campaign flag-off.

Speaking at the event, Obi said: ‘Dr. MO will not change, but because human beings can change, I will be shocked if he changes.’

In his remarks, Dr. Paul restated his pledge to restore dignity, prosperity, and service to governance if elected.

He said: ‘The bitter truth must be told: AMAC has failed. Our markets are trapped in endless litigations, waste management has collapsed, schools were abandoned for months, our health centres are non-functional, insecurity is widespread, businesses are burdened by multiple taxation, and infrastructure is largely absent. This is not governance. This is abandonment.’

He further promised that if elected Chairman, his administration would modernise AMAC markets into centres of economic activity, adding, ‘If AMAC works, Abuja works. If Abuja works, Nigeria works.’

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, announced the endorsement of Dr. Paul at the event, which was themed ‘We Don Tire.’