Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Federal Government has unveiled the ‘Hire from Nigeria’ campaign, an initiative aimed at positioning the country as a preferred global destination for skilled talent and digitally delivered professional services.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the official press conference for the campaign, saying the initiative was designed to place Nigeria’s human capital at the centre of the country’s economic engagement with the world.

Idris said the global economy had evolved beyond the traditional export of physical commodities, stressing that knowledge, skills, creativity and professional services could now cross international borders without the movement of goods.

He said Nigeria was well positioned to take advantage of this transformation, given its large and youthful population, growing pool of professionals, entrepreneurial culture, English-language proficiency, favourable time zone and expanding capabilities in technology, creative industries, business support and other digitally delivered services.

According to him, the Federal Government has set an ambition of creating one million export-linked jobs over five years as part of efforts to make Nigeria a major hub for talent and services exports.

The minister, however, stressed that having a large pool of talent was not sufficient, as global employers must also be aware of the capabilities of Nigerian professionals and have confidence in the quality of services they provide.

‘That is why communication is central to this campaign,’ Idris said, adding that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would deploy its communication platforms, agencies and partnerships to give the initiative visibility both nationally and internationally.

He said the ministry would work to ensure that the story of Nigerian talent was communicated ‘clearly, credibly and consistently’ to employers, investors and businesses around the world.

The campaign, he explained, is a public-private collaboration involving the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Ministry of Education, National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Bank of Industry’s iDICE programme, Tech-for-Dev and other domestic and international private-sector partners.

Idris said the initiative would receive further global visibility ahead of its planned global launch during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said the campaign would communicate to the international community that Nigeria was ‘open for business’ and had skilled people ready to compete, collaborate and contribute to the global marketplace.

Nigerians can work globally from home

The minister also urged young Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities created by the digital economy, noting that geographical location was no longer necessarily a barrier to participating in the global workforce.

He said young Nigerians could acquire the necessary skills, work from within the country and provide services to clients and employers around the world.

‘With the right skills, infrastructure, professional standards, and access to markets, Nigerians can live and work and earn here at home, while providing valuable services to clients and employers worldwide,’ he said.

According to him, the model could generate foreign exchange inflows and tax revenues for Nigeria while expanding the country’s skills and knowledge base.

Idris described the initiative as a practical expression of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on job creation, economic diversification, skills development, global integration and youth empowerment.

He called for stronger cooperation among government institutions, the private sector, training institutions, employers, technology companies, young professionals and international markets to translate the campaign’s ambition into sustainable opportunities.

‘The future of Nigeria’s economy will increasingly be driven by the talent, creativity, skills and productivity of our people,’ the minister said. He added: ‘Nigeria is ready to compete on the global stage. Nigerian talent is ready to work. And the world should look to Nigeria.’

Idris commended the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the NATEP team, Tech-for-Dev, iDICE and other partners for their contributions towards the campaign.

He urged stakeholders to ensure that ‘Hire from Nigeria’ evolves beyond a publicity initiative into a sustained global platform for showcasing the skills, creativity, professionalism and potential of Nigerians.

The Nigerian equities market staged a dramatic end-of-month recovery on Monday, adding N1.91 trillion to its market capitalisation in a single session, as aggressive buying in banking, consumer goods and oil stocks helped the market claw back some of its August losses.

The late rally, however, was not enough to erase the damage from a three-week sell-off that left the NGX All-Share Index down 0.44 per cent in August, underscoring a sharp shift in investor sentiment after months of strong gains.

The All-Share Index advanced by 1.20 per cent on Monday to close at 244,199.39 points, lifting its year-to-date return to 56.93 per cent, while total market capitalisation rose to N157.74 trillion from the previous session’s N155.83 trillion.

The rebound was broad-based, with 43 stocks advancing against 16 decliners, resulting in a strong market breadth of 2.7x.

Banking stocks provided the biggest boost, with the sector surging by 3.11 per cent, while Consumer Goods gained 1.72 per cent and Oil and Gas rose 1.35 per cent. Commodity and Insurance stocks also advanced by 0.88 per cent each. Industrial stocks bucked the trend, declining by 0.65 per cent.

Omatek Ventures, Ikeja Hotel, Sovereign Trust Insurance, Sunu Assurances and Royal Exchange emerged among the biggest gainers, while Abbey Mortgage Bank, Africa Prudential, FTN Cocoa Processors, Tantalizer and Consolidated Hallmark Insurance recorded notable losses.

The strong finish came after a bruising period for equities investors. The market had rallied to a monthly high of 248,556.30 points on August 10 but subsequently entered a prolonged sell-off as investors took profits across several heavily appreciated stocks.

The decline accelerated from August 11, when the index fell by 0.74 per cent, followed by a 1.12 per cent drop on August 12. Further losses on August 13 and 14 extended the downturn, while selling pressure persisted through the following week.

By August 20, the index had fallen to 240,037.80 points, representing a loss of more than three per cent from its August 10 peak. The weakness continued into the final week of the month, with the index touching 238,682.92 points on August 26.

The market subsequently mounted a recovery, gaining 0.20 per cent on August 27 and 0.90 per cent on August 28 before Monday’s stronger 1.20 per cent advance.

Despite the month’s overall decline, trading activity remained robust, reflecting continued investor appetite for Nigerian equities. On Monday, trading volume rose by 0.17 per cent to 606.19 million shares, while turnover jumped by 29.56 per cent to N38.70 billion. Deal count also increased by 39.17 per cent to 53,471 transactions.

The month-end rebound also coincided with renewed optimism following the confirmation of Nigeria’s return to the FTSE Russell Frontier Market universe.

FTSE Russell’s decision, effective September 21, is expected to increase the visibility of Nigerian equities among international investors and potentially improve foreign portfolio flows into the market.

For investors, however, the August performance presents a mixed picture. The market’s 56.93 per cent year-to-date gain remains exceptionally strong, but the month’s negative return and prolonged mid-month sell-off indicate that investors are becoming more selective after the sharp appreciation recorded in the first seven months of the year.

The final-day rally suggests that bargain hunting and renewed institutional interest may be emerging at lower valuations, particularly in banking and other liquid sectors.

With the FTSE Russell reclassification now providing a fresh potential catalyst, market attention is expected to shift to whether the late-August buying momentum can be sustained into September.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over an alleged attempt to prevent the release of records concerning his past, saying the Presidency must exemplify integrity, accountability and transparency.

Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Sunday, where he expressed concern over what he described as the direction of the country under the present administration.

The former Anambra State governor said he was profoundly embarrassed that a sitting Nigerian President was asking a foreign court to withhold records relating to his past, particularly matters he described as being of legitimate public interest.

According to Obi, political leadership requires the courage to confront one’s history rather than shield controversial aspects of it from public scrutiny.

‘Leadership, in my humble view, demands the courage and humility to confront one’s history, to acknowledge mistakes, provide candid explanations where questions arise, and, where necessary, apologise and seek forgiveness,’ he said.

He argued that accepting responsibility for mistakes would strengthen rather than diminish the authority of a political leader.

Obi’s comments come amid ongoing public interest in questions surrounding President Tinubu’s educational history and records. He said such questions, particularly those relating to primary and secondary education, should be resolved through clear and verifiable explanations rather than primarily through legal proceedings.

‘This becomes particularly important when questions concern educational credentials. Issues surrounding foundational schooling, primary and secondary, should not remain unresolved or be addressed primarily through legal proceedings,’ Obi said.

He maintained that Nigerians deserved ‘clear, credible, and verifiable explanations,’ particularly where information had previously been submitted in official records.

The NDC presidential candidate said his major concern was not only the controversy itself but also the example it could set for Nigerians, especially young people.

‘My deepest concern is the example this sets for more than 200 million Nigerians, particularly the over 30 million young people in schools,’ he said.

According to him, the highest political office in the country should demonstrate the values of integrity, accountability, transparency and ethical leadership.

Obi also urged political leaders to recognise that personal ambitions are temporary, while the Nigerian nation is enduring.

He said an imperfect past should not necessarily define an individual, arguing that what matters is the willingness to confront past mistakes with honesty and humility, make amends where necessary, and place the national interest above personal ambition.

‘When will our political class fully appreciate that individual ambitions are temporary, while the nation endures?’ he asked.

‘The Presidency is an office held for a season; the moral standards established by those who occupy it can influence generations.’

Obi, who is seeking the presidency on the NDC platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, concluded by stressing that Nigeria’s interests must take precedence over those of any individual.

‘Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual,’ he said.

DOES President Bola Tinubu know that Alhaji Aliko Dangote says the cement he exports from Nigeria is cheaper than the cement he sells to Nigerians at home? If he does, has anyone in his government satisfactorily explained to him why? We, the people, demand an explanation.

These questions have become necessary following disturbing findings by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). After a three-month cross-border investigation, the Commission says its preliminary findings suggest possible manipulation of cement prices in Nigeria. It compared Nigeria with Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria, examining limestone availability, population, production capacity, consumption and retail prices. This deserves urgent attention. Readers will therefore permit this necessary digression from the electricity-sector series we began last week.

Our advantage begins beneath our feet

Limestone is not a scarce mineral in Nigeria. Commercial deposits occur across the country’s sedimentary basins, including the Benue Trough, Dahomey Basin and Sokoto Basin, supporting major cement-producing centres from Ogun and Cross River to Benue, Gombe and Sokoto states. The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency estimates the country’s limestone resources at about 10.6 billion tonnes, including 568 million tonnes of proven reserves.

Nigeria therefore possesses enormous domestic reserves of the principal raw material for cement production. Our installed cement-production capacity exceeds 60 million metric tonnes annually, against estimated domestic consumption of approximately 25-30 million tonnes. Nigeria consequently possesses substantial excess installed capacity and is a net exporter of cement to other African countries. Ordinarily, abundant raw materials, substantial excess production capacity and competition among producers should exert downward pressure on prices. Instead, the opposite appears to be happening.

Will somebody explain the price disparities?

According to the FCCPC, a 50kg bag of cement selling for between ?9,300 and ?9,700 in January 2026 had risen to ?10,500-?13,000 by mid-year and ?13,000-?15,000 in some locations by July.Now consider what consumers elsewhere in Africa are paying. Among the comparative prices published by the FCCPC, a bag sells for approximately ?7,344 in Kenya, ?6,528 in Tanzania and ?9,180 in Togo. How does this make economic sense, especially when Nigeria itself is a net exporter of cement?

The FCCPC is therefore right to investigate whether these prices result entirely from legitimate production costs or whether coordinated behaviour, abuse of market power, restriction of domestic supply or anti-competitive distribution practices are involved. Three major producers reportedly account for more than 90 percent of Nigeria’s installed cement-production capacity. Such concentration does not establish collusion, but it makes vigorous competition regulation indispensable.

Dangote’s tax explanation

Alhaji Aliko Dangote has provided an explanation that President Tinubu’s government should take seriously. In December 2025, during an interview with Business Insider Africa, Dangote argued that cement exported from Nigeria could be sold more cheaply because exports escape some domestic taxes and levies. He specifically mentioned 30 percent company income tax, two percent education levy, one percent health levy, 7.5 percent VAT and 10 percent withholding tax, arguing that avoiding these burdens enables exported Nigerian cement to compete with products from Turkey, Russia and China.

Dangote’s argument deserves interrogation.

Nigeria implemented major tax reforms from January 2026. The reforms were advertised as simplifying taxation, eliminating multiplicity, improving the business environment and reducing distortions. Some of the taxes and levies Dangote identified in December 2025 have since been altered or consolidated. Moreover, company income tax is imposed on taxable profits, VAT operates differently from income tax, and withholding tax is principally a tax-collection mechanism. They cannot simply be added together as though every percentage represents an additional tax directly imposed on the production cost of each bag of cement.

Questions for Tinubu’s cabinet members

Is Dangote’s explanation still correct under the new tax regime? Mr Taiwo Oyedele, who led Tinubu’s tax-reform programme before becoming Finance Minister, should tell us. How much tax is actually embedded in a 50kg bag of cement? NRS Chairman Dr Zacch Adedeji should publish the effective tax burden per bag of cement at the ex-factory price.

Let us have the numbers. Which taxes and levies apply when cement is sold domestically? Which disappear when it is exported? How much do they add to the factory-gate price?

These questions extend beyond cement. If Nigerian manufacturers generate much of their own electricity, provide some of their own infrastructure and still carry a tax burden sufficiently heavy to make their products more expensive at home than abroad, something is fundamentally wrong with our industrial system.

This is why the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, must explain why decades of backward-integration policies have not produced the expected consumer dividend. Nigerians accepted years of protection for the cement industry on the promise that domestic capacity would eventually deliver self-sufficiency and competitive prices. Capacity came. Exports came. Why have lower prices not followed?

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, complained that high cement prices were putting pressure on federal infrastructure projects and encouraging contractors to demand contract variations. He said the Federal Government would begin engaging manufacturers from July 1. Did those engagements take place? What was the outcome? The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr Muttaqha Rabe Darma, should also explain how government intends to address Nigeria’s enormous housing deficit without addressing the cost of one of its most important building materials. These ministers cannot operate in silos while Nigerians bear the consequences. Mr President, coordinate your team and confront the cost of cement head-on.

FCCPC must finish what it started

The FCCPC must demonstrate that it is an economic regulator and not another Nigerian institution that announces investigations only for the matter to disappear when public attention moves elsewhere. Its investigation should establish the ex-factory price of cement, manufacturers’ production costs and margins, distributors’ and retailers’ margins, capacity utilisation, domestic dispatch volumes, export volumes, transportation costs and the actual tax burden embedded in domestic cement prices. The Commission says all the major manufacturers except one cooperated by making their records available. Who refused? The FCCPC should tell Nigerians and use its lawful powers to obtain the necessary information.

Most importantly, this investigation must distinguish between government-created costs and market-created costs.If taxes are the problem, Oyedele and Adedeji should fix them. If manufacturers are restricting domestic supply, coordinating prices or abusing market power, the FCCPC should establish the evidence and sanction them. If distributors are imposing excessive margins, expose them.

The President must show leadership in this

President Tinubu should take charge because cement is not a luxury product. It sits at the foundation of houses, roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and factories. Its price eventually appears in rents, house prices, infrastructure contracts and government expenditure. This is therefore not merely a dispute about what Dangote Cement, BUA Cement, HBM Nigeria or their distributors charge for a bag of cement. It is a test of Nigeria’s taxation, industrial policy, competition regulation, infrastructure policy and housing strategy.

Oyedele should tell us whether Dangote’s tax explanation remains valid under the new tax regime. Adedeji should quantify the tax burden on a bag of cement. Umahi should tell us what became of government’s promised engagement with manufacturers. Darma should explain what expensive cement means for affordable housing. Oduwole should explain where the consumer dividend from decades of cement-industry protection has gone.

And the FCCPC must follow the evidence wherever it leads.

Nigeria has the limestone, the factories and excess installed capacity. Nigerians should notpay more for Nigerian cement than consumers in countries to which we export it.

Residents of Bogo Community in Grako Ward, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe, have appealed to the government to urgently rehabilitate the community’s only primary healthcare centre, which was recently damaged by a heavy downpour.

The affected Bogo Primary Health Centre, located in Hayin Kwarin Misau, has been forced to suspend normal operations after a large section of the facility collapsed following the rainstorm.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the development had left residents, particularly pregnant women, nursing mothers and children, struggling to access healthcare services.

According to him, the health facility had been in a deplorable condition for a long time before the recent incident, which he attributed to prolonged neglect by the relevant authorities.

He said the closure had compelled residents to seek medical attention at facilities located far from the community, thereby increasing the hardship faced by vulnerable residents.

The community leader appealed to the Chairman of Akko Local Government Council and other relevant authorities to urgently intervene and restore the facility to enable residents to access basic healthcare services.

Checks at the facility showed that it had been serving a significant number of residents before the collapse.

Between 20 and 35 pregnant women reportedly visited the facility monthly for their first antenatal care (ANC) appointments, while between 35 and 50 others returned for follow-up visits.

The facility also attended to between 10 and 15 pregnant women seeking skilled birth delivery services each month, while between 50 and 60 children were brought in for routine immunisation.

It also recorded between 1,000 and 1,500 outpatient visits monthly, in addition to between 40 and 50 clients who accessed family planning services.

Following the collapse, the facility is currently operating from the living room of the only staff quarters within the premises.

The situation has further raised concerns about the safety and adequacy of the temporary arrangement, particularly as the perimeter fence of the facility has also collapsed, leaving the premises largely unprotected.

Residents, therefore, called for immediate rehabilitation of the health centre, stressing that restoring the facility would help prevent further disruption to essential healthcare services in the community.

Nollywood actress and producer Ruth Kadiri has explained why she chose to keep her marriage and personal life away from the public.

Kadiri spoke about her decision during a recent episode of the Dear Ife podcast, where she revealed that she had a fear of marriage and was unsure about how her decision to marry would turn out.

According to the actress, her concerns about the future of her marriage made her decide against having a public relationship. She added that her husband supported her choice and agreed with her on keeping their wedding small.

‘I had a phobia of marriage. I was battling with the fear of the unknown and asking myself, ‘Am I going to make this decision and everything will now scatter?’ So, I wasn’t really ready to have a public marriage, and my husband was okay with it.

‘Also, I didn’t want a lot of drama regarding my relationship. That’s why my husband and I invited only 50 people to our wedding. Twenty-five people were invited by him, while 25 others were invited by me. If I were abroad, I guess we would have just probably walked to the registry and gotten married,’ she said.

Ruth Kadiri and her husband got married in a private ceremony in 2018, with only 50 guests in attendance.

The couple welcomed their first daughter in August 2019 and their second daughter in July 2022.

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s three-week leave in Europe, asking the Presidency to clear the air over concerns about his health status.

Tinubu jetted out of the country on Sunday for a three-week leave in Europe, with London as his first destination.

The party urged the Presidency to officially furnish Nigerians with information on the President’s health, as well as details of his extended leave, including his itinerary, entourage and schedule while he is out of Nigeria.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APM, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, conveyed the party’s demand in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

Yusuf said the President’s decision to embark on a lengthy vacation at a time when he was expected to lead efforts to address the country’s security and economic challenges had raised concerns among Nigerians.

He noted, ‘The Tinubu Presidency should immediately clear the air over apprehensions in the public space that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have become incapacitated, leading to his lengthy three-week leave in Europe.’

The APM spokesman also called on the President to provide answers to allegations concerning his reported link to an FBI report on a drug-related case, arguing that the circumstances surrounding his absence had heightened public apprehension.

‘There is nothing wrong in the Presidency clearing the air on the state of health of Mr President, as obtainable in other climes,’ the APM stated.

While acknowledging that ‘nobody is above human frailties,’ the party said Nigerians deserved transparency on the President’s condition and ability to discharge his constitutional responsibilities.

However, the party upbraided the Tinubu administration, describing its record in office as poor and accusing the government of worsening the country’s economic and security challenges.

The APM claimed that the administration’s economic policies, including the removal of the petroleum subsidy and its tax regime, had pushed millions of Nigerians into poverty and placed additional pressure on businesses and households.

It also alleged that Nigeria’s debt had risen to N159.28 trillion under the Tinubu administration, with little to show for the borrowings. The party further claimed that some of the funds had been diverted to other interests.

On insecurity, the party alleged that more than 628,000 Nigerians had been killed and 2.2 million abducted since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

The APM urged the President to use his leave to reflect on his administration’s record and reconsider his reported intention to seek re-election in 2027.

Yusuf said, ‘The APM urges President Tinubu to use the period of the leave to introspect on his legacy of failures and rescind his decision to run in the 2027 Presidential race, having been overwhelmed by the pressing demands of the office of the President of a nation like Nigeria.’

The party argued that the demands of the presidency required an energetic leader with the vitality, capacity and faculties to respond to contemporary leadership challenges.

It said Nigeria needed a younger leader capable of providing effective leadership, urging Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support the APM’s presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

According to the APM, Makinde has demonstrated the required leadership capacity through his administration of Oyo State, which it claimed had become one of Nigeria’s economically viable states, citing data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The APM said it wanted Makinde to replicate what it described as ‘his achievements’ in Oyo State at the national level.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State, Muhammad Bello Aliyu Goronyo, has resigned his membership of the party.

Goronyo announced his resignation in a letter dated August 30, 2026, addressed to the PDP Chairman of Goronyo Ward in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.

His resignation takes effect from August 31, 2026, according to the letter, in which he cited ‘purely personal’ reasons for his decision.

‘I hereby formally notify you of my intention to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Goronyo Ward, Goronyo Local Government Area, effective from today, 31st August, 2026,’ he stated.

‘The reason for my resignation is purely personal,’ he added.

Goronyo served as the state PDP chairman during the 2023 governorship election, when the party narrowly lost the election to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He remained in office as chairman amid the leadership crisis that later engulfed the PDP at the national level.

In an effort to maintain neutrality amid the crisis, Goronyo and members of the state executive reportedly stayed away from both the Ibadan and Abuja national conventions of the party.

In his resignation letter, the former chairman thanked the leadership and members of the PDP for giving him the opportunity to serve, as well as for the experiences he gained during his membership.

‘I wish to thank the party leadership and members for the opportunity to serve and for the experiences gained during my period of membership,’ he said.

He subsequently requested the ward leadership to accept his resignation as formal notice and remove his name from the party’s membership register.

His resignation comes as political realignments intensify in Sokoto State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political parties yet to fully settle their internal leadership and campaign structures.

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement 2027 has faulted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for criticising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his ongoing vacation abroad, describing the attack as an attempt to turn a routine presidential vacation into a political controversy.

The movement said vacation was a normal part of the responsibilities of leaders across the world, stressing that the President’s temporary absence from the country does not amount to a leadership vacuum.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, FIMC, CMC, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, the group said Atiku should concentrate on presenting his political programme to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections instead of attacking the President over his vacation.

The movement described Atiku as a ‘serial presidential contestant without direction,’ arguing that after several attempts to occupy the presidency since 1993, Nigerians deserve to know what concrete roadmap he has for the country.

It also accused the former Vice President of inconsistency over petrol subsidy, recalling that Atiku campaigned in 2023 on a promise to remove fuel subsidy but was now talking about restoring it.

The group said the development showed an attempt to exploit the hardship being experienced by Nigerians for political advantage.

‘After contesting for the presidency repeatedly since 1993, Atiku should be telling Nigerians what he intends to do differently, rather than spending his time attacking President Tinubu.

‘In 2023, he told Nigerians he would remove fuel subsidy. Today, he is talking about bringing it back. Nigerians deserve to know whether this is a genuine policy position or simply an attempt to deceive people into believing that he suddenly sympathises with them,’ the statement said.

The movement reminded Atiku that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already commenced preparations for the 2027 elections, urging him to take his campaign to Nigerians and explain his plans for the economy, security, employment and other national challenges.

It said, ‘INEC has rolled out the timetable. Atiku should go out and campaign and tell Nigerians what he has for them. Smearing the name of President Tinubu because he has gone on vacation will not work.

‘Presidents and world leaders go on vacation. A vacation does not mean a country has been abandoned. Nigeria has functioning institutions and officials responsible for ensuring that government continues to run.’

The movement urged Nigerians to judge President Tinubu based on his policies and performance rather than political rhetoric, while challenging opposition politicians to offer credible alternatives instead of exploiting the country’s challenges for electoral gains.

THE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has secured about $1.4 billion funding from multilateral development agencies.

The agencies include as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Agence Française de Development (AFD) and others for national grid expansion.

Consequently, this resulted in TCN’s 8,700MW current transmission wheeling capacity, the record peak transmission of 5,801.84MW achieved in March 2025 as well as the addition of more than 8,500 megavolt-amperes (MVA) in transformer capacity all aimed at supporting infrastructure development.

Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSP), TCN, Engineer Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, stated this at a media workshop organised for energy correspondents in Keffi, Nasarawa State, themed ‘Assessing the Impact and Challenges of Transmission Network in Nigeria’.

He said the company had recorded measurable investments, project deliveries and operational improvements as part of efforts to make the transmission network more resilient and capable of supporting increased electricity supply.

Delivering a paper titled ‘TCN Milestones and Challenges in Nigeria’s Power Sector’, Ajiboye said the workshop provided a platform for stakeholders and the media to examine developments, achievements and persistent challenges within the electricity transmission sector.

He added that the revenue generated by the company and the development agencies’ funds are being channeled to the rehabilitation of ageing infrastructure with the commissioning of 89 new power transformers resulting in TCN’s capacity to deliver bulk electricity and major 330kV transmission network projects had improved evacuation routes, flexibility and resilience.

Ajiboye called for special courts or designation of magistrates to handle cases of energy infrastructure sabotage, saying the measure would aid speedy trials and convictions to reduce rising vandalism of transmission assets to the barest minimum.

He said several transmission towers across the North-Central, North-West and South-East had been vandalised in the last 12 months, with conductors, tower members and bolts removed and carted away by vandals who even when caught, are easily left off the hook, despite the gravity of offences committed which is threatening electricity transmission in the country.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to introduce stiffer penalties for vandalism of transmission assets, saying the TCN has continuously engaged the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Justice on the need for a special framework for prosecuting power infrastructure crimes.

‘The police only charge suspects for theft and the court will release them by the following day. There are no laid-down consequences specified for vandalism of transmission towers and lines. That is why the act continues.

When someone destroys a 330kV tower that supplies power to five states and the only charge is theft of scrap metal, then released on bail the next day, what deterrence exists? We cannot continue to invest billions in rebuilding towers only for them to be pulled down again because the legal system treats it as petty crime,’ the ED lamented.