Category: Nigerian Tribune

Every society that desires a better future must first decide what kind of education it wants for its children. It is one thing to construct school buildings; it is another to build an education system that equips children with competent teachers, decent classrooms, technology, and a genuine opportunity to learn.

This is where the education strategy of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Kwara State deserves closer public evaluation.

When AbdulRazaq took office in 2019, Kwara’s basic education sector was burdened by systemic challenges, including outstanding counterpart funding obligations that had affected the state’s access to Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grants. The administration moved to clear the outstanding obligations, helping to unlock federal intervention funds and catalyse the rehabilitation of public schools across the state.

Moving beyond financial recovery, the administration instituted transparent, merit-based Computer-Based Testing recruitment exercises, hiring thousands of qualified teachers while implementing the new national minimum wage. To relieve economic pressure on families, AbdulRazaq also moved to eliminate unofficial levies imposed on parents through school-based structures, while introducing direct running grants to support school maintenance and day-to-day operations.

At the centre of this structural reform is KwaraLEARN, the state’s flagship basic education initiative. KwaraLEARN addresses the gap between classroom attendance and actual foundational literacy and numeracy.

The programme combines structured lesson plans, learning materials, teacher training, continuous coaching, and data-driven assessments. By 2023, more than 6,000 teachers had been trained, while thousands of digital tablets and more than 1.2 million textbooks and learning materials were distributed across 1,578 primary schools.

Because digital platforms cannot replace functional physical environments, the administration paired KwaraLEARN with major infrastructure upgrades, including a ?20 billion commitment in 2025 for school remodelling, laboratories, libraries, and sanitation facilities. The administration has also upgraded the Kwara State School for Special Needs and introduced welfare support for visually impaired students at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, reinforcing its focus on inclusive education.

The scale and direction of these interventions have attracted recognition from national and international quarters. The Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year Award highlighted the administration’s interventions in basic education, the unlocking of UBEC funding, gender inclusion and human capital development, while the Nigeria Union of Teachers has commended its approach to teacher welfare, merit-based recruitment and professional development. The administration’s progress in infrastructure delivery and human capital development has also been recognised through the National Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS).

UNICEF, meanwhile, praised Kwara for reaching more than 55,900 learners through the Nigeria Learning Passport, exceeding its original target of 20,000 learners by more than 280 per cent. The agency attributed the achievement to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to education technology and human capital development. At the global level, the structured pedagogy approach underpinning KwaraLEARN aligns with interventions highlighted by the World Bank’s Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel as cost-effective approaches to improving foundational learning. Together, these recognitions and commendations suggest that Kwara’s education reforms are attracting attention beyond official government claims.

The outcomes of this comprehensive approach are increasingly visible in academic performance.

In 2024, Governor AbdulRazaq celebrated 31 Kwara public school pupils who reportedly scored above 300 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), led by Samuel Oluwasemilore with a score of 358. In 2025, Jimoh Abdulmalik Olayinka scored 373, ranking among Nigeria’s top performers nationwide. Beyond written examinations, Kwara pupils have also recorded notable achievements in debating, including victory at the International Junior Secondary School Debate Championship in Malaysia. The achievement was rewarded by the Governor with ?2 million for each winner, while other Kwara pupils have represented Nigeria at international debating competitions.

To sustain this growth, the administration institutionalised the Kwara State Education Trust Fund to drive public-private funding and expand opportunities for disadvantaged pupils.

The fund has also supported scholarships for pupils securing admission into Federal Unity Colleges. Additionally, the establishment of the Kwara State University of Education and efforts to strengthen tertiary institutions are intended to ensure a steady pipeline of trained educators and skilled professionals.

Taken together, these interventions reveal a cohesive philosophy. It is not simply about renovating buildings, but renovating the system. It is not merely about deploying technology, but using data to improve learning outcomes. It is not just about increasing enrolment, but ensuring every child acquires competitive skills.

Education remains a continuous project. Kwara continues to navigate challenges around growing infrastructure demands and learning poverty. But the evidence of a deliberate structural shift cannot be ignored.

From KwaraLEARN to classroom rehabilitation, from merit-based teacher recruitment to direct running grants, from UBEC recovery to international recognition, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s agenda reflects a deliberate move from fragmented interventions towards a more coherent system of human capital development.

The ultimate test lies not in official bulletins, awards, or government claims, but in the lives of the children passing through these classrooms.

If a child who once struggled to read can now read confidently, if a teacher who once lacked support can now teach with better tools, if a dilapidated classroom becomes a safe place to learn, and if a bright child from an ordinary home can compete successfully on the national or international stage, then education has moved beyond politics.

It has become opportunity.

And that is the enduring story of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s education transformation in Kwara: making quality education a foundation upon which every child can build a future.

Buhari Media Office (BMO) has dismissed reports linking former President Muhammadu Buhari to the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the claims as ‘false’ and ‘without factual basis’.

The office, on Sunday, said Buhari never established any agency known as the PFIPC or allocated ?1.3 billion to such an organisation in the 2026 Appropriation.

It stated that the only body created under the former administration was the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), which served as an ad hoc advisory committee on economic matters.

The BMO explained that the PEAC initially operated from offices designated for the Chief Economic Adviser to the President at the Federal Secretariat and functioned without a dedicated budget line throughout the Buhari administration.

It stated that the council’s activities were funded through presidential approvals to the Minister of Finance, while office expenses were paid by the State House upon the President’s approval.

‘What he (Buhari) created was the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). At inception, it operated from the second floor of the Ministry of Health offices designated for the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, a position he did not appoint until much later, at the Federal Secretariat.

Under the last administration, the PEAC had no budget line. Its activities were funded through presidential approvals to the Minister of Finance.

The PEAC was an ad-hoc (part-time) body, purely advisory, made up of professional economists and financial experts to offer expert economic advice to the President under the chairmanship of Professor Doyin Salami, CFR ?before he was eventually made the Chief Economic Adviser,’ the office stressed.

Other members, according to the statement, included Professor Mahmuda Sagagi as Vice Chairman, Professor Ode Ojowu, Dr. Shehu Yahaya, Dr. Iyabo Masha, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Bismarck Rewane and Dr. Mohammed Adaya Salisu, who served as secretary.

It added that members of the council received no salaries, with only operational expenses provided to support the council’s work.

The BMO further noted that when the current administration took office in 2023, it neither dissolved the Buhari-appointed PEAC nor reappointed its members, adding that the appointees considered their tenure to have ended with the expiration of the administration that constituted the council.

It also stated that the office jointly branded as the ‘Presidential Economic Advisory Council’ and the ‘Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President’ remained vacant after the change in administration and was only occupied several years later.

Rejecting attempts to associate the current controversy with the Buhari administration, the media office maintained that reports claiming the alleged fictitious agency originated under the former president were ‘false, groundless and lack any factual basis.’

It urged the public to disregard claims linking Buhari to the alleged PFIPC, insisting that the former administration established only the Presidential Economic Advisory Council as an advisory body without a statutory budget line.

MENTAL health is usually discussed in medical or clinical terms. Nigerian visual artist Jelil Bello, however, offers a different perspective by using art to encourage reflection, resilience, and healing. His piece ‘Drift’, which looks at changing ideas of identity and mental wellbeing, recently won the People’s Choice Award at ‘Art asa Response to Mental Health’. The exhibition is open at Chinwe Russell Art Gallery in Doncaster, UK, until the end of July 2026.

In ‘Drift’, a human face appears from swirling golden smoke, caught between being seen and fading away. This image shows how thought, emotion, and self-perception are always shifting, suggesting that identity is always changing. The artwork reflects the hidden struggles of mental distress but also points to the chance for change. Light breaking through darkness stands for healing, encouraging viewers to think about resilience instead of despair.

‘Drift’ is a digital artwork that uses gentle changes in tone to create layers of light and shadow, mostly in gold. Its quiet beauty connected with many people, helping Bello win the exhibition’s People’s Choice Award. He showed his work alongside artists from 21 countries, including many from Africa, in a show that received over 301 submissions. The Judges’ Choice first prize was awarded to Marrie Rowley for ‘Hidden In Plain Sight’.

Bello’s recognition at the UK exhibition is just one part of his wider work, which often explores the emotional and psychological sides of modern life. Through photography, mixed media, and conceptual art, he often focuses on themes like identity, memory, vulnerability, and resilience.

One of these works, ‘Breath of Becoming’, shows clouds of coloured smoke drifting like thoughts, representing emotion, change, and transformation. Instead of showing healing as simple or complete, the piece accepts uncertainty and suggests that recovery can be uneven but still beautiful in its own way.

In ‘Between Roots and Reflection’, human figures overlap with tree shapes, creating a dreamlike scene about belonging, memory, and self-discovery. The layers show how identity can be complicated, shaped by both personal history and inner struggles. In a similar way, ‘Ghost in the Ink’ uses smoke-like shapes fading into darkness to show anxiety, lingering emotions, and memories that are hard to put into words. The work uses gentle spiritual symbols to express feelings that are hard to explain but familiar to many.

This connection between psychology and the environment continues in ‘Echoes in Form’, where natural rhythms are shown as visual movement. The organic patterns suggest that landscapes can hold emotion, memory, and energy. The work encourages viewers to think about how caring for the environment is linked to mental wellbeing. Bello suggests that ignoring nature also harms the emotional spaces people live in.

Environmental themes are even stronger in works like ‘Bloom’ and ‘Where Stone Breathes’. In ‘Bloom’, a tree-like shape stands tall, showing renewal, growth, and endurance. ‘Where Stone Breathes’ brings solid rocks to life, suggesting that life and renewal are possible even in tough conditions. Together, these works reflect on ecological recovery and highlight hope and resilience.

Heritage is a key theme in ‘Eyo Olumo’, where Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State, stands as a symbol of cultural memory, protection, and ancestral ties. Bello turns this landmark into a sign of both place and tradition, with the title hinting at a meeting between the historic rock and the grand Eyo Festival in Lagos. The work highlights the need to protect cultural landscapes as sources of shared identity.

While Bello often uses abstract images, the human figure is still important in his art. He mixes abstract and recognizable shapes, making themes like mental wellbeing easy to connect with but still deep. This mix lets viewers interpret the work in their own way without losing its emotional impact.

This style continues in ‘The Memory of Shape’, where repeating stone shapes stand for endurance, history, and inherited memory. The piece looks at communities whose identities are tied to their landscapes, buildings, and natural features, suggesting that places carry history just as much as people do.

A similar feeling is found in ‘Rocky Reflections’, where a nearly hidden figure lies in a rocky setting. The quiet scene creates a mood of thoughtfulness and solitude, touching on themes of displacement, emotional calm, and the common search for shelter, belonging, and comfort.

Bello works in photography, mixed media, and conceptual art, building a practice based on visual storytelling. His art often explores identity, culture, memory, and the social issues that affect daily life, starting conversations about mental health, abuse, youth vulnerability, poverty, caregiving, environmental care, and community strength. While ‘Drift’ has brought him international attention, it also shows how art can help people reflect, empathise, and begin to heal, even if it does not solve mental distress directly.

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has made a direct appeal to Northern Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election, urging them to trust him with the nation’s highest office, insisting that his presidency would unite rather than divide the country.

Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Obi dismissed claims by some political opponents that an Igbo presidency would threaten Nigeria’s unity, arguing instead that electing a leader based on competence rather than ethnicity would mark the beginning of genuine national reconciliation.

Addressing Northerners directly, Obi declared that no Nigerian politician understands the challenges confronting the region better than he does.

‘I will work with them. I will ensure that unity, security and prosperity become realities. Nobody can drive that process today better than me,’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria has reached a point where citizens must abandon ethnic and religious politics and instead focus on solving the country’s pressing socio-economic challenges.

‘My ambition is to fix Nigeria, not occupy office’

Obi stressed that his presidential ambition is driven by a desire to rebuild Nigeria and not by a personal quest for power.

‘I don’t even need to hold any political office. I’m contesting because I believe I can unite this country and show what is possible.

‘What matters to me is seeing a Nigeria that works. Whether Peter Obi is President or not is not the issue. As long as Nigeria works, I’m satisfied.’

He maintained that leadership should be measured by the ability to improve citizens’ lives rather than by political titles.

Responding to criticisms from former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, who reportedly described him as incapable of uniting Nigeria, Obi said his personal record contradicts such allegations.

He recalled visiting several conflict-ridden communities across Northern Nigeria while serving as Governor of Anambra State and even after leaving office.

‘I visited Kaduna when many people were afraid to go there. I went to Borno, Plateau, Benue and several other troubled areas.

‘I spent Christmas and New Year in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue. I supported rebuilding schools for displaced children.

‘I have travelled across Nigeria by road more than many politicians because I love this country.’

He also listed educational and humanitarian interventions he personally sponsored in Northern states, including support for schools in Kaduna and Sokoto.

Obi further argued that Nigeria has not completely healed from the wounds of the Civil War but insisted that electing leaders based on merit rather than ethnicity would strengthen national cohesion.

‘The beginning of healing is when every Nigerian believes he or she can aspire to any office in the country.

‘We must stop being prisoners of yesterday. The future belongs to our children, who should grow up simply as Nigerians, not defined by tribe or religion.’

According to him, his administration would consciously build bridges across ethnic and religious divides.

‘I will never divide this country. I will unite Nigeria and show love to every part of it. I will involve everybody.’

Responding to allegations that he favours Christians over Muslims, Obi pointed to his record while serving as Governor of Anambra State.

‘My ADC was from Kaduna. Most of my commissioners were from Northern Nigeria. I funded pilgrimages for both Christians and Muslims equally.’

He added that he continues to support educational institutions owned by Muslim communities in Northern Nigeria through personal philanthropy.

‘So, where is the evidence that I discriminate? These are narratives deliberately created to keep Nigeria divided.’

Obi lamented what he described as the deliberate diversion of national discourse from critical governance issues to personality attacks.

‘Instead of discussing poverty, education, healthcare and insecurity, they spend their time discussing Peter Obi.

‘Over 80 million Nigerians live in poverty. Millions of children are out of school. Those should be the issues.’

He argued that politicians continue to exploit ethnic sentiments because they have no concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.

The former Anambra governor also reaffirmed his willingness to serve only one four-year term if elected President.

According to him, Nigeria’s problems are too urgent to justify prolonged political promises.

‘I don’t need more than four years to show Nigerians what good leadership can achieve.

‘When I contested for governor, everything I promised during campaigns, I implemented.

‘Leadership is about character and consistency.’

Obi said the country’s decline can be reversed within months if government demonstrates commitment, discipline and prudent management of public resources.

‘You can redirect Nigeria within six months if you have competent leadership.’

On insecurity, Obi argued that military operations alone cannot solve Nigeria’s security crisis.

‘Poverty is one of the biggest drivers of insecurity. The more poverty you create, the more criminality you produce.’

He promised to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture and personally lead efforts to restore public confidence.

‘I will be fully committed. I will strengthen the security architecture and mobilise every available support, including international cooperation where necessary.’

He also pledged to personally visit communities affected by attacks instead of governing from a distance.

‘Whenever Nigerians are under attack, I will be there. As Governor of Anambra, whenever there was a security incident, I went there myself-even at 3 a.m. If securing Nigerians requires my physical presence, I will be there.’

Obi also took a swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying Nigeria is heading in the wrong direction under the current administration.

He argued that while government may have recorded some gains against insecurity, the scale of the crisis demands far more decisive leadership.

‘The President has done his best, but his best is no longer enough for the magnitude of the crisis we face.

‘Nigeria needs leadership with urgency, commitment and compassion.’

He maintained that the 2027 presidential election should be determined by who possesses the capacity to solve Nigeria’s challenges rather than by ethnic or religious considerations.

‘Our politics must move from tribe and religion to competence, character and capacity.

‘That is the Nigeria I want to build.’

Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, has declared that his commitment to peace is driven by his desire to make heaven, stressing that every individual will one day account to God for their actions while on earth.

The Senator, presently Chairman of the Senate Service Committee, made the remark on Sunday while addressing his supporters shortly after a strategic meeting with key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West.

The meeting was attended by local government chairmen, members of the APC State Executive Committee, APC local government chairmanship candidates, women leaders, and youth representatives.

Karimi urged all members of the party to put aside their differences and work together to ensure the APC records a resounding victory in the 2027 general elections.

According to him, unity within the party is essential to sustaining the achievements of the APC-led administration at both the state and national levels.

‘All my life, I have always wanted peace because I want to make heaven. Whatever you have in this world is temporary. When the time comes, God will judge you according to your deeds while you were alive,’ he said.

The lawmaker explained that the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to strengthen cohesion within the party and rally support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

‘I called this meeting to ensure that members of our party work together for the success of the APC. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election is our first priority, and we must deliver Kogi West for him. The President is doing well, and we must unite to ensure that our people come out in large numbers to vote during the election,’ Karimi stated.

He commended President Tinubu for the efforts being made to address Nigeria’s security challenges, including insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry.

Karimi noted that the proposed establishment of state police is one of the measures being considered by the Federal Government to strengthen security and effectively tackle criminal activities across the country.

He called on APC members in Kogi West to remain loyal to the party, shun actions capable of causing division, and focus on building a united front that would guarantee victory for the APC in the 2027 elections.

WE have seen that by January 1, 1900, four distinct administrative units had emerged. They were: (1) The Colony and Protectorate of Lagos under a Governor; (2) The Protectorate of Southern Nigeria under a High Commissioner; (3) The Protectorate of Northern Nigeria under a High Commissioner; and (4) The Egba United Government under the Alake of Abeokuta and his Chiefs. British officials in charge of the first three were responsible to the Colonial Office. But this had not always been the case.

Before 1900, British officials in Nigeria were responsible to three different authorities. Those in the Niger Coast Protectorate, later known as the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, were responsible to the Foreign Office; those in the Colony and Protectorate of Lagos, to the Colonial Office; while those in charge of the areas which later became the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria were responsible to the Board of Directors of the Royal Niger Company. This extra-ordinary administrative set-up was streamlined in 1900, and fully rationalised in 1914 under the Governor-Generalship of Lord (then Sir Frederick) Lugard.

An imperialist of a very deep dye, Lord Lugard was an exceedingly able and resourceful administrator, and a brilliant soldier. To him, more than to anyone else, belongs the credit and discredit for setting Nigeria on a course which Nigerian nationalists and patriots feel themselves obliged to pursue, albeit with mixed feelings, till the present day. We shall have more to say on this assertion in Chapter 4. For the time being, let us try to learn, among other things, a little more about this man and his doings in Nigeria. His first visit to Nigeria was in 1894. He was then a soldier with the rank of Captain; and he had come here, on behalf of the Royal Niger Company, to negotiate treaties with the Chiefs of Borgu. It was his speed and skill in the conduct and conclusion of the negotiations that won Borgu for Britain and Nigeria as against France and Dahomey. He had beaten the French to it by only five days.

After a spell of service with the British East India Company, he reappeared on the Nigerian scene in 1897 as Brigadier-General. He had been commissioned by the British Government to go to West Africa to raise a local military force which was to be officered by men from the British army. The immediate object of this arrangement was to cope with the threats of French aggression ‘on the western boundaries of Northern Nigeria. But it was also intended that this force, together with three companies of the West Indian Regiment, would combine to protect British possessions in West Africa. He executed his mission successfully, and the Royal West African Frontier Force, with headquarters at Jebba, was born. It must be mentioned that the R.W.A.F.F. remained in being for 60 years. It was disbanded, and reconstituted on strictly national basis when Ghana pulled her men out of it on her attainment of independence in 1957.

On January 1, 1900, Lugard became High Commissioner of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria. As we have noted, one of the things which led to the revocation of the Charter of the Royal Niger Company was its inability to bring the bulk of the areas within its allotted jurisdiction under effective administrative control and, hence, British influence. As a matter of fact, when the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria was inaugurated in 1900, slave-raids, slave-trade, and slavery were prevalent in most parts of the North, and internecine wars continued to be waged. But within the space of six years, Lugard had, by force of arms and clever diplomatic moves, subdued the North and pacified it. He had, into the bargain, established orderly government, as well as effective

British influence throughout the region.

The size of Northern Nigeria, coupled with the difficulties of communication and of means of transportation, presented formidable administrative problems. ‘Direct administration of such an area, under

the prevailing conditions, would have involved the British Government in extremely heavy expenditure. A large army of administrative and military personnel of British origin would have been required. The expenditure necessary to maintain such a huge personnel would have been considered by the British Government to be quite disproportionate-to Nigerian prospects. And, in any case, it would have been impossible to attract British citizens of the right type and education, in those numbers, for service in Nigeria, which, like other countries on the west coast of Africa, had earned the odious reputation of being the’ White Man’s Grave’.

Furthermore, direct British Rule would have almost implacably antagonised, and embittered another imperial power, indigenous to Africa, the Fulani, which had preceded the British to the North by about 100 years. Indeed, with other ‘principalities and powers’ prowling around for more and more of the African loot, and waiting for Britain’s injudicious and unguarded hours, such a course would almost certainly have had the effect of driving the ruling class in the North into the imperialist embrace of the French or the Germans.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said a joint presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso has a stronger chance of winning the 2027 presidential election.

He made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni TV released on Saturday.

According to him, Peter Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would stand a 70 per cent chance of victory, while he predicted that President Bola Tinubu would have a 50 per cent chance and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would lose.

His words; ‘Peter Obi will try to be fair to everybody. Peter Obi will try to do that which is right. Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, take note, I’m pairing them. I’m pairing them. Individually will be disaster, but I’m pairing them.

‘So I’ll give them, on my own scale, close to like 70 per cent. Again, Bola, 50. Atiku, zero.’

He stated that Atiku would not win the 2027 presidential election.

‘Definitely, Atiku will lose. He will, and I pray he loses. I’m not the only one, and he will lose,’ he added.

Lawal’s comments come after his fallout with Atiku following his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The former SGF has repeatedly alleged that the ADC presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate was marred by widespread irregularities, claims the party has refuted several times.

Numerous Nigerian homeowners have been putting money into solar power systems to avoid the unreliability of the grid, but after a few months, they begin to see a significant decrease in the amount of power their solar systems produce.

The environmental factors which cause the glass surface to become a physical barrier are dust, harmattan haze and bird droppings which are never encountered by the system. This buildup blocks sunlight from the PV cells below, gradually cutting back your energy production each day.

A cheaper solution can get your system back to its best, rather than spending big money with professional technicians.

High cost of dirty panels

Dirt can do a lot more harm than just the untidy look of your roof. Field research conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicates that without regular cleaning of the solar panels, they lose as much as 25% of their overall efficiency each year in dusty or dry areas.

However, in the Nigeria environment, the power drop may happen in a few weeks given the high dust load transported by the harmattan winds, which results in undercharging of batteries and frequent power outages for appliances.

Essential DIY kit

Special industrial chemicals and expensive technology are not required for restoring your system.

The most basic and safe way to start is to buy a soft-bristle broom or a long-handled window squeegee with a sponge side, which can be acquired from the local hardware market for anywhere between N3,500 to N4,500. Use this with a regular bucket of clean water (soft tap/ distilled water) to which you add a few drops of the safe and environmentally friendly dish washing liquid, making your highly effective N5,000 cleaning kit complete.

Step-by-Step Cleaning Guide for Peak Performance

First, make sure there is a complete electrical safety by shutting down your solar inverter and isolating the DC breaker before touching the roof array. It is important to clean in the early morning or late evening as the hot water temperature from the panels could cause thermal shock to the glass and crack it when exposed to full sunlight in the afternoon.

Second, remove the top layer of material with a gentle brush or a garden hose with low pressure. Avoid pressure washers, hard plastic brushes or abrasive wire sponges as they will cause micro-scratches to the tempered glass, scattering the sunlight and reducing the efficiency over time.

Third, clean the surface systematically with your soapy water solution and sponge extension in order to carefully remove any stuck bird droppings and baked-on dirt. Use the rubber squeegee side to keep the glass from getting hard water stains and mineral streaks, since the hard water and minerals block sunlight from reaching the solar cells below the glass.

The Senate has moved to compel Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with its resolutions amid alleged growing disregard for parliamentary oversight duties by the agencies.

Top among the penalties approved by the Senate is zero budgetary allocations to MDAs and all statutory and non-statutory bodies flouting resolutions arising from motions passed on the floor.

A latest report by the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance named the Ministry of Works; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Power; Ministry of Petroleum Resources; Ministry of Information; Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Ministry of Environment; and Ministry of Solid Minerals Development among the defaulters that will risk zero allocation of funds in 2027.

Also listed in the details of the report obtained by the Nigerian Tribune are the Department of State Services (DSS); Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Nigeria Revenue Service; Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC); Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoS); Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA); and the Ecological Fund Office.

The committee, which is chaired by Senator Garba Maidoki, had investigated the non-implementation of 27 resolutions passed by the Senate by the affected MDAs, leading to the recommended penalties.

The Senate, acting on powers conferred under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Order 95(A) Rule (7) of its Standing Orders, 2026, set up the committee to monitor compliance with Senate resolutions by MDAs and other bodies.

‘In the course of its work, during the period under review (of 27 resolutions), the committee observed with concern that some MDAs did not fully comply with resolutions of the Senate, thereby undermining legislative oversight and diminishing the efficacy of parliamentary resolution’, the report stated.

The finding prompted the recommendation on zero allocations, especially as the committee noted that some of the agencies either simply ignored the resolutions or failed to honour invitations to make appearances in the course of the investigation.

The report noted that while it is within the powers of the Senate to make resolutions, the authority to act on them lies with the executive, which in this instance, failed to perform its own part of the chain.

‘The implementation of Senate resolutions is often delayed and sometimes ignored.

‘The Executive retains the final authority to issue directives for the implementation of Senate resolutions’, it further noted.

The report added, ‘Accordingly, the committee recommends that the Senate apply budgetary or other sanctions on MDAs that fail to respond or implement resolutions of the Senate, including but not limited to Federal Ministries of Works, Health, Power, Petroleum Resources, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Information, Environment and Solid Minerals Development as well as the DSS, Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC)…’

However, the committee also found that some agencies were unable to implement resolutions because funding was not provided in their respective budgets to do so, even if they were willing to comply.

For such agencies, the report called for budgetary provisions to be made in the succeeding year to accommodate the implementation of the resolutions.

It cited the case of the NDLEA, which had yet to address the medical treatment of Eromonsele Omhonria, a child shot and injured by its officer on July 13, 2023, during an NDLEA operation in Asaba, Delta State, ‘due to its inability to access funds from the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties account to facilitate the child’s treatment abroad.’

The committee recommended ‘automatic appropriation’ in the following year’s budget to address cases such as Omhonria’s, where the affected MDA is ready to comply but for lack of funds due to non-provision in the current budget.

But, in all other instances of deliberate disregard for Senate resolutions, ‘particularly on roads’, the committee recommended zero allocations for the defaulting MDA in the next budget to serve as a deterrent.

However, the report also partly indicted lawmakers for rushing to pass certain resolutions without first doing their own due diligence to be sure that resolutions from such motions do not have encumbrances like insufficient financing, legality and wrong conclusions.

It stated, ‘Some agencies directed to implement Senate resolutions lack the requisite statute mandate to do so.

‘Sponsors of motions often did not investigate matters fully before seeking legislative action, and multiple prayers on a motion relating to actions to be taken by a single agency affect effective implementation of the resolutions adopted therefrom.’

Incidentally, while the Committee on Legislative Compliance was conducting the investigation, the Senate also passed a separate resolution on July 23, threatening to invoke serious sanctions against heads of Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs), MDAs who fail to honour invitations by its committees for appearances henceforth.

It said in that separate intervention that such sanctions would include issuance of arrest warrants and zero allocations in the national budget, a similar penalty as also recommended by the detailed report by the Committee on Legislative Compliance obtained by the Nigerian Tribune.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, backed by 18 others, on the ‘Persistent Non-Compliance by Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) and MDAs with the Oversight Activities of the Senate Committee on Finance.’

About 14 years after stepping away from the spotlight, Nigerian rapper and music executive, Lanre Dabiri, popularly known as Eldee The Don, is preparing for a highly anticipated return to the music scene.

The rapper, who dominated Nigeria’s music industry in the 2000s with a string of hit songs, recently gave fans a preview of a new song on his social media page, signaling that his long break from recording music may finally be over.

The teaser is believed to be one of the tracks from his forthcoming extended play project titled Long Time Coming, a title that many fans say perfectly reflects his lengthy absence from the industry. Eldee’s announcement immediately sparked excitement online, with many music lovers flooding the comment section to welcome him back and express their eagerness to hear fresh music from one of Nigerian hip-hop’s pioneers.

The preview showcased the lyrical storytelling, smooth rap delivery and melodic style that earned him widespread acclaim during his prime, reminding listeners of classic records such as Big Boy, Bosi Gbangba and Na Wash.

Eldee stepped away from active music after releasing his last album in 2012, choosing instead to focus on business opportunities in the United States, where he established interests in technology, real estate and other entrepreneurial ventures.

Over the years, he has maintained that leaving music was a carefully considered decision rather than one forced upon him by circumstances.

In an earlier interview, he explained, ‘The business side of music for me wasn’t making sense anymore. I realised it was not something that was sustainable. Music wasn’t going to see me through retirement, so I decided to do something else.’

He also revealed that his other businesses were generating significantly more income, making it easier for him to leave the entertainment industry at the time and focus on securing his future.

Despite his long absence, Eldee’s influence on Nigerian music has remained undeniable. As a founding member of the legendary Trybesmen group and the founder of Trybe Records, he played a major role in shaping the careers of several artists, including Sasha P and Dr Sid.

His contributions helped define the sound of Nigerian hip-hop and Afrobeats during the early 2000s, earning him recognition as one of the country’s most respected lyricists and innovators.

With the announcement of his new project, fans are hopeful that the veteran rapper will once again make a significant impact on the evolving Afrobeats landscape while reconnecting with longtime supporters and introducing his music to a new generation of listeners.