Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said it will deploy youth-only election observers for Nigeria’s 2027 general election as part of efforts to deepen young people’s participation in electoral processes across the region.

Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division, Serigne Mamadou Ka, disclosed this on Saturday while speaking at an interactive session on Youth Democracy organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA) and Legis360 in Abuja, on the growing efforts by the regional bloc to mainstream young people into election observation and democratic processes.

Ka said ECOWAS had already piloted the youth election observer initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and subsequently repeated it in Benin, with the experience described as successful.

He said the bloc was planning to extend the initiative to subsequent elections, including those in Cabo Verde and The Gambia, stressing that Nigeria would also be included.

‘Definitely, we are not going to leave Nigeria out in January,’ Ka said.

According to him, the initiative was part of ECOWAS’ broader effort to promote youth representation in electoral processes, particularly against the backdrop of the low level of political participation among young people across West Africa.

Ka identified lack of access to finance as the biggest obstacle confronting young people seeking to participate in politics, alongside inadequate education and training, social and cultural barriers, gender bias and weaknesses in internal democracy within political parties.

‘There are many barriers. There are social and cultural barriers, and we have gender bias against women and girls, for instance. But I think the nerve of everything is finance,’ he said.

‘Unless young people can access finance, I don’t think they can do much about political participation.’

The ECOWAS electoral assistance chief also blamed political parties for restricting opportunities for young people to participate in politics, arguing that exclusion at the party level inevitably affects participation at the national level.

‘There are also legal barriers, especially where political parties do not promote internal democracy. That is part of the problem,’ he said.

Ka said access to finance should be complemented with education and training, noting that empowering young people with the necessary resources and knowledge would enable them to confront some of the barriers themselves.

‘But to me, finance comes first, alongside education and training. If we can help young people get more access to finance, education and training, they can even solve some of these problems themselves,’ he said.

He added that technological advancement was gradually helping to weaken some cultural barriers by exposing young people to political developments and experiences in other parts of the world.

‘Cultural barriers, I think, are beginning to disappear because of technology. Technology is helping more people understand what is happening in other places and learn from those experiences,’ Ka said.

On the level of youth participation in elections across West Africa, the ECOWAS official described it as low despite the fact that young people constitute the majority of the population in many countries in the region.

‘Participation is low in every country you take in West Africa,’ he said.

‘Young people form the majority of the population. In some countries, they constitute 70 per cent; in some countries, 60 per cent; and in some countries, 50 per cent or more. But their participation is always low.’

Ka said the problem begins with political parties, which, according to him, often fail to create sufficient opportunities for young people to participate in their structures.

‘As I said, it starts from the political parties themselves. They don’t allow young people to participate. And if they cannot participate within the political parties, how do you expect them to participate at the national level?’ he asked.

He said ECOWAS was therefore promoting greater inclusivity from the party level to the national level, but added that young people themselves must take greater responsibility for advancing their participation.

‘We can promote it, yes, but the hope is now on young people to take it further,’ he said.

Ka urged young people to become more organised and committed to political participation, saying ECOWAS could provide support but could not take up the responsibility on their behalf.

‘We can push, but we want young people also to be more organised and committed,’ he said.

‘If you don’t help yourselves, nobody will help you.’

The development comes against the backdrop of renewed regional efforts to create a permanent role for young people in election observation and democratic governance. Young people from across West Africa recently endorsed the establishment of the West Africa Youth Observers Network (WAYON), following the Youth Democracy Conference in Dakar, Senegal. The network is intended to support capacity building, election observation, data collection and information sharing among young observers.

Also speaking on the initiative, Executive Director of PAACA, Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, said mainstreaming young people into ECOWAS election observation was important in strengthening democratic participation and countering the attraction of authoritarian rule among some young people.

Nwagwu said the Sectoral Reflection Series, at which the discussions took place, was also intended to build on the outcomes of the Youth Democracy Conference in Dakar and examine ways of taking the recommendations forward.

He said the initiative would help integrate young people into an election observation system where they had historically not been sufficiently represented.

‘It is also about how to mainstream young people into the election observation network of ECOWAS,’ Nwagwu said.

‘This has been going on in ECOWAS for as long as possible, but young people have not actually been mainstreamed.’

He said greater youth participation was necessary because democracy provided citizens with the opportunity to influence decisions affecting their lives, unlike military rule, where citizens have limited avenues to reject government decisions.

Nwagwu urged young people taking part in election observation to acquire sufficient knowledge of electoral laws and regulations, warning against treating elections as an activity in which anyone could participate without understanding the governing framework.

‘The first thing is knowledge. If you invest in knowledge, then you can observe the electoral process according to the regulations and the laws that guide it,’ he said.

‘Election is a law-guided activity.’

He further urged young observers to familiarise themselves with ECOWAS protocols on youth participation, saying knowledge of the regional instruments could help them build stronger communities and promote inclusion.

On concerns over declining youth participation in elections, Nwagwu disputed the impression that young people were withdrawing from political engagement, arguing that social media activity did not provide a complete picture of youth participation.

‘Well, the feeling across Africa is that when you say youth backsliding, it is more of a social media construct,’ he said.

Nwagwu argued that while conversations among urban youths on social media could create an impression of widespread apathy, many young people outside major cities continued to participate in politics, political parties and community mobilisation.

‘When you step away from the cities and go into the communities, you see young people engaging,’ he said.

‘So many times, the hijacking of conversations by urban youth gives the impression that there is a backsliding, but there is no backsliding.’

He said young people who were not active on social media should not be excluded from assessments of youth political participation.

‘Young people are participating, and they are showing it. Young people are not only those on social media. There are many more young people who are not on social media who are participating, who are involved in politics, political parties and mobilisation,’ Nwagwu said.

Something deeply unsettling is unfolding across Northern Nigeria. Every Northerner, regardless of political party, ethnicity, religion, or state, must confront the same urgent question: are we preparing for the Nigeria that is already taking shape?

This is not another blame game about poverty, insecurity, failing schools, out-of-school children, erratic electricity, or crumbling roads. These problems are real, but beneath them lies a deeper worry: Nigeria is changing, and Arewa appears dangerously unprepared.

Some of these changes are no longer theoretical. Electricity is becoming more decentralised. State police, once dismissed as impossible, is moving closer to legal and operational reality. Every geopolitical zone now has a regional development commission. Abuja is beginning to recognise that Nigeria’s regions have different challenges and require different solutions.

So, where is the Arewa plan?

This is not an argument for blaming Abuja or presenting the North as the source of Nigeria’s problems. It is a call for Northerners to look beyond daily political quarrels and prepare for tomorrow. Across the federation, states and regions are recognising that old centralised habits can no longer serve the country. The question is whether Arewa is thinking strategically or simply reacting to each new crisis.

Take the regional development commissions. The North-East Development Commission, established in 2017, has gained years of experience in education, healthcare, roads, housing and support for displaced persons, even as insecurity limits its work. The North-Central Development Commission has also established its management structure.

The North-West, with seven states and enormous economic potential, has instead been distracted by disputes over leadership, offices and allowances. The Senate recently questioned the commission over nearly N943 million reportedly spent on board allowances while executive directors remained unappointed. Whatever the explanations, the larger point is clear: an institution created to plan development must not become a battlefield over positions and privileges.

A development commission should ask where the region will be in 10, 20 or 30 years. What will become of Kano’s industries? How will the seven states connect their economies? How can agriculture become productive and profitable? How will electricity reach farms, factories, schools and hospitals? What is the response to water shortages, desertification, climate change and rapid population growth? These questions should dominate our public discourse, not who controls which office.

The North-Central deserves particular attention. It sits at the heart of Nigeria and has enormous agricultural, mineral, water, industrial and logistical potential. It also includes the nation’s political capital. The commission’s mandate covers infrastructure, agriculture, industrialisation, education, health, water, electricity and regional development.

Its leadership is now talking about moving the region from fragmented state-level efforts towards a coordinated regional economy, with agriculture and agro-processing, minerals, infrastructure, digital connectivity, small businesses and economic corridors among its priorities. That is the kind of thinking the wider North needs. The test is whether these ideas will become a genuine strategy or merely another way of distributing projects among states.

Can Benue’s agricultural strength connect with processing centres and markets elsewhere? Can Niger’s energy and water potential support industry? Can Nasarawa and Plateau’s mineral and agricultural resources be developed responsibly? Can Kogi, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory become part of a network linking the North to the South? The answers will determine whether the North-Central becomes merely Nigeria’s geographical middle or a major economic bridge.

Electricity offers another warning. The Electricity Act 2023 opened the way for states to regulate their own electricity markets and participate more directly in generation and distribution. By July 2026, 16 states had completed the transition, including Kogi, Niger, Plateau and Nasarawa.

The North may not be entirely absent, but how many Northern states have a clear electricity plan understood by their people? How many have identified industrial clusters requiring dedicated power? How many are discussing solar, gas, hydro and mini-grids with investors? Electricity is no longer something states can simply wait for Abuja to provide. The law has changed. Our thinking must change with it.

The same applies to policing. Nigeria is moving towards a federal and state policing structure. This should be a major Northern conversation. What should policing look like in Zamfara, Kaduna or Kano? Who will recruit officers? Who will appoint commanders? How will complaints be investigated? How will state and federal police cooperate? How can political capture be prevented?

The North has valuable experience with community-security arrangements, especially in areas affected by banditry and insurgency. But experience is not the same as preparedness. The region arguably has the greatest need for state policing, yet its institutional readiness remains weak. That contradiction should worry us.

Transportation is another test. The South-West is exploring existing rail corridors for passenger and freight services, linking transport with logistics, agriculture and industry. The point is not that the South-West has solved its problems. It is that regional thinking is taking shape.

What is the Arewa equivalent? Where is the strategy linking Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Maiduguri, Jos and Abuja? How will crops move from farms to processing centres and markets? How will the region connect its dry ports, airports, rail lines and commercial cities? Some ideas exist separately, but what is missing is a sustained conversation joining them into one regional economic plan.

The North has enormous assets: land, livestock, minerals, a youthful population, major markets, universities, historic commercial cities and proximity to the Sahel. Yet insecurity, poor human capital and weak infrastructure are undermining these advantages. The greatest contradiction is that the region is agriculturally important but increasingly food-insecure.

The answer cannot be another promise of fertiliser or tractors. The North needs a complete agricultural economy built on security, irrigation, improved seeds, extension services, storage, processing, rural roads, electricity, credit, insurance, livestock development and reliable markets. Agriculture must move from subsistence to industry.

The human crisis is equally urgent. Out-of-school children, maternal deaths, drug abuse, unemployment, poverty and insecurity are connected. A child who is not in school today may become an unemployed and frustrated young person tomorrow. Frustration can feed crime; crime drives investment away; lack of investment creates more unemployment. This cycle will not be broken by speeches alone.

Arewa needs a serious, non-partisan development compact involving governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, academics, businesses, professional bodies, civil society and young people. Its purpose should be a practical 20-year plan with measurable targets: more children in school, lower maternal mortality, reliable electricity, connected roads and railways, functioning agro-processing zones, more jobs, and clear responses to policing, climate change and desertification.

We must stop confusing Arewa solidarity with a development strategy. Northerners can belong to different parties and support different candidates. But roads, schools, electricity and security do not belong to any party. Development must not wait for political agreement.

The North-East can turn reconstruction into long-term transformation. The North-West can move beyond institutional quarrels and build a development engine worthy of its population. The North-Central can use its agricultural, mineral, water and logistical strengths to become an economic bridge for the country. Together, the three zones must think beyond their separate commissions because banditry, desertification, markets, migration and transport do not respect state boundaries.

The most important question is not whether Arewa is disadvantaged. It is whether Arewa is prepared for decentralised electricity, state policing, regional transport, a changing agricultural economy, rapid urbanisation, climate shocks and millions of young people entering the labour market.

It is not too late. But the North does not need another declaration of unity. It needs a programme of preparedness: leaders willing to plan beyond the next election, institutions focused on results, and citizens prepared to demand delivery.

What kind of Arewa do we want our children to inherit, and what must we begin doing today to build it? The future will not wait for Arewa to organise itself. If we do not prepare, we should not be surprised when the future arrives and finds us unready.

Mother luck was the saving grace of about 70 mourners whose boat capsized on Saturday at Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the people, numbering about 70, had gone for a burial ceremony and, while returning, the wooden boat in which they were travelling capsized.

Confirming the incident in a telephone interview on Saturday, the Chairman of the local government, Raymond Zege, said that the victims were mourners from neighbouring Gboko LGA.

According to him, the mourners had embarked on the journey by boat, but the engine of the boat developed a fault while they were still on the water.

According to him, the situation became difficult as the passengers were struggling to manoeuvre the boat and remain afloat.

Unfortunately, due to overloading and the weight of the wooden boat, it was reported that the boat and the other boat that came to rescue the passengers sank.

He said: ‘They are people from Gboko LG, they went for a burial to cross to other side but on their way back they overloaded the boat and the engine failed, you know most of them are not conversant with water sound and they became panic and in the process began to struggle.

‘But before they could get to the other boat coming to rescue them they ran into water waves and the weight of the boat made it to sink, as at time of talking we don’t know the exact figure that are missing.’

He added: ‘There are over 70 people on board but we have not seen about six persons.’

The chairman, however, raised concerns about safety compliance among commuters, adding that authorities had provided life jackets for commuters, with the intention that every person using the boat crossing should wear one.

‘But the enforcement of life-jacket has become difficult because some passengers always complain about health-related discomfort or other reasons for not wearing the jackets.

‘This has made enforcement difficult for maritime personnel.’

Earlier, in a statement, the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, said that he had received preliminary reports of the unfortunate boat mishap.

According to the Commissioner, the preliminary information available to him showed that the boat was ferrying passengers when a strong water current swept it into an abandoned barge at a corner of the river, consequent upon which the boat tumbled.

‘I wish to assure members of the public, particularly families of those who may have been aboard the boat, to remain calm and await verified information from the appropriate authorities. No effort will be spared to ensure their safety.’

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Taraba State chapter, on Saturday launched the Door-to-Door Movement to facilitate the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Agbu Kefas.

The Nigerian Tribune reports that the event also featured the unveiling of 28 campaign vehicles for the movement.

Founder/Convener of the PBAT Movement, High Chief Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), explained during the occasion in Jalingo that the effort is to coordinate support across polling units for President Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates in the 2027 general election.

While calling on Tarabans to support the APC for continuity, High Chief Tompolo assured that re-electing President Tinubu and Governor Kefas would not just attract development but build a Taraba of the people’s dream.

Meanwhile, Gov Agbu Kefas assured of his administration’s efforts to attract more development if re-elected in 2027.

Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, stated that massive coordination at ward level was already being conducted to ensure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Agbu Kefas.

A political movement of young professionals drawn from across the 52 wards of Kwara Central senatorial district, under the aegis of the 52-Youth Coalition, has pledged its support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming general elections.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Saturday, the group, led by the Deputy Central Coordinator, Issa Abdulgafar Arikewuyo, however, said that they would vote for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in the general elections.

The group, who said that state politics must serve the people, added that public resources must be treated as a trust, not a personal estate.

‘This is our position as the 52-Youth Coalition. We are supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because, among the options currently available, none has demonstrated that he is better than him.

‘Besides, we believe President Tinubu also deserves the time required to consolidate the policies and reforms his administration has begun.’

However, the youth group said that their support for the President at the national level does not extend to this state government’s record, saying: ‘Here in Kwara, we are working to deliver victory for the candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates for the governorship and the National Assembly.

‘We strongly believe Kwara needs fresh air in its leadership and governance. We cannot continue to reward a government defined by insecurity, waste, absenteeism and intolerance for accountability within its own ranks.

‘We, therefore, call on all Kwarans, young and old, across the 16 local government areas, to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election, and for the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the governorship and National Assembly elections in 2027.

‘Politics must serve the people. Public resources must be treated as a trust, not a personal estate. And the future of Kwara must be bigger than the interests of one man and his inner circle.’

Arikewuyo also said that the Coalition will continue to engage citizens across the 52 wards of Kwara Central district and work with young people across Kwara South and Kwara North districts around issues of governance, accountability, security, economic opportunity and democratic participation.

The Rainbow Coalition Movement, South-West, has commenced grassroots mobilisation across the region in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The coalition, which described itself as an inclusive, non-partisan platform, made its position known on Friday at a press conference held at Atinuke Complex, Okota Road, Lagos.

The event was convened by Prince Olu Adefioye, who said the movement was bringing together members and supporters from different political parties and sections of society to canvass support for the President.

Adefioye said members of the coalition cut across the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord, Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He listed youth and women leaders, artisans, professionals, market traders and students among groups participating in the movement.

‘Our mission is singular, noble and unambiguous: to galvanize grassroots support for the actualization of President Tinubu’s second term,’ he said.

The convener said the coalition believed in continuity and the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, urging members to take the campaign to communities across the South-West.

He also paid tribute to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom he described as a major pillar of the Tinubu administration.

Adefioye described Wike as ‘a man of uncommon courage, a master strategist, and a pillar of this administration,’ adding that the coalition would collaborate with him ahead of the 2027 election.

On the economy, the coalition acknowledged the difficulties being experienced by Nigerians but urged citizens to remain patient with the administration’s reforms.

Adefioye argued that the reforms were necessary to achieve long-term economic growth, pointing to what he described as improvements in macroeconomic indicators and renewed investor confidence.

He said the coalition remained optimistic about the country’s future, declaring: ‘Nigeria will be great again.’

The group also called on its members and supporters to move beyond political meetings and intensify grassroots engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘This is not the time for armchair politics,’ Adefioye said, urging members to embark on door-to-door mobilisation and community advocacy to promote the administration’s policies and agenda.

He expressed appreciation to members of the coalition from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states, as well as media organisations and traditional leaders who attended the event.

The coalition ended the conference with its rallying message: ‘Unity. Progress. Good Governance. Democracy.’

A coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants who sought the party’s House of Representatives tickets across federal constituencies in Oyo State has called on the national leadership to review the recently concluded candidate-selection process.

The aspirants alleged that the exercise did not provide affected contestants with the transparent and competitive primaries they expected.

The group, under the aegis of the Coalition of Concerned APC House of Representatives Aspirants in Oyo State, made the demand in a communique titled ‘On the Conduct of the Party Candidate Selection Process and the Imperative of Genuine Reconciliation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections.’

The communique carries the themes: ‘Loyalty, Justice, Inclusion, Unity.’

The coalition said its decision to speak collectively followed consultations among the aspirants, their supporters and other party stakeholders.

It said the intervention was motivated by its commitment to the APC, respect for the party’s constitution and democratic principles, and the desire to see the party approach the 2027 general elections as a united organisation.

At the centre of the coalition’s complaint is the manner in which APC candidates for the House of Representatives were selected across Oyo State.

The aspirants said they participated in the process with the expectation that credible, transparent and competitive primaries would be conducted in line with the APC constitution and guidelines.

According to them, however, primaries were not conducted in a manner that allowed aspirants and party members to exercise their democratic rights.

Instead, they said, names were selected and presented through what they described as a ‘unity list’.

While acknowledging the responsibility of party leaders to promote consensus and internal cohesion, the coalition argued that genuine unity could not be achieved through exclusion.

It said any consensus arrangement should be based on broad consultation, mutual consent, fairness and respect for legitimate stakeholders, rather than being imposed without adequate engagement with aspirants who had invested resources and political structures in the party.

The group further argued that the absence of transparent primaries deprived aspirants of the opportunity to test their popularity among party members and left some supporters feeling excluded from a process in which they had invested considerable time and energy.

The coalition therefore appealed to the APC national leadership to review the process, hear the concerns of affected aspirants and establish a reconciliation mechanism to address issues arising from the unity list.

The coalition also highlighted the political and grassroots activities of the aspirants before the candidate-selection exercise.

It noted that the APC is currently the opposition party in Oyo State and said sustaining the party’s presence had required organisation, sacrifice and continuous engagement with voters and communities.

According to the communique, the aspirants had undertaken activities including empowerment programmes, educational support, healthcare interventions, youth and women development initiatives, agricultural assistance, community projects and direct assistance to vulnerable residents.

The group said the aspirants had also invested personal resources in party mobilisation, membership development, ward-level organisation and voter engagement, while developing relationships with traditional institutions, community leaders, religious organisations, professional associations, youth and women groups, artisans and farmers.

The coalition described the political structures controlled by the aspirants as an important component of the APC’s grassroots organisation in the state.

It said the aspirants command networks of coordinators, volunteers, supporters and community influencers and argued that their continued participation would be important to the party’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.

The coalition further maintained that no candidate, regardless of how he or she emerged, could secure electoral victory without the support of other stakeholders within the constituency.

It consequently called for reconciliation that goes beyond ceremonial meetings and public appearances, insisting that the contributions of aspirants and their supporters should be recognised and that they should be given meaningful roles in the party’s campaign and governance plans.

Despite its grievances, the coalition said it was not threatening to leave the APC, reaffirming loyalty to the party and expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.

They said their continued support for the APC included backing programmes and policies aimed at national development, economic recovery, security and improved living conditions for Nigerians.

The group also rejected any interpretation of its position as rebellion or disloyalty, arguing that party members had a responsibility to raise concerns when internal decisions, in their view, threatened party unity, public confidence or electoral prospects.

‘We remain within the APC and are prepared to work for its victory,’ the coalition stated, while insisting that party unity should be based on justice, consultation, mutual respect and genuine reconciliation.

The coalition set out a series of demands and recommendations for resolving the dispute.

Among them is a rejection of the suggestion that a unity list prepared without adequate consultation could, by itself, represent the collective will of party members and stakeholders in the affected constituencies.

The aspirants called on the APC national leadership to initiate an impartial review of the candidate-selection process in Oyo State and give affected aspirants an opportunity to present their concerns.

They also requested that where consensus is considered necessary, it should be achieved through transparent engagement and the voluntary agreement of the aspirants concerned.

Another major demand is the establishment of a high-level reconciliation committee comprising respected national and state party leaders acceptable to all sides.

The coalition further urged the party leadership to recognise the investments, grassroots structures and political contributions of all aspirants and integrate them meaningfully into the party’s strategy for the 2027 elections.

At the same time, it appealed to its supporters across Oyo State to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the matter is addressed through the appropriate party channels.

The final page of the communique lists nine members of the coalition. They are Hon. Engr. Tunde Bello (‘ETB’), Hon. Engr. Sanusi Ridwan (‘STRIKAH’), Hon. Ibrahim Lasisi (OJASOPE), Hon. Saheed Oladele, Hon. Bakare Nurudeen, Hon. Ganiyat Olawore Omookurun, Hon. Idowu Adesokan, Hon. Ishaq Morufat Ajibola and Hon. Nureni Adesina Abd Salam.

In its concluding position, the coalition said the APC has an opportunity to improve its electoral fortunes in Oyo State in 2027, but argued that achieving this would require fairness, inclusion and the mobilisation of all genuine stakeholders.

It maintained that the strength of the party should not be measured only by the names that eventually appear on the ballot but also by the contributions of aspirants, party executives, ward leaders, members, volunteers and supporters.

The group urged the APC leadership to treat the grievances of the aspirants seriously, arguing that justice and reconciliation could restore confidence among party members and provide a basis for greater cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.

The coalition added by reiterating its commitment to the APC and President Tinubu, while stressing that, in its view, lasting unity must be founded on justice, fairness, inclusion and respect for the sacrifices of party stakeholders.

We live in a digital era, with digital technology, the internet, and social media at the heart of what we do. There is virtually no way that children cannot have access to these technologies and social media platforms, especially through the smartphones of their parents and other grown-ups around them. IFEOLUWA ADEYEYE interviewed some Ibadan children on this matter. Their views:

Oluwatofunmi Abodunrin

My parents should not give me unlimited access to a phone because I’m still very young to own a phone, and I also need to face my studies. When I’m old enough to use a phone, my parents will get one for me, and I’ll be mature enough to use it well by then.

Covenant Tinuoye

For now, I don’t think using a phone will help me because I’m still a nine-year-old girl. I need to concentrate on my studies for now. I should not be given unlimited access to a phone now because I don’t know how to use a phone properly, though I sometimes wish I could make use of a phone.

Olajiire Eri-Oluwa

I’m too young to own a phone now because I’m still a secondary school student. But I sometimes wish I could get access to a phone so that I can make use of it for my assignments. Maybe my parents can allow me to use it when I need it for my schoolwork and collect it back when I’m done.

Peter Oyeleke

I don’t have a phone, and my parents are not ready to get one for me until I’m old enough. But I sometimes use my mummy’s phone to call, chat, and hear from my aunties and uncles. For that reason, I think my parents should get me my own phone so that I’ll not be disturbing them by using their phones.

Johnson Adewale

I don’t think children should have unlimited access to phones. Phones are useful because they help children to learn new things and to access educational materials. However, having unrestricted access to a phone can expose them to harmful content, which can affect their studies, sleep, or social life. I believe children should be allowed to use phones through proper supervision and a reasonable time limit. Parents should also guide their children towards using technology in a safe and productive way. The goal is to teach children how to use phones responsibly and not keep them away from phones totally.

Peace Ishola

I agree that children should not have unlimited access to phones because they need limits to protect their sleep and safety and to keep them focused, as unlimited access can lead to seeing harmful content.

The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has reiterated its long-standing concern over the seeming neglect of the Mambila Hydropower Plant, calling on the Federal Government to take advantage of the recent clearance of the legal encumbrance following the arbitration ruling on the matter to expedite action on the completion and take-off of the plant.

The concern was contained in a communiqué presented at the end of the meeting held on Friday and Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno State, presided over by the Chairman and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.

It, however, acknowledged the concerted efforts made by member states in providing power and energising the subregion, having moved the energy agenda from isolated state concerns to a regional energy agenda.

The Forum noted that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant now feeds the national grid, encouraging all member states to take advantage of the new electricity law and abundant sunshine to strengthen electricity supply in the subregion and expand solar and mini-grid solutions for development.

The Forum also acknowledged the intervention role of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) in the subregion, calling for more investment in the education sector, especially the release of the long-awaited scholarship awards to indigent students in the subregion, and the deployment of more resources into campaigns to reduce the burden of out-of-school children and provide coordinated support for Tsangaya education.

In order to ease the cost of transportation, strengthen logistics and open the region to more economic activities, the Forum agreed to partner with Green Ville Energy to build and provide more CNG and LNG stations within the region.

It equally acknowledged and appreciated the support of the Federal Government through the NEDC in providing 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis, with a view to lessening the burden of transportation. The vehicles are expected to be launched in October.

The Forum further resolved to establish the North-East Regional Air Shuttle, which would make inter- and intra-regional movement of people and goods faster and easier.

It acknowledged the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against insurgency in the North-East; the courage and sacrifice of the Armed Forces and other security agencies; the resilience of the people; and the commitment of governments at all levels, but regretted that the subregion is still confronted by daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges.

The Forum thus reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces and other security agencies while strengthening inter-state cooperation, intelligence sharing, community engagement and coordinated responses to emerging threats, while at the same time addressing the underlying socio-economic conditions that can expose young people to exploitation by criminal and extremist elements.

It acknowledged that the North-East has one of the youngest populations in the country, and that this represents both an enormous opportunity and a responsibility.

The Forum therefore recommitted to equipping young people with quality education, vocational and entrepreneurial skills, technology and meaningful employment opportunities for a secure and prosperous region where the youth see a future for themselves and have legitimate opportunities to build dignified livelihoods.

The Forum decried the extent of harm done to the environment through deforestation and agreed to partner with the Institute of Forest Research to train forest experts in the region.

It, however, appreciated Mr President for the renewed attention on the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor, frontier oil exploration at Kolmani, and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri highway.

The Forum, however, called on the Federal Government to revisit the exploration activities earlier commenced but subsequently stalled in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State.

Present at the meeting were Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State; Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the Governor of Adamawa State; Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of Gombe State; Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, representing the Governor of Bauchi State; and Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana, Deputy Governor of Yobe State, representing the Governor of Yobe State. Also in attendance was the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur.

The Forum continued to appreciate the level of cooperation and collaboration among member states in the subregion since its inaugural meeting in Gombe in March 2020.

It thus appreciated its journey so far and acknowledged that the Forum’s role remains a work in progress. It also recommitted to speaking with one voice and acting with one purpose on matters of common subregional concern as they relate to the security, social and economic integration and development of the subregion.

The Forum noted the tremendous achievements it had made in the last six years, noting that the most significant achievement was the unity of Forum members, resulting in the Forum’s collective voice delivering tangible results in the infrastructural development of the subregion.

The next meeting is scheduled to hold on 18-19 December 2026 in Gombe, Gombe State.

The Federal Government has flagged off training for over 1,000 beneficiaries under Cohort 3 of its Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS-TVET) initiative in Kogi State.

The programme is implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank, through accredited Training Service Providers (TSPs) nationwide, with monitoring across the 774 LGAs.

The flag-off ceremony held in Lokoja featured 10 service providers operating from 10 skills-acquisition centres across the state.

The providers include Leafnet Enterprise Ltd, Omniflow Power Ltd, Peemadi Ltd, Ugbo-Ugbo Enyo Nig Ltd, JB JennyB Venture Ltd, JEGOO Development Centre Ltd, USS Geo Consult and Jubilee 20 Park, among others.

The trainees in Kogi are being equipped with skills in fashion design and garment making, solar PV installation and maintenance, catering and event management, among others.

In her remarks, the National Project Coordinator, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, said the objective of the initiative is to equip Nigerians with industry-relevant vocational, technical and digital skills, reduce reliance on paper qualifications, and build a workforce for economic transformation.

Ogwu, who was represented by Dr Samaila Dogoyaro, Communication Officer, Benue State Project Implementation Unit, said skills development remains a powerful pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

She disclosed that the project has renovated and equipped workshops across technical colleges, strengthened TVET institutions and upskilled about 4,000 technical teachers and instructors.

‘Beyond institutional interventions, the IDEAS-TVET Initiative has taken skills development directly to about 80,000 Nigerians through Training Service Providers across the country,’ she said.

Ogwu listed occupational areas covered to include fashion design, ICT, agriculture, hospitality, construction, electrical installation, automotive trades, welding and fabrication, plumbing, solar installation and other market-relevant skills, with inclusion of women and other underrepresented groups.

She urged trainees to take the opportunity seriously, stressing that the training could be a turning point in their lives.

‘Most importantly, take attendance seriously. You are expected to maintain at least 65 per cent attendance every month to be eligible for the N30,000 stipend promised by the Federal Government under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa.

‘This requirement is not merely administrative. Regular attendance ensures you receive sufficient practical exposure and develop competence,’ she added.

She charged trainees to see themselves not merely as beneficiaries but as future entrepreneurs, technicians and innovators, noting that success would be measured by employment, businesses established and incomes increased, not just enrolment figures.

The service providers said they are already three months into the six-month training and commended the level of supervision and commitment of trainees.

Mr Ajayi Olufemi, Centre Manager, Memorial Foundation Chateko Vocational Institute (LMF-CVI), Leafnet Enterprise Ltd, said 150 trainees are under his centre in fashion design and garment making.

‘We started in June this year. So far, so good. I tell my trainees, it is not about the N30,000.

‘Government does not want to give you fish to eat but wants to teach you how to catch fish.

‘Some of them made the dresses they are wearing today by themselves within three months,’ Olufemi said.

Another provider, Mr Anthony Achenaje, Training Programme Manager, Jubilee 20 Park, Lokoja, said his centre was awarded 100 trainees in catering and event management.

‘What we want for them is to master the trade and be self-sufficient and employable.

‘The majority heard about the programme and came on their own, not because of the stipend but because of passion,’ Achenaje said.

A trainee, Miss Josephine David, said her experience has been wonderful, noting that she came as a novice but within three months can now pedal a machine and sew.

‘You can see what I am wearing, I made it myself. I have added value to myself thanks to IDEAS-TVET,’ she said.

Government officials urged beneficiaries to be diligent, saying certifications are recognised by professional bodies and the focus should be beyond the stipend to what they will take back after training.

They commended the Kogi coordinators and service providers for excellent performance and high attendance recorded across centres.