Category: Nigerian Tribune

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plateau State Governor Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has granted absolute pardon to 130 inmates and commuted the death sentences of four others to life imprisonment as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The governor described the anniversary as an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey since independence, honor the sacrifices of past leaders, acknowledge existing challenges, and celebrate the nation’s achievements.

In a goodwill message signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Gyang Bere, Mutfwang urged Nigerians to preserve the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country in honor of its founding fathers.

He stressed that nation-building was a shared responsibility passed from one generation to another, adding that every citizen had a role to play in creating a peaceful, stable, and prosperous country.

The governor said Nigeria’s strength lay in the collective determination of its people to rise above their differences and build a nation where everyone had a sense of belonging and opportunities to fulfill their aspirations.

Mutfwang also acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in sustaining the country’s unity and stability and advancing the Nigerian project.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a Plateau State where residents could pursue their aspirations in an atmosphere of peace, security, justice, and inclusive development.

The governor commended the people of Plateau State for their resilience, patience, patriotism, and contributions to the development of the state and the country.

He urged them to remain committed to the Nigerian project despite the challenges facing the nation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My fellow Nigerians, we have reached a turning point.

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

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

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

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

This is the promise we must now fulfil.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We will defeat it.

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

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

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

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

I believe deeply in what lies ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

Experts have raised concerns over the simultaneous use of sildenafil citrate, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, and popular herbal alcoholic bitters, after researchers observed significant changes in liver, kidney and reproductive hormone markers in male laboratory rats.

The study, published in the West African Journal of Pharmacy, examined the effects of sildenafil citrate administered alongside three herbal bitters – Orijin, Action and Coco Samba – amid the widespread use of herbal preparations and alcoholic bitters.

There has been a shift in the consumption of beer towards alcoholic bitters, which are rich blends of medicinal roots and herbs and are widely used in Nigeria because of their various acclaimed health benefits.

Users of bitters often believe that the herbal preparations contain substances that cleanse the body, have anti-malarial and anti-diabetic properties, boost male virility, lower cholesterol levels and are non-toxic to the kidneys.

Erectile dysfunction has also been reported to be increasingly common among young men in Nigeria. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is one of the approved orthodox medicines used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

With the widespread acceptance of alcoholic bitters for their purported health and aphrodisiac benefits, men experiencing erectile dysfunction may combine herbal alcoholic bitters with sildenafil citrate.

In the study, the researchers found significant increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone across the experimental groups compared with the control group, indicating possible changes in liver, kidney and reproductive hormone function.

Elevated levels of ALT and AST can be associated with liver-cell injury or stress, although they are not specific to a particular cause. Increased urea and creatinine levels may indicate changes in kidney function, while LH is involved in signalling to the testes and testosterone is the principal male sex hormone.

The study, titled ‘Effect of concomitant administration of sildenafil citrate and selected herbal bitters on sex hormones and some biochemical indices in Wistar rats,’ was conducted by researchers from Olabisi Onabanjo University and Babcock University in Ogun State. It was in West African Journal of Pharmacy.

The researchers used 40 healthy adult male Wistar rats weighing between 115gm and 125gm. Following five days of acclimatisation, the animals were randomly divided into eight groups of five.

One group served as the control, while another received sildenafil citrate. Three groups received Orijin, Action or Coco Samba bitters, respectively, while the remaining three groups received sildenafil citrate in combination with each of the three bitters.

The substances were administered orally for 42 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and analysed for markers associated with liver and kidney function, as well as testosterone and LH levels.

The researchers reported statistically significant differences in AST and ALT between the experimental animals and the control group.

According to the researchers, the elevation of AST and ALT in animals exposed to sildenafil, herbal bitters and their combinations could indicate liver injury.

The study also found significant differences in serum urea levels between the experimental groups and the control group.

The researchers reported a significant increase in creatinine, particularly among the animals that received Coco Samba alone and those that received Coco Samba together with sildenafil citrate.

They said the higher urea and creatinine levels could reflect impaired kidney function. They further described Coco Samba as having a potentially greater toxic effect on the kidneys than the other polyherbal formulations investigated.

However, the researchers acknowledged that increased urea levels can have other explanations, including dehydration and alcohol consumption.

Beyond the organ-function markers, the researchers observed significant increases in testosterone and LH among the experimental animals.

They suggested that increased LH could contribute to increased testosterone production and said the observed hormonal changes could be related to the combined effects of sildenafil and the phytochemical components of the herbal bitters.

Traditional herbal bitters, which are rich blends of medicinal roots and herbs, have been widely used in Nigeria because of their various claimed benefits.

Most herbal alcoholic bitters are also marketed with claims of improved sexual performance and stronger erections. Despite these claims and their widespread consumption, however, limited research has examined their safety and their purported effects on erectile function, particularly when used alongside conventional medicines.

Amid the widespread use of herbal preparations and alcoholic bitters, including products marketed with claims relating to sexual performance and male virility, awareness of the possible consequences of concomitant use of sildenafil citrate and herbal bitters remains limited.

The researchers noted that herbal medicines are often self-prescribed and may be taken alongside conventional medicines without healthcare professionals necessarily being informed about their use.

They further noted that herbal alcoholic bitters are marketed with various claims, including improving sexual performance, while limited research was available on their safety and claims concerning erectile function.

The research was conducted on Wistar rats, not human beings. Its findings therefore cannot by themselves establish that people who combine sildenafil with the herbal bitters will experience the same biochemical changes.

The study nevertheless provides experimental evidence of measurable biochemical and hormonal changes following concurrent exposure to sildenafil and the products investigated.

The researchers said the findings suggested possible effects on liver and kidney functions in the animals studied.

The findings underscore the importance of further investigation into the simultaneous use of prescription medicines and herbal alcoholic preparations, particularly products consumed for sexual-performance purposes.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government to fully implement the 2026 agreement reached with the union and settle all outstanding financial obligations arising from the pact, including arrears.

SSANU, in an Independence Day message signed by its National President, Comrade Mohammad Haruna Ibrahim, said the agreement, which took effect on 1 January 2026, could not be regarded as fully implemented while legitimate entitlements accruing to university workers remained outstanding.

The union, which made the demand as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary yesterday, urged the Federal Government to release the necessary funds to universities and inter-university centres to enable them to implement both the financial and non-financial provisions of the agreement.

‘The Agreement took effect from 1st January 2026, although it was formally signed on 29th June 2026, and the financial obligations arising from the effective date, including all outstanding arrears, must therefore be addressed,’ Ibrahim stated.

According to him, ‘implementation cannot be regarded as complete while legitimate entitlements accruing to workers remain outstanding.’

SSANU also called on state governments to ensure that workers in state-owned universities were not denied negotiated improvements in their conditions of service because of the ownership of the institutions.

‘Collective bargaining has meaning only when agreements freely entered into are faithfully implemented,’ the union president said.

The demand came against the backdrop of what SSANU described as mounting economic pressure on Nigerian workers and their families, with the rising costs of food, transportation, electricity, housing, healthcare and education continuing to put pressure on household incomes.

The union said the significance of Nigeria’s 66 years of political independence should ultimately be measured by improvements in the daily lives of citizens, particularly workers who depend on their wages to meet basic household needs.

It argued that while official economic indicators might record improvements in some areas, such gains would have limited meaning if workers could not afford basic necessities.

‘For independence to have its full meaning, this enormous potential must translate into improved living conditions, including security, decent work, quality education, affordable healthcare, food security and a dignified standard of living for all Nigerians,’ SSANU said.

The union added that ‘a salary that cannot adequately provide food, shelter, transportation, healthcare and education for a worker and his or her family is steadily losing its real value irrespective of the figure written on a payslip.’

It therefore urged governments at all levels to pursue policies capable of reducing the cost of living, protecting workers’ purchasing power and strengthening domestic production.

SSANU further warned against a situation where workers were continually asked to bear the burden of economic adjustment while waste, excessive expenditure and inefficiency persisted in public administration.

‘Workers must not continually be called upon to make sacrifices while waste, excessive expenditure and inefficiency remain visible in public administration,’ the union said, insisting that responsible and prudent governance must also reflect the sacrifices expected of the people.

On the university system, SSANU called for renewed commitment to public education, arguing that universities remained critical instruments of national development and social mobility.

The association demanded sustainable and predictable funding for Nigerian universities to address inadequate electricity, obsolete equipment, insufficient laboratories, weak digital infrastructure, deteriorating facilities and limited support for research and staff development.

It also stressed that the contributions of non-academic personnel must receive due recognition, noting that university operations depended on workers in the registry, bursary, audit, library, ICT, health, security, engineering, works, laboratories and other professional and administrative units.

‘University education must be treated as an investment in the country’s future, with transparency and accountability in the use of resources,’ the union stated.

SSANU also raised concerns over insecurity and its impact on education, agriculture and food production, calling for stronger intelligence gathering, improved community engagement, modern security technology and better-equipped security agencies.

The union said schools and universities must be adequately protected to enable staff and students to work and learn without fear, while farmers should have access to security, affordable inputs, finance, infrastructure and reliable transportation.

It further urged the government to strengthen the link between university research and practical solutions in agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, climate science and food technology, saying such collaboration could boost productivity and reduce dependence on imports.

On governance, SSANU called for stronger institutions, transparency, respect for the rule of law and responsible management of public resources.

It said citizens had a right to know that resources entrusted to government were being used for the public good, while public officials should recognise that leadership was a responsibility rather than a privilege detached from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.

As the country approaches the 2027 general elections, the association also urged political parties, candidates, electoral institutions, security agencies and citizens to conduct themselves responsibly and peacefully.

It called for an electoral process free from violence, ethnic division, religious hostility and intimidation, stressing that workers should be free to scrutinise the policies, programmes and records of those seeking public office and make their choices according to their own judgement and conscience.

According to SSANU, Nigeria needs an electoral discourse centred on security, employment, education, healthcare, the economy, infrastructure, workers’ welfare and the future of young people.

The union, however, said the challenges confronting the country were not beyond solution, urging responsible leadership, strong institutions, fairness for workers and a citizenry committed to building a peaceful and prosperous nation.

Ibrahim said SSANU would continue to defend the legitimate rights and welfare of its members, demand faithful implementation of agreements reached with government, protect accessible and properly funded public education, and promote professionalism and quality within the Nigerian university system.

‘Political independence must ultimately translate into economic security, social justice, quality public services and a life of dignity for the Nigerian people,’ he said.

The Kano State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has urged Nigerians to use the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary to renew their commitment to national unity, democratic values, and good governance.

Gwarzo, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, congratulated Nigerians, particularly residents of Kano State, on the anniversary.

He said the occasion should provide an opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s progress and challenges while renewing efforts towards economic development and improved living conditions.

According to him, Independence Day should go beyond ceremonies and speeches and serve as a reminder of the responsibility of leaders and citizens to build a country where Nigerians can live with dignity, security, and hope.

Gwarzo said Nigeria’s 66 years of independence had demonstrated the resilience and determination of its people despite the challenges facing the country.

He urged political leaders at all levels to place the interests of citizens above personal and partisan considerations, saying the impact of leadership should be measured by its effect on the lives of the people.

The former Kano Deputy Governor said Nigeria needed leadership that listened to citizens, protected their interests, and created opportunities for young people to contribute to national development.

He also called for increased investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, security, and job creation, describing the sectors as important to national development.

Gwarzo said the economic difficulties faced by many families required urgent and practical interventions to reduce hardship and restore confidence in the country’s future.

He also urged Nigerians to reject ethnic and religious divisions, saying the country’s diversity should be harnessed for national development.

‘Independence is not simply about the freedom we got in 1960; it is about the responsibility we have today to protect our democracy, strengthen our institutions, promote freedom of speech, and build a country that works for all,’ Gwarzo said.

He further called on Nigerians, especially young people, to participate actively in the democratic process and demand accountability from public officials.

Gwarzo reaffirmed his commitment to democratic governance and a political system that prioritizes the welfare of ordinary citizens.

He said Nigeria’s future would depend largely on the quality of its leadership and the collective determination of its people.

The NDC governorship candidate prayed for peace, security, and prosperity in the country and wished Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary.

President Bola Tinubu has called for increased local production, urging Nigerians to produce more goods, strengthen agriculture and build businesses capable of competing in the global market.

Tinubu made the call in his Independence Day address to the nation on Thursday, as Nigeria marked its 66th anniversary of independence.

The President said his administration was prioritising jobs, enterprise and industrial growth, stressing the need to turn Nigeria’s large youthful population into an engine of production.

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

‘I am also conscious that millions of our fellow citizens cannot wait for tomorrow. Some Nigerian families still struggle today for the next meal, the next school fee, the next medical bill, or simply enough money to get to work.

‘Their circumstances did not begin with the reforms of the last three years. Their struggle is the accumulated consequence of decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient opportunity, and institutions that too often failed those who needed them most.

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

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

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

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

‘That is why, working with our states and local governments, we will continue to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education, and the essential public services poorer Nigerians depend on most.

‘Since 2023, we have paid salaries and pensions on time and in full. We have reformed the national pension programme to benefit retirees and the vulnerable.

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

‘We will defeat it.

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

The national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity, economic hardship, corruption and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

Oke, in his Independence Day message to Nigerians to mark the nation’s 66th anniversary, also called on citizens to reflect on the state of the country and rededicate themselves to building a peaceful, united and prosperous Nigeria.

The message, contained in a statement issued by the Media Bureau of the PFN, congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary while acknowledging the progress recorded by the country over the past 66 years.

According to him, the Independence Day celebration should not only be a time of thanksgiving and rejoicing, but also an opportunity for Nigerians to engage in ‘deep and honest reflection’ on the nation’s challenges.

‘For 66 years, we have seen much and achieved much. The progress we have made cannot be denied, but the challenges before us cannot be ignored,’ he said.

Oke identified peace and security as essential foundations for national development, urging the government to ensure the protection of every Nigerian irrespective of location, ethnicity or region.

He called for intensified action against banditry and terrorism, particularly in forests and other areas used as hideouts by criminals.

‘We must remove the bandits and terrorists from our forests and bring them and their financiers to justice. The Federal Government must do more and do it now,’ the PFN president said.

On the economy, Oke expressed concern over the worsening hardship confronting Nigerians, urging both the Federal and state governments to take stronger measures to improve citizens’ welfare.

He said Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources should be deployed for the benefit of the wider population rather than a privileged few.

The PFN president also advocated the review of existing laws and the enactment of new legislation to create an enabling environment for businesses, while calling for aggressive industrialisation to expand the nation’s productive capacity and improve living standards.

Oke described corruption as a major threat to democratic governance, saying it had weakened accountability, transparency, justice and public trust.

‘Governments at all tiers-whether national, state or local-need to try harder and tackle it headlong and wipe it out so that every Nigerian will enjoy the dividends of democracy,’ he said.

He further expressed concern over the production and trafficking of illicit drugs in Nigeria, particularly the danger posed to young people.

He urged the authorities and citizens to intensify efforts to protect the younger generation from the menace.

Oke appealed to Nigerians across ethnic, religious and social divides to unite in building a nation founded on peace, justice, love and righteousness.

‘Nigeria can be great again, but we must all play our parts,’ he said, stressing that the country’s progress depended on the collective responsibility of its citizens.

He urged Nigerians to think, speak, and act in ways that would promote national development and accelerate progress, while calling for continued faith in God and commitment to the ideals of the nation’s founding fathers.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians not to despair but to keep hope alive for a better Nigeria.

It admitted that while the country had yet to be where it wished to be on the global map, it must still continue to hope to reach there.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, stated this on Thursday in commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary.

‘The PDP acknowledges that, as a nation and as a people, we are not yet where we aspire to be. However, we must not despair.

‘The future of Nigeria remains bright, and our collective hope must remain stronger than our present challenges.

‘Nigeria is a blessed nation, endowed with enormous human and natural resources. Let us harness these resources, alongside our rich ethnic, cultural and religious diversity into an instrument of unity, creativity and national progress’, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, stated in Abuja on Thursday.

The PDP called on all Nigerians to continue to preach peace, unity and national cohesion, adding, ‘Our leaders and followers alike must remain patriotic, reject violence and corruption, and always place the interests of Nigeria above personal and sectional considerations.’

On its part, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the PDP chaired by Dr Tanimu Turaki, urged Nigerians to borrow from the example of the country’s founding fathers who were resilient in the struggle for independence by shunning inducement and confronting intimidation.

‘Worthy of note is that when the moment for self-rule came, they rejected inducements and resisted threats designed to defeat their aim. They did not delay, and they did not miss their moment’, Turaki said on Thursday in a message he personally signed.

He said as Nigeria turned 66, it was now the turn of the citizens to rise in unison to ‘shun inducement and stand firm against intimidation.’

Turaki added, ‘Now, more than ever, we must be determined, at the earliest opportunity, to elect a government that will build a Nigeria that works for all, not just some: a nation of security, economic opportunity, unity and justice.

‘That responsibility now rests on us at the ballot box. This is our own time, and we must not let it pass.’

NILDS advocates unity, inclusivity in nation-building

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has called on Nigerians to strengthen national unity, embrace inclusivity and remain committed to the collective task of nation-building as the country marks its 66th independence anniversary.

Sulaiman made the call in a goodwill message he issued on Thursday in which he congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and reflected on the country’s journey since independence on October 1, 1960.

He described Nigeria’s 66 years of independence as a testament to the resilience of its people and the efforts of successive administrations to advance the vision and aspirations of the nation’s founding fathers.

The DG, while aligning with the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity,’ noted that the country’s diversity should be harnessed as an asset for national development rather than allowed to become a source of division.

‘Our diversity across gender, ethnicity, region and religion should remain a source of strength rather than division,’ he said.

Sulaiman stressed the need for greater collective participation in nation-building, urging citizens to contribute actively to addressing the country’s security and developmental challenges.

According to him, issues of national cohesion, gender inclusivity, unity, economic development and legislative governance remain central to NILDS’ mandate of strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance and advancing sustainable national development.

Sulaiman, a former Minister of National Planning, also felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Abbas Tajudeen.

He acknowledged that Nigeria had yet to achieve all its aspirations but noted that the country had continued to evolve and strengthen its democratic institutions.

The NILDS boss consequently urged Nigerians to sustain their faith in the country and uphold the values of patriotism and collective responsibility.

‘Let us remain actively engaged in building a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and united Nigeria,’ he urged.

He called on citizens to uphold national unity and play their part in overcoming the challenges confronting the nation, stressing the importance of collective action in consolidating Nigeria’s democratic and developmental gains.

Sulaiman wished Nigerians a peaceful and restful Independence Day celebration and prayed for continued peace, stability and progress for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, on Wednesday, formally welcomed Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni as the unit’s 30th Acting Comptroller, even as Comptroller Gambo Aliyu retired from the Service after a distinguished tenure.

The handing-over ceremony was held at the unit’s conference hall and brought together friends, colleagues and well-wishers of both the incoming and outgoing Comptrollers.

Also in attendance were Acting Customs Area Controllers of the Port and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML), Ogun 1 Area Command, and the Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Command, among other senior officers and stakeholders.

In his inaugural address, Deputy Comptroller Afeni pledged ‘purposeful, professional and accountable leadership’ in furtherance of the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Service’s management team.

The Acting Comptroller said his administration would pursue ‘intelligence-led enforcement’, block revenue leakages, and protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.

He emphasised that enforcement activities would be ‘firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity’, while legitimate trade would be facilitated through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.

He also called for stronger collaboration with sister security and law-enforcement agencies to combat trans-border crimes, including the illicit movement of drugs, arms, currencies, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.

He pledged attention to officers’ welfare, professional development, institutional discipline, and regular sporting activities to promote fitness, teamwork and work-life balance.

In his handing-over address, the immediate past Comptroller of the unit, retired Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, expressed gratitude and humility, marking the occasion as a formal transfer of leadership while reflecting on the responsibilities and challenges of commanding the unit.

He noted that his administration focused on combating smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration, false declaration, and the movement of prohibited goods.

Highlighting major operational successes, he reported the interception of 779 smuggling attempts involving items such as: Over 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice; 61 used vehicles;

Thousands of used compressors and clothing items; Foreign poultry products; 4,418 jerrycans of vegetable oil; 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3kg; 2.30kg of cocaine; Over 3,000 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (76,505 litres); and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg. These and other seizures had a total duty-paid value of ?13,075,056,616.00.

On revenue recovery, Comptroller Aliyu reported remarkable performance between 10 December 2025 and 24 September 2026, with the unit recovering ?3,192,511,547.52-representing 798% of its ?400 million annual target for 2026, and a 776% increase over the ?411,451,901.18 recovered in the same period in 2025.

He attributed these achievements to ‘enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted introspection into suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders’, stressing that ‘no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation’.

Concluding his address, he welcomed and congratulated his successor, assuring him of a strong operational foundation and charging him to ‘lead with fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment’.

He thanked the officers for their loyalty, discipline and resilience, and prayed for the success of the new leadership, the continued growth of the Nigeria Customs Service, and the security of Nigeria.