Category: PM News

Nigeria has slipped further in the global ranking of countries protecting their public health policies from tobacco industry influence, according to the 2025 Nigeria Tobacco Industry Interference (TII) Index released in Lagos on Thursday.

The report, produced by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), shows that Nigeria’s score worsened from 60 in 2023 to 62 in 2025, indicating growing interference from tobacco corporations in policymaking. Out of 100 countries assessed globally, Nigeria now ranks 54th.

The findings, covering April 2023 to March 2025, form part of the global civil society-led initiative grounded in Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), which warns that the interests of the tobacco industry and public health are irreconcilable.

In his opening remarks, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the Index exposes how the tobacco industry continues to exploit weak enforcement of Nigeria’s tobacco control laws to disguise itself as a partner in national development.

“Despite operating a business of addiction, disease, and death, tobacco companies continue to gain access strategically and persistently into Nigeria’s policy spaces,” he said. “This year’s score of 62 confirms that industry interference remains a systemic threat to our public health architecture.”

Oluwafemi noted that the industry’s so-called corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, such as borehole donations, scholarships, and reforestation drives, are used to mask interference and buy legitimacy.

“These are not acts of generosity, but manipulation designed to whitewash an image built on addiction and profit,” he warned. “Even worse, government officials continue to attend and praise these events, helping the industry greenwash its deadly business.”

He described the tobacco industry’s growing participation in policy discussions as “deeply troubling,” particularly regarding emerging nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, snus, and other novel products marketed as harm reduction tools.

“The tobacco industry is not a stakeholder in public health. Its interest is in selling more cigarettes, more nicotine, and more death and disease,” Oluwafemi stressed.

While acknowledging progress in some areas, Oluwafemi pointed to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) $110 million fine against British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) in 2023 and the National Film and Video Censors Board’s ban on the glamorisation of smoking in Nollywood as major wins.

However, he lamented inconsistent policies, including the suspension of tobacco excise taxes in 2023, which reversed earlier gains and weakened Nigeria’s alignment with WHO and ECOWAS tax standards.

“Nigeria cannot afford to take one step forward and two steps back,” he said. “Strong laws mean little without consistent enforcement.”

Presenting the report, CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said the 2025 Index assessed seven key areas: policymaking participation, CSR, benefits to the industry, unnecessary interaction, transparency, conflict of interest, and preventive measures.

She said the worsening score reflects how “for every rule that should keep the industry out of policymaking, another action quietly lets it in.”

The report’s findings include:

CSR as a Gateway: The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) continues to partner with state ministries and local governments in defiance of national laws, using empowerment programmes as a “sophisticated strategy to embed itself in governance systems.”

Policy Reversal: The 2023 suspension of tobacco excise taxes weakened Nigeria’s fiscal and health response, shifting costs to citizens while protecting industry profits.

Political Familiarity: High-level government officials, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, a former BAT employee, have attended tobacco-linked events, which CAPPA said “signal complicity, not neutrality.”

Transparency Gaps: Despite Section 25 of the National Tobacco Control Act mandating disclosure of official interactions with the industry, most government agencies fail to make such information public.

Weak Preventive Systems: Few government officials have received training on Article 5.3 of the WHO-FCTC, leaving many unaware that participating in tobacco-funded events violates public health ethics.

“At 62 points, Nigeria’s interference score is a wake-up call,” Ibeh said. “Our laws are strong, but their guardianship is weak. The state legislates against tobacco influence but legitimises it through partnership and praise.”

The 2025 Index calls for urgent government action to strengthen policy independence and transparency in tobacco control. CAPPA’s recommendations include:

“Enforce full disclosure of all government interactions with tobacco companies.

“Ban tobacco industry-led CSR across all public institutions.

“Strengthen conflict-of-interest safeguards requiring public officials to declare any personal or financial ties to tobacco companies.

“Restore a predictable, inflation-adjusted tobacco tax system aligned with WHO and ECOWAS standards.

“Enforce pictorial health warnings covering at least 60 percent of tobacco packaging.

“Institutionalise Article 5.3 training within the public service.

“Exclude tobacco companies from policy consultations and regulatory discussions, including those concerning emerging nicotine products.”

Ibeh added: “To safeguard one, we must disentangle completely from the other. There can be no middle ground between public health and corporate interest.”

Oluwafemi concluded by urging the Nigerian government to see tobacco control not only as a health priority but as a matter of governance and democracy.

“What is at stake is not just the health of individual smokers but the health of our democracy the ability of our public institutions to act independently of corporate capture,” he said.

The Nigeria Tobacco Industry Interference Index is part of a global project coordinated by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). The Index aims to support governments and civil society in implementing Article 5.3 of the WHO-FCTC, which requires countries to protect public health policies from tobacco industry interference.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing his actions as a “clear threat to national security and institutional integrity.”

In a statement issued on Monday, Buratai said the events of November 11, 2025 — when Wike allegedly publicly disparaged a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces, were not mere misconduct, but a deliberate undermining of authority that could have grave consequences.

“A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline. It strikes at the very core of our nation’s command and control structure. It disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and it grievously wounds the morale of every officer serving under the Nigerian flag,” Buratai warned.

He added that such actions “erode the foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands” and should not be dismissed as political theatre. AAccording to the former army chief, Wike’s behaviour amounts to “reckless endangerment of national order” and signals an attempt to undermine the federal government’s authority.

Buratai urged that Wike must issue an “immediate and unequivocal public apology” to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the officer whose honour was violated. He stressed that national security must take precedence over politics.

“Our nation’s security comes first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing. The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less,” he said.

The former COAS concluded that inaction could set a dangerous precedent, allowing any political actor to challenge military authority with impunity, a scenario that could weaken discipline and compromise the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security apparatus.

Nollywood actress, Yvonne Jegede, has praised Lt.Yerima over his confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Yvonne on her Instagram named Yerima as the face of a new Nigeria.

She added that his actions have restored her faith. Jegede also thanked Yerima for giving hope to Nigerians.

“The face of a new Nigeria Thank you for restoring my faith. Thank you for giving us hope as a nation. Thank you for letting us know that all hope is not lost. I salute you sir,” she wrote.

The Lieutenant in a viral video was seen having an altercation with Wike. He quickly earned the admiration of Nigerians over his composure and stance during the interaction.

By Ayox Ojo

The All Progressives Congress, APC has described for Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi as a political orphan who has been disowned in his home state, Rivers, and who is steadily sinking into total oblivion

The Lagos chapter of APC said this in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to claim by Amaechi that President Bola Tinubu can be defeated in the 2027 presidential election with effective mobilisation of Nigerians by opposition parties.

Amaechi who said this while speaking at the 2025 National Electoral Reforms Summit in Abuja also dismissed claims that election results are predetermined and that the President is invincible.

“He is not invincible. I’ve worked with him and I know him. When you say the results are already written, they are happy to spread that narrative so people won’t come out,” Amaechi said.

“If you come out en masse, nobody will write any results. Nobody will take away the result sheets. Anyone who tries it will only be creating problems for himself,” he added.

But reacting to Amaechi, Lagos APC, in a statement on Wednesday signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Seye Oladejo, said Amaechi’s comments reflected “political hallucination.”

The party said the former Rivers State governor lacks the moral and political capacity to lead any national mobilisation, having lost political relevance both in his home state and across the country.

“Mobilise who? The few loyalists left in his WhatsApp group? Politicians who abandoned him the moment he lost the presidential primaries? The same Rivers electorate that no longer take him seriously?” Oladejo queried.

“Amaechi is free to dream, but he must stop mistaking his nightmares for national reality. A man declared political non-Grata wants to lead a national mobilisation?” the statement read.

The party said Amaechi’s outburst was a reflection of personal bitterness rather than a genuine political position, noting that the former minister’s problem is not Tinubu but his own loss of political relevance.

PC added that the Tinubu’s administration is focused on delivering tangible results in education, infrastructure, agriculture, and economic growth, citing initiatives such as NELFUND, CREDITCORP, and foreign direct investment inflows from global partners.

“While Amaechi is busy trying to resurrect his collapsed career, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing the actual work of rebuilding a nation,” Oladejo asserted.

“2027 will not reward bitterness, betrayal or political tourism. It will reward leadership, courage and results. And Tinubu has all three in abundance.”

He added that Amaechi’s comments were not a rallying cry but a cry for help, stressing that Tinubu cannot be defeated, and Amaechi cannot be resurrected.

“Amaechi should first mobilise himself out of political obscurity. Nigerians are not fooled. You don’t defeat a performing President with a disgruntled politician who has lost his home, his base, and his relevance,” Oladejo said.

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The grainy, widely shared video from Gaduwa on Tuesday captures more than a moment of anger, it crystallises a dangerous precedent: an armed military officer, identified in multiple accounts as Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, physically preventing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his officials from accessing a disputed parcel of land. The optics are stark and the implications are profound, in a constitutional democracy, civilian authority must not be subordinated to unilateral military action.

The immediate facts are straightforward. Wike, acting in his capacity as the political head of the FCT and leading officials to the site, was stopped by uniformed personnel who insisted they were acting on orders. The minister demanded to see the documentation that authorised the military’s blockade and warned against intimidation by armed personnel. That exchange, captured on camera, has prompted public outrage, powered social media debate, and calls from political actors for accountability.

At the heart of the matter is discipline and chain of command. Military officers are, rightly, empowered to carry arms and to obey lawful orders, but that obedience does not extend to unilateral actions that negate civilian oversight or the rule of law. If Lt. Yerima and his colleagues were acting on authorised orders from an appropriate legal authority, the correct, professional course would have been to present those orders calmly and to invite Wike’s team to verify them through formal channels, not to bar entry and engage in what many have called a show of force. The failure to follow that procedural path is, at best, poor judgement; at worst, insubordination.

Supporters of the naval officer point to courage and a refusal to be browbeaten by a powerful politician. That narrative resonates in a nation weary of corruption and abuse. Yet courage is not the same as legality. Acting as an arbiter on the ground, particularly while in uniform, fundamentally changes the balance of legitimacy. A uniform confers state power; when that power is exercised without transparency, it risks appearing as private interest masquerading as public duty. Public admiration for an officer’s defiance must therefore be weighed against the constitutional imperative that ministers and elected officials retain primacy in governance spaces, especially within the FCT.

In practical terms, the incident exposes three immediate risks. First, it normalises a behaviour whereby security personnel take administrative matters into their own hands rather than working through civilian institutions, a slippage that erodes democratic norms. Second, it creates dangerous incentives: if an officer believes he can blockade a minister without consequence, others may emulate the behaviour, producing fragmentation and confusion about who really governs. Third, such episodes inflame public distrust: citizens who see military personnel acting as land adjudicators will rightly fear arbitrary power and the prospect of selective enforcement. These are not abstract concerns, they strike at governance, investment, and the rule of law.

How should the federal government respond? The response must be firm, legalistic and transparent. A prompt, impartial investigation should determine whether the officer acted on standing orders, who authorised those orders, and whether proper procedures were followed. If the officer acted without lawful authority, then disciplinary measures, up to removal from service, should be deployed. That is not vendetta; it is protection of civil governance. Some voices have already urged such action publicly; these calls must be channelled into proper administrative and judicial processes.

Beyond immediate discipline, the episode underlines the need for clearer protocols governing interactions between military units and civilian authorities in the FCT. The capital’s unique status requires robust rules of engagement that prioritise civil administration while preserving necessary security responsibilities. Those protocols should mandate documentation presentation on the spot, involve local command channels that include FCT security officials, and ensure that any dispute over land or property is resolved through courts and relevant civil agencies rather than by armed standoffs. Establishing such norms will reduce ambiguity and protect both civilians and security personnel.

Finally, there is a political dimension that cannot be ignored. Wike’s forceful response, his insistence that no one is above the law and that guns cannot be used as instruments of intimidation, is entirely consistent with the duty of a minister to defend civic order. The optics of a minister standing up to militarised obstruction bolster the civic case for rule-bound governance. But standing firm must be followed by sober statesmanship: urging due process, calling for investigations, and insisting on reforms that prevent recurrence. That balanced posture both vindicates Wike’s authority and strengthens democratic institutions.

Tuesday’s clash was more than a viral moment, it was a test of Nigeria’s institutional resilience. The correct takeaway is not to lionise individual bravado on social media, but to insist on rules, accountability, and civilian primacy. If the government acts swiftly and transparently, investigating the incident, clarifying chains of command, and reinforcing protocols, the episode can become a catalyst for strengthening Nigeria’s democratic norms rather than an early warning of their erosion. In that sense, Wike’s stand may yet do more than command attention, it may compel reform.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that 20 ships are currently unloading petroleum products and food items at the Apapa, Tincan, and Lekki ports in Lagos.

In its latest publication, Shipping Position, the NPA said the ships are carrying frozen fish, petrol, general cargo, containers, bulk sugar, buckwheat, fertilizer, urea, gas, and gypsum.

It added that two more ships have arrived and are waiting to berth with containers and bulk wheat.

The authority also said that between November 12 and 14, another 20 ships are expected to arrive with petroleum products, food items, and other goods. These include general cargo, buckwheat, bulk sugar, base oil, aviation fuel, diesel, gas oil, bulk urea, containers, and petrol.

(Source: NAN

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong (M.O.N) has spoken out following reports that Nigeria’s players and officials boycotted training in Morocco over unpaid bonuses ahead of Thursday’s 2026 World Cup playoff.

In a tweet posted on his official X page, Troost-Ekong confirmed that the squad is only seeking the settlement of outstanding payments and remains focused on the games ahead.

“Once resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm,” he said. “Any other statement, claim, or demand outside of our rightful request is FALSE. All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead.”

The captain’s message comes as the full squad, including technical and administrative staff, temporarily refrained from training in protest of unresolved entitlements. Troost-Ekong emphasized that the team’s commitment to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains unwavering.

“Everything we are doing is to ensure the team performs at its best,” he added, urging fans to stay calm and trust that the issue will be addressed promptly.

Tension erupted at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo campus, on Tuesday after security operatives allegedly attacked and brutalised diploma students who were protesting peacefully over their exclusion from the university’s direct entry admission list.

According to reports, the protesters were diploma graduates who had completed their programmes with outstanding results but were denied 200-level direct entry admission into degree courses, despite earlier assurances from the school management.

“We were only asking for fairness and transparency,” one student told SaharaReporters. “Many of us were promised admission if we had at least a 3.0 CGPA. Suddenly, the requirement was raised to 3.5, and now over 300 of us have been left stranded.”

Sources revealed that the affected students graduated with CGPAs between 4.0 and 4.8 but were disqualified after the university management abruptly raised the entry benchmark.

The development reportedly dashed the hopes of many who had already purchased JAMB Direct Entry forms based on the previous agreement.

“We submitted letters of appeal to the Vice Chancellor, Dean of Student Affairs, and even the Lagos State Ministry of Education,” another student said. “We reached out to the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs and pleaded for dialogue, but no one listened.”

When their pleas went unanswered, the students staged a peaceful protest within the campus, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We deserve fairness” and “Keep your promise, LASU.”

However, witnesses said the demonstration was disrupted by campus security officers who descended on the protesters. Some were reportedly hospitalised, while others sustained bruises and emotional trauma.

“We are not fighting LASU; we are fighting for our future,” one of the protesters said. “If the department is full, they can offer us related courses. We just want to continue our studies.”

Nigerian media personality and reality TV star Anita Natacha Akide, popularly known as Tacha, has reacted to the announcement that she has officially been awarded two titles by Guinness World Records.

“Congratulations to @Symply_Tacha who set TWO new @GWR titles for the most cosmetic makeovers in eight hours and 24 hours,” GWR announced.

Tacha, on her social media page on Wednesday, expressed her excitement over the new milestone, stating that her achievements were powered by grace.

“The achievement was powered by grace, persistence, and the unwavering support of my TEAM and fans who refused to let me quit. You smiled, talked, cried, and hyped me till the very last second. From the depth of my heart, thank you. We didn’t just work! We warred. The world sees the headline, but God and I know the trenches. Sleepless nights, generator hum, prayers at 3 AM, swollen feet. Shaky hands and grace that does not lie,” Tacha stated.

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Nigeria secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a six-count charge against a 27-year old man, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, for allegedly calling for the overthrow of the President Bola Tinubu’s government through a military coup.

Onukwume, who is based in Oyigbo, Rivers State called for the coup in a tweet from his X account (@theagroman) in October, aAccording to the charges by the DSS.

The DSS, in the charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/610/2025, said Onukwume, of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, also solicited for help for the military to execute the coup.

The charges were filed on November 11 by A. M. Danalami for the DSS.

In one of his tweets, Onukwume said “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigeria government and join the AES. That is all we need now.”

In another tweet, he said, “Tinubu has to go and APC has to die for Nigeria to have any semblance of normal life. And if you think your stupid, votes can remove Tinubu. I’m here to tell you that you’re a fool.’

The secret police said by his tweets, Onukwume committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 46 A (1) and 59 (1) of the Criminal Code Act as well as Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (As Amended).

He may be arraigned before the end of the week.

Onukwume was arrested in Port Harcourt by operatives of the DSS last month.

According to officials of the secret police, his arrest followed intelligence monitoring of online activities considered as threats to national security.

Some of the charges filed against him read:

That you, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, male, 27 years old of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, sometimes in October, 2025 having the intent to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturbing the public peace, posted a message calling for a coup in Nigeria on your social media account to wit: your verified X account (@theagroman), by which you published the following words: “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigeria government and join the AES. That is all we need now.’ You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 59 (1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

That you, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, male, 27 years old of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, on or about 15th day of October, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, enmity, criminal intimidation, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety, against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly and intentionally posted a message on the social media via your verified account, to wit: your verified X account (@theagroman), by which you published the following words: ‘It will happen eventually, Nigerian. The military needs your support now! Only them can save this country. The bastard in Aso Rock has basically sold this country to the West and they run our intelligence apparatus only the military can reset this country.’ You thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (As Amended).

That you, Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, male, 27 years old of Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, on or about 15th day of October, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, enmity, criminal intimidation, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety, against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly and intentionally posted a message on the social media via your verified account, to wit: your verified X account| (@theagroman), by which you published the following words: “Tinubu has to go and APC has to die for Nigeria to have any semblance of normal life. And if you think your stupid, votes can remove Tinubu. I’m here to tell you that you’re a fool.’ You thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (As Amended).