Category: The Nation – Nigeria

If only Nigeria knew how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rescued Nigerians from the oil subsidy regime, every Nigerian would stand and thank him every morning.

The oil subsidy was not a policy. It was a monumental fraud. A national organised crime.

I write not as a politician, but as an insider. I served this country as a staff member of NNPC for 20 solid years. I was an accountant responsible for recording petroleum product sales from my desk at Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Ibadan Depot. For 20 years, I saw the books. I saw the lies.

I also write as a former member of the House of Representatives. I served on the Downstream Petroleum Committee, the Finance Committee, the Subsidy Probe Committee of 2012, and, above all, the Petroleum Industry Bill Committee of the 7th Assembly.

These exposures and responsibilities gave me the opportunity to arrive at one painful truth: this country’s oil and gas industry operated in a deeply corrupt environment, shrouded in secrecy that injured the nation deeply.

The subsidy regime lied about everything. They lied about production costs. They lied about imports. They lied about landing costs and their poor cost template. They also lied about storage and consumption figures. Nigeria was consuming 30 million litres on paper, but on the ground, half of it was going across our borders to Benin, Niger, Togo, Cameroon and Ghana. We were subsidising the consumption of petroleum products for mostly our neighbouring countries while Nigerians suffered scarcity.

We were borrowing to import what we had. We were paying debts for products we did not consume. The huge debt incurred during the subsidy regime almost collapsed our economy. Banks were making trillions from subsidy claims. One man would bring one ship and claim for three. Depot owners collected subsidies for products that never left their tanks.

That is why I say the best thing that ever happened to this oil and gas industry is the bold step taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023, when he said, ‘Subsidy is gone’.

Only a courageous leader with a full understanding of the cartel can do that. Others before him knew the truth but lacked the courage.

If any counter-voices are now calling for the return of subsidy, it can only mean one thing: the cartels are fighting back. It will not augur well for us as a nation if we listen to them. Those championing the return of subsidy either lack the knowledge or exposure to how this country was subsidising other countries, or they are direct beneficiaries of the fraud.

Let me be clear: Nigerians were never the beneficiaries of subsidy. The cartels were. Nigerians were only benefiting from cheap smuggled products, scarcity, long queues, and national debt.

Of course, the need to overhaul the administration of the post-subsidy regime cannot be overemphasised. The government must ensure that the savings from the subsidy are well managed, that refineries work, that CNG and other palliatives reach the real poor, and that the downstream is well regulated.

But to return to subsidy? Never. That will be returning to Egypt after God has already taken us through the Red Sea.

President Tinubu has taken the hard road, the right road. History will vindicate him.

Hon. Rotimi Makinde, former PPMC Staff (20 years, Ibadan Depot) and former Member, House of Representatives, writes from the Source.

No fewer than five hundred participants are expected at the Camporee 2026 organised by the Osun State Council of the Scout Association of Nigeria.

The event holding for two days in Osogbo, the state capital city, will start on Friday, September 25 and end on Sunday, 27.

The participants are drawn from across Nigeria and particularly the thirty local government areas of Osun State.

According to a statement by the Osun State Scout Commissioner, Dr. Sola Olalekan Atanda, the event is being held at the Olutimehin Grammar School, Asubiaro, Osogbo.

Calling on the Osun State government led by Governor Ademola Adeleke to partner and support the Scout Council in the state, Atanda said the youths deserved to be empowered in all areas of their lives for them to be able to channel their God-given talents and energies to good purposes and also to contribute meaningfully to the overall development of the nation.

Atanda, a Marathon ’63 Scouter, said the purpose of the programme was for the participants, who are youths, to learn, grow, connect and build memories through the spirit of scouting.

He said: ‘The programme is not just another camping experience; it is an opportunity to challenge the youths to discover new strengths, serve others, and grow into the leaders they are meant to become.’

He said it was important for everyone in attendance to live up to the principle of our body, ‘Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Scouting.’

Atanda, therefore, charged those to attend the event to be prepared, to be intentional and to ensure they participate in all the scheduled activities of the Camporee 2026.

The people of Osun State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to complete the abandoned bridge over the Eko-Ende/Ilie River and reconstruct the Ikirun-Ogbomoso road to boost the economy of Osun, Oyo and Kwara states.

The Elende of Eko-Ende, Oba Abdulwaheed Babatunde Adekunle, appealed while inspecting an abandoned bridge over the Eko-Ende/Ilie River.

The monarch pleaded with the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Osun Central Senatorial District, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke (SAN), popularly known as K-RAD, to make the demands of the people of the areas known to President Bola Tinubu.

Adegoke, who was on a consultation visit to Eko-Ende along with the APC candidate for Ifelodun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Dr Mulikat Jimoh, pledged to take the infrastructure challenges facing communities along the Ikirun-Ogbomoso corridor to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The affected communities include Eko-Ende, Ore, Ilie, Iregba and Iresa, among others, with residents relying heavily on the road corridor for the movement of people, farm produce and goods.

The bridge, initiated during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and awarded to MM and IF Construction Company, was intended to improve connectivity between communities in Osun and Oyo states.

Its abandonment has, however, left the route in poor condition and created difficulties for communities and businesses that depend on the corridor.

Speaking on behalf of the affected communities, Oba Adekunle appealed to K-RAD to use his access to the Federal Government to seek the completion of the bridge and the reconstruction and expansion of the road.

‘The bridge and road are critical to our economic survival, and giving them the required attention will have a significant impact on our livelihoods,’ the monarch said.

The monarch also expressed support for President Tinubu and said the communities would continue to mobilise support for the President ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Responding, K-RAD promised to take the concerns directly to the Presidency. ‘We will do the needful as soon as possible,’ he assured the communities.

K-RAD also commended the Tinubu administration for infrastructure projects across Osun State, expressing confidence that the President would recognise the importance of the road and bridge to the communities and wider regional economy.

The Ikirun-Ogbomoso corridor connects several agricultural communities across Osun and Oyo states and serves as an important route for the movement of people and agricultural produce.

For the affected communities, the demand is straightforward: the abandoned bridge should be completed and the road restored to a condition that can support economic activity across the area.

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with alleged strangulation of a four-month-old baby and the killing of a 60-year-old woman accused of witchcraft.

The incidents occurred in Zirami, Azare, and Gadau areas of the state on Thursday.

In the first incident, a 27-year-old man, Muhammad Garba Ladan, was arrested after his wife reported the death of their four-month-old daughter, Fatimah Muhammad, at Azare Division.

The mother, aged 20, reportedly told the police that she had left the baby sleeping at home and gone to a neighbour’s house for hairdressing.

She said that upon returning, she found the baby lifeless and allegedly saw her husband suspiciously coming out of the room.

According to the police, the woman alleged that her husband had previously made several unsuccessful attempts to kill the child, whose pregnancy reportedly occurred before the couple got married.

The police said detectives attached to the Azare Division rushed the child to the General Hospital, where a doctor confirmed that she had died from alleged strangulation.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and is currently undergoing preliminary investigation, while the child’s remains were released to relatives for burial.

In a separate incident in Gadau, police arrested 25-year-old Haruna Amadu of Kuka Buni village for allegedly killing a 60-year-old woman, Hafsatu Ya’u, who he accused of being a witch.

The police said the suspect allegedly trespassed into the victim’s residence at Wasari village, Gadau District, at about 7am on Thursday and attacked her with a knife.

The victim was reportedly stabbed in the chest and other parts of her body, while the suspect allegedly accused her of causing the illness of one Maryam Amadu of Kuka Buni Village.

Police detectives attached to the Gadau Division evacuated the victim to the General Hospital, Azare, for treatment, but she was later pronounced dead by a doctor.

The corpse was released to her relatives for burial while the suspect was arrested.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, said both cases were under investigation and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned witchcraft-related killings and violence against women and children, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands.

Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State Governor, has urged residents to embrace waste sorting and proper sanitation practices to facilitate waste evacuation and prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Sanwo-Olu made the call on Saturday while monitoring the sixth edition of the state’s reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation at Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area.

She stressed the need for cleaner and sustainable sanitation practices at the grassroots, saying that proper waste management remained essential to maintaining a healthy environment.

‘We need our people to embrace sorting of waste because it will make evacuation easier and also help us to maintain a cleaner environment.

‘Sanitation is not just about cleaning our surroundings; it is about ensuring that our communities are healthy and sustainable and preventing the spread of communicable diseases,’ she said.

Sanwo-Olu, who acknowledged the need for the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to improve its waste evacuation operations, said the situation could only get better with sustained efforts by all stakeholders.

‘LAWMA needs to be up and doing. We acknowledge that there are areas where we need to improve, but it can only get better.

‘We also need residents to play their own part by ensuring that waste is properly sorted and disposed of,’ she said.

She commended residents of Oshodi-Isolo, particularly women and children, for participating actively in the monthly exercise.

The governor’s wife was accompanied by Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, wife of the Deputy Governor; Mr Rotimi Akodu, Special Adviser on Environment; and other top government functionaries.

Meanwhile, some residents of Olowora and Eweje streets alleged that heaps of refuse had accumulated in their areas due to non-evacuation by LAWMA in the last six months.

Mrs Adeola Lawal, a resident of Olowora, urged the state government and waste management authorities to be proactive in evacuating refuse, saying that prolonged accumulation of waste could pose serious health risks to residents.

Lawal called for regular monitoring of waste collection activities and prompt intervention whenever refuse began to accumulate, stressing the need to guard against a possible epidemic.

From Mafoluku, Mr Julius Moye, another resident, said residents had continued to fulfil their obligations by paying their PSP waste collection bills, but expressed concern over the prolonged presence of refuse in the area.

Moye urged the authorities to ensure that waste was evacuated regularly, saying that proactive measures were necessary to prevent the situation from deteriorating into a public health crisis.

Mr Charles Nwobodo also called for greater proactiveness by the state government and relevant waste management agencies, urging them to address refuse accumulation before it became a wider health challenge.

Nwobodo said residents should also play their part by disposing of waste properly, while the authorities should ensure that collected waste was evacuated promptly.

The residents appealed to the state government to strengthen waste evacuation operations in Olowora and Eweje and ensure that communities where residents regularly paid their PSP bills received corresponding waste collection services.

They also called for sustained environmental sanitation beyond the monthly exercise, saying regular waste evacuation would complement residents’ efforts to maintain clean and healthy surroundings.

The streets monitored by Sanwo-Olu and her entourage include Adisa Ajibulu, Eweje, Makinde, Abeokuta and Olowora.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT)minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to inaugurate and lead the campaign machinery in Abuja and Rivers to drive the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu.

Wike disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, after he inspected the ongoing Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualisation project.

He added that he would lead the campaign effort within the nation’s capital and extend the re-election operations to his home state of Rivers.

According to him, political parties across the spectrum are organising their ranks, and supporters of the president are prepared to initiate an aggressive campaign.

‘The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign.

‘For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to kick-start.

‘Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers, which I will lead.

‘All elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready and you can see the enthusiasm.’

Addressing critics and political opponents, Wike argued that visible development projects would serve as the main driver for electoral support in the FCT, dismissing allegations of electoral malpractice ahead of time.

‘People are happy, and I don’t know who will contest against the president as far as this election is concerned.

‘This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes,’ he said.

Wike expressed confidence that the administration’s infrastructure record would secure victory across board in the FCT, including support for Sen. Philip Aduda and the two House of Representatives seats.

‘It is obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy,’ Wike said.

Commending the contractor and site engineers for the progress recorded so far, the minister assured stakeholders that adequate funding would be disbursed to guarantee completion of the project by December.

‘This is my first time getting to this side of the road, and I can see how highly populated this area is,’ he said.

The minister emphasised that delivering functional infrastructure remains the cornerstone of good governance and public satisfaction.

‘You can imagine the enthusiasm and happiness on the faces of the people. That is why we say the essence of governance is to make people happy.

‘When the people are happy, those in authority are happy,’ he added, expressing gratitude to Tinubu for providing sustained support for capital projects in the territory.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has promised to give a N100m grant to traders at the Uwelu Spare Parts Market to boost commercial activities.

Governor Okpebholo also promised to reconstruct the Uwasota-Uwelu Road.

Okpebholo spoke on Friday when he visited the market to assess challenges facing traders as well as discuss ways to improve their businesses.

The Edo Governor told the traders to form a cooperative society to enable them to access the proposed grant.

‘When I came last time, I advised you people to form a cooperative society if you don’t have one yet because a good thing is about to come your way in this market.

‘I want to give you people money to do your business from now to December 2026. I will give you N100 million to do your business.

‘I will come back after giving you N100 million to do business to check if contractors have started work on the Uwasota-Uwelu and also the secondary school in which you need us to intervene. I will come back for the flag-off of the road and secondary school,’ he said.

Okpebholo urged the traders to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

‘Nigeria is big, and the country is like a vehicle that needs a good and qualified driver, and President Tinubu is the right driver to take the nation to the right destination.

‘All the good things that are happening in Edo State are possible because of the money President Tinubu is giving to us in the State,’ he said.

Chairman of the Uwelu Spare Parts Market, Osemwengie Enogumwengie, said the poor condition of the road has affected businesses in the area.

Social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has faced criticism from some Nigerians on X after sharing documents relating to an individual who reportedly bought 1,200 units of Dangote Flour Mills shares for ?18,000 in 2007.

VeryDarkMan shared what he described as receipts showing the investor purchased the shares at ?15 per unit, along with documents indicating dividend payments allegedly received in subsequent years.

According to the documents, the investor received ?324 and ?216 in dividends in 2009, while another document showed a dividend payment of ?108 in 2012.

VeryDarkMan later urged subscribers to the ongoing Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) to watch the video, suggesting the documents offered lessons for those considering the investment.

The post, however, attracted criticism from some X users, who questioned the relevance of the historical investment to the current Dangote Refinery IPO and accused the influencer of discouraging investment.

One user, @kelz_Realist, argued that the experience was not unusual, noting that the 2007-2008 global financial crisis affected investments across the Nigerian stock market.

‘There’s nothing new here. The stock market crashed in 2007/08. I was affected. All the shares I bought from major companies, banks, and insurance companies crashed,’ the user wrote.

Another user, @ajokpa, questioned the expectations attached to the investment, asking: ‘How much were you expecting from a ?18k investment in the capital market?’

@Fortunate0_1 accused VeryDarkMan of discouraging people from investing.

Another user, @odunlamisodiq, said investors were already aware of the risks involved, writing, ‘Oga rest we don buy we don buy we all knows dat anything for the country na risk either it works out or not it left to us.’

@santos_sure questioned VeryDarkMan’s qualification to offer financial advice, while @EnzoXtra questioned why the influencer was focusing specifically on Dangote.

Another commenter, @User_047, said investors should understand that stock investments carry risks and that returns are not guaranteed.

‘Na Black man be Black man problem. People expecting short-term returns or no risk at all should stay away from any kind of Stock (IPO). Stocks rise and fall everywhere in the world; you shouldn’t de-market people’s business,’ the user wrote.

@Oluwasheyi45 also questioned whether some people understood how the stock market works, noting that returns depend on company performance and that stocks are not fixed investments.

A 43-year-old man, Edebiri Temitope, has been arrested in connection with the death of 38-year-old university graduate, Oje Michael Eje, in Mowe, Ogun State.

Eje was attacked after he allegedly hugged and played with the suspect’s three-year-old child.

Spokesperson of the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, who disclosed this yesterday, stated that Temitope became angry over what he described as the deceased’s ‘rough play’ with the child.

DSP Babaseyi added that the suspect allegedly picked up a bamboo stick and repeatedly struck Eje until he collapsed.

Eje was said to have died from injuries sustained during the attack.

Temitope, who was initially said to have fled the area with his family, was later arrested and was now being held in connection with the incident.

The suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

Eje, 38, was a university graduate who held a degree in Guidance and Counselling.

Nigerian comedian and entertainer Ericardo is set to stage his first Lagos comedy special, titled ‘Ericardo: REDEPLOYED,’ on October 25, 2026.

The special will take place at Banex Cinemas, Lekki, Lagos, marking a new phase in the comedian’s career after several years of building his profile on the comedy circuit in Warri, Delta State.

Ericardo’s transition to Lagos is the show’s central theme, drawing on his experience of moving from Warri to Nigeria’s commercial and entertainment hub.

The title, REDEPLOYED, was inspired by his posting to Lagos by the National Youth Service Corps for his service year.

Before his move, Ericardo staged three sold-out comedy shows in Warri while pursuing his ambition to expand his career beyond Delta State.

‘REDEPLOYED is about the journey. It is about leaving what you know, entering a new environment and figuring things out along the way,’ Ericardo said.

The special comes two years after his last major comedy show and is expected to feature stand-up comedy, personal stories and observations on career growth, relationships, ambition and adjusting to life in a new city.

Ericardo has also built a career as a master of ceremonies and event host, having hosted more than 250 events across Nigeria, including corporate functions, concerts, weddings and entertainment productions.