Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Happy World Teachers Day. May we empower, equip and pay them to better win the education war. Amen.

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN pledges to introduce clean naira notes. Good. Hopefully the good work of the Tinubu government and governor of CBN, Yemi Cardoso and his team to service proper mechanisms for proper use of available funds, naira and dollar, and the efforts to prevent fraud in the supply and service chains like customs and the oil sector, will also improve the value of the clean notes.

At the behest of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, the bank moguls, often rightly vilified for their greed, collectively released N60b of funds earned from Nigerian citizens’ money in the very profitable bank balances of trillion naira-a-year banks for the refurbishment of the Wole Soyinka National Theatre. Hurray for Sanwo-Olu’s wisdom in choosing to leverage on and actually create a Mega-Public Private Partnership. This is most likely the largest in Nigeria and the way forward. Congratulations to the bank moguls and all involved. However, the curse of most government projects and some in the private sector is poor maintenance.

Hopefully, having expended such a huge sum in resuscitating the WS National Theatre, these same bank moguls have an adequate maintenance blueprint. We have just refurbished the multibillion-naira Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and already, as reported recently in this column, a chronic lack of political will and civil service supervision and maintenance has resulted in thousands of islands of weeds and grass growing along the concrete barrier. Shame!

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SOGON, and women’s groups should together fight the danger of death from ectopic pregnancy. Hospital frontline staff and administrators should be ordered to release ‘GUIDELINES FOR ECTOPIC PREGNANCY CASES’. Ectopic pregnancy patients bleed inside, not outside. No blood is seen by the staff to alert them to the serious situation. The patient can deteriorate very quickly, within five minutes and collapse and die while the staff are selfishly haggling with the patient or the family over the patient’s insurance or ability to pay. Even with money some patients are turned away to avoid ‘inconvenience to the staff or hospital’. Maybe the staff want to close or are just coming on duty.

No medical service with the capability to perform emergency surgery should be allowed to reject such patients. The patient has a high chance of dying while being conveyed to another hospital which also could also reject her if she arrived alive. That second rejection will almost certainly be a death sentence. When I was in practice, I introduced the 15-minute rule for ectopic pregnancy patients. It meant that from diagnosis in the casualty or clinic, to rushing the patient to theatre for knife-on-skin, it should not take more than 15 minutes.

Some patients’ families will run away, deserting the patients resulting in zero hope of recovering the funds expended on surgery. It is also true that sometimes the medical personnel are unfairly and wrongly burdened by conviction or compassion, with raising the ‘lost’ surgical funds.

Unknown to readers, many doctors throughout the country and probably widely in the developing world, pay towards drugs, investigations and surgery procedures for many needy patients, rather than have those same patients abandoned, refused admission or discharged to suffer and even die because they were financially challenged. Delay in ectopic pregnancy care is a death sentence. Period.

We heard a lot around a ‘FREE CAESARIAN SECTION’ policy. Hurray! We await its introduction to help level the financially uneven delivery ground for what is the ‘MOST DANGEROUS DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WOMAN AND CHILD’ in the ‘LABOUR WAR-D’. Why not decisively deal politically with these twin maternal medical emergencies at the beginning and end of the pregnancy spectrum and introduce a ‘free caesarean section and free ectopic pregnancy for those who cannot afford them’?

When implemented countrywide, ‘FREE CAESARIAN SECTION and FREE ECTOPIC PREGNANCY FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM’, will bring comfort to millions of families, noting that 70% of the citizenry are poor. It is a worthy investment in the health service delivered to women and in families especially when we consider the amount of money stolen as attested to by the huge sums for which many politicians are taken to court for by ICPC and EFCC, even if they are not convicted due to technical and other loopholes.

For years it has been advocated that Nigeria should have adopted a warlike stance against Boko Haram and its fellow terrorism travellers years ago. It did not and now we are facing a serious low and high tech, including terrorist drone, escalation. Certainly, Nigeria should adopt a much more warlike attitude to acknowledge the cost in our millions displaced, injured and killed and our security heroes past who have fallen fighting Boko Haram since 2009. A warlike footage must cut cost of politics, including the ludicrous cost of political forms for the coming elections and diverting such funds to the military and psychological defeat of the terrorists.

A warlike stance against Boko Haram and other terrorists can only become a reality if we take seriously the combined past and present plight of our dead and more than five million Internally Displaced Persons. We demand a new pressure group – ‘INTERNALLY DISPLACED POLITICIANS’ – IDPOL- made up of politicians who cannot go back home, because of terrorism and Boko Haram. Nigeria must defeat terrorism, Amen

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has raised a red flag over the activities of criminals who use artificial intelligence generated Ponzi schemes to scam unsuspecting Nigerian investors. The commission warned Nigerians to be wary, emphasising that: ‘These platforms are not registered or regulated by the SEC; yet they continue to mislead the public with false claims of AI-driven investments. They pose serious risks to investors, hence the commission issued series of disclaimers against their activities.”

No doubt, those who fall prey to these scammers are mostly the greedy, who easily get enchanted with promises of unfathomable benefits from investments. The commission recalled that platforms such as CBEX, Silverkuun, and TOFRO operated illegally advertised AI-powered trading systems that promised unrealistic returns and those who keyed into them got scammed.

We join our voice to that of the commission to warn Nigerians not to get carried away by promises of profits or returns on investment that have no relationship to economic realities.

The commission advised Nigerian investors to be extra vigilant as fraudsters exploit deep fake videos and AI-generated content to lure their victims. To give their fraudulent platforms an air of credibility, they also manipulate videos to give impression of endorsement by politicians, celebrities and TV hosts for their schemes which they share as adverts on social media groups.

As stated by the commission: ‘Scammers are exploiting AI to fabricate endorsements and testimonials that appear genuine. This has made traditional fraud detection methods less effective, hence the need for tech-enabled regulation and greater public awareness.’

We urge SEC to collaborate with the nation’s intelligence and security agencies to fight the scammers on all fronts. The commission should in particular work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proactively to deal with the new challenges.

The SEC has promised: ‘We are moving from reactive to predictive oversight. This is essential in combating fraud and systemic risks in our market;’ Nigerians must take it by its words and demand that it walks the talk.

The huge losses that Nigerians suffer in the hands of Ponzi scammers should worry all stakeholders. We demand for a review of the relevant laws to prevent and punish those who engage in such fraudulent schemes.

There should be long prison sentences for those who engage in such deceitful activities. If the existing laws are not far-reaching enough, the National Assembly should review and make them stiffer, while security agencies should have dedicated departments with the technical know-how and resources to constantly look out for such scammers, so that their activities can be nipped in the bud early enough.

The names of those who engage in such schemes should be in the public space, so that in addition to the legal consequences for their actions, they would suffer public strictures of naming and shaming. As part of putting the public on notice, the commission, in concert with security agencies, should not hesitate to name all such unregistered schemes operating without license, in the interest of the unsuspecting public.

Alternatively, SEC should have a running website with the names of all registered schemes, easily accessible to the general public.

While the commission and the intelligence and security agencies work to aid the diligent public, individuals must resist the urge to fall prey to unrealistic expectations. When a scheme makes promises akin to money doubling of investment, every week or every month, a discerning investor should know that such promises are unrealistic.

The tendency to believe that one will be among the lucky few to benefit before the scheme bursts should be resisted. Perhaps, there should be some punishment for those who deal with unregistered schemes, despite notice, as a further deterrent.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged eligible citizens, particularly residents of Mushin local government to take full advantage of the ongoing continuous voters’ registration and transfer exercise.

At a sensitisation forum, an INEC official, Abiodun Oje, said that the initiative was designed to ease the process for citizens to register, transfer, or update their voter information with ease.

‘This exercise concerns every eligible citizen, particularly in Mushin Local Government. You don’t need to travel long distances. You can transfer your registration to where you reside, whether interstate, inter-local government, or even within the same community,’ he said.

He noted that the transfer process covers interstate, inter and intra-LGA movements, ensuring that voters are not disenfranchised due to relocation.

Abiodun also emphasised the pivotal role of community based associations and socio-political groups in sensitising residents on the importance of participating in the exercise.

‘As leaders and influencers in your various communities, be it in the markets, among artisans, or within socio-political groups, you occupy a strategic position in mobilising our people,’ he said.

National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu yesterday took over in acting capacity as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stepped down after ten years of service.

He handed over to her being one of the most senior national commissioners, pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.

Prof. Yakubu announced that he was proceeding on a one-month terminal leave, preparatory to his final exit next month.

Agbamuche-Mbu, a National Commissioner from the Southeast, heads the INEC’s Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee (LSCCC).

According to Section 154(1) of 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Chairman of INEC ‘shall be appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”

Also, ‘Sub-section 3 provides that in exercising his powers to appoint a person as Chairman of INEC, ‘the President shall consult the Council of State.’

The Council of State, which is made up of the President, former Heads of State, Senate President, House of Representatives Speaker, Chief Justice of the Federation, past Chief Justices of Nigeria and 36 governors, is expected to meet in Abuja tomorrow.

Yakubu, a Professor of Political History and International Studies, and 14th Chief Umpire, succeeded Prof. Attahiru Jega in 2015. He was re-appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term of five years on December 9, 2020.

He announced his stepping down during a meeting with the State Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.

In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Yakubu had expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation.

President Tinubu, who accepted his departure, thanked him for his service to the nation and bestowed on him the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

In a speech laced with emotion, Yakubu, who supervised two presidential elections in 2019 and 2023, thanks National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners and other electoral officers for their dedication, commitment, and hard work during his tenure.

He also catalogued his achievements, which he attributed to team work.

Yakubu said: ‘Over the years, we achieved a lot in responding to challenges and introducing many innovations. We have consolidated the biometric register of voters and replaced many of our manual processes with digital platforms and applications.

‘These include the nomination of candidates, submission of polling and collation agents by political parties, accreditation of national and international observers and the media for elections, voter accreditation and result management.

‘In addition, with the support of development partners, we have introduced various technologies to improve diverse aspects of election management such as easy location of election facilities, management of collation and returning officers, virtual training of electoral staff, management of political parties finances and audits, as well as the overall monitoring of elections using our Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC). Indeed, we have made tremendous progress, but a lot more needs to be done.’

He added: ‘Accordingly, and knowing the enormity of the challenges ahead having been privileged to serve the Commission for ten years with only a few more weeks to serve, I have taken a decision and conveyed same as provided by Sec. 306 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as mended).

‘In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior National Commissioners by date of appointment. Following consultation with other National Commissioners, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu will serve in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Chairman of the Commission.

‘I hope that this will afford the appointing authorities adequate time to appoint a new Chairman. It will also enable the new Chairman to settle down quickly to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities in Africa’s most demographically and logistically complex elections.

‘I want to express my profound appreciation to members of the Commission and our Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the excellent working relations that we shared.

‘Since 2015, I have worked with 24 National Commissioners and 67 RECs. So also to the staff of the Commission. Those involved in elections or vastly knowledgeable about election management understand what the conduct of elections entails. I will forever cherish the support of successive Secretaries and staff of the Commission nationwide.’

After receiving the baton, the acting chairman promised to uphold the integrity of the electoral agency during the transition period.

Leadway, one of Nigeria’s foremost non-banking financial services and wellbeing providers, is celebrating 55 years of innovation, resilience, and inclusive impact across West Africa.

The Group Managing Director of Leadway Holdings, Tunde Hassan-Odukale said from its inception in 1970 as an insurance company, Leadway has evolved into a diversified group championing financial access, inclusion, and wellbeing for individuals and businesses across the region.

He stated that as at date, Leadway’s integrated offerings span life and general insurance, health coverage, pensions, asset and wealth management, estate planning, hospitality and credit solutions, empowering millions to build resilient financial futures.

He said: ‘Leadway’s journey is, in many ways, the story of Nigeria itself-one of resilience, diversity, and progress. We began with the mission of providing succour and financial freedom to individuals and businesses through risk management.

‘Over the years, that mission has expanded into building a holistic ecosystem that now encompasses insurance, pensions, health, investments, trusteeship and hospitality. This milestone is both a testament to the trust we have earned and the excellence we continue to uphold. Leadway has built its reputation as Nigeria’s most consistent claims-paying insurer, disbursing nearly N500 billion in claims between 2016 and 2024, including N117 billion in 2024 alone.

‘Through its HMO subsidiary, the group continues to deliver award-winning healthcare services to millions of Nigerians through a network of more than 2,500 hospital providers nationwide while continuously increasing robust financial portfolios and securing the future of many Nigerians through its Pensions and Asset Management subsidiaries’.

He noted that beyond Nigeria, Leadway has expanded its regional footprint into Côte d’Ivoire, strengthening its leadership in Francophone West Africa through Leadway Assurance, Ankara Services and Leadway IARD. The Group’s legacy also extends to impactful social initiatives.

‘Leadway Media Dash provides young entrepreneurs and SMEs with visibility by showcasing their businesses on Leadway-owned platforms. Its long-standing support for the Lagos International Trade Fair underlines its commitment to commerce and enterprise in the sub-region. Leadway also invests in Nigeria’s creative economy, sponsoring the Lagos Leather Fair, supporting the Nigerian Pavilion at the London Design Biennale, and championing emerging talent through the +234 Art Fair and Creative Bloc Carnival, among others.

‘As Leadway marks its 55th anniversary, it reflects on a journey marked by impact, resilience, and trust while restating its goal to create creative and inclusive financial, health, and wellness ecosystems for its clients. ‘We are committed to creating the next chapter of Africa’s financial services wellbeing powerhouse, offering digital-first solutions that are unparalleled, people-focused, and competitive on a global scale, with our past guiding us and shaping the future ahead’, Hassan-Odukale reaffirmed.

Film director and treasurer of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Lagos Chapter, Oghenenyerhovwo Nana, popularly known as Ny Nana, has urged the Nigerian film industry to give directors the recognition and compensation they deserve.

Speaking on the evolving role of the DGN, Nana said, ‘Visibility is no longer enough. Directors need to be recognized as the backbone of the industry and compensated accordingly. The DGN is evolving into not just a community but a bargaining force-one that advocates for fair wages, royalties, and credit recognition both locally and internationally. In the future, I see us moving toward stronger legal protections and professional standards that place directors at the center of negotiations.’

Nana, who began her career as a radio and television presenter before transitioning into film, also highlighted the importance of financial discipline in sustaining Nollywood. Reflecting on her dual role as a filmmaker and Treasurer of the Guild, she explained:

‘For me, it’s about discipline and perspective. As filmmakers, our creativity drives us, but as Treasurer, I recognize that sustainability in our industry comes from financial accountability. I approach Guild finances with the same attention to detail I bring to storytelling-every number must serve a purpose, just as every scene must serve the story. I balance both roles by separating passion from process. While I create from instinct, I manage resources with structure, transparency, and foresight.’

She has directed projects including April 1st, Hypocrites Chair, and Thin Line, and is regarded as one of Nollywood’s bold voices advocating for authentic storytelling and industry reform.

The House of Representatives has vowed to recover an estimated 9 billion dollars lost to illegal mining activities and to plug all revenue leakages in the nation’s solid minerals sector.

The House declared war on illegal mining in the country, while vowing to leave no stone unturned in exposing corruption in the sector.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the ad hoc committee on illegal mining, Chairman of the Committee, Sani Abdulraheem, said the task before them was a matter of national urgency, stressing that the committee will ‘leave no stone unturned’ in exposing corruption, enforcing transparency, and ensuring that ‘every Naira from Nigeria’s natural resources is properly accounted for.’

He said the activities of illegal miners have not only robbed the country of billions in potential revenue but also fuelled insecurity, degraded the environment, and displaced vulnerable communities across mining regions.

‘We lost approximately nine billion US dollars in just over two and a half months through illegal mining. This theft of our resources must stop. Our mission is to block revenue leakages, enforce transparency, and make sure every kobo from our natural resources contributes to national development.’

The Chairman said the committee would conduct structured oversight on the mining sector, strengthen revenue tracking mechanisms, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including ministries, agencies, private operators, and host communities, to restore accountability and sanity in the sector.

‘We are here today to ensure that every Naira inherited from our rich natural resources contributes to our national economy.

‘As we move forward, one of the core objectives of this committee is to block revenue leakages caused by illegal mining and associated activities, which not only steal from our national treasury but also hinder the growth of legitimate mining operations that could contribute substantially to our national revenue.

‘Structured oversight will strengthen our revenue tracking mechanism and ensure that the full benefit of Nigerian mining flows directly into the government coffers. Rather than being siphoned off through illegal mining activities’.

While referencing Ajaokuta Steel Company as a symbol of Nigeria’s untapped potential, Abdulraheem expressed optimism that renewed government efforts under the current administration would revitalize the project.

‘Ajaokuta stands as a glaring testament to our failure to harness our mineral wealth. But today, we see political will like never before. The appointment of an indigenous professional to lead its revival gives us hope for a stronger steel sector that will drive industrialization and job creation,’ he said.

Speaking at the event, Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, said the Corps had intensified its clampdown on illegal mining operations nationwide.

Represented by Assistant Commander Atta John Onoja, disclosed that over 500 illegal miners have been arrested, with 270 already facing trial and several convictions secured in recent weeks.

He said, ‘Illegal miners are no longer having their field day. Many are now running to regularize their operations,’ Onoja stated. ‘The NSCDC, under the directive of the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Solid Minerals, remains committed to eliminating illegal mining to its barest minimum.’

While acknowledging operational challenges, Onoja called for stronger legal frameworks to ensure effective prosecution and deterrence against mining-related crimes.

He assured the lawmakers of the NSCDC’s maximum cooperation and partnership in the national effort to sanitize the sector, emphasizing that the fight against illegal mining aligns directly with the Corps’ mandate to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.

The committee ended the inaugural meeting by entering an executive session to chart its roadmap for investigations and collaboration with key stakeholders.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested a 47-year-old man, Adetayo Adewodun, for impersonating a LASTMA officer and extorting money from a motorist at Itire Junction in Lagos State.

According to a statement issued by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, the incident occurred on Tuesday.

Preliminary investigations showed that Adewodun stopped one Mr. Ayano Stephen, driver of a white Hilux vehicle (registration number GME 259 TE) belonging to a construction firm, accusing him of making an unlawful turn.

Pretending to be a LASTMA operative, the suspect demanded ?80,000 as a penalty for the alleged offence. Unable to pay the full amount, Stephen pleaded and eventually handed over ?7,800-the only cash he had on him-to the fake officer.

Stephen later became suspicious of the man’s conduct and contacted LASTMA through its toll-free hotline to verify his identity. Acting promptly on the report, the agency’s Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, under the directive of General Manager Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, mobilised to the location.

On sighting the enforcement team, Adewodun attempted to flee but was pursued, arrested, and taken to LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi for interrogation.

During questioning, Adewodun confessed to being part of a three-man syndicate that frequently poses as LASTMA officials to extort unsuspecting motorists around the Itire area and other parts of Lagos. He revealed that the group makes an average of ?65,000 daily from such fraudulent activities.

Commending the motorist for his vigilance, Mr. Bakare-Oki described the report as an act of civic responsibility. He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to integrity, professionalism, and transparency, emphasizing that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward impersonation and extortion.

‘All authentic LASTMA officers can be easily identified by their official uniforms, personalized name tags, and service identification numbers,’ Bakare-Oki stated.

He urged motorists to remain alert and report suspicious activities through the agency’s verified communication channels, including its toll-free emergency line (080000527862).

Mr. Bakare-Oki assured that the suspect would be arraigned before a Mobile Court to serve as a deterrent to others engaging in similar criminal acts.

He reiterated that LASTMA remains resolute in ensuring order, discipline, and sanity on Lagos roads while protecting law-abiding motorists from fraudulent exploitation.

Choosing a country to boost one’s career can be hard – even more so for women. While some countries offer amazing career opportunities, others leave women feeling uninspired.

For women who are inspired to make the leap and move abroad for their career, it can be a hugely rewarding experience, offering everything from better salaries to the opportunity to explore a foreign marketplace.

These countries ensure that women have a work-life balance, along with ample job opportunities in multiple fields.

Moreover, women are not exploited in those countries and are treated as equals to men.

A recent study by Click Intelligence evaluated countries based on multiple economic and gender indicators such as the percentage of women business owners, women in managerial positions, employment gap between genders, wage disparities, maternity leave provisions, and women’s perception of safety.

Each factor was weighted to create a ‘women’s well-being score’ that reflects both professional opportunities and quality of life.

1. Belgium

2. Slovenia

3. Portugal

4. Spain

5. France

6. Sweden

7. Australia

8. United States

9. Finland

10. Estonia

Belgium ranks first as the best country for women, showing the smallest gender wage gap at just 1.19%. Belgian women hold 36% of management positions while benefiting from generous 15-month maternity leave policies. The country performs well on safety, too, with a lower share of women reporting concerns about going out at night.

Slovenia takes second place with 45% women holding managerial positions, among the highest rates globally. The country also maintains a solid 27% female business ownership rate and matches Belgium with 15-month maternity leave provisions. The gender employment gap here stays relatively low at 8.4%.

Portugal is the third-best country for women to live and work. Portuguese women own 30.2% of local companies and take 40% of executive roles. The country posts a smaller 8.2% employment gap between men and women, and shows a 9.35% difference in wages, well below the average for developed nations.

Portugal is followed by neighboring Spain in fourth place. Here, only 17.3% of women say they feel unsafe, which is one of the lowest rates in the ranking. Spanish mothers are entitled to the longest parental leave at 16 months, and the country’s gender wage gap is also among the smallest (6.72%).

Next comes France, where women also benefit from 16-month maternity leave provisions, while filling 38% of senior roles. Almost every fourth business is owned by women here. The country also records a reduced employment gap between genders (7.8%) and has below-average wage differences.

Sweden ranks sixth as women here are strongly represented in leadership positions, holding 43% of managerial roles. Sweden posts the smallest employment gap at just 6.3% and reports a low salary difference. Working women in Sweden can also take long maternity leaves, lasting up to 14 months.

Australia takes seventh place as the best non-European country for women. Here, almost half of the executive positions are held by women, while nearly a third of local companies are also women-owned. Australia shows a below-average gender employment gap, too.

In eighth place is the United States, where women are behind more than 35% of businesses, the highest share in the world. American women also take up nearly half of managerial roles, showing strong representation at all leading levels.

Finland is in ninth position. Finnish women entrepreneurs own 33% of local firms, while employed women face a small 7.5% gap in workplaces. On top of that, parents in Finland can benefit from up to 15 months of maternity leave.

Estonia completes the top ten countries for women to work and live. Nearly half of all management positions are held by women here, second only to Australia, and about one in three businesses is female-owned. Safety is another strong point in Estonia, as only 8.5% of women say they feel unsafe, the lowest share anywhere in the ranking.

Mikel Obi has challenged the Super Eagles to take responsibility and deliver the results needed to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive when they face Lesotho on Friday in Polokwane, South Africa.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast alongside Chris McHardy, the former national team captain warned that failing to qualify for a second consecutive tournament would be ‘a crime’ and called on the players to shut out off-field distractions and rise to the occasion.

He described Nigeria’s qualifying campaign as hanging by a thread , adding the situation is still redeemable if the players set their minds to play for their country with their hearts.

‘First to qualify, you know, again, we’ve seen, you know, lucky us, um, South Africa has been deducted three points for some reason, ineligible players,’ Mikel said. ‘So that’s good for us. I think right now you can; you can literally say the group is, it’s sort of a shootout group.

‘It’s a shootout group. We have Benin at home and go to win both. We have to win both. We have to win both. I don’t care what’s going on. I don’t care what’s happening. I don’t care what’s going on. I need the players. I know; I still know a lot of them in the squad. I need them. We need them. Nigerians need them.’

The Super Eagles sit three points behind South Africa and Benin Republic in Group C and face Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday before returning to Uyo to host Benin.

With just two games left, Mikel said there was no room for error: ‘Our World Cup fate is in their hands.’

Mikel who rose through every level of Nigerian football, spoke candidly about the inner workings of the national team, adding the Super eagles will have to play out of their skins to book a ticket for the 2026 Mundial.

He continued: ‘I don’t speak a lot about the national team because I know what’s going on. I know what’s happening. For so many years, I probably am the only player. I’m not sure. I probably am the only player who played the under-17, the under-20, the under-23 and the Super Eagles. I played the whole rank. And the Olympics. Yeah. Which is the under-23.

‘So I know deep down inside what goes on there. I know. I understand the players, but when you come to this stage of the tournament, every one of those players’ problems from the top goes away. It goes away. It goes out of the window. It’s about the players. It’s about the players taking responsibility and knowing our World Cup fate is in their hands.’

The former Lyn Oslo midfielder didn’t shy away from criticising the Nigeria Football Federation but stressed that now was not the time for excuses.

‘It’s right now in the hands of the players. Yes. The NFF, the board, they are who they are, the corruption that is going on, the issues that are going on there. all that goes out of the window.

‘Win your two games, the players win your two games and qualify, and then the whole thing – we can talk about the whole thing another day, but our World Cup fate is in their hands, and I’m begging them. I’m with my whole heart begging the players on behalf of Nigerians.’