Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Former British diplomat Mr David Roberts has joined forces with the Federal Government to dismiss the reports of genocide against Christians in the country as false.

Roberts, who served for many years as a director of the British Council in Abuja, stated that the country’s security challenges had been exaggerated by Western interest groups and the media.

He warned against escalating the situation with such inaccurate reports.

In a statement, Roberts said: ‘Yes, there are security challenges in Nigeria, but those issues have affected the country from the pre-colonial, colonial, and now the post-colonial periods,’ he stated, adding, ‘Ample evidence exists to show that the Nigerian government is de-escalating the violence.’

Based on a viral video in which a man with a Nigerian accent claimed that over 500,000 Christians were killed in the country last year, Mr Bill Maher, a comedian who hosts the longest-running talk show in the US, Real Time with Bill Maher, asserted that a systematic genocide was happening in Nigeria.

The offensive video was circulated by international X influencers, including Radio Genoa, an anti-Islamic personality, who stokes negative sentiments against the Muslim faith.

However, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, and a former presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, on Sunday refuted the claims as false.

Roberts upheld Idris’ and Omokri’s rebuttals and contended that the genocide reports were skewed. He explained that both the Christian and Muslim faiths are victims of the age-long violence.

He stated: ‘I lived in Nigeria as a British diplomat and toured the entire country. It is ridiculous for anyone even to suggest that half a million people were killed as part of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria by Muslims last year alone. ‘

‘And this is not just some Christian genocide. In fact, more Muslims are killed in these attacks in Nigeria than Christians – a fact highlighted by the Institute for Economics and Peace in their annual Global Terrorism Index.’

The former diplomat explained that insecurity in Nigeria had worsened due to the crisis in the Sahel, with the fall of democratic governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

According to Roberts, ‘As these countries typically share a border with the Northwest and Northeast of Nigeria, which are the Islamic heartlands, it has meant that Muslims have borne the brunt of the situation more than Christians, which is not to say Christians are not affected.’

He urged Western nations and their media to be mindful of the reportage in order not to ignite a crisis that will result in a greater flood of refugees from West Africa turning up in Europe through the Mediterranean.

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the world’s largest professional body of management accountants, has awarded 235 accounting and finance professionals in Nigeria Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) certificates, and their CGMA designation at its 2025 convocation in Lagos.

CIMA training, which is recognised in over 170 countries, equips candidates with accounting knowledge, risk management, business leadership, decision-making, performance evaluation, and financial analysis. The 235 candidates will also benefit from the large global community of CGMA holders, granting them access to a global network of business and finance leaders as well as providing them with career support and continuous professional development.

Tariro Mutizwa, vice president Africa, lauded the candidates for their hard work, dedication and commitment in acquiring the knowledge and skills to achieve their CGMA. She assured them that the certification has paved the way for promising careers as they have been equipped to meet not only today’s business demands but also future business needs.

‘I am pleased to welcome a new generation of Nigerian accounting and finance professionals into our profession in Nigeria. Their dedication, hard work, and unrelenting commitment have paved the way for promising careers built on a solid foundation of knowledge and skill,’ Mutizwa said. ‘These future leaders are equipped not only to meet the demands of today’s business landscape but to shape what comes next, driving innovation, integrity, and excellence in their organisations. May their journey be marked by growth, impact, and success.’

Ijeoma Anadozie, Country Director in Nigeria, also praised the candidates. The country director said the certification has positioned the candidates to seize a world of exciting opportunities.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to address its seven-point demands or face an industrial action.

The union said it reached the decision at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Sunday at the University of Abuja.

ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the strike notice while addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja.

He said: ‘At the NEC meeting held on September 28, 2025, at the University of Abuja, the union decried the neglect of the university system and the government’s consistent refusal to meet its demands. ‘Accordingly, ASUU has given the Federal Government of Nigeria an ultimatum of fourteen (14) days within which to address these issues.

‘If at the end of the ultimatum the government fails to act, the union may have no option but to first embark on a two-week warning strike, and thereafter, a total and indefinite strike.’

The Federal Ministry of Education recently set up a committee, chaired by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abel Enitan, to review ASUU’s proposals in a bid to restore stability in the university system.

But the committee has yet to make its recommendations public.

Also, in an interview with The Nation, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had said there was no need for the union to embark on a strike in the middle of ongoing talks.

Alausa had appealed to the university lecturers to be patient with the outcome of the committee’s assignment, which is expected to address the issues raised by ASUU.

A civil society coalition, the Alliance for Energy Stability and Economic Growth (AESEG), has urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, noting that his administration has restored investor confidence in the oil and gas sector.

In a statement on Monday, AESEG President Dr. Suleiman Garba Danladi said the recent approval for Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPco) and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) to acquire TotalEnergies’ 12.5 per cent stake in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118 highlights renewed trust by international oil companies in Nigeria’s regulatory framework under Tinubu’s leadership.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed that Shell purchased 10 per cent of the asset for $408 million, while Agip acquired 2.5 per cent for $102 million.

The approval, granted under Section 95 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, followed a rigorous due diligence process confirming the firms’ technical competence, financial strength, and managerial capacity to sustain deepwater operations in the Bonga field.

Dr. Danladi said such transactions were not only reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape but also strengthening the country’s economic base.

‘President Tinubu’s reforms in the oil and gas industry have shown clear results. Today, we see Shell consolidating its stake in Nigeria’s deepwater, we see Agip reaffirming its commitments, and we see a regulator that is firm in protecting government interests. This is the kind of progress that only continuity in leadership can sustain,’ he said.

The group recalled that only last week, the NUPRC revoked an $860 million deal involving TotalEnergies and Mauritius-based Chappal Energies for failure to meet financial obligations.

According to AESEG, this underscores the regulator’s strengthened resolve to enforce accountability, a move the group credited to Tinubu’s ‘decisive political will to reposition the sector.’

‘With these bold steps, Nigeria is no longer seen as a playground for speculative investors. Instead, serious players with track records of performance are being encouraged. This has positive implications for revenue, jobs, and energy security,’ the statement added.

Dr. Danladi also pointed out that the Bonga oilfield, Nigeria’s first deepwater project, remains a strategic contributor to the country’s crude output and foreign exchange earnings.

‘By ensuring the continuity of such assets in the hands of experienced operators, Nigeria is laying the foundation for production stability and gradual recovery to the 2 million barrels per day mark,’ he said.

The group further argued that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is entering a period of ‘delicate balance’ as IOCs divest from onshore operations while strengthening deepwater investments.

‘Only a steady hand at the helm of government, backed by political stability, can guarantee that Nigeria reaps the full benefits of this transition. We therefore urge Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027,’ the statement said.

AESEG concluded by warning that reversing course in leadership could shake investor confidence.

‘The oil majors are watching Nigeria closely. They are reassured by the current pace of reforms, but they also value predictability. Changing direction in 2027 could disrupt the gains we are seeing today,’ Dr. Danladi added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will tomorrow (Wednesday) deliver a nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

According to a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the broadcast will go live by 7:00 am on October 1, 2025.

All television and radio stations as well as other electronic media platforms, have been directed to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the presidential address.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will broadcast to the nation on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 7 a.m., in commemoration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary.

‘All television, radio stations, and other electronic media outlets are urged to join the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for the broadcast,’ the statement reads.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) didn’t disarm vigilantes in Oke-Ode, a town in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State Government has stated.

Gunmen on Sunday reportedly killed 12 and abducted an unspecified people with several others injured in the deadly incident.

In a viral video that trailed the attack, a lady who appeared distressed, was seen mourning her dead husband and brother.

She accused the DSS of disarming the town’s vigilantes prior to the attack, a move she claimed, gave the assailants undue firepower advantage.

However, the State Government, in a statement, described the claim as false, saying at no time did the DSS disarm vigilantes in any part of the state.

‘There is no truth to the claim that DSS withdrew weapons from the forest guards at any time. The leadership of the forest guards has disputed this claim,’ Rafiu Akakaye, who is Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement came on a day the DSS and troops of the Nigerian Army eliminated several terrorists on the border between Kwara and Kogi States. According to top security sources, notable among those killed was a terrorist kingpin called Maiwada and several foot soldiers of his.

Kwara State Government regretted that security agencies in the state have ‘expressed strong reservations about the demoralising, albeit false, claim which was made in a viral video.

‘We pray to God to console the bereaved woman- and every other one – but her claim is not true,’ noted the statement, quickly adding, ‘this clarification does not in any way delegitimise her grief.’

Continued the State Government said: ‘Politicians do not miss opportunities to wrong-foot their opponents. Average citizens who are concerned about all of us getting out of this crisis stronger and better as a community should not join such chitchat. It is not worth it.

‘News media (including Sahara Reporters) have used pictures from thousands of kilometers away to illustrate their stories.some have said we are in a state of war. It is their own way of saying it,’ the state government added.

‘We will get out of this stronger and safer,’ assured the government, advising, ‘let us remain united and calm, and refuse to be at daggers-drawn with ourselves.’

Five aspirants contesting for the position of President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) have signed a Peace Accord, pledging to accept the outcome of the forthcoming election.

The accord, signed on Monday at the Ministry of Youth Development in Abuja, is aimed at fostering harmony and ensuring a peaceful atmosphere during the NYCN national elective congress, scheduled for October 5-8, 2025, in Abuja.

Chairman of the NYCN National Transition Committee (NTC), Prince Gbenga Adedamola, who announced a progress report at the ceremony, said the committee has been working closely with the Congress Planning and Electoral Committees to guarantee a credible process.

He noted that the congress, themed ‘Redemption Congress: Repositioning the Youth Council for Greatness,’ marks a fresh chapter in NYCN’s history, following the dissolution of two factional executive councils earlier in August 2025.

The aspirants expressed confidence in the process and reaffirmed their commitment to the unity and progress of the organization.

‘This Congress aims to reposition the NYCN for greater impact and effectiveness in advocating for youth development in Nigeria,’ Adedamola said.

He further explained that the NTC has secured a convenient location in Abuja for the national congress, with adequate security arrangements in place to ensure a smooth and successful event.

‘This development marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s efforts to promote youth development and empowerment in Nigeria.

‘The NYCN leadership expresses heartfelt gratitude to State Chapters and Voluntary Youth Organisations for their unwavering support and dedication, past leaders and stakeholders for their invaluable contributions and guidance, and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development for its supervisory role in ensuring transparency and accountability.

‘These efforts underscore the NYCN’s commitment to promoting youth development and empowerment in Nigeria,’ he added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security and law enforcement agencies to fish out those responsible for the killing of Ms. Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, a promising news anchor with Arise News Television, who was murdered during a robbery attack at her Katampe residence in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President condemned the crime, describing it as ‘cruel and condemnable.’

He tasked investigators to conduct a swift and thorough probe to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice without delay.

‘Security and law enforcement agencies should conduct a quick and thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice without delay,’ the President said.

While commiserating with the Maduagwu family, the management and staff of Arise News, and the wider media community, President Tinubu expressed deep sorrow at the loss of the young journalist, whom he described as ‘a promising professional whose life was cut short in a cruel and condemnable manner.’

The President assured Nigerians that his administration remains committed to securing lives and property, noting that additional measures are being strengthened to combat crime in all its forms.

Maduagwu’s death has drawn widespread grief across the media industry, with colleagues and viewers mourning her as one of the brightest talents in television journalism.

Veteran Fuji musician Adewale Ayuba has dismissed an online report alleging divorce and a paternity dispute with his wife, Azuka Ego.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Ayuba’s management described the claims as ‘unfounded and baseless,’ stressing that the couple has been happily married for over 30 years.

The family condemned the report as a cheap attempt to smear Ayuba’s reputation and ridicule their unity, vowing not to let the attack on his integrity go unchallenged.

They categorically denied any truth to the paternity scandal, branding it a fabrication, and highlighted the blogger’s error in claiming their marriage lasted only a year – a mistake they said further exposed the story’s falsehood.

The statement reads, ‘Hello Everyone, our attention has been drawn to a baseless and malicious story circulating online, published by a faceless blogger, concerning Dr Adewale Ayuba’s family. This story makes outrageous claims about an alleged divorce from Dr Ayuba’s wife, Mrs. Azuka Ego Saliu Oke Ola (Nee Kwento), and a completely unfounded scandal regarding the paternity of their children, suggesting he ‘broke his silence’ over some non-existent discovery.

‘We want to state this clearly and categorically to everyone who supports Dr Adewale Ayuba: There is absolutely no truth, not a single iota-in this cooked-up story. Dr Adewale Ayuba and his wife, Mrs Azuka Ego, are happily married, and their wonderful children are doing very well. The issue of paternity over their children has never, ever arisen in their marriage.

‘Furthermore, this reckless blogger stated their marriage only lasted one year. For the record, they have been happily married for well over thirty years! This fundamental error alone exposes the story as a complete fabrication.

‘This is nothing more than a cheap, despicable attempt to embarrass Dr Ayuba’s family, malign his character, and bring his united family to public ridicule’.

According to them, Ayuba will be taking legal action against the blogger, consulting with lawyers to pursue all available remedies.

‘We want you all to know that we are currently consulting with our lawyers to pursue all available legal remedies against this irresponsible individual. We will not allow Dr Adewale Ayuba’s integrity to be attacked without consequences’, they added.

A pupil of Corona School, Gbagada, Lagos, Miss Precious Aroh, has been named Best Finalist in the 18th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.

Miss Aroh was selected from over 660,000 contestants worldwide and awarded $3,000 from Toyota Motor Corporation.

The award was presented to Precious, her parents, and school representatives in Lagos by Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited Kunle Ade-Ojo.

Ade-Ojo praised the young artist’s ingenuity. He said: ‘Precious’s artistry and vision have again placed Nigeria on a global stage. Her masterpiece is a powerful concept that imagines a world free of illness and viruses like COVID-19. She has shown empathy and a brilliant imagination, turning a compelling idea into outstanding creation. She made Nigeria, TNL, and her school proud.’

According to him, Miss Aroh’s achievement echoed the historic win two years ago by David Odumuboni, the first Nigerian to win a Global Grand Prize in the same competition.

‘It is a remarkable coincidence and a testament to the nurturing environment of their shared school that these talents hail from the same place,’ he said.

The managing director also congratulated her art teacher and parents, noting their ‘unwavering support and encouragement.’

Precious’s submission: ‘Virus Vacuum,’ is a powerful concept car designed to create a healthier world.

She said: ‘My dream car is called Virus Vacuum, the dream car of clean air. It has special suction vents on top that pull harmful viruses out of the air. Once inside the car, the viruses are destroyed, leaving clean, safe, and fresh air for people to breathe. The car is my dream for a healthier world, a car that not only carries people but also cares for people and heals the environment.’

Precious will use the money, designated for educational pursuits, to buy books, art materials, and digital learning tools to help her improve her creativity.

In addition to the money, Precious got a shield from Toyota Motor Corporation, with a certificate and a trophy from Toyota Nigeria.

Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is a global Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by Toyota Motor Corporation to inspire children to imagine a future car and, in doing so, foster a creative and caring mindset towards the planet.