Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Family of the late Chief Ugochukwu Chikezie of Ofeiyi, Ogbodiukwu, Umuahia, Abia State, has announced his burial plans.

In a statement, it said Chikezie, who died at 76, will be buried November 7.

A Service of Songs held at his Ijaiye Medium Housing Estate, Agege, Lagos, home weekend.

Another will hold at Ofeiyi, Ogbodiukwu, Umuahia South, Abia on November 6.

Chikezie was eulogised for his love, wisdom, and the legacy he left behind.

‘Chikezie was born on May 2, 1949, in Ogbodi-Ukwu Umudike Ofeiyi, Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government, to Okezie Ogbuji and Mrs. Nwanyi-Ocha Okezie.

‘He began his education at Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School in Umuahia North, and later Evangel High School. He was in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study Sociology/Anthropology, and had a Master’s in International Relations from UNILAG, ‘ it said.

He left a wife, Victoria, children, and grandchildren.

After 10 unbroken years as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s tour of duty comes to an end next month. But as his last days in the national assignment gradually draw close, his tenure for a record 10 years remains unprecedented in the nation’s democratic history.

A one-time lecturer and professor of Political History and International Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as well as former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Yakubu was first appointed head of the electoral umpire by late President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2015.

He assumed office on November 9, the same year, and after the first five years, his appointment was renewed in 2020 for another five-year term. His reappointment came a year after the highly disputed 2019 presidential election.

For the records, INEC was established in 1998 to oversee elections in Nigeria. The commission, as presently configured, was preceded by different electoral bodies at various times, such as the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in 1958 and the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) in 1960, which organised elections in the formative years of Nigeria’s independence.

Under the military, different commissions managed elections, but were dissolved after change of governments.

In 1995, the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime created the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), but it was later replaced by INEC in 1998 under the then head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

The outgoing INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who incidentally became the fifth INEC chairman since 1998 has not only become the longest serving head of the electoral umpire, he has the distinction of presiding over two general elections (2019 and 2023).

He also superintended over multiple off-cycle elections for governorship, state and National Assembly polls, among others.

In executing these assignments in the past 10 years, many have questioned the competence and neutrality of the electoral umpire and its leadership. This is especially so among politicians when things don’t go their own way.

In 2019, the outcome of the presidential election was highly contentious and the final winner, the late President Buhari’s mandate had to be validated by the apex court.

The 2023 polls, particularly the outcome of the presidential election drew even greater umbrage from a large segment of the populace. In the eyes of many, the infamous ‘technical glitch’ appeared to have diminished the innovations and achievements of the Mahmood Yakubu leadership of INEC.

However, under Yakubu, many have also applauded the technologies introduced by the electoral commission that greatly improved the credibility and outcome of several elections across the country.

One of the most significant technological tools is the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

In 2020, the electoral umpire also introduced INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), an online platform designed to promote transparency in the electoral process during the Edo State governorship election.

IReV allows for the easy dissemination of polling unit results, making the electoral process more transparent and accountable to citizens. The portal also provides accessibility for the general public to access and view official election results in real-time. The IReV provides an easy way for citizens to verify the results, increasing the credibility and preventing electoral malpractices in the electoral process.

Under Yakubu, there has been an increased participation of the civil society in real electoral process.

As part of efforts to promote electoral integrity, civil society organisations like Yiaga Africa have been involved in deploying statistics and information technology as part of its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) election observation interventions. The PVT deploys citizen observers to sampled polling units while providing accurate and timely information on the process through the feedback received via coded text messages and analysed via a technological database. Thus, the PVT can also verify the accuracy of election results that will be released by the electoral commission. This methodology has been used in multiple elections in Nigeria, including the 2019 presidential and other off-circle elections.

There are claims in some quarters that Nigerians have lost confidence in INEC. Such assertions may be unsupported by empirical facts.

In recent times, INEC has faced criticisms from various civil society and religious organisations, which raised concerns over what they perceived as growing public disillusionment with the electoral process.

Responding to these criticisms recently, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi argued that the evidence points in a different direction-highlighting robust public engagement in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

‘The notion that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process is more of a myth than a reality, as those who proclaim it lack convincing evidence to support it,’ Oyekanmi said.

He hinged his argument on what he described as the high level of participation, particularly among young Nigerians, in the current voter registration drive as a strong indicator of public trust.

‘On the contrary, the high level of participation by Nigerians, especially the youths, in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, which began on August 18 this year with online pre-registration, shows that citizens still have confidence in the process,’ he added.

Despite its pitfalls, Oyekanmi said the 2023 polls marked a major improvement in the country’s electoral system, particularly in terms of diversity.

‘The 2023 general election, more than any other election, demonstrates this fact. The election produced the most diverse National Assembly since the restoration of democracy in 1999,’ he said.

He buttressed this further with statistics, adding that in the Senate, seven political parties secured seats: All Progressives Congress-59, Peoples Democratic Party-36, Labour Party-eight, New Nigeria People’s Party -two, Social Democratic Party-two, All Progressives Grand Alliance-one, and Young Progressives Party-one. In the House of Representatives, eight parties won seats: APC-177, PDP-117, LP-35, NNPP-19, APGA-five, African Democratic Congress-two, SDP-two, and YPP-two.

That pattern, he noted, continued at the state level, with nine parties winning seats in state assemblies. These included APC-533, PDP-355, LP-38, NNPP-29, APGA-20, YPP-eight, SDP-seven, A-one, and ADC-one. In the gubernatorial elections, APC won 16 states, PDP-10, LP-1, and NNPP-1.

The recent bye-elections were proof that ‘Nigerians have kept faith with the electoral process,’ he stated.

What Oyekanmi did not lose sight of was what he described as a contradiction in the behaviour of some INEC critics.

‘Ironically, some of the most ardent critics of INEC are also in the forefront of calling for electoral reform to transfer Local Government elections to the same commission. Surely, they cannot continue to walk on both sides of the road,’ he said.

There has never been perfection in any human enterprise, including INEC.

There are certainly grey areas in the electoral ecosystem and elections management that need to be improved upon, but INEC under Yakubu has recorded remarkable successes in the last 10 years.

Many have suddenly forgotten that it was under him that an INEC returning officer, Prof. Peter Ogban was convicted by a High Court in Akwa Ibom State last year.

Over the years, the job of an INEC chairman has become (as we say in this part of the world) a thankless job. Yakubu is not an exception. He has laid the building blocks for greater credibility in the electoral umpire.

There is nothing that the story of oil will not do in this country. It is black but a devious beauty. It is a tale of a beautiful woman or what poets call a femme fatale.

Nobel Laureate Garcia Marquez in his immortal novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, wafts the tale of Remedios the Beauty, a celestial vision that titillates the fancies of mortal man.

Men lose their way, croon and drool in vain, fall and even stalk her bathroom. But the beauty does not fall for anyone. She glides on, tragedy in her wake.

So we may say of black gold, our black beauty. It is a story that entails both our most famous billionaire and our most famous trade unions.

Dangote versus NUPENG. Dangote versus PENGASSAN. But normally, if these two forces met in battle, where would the popular army amass? The polls would naturally say the unions have it.

Dangote outflanks the unions in popular favour today. That is the sorcery of oil. It is what happens when, in the words of Shakespeare, ‘witchcraft joins with beauty.’ It is, on the surface, a contest between the people and the billionaire.

The people lost. It is, of course, a false victory.

The people seem to lose because of what trade unions can mean today. They hark back to American revolutionary cry to yank off the yoke of colonial England: ‘No taxation without representation.’ We have unions without representation.

First, it was NUPENG, and the fight over trucks. They say Dangote was going to take over their business. They have thousands of Trucks to Dangote’s a fraction of theirs. But they were defending their corruption of the oil tanking business in cahoots with top fang-men in the oil business, including the NNPC. Dangote had come to intrude but they wanted to ‘chop’ alone.

Dangote may have a few trucks today but, maybe, tomorrow, he will outpace them. They wanted to nip the billionaire in the bud. We are not there yet.

And if they wanted to fight, it is what the Yorubas call Ija’gboro, a street brawl. In school, we called it ‘two fighting.’

They fought shy of going to court. That is what the United States did to tame Bill Gates, and what the European Union has done to Google. Gates was a boa constrictor. He had no pity.

Business men are no mice. Hence Philosopher Proudhon says, ‘all wealth is theft.’ Don’t expect a milk of human kindness from a capitalist. Capital has no bloodstream; hence it can shed blood.

PENGASSAN is no different. The fight was over labour.

The man fired 800 workers, a stunning number. PENGASSAN wanted revenge. Rather than take it on Dangote, they took it on the people. Festus Osifo and company’s agenda did everything that made the people hate bad governments and oppressors.

First, they endangered our daily bread by trying to cut off pipelines that funneled the fuel of the economy. It was to reduce the wealth of the nation. NNPC said output dropped 16 per cent just in those few days. That meant fuel scarcity, rise in inflation because transporters would pass on the cost down to the consumer. It also means negating the downward trend of inflation in the past few months.

Two, they would compromise national security. Oil and gas pipelines bake our bread and make us safe. Pipeline busters are often men of the underworld: militants, hoodlums, bandits, etc.

It shows that they had taken over the role of the criminal. They had turned themselves into corporate fangs. They are the new corporate raider, raiding the peace of the land. Labour union as terror.

In the past, the labour union was a terror of ideology. We have a name once associated with NUPENG and PENGASSAN. It is Frank Kokori. He is the first name in oil heroism in Nigeria. He may be abstract to many. But when heroes matter, Kokori is named.

During the tumult of our democracy struggles, the army lost sleep because of him. Whether they slept or rose, they had nightmares about this man.

Kokori was the secretary, and he was the man who signed off or signed on for strike. If our present oil agitators are seeking their pockets, he was living a cause above oil and gas. Kokori gave up the promise of compromise with Abacha and goons. He shunned bribes or seductions. Not for him a big car, or a holiday in Honolulu, or a mansion in southern France. He wanted peace and food and representation with the people. He wanted the military to vacate power and hand the mandate to democracy’s jewel: the people.

He did not want Abiola’s ballot to yield to the bullet. He won the election. The people had spoken. They wanted him as president.

The country was to shut down unless they bowed to the popular will or what Jean Jacque Rouseau called the ‘collective will.’ If the military would not, he would not. Kokori became a vagabond for the people. He moved from place to place, hotel to hotel.

He never saw wife or family. He never attended parties or funerals. He never had oxygen outside an enclosed place except when he was on the run.

But he never surrendered until he was betrayed. That is the quintessence of a union leader.

Today, the folks who control PENGASSAN and NUPENG are money men, so, it is not a billionaire versus the masses, but a big rich man versus a cartel of rich men who masquerade as the people’s conscience.

The men had the guts to stop our spigot of life, our economic jugular, and yet they claim they love us.

That is the story of black beauty. It is a dangerous beauty like Marquez’s Remedios the Beauty. It provokes ire and turbulence like the Trojan War that Helen of Troy gave us, the beauty in the telling of Homer’s epic The Iliad.

But we can make our black beauty a sublime one, of grace and prosperity like the black beauty Shakespeare serenaded in his Sonnet.

The bard laments, though, that black beauty has been profaned, just like our crude oil. For him black ‘beauty (is) slandered with a bastard shame.’ He adds that ‘Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower, but is profaned, if not lives in disgrace.’

PENGASSAN and NUPENG have cast a shame on black gold as crude beauty.

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has doled out N44.5million to 81 outstanding farmers across Ekiti State under the Afe Babalola Agric Expo and Youth Empowerment Programme (ABA-EX).

Breakdown showed in each of the 16 local governments, top five farmers received N200,000, N150,000, N100,000, N75,000 and N50,000.

The best farmer in the state, Chief Sunday Babalola from Ado Local Government, won the N2 million star prize.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Babalola said the annual initiative was designed to make farming attractive and complement government’s efforts in revamping the agricultural sector.

The legal icon said the programme since its inception in 2015 had disbursed over N170million cash awards and start-up grants to promote food production, empower farmers and attract youths to agriculture.

He decried the growing dependence of Nigerians on government palliatives and handouts, warning that such culture of laziness posed a grave threat to national productivity and dignity.

‘It is lamentable that many Nigerians, especially youths, no longer want to work. Instead, they prefer to queue for bags of rice and beans distributed as palliatives.

‘The question is: are they truly entitled to eat without working? The Constitution does not empower government to feed citizens; it only mandates government to provide an enabling environment for productivity,’ he said.

He described the practice of distributing food items to able-bodied citizens as ‘unconstitutional, wasteful and counter-productive,’ noting that it encouraged laziness, instead of fostering the spirit of self-reliance.

Babalola said his intervention in the agriculture sector over the years had been motivated by his desire to restore the country’s economic self-sufficiency through food production, create jobs and empower communities.

He hailed the Federal Government for adopting some of his long-standing proposals on agricultural mechanisation, saying mechanised tools should be distributed to local governments, not state governments, to ensure they reached real farmers at the grassroots.

He reaffirmed his belief that Nigeria’s surest path to prosperity and economic breakthrough lied in agriculture, not oil, politics, or foreign aid.

‘If properly managed, agriculture can sustain this nation, create employment, reduce crime and restore dignity to our people. Nigeria’s future is on the farm, not in the streets,’ he said.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Abiodun Ojo, described ABA-EX 10th anniversary as ‘a decade of impact, innovation and hope.’

He recalled that the flagship agricultural project began modestly in 2015 with N7 million in rewards, but had since grown to N44.5 million in 2025.

Appreciating the ABUAD founder for his commitment to agriculture, Ojo lamented the growing neglect of farming among Nigerians despite rising food insecurity and population pressure.

He said Babalola’s investment in agriculture was an example of how individual initiative could inspire national transformation.

ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, lauded Babalola’s consistency in driving self-reliance through agriculture and education, describing him as ‘a man whose philanthropy continues to shape Nigeria’s development narrative.’

Governor Biodun Oyebanji praised the legal icon for using his resources to complement government’s agricultural and job creation initiatives.

Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, the governor described Babalola’s strategic interventions as vital to the state’s agricultural growth.

FCMB Group Plc has launched a N160 billion public share to strengthen its banking subsidiary and meet Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500 billion minimum capital for international banks.

The offering of 16 billion shares at N10 each runs until November 6. Proceeds will be used to recapitalise FCMB Limited and help the lender retain its international licence.

The raise follows a N147.5 billion share sale in 2024, the first in 16 years. This 2024 share sale was oversubscribed by 33 per cent, with 42,800 investors participating, 92 per cent through digital channels. Analysts expect momentum to carry into this second phase of it’s recapitalisation plan.

FCMB has posted robust growth, with group profit before tax rising at 72 per cent compound annual rate between 2022 and 2025. Non-bank subsidiaries delivered 61 per cent PBT CAGR, led by Credit Direct Finance Company Limited, non-bank lender, and FCMB Capital Markets, which topped the FMDQ fixed income league table for bond listing and commercial papers in the first half of 2025.

Groupwide digital initiatives continue to underpin growth, with digital revenue growing at more than 58 per cent annually since 2022, accounting for 13.9 per cent of gross earnings. As of June, digital lending stood at nine per cent of the loan book.

At a 2025 estimated price-to-book ratio below 0.6x, FCMB stock trades at what analysts describe as a rare mix of deep value and high growth.

Following the completion of this share sale, the group plans to conclude the sale of minority stakes in two subsidiaries, with proceeds also injected into the bank. This will lift qualifying core capital beyond N500 billion and close its recapitalisation programme.

In commemoration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, secondary school students across Osun State gathered at the Winners Embassy Arena, Ogooluwa, Osogbo, for the Independence Day Secondary School Students’ Conference, themed ‘Students as Builders of a Greater Nigeria.’

The conference, held on Wednesday, October 1st, 2025, was convened by Precious Ibuoye, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Osun State, as part of his Community Development Service (CDS) project.

According to Ibuoye, the initiative was inspired by his passion to contribute to nation-building by investing in the next generation of Nigerian leaders.

‘I believe in the power of young people. True greatness is not measured by what you own, but by the lives you touch,’ he said. ‘Change begins with small actions that improve our communities.’

During the event, participating students received learning materials such as books, pens, bags, and other educational resources. The conference attracted students, teachers, corps members, and government officials from across the state.

In his keynote address, Hon. Segun Oyewole, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, stressed the need for young people to take responsibility for national transformation. ‘Nigeria’s dream can never happen by chance but by choice. We must be bold enough to become the change we desire and start thinking like leaders,’ he said.

Also speaking, Professor Chinwe Obiaku, Director-General and Special Envoy to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, reminded the students that nation-building starts early. ‘Students are not just the future; they are important today. Corruption is not only political – examination malpractice is part of it. Every Nigerian student must be ready to lead by example,’ she cautioned.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Dr. Femi Bello of Redeemer’s University, Mr. Bolatito called on students to demonstrate consistency and integrity in leadership. ‘Nigeria has never happened to Nigerians except Nigerians happen to Nigeria. Nation-building is an ongoing process, and students must pledge to lead faithfully, diligently, and with integrity,’ he stated.

The conference featured interactive sessions, panel discussions, and school presentations, where students engaged in conversations on independence, governance, and national unity.

The event concluded with a collective call for Nigerian youths to see themselves not as passive observers but as active participants in building a greater and more prosperous nation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have waded directly into the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, warning that nothing must be allowed to disrupt the operations of the $20 billion facility.

Representing President Tinubu at the opening of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) in Abuja on Monday, Vice President Shettima described Alhaji Aliko Dangote as ‘not just an individual, but an institution,’ and urged labour unions to exercise restraint and seek peaceful dialogue in addressing industrial issues involving the refinery.

According to Shettima, ‘Aliko Dangote is not just an individual. He’s an institution and the leading light in Nigeria’s economic development. How we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us.’

He explained that the refinery – financed through a mix of equity, debt, and local and foreign bank loans – must remain operational to meet its financial obligations and sustain national economic stability.

‘The refinery has to function to service the debt,’ Shettima said. ‘We cannot hold the whole nation to ransom because of issues that we can amicably settle across the table.’

The Vice President stressed that Dangote’s decision to invest massively in Nigeria, rather than abroad, was an act of faith in the country’s future.

‘If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he might be worth $70 to $80 billion today. But he chose to invest in Nigeria, and we owe it to future generations to promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this very Nigerian,’ Shettima stated.

He called for ‘caution, introspection, and a sense of accountability from all the organized and independent private sector players’ to maintain industrial peace and a sustainable investment climate.

‘It’s not about holding the gold medal for ransom,’ he said. ‘Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN; Nigeria is greater than every one of us. I’m not speaking as a partisan but as a Nigerian in search of solutions to our national challenges.’

The Vice President disclosed that the Federal Government has tasked the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) with providing policy recommendations to help resolve the issue and prevent future disruptions to strategic industries.

‘This is off-the-cuff,’ Shettima clarified, ‘but it reflects the true position of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian people.’

Turning to broader economic issues, Vice President Shettima said the government remains confident that Nigeria will overcome its current economic challenges through industrialization, infrastructure development, and human-centered policies.

‘As Nigerians, we are not condemned to low growth, high costs, and low trust,’ he said. ‘We will stabilize. We will industrialize. We will humanize our economy. We will stabilize prices and currency, and we will industrialize through power, logistics, and technology.’

He added that the administration is determined to ensure that governance serves every citizen.

‘We will humanize governance so that every citizen feels respected and served,’ he said. ‘Our priority remains restoring hope to the unemployed, the poor, the excluded, and the vulnerable.’

According to him, the government has created pathways for young Nigerians to access grants, loans, and equity investments of up to $100,000 to grow their enterprises, innovate, and build sustainable livelihoods.

He also announced a N200 billion intervention fund to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and manufacturers in overcoming structural challenges and enhancing competitiveness.

‘Our expansion of digital micro-loan access has improved financial inclusion, empowered small businesses, and stimulated community-level productivity,’ Shettima said.

On fiscal policy, the Vice President said the newly signed Tax Reform Act-which introduced the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act-marks a major recalibration of the nation’s tax architecture.

‘These reforms will boost domestic revenue mobilization, reduce dependence on oil, and simplify compliance,’ he said. ‘They protect low-income earners, ensure fairness in corporate taxation, and strengthen digital innovation in tax administration.’

Shettima noted that infrastructure development remains central to the government’s growth agenda, with more than 440 road projects covering over 2,700 kilometres of highways and bridges currently under construction nationwide.

‘These investments are the address of national prosperity,’ he said. ‘They facilitate commerce and strengthen national unity.’

He also announced the launch of the Renewed Hope Ward-Based Development Programme, a grassroots initiative designed to empower citizens across all 8,809 wards in the 774 local government areas of Nigeria.

‘The programme seeks to map local economic activities, human capital, infrastructure, and resource endowment, ensuring no community is left behind,’ Shettima said. ‘Communities will directly influence planning and budgeting to ensure inclusivity and transparency.’

He called on state governments to align their development agendas with the Renewed Hope framework to ensure coordinated progress.

‘Our challenges are daunting but not insurmountable,’ he stated. ‘Our ticket to achieving inclusive and lasting prosperity is sound policies, strong partnerships, and the commitment of the private sector.’

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said Nigeria’s next National Development Plan (NDP 2026-2030), guided by the Nigeria Agenda 2050, targets a $1 trillion GDP by 2030.

He said achieving this goal would require an average annual GDP growth rate of 8.78 percent, a 17.18 percent manufacturing contribution to GDP, and a 24.78 percent manufactured export share by 2030.

‘The process of developing the NDP 2026-2030 will be consultative, participatory, and inclusive,’ Bagudu said. ‘We will involve the private sector, state and local governments, political parties, civil society organizations, labour unions, and other key stakeholders.’

He explained that the Renewed Hope Ward-Based Development Programme would be one of the key focus areas of the summit, describing it as ‘an ambitious, people-centred initiative designed to uplift economically active citizens and ensure that ordinary Nigerians, particularly those at the grassroots, directly feel the positive impact of government reforms.’

In his remarks, NESG Chairman, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, said Nigeria must now move from economic stabilization to sustained transformation, embedding reforms that drive jobs, growth, and inclusion.

‘The challenge before us is to move decisively into the consolidation phase-turning fragile recovery into resilient, inclusive growth,’ Yusuf said.

He outlined seven priorities for consolidation: industrialization and enterprise growth; infrastructure development; investment attraction; fiscal sustainability; inclusion; institutional strengthening; and security.

‘Regulators, pseudo-regulators, and labour unions must all focus on promoting a positive investment climate that will attract and retain investors,’ he said. ‘A narrow focus on internally generated revenue at the expense of business growth will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Dead businesses don’t employ workers, they don’t pay salaries, and they don’t pay taxes.’

Yusuf urged the government to ensure that reforms translate into real improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians, saying, ‘If these priorities are achieved, consolidation will deliver broad-based growth and opportunity. Nigerians will then begin to feel that reforms are not just statistics, but real improvements in daily life.’

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The National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has cautioned the party’s Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, to desist from making statements that could mislead the public and exacerbate divisions within the party.

Ologunagba, reportedly stated that Senator Anyanwu’s role as National Secretary is limited to administrative duties, such as managing day-to-day activities, handling correspondences, and ensuring directives are carried out.

Ologunagba’s comments were in response to a perceived misunderstanding of roles within the party, emphasising that the National Secretary cannot summon meetings or issue press statements without authorisation.

Anyanwu in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Ikenna Onuoha, countered Ologunagba’s claims, describing them as ‘ridiculous and ignorant’ and emphasizing the National Secretary’s critical role in the party’s operations.

According to Dr. Onuoha, Ologunagba’s comments indicate a lack of understanding of the party constitution regarding the duties and functions of the National Secretary.

He said: ‘This statement, if indeed came from a supposed party spokesperson is an indication that he lacks the requisite knowledge of the provisions of the party constitution regarding the duties, functions and programmes of the of the office of the National Secretary.

‘Hon Debo Ologunagba, who ordinarily should be speaking for the party failed to highlight the duties of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of PDP in section 36 (1) of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended simply, because he was out for mischief making.’

Onuoha argued that Senator Anyanwu’s role is far more significant than what Ologunagba suggested adding that his actions are guided by the party’s constitution. He urged Ologunagba to focus on constructive strategies to strengthen the party rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.

Senator Anyanwu’s office said despite provocation that he will continue to act with maturity and wisdom, upholding his oath to preserve the party.

Rapper Odumodublvck has unveiled his eagerly awaited album, Industry Machine, featuring powerhouse collaborations with artists like Wizkid, Davido, Skepta, and Seun Kuti.

Spanning 23 tracks, the project, crafted by producers Telz and P.Priime, blends hip-hop and Afrobeats with finesse.

The album quickly soared to the No. 1 spot on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top Albums chart, earning praise for its stellar production and high-profile features.

The track ‘Big Time,’ featuring Wizkid, debuted at No. 1 on Apple Music’s Top Songs chart, with fans and critics lauding Wizkid’s vibrant verse and Odumodublvck’s lyrical dexterity.

Hailed as a defining moment for Nigerian music, the album has been celebrated for its bold sound and cultural resonance.

Odumodublvck, a pioneer in Nigeria’s contemporary music scene, describes Industry Machine as a tribute to creativity, ambition, and the industry’s transformation.