Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appealed to the authorities of the Republic of Benin to release Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, to enable him to receive proper medical treatment and serve out his sentence in Nigeria.

Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, has reportedly been detained for nearly two years in a hospital in Cotonou under dehumanising conditions, with his health said to be deteriorating rapidly.

The Nigerian government expressed deep concern over his worsening condition and ongoing trial in Benin Republic.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement issued through her media aide, Dr. Magnus Eze, disclosed that discussions with the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou confirmed that Pastor Egbaji’s health is steadily declining and requires urgent medical intervention.

The statement further read, ‘She stated that the Ministry had made spirited effort to rescue the troubled Egbaji in line with the citizen diplomacy thrust of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.

‘The minister who in early August, visited Egbaji in the Cotonou hospital alongside the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, disclosed that the Ministry had requested the transfer of the Nigerian national to receive the deserved medical care and serve out his custodial term in Nigeria.

‘She explained that Nigeria was worried over the pace of the Benin authorities in addressing the situation and acceding to its request.

‘Noting the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, founded on shared cultural heritage, bonds of trust, mutual respect, and a spirit of brotherhood, she urged the country to consent to Nigeria’s request and accelerate the release of the detained Nigerian pastor.

‘Odumegwu-Ojukwu also disclosed that Nigeria’s position was further highlighted in a recent letter to the Republic of Benin Government.

‘It is against this backdrop of solidarity and mutual goodwill that I seek Your Excellency’s kind consideration regarding the plight of a Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who has been serving a custodial sentence in Cotonou since October 2023 for a jail term of 10 years. As Your Excellency may be aware, Pastor Egbaji has been in Benin Republic for over three decades, contributing meaningfully as an entrepreneur, pastor, and community leader.

‘Regrettably, his health has deteriorated severely while in detention. Two independent medical experts appointed by the court recently recommended that he be transferred abroad for urgent medical care, as local interventions have proved ineffective.

‘In the spirit of our longstanding friendship and in recognition of the humanitarian imperative, not being unmindful of the grievous nature of the offence he is charged with, we kindly request that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve out the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian Correctional Centre,’ she stated.

She reiterated that this gesture would demonstrate in practical terms the enduring spirit of fraternity and cooperation that bind Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has stepped down from his position, marking the beginning of a transition to a new administration within the electoral body.

Yakubu, who was sworn in for a second five-year term on December 9, 2020, announced his decision during a meeting with the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Tuesday.

Following his exit, one of INEC’s National Commissioners, Barrister May Agbamuche-Mbu, has assumed office as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive head by the President.

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

Yakubu’s stepping down aligns with the constitutional term limit, as he had previously vacated the position at the end of his first term in November 2020 before being reappointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

In an emotional farewell speech, the outgoing chairman expressed deep gratitude to INEC staff and Resident Electoral Commissioners for their dedication, commitment, and hard work throughout his tenure.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued an order restraining some factional leaders of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) from proceeding with the group’ planned election.

The alleged factional leaders of the NYCN – Ademola Gbenga, Okechukwu Nnamene, Abel Abaji, Alex Allen Akin, and Hassan Mamman – were said to have planned the said election for October 7.

Justice J. E. Obanor issued the order on October 6 while ruling on a motion by the Incorporated Trustees of the NYCN and Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, representing the existing leadership of the group.

Justice Obanor restrained the defendants from conducting the election pending the determination of the substantive suit, marked: FCT/HC/CV/3803/2025

The judge ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to enforce the court’s order.

Listed as defendants in the suit are Ademola Gbenga, Okechukwu Nnamene, Abel Abaji, and Comr. Alex Allen Akin, Hassan Mamman, the IGP, and the DSS.

The plaintiffs stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the NYCN, during its National Elective Convention held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from September 20 to 22, re-elected Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo as President alongside other executives.

Allegedly dissatisfied with the Sukubo-led leadership, Gbenga and others purportedly formed a parallel group and planned to conduct another election in Abuja on October 7.

The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned.

He was appointed in August 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Nnaji resigned following some allegations against him.

He resigned on Monday in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.

Special Adviser to President Tinubu Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development in a statement, saying the President has accepted the resignation.

According to Onanuga: ‘Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.

‘President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours.’

Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, has assured the United Nations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not delegitimise or suppress opposition in Nigeria.

Ibrahim gave the assurance on Tuesday while delivering his address at the ongoing Global Parliamentary Conference on Counter-Terrorism and the Prevention of Violent Extremism in Istanbul, Turkey.

New platform, Camera Hubs, is set to launch Africa’s marketplace for cameras, audio equipment, broadcasting gear, and stage lighting, on December 1.

The lead; Eugin Joachin, businessman with 20 years of experience in photographic equipment, said the inspiration came from decades of watching creatives struggle.

‘I have seen photographers cry after discovering they bought fake gear or find it difficult to get what they want. I have seen churches spend months trying to bring in basic microphones, Trusses, stage lights and other equipment. I have seen middlemen inflate prices. CameraHubs is the big break Africa’s creatives have been waiting for,’ he said.

He said the target audience are photographers, cinematographers, content creators, churches, clubs, broadcasters, and entertainers, adding creatives don’t just need equipment; they need guidance, inspiration, and opportunities.

‘The platform will connect buyers to different distributors, retailers and manufacturers Buyers can browse multiple shops, compare prices, and choose what suits them, ,’ he said in Lagos.

‘This is not just another online store. It is a hub where industry players, manufacturers, retailers, and professionals come together in one space. If you are a photographer a filmmaker , club owners , churches you will find exactly what you need without stress,’ he added.

Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has assured that the state is fully prepared and safe to host the 2026 edition of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).

He gave the assurance on Tuesday when he led a NUGA delegation and the management team of the University of Calabar on an inspection tour of facilities at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The governor described Calabar as a youth-friendly, peaceful, conducive, and welcoming city with a serene and green environment that makes it ideal for hosting national and international sporting events.

‘The field we are standing on today has produced some of Nigeria’s greatest football icons, including Uwenm Ekarika, Etim Essien, and John Okon, among others.

‘The first captain of the national football team was a Calabar man, who led the team to England for competitive matches,’ Otu said.

Expressing gratitude for the return of NUGA to Calabar after 35 years, Otu said he was confident the event would be a huge success.

He expressed optimism in the capacity of Dorncklaimz Enamhe, Executive Secretary of NUGA 2026 Local Organising Committee (LOC), to deliver memorable games.

The governor highlighted Calabar’s deep historical connection to sports, noting that it was the first city in Nigeria where football was played.

‘Enamhe is known for his dedication and commitment to any responsibility entrusted to him. I have no doubt he will deliver on this national assignment,’ he said.

Otu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sports development, saying that in the past two years, the state government has significantly promoted sporting activities and restored their pride of place in Cross River.

Enamhe said that Calabar has the greenest stadium in Nigeria, the best basketball court, and a world-class Olympic-size swimming pool, among others.

He said that Calabar is home to table tennis, with world-class champions.

‘Calabar is home to the biggest carnival in Africa, where youths will properly interact. Unical hosting NUGA after the 35th is huge for the state,’ he said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate reduction in the 2026 Hajj fare to reflect the recent appreciation of the naira against the dollar, a major determinant of pilgrimage costs.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who conveyed the President’s directive yesterday during a meeting with the management and board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, gave the commission two days to produce a new and affordable fare structure.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, VP Shettima said the directive was necessary to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims benefit directly from the positive effects of the ongoing economic reforms, particularly the strengthened value of the naira.

Shettima called for closer collaboration among NAHCON, state governments, and other relevant agencies to harmonise the revised fares and ensure smooth coordination of the 2026 pilgrimage.

He also emphasised the need for prompt payments and remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to guarantee a seamless Hajj operation.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, said the meeting was convened to finalise preparations for the 2026 Hajj and review the cost structure in light of the improved exchange rate.

‘Rates have continued to improve steadily with the appreciation of the naira, based on the effects of government reforms. If pilgrims paid N8.5 million to N8.6 million last year due to a weaker exchange rate, the improvement in the economy should now reflect in the new fares. The Vice President made it clear that the benefits of the stronger naira must be passed on to the pilgrims,’ Hadeija explained.

NAHCON’s Secretary, Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, welcomed the President’s directive, saying it would make the spiritual journey more accessible to Nigerian Muslims.

‘It is a welcome development. The lower the Hajj fare, the better for Muslim faithful intending to perform Hajj. As directed by the Vice President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to reduce the cost to the barest minimum and make it affordable for every Muslim,’ he said.

Also, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and Deputy Chairman of the Forum of Chief Executives of Pilgrims Boards, Alhaji Faruk Aliyu Yaro, praised the President and the Vice President for their intervention.

‘We are very happy because the President and the Vice President have already intervened. We thank God for what they have done, which will bring down the cost of Hajj fare. We are delighted’, Yaro said.

President Bola Tinubu has explained why his administration established the N200 billion intervention fund to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and manufacturers.

Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, stated this in Abuja on Monday at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit, organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

The president said it had become necessary to assist them in boosting competitiveness and addressing structural challenges.

He said beyond the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 4.23 per cent recorded in September 2025, the economic reforms spearheaded by his administration had started yielding tangible results across sectors.

According to him, it has surpassed projections from multilateral agencies and indigenous economic experts.

The president maintained that all the decisions taken by his administration had been ‘guided by the pursuit of balance between economic logic and public expectation.’

Tinubu restated his administration’s resolve to rekindle hope for poor, vulnerable and jobless Nigerians by creating corridors for them, especially the youth, to access loans, grants and equity investments.

He said, ‘ As a people-oriented government, our priority remains restoring hope to the unemployed, the poor, the excluded, and the vulnerable.

‘ We have created pathways for young Nigerians to access grants, loans, and equity investments of up to 100,000 dollars to scale their enterprises, innovate, and build sustainable livelihoods.

‘We established a N200 billion intervention fund to support micro, small, and medium enterprises and manufacturers, helping them overcome structural challenges and enhance competitiveness.

‘Our expansion of digital micro-loan access has improved financial inclusion, empowering small businesses and stimulating community-level productivity.

‘These efforts underline our commitment to an economy that works for all Nigerians.’

The Nigerian leader attributed the significant progress his administration has made so far in stabilising Nigeria’s economy and rescuing public finance to the patience and sacrifices made by Nigerians.

‘As experts in the economy, you know more than the average citizen that the stability in our foreign exchange market is not accidental.

‘ It reflects deliberate choices guided by the same economic wisdom that gatherings such as this embody.

‘Along with subsidy removal, these decisions have rescued our public finances, stabilised the economy, and reassured investors at home and abroad.

‘ We owe this progress to the sacrifices of Nigerians, whose patience and understanding have been the bedrock of our endurance.

‘To them, I say: the better days we promised are already within sight,’ he stated.

Tinubu acknowledged what he described as a ‘resounding consensus’ that ongoing reforms by his administration had stabilised the nation’s macroeconomic environment, with the economy ‘expanding to N372.8 trillion in 2024, up from N309.5 trillion in 2023.’

Tinubu said, ‘Our total revenue collection also rose from N19.9 trillion in 2023 to N25.2 trillion in 2024, and as of August 2025, it had reached N27.8 trillion, surpassing the revenue target of N18.32 trillion.

‘These triumphs and projections are guided by the promise we have made to the nation – to grow Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio from 97 per cent, where we met it, to a sustainable level.

‘Aside from the good news that this ratio has now reduced to less than 50 per cent, I am proud to share that this performance, in our early days in office, inspired Fitch to upgrade Nigeria’s sovereign rating to B, with a stable outlook, and Moody’s to lift our issuer rating to B3 with a stable outlook.

‘Both praised our improved economic foresight and clearer policy direction as their barometers.’

For non-oil revenues, the president said it grew by 411 per cent year on year in August this year, with tax-to-GDP ratio now nudging 13.5 per cent, up from barely seven per cent a few years ago.

The president assured that the four Tax Reform Acts he recently signed into law would boost domestic revenue mobilisation, reduce dependence on oil, and simplify compliance.

‘These reforms protect low-income earners, ensure fairness in corporate taxation, and strengthen digital innovation in tax administration.

‘ By promoting transparency and coordination among all tiers of government, we are laying the foundation for a fairer and more prosperous Nigeria,’ Tinubu added.

The Chairman of the NESG, Mr Olaniyi Yusuf, advised the relevant stakeholders and authorities to address security as an enabler of reforms.

He said that without peace, reforms cannot take root, investors cannot take risks, and Nigerian youths cannot find opportunities for prosperity.

‘Tackling insecurity in rural and urban areas alike is vital to unlock productivity and restore confidence,’ he added.

A federal lawmaker from Lagos State, Dr. Adesola Adedayo, has said the ongoing nationwide voter registration was crucial to favourable outcome in the 2027 general election.

Adedayo, who represents Apapa Constituency in the House of Representatives, tied the expected success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election project to the exercise in the state and nationally.

He appealed to chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC) to mobilise the grassroots for the President, starting with getting those constitutionally-qualified to vote, to register.

Adedayo, a former two-term chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said he had been on the field with his team since the beginning of the exercise, mobilising his base and constituents to go out and register.

The first-termer at the National Assembly said his involvement with the grassroots mobilisation had shown him there were countless potential Tinubu voters in the state, who just needed to be guided through the process of being able to vote in 2027.

Describing the President as a war-time leader in the mould of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar, Saladin, Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower, the lawmaker said besides insecurity gripping the country, which was almost at war-front proportion, the President was also fighting economic battles to rescue the commonwealth from cannibals sucking it for decades.

He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the administration, saying at the President’s age and the quantum of material blessings he had received from God, ”what is paramount to him now is a legacy of service to his fatherland.”

He assured Nigerians that President Tinubu would deliver.