Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Super Falcons’ forward Gift Monday has been crowned as the Player of Matchday 22 of the United States Women’s League (USWL) following her sensational hat-trick for Washington Spirit.

The 23-year-old received the highest number of votes in a poll conducted on X (formerly Twitter) , securing 50 percent of the 881 votes cast. She comfortably outpolled Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle (35 percent), Utah Royals’ Mia Justus (8 percent), and Kansas City’s Bia Zaneratto (7 percent).

It has been a week to remember for the Nigerian international. In addition to the Player of the Week accolade, she was also named in the USWL Team of Matchday 22, further underlining her growing influence in the league.

Monday’s treble not only powered Washington Spirit to victory but also boosted her tally for the season to eight goals and two assists in 19 matches. The former FC Robo Queens and Tenerife striker is now firmly in the race for the Golden Boot, sitting fourth on the charts.

She trails Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga, who leads with 14 goals, Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez (13 goals), and Chicago Stars’ Ludmila da Silva (10 goals).

Having only joined Washington Spirit at the start of the campaign, Monday has quickly established herself as one of the USWL’s most dangerous forwards. Her form will also be a huge boost for Nigeria as they prepare for upcoming international assignments.

Sir: The recent war declared by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) on Dangote Refinery for whatever reasons is uncalled for. It is hypocritical, unjustifiable and shameful.

For over 30 years, Nigerians have suffered perennial fuel scarcity and incessant price increases. Yet, there is no record of NUPENG and PENGASSAN’s intervention to bring lasting succour to Nigerians. Even at the time that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged investors to establish modular refineries, what did NUPENG and PENGASSAN do to encourage the establishment of many refineries to bring relief to Nigerians?

What was the role of NUPENG and PENGASSAN all the years that the fortunes of the Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries have been nosediving? Which workable action plan did they present and discuss with the governments at the federal and state levels to make petroleum products and job opportunities available abundantly?

There have been losses of thousands of lives and properties on Nigeria roads caused by road accidents involving the drivers of fuel tankers. What has NUPENG and PENGASSAN done with the monies they have been collecting from the tanker owners to reduce or prevent the road crashes?

Because of the failure of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, the National Assembly had to mandate the Federal Ministry of Transportation to bring the stakeholders together, including NUPENG and PENGASSAN to solve the problems of road crashes involving fuel tankers and other articulated vehicles. Yet, the stickers of NUPENG, NLC, NURTW, RETEAN, and NARTO adorn the tankers and other trucks without meaningful concerns about the driver road worthiness and the vehicle road worthiness.

What NUPENG, PENGASSAN and their allies are doing to Dangote Refinery will surely discourage more investors from going into petroleum product refining, thereby blocking the channel for more job creation while also reducing the competition that could bring down the prices for the benefit of the masses they claim to be fighting for.

Ironically, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is also mobilising for nationwide strike against Dangote Refinery. Will this not amount to economic sabotage?? Will the NLC strike create more job opportunities?

NLC which is now more active in the affairs of the Labour Party has suddenly woken up to fight against Dangote Refinery. What was the role of NLC when the importation of cement was draining the foreign exchange of Nigeria? As soon as the likes of Dangote and BUA stepped in to produce cement locally, NLC also stepped in to collect union dues. If Dangote and BUA cement were muzzled the way the unions are trying to do to Dangote Refinery now, what would have been the situation today? The new investors in cement production would not have been encouraged to invest.

There have been crises of public transportation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for many years now. The federal government tried to intervene with hundreds of buses but the buses were grounded in less than three years because of mismanagement by NLC. Some of the buses are presently in the NLC yard on Shetima Munguno Crescent at Utako, Abuja.

If NLC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN and other unions cannot successfully run businesses that impact positively on the Nigerian workers they pretend to cherish so much, they should stop taking anti-economic development actions which will inflict more hardship on the masses.

The unions have been amassing trillions of Naira annually without meaningful investments which can better the lives of the people they claim to be fighting for. Many Nigeria workers suffer disabilities and other hardships in their workplaces while the leaderships of the same unions they pay money to every month turn their faces to the other side. Who is deceiving who?

It is time for the government to review the Labour Laws. If what NUPENG, PENGASSAN, NLC, transport unions, and other unions are doing in Nigeria is what happens in Britain, America, China and other developed countries, their economies would have crumbled.

Wazobia FM has marked this year’s World Heart Day with a Heart Walk in Ajegunle, Lagos.

The event, tagged Heart Waka for Life, commenced at the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Participants marched through the community to Maracana Stadium, where fitness activities were held to promote healthier living.

Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Olalekan Akindipe joined the walk side by side with residents.

He described the event as an important step towards building stronger, healthier lifestyles in the community.

The energy of the walk was further boosted by Wazobia FM presenters, who brought their on-air charisma to the streets.

They were joined by top celebrities including Korexx, Cute Abiola, Aproko Doctor, Kemen, Kaffy, Kenny Blaq, and Broda Shaggi, while Mr Macaroni and Gossip Loaded offered their support online.

General Manager for Wazobia FM, Cool FM, Nigeria Info FM, and Kids FM, Femi Obong-Daniels, explained that the Heart Walk was designed to get everyone in the council involved in fitness and health awareness.

Program Managers of the stations and some On-Air Personalities also stressed the benefits of regular walking, highlighting its role in preventing heart disease, improving cardiovascular fitness, and boosting energy levels.

When Bayo Ojulari assumed leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in April 2025, he inherited more than a corporation. He stepped into a storm defined by falling oil production, chronic revenue leakages, dwindling investor confidence, and the mounting global pressures of energy transition and geopolitical competition. Six months later, the story of NNPC and Nigeria’s energy sector has begun to change.

Ojulari’s leadership has been marked by an insistence on transparency, fiscal discipline, and operational accountability. Unlike previous reform attempts that often remained trapped in rhetoric, his approach has been anchored on execution and measurable outcomes. This shift fits squarely within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes energy independence, foreign investment, domestic refining, and Nigeria’s long-term net-zero ambitions. Reform, in Ojulari’s hands, is no longer an aspiration, it is a working reality.

Daily oil production rebounded from 1.485 million barrels in April to 1.71 million in July, crossing the 1.8 million barrel mark for the first time since late 2024. In the same period, NNPC generated ?20.9 trillion while halting costly refinery losses that had drained up to ?500 million monthly. Operational efficiency has improved, with 100 percent pipeline availability, natural gas production climbing to 7.72 billion cubic feet per day, and major projects like the AKK and OB3 pipelines now nearing completion. Security reforms have also delivered dramatic results, with coordinated efforts nearly eliminating pipeline theft. Perhaps most notably, Ojulari introduced monthly financial reporting for the first time, signaling unprecedented transparency to investors, regulators, and the Nigerian public.

These gains are not just domestic achievements. By surpassing Angola and Libya in production, Nigeria has reclaimed its position as Africa’s largest oil producer, restoring both its credibility and its leverage in OPEC+ negotiations. In a volatile global energy market where reliability is everything, Nigeria is once again being seen as a dependable player, a factor that has begun to restore investor confidence and strengthen its geopolitical standing.

Yet Ojulari’s strategy is not confined to oil alone. He has placed sustainability and transition at the heart of NNPC’s future. Gas is being positioned as a critical bridge fuel, powering local industries, reducing emissions, and boosting LNG exports. At the same time, the company is advancing renewable energy pilots, reducing gas flaring, and exploring carbon-capture initiatives; all of which signal a shift toward greener operations. These efforts align NNPC with global environmental, social, and governance standards, positioning it to meet the expectations of modern investors.

Technology is another pillar of the transformation. Under Ojulari, the company has deployed AI-driven analytics to optimize production and minimize downtime, blockchain platforms to

ensure revenue and supply chain traceability, and automation to enhance safety and efficiency. These moves bring NNPC closer to the practices of global energy giants like Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, and Petrobras, underscoring its ambition to compete at the highest levels.

The reforms are also resonating beyond corporate boardrooms. Inside NNPC, employees are experiencing a new merit-driven culture that rewards performance. Across the wider economy, Nigerian small and medium enterprises are finding expanded opportunities in the energy supply chain. In host communities, improved security and reduced oil theft are strengthening peace and trust. And nationally, stronger revenues are bolstering the budget and foreign reserves at a time when fiscal stability is sorely needed.

Ojulari is quick to acknowledge that the journey has only just begun. Scaling production to two million barrels per day by 2027 will require unwavering discipline, relentless efficiency, and an estimated $60 billion in new investment. Completing critical gas infrastructure remains central to unlocking regional integration and expanding Nigeria’s role in global gas markets. The competition will not stand still either, as Angola and Libya push to reclaim lost ground. But Ojulari’s vision is clear: NNPC must set a new benchmark for African energy companies and emerge as a global player of repute.

The first six months of his leadership have already marked a decisive break from the past. Production recovery, record revenues, operational discipline, and world-class transparency demonstrate that Nigeria’s energy sector is capable of reform and resilience when leadership is committed to delivery. The challenge now is to institutionalize these gains and ensure that momentum is not lost. For Nigeria, the choice is stark: to entrench excellence as the new standard, or risk sliding back into inefficiency and missed opportunity.

The opportunity is global. Above all, the momentum must not be lost. Happy Independence Day Nigeria!

Ogun state government has urged the All Stars Football Association Abeokuta to be true Ambassadors of the state and the southwest zone as they compete for honours at the 2025 National Veterans Football Tournament -Lagos 2025- which kick off on Independence Day.

Speaking through the state’s Commissioner For Sports Development Honourable Wasiu Isiaka , the Muda Lawal Stadium Asero-based All Stars were assured of the government’s support as they strive to bring home the coveted trophy as national champions.

Similarly, NFF executive member and chairman of the Ogun state Football Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, said the state FA is confident of the abilities and capabilities of the veterans to make the state proud in their maiden national appearance.

The 2025 National Veterans Tournament holding in Lagos between October 1st and 5th will see eight qualifiers from six zones across the country competing for the coveted trophy.

All Stars Football Association Abeokuta, the southwest zonal champions, are being joined by Ondo State and the hosts, Lagos, as the representatives of the south west.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday listed 12 remarkable economic milestones recorded by his administration as a result of the implementation of sound fiscal and monetary policies.

Exuding confidence about the workability and potency of his bold socio-economic reforms, he reiterated that Nigeria had finally turned the corner, adding ‘the worst is over.’

‘In the last 28 months of my administration, like our founding fathers and leaders, who came before me, I have committed myself irrevocably to the unfinished nation-building business,’ he said in his Independence Anniversary broadcast to the nation this morning.

President Tinubu, who urged Nigerians to team up with his government in accomplishing the unfinished task, assured Nigerians of great relief after the transient pains of reforms.

He hailed the endurance, support and understanding of Nigerians as his administration redirected the economy towards a more visible path, noting that their patience was not in vain.

The 12 milestones highlighted by the President are:

Record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue;

Restoration of fiscal health as manifested in reduced debt service-to-revenue ratio;

Stronger Foreign Reserve, increased tax-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio;

Increased export drive leading to the strengthening of the currency and job creation;

Increased oil production up to I.6 million barrels per day, and domestic refining; and

N330 billion social investment programme for poor households.

Others are:

Rise in coal mining activities;

Expansion of rail, road, air and sea transport infrastructure;

Improved sovereign credit rating through boom in oil stock market; and

Slash in interest rate for the first time in five years by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

President Tinubu, who reflected on the journey to nationhood from October 1, 1960, when the country achieved Independence, paid tribute to the sacrifice, devotion and vision of the founding fathers who fought for self-rule.

He noted that progress has not been static since, judging by the growth in the sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications, information technology, aviation and defence.

Tinubu said life has been full of ups-and-downs for Nigeria in its 65 years of nationhood, as shown by its experience of a bitter and avoidable civil war, military dictatorships and major political crises.

He lamented that the country suffered ‘because we failed to make the necessary investments decades ago.’

President Tinubu said under his leadership, the economy is recovering fast because the reforms are delivering results.

He added: ‘In the second quarter of 2025, Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23 per cent- Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years – and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund.

‘Inflation declined to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the lowest in three years. The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs.’

The President solicited patriotic spirit from Nigerians and canvassed civil engagements.

The President drew a relationship between security and economic growth, assuring that the anti-terror war would be fought with vigour.

He said: ‘The officers and men of our armed forces and other security agencies are working tirelessly and making significant sacrifices to keep us safe. They are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.

‘We see their victories in their blood and sweat to stamp out Boko Haram Terror in Northeast, IPOB/ESN terror in Southeast and banditry and kidnapping.

‘We must continue to celebrate their gallantry and salute their courage on behalf of a grateful nation. Peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in Northwest and Northeast, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes.’

To the youth, the President said: ‘You are the future and the greatest assets of this blessed country. You must continue to dream big, innovate, and conquer more territories in your various fields of science, technology, sports, and the art and creative sector.

‘Our administration, through policies and funding, will continue to give you wings to fly sky-high.

‘We created NELFUND to support students with loans for their educational pursuits. Approximately 510,000 students in 36 states and the FCT have benefited from this initiative, covering 228 higher institutions. As of September 10, the total loan disbursed was N99.5 billion, while the upkeep allowance stood at N44.7 billion.’

President Tinubu said under the Renewed Hope Agenda, equitable access to a better future has been guaranteed to Nigerians.

Acknowledging that the reforms are accompanied by temporary pains, he said ‘the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option.’

He assured that the resources saved and the stability built would be channelled into proper development.

President Tinubu said ‘we must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise, just like the Ministry of Interior has done with our travel passports, by quickening the processing.’

He added: ‘In this regard, I urge the sub-national entities to join us in nation-building. Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce. Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes.

‘Let all hands be on deck. Let us believe, once more, in the boundless potential of our great nation.’

A former Niger Delta agitator, self-styled General Endurance Amagbein, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s critics are withholding praise for his achievements due to political considerations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Amagbein said Nigeria has recorded remarkable progress in its 65 years of independence, particularly under Tinubu’s administration.

He argued that the president has introduced new ideas in governance and accelerated holistic development across all six geopolitical zones, describing his leadership as laying the foundation for a more united and prosperous nation.

Amagbein, popularly known as Adaka Boro the Second, noted that despite initial doubts over the 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy, Tinubu had, within two years, demonstrated a strong commitment to peace, unity, and national development.

According to him, Tinubu’s policies have positively impacted key sectors, including youth empowerment, ICT, agriculture, healthcare, education, security, economic reforms, and infrastructure, with ordinary Nigerians – especially in the Niger Delta – now benefiting directly from government initiatives without political ties.

‘No matter what anybody says, Tinubu’s government has recorded significant progress across various sectors, including reducing the debt service burden and increasing foreign reserves, which have risen from $4 billion in 2023 to over $23 billion by the end of 2024.

‘Nigeria achieved a record trade surplus of $14.31 billion in 2024, the first in over 25 years. This government has also prioritized the Niger Delta, with projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway aimed at unlocking tourism, trade, and port development. Over 440 road projects are ongoing nationwide, including more than 2,700 kilometers of superhighways,’ he said.

He further cited initiatives in renewable energy, such as the electrification of one million homes under the Rural Electrification Programme, solar power supply to 22 federal universities, and over ?250 billion allocated for primary healthcare centres nationwide.

‘As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, I congratulate both the leadership and citizens. It is indeed a great occasion, and I salute those who fought for the independence we are enjoying today. I wish the President and his team well, and I pray for wisdom to lead us and for strength for our armed forces to continue defending our sovereignty,’ Amagbein said.

However, he urged the presidency and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to use the independence anniversary to address longstanding concerns in the Niger Delta, particularly the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts.

‘It is a bitter pill to swallow when one man from outside a community is given the right to secure pipelines in another man’s territory. Worse still is the oppression that follows, where people lose their voices and rights in their own communities. For equity and fairness, stakeholders should only secure pipelines within their domains,’ he said.

Amagbein warned that until pipeline surveillance contracts are decentralized, communities will remain vulnerable to oppression from those who ‘carry guns in the guise of pipeline security.’

While pledging his continued support for the Tinubu administration, he called on the President to ensure policies that will deliver real development in the Niger Delta. He noted that the region’s difficult terrain requires leaders who will not betray the trust placed in them.

Sir: With over 520 different languages, Nigeria holds the third-highest number of spoken languages in the world. Four of these – Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Ijaw – are spoken by about 78 percent of the country’s population. Yet despite this richness, most Nigerian languages remain absent from the tools shaping the lives of Generation Z and Generation Alpha, the generations who embody the future of today.

UNESCO warns that about 40 percent of the world’s 7,000 languages are at risk of extinction by 2025, with African and indigenous tongues disproportionately vulnerable. Over a hundred Nigerian languages are already considered endangered or close to extinction.

Technology illustrates the urgency. In Natural Language Processing (NLP), which powers translation apps, voice assistants, and speech recognition, Nigerian languages are classified as low-resource. This means there is not enough digital text or audio for artificial intelligence systems to learn from. Without action, entire languages risk being digitally invisible.

The Nigerian government has no structured plan to preserve or expand indigenous languages, especially in technology and research. Most languages lack basic resources such as text datasets, essential for NLP. Minority languages like Ibibio, Ijaw, and Kanuri, spoken by fewer than 10 million people each, have little or no digital representation. Even the so-called big three languages (Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba) struggle with limited and poor-quality resources.

Apps exist for Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, but hundreds of Nigerian languages remain excluded. Global technology firms are making tentative steps. In late 2024, Google expanded voice input and dictation support to Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba across Gboard, Voice Search, and Translate. Microsoft added the trio to Azure Translator earlier. Yet the depth and scale of resources for these languages remain far behind those of English, Chinese, or even Swahili.

The Nigerian constitution has never been officially translated into local languages, aside from one private Yoruba effort. Government websites remain exclusively in English. Community-driven projects like Masakhane and NaijaVoices are working to build datasets, but the scale of their efforts is minuscule compared to the need. If Nigerian languages are missing from keyboards, spell checkers, translation tools, and voice assistants, they will fade into silence.

What Nigeria needs is a deliberate digital language strategy. Such a strategy must go beyond the major three and extend to endangered and minority tongues. Crucially, it should position languages as infrastructure, gateways through which citizens access healthcare, education, commerce, and culture.

Policymakers must prioritize indigenous languages in technology and education. Researchers and entrepreneurs must collaborate to build open resources. Global technology firms must be challenged to support more Nigerian languages. And citizens must demand a future where their mother tongues are not just spoken but coded into the fabric of modern life.

Jose Mourinho insists he will receive a warm welcome from the Chelsea fans who once turned on him when the former Blues boss returns to Stamford Bridge with Benfica tonight.

Mourinho is back in west London for a Champions League group stage clash that has turned into a trip down memory lane.

The 62-year-old, who famously announced his arrival in the Premier League by labelling himself a ‘special one’, led Chelsea to three English titles, three League Cups and one FA Cup across two spells that etched him in the club’s history forever.

Fuelled by the financial backing of then owner Roman Abramovich, Mourinho turned Chelsea from underachievers to serial winners.

But those triumphs did not stop Chelsea fans chanting ‘you’re not special anymore’ at Mourinho and jeering him when he returned as manager of Manchester United and then Tottenham.

Now in charge of Benfica after his recent sacking by Turkish club Fenerbahce, Mourinho started his pre-match press conference at Stamford Bridge by claiming he was ‘not a blue anymore’.

But aware that he risked more abuse from the stands on Tuesday, Mourinho quickly backtracked, saying he still loved the club and expected to be treated with affection by the fans that used to idolise him.

‘Of course I will always be a Blue. I am part of their history and they are part of mine. I helped them become a bigger Chelsea and they helped me become a bigger Jose,’ he told reporters.

‘It was a happy marriage. It was a fantastic decision I made. The reason I came the second time is of course I was so happy the first time.

‘When I say I am not a blue I am talking about the job I have to do tomorrow.

‘I don’t think Chelsea fans will boo. At least on the street Chelsea fans are the ones that disturb me for autographs and pictures.’

Photos of Mourinho celebrating some of his greatest Chelsea moments were hung on the walls of the Ted Drake Suite to make the Portuguese coach feel at home.

It was a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Mourinho, who said: ‘There are not many clubs that do this. In many clubs it looks like there is a fear of what happened in the past.

‘Sometimes it looks like they want to delete people who made history. It shows Chelsea is really a big club.’

Mourinho, who still has a family home close to Stamford Bridge, opted against piling pressure on Chelsea’s current boss Enzo Maresca, who has come under fire after successive defeats against Manchester United and Brighton this season.

Maresca led Chelsea to Champions League qualification and won the UEFA Conference League last season.

‘There was a sad period where even me from the outside, I was putting some question marks. It looked like Chelsea lost their identity but what happened in the last season has put things back on track,’ he said.

But Mourinho couldn’t resist pointing out his own achievements with Chelsea whenever the opportunity arose.

Asked if he still ranked himself as the best manager in Chelsea’s history, Mourinho said: ‘I am the biggest one until someone wins four (titles).

‘Chelsea won something before my time. Then they stopped winning, and then my team kept winning.’

And in typically waspish fashion, he played down the two trophies won by Maresca.

‘The Conference League is an easy competition for a big club to win. I did it with Roma. Champions League is much more difficult to win than the Club World Cup but Chelsea has the potential of course,’ he said.

It is a decade since he lifted a league title but even if Mourinho’s managerial star is on the wane, he remains a box-office attraction.

After answering the last question of the press conference, Mourinho made a point of embracing several familiar faces among the British media.

He even posed for a selfie before wrapping a long-serving member of Chelsea’s media team in a warm embrace.

‘You know how I am. I love it,’ he said with a smirk before leaving the stage.

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Atalanta vs. Brugge

Kairat vs. Madrid

Atletico vs.Frankfurt

Bodø / Glimt vs. Tottenham

Chelsea vs. Benfica

Inter vs. Slavia Prague

Marseille vs. Ajax kick

Pafos vs. Bayern Munich

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to enter the 2027 presidential race, the Presidency said yesterday.

It however argued that Nigerians will judge the former leader on what it described as a ‘dismal’ record in office and compare his tenure with what it called the ‘giant economic strides’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency blamed the early presidential campaign on those angling to unseat the incumbent.

The Presidency spoke on a day that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled out its automatic 2027 presidential ticket to the former president, describing him (Jonathan) as one of the ‘numerous options’ on its radar.

The Presidency said the early jostling for 2027 had been prematurely foisted on the nation by the desperation of the opposition ganging up against President Bola Tinubu,’ Onanuga said in the statement, dismissing recent political rhetoric as ‘a cacophony of voices, most of them full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’

The statement singled out former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana, over his reported move to draft Jonathan into the 2027 presidential contest on PDP platform, which it described as ‘discredited’ and responsible for ‘a legacy of economic ruins after 16 years of bad governance.’

According to the Presidency, Gana ‘is free to delude himself and engage in his usual comedy,’ adding that Jonathan’s entry would ‘provide another job’ for the former university don.

Jonathan, according to sources, has intensified consultations on his ambition to return to power in 2027.

He was defeated in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari in a historic election that was a referendum on his performance in the highest office.

In the past few weeks, the former president was said to have visited former military President Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, the Niger State capital, and the Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic congress (ADC), Senator David Mark.

Party sources said one of the conditions he gave to the ADC is that he should be the anointed presidential candidate at the primary, with no aspirant competing for the ticket with him.

Despite his consultations with other leaders, his wife, a source said, has maintained her position that since President Tinubu supported him in the 2011 poll, it is fair to return the gesture by supporting his second term in 2027.

Acknowledging Jonathan’s right to seek office, the Presidency said: ‘It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again, but any such bid would face judicial scrutiny.

‘The jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term in office.’

The Presidency cautioned Jonathan to be ‘wary of the PDP sugar-coated cheerleaders,’ alleging that figures ‘of Jerry Gana’s ilk’ sought to lure him into the race for ‘personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests,’ and would ‘abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015.’

Recounting its view of Jonathan’s tenure, the statement said the administration ‘engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground and put the country in dire straits,’ claiming that key indicators declined and that ‘the nation’s economic downturn. actually began under President Jonathan’.

It alleged that some business moguls ‘allocated foreign exchange to import fuel, simply pocketing the dollars without importing anything,’ and that some still face court cases.

It also accused Jonathan and his then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), of distributing security funds to ‘friends and cronies.’

Citing figures, the Presidency said Jonathan in 2010 inherited $66 billion ($46 billion in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the Excess Crude Account (ECA), but left foreign reserves ‘below $30 billion’ and the ECA ‘depleted to $2 billion’ by 2015 ‘despite generating record revenue from crude oil sales’.

It noted that oil price averaged about $100 per barrel between 2010 and 2013, yet by December 2014 ‘the Federal Government could no longer pay salaries to Federal Civil Servants,’ while ‘at least 28 states’ owed workers arrears.

By contrast, the statement said: ‘President Tinubu has taken bold decisions over the last 28 months to reset the economy, removing fuel subsidy and abolishing multiple exchange rates that paved the way for arbitrage.’

It listed reported gains: Q2 2025 GDP growth of 4.23%, ‘the highest in four years’ and above the IMF’s 3.4% projection; inflation ‘decreased to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years’; foreign reserves at ‘$42.03 billion’; and a ‘virtually stabilised’ naira.

‘Investor confidence. has been restored, and investors are betting on Nigeria,’ it added.

Beyond macroeconomic indicators, the statement said the ‘nation has turned the corner’ and citizens are ‘reaping the gains’ of reforms.

It highlighted roads being rebuilt and new ones ‘springing up,’ listing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, and said the government was ‘addressing security issues in some parts of the country.’

‘The PDP and Jerry Gana’s co-travellers broke the economy; President Tinubu is fixing it,’ the Presidency declared, insisting Jonathan ‘will also have his encounter with the people as to whether he has anything new to offer after his disastrous six years, for which they voted him out in 2015.

‘President Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race. They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians who will not easily forget the recent past will not allow them to return to run it down again.’