Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Nigeria’s 2025 wet season farming faced a tough mix of challenges from pest infestations and erratic rainfall to soaring input costs that weakened production gains despite farmers’ resilience, according to findings from 2025 Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) yesterday in Abuja.

The report, by National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is an assessment of performance, showing progress and vulnerabilities.

Executive Director of NAERLS, Prof. Yusuf Ahmad, said over 19,358 hectares were affected by pests and diseases, leading to an estimated 22.5 per cent yield loss in the impacted areas.

He said fall armyworm, rice blast, bacterial blight, streak virus, cassava mosaic, yam nematodes, cocoa black pod, and cotton smut were culprits, noting most agro-ecological zones were hit.

‘Maize, rice, millet, cowpea, cassava, and tree crops were most affected,’ Ahmad said, warning the nature of infestations underscores need for a stronger pest surveillance and early response.

The report also noted rising production costs on farmers.

Despite improved fertiliser availability through government efforts, input prices surged. NPK fertiliser rose by 19.5 per cent, from N43,500 to N52,000 per 50kg bag, while urea increased by 10.1 per cent to N43,500.

‘These increases, mostly recorded in Northwest, Northcentral, and Northeast, have placed smallholder farmers under severe cost pressure. Affordability, not availability, has become the core problem,’ he added.

The Nigerian Army has recorded another major success in the ongoing onslaughts against terrorists and other non-state actors across the country.

In coordinated ground and joint operations the troops neutralized nine terrorists, including five Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Ahl al-Sunna li al-Da’wa wa al-Jihad (JAS), a Boko Haram splinter group, in Borno.

They also neutralized two terrorists in a border between Ekiti and Kogi state, and one in Delta State.

A military source told The Nation yesterday that troops recovered several weapons and logistics items from criminals in the operations that were conducted between October 2 and 6.

Providing details on the operations, the source said 151 Task Force Battalion ambushed ISWAP/JAS terrorists at Dipchari in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, and in the firefight that ensued five terrorists were killed.

‘Similarly, 148 Battalion operating around the Iyemero community on the Ekiti-Kogi border neutralized two insurgents and recovered two new AK-47 rifles.

While 3 Battalion repelled a large-scale attack on its location, inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists, with one confirmed killed and several others escaping with gunshot wounds,’ the source said, adding ‘Troops also arrested eight criminal suspects for various offences including terrorism, kidnapping and illegal possession of weapons across Borno, Katsina, Imo and Plateau States. Among the arrests were an ISWAP logistics courier in Monguno, a suspected terrorist collaborator in Kukawa in Borno State, a wanted IPOB/ESN kingpin in Imo State, and a suspected gunrunner in Plateau State.’

According to the military source, troops rescued 37 kidnap victims across Kaduna, Taraba, Plateau, Delta and Kebbi States, in ongoing clearance operations.

‘Notably, 28 locals were freed from terrorist captivity in Sakaba, Kebbi State, including a pregnant woman who gave birth during the rescue,’ the source said.

‘In separate missions, troops in Kaduna and Delta States rescued a total of seven kidnapped civilians, while another two victims were freed in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State following a swift response by troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE.’

The source said troops have continued to intensify anti-smuggling and anti-oil theft operations in the South South, noting that in Imo State, combined forces of 34 Artillery Brigade and Operation DELTA SAFE uncovered multiple illegal refining sites, and destroyed over 20,000 litres of stolen crude and refined products.

‘Troops equally recovered one dane gun, one fabricated pistol, three AK-47 magazines, 12 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 93 belted rounds of 7.62mm NATO and several motorcycles used for criminal activities,’ he said.

On Tuesday, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji resigned amid his spirited defence of the allegations of forgery against him by Premium Times, an online newspaper. The resignation came as a surprise, considering how he, his aides and friends were returning fire for fire. Really, it is good that he resigned so that he can have enough time to face his accusers.

His resignation should not be the end of the matter. It should be the beginning of it. What the publication accused him of is criminal in nature. The paper has published its findings following its investigation. Nnaji is disputing the publication’s claims. Who is telling the truth? Who is lying? We will soon know as the matter is in court. Does that not amount to putting the cart before the horse?

Why were the police not called in before the matter was taken to court? It would have been the appropriate thing to do because of the alleged crime. For now, all fingers are crossed as the public waits for Nnaji’s next move.

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s push for a brighter future of filmmaking in Nigeria is yielding fruits as the State Sugar Factory Film Studios unveiled its first film – Ajuwaya Series.

The movie – 85 per cent of which was executed in the state-of-the-art studios – was financed by First Lady Sen Oluremi Tinubu, who supported the facility with N350m.

At a media briefing for the unveiling of the project in Ilorin, Managing Director of the Studios, Gbenga Titiloye, said the movie stands the chance of attracting direct foreign investment, ‘because this is the only functional film studio in Africa’.

He commended the Governor’s foresight and his administration’s resolve to create a platform that nurtures artistry, innovation, and economic vitality.

‘Today, we gather to celebrate a milestone that marks not just the completion of a facility, but the dawn of a new era in Nigerian cinema and cultural expression-the successful completion of the Ajuwaya project,’ he said.

‘This moment stands as a testament to what can be achieved when vision, perseverance, and collaborative effort converge for the common good. What the Governor has achieved here is foreign direct investment because this is the only functional film studio in Africa, and 85 percent of this movie was done in this studio.

‘His Excellency’s willingness to champion a film studio in Nigeria demonstrates not only a bold strategic mind but also a deep faith in our people and their talent. It is through that foresight and resolve that we have arrived at this moment: a state-backed endeavour that nurtures artistry, innovation, and economic vitality’.

Titiloye also appreciated Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her generous donation to the Sugar Factory Studios, adding that her gesture reflects the spirit of national renewal and investment in the creative economy.

‘This grant (from the First Lady) is more than funding; it is a signal, a beacon, and a pledge that Nigeria will not only tell its stories but export them with pride and excellence,’ he said.

Speaking on the lessons to gain from Ajuwaya, Titiloye said the movie exemplifies how national and regional efforts can combine to create durable infrastructure for culture and economy.

The press briefing was attended by

Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Princess Olubukola Babalola; Commissioner for Communications, Hon Bola Olukoju; and General Manager, Sugar Factory Film Studios and Producer of the film, Grace Babasola.

Princess Babalola urged the youth to take advantage of the Sugar Film Studios to tap into the creative industry, saying theatre work is a model to reflect modern society.

‘This studio is important to economic growth, development growth and projecting our state as a leader in the area of theatre and creative industry generally. So, let us talk to our youth so that they can find their feet in this industry,’ she said.

Olukoju described the production of the Ajuwaya Series as a big win for the state, saying it signals the beginning of a new ecosystem in the creative industry in the sub-national.

‘For us in Kwara State, the creative industry is a big ecosystem. In the time of shooting this film, 1,211 participated. People benefited a lot, we have fashion designers, caterers, transporters, artisans, among others, and if we can have this regularly, it is going to open up the ecosystem of the creative industry. Every part of the economy benefited in the course of producing the film,’ she said.

Babasola lauded AbdulRazaq for the creation of the studios that he noted represents more than just a building or a production house.

‘Governor AbdulRazaq is a leader whose belief in the potential of young creatives has opened new doors for the film and entertainment industry in Nigeria,’ she said.

‘Ajuwaya is just the beginning. It is proof that when opportunity meets passion, great stories emerge that inspire, entertain, and remind us of who we are.’

A notable northern policy group, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT), has concluded arrangements to hold its Nigeria Independence Day Anniversary Lecture on October 30, 2025, in Kaduna.

Among the prominent personalities expected at the event is Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who will deliver the keynote address on the theme: ’65 Years of Nigeria’s Independence: The Journey So Far with the Renewed Hope Agenda in View.’

Other dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, and several serving ministers from the Federal Executive Council.

According to a statement by the Convener of ATT, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, northern elders, technocrats, and captains of industry will also be in attendance.

Yakubu explained that the event, earlier scheduled for October 9, 2025, was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the planning committee.

‘We have now reached a concrete conclusion that the lecture will hold on the new date, October 30, 2025, at the same venue, the Auditorium Hall of Arewa House, Kaduna,’ he said.

‘We are grateful to our supporters and partners who have stood by us this far, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the change of date might have caused our esteemed guests.’

Yakubu noted that President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address served as a clarion call for Nigerians to rekindle faith in the nation’s limitless potential.

He said the group aligns with the President’s message of hope, unity, and national rebirth, describing it as the moral compass needed to drive Nigeria’s development at this critical juncture.

The ATT, he added, firmly believes that national unity remains the foundation for Nigeria’s progress and collective advancement.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to service excellence and innovation as it joined the global celebration of Customer Service Week 2025, recording strong gains in customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The week-long event, which runs from October 6 to 10, has ‘Mission: Possible’ as theme and highlights the bank’s resolve to transform everyday challenges into opportunities through creativity, technology, and teamwork.

Describing the occasion, the bank’s Managing Director, Yemisi Edun said: ‘At FCMB, every day is an opportunity to provide excellent service. This week, we are proud to celebrate our customers and employees, whose dedication continues to drive our success.’

Executive Director, Corporate Services and Service Management, Felicia Obozuwa, reiterated the bank’s dedication in creating real value through customer experience and innovation.

‘In a fast-changing world, we are proud to deliver solutions that truly add value. Customer Service Week is another chance to thank our customers for their loyalty and our employees for their dedication,’ Obozuwa said.

As part of the celebrations, FCMB executives, including the Managing Director, took on customer-facing roles across various branches. They engaged directly with clients, listened to their feedback, and presented special gifts to customers. The bank also recognised children with Kiddies’ Accounts and rewarded its top 50 customers for their enduring loyalty and contribution to the bank’s growth.

To further appreciate its wider customer base, the bank rewarded more than 100,000 customers who purchased airtime and data through the FCMB Mobile App and 329# USSD code with a 10 percent bonus during a three-day campaign. In addition, select branches were fitted with refreshment booths to make in-branch visits more pleasant and interactive.

Employees also played a central role in the celebrations. Activities such as peer-to-peer recognition sessions, a Bankers Game Show, and a Theme Song Contest were organised to foster teamwork, celebrate excellence, and strengthen internal culture. The week’s events will culminate in a hybrid staff gathering, connecting employees physically and virtually across the country.

In line with this commitment, FCMB reported significant improvements in its Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a key measure of customer satisfaction and loyalty. The bank’s NPS, the management noted, rose to 74 per cent as of August 2025, surpassing the industry average, while its digital banking NPS also improved from 71 per cent to 75 per cent, reflecting stronger customer confidence in its digital platforms.

Now in its 41st year globally, Customer Service Week celebrates the role of service excellence in driving sustainable business growth. For FCMB, the event underscores its ongoing strategy to blend innovation, empathy, and digital transformation to strengthen relationships with customers, enhance satisfaction, and sustain business performance.

Executive Chairman of Geregu Power PLC, Mr Femi Otedola, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the full report of the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede panel that looked into the issue of fuel subsidy fraud. The panel was set up by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Otedola made the appeal in a statement reacting to the allegation by Umar Sani, a former Special Adviser (Media) to ex-Vice President, Namadi Sambo. Sani had claimed that Otedola’s (then) Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. benefitted from the scam he is now criticising.

‘I implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the full Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report on subsidy fraud as Nigerians deserve to know the truth’, Otedola said. Apparently having set up the panel, the government lost the courage to see it through.

‘It is on record that the Presidency at the time called on the late Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to halt the investigation. Let the report be made public so the real subsidy thieves can be unmasked,’ Otedola pleaded.

Although it was what Otedola saw as a malicious claim by Sani that brought the issue of the subsidy fraudsters to the fore this time around, that is not our concern here. Otedola said he has instructed his lawyers to slam a N1 billion defamation suit against Sani, since his company then, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. never benefitted from the subsidy scam for the simple fact that the company only imported diesel which enjoyed no subsidy as the diesel market had long been deregulated before then.

We leave how that pans out to the courts.

What interests us, as indeed millions of Nigerians, is the issue of subsidy fraud and the need to unmask the thieves, retrieve our stolen patrimony from them and also serve them their due desert.

Nigerians have come a long way about this matter and there is the need to bring closure to it. As Otedola himself noted, the Aig-Imoukhuede panel was not the first to be set up to unravel what actually happened during the subsidy regime. Before it was the Farouk Lawan committee.

Unfortunately, the committee could not conclude its assignment because the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the probe, headed by Farouk Lawan, was compromised in a sting operation organised by the Department of State Security (DSS) and Otedola. Otedola said he became a subject of victimisation by subsidy fraudsters when they discovered he was the one behind the probe.

Lawan fell for the marked money used for the sting operation and was arrested and prosecuted. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment for bribery.

It was after this that the Aig-Imoukhuede panel was set up.

Whilst the Lawan committee uncovered fraudulent payments over three years of about N1.7 trillion, Aig-imoukhuede ‘s committee indicted 21 companies for allegedly collecting N382 billion in one year (2011), in subsidy payments for fuel that was allegedly never delivered.

What is clear from both reports is that a lot of underhand dealings took place during the subsidy regime.

It is instructive that successive Nigerian governments, including even military regimes, shied away from subsidy removal in spite of its criticism in some quarters, like the World Bank that described the subsidy regime as ‘opaque, costly, unsustainable, harmful, and unfair.’

Nobody wanted to dare the civil society groups that always staged protests whenever any attempt was made either to remove or reduce fuel subsidy.

It took the Bola Tinubu administration the courage to do the rightful even though it has come with some pains to Nigerians.

This is why we agree with Mr Otedola that the government should open the book of rememberable as it concerns the fuel subsidy, as documented by the Aig-Imoukhuede panel.

The government should at least name and shame those who brought Nigerians to this sorry pass. It is the least it can do to assuage the pains of Nigerians.

The Presidency yesterday reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to inclusive growth and implementing tangible measures to ease economic hardship across the country.

It was responding to the World Bank Group report that poverty levels remain alarming, despite increased government revenues at all levels and higher capital spending by federal and state governments.

The Bank said 139 million Nigerians are probably living in poverty.

In a post on X, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, outlined key programmes and fiscal reforms driving the administration’s economic recovery and social protection agenda.

According to him, the Tinubu Administration ‘remains firmly focused on improving household welfare through targeted, verifiable interventions’ aimed at ensuring that economic growth translates into improved living standards.

He listed the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) as one of the flagship programmes, expanded to reach up to 15 million households nationwide, with over N297 billion disbursed since 2023 to poor and vulnerable families. Beneficiaries, he said, are being enrolled through a verified digital process under the National Social Register.

Dare also highlighted the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RH-WDEP) as ‘a major initiative targeting all 8,809 electoral wards’ to deliver micro-infrastructure, livelihood support, and social services at the grassroots.

He said the administration is consolidating the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) – including N-Power, GEEP micro-loans, and the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme – to protect jobs, support small businesses, and keep children in school.

On food security, Dare said government efforts are focused on curbing inflationary pressures through the distribution of subsidised grains and fertilisers, mechanisation partnerships, and revival of strategic food reserves.

He cited the establishment of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) to finance energy, road, and housing projects expected to reduce living costs and create jobs.

Similarly, the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) is expanding access to affordable credit for small businesses, women, and youth through risk-sharing partnerships with banks.

The presidential aide acknowledged that reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification have been tough but ‘necessary choices to tackle the root causes of poverty rather than its symptoms.’

‘Even the World Bank has acknowledged that these reforms are restoring macroeconomic stability and renewed growth momentum,’ Dare noted.

He said the administration’s priority remains ensuring that ‘economic growth must be inclusive,’ translating macroeconomic stability into affordable food, quality jobs, and reliable infrastructure.

According to him, investments are being scaled up in agriculture, MSMEs, and power.

He said the agricultural value chain expansion, gas-to-power initiatives, and skills development hubs are all designed to create jobs and lower living costs.

‘As these programmes mature, Nigerians should begin to feel visible improvements in food prices, income, and purchasing power,’ he assured.

He explained that the government is strengthening its social investment architecture through a unified, data-driven framework to enhance transparency and accountability.

This includes scaling up existing NSIP schemes, expanding the National Social Register, and rolling out the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme to ensure that ‘no vulnerable community is left behind.’

‘The reforms are necessary, the direction is right, and the foundation for a fairer and more prosperous Nigeria is being firmly laid,’ Dare said.

Tinubu to investors: best time to invest now

President Tinubu reiterated his call on local and international investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in Nigeria, saying reforms have stabilised the economy.

Speaking at the maiden Bauchi Investment Summit yesterday, with the theme ‘Revealing a Resilient Economy: Optimising Investment Partnerships’, the President – represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima – said, ‘Nigeria has exited a space of economic instability. There is no better time to choose Nigeria than now.’

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and business mogul Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi attended the summit.

President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment through transparency, strong partnerships, and consistent policies.

He praised Governor Bala Mohammed for organising the summit, describing it as ‘a march into the future.’

He identified Bauchi’s potential in agriculture, solid minerals, tourism, and renewable energy as aligning with the Federal Government’s diversification and job creation agenda.

The President listed major achievements, including reducing the debt-service-to-revenue ratio from 100 to less than 50 per cent, a 400 per cent rise in non-oil revenue, GDP growth of 4.23 per cent as of last month, external reserves of $43 billion, and a higher tax-to-GDP ratio of 13.5 per cent, up from seven per cent a few years ago.

‘These gains were made possible by bold reforms that promote productivity over consumption,’ President Tinubu said.

He lauded Indimi for pledging a $250 million investment in Bauchi and urged others to partner with the federal and state governments on viable projects. ‘This is not the time for mere talk. Let us move from paper to performance,’ he added.

Obasanjo, who inaugurated the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, described it as a world-class facility that could make Bauchi a hub for tourism and investment.

He commended Governor Mohammed for his vision and pledged to support the state’s investment drive.

Mohammed assured investors of safety, saying: ‘We will make you and your investments safer than us.’

He said the state would expand solar projects and improve water management to support industrial growth.

World Bank: reforms boost revenue

The World Bank Group reported that Nigeria’s economic reforms have significantly increased government revenues at all levels, leading to higher capital spending by federal and state governments.

This was contained in its Nigeria Development Update (NDU) titled ‘From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home’, released in Abuja yesterday.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the reforms are delivering measurable fiscal outcomes, including improved revenue generation, higher public investment, and macroeconomic stability.

Lead Economist Samer Matta said gross revenues shared as federation allocations have risen sharply over the past eight months.

However, he cautioned that ‘a large portion of what is collected goes to deductions that don’t impact real development outcomes.’

The report noted that sub-governments now allocate 60-65 per cent of total spending to capital projects.

Capital spending by states rose from about one per cent of GDP in 2022 to a projected 2.7 per cent by 2025.

Verghis observed that at the federal level, recurrent expenditure still dominates, with wages and salaries taking about 70 per cent of total spending.

He said the economy is showing ‘encouraging signs of stabilisation’ as revenue collection improves, debt indicators strengthen, and inflation begins to ease.

However, he warned that poverty levels remain alarming, projecting 139 million Nigerians could live in poverty by 2025. ‘The challenge is how to translate stabilisation gains into better living standards,’ he said.

Verghis urged the government to reduce inflation, especially food inflation, use public funds efficiently, and expand social safety nets.

The report projects GDP growth to rise to 4.4 per cent by 2027, driven by stronger services, agriculture rebound, and industrial recovery under a stable macroeconomic environment.

Inflation is expected to fall to 15.8 per cent, and fiscal deficit to average 2.7 per cent of GDP between 2026 and 2027.

Nigeria’s debt, the Bank said, would remain stable in the low 40 per cent of GDP range, though risks persist from oil price shocks, reform fatigue, and climate events.

Overall, the World Bank said Nigeria’s reforms are yielding fiscal and macroeconomic gains, but the main challenge remains ensuring these translate into tangible improvements in living standards and poverty reduction.

The semifinals of the 2025 Zenith Bank/Delta Principals Cup football competition takes place at two centres today, October 9.

On September 18, the annual competition kicked off in Asaba and now the final four teams have emerged out of over 1,000 secondary schools that started the competition from the preliminary stage.

Warri South LG represented by Ogbe Ijoh Grammar School are through to the last four and they will face Justice, Peace and Success Secondary School representing Aniocha South LG area of Delta Sate. The match is slated for Notre Dame College, Ozoro.

The second semifinals will see Otokutu Grammar School representing Ughelli South take on Urhobo College, Effurun, representing Uvwie LG in a match slated for Government College, Ughelli.

These four semi-finalists took part in the preliminaries to represent their respective Local Governments and also went ahead to emerge tops at the zonal qualifiers decided at various centres before the quarterfinals that took place only on Tuesday in four different centres across the state.

CEO of Hideaplus, the organisers of the annual youth developmental football competition, Tony Pemu, told our correspondent that the 2025 event has been very exciting.

‘We have seen games from the zonal and quarterfinal stage looking like the final in terms of the skills displayed and the talents exhibited. In the semis we expect more responses from the players just as we expect a big final on October 16 in Asaba,’ Pemu said.

Meanwhile, a total of 64 players have been scouted so far with the potential of moving on to greener pastures to horn their trade in the round leather game.

The players include Salah James, Divine Efenudi, Oghenevwere Johnson, Young Jeffrey, Ojobo Rejoice, Okiki Victor, Nwori Ifeanyi, Eze Destiny and Evans Faith to mention just a few.

The winners of Tuesday’s semi-final matches will be through to lay in the final of this edition, the 8th in the series, slated for the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba.

After several weeks of sustained public debate, featuring rigorous claims and counterclaims from the Premium Times newspaper and supporters of Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the allegation of forgery levelled against the ex minister reached its conclusion on Tuesday, 7th October 2025.

On that date, Chief Nnaji, who until that time held the portfolio for Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, formally tendered his resignation from the Federal Executive Council. He submitted his official resignation letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

In his correspondence, the former minister expressed his profound gratitude to the President for the confidence placed in him and for the privilege of serving in the administration. He extended his best wishes for the continued success of the government’s agenda. Concurrently, he articulated his position that the allegations against him constituted a coordinated campaign of political blackmail, orchestrated by opponents seeking to undermine his work.

In his response, President Tinubu acknowledged Chief Nnaji’s service to the nation, thanked him for his contributions during his tenure, and wished him success in his future endeavours.

The announcement was met with widespread surprise, as the minister’s decision to voluntarily relinquish his position was widely unexpected.

When I first saw the headline about Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji resigning, I sighed. In Nigeria? I braced for the usual circus, what many in his position would have done. The furious denials, the press conferences with hired crowds, the legal threats thrown at journalists, the desperate attempts to drag the entire apparatus of government into a personal battle. It is a tired, ugly play we all know by heart, a script written in the ink of impunity and performed with brazen defiance. But Chief Nnaji didn’t go that path. He didn’t even glance at the old script. Rather, he towed the path of honour, a path so rarely taken it seems almost revolutionary.

When I read his statement, I had to read it again. And something felt. different. It was the quiet, the lack of noise. It wasn’t a retreat under fire; it was a strategic, dignified withdrawal in the interest of a higher cause.

In his decision to step down, he joins the ranks of brave leaders like Goodwill Jonathan and others who have chosen principle over position. It is crucial to understand this point: his resignation is not an admission of guilt. Far from it. He has resigned as a man of honour.

He has chosen to fight for his name and his integrity from outside the government. This is a strategic move to ensure that when he clears his name in court, the victory cannot be tarnished by any claims of bias or political interference.

Here is a man who built a successful business over many years. He is a man of independent wealth who chose to put his own affairs on hold to answer the call of national service.

Ultimately, he has shown that no single political career is worth the turmoil upsetting his Ministry or distracting from President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. For him, the nation’s stability and his own good name come first.

He didn’t wait to be pushed. He wasn’t defiantly clinging to his seat, leveraging connections and power to remain entrenched. He was just. stepping aside. In a system where political power is treated like a lifelong trophy, where simply holding on to your position is seen as a sign of strength and ‘street credibility,’ this man simply let go. It’s a move so quiet, it’s almost deafening in its implication.

Let’s forget the legalities for a moment. The courts will do their work. Let’s talk about the simple, human wisdom in what he did. He talks about a reputation built over five decades. I know a thing or two about that. When you have spent that long building something-a career, a name, the respect of your peers, the idea of it being trashed in a week of ‘orchestrated. malicious attacks’ must be a special kind of agony. Your first instinct is to fight, to stand your ground, to show you won’t be moved, to deploy every weapon in your arsenal.

But Chief Nnaji did something else. He must have sat down, maybe in his study a night before, and asked himself a simple question: what is this actually costing? Not just for him, personally. But for the ministry he leads. For the young, bright minds in that department trying to launch a new tech initiative, whose innovative work is now being drowned out by the cacophony of scandal. For the civil servants whose morale is tied to the integrity of their leadership. And crucially, for the President’s agenda, which he claims to believe in. He realised that his very presence in that office had become the story. The work wasn’t the headline anymore; he was.

So, he made a choice. A choice that looks almost alien here: he put the work before the worker. This is where his profound respect for the institutions of state becomes glaringly evident. His resignation was not an admission of guilt; it was a profound affirmation of faith in the system. He said his resignation was to ‘preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings.’ That is not just lawyer-speak. Think about it. How can a case proceed fairly when one of the parties is a sitting minister, with all the power, influence, and patronage that entails? Every legal manoeuvre would be seen through a political lens. Every ruling, from the lowest court to the highest, would be dissected for signs of pressure or favour. The very institution of the judiciary would be under a cloud of perceived partiality. By stepping down, he has taken himself out of that equation. He is saying, ‘Try me as Uche Nnaji, the citizen. Not Uche Nnaji, the Honourable Minister.’ It is a stunning act of respect for the law itself, an act that strengthens the judiciary by allowing it to function without the shadow of executive influence.

Furthermore, his action demonstrates a deep and often overlooked form of respect for the Office of the President. In our political climate, the most damaging thing a subordinate can do to a leader is to become a constant source of distraction and negative publicity. To cling to office while mired in controversy is to force the President into a corner-to either defend the indefensible, thereby tarnishing his own credibility, or to engage in the publicly messy and politically costly act of firing an appointee. Chief Nnaji, in his wisdom, spared the President that invidious choice. He recognised that his continued presence in the cabinet was becoming a liability to an administration he pledged to serve. His resignation, therefore, was an act of loyalty. It was him saying, ‘The mission of this government, as set by you, Mr. President, is more important than my individual role in it. I will not allow my personal problems to become an obstacle to your vision for the nation.’ This is the epitome of putting the collective good over personal ambition, a lesson in true loyalty that many in the corridors of power have yet to learn.

This is what gets me. In Nigeria, we have become so used to people fighting to the bitter end that we have forgotten there can be strength in stepping back. We confuse stubbornness with principle. We see someone clinging to a title with bloody fingernails and call it courage, mistaking destruction for resilience. But what takes more courage? Holding on to power when everyone is telling you to let go? Or being the one to voluntarily open your hand and let it slip away, trusting that your name and your legacy are stronger than any single job title?

Chief Nnaji is betting on his legacy. He is trading the fleeting, day-to-day power of a minister for something more lasting: the story of the man who did the honourable thing. He knows that in the long run, that story is more powerful. He can now fight his legal battle without dragging an entire government department through the mud with him. If he is vindicated, he returns to public life with his head held higher than ever, his integrity not just intact but burnished. If not, he has at least spared the institution further damage and exited with a measure of dignity.

This is the lesson from which every other public official, from the highest to the lowest, must learn. The lesson is not about resigning at the first sign of trouble, but about possessing the situational awareness and moral compass to understand when one’s presence is harming the very institution they are meant to serve. They must learn that true power is not in the ability to command and control, but in the wisdom to know when to let go for the greater good. They must learn that respecting the President is not just about public sycophancy or blind obedience, but about taking responsible actions that protect his agenda and the integrity of his office from unnecessary scandal. They must learn that institutions-the judiciary, the civil service, the ministries-are fragile ecosystems that require nurturing and protection from the corrosive effects of personal scandal and political brinksmanship.

This should not be about whether he is guilty or innocent. That is for the judges. This is about a different kind of verdict-one on our political culture. For years, we have been begging for a different kind of politics. We complain that our leaders don’t have shame, that they have no sense of propriety, that the concept of the ‘greater good’ is dead. Then, one man, in the twilight of his career, actually embodies it. He gives us a living, breathing example of what it looks like to value the health of the system over the ambition of the individual. And our first reaction is often cynical disbelief. We’re so conditioned to the ugly game that a clean move looks suspicious.

Maybe it is time we recognised the move for what it is: mature, strategic, deeply honourable, and institutionally astute. He has not just resigned from a job. He has offered a masterclass in public service, a tutorial in patriotic loyalty, and a blueprint for ethical conduct. He has shown his colleagues that true honour is not about the title before your name, but the integrity of the name you leave behind after the title is gone. He has demonstrated that the strongest legacy is not one of power held, but of dignity preserved and institutions respected.

Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, former Minister, has done more to innovate our political science and technology, to reboot our civic software, than any policy paper or technological initiative he could have ever launched from his office. He has given us a new code to run our democracy on, if only we are brave enough to install it.