Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Senator Shehu Buba has commended security agencies for the arrest of the individuals behind a coordinated defamatory campaign that targeted him and others.

Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, urged Nigerians to remain peaceful, verify information before sharing, and focus on issues affecting society.

‘I have always stood for peace and the welfare of our people. I deny these baseless allegations and will continue to work in favour of Bauchi South,’ the lawmaker assured.

Security agents recently apprehended some social media influencers allegedly behind a smear campaign against political office holders, including Senator Buba.

The arrests followed an intensive investigation involving the monitoring of social media posts and accounts linked to the spread of manipulated content and hate speech.

Buba, in particular, was accused of links with banditry. Despite his repeated denials, the attackers continued to malign him across various platforms before the authorities intervened.

The perpetrators used doctored video clips to produce and distribute fake news aimed at damaging the lawmaker’s reputation both in the legislature and ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Following their arrest in northern states, some of the influencers admitted to being misled by persons they had trusted. Those granted bail have issued apologies through videos and written statements on their social media pages.

In a video, one of the influencers, Nasiru Ontop, said: ‘We made a grave mistake by trusting Kibanna, someone we barely knew. His documents were fake. It wasn’t until our arrest that we began to question his authenticity.

‘His TikTok account has now been deleted. We acted on misinformation and forged documents, and for that, we apologise to Senator Shehu Umar Buba and everyone affected,’ he added.

Abdulrashid Abdullahi Kano, who operated under a Facebook page ‘Vanguard Hausa,’ also issued a statement: ‘We have confirmed that the video accusing Senator Shehu Buba Umar is false and malicious.

‘It was fabricated by enemies of peace to tarnish his image. Senator Buba has consistently promoted peace and reconciliation, working with clerics and community leaders to resolve conflicts in Bauchi South.’

Despite two decades of global decline in tobacco use, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm over a fresh wave of nicotine addiction, this time driven by e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products targeting the youth. A new WHO global report reveals that while the number of tobacco users has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, a significant 27 per cent reduction, one in every five adults worldwide remains addicted.

Even more worrying, over 100 million people are now using e-cigarettes, including 15 million adolescents aged 13-15, who are, on average, nine times more likely to vape than adults. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as a ‘fightback’ by the tobacco industry, which is deploying sleek marketing tactics and new nicotine products, from e-cigarettes to heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, to recruit the next generation of users. ‘Millions are quitting thanks to tobacco control efforts,’ he said. ‘But the tobacco industry is fighting back with new products aggressively targeting young people. Governments must act faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco control policies.’

For the WHO Director of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, Dr Etienne Krug, ‘E-cigarettes are fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction. They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.’ The report shows that women are leading the global quit revolution. Between 2010 and 2024, the number of female tobacco users fell sharply from 277 million to 206 million, reducing global prevalence among women from 11 per cent to 6.6per cent. Women met the global 30 per cent reduction target for 2025 five years early, in 2020.

Men, however, lag behind. With nearly one billion still using tobacco, men account for over 80 per cent of global users. Their prevalence dropped from 41.4per cent in 2010 to 32.5per cent in 2024, but at a pace too slow to meet global targets before 2031. WHO’s analysis presents a mixed picture of global tobacco use. South-East Asia recorded the most progress, with male tobacco use nearly halved, from 70 per cent in 2000 to 37 per cent in 2024, accounting for over half of the global decline. The Americas followed with a 36 per cent relative reduction, bringing prevalence down to 14 per cent.

In contrast, Africa recorded the lowest prevalence globally at 9.5 per cent, but population growth continues to push up the absolute number of users. Europe now stands out as the world’s highest-prevalence region, with 24.1 per cent of adults still using tobacco. European women also have the highest female tobacco use globally, at 17.4 per cent. The Eastern Mediterranean region reported a prevalence rate of 18 per cent, with some countries showing rising trends, while the Western Pacific region showed the slowest progress, 22.9 per cent of adults still use tobacco, with men in the region recording the world’s highest prevalence at 43.3 per cent.

WHO is calling for urgent action from governments to step up the fight against tobacco and nicotine products. The global health organisation recommends countries adopt and enforce the MPOWER package, a set of proven tobacco control measures under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Key actions include raising tobacco taxes, banning advertising and sponsorships, closing regulatory loopholes for emerging products like e-cigarettes, and expanding cessation services to help millions quit. ‘Nearly 20 per cent of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We cannot let up now,’ warned Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. ‘The world has made gains, but stronger, faster action is the only way to beat the tobacco epidemic.’

Presidential Community Engagement Office (Southwest) has continued its BAT-STEM education initiative, reaching pupils and teachers in Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun States with learning materials.

In Ondo State, pupils of St. James CAC Caring Heart Mega School and Iloro Community Primary School, Akure, got materials to make learning easier and engaging. The team moved to Ekiti State, where Methodist Primary School, Ilisa Quarters, St. Andrew’s Primary School, both in Omuo-Ekiti, and Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti, witnessed similar gestures. Pupils got scholarship support, bags, sandals, exercise books, pens, pencils, and math sets, while teachers got tools to enhance classroom delivery; boards, markers, and dusters.

In Osun State, the initiative reached Modakeke High School, Modakeke, and Moremi High School, Ile-Ife, where the vision of Renewed Hope was strengthened. Pupils, teachers, and the community participated in an exercise that provided educational materials and empowerment, reflecting values of compassion, equity, and opportunity that define the programme.

‘This gesture will encourage pupils to take their studies seriously. We are grateful to President Bola Tinubu for making education a priority,’ Mrs. Mary Akinyemi, headteacher of Ado Grammar School, said.

To boost innovation and sustainability in Nigeria’s energy industry, FOSL Upstream Limited, a subsidiary of Ailes Group, has entered into a strategic partnership with Knox Western – Didwania Group, a global leader in compressor systems and engineered energy solutions.

The partnership is focused on the manufacturing, supply, sales, and maintenance of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and cryogenic compressor pumps, combining world-class engineering expertise with local capacity to deliver efficient and sustainable energy solutions.

According to the partners, the collaboration brings together Knox Western – Didwania Group’s global technical excellence and FOSL Upstream’s operational strength and strategic market presence across Africa. And it’s to deliver end-to-end solutions that enhance energy accessibility and support the transition to cleaner energy sources.

On the partnership, Dr. Michael Onuoha, Chairman and CEO of Ailes Group and FOSL Upstream Limited, said the alliance marks a milestone in the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.

‘This partnership is a significant step in our mission to champion innovation within the energy landscape. By aligning FOSL Upstream’s operational strengths with Knox Western – Didwania Group’s engineering heritage, we are set to redefine compressor technology, reliability, and service delivery,’ Dr. Onuoha said.

‘Beyond technology, we are also committed to developing local capacity through training, technology transfer, and creating job opportunities that will strengthen indigenous participation in the energy value chain.’

The partnership, he added, reflects both companies’ shared vision for a sustainable energy future built on innovation, operational excellence, and strategic collaboration.

FOSL Upstream Limited, part of the Ailes Group, is a Nigerian energy services company known for delivering advanced technical solutions in upstream oil and gas operations. The firm has built a reputation for innovation, local content development, and strategic partnerships that promote sustainable growth in the sector.

Knox Western – Didwania Group, on its part, boasts decades of global experience in CNG and cryogenic technologies, providing reliable and efficient products for industrial and energy applications worldwide.

Both companies say their collaboration will set new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global drive for cleaner energy solutions.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Wale Edun, on Thursday, assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is working to sustain growth in the 46 sectors of the economy towards lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

Edun spoke when he led some members of the economic team of the present administration to an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Finance.

The Senate also gave Edun two weeks to make available to it, performance reports on the 2024 and 2025 capital budgets.

In his opening remarks before the session resolved into a closed door session, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sanni Musa (APC – Niger East), noted that the

fiscal pressures confronting the country presently called for ‘frank discussion, coordinated responses, and above all, renewed discipline in public financial management.’

Over the years, according to him, the country made commendable progress in strengthening its budget frameworks.

‘But recent realities – declining revenues, rising debt service costs, and unpredictable oil receipts – demand a fundamental rethink of how we plan, allocate, manage, and communicate transparently, so that we can all understand where we are.

‘Our focus must now shift from an envelope-based budget to a performance and priority-based system, where every Naira is linked to a measurable outcome.

‘Fiscal sustainability can no longer be a slogan. It must be the guiding principle of our budget processes and decisions.

‘We must also address revenue leakages, improve expenditure efficiency, and strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office. Greater transparency and accountability will restore public confidence and ensure that monetary allocations translate into tangible developmental impacts.’

He reiterated the commitment of the Committee, to support the ongoing fiscal reforms; to working collaboratively with the Ministry and the Budget Office; and to ensuring that what happened in 2024 and 2025 will not happen in 2026.

‘Our budgets must truly reflect national priorities and deliver measurable results for the Nigerian people,’ he said.

He said the meeting became necessary for the Minister of Finance to brief the Committee on the 2024 national budget – ‘which is an Appropriation Act and therefore, the law of the land.’

‘Where are we in its implementation? We are in October, the last quarter of the year. We should already be preparing for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which by law ought to have been presented by now.

‘The reason for convening this meeting, therefore, is to know the status of the 2024 and 2025 budgets and to understand progress toward the 2026 MTEF and national budget. We will soon begin planning for the 2026 budget.’

In his response, Edun said that major distortions in the economy are being corrected and with declining inflation.

He said the economy witnessed a 4.23% growth in the second quarter, noting that the focus of the present administration is to sustain present economic growth with the aim of lifting millions of Nigeria out of poverty.

Edun said: ‘At this point in time, we all agree that we have an economy where major distortions are being corrected – an economy that is stabilising, with inflation beginning to decline and growth accelerating across sectors.

‘In the second quarter of 2025, the economy grew at 4.23%. However, when you disaggregate that growth, you’ll see that the job-creating industrial sector grew by over 7%, specifically 7.45%. That is significant because it doubles the population growth rate and helps generate income to lift people out of poverty.

‘Against that backdrop, our focus remains on sustaining broad-based growth across all 46 sectors of the economy to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

‘With regard to the 2024 and 2025 budgets, we have maintained relatively high levels of performance, particularly under the capital component, which runs until the end of this year. We are committed to ensuring full implementation of the 2025 capital budget as well.

‘As the Chairman rightly noted, we must put an end to the culture of budget overruns and repeated extensions of capital implementation. That is a collective commitment.’

The Federal Government has directed all tertiary institutions to submit reconciled reports of unutilised funds received from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) within 30 days.

According to the government, the reconciled reports will undergo joint verification after submission to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the intervention funds.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, gave the directive during a meeting with heads of federal tertiary institutions, bursars, and procurement directors on unutilised TETFund allocations, held in Abuja on Thursday.

Alausa stated that following the meeting, the Federal Ministry of Education will issue new directives to ensure more effective use of TETFund resources across the nation’s tertiary institutions.

He emphasized the central role of education in national development, saying, ‘Education remains the bedrock of national development. As a nation, we commit substantial resources to strengthening infrastructure, human capital, research, and the learning environment across our tertiary institutions. TETFund plays a pivotal role as the vehicle through which the Federal Government channels support to our universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.’

‘However, one recurring challenge that has continued to undermine this investment is the existence of unutilised balances – funds released for specific projects or interventions that are either not deployed on time or not fully expended before new allocations are made. Over time, these idle funds represent lost opportunities – resources that could have improved laboratories, classrooms, ICT facilities, research centres, faculty development, and more, but did not, due to process delays, weak absorptive capacity, or compliance and accountability gaps.

‘Institutions must submit reconciled reports of all unutilised funds within 30 days, which will be jointly verified. Unused funds may be redirected to priority projects, and carrying them over without strong justification will no longer be allowed.

‘Procurement plans must align with approved interventions, and approvals should be fast-tracked to prevent delays.’

The minister noted that capacity-building programmes will be introduced to strengthen project management, compliance, and reporting, alongside mentorship initiatives.

He also hinted of quarterly reviews that will track progress and compliance, with sanctions for institutions that fail to utilise funds effectively.

According to the minister, heads of institutions, bursars, and procurement directors will be held responsible for slippages.

Alausa said, ‘Finally, transparency will be enhanced through a public dashboard showing disbursement and utilisation data, and institutions will be required to publish project progress reports.

‘The success of this initiative depends on strong collaboration. TETFund must lead with professionalism, enforce compliance, and ensure transparency.

‘Institutional heads should drive urgency and accountability, while bursars, procurement officers, and project coordinators must plan and report diligently. Auditors and oversight bodies are expected to monitor activities and flag irregularities. All stakeholders must uphold a sense of stewardship, recognising that every TETFund naira represents public trust.

‘Let us seize this moment to turn the narrative around. Let unutilised balances no longer be a recurring embarrassment, but rather the catalyst for improved governance, greater productivity, and transformative impact in our tertiary education system.

‘Our students, faculty, and the future of our nation depend on it. With your cooperation, sincerity, and commitment, I am confident that every fund allocated will translate into tangible outcomes – classrooms built, laboratories equipped, research enhanced, faculty developed, and students empowered.’

From the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, renowned industrialist, Atedo Peterside, former Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) Director-General, Arunma Oteh, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah, came yesterday a pat on the back of the Federal Government, labour unions, and Dangote Refinery for stepping back from confrontation and resolving Dangote Refinery dispute through dialogue.

In a joint statement on the ‘Dangote Refinery Dispute’, they noted with concern the recent crisis and disruptions surrounding the Dangote Refinery.

‘Although the immediate crisis has been de-escalated through government mediation and renewed dialogue between labour and management, the episode raises important lessons for Nigeria’s economic future,’ they said.

They explained that for decades, Nigerians endured the collapse of government-owned refineries, the waste of trillions of naira in subsidies, and dependence on fuel imports. These failures left citizens exposed to scarcity, inflation, and insecurity.

‘In this context, the Dangote Refinery represents more than a private venture; it is a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve. Already, the refinery has begun to ease supply pressures, with petrol prices in some parts of the country dropping from around ?1,500 per litre to about ?820 – a 55% reduction. This impact on transport costs and food prices offers Nigerians a glimpse of how local productivity can improve daily life. It also signals to investors at home and abroad that industry, rather than speculation, can still thrive in Nigeria,’ they said.

‘However, the strikes and threats that accompanied this transition send the wrong signals. Industrial disputes, if not carefully managed, risk discouraging both domestic and foreign investment at a time when Nigeria most needs capital and innovation. A refinery of this scale is a national lifeline, with profound consequences for jobs, energy security, and inflation,’ they said.

The said that workers’ rights must be respected.

‘The Constitution guarantees the right to organise and to demand fair treatment. No enterprise can succeed without motivated, fairly treated workers. Markets and productivity must be protected. The right to organise cannot become a license to hold the economy hostage. Productive enterprises that lower costs and create jobs must be safeguarded,’ they said.

‘Social responsibility and accountability must remain central. Investors of this magnitude must operate transparently, uphold fair labour practices, and reinvest in the communities they serve,’ they said.

‘We also note that concerns about monopoly or market dominance should not be settled by disruptive industrial action. Nigeria has institutions, such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), that are mandated to assess such claims. Where there are legitimate issues of pricing or dominance, the proper channel is through these statutory bodies, not strikes that harm ordinary Nigerians,’ they added.

‘Moreover, as has been noted, there is no legal monopoly here; others are free to invest in refining, provided they can mobilise the necessary resources and expertise,’ they stated.

According to them, this crisis is not about a refinery or any other business. ‘It is about the direction of our economy: whether we will continue in a cycle of scarcity and rent-seeking or build a future anchored on productivity, fairness, and shared prosperity. The Dangote refinery represents an audacious step forward. It should not be undermined but strengthened – as a signal to other industrialists that investing in Nigeria’s future is worthwhile’, they added.

Arsenal have held internal discussions about expanding the capacity of Emirates Stadium.

The talks are still at an early stage with no favoured plan on how to move forward decided yet, but the possibility of home matches being played at Wembley Stadium if work was to take place has been discussed.

The Gunners played Champions League matches at the old Wembley Stadium in both the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.

Rivals Tottenham played Champions League matches at the current Wembley in 2016-17, before playing all of their ‘home’ fixtures at Wembley in 2017-18 and most of 2018-19 while their new stadium was completed.

Next year will mark 20 years since the Gunners moved to the Emirates from Highbury.

It is understood talks have involved the possibility of changing the seating plan in order to add thousands of seats as the Gunners look to keep pace with the largest stadiums in the country.

With a capacity of 60,704, Arsenal have the fifth-largest stadium among English football clubs.

Manchester United’s Old Trafford is the biggest ground with a capacity of 74,879, while Tottenham’s home is second (62,850), West Ham (62,500) third and Liverpool (61,276) fourth.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said it will, within the month, launch an enhanced and upgraded system for the processing of driver’s licences and vehicle number plates to ensure effective and efficient service delivery nationwide.

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, announced this yesterday in Abuja while addressing the corps workers and stakeholders during the 2025 Customer Service Week celebration of the corps.

Mohammed said the new system would significantly reduce waiting time, ensure faster processing, and improve data integrity.

The corps marshal explained that the initiative was part of broader efforts to modernise FRSC’s operations through technology.

He said the FRSC recognised the invaluable trust and loyalty of its customers, describing them as critical partners in the corps’ collective achievements in road safety administration across the country.

‘For every challenge solved, opportunities seized, and milestones recorded, it’s made possible by the trust and loyalty of our customers,’ Mohammed said.

The corps marshal expressed appreciation to FRSC’s personnel and customers for their cooperation and commitment.

He assured them that the corps would continue to advocate for effective legislation, policy implementation, and sustained enforcement.

This, Mohammed said, would be to reduce road crashes, fatalities and injuries nationwide.

He expressed concern over the challenges that applicants experienced in processing and obtaining driver’s licences and vehicle number plates.

According to him, the FRSC is aware of the delays and difficulties that applicants face nationwide.

‘We want to also apologise to our team and customers for the delay and difficulty experienced over a period of time in processing and obtaining a driver’s licence and number plate.

‘I want to assure them that we are upscaling and upgrading the technology and system infrastructure of these two products.

‘By the grace of God, within this month, we are launching an enhanced system to improve service delivery and efficiency,’ he added.

The corps marshal also urged motorists and all road users to continue to obey traffic rules and regulations, emphasising that adherence remains the foundation of safety on the roads.

‘We want to tell our teeming motorists and road users that they should continue to abide by road traffic rules and regulations so that we have safety first, safety always and safety forever,’ Mohammed said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Customer Service Week is celebrated annually to prioritise customer satisfaction and honour the contributions of service providers and consumers across sectors.

‘Woe betide a society whereby their dead leaders are better than their leaders that are alive’ . Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule CFR, the Late Dan Masanin Kano, and Former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations

For the record, I am from Northern Nigeria, a Muslim, and a patriot of Nigeria. I am currently not a member of any political party. However, I am worried that our narratives and posturing as northerners will not change our collective situation for good unless we tell ourselves the truth and take the necessary actions.

By the way, while I am talking about northern Nigeria, the people from other regions in Nigeria should also take my message as a mirror for their regions, so that they can also make progress. Because we all have similar tendencies.

The Crux of the Issues.

It is proper and very important for interest groups of northern Nigeria, like other regional, ethnic, and religious groups in Nigeria, to continue advocating for good governance and pushing for more equitable leadership and representation at the federal level, while keeping the fee of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to fire.

However, in my view, the issues bedeviling northern Nigeria and the actual solutions will depend on how we, the northern elites and establishment, view the issues, our sincerity of purpose, and the actions that we take to address them. The root causes of most of the challenges facing Northern Nigeria are more regional and local than federal. Therefore, we must refocus, expand our vision, and change our mindsets if there is to be any hope of redemption, growth, and development.

Living in denial and blaming trade will only complicate and exacerbate our situations. The combined ticking time bombs of tribalism, ethnic jingoism, religious extremism, religious bigotry, hypocrisy, poverty, jealousy and envy, greed, hatred, erosion of our core values, corruption, etc., are part of the multi-dimensional issues that we must address as our realities. Indeed, we must also accept that the issues are mostly self-inflicted, either deliberately or inadvertently.

Consequently, political grandstanding and gaslighting will not help us but only make our matters worse. The population growth rate of northern Nigeria, the preponderance of out-of-school children, rising unemployment, youth restiveness, rising social vices, insecurity, etc., in northern Nigeria reflect our dire situation, which calls for sincere and sober reflections. Without decisive actions to contain the ugly trends rather than blaming trade, we will be doomed.

Some questions for all of us who are Nigerians from the northern region are as follows:

Having produced the highest number of Presidents and Heads of State in Nigeria, and having been key stakeholders in the political evolution of this country, how many banks are owned by northern Nigerians? How many media houses are owned by northern Nigerians? How many manufacturing plants, or factories, are owned by northern Nigerians, apart from Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu, and a few others? How many industries or factories in Nigeria are operated or managed by northern Nigerians? How many of the former State Governors of northern Nigeria have even a ‘pure water’ factory where they have employed 10 people? How many of all former State governors of northern Nigeria, former and serving Senators, and Members of the House of Representatives are actually employing people or that actually have scholarship programs/systems whereby they are supporting children from their constituencies, with their own money, or the money they have taken from us? How many of us own or are managing (at top level) the insurance companies, and other private financial institutions, corporate organizations, apart from the Non-Executive Directorships that we are occasionally given, to give a semblance of national outlook for Companies that are owned majorly by southern Nigerians in which we have no real stake, etc.? These are the critical indicators that will tell us whether we are moving in the right direction or not. Today, most of the masses in northern Nigeria are ‘on their own’, with no help from the elites.

Most times, we, the elites, only speak out loudly when it comes to issues that directly affect us or our children, but not really for the common good. How did we allow our region to slide into the abyss of over 80 million out of over 133 million multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians? Are these issues entirely the fault of a President, i.e., President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan, President Muhammadu Buhari, or the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Why do we have to shout all the time about issues that we are also responsible for? For example, we have a situation whereby a former northern State governor, who was a governor maybe 15 years ago, has become a glorified personal assistant to a current state governor. This speaks volumes to how we are making progress as northern Nigerians, or as Nigeria in general, because, by the way, this is not just a northern Nigeria issue.

Certainly, if we are able to speak truths to ourselves, we may start moving in the right direction. Most of our leaders block their ears, close their eyes when they are in power, whether as Presidents, Vice Presidents, State Governors, Deputy Governors, Federal and State legislators, Judges, Chief Executives, Civil Servants, etc., but they shamelessly become ‘latter-day activists’ when they leave office, having failed to deliver good governance during their tenures. It is time that we, the people of Northern Nigeria, start calling out such leaders.

For the past 65 years in Nigeria, from independence to date, in every administration, northern Nigerians have been given the opportunity to lead or to serve. Whether the number is enough or not is not the issue. Recently, the late President Muhammadu Buhari was the President for eight years. How did our northern leaders, who were given the opportunities, perform? How did they change the fortunes of northern Nigeria within those eight years? Not long ago, during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, most of the top government officials who were found blameful or responsible for the diversion of the funds that were appropriated and disbursed for the procurement of weapons to fight terrorism were from Northern Nigeria. They were found to be in cahoots with misappropriating money that was meant to save/ protect their people, other Nigerians, and residents from being looted, kidnapped, raped, maimed, and killed daily in thousands. What This is the height of wickedness! Shame! What did the northern elders, elites, or citizens do, or what are they doing to stop these menaces and evil tendencies of self-service?

Currently, the two Ministers of Defense, two Ministers of Agriculture, the Coordinating Minister of Health, Minister of Information, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Transport, the National Security Adviser, etc., are from northern Nigeria. It does not matter what political party is in power at the federal level; we always have a significant share of power and the highest number of representatives in the power dynamics of Nigeria. Therefore, what should matter is how we perform and how we utilize the opportunities.

Self-Service OR Sincere Agitation?

For instance, months into the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there was agitation by the Northern elites that there was a plan by the administration to sack northerners from CBN, etc., when 70% of the children in the CBN are our children, i.e., children of the elites. What about the children of Shoe shiners or peasant farmers, etc? Are we addressing the issues of almost 70% of our public primary and secondary schools that are dilapidated, with our children that sit on bare floors, in open areas? How about the teeming Almajiris that we maltreat? Is that the responsibility of the federal government? We all know that the State governments are primarily responsible for primary and secondary schools’ education, and yet we have over 10 million children and youngsters out of school. How are we, the elites, also speaking truth to our state governors to ensure that they do the needful? So, these are the posers for us to address as Northern Nigerians.

Moreover, 70% of the leaders from North and indeed from Southern Nigeria came from humble backgrounds. But most of them forget where they come from, only when they need their votes. The fact is that about 60 or 50 years ago, they were given opportunities by leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, etc., and yet most of them have abandoned their people. Most of them were like the Almajiris of today, and yet they were given those opportunities to excel and become leaders in their Country. Now, all they think of is themselves and their children. Yet here we are blaming all our woes on any President who is in power.

Therefore, I urge our political, religious, traditional leaders, top leaders, intellectuals, and the entire elites to have a moment of introspection.

In the subsequent episode, I will continue expounding on the issues bedeviling northern Nigeria and how I think we should best address them.