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The Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, has said that the newly launched Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO) would unlock fresh private capital and revenue streams to ensure the long-term sustainability of off-grid infrastructure.

According to him, RAMCO will not burden the national treasury.

Speaking in Abuja at the launch of RAMCO, he said the company would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on government budgets, sovereign borrowing, and development finance to expand electricity access.

Aliyu said the new model would also enable existing renewable energy assets to generate predictable revenues that could be aggregated and potentially leveraged to attract private capital for additional infrastructure.

He added that RAMCO would enable capital deployed into mature renewable energy assets to be refinanced or recycled under robust commercial and regulatory frameworks, freeing up liquidity for new projects, describing the new model as the future of productive renewable energy asset utilisation.

He highlighted institutional continuity across both the ministry and the agency as the foundation for bringing the initiative to fruition.

Beyond asset management, Aliyu said RAMCO would support Nigeria’s efforts to develop local renewable energy manufacturing capacity.

He said REA had entered into a joint development arrangement with MOFI and InfraCorp involving German manufacturers for the production of solar modules, batteries, inverters, street lighting equipment and solar asset recycling.

The Chairman of the REA, Ayodele Fayose, described the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO) as the best thing to happen to Nigeria’s electricity sector.

Fayose commended the REA Managing Director and his management team for upholding a legacy of continuity.

He noted that it is not enough to simply build new projects; their maintenance and operational continuity are equally critical.

Fayose also emphasised the need for a shift in public attitude, stating that infrastructure will last significantly longer when Nigerians adopt an ownership mindset and protect public utilities.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, stated that renewable energy is not a peripheral component in Nigeria’s energy mix.

He announced that the government will build mini-grids in areas facing transmission deficits, emphasising that RAMCO was established to deliver sustainability and reliability while bridging the gap between accessibility and long-term viability.

The minister disclosed that a technical audit is currently underway on infrastructure over 42 years old, noting that these outdated facilities will be replaced with modern assets in a matter of weeks.

Highlighting asset optimisation through aggregation, he explained that energy resources will be strategically linked to high-demand clusters.

He added that the Federal Government will revisit the East-West supergrid project to build resilience into the national grid.

The minister further revealed that the Federal Government is targeting power generation of 6,500MW by year end and 8,000MW by the end of 2026.

He stated that 21 dormant dams will be put to productive use, noting that those identified along the Sokoto-Badagry expressway corridor will be made commercially viable.

‘Public investment must be matched by discipline to protect the assets,’ Tegbe stressed.

He further tasked the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) with prioritising grid and transmission assets, dispelling notions that these assets would be sold off and clarifying instead that they will be placed on a strong balance sheet to guarantee optimal utilisation.

Also speaking, the Managing Director/CEO of MOFI, Dr Armstrong Takang, highlighted the critical role RAMCO will play in actualising Nigeria’s target of a one-trillion-dollar economy.

He explained that the country must look beyond its debt profile and properly account for its capital assets to boost public revenue and enhance fiscal transparency.

Similarly, the Managing Director of InfraCorp, Dr Lazarus Angbazo, praised RAMCO as a landmark achievement of collaboration, adding that a portfolio of well-managed assets will unlock asset-backed financing, credit enhancement, and long-term institutional capital.

‘Infrastructure does not create value simply because it has been commissioned; it creates value because it continues to work.’

‘RAMCO exists to provide stewardship of Nigeria’s renewable energy assets by maintaining, optimizing, and restoring underperforming systems so they continue to deliver services. It represents a major opportunity for the private sector and will cultivate a competitive renewable energy economy,’ Angbazo stated.

The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, also welcomed the initiative.

He noted that RAMCO provides investors with a transparent portfolio backed by sound lifecycle planning and credible performance tracking, firmly positioning Nigeria as a serious destination for global renewable energy investments.

Delivering his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described reliable electricity as a non-negotiable clinical input critical to saving lives, powering neonatal incubators, operating theatres, and cold-chain vaccine storage.

Highlighting that between 60 and 70 per cent of Nigeria’s public health facilities face severe outages or complete energy poverty, with teaching hospitals spending up to half their operating budgets on diesel, Dr Salako hailed RAMCO as the missing operational link needed to fulfil the presidential Nigeria Power-for-Health Initiative, which aims to electrify at least 30 per cent of health facilities by the end of 2027.

Dr Salako explained that over 30 per cent of solar systems installed in Primary Health Care Centres historically fail within three years due to a lack of maintenance budgets, spare parts, and post-commissioning ownership.

To solve this, he proposed four key synergies: designating health facilities as a distinct asset class within RAMCO, integrating RAMCO’s commercial asset management with hospital-level energy teams, unifying energy audit data, and directing a portion of recycled capital to aggregate and sustain off-grid primary healthcare centres.

The Federal Government on Wednesday launched a $1 billion social protection initiative, the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP).

The initiative, aimed at lifting vulnerable Nigerians from temporary palliatives to sustainable pathways of economic empowerment and self-reliance, was unveiled at an elaborate ceremony at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

Presenting her address, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu said vulnerable Nigerians were the target of the initiative, which is aimed at lifting them from poverty to a decent and sustainable standard of living.

Senator Tinubu listed the initiatives as the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project, known as HOPE-SP; the One-Humanitarian-One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS); the Emergency Cash Transfer Programme; the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Ministerial Blueprint; and the Humanity First Magazine.

She clarified that the initiatives serve different functions but share a common purpose.

She acknowledged that many Nigerians are at the receiving end of the bold economic reforms of the present administration and must be supported.

She said, ‘Under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, our nation is implementing far-reaching reforms to strengthen the economy, lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

‘As these reforms continue to take effect, we must recognise that, given the size of our population and available resources, many families still face challenges and require our collective support.’

She further elaborated on the far-reaching gains of the programmes.

‘The first initiative, the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project, is an important step towards strengthening how to identify and respond to vulnerable households facing various challenges by listening to their specific needs before taking action. It is designed to provide immediate stabilisation assistance while placing the households on a pathway to recovery, empowerment and self-reliance.

‘The second initiative, the One-Humanitarian-One Poverty Response System, as I was informed, is designed to provide a coordinated national response to humanitarian crises, social protection and poverty reduction. It will prevent duplication and maintain unified national registries that help track and support poor and vulnerable households in Nigeria as they progress from vulnerability to prosperity.

‘The third initiative, the Emergency Cash Transfer Programme, will give rapid support to households to mitigate financial shocks.

‘The fourth initiative, the Ministerial Blueprint, will provide a clear roadmap for translating the humanitarian and poverty-reduction priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda into coordinated and measurable action. This is important as planning and accountability will be at the centre of service to the Nigerian people.

‘Lastly, the fifth initiative, the Humanity First Magazine, is remarkable because it tells the stories of citizens whose lives have been transformed by government interventions.’

In his remarks, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, noted that the initiatives marked a proactive departure from previous programmes aimed at mitigating the impact of economic policies on vulnerable Nigerians.

Describing the new measures as anticipatory social protection against the impacts of economic reforms, such as the removal of the fuel subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market, the minister maintained that the present administration was determined to shift from merely managing poverty to reducing it.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said effective social protection requires sustained collaboration between the federal, state and local governments and other stakeholders.

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, commended the initiative and expressed hope that it would make a remarkable impact on the lives of vulnerable citizens.

He noted that addressing poverty and social inequality was important in tackling the root causes of insecurity and instability.

A professor at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Oluwatoyin Olatundun Ilesanmi, has called for the inclusion of women and youths in Nigeria’s national economic recovery programme, saying their participation is essential to sustainable development.

Professor Ilesanmi of the Centre for Gender, Humanitarian and Development Studies, made the call while delivering the 24th Inaugural Lecture of the university, titled, ‘Vulnerability, Voice, and Valour: Navigating Transformative Frontiers in Gender, Humanitarian and Psychosocial Wellbeing.’

She also appealed to consultants from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop training manuals based on transformative leadership, peace modules and gender issues to support the retraining of Nigeria Police Force personnel on human rights-based approaches to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Professor Ilesanmi said Nigeria needed to sustain its response to violence and exploitation, including sexual violence, trafficking, harmful practices and conflict-related abuses.

Explaining the motivation for her lecture, she said: ‘My scholarly and professional journey over the past several decades deliberately moved from the clinical pathways of the mind to the conflict-ridden corridors of global humanitarianism. The topic was informed by one enduring core concern: the dignity of the vulnerable human person.’

She noted that gender and humanitarian issues were closely linked, adding that development efforts could not succeed if they ignored structures that expose vulnerable groups to greater risks.

‘I have realized that we cannot fully understand humanitarian crises without grasping the gendered nature of vulnerability, nor can we address development if we ignore patriarchal structures,’ she said.

According to her, ‘When gender blindness meets a humanitarian crisis, marginalized groups suffer disproportionately.’

Professor Ilesanmi said her framework of ‘Vulnerability, Voice, and Valour’ was designed to move from identifying vulnerability to giving affected people a voice and ultimately achieving transformative action.

She urged humanitarian agencies to move beyond emergency relief and integrate psychosocial, clinical and family-sensitive services into emergency response.

She also called on government ministries to institutionalise gender accountability and budgeting, noting that poverty, poor housing and inequality often worsen the impact of disasters.

On Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges, she cited kidnapping, sexual violence, displacement and ecological distress, saying these required inclusive approaches to recovery.

She said her research had shown that traditional disaster-response frameworks could leave elderly and disabled people behind.

Professor Ilesanmi also called for stronger implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), particularly at the local government level.

‘The government must take the state-level Multi-Sectoral Action Plans for the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) that I have helped draft for states like Bauchi, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, and Kwara, and aggressively fund and enforce them down to the local government level,’ she said.

She further recommended reforms in the security sector, including training for security personnel in human rights-based and trauma-informed approaches to handling SGBV.

‘Using data from my TETFUND studies on integrating gender issues into the Police Service, local councils and divisions must train security personnel in human rights-based, trauma-informed approaches to handle sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) safely and confidentially,’ she said.

She also urged local governments to consider the needs of elderly and disabled residents in housing and neighbourhood planning, particularly in relation to access ramps, safety and shelter facilities.

In the education sector, she recommended gender-responsive teaching and stronger mechanisms for addressing sexual harassment, while in the health sector she advocated integrated mental health and genetic counselling services within primary healthcare.

For the humanitarian sector, she called for mandatory psychosocial services in emergency relief operations and internally displaced persons’ camps.

She also urged the justice and rural development sectors to address structural inequalities in land ownership, market access and rural development, while ensuring the inclusion of women in peace processes, conflict negotiations and legislative drafting.

Speaking to young people interested in gender, humanitarian and psychology-related fields, Professor Ilesanmi said, ‘Voice is the most potent tool for transformative change.’

She encouraged young people to pursue education, avoid transactional survival and contribute to building systems that address human suffering.

She said the Centre for Gender, Humanitarian and Development Studies at Redeemer’s University had developed postgraduate and professional programmes designed to combine academic training with field experience.

Professor Ilesanmi concluded by challenging policymakers and institutions to translate research into practical interventions.

‘My life’s work has been an attempt to answer one enduring question: How may knowledge serve life? It serves life only when it refuses to let vulnerability remain invisible, insists that care must be highly intelligent, and demands that justice must be aggressively embodied in our institutions,’ she said.

Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, formally inaugurated the Ogun State chapter of the Iru Ekun Security Network on Wednesday, drawing thousands of volunteers to the event.

Footage and photographs shared online showed a large turnout, with hundreds of attendees dressed in matching black attire and caps gathered under tents and along streets in a busy urban area, many recording the proceedings on their phones.

Addressing the gathering, Igboho laid out how the outfit would be structured, trained and run in coordination with government authorities, while placing heavy emphasis on discipline among recruits.

‘You must have discipline. Do not engage in reckless behaviour or ruin things just because they have trained you and you have ID card,’ Igboho told the gathering.

He said training for members would be handled at the federal level, while the Ogun State Governor’s Office would determine where they are deployed. Successful trainees, he added, would receive identification cards issued through their local government areas.

‘Federal Government will decide who will come and train us. The Governor’s Office tell us where they will place us.

‘As they wrap up that training, every person will be issued an ID card at the local government level.’

Igboho said the state government had already pledged its backing for the initiative, including plans to fix a monthly allowance for members to cushion the burden on their households.

‘The Governor has also given us assurance. They have given us support here, and they will decide what monthly allowance to provide to us, to support us, because we have wives, and we have children,’ he said.

According to Igboho, the wider ambition is to have members across the South-West carry official identification, allowing them to operate within the law while helping to keep order and provide for their families.

He likened the project to the early days of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which grew from humble beginnings into a nationwide agency.

‘This organisation we established, if we execute it properly-just like Civil Defence. They started at the market. We used to call them ‘Little Defence,’ but they did good work with what they were doing. The federal government have now fully established it across all of Nigeria.’

Pro-democracy activist and elder statesman, Pa Ayo Opadokun, has said Nigeria must ‘turn a new leaf’ and urgently address the challenges of poverty, corruption and poor governance if the country is to realise its potential.

Opadokun, who spoke during activities marking his 80th birthday, said his survival through years of activism, detention and deprivation was a demonstration of God’s grace.

The veteran pro-democracy campaigner recalled that he spent two years in Kuje Prison during the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, noting that he celebrated his 50th birthday behind bars.

He said, ‘I feel like a human being that is blessed by God to attain the age of 80 when the average lifespan of Nigerians today is about 57. It’s not an easy matter. So it has been God’s grace, God’s benevolence that has sustained me.

‘Particularly having regard to the kind of life that I have had to go through as an activist who has suffered separate detention, separate deprivations with multiple jeopardy in my life. I celebrated my 30th anniversary in Kuje Prison. I was 50 when I was in Kuje Prison when Abacha put me there for two calendar years.

‘So that God has spared me that I can now celebrate 80. It’s not a joke. I’m so grateful to God.’

The activist explained that the thanksgiving celebration was organised to acknowledge what he described as God’s grace and benevolence throughout his life.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, Opadokun, who was active in the struggle against military rule, lamented the damage he said prolonged military intervention had done to the country’s political and economic development.

According to him, Nigeria’s problems are rooted in decades of inconsistent economic policies, corruption and the continued influence of military-era actors in key government institutions.

He said, ‘A rough-headed, somersaulting economic policy of over 45 to 50 years, run by the politicians in military uniforms called the Nigerian Army, has ruined us.

‘They have subverted democracy. They have made it impossible for us to grow as a country.’

Opadokun recalled that Nigeria and countries in Asia, including Singapore, were at comparable levels of development in the 1960s, but expressed regret that Nigeria had failed to achieve similar progress.

He also questioned the impact of the country’s huge oil revenues over the years.

‘In 1960, Nigeria was at war with Singapore and the other Asian tigers. What have we gotten? Here was a country where over 20 years, we were exporting two million barrels of oil every day at $100 per barrel. Where is that money? Where is the evidence of that money in our lives today?’ he asked.

Opadokun, however, said President Bola Tinubu was attempting to dismantle some of the entrenched structures inherited from the military era, adding that the President had been part of the pro-democracy struggle.

He said, ‘The current ruler has been part of me in the trenches. The consequence of what he made when he came to office is having an effect on all of us.

‘These military top shots, they have planted their people in all the key government institutions. They are in control up to tomorrow. That’s what Bola Tinubu is trying to dismantle.’

On the economic reforms of the present administration, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, Opadokun acknowledged the hardship being experienced by Nigerians but argued that the country could not continue with policies that, in his view, were unsustainable.

He said some of the complaints over the exchange rate and the rising cost of living had merit, while urging Nigerians to give the government an opportunity to address the structural problems in the economy.

‘There were perhaps errors made in timing about the petroleum subsidy. But can any reasonable person now be talking about investing, going back? So, I believe that Nigeria has a future. If we can collaborate to set our priorities right, we cannot continue this way,’ he said.

Opadokun also described corruption as one of Nigeria’s greatest impediments to development, calling for stronger measures to deter public officials from abusing their positions.

‘Corruption has overwhelmed the country. No country can grow under this atmosphere. We must be ready to fight corruption,’ he said.

He cited Singapore as an example of a country that tackled corruption by ensuring that public-sector remuneration was competitive with the private sector while imposing severe consequences on officials found guilty of wrongdoing.

The octogenarian urged the government to prioritise poverty reduction, saying millions of Nigerians needed relief from the current economic pressures.

‘I believe and I wish that President Bola Tinubu will do his utmost to lift a greater portion of Nigeria out of poverty. The level of poverty in Nigeria is too much. And people need a breathing space,’ he said.

He also appealed to Nigerians and political actors to protect the country’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigeria could not afford to continue on its current trajectory.

‘Take it or leave it, Nigeria has to turn a new leaf. We cannot continue this way,’ Opadokun said.

He expressed optimism that the country could experience a positive turnaround if Nigerians collectively prioritised good governance, economic development and the fight against corruption.

‘Let the government of the day do its utmost. And I think that if they allow this man to govern for a little while, there will be a turnaround for good,’ he said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat has dismissed as fake, media report that President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of the list of members of his Presidential Campaign Council, which was made public on Saturday.

National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, Felix Morka, made the clarification in a telephone interview with Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday.

The list, which was released by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has been trailed by public criticism, fuelling speculation that President Tinubu has demanded its withdrawal and review.

Morka, however, told Nigerian Tribune that the list subsists.

He said: ‘The list is as it was published. Have you seen a revised list? Nothing has changed,’ he told Nigerian Tribune.

Investigation by Nigerian Tribune revealed that opposition parties have continued to express strong reservations about the list with some accusing the APC-led administration of indifference to corruption.

The National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Osa Director, accused the ruling party of blurring the lines between governance and partisan politics.

Director particularly faulted the inclusion of individuals facing corruption-related allegations, including former Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Betta Edu, and former Chairperson of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Board, Ngozi Olojeme.

He also questioned the appointment of the Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, as Deputy Director of Fundraising in the campaign council, arguing that the role raises concerns about the separation of public responsibilities from partisan fundraising.

‘It is disappointing to see that the APC cannot differentiate between governance and politics. They cannot distinguish between public funds and private money. That is why the country is where it is today,’ Director said.

According to him, the composition of the campaign council was consistent with what he described as the APC’s longstanding relationship with corruption.

‘We at NDC are not surprised that the APC campaign council is populated by those removed from office for corruption and those they intend to use to divert state funds for the general elections, especially the presidential election.

‘APC has an abiding faith with corruption. The cardinal principle driving the government is corruption. But one day, they will be made to account,’ he said.

However, former National Vice Chairman, South-South, of the APC, Honourable Hillard Eta, differed.

Eta, who is the Chairman of the Board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said the inclusion of the likes of Beta Edu and Ngozi Olojeme was a non-issue as they have not been convicted of corruption.

He said: ‘When did allegations become conviction? Are we not applying the law that says no one is proven guilty until convicted? I can’t find any convict on that list.

‘Politics isn’t a church. People faulting that list should bring out their own.

Pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, equally picked holes in the involvement of the Executive Chairman of NRS and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) in the campaign rulers.

He also picked a hole in President Tinubu’s direct involvement in his campaign team, submitting that it would distract him from governance.

He said: ‘The inclusion of Zacch Adedeji is wrong. The man shouldn’t have been dragged to that committee. The AGF and Minister of Justice shouldn’t be there.

Corruption allegations don’t amount to pronouncement of guilt -LP

In its reaction, the Labour Party (LP) said allegations of corruption or ongoing investigations against individuals did not amount to a pronouncement of guilt, urging Nigerians to allow due process to take its course in the controversy surrounding the appointment of persons listed in presidential campaign council of the APC, who are facing corruption trial.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ken Asogwa, said an accused person remained innocent until proven guilty under Nigerian law.

The Labour Party spokesman also raised concerns over the reported appointment of the head of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to lead data analysis and collection for the campaign, noting that the concern was not about the political affiliation of the individuals involved but the sensitivity of the offices they occupied and the public resources and information entrusted to them.

‘These are the areas I believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take a second look at,’ Asogwa said.

‘Even where no wrongdoing has occurred, the appearance or potential for a conflict of interest can undermine public confidence in government institutions,’ he added.

A former member of the 9th House of Representatives and chieftain of the NDC, Hon. Sergius Ogun, said the composition of the campaign structure reflected what he described as the failure of the ruling party to demonstrate a genuine commitment to fighting corruption.

He took particular exception to the inclusion of Dr Adedeji in the campaign fundraising structure.

He asked: ‘You talked about the NRS chairman so what do you expect him to do as a Fundraising Committee chairman? To grant waivers to major taxpayers so that they can put the money into the campaign. What else?’

Also reacting, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and Head of Transparency International’s Chapter in Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed concern over what he described as integrity, conflict-of-interest and institutional-credibility issues arising from some of the appointments.

Rafsanjani said: ‘Our concern is about integrity, conflict of interest, institutional credibility and the message Nigeria’s political leadership is sending at a time when the country is struggling to rebuild public confidence in the fight against corruption.’

He specifically called for the removal of serving heads of sensitive regulatory, revenue and enforcement institutions from partisan campaign fundraising structures, arguing that such institutions must maintain both actual and perceived neutrality.

He urged Adedeji to withdraw from the campaign fundraising responsibility while remaining NRS Executive Chairman, or for the APC to appoint another person.

Meanwhile, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on its part, said the composition of the membership of the council didn’t come as a surprise because it reflected the mindset of President Bola Tinubu and his handlers.

The National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, reacting on behalf of the Tanimu Turaki-led INWC, stated, ‘The inclusion of people of doubtful character in the presidential campaign leadership is a reflection of the mindset of the President and his handlers.

‘It shows that they don’t pay a premium to character, more like birds of a feather flocking together.

‘The right-minded people in our country are very appalled by these absurd nominations into a committee to plan and execute the reelection of a president,’ he said.

Similarly, the Lagos State chapter of the PDP criticised the composition of the Campaign Committee, describing the inclusion of some public officials and individuals with unresolved controversies as a ‘slap in the face of Nigerians’.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Christopher Odianarewo, said the development had raised concerns about the alleged blurring of the distinction between government institutions and partisan political structures.

He argued that the NRS, as a public institution responsible for tax collection, should maintain neutrality and public confidence rather than be perceived as being aligned with a political party.

He said: ‘How can the Chief Executive of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), an agency responsible for collecting taxes from hardworking Nigerians and businesses, openly hobnob with or feature prominently on a partisan campaign council?

Also, the Progressive Youths for Makinde’s Presidency 2027 (PYFMP2027) has criticised the campaign structure, questioning the credibility and public records of some of the personalities named on the list.

The group described the campaign structure as a ‘curious collection’ that had raised questions about public trust, accountability and the quality of leadership the ruling party intends to present to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group’s Deputy Head, Media, Mr Martins James, PYFMP2027, said a presidential campaign team should comprise individuals whose records demonstrate integrity, competence and accountability.

Building a large following across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube is serious business today. However, high engagement also makes your pages a prime target for cybercriminals looking to steal your brand or extort you.

Social engineering and credential theft remain the fastest-growing risks facing digital influencers and online businesses.

In this article,Tribune online examines six fundamental digital security practices every creator needs to secure their high-traffic platforms.

Switch to authenticator apps

Many creators still rely on basic text messages for login codes, but SIM-swap fraud makes SMS verification unsafe. You should download dedicated authenticator tools such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator.

These apps generate unique codes directly on your device, ensuring hackers cannot intercept your login credentials even if they clone your phone number.

Hide your admin email address

Never display the private email address linked to your account settings in your public bio. Create a separate, public business email strictly for brand deals and fan inquiries. Keeping your registration email private prevents malicious actors from launching targeted password-reset attacks against your main profiles.

Use dedicated password managers

Using familiar names, birthdays, or the same password across multiple websites creates an easy gateway for intruders. You should utilise secure password managers like Bitwarden or 1Password to create and store long, randomised passphrases. This ensures that a data leak on one website never compromises your other active platforms.

Audit third-party app permissions

Many creators connect external analytics tools, auto-schedulers, or giveaway plugins to their accounts and forget them.

Regularly check the permissions tab within your account settings and revoke access for any tool you no longer use. Compromised third-party apps can give attackers backdoor access without needing your password.

Treat direct messages, collaboration links with caution

Phishing tactics have become sophisticated, often arriving as fake brand sponsorship offers, copyright strike warnings, or verification badge forms. Always scrutinize sender addresses before clicking links or downloading attachments. Legitimate social networks will never ask for your login password or security codes inside a direct message.

Set up multi-user roles for team members

If you work with video editors, copywriters, or social media managers, never hand out your primary username and password.

Use official platform features like Meta Business Suite or YouTube Brand Accounts to grant specific, limited permissions. This allows team members to handle day-to-day tasks without gaining full control over your primary account ownership.

The Federal Government has disclosed that more than N600 billion in cash transfers has been disbursed to slightly over nine million households to cushion the impact of economic shocks, saying an impact assessment is underway to determine the programme’s measurable effect on poverty reduction.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, disclosed this while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the government’s poverty reduction efforts amid concerns over the rising cost of living and increasing poverty levels.

Doro said the cash transfer programme was primarily introduced as a stabilisation measure following the removal of fuel subsidy and the economic shocks that accompanied the reform.

‘Over N600 billion in cash transfers has been done in three tranches, and that has made significant impact. We have reached slightly over nine million households, about 10 million households,’ he said.

The minister, however, acknowledged that the government was yet to establish through updated data exactly how many beneficiaries had been lifted out of poverty as a result of the intervention.

According to him, the poverty data currently being used by the government is based on the 2022 multidimensional poverty assessment, while a review of the figures is being commissioned.

‘I have not given you any figure. What I’ve said is this: there have been several interventions. I won’t give you a figure if we have not already reviewed what is going on. We will do this review and once we do that review, we will be able to share the numbers,’ Doro said.

He explained that poverty could be measured through different methodologies, including income poverty and multidimensional poverty, which takes into account access to healthcare, education and other basic necessities.

Doro said the government was also working to overhaul the country’s social protection architecture through the newly unveiled One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System, which he described as a major reform aimed at ending fragmentation in the delivery of social protection interventions.

‘Before now, our delivery has been in such a way that it is fragmented, with different people doing different things to try to help the situation. But with the new reforms, it brings coordination and brings everything together so that the programmes and interventions start talking to one another,’ he said.

He said the new system would coordinate interventions across the federal, state and local governments, while also improving collaboration with international development partners.

According to him, the system is designed to ensure that resources reach Nigerians who genuinely need them and prevent duplication and inefficiencies in social protection programmes.

‘We want to avoid duplication and inefficiencies. We want to make sure that every naira that we invest is actually going directly to the last mile, and also be able to capture and meet the needs of the people who are truly in need of these interventions,’ he said.

Doro said a key component of the new system was the Unified National Social Registry, which contains information on poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

He explained that eligible persons would be identified through the registry, enrolled into appropriate beneficiary programmes and subsequently tracked through growth and exit registers until they graduate from poverty.

The minister also cited other government interventions, including vocational training for more than 18,000 Nigerians, who he said were provided with starter kits, stipends and business management skills to enable them to establish sustainable businesses.

He said the ministry’s responsibility was to translate the gains of the government’s macroeconomic reforms into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

‘My job is to translate macroeconomic gains to the micro level. As a Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, I translate the macroeconomic gains to the micro level,’ Doro said.

Defending the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, Doro said the measures had helped stabilise and rebuild the Nigerian economy.

He said inflation had also begun to decline, noting that it had fallen from a peak of slightly above 34 per cent to about 15 per cent based on recent readings.

‘We are actually driving down inflation, and that translates to increase in purchasing power,’ he said.

Doro maintained that poverty reduction would take time, citing China’s experience of lifting hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty after decades of economic reforms and sustained growth.

‘Things take time. China took about 40 years to be able to achieve the scale that they achieved. Nigeria can scale up poverty reduction, and I’m here to establish the system,’ he said.

He said the Federal Government would continue to deploy shock-responsive cash transfers and other interventions whenever necessary to support poor and vulnerable Nigerians while longer-term poverty reduction mechanisms take effect.

Doro also assured that the ministry was willing to subject the cash transfer programme to a comprehensive and transparently auditable impact assessment.

‘Yes, why not? If we do a holistic impact assessment, why not?’ he said.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has apologised to motorists and commuters affected by the prolonged gridlock and deplorable condition of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway.

Umahi tendered the apology on Tuesday during an urgent Federal Government intervention on the strategic corridor, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to address the hardship faced by stranded motorists.

The minister, who arrived in Benin, Edo State capital, to assess the situation, took responsibility for the challenges confronting road users and assured them that immediate measures were being taken to ease the situation.

His arrival was disclosed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, who shared a video of the minister’s on-site inspection on his official X handle.

‘Umahi arrives in Benin, Edo State, to address the congestion on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road,’ Nwaze posted.

In another update, he wrote, ‘Umahi arrives Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road to resolve issues surrounding the road, which was handed over to concessionaire on PPP Basis since 2025.’

In an official statement issued on Tuesday, Nwaze said President Tinubu had ordered immediate corrective measures on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba expressway as well as the deplorable Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti road spanning Ekiti and Kogi States.

To implement the directive, Umahi deployed the Minister of State for Works and other ministry officials to commence remedial works on the Ekiti-Kogi corridor.

‘While the intervention team moved into Ekiti and Kogi States, Umahi himself headed to Benin, Edo State, alongside members of the National Assembly Works Committees, to initiate a similar coordinated intervention on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road.

‘The Benin meeting is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of the Edo and Delta State Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with the aim of finding immediate solutions to the challenges confronting motorists on the strategic corridor,’ the statement partly read.

Nwaze said Umahi apologised to commuters who had been stranded or delayed for several hours and days, assuring them that the Federal Government’s response would not be limited to temporary relief.

‘He assured road users that the Federal Government’s response would go beyond temporary relief, with immediate measures being pursued alongside permanent solutions to restore the affected roads and improve their long-term reliability,’ the statement concluded.

The minister’s inspection came days after several people reportedly took to the Benin-Agbor Bypass to protest the condition of the road and demand urgent repairs.