Government drafts New Digital Health Strategy to accelerate health coverage

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is increasing its investment in digital health and data-driven technologies to accelerate progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Seif Shekalaghe, revealed that the government is drafting the Digital Health Strategy 20252030, which will prioritise integrating artificial intelligence, strengthening data privacy, and expanding digital literacy training for health workers. He made the remarks at the official opening of the 12th Tanzania Health Summit (THS), emphasising that digital innovation will transform the health sector and help save lives.

“This year’s theme, Harnessing Data Utilisation and Technologies to Accelerate Universal Health Coverage, is timely and aligned with our national vision. Data and technology are no longer luxuries but essential tools in modern healthcare,” he said.

Dr Shekalaghe stressed that the government is determined to achieve UHC by 2030. “We want to ensure no one is denied essential services or pushed into poverty by medical costs,” he added. National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Arusha manager, Mr Hipoliti Lello, said the fund is ready for UHC registration, having developed strategies to make enrolment more convenient.

He noted that digital innovation is key to expanding access. “So far, we have covered only 15 percent of the population, while 85 percent remain outside the scheme.

This requires major effort to reach the rest,” he said. Mr Lello added, “NHIF is optimistic that digital transformation will help address UHC challenges.

We have already introduced a platform enabling individuals and organisations to enrol and manage their insurance plans.” He explained that clients or organisations no longer need to visit NHIF offices physically, as registration, plan selection, and payments can now be done digitally.

“Previously, people had to submit National Identification Cards (NIDA) and hard copies of documents. With this integration, customers will not need to visit our offices.

Doctors must also verify their qualifications before treating NHIF members, and only licensed practitioners can process claims,” he said. He noted that NHIF has reduced the cost and time for producing IDs by adopting e-cards and Nida numbers.

“We are also exploring mobile numbers to identify members at health facilities,” he added. He said the previous cost of producing IDs, about $5, has been cut, while biometric recognition using fingerprints and facial scans will further ease access and reduce complaints about delayed membership cards.

Director of information and communication technology (ICT) at the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mr Eric Kitali, said embracing technology is essential for achieving UHC. “AI will not replace humans.

Rather, humans are AI. It is therefore important to adopt and adapt emerging technologies to move forward,” he said.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative, Mr Mark Schreiner, urged the government to scale up investment in digital health to accelerate UHC, warning that reduced donor funding requires greater domestic financing. “The government must take decisive steps to strengthen health financing, including innovative schemes such as health insurance and health taxes,” he said, citing the HIV Response Levy and its allocation to the AIDS Trust Fund as a strong example of local commitment.

He also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in bringing agility and investment to the health sector, while urging the use of disaggregated data to tackle inequalities and strengthen accountability. “Let this summit be a springboard for bold action.

With government leadership, private sector innovation and development partner solidarity, Tanzania can build a resilient, data-driven health system that delivers quality care to all,” he said. Earlier reports indicate that the government is implementing flagship innovations, such as the m-mama emergency transport system, which utilizes a toll-free line and mobile app to coordinate transportation for expectant mothers and newborns in distress.

The initiative, rolled out nationwide last year, is expected to reach more than 50,000 women and infants annually. In pilot regions, it cut maternal deaths by up to 27 percent.

Another milestone is Jamii ni Afya, Zanzibar’s digital community health programme, the first of its kind globally to be government-led at full national scale. The programme connects households with digitally equipped community health volunteers, ensuring nearly all 1.

9 million Zanzibaris have access to doorstep healthcare. .

Tanzania, Kenya resolve four trade barriers in push to boost business

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and Kenya have successfully eliminated four non-tariff trade barriers as part of their efforts to enhance business relations between the two neighboring countries.

This agreement was reached during the Ninth Meeting of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC), which took place in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. Officials from both countries reviewed a total of 14 outstanding barriers, with plans to resolve the remaining 10 by March 31, 2026. Dr Hashil Abdallah, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, announced that the lifted restrictions include the removal of the withholding tax on TBL beers exported to Kenya, the elimination of tax stamps and associated charges, and the facilitation of livestock product exports from Kenya, in accordance with East African Community (EAC) resolutions.

Additionally, the requirement for Comesa insurance, which does not apply to Tanzania, has been abolished. “These decisions reflect our commitment to ensuring that trade between Tanzania and Kenya is conducted fairly and in compliance with EAC agreements,” said Dr Abdallah.

He further stated that a Joint Technical Committee has been established to oversee this implementation and to ensure that no trader encounters unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. “Our aim is to make Tanzania a secure, reliable, and business-friendly destination while positioning the East African Community as a safe region for investment,” he added.

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for East African Community Affairs, Dr Caroline Karugu, highlighted that the progress made signifies a strong political will from both governments. “We have already achieved a 78 percent resolution rate, which demonstrates our commitment.

These successes are rooted in the agreements established during President William Ruto’s state visit to Tanzania in October 2022,” she stated. Her colleague in the State Department for Trade, Ms Regina Ombam, described the agreements as crucial for transforming regional trade.

She emphasized that simplifying systems and removing obstacles would create a better environment for traders throughout East Africa. “This step showcases our determination to enhance trade and prepare the region for global competition,” she said, encouraging citizens in both countries to embrace digital business and new economic opportunities.

This recent progress follows directives issued by Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan and William Ruto on October 10, 2022, when they instructed their investment ministers to eliminate the 14 trade barriers. At that time, President Hassan noted that her administration had continued the efforts initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, stating that out of 68 identified barriers, 54 had already been resolved.

“Tanzania and Kenya should not share poverty and humiliation but rather share the wealth generated through trade,” she said. President Ruto also expressed his commitment to continuing collaboration with Tanzania, acknowledging that the removal of these obstacles has yielded tangible benefits, particularly for Tanzania.

Tanzania. .

Coronation receives two international awards

Coronation Securities Limited has secured two prestigious industry accolades, cementing its position as Africa’s leading securities trading and brokerage platform.

The firm received the Best Securities Trading and Brokerage, Africa 2025 award from Brands Review Magazine, just as the International Finance Awards recognised it as the Fastest Growing Online Trading Platform, Nigeria 2025.

These honours reflect Coronation Securities’ unwavering commitment to transforming Africa’s capital markets through innovative digital solutions and client-centric services. The recognition comes at a pivotal moment when Nigerian investors increasingly demand seamless, transparent trading platforms that deliver both accessibility and reliability.

‘These awards validate our mission to democratise access to Nigeria’s capital markets,’ said Segun Owadokun, Deputy, Chief Executive Officer at Coronation Securities Limited. ‘We’ve witnessed firsthand how limited access to credible trading platforms has hindered wealth creation across Africa. Our Coronation Wealth Plus App addresses these pain points whilst maintaining the highest standards of transparency and trust,’ he added.

The company’s comprehensive suite includes Equities Brokerage, Listings and Advisory Ancillary Services, Financial Management, as well as fixed income securities spanning commercial papers, bonds, and treasury bills.This integrated approach tackles longstanding market challenges, including restricted access to sophisticated trading tools and concerns over platform reliability. Coronation Securities has experienced remarkable growth by addressing critical gaps in Nigeria’s investment landscape. Traditional barriers such as complex onboarding processes, limited product offerings, and inadequate customer support have been systematically eliminated through the firm’s technology-first approach.

The Coronation Wealth Plus App exemplifies this transformation, offering investors intuitive access to diverse investment opportunities whilst maintaining institutional-grade security protocols. This platform innovation has attracted both seasoned investors seeking advanced features and newcomers requiring user-friendly interfaces. Looking ahead, these accolades strengthen Coronation Securities’ trajectory towards expanding across Africa whilst deepening its Nigerian market penetration. The firm anticipates significant client acquisition growth as awareness of credible, award-winning solutions increases among sophisticated investors.

The recognition also reinforces credibility with regulatory bodies, strategic partners, and institutional investors who increasingly prioritise working with proven market leaders. This validation supports Coronation Securities’ broader mission of creating sustainable wealth for clients whilst contributing to Africa’s economic transformation.

As Africa’s financial markets continue to evolve, Coronation Securities remains positioned to lead this transformation through innovative solutions that address real client needs while maintaining unwavering service excellence.

All Nigerians are now entitled to compulsory health insurance

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act enacted by the Federal Government in 2022 has repealed and replaced the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act of 2004. The repealed law had failed to achieve significant population coverage or integration of Nigeria’s fragmented health insurance system.

The NHIA Act of 2022 represents a major policy and legal shift toward making universal health coverage a legal and operational reality for all Nigerians. It mandates the enforcement of a Basic Minimum Package of Care for all citizens, while also creating the Vulnerable Group Fund to subsidize care for the poor, elderly, children under five, and the physically or mentally challenged. States are required to operate a health insurance scheme or use third-party administrators until such schemes are established.

In accordance with the NHIA, on September 3, 2025, President Bola Tinubu directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to enrol their employees in the National Health Insurance Authority scheme. To ensure compliance across all MDAs the directive mandates all entities participating in public procurement to present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate. The directive includes a mandate for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to enforce enrolment and monitor compliance, potentially expanding coverage significantly across MDAs.

The NHIA Act has also mandated the governments of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory to provide basic minimum package of care to all residents of Nigeria. In furtherance to this, the NHIA is required to implement the Basic Health Care Provision Fund under the National Health Act 2014 and any guidelines developed in that regard.

However, the State health schemes will be responsible for the management of the fund and monitoring its implementation. Where a state has not established a health scheme, it may use the services of a Third Party Administrator pending the establishment of its health scheme.

No doubt, the primary aim of the NHIA Act is to ensure that every Nigerian and legal resident has access to affordable, quality, and comprehensive health care services through mandatory health insurance. Hence, the NHIA has established a regulatory and institutional framework for the promotion, administration, supervision, and regulation of all health insurance schemes in Nigeria-whether public or private.

According to the Health Care Providers Association of Nigeria, over 90 per cent of Nigerians are still not covered by any form of health insurance. The association warned that with the figure of uninsured Nigerians, the country is far from achieving universal health coverage. The unfortunate development is caused by poverty as it is officially acknowledged that millions of citizens have become dimensionally poor.

Section 25 of the Act provides that the health insurance for vulnerable people shall be fully funded by the government, while section 31 thereof requires employees to contribute to their health on a contributory basis. The law, however, has defined ‘vulnerable group’ to include children under five, pregnant women, the aged, physically, and mentally challenged, and the indigent as may be defined from time to time. Since the majority of citizens have become indigent and vulnerable, the federal government, state local governments, and local governments should provide adequate funding for the health insurance of all citizens.

This demand is in line with section 17(3) (d) of the Nigerian Constitution has imposed a duty on the governments to ensure that ‘ there are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons’ and article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act provides that ‘every individual is entitled to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.’

Many feared dead as Petrol tanker explodes in Ogun

An overturned, petrol-laden tanker exploded in the early hours of Friday along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway, Ogun State, prompting fears that many people have died in the blaze.

The incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. near the Abeokuta-Kobape-Siun-Sagamu interchange on the PMB Expressway when the tanker, reportedly travelling at excessive speed, lost control and tipped over, spilling its entire contents across the road.

The spilled fuel caught fire immediately, triggering a massive inferno that engulfed nearby vehicles and infrastructure.

A truck and a tow vehicle were destroyed in the blaze, and a power cable supplying electricity to Mowe and surrounding areas was burned, leaving communities in darkness.

Agencies including TRACE, Ogun State Fire Service, Nestlé PLC Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the police, Amotekun, and NSCDC were mobilised to the scene, working to extinguish the fire and begin fuel decanting operations.

Casualty figures remain unclear. Eyewitnesses and officials alike say that the death toll may rise as rescue teams comb the wreckage.

Traffic on the expressway has been reduced to a single lane as authorities implement diversions. Motorists are urged to comply with rerouting instructions and remain patient.

Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for Ogun State’s TRACE unit, confirmed that the tanker had a capacity of 33,000 litres, adding that speed and loss of control were likely contributing factors.

He appealed to the public for calm and cooperation: ‘The public, particularly motorists on transit along the route, is implored to be calm, patient, and cooperate with the diversion and re-routing of traffic . we deeply regret any inconvenience.’

This tragedy adds to Nigeria’s mounting record of deadly tanker explosions, often blamed on factors such as excessive speed, poor vehicle maintenance, overloading, unsafe fuel decanting practices, and delayed response by emergency services.

Tinubu’s Independence Day speech: Between aspiration and description

I listened to the independence message of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His struggle to assembly plausible statistics to push across a credible message of achievements and hope was palpable. Like a spent swimmer, he was stretching in all directions for a lifeline. I also have this feeling that the speech must have been researched and written by some fellow who studied English or any of the liberal arts in the university. The writer appears low in quantitative reasoning. At best, the speech was a narrative essay on Efforts Without Results. The most that it conveyed was equating growth or sheer addition of numbers with real value or development.

Put differently, the President was campaigning instead of presenting a score sheet of purposeful leadership in 29 months. He needed to be specific with descriptions of what had been achieved within the time under review. He was not expected to dwell on aspirations. He had taken an oath of office on May 29, 2023 to achieve and by reason of which he was forbidden from endless aspiration that puts Nigerians in endless anticipation. To say the least, his speech fell short of a National Day outing. He spoke to the challenges facing the nation as if he was not the President but a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. He was talking of things to come and not things that had come.

Maybe it wasn’t his fault. The speech writer could have searched for some ingenious means to marry the metrics to make the celebrated growth under President Tinubu look like real development. He didn’t do that. In physics, there is a difference between size and mass. In mathematics, also, an ordinal number is a world different from a cardinal number. One and first may invoke preeminence but attract different interpretations if driven down. Next time, the President should do more to bounce his speech off an expert on the subject matter on parade before showing up on national television to reel out statistics that do not add up to an expectant nation.

An economist or a development expert would have approached the task differently. He would have understood, for instance, that a mere increase in the number of universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions, does not translate to real development in the higher education sector in the country. The high numbers of universities and other higher institutions have not meant breakthroughs in research and development to service industries and help real socio-economic growth. It has been sheer addition of numbers without corresponding value. You may wish to ask ASUU if you are in doubt. The much needed collaboration between the Gown and Town to touch off development is still an elusive pursuit in the country.

President Tinubu also talked gleefully of more money for the three tiers of government to spend as they like. This is cheap talk. It is like saying that bank notes and not their intrinsic value define wealth. In real terms, the national budget of N17 billion presented to the National Assembly by President Shehu Shagari in 1982, or thereabout, when the naira was stronger than the dollar, held much more value than the N55 trillion budget that Tinubu took to the National Assembly in 2025. The current minimum wage is N70 thousand. This does not mean the least paid worker in Nigeria today is richer than his counterpart in 2015 who received N18 thousand.

Talking like this diminishes the president. He must be made to understand that for the impact of a changing variable to be measured, all consequential variables must be held constant. This is why all value declarations in economics must contain the proviso: all other things being equal. The problem is that all other things are never equal in intricate processes. They remain an ever changing kaleidoscope that creates the hard issues in micro and macroeconomic planning. The economics of national planning entails, essentially, the balancing of three contending rates. These are the interest rate, exchange rate, and inflation rate. Real leaders are measured by their dexterity in juggling these variables to achieve development. They are not measured by their audacity to offset an existing equilibrium for an adventure without consideration of the attendant risks.

Tinubu has not been doing any serious balancing. He is a reckless driver on the highway of taxation. The more money celebrated in the presidential speech was occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petroleum products and floating of the exchange rate on May 29 2023. No President before him had had the courage to deliver that depth of monetary and fiscal dislocations without due consultation. Therefore, part of the achievements he counted for himself on Independence Day was the raw courage to act alone, and perhaps, the subsequent to suppress arising dissension to force an impression of acceptability and peaceful order. He acknowledged the suffering induced by his tax policies but also said Nigerians should be consoled by the fact that their leaders now have more money to build roads, improve public electricity, health care, education and security among other social services. He was just talking.

The duties of the President are outlined in various sections in the 1999 Constitution. No section specifically compels him to give speeches on special occasions. I am saying that President Tinubu doesn’t have to talk when there is nothing reasonable to say. He can decide to remain silent in Aso Rock Villa or fly to Lagos to see his people or even go to France for a working visit. Why should he take more than half an hour of our hard-pressed time to tell us things that are in the pipeline? While the routes from Benin to Abuja, to Asaba and to Warri remain like portions in the Amazon jungle, President Tinubu felt justified to aim high at new deliveries. He spoke with gusto of a coastal road from Lagos to Calabar, railroads from Southwest to Northwest and Southeast to Northeast, international airports and seaports, etc. I am here to remind him that the state of existing roads in Nigeria constrains the free movement of citizens. In fact, the badness of the roads constitutes a breach of Section 41 of the Constitution which guarantees free movement of citizens.

Let me also add that the Brentwood Institutions have never proved to be reliable healers of developing and bruised economies. Their free market and non-subsidy prescriptions are not blindly followed even in the capitalist West. They hold rigid positions regarding the developing nations as if the economics of Adam Smith do not have compelling alternatives in the economics of Carl Max. And so, to crow about the national GDP growing by 4.23 percent to surpass IMF’s projection of 3.4 percent, is not a super endorsement. In all circumstances, statistics remain mere claims against objective realities. They do not add up specific performance that can be taken to the bank. This expanded GDP has not translated to enhanced purchasing power of citizens or a measurable momentum in the real sector. Factories are closing down everyday due to rising cost amid challenges like non availability of public electricity, insecurity, excessive taxation and regulations that seek to stifle rather than support investment and production.

Notwithstanding, President Tinubu did a lot of chest thumping on October 1. Like the lizard that survived a fall from top of the iroko tree, he proclaimed his own prowess when not too many people outside his clan of special men and women seemed ready to give it to him. For effect, his claims of super performance in all the sectors of the economy were distilled into 12 milestones. It was Josef Goebbels, the Nazi’s minister of propaganda who noted that, for a lie to displace truth, its misleading elements must be consistently and persistently maintained in all arising narrations. In other words, it remains a task to tell a credible lie and still remain unruffled. In the 12-point summation, there was a significant alignment with the main body of the narration. Disbursement of N330 billion to eight million households at N25,000.00 per household was part of the achievements. PBAT was cool proclaiming that.

I should not forget this. There was something nice in the presidential speech for Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his refinery to take home. President Tinubu proudly proclaimed that Nigeria is now a leading exporter of aviation fuel. Hear him: ‘.the country has made notable advancements by refining PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) domestically for the first time in four decades. It has also established itself as the continent’s leading exporter of aviation fuel. Apparently, grandstanding to look and sound real is part of statecraft. Tinubu, by that declaration, reaped bountifully in where he did not sow and then walked away with the confidence of the real farmer.

While saying it, the President maintained a straight face as if he was describing a feat achieved by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation through the nation’s four refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri. His speech did not mention Dangote Refinery anywhere as the actual miracle worker.

But coming, albeit indirectly, from the President after the many battles to stay afloat with powers and principalities in the mid and down streams sectors of the petroleum industry, Dangote should gladly accept this as enough compensation and endorsement. Whatever takes the load home is called the head pad. A good listener does not search beyond the radio message to see who is talking inside the radio box. He would end up destroying the happiness.

The Independence Day’s edition has come and gone. Ahead is the New Year Day’s version. We cannot comment on what it holds in stock. It is too early. A lot can still happen between now and then to lift up the presidential speech from the doldrums to high grounds. It is possible to witness a transition from endless aspirations to beautiful descriptions of concrete and measurable achievements in governance. We pray O God!

Wema Bank expands SME empowerment with landmark Trade Fair in Ghana

As part of its commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs through inter-Africa trade, Wema Bank is extending the reach of women-led businesses with the NBC Trade Fair across Nigeria and beyond.

The bank is now set to make a bold move with the Ghana edition, scheduled to hold on October 4th and 5th, 2025, at The Palms Convention Center, Accra.

For the first time, the Wema X NBC trade fair will be bringing together a dynamic mix of fashion, food, skincare, and lifestyle vendors to create a vibrant marketplace in Ghana, where SMEs can showcase their products, attract new customers, and build valuable connections.

True to Wema Bank’s tradition, the fair will go beyond commerce, offering free BVN registration, paid NIN registration, on-site account opening, instant virtual naira and dollar cards, spin-the-wheel giveaways, exclusive gift items, and access to the SARA community for women.

According to a statement from the bank, attendees who shop with their Wema Bank debit cards at the fair will also stand a chance to win exciting rewards.

‘For those who do not yet have a Wema Bank account, opening one ahead of the fair unlocks even more exclusive benefits. Simply download ALAT to get started. These unique offerings from Wema Bank are designed to foster financial inclusion, support women-led enterprises, and equip businesses with the tools to thrive in competitive markets,’ it said.

The Ghana edition of the Wema Bank x NBC Trade fair is more than just a fair it is a statement to the bank’s commitment to uniting African entrepreneurs and expanding opportunities beyond Nigeria.

Diddy’s death wish leaks: Judge left stunned

Rap mogul, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, has admitted in a shocking letter to a U.S. judge that he sometimes felt he would be ‘better off dead’ as he awaits sentencing for his crimes.

The once-flamboyant billionaire, now reduced to sharing a windowless cell with 25 inmates, poured out his guilt and regrets in a four-page letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, ahead of Friday’s sentencing.

‘I have to admit, my downfall was rooted in my selfishness. there have been days I thought I would be better off dead,’ Diddy confessed. ‘The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.’

But prosecutors want him to serve more than 11 years in prison, insisting his wealth enabled his crimes and that a harsh sentence is necessary to deter reoffending. Diddy, however, is pleading for just 14 months, claiming prison has humbled him.

The rapper admitted that the viral footage of him assaulting his ex-lover Cassie Ventura ‘plays over and over in my head daily,’ adding: ‘I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman I loved. I take full responsibility. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden.’

In a rare moment of brutal honesty, Diddy acknowledged he would never forgive any man who did the same to one of his daughters. ‘This is why it’s so hard for me to forgive myself,’ he wrote.

The Bad Boy Records founder also described ‘inhumane’ conditions in prison: broken washing machines, dirty water, constant fear of stabbings, and no sunlight. ‘We eat, sleep, use the toilet, take showers, and prepare meals all in the same room,’ he lamented.

Beyond jail, he says he has lost it all businesses, career, reputation, even missing his daughters’ graduations and his youngest child learning to walk and talk. ‘I have failed my children as a father,’ he admitted.

Prosecutors are also asking for a $500,000 fine on top of the prison term.

Why we dissolved Akwa Ibom exco – PDP

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained that its decision to dissolve the party’s executives in Akwa Ibom was due to their alleged alignment with Governor Umo Eno, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the executives were no longer acting in the interest of the PDP but were under the influence of the state governor.

‘In Akwa Ibom State, the governor has left. At the National Working Committee (NWC), we noticed there was no difference between members of the executives and their alignment with the APC,’ Ologunagba said.

Citing the party’s constitution, he added: ‘Section 10, Subsection 6 says no member of the party shall align with other parties or groups to undermine the PDP or any of its elected governments. It is an anathema to belong to two parties at the same time. The governor even said on tape that he will be in charge of the two parties.’

Akwa Ibom, once a PDP stronghold since the return of civil rule in 1999, lost its grip on the party following Governor Eno’s defection to the APC on June 6, 2025.

Eno became the second PDP governor in the South-South to join the APC within two months, after Delta State’s Sheriff Oborevwori.

Four months after the defection, the PDP formally moved to dissolve its state executive council in Akwa Ibom, a step Ologunagba said was necessary to protect the integrity of the party.

President Tinubu and Ndigbo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s one-day state visit to Imo State on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, was warmly received by the people of Imo State and the Southeast region. The visit provided an opportunity for open dialogue with Igbo leaders of thought at the 6,000-capacity Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Center, which the President commissioned after inaugurating projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration in Imo State. Among these projects were the Assumpta Cathedral Twin Flyover and the Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia Interststate road.

The master of ceremony, comedian, and Eze-elect, Chief Okey Bakassi, set the tone of the event while welcoming the President to Imo State. ‘Ndigbo are the cement that holds the Nigerian nation together through their industrial and economic activities all over the country,’ he said. He continued with a common joke that any town one visits and does not find an Igbo person is considered uninhabitable.

The joke was met with thunderous applause from the guests in the hall. Such jokes serve as important reminders, especially in today’s climate where it appears Ndigbo are under threat. Recently, their businesses and assets have come under attack, as seen in the demolitions at Trade Fair Market in Lagos, shops at Mandilas on Lagos Island, and ongoing demolitions of estates in parts of Lekki and other areas in Lagos.

When he took the podium to welcome the President and guests, and to speak about his book: A Decade of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria, host Governor Senator Hope Uzodinma acknowledged that ‘reforms are hard, painful, and sometimes misunderstood. They are also necessary and the only path to long-term prosperity.’

He praised President Tinubu for his visionary and determined leadership, stating, ‘None of the achievements and developments in his book happened in a vacuum. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has led with clarity, making brave decisions that others might avoid, and allowing states to flourish. The reforms he has championed are not easy, but they are already producing results that Nigerians can feel. For this, I extend my deepest gratitude-on behalf of myself and millions who now see hope where there was only despair.’ He added that Ndi Imo have resolved to support President Tinubu for a second term in 2027 because of the ‘transformative impact of his government on the lives of Imo people.’

In his remarks, President Tinubu expressed his love for Ndigbo and reaffirmed that his administration is committed to fostering shared prosperity and social justice. ‘The Nigerian economy has turned the corner,’ he said.

Continuing, he said that the projects inaugurated by him and constructed by the government of Governor Hope Uzodinma are more than brick and mortar. ‘They are symbols of progress, resilience, and a shared commitment to unity. They represent our Renewed Hope Agenda in action, which is about connecting communities, shared prosperity, opening new frontiers of opportunity, and showing that no part of Nigeria will be left behind’.

President Tinubu said that the last decade was a time of change, and the coming decade will be one of renewal and stability. ‘Together, Nigeria will win’, he remarked.

He said that there is no religious persecution in Nigeria. ‘Our churches, mosques, and the Nigerian people of all walks of life, will keep standing side by side, not as rivals but as pillars of the unity that binds us. Outsiders must never define us; we will stand together, protect every citizen, and prove that our diversity is not our weakness, it is our greatest strength’.

Concluding, President Tinubu reeled out the achievements of his two-year administration; ‘With steady reforms, our economy is turning the corner: growth at 4.23% in Q2, inflation at its lowest in three years, external reserves at $42bn, and exports surging. These are not abstract numbers. they show Nigerians are producing, competing, and building a nation of pride and purpose’. ‘Nke anyi ga-eme, ga-adi mma. What we do together will endure in goodness’, he thundered.

Many expect that President Tinubu and his government will address some concerns raised by attendees, including perceptions of neglect of the Southeast in political appointments and infrastructural development. The unsettled Mazi Nnamdi Kanu issue continues to trouble Ndigbo, and the ongoing demolitions of property owned by Ndigbo in Lagos demand urgent presidential intervention.

President Tinubu understands the pain of being denied equal opportunities and social justice. He fought against military oppression during the NADECO days, which led to his exile. As Lagos State Governor, he faced federal persecution when President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld federal funds meant for Lagos. Even before the 2023 elections, he battled internal party forces trying to block his emergence as the APC candidate.

I believe President Tinubu should take decisive steps to address these concerns, which would help calm nerves and reassure Ndigbo of his commitment as the father of the nation. He has shown love for the Igbo nation in the past. For example, during the Igu-Aro festival in Enugwu-Ukwu, under the reign of Igwe Osita Agwuna, President Tinubu, then Lagos State Governor, was among the guests at Obu Ofor Nri.

He explained to journalists that he chose to honour the invitation from Ndi Enugwu-Ukwu over attending his cousin’s wedding because of his deep respect for Igbo culture and his longstanding relationship with Ndigbo. He facilitated the appointment of Ndigbo into his cabinet and in his successor Babatunde Fashola’s cabinet.

Ndigbo would like President Tinubu to fully accept Ndigbo as long-term partners in Nigeria’s development, recognizing their role as vital contributors to the nation’s growth.

Dr. Uche Nworah is a public affairs analyst and wrote in from Abuja.