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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 Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday urged the Federal Government to end attacks against Christians and bring perpetrators to justice.

The umbrella Christian body said this in a statement by Archbishop Daniel Okoh.

CAN said the association had followed the recent discourse with ‘deep concern,’ emphasising the need to ‘speak clearly, truthfully, and with compassion’ at such a critical time.

‘CAN affirms, without hesitation, that many Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North, have suffered severe attacks, loss of life, and the destruction of places of worship,’ Okoh said.

He described the situation as a painful reminder of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen.

Okoh detailed the association’s sustained and multi-year efforts to draw international attention to the persecution, including establishing mechanisms to document religiously-motivated killings, engaging with global partners, and writing to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

He expressed frustration that the efforts have yielded little result from the authorities.

‘Our concern remains that these cries for justice and protection are too often met with delay or denial.

‘We therefore renew our call on government and security agencies to take urgent, transparent, and equitable action to end the killings, safeguard vulnerable Christian communities from displacement, and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law,’ he said.

Okoh, who stressed the human tragedy behind the violence, stated that the pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics.

Acknowledging the government’s existing efforts in tackling the nation’s security challenges, the CAN leader said they should be redoubled towards equitable protection for all, calling for perpetrators to be brought swiftly and transparently to justice.

He said: ‘Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from courage: the courage to face our collective failures, to grieve together, and to rebuild trust within our communities. Only then can our nation rise from its wounds and embrace a future of genuine peace.’

The Senate yesterday called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Kwara South Senatorial District, to curb rising spate of killings and abductions in the state.

The red chamber said the military base should be sited near the forest belts of Ifelodun Local Government as a rapid response hub and a call to ‘mandate the Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector-General of Police to deploy additional troops and special units to clear the forests and restore normalcy in affected communities.’

The Senate also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide humanitarian relief for displaced persons in Ifelodun and other affected councils.

It further urged the Federal Government to compensate families of fallen forest guards and vigilantes, who died defending their communities.

The Senate directed relevant security agencies to identify and prosecute local collaborators aiding bandits’ operations in Kwara South.

It mandated its committees on Defence, Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of affected areas and report back within two weeks.

The Senate also resolved to invite the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff and Inspector-General of Police to brief it in plenary on the coordinated federal response to insecurity in Kwara South.

It observed one minute of silence in honour of the forest guards, vigilantes, traditional leaders and innocent citizens who died in the bandit attacks in Kwara South Senatorial District.

These resolutions of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of a motion titled: ‘Urgent need to address insecurity in Kwara South Senatorial District, particularly Ifelodun Local Government Area – Call for immediate and comprehensive federal intervention’, during plenary.

The motion was moved by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC – Kwara South).

Senator Ashiru in his lead debate said the Senate had noted with grave concern, the escalating insecurity in Kwara South, especially in Ifelodun Local Government, ‘where bandit attacks, kidnappings and killings have reached alarming levels in recent weeks, forcing thousands of residents to flee their communities.’

He said within the last month, no fewer than 12 forest guards and local vigilance group members were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode, including the Baale of Ogba-Ayo community.

Senator Ashiru said several other traditional and community leaders were among those killed in separate incidents in Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, Ganmu-Alheri, etc, in Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti and Oke Ero local governments.

He said the Senate was worried that at least 142 persons had been kidnapped and over 70 killed in the last 12 months across Kwara South, ‘with no fewer than 25 communities deserted due to recurring attacks-leading to severe humanitarian displacement and disruption of social and economic life.’

The senator said: ‘Farms have been abandoned, roads have become unsafe, local economies are paralysed, and schools have closed, thereby worsening poverty and increasing youth vulnerability to crime.’

He said the Senate was aware that the attacks were largely perpetrated by ‘foreign armed elements in collaboration with local informants, operating from forest hideouts along Kwara-Kogi-Ekiti boundary axis.’

While the Federal Government and security agencies have made some interventions, including sporadic patrols and raids, he lamented that the responses ‘remain episodic, inadequate and reactive, leaving vast ungoverned spaces under the control of criminal gangs.’

He expressed worry that local security volunteers and vigilantes – who serve as first responders in most cases – ‘lack adequate equipment, mobility, protection, or insurance, yet they continue to sacrifice their lives in defence of their communities.’

He said the red chamber had recognised that ‘sustained insecurity in Kwara South, if not urgently addressed, may spread to other parts of the Northcentral and Southwest geopolitical zones, thereby threatening national stability.’

Some senators in their contributions supported the motion.

Senator Sunday Karimi, APC- Kogi West, who noted that communities had been overrun by bandits, forcing residents to abandon their homes, said: ‘In the last six months, our people have been attacked everyday. Some people are benefitting from this criminality. We have to move fast and stop them. Our people are suffering and we must act urgently.’

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC- Edo North, who noted that security crisis in one region should concern the entire nation, said: ‘Injury to one is injury to all. These criminals are moving down South, and they have reached Edo North.

‘Each day a Nigerian is kidnapped, especially near military facilities. Nigerians have lost confidence. The armed forces must re-strategise and work harder.’

Senator Ekong Sampson (APC –

Akwa Ibom South) called for a collective approach to curb insecurity.

‘We salute the bold efforts of our armed forces, but security is everyone’s concern. If we strengthen our grassroots structures, there’s a pathway to defeat these criminals,’ Sampson said.

Senator Saliu Mustapha, (APC – Kwara Central) warned against politicising the security crisis.

‘We must not play politics with this. The security agencies and the President are doing their best. Our role is to find practical solutions,’ Mustapha said.

Also Senator Sadiq Sulaiman Umar (APC – Kwara North) warned that the attacks were spreading into Kwara from border communities

He said: ‘The key tool we have as lawmakers is our legislative oversight. We need to bite harder and pay attention to these issues to bring this to an end.’

The Federal Government has announced plans to discontinue the long-standing practice of ‘cost of revenue collection’ deductions by major revenue-generating agencies.

The move, according to the government, is aimed at ensuring greater fiscal transparency and more funds for national and subnational development.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the launch of the National Development Update.

He explained that while Nigeria’s gross revenues have continued to rise, a substantial portion of the proceeds is deducted as cost of collection by revenue-generating agencies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), among others. These deductions, he said, have not translated into tangible improvements in national development.

Edun said the government was reviewing these deductions as part of a broader fiscal reform drive mandated by President Bola Tinubu.

‘Funds have flowed to the Federation Account, but the point is this – efficiency of that spending is critical,’ he said. ‘We have been mandated by His Excellency, Mr. President, to take a look at deductions, not just the deductions for cost of collection, but deductions generally.’

The minister further explained that these deductions significantly reduce the actual amount distributable to the three tiers of government.

‘When you look at the gross figure, you see all kinds of deductions before you get to the net distributable figure, which goes to the federal, state, and local governments. And I must inform that even during the last FAAC allocation, most of those deductions have been removed once and for all,’ he stated.

According to him, the government is now strictly adhering to the constitutional provision that mandates all revenues to be paid into the Federation Account before distribution according to the approved formula.

‘The constitution says that funds should flow from revenue-collecting agencies into the Federation Account and be distributed according to the set formula, and that is what is now being done,’ he added.

Edun noted that the administration’s fiscal reform efforts are anchored on transparency, accountability, and efficient allocation of public resources to spur development at both federal and state levels.

Beyond fiscal discipline, the minister also addressed the government’s social protection efforts, which he described as a key part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He acknowledged that ongoing economic reforms have caused short-term hardship by increasing the cost of living but assured that measures are in place to protect vulnerable Nigerians.

‘The promise was they would not be left to their own; they would not be left behind,’ Edun said. ‘We made sure that each person that benefits is biometrically and uniquely identified by their name. Kudos to the management of the Nigerian Identity Management Company.’

He explained that the social safety net program uses a digital payment system to ensure transparency and accountability in delivering cash transfers to beneficiaries.

‘And once we had put in place the right technology and the right methodology, it started to zoom such that we are still implementing the first stage of the social safety net – the direct benefit transfers. By the end of October, we’ll have done about 10 million households covering 50 million Nigerians. Long before the end of the year, the commitment is to have completed 50 million households,’ he said.

Edun revealed that the National Economic Council has approved a ward-based development programme across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards to ensure that the benefits of reforms are felt at the grassroots level.

‘So that is where the connection will be to bringing the gains home, drilling down to make sure all Nigerians get a chance to participate in a growing, stable, and positive trajectory of the Nigerian economy,’ he said.

The cost-of-collection arrangement, which the government now seeks to end, has historically served as the funding mechanism for revenue-generating agencies. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) retains about 4 percent of royalties, rents, and other revenues it collects on behalf of the Federation Account.

Similarly, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) retained N254.82 billion in 2024 and is projected to receive N43.83 billion for the first half of 2025 as cost of collection.

Until recently, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) received a 7 percent cost of collection from the Federation Account. However, this was replaced in August 2025 with a 4 percent Free On Board (FOB) levy on imports, following a directive by the House of Representatives. The new levy now serves as the primary source of funding for Customs operations.

With the planned review and removal of these deductions, the Federal Government aims to improve fiscal discipline, strengthen the Federation Account, and channel more resources toward infrastructure, social welfare, and sustainable development.

Apostle Lawrence Achudume of Victory Life Bible Church International has counselled youths to embrace entrepreneurship in the light of the economic realities in the country.

Speaking at the close of the church’s annual youth outreach: ‘Youth On Fire’ programme where he gave out N15 million to aspiring entrepreneurs , the cleric noted that white-collar jobs are no longer a feasible option, adding traditional employment routes aren’t yielding results youths.

Beneficiaries include young owners in catering, logistics, tailoring, fashion designing, shoe-making and others.

‘They were segmented into three categories,’ Achudume said ceremony. ‘The first group received full sponsored training in cutting-edge areas like graphic design.

‘The second category was given money with equipment, such as sewing machines while the third group got N300,000 to N3 million to bolster their entrepreneurial endeavours.’

He added the initiative, for his late wife, Revd. Fola Achudume, was to foster self-reliance in young people which she had championed.

‘Youths must build their future,’ he said. ‘We can’t rely on scarce white-collar jobs – we must foster prosperity through entrepreneurship.’

He restated her commitment to empowerment, saying it’s a sure way to rejig the economy.

‘Entrepreneurship is a pathway out of poverty,’ he noted. ‘This empowerment is arming youths with tools to create opportunities for themselves and others.’

The recent pronouncement by the federal government that prostitutes in Nigeria must now pay tax has thrown up a storm of contradictions that strike at the very heart of governance and policy consistency. In one breath, the state criminalizes prostitution, branding sex workers as offenders under the penal and criminal codes. In another breath, it seeks to profit from the same activity through taxation. This paradox not only undermines the credibility of government policy but also reveals a dangerous tendency toward exploitation of already vulnerable groups.

If the government is serious about taxation, then it must be equally serious about legalization. Otherwise, it risks enshrining injustice into law: demanding revenue from citizens without offering them rights or protection. This situation calls for an honest and urgent national debate about the legalization of prostitution in Nigeria.

Under Nigeria’s Penal Code, which applies in the northern states, prostitution is criminalized in several provisions. Section 405 defines a prostitute as ‘a person who, for his or her own gratification, engages in sexual intercourse for payment.’ Section 406 criminalizes the act, stating that ‘whoever engages in the business of prostitution shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.’

Similarly, the Criminal Code, which applies in the southern states, contains several provisions against prostitution. Section 223, for instance, criminalizes ‘procuring’ and ‘aiding’ prostitution. Section 225 further prescribes imprisonment for ‘every woman who is a common prostitute and behaves in a disorderly or indecent manner in any public place.’

The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act also criminalizes sexual exploitation, with harsh penalties for those who traffic individuals into prostitution.

The key point is this: Nigeria’s law is clear that prostitution is illegal. Yet, with the government now talking of taxing prostitutes, the contradiction becomes glaring. Taxation presupposes recognition of an activity as legitimate economic work. How can the state both criminalize and legalize at the same time? This is the hypocrisy that legalization would resolve.

At its core, taxation is a social contract. Citizens pay into the system, and in return, the state provides protection, infrastructure, and services. To demand taxes from sex workers without recognizing them as legitimate workers is to exploit them. It means the government is content to take their money but unwilling to provide them with the protection of the law.

Consider the reality on the ground. Sex workers in Nigeria face constant harassment from law enforcement. They are arrested, extorted, and sometimes assaulted by the very people sworn to uphold the law. Clients exploit their vulnerability, knowing they cannot report abuse without incriminating themselves. If government insists on taxing them while leaving them open to these abuses, then taxation becomes nothing more than state-sanctioned extortion.

The principle of fairness requires that if sex workers are taxed like every other Nigerian worker, then they must also be recognized, protected, and treated with dignity.

Nigeria is grappling with unprecedented fiscal pressures. Falling oil revenues, inflation, and rising debt have forced the government to widen its tax net. But if prostitution is to be included in this tax regime, then government must acknowledge its economic significance.

Sex work is one of the world’s oldest professions. In countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, it has been legalized and regulated, contributing millions of dollars annually in taxes. In Germany, for instance, prostitution generates over pound 15 billion annually, with workers registered, taxed, and protected under labour laws.

In Nigeria, prostitution already thrives as an informal economy. From brothels in Lagos and Abuja to street-based sex work in smaller towns, thousands of people-mostly women-depend on it for survival. Estimates suggest that in Lagos alone, tens of thousands of sex workers are active, with each contributing indirectly to the economy through rent, food, healthcare, and transport. If legalized and regulated, the government could capture this revenue formally, creating a structured taxation system that benefits the state while safeguarding the workers.

Legalizing prostitution also has profound implications for public health. Nigeria is still grappling with high rates of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to UNAIDS, sex workers account for a significant proportion of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Criminalization drives prostitution underground, making it harder to regulate health standards or enforce safe practices.

Legalization would allow for mandatory health check-ups, widespread distribution of condoms, and targeted public health campaigns. In countries where prostitution is legal, rates of STI transmission are significantly lower, thanks to regular medical supervision and regulation.

Moreover, legalization reduces stigma. When sex workers can openly access health facilities without fear of arrest, society as a whole benefits. Public health is not just about protecting the sex worker but also the larger population they interact with.

Critics often argue that prostitution fuels human trafficking and exploitation. While this concern is valid, criminalization has proven ineffective at addressing it. In fact, by pushing the industry underground, criminalization makes it easier for traffickers to operate unseen.

Legalization, on the other hand, brings the industry into the light, where it can be monitored and regulated. Licensed brothels, worker registration, and labour laws can help distinguish between voluntary sex work and coerced prostitution. This creates better tools for law enforcement to crack down on trafficking networks while protecting those who freely choose the profession.

Nigeria is a deeply religious and conservative society, and many argue that legalizing prostitution contradicts cultural and moral values. But governance cannot be based solely on moral sentiment. Alcohol, tobacco, and gambling all carry moral objections, yet they are legalized and taxed.

The role of government is not to legislate morality but to create policies that balance rights, health, safety, and economic realities. Religious institutions are free to preach against prostitution, but the state must govern with pragmatism. Laws should protect citizens, not moralize over their choices.

Germany legalized prostitution in 2002, regulating it as legitimate work. Sex workers register, pay taxes, and access health insurance and pensions. New Zealand decriminalized prostitution in 2003, focusing on labour rights and health. Studies show improved safety and working conditions. Netherlands has one of the most regulated sex industries in the world, with red-light districts generating millions in tourism and taxes.

These countries demonstrate that legalization does not destroy societal values. Instead, it creates safer, healthier, and more economically productive systems. Nigeria can adapt these models to its own cultural context.

Critics argue that legalization would ‘normalize immorality.’ But immorality is subjective. What is immoral to one group may not be to another. Policy must rise above subjective morality to focus on measurable outcomes, public health, economic stability, and citizen safety.

Others claim that legalization would increase prostitution. Evidence suggests otherwise. In New Zealand, decriminalization did not cause a spike in sex work but improved conditions for existing workers. Legalization does not create demand; it regulates existing demand.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The government cannot continue to criminalize prostitution while demanding taxes from prostitutes. If the state acknowledges that sex workers are economic actors deserving of taxation, then it must also acknowledge their right to protection, healthcare, and dignity.

Legalization is not about endorsing prostitution as a lifestyle. It is about creating a fair, consistent, and humane framework for addressing an industry that already exists, thrives, and contributes to the economy. It is about protecting the vulnerable, safeguarding public health, and ensuring the government does not exploit its citizens under the guise of taxation.

If Nigeria is to tax prostitution, then Nigeria must also legalize it. Anything less is an insult to justice and governance.

Nigeria Union of Tailors (NUT) and Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (ACCOMORAN) have declared their commitment to ensure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

They said they were spurred by the exemplary leadership of Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

The pledge was made during a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Movement for Tinubu in Ondo State, led by Coordinator Otunba Agboola Kelly, in Akure.

The two groups resolved to mobilise their members to secure a decisive victory for Tinubu, driven by their admiration for Tunji-Ojo’s transformative contributions to national governance.

Comrade Akinlolu Olumorin, representing ACCOMORAN, decried the group’s marginalisation by Ondo State Government.

‘Ondo is the only state where ACCOMORAN is denied operational recognition. The government employs thugs to sell tickets to Okada riders, sidelining our members,’ he said.

”When Otunba Agboola Kelly called for our support for President Tinubu’s re-election, we were initially sceptical, but we were inspired by the remarkable achievements of our esteemed son, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

”His innovative reforms as Minister of Interior have motivated us to dedicate our efforts to ensuring Tinubu’s success in 2027.”

Similarly, Nigeria Union of Tailors has affirmed its determination to rally its members across Ondo State to deliver overwhelming support to Tinubu.

Representing thousands of tailors and motorcycle riders, NUT and ACCOMORAN are leveraging their extensive grassroots networks to drive voter engagement.

‘We have implicit confidence in Tunji-Ojo’s leadership, and this has cemented our resolve to make Tinubu’s re-election a done deal.

‘Our efforts signal a formidable boost to the APC’s campaign, ensuring a strong foundation for victory in 2027.’

The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has summoned Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Heads of Missions to account for the use of funds allocated to Nigeria’s foreign missions this year.

In a letter by Committee Chairman Oluwole Oke, the lawmakers demanded detailed records of budget approvals, performance reports, and the utilisation of intervention funds from 2018 to 2025, in line with sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution.

According to a document from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration released $54 million to cater for Nigeria’s 103 embassies and high commissions, with $46.14 million released for overhead costs and $9.58 million for personnel.

Commending the President for reviving the missions, Oke stressed the need for transparency and accountability, urging officials to show how the funds were applied.

A breakdown of the allocations showed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received $5.89 million; Moscow, $1.96 million; Rome, $2.82 million; Vienna, $1.09 million; and Athens, $1.04 million.

Others include Tel Aviv ($1.8 million), Addis Ababa ($1.92 million), Jeddah ($1.48 million), Dubai ($1.26 million), and Madrid ($1.23 million).

Oke said the House investigation was not a witch-hunt but aimed at ensuring public accountability and efficient service delivery, especially as many missions have struggled with poor funding and alleged corruption.

Earlier this year, the committee began probing a $2 million contract scandal involving Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Also, the House promised to recover an estimated $9 billion lost to illegal mining and close revenue leakages in the solid minerals sector.

The House of Representatives Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Illegal Mining, Sani Abdulraheem, said the menace has deprived the nation of huge revenues, fueled insecurity, degraded the environment, and displaced mining communities.

Abdulraheem said the committee would conduct extensive oversight, strengthen revenue tracking, and work with ministries, agencies, private operators, and host communities to restore order in the sector. The lawmaker stated that Nigeria lost about $9 billion within two and a half months to illegal mining, pledging to ensure that every kobo earned from natural resources contributes to national development.

Citing the Ajaokuta Steel Company as a symbol of wasted potential, the committee chairman expressed optimism that the current administration’s renewed commitment would revitalize the steel sector.

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, said the corps had intensified its crackdown on illegal mining, arresting over 500 suspects, with 270 already facing trial and recording several convictions.

Represented by Assistant Commander Atta John Onoja, the NSCDC boss called for stronger legal frameworks to aid prosecution, assuring lawmakers of continued collaboration to safeguard the nation’s mineral resources.

The House committees emphasised that both enquiries formed a part of a broader legislative oversight to ensure transparency in public spending and effective management of national assets. The lawmakers said the probes were not witch-hunts but means to strengthen institutions, enhance fiscal discipline, and rebuild public confidence in government operations both at home and abroad.

Also, the House resolved to investigate alleged mismanagement and non-payment of scholarship stipends to Nigerian students under government-sponsored schemes abroad since 2015.

In a motion sponsored by Chile Okafor, the Green Chamber accused the Federal Scholarship Board of breaching the terms of engagement, delaying payments, and subjecting students to hardship and humiliation in foreign countries.

Lawmakers expressed concern that such administrative failures and corruption threaten the welfare of Nigerian scholars abroad, tarnish the country’s image, and undermine efforts to build human capital.

Also, the House rejected claims by the U.S. Senate that Nigeria’s security challenges were rooted in religious persecution, insisting the crisis was driven by terrorism, banditry, and communal violence affecting all faiths.

Lawmakers directed key committees to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a formal diplomatic response, engage U.S. legislators, and propose a joint fact-finding mission on religious freedom.

The House warned that the U.S. Bill, Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act 2025, could misrepresent facts, undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, and strain bilateral ties. Lawmakers also lamented the absence of ambassadors to handle diplomatic engagements.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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