• Hot Source
• Hot News
• September 1, 2025
• 21 views

Keyamo: PDP in Legal Risk Fielding Jonathan in 2027El-Rufai: Tinubu Will Come Third in Presidential Election

Keyamo: PDP in Legal Risk Fielding Jonathan in 2027El-Rufai: Tinubu Will Come Third in Presidential Election

* Accuses Uba Sani of disrupting ADC meeting in Kaduna 

*NSA: Facts on fight against banditry disprove El-Rufai’s false claims

Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, yesterday advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding either former President Goodluck Jonathan or former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate in 2027.

But the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has cautioned Keyamo, and other cabinet members to concentrate on their official duties and desist from dabbling into premature 2027 election permutations.
The group warned that such reckless politicking undermined governance and could further aggravate the hardships faced by the Nigerian people.
Keyamo, on X, contended that the opposition risked serious consequences in the upcoming election if it relied on Jonathan or Obi as its candidate.

He said the PDP remained in a “non-enviable position” after failing to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, a decision he said cost the party support in its traditional strongholds in the South-south and South-east.
The minister stated that nominating Jonathan carried a constitutional danger tied to section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he suggested could bar anyone sworn in twice as president from contesting again.
While creating several scenarios, Keyamo argued that if eventually Jonathan is barred by the court from running after nominations have closed, the PDP will be declared as having no candidate.

He said: “One of its attractive targets as a Presidential candidate is ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, because of his purported eligibility to run for only one term. But, if he is fielded, the party runs the risk of not having a candidate at all by virtue of section 137 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (Fourth Amendment). The constitutional amendment was made after the court judgment which cleared him to run in 2015, so nothing is decided yet on that new amendment, hence I use the word ‘risk’ advisedly.

“All the arguments as to whether the section can be interpreted to affect him will not be decided on social media, but at the Supreme Court. If he is barred from running after nominations have closed and the PDP is declared as having no candidate, nobody should scream ‘judiciary is corrupt’ because such a large party saw the judicial danger ahead and deliberately ignored it,” Keyamo, a senior lawyer maintained.

He emphasised that if the PDP decides to field its most attractive South-west candidate, no other region of the country will vote for a fresh Yoruba candidate who would be eligible for fresh two terms in office, pointing out that the candidate will battle with the ‘well-oiled’ APC structures in the South-west.
According to him, the same scenario will apply to Obi, arguing that the PDP is in a dilemma because it committed an ‘original sin’ in 2023 by lacking the balls to zone its presidential ticket to the South.

He added: “If the PDP woos back Peter Obi, scenario three above will still apply to him, hence all his shout of serving one-term of recent. In addition, the principled ones amongst the ‘obidients’ will see him as going back to his vomit of ‘structure of criminality’ and may not be too vociferous in their support anymore.
“The young social media warriors may lampoon anyone talking about these zoning sentiments, but that is the reality of our politics and it is not about to end. Except something extraordinary happens, the party may have to wait till 2031,” he maintained.

He added that the party would bear responsibility if it ignored the legal risk and lost its candidacy after nominations closed.
But HURIWA, in a statement, yesterday, described as insensitive and diversionary the long political commentary made by Keyamo on his X account, where he analysed the possible setbacks of the opposition PDP in the 2027 presidential election.

HURIWA said it was disturbing that a sitting minister, entrusted with the crucial mandate of managing Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace development, could devote his time to speculative political analysis while millions of Nigerians were suffocating under crushing economic policies and failing public infrastructure.
The group admonished President Bola Tinubu to call his cabinet members to order, stressing that ministers were appointed to rescue Nigeria’s collapsing economy and not to become political commentators or strategists for the ruling party.

HURIWA noted with dismay that cabinet officials like Keyamo were neglecting their core responsibilities, thereby dragging the country back by over six decades through a combination of poor policy implementation and coordinated toxic taxation policies.
According to the rights group, the present administration has presided over a regime of excessive levies and charges that discourage businesses, suffocate innovation, and kill off youth entrepreneurship.

El-Rufai: Tinubu will Come Third in Presidential Election
Still on the 2027 polls, a former Governor of Kaduna State and key member of the new African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nasir El-Rufai, has predicted that Tinubu will suffer a major humiliation in the 2027 election if he’s on the ballot, saying at best the President will come third in the first round of the election leading to a run-off without the president.
El-Rufai who made this known on Channels TV yesterday,  urged Tinubu to learn from the experience of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was defeated by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.
He said: “If you want to engage in self-delusion, you are free to do so. I will not tell you how we are going to win, but I tell you very clearly — the worst-case scenario in the 2027 elections is that no winner will emerge in the first round.
“We may have to go for a runoff, and Bola Tinubu will not be on the ballot for the runoff, because he will, at best, be third in the election. He has no pathway to win. I have done the maths, I have done the analysis; he cannot — he will, at best, be third.

“But he can deceive himself; he may think, oh, you know, I have money, because they have taken all the money in the country, I have INEC, I have the police, I have the army. “It’s like those who say Tinubu has never lost an election. That can be contested, but it’s okay. He’s a political strategist, he’s this, he’s that. Wait!”
He accused the President of mismanaging the economy, noting that 30 million more Nigerians had been impoverished in the last two years as a result of economic policy.
El-Rufai, who fell out with Tinubu after his nomination as a minister was rejected by the National Assembly, insisted that he would have resigned if he was made a minister in the Tinubu administration.
He said that serving as a minister under Tinubu was never his ambition, stating that Tinubu had begged him to join the cabinet but later changed his mind.

“I would have probably resigned if I was a minister in Tinubu’s government. I had no desire to be a minister. I don’t care what people are saying now. I have been a minister when I was much younger,” he said.
Besides, he accused the governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, of being behind the attack at the Kaduna ADC committee inauguration in Kaduna at the weekend. El-Rufai claimed that there was evidence that the state governor orchestrated the attack.
He said: “I have evidence that Kaduna State Governor is behind Saturday’s attacks. I will submit evidence to the IGP and other authorities if they care to investigate.”

El-Rufai who was instrumental to Sani’s emergence as Kaduna State governor in 2023, further said there was no dispute between him and the governor, declaring that Sani was never his friend.
“I’ve not fallen out with the governor. No, he is not my friend. He was my boy, my mentee. We have not fallen out. I still don’t speak with him. My biggest pride in life is that I have encouraged and elevated many people to greatness, some even greater than me, and I am very proud of it.
“ But when a person derails, when he doesn’t do the right thing, because I contributed to getting him there, I am prohibited from commenting? Is that what the country has become?”

NSA Responds to El-Rufai’s Claim
Meanwhile , the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) last night reacted to comments made by El-Rufai, in the television interview, where he alleged that the ONSA coordinates a policy of payments and offers incentives to bandits.
“This claim is baseless. At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals. On the contrary, we have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom. El-Rufai’s allegations are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on ground,” the office said in a statement signed by Zakari Mijinyawa.

The statement said that from inception, this government adopted a dual strategy: decisive kinetic operations alongside community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.
The result, the office led by Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, said, is evident in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna that once suffered untold terror  in Kaduna state but are now experiencing relative peace.
“The efforts of our gallant military and security agencies in capturing or eliminating notorious bandits have been widely reported in the media. In Kaduna alone, known kingpins  who once terrorised residents such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, among others, were eliminated. Only recently, leaders of Ansaru who previously established bases in Kaduna were apprehended.

“These successes came at a cost, some of our brave officers paid the supreme price. For a former governor of a state in person of El-Rufai to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel.

“We urge El-Rufai and all political actors to desist from dragging national security institutions into partisan battles. The fight against banditry is a collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring,” the ONSA added.

The post Keyamo: PDP in Legal Risk Fielding Jonathan in 2027El-Rufai: Tinubu Will Come Third in Presidential Election appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

​  

* Accuses Uba Sani of disrupting ADC meeting in Kaduna  *NSA: Facts on fight against banditry disprove El-Rufai’s false claims Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos
The post Keyamo: PDP in Legal Risk Fielding Jonathan in 2027El-Rufai: Tinubu Will Come Third in Presidential Election appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

• Hot Source
• Hot News
• September 1, 2025
• 19 views

Chatham House: Corruption Undermining Nigeria’s Economic Growth, Eroding Public Trust

Chatham House: Corruption Undermining Nigeria’s Economic Growth, Eroding Public Trust

*Says govt interference, inadequate funding hindering anti-graft war

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Chatham House, a leading UK-based independent policy institute, has said that corruption in Nigeria has continued to hamper economic growth and erode trust in public institutions in the country, despite 25 years of attempts at reforms by various administrations.

Chatham House, an organisation established in 1920, stated this in a new report written by its Associate Fellow, Africa Programme, Dr Leena Hoffmann and Comment Editor, Communications and Publishing, Tommy Hilton.
According to the organisation, corrupt practices are deeply entrenched across various levels of Nigeria’s government and society and permeate politics, public administration, law enforcement and the judiciary, often undermining the delivery of basic services.

However, the report is coming less than a week after President Bola Tinubu claimed during an official engagement in Brazil  that his administration had rid the nation of corruption, hinging the ‘success’ on his government’s economic reforms.
“The reforms I’ve embarked upon since I took over in Nigeria have been very impactful. I can beat my chest for that. It was initially painful, but today the result is blossoming. It’s getting clearer to the people. We have more money for the economy… no more corruption,” Tinubu had said at the event
However, the Chatham House report stated while most Nigerians disapprove of corruption, many tolerate or even engage in corrupt practices as they see it as the only way of surviving in a dysfunctional system.

The organisation said the report builds on the extensive research of Chatham House’s Social Norms and Accountable Governance (SNAG) project, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, which provides a compelling snapshot of the state of corruption in Nigeria, and the norms and expectations surrounding it.
In buttressing its position, Chatham stated that Nigeria is ranked among the world’s 40 most corrupt countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and 35th from bottom on the World Bank’s list of countries measured by their control of corruption.

Within Africa, it stated that Nigeria ranks 33rd for overall governance out of 54 countries measured in the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), which takes into account various measures including anti-corruption mechanisms and how successful they have been.
“Corruption has eroded the basis for Nigeria’s economic prosperity and negatively impacted its growth. This is evident when looking at Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures. While Nigeria has the fourth largest economy on the African continent by GDP, its GDP per capita – a more accurate measure of prosperity – is among the lowest in Africa.
“Corruption continues to be a defining feature of Nigeria’s governance, public administration and political life, hindering its full potential and global standing. At its core, corruption diverts public resources away from vital sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure, fuelling poverty and inequality. More than half of all Nigerians – approximately 54 per cent – live in poverty,” the report said.

Beyond the economic wellbeing of Nigeria, corruption, Chatham House said, has weakened the rule of law and undermined the public’s trust in critical institutions to deliver justice and protect peoples’ lives and basic rights.
Such an erosion of trust, according to the report, fosters a culture of impunity, where many individuals believe – rightly or wrongly – that corruption is the reality of life in Nigeria and that many engage in corrupt practices without facing consequences.

This sense of the corruption being intractable, it said, has fuelled the frustrations of some marginalised groups and the sense of hopelessness among some of Nigeria’s youth, as these grievances, in turn, drive emigration, protests, political violence and even fuel extremist insurgencies.
Besides, the report stated that corruption also impacts social cohesion and national unity, highlighting that the persistent impunity surrounding corruption also risks eroding ethical values and encouraging a culture of self-interest, where both elites and ordinary citizens increasingly prioritise private gain over the collective good.
“This has exacerbated Nigeria’s societal challenges, perpetuating a vicious cycle of corruption, systemic inefficiencies and underdevelopment,” it said.

While Nigeria suffers from extensive corruption, extensive research by Chatham House and others showed that Nigerians largely oppose corruption and acknowledge its harmful effects on the country.
“Chatham House’s survey data shows a substantial proportion of the population distrust key institutions. Governance and law enforcement institutions are the most distrusted: Nigeria’s police force has the lowest level of trust, highlighting deep-seated challenges related to corruption, abuse of power and lack of accountability.

“Lower trust in governance institutions (i.e. federal, state and local government) also reflects concerns over the efficiency and transparency of government spending and most citizen’s experiences with inadequate public services. The crisis of trust in Nigeria’s justice system is a stark indictment of compromised courts, which are widely perceived as politically captured and therefore unable to guarantee impartiality and equitable access to justice,” it added.

Quoting from its latest SNAG survey results, it stated  Nigerians showed mixed levels of trust in others, with a significant factor contributing to tolerance of corruption being the perception that it is the price for getting things done, and there is little to no consequence for wrongdoing.

“Moreover, the culture of clientelism and patronage prevalent in Nigeria has normalised corrupt practices. Social connections, family ties, and political allegiances often play a significant role in determining access to resources and opportunities.

“In a society where basic services are often unreliable and access to opportunities limited, individuals may resort to bribery or other corrupt acts to secure essential services, navigate bureaucratic hurdles, or gain an advantage in the marketplace,” it pointed out.

While decades of military rule, it said, have stymied development of democratic institutions, it also blamed insufficient funding for anti-corruption agencies, coupled with political interference, as key factors undermining the effectiveness of key institutions that were established or reconstituted after the end of military rule 25 years ago. 

The post Chatham House: Corruption Undermining Nigeria’s Economic Growth, Eroding Public Trust appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

​  

*Says govt interference, inadequate funding hindering anti-graft war Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Chatham House, a leading UK-based independent policy institute, has said that corruption in Nigeria has continued to hamper
The post Chatham House: Corruption Undermining Nigeria’s Economic Growth, Eroding Public Trust appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

• Hot Source
• Hot News
• September 1, 2025
• 19 views

FG: North-west, Not South-west Has Lion’s Share of Tinubu’s Projects

FG: North-west, Not South-west Has Lion’s Share of Tinubu’s Projects

*Budget office releases data, says report misleading 

*With N5.9tn, Yakubu maintains north not marginalised 

*Describes report as statistical error, deliberate incitement 

*Idris insists Tinubu fair to all sections of Nigeria 

*Lists key projects in every region

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government yesterday strongly repudiated insinuations that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration was unfairly weighed against the North in favour of Lagos and the South-west, the Nigerian leader’s home state and region respectively.
A report by a national newspaper had at the weekend stated that with N3.9 trillion, most of Tinubu’s projects were being cited in Lagos in particular and South-west in general in the last two years of the Tinubu government.

According to the report, the N3.9 trillion represented 111 per cent of the combined sum of N3.56 trillion approved for the South-east, North-west and North-east with 18 states altogether in the last 24 months.
“Findings revealed that during the period under review, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved projects worth N5.97 trillion for the South-west; N2.41 trillion for the South-south; N407.49 billion for the South-east; N1.15 trillion for the North-central (including Abuja); N2.7 trillion for the North-west and N403.98 billion for the North-east,” the report said.

However, a response from the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, described the report as misleading, stressing that it ignored the truth in its entirety.
“The viral chart bundles together national infrastructure—federal highways, coastal transport corridors, and legacy roads—and labels them ‘Lagos-only projects.’ By that logic, the Kano–Maiduguri expressway could be called a ‘Maiduguri-only project.’ It is a sleight of hand that ignores the truth: these are national arteries, not local trophies,” the DG said in a note.
According to Yakubu, the North-west remains the greatest beneficiary of the Tinubu administration with over 40 per cent of the total approvals so far, owning projects valued at N5.7 trillion.

Yakubu stressed that excluding Lagos, the South-west has a miserly N604 billion worth of projects, emphasising that when broken down, the actual value of  projects located in Lagos is about N1.2 trillion.
The nation’s budget office maintained that other projects computed by the report as belonging to Lagos, were actually transport highways that pass through Nigeria’s commercial city.
“When disaggregated, Lagos’ actual exclusive projects—airport fencing, Carter Bridge works, localised upgrades—stand at about N1.2 trillion. The much-touted N2.7 trillion are federal highways and transport links that pass through Lagos but serve the entire federation.

“In short, Lagos is not swallowing the budget; Nigeria is being stitched together through infrastructure. The real numbers paint a starkly different picture. North-west (has) N5.97 trillion (over 40 per cent of all approvals); and South-south: N2.41 trillion.
“North-central: N1.13 trillion;  South-east: N407 billion; North-east: N400 billion; South-west (excluding Lagos): N604 billion. In other words, the North-west—not Lagos—holds the lion’s share. It is the President’s single largest beneficiary,” Yakubu said in the note.

In ‘correcting the propaganda’, the budget office stated that the viral infographic exaggerated Lagos’ share while downplaying the North’s gains, showing side-by-side comparison of ‘misleading vs corrected framing.’
Admitting that without the North-west, there  would have been no Tinubu presidency, the budget office explained that the president has acknowledged this much, reason he has been citing critical projects in the region.
“Let us speak plainly: without the North-west, there would be no Tinubu presidency. The President knows this. He has not forgotten, nor has he been ungrateful,” Yakubu argued.

Specifically, he urged the purveyors of the ‘propaganda’ to consider the Kaduna Power Plant which is 255MW and conceived under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, but languished in abandonment for years.
“Today, under President Tinubu, it is being revived and put back on track. This is not just a power project—it is a symbol of continuity, respect, and reward for the North. Add to that the Kaduna–Kano expressway, the Kano–Maiduguri highway, the Sokoto–Illela corridor, and massive investments in education and security infrastructure. These are not footnotes. They are the backbone of a deliberate North-west-first investment strategy.

“This is not neglect; it is recognition. It is gratitude made concrete, kilometre by kilometre, megawatt by megawatt,” the budget office stated in the note.
According to the DG, the danger of the viral infographic is not just statistical error—it is deliberate incitement and pits Lagos against Kano, South-west against North-west, as though one region’s progress must mean another’s exclusion. “That is not budgeting. That is blackmail,” it added.
Stressing that Nigerians are wiser, the federal office noted that the records show that every region receives its share, because Tinubu budgets for one economy, one country and one people.
“Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial hub, rightly upgraded. The North-west is Nigeria’s electoral fortress, richly rewarded. Every region receives its share, because Tinubu budgets for one economy, one country, one people,” the the budget office explained.

According to Yakubu, despite efforts to water down the efforts of the Tinubu administration, the beneficiaries of the many interventions by the Tinubu-led administration will not forget in a hurry how they have been positively impacted by the current government.
“History will not remember the viral graphics. It will remember the farmers in Katsina whose produce reaches markets in Lagos, the power that lights up Kaduna through Yar’Adua’s plant, revived by Tinubu, and the schools and hospitals springing up across Sokoto and Zamfara.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not marginalised the North. He has trusted it, invested in it, and rewarded it. That is the record. That is the fact. That is the truth. And no infographic, however colourful, can bury it,” the country’s budget office pointed out.

Besides, the report by the newspapers had said: “The present administration has been accused of marginalising one section of the country in favour of the other, adding that “Some groups, especially the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), have at various times accused the president of taking more infrastructural development and appointments to the South than the North.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, yesterday described the report as half-truths and fake information being circulated, stressing Tinubu’s administration has been guided, at all times, by the principles of fairness, justice, and equity in the distribution of federal government projects, appointments, and opportunities across all six geopolitical zones of our country.

“Contrary to the perception being pushed in some quarters, this administration has demonstrated uncommon commitment to balanced development and inclusivity since assuming office. The distribution of capital projects under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is equitable. No region is playing a second fiddle or ignored.

“ In addition to projects by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), all six regions now have Regional Development Commissions to re-kickstart development efforts. While the Coastal Highway courses through the South, the Badagry–Sokoto Highway, under construction, traverses majorly the North. This sense of balance runs through all the major infrastructure projects being implemented today.

“Major infrastructural interventions are simultaneously ongoing across the federation—from highways and bridges to rail and power projects. The administration has secured funding for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna states to the tune of N150 billion and N100 billion, respectively.

“The metroline projects in Lagos and Ogun States form part of the government’s effort to develop Nigeria’s light rail infrastructure. Collectively, these projects are expected to create over 250,000 jobs nationwide.

“There is also a renewed push for the rehabilitation of the Eastern Corridor of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. In addition, over 1,000 primary health care centres have been rehabilitated across the country, underscoring the administration’s commitment to human capital and social infrastructure,” the minister said in a statement.

From verifiable data, he stated that the actual distribution of projects shows the North-west has the biggest beneficiary, aligning with the budget office of the federation.

“Legacy Road Projects under President Tinubu:  Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (750 km): 175 km ongoing in Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States. Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway (1,068 km): 378 km ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto sections. Trans-Sahara Highway (465 km): 118 km ongoing in Ebonyi State. Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (439 km): Being redesigned from flexible to rigid pavement for durability.

“Out of the total length of these projects, the North accounts for 52 per cent and the South for 48 per cent. Other Major Projects in the North (include): Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275 km dualised, N824bn); Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350 km dualised, N764bn); BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, Kano (256 km dualised).

  “Others are: Zaria–Hunkuyi Road (156 km); Kano Northern Bypass (49 km); Kano–Maiduguri Road (100.9 km); Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno (100 km); Damaturu–Maiduguri Road (110 km); Malando Road in Kebbi (76 km); Benue–9th Mile Road (250 km dualised, $958m);  Lokoja–Okene Dualisation (86 km); Kaduna–Katsina Roads (Sections 1 and 2, N150bn),” the statement noted.

Besides, it listed the projects in the South as:  Lagos–Ibadan (8.5 km, N33bn);  Lagos–Sagamu (12 km dualised);  Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin (N146bn); Rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges (N120bn).

In the South-east, the federal government mentioned the Enugu–Onitsha Road (107 km, N202bn via MTN Tax Credit); Enugu–Onitsha Road (72 km, N150bn via CBC); Enugu–Abakaliki Road (36 km); 2nd Niger Bridge Access Road (17.5 km dualised, N175bn) and Lokpanta–Enugu Road (61 km dualised, N100bn).

In the same vein, in the South-south, it listed: the Eleme–Onne Road (30 km, N156bn); Eket Bypass (9.7 km dualised, N76bn);  East–West Road Section 2 (N186bn); Nembe–Brass Road (N150bn); Lokoja–Benin Dualisation (N167bn); 2nd Niger Bridge Access Road in Delta (17 km dualised, N146bn) and Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers (35 km with 12 bridges, N200bn).

“Beyond roads and rail, this administration has also revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, advanced the AKK Gas Project, and expanded oil and gas exploration in the North with the drilling of three oil wells in the Kolmani region of Bauchi and Gombe States. Kano-Maradi rail line, inherited at 5 per cent has received huge funding support from the government making it attain 67 per cent within a short time.

“President Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. Lagos is rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but the North-west holds the lion’s share of approvals. This proves that all regions are receiving fair consideration,” the minister stressed.

Similarly, Idris stated that equity is also evident in federal appointments, noting that Tinubu has consistently appointed capable Nigerians from every part of the country, guided by competence and inclusivity rather than sectional considerations.

“Inclusivity lies at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda. The establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development further illustrate the President’s determination to address Nigeria’s unique developmental needs in a manner that benefits all sections of the country.

“On the whole, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only kept faith with Nigerians but has proven himself to be a fair, pragmatic, and consequential reformer. His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering. Nigerians can rest assured that under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind,’ the minister assured.

The post FG: North-west, Not South-west Has Lion’s Share of Tinubu’s Projects appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

​  

*Budget office releases data, says report misleading  *With N5.9tn, Yakubu maintains north not marginalised  *Describes report as statistical error, deliberate incitement  *Idris insists Tinubu fair to all sections of Nigeria 
The post FG: North-west, Not South-west Has Lion’s Share of Tinubu’s Projects appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

• Hot Source
• Hot News
• September 1, 2025
• 19 views

Tinubu, Egbetokun, Makinde, Obaseki, Others Mourn as Ex-IG Solomon Arase Passes at 69

Tinubu, Egbetokun, Makinde, Obaseki, Others Mourn as Ex-IG Solomon Arase Passes at 69

*President condoles catholic faithful over demise of ex-Bishop of Francis Okobo 

Deji Elumoye, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan 

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, joined other Nigerians to commiserate with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over the demise of the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Ehigiator Arase. He was aged 69.

The President, in a release by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commiserated with the family, friends and associates of the highly resourceful officer. 

Tinubu acknowledged the dedication of the former IGP to enhancing security in the country, through initiatives such as the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit, and Safer Highway Patrols.

Reflecting on Arase’s laudable service to the country, the president remarked, “Arase served the police force meritoriously from 1981 to 2016. During his career, he led tactical, operational, and intelligence units, including United Nations Peacekeeping in Namibia, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, and the Principal Staff Officer to three IGPs.

“He was Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department.

“After retirement, he continued to serve the nation in various public roles, including as Chairman of the Police Service Commission and as head of the Task Force on implementing the Edo State Anti-Community Development Association Law.

“His expertise extended to consultancy roles with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the European Centre for Electoral Support, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo, and as a member of the Committee on Prevention of Torture in Geneva, Switzerland.

“I pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of this dedicated security expert, whose experience and contributions will be deeply missed by our nation.”

In a related development, President Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of Bishop Francis Emmanuel Okobo, the pioneer Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka at 88 years old.

“As the pioneer Catholic Bishop of the Nsukka Diocese, Bishop Okobo provided uncommon leadership and direction to the Catholic faithful, leading to the Church’s exponential growth in Nsukka Diocese.

“As a priest and worker in God’s Vineyard, he lived an exemplary and impactful life, building the Church and guiding countless souls with love and wisdom,” the president said.

Tinubu commiserated with Bishop Okobo’s family, the Catholic faithful of Nsukka Diocese, and the people and government of Enugu State on the demise of this shepherd of the flock.

Also, mourning Arase, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in a statement, revealed that news of the passing of Arase was officially communicated to him by the deceased’s first son, Mr. Solomon Osabohien Arase Jnr.

Egbetokun stressed that his passing was not merely the end of a remarkable chapter, but a moment of collective mourning for a man, who served with pride and honour.

He stated that, through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), Arase supported academic excellence by awarding scholarships to outstanding Nigerian students, with a particular focus on children of deceased police officers and indigent students.

The Inspector-General of Police, during a condolence visit to the family of the late IGP in Abuja, extended heartfelt condolences—on behalf of the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force—to the family, friends, and former colleagues of IGP Arase.

Egbetokun acknowledged the pain of this loss and prayed for comfort, strength, and peace for all during this time of grief, while appreciating the late police chief’s contributions to police reform and national security.

On his part, Oyo State Governor, in a statement, described Arase’s death as a massive loss to Nigeria, as according to him, he was, until his death, one of the most resourceful retired IGPs, with experience and expertise that could be useful to the country.

According to him, he shared a personal relationship with Arase dating back to his days as IGP, adding that the Oyo State Government on his watch (Makinde’s) also benefited immensely from Arase’s advice and expertise.

“I have just heard about the death of my big brother, IGP Solomon Arase (rtd). I condole with his family, the people and government of Edo State and the Inspector-General of Police, on this great loss.

“Retired IGP Arase’s death will leave a huge vacuum in the security sector, as he was one of the finest police officers in his days of active service and one of the retired Police Chiefs with experience and expertise that could have been useful to Nigeria in years to come.

“My relationship with him dates back to many years ago and his experience and expertise had proved useful to us in Oyo State at different points. It is my prayer that God grants him a place in paradise and gives his family and friends the fortitude to bear this loss.”

Equally paying tribute, the immediate past governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in a statement, said he received with shock, the news of the death of the former IG, describing his death as a monumental loss not only to his immediate family but to Edo State and the country.

Obaseki, who said Arase etched his name in history as the first son of the state to ascend to the exalted office of IG of Police, noted that the he bored that office with uncommon dignity as he Served the country with integrity, courage and exemplary professionalism.

“Dr. Arase etched his name in history as the first Edo son to ascend to the exalted office of Inspector General of Police. He bore that distinction with uncommon dignity, and in that high office, he served Nigeria with integrity, courage, and exemplary professionalism. His career was a legacy of discipline, excellence, and the highest ideals of public service.

“In retirement, he did not retreat from service. With a deep sense of duty to his people, he continued to lend his wisdom and experience. I had the privilege of working closely with him when, as Governor, I appointed him to chair the Edo State Private Property Protection Committee (ESPPPC). 

“In that role, he confronted the decades-long menace of land grabbing with firmness and fairness, restoring order, sanity, and justice to our communities.

“Dr. Arase was much more than a public servant; he was a man of deep humanity, humble yet brilliant, firm yet compassionate, a leader whose life reflected his abiding belief in justice and the common good. His passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt across the nation.

“I extend heartfelt condolences to the Arase family, his friends, colleagues, the Nigeria Police Force, and indeed all Nigerians. May the Almighty grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, and may his soul find eternal rest.”

Arase, the immediate past Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) reportedly died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja, yesterday.

Arase, who was the 18th Inspector General of Police, previously served as the head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the Force’s top intelligence unit, before his appointment as IGP.

Born on 21 June 1956 in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase joined the Nigeria Police Force on 1 December 1981 and retired on 21 June 2016, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 60.

A Political Science graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, he also earned a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

In January 2023, the late President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him Chairman of the Police Service Commission. He held that position until June 2024, when he was removed by President Bola Tinubu.

Arase was widely respected for his reform-driven leadership and dedication to the welfare of police personnel.

As IGP, he spearheaded key reforms, including the establishment of the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit to tackle police misconduct, and the Safer Highway Patrols initiative, which enhanced security for road users nationwide.

Following his retirement, Arase remained active in security reform, especially in the areas of election security and police neutrality.

The post Tinubu, Egbetokun, Makinde, Obaseki, Others Mourn as Ex-IG Solomon Arase Passes at 69 appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

​  

*President condoles catholic faithful over demise of ex-Bishop of Francis Okobo  Deji Elumoye, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan  President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, joined other Nigerians to commiserate
The post Tinubu, Egbetokun, Makinde, Obaseki, Others Mourn as Ex-IG Solomon Arase Passes at 69 appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.