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Tinubu Splashes $100,000, Flat, OON National Honour On Each D’Tigress Player

Tinubu Splashes $100,000, Flat, OON National Honour On Each D’Tigress Player

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu on Monday evening appreciated Nigeria’s senior female basketball team, D’Tigress, for winning

the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship final in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday, with cash, flat and national awards.

Speaking while receiving in audience the female players and the technical team at the new Banquet Hall of the State House, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who stood in for President Tinubu, announced the cash gift of $100,000, flat and national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) to each of the players of the victorious senior female basketball national team, D’Tigress. 

The reception was attended by the wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Nana Shettima; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko; 

the victorious D’Tigress players, their coach, Wakama; as well as members of the technical crew, among others

Details later…

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D’Tigress Arrives State House, To Be Hosted By Shettima 

D’Tigress Arrives State House, To Be Hosted By Shettima 

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on Monday afternoon arrived the State House, Abuja, following their victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship final in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday. 

The African champions, who defeated Mali 78–64 in a thrilling final are being hosted at the new Banquet Hall by Vice-President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu in recognition of their outstanding performance and contribution to national pride.

The victory marks a significant milestone for the team, clinching their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title and seventh overall, making them the most successful side in the tournament’s history. 

With this win, D’Tigress also extended their unbeaten run in the competition to 10 straight years, cementing their dominance on the continent.

Led by head coach Rena Wakama, the Nigerian side overcame a sluggish start to take full control of the second half, executing a disciplined game plan that left Mali trailing.

Details later… 

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Nigeria’s D’Tigress Beat Mali to Win Afrobasket Record Fifth Consecutive Title

Nigeria’s D’Tigress Beat Mali to Win Afrobasket Record Fifth Consecutive Title

* Extend unbeaten record in Africa to 29 games dating back to 2015

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, confirmed yet again their supremacy as the best team in the continent, defeating Mali 78-64 to win their fifth consecutive Afrobasket title in Abidjan Sunday night.

The win also extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in Africa to 29 games, dating back to 2015.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games quarterfinalists were the tournament’s favourites but did not take anything for granted right from the group phase as they stayed undefeated till the final of the 2025 Afrobasket Championship inside the Palais des Sports de Treichville in the Ivorien commercial capital city.

However, the Malians drew the first blood, racing to 26-21 win in the first quarter. D’Tigress fought back gamely in the second quarter, winning it 20-15 that cancelled out Mali’s five points lead from the first quarter.

In the third quarter, D’Tigress gained a five-point edge closing that quarter with same 20-15 scoreline.

The Coach Rena Wakama-led ladies then took complete charge, throwing winners from all over the court. That 17-8 win effectively pushed Nigeria to the fifth consecutive win with 78-64 victory.

Expectedly, Ezinne Kalu led the statistic with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Amy Okonkwo followed overall with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Sika Koné contributed the highest points on the Malian side, firing 16 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists.

Since the 2011 tournament in Bamako, Nigeria and Mali have faced off six times.

That year, Mali, the host country, ended Nigeria’s hopes of winning the title with a 71–62 semifinal victory.

Two years later in Maputo, Mozambique, Mali defeated Nigeria twice. First, they won 78-45 in the group phase, then they won 57-50 in the fifth-place game.

Nigeria was tired of their continuous defeats at the hands of Mali and could not have found a better stage on which to turn their fortunes around than the 2017 Women’s AfroBasket semifinals in Mali. Nigeria walked away with a 48–47 victory, marking the beginning of their eight-year African dominance.

Two years later, in 2019, Nigeria beat Mali 79-58 in Dakar, Senegal. They beat them again in the 2021 tournament final in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Since 2011, Mali and Nigeria have each won three times.

Earlier Sunday, South Sudan’s Bright Starlets became the first debutants to win continental medal when they defeated 11-time champions Senegal 66-65 to win the bronze of the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket Championship.

The South Sudanese entered the championship on a wild card and capped it with their first ever medal in the continental showpiece. 

Their win over Senegal, who were looking to end a decade-long wait for gold, makes it the third time the West Africans have missed out on the podium in 26 editions. They missed in the inaugural edition in 1966 and in 2021 in Cameroon, finishing fourth on both occasions. 

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FG Approves N712 Billion for Full Rehabilitation of Lagos Airport Terminal One

FG Approves N712 Billion for Full Rehabilitation of Lagos Airport Terminal One

•Project to be executed within 22 months 

•Okays N213.7bn for electrification of universities, rural communities

•Awards multi billion naira road projects nationwide 

•Approves new Oncology centre for Ibadan

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved N712 billion for the full rehabilitation, upgrade, and modernisation of International Terminal One at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The approval was the centrepiece of a sweeping N900 billion aviation infrastructure plan for the country.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made the disclosure while addressing newsmen after the FEC meeting presided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at State House, Abuja.

Keyamo said the project, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), will strip the old terminal down to its structural core before rebuilding it with new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

The project, funded entirely through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, will be executed over a period of 22 months.

According to Keyamo, “We have decided to strip it down to only the carcass and then do the complete M&E again.”

He emphasised the administration’s departure from patchwork repairs towards comprehensive overhaul of key aviation facilities.

FEC also approved the expansion of Terminal Two, including the construction of a new apron, access roads, bridges, and related works.

When combined with the Terminal One project, the total cost of all Lagos-related airport works amounted to N712.26 billion, making it one of the most significant single investments in Nigeria’s aviation sector in recent years.

In a move to improve security at the Lagos airport, the council approved a N49.9 billion perimeter fencing project.

The 14.6-kilometre metal fence will feature an intrusion detection system, CCTV cameras, solar-powered floodlights, and a patrol road.

According to the minister, the security enhancements will include a modern command centre capable of detecting any movement near the fence in real-time.

“Anyone or anything close to the fence will be detected immediately, and the location pinpointed,” he said.

Keyamo said, “The council also approved greenlit upgrades at other key airports across the country.

“At Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, FEC approved N46.39 billion for the rehabilitation of both runways and taxiways, along with an upgrade of the airfield lighting to Category Two (CAT 2) standards.

“The 24-week project is expected to significantly improve operational safety and reduce weather-related flight disruptions.”

He said, “Port Harcourt International Airport is also set for a runway and taxiway rehabilitation, with airfield lighting upgrades to CAT 2 standards approved at a cost of ₦42.14 billion.

“In Lagos airport, airfield lighting on Runways 18 Left and 36 Right, as well as on Taxiways B and C, will be upgraded to CAT 2 LED systems under a N44.13 billion contract with a 30-week completion period.

“To further improve operations at Lagos’ domestic wing, the council approved the reconstruction and conversion of over 82,000 square meters of apron areas.

“This project, valued at N24.27 billion, will be carried out in phases over approximately 17 and a half months to expand aircraft parking space and ease traffic management.”

Keyamo said, “In a major shift toward private sector involvement in airport management, FEC also approved the full business case for the 30-year concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

“The concession includes the completion and operation of the airport’s cargo terminal by a private consortium.”

The minister said the decision was driven by the financial strain on government resources from running smaller airports.

He stated, “Most of the smaller airports, apart from the major ones, are running at a loss. The profits we make from Kano, Lagos, and Abuja often go into keeping these others alive.”

He said the concession model would unlock the commercial potential of non-aeronautical revenue streams, such as conference centres and shopping malls, which generate substantial income at modern airports globally.

“That has always been the plan of this administration—to concession some airports to private individuals and entities so they can run them profitably,” Keyamo said.

To reassure stakeholders, he stressed that the process had been transparent and inclusive, particularly with regard to labour unions.

“I am not someone who ignores the unions. From the very start, I directed that they must be part of the committee,” he said, stressing that labour representatives have been fully involved in the concession process.

The minister pledged that full details of the concession, including the identities of the consortium members and financial terms, would be made public in due course.

He said, “At the right time, we will jointly address Nigerians and disclose all necessary details to ensure full transparency.”

FEC also approved two major electrification projects with a combined value of N213.7 billion to improve energy access in universities, teaching hospitals, and rural communities across Nigeria.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, announced the approvals while briefing reporters.

Adelabu said the first project, valued at N145 billion, inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT, was for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of power systems under the Energising Education Programme (EEP), implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

It will also be funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund and is expected to be delivered within seven to nine months.

EEP is targeted at easing the energy burden on Nigeria’s public universities and tertiary teaching hospitals by providing reliable, renewable power supply.

Adelabu stated that many institutions had faced severe electricity challenges, leading to blackouts and industrial actions, as they struggled to meet exorbitant utility bills from distribution companies.

He said, “The absence of reliable power in most institutions has grown into a crisis. This initiative will bring relief to educational and medical institutions and improve the quality of education and healthcare delivery.”

He listed eight institutions set to benefit from the current phase of the programme to include University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan; University College Hospital, Ibadan; Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State; and Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State.

Adelabu added that the new projects built on earlier interventions executed with World Bank support, had already delivered solar power installations to several universities, including the University of Abuja (3 megawatts), University of Maiduguri (12MW), University of Calabar (8MW), Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW), and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (5MW).

“These institutions are now operating without disruption to electricity supply. The new funding is intended to accelerate deployment to more campuses,” he said.

The second project, valued at N68.7 billion, including VAT, is for the procurement and deployment of renewable energy infrastructure under the REA’s Agricultural Centres of Excellence initiative, the minister said.

The programme aims to bring solar-powered electricity to rural communities and agribusiness clusters where grid access is unavailable. It is expected to be completed within three months.

According to Adelabu, the rural electrification project is designed not only to provide lighting for homes but also to power agro-processing activities and other productive uses to boost rural livelihoods.

He stated, “This project is meant to empower our rural dwellers by enabling them to engage in productive activities using solar-powered equipment. It’s a key part of our resolve to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the transformation of the power sector.

“The total cost approved for this project was N68.7 billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, with three months’ completion or delivery periods.

“For the Nigerian education, the total project amounts approved was N145 billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT.”

He emphasised that the deployment of off-grid renewable energy solutions aligned with the Tinubu administration’s broader agenda to promote inclusive growth and economic diversification through sustainable infrastructure development.

“The approvals granted today demonstrate President Tinubu’s commitment to transformative investments in power infrastructure that directly impact lives, learning, healthcare, and productivity,” Adelabu said.

The federal government also approved billions of Naira for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of several highways spread across the country.

It also commenced reconstruction of the collapsed Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State, where a tragic incident earlier in July claimed three lives. Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, who disclosed this yesterday while briefing newsmen, described the collapse as “very unfortunate”.

Umahi confirmed that the government had reached a settlement with the bereaved families.

“We lost three lives there. We have settled with the families, who are not pressing charges. Reconstruction has started,” Umahi said.

He stated that one carriageway of the flyover had been closed to allow urgent repair works.

The minister added that structural investigations prompted the closure to prevent further incidents.

The Keffi Flyover, a major link between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and several North-central states, collapsed on July 4, raising widespread concern over infrastructure safety.

Umahi assured that the Tinubu administration was prioritising accountability and public safety, and urged citizens to support ongoing inspection and monitoring efforts.

He said the intervention alignws with the administration’s broader commitment to ensuring the integrity of road and bridge assets nationwide.

FEC likewise approved major reviews and funding for critical road and bridge projects across the country as part of Tinubu’s infrastructure transformation agenda.

Umahi revealed that 360 road rehabilitation projects were completed in 2023, and inspections were underway across all geopolitical zones.

He disclosed that state engineering chambers will now participate in the tracking of federal projects to promote transparency and collaboration.

Umahi listed several high-value projects, many exceeding N10 billion, that had either commenced or received substantial disbursements, with a detailed list to be published next week.

He named key highlights of ongoing and approved projects, including:

Abuja Road Lots: Lot 1: 118 km at N275 billion (30 per cent disbursed; 30 per cent completed); Lot 2: 164 km at N502 billion (N150 billion disbursed for six sections)

The works minister also named major corridor projects and the funding stages to include Enugu–Onitsha Road: 72 km at N150 billion (N45bn released); Abuja–Kano Road: N220 billion (30 per cent disbursed); Bauchi–Jigawa Road Sections: fully funded; Nembe–Brass Road: N156 billion (30 per cent released);

Port Harcourt–Bodo–Bonny Road: 35 km at N200 billion near completion; Benin–Ifon–Akure: 108.4 km (30 per cent released); Akure–Ado-Ekiti: 256 km at N761 billion (30 per cent released).

Umahi announced new approvals and project variations, including Biu–Numa Road (Borno/Adamawa): Revised to N61.76 billion (from N15.4 billion), Maraba–Keffi Road; (Nasarawa): 43.6 km dualisation at N76 billion; Ikorodu–Sagamu Road (Lagos): Variation of N11.42 billion approved for completion; Kashamu–Amshi–Guru–Gurus Road (Yobe): Revised to N23.4 billion for binder courses and a new vehicle bridge; Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway: Kebbi Section: 258 km x2 at N1.92 trillion and Sokoto Section: 120 km x2 at N912 billion.

Other projects, he said, were Afe Babalola University Access Road (Ekiti): Revised to 14.4 km at N9.32 billion due to funding constraints; Trans-Saharan Highway (Oyo–Benue border): Revised from 180 km to 231.64 km; cost increased to N445.8 billion due to soil failures and realignment; Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (Sections 4A & 4B):

Ogun & Ondo States: 80.35 km x2 at N1.65 trillion and includes 6-meter excavation due to swamp terrain.

Umahi emphasised that the projects were not just infrastructure upgrades but strategic economic drivers expected to impact state GDPs, trade, and national cohesion.

He defended the cost-effectiveness of the contracts and affirmed that the rollout of projects had been equitably distributed across zones.

He stated that the administration was open to scrutiny and committed to delivering quality infrastructure across the country.

Another approval by FEC was for the upgrade of the Oncology Centre at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, another milestone in the Tinubu administration’s aggressive reform of Nigeria’s health sector.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the approval was part of a broader agenda to revolutionise cancer care and health infrastructure in the country.

According to him, the revamped UCH Oncology unit will feature advanced equipment, including linear accelerators and diagnostic systems for radiotherapy.

He added that similar comprehensive oncology centres recently launched in Katsina, Enugu, and Jos illustrated the administration’s commitment to building world-class facilities locally.

“Cancer patients now have access to state-of-the-art treatment within Nigeria, unless they choose otherwise,” he said.

“This government, under the leadership of President Tinubu, is making significant investments so that our people no longer have to travel abroad for care that can be accessed here,” Pate added.

The minister stated that additional cancer centres were in the pipeline for Lagos and Zaria, while referencing the ongoing commissioning of over 10 major projects at the newly inaugurated University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, one of the largest in West Africa.

They included neurology, stroke, heart, and interventional radiology centres, among others.

The minister said, “This is unprecedented, Nigeria has never witnessed this level of presidential attention and investment in the health sector.”

Pate also commended the collaborative efforts of the Ministers of Finance and Budget in delivering the president’s health sector renewal vision.

Commenting on the state of industrial harmony in the sector, the minister acknowledged two years of relative peace and appreciated health workers across federal and state institutions for their resilience.

He, however, noted concerns raised by professional groups over a recent circular by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, which had since been withdrawn.

Pate stated, “We’re now in the process of negotiating revised allowances transparently.”

He said active discussions were ongoing with key associations, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and nurses’ unions.

He assured that some longstanding arrears would be addressed by the Ministry of Finance in due course.

“Not all issues are financial,” Pate added.

He explained, “We are also resolving establishment matters, like the centralisation of nurses’ postings. The government is committed to ensuring that health workers are respected and supported.”

Further negotiations with union leaders are scheduled for Friday, in line with President Tinubu’s directive to maintain constructive engagement for lasting peace, he said.

“The health workers are the lifeblood of the system. Our infrastructure and equipment must go hand in hand with a motivated and supported workforce,” Pate further said.

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NITRA-ALTON CNII Sustainability Conference Holds August

NITRA-ALTON CNII Sustainability Conference Holds August

With approval from the nation’s telecommunications regulator, and to further ensure a robustconversation around the recent law declaring telecom infrastructure as a Critical National Infrastructure(CNI), positioning it as a national resource to be protected, the planned CNII Sustainability Conference2025 discuss has been rescheduled to hold in Lagos.

The forum, which is being organised as collaboration between industry media group, the NigeriaInformation Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) and telecom operators under the aegis of theAssociation of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), was earlier billed to hold onJuly 30, 2025, but has to seek a new date following an all-inclusive telecom stakeholders’ event by theregulator. The event also has the support of industry associations such as the Association of TelecomCompanies of Nigeria (ATCON).

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With 3/4 of Landmass, 2/3 of Population, North  Roars, Tinubu Fights Back

With 3/4 of Landmass, 2/3 of Population, North  Roars, Tinubu Fights Back

•Deploys 60 top government officials to  address grievances 

•SGF urges region to wait for 2031

•NSA Ribadu says Nigeria’s security improving  

•Uba Sani maintains president good to northern region

•Arewa leaders insist despite giving Tinubu 5.6m votes, region neglected

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

It was Professor Muhammad Tijani Bande , former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations and President of the United Nations General Assembly who spoke truth to power: he said with 2/3rd of Nigeria’s population, three quarters of the land mass and 64% of Northern votes in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu they have concerns that need urgent action.

The President  yesterday fought back the growing opposition from the northern part of the country as the 2027 elections approach, deploying  over 60 top government officials, including ministers, heads of security agencies from the region, special advisers, heads of parastatals, among others, to address their grievances.

The North has been unhappy with Tinubu since assuming office in May 2023, with massive support from the region. It is now flaunting  its commanding  landmass of the country, huge population and massive voting numbers to drive home its opposition to the President’s re-election.

It certainly can make or mar the presidential hopes of any candidate and it is roaring and flexing its electoral muscles.

Tinubu certainly realises the importance of the North to his electoral fortune and is throwing everything in the fight to get the support of critical stakeholders from the region as the race for 2027 gathers momentum.

The representatives of the president at the event, who sought to convince the leaders of the region on what the Nigerian leader was doing to lift the region from the current insecurity, poverty and other social vices, stated that no other Nigerian leader has looked out for the interest of the region in recent times the way Tinubu has done since 2023.

It was also a time for some ‘home truths’, as the leader of the presidential delegation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, urged the region to defer their aspiration for 2027 and wait for 2031 in the interest of the unity of the country.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, also took his time to enunciate measures so far taken by the federal government to end the insecurity in the north, arguing that while the Tinubu administration met a very bad situation, it has gradually pushed back on the insecurity in all parts of the country.

As the political tempo begins to build ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, several key figures from the north and within the ruling political elite have recently emerged as strong opponents to  Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Among them, the most vocal have been a former Kano Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who has accused Tinubu of neglecting the region; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

While mobilising others, they have brought different strands of growing resistance to Tinubu’s presidency, citing regional discontent and neglect. They have tried to play up the perceived growing sense of political and economic marginalisation since Tinubu assumed office.

Some key political players  in the region believe that the Tinubu administration has not maintained the traditional political balance that ensured the North’s strategic interests were protected within Nigeria’s power-sharing framework. Appointments to key government positions, some elites from the region have argued, have been skewed, sparking dissatisfaction among influential northern political and religious figures.

Beyond appointments, there is also resentment over the impact of Tinubu’s economic reforms on the northern masses, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, which have driven up the cost of living, hitting the informal economy on which many northern Nigerians, a large voting bloc, depend.

Speaking at a town hall organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation to assess Tinubu’s midterm as Nigeria’s leader, the SGF who led the president’s delegation, told the north to wait for its turn, insisting that although unwritten, there’s now an agreement that each region between the south and the north should have eight years each.

The event was themed: “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens Engagement for National Unity”.

Akume said: “It is good to give honour to whom honour is due. If a leader does something that is commendable, we must, as citizens, commend him so that he can do more. When he makes a mistake, he’s not God. He should be gently reminded to take corrective measures. I’m saying this because there has been a lot of misinformation in the political space about appointments.

“But when I ran the statistics, in April, the south-west was leading, followed closely by the north-west, then the north-east, north-central, south-south, and then south-east. So when we speak, we should be guided by facts, not sentiments. This country belongs to all of us. Anything that would disturb stability and equilibrium should be avoided.

“It does us no good. There are certain issues I’ll be taking up with a select few. I wouldn’t want to expose them here as to why we believe we should do everything to ensure the territorial integrity of our country. Those of us from this part of Nigeria, he has promised Nigerians impartiality in governance and a commitment to remodeling our economy, improving security, accelerating infrastructure, job creation, and revitalising agriculture.

Listing the several initiatives by the Tinubu administration to lift Nigeria from its present state, Akume noted that the president has adopted bold and foundational reforms to stabilise and grow the Nigerian economy, including a unified exchange rate, removal of fuel subsidy and the reform of the tax system.

Among others, he stated that the government continues to invest massively in the acquisition of modern technology and equipment, as well as upscaling of skills of members of the armed forces to minimise insecurity. “Last year alone, diaspora remittance to Nigeria was $22 billion,” he added, highlighting the impact of Tinubu’s reforms.

With the removal of subsidy, he stated that the savings are now being redirected into critical infrastructure and human development while states as well as local governments are receiving increased allocation.

Talking about 2027 politics, he argued that as a collective resolve to protect and defend Nigeria’s democracy, Nigerian  leaders  in Kaduna in 1999, before the Jos Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agreed to ensure a north-south power sharing arrangement.

“They recognised, and rightly so, that the only way to ensure the unity and territorial integrity of our dear country was to entrench in our minds and practice rotational presidency between the south and the north. I salute their courage, sincerity, and patriotism,” he stated.

He listed 18 Nigerian leaders who took the decision to ensure the unity of Nigeria, recalling the June 12 challenges and how the country made a decision to allow the south-west to govern the country after the demise of Moshood Abiola.

“We argued for over three hours. Then finally, with superior reasoning from these people, we agreed that after four years for the south, then back to the north, but later it was increased to eight in the south, eight in the north, so everybody will feel part of this country.

“Their wisdom has paid off. This arrangement guarantees stability of the polity. The north will be eligible for the presidency in 2031, not 2027. I said this because I love you. We love all of you. Let us not do something that will undermine our territorial integrity and tomorrow people may be tempted to support others against us. Nigeria will not cease to exist. But we need patience to arrive at our turn,” Akume stated.

He added that the belief that Tinubu’s policies are more aligned with the interests of the south-west elite than with the broader needs of the country, especially the north, was baseless.

In his intervention, the NSA, Ribadu, listed the achievements of the Tinubu government in the area of security, noting that now, Nigerians, especially people from the north can move around unlike before Tinubu took over.

“President Tinubu told us to come and present ourselves before you, and we are here. And to also once again give you the assurance that Nigeria is in good hands, that we will work, that we will restore order, we will bring stability to our country, we will give our people their lives back”, Ribadu said.

Ribadu, alongside, heads of security agencies in the country in a major highlight of the two-day event, made a solemn pledge to end insecurity nationwide, listing the giant strides already achieved in the Niger Delta and in the south-east.

“We stand before you to give you this commitment, that we assure you that Nigeria is in good hands, and we will restore order. It’s a commitment. But at the same time, we ask for your patience. We ask for your support. We need your support. We need to do it together as one. But take it from us that we will deliver this assignment,” he stated.

He listed the attacks on Brigade of Guards under Muhammadu Buhari, attacks on train passengers, and the attacks on prisons in Abuja as some of the major incidents that happened before Tinubu took over, stressing that though the criminals continue to try, their attempts are being thwarted by Nigerian security forces.

In his intervention, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, noted that Nigeria has moved from where it was in terms of the fight against insecurity, maintaining that with collaboration with neighbouring nations, Nigeria was winning the war.

“Since the assumption in 2023, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, based on presidential directives, through a strategy of jointness…has  clearly defined leadership concepts that are hinged on professionalism, jointness, people-centrism, and collective actions.

“We understand that as security agencies, wherever we are protecting, if the people are not happy with what we are doing, then we are not succeeding. And so, whatever we want to do, we have told our commanders, they must ensure they carry the people within the communities, they must protect them. It is not to harm anybody. We are only after the bad guys,” Musa stated.

He added: “We are doing everything possible to ensure that we position our men properly so that they can react. With a land size of over 923,000 square kilometers, Nigeria is massive. With our population, with our strengths, we cannot be everywhere.

“But we have Nigerians all over. And that’s why it’s important for every Nigerian to also be part of the security architecture. Whatever you see that is wrong, please don’t hesitate to report so that actions can be taken.”

Chairman of the Board of Trustees  (BoT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, in his remarks, accused  Tinubu of sidelining the north despite the massive support he got from the region during the 2023 elections.

Dalhatu recalled that on  October 17, 2022,  an interactive session was held in Kaduna with presidential candidates of leading political parties including Tinubu, who made promises to address the challenges facing the north.

“In that meeting, we presented to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a written address containing details of the issues of urgent concern to the people of Northern Nigeria. In turn, he gave us his own written document containing details of the issues he believed were of concern to the north and how he intended to address them…” he said.

Dalhatu said northerners went out in their numbers on February 25, 2023, and cast their ballots for Tinubu. According to him, 5.6 million out of the total 8.8 million votes garnered by Tinubu in the election were from the north.

“And yet, two years into the four-year tenure of President Tinubu, the feeling among the people of the north is, to put it mildly, completely mixed. To our surprise, those who did not support him,  did not vote for him and hardly wished him well, have emerged from nowhere and are trying to push a wedge between him and the north.

“Whether or not they are succeeding, we do not know. But we can not pretend not to observe that  President Tinubu’s budget priorities, his infrastructural projects, his appointments, and other executive actions have, over the last two years, largely sidelined northern Nigeria”, the ACF BoT chairman said.

He  accused the president of allegedly doing little or nothing  to address the major issues of concern to the north.

Dalhatu said the biggest challenge facing the north, is insecurity, pointing out that “Over the last decade, widespread violence, characterised by massacres, bombings, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other manifestations of conflict and insecurity has swept across Northern Nigeria, crippling almost all productive economic activities and social progress”.

He added: “Even as we speak, this crisis shows no signs of abating. The insurgent groups continue to multiply, their attacks becoming more deadly. With the possible exception of Kaduna and Bauchi states, the terror level everywhere in the North has continued to rise with each passing day”.

Dalhatu said unless the government takes decisive, strong, audacious and sustained measures, including the ones that address its root causes, particularly joblessness among the youth and deepening poverty, the insecurity crisis in northern Nigeria will not be contained.

He saidthat Tinubu needs to demonstrate to the northern public that he is truly concerned with the raging conflict and is determined to bring it to an end.

“The federal government’s budget priorities, infrastructural projects, investments and even social services have been openly skewed against northern Nigeria. This discriminatory practice is not done secretly,  it is splashed directly into our face – openly and frankly and without the need for apology,” he said.

According to him, an unhealthy mixture of sectionalism, partisanship and cronyism has followed most of Tinubu’s actions and policies.

“It is true in policy decisions as it is true in appointment and deployment of personnel in the departments of the federal government. Over the last two years, since President Tinubu has been in power, the ACF has released a number of press statements criticising some of his actions or lack of them.

“But we have also acknowledged and commended some decisions we felt would serve Nigeria well. Clearly, our criticisms are not borne out of mischief,” he added.

Also speaking, the Governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, who hosted the event, observed that Tinubu has done well for the north, explaining that electoral pledges are not campaign rhetoric to be conveniently forgotten after votes are tallied, but solemn covenants, expression of aspirations, hope, and obligation.

“Two years ago, this foundation brought before you leading presidential candidates, among them His Excellency Aswaju Bola Tinubu. He addressed you not with empty praises, but with vision, a renewal of integration, and rapid development, especially for Northern Nigeria.

“The question is unavoidable. Has President Tinubu honoured the pledges he made? As the governor of Kaduna State, former senator, and a proud son of the north, I offer this response not from a point of political partisanship, but as one engaged in the journey of regional transformation.

“Yes, since assuming office as president and commander-in-chief, His Excellency Bola Tinubu has doggedly kept faith with the north. Yet, no president, however visionary, can succeed in isolation,” he added.

The post With 3/4 of Landmass, 2/3 of Population, North  Roars, Tinubu Fights Back appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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Tinubu Arrives For 14th NEC Meeting Of APC

Tinubu Arrives For 14th NEC Meeting Of APC

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu has arrived the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, venue of the 14th edition of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president arrived the venue at about 2.08pm after which the national anthem was recited for the programme to commence in earnest.

Others attending the meeting include Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas; former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, all the 24 governors of the party and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said the opening prayer.

Details later…

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Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, Others Attending APC’s 14th NEC Meeting

Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, Others Attending APC’s 14th NEC Meeting

.Osinbajo eulogises Buhari, says he was a principled leader

.New party chairman to emerge

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is participating in the 14th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
The meeting, which commenced at about 2:10pm, is being attended by members of the party’s NEC, including governors, former governors, leadership of the National Assembly and some other ranking and foundation members of the party.
Others attending the emergency NEC meeting include Vice President Kashim Shettima; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas;
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu.
Also participating are the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma; Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and 22 other APC governors
Also in attendance are former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the acting National Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori.
The meeting, according to its agenda, made will swear in a new National Chairman.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, said the opening prayer while the Acting National Chairman, Dalori formally welcomed the President and others party leaders to the meeting.
Former Vice President Osibanjo paid tribute to late former President Muhammadu Buhari who he described as a principled leader.

Details later…

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Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Prof Yilwatda, Emerges National Chairman of APC

Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Prof Yilwatda, Emerges National Chairman of APC

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Minister, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has emerged the new national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His election followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma and seconded by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas at the ongoing emergency NEC meeting of the party.
Yilwatda, a Christian from Plateau state (North Central), replaced Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who resigned as APC national chairman last month.

Details Later…