“Political parties created democracy, and modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties.” — E. E. Schattschneider

I sometimes wonder if Schattschneider would review his opinion on the centrality of political parties in a democratic dispensation if he had anticipated the situation in Nigeria today. In 2022, I was invited to serve as Senior Special Adviser on Policy and Strategy to the then National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC. In that capacity, I had the privilege of observing the party from close quarters as we prepared for and conducted the 2023 general elections, from which its presidential candidate emerged victorious. Looking back to that period and at Nigeria’s political terrain today as we approach another general election, I sometimes find it difficult to recognise the APC as I knew it then. The same uncertainty applies, perhaps even more profoundly, to the various opposition parties and their viability as coherent political organisations. Perhaps Nigeria is gradually introducing another form of democracy to the world: democracy in which political parties exist everywhere in law and symbolism, but are increasingly absent as meaningful institutions of political mobilisation.

To all intents and purposes, the 2027 elections may be conducted without the centrality of political parties as the bedrock of the democratic order. This may sound contradictory because Nigeria remains constitutionally a party-based democracy. Candidates must be sponsored by political parties, primaries provide the recognised means of nomination, party symbols will appear on ballot papers and party agents will populate polling units. INEC’s timetable itself places parties at the centre of candidate nomination and electoral participation. There is, however, an important distinction between the legal existence of parties and their political relevance as institutions of electoral democracy. What appears to be emerging is not literally an election without political parties, but an electoral contest in which party identity is being overshadowed by personalities, governors, ministers, political financiers, religious influencers, regional calculations, incumbency and informal coalitions assembled principally to capture electoral advantage.

Political parties ordinarily perform these indispensable democratic functions. They aggregate interests, formulate policies, recruit leaders, produce manifestos, educate voters and present identifiable alternatives. A party is supposed to represent something recognisable and reasonably enduring beyond the ambition of the individual seeking office under its banner. When those distinctions disappear, parties become little more than vehicles of noisemaking and convenience. Nigeria has been travelling in this direction for some time. Politicians move remarkably easily from one party to another, frequently without any corresponding alteration in philosophy, policy or worldview. Yesterday’s adversary becomes today’s indispensable ally. A politician who previously condemned a party as incapable of governing may subsequently join it and become one of its loudest defenders. Another occupying a commanding position in government may move to the opposition and immediately embrace propositions he previously opposed.

One is therefore compelled to ask: if political convictions can be transferred so effortlessly from one platform to another, what exactly do the parties stand for? The approach to 2027 makes this question especially important because neither the opposition nor the governing party appears completely settled within the traditional logic of party organisation. The opposition coalition appears uncertain in its composition, leadership, programme and capacity to reconcile competing personal ambitions. The basic proposition behind opposition cooperation is understandable. Disparate political forces may legitimately seek common ground against an incumbent government. Coalition politics occurs in democracies everywhere. The difficulty begins when personalities precede or supersede programmes.

Where a coalition rests upon shared ideas and an agreed programme of government, the identity of its eventual candidate, however important, should remain subordinate to the larger political project. Where, conversely, personal ambitions and calculations of electoral advantage dominate, coalition-building becomes less about constructing an alternative government than about reconciling individual aspirations. The opposition can therefore find itself in the curious position of having many politicians interested in coalition-building without necessarily possessing a coherent coalition platform. But the governing APC seems to be confronting its own version of precisely the same problem. The controversy surrounding the so-called Rainbow Coalition associated with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike illustrates this phenomenon vividly. Wike has stated that the coalition is mobilising for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election rather than for the APC as an organisation. APC governors, conversely, have declared that they will not support arrangements capable of weakening their party or adversely affecting its candidates at other levels.

Whatever position one takes on that curious disagreement, its significance extends far beyond the personalities involved. It raises a fundamental question about the meaning of party loyalty itself. Ordinarily, support for the presidential candidate of a political party should form part of a broader commitment to that party’s fortunes. But Nigeria now appears capable of producing arrangements whereby individuals support the presidential candidate of one party while backing governorship or legislative candidates belonging to another. Where, then, are party affiliation, loyalty and supremacy? This is perhaps the central paradox of 2027. The opposition is searching for a coalition capable of transcending its constituent political parties, while the governing side is confronted by a coalition that could itself transcend the ruling party. On one side stands an opposition attempting to construct cooperation beyond existing party boundaries. On the other stands an incumbent president attracting support from politicians whose commitment to his candidacy does not necessarily extend to the entire APC platform that brought him into office in the first place.

Between them stands an electorate confronted increasingly not simply by parties, but by personalities, alliances, governors, ministers, religious leaders, praise singers, financiers, regional arrangements and competing political structures. The word “structure” has indeed become extraordinarily revealing in Nigerian politics. Discussion increasingly centres on who controls the structure in a state, who commands local government machinery, who influences delegates, who controls campaign financing, who can mobilise crowds and voters, and who possesses access to the institutional levers capable of shaping electoral outcomes.

Far less attention is devoted to what the political parties actually believe. Therein lies the danger. Strong democracies require strong political parties. Parties should not merely nominate candidates, print posters, organise rallies and disappear until the next election. They should be repositories of ideas capable of surviving individual leaders. Presidents should leave office without parties losing their identities. Governors should come and go while institutions endure. Internal democracy should allow members to influence policy and candidate selection rather than reducing entire parties to extensions of powerful personalities.

Nigeria once possessed parties with more discernible identities and characters. During the First Republic, the Northern People’s Congress, Action Group, National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons and United Middle Belt Congress possessed identifiable constituencies, leadership traditions and political orientations. During the Second Republic, parties such as the NPN, UPN, NPP, PRP and GNPP similarly offered clearer political identities. The NRC and SDP of the aborted Third Republic represented another experiment in structured party competition. These arrangements should not be romanticised. Many were heavily regionalised, while ethnic and sectional divisions contributed to political instability. Nevertheless, voters could often associate parties with recognisable leadership, traditions, constituencies and programmes. Today, differentiation has become considerably more difficult. Defections reinforce this tendency. A politician may pass through several major parties while retaining substantially the same political worldview throughout. Perhaps the explanation is that his philosophy never belonged to any of those parties in the first place.

This has consequences for democratic accountability. In a functioning party system, voters can reward or punish a party for its record. Institutional memory develops. Manifestos acquire meaning because parties are expected to defend recognisable principles over time. But accountability becomes blurred when politicians repeatedly cross party boundaries or openly work for candidates outside their own platforms. What exactly is the voter endorsing: the politician, the party, the manifesto or merely the temporary coalition prevailing during that election? The personalisation of politics is particularly consequential in a presidential system. Presidential contests naturally concentrate attention upon individuals. Television, social media, rallies and personality-driven campaigning intensify that tendency until politics becomes increasingly presidentialised while parties themselves recede into the background. The danger, therefore, is not that political parties will literally disappear in 2027. They cannot easily do so because Nigerian electoral law continues to place them at the centre of nominations and candidate sponsorship.

The danger is subtler. Nigeria could arrive at an election in which political parties remain legally indispensable while becoming politically secondary. There will be party logos on ballot papers, flags at rallies, primaries, agents, offices, slogans and manifestos. But behind these formalities may stand political formations assembled primarily around individuals: temporary alliances of governors, financiers, religious vendors, regional brokers, political entrepreneurs and influential personalities negotiating across party boundaries.

This is why the expression “election without political parties” deserves consideration. The opposition appears to be struggling to build something larger than its constituent parties. The governing party, meanwhile, appears concerned that support for its presidential candidate could become detached from loyalty to the APC itself. Both tendencies point towards the same phenomenon: the fragmentation and weakening of the political party as the principal organising institution of democratic competition.

The decisive question approaching 2027 may therefore not simply be which party Nigerians will vote for. It may increasingly become whether Nigerians are voting for political parties at all. If personalities and temporary coalitions become the actual instruments of electoral mobilisation while parties merely provide the legal platforms upon which candidates’ names appear, Nigeria may enter 2027 with numerous political parties but considerably less genuine party politics. That would indeed be, in political rather than constitutional terms, an election without political parties.

The post Election without political parties: outlook towards 2027, by Usman Sarki appeared first on Vanguard News.

I have visited Enugu State three times since Dr Peter Mbah assumed office as Governor of Enugu State. In two of those visits, I participated in guided tours of his project sites. He regularly trends for high performance. This is not mere hype. Mbah is not only a top performer; he is visionary in broad dimensions. Enugu State has been blessed with a succession of above-average-performing governors since 1999, building on the foundational legacies of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr Michael Okpara and Chief Jim Nwobodo. Enugu is one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria, despite suffering great destruction during the Biafra War.

This became more pronounced than ever under Governor Mbah. Apart from his smart school projects, multi-million-dollar Enugu International Hospital (EIH), International Conference Centre and excellent road infrastructure, Enugu State is building a new Smart City that will transform it from a civil service state to an international business metro. When I read that Mbah took Enugu State’s internally generated revenue from N26.8bn in 2022 to N406.77bn in 2025, thus placing it third behind established internal revenue giants—Lagos and Rivers—I doubted it as mere political grandiloquence. But the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other rating authorities later confirmed it. This is what you get when an astute businessman takes the helm.

But I have a big problem with Governor Mbah in the area of security. I am not talking about the crummy cops-and-robbers kind of criminality. I am talking about protecting Enugu State—and Igboland—from vicious Fulani expansionist militias masquerading as herdsmen. Mbah’s Enugu State has been advertising its tech-driven security infrastructure and command centre situated in the Government House, complete with drone coverage. It enables officials to monitor movements throughout the state from the centre. It is impressive to watch. However, despite this fascinating “TV show”, Enugu’s northern extremities, such as Igbo Eze North and South, Udenu and Isi Uzo LGAs, remain free killing fields for Fulani herdsmen. Enugu is the most Fulani-terrorised state in the South-East. So, what is Mbah’s fanciful “TV show” doing about it?

It is one thing to have power and authority and another thing to possess the heart, guts or balls to use them to protect the people. It does not seem that Governor Mbah set up his sophisticated security architecture to protect Enugu people from jihadist Fulani expansionist terrorists. Indeed, the Mbah administration has committed two unpardonable scandals that belittled the Igbo nation and compromised its security and honour. First of all, we remember how Mbah’s predecessor, former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, reacted when Fulani terrorists invaded Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo Uwani LGA in April 2016, massacring scores of indigenes and destroying their farms. Rather than take a decisive stand to protect his people, Ugwuanyi fled to Aso Villa to weep before the number-one proponent of the Islamisation and Fulanisation agenda, President Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, the killings continued, as they did in Benue and Plateau.

When Mbah came in, he responded to the continued attacks by sending a delegation of traditional rulers to Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, pleading that Enugu State was ready to “peacefully coexist” with Fulani herdsmen. When people reacted to this with deserved outrage, an Enugu government official dismissed our concerns as noises from those “erection and lefelendum” people—IPOB. I am not aware that the Mbah government issued any official statement explaining the reason for that shameful and totally un-Igbo mission. You cannot kill my family members and I come to beg you for peace. That is cowardice! It is my job to make sure that when next it crosses your evil mind to threaten my family again, you will remember the hunchback I inflicted on you last time! That is Igbo!

And now, Governor Mbah appears to be taking matters a step further. One of his grand projects is a massive ranch which he has earmarked for his hometown, Owo, in Nkanu East LGA. According to Dr Chidiebere Onyia, the amiable Secretary to the Enugu State Government who conducted editors round Mbah’s project sites, the ranch will be bigger than the Enugu Smart City, which is about 10,000 hectares. Communities have already been forcefully uprooted for the ranch. All over Owo land, cows were grazing in lush pastures beside people’s farmlands. It suddenly struck me that the ranch could be Mbah’s “peace offering” to settle Fulani herdsmen! I put the question to Onyia, and he said on record that the ranch would be run by “professionals” who would obviously live inside it.

I was gripped with fear. Which “professionals” does Mbah have in mind? I raised my hand to ask this question during an interactive session with the Governor, but unfortunately, the session ended before it got to my turn. So, I want to put this question right here: which “professionals” will operate the ranch? Will Mbah allocate the ranch to violent jihadist Fulani land-grabbing expansionists in fulfilment of his pledge to Sultan Abubakar? If he does, it means he is building a Fulani “Ruga” in Enugu State, Igboland! He will not only permanently destroy his own hometown, Owo; he will also endanger the entire South-East and South-South. That zone will become another Mangu (Plateau) and Yelewata (Benue) state!

Fulani herdsmen are violent and primitive nomads, not livestock “professionals”. Their lifestyle is totally incompatible with that of Igbo people. Mbah should not play with fire. Fire burns! He should concession the ranch to internationally certified corporate ranchers with track records of livestock value-chain expertise. Enugu (especially Owo) youths should have a big share in this project. They should be trained and empowered to benefit from this potentially laudable scheme and help the government control security within that axis. We say no to “Ruga” in any part of Igboland! Keep violent, jihadist nomads off Owo Ranch! Don’t invite a deadly virus to your own hometown!

The post Owo Ranch: Attention, Gov Peter Mbah! By Ochereome Nnanna appeared first on Vanguard News.

•Traffic grinds vehicles to a halt in Ughelli

•Julius Berger urged to maintain alternative roads

By Akpokona Omafauire

AGBARHO—THE three days heavy downpour has caused severe flooding of parts of the Agbarho/Ughelli Road in Ughelli North Area Area of Delta State, cutting off parts of the road, particularly around the Agbarho Police Station, making the route difficult and the section nearly impossible to pass.

The rainfall, which lasted for three days, disrupted movement and left commuters stranded, as motorists struggle to navigate the affected stretch.

Meanwhile, commuters and residents in Ughelli have called on construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., to urgently maintain and improve alternative roads around Otovwodo, as worsening traffic congestion continues to disrupt movement and impose hardship on motorists, commercial transport operators and pedestrians.

Several vehicles heading to Ughelli from Effurun and Agbarho were forced to make detours, as the rising water led to the cutting off half of the road. 

Commuters travelling between Agbarho and Ughelli were left stranded, while others sought alternative routes.

This reporter, who drove on the flooded lane, noted that the situation had created significant hardship for road users.

A commuter, Francis Sadhere, who spoke to Vanguard, observed: “We were stranded. The depth of the water was much, and the difficulty of getting through was not an easy one.” 

Another road user, who simply gave his name as Tony, appealed to relevant authorities to urgently address the flooding and improve drainages along the affected section.

The flooding has also raised concerns about the condition of the road and the adequacy of its drainage system, particularly as further rainfall could worsen the situation.

When Vanguard visited the road, the cut off section of the remained impassable, though traffic had begun moving slowly on the flooded part. 

Residents and commuters urged relevant authorities to take immediate steps to drain the affected areas and prevent a recurrence, warning that prolonged flooding could further disrupt transportation and economic activities along the busy route.

They appealed to the Delta State government, the Federal government and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to urgently intervene and repair the affected section.

Julius Berger urged to maintain alternative roads 

Also, commuters and residents in Ughelli have called on Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. to urgently maintain and improve alternative roads around Otovwodo.

The appeal came amid growing frustration among road users, who say the increasing volume of traffic through the Otovwodo axis has turned what would ordinarily be routine journeys into lengthy and exhausting trips.

For many commuters, the problem is not simply the number of vehicles on the road, but the condition of the existing alternative routes, which residents say could help ease the pressure, if made accessible.

During peak periods, motorists are often caught-up in traffic, with journeys that would normally take a relatively short time stretching considerably longer. 

Commercial drivers complain of increased constant damages to vehicles and fuel consumption, while passengers say the delays were affecting their work, businesses and other daily activities.

A commuter, Bernard Ewofurama, said the situation had become increasingly frustrating.

“The traffic is getting worse, especially during weekends.

“If the alternative roads are properly maintained, it will make vehicle movements easier and reduce the sufferings.”

Another resident, Choice Grandball, said: “We are not asking for anything extraordinary. If the deplorable points in the alternative roads are maintained and kept in good condition, motorists will not suffer that much.

“That will reduce the pressure and make movement easier for everyone.”

Mrs. Faith Iguruwe, who lamentation the terrible state of the road said:

“We commend the state government for awarding this project, however Julius Berger should be able to put the alternate roads in good bearing to ease the suffering of the people, otherwise that is negligence. 

“On Saturday, we suffered so much that people trekking were held up in traffic. People spent more than two hours before they could get home, because the entering points of roads are destroyed. Please, Julius Berger should immediately come and fix them because the suffering is getting too much,” she added. 

Residents said that maintaining the alternative roads, as the construction of the Otovwodo flyover was on-going, would provide an immediate relief.

They also called for improved drainages, clearing of roadside obstructions and regular monitoring of the alternative routes to prevent them from deteriorating, as it has made motorists reluctant to use them.

While commuters are urging Julius Berger to act, they also want the relevant government agencies and community stakeholders to work together on a sustainable traffic-management plan for the area.

They said periodic maintenance should not wait until the alternative roads become completely impassable.

Instead, routine grading, drainage maintenance, repairs and removal of obstructions should be undertaken to keep the routes functional.

The post Commuters stranded as floods cut off Agbarho/Ughelli road appeared first on Vanguard News.

The past two weeks have been most consequential for AI, which remained at the centre of discourse in very high places. Oh, you are saying, “How can AI have life when it has no blood in its veins?” You tell me: how many people with barrels of blood in their system, no matter their placement in society, enjoyed the kind of attention AI attracted within a fortnight? British monarch, King Charles III, called a meeting of AI executives and promoters in Scotland and cautioned on the existential dangers of AI while promoting the good side of the technology. In the United States, AI has suddenly become a major campaign topic, with Democrats trying to gain some advantage in pushing for regulations, to the consternation of the Republicans, who are holding on to straws for survival at the impending mid-term elections.

But President Donald Trump is not entertaining any of their fears, which he has called a hoax that could harm the country’s advancement and front-row position in the development of AI. Again, AI was a major feature at the meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, with both politicians agreeing to tread softly in order to protect what both countries stand to benefit from their vantage position in growing the technology.

After a three-day summit, the two countries agreed to set up a communication mechanism for artificial intelligence-related incidents, to discuss related risks and benefits, with an AI-specific dialogue scheduled for November, CBS News reported.

Trump went a step further to try to rechristen AI. “I call it SI (Super Intelligence) because it is a much better name. It is a much more accurate name because when you say the other, it means it’s fake. Artificial means it’s fake, and it’s not fake.” The rechristening didn’t seem to have gained any traction at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81), which adopted a resolution to promote safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development. AI also stole papal attention. He called AI a paradise of machines. Speaking aboard the papal plane on his way back from a visit to France, Pope Leo XIV, according to AFP, said concerns about AI are no fake news but something that should be taken seriously.

“If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives, there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment,” Pope Leo said.

All these elevated conversations are happening at a time when even the promoters and manufacturers are beginning to express the fear that AI is moving with too much speed for humanity and a leash needs to be drawn. Bill Gates has raised the alarm that AI could wipe out a billion of humanity if restraints were not immediately introduced. Opening the conference with AI leaders, King Charles said: “There seems an urgency in adequately considering the existential dangers of such technologies falling into the wrong hands and being used in potentially catastrophic ways. Surely, we need sufficient means of control before it is all too late.” At the meeting with the king were Nvidia’s Chief Executive, Jensen Huang; Google DeepMind founder, Demis Hassabis; and Paolo Benanti, adviser to the Vatican on AI. Anthropic CEO, Dario Amodei, has called for a “slowing of the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models.” While OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk also agreed with him, with Altman saying: “When we talk about pacing, we do not mean stopping. Progress has been rapid and will continue to be. But it should be slower than it otherwise could be; interventions like safety cases and monitoring have significant costs,” according to a CNN report.

In spite of the fears, President Trump has his own position. “The United States is not going to be putting on brakes. They want to stop our progress because we’re leading China by a lot and we’re going to keep it that way,” he said. On technology, Trump always takes his position. Whether it is space technology, 5G or even just the matter of TikTok, Trump takes a position on the side of America before anything else. But discussions on the floor of the United Nations were properly managed to make everybody look cool and comfortable, even if the plain truth remains that AI was going at too much speed for humanity to catch up with, talk less of developing countries that are very far behind. Adopting a United States-led draft resolution whose text was co-sponsored or backed by more than 120 other Member States, the UN recognised AI as having the potential to accelerate and enable progress towards reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Particularly on same rights, online and offline, the Assembly called on Member States “to refrain from or cease the use of artificial intelligence systems that are impossible to operate in compliance with international human rights law or that pose undue risks to the enjoyment of human rights.” Speaking before the adoption of the resolution, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed the need for the global community “to govern this technology rather than let it govern us.” In her words, “So, let us reaffirm that AI will be created and deployed through the lens of humanity and dignity, safety and security, human rights and fundamental freedoms. Let us commit to closing the digital gap within and between nations and using the technology to advance shared priorities and sustainable development,” she added. There is yet another angle to the AI discourse. The Guardian reports that AI godfathers have warned of the implications of a runaway “intelligence explosion.”

In the report co-authored by Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton and the Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio, both hailed as godfathers of AI because of their work in the field, they called on politicians to act now before there is runaway progress in the technology. The paper, titled “What if automating AI R&D triggers an intelligence explosion?”, is co-authored by more than twenty people, among them Jack Clark, co-founder of Anthropic, and Jakub Pachocki, the chief scientist at OpenAI. The authors expressed concerns that AIs may get to the level of being able to improve themselves through a process that is known as “recursive self-improvement.” That could be good for technology, but it may come with some serious implications for humanity, prompting them to ask governments to take action. “Once an intelligence explosion begins, the window for action may close,” they warned. Humanity has always strived to go beyond itself in inventions: the journey to space, the airplane, nuclear technology with multidimensional functionality that can also create instruments of mass destruction, computers that can be manipulated at one end to create damaging results at the other end, autonomous cars and much more. And now AIs.

AI’s capacity to change the story of the world is never in doubt. Its capacity to transform every field of human endeavour, including healthcare, education, research, among others, has been duly acknowledged. But now the concerns are creeping in, causing even manufacturers and big promoters to call for a slow-down in growth.

Obviously, there are those who will rate pecuniary returns over human safety. And many more are worried that the technology may get into rogue hands! That is the greater danger: people whose capacity for evil is beyond the realm of humanity. AI in their hands could be more frightening than nuclear technology in the hands of a rogue state.

But what should be our position in this part of the world, as a developing country? Although the UN resolution accommodates us as a Member State, there may be a compelling reason for us to develop AI for developmental purposes, not AI for AI’s sake, just to join the rest of the world. It is the good in every technology that we must build and accommodate as a nation. Dr Bosun Tijani, who is the Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has always canvassed the development and deployment of responsible AI. That seems to be the only way to go.

The post Two weeks in the life of AI, by Okoh Aihe appeared first on Vanguard News.

I think it is legitimate to ask if the controversy that trailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s so-called working vacation was inevitable. I personally don’t think so. The problem was as much with the message as it was with the messaging. This takes us back to the observation frequently made by critics of the president’s media team that it has not lived up to its billing. Its handling of the president’s public communication is getting too smug to be satisfactory. It may be inadvertently creating the image of a president that thrives on hubris. How does anyone explain the flippant shifts in the date of his return to the country during his latest vacation? A people should be able to take the words of their leaders at face value. President Bola Tinubu’s yea ought to be yea and no more.

When he left the country on August 30, it was reported by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, I believe, that he would be away in Europe for 21 days. The timeline was specific and left no room for equivocation. The fact that Nigerians were informed he would spend 21 days abroad speaks to the president’s spokesperson’s awareness of the constitutional requirement that the president could be out of the country for a maximum of 21 working days without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly ceding presidential powers to his deputy. This point needs to be acknowledged first, without prejudice to the qualifications being made to this basic position when it became clear that the president would spend more than 21 days abroad.

To rub that point in, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, gleefully announced that the president had promised to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, or UNGA. This, it would seem, was to douse speculations by opposition party elements and their supporters that the president had been barred from entering the US. To further sweeten the story, Dr. Ibrahim freely told Nigerians that the seating arrangement at UNGA had been made to ensure President Tinubu sat next to his US counterpart, Donald Trump. Of course, Nigerians now know that participants at UNGA sit in alphabetical order.

At any rate, President Bola Tinubu and his media team knew he had 21 days to spend on vacation, whether working or resting all through. As of the time I am writing this in the early hours of Tuesday, September 29, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been outside the country for 30 days. The latest update from his media team said he would be back in the country later this week, while other reports stated he would be back early enough to lead the celebrations of the country’s 66th independence anniversary. Before the president’s itinerary was fully disclosed after it was announced that he would be going on vacation, many Nigerians had already concluded that his destination was France. He spent one week in the UK and thereafter left for France, where he was to remain throughout the duration of his vacation. Just when Nigerians started anticipating his return to the country, after weeks of debates and speculations about the actual purpose of his frequent visits to the French capital, his media team announced a shift in his date of return. The 21-day duration was moved forward by a few days on September 23. Nigerians were then told he would be back in the country by the end of that week, which should have been anytime between the 25th and the 26th, or even Sunday, the 27th, although that was the beginning of another week. By Monday, the president was still nowhere to be found in the country, further raising the controversy around his trip, especially his failure or refusal to transmit power to his deputy, Senator Kashim Shettima.

Days before the commencement of the United Nations General Assembly meeting, it had been announced by the president’s spokespersons that he would be represented by Kashim Shettima, the Vice President. That would be the third time the president would not be at UNGA, which again reignited the controversy around his absence and the import of his trip abroad. While his supporters said there was nothing more to his absence than what had been announced, his critics argued that his absence was proof that he had no regard for Nigeria’s national interest. They concluded that he had a criminal charge to answer to in the US, where he would be detained on entry. This was despite evidence that the president had not only attended UNGA in 2023 but had also been to the US on private visits before then. While in Paris, he engaged in a few public events, visiting President Emmanuel Macron and signing an MOU on behalf of the Ogun State government.

But who do you blame for the speculations, if not the president’s media team? What were the constant shifts in dates about? Was it too difficult or impossible to have a clear sense of the president’s itinerary? The manner in which they have gone about this, with the suggestion that the president was acting in clear violation of Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, did not make for a good look. It created the impression of a president gone rogue. Beyond that, it also raises questions about his health and fitness to be in office. Even if he has been visiting France for health reasons, the manner in which the information is managed should not suggest that the media team is itself in the dark about the situation of the president or his whereabouts. That is adding petrol to a raging fire.

A government that is responsible and responsive ought to show respect to the people by the way it manages information and responds to their concerns. Many Nigerians worried about the president’s location have good reasons to be concerned. We had a President Umar Yar’Adua who was kept in office at a time when he was believed to be too incapacitated to do so. It was the controversy and confusion that trailed the management of information about his health that led to the constitutional amendment that limits a president’s stay out of the country or away from work to 21 days. President Bola Tinubu has so far proven to be a capable leader, taking many of the decisions that are right for Nigeria at this time. It would be good to see where his reforms take the country, but it would be a matter of great regret if it turned out that the demands of the office were challenging to his health. Whatever the case, he and his minders, particularly his media team, should avoid the kind of messaging that has turned his last vacation into a media fiasco and, indeed, a matter of national security.

The post Why President Bola Tinubu’s yea should be yea, by Rotimi Fasan appeared first on Vanguard News.

By Elizabeth Adegbesan

The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,370 per dollar from N1,375 in the parallel market on Wednesday. 

But, the naira depreciated to N1,329 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira rose to N1,329 per dollar from N1,328 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N1 appreciation for the local currency.

Consequently, the margin between the parallel and official markets narrowed to N41 per dollar from N47 per dollar on Wednesday.

The value of interbank turnover in NFEM fell by 62.05 percent to $105.95 million from $279.2 million on Wednesday.

The post Naira rises, now N1,370/$ in parallel market appeared first on Vanguard News.

By SUNNY IKHIOYA 

Anniversaries are always a time for reflection. At 65 years as a nation, where are we? Where are we supposed to be? Where are we falling short in performance indices? What is to be done? What are the fundamentals holding us back from reaching our potential? Are we still being held back by the success of traditions from the old days, or are we ready to evolve? Life changes according to the dictates of the times. We have seen it move from single nation-states to globalisation. We are now back to the era of fervent nationalism, with Trump’s USA at the forefront. Where does our nation stand on issues of strength in the global hemisphere? Critically, in our quest to become a nation-state, we have failed to achieve unity; the diversity that is supposed to be our strength has become an albatross to our progress. People are still holding on to religious and cultural biases that served them in the past but which are not relevant to today’s world if we want to be part of it. Are the people ready to be integrated and become one nation? 

Are our leaders ready to take the bold step and make strong decisions, even if they go contrary to their religious and ethnic sentiments? Are they ready to remove selfishness, cronyism and other nation destroyers from our culture? People, society and nations must now look inward for their survival, and as this happens, the grassroots are drawn more closely to governance. That is where the traditional institutions come in. The local and traditional leaders are relating directly with the people; empower them with the necessary tools and give them the responsibility of taking care of lives and property in their environment. For there to be sustainable progress and development, there must be guaranteed security of lives and property. For this to happen, we must institutionalise our traditional institutions for effective delivery. That is why we must immerse ourselves in the execution of true fiscal federalism because, in the long run, that is where we will end up. We have to be sincere about the situation of our country. 

It is badly fractionalised, and how do you run or administer a multicultural and multi-plural country like ours without running into a cul-de-sac like the one we are in now? Are there other countries in the world presently faced with our situation and managing it successfully? How did they handle their situations? Let us take a few countries with cultural and religious multiplicity as examples. I will use Canada, Switzerland, India, Great Britain and the United States of America as examples. Canada handles its multiculturalism by adopting an official policy aimed at transforming diversity into a core element of its national identity. Unlike nations that push for a cultural “melting pot,” Canada promotes a “cultural mosaic” where immigrants are encouraged to maintain their distinct heritage. For Switzerland, its multiculturalism is exhibited through its institutional multilingualism, recognising four national languages and using a decentralised federal system that grants strong autonomy to regional linguistic groups. 

Rather than enforcing a single national identity, Switzerland operates as a “nation of will” — Willensnation — where unity is sustained through shared political values, direct democracy and mutual economic interests, rather than a shared ethnic background. For the United States, its multiculturalism is acknowledged through its historical identity as a melting pot and “mosaic,” where diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups coexist and shape the nation’s identity. Because the country was built on waves of global immigration, multiculturalism is woven directly into its social fabric, laws and daily traditions. They observe different holidays, manifesting diverse cultural attributes. Britain exemplifies multiculturalism through its diverse demographics, shared cultural integration and historical ties to the British Empire. Cities like London showcase extreme diversity, where over 300 languages are spoken and half the population identifies as Black British. 

For India, the nation exemplifies its multiculturalism through the peaceful coexistence of a vast array of religions, languages, ethnicities and regional traditions under a single democratic framework. All religions thrive side by side — Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism. Articles 25 to 30 of the Indian Constitution guarantee freedom of religion and protect the rights of minorities to preserve their distinct language, script and culture. These are examples of countries that have used their diversity to make progress and impact the world. What do all of these have in common? Respect for diversity, relative peace, technological development, a sense of belonging among the people, and respect from the entire world. There are bound to be internal disagreements based on ideologies and other issues, but these will not lead to threats to the nation’s existence, as we have here in Nigeria. So, why is our case different? This is because of the refusal of people in leadership and certain sentimental interests to allow the common good to prevail. Some use their population to suppress the minority ethnic groups around them, while others use religion, with negative religious preachers. 

Why don’t we start by acknowledging all ethnic groups in the country and picking leaders from amongst them to serve in a general parliament? Why don’t we give everyone the right to worship their own religion irrespective of what part of the country they belong to? Why don’t we give local traditional leaders the responsibility to take charge of their enclaves and bear the consequences of failure? Why don’t we remove class discrimination in all forms and make everyone equal according to the laws of our land? Above all, equity and justice are the best security for any nation, but to achieve that, you must fix the local and traditional institutions. Our penchant for trying to subvert the will of others and impose ours is a serious hindrance to our progress. And when you get the people’s involvement, the traditional institutions must come into play or they will die off. Some say that they have exhausted their usefulness; I do not think so. I think their role should be redefined with specific criteria for leadership and should not be an all-comers affair. It should either be done in a truly democratic manner or through the age-long traditional way of choosing leadership, which is grassroots-based. If we do not involve the grassroots, there cannot be peace and tranquillity, and therefore progress.

*Ikhioya writes from Lagos.

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***Insists on Sept 30 ultimatum

***NLC backs public sector unions

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Public servants, under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, yesterday threatened to embark on national strike, with effect from October 2, should the Federal Government fail to respond to the demand in the President’s Independence Day broadcast tomorrow.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has also thrown its weight behind the public servants’ thret.

Recall that the workers had on September 30, 2026, issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government over the rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, demand for a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

They had earlier on September 21, written President Bola Tinubu stating their demands.

The JNPSNC, made up of eight public sector unions, yesterday issued the three-day warning strike notice should government fail to slash the price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce a wage award and introduce other measures to cushion effects of crushing hardship in the country.

Members of the JNPSNC include the Nigerian Civil Service Union, NCSU; Medical and Health Workers Union, M&HWU; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN; and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM.

Others are the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees, AUPCTRE; Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers, NUPSRAW; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers, NUPPPPROW; and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, NUAEE.

The council said it had mobilised public servants across the country for the warning strike if the federal government failed to address the issues raised in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the deadline.

In a statement leaders of the JNPSNC warned that should the issues of fuel pump prices and the wage award are not address by September 30, especially during the Independence anniversary speech by President Bola Tinubu, public servants nationwide would commence a three-day warning strike beginning October 2, 2026.

The statement issued by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct, stressing that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be ignored.

He said:  “The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: Reduction of Fuel Price to N500 per Litre. The Federal Government should take urgent steps reduce the price of PMS to N500 per litre.

“This can be achieved through the provision of an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.

“It is equally important for the federal government to ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries at appropriate terms, in order to facilitate increased domestic refining and help bring down the price of petroleum products.

“The current price of PMS, ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 and, in some locations outside major communities and cities, as high as N2,500 per litre, is unacceptable to Nigerian workers.

“The council maintains that the economic hardship occasioned by the high cost of fuel is placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependents and the general populace under severe pressure, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives.

Wage Award

“The Federal Government should urgently approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economic conditions being experienced by workers, their dependants, and vulnerable Nigerians.

“The council believes that urgent action on this demand will further enable public servants  consolidate their loyalty, commitment and productivity within the public service ecosystem.

Minimum Wage Committee

“The Federal Government should urgently establish a Tripartite Committee to commence and facilitate negotiations for the new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.

“The Nigerian workers’ demand for the immediate constitution of the committee is informed by the need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay that could affect the implementation of the new national minimum wage once it is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly.

Warning Strike

“Consequently, the council states that failure by the Federal Government to take necessary steps to address these issues on or before September 30, 2026, will leave Nigerian workers with no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, October 2, 2026, to press home their demands.

“It is imperative to state clearly that the Independence Day address of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should adequately address these critical issues.

“Failure to address the concerns raised, according to the council, will attract the displeasure of Nigerian workers and their dependents, as well as other vulnerable Nigerians who continue to bear the brunt of the prevailing economic hardship.”

NLC backs public sector unions, warns of nationwide strike if…,

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, also yesterday declared its total support for the position of JNPSNC, lamenting that the hardship in country had gone so bad.

Speaking to Vanguard  on the issues, Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Chris Onyeka, said: “We are in support of the actions being taken by the public sector unions. Most of them are our affiliates. The situation in the country has become so bad.

‘’What public sector workers are going through and feeling is what other Nigerians, whether private-sector workers, state workers, or informal-sector workers, are also feeling and experiencing.

“That is why we are surprised that the government has not rolled out immediate cushioning measures to mitigate the suffering, hardship and pain across the country, which have been exacerbated by the recent hike in the pump prices of fuel, especially petrol and cooking gas.

“We expected the government to show more concern about the hardships being experienced by Nigerians. The fact that the government has not done anything about the high cost of fuel up till now is very disappointing and shocking.

“Equally worrying is that the government has not responded to the NLC’s letter requesting the constitution of a National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to commence negotiations for a new minimum wage, when everyone knows that this is very imperative and urgent, given the socioeconomic realities of today.

“It is common knowledge that the value of the N70,000 minimum wage had already been eroded by inflation, even before its implementation began.

“So, we are fully behind every legal and legitimate action by the public sector unions on these issues of fuel prices, wage awards, and a new minimum wage. We have to state here that if the demands of the public sector unions are not met as quickly as possible, it may snowball into a national strike involving all workers.

“We, therefore, advise the government to address their demands and ensure that any measures taken reflect the needs and realities of all Nigerians, especially the masses.”

However, efforts to reach officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity were unsuccessful at the time of this report.

But a source in the ministry claimed the appropriate government officials are handling the issue.

“Though the letter by the public sector unions, through the JNPSNC, was addressed to President Bola Tinubu, I can tell that the appropriate authorities are handling the issue. That is all I can tell you because I am not in a position to speak for the ministry,’’ the source said.

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By Enitan Abdultawab

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending about four weeks in Europe, declaring that he is hale, healthy and ready to resume work.

Tinubu made the remarks on Tuesday evening after arriving in Lagos from Paris, where he had spent the latter part of his working vacation.

Responding to journalists who asked about concerns raised about his health condition, the President said he remained fit and prepared to continue his duties.

“Rumours will always be emanate from politics. I am hale and strong. I am ready to work. The fact remains that I am here, healthy, sound and ready to go,” Tinubu said.

The President had departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, with the Presidency describing the trip as a working vacation. He later extended his stay by a few days before returning to Nigeria on Tuesday.

His prolonged absence from the country had generated public and political debate, with opposition figures questioning the length of his stay abroad and his decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Presidency, however, maintained that Tinubu remained in touch with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at several official engagements, including the UN General Assembly.

During his time in France, Tinubu met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré. The Presidency also linked his stay to engagements with investors and discussions around major investment projects, including the proposed Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun State.

The President is expected to remain in Lagos for the 66th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

He is scheduled to attend official engagements in the state, including activities marking Nigeria’s independence on October 1, before returning to Abuja.

Vanguard News

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The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s (NMDPRA) latest crackdown on fuel under-dispensing is unquestionably necessary, though it is a sporadic routine that is never sustained.

Its directive that all filling stations immediately calibrate and verify their dispensers and totalisers, backed by the threat of licence revocation for persistent or serious violations, addresses a practice that motorists have long complained about.

The regulator says it has confirmed incidents of under-dispensing nationwide and has intensified inspections.

About 20 stations were reportedly sealed between 2025 and 2026 for the offence. Yet the timing for this heartless exploitation of the people could hardly be more painful.

Nigerians are confronting petrol prices of about N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, with prices reaching N1,500 in parts of the East and North, amid renewed international crude-price pressures linked to Middle East tensions.

Under these circumstances, being charged more for fuel and then receiving less than the quantity displayed on the pump amounts to a double assault on already battered household incomes and businesses.

The issue is larger than dishonest attendants. Under-dispensing can result from deliberate manipulation or improperly calibrated equipment, making rigorous metrology and regulatory oversight indispensable. NMDPRA has appropriately ordered immediate verification, while industry bodies including IPMAN and PETROAN have urged their members to comply.

But Nigerians need more than another regulatory circular. They need evidence that enforcement will continue after public attention moves elsewhere. Sealing roughly 20 stations over two years, if the reported figure is representative, is plainly inadequate for a nationwide, persistent problem.

NMDPRA should institute routine, unannounced and geographically representative inspections, publish the outcomes and make calibration certificates conspicuously visible at every pump. Repeat offenders should face predictable sanctions, including prosecution where applicable, heavy fines and licence withdrawal for serious or persistent violations.

Consumers, too, must be empowered. There should be simple, accessible channels for reporting suspected short-measuring, rapid investigation of complaints and independent verification of disputed pumps. The regulator should publish meaningful enforcement statistics so Nigerians can see how many complaints were received, stations inspected, violations established and licences sanctioned. This is especially important in an economy where petrol remains indispensable to transportation, small businesses and power generation because electricity supply remains unreliable and inadequate.

The NMDPRA cannot determine market prices under the deregulated regime, but it has a statutory responsibility to protect consumers against exploitative practices. The fight against pump fraud is therefore welcome, but it must not become another episodic regulatory performance. At a time when every litre costs Nigerians dearly, every litre must be delivered. NMDPRA must turn this crackdown into a permanent culture of measurement, transparency and enforcement. Anything less leaves already struggling Nigerians paying premium prices for less fuel, and this could lead to the breakdown of law and order.

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By Dickson Omobola

Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Emmanuel Umohinyang, has urged Nigerians to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027, saying former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are unelectable.

Umohinyang also urged Nigerians to resist calls for the restoration of petrol subsidy, arguing that despite the economic hardship associated with its removal, the policy was necessary to address the country’s fiscal challenges.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, he acknowledged that Federal Government had failed to establish adequate measures to cushion the effects of subsidy removal and the floating of the naira but maintained that the decisions were necessary.

He said government had inherited significant economic challenges, including mounting debt and the financial burden of sustaining the subsidy regime.

According to him, the absence of adequate provisions for fuel subsidy in the 2023 budget and the government’s reliance on borrowing to sustain the scheme made its removal imperative.

His words: “Yes, we can say there was no adequate preparation on the side of government to deal with the emerging challenge that would come, which is excruciating poverty in the land. I agree that government did not put a strong structure in place to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy and the formalisation of exchange rate.

“But you see, I’m one of those who told Mr President that, look, if you get to that podium and you don’t drop subsidy, you can never do it. The very minute you come down from that podium, the hawks, the mafias will feast on you using the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, to let you know that it is impractical.

“Where was he going to start if he did not remove the subsidy? Where was he going to get the money? Before now, governors were having challenges paying salaries. In fact, there was a drama they put up in Osun State where a particular governor, who is now a minister, paid half salaries.”

On the 2027 elections, Umohinyang questioned Obi’s political consistency and his ability to honour political agreements.

He said: “This election represents the final hour for Obi and Atiku. Obi is looking at 70. That is why he can say anything. Atiku can also say anything to Nigeria just to be made president. Obi is not a man who can keep to his word. Is it not the same Peter Obi who told his political godfather that he would never leave the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA? Where is he now? He left them for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He went to Labour Party and joined the ADC. Now, he is at the NDC.

“If you look at what are the chances of Peter Obi in the election, I pity him as a human being. I like him for his sonorous voice. I enjoy him when he tries to display immaterial humility.

“But inwardly, he appears to me to be a nice person. But like every other human being, he’s polluted by his inability to say and stand by what he says. And you know, leadership is about firmness of view and opinion. When a man becomes unreliable, highly unstable like the ocean, it becomes extremely difficult for you to act or cast your faith in such a presidential candidate.”

Umohinyang also criticised Atiku’s political record, saying it undermined his suitability for the presidency.

He said: “When you look at Atiku’s report card, it’s littered with red ink. His own principal, his former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, attested to this. So it gives you an insight into how bad he must have been as a student of the Obasanjo School of Politics. Atiku is not electable.”

Turning to Tinubu, Umohinyang argued that the President should be given another term to continue his economic reforms, despite the hardship associated with his policies.

He said: “Let us look at the third candidate, which is President Bola Tinubu. Here was a man who came into office in spite of the fact that the powers that be were not happy over his candidacy.

“Here is a man who had come in and said, look, I acknowledge the pain, but I would have done something different if there was any other option. I appeal to Nigerians that, yes, we are suffering this whole issue together, but let us sacrifice, let us sacrifice so that we can have a Nigeria that we can be proud of.

“We are not there. God forbid that I say he has done everything right, but I can see the structure. I can see the foundation he had created. I can see his area of view. I can reason with him in some of the things he’s trying to do. Nigeria has become the construction site. Under his watch, let us give this erudite Nigerian another opportunity in office to conclude the reform. I know that, God helping us, we will behold a Nigeria of our dreams in our lifetime.”

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The Gusau International Airport (GIA) in Zamfara State had passed the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s quality assurance tests and inspections just days before it begins commercial operations next month.

This development followed the ongoing plans to begin commercial operations at the airport, with bi-weekly flights operating from Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Gusau Airport on Mondays and Fridays.

The airport’s Instrument Flight Procedures were subjected to ICAO’s 17-step Quality Assurance and approval process, and the airport had completed and passed all of them, an official of one of the leading Nigerian aviation agencies said.

ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.

The Nigerian civil aviation system was audited by ICAO in 2023 and achieved an Effective Implementation (EI) score of 75%.

However, in April 2026, ICAO conducted a follow-up inspection known as the ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM), the official said.

The official explained that at the time, Nigeria had a Significant Safety Concern (SSC) — a serious red flag. Through concerted efforts, the SSC was successfully resolved within the prescribed 40-day period.

The aviation chief said despite that, Nigeria was also required to implement the associated medium-term Corrective Action Plans recommended by ICAO.

Consequently, the Instrument Flight Procedures for several airports in Nigeria were subjected to a rigorous 17-step Quality Assurance and approval process, the official who declined to be named because he was not permitted to speak, said.

“Of all the airports assessed, only Gusau International Airport (GIA) successfully completed and passed all the 17 steps,” the senior aviation official said.

The official added that: “The evidence of GIA’s successful completion of this demanding process formed part of the documentation submitted to ICAO.

“Following the ICVM, Nigeria achieved an impressive EI score of 95.1%.”

On September 21, Zamfara State Government signed an Air Route Development Partnership Agreement with XEJet Limited for scheduled commercial flights between Gusau Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Under the agreement, XEJet will operate bi-weekly flights beginning in the first week of October.

The new air route will enhance access to Zamfara and open greater opportunities for investors, businesses and visitors.

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Governor Dauda Lawal showcased Zamfara State’s vast mineral and investment potentials during a Nigeria- U.S. investor forum in New York.

The governor highlighted these potentials at a high-level side event held on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The event entitled “Nigeria- U. S. Critical Minerals & Infrastructure Investor Room, UNGA 81” brought together high- profile investors, government officials and other stakeholders from Nigeria and the United States of America.

They explored opportunities in critical minerals, infrastructure development and investment partnerships.

Mr Lawal said the state was endowed with mineral resources of growing importance to the global economy, including gold, lithium, copper and industrial phosphate, among others.

The event was chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Olajumoke Omoniyi Oduwole

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, AbdurRahman Muhammad Tumbido, explained that the increasing global demand for responsibly sourced critical minerals presents significant opportunities for Zamfara State, particularly in mineral processing, infrastructure development and value chain investment.

He said the state is at a pivotal moment and is ready to partner with responsible private sector investors and other stakeholders to transform its mineral potential into sustainable economic value for the people of the state and its investment partners.

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The Zamfara Livestock Development Agency yesterday called for stronger stakeholders’ action to combat rabies and prevent deaths caused by the disease.

Its Executive Director, Dr Ismaila Gusau, stated this at a sensitisation exercise as part of activities to mark the 2026 World Rabies Day, on Monday in Gusau.

The event featured a carnival procession and the launching of a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign at the palace of the Emir of Gusau.

The exercise, organised by the Zamfara Chapter of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), attracted veterinarians, government officials and other stakeholders to strengthen public awareness and promote coordinated action against the disease.

Mr Gusau said the exercise was organised to seek the support of the traditional institutions in the fight against rabies.

He underscored the important role of the traditional rulers in creating awareness to encourage regular vaccination of dogs and other pets.

The director urged individuals and families who keep dogs to vaccinate them annually to prevent the spread of rabies.

The Emir of Gusau, Dr Abdulkadir Bello, assured of his council’s support in sensitising the people on the dangers associated with rabies.

He tasked traditional rulers to work closely with relevant authorities to prevent and eradicate the disease.

The royal father enjoined the people to avoid buying beef from unapproved sources, to prevent consumption of unhealthy livestock products.

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The Zamfara State Arabic and Islamic Education Board developed a curriculum for Tsangaya schools across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Aminu Umar Gummi, revealed this during a radio programme, Ciki da Gaskiya, aired on Gamji FM Radio, monitored in Gusau.

He said the curriculum had been sent to Governor Dauda Lawal for approval.

Dr Gummi also said the Federal Government was formalising the Tsangaya education system to give it official recognition.

He said the Tsangaya will be harmonised with the formal education system to enable its students to sit for examinations such as NECO and WAEC, and advance to university level.

He said some Nigerian universities have started making provisions for candidates with Islamic and Arabic backgrounds in their programmes.

The ES described Tsangaya education as a springboard for academic excellence and good morals.

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Zamfara State Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Tourism, Tasi’u Musa Shinkafi, has assured Old Market shop owners of fairness in the distribution of new shops.

He revealed this during a meeting between the leadership of the old shop owners, led by Alhaji Mustapha, and the ministry in Gusau.

Mr Tasi’u said the meeting was convened to discuss plans to continue construction of the remaining shops at the Ultra-Modern Market.

He said the meeting was aimed at hearing the concerns of the shop owners and discussing the process for assessing and documenting the owners of shops at the former market.

The commissioner said the ministry was committed to ensuring that the process was carried out in a fair, transparent and orderly manner.

He said genuine shop owners would be properly identified and considered in the allocation of the new shops.

He assured the leadership of the shop owners that the ministry would continue to work closely with them and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth process and the successful completion of the remaining shops.

The engagement was part of the ministry’s efforts to support traders, protect the interests of genuine business owners and create a better and more organised environment for businesses to thrive in Zamfara State.

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Zamfara State Government said it deployed reliable internet to the Gusau International Airport ahead of the commencement of commercial flights in October.

This was revealed by the Executive Secretary, Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency (ZITDA), Dr Habib Gajam, during an inspection tour of the airport at the weekend.

He said they were at the Gusau International Airport as part of the preparations for the commencement of commercial operations on October 1.

The ZITDA chief said they conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the facility ahead of the immediate deployment of reliable and uninterrupted internet connectivity.

Mr Gajam said the airport deployment will provide connectivity across critical areas, including the domestic and international departure and arrival terminals, protocol and VIP lounges, control tower, fire station and other operational facilities.

“Passengers will also enjoy free internet access, ensuring that connectivity is part of their experience from the moment they arrive at the airport,” he said.

He said, “As we prepare to welcome commercial flights to Gusau International Airport, we are equally preparing the digital infrastructure required to support a modern airport.”

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Former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has urged Nigerians to examine the records and ideas of candidates seeking elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obiano made the call in a post on his X platform on Tuesday while commenting on preparations for the 2027 elections and recent developments concerning the Electoral Act.

He said the 2027 election would be shaped long before voters reached the polling stations, noting that the Supreme Court’s restoration of key provisions of the Electoral Act had clarified aspects of the legal framework on party membership registers and candidate nomination.

According to him, the development should reinforce the importance of accurate membership records, transparent internal processes and disciplined candidate selection by political parties.

Obiano, however, said electoral credibility was not created by courts or electoral bodies alone, but also depended on the conduct of political parties, professionalism of institutions, quality of public debate and citizens’ participation.

He said elections were strongest when voters had clear information, competing choices and confidence that their votes would be respected.

“Every eligible Nigerian has a role to play in protecting that process,” he said.

The former governor urged Nigerians to participate peacefully, examine the records and ideas of those seeking office, reject violence and intimidation, and cast their votes freely and responsibly.

He added that democracy was not only about choosing leaders but also about building the legitimacy and accountability that should follow after the votes were counted.

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Tanzania has removed Nigerian nationals from its referred visa category, ending the requirement for special clearance before they can obtain visas to enter the country.

The Tanzania Immigration Services Department announced the development in a notice dated September 25 and shared on its official X handle on Monday.

The notice, signed by Paul Mselle, chief spokesperson of the Tanzania Immigration Services Department, said the decision followed amendments published in Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026.

“With immediate effect, Nigerian nationals travelling to the United Republic of Tanzania are no longer subject to referred visa restrictions and will follow standard visa application procedures through the official immigration online portal or designated entry points,” the statement said.

A referred visa is required for nationals of certain countries who must obtain special clearance from Tanzania’s Commissioner General of Immigration or the Commissioner of Immigration (Zanzibar) before a visa can be issued.

Applicants under the category are generally advised to wait for approval before making travel arrangements, including booking flights or accommodation.

Before the latest amendment, Nigeria was among the countries whose nationals were subject to the referred visa requirement.

Other countries currently listed under Tanzania’s referred visa category include Afghanistan, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Somaliland, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The category also covers stateless persons and individuals with refugee status.

The latest change means Nigerians travelling to Tanzania will now use the country’s standard visa application process without the additional referral clearance.

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RABAT — King Mohammed VI of Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first female prime minister and tasked her with forming a new government.

The appointment followed the September 23 parliamentary election, in which El Mansouri’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged with the largest number of seats in the 395-member House of Representatives.

The Royal Palace announced the appointment on Tuesday, saying the King received El Mansouri at the Royal Palace in Rabat and appointed her head of government in accordance with the constitution.

PAM won 97 seats, ahead of the National Rally of Independents, which secured 66 seats, and the Istiqlal Party, which won 65. The results mean El Mansouri will need to form a coalition government.

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy in which the King retains significant powers. Under the constitution, the monarch appoints the head of government from the party that wins the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives.

El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer and previously served as mayor of Marrakech. She was also minister responsible for national territory planning, urban planning, housing and city policy in the outgoing government.

Her appointment makes her the first woman to lead Morocco’s government and the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.

El Mansouri’s government will oversee preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, while also confronting economic and social challenges, including concerns over youth employment and public services.

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