The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21 as public holidays to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Announcing this on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister extended heartfelt congratulations to Christians across the country on this joyous occasion.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized the importance of embodying the virtues of the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ, having to die for the redemption of man.

The minister urged Nigerians to use the holiday period to pray for the peace, unity, and stability of the nation.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu was committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to strengthen national growth and development.

Tunji-Ojo also beseech the Nigerian citizens to extend love and goodwill to their neighbours through acts of kindness and generosity.

He felicitated with all Christians and wished them a blissful Easter celebration, extending warm holiday greetings to all Nigerians.

[DailyPost]

In many ways the recent resignation of Hakeem Baba Ahmed as Political Adviser to Vice President Kashim Shettima confirms the worst kept political secret in the land: that the gulf existing between President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima has widened to the point of no return.

It is no longer a secret that President Tinubu does not trust nor have confidence in his Vice President. Indeed a presidency source told me that things have got so bad that the president never meets Shettima one-on-one. Vice-President Shettima is placed only on a ‘’need to know’’ basis on sensitive polices and even at that not all the details of such policies are disclosed to him. Memos from the Vice President and those of his staff are subjected to levels of vetting and watered down such that when they eventually land on the president’s desk for his attention, they are devoid of their essence and meaning. All Ministers and appointees of the presidency and the administration are forbidden from giving him detailed briefs on their tasks and for their own good they try to limit their contact and involvement with the VP to a cursory level.

The cold war between President Tinubu and his Vice so far not fully blown, has however prompted comparisons between the experiences of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President under the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of Shettima.

In culinary terms the difference in experience under their principals could be likened to the difference between Ikokore, the popular Ijebu delicacy which I am told the former Vice President being an Ijebu man relishes, and Burabisco, the favourite Kanuri dish which Shettima as a dyed-in-wool Kanuri man likes a lot. As the two dishes are made of different ingredients and are enjoyed by in different parts of the country, so also are the experiences of the two VPs under their bosses.

Although the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognises and ipso facto specifies roles for the Vice President in the functioning of the administration, in reality the VP’s relevance can only be subject to the disposition of the president.

For instance, although the constitution provides for the VP to chair the National Economic Council (NEC) made up of state governors, the president can work to make the council irrelevant. This is what happened when VP Shettima at the head of the NEC led the governors to present their informed views on the Tax Reform bill. We all knew that president Tinubu threw the bill at the VP and the governors’ faces and brusquely told them he preferred his own version of the bill which he was going to send to the National Assembly.

By contrast, Osinbajo as VP was in full charge of the NEC as its Chair and from that vantage point recommended and actively implemented economic and social programmes running to billions of naira.

Apart from not being allowed such powers under Tinubu, since his run-in with the president over the Tax Reform bill, Shettima has literarily had the door shut firmly against his face as far as economic and social matters which the constitution grants him.

Professor Osinbajo was the cerebral intellectual power house of the Buhari administration and his erudition and depth of knowledge provided the government with the much needed air of competence to cover up the lapses of some the officials of the government. Perhaps fully aware of this, president Buhari gave Osinbajo the full encouragement and thrust to be the face of the administration making speeches and representing him frequently at public and private occasions.

Osinbajo was given the latitude to choose his team which included a Special Adviser on Media and Political Affairs as well as other necessary staff who functioned as independently as possible without interference from the President’s office.

VP Shettima too was allowed his complement of aides. But the point of departure is that whereas VP Osinbajo’s aides Laolu Akande for Media and Babafemi Ojudu on political affairs functioned effectively in their positions, Stanley Nkwocha and Hakeem Baba Ahmed appointed in respective positions under VP Shettima’s office have hadly been heard. Indeed the resignation of Hakeem Baba Ahmed, former Federal Permanent Secretary and Secretary-General of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) was connected to the belittling role he had been subjected in the presidency. He was not given any schedule and befitting office. He also was not allowed unfettered access to the media. He could not engage the media on the VP’s political perspectives; he was virtually a political glorified desk officer in the VP office reduced to drinking tea and ‘’enjoying’’ the central air conditioner there. For someone who is known to be articulate, erudite and with such a vast and distinguished experience in politics and governance and who enjoys frequent media attention, restricting Hakeem Baba Ahmed’s visibility and interventions as he was in the Tinubu presidency was like taking a fish out of water. There was no way that Hakeem Baba Ahmed would take that sort of treatment lying low.

That VP Osinbajo was accorded his rightful place in the Buhari was due largely to the laissez faire disposition of president Buhari. Buhari was known to allow his appointees the latitude to work without too much interference in order to allow them deliver on the tasks assigned to them.

But president Tinubu is not only known as a micro-manager he also has an unapologetic disposition towards favouring people from his ethnic comfort zone to work with him. From what we have seen of him, president Tinubu clearly does not feel comfortable having people from other ethnic nationalities working too closely with him.
VP Shettima may not have committed any weighty official breaches of official protocol in the presidency, but president Tinubu’s in built paranoia and discomfort in the midst of people he considers as belonging outside of his bloodlines and his political and ethnic comfort zone is largely responsible for the short shrift being given to VP Shettima in the presidency.

Going forward president Tinubu clearly faces a dilemma on what to do with VP Shettima. He is obviously not enamoured of the VP and cannot be persuaded to retain him in the coming months. But the president knows distinctly that dropping the VP off the ticket presents a very delicate and dangerous political manoeuvre. It was with Shettima that he was able to navigate the difficult challenges of the 2023 presidential race and won. Removing Shettima now would amount to a tactical political miscalculation. Who to replace Shettima with that will give him the political traction with northern voters he desperately needs for re-election in 2027?

If he intends to keep the Muslim-Muslim ticket a host of names have been thrown into the equation; Nuhu Ribadu, Abdullahi Ganduje, Kwankwaso etc.

But anybody he chooses now will be a hard sell to northern voters. The mere fact of replacing Shettima with another figure will reinforce the feeling that Tinubu cannot be trusted to respect political agreements. And this could even rupture the ruling APC.
There are reports too that president Tinubu may change tack and replace Shettima with a northern Christian namely former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, former SGF Boss Mustapha, Senator Simon Lalong etc.

If Tinubu cannot be sure of a huge northern Christian votes tally to tip the scales in his favour this will amount to political suicide to say the least.

As Governor of Lagos state, Tinubu was able to whimsically change three deputies; Kofo Bucknor, Femi Pedro and Adeyemi Ogunleye without fear of political recriminations. As president he is now faced with three options all of which have potential consequences; he cannot retain Shettima because the gulf between them has become insurmountable; if he drops him and picks another Muslim he risks a rupture in the ruling party and if he decides to go for a northern Christian replacement he will most likely bring the house down.

As he sits presently in limbo under the Tinubu presidency, waiting to see how and where the dice rolls VP Shettima will be hoping for the best under the circumstances.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State yesterday apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area for the failure of government and security agencies to protect lives and properties, as condemnations trailed the killings.

This is as a survivor of the attack lamented that his sister wouldn’t have died if she had not, out of fear, run out of her hiding.

The governor’s apology came on a day former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ex-governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, and the northern chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, condemned the killings and tasked government to punish the perpetrators. Recall that no fewer than 52 persons were killed last Sunday night at Zike community of the LGA, barely two weeks after same number of persons were slaughtered in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, bringing the total killed to 104.

The governor, who gave the apology at the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Miango community of the state, said: “I will tell you the truth, I have been crying since yesterday (Monday) because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. We have made investments in security. “But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me.”

He urged the people not to relent in their efforts to secure their communities and ensure that they complement security agencies’ efforts by providing vital information for intelligence gathering and expose the antics of the criminals.

Governor Mutfwang, who was in the company of security chiefs and members of the state executive council, was in Zikke community to commiserate with the people on the death of over fifty persons killed in the attacks.
In his remarks, the Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, who is the Brangwe of Irigwe, urged government to come to the aid of the communities with the provision of social amenities in the area. The governor and the entourage also visited some of the families who lost their loved ones in the attack.

The victims have been buried, even as members of the community demanded action to stem the rising wave of insecurity in the state.

My sister got killed when she left our hiding place — Survivor

A survivor of the attack lamented the palpable fear that prompted his sister to run out of their hiding place and got killed when the attackers invaded their home.“The survivor, Eric Danlami, said they were asleep when the invaders came into the hamlet at about midnight, as the sounds of gunshots and the pandemonium woke them.“His words: “We had retired to bed in the night without any form of suspicion of any kind of problems.

At the time we heard the sporadic gunshots and movement of the people, we found a place to hide in one of the rooms, not knowing that the attackers had already entered our elder brother’s apartment at the boy’s quarters and slaughtered them, a family of five.“”His wife and first son survived and are currently in the hospital, but my sister, whom we were hiding together in a room, was afraid that they would enter the house.

As she left the place we were hiding to go to another hiding place, she was sighted. They shot at her and she didn’t survive it.

IGP speaks of deployment of more personnel, resources

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who was also in the state yesterday, said the days of perpetrators of attacks on rural communities in Plateau State were numbered and assured the people of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring adequate security in the state.“He said: “We condemn these acts of violence and recognise their devastating impact, especially on local farmers. In response, we have deployed more security personnel and resources to the affected areas and are working closely with other security agencies.

”Intelligence gathering efforts have also been intensified to identify and bring the masterminds behind these attacks to justice. We will work tirelessly until these issues are resolved. I assure you that these criminal elements will soon be outnumbered. I appeal to the people of Plateau to remain calm and peaceful.”

PIDAN demands justice for victims

Meanwhile, the President of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, the umbrella body of the 56 autonomous communities in Plateau State, Amb. Nanpon Sheni, at a media briefing, demanded justice for the victims through accelerated arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

“The peaceful indigenous tribes of Plateau State have been subjected to sustained acts of genocide by terrorist groups connected to global terrorist networks. They perpetrate heinous acts such as rape of women and girls, assaults on houses of worship and kidnapping.

“If these attacks remain unchecked, its ramifications for Nigeria’s stability, security and prosperity will be catastrophic. We call on the international community, the federal, and state governments and all stakeholders to acknowledge the gravity of the plight of Nigerians under this siege and take immediate action to push back terrorism.

“We demand justice for the victims of terrorism and genocide through the accelerated prosecutions as promised by the President.

Nigerians dying from Tinubu’s incompetence — Atiku

Reacting to the killings, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, blamed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the recent spike in deadly attacks across the state, accusing the government of incompetence and failure to protect lives.

In a strongly-worded statement posted on his official Facebook page yesterday, Atiku expressed deep sorrow over the killing of at least 52 persons in Zike community, Kwali district of Bassa Local Government Area, just days after a similar tragedy in Bokkos LGA, underlining what he described as “the worsening state of security in our country.

“I am deeply saddened and alarmed by the resurgence of violent attacks in Plateau State.” Atiku wrote further.
“It is regrettable and entirely unacceptable that these Nigerians had to lose their lives as a result of the incompetence of the Tinubu-led administration.

”The protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of any government. Unfortunately, President Tinubu has failed these citizens and continues to fail them.”

Beyond Plateau, the former vice president also decried the rising tide of terrorism in Borno State, citing statements from Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, and the Shehu of Borno, which indicated growing losses in both lives and territory to insurgents.

“These disturbing developments underscore the total collapse of the current administration’s security policy and architecture,” Atiku said.

He further criticized the Federal Government’s failure to bring terrorists and bandits to justice, noting that some suspects arrested as far back as 2016 are yet to be prosecuted.

He added: “If the same level of urgency and energy were devoted to the prosecution of terrorists as we have seen applied to the trials of political critics, we would have sent a clear and forceful message that crime has nsequences.’

He also condemned the failure to prevent cross-border incursions by armed groups, labeling it a “national disgrace.”

Perpetrators must be brought to book — Kwankwaso

On hs part, the presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in 2023 election, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, called on the relevant authorities to ensure that perpetrators of the heinous killings in Plateau State were brought to book.

He also urged the relevant authorities to rise to their responsibility to ensure the state was not allowed to become a hotbed of violence by ensuring that all lives and properties were protected.

Kwankwaso in a post on his verified Facebook handle said: “I am saddened to learn of the attack on Zike community, Kimakpa, in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, which resulted in the death of 52 people and destruction of several properties.

“This sad attack came after over fifty persons were killed within a week in attacks over five communities in the state.

“It is important that Plateau State must not be allowed to become a hotbed of violence and wanton destruction again after the relative peace it has enjoyed in recent years.

“The Federal Government must rise to its responsibility to ensure that all lives and properties are protected and the message of peace should be embraced by everyone in the state and beyond.

Killings in Plateau, agenda by known group — Jang

In his reaction, former governor of Plateau State and ex-senator representing Plateau North senatorial district, Jonah Jang, condemned the recurring spate of killings in the state, saying the attacks and killing of over 100 lives within two week was painful.“

He advised President Tinubu to convene an expanded meeting with community leaders to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in Plateau State, adding that such a meeting will provide a platform for stakeholders to share insights and experiences, and enable the President develop a more informed approach to tackling the problem.“

In a statement issued in Jos yesterday, Jang said: “Let’s call a spade a spade, I offer my deepest condolences to the government and people of Plateau State in the wake of the recent wave of attacks that have claimed numerous innocent lives. ”These senseless killings have caused pain and suffering for our great state and its people, and we must take immediate action to put an end to this violence. “I commend Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his tireless efforts to find a lasting solution to this crisis. His dedication to the safety and well-being of Plateau citizens is truly commendable. I also applaud President Bola Tinubu for his determination to stop the senseless killings of innocent citizens.

”His commitment to protecting the lives of Nigerians, particularly those in Plateau State, is a positive step forward.

“However, I believe it is important to address a misconception in the President’s recent statement directing Governor Mutfwang to resolve the ‘communal issue.’ This suggestion appears to stem from inaccurate briefings by his advisers.

”The attacks in Plateau State are not merely communal disputes; they are perpetrated by a known group with a specific agenda. It is crucial for the President to understand the true nature of these attacks in order to address them effectively.

Additionally, I advise President Tinubu to convene an expanded meeting with community leaders to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in Plateau State. Such a meeting would provide a platform for stakeholders to share their insights and experiences, as this will enable the President to develop a more informed approach to tackling this problem.

The former Plateau governor urged the people of the state to remain strong and resist any attempts to undermine their existence.

“As peace-loving and welcoming citizens, we have endured enough. It is time for us to defend ourselves against these aggressors and demand justice. I call upon the people of Plateau State to stay united, vigilant and proactive in the face of these attacks,” he said.

Northern CAN condemns killings in Plateau

Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Northern Nigeria, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam, also strongly condemned the brutal killings in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.

CAN in a statement signed by the chairman, Rev. Yakubu Pam, said the Christian body was deeply saddened and outraged by the senseless and barbaric attacks that claimed the lives of innocent and peace-loving citizens.

These repeated acts of violence are not only a violation of human dignity and the sanctity of life, but they are also a direct threat to the peace and unity of our state and the nation at large.“’Northern CAN stands in solidarity with the grieving families and the entire people of Bassa LGA in this moment of pain. We call on security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

”We also urge the government at all levels to take proactive steps to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of lives.”

Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam reiterated that the time had come for all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, security operatives, and community-based organizations, to unite in purpose and work together to end the cycle of violence that had plagued Plateau State for far too long.“”We pray for peace, healing, and justice. Plateau must not bleed again,” Rev Pam added.

he chaos; our governors try to make a point about needing unity, but targeting Anyanwu seems more like a proxy war or witch hunt against FCT Minister, Wike rather than a principled stand.

[Vanguard]

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) says it shared a total sum of N1.57 trillion to the three tiers of government as federation allocation for March.

In February, FAAC shared N1.67 trillion among the three tiers of government, from a gross total of N2.34 trillion.

This indicates the total amount shared in March declined by N100 billion or 5.98 percent.

In a communiqué issued at the end of FAAC’s April meeting chaired by Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, on Tuesday, the ministry said the total revenue distributable was drawn from a gross revenue of N2.411 trillion

According to Mohammed Manga, director of information and public relations at the ministry, the gross revenue comprised statutory revenue, value-added tax (VAT), electronic money transfer levy (EMTL), and exchange difference.

The communique said the federal government received N528.69 billion, the states got N530.44 billion, local government councils received N387.002 billion, and oil-producing states received N132.611 billion as derivation (13 percent of mineral revenue)

Manga added that N85.37 billion was given for the cost of collection, and N747.180 billion was allocated for transfers, intervention and refunds.

‘VAT DECLINED TO N637.61BN’

The director said VAT decreased by N16.83 billion or 2.57 percent, and gross statutory revenue increased by N65.42 billion or 3.93 percent.

“The communique issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) at the end of the meeting indicated that the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the month of March 2025, was N637.618 Billion as against N654.456 Billion distributed in the preceeding month, resulting in a decrease of N16.838 Billion,” he said.

“From that amount, the sum of N25.505 Billion was allocated for the cost of collection and the sum of N18.363 Billion given for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds.

“The remaining sum of N593.750 Billion was distributed to the three tiers of government, of which the Federal Government got N89.063 Billion, the States received N296.875 Billion and Local Government Councils got N207.813 Billion.

“Accordingly, the Gross Statutory Revenue of N1.718 Trillion received for the month was higher than the sum of N1.653 Trillion received in the previous month by N65.422 Billion. From the stated amount, the sum of N58.831 Billion was allocated for the cost of collection and a total sum of N728.817 Billion for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds.

“The remaining balance of N931.325 Billion was distributed as follows to the three tiers of government: Federal Government got the sum of N422.485 Billion, States received N214.290 Billion, the sum of N165.209 Billion was allocated to LGCs and N129.341 Billion was given to Derivation Revenue (13% Mineral producing States).

“Also, the sum of N26.011 Billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) was distributed to the three (3) tiers of government as follows: the Federal Government received N3.746 Billion, States got N12.485 Billion, Local Government Councils received N8.740 Billion, while N1.040 Billion was allocated for Cost of Collection.”

The communique also said N28.71 billion from exchange difference was shared among the three tiers of government.

Manga said that from the amount, the federal government got N13.40 billion, states received N6.79 billion, local government councils got N5.241 billion, and oil-producing states received N3.270 billion.

The director added that petroleum profit tax (PPT) and the companies income tax (CIT) increased considerably, but oil and gas royalty, VAT, EMTL, excise duty, import duty and CET levies recorded a decrease.

[TheCable]

To spoil a ship for a ha’porth of tar is an English idiomatic expression that talks about destroying something big by not spending a small amount to maintain it. That typifies the lifestyle of the average Nigerian. We simply lack a maintenance culture. We buy a car but fail to adhere to the manual’s instructions for regular and periodic maintenance. Check out some car tyres, windscreen, wipers, and car doors, and you will be shocked at how a car that is not up to five years old has become a jalopy. We build houses and a lackadaisical attitude to maintenance makes the house become dilapidated in next to no time. The door handles, plumbing, fittings, electrical appliances, tiles, water closet, water tanks, and furniture all become dysfunctional or spoilt due to the owner’s indifference to proper maintenance.

Similarly, many hotels that look beautiful on the outside are shitholes when you lodge in them. It is either that the water heater is not working, the air conditioner is not working, some taps are leaking, or the towels and bedspreads are dirty. Some hotels have never changed their blankets and duvets since inception, nor are they regularly dry-cleaned. Sometimes the room stinks. I have also been to many public buildings and government secretariats where the elevators have broken down, and visitors have to climb the staircase to get to the floors they need to take elevators to reach. This is because the elevators have broken down due to a lack of proper maintenance. Many toilets in government offices are an eyesore. It is either that there is no water to flush or that the water closet lever is dysfunctional. The furniture in many government and public offices is wobbling. Workers share offices with rodents and roaches because they are never fumigated.

Check out the state of our roads and bridges. Be they federal, state or local government roads, they have become infested with graters and gullies and have become death traps due to a lack of proper maintenance. Bandits and kidnappers take advantage of these bad roads to carry out their nefarious activities, as vehicles plying such bad roads have to slow down at these bad spots. Last month, the Federal Ministry of Works shut down the Independence Bridge along Ahmadu Bello Way, Marina-bound on Victoria Island, Lagos. The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, said the closure was to facilitate essential maintenance and rehabilitation works on the bridge from Wednesday, March 19 to May 31, 2025. News reports have it that the bridge closure brought about untold hardship on commuters plying the area. In fact, many motorists spent the entire night of the first day of the bridge closure on the road due to the gridlock. Meanwhile, it was discovered that one of the pillars holding the bridge is just floating, as the soil holding it has been eroded by water. A lack of periodic maintenance did not allow the ministry officials to notice this early enough.

While pipeline vandalism is one of the menaces being faced by the Nigerian government. However, some of the oil and water pipes have corroded and are leaking due to a lack of periodic maintenance. Imagine that some oil pipelines laid in the early sixties that are to be replaced every 10 years are left unchanged and, after a while, begin to leak and thereby degrade the soil and the environment. Similarly, the lack of routine turnaround maintenance of our four oil refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna led to Nigeria’s overdependence on the importation of refined petroleum products. Did you know what economic loss this has inflicted on Nigeria? We lost jobs, businesses, foreign exchange and prestige.

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari borrowed $1.5bn reportedly from a Chinese bank to carry out the turnaround maintenance on Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. Despite that, after several failed deadlines, NNPCL informed Nigerians in December 2024 that those two refineries had been restreamed to commence operation, but not at full capacity. Nonetheless, it is the privately owned Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical that has come to the rescue of Nigerians, as production from government-owned Port Harcourt and Warri is inadequate for our domestic consumption needs.

A lack of or inadequate and timely maintenance is always costly. As the saying goes, prevention is better than a cure. If all and sundry embrace proper maintenance culture, the lifespan of our objects will be longer. We will even spend less. Given the fact that the cost of goods and services is skyrocketing, a prompt maintenance culture will ensure that we spend less today to prevent spending more tomorrow. Imagine how much we are having to spend on the maintenance of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway? I am sure the amount is far more than what was spent to build the road in the first place. It is a lack of proper maintenance of our national assets, like the Nigerian Airways, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Nigeria National Shipping Line, and Nigeria Telecommunications, better known as NITEL, that led to the death of these government-owned enterprises. Thankfully, the Federal Government has deemed it fit to revitalise the Nigerian Railway Corporation. It is heartwarming that train services have been restored in South-West Nigeria from Lagos to Ibadan, Abuja Municipality and Abuja to Kaduna, to mention a few.

Maintenance culture is not all about items or objects. What about our bodies as human beings? How many of us go for routine medical check-ups? How many of us even go to hospitals when sick? Many prefer self-medication. Some go to quacks and unlicensed medicine stores for medications. This lack of proper maintenance of our bodies through routine medical checks, healthy living, exercising, dieting, relaxation and sleeping adequately is the major cause of terminal sicknesses and untimely deaths.

Concerned people are asking why so much terrorism is going on the Plateau and across the Middle Belt region of Nigeria on such a horrific scale. And the word that keeps going round is that the terrorists are aliens from the Sahel.

Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defense, who confirmed “that most of (the terrorists) are foreigners, (though) there are (local) collaborators”, lamented, “The whole country is overrun.”

The horror of the renegade’s invasion is captured in an amateur, but gory, video that shows people offloading corpses of those they claimed were casualties of recent attacks in Plateau State to the front of a massive white building that they claimed was a government state house.

If those individuals indeed dumped the corpses in front of a state government house, they would have added more numbers to the casualties, if the sentries had decided to mow them down for breaching state house security. 

But it must be acknowledged that it was a brilliant public relations stunt to draw attention to the helplessness of the people of the Plateau, victims of the reign of terror that has now almost become a regular ritual.

A young female poet laureate, who says she is from the North, but her blood carries many names, recited an indicting dirge on the assault on the lives and lands of the people of the Plateau, which is representational of the Middle Belt region of Nigeria that includes Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Southern Kaduna States.

She wailed, in narrative prose, rather than poetry, “Haven’t we learnt yet, oh my beloved country? Haven’t we seen enough lands dug by shaking hands in fury and fear? And haven’t we carried enough bodies, stiff and silent, wrapped in the weight of injustice?”

From the conniving government and nonchalant Nigerians outside of the Plateau killing field, she asked, “Haven’t we learnt yet, Nigeria, that silence is a co-conspirator, that when the leaders turn away, history sharpens its knife; that when justice is delayed, the earth grows fat with graves; that a country that does not punish its past will live to repeat it in different dialects?

“Haven’t we learnt that violence does not stay contained, and the machete swung today could rest on any door tomorrow? That today’s victim is yesterday’s neighbour, and tomorrow, it could be you, me, or the child who still believes that home is a safe place, that this is still our Nigeria?”

Another female poet lamented in dreadful words, “The food basket of the nation is now the blood basket of the nation. The land, once lush with green, now hush and grim, filled with sullen faces with no hope to survive the day, like arid ground in want of rain.

“Pain is plain. It’s daybreak. Folks are supposed to go on to their farms, but farms are not the safest places to be. It’s nightfall, it’s heartbreak, it’s heartache, over destroyed homes, destroyed crops, slaughtered brethren and bloodshed.

“Motherland is not the safest place to be. Once lively hoes now echo with silence; the land, loud with violence, flooding with the blood of the young and the old alike. Great sons fall like autumn leaves, dead bodies scattered like mustard seeds…

“They say tough times don’t last. Tell that to the people of Guma, who have watched herdsmen turn gunmen. Tell that to the people of Turan, who have been swept from their homes, like brooms to flies, their homes and belongings transformed to bonfires.

“Tell that to the people of Sankerra. Tell that to the people of Logo. Tell that to the people of Kwande, who have had bullets sprayed on them like rainwater, who have been changed to nothing but chickens for slaughter. Tell that to youths who this has caused them their futures.”

But enough of the poetry; the artists’ impression of the unbridled carnage happening on the Plateau of Nigeria, without anyone in government or the security agencies being able to take any tangible steps to contain it.

One real-life story of the pains caused by these invaders on the Plateau is the ridiculous story of Samuel Ortom, who, as the sitting governor of Benue State, was chased, with his security details, by terrorists from his farm.

A recent report from Benue State claims that several communities, like Tombo Mbaya, Buruku Local Government, and Mbachoughu and Mbanyagber, in Tarka Local Government, came under “coordinated assault” by armed herdsmen.

Governor Caleb Muftwang personally reported how terrorists sacked communities in Plateau State. His words: “These communities that have been recently attacked were part of the communities attacked in 2023… The Ruuri community that was first attacked lost about 17 people in 2023…Over 50 persons were killed within one week in attacks on communities that left over 300 houses burnt.”

Governor Muftwang reasons, “If these attacks have been going on for close to 10 years (most of which is under the All Progressives Congress), it tells you that there is a deliberate, conscious attempt to clean out populations.

“As I am talking to you, there are not less than 64 communities that have been taken over by the bandits on the Plateau, between Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Riyon Local Governments. They have been taken over, renamed, and people living there (now are) conveniently on lands they pushed people away to occupy.”

Why do government and security agencies fail to repel the land grabbers and restore the rightful owners to their ancestral lands? Gen. Danjuma told a home crowd in Taraba State, “The armed forces are either not capable or unwilling to protect us.”

Following is the, albeit one-sided, report of a current victim hiding in the bushes to avoid another attack from terrorists, that Governor Muftwang, like Lai Mohammed, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Minister of Information, called bandits.

“This is reporting from Hurti, on exactly what happened on 2nd April 2025. We were living peacefully with these Fulani herdsmen… At around 3:45pm… we… just began to hear gunshots… We saw that they had surrounded the environment. They were shooting sporadically, shooting at every person…

“But they concentrated more on the men that they wanted to wipe out the community. They kept on telling us that we say we are serving a living God. Where is our God now? They kept on shooting everybody that they found around….

“After the shooting, the next thing is that they started burning houses… They looted all the foodstuffs, our house stuffs…. On Thursday… we were able to recover 32 corpses… We went searching again, and still retrieved another four…. We had a mass burial for the 32 and the four others were buried in different places.

“17 people sustained injuries, and they are currently receiving treatment. One of them, Oji Tobias, has lost his life. I am pleading that all necessary measures should be taken to make sure that this does not recur…. The government should be able to arrest these people and make sure that justice takes its course.”

To resolve this matter, maybe the government should take Gen. Danjuma’s counsel, wherein he said, “As a soldier, my training teaches me that the best defence is attack,” and enlist citizens of the Plateau in something like South-West Nigeria’s “Amotekun”.

The CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, says the ongoing instability in global oil markets is negatively impacting Nigeria’s economy.

He said while falling petroleum product prices may benefit consumers, the broader economic consequences are severe for Nigeria, which heavily relies on oil exports.

“As consumers, we are happy that the price is coming down, but…as a nation, it’s not good for our economy because our revenue inflow is also impacted,” Ahmed told State House Correspondents at the Meet-the-Press briefing series organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

“Most importantly, what is even destabilising the market is inconsistencies in the way the USA President Donald Trump also sends his policies. He moves today. Tomorrow, he reverses. So, it’s been challenging to predict the next level,” Ahmed explained.

He cited a recent sharp drop in prices—from $73 to $60 per barrel in a single day—as an example of how revenue inflows are being disrupted.

Further compounding the crisis are domestic challenges, including pipeline vandalism and reduced production, he argued.

His comments follow recent OPEC reports indicating that Nigeria’s oil output has fallen to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day.

In recent weeks, Trump’s aggressive trade policies—including sweeping tariffs on goods from several nations, especially China, and threats of levies on other countries—have injected uncertainty into global markets.

These measures, often abruptly announced or reversed, have disrupted supply chains and investor confidence, contributing to fluctuations in commodity prices, including crude oil.

The oil market, already sensitive to geopolitical tensions and demand shifts, has seen added volatility as Trump’s tariffs and waivers sway economic forecasts.

For instance, when tariffs were imposed, oil prices often dipped on fears of slowed global growth, while exemptions or rollbacks triggered temporary rebounds.

Pundits say such instability complicates long-term planning for oil-dependent economies like Nigeria, where revenue hinges on steady crude prices.

The NMDPRA Chief told journalists: “Recently, as we all know, the global oil market – not only the oil market but the global economy – has been a bit volatile in the sense of the new American government’s policy of tariffs, not only targeted at China but at the whole world.

“Investors and traders not only in the oil and gas industry but also in the general economies of the world are moving left and right to the extent that some are doing day trading. That means you do your trading today. You close by the end of today because you never know what tomorrow’s policy will drive the market into.

“So the crude oil and petrol products market continues to have a downward trajectory because of these inconsistencies and policies of the government of the United States, and the key aspect of it is the aspiration of the American president to ensure that the crude oil pricing, or the crude oil price, comes down to maybe below $50 a barrel; that’s why he encourages more exploration in his country.”

Turning to the local implications, Ahmed acknowledged that while lower product prices benefit Nigerian consumers, the overall impact on the economy is negative.

He said, “So how does it relate to our own local industry regarding crude oil pricing, product pricing, demand and supply? We see a downward trajectory in terms of product pricing and crude oil pricing.

“So, we are happy as consumers of the derivatives of product pricing that the price is coming down, but when you look at it globally as a nation, it’s not good for our economy because our revenue inflow is also impacted.

“If the crude oil price, like what happened some Fridays ago, where it dropped in one day from about $73 a barrel to $60, you can see that in terms of our crude oil production, our revenue is impacted severely.”

The NMDPRA chief urged stakeholders to prepare for prolonged uncertainty in the oil sector.

He added, “This volatility will continue because as recently as yesterday, when President Trump again exempted some sectors from tariffs, particularly to China, like in terms of vehicular tariffs, you saw the market again start to go up.

“So, this is how it will continue to show, just to give you a general perspective of the oil industry.

“We recently had a report from OPEC that Nigeria’s production has come down to about 1.4 million barrels a day. If we lose the price by $10, you can see the negative impact on our economy, national reserves, and the strength of our naira. Again, when you look at the product market, we are happy to say, oh, the price is coming down.”

In a similar vein, Ahmed revealed that imports of premium motor spirit (petrol) have plunged from 44.6 million litres a day in August 2024 to 14.7 million by 13 April 2025—a fall of roughly 30 million, or 67 per cent, according to the latest Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority supply tracker.

This was as local supply rose 670 per cent within that period.

Ahmed said after contributing virtually nothing in August, local plants delivered 26.2 ML/day in early April, a jump from the 3.4 ML recorded in September, the first month with measurable output.

He hinged the surge on the phased restart of the Port Harcourt Refining Company in late November and incremental volumes from modular refineries.

Despite the progress, combined supply crossed the government’s 50 ML/day consumption benchmark only twice in the eight-month window—November (56 ML) and February (52.3 ML).

In March it slipped just below target at 51.5 ML, and in the first half of April, it remained short at 40.9 ML.

Figures from the NMDPRA also showed the balance among the three sources of PMS —Oil Marketing Companies, Dangote refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited — fared since last October.

OMCs raised average daily imports from about 22 million litres in October 2024 to roughly 30 million litres in December, settling in the mid 20s. They now account for 55 60 per cent of all petrol on most days.

Meanwhile, deliveries from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals rose steadily from 10 ML/day in October to around 22 ML in January and February before easing to 18 ML by mid April 2025. The plant now meets about two fifth of national demand.

From 24 ML/day in October, the NNPCL volumes fell monthly, slipping to 1 ML in January and zero recorded supply after February, Ahmed revealed in his slide presentation.

The NMDPRA Chief argued that the authority only grants import licences relative to the country’s supply requirements.

On refining operations, he explained that six licensed private and four public refineries currently produce 1.12 million barrels per day.

Six licensed private plants account for 679,500 bpd of the total. The Dangote single train complex refines 650,000 bpd.

Other modular sites include Aradel (11,000 bpd), OPAC (10,000 bpd), Waltersmith (5,000 bpd), Duport Midstream Limited (2,500 bpd) and Edo Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited (1,000 bpd).

State owned facilities add 445,000 bpd. The refurbished Port Harcourt complex (150,000 bpd), Warri (125,000 bpd), Kaduna (110,000 bpd) and the old Port Harcourt unit (60,000 bpd) make up the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s share.

The NMDPRA said it has issued 47 licences to establish covering 1.75 million bpd and 30 licences to construct for 1.23 million bpd. Only four plants currently hold licences to operate, and these together have a 27,000-bpd steady output.

Ahmed said five LTC projects with a combined capacity of 689,500 bpd are at the commissioning or construction stage, including Dangote with 650,000 bpd. Smaller builds include AIPCC Energy’s 30,000 bpd plant and Waltersmith’s 5,000 bpd second train.

[Punch]

The ongoing controversy surrounding the N300 million donation by the Rivers State Government under Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its forthcoming Annual General Conference has become a subject of national discourse, legal curiosity, and political undertones.

Originally, the funds were received by the NBA as part of the traditional goodwill often extended by state governments to support the logistical and financial demands of hosting thousands of lawyers from across Nigeria. It is not uncommon, indeed it has become a norm for both public and private entities to donate generously to the NBA to help it meet the overwhelming obligations of its annual conference.

However, this year’s situation has taken an unexpected turn. While Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, was initially considered as the host city for the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference, the venue was later changed to Enugu.

This change of venue was due to the action of President Bola Tinubu GCFR in setting aside democratically elected structures in the State and appointing a sole administrator, a retired security official to run the governance of the State for six months.

NBA leadership felt enraged and minced no words in condenming the action and demanding a reversal.

The newly-installed emergency government in Rivers State, under the control of the Sole Administrator Mr. Ibas, is now demanding a refund of the N300 million donation, asserting that the funds were expressly given for the purpose of hosting the conference in Port Harcourt. This contrasts sharply with the position of the NBA leadership, which insists the money was a general contribution, unsolicited and without express conditions, towards the conference.

The implication of this disagreement is significant. The Sole Administrator, whose very legitimacy has been called into question by the NBA and others, now alleges that the criticism of his emergence by the NBA may have been influenced by bias, pointing to the financial donation as a possible source of undue influence. The situation escalated further with the issuance of a threat of legal action against the NBA should the body fail to refund the money.

As a legal practitioner and a stakeholder in the NBA, I find the situation both curious and instructive. If this matter proceeds to court, it will no doubt offer a valuable opportunity to demystify and clarify the legality and propriety of professional bodies receiving financial support from government entities. This goes beyond the NBA, it extends to other associations such as the Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigerian Society of Engineers, and others.

The central legal and ethical questions are as follows:

1. Was the donation conditional or unconditional?

2. Was it a contractual obligation or a voluntary act of public goodwill?

3. Does the change of venue frustrate the intention behind the donation, assuming one existed?

4. Can a new government legally reclaim funds donated by its predecessor without clear evidence of misappropriation or fraud?

It will also be fascinating to see whether the now-suspended Governor Fubara will be compelled, either by the pending inquiry initiated by the Sole Administrator or through public pressure to make an official statement clarifying the intention behind the donation. That clarification could very well be the turning point in this escalating saga.

Until then, the NBA must remain calm, professional, and legally grounded in its response. Regardless of the eventual outcome, this moment will be remembered as one that helped shape jurisprudence on the obligations and boundaries of professional bodies in relation to government patronage.

We await the NBA’s next move. And perhaps more importantly, we await the voice of Governor Fubara. Will it be a bombshell? Time will tell.

Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN
Legal Practitioner and Public Affairs Analyst
Writes from Abuja.

Port Harcourt – The Rivers State Government has noted the statement by the NBA on the relocation the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Enugu State.

The Rivers State Government, however, outrightly rejects the NBA’s recent allegation that the ₦300 million payment made by the state was a "gift", unrelated to hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025. For clarity, the Rivers State Government’s records show that the payment of ₦300 million to the NBA was made with the mutual understanding that Rivers State would host the 2025 edition of the NBA AGC.
The Rivers State

Government entered into this arrangement with the NBA in good faith, with the understanding that hosting the conference in the state would attract significant economic benefits to our state, positively and directly impact the businesses of our people. The NBA's unilateral decision to relocate the AGC 2025 against our mutual understanding and subsequent decision to withhold the ₦300 million paid for the purpose of hosting the NBA AGC 2025 in Rivers State is unethical and amounts to a breach of trust.

Failure of the NBA to immediately refund the ₦300 million to the Rivers State Government, will compel the implementation of all legal means to recover the property of the good people of Rivers State.

We reaffirm our willingness to engage in partnerships with all professional bodies, including the NBA, but we will not accommodate exploitation of our people and the Rivers State Government.
Signed:

Hector Igbikiowubo

SSA Media
Rivers State Government
Government House, Port Harcourt

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has expressed warm felicitations to Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (Ezennia) SAN, OON, JP, FCArb, esteemed legal luminary on the auspicious occasion of his birthday.

In his goodwill message, Governor Soludo commended Dr. Ikpeazu's distinguished career as a proof of absolute dedication, intellectual prowess, and an unyielding commitment to the tenets of justice and the rule of law. 

His profound contributions to the Nigerian legal landscape, particularly within the realm of constitutional law, have earned him national and international acclaim. 

The Governor further noted that beyond his legal eminence, Dr. Ikpeazu's role as one of the leading lawyers in the country also underscores his steadfast dedication to the advancement of democratic principles and the promotion of good governance. 

Therefore, Governor Soludo wishes Dr. Ikpeazu, a very happy birthday celebration filled with good health, prosperity, and the fulfilment of his aspirations.

Signed,

Christian Aburime

Press Secretary to the Governor