Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has described the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as a failure, adding that no previous administration has inflicted the level of hardship on the masses while disregarding  transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership.

Atiku said in just two years, Tinubu’s administration has proven to be one of the most incompetent, disconnected, and anti-people governments in Nigeria’s democratic history.

He said the government has not only deepened poverty across the country, but it has also set new records in wasteful public spending.

The former vice president, in a personally signed statement, said at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling to survive, government officials are living in excess and approving budgets that benefit the elite at the expense of the common man.

“It is sad that apart from being the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria has under this administration emerged as the unenviable position as the capital of  malnourished children in Africa having beaten Sudan, a nation that is at war.

“According to the Global Hunger Index 2024, our country is one of the most affected by hunger and malnutrition, occupying the 18th position.”

He said the administration’s policy has targeted the poor while providing relief and advantage to the rich.

“From healthcare to education to identity management and basic public services, Nigerians are now faced with class-based systems where the wealthy enjoy VIP treatment, and the rest are left behind.

“Just two weeks ago, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) hiked its fees by 75%, introducing VIP protocols for services that should be a basic right of citizenship. In education, public university fees have been raised far beyond the reach of poor families, with no adequate support mechanisms in place.

“Even more troubling is the scale of borrowing under this government. When President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at approximately N49 trillion. In just two years, that figure has skyrocketed to N144 trillion — a 150% increase — with more foreign loans now being requested, which could push the debt to N183 trillion.

“While the federal government racks up debt, state governments have shown more discipline, reducing their debt levels from N5.86 trillion to N3.97 trillion. The implication is clear: the federal government, under Tinubu, is the primary driver of Nigeria’s current debt crisis.

“President Tinubu’s justification — that new borrowing is needed to fund the 2025 budget and soften the impact of fuel subsidy removal — is both weak and dishonest. It was the reckless and insensitive way his government removed the subsidy that created much of today’s economic hardship in the first place.

“Today, Nigeria is a nation where the rich get richer, and the poor are punished for trying to survive. This reality can not and will not be ignored.

Atiku added that as opposition leaders and partners committed to the future of Nigeria, they will not stand by and watch democracy be reduced to a tool for elite control.

He added that the coalition rejects any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state where dissent is silenced and power is abused.

“We are building a strong, united opposition coalition — one that will challenge the excesses of this administration, restore accountability, and return government to the people. We will protect the right of every Nigerian to freely choose their leaders, and we will continue to fight for economic justice, political freedom, and national progress.

“We are here to rescue Nigeria. And we will not stop until that goal is achieved,” he said.

[Leadership]

Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers has said that he sees himself as a full-blooded Nigerian.

The Rangers of Scotland striker made this comment while expressing delight at his return to the national team.

He said his mirror always reminds him of his roots, adding that he is looking forward to helping the West African giants secure more victories.

Dessers, who qualified to play for Nigeria because of his Nigerian mother, made his senior international debut in October 2020.

The Belgian-born attacker scored for Nigeria in the 2-1 win over Ghana in the Unity Cup clash at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on Wednesday.

“When you look in the mirror, you see Nigeria,” he told the Super Eagles media team.

“At the moment I got the call, I didn’t have to think about it for long. When you get the call, you want to go, I went.”

He said he hopes to represent Nigeria in major tournaments.

[DailyPost]

The borrowing plan submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the National Assembly represents a proposal and consists of projected borrowings by the federal and state governments over the next two years.

The Presidency and the Ministry of Finance yesterday clarified that it is an all-inclusive national plan that comprises proposed loans by several states across the various geopolitical zones and the loan component of the Federal Government’s expenditure plan.

The clarification came against the misconception that the Federal Government intends to borrow under the current fiscal year.

President Tinubu on Tuesday sought approval from the National Assembly for the 2025–2026 External Borrowing Rolling Plan, totalling some $20 billion.

In three separate letters, the President sought approval for the borrowing of $2 billion for capital grazing funds, $21,543,647,912; 2,193,856,324.50 Euro, 15 billion Japanese yen, a grant of 65 million Euro and N757,983,246,571.

The Ministry of Finance explained that the rolling borrowing plan should not be confused with actual borrowing for any given year.

According to the ministry, the actual borrowing for each year is contained in the annual budget.

It said the external borrowing component of the 2025 budget, valued at $1.23 billion, is yet to be accessed.

The ministry explained that the rolling plan encompasses borrowing needs for the Federal Government and several state governments across geopolitical zones, including Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Yobe.

The ministry noted that the inclusion of projects in the borrowing plan does not imply an immediate or automatic increase in the nation’s debt burden, pointing out that, given the structure of the rolling plan, funding is drawn in phases depending on project timelines.

According to the government, many of the projects captured in the plan have financing arrangements spread over five to seven years and are specifically tied to projects in strategic sectors.

These strategic investments include national power grids and transmission lines, irrigation schemes to bolster food security, a nationwide fibre optic backbone, the acquisition of fighter jets to improve national security, and major rail and road projects.

A majority of the financing for these initiatives will be sourced from Nigeria’s development partners.

These include the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), China EximBank, and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

These institutions offer concessional loans with favourable terms and long repayment tenures, providing a relatively low-cost way for Nigeria to fund its development goals.

Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, added that the document transmitted to the National Assembly outlines a comprehensive framework that spans a two-year period between 2025 and 2026, covering both federal and state governments’ external financing plans.

He said: “Periodically, nations come up with expenditure frameworks to guide how budgets will be executed over time.

“For the latest development, Nigeria’s MTEF covers a period of two calendar years: 2025–2026.”

According to him, the request by the President included details on how Nigeria, through the Federal Government and the 36 state governments, plans to access external funding for various development projects.

He noted that for the Federal Government, one of the core proposals is the raising of $2 billion from the domestic market targeted at infrastructure investments, the first of its kind among several other initiatives aimed at bridging the country’s infrastructural gap.

He also clarified the constitutional and procedural context of the financing plan, stressing that state governments are not permitted to seek international funding without federal backing.

“States cannot access international funding without the Federal Government as a guarantor, and as such, the Senate must approve all forms of external borrowing through the federal government,” Olusegun said.

He explained that in order to streamline the legislative process and avoid repeated borrowing requests, the government opted to present all projected external borrowing needs, federal and state, within a single framework.

He said: “It reeks of absolute lack of plan to keep going back to the Senate every month to get approval for external borrowings.

“As such, all planned borrowings—covering all 36 states and the federal government—over the next two years, have been presented as one to the National Assembly.”

He pointed out that approval by the National Assembly does also not equate to automatic disbursement or utilisation of the entire sum.

According to him, while it is still subject to approval, it also does not mean all such approvals by the National Assembly will be fully utilised by the various levels of government.

The Ministry of Finance explained further that the rolling borrowing plan is an integral part of the country’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) structured in line with both the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 and the Debt Management Office (DMO) Establishment Act of 2003.

It noted that the plan serves as the medium-term external borrowing guide, outlining the terms and implementation timelines of associated projects in five comprehensive appendices.

According to the ministry, through this structured approach, the government aims to maintain fiscal discipline while ensuring adequate investment in critical sectors.

It said the rolling plan also enables forward financial planning and prevents the inefficiencies and unpredictability of emergency or reactive borrowing practices.

On the issue of Nigeria’s debt sustainability, the Ministry of Finance noted that the debt service-to-revenue ratio, which exceeded 90 per cent in 2023, is already on a downward trend.

This improvement, it said, followed major fiscal reforms, including the discontinuation of inflationary ways and means financing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The government stated that it expected significant revenue growth from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), alongside increased remittances from government-owned enterprises (GOEs) and key revenue-generating ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), aided by technology-driven monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

Also, legacy debts owed to the federal purse are also being recovered as part of the revenue enhancement drive.

With macroeconomic conditions showing signs of stabilisation, the Federal Government said it is now focused on moving the economy towards a trajectory of accelerated and inclusive growth.

Achieving this objective, it explained, requires sustained capital investment in transportation, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and other priority sectors of the economy.

The ministry stated that the overarching goal is not to borrow indiscriminately but to ensure that loans are directed at projects with clear economic value and measurable impact.

“Our debt strategy is, therefore, guided not solely by the size of our obligations, but by the utility, sustainability, and economic returns of the borrowing.

“Ensuring that all borrowed funds are efficiently utilised and directed toward growth-enhancing projects remains a top priority,” the ministry stated.

The government reiterated its commitment to responsible borrowing, stating that all external loans will remain within the manageable thresholds outlined in the DMO’s Debt Sustainability Framework.

In addition, the ministry said that Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform agenda and related revenue mobilisation initiatives will further strengthen public finances, reduce dependency on debt, and promote financial prudence.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal discipline, openness in financial transactions, and responsiveness to public concerns.

It called for continued public engagement and strong legislative oversight as essential components of Nigeria’s long-term path to economic stability and national prosperity.

Olusegun reiterated that loans, when used judiciously, remain a vital tool for financing public development efforts.

“Loans in themselves are not bad instruments of financing public services.

“What Nigerians must focus on is how such loans are being utilised by the government. These are the questions that should be asked,” Olusegun said.

He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to his electoral promises and developmental agenda, stressing that the administration will not shy away from difficult but necessary decisions.

[TheNation]

In the travel notes of Thomas Malcolm Knox, a British philosopher, there was a searing description of Lagos as “a town of unspeakable squalor…filth everywhere”. Knox was the secretary to Lord William Hesketh Lever, one of the founders of Lever Brothers. What struck me the first time I read this portion of his journal entry in Stephanie Newell’s book, Histories of Dirt: Media and Urban Life in Colonial and Postcolonial Lagos (published in 2019), was the date the comment was recorded: the mid-20s of the last century. That was roughly one hundred years ago. If Knox and other British fellows who made unsavoury comments about Lagos while travelling through should wake up from their graves today and see the city still sizzling in its putrid juices, they would either be shocked or pleased that their racist projections of Africans had been vindicated.

Some of the cringey comments made about Lagos a century ago cannot be extricated from the racism, elitism, and imperialism of the writers, yet the description of the city they provided is uncannily familiar. Lagos is still everything it was, despite the passage of time. The Lagos of the early 20th century, as described in the book, was also a crucial economic hub and a magnet for people eager to capitalise on the business opportunities it offered. Houses and shacks sprang up at the most unsuitable sites, and it did not help that many migrants to Lagos brought their village practices (such as shunning pit latrines to defecate in the bush) to the heart of Nigerian civilisation. As another traveller recorded, Lagos was “a filthy, disgusting, savage place” where it was “unsafe to wander about in the streets”. The only places that were recorded as sane were the Brazilian quarters and the habitations of the Europeans.

While the oyinbos of the 21st century might have become too politically correct to point out our faults to us, our fellow Nigerians are not shy about calling Lagos “dirty”. The other day, a youth corps member serving in Lagos, Ushie Uguamaye, inflamed people when she described Lagos as dirty and smelly. Trust our people, a comment like that quickly became their opportunity to throw some tribal, generational, partisan, and sexist punches. While the young woman might have lacked tact, everyone knows what she said to be true. It is as true in 2025 as it was a hundred years ago. Recently, social media influencer Scott Iguama, who has been making videos that decry the high cost of real estate in Lagos, also made a similar comment about the poor hygiene conditions of Lagos. This time, he attracted the attention of Lagos State Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who took to his social media account to take a jab at the people who relocate to Lagos from their home states to find better economic opportunities, only to begin disparaging the state for clout. I guess Wahab would have been less defensive about Lagos’ poor environmental conditions if the comments had come from a Yoruba person.

Wahab wrote, “While constructive criticism is essential for growth, malicious attempts to vilify a state that empowers countless lives daily are counterproductive. Lagos remains a place of opportunity, innovation, and resilience, and it is imperative that we collectively uphold its integrity while fostering unity and progress.” I am genuinely curious to know what the commissioner meant by upholding the integrity of Lagos. What is Wahab’s definition of integrity, and how does pointing out the obvious undermine it? How do you “foster unity and progress” by maintaining a lie?

To some extent, the discomfort of the commissioner and other locals who react to calling out the squalid conditions of the city is understandable. One of the stereotypes other tribes in Nigeria regularly lob at Yoruba is that of hygiene. The trope of the “dirty Yoruba” is the stuff of ethnic jokes, both light-hearted and mean-spirited ones. The thing is, calling other people “dirty” is not always about an objective assessment of their living conditions; it is also about making ethical valuations of them. Who or what we think is “dirty” is as much of a moral judgment of others as it is a description of their physical conditions. That is why the pushbacks by people like Wahab are excusable to some extent.

It is funny when Nigerians insult others based on the foul conditions of their living spaces, when there is virtually nowhere in the country that does not reek of under-maintenance. I have visited more than half of the state capitals, and there are only a few of them that are not in a state of decline despite the superficial improvements of a newly built bridge here and there. While most of our rural areas are filthy because they have hardly ever figured in any agenda of development planning, our urban places—where all governmental efforts are supposedly concentrated—are also perpetually in an unsanitary state. How many of our habitations, rural or urban, have what is akin to a sewage system? How many of our villages, towns, and cities have a regular water supply to begin with? Without an adequate and well-managed water supply system, people cannot maintain proper sanitary conditions. It is even worse for a country like Nigeria, where we do not plan our cities or project how they will grow over time to preemptively develop a management agenda. If more people are pointing fingers at Lagos than other states on these general problems, it is also because its socio-economic and socio-cultural dominance makes its problems far more magnified.

To the best of my knowledge, no state has developed anything close to a sophisticated waste management system, yet Lagos—due to its teeming population—appears to be the one drowning in its own trash. Unfortunately, Lagos also suffers from a severe shortage of water supply. When you watch the cooking videos of our social media “chefs” who live in so-called prime estates like Lekki, you see them using bottled water for cooking.

They cannot turn on the faucets like normal people around the world do and use water because what is pumped by their individual boreholes is contaminated. Since there is no water treatment plant to clean the water and make it potable, they resort to bottled water for their everyday use. The consequence is that plastic waste is everywhere, clogging sewers and swelling up landfills. Without an adequate water supply system, people generate more waste, which exacerbates their existing squalid conditions. The result is a city so filthy that its managers need us to be silent to maintain its “integrity”.

Reading The Histories of Dirt and observing Lagos in the present, I find it rather distressing how we never seem to outgrow our problems. As far back as the 19th century, travellers to Lagos have been bellyaching about its squalor. It is the 21st century, and barely anything has changed. What is even worse is that the rest of Nigeria is so socio-economically impoverished that Lagos, despite its poor conditions, is still considered the country’s crown jewel.

The man who was sworn in as president two years ago today made much political gain because of Lagos. They sold him as the builder of modern Lagos; our people—so used to dysfunctionality—thought he had any magic to replicate at the national level. Today, not only is Lagos still marinating in its own sewage, but the country itself is awakening to the truth of the lie they bought.

Fellow Nigerians, as we mark the second anniversary of our administration, I salute your resilience and undaunted spirit. Two years ago, you entrusted me with the sacred responsibility to lead our nation at a time of historic challenges. Together, we have faced these headwinds with courage and determination.

The economic and general situation of the country I inherited required that we redirect the country’s affairs with a bold and new vision. I immediately implemented two necessary policies to stop our country from further drifting into the precipice. It was apparent that if the federal government and the other two tiers of government must remain viable and cater to the citizens’ welfare, we must do away with decades-long fuel subsidies and the corruption-ridden multiple foreign exchange windows. The two were no longer sustainable and have become a chokehold on our nation’s neck, strangling our nation’s future.

While our administration has implemented the reforms to restore and reinvigorate our national economy and strengthen our social fabric as a strong and united country, I must thank my fellow citizens for your unrelenting support and belief in the grand vision we share to uplift our nation and renew our collective hopes and aspirations.

We are halfway through the journey that began 24 months ago. Today, May 29, 2025, offers our administration the opportunity to share again how far we have gone and our progress in steering our country along the critical path of socio-economic development.

When we embarked on this journey, propelled by a burst of hope and abiding faith in Nigeria’s unity and progress, I made a pledge before God and fellow countrymen and women to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on by rebuilding trust, fostering prosperity, and restoring our nation’s economic health. Today, I proudly affirm that our economic reforms are working. We are on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation.

Under our Renewed Hope Agenda, our administration pledged to tackle economic instability, improve security nationwide, reduce corruption, reform governance, and lift our people out of poverty.

While implementing the reforms necessary to strengthen our economy and deliver shared prosperity, we have remained honest by acknowledging some of the difficulties experienced by our compatriots and families. We do not take your patience for granted. I must restate that the only alternative to the reforms our administration initiated was a fiscal crisis that would have bred runaway inflation, external debt default, crippling fuel shortages, a plunging Naira, and an economy in a free-fall.

Despite the bump in the cost of living, we have made undeniable progress.

Inflation has begun to ease, with rice prices and other staples declining. The oil and gas sector is recovering; rig counts are up by over 400% in 2025 compared to 2021, and over $8 billion in new investments have been committed. We have stabilised our economy and are now better positioned for growth and prepared to withstand global shocks.

In 2025, we remain on track with our fiscal targets. Gross proceeds per barrel from crude oil are broadly aligned with our forecasts as we intensify our efforts to ramp up production. Our fiscal deficit has narrowed sharply from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024. We achieved this through improved revenue generation and greater transparency in government finances. In the first quarter of this year, we recorded over N6 trillion in revenue.

We have discontinued Ways & Means financing, which has been a major contributor to high and sticky inflation. The NNPC, no longer burdened by unsustainable fuel subsidies, is now a net contributor to the Federation Account. We are also achieving fuel supply security through local refining.

Our debt position is improving. While foreign exchange revaluation pushed our debt-to-GDP ratio to around 53%, our debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024. We paid off our IMF obligations and grew our net external reserves by almost 500% from $4 billion in 2023 to over $23 billion by the end of 2024.

Thanks to our reforms, state revenue increased by over N6 trillion in 2024, ensuring that subnational governments can reduce their debt burden, meet salaries and pension obligations on a timely basis, and invest more in critical infrastructure and human capital development.

One of our administration’s most impactful achievements is our bold tax reform agenda, which is already yielding results. By the end of 2024, our tax-to-GDP ratio rose from 10% to over 13.5%, a remarkable leap in just one year. This was not by accident. It results from deliberate improvement in our tax administration and policies designed to make our tax system fairer, more efficient, and more growth-oriented.

We are eliminating the burden of multiple taxation, making it easier for small businesses to grow and join the formal economy. The tax reforms will protect low-income households and support workers by expanding their disposable income. Essential goods and services such as food, education, and healthcare will now attract 0% VAT. Rent, public transportation, and renewable energy will be fully exempted from VAT to reduce household costs further.

We are ending the era of wasteful and opaque tax waivers. Instead, we have introduced targeted and transparent incentives supporting high-impact manufacturing, technology, and agriculture sectors. These reforms are not just about revenue but about stimulating inclusive economic growth.

There is a deliberate focus on our youth, who a friendlier tax environment for digital jobs and remote work will empower. Through export incentives, Nigerian businesses will be able to compete globally. Our National Single Window project streamlines international trade, reduces delays, and enhances Nigeria’s competitiveness.

To promote fairness and accountability, we are establishing a Tax Ombudsman, an independent institution that will protect vulnerable taxpayers and ensure the system works for everyone, especially small businesses.

Most importantly, we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable future by introducing a new national fiscal policy. This strategic framework will guide our approach to fair taxation, responsible borrowing, and disciplined spending.

These reforms are designed to reduce the cost of living, promote economic justice, and build a business-friendly economy that attracts investment and supports every Nigerian. Together, we are creating a system where prosperity is shared, and no one is left behind.

We have breathed new life into the Solid Minerals sector as part of our efforts to diversify the economy. Revenue has increased phenomenally, and investors are setting up processing plants as the sector dumps the old pit-to-port policy and embraces a new value-added policy.

We have also repositioned our health sector despite all odds.

Over 1,000 Primary Health Centres are being revitalised nationwide. An additional 5,500 PHCs are being upgraded under our Renewed Hope Health Agenda. We are establishing Six new cancer treatment centres. Three are ready. We offer free dialysis services in pilot tertiary hospitals and subsidise the service in others. Under the Presidential Maternal Health Initiative, over 4,000 women have undergone free cesarean sections. Lastly, we have expanded Health Insurance Coverage from 16 million to 20 million within two years.

As a result of our bold and deliberate policies, the economy is growing stronger again. Real GDP rose by 4.6% in Q4 2024, with full-year growth of 3.4%. This is one of the strongest in a decade.

Without a responsive and reliable national security infrastructure that can protect lives and properties, our economy will not perform optimally, and those who seek to harm us will impair and disrupt our way of life. Our administration is committed to the security and safety of our people. For our government, protecting our people and their peaceful way of life is the utmost priority.

Since I assumed our country’s leadership, our administration has improved collaboration among security agencies, increased intelligence-driven operations, and better ensured the welfare of our armed forces and security personnel. I use this opportunity to salute the courage and everyday sacrifice of our service men and women. We may not always witness the tremendous efforts they make to keep us safe, but we benefit every day from the results of their dedication. Even if we do not thank them often enough, they willingly face danger so we can go about our lives freely and without fear.

Our military, police, and intelligence agencies are committed to always responding to emerging security threats and new challenges because it is the patriotic duty they owe a grateful nation.

Amid the new security challenges, we can report some successes. In some areas of the northwest, hitherto under the control of bandits, our gallant armed forces have restored order, reducing and eliminating threats to lives and livelihoods. With the success achieved, farmers are back tilling the land to feed us. Highways, hitherto dangerous for travellers, have become safer. Our security agencies have succeeded many times in rescuing the abducted citizens from the hands of their tormentors. I promise you, we shall remain vigilant, as I told security chiefs during the last meeting to up their game and collaborate to end this plague of evil men. Every Nigerian deserves to live without fear.

Outside of Security, we have prioritised human capital development as a central pillar of our national development strategy.

To this end, we have significantly expanded access to quality education through infrastructure investments and the student loan scheme to support indigent students in tertiary institutions. Through the Renewed Hope Health initiative, our administration has begun equipping health facilities and deploying skilled personnel to unserved areas. We are also strengthening our response to public health threats and implementing targeted social investment schemes.

Our youth empowerment initiatives include access to funds, skill development, and creating employment opportunities. Through our MSME support, we empower the next generation and bridge inequality. In our mission to empower the next generation, we have taken bold steps to place young Nigerians at the heart of national development. Nowhere is this more evident than at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), where the current management is making giant strides. NASENI has embraced a digital-first approach, introduced real-time dashboards, and implemented end-to-end e-procurement through its Unified ERP System—setting a new governance benchmark for public institutions.

Through bold, high-impact programmes like Innovate Naija, Irrigate Nigeria, the Asset Restoration Programme, and the Renewable Energy and Innovation Park in Gora, NASENI drives inclusive industrialisation at scale. From assembling electric vehicles and reviving idle assets to launching Africa’s most advanced Rapid Diagnostic Kit Factory and training female drone engineers through the NASCAV programme, these initiatives are creating jobs, restoring dignity to work, and opening up a future of possibilities for our youth. This is the movement we promised—a government of action powered by the energy and innovation of young Nigerians.

Agriculture and food security are top priorities of our Renewed Hope Agenda. We have launched aggressive initiatives to boost local food production, support farmers, and stabilise food prices. We have also invested in mechanised farming by procuring thousands of tractors, other farming tools, and fertilisers.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the federal government has continued with major road construction and rehabilitation projects across all geopolitical zones, from the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, the 9th Mile-Oturkpo-Makurdi Road, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Oyo-OgbomosoRoad, Sokoto-Badagry Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Second Niger Bridge Access Road to Bodo-Bonny Road among hundreds of ongoing road projects across the country.

We have launched initiatives to improve electricity generation by upgrading generation and transmission infrastructure and investing in off-grid solar energy to power our homes, business premises, industries, schools and hospitals.

In the spirit of democracy and national renewal, we are preparing to welcome the world to Nigeria soon for the Motherland Festival. This landmark gathering will spotlight our rich heritage, dynamic creative industries, and the vibrant energy of our people. It will showcase Nigeria’s beauty through tourism, culture, and innovation, inviting the world to rediscover our nation.

The Nigerian diaspora plays a vital role in our national transformation. Their expertise, investment, and global perspective are key to shaping the future we seek. In recognition, the government has introduced policies like the diaspora bond and the non-resident Bank Verification Number to make it easier for Nigerians abroad to invest, engage, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s progress.

The Motherland Festival will bring together voices from across the continent and the diaspora in a decisive moment of unity and purpose, affirming that Nigeria is not only a leader in Africa but a committed global partner ready to engage, inspire, and lead.

Once again, I acknowledge the sacrifices many Nigerians have made and continue to make as we reposition our country, not just for today but for generations yet unborn. Our journey is not over, but our direction is clear. So is our resolve to tackle emerging challenges. By the Grace of God, we are confident that the worst is behind us. The real impact of our governance objectives is beginning to take hold. The future is bright, and together, we will build a stronger, more inclusive Nigeria that we can all be proud of.

Thank you all, and May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Today, May 29, 2025, is exactly two years since Bola Tinubu took the oath of office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria. And it is more than enough time to assess his stewardship.

Even those who said, as Professor Wole Soyinka did in 2023, that the traditional 100 days was too short a time to make such an assessment will hardly have any excuse now. For those who may have forgotten, on December 24, 2023, Soyinka paid a visit to Tinubu in his Lagos home. Asked to assess Tinubu’s performance, the Nobel Laureate claimed that three months was too short a time to assess any government. Most presidents “don’t start from ground zero. They often start lower than ground zero and they need time to make up,” he said. Ironically, while Soyinka was waiting for the one year anniversary to make his assessment, Tinubu and his ministers were already doing so and high-fiving themselves on their “achievements.”

It is instructive that the Nobel Laureate, who is not known for suffering fools gladly, is still tongue-tied. Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, March 24, Soyinka now says he will only speak on Tinubu’s government when he has something to say. “People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me, I had not swallowed an alarm clock. I don’t see why I should put my alarm on and say one year has passed, now, I must make an assessment.”

Maybe, Soyinka is right. In espousing his political philosophy – Emilokanism – President Tinubu can be brutally frank. He is one politician who understands the psyche of the average Nigerian. Most Nigerians have scant disregards for decent people in politics who play by the rules. They would rather exalt strong men. And Tinubu is a strong man.

So, when he, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, told some of his political associates in London in December 2022 how he hoped to win the 2023 presidential election, he didn’t mince words. “Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant. They don’t serve it a la carte. At all cost, fight for it, grab it and run with it,” he admonished top party operatives after his outing at the Royal Institute of International Affairs – Chatham House – a British think tank.

And that was exactly what he did. He fought for power with all the arsenal at his disposal, grabbed and ran away with it while asking his flustered opponents to “go to court.” They did and the rest is history. Now going into the 2027 battle as a president seeking re-election, he is doing an encore, but this time using the power that he already has in such a Machiavellian way to render the opposition impotent. That, he calls “the game.” And just as he did in December 2022, he is letting Nigerians take a peep beforehand at his plan.

Speaking at the APC National Summit at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja on May 23, Tinubu said of the defections to the APC: “You don’t blame a people bailing out of a sinking ship. I am glad about what we have and I am expecting more to come. That is the game… Sweep them clean.”

That game is definitely at the expense of Nigeria’s democracy. Contrary to Tinubu’s claim that the defections demonstrate the democratic preferences of the defectors, they are emblematic of the carefully calibrated. Moreover, the fact that team Tinubu’s bloom has fallen off the rose in the last two years cannot be understated just as the Jagaban luster has faded. So, on what basis will any altruistic politician defect to APC or join hands with a government as Tinubu’s whose promise of leading the country to the promise land can only be believed by those living in cuckoo land.

For those who are still in doubt, on August 4, 2024, Tinubu outlined the achievements of his administration with emphasis on fiscal reforms, economic resurgence, and social welfare improvements, all aimed at stimulating growth, reducing debt burdens, and improving the living standards of Nigerians. None of these has been achieved. But his lieutenants, including the presiding officers of the National Assembly, are already on overdrive, doubling down on his claim.

On Wednesday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, enthused that Tinubu has demonstrated courage and good leadership by lifting the economy, fixing the foreign exchange market, generating jobs and confronting insecurity. He touted the president’s removal of petrol subsidy, describing it as “a policy that once drained over $10 billion each year,” but which saved Nigeria over N1 trillion within two months.

Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, also weighed in same day. Assessing Tinubu at midterm, Buhari urged Nigerians to be patient with him. “Our expectations from our governments should not get heavy,” he cautioned.

Really? The tragedy of the APC-led governments is the wide gulf between the claims made by government officials and the lived realities of the people. When a government prioritises propaganda and outright lies over hard work, common good suffers. It is even more so with the Tinubu government.  While it is true that the removal of petrol subsidy means more money in the coffers of government, the Naira weakening 0.6 per cent to N1,681 per dollar on Wednesday, according to the Financial Market Dealer Quotation, FMDQ, means the currency has lost 72 per cent of its value since Tinubu’s reforms ensued, making it worthless, literally.

But assuming, without conceding that the government now earns money in real terms, to what use is the money put and why the continuing insane borrowing? Is it not curious that Tinubu is requesting legislative approval for a new external borrowing plan amounting to over $21.5 billion, alongside a domestic bond issuance of N757.9 billion to settle outstanding pension liabilities in the 2025–2026 borrowing plan?

When this is approved, as, indeed, it will be approved by a rubber stamp National Assembly, it will have dire consequences on an already fragile economy because the country’s public debt will exceed N180 trillion. Meanwhile, as was aptly captured in a Vanguard newspaper report titled, “Nigeria’s debt heads for N180trn as Tinubu seeks N34trn new loans,” the Federal Government’s debt service-to-revenue ratio, a critical measure of ability to repay loans, deteriorated to 131 per cent in the first two months of 2025 from 118 per cent in the corresponding period of 2024. This impending loan can only make a bad situation worse.

The Tinubu administration has failed in delivering on the primary duty of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, which is ensuring the security and welfare of the people. Last month, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, expressed concern over the high poverty rate and food insecurity in Nigeria. His economic policies have pushed many Nigerians into the poverty loop in the last two years.

Despite rebasing the Consumer Price Index, CPI, in January which on paper resulted in a sharp decrease in the headline inflation rate, the reality is different. The purchasing power of the Naira in the hands of ordinary Nigerian has been grievously eroded. The idea of the middle class has become a misnomer. Insecurity has not been tamed and Nigerians are being slaughtered everyday like sacrificial lambs. Unemployment is worse today than it was two years ago, just as foreign direct investments, FDIs, have dried up, all pretensions to the contrary notwithstanding. Corruption has not abated in the last two years and despite the huge revenues pouring into government coffers, the embarrassing infrastructure deficit remains dire.

Hardly can any Nigerian, except those who are lining their pockets in the corridors and back alleys of power, say that he is better off today socio-economically than he was two years ago. These two years have been hell on earth, literally, for most Nigerians. That is Tinubu’s mid-term scorecard devoid of any sycophantic embellishments.

And the reason for the poor outing is simple. Tinubu has used the first half of his four-year tenure to play politics rather than govern. In any democracy where votes count, the reverse is the case. Leaders use the first half or more of their tenure to work for the people, not impoverish them, while they and their cronies are luxuriating in stupendous wealth. He decided to travel that route having convinced himself that the people will not have a say in how 2027 pans out. That, in a nutshell, is the real meaning of “the game.” But that should be a challenge to Nigerians!

President Bola Tinubu has outlined his achievements in office over the last two years, stating that he has not only improved security but also expanded the economy, with the country’s external reserves increasing by almost 500% from $4 billion in 2023 to over $23 billion by the end of 2024.

In a statement to celebrate his mid-term in office, the president also explained why his government removed fuel subsidies and devalued the naira.

The achievements claimed by Tinubu were, however, dismissed by opposition political parties, including Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,; Labour Party, LP; and Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, which described his government as the worst so far produced in the country.

Tinubu said: ”Two years ago, you entrusted me with the sacred responsibility to lead our nation at a time of historic challenges. Together, we have faced these headwinds with courage and determination

“The economic and general situation of the country I inherited required that we redirect the country’s affairs with a bold and new vision. I immediately implemented two necessary policies to stop our country from further drifting into the precipice.

“It was apparent that if the Federal Government and the other two tiers of government must remain viable and cater to the citizens’ welfare, we must do away with decades-long fuel subsidies and the corruption-ridden multiple foreign exchange windows. The two were no longer sustainable and have become a chokehold on our nation’s neck, strangling our nation’s future.

“While our administration has implemented reforms to restore and reinvigorate our national economy and strengthen our social fabric as a strong and united country, I must thank my fellow citizens for your unrelenting support and belief in the grand vision we share to uplift our nation and renew our collective hopes and aspirations.

‘’We are halfway through the journey that began 24 months ago. Today, May 29, 2025, offers our administration the opportunity to share again how far we have gone and our progress in steering our country along the critical path of socio-economic development.

‘’When we embarked on this journey, propelled by a burst of hope and abiding faith in Nigeria’s unity and progress, I made a pledge before God and fellow countrymen and women to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on by rebuilding trust, fostering prosperity, and restoring our nation’s economic health.

“Today, I proudly affirm that our economic reforms are working. We are on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation.

“Under our Renewed Hope Agenda, our administration pledged to tackle economic instability, improve security nationwide, reduce corruption, reform governance, and lift our people out of poverty.

‘’While implementing the reforms necessary to strengthen our economy and deliver shared prosperity, we have remained honest by acknowledging some of the difficulties experienced by our compatriots and families. We do not take your patience for granted.

“I must restate that the only alternative to the reforms our administration initiated was a fiscal crisis that would have bred runaway inflation, external debt default, crippling fuel shortages, a plunging Naira, and an economy in a free-fall. Despite the bump in the cost of living, we have made undeniable progress.

“Inflation has begun to ease, with rice prices and other staples declining. The oil and gas sector is recovering; rig counts are up by over 400% in 2025 compared to 2021, and over $8 billion in new investments have been committed. We have stabilised our economy and are now better positioned for growth and prepared to withstand global shocks.

We’re on track

‘’In 2025, we remain on track with our fiscal targets. Gross proceeds per barrel from crude oil are broadly aligned with our forecasts as we intensify our efforts to ramp up production. Our fiscal deficit has narrowed sharply from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024.

“We achieved this through improved revenue generation and greater transparency in government finances. In the first quarter of this year, we recorded over N6 trillion in revenue.

“We have discontinued Ways and Means financing, which has been a major contributor to high and sticky inflation. The NNPC, no longer burdened by unsustainable fuel subsidies, is now a net contributor to the Federation Account. We are also achieving fuel supply security through local refining.

“Our debt position is improving. While foreign exchange revaluation pushed our debt-to-GDP ratio to around 53%, our debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024. We paid off our IMF obligations and grew our net external reserves by almost 500% from $4 billion in 2023 to over $23 billion by the end of 2024.

‘’Thanks to our reforms, state revenue increased by over N6 trillion in 2024, ensuring that sub-national governments can reduce their debt burden, meet salaries and pension obligations on a timely basis, and invest more in critical infrastructure and human capital development.

“One of our administration’s most impactful achievements is our bold tax reform agenda, which is already yielding results. By the end of 2024, our tax-to-GDP ratio rose from 10% to over 13.5%, a remarkable leap in just one year.
“This was not by accident. It results from deliberate improvement in our tax administration and policies designed to make our tax system fairer, more efficient, and more growth-oriented.

‘’We are eliminating the burden of multiple taxation, making it easier for small businesses to grow and join the formal economy. The tax reforms will protect low-income households and support workers by expanding their disposable income. Essential goods and services such as food, education, and healthcare will now attract 0% VAT. Rent, public transportation, and renewable energy will be fully exempted from VAT to reduce household costs further.

‘’We are ending the era of wasteful and opaque tax waivers. Instead, we have introduced targeted and transparent incentives supporting high-impact manufacturing, technology, and agriculture sectors. These reforms are not just about revenue but about stimulating inclusive economic growth.

“There is a deliberate focus on our youth, who a friendlier tax environment for digital jobs and remote work will empower. Through export incentives, Nigerian businesses will be able to compete globally. Our National Single Window project streamlines international trade, reduces delays, and enhances Nigeria’s competitiveness.

‘’To promote fairness and accountability, we are establishing a Tax Ombudsman, an independent institution that will protect vulnerable taxpayers and ensure the system works for everyone, especially small businesses.

“Most importantly, we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable future by introducing a new national fiscal policy. This strategic framework will guide our approach to fair taxation, responsible borrowing, and disciplined spending.

“These reforms are designed to reduce the cost of living, promote economic justice, and build a business-friendly economy that attracts investment and supports every Nigerian. Together, we are creating a system where prosperity is shared, and no one is left behind.

‘’We have breathed new life into the solid minerals sector as part of our efforts to diversify the economy. Revenue has increased phenomenally, and investors are setting up processing plants as the sector dumps the old pit-to-port policy and embraces a new value-added policy. We have also repositioned our health sector despite all odds.

“Over 1,000 Primary Health Centres are being revitalised nationwide. An additional 5,500 PHCs are being upgraded under our Renewed Hope Health Agenda. We are establishing Six new cancer treatment centres.

“Three are ready. We offer free dialysis services in pilot tertiary hospitals and subsidise the service in others. Under the Presidential Maternal Health Initiative, over 4,000 women have undergone free cesarean sections. Lastly, we have expanded Health Insurance Coverage from 16 million to 20 million within two years.

Economy growing stronger

’As a result of our bold and deliberate policies, the economy is growing stronger again. Real GDP rose by 4.6% in Q4 2024, with full-year growth of 3.4%. This is one of the strongest in a decade.

“Without a responsive and reliable national security infrastructure that can protect lives and properties, our economy will not perform optimally, and those who seek to harm us will impair and disrupt our way of life. Our administration is committed to the security and safety of our people. For our government, protecting our people and their peaceful way of life is the utmost priority.
“Since I assumed our country’s leadership, our administration has improved collaboration among security agencies, increased intelligence-driven operations, and better ensured the welfare of our armed forces and security personnel.

‘’I use this opportunity to salute the courage and everyday sacrifice of our service men and women. We may not always witness the tremendous efforts they make to keep us safe, but we benefit every day from the results of their dedication. Even if we do not thank them often enough, they willingly face danger so we can go about our lives freely and without fear.

‘’Our military, police, and intelligence agencies are committed to always responding to emerging security threats and new challenges because it is the patriotic duty they owe a grateful nation.

“Amid the new security challenges, we can report some successes. In some areas of the North-West, hitherto under the control of bandits, our gallant armed forces have restored order, reducing and eliminating threats to lives and livelihoods.

“With the success achieved, farmers are back tilling the land to feed us. Highways, hitherto dangerous for travellers, have become safer. Our security agencies have succeeded many times in rescuing the abducted citizens from the hands of their tormentors.
‘’I promise you, we shall remain vigilant, as I told security chiefs during the last meeting to up their game and collaborate to end this plague of evil men. Every Nigerian deserves to live without fear.

‘’Outside of security, we have prioritised human capital development as a central pillar of our national development strategy.
‘’To this end, we have significantly expanded access to quality education through infrastructure investments and the student loan scheme to support indigent students in tertiary institutions. Through the Renewed Hope Health initiative, our administration has begun equipping health facilities and deploying skilled personnel to unserved areas.

‘’We are also strengthening our response to public health threats and implementing targeted social investment schemes.
“Our youth empowerment initiatives include access to funds, skills development, and creating employment opportunities. Through our MSME support, we empower the next generation and bridge inequality.

“In our mission to empower the next generation, we have taken bold steps to place young Nigerians at the heart of national development.

“Nowhere is this more evident than at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, where the current management is making giant strides. NASENI has embraced a digital-first approach, introduced real-time dashboards, and implemented end-to-end e-procurement through its Unified ERP System—setting a new governance benchmark for public institutions.

“Through bold, high-impact programmes like Innovate Naija, Irrigate Nigeria, the Asset Restoration Programme, and the Renewable Energy and Innovation Park in Gora, NASENI drives inclusive industrialisation at scale.

“From assembling electric vehicles and reviving idle assets to launching Africa’s most advanced Rapid Diagnostic Kit Factory and training female drone engineers through the NASCAV programme, these initiatives are creating jobs, restoring dignity to work, and opening up a future of possibilities for our youth.

‘’This is the movement we promised—a government of action powered by the energy and innovation of young Nigerians.
“Agriculture and food security are top priorities of our Renewed Hope Agenda. We have launched aggressive initiatives to boost local food production, support farmers, and stabilise food prices. We have also invested in mechanised farming by procuring thousands of tractors, other farming tools, and fertilisers.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the federal government has continued with major road construction and rehabilitation projects across all geopolitical zones, from the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, the 9th Mile-Oturkpo-Makurdi Road, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Oyo-OgbomosoRoad, Sokoto-Badagry Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Second Niger Bridge Access Road to Bodo-Bonny Road among hundreds of ongoing road projects across the country.

“We have launched initiatives to improve electricity generation by upgrading generation and transmission infrastructure and investing in off-grid solar energy to power our homes, business premises, industries, schools and hospitals.

‘’In the spirit of democracy and national renewal, we are preparing to welcome the world to Nigeria soon for the Motherland Festival. This landmark gathering will spotlight our rich heritage, dynamic creative industries, and the vibrant energy of our people. It will showcase Nigeria’s beauty through tourism, culture, and innovation, inviting the world to rediscover our nation.

“The Nigerian Diaspora plays a vital role in our national transformation. Their expertise, investment, and global perspective are key to shaping the future we seek. In recognition, the government has introduced policies like the diaspora bond and the non-resident Bank Verification Number to make it easier for Nigerians abroad to invest, engage, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s progress.

“The Motherland Festival will bring together voices from across the continent and the diaspora in a decisive moment of unity and purpose, affirming that Nigeria is not only a leader in Africa but a committed global partner ready to engage, inspire, and lead.”

APC, PDP, LP, CUPP disagree

Meanwhile, opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, and the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, have disagreed with Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the president’s performance so far.

While the APC said the President is on track in delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians, the opposition parties faulted the ruling party.

This came on a day former President Muhammadu Buhari warned that necessary reforms and desired changes must not fall victim to domestic politics.

President Tinubu took over the mantle of office on May 29, 2023, after being declared winner of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

However, mixed reactions have greeted the administration’s performance in the last two years in office.

Tinubu must apologise, step aside over failures — PDP

Citing the administration’s failure to address critical national challenges, the PDP called on President Tinubu to apologise to Nigerians and outline a clear exit plan from office.

The opposition party accused Tinubu of deepening the country’s economic hardship, security crisis, and democratic decline during his two years in office.

The party’s Deputy National Youth Leader, Mr Timothy Osadolor, while commenting on President Tinubu’s two-year tenure in a chat with Vanguard, described the administration’s performance as ‘tragic and astonishing.’

Osadolor said: “I wouldn’t want to paint a picture of utter despair but the situation is undeniably sad.

“It is both tragic and astonishing that Tinubu’s government has descended from the ridiculous to the unimaginable. For a man who has long presented himself as a champion of democracy, it is deeply shameful that lawlessness has become the order of the day under his leadership.

“In a functioning democracy, one would expect the president to question why legitimate court orders are being disregarded. This is the first count against his administration.

“His first major statement, announcing the removal of subsidy, was made without caution or consideration.

“No responsible leader in a civilised society would make such a reckless declaration without anticipating its devastating consequences. The ensuing spiral in the value of the naira and the skyrocketing prices of commodities left the economy in shambles.
‘’Today, the value of a Nigerian life is tragically diminished, comparable to that of those who rank among the least employed globally.

“President Tinubu should use his second-anniversary address to apologise to Nigerians for his failure to deliver on his ‘renewed hope’ mandate.

“His tenure has only deepened the hopelessness left by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. Such an apology must be sincere and purposeful, not merely a gesture of political correctness.”

Our govt would have done better – LP

The Julius Abure-led Labour Party, LP, said the party would have done a better job of managing Nigeria than the APC-led administration has done within the last two years.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “Nigerians are now in a better position to appreciate what we said before the 2023 elections. We foresaw the hardship, poverty and economic downturn being suffered by Nigerians today.

“Nigerians are better qualified to answer questions on whether their lives are better now than it was two years ago. How much is a bag of rice today when compared to what it was two years ago?

“Are we now more secure on our roads and at home? What about the purchasing power of our citizens, is it better?

“We make bold to say a Labour Party government would have done a better job of managing the economy and improving the lives of Nigerians.

“Today, the naira, which exchanged for N167 to a dollar at some point, is now exchanging for over N1,600; petrol which sold for N87 per liter now sells for over N1,000 per litre; with nearly 40 per cent inflation which has now reached over 42 per cent.
“Do we begin to talk about youth unemployment and the rise in all forms of criminality? It will not be entirely correct to say the government did nothing in two years, it has borrowed more than any government before it. Do we have value for money?”

It’s the worst in Nigeria’s history — CUPP

On its part, the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, said the two years of the Tinubu administration represented the worst period in Nigeria’s history since 1960.

CUPP, in a statement by its National spokesperson, Mr Mark Adebayo, said: “Two years ago, severe hunger came to town in Nigeria through President Bola Tinubu., insecurity became exacerbated.

“Youth joblessness assumed exponential implosion. Out-of-school children statistics jumped from twenty million to almost forty million. Inflation has lept to over 36%. Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad have been inactive because no ambassadors to represent the country has been posted. Nigeria has become a sleeping partner in the comity of nations.

“The people in Benue and Plateau states and other parts of the country are being murdered in cold blood en masse daily by an invading army of terrorists, killer herders, and bold kidnappers. Even Abuja, the seat of government, is not safe from these predators who daily prey on innocent and defenceless Nigerians.

“Our health institutions are now worse than mere consulting centres as the country’s medicare has collapsed. The masses bear the heavy burden of Nigeria’s health sector crises as our president and his cabinet find solace abroad with their families for medical treatment.

“Nigerians are already tired of this government and have rejected President Tinubu due to his atrocious economic and anti-people policies for the past two years.

‘’Nigerians are aware that a second term for President Tinubu would be extremely disastrous and are already looking out for a credible alternative to replace him in 2027. Nigerians cannot afford affliction to rise a second time.

“The opposition is poised to avail Nigerians a competent, patriotic, compassionate, creative president with a revolutionary mindset to fix Nigeria’s myriads of problems within the shortest possible time.”

We’re on track, says APC

The ruling APC, however, fired back and expressed confidence in the Tinubu-led administration, saying in the last two years, the president had set the nation on the right track.

The party’s Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, said the president has achieved a lot within the period under review.

Duru noted that even where mistakes were made, the president has taken deliberate steps to reverse such.

He said: “A lot has been achieved two years down the line and still another two years to go. The lessons of the past will also come in handy, going into the remaining two years. So, we wait for the next two years to see what happens but I can already think that in a way, it will be with confidence and the impact of the reforms will begin to bear fruits.

“I believe Mr President when he said he didn’t covet the office, he wanted it. He knows what to do with it and that is a very categorical statement, meaning he has an eye on history, and how history will reckon and register him. That gives a major confidence.

“Mr President is on the right track and where there are mistakes, efforts to correct them are being made and then in a way, that is to the benefit of Nigerians.”

Reforms must not fall victim to domestic politics — Buhari

Meanwhile, former President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that necessary reforms and desired changes must not fall victim to nettlesome domestic politics.

Buhari said as the party and government celebrate, the country should be reminded that leadership was a continuous journey.

The former President in a statement by his Media Aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, called for steadfast support for the APC government as it marks its second year in office, explaining that reforms would achieve success gradually, not overnight.

The statement read: “He (Buhari) expressed support for the ongoing efforts by the administration to curb poverty and inflation, which he says have hit the poorest families the hardest adding, however, the task of reducing poverty and inflation which is immense, mustn’t be left only for the government.

“The private sector and all of us as citizens must join in all ways we can. Our expectations from our governments should not get heavy.

“I am wishing President Tinubu heartfelt congratulations on his two years in office.”

It was a warm evening in Lagos, the kind where the city’s vibrant energy hums through the air, mingling with laughter and clinking glasses at a friend’s 70th birthday celebration. Amid the chatter and music, I found myself in a moment that would stir deep emotions and reflections on Nigeria’s complex history. A man introduced himself: Philip Effiong Jr. The name hit me like a bolt, sending an eerie chill through my veins. This was no ordinary introduction. He was the son of General Philip Effiong, the Biafran second-in-command who, in one of Nigeria’s most defining moments, bore the weight of a nation’s surrender at the end of the Nigerian Civil War in January 1970. The memory of that encounter has lingered, compelling me to reflect on the legacy of General Effiong—a man whose courage, honor, and sacrifice deserve a permanent place in Nigeria’s national consciousness.
My mind raced back to another moment, years earlier, in the lobby of the NICON Hilton Hotel (as it was
then known) in Abuja during the early days of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. There, I had briefly met General Philip Effiong himself. He was a quiet, dignified figure, navigating the bureaucratic maze to secure his military entitlements—a stark reminder of how often nations overlook those who shape their history. That fleeting encounter left an impression of a man who carried his burdens with grace, a soldier whose loyalty to his people and principles defined his life. Meeting his son decades later rekindled those memories and underscored a truth: Nigeria, and indeed the entire Eastern region that once formed Biafra, owes General Philip Effiong a debt of gratitude. His story is one of valor, sacrifice, and an unyielding commitment to his people—a story that must be immortalized for future generations.

The Weight of History
To understand General Philip Effiong’s significance, we must revisit the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), a conflict that tore the nation apart and left scars that linger to this day. The war, sparked by ethnic, political, and economic tensions, saw the Eastern Region declare itself the Republic of Biafra under the leadership of General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. As the Biafra leader’s deputy, Effiong was a key figure, not only as a military strategist but as a steadfast leader who remained when the tides turned against Biafra.
By early 1970, Biafra was crumbling under the weight of Nigeria’s military might, starvation policies, and international isolation. Ojukwu, recognizing the inevitability of defeat, left for exile in Côte d’Ivoire, entrusting Effiong with the unenviable task of surrendering to the Nigerian forces. On January 15, 1970, in Amichi, Effiong formally declared the end of Biafra’s resistance, a moment captured in history as he stood before Nigerian commanders to announce, “The Republic of Biafra ceases to exist.” It was a moment of profound humility and courage, a decision that likely saved countless lives by preventing further bloodshed.
Effiong’s act of surrender was not a capitulation of spirit but a pragmatic choice rooted in his commitment to the survival of his people. While Ojukwu’s departure was a strategic retreat, it was Effiong who faced the consequences, standing firm in the face of defeat to negotiate peace. His decision embodied the essence of leadership: placing the welfare of others above personal pride. For this, he earned the respect of both Biafrans and Nigerians, though his contributions have often been overshadowed by the broader narrative of the war.

A Life of Service and Sacrifice
Born in 1925 in Ibiono Ibom, Akwa Ibom State, Philip Effiong was a career soldier who joined the Nigerian Army in 1945. His early career saw him rise through the ranks, serving with distinction in the West African Frontier Force and later training at military institutions in Ghana and the United Kingdom. By the time the civil war broke out, Effiong was a seasoned officer, respected for his discipline and integrity. His role as Biafra’s Chief of General Staff and later Deputy Head of State placed him at the heart of the secessionist struggle.
Effiong’s leadership was not just military but deeply human. During the war, he worked tirelessly to maintain morale among Biafran troops and civilians, even as resources dwindled and famine ravaged the region. His ability to navigate the chaos of war while maintaining a sense of duty earned him the admiration of those who served under him. Yet, it was his final act—surrendering to preserve lives—that cemented his legacy as a leader who valued humanity over ego.
After the war, Effiong faced the challenges of reintegration into a Nigeria striving for reconciliation under the “No Victor, No Vanquished” policy of General Yakubu Gowon. Unlike many former Biafran officers, he was not immediately reinstated into the Nigerian Army, and his post-war years were marked by struggles to secure his rightful entitlements—a reality I glimpsed during our brief encounter at the NICON Hilton. Effiong’s later life was one of quiet dignity, as he continued to advocate for unity and development in Nigeria until his death in 2003.

A Debt Unpaid
The encounter with Philip Effiong Jr. at that Lagos party was a stark reminder of how little Nigeria has done to honor this remarkable man. General Effiong’s story is not just a footnote in the history of the civil war; it is a testament to the qualities of courage, sacrifice, and honor that should inspire every Nigerian. Yet, his name is rarely mentioned in classrooms, public discourse, or national commemorations. This oversight is not just a disservice to Effiong but a missed opportunity to teach young Nigerians about the values that define true leadership.
Across the world, nations immortalize their heroes through statues, memorials, and educational curricula. In Nigeria, we have streets and institutions named after leaders, but Effiong’s name is conspicuously absent. Why has a man who played such a pivotal role in one of the nation’s darkest chapters not been given his due? The Eastern Region, which bore the brunt of the war’s devastation, owes him particular recognition for his unwavering commitment to its people. Nigeria as a whole must acknowledge his role in fostering peace and preventing further loss of life.

A Call for Immortalization
It is time for Nigeria to honor General Philip Effiong in a manner befitting his contributions. This is not about reopening old wounds or glorifying one side of the civil war but about recognizing a universal story of valor and humanity. Here are tangible steps the government, civil society, and educational institutions can take to ensure Effiong’s legacy endures:

1. National Recognition: The Federal Government should consider naming a significant public institution or infrastructure after Effiong. A military academy, a major highway in the nation’s capital city, Abuja, the South-South or South-East, or a national peace monument would be fitting tributes. Such a gesture would symbolize Nigeria’s commitment to unity and reconciliation.

2. Educational Integration: Effiong’s story should be a mandatory part of the history curriculum in Nigerian schools. Teaching young Nigerians about his role in the civil war would highlight the importance of courage, sacrifice, and ethical leadership. His actions offer a counterpoint to the often divisive narratives of the war, emphasizing unity and humanity.

3. Memorialization: A statue or memorial in Effiong’s home state of Akwa Ibom or in a prominent location in the South-East would serve as a physical reminder of his contributions. Such a monument could be a place of reflection, drawing visitors to learn about his life and the broader context of the war.

4. Scholarships and Awards: Establishing scholarships or awards in Effiong’s name for students or military personnel who exemplify leadership and service would keep his legacy alive. These could be targeted at young Nigerians studying history, peace studies, or military science.
5. Public Discourse: Media outlets, historians, and filmmakers should be encouraged to tell Effiong’s story. Documentaries, books, and feature films could bring his contributions to a wider audience, ensuring that his name resonates beyond academic circles.

A Personal Reflection
Meeting Philip Effiong Jr. was more than a chance encounter; it was a call to action. The eerie feeling that ran through me was not just about the weight of his father’s name but the realization that Nigeria has yet to fully embrace the lessons of its past. General Effiong’s life reminds us that true heroism lies not in victory but in the courage to do what is right, even when it is painful. His decision to surrender was not a defeat but a triumph of humanity, a choice to prioritize lives over pride.
As I left the party, I couldn’t shake the thought that Effiong’s story is a mirror for Nigeria today. In a nation grappling with division, insecurity, and economic challenges, his example of leadership and sacrifice is more relevant than ever. We must ask ourselves: How do we honor those who have shaped our history? How do we teach future generations the values that will build a stronger, more united Nigeria?

General Philip Effiong stood by his people until the end, bearing the weight of a nation’s surrender with dignity and grace. It is time for Nigeria to stand by him, ensuring that his name and legacy are etched into the fabric of our national identity. Let us immortalize this courageous officer and gentleman, not just for the Eastern Region or Biafra, but for all Nigerians who believe in the power of valor, honor, and unity.

NB: Sonny Iroche is a Nigerian Alumnus of the University of Oxford and also a Senior Academic Fellow, African studies Centre. University of Oxford 2022-2023

Elon Musk says he is leaving the Donald Trump administration after four months as head of the department of government efficiency (DOGE).

Musk announced his decision late Wednesday evening, thanking Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.

The Tesla CEO said DOGE will, however, continue.

News of Musk stepping down caused a stir, largely because of his close relationship with Trump.

But a retweet from the X CEO’s account stated that the departure had not strained his friendship with the president.

“In the coming days, legacy media will try to convince you that President Trump and Elon Musk are no longer friends and that’s why Musk left,” the post reads.

“What they won’t tell you is that Elon was a Special Government Employee, limited to 130 days of service and that term ends tomorrow.”

Musk’s exit comes a day after he spoke out against a Trump-backed spending bill. The president called it a “Big Beautiful Bill”.

In an unusual criticism of the president, the tech tycoon said he was “disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing”.

“I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both, in my personal opinion,” Musk added.

Before Trump was elected, Musk, who played a significant role in seeing him win back the White House, pitched a government cost-cutting initiative multiple times.

Since January 20 when Trump was inaugurated, DOGE has shrunk 11 federal agencies, forcing about 250,000 federal workers out of their jobs.

The agency also claimed to have saved taxpayers $160 billion. Its promise was to save $2 trillion.

A budget model designed by the University of Pennsylvania which tracks weekly treasury data showed that the US government has spent more than it did during the same period last year.

Trump has yet to publicly react to Musk’s departure, marking another bump in the tumultuous relationship between the two-time American president and the world’s richest man.

Musk heavily criticised Trump during his first term.

In recent times, their relationship morphed into a rapid friendship.

A few months earlier, the billionaire tech entrepreneur said he loved Trump as much as a straight man can love another man.

[TheCable]