Nigerian banks are likely to face lower profitability, tighter capital buffers, and a potential uptick in non-performing loans (NPLs) as the country’s central bank begins a gradual withdrawal of the regulatory forbearance measures introduced at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

In a circular released on Friday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ordered all banks benefiting from forbearance on credit exposures or breaches of Single Obligor Limits to suspend dividend payments, defer executive bonuses, and halt new investments in foreign subsidiaries or offshore ventures.

The policy shift comes at a time when banks are already absorbing significant credit losses linked to Nigeria’s fragile economic recovery and foreign exchange instability.

According to Nairametrics’ research, ten listed commercial banks recorded a cumulative N3.77 trillion in loan impairment charges between 2023 and Q1 2025.

The figure surged from N1.34 trillion in 2023 to N2.13 trillion in 2024, with an additional N297 billion in provisions recorded in the first quarter of 2025 alone.

Banks are already in a positive position

Meanwhile, reports from some banks indicate that they have cleared or are near to clearing their forbearance positions suggesting this circular may have been targeted at banks that have not.

For example, sources within GTCO inform Nairametrics that they cleared their regulatory forbearance as of December 2024. The bank’s GMD/CEO also stated this in the bank’s earnings call back in April.

Another source in Zenith informed Nairametrics that the balance of their forbearance will be cleared by June 2025.

What RENCAP report is saying 

Regulatory forbearance was introduced in March 2020 as part of pandemic-era relief measures that allowed Nigerian banks to restructure loans to struggling sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, and power, without classifying them as impaired.

• According to data compiled by Renaissance Capital, and seen by Nairametrics, the CBN’s forbearance policy kept the sector-wide NPL ratio at a modest 4.3%, below the 5% regulatory threshold, despite severe macroeconomic dislocations.
• Estimates by Renaissance Capital show that seven Tier-1 and mid-tier banks Zenith Bank ($910 million), FBN Holdings ($848 million), UBA ($771 million), Access Bank ($535 million), Fidelity ($556 million), FCMB ($332 million), and GTCO ($60 million)—carry a combined $4 billion in restructured or “forborne” loans, primarily concentrated in the oil and gas sector.
• These loans are largely classified as Stage 2 under IFRS 9, denoting a significant increase in credit risk but not yet non-performing.
• The Rencap report was published in December based on estimates from the bank’s 2024 half-year results.
• Nairametrics understands Rencap will be updating the report soon.
• But with the worst of the pandemic now behind and Nigeria’s foreign exchange and monetary environment shifting, the central bank is keen to unwind what it sees as prolonged and distortionary relief.

Capital at risk 

The phased withdrawal of forbearance is expected to exert pressure on banks’ capital positions.

According to the report, under a base case scenario where banks are required to take a 10% provision against forbearance loans through equity, capital adequacy ratios (CAR) could decline significantly.

• Zenith Bank’s CAR would fall by an estimated 128 basis points; FBNH, by 149bps; and Fidelity, by as much as 394bps.
• While GTCO has already provisioned roughly 80% of its forbearance book and Zenith Bank 20%, others appear less prepared.
• FBN Holdings’ largest exposure—oil group Aiteo—has reportedly resumed interest payments, suggesting an improvement in cash flow, but uncertainty remains over the repayment of principal.
• In a worst-case scenario, where loans are reclassified as NPLs and banks are required to provision through their profit and loss accounts, NPL ratios could exceed the CBN’s benchmark.
• Renaissance Capital projects NPL ratios could rise to 7.2% for FCMB, 7.1% for UBA, 6.7% for Zenith, and 6.2% for FBNH, well above current levels.

Estimated declines in capital adequacy ratios (CAR)

• Fidelity Bank: down 394 basis points
• FCMB: down 198bps
• FBNH: down 149bps
• Zenith Bank: down 128bps

Spike in NPL Ratios

In the worst-case scenario—if banks are forced to reclassify forbearance loans as non-performing—the NPL ratios could rise significantly:

• FCMB: from 5.4% to 7.2%
• UBA: from 6.4% to 7.1%
• Zenith: from 4.6% to 6.7%
• FBNH: from 4.8% to 6.2%

Only Access and GTCO would remain below the regulatory 5% NPL ceiling based on the report published last December.

Banks positioned to absorb losses 

Despite the possibility of lower profits, banks’ NPL Coverage ratio suggests that they can absorb a potential wave of bad loans.

The NPL coverage ratio is a measure of how much loan loss provision a bank holds relative to its current stock of non-performing loans. The higher the ratio, the stronger the buffer against future credit losses.

Recent data compiled by Nairametrics show that most banks are better positioned to cover bad loans due to their high NPL coverage ratios.

• Zenith Bank, for instance, leads with an NPL coverage ratio of 223.0%, indicating it has nearly three times more in provisions than reported bad loans.
• GTCO and Fidelity Bank also show solid cushions at 138.7% and 138.4%, respectively. Stanbic IBTC and Access Bank are moderately covered, with ratios above 110%.
• However, UBA and FirstBank Holdings show weaker provisioning at 80.9% and 52.4%, and may need to improve this buffer to provide assurance that they can absorb shocks if macroeconomic conditions worsen further.

While the withdrawal of forbearance introduces capital and liquidity pressures, the data suggest that most of Nigeria’s systemically important banks are adequately cushioned, at least in terms of loan loss provisioning.

However, the risk remains unevenly distributed, and banks with weaker NPL coverage, high sectoral concentration, or under-provisioned loan books may still face earnings pressure or potential capital erosion.

[Nairametrics]

While it is fitting to praise the effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in celebrating the courage of those he remembered on June 12, 2025 as ‘Heroes of Nigerian Democracy’, it is also important to bring to his notice that there are some other ‘heroes of democracy’ the chroniclers in the presidency forgot. And so as one of those who have institutional memories of the perilous times in our history I would like to plead that those forgotten heroes should be remembered in the next celebration of democracy.

It is gratifying to note that the president’s preface to the honour’s list hinted at the expediency of recognizing as many heroes as possible, in this regard. His words: “The struggle was never the province of any one group or section of the country, it was pan-Nigerian in its conception and will be even more pan- Nigerian as we strive to perfect it”.

In his speech last year (on June 12, 2024), the president listed 32 names as “heroes of democracy”, starting with the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of Nigeria’s arguably freest election in 1993, to Chief Ayo Opadokun, the Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), an association of several pro-democracy and activist groups that championed the call for the military to exit the stage and hand over to Abiola. Referencing the sacrifices made by the coalition, the president said, “The precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can neither be repaid nor forgotten.”

However, many Nigerians including yours sincerely had observed then that though the president noted that the list was not exhaustive, as several names who also played critical roles, some with their lives, were not mentioned.

Some of the names said to have been worth mentioning then (2024) included Walter Carrington, Frederick Fasehun, Col Dangiwa Umar, Bagauda Kaltho, Joe Igbokwe, Mohammed Adamu, Dr Junaidu Mohammed, Alhaji Bukar Zarma, Nosa Igiebor, Bayo Onanuga, Sunday Dare, Gambo Sawaba, Mike Ozekhome, Clement Nwankwo and Alao Aka-Bashorun, Dr Amos Akingba. The president had then included the names of their contemporaries like Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.

Roll call of some individuals forgotten: Dr Tunji Abayomi, Polycap Nwite, Femi Aborishade, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Bamidele Aturu, Tony Enahoro, Bucknor Akerele, Prof Itse Sagay, Chief Olu Falae, General Ishola Williams, Balarabe Musa, M.D. Yusuf, and Tunji Braithwaite.

In a piece here then, I noted, “Immortalising people and doing all this thing on June 12, is a very good cause, but since the president decided to name some people as heroes of democracy, I believe they omitted some significant names and only remembered the prominent figures.”
In the critique of the 2024 list I also said, “Even for the media, the president just mentioned some media establishments but didn’t mention some of the people who suffered specifically. For instance, Bayo Onanuga, the current president’s media adviser, who resigned from his job as the Editor of “African Concord” as a result of the struggle. He resigned when it came to apologising to the military about a story. He refused and left.”

Besides, I highlighted the roles of Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese, all of the organic Newswatch, who were arrested on the same day for publishing an interview with Brig-General David Mark on the intrigues that led to the cancellation of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

As Editor of the premier newspaper the Abuja Newsday that was shut down during the period, I said that being an editor during the period of Nigeria’s democratic struggle in 1993, I knew a lot of people who played significant roles in the struggle but were not on the list read by the president and thus those missing deserved to be recognised as heroes of “our” democracy.

I had then noted too that significant people like the late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, with his organisation of political groups G-34, which began with G-18 led by Chief Solomon Lar, the late Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, who declared the Interim National Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan illegal, were left out.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu had before then described the late Justice Akinsanya as “one of the heroines of the present democracy in Nigeria for the courageous judgment she delivered against the legality of the Interim National Government in November, 1993.” I added then that the names of people like Joe Igbokwe, with his daily letters to editors of Nigerian newspapers and newsmagazines for the actualisation of June 12 results to deepen democracy; and Dr Kayode Fayemi, a former Ekiti State governor, who was generally described as one of the brains behind, Radio Kudirat – the indispensable voice of the June 12, struggle that was broadcasting not only to Nigeria, denouncing the military dictators, but also sensitising the international community on the struggle to end military dictatorship in the country, were also not on the list.

I also wrote then that while it was impossible to have an exhaustive list, proper planning of an event of that nature would have ensured that some significant names that readily came to mind were not subsumed under “among others” as the president did in his 2024 speech. Some of the forgotten heroes in 2024 also included the following:

Walter Carrington
For instance, the late Carrington, a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, was so interested in Nigeria’s struggle for a return to democracy that his position was erroneously interpreted by the then military regime as the intention of the United States (US) to kick out the General Sani Abacha regime.

That was why in his condolence message, former President Muhammadu Buhari described Carrington as a “long-time friend of Nigeria and an astute and courageous diplomat,” adding that the story of “Nigeria’s democracy under the Fourth Republic will not be complete without a mention of the heroic roles of the likes of Ambassador Carrington.”

Carrington remains arguably the most popular US ambassador to Nigeria even after his death in 2020. The road where the US Consulate and several other countries’ consulates are situated was named after him in Lagos.

Alao Aka-Bashorun
Similarly, Aka-Bashorun, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), was another name believed to be too important to the democratic struggle to have been excluded.

One of his children, Dipo H Aka-Bashorun, in an opinion article to respond to the absence of his father’s name during the president’s June 12, dinner speech, said June 12, like with so many notable Nigerians, was inextricably connected to his name.

He wrote, “Where to start? His conviction of G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN) to join him and mount the legal defence of Chief MKO Abiola, the widely acclaimed winner of June 12, at his trial for treason. How about his years in exile; having had to leave Nigeria with a passport issued by the United Nations after the People’s Chambers (his law office) had been raided, sealed off, and his Nigerian passport seized? His role as a leading member of the human rights movement to take the case of Nigeria’s human rights abuses to the United Kingdom and the United States.

Frederick Fasehun
The leadership of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) also described President Tinubu’s failure to acknowledge its founder, Dr Frederick Fasehun, in the list of the June 12, heroes as a mark of ingratitude.

Bukar Zarma
Zarma, former Editor of the organic New Nigerian was the publisher of the premier newspaper in Abuja, Abuja Newsday (1988-1993). The Editor of the newspaper was detained several times during this time and the city newspaper was proscribed alongside others, but unlike others, it never recovered. While the struggle was on and yours sincerely as Editor fled to Lagos when security operatives occupied our office, the publisher was arrested eventually in his farm in Kaduna in the heat of the struggle.

So as we applaud the President for honouring most of the “Heroes of June 12”, his office should note that there are still some names to be included even in a “Hall of Fame” or a “Honours List”. It may not be impossible for every one of them to be conferred with National Honours. In any case, such honourable names should include, significant ones such as the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, who was a significant part of the struggle, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), Mr.Joe Igbokwe, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the late Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, the late Dr. Junaid Mohammed, Ogaga Ifowodo, Ph.D, Nnimmo Bassey, and the young radicals who hijacked an aircraft that they caused to land in Niger Republic as part of pressure on the military government to actualise the June 12 result at the time.

The list of the media honorees so far isn’t exhaustive. There are more significant ones to be honoured and recognised. The Guardian senior Editors and Managers who invented the language of coverage of June 12 debacle (M.K.O, the presumed winner of June 12, a man generally believed to have won the June 12 Election) for the Nigerian Media then included Mr Lade Bonuola who was the Managing Director then. He was invited several times by then Col. Frank Omenka, one of Abacha’s hitmen. The list should include Mr. Femi Kusa who was Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Debo Adesina, African Guardian Editor, then, Kingsley Osadolor, Editor, The Guardian, (Sunday) who wrote a story that Abacha’s regime exploited to close down the newspaper on August 14, 1994; the Newswatch three musketeers, (executives) Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed, and Dan Agbese who were arrested on the same day at the time for publishing a June 12, interview with Brig-Gen. David Mark; Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who was with The News executives then; Sunday Dare who wrote a book on Guerilla Journalism then, Mr. Alex Kabba who was chased out of Nigeria at the time, Dele Momodu, Onome, Osifo Whiskey, Dele Omotunde, etc.

What of Mohammed Adamu who allegedly wrote a cover story titled ‘Al Mustapah: The Ruthless Man behind Abacha’? Though the story had no byline, Adamu was arrested and detained for almost a year. Among others from Abuja-Kaduna axis, Alhaji Bukar Zarma, whose newspaper, Abuja Newsday was closed down in July 1993, for publishing many exclusive stories including June 12 Winner’s Transition Programme, ‘Hot romance between Abiola’s son and IBB’s daughter’, a ‘Secret night meeting between Abiola and IBB in Abuja amidst June 12 crisis, etc and Alhaji Yakubu Abdulazeez, then Editor of New Nigerian who was arrested and sacked for being too pro-June 12, deserve national honours too. Should even the late Pini Jason be forgotten?
University of Lagos then became a focal point of student activism for actualisation of June 12. There was a student leader called Comrade Olusegun Mayegun that security forces detained several times. Doesn’t he deserve an honour too?  

To be continued

In the world of writing, one of the most paralyzing traps is the idea that you must first be “right” before you begin. That everything must be perfect, the facts, the grammar, the tone, the message, even the mood, before you dare to touch the keyboard or pick up the pen. But here is the uncomfortable truth: if you are waiting to be right, you can’t write.

This is not just a clever turn of phrase. It is a hard lesson every writer or aspiring writers must confront. Whether you are a journalist trying to pen an opinion or a feature article, a novelist crafting fiction, or a student struggling with an essay, waiting to be “right” often becomes a lifelong excuse. It is the excuse that kills more ideas than criticism ever could.

The need to be right is a subtle form of perfectionism, and perfectionism is procrastination in a tuxedo. It dresses itself up as noble, but in reality, it is fear masquerading as caution. Without a doubt, the understanding of the foregoing rule of writing might had compelled Louis L’Amour to quotably say, “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

If you want to become a writer and an expert of whatever genre of writing, you must always have it at the back of your mind that writing is a Journey, an art that does not require to be done hastily or without much thought. To aptly put it, it is not a dash off.

As you travel along, improvement comes. For the sake of clarity, this writer started writing for the media almost two decades ago by frequently writing on “Letter To The Editor” Columns of various newspapers in those days, though most contemporary newspapers are devoid of such column, but choosing to be writing short opinion articles to contemporary publishers of both online and offline media platforms is also a good way to master the art of writing.

You do not have to be right to begin writing. You just have to be willing. Willing to explore. Willing to be honest. Willing to be wrong, and to grow from that process. The greatest writers did not arrive at their wisdom before they wrote. They discovered it as they wrote.

The blank page does not ask for perfection. It asks for presence. You do not climb a mountain by waiting at the base until you are sure you will not slip. You climb by taking the first step. So too with writing. When you continue to wait for your tenses to be grammatically accurate, then the fear of being wrong becomes a cage, and you would end up not writing.

Let us face it, many writers do not write because they are afraid of being called out. They fear criticism, judgment, misinterpretation, or even cancellation. So they wait. And wait. And wait. Until the passion fades and the ideas die quietly in the back of their minds.

But the truth is this: you will never be 100% right. Someone will always disagree. Someone will always misread. And yes, sometimes, you will get it wrong. But writing is not a final verdict, it is a contribution to an ongoing conversation.

You do not have to have the last word. Just the next one. This is as the act of writing is well accomplished by rewriting.  Here is a truth every seasoned writer understands: the first draft is never the final answer. The first draft is messy. It is flawed. It is clumsy and incomplete, and that is exactly what it is supposed to be.

If you are waiting for the perfect sentence before you write the first one, you will be waiting forever. Some of the most profound essays, op-eds, and even books began with weak openings and uncertain ideas. But once on paper, they were shaped, refined, revised, and transformed. This is because you cannot fix what does not exist. So write the wrong words first, so you can write the right ones later.

In fact, writing is not about certainty. It is about clarity.  Good writing is not a product of certainty. It is the pursuit of clarity. And clarity comes through the act of writing, not before it.

Some of the best articles I have ever written started with confusion. I was not sure what I thought. I did not have a final opinion. But as I wrote, I began to see more clearly. The words became a mirror to my own mind. The fog lifted, not because I waited for it to clear, but because I walked into it.

If you are a writer, especially a journalist or commentator in Nigeria, you must realize this: you do not need to be the moral compass of the world before you speak. You do not need to hold a Ph.D. in everything. What you need is honesty, empathy, and the courage to speak, even if your voice trembles.

In fact, let us in this context address a core dilemma many writers face: how do you tell the truth without sounding harsh? How do you balance honesty with humanity? The answer is not to dilute the truth, but to frame it with care. Truth delivered with arrogance alienates; truth delivered with empathy resonates.

You can write critically about government failure, societal ills, or personal struggles, without stripping people of their dignity. A good writer is not a judge in a courtroom. He or she is a guide through complexity, and need to be sharp with ideas, but soft with people.

Writing as a Healing Tool. It is not only about reporting, persuading, or entertaining. It is also deeply healing. When you pour your fears, regrets, doubts, and hopes onto the page, something magical happens, you unburden yourself. You process pain. You find language for what once felt unspeakable.

In a country like Nigeria, where many suffer in silence, where therapy is often stigmatized or inaccessible, writing can be medicine. A private journal. A blog post. Even a social media caption. Writing allows you to name your experience, and naming it is the first step toward reclaiming power over it. Don’t wait to be “okay” before you write. Write to *become* okay.

At this juncture, it is expedient to highlight the exercises that break the fear of perfection. For writers battling perfectionism, the kind that keeps you stuck in your head, there are proven exercises to unlock the flow, and they cut across freewriting, morning pages, shitty first draft and writing prompts. For the sake of clarification, freewriting entails setting a timer for10 minutes and write whatever comes to mind. No editing. No judgment. Just pure thought, morning pages, inspired by Julia Cameron, is the practice which involves writing three longhand pages first thing in the morning. It clears the clutter and kick starts creativity. Shitty First Drafts is the art of embracing the idea that your first draft will be terrible. That is okay. It is a starting point, not a statement of your ability. Writing Prompts, on its own, uses prompts to bypass mental blocks. Start with “I feel stuck because…” or “The last time I wrote freely was when…” These tools break the chains of needing to be right before you begin.

Again, as a writer you should stop performing. Instead, start connecting. Too often, writers write to impress, not to connect. Every sentence is calculated for applause, not authenticity. But writing that performs is rarely writing that transforms. Readers do not need your polish. They need your “presence”. They need your truth, not your posture. Let go of the need to be praised or perfect. Just be real.

Your words do not have to be clever. They have to be clear. They do not have to be flawless. They have to be felt.

The Nigerian writer, journalist, or poet waiting for the perfect moment to speak will find himself left behind. The conversation is already happening. The story is unfolding. The people are listening.

You do not need to have it all figured out. You do not need to be validated by institutions. You do not need to be “right.” You just need to write. So stop waiting. The blank page does not need your perfection. It needs your participation. Because if you are waiting to be right, you can’t write.

For decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has pursued a destructive agenda across the Middle East, fueling conflicts, arming terrorist proxies, and threatening the annihilation of Israel. Yet, despite its aggressive posturing, Iran is fighting a war it can never win—not just militarily, but economically, diplomatically, and ideologically. Israel, on the other hand, has consistently acted in self-defense, employing precision strikes and intelligence operations to neutralize threats before they materialize into large-scale attacks.

Rather than being condemned, Israel’s actions should be applauded. The Jewish state operates with restraint, targeting only military assets and terrorist leaders while minimizing civilian casualties—a stark contrast to Iran’s indiscriminate rocket attacks and proxy warfare. Empirical evidence demonstrates that Israel’s defensive measures have saved countless lives, preserved regional stability, and exposed the futility of Iran’s expansionist ambitions.

Iran’s economy is in shambles, with inflation exceeding 40% in 2023 according to the IMF. U.S. sanctions have slashed oil exports—once Iran’s lifeline—by over 80%. The rial has lost more than 90% of its value since 2018, triggering mass protests. Despite this, Tehran squanders billions on proxies like Hezbollah—estimated at $700 million annually by the U.S. Treasury—rather than investing in its own people.

Diplomatically, Iran remains isolated. Despite attempts to court China and Russia, it is still a pariah state. The Abraham Accords normalized relations between Israel and key Arab nations, undermining Tehran’s influence. Even Iraq, once an Iranian satellite, has moved to expel pro-Iran militias after repeated attacks on U.S. forces.

Israel employs precision over carnage, using advanced intelligence—including Mossad and cyber operations—to surgically eliminate threats. The 2020 assassination of Qasem Soleimani, carried out by the U.S. with Israeli intelligence support, removed a key architect of Iran’s terror network. Compare this to Hamas and Hezbollah, which deliberately target civilians, embed weapons in schools, and use human shields—a blatant war crime.

Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system boasts a 90% interception rate, saving thousands of lives from Iranian-backed rocket barrages. During the 2021 conflict, Hamas fired 4,400 rockets at Israeli cities; without the Iron Dome, the death toll would have been catastrophic.

Moreover, Israel has consistently avoided unnecessary escalation. Even after Iran’s direct missile strike in April 2024, Israel responded proportionally to prevent all-out war.

Iran’s genocidal intentions are well-documented. Supreme Leader Khamenei has repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction. The October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas—which killed 1,200 Israelis, including cases of rape and child mutilation—was a direct result of Iranian incitement. No nation would tolerate such existential threats, and Israel’s preemptive actions are fully justified under international law, specifically Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Iran’s military strength is largely a myth. Its April 2024 attack on Israel saw 99% of its missiles intercepted. Its nuclear program, though alarming, has faced repeated sabotage, from the Stuxnet cyberattack to the assassinations of key scientists. Israel, by contrast, possesses unmatched regional military power, including a nuclear triad and cutting-edge cyber capabilities, backed by unwavering U.S. support.

Far from destabilizing the region, Israel’s strikes on Iranian proxies prevent wider conflicts. If Hezbollah had retained Soleimani’s vast arsenal, Lebanon would be an even greater warzone.

The world often condemns Israel for acting in self-defense while turning a blind eye to Iran’s atrocities. This is not just hypocritical—it’s dangerous. Iran’s regime thrives on weakness; only firm deterrence can curb its aggression.

Israel’s actions—whether eliminating terrorist leaders, intercepting missiles, or degrading Iran’s proxy networks—have saved lives and maintained a fragile regional balance. Instead of condemnation, the international community should recognize Israel as the bulwark against Iranian chaos.

The choice is clear: Stand with the nation that values life and defends its people, or enable a regime that sows death and can never win. The answer should be obvious.

Jeff Okoroafor is a social accountability advocate and a political commentator focused on governance, accountability, and social justice in West Africa.

Ilorin’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Sulyman Faruq Onikijipa, has revealed that the late Sheikh Isiaka Sulaiman Ajimati, elder brother to the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, once told him he had prayed earnestly for his brother’s rise in national affairs.

Speaking during the fidau prayer at the Sulaiman family house in Oke-Leru, Ilorin, Sheikh Onikijipa, said the late cleric wished his younger brother would attain greatness, including becoming a governor.

Ajimati, who died on June 11, was a respected Islamic scholar known across Cotonou, Abidjan, Lagos, and Ilorin.

A 1987 graduate of Markaz, Agege, he spent decades in Islamic propagation.

“Sheikh Al-Bayan,” as he was fondly called, was deeply spiritual and selfless, the Grand Mufti said, recalling a moment from 1983 when the late cleric confided in him during a prayer session about his dreams for his brother’s future.

“He told me as far back as 1983 that his wish for his brother, who is an academic, was for him to attain a high status in life, including becoming a governor. That prayer was a testament to his love and vision,” Sheikh Onikijipa said, urging the bereaved to stay patient and reflect on the transient nature of life.

He advised Professor Sulaiman to take solace in the will of Allah, assuring him that divine comfort would follow.

Grand Mukadam of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulyman Abubakar Sooro (Dan Borno), also urged the NILDS DG to uphold family unity and continue his legacy of kindness.

The fidau, led by Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir Saliu, drew dignitaries including Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by his adviser, Alhaji Saad Salahudeen.

Others included former NNPCL board member, Dr Ghali Alaya, Grand Khadi of Kwara, Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen, ex-Grand Khadi Justice Saliu Mohammed, Lagos lawmaker Hon Lukman Olumo, a visiting Minister from Cotonou, Alhaji Sefiyullah, and former state officials.

The list also include former Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Hajia Ayinke Saka; former Chief Press Secretary to a former governor, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe; and former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape among others.

Officials from NILDS and community leaders also attended the solemn gathering.

The Nigerian government has launched the official digital portal for the forthcoming Nigeria Youth Conference, also known as the National Youth Confab.

The government had said that the Youth Confab is aimed at engaging young Nigerians in policy discussions and national development.

The launching was announced on Monday by Minister of Youth Development, Ayode Olawande.

Olawande said the Confab will be inclusive, non-partisan and youth-led.

According to the minister, the theme of the Confab is “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future”.

He said the portal would enable delegates to register, contribute and get real-time updates throughout the time of the Confab.

Olawande said the initiative is “more than just a conference,” describing it as “a generational turning point, a national movement, and a call to action”.

DAILY POST recalls that President Bola Tinubu first announced the planned 30-day Youth Confab during his Independence Day broadcast in October 2024.

Tinubu also officially inaugurated a 44-member Planning Committee for the National Youth Conference at the State House in Abuja in March this year.

[DailyPost]

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a major expansion of his administration’s travel ban to include Nigeria and citizens from 35 additional countries.

According to a report by The Washington Post, the proposed list was outlined in a State Department memo and would significantly broaden the scope of restrictions introduced earlier this month.

Of the 36 countries identified, 25 are in Africa, underscoring the potential impact on the continent.

The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gives the affected governments a 60-day ultimatum to comply with newly established security and information-sharing benchmarks set by the U.S. State Department.

It also mandates that each country submit an initial action plan by 8 a.m. on Wednesday, outlining steps they will take to meet these requirements.

The document cited concerns over the inability of some countries to issue reliable identity or civil documents, often due to weak central governments or systemic fraud. It also flagged others for having a high number of nationals who overstay their U.S. visas.

Here are 36 countries facing a potential US visa ban:

1. Angola

2. Antigua and Barbuda

3. Benin

4. Bhutan

5. Burkina Faso

6. Cabo Verde

7. Cambodia

8. Cameroon

9. Democratic Republic of Congo

10. Djibouti

11. Dominica

12. Ethiopia

13. Egypt

14. Gabon

15. Gambia

16. Ghana

17. Ivory Coast

18. Kyrgyzstan

19. Liberia

20. Malawi

21. Mauritania

22. Niger

23. Nigeria

24. Saint Kitts and Nevis

25. Saint Lucia

26. Sao Tome and Principe

27. Senegal

28. South Sudan

29. Syria

30. Tanzania

31. Tonga

32. Tuvalu

33. Uganda

34. Vanuatu

35. Zambia

36. Zimbabwe

Amid worsening insecurity in Benue State, a former Senate President, David Mark, has raised the alarm over the continuous killings in the state, warning that residents may be left with no option but to defend themselves if the government fails in its constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

Mark disclosed this in a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, on Sunday in Abuja, as he described the wave of attacks and killings across Benue communities as “senseless, tragic, and unacceptable.”

He cautioned that the deteriorating security situation has reached a tipping point, where citizens may soon resort to self-help to stay alive.

“This is the unfortunate reality the Benue people are confronted with. 

“Government must rise to its responsibility, or risk leaving the people with no option but to defend themselves,” Mark said.

The former Senate President lamented the sustained loss of lives and destruction of property in the state, reiterating that the foremost duty of any government is to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens.

“Any deviation from this mandate constitutes a gross disservice to the people,” he added.

Senator Mark called on the federal government to urgently fulfil its constitutional obligation to safeguard the lives and property of all Nigerians, stressing that citizens should never be left at the mercy of armed attackers.

He also charged the Benue State government, under Governor Hyacinth Alia, to scale up efforts toward restoring peace and security across troubled communities.

In his appeal for grassroots collaboration, Mark urged traditional rulers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the violence.

He expressed deep solidarity with the people of Benue, encouraging them to stand united in the face of adversity.

Mark said,”This is a trying moment for our people.

“We must unite, mobilise, and speak with one voice against the invaders. We must refuse to bow to fear.”

While acknowledging the pain and provocation that victims have endured, the elder statesman urged residents to remain law-abiding and not take the law into their hands, but rather continue to exhibit the values of resilience, peace, and communal support.

“Despite the ongoing provocations, we must remain law-abiding, stay united, and uphold the enduring spirit of being our brothers’ keeper,” Mark concluded.

[Punch]

“An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought” – Simon Cameron, c1860, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 190

Cameron, who was a politician, must be pulling everybody’s legs.

An honest politician is almost an oxymoron – a contradiction in terms. As far as I am concerned, Louis M Howe, 1871-1936, was right on the mark when he declared: “You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain honest.”

Politics and honesty are like two parallel lines which never meet.

That was why, since my return to Nigeria from the US in 1974, I made a solemn vow never to get involved in politics.

No New Year resolutions have ever been required to keep to that pledge. Don’t get me wrong.

There are issues important to me; and politicians are judged by how they conduct their affairs in relation to those ideals. That is, irrespective of nation, time and the personalities involved.

 POWER AND POLITICIANS  

“There is no equality in the world of power…” – Albert Camus.

All politicians are obsessed with only one thing – POWER – and as much of it as they can acquire and wield without restraint.

Any restraint in the exercise of power is seldom voluntary because power respects only power.

That is why admonitions by religious leaders – Popes, Archbishops, Grand Khadi or Chief Imam etc – don’t work.

When forced to, political power-wielders listen politely to the men of God; but, step out to do just as they please.

That is, unless they feel that the religious leader can hurt them politically.

Then they take steps to manage them as best as they can.  

“Power and money, of course, do drive men crazy. So, why shouldn’t people gain power and wealth by being crazy?” – Saul Bellow.

The now open divorce between President Trump and Elon Musk is a conflict that was destined to occur – sooner or later.

In some ways, the two are obsessed with money and power; and they never hide their intention to dominate any group in which they find themselves.

There was a conversion of interests during the last US presidential campaigns.

Trump needed more money to win the election; Musk wanted more access to the White House. Modern day trade by barter took place. Musk forked out the money; Trump made him the second most powerful person in Washington.

That was the beginning of the problems.

Musk thought he had bought the presidency and was entitled to, at least equal rank. Trump, in all fairness, tried to placate his financier by allowing him unprecedented latitude about dressing when coming to White House briefings.

Everybody else came fully dressed in suits with appropriate ties and shoes.

Musk could stroll in late in jump suits; wearing sneakers and dragging one of his dozens of kids with him.

That sort of insult has never been known in the presidency since George Washington – the Father of the nation.

Trump endured the humiliation and still allowed Musk to operate as he bloody well pleased.

That was the beginning of the second problem.

Musk, as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, unleashed a series of demonic policies which quickly made the two unpopular in a short while; and Trump introduced tariffs – primarily aimed at China – which mostly helped to demolish Tesla in global markets and reduce Musk’s wealth by N100 billion. Suddenly, the handshake has become an arm wrestle.

Trump took dead aim at China with several policies without consulting his election bank-roller, who, along with other top tech US companies, had, for years, established supply chains originating in China, with goods delivered by ships made in China. No modern capitalist endures sudden disruptions to trade gladly.

Unintended consequences of Trump’s independent measures threaten the Musk organisation.

It was like being kicked in the prostate by the guy you paid to get elected.

Most people would have accepted their fate and perhaps plead for mercy from Trump. Not Musk; a man driven crazy by too much money.

Just in case you think that I am making up the charge about Musk being crazy, a recent report had this to say: “Elon Musk’s abnormal behaviour linked to hypomania, says Dr Drew Pinsky.”

To save you the trouble of looking up what hypomania is, let me summarise to the best of my ability.

Somebody afflicted goes to extremes in everything – including personal relationships.

They can hug you adoringly one minute; and stick a stiletto into your back the next without remorse.

To them everybody is a tool to be used to achieve their ambitions; and discarded, even crushed, when they no longer serve that purpose.

Loyalty, to them is one way. They demand it and give nothing in return.

Trump also suffers from hypomania.

So, when the two teamed up, bitter divorce was inevitable.

Since neither one of them forgives or forgets any perceived insult, the safest thing to assume is that life-long enmity has started – which would impact US politics in unpredictable but negative ways.

When Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, said, “A man cannot be too careful in his choice of enemies”, he must have had a situation such as this in mind.

I feel sorry for America; God’s Own Country in the hands of men like these.

P.S. Just as this article was being finished, it was announced that riots involving self-driving taxis in Los Angeles have resulted in Musk taking a step back to protect his investment in that sector. Trump is not fooled. He knows Musk will never forgive him; and he will never forgive Musk. One might die before 2028…

ANOTHER MAJOR WAR IS INEVITABLE

“I am tired of war. Its glory is all moonshine…War is hell” – General Sherman, 1820-1891

I read more about wars than any other subject when compiling the VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, and, if the past is a guide to human behaviour, my instincts indicate that a major war is imminent involving China, Iran, North Korea, Russia and the USA.

Unfortunately, it might not be pre-meditated by any of the nations involved.

Technology, and the total reliance on them for communication systems, has taken a lot of decisions out of the hands of Presidents. Hackers, on all sides, are becoming more sophisticated and capable; to the extent that, one day, a rogue AI manipulator might gain access to a nuclear weapon delivery system and let loose a missile.

The target will be struck within minutes; and automatic response mechanisms will trigger counter-attack – before anybody knows what happened.  

To some extent, the five nations listed are already at war through the preparations being made and investments in arms of all sorts.

Only the shooting war remains. Non-state actors, hackers and AI manipulators might decide for mankind when the real conflict will start.

REMEMBER HOW WORLD WAR I STARTED

 “What experience and history teach us is that people and governments never learn anything from history or acted on the principles deduced from it” – George Hegel, 1770-1831.

World War I did not start with the strongest nations at the time declaring war on themselves.

It started with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist.

From that single act, a chain reaction developed which engulfed the entire world in the Great War, which incidentally got so many millions killed it was declared “the war to end all wars”.

Less than twenty years after, the world was involved in a more horrible war – World War II.

After, that war, Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, the genius whose work led to the development and dropping of nuclear weapons on Japan declared: “I know not the weapons with which World War III will be fought; but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones” (VBQ p266). Einstein known only as a mathematical genius was also astute enough to know that politicians will sooner or later resort to the use of nuclear weapons in conflict. But, even the great one did not foresee the possibility of deranged individuals unleashing absolute destruction on mankind. That possibility exists now; and World War III can start any time from now…  

THE NIGERIAN SCENE

“A politician is an ass on which everyone has sat, but a man” – E.E. Cummings: 1894-1962.

Politicians, to me, are generally terrible people.

There is nothing they cannot do.

I keep my distance from them as much as possible – for the sake of my own sanity.

In Nigeria, they have destroyed more than they have developed – irrespective of the political party to which they belong.

Consequently, only six politicians – three military and three civilians – have received passing marks from me in the 1974-2025 period.

My honourable list includes the following: General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Audu Bako (Kano), Brigadier Sam Ogbemudia (Bendel), Chief Sam Mbakwe (Imo/Abia), Alhaji Lateef Jakande (Lagos) and Obong Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom).

For those six, I am prepared to argue with anyone till hell freezes over about their unique accomplishments.

They made mistakes, like all human beings, but their errors pale by comparison with their accomplishments.

The current frenzy of political activities, with everybody decamping to APC, reminds me of the remark by Horace Walpole.