Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, says the ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the state is still on.

The governor spoke on Tuesday at the inauguration of the reconstituted committee on revocation of illegal hotels, brothels, shanties and criminal hideouts. 

The event held at the council chamber of the government house in Maiduguri.

Zulum said the ban on sale and consumption of alcohol stems from increasing cases of conflict among rival groups, cultism, prostitution, drug abuse, thuggery, and theft, which have led to loss of lives and valuables in Borno.

He also blamed the military for the proliferation of certain vices.

“I am happy to know that army officers are here, especially the military, police, and others are here because most of these activities were committed by whom? Some of them are dismissed army officers, dismissed security officers, current army officers, men and officers, including civilians,” he said.

“So, there should be no sacred cow in this matter if we want the Maiduguri metropolis and indeed the state to get rid of insurgency, terrorism and other sorts of criminalities.

“Ban on sale of liquor in Maiduguri is still in force, and there is an Act on this effect by the state house of assembly.”

The governor charged the reconstituted committee to cleanse the state of all forms of criminality and anti-social vices.

Members of the reconstituted committee include the military, police, civil defence, joint task force (JTF), and other security agencies.

In January 2017, the state government announced a ban on the sale of alcohol and prostitution.

The government also prohibited brothels and other spots where prostitution, sale and consumption of illicit drugs take place.

[TheCable]

As early as 5:00 am today, May 7, 2025, I found myself immersed in the online edition of the Lusaka Times, a Zambian newspaper I read frequently to broaden my understanding of African politics. Among the stories I stumbled upon was a thought-provoking piece titled “Staging Defections Is an Outdated Way of Doing Politics.”

The moment I read through the story, I was subconsciously drawn into a deep reflection on Nigeria’s political landscape. With a sigh, I whispered to myself: “What an irony!” Here I was, reading about a country where political defection, long a dominant feature in Nigeria’s political scene, is now regarded as outdated and archaic.

The story quoted Reagan Kashinga, the Socialist Party’s Copperbelt Provincial Vice Chairperson and spokesperson, who criticized Zambia’s ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) for orchestrating defections from opposition parties to create a façade of popularity. In his words, “Staging defections is an outdated way of doing politics.” That simple sentence hit me like a thunderbolt, considering how in Nigeria, defections are still seen as the lifeblood of political maneuvering.

Kashinga’s bold assertion is a sharp contrast to what we see in Nigeria, where defections are not only common but celebrated like national achievements. Each time a politician defects, especially to the ruling party, it is treated like a major news event, accompanied by colorful ceremonies, media fanfare, and carefully worded speeches filled with promises and sycophancy. The crowd is usually hired, the ‘defectors’ are recycled, and the promises made often fizzle out before the ink dries on the press release.

Unlike Zambia, where at least some voices still raise alarms about the moral and democratic implications of defections, Nigeria has become a haven for political carpet-crossing. There is hardly a political season in Nigeria without mass defections. A senator elected under Party A today will jump to Party B tomorrow if things don’t go his way, and then return to Party A the next week if offered the right incentives.

Let us not sugarcoat it: political defection in Nigeria is not a strategy for ideological realignment, it is a strategy for personal survival. It is not driven by conviction but by convenience. It has little or nothing to do with public interest, but everything to do with private gain.

The trend has become so pervasive that Nigerian voters barely bat an eyelid when a politician dumps one party for another. We have grown accustomed to seeing supposed “opposition leaders” sit comfortably at the table with ruling party chieftains after changing jerseys mid-match, so to speak. The defector often justifies the move by claiming they want to “join hands to develop the country” or “align with the vision of the President,” yet, development remains elusive, and the vision remains blurred.

Political defection in Nigeria is not just a trend; it has become a theater of absurdity. Consider the fact that in the run-up to every election cycle, there is a frenzy of defections, almost like a migration season in the animal kingdom. It is common to see political leaders switching allegiances without regard for the mandates given to them by their constituents. Nobody resigns to recontest under a new party. The seat, once won, is treated as personal property, regardless of the party platform on which it was secured.

Take the example of a former Speaker or Senate President switching parties on the eve of an election, dragging along dozens of lawmakers. These political gymnasts often go on to win re-election, not because the people support their antics, but because of the massive state resources deployed to buy votes and suppress opposition.

Ironically, these defections are not limited to the legislative class. Governors, former ministers, and even presidential aspirants routinely dump parties for the ruling coalition once they sense the tides are no longer in their favor. What should be condemned as betrayal of public trust is hailed as political “realignment.”

Back to Zambia, where Mr. Kashinga called the bluff of the ruling UPND’s staged defections, labelling them as archaic and deceitful. He challenged the government to instead address critical issues such as load shedding, cost of living, and economic reforms. His words were not only brave but insightful. He reminded the political elite that the only meaningful way to gain popularity is by performance, not propaganda.

Contrast this with Nigeria, where politicians still believe that defecting to the ruling party is the only way to retain relevance, avoid prosecution, or secure juicy appointments. Public service has become transactional. Politics has become a chessboard of selfish ambitions.

The Zambian political class may not be perfect, but if at least some of their voices are now calling out the futility of political defection as a popularity tool, then they are ahead of Nigeria in political maturity.

Let us face the truth: Nigerian voters are partly to blame for this menace. Our political culture still worships personalities over principles. We cheer politicians who defect to “our side,” forgetting that their loyalty lies not with the people, but with their pockets.

Until the average voter begins to ask tough questions, about ideology, performance, consistency, and commitment, we will continue to be victims of recycled leaders who lack vision and integrity.

We must begin to reject defectors unless they can convincingly demonstrate that their move is based on policy alignment rather than personal gain. We must demand laws that mandate elected officials to vacate their seats if they switch parties without clear justifications tied to public interest. The courts must stop enabling political prostitution under the guise of technicalities.

That a country like Zambia, a fellow African democracy, is boldly calling out defections as outdated should be a wake-up call to Nigeria. What we are celebrating here is being condemned elsewhere. What we see as strategy is seen as shame.

The time has come for us to ask ourselves: What exactly do we want from our politicians? Is it loyalty to party lines, or loyalty to the people? Is it jumping ship for survival, or standing firm for service?

As 2027 approaches, the Nigerian electorate must take notes from Zambia. It is time we stopped celebrating political defections and started demanding political direction. The real defection we need is a defection from backwardness, impunity, and mediocrity to responsibility, accountability, and progress.

What an irony indeed!

In a country where ethnic identity often becomes entangled in political manipulation, historical revisionism, and administrative convenience, very few voices rise with clarity, courage, and consistency. One of such rare voices is Barrister Gloria Adagbon, a lawyer, trained journalist, politician, and a relentless advocate for the Igbanke people. In a recent media parleys with this writer, that have reverberated across Edo State and beyond, she has firmly declared a truth that many have either attempted to distort or have been too afraid to voice: “Igbanke is Ika, not Benin.”

Her pronouncement is not a mere slogan; it is a declaration backed by history, culture, language, and lived experience. In fact, it is a call to reject forced identity, reclaim ancestral heritage, and reaffirm self-determination.

The Igbanke community, comprising six distinct settlements, sits in Edo State but culturally aligns with the Ika-speaking people of Delta State. For decades, this simple truth has been muddied by both political interests and historical misinterpretations. While some argue that proximity to the ancient Benin Kingdom justifies affiliation, others push back with cultural and linguistic evidence.

The confusion is not trivial. Identity shapes administrative inclusion, cultural recognition, and developmental attention. In the case of Igbanke, these issues are more than theoretical, they are the lived realities of marginalization, underdevelopment, and exclusion. It is in this context that Barrister Gloria Adagbon has emerged as a warrior of truth.

In her interview with this writer, Adagbon did not mince words: “Let me begin by stating clearly: “We are who we are!” Igbanke is Ika. Ethnic nationality should never be coerced or forcefully imposed.”

She made a striking comparison that cuts through the political noise: “Just because someone bears a Bini name does not mean they are Bini. By that logic, an American bearing an English name would be considered English, which we know is not true.”

Her argument dismantles the colonial mindset that equates nomenclature and geography with ethnicity. Names, she insists, do not define belonging; language, culture, and ancestry do.

She continues: “My surname may be Adagbon or even Omoruyi from my maternal side, but I do not understand a word of Bini. The language we grow up with, the one we speak from birth, is Ika. So tell me, how do you belong to a kingdom or community when you do not even understand the language?”

More than a cultural debate, the issue of Igbanke’s identity is deeply political. Gloria recounts a moment that captures the alienation: “I once visited a community in Orhionmwon, which is supposedly my local government area, and I could not understand the language spoken. I had to get someone to translate for me. I felt completely out of place.”

But the alienation is not just linguistic. It is administrative, developmental, and political. Despite having a significant population and cultural coherence, Igbanke remains without its own Local Government Area (LGA).

“It is a frustrating one,” she says. “Igbanke is made up of six communities, and by all standards… we are capable of having our own local government. Yet, every call for the creation of an Igbanke LGA has been ignored.”

She does not sugarcoat the facts: “Since Edo State was created, what has been done for the Igbanke community? Where is the impact on our development or welfare?”

One of the most powerful refrains from Adagbon’s interviews is her outright rejection of identity imposition: “Ethnic nationality is not something that should be imposed. It is insulting and frankly condescending for anyone to try and force their identity onto us.”

She places the Igbanke kingship within its rightful cultural context: “Our kings inherited their thrones from their forefathers. They are autonomous, sovereign, and not under any other kingdom.”

In the follow-up interview, she goes even further, drawing from Nigeria’s colonial history to explain how administrative convenience has long overridden indigenous reality:

“Before Flora Shaw even named Nigeria, the various peoples and communities were already here, living their lives with their own systems… The British didn’t create us; they merely grouped us together for their convenience.”

“Whatever administrative structures or influences the Benin Empire extended… do not and cannot redefine our ethnic identity.”

Adagbon’s insight is not born of sentiment; it is built on research, history, and a deep understanding of her people’s cultural heritage. She calmly challenges attempts to distort Igbanke’s history: “There are indeed different schools of thought about the origin of Igbanke… But when you critically examine these historical narratives, it becomes clear that our forebears were the indigenous settlers of our present land.”

She is aware of the imperial footprint that Benin left during its height, but she makes the crucial distinction: “Yes, the Benin Empire’s influence… touched many areas… But that was purely for governance, not a redefinition of who we are. Nigeria today is a nation, not an empire.”

Ultimately, her goal is not just to win an argument. It is to bring peace, clarity, and pride to the Igbanke people: “Our identity is settled and not up for negotiation.”

“My hope, my prayer, really, is that all of this recent attention will bring a permanent end to the debate.”

She speaks not only as a lawyer or politician but as a daughter of the soil, one whose lived experience embodies the story she defends.

In a nation where historical narratives are constantly revised to suit present political interests, the fight for identity becomes both revolutionary and redemptive. Barrister Gloria Adagbon’s voice rings out like a clarion call, not just for the Igbanke people, but for every community that has ever been told they are something they are not.

Her insistence that identity is not determined by power, but by heritage, language, and tradition is both timeless and timely. In an era of rising cultural erasure and administrative marginalization, voices like hers are desperately needed.

In many ways, Barrister Gloria Adagbon is not just fighting for Igbanke, she is fighting for the soul of ethnic integrity in Nigeria. She reminds us that the right to self-definition is sacred, that culture is not up for political auction, and that history must be told by those who lived it, not those who seek to rewrite it.

Barrister Gloria Adagbon is, without a doubt, an Amazon, a fearless defender of her people’s truth. She embodies the courage, intellect, and determination needed to challenge systemic misrepresentation. In reclaiming the Ika identity for Igbanke, she has reminded us all of a simple yet powerful truth:

“We are who we are. Igbanke is Ika. Full stop.” Her voice is more than advocacy, it is history refusing to be silenced.

It was Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka who sometime ago introduced  the sarcasm of “please quote me in my own words” into the public sphere. The irony should be obvious: how else could a man be quoted except in his own words?  Soyinka has employed  the phrase to respond to the  frequent attribution of false statements  to him by unscrupulous elements who attempt  to rig legitimacy into their views by giving those positions the Soyinka signature. Unforunately, the activities  of persons “quoting” Soyinka in their own  words have not abated in the permissive world of  social media. This trend  triggered the publication of the series entitled “Interventions,”  by which Soyinka now  responds to specific topics of public debate.

In fact, long before the advent of the social media, some eminent public figures were not content with speaking to reporters  when granting interviews. They would insist on writing their responses to the questions from media houses. 

Perhaps, former governor of Jigawa State and one-time foreign minister, Alhaji Sule Lamido, had in mind  this extreme distortion of history arising from the perversion in the social sphere when he embarked on writing his memoirs entitled “Being True to Myself.”

 By writing his own story, Lamido has offered history a self-definition of his political personality. This book will  remain clearly distinguishable from other versions of the Lamido story  which may be told by others. To that extent he has done a great justice to himself and posterity. In other words, Lamido may not need to plead henceforth  that “quote me in my own words.”

Not many Nigerian politicians can lay claim to political traditions. Yet there are identifiable political traditions of different origins  in the history of  Nigerian politics. Lamido is indisputably among the view   politicians that could be traced to a political tradition that is undeniably progressive. And he is very proud of this background. A man of organisation, Lamido is also among the vanishing breed of politicians who take the  fidelity to political parties seriously. To be sure, if there is one politician who would not defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), that politician is certainly Sule Lamido, the prince from Bamaina in Jigawa state!  As one of the founders of the PDP, Lamido has remained committed to the party through thick and thin of the stormy waters of Nigerian politics. The progressive streak  has been discernible in Lamido’s politics all through his career. In the Second Republic he was elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), a party that had the heritage of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) whose leader was the legendary populist, Mallam Aminu Kano. To the people, NEPU was simply the party of the “talakawa,” the poor. During the transition programme of President Ibrahim Babangida, Lamido was elected the national secretary of the “little to the left” Social Democratic Party (SDP). In this dispensation the PDP cannot, of course,  be accused of being a party of the Left. Yet Lamido, as a PDP governor in Jigawa did something that was reminiscent of his NEPU political ancestry. Long before the idea of cash transfer as a social protection instrument was embraced by the  federal government, Lamido’s administration in Jigawa had a programme of giving stipend to the most vulnerable in the state based an authentic social register. The programme expectedly generated an avalanche of criticisms from the right-wing  elite who argued that the money given to the poor could be better invested in cottage industries and other economic alternatives. Lamido countered the technicist arguments on a philosophical basis. He explained that the organising principle underlying the programme was the respect for the dignity of human person and not economic calculus. In any case, the beneficiaries were living on begging; some of them without limbs were carried in wheelbarrows  to line the streets. Such persons were not in the position to engage in productive activities even if the jobs were available. The idea of the cash transfer was to keep the beggars off the streets while the stipend is taken to the poor  in a dignified manner.  Here we are talking of the  poorest of the poor. Anyone who was  already a dependant on another person, who earning income, was disqualified from receiving the stipend because of  limited resources.

Such is the nature of the politics of Lamido whose  autobiography will be launched in Abuja next Tuesday.

The composition of the committee organising the book launch says something about the breadth of  Lamido’s politics.

The committee chaired  by Senator Mustapha Khabeeb has Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Taura as secretary. Other distinguished members of the organising committee are Senator Ibrahim Musa Kazaure, Ambassador Joe Keshi, Ambassador John Shankaiye, Hon. Musa Elayo,  Iyom Josephine Anenih, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Professor Tijjani Naniya, Dr. Max Ndugi Abe, Dr. Auwalu Anwar, Dr. Akilu Sani Indabawa, Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido, Dr. Babandi Ibrahim, Prof. Nu’uman, Alhaji Ahmed Amin, Alhaji Ismaila Omipidan, Umar Kyari Jitau and Umar Danjani.

Below is a  foretaste of the book launch  given yesterday at a press conference  by Senator  Khabeeb:

“Sule Lamido’s autobiography, for which he gives the intriguing title BEING TRUE TO MYSELF, takes the reader through a  revealing story on the making of what he has become today – a versatile, au courant, urbane, cosmopolitan, knowledgeable, dynamic, highly principled and dedicated leader and public servant who has given his all towards the making of modern-day Nigeria. As an elder statesman now, Sule Lamido has done well to document this revealing and remarkable experience, which has taken him to the nooks and corners of our country and beyond. He revealed how this has enabled him to build an enormous clientele of friendship and association with people from all parts of the country and internationally. His calling initially in the private sector before joining the political fray revealed itself in his rich pattern of relationships.

“It is worthwhile for everyone to recognize that Sule Lamido’s character and disposition took root from his typically innocent Fulani nature of truthfulness, of seeing life with pure simplicity devoid of flamboyance or pretence. But, it is also a disposition of not being given to condescending or patronising attitude from anyone – no matter their social standing. His is a character that has also been moulded and imbued with a sense of honour, sincerity and honesty, typical of a blue blood pedigree.

“Viewed from this antecedent, Sule can easily be excused for his bold, blunt truthfulness when it comes to speaking his mind on any given issue, to anybody, no matter how highly placed.

“President Olusegun Obasanjo discovered these attributes early in Sule and probably was one reason for the enormous confidence he had in him to make Sule Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister.

“Besides writing a foreword to BEING TRUE TO MYSELF, the former President is also the Special Guest of Honour at next Tuesday’s occasion.

“So, did the author of BEING TRUE TO MYSELF have a central role and say in all other political arrangements that culminated in the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party? Indeed, Sule was a founding member who has tenaciously stuck with the party to this day.

“Many other colleagues of his have since switched camps, some several times. Sule Lamido, Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, Dr Iyorchia Ayu , the book reviewer next Tuesday, all played key roles at the Jos Convention which produced Obasanjo as the presidential candidate and later as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999.

“BEING TRUE TO MYSELF will surely resonate not only with students of history and politics,  but with every Nigerian who still believes in the politics of principles and the promise of a better Nigeria.”

Doubtless, Lamido’s autobiograpghy is a welcome addition to the corpus of memoirs of those individuals who have played significant roles in the  making (and unmaking?) of Nigeria. This is more so given the shallowness often displayed in the public shere about even the recent history of the nation. There are indeed untold stories of Nigeria. How enriching would it have been to history if General Yakubu Gowon and Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu  could write their respective memoirs  on the civil war. Those who have stories to tell should write from their various perspectives. President Muhammadu Buhari, who was in charge of the Nigerian state cumulatively for nine years and  eight months, said he would not write his memoirs because doing so would make  some people unhappy. On the contrary, from whatever prism through which Babangida’s memoirs, “A Journey in Service: An Autobiography,”  is read, the point is  that the former president has told his own story. And he is very lucky to do so. 

This reporter, as a  member of  a three-man  team which interviewed Babangida 27 years ago in Minna, posed the question of what the general thought  the verdict of history would be on him in the light of the criticisms from various quarters. Babangida’s response was that there would be many versions of the history. Now, it is difficult to fault that assertion, which is far from being cryptic as the former president is often described.

Some philosophers of history object to Thomas Carlyle’s argument that  the “history of the world is the biograpghy of great men.”   Yet, it is indubitable that the insights and arguments  from the  various biographies of individuals who have played important  roles in history  would constitute some of the  veritable materials to be used by professional historians for the  construction of a grand history of Nigeria.

Here lies the significance of Lamido’s memoirs.

So, saying congratulations to Alhaji Sule Lamido will be in order.

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a historic opportunity for illegal aliens to receive both financial and travel assistance to facilitate travel back to their home country through the CBP Home App.

According to the statement, any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will also receive a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app.

Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave America and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 per cent. Currently the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121.

The first use of travel assistance has already proven successful. An illegal alien that the Biden Administration allowed into our country recently utilized the program to receive a ticket for a flight from Chicago to Honduras. Additional tickets have already been booked for this week and the following week.

Secretary, Kristi Noem, said, “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App. This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70 per cent savings for United States taxpayers.”

The statement read that Illegal aliens submitting their intent to voluntarily self-deport in CBP Home will also be deprioritised for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure. Participation in CBP Home Self-Deportation may help preserve the option for an illegal alien to re-enter the United States legally in the future.

[Guardian]

Many Nigerians appear to have scaled back their internet usage following a steep 50 per cent hike in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in January 2025, new data has shown.

Figures from the NCC indicate that internet consumption dropped from a record 1 million terabytes (TB) in January to 893,054.80 TB in February, a significant decline that coincided with the implementation of the new pricing regime.

Although data usage picked up again in March to 995,876.10 TB, it still fell short of January’s total.

The tariff increase, which took effect on January 20, raised the floor price for several services. The cost of voice calls jumped from ₦6.40 to ₦9.60 per minute, SMS from ₦4 to ₦6, and 1GB of data from ₦287.50 to ₦431.25.

It marked the first major adjustment in telecom pricing in over a decade, as operators had long argued that rising inflation, forex shortages, and energy costs were eroding their margins.

While the dip in February could be partially attributed to typical seasonal trends, data usage also declined in February of both 2023 and 2024, analysts say the size of the drop this year points to a deeper consumer response to rising costs.

IT Expert, Jide Awe said, “Consumers are very sensitive to price changes in data and telecom services. A 50 per cent increase in such a short time will likely prompt a behavioural shift, especially among low and middle income users who form the bulk of the market.”

Despite the decline in usage, the tariff increase has proven lucrative for operators. MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecom provider with 90.49 million subscribers, reported a record ₦529.44 billion in data revenue for the first quarter of 2025.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate continued momentum in service revenue, underpinned by strong demand for data and a proactive approach to customer value management,” said Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria.

Toriola added that the price adjustment is expected to further bolster revenue in the coming quarters.

Meanwhile, mobile subscriptions continued to grow. Total active mobile lines rose to 172.43 million in Q1 2025, while mobile internet subscriptions reached 142.05 million.

Broadband penetration also increased to 47.73 per cent, signaling continued expansion of digital infrastructure even as cost pressures test user engagement.

The coming months may determine whether Nigerians adapt to the higher telecom rates or begin cutting back further. For now, the data suggests that while telecom companies are seeing financial gains, many everyday users are making tough choices about how they connect.

Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to developing a technology-driven system aimed at enhancing easy and equitable access to student loans.

Sawyerr gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing representatives from Polytechnics, Monotechnics, and Institutes during a Stakeholders Engagement Session and Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.

He explained that the Fund was working towards a seamless, transparent platform that allowed students to confidently access loans without unnecessary stress.

“At NELFUND, our mission goes beyond disbursing loans. It’s about opening doors and ensuring every young Nigerian with a desire to learn and grow has a real opportunity, regardless of their background, location, or field of study. 

“For too long, students, especially in technical institutions, have faced significant financial barriers. Many have had to drop out, while others never even considered applying.

“That’s the gap we at NELFUND aim to close but we can’t do it alone. This is a shared mission involving government institutions and the private sector,” Sawyerr said.

Sawyerr emphasised that NELFUND was not only providing financial support but also building a technology-driven infrastructure that enabled easier application processes, institutional verification, and fast, fair disbursement.

“We’re striving for stress-free access a system students can trust.

“Transparency is key so that no applicant is left in the dark. We rely on you, our institutional partners, to help bring this vision to life,” he added.

He urged institutions to partner with NELFUND, saying the goal was to build a system that would not only be functional and sustainable but also truly transformative.

“As we integrate NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, we must remember that at the centre of all this is the student, a young Nigerian with dreams and ambition. Everything we do must serve that student.

“The only way forward is through collaboration, open communication, and practical solutions,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Iyal Mustapha, Executive Director of Operations at NELFUND, said that more than 320,000 students had received funding so far, with further verifications ongoing.

Mustapha clarified that discrepancies between registered students and those whose applications were successfully processed often stemmed from incomplete applications on the students’ part.

“We have 576,000 registrations on our portal, but only 516,000 completed applications. Some may have dropped out due to data issues or just wanted to test the system.

“We want to bridge this gap, and with your support, we can ensure more students access the institutional loan,” he said.

Mustapha further explained that the institutional loan, which is different from the monthly upkeep loan of N20,000, was disbursed directly to institutions.

He added that NELFUND was considering integrating directly with institutional portals to simplify the process for students.

“We’re exploring the possibility of deploying our IT teams to institutions to enable direct connection with your portals.

“Ideally, students should be able to apply via your platforms without having to come through NELFUND, making the process smoother and more accessible,” he said.

(NAN)

As the 2027 general elections approach, political permutations are intensifying in Kebbi State, with former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), emerging as a central figure.

There are strong indications that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is mounting pressure on Malami to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) and run for governor in 2027 on its platform, DAILY POST has learnt.

Sources within the political circles in Kebbi and Abuja informed DAILY POST that Malami has been offered the SDP governorship ticket, with backing allegedly orchestrated by former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

However, Malami, who was a top official in President Buhari’s government, is reportedly holding back, waiting to see what Governor Nasir Idris does next and where the APC in Kebbi is headed.

A reliable source close to the former AGF told DAILY POST that “Malami was expected to officially announce his defection to the SDP in mid-April alongside former Ekiti Governor, Kayode Fayemi, but he has deliberately delayed the move.

“He’s watching the governor (Idris) closely, especially with the claims making the rounds that he may leave the ruling party. If Idris decamps from APC, Malami may remain to easily claim the guber ticket. But if the governor stays put, he could jump ship.”

This calculation became more pressing following unconfirmed reports that Governor Idris may be flirting with an Atiku-led opposition coalition.

While the governor has since denied the reports, publicly affirming his loyalty to the APC, saying, “I’ll be the last man standing”, the rumours have stirred considerable tension within the party’s ranks in Kebbi.

A source in Governor Idris’ cabinet confided in our reporter that there are truly pressures from Atiku’s camp wooing the governor to leave APC, but he is not willing to defect for any reason.

“Governors are defecting to the APC, and you expect a sitting governor who maintains a good relationship with the federal government to leave?

“Of course, there are pressures here and there, but I can assure you, Governor Idris is going nowhere. You can take that to the bank. As for the PDP and SDP, they’re as good as dead,” he told our reporter.

Multiple sources confirmed that El-Rufai recently met with Malami and other northern political players in Katsina to form a formidable northern political coalition that would rival the current Bola Tinubu-led APC government in 2027.

One source said El-Rufai “promised Malami a free ticket and full support,” to join the SDP.

“El-Rufai is building something bigger than just Kebbi. He’s connecting dots across Kaduna, Katsina Kebbi and Gombe. Malami is central to the Kebbi plan,” the source said.

Speaking further, the insider said “The challenge is that El-Rufai is yet to gain national acceptance in the South following his recent defection to the SDP.

“This development has caused Malami to reconsider his position. El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP appeared hasty and lacked foresight.

“Many believe he may have defected to the SDP as part of a strategic move to work for President Tinubu, aiming to block any potential coalition by the PDP, which is currently engulfed in deep crisis.

“Don’t forget, the man in power is a known strategist and Malami is not unaware of this. This is one of the reasons he seems to have been foot-dragging.

“Now, the question is whether Malami, should he accept the SDP offer, has what it takes to defeat the incumbent governor in 2027.”

Political analysts in the state have stated that the odds may not be far-fetched.

Governor Idris, despite his initial goodwill and populist appeal, has been plagued by growing insecurity in rural areas of the state, especially around Danko-Wasagu and parts of Zuru Emirate.

Farmers have been displaced, banditry has surged and displaced persons continue to mount pressure on already fragile local resources.

His administration has also faced criticism over slow infrastructural development and what critics described as a “disconnect” from grassroots needs.

“Governor Idris seems to have lost some shine in the eyes of Kebbi people. There’s frustration in the air.

“People want security and visible development. Malami can capitalize on that if he plays his cards right,” a senior SDP official said.

However, Kabir Mustapha, a former secretary of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Bagudo West and now a chieftain of the APC, said that even if the state were to seek a new governor, Abubakar Malami might not be the preferred candidate.

“You don’t substitute your best player in the middle of a match. When it comes to governance, Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, remains the best.

“A hundred Malamis can’t match him. When I hear people say the governor is defecting, I just laugh. Defect for what, exactly? Is anyone contesting the state with him?

“Is the federal government fighting him? The rumours are nothing more than beer parlour talk.”

Despite his national image as a Buhari loyalist and a technocrat, Malami’s acceptability at home remains limited, except in Birnin Kebbi and parts of Argungu and Gwandu, where he is believed to enjoy the backing of traditional rulers and local political structures he has built over the years.

“Malami helped a lot of youths while he was in office. He still commands respect and his quiet philanthropy hasn’t gone unnoticed,” one community leader told this paper.

However, Malami also carries the baggage of past controversies from his time as AGF, including criticism over his handling of high-profile corruption cases and perceived partisan overreach..

For now, Malami’s rumoured ambition to contest for the Kebbi State governorship in the 2027 elections has further ignited a cold war between him and Governor Idris.

This political rivalry has been simmering for some time, with both men vying for control and influence in the state, especially with the upcoming elections drawing nearer.

DAILY POST reported that the cold war has intensified, with reports about the alleged arrest of Mukhtar Dan Baturiya, a prominent activist and staunch supporter of Malami.

The arrest was reportedly linked to a Facebook post where Baturiya shared the possibility of Governor Nasir Idris defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

With two years left to the polls, the political chessboard in Kebbi is heating up.

If Malami makes the leap to the SDP and gains El-Rufai’s full backing, the race could become one of the most hotly contested in the North-West.

[DailyPost]

• Nigeria’s Okpaleke among 133 electors

Cardinals will today move into the Conclave at the Vatican to elect a new Pope in succession to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday.

One hundred and thirty-three cardinal electors will perform the sacred assignment of picking the leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and the head of state of the Vatican.

Nigeria’s Peter Okpaleke, the Bishop of Ekwulobia, Anambra State is the only one  of the four Nigerian candidates qualified to participate in the process.

The 133 elector-cardinals are spread across 71 countries.

Eighty per cent of them were appointed cardinals by Pope Francis.

What will confront the electors is whether the new Pope should be a progressive, who will continue the way Pope Francis ran the church or a conservative who will reverse the order.

They may also choose a centrist.

The countries with the most electors are: Italy (17), the United States (10), Brazil (seven), France and Spain (five each), Argentina, Canada, India, Poland and Portugal (four apiece).

How the Pope will be elected

Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave.

For the conclave, the cardinal electors proceed to the Sistine Chapel and take an oath of absolute secrecy. Thereafter the doors are sealed.

The cardinals vote by secret ballot, processing one by one up to Michelangelo’s fresco of the Last judgment, saying a prayer and dropping the twice-folded ballot in a large chalice.

Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote. The result of each ballot are counted aloud and recorded by three cardinals designated as recorders.

If no one receives the necessary two-thirds of the vote, the ballots are burned in a stove near the chapel with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke.

When a cardinal receives the necessary two-thirds vote, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts his election. If he accepts, he chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments before processing out to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The ballots of the final round are burned with chemicals producing white smoke to signal to the world the election of a new pope.

The senior cardinal deacon, currently French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, announces from the balcony of St. Peter’s “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”) before the new pope processes out and imparts his blessing on the city of Rome and the entire world.

On Monday, workers installed curtains on the balcony where the new Pontiff will appear. A temporary chimney is in place on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will cast secret ballots. White smoke will eventually signal the election of the next leader for the world’s Catholics.

Over 179 cardinals are in Rome, participating in the 10th general congregation.

The Nigerian connection

Okpaleke was appointed a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2022 and will participate in the election of the new leader of the Catholic Church.

His appointment as Bishop of Ahiara Diocese was met with resistance, but was eventually installed as Bishop of Ekwulobia.

Three other Nigerian cardinals, Francis Arinze (92), Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (88) and John Onaiyekan (81), have no vote been more than 80 years old.

Born on March 1, 1963, in Amesi, Anambra State, Bishop Okpaleke has had a distinguished career in the church, serving in various capacities, including as a priest, bishop, and cardinal.

His educational background includes studying philosophy and theology at the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Ikot-Ekpene and Enugu.

He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Awka on August 22, 1990.

Despite the controversy, he has continued to serve the church and has held various positions, including Chairman of the Canon Law Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

In about 160 countries worldwide, May 1 is earmarked as International Workers’ Day. Thus, last Thursday, Nigerian Workers celebrated their day with fanfare at Eagle Square in Abuja and across all the state capitals. It was also observed as a public holiday. Labour Unions, namely the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, also reel out a 20-point demand from the government. Before going on to analyse these demands, who really are the workers? They are wealth creators. There are different categories of workers. There are public cum civil servants who form government bureaucracy and there are also the organised private sector workers. Some also work in the informal sectors, such as artisans, petty traders and labourers. Anyone who engages in any form of labour to earn income is a worker.

The high rate of unemployment in Nigeria has pushed most people to be self-employed. Some are underemployed. The irony is that workers hardly receive their real worth in wages and salaries. They are mostly shortchanged. One of the sordid realities of many Nigerian workers is casualisation. Many factories, financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, electricity distribution companies, telecommunication companies as well as oil and gas companies, are now outsourcing their staff recruitment to agencies rather than via direct employment. The recruited staff are unfortunately not given full employment with proper remuneration but are recruited as casual staff without job security and any perks, such as housing, transport and meals allowance. No leave bonus and no retirement benefits. Instead of running an eight-hour shift, some factory workers run 12-hour shifts. This means that, unlike what the Nigerian and global labour practices stated that a worker should work for eight hours daily, this category of workers works for 12 straight hours without getting paid overtime. This is pure slave labour!

For those who are gainfully employed and earn the minimum wage with all the perks, unfortunately, inflation and devaluation of the currency have made a mincemeat of their income. For instance, a worker earning the basic N70,000 minimum wage cannot live a decent life because of the astronomical cost of living. As a result of the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, the increase in electricity tariff, the increase in the cost of telecommunication tariff, and the devaluation of the naira by 40 per cent, the costs of goods and services have skyrocketed. In my neck of the woods here in Abuja, my rent has just been increased by 120 per cent. Petrol sells for over N900 per litre and this has led to a spike in transport costs; cooking gas is over N1,500 per kilogramme. Need I say that school fees have also been upwardly reviewed? How will a worker, on national minimum wage, be able to afford essential commodities for himself and his family?

Ironically, some state governments have not started paying the new national minimum wage of N70,000, signed into law in July 2024. These state governments’ alibi is that they are not elected as governors only to pay wages, as only a fraction of the citizens of their states are government workers. Meanwhile, the old minimum wage of N30,000 is peanuts in value terms, given the current inflationary trend and purchasing power parity of the naira. It is the lackadaisical attitude of the government to the workers’ plight that is responsible for truancy, indolence and corruption in the public service.

Aside from remuneration issues, there is also the challenge of an unconducive work environment. In some government offices, as many as six to eight staff members share a small office. The office is sometimes not well ventilated. There are either no fans or air conditioners. Where there are, there is often no light to power them, or they have become faulty and unserviceable. Toilet facilities in many offices, both public and private enterprises, are an eyesore. There is often no water to flush the toilet when used. Sometimes the water closet has become faulty, and water, where available, floods the restroom. Elevators meant to serve multistory offices sometimes break down for months without repair, thereby forcing staff and visitors to climb the staircase. God help you if you have arthritis or you’re someone in a wheelchair or using crutches. Insecurity plaguing the country is also negatively impacting workers’ productivity.

The plight of senior citizens is worse than those still in service. They sometimes don’t receive their pension and gratuity as and when due. Meanwhile, the pension, which is a fraction of their salaries, is so paltry that it cannot feed them, let alone enable them to live a decent life in retirement. This is partly why many people falsify their age to avoid early retirement.

The aforementioned are part of the reasons for the labour unions’ 20-point demand during this year’s workers’ day celebration. The PUNCH of May 2, 2025 (online edition) reported that among other things, the NLC and TUC asked for tax cuts, better retirement package, reversal of the emergency declaration in Rivers State, salary adjustment, withdrawal of the tax bills, reduction of telecommunication tariffs from 50 per cent to 35 per cent and upward review of retirement age to 65 for all categories of civil servants. The National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, presented the demands during the event in Abuja. Making a case for better treatment for Nigerian workers, the NLC leader said, “It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants.”

Reading a speech he jointly signed with his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, the NLC leader expressed frustration with the continued prioritisation of corporate profits over the survival of the ordinary Nigerian, calling for reforms that would shift focus toward the people. Essential services, such as energy, infrastructure, and public utilities, he emphasised, must be oriented toward serving the public interest rather than private gains. On matters of governance, he demanded democratic accountability, transparency, and urgent electoral reforms.

The labour bodies condemned what they described as a sustained suppression of civic space and dissent, calling on federal and state governments to stop actions that erode citizens’ rights and instead work to strengthen democratic norms. They also called for an immediate end to the widespread killings and bloodshed across the country, labelling the violence as genocidal and intolerable.

All the aforementioned are some of the demands of the labour unions, which I fully endorse. However, I should add that workers, too, must shun all corrupt practices. There is no gainsaying that some of the civil servants are corrupt. For instance, the N80bn allegedly found in the personal account of a sacked managing director of one of our ailing refineries. This was the lead story in the Saturday PUNCH of May 3, 2025. If this gargantuan sum is established as the proceeds of crime, imagine what these huge sums could do for our infrastructural development. Thus, workers must learn to live above board and work for the betterment of the country. It is also important for the workers to be well-resourced in terms of office spaces and equipment. They should also be trained and retrained, and have their capacity built in the use of technological innovations that will aid performance of their tasks.