The Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria) has offered advice to the government on the best way to end the lingering insecurity in the country. In a message to mark the 2025 Christmas which is due on Thursday, December 25, the group stressed that insecurity caused by Boko Haram insurgence, Banditry and other criminal activities can be defeated only with deliberate and sustained interfaith collaboration amongst all the stakeholders. The Guild, which condemned the continued killings, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, communal clashes and manipulation of religious identities, described the negative security indices as grave threats to national unity, economic stability and social trust. GIMP-Nigeria regretted that places of worship, highways, farms and communities have since become unsafe, leaving citizens traumatised and deeply divided. The group noted that military responses alone have proven insufficient due to the fact that the insecurity is being fueled not only by weapons but through attitudinal mistrust, misinformation, exclusion and the abuse of religion. In the message signed by the Chairman of GIMP-Nigeria, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, the group said: “Nigeria’s insecurity is not only a security failure; it is a trust failure.” The statement said: “interfaith collaboration is not symbolic. It is a frontline security strategy that government can no longer afford to ignore”. GIMP-Nigeria stressed that structured interfaith synergy between the leadership of Muslims and Christians, media professionals and government institutions can significantly reduce violence by countering extremist narratives, promote early-warning intelligence at the grassroots, mediate communal tensions and discourage hate speech. The Guild called on the Federal, State and Local Governments to institutionalise engagement with credible interfaith bodies, support interfaith peacebuilding and counter-narrative initiatives and integrate faith-sensitive approaches into national security planning. “A government that sidelines faith actors in a deeply diverse religious society like Nigeria weakens its own security architecture,” the Guild warned. GIMP-Nigeria called on media practitioners to act responsibly by avoiding sensationalism, religious profiling and conflict-driven reporting, especially during religious seasons like this Christmas period. The Guild asked media practitioners to count themselves as forces for de-escalation and engage in accurate reporting to evolve national cohesion. The group challenged faith leaders to speak with one voice against violence, join hands with government to discipline inflammatory preaching even as it affirmed that no religion justifies the killing of innocent people. The interfaith media group expressed hope and confidence that as Nigeria and the world set to mark the season that is associated with peace, compassion and goodwill, and to witness another New Year, peace would be achieved only if the leadership is courageous and inclusive. “Nigeria’s diversity is not a curse but a strength. The New Year must mark a shift from symbolic interfaith meetings to practical, result-driven partnership with government for a safer and and more united nation.”
Many things happened in Nigeria last week that will trend for a time. Among them were two weighty revelations, one of which led to two ‘juicy’ resignations. There was the revelation by Aisha Buhari, the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, that the former president began locking his door to keep her out of his room. Reason? That he heard Villa rumours that she wanted to kill him. An old General fearing the woman who has been married to him for over 30 years! The other was by Aliko Dangote, the richest Black man on Earth. He revealed that Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has spent $5 million over six years on his four children’s education at Swiss secondary schools. Well, most likely, Nigerians might not have heard the Dangote allegation had Farouk not stepped on his toes, one way or the other. But then he once told us about the refineries in Malta, so it may not be because someone threatened to take the ice cream out of his mouth. Again, someone else might have used the information for “trade by barter,” so sleeping dogs will continue to lie. This revelation could have been the reason Farouk resigned. Whatever the case, may the elite continue to regale Nigerians with more revelations against one another. And beyond those revelations is the ‘inconceivable’ and ‘impossible’ feat achieved by Yobe State a little earlier than these two revelations. For those who do not know Yobe or the milestone achievements of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni in the state across various sectors, the fact that Yobe has emerged Nigeria’s number one state in Primary Health Care is unimaginable. But it is neither inconceivable nor impossible for those who have been following the state since Buni became Governor. Leadership newspaper of 15 December wrote: “Yobe State has once again distinguished itself as a national pacesetter in healthcare delivery, emerging as Nigeria’s leading state in Primary Health Care (PHC) following outstanding performances at the 2025 PHC Leadership Challenge Awards held in Abuja. “Under the visionary leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni, the state clinched both regional and national honours, reinforcing its growing reputation for excellence in grassroots healthcare. “Yobe was named the Best Performing State in the North-East for the second consecutive year, winning the title in 2024 and 2025, with each award attracting a $500,000 prize. “In an even more remarkable feat, the state also emerged as the Overall Best Performing State in Nigeria at the 2025 edition of the awards, securing an additional $700,000, bringing the total prize money earned by Yobe to $1.2 million, a clear testament to the state’s sustained investment and reforms in the health sector.” The name Yobe used to be synonymous with “Number one from the rear,” but “Number one in front”? It is something new that began with the ascension of Governor Buni to the state’s governorship. How did he make Yobe a home of peace, an educational model whose students are now winning national and international accolades, an agricultural hub on the way to becoming the nation’s food basket, the best-performing state in the North-East, health-wise, for two years running, and the overall best in Nigeria this year? What did he do to make the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that the state is the most affordable place to live in Nigeria? According to the NBS reports of July 2025, “Yobe State is Nigeria’s most affordable state to live in, with low costs driven by falling inflation and successful agricultural programs boosting food security and local markets, making it relatively cheaper for housing and daily living compared to other states, especially around cities like Damaturu and Potiskum where business thrives, though security improvements are key to sustained affordability.” When, on 29 May 2019, Honourable Mai Mala Buni became the seventh to be sworn in as Governor of Yobe State, but the fourth man to assume that office, he made specific declarations that many waited with bated breath to see come to fruition. He announced a state of emergency on education and also promised to enhance agriculture, which is the mainstay of the people. He told the people of the state that “Yobe First” in everything, to empower indigenes, would be his mantra and that he would pursue peaceful coexistence and quality health delivery for the people. Of course, without peace and good health, which farmer can farm and which student can learn anything? Or is there a teacher who can teach without them? So, he first did all he could to establish peace in the state by providing security agencies with the resources they needed, thereby boosting their capacity to confront crime and criminals and, consequently, their morale. He went further to make the political landscape level and fair, jettisoning the “by all means” politics hitherto known in the state in favour of a healthy contest between brothers who desire to contribute their quota for the benefit of the state. This was attested to by no less a personality than Adamu Maina Waziri. Waziri, a founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now among the doyens of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is one of Yobe’s greatest politicians and the state’s most prominent opposition figure since 1999. Not only that, he was among those who worked to create the state, serving as the movement’s Secretary. Therefore, he should be familiar with the state’s political history, having been part of it from the beginning. And anybody who knows him knows that he is a very fair person. One of the attributes he shares with Buni is their capacity to be fair to people, even when they are not on the same page. And though he would fight any opponent, any day, including Buni, for political control of Yobe, he still once opined that the Governor has brought peace to Yobe politics, which used to be a “do or die” affair. Many attest that the hitherto volatility of politics in the state is now a thing of the past. Having put the peace process in place, he declared a state of emergency on education and launched an ambitious ₦25 billion appeal fund. The aim was to take out-of-school children off the streets and provide high-quality education across the state. ₦10 billion was pledged, out of which about ₦2 billion was redeemed. He set up the Yobe Education Trust Fund, composed of eminent and trustworthy indigenes, under the chairmanship of Engineer Muhammad Abubakar, a seasoned civil servant who served as a Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, and entrusted the funds to it. So far, under his watch, new schools have been constructed, and hostels and classrooms in existing schools have been renovated. Laboratories and ICT centres have been built and equipped. His Yobe First promise ensured that, except when only outsiders had the technical expertise to perform a standard job, all contracts were executed by indigenes. His vision led to the recruitment of over 4,000 education staff and the retraining of almost 30,000.
Dr.Hassan Gimba, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Neptune Prime wrote in from Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill of ₦58.18 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly. At the joint session today, December 19, the President said that the Budget, titled “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” is designed to consolidate recent economic reforms and translate stabilising macroeconomic indicators into improved living standards for Nigerians. The President announced the end of the long-standing practice of running multiple budgets in the country. He said that the era of overlapping budgets, abandoned projects, inherited obligations, and perpetual rollovers must come to an end if Nigeria is to achieve fiscal discipline and sustainable development. “Before I go any further, let me be upfront. This is a reset, a very hard one.” He said that the practice of avoiding abandoned projects, piling up contractual obligations and running multiple budgets on a single inflow has continued to undermine effective governance and economic planning. “We are terminating the habit of running three budgets in one inflow. By March 31, 2026, all capital liabilities from previous years will be fully funded and closed. “From April, Nigeria will operate on a single budget backed by a single revenue cycle — no overlaps, no excuses, no rollovers.” On measures to ensure strict adherence to appropriate timelines, improved revenue mobilisation, and tighter accountability across government institutions, the President said the 2025 budget implementation faced the realities of transition and competing execution demands. ”As at Q3 2025, we recorded ₦18.6 trillion in revenue—representing 61% of our target and ₦24.66 trillion in expenditure—representing 60% of our target. “Following the extension of the 2024 capital budget execution to December 2025, a total of ₦2.23 trillion was released for the implementation of 2024 capital projects as of June 2025. ”While fiscal challenges persisted, the government met its key obligations. However, only ₦3.10 trillion—about 17.7% of the 2025 capital budget—was released as of Q3, reflecting the emphasis on completing priority 2024 capital projects during the transition period. ”Let me be clear: 2026 will be a year of stronger discipline in budget execution. I have issued directives to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation to ensure that the 2026 Budget is implemented strictly in line with the appropriated details and timelines. ”We expect improved revenue performance through the new National Tax Acts and the ongoing reforms in the oil and gas sector—reforms designed not merely to raise revenue, but to drive transparency, efficiency, fairness, and long term value in our fiscal architecture.” The President stressed that the focus on discipline and delivery is aimed at restoring public trust in the budget process, stressing that “the greatest budget is not the one we announce. It is the one we deliver.” Tinubu warned Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) and revenue generating agencies that underperformance would no longer be tolerated, declaring that “Nigeria can no longer afford leakages, inefficiencies, or underperformance in strategic agencies.” ”I will also be unequivocal about Government Owned Enterprises. Heads of all GOEs are hereby directed to meet their assigned revenue targets. ”To support this, we will deploy end to end digitisation of revenue mobilisation—standardised e collections, interoperable payment rails, automated reconciliation, data driven risk profiling, and real time performance dashboards—so leakages are sealed, compliance is verifiable, and remittances are prompt. ”These targets will form core components of performance evaluations and institutional scorecards.” Highlighting recent economic indicators, President Tinubu said that Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, compared to 3.86 per cent in the same period of 2024, while inflation moderated for eight consecutive months, declining to 14.45 per cent in November 2025 from 24.23 per cent in March. He cited improved oil production, expanded non-oil revenues through better tax administration, renewed investor confidence, and external reserves rising to a seven-year high of about US$47 billion. “These outcomes are not accidental. They reflect difficult but deliberate policy choices.” The President said that the 2026 Budget projects total expenditure of ₦58.18 trillion and expected revenue of ₦34.33 trillion. Capital expenditure is estimated at ₦26.08 trillion, while recurrent non-debt expenditure stands at ₦15.25 trillion. Debt servicing is projected at ₦15.52 trillion, with a budget deficit of ₦23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. The Budget is anchored on conservative assumptions, including a crude oil benchmark of US$64.85 per barrel, daily oil production of 1.84 million barrels, and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the US dollar for the 2026 fiscal year. President Tinubu said the assumptions reflect the administration’s commitment to realism, prudence, and fiscal sustainability. President Tinubu identified security, infrastructure, education, health, and agricultural productivity as key priorities in the 2026 budget. According to him, the proposed allocations include ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, ₦3.56 trillion for infrastructure, ₦3.52 trillion for education, and ₦2.48 trillion for health. He stressed that the priorities are interconnected, noting that “without security, investment will not thrive,” while educated and healthy citizens are essential for productivity and economic growth. On the fight against terrorism, the President declared that the Federal Government will show no mercy to terrorists and violent criminal elements. He announced the establishment of a new national counter-terrorism doctrine to decisively confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and other violent crimes threatening Nigeria’s stability. ”Our administration is resetting the national security architecture and establishing a new national counterterrorism doctrine—a holistic redesign anchored on unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counter-insurgency. ”This new doctrine will fundamentally change how we confront terrorism and other violent crimes that have become existential threats to our corporate survival and have heightened anxiety among our people,” he said. On health sector, President Tinubu welcomed over US$500 million in grant funding secured through recent high-level engagements with the Government of the United States for targeted health interventions across Nigeria. He described the support as a decisive vote of confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda and health sector priorities. “We welcome this partnership and assure Nigerians that these resources will be deployed transparently and effectively.” President Tinubu noted that strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system remains a central pillar of his administration’s human capital development strategy, stressing that a healthy population is essential to productivity, economic growth, and national resilience. He said that the 2026 budget reinforces investments in healthcare delivery, disease prevention, maternal and child health, and health system strengthening, while ensuring accountability in the use of both domestic and international resources. President Tinubu reaffirmed that projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda are steadily moving from vision to reality nationwide, with significant progress recorded in transport and energy infrastructure, port modernisation, agricultural reforms, and strategic investments designed to unlock private capital. He explained that infrastructure development remains critical to reducing the cost of doing business, expanding market access, creating jobs, and improving the quality of life for Nigerians. Tinubu underscored the administration’s firm commitment to food security, describing it as a national priority and a core component of economic stability and social well-being. ”We will take decisive steps to strengthen agricultural markets. Food security shall remain a national priority. The 2026 Budget focuses on input financing and mechanisation; irrigation and climate resilient agriculture; storage and processing; and agro value chains. “These measures will reduce post harvest losses, improve incomes for small holders, deepen agro industrialisation, and build a more resilient, diversified economy. President Tinubu commended Nigerians for their understanding and resilience, assuring that his administration remains committed to easing the burdens of the transition to a more stable and prosperous nation. ”We promise to make sure that the benefits of reform reach households and communities across the Federation.”
About 24 hours after the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote raised eyebrow on alleged corrupt dealings by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engineer Farouk Ahmed, President Bola Tinubu may have forced him to resign. The resignation of Farouk Ahmed was announced today, December 17, by the Presidency, suggesting “forced” action. President Tinubu quickly picked Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as replacement for Farouk Ahmed as NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer. A statement by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe also resigned at the same time. Onanuga said that President Tinubu asked the Senate to approve the nominations of the two new chief executives whose names were forwarded for approval. There were no reasons given for the “resignation” of the two officers, but Onanuga’s statement said that they were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Only yesterday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed receipt of a petition from Aliko Dangote on alleged corrupt dealings by Engineer Farouk Ahmed. Though the Commission did not give details of the petition, Dangote had, at a different time and place, accused Engineer Farouk Ahmed of spending billions of dollars in school fees of his children, saying that such amount of money raised a lot of questions against the background of his legitimate earnings. The Presidency statement today said that Tinubu had in a letter, asked Senate to also confirm Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as new CEO of NUPRC. “The two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry. ” Eyesan, a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years with the NNPC and its subsidiaries. “She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy at NNPC from 2019 to 2023. ” Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. He was announced today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy. “His prior roles include Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Chair of the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail. “He also served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power Directorate, where he provided strategic leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). “Engineer Mohammed played a pivotal role in delivering key projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train.”
MTN Telecom company has apologized to its subscribers over continued network challenges that started early last week. In a centralized short message system (SMS) today, the Telecom giant blamed the network challenges on inadequate supply of diesel for its operation. The Telecom regulatory body, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) had earlier promised to intervene in the diesel supply issue for the purpose of enabling the network providers to restore network.. MTN, in the text message today said: “Dear Valued Customer, we are still experiencing intermittent network challenges in some areas of the FCT due to diesel supply challenges affecting one of our infrastructure partners. “Our teams and partners are actively working on the ground to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sacked Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc through revocation of their operational licenses. In a statement, the acting Director, Corporate Communications department of the apex Bank, Hakama Sidi Ali said that the action is part of the efforts of the CBN to re-position the mortgage sub-sector and promote a culture of compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The statement said that the CBN, in exercise of the powers conferred on it under Section 12 of BOFIA 2020, and Section 7.3 of the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks in Nigeria, revoked the licenses of Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc. “The affected institutions had violated various Sections of BOFIA 2020 and the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks in Nigeria, including: (a) Failure to meet the minimum paid-up share capital requirement for the category of the bank licence granted to them by the CBN. (b) Having insufficient assets to meet their liabilities; (c) Being critically undercapitalised with a capital adequacy ratio below the prudential minimum ratio as prescribed by the CBN; and (d) Failure to comply with several directives and obligations imposed upon them by the CBN. “The CBN remains committed to its core- mandate of ensuring financial system stability.”
President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has dragged the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engineer Farouk Ahmed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), insisting that his sources of income should be thoroughly investigated. Spokesperson for the ICPC, John Okor Odey in a statement today, December 16, confirmed receipt of a petition from Dangote on the matter. The statement said that the Commission “writes to confirm that it received a formal petition today Tuesday 16th December, 2025 from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. “The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. “The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.” The short statement did not mention the content of the petition, but at a news briefing on Sunday, December 14, Aliko Dangote had accused the leadership of the NMDPRA of actions he described as economic sabotage. He alleged NMDPRA collusion with foreign oil traders and fuel importers to undermine domestic refining through continued issuance of petroleum product import licences. Dangote alleged that the NMDPRA boss is living far beyond his legitimate earnings, citing what he described as extravagant expenditure on the foreign education of his children. He alleged that Ahmed Faruk’s four children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, with costs allegedly running into several millions of dollars. In a statement yesterday, December 15, Dangote said that more than $5 million was expended on the children’s secondary education in Switzerland over a six-year period. He listed such institutions to include Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey and La Garenne International School. He further alleged that annual tuition, travel and upkeep amounted to approximately $200,000 per child, totalling about $800,000 annually for the four children, with estimated cumulative living expenses of $4.8 million over six years. Dangote also alleged that an additional $2 million was spent on tertiary education over four years, including a reported $210,000 MBA programme at Harvard University in 2025 for one of the children. Dangote stressed that public officials owe Nigerians an explanation when their lifestyles appear inconsistent with their earnings, adding that many families in Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to afford basic school fees. “Nigerians deserve to know the source of these huge sums spent by a public officer, especially at a time when many parents cannot afford even modest school fees.” Meanwhile, Ahmed Faruk was not within reach to react to Dangote’s allegations. This came even as the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) have summoned both parties and ordered an immediate halt to further public exchanges. The lawmakers warned that escalating the dispute could disrupt Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, which has only recently began to experience relative stability following years of volatility.
Bello Turji, described in security circle as one of the most dangerous leaders of the Bandits operating in many parts of the Northwest has given reasons why he and his men sre fighting the government. He also confirmed that he participated in a series of peace meetings with the Zamfara State Government during the administration of former governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, but that he had never received ₦30 million or any material inducement as part of the process. In a separate video widely circulated online, Bello Turji said that past political leadership in Zamfara and Sokoto states laid the foundation for the lingering insecurity in the Northwest. According to him, former governments of Zamfara and Sokoto had armed vigilante groups, popularly known as ‘Yan Banga,’ to be constantly attacking Fulani communities unprovoked. Bello Turji stressed that the attempt by the unjustly attacked Fulani people to defend themselves from such attacks snowballed into deadly violence. He specifically named former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and former Zamfara State governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima for being responsible for the crisis in the Northwest and called for their arrest. The Bandit leader insisted that the two former governors should be investigated for their roles in the crisis. Bello Turji distanced himself from any political influence, saying that he is not acting on behalf of any politician or interest group. “We openly say that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto, Bafarawa and Ahmed Sani Yerima, are responsible for the calamities that befell these states. “We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us.” Reacting to a statement by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to facilitate non-kinetic engagement with armed groups, Bello Turji denied receiving any money during the meetings. He said that though peace talks took place, neither he nor any Fulani leader acting on his behalf received money or vehicles. “By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira. What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given the ₦30 million you are talking about.” According to him, the meetings with government officials were solely aimed at reducing violence and restoring peace in the state, stressing that he did not benefit financially from the engagement. He accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust built during the negotiations and peddling what he described as false and malicious testimony. Addressing Kamarawa directly, Bello Turji said: “when the Zamfara State government appointed you, we agreed on peace. But what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit. I did not even receive three million naira.” Kamarawa had alleged in a viral video that the former Zamfara governor held meetings with bandit leaders, including Turji, at the Government House in Gusau and allegedly distributed cash and vehicles to them. He specifically claimed that Turji collected ₦30 million during the peace initiative. Although Turji did not address reports of any recent negotiations with the Federal Government, he framed his remarks as a personal defence, insisting he was speaking “before Allah alone.” Despite his claims, Nigerian security agencies have repeatedly identified Bello Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders operating in the North-West, with the military previously declaring him wanted for terror-related activities.
There are truths that don’t just hurt pride; they puncture illusions, strip hypocrisy and leave us naked, facing our own creation. The Dangote case is one of them. Over 11,000 Indian technicians were recruited because Nigeria couldn’t find 100 locally qualified. That is a country of 235 million people, Africa’s largest economy, and a self-proclaimed giant of the continent. This is the clinical diagnosis of a disease that doesn’t just affect Abuja: it affects the entire African body. Many cry scandal. I see a mirror. And a mirror never lies. Africa wasn’t defeated by tanks, but by polytechnics Dangote is accused of preferring Indians. False. Dangote prefers those who know how to run a refinery. Period. It’s not India that humiliates us; it’s our inability to produce skills that match our ambitions. While Africa organizes summits, national assemblies and endless conferences, India builds classrooms. While we politicize technical education, India professionalizes. While we churn out theoretical degrees, India trains thousands of operational technicians. The Indians didn’t take Lagos by force. They enter with their screwdrivers, software, and skills. Without skills, even our billionaires become dependent Dangote isn’t the problem. He’s proof that wealth isn’t enough to compensate for weak human capital. We can have oil, bauxite, gold, cobalt, lithium and many more, but without people who can transform them. And for that, we remain tenants of our own development. We provide land, raw materials, tax breaks, sometimes even public funds while others provide modern productive and functional brains. And in the end, they leave with the biggest share of added value. Africa is a continent where a port can be built in 18 months with foreign labour. But it takes 25 years to modernize a technical high school. That should wake us up. Technical education is obviously our silent Waterloo Our technical high schools, when they still exist, run on the 1980’s machines, unretrained teachers, frozen curricula, workshops turned into dusty museums with students deemed “less brilliant” than those in general education. That’s where it starts. That’s where India beats us. Not at Dangote. Not in Lagos. At school. African parents dream of lawyers, doctors, MPs… Rarely of industrial mechanics, electromechanics, maintenance technicians and process engineers. Our societies continue to despise technical trades, even though the modern world relies entirely on them. The Nigerian problem is African: DRC, Kenya, Cameroon, Senegal and others. It is the same fight What’s happening in Nigeria today is no exception. It’s the announced future of all African countries if they don’t wake up. In our countries, our power plants are repaired by foreigners. Our mines are calibrated by foreigners. Our dams are built by foreigners. Our data centers are configured by foreigners. Our roads are asphalted by foreigners. And we applaud, as if modernity was just about inaugural photos. Real development starts when we no longer need them for basic operations. The mental revolution begins in turning every technical high school into a talent factory. No magic. No slogans. No empty “2030 visions.” Development is to have qualified welders, certified electronics technicians, industrial mechanics, petrochemical technicians, IT professionals who can code, repair, program and assemble. Africa must massively professionalize its technical education. Not 200 students per year. Not 1,000. We need 50,000 to 100,000 technicians per country, every year. Only then will Dangote, and all the Dangotes of the continent, no longer need to look elsewhere. The Dangote’s reality is not a scandal. It’s a wake-up call Africa will never be respected as long as it asks others to do what it should have learned to do itself. Dangote doesn’t humiliate Africa. He wakes us up. The question isn’t why does he employ 11,000 Indians? The real question is why haven’t our education systems produced 11,000 Nigerians who can replace them? And that applies to DRC, Kenya, Angola, Ghana and others. The continent that wants to take off must first learn to run its engine As long as we don’t understand that the 21st-century struggle is no longer geopolitical but technological, we’ll remain giants with clay feet. As long as our technical high schools are pedagogical graveyards, others will come to work for us, surpassing us, and telling us how to manage our own wealth. The day Lagos, Kinshasa, or Nairobi train 10,000 qualified technicians per year, Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Turks will knock on our doors. And that day, Africa will stop being a market. It will become the world’s workshop.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has revealed how bandits and terrorists operating in Nigeria rely on sophisticated technology to protect their communications from security agencies. According to the minister, the criminal groups use call-hopping technology, which allows their phone calls to bounce across multiple cell towers, making them difficult to track. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics yesterday, December 12, the minister explained that the criminals deliberately operate from areas with little or no telecommunications coverage to further evade detection. “There was a special kind of technology they were using to make calls. They weren’t using normal towers. They bounced calls off multiple towers. That is why they enjoy staying in areas that are not connected at all.” According to Bosun Tijani, this method ensures that their communication signals disappear once they move from one location to another, enabling them to launch attacks from unserved or poorly connected areas. He assured that Nigeria is upgrading its communication satellites to serve as a backup in situations where ground-based telecom infrastructure is unavailable or disrupted. “If our towers are not working, our satellites will work. Nigeria is the only country in West Africa with communication satellites, and we are bringing in new ones to upgrade their capabilities.” Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed recently declared an emergency on security to upturn the trend. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, had accused Tinubu’s government of not being able to deliver results in tackling insecurity.
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Aisha vs Buhari, Dangote vs Farouk And Gov Buni’s Development Stride In Yobe, By Hassan Gimba
Many things happened in Nigeria last week that will trend for a time. Among them were two weighty revelations, one of which led to two ‘juicy’ resignations. There was the revelation by Aisha Buhari, the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, that the former president began locking his door to keep her out of his room. Reason? That he heard Villa rumours that she wanted to kill him. An old General fearing the woman who has been married to him for over 30 years!
The other was by Aliko Dangote, the richest Black man on Earth. He revealed that Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has spent $5 million over six years on his four children’s education at Swiss secondary schools. Well, most likely, Nigerians might not have heard the Dangote allegation had Farouk not stepped on his toes, one way or the other. But then he once told us about the refineries in Malta, so it may not be because someone threatened to take the ice cream out of his mouth. Again, someone else might have used the information for “trade by barter,” so sleeping dogs will continue to lie. This revelation could have been the reason Farouk resigned. Whatever the case, may the elite continue to regale Nigerians with more revelations against one another.
And beyond those revelations is the ‘inconceivable’ and ‘impossible’ feat achieved by Yobe State a little earlier than these two revelations.
For those who do not know Yobe or the milestone achievements of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni in the state across various sectors, the fact that Yobe has emerged Nigeria’s number one state in Primary Health Care is unimaginable.
But it is neither inconceivable nor impossible for those who have been following the state since Buni became Governor.
Leadership newspaper of 15 December wrote: “Yobe State has once again distinguished itself as a national pacesetter in healthcare delivery, emerging as Nigeria’s leading state in Primary Health Care (PHC) following outstanding performances at the 2025 PHC Leadership Challenge Awards held in Abuja.
“Under the visionary leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni, the state clinched both regional and national honours, reinforcing its growing reputation for excellence in grassroots healthcare.
“Yobe was named the Best Performing State in the North-East for the second consecutive year, winning the title in 2024 and 2025, with each award attracting a $500,000 prize.
“In an even more remarkable feat, the state also emerged as the Overall Best Performing State in Nigeria at the 2025 edition of the awards, securing an additional $700,000, bringing the total prize money earned by Yobe to $1.2 million, a clear testament to the state’s sustained investment and reforms in the health sector.”
The name Yobe used to be synonymous with “Number one from the rear,” but “Number one in front”? It is something new that began with the ascension of Governor Buni to the state’s governorship. How did he make Yobe a home of peace, an educational model whose students are now winning national and international accolades, an agricultural hub on the way to becoming the nation’s food basket, the best-performing state in the North-East, health-wise, for two years running, and the overall best in Nigeria this year?
What did he do to make the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that the state is the most affordable place to live in Nigeria? According to the NBS reports of July 2025, “Yobe State is Nigeria’s most affordable state to live in, with low costs driven by falling inflation and successful agricultural programs boosting food security and local markets, making it relatively cheaper for housing and daily living compared to other states, especially around cities like Damaturu and Potiskum where business thrives, though security improvements are key to sustained affordability.”
When, on 29 May 2019, Honourable Mai Mala Buni became the seventh to be sworn in as Governor of Yobe State, but the fourth man to assume that office, he made specific declarations that many waited with bated breath to see come to fruition.
He announced a state of emergency on education and also promised to enhance agriculture, which is the mainstay of the people. He told the people of the state that “Yobe First” in everything, to empower indigenes, would be his mantra and that he would pursue peaceful coexistence and quality health delivery for the people.
Of course, without peace and good health, which farmer can farm and which student can learn anything? Or is there a teacher who can teach without them?
So, he first did all he could to establish peace in the state by providing security agencies with the resources they needed, thereby boosting their capacity to confront crime and criminals and, consequently, their morale.
He went further to make the political landscape level and fair, jettisoning the “by all means” politics hitherto known in the state in favour of a healthy contest between brothers who desire to contribute their quota for the benefit of the state. This was attested to by no less a personality than Adamu Maina Waziri. Waziri, a founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now among the doyens of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is one of Yobe’s greatest politicians and the state’s most prominent opposition figure since 1999.
Not only that, he was among those who worked to create the state, serving as the movement’s Secretary. Therefore, he should be familiar with the state’s political history, having been part of it from the beginning. And anybody who knows him knows that he is a very fair person. One of the attributes he shares with Buni is their capacity to be fair to people, even when they are not on the same page. And though he would fight any opponent, any day, including Buni, for political control of Yobe, he still once opined that the Governor has brought peace to Yobe politics, which used to be a “do or die” affair. Many attest that the hitherto volatility of politics in the state is now a thing of the past. Having put the peace process in place, he declared a state of emergency on education and launched an ambitious ₦25 billion appeal fund.
The aim was to take out-of-school children off the streets and provide high-quality education across the state. ₦10 billion was pledged, out of which about ₦2 billion was redeemed. He set up the Yobe Education Trust Fund, composed of eminent and trustworthy indigenes, under the chairmanship of Engineer Muhammad Abubakar, a seasoned civil servant who served as a Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, and entrusted the funds to it.
So far, under his watch, new schools have been constructed, and hostels and classrooms in existing schools have been renovated. Laboratories and ICT centres have been built and equipped. His Yobe First promise ensured that, except when only outsiders had the technical expertise to perform a standard job, all contracts were executed by indigenes.
His vision led to the recruitment of over 4,000 education staff and the retraining of almost 30,000.
Dr.Hassan Gimba, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Neptune Prime wrote in from Abuja.