Jigawa state has launched 2025 Dry Season Rice Production Programme and mechanised farming in its determination to attain 3.6 metric tonnes of rice production annually. The State Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi, who presided over the launching said that the state is being positioned as Nigeria’s leading rice producer. He emphasized that the programme targets an annual rice production of 3.6 million metric tonnes through the cultivation of 1.2 million hectares of land. Governor Namadi described the launch as a turning point in the state’s agricultural development agenda. “This event is more than just another agricultural initiative—it embodies our collective determination to position Jigawa State as Nigeria’s agricultural powerhouse and a key contributor to national food security.” The Governor said that the state is already the second-largest rice-producing state in Nigeria and that the new programme will deepen the achievement. According to him, under the initiative, 58,500 farmers will benefit from subsidized inputs such as certified seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and access to irrigation equipment, including 20,000 water pumps—10,000 solar-powered and 10,000 fuel-powered—to ensure efficient water supply during the dry season. Governor Namadi said that the state has set an ambitious but achievable target.
“Our goal is to reach 500,000 hectares of dry season rice cultivation by 2030, with the long-term objective of cultivating 1.2 million hectares annually to produce 3.6 million metric tonnes of rice.” The Governor highlighted the state’s broader mechanization agenda, including the procurement of 360 tractors, 70 combine harvesters, and the establishment of the Jigawa Farm Mechanization Service Company to provide affordable mechanization services to farmers. “We are building a fully mechanized agriculture sector—from land preparation to harvesting.” Governor Namadi said that the state is implementing the Jigawa Input Voucher System to ensure accountability in input distribution. “We will not tolerate any form of malpractice—whether input diversion, loan default, or other sharp practices. These resources represent the hard work and sacrifice of all Jigawa citizens, and we will protect them vigorously.” The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Saifullahi Umar, in his keynote address, described rice as the bedrock of food security, a critical driver of household incomes, and a strategic commodity in our national agricultural transformation agenda. He said that the programme is built around five pillars of access to inputs, extension services, financing, climate-smart practices, and robust data systems. He said that the 58,500 participating farmers would be grouped into 1,170 clusters for ease of monitoring and support as each cluster will receive hands-on training in best agronomic practices, irrigation efficiency, and financial management. He said that extension agents will be equipped with tools such as the RiceAdvice mobile app to improve advisory services. In line with financial sustainability, the programme offers tailored input loans with flexible repayment structures. “Repayment of input loans can be made in cash or in-kind, and will be due at the end of the 2025 dry season. For solar water pump beneficiaries, we have designed a convenient installment plan spread over several seasons.”
The special relationship between President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari has witnessed many remarkable moments. It has experienced dramatic and exciting times, just as there have been challenging moments. Life changing and sweet memories abound between the two great leaders. Between the two great men, there are recollections of might-have-beens. There are also open testimonies about the gains of the partnership and words of commendation as well as scornful moments. Nonetheless, the two leaders have trudged on to the admiration of their mutual friends and associates, and bewilderment – I dare say, disappointment – of others who would wish both had long parted ways. About pleasant times, one important moment readily comes to mind. It was towards the end of 2017, two years into the Buhari presidency. The former president was traveling to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, for the 5th African Union-European Union Summit, which took place from November 28th to 30th, and had invited Asiwaju Tinubu to join his entourage. Coming from Buhari, the invitation was a pleasant surprise to the then All Progressives Congress National Leader, given that the administration he worked very hard, with others, to bring into existence, had largely sidelined him after taking over power in 2015. The Cote d’Ivoire invitation, therefore, represented one of the few occasions he would be directly contacted. As it turned out, taking Tinubu along on that trip proved helpful. Tinubu attended a couple of official meetings and engagements with the former president, including the meeting with the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire. Buhari alluded to this during that trip. Speaking about Tinubu, while addressing the Nigerian Community in that country on the sidelines of the summit, the former president had said: “I must thank our Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has brought me a very beautiful piece of information, which I was not aware of until I sat down and read it. Thank you very much for your hard work, and I will discuss that paper with you.” Many were wondering at the time as to what piece of information Tinubu had offered Buhari. But at that time, 2019 was around the corner, and Buhari needed to rally his troops for re-election. There was a need, in my view, to tap Tinubu again for his strategic support and rich political network. Each time Tinubu had any opportunity to visit Buhari at the Presidential Villa, it was to offer ideas and suggestions about the way forward for the government and the country. I know this as a fact because I was always there with him. Tinubu had helped Buhari to power in 2015 after the General’s three previous unsuccessful attempts. An alliance between Buhari’s Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that had earlier hit the rocks in 2011 was resuscitated in the run-up to the 2015 election, engendering a working alliance between the North-west and South-west. This was the alliance that put the wind in Buhari’s sail and fired him to the presidency. For the first time in a long while, the former president recently spoke on this valuable support and fine relationship with Tinubu in a telephone call to the President on his 73rd birthday. According to a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari underscored the bond between him and Tinubu. He disclosed that his family and himself remain indebted to President Tinubu and other APC leaders for the invaluable contributions they made towards the formation of the party, which catapulted him to the presidency for two terms, and helped to produce another APC administration with Tinubu himself at its head. “No doubt, the annals of the country will not be complete without bringing into mention, and a recognition of the varied and numerous roles of President Tinubu as an entrepreneur, a party stalwart, a staunch activist, party organiser, party builder, a reliable ally and a serial winner of democratic elections. I am truly proud of my association with the Asiwaju,” the former president said. President Tinubu, on his part, has at every turn extolled the virtues of former President Buhari. For instance, during Buhari’s 82nd birthday last December 17, Tinubu penned a moving tribute to the former president. He wrote: “Dear President Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to you on your 82nd Birthday. “As you celebrate this remarkable milestone in Daura, we reflect on your years of dedicated service and leadership, which have significantly shaped the course of our nation. Your steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s advancement and unity inspires many, and your enduring legacy continues to guide our nation’s journey towards prosperity and stability.” Praising Buhari for his doggedness and resilience in contesting presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 before winning in 2015 and 2019, inspiring “us never to give up,” President Tinubu assured him: “I will continue to build on the infrastructure legacy you bequeathed to our nation as the leader of our country’s first All Progressives Congress administration.” From the foregoing, notwithstanding the minor strain engineered by some palace courtiers when the former president was in office, it is apparent that the relationship between Tinubu and Buhari continues to flourish as it was built on mutual respect and affection. And like every association, there are bound to be challenges. About that of Buhari and Tinubu, this strain manifested in the sidelining of Asiwaju, particularly during Buhari’s first term in office, and in the orchestrated moves by some people in the Buhari government to thwart Tinubu’s ascension to the presidency in 2023. However, it would appear that this relationship has weathered the storms. It is waxing stronger. Contrary to the impression in some quarters, particularly in the camps of some opposition politicians, the remarks by the former president during a visit by APC Governors, who paid him Eid-el-Fitri homage in his Kaduna residence, did not in any way undermine the accord. Underlining his cult-like following in the North, the governors had, during the visit, reportedly urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC, noting that doing so would strengthen the governing party against the opposition. During the visit, Buhari had called on political leaders to embrace humility, transparency, and a citizen-first approach to governance, disclosing that he left office with no personal material gain, emphasizing that true leadership is measured not by personal accumulation, but by public service and impact. Garba Shehu again quoted the former president in a statement he issued: “Leaders must always prioritize the welfare of citizens over personal or partisan interests. I left office with the same physical assets I had before becoming President.” Buhari also expressed satisfaction with the renovations to his Kaduna home and thanked the Tinubu administration for the improvements made inside the building. “Outwardly, the house looks the same, but the renovations have been significant,” he said. However, regarding the APC Governors’ request that he implore his CPC associates not to leave the party, the former president reportedly declined to commit. While reaffirming his loyalty to APC, he was said to have insisted that others must be allowed to make their own political choices. Some analysts and commentators had interpreted that to mean Buhari was pitching his camps with the opposition. A deeper analysis of Buhari’s politics lends useful perspectives to his convictions as expressed during the visit by the governors elected on the platform of APC. That remark, embodying a laissez faire attitude, is consistent with Buhari’s politics. A vivid example was during the build-up to the 2019 governorship election in Ogun State when as President he appeared in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, to give the APC flag to Prince Dapo Abiodun, the then candidate of the party for the election. The former president had urged the people of the state to vote for any candidate of their choice. That remark drew flaks from many, but it underscored a principle Buhari has upheld throughout his political career. It should also be recalled that recently when former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai defected to the Social Democratic Party and he (el-Rufai) claimed in a BBC Hausa interview that he left the APC with Buhari’s blessings, the former president also used the opportunity to clear the air, insisting he remains fully loyal to the APC and would never abandon the party that made his presidency possible. “I am a proud APC member and I want to always be known as one. I will continue to do everything I can to promote and support the party,” Buhari stated, without directly addressing el-Rufai’s claims. At the moment, opposition politicians are desperately seeking Buhari’s support and endorsement to validate their 2027 plan. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his cohorts like el-Rufai, former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and former Governor Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa State, among others, visited the former president in Kaduna on Thursday to also pay homage to him for the end of Ramadan fasting/Sallah celebrations that occurred two weeks ago. In all of that and his remarks to the APC Governors that visited him in Kaduna, has former President Buhari, thus far, deviated from or dumped the accord between him and President Tinubu and the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding, cooperation and reciprocal support that underpins their relationship? There is nothing that suggests so. The special relationship between President Tinubu and former President Buhari remains rock solid. The two eminent leaders will continue to cooperate and collaborate to sustain party unity and promote progressive governance.
Rahman is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media, Publicity & Special Duties
American District Court for the District of Columbia has directed top law enforcement agencies, including FBI and anti-drug agencies to make information about President Bola Tinubu public. The Judge, Beryl Howell, gave the directive while responding to a motion by Aaron Greenspan, an American who is seeking a reconsideration of an earlier ruling.
Justice Howell said that protecting the information from public disclosure is “neither logical nor plausible.” Greenspan had accused the law enforcement agencies of violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by failing to release within the statutory time “documents relating to purported federal investigations into” President Tinubu and one Abiodun Agbele. Tinubu was said to have forfeited $460,000 to the American government in 1993 after authorities linked the funds to proceeds of narcotics trafficking. At the Presidential Election Petition Court, the issue of Tinubu’s forfeiture of the funds featured prominently when his opponents – Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi – challenged the president’s eligibility to contest Nigeria’s presidency. But in a unanimous decision, the election court dismissed the suits, affirming Tinubu’s election. However, the American Court Judgement by Justice Howell ruled partly in favour of Greenspan. The judge noted that the ‘Glomar’ responses asserted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are “improper and must be lifted.” He said that the FBI and DEA failed to show that they properly invoked the FOIA. According to Howell, since it was acknowledged that Tinubu was a subject of an investigation involving both the FBI and DEA, “the claim that the Glomar responses were necessary to protect this information from public disclosure is at this point neither logical nor plausible.” The judge established that a FOIA requester may challenge the propriety of an agency’s Glomar response in two ways: first, by “challenging the agency’s assertion that confirming or denying the existence of any records would result in a cognisable harm under a FOIA exemption,” and, second, showing that the agency “has ‘officially acknowledged otherwise exempt information through prior disclosure,” meaning that the agency “has ‘waived its right to claim an exemption with respect to that information.” The judge said that Mr Greenspan asserts both types of challenges to defendants’ Glomar responses: “The plaintiffs’ argument that (1) DEA has officially confirmed investigations of Agbele’s involvement in the drug trafficking ring, (2) the FBI and DEA have both officially confirmed investigations of Tinubu relating to the drug trafficking ring, (3) any privacy interests implicated by the FOIA requests to the FBI and DEA for records about Tinubu are overcome by the public interest in release of such information, and (4) the CIA has officially acknowledged records responsive to plaintiff’s FOIA request about Tinubu.” Source: Daily Trust.
On Friday last week, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former House of Representatives Speaker and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, and former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, alongside other political heavyweights, paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna. It was ostensibly a social visit, and they were seen exchanging banter, having a tete-a-tete, and enjoying lunch—all for the photo ops—before going into a closed-door meeting – where the main issue would be tabled, for as the Igbo adage says, a frog does not run in the daytime for nothing; it is either pursuing something or something is pursuing it. The opposition, led by the veteran political warhorse Atiku Abubakar, the Wazirin Adamawa, is in a make-or-break fight for its soul. Unlike former President Goodluck Jonathan, a political greenhorn with an amiable, easy-going demeanour who vowed that his ambition was not worth the blood of a single Nigerian, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a dyed-in-the-wool politician whose ambition must be achieved. His famous words, “Power is not served à la carte” – that one must grab it, snatch it, and flee with it – and his “Emi lokan” declaration in the ancient city of Abeokuta, tell of a man who isn’t ready to brook any nonsense in the power game. During Jonathan’s era, opposition parties were relatively vibrant and could come together to face existential threats. Today, opposition parties, led by those generally seen, rightly or wrongly, as turncoats doing the ruling party’s bidding for pecuniary gains have become shells. While Jonathan was not proactive, allowing himself to be blindsided by those who wanted to end his reign and scuttle his party’s dream of a 60-year rule, Tinubu can be said to be wary, thinking ahead, and staying on top of his game. To defeat someone who is politically conscious, with tentacles in almost all spheres of Nigeria’s being, like Tinubu, is not going to be a tea party. Add to that the reality that most leaders of the opposition parties, in more ways than one, continue to enjoy privileges from the centre. One can then say the Wazirin Adamawa and company have a lot of work ahead of them. From this, one can understand why they are courting Buhari and want him to be on their side. Buhari has been touted to have twelve million votes in his kitty, and just half of those millions can sway any election outcome towards where they lean. Political convenience, the craving for relevance, and survival instincts may ultimately persuade the retired general to give a discreet nod of approval to the gathering opposition. In reality, some factors influence leaders’ decisions, as they are invariably captives of those elements. The first component is the people close to the leader who have his ear and have positioned themselves to sometimes be his voice or image. These vital links to Buhari have been under fire since the assumption of office by the current president, with some key figures among them facing corruption charges. Those around the former president fear this will escalate when Tinubu returns in 2027. Some fear that even if Buhari is not directly indicted, his image would be sullied. And so, the operation “Tinubu Must Be Stopped” begins. But like all people seeking power, they must find good reasons that resonate with the populace, and apparently, there are plenty that they can play around with. In a normal situation, the average human being is never content with their situation, agitating for change, running after what they see as greener pastures. What more of us in an abnormal situation? Buhari is still revered by those who admire his kind of person, so having him on your side may help, but still, Tinubu is not Jonathan—or even Obasanjo. One may not be far from the truth in saying Tinubu pulled out a victory from the jaws of a reluctant, dilly-dallying President Buhari. Please spare us your ‘truth’ I want to appeal to the former president to allow Nigerians to rest, breathe and face their challenges. Last week, he advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors “to accord importance to the welfare of the people, not themselves.” He confided in them that he “left office with the same physical assets” he had before his presidency. Such unsolicited statements may cast doubts in the minds of many right-thinking Nigerians, and some may lament that “he should have left many other things in Nigeria the way he found them,” despite his efforts, tame at best, in containing Boko Haram. But he may not fear such backlash because, as Senator Ndume is wont to say, “He still has attack dogs that would bark.” Yet, he says things even some of his die-hard supporters would involuntarily rub their ears when they hear them. For instance, there were many times he said he had only two houses: one in Daura and the other in Kaduna. Then, at an APC caucus meeting in Katsina, he volunteered—free of charge—to his audience that “after my eight years as a civilian president, I have only three houses; one in Daura and two in Kaduna. I have given one out for renting, where I get money for feeding.” Buhari gets money to feed from the rent of one house in Kaduna! However, (officially) all former presidents and heads of state in Nigeria are entitled to a monthly upkeep allowance of N350,000, which totals N4.2 million annually. They also receive other benefits, including security personnel such as three to four armed policemen and a State Security Service officer as an aide-de-camp (ADC). Additionally, they are provided three vehicles, replaced every four years, a diplomatic passport for life, and free medical treatment for themselves and their immediate family within Nigeria. If needed, they can also receive medical treatment abroad at the Federal Government’s expense. Other perks include a 30-day annual vacation, a well-furnished office, and a five-bedroom house in a location of their choice. It is this kind of “truth-telling” that may lead to threats of court actions by people who utter them when confronted. But there shouldn’t be any fear because, like those waiting for Ribadu to take Naja’atu to court, we may wait forever for that to happen.
Hassan Gimba, anipr, is the CEO/Publisher of Neptune Prime.
Unidentified thieves have reportedly stole a Hilux car belonging to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital. It was gathered that the vehicle was parked around 1:05pm opposite the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) complex in Area 10, while the official attended prayer at a nearby mosque. Security source, Zagazola Makama, in his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, revealing said that the ONSA official returned from the mosque only to find the vehicle missing. According to him, the theft was immediately reported to the Garki Police Division at approximately 2:00 p.m., leading to a swift response by law enforcement. The FCT Police Command has embarked on stop-and-search operation at various checkpoints and across all entry and exit points in the capital city. Police authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing and all efforts are being made to apprehend the culprits and recover the vehicle. The Command said that it had intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen Hilux.
Former Green Eagles Captain who later became the coach, “chairman” Christian Chukwu is dead. He died earlier today, aged 74. Details of his death are yet to be made public. Christian Chukwu captained the national team to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980 and later led the Super Eagles as head coach in the early 2000s. His glorious playing career started with Rangers of Enugu which he also led to win local and international trophies. Christian Chukwu was nicknamed Chairmen for his superb leadership of both teams. He was also a remarkable player as a central defender in both Rangers International and Nigeria’s Green Eagles. He was in the Nigerian squads that won the Africa Nations’ Cup in 1980 and finished runners’ up in 1976 and 1978. He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3–0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament. In October 1998 he was appointed coach of the Kenya national team. Later, from 2003 to 2005, he coached Nigeria, leading them to reach semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. Chukwu coached Enugu Rangers to 6th place in the 2008–2009 edition of the Nigeria Premier League. He was later made Rangers General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), before he finally retired from football administration.
The recent press release by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) announcing sweeping reforms in land administration under the direction of the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, raises deep concerns about the long-term implications for the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan, equitable land access, and environmental sustainability. While cloaked in the language of urban development, investor confidence, and administrative efficiency, the new policy directives – particularly the non-extendable 21-day window for payment, and the two-year development deadline – appear to be more of a legal smokescreen to facilitate massive land dispossession and reward cronies under the pretext of reforms. Key concerns include: Elitist exclusion: The 21-day window to pay prescribed fees and submit Letters of Acceptance is grossly unrealistic for the average Nigerian allottee, many of whom are civil servants or informal workers without access to immediate liquidity. This will inevitably disenfranchise thousands of legitimate landholders, paving the way for politically connected individuals and entities to hijack abandoned or “forfeited” lands. Weaponization of development timeline: Mandating that allottees must develop their plots within two years ignores the economic reality of inflation, exchange rate instability, and building material shortages. This is not about development, but about creating artificial breaches to enable revocation and reallocation of land under ministerial discretion. Distortion of Mass Housing intent: While the promise to title mass housing estates and sectional interests sounds progressive, there is no clear framework to protect the original subscribers, many of whom have long suffered under failed developer agreements and government inertia. This new policy may just legalize what has been a systematic stripping of housing rights from low- and middle-income residents. Regularization as a mirage: With over 261,000 Area Council documents submitted for regularization, and only 2,358 titles issued since 2006 (just 0.9%), the FCTA’s track record raises doubt about its sincerity. How can Nigerians trust a system that has failed for almost two decades to suddenly become transparent overnight, especially under a Minister with a controversial governance style? Abuja’s green spaces, low-density zones, and residential neighborhoods are being sacrificed on the altar of short-term revenue and political patronage, undermining both the letter and spirit of the Abuja Master Plan. This is therefore a call to action. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should immediately order an independent review of the FCT Land Reform Framework, institute a moratorium on revocations pending stakeholder consultation. He should also protect the Abuja Master Plan from further desecration under the guise of “reform.” The National Assembly should also investigate the operational motives behind these new land policies and ensure they are not used to legalize land grabbing. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the World Bank, AfDB, and other development partners, on its part, should monitor and assess the environmental and social consequences of these new policies. These bodies should also support civic voices and organizations working to preserve Abuja as a planned, inclusive and environmentally responsible capital city. Abuja does not belong to any Minister, cabal or speculator. It is the collective inheritance of all Nigerians, and we must defend it with truth and courage. Shehu Nuhu wrote from Asokoro, Abuja.
Another notorious bandit commander, known as Malam Gwaska, has been eliminated along with over 100 others by the fighting soldiers In Katsina. The killing of Gwaska followed military operations against criminals in the North-Western state. According to the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mua’zu, the operations were crucial component of a broader strategy by security stakeholders to reclaim stability in the State and Northwest Region. He said that during the operations, the forces recovered and subsequently destroyed two machine guns, locally fabricated shotguns, and other weapons to prevent their reuse by criminal elements. He said that the Nigerian Army’s 17th Brigade and 213 Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Air Component of the Nigerian Air Force on April 10, 2025, executed a coordinated strike on bandit strongholds in Mununu Bakai, Zango, Jeka Arera, Malali, and Ruwan Godiya areas spanning Kankara and Faskari LGAs. “The precision operation, based on actionable intelligence, eliminated a high-value target identified as Gwaska, who served as second-in-command to an ISWAP-linked leader,” he stated. “Intelligence reports confirm that Gwaska had recently relocated from Danmusa Local Government to Munumu Forest. “It is expedient to state that this successful mission has significantly disrupted the criminal networks that have long terrorized communities across Faskari, Kankara, Bakori, Malumfashi, and Kafur LGAs.” Similarly, security forces conducted another operation in the early hours of April 10, 2025, targeting bandit routes at Dutsen Wori by Dandume-Kandamba Road, located at the outskirts of Dandume town at the border with Faskari and Sabuwa Local Government Areas. The operation, executed at about 3:45 am, resulted in the elimination of six bandits, including their commander, while several other bandits escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds. The forces were said to have successfully intercepted and recovered seven motorcycles, while four others escaped into the forest. The bandits were tracked from their base at Maigora/Doroyi camp in Faskari Local Government Area.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has introduced key reforms in land administration in the FCT, effective from April 21, 2025. The reforms, according to the minister’s Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye in a statement today, April 11, are meant to foster sustainable urban development, boost investor confidence, and ensure that property owners have secure and legally recognized land titles. He quoted the Director, Land Administration, FCTA, Chijioke Nwankwoeze as saying at a press briefing that the reforms encompass critical aspects of land administration, including the conditions for granting Statutory Rights of Occupancy, the content of these titles and Letters of Acceptance, the titling of Mass Housing and the regularization of land documents issued by Area Councils. Chijioke Nwankwoeze said that a strict and non-extendable payment deadline of 21 days has been introduced for land allottees to make full payment of all prescribed bills, fees, rents and charges for statutory rights of occupancy. He said that a duly completed Letter of Acceptance and evidence of payment must be submitted within the timeframe, “failing which the offer shall be withdrawn. “Any payments made after the 21-day period will be considered invalid. “Additionally, a defined timeframe of two years has also been introduced for allottees to develop their land, commencing from the date of the Statutory Right of Occupancy.” The Director said that the move is aimed at addressing revenue delays for the FCTA, and to encourage infrastructure development and reduce land speculation and racketeering among others. On the regularisation of Area Council Land Documents, the Director, said that Allottees with successfully vetted and confirmed Area Council land documents will be granted 60 days to make full payment of all prescribed bills, fees, rents, and charges to receive statutory titles, in line with the provision of the law. “Failure to comply within this period will render the offers invalid.” The Director recalled that the FCT Administration, in a bid to ensure that all land allocated by the FCT Area Councils are regularized, as provided by the law, directed the Zonal Land, Planning and Survey offices of the six Area Councils to submit all Area Council allocation lists, layout, files and registers to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS)/Lands Department which was done by the Area Councils. According to him, while the FCT Area Councils submitted 261,914 land documents for regularization between 2006 and 2023, only a mere 3.2% amounting to 8,287 were vetted, with just 2,358 regularized. On the issuance of titles to mass housing projects and sectional interests, the Director said holders and occupiers of properties within Mass Housing Estates in the FCT will now have a clear pathway to obtain their titles. He said subscribers and Developers are required to submit applications for titling to the Department of Land Administration for processing, commencing on April 21, 2025. “In recognition of the urgent need to issue titles to the beneficiaries of Mass Housing and Sectional Interests, all applications for titling are to be made by the Subscribers/Developers to the Department of Land Administration for processing. Processing of titles for Mass Housing and Sectional Interests shall commence on April 21, 2025, in line with the new operational framework”. He expressed confidence that these significant reforms will streamline processes, enhance revenue generation, curb land speculation, and ensure timely development of allocated lands, as well as provide titles to beneficiaries of Mass Housing schemes and regularise Area Council land allocations.
Opposition political leader, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru el-Rufai and other political leaders were in Kaduna today, on a post-Sallah visit to the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari ruled Nigeria from 2015 to 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others on the team of the visitors to ex President Buhari were the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Governor of Adamawa State and Senator Bindow Jibrilla.
Others were former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswan, former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Idris Umar, Hon Mohammed Kumalia, Captain Yahaya Abubakar, Alhaji Musa Halilu (Dujima Adamawa) and Alhaji Salisu Makarfi. The visitors later joined former President Buhari to observe Friday Juma’ah prayer in Kaduna.
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“Our goal is to reach 500,000 hectares of dry season rice cultivation by 2030, with the long-term objective of cultivating 1.2 million hectares annually to produce 3.6 million metric tonnes of rice.”
Others on the team of the visitors to ex President Buhari were the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Governor of Adamawa State and Senator Bindow Jibrilla.
Tinubu-Buhari Partnership And Opposition’s Desperate Search For Validation, By Tunde Rahman
The special relationship between President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari has witnessed many remarkable moments. It has experienced dramatic and exciting times, just as there have been challenging moments. Life changing and sweet memories abound between the two great leaders. Between the two great men, there are recollections of might-have-beens. There are also open testimonies about the gains of the partnership and words of commendation as well as scornful moments.
Nonetheless, the two leaders have trudged on to the admiration of their mutual friends and associates, and bewilderment – I dare say, disappointment – of others who would wish both had long parted ways.
About pleasant times, one important moment readily comes to mind. It was towards the end of 2017, two years into the Buhari presidency. The former president was traveling to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, for the 5th African Union-European Union Summit, which took place from November 28th to 30th, and had invited Asiwaju Tinubu to join his entourage. Coming from Buhari, the invitation was a pleasant surprise to the then All Progressives Congress National Leader, given that the administration he worked very hard, with others, to bring into existence, had largely sidelined him after taking over power in 2015. The Cote d’Ivoire invitation, therefore, represented one of the few occasions he would be directly contacted.
As it turned out, taking Tinubu along on that trip proved helpful. Tinubu attended a couple of official meetings and engagements with the former president, including the meeting with the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire. Buhari alluded to this during that trip.
Speaking about Tinubu, while addressing the Nigerian Community in that country on the sidelines of the summit, the former president had said: “I must thank our Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has brought me a very beautiful piece of information, which I was not aware of until I sat down and read it. Thank you very much for your hard work, and I will discuss that paper with you.”
Many were wondering at the time as to what piece of information Tinubu had offered Buhari. But at that time, 2019 was around the corner, and Buhari needed to rally his troops for re-election. There was a need, in my view, to tap Tinubu again for his strategic support and rich political network. Each time Tinubu had any opportunity to visit Buhari at the Presidential Villa, it was to offer ideas and suggestions about the way forward for the government and the country. I know this as a fact because I was always there with him.
Tinubu had helped Buhari to power in 2015 after the General’s three previous unsuccessful attempts. An alliance between Buhari’s Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that had earlier hit the rocks in 2011 was resuscitated in the run-up to the 2015 election, engendering a working alliance between the North-west and South-west. This was the alliance that put the wind in Buhari’s sail and fired him to the presidency.
For the first time in a long while, the former president recently spoke on this valuable support and fine relationship with Tinubu in a telephone call to the President on his 73rd birthday. According to a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari underscored the bond between him and Tinubu. He disclosed that his family and himself remain indebted to President Tinubu and other APC leaders for the invaluable contributions they made towards the formation of the party, which catapulted him to the presidency for two terms, and helped to produce another APC administration with Tinubu himself at its head.
“No doubt, the annals of the country will not be complete without bringing into mention, and a recognition of the varied and numerous roles of President Tinubu as an entrepreneur, a party stalwart, a staunch activist, party organiser, party builder, a reliable ally and a serial winner of democratic elections. I am truly proud of my association with the Asiwaju,” the former president said.
President Tinubu, on his part, has at every turn extolled the virtues of former President Buhari. For instance, during Buhari’s 82nd birthday last December 17, Tinubu penned a moving tribute to the former president.
He wrote: “Dear President Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to you on your 82nd Birthday.
“As you celebrate this remarkable milestone in Daura, we reflect on your years of dedicated service and leadership, which have significantly shaped the course of our nation. Your steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s advancement and unity inspires many, and your enduring legacy continues to guide our nation’s journey towards prosperity and stability.”
Praising Buhari for his doggedness and resilience in contesting presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 before winning in 2015 and 2019, inspiring “us never to give up,” President Tinubu assured him: “I will continue to build on the infrastructure legacy you bequeathed to our nation as the leader of our country’s first All Progressives Congress administration.”
From the foregoing, notwithstanding the minor strain engineered by some palace courtiers when the former president was in office, it is apparent that the relationship between Tinubu and Buhari continues to flourish as it was built on mutual respect and affection. And like every association, there are bound to be challenges. About that of Buhari and Tinubu, this strain manifested in the sidelining of Asiwaju, particularly during Buhari’s first term in office, and in the orchestrated moves by some people in the Buhari government to thwart Tinubu’s ascension to the presidency in 2023.
However, it would appear that this relationship has weathered the storms. It is waxing stronger. Contrary to the impression in some quarters, particularly in the camps of some opposition politicians, the remarks by the former president during a visit by APC Governors, who paid him Eid-el-Fitri homage in his Kaduna residence, did not in any way undermine the accord. Underlining his cult-like following in the North, the governors had, during the visit, reportedly urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC, noting that doing so would strengthen the governing party against the opposition.
During the visit, Buhari had called on political leaders to embrace humility, transparency, and a citizen-first approach to governance, disclosing that he left office with no personal material gain, emphasizing that true leadership is measured not by personal accumulation, but by public service and impact. Garba Shehu again quoted the former president in a statement he issued: “Leaders must always prioritize the welfare of citizens over personal or partisan interests. I left office with the same physical assets I had before becoming President.” Buhari also expressed satisfaction with the renovations to his Kaduna home and thanked the Tinubu administration for the improvements made inside the building. “Outwardly, the house looks the same, but the renovations have been significant,” he said.
However, regarding the APC Governors’ request that he implore his CPC associates not to leave the party, the former president reportedly declined to commit. While reaffirming his loyalty to APC, he was said to have insisted that others must be allowed to make their own political choices. Some analysts and commentators had interpreted that to mean Buhari was pitching his camps with the opposition.
A deeper analysis of Buhari’s politics lends useful perspectives to his convictions as expressed during the visit by the governors elected on the platform of APC. That remark, embodying a laissez faire attitude, is consistent with Buhari’s politics. A vivid example was during the build-up to the 2019 governorship election in Ogun State when as President he appeared in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, to give the APC flag to Prince Dapo Abiodun, the then candidate of the party for the election. The former president had urged the people of the state to vote for any candidate of their choice. That remark drew flaks from many, but it underscored a principle Buhari has upheld throughout his political career.
It should also be recalled that recently when former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai defected to the Social Democratic Party and he (el-Rufai) claimed in a BBC Hausa interview that he left the APC with Buhari’s blessings, the former president also used the opportunity to clear the air, insisting he remains fully loyal to the APC and would never abandon the party that made his presidency possible. “I am a proud APC member and I want to always be known as one. I will continue to do everything I can to promote and support the party,” Buhari stated, without directly addressing el-Rufai’s claims.
At the moment, opposition politicians are desperately seeking Buhari’s support and endorsement to validate their 2027 plan. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his cohorts like el-Rufai, former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and former Governor Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa State, among others, visited the former president in Kaduna on Thursday to also pay homage to him for the end of Ramadan fasting/Sallah celebrations that occurred two weeks ago.
In all of that and his remarks to the APC Governors that visited him in Kaduna, has former President Buhari, thus far, deviated from or dumped the accord between him and President Tinubu and the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding, cooperation and reciprocal support that underpins their relationship? There is nothing that suggests so. The special relationship between President Tinubu and former President Buhari remains rock solid. The two eminent leaders will continue to cooperate and collaborate to sustain party unity and promote progressive governance.
Rahman is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media, Publicity & Special Duties