Why There’s Need To Reposition NAHCON For Renewed Trust, By Abdulkarim Abdulmalik

February 16, 2026

For many Nigerian Muslims, the journey to Hajj is the fulfillment of a lifelong spiritual dream. Families save for years to be able to perform the fifth religious obligation at least, once in lifetime. Communities gather to pray for departing pilgrims.
Expectations are always high not only spiritually, but administratively. At the center of this sacred responsibility is the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). Under the leadership of its new Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, there is a real opportunity to reposition the Commission to restore confidence through improved service delivery.
The challenges facing NAHCON are not new, and to pretend otherwise will not help.
Late preparations have repeatedly complicated operations. When accommodation contracts, airline agreements, and service arrangements are concluded too close to the Hajj season, costs rise and options become limited. This has sometimes placed unnecessary pressure on both officials and pilgrims.
The solution is simple in principle, though demanding in practice: planning must begin immediately one Hajj ends. A culture of early preparation would allow Nigeria to secure better rates and better facilities in Makkah and Madinah.
Another reality is the instability of foreign exchange. Owing to the fact that most Hajj payments are made in foreign currency, fluctuations in the naira directly affect pilgrimage fares.
Pilgrims often struggle to understand why costs rise suddenly.
NAHCON may not control the exchange rate, but it could control communication. A transparent breakdown of Hajj fares—clearly explaining accommodation costs, airfare, feeding, and administrative charges—would go a long way in reducing suspicion and anxiety.
Logistics remain a sensitive area. Delayed flights, overcrowded schedules, and coordination lapses have, at times, overshadowed what should be a spiritually uplifting journey. Airlift operations must be treated as a critical component, not a secondary detail.
Contracts with airlines should include firm performance expectations, and contingency plans should always be in place. Pilgrims—many of them elderly—deserve predictability and dignity in travel arrangements.
Accommodation in Saudi Arabia has also generated recurring concerns. Securing decent buildings close to the Haram requires early negotiation and rigorous inspection.
Nigerian pilgrims should not arrive to discover facilities that fall below expectations.
To this end, a stronger monitoring system, combined with transparent allocation processes, would reassure pilgrims that they are receiving value for what they paid.
Coordination between NAHCON and State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards is another area that needs strengthening. While NAHCON provides national oversight, state boards are directly involved in registering and preparing pilgrims. When communication gaps occur, the result is confusion over documentation, vaccinations, or visa processes. A unified digital platform linking NAHCON with all state boards could reduce errors and speed up information flow. In an age of technology, manual systems should no longer slow down such an important national assignment.
Digital reform offers perhaps the most practical way forward. An automated registration and payment system would reduce human interference, enhance transparency, and allow pilgrims to track their status in real time. Although technology cannot replace integrity, but it can reduce opportunities for inefficiency and error.
Public perception also matters. Over the years, allegations—some proven, others speculative—have affected the Commission’s image.
Thus, rebuilding trust requires openness. Regular briefings, publication of audited reports, and competitive procurement processes are not luxuries; they are necessities. When people see transparency, confidence follows.
Above all, pilgrims’ welfare must remain central. Hajj is physically demanding. Many Nigerian pilgrims are elderly and require medical support, clear guidance, and organized feeding arrangements. Strengthening medical teams, improving orientation programs before departure, and ensuring effective on-ground support in Saudi Arabia would significantly enhance the experience.
Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf is therefore expected to bring his diplomatic experience that could be leveraged to strengthen Nigeria’s engagement with Saudi authorities. High-level coordination can help secure favorable tent allocations in Mina, better transportation scheduling, and improved service conditions.
Repositioning NAHCON is not about cosmetic change; it is about institutional discipline. It requires early planning, financial transparency, technological innovation, and compassionate leadership. If these elements are pursued consistently, the Commission can regain full public confidence.
Hajj is a sacred obligation. Managing it should reflect excellence, accountability, and empathy. With deliberate reforms and steady leadership, NAHCON can rise above its challenges and truly serve Nigerian pilgrims in a manner worthy of the spiritual journey they undertake.

– Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, is a journalist and Author of a handbook on: “Pilgrims’ Companion, a Self-guide to Hajj and Ummrah.”

The Day I Rejected Over 10,000 Riyals As Transport Money In Saudi Arabia – Ex NAHCON Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2026

The immediate past Chairman of the Muslims’ National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has narrated the story of underhand financial deal that contradicted his personal policy at the time he accepted to serve.
Speaking in an interview in Hausa language on a television programme, Professor Saleh Usman said that he had vowed when he accepted to serve not to knowingly get involved in anything that would bring shame to himself, his family, Islam, Kano State and Nigeria.
He recalled an incidence when he was on an official journey to Saudi Arabia and the sum of over 10,000 Saudi Arabia Riyal (over N350,000) was brought to him and he was told it was transport money.
“I was surprised and shocked because I already had a car and driver attached to me. I didn’t have any need for such money, and of course, I was not the one responsible for buying fuel if there was need for it.
“I directed that the money should be quickly returned to the account. I insisted that the Bank receipt showing the evidence of the return of the money should be brought back to me. I also directed other officers who similarly enjoyed free vehicles and drivers and still collected the transport money to return the money to the Bank.
“I have the feeling that this my position would annoy those who were used to it. And I was ready to deal with any officer who was out to defraud the Commission.”
Professor Saleh Usman, who voluntarily resigned his appointment barely a year on the seat, stressed that he was not prepared to fall in line with the established protocols that did not agree with his personal policy.
“I was not prepared to just tag along with the system at the end of which I would be held responsible by the anti corruption agencies over things that I didn’t know how and why they were done.”
Observers noted that Professor Saleh Usman recently resigned in protest over such unholy practices in the system of governance at higher levels.

Tinubu’s Tenure Expires May 28, INEC Boss, Prof Amupitan Announces, Fixes Presidential Election For February 20, 2027

Greenbarge Reporters

February 13, 2026

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joseph Ojo Amupitan has announced that the tenure of President Bola Tinubu will end on May 2027, even as he fixed February 20, 2027 for Presidential and National Assembly elections.
He said that Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will be conducted on March 6, 2027.
Professor Joseph Amupitan, who addressed newsmen today, February 13, to unviel the 2027 general election timetable, said that the tenure of Vice President Kashim Shettima and most Governors and their deputies will also expire on the same May 28, 2027.
He said that the National and State Assemblies will stand dissolved on June 8, 2027.
The INEC boss explained that the Constitution mandates elections to be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the current tenure.
He therefore, directed Resident Electoral Commissioners across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to publish the notice in their respective constituencies.
Professor Amupitan said that the detailed timetable had been uploaded to the Commission’s official website and circulated to registered political parties.

Aviation Minister Sacks One, Redeploys Others In Major Shakeup

Greenbarge Reporters

February 12, 2026

Minister in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has sacked the Director of Special Duties, under
the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Horatius Egua, even as he redeployed others, in a major shakeup in the ministry.
Horatius was directed to hand over all NCAA properties in his possession to the Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomi.
In his place is the immediate appointment of Augustina Erah who was said to not occupy any position before now.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata who signed the official circular as approved by the minister, said that the sacking and redeployment of directors across four aviation agencie take immediate effect.
The redeployment affects the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The official circular, with reference number PS/FMA/PCA/S.31/T is dated February 9, 2026.
In it, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NiMet, Funke Arowojobe, was reassigned to NSIB in the same capacity, while the Director of Human Resource and Administration at NiMet, Dr. Nasiru Sani, was redeployed internally to serve as Director of Corporate Services within the meteorological agency.
Director of Corporate Services at NiMet, Airohiuodion Omonzogie, moved to NSIB to oversee corporate services at the Bureau, while the Director of Corporate Services at NSIB, Baro Minabawarre was redeployed to NiMet as Director of Human Resource and Administration.
The public affairs leadership at both NSIB and NiMet was also restructured with the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NSIB, Bimbo Oladeji, moved to NiMet to head the same directorate.
The finance directorate of NAMA and NSIB was restructured, with Director of Finance and Accounts at NAMA, Muonemeh Lotenna, moving to NSIB, while Director of Finance and Accounts at NSIB, Okundaye Folake, assumed the same role at NAMA.
Source: The Sun

My Last Word For Senator Natasha, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

February 10, 2026

I have admired Barrister, Senator Natasha Akpoti from the very moment she threw herself into limelight. She first caught my attention a few years ago when she launched courageous campaign and fact-of-the-matter “war” against negative elements that were trying to derail the practical takeoff and functionality of Ajaokuta Steel Project.
As a matter of fact, my admiration for her grew when the fact was made available to me that she is the daughter of one of the greatest leaders the Ebira nation had ever been blessed with. He was Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, a devout Muslim from Obeiba-Ihima in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti was primarily a medical doctor, having studied medicine in the Soviet Union, now Ukraine, where he met his wife and mother of Natasha, in the person of Ludmila Kravchenko, an Ukrainian citizen.
Natasha’s father was known not only in Ihima but the Ebiraland for acts of generosity and service, such as treating poor patients for free, helping to pay school fees for children and supporting local farmers and traders, and above all, his sense of forgiveness, humility and practical peacemaking. These were the values he upheld, so much that he wormed himself into the heart of Ebira people of different classes, clans and status. He was embraced by both the second first class Paramount ruler of Ebiraland, late Alhaji Mohammed Sani Omolori and the immediate past King, late Alhaji Dr Ado ibrahim. Natasha benefitted from her father’s all-round goodness when the immediate past King crowned her with exhalted traditional title. In fact, when Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti died on 3 November 1998, the then King (Ohinoyi) was reported to have begged that he should be buried in his Palace. His death shook Ebiraland and beyond.The memory of his peacemaking efforts and humble disposition lingers on in many of those who knew him or heard about him.

…. Natasha
It is therefore not surprising that Natasha turns out to be the chips of the old block, as they say. In fact, the characters and characteristics of Natasha do not deviate a bit from her father, despite the fact that she is a female. This pontificates the Ebira proverb which says that where male dog is not available to go for hunting, female one would suffice. Of course, Natasha has a younger brother, Dr. Okehi, who is also a medical doctor but prefers to live a quiet life where he is practicing in Abuja.
However, there is just one beautiful trait which Natasha has failed or forget to imbibe and or display from the point of view of her father’s character: forgiveness and mindset for manifesting unity amongst Ebira people, especially of different political camps. This is even more distrubing considering the leadership position God has thrusted on her.
Speaking about the leadership, she happens to be the only female leader in recent history from Ebira that has attained national recognition by whatever means. On top of it, today, she is a traditional title holder; the Ohiogu of Ebiraland, just like her husband, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan who is the Alema of Warri Kingdom in Delta State. And therefore, it should have been part of Natasha’s itinerary to accord respect and even join hands with the reigning Ohinoyi of Ebiraland to bring about the kind of Ebiraland her father had dreamt of and worked hard to build.
It doesn’t make sense to me that Natasha refuses to acknowledge the authority of the present Ohinoyi simply because of the circumstances of his ascension to the throne, and of course, because of who appointed him.
As a good Christian, Natasha ought to know that it is only God that chooses leaders. In other words, there is no leader that can emerge without the Hand of God in the emergence. The fact that the person one doesn’t like or, appropriately, because it is one’s adversary that is responsible for the choice of the leader does still not cancel the idea of God’s Hand.
And as a senior lawyer, and in fact, as a Barrister-at-law, Natasha should know that the present Ohinoyi of Ebiraland emerged from within the provision of legal framework and traditional requirements.
In other words, it is on record that no fewer than 70 qualified sons and daughters of the land contested for the stool. It is natural that in such contest, one person must emerge, and be chosen and appointed by the STATE GOVERNOR in accordance with the legal framework and traditional requirements. Unfortunately, such law and traditional requirements do not give the name of a particular GOVERNOR to make the choice and appointment. In fact, the law doesn’t say the GOVERNOR must be your friend or detractor or adversary.
In the case being treated, the law and traditional requirements were blind to who was the Governor, who made the choice and appointment; he could have been from Igalaland, Okunland and Koton Karfe. Such Governor would have chosen and appointed Mohammed Ataba Sani Omolori or Barrister Momohsani Shaibu or Engineer Ibrahim Jibril or any of the over 70 contestants to the throne. It would not have made any difference for the fact that it was still the GOVERNOR that did the choice and appointment, according to the legal framework and traditional requirements.
It therefore looks strange that Natasha turned her back on the new Ohinoyi simply because he was chosen and appointed by the GOVERNOR she has issues with. Her main grouse is that the Ohinoyi was the choice of her sworn political adversary, not that the person who was finally chosen and appointed offended her. Not that she has any particular issue with him.
One has the feeling that Natasha would still have turned her back on whoever, amongst the contestants that emerged Ohinoyi, aside from the one on the throne now if such contestant was still chosen and appointed by the same Governor that chose and appointed the present King.
My honest advice to Natasha in this circumstance, is that she should have a rethink and tow the line of her father who she so loved, and who was so loved by Ebira people because of his impactful contribution to the peace, unity and development of the land. Natasha, being the Ohiogu of Ebiraland should return to the root to play her role in uniting the people, in spite of whatever political differences and or disputes she is battling with opponents; the opponents that are purely her brothers and sisters.
For Natasha to be playing politics with the mind that she cannot forgive or that she has nothing to do with her adversaries forever is like swimming in the river and trying to avoid or complaining of being touched by water. Politics anywhere in the world, to the best of my knowledge, is full of mudslinging, backslapping and even, in the context of Africa, attempt at physical elimination of the opponents. In short, political game in Africa, Nigeria and Ebiraland is full of landmine and is meant for those who can take mighty risk, of either “do” or “perish”.
As a good Christian, Natasha should know that her life has been predetermined by God Almighty and that no machinations of man or woman can change it. It is God Almighty that has sustained her life all through, in the face of dangers she encountered in the process of politicking. It is therefore not fair even to God Almighty who has so sustained her for her to get angry with those she claimed “wanting to kill her” and therefore hold such people, and the people around them as enemies for life.
For a fact, her husband is currently playing an impactful role, as traditional title holder for the peace, unity and development of his Kingdom. He is relating very well with the Paramount ruler of his Kingdom and politicians of different camps. Why would Natasha, not also turn to the only birth place she can legitimately lay claim to, to proudly play the same role in her kingdom?
Her father, late Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti left a legacy as a unifier of Ebiraland, embraced both the good and not so good people in the community, beyond just being generous. In turn, he was loved and embraced also by all. Natasha should aspire to do the same, with the desire to even leave behind legacy that is better than that of her loving father.
This is the way I think, for her to go, because when the chips are down, this is what will determine the people’s verdict long after she’s gone.

We’re Determined To Collaborate With Countries In West Africa To Drive Expansion Of Digital Economy – NCC Boss

Greenbarge Reporters

February 9, 2026

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has expressed the determination of the commission to collaborate with countries in the West African sub-region to bring about the expansion of digital economy and good life for the people.
Playing host to a high-level delegation from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) at the NCC’s Head Office in Abuja at the weekend, Dr. Maida stressed that the Commission is ever dedicated to strengthening partnerships with telecommunications regulators within the West African sub-region.
Represented during the visit of the LTA by the Director of Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management at NCC, Dr. Kelechi Nwankwo, the Commission’s Boss referred to the Commission’s nmandate, including collaboration with sister regulatory institutions within the sub-region and beyond to drive the expansion of digital economy and improve the living conditions of citizen.

He said that given the NCC’s long-standing commitment to regional cooperation through platforms such as the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), the Commission has no doubt that the region would be stronger and more prosperous when all countries are interconnected.
The Executive Vice Chairman stressed the great importance of collaboration, adding that it is a core driver of the NCC Board.
He said that sustained engagement with regional partners is essential to advancing the interests of telecommunications consumers and various stakeholders.
Dr. Maida recalled the Commission’s advocacy for the recognition of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as critical national infrastructure within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saying that Nigeria has already designated ICT as part of its critical national information infrastructure to give it the prominence required for sustainable growth.
He assured the Liberian delegation of the NCC’s readiness to provide support in advancing regional shared initiatives and translating discussions into actionable outcomes within the sub-region.
This was even as the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the LTA, Clarence Massaquoi, commended the NCC for making itself available in the spirit of regional coordination and collaboration, describing the engagement as critical to strengthening regulatory responsibilities across the sub-region.
Massaquoi acknowledged Nigeria as the largest economy in the region and a central player in Africa’s communications, security and economic structures, admitting that progress made by Nigeria often has far-reaching impacts across other West African countries.
He said that since his assumption of office as the Liberian chief telecom regulator, the LTA has prioritized strengthening relationships with regional institutions to support ECOWAS’ vision of integration as effective regional integration cannot be achieved without affordable and reliable communications services, particularly in addressing cross-border roaming challenges.
The LTA Chairman said that Liberia had signed bilateral agreements with The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire and is at advanced stages of discussion with Ghana and Guinea-Conakry and that the Liberian regulator remained committed to active participation in WATRA.
Massaquoi sought NCC’s support in regulatory capacity building and the sharing of best practices, particularly as Liberia reviews its licensing regime to reflect emerging technologies and align with regional standards.
The bosses of the two regulators underscored the centrality of shared commitment to deepen collaboration, identify priority areas for engagement and advance initiatives that will promote seamless connectivity, regional integration and socio-economic development across West Africa.

Security Forces Push Out Bandit Leader, Kachalla Battijo From His Tunga Forest Camp In Kogi

Greenbarge Reporters

February 8, 2026

Combined security Forces have pushed out Kachalla Battijo, described as “notorious bandit leader” from his Tunga forest camp in Kogi State.
This is coming against the background of the state government decision to shut down many markets and motor parks around the Western and Eastern parts of the State to enable the security forces flush out the bandits and kidnappers from the state.
In a statement today, February 8, the State Commissioner for information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo hinted that in the ongoing attempt to flush out the bandits, the security forces have already recorded successes.

“As a result of sustained security offensives across eight Local Government Areas of the state, sixteen (16) kidnapped victims have been successfully rescued from the camp of the notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Battijo, located within the Tunga Forest.

“The camp has been overrun and taken over by security forces, while intensive operations continue to ensure the total clearance of criminal elements.”
The commissioner said that markets and motor parks have been shut down as a way of cutting off logistics and prevent the movement of consumables to the criminal elements.
He said that the move would also address the activities of the informants of the bandits and deny them access to food supplies and other support.
“The State Government, after consultations with security agencies and relevant local authorities, has considered it necessary to temporarily shut down selected markets and motor parks across affected communities with immediate effect.
“The affected locations include several communities in Lokoja Local Government Area, namely: Oshokoshoko Market and Motor Park, Jakura, Ogbagbon, Agbaja, Atsawa, Obajana, Apata, Abugi, Amomi, Ebee, and Budon, where markets and motor parks will remain closed for the duration of the security operations.
“In Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, markets and motor parks in Ike Bunu, Aba Marian (Isado), Ofere, Abaa Dola (Ihale Bunu), Aiyede, Oke Offin, Aiyegunle Bunu, Okebukun, Odo Ape Bunu, Agbadu Bunu, and Agbede Apa Bunu are also affected by the temporary shutdown.
“Similarly, in Yagba West Local Government Area, the closure applies to markets and motor parks in Okoloke, Isanlu Esa, Okunran, Ogbe, Ejiba, Odo Eri, Igbaruku, Iyamerin, Ogga, Omi, Odo Ara, and Oke Ere.
“In Yagba East Local Government Area, the affected communities include Irunda Ile, Iyeh Ilotin, Gada, Odogbe, and Ilafin, where all markets and motor parks will remain shut throughout the period of the operation.
“For Kogi Local Government Area, the temporary closure covers the Rice Market at Adingere, Koton Karfe, Okpareke, Girinya, the Okro Market at Opanda, and the Perishable Market at Edeha.
“In Mopamuro Local Government Area, markets and motor parks in Otafun Amuro, Oroke Amuro, Takete Ide Amuro, Okeagi, Illai, Ilemo, and Ijagbe are also included in the shutdown.
Kingsley said that the closure of the markets and motor parks is temporary and will be lifted immediately after the successful conclusion of the ongoing security operations.
According to the Commissioner, intensive and coordinated security operations are being carried out in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and heads of security agencies in the state, with the objective of flushing out terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements.
The commissioner made it clear that the State Government has resolved not to negotiate with bandits or pay ransom under any circumstance.
“His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Director General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi and all the heads of security agencies in the country and in Kogi State for their unflinching support and the successes recorded so far.
“The Kogi State Government acknowledges the hardship this measure may cause traders and residents of the affected communities. However, this sacrifice is necessary to restore peace and security across the state and to reduce collateral damage, as movements within these areas will be closely monitored and scrutinized.”

Nigeria: The Silent Press And The Silent Siege, By Segun Adediran

Greenbarge Reporters

February 7, 2026

Within the next several years, the invisible architecture of Nigeria’s democracy faces a quiet but existential threat. For decades, the local press served as the bedrock of our national identity, but today, that foundation is being hollowed out by unregulated global digital gatekeepers.
Led by Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, the President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Press is opening up.
On the platform of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which represents the collective weight of the NPAN, the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), it broke the “ungolden” silence.
Last Tuesday, it issued a stark warning on a major threat: Nigeria’s social cohesion, national security, and democratic governance are being surreptitiously surrendered to algorithms controlled from outside our borders. It gladdens my heart.
Silently, the Big Tech firms, under the guise of technological innovation, have been killing the global media one bit at a time. But it appears the Nigerian press can no longer bear the pains of where their “shoe pinches” like their peers elsewhere. They have rightly identified the specific point where troubles, difficulties and stresses for their survival originate: Big Tech’s thieving technology.
They have also highlighted a more insidious vulnerability. In an era where foreign-coded narratives can dictate public discourse and relegate professional journalism to the margins, the “information sovereignty” of the republic is no longer a theoretical concern. It is an active crisis.
And the message is crystal clear: A new commitment to establishing terms of engagement with these global platforms will be needed to ensure that Nigeria’s national conversation is not quietly outsourced to opaque commercial interests beyond our control.
The Nigerian government should be worried. As the world pivots toward a digital-first existence, the structural pillars of the Nigerian Fourth Estate are being dismantled by global forces that owe no allegiance to our national borders, our social cohesion, or our democratic survival.
Yet, amid this mounting disruption, our policy response remains dangerously dormant. While the Presidency and the National Assembly grapple with immediate crises of security and currency, a more insidious vulnerability is being coded into our daily lives: the surrender of Nigeria’s public square to unregulated, transnational digital gatekeepers.
There is no precedent for the complexity of the current digital era. The era of the “town crier” or the monopolistic state broadcaster has given way to a fragmented reality where foreign-owned algorithms determine what a citizen in Kano, Lagos, or Enugu sees, believes, or ignores. They, “the big boys”, smile , to the banks while our news organisations gnash their teeth.
Today, Nigeria’s total advertising spend is estimated to be nearing $1 billion, yet a staggering $340 million of that is being swallowed by digital platforms—primarily Search and Social Media. By 2025, Social Media alone was projected to command $131 million in Nigerian ad spend, while online video and banner ads—territories dominated by Google and Meta—would siphon off another $269 million.
Recent reporting from BusinessDay (February 2026) highlights that the digital ad sector is projected to grow to $148 million in social media alone by the end of this year. Meta’s total 2024 revenue was approximately $134 billion, and Alphabet (Google) exceeded $307 billion.
This is not merely a market disruption; it is a strategic decapitation of the local press. While these global behemoths reported 2024 revenues as high as $164.5 billion globally, their Nigerian operations operate in a financial “black box,” extracting local capital while returning almost zero reinvestment into the newsrooms that provide the very content their users discuss.
When professional journalism collapses, the vacuum is not filled by silence; it is filled by chaos.
The other answer lies in the global history of democratic resilience. When nations in the 20th century realised that certain industries—telecommunications, banking, energy—were vital to national security, they created robust frameworks to ensure they remained indigenous and accountable. Journalism is no different. It is strategic civic infrastructure, as essential to the health of the republic as the judiciary. Yet, we are currently treating it as a disposable commodity in a lopsided global auction where foreign entities pay billions in taxes to the Federal Government—N3.85 trillion in the first nine months of 2024 alone—yet provide no direct compensation to the industry whose intellectual property they monetise.
The Nigerian press does not come to the government seeking a handout. We come with a warning: a democracy of Nigeria’s scale cannot afford to outsource its information sovereignty. And this is not just Nigeria’s trouble; it’s a global movement. Leading democracies have already concluded that non-intervention is a recipe for the institutional collapse of their trusted news industries. The European Union has moved to curb gatekeeper dominance; Australia has implemented a bargaining framework that forces tech giants to remunerate local newsrooms; and Canada has enacted legislation to secure long-term funding for domestic journalism.
These nations recognised a fundamental truth: press freedom requires economic viability. A journalist who cannot afford to eat cannot afford to be brave. A newsroom that cannot fund a legal team cannot challenge corruption.
Today, the Nigerian safety net for truth is frayed. The good news is that it can be restitched. As a first step, the Federal Government should empower the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to establish a mandatory bargaining code. This would ensure that when global platforms monetise Nigerian news content, a fair portion of that value is reinvested back into the newsrooms that produced it.
Finally, we must insist on transparency in algorithmic distribution, ensuring that local, credible news is not buried under a mountain of sensationalist, offshore-driven “engagement.”
Democracy rarely prevents the emergence of new technologies, but it must serve as a check on their excesses. Citizens need to exert their influence now, demanding that their representatives protect the integrity of the news they consume. We should not allow the next generation of Nigerians to inherit a world where they cannot distinguish between a verified fact and a manufactured lie, or where their national discourse is merely a data point for a foreign corporation’s profit margin.
The decisions made in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly and the offices of the Presidency over the next two years will define the digital sovereignty of this nation. We can either act to secure a professional, independent, and viable press, or we can watch as the “last major treaty” between the truth and the public is allowed to expire.
This is the time when silence is not golden.

Adediran, NPAN CEO, writes via olusegunadediran@gmail.com

NCC Boss Insists On Effective Data Regulation To Sustain Trust, Growth In Digital, AI Era

Greenbarge Reporters

February 5, 2026

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has stressed the importance of effective regulation of data within the telecommunications sector.

He said that it is critical to sustaining trust, innovation and growth, particularly as Nigeria transitions deeper into the digital and artificial intelligence era.
He spoke today, February 5, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) for the purpose of strengthening the enforcement of data privacy and protection in the telecommunications industry. The MoU provides a structured framework for both organizations to formalize a shared commitment to advancing data protection and regulatory synergy in Nigeria’s digital ecosystemg.
Dr. Aminu Maida noted that data protection and privacy regulations have become important to the future of the communications industry, saying that the NCC is committed to cooperation with the NDPC to ensure that the privacy rights of Nigerians are adequately protected, while maintaining a resilient and forward-looking communications network.
He took a look at what he called “remarkable growth of the sector,” adding that Nigeria has evolved from about 500,000 connected telephone lines to over 170 million active connections today, reflecting the Commission’s mandate to not only connect Nigerians but also enable businesses, innovation and national development to thrive.
According to the EVC, the next phase of growth lies in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), which cannot function without data generated by users of digital platforms. He stressed that data is produced by people, belongs to people, and that citizens must be aware of the data they generate and the rights attached to it.
He warned that where such awareness is lacking, data risks being monetised without the consent or benefit of its owners.
“People need to be aware of the data they are generating, and they need to know their rights around that data. If they don’t know it, somebody will monetise it. When platforms are said to be free, they are not really free. Somebody is using your data.
“The future is data. If we do not get the principles of how we govern it right, even our national sovereignty could be undermined.”
Dr. Maida described data as a critical component of national sovereignty and that for artificial intelligence to remain relevant and beneficial to Nigeria, the country must continue to generate fresh, locally relevant data within a trusted regulatory environment.
This was even as the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji described the MoU as essential for protecting the data of Nigerians.
He said: “It is always difficult to go into a sector and implement your mandate effectively without involving the regulator of that sector.
“We are not taking over the mandate of the telecom regulator.
“We are adding value to what you are doing, and you add value to what we are doing.
“We do not want this MoU signed and kept on the shelf. We want to sign and commence implementation immediately to ensure that the privacy and protection of Nigerians’ data is properly taken care of.”
Dr. Olatunji noted that coordination and collaboration are core pillars of the NDPC’s approach to regulating data protection and safeguarding privacy. He expressed optimism that the partnership with the NCC would enhance effective data governance in the communications sector, adding that both agencies would share knowledge, expertise, and build capacity in areas of mutual regulatory interest to strengthen Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem.
NCC Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, in a statement said that NCC, as the regulator of telecoms, and the NDPC, as the authority on data protection, share overlapping responsibilities in ensuring that citizens’ personal information is secure.
She said that to avoid potential conflicts in the mandates of the two Commissions as enshrined in their respective Acts, and pursuant to their statutory responsibilities, both NCC and NDPC recognize the importance of streamlining the regulatory process to avoid overlaps in their respective mandates and ensure clarity in the regulation of data in the communications sector.

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