NIGERIA NEWS
Step down for Nigeria’s sake – Baba-Ahmed tells Tinubu
Former presidential adviser, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has urged President Bola Tinubu to rethink remaining in office, saying stepping aside might be the best option for the country.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Daybreak on Monday, he said the President’s two and a half years in charge have not matched the promises made or the achievements often credited to him.
He argued that official claims from the government do not reflect what Nigerians are facing daily.
“There’s a wide discrepancy between what he says he’s doing and what people say they are living,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also criticised the President’s approach to security.
According to him, “President Buhari left a terrible security situation and Tinubu doesn’t appear to have improved it; rather, it appears that he has made it worse.”
He suggested that Tinubu’s age, his long-held ambition to become president, and having “no further value to offer” may be reasons for asking him to step aside.
“If President Tinubu loves the survival of Nigeria, I think he should call it quits,” he said.
He added that Nigerians should find someone else in 2027, “whether within or outside his party, who has better qualities.”
Former Anambra State governor and immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been arrested in Abuja and is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The development was confirmed on Wednesday night in a statement signed by his former media aide, Fred Chukwulobe, and obtained by Akelicious. Chukwulobe dismissed viral rumours suggesting that Ngige had been k+dnapped.
He stated, “Former Governor of Anambra State and immediate past minister of labour and employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is with the EFCC. More details later.”
Ngige made headlines recently after armed men attacked his convoy in Anambra State, although he was not inside the vehicle at the time of the incident
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A former Anambra State governor and Labour Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige, has reportedly been arrested in Abuja.
The former governor was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This was confirmed in a statement on Wednesday night and signed by his former media aide, Fred Chukwulobe.
He dismissed rumours that the former Minister, who served in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
He said, “Former Governor of Anambra State and immediate past minister of labour and employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is with the EFCC. More details later.”
Recall that Ngige was recently in the news after his convoy was attacked by armed men in Anambra State. He was not present in the vehicle at the time of the attack
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The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, said the party is on a mission to reclaim Nigeria from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.
Turaki, who was addressing the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, regretted that instead of moving the country forward since 2015 when it took over, the APC “is taking us retrogressively.”
“Nigerians are living witnesses that the achievements, the progress that had been made in the 16 years of PDP’s glorious years have either been destroyed, or shattered, or reversed.
“And that is why today, whenever Nigerians speak, they beg, they plead: ‘if you can’t take us anywhere further, please take us back to where we were in 2015.’”
He, however, assured Nigerians “that we have listened to you. We are not taking you back to 2015 when we left. We will take over power by the special grace of God in 2027.
“And thereafter, we will begin the journey to taking Nigeria and Nigerians to the promised land. It’s possible, it’s doable, we’ve done it before, and we’re going to do it again.”
Turaki told the state chairmen that the meeting was not just for housekeeping, but an opportunity to interface with them and to get a first-hand report of the state of the party in their various states.
The National Chairman stated that the success of the new National Working Committee (NWC) is contingent upon the amount of understanding and support it gets from the Forum of State Chairmen.
“And that is why, very early in the day, we’ve invited you to discuss with you, not only to discuss the handover note by the immediate past leadership of this party, but to lay before you our programme of action and then seek your guidance, seek your views, seek your comments, even your criticisms, because you are the ones that are in the field.
“You stand in a better position to advise us, to guide us on what the expectations of Nigerians are from us; you are in a better position to advise us what the feelings and thinking of Nigerians, especially members of our party, are,” he stated.
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The Police Command in Anambra State has arrested a robbery suspect allegedly linked to the murder of the late Anambra House of Assembly member, Justice Azuka of the Labour Party (LP).
Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Awka.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Azuka, who represented Onitsha 1 North Constituency, was kidnapped along Ugwunaobakpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha, on 24 December 2024, on his way home for Christmas.
His corpse was later discovered on 6 February in the bush of the Second Niger Bridge in the state.
Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said that the command, through operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, arrested the suspect, who was heavily injured during a major offensive operation in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state on 8 December.
“The suspect, a 26-year-old male, is a dangerous criminal with a long history of violent offences.
“He was apprehended in Iyowa Odekpe, Ogbaru LGA, after a fierce confrontation with the police operatives,” he said.
Mr Ikenga said that during the operation, one locally made Beretta pistol and eleven live ammunition were recovered.
He explained that the suspect, known for his violent criminal activities, was found to have a large tattoo on his body with the inscriptions “No Forgiveness” and “No Mercy.”
According to Mr Ikenga, the tattoo is a disturbing reminder of the hardened nature of his criminal mindset.
The police spokesperson said that upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being the leader of several criminal gangs operating across the state and neighbouring states.
READ ALSO: Gunmen attack church in Anambra, kill pastor’s wife, raze house, vehicles
“He revealed his involvement in the abduction and subsequent murder of Azuka, a member of the Anambra House of Assembly, on 24 December.
“The murder of Hon. Justice Azuka shocked the state and drew widespread condemnation,” he said.
Mr Ikenga said that the arrest of the suspect represents a significant breakthrough in the state’s war against violent crime.
He also said that the arrest would help in further investigations to dismantle criminal syndicates operating within the state.
The command urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the continued fight against crime.
Our Reporter
The United Towns Agency for North South Cooperation (UTA), a United Nations affiliated international non-governmental organization dedicated to sustainable development, education, and community empowerment, is proud to announce the opening of its Benue State coordinating office.
This was announced by the Country President of UTA, Amb. Abigail Amalaha during the official handover of letter of Authority to the Benue state coordinator, Mr Shaala Ukaa. The event took place on Tuesday, 9th of December 2025 at the corporate office of UTA in Abuja.
With the mandate, Mr Ukaa will oversee and coordinate the affairs of the organisation in the state in line with the objectives of the international NGO.
While presenting the letter, the Country President urged the Coordinator to take advantage of his experience as a grassroots person to bring succour to the people of Benue state, especially the rural dwellers who have been victims of incessant banditry attack and insecurity.
Amalaha further stated that this strategic expansion marks a significant milestone in UTA mission to foster inclusive growth and grassroots impact across the country.
According to the Country-President, “We are thrilled to bring UTA vision and values to Benue State. This new office reflects our long-term commitment to working hand-in-hand with communities to create sustainable change, especially in areas where our support can unlock untapped potentials.
Benue State, known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” offers a fertile ground for UTA’s agricultural innovation and rural development initiatives’’.
In his response, the state coordinator affirmed his commitment to the novel initiatives and humanitarian activities of UTA. He explained that the state office will soon roll out programs and activities that will support small holder farmers, promote climate-smart agriculture, and enhance food security, while also investing in education and vocational training for youth and women.
The new office will serve as the state hub for UTA programs in agriculture, youth empowerment, education, and health, with a strong focus on community-led development and capacity building.
By establishing a permanent presence in Benue State, UTA aims to deepen its partnerships with local stakeholders, government agencies, and civil society organizations to deliver tailored solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities within the region.
The date for the official inauguration of the state office will be announced soon. The event will witness the presence of prominent sons and daughters of Benue state, friends of the state, traditional leaders, development partners, and members of the press. The event will also feature cultural performance and roundtable discussion on collaborative development strategies for the state.
With this expansion, UTA reaffirms its dedication to empowering communities, amplifying local voices, and building a more equitable future for all.
A video making the rounds on social media has captured the moment a mother enrolled her nonverbal son into a nursery school. Netizens reacted massively.
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Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has reacted to claims suggesting that he plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP.
The governor, through a statement released by his media aide, Mukhtar Gidado on Wednesday, made it clear that the reports were completely untrue and crafted only to mislead the public.
Gidado explained that the attention of the governor was drawn to a message circulating in Bauchi, allegedly issued by the PRP publicity secretary.
The message claimed that Governor Mohammed was being warned not to make any attempt to join the party.
He described the claims as a deliberate distortion aimed at stirring unnecessary controversy.
According to him, “Our attention has been drawn to a mischievous statement credited to the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, in Bauchi State, alleging that Governor Bala Mohammed is not welcome to join the party.”
He added that comments of that nature ordinarily should have been ignored, but silence sometimes encourages false narratives to spread.
He maintained that the governor has never held discussions with the PRP, never initiated talks about switching political platforms, and has never considered leaving the PDP.
Gidado stressed that the remarks credited to the PRP were not only false but, as he put it, “a figment of the author’s imagination.”
The statement further explained that although every citizen has the right to determine their political future, Governor Mohammed has not reached any point where such a transition is being considered.
“Should that time ever arise,” the statement read, “such a decision will not be dictated by the dubious machinations of political turncoats who thrive on falsehood and malice.”
Gidado also highlighted the governor’s role in stabilising the PDP at both the state and national levels. He noted that Mohammed has consistently worked to strengthen the party, particularly during periods of internal tension.
The governor added that the governor’s political record and achievements speak for themselves, pointing to his victories over the PRP in two closely fought elections.
He advised residents and PDP supporters in the state to be wary of individuals attempting to create confusion for personal gains.
According to him, the state has made significant progress in infrastructure, tourism, empowerment programmes, and rural development, and such progress must not be undermined by opportunistic politics.
The clarification comes at a time when internal movements within political parties have drawn national attention.
In recent weeks, the PDP has witnessed notable defections, including that of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to the Accord Party and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to the APC.
Former Governor of Anambra State and immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The development was confirmed on Tuesday by his former media aide, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe, who dispelled earlier reports circulating on social media that the ex-minister had been kidnapped.
In a brief statement, Chukwuelobe clarified that Ngige was not abducted but is currently with operatives of the EFCC.
He stated:
“Former Governor of Anambra State and immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is with the EFCC. More details later.”
The clarification came amid a wave of online rumours alleging that unknown gunmen had whisked away the former minister.
Ngige, who served as Minister of Labour under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was recently in the news following an armed attack on his convoy in Anambra State. Although he was not in the vehicle during the incident, the assault heightened public concern about his safety.
As of the time of filing this report, details regarding the reason for Ngige’s arrest or the nature of the EFCC’s investigation remain unclear.
A Nigerian lady has shared a shocking encounter after ordering an Uber ride, with the incident goning viral online.
This was captured in a video posted to the lady’s TikTok account, @softfavy.
Lady recounts encounter after ordering Uber ride
According to @softfavy, the incident during the ride made her really frightened.
The viral TikTok video shows the door lock was damaged, and the TikToker shared that she noticed it halfway during the ride.
The caption reads, “I’ve never been this scared in an Uber before. Bruh I had no idea the door lock was like that till I was halfway through the trip”.
Meanwhile, the post’s comment section has been flooded with TikTok users sharing their thoughts and opinions.
Reactions Trailing Below….
@Bekee remarked “l no dey sit down for back ooo. Na me get front seat 💺 incase of anything.l go hold that stirring with driver 😂😂”.
@CyCy💕🤭 “Me wey Dey tell them to off Ac and open the window say the Ac Dey gimme headache ..I know wetin I Dey do 😭😂😂😂”.
@Vicky berry remarked, “Yesterday Same tin happened to me on “ Uber “ even the window button isn’t working. We don already enter road before I notice’.
@Hair Vendor in Port Harcourt: “Please somebody should bring me back when she responds. I don dey fear already😭”.
@Roses are red🌹, “It’s for princess treatment (she should never open the door for herself 😭)”
Watch video below….
@softfayy
Bruh I had no idea the door lock was like that till I was halfway through the trip 😭😭 #fyp #relatable
♬ original sound – JAY!
NIGERIA NEWS
Tinubu Constitutes 7-man Inter-ministerial Committee To Resolve N4trn Debt Owed 2,000 Contractors – THISDAYLIVE
* FEC okays new industrial policy, 200 electric buses for NADDC, BoI HQ, Lekki infrastructure projects
* Approves major upgrades of navigational, communication systems across airports
* Keyamo: Govt has no legal right to regulate or fix air fares
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday constituted a seven-man inter-ministerial committee to resolve the age-long backlog of payments estimated at about N4 trillion owed no fewer than 2,000 contractors.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, made this public while briefing newsmen after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.
Onanuga said the president received a fresh briefing on the scale and implications of the outstanding obligations and subsequently directed a coordinated solution.
He described the Tinubu’s engagement with ministers as “a very productive discussion,” noting that the accumulation of debts had created bottlenecks and slowed service delivery across critical sectors.
To tackle the issue comprehensively, he said the president has approved a multi-ministerial mechanism to verify claims, reconcile records and recommend sustainable financing options for clearing the backlog.
According to the presidential aide, the committee comprises of Ministers of Finance; Budget and Economic Planning; Works; Education; Housing and Urban Development; Director-General of the Budget Office and Executive Chairman of the
Nigeria Revenue Service.
“These ministers and senior officials are expected to sit together, harmonise data, and develop a comprehensive solution that will determine how and when the outstanding payments will be settled,” Onanuga said.
He added that President Tinubu is determined to restore order, transparency and credibility to the contractor-payment system, ensuring that only genuine claims are honoured while irregularities are eliminated.
Answering reporters’ questions, Onanuga said the president’s directive reflects a decisive shift from merely diagnosing the causes of the recurring problem to finally resolving it.
“We have gone beyond finding reasons or blaming anyone. The question now is: what is responsible for this persistent problem, and how do we solve it?” he said.
Onanuga stressed that as a sovereign nation, Nigeria must honour its legitimate obligations, but insisted that payments must follow proper verification and due process.
He disclosed that the committee held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday and is expected to submit recommendations soon.
“By the time the committee sits fully, I believe we will have clearer answers and a pathway to resolving all outstanding liabilities,” the presidential media aide explained.
The fresh move came amid mounting pressure from contractors who claim the Federal Government owes them over N4 trillion for completed projects, a situation that has triggered multiple protests at the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly in recent months.
Many of the affected contractors said the prolonged non-payment has pushed them into severe financial distress, leading to loan defaults, loss of property, deteriorating health and in some cases, deaths.
Although the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had before now announced a structured pathway for settling the debts on the president’s directive, the contractors insisted that less than one per cent of verified claims have been paid.
Also on Wednesday, FEC approved five major memoranda from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, including Nigeria’s long-awaited Industrial Policy 2025, the procurement of electric buses, and key infrastructure projects in Lagos.
Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, who briefed reporters after the meeting, said three of the approved submissions fall under industry, while two relate to trade and investment.
Enoh disclosed that one of the approvals includes the supply of 200 electric buses to the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), which will strengthen Nigeria’s automotive development agenda and accelerate the country’s shift to cleaner mobility.
He added that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had reviewed and approved the contract sum of N58 billion, stressing that the selected contractor has a verifiable track record in local electric vehicle assembly, consistent with the government’s Nigeria First procurement policy.
Council also approved N187.8 billion for the design and construction of the Bank of Industry (BoI) headquarters at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
The minister said the project aligns with the bank’s expanding mandate in national industrialisation.
Describing it as “the most significant approval of the day”, Enoh announced that FEC has formally adopted the Nigerian Industrial Policy 2025, a document developed and validated with national and international partners, including the UNDP.
His words: “I am glad that at today’s council meeting, the Nigerian Industrial Policy was finally approved. It now becomes a public document that will guide industrial growth and development.”
The policy, he noted, aligns with President Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda and provides investors with a clear roadmap for Nigeria’s industrial future.
Enoh said the policy is built on five strategic pillars: Industrial infrastructure development and competitiveness; sectoral diversification and value-chain development; investment promotion and business-environment reforms, Innovation, technology and digital industrialisation; sustainability, green growth and climate resilience.
He added that the document includes targeted interventions such as strengthening industrial clusters, improving infrastructure in special economic zones, supporting technology transfer, and boosting local content across manufacturing sectors.
Commenting on the “Nigeria First” directive mandating MDAs to patronise locally manufactured vehicles, Enoh said implementation will be gradual but is already underway.
“At the ministry, I use a Mikano vehicle; the minister uses an Innoson vehicle,” he said, noting that compliance will continue to expand across government institutions.
Under trade and investment, the minister stated that council approved the construction of internal and access roads within the Lekki Medical Tourism Park at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The memo, he explained, originated from the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).
Another approval confirmed Nigeria’s selection, after a competitive process conducted with Afreximbank, as host of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF).
Lagos will host the event, with the refurbished National Arts Theatre (now the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts) serving as the main venue.
“This is a huge event that positions our country strongly, especially within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It reinforces Nigeria’s ambition to be the continent’s manufacturing and industrial hub,” Enoh said.
He added that the approval aligns with the Programme for Country Partnership, whose national coordination body held its inaugural meeting last week.
Also, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has clarified that the Federal Government has no legal powers to regulate or fix airfares, saying the country’s aviation industry has operated under a fully deregulated framework for several decades.
Keyamo explained that the deregulation of the aviation industry dated back to the Ibrahim Babangida administration, when private airlines were granted the freedom to operate and determine their own fare regimes.
He noted that although the Senate had invited him to discuss the recent hike in airfares, he was unable to appear due to his commitments at the FEC meeting.
The minister disclosed that he had instructed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and domestic airlines to appear before the Senate Committee in his absence.
Keyamo stressed that while the government cannot dictate prices in a free market, it remains actively engaged with airlines to address the underlying factors driving high fares.
“Government has absolutely no powers to fix prices for private enterprises. That is what deregulation means. But that does not mean we are leaving the airlines without engagement,” he said.
The minister emphasised that operators have repeatedly raised concerns about access to aircraft, unfavourable lease terms, the absence of local maintenance facilities, and the pressure to source large amounts of foreign exchange to conduct mandatory C-checks abroad factors that all feed into ticket pricing.
He disclosed that a significant milestone was achieved under the Tinubu administration when, for the first time in nearly 20 years, a major international aircraft lessor returned to the Nigerian market and granted a dry-lease arrangement to a domestic airline at a cost less than one-third of earlier industry rates.
Keyamo attributed the development to reforms introduced by the Federal Government, including new practice directions on the Cape Town Convention, which protect the rights of international lessors and boost confidence in Nigeria’s aviation environment.
“With cheaper dry leases coming in, more airlines will have access to aircraft. More aircraft automatically means stronger competition. And competition is what brings prices down in any free economy,” he said.
The minister projected that within a year, Nigerians should begin to feel the impact of increased aircraft availability, improved competition, and lower operating costs.
On the issue of multiple taxes and charges on airlines, an issue that has drawn the attention of ECOWAS, Keyamo confirmed that Nigeria had received a regional advisory urging relief for operators.
He clarified that ECOWAS lacks the authority to compel member-states on taxation matters.
According to him, aviation taxes fall under the jurisdiction of federal revenue and financial authorities, not his ministry.
“I cannot wake up one morning and abolish taxes. These revenues go into the Federation Account. The Finance Minister, the tax authorities, and other stakeholders must all be at the table,” he said.
Keyamo disclosed that he had already escalated airlines’ tax concerns to the relevant bodies, adding that both the Minister of Finance and other economic authorities were working collaboratively to review the issues.
He maintained that while government must support operators, it must also sustain the revenue necessary to maintain critical aviation infrastructure nationwide.
The minister also announced the approval of major upgrades to Nigeria’s airport navigational and communication systems, as well as series of other measures aimed at enhancing air safety, modernising infrastructure and improving passenger experience nationwide.
Keyamo said FEC endorsed the extension of CCECC’s maintenance contract for the new terminal at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
“These include the installation of an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System in Lagos and Abuja to detect runway obstructions; new modular air traffic control towers for eight airports; an aeronautical frequency monitoring and interference detection system; and the upgrade of VHF radio communication systems in nine airports.
“Another one is infrastructure upgrade that has to do with navigation again, approval for the award of contract for the installation of aeronautical frequency spectrum monitor and interference detection solution that, of course, improves the communication between the ground crew, the people at the tower, and the aircraft that are approaching or taking off, and they normally guide them.
“That is the system that guides them to approach the runway communication. So this has to do with not just the detection system, but the communication system between the tower and the pilots. We are getting new equipment, upgrade those equipments.
“In that respect, the other one is the procurement, replacement and upgrade of the remote control, air, ground communication, total VHF radio system in nine sites, nine airports. this is also a radio system we are upgrading in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Abuja, Kano Abuja, that’s another part of Abuja, Maiduguri, Sokoto and Wukari airports,” he said..
The minister added that the president also approved the upgrade and rollout of biometric-enabled e-gates at all international airports to fast-track passenger clearance and improve travel experience.
His words: “And so we have approval for the provision of biometric enabled electronic gates, which is called the popular e-gates to fast-track passenger solution, fast-track solution at the nation’s international airports, all our international airports.”
He noted that the upgrades reflect President Tinubu’s directive to modernise aviation infrastructure and ensure safer, more efficient air travel across Nigeria.