President Bola Tinubu has appointed a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Ismael Ahmed, as the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi). ‘Ahmed will coordinate the operations of the presidential initiative, which is designed to alleviate the effects of removing fuel subsidies by offering cheaper, more affordable, and cleaner energy options’, the President’s Special Adviser on …

President Bola Tinubu has elugised a former Kwara State Governor, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, who died earlier on Wednesday, as true democrat who ‘stood firmly in defence of democracy and the ideals of justice, fairness and equity’. In a tribute on Wednesday, the President said the former Minister of Communications ‘demonstrated rare courage, integrity, and perseverance during these difficult times’. The …

A former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has said that President Bola Tinubu would require a miracle to secure re-election in 2027, putting his disapproval rating between 50% and 91%. In an interview with Arise News‘ Prime Time’ programme, el-Rufai said that polling conducted by his group in various regions, particularly in the Southeast and North, showed a …

Power politics in the animal kingdom could be as intense, deceptive and selfish as it is in the human kingdom. An ancient African allegory whose patent cannot be credited to a particular tradition, illustrates this. It is the fable of an old forest warhorse, the lion. After years of feasting on animals, his mane soaked in their innocent blood, Old …

Any insurgency that lasts more than 24 hours, a government official has a hand in it – General Sani Abacha. “Finally, Mr. President has moved out of his comfort zone in the Presidential villa…” “That is not true! The President has moved on a countless number of occasions from the Villa. He is not a recluse like his predecessor. I …

President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, urged West African leaders to harness the region’s youthful population and abundant natural resources for economic transformation through industrialisation, education, and innovation. Delivering the opening address at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, President Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, described the region’s vibrant, youthful population …

It has been four days since Mr. President visited Benue State. I have had time to reflect, to listen again, and to consider the tone, substance, and symbolism of that visit. And truth must be spoken, with all the sobriety that our grief demands, these are my thoughts. 1. A “townhall meeting” was promised — a platform to engage with …

A great many of our compatriots and undoubtedly silent non-Nigerians as well who see the solution to Nigeria’s worsening security challenge in the establishment of state police must have heaved a sigh of relief in the President’s speech last Monday, when he said the setting up of ‘state police is no longer optional but a national imperative’. I say relief …

A social media FaceBook post by a friend and colleague, James Ibechi, captured the current state of frustration and despondency in Benue State. I worked with James in the Features and Politics Desks of Daily Independent newspapers, Lagos. He was my Production Editor, a man of few words and utmost dedication to duty. Ibechi left the newsroom for public service …

A coalition of youth-focused civil society organisations under the aegis of Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) has demanded democratisation in the appointment of the Chairman and National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Noting that the powers currently wielded by the President with regards to such appointments are excessive and prone to …