Rountrip

   From the time that Bello Matawalle was nominated as Minister OF the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023, Dauda Lawal the Governor of Zamfara State has been ill at ease.   The circumstances of his victory at the gubernatorial election as well as subsequent victory at the Election petition Tribunal did not give room for sound sleep. He knew that when pushing comes to shoving, the former Governor held the aces in the State politically. Dauda Lawal having realised that it would be difficult to keep Matawalle’s new influence under check as Minister of State for Defence hatched another plan after his first moves to indict him through the cargo Airport controversy.This was to hoodwink a former aides to Matawalle who could provide information on his activities while in government.   This was what led to the unveiling of Bashir Hadejia, who we will dwell on later in the write-up   The original plan was to paint Bello Matawalle black over his achievements as Governor o...

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has extended its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Borno State following the devastating flooding caused by the Alau Dam disaster, which has led to widespread displacement, destruction of property, and infrastructural damage across Maiduguri and surrounding areas. The disaster has impacted thousands of lives, leaving homes, businesses, and key infrastructure in ruins. In a letter addressed to His Excellency, Engr. Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, FNSE, mni, Executive Governor of Borno State, NSE President Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and praised the Governor’s resilience and dedication to overcoming the challenges the state has faced. The NSE President, Engr. Oguntala reaffirmed the Society's commitment to support the government in mitigating the effects of the disaster. She emphasized the NSE's readiness to collaborate with relevant State agencies to assess the structural i...

The Kano Young Scholars Without Borders (KYSB) has commended Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, representative of Bichi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for his exceptional leadership and commitment to the welfare of his constituents, particularly the youth. In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Bala Usman Bello, the group praised Hon. Bichi for his recent increase in regular grants to students studying at the Secondary Schools of Science and Technology in Kano state. This gesture, Bello said, demonstrates his commitment to supporting the education and development of young people in his constituency. Bello also acknowledged Hon. Bichi's numerous initiatives and programs aimed at uplifting the youth, which have positively impacted many lives. He noted that his influence as the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations has been instrumental in ensuring that the needs of his constituents are reflected in the national budget. According to the statement issued...

By Best Agbese The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, located in Lekki, a suburb of Lagos, is seven times the size of Victoria Island, another high-end area in Lagos State. The refinery boasts of more than 350 concrete bridges, a port for oil vessels, and approximately 5,000 neatly built apartments for its staff. The refinery also incorporates the largest granulated urea fertilizer complex in Africa and sits on 500 hectares of land. Considering the gigantic scale of the newest refinery in the world, it would be apt to submit that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the founder and CEO of the Dangote Group, is the epitome of courage, resilience, and patriotism. His readiness to contribute to the overall development and growth of the nation's economy is evident in his numerous impactful interventions at critical moments in our nationhood. Sincerely speaking, it takes great courage for an individual to envision a world-class gigantic project like the Dangote Refinery. In his case, Aliko Da...

The Concerned Scholars for Peace and Development (CSPD) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's efforts to tackle banditry in the country. In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Zaharadeen Mohammed Kabir, the group warned saboteurs and collaborators not to distract the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the Armed Forces. The group specifically disowned a Sokoto State-based Islamic cleric, Mallam Bello Asada, for accusing the Federal Government of sponsoring bandit leaders, describing the claim as false and politically motivated. Kabir alleged that Asada is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and has ignored revelations of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal's payment of N1.378 billion to terrorists and bandits. The Islamic scholars also called for Asada to be held accountable for his defamatory video, urging Matawalle and troops to remain focused on winning the war against banditry. "The Concerned National Islamic Sch...

By Ogo Okereke Fifty five years after the civil war, the lingering effects of the war is still visible among the Igbo. Ndigbo being the worst hit of the civil war, still bear scars from the war,with ongoing displacement, poverty, trauma, environmental degradation, security concerns, infrastructural deficit and marginalization. At one time or the other, past Nigerian presidents made varying efforts to address the negative effects of the civil war on the Igbo people, but they all left limited impact. The most striking was the 3R sophistry by General Yakubu Gown in January 1970. Gowon had assured the world that there would be Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (3R), of the Igbo land,as a result of the war ravages, but 54 years after, the South East has witnessed the direct opposite of the 3Rs, even in exponential proportion. In a similar move, General Olusegun Obasanjo, established the South East Development Initiative(SEDI), to address regional development challenges, but ...

By Kabir Muazu In the crucible of public scrutiny, high-ranking officials face intense pressure, with every move subject to partisan criticism. A case in point is Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose recent tour of government agencies has sparked a maelstrom of reactions. Gbajabiamila's visits to key agencies like the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) among others have ignited fervent debates about his motivations, the legitimacy of his actions, and their far-reaching implications for governance. Contrary to perceptions of mere symbolic gestures, agency heads received prior briefings from the Permanent Secretary of the State House, outlining the purpose and objectives of these visits. The briefing emphasised that Gbajabiamila's tour is a critical component of a comprehensive initiative to ensure stringent compliance with reg...

The North West Agenda for Peace (NOWAP) commends President Bola Tinubu for his proactive measures in addressing the escalating security challenges in the region. The presence of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, in the region attests to the President's commitment to ridding terrorism and banditry. We applaud President Tinubu's directive for the Minister and security chiefs to relocate to the North West, demonstrating his concern for the security situation in the region. This move is a clear indication of the President's willingness to take bold steps to address the challenges. It is reassuring to note that Mr. President has not forgotten the people of the North West in this time of crisis. The North-west region has been plagued by terrorism and banditry, with four of the region's seven states among the top five states with the highest number of kidnap incidents between July 2023 and June 2024. Therefore...

Some Nigerians in the diaspora, under the auspices of the Diaspora Good Governance Watch (DGGW), have announced plans to lead massive protests demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd). The protests, scheduled to take place in London and at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, are in response to the NNPC's recent admission that it owes $6.8 billion to petrol suppliers, after initially denying any debt. The DGGW described this as a "brazen lie" and a clear indication of the gross mismanagement, corruption, and impunity that has plagued the NNPC under Kyari's leadership. The group led by Kolawole Akinmosu, a former House of Representatives candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, accused Kyari of breaching international sanctions put in place by the UN Security Council, EU, and G8, making him a fugitive who must be brought to justice. Akinmo...

A coalition, Centre Against Banditry and Terrorism (CABT), has condemned Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, for allegedly financing banditry and illegal gold-mining activities in the state for personal gain.  Speaking at a press conference, Executive Director, Yakubu Dauda, accused Governor Lawal of paying terrorists and subversive elements over N1.3 billion to sustain his profit from illegal mining activities. Dauda revealed that the funds were paid to notorious terrorist kingpins, including Kachalla Dogo Gide, Kachalla Bello Turji, and Ado Alero, among others, to unleash more mayhem on communities with gold deposits.  The coalition demanded a full investigation into the sponsorship of terrorism in the North West, calling for the prosecution of all persons connected with the insecurity in Zamfara State and the North-West.  Dauda urged anti-graft agencies to confirm the transactions, freeze accounts associated with the beneficiaries, and put them on trial for terrorism ...

Facts have emerged of how Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State misused security funds to finance his personal gold mining interests and pay off notorious bandits. A leaked memo reveals that a substantial amount of money was approved to finance a reconciliation project, totalling over one billion Naira.  However, sources claim that the funds were used to settle bandits and finance gold extraction in a newly discovered large gold deposit. The former Chairman of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund, MD Abubakar, was sacked after he allegedly refused to comply with the governor's scheme.  Abubakar had written a memo requesting funds to procure patrol vehicles and logistics for community protection guards, but was rejected by the governor. Sources close to the matter reveal that Governor Lawal held a meeting with commissioners to increase the state budget to meet the demands of bandits and finance gold extraction. According to the Gov's media aide, Nuhu Salihu Anka, MD Abubakar h...

The Situation Room on Energy Sustainability, a coalition of civil society organizations, has commended the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on the resumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) production in Nigeria for the first time in almost three decades. In a statement signed by Dr. Ikenna Nnaji, the group described the milestone achievement as a testament to Dangote's visionary leadership and commitment to Nigeria's economic growth and development. The Dangote refinery, with a capacity to produce 650,000 barrels per day, is expected to significantly reduce fuel scarcity, leading to lower prices and increased economic activity, which will improve livelihoods, reduce hunger, and save lives. The group noted that Nigerians have suffered from perennial fuel scarcity, skyrocketing prices, hunger, and even death due to the inability of the country's refineries to produce, resulting in untold hardships and economic losses. However, with the commencement of PMS prod...

In a significant move to tackle the growing insecurity in the North-West region, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has arrived in Sokoto. Matawalle is joined by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa and other top military chiefs in a bid to boost troops' morale and intensify the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism. The Minister's visit comes on the heels of his recent expression of sadness over the activities of terrorists and bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi States. Matawalle assured the people of the region that the security forces would leave no stone unturned in their quest to flush out the bandits. During his arrival, the Minister reiterated President Bola Tinubu's commitment to eradicating terrorism and banditry in the region. He emphasised the government's determination to restore peace and security to the affected areas. The presence of the Minister and top military chiefs in the northwest is expected to bolster ...

The APC Youth Solidarity Network has demanded the immediate resignation or sack of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd), following the company's admission of owing a staggering $6.8 billion in debt. This shocking revelation has sparked widespread outrage and raised fundamental questions about Kyari's leadership and governance style. Olalekan Isaac, the President of the group, at a press conference in Abuja, branded Kyari's leadership a "catastrophic failure" marked by a lack of transparency, accountability, and fiscal prudence. He condemned NNPC’s initial denial of the debt as a "brazen lie" that has eroded trust in the institution and undermined the nation's economic stability. The APC Youth Solidarity Network questioned how NNPC, under Kyari's watch, could accumulate such a massive debt despite the nation's vast oil resources. They also lamented the nation's reli...

A rights group, Centre for Human Rights in Africa, has written to the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, calling for an investigation into the activities of Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and other top officials in the oil sector. In the letter signed by Princess Caroline Obi, the group alleged that Kyari and other officials, including Gbenga Olu Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), have been involved in various nefarious activities that have hindered the growth and development of the oil sector in Nigeria. Specifically, the group accused the officials of unaccounted crude oil production and sales, frustrating the functionality of refineries in Nigeria, and preferring the export of crude oil to re...

A cross-section of Nigerians has expressed reservations about the inability of BUA Cement to keep to its promise of reducing the price of cement in the country. This is coming on the heels of the statement credited to the Chairman of BUA Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, where he stated that cement dealers frustrated his company’s plan to sell cement at N3,500 per bag to Nigerians. Speaking at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the company in Abuja, Rabiu said that while his company sold over a million tons of cement to dealers at N3, 500, per bag, with the intention that they would pass the benefits to end-users, the dealers sold a bag of cement to consumers at between N7000 and N8,000. According to him, BUA Cement could not stop the dealers whom he said made huge profits from the high margin because the company had no control over prices in the open market. He added that the Naira devaluation and the fuel subsidy removal also played roles in making the policy unsustainable. However, some sta...