Survivors of the recent attacks in Plateau State are still struggling to come to terms with the heavy losses they suffered when terrorists invaded their communities.
For John Mai’Agwa, a 52-year-old man who lost four children, four cousins and three in-laws, the pain is unbearable.
In one fell swoop, the gunmen killed 11 of his family members, he said.
In his lamentation during an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend, Mai’Agwa said life is cruel, miserable, and bitter for him.
The same goes for Jerry Mwa, who also lost two of his children, wife, and three grandchildren in the attacks.
The echoes of gunfire still linger in his mind and the memories of his loved ones loom large in his grief-stricken heart.
According to Mwa, they were sleeping when, at 1:30am on the fateful day, he heard gunshots in the area. He said before he could rush out, he was overwhelmed by the attackers and in the ensuing confusion his son and the grandchildren were burnt inside their room.
He said his family had already gathered their ashes for proper burial.
For Mrs. Wiki Kaja, a 35-year-old housewife, her husband, three children, mother-in-law, and five of her husband’s siblings were mowed down by the heartless assailants.
READ ALSO: Like Benue, Like Plateau
While narrating her ordeal to LEADERSHIP Weekend, she appealed to the federal government to deploy Mobile Police Force to the affected areas to flush out the gunmen from their communities.
Still in shock, Mai’Angwan said he was told that army uniforms were not sold in the open market and asked how the militiamen got the army camouflage fatigues they wore.
He said, “If the federal government has no hand in what is happening to us, they should do the needful by protecting us. In fact, on that day, bullets were flying everywhere.”
Forty-four-old farmer Sunday Gudu said he lost two children and six other extended family members in the attack
Gudu claimed that throughout the period that the attack lasted, the militiamen had a field day as there were no security operatives in his community.
He appealed to the federal government to stop the senseless killings in Plateau, Benue, and other states of the federation, stressing that without the people there cannot be governance.
The attacks were launched on communities in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas where 150 residents and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The attack on Zike Kimakpa community of Irigwe chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area was carried out at midnight of April 13, 2025.
Barely two weeks later, a similar incident was simultaneously launched on five communities in Bokkos LGA of Plateau state .
On what to do next, Mwa said, “We have been calling on federal and state governments to stop these killings but till now nothing has been done.
“We cannot leave our ancestral homes for them (killers) because this is our inheritance. I am calling on governments at all levels to intervene. As it is right now, I am only left with my working stick,” he said.
For Mrs. Wiki Kaja, a housewifer who lost 10 members of her family, consisting of her husband, mother-in-law, and her husband’s siblings, the federal government should deploy Mobile Police Force units to the affected areas to chase out the bandits from the communities.
Irigwe, MACBAN Leaders Differ On Allegations Against Fulani Herders
Meanwhile, leaders of community associations have told LEADERSHIP Weekend that over 500 members of their communities have been killed from December 2023 till date.
The national president of Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Dr. Daniel Gya, said from 2023 till date, 146 persons were killed at Irigwe land.
He said the killings started in 2001, adding that from 2016 to 2023, they have lost about 1,014 persons.
He added that during the period, several communities were destroyed while many of the residents were displaced.
Gya further claimed that from 2001 to 2025, 21,224 homes were burnt while 21, 876 farms and 212 barns were destroyed in the area.
He, however, said there were no internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps on Irigwe land, stressing that when such attacks happen, whole villages were wiped out while the victims relocated and reintegrated among their relations in other areas.
“They live in the homes of their relatives. In fact, it is not even safe for us to put our people in IDP camps because they are not safe there. People are rather reintegrated in the homes of their loved ones.
He accused the federal government of not living up to expectations.
“How can from 2001 till date, 1, 176 people be killed just like that? Does this show that the federal government, the military, and the police are protecting the people?
“We are talking about 1,176 over a period of 25 years. In less than 10 years, from 2016 till date, we are talking about over 1,100 persons killed. If something is going on consistently like this, can we say that those who are saddled with the responsibility of protecting life and property are doing their constitutional duties?” he asked.
Speaking on the way forward, the Irigwe leader said: “Everybody is aware that the US government declared the Fulani militias the fourth deadliest terrorist group and the same people have killed and maimed innocent citizens of the state.
“In Barkin Ladi LGA alone, the governor was quoted to have said 53 communities have been renamed and taken over by the same militias.
“If these people have proven themselves to be as deadly as this, why is it difficult for the federal government to proscribe them as a terrorist group?”
According to him, unless the government categorise and classify them as a terrorist group, the killings would continue.
But in a swift reaction, the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Yusuf Babayo, described the allegation that Fulani herders were responsible for the killings as a fabrication of lies against the hardworking herdsmen.
Babayo said the Fulani herders were also victims of the persistent attacks and killings in the state.
He called on the herders to remain peaceful and to report any breach of peace to law enforcement agencies for prompt actions.
The chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council Vanguard (BCDCV), Barr. Farmasum Fuddang told LEADERSHIP-Weekend in an interview that from December 2023 till date 500 persons have been killed while over 3,000 persons were displaced by the militias.
He explained that the way his people operate is that displaced persons do not normally go to IDPs’ camps but they are rather absorbed by their relatives in other communities, adding that over 2,000 of them have returned to their villages and were staying in churches.
According to him, the returnees are being supported by the Plateau State government, Bokkos local government area, the federal government, COCIN, ECWA and other non-governmental organisations with food.and other basic items.
The chairman said the federal government had not done enough because the killing had continued.
He stressed that the primary responsibility of the government is the protection of the life and property of the citizenry.
“We expected that the federal government should rise to the occasion. People are being killed on daily basis and the government is not doing anything about it. Nobody has been arrested or paraded. Our attackers are still there roaming the streets with impunity,” he alleged.
On the way forward, Fuddang advocated the establishment of state police, which, according to him, was long overdue. He argued that the governor as the chief security officer of the state cannot control the police or military because they do not take orders from him, but from their bosses in Abuja.
“If we have state police, they can be deployed to attacked scenes when the need arises to deal with the situation because the officers are familiar with the terrain to bring the situation under control.
“Since the federal government has failed in its responsibility to protect us, we should be allowed to defend ourselves. Each time people call for self-defence, the federal government will look at it as a call to anarchy. If they do not want anarchy, let them do the needful.”
The District Head of Manguna in Bokkos local government area of Plateau State, Chief Raymond Alo, asserted that some perpetrators of the attacks that led to the killing of over 53 persons were known members of their communities.
Alo made the revelation during the visit of Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the mass grave site where the victims were buried.
According to him, if given the opportunity, they could be identified with a view to bringing them to justice.
He appealed to Governor Mutfwang to intensify efforts to draw federal government attention to the plight of the victims and the urgent need to rebuild their communities.
State Government Unveils Measures To Avert Further Attacks
The state commissioner for information and communication, Hon. Joyce Ramnap, who spoke on the measures the state government had taken to prevent a recurrence, said Governor Mutfwang swiftly convened an emergency security council meeting with all heads of security agencies, adding that it had resulted in the deployment of additional personnel to strategic and vulnerable locations.
“In addition to that, the state’s internal security outfit, ‘Operation Rainbow’ is being restructured and reinforced with 600 new recruits to be trained and deployed with a clear mandate to provide intelligence, secure communities, and respond to threats”.
Others, according to her, are the activation of the Inter-Religious Council for Peace Mediation, the appointment of a Special Envoy on Peace to lead grassroots consultations, committee to collate and harmonise all the reports of judicial commissions and the formation of a Fact-Finding Committee to investigate the resurgence of violence and propose measures to ensure lasting peace in the state.
On the humanitarian crisis, the commissioner hinted that emergency relief and food aid were being distributed to the affected persons in churches and temporary shelters through partnerships with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
“To curb the movement of criminal elements, the governor announced new security directives prohibiting night grazing statewide; banning transportation of cattle by vehicle after 7:00 pm; and movement of motorcycles is restricted between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am daily,” she said.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state government had earmarked 30 hectares of land for the cultivation of Napier grass, an essential feed for livestock in the vast Wase Game Reserve which has become the abode of bandits.
“The Wase Game Reserve will be reclaimed and distributed to registered herders for grazing. Government has also come out with a blueprint for registered cluster farmers in their communities to cultivate and plant crops so that they do not run away from their ancestral lands,” Ramnap said
2027: ‘The Future Of Nigeria Is In Peter Obi, Other Candidates Are Fake’ – PDP Chieftain, Sowunmi
AFOLABI
Ahead of the 2027 election, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has declared that the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, remains the only genuine candidate.
Naija News reports that Sowunmi made this known during a talk show in Abuja on Friday, organised by some members of the Obidient Movement, powered by the Cyrus Group and the Free Nigeria Foundation, as part of the May Day celebration.
He explained that despite being a member of the PDP, he is aware that the future of Nigeria is in Peter Obi.
According to him, Peter Obi is eager to see Nigeria succeed and actively seeking answers to its problems, unlike others who wait for opportunities they are not yet ready for.
He said, “You know, I am of the PDP, but the future of Nigeria is in Peter Obi. He is the only genuine candidate; all others are fake.
“I am very uncomfortable with the way we are passing the baton between the North and the Southwest, leaving out the crucial Igbo zone, even when Obi, who is the future, is available.”
Also speaking at the event, the Acting National Chairman of the LP, Senator Nenadi Usman, said the party belongs to workers everywhere, in construction sites, hospitals, security, or other sectors.
She emphasised that the LP takes workers’ welfare seriously, listing five key areas: equitable wages, labour rights, health and housing programs for workers, and enforcement of labour laws.
Senator Usman cautioned that a government might claim achievements that do not reflect in the people’s welfare, which would be a failure of governance.
While urging Nigerians to remain steadfast, she added, “Stay the course; don’t sell your birthright for tomorrow’s children.”
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator, Ireti Kingibe, also criticised Nigerian youths and obidients for not doing enough to take ownership of the country, warning, “You are too quiet, and we are going down in this country.”
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said that the Igbo people of South-East will deliver over 70 per cent of their votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
According to Kalu, the development will be one of the ways of repaying President Tinubu for his commitment to the development of Igbo land.
Recalling the promise of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration made to the people of the region by the Gowon regime after the civil war that claimed over three million lives in 1970 which was not kept, Kalu said Tinubu has fulfilled the promise with the creation of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC).
The Deputy Speaker made the pledge while speaking at Ntalakwu in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State on Friday during a grand reception held in his honour by the Atuma Grace Movement, a political structure of former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Atuma.
Kalu, who was also honoured with a chieftaincy title of “Dike Eji Aga Mba” meaning “The Peoples Warrior” by the traditional ruler of Ntalakwu ancient kingdom in Ikwuano Oboro, King Larry said that the people of the South-East will continue to support the administration of President Tinubu.
The Deputy Speaker also formally received many notable sons and daughters of the community who defected from Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), among whom were Retired Major Akubundu Awa; a three-time majority leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Wisdom Ogbonna; former President General of Oboro Community Welfare Association, Kingsley Uwa and a former Education Secretary, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Chief Sir Uche Nwachuwu.
Kalu said: “No other President has remembered the promise made to Igbo people after the war like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fifty years came and passed, administrations came and passed, none of them deemed it right to fulfill those promises made to Ndi Igbo and only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took it upon himself and said, there must be a platform to respond to those proposals made to Ndi Igbo. And he chose South East Development Commission which no other President accepted to sign.
“He answered to our problem to enable us develop the rural communities in Igboland. He signed the SEDC bill into law and has funded it even when naysayers said he won’t. He loves Ndi Igbo and we Igbos remember those who love us.
“We are promising the President, 70 to 80 percent of votes from Igboland. Let us continue to remain as people that love peace and unity. I heard the cry of the traditional rulers who mentioned he was asked not to come and receive the Deputy Speaker by the powers-that-be in the state, when we were received in Bende, we heard that they were asked not to receive those from the Federal Government, asked not to go to any function promoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It ought not to be so! Election has come and gone. Now is time for governance. Restricting the traditional rulers from coming to welcome those working with President is not the right leadership that Abia state is looking for.
Those who are threatening the traditional rulers, please, we beg you, allow them the freedom to exercise the mandate of the people. Abia state should be free for everybody to express where they want to belong and who they want to follow,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the host Atuma welcomed the Deputy Speaker, saying that the All Progressives Congress was waxing stronger in Abia State.
“The Deputy Speaker, your presence in itkwuano today is not by mistake. As a great son of Abia, a great son of Nigeria, this is your day. We will not celebrate any other person but you because in the leadership pinnacle, you’re the APC leader of Abia State. I’m welcoming my pinnacle leader, the entire Abia people is here.
“We appreciate you, and I would like to make a remark that this is just the beginning of the journey because we are ascending to greater heights, we will shout in victory when we reach the Olympian heights. That’s where we are headed. We are not going to be distracted. We appreciate you and we welcome you specially, both my traditional ruler who was actually asked not to be here in person. Thank you for coming,” he stated.
The pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group -Afenifere – has warned against calling President Bola Tinubu as a Yoruba president.
Afenifere emphasised that Tinubu did not ascend to the presidency by tribal inheritance but by democratic choice through the result of votes cast in faith by Nigerians of every tongue, creed, and religion.
National Organising secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu stated this in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Friday.
While maintaining that since the opponents of former President Muhammadu Buhari did not describe his government as Fulani Presidency, it would be wrong to describe that of Tinubu as the Yoruba’s presidency.
According to Omololu, Afenifere would not fold its arm and allow other ethnic groups and nationalities to give the government of their kinsman an ethnic colouration.
He further noted the expose by United States-based Dr Sandra Duru that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegation of sexual harassment against Senator Godwill Akpabio was an attempt to stigmatise the government of President Tinubu.
He stressed that Afenifere has taken due note of the revelation detailing the conversation with the suspended Senator, particularly her alleged shocking admission of a clandestine plot to sabotage the administration of Tinubu, “which the conspirators have stereotyped as a “Yoruba government,” and thereby stir the embers of division to deny him a second term.”
According to the mainstream Yoruba group, there is no light accusation of ethnic colouration, noting that the revelation demands reflection from patriots and repudiation from those who still hold Nigeria dear.
“Let it be said, plainly and without ambiguity, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is not a Yoruba government. It is a Nigerian government. He did not ascend to the presidency by tribal inheritance but by democratic choice — the result of votes cast in faith by Nigerians of every tongue, creed, and religion.
“To label this administration as “Yoruba” and weaponise that label as grounds for sabotage is not only dishonest, but a vile act of tribal opportunism and sedition. We reject it utterly.
“We remind the nation: When President Muhammadu Buhari held office for eight years, no one branded his leadership as a “Fulani government.”
“No tribal coalition was formed to deny him a second term on the grounds of ethnicity. He was allowed to serve out his mandate in full — and rightly so. The same principle of equity and continuity must apply now.
“Let no one demand justice only when it suits them, but deny it when it is owed to others,” the statement noted.
The organisation insists that Tinubu “will serve his full term of eight years, by the will of the good people of this country and under the watch of the Constitution. To suggest otherwise is to play Russian roulette with our national destiny.”
While commending Duru for her uncommon courage for speaking truth not only to power, but to conspiracy, Afenifere said her voice is “a reminder that integrity still walks among us, and that silence, in the face of wickedness, is not an option for those who love this country.”
Afenifere said it strongly decried the internationalisation of fabricated domestic issues by those who authored the falsehood in the first place.
“This is akin to setting fire to your own seat in a cinema and running out crying “Fire! Fire!” — not out of alarm, but out of selfish ambition. It is selfishness that seeks to burn down the image of the nation to satisfy the ego of one person who believes that except she has her way, the country should not have peace.”
Afenifere declared that, “Nigeria is not a personal or tribal empire. Our nation will not bow to tribal blackmail. It will not bend to invented narratives. And it will not break under the weight of the conspiracy.
“Let all patriots rally to the defence of truth, justice, and constitutional order. Let us remember that nations fall not only when tanks roll through streets — but also when lies, repeated often enough, begin to sound like truth.
‘We have come too far to be dragged backward by petty ambition disguised as activism. Let us reject the agents of sabotage — not because they threaten one man, but because they threaten all of us,” Afenifere stressed.
NNPCL: EFCC Investigates Mele Kyari, 13 Other Senior Executives Over Misappropriation Of Funds (Full List)
AFOLABI
A document obtained by Punch on Friday from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari.
Naija News learnt that the anti-graft agency is also investigating thirteen other former senior executives of the national oil firm over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds.
The EFCC document, titled ‘Investigation Activities: Request for Information’, is dated April 28, 2025, and was addressed to the current Group Managing Director of NNPCL.
It outlined the officials to include Abubakar Yar’Adua, Mele Kyari, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ibrahim Onoja, Ademoye Jelili, and Mustapha Sugungun.
Others are Kayode Adetokunbo, Efiok Akpan, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya and Desmond Inyama.
The document stated, “The commission is investigating a case of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds in which the underlisted officials of your organisation featured.”
In its request, the EFCC has asked the NNPCL to provide certified true copies of the emoluments and allowances of the listed officials, including those who have retired.
Despite the gravity of the investigation, the spokesperson for NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, has refused to comment on the allegations surrounding the top officials. He has ignored multiple inquiries from Punch regarding the matter, raising concerns about the corporation’s transparency.
This lack of response has fueled public suspicion, deepening distrust in the operations of NNPCL, which many believe is hiding the true state of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
This development comes on the heels of mounting criticism of NNPCL’s handling of the refineries under its management. On Tuesday, Punch reported that the $897 million revamp of the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) had failed to deliver results, with the refinery still unable to produce Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The Punch report also highlighted that the newly repaired $1.5 billion Port Harcourt refinery struggled to operate at under 37.87% of its production capacity, further casting doubt on NNPCL’s claims of revitalising the nation’s refineries.
The WRPC, which was brought back to life by NNPCL in December 2024, faced further setbacks when it was shut down due to safety concerns in its Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater.
Despite consuming $897.6 million in maintenance costs, the refinery failed to produce petrol and was shut down barely a month after Kyari declared it operational.
An investigation conducted by Saturday Punch in January 2025 revealed that while NNPCL had claimed that production was ongoing at WRPC, activities were only skeletal compared to when the refinery was running at full capacity. The NNPCL, however, denied these claims, asserting that production was indeed taking place.
Senior Tories are plotting to remove its Nigerian British conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, after the party’s disastrous local election results.
The possibility of the Tories getting their fourth leader in less than four years seems likely as the party lost hundreds of council seats across England and nearly been eliminated in their traditional strongholds.
The Independent news reported that discussions were already underway before Thursday’s local elections to find a way to remove Badenoch.
Senior Tories already told reporters that they plan to press Robert Jenrick, who came second to Badenoch, to challenge her.
Among the complaints against Badenoch is lack of vision and policies, failure to score hits in Prime Minister’s questions and a failure to properly confront the rising reform.
Speculation about Jenrick making a leadership push had been rife before the local elections after a recording of him emerging pronouncing on a plan to do a deal with reform, a move opposed by Badenoch.
After that, a letter he sent to all candidates without her name on it also emerged.
One senior Tory told reporters, “I am messaging Robert [Jenrick] to get his act together and make a bid to be leader. We cannot continue like this.”
One MP also said, “It is now just a matter of timing. There is no way she can lead us into a general election.”
A former ally of Badenoch’s added that, “She just does not have it. We have a choice of replacing her with Robert or a lot of us switching to reform.”
But the party’s co-chairman Nigel Huddleston insisted that Badenoch should not face a challenge.
“Kemi’s position is certainly solid. She’s only been leader for six months and she was out and about right across the country, and I can tell you this, everywhere we went, people wanted to see her more and hear more from her.”
Meanwhile, Badenoch has attempted to downplay the electoral disaster as the party loses hundreds of seats and confronts the growing influence of Reform.
She said in a statement that, “These were always going to be a very difficult set of elections coming off the high of 2021, and our historic defeat last year – and so it’s proving. The renewal of our party has only just begun and I’m determined to win back the trust of the public and the seats we’ve lost, in the years to come.”
The Federal Government has obtained approximately $191 million from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to enhance the health systems in Nigeria.
This announcement was made on Friday in Abuja during the launch of Gavi Health Systems Strengthening Support-3 for Nigeria.
Gavi stated that this health systems strengthening grant of around $191 million, allocated over the next four years, is among the largest grants ever provided by Gavi.
Additionally, Gavi is investing nearly $100 million this year in a vaccination initiative aimed at protecting over 100 million children from Measles and Rubella.
During the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, remarked that Gavi’s investment in Nigeria has saved millions of lives, helped the country’s immunization program recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and facilitated the introduction of new vaccines, including those for HPV, malaria, and Mpox.
Pate, represented by the Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Kamil Shoretire, emphasized that Gavi’s mission to save lives and enhance health through equitable and sustainable vaccine use aligns with the national Health Systems Strengthening Board’s vision to save lives, alleviate both physical and financial burdens, and promote health for all Nigerians.
“The government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is passionate about making quality health services equitably accessible and affordable to all, and rapidly reducing maternal and deaths, and this is the fulcrum of ongoing reforms in the Nigerian health sector.
“Nigeria considers investing in the health sector as a key dividend of democracy and that the provision of quality health services as a fundamental right of every citizen, in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Over 1 Billion Children Have Been Immunised
The Director of Health Systems and Immunisation Strengthening at Gavi, Alex de Jonquieres, restated Gavi’s mission to ensure every child benefits from lifesaving vaccines.
He said since 2000, 1.1 billion children had been immunised with Gavi support.
“Nigeria is a crucial part of this story: 62 million children vaccinated and two million deaths averted via >$ 2.4bn in support to procure vaccines and strengthen the systems that deliver them. This has enabled the introduction of nine vaccines in Nigeria, including most recently, vaccines against HPV, which has already protected 13.5 million Nigerian girls against cervical cancer, and malaria.
“Recognising Nigeria’s importance, the Gavi Board approved a special 10-year strategy for Nigeria in 2018. This strategy helps provide Nigeria with the vaccines it needs, with $1.1bn worth of vaccines procured since 2018 – one-third by the Government of Nigeria and two-thirds by Gavi. It also provides $260m to strengthen Nigeria’s health system to deliver these vaccines as well as additional support to implement vaccination campaigns,” he emphasised.
He explained that the two-pronged strategy has successfully extended immunisation to over 1.7 million zero-dose children, reached more than 91 million under-five children through campaigns, and installed 11,405 cold chain equipment units.
He added that the strategy directly supported eight states by recruiting 3,683 health workers who also helped over 572,000 mothers give birth, renovating 493 primary health centres, and providing transportation and equipment, including motorcycles, buses, boats, and a refrigerated van, to support vaccine distribution and immunisation services.
“While these results are impressive, we still have a long way to go. Nigeria is home to the largest number of zero-dose children, those who have not received a single dose of routine vaccines, in the world. Low immunisation coverage results in repeated outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths.
“To address this, we are today launching Gavi’s next health systems strengthening grant with another ~$191m of funding over the next four years. This grant is one of the largest ever made by Gavi and is intended to help extend the reach of the health system to reach 1.8 million zero-dose children and increase immunisation coverage to 84 per cent by 2028.
“The Government of Nigeria designed this grant through an inclusive planning process across the Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other agencies at the federal and state levels and with support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, many other partners and civil society and private sector organisations. It received strong endorsement from our technical review panel for its strategic vision, digital innovation, and focus on sustainability,” he noted.
He stated that barely 80 per cent of it is supporting work at the sub-national level and more than 10 per cent of that will flow to civil society organizations working at the community levels to ensure the funding is available and the National Traditional Leaders’ Committee will be a key partner in helping to amplify these efforts at the sub-national level.
“In addition, we are also investing close to $100m this year in a vaccination campaign to protect over 100 million children against Measles and Rubella, our largest ever such campaign.
“This support is designed to fully align with the pioneering Sector Wide Approach and health sector reform programme being led by the Coordinating Minister. At the same time, Gavi’s investment is intended to be catalytic and complementary to investments by the Government of Nigeria.
“We therefore look to the government to continue to increase domestic investment in the health sector and in immunisation specifically. We also look forward to robust accountability from both the Government and implementing partners to ensure that every Naira invested results in systemic improvements in the performance of the health system and ultimately leads to more Nigerian children’s lives being saved.
“I believe Nigeria is on the cusp of transforming its immunisation programme and massively accelerating progress to protect every child with immunisation,” he added.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina, recognised that the collaboration with Gavi (HSS-2) has enabled the nation to enhance access to essential vaccines.
He emphasised that the advancements in immunisation and Primary Health Care result from Gavi’s support and contributions from other partners, further bolstered by substantial reforms and increased domestic funding for the health sector initiated by President Tinubu.
“As we commence the implementation of the HSS-3 with today’s launch, Nigerians will begin to see more positive and citizen-focused improvements in immunisation and other PHC services across the country,” he said.
Rivers Women Walk Out On Administrator Ibas’ Wife During Empowerment Programme By First Lady Remi Tinubu
AFOLABI
Hundreds of women, on Friday, staged a walk-out on Mrs. Theresa Ibas, wife of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), as she mounted the rostrum to speak during an empowerment programme organised by the Renewed Hope Initiative (TRHI) in Port Harcourt, the State capital.
RHI is the brainchild of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, aimed at empowering women in the country, especially the less-privilleged.
LEADERSHIP learnt that Mrs. Ibas was at the programme, which held at a private facility in Port Harcourt, to represent the First Lady Tinubu and address the women on her behalf at the event, which was billed to feature the presentation of empowerment items to 500 women in the State.
It was further learnt that as the sole administrator’s wife mounted the rostrum and started speaking, chants erupted from the audience: “Give Us Our Governor”, “We Want Sim”, and “We Want Our Governor” rented the air.
Despite efforts by the organisers to calm the situation, the crowd of women insisted on their demands and eventually exited the venue en masse, effectively grounding the event.
LEADERSHIP, however, learnt that proposed beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme, which brought the women to the venue together, stayed behind.
Reacting to the ugly development, wife of the sole administrator, Mrs. Ibas, underscored the critical role of peace in achieving lasting development, noting that her husband’s appointment as sole administrator of Rivers State was aimed at restoring stability.
She urged residents to support efforts to maintain law and order, ensuring the State returns to its “cherished path of glory.”
Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account (ECA), once a strategic fiscal buffer designed to cushion the economy against oil price volatility, remains alarmingly underfunded despite a significant rally in global oil prices that surpassed the national budget benchmark.
The balance in the account stands at a meagre $473,754.57.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, disclosed the figure during the 149th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The current administration under President Bola Tinubu has not made any known remittances into the ECA since assuming office in May 2023.
This is despite international oil prices averaging over $80 per barrel—well above the $77.96 benchmark set in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Established in 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the ECA was conceived as a stabilisation mechanism to store oil revenues in excess of budgetary projections. At its peak, the account held over $20 billion during the tenure of President Obasanjo. His successor, Goodluck Jonathan, left the fund at $2.47 billion in 2015.
However, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the account was heavily depleted—falling from $2.47 billion to its current level, with $473,754.57 being the residual sum inherited by the Tinubu administration.
The reasons for the withdrawals have often been opaque, ranging from national security expenditures to infrastructure projects — many of which were not backed by transparent audit trails or legislative approval.
The failure to save during periods of oil boom is not new in Nigeria, but the current situation is drawing renewed scrutiny, especially at a time when the country is grappling with inflation, high debt servicing costs and exchange rate volatility.
Analysts argue that with oil prices consistently trading above the budgeted benchmark since the start of 2024, the federal government missed a critical opportunity to rebuild the ECA.
The decision not to remit surplus oil revenues into the fund could expose the country to severe macroeconomic shocks, particularly in a global landscape increasingly prone to geopolitical and economic turbulence.
“What’s worrying is that this government is repeating the same fiscal indiscipline that has plagued successive administrations,” said Dr Chika Onyekwena, an economist at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA). “We have a mechanism to save, but it’s not being used even when oil prices are favorable. It’s short-sighted and risky.”
Nigeria’s over-reliance on crude oil for over 70 percent of its export earnings and more than 50 percent of government revenues makes it acutely vulnerable to external shocks. The ECA, if effectively managed, provides a cushion against such volatility.
Without such savings, the government may be forced to resort to external borrowing or printing money to fund critical needs in the event of a downturn in oil prices or other external shocks, such as a global recession or a resurgence of pandemic-related disruptions.
“What happens when there’s another oil price crash or an unforeseen global event like COVID-19?” asked Dr Sarah Ibe, a fiscal policy expert. “Without a buffer like the ECA, Nigeria would be exposed to exchange rate shocks, inflationary pressures and a further rise in borrowing, which is already at unsustainable levels.”
As of Q1 2025, Nigeria’s public debt is estimated at N97 trillion, with over 90 percent of revenue dedicated to servicing debts — a situation that leaves little room for fiscal maneuvering.
Another recurring concern is the lack of transparency in the management of oil revenues and the ECA itself. The fiscal rule that governs the ECA — saving excess earnings from oil revenues — has often been ignored or circumvented. In many instances, state governors have pushed for the withdrawal of funds from the ECA to augment monthly allocations, undermining its long-term purpose.
Critics argue that without a constitutional framework to protect the ECA from political manipulation, the fund will continue to be treated as a stopgap rather than a strategic savings mechanism.
“The Excess Crude Account is an orphaned fund. No one is truly accountable for its management and that’s a structural problem,” said lead director at the Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere. “We need legal safeguards and a culture of fiscal responsibility to protect our macroeconomic stability.”
International rating agencies and investors closely monitor a country’s fiscal buffers as indicators of macroeconomic resilience. The failure to replenish the ECA sends negative signals about Nigeria’s commitment to prudent fiscal management and may affect its sovereign credit rating.
With Nigeria already facing low investor confidence due to foreign exchange volatility, persistent inflation, policy inconsistencies and the absence of a robust stabilisation fund could further dent the country’s attractiveness to international capital.
“Global investors look at how you manage your windfalls,” said a finance and energy analyst, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani. “When you squander opportunities to save, it raises red flags about your long-term stability.”
Despite public concerns and media scrutiny, the federal government has not provided a satisfactory explanation for the continued dormancy of the ECA.
Vice President Shettima, who chaired the latest NEC meeting where the balance was revealed, did not address the issue publicly.
Attempts to get an official response from the Federal Ministry of Finance were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report as the director of information in the ministry, Mohammed Manga refused to respond to our enquiries.
On social media and in public commentaries, Nigerians have expressed dismay over the government’s apparent unwillingness to restore the fund. Many view the issue as part of a broader pattern of fiscal irresponsibility and lack of accountability in the management of the nation’s wealth.
The current state of Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account is emblematic of deeper structural issues in the country’s public finance management.
The failure to save at a time of oil boom not only deprives the nation of a vital shock absorber but also raises critical questions about the Tinubu administration’s commitment to fiscal prudence.
As oil prices remain volatile and global uncertainties persist, Nigeria may soon find itself confronting a crisis without the safety net it once had unless bold reforms are undertaken to institutionalise savings and enforce accountability in the management of its oil revenues.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the recently sacked managing directors and top officials of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.
Naija News understands that the arrests were made due to the alleged mismanagement of funds allocated to rehabilitate the refineries, totalling $2,956,872,622.36.
According to Saturday Punch’s findings, the EFCC is investigating the misallocation of substantial sums, including $1,559,239,084.36 for the Port Harcourt refinery, $740,669,600 for the Kaduna refinery, and $656,963,938 for the Warri refinery.
The former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Ibrahim Onoja, and Efifia Chu, the former MD of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, are among those under investigation.
A senior EFCC source, speaking with Saturday Punch on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the agency’s investigation is focused on the billions of dollars disbursed for the rehabilitation of these state-owned refineries.
The official revealed that several top officials have been arrested, while others are still being sought.
“We are investigating the money that was released for the rehabilitation of all three refineries—money disbursed in recent times. All the principal officers within that time frame are being invited. Some have been arrested already, and we are still on the lookout for others. Nigerians are interested in seeing our refineries work. We are asking: where is the money, and what has happened to the refineries?” the source said.
The investigation covers all key actors involved in managing the refineries during the relevant period and is expected to be far-reaching.
Impeccable sources within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) disclosed that a former MD being investigated by the EFCC had over ₦80 billion found in his accounts.
The discovery has raised alarm among officials, with one source noting, “Large amounts have been discovered in his accounts. About ₦80bn has so far been discovered in his various accounts. The way things are going, it may be bigger than Emefielegate.”
Another official stated, “All the three of them are being investigated by the EFCC. It is indeed sad!”
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Veteran fuji musician, Ayinla Kollington, has said that he is the king of fuji without any rival.
He stated this while appearing for an interview on Agbaletu TV. Speaking on why he didn’t attend or contribute to the burial of the mother of another iconic fuji singer, Wasiu Ayinde, aka K1 de Ultimate, Kollington said, “I called him several times, he didn’t pick up and didn’t return the call. I also remembered that when it on New Year’s Day, I also l called him but he didn’t respond. So, I left him alone.
“If it is because he is the head of the princes, it is in his hometown in Ijebuland, not in the Fuji industry. Even if he says he wants to be the head of the fuji industry, there is a song (he sang it), does he want to be God? You became the head of the princes and still want to be the head of the Fuji industry. Why not kill me then, when it isn’t pap that we eat? It isn’t possible, even if he attempts. I, as a person, Alhaji General Kollinton Ayinla, expect death from God come. If the one that I survived from didn’t claim my life, no one can kill me again except death from God comes, like the one that almost did.”
In the video, Ayinla was seen responding to the questions of his relationship with fuji music and stakeholders in the industry.
“When they ask, who is the head of Fuji Music, both here and abroad, it is my name that will be mentioned.” He mentioned that if that were the case, he would have done so publicly for all fuji musicians.
He also mentioned that he is the number one authority of fuji music in Nigeria and abroad, using one of K1 De Ultimate’s songs to reiterate his claims.
I don’t know why some people like to beat about the bush when they know the truth. Some people are looking for network. By the grace of God, K1 has got the network, and he has risen. He is blessed. That doesn’t mean that tomorrow, he would begin to talk about ‘number one, or number two’. I am the authority of fuji music in Nigeria and abroad
We recall that a similar video of his colleague, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 D Ultimate, sharing his experience and journey into fuji music was posted last week on Dele Adeyanju’s YouTube page
Narrating the beginning of his journey into music, he mentioned that it was Sikiru who called him while they were still in the army and told him to begin their music career. He mentioned that it was after he wrote a letter to the Orderly room that he was a bit confident and started singing. He added that although fuji exited before he began singing and he suffered a lot because of fuji music. “It was me and Sikiru that began fuji music”
Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has distanced herself from the claims made by one Sandra Duru in a viral Facebook video on May 1, 2025, describing them as “entirely untrue” and “most manipulated.”
In a statement issued to journalists on Friday in Abuja, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said the Facebook livestream, which included audio elements purporting to feature her voice, was doctored to serve what she termed the “ulterior motive” of Duru, allegedly acting in concert with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“The content of the livestream including the voice effect credited to me are entirely untrue, and most manipulated to serve Sandra Duru’s ulterior motive of playing the script of Senator Godswill Akpabio,” she said.
Reacting to specific utterances in the video, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan firmly denied making derogatory remarks against prominent figures such as Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Dr. Abiola Akiyode, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and other Nigerians, who were described in the video as “gullible and hungry.”
“To the best of my knowledge, those words… are crazy falsehood and did not emanate from the natural cause of any contact involving me,” the female Senator said.
She further revealed that her recent findings linked Sandra Duru to a previously known Facebook persona known “Prof. Mgbeke,” raising questions about identity manipulation and intent behind the controversial broadcast.
While noting that she would issue a detailed response “in the nearest of time,” Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the public to disregard the contents of the livestream and warned against the spread of misinformation.
Rivers women walked out of an empowerment programme facilitated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu on Friday, rejecting the presence of Mrs. Ibas, wife of the state’s sole administrator.
The event was held at the EUI Event Centre in GRA, Port Harcourt.
The women insisted that only the wife of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara should address them. When this did not happen, they stood up in unison and left the venue.
Several chants of “We want SIM!” and “We want Valerie Fubara!” were heard.
They added, “We don’t know Ibas. Tinubu is our President, and our governor is Sim Fubara.”
This act of protest is the latest in a series of reactions against the suspension of Governor Fubara by President Bola Tinubu in March.
On May Day, workers refused to take part in the usual celebration. Instead, they protested what they described as an emergency rule in the state
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned President Bola Tinubu, calling on him to rein in his son, Seyi Tinubu, over serious allegations of assault, abduction, and bribery levelled by the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah.Nigerian political art prints
In a statement released by Paul Ibe of the Atiku Media Office, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the claims made by Comrade Isah as “deeply alarming,” warning that they threaten democratic norms and civil liberties in Nigeria.
“That such grave accusations are being levelled against a member of the First Family is both disturbing and dangerous. Had this incident ended fatally, it would have been another addition to the growing list of atrocities committed by criminal elements in the country,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President noted that if true, the implication of Seyi Tinubu in such conduct is “horrifying,” and further alleged that the President’s son may be wielding undue influence over top security officials.
“It is intolerable that the First Family would attempt to subjugate NANS or any civil society organization through threats, bribery, or brute force. Nigeria is a democratic republic — not a monarchy handed down to one family,” Atiku declared.
He called on Nigerians to reject what he termed the Tinubu family’s “rabid drive to consolidate political power through manipulation and fear.”
While dismissing any insinuation that he orchestrated the controversy in collaboration with Comrade Isah, Atiku clarified that his meeting with the student leader was focused strictly on education reforms and student welfare, citing his own educational initiatives like the American University of Nigeria (AUN) and AUN Academy.Nigerian political art prints
He stressed that Comrade Isah’s allegations must be investigated independently, especially given suggestions that security agencies failed to protect him and may even be complicit.
“We issue a clear warning: nothing must happen to this young man. Any harm to him will not go unnoticed or unchallenged,” the statement read.
Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and education as a pillar for national development, insisting that he would not be distracted by “false narratives or cowardly intimidation.”