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Political activist Najatu Muhammad has sounded an alarm over alleged threats to her life, which she attributes to the “attack dogs” of those in power, following her persistent criticism of the government and its officials.
In a statement titled “Communities in Abyss, Country on the Brink,” Muhammad also condemned the administration of President Bola Tinubu for what she described as incompetence and the worsening security situation across the country.
She expressed concern over the federal government’s failure to address the deepening crisis, describing the current state of affairs as a nightmare.
“The failure of the APC-led federal government under Mr. Tinubu is nothing short of horror and terror,” she said.
She specifically addressed the continuous threats she has received from individuals aligned with those in power.
“I am deeply worried about my life and my well-being. However, I refuse to be intimidated or compromised by these agents of evil. My life is in the hands of Allah the almighty and not the Nigerian government and its dark agents of evil,” she asserted.
Muhammad also criticized the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for claiming that insecurity in Nigeria had been reduced by 90%. She pointed to the recent brutal killings in Plateau and Edo states, including the massacre of over 60 people in Plateau’s Bokkos communities. The incident, which occurred between April 2 and April 3, 2025, saw Bokkos communities, including Mangar Tamiso, Daffo, and others, besieged for hours without intervention from the security agencies.
“The sheer failure of President Tinubu’s APC-led government is nothing short of horror and terror,” she said, adding that the recurring violence raised alarming questions about the government’s ability to maintain order and whether the insecurity was a deliberate attempt to destabilize the country ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The Bokkos massacre… families were wiped out, livelihoods destroyed, hopes shattered, and worst of all, over 60 lives lost,” she lamented. “This is the price Nigeria is paying for bad leadership. This price is too costly, and we will certainly not continue to take it lightly.”
Muhammad accused government officials and security agencies of widespread ineptitude and negligence, asserting that corruption within the security forces had become the norm.
She also criticized the government’s approach to security, lamenting that officials were more focused on protecting the interests of corrupt politicians and their families rather than the safety of ordinary citizens.
“The president is away in France mortgaging our future to a declining globalist French elite. Our lives are being taken by marauders at a time when our future is being stolen by corrupt globalist elites and their local stooges,” she said.
“What is worse is a complete power grab by corrupt political elites that have successfully steered Nigeria’s security outfits away from protecting the lives and properties of citizens towards the protection of corrupt politicians, their families, and their stolen wealth.”
“Northern Nigeria has become a guillotine for the slaughter of Northern citizens, Muslims and Christians alike. We are witnessing sustained carnage on a scale that is not just alarming but unsurprising,” she said.
The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding freedoms of religion, expression, and association, assuring the United States that any reports of threats or intimidation against religious leaders will be thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by acting spokesman Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government expressed concern over a recent social media post by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
The post referenced the security situation in Nigeria, particularly the testimonies of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula at a U.S. Congressional Hearing on Religious Persecution in Nigeria.
While acknowledging that the religious leaders were entitled to their opinions and freedom of expression, the statement emphasized that their testimonies had misrepresented facts and oversimplified a complex national issue.
The government assured that it would investigate any threats against religious leaders, but stressed that the issue of religious persecution in Nigeria had been inaccurately portrayed.
“The assertion that the Nigerian government has ‘allowed the violence to escalate unchecked’ is both inaccurate and unfair,” the statement read.
It highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to combat insecurity, pointing to actions such as deploying security forces to conflict zones, engaging in peace-building between farmers and herders, strengthening intelligence operations, and implementing policies aimed at addressing the root causes of violence, including land use reforms and economic development.
The statement concluded by clarifying that Nigeria is facing multiple security threats, including banditry, terrorism, and organized crime, which affect various communities regardless of religion.
The government reiterated that, while challenges remain, it has been actively working to address these issues and would not tolerate misinformation regarding its efforts.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, has said any merger for ousting President Bola Tinubu in 2027 will not work.
Ganduje stated this on Friday after he visited former President Muhammadu Buhari with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), at his residence, in Kaduna State.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar along with former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo), also on Friday paid Sallah greeting to Buhari, in his Kaduna home.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ganduje said APC is not worried about coalition moves by opposition politicians.
“We are not worried at all. This is just history trying to repeat itself. They went on a joint venture which will not work because from what we have seen, there are just some particles that cannot come together. It is a game, and we will not reveal our technicalities on how to handle it, but we assure you, we are equal to the task,” he said.
The former Governor of Kano State stressed that APC already had 21 states and would be welcoming some governors who would decamp to the party soon.
He added that APC remains “the strongest party in West Africa” and would expand its hold on power beyond 2027.
“We are eyeing other states that will come into our fold. Either the governors themselves will come, or we go for election and defeat them to increase our tally. We are comfortable, but we are not resting. We shall continue,” he added.
The controversial pro-Wike Mega Rally scheduled to take place in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State’s capital city has been postponed.
The rally which was slated to hold on Saturday, April 12 has now been moved to Saturday, April 26.
George Turnah, the convener of the New Associates Group – the group organising the rally – said the event was moved due to some scheduling conflict at the proposed venue.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Turnah said the rally will still take place at the same venue on April 26.
According to him, the previous date clashed with an event already booked by some supporters of the Bayelsa State governor and the former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.
He urged all prominent Ijaw leaders and lovers of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to ensure they mark their calendars and attend the rally on the new date.
His words, “In light of recent developments, you may recall that several Pro-Diri and Pro-Tambuwal supporters have issued public notices expressing their intentions to hold solidarity rallies in support of their respective leaders, opting to do so on the same date and at the same venue we have chosen for our programme.
“We are inclined to allow them the right and space to hold their events as scheduled, creating an atmosphere that will enable the entire country to witness their capacities and acceptance among the Ijaw people in Bayelsa State.
“As such, we will now hold our inauguration and mega rally on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,” Turnah said
The federal government has introduced a new policy to crack down on visa overstayers, with penalties including daily fines and potential bans from re-entering Nigeria.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, announced the new measures during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Friday.
The event, held at NECA House, focused on ongoing immigration reforms, including updates on the expatriate quota system and the Nigeria visa policy (NVP) 2025.
The minister announced that from August, the government will impose a daily fine of $15 on foreign nationals who overstay their visas.
He added that foreigners who overstay for three months will receive a five-year re-entry ban, while those who overstay for a year or more will be banned from returning to Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo said although the penalties are set to take effect in May 2025, the government will allow a three-month grace period until August before enforcement begins.
This window, according to him, is intended to give visa holders time to regularise their status or make necessary travel arrangements without penalty.
“From first of August, anybody that does not take advantage of the amnesty period of three months, penalty will come,” the minister said.
“But if you take advantage of that window to regularise, we will not charge you. Because the whole idea is not to punish you, the whole idea is for us to regularise. Let’s know the people that are actually in Nigeria.
“From first of August, if you (-) it’s $15 dollars per day and if you have stayed more than three months, five years, abeg we don’t need violators in Nigeria.
“And if you have stayed more than one year without coming forward during the amnesty period, abeg don’t come to Nigeria again for life.”
The minister also announced plans to fully digitalize the process of obtaining the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).
The move, according to him, aims to simplify the application process for foreign nationals residing and working in Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo added that the digitalised process will allow foreign nationals to fill and submit CERPAC applications online, eliminating the need for manual forms.
He said payments for CERPAC can also be made online, streamlining the process.
The minister added that the digitalised CERPAC process is set to go live on May 1, with a link available on the NIS website.
“On issue of the CERPAC. Do not be scared. We are not increasing your CERPAC fee. To me, let us sanitise the system. That’s the first thing,” he said.
“We are automating it end to end. Because as it is today, the procedure is that you have to go to buy a form. When you buy a form, you pay at the bank, and take the form to CERPAC centre. There’s no country in the world that does that.
“Your CERPAC will be filled online. Payments will be done online. Immigration will review at the bank end.
“And if you know you have criminal issues, do not apply for CERPAC. Because we are integrating the CERPAC solution with Interpol 24/7 and all other criminal systems. So that Nigeria will not be a safe haven for somebody that they are looking for all over the world. This place is not safe for you. Go back.
“So, everything, you can do it with the comfort of your office. And by our laws, we are going to be holding employers responsible from the foundations. It’s the way it’s done all over the world. It is the employers that will hold employees. My business is with you, business owners.
“We’ve been working on this for months, if not over a year, looking at the way it’s done all over the world, best practices, and everything.”
‘I won’t tolerate recklessness, misuse of funds’ - Ibas warns newly appointed LG administrators
AFOLABI
The newly appointed 23 Local Government administrators for Rivers State have been cautioned against reckless actions and misuse of public funds.
The caution was handed to the LG administrators by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired) in Friday, April 11.
Speaking at a high-level meeting at the Rivers State Government House, Ibas said he will not tolerate any form of recklessness, abuse of office or funds misuse by the appointees.
“I will not tolerate any form of recklessness, abuse of office, or misuse of public funds,.
“You are here to serve the people, not yourselves. Every kobo spent must be accounted for, and the people must see value for their money,” Ibas warned.
He further urged the LG leaders to ensure total committment to the state’s sanitation, welfare and discipline of local government civil servants, environmental management, primary education, youth engagement and healthcare service delivery.
According to him, these are the key areas for which their performance will be assessed.
“This is not the time for excuses. It is the time for results.”
“The people deserve to know how their money is being used. You owe them not only accountability but also dedication to their well-being,” Ibas added.
Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the party’s national working committee (NWC) members have visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna state.
The visit took place on Friday hours after opposition leaders met with the former president.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had earlier on Friday led a delegation, including Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; and Isa Pantami, former minister of communications, to Buhari’s residence.
Speaking with the press afterwards, el-Rufai had asked “adversaries” not to lose sleep, saying the visit was not political.
While the outcome of the APC NWC’s visit remains undisclosed, it is coming days after Buhari welcomed a delegation of APC governors led by Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo state.
Uzodimma, who is the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, said their visit was to deliver Sallah greetings and congratulate Buhari on the successful conclusion of the Ramadan fast.
Lately, there have been growing concerns about the possible departure of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) faction from the APC.
The CPC was one of the four political parties that merged in 2013 to create the APC, with Buhari being a member of the CPC faction.
Despite the speculations, Buhari has affirmed that he would never abandon the APC.
Late on Friday, Ali Ndume, an APC senator, asked President Bola Tinubu to be worried if Buhari aligns with the proposed coalition of opposition leaders.
Here are photos from the APC NWC’s visit to Buhari.
Members of the All Progressives Congress Youth Network have accused Senator Ali Ndume of seeking relevance through controversy.
The allegations made against the lawmaker by the youth network follow Ndume’s recent claim that President Bola Tinubu’s appointments since assuming office are lopsided.
The lawmaker had also accused the president of only appointing his allies and individuals from his home region – the Southwest – to his cabinet and key agencies.
However, in reaction to Ndume’s allegation against the president, the APC youths described the lawmaker’s claim as reckless, misleading, and unbecoming of a high-ranking member of the society.
A statement by the group on Friday, April 11, said the youths are deeply disappointed by the allegations against the Tinubu’s administration.
Abubakar Gidado, the coordinator of the group said the additional claim that the Tinubu administration was spending borrowed funds on frivolities and flouting the constitutional provision on federal character in political appointments is misleading.
“President Tinubu’s budgeting process has been one of the most transparent and reform-driven systems Nigeria has seen in recent times. From cutting down on waste to prioritising capital projects and reducing recurrent expenditure, the administration has shown a deep commitment to fiscal prudence – something Ndume conveniently ignores in his emotional outbursts.
“The president has appointed Nigerians from all regions in strategic positions across federal ministries, agencies and parastatals. If Ndume is still stuck in the past, he should bring himself up to speed with recent developments and stop misleading the public with outdated figures,” Gidado said.
He further urged Tinubu to remain focused and ignore the voices of individuals or groups that only seek to derail the government’s achievements with baseless and misleading claims.
Nasir el-Rufai, the ex-governor of Kaduna, says the visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna state, was not political.
On Friday, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar led a delegation of some politicians to visit Buhari in Kaduna.
Among those who accompanied Atiku on the visit were el-Rufai; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; Isa Pantami, former minister of communications; Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo; Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue; and Jibrilla Bindow, former governor of Adamawa.
In a post on X, el-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the visitation was for “unity and brotherhood”.
“We joined over faithful for Jumaat prayers at the Yahaya Road Mosque and had a sumptuous lunch at the Buhari Residence,” he wrote.
“By the way, our adversaries should not lose any sleep. It is not about politics. It is about unity and brotherhood. And since we are all politically irrelevant, we just prayed and enjoyed lunch with our mentor.”
After his defection from the APC, el-Rufai said he consulted Buhari before resigning his membership of the party.
He added that he does not take a major decision without first consulting Buhari, adding that the ex-president prayed for him after he shared his defection plan with him.
Meanwhile, Buhari said he remained a committed member of the ruling APC.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s media aide, after el-Rufai’s defection, the former president said he would never turn his back on the ruling party that gave him the platform to become the country’s president.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume had allayed fears that President Bola Tinubu’s appointments are lopsided.
Akume made an assurance to Nigerians following allegations by Senator Ali Ndume that the president has been favouring people from his region while making appointments.
Flood Crisis Looms As Nigerian Govt Warns Over 1,200 Communities
However, refuting the claim, the SGF said Tinubu is committed to adhering to the principles of the Federal Character.
In statement issued by Segun Imohiosen, the Director, Information and Public Relations for the Office of the SGF, Akume said such insinuations should be disregarded.
The statement said the current administration of President Tinubu is unwavering in its commitment to the principles of fairness, equity, and national unity.
“All appointments are made in strict adherence to federal character principle, as enshrined in Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Altered).
“It is notable to mention that, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, believes strongly in the unity of Nigeria and is guided by the ideals of fairness and tenets of justice in all appointments. This Administration is dedicated to ensuring that all regions and demographics of the country are adequately represented in its institutions and agencies,” Imohiosen said.
He said the present government remains steadfast in its pursuit of a prosperous, united and equitable Nigeria, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of this Administration.
“Pokers of embers of hate and disunity who carry tendentious and unfounded allegations should never be taken seriously by Nigerians.
Inquiries with respect to this matter can be channelled through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which is the official custodian of such appointments,” he added.
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The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the growing concerns regarding the alleged lopsided appointments in his administration.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Friday, Ndume accused the President of violating the Federal Character principle, a key provision of the Nigerian Constitution that mandates equal representation in public offices.
According to Ndume, several key positions in Tinubu’s administration have been concentrated in favour of a specific region, leaving other parts of the country underrepresented.
This, he warned, could further fuel political discontent and deepen existing divisions within the country.
Ndume pointed out, “Seventy-two appointees of Tinubu are Yorubas, I’m not talking about North or South. “Section 14(3) of the Constitution is clear—it says that appointments into political positions should be spread in such a way that no tribe is left out. The Constitution says that everybody should have a sense of belonging.”
Naija News reports he expressed his concern, suggesting that President Tinubu might not be fully aware of the imbalance in his appointments, which he described as unintentional.
However, he emphasized that the current situation could be corrected, urging the administration to view his comments as a “wake-up call.”
Lessons From Buhari’s Administration
Ndume also referenced his past criticisms of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, especially the lopsided selection of service chiefs.
He shared how he confronted Buhari on the issue, and the former President explained his choices. Ndume hopes that President Tinubu will take action to rectify the current imbalance.
“I criticised Buhari on his lopsided appointment of service chiefs, I even confronted him on that and he gave me the reasons,” Ndume stated.
The APC Senator also expressed concern over the rising political opposition against the President. He warned that the dissatisfaction within the ruling party, particularly among APC members, is growing.
“Every vote matters,” Ndume said, stressing that some members of the APC feel neglected and abandoned.
Referring to Governor El-Rufai’s earlier remarks, Ndume explained that many party members are upset because they feel they have no access to the President.
Instead of addressing these grievances, Ndume noted that the Presidency has opted to criticize these individuals in the media, which he deemed “very dangerous.”
Ndume concluded by urging the President and the APC leadership to pay attention to the simmering discontent within the party, as this could have serious implications for the future of the administration.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and his co-defendants must open their defence in the ongoing drug trafficking case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The ruling, delivered on Friday, April 11, followed a series of no-case submissions filed by the defendants, which the court dismissed. Justice Nwite held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the embattled officer and his co-accused.
Kyari, a former Head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), was arrested on February 14, 2022, after the NDLEA declared him wanted over alleged involvement with an international drug cartel.
He is standing trial alongside four other police officers—ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu—on charges of conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine, unlawful dealing, and tampering with evidence.
The defendants were arraigned on March 7, 2022, alongside two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who were apprehended at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. While Kyari and the four officers pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were subsequently convicted.
Following the closure of the NDLEA’s case, the defence team filed a no-case submission, arguing that the evidence presented was insufficient for conviction. However, in five separate rulings, Justice Nwite disagreed.
“Assuming without conceding that the defendants were charged with a quantity of cocaine either less or more than 17.55kg, it does not negate the fact that prima facie evidence exists showing the 1st defendant dealt with or tampered with cocaine,” the judge stated in his ruling on Kyari’s application.
The court has adjourned the matter to May 21, 2025, for the defendants to open their defence.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing the Borno South Senatorial District, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the nation’s security and economy sectors.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Daily on Friday, Ndume urged the President to focus solely on these critical areas, stating, “Let the President forget about everything and concentrate on three things – security, welfare of citizens, and economy.”
He emphasized that Tinubu’s attention should be on these priorities as a matter of urgency. “His attention should go there as number 1, then he should create a state of emergency in those areas.”
While a strong advocate for democratic principles, Ndume expressed surprise over the President’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He criticized the move, which followed a prolonged political crisis in the oil-rich state, and called it a misstep.
On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months. He appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during this period. The President invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the declaration of a state of emergency in cases of national danger or disaster.
However, Ndume questioned the necessity of such a proclamation, suggesting that the President should have instead gathered the key political figures involved and worked towards resolving the dispute.
“I feel that the President would have worked seriously on bringing them (and) solving the problem than declaring a state of emergency,” he said.
He also rejected claims that the political actors had ignored the President’s previous directives before the emergency rule was imposed.
“How can you ignore the President? When he removed them now, did they ignore the removal?” Ndume queried.
The ongoing U.S.-China trade war is likely to bring down inflation in the U.S. economy, key sections of the financial market indicate, offering bullish cues to risk assets, including bitcoin (BTC).
In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump promised to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens," and then fired the first shot against China, Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1. Since then, the trade tensions have escalated to such an extent that as of writing, the U.S. and China have imposed retaliatory tariffs on each other in excess of 100%.
Tariffs increase the cost of imported goods, which are then passed on to the consumer and could lead to higher general price level in a consumption-driven economy like the U.S.
Consequently since the trade war broke out, markets have been worried about a tariffs-led resurgence in the U.S. inflation, with the Fed adding to those concerns through its stagflationary economic projections last month. Stagflation, representing a combination of low growth, high inflation and joblessness, is seen as the worst outcome for riskier assets.
Bitcoin, therefore, has dropped nearly 20% since early February, alongside broad-based risk aversion on Wall Street that has seen investors concurrently dump stocks, bonds and the U.S. dollar.
Breakevens suggest disinflation
However, market-based measures of inflation, such as the breakevens, suggest tariffs could be disinflationary over the long run. In other words, the Fed might be wrong in fearing stagflation and will soon have a leeway to cut rates.
Inflation breakevens the yields on traditional Treasury bonds with the yields on Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). The five-year breakeven inflation rate peaked above 2.6% in early February and has since dropped to 2.32%, according to data tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The 10-year breakeven rate has dropped from 2.5% to 2.19%. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's expected two-year inflation has held at around 2.6%.
One time cost
According to observers, the impact of tariffs, viewed as a one-time cost adjustment, relies on the reactions of other macroeconomic variables and tends to be disinflationary in the long run.
When producers pass the tariff increase onto consumers, inflation levels rise. However, if there is no corresponding increase in income, consumers are compelled to reduce their consumption. This reduction can lead to inventory build-up and ultimately contribute to a decline in the prices of goods and services.
"Since the days of Smoot-Hawley, Tariffs have never been inflationary. Rather they are Deflationary and "stimulative themselves". Moreover, the disinflation shown in these charts will help encourage the Fed to soon ease as well. The Calvary is coming!," Jim Paulsen, author of the Paulsen Perspectives newsletter and a Wall Street veteran with four decades of experience, said on X.
A paper published by American economist Ravi Batra in 2001 made a similar observation, saying, "Tariffs in the US were never associated with rising prices, and trade liberalization with declining prices. High tariffs were always followed by sharp drops in the cost of living. tariffs produce inflation only in nonmarket or ualistic developing economies, but not inadvanced economies."
All things considered, the recent financial market turbulence likely resulted from growth fears rather than inflation. The bull could soon reemerge in anticipation of a dovish stance from the Federal Reserve.