Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Pantami has revealed that despite the federal government’s substantial funding for security, only a small portion reaches soldiers on the battlefield. He made this statement during the Young Professionals Colloquium in Katsina State, while discussing the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage and issues contributing to insecurity.

Pantami highlighted that the primary issue with Nigeria’s security challenges is not the lack of intelligence gathering but rather the failure to act on the intelligence that has been collected. He stressed that most of the federal government’s security budget remains with top officials, leaving very little for the soldiers facing the dangers on the frontline.

He pointed out that sending soldiers into battle without proper life insurance or adequate death benefits demoralizes them. Pantami added that soldiers know their families’ futures may not be secure if they die in service, which discourages them from fully committing to the fight against terrorists and kidnappers.

Pantami emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges will persist unless the government establishes mechanisms to ensure that more security budget reaches frontline soldiers and takes care of their families. He urged the government to put in place systems that guarantee proper support for soldiers’ families if they lose their lives in the line of duty.

He explained, “The government is spending huge amounts on security. Unfortunately, a very small percentage reaches our security officers on the battlefield. Most of it stays at the top. You ask a soldier to fight terrorists, but if he dies, his death benefit is less than 10 million naira, while he might have many children. Who can risk their life for that?”

Pantami concluded by calling for a system where soldiers on the battlefield receive proper compensation. If they die, the government takes responsibility for their families’ welfare, ensuring their children’s education or success in business.

He said, “We must work on the system to ensure that what is budgeted reaches those on the battlefield. They should be the highest earners in Nigeria, and their families must be cared for if they sacrifice their lives for the country.”

The senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has expressed his frustration over the pervasive corruption in Nigeria, noting that those who steal public funds are often celebrated.

Speaking to journalists in Kano on Sunday, Ndume voiced his concerns, highlighting the nation’s lack of effective laws to combat corruption.

He stated, “Our major challenge in this country is corruption. Up till now, we have no law that can proactively or reactively address the issue of corruption in the country.

“If you see somebody in our system, especially in politics or government and he is not corrupt, then he is lucky to be God-fearing. Otherwise, it is only in Nigeria that you steal money and you walk freely and you are celebrated.”

Ndume explained how, in many cases, individuals who gain sudden wealth are not questioned about its source.

“If you come into an area like this, people would start lobbying you and prostrate before you even when they know that the money was stolen.

“It is only in this country that somebody had no money yesterday or last week, but the following week he buys 10 cars; buys jets and his brothers would fly with him, his mother would fly with him, his uncle would fly with him, and they would say Allah has blessed our son,” he remarked.

The senator also revealed his efforts to pass legislation targeting unexplained wealth in Nigeria, which were unsuccessful. He recalled approaching a former head of state to support an executive bill on the matter, only to be turned down.

“Up till now, there is no law on unexplained wealth Act in Nigeria and there is no Executive Order on it,” Ndume added.

In addition to corruption, Ndume also raised concerns about the growing hunger crisis in the country.

He urged for greater investment in agriculture, pointing out that Nigeria has vast arable land that remains underutilized.

“There is hunger in the land and up till now we have not cultivated up to five per cent of our land, Nigeria is blessed with massive arable land,” the senator stressed.

Organisers of the #FearlessOctober1 protest have declared that the police, Department of State Services, and the military would not stop them from embarking on the demonstration as planned.

The organisers have also written to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to request security during the demonstration, noting that protest is a fundamental right they would not submit to any state agent.

Nigeria will celebrate its 64th independence on Tuesday, October 1, the day some Nigerian youths have taken to protest the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.

The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Director of Mobilisation of the group, Damilare Adenola, said mobilisation efforts had begun, adding that Nigerians were mobilising from different parts of the country for the protest.

“We have also written to the Inspector General of Police, informing him of our protest locations and reminding him of the constitutional duty of the police to protect protesters as opposed to the repression we have witnessed in times past,” said Sanyaolu.

The group explained that the FCT protest would be held at the Eagle Square, the same venue of the Independence Day parade, while the Lagos protest would take place at the Ikeja Under Bridge.

The organisers noted that the protest would be across the country, adding that only ‘immediate reversal of fuel subsidy removal’ would dissuade them from the demonstration.

The IG, Egbetokun, had directed the Force zonal and state commands to deploy men from Monday to strategic locations until a stand-down order was given.

Egbetokun also directed that the policemen should dress in camouflage with hats, even as he asked the Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police to engage and discourage available civil society groups and individuals from participating in the protest.

We are not afraid – Sowore, Adeyanju

However, a leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, said the youth were not afraid of the police, adding that the protest would hold as planned.

Sowore explained that the reported fear of some people about the possibility of violence during the protest was not true.

“Nobody has expressed to us or anyone that they’re afraid because they know we are not violent protesters; maybe you should ask that of the government,” he added.

Lawyer to the organisers, Deji Adeyanju, said it was wrong for the police to summon protesters who were exercising their right.

“The police do not have the right to summon protesters like they are currently doing. It is the responsibility of the police to protect the protesters anytime they embark on a demonstration. The protesters are not political parties; security agencies should not harass them,” he stated.

The counsel noted that the crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protesters in August was to discourage people from participating in further demonstrations in the country.

He, however, said the arrest and detention of some of the demonstrators would not deter youths from joining the #FearlessOctober1 protest.

Adeyanju said, “The government plans to discourage people from coming out to protest; that is why they are still detaining our comrades who participated in the August protest. But that will not dampen the morale of the youths on the #FearlessOctober protest.”

Eight groups to join Lagos protest

On his part, Adenola said the organisers would not be deterred by the deployment of security agencies.

He added that the #FearlessOctober1 demonstration was a continuation of the #Endbadgovernance protest, which took place in August, adding that the demonstration was necessitated by the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands.

He listed some of their demands to include the reversal of the subsidy removal policy, amendment of the constitution, overhauling of the legislature, and the unconditional release of protesters in police custody.

Adenola said, “We are unperturbed by the threats issued by security agencies. What we have seen so far is that they (security agencies) don’t respect the rights of protesters; they may end up instigating violence against protesters.

“But we will keep warning them to ensure that they respect people’s right to express their grievances as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are also using this opportunity to call on the Nigerian people to come out unafraid and express their grievances. When we have enough protesters on the ground, the police and other security agencies will dare not harass them.

“People are experiencing hardship, and the government is telling them not to protest. It is just natural; people have to speak up against this hardship inflicted by President Bola Tinubu’s government,” Adenola said.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement, Peluola Adewale, said no harassment or intimidation from any security agencies would stop the protest, disclosing that about eight civil society groups would participate in the demonstration in Lagos State.

He warned the government against sponsoring hoodlums to infiltrate genuine protesters during the protests, stating that the demonstration would be peaceful in Lagos.

“We cannot rule out the fact that the government can sponsor violence to discredit the protest, but we want to warn them against that. People should not be deprived of their freedom of expression and assembly. Protest is our fundamental right, and we cannot surrender it to the police or anyone. We are not afraid of the police, DSS, or military,” he added.

Another leader of the protesters, Taiwo Hassan, said Nigerians had the right to freedom of expression and lawful assembly.

He said, “We are never going to submit our rights. Yes, you know many people might be afraid of what will happen if they are shot or what happens if they are arrested. But increasingly as people are thinking of that, people are also realising that our condition in this country is one between the devil and the deep blue sea. If you come out to protest, yes, maybe there is a chance that you might be arrested or you might be killed.

“But people also realize that even when you stay at home and don’t come out to protest, it doesn’t mean your life will be safe. Hunger is killing people right there in their bedroom. People are committing suicide and the state of insecurity means that none of us is safe.”

Police assure Katsina protesters

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Police Command has said it had implemented measures to ensure the planned nationwide protest does not descend into chaos.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, on Saturday, said the command had mobilised both human and intelligence resources to guarantee safety before, during, and after the protest.

Sadiq said, “We have taken proactive measures to ensure public safety and security. Adequate personnel have been deployed to prevent any breakdown of law and order, with enhanced intelligence gathering, surveillance, and patrols across the state.

“While we recognise the rights of citizens to protest, we urge protesters to exercise these rights responsibly and within the framework of the law.”

Football fans have a thrilling Sunday ahead, with key fixtures including a Madrid derby among others scheduled across Europe’s top leagues.

In the Premier League, Ipswich Town will face Aston Villa at 14:00. Villa, coming in as the favourites, will aim to secure an important away win.

The spotlight later shifts to a much-anticipated clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at 16:30, in what promises to be an intense encounter.

In La Liga, action kicks off at 13:00 as Celta Vigo hosts Girona. Girona enters the match as the favourites, while Celta hopes to upset the form book. Later, at 15:15, Athletic Club takes on Sevilla, followed by Real Betis facing Espanyol at 17:30. Both Sevilla and Espanyol are considered favourites in their respective matches.

The day in Spain wraps up with a blockbuster Madrid derby at 20:00 as Atletico Madrid locks horns with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos tipped to edge out their rivals.

Germany’s Bundesliga offers two key matches, starting with Holstein Kiel against Eintracht Frankfurt at 14:30. Frankfurt is expected to dominate the tie. Hoffenheim will then take on Werder Bremen at 16:30, where Hoffenheim is favoured to come out on top.

Over in Italy’s Serie A, Torino plays Lazio at 11:30, with Lazio tipped as favourites. Later, at 14:00, Como faces Hellas Verona, and Roma battles Venezia, with Verona and Roma expected to triumph. Fiorentina, the favourites, will visit Empoli at 17:00 before Napoli closes the day with a 19:45 fixture against Monza, where Napoli is widely expected to secure a win.

In Ligue 1, Toulouse will host Lyon at 14:00, with Lyon considered favourites. The afternoon will see two simultaneous matches at 16:00, as Reims takes on Angers and Nantes plays Saint-Etienne. Both Reims and Saint-Etienne are expected to take the points.

The day will conclude with Strasbourg facing Marseille at 19:45, with Marseille tipped to secure the victory.

With major teams in action and crucial points at stake, it promises to be an electrifying day of football across Europe.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company says the country can get up to three million barrels per day of crude if all the stakeholders in the oil sector work in synergy.

The country currently produces an average of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd), according to data from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s chief corporate communications officer, spoke at an interactive session with reporters covering the national assembly in Abuja on Saturday.

Soneye said the country is now averaging 1.7 million bpd because of a recent directive President Bola Tinubu gave to security agencies.

“Three million barrels oil production per day is achievable in Nigeria if all the stakeholders work in synergy for that purpose from the security agencies both government and private owned, to oil companies and host communities,” he said.

“With the expected synergy from all the relevant stakeholders in the war against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, the enabling environment would be in place for optimal oil production to the volume of 2.5 to 3 million bpd.

“At a time, we felt that Nigeria was in trouble as far as oil theft was concerned, but with the intensity of the war against it (crude oil theft) has allayed our fears.”

Murtala Muhammad, NNPC’s deputy manager, command and control centre, said in six months, over 8,000 illegal refineries and 5,800 illegal oil pipelines were found and destroyed

THE Federal Government has made clarifications on the recent increase in passport fees, saying it is not feasible for the government to subsidise the issuance of the travel document.

Many Nigerians had criticized the government for increasing the passport fees by about 45 per cent.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, speaking at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, said the fee adjustment was caused by the high exchange rate between the dollar and the naira.

Recall that in August, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) announced an upward review of the fees for Nigerian Standard Passports.

With the new payment structure, the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with a five-year validity was hiked from N35,000 to N50,000, while a 64-page passport booklet with a 10-year validity rose from N70,000 to N100,000.

Tunji-Ojo maintained that the Federal Government could not subsidise passport fees for Nigerians, stressing that the travel document is an individual thing and not the same as National Identity Card that is produced free for Nigerians.

While also noting that the government was not exploiting Nigerians but simply covering the cost of passport procurement, the Minister, however, explained that the price increase did not affect the fees for Nigerians living abroad.

He said: “The increase in passport fees is a matter of cost-benefit analysis, especially when considering the exchange rate between the dollar and the naira.

“If the government were to subsidise anything, I don’t think it should be passports. The increase is just from N35,000 to N50,000 —only about 45%. There has been no increase for Nigerians abroad,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He added that Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, would soon enjoy more seamless passport acquisition processes.

“We are going to pre-launch these automated systems very soon. By October, they will be fully operational. In London, for instance, we have 16,000 Nigerians applying for passports, while the capacity of our systems at the Embassy is about 200.

“But now that we have this system in place, Nigerians will no longer need to undertake multiple journeys across the world to acquire a passport,” he stated.

He debunked claims on passport booklet scarcity while responding to a question, saying the NIS current has over 80,000 passports in stock.

He also noted that all passport backlogs had been cleared and that the Nigeria Immigration Service no longer owes its service providers for the printing and supply of passports.

David Umahi, minister of works, says the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project will be completed on May 29, 2025.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during an inter-ministerial press briefing as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, the minister said after the project is completed, it will be tolled for five to 10 years to recover construction costs.

The construction of the highway began in March. The first phase of the project, made up of 47.47 kilometres of dual carriageway, was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd.

“We started the coastal highway, 700 kilometers that is traversing Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, ” Umahi said.

“People did not understand the merits of this project. People did not see this project as an investment. And so today, the first section is going to be completed by May 29 and we’re going to toll it, and we’re going to get back our money within five to 10 years.”

According to the minister, the federal government is planning to implement additional initiatives, including developing land along the corridor for tourism, factories, and housing, as part of efforts to further enhance returns on the project.

“We also acquired a number of land within the corridor, because we’ve seen that tolling of roads alone is not just going to give you return on investment immediately,” Umahi said.

“So, along these corridors, we are acquiring land where we use for tourism, where we use for factories, where we use for housing and so on and so forth.”

Umahi also said the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is designed to relieve the strain on Apapa Wharf.

“This has long faced challenges due to its shallow berths that limit cargo handling capacity. These constraints have necessitated the costly process of transloading, where goods are shifted between vessels, resulting in significant daily financial losses for Nigeria,” he said.

The minister further said the importance of the seven axle road under construction is to facilitate the seamless transportation of goods from the Dangote refinery, fertilizer plant, and other major industries within the Lekki free trade zone.

“This critical infrastructure will connect to the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, ensuring smoother logistics and supply chains across key regions, including the North, south-west, south-south, and south-east,” the minister said.

Umahi added that the project is set to tap into the renewable energy potential along the coastal corridor, with plans to harness wind energy for future development.

The Federal Government, on Friday, re-arraigned 10 persons arrested in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protest organized between August 1 and August 10 on alleged treasonable felony charges.

The Government, through the Inspector-General of Police, re-arraigned them on an eight-count amended charge following an application by the prosecution counsel, Simon Lough, SAN, before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The 10 protesters were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Gombe during the 10-day protest, which resulted in violence and killings in parts of the country.

They were first arraigned on September 2 before Justice Nwite on a six-count charge.

However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

The judge granted them N10 million bail each on September 11, with one surety in like sum.

Upon the resumed hearing on Friday, Mr Lough, in his application, sought to substitute the earlier charges with the amended ones, which included Daniel Akande as the 11th defendant.

Akande, a member of the Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights, was arrested on September 1 in Abuja during a church service.

After the fresh counts were read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.

Akande’s (11th defendant) lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, while the other defendants’ lawyers urged the court to allow their clients to continue with the earlier bail granted.

The judge agreed with Adeyanju and admitted Akande to N10 million bail with one surety in like sum.

He also ordered that the defendant must submit his international passport to the court registry.

He stated that the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Justice Nwite also granted the prayers of the other defense counsel.

The matter was adjourned until October 4 for a ruling on the bail variation for the 3rd, 4th, and 10th defendants and fixed November 11 for trial.

Ahead of the resumption of Emirates Airlines’ flight operations to Nigeria next Tuesday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has negotiated an agreement on reciprocal rights to ensure that Nigerian airlines commence direct flight operations to the United Arab Emirates, UAE.

A statement by Mr Tunde Moshood, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Keyamo, said the minister, who led a delegation to UAE to finalise negotiations on the resumption of Emirates, stated that the meeting set the foundation for a new Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA, between both nations.
Moshood said this would enhance collaboration between the two countries and establish guidelines for both countries.

The statement reads: “The Honourable Minister, accompanied by his technical team, engaged in constructive discussions with UAE aviation authorities, to ensure smooth reintroduction of Emirates Airlines into the Nigerian airspace next week Tuesday. The new BASA, which was a focal point of the talks, is designed to enhance collaboration between the two countries and establish guidelines for their evolving relationship in the aviation sector.

“Crucially, the negotiations also yielded a significant agreement on reciprocal rights, ensuring that Nigerian airlines will soon have the opportunity to commence direct flight operations to the UAE. This marks a historic development for Nigeria’s aviation industry, expanding international connectivity and offering more options to travelers between the two nations.

“Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Festus Keyamo stated: “Today’s discussions reaffirm our commitment to fostering a balanced and forward-looking partnership with the UAE. We are pleased to have secured reciprocal operational rights for Nigerian airlines, which will not only deepen our bilateral ties but also strengthen the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry. As Emirates returns to Nigeria, we look forward to a thriving and mutually beneficial air service relationship.

“This development follows weeks of diplomatic and technical consultations aimed at restoring direct air travel between Nigeria and the UAE, further signaling the Federal Government’s dedication to ensuring the best possible outcomes for both Nigerian and international travelers. The resumed flight operations by Emirates and the new BASA will play a pivotal role in promoting tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between Nigeria and the UAE, as well as fostering economic growth.”

Agboola Ajayi, standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo, says he will win the governorship election in the state “convincingly”.

Ajayi, who was the deputy governor of Ondo between 2017 and 2021, spoke on Friday during a press briefing in Lagos.

The Ondo governorship election will hold on November 16, 2024.

Ajayi claimed that residents of the state have been grappling with poverty under the All Progressives Congress (APC) which has displayed a “lack of foresight and defined policy for good governance”.

He alleged that Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of the state, lacks foresight and coordination, and is “grossly incompetent in managing the affairs of the state”.

“It is my candid position that Ondo state cannot afford to continue an inch further on this road to perdition,” he said, adding that the election will shape or mar the fortune of the state in the next four years.

The governorship candidate said the people of the state would resist any attempt to buy votes and rig the election.

The former deputy governor reeled out his plans for the state in various sectors, including security, agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, industry and marine economic development, rural development and environment, sports, and civil service.

SECURITY

Ajayi said if elected, he will enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies, particularly Amotekun, forest guards, vigilantes and traditional hunters through “advance training” and the provision of appropriate equipment and required legislation.

“We will incorporate and engage traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders in implementing community policing and neighborhood watch for the safety of our people,” he said.

“We will invest heavily in technology by deploying modern surveillance and intelligent gathering technologies to effectively monitor hotspots and vulnerable areas such as forest reserves and farmlands to prevent and respond to crime appropriately.”

AGRICULTURE

Ajayi said his agricultural policies will be anchored on promoting self-sufficiency in food production to meet the UN food security mandate.

He said this will include providing training and support for farmers to adopt modern farming techniques and incentives to investors to establish an agro-processing industry to add value to agricultural products, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs for the youth and grow the economy of the state.

“We shall sustain agricultural practices for long-term productivity by ensuring the availability of fertilizers and agricultural input at subsidized rate. Providing tractors for farmers at a subsidised rate will be encouraged,” he said.

“We would also establish a procurement agency that will provide a ready market for all our agricultural produce which will in turn encourage our farmers to produce beyond their subsistence level.”

EDUCATION

Ajayi said quality education for economic development, social equity, technological advancement and cultural preservation for sustainable development will be guaranteed by his government.

According to him, schools will be built and renovated with the provision of information technology, recruitment of quality teachers and purchase of educational materials.

He said tertiary education will be well funded through an increase in budgetary allocation, adding that affordable tuition fees in the institutions will be negotiated with stakeholders.

HEALTH

The gubernatorial candidate said the health sector in Ondo is in bad shape.

“We shall address this ugly trend by providing at least one primary health centre in each of the 203 wards in the state which will be staffed with trained and dedicated medical personnel,” he said.

“The provision of essential drugs, hospital consumables and laboratory services to patients at affordable cost in all public medical facilities across the state will be our priority.

“We will partner with investors to establish pharmaceutical manufacturing industries in the state to produce drugs for sale to government institutions and the general public.

“The welfare of our medical officers and staff in the health sector will be our priority for effective service delivery.”

INFRASTRUCTURE AND MARINE DEVELOPMENT

Ajayi promised to rehabilitate roads, construct waterways, provide rural and urban electrification, and enhance and improve clean and pipe-borne water delivery “for the benefit of our people”.

“We will ensure that the moribund companies in Ondo state are resuscitated and where this is impossible, we will encourage the establishment of new ones,” he said.

“All these will be pursued with the singular purpose of creating massive employment opportunities for the people of the state.

“I will win Ondo guber poll convincingly.”