Category Nigeria News

A public affairs analyst, Majeed Dahiru, says President Bola Tinubu cannot be accused of religious bigotry.

Dahiru, who spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, explained that Tinubu in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, has mobilised the military to tackle security threats within two years in office.

“President Tinubu has not by any sense of imagination been accused of religious bigotry or having sympathy with Islamist jihadist terror groups,” he said.

“Absolutely not. You can criticise him for every other thing but nobody can actually criticise him for this because he does not qualify for such criticism.

“That alone is something to bargain to say, ‘Look, I am the President of this country. I am the Commander-in-Chief. There is no way I will preside over a country and sit idly and allow, encourage the killings of Christians,” Dahiru stated.

He, however, noted that while some Christians were being killed in parts of the country, there had been gains recorded in the fight against insurgency.

READ ALSO: Approach Nigeria’s Situation With Understanding, FG Tells Trump

Trump’s Claims

On October 31, United States President Donald Trump said Christianity faced an existential threat in Nigeria, describing the alleged killing as a “mass slaughter”.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed.

“Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.

The US president added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.

“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!

“I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me.

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!” Trump wrote.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to launch the second phase of the ‘Ounje Eko’ Farmers’ Subsidy Programme before the end of November this year to support farmers across the state and ensure they have access to quality feed to boost their production.

This was announced by the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, during a press conference at Alausa, Ikeja.

READ ALSO: Yuletide: Lagos Launches 24-Hour Traffic Control, Clears Illegal Structures

The commissioner said the programme was a critical intervention of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration aimed at sustaining food production, empowering farmers, and stabilising food prices across Lagos, particularly during the yuletide season.

Olusanya added that the results of the first phase of the subsidy programme launched earlier this year were resounding, as over 5,000 farmers benefited directly from the intervention.

The commissioner also said that over 993.3 metric tons of poultry feed and 265.65 metric tons of fish feed were supplied.

According to her, the programme sustained the production of 258,000-layer birds, resulting in over seven million eggs produced and 177,100 catfish.

Egg prices, she said, dropped from ₦6,000 per crate to between ₦5,000 and ₦5,400.

Olusanya stated that building on this success, Governor Sanwo-Olu approved the implementation of the ‘Ounje Eko’ Farmers’ Subsidy Programme Phase II, expanding its reach and scope to provide greater impact and support to farmers across different value chains.

The commissioner further explained that phase two would include interventions like a 25 per cent subsidy on poultry feed layer mash, broiler starter and finisher
25 per cent subsidy on fish feed.

Others are free distribution of grains to pig farmers across the state to support livestock nutrition and sustainability, and distribution of agricultural equipment and inputs to crop farming clusters across the state to enhance mechanisation and reduce manual labour.

She emphasised that the programme would cut across 10 locations in the state, including Farm Service Centre, Agege; Agricultural Training Institute, Araga; Epe Coconut House, Mowo; Badagry Fish Farm Estate, Odongunyan, Ikorodu; Erikorodo Poultry Estate, Ikorodu; Aiyedoto Poultry Estate, Ojo; Ministry of Agriculture Cooperative Office, Ajah; and the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.

As with the first phase, the commissioner explained that participation will be restricted to recognised and registered farmer associations such as the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter (PAN-LAG), Lagos State Catfish Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (LASCAFAN) and Farm Estate and Settlement Associations to ensure transparency and accountability.

The state government advised farmers to register with the necessary associations to benefit from this support.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, on Wednesday, said elections are won when voters trust the outcome of the exercise.

He stated this at the 2025 All Nigerian Editors Conference, which held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“The reality heading into 2027 is that elections are won and lost not only on policies or candidates but on whether voters believe the outcome will be legitimate.

“That belief is shaped by whether they have been hearing fragmented, tribal narratives or cohesive, nation-building ones. And that is an editorial choice you make daily,” he stated.

Uzodimma, who is also the Chairman of the All Progressives Governors’ Forum, charged journalists, especially editors, to always abide by the code of ethics of the profession.

He saluted the efforts of Nigerian editors over time, saying they have accomplished much that deserves recognition.

READ ALSO: Criticise Government Policies With Knowledge, Fairness, Tinubu Tells Editors

Role Of Media

The governor cited instances where media practitioners had used their newsrooms to produce investigative journalists who exposed corruption.

“You have published reports that held power accountable. Through your coverage, you have amplified marginalised voices.

“These contributions matter, and they are essential to democracy. But what is often missing is journalism that actively builds cohesion, not just reports on its absence.

“There is a difference between neutrally documenting division and actively choosing narratives that remind Nigerians of shared values, shared stakes, and a shared future,” the Imo governor said.

“You report on ethnic tension, regional disparities, and religious conflict; as you should. But how often do your editorial choices highlight what binds us rather than what divides us?

“None of this requires abandoning your watchdog function. You can hold the government accountable and avoid framing every accountability story as evidence of irredeemable dysfunction. You can report electoral irregularities and avoid suggesting that the entire system is corrupt. You can cover political competition and remind citizens that competitors will govern the same country afterwards,” Uzodimma added.

The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) on Wednesday expressed strong support for a proposed bill seeking to increase its share capital from ₦50 billion to ₦1 trillion, while also advocating for the removal of the Central Bank of Nigeria from its governing board.

Speaking at a one-day public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello, said the current share capital of ₦50 billion, equivalent to about $33 million is grossly inadequate to support the bank’s mandate and align it with modern banking realities.

According to him, “The current capitalization limits the bank’s operational capacity and competitiveness. Raising it to 1 trillion naira will strengthen NEXIM’s ability to finance exports and support Nigeria’s participation in global trade.”

On the proposed reconstitution of the bank’s board, Bello backed the amendment seeking to exclude the CBN, noting that the apex bank already performs regulatory functions and should not serve as both a regulator and board member of a financial institution.

READ ALSO: Poverty Not Our Milestone, We’ll Come Out Of It — Tinubu

Several other stakeholders in the financial sector also supported the ₦1 trillion recapitalization plan including representatives from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Professor Uche Uwaleke and the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN), who called for stronger collaboration within the banking and insurance sectors.

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), however, proposed that it should be represented on NEXIM’s board to ensure adequate oversight and protection of stakeholders’ interests.

Stakeholders also made presentations on a separate bill seeking to repeal the National Insurance Commission Act and replace it with the proposed Insurance Regulatory Commission Bill, 2025, aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework for the insurance industry.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has presented a total budget estimate of ₦914,863,422,871 for the 2026 fiscal year to the Plateau State House of Assembly.

While presenting the appropriation bill before the House on Wednesday, he urged the lawmakers to support the government’s drive toward sustained peace, unity, and inclusive development.

READ ALSO: Mutfwang Reaffirms Support For State Police, To Recruit 1,450 Security Personnel

Mutfwang expressed appreciation to the Speaker,Gabriel Dewan, and other members of the assembly for their cooperation and legislative backing in delivering impactful governance across the state.

“In service to our people, I salute your courage, forthrightness, and resilience. It is my earnest hope that the unity and collaboration demonstrated by the executive, legislature, and judiciary in building a peaceful and prosperous Plateau will continue to bear lasting fruit,” the governor stated.

He explained that the 2026 budget, tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Shared Prosperity,” was designed to consolidate ongoing reforms, strengthen peacebuilding initiatives, and drive economic transformation through prudent resource management and infrastructure expansion.

According to him, the proposed budget comprises ₦384,521,877,420 for recurrent expenditure and ₦530,341,545,451 for capital expenditure, representing the administration’s commitment to prioritising development projects that directly impact the lives of citizens.

He added that the focus areas for 2026 include security stabilisation, agricultural revitalisation, education, healthcare improvement, youth empowerment, infrastructure rehabilitation, and economic diversification.

Governor Mutfwang reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to ensure fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability in the implementation of the budget to achieve tangible results.

“Our administration remains committed to using every kobo of public funds to improve the welfare of our people. We will continue to work with all arms of government to restore Plateau’s glory as the Home of Peace and Tourism,” he said.

The governor further noted that the presentation fulfills the provisions of Section 121 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates state governors to lay the annual budget before their respective legislatures.

The Senate has resolved to investigate the ongoing delineation exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State, following concerns of alleged marginalisation and irregularities raised in a petition before the upper chamber on Wednesday.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South), titled ‘Urgent Need for Intervention to Prevent Imminent Political Crisis Over the INEC Delineation Exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.’

In his lead debate, Lalong said the motion was informed by a petition from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, forwarded to the Senate committee on electoral matters, alleging unjust treatment and marginalisation of the Itsekiri people in the recent INEC ward delineation exercise.

According to him, the petitioners claimed that while two communities, Gbaramatu and Oporoza, which previously had one ward each, were increased to eight out of the nineteen wards created in Warri South-West Local Government Area, the Itsekiri community, which earlier had six wards, was reduced to five.

The development, he stated, had triggered tension and accusations of bias.

Lalong added that the petitioners further alleged that the INEC report of April 4, 2025, did not accurately reflect the realities on the ground across the three local government areas that make up Warri Federal Constituency.

He noted that the report had also drawn objections from sections of the Ijaw community of Ogbe-Ijo and some Urhobo groups, who cited inconsistencies and errors in the delineation exercise.

He underscored that INEC’s constitutional mandate, as outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), focuses on ensuring credible elections and does not extend to engaging in ethnic profiling or altering local demographic balances.

READ ALSO: Warri Constituency Leaders Protest At INEC HQ, Seek Stoppage Of Voter Registration

The petitioners also claimed that some of the geographical coordinates used in INEC’s delineation mapped communities outside Delta State, allegedly placing them within Edo and Ondo states, prompting the Ijaw groups to describe the entire process as fraudulent.

However, tension flared during the debate when Senator Joel Onowakpo-Thomas (Delta South) objected to the discussion, arguing that the matter was already before a court and therefore subjudice.

He maintained that the Senate should not deliberate on an issue pending judicial determination.

In response, Lalong retorted that the motion stemmed from a referral from the Presidential Villa, sparking a heated exchange between both lawmakers.

The Senate President also intervened, concurring that the matter could be subjudice, proposing that it be referred to relevant committees for careful examination.

The Senate subsequently resolved to refer the motion to the committees on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, as well as electoral matters.