In 2001, Nigeria’s then Minister of Transportation, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, became a vocal proponent of cycling.
He posited that Nigerians should adopt cycling as a solution to the gridlock crippling Nigeria’s economy.
The late minister not only walked the talk by cycling to work, but he also made efforts to establish bicycle route networks in Abuja and Lagos.
However, critics of Maduekwe’s bicycle advocacy said that the roads were unsafe for cyclists, and Maduekwe himself was pushed into a ditch by a bus while cycling to work.
Nevertheless, both Maduekwe’s enthusiasm for cycling as an alternative transportation option and his experiences while demonstrating it highlighted the prospects and challenges of adopting a safe and healthy cycling culture.
In 2015, 14 years after Maduekwe’s bicycle advocacy, another bicycle enthusiast was making another case for bicycles and cycling in the U.S.
Prof. Leszek Sibilski, a Polish-American sociologist, started pushing for World Bicycle Day in an academic project on the role of bicycles in development.
The project grew into a global advocacy movement and gained the support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Mobility for All.
In April 2018, Sibilski’s wish came to fruition when the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 of every year as World Bicycle Day.
The GA Resolution, which established the day, recognised “the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport”.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), regular physical activity of moderate intensity, such as cycling, has significant benefits for health.
“Safe infrastructure for walking and cycling is also a pathway for achieving greater health equity.
“For the poorest urban sector, who often cannot afford private vehicles, walking and cycling can provide a form of transport while reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, diabetes, and even death.
“Accordingly, improved active transport is not only healthy; it is also equitable and cost-effective,” it said.
The UN said bicycle contributes to cleaner air and less congestion, and makes education, healthcare, and other social services more accessible to the most vulnerable populations.
It also said that as a sustainable transport system that promotes economic growth, reduces inequalities, and bolsters the fight against climate change, cycling is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Apart from its health benefits and environmental friendliness, the origin and evolution of the bicycle are also captivating.
In an article titled ‘Pedal for Change: Celebrating World Bicycle Day’, published in commemoration of the day, Dr Mark Stoutenberg captured a fascinating evolution of the bicycle.
“1817, German inventor Karl von Drais built the ‘running machine,’ a two-wheeled horseless vehicle propelled by its rider.
“A few decades later, pedals were added, followed by innovations like the high-wheeled penny-farthing in the 1860s, featuring a large front wheel and small rear wheel, notoriously difficult to ride.
“The late 19th century saw the beginning of the modern ‘safety’ bicycle, which resembles current designs, with two equal-sized wheels and a chain-driven mechanism, providing greater stability and increasing accessibility led to a rapid growth in global popularity.
“Over time, cycling technology evolved: lighter frames, gears, and terrain-specific models expanded the possibilities for riders, from urban and rural commuters to cycling athletes.”
The article highlighted how cycling cultures are either flourishing or experiencing a revival in many parts of the world.
For instance, the Netherlands, where there are more bicycles than people, is famous for its world-class bicycle infrastructure.
Japan and China are known for orderly bicycle street-sharing models, while Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is known for its Cycle Superhighways.
In fact, in 2022, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Copenhagen earned a reputation for being the most bicycle-friendly city in the world, with over 672,000 bikes on its 384 kilometres of cycle lanes.
India, South Africa, and Colombia are also some of the many countries experiencing a revival in their cycling cultures.
An environmental activist said, “In some major cities in China, there are dedicated areas where only bicycles are allowed as a means of transportation.
“For instance, on some university campuses, there are ‘green areas’ where motor-powered means of transportation are prohibited, including motorised bicycles.”
The National Today, a social diary website, reiterated what the UN said, that cycling is a great form of exercise, good for the environment, and promotes a good sense of adventure.
With these benefits and the commitment to cut down carbon emissions, especially in cities, why has Nigeria’s cycling culture been dwindling rather than flourishing?
Enthusiasts say bicycle infrastructure has to be put in place first.
According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, Abuja is the only city that has facilities for bicycle riding.
In 2017, the ministry unveiled a pilot project to introduce bicycle riding as a means of transportation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The project, approved by the National Council on Transportation, aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve public health.
However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says that infrastructure adjustments must be made to support cycling culture in Abuja.
It also said national road safety regulations will need to be amended to include provisions for the safety of cyclists.
“FRSC studied all the road networks in Abuja, and we have identified the gaps and recommended measures to address them.
“During the study, which we carried out with Federal Capital Territory Administration officials, we found out that all roads and streets have provisions for bicycle lanes in the design.
“But at the point of construction, the lanes were either ignored or merged with pedestrian walkways, thereby making the walkways too wide. In some cases, they were turned into green areas.
“A key concern, therefore, is the need for re-engineering of intersections and traffic lights to provide for cyclists,” the corps said.
In 2023, five years after the pilot scheme was unveiled, the FCT Administration reiterated its commitment to encouraging cycling as a means of transport in the nation’s capital.
Experts say that apart from being one of the most environmentally sustainable means of transportation, cycling boosts physical and mental health as well as helping in preventing chronic diseases such as high blood pressure.
“Bikes provide affordable, reliable transport, especially in underserved communities, closing gaps in mobility, education, and opportunity and fostering social inclusion,” Stoutenberg said.
It is a concerted view that for Nigeria to embrace the cycling culture, there should be intensive awareness creation and provision of enabling infrastructure.(NANFeatures)
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
An analysis by Chimezie Anaso, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The National Sports Festival (NSF) has come and gone but its echo will continue to reverberate in the sports sectors of the five states of south-eastern part of the country for negative reasons.
Stakeholders in sports have blamed lack of institutional support for sports and negligence on the part of governments for the abysmal performance of southeast states in the just-concluded fiesta.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka that unless there was a positive change their performances at such event would continue to nose-dive.
The 22nd NSF held in Abeokuta codenamed `Gateway Games 2024` ended in Abeokuta on May 30 with Delta retaining the top spot on the medals table for the third consecutive time.
The NSF is the Nigerian version of the Olympics or All Africa Games. It is open games where states present their best athletes based at home and abroad to compete for glory, fame and fortune.
Delta State clinched the number one position with 126 gold, 100 silver and 111 silver beating hosts Ogun and Bayelsa to the second and third place with 93 and 92 gold, 65 and 65 silver and 80 and 72 bronze respectively.
The final medals table for the two weeks of exciting and competitive sports fiesta shows that none of the five southeast states made it to the top 10 on the log.
The closest was Abia state, which finished 11th, after garnering 11 gold, 16 silver and 39 bronze to make a total haul of 66 medals.
Imo came second in the southeast but 16th on the overall table with four gold six silver and 28 bronze.
Anambra came 20th with two gold, six silver and 10 bronze while Enugu and Ebonyi finished 23rd and 28th positions with one gold apiece, seven and zero silver and eight and two bronze medals respectively.
The five states jointly won 19 gold, 35 silver and 87 bronze, finishing the festival with a cumulative 141 medals.
This is inferior to the performance of 7th-place Lagos which finished the games with 169 medals comprising 37 gold, 44 silver and 88 bronze.
The poor showing is not only loud but eloquent as only Imo State has made it to the top 10 in the last three games held in Edo in 2020, Delta in 2022 and recently Ogun.
Using gold as yardstick, Abia and Ebonyi States improved slightly in 2025 over their 2022 performance with one additional gold each.
However, Imo and Anambra failed to meet their previous records while Enugu, the next hosts, retained their one gold performance.
This is contrary to the records of South-South states which had maintained dominance of the festival with five of the six states making it among the top 10 in the last three consecutive games.
The poor performance of Southeast states in elite level of national sports competition is becoming the norm. It calls for actions deliberately and intentionally to address it.
Victor Nwangwu, a veteran sports administrator, said the major challenge of sports in the Southeast was that governors of the states in region did not accord priority to it.
Nwangwu said for the poor performance to end, governors should come up with a welfare and reward system which would be commensurate with the efforts of athletes and comparable to what obtained elsewhere.
He said while poaching of athletes was not encouraged, it would continue as long as there were better offers elsewhere because the end game in engaging in sports was to make ends meet.
“What is happening to sports in Southeast is quite unfortunate, it bothers on the kind of welfare package they have for athletes, lack of consistency in programmes and fire brigade preparation.
“Sports also require good budgeting, availability of functional facilities, availability of good coaches and capacity training for these coaches.
“If you look at the athletes that won for these states, Igbo names feature very well and Anambra are more dominant, so our governors have not shown enough interest, I cannot tell what priority they place on sports.
“In Anambra, I can say Gov. Chukwuma Soludo is a lover of sports because he has a very robust package for ex-Rangers players.
“Maybe sports administrators in the state have not been able to convince him on the need to support sports, generally” he said.
Also speaking, Johnny Igboka, a former national athlete and coach said it was sad that coaches would produce athletes only to lose them to other states because of poor welfare package.
Igboka, who is the proprietor of All Sports Foundation Academy Nimo in Anambra, said athletes were the centre point in sports administration and anybody who neglected their welfare was bound to fail.
According to him, many things are wrong with sports in the southeast.
“We lack organisation and the inability of administrators to tap from the experience of our veteran sportsmen and women.
“We do not hold trials in preparation for competitions; nobody succeeds in national competition with just 10 days camping and again.
“If do not take care of our athletes’ welfare, their training and medication, they will naturally go to states where they are valued.
“How can you get the best from your athletes when there is no motivation and no facilities?’’ he asked rhetorically.
Ikem Asika, the Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Southeast Zone, said the region had lost its area of strength such as track and field, handball, wrestling, boxing, hockey and others.
Asika called on the recently established Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) to take responsibility for reinventing sports in the region by developing a regional plan for sports revolution.
He said sports was not just an instrument for public relations for government but an industry which has immense health, security and economic benefits for athletes, administrators and the society.
“Thank God that after a very long time, the festival will be coming to Enugu next year. It is our hope that we will not only host for fun but to win,” he said.
With one year to prepare for the games, stakeholders urge the Southeast states governments and corporate entities to begin early mobilisation of resources and talents if history will not repeat itself. (NANFeatures)
**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria
At 34, Ada Gaius, a single mother of two and hairdresser living in Nasarawa, has battled asthma since she was diagnosed at the age of 10.
Gaius’s story is a stark reminder that asthma is more than just a medical condition; it is a daily struggle that many Nigerians face in silence.
Her childhood was marked by nights filled with terror, gasping for air while her mother frantically tried to find relief.
“Growing up, my family couldn’t afford the proper inhalers.
“Most times, I relied on herbs or boiled water, hoping it would ease my breathing; sometimes, my attacks were so severe, I truly believed I would not survive.”
As an adult, the battle has only grown more challenging.
With a monthly income of about N40, 000, Gaius finds it nearly impossible to afford her N35, 000 combination inhaler regularly.
She resorts to using salbutamol inhalers, short-term relief medications, sparingly, even though they do not manage the disease’s underlying inflammation.
“I often skip meals just to buy my inhalers; when I cannot afford them, I pray; last year, I had a severe attack and was rushed to the hospital; I was unconscious for hours.”
That terrifying experience was a turning point; since then, Rita has become an active volunteer with an asthma support group and speaks publicly to raise awareness.
“I speak up because so many people are like me, suffering silently; we just want to breathe,” she said.
Prof. Chiwuike Uba, founder of the Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation (ACUF), said the personal stories underscored the gravity of Nigeria’s asthma crisis.
“The statistics are more than just numbers, they represent real people’s pain, sacrifice, and, tragically, preventable deaths.
“The estimated asthma prevalence in Nigeria ranges from 5.12 to 14.7 per cent, with projections warning of a further increase by 2025; this trend demands urgent, coordinated public health intervention.
“Across Africa, asthma rates vary widely, but in Nigeria, worsening air pollution and rapid urbanisation are accelerating the disease burden.
“Behind these numbers are children missing school, families forced to choose between food and medicine, and countless patients struggling to access even the most basic care.”
His foundation tirelessly advocates for awareness and support, emphasising that asthma is not just a medical challenge, it is a social and economic crisis.
He said one of the biggest barriers to effective asthma management in Nigeria is the prohibitive cost of medications.
According to him, basic short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) inhalers which offer immediate relief during asthma attacks, cost between N5, 000 and N8,500.
However, he said the inhalers only alleviate symptoms temporarily and do not address the chronic inflammation at the heart of the disease.
“Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), the cornerstone of long-term asthma control, and combination inhalers containing ICS and long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) can cost anywhere from N34,500 to N70,000, amounts far beyond the reach of many Nigerians.
“These are not luxury items; they are life-saving medications; expecting someone to spend an entire month’s salary on a single inhaler is inhumane.”
He said the situation was worsened by the withdrawal of major pharmaceutical companies such as GSK from the Nigerian market, Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported drugs, and the devaluation of the Naira, all factors driving prices even higher.
“With 75.5 per cent of rural dwellers and 41.3 per cent of urban residents living below the poverty line, many Nigerians face a heartbreaking choice: either purchase asthma medication or meet basic needs like food and shelter.
“Tragically, this trade-off often leads to fatal outcomes.”
On systematic gaps and solution, he said Nigeria boasted approximately 40,400 healthcare facilities, but the reality was sobering.
He said about 85 per cent of these facilities were primary health centres (PHCs), and more than 80 per cent of those were reportedly under-equipped, understaffed, or barely functional.
“This fragile healthcare infrastructure is ill-prepared to offer consistent, effective asthma care.
“Compounding the problem is the absence of a comprehensive national guideline for asthma management.
“Without standardised protocols, care varies widely across regions, often leaving patients without the necessary treatment and follow-up.”
Uba said environmental factors also played a deadly role in Nigeria’s asthma crisis.
“Cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano are plagued by severe air pollution resulting from vehicle emissions, biomass fuel use, industrial waste, and persistent gas flaring.
“These pollutants do not just worsen symptoms for asthma sufferers; they can trigger the onset of the disease in people who previously showed no signs,” he said.
Uba, therefore, called on the Nigerian Government to prioritise the development and enforcement of national asthma guidelines, noting that such measures could dramatically improve patient outcomes.
Worthy of note, the Federal Government, through Health and Social Welfare Coordinating Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate, has acknowledged the severity of the problem.
Pate appealed to pharmaceutical companies to utilise import duty waivers to increase the availability of inhalers and reduce their cost, emphasising that “breathing should never be a privilege.”
The minister said that government’s Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Control Programme had rolled out policies aimed at improving asthma treatment.
“The Nigeria Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions (NIG-PEN), integrated into PHCs, focuses on early diagnosis and continuous care for asthma patients.
“These initiatives align with the broader Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative and the national vision for Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
More so, an expert perspectives and public awareness, Dr Oluwafemi Ojo, a pulmonologist at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), estimates that more than 20 million Nigerians live with asthma.
“Yet most cannot access the treatment they need; we need to move beyond short-acting inhalers like salbutamol.
“The global standard is now inhaled corticosteroids, which target the underlying inflammation and prevent attacks he explains.’’
Ojo advocates government support to stimulate local inhaler production, reducing dependence on costly imports and foreign exchange.
He also called for expanded health insurance coverage that included asthma medications, particularly for low-income earners.
Supporting these efforts, Dr Oluwatoyin Ojo, Director of Pharmacy at LASUTH, highlights the critical role pharmacists play in educating patients about proper inhaler use, adherence to treatment, and managing side effects.
“Education can significantly reduce preventable asthma morbidity and mortality,” she said.
On prevention, education and equity, Dr Modupe Ajibawo, a Family Physician at Federal Medical Centre Ebute Metta, stressed early prevention strategies as key to reducing asthma’s impact.
She underscored exclusive breastfeeding as a protective factor against childhood allergies and asthma.
Ajibawo also points out common asthma triggers such as dust, pollen, air pollution, and weather changes.
She advised patients to avoid exposure whenever possible and adhere strictly to prescribed treatments.
“Asthma, though chronic, can be effectively managed, allowing individuals to live full, productive lives,” Ajibawo said.
Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that more than 250 million people live with asthma, with more than 450,000 deaths annually; Nigeria alone recorded 8,192 asthma-related deaths in 2020.
Stakeholders say World Asthma Day is not just about statistics or policy declarations; it is a clarion call to action.
For people like Gaius and millions of others across Nigeria, every breath is precious.
Asthma care advocates say with coordinated efforts from the government, private sector, healthcare professionals, and communities, Nigeria can turn the tide against asthma.
They say no one should be left breathless because of poverty or neglect.(NANFeatures)
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
For many women living with Vesico-vaginal Fistula (VVF), life becomes a cycle of shame, humiliation, and social isolation.
Rejected by spouses, stigmatised by communities and often abandoned by family, they are pushed to the fringes of society.
But that tide is turning in Gombe State where a beacon of hope now shines through the efforts of the Fistula Foundation funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Dr Isa Musa, Executive Director, Fistula Foundation, said that the foundation’s effort was more than a medical programme.
He said the foundation’s work was restoring dignity, purpose, and identity to women who were once cast aside.
The director said that since its inception in 2023, 291 VVF cases had been successfully repaired–a monumental achievement in North-East and Nigeria at large.
Nonetheless, he said that the real miracle happened beyond the operating theatre.
“We do not just stitch wounds; we stitch hope back together.
“In 2024 alone, 50 women who underwent successful surgeries were enrolled in post-surgery rehabilitation, which includes vocational skills training, another 50 are slated for the 2025 intake.’’
He said that the most profound impact came from the advocates– women who were once patients themselves.
“These trained community educators now sensitise traditional birth attendants, and local women, encouraging early treatment and dispelling myths surrounding the condition.
“These advocates are breaking the chains of ignorance and cultural shame; they are changing mind sets and helping women seek help with dignity,” he said.
According to him, one of such advocates has already identified and referred 30 women to the centre.
Dr Garba Buwa, a fistula surgeon in specialist hospital, said that while fistula surgeries had previously been conducted in the state through outreach programmes led by former governors’ wives, the centre began its first surgery as a recognised facility in September 2023.
Buwa, who is the Deputy Director, Medical Services, Gombe State Ministry of Health, offered more insights.
“This was through a ‘pool effort’, which brings patients from across the country following a nationwide call via media.
“Each session treats 30 to 50 women, and surgeries are held at no cost, with patients provided meals and transportation.
“The UNFPA funds the pool effort through the Fistula Foundation, while routine Thursday procedures are backed by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) via the Federal Ministry of Health.
“To date, more than 500 women have registered under the programme.
“Of those, 291 received surgeries; others were managed conservatively—some healed with catheter isolation, while others had conditions unrelated to fistula, such as overactive bladders or urinary tract infections.’’
He said the centre collaborated with an internationally recognised fistula surgeon who handled complex cases and trained upcoming specialists.
Beyond surgery, Buwa said that empowerment remained key as the government had empowered 50 women in 2024 and planned to support 50 more.
“With more partners, we can do even better.”
He said that the centre faced serious challenges as it was short on trained fistula surgeons and nurses.
According to him, some doctors are interested, but they need specialised training and certification.
Buwa, who also heads the VVF centre, said that space was another constraint.
“We are in a borrowed facility; the operating theatre is mainly used for general surgeries; these women deserve a dedicated space.’’
He revealed that both the federal and Gombe State Governments are constructing a dedicated fistula theatre.
Buwa said that women needed a place to stay before and after their surgeries and expressed optimism that the planned fistula complex would solve that.
He called for stronger collaboration to bridge manpower and infrastructure gaps, especially as women were travelling from across Nigeria for care.
Dr Habu Dahiru, Gombe State Commissioner of Health, highlighted the state’s progress.
“When this administration came in 2019, maternal mortality was high, with fistula a key contributor.
“Today, with improved antenatal care, surgical interventions, and partners like the UNFPA and Fistula Foundation, we are making visible progress,” he said.
More so, the Federal Ministry of Health Fistula Desk Officer, Dr Faruk Usman, said Nigeria accounted for 40 per cent of the global fistula burden.
“We are committed to reducing that in line with the global target of eradicating fistula by 2030; this is not just a health issue; it is a human rights matter,” he said.
UNFPA’s Gombe Coordinator, Dr Olarenwaju Bajuwa, said there was a growing confidence among previously silent sufferers.
According to him, people are beginning to come out for treatment which is a good development.
Experts say obstetric fistula is more than a medical condition; it is a life-altering experience that often leaves women isolated, ashamed, and forgotten.
Many affected women endure years of pain and stigma, waiting for the chance to reclaim their dignity.
Women who have faced unimaginable hardship but emerged with resilience, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose– thanks to timely intervention, surgery and empowerment–recount their experience.
Malama Jummai Ibrahim lived with fistula for over 20 years, enduring continuous urine leakage after childbirth complications.
In 2024, the Fistula Foundation gave her a second chance.
“I am now an advocate; I referred several women to the centre; I am grateful to the foundation and the Gombe Government,” she said.
Another survivor, Malama Naziyatu Adamu, who developed fistula after a botched surgical procedure, said for months, she suffered in silence, until the Foundation intervened.
According to Adamu, she visits houses in her communities to identify sufferers and ensure they receive help.
“So far, I have helped two women get treated; I also received a sewing machine that now supports my family,” she said.
Another survivor, Malama Safiya Hussaini, developed fistula after a complex home birth.
“I went to the hospital before my due date, but they told me it was not time.
“Four days later, both babies came in breech position; labour lasted an hour, but left permanent damage.
“For 14 years, I lived in shame; many women in my condition are abandoned, but my husband stood by me.
“I beg other men; support your wives; the answer is treatment, not rejection,” she said.
Stakeholders say obstetric fistula remains a major health concern in developing regions, caused by prolonged and obstructed labour without timely medical care.
The condition often leads not just to chronic health issues but also social exclusion, psychological trauma, and economic hardship.
It is the submission of health experts that the solution lies in a holistic approach–combining surgical care with emotional support, empowerment, and sustained community engagement. (NANFeatures)
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
When Peace Oladipo, a Nigerian freelance journalist, sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Kwara Ministry of Justice in mid-2024, she did not expect to be stonewalled.
Oladipo was investigating the case of an abandoned courthouse in Afon, Asa Local Government Area of the state, where funds had reportedly been allocated but the building was still in disrepair.
Peace Oladipo’s letter of FOI request
Seeking accountability, she asked for records of disbursements and implementation; however, her request was rejected.
The ministry, through a letter signed by one of its Principal Counsels, B. O. Banigbe, responded that the FOI Act 2011 upon which the request was made, did not apply in the state and more so, the ministry was not aware of the mentioned projects.
The rejection of Oladipo’s FOI request highlights a troubling and general gap in transparency and accountability in some states, where authorities continue to cite the non-domestication of the Freedom of Information Act as a basis for denying access to public records.
The response stifled a key part of Oladipo’s investigation and was forced to restructure her story; this denial left a lasting impression, which was not just about an abandoned courthouse, but about a broken public trust.
“I could not trace the contractor; I could not confirm if the allocated funds were enough, misused, or mismanaged. The absence of that data made it impossible to hold the right actors accountable.
“I could not even identify who to hold accountable; was it the contractor, the accountant or the ministry? Without access to basic financial records, I was left chasing shadows,” she said.
Letter of FOI request rejection by the Kwara Government
Oladipo’s experience is not an isolated case; Dare Akogun, a multimedia journalist with Sobi FM in Ilorin, faced similar hurdles in 2020 while probing school renovations across the state. Akogun’s request, aimed at uncovering contract processes and budget details, was rejected on the same grounds.
“The government said FOI is not domesticated in Kwara,” he explained.
Fortunately, Akogun later obtained documents from civil society organisations, and physical site visits, which allowed him to complete the story.
In a turn of events, he said the government, however, released some of the initially requested information to respond to his publication, about a month after the FoI request was declined, a belated, but an indirect validation of his findings.
For Adisa Jaji Azeez of Informant247, the consequences were more stifling.
In July 2021, he sought the report of the Justice Adewara-led panel investigating mismanagement of local government funds; the government replied only once, saying the request was awaiting the governor’s approval.
Four years later, he has yet to receive any further communication.
“The prolonged silence stalled my investigation entirely; without access to the panel’s report, I couldn’t obtain the evidence to substantiate the claims central to my story. As a result, I couldn’t proceed with the report,” Azeez said.
Reply to Adisa-Jaji Azeez’s letter
However, Yemi Sodiq, an investigative journalist, also, with Informant247, shared a mixed experience with the requests made to the state ministries.
While the Ministry of Communications responded to inquiries about the Ilorin Visual Arts Centre, the Ministry of Energy ignored requests concerning the multimillion-naira failed Light Up-Kwara project, initiated by the immediate past government under former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
“The request to the Ministry of Energy bothered on the multimillion-naira Light Up Kwara project; the project was awarded by the administration of Abdulfatah Ahmed, which ended in 2019.
“But when approached about the project in 2023, the Kwara Commissioner for Energy, Mr Abdulganiyu Abdulazeez, asked The Informant247 to write an inquiry letter through the ministry’s press secretary.
“About two weeks after submitting the letter, the press secretary contacted The Informant247 through a WhatsApp call, saying the commissioner said he couldn’t grant an interview on the subject of the letter because he just came on board.
Letter of rejection to Hammad’s FOI request
“Meanwhile, as of the time of responding, the commissioner had spent over a month in the office,” he said.
Similarly, a freelance journalist, Abdulrasheed Hammad, faced bureaucratic delays and eventual denial when seeking details on COVID-19 funds disbursed to Kwara in Nov. 2020.
Hammad approached the state Ministry of Finance and Planning with the letter initiated by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), requesting for information about the N1 billion shares of the state as well as another N100 Million from the REDISS (World Bank) programme disbursed as Covid-19 support for the state.
When the reporter returned to the ministry on Dec. 3, 2020, he was handed a letter, which contained “the Freedom of Information Act has not been domesticated in Kwara.
Olarewaju Kikelomo, who signed the letter on behalf of the commissioner, said the legal input of the state’s ministry of justice indicated that the FOIA did not have an automatic application to states, and concluded that the document for the details on how Covid-19 fund was spent could not be released.
Meanwhile, as of the time, there were two conflicting Court of Appeal judgments on the matter.
While the Benin division of the court ruled that the Act did not apply to states, its Akure counterpart averred that the applicability of the FoI Act 2011 was to all states of the federation.
According to the FOI Act 2011, any Nigerian can request access to public records by submitting a written application—either by hand, post, email, or other official means—to a government agency or public institution.
The request, the Act stipulates, must clearly describe the information sought and include the requester’s contact details, with reason for the request required.
Upon receipt, the institution is legally obliged to respond within seven working days, either by granting access, issuing a denial with reasons, or transferring the request to the appropriate agency.
The Act allows for an extension of up to 10 days if third-party information is involved. While there are no application fees, institutions may charge for reproducing documents.
If a request is denied, the applicant has the right to seek redress through the courts, as provided under Section 20 of the Act.
Guidelines for FOI request according to the Act
Nonetheless, an online report as of 2023 indicates that only 91 out of approximately 800 public institutions (about 11.4 per cent) have complied with the FOI Act by submitting annual reports to the Attorney General of the Federation, as mandated by Section 29 of the Act.
According to the report, some of the institutions that are non-compliant with the Act include, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) now Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA); Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Radiographers Registration Council, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the same vein, The 2024 FOI Compliance Report, following the assessment of 245 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the Federal Government shows that only 1.22 per cent were fully proactive in disclosing information, 6.94 per cent were partially proactive, and a significant 91.84 per cent were non-proactive.
The assessment report explained that the MDAs were assessed based on three main criteria: proactive disclosure, responsiveness to information requests, and the overall level of information disclosure.
These three parameters accounted for 100 points—60 points for proactive disclosure, 20 points for responsiveness, and 20 points for the level of disclosure.
Though the data of FOI compliance by state agencies is unavailable, the rate of disregard for this law is not so much different from the federal agencies, according to the journalists interviewed.
The importance of access to information cannot be overstated.
According to Prof. Abdullateef Alagbonsi, Founder and Coordinator, Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), without access to information, citizens cannot hold governments accountable for public spending, contracts, and policy decisions.
As such, he said, lack of transparency could lead to corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
ENetSuD, one of the few Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kwara, has written several FoI requests without success.
The coordinator explained, “ENetSuD is not just advocating for access to information; we are actively requesting and tracking how public funds are used in Kwara.
“We have written over 200 FOI requests to MDAs in Kwara and followed up with lawsuits where necessary; despite repeated rejections on the grounds that the FOI Act has not been domesticated in Kwara, we remain undeterred.”
Alagbonsi recalled that though the organisation entered into a social audit agreement with the state government under which it was allowed to track and assess many projects; the agreement, he noted, did not work for long before it collapsed.
“We also use physical inspections, citizen feedback, and social audits to verify the implementation of projects; this strategy has exposed several abandoned and substandard projects. But we are still hampered by lack of transparency and cooperation from government offices,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights understands the importance of access to information. Article 19 of the declaration guarantees everyone’s right to freedom of opinion and expression.
This right, the article notes, includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
This is also corroborated in Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Stemming from these understandings, the National Assembly in 2011, enacted the FOI Act, aimed to promote transparency by granting citizens, including journalists, the right to access public records. However, its implementation at the state level has been contentious.
Some states argued that the Act required domestication to be enforceable within their jurisdictions. This stance has led to inconsistent application across Nigeria.
Of the 36 states in the country, available records show only Delta, Ekiti and Lagos have passed the law.
In Kwara, the FOI Bill was passed by the outgoing 8th Assembly on May 30, 2019, and transmitted the bill to Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, who just assumed office, a day earlier, for assent.
The governor, however, returned the bill to the 9th Assembly for some amendments.
In a letter read by the Speaker, Danladi Salihu, at plenary on July 23, 2019, the governor requested for minor amendments to sections 4, 5(1), 6 and 10 before his assent to the bill.
The governor, who commended the bill’s potential to boost transparency, accountability, and proper record-keeping in the letter, however, recommended extension of response window from seven to fourteen days in Sections 4, 5(1), and 6.
He also called for stiffer penalties under Section 10, suggesting an increase in the fine from N100,000 to N500,000 while retaining the two-year jail term.
However, this provision contradicts the section 7(5) and 10 of the 2011 FOI act. The law originally prescribes N500, 000 fines against government officials who wrongfully deny access to public information, and one year jail term for any public officer who wilfully destroys public information.
The Speaker referred the bill to the House Committee on Information, Youth, Sport, Culture & Tourism chaired by Awolola Ayokunle and its Committee on Ethics, Privileges & Judiciary to initiate the amendment requested by the governor.
But six years later, the committee did not take any action on the bill, which led to its permanent death in the KWHA.
All efforts to get the speaker to explain the reason for abandoning the bill proved abortive.
Alagbonsi, who led ENetSuD on several advocacy visits to the state parliament, bemoaned the action of the lawmakers.
Backing the concerns raised by ENetSuD’s founder, renowned human rights lawyer and FOI expert, President Aigbokhan, said the persistent denial of access to information poses a grave threat to good governance, particularly at the state level, where resistance to the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011 remained entrenched.
Aigbokhan, who led the landmark legal battle against the Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EDOSACA) after it rejected a legitimate FOI request by civil society groups, said such refusals not only flouted the law but also set a dangerous precedent that no right-thinking society should tolerate.
“When public institutions slam the door on citizens seeking information, what they’re really doing is shutting out accountability; it creates a culture of secrecy and impunity that cripples democracy at its core.”
He warned that unless access to public records was treated as a civic right and not a privilege, the struggle for transparency and people-driven governance would continue to face setbacks.
In the recent landmark judgment however, the Supreme Court affirmed that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act passed by the National Assembly in 2011 applies to all 36 states of the federation, regardless of domestication.
The verdict has been widely celebrated as a turning point in Nigeria’s transparency journey.
Described as “historic and transformational”, Alagbonsi said the verdict ended years of legislative and executive stonewalling.
“No public institution in any state, including Kwara, can now claim immunity from FOI compliance.”
He hailed the ruling as a decisive victory for transparency and participatory governance.
However, just as civil society groups and journalists prepared to test compliance with the ruling, the governor forwarded a fresh FOI bill to the State House of Assembly on May 14.
Surprisingly, Section 31 (1-2) of the bill stipulates that, “Notwithstanding any provision of this law, no information shall be made available to any applicant without the prior consent of the Governor in writing.
“No one acting pursuant to this Law shall be liable in any way if non compliance with sections 4, 5 or 6 is due to delay in the Governor granting his consent.”
This development raised eyebrows, with many viewing it as a strategic attempt to dilute or delay the application of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Salihu announced the receipt of the bill titled Kwara State Freedom of Information Bill 2025 during plenary on May 13 and subsequently referred it to the House Committee on Business and Rules for scheduling.
Reacting to this move, prominent human rights lawyer Aigbokhan called it “misplaced, unnecessary,” and a wasted effort, arguing that the supreme court had already clarified the legal position.
“The judgment explicitly states that where the National Assembly enacts a law on a matter in the concurrent list, any state law on the same matter is null and void.
“This new bill is redundant and may only serve to undermine compliance,” he said.
Interestingly, the state assembly on May 21 passed the bill within seven days of its introduction, in what observers described as the fastest legislative consideration of the 10th Assembly, notwithstanding the outright rejection of the contentious Section 31 by the majority of the stakeholders at the public hearing.
Dare Akogun, as a journalist who had been a victim of FOI request rejection in the state, described the passage as an attempt to muzzle transparency, claiming that Section 31 had defeated the very essence of the FOI Act.
“It places a political gatekeeper between citizens and the information they have a legal right to access. It could also slow down or outrightly block access to data as it affects public expenditure, government contracts, and even environmental or health-related concerns,” he said.
For Aigbokhan, he cautioned journalists and CSOs not to challenge the exercise, but rather to make requests to the state government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) based on the FOI Act 2011 and not the state law.
If the requests are refused, the FOI lawyer said, the head of the MDA could be charged for contempt of court or sued under the FOI Act 2011.
Meanwhile, to test the judgment of the apex court, ENetSuD on April 29 initiated FOI requests to eight MDAs in the state.
The MDAs were the Ministries of Works; Health; Energy; Business, Innovation, and Technology; Agriculture; Water Resources; as well as the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); and the Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP).
Lanre Osho, ENetSuD’s Deputy Coordinator (Projects Tracking), said the MDAs executed physical projects; hence they were asked to provide yearly information on the list of executed projects.
Other information requested, he said, included the amount annually budgeted for each project; the actual amount released for each project; the detailed information of the contractors the projects were awarded to; and the exact amount released to each project contractor amongst others.
None of the MDAs responded at the deadline of the statutory seven day provided by the Act.
“It is worthy of note that none of the MDAs of the KWSG responded officially to ENetSuD’s FOl request, whether to grant access to the requested information or to decline access,” Osho said.
However, Alagbonsi insisted that his NGO would continue to send FOI requests to MDAs in the state under the 2011 Act, urging journalists, CSOs and individuals to disregard the law enacted by the state assembly.
“The judgment of the Supreme Court is very clear; when there are federal and state laws on the same matter, the federal law is subsisting and binding, and the state law will remain ineffective on the same matter to the extent of its inconsistency,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), said the action of the state government was inconsistent with the federal Act, which the apex court resolved, applied to all states.
Arogundade, a renowned journalist and FOI advocate, described the action of the government as not only unacceptable, null and void, but offensive.
“What is really offensive is the provision that only the Governor can give consent before information is released,” he said.
Arogundade said that the action of the government indicated that there would be no transparency in its dealings.
He, nonetheless, encouraged CSOs and journalists who might want to exercise their right under the FOI Act, to remain steadfast and know that they were on the right path.(NANFeatures)
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
This reporting was completed with the support of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, CJID.
In line with the global commitment toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Nigeria is pushing to ensure equitable access to high-quality and affordable health care for all citizens.
However, progress has been slow, evident in high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, poor health insurance penetration and low national and subnational health budgets.
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of out-of-pocket healthcare spending in the world, with an estimated 77 per cent of healthcare expenses being paid directly by individuals, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
However, it is not only Nigeria, as the health agency submits the world is off track to make significant progress towards universal health coverage, a critical target of the Sustainable Development Goals of good health and well-being.
“This global pattern is consistent across all regions and the majority of countries.
“Protecting people from the financial consequences of paying for health services out of their own pockets reduces the risk that people will be pushed into poverty because the cost of needed services and treatments requires them to use up their life savings, sell assets, or borrow – destroying their futures and often those of their children.”
For a country as diverse and populous as Nigeria where citizens are grappling with a high cost of living, financial constraints and the rising cost of healthcare and medicines, paying out-of-pocket for healthcare services has become unaffordable that people now self-medicate, ignore symptoms, or pray it away.
Millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural and underserved communities, face challenges accessing healthcare due to systemic inequities and financial constraints.
The delay in seeking prompt medical treatment worsens the rate of morbidity and mortality among citizens.
To Nigerians, UHC is not just a goal—it is a lifeline.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, while speaking on the achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the health sector during its second anniversary, discloses that only 16 million Nigerians were enrolled in health insurance at the commencement of the administration in 2023.
“We’ve been able to expand enrollment in health insurance across our country.
“For almost 25 years of health insurance in Nigeria, there were 16 million enrollees when this administration came, literally, less than a million a year.
“But in two years of this administration, four million Nigerians have enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“If we had been doing this for the past few years, Nigeria would have had more than 100 million enrollees.”
Pate explains that the government is reforming the health insurance scheme in collaboration with state health insurance authorities to ensure it reaches more Nigerians, especially vulnerable populations.
In Lagos State, the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), established in 2015, manages the state’s social health insurance tagged “Ilera Eko Scheme”.
It is designed to enhance access to effective, quality, and equitable healthcare services while providing financial protection from the cost of healthcare to all residents of the state.
Lagos State has an estimated population of 30 million residents, with a rapid annual population growth rate of six to eight per cent, placing a significant demand on its health system, requiring smart, scalable, and resilient solutions.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, while giving an update on the second anniversary of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office, explains that currently, only five per cent of Lagos residents are enrolled in the state’s social health insurance.
Abayomi highlights a 30-year bold plan to improve the number of enrollees from five per cent to 90 per cent.
Acknowledging the importance of increased budgetary allocation from the current 8 per cent to 15 per cent target supported by dynamic reallocations throughout the fiscal year to attain universal health coverage.
The Ilera Eko health insurance scheme offers various plans with different price points for individuals and families, giving access to private and public hospitals statewide.
It covers 80 per cent of hospital needs including consultations, treatment for common diseases, maternal care, chronic disease management, and surgeries, among others.
In a bold move to bolster health insurance coverage, Gov. Sanwo-Olu in July 2024, had signed an Executive Order for the compulsory subscription to the state’s social health insurance by all residents, employers, and workers in the state.
Moving forward, the government has disclosed plans to commence the full enforcement of mandatory health insurance for all residents by the third quarter of 2025.
At present, about 1.3 million residents are enrolled in LASHMA’s Ilera Eko health insurance.
The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, emphasises the importance of strengthening public awareness, affirming LASHMA’s commitment to reinforce the message that health insurance is not a privilege, but a necessity.
“We are committed to making sure that every Lagosian understands the importance of social health insurance and the fact that it is now a mandatory requirement,” she says.
Zamba highlights the agency’s strategic initiatives to expand participation in the Ilera Eko Health Insurance scheme to include the “ILERA ‘N TIWA Cooperative, designed to integrate the informal sector into the health insurance ecosystem.
She also explains that the initiative provides flexible payment plans for artisans, traders, and low-income earners, ensuring they are not excluded from healthcare services, mentioning the Ilera Eko Academy, an initiative aimed at training a larger sales force to boost public awareness and drive enrollment.
The Permanent Secretary notes that LASHMA has expanded its registration options to improve accessibility.
These include physical enrollment centres across Lagos, designated community pharmacies, USSD registration, and an online portal.
“The agency also achieved the rollout of an equity fund that guarantees healthcare access for over 300,000 vulnerable residents.
“The equity fund, supported by one per cent of Lagos State’s consolidated revenue, has set a benchmark as a first-line charge, ensuring funds are consistently available for vulnerable groups.”
On the affordability of social health insurance, Zamba states that the enrollment costs are N15,000 per individual, N55,000 for a family of four, and N80,000 for a family of six.
An enrollee, Mrs Funke James, says she received free treatment for a severe cough infection and medications worth over N80,000 under the scheme.
“My daughter also had a Caesarean Section without paying a dime. I am truly grateful to the government,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Hassan Balikis, commends the initiative, recounting how she benefitted from three free medical tests after falling ill.
“I didn’t realise the extent of the benefits until I needed them. This programme is truly a lifesaver,” she remarked.
In spite of the laudable initiative of the government expressed by its commitment to improving health indices and the quality of care in Lagos State, the Ilera Eko still faces issues of long waiting times, low enrollment, and service accessibility, among others, as lamented by some enrollees and Civil Societies Organisations.
Agreeable, Lagos State has exhibited a strong political will and made commendable progress, but there is much more to be done in providing equitable, affordable and accessible healthcare services that ensure no one is left behind. (NANFeatures)
*****If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
When President Bola Tinubu’s administration clocked two years on May 29, he prided himself as having re-engineered the country’s economy and restored it to the part of recovery.
The President said that from the outset, his cardinal objectives, encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda, were to tackle economic instability, improve security nationwide, reduce corruption, reform governance and lift Nigerians out of poverty.
The President gave himself a pass mark, proclaiming, “We have stabilised our economy and are now better positioned for growth and prepared to withstand global shocks.
“Inflation has begun to ease, with rice prices and other staples declining; the oil and gas sector is recovering; rig counts are up by over 400 per cent in 2025 compared to 2021, and over 8 billion dollars in new investments have been committed.
“In 2025, we remain on track with our fiscal targets; gross proceeds per barrel from crude oil are broadly aligned with our forecasts as we intensify our efforts to ramp up production.”
According to him, the country’s fiscal deficit has narrowed sharply from 5.4 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 3.0 per cent in 2024.
“We achieved this through improved revenue generation and greater transparency in government finances; in the first quarter of this year, we recorded more than N6 trillion in revenue.
“We have discontinued Ways & Means financing, which has been a major contributor to high and sticky inflation.
“The NNPC, no longer burdened by unsustainable fuel subsidies, is now a net contributor to the Federation Account; we are also achieving fuel supply security through local refining.”
He was emphatic that the country’s debt position was improving.
“While foreign exchange revaluation pushed our debt-to-GDP ratio to around 53 per cent, our debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100 per cent in 2022 to under 40 per cent by 2024.
“We paid off our IMF obligations and grew our net external reserves by almost 500 per cent from 4 billion dollars in 2023 to over 23 billion dollars by the end of 2024.
“Thanks to our reforms, state revenue increased by over N6 trillion in 2024, ensuring that subnational governments can reduce their debt burden, meet salaries and pension obligations on a timely basis, and invest more in critical infrastructure and human capital development.”
Perhaps, that is just a snippet of the broad assessment by the President of the achievements of his administration.
Experts, home and abroad share his view that the dark days are truly behind, and that Nigerians are beginning to look ahead into the future with optimism.
Indeed, this optimism resonates across the globe, with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) both acknowledging that the Tinubu administration has within a space of two years restored the country to the path of growth.
For instance, the World Bank projects that Nigeria’s economy will grow by 3.6 per cent in 2025, building on a 3.4 per cent growth in 2024, attributing the growth to macroeconomic reforms that are stabilising the business environment.
As far back as November 2024, the IMF had stated that the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration were working and producing the desired outcomes.
Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of IMF, on the sidelines of the 2024 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, commended Tinubu on the reforms introduced by his government.
The IMF boss noted that the reforms were very strong and very difficult to implement and was pleased that the government had been able to sustain them.
She had concluded that the reforms were effective and that the benefits were beginning to be felt by Nigerians.
Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, at the World Bank/IMF 2025 Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., also affirmed that Nigeria was on the right track.
He said this affirmation came even before Fitch moved the credit rating of Nigeria from B minus to B, with a positive outlook.
The minister stated that the IMF also said Nigeria’s resilience, created by the macroeconomic reforms, had stabilised the economy, and that it enabled the country to cope with the introduction of reciprocal tariffs in America and the turbulence that it caused.
He added that at the World Bank annual meetings, many leading financiers, leaders, and multilateral institutions expressed support for Nigeria’s ongoing reforms.
Nigerians themselves are now aligning with the positive global assessment of the performance of the Tinubu administration at mid-term.
Dr Chinyere Almona, Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), agreed that Tinubu’s bold macroeconomic reforms had corrected long-standing structural distortions.
She noted that two years into the administration, Nigeria had undergone significant policy shifts—most notably, the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate liberalisation, and attempts to shore up public revenues through tax reforms.
Similarly, Mr Kola Adesina, the Managing Director of Sahara Group, hailed President Tinubu’s energy sector reforms, which he said had improved transparency, regulatory consistency and expanded investment opportunities.
He said Tinubu’s courage in removing the fuel subsidy and market distortions had enabled businesses and policymakers to plan more confidently and clearly.
“The energy sector today is stronger and more sustainable. We can now plan; the macro and micro elements are beginning to work together, and there’s strong potential for long-term benefits,” Adesina said.
The price of petrol, which rose to between N1,200 and N1, 400 in different locations across the country in the heady days of fuel subsidy removal, has reduced to between N875 and N890, with scarcity and queues at petrol stations becoming a thing of the past.
In the power sector, the Tinubu administration has resolved long-standing financial obligations, with payment of legacy debts, which will enable new investors to come in, and existing ones to deepen their investments.
The government’s energy transition, driven by a focus on natural gas and climate-conscious solutions, gas-to-power initiative, is gaining ground.
“CNG is now the order of the day – the President has made that a focal point; the carbon credit scheme is also expanding,” Adesina said.
He said the Tinubu administration’s efforts in the last two years represented a solid foundation for Nigeria’s future, and that the current energy landscape was anchored on reliability, accessibility and affordability.
One of Tinubu’s most impactful achievements is believed to be his bold tax reform.
By the end of 2024, the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio rose from 10 per cent to over 13.5 per cent, a remarkable leap in just one year.
Experts say this is a result of deliberate improvement in tax administration and policies designed to make the tax system fairer, more efficient and more growth-oriented.
They say the administration has eliminated the burden of multiple taxation, making it easier for small businesses to grow and join the formal economy.
The tax reform is said to be geared towards protecting low-income households and supporting workers by expanding their disposable income.
Essential goods and services such as food, education, and healthcare will now attract 0 per cent VAT. Rent, public transportation, and renewable energy will be fully exempted from VAT to reduce household costs further.
Another indication that the Nigerian economy has turned the corner, according to experts, is the robust performance of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), considered as the barometer with which the economy is measured.
Mr Omoniyi Akinsiju, the Chairman of the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI), said almost all the companies that recorded losses in the first quarter of 2024 were back to profit-making, as shown in their respective first-quarter 2025 balance sheets.
He said the listed loss-making companies and others had witnessed a rebound, and did not just record profits, but impressive profit margins,
“This is a clear indication of the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms.”
Akinsiju also highlighted the country’s progress in economic diversification, noting that the policies deployed by the Tinubu administration increased Nigeria’s non-oil exports to 1.791 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2025, up 24.75 per cent from the same period last year.
“The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said that 197 products, including cocoa, fertiliser, cashew, and sesame seeds, were exported in the first quarter of 2025; this marks an increase from 162 products in the first quarter of 2024.
“The extension to this is the increase in regional exports to ECOWAS countries to 223.10 per cent, from 19.5 million dollars in Q1 2024 to 63.06 million dollars in Q1 2025, while intra-African trade reached 32.73 million dollars,” he said.
Dr Dele Alake, his Solid Minerals Development Minister, said Nigeria’s solid minerals sector attracted over 800 million dollars in processing projects in 2025.
Alake said the revenue generated was driven by the Tinubu administration’s new policy of local value addition and a tightened licensing regime.
The minister said the sector also generated over ₦38 billion in revenue in 2024, up from just ₦6 billion the previous year, despite receiving only 18 per cent of its ₦29 billion budgetary allocation.
In the area of security, amid the new security challenges, observers say the Tinubu administration has recorded some successes.
Just like Tinubu said in his statement to mark his administration’s second anniversary, the armed forces had restored order in some areas of the North-West hitherto under the control of bandits, reducing and eliminating threats to lives and livelihoods.
“With the success achieved, farmers are back tilling the land, and highways, hitherto dangerous for travellers, have become safer, the President said.
After two years in the saddle, it is stakeholders’ consensus that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has delivered tangible dividends and hope for a sustainable growth.(NANFeatures)
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
When President Bola Tinubu was sworn in two years ago, he made a firm commitment to prioritise security.
The president said security would be the top priority of his administration because neither prosperity nor justice could prevail amidst insecurity and violence.
“To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security doctrine and its architecture.
“We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number.
“We shall provide better training, equipment, pay, and firepower,” the president said.
Acknowledging that the fundamental responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens, Tinubu’s administration activated critical measures towards upholding that responsibility.
National security also featured prominently in the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, even before he became president.
According to the document, the president’s national security priorities are based on three major components: fighting terrorism and violent extremism, ending oil theft and illegal exploration of the country’s resources, and stamping out violent secessionist agitations.
Security experts say the persistent threats in Nigeria from groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were exacerbated by banditry and kidnapping, from criminals affiliated with these terrorist groups.
They hold the view that multi-level and cross-border synergy is required to curb the menace of terrorism.
Recently, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno said his administration was collaborating with the Federal Government to combat insurgency in the state.
“We made a plea to the Federal Government, and I believe within the last couple of days, the Nigerian Armed Forces have taken certain decisions that will curtail the insurgency.
“Some plans are underway by the Federal Government, especially the establishment of forest guards; that will be a game-changer.
“The president has given me assurance that they will do everything to control the situation, and I believe the Federal Government will do something.
Zulum said he would not relent in his effort to strengthen the resilience of communities and get volunteers to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“A few days ago I made a call that no local government shall be allowed to be taken over by Boko Haram or ISWAP members.
“So, I am calling on the Nigerian Armed Forces, the civilian authorities, and all those that are concerned to rise up to the occasion and defend our local government areas.
“I believe with the support of the Armed Forces, we will not leave a single local government to fall into the hands of the insurgents,” Zulum said.
Worthy of mention, the Sahel, shared by 10 African countries, witnessed the highest number of terrorism-related deaths in 2022, underscoring the continent’s pivotal role in global counter-terrorism efforts.
According to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, five out of the 10 most terrorised countries in the world – Burkina Faso, Mali, Somalia, Nigeria and Niger – are in Africa.
In 1994, Nigeria led the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to tackle trans-border armed banditry around the Lake Chad Basin.
The scope and operations of the MNJTF were broadened in 2015 to lead a new regional force against cross-border terrorists.
Apart from terrorism and violent extremism, Nigeria also grapples with mass abduction and kidnapping for ransom.
A 2024 SBM Intelligence report said Nigeria witnessed at least 735 mass abductions with 15,398 people abducted since 2019.
The report said 2024 alone saw at least 68 mass abductions, averaging about one per day, with a victim count exceeding the entire years of 2019 and 2020 combined.
There is also the challenge of violent secessionist agitations, which equally pose a threat to national security.
However, some security experts say, that in the last two years, there have been significant policy and strategy shifts that have shown progress.
“In the last two years, more than 8000 criminals–bandits, armed robbers, Boko Haram terrorists, and kidnappers–have been eliminated, and more than 10,000 Nigerians, primarily women and children, have been rescued from their abductors,” the presidency recently said.
According to government sources, 124,408 fighters of Boko Haram and ISWAP, along with their family members, surrendered to Nigerian forces and are undergoing rehabilitation through the government’s de-radicalisation and reintegration programme.
Not long ago, Nigerian military said that two Boko Haram Improvised Explosive Device (IED) experts, Abubakar Mohammed and Bana Modu, surrendered to the troops of the joint force.
Worthy of attention, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said a recent high-level African counter-terrorism summit hosted by Nigeria was aimed at bolstering regional cooperation and devising African-led solutions.
The NSA said Nigeria’s successes within two years point to the need for greater investment in human and technical resources.
He said efforts had been intensified under the current administration, with significant investments in cybersecurity and counter-terrorism activities.
He listed the creation of the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre as part of the commitment to denying terrorist groups the use of Nigeria’s cyberspace.
The NSA also said in spite of past challenges in prosecuting terrorists, Nigeria is now strengthening law enforcement agencies and engaging communities through various programmes.
More so, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, announced at an event that 49 aircraft were expected within the next two years.
CAS also disclosed that in the past year alone, the NAF had flown an unprecedented 4,500 hours across 2,304 sorties, executing nearly 2,000 counterinsurgency missions.
In the area of economic security and protecting critical national infrastructure, the Nigerian Army recently announced that it shut down 19 illegal crude oil refineries in the Niger Delta region as part of nationwide efforts to curb petroleum theft.
Lt.-Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Ag. Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, said the operation resulted in the seizure of around 589,000 liters of refined petroleum products and the arrest of 20 suspects.
“Operations against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta continue with recorded successes,” he said.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, recently commended the government, stating that efforts to ramp up oil production have begun to yield significant results.
He said oil theft had reduced to as low as 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) at the end of the first quarter of 2024, from a high of up to 108,000 bpd in the first quarter of 2022.
“Whereas the production fluctuated around 1.5 million bpd, the sustained fight against oil theft has resulted in a steady increase in production; we were able to restore and sustain the production to 1.7 bpd.
“Efforts are ongoing to increase the production by one million bpd by December 2026,” Komolafe said.
On violent secessionist agitations, Ribadu recenlty explained to a gathering that insecurity in the South-East had reduced since Tinubu’s administration came on board, adding that it would get better.
He said that before Tinubu’s administration, 46 police stations were attacked in the region.
“Today, we do not have one single one; not a single person has been killed through violent attacks in the South-East.
“The leadership we have in our country does understand things a bit better; work more, talk less,” he said.
Though national security challenges persist, stakeholders are upbeat that by consolidating on the gains of the past two years, the multifaceted threats will be surmounted. (NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
For decades, the waters of Ogoniland in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta ran black with crude.
Rivers that once teemed with fish became lifeless.
Farmlands turned barren.
The air thickened with the stench of spilled oil, and for the people; many of them subsistence farmers and fishermen, the land ceased to provide.
Although oil production in the region halted in 1993, the scars left behind endured.
So too did the suffering, residents continued to fall ill from contaminated water, crops failed, and livelihoods vanished.
But today, more than 30 years on, a slow, painstaking effort to restore the land and heal the people is underway.
It is the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), a government initiative under the Federal Ministry of Environment.
While progress has been uneven and riddled with challenges, signs of recovery are beginning to emerge.
Historically, the story of Ogoniland is one of environmental injustice and political exclusion.
Between 1976 and 1991, more than 1,000 oil spills were recorded in the area, decimating ecosystems and displacing communities.
In response, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) mobilised peaceful resistance, calling for environmental protection and local autonomy.
The federal response was brutal.
In 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were executed by the military government, prompting international condemnation and Nigeria’s temporary suspension from the Commonwealth.
A decade and a half later, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published its 2011 Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland.
The report was damning, hydrocarbons had penetrated the soil to depths of five metres, and some drinking water sources contained benzene (a known carcinogen) at levels 900 times above WHO guidelines.
UNEP recommended a 30-year, $1 billion clean-up, the most ambitious environmental remediation project ever proposed in Africa.
Since its formal launch, HYPREP has made some headway.
In several Ogoni communities, the provision of clean water infrastructure has replaced long-standing reliance on polluted sources.
According to official HYPREP data, more than 30 communities now benefit from potable water, reducing the incidence of cholera, diarrhoea, and other waterborne diseases.
Healthcare delivery has also seen incremental improvement.
In Buan, Khana Local Government Area, a newly commissioned cottage hospital is providing basic health services to residents for the first time in years.
In Tai, construction on the Ogoni Specialist Hospital is nearly complete, promising diagnostic, maternal, and emergency care.
Medical equipment from Germany’s Siemens Healthineers was recently delivered, accelerating plans for its operational launch.
“This isn’t just infrastructure, it’s symbolic,” said Dr Felicia Nkporo, a public health expert based in Port Harcourt.
“After years of neglect, people are finally seeing some investment in their health and wellbeing”.
Beyond bricks and mortar, HYPREP is investing in the people of Ogoni, especially its youth.
A raft of educational and vocational training programmes has seen more than 5,000 young people trained in diverse fields.
One hundred youths have completed aviation training; another 100 took part in a seafarers’ development scheme.
A postgraduate scholarship scheme supports students pursuing degrees in environmental engineering, public health, and sustainable agriculture.
For many, these opportunities represent more than just skills, they are lifelines.
“Cleaning the soil is important, but building capacity is critical, without local expertise, long-term sustainability is unlikely,” noted Dr Kelechi Onwubiko, an environmental consultant.
At the heart of the HYPREP initiative is land remediation.
Over 1,500 hectares have been designated for clean-up using methods such as bioremediation and soil washing.
So far, 16 of the 20 sites involved in the project’s first phase have been certified clean by Nigeria’s regulatory authorities and returned to host communities.
Stakeholders say environmental recovery is slow, but noticeable.
According to them, pilot crops planted on remediated land are beginning to thrive, offering hope to farmers.
In addition, shoreline protection and mangrove replanting, essential to restoring coastal biodiversity are underway.
The Bloody Cockles Project, for example, is helping revive traditional fishing practices once thought lost to pollution.
Notably, more than 2 million mangrove seedlings have been planted across 560 hectares, now referred as the world’s largest mangrove restoration effort.
This exercise has been led by 540 local youths and women, placing communities at the centre of restoration.
In Wiiyaakara, Khana LGA, and Nsisionke Ogale in Eleme, the newly established Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) is emerging as a knowledge hub.
Designed to foster home-grown research and innovation, CEER aims to train youths and women in environmental technologies while reducing conflict and creating employment.
“This centre is the future,” said a HYPREP official. “It will drive local solutions to global problems, beginning with pollution and ending with resilience”.
Meanwhile, the 132KVA Ogoni Power Project promises to transform livelihoods through reliable electricity.
For residents like Josephine Gbaranor, a textile dyer in Gokana, the development is long overdue.
“I spend thousands on fuel every month, steady power would change my life and allow me to hire others,” she noted.
Albeit these gains, the project has not been without controversy.
Civil society organisations, including the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), have raised concerns over delays, lack of transparency, and insufficient community engagement.
“There must be urgency, transparency, and inclusive decision-making,” said Godwin Uyi, CEHRD’s Programme Director.
“We must not replace the silence of oil companies with bureaucratic indifference”.
Environmentalists have also called for HYPREP to integrate climate adaptation strategies, arguing that sea-level rise and changing rainfall patterns pose new threats to already vulnerable communities.
Appointed in 2024, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, a respected marine ecologist and environmental advocate is now leading the project.
He has acknowledged past failings, including poor oversight and use of substandard contractors.
In response, contracts have been revoked, audit protocols strengthened, and quality control tightened.
Zabbey confirmed that HYPREP now undergoes annual independent audits and that UNEP’s exit from the project was procedural, not a sign of withdrawal or dissatisfaction.
According to Prof. Ahmed Salisu, a sustainable development expert at Ahmadu Bello University, what is unfolding in Ogoniland today is not merely a technical clean-up, but an attempt to right historic wrongs.
“It is about restoring dignity to dispossessed communities and transforming a region long synonymous with neglect into one defined by resilience.
“HYPREP is more than an environmental project, it is a moral reckoning, a national pledge to correct decades of injustice,” he said.
For Ogoniland, the journey to full recovery may yet take decades, but with each restored waterway, rehabilitated school, and empowered youth, a new narrative is beginning to take shape. (NANFeatures)
Since its establishment on April 18, 1963, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has played a vital role in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its airspace, and contributing to regional stability.
By many accounts, the NAF has demonstrated remarkable commitment to its mission, with personnel displaying exceptional bravery, skill, and professionalism.
From counter-insurgency operations to humanitarian assistance, the NAF has consistently risen to the challenge, putting the nation’s interests above all else.
The NAF has played a crucial role in supporting ground troops in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, and has also provided critical support during natural disasters, evacuating citizens and delivering aid to affected areas.
It has contributed to regional stability through its participation in peacekeeping missions and joint exercises with neighbouring countries.
As the NAF celebrates its 61st anniversary, it continues to modernise and adapt to emerging challenges.
The acquisition of new aircraft, upgrade of existing platforms, and investment in cutting-edge technology are some of the initiatives aimed at enhancing the NAF’s operational capabilities.
At the event commemorating NAF’s 61st anniversary, it showcased a lot of breakthroughs in platforms procurement and advancement in Research and Development (R&D) efforts as well as induction of the first batch of the newly acquired Agusta 109 Trekka Helicopters by President Bola Tinubu.
The president, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said he was very emphatic on assumption of office that security would be a top priority of his administration, as neither economic prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.
He said the induction of the new combat helicopters marked another milestone in his unwavering commitment to strengthen the nation’s armed forces, particularly the Air Force towards a more secure Nigeria.
Tinubu said the acquisition was made alongside orders like the Diamond 62 Surveillance Aircraft, the T-129 Attack Helicopters, the King Air 360 aircraft, as well as others that will be delivered in the coming months.
“Let me use this opportunity to assure you all that my administration will continue to support the Nigerian Air Force and indeed other security agencies by giving due attention and priority to fleet modernisation as well as training and welfare of our men and women in uniform.
“As your commander-in-chief, I understand that a well-equipped military is essential not only for securing our nation but also for preserving our democracy.
“A democratically stable Nigeria is fundamental to our national progress and regional peace and the defence of democracy requires a military that is well-prepared, well-trained and well-equipped,’’ he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the dynamic security landscape of the nation demands an agile, well-equipped and responsive air force capable of rapid deployment across multiple theatres.
He said the reality underscored the need for continuous investments in modern platforms to bolster the Nigerian Air Force’s capacity to deliver air power across all spectrums of warfare.
Abubakar said the successful acquisition of the Augusta Westland 109 Trekka helicopter was a significant leap in our modernisation efforts of the NAF.
The air chief said the helicopter was designed to operate in challenging environments, providing critical support to both military and civil operations, including disaster relief and humanitarian missions.
“By inducting this platform into the NAF, the service is further strengthening its multi-domain operational capability, making us more responsive and efficient in the protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“It is noteworthy that from 2024 to date, NAF has received a total of nine brand-new aircraft into its inventory, comprising four C-129 attack helicopters, three King Air 360 aircraft, as well as the two Agusta 109 trekker helicopters being inducted.”
Abubakar said the NAF was poised to receive 49 more aircraft within the next two years, in line with Mr President’s firm commitment towards Nigerian security.
He said the 49 aircraft being expected included 10 additional A-109S trekkers, 12 AH-1 Zulu attack helicopters, 24 M-346 attack and ground attack aircraft, and three Kata 295 medium airlift aircraft.
According to him, the acquisitions will significantly bolster precision strike, ground attack, and air mobility capabilities, to support counter terrorism, and counterinsurgency operations.
In the area of building local capacity through research and development, the air chief said the NAF was optimising strategic partnerships in artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicle research and development, small arms and rocket developments, as well as radar enhancements.
He said that NAF’s various research and development institutions, such as the Air Force Institute of Technology, were partnering with universities and government institutions towards accelerating their research and development capabilities.
“As part of efforts to optimise our employment of NAF platforms, we have recorded research and development breakthroughs, such as revalidation of the Alpha Jet aircraft ejection seats, retrofitting of unserviceable 68mm rockets, and the development of a test kit for determining the specific impulse of pyro cartridges, amongst several others.
“Also, just two weeks ago, I inaugurated a research committee tasked with initiating the local production of the C-5 57mm rockets integral to some of our attack platforms.
“These achievements highlight our shift towards self-reliance and resilience in defence technology,’’ he said.
During the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), with Lagos State University and a local defence firm, EPAIL Nigeria, the CAS expressed the desire of the NAF to pursue locally driven solutions in addressing the nation’s security challenges.
According to him, in a rapidly changing world, the ability to continue to anticipate, rapidly adapt and innovate is imperative for the transformation of the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the air power demands of national security in all operational environments.
Abubakar said the NAF had since 2015, flown over 8,000, conducted more than 80,000 sorties with only few verified incidences of collateral damage.
He said it represented an occurrence rate of less than 0.005 per cent, an exceptional record by global standards, particularly within the complexities of asymmetric warfare.
The CAS said that in the few instances where civilian casualties were reported, the NAF had promptly conducted investigations, accepted responsibility with deep regret, and taken necessary corrective actions to prevent future occurrences.
According to him, the service has proactively invested in advanced technologies and robust protocols aimed at preventing civilian casualties.
In his remarks, the Vice President, Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN), Ade Ogundeyin, commended the NAF for its continuous efforts in modernising air operations, enhancing research and development, and fostering civil military cooperation.
Ogundeyin said that DIAN was established to promote local industry, defence manufacturing, and enhance Nigeria’s military industrial capabilities, aimed to advance indigenous defence technology through innovation and strategic partnerships.
He said that by fostering partnerships between defence industries and institutions, research bodies, and the academia and private industries, Nigeria was positioning itself for self-sufficiency in aerospace technology and defence manufacturing.
Available data indicates that the NAF has contributed to UN peacekeeping operations, providing air support and transportation services to peacekeeping troops in addition to its internal security operations over the years.
By participating in global and regional security initiatives, the NAF has demonstrated its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s interests and contributing to international peace and security.
The NAF’s global ranking is 54th in terms of airpower, according to the Global Firepower Index 2025 while ranking third in Africa, behind Egypt and Algeria, with a firepower index of 0.5771.
As part of measures to mitigate civilian casualties during air operations, the NAF also unveiled the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plans Document during the NAF Day 2025 Seminar.
The seminar was part of activities marking NAF’s 61st anniversary in Abuja.
Experts are of the view that with continuous training of its personnel, systematic upgrading and acquisition of modern combat equipment, the NAF will continue to prove its mettle in protecting Nigeria’s airspace. (NANFeatures)
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According to official HYPREP data, more than 30 communities now benefit from potable water, reducing the incidence of cholera, diarrhoea, and other waterborne diseases.
In Wiiyaakara, Khana LGA, and Nsisionke Ogale in Eleme, the newly established Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) is emerging as a knowledge hub. 
