Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address, accusing the government of offering Nigerians “empty rhetoric and statistics” in the face of deepening poverty, hunger, and insecurity. In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, dismissed Tinubu’s October 1 speech as disconnected from the lived realities of ordinary Nigerians. “Citizens cannot eat statistics or sleep on PowerPoint slides,” Shaibu said. “True progress is not about GDP figures, but about whether people can feed their families, send their children to school, access quality healthcare,…

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that the touted successes of ongoing economic reforms are meaningfully reflected in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. The association stressed that true national progress must go beyond favourable statistics to touch the daily realities of citizens. CAN’s position came in response to President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address, in which he highlighted signs of economic recovery. According to the President, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, the fastest pace in four years and above the International…

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has pledged to intervene in the ongoing travails of Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, particularly concerning the Federal Government’s actions against him, including the freezing of his bank accounts. Igboho, accompanied by a group of supporters, paid a visit to the monarch at his Bodija residence in Ibadan on Monday. The meeting, which lasted approximately 40 minutes, focused on security concerns in the South-West and Igboho’s protracted dispute with the Federal Government. A statement issued by Igboho’s media office on Wednesday revealed that the discussions addressed insecurity…

Nigeria expended a total of $2.86 billion on servicing its external debt in the first eight months of 2025, representing 69.1 per cent of the country’s total foreign payments during the period, according to international payment data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday. This compares to $3.06 billion spent on external debt service in the corresponding period of 2024, which made up 70.7 per cent of total foreign payments amounting to $4.33 billion. Despite a reduction of $198 million in absolute debt service payments year-on-year, the data reveals that debt servicing continues to dominate Nigeria’s foreign…

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has called on Nigerians to rise above division and embrace unity, enterprise, and collective responsibility to build a stronger and more prosperous nation. Speaking through his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, at a ceremony commemorating Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, Governor Oborevwori highlighted the significance of the day as an opportunity for national reflection and renewed commitment to unity, peace, and sustainable development. “The true strength of Delta lies in its people,” the governor said. “As we mark Nigeria’s independence, let us also embrace independence in our daily lives—independence from ethnic division and rivalry, from…

As Nigeria celebrates its 65th Independence anniversary, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has called for greater adherence to the rule of law, warning that the country’s democracy cannot thrive without a robust constitutional framework and respect for judicial authority. In his Independence Day message, Governor Adeleke described the occasion as a moment of deep national reflection on democracy, governance, and the role of institutions in shaping Nigeria’s future. “We have made progress but we can move faster and better,” Adeleke stated. “We should continue to protect the foundation of our national existence—the Constitution and its interpretation by a truly…

In a rousing Independence Day message to mark Nigeria’s 65th anniversary of nationhood, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised the youth of Nigeria as the country’s “greatest assets” and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering them through innovation, education, and economic support. Addressing the nation on Wednesday, President Tinubu emphasised the central role of young Nigerians in shaping the country’s future, calling on them to “dream big, innovate, and conquer more territories” across diverse fields such as science, technology, sports, and the arts. “You are the future and the greatest assets of this blessed country,” President Tinubu said in his national…

Lagos State has successfully recovered N1.5 billion in outstanding taxes from a commercial bank, marking a significant victory in the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal governance, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), announced on Tuesday. Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa to mark his second year in office, Pedro said the recovery was the result of enforcement actions taken by the Ministry of Justice. He highlighted the establishment of specialized revenue courts at both the High Court and magistrate court levels, as well as the creation of a dedicated Revenue Recovery Unit, which…

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has expressed confidence that Nigeria is moving in the right direction as the reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu begins to deliver positive results. In a congratulatory message marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Akpabio dismissed claims suggesting that the country is “finished” or beyond redemption. The former Akwa Ibom State governor emphasised that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is steadily making progress despite challenges. He called on Nigerians to continue supporting the government’s reforms, assuring them that the sacrifices being made today would lead to a brighter future for coming…

The Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in Lagos, Mr Salem Aljaberi, has congratulated Nigeria on its 65th Independence anniversary, pledging continued efforts to strengthen bilateral ties across key development sectors. In a statement on Tuesday, Aljaberi highlighted the progress in relations since diplomatic ties were established in 1982, describing them as rooted in mutual respect, trust, and shared ambition. He noted that economic cooperation between the two countries has grown significantly, with non-oil bilateral trade reaching approximately USD 4.3 billion in 2024—a 56.1% year-on-year increase. By mid-2025, the UAE ranked among Nigeria’s top five import partners. READ ALSO:…