Prudent Watch, Ilorin (2026)

06/08/2026

Do You Really Stand for Fairness and Justice, Senator Oloriegbe?

I have just read Senator Ibrahim Yahya Oloriegbe's speech delivered at the unveiling of the G15's new name, replacing its former identity.

What immediately caught my attention was his claim that the group stands for equity, fairness, and justice. That claim is difficult to reconcile with the political position he has chosen to take. Senator Oloriegbe, your actions appear to reflect personal ambition more than the principles of equity and fairness you profess. There is nothing inherently wrong with political ambition, but it should not be presented as a struggle for justice when the facts suggest otherwise.

How does aspiring to succeed a governor from your own region —a region that has occupied the governorship for 20 of the last 28 years —advance equity and fairness in a tripodal state? How do you justify opposing your party's decision to zone the governorship ticket to Kwara North, the only senatorial district that has not produced a governor in this democratic dispensation? These are legitimate questions that deserve honest answers.

To many observers, it is difficult to see how this position aligns with the principles of fairness and justice. The rhetoric simply does not appear to match the conduct, and that inconsistency raises important concerns.

If the basis of your disagreement is the belief that your party's primary process was flawed, you are certainly entitled to criticize it. Constructive criticism is part of democratic politics. However, such criticism should also acknowledge that many political leaders—including yourself—have benefited from party primaries that were far from perfect. That reality calls for consistency.

President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly been made aware of your position and has nevertheless continued to support your party's decision. It is, therefore, difficult to reconcile repeated declarations of loyalty to the President with continued opposition to the position endorsed by both him and the party leadership.

Ultimately, the impression created by the group's actions is that the struggle is less about equity and justice than about political interest. To many, the message appears to be: "If it is not us, then it should be nobody."

Aliyu Moshood Ajao writes from Zango ward in Ilorin East Local Government, he was a former chairmanship aspirant. [email protected]

06/08/2026

Desperate Politics: The G15 Gambit And The Real Record Of Progress In Kwara

By AbdulRafiu Aladi

As Kwara State prepares for the 2027 governorship election, the focus should be on sustaining the remarkable progress recorded since 2019 under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Instead, a section of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the G15 coalition of aggrieved governorship aspirants and political stakeholders, has chosen a path of endless agitation following the emergence and subsequent affirmation of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi as the party’s governorship candidate.

No democracy is without internal disagreements. Aspirants have every right to challenge outcomes they consider unfair through established party mechanisms. However, when political grievances evolve into sustained campaigns capable of undermining the very party that has provided the platform for their relevance, legitimate dissent begins to look more like political desperation.

That perception has only been reinforced by recent events. Following the affirmation of the APC candidate, several members of the G15 have reportedly pitched their tents with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the same party Kwarans decisively rejected in 2019 after years of dissatisfaction with its style of governance. For a group that insisted its fight was about protecting internal democracy, abandoning the APC immediately after exhausting internal processes raises legitimate questions about whether the campaign was ever about principle or simply about power.

Their earlier petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding a rerun of the primary, now appears even more contradictory. Having failed to secure the outcome they desired, defecting to the opposition suggests that the agitation was less about strengthening democratic processes and more about overturning an unfavourable political verdict. Politics demands conviction, consistency, and loyalty to ideals, not simply loyalty to personal ambition.

Ironically, the destination of their political journey is the very party whose years in government inspired the historic “O to Ge” movement. That movement was never about replacing one political elite with another. It was a popular demand for accountable leadership, transparent governance, and development that directly impacts the lives of ordinary people.

Seven years later, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s record explains why the APC remains the dominant political force in Kwara. The party’s strength today is not built on political rhetoric but on visible achievements across every sector of the state’s economy.

Infrastructure has witnessed unprecedented investment, with hundreds of kilometres of roads completed or under construction across the state. Landmark projects such as the General Tunde Idiagbon Flyover and the Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari (Unity) Flyover have transformed mobility in Ilorin, while rural roads constructed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) are connecting farming communities to markets and stimulating economic activities.

Education has received sustained attention through the recruitment of thousands of teachers, rehabilitation of schools, and the successful implementation of the KwaraLEARN programme, which is transforming learning outcomes through technology. The establishment of the Kwara State University of Education further demonstrates the administration’s commitment to building human capital.

Healthcare has equally witnessed remarkable improvements. Nearly 200 Primary Healthcare Centres have been revitalised, diagnostic facilities upgraded, health insurance coverage expanded, and investments made to improve the welfare of healthcare professionals. These interventions have brought quality healthcare closer to thousands of families across the state.

The administration has also strengthened public finances through improved internally generated revenue, expanded social investment programmes for vulnerable citizens, supported agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, and addressed long-standing salary, pension, and gratuity obligations inherited from previous administrations. These achievements have restored confidence in government and laid a solid foundation for sustainable development.

This is why the APC remains formidable in Kwara. The party’s greatest strength is not merely its political structure but the goodwill earned through Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s performance. Across the sixteen local government areas, Kwarans can see the difference in roads, schools, hospitals, agricultural investments, and social programmes. They have experienced governance that prioritises development over political drama.

As 2027 approaches, the real contest will not be between those issuing petitions and those changing political parties. It will be between those who can point to measurable achievements and those asking the electorate to overlook a proven record of progress. Kwarans have consistently shown that they reward performance over propaganda.

The APC enters the next election from a position of strength because it has earned the confidence of the people through purposeful governance. The recent defections may generate headlines, but they cannot erase seven years of visible development or diminish the goodwill Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has built across the state. In the end, politics is judged not by noise but by results, and on that score, the administration’s record remains its strongest campaign.

• AbdulRafiu Aladi writes from Ilorin, Kwara state capital

06/08/2026

Hakeem Lawal Welcomes Return of Woro Victims, Commends Government, Security Agencies

The Chairman of Awliya Foundation, Hakeem Oladimeji Lawal, has welcomed the safe release of victims of the Woro kidnap incident in Kaiama local government area of Kwara state.

In a statement issued on his official Facebook account, Lawal expressed gratitude over the victims’ return and commended the efforts of the government and security agencies.

The statement reads: “I heartily welcome the news of the safe release of the Woro kidnap victims from the hands of their abductors. I rejoice with fellow Kwarans, particularly the good people of Woro community, on this joyous development.

“I commend and appreciate the efforts of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and our security agencies whose collaboration resulted into this success.

“While we continue to pray against a reoccurrence, we must remain vigilant and be proactive as a people. Together, we can achieve the permanent defeat of our enemies that threatens our existence.

“Congratulations to the victims, their families, Woro community, and all Kwarans.”

06/08/2026

We studied India, US, Pakistan models for state police framework — IG

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has disclosed that the police committee that developed the framework for the proposed state police system studied policing models in India, the United States and Pakistan before submitting its recommendations.

Speaking at a workshop on state police in Abuja on Thursday, Disu said the committee carried out extensive comparative analysis of countries operating state policing systems to guide the development of a workable framework for Nigeria.

According to a video of the event posted on X, the police chief said the workshop was organised to educate senior officers on the proposed state police structure and address concerns surrounding its implementation.

He said, “We are going to deliberate on a very important topic of state police. This is a very important topic ravaging the country today and in other parts of the world.

“The most important thing is we are leading hundreds of officers who must be told about state police, who must be educated about state police to alleviate their fears, because there are fears everywhere. It is our duty to educate them and let them know what state police is all about.”

The IG said the Federal Government had resolved to establish state police, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force had a responsibility to support the process.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has made up its mind to have state police, and it is our duty to assist them to achieve it. This is not the issue of us only. This is the issue of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria,” he said.

He urged participants to critically examine the proposed framework and contribute ideas that would strengthen it.

Recalling the committee’s work, the IG said there were initial disagreements over whether the police should develop its own framework because some believed the decision on state police had already been taken.

“And I’ll go back to when we were about to start. Argument arose that decisions had been taken and we should just sit down and be complacent and not do anything about it. I’m happy we quickly agreed to set up a committee,” he said.

According to him, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had already established its own committee and concluded its assignment before the police committee commenced work.

“The governors have already set up their committee. They have already almost concluded. In fact, they have concluded. We started late. We caught up with them, and I’m happy to say our work is what they are deliberating on today,” he stated.

The IG revealed that the police committee completed the initial framework within 17 days.

“I think it took us 17 days only to come up with a framework that has become the genesis of what everybody is working on today, and we still need to put some finishing touches to it,” he said.

He also disclosed that former Inspectors-General of Police had reviewed the document and offered recommendations to improve it.

“Retired Inspectors-General of Police have visited me and they have shown their concern, and we have deliberated. They have put in their contributions into this as well,” he said.

Highlighting the research that informed the proposal, the police chief said the committee examined state policing systems in other countries before drafting Nigeria’s framework.

“A lot of comparative analysis has been done. We have taken time to study nations where they have state police, India, America and even Pakistan and how things work there,” he said.

He urged participants to treat the workshop with seriousness and make meaningful contributions to the ongoing efforts to develop a state policing framework for the country.

The push for state police has gained momentum following concerns over rising insecurity and increasing calls for decentralised policing.

06/08/2026

Aviation funding row deepens as NCAA engineers oppose TSC review

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers has distanced itself from recent comments by the association’s national leadership on the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge sharing formula, saying it was neither consulted nor represented in the position.

In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Agunloye Fredrick, on Thursday, the NCAA chapter said the publication attributed to the National President of NAAE did not reflect the views of its members.

“The attention of the NCAA Chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has been drawn to recent media publications credited to the National President of NAAE regarding the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula,” the communiqué stated.

“While we acknowledge the right of every professional body to advocate for the welfare and operational sustainability of its members and institutions, we wish to state clearly that the position presented in the publication does not represent the views of the NCAA Chapter of NAAE,” it added.

The chapter faulted the process leading to the position, saying members across aviation agencies ought to have been consulted before any public statement was issued.

“As a national association with members spread across various aviation agencies, it is expected that matters of such national importance receive broad consultation before any public position is adopted.

“Unfortunately, the NCAA Chapter was neither consulted nor carried along before the publication was made. At no time was our opinion sought on the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge sharing formula,” the communiqué stated.

“We therefore dissociate ourselves from the publication and respectfully state that it should not be interpreted as the collective position of all NAAE members across the aviation industry,” it added.

The engineers stressed that the Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory levy collected from airline passengers and shared among aviation agencies because each plays a unique role in ensuring aviation safety, security and efficiency.

They noted that the NCAA, as the industry’s economic and safety regulator, depends substantially on its allocation from the TSC because it does not operate airports, provide air navigation services or generate significant commercial revenue.

According to the communiqué, the funds are used to support certification and licensing of airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, maintenance organisations and aviation training organisations, as well as safety surveillance, economic regulation, consumer protection, accident prevention, implementation of International Civil Aviation Organisation standards, inspector training, acquisition of specialised oversight equipment, information technology infrastructure, cybersecurity and other regulatory activities.

The chapter added that the revenue also enables the authority to meet Nigeria’s financial obligations to international aviation organisations, including the ICAO, the African Civil Aviation Commission and the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation.

The communiqué warned that reducing the NCAA’s share of the TSC would undermine aviation safety oversight and regulatory effectiveness.

It listed possible consequences to include reduced frequency of safety inspections and surveillance activities, delays in certification, licensing and regulatory approvals, reduced capacity for continuous training and requalification of aviation safety inspectors, inability to procure and maintain specialised oversight equipment, and weakening of safety oversight required under ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.

Other potential implications, according to the chapter, include reduced capacity to monitor airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and maintenance organisations, delays in responding to emerging safety concerns, increased risk of deficiencies during ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme assessments, reduced international confidence in Nigeria’s aviation safety oversight system, and possible negative impact on Nigeria’s ICAO compliance status and international reputation.

The communiqué further stated that “a strong regulator remains the foundation of every safe aviation system.”

“Effective regulation provides oversight over every operator, every airport, every air navigation service provider and every aviation organisation. Weakening the regulator through reduced funding ultimately weakens the entire aviation industry,” it stated.

While acknowledging the funding needs of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the chapter maintained that strengthening one aviation agency should not come at the expense of another.

“We fully recognise the importance of adequate funding for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and acknowledge the enormous investment required to maintain Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management infrastructure,” the communiqué stated.

“However, strengthening one agency should never come at the expense of another agency whose statutory responsibility is to regulate, inspect and enforce compliance across the entire aviation sector,” it added.

The NCAA chapter urged stakeholders to pursue broader consultations and sustainable funding mechanisms for all aviation agencies.

“The issue before the aviation industry should not be viewed as a competition among agencies. Rather, stakeholders should collectively seek sustainable funding solutions capable of supporting all aviation institutions without compromising their statutory responsibilities,” the communiqué stated.

“The NCAA Chapter of NAAE therefore calls on all stakeholders, including the leadership of our association, to embrace wider consultation, constructive dialogue and evidence-based engagement before adopting public positions on matters of national aviation policy,” it added.

The communiqué comes amid an ongoing debate within Nigeria’s aviation industry over a proposed amendment to the sharing formula for the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge.

Under the current arrangement, the NCAA receives 56 per cent of the pool, while the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency gets 22 per cent, with the balance shared among the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.

A bill before the National Assembly seeks to reduce the NCAA’s share and increase NAMA’s allocation.

06/08/2026

FG approves financing framework for electrification of health facilities nationwide

The Federal Government has approved an institutional reform and financing framework to accelerate the electrification of health facilities nationwide.

The move, officials said, would bring reliable, 24-hour power to hospitals long hampered by erratic electricity supply.

The decisions were reached at the third meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC) of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI), a presidential programme jointly coordinated by the Federal Ministries of Power and Health and Social Welfare, which is targeting reliable electricity for at least 30 percent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027.

The meeting, chaired by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isiaq Salako and co-chaired by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, drew top government officials, development partners and members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), which presented the recommendations under consideration.

Speaking at the meeting, Tegbe declared that the initiative must now move from announcements to actual project delivery.

Describing the NPHI as one of the Tinubu administration’s flagship programmes, he said the emphasis should shift toward commissioning completed projects that Nigerians can see for themselves, rather than further groundbreaking ceremonies and public messaging.

He emphasized the need for teaching hospitals, state hospitals and primary healthcare centres fully energized, noting that the Rural Electrification Agency has already energized five Federal Teaching Hospitals and several other health facilities nationwide.

He also tied the initiative directly to patient outcomes, arguing that dependable power would end hospitals’ reliance on emergency generators, and pledged that the Ministry would continue to prioritize the initiative’s funding needs while ensuring value for money.

Salako, who disclosed the outcomes of the meeting, said the Steering Committee approved a financing framework to mobilize investment for healthcare electrification, alongside a facility energy management framework requiring participating hospitals to build sustainable systems for managing their energy infrastructure.

He said the committee also cleared eight private sector proposals for further engagement, drawn from about 70 submissions received during the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Week in Lagos.

He added that Energy Management Teams are already in place at federal tertiary hospitals, with state governments being encouraged to set up similar structures, and that the initiative will now be institutionalised through dedicated budgetary provisions and a full-time Project Coordination Unit to oversee implementation going forward.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmud Mamman, underscored the stakes for the health sector, noting that uninterrupted electricity is essential for powering critical medical equipment, preserving vaccines, supporting laboratories and strengthening emergency response systems.

He described the NPHI as a landmark collaboration bringing together government, development partners and the private sector to tackle one of the health sector’s most pressing infrastructure gaps.

The Nigeria Power for Health Initiative signals the Federal Government’s intent to treat reliable electricity as a pillar of healthcare delivery.

As the NPHI moves from framework to delivering projects, it expresses the importance of healthcare reforms in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, where functional healthcare is defined not only by the personnel and equipment within it, but also by the power that keeps them running.

06/08/2026

NANS rejects claims of Northern marginalisation in FG’s passport reform

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Northern Caucus, has dismissed claims that the Federal Government’s ongoing passport centralisation reform is designed to marginalise Northern Nigeria, describing such allegations as false, misleading and aimed at creating unnecessary public anxiety.

The students’ body said the passport centralisation programme being implemented by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is a nationwide operational reform intended to strengthen security, improve efficiency and enhance service delivery, rather than a policy targeted at any region of the country.

National Vice President (External Affairs) of the association, Comrade Sadiq Zango, who addressed newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, said the caucus decided to clarify misconceptions following growing enquiries and concerns from passport applicants and stakeholders across the North-East and North-West.

He urged Nigerians, particularly residents of the two geopolitical zones, to disregard what he described as “deliberate falsehood, propaganda and misinformation” being circulated about the reform.

According to Zango, the migration of passport production to the Central Personalisation Centre in Abuja does not stop passport processing or issuance at passport offices nationwide or at Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad.

He explained that the exercise is part of a broader modernisation programme aimed at strengthening the security, integrity and efficiency of Nigeria’s passport issuance system through technology-driven processes.

Providing details of the implementation, Zango said the Nigeria Immigration Service adopted a phased migration plan to ensure a seamless transition with minimal disruption to services.

He noted that phases one to three, carried out between February 2025 and 2026, covered passport offices in the North-Central, South-East and South-West geopolitical zones, excluding Lagos passport offices, as well as 41 Nigerian embassies and consulates across Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania.

He added that phase four, scheduled for August 2026, would bring the remaining passport offices in the South-South, North-East and North-West onto the centralised platform. The offices include Calabar, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Yenagoa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jalingo, Yola, Farm Centre Kano and Dawakin Kudu Kano.

“It is therefore far from the truth to suggest that the Federal Government is trying to disenfranchise the North or any other part of the country through this process,” he said.

Zango disclosed that under the new operational framework, passport booklet printing and security personalisation have been consolidated in a secure, high-capacity production centre in Abuja, while passport offices across the country will continue to receive applications, process requests and issue passports.

He said the new arrangement is expected to reduce passport processing time to about two weeks while eliminating manual interference in the personalisation process, curbing document fraud, improving accountability and ensuring uniform quality and enhanced security features in every Nigerian passport.

The NANS leader expressed confidence in the Nigeria Immigration Service, saying the agency remains committed to deploying technology-driven solutions that align Nigeria’s passport system with global best practices.

He appealed to Northerners and Nigerians generally to remain calm and ignore rumours capable of creating unnecessary tension, insisting that the reform is designed to produce a more secure, efficient and globally respected Nigerian passport for all citizens, irrespective of region.

06/08/2026

Court remands retired DSS officer over IPOB support, cybercrime

The Department of State Services on Thursday arraigned one of its retired officers, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a four-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism-related offences and cybercrime.

The prosecution told the court, presided over by Justice Muhammed Umar, that Ezeakolam’s alleged actions contravened Sections 13, 25 and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

After the charges were read, the defendant pleaded “not guilty” to all four counts.

Following his plea, counsel for the DSS requested that the matter be fixed for trial and urged the court to remand the defendant pending the determination of the case.

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until October 29 for the commencement of trial and ordered that Ezeakolam be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Count Ooe read, “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly and indirectly render support by providing moral assistance and disseminating terrorist information of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB, a proscribed organization, through the internet and your social media platforms, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count Two read, “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count Three stated, “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly directly and indirectly aid and abet the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by posting on social media platforms messages calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count Four read, That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on social media platforms did post and cause to be accessed, messages aimed at advancing the cause o Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended.”

You may also want to add a brief background explaining that IPOB was proscribed by the Federal Government in 2017 and has since been designated a terrorist organisation by a court, if that context is relevant to your audience.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, led by Nnamdi Kanu, was proscribed by the Federal Government in September 2017 after the Federal High Court in Abuja declared it an unlawful organisation.

The government subsequently designated the group a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.

IPOB has consistently rejected the designation, maintaining that it is a non-violent movement advocating for the self-determination of the South-East region.

Since the proscription, Nigerian security agencies have continued to arrest and prosecute individuals accused of supporting or promoting the activities of the group under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and other relevant laws.

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