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Njideka Maduka On Air, Lagos (2025)

26/09/2025

A Meeting Against the Oligarchs

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar attended a closed-door meeting of African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition leaders in Abuja on Thursday, as the opposition seeks to strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

26/09/2025

Atiku, El-Rufai, David Mark Lead ADC Coalition Meeting Ahead of 2027 Elections

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar attended a closed-door meeting of African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition leaders in Abuja on Thursday, as the opposition seeks to strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, held at an undisclosed location, included former Senate President David Mark, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Ministers Isa Pantami and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as ex-Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Abdulfatai Ahmed.

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, sent apologies but pledged his loyalty to the coalition.

Atiku described the gathering on X as part of a broader movement “against the oligarchs who promote poverty and insecurity."

Key resolutions included suspending efforts to register the proposed All Democratic Alliance (ADA), with all presidential aspirants agreeing to back the eventual ADC candidate after the primaries. Members were also directed to resign from other parties and fully commit to the ADC.

24/09/2025

Oil Politics, PIA, and the Power Shift We’re Not Talking About

By Njideka Maduka
Journalist

On Tuesday, September 24th, Nigeria’s oil sector found itself in the eye of the storm, the consequences of which will be revealed in the days to come. Oil unions- the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), led by Festus Osifo and Williams Akporeha respectively, strongly rejected the Federal Government’s alleged plan to sell off 30–35% of its stakes in Joint Venture (JV) oil assets. (FG currently holds between 55% and 60% of such assets through NNPCL.)

They argue this move would:
- Weaken NNPCL financially
- Put Nigeria’s oil sector in foreign hands
- Undermine national budget contributions
- Strip the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of its stability

They’re also resisting proposed amendments to the PIA, warning that frequent changes will scare away investors and destabilize the sector.

But here’s something I’ve been reflecting on.

When the PIA was signed under late President Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians especially from the Niger Delta criticized the 30% frontier exploration fund, claiming it was a ploy to use national oil wealth to search for oil in the North, particularly since only 3% was reserved for host communities. At the time, those concerns were dismissed.

Now, under President Bola Tinubu, a southerner, the same financial commitments are being reassessed, not for regional reasons, but for economic sustainability. Last month, President Tinubu issued a directive to reassess NNPCL’s 30% management fee and 30% frontier exploration deduction under the PIA. He charged the Economic Management Team, led by Finance Minister Wale Edun, to optimize government savings, streamline deductions from the Federation Account, and enhance fiscal discipline in a time of global financial strain.

Ironically, this shift may now validate the concerns of those who opposed the original PIA structure.

So what changed?
- Economic strain: Nigeria needs every naira it can save. Whether these savings are judiciously used is another matter altogether.
- The political lens has shifted: What was once dismissed as regional favouritism is now being re-evaluated as fiscal reform.

Labour unions aren’t seeing it that way. Their resistance is rooted in national control and sector stability. Personally, I wonder how much of their resistance is driven by fear of job loss.

The conversation is evolving, and let’s see if the Federal Government shifts ground. And maybe, just maybe bills will need to be thoroughly reviewed before passage.

This isn’t just about oil. It’s about how policy, politics, and perception collide in Nigeria. And it’s a reminder that thoroughness, fiscal discipline, regional equity, and national interest must go hand in hand in any national discourse.

We await what follows.

23/09/2025

Natasha Akpoti Returns To Senate After Six-Month Suspension

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, returned to the National Assembly on Tuesday, accompanied by a crowd of supporters.

Her resumption came just hours after the sergeant-at-arms unlocked her office in the Senate wing, ending a six-month suspension that had kept her away.

The lawmaker told journalists she only learnt of the development through the media and had yet to receive formal communication from the National Assembly management.

She recalled that the last correspondence from the Clerk of the Senate stated she was not allowed to resume, despite a July 4 Federal High Court ruling declaring her suspension “excessive and unconstitutional.”

Her return caused mild drama at the entrance, as supporters insisted on following her into the Senate wing, but she urged them to remain calm and allow her to walk in quietly.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for alleged breaches of Senate rules, and her resumption on Tuesday marked her first access to her office since the suspension was imposed.

22/09/2025

Presidency Dismisses El-Rufai’s Claim That Tinubu Plans To Stay Beyond 2031

The Presidency has dismissed allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that President Bola Tinubu plans to remain in office beyond May 28, 2031.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claims as baseless and absurd, stressing that Tinubu remains committed to democratic principles and will only serve constitutionally allowed terms if re-elected in 2027.

El-Rufai had alleged during a recent meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the Tinubu administration is veering toward authoritarianism. He compared the President to Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has remained in power since 1982, and warned that Nigeria’s federal system is being undermined.

He further claimed that unless Nigerians unite to stop the administration in 2027, Tinubu could attempt to entrench himself in power, likening the situation to the early years of Paul Biya’s rule.

However, Onanuga said El-Rufai’s remarks reflect the frustration of opposition forces, particularly in his new party, the African Democratic Congress, whose plot to unseat Tinubu in 2027 he said is “a mission doomed to fail."

The presidential aide also advised Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to reach out to his predecessor, saying El-Rufai could benefit from professional counselling to steer him away from what he called hallucinations and political fabrications.

20/09/2025

Remember the Niger Delta Avengers? Buhari Faced Worse | Front Page With Njideka Maduka

Back in President Muhammadu Buhari’s time, the Niger Delta Avengers bombed pipelines almost daily, yet no emergency rule was declared. So, was President Tinubu right to impose one in Rivers State over fewer incidents?

This is an excerpt from the latest Front Page with Njideka Maduka. Listen to the full episode on this page for deeper insights. 🎙️

19/09/2025

Anambra Slams PCL Over Poor State Ranking

The Anambra State Government has rejected the 2025 State Performance Index by Philips Consulting Limited, which ranked the state among the worst to live in. Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Chiamaka Nnake, in a statement on Friday, described the report as misleading and based on flawed methodology.

She questioned PCL’s competence, saying the firm used only 78 respondents to represent a state of over six million people, far below acceptable sampling standards. Nnake added that the survey was heavily skewed, with 76 percent of respondents being male, making the results unreliable.

The commissioner further faulted the report’s focus on state spending without measuring tangible outcomes. She stressed that the consultants failed to engage communities or validate findings on the ground, relying instead on perception-based judgments.

Highlighting education, Nnake noted that Anambra has implemented free schooling from nursery to senior secondary, recruited over 8,000 teachers, and reduced its out-of-school rate to the lowest in Nigeria. She argued that such achievements were ignored in PCL’s ranking.

On healthcare, she pointed to UNICEF and Gates Foundation-backed assessments that ranked Anambra number one nationally in 2024, rewarding the state with $1.2 million. She said initiatives such as free antenatal and delivery services, alongside major hospital investments, sharply improved healthcare outcomes.

Nnake concluded that while serious international bodies consistently rate Anambra among the best, PCL’s flawed approach has damaged its credibility. She urged the firm to adopt robust statistical methods and field engagement if it wants to be taken seriously.

19/09/2025

Catch the latest episode of Front Page With Njideka Maduka. Here, we talk Rivers State emergency rule and more.

🎧 Listen on this page.

. A personal review of national dailies. Bringing clarity to the headlines, one page at a time.

19/09/2025

Fubara: My Acceptance of Emergency Rule Was Sacrifice for Peace

Governor Siminalayi Fubara says his decision to accept the emergency rule in Rivers State was not weakness but sacrifice for peace.

In his statewide broadcast a day after President Bola Tinubu reinstated him following a six-month emergency declaration, Governor Fubara noted that the responsibility now rests on government, the Assembly, and political leaders to put aside differences and ensure the peace achieved remains permanent.

Fubara acknowledged the concerns of supporters who felt uneasy about the process, but assured them that nothing has been irretrievably lost. He stressed that “the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war.”

The governor recalled achievements recorded by his administration in infrastructure, education, and healthcare before the emergency rule, promising that projects will not be abandoned.

He also pledged to work harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate development, guided by humility and the fear of God.

19/09/2025

Tinubu Ends Rivers Emergency Rule | Front Page with Njideka Maduka 🗞️

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday lifted the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State, restoring Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly. But what does this mean for governance in Rivers, and how might Wike factor into the political equation?

In this episode of Front Page with Njideka Maduka, I also break down Dangote’s refinery clash with depot owners over subsidy demands and the Federal Government’s N330bn cash transfers to households.

🎧 Take a listen. Share. Like. Comment. Follow

18/09/2025

Rivers Assembly Resumes Plenary, Demands Probe

The Rivers State House of Assembly has resumed plenary following the expiration of the six-month state of emergency declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025.

At Thursday’s sitting, lawmakers demanded a full review of how funds were spent on projects and programmes during the emergency period. The motion was sponsored by nine members, including House Leader Hon. Major Jack and Deputy Leader Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, and was unanimously adopted by all 26 members present.

The House while counting the gains of the emergency rule, however expressed concern that several contracts were awarded and funds spent from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account without legislative input, stressing the need for a clear financial review.

Lawmakers also urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to forward the list of commissioner nominees for the constitution of a new State Executive Council, as well as present an appropriation bill for the remainder of the year.

Speaker Martins Amaewhule said the Assembly would formally write to the governor on these matters, while commending President Bola Tinubu for restoring democracy in the state. He assured that the legislature would uphold the Constitution in the interest of peace and good governance.

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