News
Nigerians demand reforms as Tinubu submits ministerial list
•Technocrats said to dominate list, Tinubu sought prayers to make right choice – Senate Leader
•NBA tasks appointees on security, APC elders fume over Jonathan’s move to pick Bayelsa candidate
Nigerians have demanded economic growth as President Bola Tinubu is expected to submit the much-awaited ministerial list to the National Assembly in the next 24 hours for screening.
A presidential aide, who demanded anonymity in a chat with The PUNCH, on Tuesday, said the President stretched the submission of the list to the last days to ensure that the list was inclusive and reflective of what was best for the country.
The list, which is expected to be a mixture of technocrats and tested politicians, the source revealed, would have more technocrats who would help drive the President’s Renewed Hope agenda for the next four years.
The Fifth Amendment to the 1999 Constitution mandates the president and governors to submit the names of their ministerial and commissioner-nominees within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or state House of Assembly.
Tinubu, who was sworn in as President on May 29, has to submit his ministerial list to the Senate before July 29 as stipulated by law.
Speaking against the backdrop of the constitutional deadline, the presidential aide said, “President Bola Tinubu will transmit the ministerial list to the National Assembly tomorrow (today). He has stretched the transmission of the list to the federal lawmakers to ensure that he gets it right. One thing is certain, the list is going to be a mixture of technocrats and tested politicians.
“The President has made it clear that his decisions for the next four years, starting with the ministerial list, would be guided by what is right for Nigeria and not political considerations.”
When pressed for the names on the list, another aide, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “One thing we have been told is that the ministerial list is something the Commander-in-Chief is keeping close to his chest.”
However, in the last few weeks, various names had been bandied around as possible ministerial nominees, including former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; ex-Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Wale Edun; the Special Adviser, Monetary Policies and a host of technocrats and politicians.
Tinubu sought prayers
Meanwhile, the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Tuesday, said the President sought prayers of Nigerians for him to make the right choice.
Bamidele disclosed this while speaking in Abuja at his 60th birthday lecture and book presentation titled: “Leadership through Communication.”
Bamidele said Tinubu, who was billed to be the father of the day, called to say he could not make it to the event because of ongoing work to ensure that the ministerial list is delivered to the Senate in the next 48 hours.
He said, “At 10.03am this morning, Mr President, was on the phone. He said to me ‘Opeyemi, I need to make myself unavailable in the next 48 hours because a correspondence must come to the Senate, a very crucial correspondence.’
“Mr President prayed for me. He asked me to give the phone to my wife and he prayed for my wife.
“He said the two of us should join the rest of Nigerians and pray for him to be able to make the right decision on the list in 24 hours so that when Nigerians hear the list of his ministers they will say ‘yes, this is uncommon.’”
Agitation in Bayelsa
Meanwhile, some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State have kicked against alleged desperate attempts by former President Goodluck Jonathan to nominate the person for the state’s ministerial slot in Tinubu’s cabinet.
The stakeholders under the auspices of the Bayelsa APC Elders Council condemned Jonathan’s move, saying it was wrong for him to reap where he did not show.
Speaking in Yenagoa on Tuesday, the chairman of the elders’ council, Chief Michael Adomokeme, wondered why the former President was angling to produce a minister after actively and openly supporting the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 presidential election.
He said Jonathan was threading the path of unfairness and injustice, stressing that his desperation could be likened to someone seeking to receive salaries from a company he did not work for.
Adomokeme, however, expressed confidence that Tinubu, as ‘’a known rewarder of hard work, would not allow a situation of ‘monkey work, baboon chop’.”
The APC elder said, “People shouldn’t try to reap where they have never sowed. Some of us have been here since the early days of this party when it was considered to be taboo just by being a member.
“You all remember, APC in Bayelsa was called either Islamic party or Hausa party by these same people; I mean, Jonathan and his people. Fast forward to the 2023 elections, President Jonathan did everything to make sure we failed, but we didn’t as God would have it. What right has he to suddenly want to now nominate the minister from Bayelsa State?”
Some capital market operators, on Tuesday, stated that the ministerial list and the portfolios of the ministers would have an impact on the sustainability of the bullish run of the market.
Nigerians set agenda
Ahead of the expected unveiling of the ministerial nominees today, different professional and trade union associations have set agenda for the incoming Federal Executive Council members even as they demanded the appointment of competent persons to drive national development.
The Nigerian Bar Association said the President and his ministers must improve the security situation in the country.
Speaking in an interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, the NBA Publicity Secretary, Habib Lawal, also urged the President and his ministers to scale up investment in agriculture.
Lawal said, “They must look critically at the peculiarities of our security situation and design bespoke measures to deal with them while ensuring that continental, cross-border and international collaborations are carefully exploited to deal with our security challenges.
‘’We must consider diplomatic strategies to address these issues because of the global trends in security. Also, the government must deliberately and heavily invest in agriculture among other sectors of our economy. We expect that commensurate investment will be made to actualise the enthronement of the rule of law and to build that judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen our institutions.”
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has come under criticism on social media after encouraging Nigerians to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli, saying they require little capital to start.
Tinubu spoke while addressing State House Correspondents after the Renewed Hope Initiative’s second-quarter meeting with wives of state governors, held at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.
She stated this while highlighting the efforts of the Renewed Hope Initiative to support vulnerable Nigerians through grants and other interventions.
According to her, beneficiaries of the initiative were given grants, not loans, to enable them to start businesses.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant.
“So we’ve encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving,” she said.
The First Lady said the initiative had also supported interventions in healthcare, agriculture, education and social investment.
She said she donated N2bn to tackle tuberculosis, N1bn for breast cancer interventions and N500m to address malnutrition.
“I remember giving for TB. When I heard there were so many TB cases, I gave N2 billion. To breast cancer, I gave a billion. For food malnutrition, I gave half a billion.
“So those are the things we’ve been doing and making sure we can make sure that whatever this government is trying to do, it will see the light of day,” she stated.
Tinubu added that the initiative had also provided scholarships, ICT training and support for agriculture and social investment programmes.
She urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the country’s economic challenges.
“The narrative has really changed, has changed to challenge the average man, whereas the average man is supposed to have hope. So I like the idea that Mr President say this is the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We have to renew our hope, and that’s how we renew our hope, you know, and that’s what I have to tell Nigerians,” she said.
The remarks, however, triggered swift backlash on social media, with many Nigerians accusing the First Lady of trivialising the economic hardship facing ordinary citizens.
A user on X, @ADCVanguard_, said the video showed “exactly how disconnected Nigeria’s ruling class has become from the reality of ordinary citizens.”
Another user, @ireteeh, contrasted the initiative with private-sector efforts, saying, “The First Lady is empowering people with akara, corn, and kuli-kuli, while an ordinary citizen with limited resources is equipping people to build thriving careers in cybersecurity.”
A user identified as Nefertiti (@firstladyship) said, “Nigerians are in big trouble. There is fire on the mountain but the people are tired of running.”
See also Fire guts Anambra timber market
However, some social media users, especially on X, defended the First Lady, insisting there was nothing wrong with encouraging Nigerians towards such businesses.
A user, @Akikanju1568901, said akara is “one of the most lucrative businesses in Nigeria,” with a low startup cost and high profit margin, adding that “akara sellers sent many kids… to universities, built houses, bought cars.”
Another user, @PemiOladapo, said, “There’s dignity in labour… these are our local snacks! People should start it and scale it!”
A user, @TossynBankz_, however, argued that the criticism was not about the businesses themselves but about timing.
“Nobody is mocking akara, roasted corn, or kuli-kuli. Those are honest businesses. The problem is that Nigerians are asking for a better economy, more jobs, and lower prices. Telling people to start selling akara in this situation just feels like the government doesn’t understand what people are going through,” the user wrote.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Scores of buildings obstructing natural waterways in Onitsha and Ogidi are facing demolition as the Anambra State Government steps up efforts to permanently tackle flooding and erosion in the affected communities.
The affected areas are located in Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Idemili North Local Government Areas, where authorities say illegal developments have worsened recurring flood disasters.
The state government also warned land grabbers and property speculators to desist from activities that contribute to environmental degradation and undermine approved urban development plans.
The warning came during a joint inspection of flood- and erosion-prone communities in Ogidi and Onitsha by the Commissioners for Works and Infrastructure, Physical Planning and Urban Development, and Environment.
The inspection team visited several vulnerable locations, including Ogidi Market, Building Materials Market, Opi Stream, the Marine Area and Trans-Nkisi Layout, to assess the extent of damage and identify areas requiring urgent intervention.
Speaking during the inspection, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, said Phases Two and Three of the Ogidi Flood Control Project had been completed, while the design for Phase One was ready. He assured residents that the government was committed to providing a lasting solution to the perennial flooding in the area.
Ezeobi blamed much of the erosion damage on land grabbing, unregulated developments and alterations to approved master plans. He urged property owners to preserve designated drainage corridors and support ongoing government remediation efforts.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, disclosed that investigations revealed that some traders at the Building Materials Market in Ogidi had erected plazas and shops on designated drainage channels, obstructing the natural flow of stormwater and worsening flooding.
He warned that all structures encroaching on waterways would be removed to enable the government reclaim and restore critical drainage networks in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of building clean, orderly and sustainable communities.
Ojukwu also expressed concern over the growing threat of gully erosion in Trans-Nkisi GRA, Onitsha, describing environmental degradation as a major challenge requiring urgent intervention and strict compliance with planning regulations.
The Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Clem Aguiyi, identified illegal construction, indiscriminate waste disposal and the destruction of vegetation that naturally controls erosion as major factors worsening flooding and erosion across the state.
He called on residents to take collective responsibility by planting erosion-control trees, protecting drainage infrastructure and supporting government initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable environmental management.
The International Human Right Protection Service (IHRPS), Anambra State Chapter, has raised concern over the plight of Nigerians allegedly stranded in South Africa amid renewed xenophobic attacks, urging the Federal Government to urgently evacuate affected citizens and provide each returnee with a N5 million resettlement package.
The group claimed that since the first evacuation flight, no further arrangements have been made to bring more Nigerians home, leaving many stranded despite continued attacks and growing fears for their safety.
It also appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, to intensify efforts to protect Nigerian citizens in South Africa and facilitate their safe return.
The organisation, in a statement signed by its Anambra State Chairman, Hon. Dr. Amb. Prince Ekwunife, and Director of Special Duties, Mr. Ikenna-Daniel Okonkwo, said many Nigerians had lost their livelihoods, sold their properties, and were living in fear following recurring xenophobic attacks. It urged the Federal Government to provide a N5 million starter package for each returnee to help them rebuild their lives.
Recent criticisms of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over the oil spill in Bille Kingdom have generated considerable public debate. While concerns about environmental degradation and the welfare of affected communities are valid and deserve attention, it is important that public discourse on the matter is guided by facts, a clear understanding of institutional responsibilities, and the realities of environmental remediation in the Niger Delta.
Bille Kingdom, like many communities in the Niger Delta, has faced the devastating consequences of oil spills over the years. These incidents have impacted livelihoods, fishing activities, farmlands, and the overall ecosystem upon which residents depend. Understandably, community members and stakeholders expect swift interventions from government agencies and development institutions.
However, attributing sole responsibility for responding to oil spills to the NDDC overlooks the specific mandates assigned to various agencies within Nigeria’s environmental and petroleum sectors.
The NDDC was established primarily as an interventionist agency tasked with facilitating sustainable development in the Niger Delta through infrastructure projects, social programmes, economic empowerment initiatives, and regional development planning. While environmental sustainability forms part of its developmental agenda, the direct containment, investigation, and cleanup of oil spills are responsibilities that largely fall under regulatory agencies and oil operators, in accordance with existing laws and environmental regulations.
This distinction is crucial. Oil spill response typically involves technical assessments, environmental impact studies, joint investigation visits, remediation procedures, and regulatory approvals. These processes are often coordinated by specialised environmental agencies in collaboration with oil companies operating in the affected areas. The NDDC’s involvement is generally complementary, focusing on long-term development interventions, community support programmes, and, where applicable, environmental restoration initiatives.
Furthermore, it is important to recognise that the NDDC has invested significant resources over the years in projects aimed at improving the quality of life in the Niger Delta communities. Across the region, the Commission has undertaken road construction, educational support programmes, healthcare initiatives, skills acquisition schemes, and various environmental projects designed to address the developmental deficits that have historically plagued oil-producing communities.
Critics are right to demand accountability and effective action whenever environmental disasters occur. Public institutions must remain responsive to citizens’ concerns, and affected communities deserve transparency in efforts to address ecological damage. Nevertheless, constructive criticism should be based on an accurate understanding of each institution’s statutory role.
Holding the NDDC responsible for functions outside its primary mandate risks diverting attention from those entities legally obligated to prevent, manage, and remediate oil spills.
Rather than assigning blame without a full appreciation of institutional responsibilities, stakeholders should encourage greater collaboration among oil companies, environmental regulators, state and federal authorities, community leaders, and development agencies, including the NDDC. Such collaboration offers the most practical pathway toward lasting environmental restoration and sustainable development in Bille Kingdom and the wider Niger Delta.
The people of Bille Kingdom deserve solutions, not confusion over mandates. As discussions continue, it is essential that all parties focus on facts, accountability, and coordinated action that delivers meaningful relief and long-term environmental recovery for affected communities.
Martins Ogolo
Public Affairs Analyst
martins.ogolo@yahoo.com
In several communities across the Niger Delta region, the visible government presence around them are projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
It is, therefore, preposterous for anyone to suggest that the NDDC is not living up to its billing as an intervention agency.
A recent video by social critic Hilda Dokubo about water issues in some communities in the region is a clear case of misplaced aggression.
While access to clean drinking water remains an undeniable right for every citizen of the Niger Delta, it is wrong for Dokubo to heap her grievances only at the doorsteps of the NDDC. It is curious that she found it convenient to ignore the statutory tiers of governance responsible for primary public utilities.
When social advocates close their eyes to the fundamental constitutional obligations of state and local governments and heap unearned blame on interventionist agencies, they do more than obscure governance; they mislead a hurting public.
Let us be entirely clear about the statutory tiers of service delivery that Hilda Dokubo chose to ignore for some malicious intent. Under the constitutional architecture of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the provision of basic, everyday domestic infrastructure, specifically water supply, primary health care, and local feeder roads, is the direct, non-negotiable prerogative of State Water Boards and LGA Councils.
State and local governments across this region receive monthly statutory allocations directly from the Federation Account to fund these grassroots necessities. To demand, as Dokubo cheaply implies, that a regional interventionist body assume the permanent administrative role of a community water authority is to completely absolve elected governors and local council chairmen of the very duties they were elected to perform.
In Dokubo’s video clip, she showed the polluted water from one of our communities. It was one of the distasteful consequences of the environmental despoliation in many Niger Delta communities. But rather than calling out the oil companies responsible for the pollution, she focused her gaze solely on the NDDC. The oil companies, like the state and local governments, have a duty to provide basic amenities for their host communities.
Across the Niger Delta, numerous communities have consistently maintained access to clean water through solar-powered water projects implemented by the NDDC.
Dokubo’s selective attack on NDDC does absolutely nothing to keep the water flowing; instead, she is giving a free pass to the silence and negligence of state and local authorities who are failing in their statutory responsibilities.
Hilda Dokubo and her audience must know that the NDDC was established as a specialised, regional interventionist agency, not as a replacement for state and local governments. Its core purpose is to act as a catalyst for macro-development, focusing on regional master planning, constructing major regional trunk lines and interstate roads, executing large-scale environmental remediation, and driving regional human capital development, among others.
Public commentary by social advocates like Hilda Dokubo must move beyond emotional rhetoric to informed, rigorous institutional analysis. Her current approach does not solve the water crisis; it merely shifts the political focus away from local failure and protects the very politicians who are short-changing the grassroots.
The NDDC has undertaken several water projects across the Niger Delta region. Some specific examples include the Emergency Construction of a 10,000-Gallon-Capacity Solar-Powered Water Project in the Soku Community, Akuku-Toru LGA, Rivers State and the solar-powered water project in Abraham Ojo Ama Community, Okobo, Eastern Obolo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
These initiatives are part of NDDC’s broader focus on rural development and clean energy. The commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has emphasised the importance of solar energy in powering communities and promoting sustainable development. In addition to providing clean water, NDDC’s solar-powered water projects also contribute to the region’s overall development by improving healthcare.
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