Nelson Ugwuagbo

In a bid to counter mounting criticism from prominent northern figures such as former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Senator Ali Ndume, the Presidency has released a comprehensive list of President Bola Tinubu’s appointments since assuming office.

The list, unveiled by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, details 134 federal appointments across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, revealing a complex picture of regional distribution that has ignited fresh debates about fairness, competence, and ethnic favoritism.

The data shows that the North collectively secured 71 appointments, slightly edging out the South’s 63. Breaking it down further, the North West leads with 36 positions, followed by the North Central with 25, and the North East with 24. In the South, the South West dominates with 29 appointments, while the South South secured 22, and the South East trails significantly with only 16.

The Presidency has touted this as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to national unity, with Dare emphasizing in a statement that “President Tinubu is a detribalised leader” who prioritizes merit over tribal affiliations.

However, a closer look at the list reveals a stark reality: while the North may have a numerical advantage, the South West—Tinubu’s home region—holds a disproportionate share of the country’s most powerful and influential positions.

Key roles such as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (Wale Edun), Central Bank Governor (Olayemi Cardoso), Chief of Army Staff (Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja), Inspector General of Police (Kayode Egbetokun), and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Olanipekun Olukoyede) all hail from the South West. Notably, the region has no Ministers of State—junior ministerial roles—indicating that its appointees occupy only senior, high-impact positions.

Critics argue this concentration of key portfolios in the South West undermines claims of equitable distribution. “The South West holds all the key positions,” observed X user @Udoh_D
in a widely circulated post. “SW region has no Ministers of State; all appointees are full senior ministers. Compare that to 16 for the South East—mostly minor roles. It’s clear where the power lies.”

The South East’s paltry 16 appointments have drawn particular outrage, with many accusing Tinubu of bigotry against the region.

Unlike the South West’s commanding roles, South Eastern appointees are largely relegated to less influential positions, such as Minister of State for Finance (Dr. Doris Anite Uzoka), Minister of State for Labour (Nkeiru Onyejiocha), and a handful of special assistants and managing directors of lesser-known agencies.

The highest-profile appointment from the region, Minister of Works (Sen. Dave Umahi), stands out as an exception rather than the rule.

Senator Ndume, a vocal critic from Borno South, has repeatedly warned that Tinubu’s appointments violate the federal character principle enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution, predicting political repercussions if the imbalance persists.

The Presidency has fired back, with Dare arguing that Tinubu’s selections are based on “merit, integrity, and geographical spread,” not “tribal arithmetic.” Yet, the list’s release appears to be a calculated move to appease northern elites like Ndume and El-Rufai, who have expressed discontent over perceived marginalization.

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has commenced an energy audit across universities and medical institutions nationwide as part of efforts to assess and address the energy needs of these establishments. The audit is scheduled for completion before the end of the year.

The initiative is part of a broader national drive to invest in renewable energy technologies and smart technology solutions. According to the Commission, these investments are critical to accelerating Nigeria’s development, ensuring sustainability, and attracting foreign direct investment.

Highlighting global precedents, the ECN referenced Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex—the world’s largest concentrated solar farm—which has contributed significantly to energy security and job creation in the region. The Commission noted that Nigeria holds immense potential to replicate such achievements, particularly in the northern region where solar intensity is highest.

“Security and job creation are two intertwined issues that technology can help resolve,” the Commission stated, citing the examples of Israel and the United States, where renewable energy supports security infrastructure such as AI-driven surveillance and drone technology. The Commission suggested that Nigeria could adopt similar strategies, including the use of solar-powered security cameras in high-risk zones and technology-driven agricultural solutions to address youth unemployment—a major contributor to insecurity.

With over 60% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 25, the ECN emphasized the importance of training programs in sustainable technologies such as solar panel installation, smart agriculture, and energy management. Such programs, it said, would not only generate employment but also help tackle the nation’s persistent power deficit.

The Commission also highlighted the role of renewable energy in enhancing education and national development. It pointed to countries like Finland and South Korea, which have leveraged digital tools and smart classrooms powered by renewable energy to transform their educational systems. The ECN envisioned a future in which rural Nigerian schools have uninterrupted electricity from solar microgrids, enabling students in remote areas to access digital learning platforms.

Speaking on the federal government’s support for the energy sector, the Director-General of the ECN expressed satisfaction with the innovative policies, strategic partnerships, and intentional financing enabled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the “Renewed Hope Administration.” He also commended the role of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, led by Honourable Minister Chief Uche Nnaji, for its commitment to advancing energy solutions in the country.

The Director-General further announced a major federal government initiative aimed at bridging the gap between energy supply and demand through renewable sources. According to him, the federal government has recently appropriated funds to the ECN for the “Solarisation of Critical Infrastructure Across the Country.”

The ECN will oversee the full implementation of this project, which will benefit universities, teaching hospitals, and other public institutions. Under the initiative, solar hybrid mini-grids with capacities of up to 2 megawatts will be installed in federal government institutions and hospitals across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A group of women from Oke-Ere community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State on Wednesday staged a protest against ongoing attacks by suspected kidnappers and Fulani herdsmen.

In a video seen by SaharaReporters, the women, many of them elderly, marched half-naked through the community, chanting mournfully and calling for urgent government intervention. The protesters carried sticks and leaves as they lamented the continuous abductions and killings that have plagued the area in recent months.

Some of the women were seen wailing and singing sorrowful songs, expressing frustration over what they described as the “endless reign of terror” in their town.

A Facebook user, Kogi Pulse, who shared footage of the protest, wrote: “The women of Oke-Ere in Yagba West local government area of Kogi State making prayers for the security of the land against kidnappers and Fulani herdsmen.”

“The women are tired of insecurity and reckless killings of their husbands, children, and loved ones in the hood. They can’t go to the market or farm to feed again. #freeYagbawestfromInsecurity,” the post added.

The protest comes amid a series of violent incidents in the state, including a March attack on travellers along the Ayere-Kabba expressway, where three people were abducted and four others injured.

The injured victims were taken to St. John’s Hospital in Kabba for treatment. The state has witnessed several similar incidents in recent times, with many residents attributing the violence to herdsmen activities.

Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State has said that at least 64 communities in the state have been taken over by bandits.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Governor Muftwang alleged that the attacks were part of a deliberate attempt to displace the original inhabitants of the affected areas.

“These communities that have been recently attacked were part of the communities that were attacked in 2023, but they survived and rebuilt themselves,” he said.

He cited the Ruwi community as an example, noting that it lost about 17 people in a 2023 attack but managed to recover.

The governor also expressed concern over the long-standing security crisis in the state.

“If these attacks have been going on for close to 10 years, it tells you that there is a deliberate, conscious attempt to clean out populations,” he said.

Muftwang further claimed that the affected communities, located in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government areas, have not only been occupied by bandits but also renamed.

“As I am talking to you, there are not less than 64 communities that have been taken over by bandits on the Plateau. They have been taken over, renamed, and people are living there conveniently on lands they pushed people away to occupy,” he said.

The Yobe State Government has refuted a viral social media report claiming that Boko Haram insurgents were advancing toward Damaturu, the state capital.

In a statement released on Monday, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (Rtd), described the report as false, misleading, and the work of mischief-makers aiming to incite public panic.

The viral post, titled “Immediate Security Alert”, alleged that suspected terrorists were moving toward Damaturu. However, Abdulsalam clarified that the report did not originate from any credible or official security source, including his office.

“The public should disregard the report in its entirety as it has no basis,” he said. “It is fake and clearly intended to create fear and confusion among residents.”

He assured the people of Damaturu and the state at large that the security situation remained stable, and urged them to go about their lawful activities without fear.

Abdulsalam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that all security agencies in the state are maintaining surveillance and working together to ensure continued peace and stability.

He also cautioned against the spread of false information, warning that such actions could cause unnecessary panic and disrupt public order.

The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a baby factory in the Ijegun area of the state, rescuing 10 victims and arresting three suspects connected to the operation.

Spokesperson for the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday. He said the illegal facility was discovered following a tip-off received by the police on Saturday.

Acting swiftly, officers raided the premises and arrested the prime suspect, 35-year-old Mariam Vincent, along with two alleged accomplices identified as Orie Ruth, 23, and Ujunwa Ifeanyi, 18.

Seven adult women and three children—aged seven, five, and two—were rescued during the operation. The adult victims were named as Precious (24), Magdalene (25), Adaobi (23), Princess (22), Ifeanyi (25), and Amaka (26). The children rescued were identified as Destiny (7), Miracle (5), and Success (2).

Hundeyin said the victims are currently receiving appropriate care and support.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly abducted the victims from various locations across the state for the purpose of operating the baby factory.

The police said the investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon its conclusion.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has filed a N5 billion lawsuit against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North Central over alleged defamatory statements made during a televised interview.

The suit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja by her legal counsel, Michael Numa, seeks redress over remarks made by Nwaebonyi during an appearance on Channels Television on March 6, 2025.

According to court documents, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan alleges that Nwaebonyi described her as a “gold digger, habitual liar, and habitual blackmailer,” and falsely claimed she is a mother of six children from different men. She contends that the statements were false, malicious, and intended to damage her reputation.

The senator argued that the remarks were made recklessly and have caused her significant public embarrassment and reputational harm, particularly in her role as a prominent female politician and advocate for women in governance.

“The defendant’s characterisation of the claimant as a ‘mother of six from different men’ is baseless, malicious, and reckless,” the suit states.

She further asserted that rather than tarnishing the image of women in politics, as allegedly suggested by Nwaebonyi, she continues to inspire and empower women to pursue political leadership and speak truth to power.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is asking the court to award N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged defamatory remarks. She also seeks a restraining order preventing Senator Nwaebonyi from making further similar statements against her.

In addition, she is requesting that the court compel Nwaebonyi to issue a public retraction and unreserved apology on the same television platform where the statements were made.