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AT 2ND CHRONICLE ROUNDTABLE:

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AT 2ND CHRONICLE ROUNDTABLE:

  • President Tinubu Taking Wise, Statesmanly Decisions – Assures VP Shettima
  • Lists subsidy removal, other policies as options taken to save Nigeria
  • Says nation’s economy will witness positive changes after the sacrifices

By: Our Reporter

Again, Vice President Kashim Shettima has implored Nigerians to be patient with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he steers the ship of state through the economic turbulence and storm he met on ground on assumption of office.

“Soon, Nigeria’s economy will experience significant growth once we’ve overcome these sacrifices. Positive changes will soon be evident across all economic indicators – inflation, per capita income, GDP numbers, poverty reduction, food security, and all aspects close to the hearts of our people,” he declared.

Senator Shettima made the appeal on Thursday during the 2nd Chronicle Roundtable organized by 21st Century Media Services, publishers of 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE, as part of its public service enlightenment series, at Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.

The Vice President who was the Guest Speaker at the roundtable explained some key policy decisions taken by the Tinubu administration as well as its Economic and Social Agenda, including the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, which he described as the ‘biggest elephant in the room’ before President Tinubu took charge.

Appealing for patience and time to address the serious challenges he said they met on ground, especially the nation’s ailing economy which was already tottering towards an eclipse, Shettima said, “We look forward to the positive impact on the economy that will be brought by some of our new initiatives in the oil and gas sector, creative arts sector, the newly rejigged steel and solid minerals sectors, our housing sector, the blue economy, and the digital sectors, to mention but a few.

“There is no doubt that there’s a time to plant and a time to reap. In between those times, we appeal for patience and seek collective sacrifice from all, especially from us. We wish there were a way to treat this ailment without surgery”.

While delivering his speech titled, “Because These Shortcuts Are Not The Right Ways,” the VP noted that though the decision to remove fuel subsidy was quite tough considering its negative impact on the lives of the citizens, it became an inevitable option when it was discovered that the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari did not make provision for it in the 2023 budget.

He explained: “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, chose the option that would save the life of the nation, instead of one that would merely prolong its imminent and predicted economic death. Before we took charge, the biggest elephant in the room was the question of fuel subsidy removal.

“We understood why our predecessor made the decision to remove it and refused to budget for it in their final fiscal year. The year before we took office, Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio had grown to 111.8%. The anticipated debt crisis may sound like fancy economic jargon to the man on the street, but you and I are in a better position to understand how such miscalculations have played out in other countries. It’s an economic death sentence.

“In plain terms, our debt servicing was such that if you earned, say, N100,000, the entirety of the money wasn’t only paid to your debtor; you were forced to borrow an additional N11,800 to pay the debtor. How do you intend to survive this, and how many more loans before you become a pariah?

“We are not even discussing the nation’s budget deficits, diversions of resources from critical sectors of the economy, and corruption masterminded in the subsidy regime.”

Acknowledging that government is a continuum, the VP said whoever had “succeeded the previous government would have either chosen to steer the ship through the storm as President Tinubu is doing or jumped ship and let the country implode.”

He observed that those who contested the presidency with President Tinubu did not feel morally justified to question the decision to remove fuel subsidy because it was part of the solutions they also tabled before Nigerians.

“This was because, whether in handling the subsidy matter or the forex crisis, they had also promised the solutions we had adopted. Those who attempted to eat their words were instantly proven wrong by data, history, and their antecedents—those emotionless reality checkers,” he pointed out.

Senator Shettima regretted that for long Nigeria had endured economic sabotage, leading to the resolve by Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, and the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, “to take matters into their hands to neutralise the overpowering influence of currency manipulators who had conspired to frustrate our reforms.

“Today, I stand proud to say that their interventions have translated into desired results, and Naira’s pushback against all odds is an inspiring journey that doesn’t have to be learned in Buenos Aires, as some would want us to do,” he added.

Earlier in his opening remarks, chairman of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and former Finance Minister, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, praised the content of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, describing it as one of the most detailed and carefully crafted policy document in the history of the country.

He stressed the need for the Renewed Hope Agenda document to be reviewed and integrated into the medium and long-term development framework of the country, noting that policy consistency with a long-term vision to transform critical sectors of the economy, is the way to go.

Dr Usman also commended the administration’s establishment of a central coordination delivery unit to track the performance of programmes, policies and key interventions of the Federal Government, insisting that the monitoring of key performance indicators in the policy document was critical to the success of the government.

On his part, the CEO of 2nd Chronicle Newspaper, Malam Mahmud Jega had while welcoming guests to the event, said the need to critically analyse government policies and programmes was not just an expectation from the media but indeed borne out of the necessity to collectively contribute in shaping the nation’s development trajectory.

Also present at the event were the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed; Chairman of 21st Century Chronicle, Amb. Gbara Awanen; notable leaders in the media industry, Dr Ishaq Moddibo Kawu; Mallam Garba Shehu; Mr Segun Adeniyi, and Malam Mahmud Jega, among others.

AT 2ND CHRONICLE ROUNDTABLE:

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ActionAid Demands Passage of Special Seats Bill as Nigeria Marks International Women’s Day

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March 8, 2026

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ActionAid Demands Passage of Special Seats Bill as Nigeria Marks International Women’s Day

By: Michael Mike

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark International Women’s Day 2026, ActionAid Nigeria has called for urgent political and institutional reforms to end the persistent marginalisation of women, warning that gender inequality continues to undermine democratic governance and social justice in the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the organisation said the continued underrepresentation of women in governance and the widespread prevalence of gender-based violence highlight a deep structural imbalance that requires immediate government intervention.

The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, said the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” must translate into real policy actions rather than ceremonial commitments.

He noted that despite the existence of several legal and policy frameworks aimed at protecting women’s rights, millions of Nigerian women still face violence, discrimination and exclusion from decision-making spaces.

Citing figures from the National Bureau of Statistics Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, the organisation revealed that about 30 per cent of Nigerian women aged between 15 and 49—an estimated 35.65 million people—have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. Additionally, around nine per cent of women, representing more than 10 million individuals, have suffered sexual violence.

ActionAid also raised concerns over Nigeria’s poor record in women’s political representation. According to data referenced from the World Bank, women occupy less than four per cent of seats in the National Assembly of Nigeria, with only 20 female lawmakers out of the 469-member legislature.

The organisation further observed that while states such as Anambra State and Lagos State have made modest progress in promoting women’s participation in governance, at least 15 states—including Kano State and Sokoto State—currently have no women serving in their state assemblies.

The group also highlighted the education gap affecting girls, referencing data from UNICEF which shows that Nigeria remains among countries with the highest number of out-of-school children globally, with girls disproportionately affected, particularly in northern communities.

According to ActionAid, the statistics represent real-life struggles faced by millions of girls forced to abandon education due to poverty and harmful cultural practices, as well as survivors of sexual and gender-based violence who often encounter stigma and weak justice systems.

While acknowledging the role of civil society organisations and development partners in advancing women’s empowerment programmes, the organisation said systemic obstacles within governance structures continue to slow meaningful progress.

ActionAid Nigeria noted that between 2019 and 2024, it implemented one of the country’s largest women’s rights programmes, supporting more than one million women through economic empowerment initiatives, political participation platforms and gender-based violence prevention programmes.

However, the organisation stressed that structural reforms remain critical, particularly the proposed Special Seats Bill, which seeks to reserve 74 legislative seats for women as a temporary measure to address the severe gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political institutions.

It described the bill as a transformative reform capable of significantly improving women’s political participation and strengthening inclusive governance.

ActionAid therefore urged federal and state governments to prioritise gender-responsive public investments, improve access to healthcare and education for women and girls, and strengthen justice mechanisms to ensure timely responses to cases of sexual and gender-based violence.

The organisation also called on Nigeria’s First Lady to champion the passage of the Special Seats Bill as a landmark initiative that could reshape the country’s democratic landscape and expand opportunities for women in leadership.

It further appealed to international development partners to increase funding for women-led organisations and protect civic spaces where women’s rights advocates operate.

ActionAid Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders across the country to build a society where women and girls can live free from violence, exercise their rights fully and participate meaningfully in shaping Nigeria’s future.

ActionAid Demands Passage of Special Seats Bill as Nigeria Marks International Women’s Day

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FG Releases Emergency Contacts for Nigerians in Middle East Amid Escalating Crisis

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March 8, 2026

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FG Releases Emergency Contacts for Nigerians in Middle East Amid Escalating Crisis

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has released emergency contact numbers for Nigerian nationals residing in the Middle East as tensions continue to escalate across the region.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria in Abuja, the government urged Nigerians living in affected countries to immediately register with the nearest Nigerian diplomatic mission and maintain close communication with officials for guidance and assistance.

The ministry said the contact numbers have been activated to support Nigerians who may require urgent assistance due to the ongoing security situation in parts of the Middle East.

According to the statement, affected citizens are advised to remain calm, follow directives issued by local authorities, and keep in touch with Nigerian embassies and consulates for updates regarding safety measures and possible evacuation arrangements.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform Nigerian nationals in the Middle East that communication channels have been established through the various Nigerian missions in the region,” the statement said.

It added that Nigerians who require emergency support should reach out to the missions through the following phone numbers:

Emergency Contact Numbers for Nigerian Missions in the Middle East

Iran: +989393216872, +989024165493

Israel: +972543340414, +972503673175

Jordan: +962795669949, +962799430414

Lebanon: +96181669403, +96170848080

Qatar: +97466802029, +97450733786

Saudi Arabia: +966503862894, +966532198524

United Arab Emirates: +971504252546, +971503761332

The ministry stressed that the Nigerian missions are working closely with host governments and international partners to monitor developments and ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens.

Authorities also reiterated that Nigerians in the region should remain where they are until further instructions are issued, particularly in areas where security conditions remain fluid.

The government assured that contingency plans are being coordinated should evacuation become necessary, noting that diplomatic missions have been placed on alert to provide consular assistance to citizens in distress.

The advisory comes amid rising regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, a development that has prompted several countries to issue safety alerts to their nationals in the Middle East.

Officials said further updates would be communicated through Nigerian missions and official government channels as the situation evolves.

FG Releases Emergency Contacts for Nigerians in Middle East Amid Escalating Crisis

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Nigeria Issues Emergency Contacts for Citizens in Middle East Amid Escalating Crisis

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2 hours ago

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March 8, 2026

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Nigeria Issues Emergency Contacts for Citizens in Middle East Amid Escalating Crisis

By: Michael Mike

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) has released emergency contact details for Nigerian citizens residing across the Middle East as tensions continue to escalate in parts of the region.

In a public advisory issued in Abuja on Saturday, the ministry urged Nigerians affected by the ongoing crisis to immediately reach out to the nearest Nigerian diplomatic missions and ensure they are properly registered with the embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

The advisory, signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa said the move was aimed at strengthening communication between Nigerian authorities and citizens who may require urgent assistance.

According to the statement, Nigerian missions across the region have activated established communication channels to provide support, including emergency guidance and possible evacuation coordination where necessary.

“Nigerian citizens affected by the ongoing crisis should contact the following mobile numbers in case of emergency and also ensure that they are registered with the respective embassy or consulate in their country of residence,” the statement said.

The ministry listed several diplomatic missions and dedicated emergency lines for Nigerians across the region, including the Embassy of Nigeria, Tehran in Iran, the Embassy of Nigeria, Tel Aviv in Israel, and the Embassy of Nigeria, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Other missions providing emergency contacts include the Consulate-General of Nigeria, Dubai, the Embassy of Nigeria, Kuwait which also covers Bahrain, the Embassy of Nigeria, Doha in Qatar, the Embassy of Nigeria, Beirut in Lebanon, the Embassy of Nigeria, Riyadh and the Consulate-General of Nigeria, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Embassy of Nigeria, Amman in Jordan which also covers Iraq.

The ministry stressed that Nigerians in the region should remain vigilant, stay in contact with diplomatic missions and follow safety advisories issued by local authorities.

The advisory comes amid heightened security tensions across parts of the Middle East, prompting several countries to activate emergency support mechanisms for their citizens abroad.

Officials said the Nigerian government continues to monitor the situation closely through its embassies and consulates while exploring measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Nigerians living and working in the region.

Nigeria Issues Emergency Contacts for Citizens in Middle East Amid Escalating Crisis

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