Connect with us

News

AT 2ND CHRONICLE ROUNDTABLE:

Published

on

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:

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Gunmen kill two brothers in suspected terrorist attack in Yobe

Published

on

Gunmen kill two brothers in suspected terrorist attack in Yobe

By: Zagazola Makama

Two brothers were shot dead on Wednesday along the Kirbiri–Buni Yadi road in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State by gunmen suspected to be terrorist elements.

Sources from the area said the victims, identified as Goni Bukar, 40, and Modu Dangal, 35, were riding bicycles from their hometown, Kirbiri village, to Buni Yadi when they were ambushed and shot at close range by the armed attackers.

Residents suspect the assailants to be combatant repentant Boko Haram fighters operating in the area.

Following the incident, the bodies were evacuated to the Yobe State Specialist Hospital in Buni Yadi, where medical personnel confirmed them dead on arrival.

The victims were later released to their family and buried according to Islamic rites.

Gunmen kill two brothers in suspected terrorist attack in Yobe

Continue Reading

News

ANALYSIS: Vigilantes embark on unsanctioned mission, walk into ambush — yet blame government? How?

Published

on

ANALYSIS: Vigilantes embark on unsanctioned mission, walk into ambush — yet blame government? How?

By: Zagazola Makama

Let’s be honest. What happened in Kanam LGA, Plateau State, on July 6, 2025, was not just tragic, it was completely avoidable. But what’s worse than the incident itself is the wave of misinformation, public outrage, and unguarded finger-pointing now flying across social media as people scramble to lay blame squarely on the government and security agencies. Pause. How?

Here’s the fact: a large group of vigilantes mobilized on their own, without informing or coordinating with Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) the legally recognized joint task force handling security in the area. They went rogue. They gathered themselves, left Kanam, claimed they were heading to Odare Forest to “deal with bandits”, and even stopped over at Kukawa community where, instead of waiting quietly, they reportedly attacked civilians and looted provision shops. They even seized over 20 motorcycles from locals. This wasn’t a coordinated security operation; this was a recipe for chaos.

Still, they pushed forward toward the forest. And then reality struck: they were ambushed by the same armed bandits they thought they’d surprise. Eight vigilantes died. Others went missing. Tragic, yes. But entirely self-inflicted.

Then came the media storm exaggerated headlines screaming “70 vigilantes killed!” which turned out to be grossly false. What’s the point of throwing such a dangerous figure into an already volatile situation? Is it for clicks? Or just an outright attempt to paint government and security forces as incompetent?

Worse still, people online are now blaming the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, service Chiefs and OPSH. But let’s ask a basic question: Who approved this operation? Who did they inform? What intelligence were they acting on? Or did they think bandits would greet them with jollof rice and welcome drinks?

Let’s not confuse emotions with facts. Operation SAFE HAVEN is not a tea club. It’s a robust multi-agency task force comprising the military, police, DSS, NSCDC, and others. It’s structured. Coordinated. It works on intelligence, logistics, and strategy. You don’t just bypass that entire structure and head off into the bush, machete in hand, and expect success.

And when it fails, you start screaming that “government has failed”. No, this is not failure of government. This is failure of process. This is what happens when people mistake bravado for bravery.

Of course, every loss of life is regrettable. Nobody should take that lightly. But we must equally call out reckless actions that put lives at risk and then fuel chaos through misinformation. OPSH confirmed eight deaths, not 70. Troops only got to know this when the ambush already took place and they only went for Search and rescue operations, recovering the missing people.

If vigilantes who are meant to support the formal security architecture choose to operate outside of it, then they bear the consequences of those actions. OPSH didn’t know. The military wasn’t briefed. No one in the chain of command approved it. What exactly were they expecting? The reason why they refused to informed the security forces is because nobody will regulate their activities, reason why on their way, they decided to loot shops and seized motorcycles from residents.

It’s high time people realize that securing communities is not a matter of spontaneous bravado or viral outrage. It requires planning, coordination, and discipline.

And to the media houses: please do your job responsibly. Verify your figures. “70 vigilantes killed” is not a statistic it’s a spark that could ignite tensions if not carefully managed. Eight is too many already.

Let’s stop turning self-inflicted wounds into national tragedies blamed on people who had no hand in the recklessness. The message is clear: coordinate with OPSH. Don’t go rogue. And above all, don’t cry foul when you didn’t play by the rules.

Enough with the dangerous mischief.

ANALYSIS: Vigilantes embark on unsanctioned mission, walk into ambush — yet blame government? How?

Continue Reading

News

UNAIDS: Funding Crisis of AIDS Undermining Decades of Progress

Published

on

UNAIDS: Funding Crisis of AIDS Undermining Decades of Progress

By: Michael Mike

UNAIDS has launched its 2025 Global AIDS Update, “AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform”, which shows that a historic funding crisis is threatening to unravel decades of progress unless countries can make radical shifts to HIV programming and funding.

The report launched on Wednesday highlights the impact that the sudden, large-scale funding cuts from international donors are having on countries most affected by HIV. Yet it also showcases some inspiring examples of resilience, with countries and communities stepping up in the face of adversity to protect the gains made and drive the HIV response forward.

Some 25 of the 60 low and middle-income countries included in the report have indicated increases in domestic budgets for their HIV responses in 2026. The estimated collective rise among the 25 countries amounts to 8% over current levels, translating to approximately USD 180 million in additional domestic resources. This is promising, but not sufficient to replace the scale of international funding in countries that are heavily reliant.

Despite marked progress in the HIV response in 2024, the weakening aid consensus and significant and abrupt funding shortfalls in the HIV response in 2025 have triggered widespread disruption across health systems and cuts to frontline health workers—halting HIV prevention programmes and jeopardizing HIV treatment services.

According to the report, in Mozambique alone, over 30 000 health personnel were affected. In Nigeria, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation has plummeted from 4000 to 6000 people per month. If US-supported HIV treatment and prevention services collapse entirely, UNAIDS estimates that an additional 6 million new HIV infections, and 4 million additional AIDS-related deaths could occur between 2025 and 2029.

“This is not just a funding gap—it’s a ticking time bomb,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “We have seen services vanish overnight. Health workers have been sent home. And people—especially children and key populations—are being pushed out of care.”

Even before the large-scale service disruptions, the reported data for 2024 shows that 9.2 million people living with HIV were still not accessing life-saving treatment services last year. Among those were 620 000 children aged 0—14 years living with HIV but not on treatment which contributed to 75 000 AIDS-related deaths among children in 2024.

In 2024, 630 000 people died from AIDS-related causes, 61% of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 210 000 adolescent girls and young women aged 15—24 acquired HIV in 2024—an average of 570 new infections every day.

HIV prevention services are severely disrupted. Community-led services, which are vital to reaching marginalized populations, are being defunded at alarming rates. In early 2025, over 60% of women-led HIV organizations surveyed had lost funding or were forced to suspend services. The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reached 2.3 million adolescent girls and young women with comprehensive HIV prevention services in 2024 and enabled 2.5 million people to use HIV PrEP—many of these programmes have now stopped completely.

Meanwhile, the rise in punitive laws criminalizing same-sex relationships, gender identity, and drug use is amplifying the crisis, making HIV services inaccessible. Countries like Uganda, Mali and Trinidad and Tobago have recently increased legal penalties, pushing key populations further from care and dramatically raising their risk of acquiring HIV.

South Africa currently funds 77% of its AIDS response and its 2025 budget review includes a 5.9% annual increase in health expenditure over the next three years, including a 3.3% annual increase for HIV and tuberculosis programmes. The government intends to finance the development of a patient information system, a centralized chronic medicine dispensing and distribution system, and a facility medicine stock surveillance system.

As of December 2024, seven countries—Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—had achieved the 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed. These successes must be maintained and further scaled up.

The report also highlights the emergence ofu unprecedented, highly effective new prevention tools like long-acting injectable PrEP, including Lenacapavir, which has shown near-complete efficacy in clinical trials—though affordability and access remain key challenges.

“There is still time to transform this crisis into an opportunity,” said Ms. Byanyima. “Countries are stepping up with domestic funding. Communities are showing what works. We now need global solidarity to match their courage and resilience.”

The 2025 Global AIDS Update urgently stated that the global HIV response cannot rely on domestic resources alone. The international community must come together to bridge the financing gap, support countries to close the remaining gaps in HIV prevention and treatment services, remove legal and social barriers, and empower communities to lead the way forward.

UNAIDS emphasized that every dollar invested in the HIV response not only saves lives but strengthens health systems and promotes broader development goals. Since the start of the epidemic, 26.9 million deaths have been averted through treatment, and 4.4 million children protected from HIV infection through vertical transmission prevention.

“In a time of crisis, the world must choose transformation over retreat,” said Ms Byanyima. “Together, we can still end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030—if we act with urgency, unity, and unwavering commitment.”

UNAIDS report is being launched ahead of the Scientific AIDS Conference IAS 2025
taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 13-17 July 2025.

UNAIDS: Funding Crisis of AIDS Undermining Decades of Progress

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights