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Nigeria @65: ActionAid Says So Far, Not So Good
Nigeria @65: ActionAid Says So Far, Not So Good
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria has declared that as Nigeria celebrates her 65th Independence Anniversary it has been a story that beg for answers on why we have not gone beyond the level at which we are currently at.
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu in a statement on Tuesday, said: “As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2025, ActionAid Nigeria joins citizens to reflect on our country’s journey. Sixty-five years after independence, and 26 years into an unbroken stretch of democratic governance, Nigerians are entitled to ask difficult but necessary questions about the state of the nation.”
Mamedu while commending the resilience of Nigerians and the endurance of the nation’s democratic system for despite flaws, has sustained constitutional rule and peaceful transfers of power since 1999, said: “We also recognise areas of progress, including new railway projects, private sector-led investments such as the Dangote Refinery, the continued role of agriculture as the backbone of the non-oil economy, and modest improvements in the solid minerals sector, which, if properly managed, could diversify revenue and create jobs.
He lamented that: “These gains, however, remain overshadowed by persistent crisis that undermine the well-being of millions.”
He also decried that Nigeria remains highly dependent on crude oil for foreign exchange and government revenue, a structural weakness that has left the economy vulnerable to global price shocks and repeated cycles of instability, adding that: “Growth has not translated into shared prosperity.”
Mamedu said: “According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 63% of Nigerians, or approximately 133 million people, were living in multidimensional poverty in 2022. According to the World Bank, over 87 million Nigerians, nearly 39% of the population, still live below the international poverty line of $2.15 per day. Regardless of the figure we are looking at, inflation, which remains above 20% in 2025, has further eroded household incomes and increased the cost of living. Currency devaluations and subsidy removals have deepened hardship, while expected fiscal relief from subsidy savings has been slow, only partially remitted, and not equitably distributed, raising serious concerns about accountability.”
He further decried that: “The fiscal structure of the country continues to centralise power and resources in the federal government, limiting innovation and accountability at state levels. At the same time, the infrastructure gap remains severe. Unreliable power supply is the single greatest obstacle to industrial growth and small-scale enterprise. Poor road networks, inadequate housing, and inefficient ports continue to frustrate citizens and businesses.
“Governance and institutions remain weak. The rule of law is undermined by the slow pace of justice and political interference. Corruption persists at systemic levels, with public resources diverted through inflated contracts, abandoned projects, and reckless spending. This diverts funds away from critical social services and sustains cycles of poverty and injustice.”
Mamedu added that: “Nigeria’s debt situation is also deeply concerning. With debt service-to-revenue rising above 100% in recent years, the federal government spends nearly all its revenue on debt obligations, leaving very little for capital investment or essential services. This is unsustainable and directly affects development outcomes.”
He noted that: “On human development, the country lags behind. Our Human Development Index stands at about 0.560, reflecting low life expectancy, poor access to education, and limited income opportunities. Education is in crisis with 18.3 million children remain out of school (SitAn), the highest number in the world, and those in school often face dilapidated facilities, poorly trained teachers, and limited access to learning materials. Climate-related disasters, including flooding that recently displaced over 15 million Nigerians, have destroyed schools and worsened an already dire situation.
“Healthcare tells the same story of neglect. Health facilities remain grossly inadequate, particularly in rural areas. Shortages of medical personnel and medicines persist, while poor funding has left the sector unable to meet the needs of citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the fragility of the system, but reforms to build resilience have been minimal.
“Security has deteriorated across all regions. In the North-East, Boko Haram and ISWAP continue their attacks. In the North-West and North-Central, banditry and kidnapping-for-ransom have created fear and instability. Farmer-herder conflicts persist, while violent agitations in the South-East disrupt normal life. These multiple crises have displaced communities, reduced food production, closed schools, and weakened local economies. The recent killing of 12 forest guards in Kwara State is another reminder of the human cost of insecurity and the failure of the state to protect its people.
“Amidst everything, women continue to face exclusion from governance. The slow attention to the passage of the Special Seats Bill for Women in the National Assembly demonstrates a lack of political will to prioritise gender equity. With women making up nearly half the population, Nigeria cannot make sustainable progress while denying them a fair voice in decision-making.”
He stressed that: “Equally important is the independence and credibility of our democratic institutions. The upcoming appointment of the next INEC Chairman, as well as national and state commissioners, provides an opportunity for government to demonstrate its commitment to democracy. Only the appointment of independent, credible people can guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections. The judiciary, too, must rise to its constitutional responsibility as the last hope of the common person by upholding justice without fear or favour, especially in electoral and corruption-related matters. Accountability in governance will remain elusive unless the judiciary and INEC are strengthened to play their roles without compromise.”
He said: “As we commemorate 65 years of independence, ActionAid Nigeria emphasises that celebration without accountability is empty. Nigerians deserve more than promises. They deserve safety, dignity, justice, and equal opportunities.”
ActionAid Nigeria demanded for full and timely remittance of all fuel subsidy savings to the Federation Account and transparent use of these funds for social investment; A comprehensive overhaul of the education sector, with investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and access to quality learning for all children, especially girls; A healthcare reform agenda that prioritises quality and affordable services for all, with particular attention to underserved rural areas; Urgent, coordinated, and people-centered responses to the multiple insecurity crises across the country.
It also demanded for stronger anti-corruption measures and governance reforms to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending; Passage of the Special Seats Bill for Women and a commitment to gender-inclusive governance; Reforms to fiscal federalism that give states greater control of their resources, promote competition, and accelerate development; Full and timely remittance of all fuel subsidy savings to the Federation Account and transparent use of these funds for social investment; Transparent, credible appointments in INEC and the judiciary to guarantee independence, fairness, and accountability in electoral and governance processes.
It called on the government to act decisively, insisting that Nigerians cannot afford more cycles of unfulfilled promises and that the time for real reform is now.
Nigeria @65: ActionAid Says So Far, Not So Good
All Hands Must Be On Deck To Boost Nigeria’s Business Environment, Says VP Shettima
- Urges states, MDAs, others to work towards actualizing President Tinubu’s reforms at PEBEC Gala and Awards Night
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has implored state governments, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government, the organised private sector, and other stakeholders to do more in advancing the business environment in Nigeria.
He acknowledged the successes recorded this year, describing them “as the triumph of collaboration over silos,” even as he said when the 36 states of the federation, MDAs, development partners and other critical sectors commit to working together across the board, it becomes a big win for Nigeria.
Senator Shettima gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja during the PEBEC Gala and Awards Night organized by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to celebrate exceptional public service delivery, reform excellence, and collaborative efforts toward improving Nigeria’s business environment.
He said, “The end of this night does not signal the end of your pursuit of excellence because excellence is a culture, not an event. It lives only where it is nurtured. And so, in the new year, let us do even more to advance the reform agenda for Nigeria’s business environment.
“Let us build a nation where efficiency is normal, where transparency is routine, and where excellence is the governing creed of public service.”
The Vice President underscored the importance of working as a team, noting that while every organisation reflects the kind of people working within, the people cannot “achieve excellence in a vacuum.”
According to VP Shettima, excellence is cultivated – “the result of choices, of discipline, of a refusal to settle for the bare minimum,” adding that it is not something that is inherited.
He observed that it is for this reason that the Gala and Awards Night was organised “to honour the belief that public service can and must be synonymous with excellence.”
Reminding stakeholders that the ball is in their court to make a difference, the VP said, “His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has laid the critical foundation for the reforms required to reset our economy, and the success of this depends on the awardees we celebrate tonight.
“Your dedication and excellence embody the spirit of this administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. You represent the very best of our public sector, and your work is the foundation upon which our nation’s prosperity is built.”
Senator Shettima described the Gala and Awards Night as “a celebration of public servants across Nigeria who have refused to accept mediocrity as our national ceiling,” by working hard to actualize the ongoing reforms undertaken by the Tinubu administration.
“The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, has spent the last couple of years championing reforms that speak to the soul of our economic aspirations—reforms that make it easier to do business, that restore investor confidence, that ensure our institutions work at the speed of national ambition.
“And tonight, we salute the men and women driving this mission forward, those who have placed the national interest above their comfort zones,” he said.
Acknowledging that there had been interagency collaboration on reforms that rapidly improve the nation’s business environment, the Vice President cited the establishment of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC), which he said is “already bearing significant fruit through joint inspection procedures at” the ports.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, said under the leadership of Vice President Shettima, PEBEC has continued to deliver reforms that is incrementally impacting businesses in different sectors across the country.
He, however, reminded stakeholders that the task of transforming Nigeria’s business environment is far from over, as every improvement celebrated at the 2025 awards will be the foundation upon which more lasting reform initiatives will be built.
On her part, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, outlined some of the achievements recorded by the agency in the past year through deliberate and result-oriented collaboration to transform operations across MDAs, noting that reform is embedded and remains a critical component of PEBEC’s service delivery.
She added that the scope of PEBEC’s achievements under the current dispensation reflects the depth of partnership established and nurtured by management with critical stakeholders across the country over the past months.
The highpoint of the occasion was the unveiling of the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Report and the Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report, as well as the presentation of various categories of awards, including access to justice; legislative trailblazer; leadership of action and business advocacy and partnership, among others.
Also present at the event were the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr Sam Ode; Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai; Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Pius Akutah; Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, other heads of agencies and parastatals; members of the diplomatic corps, and captains of industry, among others.
All Hands Must Be On Deck To Boost Nigeria’s Business Environment, Says VP Shettima
PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES GENERAL CHRISTOPHER MUSA AS THE NEW MINISTER OF DEFENCE
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the new Minister of Defence.
In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday.
General Musa, 58, on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. His appointments include General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.
In the letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
End
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
By: Our Reporter
Judge bars him from inciting public, undermining national security
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned a politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for alleged cybercrimes, with the court barring him from further making statements that are detrimental to the peace and security of the country.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling, threatened to revoke the bail granted Sowore’ should he ever make such statements. The arraignment came after two previous attempts, with the politician’s lawyer introducing what the DSS lawyer, Akinolu Kehinde SAN, called legal obstacles.
On Tuesday, however, Justice Umar held that since there was evidence that Sowore was a presidential candidate in the country before and having also earlier been granted bail by the court, with his international passport still being held by the court, he was entitled to be granted bail on self-recognition.
The ruling was on a bail application argued by his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, shortly after Sowore was arraigned on a five-count charge, in which he is accused of defaming President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in his posts on X and Facebook.
When the charge, being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), was read to him, Sowore pleaded not guilty.
In the charge, Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, is accused of contravening the provisions of the the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Criminal Code Act by calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal
The two other defendants listed in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 are X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.
Details shortly.
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
All Hands Must Be On Deck To Boost Nigeria’s Business Environment, Says VP Shettima
PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES GENERAL CHRISTOPHER MUSA AS THE NEW MINISTER OF DEFENCE
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
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