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What Matters To The Average Nigerian Is Basic Infrastructure, Not Promises

What Matters To The Average Nigerian Is Basic Infrastructure, Not Promises
** Vows to deliver sustainable, inclusive infrastructure for the people, seeks deeper public, private sector partnership
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated the determination of his administration to fast-track approvals for viable infrastructural projects in the country, saying what matters to the average Nigerian is the availability of basic infrastructure such as power, roads, health facilities and quality schools.
Accordingly, he called for a more strengthened public-private sector partnership that emphasises innovation, efficiency, commitment and integrity above mere capital and investments.
Speaking on Tuesday when he declared open the 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnership Summit held at the State House Conference Centre at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President urged private sector partners to be focused and more committed, noting that Nigeria offers scale, demand, and returns like no other African market.
President Tinubu who was represented at the Summit by Vice President Kashim Shettima said, “But we need more than investment. We need innovation, we need efficiency, and above all, we need integrity. I urge you to look beyond the risks and recognise the immense opportunity to shape a nation that is not just rising, but ready.
“The projects that emerge from this summit must not gather dust on paper or linger in bureaucratic limbo. We will fast-track approvals for viable projects. We will ensure coordination across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to enable swift implementation.
“We do this because we know that what matters to the average Nigerian is not promises, but power in their homes, roads to their farms, access to clean water, modern hospitals, and quality schools. We must build. We must deliver. And we must do it together.”
Observing that a 21st-century economy cannot be built on 20th-century infrastructure, the Nigerian leader pointed out that the “old model of public-only infrastructure funding is no longer sustainable.
“Our national aspirations far exceed what public budgets alone can deliver. That is why we must innovate, and why we must work together. We are not looking for investors to carry burdens. We are offering opportunities to create value. We seek long-term partners who are ready to help us bridge our infrastructure gap with purpose and precision,” he added.
President Tinubu recalled that his administration, on assumption of office two years ago, was quite aware “that a functional relationship between the public and private sectors would be the magic wand of transformation.”
He reaffirmed that the administration is still fully committed to that very public-private partnership that is passionate about delivering sustainable and inclusive infrastructure.
He continued: “We have strengthened the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and enhanced its capacity to regulate, superintend, and de-risk PPP transactions. We are determined to deliver infrastructure that is both sustainable and inclusive.
“Our economic reforms have laid a stable foundation. From the removal of unsustainable subsidies to the liberalisation of the foreign exchange regime and the optimisation of government revenues, we have acted boldly and responsibly.
“We are streamlining bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving transparency in our project pipelines. We have aligned our processes with global best practices and investor expectations.”
Declaring the summit open, the President urged participants to ensure the event is “remembered not for fine speeches, but for bankable projects, signed deals, and enduring progress.”
Earlier, Minister of Interior, Mr Tunji Ojo, commended the ICRC for championing game-changing projects across diverse sectors, noting that with President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in the saddle, Nigeria is taking its rightful place in the comity of nations.
In his remarks, Director General of the ICRC, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, said the summit is a rallying call for transformation, a platform for strategic convergence, and a bridge between national aspirations and tangible development.
“This summit brings together the finest minds from government, private investors, development partners, and civil society to co-create new frameworks, de-risk bankable projects, and strengthen our institutional alignment toward project delivery. It is a testament to Nigeria’s readiness to lead, not just follow, in the evolving global PPP ecosystem,” he stated.
On her part, Regional Director, Central Africa & Anglophone West Africa, IFC, Dahlia Khalifa, applauded the ongoing reform in Nigeria’s PPP framework, acknowledging IFC’s collaboration with authorities across key sectors to achieve the country’s overall objectives and strengthening the existing relationship between the organisation and Nigeria.
She added that Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated strong commitments to timely and transparent resolution of disputes arising from PPP projects which is evident in the ongoing efforts to restructure the country’s PPP framework.
Also, Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialisation at the African Development Bank, Solomon Quaynor, said the theme of the summit implies that partnerships are not just optional but are essential.
He said the infrastructure deficits “demand that the government and the private sector work together in commercially viable PPPs,” adding that the bank is working with other partners on the Lagos-Abidjan highway project to boost regional economic integration in West Africa.
“PPPs are complex long-term projects. They need to be designed properly and designed to survive different political administrations because by their very nature, they are long-term,” he stated.
On his part, Director & Global Head, Project Preparation, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Zitto Alfayo, explained that the government’s limited fiscal space has necessitated PPPs, saying the federal government’s bold market reforms have positioned Nigeria to absorb the shocks of the outside world.
“With this clear demonstration of commitment from the Nigerian government, the onus is now on the private sector to drive the adoption of PPP. Since its inception, Afreximbank has disbursed over $50 million in Nigeria, capitalising investment in various sectors including energy, transport and logistics, manufacturing, healthcare and financial services,” he noted.
Also present at the event were the Governor of Cross River State, Sen Bassey Otu; Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Aminu Usman; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hajiya Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, and Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, among others.
What Matters To The Average Nigerian Is Basic Infrastructure, Not Promises
News
Fagbemi Calls for Appellate Mechanism in ECOWAS Court

Fagbemi Calls for Appellate Mechanism in ECOWAS Court
…Insists Absence of Appellate Court at Regional Level Undermines Access to Justice
By: Michael Mike
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi has called for the establishment of an appellate mechanism within the ECOWAS Court of Justice, stating that the absence of such mechanism continued to undermine access to justice in the region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025/2026 legal year of ECOWAS Court, Fagbemi said while the finality of judgments is crucial, fairness also demands that decisions be open to review in order to correct possible errors of law or procedure.
Fagbemi while noting that the absence of appellate court at the regional level is a letdown, said: “It is concerning that there is currently inadequate room for appeal against the judgments of the ECOWAS Court. While finality is important, justice must also be seen to be fair and revisable,” insisting that: “The absence of a separate appellate mechanism limits access to justice. As we expand the Court’s reach, we must also ensure that its decisions are subject to the same standards of review and accountability that underpin robust judicial systems.”
He urged the Court to draw lessons from other regional judicial institutions such as the European Court of Human Rights, the East African Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which, according to him, offer valuable models of transparency, judicial independence and procedural innovation.
He however restated Nigeria’s support for the ECOWAS Court as host country, describing it as central to regional integration, human rights enforcement and stability. “Nigeria remains steadfast in its support for the ECOWAS Court of Justice… I pledge to continue advocating for legal reforms that align domestic laws with regional obligations while respecting our constitutional order and national interests,” Fagbemi added.
Also speaking, the President of Cabo Verde, José Neves, said community justice remains vital for Africa’s credibility in global affairs. He stressed that strengthening institutions such as the ECOWAS Court was essential for peace, democracy and integration on the continent.
He said: “In a continent still marked by border disputes and recurring tensions, the existence of an independent and respected community tribunal is a civilisational triumph that we must preserve and enhance,” Neves said. He noted that access to the Court by individual citizens was one of the most significant gains of regional integration, as it brings justice closer to the people.
Neves also called for reforms within African sub-regional bodies to make them more effective in addressing contemporary challenges such as insecurity, institutional fragility, migration and climate change.
In his address, the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Ricardo Goncalves, disclosed that the Court handled 34 new cases in the past year, including matters relating to civil and political rights, economic freedoms, and disputes between member states.
He also revealed that the Court held 79 judicial sessions and issued 54 rulings, many of which reaffirmed key principles such as the justiciability of socio-economic rights and the supremacy of community law over conflicting national legislation. According to him, 112 cases are currently pending before the Court.
Fagbemi Calls for Appellate Mechanism in ECOWAS Court
News
Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community

Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Wednesday, undertook a working visit to Diffa Region of Niger Republic on Wednesday.
The visit, which included a high-level security and economic delegation, focused on strengthening the existing collaboration between Nigerian and Nigerien forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency, particularly around the shores of Lake Chad.
Diffa is a community 17 km from Damasak town in northern Borno where thousands of Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are currently taking refuge.
Zulum was received by the Governor of Diffa, Brigadier General Mahamaduo Ibrahim Bagadoma, and other senior officials. The leaders held closed-door meetings centered on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the recent gains that have pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds.
Zulum outlined plan to leverage the improved security situation to facilitate the return of thousands of displaced farmers to the vast and fertile agricultural lands around Dutchi town within the Lake Chad basin.
Part of the Governor’s entourage are Engr Bukar Talba, a member of the House of Representatives, Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, and otheir senior government officials.
[10/2, 6:35 PM] Mike Olugbode: Maiduguri: For Over a Month, MSF Responds to High Numbers of Children Suffering from Malnutrition.
Since late August and early September, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have scaled up their medical response in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, following a sharp rise in malnutrition cases that overwhelmed MSF-supported facilities. Although admissions have slightly decreased now, the number of children receiving treatment remains very high.
“A month ago, we witnessed a worrying increase in admissions, compounded by a surge in measles cases,” said MSF Project Coordinator Daniela Batista. “Our isolation units for measles patients were quickly filled, and even the additional space we opened reached capacity. Now, those units remain around 70 percent full.”
Since 8 September, MSF’s Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC) at Nilefa Kiji Hospital (NKH) has nearly doubled its bed capacity to accommodate the influx of malnourished children. By the third week of September, the emergency facility was recording an average of more than 85 new admissions daily.
In a context of reduced global humanitarian funding, some organizations in Maiduguri reduced their support for – or even left – nutritional outpatient nutrition programmes, causing a significant drop in access for first line care fir malnourished children.
At MSF’s extension facility in Shuwari, teams treated 3,265 children for malnutrition and referred 1,521 others for continued care between August and early September, when the upsurge began. More than 625 malnourished children have also been treated for measles — a disease which can contribute to malnutrition and whose complications can result from malnutrition.
The situation is further exacerbated by shortages of essential supplies. Therapeutic milk — critical for treating severe acute malnutrition — is in short supply, while access to ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) remains a chronic concern. Some partner ITFCs have indicated they can only accept referrals if MSF provides additional medical supplies such as antibiotics, admission kits, and therapeutic milk.
MSF teams also reported regular admissions of patients from Zabarmari — a community they are currently unable to access due to security and logistical challenges. MSF is engaging with the Borno State Ministry of Health to assess and potentially support the local Primary Health Centre (PHC) to ensure residents can access care.
Borno State continues to face the effects of a decade-long insurgency, with recent reports of violence in areas surrounding Maiduguri.
This surge in Maiduguri mirrors an alarming trend seen in all MSF nutrition facilities across Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, and Bauchi in recent months. According to UN estimates, 2.5 million children across northeast Nigeria are at risk of acute malnutrition.
MSF called on health authorities and humanitarian organizations to urgently address the shortages in medical supplies and staffing, and to strengthen community-level health systems to prevent further deterioration.
Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community
News
Tear gas canister explosion injures four siblings in Kano

Tear gas canister explosion injures four siblings in Kano
By: Zagazola Makama
Four siblings have sustained injuries following the explosion of a tear gas canister at Bakin Kwata, Sharada area of Kano metropolis.
Zagazola report that the incident, which occurred at about 7:50 a.m. on Wednesday, was confirmed by the Kano State Police Command in a statement.
It said the explosion produced heavy smoke, burning sensation, and choking irritation, prompting the Bomb Disposal Unit to cordon off the area for safety and conduct post-blast investigation.
One of the victims, Khadeeja Rabiu, 17, sustained serious injuries on her right hand and other parts of her body, while her siblings Fatima, 15, Alamin, 11, and Suleiman, 3 sustained minor bruises. All were taken to Murtala Muhammed Hospital for treatment.
During investigation, police recovered the handle, safety lock pin and rotating guard of a tear gas canister, with strong peppery odour still perceived at the scene.
Findings revealed that the canister had been scavenged from a nearby refuse dump and brought home by one of the children, where it later exploded in the hand of Khadeeja.
Authorities said the garbage site was further screened for possible hazardous materials, and the community sensitised on the dangers of picking unknown objects from refuse dumps.
The post-blast investigation ended peacefully at about 12:15 p.m.
Tear gas canister explosion injures four siblings in Kano
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