GNN24 News

Where Is Binani? Galadima, Abbo, Vunobolki Overshadow Former Amazon

By Tom Garba

There was a time when the name Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru Modibbo, Binani, was not just a name in Adamawa politics, it was a movement.

From 2011 to 2023, Binani was the gold standard of grassroots politics in Adamawa State. As Member, House of Representatives for Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency (2011-2015), she built a reputation for accessibility. As Senator for Adamawa Central (2019-2023), she performed credibly, empowering women and youths with projects that touched the wards. She was not just a politician; she was a precious stone and a jewel in the savannah.

Her peak was 2023.

As the only female governorship candidate of a ruling party in the entire federation, she became the most powerful woman politician in Nigeria. In a state that parades giants like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and an incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, and despite a brutal APC internal crisis where a faction worked openly against her, Binani bulldozed her way and picked the ticket. It was political craftsmanship at its finest.

Then came the infamous declaration. The controversial announcement by REC Barr. Hudu Ari, declaring her winner while collation was still ongoing, a speech she accepted with grace, turned Adamawa into the centre of national and international attention. It was dramatic, it was chaotic, and it cemented her name as the Iron Woman.

That was the rise. This is the fall.

Since that 2023 saga, the political pendulum has refused to swing Binani’s way. The system, the luck, the structure that once obeyed her, now eludes her.

Her restless political moves have become her undoing. After the APC debacle, she pitched her tent with Atiku Abubakar in the ADC, hoping for a soft landing. The ADC structure rejected her, refused her the ticket, and she left. Today, she is the gubernatorial candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

And that is the problem.

NDC is a total stranger in Adamawa. The local voter in Fufore, in Michika, in Ganye, knows APC’s broom and PDP’s umbrella with his eyes closed. He does not know NDC. The party has not done the homework of selling itself to the grassroots, and as APC Secretary in Adamawa, Mallam Mustapha Ribadu rightly observed, her campaign structure is still turtling around just trying to make a name.

Her political muscles are weakening. Her tentacles are cutting off. Her 2023 war chest was built by loyalists who are now scattered – Senator Ishaku Abbo, the man who perfected her political jamboree and smart arithmetic in 2023, is now the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate. They have parted ways on party affiliation. Most of her core supporters are now in APC, PDP and LP. The Binani structure has collapsed into fragments.

The tragedy is that the almighty Binani we used to hear from 2011 to 2023 is rarely heard today. In political discussions across the 21 LGAs, names like Ahmed Aminu Galadima of APC, Chief Maurice Vunobolki of PDP, Christopher Nathaniel of SDP and Ishaku Abbo of LP echo louder than Binani. Her name, once a chant among women and youths, is now a whisper.

Worse, the NDC itself is already divided. Claims and counter-claims over her rejection of former SGF, Engr. David Babachir Lawal, as North East National Vice Chairman of the party has thrown the Adamawa chapter into crisis. A faction of enmity has formed against her, and she is working against BD Lawal. A house divided against itself cannot stand. She is in fading pro-max, not progressive mode.

Many now see her as desperate and gullible, jumping from one party to another – recall her PDM days in 2015 when she contested Senate while her husband held the governorship ticket of the same party. That same auto-pilot, now in reverse gear, is playing out.

Can Binani win in 2027? The question on every lip in Jimeta, Yola and Mubi has a bitter answer. It is becoming like the proverbial saying that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for her to reclaim that 2023 momentum. Her chances have become narrower, slimmer than ever.

This is not to write her off completely. One good thing about Binani is her smart way of doing things. She can turn the tide, she can call the shots and spring surprises. She remains a smart political operator.

But as it stands today, the Iron Lady is rusting. From better to worse, from APC behemoth to NDC stranger, the Binani political empire that once shook Adamawa is fading.

Until then, it is not yet Uhuru, because in Adamawa’s unpredictable dynamics, even the popular candidates are not guaranteed victory.

Tom Garba is a Policy, Political and Crisis analyst. Lives and writes from Jimeta – Adamawa State. 08030525759

FIBA Recognises Mustapha Abdullahi as NBBF President

FIBA Recognises Mustapha Abdullahi as NBBF President

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has recognised the outcome of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elective congress held on October 15, 2026, affirming Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi as the federation’s president for the 2026–2030 tenure.

In a letter dated October 19, 2026, and addressed to Abdullahi, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis congratulated the newly elected president and other board members.

The international basketball governing body also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting good governance and ensuring that electoral processes are conducted in accordance with the federation’s constitution and applicable FIBA regulations.

FIBA further acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing NBBF board, led by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, as the federation transitions to a new administration for another four-year tenure.

The recognition marks a significant development for the new leadership as it prepares to pursue its agenda for Nigerian basketball, with expectations of improved governance, grassroots development, stronger domestic competitions and enhanced international representation.

Abdullahi’s emergence as president is expected to usher in renewed efforts to strengthen the sport, particularly in the areas of athletes’ welfare, talent identification and development, and the growth of both men’s and women’s basketball across the country.

The new administration is also expected to build on existing structures while pursuing reforms aimed at expanding opportunities for young players, improving the competitiveness of Nigerian teams and strengthening the country’s position in African and international basketball.

As the new board begins its tenure, stakeholders will be watching how it translates these expectations into practical programmes capable of advancing basketball development and improving Nigeria’s performance on the international stage.

Akpabio, a Failed Senate President,Says Legislative Advocacy Group

Akpabio, a Failed Senate President — LAN

The Legislative Advocacy Network (LAN) has criticised the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, questioning his suitability for another term in office and arguing that the leadership of Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber should be determined by legislative performance, accountability, democratic principles and public confidence.

The group’s position comes amid growing political discussions over the leadership of the 11th National Assembly, with questions being raised about the performance of the current Senate leadership and its commitment to the constitutional responsibilities of the legislature.

According to LAN in a statement signed by Comrade Benjamin Joseph,the Senate presidency is a position of national importance that demands independence, transparency, effective legislative oversight and an unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of Nigerians.

The group maintains that the performance of any Senate president must be assessed against these standards rather than political loyalty, party affiliations or the desire to retain power.

LAN argues that the National Assembly must remain an independent institution capable of holding the executive accountable, scrutinising government policies and ensuring that public resources are managed in the best interests of the people.

It further stresses that public confidence in the legislature depends on the ability of its leadership to promote open debate, respect differing opinions and ensure that lawmakers discharge their constitutional responsibilities without undue political interference.

The organisation insists that the emergence of the next Senate president should provide an opportunity for reflection, institutional reform and a renewed commitment to democratic accountability.

It therefore maintains that any decision on the leadership of the 11th National Assembly must be guided by a careful assessment of the incumbent’s record, the effectiveness of legislative oversight and the extent to which the Senate has addressed the concerns and aspirations of Nigerians.

LAN’s position underscores the importance of making legislative leadership a product of measurable performance and public service rather than political calculations.

The group calls on senators and other relevant stakeholders to prioritise the integrity, independence and credibility of the National Assembly in determining who should lead the Senate in the next dispensation.

2027: Adamawa Commissioner Babadoke Resumes Duty As Arewa For Asiwaju Coordinator, Targets Youth, Women Bloc Votes

2027: Adamawa Commissioner Babadoke Resumes Duty As Arewa For Asiwaju Coordinator, Targets Youth, Women Bloc Votes

Adamawa State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Aloysius Babadoke, has fully resumed duty as the State Coordinator of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a political support group mobilizing for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking to our Yola correspondent ,Babadoke urged youth and women groups across the state to work, mobilize and canvas votes for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He called on the entire Northern part of the country to deliver President Tinubu and the APC, to continue building a structural leadership that will serve the interests of all Nigerians.

According to him, President Tinubu’s three years of leadership has done well, with proven dividends of democracy especially in the areas of micro business/finance and physical infrastructure projects across the nation.

“President Tinubu has proven his progressive leadership capacity. In three years, Nigerians can see dividends of democracy in micro business financing for our people and massive physical infrastructure projects across the nation,” he said.

Babadoke said the leadership of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is a replicate of Tinubu’s progressive leadership, and thanked Governor Fintiri for availing himself to serve the people of Adamawa State with great honour.

He also thanked Governor Fintiri for donating a state office for the organization, A4A, in Adamawa.

He revealed that Ahmed Aminu Galadima as the APC gubernatorial candidate of Adamawa State will likewise do well because of his proven record as a hardworking man with a high level of integrity.

On security, Babadoke said President Tinubu has done well and appreciated the National Security Adviser, Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, for working tirelessly to ensure Nigeria is safe by appropriately deploying all the security architecture of the country.

He further called for unity among party members ahead of the 2027 polls.

“I’m calling on the youth, the women and all eligible voters and card-carrying members of our great party to work in unity by bringing bloc votes for APC from top to bottom,” Babadoke stated.

He concluded by calling on all and sundry to vote for the APC Gubernatorial candidate Ahmed Aminu Galadima, the APC Senatorial candidates in the three Senatorial districts, the eight House of representatives candidates and all the state House of assembly candidates.

Viral video: VDM Vows To Campaign Against Sen Abbo, Calls On Labour Party To Drop Him As Adamawa Guber Candidate

Viral video: VDM Vows To Campaign Against Sen Abbo, Calls On Labour Party To Drop Him As Adamawa Guber Candidate

Social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has vowed to campaign against Senator Ishaku Abbo over an allegation of involvement in a rape scandal.

In a video posted on his Instagram page, VDM alleged that Senator Abbo was involved in a rape scandal involving a 13 -year-old girl.

VDM stated that he will actively work against the Senator’s governorship ambition and called on the Labour Party to change him as its governorship candidate for Adamawa State.

According to VDM, allowing someone with such an allegation to occupy a position of authority should not be encouraged.

“We can’t allow a rapist in a place of authority,” VDM was quoted as saying in the video.

He further stated that he has what it takes to ensure that Senator Abbo does not succeed in the election, saying he would not support his candidacy.

As of the time of filing this report, Senator Ishaku Abbo has not yet responded to the allegations made by VDM in the video. Efforts to get his reaction are ongoing.

It would be recalled that Senator Abbo is currently the Labour Party’s governorship candidate for Adamawa State.

The allegation of rape remains an allegation made by VDM in his video and has not been independently verified.*

Nigeria’s Mining Investment Promises Ring Hollow as Jupiter Lithium Dispute Exposes a Troubling Contradiction

By Biliyaminu Suraj
Biliyasuraj1980@yahoo.com

Nigeria’s renewed courtship of American investors in the mining sector deserves more than applause. It deserves scrutiny.

On September 24, 2026, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake announced on X that Nigeria and the United States had signed a framework agreement on mining investment. He said it was signed in New York with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and covers geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure and technical capacity.

Minister Alake valued Nigeria’s mineral resources at about $700 billion. As reported, the announcement named no project and stated no investment figure.

That raises an uncomfortable question: what does a promise of a welcoming investment environment mean for investors who have already committed years of work and resources to developing Nigeria’s mineral wealth? The dispute over a major lithium project in Kaduna State offers a sobering answer.

In July 2024, American Resources Corporation’s subsidiary, ReElement Technologies, announced a joint development agreement with UK-based Jupiter Lithium Ltd to commercialise what the companies described as a world-class lithium deposit in Southern Kaduna. The project, held through Nigerian companies Basin Mining Limited and Range Mining Limited, covers about 442 square kilometres near Kafanchan under granted mining leases the companies said run to 2074 plus several mining lease applications awaiting grant by the Minister.

The announcement was ambitious.

Jupiter planned to move from contract mining to large-scale operations, starting with 55,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate a year and rising to 167,000 tonnes within two years, with first production projected for early 2025. It is not clear that production ever began.

ReElement planned a processing facility in Nigeria to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate using the lithium concentrate produced from the Jupiter project, and the companies promised a continuation of community projects including potable water, electricity, agriculture and scholarships which Basin and Range had been implementing for several years. That is the domestic processing and industrial development Nigeria says it wants.

The project has since become an international investment dispute. Mid-last year, Jupiter alleged Nigerian authorities had unlawfully revoked its mining rights and seized the project. The firm also alleged that the government purportedly revoked 70 per cent of its mining leases and failed to decide on further mining lease applicationss within the 45 days the Mining Act requires, leaving the applications waiting more than two years. It further claims authorities forcibly escorted its personnel off the tenements.

These are allegations, not findings.

The government’s case deserves a fair hearing. In a statement issued in early August 2026, the minister’s media adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said the revoked titles belonged to Basin Mining Limited, a Nigerian company. He said they were revoked for failure to pay statutory annual service fees of ₦1.223 billion in 2024 on five mineral titles, a liability that rose to about ₦2.494 billion by the time the licences were revoked.

The ministry says it has no legal or contractual relationship with Jupiter Lithium, Basin and Range’s UK parent company, because the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 prohibits licences to foreign companies.

But the government’s account leaves important questions unanswered. First, the ministry says it has no relationship with Jupiter Lithium Ltd and that Jupiter is unknown to the mining authorities, yet its own aide has described Basin Mining as an alleged Nigerian subsidiary of Jupiter and has acknowledged that Jupiter filed arbitration over the revocation. If a foreign mining company cannot directly hold a mining title how then does it invest in a mining project in Nigeria if not through a local Nigerian subsidiary?

Second, by the ministry’s own figures the arrears roughly doubled before the licences were revoked.

The company alleges it had been denied access to its tenements for more than two years and questioned why it should pay annual fees if it could not access its tenements and could not develop the mineral assets it had discovered after years of exploration and investment. Third, why did the Ministry not grant the mining lease applications within the stipulated 45 days but reject the applications without notice nor reason after more than two years? Finally, the ministry has answered critics by calling their campaign blackmail, rather than publishing the records that would settle the matter.

The legal consequences are already in motion. The italaw docket lists a notice of intent dated July 1, 2025 and a request for arbitration dated December 1, 2025, under the 1990 Nigeria-United Kingdom Bilateral Investment Treaty.

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), part of the World Bank Group, has the case as Jupiter Lithium Ltd and Others v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, Case No. ARB/26/27, and it is pending. The Tribunal has been constituted but is yet to hear submissions on Jupiter’s allegations or Nigeria’s defence.

An investor-state arbitration over a strategically important critical minerals project is not a minor administrative disagreement. It raises questions about regulatory predictability, the security of mineral titles and the confidence investors can place in Nigeria’s legal and investment framework. The government may argue it is simply enforcing the law, and it can make that case before the tribunal. But investors and the Nigerian public are equally entitled to ask whether enforcement was transparent, proportionate and consistent with the stated commitment to long-term investment.

There is also a contradiction in the government’s messaging. Nigeria is seeking American capital and presenting itself as an emerging destination for mining investment, while an existing major project that attracted international technical and commercial partners sits in an arbitration. What assurance can the government give a new American investor if the future of a project established under an international investment treaty with Nigeria’ is contested?

The slump in trade between Nigeria and the UK of -45% in 2025 may reflect the diminishing confidence Nigeria’s traditional trading partners place in Nigeria while Nigeria looks towards China with trade up 38.4% in 2025.

Investors do not make investment decisions on speeches, memoranda or official photographs. They study how companies already in the market have fared. Security of title, predictability and consistency in mining regulations are critical. The significant increases in mining licence fees in 2025 without mining industry consultation saw exploration licenses experiencing fee increments as high as 2,000 percent and mining leases seeing increases of 4,000 percent.

The consequences run both ways. If the revocations are found to have violated the UK-Nigeria Bilateral Investment Treaty which provides investment protections, confidence in Nigeria’s mining sector would suffer and the country could face potentially significant financial liability in the Jupiter case. If the government shows the revocations were lawful and justified by genuine breaches, it reinforces the principle that investors must obey Nigerian law. Either way, the dispute demands transparency and documentary evidence, not public relations battles.

The Jupiter case is a litmus test for investment from reputable international mining companies. It demands transparency from both the Federal Government and the mining company. The Federal Government should clarify the status of the affected tenements and respond to the allegations about third-party access to the project area, the companies’ several petitions to remove illegal miners, the extraordinary delay in addressing the applications for mining licences and the MCO award of several licences over the companies’ valid tenements to third parties. The same standard applies to Jupiter: its claims, however serious, must be backed by verifiable evidence and tested independently and they appear to be doing that by taking their claim to the World Bank’s arbitration platform, The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), an expensive process that is not undertaken lightly.

The US-Nigeria September agreement may open real opportunities. Its value will be measured not by the enthusiasm around its signing, but by whether investors can operate under clear rules enforced consistently and fairly.

Attracting foreign investment is only half the challenge. Protecting the credibility of the investment environment is the other half.

Until that contradiction is addressed, every new promise of a mining-sector investment boom deserves a pinch of salt.

Biliyaminu Suraj is a researcher and expert in the mining sector. He writes from Abuja the nation’s capital.

Nigeria’s Mining Investment Promises Ring Hollow as Jupiter Lithium Dispute Exposes a Troubling Contradiction

By Biliyaminu Suraj
Biliyasuraj1980@yahoo.com

Nigeria’s renewed courtship of American investors in the mining sector deserves more than applause. It deserves scrutiny.

Minister Alake valued Nigeria’s mineral resources at about $700 billion. As reported, the announcement named no project and stated no investment figure.

The announcement was ambitious.

These are allegations, not findings.

Second, by the ministry’s own figures the arrears roughly doubled before the licences were revoked.

Attracting foreign investment is only half the challenge. Protecting the credibility of the investment environment is the other half.

Until that contradiction is addressed, every new promise of a mining-sector investment boom deserves a pinch of salt.

Biliyaminu Suraj is a researcher and expert in the mining sector. He writes from Abuja the nation’s capital.

The unending attacks of Hong communities, the collapsing security architecture in Adamawa and Northern Nigeria

The unending attacks of Hong communities, the collapsing security architecture in Adamawa and Northern Nigeria

By Tom Garba

The remnants of Boko Haram and those acting using the face of ISWAP have found some parts of Adamawa state as their target means of survival. Hong Local Government in the central Senatorial zone of Adamawa State, particularly communities under the Hoba (Kilba) Chiefdom Garaha, Dabna, Bangna/Banga, Mubang, Zah, Bitirhuya, Kwapre, Mayo Ladde, Gaya-Dlang and in others in parts of Gombi Local Government area (Garkida) has become the new epicenter of a complex insurgency that is no longer just Boko Haram. It’s a coordinated security threats using those communities as their catchment areas of survival and signalling their existence to what they believe.

My findings shows a dangerous fusion Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters operating from the Sambisa Forest corridor and Mandara Mountains are now tactically connected with armed bandits and kidnappers who have taken over deserted villages as logistics bases.

The incessant attacks became unbearable burdens to sons and daughters of Hoba land as households in hundreds and communities has been ransacked and deserted because of insurgents attacks. They cried, and cried more than enough. The cry of Tol Alheri Bulus and other Kilba stakeholders is not political it is a cry of existential threats.

Hong shares a direct border with Borno – specifically Askira-Uba LGA, gateway to Sambisa. This geography is its curse. It became the gate way in and out of Hong communities. Where there are free entry and free exit,at will, for purpose and unpurpose. The gates through the routes of Hoba communities are free and unchecked. It became a free entry and exit area for any individual,or group of people.

Dabna for example experience repeatedly attacked during one of their operations killed 3 persons, houses, shops burnt, food items looted, the attackers came on motorcycles at 2am, shooting sporadically.

Garaha is Hoba community that gave birth to former SGF Boss Mustapha and it’s the base of Military formation of the 232 Battalion which was attacked twice with the Latest one on the eve of Nigeria’s 66th Independence. The attackers killed three soldiers and one Forest Guard. The injured 10 soldiers and abducted 2 women.

They burnt down the entire military camp, weapons and an armoured vehicle looted and only Living Faith Church building left standing. Chairman of Hong LGA, Dr. Aliyu Yerima Sa’ad Hong confirmed the casualties are at FMC Hong some few months ago.

Mubang and Zah (Garaha District): experienced third attack in 6 days in one week 14 people killed, dozens displaced, homes burnt and the insurgents Coordinated raid 8km from Garaha.

Gaya-Dlang, Bitirhuya, Banga: In August-Sept 2026 – Police Inspector and 7 civilians killed, 4 girls abducted in Gaya-Dlang. 4 killed and houses razed in Bitirhuya.

Their Modus Operandi: is always Midnight attacks with 2-3 insurgents per motorcycle, heavily armed and always ambush from rear axis to overwhelm military. Looting of food, weapons, then burning of primary schools, markets, houses and military camps is their normal way of operation, abduction for ransom economy it’s the merchandising tactics for survival.

There is a Nexus connection between the Boko Haram, ISWAP, Bandits, Kidnappers. What is happening in Hong it’s what we are seeing happening in Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna. All across Many spheres, parts of Nigeria they all have their unique insecurity threats.

The Ideological is Criminal driven by either the Boko Haram/ISWAP, they provide the terror ideology and training, while bandits provide the local terrain knowledge and kidnapping-for-ransom network. Village Replacement after attacks, villagers flee to Hong town or Yola. Bandits and their families occupy the abandoned hamlets in Dugwaba and Yadul Districts. This creates new enclaves. Over 600 villages have been abandoned in the border corridor since 2013.

One of their major sources of livelihood is for Economic Sustenance. They always Looted grains from Dabna and Bangna, sold in markets in Borno and even Cameroon. Ransom from kidnapping funds arms purchase.

The reason Why Current Security Measures Have Failed it’s because of its Static Defense nature .The military maintains a base in Garaha, but it is undermanned and static. Insurgents monitor it and attack from multiple axes simultaneously. Poor Intelligence network has contributed in successful operations of the criminals. Locals reported movement days before, but no air component response until after attack. The recent successful air interdiction at 5:30am in Boima that killed 16 terrorists shows air power works – but it is reactive, not preventive.

No Holding Force is another ways insurgents strength on after Army repels attackers, there is no Civilian JTF, Forest Guards, or Agro-Rangers to hold the ground. Communities like Zah and Mubang are left unprotected.

The result affect the people of Hoba Chiefdom and they have lost faith. As AKURDA cried in Kaduna for many terror attacks kidnapping of their wives and able men, the people of Hong are also asking: “Are we still part of Nigeria?”

Effective Policy Recommendations, implementation are What Government Must Do Now to end all forms of insecurity threats. The crisis in Adamawa cannot be treated in isolation. It is linked to the nationwide insecurity chain . Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina are the frontline, while Sokoto, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi are the flashpoints.

The new security majors required by government of states, Local Government and federal to adopt are;

Create a Hong-Gombi- Askira Uba Joint Security Corridor- a unified theatre Command for the Adamawa-Borno border, not separate state commands. With a permanent Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Garaha with air surveillance drones.
Implement Community-Based Intelligence Policy- Legally empower and pay the Forest Guards and Local Hunters who know the Sambisa-Mandara routes. In Dabna, local vigilantes shot one terrorist but had no backup.
Villages Reclamation Policy-Government must not allow abandoned villages to be occupied by bandits. A policy for safe return – rebuilding burnt schools, clinics, and providing agro-inputs – with a 6-month military hold.
Cut the Ransom Economy, Enforce the law criminalizing ransom payment while creating a Victims Support Fund. Over N100m has been paid in neighbouring Lere LGA alone – same pattern is happening in Hong.
Early Warning Technology- Deploy satellite and drone surveillance over the 6-10km stretch from Sambisa to Hong. The insurgents use motorcycles – they are visible.
Humanitarian and Psychological Intervention- For Kilba people – IDPs in Hong, Gombi, and Yola need food, trauma counselling, and protection for farming season. Food security in Adamawa will collapse if Dabna and Garaha cannot farm.

The attack on a military formation in Garaha where soldiers were killed and injured is a red flag. If insurgents can overrun a battalion base, no village in Hong is safe.

Tol Alheri Bulus and other voices from the Hoba Chiefdom are not just crying for Hong. They are warning Nigeria. The same model that started in Borno in 2009, spread to Zamfara in 2015, and consumed Niger and Kaduna in 2020, is now consolidating in Adamawa.

Without a new, integrated, and community-anchored security policy, the entire Northern Nigeria will remain in a cycle of attack, displacement, and ransom.

The federal, State and local Government must act now, act faster than ever acted before Hong becomes another war zone from the cricks of Sambisa.

Tom Garba is a conflict, crisis, policy and political analyst
Lives and writes from Jimeta -Adamawa

Nigeria Can Get More From 5,000MW Through Energy Efficiency — ECN

Nigeria Can Get More From 5,000MW Through Energy Efficiency — ECN

Nigeria can significantly improve electricity access and reduce energy costs by making better use of the power already being generated, rather than relying solely on new generation capacity.

Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, stated this at a two-day national workshop on energy efficiency and conservation organised by the Commission in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Abdullahi said Nigeria’s current peak generation of about 5,000 to 6,000 megawatts remained inadequate against the country’s 2030 target of 30,000MW, but argued that improving efficiency could significantly increase the value derived from the electricity currently available.

According to him, while new generation capacity remains necessary, it takes time to develop, making efficient utilisation of existing electricity an immediate area of intervention.

“With the 5,000 megawatts we have, we can actually have a value of 20,000 megawatts from it,” he said, attributing the potential gain to measures such as switching off unused appliances and enforcing minimum energy performance standards for electrical appliances.

Abdullahi said the ECN, working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), had recently launched new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners and was developing standards for refrigerators.

The ECN Boss added that the Commission was also training Nigerians to identify energy-efficient appliances and encouraging consumers to replace inefficient equipment, stressing that the immediate benefit was not merely increased electricity availability but reduced energy costs for households.

He also disclosed that a new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill before the National Assembly had reached second reading.

According to him, passage of the bill would provide the Commission with the legal framework required to implement energy efficiency and conservation measures nationwide.

The development comes as stakeholders at the workshop called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s approach to the power challenge—from an almost exclusive focus on increasing megawatts to treating energy efficiency as an additional source of energy.

The keynote speaker, Professor Abubakar Sambo, said Nigeria’s energy debate had historically centred on generation deficits, transmission constraints and gas-to-power infrastructure, while insufficient attention had been paid to reducing unnecessary demand.

Professor Sambo argued that aggressive energy efficiency measures could reduce pressure on the constrained national grid and potentially limit the scale of capital expenditure required for additional generation.

Sambo called for the proposed energy efficiency legislation to be strengthened through a regulatory impact assessment, clearer institutional responsibilities for the ECN and other agencies, and a legal framework for Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to undertake performance-based energy efficiency projects.

He also identified enforcement as a major weakness in the existing framework.

On buildings, he proposed establishing institutional links between federal energy policy and state and local government building permit authorities, including possible hybrid offices to facilitate enforcement of the Building Energy Efficiency Code.

He further recommended that energy-efficiency compliance certification eventually become a requirement for property title registration.

On appliances, Sambo said Nigeria had made progress through MEPS and labelling but still faced challenges with market surveillance, testing capacity and the entry of inefficient appliances through porous borders.

He therefore advocated a transition from voluntary to mandatory energy-efficiency, labelling and stronger enforcement at points of entry.

The keynote speaker also highlighted electricity tariffs and metering as important tools for influencing consumer behaviour.

This is as he argued that consumers on estimated billing were disconnected from the true price signal of their electricity consumption and called for greater deployment of smart metering as part of demand-side management.

He also proposed reviewing the tariff methodology to incorporate incentives for energy efficiency.

Another recommendation was the creation of a National Energy Efficiency Fund (NEAF), potentially financed through a small portion of electricity tariffs or environmental levies, to provide low-interest financing for industrial energy-efficiency retrofits.

He further called for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to require electricity distribution companies to dedicate between two and five per cent of their annual operational budgets to demand-side management programmes.

The proposal, he said, would encourage distribution companies to move beyond simply selling electricity towards providing broader energy solutions.

Sambo also proposed a phased national roadmap for MEPS implementation, beginning with institutional foundations and standardisation within six months, followed by market surveillance and voluntary compliance over seven to 18 months, and eventually mandatory enforcement and penalties within 19 to 36 months.

He urged stakeholders to compare electricity demand trajectories with the potential energy savings available across the economy, describing energy efficiency as a “virtual power plant” capable of releasing electricity for other consumers without constructing a new generating station.

The JICA Country Representative, Ishigame Keiji, described energy efficiency as a “first fuel”, arguing that the most cost-effective unit of energy was one that did not need to be produced or consumed.

He said Nigeria’s population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation and rising electricity demand made energy efficiency both an economic and environmental imperative.

According to him, improvements in buildings, industries, transportation, cooling equipment, appliances and public facilities could reduce energy costs, improve productivity, strengthen energy security and support sustainable economic development.

Ishigame said Japan’s experience demonstrated the importance of technological innovation, energy management systems, efficiency standards and effective regulation in improving energy productivity while sustaining economic growth.

He said JICA would continue supporting Nigeria through capacity development, knowledge transfer and technical cooperation, expressing hope that the workshop would produce a practical roadmap and actionable recommendations.

Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Ude, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology similarly stressed the need to move beyond policies and research documents towards measurable implementation.

Represented by an official from the Ministry of Science, Technology and innovation, the Minister called for stronger links between research institutions, universities, technology hubs, industries and policymakers so that innovations could be translated into practical solutions for homes, businesses and communities.

The Minister also highlighted emerging Nigerian innovations, including locally produced metering solutions developed by young Nigerians, as well as other energy-generation initiatives being explored by Nigerian innovators.

For the industrial sector, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said energy costs could account for about 40 per cent of production costs, making efficiency measures critical to reducing production expenses and improving competitiveness.

October 1: Yari Commends Tinubu, Calls for Renewed National Unity

Independence Day: Yari Salutes Nigerians, Backs Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

Director General of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator (Dr.) Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, has congratulated Nigerians on the nation’s Independence Day, urging citizens to remain united and hopeful while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to drive national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State, said the anniversary offers an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the sacrifices of the country’s founding fathers, celebrate its diversity and renew their commitment to building a peaceful, just and prosperous nation.

In a message released on Wednesday, the APC chieftain praised the resilience of Nigerians, noting that despite challenges confronting the country, citizens continue to demonstrate remarkable courage, hard work and patriotism.

He said the Nigerian spirit has remained unbroken through decades of political, economic and social transformations, adding that the nation’s strength lies in the unity of its people and their shared determination to secure a better future.

According to him, Independence Day should inspire citizens to deepen national cohesion and support efforts aimed at advancing economic growth, strengthening security and improving the welfare of the people.

Yari also applauded President Tinubu’s commitment to governance and national development, saying the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda reflects a determination to address critical challenges and position Nigeria on a stronger path of progress.

“Today reminds us of the courage of our founding fathers, the strength of our diversity and the resilience that defines the Nigerian spirit. From every corner of our country, Nigerians continue to demonstrate hope, hard work and unity. Our progress may be gradual, but our determination remains unwavering,” he stated.

The former governor stressed that meaningful national development requires collective responsibility, urging citizens to continue contributing positively to nation-building irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources would continue to serve as a foundation for growth and prosperity, maintaining that the country possesses the capacity to overcome present challenges and achieve greater milestones.

Yari further called on Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to keep faith with the nation and remain committed to the ideals of peace, justice and mutual respect.

He prayed for God’s continued guidance, protection and blessings upon Nigeria, expressing optimism that the country would emerge stronger and more united in the years ahead.

Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, who holds the traditional titles of Marafan Sokoto and Obaloyin of Yoruba Land, wished Nigerians a happy Independence Day celebration and reaffirmed his belief in the country’s bright future.

Kaduna Senator Escaped from Angry Youths …We have not seen him for three years

Tension reportedly erupted along Zaria Road in Kaduna when a group of youths allegedly confronted and chased Senator Lawal Adamu, popularly known as Mr LA, out of the area during a condolence visit.

The incident reportedly occurred while the senator was visiting members of the family of the late Councillor, Hon. Ado Dankula, to commiserate with them over the death of their relative.

The youths, who expressed anger over what they described as poor representation, accused the senator of allegedly abandoning his constituents for more than three years after securing their votes to represent them in the National Assembly.

One of the youths, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, alleged that Senator Adamu had become largely inaccessible since relocating to Abuja, claiming that he rarely visited the constituency or attended community events.

According to the youth, the alleged absence of the senator had generated resentment among some constituents who expected greater visibility, accessibility and engagement from their elected representative.

He further alleged that the youths were unhappy with what they described as the senator’s limited participation in issues affecting the constituency and his alleged inability to adequately respond to their concerns and needs.

It reportedly took the swift intervention of security personnel to disperse the youths and rescue the senator from the situation.

The youth also alleged that the senator had only recently intensified visits to constituents because of his reported interest in seeking another term in office.

“We say no to leaders who seek public office for personal gains and interests. We are ready to come out en masse and vote him out,” the youth said.

He added that the confrontation was intended to demonstrate the youths’ dissatisfaction with what they perceived as the senator’s poor performance and prolonged absence from the constituency.

However, he acknowledged that physically confronting or attacking the lawmaker was inappropriate, explaining that the youths had resorted to the action to express their frustration over what they perceived as inadequate representation.

The incident comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with elected officials and prospective candidates increasingly engaging constituents across their respective constituencies.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from Senator Lawal Adamu or his representatives regarding the alleged confrontation, the circumstances surrounding the incident or the allegations made by the youths.