General
Nigerian Youth and Urgency of a New Paradigm
By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
Even when there is no codified word or structured documentation adequate enough to evaluate a public office holder, there exists presently, a compelling need to evaluate the present administration in the country, via a broader view of the people’s paramount concerns and legitimate expectations in order to unravel its values of fiscal discipline, prudent management, robust and continuous community engagement, effective and efficient public communication, and excellent public service delivery for the benefit of this generation and the next.
This logical, rational and practical belief is predicated on the current unpalatable happenings and failures recorded in recent times and traceable to the current administration.
Out of many such instances, one that cries for attention is; how well has the present administration at both state and federal levels treated its critical mass-the youths?
Aside from enjoying demographic advantage and being in possession of a commanding majority, providing an answer to this question/evaluation is important because Nigerian youth will provide the future leadership needs of the country.
Take, as an illustration, in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari promised during his electioneering to work with the youths. But contrary to that promise, eight years after such a promise was made, the Nigerian youth are still relegated to the political background.
Again, even when they are celebrated daily on the world stage for their superlative showings and performance, right here in Nigeria, they are judged to be ‘lazy’ by the same administration that promised to work with them.
The first of such shock came to the youths shortly after the 2019 general election and Mr President submitted to the National Assembly for screening the list of 43 ministerial nominees. Separate from the disproportionately skewed list screaming with evidence that youth’s political highway remains slippery, rough and riddled with potholes and hopelessness, the list eloquently laid bare an ingrained falsehood of the administration.
In the same style, not only did the ministerial list make nonsense of the seemingly gains of the not-too-young-to-run campaign embarked on by the youths in July 2017, which brought about the amendment of some sections of the nation’s constitution to accommodate youths desirous of seeking political or elective positions, what is now left at this stage, of course, is the question of the extent to which youths should draw political lessons from the episode or whether to continue exerting power on inglorious political functions they are reputed for without result.
Also in 2018, Mr President while attending an international function, stated among other things that; “a lot of them (Nigerian youths) haven’t been to school and they are claiming, that Nigeria has been an oil-producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing and get housing, health care, and education”, a remark that Nigerian youths and the vast majority of other Nigerians received with disbelief, grief, and rage.
Certainly, in my view, if there is a sterling lesson the youths must draw from the asymmetrical structure of appointments by the present government at the centre, it is the new awareness that thuggery and other illicit political functions at the polls cannot guarantee a political position for the youths. Rather, what guarantees political appointment and position is the possession of a keen sense of independence, self-respect and oneness and insistence on choosing the right people as leaders during the election.
To explain, throughout the period of the 2019 general election, the Nigerian youths hobnobbed and romanced these politicians without knowing that our political leaders are experts in adopting the tactics of the coquette.
‘A tactic that makes the public fall in love with excitement while these leaders remain inwardly detached; while keeping them in control. What the youths must learn from this exclusion is that to gain relevance politically, they must develop the will to work out their political salvation by recognizing ‘that there is little hope until they become tough-minded enough to break loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truth, and downright ignorance.
Regardless of whether the appointments in the past seven years were made by Mr President to achieve a particular purpose—such as tackling the nation’s troubled economy, insecurity, unemployment or improvement of power generation, the truth is that looking at the lopsided architecture of those that Mr President appointed in 2019- predominantly made up of familiar names that did not spectacularly perform during Mr President’s first term, coupled with their present below average performance, the youth should know that as the nation races to 2023 general election, the hour has come for a shift in paradigm.
The above is not to suggest that this non-appointment of the youths to political positions in the country is limited to the present administration or just happening for the first time; as no administration in Nigeria can boast of clean hands. The challenge may exist in overt and glaring forms among the Buhari administration but may have existed in a hidden and subtle manner in others.
In my view, these are happening because Nigerian youths apart from playing visionless politics, they are in the words of Professor Wole Soyinka full of spunk abroad, but gas at home. Coupled with the reality that our nation is unfortunately blessed with a huge number of ‘coercive’ and selfish leaders as against truly ‘democratic, pacesetting and coaching leaders.
As an illustration, like a prophet that was supernaturally informed of it and supernaturally moved to announce it, I recall writing a piece dated August 2017 titled; Nigerian youths; celebrated abroad and despised at home, pointed out that the Nigerian government right from independence has evidently proved not to be interested in, or paid adequate attention to supporting youths involvement in politics or holding of public offices, but are merely concerned with clarifying the problem of youths apathy in politics without a solution. I also in that piece submitted that the only twist to that narrative is that youths have visible but ignorantly endorsed these underground plots through their actions and inactions.
Conversely, political pundits have argued that the youths should not be blamed for their inability to occupy political or leadership positions in the country, be it elective or appointment, but blamed on the nation’s inglorious departure from politics of ideas to money politics or what is currently referred to as the politics of the highest bidder which the youths have no financial muscles to partake in and therefore settled for the easiest option at their disposal which is praise singing.
Despite the virtues and attributes of the above positions, I still hold an opinion that the bulk of the blame rests at the doorstep of the youths as the list of political actions not taken was lengthy and worrisome.
As an incentive, if the youths had during the build-up to the 2019 general elections, identified the areas which really hold the key to political success, and apply the right mix of resources, make collaborative efforts and discipline, they should have been able to put themselves in a position of real competitive superiority using their demographic advantage.
To, therefore, catalyse the process of reversing this appalling trend, and form a force that must not be ignored, Nigerian youths must first understand the threat fear poses for a reason. They need to remember that under ‘right circumstances; fear can trigger the temptation to surrender to a demagogue promising strength and security in return.’ The 2018 general elections and the current political situation in the country stand as vivid examples.
Finally, Nigerian youths must not continue to agonize over such developments but wake up and do something civil and positive. On their part, our leaders should not live under the illusion of misguided cleverness but should ‘study history, study the actions of the eminent men, to see how they conducted themselves and to discover the reasons for their victories or their defeats so that they can avoid the latter and imitate the former.’
Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The pastor in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ at Agonvi Sea Beach in the Sakpo area of Seme border, Badagry, Lagos State, Mr Afolabi Hodonu, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The 45-year-old cleric was apprehended on Thursday, April 2, 2026, alongside his 35-year-old wife, Mrs Success Hodonu, with blocks of skunk weighing about 11kg.
A statement issued on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the couple were stopped at the Gbaji checkpoint, and a search of their Honda Pilot SUV led to the recovery of the drugs concealed in hidden parts of their vehicle.
Their arrest followed the apprehension of a fake security agent, Mr Sunday Samuel, 35, at the same checkpoint on Monday, March 30, while conveying 24.5kg of skunk from the Seme border to Lagos.
The statement further disclosed that NDLEA operatives also successfully dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate in high stakes intelligence led operations that lasted three weeks during which cocaine consignments concealed in tins of palm kernel extract heading to the United Kingdom were intercepted and the warehouse where the shipments are packaged raided, while all three layers of the group were unravelled, leading to the arrest of the kingpin.
The breakthrough began on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, when NDLEA officers of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine at the export shed of the airport. The illicit substance was meticulously hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract intended for shipment to the UK.
Two suspects handling the shipment, Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin, were promptly arrested.
To unravel the sender and the arrowhead of the drug syndicate, a well-coordinated sting operation was carried out on Thursday, April 2, leading to the arrest of Ezemuwo Joel, who operates under a fake identity as Ajayi.
His arrest provided the link to the syndicate’s head, 52-year-old King Arinze, who was flushed out of a hideout in the Isolo area of Lagos.
He was thereafter taken to his warehouse at 11, Ola Ifa Street, Bucknor, Isolo, where NDLEA operatives recovered 886 tins of palm kernel extract prepared for drug concealment; industrial tools, including a sealing machine, tin openers, paint sprays, 52 grams of cannabis sativa and a pack of hand gloves. Arinze has since confessed to personally draining the oil from the tins to conceal the cocaine.
In a separate operation in Borno state, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, April 1, intercepted a female drug supplier to bandit groups operating between the North East and Chad, 28-year-old Aisha Adamu. She was arrested along the Gamboru Ngala road in possession of 4.3 kilograms of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis.
In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Namtari road, Yola South, on Monday, March 30, intercepted a trailer marked RUW 947 XA transporting 48,000 pills of tramadol. The truck driver, Abdulaziz Ismail Korede, was arrested while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the recipient, Idris Adamu.
While 60-year-old Idiatu Oladejo was arrested with 15kg of skunk in Isale Osun, Osogbo, Osun state, on Wednesday, April 1, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raided the Itaogbolu forest, Akure, Ondo State, where they recovered 351 kilograms of skunk and its seeds. No fewer than 28,600 capsules of tramadol were seized from a 66-year-old Aminu Usman Gembu when he was arrested at Aliade, Benue state, on Wednesday, April 1.
In Edo State, a suspect, Roland Owie, 37, was arrested on Monday, March 30, following the raid of his warehouse at Egbanke community, Orhionmwon LGA, where 1,378 kilograms of skunk were recovered.
A notorious drug dealer, 40-year-old Ayantola Omodunmomi (a.k.a Iya Elle) was on Wednesday, April 1, arrested at Eleta area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Her arrest follows intelligence and surveillance on how she uses her 11-year-old daughter, Anjola, to deliver illicit drugs to her customers. At the time of her arrest, a 45.6kg skunk was recovered from her warehouse.
By Abba Dukawa
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya, reaffirmed his commitment to purposeful leadership, declaring he is not given to making empty promises to the electorate.
The politician, who intends to represent the Ajingi, Gaya, and Albasu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly in the 2027 general elections, stressed that his record of performance over two consecutive terms stands as clear evidence of his capacity and credibility, noting that his tenure has consistently delivered beyond expectations.
According to him, governance should be measured by tangible results rather than rhetoric, and his track record reflects a sustained dedication to the welfare and development of his constituency.
Speaking on Sunday while receiving various support groups at his residence in Kano, Mr Gaya reiterated his resolve to consolidate on past achievements and continue championing policies that will advance the collective interests of his people.
He urged them to return to their respective wards, villages, and towns to enlighten the electorate on the visible developmental strides recorded across the constituency over the past three years under his leadership, emphasising the need for voters to clearly distinguish these achievements from previous representations.
Mr Gaya further stated that there is no retreat in his resolve to contest the seat, stressing that the election is not about personal ambition, but about the collective well-being and continued progress of the people across the three local government areas.
He also urged them to take note that the Electoral Act 2026 outlines two methods through which political parties can nominate candidates, adding that these methods are direct primaries and consensus. Direct primaries involve all registered party members voting to choose their candidates, while the consensus method requires aspirants to voluntarily agree on a single flag bearer.
Speaking on behalf of various support groups, Mr Ismaila Ado, who has benefited from a monthly allowance as a volunteer teacher in one of the schools constructed during his tenure, stated that in addition to the allowance, the politician also facilitated his permanent appointment in the Kano State Ministry of Education.
Also speaking, an elder of the APC in Gaya Local Government Area, Mr Iliyasu Muhammad Gamoji, noted that prior to 2015, the communities of Ajingi, Gaya, and Albasu suffered from years of neglect and slow development.
He explained that when Mr Gaya represented the constituency in the House of Representatives, he did so with a strong commitment and a clear sense of responsibility.
He added that, over time, the lawmaker’s efforts brought tangible progress that positively impacted many lives, noting that roads were constructed, schools were improved, and the communities began to receive renewed attention and meaningful government support during his tenure.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The sum of N3.3 trillion has been approved by President Bola Tinubu to finally clear the outstanding debts in the power sector.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said the “long-standing debts accumulated between February 2015 and March 2025.”
It was stated that the payment plan for the debts under the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme should restore reliable electricity to the country.
“Following verification, N3.3 trillion has been agreed as a full and final settlement, ensuring a fair and transparent resolution,” a part of the statement noted.
“Implementation has begun, with 15 power plants signing settlement agreements totalling N2.3 trillion. The federal government has already raised N501 billion to fund these payments. Out of the amount, N223 billion has been disbursed, with further payments underway,” it added.
The statement said, “With payments reaching the power value chain, generation will be more stable. With power plants supported, electricity reliability will improve.”
“This programme is not just about settling legacy debts. It is about restoring confidence across the power sector — ensuring gas suppliers are paid, power plants can keep running, and the system begins to work more reliably,” the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Ms Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, was quoted as saying in the statement.
“It is part of a broader set of reforms already underway — including better metering and service-based tariffs that link what you pay to the quality of electricity you receive.
“The government is also prioritising power supply to businesses, industries, and small enterprises — because reliable electricity is critical to creating jobs, supporting livelihoods, and growing the economy.
“The goal is simple: more reliable power for homes, stronger support for businesses, and a system that works better for all Nigerians,” she added.
President Tinubu has commended all stakeholders who supported efforts to resolve the legacy issues in the power sector. He has also confirmed that the next phase (Series II) will begin this quarter.
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