By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The presidency has responded to an outburst by the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr Ali Ndume, that the appointments by President Bola Tinubu have been from a particular region of the country.

The federal lawmaker was on Arise TV to express frustration at the “lopsided appointments” by Mr Tinubu, warning that it could backfire when least expected.

According to him, the President has consistently breached the federal character in the Nigerian Constitution, which made provision for appointments to be spread across the states and regions.

“The figures are there. You can look at the figures. I sent you one. I sent you figures. It’s not that I’m just making accusations. It’s not that I’m saying, well, the president has no right to do that kind of thing, it’s a constitutional provision. Section 13, I mean, Section 14 (3) of the constitution is very, very clear.

“When you look at it vis-a-vis the appointments made so far, and there are political appointments, the constitution is very clear.

“It is because of avoiding such infractions that the constitution clearly states that appointments, especially political appointments, should reflect the federal character, and that is not the case here.

“All I am saying is to call the attention of Mr President to such infractions so that it can be corrected; otherwise, you know, these things can boomerang at a certain period of time,” Mr Ndume said.

But while responding, the spokesman of the President, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said the outburst of the Senator reeked hypocrisy and selective perception, emphasising that the appointments are “based on merit, integrity, geographical spread.”

“While the Borno senator grandstanded as a moral authority on equity, he forgot to tell his interviewer that two of his kinsmen featured in recent NNPC Limited top appointments. The Chairman, appointed by President Tinubu, is from Ndume’s senatorial district. If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so tribal, how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?” the presidency queried in a statement.

Mr Onanuga noted that as a politician, Mr Ndume has proven time and time again that he is allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics.

“His habit of firing half-baked criticisms—only to be contradicted by facts—proves he’s more interested in headline-chasing, rabble rousing, stoking divisive narratives than offering constructive criticism,” he said.

Mr said President Tinubu remains deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations.

“He aims to harness our nation’s diverse strengths to achieve a common goal: building a prosperous Nigeria.

“The President’s appointments are—and will continue to be—based on merit, integrity, geographical spread and a demonstrable capacity to serve the Nigerian people, not Ndume’s cherry-picked tribal arithmetic.

“We urge Ndume to elevate public discourse and avoid misinformation and baseless criticism. This is a disservice to the nation and the behaviour least expected from a Nigerian Senator,” he added.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A foremost telecommunications company in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, has paid a glowing tribute to its founding chairman, Mr Pascal Gabriel Dozie, who died in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, a day to his 86th birthday.

In a statement, the firm said it was “deeply saddened by the passing” of Mr Dozie, who founded the defunct Diamond Bank Plc, which merged with Access Bank in April 2019.

MTN Nigeria, which extended its condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, and others, said he “played a pivotal role in the emergence of mobile telephony” in the country.

For 18 years, from 2001 to 2019, he served as chairman of the organisation, leading with strength and conviction.

It was stated that his presence on the board was unifying, championing good governance, corporate responsibility, and long-term value, deeply committed to the greater good, and remained a stabilising force in challenging times.

MTN Nigeria said Mr Dozie brought insight, experience, and leadership at a time when bold vision was essential, and was instrumental in securing the early support and investment that brought the Y’ello dream to life.

On May 16, 2001, he made the first call on the MTN network, a historic moment in Nigeria’s telecommunications journey.

The chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, said, “His unwavering belief in Nigeria’s potential and his dedication to its development were truly inspiring. His leadership at MTN Nigeria laid the foundation for our success, and his legacy will continue to guide us in the years to come.”

“Dr Dozie was instrumental in MTN Group’s expansion into Nigeria, providing visionary leadership that has left an indelible mark on our company’s history.

“His commitment to excellence and integrity set a standard that we continue to uphold,” the chief executive of MTN Group, Mr Ralph Mupita, noted in the statement.

The company said the memory of Mr Dozie would “remain a guiding light for MTN, Nigeria’s business community, and everyone who shares his unwavering commitment to progress built on integrity and service.”

Listing some of his landmark contributions, the statement said the deceased was instrumental in the incorporation of the MTN Nigeria Foundation in 2004, ensuring that the firm dedicated a percentage of profit after tax to social investments.

He was also involved in the launch of one of Africa’s largest switching centres in 2010, and played a significant role in critical conversations around the regulatory fine and its resolution in 2015.

Also, he supported the introduction of Africa’s first 3G feature phone in 2018, and backed the listing of MTN Nigeria on the premium board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited in 2019.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the recent policy reforms and operational improvement, which have boosted trade facilitation.

NECA President, Mr Ifeanyi Okogwu, gave the commendation on Monday while leading a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, at the NCS headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

According to a statement on the service’s X on Tuesday, the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration on trade facilitation and private sector development.

“We are here today to commend the Service for your impactful initiatives so far. NECA was established in 1957 to represent the interests of businesses in Nigeria.

“Today, with over 4,000 members, we play a vital role in enhancing the operating environment for businesses, and we recognise the customs as a critical partner in this journey,” he said.

Mr Okogwu emphasised that key trade facilitation tools introduced by the service, including Advance Ruling, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the Time Release Study were significant in reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving the ease of doing business, especially for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

“These reforms are not just policies on paper; they are impactful initiatives directly supporting Nigerian businesses, particularly SMEs. We look forward to continued engagement with the NCS to ensure businesses thrive and the economy grows,” he added.

On his part, the CG thanked the NECA team for the visit and for recognising the agency’s efforts, reiterating the NCS’s unwavering commitment to working closely with the private sector to build a more inclusive trade environment.

“I am always glad to partner with private enterprises. At Customs, we’ve come to understand that our actions or inaction have a direct bearing on the kind of business environment we create. This is why we put a lot of premium on trade facilitation and stakeholder engagement,” Mr Adeniyi said.

The Customs boss assured that the Service remains public-centric in its approach and will continue to work with the business community to simplify processes and ensure compliance.

“We see ourselves not just as enforcers, but as facilitators. We are committed to walking with you every step of the way in building a better ecosystem for Nigerian businesses to flourish. Continuous dialogue like this drives meaningful progress,” he said.