General
2027: Nigerians Will Remember Jonathan’s Dismal Record in Office–Presidency
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has boasted that President Bola Tinubu is not rattled by the idea of bringing former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, it was emphasized that Mr Jonathan was free to attempt to return to Aso Rock in 2027.
It was noted that Mr Tinubu has transformed the economy in his two years in office, stating that he was not perturbed by “the desperation of the opposition ganging up against President Bola Tinubu despite his glaring giant economic strides.”
Recall that recently, a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Jerry Gana, said Mr Jonathan would be drafted into the 2007 presidential race.
In the statement, Mr Onanuga cautioned Mr Jonathan to be wary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) sugar-coated cheerleaders, saying “politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests. They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch.”
“Don’t get us wrong: President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race. But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land. Indeed, the jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term in office.
“Shorn of all those selfish considerations for which some PDP big guns find his candidacy appealing, President Jonathan will also have his encounter with the people as to whether he has anything new to offer after his disastrous six years, for which they voted him out in 2015.
“Let us remind ourselves about Jonathan’s record. We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground and put the country in dire straits. The nation’s economic downturn, which President Tinubu is working very hard to overcome, actually began under President Jonathan. The Jonathan administration severely damaged the economy, and all key indicators declined under his watch. Under him, the so-called business moguls allocated foreign exchange to import fuel, simply pocketing the dollars without importing anything. Some of those big men still have court cases on the issue today.
“Jonathan and his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), freely distributed security funds to friends and cronies.
“In 2010, President Jonathan inherited a total of $66 billion, of which $46 billion was in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the noble-but-abused Excess Crude Account. By 2015, when the people democratically removed him from office, the foreign reserves had fallen below $30 billion, and the Excess Crude Account had been depleted to $2 billion, despite generating record revenue from crude oil sales that the country had never achieved in more than 25 years combined.
“It is on record that between 2010 and 2013, crude oil sold for an average of $100 per barrel. By December 2014, however, the Jonathan-led Federal Government could no longer pay salaries to Federal Civil Servants. At least 28 states across the country owed workers huge salary arrears.
“In contrast, President Tinubu has taken bold decisions over the last 28 months to reset the economy, removing the ruinous fuel subsidy and abolishing multiple exchange rates, which paved the way for arbitrage to flourish. The President has stabilised the economy in slightly over two years in office. In 2025 Q2, the Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23%, the highest in four years, outpacing the 3.4% projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation decreased to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. The foreign reserves stand presently at $42. 03 billion. The Naira has virtually stabilised. Investor confidence in our economy has been restored, and investors are betting on Nigeria.
“In plain language, the nation has turned the corner. And our people have started reaping the gains of the bold reforms instituted by the Tinubu administration. Road infrastructure is being boosted. Old roads are being reconstructed while new ones, like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, among others, are springing up. The government is addressing security issues in some parts of the country.
“We can go on and on, reeling out the many macroeconomic gains of the Tinubu administration. However, the point is that the PDP and Jerry Gana’s co-travellers broke the economy; President Tinubu is fixing it.
“President Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race. They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians, who will not easily forget the recent past, will not allow them to return and run it down again,” the statement noted.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced special operational enforcement code named Operation Zero Tolerance for Non-Compliance in the Nigerian maritime domain.
The directive was issued through a Marine Notice, pursuant to the agency’s statutory mandate under the NIMASA Act 2007, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, and other applicable regulations.
Under this operation, all Ship/Vessel Owners, Operators, Managers, International and National Oil Companies, Masters and Officers of Merchant Ships, Shipping Companies, Shipping Agents, Charterers, Offshore Installations and Platforms Operators, Vessel Operators at the Free Trade Zones (FTZ), and Maritime Stakeholders operating or intending to operate within Nigerian waters are required to ensure full compliance with statutory requirements contained in existing maritime laws and regulations.
These include proper vessel registration, valid certifications, updated ownership documentation, adherence to Cabotage provisions relating to vessel ownership, registration, manning, and build.
The notice also emphasised the importance of timely payment and remittance of all statutory levies and fees as prescribed by law.
As part of the enforcement process, NIMASA will conduct random and targeted vessel inspections, verify documentation against its databases, and carry out physical and documentary compliance assessments at ports, terminals, and offshore locations. Operators will also be required to present proof of payment of all applicable levies and fees upon request.
To allow stakeholders the opportunity to regularize their operations, NIMASA has granted a thirty (30) day window from January 5, 2026 for a self-audit and voluntary compliance.
The agency warned that failure to comply after the expiration of the grace period will attract enforcement actions, including vessel detention, monetary penalties, withdrawal of waivers or operational licences, and denial of port clearance until full compliance is achieved.
The Director General of NIMASA, Mr Dayo Mobereola has assured all stakeholders of the Agency’s commitment to promoting indigenous shipping development, enhancing maritime safety and security, protecting the marine environment, and ensuring strict compliance with Nigeria’s maritime laws.
“We therefore urge all stakeholders to do their part so that together, we can build on the gains of previous regulatory achievements, which is enhanced safety, a secure maritime environment and sustainable utilisation of our marine resources,” the DG added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s private security firm, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), has entered into an agreement with a United States–based Textron Systems for the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in a move aimed at curbing crude oil theft in the country.
Textron Systems said the drones would support security operations around Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, which has continued to face threats from crude oil theft, vandalism and sabotage.
The deal also includes provisions for training and the possible acquisition of additional aircraft as Tantita expands its operations, building on a previous US Foreign Military Sales delivery of Aerosonde drone systems to Nigeria.
The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 is designed to operate without a runway, using a hybrid quadrotor system for vertical takeoff and landing before transitioning to fixed-wing flight. The system can carry multiple payloads and conduct extended surveillance missions.
Speaking on the development, Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Mr Waredi Enisour, said Tantita officials were in the United States to inspect the drone operations and understudy the associated technical processes.
Mr Enisour added that with the latest technological acquisitions by Tantita, incidents of crude oil theft are expected to decline significantly, as the drones will provide extensive surveillance coverage across the Niger Delta region.
He disclosed that Tanttia is the first private security firm in Nigeria to acquire the Aerosonde UAV which hosts ISR capabilities.
Tantita is a company owned by a former militant leader, Mr Government Ekpemupolo, commonly known as Tompolo. Over the years, the federal government has collaborated with the former militant leader for the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure and securing permanent peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta Region.
Oil and gas remains Nigeria’s economic mainstay, contributing nearly 90 per cent of forex earnings and 70 per cent of national revenue. However, constant oil theft over the years has made it impossible for the country to hit its peak production of 2.5 million barrels recorded in 2005, although improvement has occurred in recent years, there have been more hands-on approach.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has dismissed allegations of N128 billion in misappropriated public funds linked to his ministry and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), insisting the irregularities occurred before his administration.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr Bolaji Tunji, the minister, who is rumoured to be gunning for the Oyo State Governor position, clarified that he assumed office in August 2023, while the audit report under scrutiny pertains to the 2022 financial year.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a statement issued on Sunday tasked President Bola Tinubu to investigate allegations that more than N128 billion could not be accounted for by the ministry and NBET Plc.
The group urged Mr Tinubu to give directive to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to look into the allegations of the missing N128 billion.
It declared that anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, especially if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing or diverted public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.
In his response, the Minister said he has no objection to calls for investigation, but noted that it was important to clearly state that he was appointed in August 2023, whereas the audit report in question relates to the 2022 financial year.
“The issues raised in the referenced audit report pertain entirely to a period before the minister’s tenure. The call for investigation, therefore, has no bearing on the operations or financial activities of the ministry under the current administration.
“The Office of the Minister reaffirms its commitment to transparency and accountability and will co-operate fully with any legitimate process aimed at addressing legacy issues in the power sector, while remaining focused on its mandate of delivering stable and reliable electricity to all Nigerians,” the statement declared.
The statement also highlighted Mr Adelabu’s reputation for transparency and due process, noting that he is “widely regarded for his strict adherence to due process, probity, transparency, and accountability, as demonstrated in his previous roles in both the public and private sectors, and remains resolute in safeguarding this reputation.”
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