General
Group Describes Anti-Uduaghan Protests as ‘Political Gimmick’
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A group has picked holes in the protests against the former Governor of Delta State, Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan, saying it is the handiwork of political mischief makers.
The group, under the aegis of Action Youths for Good Governance (AYGG), said these protests were geared towards the 2019 general elections.
Mr Uduaghan has recently become a major target of his political enemies, who are scared of his popularity in the oil-rich state, especially with his giant strides as Governor of Delta State.
Earlier, the AYGG had alerted members of the public, especially residents of the state, of efforts being made by some politicians to attack the former Governor.
“We want to alert members of the public, most particularly Deltans at home and abroad of the planned attack on the immediate-past governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan by agents of darkness in the state.
“The attack will start in the form of mass protests in different parts of the state and outside,” spokesman of AYGG, Mr Felix Obuah had said.
According to Mr Obuah, “We know the people involved. They are powerful people in this state who feel threatened by the enormous influence Dr Uduaghan wields.
“We know they are after some politicians; those who sacrificed so much so that Delta would be an enviable state that it is today. They want them out of the scene. We know them.”
True to this, the plot is hatching in phases, and some individuals have begun mass protests in different parts of the state, all aimed at discrediting the person of the ex-governor and all he represents.
Last week, some individuals under the auspices of Delta Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum were seen protesting around the Government House in Asaba, bearing placards that seemed to disrepute the former Governor and his administration.
They were calling for his prosecution by the ICPC and EFCC without providing evidence of his maladministration.
Addressing newsmen in front of the Government House, leader of the group, Mr Fejiro Oliver, accused Mr Uduaghan of looting several billions of Naira from the state.
But AYGG said the former Governor was not the only politician being targeted in the recent onslaught, but the immediate-past Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, and other officials who served under the Mr Uduaghan-led administration.
“The enemies of the state are said to have doled out some amount of money in the region of N300 million to see their nefarious act to a conclusive end,” revealed Mr Obuah.
“We learned career protesters have been hired from within the country and beyond while protest materials were shipped in last week preparatory to the action which resumed this week. We also learned that over 3000 printed T-shirts were ordered and delivered successfully as well as a reasonable number of banners carrying messages.
“There are suggestions also that before the resumption of the sponsored protests, some individuals had approached the former Governor with intent to blackmail him and his refusal to yield to the bribe demand by them was what started the protests.”
Mr Uduaghan was the Governor of Delta State for eight years from May 29, 2007 and while in office, Business Post gathered that he impacted positively on the loves of Deltans through various developmental projects embarked upon by his administration.
Chief among these was the institution of a special project to finance medical assistance to residents of the state where over N1.4 billion was expended.
His administration also embarked on health programmes as the Free-under Five health programme where all the children within the age bracket of 0-5years were taken care of irrespective of the ailments.
The Mr Uduaghan administration also embarked on a Free Maternal Health programme which enabled government hospitals attend to pregnant and expectant mothers from conception to the period of delivery free of charge.
It was once reported that the antenatal care unit of each hospital was recording up to 200 to 400 attendants on daily basis. The hospitals were made to handle serious advocacy issues on care during pregnancy aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality.
On the Free Rural Health Scheme programme, the government of Delta State under Mr Uduaghan attended to the rural people in all parts of the state, treating various health needs of the people irrespective of the nature of the ailment free of charge.
The scheme cut across all ages and sexes as issues bordering on fibroid, hernia, partial blindness and other sundry health challenges were tackled by health care professionals.
He also ensured the fees of all students sitting for the secondary school final examinations were paid.
It was a policy he underpinned by the observation that some students even after going through the free school programme, were unable to pay the fees required before they could sit for the National Examination Council (NECO), and the West African Examinations Council (WASC) exams.
The former Governor also initiated a policy which ensured that missionary schools were returned to their original owners. As at the last count before he vacated office, 40 missionary schools were returned to their owners while the government built parallel schools.
Under Mr Uduaghan, over 700 primary and secondary schools were either reconstructed or rehabilitated just as the state fully implemented a compulsory and free basic education policy.
Mr Uduaghan’s administration achieved much in the area of infrastructure, housing scheme, roads construction, street lights and provision of modern transport facilities and hospitals, speak volume and are too numerous to mention.
The state government invested in the federal government’s independent power projects (IPP) started during the former President Olusegun Obasanjo era with a commitment of about N15.7 billion.
He also started a Delta State Independent Power Plant in Oghara and invested in transformers, distribution and transmission lines to upgrade power distribution in both urban and rural communities in the state.
In his determination to reposition Asaba as a befitting state capital and a hub of social, economic and political activities, an airport at a cost of N17 billion was built.
When the idea of Asaba International Airport came, those who did not understand his vision said it was not a priority venture at the time, but as they later found out, it was just one component of a larger dream, a revolution to make the state the economic hub in the West Africa sub-region.
Creating special economic zones and industrial clusters: (Koko/Ogidigben Free Trade Zone, Warri Industrial Business Park and Asaba Information Communication Technology, ICT Park; embarking on dualization of Warri-Ughelli-Asaba to attract Onitsha traders to import their goods through Warri port; and expanding the Osubi Airport were all part of the broader initiative to take the state to the next level.
Also following sustained drive in tourism and hospitality industry, a $240 million Delta Leisure Resorts, the biggest in West Africa was to be set up at Oleri, Udu Local Government Area in partnership with a private investor, Sarner PFM, while a Wildlife Park was planned for Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha Local Government Area.
Investigations reveal that though the anti-Uduaghan protests have recorded some hoodlums carrying placards, allegedly backed heavily by some powerful people in the state, have remained unpopular amongst the masses who seemed to be confused as to what would have warranted them.
Most of them spoken to in the state attested to the achievements of the former governor’s administration while in office.
By and large, the next election year is almost at hand and it remains to be seen how convinced people will be as regards the antics of the present-day politician.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has signed a joint venture with defence technology company, Terra Industries Limited, as part of efforts to boost the country’s defence industrial capacity and advance indigenous high-technology development.
The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Terra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of the Joint Venture Company (JVC), both parties announced on Monday.
The partnership provides a robust framework for the local production, assembly, research and development (R&D), and training in high-technology systems, including drones, cybersecurity solutions, robotics, and other ancillary software and hardware platforms.
The MoU, executed pursuant to the DICON Act 2023, underscores DICON’s statutory mandate to collaborate with indigenous and foreign defence-related industries through Public-Private Partnerships. Under the agreement, the Joint Venture Company will operate as a subsidiary of DICON, jointly promoted and owned by DICON and Terra Industries, and duly incorporated in Nigeria.
This marks the latest move by Terra, which recently became a $100 million company, following recent raises from investors including Flutterwave CEO, Mr Gbenga Agboola, American actor Jared Leto as well as 8VC founded by the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc., Mr Joe Lonsdale. Other investors included Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital GmbH, Silent Ventures LLC, Nova Global.
Terrahaptix, founded by Mr Nathan Nwachukwu and Mr Maxwell Maduka, are using the new funding to expand Terra’s manufacturing capacity as it expands into cross-border security and counter-terrorism.
The latest agreement with DICON is designed to establish advanced production and assembly lines for high-tech equipment within Nigeria, while promoting meaningful technology transfer, skills development, and specialised training for Nigerian personnel.
It also aims to strengthen local sourcing of raw materials, reduce dependence on imports, and enhance domestic industrial capacity and strategic autonomy. Additionally, the partnership will support the supply of security equipment to the wider Nigerian security agencies, other security agencies, positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global defence manufacturing sector.
Under the agreement, Terra Industries will provide technical expertise, professional services, and training, and will attract both local and foreign investment to strengthen the defence industrial ecosystem.
The company will also facilitate the procurement of production equipment, coordinate local and international training programmes, and provide access to manufacturing know-how, tooling, spare parts, and established defence sector supply chains.
Speaking on this, Mr Nathaniel Nwachukwu, CEO of Terra Industries, noted that the partnership “Demonstrates confidence in indigenous Nigerian engineering capability and creates a platform for sustainable defence technology development, innovation, and export competitiveness.”
On his part, Major General BI Alaya, the Director General of DICON, described the agreement as “A transformational step toward strengthening Nigeria’s defence manufacturing base, reducing import dependence, and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for advanced innovation.”
The need for security has risen in recent years, as groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda are gaining ground in Africa, converging along a swathe of territory that stretches from Mali to Nigeria.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Dayo Mobereola, is seeking enhanced cooperation between the agency and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with the aim of strengthening tactical air support within the Deep Blue project.
During a courtesy visit last week, Mr Mobereola told the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall S. K. Aneke at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja, that the Air Force was a strategic partner in enhancing maritime security in Nigeria and sustaining the momentum of the Deep Blue Project’s success.
According to the DG, “We are here to seek the Air Force’s support, given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the Deep Blue Project. Nigeria is the only African country with a record of zero piracy within the last 4 years. The Deep Blue Project platforms have been used to achieve zero piracy and sea robberies in the Gulf of Guinea, and we need your collaboration to sustain this momentum”.
He further emphasised that international trade depends on security, which is why vessels prefer to go to or transit through countries where they are secured. “With the traffic we have now, we need to show more security might through collaboration to strengthen our trade viability because of the risks attached to our route. We need these collaborations to sustain what we have achieved so far with the Deep Blue Project”.
The NIMASA DG expressed hope that the collaboration with the Nigeria Air Force will reduce response time.
On his part, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall S.K. Aneke, noted that the Air Force desires to be “a very supportive and collaborative partner with NIMASA and is ready to match the Agency step by step and side by side to achieve the desired results.”
He noted that “collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force under the Deep Blue Project can be strengthened through a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures, and a standing steering committee to ensure shared objectives and accountability.
“Establishing a joint maritime domain awareness fusion cell will enable real-time intelligence sharing, synchronised surveillance, and faster response to maritime threats and ensure sustained operational effectiveness across Nigeria’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone,” he said, according to a statement.
The Air Force Chief added that the Air Force can also support NIMASA outside the Deep Blue Project operations by providing its own ISR platforms, tactical air support, and rapid airborne deployment for interdictions and search and rescue missions.
While thanking the NIMASA DG for the basic trainings the Agency has provided the aircraft pilots under the Deep Blue Project, Air Marshall Aneke also highlighted areas of operational challenges needing NIMASA’s attention to include bridging the communication gap between NAF operators and NIMASA, higher level and in-depth maintenance trainings, readily available fueling of aircrafts to avoid delays on missions, and provision of flying kits among others.
He therefore pledged the Air Force’s collaboration and assured that the request by NIMASA has been noted and that things will begin to move at thrice its speed going forward.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Former Vice President, Mr Atiku Abubakar, has lambasted the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the turnout at the FCT Area Council elections held last Saturday.
In a statement signed by his Media Office, the Adamawa-born politician claimed that the health of Nigeria’s democracy under the current administration was under threat.
According to him, “When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die. What we are witnessing is not mere voter apathy. It is a direct consequence of an administration that governs with a chokehold on pluralism. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated slowly, steadily, and dangerously.”
He warned that the steady erosion of participatory governance, if left unchecked, could inflict irreversible damage on the democratic fabric painstakingly built over decades.
“A democracy without vibrant opposition, without free political competition, and without public confidence is democracy in name only. If this chokehold is not released, history will record this era as the period when our hard-won freedoms were traded for fear and conformity,” he stressed.
Mr Atiku said the turnout for the poll was below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recording 7.8 per cent.
He noted that such civic participation in the nation’s capital, the symbolic heartbeat of the federation, is not accidental, as it is the predictable outcome of a political environment poisoned by intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices.
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under Mr Tinubu has pursued a deliberate policy of shrinking democratic space, harassing dissenters, coercing defectors, and fostering a climate where alternative political viewpoints are treated as threats rather than contributions to national development.
He called on opposition parties and democratic forces across the country to urgently close ranks and forge a united front, declaring, “This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic. The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now.”
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