General
Nigerian Government Lacks Self-Confidence—Prof Nwala
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
The Chairman of the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) Congress, a Nigerian-based Pan Igbo Socio-Cultural and Political Organization, Professor Timothy Uzodinma Nwala, has said African leaders have come to the awareness of the unique manifestations of the bleak past, but a lot still depends on the background and character of those in control of their national political affairs in the emerging multipolar world.
In this interview, he also stated that the Nigerian government lacks self-confidence and is bound to continue to rely on its masters to sustain its illegitimacy.
To begin with, how would you characterize the sentiments and attitudes of African leaders towards the contemporary geopolitical situation? How specifically different is the case in Nigeria?
The sentiments and attitudes of African leaders towards the contemporary geo-political situation in the world reflect diversities characteristic of a people who seem to have lived in different geopolitical spaces and historical eras. Commonalities depend on who has been colonized by whom and which region has experienced what character of colonial influences.
There may be differences depending on the background of the leaders themselves. There are however some major explosive new awarenesses about the past – about various forms and wreckages of colonialism as manifested in different regions of the world. It is not that mankind was unaware of the horrors of colonialism. Reflecting on these horrors of the past of mankind, what comes readily to mind is that the term ‘State of Nature’ of Charles Darwin reflects truly mankind’s past. Even today, civil governance and the global system have only moderated this bleak past of mankind’s history.
Those of mankind who happen, in some instances and circumstances, to truly manifest what is supposed to be the ideal state of affairs- these are the God-men, but they are certainly in the minority. African leaders who have come to the awareness of the unique manifestations of this bleak past in the image of colonialism do so depending on their history as well as the prevailing political and social dynamics of their countries and societies. A lot also depends on the background and character of those in control of their political affairs.
What are the dynamics, in the emerging multipolar order, for ensuring Africa’s unity set by the African Union? Is Africa disintegrating due to sharp existing political differences in the continent?
The dynamics in the prevailing multipolar state of affairs reflect the background of the leaders as well as how current regional and global struggles impinge on their various countries. The Southern African experience is not exactly the same as the West African experience. That past affects current sentiments and alliances. Thus, the experience of Southern Africa under apartheid critically affects the attitude of their patriotic leaders in the current global political dynamics.
There are bound to be hiccups in the dynamics of the contemporary African Union, but the obvious trend is that ultimately all African countries are bound to wake up to a common understanding of the true meaning of their colonial past for the present and future existence. The younger generation of African leaders is bound to return to the heydays of the pan-African dream of a united and free people playing their role as autonomous actors on the stage of world history instead of being pawns in global politics.
How would you suggest Africa positions itself within the context of these geopolitical complexities and contradictions? Should Africa also strengthen its agency and state institutions into more effective instruments for promoting sustainable development?
Pan-Africanism is bound to surge rather than wane under contemporary dynamics. Current realignments are geared towards freedom and equality and not towards exchanging one master for another. The songs of freedom are bound to echo and re-echo throughout the continent. The spirit of pan-Africanists of the Nkrumah, Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, Azikiwe and their generation is bound to be the guiding spirit of the new Africa knocking on the horizon. The emerging new wave of Pan-Africanism is bound to conjure a new dynamism for broader autonomy and freedom.
Nigeria and a few other African countries are feverishly looking for a voice on the international stage. Do you think the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) association’s membership for African countries could be the saviour and mechanism through which to raise the level of development?
Yes indeed. Nigeria’s current challenge is that it presently has a leadership which many Nigerians consider as imposed by the dictates and dynamism of imperialist manipulation. The regime lacks self-confidence and is bound to continue to rely on its masters to sustain its illegitimacy. Only who knows how far Nigerians will carry this present burden before they can free themselves. The only hope is the possibility of the raging songs of freedom now all over the various nationalities sustaining themselves and rejiggering themselves to overcome the current forces of illegitimacy and fraud. BRICS is bound to conjure a lot of influence in the face of this longing for freedom.
But BRICS will derive a position purpose if African leaders make it a duty to learn from the lessons of classical colonial and neo-colonial domination. However, I do hope that the impact of the wave of radical freedom and pan-Africanism now raging in contemporary Africa will grow into a dynamic wave of liberation and freedom in the new Africa.
But there are also some internal hindrances, for example, poor development policies, bureaucracy and non-transparency, and worse lack of good governance. What are your views here especially when tracking democracy and governance across Africa?
The immediate post-colonial era in several countries in Africa (especially in the late fifties and sixties of the last century) portrayed immense hope of a new era of ‘love and happiness’). The messianic posture of the leaders played into the hands of the imperialists who preferred puppets to be in charge rather than genuine patriotic leaders of the people.
Poor political stratagem made things worse as the patriotic leaders overestimated their political strength and grossly underestimated the power of the imperialists. This was the undoing of such patriotic leaders like Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Patrice Lumumba of the Congo and Col. Ghadaffi of Libya. The latter had the opportunity to engage in radical transformation before the imperialists struck.
There were however some leaders who engaged in personal aggrandizements and many cases engaged in dictatorial and ethnic policies and for whom the state was like the case of Louis IV, equated with their personalities -Letat est moi!” There is no doubt that was the case in Nigeria, the leadership was largely dictatorial and corrupt.
Are military coups the surest way to deal with the old governance system which is fraught with deep-seated corruption, as it appears, especially in West Africa? Is growing neo-colonialism the problem in these French-speaking countries?
Three forces were at play in provoking military coups in several post-colonial states in Africa, especially in the sixties and seventies. These included bad governance and arrogance of the new leaders, the thrust of neo-colonialism and the ambition of other citizens. Often the last two were in alliance – that is the neo-colonial forces went into alliance with high ambitions, especially those in the military to overthrow those in power. This picture could be seen in all post-European colonial states.
What would be the future relations of African states that opposed United States hegemony and Europe’s exploitative attitudes? Do you also think Russia compared to China presents an alternative for Africa’s development and attaining Africa’s economic sovereignty?
Ultimately, two factors explain the attraction of Russia and China to the new African leaders.
The first was the positive role of Russia in the struggle against Apartheid. Many have pointed out that President Vladimir Putin himself, the current leader of Russia was a young KGB officer who worked with the ANC and helped to train their anti-Apartheid forces.
And then, there is no doubt that Russia and China represent a more tolerable leadership than the Western and European countries. As to which of the two presents a more positive alternative, one can only say the future will tell!
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to explain how over N1.3 billion was allocated in the 2026 Appropriation Act to a presidential council that the Presidency has described as non-existent.
In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP demanded certified copies of all documents relating to the approval of the N1,302,978,784 allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to in the budget as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
The organisation also urged the leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) to immediately invoke its investigative powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to probe the circumstances surrounding the allocation and identify those responsible for any irregularities.
SERAP further requested records identifying the lawmakers and committees that considered and approved the allocation, as well as the public officials who appeared before the committees to defend the proposed funding.
It also asked the parliament to clarify whether the allocation formed part of the Executive’s original 2026 Appropriation Bill or was inserted during the legislative process. The group also sought to know whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status or operational mandate of the council before the budget was passed.
According to the group, the request became necessary following conflicting claims over the existence of the council, noting that while the 2026 Appropriation Act reportedly earmarked more than ₦1.3 billion for the PFIPC/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, the Presidency has since publicly stated that the body was never established by the Federal Government and is fictitious.
The rights organisation said the contradiction raises serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s budget process, legislative oversight, public financial management and accountability.
“Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law,” SERAP said, stressing that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty not only to approve budgets but also to thoroughly scrutinise Executive proposals before authorising public spending.
It argued that Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that was not lawfully established and, if so, how the allocation found its way into the national budget.
According to the organisation, making the requested documents public would enable citizens to determine whether the National Assembly fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities in scrutinising and approving the allocation.
SERAP warned that if the requested information is not provided within seven days of receipt or publication of the FoI request, it would initiate legal proceedings to compel the National Assembly to disclose the records.
It maintained that releasing the documents would strengthen public confidence in the credibility of the National Assembly, enhance transparency in the appropriations process and promote accountability in the management of public funds.
The group also cited the Freedom of Information Act, the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights instruments, arguing that public institutions are required to proactively disclose information of significant public interest, particularly where allegations of financial impropriety or misuse of public resources have arisen.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has said state governments are now receiving substantially higher allocations to drive development, while renewed investor confidence is attracting fresh investments into Nigeria.
Speaking at the maiden State House Media Dinner in Abuja on Thursday, the president described the development as evidence that his administration’s economic reforms are beginning to deliver positive results.
He defended the reforms introduced by his administration, acknowledging that they were difficult but necessary to reposition the economy for sustainable growth.
According to Mr Tinubu, stronger public revenues have enabled increased allocations to states, while improvements in the investment climate have boosted confidence among domestic and foreign investors.
“The difficult but necessary reforms undertaken by this administration are yielding results. Our economy is stabilising. Public revenues have strengthened significantly,” he said.
“State governments are receiving substantially higher allocations to support development. Investor confidence is returning.
“Our foreign reserves have improved considerably. The oil and gas sector is attracting renewed investment. The stock market has witnessed remarkable growth. Key economic indicators are moving in the right direction,” Mr Tinubu stated.
The president also said the administration was laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity through a combination of tax and fiscal reforms, infrastructure development and improvements to the business environment.
“Through tax reforms, fiscal reforms, infrastructure investments, and improvements in the business environment, we are laying the foundations for a more competitive, productive, and prosperous economy,” he said.
Although acknowledging that more work remains, Mr Tinubu maintained that the country was firmly on the path to sustainable economic growth.
“The journey is not yet complete, but the direction is clear, and the foundations for long-term growth are being firmly established,” he added.
On security, the president said his administration had sustained a multi-dimensional strategy that has produced measurable gains across different parts of the country.
He noted that intensified military operations, improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency coordination, and expanded regional and international cooperation had led to the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and criminal elements, the rescue of numerous hostages, and the recovery of communities previously under siege.
President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring peace and security across the country, saying every Nigerian should be able to live, work and prosper without fear.
The president also commended the media for its contribution to Nigeria’s democratic development while urging journalists to uphold professionalism by reporting accurately and responsibly.
“We are adversaries only in the democratic sense, as the media constantly distrust those in power. In nation-building, we are partners,” he said.
He described government and the media as institutions with complementary responsibilities, noting that while government serves through leadership and public policy, the media serves by holding those in power accountable on behalf of the people.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) has launched a $3 billion Contract Finance Facility in partnership with nine Nigerian banks to improve contractors’ access to funding and strengthen local participation in the oil and gas industry.
The facility is designed to provide credit support for local contractors executing projects for SNEPCo operations and will be available in both Naira and US Dollars.
The participating banks are First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa, Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chartered Bank, First City Monument Bank and Fidelity Bank.
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Lagos, the SNEPCo Managing Director, Mr Ronald Adams, said, “The initiative reflects the spirit of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, which is aimed at in-country value retention.”
“Our partner banks offer capital and discipline. SNEPCo brings contracts and domiciliation of payments that de-risk lending. On their part, the contractors provide performance. Each is accountable to others, and the mutual accountability gives the arrangement its strength,” he added.
Also speaking, the Vice President for Finance at Shell Nigeria, Mr C. J. Akwaeze, said the scheme reflects Shell’s commitment to the growth of oil and gas operations in Nigeria.
The chairman of the indigenous oil and gas contractor group, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr Wole Ogunsanya, represented by Mrs Joan Faluyi, lauded the scheme as a “gateway to unlocking contractor financing issues which will also drive efficiency in contract execution.”
Representatives of the banks commended SNEPCo for the opportunity to partner on an initiative aimed at empowering contractors and assured the company of their continued support and cooperation.
Nigerian companies have continued to play key roles in supporting SNEPCo’s operation and project execution. Earlier this year, 43 wholly Nigerian companies took part in the turnaround maintenance exercise at the Bonga Floating Production and Offloading (FPSO) vessel out of the total of 53 companies involved.
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