By Aduragbemi Omiyale

President Bola Tinubu has assured that his government would uphold the tenets of democracy, including the rule of law, the separation of powers and the rights of all citizens.

He gave this assurance on Thursday when he received a delegation of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State at the State House in Abuja.

He used the occasion to also reaffirm his commitment to building a stable, peaceful, and prosperous nation, assuring that the well-being of Nigerians remains his top priority, stating that the political and economic structures that have long undermined the citizens’ prosperity are being steadily replaced through the realignment of the economy to enable full participation.

“We cannot submit to disobedience of a lawful order of the court; we must embrace the judiciary, whether it favours us or not. We submit to this principle of democracy, separation of powers, and understanding of the dynamics of it, and the nationhood that Nigeria is, that we must build one country. That’s what Renewed Hope is all about. You must give them that hope.

“There’s no other path for us to attain national greatness other than to build one common vision for the progress and prosperity of our people. That is what we must do,’’ Mr Tinubu stated.

The President charged the group to continue sensitising and mobilising citizens, especially at the grassroots, on the government’s efforts to improve their livelihoods through economic reforms.

“You represent the conscience of a nation that wants to break the shackles of poverty and hopelessness,” he disclosed at the event, which also had in attendance Vice President Kashim Shettima and the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.

Mr Tinubu reiterated that his government is guided by a clear vision to foster inclusive growth, create opportunities for youth, and ensure that every Nigerian—regardless of background or region—has a stake in the country’s future.

He encouraged citizens not to be discouraged by the misinformation championed by the opposition elements in the country, saying the great accomplishments witnessed in modern times were achieved through visionary leadership, assuring that Nigeria is in safe hands.

To the opposition, he said: “They want to scare me off? It’s a lie. I’ve been through this path before. And if I have to come back over and over and over again, I’ll do the same thing.

“There is no better place than your own country. And no one can build it except you. We saw great things, skyscrapers. We wonder how the plane takes off and flies us from one destination to another. There was no magic of yesterday. It is the thinker of tomorrow and the future that can elevate life, that can reform us all.

“And being the transformative leaders that you are, you are in good company. Don’t be afraid. I’ve listened to you.  I didn’t have to look back on the economy because the truth is, I took over from myself. The late Buhari was me. He was my partner.

“And if I took over from him. Is that not from me? So, if something is wrong, fine. Live with it, correct it, move on. The life voyage is not going to be easy. I can only stand before you and say you will not regret it. That is why we ask you to renew their hope.

“If they don’t want to see the hope and the roads and bridges, and the children we raise, the economy we are growing, we shall lend them Jigi-Bola, eyeglasses. One thing that you need from me is a promise that I won’t run away from the affair. With you, the deal is done.”

Turning to the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, President Tinubu promised to be their greatest champion, noting that, “We act as one family. You represent a conscience, a nation that wants to break the shackles of poverty, ignorance, and hopelessness. You are in a good company. That’s all I can say. And all I can promise is I won’t give up.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigerians continue to seek alternative power sources, primarily solar, causing the consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to fall by 16.9 per cent in March 2026.

Prices of the petroleum products have been up since last month as a result of the US-Israel attack on Iran and its blowback.

According to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), daily petrol consumption dropped from 56.9 million litres in February to 47.3 million litres in March, marking one of the steepest month-on-month declines in recent times.

This fall is significant not just for its size, but for what it signals in a country where petrol has long remained the dominant fuel for transport and off-grid electricity generation, which has been epileptic.

The drop of over 9 million litres per day suggests that households, transport operators and small businesses had to adjust their consumption patterns in response to sustained fuel price pressure, which rose to as high as N2,000 in some parts of the country, following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, total PMS supply rose marginally from 39.5 million litres per day in February to 40.1 million litres in March, representing a 1.5 per cent increase. This contrast between rising supply and falling demand points to a market that is not constrained by availability but increasingly shaped by affordability and substitution effects.

Prices of petrol in Nigeria typically rise due to global market conditions since the government removed fuel subsidy, which led to changes in the cost of buying the fuel weekly.

Also, Dangote Refinery, which handles a chunk of Nigeria’s domestic supply, relies on international markets to get crude feedstock due to shortages from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. This comes into play when pricing for the local market.

Also, the March figures could suggest rising renewable energy adoption as residential estates, businesses and commercial buildings are gradually expanding, driven largely by the need to escape rising diesel and petrol costs.

However, adoption is slow because of how expensive a solar power setup is, with the cost running into millions of Naira.

Energy experts told Business Post that, beyond cost, there are several factors, such as holding false beliefs as well as a lack of energy management.

Mr Danieel Anomfueme, a Port Harcourt-based solar expert, told this newspaper, “While going solar is a much better alternative to fuel-based generation (napkin maths puts it at ~3 years fuel cost ), most can’t make the move because they lack the upfront money. While there are solar financing companies, the credit cost and options don’t make it attractive.”

“We are wasteful energy-wise because we grew up with it being heavily subsidised electricity, and we don’t bother to know about energy conservation or efficiency of appliances. This is why someone will be spending 400k+ monthly on band A, but expect their “#6m setup” to power all those appliances 24/7 daily,” he added.

For the expert, interested Nigerians can design a solar setup, have an overview of it and get to build it up little by little as the money comes.

“They don’t have to deploy everything at once.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

The management of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has announced a sweeping crackdown on individuals who assault its staff members, warning that offenders would face prosecution and possible public exposure as incidents of violence against its workforce continue to rise.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the company expressed concern over what it described as a “disturbing surge” in attacks on its field workers and third-party partners.

It explained that the affected workers were primarily involved in meter installation, revenue collection, and maintenance of electricity infrastructure.

According to the company, the growing trend of harassment, physical assault, and even unlawful detention of its staff poses a significant threat not only to employee safety but also to the stability of electricity service delivery across its coverage areas.

According to the Discos’ Deputy Managing Director, Mr Abubakar Mohammed, the company will no longer tolerate any form of aggression against its workers.

“Let this serve as a clear warning to anyone who engages in the assault of our staff. Kaduna Electric will pursue every case to its logical conclusion,” he said.

“We will work closely with security agencies to ensure offenders are brought to justice and face the full weight of the law,” Mr Mohammed added.

He further revealed that the company plans to publicly disclose the identities of those found responsible for such attacks.

According to him, names, photographs, and other details of offenders will be published across the company’s official platforms as well as in national and local media.

“This measure is intended to ensure accountability and serve as a strong deterrent. Anyone who chooses to attack our personnel should be prepared not only to face prosecution but also public exposure,” he added.

Kaduna Electric stated that assaults on utility workers carry serious legal and financial consequences.

It also said that offenders risked criminal charges that might result in fines or imprisonment, in addition to civil liabilities such as compensation for medical treatment, psychological trauma, and lost work hours.

While condemning the attacks, the company urged customers to adopt peaceful and lawful means of resolving disputes, advising customers to channel complaints through its customer service units or relevant regulatory bodies.

The management reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its workforce and partners, stressing that a safe working environment is essential for delivering reliable and efficient electricity services.

Disagreements between electricity providers and consumers are often linked to billing disputes, metering issues, and service delivery concerns. This has worsened with recent challenges to the power supply across the country.

However, Kaduna Electric says it remains open to resolving such issues through dialogue, but insists that violence against its staff will no longer be tolerated.