President Bola Tinubu has assured citizens that his administration is committed to delivering lasting progress across all regions and defeating terrorism and other security threats across the country.

The President gave the assurance on Wednesday while hosting leaders of the Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa State at the State House, Abuja.

The Nigerian leader assured the delegation that his administration remains resolute in confronting terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity threatening parts of the country.

He said security forces are making steady progress despite the challenges.

“No matter how long, success is being achieved. We are prosecuting them, arresting them and neutralising some of them, and we will continue to do that. Men and women of the armed forces are fighting very hard to bring peace and stability to the country, and I can guarantee you we will win over terrorism,” President Tinubu said.

Niger-Delta Region Development

While acknowledging the historical marginalisation of the oil-producing area, the President stressed that dwelling on past grievances would do little to alter its future prospects.

President Tinubu called for a re-shifted focus of the Niger-Delta region to collaboration, determination and measurable progress, urging the leaders of the Niger Delta region to look beyond years of neglect and work constructively with his administration to fast-track development in the region.

“We cannot excuse the neglect of the past, but living in the past will do us no good, except wr take it and run with it now, carefully,” Tinubu said.

He assured the delegation that his administration would work closely with Niger Delta indigenes serving in government, particularly the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, to deepen development efforts in the region.

Referring to the Niger Delta as “the goose that lays the golden egg,” the President admitted that past administrations had not sufficiently addressed the region’s challenges, but noted that a window of opportunity now exists to redress the shortcomings.

President Tinubu lauded Dr Ogbuku as “a transformative, committed and highly focused” public servant whose passion for national service has helped refocus attention on the development needs of the Niger Delta.

“Your son, Dr Ogbuku, the MD of the NDDC, is a transformative, committed, highly focused MD. His commitment to duty and love for the nation are noticed by all, including myself,” Tinubu said.

He assured the delegation that infrastructure projects across the region, including roads, street lighting and other community-level interventions, would be sustained.

“You mentioned the street lights, the roads, the infrastructure development. We will continue with that, and we won’t let you down,” he said, commending the people of the Niger Delta for their contributions to Nigeria’s development in both human and material resources, as well as their commitment to peace.

The President explained that his administration was already witnessing tangible impacts of ongoing Niger Delta programmes, particularly in expanding economic activities through solar lighting and other initiatives that have extended business hours and improved livelihoods in previously underserved communities.

“When we watch Niger Delta programmes, I see market women and traders enjoying solar light at night in places where before, communities went to sleep by 6:30 or 7pm. That has changed,” he said, stating that such interventions align with his broader goal of ensuring that ordinary Nigerians feel the benefits of economic recovery.

National Economy

Further speaking on the National Economy, the Nigerian Leader noted that the national economy, which, according to the President, was in a dire state when his administration took office, has now “turned the corner for good,” he emphasised that the priority is to translate macro-economic improvements into real gains for people at the grassroots.

Responding to specific requests from the Ogbia leaders, the President assured them that issues such as erosion control, bridge construction and other infrastructure critical to economic growth would be addressed.

He also pledged support for educational and historical initiatives, including plans to immortalise Oloibiri as the site of Nigeria’s first oil discovery through the establishment of a dedicated institute.

“We will look into the erosion and tame it. On the bridge, that is infrastructure that promotes economy and progress. We’ll see to that and other areas of collaboration,” he said.

The Nigerian leader said he would continue to work closely with Dr Ogbuku and relevant legislators to advance the region’s development agenda.

Tinubu also paid tribute to former President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as “a good leader and a good son of Nigeria,” and pledged to continue honouring his commitment to democratic values, justice and fairness.

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the concerns raised by the Ogbia leaders and expressed confidence that sustained cooperation would help unlock the Niger Delta’s full potential and strengthen national stability.

PIAK

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has clarified that his recent executive proclamation on security protocols in the state is not a declaration of a state of emergency but a set of measures aimed at strengthening security and cracking down on criminals.

The clarification was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah, who explained that the proclamation was a lawful constitutional step designed to enhance security coordination and protect lives and property in the state.

Governor Ododo said the action falls within his powers as the Chief Security Officer of the state under Section 14 subsection 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

He explained that the proclamation seeks to improve collaboration among security agencies without suspending constitutional rights or declaring a state of emergency.

According to the Governor, the measures include verification of security operatives, mandatory identification checks and the prosecution of individuals found aiding or abetting criminal elements such as bandits and terrorists.

He said the initiative was also intended to curb the activities of fake security personnel and strengthen the overall security architecture of Kogi State.

The Governor warned that individuals or organisations supporting criminal activities would be treated as enemies of the state and prosecuted in line with applicable laws.

He stated that properties used in the commission of such crimes would be forfeited to the Kogi State Government.

The measures, he said, are backed by relevant constitutional provisions as well as the Kogi State Anti-Kidnapping, Robbery and Terrorism Law of 2016, which empowers the state to seize assets used in the perpetration of violent crimes.

Governor Ododo expressed appreciation to security agencies for their efforts and reassured residents of his administration’s commitment to peace and security.

Recall that the Governor, on Tuesday rolled out the security protocols following the recovery of a large cache of weapons by security agencies acting on intelligence.

PIAK

The Nigerian Air Force has donated cash assistance and relief materials to victims of the 2024 accidental airstrike in Sokoto State, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the incident on affected communities.

The airstrike occurred on December 25, 2024, during a coordinated joint operation by Operation FANSAN YAMMA targeting Lakurawa terrorist hideouts in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities of Silame Local Government Area, where about 13 persons were mistakenly killed and eight others injured.

Presenting the donation, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Chief of Civil Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, handed over the support to Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State and the Chairman of Silame Local Government Area, Alhaji Muhammad Gittarana.

Air Marshal Aneke described the incident as unfortunate and sympathised with the victims’ families and the state government, noting that NAF teams had earlier visited the state for engagement and fact-finding following the incident.

He said the Nigerian Air Force had taken full responsibility for compensating damaged livestock and farmlands, as well as providing other forms of support to mitigate the suffering caused by the unforeseen incident.

“The incident was not intentional. It was a mistake that happened during an operation targeting criminal elements in the area,” he said.

The Air Force chief reaffirmed NAF’s commitment to sustaining operations against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, while urging communities to support military activities to ensure hitch-free operations.

He added that all NAF operations were guided by strict rules of engagement and civilian harm mitigation standards to prevent harm to non-combatants.

Air Marshal Aneke prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and commended Governor Aliyu for facilitating engagement between NAF and the affected families.

Continued Collaboration

He assured the people of continued collaboration with the state government to sustain peace and security in the region.

In his remark, Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the Sokoto State Government had earlier supported the victims with N20 million, medical care and logistics immediately after the incident.

He announced an additional donation of N35 million to the injured victims and families of the deceased, commending the Nigerian Air Force for its concern in alleviating the effects of the incident on citizens.

The Governor described the NAF gesture as a demonstration of empathy and responsibility, noting that the airstrike, though regrettable, occurred in the course of efforts to curb criminal activities in the area.

Governor Aliyu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities for sustainable peace and security in the state.

The event also featured special prayers offered by Islamic scholars for the repose of the victims’ souls, as well as for national peace, security, progress and stability.

PIAK

Nigeria has received additional World Bank financing for the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project, following a satisfactory rating by the Bank after a recent assessment.

The approval followed an Implementation Support Mission conducted by the World Bank to review progress under the original financing and agree on next steps under the Additional Financing arrangement for the project.

The project is backed by the Nigerian Government and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

According to a statement by the NUC, SPESSE was established to address critical manpower shortages and the absence of structured academic pathways in procurement, environmental safeguards and social standards across the public and private sectors.

The World Bank mission, led by Task Team Leader, Ishtiak Siddique alongside the National Project Coordinator, Dr Joshua Atah, assessed project activities and performance between January 1 and June 30, 2025.

In its Aide-Mémoire, the mission reported that SPESSE had recorded “significant progress” since the last review, with all four Project Development Objective indicators fully achieved and the overall Project Implementation Progress rated satisfactory.

Independent verification confirmed that 12 of the 18 Performance-Based Conditions have been met or exceeded, while five additional conditions are scheduled for completion by June 30, 2026, in line with the project’s closing timeline.

During the mission, the World Bank team engaged with key stakeholders, including the SPESSE National Facilitation Implementation Unit at the NUC, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The team also reviewed activities at the six SPESSE Centres of Excellence hosted by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; University of Benin; and the University of Lagos.

Reports from Centres

Reports from the centres showed progress in meeting project targets, securing international accreditations, implementing disbursement-linked indicators and running student exchange programmes, while tracer studies highlighted the project’s impact since inception.

The project has also launched professional certification examinations in procurement, environmental safeguards and social safeguards, conducted online between April and June 2025, producing 3,429 successful candidates across the three areas.

In addition, more than 85,000 participants have benefited from SPESSE training programmes delivered through the six Centres of Excellence across Tracks A to E.

The Director of the International Economic Relations Department at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Stanley Nyeso George, described the overall satisfactory rating as uncommon among donor-funded programmes and commended the NUC, project leadership and Centre teams for their performance.

Based on the assessment, the World Bank approved Additional Financing to extend the project’s duration until June 2026, citing improved outcomes and alignment with development objectives.

The renewed funding is expected to support further procurement reforms, expansion of online training platforms and strengthened institutional capacity across the sector.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Public Procurement has initiated steps to make SPESSE courses mandatory for the professional certification of procurement officers.

Director-General of the Bureau, Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this during a high-level review meeting with the World Bank at the 2025 SPESSE Implementation Support Mission in Abuja, noting that the proposal has received preliminary approval from the Head of Service and will be reflected in a revised circular governing the procurement cadre.

He reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to implementing all project objectives, including the transition to e-procurement, as the World Bank and Nigerian authorities pledged continued support for the project.

PIAK