Author: Adekunle

The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, MON, on Tuesday, called on ECOWAS countries to put up a united front to tackle threats facing the region. Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at a gala night, in Abuja held in honour of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) of ECOWAS Member States event, the Minister of State for Defence emphasized that the prevailing and emerging security threats faced by the region necessitate a comprehensive and coordinated regional response. The Honourable Minister highlighted the multidimensional threats confronting the region, including terrorism, violent…

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic and political reforms, stating that while they may be tough, they are essential for the country’s long-term stability. Speaking at Chatham House in London on last week, on 4th March, Ambassador Tuggar underscored the necessity of these reforms, describing them as a fundamental shift from policies that had long been unsustainable. “President Tinubu is the first career politician Nigeria has had as leader in a long time,” Ambassador Tuggar noted. “In a country where politicians typically get a bad rap, I find myself sometimes having…

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference, at its first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja at the weekend, gave an alarming prognosis of the state of the economy and the polity that sounded more like snippets from an outdated book. In his opening address, CBCN President Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru listed youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud as some of the ills plaguing the country. He demanded quick action from leaders nationwide to stop the country from drifting. President Bola Tinubu deeply appreciates the constant interventions of the Catholic Bishops in matters of governance in our country. The…

In a concerted effort to rejuvenate Nigeria’s economic landscape, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has embarked on a series of strategic engagements with global financial powerhouses. These initiatives aim to attract substantial investments to address the nation’s multifaceted challenges and unlock its vast economic potential. Nigeria faces a complex array of challenges. The healthcare sector struggles with inadequate infrastructure and manpower, the energy landscape is faces inefficiencies, and agricultural productivity remains suboptimal. However, beneath these challenges lies immense potential. With a rapidly growing population exceeding 200 million, vast gas reserves, and an indomitable…

1. Nigeria’s Dilemma Between Balancing Climate Realities and Dealing with Energy Security: Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar used the platform to highlight the urgent and complex interplay between climate change, resource conflicts, and energy security, emphasizing their real-world consequences for Nigeria and beyond, here is what he said: “As the debate swings back, forth and now – at least in some quarters – back again on climate change, we understand only too well the contradictions and the challenges. In Nigeria we sometimes have droughts and flooding, in different parts of the country, at the same time. We don’t need…

Two friends are at loggerheads. In fact, I am wrong. One friend is at loggerheads with the other. They are, in fact, no longer friends, as one of them has resoundingly declared. In his interview with Arise TV, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, immediate past Governor of Kaduna State and former Minister of the FCT—whom I must credit for shaping Abuja into what it is today—accused his erstwhile friend of orchestrating his failed ministerial nomination and current persecution by the Kaduna State government. That was Mallam El-Rufai’s first media appearance since leaving office, and it was compelling given the controversies…

The Chatham House, officially known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is one of the world’s most prestigious think tank, founded in 1920, and based in London. It is renowned for its independent research and analysis on international affairs and serves as a platform for policymakers and foreign diplomats to host high-level debates and discussions under the “Chatham House Rule,” which ensures anonymity and encourages candid, open dialogue on pressing global issues like geopolitics, economics, and security. His Excellency, Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, was the Chatham House’s most recent guest where he…

Mojisola Meranda has resigned as the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency I, announced her resignation at the plenary after which lawmakers immediately re-elected her as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. She said she had to make the selfless sacrifice to preserve the institution. Details Later…

Security Series: Part 2 In the United Kingdom, one man whose name rings a bell when we talk of security, intelligence and coordination is Sir David Omand. He was the first UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator after the 9/11 attacks, overseeing counterterrorism efforts and intelligence coordination. Before that, he was the Director of GCHQ (the UK’s signals intelligence agency) from 1996 to 1997. As the UK’s first Security and Intelligence Coordinator (effectively a National Security Adviser) from 2002 to 2005, Sir David Omand played a pivotal role in reshaping Britain’s national security architecture, particularly in response to the…

The recent incident involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Thursday, February 19, 2025, has sparked necessary discourse on the sanctity of Nigeria’s legislative processes. While some have framed the altercation as a “democratic struggle,” closer scrutiny reveals a troubling departure from protocol—one that risks undermining the Senate’s institutional integrity in pursuit of social media validation. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public challenge to the Senate President over seating arrangements escalated into a confrontational spectacle, disrupting proceedings and disregarding established norms. Her refusal to comply with directives, coupled with inflammatory remarks such as, “I am not…