As President Bola Tinubu marks his second year in office—having assumed power in 2023—his anniversary speech paints a picture of progress and optimism. However, a critical examination of his administration’s policies and their impact on Nigerians reveals a stark contrast between his words and the daily realities of 2025.

Economic Woes

The President’s address highlighted accomplishments such as a narrowed fiscal deficit, increased revenue generation, and an improved tax-to-GDP ratio. Yet these gains have failed to translate into better living standards for ordinary Nigerians.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), inflation stood at 28.5% in January 2025, with food inflation climbing to 32.1%. This has severely eroded purchasing power, making it difficult for many Nigerians to afford basic necessities.

The Naira has also depreciated significantly—by over 60% against the US dollar since early 2023. As of February 2025, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) pegged the official exchange rate at ₦800 to the dollar, while parallel market rates were notably higher. This gap has made access to foreign exchange difficult for businesses, leading to shortages of imported machinery and exacerbating inflationary pressures.

Poverty and Insecurity

Despite the President’s claims of progress, poverty and insecurity remain widespread. The World Bank projects that 42% of Nigerians—over 92 million people—will live in poverty in 2025. This grim reality starkly contrasts with the administration’s narrative of economic progress.

Security has also deteriorated. Banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism continue to plague large parts of the country. According to the Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria ranked 12th out of 163 countries in 2024 in terms of terrorist impact. Kidnappings have surged, leaving many citizens in constant fear.

When the Tinubu administration assumed office on May 29, 2023, it pledged to tackle insecurity swiftly. However, by September 2024, a report by Beacon Consulting documented a disturbing rise in violence: 13,346 people killed and 9,207 abducted.

Despite allocating a staggering ₦6.11 trillion in the 2025 budget to address insecurity, results have been minimal. The situation has worsened, especially in Plateau and Benue states, which remain among the hardest hit. Armed groups operate with impunity, and the military—once a symbol of national strength—now struggles to contain the crisis. Alarming reports suggest sabotage from within, with allegations of insurgents acquiring weapons from military sources.

At this point, for the government to give itself high marks is not only insensitive—it’s dangerous. Many citizens have abandoned their farms, forests lie deserted, and daily survival is uncertain. A government that cannot be honest with itself has already failed its first test—and cannot hope to find meaningful solutions.

Disconnection from Reality

The President’s speech reflects a troubling disconnect from the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians. The narrative of progress and achievement does not align with the widespread struggle for food, healthcare, and education. The government’s repeated self-appraisal—claiming success while ignoring widespread hardship—underscores this disconnect.

Meanwhile, actions by the administration seem more focused on consolidating power than serving the people. The coercion of political figures and the destabilization of opposition parties undermine democratic institutions and erode public trust.

Insincere Promises

While the President promises a brighter future, the evidence on the ground suggests otherwise. Policy choices so far have deepened poverty, and survival has become a daily challenge for many Nigerians. A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report shows a decline in Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI), a key measure of national well-being.

How can a family of five survive when a bag of rice costs ₦65,000, while their combined income is meager? The President’s talk of growth sounds hollow to the millions who can’t afford three meals a day and must trek long distances to work.

The NBS reports Nigeria’s unemployment rate at 35% in Q4 2024, leaving many without access to decent work or a pathway out of poverty.

A Call to Action

Now is the time for bold, concrete actions—not just lofty promises. The President’s speech should serve not only as a reflection but as a call to tangible reform.

To address the economic crisis, the government must prioritize policies that encourage economic diversification, foster a business-friendly environment, and invest in human capital. This includes promoting agriculture to boost food security, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through access to finance and training, and reforming regulatory frameworks to attract investment.

To tackle insecurity, the government should focus on strengthening security institutions through better training, equipment, and morale, while improving intelligence capabilities. Root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and social inequality must also be addressed.

Conclusion

President Tinubu’s second-year speech may have sounded hopeful—but Nigerians are living a different story. The gap between policy rhetoric and reality is wide and painful. Nigerians are enduring hardship, economic distress, and growing insecurity. It is time for leadership to rise to the moment—not with words, but with action. Anything less is a betrayal of the trust Nigerians placed in this government.

** Dayo DaSilva, a media professional and newspaper publisher, wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

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We have taken note of recent public statements made by Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), who was removed from office. In her comments, she accused BUA Group and our Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, of breaching a concession agreement and distorting facts. These claims were made in response to our Chairman’s interview and article, “Two Years of President Tinubu: A Business Perspective” (watch at https://bit.ly/pbatbua), which celebrated Nigeria’s reform trajectory and referenced prior instances of arbitrary disruptions to business operations, without naming anyone – a situation that has now been curtailed by President Tinubu’s no-nonsense approach to bringing sanity and stability to the business environment in Nigeria.

Ordinarily, we would not engage, but the distortions in her response necessitate this factual clarification, especially as they relate to her actions during her tenure as MD of the NPA.

THE CONTRACT AND WHAT SHE OMITTED

BUA entered into a valid long lease agreement in 2006 with the NPA to rehabilitate and operate Terminal B at Rivers Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Long before Ms. Usman’s appointment, BUA had begun formal engagement with the NPA to address outstanding remedial works and infrastructural deficiencies. These discussions were near conclusion when she assumed office.

Rather than build on that process, Ms. Usman ignored BUA’s requests and obligations under the agreement. In 2016, BUA wrote to the NPA under Article 8.4 of the lease, mandating concessionaires to report environmental and safety concerns and to seek approval for remedial works. Rather than act constructively, Ms. Usman used that letter as a pretext to issue a termination notice and summarily shut down the terminal, without providing any prior warning, consultation, or invoking the dispute resolution clause.

She forgot or failed to disclose in her response that the NPA, under her leadership, was itself in material breach of core obligations including failing to hand over critical portions of the port, leaving derelict iron ore on the berths, failing to dredge or repair quay walls, and neglecting to provide mandatory security. These lapses were significant impediments to BUA’s operations and, as a result, led to disputes between the parties.

ILLEGALITY, CONTEMPT, AND DISREGARD FOR CONTRACTUAL MECHANISMS

After the unlawful termination, BUA approached the Federal High Court, which promptly granted an injunction restraining the NPA from proceeding with termination. The NPA itself then referred the dispute to arbitration, as stipulated in Section 17.3 of the agreement, which clearly states:

“Any dispute, controversy or claim… shall be exclusively and finally settled pursuant to the dispute resolution process prescribed in this Article.”

Despite this, Ms. Usman, against the advice of her agency, unilaterally decommissioned the berths, thereby violating both the agreement and a court injunction. To be clear, the concession agreement granted her no such power to decommission. If she believes otherwise, we invite her to publicly cite the specific clause that authorizes this action.

To further compound the illegality, BUA—after providing the guarantees and indemnities requested by the NPA—was permitted to resume operations briefly. Merely three weeks later, the terminal was again shut down, this time by Ms. Usman’s instruction. This left no doubt that her actions were motivated not by due process, but by personal animosity and abuse of office.

BUA subsequently filed contempt proceedings and was looking at estimated losses in excess of $10 million. These proceedings were only withdrawn out of respect for national interest and following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians within and outside the government.

PRESIDENT BUHARI WAS NOT MISINFORMED—HE ACTED ON FACTS AND LAW

Ms. Usman’s claim that former President Muhammadu Buhari was “misinformed” when he reversed her actions is false, disrespectful, and disingenuous.

Following a meeting that our Chairman had the privilege of holding with Buhari in 2018, he presented the matter to the President, who then directed the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to conduct a thorough legal review and investigate the situation. The AGF invited all parties, including Ms. Usman, to several meetings. We never saw her at any of them. Nevertheless, the AGF proceeded to undertake a comprehensive review of the contract, the litigation, the arbitration clause, and all correspondence and actions by BUA and NPA. The legal advice (attached herewith) found that the termination was unlawful, the decommissioning was without any legal basis, and that BUA’s rights should be reinstated. It was on this basis that Buhari ordered the reversal of her unlawful actions. His intervention preserved the sanctity of the contract, saved over 4,000 jobs, and BUA’s $500 million integrated investment cluster involving flour, pasta, and sugar processing facilities which were all dependent on terminal access. For this, we remain deeply grateful to former President Buhari.

As our Chairman said in his interview, imagine if he wasn’t privileged to have access. Nonetheless, this culture of impunity has been significantly curtailed under President Tinubu’s leadership, as many are aware they could be dismissed or imprisoned if they abuse their positions.

POST-HADIZA: DUE PROCESS RESTORED, INVESTMENT RESUMED

Following Ms. Usman’s removal from office, the NPA, under new leadership, implemented the AGF’s position. In 2022, BUA was granted formal approval to resume reconstruction works. The contract was awarded to TREVI, and BUA has since invested over $65 million—entirely self-funded and with no recourse to public funds or subsidies. Work is ongoing and completion is expected in the first quarter of 2026.

THE REAL DANGER: INVESTOR CONFIDENCE AND RULE OF LAW

We must state clearly that this matter goes beyond BUA. Had Ms. Usman’s actions been allowed to stand, it would have sent a disastrous signal that contracts in Nigeria are worthless, court orders are optional, and public institutions or individuals can act unilaterally without consequence. We must never return to that era. Nigeria’s reform success today is rooted in respecting contracts, due process, and investor confidence—principles being restored under President Tinubu’s administration, under which BUA has committed over $1 billion in new investments across energy, food processing, manufacturing, infrastructure and social interventions.

We wish to emphasise that Ms. Usman is entitled to her opinions, irrespective of how distorted they may be. However, she is not entitled to distort the facts or rewrite history. We do not seek a public spat and would like her to concentrate on fulfilling her duties in her new role under the strong leadership of President Tinubu. We therefore simply restate the facts that Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman had no authority to decommission Terminal B unilaterally. She also acted in defiance of a court injunction and contractual procedure and her actions caused significant economic loss of over USD10 million, reputational risk to BUA, and investor concern for Nigeria.

Our core message remains the same: public office should be viewed as a position of trust rather than a platform for personal biases. Those granted public power need to resist the temptation to let prejudice, ego, and vendetta influence their actions.

If Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman believes she acted lawfully, we challenge her to cite the specific clause or clauses that guided her unlawful actions. If not, let the facts remain where they belong — in the public record.

In its latest statement, entitled: “Flouting Contractual Obligations, Defying Court Orders and Disregarding Arbitration: The Facts Behind Hadiza Bala Usman’s Abuse of Office as NPA MD,” the BUA Group accused the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of disobeying court orders and violating the terms of the agreement with the company. Again, this statement peddles half-truths and outright falsehoods.

The first point to note is that contrary to the company Chairman’s claim in his article that “One day, we woke up to a letter stating that the concession had been revoked…there was no warning, no issue, no conflict,” Ms Bala Usman has provided evidence that the BUA received a series of default notices and warnings before the notice of termination was served on the company. This clearly shows that the Chairman lied when he said, “…There is no issue, no warning and no conflict.”

Instead of apologising to the public and to Ms Usman for the false statement he made, his organisation brought forth another statement brandishing a new set of lies and misleading information regarding their breach of contractual obligation to the NPA.

BUA’s latest statement claimed that the NPA failed in its obligation but the Authority was not required to rebuild the berths. On the contrary, this was part of the concessionaires’ obligations.

It is also curious that the company’s claim to lack security did not prevent it and all other concessionaires from making full commercial use of the facility at any time.

The claim that the Authority disobeyed the order of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which granted an injunction to BUA, is also untrue!

The NPA obeyed the court order and allowed BUA access and continued use of the facility from January 2018, when BUA secured the injunction, until June 2019, when it was decommissioned due to safety concerns raised by the company itself.

In the 18 months between January 2018, when the company secured the court injunction and June 2019, BUA berthed 117 vessels comprising liquid and dry bulk cargos. This data refutes the claim that the NPA flouted court orders.

The total number of vessels BUA berthed also indicates that it made full commercial use of the terminal despite the poor quay walls and low draft.

However, on 16 May 2019, BUA Ports and Terminals Limited wrote to the NPA informing it that the “jetty is in a state of total dilapidation and urgent need of repair or reconstruction…. The company further stated in the letter that “our engineers have advised us that the jetty is liable to collapse at any moment…”

Upon receiving this letter, the former Managing Director sought the advice of the Engineering Department of the NPA.

The Department advised her office that the situation described in BUA’s letter raised serious safety concerns. It went further to recommend that the Authority should decommission the jetty pending the submission and approval of the reconstruction details. We took this action to prevent accidents, especially since any incident would affect the adjoining quays and facilities of other concessionaires.

The NPA has a duty to ensure the safety of lives and properties on its facilities, and this was what it did with the decommissioning of the jetty based on the professional advice of the Engineering Department.

Contrary to BUA’s claim that the former MD, “against the advice of her agency, unilaterally decommissioned the berths…,” at no point did the management take any decision without the advice of the relevant department. For the records, even the termination notice issued to the company emanated from recommendations of the Legal Department of the NPA.

Ms Bala Usman also reiterates that BUA’s access to former President Muhammadu Buhari and his subsequent intervention was based on the manipulation of facts and misinformation. How do you factually justify the continued refusal to comply with a contractual obligation which was due to commence in 90 days for 10 years?

It is also false that the NPA did not attend the mediation meetings called by the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Staffers of the Legal Department of the Authority represented the Authority at the meeting.

It is interesting to note that BUA states with pride that it commenced a contractual obligation it was required to fulfil in 2006, in 2022, which is 16 years after the obligation was due!

For the records, the NPA diligently pursued the arbitration process (which it initiated despite the delay by BUA) with BUA at every material time. It is, therefore, unfortunate that the company would accuse this same management of disregarding the process.

The foregoing facts impugn BUA’s serial attempts to mislead the public and present itself as a victim in the media, while in reality, it operates with the air of a conglomerate that considers itself above the laws of the land.

Ms Hadiza Bala Usman’s tenure as managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was driven solely by a commitment to Nigeria’s best interests. Guided by this principle, she insisted on the strict enforcement of all contractual agreements — standards to which she and her management team held the NPA itself accountable.

The actions of an organisation that blatantly refused to honour its obligations while exploiting access to higher authorities reflect the impunity with which many Big Companies operate in Nigeria. Such conduct not only undermines the rule of law but also reeks of vindictiveness — an attempt to smear the reputation of individuals who serve the nation with integrity and diligence.

** Niran Adedokun is the media and communications adviser to Ms Hadiza Bala Usman.

Growing up, kids always called me “scary.” Not because I was intimidating, but because I was too anxious to do a lot of things they did, especially hard things. I admit, it’s a big reason why I still don’t know how to swim at the age of 25.
I still feel terrible about dropping my hobby of playing the viola because learning sheet music was difficult. Especially because embracing challenges in life can make you successful and may be what ultimately fulfills you most, according to Lisa Su, CEO of $190 billion chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices.
The best piece of career advice she ever received was to “run towards the hardest problems,” Su, 55, said during a commencement speech at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on May 10. “That’s where you find the biggest opportunities, where you learn the most, where you set yourself apart, and most importantly, where you grow.”
The advice, which came from IBM executive John Kelly, is what drew her to AMD, Su said. “When I joined, it was clear the company had a mixed track record. But I saw the potential, the people, the vision and the opportunity to help lead a company that mattered. ... It was actually my dream job.”
“Hard problems stretch you. They demand focus, creativity and determination. ... They give you confidence, they give you growth and they give you impact,” she added. “When you choose the hardest challenges, you choose the fastest path to growth and the greatest chance to make a difference.”
Su doesn’t advocate pursuing something solely because it’s hard. Instead, look for opportunities to learn new skills that interest you and allow you to “make an impact,” she said.
I had a mentor give me similar advice in college and in my early career. It’s why I changed my major at the end of my junior year, even though graduating on time while taking all my necessary course work would be difficult. (I did it, though!) 
It’s why I moved across the country by myself to chase my journalism dreams — and why I raised my hand to host a TV show last year though I had no hosting experience. (I did that too! Stream CNBC’s “Millennial Money” on Peacock!)
Some of the most rewarding accomplishments in my life have come from embracing challenges and doing the hard things. I don’t think I’d be nearly as successful had I not pushed past my risk-averse nature.

Your turn: What hard problem will you take on?

CNBC

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has issued a scathing midterm assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that his government has "woefully failed Nigerians," turning the promised "Renewed Hope" into a "nightmare of regressing hopelessness and despair."

In a strongly worded press release signed by its leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, Afenifere accused the Tinubu administration of "economic deforms," reckless policies, and a lack of empathy for ordinary citizens suffering under worsening living conditions.

Key Condemnations in Afenifere’s Report

1. Economic Collapse – The report highlights a drastic decline in Nigeria’s GDP, which the IMF projects will crash to $188.27 billion in 2025, down from $363.8 billion under Buhari and $574 billion during Jonathan’s tenure. Over 7 million businesses have reportedly shut down since 2023.

2. Debt Explosion – Despite subsidy removal and naira devaluation, Nigeria’s public debt has surged by over N100 trillion in two years, from N87.91 trillion in 2023 to a projected N187.79 trillion in 2025. In dollar terms, debt rose from $108.23 billion to $142.47 billion.

3. Poverty Catastrophe – The World Bank estimates poverty has risen from 38.9% in 2023 to 54%, with 133 million Nigerians now living in poverty. GDP per capita has collapsed from $3,222 in 2014 to a mere $806 in 2025, with 33 million facing starvation.

4. Housing Crisis – About 30 million Nigerians are homeless, while 108 million live in substandard housing. The government’s plan to build 20,000 houses annually is deemed grossly inadequate for a population growing by 6 million per year.

5. Profligate Governance – Despite economic hardship, the government has refused to cut costs, instead increasing spending on luxuries like a new presidential jet, N160 million cars for each lawmaker, and unchecked constituency projects.

6. Insecurity Surge – Over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed under Tinubu’s watch, with two new terrorist groups emerging. Afenifere blames the refusal to allow state police for escalating violence.

7. Democratic Erosion – The administration is accused of centralizing power, weakening federalism, and suppressing dissent, with opposition figures defecting to the ruling party to avoid persecution.

"Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Have Become Economic Deforms"

Afenifere particularly criticized Tinubu’s "unforced errors,” including the hasty removal of fuel subsidies and floating the naira without cushioning effects, which they say have "inflicted unmitigated suffering" on Nigerians.

The group dismissed government claims of progress as "massive propaganda", accusing officials of shifting blame to global factors while ignoring policy failures.

Call for Reflection and Redemption

While Afenifere described Tinubu’s performance as an "academic failure deserving withdrawal," it urged the president to "reflect, love Nigeria, and change course" ahead of 2027.

"No amount of propaganda will erase hunger and poverty," the statement declared. "Only selfless leadership can save Nigeria, not prebendalist and hedonistic governance."

There are strong indications that the Federal Government's ambitious scheme to transition Nigeria's vehicle transportation industry from petrol to gas has collapsed into a nationwide crisis.

Industry stakeholders told Financial Vanguard that initial enthusiasm has been completely overtaken by frustration due to severe supply shortages and woefully inadequate infrastructure across the country.

They revealed that the scarcity of refill facilities and gas itself has become a nightmare for users and investors, forcing many to abandon the scheme entirely.

The product shortage comes ironically against the backdrop of adequate petrol supply nationwide, a situation that has started luring gas users back to re-converting their vehicles from gas to petrol.

In several states, the CNG scheme has virtually zero presence, while others with physical infrastructure—including conversion kits, in-built autogas vehicles, and refill stations—are experiencing either non-existent or skeletal levels of activity.

However, the Presidential CNG Initiative office and key stakeholders, while acknowledging these devastating challenges, insist the programme has not completely derailed, claiming efforts are underway to restore progress.

Government's Failed Incentives

The Federal Government had implemented several incentives to encourage private organizations to enter the CNG business, including removing Value Added Tax on CNG equipment, infrastructure, and Liquified Petroleum Gas conversion kits.

On May 13, 2024, President Bola Tinubu directed all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies to purchase CNG vehicles as part of widespread adoption efforts.

The government even promised free conversion kits for one million commercial vehicles nationwide, positioning that free conversion and low CNG prices would make public transportation cheaper for ordinary Nigerians.

But investigations reveal that the government's own reluctance to approve licenses for establishing CNG stations is contributing to scarcity at the few existing refill stations in Abuja and other locations.

Some users who spoke to Financial Vanguard alleged deliberate sabotage of the initiative.

A truck driver stated: "I believe there are people in the downstream segment and possibly regulatory agencies benefiting from petrol importation who know that if more people convert to CNG and can buy it easily, they will abandon petrol. If they abandon petrol, these people cannot make money anymore.

"President Tinubu told people to convert to CNG. So after we converted, why can't we buy it easily? If stations aren't enough, why do government officials refuse to allow more stations to be established?"

Another commercial taxi operator said: "Many commercial vehicles converted to CNG. Even private car owners converted, but now they're getting discouraged because of the endless queues at gas stations.

"Because of these long queues, many cannot spend four, five or six hours buying CNG. They don't have such time. So they're reverting to petrol. That's not the way to go."

A truck driver from one of the country's largest cement companies told Financial Vanguard in Abuja that he and colleagues spend an average of six days queuing to refill their CNG-powered trucks.

"Every time you pass this road, you'll see our trucks in the queue. It's not just heavy-duty trucks. Even car owners and taxi operators suffer with us. You can see the situation yourself—look at these endless queues," he said, pointing at both trucks and cars in separate queues.

"I'm not happy at all. When we're deployed, our company gives us N20,000 each. Imagine receiving N20,000 and spending six days in queue just to buy gas. That money isn't enough at all. We're suffering."

Abuja/Nasarawa Crisis

The busy Abuja-Keffi Road, spanning approximately 38 kilometers, has over 49 petrol stations on both sides. Shockingly, the same road has only one CNG station.

The sole CNG refill station, located at Ado, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, is currently non-functional. It was launched just eight months ago with promises of substantial savings for drivers and commuters, since CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol.

Frustrated motorists said they would have converted their vehicles to CNG but are discouraged by the lack of conversion centers and non-functional refill stations.

The only operational CNG station in Nasarawa State is Greenville's LNG/CNG station in Lafia, the state capital.

Commercial driver Adamu Suleiman expressed frustration: "I contemplated converting my vehicle last year when President Bola Tinubu launched this initiative, but friends advised me to wait. Looking back today, I thank them for that wise advice because where would I have been getting CNG?"

John Ebiam, another commercial driver on the Makurdi-Abuja route, said not converting was one of his best decisions: "Where are the CNG refill stations? I would have been crying like some of my friends are doing now."

The frustration of spending long hours at CNG stations forced Mr. Longe Lege, an Abuja public servant, to revert to petrol due to his busy schedule.

"It's affordable and saves costs compared to petrol. I used to spend N50,000-N60,000 weekly on petrol for work, but with CNG, it was about N15,000. But the major challenge is gas availability.

"The 10 CNG stations servicing Abuja are grossly inadequate for the huge demand. Some CNG users doing Bolt or Uber services even sleep at gas stations just to buy gas. Due to the stress, I haven't been buying gas for a while because I honestly don't have patience to spend 4 hours every two days buying gas."

Ahmed Kunle, an Abuja taxi operator, disclosed spending eight hours at a CNG station last week, with average queue time at the Mobil Station by Dunamis Dome being three to four hours.

Financial Vanguard findings revealed only 11 CNG filling stations in Abuja and 45 nationwide. Of Abuja's 11 stations, only three are reliable, leaving CNG vehicle owners frustrated and regretful, with some abandoning CNG entirely for petrol and diesel.

Lagos Situation

When Vanguard visited Lagos stations in Ikeja, Mushin and Apapa, CNG wasn't being dispensed as attendants said they were out of stock, advising visits to other stations or returning days later.

Sources close to NIPCO refill stations argued that efforts were being made to mitigate the crisis: "Yes, I can confirm challenges in product availability, which sometimes happens with every product supply. There are many reasons—delays at ports for clearing or product shipment."

Vanguard also learned that conversion kits at various Lagos locations are experiencing scarcity. A source at a government-approved outlet confirmed lack of equipment for CNG vehicle installation and conversion.

"For a while now, we don't have kits from the government source. However, we have some from our own stock, which isn't like the subsidized government equipment. I don't know why it's not coming in currently, but that's the reality across our outlets."

South East Struggles

In the South East, the situation appears even more surprising—nearly two years after the initiative launched, they're just starting to get on board.

In Enugu State, the government just procured 50 CNG buses, expecting another 50 soon. The first 50 are currently parked at Michael Okpara Square.

State Transportation Commissioner Obi Ozor said the buses would be inaugurated and deployed soon, with plans to bring electric and CNG automotive manufacturing to Enugu.

In Ebonyi State, the government has just awakened to embrace the CNG initiative but hasn't begun actual services. The SSG Prof. Grace Umezuruike said the government purchased CNG luxury buses for free civil servant and student transport.

Abia State shows even less interest, with Transportation Commissioner Chimezie Ukaegbu stating: "We're not buying CNG buses now but will roll out electric vehicles by end of July for Urban Mass Transit."

In Anambra State, private sector leadership through Nnewi-based Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing has fully embraced the initiative, but surprisingly, state citizens and government appear uninterested.

South South Abandonment

In the South South—ironically the nation's gas hub—the CNG Initiative appears completely foreign. There are no CNG buses in Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross-Rivers, according to drivers, residents, and labor leaders.

John Angese, NLC Bayelsa Secretary, said: "The policy isn't running as expected. While stakeholders applauded the initiative, we thought it would trickle down to states, but since launch, it ended where it was launched. Many states, including Bayelsa, haven't received CNG buses from the federal government."

The pattern repeats across the region, with officials and residents expressing disappointment at the complete absence of the promised transformation.

Despite various MOUs and announcements, concrete delivery of CNG services remains elusive, leaving Nigerians questioning another failed government promise.

Vanguard

A highly contagious new COVID-19 strain, NB.1.8.1, which has triggered a surge in hospitalizations in China and is rapidly spreading across multiple continents, has been detected in the United States, exposing Nigeria's dangerous lack of preparedness as federal health authorities remain conspicuously silent on protective measures.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant was first detected in America between late March and early April 2025 through airport surveillance testing among international travelers arriving in major cities including New York and Washington.

"CDC is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China and is in regular contact with international partners," a CDC spokesperson stated, highlighting the coordinated international response that Nigeria appears to be missing.

While the CDC acknowledges limited reported cases prevent full national estimates, experts have warned that NB.1.8.1 spreads significantly faster than other recent virus strains, raising urgent questions about Nigeria's readiness to detect and contain potential outbreaks.

Alarming Global Spread

NB.1.8.1 is a subvariant of Omicron JN.1 and is considered highly infectious. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated it a "variant under monitoring" due to its increasing global prevalence and potential to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations.

Recent WHO data reveals the variant accounted for 10.7 percent of sequenced COVID-19 cases globally between April 21-27, a dramatic increase from just 2.5 percent the previous month—a surge that should alarm any responsible health system.

While early findings suggest the variant doesn't cause more severe illness than others, health authorities worldwide are intensifying monitoring efforts. Reported symptoms include sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and gastrointestinal issues in some cases.

Amy Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Case Western Reserve University, told CBS News there is laboratory evidence that this variant binds more tightly to human cells, making transmission easier.

Edwards noted that although the variant doesn't appear more dangerous regarding severity, "what they're seeing in China, Hong Kong and some other areas where this variant has surged is an increase in hospitalizations"—a warning that should prompt immediate Nigerian action.

International Detection and Response

Beyond China and the US, NB.1.8.1 has been detected in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, demonstrating the variant's rapid global spread.

In Australia, genomic sequencing showed the variant now accounts for over 40 percent of COVID-19 cases in Victoria and has become the dominant strain in wastewater samples in Perth.

These developments have prompted renewed surveillance efforts across multiple countries. South Korean officials announced Friday that their government is closely monitoring COVID-19 cases in China and Hong Kong, showcasing the proactive approach Nigeria lacks.

Despite the surge, WHO stated that NB.1.8.1 is not currently considered a greater public health risk than previously circulating variants. However, its rapid transmission ability remains a significant concern that demands immediate attention.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in late 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has continued evolving, producing multiple variants including the original strain, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, each with different severity levels, transmissibility, and vaccine resistance.

NB.1.8.1 represents the latest evolution from the Omicron lineage, which first appeared in late 2021 and became globally dominant due to its rapid spread capability.

Nigeria's Dangerous Silence

Most alarmingly, Nigerian health authorities have issued no formal guidelines or updates concerning NB.1.8.1 as of this report.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has not publicly acknowledged the variant's existence or provided guidance on travel protocols, testing procedures, or potential local surveillance measures—a shocking abdication of responsibility.

The NCDC's silence becomes even more concerning given that the agency has been providing fewer COVID-19 updates since global cases and deaths declined, suggesting a dangerous complacency that could leave millions of Nigerians vulnerable.

This lack of preparation and communication represents a critical failure in protecting Nigerian citizens against a variant already spreading rapidly across multiple continents and triggering increased hospitalizations wherever it appears.

With international travelers constantly arriving in Nigeria's major cities, the absence of enhanced surveillance, testing protocols, or public health advisories leaves the country dangerously exposed to another potential COVID-19 surge.

Nigeria witnessed two separate but deadly attacks over the weekend, underscoring the persistent insecurity plaguing the nation’s roads and rural communities.

In Borno State, at least nine passengers were killed on Saturday by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area. The explosives detonated at a local bus stop, injuring several others who were waiting to board commercial vehicles. The injured victims were rushed to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri for treatment.

Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, confirmed the incident and condemned the attack as “inhumane.” He appealed to the Nigerian military to intensify operations and reclaim Guzamala LGA, which remains largely under Boko Haram control. Lawan lamented the repeated displacement of residents from communities like Gudumbali and Mairari, which have faced continued insurgent violence despite previous resettlement efforts.

“Unfortunately, some terrorists who have been monitoring the movement of displaced farmers planted IEDs at the local bus stop. This tragedy has left families devastated,” he said, urging the newly deployed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, to prioritize reclaiming Guzamala.

Meanwhile, in Benue State, nine people, including the driver of a state-owned transport bus, were abducted Saturday evening by armed men along the Owukpa–Orokam road in Ogbadibo LGA. The bus was returning from Orba market in Enugu State when it was ambushed around 7 p.m. Gunmen opened fire, injuring the driver and a passenger, and caused the vehicle to veer off the road. The attackers then kidnapped the remaining passengers.

Grace Ogwuche, a resident who witnessed the incident, said one of the wounded passengers was abandoned at the scene due to heavy bleeding and is now receiving intensive care at St. Mary’s Hospital in Okpoga, Okpokwu LGA.

Local vigilante leader Amos Agada confirmed the abduction and noted that no contact had yet been made by the kidnappers. He said efforts were underway to locate and rescue the victims.

These incidents highlight the ongoing threats posed by both insurgency in the North-East and armed criminal gangs in the North-Central, raising fresh concerns over the safety of public transportation and rural communities in Nigeria.

Gaza ministry says Israel kills more than 30 aid seekers, Israel denies

More than 30 Palestinians were killed and nearly 170 injured on Sunday in south Gaza near a food distribution site, the health ministry said, as witnesses reported Israeli soldiers fired on people trying to collect aid and Israel denied it.

The U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said food was handed out without incident on Sunday at the distribution point in Rafah and there were no deaths or injuries.

GHF released undated video to support its statement that showed dozens of people gathering around piles of boxes. Reuters could not independently verify the video or what took place.

Witnesses said the Israeli military opened fire as thousands of Palestinians gathered to receive food aid. Israel's military said that an initial inquiry found soldiers had not fired on civilians while they were near or within the distribution site.

The Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry said 31 people were killed with a single gunshot wound to the head or chest from Israeli fire as they were gathered in the Al-Alam district aid distribution area in Rafah. It said 169 were injured.

In addition to Israeli gunshots, residents and medics said an Israeli tank had opened fire at thousands of people en route to the Rafah site.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Rafah received 179 casualties, most with gunshot or shrapnel wounds.

"All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site. This is the highest number of weapon-wounded in a single incident since the establishment of the field hospital over a year ago," ICRC said.

The United Nations has said most of Gaza's 2 million population is at risk of famine after an 11-week Israeli blockade on aid entering the strip.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week and said it would launch more. The Israeli military has said GHF had established four sites so far.

The organization's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and humanitarian organizations which say GHF does not follow humanitarian principles.

There were chaotic scenes as hungry Gazans rushed its sites last last week. Hamas reported deaths and injuries in the tumult, and Israel said its troops fired warning shots.

Because the GHF distribution points are few and all in south Gaza, U.N. officials have said its plans force Palestinians, especially in the north, to relocate and face unsafe conditions.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN's Palestinian relief agency, condemned Sunday's deaths and said in a statement on X that "aid distribution has become a death trap".

The Hamas-run Gaza government media office accused Israel of using aid as a weapon, "employed to exploit starving civilians and forcibly gather them at exposed killing zones, which are managed and monitored by the Israeli military".

At Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis city where some casualties were brought, Gaza paramedic Abu Tareq said there was "a tragic situation in this place. I advise them that nobody goes to aid delivery points."

Israel denies that people in Gaza are starving because of its actions, saying it is facilitating aid deliveries and pointing to its endorsement of the new GHF distribution centres and its consent for other aid trucks to enter Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump said last month that a lot of people in Gaza were "starving".

Israel accuses Hamas of stealing supplies intended for civilians and using them to entrench its hold on Gaza. Hamas denies looting supplies and has executed a number of suspected looters.

Reda Abu Jazar said her brother was killed as he waited to collect food near the Rafah aid distribution centre. "Let them stop these massacres, stop this genocide. They are killing us," she said, as Palestinian men gathered for funeral prayers.

The Red Crescent reported that 14 Palestinians were injured on Sunday near a separate GHF aid site in central Gaza.

CEASEFIRE TALKS FALTER

Israel and Hamas meanwhile traded blame for the faltering of a new Arab and U.S. mediation bid to secure a temporary ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas, in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli jails.

Hamas said on Saturday it was seeking amendments to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, but Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff rejected the group's response as "totally unacceptable".

Egypt and Qatar said in a joint statement that they are continuing efforts to overcome disagreements and reach a ceasefire.

Hamas on Sunday welcomed those efforts and expressed its readiness to start a round of indirect negotiations immediately to reach an agreement, the group said on Sunday in a statement.

Israel began its offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken as hostages into Gaza.

Israel's campaign has devastated much of Gaza, killing more than 54,000 Palestinians and destroying most buildings. Much of the population now lives in shelters in makeshift camps.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russia and Ukraine step up the war on eve of peace talks

On the eve of peace talks, Ukraine and Russia sharply ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict, a Russian highway bridge blown up over a passenger train and an ambitious attack on nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia.

After days of uncertainty over whether Ukraine would even attend, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would meet Russian officials at the second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday.

The first round of the talks more than a week ago yielded the biggest prisoner exchange of the war - but no sense of any consensus on how to halt the fighting.

Amid talk of peace, though, there was much war.

At least seven people were killed and 69 injured when a highway bridge in Russia's Bryansk region, neighbouring Ukraine, was blown up over a passenger train heading to Moscow with 388 people on board. No one has claimed responsibility.

Ukraine attacked Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at a military base deep in Siberia on Sunday, a Ukrainian intelligence official said, the first such attack so far from the front lines more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) away.

Ukraine's domestic intelligence service, the SBU, acknowledged it carried out the attack, codenamed "Operation Spider's Web," planned for more than a year and a half.

The intelligence official said the operation involved hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds and loading them onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases.

A total of 41 Russian warplanes were hit, the official said. The SBU estimated the damage at $7 billion and said Russia had lost 34% of its strategic cruise missile carriers at its main airfields.

Zelenskiy expressed delight at the "absolutely brilliant outcome," and noted 117 drones had been used in the attack.

"And an outcome produced by Ukraine independently," he wrote. "This is our longest-range operation."

RUSSIA SAYS AIRCRAFT FIRES PUT OUT

A Ukrainian government official told Reuters that Ukraine did not notify the United States of the attack in advance.

Russia's Defence Ministry acknowledged on the Telegram messaging app that Ukraine had launched drone strikes against Russian military airfields across five regions on Sunday.

Air attacks were repelled in all but two regions — Murmansk in the far north and Irkutsk in Siberia - where "the launch of FPV drones from an area in close proximity to airfields resulted in several aircraft catching fire."

The fires were extinguished without casualties. Some individuals involved in the attacks had been detained, the ministry said.

Russia launched 472 drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine's air force said, the highest nightly total of the war. Russia had also launched seven missiles, the air force said.

Russia's military reported new drone attacks into Sunday evening, listing 53 attacks intercepted in a period of less than two hours, including 34 over the border Kursk region. Debris from destroyed drones triggered residential fires.

Russia said it had advanced deeper into the Sumy region of Ukraine, and open source pro-Ukrainian maps showed Russia took 450 square km of Ukrainian land in May, its fastest monthly advance in at least six months.

U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Russia and Ukraine make peace and he has threatened to walk away if they do not - potentially pushing responsibility for supporting Ukraine onto the shoulders of European powers - which have far less cash and much smaller stocks of weapons than the United States.

According to Trump envoy Keith Kellogg, the two sides will in Turkey present their respective documents outlining their ideas for peace terms, though it is clear that after three years of intense war, Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart.

Russia's lead negotiator, presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying the Russian side had received a memorandum from Ukraine on a settlement.

Zelenskiy has complained for days that Russia had failed to provide a memorandum with its proposals.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on prospects for a settlement and the forthcoming talks in Turkey, Lavrov's ministry said.

Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. The United States says over 1.2 million people have been killed and injured in the war since 2022.

In June last year, Putin set out opening terms for an immediate end to the war: Ukraine must drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia.

According to a copy of the Ukrainian document seen by Reuters with a proposed roadmap for a lasting peace, there will be no restrictions on Ukraine's military strength after a deal is struck. Nor will there be international recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscow's forces, and reparations for Ukraine.

The document also stated that the current front line will be the starting point for negotiations about territory.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine plugs its Western-made weapons into ‘NATO Wi-Fi’

Kiev has been allowed to join a NATO-standard coordination network which connects together Western-made military hardware, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Katerina Chernohorenko has announced. The system, in particular, is compatible with F-16s and Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

On Saturday, Chernohorenko revealed that Ukraine had signed a license agreement to begin using the Command and Control Center System Interface (CSI), a non-commercial digital platform employed by most NATO member states for air and missile coordination and improved interoperability.

The official pointed out that the system operates through NATO’s Link-16 data protocol – which she referred to as “military Wi-Fi.” She added that the protocol facilitates coordination between fighter jets such as US-made F-16s and French-made Mirage 2000s, as well as air defense systems like the Patriot, all of which have been supplied to Ukraine as military aid.

Ukraine received its first F-16s from its European backers last summer, although the process had been slower than expected due to logistics and pilot training issues. While some officials in Kiev initially hoped it would become a “game changer” on the battlefield, the military later acknowledged it could not rival the most advanced Russian jets.

In total, Kiev was promised more than 80 F-16s, many of which are expected to arrive in the years to come. Since the start of deliveries, at least three Ukrainian-operated F-16s have been confirmed destroyed.

As for the French-made Mirage 2000s, which are capable of carrying long-range Scalp/Storm Shadow missiles, Ukraine only received the first batch this winter, with the number of planes to be delivered estimated at six. Kiev has confirmed their deployment in combat, but reported no losses.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukrainian-operated F-16s will “burn” just like other Western-supplied equipment. Moscow has also consistently denounced Western military aid to Kiev, arguing it will only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome.

Reuters/RT