By David Torough, Abuja

The Turan Development Association (TUDA) has called for the immediate and indefinite suspension of all mining activities across Turan land in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, citing insecurity, environmental degradation, and alleged exploitation of host communities by mining companies.

In a press statement by the Acting President General of TUDA, Ahar Bichi, and the Assistant General Secretary, Asongo Ukusu, dated May 3, 2026, the association described Turan as the largest and most populous clan in Kwande LGA, comprising six districts and five council wards.

TUDA said the area is richly endowed with mineral resources valued at billions of naira but has suffered years of violent attacks from bandits, armed herders, and terrorists.

According to the group, more than 2,000 people have been killed while over 200,000 residents have been displaced, with more than 90 per cent of Turan land allegedly occupied by armed groups.

TUDA questioned why more than five mining companies operating in the area have remained untouched despite the persistent insecurity affecting local communities.

“While our people are being killed and driven from their homes, mining companies continue to operate freely and undisturbed in the same volatile environment,” the statement said, adding that the “selective security raises serious questions.”

The association accused the companies of commencing operations without entering into Community Development Agreements (CDAs) with TUDA, which it said is the legally recognised body empowered under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, to represent the interests of the host communities.

It also alleged that the companies had instead paid levies to “unauthorised local and state agencies” in violation of existing mining laws and constitutional provisions.

TUDA further alleged that mining activities had resulted in environmental pollution, destruction of farmlands, and the replacement of indigenous workers with foreign labour.

The association also referenced the arrest of a security guard attached to Longriver Mining Nigeria Limited over the alleged kidnapping of a pupil from Love of Christ Nursery and Primary School in Jato-Aka on April 28, 2026.

Declaring that “enough is enough,” TUDA said the suspension of mining activities would remain in force until mining companies comply with several conditions, including entering into transparent CDAs with the association, fulfilling legal obligations to affected communities, and committing to responsible operations that guarantee the security and development of the people.

The group warned companies against conducting business with unauthorised individuals or agencies without TUDA’s involvement and the supervision of the Federal Mines Officer in Makurdi, insisting that such agreements would be considered illegal and void.

TUDA appealed to the Federal Government, the Benue State Government, security agencies, and other stakeholders to intervene and restore peace and justice in the area.

By Prince Abiodun Oye-Adeniran

One of the biggest campaign promises of this administration was the removal of fuel subsidies, with assurances that the savings would translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

However, nearly three years later, Nigerians have yet to feel any meaningful impact.

Meanwhile, the government continues to accumulate substantial debt, raising concerns that these obligations may burden not only the present generation but also the next two.

The removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria was presented as a bold and necessary reform, one that would free up public funds, reduce distortions in the economy, and redirect resources toward critical sectors like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social welfare.

Citizens were told that while the short-term pain might be significant, the long-term gains would be worth it. Months on, however, many Nigerians are still asking a simple and reasonable question: where are the dividends? A very legitimate question indeed.For the ordinary man, the immediate impact of subsidy removal has been unmistakable.

Transport fares have surged, food prices have climbed, and the general cost of living has risen sharply.

Small businesses are struggling with higher operating costs, and households are being forced to make difficult choices just to get by. In this context, the promise of reinvestment is not an abstract policy point. It calls for concern.

It is something people need to see and feel in their daily lives. Yet for many, those benefits remain invisible.

The President must understand the perspective of ordinary citizens, who entrusted him with the mandate in good faith.

This gap between policy and lived experience is at the heart of growing public frustration. Nigerians were not unaware that subsidy removal would be painful. What they expected, however, was a clear, transparent, and timely demonstration of how the savings would be used to improve their conditions. Instead, communication from the government has often been somewhat convoluted or inconsistent.

Announcements are made, but follow-through is difficult to track. Projects are promised, but timelines and measurable outcomes are rarely clear.

A central issue is trust. Years of perceived mismanagement and corruption have made citizens understandably skeptical about how public funds are handled.

When a major reform like subsidy removal is implemented without visible, accountable results, it deepens that skepticism.

People begin to question whether the savings are truly being redirected as promised, or whether they are being absorbed into the same opaque systems that have failed to deliver in the past.

Transparency, therefore, is not optional, it is essential. There must be no bargain on this matter. Citizens deserve to know exactly how much has been saved from subsidy removal, where that money is being allocated, and what progress has been made on funded projects.

This information should not be buried in technical reports or occasional press briefings; it should be presented clearly, regularly, and in a way that ordinary Nigerians can understand and verify. Without this, the narrative of reform risks losing credibility.

While the administration appears to be solely concerned about re-election, it is important to note that this lack of transparency may have negatively influenced the way Nigerians assess the government.Equally important is the issue of timing.

Economic hardship is not something people can postpone. When fuel prices rise overnight, the effects ripple immediately through every sector. Relief measures, however, have often been slow to materialize or insufficient in scale.

Cash transfer programs, transport subsidies, and other support mechanisms need to be timely, transparent and effectively targeted. If they arrive late or fail to reach those most in need, they do little to ease the burden or restore confidence.

Currently, the average Nigerian spends between 60,000 and 100,000 naira on vehicle fuel, representing a significant increase from approximately 10,000 naira under the previous administration.

There is also a question of priorities. Citizens are more likely to accept short-term sacrifices if they can see clear investments in areas that directly affect their quality of life.

Improved public transportation, reliable electricity, better roads, accessible healthcare, and quality education are tangible outcomes that people can point to and say, “This is where the money is going.” When such improvements are not visible, it becomes harder to justify the hardship.

How long do citizens have to bite this hard bullet?None of this is to suggest that reform is unnecessary or that subsidy removal was inherently misguided.

Many economists have long argued that the subsidy system was inefficient, regressive, and unsustainable, an argument that predates the administration of General Obasanjo.

But a good policy is judged not only by its intentions, but also by its implementation and its impact on people’s lives.

A reform that is technically sound but poorly executed can still fail in the eyes of the public.

The Nigerian government now faces a critical challenge: to bridge the gap between promise and reality.

This requires more than statements of intent.

It demands concrete action, clear communication, and a genuine commitment to accountability.

It means setting measurable goals, publishing regular updates, and inviting independent scrutiny. It also means listening to citizens while acknowledging their concerns and adjusting policies where necessary.

Ultimately, the success of subsidy removal will not be measured in budgetary savings alone, but in whether those savings translate into real improvements for the people. Nigerians are not asking for miracles; they are asking for evidence that their sacrifices are leading somewhere meaningful and this is what the Tinubu administration should address.

Until that evidence becomes visible and undeniable, the question will persist and so will the frustration.

Prince Abiodun Oye-Adeniran is the MD, Rematch Limited,UK.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dan Nwanyanwu, on Thursday, called for the resignation and removal of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice of Nigeria is Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, over his call for deregistration of the party, for not winning any election.

Nwanyanwu along with of the party’s National Working Committe stated this, when he briefed journalists in the party Secretariat in Abuja.

The National Chairman said the AGF lied because the party won councillorship seats and local government positions.

He accused the AGF of misleading the court that because Zenith labour party didn’t win any election so they should be deregistered.

And he circulated this in the media thereby scaring prospective candidates from getting nomination forms from the party.

Nwuanyanwu insisted that the ZLP remains a legally recognised political party, insisting that it has fulfilled all constitutional requirements for continued registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He explained that the suit challenging the party’s status was instituted by what he described as “an association of former legislators,” who allegedly argued that the ZLP failed to secure electoral victories and should therefore be deregistered.

According to him, the party initially refrained from commenting publicly on the matter because the case is still pending before the court. However, he said the decision to address the media became necessary after the office of the Attorney General allegedly filed and circulated court processes claiming that the party did not win any election.
Nwuanyanwu described the allegation as “false and misleading,” arguing that it was capable of discouraging intending aspirants from joining the party ahead of future elections.

He stated that under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, a political party only needs to win at least one councillorship seat to retain its legal status as a registered political party.

“To say that Zenith Labour Party did not win any election is not true. We won councillorship seats and local government positions, and we have already tendered certificates of return before the court,” he said.

The ZLP chairman further claimed that INEC, in its response before the court, contradicted the allegations against the party by confirming that the party won elective positions in previous elections.

He accused the office of the Attorney General of failing to conduct proper due diligence before making submissions in court and warned against what he described as attempts to intimidate or weaken opposition political parties through legal processes.

Nwuanyanwu urged Nigerians interested in contesting future elections to freely join the ZLP and obtain nomination forms, insisting that the party remains stable, peaceful and fully recognised under the law.

Speaking further on the broader political climate, the elder statesman dismissed claims questioning the status and eligibility of political parties ahead of forthcoming elections, insisting that the electoral process remains inconclusive until the substitution window closes and final ballot arrangements are confirmed.

“It is premature for anyone to make categorical claims about which parties will eventually appear on the ballot because the process is still ongoing,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as efforts by certain public officials to undermine opposition parties through legal and political manoeuvres, insisting that allegations suggesting that opposition parties failed to meet constitutional thresholds were unfounded.

Nwuanyanwu stressed that public institutions must operate strictly on the basis of facts, evidence and the rule of law rather than political considerations.

He further alleged that there were deliberate attempts to weaken alternative political platforms, including parties associated with opposition coalitions, warning that such actions could threaten democratic principles and political pluralism in the country.

The ZLP chairman concluded by expressing concern over what he termed misinformation and politically motivated narratives surrounding opposition parties and the ongoing electoral process.