POLITICS
Consider Gradual Removal of Fuel Subsidy-LP Chieftain Advises FG
A Chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Chinedu Onyeizu, has advised the Federal Government to consider gradual removal of fuel subsidy rather than a one off or total removal.
Onyeizu gave the advice in an interview with the press Wednesday in Abuja.
He urged the government to first, work out actionable programmes that would enable it eliminate subsidy without the masses suffering from the decision.
“I am not of the view that subsidy should be removed entirely at once.
I am of the view that it should be gradually wound down.“My recommendation is that we have a plan first, as a country. We should have a plan to say in the next three years we will no longer be paying for subsidy and then we start working on the plan.
“If you immediately start implementing the plan the amount of money you pay for subsidy will start reducing.
“That is why I say wind subsidy payment and in another three years you should have completely eliminated subsidy.
“While you do that you are able to put in place programmes that will alleviate the suffering of the people, if subsidy is removed.’’
Onyeizu described subsidy payments as the most sustained “scam” any government could put on its people.
He said that with the quantity and quality of crude oil God blessed the country with, fuel importation or subsidy payment should not be an option to be discussing if the right things were done.
“My background is petroleum engineering; I worked in the oil industry for about 18 years and I understand that Nigeria has more than 38 billion barrels of crude oil in reserves or backyards.
“I also know that Nigeria’s crude oil is the best form of crude oil in the world which is the reason why it is called sweet crude.
“So, it does not make logical sense that with that volume of crude in our reserves and our backyards, we should continue to import fuel and pay subsidies for our people to access by-products of crude oil,’’ he said.
Onyeizu recalled that in 2017, he carried out a research on subsidy removal at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, where he looked at all the factors that contribute to subsidy payment or fuel scarcity in Nigeria.
He said that in the research report, he made actionable recommendations that government could consider for the purpose of eliminating subsidy payments in Nigeria.
He said it was however, unfortunate that the recommendations were not considered by those who were to look into it.
“I am happy to share the details with the government because the objective of the study was to reposition Nigeria to become a global hub for petroleum related businesses in the world, and not just Africa.
“Because lot of people make fortune out of the subsidy payment regime, it could continue to be a problem for the country and our leaders to handle.
“What we need is someone who has the will, political will, to look at those recommendations and implement them.’’
The chieftain also advised Nigerian youths to believe in themselves and their dreams, saying there was nothing they would not be able to achieve if they set their mind at it
“I don’t believe in young people traveling out of the country. It will lead to brain drain at some points.
“I believe no matter how bad Nigeria has become we can all put our hands together, task our brains to find solutions to our various problems by ourselves. We need to make Nigeria work for every Nigerian.’’ (NAN)
POLITICS
Tinubu Needs Second Term to Complete Reforms, Says Oyetola
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, says President Bola Tinubu needs a second term to complete ongoing reforms and stabilize Nigeria’s economy.
Oyetola, leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, said continuity was crucial at this stage of national development.
In a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola said the President required more time to further deliver democratic dividends.
Recall that on Feb. 14, 2026, Oyetola led the Osun APC to endorse Tinubu at a reception in Osogbo.
According to him, the endorsement followed a careful assessment of the administration’s performance and reform agenda.
“Continuity is crucial at this stage of Nigeria’s development.
“A second term will enable the President to consolidate ongoing reforms, complete major infrastructure projects and fully stabilise the economy.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated courage, capacity and commitment to reposition Nigeria.
“What he needs now is time to complete the good job he has started,” Oyetola said.
He said Tinubu took difficult but necessary decisions at the beginning of his tenure to rescue the economy.
“President Tinubu took courageous and necessary decisions at the outset of his administration to rescue Nigeria’s economy from the brink of collapse.
“These bold fiscal and monetary reforms were not easy, but they were inevitable to stabilise the system and restore confidence.
“Today, we are witnessing improved revenue generation, greater transparency in public finance and renewed investor confidence in our economy,” he said.
Oyetola noted that infrastructure development remained central to the administration’s strategy.
“The President has prioritised massive investments in roads, rail, ports and energy infrastructure across the country.
“These strategic projects are expanding economic opportunities, enhancing connectivity and stimulating job creation nationwide.
“They are laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth and long-term national development,” he said.
The minister also commended the President’s social welfare initiatives.
“While pursuing reforms, the administration has not lost sight of the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
“Through targeted intervention programmes, student loan initiatives and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the government is cushioning reform impacts.
“This demonstrates that the President is not only reform-minded but also compassionate and people-focused,” he said.
Oyetola added that security coordination had improved under Tinubu’s leadership.
He said increased support for law enforcement was strengthening national stability.
The minister assured that APC members in Osun were fully aligned behind Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Oyetola also expressed confidence that the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, would win the Aug. 15 election in the state.
POLITICS
Oyo APC Urges Members to Disregard Fake Exco Lists in Circulation
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has urged members and the general public to disregard the fake list of new executives of the party at Ward and local government level in circulation.
APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, on Saturday in Ibadan, described the list containing different names of purported new excos members as fake.
Sadare said that the list was being circulated by some mischievous elements to cause disaffection and frustrate the overall interest of the stakeholders and genuine supporters of the APC.
It would be recalled that members of the party in the state participated in the nationwide Ward and LGA congresses held on Feb.
18 and Feb. 21 respectively.At the congresses, new set of officials, expected to manage the affairs of the party at the grassroots level for the next four years, were elected.
According to Sadare, the party is preparing to hold its state congress on Tuesday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
He urged members and supporters of the party to grace the occasion “as all arrangements have been put in place to make it a huge success.
“We have been inundated with reports of some fake documents being circulated on social media platforms as the lists of the newly elected executive committee members for some Wards and Local Government Areas in the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we stand by the outcome of the congresses as successfully done across the 351 Wards and 33 LGAs in the state.
“The consensus arrangement which was prescribed by the national leadership was employed and this gave us the desired results.
“Therefore, nobody should entertain any fear regarding the status of those who emerged as Ward and Local Government Area executive committee members at the concluded congresses.
“Their inauguration will be done as soon as the new State Executive Committee is put in place.
“Also, a new state Exco will emerge on Tuesday through consensus and each of the 33 LGA will have the opportunity to send their choice candidates as representatives.
Sadare urged members and supporters of the party not to worry about the alleged fake list in circulation, stressing “the party is waxing stronger everyday.”
He urged party members and supporters not to entertain fear “as there would be no room for distractions or sabotage from any quarters.
“There is no doubting the fact that APC is the only serious political party in the country, particularly in Oyo state.
“And as democrats, we will always act to sustain constitutional democracy and the rule of law.” he stated.
POLITICS
ADC Opens Free Online Membership Registration Portal Nationwide
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced the commencement of its free online membership registration and revalidation exercise nationwide launched in February.
This is contained in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Abdullahi said the new digital platform available at www. adcregistration.ng is crucial to the party’s presentation for the 2027 general elections as well as its various congresses and conventions.
He stated that manual registration would continue simultaneously across the country.
“The new digital registration platform is designed to enable the party to meet requirements of the new Electoral Act 2026 regarding the digital membership register.
“Accordingly, only individuals whose membership details are fully captured and verified in the party’s official digital register will be eligible to vote or be voted for in the party’s primaries.
“Since the launch of the physical and grassroots membership exercise in February, we have recorded strong interests from Nigerians across states and the diaspora.
“It was designed to remove barriers to entry and ensure that every eligible Nigerian, who wishes to identify with the ADC can do so seamlessly and securely,” the party said.
The spokesman urged members who had registered on the party’s previous platform to also revalidate their membership on the new digital portal.
He noted that additional mandatory information is now required to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
He encouraged support groups and associations to take advantage of the window to register.
According to him, ADC would like to emphasise that the exercise is without prejudice to our firm objections to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
He added that the party remained committed to building a modern, inclusive, and citizen-driven political movement capable of delivering a better Nigeria that works for all.


