General News
Monuments, Yelwata and the Boy Who ‘Rushed’ Tinubu
By Stephen Angbulu
If buildings could talk, the new 300-bed specialist hospital in Kaduna’s Millennium City would have gasped, “You again?” as it was named after President Bola Tinubu, who unveiled it last Thursday.
Just the Tuesday before, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike rechristened the 34-year-old International Conference Centre the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, following a N39bn facelift.
If the ICC could speak, it might have replied, “Fine. I can take a new name from anyone willing to pamper me with N39bn.”
At least eight federal assets now bear Tinubu’s name: the Minna airport, a stretch of the Southern Parkway, a National Assembly library tower, an army barracks, a polytechnic, an immigration tech hub, the ICC, and now, the Kaduna hospital.
Word is that the Federal University of Nigerian Languages in Abia may be next. In two short years, Nigeria has acquired a Nomenclature-in-Chief.
While promoters swear the President is not behind most of the renamings, some Nigerians aren’t buying it.
One joked, “I won’t be surprised if his face lands on a naira note.” Another scoffed, “We go just wake up one day hear say we don become Tinubu Republic.”
The current tally: eight monuments named after Tinubu versus more than six facilities renamed in honour of others.
Some federal airports now bear names like Muhammadu Buhari and Obafemi Awolowo. Lagos’ National Theatre wears Prof Wole Soyinka’s name.
A highway in Abuja honours Shehu Shagari, while two universities now celebrate Yakubu Gowon and Maitama Sule.
On paper, that suggests symbolic equity. On the streets, it’s a battle for collective memory.
We could spend the day guessing what might be renamed next as Tinubu heads to Nasarawa to unveil more projects. But we can’t, because while plaques were being polished, armed herders massacred more than 200 people in Yelwata, Benue State.
Although the Presidency’s initial statement included renewed orders to security chiefs, the bloodshed, understandably, outraged millions of Nigerians as Benue re-entered the spotlight. This time, critics saw the perfect opportunity to pelt the President for what they described as a lack of empathy.
When the President stepped foot on Benue soil last Wednesday, he visited some victims of the attack recuperating at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
Afterwards, he held a town hall meeting with political, religious, and traditional leaders.
There, Tinubu publicly called out the Inspector General of Police for failing to make arrests. He directed the Chief of Defence Staff and Intelligence Chiefs to intensify surveillance, and created a peace committee, but stopped short of visiting the very site of the killings. Nigerians did not hide their disappointment.
Some faulted the ceremonial tone of the trip; others thought his outfit too cheerful for a condolence visit.
Perhaps the icing on the cake was the concern over why the President did not brave the floods and poor roads to visit Yelwata and console grieving families.
On a normal week, I might have unpacked the fears some Nigerians shared, that the President’s pressure on the IGP could lead to half-baked arrests and scapegoating. But this was no normal week. Because while Tinubu was busy unveiling, a young man in Kaduna made a poor decision: he sprinted toward the President mid-speech.
You’ve probably heard the story: someone almost attacked the President in Kaduna, right? Well, that’s only half the truth. I was there. Step closer for the gist.
Once upon a time in Murtala Square, Kaduna, a mystery runner came sprinting, not toward the President, but toward the canopy where the governor and other dignitaries were seated. Let’s call him Bilyaminu.
Clad in a cream kaftan, Bilyaminu never reached the President. Security agents flattened him within seconds. I wasn’t sure what was going through his mind. Did he lose a pinky-finger bet with friends? Was he seeking his governor’s attention? And was he really targeting the President?
I saw no weapon on Bilyaminu. But within seconds, he was receiving the beating of his life from several security men for daring to raise the President’s blood pressure.
If we had more time, we could linger on Bilyaminu’s fate. But events moved on. As security whisked him away, the President resumed the ceremony, conferring national honours. This time, a former military governor of Katsina was in the spotlight.
“Let me use this opportunity to correct an omission that I made during the Democracy Day honouring of some Nigerians. I missed out the name of Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar. I now have the honour of awarding him Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic,” Tinubu said.
Only a week earlier, the President had honoured 68 Nigerians, including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, civil rights lawyer Femi Falana, Bishop Matthew Kukah, editors Dapo Olorunyomi and Kunle Ajibade, and a platoon of fallen heroes.
Posthumous honours were also conferred: Kudirat Abiola, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and the entire Ogoni Nine received medals, including a presidential pardon.
The logic: “Those who braved the guns to give us democracy deserve medals, and maybe apologies.”
Add these names to Buhari’s farewell honours list and Tinubu’s earlier rounds, and we now have about 5,800 people wearing national honours in the past 63 years.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze and sunshine from Monday until Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, envisaged moderate dust haze over parts of Kebbi and Kano States of the northern region on Monday.
It predicted horizontal visibility of 2km to 5km over the region with the rest of the northern States to be under sunny and hazy skies throughout the forecast period.
”For central region, moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility of 2km to 5km is anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory and Niger states, while the rest of the states in the region should be under sunny and hazy skies throughout the forecast period.
”For southern region, sunny skies with a few patches of cloud are anticipated over the region with prospects of afternoon/evening thunderstorms with light rains over parts of Bayelsa, Lagos, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States,” it said.
According to NiMet, a slight dust haze is anticipated over parts of Kano and Kebbi States of the northern region on Tuesday, while the remaining states in the region are expected to have sunny and hazy skies throughout the forecast period.
The agency envisaged sunny and hazy skies over the central region throughout the forecast period with chances of isolated thundery activity over parts of plateau state during the afternoon and evening hours.
It anticipated sunny skies with patches of cloud over the southern region with prospects of afternoon or evening thunderstorms with light rains over parts of Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
NiMet forecasts sunny and hazy skies over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Wednesday.
The agency predicted sunny and hazy skies over the central region throughout the forecast period.
According to NiMet, sunny skies with a few patches of cloud are anticipated over the southern region with prospects of afternoon or evening thunderstorms with light rains over parts of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
”Dust particles are in suspension; the public should take necessary precaution; People with asthmatic health conditions and other respiratory issues should be cautious of the present weather condition.
”Driving under the rain should be with caution. Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations,” it said
The agency urged residents to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet, and visit its website on www.nimet.gov.ng.
The Federal Government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day.
It also announced Thursday, January 1, 2026, as a public holiday for the New Year celebration.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr.
Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.According to the statement, the minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility, and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security, and national development.
He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations and wished them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has recorded a major breakthrough in its quest to transform the state into a maritime hub with the official presentation of the Hydrographic, Geotechnical, geophysical Report and New Navigational Chart for the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport project.
Out, who spoke at a formal ceremony held in the State Executive Council Chamber in Calabar, described the event as a “historic milestone” that not only affirms Nigeria’s maritime boundaries but also sets the stage for an economic revolution across the Gulf of Guinea.
“This is truly a historic day, not just for Cross River State but for the entire country,” Governor Otu said. “What we have achieved today replaces charts dating back to 1903 and settles long-standing debates about Cross River’s status as a littoral state. This chart clearly affirms our coastal status.”
Otu emphasized that the updated maritime chart now aligns with S-100 international standards, positioning Cross River for deepwater commerce and international shipping operations.
“When we connect this with the ongoing coastal highway, we’re looking at a completely different city,” he said. “The economic potential is enormous.”
Otu acknowledged the foundational work of former NDDC Chairman Professor Eyo Etim Nyong, describing the seaport project as a dream revived and revitalized.
“We picked up this dream where the former governor, Professor Ben Ayade left off. Public funds had been committed, and we could not allow it to die. Today is another giant step toward its full realization,” he said.
With the technical phase complete and the report formally presented, Governor Otu disclosed that the project now awaits a final seal of approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
“Once we get that FEC seal, work starts almost immediately,” he assured. “Cross River is ready, and this project is not just for us, it is for Nigeria and for West Africa.”
The presentation was led by Rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode, Hydrographer of the Federation and CEO of the National Hydrographic Agency of Nigeria, alongside senior naval officers including the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Rear Admiral Anyo Olokunle.
Rear Admiral Olugbode described the report as the culmination of an intensive multi-year effort, beginning with a formal flag-off on December 21, 2024, and followed by rigorous data acquisition starting January 6, 2025. The survey, he said, covered hydrographic, geophysical, and geotechnical dimensions, all aimed at ensuring safety, precision, and international compliance.
“This is more than just a technical report. It is the bedrock for constructing and operating the Bakassi Deep Seaport,” he said. “It provides essential data for engineering design, dredging, breakwater construction, and navigation safety.”
He added that the data would boost investor confidence, enable effective ocean governance, and contribute to global initiatives such as Seabed 2030, a project that aims to map the entire seafloor of the world by 2030.
Olugbode also praised the Cross River State Government for its unwavering support.
“Your Excellency, your administration’s commitment and facilitation of logistics created an enabling environment for the success of this complex operation,” he noted.
The Bakassi Deep Seaport is expected to catalyze investments in shipping, logistics, trade and tourism, while creating jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global blue economy.
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