By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

A fresh controversy emerged last week over an alleged government agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The issue came to light after the Chief of Staff to the President publicly denied that such an agency exists.

Before this denial, the agency was reportedly operating under Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who claimed to be its Director-General since October 2025.

He further alleged that he paid ₦400millions out of ₦600 million through a proxy linked to Gbajabiamila to secure his appointment.

In a swift response, Gbajabiamila has taken legal steps against Prince Adeyemi. Through his lawyers, he is demanding ₦10 billion in damages and an immediate apology for linking him to the alleged scandal. The controversy over the alleged “ghost agency” has continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians. Since the issue came to the public domain, several important questions have remained unanswered.

Many Nigerians are asking: How did Prince Adeyemi get his appointment letter? How did the agency secure an office in the Federal Secretariat? How did it recruit about 300 staff and open an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)? How did it get budget line of 1.3 billions in 2026 budget? Even more surprising, how did it hold meetings with foreign partners? It was also reported that Prince Adeyemi was seen at the office of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The chairman of economic and financial commission (EFCC), Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede posted a picture presenting an award to Adeyemi.

The controversy surrounding the creation of a “phantom agency” has exposed the rot in our public service and the lack of accountability. This situation will erode public confidence, deepen corruption and damage the country’s global reputation.

However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed the Independent Corrupt practices Commission (ICPC) to carry out a thorough investigation and identify those involved in the scandal within 30 days. Despite this directive, many pessimists doubt that anything meaningful will come out of the investigation. The reason is not far-fetched.

Investigations in Nigeria that involve top government officials rarely lead to punishment. In the next 30 days, the ICPC will focus on the Office of the Chief of Staff to find out who issued the appointment letter to Prince Adeyemi.

It will also investigate the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) over how office space was allocated. The CBN Governor will be questioned on how the agency opened its account, and the National Assembly will be asked to explain the ₦1.3 billion budget allocation.

While many Nigerians expected president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel this scandal, the (ICPC) must rise to the occasion and carry out a thorough, independent and transparent investigation.

There must be no sacred cows. In the course of this probe, all those involved in this disgraceful act must be exposed and publicly named. Anything short of this will only deepen public distrust and reinforce the culture of impunity that has long plagued the system.

The President must go beyond mere directives and ensure that the findings of the investigation are fully implemented. This is a defining moment for accountability. The outcome must not be buried or manipulated for political convenience. Unless those who aided and abetted this monumental fraud are decisively brought to justice and punished in accordance with the laws of land, the dangerous precedent will persist and more phantom agencies will continue to infiltrate and undermine the integrity of the public service.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State. 08169056963.

By Kayode Adebiyi

There is a growing trend among state governments to initiate ambitious airport infrastructure projects, regardless of their economic viability.

From cargo airports to international terminals, governors across the country have presented these projects as symbols of development, economic expansion, and modernisation.

However, critics increasingly argue that many of these airports are turning into “white elephant” projects, because they are expensive infrastructure that delivers little practical value while consuming enormous public funds.

Recently, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo said at a gathering of representatives of friendly nations and international institutions that the state government collected a net allocation of between N700 billion and N800 billion monthly.

His revelation aligns with figures from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FACC), which show that allocations to subnational governments have risen significantly.

For instance, compared to February 2025, they saw about a 23 per cent increase in their revenues from FAAC in February 2026.

On average, FAAC revenues have almost tripled since the subsidy was removed on May 29, 2023.

However, the debate about the impact of these revenues has intensified as the country faces rising poverty, unemployment, inflation, inadequate healthcare, struggling education system, and poor infrastructure.

An analysis of media content shows that many citizens are questioning whether the billions of naira spent on airports could have been better invested in sectors that directly improve their welfare.

Some of the airport projects already commissioned operate significantly below capacity, while others under construction remain abandoned.

A case in hand is the Ebonyi International Airport initiated during the administration of former governor David Umahi.

Reports indicate that, after spending N63 billion and five years (2019–2024), the airport generated no revenue, while additional billions were spent fixing defective runways and leaking terminal roofs.

Similarly, the Lafia Cargo Airport in Nasarawa State has attracted criticism after reports revealed that the facility remained largely abandoned years after its commissioning, having gulped a whooping N15 billion.

There are many other such projects dormant, abandoned, under construction or proposed, in Abia, Kogi, Osun, Benue, Taraba and Cross Rivers, among others.

A civil servant based in Abuja, who simply identified himself as Dele, referred to airport projects by states as misplaced priorities.

“There is an airport in Akure which is already underutilised. Akure to Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, is under 45 minutes’ drive. Please, what does the government need an airport for?

“Also, Osogbo (Osun capital) is just under 90 minutes’ drive to Ibadan, where there is an airport, also already underutilised. Oyo is bigger and more strategic than Osun, yet its airport is not used to full capacity.

“What then is the guarantee that an airport in Osun will be more viable than the one in Ibadan?” he queried.

Like Dele, some stakeholders warned that multiple airports in neighbouring locations could struggle to attract enough passenger traffic to remain viable.

Sen. Smart Adeyemi, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, once warned that many state governments were embarking on wasteful airport projects while neglecting citizens’ welfare.

According to him, many states will benefit more from smaller and cheaper airstrips rather than full-scale airports costing tens of billions of naira.

He said that most of the airports owned by states were waste of public funds as they lack adequate technical capacity and passenger flow.

“Most of the airports built by the states lack the required facilities and passenger flow to be called airports.

“Aside from Lagos, which has 65 per cent of passengers’ traffic, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and most of the other airports lack the required 500,000 to one million passenger traffic on a yearly basis.

 “In fact, many of them cannot even record 100,000 passengers annually not to talk of the minimum of 500,000 by international standards.”

Experts within the aviation industry also expressed a similar concern.

Former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, said those airports majorly lacked in commercial viability.

“An airport that needs N300 million a month and they have just 1,000 passengers a month there is no magic that can make them sustainable,” he said.

Also, former General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Air Transport Employees, Olayinka Abioye, described the rush by governors to build airports as an “aberration and fraudulent”.

He argued that many states ignored more pressing developmental challenges while pursuing legacy projects that provide limited economic value.

According to aviation analysts, many governors justify airport projects by claiming they will attract investors, stimulate tourism, create jobs, and improve agricultural exports through cargo operations.

While these goals appear attractive on paper, the reality often differs because most states lack the industrial capacity, commercial activity, and passenger demand necessary to sustain airport operations.

A recent media report revealed that several states collectively spent more than N251 billion on airports considered largely non-viable.

The report noted that poor healthcare, bad roads, inadequate housing, and failing public services did not stop state governments from investing heavily in airport projects, often for political prestige rather than economic necessity.

For ordinary Nigerians, the implications of these projects are significant.

Critics say every billion naira invested in underutilised airports represents money unavailable for schools, hospitals, water supply, agriculture, electricity, and road construction.

“In many rural communities, people still struggle with inadequate healthcare facilities, overcrowded classrooms, and poor transportation networks.

“Government should therefore prioritise human development over legacy infrastructure.

“In states where civil servants cannot earn living wages and unemployment remains widespread, spending billions on airports can appear insensitive to citizens’ daily struggles, especially during these hard times.

“The maintenance costs of airports also create long-term financial pressure,” Dele said.

Indeed, airports require expensive runway maintenance, security systems, aviation equipment, staff salaries, and electricity supply.

Therefore, when passenger traffic is low, governments must continuously subsidise operations using taxpayers’ money.

Analysts say this creates recurring expenditure that may not generate corresponding economic benefits, as witnessed in the case of the Ebonyi airport and others.

Also, some airport projects have displaced local communities and farmlands without delivering promised economic opportunities.

Nonetheless, supporters of airport development argue that such infrastructure can stimulate long-term economic growth if properly planned.

They point to examples such as the Victor Attah International Airport in Akwa Ibom, which operates alongside the state-owned Ibom Air airline.

Although the airport still relies heavily on state support, it has achieved relative operational success compared to many other state-owned airports.

They also claim that airports can improve connectivity, encourage investment, and reduce travel stress for residents who previously depended on distant airports in neighboring states.

However, many analysts insist that airport construction should be based on detailed feasibility studies rather than political ambition, and that infrastructure should reflect actual economic demand, population size, industrial activity, and long-term sustainability.

Given that barely five per cent of the population flies, observers say the surge in state-owned airports suggests a preference for prestige projects over practical, people-focused development. (NAN)

By Daniel Nduka Okonkwo

As Nigeria gradually moves toward the 2027 presidential election, political conversations across the country are increasingly dominated by one central question: Can opposition forces rally strongly enough to defeat incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress?

At the heart of the debate stands Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate whose unexpected rise in the 2023 elections transformed Nigeria’s political landscape and galvanized millions of young voters under the now-famous “Obidient” movement.

Political analysts, party strategists, and civil society observers remain sharply divided over Obi’s chances. While supporters insist that the worsening economic realities facing many Nigerians have strengthened his appeal, critics argue that defeating an incumbent president backed by Nigeria’s powerful political machinery remains an enormous challenge.

For many Nigerians, the current political climate is being shaped largely by economic realities. Rising inflation, fuel subsidy removal, currency instability, and the increasing cost of living have generated frustration across several regions of the country.

Supporters of Obi believe these conditions may significantly reshape voter behavior ahead of 2027. They argue that public dissatisfaction with economic hardship could strengthen the appetite for alternative leadership, particularly among young voters and urban populations that already formed the backbone of Obi’s support base during the 2023 elections.

Obi’s image as a disciplined manager and businessman continues to resonate with sections of the electorate seeking economic reforms, accountability, and transparent governance.

However, public frustration alone may not automatically translate into electoral victory. Nigeria’s elections are historically influenced not only by popularity but also by political structures, grassroots mobilization, regional alliances, and elite negotiations.

Perhaps the most decisive factor in the 2027 calculations is that Obi’s path to victory may depend heavily on building a formidable Northern alliance capable of weakening the APC’s traditional dominance in the region.

Some political observers argue that a Southern candidate paired with a credible Northern political figure could create a competitive national ticket capable of challenging the ruling party. Obi’s reported openness to serving only a single term is also viewed by some analysts as a strategic attempt to reassure Northern stakeholders concerned about power rotation.

Political watchers are closely monitoring efforts by Obi and allied political actors to consolidate opposition forces under a more coordinated national structure.

Still, questions remain over whether such alliances can move beyond elite negotiations and translate into actual electoral strength across Nigeria’s diverse voting blocs.

Despite growing opposition discussions, the APC continues to project confidence.

Party loyalists insist that President Tinubu’s incumbency advantage, combined with the APC’s nationwide political structure, remains a powerful electoral weapon. The ruling party retains significant influence through governors, federal appointments, party networks, and institutional leverage that have historically provided strong advantages during elections.

Supporters of the administration also argue that some of the government’s economic reforms may begin yielding measurable results before the next election cycle. They point to gradual improvements in foreign exchange management, agricultural initiatives, and investment policies as possible factors that could improve public perception before 2027.

The Presidency has repeatedly dismissed claims that opposition coalitions pose a serious threat to the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, maintaining that fragmented opposition parties lack the cohesion necessary to defeat the APC.

While Obi remains one of Nigeria’s most visible opposition figures, questions persist over whether popularity on social media alone can guarantee electoral success.

He still faces difficulties expanding his influence in parts of Northern rural communities, where voting patterns are often shaped by long-established political structures, religious considerations, and local alliances.

Obi’s relatively calm and gentlemanly political approach may struggle against the aggressive and highly strategic political culture traditionally associated with Nigerian power politics.

Political commentators have previously warned that, without a united and strategic coalition, opposition forces could suffer what some describe as a “humiliating defeat.”

There are also arguments from some conservative Northern circles questioning whether Obi’s business background and investments in breweries may limit his appeal among certain demographics in the region. Although supporters dismiss such criticisms as politically motivated, they remain part of the wider political conversation ahead of the election. Nigerian political analysis

Across political camps, one point of consensus appears increasingly clear: the 2027 presidential race is likely to become one of Nigeria’s fiercest democratic contests in recent history.

Whether President Tinubu secures re-election or Peter Obi emerges as the face of a united opposition may ultimately depend on several critical factors, including economic realities, voter turnout, coalition-building, Northern alliances, grassroots mobilization, and the opposition’s ability to avoid fragmentation.

For now, Nigeria’s political atmosphere remains fluid, unpredictable, and intensely competitive.

As political maneuvering accelerates and alliances continue to evolve, the road to 2027 is shaping into a defining contest not only about personalities and political parties, but also about the future direction of Africa’s largest democracy.

Nigerians want credible leaders who will fulfill their campaign promises and build a greater Nigeria founded on unity, fairness, security, and opportunity for all. Nigerians are not asking for too much. They simply want leaders who will govern responsibly, improve living conditions, and place national interest above personal or political interests.

Daniel Nduka Okonkwo is a Nigerian investigative journalist, publisher of Profiles International, human rights advocate, and policy analyst whose work focuses on governance, institutional accountability, and political power.