Author Archives: MOONLIGHT NEWS

A delegation of leaders from the Nigerian Interdenominational Pastors Assembly (NIPA) has commended Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for his swift visit and rescue efforts to recent bandit attacks and mass abductions in Kajuru Local Government Area, as well as his administration’s renewed focus on infrastructure development and community support.

The delegation visited several affected communities in the Kurmin Wali axis of Kajuru amid heightened tension following coordinated attacks by armed bandits, during which scores of residents were abducted in separate incidents that attracted national and international concern.

Speaking during the visit, NIPA representatives, led by Reverend Abraham Habila Zock, praised Governor Uba Sani’s visible leadership and hands-on approach to crisis management. They noted that the governor’s decision to personally visit the affected communities to console families and reassure residents had restored hope and confidence among the people.

While addressing community members on needed to be security conscious , the group acknowledged the Governor’s decision to stand with the people in this darkest hour and for strengthening their communities through both spiritual and practical support.”

Stating further, Reverend Zock who observed that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has consistently reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on insecurity, pledged sustained collaboration with federal security agencies and the deployment of new strategies to protect vulnerable communities, particularly in Southern Kaduna.

” We can see that during an earlier visit to Kurmin Wali, the governor described the attacks as a “cruel abduction of innocent citizens” and assured residents that coordinated security efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe release of those still in captivity.”

Beyond security interventions, the visiting clergy highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in stabilising Kajuru and neighbouring communities. They pointed to ongoing road construction projects and improved access to social services under the Uba Sani administration as critical to restoring economic activities, enhancing mobility, and reducing the isolation that often worsens insecurity in rural areas.

Residents also welcomed recent infrastructure initiatives, including the rehabilitation of rural road networks and plans for new healthcare facilities, describing them as vital steps toward improving living conditions and strengthening community resilience.

Despite the grim backdrop of the abductions, community leaders said the pastors’ visit had boosted morale and reinforced collective resolve. “We are grateful that our religious leaders stood with us and recognised the government’s role in saving lives and rebuilding our communities,” a local community chairman said.

The clerics noted that the latest abductions underscore the persistent security challenges in Southern Kaduna, where years of banditry and kidnappings have disrupted farming, education, and daily life. However, they expressed optimism that the combined efforts of faith leaders, government authorities, and security agencies would continue to shape a more coordinated and resilient response to violence across the region.

By Comrade Musa Mohammed Moonlight 

Overcoming expectations, Hon. Rayyan Hussain has emerged as a beacon of hope in Kaduna South, earning accolades for his transformative leadership.

The ‘Emancipator of the Less Privileged’ has prioritized healthcare, education, and infrastructure, leaving a lasting legacy. 

He was elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is part of the 23 Local Government Chairmen in Kaduna State sworn in following the October 2024 local government elections. 

Key Details about Hon. Rayyan Hussain’s Administration:

Focus Areas: His administration has prioritized improvements in healthcare (e.g., upgrading Primary Healthcare Centers, distributing RUTF for children) and education (e.g., school rehabilitation, supplying desks).

Infrastructural Projects: He has overseen projects such as the upgrading of the Makera Abattoir and construction of the Gadan Bazafare box culvert bridge.

Key Appointments: He has appointed Supervisory Councilors and Special Advisers to assist in governance.

Background: He is recognized for his experience in real estate and construction, utilizing this background for infrastructural development in the LGA. 

Hon. Rayyan Hussein works closely with the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, to implement the SUSTAIN Agenda at the grassroots level.

Hon. Rayyan Hussain’s achievements are really making waves in Kaduna South! Here are some of his notable accomplishments:

– *Healthcare Transformation*: He’s introduced a 70% discount on medical treatments at Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), making healthcare more accessible to low-income earners. He’s also deployed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) doctors to PHCs, strengthening their capacity to provide expert medical attention.

– *Maternal Health*: Mama kits are being provided to women who deliver at Infrastructure for Health (IFH) facilities, promoting hospital deliveries and reducing risks associated with home births.

– *Emergency Response*: A toll-free health line (08000044433) has been launched for residents to report poor service, neglect, or misconduct by health workers.

– *Education*: He’s donated 100 chairs to primary schools and plans to produce 100 more each month for six months to tackle seating shortages.

– *Infrastructure*: Reconstruction of Zango Road, a major commercial and residential artery, has commenced.

– *Community Engagement*: He’s engaged with stakeholders, including faith leaders and traditional leaders, to promote public health and address community needs.

– *Polio Immunization*: He flagged off a polio immunization campaign, urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.

These initiatives reflect Hon. Rayyan Hussain’s commitment to improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure in Kaduna South.

By Ibrahim Abdullahi

Aliko Dangote is the founder of the Dangote Refinery, situated in Lagos. He built the refinery through hard work and perseverance, a process that took about four years.

Today, Dangote Refinery is the largest in Africa and the world’s biggest single‑train refinery. An expansion is already underway; and on completion it will produce over one million barrels of petroleum product per day, making it the largest refinery globally.

Dangote started as a humble businessman, rising from the bottom to the top. He has never held a government appointment, so no one can accuse him of embezzling public funds. Before entering oil and gas, he invested in cement, rice, sugar, spaghetti and other sectors. He is the largest individual employer in Nigeria and across Africa, and after the expansion his company will surpass the Federal Government in employment numbers.

After investing $20 billion, some “enemies of the nation” — self‑styled cabals — have tried to sabotage the refinery. Their goal is to keep importing fuel, which drains foreign exchange, weakens the naira and enables fraudulent claims on government subsidies. A functional refinery is the best way to stop this economic sabotage.

Dangote once offered to buy NNPC’s refineries, but public outcry and former President Yar’Adua’s rejection halted the deal. He then built his own, far larger than any state‑owned plant. When the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, led by Ahmed Farouk, refused to supply crude, Dangote was forced to import from the United States. He exposed the problem through the media, prompting public pressure.

Farouk’s office later accused Dangote’s fuel of being substandard and high in sulfur. Dangote countered with evidence from his world‑class laboratory, inviting the National Assembly to inspect it. The legislators were satisfied, while the regulator failed to produce its own test results, revealing it had no functional laboratory.

The cabal then tried to block product loading by withdrawing union trucks. Dangote responded by purchasing 4,000 trucks to distribute his products nationwide, eliminating reliance on the union fleet. The union, backed by the cabal, demanded his drivers join them, but Dangote refused, citing voluntary union membership. A fire incident damaged part of the refinery, but it was repaired at cost.

PENGASSAN later joined the fight, striking against the refinery. Nigerians opposed the strike, and the President intervened, ending it. The President also ordered the regulator to sell crude to Dangote in naira, removing the need for foreign exchange. Since then, the naira has stabilized, and Nigeria now exports refined products, earning foreign exchange and boosting GDP.

Recently, Dangote accused Farouk of corruption, alleging he paid $5 million (≈N7 billion) for his children’s school fees. The claim shocked the nation, and many call for Farouk’s prosecution to recover alleged looted funds. The President has already removed Farouk from office, but further legal action is urged.
With the ongoing development, Dangote submitted petition to ICPC, which he later withdrew but sent a fresh one to the EFCC and the agency is now carrying out a thorough investigation.

Some cabal members who took delight in spreading false allegations that Dangote’s wealth is fraudulent had to take back their vomit. A retired NNPC staff from Kaduna State immediately retracted his statement after receiving a lawyer’s letter. He had since buried his head shame in shame by “retracting and apologizing” to Dangote.

While Nigerians continue to thank Dangote for locating the refinery in Nigeria rather than abroad, viewing it as a national pride and a solution to years of moribund state refineries, I personally suggest that to protect this asset, the President should advisably declare the Dangote Refinery “a national asset and monument,” deterring future sabotage. The refinery has already prevented fuel prices from reaching N5,000 per litre and has created thousands of jobs.

My advice to Dangote is simple: build modern depots in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to ease Lagos congestion, reduce highway accidents and lower truck wear‑and‑tear.
If the depots are built in each geo political centres the trucks will load at their zones and they do not need to come all the way to Lagos to load their products. If this advice is taken by Alh Aliko Dangote it will reduce accident on the high ways, reduce congestion in Lagos, and it will also reduce the wear and tear of his trailer vehicles.
This is my own humble technical advice to the legendary Icon of all time Alh Aliko Dangote.

In summary, Dangote’s refinery is really a transformational, privately‑driven achievement reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape, creating jobs, and challenging entrenched import interests. With continued support, it will secure Nigeria’s future and remain a source of national pride. We wish you more grease to your elbows, ride on my big brother you are doing great and shame to the cabals.

Ibrahim Abdullahi is the Managing Director, Jessibram Investment Ltd, Abuja.

For decades, Kano politics has been a theatre of perpetual motion—loud, crowded and endlessly combative. Elections came and went, governments changed, yet the underlying rhythm remained the same: tension over stability, politics over policy and survival over strategy.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s (AKY) alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC) may well mark the first decisive break from that cycle. This is not merely a political realignment; it is an appointment with history.

Kano’s greatest paradox has always been its strength. As Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre of the North, blessed with population, enterprise, culture and talent, the state should have been miles ahead. Instead, political fragmentation has repeatedly turned energy into friction.

Governments spent too much time fighting for legitimacy and too little time governing for growth. AKY’s move into the APC, aligning Kano with the party at the centre, directly confronts this structural weakness. Stability, in politics, is not the absence of opposition; it is the presence of predictable cooperation. By collapsing the wall between Kano Government House and the federal power structure, AKY has altered the incentives of politics itself. Conflict now comes at a higher cost, while collaboration suddenly pays dividends. This alone recalibrates the political atmosphere—from constant brinkmanship to cautious consensus.
More importantly, the alignment repositions Kano within Nigeria’s national development conversation. Infrastructure, security coordination, industrial policy, power projects, rail connectivity and urban renewal are no longer distant lobbying points; they become shared responsibilities. A governor operating within the same political framework as the presidency gains not just access, but influence. For a state as large and complex as Kano, that influence is oxygen.

Critics may frame the move as opportunism.
History, however, judges outcomes—not slogans. Kano’s politics has tried purity and paid the price in paralysis. What AKY appears to be betting on instead is effectiveness.
The APC platform offers a wider governing coalition, deeper institutional reach and a pathway to long-term policy continuity beyond electoral cycles. In a state fatigued by political drama, continuity itself becomes a reform.

There is also a quieter, but more profound implication. AKY’s alignment sends a signal to Kano’s political class that the era of perpetual antagonism may be ending. When the governor chooses convergence over confrontation, the tone of politics changes from the top down. Investors notice. Civil servants recalibrate. Politics stops being war by other means and starts resembling governance.

History is unkind to leaders who merely occupy office. It is far kinder to those who recognise defining moments and act decisively. AKY’s alignment with the APC is such a moment—a calculated risk, yes, but also a strategic correction long overdue. If managed with discipline, inclusiveness and a relentless focus on delivery, this decision could stabilise Kano politics for a generation and unlock progress that has been promised for decades but postponed by discord.

Kano has waited long enough. History has finally knocked—and this time, the door appears to be opening.

Barrister Aminu Hussaini – is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Justice/Constitutional Matters- 234 8033 742424, aminuhussaini173@gmail.com

A women’s group operating under the aegis of Kajuru/Chikun Women Group has strongly criticised Senator Lawal Adamu, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District over what it described as his alleged failure to visit or support communities affected by recent bandit attacks in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The group, in a press statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Mrs. Jumai Bulus, and Secretary,Mrs. Mary Galadima, accused the senator of showing “no sense of concern” for victims of insecurity in Kajuru and Chikun local government areas, despite the spate of attacks that have left several communities traumatised and displaced.

According to the women, it was disheartening that a lawmaker elected with the hope of improving the welfare and security of his constituents had failed to rise to the occasion at a critical time.

“It is painful to note that our senator has not only failed in his duties as a lawmaker, but has also disappointed the electorate who voted for him with the hope that he would make their lives better,” the statement read.

The group noted that previous occupants of the senatorial seat, under similar circumstances, didn’t waste time to speak out on the floor of the Senate and further visited affected communities as well as identified with victims of attacks and provided relief materials to ease their suffering.

“In this trying period, we expected Senator Lawal to act like his predecessors ,who openly condemned such attacks and personally visited affected areas. As we speak, we are not aware of any such visit or intervention by him,” the women said.

They further lamented what they described as the senator’s habitual silence on critical issues of security and welfare, stressing that both are fundamental constitutional responsibilities of elected representatives.

“We are deeply pained that our senator has not shown concern about our security and welfare, which are fundamental constitutional matters,” the statement added.

The women also alleged that rather than engaging with constituents or initiating legislative and advocacy efforts to address insecurity, the senator had been frequently travelling outside the country.

“We gathered that instead of sitting down to make relevant laws or interventions to better the lives of his people, he is often travelling out of the country,” the group claimed.

Raising further concerns, the Kajuru/Chikun women said they were unaware of any tangible constituency projects attracted or executed by the senator since he assumed office over two years ago.

“We have not seen any meaningful constituency projects that he has either attracted or executed since he came into office. If there are any in our communities, he should boldly come out to tell us,” they challenged.

The group also called on Senator Lawal to publicly account for constituency funds allocated to lawmakers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for constituency outreach and development.
“We are challenging him to render account of the huge monies given to lawmakers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to boost constituency outreach,” the statement read.

The women vowed to mobilise their communities to vote the senator out in the 2027 general elections, insisting that they would support candidates with proven capacity, courage and commitment to speaking for their people on the floor of the Senate.

“We will no longer support docile lawmakers. We are determined to elect people with proven track records of capacity and purpose—leaders who will stand up and speak for us,” they declared.

By Tinubu-Uba Leadership Network NewsMedia ,2027(TULN)

A Shared Democratic Legacy with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

At defining moments in history, the destiny of a people is shaped by the quality of leadership they choose. Kaduna State is once again at such a moment. Ahead of 2027, the path forward demands leaders who are grounded in the realities of the people, guided by conscience, and courageous enough to stand for justice, inclusion, and development.

That is why the combination of Governor Uba Sani and Comrade Senator Shehu Sani represents the most credible, people-oriented leadership option for Kaduna State one firmly rooted in Nigeria’s long struggle for democracy.

What binds Governor Uba Sani and Comrade Shehu Sani is not political convenience, but shared history and shared sacrifice. Long before holding public office, both men were active participants in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement during the years of military dictatorship. At a time when speaking out attracted arrests, intimidation, and exile, they stood firmly on the side of the people.

This same democratic struggle also shaped the political foundation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As a leading figure in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Tinubu played a central role in resisting military rule, defending the June 12 mandate, and sustaining the fight for civil rule often at great personal cost.

While operating in different capacities and regions, Tinubu, Uba Sani, and Shehu Sani were united by a common cause: the restoration of democracy, civil liberties, and accountable governance in Nigeria.

Governor Uba Sani emerged from that tradition as a bridge-builder and consensus leader.

His years of activism, negotiation, and engagement with civil society continue to reflect in his governance style today—one anchored on peace, inclusion, humility, and dialogue. Under his leadership, Kaduna has moved away from politics of division toward healing and stability.

In the same vein, Kaduna Central needs a senator who is not only visible but vocal; not only present but purposeful. The Red Chamber is not a ceremonial arena it is a battlefield of ideas and national negotiations.

Comrade Senator Shehu Sani embodies that responsibility.
A former senator, human rights advocate, and public intellectual, Shehu Sani earned national respect by speaking truth to power and defending democratic values—whether under military rule or in civilian governance.

He understands the mechanics of the Senate, the power of legislation, and the importance of public accountability. More importantly, he understands the pains, aspirations, and diversity of Kaduna Central.

As Nigeria enters a new phase of constitutional reforms championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the Senate will be critical in shaping equity, restructuring, and social justice. Kaduna Central cannot afford silent representation.

It needs a tested voice one forged in the fires of democratic struggle and refined by legislative experience.

Together, President Bola Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, and Comrade Senator Shehu Sani represent a continuum of Nigeria’s democratic journey from resistance, to reform, to responsible governance.

Their alignment is not accidental; it is historical, ideological, and people-centered.

This is why their partnership unsettles those who once thrived under politics of intimidation, exclusion, and elite dominance. But Kaduna has moved forward. The people now demand leaders whose legitimacy comes from sacrifice, whose authority comes from service, and whose loyalty is to the people.

This is not merely about elections.
It is about preserving the democratic values Nigerians fought for.
Kaduna deserves peace with purpose.
Kaduna deserves leadership with conscience.

Kaduna deserves Governor Uba Sani and Comrade Senator Shehu Sani
partners in democracy, allies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and servants of the people.

As part of dedicated efforts to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government and Energy Commission of Nigeria have strengthened their collaboration in transforming Nigeria’s Energy Sector.

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), led by DG/CEO Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, in a meeting with the Minister of power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu discussed on strengthening collaboration and align with national energy
priorities.

Discussions were focused on enhancing cooperation on renewable energy priorities
and integrating ECN’s research outputs into national power infrastructure through joint implementation and shared resources.

Chief Adelabu reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to sustained partnerships,
especially in hydroelectric power generation and other strategic energy initiatives critical to transforming Nigeria’s power sector.

ECN updated the Minister on key programmes, including the Renewed Hope Solarization Programme, the National Energy Master Plan, and the National Energy Policy, reaffirming its commitment to delivering results that advance Nigeria’s energy and development goals.

By Barrister Aminu Hussaini

History often reveals itself not in moments of noise, but in moments of alignment-when power, timing and leadership converge. Nigeria is living through such a moment and at its centre stands President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The expanding national political consensus coalescing around the APC is not an accident of electoral arithmetic; it is the culmination of decades of political engineering, negotiations and strategic bridge-building in which Asiwaju has been the principal architect.

Nigeria’s recurring challenge has never been the absence of reform ideas. What has been missing is a leader capable of commanding sufficient national consensus to implement them.

Constitutional conferences have come and gone. Committees have produced volumes of recommendations. Yet reform repeatedly stalled at the altar of political fragmentation and mutual suspicion. Tinubu’s ascendancy marks a departure from that cycle.

Unlike many leaders who inherit power without reach, Tinubu arrived at the presidency with a deep, cross-regional political network patiently built over time. His politics has always been coalition politics-pragmatic, inclusive and unsentimental.

From his days as a pro-democracy activist, to his tenure as Governor of Lagos State and through his role in forging the APC itself, Tinubu demonstrated a rare understanding of Nigeria’s power map and how to align its diverse interests without collapsing into sectionalism.

The current national convergence around the APC reflects this strategic depth. It is not merely that the party governs across much of the federation; it is that this spread cuts across traditional fault lines-North and South, Muslim and Christian, majority and minority regions. Only a leader with Tinubu’s political credibility and negotiating instinct could have held together such a broad coalition in Nigeria’s notoriously volatile political terrain.

This convergence creates something Nigeria has seldom enjoyed; the political space for courage. Restructuring- long caricatured as a sectional agenda- can now be approached as a national project.

Under Tinubu, the argument for reform no longer sounds like a threat to unity but like a strategy to save it. When a president commands trust and influence across regions, fears give way to dialogue and suspicion yields to pragmatism.

Nigeria’s problems are structural and well known. Over-centralisation has weakened security, stifled economic initiative and eroded accountability. States remain fiscally dependent and administratively constrained, while the federal centre is overburdened and inefficient. These dysfunctions persist not because they are unsolvable, but because previous leaders lacked the political alignment to confront them decisively.

Tinubu’s leadership changes that equation. His presidency coincides with a rare political consensus strong enough to sustain difficult conversations about devolution, fiscal federalism, state policing and a more balanced federation. Crucially, this is not consensus born of coercion, but of political inclusion. It is the product of alliances negotiated, interests balanced and egos managed – hallmarks of Tinubu’s political style.

With the groundwork of national consensus already laid, Kano’s decision to plug into the centre reflects a clear reading of history, power and opportunity. Given its demographic strength, economic reach and symbolic standing in the North, Kano’s cooperation significantly deepens the legitimacy and reach of ongoing reforms. More than a political gesture, the alignment positions the state as an active stakeholder in shaping outcomes rather than reacting to them.

At a time when reform demands coordination and shared purpose, Kano’s alignment enhances its influence at the centre while reinforcing national stability and policy coherence.
Yet history is unforgiving of missed opportunities.

Consensus can be a tool for reform or a trap of complacency. The measure of Tinubu’s place in Nigeria’s political history will not be the scale of his political dominance, but the depth of the reforms he dares to pursue. Power that merely consolidates itself is soon forgotten; power that restructures a nation endures.

Restructuring under Tinubu need not be radical rupture. It can be deliberate, negotiated and stabilizing – strengthening the federation by empowering its parts while preserving national cohesion. That balance between firmness and flexibility is precisely where Tinubu’s political genius has always resided.

This moment calls for statesmanship over partisanship, legacy over longevity. If Tinubu deploys this unprecedented national consensus to reset Nigeria’s federal architecture, history will remember him not merely as a master strategist, but as the leader who finally aligned Nigeria’s power structure with its realities. Moments like this define nations and leaders. For Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this is more than a presidency. It is an appointment with history!

Barrister Aminu Hussaini is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State – AKY on Justice/Constitutional Matters: +234 8033742424 – aminuhussaini173@gmail.com

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on today declared that any alleged political alliance between former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari Ashiru and opposition parties aimed at unseating Governor Uba Sani in 2027 would “fail woefully,” insisting that the opposition lacks grassroots support across Kaduna State.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Kaduna, Sani expressed strong confidence that Governor Uba Sani would secure a second term in office, citing what he described as unprecedented achievements in governance, security, infrastructure and inclusive leadership.

According to him, opposition political parties in the state “exist only on paper,” with no tangible connection to the people at the ward and community levels.

“There is no political plot, whether by individuals or parties, that can override the will of the people of Kaduna State. The so-called alliance of ADC and PDP being attributed to El-Rufai and Ashiru is dead on arrival because it has no grassroots foundation,” Sani said.

The former lawmaker noted that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has delivered infrastructural development across the three senatorial zones of the state, covering both rural and urban communities, a feat he described as unprecedented in Kaduna’s political history.

He identified three major pillars that, according to him, define Governor Uba Sani’s leadership style: unity, security and development.

“For the first time in a long while, Kaduna is experiencing genuine unity between Muslims and Christians. There is also relative security compared to the grave challenges facing other states in the North-West, and this has created an enabling environment for development,” Sani stated.

Highlighting landmark projects of the administration, Sani pointed to the proposed $200 million poultry project, the Kaduna Light Rail initiative, and multi-billion-naira skill acquisition programmes spread across the three senatorial zones as evidence of purposeful governance.

He added that the skill acquisition centres were already empowering youths and women, reducing unemployment and addressing the root causes of insecurity.

The former senator further praised the governor’s performance in health, education and human capital development, saying these sectors have received renewed attention under the current administration.

“Governor Uba Sani has made a strong and measurable impact in healthcare delivery, education reform and human capital development. These are investments in the future of Kaduna State, and the people can see and feel the difference,” he said.

Sani however,urged political actors in the state to focus on constructive engagement rather than what he described as “paper alliances and elite conspiracies,” stressing that elections are won through service delivery and popular support.

He reaffirmed his belief that Kaduna voters would reward performance over propaganda, adding that the governor’s record would speak louder than any opposition rhetoric as the next election cycle approaches.

“Respect Constitutional Boundaries and Strengthen the Mandate of the Minister of Defence” — Ibrahim Maikano

The Citizens Support for Good Governance (CSGG) has issued a strong, research-backed opinion urging the Federal Government to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s security coordination mechanisms by ensuring that each actor operates strictly within constitutional boundaries. The statement, authored by Ibrahim Maikano, Head of the Research Directorate of CSGG, responded to the widely discussed remarks made by policy analyst Mr. Kunle Fagbemi, who recently raised concerns about the expanding influence of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Maikano described Fagbemi’s comments as “a timely and necessary intervention” in the ongoing conversation about security reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Fagbemi’s Warning: When Coordination Turns Into Control
Appearing on Channels Television, Kunle Fagbemi cautioned that while President Tinubu’s confidence in NSA Ribadu is politically understandable, the resulting concentration of authority in the NSA’s office risks becoming “counter-productive.”

Fagbemi stressed that the NSA’s constitutional role is advisory and coordinating, not executive, operational, or supervisory over statutory ministries.

According to him, assigning the NSA to lead, overshadow or influence statutory ministers especially the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) violates constitutional limits and creates structural tensions within the security system.

He argued that such overreach could disrupt the seamless execution of security policies at a time when Nigeria urgently needs clarity, speed, and operational precision.

CSGG’s Research Directorate: “The Warning Should Not Be Ignored”
In its analysis, CSGG confirmed that several security frameworks across democratic nations maintain a clear separation between advisory bodies and operational ministries to prevent power distortion, overlapping mandates, and internal rivalry.

Ibrahim Maikano stated:

“No security system thrives when responsibilities are blurred. Advisory institutions should never overshadow statutory leadership. Nigeria must not repeat mistakes that weaken operational efficiency.”

CSGG emphasized that healthy institutional balance is central to defeating terrorism, banditry, and rising criminality.

Protecting the Mandate of Gen. C.G. Musa Is a National Imperative
The organisation called on President Tinubu to fortify the independence and authority of the Minister of Defence, stating that Gen. Chris Musa is:

a disciplined strategist,
a patriot committed to national renewal,
and a leader whose operational knowledge is indispensable in this critical period.
According to the Research Directorate:

“For Nigeria to win the war against insecurity, the Minister of Defence must be empowered to function without interference, bottlenecks, or institutional overshadowing.”

CSGG argues that Musa’s decades of field experience give him the unique capacity to drive security reforms that Nigerians have long awaited.

Security Experts Align With CSGG’s Position
Independent security analysts consulted by the CSGG Research Directorate share similar fears:

Over-centralization undermines field operations.
Role duplication delays decision-making during emergencies.
Advisory bodies should not issue executive directives.
Ministers and service chiefs must retain full operational autonomy.
These experts warn that weakening the Defence Ministry—intentionally or unintentionally—could slow down current momentum in counter-terrorism operations.

CSGG Calls for Positive Citizen Participation
Beyond institutional reforms, Maikano urged Nigerians to focus on constructive national discourse, noting that constant negativity against security institutions only demoralizes personnel risking their lives daily.

He stated:

“Citizens must speak positive vibes into the system. Every nation that won the war against terror succeeded because the population believed in those fighting for them.”

CSGG encouraged civic groups, influencers, media organisations, and community leaders to adopt narratives that strengthen national unity rather than fuel division or suspicion.

Conclusion: A Call for Order, Balance, and Patriotism
CSGG’s position is clear:

Let the NSA coordinate.
Let the Minister of Defence lead.
Let constitutional boundaries be respected.
Let President Tinubu provide firm backing for Gen. Musa.
And let Nigerians contribute positively to the battle for peace.
Ibrahim Maikano concluded:

“Nigeria is at a defining moment. The path to restoring peace lies in respecting institutional roles and empowering patriots who have proven their commitment. Gen. Musa represents competence, balance, and discipline he must be supported to deliver.”

CSGG reaffirmed its commitment to offering research-driven analysis and mobilizing citizens toward good governance and national stability.

IBRAHIM MAIKANO
RESEARCH DIRECTORATE,
CITIZENS SUPPORT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE (CSGG)