General News
Buhari’s Presidency: What Nigerians Want
Mohammadu Buhari is being sworn-in today as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to Daily Independent, Nigerians are hopeful. Dashed hopes are revived and dead visions are revamped. There is anticipation of his sterling performance in office.
Without doubt, Buhari is assuming the Presidency on the pedestal of personal integrity and cannot afford to disappoint the people at this critical period in the nation’s chequered history.
Nigerians are not interested in what happened in the past. They already know the story. What they want is change, not as a slogan, but as a practical impact on their lives.
At each stage in a nation’s history, challenges arise, which sometimes serve as a justification for people’s clamour for new leaders.
This is the basis under which Buhari was elected, and he should therefore set out to address those challenges immediately.
On three previous occasions, he canvassed for votes from Nigerians and was rejected. Now that he has recorded an overwhelming victory on his fourth attempt, he needs to remember that he got the votes on the ticket of his avowed uprightness and his promised capacity to perform. So, Nigerians will take no excuse for non-performance.
We recognise that the President has a herculean task of restructuring and re-engineering the entire Nigerian polity.
But restructuring also needs to go hand-in-hand with social and economic programmes to address the issues of unemployment and infrastructural decay in the country. We counsel him to scrutinise and internalise his political party’s manifesto and start implementing it immediately. Our understanding is that his campaign promises were rooted in the manifesto and people expect him to run with it.
Valuable structures are broken down across the country and he must begin to fix them immediately. These were his campaign promises.
To gain and retain the trust and confidence of Nigerians in him, he would have to work tirelessly and selflessly as if each day is his last. Nigerians are an appreciative people if they perceive sincerity in their leaders. That is why the decisions of government must be based on merit and in the best interest of the country. We enjoin Mr. President to re-read his victory speech of March 30, 2015 where he projected some of his programmes.
Taking him for his words, Buhari assures Nigerians that he will fight corruption which distorts the economy, destroys our national institutions and character, and worsens income inequality. To this end, he has promised to declare his assets and liabilities for the purpose of transparency and accountability. He will do well to fortify existing anti-corruption agencies. He also promised to tackle the hydra-headed Boko Haram.
The new President has pledged a just and principled governance where there shall be no bias against any Nigerian or favouritism for anyone on the basis of ethnic, religion, gender or social status. Nigerians heard all these words which he spoke of his volition and without prodding, after he was declared winner of the presidential election. We expect him to stick to these words. This is an opportunity for President Buhari to write his name not just in gold but also, and more importantly, in the hearts of all Nigerians.
The job of reconstructing a tottering nation is enormous but wherever he starts from is a good starting point. We wish to remind him of a few areas among many that he might need to consider for urgent attention.
Buhari should urgently tackle the issue of power generation, which has dropped abysmally from 4,000 megawatts to less than 2,000 megawatts. Nigerians are tired of hearing the same recycled story that attempts to heap the crass inefficiency of government on unscrupulous oil and gas pipelines vandals. If reviewing the power reform policy is the antidote for this perpetual darkness in Nigeria, let him do it.
Another worrisome area is the backlog of salaries being owed workers by government, both state and federal. No explanation can justify the non-payment of salaries. If government is demanding commitment, probity and accountability from its workers, it should pay salaries promptly, because a happy work-force is a productive work-force. Buhari has indicated his willingness to maintain regional cooperation with Chad, Niger and Cameroon. He also needs to fashion a way of addressing the threats of former militants in the oil-producing areas who want a fairer share of the oil wealth of their region.
Today, unemployment is biting hard in the country. Buhari has pledged to embark on a massive programme of industrialisation, including building railways, improving roads, ports, and crumbling infrastructure. T
hese could be other ways of creating jobs. But these laudable programmes may be hampered by lack of funds, due to the low global price of oil. The President will urgently have to start diversifying the economy. This is one method of curbing the current financial strait traceable to the unforeseeable disappointment from the oil sector.
Government should slash unnecessary expenses. The past government was busy upgrading its presidential fleet without recourse to the economic realities of the country.
This is unfortunate, considering the global trend, which recommends that public officials should reduce the cost of governance and bring down the plush lifestyle of public officers. The number of the presidential fleet is outrageous and paints a picture of waste and insensitivity to the economic outlook and plight of impoverished Nigerians.
We notice that huge resources are wasted, as new governments customarily abandon laudable capital projects embarked on by former administrations. This is not economically viable for the country.
Credit should go to the government which completes a project and the one which conceives and starts it. For example, Jonathan’s administration recently began the concession of the Nigeria Railway Corporation to make the rail transport system in the country more vibrant. It is imperative for Buhari to ensure policy continuity in this regard.
These are the expectations of Nigerians from the Buhari Presidency. We, at Independent Newspapers Limited, wish Mr.President a fruitful tenure.
Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has cautioned the public against fake recruitment offers and fraudulent employment letters circulating in the agency’s name.
Eniola Akinkuotu, head of Media and Corporate Communications of the Commission, stated that NUPRC has received reports of counterfeit and AI-generated appointment letters bearing names not known to the regulator.
The Commission also said fraudsters have been extorting money from jobseekers by promising placement within the agency.
NUPRC has reported the incidents to law enforcement and said investigations are underway.
The regulator reiterated that there is no ongoing recruitment exercise and warned members of the public not to make any payments for supposed job offers.
“Whenever the Commission decides to recruit, the process will be conducted strictly in accordance with extant laws and government regulations,” the statement said.
The Commission urged jobseekers to verify any purported offer and to rely only on official NUPRC communications for recruitment information.
The warning follows growing concerns about the misuse of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to fabricate apparently authentic documents that can deceive the public.
General News
Africa50 Secures Fresh Capital, Strategic Partnerships to Accelerate African Infrastructure
Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform, has secured new investment commitments and strategic partnerships with international investors and Tanzanian institutions aimed at mobilising capital for infrastructure development across Africa.
The agreements, announced at the 2026 Infra for Africa Forum in Dar es Salaam, include a US$20 million commitment from British International Investment (BII) to Africa50’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF), as well as partnerships covering natural gas, electricity transmission and healthcare infrastructure in Tanzania.
The latest commitments bring the IAF’s total capital commitments to approximately US$330 million.
Under one of the major agreements, Africa50, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and TAQA Arabia will develop the first phase of a small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) project designed to distribute domestic natural gas to industrial and transportation customers across Tanzania.
Africa50 is partnering with TAQA Arabia and TPDC on the project, providing project development, investment and financial structuring expertise to develop a bankable model that could be replicated in Tanzania and other markets.
Mussa M. Makame, Managing Director of TPDC, said the partnership demonstrated Tanzania’s commitment to leveraging its natural gas resources to support national development.
“As a gas supplier to this project, TPDC will work with the project partners to broaden domestic access to cleaner, reliable energy and create greater value for the Tanzanian economy,” he said.
Pakinam Kafafi, CEO of TAQA Arabia subsidiary Rosetta Energy Solutions, said the LNG project would convert Tanzania’s gas resources into reliable energy for industry, communities and transportation.
“This project will turn Tanzania’s abundant gas resources into reliable energy for industry, communities and transport, strengthening energy security and accelerating industrialization,” she said.
Africa50 also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) to collaborate on electricity transmission Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The partnership is expected to facilitate Tanzania’s first Independent Power Transmission (IPT) project, drawing on Africa50’s experience with its IPT project in Kenya.
Engineer Timoth Mgaya, Acting Managing Director of TANESCO, said the partnership would help Tanzania attract private capital and strengthen its transmission infrastructure.
“Partnering with Africa50 provides Tanzania with strategic project-development and financing expertise as we unlock private capital for Africa’s transmission infrastructure,” he said.
The agreement, he added, would contribute to the development of East Africa’s power market while supporting industrialisation, economic integration and inclusive growth.
In the healthcare sector, Africa50 and Tanzania’s Ministry of Health signed an MoU to expand access to renal care and dialysis services for patients suffering from kidney diseases.
The partnership is expected to provide healthcare infrastructure, reliable medical equipment, experienced operators and long-term investment to strengthen the country’s capacity to deliver life-saving renal services.
Meanwhile, BII’s US$20 million investment in the IAF makes the UK development finance institution the latest Limited Partner in the fund.
BII and Africa50 also signed an MoU to deepen cooperation and identify opportunities for co-investment and further mobilisation of capital into African infrastructure.
The IAF invests in equity and quasi-equity opportunities across power, transport and logistics, water and sanitation, digital infrastructure and social infrastructure.
The fund leverages Africa50’s relationships with African governments, corporates and project developers to deploy capital into infrastructure projects with strong commercial and development potential.
Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive Officer of BII, said the partnership would help mobilise additional capital into sustainable infrastructure across Africa.
“Africa’s infrastructure needs are significant, but so are the opportunities,” Maasdorp said. “By combining our expertise, networks and capital, we can help unlock investment that drives growth, creates jobs and improves lives.”
Alain Ebobissé, Group CEO of Africa50, said the new partnerships reflected the organisation’s evolution from a project development institution into a major infrastructure investment platform.
“Africa50 was created to develop bankable projects, mobilize finance for investments in Africa’s infrastructure and accelerate delivery,” he said.
According to Ebobissé, the organisation is now positioned to scale up infrastructure investment by translating the vision of African leaders into commercially viable projects capable of attracting capital from both African and international investors.
The agreements were announced as Africa50 marked its 10th anniversary under the theme, “A Decade of Economic Impact: From Vision to Delivery.”
MTN Nigeria, leading technology company, recently hosted undergraduates from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) for an immersive career engagement session, at the MTN Rooftop Plaza, Ikoyi, Lagos.
MTN
The event exposed students to career opportunities across cybersecurity, finance, internal audit and forensic investigations while providing practical insights into the skills required to succeed in today’s workplace.
The session was designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by helping students better understand the diverse career paths available within the telecommunications and technology sector.
The engagement brought together students studying Economics, Banking and Finance, Cybersecurity and Accounting, providing an opportunity to interact directly with professionals from various business functions.
Through presentations and discussions, participants gained a deeper understanding of the competencies, experiences and continuous learning required to build successful careers in a rapidly evolving business environment.
The engagement comes at a time when technology-related roles, including cybersecurity specialists, are among the world’s fastest-growing occupations, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025.
During the visit, the students met with senior cybersecurity and forensic professionals who shared insights into their respective fields and discussed emerging trends shaping the future of work.
The sessions also highlighted the wide range of career opportunities available across different fields, demonstrating that success in the industry is not limited to any particular course of study.
Undergraduates were also introduced to the evolving nature of the audit profession, as data analytics, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are becoming increasingly important areas of focus for internal auditors.
During a session on building a meaningful career in Internal Auditing, undergraduates were encouraged to approach their professional journeys with purpose, continuous learning and a commitment to personal growth.
The session emphasised that career success extends beyond securing employment and involves developing relevant skills, understanding one’s strengths and intentionally pursuing opportunities that align with personal values and long-term goals.
Speaking during the engagement, Chief Internal Audit and Forensic Services Officer, Ibe Kalu Etea, represented by the General Manager, Internal Audit and Forensics, Wasiu Ibrahim, encouraged the undergraduates to remain open to opportunities beyond their academic backgrounds and focus on developing transferable skills. “Students can take any career path they want to. You can upskill and transition into a different career, even if it is not what you studied in school.
“Do not let your course of study determine your career path. Focus on building relevant skills, staying curious and continuously learning because opportunities exist across many fields,” he said.
The Undergraduates also participated in an interactive question-and-answer session, where they sought guidance on career development, workplace expectations and professional growth.
The initiative reflects MTN Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing future talent by connecting young people with industry leaders and equipping them with the knowledge, exposure and confidence needed to navigate their career journeys.
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