General News
GEJ Says I Will Go if I Lose, Denies Plans to Sack Jega
President Goodluck Jonathan assured Wednesday he will hand over power May 29 if he loses the forthcoming presidential polls billed for March 28.
The President, in a live media chat apparently organised to douse the tension generated by the postponement of the general elections, also denied plot to sack Prof. Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and spoke of efforts at tackling insurgency; and corruption.
He pleaded with Nigerians for some time to round up the programme adding that his main preoccupation was to conduct a free, fair and credible general election in March and April this year.
Jonathan noted that just like in 2011 when he expressed similar sentiment, he would gladly go home if he fails to secure the mandate of the people for a second tenure, saying that no politician’s ambition was more important than the interest of the country.
According to him, if he was ready to handover in 2011 if he was not voted into power, he would do the same in 2015 if he is not re-elected.
He said: “If in 2011 I said that I will conduct free and fair elections and if I lose I will happily go home, and it should be recorded that as at that time, no African sitting president had lost an election, but within this period, a number of African sitting presidents have lost election.
“But I wanted to create history of being the first African sitting president that lost election but let the world know that it was free and fair. Then, I just concluded the late president’s term, I was the president for about a year, acting for some months but I said I would be happy to go, that this nation is more important than any human being.
“Anybody who wants to hold this office of the president or any office at all and feels that he is more important than the nation, that is not quite right.
“So, if as at that time I insisted that I was ready to conduct free and fair election and if I lose I will go not to talk about now Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for four full years.
“So, if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government, there is no way I will say if I lose I will not hand over.”
The president assured that the election would hold and a new government would be inaugurated May 29. He urged people should to disregard the rumour of the impending removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.
Jonathan stated that the action of those who say that Jega would be sent on terminal leave and another person appointed in his place to conduct election was meant to deceive the public.
He said even though INEC chairman and commissioners were his appointees, he had not told anybody that he would remove Jega, saying that people were using the suspension of the elections to misinform Nigerians.
Responding to the question, Jonathan said “How I wish Jega were here. I could have asked him to answer that question. One thing about politics or leadership generally is that when you are a leader, you have your members who support you but what they do or say.
“Maybe somebody has been making statements to advance your cause, the assumption is that the person is close to you and he is a fan. There are too many messages that go out and sometimes I call people. More than 80 percent of people sponsoring these messages I don’t even know. So, whatever that person says is different from Jonathan.
“And if you ask Jega, he will tell you I appointed all the commissioners and resident electoral commissioners in INEC. They are my appointees. So, if I feel that Jega is not good enough for obvious reasons, then I can by that provision of the constitution that gives the person who appoints him the power to remove him. I have not told anybody that I am going to remove Jega.
“Some of these things are creations by people who want to cause confusion. A lot of people are using the rescheduling of the elections to misinform Nigerians.”
The president also revealed that even though the National Council of State discussed the issue of election postponement, government did not put pressure on the electoral body to shift the polls
However, he added that the commission took into consideration security advice because it had to work with the security forces for a successful implementation of the elections.
He explained that the postponement of the election ought not to be a vexatious issue but the nature of Nigerian politics had given it a different coloration.
The president observed that INEC was not fully ready for the conduct of the election on February 14 because of the challenges it faced in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
On the fate of the Chibok girls, he assured that with the equipment recently acquired by the military and cooperation of the international communities, they would soon breathe the air of freedom.
The President said the Boko Haram sect would be flushed out in a few weeks as a joint force between Nigeria and its neighbours has been raised to comb the nook and cranny of the troubled north eastern states and reclaim them.
Federal government has launched Credit for Laptops, Internet, Connectivity and Knowledge Digital Devices (C.L.I.C.K.D.), a new consumer credit initiative, to provide affordable financing for locally assembled laptops and other digital devices.
L-R: Mr Uzoma Nwagba, managing director and chief executive officer, CREDICORP, and Dr Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, at the launch
The initiative by the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is aimed at equipping Nigerians with the tools needed to participate in the country’s growing digital economy.
During the launch, Dr Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, described access to credit as critical to improving productivity and driving economic growth.
Dr Tijani said no nation could achieve sustainable development without a strong credit system that enables individuals and businesses to access resources needed to become more productive.
He noted that in today’s digital age, technology has become indispensable for education, innovation and wealth creation.
The minister explained that many talented young Nigerians possess the skills required to succeed in the digital economy but remain constrained by their inability to own computers and other digital tools.
Drawing from his personal experience, Dr Tijani recalled how his first laptop as a student in the university opened doors to international opportunities and eventually inspired him to establish one of Nigeria’s pioneering technology hubs.
He said the new programme would ensure that more young Nigerians are not denied similar opportunities because of financial barriers.
According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a one-trillion-dollar economy by expanding access to technology, boosting productivity and supporting local manufacturing.
Mr Uzoma Nwagba, managing director and chief executive officer, CREDICORP, described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future workforce and digital transformation.
Mr Nwagba said that while improvements in internet connectivity and digital skills training have positioned Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, access to devices remains a major challenge preventing many young people from fully participating in the digital economy.
He explained that C.L.I.C.K.D. would bridge that gap by providing affordable consumer credit that enables beneficiaries to acquire laptops and other internet-enabled devices while they develop in-demand digital skills
Federal Government has announced the disbursement of about N333 billion to eight electricity generation companies (GenCos) as part of measures to resolve outstanding debts in the power sector.
The government also disclosed the issuance of a second bond valued at N729 billion to settle verified legacy obligations and improve liquidity within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The disclosures were made on Tuesday at an investors’ forum organised by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc in Abuja.
Government representatives said the latest bond issuance marked the completion of the initial phase of the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, which was designed to address verified liabilities and attract private sector investment across the electricity value chain.
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, said the implementation of the first series of the programme demonstrated the administration’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations and improving investor confidence.
Verheijen disclosed that the Federal Government in February 2026 allocated about N501 billion under the first tranche of the programme, comprising N300 billion in cash and N201 billion in non-cash bond instruments to offset verified debts owed to power producers.
She said N333 billion had so far been disbursed to eight participating GenCos operating 17 power plants.
According to her, the government also paid the first coupon of about N63.5 billion on the seven-year bond in full on July 14, 2026.
She explained that the payments had enabled generation companies to meet critical obligations to gas suppliers, lenders and operations and maintenance contractors, thereby improving their operational capacity.
“Markets do not reward promises; they reward performance. Capital follows credibility,” Verheijen said.
She added that the second bond series would further strengthen liquidity in the electricity market and create a more stable financial environment capable of attracting long-term private investment.
The Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme is part of broader Federal Government efforts to address challenges affecting electricity generation, distribution and investment in Nigeria’s power sector.
Federal government has launched a N482.4 million investment fund to support 12 tech-enabled Nigerian startups.
The initiative under the federal government of Nigeria’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme was implemented by the Bank of Industry (BoI).
The initiative in a statement said applications have been opened for Growth Lab, a 12-week acceleration programme that will select the 12 tech-enabled Nigerian startups, from the six geopolitical zones, for intensive growth support, investment readiness training, and access to up to $350,000 in funding.
According to Ife Adebayo, national coordinator of the Programme, growth lab was designed to support startups that have achieved early traction and are seeking the expertise, networks, and investment required to scale following the implementation of Founders Lab.
“Growth Lab is the Startup Bridge accelerator programme, designed for startups that have developed an MVP and require structured support to scale. The programme focuses on strengthening venture fundamentals and preparing companies for external investment.
“The programme targets startup founders who are seeking the support, networks, expertise, and investment readiness required to accelerate growth and strengthen their position within the Nigerian innovation ecosystem,” he said.
He added that selected founders will gain access to structured growth support, investment readiness preparation, access to industry experts, market expansion pathways, a $100,000 cash investment (or Naira equivalent) for 7.5% equity upon entering the programme (terms and conditions apply), and up to $250,000 in potential follow-on investment should certain growth conditions be met.
“Eligible startups must be at the post-MVP stage, demonstrate evidence of market validation through users, customers, pilots, partnerships, waitlists or any other demand signals, and be willing to participate fully in the hybrid programme,” he said.
The programme will run as an intensive 12-week hybrid experience, including virtual engagements and two physical weeks in Lagos focused on collaboration, learning, and business growth.
The statement said applications opened on July 15, 2026, and will close on August 19, 2026.
According to him, female founders are strongly encouraged to apply. Selection will be conducted through a clearly defined, merit-based evaluation process aligned with published criteria.
iDICE is a $618 million federal government initiative backed by international lenders to boost the technology and creative sectors.
It provides young entrepreneurs with business skills training, mentorship, and access to capital through funds and accelerator programs like the iDICE Startup Bridge.
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