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Northern Governors Unveil New Security Plan, Demand Ban on Mining Activities

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2025

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule

Northern Governors Unveil New Security Plan, Demand Ban on Mining Activities

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, says Northern governors have adopted far-reaching measures to confront escalating insecurity, including contributing N1bn each monthly for one year and pushing for a temporary halt to mining activities across the region.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Sule said the North can no longer rely solely on the Federal Government, stressing that the worsening security situation has reached a point where regional leaders must “take it upon ourselves” to act.

According to him, the governors’ collective contribution amounts to N19bn monthly, which will be channelled into deploying technology, training vigilante groups, procuring equipment and strengthening logistics needed to secure the region.

He explained that the decisions were reached during the joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Leaders Council held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, amid rising banditry and kidnapping.

Sule said the forum also examined the strong link between illegal mining and insecurity. Since mining is under federal control, the governors resolved to ask President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend mining in the North pending a comprehensive verification of mineral licences.

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He noted that many individuals holding exploration licences have illegally proceeded to full-scale mining, fuelling the rise of criminal groups around mineral-rich sites. He added that minerals such as lead, zinc and lithium attract quick-money seekers and armed groups.

The forum appointed former Plateau SSG, Ezekiel Gomos, as Director-General to coordinate the new regional security architecture. Sule said illegal mining had become rampant in Nasarawa, prompting a new law mandating the prosecution of anyone found with minerals without authorisation.

Citing differences across states, he referenced the Zamfara governor’s concerns that gold-mining areas had become highly dangerous, with reports of helicopters allegedly visiting restricted sites.

Sule argued that suspending licences would allow authorities deploy technology for effective monitoring—something complicated by claims of valid licences.

On kidnapping, Sule rejected suggestions that Northern leaders had failed, insisting that many critics do not understand the daily pressure governors face.

“You can’t run a government based on what people say on the streets,” he said, noting that kidnapping existed previously in the South-South between 2003 and 2009 and later spread to the North. He expressed confidence that the menace would eventually decline.

Reacting to news of the rescue of 100 kidnapped children in Niger State, Sule described it as “cheery news” and praised President Tinubu, the Niger State government and security agencies.

He stressed that beyond rescuing victims, the real priority is preventing attacks entirely, adding that Northern governors, the federal government and security agencies are working tirelessly behind the scenes.

Sule also confirmed that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum has agreed to support the special seats for women bill in the National Assembly. He highlighted Nasarawa’s leadership in women inclusion, with the first female vice-chancellor, female chief judge and several female directors.

On infrastructure, the governor announced federal approval for the construction of the Nyanya–Mararaba road with flyovers. The project, costing N40bn, is slated for completion within 12–14 months. The state has already paid N19bn as initial deposit, made possible through recent federal revenue reforms.

Northern Governors Unveil New Security Plan, Demand Ban on Mining Activities

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Gas-to-Power Debt Crisis Threatens Nationwide Electricity Supply as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Published

53 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Gas-to-Power Debt Crisis Threatens Nationwide Electricity Supply as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Nigerians may face power shortages this Yuletide as gas-to-power debt issues disrupt electricity generation across the country. Gas companies have begun cutting supplies to thermal power plants over unpaid debts, forcing electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to reduce daily power supply.

On Tuesday, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) informed customers across the South-East that low system frequency, caused by gas supply constraints, had necessitated load shedding by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). EEDC subsidiaries affected include MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra, and EastLand.

Similarly, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company confirmed that poor generation and allocation from generation companies (GenCos) were causing load shedding in its franchise areas.

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The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) confirmed that gas producers had started cutting supply due to outstanding debts owed by the government, despite a recent approval of N185 billion by the Federal Government for payment of arrears to gas suppliers, announced on December 4, 2025, by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) further disclosed that gas pipeline vandalism in the upstream network has worsened the situation, causing reduced output from gas-fired power plants and a decline in national grid generation capacity. Emergency measures, including increased hydroelectric dispatch and voltage control interventions, have been activated to maintain system stability.

With over 80 per cent of grid-connected power plants relying on natural gas, the sector remains highly vulnerable to gas supply disruptions, raising fears of sustained power outages during the festive season unless liquidity issues and infrastructure vulnerabilities are urgently addressed.

The current development signals a critical need for government intervention, stakeholder coordination, and investment in gas infrastructure to prevent widespread electricity shortages across Nigeria.

Gas-to-Power Debt Crisis Threatens Nationwide Electricity Supply as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

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Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats

Published

59 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats

ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in a bid to persuade organised labour to shelve planned nationwide protests over the worsening security situation in Nigeria.

The meeting, held behind closed doors, involved the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other unions, amid heightened public attention on potential strike actions. NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero told journalists after the engagement that the discussion was a consultation rather than a final negotiation, noting that labour’s leadership would first brief its internal organs before issuing any public statement.

“We came for a consultation with the President, and we are finished. So we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow, we will get the outcome,” Ajaero said, stressing that decisions within the congress are collective.

Also present at the meeting was Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, who emphasised that sustained dialogue remains the preferred approach to resolving issues between labour and the government.

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“Consultation is going on. We were dialoguing, and like he (Ajaero) said, at the end of the day, you will know what you are supposed to know and what you want to know,” Uzodinma said. He added that all parties were acting in the national interest.

The Minister of State for Labour, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, also praised the meeting, saying labour leaders welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with the President and were reassured by the discussions. “They are happy they’ve had firsthand engagement and that at least the President has driven the economy out of the woods,” she noted.

Labour leaders are expected to reconvene internal meetings, after which a clearer position on next steps and the planned nationwide protests is likely to be announced.

This engagement highlights the federal government’s ongoing efforts to maintain industrial peace, address security concerns, and foster collaborative dialogue with organised labour in Nigeria.

Tinubu Holds Consultation with Labour Leaders Amid Nationwide Protest Threats

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Why Buhari Retained Underperforming Appointees for Eight Years – Aisha Buhari

Published

1 hour ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Aisha Buhari

Why Buhari Retained Underperforming Appointees for Eight Years – Aisha Buhari

Hajiya Aisha Buhari, widow of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that her husband retained several underperforming appointees during his eight-year presidency because he feared being perceived as a dictator. The disclosure comes in a new biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Charles Omole and launched at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

According to Aisha Buhari, the former president became increasingly cautious about making sweeping cabinet changes and adjustments to his inner circle, concerned that decisive actions could reinforce perceptions of authoritarianism.

She recounted that shortly after assuming office, the political environment shifted significantly, with many long-time allies sidelined and familiar faces reportedly blocked from the presidential villa, some flagged by security operatives despite their role in Buhari’s political rise.

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The former first lady noted that her private concerns over the growing disconnect between Buhari’s administration and its original support base did not lead to significant reforms, prompting her to speak publicly. She described a widening gap between the ideals that powered Buhari’s political movement and the realities of governance, where technocrats and individuals aligned with other interests dominated the inner circle.

“They had money; they had people; but they did not have the power to install a president,” Aisha Buhari said, emphasizing that personal gains such as money, access, and contracts often overshadowed public service, contributing to operational dysfunction within the presidency.

Despite the criticisms, Aisha maintained that Buhari’s inaction was rooted in his desire to avoid being seen as authoritarian. “He had the wrong people in the right places,” she said, adding, “He didn’t change them for eight years.”

The biography offers an intimate look at Buhari’s political decisions, the inner workings of his administration, and the challenges of balancing loyalty, performance, and perception in governance.