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Why The Nigerian Army And Police Must Build A Harmonious Relationship

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Why The Nigerian Army And Police Must Build A Harmonious Relationship

By Adewole Kehinde

“Communication will bring understanding and understanding will cause harmonious mutual relationships which can establish peace and stability.” – Lobsang Tenzin

The recent disturbing report that some police officers involved in providing security during Saturday’s concluded Anambra State governorship election were allegedly shot by Nigerian Army personnel is a tragic reminder of the urgent need for harmony between our security agencies.

According to sources, the unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday along Onitsha Road, when an argument reportedly ensued between some army personnel and policemen at a checkpoint, which regrettably escalated into gunfire. This uncalled-for confrontation, coming right after a largely peaceful election, is both unfortunate and unacceptable.

The incessant clashes between the Police and the Army remain an enigma despite repeated efforts by various stakeholders to find a permanent solution. This ongoing inter-agency conflict is counterproductive to Nigeria’s overall security objectives. When brothers-in-arms begin to see each other with suspicion, the result is mistrust, inefficiency, and the emboldening of criminal elements.

For too long, the relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army has been likened to that of a cat and a mouse, an uneasy coexistence characterised by subtle demonisation and competition for supremacy. Yet both institutions were established to protect and defend the same people and nation. 

The objectives of the Nigeria Police Force are clear: to ensure internal national security through crime prevention, detection, preservation of law and order, and protection of life and property. The Nigerian Army, on the other hand, is primarily tasked with defending the nation from external aggression, maintaining internal peace when called upon, and participating in international peacekeeping missions.

In principle, the relationship between the Army and the Police should be one of collaboration and synergy. Official rhetoric has always emphasised cooperation, joint operations, and mutual respect. However, in practice, the reality is often clouded by historical rivalries, institutional pride, and internal competition for authority. These power struggles sometimes erupt into violent clashes that undermine the morale of security personnel and public confidence in the system.

It must be clearly understood that while the Army’s constitutional duty is to defend against external aggression, the Police are primarily responsible for maintaining internal law and order. When the Army is co-opted to assist in internal operations, such as elections, riots, or counterinsurgency efforts, the soldiers become subject to police direction within the operational context. This is not subordination but rather adherence to the constitutional framework that guides inter-agency cooperation.

Therefore, both institutions must learn to collaborate effectively, sharing intelligence, conducting joint operations, and respecting their complementary roles. Rather than struggle for authority, they should build bridges of trust, understanding that their ultimate goal is the same: safeguarding Nigeria and its people.

Beyond joint training and synergy, the government must also develop a clear policy for rank parity between both institutions to reduce unnecessary inferiority or superiority complexes that often fuel inter-agency conflicts.

The Nigerian Army and Police must see themselves as partners, not rivals. They must acknowledge their interdependence and complementary relevance if Nigeria is to win the war against crime, insurgency, and insecurity.

True national security can only be achieved when our protectors, whether in uniform of khaki or camouflage, work hand in hand in mutual respect, professionalism, and patriotism.

Only through harmony and unity can the nation be safe.

 

Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst and writes from Abuja. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com, 08166240846

Saudi-bound Wanted Drug Lord Arrested As NDLEA Raids His Clandestine Colos Lab In Lagos

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Saudi-bound Wanted Drug Lord Arrested As NDLEA Raids His Clandestine Colos Lab In Lagos

….. Dismantles laboratory, recovers 148.3kg Colorado, precursors; nabs 73-yr-old grandpa, 70-yr-old grandma in Edo, Bayelsa

A wanted drug lord 40-year-old Yussuf Abayomi Azeez has been arrested by operatives of a special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos while on his way to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, a holy pilgrimage, after months of intelligence and surveillance on him and his criminal drug activities.

According to a press release on Sunday 9th November 2025, signed by the NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the drug kingpin had been arrested and charged for drug offences in the United Kingdom but jumped bail and escaped to Nigeria. Soon after settling down in Lagos, he set up a massive clandestine laboratory in the Lekki area of the state for the production of Colorado, a deadly synthetic cannabis and other illicit substances.

At about 6:30am on Thursday 6th November 2025, Yussuf walked into the waiting hands of NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to board his flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.

He was swiftly driven to his 17 Vincent Eku street, Ogombo, Lekki, clandestine laboratory which has been under surveillance for a while. At the time of his arrest, Yussuf was found in company of another suspect, 43-year-old Abideen Kekere-Ekun.

Inside the massive building, operatives from the Agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring were able to dismantle all installed laboratory equipment, precursor chemicals and already produced illicit substances including Colorado, all weighing 148.3 kilograms.

At the Sifax bonded terminal in Okota, Lagos, NDLEA operatives in conjunction with men of Customs Service and other security agencies on Friday 7th November discovered 105.5kg Molly, a designers drug and 500grams of methamphetamine during a joint examination of a shipment.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 6th November intercepted Ibrahim Mohammed, 35, in a Volvo truck marked GRZ 872 XA along Kainji-Wawa road while conveying 87,000 pills of tramadol and 72kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
Not less than 34,520 capsules of tramadol were found concealed in different compartments of a Toyota Corolla car marked GAN 102 AR intercepted along Zaki-Biam – Wukari road on Monday 3rd November while the driver Aliyu Samaila, 25, was arrested. The opioids were loaded from Onitsha, Anambra State, and heading to Cameroon. In another operation in Taraba, NDLEA officers on Thursday 6th November arrested a suspect Felix Tanko Chinedu, 28, with 15,020 capsules of tramadol at Kasuwabera ATC in Ardo Kola LGA.

In Kogi state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway on Wednesday 5th November intercepted a consignment of 7.600kg Loud, a strong strain of cannabis. A follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of the owner, Chukwunonso Anieze, 40, while no fewer than 175,000 pills of opioids were recovered from another consignment at the location same day.

Three suspects: Olayide Oyidiran, 39; Abdulsalam Abdulsalam, 28; and Opeyemi Tijjani, 39, were on Wednesday 5th November nabbed at Abuja/Kaduna tollgate with 769kg skunk being conveyed in a truck marked TRE 897 BE, coming from Lagos en route Owo, Ondo state and heading to Kano.

A 73-year-old grandpa James Ugbedo was on Friday 7th November arrested in a cannabis plantation at Igbeshi forest, Imiakebo, Etsako East LGA, Edo state where 1,459.75kg skunk was destroyed and 5.6kg of same substance evacuated, while 70-year-old grandma Mrs. Comfort Odudu was nabbed at Onopa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state with 5kg skunk on Tuesday 4th November.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Transfiguration Seminary Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Day Secondary School, Sabonkasuwa Kontagora, Niger state; Immanuel College High School (Snr), Ibadan, Oyo State; Government Girls Secondary School, Ilelah, Sokoto; Government Day Secondary School, Namtari, Adamawa and NURTW leaders and members in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of SOP, DFCM, Tincan, Edo, Taraba, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger and Bayelsa Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

“The dismantling of yet another clandestine laboratory for the production of Colorado and other dangerous synthetic substances and the arrest of the kingpin behind it in Lekki, coming barely a week after similar actions were taken against another cartel in Ajao estate Lagos shows that these are no doubt the first in the series of what will be many strikes against merchants of death who prey on the weak in our communities. Let it be known to those still hiding in the dark that the NDLEA supported by our local and international law enforcement partners will continue to hunt them and bring them to justice”, Marwa added.

PSC Commends Police For Professional Conduct During Anambra Governorship Election

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PSC Commends Police For Professional Conduct During Anambra Governorship Election

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has applauded the Nigeria Police Force for its effective and professional handling of security operations during the Anambra State Governorship Election held on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

In a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission described the election as “largely free, fair, and peaceful”, noting that the Police performed above average in ensuring order and legitimacy throughout the electoral process.

Monitors deployed by the PSC across Anambra State reported that police personnel displayed professionalism, discipline, and respect for voters’ rights.

The leader of the PSC monitoring team, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Barr. Taiwo Lakanu commended the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Olukayode Egbetokun, for his leadership and for ensuring that officers deployed for the poll were adequately prepared and equipped.

DIG Lakanu, who visited several polling units, said he observed a calm atmosphere and orderly voting process.

“I didn’t see ballot snatching in the places I visited, and I was impressed with the orderliness and peace across polling centres,” he said.

He added that the Commission would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving police performance during elections as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

In the Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Ferdinand Ekpe, mni, Director of the Department of Police Discipline, led the PSC monitoring team and reported strong collaboration between the Police and other security agencies. His team covered polling units in Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru, and Oyi local government areas.

Similarly, George Muruako, Deputy Director, Department of Police Investigation, who led the team in Anambra Central, noted that the Police were courteous and worked harmoniously with other security personnel to maintain order at voting centres in Agu Awka ward, Anaocha, and other locations.

In the Anambra South zone, the PSC team led by Mrs. Justina Okurubonye, Deputy Director, Department of Police Investigation, visited polling units in Orumba North, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, and Nnewi North LGAs. The team observed that officers were professional, well-identified with name tags, and effectively maintained security.

The PSC concluded that the Police played a commendable role in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the Anambra Governorship Election and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting professionalism and accountability within the Force.

Tunji Alausa’s Team Records 10,000 Digitised Thesis Submissions In Three Weeks

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Tunji Alausa’s Team Records 10,000 Digitised Thesis Submissions In Three Weeks

….. Enrols 135 institutions for certificate verification
….. Ekiti, Bayero Universities, Auchi Poly lead national digital submission

Early reports from the newly established national education record digitisation programme under the auspices of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) have shown that Nigerian students successfully uploaded and curated over 10,000 project entries in the first 3 weeks since the programme began.

The figure climbed to over 11,000 submissions by this weekend, with 158 post-graduate entries from a total of 242 active institutions, while over 40,000 students have been successfully enrolled into the NERD system.

The NERD programme, unveiled to Nigerians by Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, has also onboarded 135 tertiary institutions for academic credential verification purposes as of press time.

From the live information analytics available on the NERD portal, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti leads with a total of 990 curated entries, followed by Bayero University Kano, with a total submission of 611 as of press time.

Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, ranks third on the list of highest early enrolment figures with a total student project entry of 532.

They are followed closely by Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State (493), Osun State Polytechnic Iree, Osun State (479), the University of Ilorin Kwara State (469), Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere Ekiti (462), Kaduna Polytechnic (379), the University of Benin Edo State (374) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, with 282 entries to make the list of 10 highest student submissions at the end of the first one month of the programme.

Science and Innovation, with entries of 5,952, lead the national students’ industry preference or knowledge pillars, and the figure is not derived from Science and Engineering students alone, as students from Arts and Social Science backgrounds were discovered to be pursuing research topics around innovation and similar cutting-edge thematic trends.

Other higher industry thematic preferences are Multidisciplinary 2,091, Engineering and Technology 1,958, Tourism and Entertainment 1,392, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development 952, while Humanities has 783 submissions.

The majority of the entries are accompanied by the names of the student, their supervisors and heads of departments.

Haula Galadima, NERD’s spokesperson, clarified that one of the strategic objectives of the Federal Government for the thesis digitisation, classification, and archiving scheme was to enhance the quality of supervision without directly meddling in the process.

She stated that lecturers across Nigerian institutions were likely to be more thorough with their supervisory work if they were aware that their names would accompany those works and would be available to or be seen by other researchers, captains of industry and entrepreneurs globally.

She also stated that “NERD now has precision metrics to track earned allowances computation in any institution in Nigeria, and this will help the government to see the quantum of supervisory works being done by our lecturers outside their rigorous class teaching schedules, field, or laboratory work.”

The report also indicates that a slightly higher number of female students successfully enrolled and submitted ahead of their male counterparts, with Male: 4,995 to Female: 6,142.

The information analytics can presently be monitored by clicking Data Analytics or Open Platform on the NERD portal at https://esmat.ned.gov.ng.

For the first time since independence, Nigeria, under the Tinubu-led administration, took a revolutionary decision to digitise, classify, and organise the thousands of yearly research outputs being produced in the nation’s higher institutions.

The goal is to improve the quality of those works, organise and curate them in a location where they can be easily accessed by the industry, as well as make them available to other researchers who can improve upon them for overall national growth and development as a net contributor to global knowledge in a measurable and accountable manner.

Basically, the Federal Government intends to leverage NERD as a strategic tool to promote institutional quality upgrade without directly getting involved or meddling in the institutional processes.

Under the NERD regulation, all academic outputs are to be deposited in the national databank regardless of institution type or proprietorship and regardless of the level of study, whether undergraduate or postgraduate.

Even though NERD has asked NYSC to excuse undergraduates whose process of clearance began in their respective schools before the October 6 enforcement date from the mandatory NERD compliance clearance requirement, since they fall in the transition period, undergraduate students across the nation’s institutions have continued to upload their academic works onto the NERD platform on an hourly basis.

The student’s national thesis digitisation project is one of the key services of the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank.

Other mandates of NERD are the ongoing National Academic Credential Verification scheme targeted at eliminating qualification fraud in the public and private sectors of Nigeria, as well as the National Students’ Clearing House scheme aimed at serving as the central record keeper post-admission across all institutions.

Integrity Youth Alliance Lauds Transparent Payment Of Election Allowances To Police Personnel In Anambra

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Integrity Youth Alliance Lauds Transparent Payment Of Election Allowances To Police Personnel In Anambra

The Integrity Youth Alliance has applauded the Nigeria Police Force for its transparency and accountability in the payment of allowances to officers and men deployed for security duties during the Anambra Governorship Election.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Danjuma Lamido, the group commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, for ensuring that all payments were made through banks into the verified account numbers submitted by personnel.

The process, it noted, was in full compliance with the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, which promotes openness and curbs cash-handling abuses.

According to reliable information cited by the group, the payment of allowances began several days before the election, with most officers receiving alerts ahead of deployment.

For a few whose payments were delayed due to incomplete or inactive account details, the issues have since been resolved, and all affected personnel have started receiving their entitlements. 

The Integrity Youth Alliance also dismissed as false recent social media reports alleging that some police officers were detained for protesting unpaid election allowances.

It clarified that no such incident occurred and that all operations in Anambra were conducted in a disciplined and professional manner, without any cases of insubordination or unrest.

The group praised IGP Egbetokun’s leadership for institutionalising a transparent and welfare-oriented system that prioritises the motivation and well-being of police officers, particularly those on sensitive national duties like elections.

Reaffirming its confidence in the police leadership, the Integrity Youth Alliance described the Anambra election deployment as another demonstration of the Force’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, and credible election security under IGP Egbetokun.

Delta Police Arrest Suspected Armed Robber, Recover Pistol Hidden In Loaf Of Bread

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Delta Police Arrest Suspected Armed Robber, Recover Pistol Hidden In Loaf Of Bread

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and kidnapper found in possession of a fabricated Beretta pistol ingeniously concealed inside a loaf of bread.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Nnamdi Stanley Chibuike of Ogbeowele Quarters, behind General Hospital, Asaba, was apprehended on November 6, 2025, at about 8:45 a.m. by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) during a routine stop-and-search operation at Koka Roundabout, Asaba.

SP Edafe said the suspect’s suspicious behaviour prompted the officers to conduct a thorough search, during which a fabricated Beretta pistol was discovered carefully hidden inside a loaf of bread. The weapon was immediately recovered as an exhibit, and the suspect was taken into custody for further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, commended the operatives for their vigilance and professionalism, describing the arrest as a testament to the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing. He reaffirmed the Command’s determination to track down and prosecute all criminal elements in the state, regardless of their methods.

The CP further urged residents to remain alert and report suspicious activities to the police, assuring that all information provided will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

FCT Police Commissioner Redeploys Gwarimpa DPO Over Alleged Misconduct, Appoints CSP Nasir Gusau As Replacement

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FCT Police Commissioner Redeploys Gwarimpa DPO Over Alleged Misconduct, Appoints CSP Nasir Gusau As Replacement

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, has ordered the immediate redeployment of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Gwarimpa Division, SP Babale Galadima, to the Command Headquarters to face administrative disciplinary proceedings over alleged professional misconduct.

According to a statement issued on Saturday, November 8, 2025, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the decision follows complaints from members of the public regarding the officer’s conduct.

CP Dantawaye reiterated his commitment to upholding discipline, professionalism, and accountability within the Command, emphasising that acts of misconduct, unprofessionalism, or abuse of office will not be condoned.

In a related development, the CP has approved the posting of CSP Nasir Gusau as the new DPO for Gwarimpa Division with immediate effect. He charged the new officer to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, respect for human rights, and civility in dealing with the public while working in line with the Command’s operational objectives.

The Commissioner appealed to residents of Gwarimpa and its environs to cooperate with the new DPO and continue supporting the Police in their collective effort to maintain peace, law, and public safety in the area.

For emergencies or actionable information, residents are encouraged to contact the FCT Police Command through 0803 200 3913 or 0806 858 7311, or reach the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) on 0810 731 4192.

ECOWAS Commission To Host Public Presentation Of Three New Books On African Leadership And Youth Crisis

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ECOWAS Commission To Host Public Presentation Of Three New Books On African Leadership And Youth Crisis

The ECOWAS Commission, Asokoro, Abuja, will on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, host the public presentation of three new books authored by Steve Okey Onwuka, a senior diplomat, leadership scholar, and cultural thinker. The event coincides with the author’s 60th birthday and will begin at 1:00 p.m., with guests expected to be seated by 12:30 p.m.

Themed around “African Leadership and the Youth Crisis”, the event will feature the unveiling of three thought-provoking titles: Africa: Vengeance of the Abandoned, The Dialogue: The Vulnerable and the Desperate, and Songs of Ogadi.

The books interrogate Africa’s leadership challenges and moral drift through the prisms of literature, philosophy, and faith, offering a clarion call for a generational awakening and cultural renewal.

In Africa: Vengeance of the Abandoned, Onwuka traces the roots of youth neglect to the colonial era, urging a Pan-African revival anchored on ancestral wisdom and inclusive dialogue. The Dialogue: The Vulnerable and the Desperate presents a dramatic parable about moral decay and redemption, while Songs of Ogadi, an anthology of 30 poems, celebrates heritage, hope, and the spiritual journey toward Africa’s rebirth.

Together, the three works form a compelling commentary on the African condition, urging policymakers and citizens alike to address the continent’s growing youth crisis manifested in insurgency, migration, and social disillusionment.

Dignitaries and Special Guests

  • Guest of Honour: Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
  • Chief Host: Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President, ECOWAS Commission
  • Chairman of the Occasion: Mr Boss Mustapha, Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation
  • Guest Speaker: Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, African Union Special Envoy on Silencing the Guns
  • Host: Her Excellency, Datiem Chinchibidja, Vice President, ECOWAS Commission
  • Co-Host: Professor Darma Nazifi, Honourable Commissioner, Internal Services, ECOWAS Commission

Book Unveilers

  1. His Excellency, Rochas Anayo Okorocha, Former Governor of Imo State and Founder, Rochas Foundation
  2. Chief Engineer Chibuike Achigbu, Chief Executive Officer, CHIMONS Gas Ltd.

Book Reviewers

  1. His Excellency, Julius Sandy, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Nigeria and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
  2. Professor Okey Ikechukwu, mni, Executive Director, Development Specs Academy

The event is expected to draw an audience of diplomats, scholars, policymakers, and cultural enthusiasts, making it a landmark intellectual engagement in the capital.

Attendance is strictly by invitation.

For media enquiries and accreditation:
📧 Email: sonwuka@ecowas.int
📞 Phone: +234 703 413 8347 | +234 814 461 4551
🌐 Website: steveokeyonwuka.org

NITDA Showcases Economic, Digital Transformation Gains As ICEGOV 2025 Ends In Abuja

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NITDA Showcases Economic, Digital Transformation Gains As ICEGOV 2025 Ends In Abuja

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has described the successful conclusion of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2025) as a milestone for Nigeria’s digital economy drive, underscoring its impact on research, innovation, and international collaboration.

Hosted in Abuja under the patronage of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the four-day conference convened global experts, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss the future of electronic governance. According to NITDA, the event directly aligns with President Tinubu’s priority agenda of accelerating economic diversification through industrialisation and digitalisation.

Organised by the United Nations University (UNU-EGOV), ICEGOV 2025 attracted participants from academia, government, development institutions, and the private sector, placing Nigeria at the forefront of global digital discourse.

A total of 151 scientific papers were submitted by 308 authors from 33 countries, with 68 percent of participants representing emerging economies. Nigeria recorded the highest number of contributors — 102 authors — followed by Brazil, India, Portugal, and Greece.

NITDA noted that this strong participation reflects its sustained investment in digital skills development, research funding, and ecosystem strengthening, which have elevated Nigeria’s profile in the global digital governance landscape.

Highlighting local excellence, the conference’s Best Paper Award in the Research category went to Robert Ifeonu of the Central Bank of Nigeria for his paper titled “Micro-Transformation Framework for Public Sector Innovation: Catalysing Resilient, Outcome-Driven Digital Governance.” NITDA said this recognition demonstrates Nigeria’s growing leadership in creating home-grown digital governance models capable of driving socio-economic growth.

In her closing remarks, Professor Delfina Soares, Director of UNU-EGOV, commended NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, for his vision and leadership in bringing ICEGOV to Abuja. She also acknowledged NITDA’s role in mobilising partnerships and sponsorships that elevated the event’s global relevance and strengthened Africa’s standing in digital governance research.

NITDA further highlighted the broader economic and strategic benefits of hosting the conference, including enhanced global visibility, strengthened institutional partnerships, and opportunities for new research collaborations and capacity-building initiatives.

According to the Agency, insights generated from ICEGOV 2025 will advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, boost public sector efficiency, and support the Federal Government’s push for economic diversification through digitalisation and industrialisation.

As delegates departed Abuja, NITDA reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the momentum, ensuring that Nigeria not only participates in global digital governance conversations but also plays a leading role in shaping them.

Gombe’s Little Efforts That Count

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Gombe’s Little Efforts That Count

By Shu’aibu Usman Leman

In a country frequently paralysed by the scale of its problems, where grand pronouncements too often crumble into dust, it is the subtle, pragmatic acts of governance that truly deserve our attention and praise. Nigeria is weary of promises. Our confidence, battered by decades of underperformance, is now being subtly, yet powerfully, rekindled by a quiet revolution taking place in Gombe State.

The recent official launch of a 7.5-megawatt (MW) injection substation at the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park is more than just a ceremonial event; it is a profound philosophical statement. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has masterfully shifted the conversation from lamenting Nigeria’s persistent power deficit to acting decisively to solve it, one localised grid at a time. This is leadership at its most worthwhile of translating a clear vision—industrial revival—into tangible, electrified action, even amidst daunting national economic headwinds.

The sheer ambition of the 1,000-hectare industrial park, strategically anchored by agribusiness, is breathtaking. Yet, without reliable power, it would be nothing more than a vast, sun-drenched field of unrealised potential. The substation, therefore, is not an accessory; it is the backbone—the very lifeblood—of this regional economic engine, promising to deliver electricity to key industries, innovation clusters, and the sprawling network of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that form the true engine of employment.

For too long, Nigeria’s monolithic approach to power generation and distribution has choked its industrial potential. The erratic, often non-existent, power supply has been a primary saboteur of our manufacturing base, forcing countless youth into despondency or, worse, mass migration in search of opportunity abroad.

Gombe, however, is demonstrating the potent utility of the Electricity Act. By strategically utilising this legislation to decentralise and domesticate power infrastructure, the state is effectively shielding its future industrial tenants from the volatility of the national grid. The partnership with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) on this substation is a textbook example of effective inter-agency and state-level collaboration, proving that the solution to a national problem can be found in localised innovation and shared responsibility.

The forecasts springing from this initiative are profoundly encouraging, a credible projection of over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. This is not just a statistical uplift; it is the transformation of thousands of livelihoods, the restoration of family dignity, and the stabilisation of an entire regional economy—the North-East—that desperately requires such anchors of hope.

Complementing the substation’s immediate impact is Gombe’s equally crucial investment in a ₦1 billion hydropower-solar hybrid initiative in the Balanga area. This dual approach signals a forward-thinking leadership that understands the future of energy is not just about availability, but about sustainability and resilience. This adoption of clean, renewable, and decentralised power models is a powerful acknowledgment of a global imperative. It ensures that Gombe is not just building infrastructure for today, but future-proofing its economy for tomorrow, creating a model where no community is necessarily left in darkness due to the failure of a distant, centralised plant. These actions are a clear manifestation of a state committed to a robust, self-reliant energy ecosystem.
Predictably, the naysayers will emerge. They will dismiss this 7.5MW effort as a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared to Nigeria’s mammoth power needs. But history’s greatest transformations—from the industrial revolution to modern technological leaps—rarely begin with a single, colossal event. They begin with small, consistent sparks—incremental, focused reforms that build trust and momentum. Gombe has a history of this methodical approach. Its achievement of ranking as Nigeria’s top state in the Ease of Doing Business (2021–2022) was not a fluke; it was secured through a relentless commitment to consistent, incremental regulatory and infrastructural reforms. This substation is merely the most visible and recent result of that underlying, disciplined work ethic.

What Gombe State has demonstrated is irrefutable proof that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can, indeed, bear fruit. The success of the national agenda hinges not merely on federal initiatives, but on the willingness of states to take ownership, embrace innovation, and collaborate effectively with both federal agencies and the private sector. Gombe is not waiting for Abuja; it is building its own future and, in doing so, is holding up a mirror to others.
The imperative facing some states is straightforward and urgent, will they emulate Gombe’s model of action, partnership, and localised innovation, or will they remain shackled by old patterns of dependency and bureaucratic inertia? A new, decentralised industrial culture is within our collective reach—one where every state harnesses its unique resource strengths, aggressively pursues Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and establishes clear frameworks that support enterprise and productivity.

However, the path from successful launch to sustained impact is fraught with peril. This budding success story requires immediate and unwavering vigilance. Years of investment could be undone by the persistent threat of insecurity, which can shatter investor confidence in a single, catastrophic event. Equally menacing are the internal threats of funding gaps, bureaucratic obstacles, and the corrosive influence of corruption, sabotage, and vandalism. These must be checked with unyielding discipline and radical transparency. This is where the role of the community becomes paramount. The citizens of Gombe must transform from mere beneficiaries into the co-guardians of these vital projects, ensuring their longevity and integrity.

The 7.5MW injection substation is Gombe’s ‘power play’—a term not of political manoeuvring, but of strategic, future-shaping action. It serves as a gentle, yet undeniable, reminder that small efforts, consistently and intelligently applied, are the true building blocks of national transformation. It is time to shed the national cynicism. It is time for others to look inward and ask: “What is our Gombe-style action?” It is time to believe again, to act again, and to power Nigeria toward the industrial greatness that has always been its destiny.

Shu’aibu Usman Leman is former National Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists -NUJ.

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