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Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General Affirms Igbo Identity.

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••Senator Mbata emphasizing on unity and development for Igbos and other ethnic groups.

Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Senator John Mbata, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has firmly declared that his Igbo identity is unwavering, dismissing recent criticisms as stemming from misunderstanding. He reiterated his commitment to supporting Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and respecting the office of the governor.
Mbata made this statement during a courtesy visit from the Opobo Elder Statesmen-4-Sim on Monday in Port Harcourt. He emphasized his focus on building bridges and connecting Igbos to broader platforms for development, highlighting the importance of unity among different ethnic groups.
“Some people say they are from Benin, that their ancestry is Benin. And I say, That’s fine. Let’s go there. We say that we have a relationship with the Igbo. I’m not going to deny my Igbo identity,” Mbata stated. “I see my responsibility as building bridges. We must operate at the highest stage of this Nigerian project. We have to be able to access the powers that be.”
Edwin Cockeye-Brown, Chairman of Opobo Elder Statesmen-4-Sim, congratulated Mbata on his election and expressed gratitude for his support of Governor Fubara, particularly during the governor’s impeachment attempt. He also highlighted the longstanding relationship between the Mbata family and the Opobo people.
Livingstone Wechie, the Rivers State Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, praised Mbata’s leadership and the historic nature of the visit. “Today, we have the tallest Ikwerre son, both in height and stature, to be given this task to lead more than one 100 million Ndigbo all over the world,” Wechie said.
Chief Lawrence Oko-Jaja, SAN, who introduced the delegation, emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration, highlighting Mbata’s integrity and commitment to the interests of the Ikwerre people. The delegation expressed their eagerness to work with Mbata to promote peace, development, and cultural heritage.

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“Nigerians Are Happy With Your Economic Policy”Ganduje Commends President Tinubu’s Vision and Economic Reforms

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By John Audu, Abuja

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, praised President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, describing him as a visionary leader whose economic reforms are gaining respect among Nigerians.

During a meeting with a delegation from the Tinubu Young Generation Forum at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, Ganduje highlighted the President’s effective approach to addressing the challenges he inherited upon taking office.

“Our President is doing very well. He is a reformer and a visionary leader. He is focused, and we are pleased with his reforms, which are absolutely necessary for the social and economic development of this country,” Ganduje stated.

He acknowledged the complexity of the issues facing the nation, noting that many problems have developed over a long period and require precise measures to rectify. “There is no doubt that many things went wrong, but we are happy to see the results of these reforms, particularly in the economic sector. We believe they will continue to yield positive outcomes, ensuring the success of our legacy and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.

Ganduje also announced the establishment of a Progressive Institute aimed at educating party members on the APC’s constitution, manifesto, and programs. The institute will provide valuable input for government policy formulation necessary for the country’s development, signifying a shift away from business as usual.

In previous statements, Ganduje assured Nigerians in August 2024 that the benefits of Tinubu’s ambitious reforms would soon be realized. Similarly, in September 2024, he called on the public to reaffirm their trust in the President as his administration continues to lead comprehensive economic reforms.

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They’re Planning To Arrest Me, El-Rufai Speaks Out on Arrest Fears, Vows to Return to Nigeria Amid Allegations of Intimidation

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By Mike Odeh James, Kaduna.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed concerns regarding rumors of a possible arrest and detention, asserting that he has no plans to go into exile. In a post on X on Tuesday, El-Rufai revealed that he believes his adversaries are attempting to force him out of the country.

Currently residing in Egypt, El-Rufai responded to a loyal supporter, Imran Wakili, regarding the alleged plot against him. He stated his intention to return to Nigeria before February 20, emphasizing, “I will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before.”

El-Rufai claimed to have received intimidation and threats through friends, family, and political associates aimed at coercing him into self-imposed exile. “Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option,” he declared, reiterating his commitment to political engagement despite past experiences of arrest and detention for expressing dissenting views.

Reflecting on the nature of political strife, he remarked, “The arrest, detention, and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs,” and stressed that political life continues beyond such challenges. He affirmed his intention to return for the launch of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs, scheduled for February 20, stating, “We depend on no one but Allah. We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah.”

El-Rufai’s statements come amid ongoing tensions with supporters of President Bola Tinubu and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the former governor recently criticizing the party for lacking internal democracy, highlighting the absence of meetings among its governing organs for the past two years.

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Naira Continues Gaining Momentum As Speculators Count Losses.

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By Anastasia John E.

The naira recently sustained its rally at the official and parallel markets, continuing an upward trend against the U.S. dollar.

A Bureau de Change operator, Alikola Hassan, at Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, said the naira traded at N1,590 per dollar on Wednesday, strengthening from N1,600 on Tuesday—a gain of N10 in just one day. There was a slight decline at the official exchange rate as the naira settled at N1,499.76 per dollar on Wednesday, compared to N1,498.95 on Tuesday.

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Some analysts said the currency’s recent gains have been driven by the CBN’s Foreign Exchange Code, introduced recently to improve transparency in the FX market. They also said that the apex bank’s extended FX sales to Bureau de Change operators until May 2025 further stabilised the market.

This development coincides with escalating global trade tensions, as the U.S. launched trade wars with China, Mexico, and other nations under former President Donald Trump. The Trump administration imposed a 10 per cent tariff on selected Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with a 15 per cent tariff on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas. While global trade uncertainty affects many emerging markets, Nigeria’s proactive policy measures shield the naira from excessive volatility.

Analysts noted that the local currency traded below N1,600 to the dollar at the parallel market for the first time in nearly eight months.

For the CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, integrity, fairness, transparency, and efficiency are critical pillars for driving Nigeria’s economic growth and stability. He said, “The FX Code represents a decisive step forward, setting clear and enforceable standards for ethical conduct, transparency, and good governance in our foreign exchange market. The era of opaque practices is over. The FX Code marks a new era of compliance and accountability. Under the CBN Act 2007 and BOFIA Act 2020, violations will be met with penalties and administrative actions.”
Analysts estimate that FX speculators have lost over N10 billion in the current naira rally and are expected to record more losses as holders of the greenback dump the currency in the open market. Analysts from Cordros Securities reported that the naira strengthened significantly last week, appreciating by 3.8 per cent week-on-week to N1,474.78/$ at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).

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Similarly, managing director of Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Ike Chioke, reported a 4.3 per cent month-on-month gain in the naira against the dollar, closing at N1,497/$1. The parallel market rate also appreciated by 1.7 per cent to N1,580.00/$1.00. Chioke projected a sustained positive performance for the naira this month, supported by the CBN’s continued efforts to entrench transparency in market operations.

“In the new month, we expect the naira to remain on a positive trajectory bolstered by the CBN’s efforts at currency stability,” he said in an emailed note to investors.

An economist, Dr Lanre Oyedele, said that the naira rally has been bolstered by several key factors, including Inflows from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs); renewed interest from FPIs has increased dollar liquidity in the market, strengthening the naira; contributions from International Oil Companies (IOCs); increased FX inflows from IOCs have further stabilised the market; and CBN’s Intervention.

The CBN has injected $18.40 million into the FX market through authorised dealers, improving Market Confidence. Transparency-driven reforms have restored investor confidence and curbed speculative attacks on the naira.

The president of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe, attributed the naira’s rebound against the dollar to the CBN’s proactive policies. He highlighted the Foreign Exchange (FX) Code, rising investor confidence, and policies promoting dollar inflows through diaspora remittances as key drivers of the currency’s rally. “The FX Code will further entrench transparency and accountability in the FX market and continually sustain the naira’s rally,” he said.

CEO of Countryside Markets Limited, Stevens Michael, expressed optimism about the reforms, stating: “The whole idea is to ensure more sanity in the foreign exchange market because certain practices have created significant problems over the years. The more we sanitise the markets, the more stability we will achieve in the foreign exchange market.”

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The CBN reaffirmed that while the FX Code comprehensively addresses various aspects of market conduct and practice, it is not intended to be exhaustive, adding that the regulatory framework will continue to evolve in response to market developments.

Governor Cardoso also noted that the journey towards market reform is already yielding results. He stated, “The year 2024 was marked by structural reforms that sought to return the naira to a freely determined market price and ease volatility as several distortions were removed from the market.”

Cardoso explained that the apex bank focuses on sustaining price stability, the planned transition to an inflation-targeting framework, and strategies to restore purchasing power and ease economic hardship. “These actions have yielded measurable progress: relative stability in the FX market, narrowing exchange rate disparities, and a rise in external reserves to over $40 billion as of December 2024. The CBN also focused on strengthening the banking sector, introducing new minimum capital requirements for banks (effective March 2026) to ensure resilience and position Nigeria’s banking industry for a $1 trillion economy.

“As we shift from unorthodox to orthodox monetary policy, the CBN remains committed to restoring confidence, strengthening policy credibility, and staying focused on its core mandate of price stability,” Cardoso said.
Already, remittances through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) rose 79.4 per cent to US$4.18 billion in the first three quarters of 2024.

However, analysts said achieving macroeconomic stability requires sustained vigilance and a proactive monetary policy stance.

Commercial banks are major stakeholders in implementing the FX Code. Analysts have, therefore, called on the CBN to institute strong compliance checks to ensure that banks, which in the past constituted one of the weakest links to FX policy implementation, comply with the new policy measures.

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Analysts expect the naira to maintain its positive trajectory with sustained policy interventions, foreign investments, and improved economic fundamentals. According to them, while global trade tensions may pose external risks, Nigeria’s proactive measures would provide a strong foundation for continued currency stability adding that as the CBN enforces its new policies, speculators who once thrived on market opacity increasingly face losses, further reinforcing confidence in the naira’s long-term resilience.

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Balarabe Abbas Lawal Foundation sponsors 1000 students for JAMB.

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Balarabe Abbas Lawal Foundation sponsors 1000 students for JAMB.By Bashir Bello In continuation of his efforts towards improving Education in Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole, the Minister of Environment Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal has sponsored 1000 students from various secondary schools across the state for the 2025 UTME JAMB Registration, to enable them sit for the examinations.The empowerment efforts of the Minister is inline with his resolve to continue to assist children of the masses who due to financial reasons are unable to afford the mandatory JAMB Registration fees to enable them write the exams.Our correspondent who visited Federal College of Education FCE Zaria CBT center for the Zone 1 registration and the Anchau on Kubua Local Government Area Centers reports that many secondary school students were seeing undergoing registration and thumb printing.Speaking to Newsmen, the coordinators of the program Mallam Halilu Hassan said this exercise is a follow up to the recent scholarships given to students of higher institutions of learning within Kaduna State about two weeks ago.”Let me start by commending our hardworking Minister for this gesture, you will recall that about two weeks ago the honorable minister of Environment through his foundation gave scholarships to students across tertiary institutions in Kaduna State by paying their school fees. We will also visit Kaduna and Kafanchan centers of the registration because the registration is also taking place in these zones” He said.Similarly, one of the coordinators of the scheme, Umar Yahaya advised the students to take the exams very serious because if they are successful it would afford them the opportunity to go further.”The Minister is concerned about Education and that is why as you can see all the students are smiling and they appreciate what the minister has done for them” he said. Some of the students from various secondary schools in zone 1, also expressed their gratitude to the Minister for coming to their aid.This gesture of the Minister is inline with the President Tinubu’s commitment to improve Education in Nigeria.

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