Opinion

Tinubu’s Ministers: Nigeria’s Messiah?

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2023

It is over one month since the swearing-in of the new members of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, precisely on August 21, 2023, sequel to their nomination and confirmation by the Senate. It can be said that competence appears to be the dominant consideration in the mind of President Tinubu in constituting his cabinet as many of the ministers have intimidating academic and professional records that qualify them for high and demanding public offices. Asides their academic prowess, Tinubu tends to have considered impact and valuable contributions as well as their wealth of experience in both private and public sectors towards nation building. The likes of Dr Bosun Tijani, who is the current Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, prior to his appointment was the CEO of CcHUB, a technology innovation Centre which had led a number of social technology projects including Lagos Innovation Hotspots and the i-HQ concept. The ministry under his watch, no doubt is expected to create and formulate policies that will propel the Nigerian economy to a digitised economy. Same with Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the Economy. He is an economist, investment banker and a former commissioner for finance in Lagos state. The roll call of his cabinet members with such sterling credentials goes on and on. And let us not forget the former state governors in the cabinet who were carefully co-opted not just on the basis of party affiliation, but on competence and performance.
Now, the dice is cast! The stage is set! The ball in their court! 46 days have passed and the time keeps counting by every tick of the clock. The hopes of Nigerians for a transformed, innovative and sustainable development are hanging on President Tinubu and his cabinet. Admittedly, the performance of any government is directly proportional to the quality of its elected or appointed officials. That is why presidents, and governors in any given government often recruit the right people to oversee the various sectors of the economy as ministers or commissioners, knowing that sectoral excellence positively affects the overall deliverables of government. Hence, Tinubu’s ministers will have a lot in their hands as they have officially kick-started their ministry’s assignment against the backdrop of economic hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and continued devaluation of naira which has degenerated into high rate of inflation.
As it stands, Nigeria is obviously going through difficult times – broke- and in serious need of resources to revamp the ailing economy and invest in human capital and infrastructure; cognisance of the facts that the past administration plunged the country into a debt abyss. Nigeria’s total debt stock stood at N46 trillion as at March 2023, according to data by the Debt Management Office (DMO). President Tinubu recently said that servicing Nigeria’s external debt with 90 percent of the country’s revenue was not sustainable. This came after KPMG, on the 19th May, 2023 projected that Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio may exceed 100 percent this year. A figure which was later pegged at 73.5 per cent by DMO, saying it was unsustainable.
According to reports, prior to the aforementioned projections, Nigeria had spent 80.6 per cent of its revenue on debt servicing with the hope that it would drop steeply to 60 per cent before the end of the year. With this and many other challenges facing Nigeria as a nation, much is expected of the newly sworn-in ministers. Nigerians anxiously want to see changes in their lives. Just a few days ago, a Nigerian woman said nothing meaningful had been seen from the ministers since assumption of office. “I was expecting everything to be settling down, now that the newly appointed ministers had been sworn-in”, a middle-aged woman who simply identified herself as Sister Kate decried. Asked why Kate said, “We are believing that the ministers will turn things around and deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to us. “ Whether coming too early or not, her belief is a pointer that Nigerians are eagerly waiting for a change – the reality of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
To accentuate the above, President Tinubu, during the Ministers’ inauguration tasked his cabinet members to meet the expectations of Nigerians for a renewed socio-economic development. “Your assignment begins immediately, and you must work to make yourself worthy of God and the people to make Nigerians believe that the right hands are chosen.”I believe in you and hope the government will be a progressive way to gain public confidence and trust. “Nigerians expect you to hit the ground running just as we had promised them during our campaigns. With your inauguration today, you have become ministers of the Federal Republic, not ministers of a particular state or region.” the president said.” That is the simple truth. The entire Nigerian populace is counting on Tinubu and members of his cabinet to redeem our ailing economy before it becomes unredeemable”, Mr. Kelvin Emeka, an economist said. Emeka noted that the first task of Tinubu’s cabinet is to re-awaken the economy and address the prevalent increase in prices of commodities so as to nip hunger in the bud.
In a chat with Alhaji Ibrahim Usman, an Abuja-based political analyst, he said the newly sworn-in ministers are the force that will drive Tinubu-led administration into fulfilling his electioneering promises. According to him, the ministers must give prior attention to policies and projects that are geared towards addressing the hardship currently in the country. “I can tell you; we are just looking up to the ministers; to face the reality in the country now. “I think it will be good if the newly sworn-in ministers will make it a point of duty to implement policies and projects that will alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians”, he said. The future that Nigerians hoped for, voted for and eagerly await is not unattainable. Though the deplorable systems, endemic poverty, bad governance, and dire situations may appear to dash the hope of a better Nigeria, but the onus to rescue the situation and bring back hope to Nigerians, lies in the hands of Tinubu’s ministers. This is the burden every minister must bear in the course of managing his/her ministry. The hopes of Nigerians lie in your hand.

By; Calista Ezeaku

Opinion

Trans-Kalabari Road: Work In Progress

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”This Dream project is one of the best things that have happened to the people and residents of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas in recent times.”

This is the concluding part of this story featured in our last edition.

Good road network helps farmers to convey their agro-allied products to commercial hubs where buyers and sellers meet periodically to transact business. Road network engineers and motivates people resident in unfriendly geographical terrains, like riverine areas, to own property and shuttle home with ease. Some people will prefer living in their own houses in a more serene and nature-blessed communities to living in the city that is fraught with pollution, and other environmental, social and economic hazards. Prior to the cult epidemic that ravaged parts of Rivers State, the Emohuas, Elemes, Ogonis, and Etches were known for rural dwelling. Most public servants from these areas do their official and private transactions from their villages. For them it was comparatively easier to live in the village and engage in a diversified economic endeavours through farming, fishing or other lucrative business without outrageous charges and embarrassment associated with doing business in Port Harcourt, where land is as scarce as the traditional needle.

That is why the decision to construct the Trans-Kalabari Road by the administration of Dr. Peter Odili was one of the best decisions that administration took. When Dr. Odili vacated office as the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi took over and awarded contracts for continuation of the road project which in my considered view is the felt need of the people of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas. Unfortunately, Rt. Hon. Amaechi’s efforts to drive the project was sabotaged by some contractors some of whom are Kalabari people. The main Trans-Kalabari Road is one project that is dear to the people and residents of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas of Rivers State. This is because through the road commuters can easily access several communities in the three local government areas. For instance, the road when completed will enable access to eight of the ten communities in Degema Local Government Area, namely: Bukuma, Tombia, Bakana, Oguruama, Obuama, Usokun, Degema town and the Degema Consulate. It will also link 15 of the 16 communities in Asari Toru Local Government Area. The communities are: Buguma, the local government headquarters, Ido, Abalama, Tema, Sama, Okpo, Ilelema, Ifoko, Tema, Sangama, Krakrama, Omekwe-Ama, Angulama. The road will also connect 14 of 17 wards in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, and other settlements. It is interesting to note that It is faster, and far more convenient and economical for the catchment Communities on the Trans-Kalabari Road network to go to the State Capital than the East West Road. The people of the three local government areas will prefer to work or do their transactions in Port Harcourt from their respective communities to staying in Port Harcourt where the house rent and the general cost of living is astronomically high.

Consequently, development will seamlessly spread to the 28 out of 34 communities of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas. The only Communities that are not linked by the road project are Oporoama in Asari Toru, the Ke and Bille Communities in Degema Local Government Area and the “Oceania” communities of Abissa, Kula, Soku, Idama, Elem Sangama of Akuku Toru Local Government Area. But because of the economic value of the unlinked Communities to Nigeria, (they produce substantial oil and gas in the area), the Federal, State Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), can extend the road network to those areas just as Bonny is linked to Port Harcourt and the Lagos Mainland Bridge is connecting several towns in Lagos and neighbouring States.Kudos to previous administrations who had constructed the Central Group axis.

However, what is said to be the First Phase of the Trans-Kalabari Road project is actually a linkage of the “Central Group” Communities which consists of Krakrama, Angulama, Omekwe. Ama, Omekwe Tari Ama, Ifoko, Tema, Sangama. It is the peripheral of the Trans-Kalabari Road. The completion of the Main Trans Kalabari project will free Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor areas from congestion. It will motivate residents and people of the three local areas to contribute to the development of their Communities. If the Ogonis, Etches, Emohuas, Oyigbos, Okrikas, Elemes can feel comfortable doing business in Port Harcourt from home, residents and people whose communities are linked to Port Harcourt through the Trans-Kalabari Road will no doubt, do likewise. The vast arable virgin land of the Bukuma people can be open for development and sustainable agricultural ventures by Local, State and Federal Government.

It is necessary to recall that the Bukuma community was host to the Federal Government’s Graduate Farmers’ Scheme and the Rivers State Government moribund School-to-Land Scheme under Governor Fidelis Oyakhilome. Bukuma was the only community in Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas that has the capacity to carry those agricultural programmes. However the lack of road to transport farm produce to Port Harcourt and facilitate the movement of the beneficiaries of the scheme who lived in the community which is several miles away from the farms, hampered the sustainability of the programme. The main Trans-Kalabari Road remains the best gift to the people of Degema, Asari Toru, and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas. Kudos to Sir Siminilayi Fubara.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

That U.S. Capture of Maduro

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”Strategic convenience does not nullify sovereignty. Political frustration does not authorise military abduction.”

The first part of this story was published in our last edition.

In Africa and the Middle East, regime change—whether by invasion, proxy warfare, or sanctions—has often left behind fractured states, weakened institutions, and prolonged instability. Washington’s motivations in Venezuela are widely understood: vast oil reserves, alliances with U.S. rivals, and symbolic defiance of American influence in the Western Hemisphere. But none of these reasons confer legal or moral legitimacy. Strategic convenience does not nullify sovereignty. Political frustration does not authorise military abduction. If every powerful nation acted on its grievances in this manner, global chaos would inevitably follow. International law provides mechanisms for accountability. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), individuals accused of crimes against humanity or other grave offences are subject to investigation and prosecution through judicial processes.

Likewise, extradition treaties, mutual legal assistance agreements, and Interpol mechanisms exist to ensure accountability while respecting due process. These frameworks were designed precisely to prevent unilateral enforcement of “justice” by military force. The most profound consequence of America’s action may not be in Caracas, but in the precedent it sets. If the world accepts that a superpower can unilaterally depose another country’s president, then the foundation of the international system is weakened. Sovereignty becomes conditional—no longer a right, but a privilege tolerated at the discretion of the powerful. Going forward, if another country invades its neighbour, will the United States retain the moral authority to impose sanctions or demand restraint? Some analysts already warn that parallels between Russia’s actions in Ukraine and America’s conduct in Venezuela risk further eroding global norms. Selective adherence to international law breeds cynicism and accelerates the drift toward a world governed by force rather than rules.

Power—military, economic, or political—should serve human progress and collective well-being, not domination and destruction. For African nations, many of which emerged from colonial rule through bitter struggle, this precedent is especially alarming. Sovereignty is not an abstract legal concept; it is a hard-won shield against external domination. Any erosion of that principle anywhere weakens it everywhere. Africa’s painful history of foreign interference makes this lesson especially urgent. For me, the real issue is not whether Nicolás Maduro is a good or bad leader. That judgment belongs, first and foremost, to the Venezuelan people. The larger issue is whether the international system still operates on law—or has quietly reverted to hierarchy. If America insists it is defending global order, it must ask itself a difficult question: can an order survive when its most powerful guardian feels entitled to violate it? Until that question is answered honestly, the capture of a foreign president will remain not a triumph of justice, but a troubling symbol of a world drifting from law toward force.

If the United States felt so strongly about the allegations of terrorism, drug trafficking against Maduro, were there no other lawful options? Judicial accountability, diplomacy, regional mediation, and multilateral pressure may be slow and imperfect, but they reflect respect for international law and sovereign equality. Military seizure is a blunt instrument. It humiliates institutions, radicalizes populations, and hardens resistance. It may remove a leader, but it rarely resolves the underlying crisis. History teaches that military interventions seldom result in stable democratic outcomes. More often, they breed resentment, resistance, and long-term instability. For the sake of global order and the rule of law, the United States should reconsider this path and recommit to diplomacy, legal cooperation, and respect for the sovereign equality of states. Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly described the invasion of Venezuela as “unlawful and unwise,” warning that such actions “do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.” Her words reflect a growing recognition, even within the United States, that force without legitimacy undermines both moral authority and global stability.

Should what happened in Venezuela serve as a wake-up call for corrupt African leaders who undermine the people’s right to choose their leaders? The answer is yes. The capture of Maduro should alarm African leaders who manipulate elections, weaken institutions, suppress opposition, undermine citizens’ rights, or cling to power at all costs. Venezuela faced widespread criticism over disputed elections and repression long before this episode, and that context shaped how the world reacted. This does not justify foreign military intervention, but it highlights an uncomfortable truth: prolonged democratic decay isolates nations and invites external pressure—from sanctions to diplomatic censure. Global opinion matters, and legitimacy at home strengthens sovereignty abroad. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and several African leaders have rightly condemned the events in Venezuela, invoking the principles of sovereignty and non-interference enshrined in international and regional law.

Beyond condemnation, however, African leaders must look inward. The continent’s future cannot be built on repression, constitutional manipulation, and personal greed. Leadership must reflect the will of the people, not desperation for power. Two days ago, a social commentator on a radio station argued that Trump’s action—though condemnable—demonstrates how far a leader can go for his country’s interest. According to this view, he did not intervene in Venezuela for personal enrichment, but to strengthen his nation. In stark contrast, many African leaders plunder their own countries. They siphon public resources, impose crushing taxes and harmful policies, and leave their citizens poorer—all for selfish gain. That contradiction is the deeper lesson Africa must confront.True sovereignty is protected not only by international law, but by accountable leadership at home.

By: Calista Ezeaku

Opinion

Kudos Gov Fubara

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Please permit me to use this medium to appreciate our able governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the inauguration of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road in Ahoada-East Local Government Area. This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the history of our communities and deserves commendation. We, the people of Ozochi, are particularly happy because this project has brought long-awaited relief after years of isolation and hardship.

The expression of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, during the inauguration captured the joy of our people. He said, “our isolation is over.” That reflects the profound impact of this road on daily life, economic activities, and social integration of the people of Ozochi and other neighbouring communities. The road will no doubt ease transportation, improve access to markets and healthcare, and strengthen links between Ahoada, Omoku, and other parts of Rivers State.

The people of Ahoada, Omoku, and indeed Rivers State as a whole are grateful to our dear governor for this laudable achievement and wish him many more successful years in office. We pray that God endows him with more wisdom and strength to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the benefit of all. As citizens, we should rally behind the governor and support his development agenda. Our politicians and stakeholders should embrace peace and cooperation, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of conflict. Sustainable development in the state can only thrive where peace prevails.

Samuel Ebiye