By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government’s plan to introduce a tax on petroleum products has triggered criticism from Nigerians, who fear the move could increase their financial burden amid rising living costs and high fuel prices.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, recently disclosed the plan, explaining that the tax would only take effect when the economy had stabilised and income levels had improved enough to accommodate the additional cost.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, Oyedele said revenue from the proposed levy would support road infrastructure and the development of a fuel reserve to cushion the effects of future price shocks.

He explained that implementing the tax while petrol was subsidised would have meant the government effectively paid the charge itself. Introducing it immediately after the removal of the subsidy, he added, would have placed further pressure on Nigerians.

“The objective should be that instead of trying to suppress prices, which hasn’t worked for us or for any country in the world, not one, and instead of trying to suppress prices, we should think about how to grow income faster than prices rise.

“That’s how you bring prosperity and grow the middle class, and that is exactly what we are doing, as led by Mr President himself.

“At the appropriate time, when the economy is stabilised and income levels are able to accommodate it, those taxes will come. Not because we want to impose taxes,” Oyedele said.

The proposal has revived concerns over the financial consequences of the fuel subsidy removal, particularly among small business owners who depend on petrol-powered generators because of unreliable electricity supply.

Oyedele said the proposed fuel reserve would “help moderate prices of fuel products if anything happens.” He added that the government could temporarily waive the tax during future price shocks to reduce the burden on consumers.

He also explained that the existing legal framework requires the finance minister to issue an order published in the Official Gazette before the surcharge can take effect.

“The good thing is that the law says that tax cannot come into effect until there is a gazette. There has to be an order published in the gazette by the finance minister, which means we can’t do it in secret. Plus, we have no intention of doing stuff in secret.

“At the appropriate time, it will be clear to everyone why it needed to be done, and the benefits will be clear also to every Nigerian,” he said.

The proposed levy is linked to a five per cent surcharge on chargeable fossil fuel products provided for under Nigeria’s tax framework. The framework exempts household kerosene, cooking gas, compressed natural gas and clean or renewable energy products.

On June 16, 2026, the government had dismissed reports that it was introducing fresh taxes on petroleum products following recommendations in the International Monetary Fund’s Article IV consultation report. It said the value-added tax waiver on petroleum products remained in place and that no process to activate the fuel surcharge was then under consideration.

Oyedele noted that taxes account for between 20 and 80 per cent of pump prices in some countries, while several African nations impose between six and 10 different charges on petroleum products.

He also discussed the sequence of the petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, explaining that the government initially removed support for petrol prices before allowing the naira to adjust gradually.

“That is the reason why there was still a bit of subsidy in 2023. It was to manage that process because you need to be mindful of the impact on the people.”

According to the minister, the petrol subsidy was completely removed in October 2023, leaving no government support for either petrol prices or foreign exchange.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism from citizens who argue that the government should prioritise measures to ease the effects of existing economic pressures rather than introduce another charge.

A tailor, Niyi Osundare, said the proposed tax could worsen the difficulties faced by small businesses already struggling with high operating costs.

“Why is this government so wicked? How can anybody be thinking of putting a tax on fuel when we are complaining that a litre of fuel is selling for N1,400?

“Do you know that businesses are folding up because their owners can no longer cope with the situation?

“For instance, there is hardly any electricity for small businesses to operate, so most of us rely on generators. And then, you ask yourself, how much fuel at N1,400 per litre are you prepared to buy every day?

“We are running at a great loss, and that’s why most businesses are closing down. And somebody is talking about a fuel tax, which will automatically push up the price of fuel again.

“What is wrong with the APC government? What sort of thing is this? How can people decide that the only thing they will do to their citizens is inflict pain and more pain on them?

“This is wickedness, and Nigerians should rise up. This cannot be like the announcement that ‘subsidy is gone’, which was what brought us to where we are today.

“We are crying that we can’t afford the price of fuel as it is currently sold, and somebody is telling us that the government wants to introduce a fuel tax when the economy stabilises and people’s incomes improve. When will that be?

“Can this government ever do that? It is not possible. Since 2023, when this government came in, it has been one promise after another, and all of them have ended up bringing agony and sorrow to Nigerians.

“So, this time around, they can tell their story to the marine because we will not accept any fuel tax; it won’t happen,” he stated.

A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Kunle Onatade, also questioned the government’s plan to channel the revenue into infrastructure and a fuel reserve.

He argued that Nigerians had previously been assured that savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy would support infrastructure development, but he disputed whether the expected benefits had materialised.

“Who is deceiving who? Where is all the money made from the fuel subsidy removal? Has this government, in three years, not borrowed more than Buhari in eight years? What are we talking about?

“This fuel tax move is just another avenue for making more money available for them to steal. They don’t care about the citizens as long as they keep amassing wealth for themselves.

“These are a bunch of heartless and corrupt politicians masquerading as political leaders; they don’t care about anybody. Nigerians should not listen to them. The fuel tax will bring about more hardship for Nigerians,” he said.

Business groups have also raised concerns about the possible effects of an additional fuel charge on production expenses, transportation costs and consumer prices.

The Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria called on the government to prioritise relief for households and businesses, warning that another fuel-related levy could further strain their finances.

While the Federal Government maintains that the tax would only be introduced when economic conditions permit, critics insist that any additional charge on petroleum products could deepen the pressure on Nigerians.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee has freed 55 inmates and granted bail to 51 others following a visit to the Yolde Pate Correctional Centre in Yola South Local Government Area.

The exercise took place on Wednesday under the leadership of the state Chief Judge, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, who chairs the committee.

The committee comprises representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Area Court, the Legal Department of the Adamawa State Police Command, the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Ministry of Justice, and the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Jail delivery exercises typically focus on eligible cases involving minor civil disputes, less serious infractions and petty theft. Serious offences, including culpable homicide, rape and gang-related crimes, remain for the conventional courts to handle.

During the visit, Abdulrahman donated delivery kits to a female inmate who had given birth to a baby girl while awaiting trial. In appreciation, the family head named the child Hafsat in honour of the chief judge.

The chief judge also provided transport fares for discharged inmates travelling to Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe states.

The exercise forms part of efforts to address prison congestion and support inmates eligible for release or bail under the applicable legal procedures.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Italian authorities rejected 2,220 Nigerian asylum applications in first-instance decisions in 2025, while 1,175 Nigerians received different forms of international or national protection, according to a new report on the country’s asylum system.

The figures are contained in the 2025 Country Report on Italy by the Asylum Information Database (AIDA), a project of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles. The report was produced by the Association for Legal Studies on Immigration using data from Italy’s Asylum Service and the European Union Agency for Asylum.

According to the report, 3,385 Nigerians applied for asylum in Italy during the year, making Nigeria the only sub-Saharan African country among the top 10 nationalities seeking asylum in the European country.

Of the 3,390 decisions recorded on Nigerian cases, 660 applicants, representing 19.47 per cent, were granted full refugee status. The report identified this as the highest refugee recognition rate among the 10 leading nationalities and nearly three and a half times Italy’s national average of 5.7 per cent.

Another 55 Nigerians, representing 1.62 per cent, received subsidiary protection, which applies to people facing serious harm who do not qualify for refugee status. Meanwhile, 460 applicants, or 13.57 per cent, received Italy’s national or special protection, known as protezione speciale.

Overall, 1,175 Nigerians obtained some form of protection, representing 34.66 per cent of decisions on their cases. This was above Italy’s national protection rate of 30 per cent in 2025.

However, the report stated that 4,120 Nigerian cases were still pending before Italian authorities as of December 31, 2025.

Among other African countries, Egypt recorded the highest number of asylum applications, with 11,790. Of the 10,685 decisions made on Egyptian cases, 8,900, or 83.30 per cent, were rejected.

Morocco recorded 9,485 applications, while 5,695 of the 6,315 decisions on Moroccan cases resulted in rejection, representing 90.18 per cent. Tunisia recorded 6,290 applications, with 5,035 of the 5,895 decisions, or 85.41 per cent, rejected.

The report also documented asylum applications by unaccompanied minors from several African countries. These included 61 children from The Gambia, 44 from Mali, 42 from Guinea, 34 from Burkina Faso, 30 from Somalia, 27 from Ivory Coast, nine from Senegal and 16 from Nigeria.

Italy registered 126,635 first-time asylum applications in 2025, down from 151,120 in 2024. However, the figure remained considerably higher than the 77,200 applications recorded in 2022.

“In 2025, 126,635 first asylum requests were registered in Italy, representing a decrease compared to 2024 (when 151,120 applications were registered), but still almost double the number of applications registered in 2022 (77,200).”

Italian authorities issued 104,560 first-instance decisions during the year. The overall protection rate, including special protection, declined to 30 per cent from 35 per cent in 2024 and 47 per cent in 2022.

The report recorded 5,965 decisions granting refugee status, representing 5.7 per cent of the total. A further 11,455 decisions, or 10.96 per cent, granted subsidiary protection, while 13,945, or 13.34 per cent, resulted in national protection.

By the end of December 2025, 234,165 asylum applications remained pending in Italy.

The country processes asylum claims through 20 Territorial Commissions and 23 sub-commissions under a three-tier protection system. Applicants whose claims are rejected can appeal to civil courts and subsequently seek recourse through the Council of State.

Italy’s asylum framework has also faced legal challenges over its designation of safe countries of origin. In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union struck down Italy’s mechanism for designating such countries, resulting in Nigeria’s removal from the list. The designation had subjected applications from Nigerians to accelerated procedures.

Further legal disputes emerged in 2025 over the Italy-Albania Agreement, which provides for migrants intercepted at sea to be transferred to Albanian territory for processing under Italian jurisdiction.

On accommodation, the report stated that 101,106 asylum seekers were housed in emergency reception centres as of December 31, 2025. Another 3,342 were accommodated in government centres, while 3,652 were housed in hotspots.

Sea arrivals in Italy totalled 66,296 in 2025, slightly below the 66,617 recorded in 2024 and considerably lower than the 157,651 arrivals reported in 2023.

Bangladesh accounted for the largest number of sea arrivals, with 20,164 people, followed by Egypt with 9,091, Eritrea with 7,579, Pakistan with 4,383 and Sudan with 4,183.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has donated vehicles to eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly following their return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The donation is intended to ease the lawmakers’ transportation difficulties and support their political activities and engagement with constituents across the state.

The move comes amid efforts by APC leaders to reconcile aggrieved members and strengthen the party’s structure in Zamfara ahead of the next general elections.

Matawalle, a former governor of the state, reportedly ordered the immediate release of the vehicles following President Bola Tinubu’s reported directive for the lawmakers to return to Zamfara and help promote unity within the party.

The vehicles were presented in Gusau on Wednesday by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Yazid Danfulani.

Danfulani said the gesture demonstrated Matawalle’s commitment to reconciliation and party unity, adding that the minister had continued to engage stakeholders to encourage cooperation among APC members.

He explained that the donation was part of broader efforts to reconnect the lawmakers with their constituencies and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Aliyu Kagara expressed appreciation to Matawalle and pledged their support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

“We sincerely appreciate the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for this gesture. We assure him of our commitment to working assiduously for the success of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections,” Kagara said.

The development followed commendation from the Northern Elders of the APC Forum, which praised Tinubu and Matawalle for their roles in facilitating the lawmakers’ return to the ruling party.

The forum’s chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, described the development as an important step towards resolving internal disputes and rebuilding unity within the party.

“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly role and commitment to promoting reconciliation within the party, despite his tight schedule. His leadership and willingness to encourage dialogue remain crucial to strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Abubakar said.

The forum also commended Matawalle’s efforts to restore confidence among party stakeholders and prevent further divisions. It said the lawmakers agreed to return to the APC after discussions with the minister, who reportedly presented them to Tinubu after they reaffirmed their allegiance to the President and the party.

However, the elders warned that the return of the eight lawmakers should not bring reconciliation efforts to an end. They urged the party leadership to address the concerns of other aggrieved members.

“Party unity must go beyond the return of elected officials; it must involve building trust and ensuring that every stakeholder has a sense of belonging,” the forum said.

Matawalle governed Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023 before losing his re-election bid to Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 governorship election. He was subsequently appointed Minister of State for Defence.

The latest development forms part of the APC’s efforts to consolidate its political base in Zamfara and mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The party’s ability to sustain the reconciliation process may depend on how it addresses outstanding grievances and accommodates the interests of its various stakeholders.

By Maji Bappa Maina


The strength of a government depends considerably on the quality of the people who serve within its institutions and the opportunities it creates for the next generation of professionals.

Policies require competent people to implement them, public institutions need experienced administrators to sustain their operations, and young graduates need opportunities to apply their knowledge.

For this reason, investment in human capital remains an important part of governance and long-term institutional development.

Two recent developments under Governor Mai Mala Buni bring this issue into focus: the upward review of salaries for permanent secretaries in Yobe State and the graduation of more than 400 government-sponsored students from universities in India.

Although the initiatives address different groups, they share a common purpose: strengthening the people whose knowledge, experience and professional commitment can contribute to the state’s future.

Their significance extends beyond the immediate benefits received by the individuals involved.

Together, they raise an important question about governance: how can investment in workers’ welfare, professional training and higher education translate into stronger institutions and better service delivery?

The recent engagement between Governor Buni and representatives of the permanent secretaries offers an important starting point.

According to the report issued by the Director-General of Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, Mamman Mohammed, the representatives visited the Governor to express appreciation following the upward review of their salaries.

During the meeting, Buni urged the senior civil servants to justify the confidence placed in them and the investment made in their professional development.

He reminded them of their responsibilities as role models to younger officers and emphasised the expectation that improved welfare should be accompanied by greater commitment to public service.

The state Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa, reportedly stated that the salary structure for permanent secretaries had remained unchanged since 2006, despite previous efforts to secure a review.

If maintained as reported, the structure had remained static for a considerable period before the recent decision.

The importance of the review goes beyond the financial adjustment itself.

Permanent secretaries occupy significant positions within the administrative system.

They help coordinate government activities, supervise departments, support policy implementation and preserve institutional continuity as officers retire and new personnel assume responsibility.

Their effectiveness can influence the quality of decisions, the speed of administrative processes and the ability of ministries to fulfil their mandates.

Recognising the responsibilities attached to these offices is therefore an important part of the wider discussion about civil-service performance.

However, improved remuneration alone cannot guarantee improved service delivery.

Its value depends on how it is matched with professional discipline, accountability, competence and measurable results.

The Governor’s message was significant in this regard: the benefit carries an expectation of stronger performance.

A well-functioning civil service requires a relationship between what government provides and what public officers are expected to deliver.

Workers’ welfare matters, but so does the responsibility to ensure that public institutions serve citizens effectively.

Another important dimension of Buni’s remarks concerned the training of civil servants to fill vacancies created by retirement.

This highlights an issue that often receives less public attention than salary adjustments: the need to prepare people before critical positions become vacant.

Every experienced officer carries institutional knowledge acquired through years of service.

This includes an understanding of administrative procedures, organisational challenges, professional relationships and the practical lessons that cannot always be captured in official documents.

When experienced officers retire without adequate preparation of their successors, institutions risk losing valuable knowledge and continuity.

Training and succession planning can help address this challenge.

They prepare younger officers for greater responsibilities, support the transfer of professional knowledge and reduce the disruption that may accompany changes in personnel.

For such an approach to succeed, training must be connected to actual institutional needs.

It should equip officers with relevant skills, strengthen their ability to manage responsibilities and encourage a culture in which knowledge is shared rather than confined to individuals.

Senior officers also have an important role to play by mentoring younger colleagues and helping them understand the demands of public service.

The graduation of more than 400 Buni Scholars from universities in India introduces another dimension to the same discussion.

According to the official report, the graduates completed studies in various health-related and engineering courses.

Their representatives visited the Governor to express appreciation for the opportunity, while Buni congratulated them and urged them to serve the state effectively and efficiently.

For the graduates, the completion of their studies marks the achievement of an important personal ambition.

For the state, it represents the development of a group of trained professionals whose knowledge could contribute to important areas of public service.

The significance of government-sponsored education lies not only in enabling individuals to obtain qualifications, but also in building professional capacity that might otherwise remain limited.

Specialised training can help develop the knowledge and expertise required to strengthen institutions, improve professional practice and address shortages in essential fields.

Health-related disciplines, for instance, are important to the availability and quality of healthcare services.

Engineering expertise can support technical operations, infrastructure management and other specialised responsibilities.

By sponsoring students in these fields, the state has created an opportunity to develop skills that may contribute to its long-term needs.

Yet graduation is only one stage of the process.

The full value of the scholarship programme will depend on how effectively the graduates can apply their knowledge after returning from their studies.

Appropriate placements, professional development, supportive working conditions and opportunities to use their qualifications will all influence the results.

This is why the Governor’s call for the graduates to give back to the state carries significance.

Their education was an opportunity provided through public investment, and their professional contributions can become part of the return on that investment.

At the same time, the responsibility does not rest on the graduates alone.

Government institutions must also create conditions in which trained professionals can contribute meaningfully.

Where skills are matched with relevant responsibilities, the benefits can extend beyond individual careers to the institutions and communities those professionals serve.

The relationship between the permanent secretaries and the Buni Scholars offers an interesting perspective on the development of human capital.

One group represents experience within the public service; the other represents a new generation entering professional life.

Both have different responsibilities, but each has a role in strengthening the state’s institutional capacity.

The permanent secretaries are expected to use their experience to improve administration, guide younger officers and maintain professional standards.

The graduates are expected to apply their newly acquired knowledge and contribute to the sectors for which they were trained.

In both cases, the wider public interest provides the basis for evaluating the value of the opportunity received.

There is also a lesson in continuity. Sustainable institutional development cannot depend entirely on the efforts of one generation.

Experienced officers must prepare their successors, while younger professionals must be given the opportunity to learn, contribute and grow.

When these processes work together, institutions become better positioned to retain knowledge and maintain performance over time.

The next important step is to assess the results of these investments.

For the civil service, this could involve examining administrative efficiency, professional competence, accountability and the quality of services delivered.

For the scholarship programme, relevant measures could include graduate employment, deployment to appropriate fields, professional retention and the practical contributions graduates make to their areas of specialisation.

Such assessments would help establish whether the opportunities created are achieving their intended objectives.

They would also provide useful information for future decisions on staff development, scholarship selection and workforce planning.

Ultimately, the salary review for permanent secretaries and the graduation of more than 400 Buni Scholars illustrate two complementary aspects of human-capital development: recognising the responsibilities of experienced public officers and preparing younger professionals for future contributions.

The Governor has made the expectation clear to both groups.

Permanent secretaries must justify the confidence placed in them, while the graduates are encouraged to use their education for the benefit of the state.

The lasting value of these initiatives will emerge through the quality of service, the competence of public institutions and the contributions of the people who have benefited from these opportunities.

Government investment in people reaches its greatest value when improved welfare, professional knowledge and individual opportunity translate into better service for the public.


Maji Bappa Maina is an agent of Voice of Development, Leadership and public Insight

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on his 70th birthday, describing him as an influential and progressive politician.

In a statement issued on October 21, 2026, Tinubu said he and Kwankwaso had maintained a longstanding association dating back to their time in the National Assembly in 1992, when Kwankwaso was in the House of Representatives and Tinubu in the Senate. He noted that both later emerged as governors in 1999 and, as members of the “Class of ’99 Governors,” played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for Nigeria’s democracy.

The President recalled that although their political paths differed due to different choices, they coalesced in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress, adding that history and service had kept them intertwined since then.

Tinubu acknowledged Kwankwaso’s contributions to Kano State and Nigeria as a two-term governor, former Minister of Defence, former Senator, former presidential candidate and now a presidential running mate.

He said that being in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election would not diminish his affection for Kwankwaso.

The President wished the former governor good health, personal fulfilment and many more years of engagement in the nation’s democratic process.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed during a scheduled training flight in the Kaliningrad region on October 21, near the town of Chernyakhovsk, authorities said.

The aircraft went down between the settlements of Timofeyevka and Zelyony Bor, close to a local cemetery. Footage circulating online appeared to show the moment the jet crashed and burst into flames.

Both pilots ejected before impact and were rescued. Russian authorities said their lives were not in danger, while local media reported that both were injured and taken to a military hospital.

The fighter jet was reportedly flying without ammunition. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no official explanation has been announced.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have begun discussions on areas of mutual cooperation to improve their respective operations and address institutional needs.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, received JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, and his delegation at the NCS Operational Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, on October 16, 2026.

During the meeting, Adeniyi praised JAMB’s transformation over the years, particularly its use of technology, timely release of examination results and improvements in placing candidates in tertiary institutions.

“The improvement JAMB has recorded over the years, particularly through the integration of technology into its operations, is commendable.

“The Board has continued to evolve, making its processes more efficient and improving the placement of candidates into tertiary institutions,” Adeniyi said.

He expressed confidence in Aina’s ability to sustain the Board’s progress and urged its management team to support his leadership.

Adeniyi also welcomed JAMB’s offer to make its electronic facilities available to the Customs Service. He explained that officers deployed across the country sometimes need to gather at designated centres for examinations and other official exercises, adding that access to the facilities would help facilitate such activities.

On JAMB’s request for operational vehicles, the customs chief acknowledged the importance of mobility to the Board’s nationwide responsibilities. He said the Service would explore possible assistance, subject to available resources and the applicable framework.

Earlier, Aina said the visit was intended to establish a professional relationship between the two institutions and identify opportunities for collaboration.

“We want to formally come and introduce ourselves. We recognise the important work the Nigeria Customs Service is doing and are aware of the operations you carry out,” Aina said.

The JAMB registrar disclosed that the Board serves approximately five million people annually, operates Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria and conducts examinations in more than 15 countries.

He added that JAMB provides electronic services to government agencies and professional bodies, while emphasising that adequate mobility was necessary for reaching communities, including local government areas, to verify candidates and maintain examination standards.

The meeting ended with both organisations expressing their commitment to exploring practical ways to support each other’s operations and make effective use of their respective resources.

By  Maji Bappa Maina

The development of a state presents a fundamental policy question: how can government concentrate the infrastructure required by its capital while ensuring that other towns, rural communities and local economies also receive meaningful attention? The answer requires more than the construction of prominent projects.

It calls for a development approach that recognises differences in local needs, connects communities to economic opportunities and distributes public investment across the state’s geographical space.

This question is particularly relevant to Yobe State under Governor Mai Mala Buni.

While Damaturu continues to receive major infrastructure investments, projects across other parts of the state provide an opportunity to examine a broader development approach involving roads, markets, transport facilities, sports infrastructure and local-government work plans.

Viewed collectively, these interventions suggest a development agenda that extends beyond the state capital.

Their significance lies in the different functions they serve and the ways they can contribute to the economic and social life of communities across Yobe’s 17 Local Government Areas.

Damaturu and the Wider Geography of Development

A state capital naturally attracts substantial public investment. As the administrative centre, Damaturu accommodates government institutions, businesses, public services and a growing population.

Its infrastructure must respond to traffic, commercial activity, public-sector operations and the demands of urban expansion.

The flyover and underpass project reflects the need to address urban mobility and improve the movement of people and vehicles.

Investment in major urban infrastructure can support commercial activity, improve access and prepare the capital for future demands.

Damaturu’s sports infrastructure also forms part of this picture.

The stadium in the capital is an important sporting facility in Yobe and is regarded locally as one of the notable stadiums in the Northeast. Alongside the reported 5,000-square-metre stadium project in Buni Yadi, it illustrates the place of sports facilities in the state’s wider infrastructure landscape.

However, the development of the capital raises an important policy consideration: the extent to which investment in the urban centre is complemented by infrastructure in other communities.

The relevant question is not whether Damaturu should receive major projects.

It is whether the development of Damaturu can proceed alongside improvements in the towns and rural settlements whose residents also depend on government investment.

The examples emerging from other parts of Yobe suggest that this broader geographical perspective deserves attention.

Roads as Instruments of Economic Connection

Road infrastructure is often discussed in terms of kilometres constructed, project costs or the physical appearance of a completed route.

From a development-policy perspective, however, its wider importance lies in the connections it establishes between people, productive activities and markets.

In a report published on 14 January 2026, Vanguard reported that the Buni administration had constructed more than 100 roads connecting towns and villages across Yobe’s 17 LGAs over the preceding six years.

The report also identified other infrastructure projects at different stages of implementation.

Among the additional examples provided for this analysis are the 59-kilometre Kariyari–Dapchi–Bayamari road link, the 18-kilometre Bukarti–Toshia road in Yunusari and the 10-kilometre Chusbosko–Tagali road in Bade Local Government Area.

These routes illustrate why geographical connectivity matters to development outside major urban centres.

A road linking settlements can influence the cost of transporting agricultural produce, the time required to reach markets and the accessibility of healthcare and other services.

It can also strengthen commercial relationships between communities that depend on one another for goods, labour and trade.

For agricultural households, the ability to move produce to buyers is an important part of the income-generating process. Production alone does not guarantee economic benefit if transportation is expensive or access to markets is difficult.

Improved connectivity can help reduce these barriers, although the actual effect depends on road quality, maintenance, traffic and the availability of functioning markets.

The same principle applies to social services. Where roads improve access between settlements and service centres, residents may find it easier to reach hospitals, schools and administrative offices.

The scale of that benefit will vary from one community to another, but the underlying relationship between connectivity and access remains an important consideration in development planning.

The reported construction of more than 100 roads therefore offers a useful basis for examining how infrastructure investment can extend beyond Damaturu and connect communities across the state.

Markets and the Geography of Local Economic Growth

Roads become more economically useful when they connect people to places where goods and services are exchanged.

This makes market infrastructure an important complement to the development of transport networks.

The 16 modern markets reported in the wider project inventory, including those at foundation stage, provide another example of investment beyond the capital.

Their development raises a broader question about how commercial activity can be supported across different local-government areas rather than becoming increasingly concentrated in one urban centre.

Markets are not simply physical structures. They are meeting points for producers, traders, transport operators, artisans and consumers.

Their contribution to local development depends on whether they offer accessible and functional spaces for commercial activity and whether surrounding communities can reach them without excessive difficulty.

For farmers, a functioning market can provide an outlet for agricultural produce. For traders, it can create a more organised environment in which to conduct business.

For consumers, it can improve access to goods and services.

For local authorities, well-managed markets may also provide opportunities to improve the organisation of commercial activities.

The distribution of market facilities across different LGAs can therefore be understood as part of a wider effort to support economic activity in multiple locations.

The distinction between completed markets and those still at foundation stage remains important.

A project under construction has not yet delivered the same benefits as an operational facility.

The eventual contribution of the 16 markets will depend on their completion, accessibility, management, maintenance and ability to attract sustained commercial use.

Nevertheless, their inclusion in the wider development picture demonstrates the importance of examining economic infrastructure beyond the state capital.

Transport Facilities and the Movement of Goods and People

The motor park in Buni Yadi and the trailer park in Potiskum provide further examples of infrastructure serving communities outside Damaturu.

Transport facilities occupy an important position between road construction and economic activity.

Roads provide routes for movement, while motor parks and freight facilities help organise the movement of passengers, vehicles and goods.

A motor park can provide a designated location for passenger transport, vehicle operations and related commercial activities.

Its effectiveness depends on its accessibility, management, safety and integration with transport routes.

A trailer park serves a different purpose. Facilities for heavy-goods vehicles can help accommodate freight operations, including parking and loading activities, where these are properly planned and managed.

Such infrastructure can be relevant to commercial centres that receive or dispatch substantial volumes of goods.

The significance of these projects is not limited to their physical presence.

They represent different ways in which government infrastructure can support the movement that connects local production, commerce and consumption.

For Potiskum and other commercial centres, the relationship between transport infrastructure and trading activity is particularly relevant.

For Buni Yadi, a motor park can serve local mobility needs while providing a more organised setting for passenger transport.

The wider policy consideration is that development involves more than constructing roads.

It also requires attention to the facilities that make transportation and commercial activity function effectively.

Buni Yadi: Connecting Commercial, Social and Community Infrastructure

The examples from Buni Yadi offer an opportunity to examine how development can address several dimensions of community life.

The motor park, Buni Gari Mini Market and reported 5,000-square-metre stadium project represent different categories of infrastructure: transport, commerce and sports.

Each has a distinct purpose. The motor park can support passenger movement; the mini market can provide a setting for local trading; and the stadium can offer space for sporting activities, youth participation and community events.

Considering these projects together helps illustrate why local development should not be assessed through a single category of infrastructure. Communities have interconnected economic and social needs.

Transport facilities support movement, markets support exchange, and sports facilities provide opportunities for recreation and organised activities.

A stadium’s value, for example, depends not merely on its construction but also on its accessibility, maintenance, management and availability for regular use.

Where these conditions are met, sports infrastructure can contribute to youth engagement and community life.

The same principle applies to markets and transport facilities.

Their contribution to development depends on whether residents can use them effectively and whether they continue to serve their intended purposes.

Buni Yadi therefore provides one example of how the development agenda outside Damaturu encompasses different types of public infrastructure rather than focusing exclusively on roads or conventional public buildings.

Sports Infrastructure in Damaturu and Other Communities

The inclusion of sports facilities in both Damaturu and Buni Yadi also broadens the meaning of development.

The stadium in Damaturu represents the capital’s sporting infrastructure, while the proposed or reported 5,000-square-metre facility in Buni Yadi points to sports development beyond the state capital.

Together, they raise questions about access to recreation, opportunities for young people and the distribution of facilities that support community participation.

Sports infrastructure does not replace investment in healthcare, education, water or other essential services. Its contribution is different.

Properly maintained sporting facilities can provide spaces for physical activity, organised competition, talent development and social interaction.

The extent of their impact depends on the programmes and opportunities built around them.

A facility that remains accessible and actively used can serve a wider purpose than one that is constructed but poorly maintained or underutilised.

From a development-policy perspective, the presence of sports infrastructure in different locations is therefore worth considering as part of the wider distribution of public facilities across the state.

Local-Government Work Plans and Development Priorities

The geographical distribution of infrastructure is only one dimension of the development process.

Another concerns the institutional arrangements through which local needs are identified, projects are selected and public funds are allocated.

In May 2023, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that Governor Buni approved the release of approximately ₦765.9 million as the final 40 per cent payment for work-plan projects across the 17 LGAs. The projects had a reported total cost of approximately ₦1.7 billion, with 60 per cent previously paid.

The reported areas of intervention included water supply, sanitation and hygiene, agriculture and healthcare.

The report also described a process involving the scrutiny and prioritisation of projects through a local-government budget committee, alongside monitoring and supervision by the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

This arrangement is relevant because the needs of local-government areas are not necessarily identical.

Communities differ in their infrastructure gaps, economic activities, population patterns and access to public services.

A structured work-plan process provides a mechanism through which different priorities can be considered within the public expenditure system.

However, the geographical distribution of projects should not automatically be equated with complete decentralisation.

Establishing the extent of local decision-making would require further evidence about how priorities are proposed, who approves them, how allocations are calculated and what authority local councils exercise.

Even with that distinction, the reported work-plan funding demonstrates an institutional channel for financing development interventions across the 17 LGAs. It provides a useful basis for examining how local needs are incorporated into a wider state development process.

Beyond the Number of Projects: Questions of Impact

The range of projects discussed here provides a useful picture of development across different geographical locations and sectors.

But a serious assessment must go beyond counting roads, markets, parks and stadiums.

Three considerations are particularly important.

First, geographical reach concerns which communities benefit from public investment and whether areas with different needs are being considered.

Second, functional value concerns whether projects address identifiable problems.

A road should improve connectivity; a market should support commercial activity; and a transport facility should serve movement and logistics needs.

Third, sustainability concerns whether completed projects are maintained, managed and used over time.

Public infrastructure produces lasting benefits only when it remains functional and accessible to the people for whom it was intended.

These considerations do not diminish the importance of constructing projects.

Rather, they provide a framework for understanding how public investment can translate into practical improvements in people’s lives.

They also explain why transparent project information, completion records, maintenance plans and evidence of usage are valuable to both government and citizens.

A development strategy becomes more meaningful when its achievements can be examined not only through expenditure and construction figures but also through the services and opportunities that the resulting infrastructure provides.

One State, Multiple Centres of Opportunity

The development of Yobe cannot be understood solely through the transformation taking place in Damaturu.

The wider picture includes the roads connecting towns and villages, modern markets at different stages of development, transport facilities in Buni Yadi and Potiskum, community infrastructure and local-government work-plan projects.

The flyover and underpass in Damaturu, the stadium in the capital, the road links in Yunusari and Bade, the modern markets, the Buni Yadi motor park, Buni Gari Mini Market and the trailer park in Potiskum serve different purposes.

Their common relevance lies in how they contribute to the infrastructure available across different parts of the state.

This is the central policy question raised by the administration’s geographically distributed projects: how can investment in the state capital be combined with improvements in the accessibility, commercial capacity and public facilities of other communities?

The examples discussed in this article provide a basis for exploring that question.

They suggest that development beyond Damaturu is an important part of the state’s wider infrastructure programme, although the degree of equity and the precise effects of individual projects must be assessed through project-level evidence.

Ultimately, the success of a state’s development effort depends not only on the visibility of its capital but also on the extent to which other communities are connected to public services and economic opportunities.

Damaturu can continue to develop as Yobe’s administrative and urban centre while other towns strengthen their commercial activities, improve transport connections and expand access to community facilities.

The broader objective is a state in which development is not confined to a single urban centre, but is pursued across different locations in ways that respond to local needs and support wider economic and social progress.

Maji Bappa Maina Voice of Development, Leadership and public Insight Agent.

By Abubakar Suleiman

Before our very eyes, the Abuja–Kaduna train service is slowly dying. Its final demise is only a matter of when, not how.

If nothing drastic is done, the Rigasa, Kubwa and Idu stations may become comatose in a not-too-distant future, just as the Jere, Rijana, and Kakau stations have been left to weeds, rodents and reptiles. 

Forget the rapid infrastructural development of the Kaduna–Kano rail line; without the leadership and management required to sustain it, it risks following the same trajectory as the Abuja–Kaduna train services.

This is not pessimism. It is a warning about what happens when infrastructure is built without the strong leadership, top-notch maintenance culture and institutional commitment needed to keep it functional.

The number of daily train trips between Abuja and Kaduna shrank from four in each direction to just one.

The waiting area is gradually becoming shabby. When you lift your head to look at the roof or walls, cobwebs stare back, reminding you that Nigeria is a slaughterhouse where maintenance meets its dead end.

Let’s not even talk about buying a ticket. That’s a hassle. You just can’t get one in peace. For your sanity, you need a third party to get it for you.

The barcode scanners meant to grant access to the place housing the train and rail tracks can sometimes just choose not to work. Power supply issues? I don’t know. Functionality issues? I still don’t know. You’re left with a manual screening method that generates traffic.

Simple things like this, which ought to be fixed with urgency, only become paramount when a security breach leads to something unimaginable. But then, this is not even unimaginable.

The escalator and elevator can be idle, leaving you with the must-exercise of using the staircase. 

Mid-trip, the AC could just stop working, leaving the coaches stuffy. It has happened to me countless times. Pray you’re not unfortunate enough to have someone quietly fart, leaving the space momentarily filled with a rotten-egg-like fume. 

To fart is human, but to do so in a fully packed coach is not only inconsiderate and irresponsible; it is ungodly.

The lavatory in the train is another eyesore. Even prisoners deserve better; talk more of dignified people who are not convicts. Some of them have no water. You need to walk into another coach to ease yourself. Some charging ports aren’t working.

Should we not talk about the inconsiderate noise makers?

You’ll find yourself on a train in another country and wonder whether it’s a national mourning day because people are so mindful not to be a nuisance to the next person. No noise. Silence rules the sojourn. They’re not dumb; they are simply being civil and considerate.

Try the Abuja–Kaduna train. It can be so disgusting. From the person at the top of his voice making phone calls with no moral scruples, to acquaintances or friends who bump into each other and then start a noise like an unsolicited ‘radio station,’ to the one who turns on music on his phone without using earphones or AirPods.

I don’t know whether our loudness is meant to prove a point. Sometimes, we carry this particularly bad behaviour into another country without reading the room. I digress.

What about some unruly guys who jump onto the moving train to help passengers carry their luggage? They sometimes drag the right of way with passengers along the walkway as the train tends towards a halt. Moving luggage can be done with decorum and in peace. But it seems we thrive in chaos.

I know the aviation sector has a dedicated Ministry of Aviation. It is much more regulated worldwide than the railway industry, so it is more important to remove it from the Ministry of Transportation.

However, in other countries, railway transportation falls outside the Ministry of Transportation’s purview. They have a dedicated Ministry of Railways. I had wanted to suggest the same for Nigeria. But is it even about having a dedicated ministry?

The key policy question is whether a separate ministry would improve accountability, funding, coordination, oversight, and efficient service delivery, or simply add another layer of bureaucracy to the current red-tapism we have? Your guess is as good as mine.

We already have the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Railway Property Management Company Limited and the Rail Transport Services Department within the Ministry of Transportation, yet our train services are anything but reliable and efficient.

Okay, End of Rant.