Tinubu Considers Establishment of Ranches in Abuja

His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria's President

Rethinking Ranching in Nigeria: Opportunities, Innovations, and Global Lessons

President Bola Tinubu’s recent push for ranching in Abuja’s Kwali Area Council marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s agricultural development. As the country grapples with food insecurity, land conflicts, and rapid rural-urban migration, establishing sustainable ranches offers a path toward inclusive economic growth and environmental stability. But how can Nigeria shape a ranching model that’s both effective and locally relevant? The answer may lie in blending homegrown strategies with global insights.

The Case for Ranching in Rural Nigeria

At the commissioning of a new 15-kilometre road linking A2 Junction to Pai town in Kwali, President Tinubu emphasized the need to uplift rural livelihoods through infrastructure and agricultural investment. His call for ranching aims to turn long-standing conflicts between farmers and herders into shared prosperity. Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike reinforced the vision by pledging land and compensation for genuine farmers, warning against land speculation by so-called “political farmers.”

SEB BLOG NOTES | 250625

Global & Local Storm: Fuel Hikes, Political Realignments, and Middle East Flashpoints

As Nigerians navigate a rapidly shifting socio-political landscape, the rest of the world grapples with escalating global tensions, from deadly airstrikes to geopolitical reckonings. Here’s an overview of major headlines shaking up the local and international stage.

Annie Idibia’s Turmoil and the Fallout from Fame

Nigerian actress Annie Idibia has become the center of intense media attention following her high-profile separation from music icon 2Baba. According to journalist Stella Dimoko Korkus, Annie was admitted to a rehabilitation facility amid emotional distress. Reports describe her condition as “very bad,” with close friends like Tiwa Savage and Toke Makinwa stepping in for support.

Hunger, poverty now security threats — NSA, CDS

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria's National Security Adviser

Hunger, Hope, and National Security: Nigeria’s Agricultural Revolution and the Global Fight Against Food Insecurity

In a bold and urgent shift, Nigeria is treating hunger and poverty not just as humanitarian concerns but as national security threats. At the 14th National Security Seminar in Abuja, top officials like National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa issued a stark warning: these twin crises are fueling insecurity, crime, and social disintegration across the country.

The seminar’s theme, “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria,” captured the essence of a growing movement—one that sees agriculture, economic empowerment, and social inclusion as weapons against instability.

Tensions Erupt in the Middle East as Iran Retaliates Against U.S. Military Strikes

 

Iran Launches Missile Attacks on US Bases in Qatar and Iraq

The already volatile Middle East has entered a dangerous new phase following a dramatic escalation involving the United States, Iran, and Israel. In the wake of coordinated American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran launched retaliatory missile attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq and Qatar, marking a dramatic deepening of a multi-front conflict.

Operation Midnight Hammer: U.S. Enters the Fray

The United States initiated a bold military campaign, codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities, Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. The operation, involving stealth bombers and precision-guided munitions, was described by President Trump as a “very successful” effort to impede Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Nigeria in Focus: A Nation at the Crossroads of Power, Pain, and Possibility

>Power, Pain & Pop Culture — A Rundown of the Nation’s Top Headlines

>From Global Tensions to Local Triumphs — A Full Breakdown of June 22 Headlines

From the corridors of global diplomacy to the dusty roads of Sokoto and the digital battlegrounds of social media, Nigeria’s story today is one of resilience, reckoning, and reinvention. Here’s a panoramic view of the headlines shaping the national consciousness.

🌍 Global Tensions, Local Ripples: U.S. Strikes on Iran and Nigeria’s Diplomatic Watch

The United States launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting global concern. France urged restraint, while the UK prepared to evacuate citizens from Israel. Nigerians abroad are on alert, and back home, political figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Trump’s impeachment. The ripple effect of this geopolitical flashpoint is being closely monitored by Nigerian authorities and citizens alike.

NATIONAL RESCUE MOVEMENT (NRM) PRESS RELEASE.

PRESS RELEASE | NATIONAL RESCUE MOVEMENT

NRM disassociates self from purported contempt proceeding against INEC; Calls on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to call erring Judicial Officers to order. 

The attention of the National Management Committee (NMC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), and members of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), has been drawn to the news of a purported contempt notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and wish to dissociate the party from such a huge joke. 

The National Rescue Movement (NRM), has no reason to institute any such action against the Independent National Electoral Commission or any Officer of the Commission. On the contrary, NRM commends INEC for promoting internal party democracy and compliance to the party Constitution, its guidelines and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Nigeria’s First Lady Distributes Food Items to 250 Vulnerable Persons in Enugu

Renewed Hope in Action: How Nigeria’s First Lady is Championing the Welfare of the Vulnerable

On June 16, 2025, the atmosphere in Enugu State brimmed with gratitude and relief as 250 vulnerable individuals—including widows and persons with disabilities—received food items through a humanitarian outreach led by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Organized under the banner of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), the event marked another milestone in the First Lady’s sweeping effort to alleviate poverty and restore dignity to Nigeria’s most underserved populations.

Held at the state level and facilitated by Enugu State’s First Lady, Nkechinyere Mbah, the distribution included essentials like noodles, spaghetti, semolina, and baby food. More than just a food drive, the event was a reaffirmation of the federal government’s commitment to human-centered development, especially at a time when many Nigerians are facing harsh economic realities.

REVIEWSNETWORK@PUNCH.NG | The danger of sleeping with domestic helps

The Hidden Cost of Forbidden Proximity: The Dangers of Sleeping with Domestic Helps

In many households across the country, domestic helps serve as vital contributors to home management and childcare. Yet, beneath the surface of routine household duties lies a growing and often unspoken concern: the increasingly reported trend of inappropriate relationships between male employers and female domestic workers. Chukwuneta Oby’s exposé, “The Danger of Sleeping with Domestic Helps,” sheds an unflinching light on the emotional, physical, and social damage that these entanglements cause, often with irreversible consequences.

Here is a quick summary of the story: “The piece highlights the serious emotional, psychological, and physical risks that arise when male employers engage in sexual relationships with their domestic helps. Drawing from real-life anecdotes, it shows how these affairs often spiral into destructive situations, fuelled by secrecy, resentment, and emotional instability.

Dangote Launches Nationwide Fuel Distribution Given Tanker Blockade

Fueling Change: Dangote Refinery’s Bold Move Amid Lagos Tanker Tensions

In a sweeping move that could reshape Nigeria’s energy logistics, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the launch of a nationwide distribution of petrol and diesel, starting August 15. With a fleet of 4,000 CNG-powered tankers, the initiative promises to ease fuel access across the country, just as Lagos grapples with protests over a controversial new truck regulation.

At the heart of the tension is the Lagos State Government’s E-Call Up system, which mandates a ₦12,500 per truck fee for access to loading points in the bustling Lekki-Epe corridor. Authorities argue that this system is essential to managing traffic congestion and maintaining order, especially in an area seeing rising commercial activity thanks to major investments like the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Sea Port.

REVIEWSNETWORK@PUNCH.NG | Corruption: Speedy Trials Needed, Not Rhetoric

Nigeria’s Battle Against Corruption: Time for Swift Justice, Not Empty Promises

Despite two decades of institutional reforms and vocal political pledges, Nigeria continues to grapple with a pervasive culture of impunity when it comes to corruption. While anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) are firmly in place, the machinery of justice often sputters—slowed by inefficiency, legal loopholes, and, too often, political interference.

A Judiciary in Paralysis

The Nigerian judiciary, once heralded as the last hope of the common man, is now criticized as a key obstacle in the war against corruption. The Punch editorial titled "Corruption: Speedy Trials Needed, Not Rhetoric" laments the use of delaying tactics in court: frivolous injunctions, endless adjournments, and premature prosecutions. The result is justice denied, often indefinitely. “The article criticizes Nigeria’s persistent failure to effectively prosecute corruption cases despite the existence of federal and state-level anti-corruption agencies like the ICPC and EFCC. It highlights the disconnect between rhetoric and reality in the fight against graft, with court delays, frivolous legal tactics, and executive interference stalling progress. The judicial system is portrayed as a bottleneck, where endless adjournments and weak prosecutorial practices have resulted in high-profile cases dragging on for years, sometimes over a decade, undermining public trust. It spotlights several notorious examples, such as these ones.

After Yelwata, Can Nigeria End the Killings in Its Food Basket?

Nigeria's President, His Excellency Bola Tinubu

Seemingly Endless Harvest of Conflict: Understanding the Crisis in Benue State, Nigeria

“More than 100 people were reportedly killed in Yelwata, Benue State, allegedly by suspected Fulani militias, sparking widespread protests. In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to act decisively to halt the violence and arrest all perpetrators. He also urged Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead reconciliation efforts among farmers, herders, and communities involved in the ongoing resource-based conflict. President Tinubu condemned the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress” and cautioned political and community leaders against making inflammatory statements. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims, especially those sheltered by a local Catholic mission, calling for peace and justice in Nigeria”

The recent massacre of over 100 people in Yelwata, Benue State, once again casts a grim spotlight on Nigeria’s deep-seated communal tensions. The attackers widely believed to be Fulani militias, according to media reports struck under the cover of night, leaving destruction in their wake and reigniting a conflict that has persisted for decades. In response, as already established in this report, President Bola Tinubu has condemned the bloodshed as “inhuman and anti-progress,” ordering security agencies to act decisively while urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead a reconciliation process. But many are asking “how did Benue get to this state of wanton devastation of human life and property?

Brief  Overview

The communal clashes in Benue State according to media reports have deep historical roots, shaped by a complex mix of ethnic, religious, and environmental factors that have evolved over centuries.

1. Colonial and Pre-Colonial Tensions

The region now known as Benue was historically inhabited by ethnic groups like the Tiv, Idoma, and others who resisted the expansion of the Fulani-led Sokoto Caliphate during the 19th-century jihadist campaigns. These early confrontations laid the groundwork for enduring mistrust between the predominantly Christian farming communities and the Muslim Fulani herders.

Gombe’s Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone: A New Dawn for Nigeria’s Livestock Economy

Gombe State Receives N60bn Support From FG for Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone

Gombe State has taken a bold step toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural future with the establishment of a 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone. Backed by a ₦60 billion investment from the Federal Government, this visionary project is part of President Bola Tinubu’s ₦120 billion commitment to revolutionize the country’s livestock sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Building a Modern Livestock Hub

Governor Inuwa Yahaya, during the ground-breaking ceremony, described the initiative as a cornerstone for “a prosperous and sustainable future in livestock development.” The zone is designed with cutting-edge infrastructure to host:

Bridging the Gap: Why Nigeria Must Invest in Voluntary Blood Donation

BEACON Tasks Nigerians on Blood Donation To Bridge Supply Gap

Every day in Nigeria, countless lives hang in the balance—lives that could be saved by something as simple and selfless as a pint of donated blood. Yet the country faces a staggering shortfall: though an estimated 1.8 to 2.2 million units of blood are needed annually, fewer than 500,000 units are collected, leaving over 1.3 million Nigerians without access to life-saving transfusions.

This critical gap came into sharp focus during this year’s World Blood Donor Day, as the Beacon of Transformative and Inclusive Development Centre (BEACON) issued a clarion call to action. “The cost of doing nothing is unbearable,” said BEACON Executive Director Abigail Olatunde. “Mothers, children with sickle cell, and accident victims are dying because blood is not available.”