The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has issued a scathing midterm assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that his government has "woefully failed Nigerians," turning the promised "Renewed Hope" into a "nightmare of regressing hopelessness and despair."

In a strongly worded press release signed by its leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, Afenifere accused the Tinubu administration of "economic deforms," reckless policies, and a lack of empathy for ordinary citizens suffering under worsening living conditions.

Key Condemnations in Afenifere’s Report

1. Economic Collapse – The report highlights a drastic decline in Nigeria’s GDP, which the IMF projects will crash to $188.27 billion in 2025, down from $363.8 billion under Buhari and $574 billion during Jonathan’s tenure. Over 7 million businesses have reportedly shut down since 2023.

2. Debt Explosion – Despite subsidy removal and naira devaluation, Nigeria’s public debt has surged by over N100 trillion in two years, from N87.91 trillion in 2023 to a projected N187.79 trillion in 2025. In dollar terms, debt rose from $108.23 billion to $142.47 billion.

3. Poverty Catastrophe – The World Bank estimates poverty has risen from 38.9% in 2023 to 54%, with 133 million Nigerians now living in poverty. GDP per capita has collapsed from $3,222 in 2014 to a mere $806 in 2025, with 33 million facing starvation.

4. Housing Crisis – About 30 million Nigerians are homeless, while 108 million live in substandard housing. The government’s plan to build 20,000 houses annually is deemed grossly inadequate for a population growing by 6 million per year.

5. Profligate Governance – Despite economic hardship, the government has refused to cut costs, instead increasing spending on luxuries like a new presidential jet, N160 million cars for each lawmaker, and unchecked constituency projects.

6. Insecurity Surge – Over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed under Tinubu’s watch, with two new terrorist groups emerging. Afenifere blames the refusal to allow state police for escalating violence.

7. Democratic Erosion – The administration is accused of centralizing power, weakening federalism, and suppressing dissent, with opposition figures defecting to the ruling party to avoid persecution.

"Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Have Become Economic Deforms"

Afenifere particularly criticized Tinubu’s "unforced errors,” including the hasty removal of fuel subsidies and floating the naira without cushioning effects, which they say have "inflicted unmitigated suffering" on Nigerians.

The group dismissed government claims of progress as "massive propaganda", accusing officials of shifting blame to global factors while ignoring policy failures.

Call for Reflection and Redemption

While Afenifere described Tinubu’s performance as an "academic failure deserving withdrawal," it urged the president to "reflect, love Nigeria, and change course" ahead of 2027.

"No amount of propaganda will erase hunger and poverty," the statement declared. "Only selfless leadership can save Nigeria, not prebendalist and hedonistic governance."

There are strong indications that the Federal Government's ambitious scheme to transition Nigeria's vehicle transportation industry from petrol to gas has collapsed into a nationwide crisis.

Industry stakeholders told Financial Vanguard that initial enthusiasm has been completely overtaken by frustration due to severe supply shortages and woefully inadequate infrastructure across the country.

They revealed that the scarcity of refill facilities and gas itself has become a nightmare for users and investors, forcing many to abandon the scheme entirely.

The product shortage comes ironically against the backdrop of adequate petrol supply nationwide, a situation that has started luring gas users back to re-converting their vehicles from gas to petrol.

In several states, the CNG scheme has virtually zero presence, while others with physical infrastructure—including conversion kits, in-built autogas vehicles, and refill stations—are experiencing either non-existent or skeletal levels of activity.

However, the Presidential CNG Initiative office and key stakeholders, while acknowledging these devastating challenges, insist the programme has not completely derailed, claiming efforts are underway to restore progress.

Government's Failed Incentives

The Federal Government had implemented several incentives to encourage private organizations to enter the CNG business, including removing Value Added Tax on CNG equipment, infrastructure, and Liquified Petroleum Gas conversion kits.

On May 13, 2024, President Bola Tinubu directed all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies to purchase CNG vehicles as part of widespread adoption efforts.

The government even promised free conversion kits for one million commercial vehicles nationwide, positioning that free conversion and low CNG prices would make public transportation cheaper for ordinary Nigerians.

But investigations reveal that the government's own reluctance to approve licenses for establishing CNG stations is contributing to scarcity at the few existing refill stations in Abuja and other locations.

Some users who spoke to Financial Vanguard alleged deliberate sabotage of the initiative.

A truck driver stated: "I believe there are people in the downstream segment and possibly regulatory agencies benefiting from petrol importation who know that if more people convert to CNG and can buy it easily, they will abandon petrol. If they abandon petrol, these people cannot make money anymore.

"President Tinubu told people to convert to CNG. So after we converted, why can't we buy it easily? If stations aren't enough, why do government officials refuse to allow more stations to be established?"

Another commercial taxi operator said: "Many commercial vehicles converted to CNG. Even private car owners converted, but now they're getting discouraged because of the endless queues at gas stations.

"Because of these long queues, many cannot spend four, five or six hours buying CNG. They don't have such time. So they're reverting to petrol. That's not the way to go."

A truck driver from one of the country's largest cement companies told Financial Vanguard in Abuja that he and colleagues spend an average of six days queuing to refill their CNG-powered trucks.

"Every time you pass this road, you'll see our trucks in the queue. It's not just heavy-duty trucks. Even car owners and taxi operators suffer with us. You can see the situation yourself—look at these endless queues," he said, pointing at both trucks and cars in separate queues.

"I'm not happy at all. When we're deployed, our company gives us N20,000 each. Imagine receiving N20,000 and spending six days in queue just to buy gas. That money isn't enough at all. We're suffering."

Abuja/Nasarawa Crisis

The busy Abuja-Keffi Road, spanning approximately 38 kilometers, has over 49 petrol stations on both sides. Shockingly, the same road has only one CNG station.

The sole CNG refill station, located at Ado, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, is currently non-functional. It was launched just eight months ago with promises of substantial savings for drivers and commuters, since CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol.

Frustrated motorists said they would have converted their vehicles to CNG but are discouraged by the lack of conversion centers and non-functional refill stations.

The only operational CNG station in Nasarawa State is Greenville's LNG/CNG station in Lafia, the state capital.

Commercial driver Adamu Suleiman expressed frustration: "I contemplated converting my vehicle last year when President Bola Tinubu launched this initiative, but friends advised me to wait. Looking back today, I thank them for that wise advice because where would I have been getting CNG?"

John Ebiam, another commercial driver on the Makurdi-Abuja route, said not converting was one of his best decisions: "Where are the CNG refill stations? I would have been crying like some of my friends are doing now."

The frustration of spending long hours at CNG stations forced Mr. Longe Lege, an Abuja public servant, to revert to petrol due to his busy schedule.

"It's affordable and saves costs compared to petrol. I used to spend N50,000-N60,000 weekly on petrol for work, but with CNG, it was about N15,000. But the major challenge is gas availability.

"The 10 CNG stations servicing Abuja are grossly inadequate for the huge demand. Some CNG users doing Bolt or Uber services even sleep at gas stations just to buy gas. Due to the stress, I haven't been buying gas for a while because I honestly don't have patience to spend 4 hours every two days buying gas."

Ahmed Kunle, an Abuja taxi operator, disclosed spending eight hours at a CNG station last week, with average queue time at the Mobil Station by Dunamis Dome being three to four hours.

Financial Vanguard findings revealed only 11 CNG filling stations in Abuja and 45 nationwide. Of Abuja's 11 stations, only three are reliable, leaving CNG vehicle owners frustrated and regretful, with some abandoning CNG entirely for petrol and diesel.

Lagos Situation

When Vanguard visited Lagos stations in Ikeja, Mushin and Apapa, CNG wasn't being dispensed as attendants said they were out of stock, advising visits to other stations or returning days later.

Sources close to NIPCO refill stations argued that efforts were being made to mitigate the crisis: "Yes, I can confirm challenges in product availability, which sometimes happens with every product supply. There are many reasons—delays at ports for clearing or product shipment."

Vanguard also learned that conversion kits at various Lagos locations are experiencing scarcity. A source at a government-approved outlet confirmed lack of equipment for CNG vehicle installation and conversion.

"For a while now, we don't have kits from the government source. However, we have some from our own stock, which isn't like the subsidized government equipment. I don't know why it's not coming in currently, but that's the reality across our outlets."

South East Struggles

In the South East, the situation appears even more surprising—nearly two years after the initiative launched, they're just starting to get on board.

In Enugu State, the government just procured 50 CNG buses, expecting another 50 soon. The first 50 are currently parked at Michael Okpara Square.

State Transportation Commissioner Obi Ozor said the buses would be inaugurated and deployed soon, with plans to bring electric and CNG automotive manufacturing to Enugu.

In Ebonyi State, the government has just awakened to embrace the CNG initiative but hasn't begun actual services. The SSG Prof. Grace Umezuruike said the government purchased CNG luxury buses for free civil servant and student transport.

Abia State shows even less interest, with Transportation Commissioner Chimezie Ukaegbu stating: "We're not buying CNG buses now but will roll out electric vehicles by end of July for Urban Mass Transit."

In Anambra State, private sector leadership through Nnewi-based Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing has fully embraced the initiative, but surprisingly, state citizens and government appear uninterested.

South South Abandonment

In the South South—ironically the nation's gas hub—the CNG Initiative appears completely foreign. There are no CNG buses in Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross-Rivers, according to drivers, residents, and labor leaders.

John Angese, NLC Bayelsa Secretary, said: "The policy isn't running as expected. While stakeholders applauded the initiative, we thought it would trickle down to states, but since launch, it ended where it was launched. Many states, including Bayelsa, haven't received CNG buses from the federal government."

The pattern repeats across the region, with officials and residents expressing disappointment at the complete absence of the promised transformation.

Despite various MOUs and announcements, concrete delivery of CNG services remains elusive, leaving Nigerians questioning another failed government promise.

Vanguard

A highly contagious new COVID-19 strain, NB.1.8.1, which has triggered a surge in hospitalizations in China and is rapidly spreading across multiple continents, has been detected in the United States, exposing Nigeria's dangerous lack of preparedness as federal health authorities remain conspicuously silent on protective measures.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant was first detected in America between late March and early April 2025 through airport surveillance testing among international travelers arriving in major cities including New York and Washington.

"CDC is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China and is in regular contact with international partners," a CDC spokesperson stated, highlighting the coordinated international response that Nigeria appears to be missing.

While the CDC acknowledges limited reported cases prevent full national estimates, experts have warned that NB.1.8.1 spreads significantly faster than other recent virus strains, raising urgent questions about Nigeria's readiness to detect and contain potential outbreaks.

Alarming Global Spread

NB.1.8.1 is a subvariant of Omicron JN.1 and is considered highly infectious. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated it a "variant under monitoring" due to its increasing global prevalence and potential to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations.

Recent WHO data reveals the variant accounted for 10.7 percent of sequenced COVID-19 cases globally between April 21-27, a dramatic increase from just 2.5 percent the previous month—a surge that should alarm any responsible health system.

While early findings suggest the variant doesn't cause more severe illness than others, health authorities worldwide are intensifying monitoring efforts. Reported symptoms include sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and gastrointestinal issues in some cases.

Amy Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Case Western Reserve University, told CBS News there is laboratory evidence that this variant binds more tightly to human cells, making transmission easier.

Edwards noted that although the variant doesn't appear more dangerous regarding severity, "what they're seeing in China, Hong Kong and some other areas where this variant has surged is an increase in hospitalizations"—a warning that should prompt immediate Nigerian action.

International Detection and Response

Beyond China and the US, NB.1.8.1 has been detected in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, demonstrating the variant's rapid global spread.

In Australia, genomic sequencing showed the variant now accounts for over 40 percent of COVID-19 cases in Victoria and has become the dominant strain in wastewater samples in Perth.

These developments have prompted renewed surveillance efforts across multiple countries. South Korean officials announced Friday that their government is closely monitoring COVID-19 cases in China and Hong Kong, showcasing the proactive approach Nigeria lacks.

Despite the surge, WHO stated that NB.1.8.1 is not currently considered a greater public health risk than previously circulating variants. However, its rapid transmission ability remains a significant concern that demands immediate attention.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in late 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has continued evolving, producing multiple variants including the original strain, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, each with different severity levels, transmissibility, and vaccine resistance.

NB.1.8.1 represents the latest evolution from the Omicron lineage, which first appeared in late 2021 and became globally dominant due to its rapid spread capability.

Nigeria's Dangerous Silence

Most alarmingly, Nigerian health authorities have issued no formal guidelines or updates concerning NB.1.8.1 as of this report.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has not publicly acknowledged the variant's existence or provided guidance on travel protocols, testing procedures, or potential local surveillance measures—a shocking abdication of responsibility.

The NCDC's silence becomes even more concerning given that the agency has been providing fewer COVID-19 updates since global cases and deaths declined, suggesting a dangerous complacency that could leave millions of Nigerians vulnerable.

This lack of preparation and communication represents a critical failure in protecting Nigerian citizens against a variant already spreading rapidly across multiple continents and triggering increased hospitalizations wherever it appears.

With international travelers constantly arriving in Nigeria's major cities, the absence of enhanced surveillance, testing protocols, or public health advisories leaves the country dangerously exposed to another potential COVID-19 surge.

Nigeria witnessed two separate but deadly attacks over the weekend, underscoring the persistent insecurity plaguing the nation’s roads and rural communities.

In Borno State, at least nine passengers were killed on Saturday by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area. The explosives detonated at a local bus stop, injuring several others who were waiting to board commercial vehicles. The injured victims were rushed to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri for treatment.

Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, confirmed the incident and condemned the attack as “inhumane.” He appealed to the Nigerian military to intensify operations and reclaim Guzamala LGA, which remains largely under Boko Haram control. Lawan lamented the repeated displacement of residents from communities like Gudumbali and Mairari, which have faced continued insurgent violence despite previous resettlement efforts.

“Unfortunately, some terrorists who have been monitoring the movement of displaced farmers planted IEDs at the local bus stop. This tragedy has left families devastated,” he said, urging the newly deployed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, to prioritize reclaiming Guzamala.

Meanwhile, in Benue State, nine people, including the driver of a state-owned transport bus, were abducted Saturday evening by armed men along the Owukpa–Orokam road in Ogbadibo LGA. The bus was returning from Orba market in Enugu State when it was ambushed around 7 p.m. Gunmen opened fire, injuring the driver and a passenger, and caused the vehicle to veer off the road. The attackers then kidnapped the remaining passengers.

Grace Ogwuche, a resident who witnessed the incident, said one of the wounded passengers was abandoned at the scene due to heavy bleeding and is now receiving intensive care at St. Mary’s Hospital in Okpoga, Okpokwu LGA.

Local vigilante leader Amos Agada confirmed the abduction and noted that no contact had yet been made by the kidnappers. He said efforts were underway to locate and rescue the victims.

These incidents highlight the ongoing threats posed by both insurgency in the North-East and armed criminal gangs in the North-Central, raising fresh concerns over the safety of public transportation and rural communities in Nigeria.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russia and Ukraine step up the war on eve of peace talks

On the eve of peace talks, Ukraine and Russia sharply ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict, a Russian highway bridge blown up over a passenger train and an ambitious attack on nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia.

After days of uncertainty over whether Ukraine would even attend, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would meet Russian officials at the second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday.

The first round of the talks more than a week ago yielded the biggest prisoner exchange of the war - but no sense of any consensus on how to halt the fighting.

Amid talk of peace, though, there was much war.

At least seven people were killed and 69 injured when a highway bridge in Russia's Bryansk region, neighbouring Ukraine, was blown up over a passenger train heading to Moscow with 388 people on board. No one has claimed responsibility.

Ukraine attacked Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at a military base deep in Siberia on Sunday, a Ukrainian intelligence official said, the first such attack so far from the front lines more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) away.

Ukraine's domestic intelligence service, the SBU, acknowledged it carried out the attack, codenamed "Operation Spider's Web," planned for more than a year and a half.

The intelligence official said the operation involved hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds and loading them onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases.

A total of 41 Russian warplanes were hit, the official said. The SBU estimated the damage at $7 billion and said Russia had lost 34% of its strategic cruise missile carriers at its main airfields.

Zelenskiy expressed delight at the "absolutely brilliant outcome," and noted 117 drones had been used in the attack.

"And an outcome produced by Ukraine independently," he wrote. "This is our longest-range operation."

RUSSIA SAYS AIRCRAFT FIRES PUT OUT

A Ukrainian government official told Reuters that Ukraine did not notify the United States of the attack in advance.

Russia's Defence Ministry acknowledged on the Telegram messaging app that Ukraine had launched drone strikes against Russian military airfields across five regions on Sunday.

Air attacks were repelled in all but two regions — Murmansk in the far north and Irkutsk in Siberia - where "the launch of FPV drones from an area in close proximity to airfields resulted in several aircraft catching fire."

The fires were extinguished without casualties. Some individuals involved in the attacks had been detained, the ministry said.

Russia launched 472 drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine's air force said, the highest nightly total of the war. Russia had also launched seven missiles, the air force said.

Russia's military reported new drone attacks into Sunday evening, listing 53 attacks intercepted in a period of less than two hours, including 34 over the border Kursk region. Debris from destroyed drones triggered residential fires.

Russia said it had advanced deeper into the Sumy region of Ukraine, and open source pro-Ukrainian maps showed Russia took 450 square km of Ukrainian land in May, its fastest monthly advance in at least six months.

U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Russia and Ukraine make peace and he has threatened to walk away if they do not - potentially pushing responsibility for supporting Ukraine onto the shoulders of European powers - which have far less cash and much smaller stocks of weapons than the United States.

According to Trump envoy Keith Kellogg, the two sides will in Turkey present their respective documents outlining their ideas for peace terms, though it is clear that after three years of intense war, Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart.

Russia's lead negotiator, presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying the Russian side had received a memorandum from Ukraine on a settlement.

Zelenskiy has complained for days that Russia had failed to provide a memorandum with its proposals.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on prospects for a settlement and the forthcoming talks in Turkey, Lavrov's ministry said.

Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. The United States says over 1.2 million people have been killed and injured in the war since 2022.

In June last year, Putin set out opening terms for an immediate end to the war: Ukraine must drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia.

According to a copy of the Ukrainian document seen by Reuters with a proposed roadmap for a lasting peace, there will be no restrictions on Ukraine's military strength after a deal is struck. Nor will there be international recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscow's forces, and reparations for Ukraine.

The document also stated that the current front line will be the starting point for negotiations about territory.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine plugs its Western-made weapons into ‘NATO Wi-Fi’

Kiev has been allowed to join a NATO-standard coordination network which connects together Western-made military hardware, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Katerina Chernohorenko has announced. The system, in particular, is compatible with F-16s and Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

On Saturday, Chernohorenko revealed that Ukraine had signed a license agreement to begin using the Command and Control Center System Interface (CSI), a non-commercial digital platform employed by most NATO member states for air and missile coordination and improved interoperability.

The official pointed out that the system operates through NATO’s Link-16 data protocol – which she referred to as “military Wi-Fi.” She added that the protocol facilitates coordination between fighter jets such as US-made F-16s and French-made Mirage 2000s, as well as air defense systems like the Patriot, all of which have been supplied to Ukraine as military aid.

Ukraine received its first F-16s from its European backers last summer, although the process had been slower than expected due to logistics and pilot training issues. While some officials in Kiev initially hoped it would become a “game changer” on the battlefield, the military later acknowledged it could not rival the most advanced Russian jets.

In total, Kiev was promised more than 80 F-16s, many of which are expected to arrive in the years to come. Since the start of deliveries, at least three Ukrainian-operated F-16s have been confirmed destroyed.

As for the French-made Mirage 2000s, which are capable of carrying long-range Scalp/Storm Shadow missiles, Ukraine only received the first batch this winter, with the number of planes to be delivered estimated at six. Kiev has confirmed their deployment in combat, but reported no losses.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukrainian-operated F-16s will “burn” just like other Western-supplied equipment. Moscow has also consistently denounced Western military aid to Kiev, arguing it will only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome.

Reuters/RT

One of the memorable moments from the presidential campaign ahead of Nigeria’s 2023 elections featured then ruling party candidate, Bola Tinubu, at the Chatham House in London in December 2022 allocating to leading members of his entourageresponsibility for answering various questions from members of the public. For the questions on insecurity, he called on then governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai, to address them. At the time, Candidate Tinubu explained that he did that to advertise the versatility and cohesion of his team. 

Many believed then that asking el-Rufai to respond to those questions show-cased his competence on insecurity. In hindsight, it seems more likely that candidate Tinubu intuited that Nasir el-Rufai embodied the manifestation in human form of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis. 

This past week, a judgment by the Federal High Court in Kaduna, north-west Nigeria, showed exactly why candidate Tinubu’s hunch may have been well-founded. 

The story needs context. When he was inaugurated as governor of Kaduna state on May 29 2015, Nasir el-Rufai identified insecurity as “an obstacle to progress” and promised to “work with law enforcement officials to drastically reduce violent crime” and  “insure safety of life and limb.” Forgetting his inauguration day promise, el-Rufai spent eight years in office visiting the exact opposite to those whom he disliked or disagreed with.

Among el-Rufai’s victims, few were as brutalised as the Adara. The Adara are one of the 56 nations that make up the complex ethnic kaleidoscope of Kaduna state. The lands in Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) in south-central Kaduna are fertile. The paramount chief of the Adara was known as the Agwam (Agom) Adara. 

In the third week of October 2018, inter-communal violence broke out in Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru, pitting Kajuru youths against their Fulbe peers. It was reported at the time that the casualty count from this violence was over 55 persons. The state government imposed a 24-hour curfew over the affected parts. Thereafter, Nasir el-Rufai summoned a meeting in Kaduna. In attendance at the meeting was the paramount ruler of the Adara, Maiwada Raphael Galadima, Agwam AdaraIII, who was accompanied by his wife and aides.

This was Agwam Adara’s last earthly appearance. As he made his way home from that meeting on or about 21 October 2018, the Agwam Adara’s convoy was attacked and some of his aides and security detail were killed on the spot. The Agwam Adara himself and his wife were both abducted. Five days later, the dead body of the Agwam Adara was discovered. His wife was spared. It was later reported that he “was brutally murdered in October 2018 on his way to his palace after accompanying Governor Nasir el-Rufai to Kasuwan Magani to commiserate with the community over violence that claimed many lives.” 

At the time, the government of Kaduna state led by el-Rufai promised to “pursue justice for this revered man…. of peace.” Nothing else was heard about that. The governor meanwhile was too busy to attend his funeral. Instead, he set about ensuring the dismantling of the Adara Kingdom. 

Shortly after the killing of the Agwam Adara, el-Rufai abolished the kingdom, cannibalising it into emirates and essentially wiping away the rights of Adara’s majority of Christians and indigenous adherents to any claims over their community. It was widely believed, indeed reported, that the Agwam Adara “died for resisting attempts by Nasir el-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, to restructure Kajuru under the Adara Traditional Council to the Kajuru Emirate.”

All of this occurred a mere four months before both el-Rufai and his political benefactor, Muhammadu Buhari, were due to stand for re-election in ballots scheduled for February and March 2019. Kaduna state was a battleground in those contests and the Adara had good reason for antipathy towards the governor. 

Voting in the presidential election was initially due to occur on 17 February, 2019. The day before, on or about 16 February, the governor dramatically announced that he alone had discovered the massacre of 66 Fulbe in Kajuru. No security agency was initially willing to back him up. On the contrary, the state police commissioner accused el-Rufai of having “pre-empted police investigations.” The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, like many residents in the affected area, accused him of having lied. The senator representing the affected communities in the Nigerian Senate at the time, Shehu Sani, suggested that el-Rufai was intentional in seeking to provoke the community ahead of highly contentious elections.

The man was not about to be deterred from habitually inflammatory routine, however. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deferred the vote by one week. So, el-Rufai decided to once more convene another town-hall in Kasuwan Magani. Among the participants was Awemi Dio Maisamari, an economist who was also president of the Adara Development Association, (ADA). 

At the meeting, Awemi Dio sought to speak but el-Rufai allegedly shut him down, calling him “part of the problem.” Thereafter, security agents, allegedly on the orders of el-Rufai set upon the man, arrested him and threatened to shoot him if he uttered one word. Quickly, they bundled him out of the venue into a vehicle which drove him straight to the state headquarters of the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), where he was initially detained for three days. All this while, there was no warrant for his arrest. 

Simultaneously, el-Rufai ordered the arrest and detention of the leadership of the Adara. In addition to Awemi Dio, the victims included the Wazirin Adara (Vizier) and former commissioner in the government of Kaduna State, Bawa Magaji; former Commissioner of Police, Sani Magaji; National Treasurer of the ADA, Joseph Abdallah; Village Head of Maro, Tanko Maisamari; Village Head of Ungwan Gamo, Hosea Danladi; Village Head of Kutura, Joseph Ayuba; Village Head of Aguba, Tanko Wada; and Elder Ulu Maitumbi.

On 20 February, 2019 at the request of el-Rufai, a magistrate in Kaduna consigned them to pretrial detention on charges entirely constituted by his say-so. After three and a half months in detention and wide spread international outcry and advocacy, the attorney-general of Kaduna state advised that there was no case against the nine Adara elders. On 26 May 2019, they were released but el-Rufai had destroyed their lives.

In March 2024, Awemi Dio Maisamari sued el-Rufai in his personal capacity in Suit No. FHC/KD/CS/23/24 through their lawyer, Gloria Ballason, who has fast become el-Rufai’s legal nemesis. Last week, Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna found him personally culpable for the abuse of the human rights of the Awemi Dio and Adara elders. In a judgment brimming with many telling paragraphs, the judge pointed out that the duty of a governor is to ensure the protection of lives and property and that public office is not meant to gratify the whims, ego or benefit of the occupant.

The court specifically found el-Rufai responsible for abuse of office and held that an occupant of public office cannot assert benefit of official immunities for acts of abuse of office. Even more, the court held that his misconduct in this case amounted to a breach of his duty as governor to protect all persons in the state. 

The court exonerated the office of the state governor from liability, commended the courage of the attorney-general in advising against the executive abuse of office, and awarded damages of N900 million against el-Rufai personally. In good-old Nigerian parlance, the court dared to say to el-Rufai, El-Tufiakwa!

Nasir el-Rufai has sought recently to sell himself as an advocate for good government and against arbitrariness. His record in government belies his recent pretensions. This judgment reminds everyone why his effort to distract public attention deserves ridicule. 

On June 25, 2025, meanwhile, el-Rufai is due to take the witness stand in Abuja in his defamation case against two senior lawyers, Silas Onu and Auta Nyata, over the decision of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to de-platform him in 2020. That should be some spectacle. 

** A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Terence Ma Tin Shu

Play time helps both kids and adults in prevention and healing of depression, according to the book Stress in the City by Enoch Li. Photo: VCG

In today's rapidly evolving world, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept, it is a part of everyday life, transforming how we learn, teach, and even manage our mental health. 

AI has become deeply embedded in our daily lives, especially in the realm of education and mental health. Students — whether neurotypical or neurodiverse, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — now interact with AI in ways unimaginable to past generations. From generative AI tools like chatbots to AI-assisted educational platforms, the technology is influencing the way students access knowledge and navigate their personal challenges. 

Some schools have already begun integrating their curricula to incorporate AI, signaling a shift as profound as the dot-com boom or the introduction of smartphones. While this progress brings numerous benefits, it also presents challenges that educators, parents and mental health professionals must carefully address.

AI in learning: Importance of deep learning

One of the most noticeable benefits of AI is the accessibility of information. Gone are the days when students had to spend hours in a library searching for books or dig through search engines to gather knowledge. Today, they can type a query into an AI tool and receive detailed answers within seconds.

I worked with one student who relied heavily on AI to generate content for a geography project. While the final output looked impressive, the student struggled to explain the concepts during a class presentation. This raises a key question: How much of the knowledge gained through AI is actually absorbed and understood?

To address this, students should strike a balance. In addition to using AI, they should engage with traditional learning methods — reading books, taking notes, and allowing time for material to settle.  I often recommend active learning strategies, like hosting a "sharing session," explaining a concept to a family member or practicing presentations with peers. These methods foster deeper understanding foster deeper understanding.

The Role of human connectionAI tools are also increasingly being used in the realm of mental health, offering both potential benefits and significant risks. Many teenagers, for example, turn to AI chatbots during moments of stress or emotional turmoil. These tools provide an outlet for students to express their feelings, often late at night when access to human support is limited.

While chatbots can provide momentary relief, they come with limitations. Current AI does not yet possess the empathy, intuition and depth of understanding that humans bring to conversations. For example, a teenager feeling isolated might share their feelings with a chatbot, but the AI's responses may be generic or may not fully address deeper issues.

In my experience, students who overly depend on AI for emotional support often miss the benefits of human interaction. I've worked with teenagers who preferred talking to bots over communicating with their parents or mental health professionals. While AI can be a helpful supplement, it should never replace the human element, as genuine human connections can release oxytocin, the "bonding hormone" which plays a crucial role in reducing stress and fostering emotional well-being.

In practice, I urge students to reach out trusted adults or mental health professionals for guidance. These professionals offer personalized support and can help students manage their emotions in a safe and constructive way. Additionally, improving communication within families is crucial. Something as simple as a parent asking an open-ended question, "How was your day?" can already create a supportive environment for open dialogue.

Leveraging AI to support students with ASD

AI holds considerable promise for supporting students with ASD. Many individuals with ASD face challenges in areas such as communication, social interactions and sensory processing. AI tools, when thoughtfully implemented, can help bridge these gaps by providing tailored interventions and individualized support.

For example, AI-powered image generation tools can help students with ASD express their ideas visually. Some students with ASD may struggle to articulate their thoughts verbally but excel when given visual aids. With the guidance of a trained professional, a student can use an AI tool to generate images that represent their ideas, whether it's creating a picture of a concept for a science project or visually mapping out their feelings. This process not only aids communication but also fosters creativity and builds confidence.

AI can also play an important role in teaching social communication skills. For instance, I have worked with students using AI-assisted platforms to create personalized step-by-step guides for initiating and sustaining a conversation. 

This use of AI not only promotes independence but also provides a structured framework for students to practice and internalize social skills, which can often feel overwhelming. Adults can further support the student by using the AI-generated steps during role-playing exercises, where the student can practice real-life scenarios in a safe and controlled environment.

When combined with human guidance, AI becomes a powerful tool for helping students with ASD to express themselves, develop essential life skills, and gain confidence in navigating both academic and social challenges.

Balancing AI with traditional methods

While AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool, it's important to use it responsibly. As with any technological advancement, there are risks associated with over-reliance. Students may neglect critical thinking or social interaction, while educators might become less creative in lesson planning.

The key is to see AI as a complement, not a replacement. Much like Jarvis in Iron Man, AI can act as a powerful assistant that enhances efficiency and provides valuable support, but it shouldn't replace the critical thinking, creativity, or emotional depth unique to humans. Students should be encouraged to use AI to enhance their learning while continuing to engage in traditional methods, such as reading, discussing, and practicing. For mental health, AI can serve as an additional layer of support, but human connection must remain at the forefront, as true growth and healing often stem from genuine human interactions.

For students with ASD, AI offers unique opportunities to enhance communication, social skills, and self-expression, empowering them to navigate academic and social environments with greater confidence. By combining AI tools with personalized guidance from educators, psychologists, and parents, we can be part of a supportive ecosystem that addresses the unique needs of neurodiverse learners while promoting their independence and growth.

However, we must remain mindful of AI's limitations. Deep learning, critical thinking, and human connection are irreplaceable, no matter how advanced AI becomes. AI should complement — not replace — the empathy and creativity that human relationships contribute to education and mental well-being.

When used wisely, AI is more than just a technological innovation — it's an opportunity to empower all students, educators, and parents alike, helping them navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world while advancing inclusion and promoting growth for all individuals.

** Terence Ma Tin Shu is an educational psychologist in accredited register, practicing in Hong Kong SAR and Chinese mainland. 

Global Times