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Monarchs, MOSOP Hail Tinubu Over Ogoni Varsity Approval
Stakeholders in Ogoniland, Rivers State, including the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and traditional rulers, have lauded President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill establishing the University of Environment and Technology, Tai, in Ogoni.
The President signed the bill at a ceremony at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, in the presence of key officials, including the senator representing Ogoniland, Mpigi Barinada; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; and Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking after signing the bill, Tinubu acknowledged the historical challenges faced by the Ogoni people.
“Ogoni has been at the forefront of our development and agitation and has suffered environmental degradation… To bring knowledge into that environment, in that area, to me, is the most significant thing from the Ministry of Education,” he said.
The approval followed a recent meeting between Tinubu and Ogoni leaders at the State House, during which the President also expressed his intention to resume oil exploration activities in the region.
He directed Ribadu to lead negotiations with all stakeholders.
Reacting to the development, the Paramount Ruler of Bagha Kingdom in the Khana Local Government Area, Suanu Baridam, who was part of the Ogoni delegation that met with the President, welcomed the move but emphasised the need for immediate funding.
“One of the items on the table during our meeting with the President was the signing of the bill into law. Now that it has been done, the next step is the release of funds for the university to commence operations. It is a significant step in the right direction, and for the first time, a President has made a promise to the Ogoni people and fulfilled it,” he said.
A MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, praised Tinubu, stating that his name would be remembered in Ogoni history.
“This is something we expected long ago. It will contribute to the development of Ogoni, but we still expect more from the President. The Ogoni people are critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s economy, and while we appreciate this gesture, we urge the President to do even more.
“In Ogoni history, he (Tinubu) has written his name in gold. The people will always appreciate this action and never forget what he has done,” Nsuke said.
However, activist and Team Lead at the People’s Advancement Centre, Celestine Akpobari, cautioned against linking the university’s approval to the immediate resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.
“President Tinubu has shown courage by taking this step where others hesitated. However, the university’s approval should be seen as the beginning of restitution for the years of oil extraction and environmental damage suffered by the Ogoni people.
“The government should not assume that establishing a university—a facility other ethnic groups have without any sacrifices—justifies opening up the oil wells. Over 2,000 innocent people were killed, and livelihoods were destroyed. The university is merely the start of restitution, not a bargaining chip for oil extraction,” he said.
Meanwhile, oil-bearing communities in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State have threatened mass action over their alleged exclusion from negotiations on oil resumption in Ogoniland.
The affected communities—Mogho, K-Dere, B-Dere, Bera, Bodo, Kpor, and Gbe—stated that while they were not opposed to oil production resumption, they rejected being sidelined in discussions.
A communiqué issued after a meeting on Saturday, signed by traditional rulers from the affected areas, expressed concern that those most impacted by oil exploration had not been consulted.
The signatories included the Paramount Ruler of Mogho, Stephen Kpea; Paramount Ruler of B-Dere, Kadilo Sooh; Acting Paramount Ruler of K-Dere, Chief Isaac Gbeetee; Paramount Ruler of Bodo, John Berebon; Paramount Ruler of Kpor, Avalobari Ntaoh; Paramount Ruler of Gbe, Friday Dimkpa Gia; and Paramount Ruler of Bera, Magus Dekor.
While expressing cautious optimism about the Federal Government’s move, they warned that farmers and fishermen—who had previously suffered from oil pollution—must be part of negotiations.
“As stakeholders, farmers and fishermen must have a leading role in further discussions on oil resumption. We will not allow a process that ignores or sidelines the real landlords of these lands,” the statement read.
The communities further threatened to make their lands inaccessible if they continued to be excluded.
“We note with interest the Federal Government’s call for a negotiated return of oil operations in Ogoni after over three decades of closure. However, as highly impacted communities, we will vehemently oppose any process that sidelines us.
“As a gateway to the Bonny Export Terminal, any negotiation that does not actively involve us will be rejected,” the communiqué stated.
With the signing of the university bill and renewed discussions on oil exploration, Ogoni remains at a critical juncture. The Federal Government now faces the challenge of balancing developmental commitments with historical grievances as the region seeks justice and progress.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”