Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has knocked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the ongoing economic reform, saying the International Monetary Fund, IMF has captured succinctly what’s really happening in the country.
The IMF had last week warned the federal government over rising budget, saying it could be a big problem for the country.
The Tinubu’s administration has borrowed huge loans locally and from foreign creditors, including the IMF since coming to office three years ago, amidst warning by not a few Nigerians that the country’s future is being endangered over piled up debt.
Nigeria’s total public debt, according to checks is known to be around N159.28 trillion.
Reacting, in a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former Nigerians Vice President said the economic policy is a deceit meant to punish the people of the country, noting that Nigerians are suffering while those in government are enjoying.
According to him, the IMF only confirmed the reality in the country, contrary to what the government is trying to project to Nigerians.
he explained that what Nigerians are experiencing under the administration is “renewed hardship” describing the current situation in the country as “national emergency” that the Tinubu’s administration has failed to admit.
“The IMF is not breaking news; it is confirming a national emergency that this administration refuses to acknowledge,” he said.
Abubakar stressed that Nigerians are suffering from all sides, including wage loss, high cost of goods, which have become “unaffordable” for not a few Nigerians, saying ‘survival’ has become so difficult under the current economic situation in the country, adding that Nigerians are supposed to be enjoying per the rise of crude oil price, but nothing to for the high earning from the nation’s major export, crude oil.
Instead many Nigerians are suffering from rising food cost, unstable exchange rate, high transportation cost, and how to send their children to school because of the economic conditions in the country, amidt insecurity which has forced many farmers to abandon their farms.
“At the grassroots, the story is even more brutal,” he continued. “Parents are pulling children out of school because education is now a luxury. Farmers are abandoning their lands out of fear of violence.
“Young people roam the streets, degrees in hand but hope in short supply. Small businesses are folding up like pack of cards under the weight of electricity tariffs, taxes, and a suffocating business climate.
“This administration has turned sacrifice into a one-way street where the people bleed and the government lectures,” Atiku said.
“You cannot ask a hungry people to be patient while policies choke the life out of them. That is not reform, that is punishment,” Abubakar noted.
Atiku also expressed concern over Nigeria’s growing debt burden, warning that the country risked entering a cycle in which present economic hardship is being financed at the expense of future generations.
“We are borrowing like there is no tomorrow, yet there is nothing to show today,” he said. “No jobs, no relief, no visible improvement in the lives of the people, only mounting debt and mounting pain.”
He further criticised the administration’s obsession with abstract economic theories while ignoring the human cost.
“Governance is not a classroom exercise,” he said. “It is about whether a pot boils in the kitchen, whether transport fare can be afforded, whether a small trader can restock, and whether a nation’s youth can dream again. Today, those simple things have become distant luxuries.”
A former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has rejected the purported endorsement of a gubernatorial aspirant by Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule ahead of the 2027 polls.
This is as former Governor Tanko El-Makura described Sule’s endorsement of Senator Aliu Wadada as the preferred choice of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the forthcoming elections as both hasty and unacceptable.
The Source reports that the Nasarawa State Governor, had, last week, announced Wadada,the Senator representing Nasarawa West as his preferred successor.
Senator Wadada who was elected on the platform of the Social Democratic party SDP only recently defected to the APC.
However, Senator El-Makura who presided over Nasarawa State between 2011 and 2015 faulted the endorsement exercise for not being a product of wide consultations and adequate considerations.
He described the endorsement as a unilateral decision of the Governor, alleging that many APC and stakeholders, including himself, as a former Governor of the State were never privy to the purported endorsement.
Similarly, at an interactive session with the Media, former IGP Adamu declared that he will continue to pursue his gubernatorial ambition despite the Governor’s endorsement of Senator Wadada.
Adamu also maintained that contrary to widespread insinuations, he is still a loyal member of the APC, and insisted that the party will be his political platform .
While conceding to the right of the Governor to political preferences, Adamu, however, noted his personal right to pursue his political ambition, and the right of party members and the people of Nasarawa to take the final decision.
“When someone endorses a candidate who he wants, he has the right to do so. But he does not have the right to decide the future of Nasarawa for everyone.
“Again, people are speculating that because of the development ,that I may leave the APC for another.party
“That is not true. We are not going anywhere. We are in APC and will remain in APC to pursue my ambition.
“Despite the purported endorsement, I will contest till the end, and by the grace of God, we will secure victory.”, the former Police boss stated.
But Governor Sule has remained adamant about his stand , noting that it is in tandem with the pursuit.of equity and fairness in the political equation of the state
According to the Governor , equity and fairness demand that the Governorship seat be zoned to Nasarawa West Senatorial District.
Governor Hope Uzodimma has hailed mothers as the foundation of peace and progress in our homes and the society at large, saying they are everything.
He urged greater respect for women, insisting that good wives are difficult to come by.
Speaking on the occasion of the celebration of Mothering Sunday by the Catholic Church at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Ozuh Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Governor said, “If you want peace in your house, the mothers must be respected.”
Uzodimma however revealed that he built the St. Rose of Lima Parish Church in 2002 in memory of his late mother, Ezinne Nneoma Rose Uzodimma, whose values he said shaped him.
“Her kindness will continue to resonate,” he noted.
He congratulated Nigerian women and thanked residents for sustaining peace and stability in Imo State.
The Wife of the Imo State Governor, Barr (Mrs) Chioma Uzodimma, who was honoured with the title of Queen Mother of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Parish Ozuh Omuma by the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) of the Church applauded mothers for their vital role in shaping families and strengthening faith during the Mother’s Day celebration in Imo State.
She described motherhood as a divine calling, noting that “mothers are God’s precious instruments, nurturing lives and shaping character across generations.”
Imo First lady urged mothers to remain steadfast in prayer and moral guidance, encouraging them to continue supporting their families and communities through love, faith, and dedication.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Augustine Agoawuike in his homily urged Christians to overcome fear and societal barriers, drawing inspiration from Jesus’ resurrection and the example of Mary, Mother of Jesus.
He noted that Christ “breaks through the barriers of fear and doubt and commissions us to be His witnesses of peace.”
He described Mothering Sunday as “a day of joy, sacrifice and gratitude,” calling on families to “appreciate mothers, wives and daughters.”
The cleric emphasised that mothers remain pillars of faith and society, urging believers to honour their sacrifices and strengthen unity within the Church.
The event featured cutting of Mother’s Day cake, and decoration of the wife of the Governor by the CWO of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Ozuh, Omuma with an award.
The Service was well attended by dignitaries from within and outside Imo State.
Former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP.
In acknowledgment,an excited Kano state Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf, has informed that a date will be fixed for Shekarau’s formal reception into the fold of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
In a letter dated April 19, 2026, and addressed to the PDP Chairman, Giginyu Ward, Nasarawa Local Council, Shekarau,who presided over the affairs of Kano state between 2003 and 201, said his resignation is with immediate effect.
Senator Shekarau, who, also, served as former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Minister of Education in 2015 , explained that the decision to severe ties with the PDP was sequel to extensive consultations with his political group, and in preparation for a realignment process in the days ahead.
“Accept this letter as notice of my resignation from position as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) with effect from today ( April 19,2026).
“This decision follows wide and extensive deliberations within my political group to pursue our political career in a different political party”, Shekarau stated.
This was as he appreciated the party for providing him with the platform to further his political journey and serve the people.
The Source reports that Shekarau’s resignation from the PDP is coming on the heels of a recent official invitation extended to him by the All Progressive Congress, APC, to join the party.
The APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwaltda had, in early April, led a team of the leadership of the party on a visit to Shekarau’s country home in Kano during which the party officially wooed him.
The former Governor, however, asked for a little time to consult with his political family, promising to get back to the party’s leadership.
In a statement on Sunday from Mustapha Muhammad, his spokesperson, Governor Yusuf, while welcoming Shekarau into the APC, described his return as a remarkable boost to the strength of the party in Kano.
Governor Yusuf expressed the optimism that the coming on board of Shekarau is an eloquent testimony to the increasing support and consolidation being enjoyed by the APC in Kano state.
He emphasized that the APC is poised to clinch every available elective position in the State.
Instructively, Shekarau in his over two decades of political journey, has carefully avoided being in the same political camp with the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who he ousted from the Kano State seat of power in 2003.
Kwankwaso is presently in the opposition Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress, ADC, after exiting the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP, a couple of months ago.
The National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN) at the weekend turned out a total of 24,575 graduands that were awarded various degrees at its 15th convocation.
At the occasion, the Federal Government said it is fully transforming NOUN into an international competitive online university, even as the push for the inclusion of NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
President Bola Tinubu made this known in a message to the convocation of the university held at the weekend.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Executive Secretary of the National universities Commission, (NUC) Prof Abdullahi Ribadu said government was also expanding access , improving quality and strengthening infrastructure and integrating technology to Teaching and learning.
The Chancellor of the National open university of Nigeria, His Royal majesty, omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Uku okpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare, oba of Benin, called on the Federal Government to increase sustained intervention funding for the University.
“It is therefore incumbent upon me, in my capacity as Chancellor, to respectfully call the attention of the Federal Government to the imperative of dedicated and sustained intervention funding for this University.
“If we are to fully harness its strategic importance, then its physical and technological infrastructure must be commensurate with its national mandate”
“I call on appropriate authorities to remove all impediments preventing eligible graduates of this University from participating fully in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
“Equity and justice demand that no graduate of a duly recognised Nigerian university should suffer disadvantage on account of the mode through which their education was delivered”.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution Prof Uduma Uduma stated that the university has continued to invest strategically in technology as the backbone of its Open and Distance Learning mandate, but appealed for more support.
“As we look ahead, we seek continued partnership in strengthening our ICT resources, expanding our data centre capacity, procuring additional computer systems for collaborations with Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and supporting our role in hosting Computer-Based Tests for national bodies es such as JAMB and NECO across our Study Centres.
“NOUN’s research enterprise has recorded remarkable progress, reflecting a deliberate commitment to scholarly excellence and global competitiveness”
Prof Uduma Oji Uduma gave a breakdown of the number of the graduating students which included 17,474 undergraduate degrees, 1,788 postgraduate diplomas, 5,282 master’s degrees, and 31 doctoral degrees.
Dino Melaye, former Lawmaker at both the Senate and House of Representatives under All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has boasted that in a free and fair election, he would defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former Kogi State Governorship Candidate under the PDP said he has the wherewithal to defeat the sitting President, but his focus remains on supporting any Candidate that emerges from a coalition platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Melaye made this remarks during an interview on Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, and uploaded on Sunday where he criticised the current administration.
“My brother, anybody among those interested in presidency in ADC would do one million times better than Tinubu. There can never be a worse president than Tinubu,” he said.
Seyi Tinubu
Melaye basically stated that in any credible election, Tinubu would be defeated.
“Me, Dino Melaye. Let’s go on a free and fair election,” he stated.
Melaye went further to emphasise his confidence in his electoral strength, saying, “I will beat him flat… in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He, however, clarified that his immediate priority is not necessarily his own ambition but the broader goal of unseating the current administration.
“My own for now is that we must send Tinubu away. Whoever emerges from consensus or from a primary, I will support,” he said.
Melaye further alleged that the President may resist a transparent electoral process.
“Let him allow a free and fair contest. And if he doesn’t allow it, we will make him conduct our election. Because he doesn’t want election. He wants to be Kabiyesi. He wants to be Igwe,” he added.
On coalition dynamics, Melaye further dismissed discussions around joint tickets, reiterating that the focus remains on national interest.
“I am not interested in any joint ticket or non-joint ticket… we are only interested in rescuing this country,” he said.
He also raised concerns about governance, referencing alleged influence by non-elected individuals, particularly the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
“My son will not interfere with governance. My son will not summon DGs of parastatals and agencies of government and ministers,” he said.
Melaye criticised what he described as the growing visibility and influence of Seyi Tinubu in public affairs, citing activities linked to the City Boy Movement and remarks by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.
“Even our respected Wole Soyinka complained about him. You have seen the City Boy Movement and what they are doing,” he said, questioning the role of non-elected actors governance.
The vocal Kogi State born Politician maintained that opposition figures were already working strategically ahead of future elections, stressing unity as key to achieving their objective.
As the 2027 election gathers momentum, and the endorsement of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Kadiri Hamzat, as the All Progressives Congress, APC, Candidate, by James Abiodun Faleke, Lawmaker, representing Ikeja 1 Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, APC Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Cornelius Ojelabi, has warned against unauthorized actions by some party leaders for publicly endorsing certain aspirants.
Ojelabi said no Chieftain of the Party in the State has the right or power to endorse any aspirants into any elective offices, and present them as so-called “consensus” Candidates of the party.
Ojelabi gave the warning in a statement issued on Sunday, following a series of endorsements of aspirants in the State.
According to the APC Chairman, “The attention of the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the disturbing and unauthorized actions of some Local Government Chairmen who have taken to publicly raising the hands of certain aspirants to various elective offices and presenting them as so-called consensus candidates of the party.
“The party wishes to state unequivocally that such conduct is wrong, unacceptable, and a clear violation of the principles of internal democracy, fairness, and due process for which our great party is known.
“These actions are capable of generating avoidable tension, fueling suspicion, and causing needless division within our ranks at a time when unity and discipline remain paramount.”
Giving clarification on the next month’s primaries of the Party in the State, Ojelabi said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Lagos State APC has not issued any guidelines, directives, or timetable for the forthcoming primaries.
“Consequently, any attempt by any party official to project, or anoint any aspirant as a consensus candidate is premature, misleading, and entirely without the authorization of the party.
“The party hereby places all officials on notice that, following this warning, it will not hesitate to impose appropriate disciplinary sanctions on any person who continues to engage in these unauthorized and destabilizing acts.
“We wish to reassure all duly registered party members who meet the constitutional requirements to contest for elective offices that the party remains committed to providing a level playing field for all aspirants, free from intimidation, coercion, or any form of undue influence.
“Accordingly, all party officials who are expected to serve as impartial umpires in the forthcoming primaries are strongly enjoined to maintain strict neutrality in the overall interest of party unity, cohesion, and credibility,” he stated.
It would be recalled that there are speculations from different quarters that Hamzat may become the Candidate of the Party, following the endorsement by Faleke, who urged stakeholders in Ikeja LG and Ojodu LCDA to rally round Hamzat.
Many are of the opinion that Faleke may be indirectly speaking the mind of President Bola Tinubu, but with the action of Ojelabi, it seems Faleke was just playing politics, as he may have an agenda, which is in the offing.
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two suspects, including self-acclaimed midwife and prophetess, in connection with separate cases of alleged maternal and infant deaths in Akure and Emure-Ile.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the arrests followed tragic incidents recorded under suspicious circumstances in both locations.
In the first case, a woman identified as Mrs. Bawa Blessing reportedly died after going into labour at a private residence in the Gloryland area of Akure.
The residence, said to belong to one Elizabeth Aremu, who allegedly posed as a midwife, became the scene of the tragedy after the victim developed complications shortly after delivery and died before she could be moved to a hospital.
Police detectives who visited the location discovered the lifeless body of a newborn wrapped in a sack. The suspect was subsequently arrested.
In another incident, a 20-year-old woman, Genifer Sunday, was taken to a church in Emure-Ile during labour.
The Church’s prophetess, identified as Blessing Efiong, allegedly handled the delivery. The newborn reportedly died at the scene, while the mother later died en route to a hospital after developing complications.
The prophetess has also been taken into custody.
The Police said the remains of the deceased mothers and their infants have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, and the Federal Medical Centre morgue for preservation and autopsy.
The Command assured that comprehensive investigations are ongoing to determine the exact causes of the deaths and to ensure that anyone found culpable faces prosecution.
It also cautioned the public against seeking medical care from unqualified individuals, stressing the importance of using licensed healthcare facilities, particularly for critical procedures such as childbirth.
In a subtle hint that Owerri Zone will occupy the Governorship seat of Imo State in 2028, Governor Hope Uzodimma explained on Saturday, April 18, why he decided not to encourage Dr Mcdonald Ebere, to continue in office as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo State Chapter.
The Governor spoke in Owerri on Saturday at a civic reception organised in honour of Dr. Ebere to mark the end of his successful tenure as the State Chairman of the Imo APC.
Dr Ebere, who is from the Owerri Senatorial Zone, gave way to a successor from Orlu, an indication, thanks to Uzodimma, that Orlu Zone, which had monopolised the Governorship seat for nearly 24 years will give way to somebody from another Zone, most likely, Owerri Zone, since it is, also, taken for granted that the other Political Parties, especially, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, will field candidates from the Zone.
Said Uzodimma of the change of baton: Although Ebere could have remained State Party Chairman, “considerations of equity and political stability necessitated leadership changes”
Uzodimma also used the occasion to canvass for the ongoing development efforts of government in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and lauded Dr. Ebere for his contribution to the growth of the Party in the State.
Describing Ebere as “one of our best” during the grand civic reception, Uzodimma said the gathering was primarily to thank God for Ebere’s successful tenure and his new appointment, which he attributed to “the goodness of the Lord and the wisdom” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Governor noted that although Ebere could have remained State Party Chairman, “considerations of equity and political stability necessitated leadership changes.”
He highlighted his personal ties to Ebere, stating, “He is not just my political friend; his wife is my cousin. Our relationship is organic.”
Uzodimma used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to developing Owerri as the State capital, stressing that “if Owerri looks good, Imo looks good.”
He further disclosed that the State government is implementing a 25-year Development Plan already approved by the House of Assembly, and cautioned against illegal land occupation.
The Governor insisted that all land falls under government control as stipulated by law, warning, “Stop taking government land unlawfully. If land is needed, approach the government.”
He urged residents to support ongoing development efforts, insisting that a befitting Capital City is essential for the State’s progress and pride.
Speaking earlier, Sir Ebere expressed deep gratitude to Governor Uzodimma, President Tinubu, the leadership and members of the APC, and the people of Owerri Zone for the faith reposed in him, and vowed his continued loyalty to the Party.
He thanked Governor Uzodimma for his unwavering support over the past 24 years, saying, “without you, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Ebere emphasised the Governor’s pivotal role in his academic and political journey.
Reflecting on his tenure as Party Chairman, Ebere thanked the Governor for guidance and support that ensured his success, and apologised for any hurt caused during his tenure.
He further used the opportunity to request for reallocation of Area ‘k’ land to Owerri people as they have lost most of their indigenous land to the capital development; as well as sought financial support for a young boy’s kidney transplant.
Professor Pat Utomi has once again chosen to dance naked in the public square, playing to the gallery with a familiar cocktail of grandstanding and gloom. This time, he has come to dismiss the reform programme of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “ridiculous,” “poorly structured,” and, in a flourish of intellectual overreach, a “Ponzi scheme.”
At this point, the issue is no longer what Utomi is saying. The issue is why his interventions consistently collapse under the weight of their own exaggeration, under the slightest scrutiny or interrogation.
Any reflective — indeed, discerning — mind would note that, after all these long years of sophistry and vacuous pontifications, all Utomi can possibly point to as his bonafides or bragging rights in the civic space today are the ruins of Volkswagen Automobile Ltd and BankPHB where his much touted “academic wizardry” was exposed as “Ponzi scheme”.
An Economy of Words, Not Results
Utomi’s public persona has long rested on the alarmist aura of a “political economist.” But strip away the titles, the panels, and the endless commentary, and a more uncomfortable question emerges: where is the evidence of all his posturings in the public space?
Nigeria’s economic distortions did not emerge in a vacuum. They were sustained over decades by a rotating class of commentators and advisers who:
• theorized dysfunction instead of dismantling it
• intellectualized failure instead of correcting it
• and, crucially, found relevance within a broken system.
Utomi was not outside that ecosystem. He was part of it. Contrast this with measurable shifts under the current reform cycle:
• Fuel subsidy removal (May 2023): eliminated a multi-trillion-naira fiscal drain, freeing up revenues for subnational allocations and deficit reduction.
Sunday Dare
• Exchange rate unification: collapsed multiple FX windows into a single market-reflective rate—an essential step flagged for years by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. (The actual “Ponzi scheme” that benefited a few with privileged access through arbitrage.)
These are not theoretical positions. They are structural actions with verifiable fiscal impact.
From Insider Comfort to Outsider Outrage
There is a pattern here that is too glaring to ignore. For years, the rent-seeking architecture of Nigeria’s economy—subsidy leakages, FX arbitrage, policy opacity—created space for a certain kind of “expert”: visible, vocal, and perpetually adjacent to power, yet rarely accountable for outcomes.
Now, that architecture is being disrupted. And suddenly, the volume of outrage has gone up. This is not a coincidence. It is a reaction.
When a system that once rewarded commentary begins to prioritize structural correction, those who thrived in the old order often rebrand themselves as its fiercest critics. Not out of principle—but out of displacement.
Meanwhile, early macro signals are adjusting:
• Oil revenue remittances have improved post-subsidy removal and reforms in NNPCL transparency frameworks.
• External reserves stability has strengthened relative to pre-reform volatility cycles.
• Debt service-to-revenue pressure has begun easing marginally as fiscal leakages are curtailed.
The “Ponzi Scheme” Claim: A Collapse of Serious Thinking
Let’s be blunt. Calling a national reform programme a “Ponzi scheme” is not provocative—it is intellectually hollow.
A Ponzi scheme is built on deception and zero value creation. Nigeria’s reforms—however painful—are attempting to:
• eliminate fiscal leakages
• restore price discovery in the FX market
• rebuild macroeconomic credibility
If anything resembled a Ponzi structure, it was the previous regime of:
• borrowing to sustain consumption.
• subsidizing inefficiency at scale.
• masking structural weakness with artificial stability.
An economy that sustained the likes of Utomi and his “Patitio’s gang” of economic bucaneers. Utomi’s analogy does not expose the present—it exposes a troubling looseness in his analytical discipline.He ignores the fact that investor-facing fundamentals are being reset:
• FX backlog clearance efforts have improved confidence among foreign portfolio investors.
Under the Tinubu administration, policy signaling now aligns more closely with orthodox macroeconomic frameworks.
Noise Without Substance
What is most striking is not the criticism—it is the emptiness behind it.
Utomi offers:
* no coherent alternative framework.
* no credible sequencing model.
* no fiscal pathway that avoids the very crisis he warns about
•Just declarations. Just alarm. Just noise. For someone positioned as a thought leader, this is a remarkably thin offering. In contrast, reform-linked institutional moves are underway:
• Tax reform architecture (2025 Acts) aimed at broadening the base and improving compliance efficiency.
• e-invoicing rollout for large taxpayers—enhancing transparency and revenue assurance.
• Customs modernization and AEO programme—improving trade facilitation and compliance.
These are systems-level interventions—not soundbites.
The Familiar Playbook:
Alarm, Amplify, Exit.
We have seen this pattern before:
1. Declare impending collapse.
2. Use dramatic language to command attention.
3. Avoid the burden of proposing solutions.
4. Harass Government into putting you on some committee, think-tank or council to correct it all.
It is a performance—one that thrives in media cycles but adds little to policy depth. Yet the data trajectory, while imperfect, is not static:
• GDP growth has remained positive, avoiding contraction despite reform shocks.
• Non-oil revenue performance (VAT and CIT) has shown upward momentum.
• Subnational fiscal space has expanded due to higher distributable revenues.
A Waning Voice Struggling to Stay Relevant
There is also an underlying tension that cannot be ignored. This administration has not leaned on the usual circle of media intellectuals and policy commentators who, for years, occupied advisory and influence corridors within our national polity. And since then, some of those voices have grown increasingly strident—less analytical, more combative.
Utomi’s latest intervention fits that pattern uncomfortably well. When relevance is no longer assured, outrage often becomes therapeutic.
Meanwhile, reform continuity is being institutionalized:
• Medium-term fiscal frameworks now reflect post-subsidy realities.
• Targeted social intervention programmes are being recalibrated to cushion reform shocks.
• Investment promotion efforts are aligning with a more transparent FX and pricing regime.
Nigeria’s reforms are not beyond criticism. But they are on track and trackable. They demand scrutiny, refinement, and stronger social cushioning.
But what Professor Utomi has offered is not scrutiny. It is not even rigorous dissent. It is amplification without depth. Critique without responsibility. Rhetoric without rigor.
And in a moment that demands serious thinking, that kind of intervention is not just unhelpful—it is a distraction masquerading as insight—especially when set against a reform programme that, for the first time in years, is confronting the structural contradictions that voices like his long circled, but never resolved.
Utomi may do well to consider maintaining a dignified silence, hide his vacuousness and let President Tinubu do his work. Counsel is welcome, distraction is not.
Dare is Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication
