Author: The North Journals
Loading terminals operating without meters By Tse Tse Tuk | The North Journals Imagine a petrol station with many pumps but not a single meter to measure the quantities of fuel dispensed to motorists. The volume declared on any given day depends largely on the whims of the station manager, who must tell the pump attendants what figures to be recorded. If the scenario seems improbable in organised economy, an industry-scale version of it is the norm in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, where oil terminals have no meters, leaving crude oil outputs open to debate and the vagaries of oil company…
By Tse Tse Tuk | The North Journals In the wake of unsettling rumours about a possible coup détat in Nigeria, the arrest of several senior military officers, and the raids on the Abuja and Bayelsa mansions of former Petroleum Minister, Timipre Sylva—who has reportedly fled to London with his wife—one name has quietly resurfaced in Nigeria’s security circles: Aboubacar Hima, the elusive arms dealer from Niger Republic. Once a constant feature in Abuja’s corridors of power, “Petit Boube,” as he is fondly called by his Nigerien associates, has become a ghost in the eyes of Nigerian law enforcement. His…
— A fusion of Sun City, Rio, Las Vegas, and Dubai set to redefine African leisure and nightlife By Tse Tse Tuk In what promises to be one of the most ambitious entertainment projects in Africa’s history, Seyi Tinubu, the scion of Nigeria’s First Family, and nightlife magnate Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, have joined forces to build what they describe as “Africa’s largest entertainment dome” a mega lifestyle complex set to rise from the sands of a newly acquired private island off the coast of Lagos. The dome will be the dazzling centerpiece of the island, a…
By Tse Tse Tuk | The North Journals Barely eight days after Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in as Nigeria’s president, a powerful American lobbying firm quietly opened shop in Abuja. The firm was Ballard Partners, one of Washington’s most connected influence machines and the same outfit that had long been whispering into the ears of Donald Trump and his allies in the Republican establishment. The timing of Ballard’s Nigerian debut was no coincidence. For months before Tinubu’s inauguration, the firm had been working behind the scenes to extinguish diplomatic fires that threatened to consume Nigeria’s newly minted leader. From…
Presidency says review guided by national security, victim sensitivity, and “three-way justice” principle President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a sweeping review of the Federal Government’s clemency list, removing convicts found guilty of serious offences such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and unlawful possession of firearms. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the decision followed careful consideration of the security implications of releasing certain offenders and the need to uphold justice for victims and society. “This action became necessary in view of the seriousness and security…
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on Nigerian youths to take the lead as intellectual ambassadors and advocates in the national campaign against drug abuse. Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the 2nd Peace Magazine Honour Roll Ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday, Marwa congratulated the First-Class university graduates honoured at the event, commending their academic excellence and urging them to channel their intellect and discipline into rebuilding the nation. “Your achievements today are not just academic milestones; they represent the promise of a…
Renting an apartment in Abuja has become increasingly unaffordable for many residents, forcing a steady migration to nearby towns in Niger and Nasarawa States. The combination of limited affordable housing and Nigeria’s worsening cost of living has made the capital city one of the most expensive places to rent in the country. Under existing tenancy laws, landlords are allowed to request up to one year’s rent in advance. However, many Abuja property owners now demand payments covering two years, putting additional strain on tenants already struggling with inflation. Analysts say weak regulation and market-driven pricing have rendered rent control…
When 22-year-old Miracle Nwobodo left her family home in early 2021 to begin a new life as a police officer, hope was all she carried. Her mother, a widow, had watched with pride as her daughter joined the Nigeria Police Force, believing that her hard-won job would ease their struggle after her husband’s death. But only seven months into her service, that dream ended in tragedy. In March 2021, Miracle was shot dead in Anambra State by gunmen believed to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed group allegedly formed by separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. Witnesses recall…
By Sani Saidu Muhammad (2024/2025 Resilience Fellow, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) Across Nigeria’s northwest, gold no longer signifies fortune, it signifies fear. In the forests of Birnin Gwari and the valleys of Zamfara, bandits have supplanted governance. Gold has replaced government authority. The soil is rich, yet the people remain impoverished, trapped in a cycle of violence sustained by raw ore. Living Under the Gun Haruna Kabiru’s face is streaked with dust and sweat as he climbs from a shallow pit in midday heat. “We dig because we’re hungry,” he says. “But every dig might be the…
By Fasila Alhassan Chief Executive Officer of Ghana-based Sar Consult, Mr. Saddick Abdul Razack, has urged women bakers and small business owners to treat their customers with respect and professionalism to sustain their businesses. Speaking at a business training session in Kumasi, Mr. Abdul Razack noted that many entrepreneurs lose customers not because their products are substandard, but due to poor customer service. “It is more difficult to keep an existing customer than to get a new one,” he said. “Take your customers seriously so that they will love and defend your brand.” He expressed concern over how some vendors…