The Federal Government has announced that it is finalising emergency evacuation plans for Nigerian citizens stranded in Israel and Iran following the recent escalation of hostilities between the two nations.

According to a statement released by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Tuesday night, Nigerian embassies in Tel Aviv and Tehran are actively reaching out to affected citizens and coordinating efforts to ensure their safe return.

Nigerians in the affected regions have been urged to adhere strictly to local security protocols and to contact the nearest Nigerian Embassy or Mission for registration and further instructions.

The ministry acknowledged the dedication of diplomatic staff in both countries and assured the public of the government’s commitment to the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.

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It also noted ongoing collaboration with international partners and local authorities to ensure a timely and secure evacuation process.

The statement read in part, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that following the escalation of the crisis between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Federal Government is finalising arrangements for the emergency evacuation of stranded Nigerians in both countries.

“All affected Nigerian citizens are therefore strongly advised to abide by necessary security protocols and contact the nearest Nigerian Embassy or Mission for registration and further instructions.

“The Ministry commends the efforts put in place by our Missions in Tel Aviv, Israel and Tehran, Iran for their dedication and commitment to reaching out to the Nigerian Community in these difficult times.

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“We wish to assure the general public that the Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and welfare of all its citizens, both at home and abroad, and is working in close coordination with relevant international partners and local authorities to ensure the timely and secure evacuation of Nigerians in affected areas.”

In addition, FG renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Iran, urging all parties to embrace dialogue, uphold international humanitarian law, and prioritise the protection of civilians.

The ministry reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and its longstanding support for regional and global peace.

“In the same vein, the Government of Nigeria reiterates its call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urges all parties involved to embrace dialogue, respect international humanitarian law and prioritise the protection of civilians.

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“Nigeria stands firm in its support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and reaffirms its longstanding commitment to regional and global peace and stability,” the ministry added.

Further updates on the evacuation operation will be made available through official government channels.

On Friday, Israel launched a major air campaign targeting around 100 sites across Iran, including nuclear and military facilities, killing several senior Iranian military leaders.

The strikes, marking one of the most significant escalations between the two countries in recent years, triggered widespread international reactions urging calm and diplomacy to prevent further conflict.

Among those killed were Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, called Israel’s wave of strikes a “declaration of war”, as he warned Israel it faced a “bitter and painful” fate over the attacks, while the Iranian military said there were “no limits” to its response.

Late elder statesman and former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President -General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has left behind a final Will that bans his wife, Lolo Frances from remarrying.

The document, released on June 16, 2025, and managed by Will administrator, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN), outlines how the respected businessman and politician’s wealth is divided among his immediate family and select beneficiaries.

Among the key highlights is the inheritance of the iconic “Legacy House” on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, willed to his wife, Frances with a strict instruction that the house must never be sold.

In addition to the residence, Frances received ownership of Magil Furniture—once run by Iwuanyanwu’s late first wife, Eudora—and partial ownership of real estate holdings in Orji, Works Layout, and Naze in Imo State.

But the Will comes with a firm condition: “any move by Frances to remarry would result in automatic forfeiture of all these properties.”

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Their son inherits the Abuja residence, while the London property is slated for sale.

The proceeds from that transaction are to be divided with 60% earmarked for the education of Iwuanyanwu’s youngest son, 30% to his first son, Jide, and 10% to Ezinne, who currently resides in the property, to aid in securing a new home.

A major philanthropic gesture within the Will is the decision to convert the “Glass House” near the Orji flyover into a public trust managed by an independent board, dedicated to charitable and community causes.

Meanwhile, other valuable assets located in Abuja, Imo, and across Nigeria were fairly allocated among his five children, who have collectively described their father’s final instructions as “honorable and just.”
(NDM)

By Israel Adebiyi

There is an old Northern Nigerian folklore titled “Ali and the Angel: Tea Without Sugar.” In this tale, a man named Ali, sensing opportunity in a village too poor to afford sugar, disguised himself as an angel. He claimed he had brought “heavenly sugar” to sweeten their tea. The “sugar,” however, was nothing but ashes from a burnt hut.

Desperate, the villagers bought into the trick. They stirred ashes into their tea and convinced themselves the taste had improved. Some even fell ill. But by the time they realized they had been drinking poison and praising a fraudster, Ali had vanished—along with their money, their health, and their hope.

This story may be folklore, but it mirrors Nigeria’s journey through power sector privatization since 2013.

When the Goodluck Jonathan administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with private Distribution Companies (DISCOs), it was heralded as a turning point. These companies were handed over the reins with clear expectations: to invest massively in infrastructure, provide meters to every Nigerian, improve supply, and run the sector efficiently and transparently.

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Twelve years later, Nigerians are still drinking bitter tea—no sugar, no light.

Instead of improvement, we now have a sector that is both privatized and parasitic. Citizens pay for everything—transformers, poles, cables, and meters—yet receive no reliable power in return. In many communities, residents pool money to buy equipment the DISCOs should provide. This defies both logic and law.

Even more disturbing is the fact that government at national and sub-national levels continue to pump public funds into infrastructure for these private firms. Federal and state budgets routinely allocate billions for electrification projects, transformer procurements, and rural access—for a sector that is supposedly privatized.

This is an anomaly that turns logic on its head. In no sane privatization model should the public be the one enabling the private investor to function. The DISCOs were meant to invest, but instead, they have turned the system into a cash cow—earning trillions while hiding behind estimated billing and technical excuses.

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Even as darkness deepens, tariffs are being raised, and there is now a push to remove electricity subsidies entirely. This is not reform; it is daylight robbery. You do not fix a leaky roof by tearing off the entire ceiling—you hold the builder accountable.

The President Bola Tinubu administration must act with urgency. A surgical probe is needed into the operations of the DISCOs. Nigerians need to know where the trillions went, why investments were not made, and why, a decade after privatization, over 60% of Nigerians still live in darkness.

It is time to review the MoU. Any DISCO that has failed to meet its obligations must face revocation of license. The government must chart a new course—one that aligns with public interest, not private greed.

Electricity is not just about light; it is about life—health, education, industry, and dignity. As it stands, the system is rigged against the people. It is as though someone promised them sugar, but sold them ashes—and made them pay for the spoon, the cup, and the tea as well.

Until something changes, Nigerians will continue to stir their bitter tea and pretend it’s sweet. But the deception must end. The fraud must be unmasked. The “angel” must be exposed.

Enough of power without light.