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Student Loan: North Elders Cautions Tinubu Over Scheme

Published

3 years ago

June 28, 2023

The spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has warned that the proposed education loan scheme of the federal government would discourage more Nigerians from accessing university education.

As a result, Baba-Ahmed advised that “the Tinubu government should be very careful about its reforms in the education sector,” stressing, “I think that the education loan scheme policy needs to be looked at very carefully.”

The NEF spokesman also urged President Bola Tinubu to evaluate the policy, as he noted that it would have an “enormous impact” especially on the North.

Baba-Ahmed said this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH in Abuja on Monday.

He stressed that the north is “very worried about the Tinubu-led government’s policy on the education loan scheme, as we fear it is going to radically increase the cost of university education, and lead a large number of students from the Northern parts of the country out of school.”

Continuing, he asserted, “That is the simple, honest truth. I am hoping that, first, the policy will be studied thoroughly in the context of how people live now. Where are we going to get these loans from? The banks that would disburse the student loans – how much authority and power are you going to devolve to them, or are you going to leave them to go and charge what they want?

“Or are you going to provide the parameters? Have we looked at the possibility that students might take loans and not be able to pay for them, three, four, or five years after graduation? Have you created enough employment opportunities?

“But above all, if you raise the entire fees, yesterday I saw an advert of something supposedly from BUK in Kano, which is one of the largest universities, and I saw that they are now going to be charged for various services the university renders.

“I say this is unbelievable. I know for a fact that if it is true, then a large number of students would not be able to cope.

“We are behind now, as it is in the North. If you now introduce policies where the removal of subsidies is already making life difficult for poor people, electricity tariffs are going to go up, now our children can’t go to school, you must worry about the cumulative effect of these policies,” he added.

The Northern elder insisted, “Policies after policies are just making life more difficult, and people have a short patience threshold. If they don’t see a difference between the pre-Tinubu government and the Tinubu administration, they will walk away from this administration.”

The NEF leader further noted that “The last thing President Tinubu needs is Nigerians saying this man just came to make our lives difficult. In simple terms, that is basically where it boils down.

“Now, if their lives are going to be made difficult, at least find ways of explaining to them. I am very sorry- your leg is broken, if it has to be fixed, it will pain you. But we can fix it. The government’s communication strategy has to be perfect, and the way you design your policies and their impacts – don’t create too many burdens and place them on the citizenry,” he remarked.

Baba-Ahmed tasked the administration to end corruption as a way of restoring Nigeria to the path of growth, security, and national unity.

According to him, “Corruption is at the root of our insecurity; societal corruption, the corruption of our values as a people, and the corruption of all the agencies that are supposed to be fighting insecurity.

“If you drastically remove corruption from the processes and operations of government, and from the lives of Nigerians, you can solve the problem of insecurity in a year or two,” the NEF spokesman stated.

He maintained that the government must address poverty, as well as prioritise the inclusion of the different parts of the country in governance, noting that this will give every group a stake in Nigeria.

“Addressing poverty is a very serious problem, finding ways to improve inclusion – the elections have polarised the country very dangerously, and anybody who does not tell you that we are in a very terrible situation because our elections tend to polarise the nation more and more,” Baba-Ahmed pointed out, adding, “So, inclusiveness should be prioritised.

The administration must find a way to make all parts of the country have a stake in the government, just as this new government must by all means, inject fresh and new ideas in the management of the economy. The administration should pay very close attention to the impact of the liberal economic policies.

“Poverty levels are very high, and sometimes we tend to think that ideas alone can solve problems, no! You need to pay very close attention to the state in which people live.

“Not all people are beneficiaries of liberal economies. The poor are already really under a lot of poverty. Insecurity has compounded it. The last thing you want to do is to create a hostile citizenry.

“The president needs to be very careful, and to take very informed policies in the management of the economy so that even if he doesn’t radically liberate the poor, he also doesn’t radically impoverish them,” Baba-Ahmed advised further.

However, while commending Tinubu for taking the bold decision to suspend from office, the leadership of both the CBN and the EFCC, as well as the removal of subsidy on Petrol Motor Spirit, Baba-Ahmed cautioned against policies that may alienate the masses.

He warned, “The government needs to understand that policies that would have a profound impact on people, it needs to be very careful about it.

“Don’t be afraid to put policies that would affect people, but also don’t condemn and disregard sentiments.

“Everybody knew the fuel subsidy would go, whether it was designed or not, and it was because President Buhari only budgeted for it till June. It wasn’t Tinubu that removed the subsidy; it was Buhari that removed the subsidy.

“Tinubu just found a convenient entry point and said, there’s no kobo for subsidy. It is gone. But what you do is immediately tell people who are working with you. Listen, this may not be our decision, but it will be our decision to deal with the consequences, so how do we do it in such a way that we both get the benefit of the removal of subsidy, as well as alleviate some of the really negative things that would come with its removal,” he said.

News

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

8 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

8 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.