General News
FULL TEXT of President Tinubu’s Democracy Day address
Fellow Nigerians
Today, we celebrate democracy and the enduring Nigerian spirit. For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers—not through violence. We have experienced the longest stretch of civilian rule in our history. Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it.
In the coming days, Ekiti and Osun States will hold elections. I urge INEC, security agencies, and all parties to ensure these polls are peaceful and credible.
Democracy fails when citizens doubt the process. To our National Assembly, Judiciary, the Press, and Civil Society: you are the guardrails of our republic. Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria.
To our young people: Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here, and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship.
To our armed forces, police, and intelligence services: Nigeria salutes your sacrifice. To our traditional rulers, faith leaders, and community heads: thank you for your support of peace and reconciliation. The government cannot do it alone.
Today, we honour the resilience of Nigerians who refused to surrender their faith in freedom, and the courage of those who stood firm against intimidation. We pay tribute to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile, and even death so that future generations could enjoy democracy. I salute labour leaders, journalists, activists, students, women, professionals, political leaders, and soldiers—both those who have passed and those still with us—for their patriotic contributions.
Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return. Democracy without security is not solid enough. That is why this administration declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits. Our 2026 budget commits N5.41 trillion—our largest ever—to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people.
We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting. In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81% since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year. But we also keep the door of surrender open. Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor.
To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.
At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.
June 12 occupies a sacred place in our national memory. It represents more than an election; it is a defining chapter in our story. We remember Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who won a pan-Nigerian mandate transcending ethnicity and religion. We remember Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
We also remember Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Frank Kokori, Arthur Nwankwo, Chima Ubani, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and the many other heroes and heroines of democracy whose sacrifices helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today.
As beneficiaries of their struggle, we have a duty to strengthen and deepen the democratic institutions for which they fought. The greatest tribute we can pay is to build a Nigeria where freedom is protected, justice is upheld, opportunity is expanded, and government is accountable.
June 12, 1993, revealed the possibility of a true Nigerian nation. The heroes of June 12 secured political freedom. Our challenge is to secure economic freedom. Democracy must be felt in the quality of people’s lives—in opportunities for youth, in prosperous farmers, successful entrepreneurs, and the dignity of our workers.
The reforms we are undertaking were not chosen for ease, but for necessity. Three years ago, our public finances were under severe strain, investment was discouraged, and economic uncertainty threatened our future. We chose to act, embracing reforms to advance Nigeria’s economic freedom.
Since 2023, our reforms have restored stability and credibility to economic management. Federation revenues have risen, providing states and local governments with more resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security. Fiscal transparency has improved, leakage has been reduced, and public funds are better directed to national priorities. Investor confidence has returned, with investments in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation, and the creative industries growing.
Domestic refining capacity has increased, strengthening energy security and reducing our reliance on imported petroleum products.
By 2023, when we came on board, the electricity sector was characterised by chronic generation shortfalls, an unreliable gas supply, and transmission infrastructure so fragile that it could not evacuate available power. Distribution companies were burdened by massive losses and a metering deficit of over four million. Worst of all, the value chain was drowning in legacy debt. The result was a sector that generated less than the 13,500 Megawatts installed capacity, a sector that transmitted less than it generated, distributed less than it transmitted and collected revenue far below what it needed to sustain itself.
To address the problems besetting the sector, I signed the Electricity Act, which grants states authority to generate, transmit, and distribute power. The Presidential Power Sector Task Force is working hard to reduce the metering deficit. It has also been authorised to raise N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts. The Rural Electrification Agency, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has deployed off-grid and mini-grid power to underserved communities, universities, markets, and hospitals. Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it.
Across the country, infrastructure projects are connecting producers to markets and creating opportunities for enterprise and employment. The National Agricultural Development Fund is deploying 10,000 tractors over five years. Over 1,000 SMEs have been certified for export. Non-oil exports grew by 21% last year.
Yet, many Nigerians still face economic hardship. We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards, rebuilding confidence in our economy, and creating conditions for sustainable prosperity.
We are moving from uncertainty to stability. The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community, and every region. We believe that Democracy must be felt in the pocket.
Recognising that democracy is undermined when people do not feel its impact, my administration has sought financial autonomy for our 774 local councils. A fundamental challenge to our nation’s advancement has been ineffective local government administration. The insecurity we are addressing is partly due to the collapse of grassroots governance. The Renewed Hope Agenda is about ensuring that all Nigerians benefit from governance.
Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence—the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity.
Let us move forward together—rejecting division, cynicism, and despair; embracing unity, hope, and confidence. Let us build a Nigeria united by a common purpose, strengthened by diversity, where justice is accessible, liberty is secure, and opportunity is abundant.
Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership. In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
I am also pleased to announce national awards to the following Nigerians, who suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, so that we have democracy today.
Barrister Ayoka Lawani
Tunde Fagbenle
Oladele Alake
Olatunji Bello
Louis Odion
Segun Babatope
Sam Omatseye
Sir Ademola Osinubi
Bola Bolawole
Lade Bonuola
Femi Kusa
Debo Adeniran
Chief Ayo Opadokun
Chief Ralph Obiora
Ose Osayande
Barrister Osa Director
Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine
Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous)
Dr Osagie Obayuwana
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin
Barrister Titus Mann
Joe Igbokwe
Richard Akinnola
Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous)
George Mbah
Dr Niran Malaolu
Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd)
Femi Aborisade
Jenkins Alumona
Gbemiga Ogunleye
Muyiwa Adekeye
Babajide Kolade-Otitoju
Ike Okonta
We also recognise the soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle:
Major General MA Garba
Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa
Col Umar Farouk Ahmed;
Col Sambo Dasuki;
Col Lawan Gwadabe;
Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong
Col Musa Shehu;
Major General Chris Eze;
Major General Harris Dzarma;
Col Isa Jibrin;
Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin;
Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom)
Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus
Col J Okai;
Col Emmanuel Ndubueze;
Lt Col Yakubu Muazu
Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title.
The honours list will be released in the next few days.
Fellow Nigerians, 27 years ago, many doubted democracy would survive here because of our diversity. Today, our diversity sustains our democracy. The road ahead is steep. But June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break.
Let us renew our covenant: That the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land.
May God bless the heroes of our democracy. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God continue to bless us all.
Happy Democracy Day.
BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
General News
Agunloye’s Alleged $6b Mambilla Project Fraud : Witness Affirms Authenticity of Prosecution’s Exhibit
By Michael Lim
The trial of the former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, continued on Thursday, June 18, 2026 before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja with the Sixth Prosecution Witness, PW6, Iliya John Iyakwari, denying under cross-examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, that there is an extract of the Federal Executive Council meeting of May 21, 2003, different from the one, marked Exhibit EFCC 3K which he certified and was tendered in evidence by the prosecution.
Agunloye is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on amended seven-count charge, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion (Six Billion United States Dollars) to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
Further in the cross-examination, the defence counsel applied that Exhibit EFCC 3D be shown to the witness which met an objection from the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN on the ground that the witness cannot be cross-examined on a document that he is not the maker.
“My lord, our objection is anchored on the Supreme Court authority in Buhari Vs INEC and others. I object to this application because this witness is not the maker, neither was it tendered through him .We further rely on Palladium Mining Ltd & Gekpan Nigeria Limited 2003,” he said.
The Thursday’s proceedings brought the cross-examination of the witness, a former assistant director, Legal in the Federal Ministry of Justice, now serving in the Federal Ministry of Power as an assistant legal adviser to conclusion.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till July 2, 2026 for further hearing.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate, has called its first witness, Deputy Superintendent of EFCC, DSE Unyime P. Moses in the trial of an alleged romance scammer, Edidiong Nsidore James.
Moses told Justice Maurine Oyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, that the evidence of James’ alleged involvement in the $41,000 love scam was discovered in his mobile phone. Explaining further, the witness stated that the communication between the defendant and his victim, Elizabeth, whom he often called ‘My Everything’, had details of the alleged monetary exchange between them.
According to Moses, the chat evidence printed from the defendant’s phone revealed that when the victim demanded that her money be refunded to her, the defendant failed to comply. Instead, he demanded for more money under various guises, insisting that the additional money must be sent to him, to enable him release her $41,000 to her. “Send me $900 if you want your money back, because if you don’t send me the $900, I won’t give you your money back”, James said in their chat.
Moses also told the court that, when the victim threatened to report him to the EFCC, the defendant boasted to her that the EFCC cannot arrest him: “Did you really think the EFCC could arrest me? I remember I once told you that all this won’t help us, that you sent me $900, but you refused. So, tell me, how long will it take you to stop thinking you can arrest me.”
While giving her evidence-in-chief, the PW1 told the court that the defendant used pseudo names to defraud his victims, and also identified himself as ‘Jessy James’ when he was arrested. She said a BVN check was immediately conducted and it was confirmed that Jessy was a fake name.
The witness also told the court that all pleas from the victim to the defendant to refund her money fell on deaf ears as James kept demanding for more money. Elisabeth once pleaded in one of her chats with James: “at the end of August, the bailiff will take my apartment and because of you, I will be on the street with my child. I will never forgive you for this. If you do this to me, to whom you said you love, then what will you do to the one you don’t love? I don’t need your pity and I don’t need any feelings at all from you. I need my $41,000”
The PW1 also narrated how she went ahead to put a call across to the victim who responded, but got angry the instant she mentioned the name of the defendant. Moses said the victim rained curses on her and called the entire country ‘corrupt’. “Don’t ever call me again, your entire country is as corrupt as Jessy and I do not wish to speak with any of you again, except through my country’s Embassy”
After the cross-examination, the court adjourned to September 22 and 23, 2026, for further hearing.
James was arrested at his residence located at Ring Road 3, off Camp Gee, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in an intelligence- driven sting operation on October 8, 2025. Items recovered from the defendant include an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a Redmi 13 mobile phone, and a Lexus ES350, which were all tendered as exhibits by the prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin and were all admitted in evidence.
During a forensic examination of the said gadgets, incriminating communications between the defendant and his victim were discovered in the devices revealing how he had allegedly been defrauding Elizabeth for over three years through a romance scam and extorting money from her. Further probe revealed that he had received a total sum of $41,000 from his victim and was still demanding more.
While interrogated, James stated that he owned a BetNaija shop which he said he established in 2021. He further claimed that he engaged in boosting social media accounts, by increasing followers. According to him, he charged between ₦30,000 and ₦40,000 per account and has boosted about 20 accounts for his online clients. However, no evidence was found to substantiate his claim of operating a social media account boosting business, and no proof that any client had sent login details to him for account boosting services.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect was actively involved in internet fraud, specializing in romance scams and identity theft. Findings showed that he used fictitious Facebook and WhatsApp accounts to communicate with his victims, including Elizabeth. Investigations also established that his victims were foreign nationals and not Nigerians as he had earlier claimed.
Although the suspect claimed that he only benefited $4,000 from Elizabeth, a Hungarian, conversations retrieved from his devices revealed that he received way more than the amount he claimed.
James was first arraigned on January 30, 2026, and pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the three-count charges preferred against him by the Commission.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Edidiong Isidore James ( a.k.a Jessy Isidore James), on or sometime in February 2025 in Akwa Ibom State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of Forty-One Thousand United States Dollars ($41,000 USD), property of Elizabeth (‘My Everything’) and other unsuspecting victims, under the pretence of trading in Bitcoin/Forex Trading, which pretence you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
—It Excels at Work-life Balance, Sustainability, and Quality of Life
From extensive public transit and paid leave to strong civic participation, Copenhagen offers a model for urban well-being.
How do you define happiness? Good health, career success, a sense of community and purpose? What about the happiness of a city? Judging from the Happy City Index’s latest report, the criteria may not be that different.
Each year, the index shares its analysis of the world’s happiest communities, reviewing 1,000 cities based on 64 distinct indicators and highlighting places that “combine quality of life, sustainability, and long-term development strategies.” And this year, Copenhagen, Denmark, takes first place.
The Danish capital scored 6,954 total points on the index’s scale, edging out Helsinki, Finland (6,919) and Geneva, Switzerland (6,882) to claim the top spot—although the team behind the index explains that the goal isn’t to declare a single “best” city. Rather, by celebrating cities that “combine good governance, sustainability, resilience, and quality of life in a way that offers a more balanced picture of urban development,” their successes can serve as a guide for other cities to draw inspiration and ideas from.
The Essential Guide to Copenhagen .
The top 50 cities on the Happy City Index are labeled the Gold Group, a distinction that “recognizes cities that demonstrate a consistently high standard of performance across the six dimensions of the Index: Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health, and Mobility,” the report says. And you can see these dimensions clearly reflected in Copenhagen’s stats.
For example, according to the index, 70 percent of trips made around the Danish city are completed via green transportation, compared to a global average of 45 percent. The city’s public transport ridership clocks in at 496 rides per capita annually, against an average of just 194, and road traffic accidents are nearly half the index average (likely because everyone is taking those eco-friendly public transit options instead).
Economically, Copenhagen residents earn 161 percent above the national average, unemployment sits at 3.62 percent (versus 5.58 percent globally), and workers receive 52 weeks of paid parental leave at 50 percent salary or more, which is more than double the index average of 24 weeks.
Mental health indicators and work-life balance in Copenhagen are also quite strong. Residents average a solid 25 paid vacation days per year and work about 39 hours per week—slightly less than the global average. The city also has active mental health and well-being strategies in place, the report noted, along with a formal plan to address hate speech and cyberbullying.
Moreover, Copenhagen has proven to be both a global and a civic-minded city. Here, 86 percent of the population can speak a foreign language, and voter turnout in the last local election hit 65.6 percent, well above the 49.8 percent average.
Of course, no place is perfect: the index noted that Copenhagen’s waste generation per resident and air pollution levels both run slightly above the index average. But in the end, the city offers the best overall support for its citizens’ long- and short-term happiness of any municipality in the study.
Copenhagen is joined in the top 10 by a number of Scandinavian cities, with Helsinki, Finland; Uppsala, Sweden; Trondheim, Norway; Malmö, Sweden; and Aarhus, Denmark, all ranking highly. Perhaps it’s time to plan a trip—and plan to take a few notes while you’re there?
Yahoo
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