News

Open Grazing: We Should Have Listened to Tambuwal – Kila

Published

5 years ago

May 17, 2021

Eric

A Professor of Strategy and Development at the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) has chided the Nigerian elites and government for not listening to Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, when the governor proposed restrictions to grazing in Nigeria.

The Don made the call during a zoom conference held on this Monday and hosted by the Cambridge African Roundtable.

According to Prof Kila, “a major problem with African political leaders and elites is their disregard for commonsensical and logical ideas”. There seems to be a tendency, even among the seemingly enlightened personalities to align with partisan and sectional positions rather than look at merit and depth.

Citing the case of Nigeria, Kila explained that Nigeria is today plagued by a situation that but has gone from bad to worse but that could have been averted if someone had listened to five years ago, in 2016, to Aminu Tambuwal when the governor proposed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen only in the North.

“Aminu Tambuwal who is a northerner from Sokoto had the courage and clarity of mind to propose that herdsmen from Sokoto should rear their cattle in Sokoto and that by having a grazing reserve in Sokoto State for instance, all herdsmen and herds farmers in Sokoto can graze within Sokoto State environment without moving their herds out.

Kila noted that sadly that call fell on the deaf ears of the Federal Government of Nigeria, other part of government and amazingly, even the elites and civil society at large seems to have missed the call. Not heeding such call has costed and is costing lives, property and avoidable conflict in Nigeria.

The consequence of that is that in 2021, we are now discovering what was said five years ago.

Prof Kila called on Nigerian and African leaders, elites and citizens to wake from what he called a dangerous and destructive slumber and stand up to identify good ideas when proposed and to learn to force those who can to implement such ideas.

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.