Editorial
The Hardship and FG’s Afterthought Of A Palliative Policy”
South South PDP Forum Lagos.
The political economics of subsidy withdrawal, announced six weeks ago by the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on its very first day, continues to stare the government right back in the face, as a massive hike—nearly 300%—in the pump price of petrol ignites corresponding increases in the cost of just about everything else. It will take a while before the full impacts of this policy on jobs, businesses and households are identified and quantified. For now, however, two things are clear.
The first is that there is little room for impulsive decisions in a nation where well more than half of its over 200 million strong population are dirt poor. By President Tinubu’s own admission, the fateful phrase “fuel subsidy is gone” was not even in his prepared inaugural speech, but that he himself “felt it was expedient to stop the subsidy on the first day”. That this admission will come not to Nigerians at home, but in far-away France is instructive in its own right about what publics matter the most to the government.
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But the point is that a hurried decision about a complex economic policy issue such as this without much background preparation for what to do next has so far left in its wake far-reaching consequences than the government probably bargained for. We commend the stoic resilience—borne out of hope and goodwill for the government—with which millions of Nigerians are braving consequences of that hurried decision, even this early into its implementation.
Nigerian media are awash with stories about employees who have to give up their jobs altogether; about those who now spend week nights where they work; and about employers and employees in the small and medium enterprises sector who have to choose between job cuts or salary cuts, as all grapple with skyrocketing cost of transportation and its impacts on everything else. Still, more evidence of the consequences of subsidy withdrawal is at hand at the World Bank, which together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have, perhaps, been the loudest cheerleaders for this policy in Nigeria.
While still cheering the government’s action in its latest edition of the Nigerian Development Update (NDU), the World Bank nevertheless makes clear that 7.1 million Nigerians risk being plunged into extreme poverty by the end of this year, if urgent steps were not taken by the government. This is rising from the over 4 million Nigerians already pushed into that zone during the first half of the year alone by January’s ruinous naira redesign policy and the early effects of the subsidy removal.
It is also clear the government has little or no idea around what policy measures—palliatives—would help cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Nigerians. First, the government did not announce any palliative measures along with the removal, as is the global best practice for such policies. Second, the President’s letter to the National Assembly requesting the appropriation of N500 billion for “palliatives”, after six grueling weeks, did not provide details of what the measures would be, or how they would be distributed among the target population of the poor across the country.
The absence of details on the government’s N500 billion palliative proposal is also instructive because even the National Assembly’s core business of scrutiny and oversight on such matters require specific details about what the government will do with money and who will gain from it if appropriated. Details matter for transparency and accountability in governance.
Third, the government was supposedly engaging with labour to work out acceptable palliative measures for Nigerians. Yet, both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have publicly condemned the government’s other palliative proposals, including that of an $800 million loan from the World Bank to be used for cash transfers of N8,000 each to 12 million households in the country over six months.
The government hopes the transfers will “expand coverage of shock responsive safety net support for all vulnerable Nigerians and the cost of meeting basic needs”, ultimately benefitting 60 million Nigerians, in the government’s own estimations. But both NLC and TLC have dismissed them as “laughable” and an “economic waste” given the reach and depth of poverty in Nigeria today.
Clearly for this government, then, palliative measures for subsidy removal are an afterthought. That cannot be. As the government prepares to oversee the disbursement of nearly $1.5 billion dollars (N1.2 trillion) from the two plans combined, the government needs to get the specific details of the palliatives clear and communicate them to Nigerians soon enough. After all, this is a country where even the most well-intentioned public money soon finds itself in private pockets.
Moreover, as the World Bank’s NDU report says, subsidy removal without clear palliatives will mean that “the poor and economically insecure households will face an equivalent income loss of N5,700 per month, and without compensation, an additional 7.1 million people will be pushed into poverty” before this year runs out. We find that scenario unacceptable. Palliative measures for fuel subsidy removal cannot be an afterthought. Palliative policy is part of the moral foundation that binds the citizen to the state in good, or in tough times. The government must get it right quickly, and tell Nigerians about it.
Daily Trust Editorial
Staff Editorial
Effurun, Delta State – In a gathering that reflected the power of grassroots journalism and community impact, Congress News Nigeria, and rising media voice in the Niger Delta, marked its 4th anniversary on Thursday, July 10, 2025, with a vibrant and well-attended ceremony at TM Hotel, Airport Road, Effurun.
The event, which frew dignitaries from across the region, was chaired by Chief Sheriff Mulade, Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ). He was joined by Chaief Spencer Okpoye, the Commissioner Representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality, DESOPADEC, Barr. Eric Omare, a constitutional Lawyer and former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Amb. (Dr.) Shedrack Agediga, Chairman, Delta State Bursery and Scholarship Board, and Chief Wellington Bobo, alongside other traditional and civil leaders including the Chairman of Oporoza Community, the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), Western Zone.
In his welcome address, Comrade Austin Ozobo, the Publisher and CEO of Congress News, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the journey so far, describing the milestone as more than just measure of time, ut a symbol of resilience, purpose, and unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and public service. He emphasized the organisation’s founding vision: to provide a platform that amplifies the often overlooked people of the Niger Delta.
“Our mission has been to champion the cause of the marginalized, to cast light on the issues that truly matter to our people, and to remain a fearless voice for justice and equity,” Ozobo declared. “What began as a humble initiative has grown to a trusted media house shaping the narrative and strengthening democratic engagement in our region.”
The Keynote address was delivered by Ekanpou Enewaridideke, a prominent Ijw author and cultural critical, who reflected on the indispensable role of strong institutions as the backbone of indigenous media in preserving identity and fostering accountability in governance. He lauded Congress News for its consistency, advocacy-driven journalism, and commitment to regional development.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities and community builders across the Niger Delta. The honorees were recognized for their contributions in fields ranging from media and civil society to environmental advocacy, human capacity and grassroots development.
Guests were treated to a blend of inspiring speeches, and moments of reflection amidst light refreshments, as speakers took turns to commend the media outfit for its principled stance on truth and it’s role in deepening democratic discourse in the region.
As the event drew to a close, the atmosphere was charged with optimism. With strong affirmations from speakers and supporters alike, it was clear that Congress News Nigeria has not only survived but thrived, carving out a nitch as an avant-garde media house deeply rooted in community realities.
Looking ahead, the management of Congress News reaffirmed it’s commitment to journalistic excellence, social responsibility, and the continual elevation of Niger Delta voices on both national and global platforms.
The 4th Anniversary may have been a celebration of the past, but it was equally a bold statement of purpose for the future.
Your Excellency,
SUBJECT: Strategic Proposal to Leverage Dangote’s Bayelsa Visit and Unlock Delta’s Coastal Industrial Corridor
Warm greetings to Your Excellency and continued appreciation for your stewardship over the affairs of Delta State.
I write to you with a sense of strateg urgency and patriotic commitment, in light of Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s recent visit to Bayelsa State, which has reunited national attention toward private-sector-led industrial development in the Niger Delta. As commendable as that engagement is, Delta State holds even more viable, strategic, and economically advantageous alternatives that demand immediate prioritisation and promotion.⁸
Deltas Host to Tree of the Many Oil Terminals in Nigeria
Delta State is host to Escravos Oil Terminal, Forcados Oil Terminal, and the Agbami Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading offshore facility (FPSO). This and many more makes Delta the highest Oil Producing State in Nigeria today. It is our firm belief that the Delta State Government can approach the Dangote Group or any other local or international oil and gas consortium to build mega/Modular Oil Refineries incorporated with power plats near these export terminals, construct a railway and dual carrage highway, and power transmission networks from the incorporated power plants to Warri city. This way, constant oil supply to the Refineries is guaranteed, constant power supply is guaranteed, constant supply of Petroleum products is guaranteed, and the issue of motorable road infrastructure from the city centre to the creeks/coastal coastal communities of the Niger Delta creeks is resolved. More than that, road access makes it more efficient for securing the oil-rich swampy terrain of Delta State.
Delta Coast Corridor: A Hidden Goldmine
Communities such as Pepper-Ama/Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom, and Youbebe/Ogulagha in Ogulagha Kingdom, and Forcados/Beniboye in Iduwini Kingdom, located along the Coastline of Warri-Southwest Local Government Area and Burutu Local Government Area respectively, offer a rare confluence of economic advantages that make them ideal for:
a. A modular or full scale Crude Oil Refinery or petrochemical plant
b. A deep water Offloading depot and marine Terminal
c. A seaport connected to international shipplanes
d. A motorable road and rail linking the creeks to Warri city, the East-West road, and beyond
Unlike some other locations in the region, these areas are resources-rich, geostrategically positioned, relatively peaceful, and welcoming to industrial development.
Why Delta State MustAct Now
You Excellency, Delta must not be a spectator in the race to attract transformative investments. With Dangote, Ibeto, etc, and/or other industrial giants exploring new Refinery locations, the time is ripe for Delta State to present a unified, attractive, and superior proposition.
Here’s why this corridor stands out:
1. Superior Geographic Advantage
Pepper-ama, Ogulagha, Youbebeb, Forcados, and Beniboye lies along navigable coastal waters with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, making them ideal for a deep-sea port and marine logistics hub that can serve the South-South, South-East, North-Central, and North-East regions.
2. Proximity to Existing Oil and Gas Fields/Installations
These communities are surrounded by operational oil and gas assets, iwned by major IOCs and national companies. A Refinery or depot sited here would reduce reliance on Lagos ports, minimizes inland transportation cost and problems that often lead to massive traffic jam due to influx of big Petroleum tankers sharing Limited road facilities with other users, by decentralizing fuel distribution.
3. Untapped Blue Economy Potential
With maritime infrastructure, these coastal areas can become hubs for logistics, ship repairs, offshore support services, and even export-based industrial and agricultural processing zones.
4. Community Willingness and Land Availability
The people Gbaramatu Ogulagha and Iduwini Kingdoms have consistently demonstrated hospitality towards industry, making land and support available-if development is inclusive, environmentally sounds, and consutative.
Key infrastructure Priority: An All-Se Road Network
To fully unlock this region’s economic value, the construction of a durable, all-season motorable road from the creeks to Warri and onward to other urban centres is non-negotiable.
This road will ensure seamless distribution of Petroleum products from future reginry/Offloading depots.
It will integrate these coastal communities into the broader Delta economy and reduce travel times and transport costs.
With federal alignment, it could feed into the East-West road, facilitating cargo movement to the South-East, North-Central, and North-East geopolitical regions.
Recommendations for Strategic Actions
1. Host a Coastal Investment Summit in Warri
Invite key investors, including Aliko Dangote, BUA, NNPC Ltd., Waltersmith, Renaissance, Transcorp Group, etc., and other global operators.
Showcase Delta’s Coastal Corridor as a viable industrial zone ready for investment.
2. Commission a Joint Feasibility Study
Assess Pepper-ama, Youbebe, Ogulagha, Forcados, and Beniboye communities for a Refinery, Offloading depot, and seaport.
Include road infrastructure needs and environmental safeguards.
3. Establish a Delta Coastal Development Authority (DCDA) or use the Delta State Ministry of Riverine Communities Development
Tasked with coordinating infrastructure planning, PPP engagement, and land/community integration.
4. Lobby Federal Government, NNPC, and other critical stakeholders
Secure destination of the area as a strategic industrial development zone.
Explore subsidy, tax, and logistics waivers to incentive private-sector eng.
Conclusively, let Delta take the lead
Your Excellency, it is time for Delta to reclaim its historic leadership as the industrial and economic heartbeat of the Niger Delta. By proactively showcasing our superiors’ sites and unlocking our creek-to-hinterland logistics corridor, we can attract investment that will create jobs, build infrastructure, and catalyze long-term prosour people.
Let us not watch others harvest the fruit of opportunities planted better our own terrain.
We look forward to bold leadership and swift action.
Yours in service and development,
Peretengboro Bibaikefie
Thanks you
Editorial
A-Z on How AI Can Help You Design Your Future; Hear Ngozi’s Story from Technology to Transformation
From the Editor’s Desk – IduwiniVoice
In an age where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and disrupting traditional careers, Award-winning entrepreneur Ngozi Elobuike is proving that living your dream life is more possible than ever before. And she’s not just talking about it-she’s living it.
Once sleeping on her sister’s couch, Elobuike has since transformed her lowest point into a global, AI-powered life of purpose and creativity. Now splitting her time between the U.S., Ireland, France, she’s built a life that reflects both ambition and intention. From founding Ireland’s first black-led wine club and launching two luxury beverage brands to publishing an AI-powered travel book and teaching over 500 creatives how to use AI to unlock their potential, Elobuike’s story is a living blueprint for the modern dreamers.
“Most people stay stuck in lives they don’t love because they think transformation takes years,” Elobuike said in her recent TEDx talk, which has generated over 200,000 views. “They believe dreams lives belongs to other people-the lucky ones.”
For Elobuike, AI is more than just a tool-it’s a catalyst for reinvention. She sold her social media agency in 2021 and used AI to build her next business, handing off repetitive tasks to technology so she could focus on the things that matter: writing for Forbes, competing in powerlifting and living as a digital nomad across 35 cities.
“Your dream life is closer than you think with AI as your partner,” she said.
At the heart of her philosophy is the belief that life is a laboratory.
“What does a scientist do? They think about life as an experiment,” Elobuike explains. “You have dependent variables and you have independent variables. You have things that you can control in your settings.”
To her, AI is the Independent variable that “has the ability to act as an enzyme. It lowers the activation energy needed to complete a task.”
Identify what drains you, and delegate repetitive tasks to AI. Tools like Claude for writing, Zapier for automation, and Perplexity for research can reclaim hours of your day and give you space to create.
One of her most innovative ideas? Creating an AI advisory board-a team of specialized AI personas to advise on business, creativity, and personal growth.
“Instead of asking your friend who may be a naysayer, ‘hey, I’m thinking about starting this new idea venture, ‘ consider asking AI,” she suggests. “Prompt ChatGPT and say I have an idea for X. Give me advise as if you were Oprah.”
Elobuike also urges people to test their ideas with small, smart experiments.
“You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow, Want to write? Use AI to pushing one article. Want to Launch a wine? Don’t start with the wine-start with a product mockup and gauge your audience’s reaction.”
While many remain sceptical-only 32% of adults believe AI will benefit them, with scepticism highest amongst women and older adults-Elobuike sees a window of opportunity.
“While others debate whether AI is good or bad, you can be building,” she advises. “That hesitation is head start.”
The real magic, she says, comes from a mindset of continuous improvement.
“Growth hacking is what startup entrepreneurs created as a term back in 2010. What is growth hacking? Imagine if you got 1% better every day, but 10% better every day.”
Her advice is clear: Stop playing with AI like a toy. Start using it as a system. Use it to build, scale, and magnify things that make you uniquely you.
In a word still catching up to the power of artificial intelligence, Ngozi Elobuike is already living in the future-and showed the rest of us how to get there. Let Elobuike’s story fire your marrows and power your dreams today.