*Northern Ambassadors For Renewed Hope Endorse Tinubu For 2027, Name Matawalle As Grand Patron*

The Northern Ambassadors for Renewed Hope, a powerful coalition representing the collective aspirations of the 19 northern states, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

With a membership exceeding one million, the group announced its resolute support during a landmark press conference in Abuja, signalling robust regional backing for Tinubu’s transformative leadership and his Renewed Hope Agenda.

Adding further weight to the declaration, the coalition appointed Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, as its Grand Patron, recognising his instrumental role in advancing security and youth welfare in the North.
The coalition praised President Tinubu’s commitment to Nigeria’s progress, particularly his focus on economic revitalisation, infrastructural development, and national unity.

“President Tinubu has shown remarkable vision in steering Nigeria toward prosperity,” said Comrade Usman Musa, National Coordinator of the Northern Ambassadors for Renewed Hope.

“His policies are not only bold but inclusive, ensuring that every region, especially the North, feels the impact of his governance.

“From agricultural transformation to job creation for our youth, Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is laying a solid foundation for a stronger Nigeria.”Musa emphasized the tangible benefits of Tinubu’s reforms in the northern region, citing investments in farming, rural infrastructure, and education as game-changers.

“The North is witnessing unprecedented attention to its needs. Farmers are receiving support to boost productivity, schools are being revitalized, and our roads are improving. These are not mere promises but realities we can see and feel,” he stated.

He further lauded Tinubu’s ability to foster unity across Nigeria’s diverse regions, describing him as a leader with the foresight to bridge divides and build a cohesive nation.

“Tinubu’s leadership transcends tribal and regional lines. He governs with fairness, ensuring that every Nigerian has a stake in the nation’s progress,” Musa added.

The group expressed unshakable confidence in Tinubu’s ability to lead Nigeria into a prosperous future. “We believe in President Tinubu’s vision for a Nigeria that works for all.

“His economic reforms are stabilising our currency, attracting investments, and creating opportunities for our people. We are proud to stand with him and pledge our full support for his re-election in 2027,” Musa declared.

He called on northerners and Nigerians at large to rally behind Tinubu, emphasising that his leadership offers the best path to sustainable development and global competitiveness.

On Matawalle,  the group added: “He is a leader who understands the pulse of the North. His reforms in the defence sector, from improving troop welfare to equipping our forces with modern tools, have significantly weakened the grip of bandits and insurgents.

“We are safer today because of his dedication.”

Musa further praised Matawalle’s hands-on approach to governance, noting his regular engagements with northern communities to address their concerns.

“Matawalle is not a distant leader. He listens to the people, works with traditional and religious leaders, and ensures that our youth are not left behind. His programs for skills acquisition and entrepreneurship are giving hope to thousands of young northerners,” he stated.

The coalition highlighted Matawalle’s role in fostering collaboration between security agencies and local communities, which has led to a marked decline in violent incidents across the region.

“By naming Matawalle our Grand Patron, we honour his tireless efforts and signal our trust in his ability to continue delivering for the North and Nigeria,” Musa added.

The Northern Ambassadors for Renewed Hope underscored the powerful synergy between Tinubu and Matawalle as a driving force for national progress.

“President Tinubu and Minister Matawalle are a formidable team. Their combined efforts in governance and security are setting Nigeria on a path to greatness,” Musa affirmed.

He highlighted Tinubu’s trust in capable leaders like Matawalle as evidence of his commitment to building a competent and result-oriented administration.

“Tinubu’s choice of leaders like Matawalle shows he values excellence and delivery. Together, they are addressing our challenges with precision and passion,” he said.

Musa called on Nigerians to unite behind Tinubu’s vision, emphasising the importance of collective action in achieving national goals.

*Parliamentary Watch Initiative Lauds Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sani Musa as Outstanding Legislators on Constituency Projects

The Parliamentary Watch Initiative (PWI), a non-partisan civil society organization dedicated to promoting legislative excellence and accountability in Nigeria, has commended three standout senators for their exemplary delivery on constituency projects and national reforms during the 10th National Assembly.

The PWI hailed Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), Sani Musa (Niger East), and Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers West) as “trailblazers and seasoned leaders who embody the Renewed Hope agenda through tangible impacts on their constituents and the broader federation.”

In a statement signed by Comrade Tanko Yerima, Executive Director of PWI, the group praised Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as a beacon of grassroots innovation since his inauguration in June 2023.

According to Yerima, his portfolio boasts the installation of 6,870 solar-powered streetlights across 156 locations, enhancing nighttime safety in rural and urban communities; the construction of 11 new roads totaling 16 kilometers and the rehabilitation of eight key thoroughfares in Calabar, including Mayne Avenue, Inyang Street, Goldie Street, Ephraim Street, Hewett Street, Queen Duke Street, Edim Otop Street, and Hall 2 Road at the University of Calabar.

“Ekpenyong’s water security initiatives include seven solar-powered boreholes—one in each of the seven local government areas—while ongoing projects like the Odukpani Police Station construction promise bolstered security,” Yerima said.

“Health and education remain cornerstones, with three medical outreaches benefiting 4,422 residents, scholarships and instructional materials for 1,700 students, 31 foreign scholarships, and the establishment of two NITDA Digital Economy Centers at Government Secondary Schools in Idang and Ehom.

“Beyond infrastructure, Ekpenyong’s legislative acumen shone during Wednesday’s Senate plenary, where he sponsored the Factoring Regulation Bill, 2024 (SB.474), which passed second reading.

“The bill targets delayed payments crippling over 40 million MSMEs—Nigeria’s job-creation engine—by unlocking over $1 billion annually in financing.”

In Niger East, the group added that Senator Sani Musa—affectionately dubbed “313” for his unyielding loyalty—has redefined governance as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, overseeing fiscal discipline, appropriations, and national planning with patriotic precision.

Yerima added: “His constituents’ moniker reflects a transformative legacy: from renovating classrooms and building a principal’s office at Government Technical College, Minna, to establishing an ICT Centre in Ija Gwari, Tafa LGA, empowering rural youth in the digital economy.

“Musa’s scholarships span primary to tertiary levels, including international undergraduate programs in China and India for top talents. Recent empowerment drives distributed cash grants of ₦50,000 to 2,868 residents across six local governments, alongside items like tricycles, motorcycles, grinding machines, deep freezers, generators, and sewing machines to over 500 women and youths.

“Infrastructure feats include solar streetlights, motorized boreholes, market stalls, road constructions, and state-of-the-art mini-stadiums in Minna and Kuta (Shiroro LGA), fostering sports and community cohesion. ”

PWI noted his recent launch of fully paid scholarships for 100 students to study medicine in India, addressing healthcare shortages in Zone B.

Rounding out the trio, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary), has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to public health resilience and constituency outreach.

A medical doctor and advocate for the Renewed Hope agenda, the group said Banigo has championed girl-child education and maternal health, launching several initiatives to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

“In an era demanding results over rhetoric, Senators Ekpenyong, Musa, and Banigo exemplify legislative service that bridges constituency needs with national progress,” stated Comrade Yerima.

“Their projects—spanning infrastructure, education, health, and economic empowerment—have illuminated communities, empowered futures, and fortified Nigeria’s health architecture. “

*TINUBU’S RENEWED HOPE AND CIVIL AVIATION TRANSFORMATIONAL FOOTPRINTS*

By Michael Ado

To still state that President Tinubu’s reform programs are working in all sectors is overemphasizing realities.
To add that they are positively impacting the everyday life of the citizens and residents of the country is an understatement.

Truth is, however, that there is need for sectoral analysis for a point-by-point understanding of the impact of the Renewed Hope initiatives. Through that, citizens and even the international community can better appreciate what is happening in Nigeria, and the point-men who are making those things happen.
The Nigerian civil aviation corridor has suffered years of neglect, leading to a comatose state.

The long-standing infrastructural decay and systemic neglect, occasioned by endemic and widespread corruption and abuse, rendered the civil aviation compliant to numerous sectoral dysfunctions.
Some of the identified challenges, which otherwise negatively impacted the growth of the sector, limiting safety and its overall efficiency, prompting calls for reforms and increased investment, include aging airport infrastructure and inadequate facilities, safety issues like bird strikes, runway skids, and ageing aircraft fleets, coupled with high operational costs, foreign exchange scarcity, and blocked funds for foreign airlines.

There were also challenges of inconsistent regulatory policies and lack of effective oversight, with acute manpower shortage and grossly inadequate trained professionals, caused by several years of neglect and airlines failing to invest in training programs.
Militating against the sector also was the challenge of inconsistent and unreliable foreign exchange, which was equally scarce and inaccessible to foreign airlines, resulting in flight suspensions and increased fares.

While associated with the challenge was high cost of operation due to rising cost of jet fuel prices and other operational costs, contributing to increased air ticket prices. And because of limited space and various role conflicts, there were constant rivalries between government agencies, such as FAAN and NCAA, hindering effective collaboration and oversight with incessant noncompliance issues, especially from some private jet operators operating chartered services without proper licenses, and rendering consumers liable to several abuses, poor treatment, including flight delays, cancellations, and lack of transparency in pricing, without any form of established protection.

However, with the assumption of Captain Chris Najomo as the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), all these have changed.

A man determined, like William Blake, not to resolve all contradictions but to live with them and rise above them, Captain Chris came with the Midas touch of positive solutions.

Mindful of the challenges, Capt. Najomo set out first to address the lingering infrastructural deficit, thereby upgrading the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) through the installation of airfield lighting systems at Murtala Muhammed Airport’s Runway 18R, reducing flight delays by 25%, coupled with the completion and commissioning of long-abandoned projects, such as the NCAA Regional Office in Port Harcourt and the Kano Regional Office, enhancing the NCAA’s operational capabilities.

The introduction of airport concessions in 2025, which saw the private sector into full participation in the modernization of the airport infrastructure, became the icebreaker leading to the rapid boost and enhancing operational efficiency, attracting significant investment, improving consumer experience.

It is noteworthy that Capt. Chris also implemented various measures aimed at instilling probity, accountability, and transparency into the regulatory dynamics of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), including the establishment of a Consumer Protection Directorate to address issues like flight delays and cancellations, and the Consumer Protection Portal to address passenger complaints and improve service quality, showcasing his commitment to consumer welfare, and expanding access and availability through the development of new airports, such as the Ogun Gateway Airport, which has since commenced commercial operations, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Another novel masterpiece is the implementation of various initiatives to enhance safety in Nigerian aviation, such as the establishment of the Flight Data Analysis Centre (FDAC) to detect anomalies and prevent safety challenges, as well as the prompt implementation of aircraft entry policy to allow smaller airlines to operate with fewer aircraft, fostering competition and growth.

A forward-thinking administrator, Captain Najomo also recertified two notable international airports, namely the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), thereby bringing to an end over 160 compliance issues, and demonstrating Nigeria’s capacity, leadership, and commitment to global safety standards.

These reforms, and the filling in of infrastructural gaps, have not just greatly added value to the sector but have become a springboard of attraction, building confidence, ensuring reliability, and bringing in many foreign direct investments, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), which are presently relentlessly driving inclusivity and growth in the aviation sector.

The various citizen-centred concessional arrangements include terminal concessions at major airports and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) models and arrangements for cargo terminals and maintenance hangars.

While improving the overall efficiency, safety, and competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation sector, the various reforms also aim at repositioning the sector for formidable growth and development, enabling it to contribute not less than 2.5% to Nigeria’s GDP by the end of this year and supporting the employment of over 200,000 youths, while also stabilizing the finances of the sector through the “no pay, no service” policy, compelling airlines to settle their debts to the NCAA, significantly improving the agency’s financial health, and establishing a culture of collaboration and understanding between management and workers, leading to increased productivity and efficiency in the aviation sector.

Through the superlative resounding performance of Captain Chris Najomo, through sound and articulate demonstration of leadership and dedication, he has made positive impact on the Nigerian aviation sector, prioritizing safety, consumer protection, and regulatory excellence, thereby justifying the trust of Mr. President, and proving once again Mr. President’s efficiency and capacity for placing a square peg in a square hole, and getting the right people for the job, not necessarily out of sentiments but based on merits, innovation, and results.

There is no doubt that the NCAA is getting it right. More than right in Captain Chris Najomo’s agency, demonstrating team spirit, cohesion, unity of purpose, appreciation, and assimilation of the leadership of their MD, while positively aligning with the Renewed Hope Mandate of the Civil Aviation Sector for the overall growth of the economy and national development sustainability.

*Ado writes from Lugbe, Abuja.