President Bola Tinubu is set to endorse the creation of Ijebu State following a crucial meeting with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

According to People’s Gazette, the meeting, held on January 5 at Tinubu’s Lagos residence, addressed the long-standing request for Ijebu State to be carved out of Ogun State.

Tinubu gave the Awujale his strongest assurances that he will endorse the creation of Ijebu State as a carve-out from Ogun State, dismissing backlash about its viability in light of Nigeria’s raging economic woes.

The Awujale explained that Ijebu is the only colonial-era province without statehood.

The president received the revered traditional ruler at his Bourdillon residence on January 5 and promised his guest that he won’t withhold support for the proposed state just northeast of Lagos, sources familiar with the details told The Gazette under anonymity to discuss privileged conversations.

At the meeting, Adetona lamented how Ijebu remained the only province from the colonial era not to have its own state, decades after its erstwhile peers like Oyo and Sokoto provinces had been subdivided into multiple functioning states, our sources said.

“The president didn’t allow Awujale to overflog the matter before acquiescing,” one of our sources said out of Abuja. It was the first time Tinubu would clearly telegraph his position on the proposed state, although it remained unclear where he would land on other states under consideration before the parliament.

The meeting mentioned Anioma, out of Delta, among potential new states, which lawmakers are discussing as part of another amendment to the 1999 Constitution.

Presidential spokespersons declined to go on record about the meeting, citing its implications for proponents of other new states across the country, who might view the president’s meeting as unduly exclusionary.

An establishment bill for Ijebu State was introduced to the National Assembly in November 2024 when Senator Gbenga Daniel of Ogun East sponsored it, bringing a decades-long hankering of the million-strong Ijebu tribal stock closer to realisation.

Daniel, a former governor of Ogun, conveyed agitations of his kinspeople for an independent state that can sustain itself upon excision from Ogun State to fellow legislators. Mr Daniel sought an alteration of the nation’s constitution to allow the creation of Ijebu State.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio then advanced the bill—titled the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of Ijebu State)—and it is now advancing through legislative stages. Several other states are also being discussed to expand Nigeria’s federating units from the current 36 states to as many as 56, meaning up to 20 new states

But some lawmakers and everyday Nigerians have slammed the bill as ill-timed and questioned its value at a time of endemic poverty, chronic inflation, crushing debts, moribund power infrastructure and insecurity.

Critics also said Tinubu was trying to expand Nigeria’s states from 36 because he assumed new states would feel liberated and easily back him for a second term—although it remained unlikely new states would be created before the 2027 elections. Concerns were also raised about how protracted crises may break out among competing interests even within a newly formed state.

However, during the meeting, Awujale urged the president to discount those concerns, insisting that a new Ijebu State would accelerate the development of its constituent units through internally generated revenue and statutory federal allocations.

In December 2024, Adetona, with the help of the Akarigbo of Remo, Adewale Ajayi, hosted traditional rulers and prominent indigenes of the Ijebu province to work out the modalities for the creation of Ijebu State.

These include a suitable state capital, an appropriate and equitable number of local government areas, senatorial districts, federal constituencies and other issues.

Adetona said Ijebu province was “economically-viable” and well-positioned for independence, making boast of the region’s vast swathes of land and infrastructure, from an industrial estate to an international airport still under construction.

“ljebu province is economically viable and already has all the infrastructural facilities that can sustain the state,” Mr Adetona said in his speech to Ijebu stakeholders at his palace on December 19.

‘Such include major industrial estates, like the Flowergate Industrial Estate, the fastest growing industrial estates in Nigeria, an international airport, with potential for a deep sea port, two international sports stadia in ljebu Ode and Sagamu,” the monarch further stated.

NCC SPEECH:

REMARKS BY THE EXECUTIVE-VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AT THE EXECUTION OF THE MoU BETWEEN THE NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND THE FEDERAL COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMISSION

Protocols

It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest regards to all present on this remarkable occasion—the formal execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

This occasion is one that I would describe as long coming. It is the outcome of healthy engagements and events that have strengthened the resolve of both our institutions to protect the Nigerian consumer, especially in the communications industry.

Today, we celebrate the beginning of a strategic partnership between two critical regulatory institutions, each committed to advancing the welfare of the Nigerian people through fair competition and robust consumer protection frameworks.

In an era of rapid technological advancements, the significance of collaboration between regulatory bodies cannot be overstated. The telecommunications sector, in particular, has become the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic and social development. This makes it imperative that we ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders while protecting consumers who depend on reliable and affordable communications services.

This MoU is a testament to our shared vision of fostering a transparent, competitive, and consumer-focused telecommunications industry. By aligning our efforts, the NCC and FCCPC aim to avoid regulatory uncertainty and create clarity for the benefit of all stakeholders in the communications sector and in furtherance of their joint responsibility to ensure the realization of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business objectives.

Our partnership also highlights the importance of synergy in regulatory oversight. The challenges we face today—whether they relate to market abuses, consumer rights violations, or the complexities of a digital economy—demand a united front and a consistent approach to policy implementation. This MoU will ensure that our respective mandates are harmonized to achieve maximum impact.

Let me take this opportunity to commend the leadership of the FCCPC for their unwavering commitment to protecting consumers and promoting healthy competition across sectors. Your dedication complements our own mission at the NCC, and I am confident that this collaboration will yield significant benefits for the Nigerian people.

I also wish to acknowledge the hard work of the teams from both the NCC and FCCPC, who have worked tirelessly to bring this partnership to fruition. Your diligence has laid the groundwork for a collaboration that will not only address present challenges but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow.

As we execute this MoU today, I call on all stakeholders to embrace the spirit of collaboration that this partnership represents. Together, we can achieve the goals of innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and beyond.

Once again, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in making this historic partnership a reality. I look forward to the great strides we will make together in ensuring fair competition and consumer satisfaction in the years to come.

Thank you.

Dr. Aminu Maida

January 14, 2025

Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has been impeached by 32 members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

This development comes amid allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement against the speaker.

According to reports, the embattled Speaker was impeached for gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Obasa has been accused of spending N17 billion on a gate to the assembly complex, which critics argue is excessive and fraudulent. There have also been allegations of mishandling constituency funds and projects.

Details later…