🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Former Minister Bashir Yuguda defends Goodluck Jonathan's legacy against Atiku Abubakar's claims
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
Former Minister of National Planning and Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, has defended former President Goodluck Jonathan's legacy, countering recent remarks by Atiku Abubakar. Abubakar, in an interview, suggested that Jonathan's administration struggled due to his inexperience, particularly when faced with national challenges after succeeding Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Yuguda, a former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, stated that Abubakar's comments were inaccurate. He highlighted Jonathan's extensive prior experience as Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice-President, and Acting President, asserting these roles provided critical preparation for the presidency. Yuguda pointed to significant economic expansion during Jonathan's tenure, including Nigeria becoming Africa's largest economy, increased investor confidence, and reduced poverty levels. He also cited reforms in agriculture, the revival of train routes, and the establishment of new federal universities and Almajiri schools as key achievements. Yuguda emphasized Jonathan's calm temperament and respect for democratic values, noting his peaceful concession of power in 2015, which he believes profoundly shaped Nigeria's democratic culture. He contrasted Jonathan's approach with the past strained relationship between Atiku Abubakar and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, suggesting Jonathan's statesmanship is evident in his continued engagement in peace negotiations and election observation missions.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Young Progressives Party YPP has announced its schedule for the 2026 electoral cycle, including dates for congresses, primaries, and its national convention. The party has set the presidential nomination form at ₦50 million. This information was shared by YPP National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Martins, following the party's 25th National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja. The NEC approved nomination fees for all elective positions, with governorship forms at ₦20 million, Senate aspirants at ₦8 million, House of Representatives at ₦3 million, and state assembly hopefuls at ₦1.5 million. Expression of interest forms remain free. The YPP also introduced a 50 percent concession on nomination fees for individuals under 40, women, and persons with disabilities to promote wider participation. The sale of forms has commenced. State Houses of Assembly primaries are scheduled for May 24, House of Representatives and Senate primaries for May 25, governorship primaries for May 26, and the national convention and presidential primary for May 30. The NEC also voiced significant concern regarding the escalating insecurity nationwide, particularly the increase in kidnappings for ransom and violent attacks, urging the President to demonstrate stronger political will to address the crisis.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced new BVN guidelines, effective May 1, 2026, which will significantly alter how Nigerians manage their bank accounts. These updates include enhanced security measures such as limiting logins to a single device, implementing a one-time phone number change policy, and potentially imposing temporary restrictions on accounts identified with suspicious activity. The new regulations apply to all BVN holders, and customers are encouraged to update and secure their information before the deadline to prevent service interruptions. While the policy aims to combat fraud and bolster digital banking security, there are ongoing concerns regarding its potential impact on accessibility, particularly for users already contending with Nigeria's banking and network challenges.
Canada has approved a multi-billion-dollar expansion of a west coast natural gas pipeline, aiming to increase exports to Asia and reduce reliance on the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney has characterized Canada as an "energy superpower," stating that increased oil and gas sales to Asia could mitigate losses from strained trade relations with the United States. The Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed that the project supports Canada's trade diversification strategy by enhancing its capacity to meet natural gas demand from Asian markets. The pipeline expansion could also facilitate liquefied natural gas sales to the United States, potentially offering Canada leverage in upcoming negotiations with President Donald Trump regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement. The CAN$4 billion $2.9 billion expansion of Enbridge's pipeline system in British Columbia is scheduled to commence this summer, with completion anticipated by late 2028. While this timeline does not offer immediate relief to the global LNG market, which is currently under pressure from the US-Iran conflict, the International Energy Agency has warned of long-term strains on LNG supplies due to the conflict. Experts suggest that Canadian energy products, which do not require transit through the Middle East, could become more appealing in Asian markets given the disruption to global supply chains.
Must ReadDr. Kehinde Ololade, an oncologist and Medical Director of Jacaranda Cancer Centre, Abeokuta, stated that cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, regardless of status, gender, or tribe, and is not a spiritual attack. He emphasized that early presentation of cases is crucial for fighting cancer. Dr. Ololade made these remarks during a visit from the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, led by its Chairman, Dr. Adetokunbo Vaughan. He highlighted late presentation, the misconception of cancer as a spiritual problem, and the high cost of care as significant challenges to effective cancer management in the country. Dr. Ololade explained that early detection is key to survival, noting that many survivors presented their cases early and received appropriate treatment. He urged people to seek medical evaluation for symptoms such as breast lumps, bloody discharge from nipples, armpit lumps, or unexplained weight loss. While acknowledging that cancer care is globally expensive, he suggested that government support, particularly financial aid for cancer care centers, could help save lives. The Jacaranda Cancer Centre manages over 300 patients annually, provides chemotherapy, and offers community-based interventions with free cancer tests. Dr. Vaughan reiterated that cancer is treatable with early detection and urged Nigerians to prioritize routine screening. He also noted that personnel and infrastructure shortages are challenges,