• Two Years of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda Mark a Turning Point for the Niger Delta

• 5,000 Beneficiaries Empowered as Stakeholder Confidence Returns under Otuaro’s Leadership

As Nigeria celebrates the second anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) stands out as a flagship success, reinvigorated under the purposeful leadership of Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro.

Appointed as Administrator in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Dr. Otuaro has brought focus, vision, and integrity to a programme once plagued by uncertainty.

Previously seen as directionless and losing stakeholder trust, the Amnesty Programme has now returned to its core mandate of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR). Since taking office, Dr. Otuaro has led a transformation marked by transparency, youth empowerment, and inclusive engagement with ex-agitators and local communities.

Among his key achievements is the sponsorship of over 5,000 students across universities and skills acquisition centres. Hundreds more are undergoing specialized training in the blue economy, including marine logistics, aquaculture, and coastal enterprise, aligning the programme with global economic trends and regional potential.

In addition to educational and vocational empowerment, Dr. Otuaro has championed peacebuilding and reconciliation, reaching out to traditional rulers, community leaders, and civil society actors to rebuild trust and dialogue in volatile areas of the Niger Delta.

One of the most praised reforms has been the reintroduction of strict transparency and accountability frameworks, ensuring that funds are appropriately audited and disbursed to genuine beneficiaries. This renewed credibility has repositioned the Amnesty Programme as a model of public sector performance under the Tinubu administration.

Stakeholders across the Niger Delta say the changes reflect the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda. “Dr. Otuaro is restoring not just the programme, but our hope in government,” said a community elder in Delta State. “For the first time in a long while, we are witnessing real results.”

The transformation of the PAP is now widely recognized as one of the clearest indicators of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, regional equity, and peacebuilding.

Observers believe that with sustained support, the programme could serve as a blueprint for national integration efforts across other restive regions.

In recognition of these achievements, the Niger Delta Transparency Watch Group, which has been monitoring public sector reforms in the region, commended both the Presidency and the Amnesty Office.

“We are proud to celebrate the results of effective leadership. What we see today is a Renewed Hope in action-driven by commitment, community engagement, and accountability,” the group stated.

As Nigeria looks ahead, the success of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dr. Otuaro is a powerful reminder that when leadership is anchored in integrity and service, national transformation becomes inevitable.

• Says Seed Tracker boosts traceability, adopted in three African countries
• Bt cowpea, global alliances key to Nigeria’s seed market expansion- DG

The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation in Nigeria’s seed industry through the use of digital technology.

Speaking during a refresher training session for seed companies, licensed seed inspectors, and lead outgrowers, Director General of NASC, Fatuhu Muhammad, highlighted the strategic role of the Seed Tracker platform in strengthening the inspection and certification of crop seeds nationwide.

According to Muhammad, the platform has already gained regional traction, having been exported to Tanzania, Uganda, and Sierra Leone. He revealed that many more countries have expressed interest in adopting the technology, which has become a benchmark for seed system transparency in Africa.

“Over 52 seed companies have input data on the Seed Tracker on crops such as cassava, cowpea, yam, potato, rice, and maize,” he noted. “The platform, developed to enhance transparency and traceability in seed certification, is modernising Nigeria’s agriculture.”

As part of its strategy to improve efficiency and reduce operational bottlenecks, NASC plans to expand the use of private inspectors, reducing the workload on its officers while ensuring wider coverage and quality assurance.

Muhammad also announced ongoing strategic partnerships with international bodies, including the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the OECD Seed Schemes, and others. These collaborations, he said, are aimed at unlocking access to global seed markets.

He emphasized Nigeria’s potential to dominate Africa’s seed market, citing the case of cowpea, a major dietary protein source. Despite its importance, the cowpea seed system has been hindered by poor storability and pest infestation. However, recent adoption of Bt cowpea, a genetically modified variety with pest resistance, is already yielding positive results.

Muhammad commended the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in the United States for supporting Nigeria’s biotechnology ecosystem through the ENCIBBS project, which has bolstered the country’s capacity in biotech research and development.

Participants at the training expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained. Hassan Yohanna Lassa, Managing Director of Boom Seeds Nigeria Ltd, praised the Seed Tracker as a transformative tool in combating seed adulteration and improving production quality across Nigeria.

“It helps track the source and purity of seeds, promoting transparency throughout the seed value chain. We are now committed to ensuring our farmers and products are fully integrated into the platform,” he stated.

Another participant, Chukwuemeka Umeh, described the training as a major step toward modernising Nigeria’s agricultural system. “We now have the skills to detect early symptoms of seed-borne diseases and implement control measures, thanks to the digital tools and capacity-building provided,” he said.

With such initiatives, NASC is positioning Nigeria to not only achieve food security but also to become a leading hub in Africa’s evolving seed industry.

By Joe Ngbede

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has once again waded into stormy political waters with a decision that is sparking fierce criticism and raising fresh questions about his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC). For his second-year anniversary in office, Alia has reportedly hired Labaran Maku—an aggrieved figure within the opposition and a known coalition stakeholder aligned against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT)—to lead media consultancy efforts.

The move is seen by many as a calculated provocation, deepening speculation about Alia’s partisan direction, internal party discipline, and long-term political alignment, particularly as national APC structures rally around President Tinubu’s agenda. Critics argue that the optics of appointing a known opposition figure for such a high-profile assignment not only betray the party’s collective stance but also expose growing internal fractures within the APC leadership in Benue.

In what some have described as a political misstep bordering on going berserk, Governor Alia’s selection of Maku—a controversial figure who symbolically represents opposition to the current federal leadership—has left both party faithful and observers questioning his strategic clarity.

Labaran Maku, a former Minister of Information under the Jonathan administration and a long-standing PDP figure, is not only politically misaligned with the APC but is also believed to be nurturing ties with the ADC—a party Governor Alia has repeatedly been linked to in ongoing speculations about a 2027 switch. For many within the APC fold, this appointment is not merely inappropriate; it’s provocative.

“This isn’t just about hiring a consultant,” said a senior APC stakeholder who requested anonymity. “This is about sending a message. And the message Governor Alia is sending is one of disregard, not just for party structures, but for party values.”

The timing of the move, just as tensions escalate over Alia’s strained relationship with APC stakeholders and amid calls from within the party’s national league for his expulsion, only deepens suspicion over his long-term political intentions.

The decision has also triggered widespread dismay among Benue’s media professionals. Several practitioners and communication strategists in the state view Alia’s selection of Maku as a vote of no confidence in local capacity.

“There are dozens of competent, apolitical media professionals within Benue who are capable of designing and executing a world-class anniversary communication strategy,” said a veteran journalist based in Makurdi. “Bringing in Maku not only undermines our professional community but also fuels speculation about deeper partisan calculations.”

More pointedly, the governor’s move appears to sideline his existing media team. The likes of Tersoo Kula, his Chief Press Secretary, and Solomon Iorpev, his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, are now seen by some observers as having been publicly undermined by the outsourcing of such a critical milestone to an outsider. That perception is rapidly breeding internal tensions and public embarrassment for an administration already navigating growing political scrutiny.

Critics have also raised ethical red flags regarding the use of public funds to contract a politically affiliated media figure. At a time when public confidence in governance is fragile and scrutiny of government spending is intensifying, the optics of awarding such a strategic assignment to a potential opponent—or at the very least, a non-aligned actor—may carry reputational risks that outweigh the short-term communication gains.

“Even if Maku has the technical competence, the question remains: is this appointment in the public interest or party interest?” queried a media rights advocate in Abuja. “You don’t appoint a referee with a club jersey under his coat.”

For critics of Governor Alia within the APC—particularly those aligned with the party’s disciplinary and reformist platforms—this latest development is not isolated. It follows what they describe as a pattern of disregard for APC structures, increasing alignment with non-APC figures, and persistent speculation about future defections. The League had earlier issued a public call for his expulsion, citing his absence at key party events, refusal to participate in reconciliation efforts, and consistent marginalization of party stakeholders.

With this latest appointment, that call appears to have found fresh validation in the eyes of many.

As the Governor prepares to mark his second year in office, he faces a critical question: can he continue to govern from within a party whose core structures and values he appears to be drifting away from? Or is this latest move another stepping stone toward a broader realignment?