Supporters say the initiative represents a bold step toward economic self-reliance. The government states that the policy will be supported by an executive order to ensure the desired results.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
'Nigeria First' policy aims to prioritize homegrown goods and services
Supporters say the initiative represents a bold step toward economic self-reliance. The government states that the policy will be supported by an executive order to ensure the desired results.
Monday, July 21, 2025
Video - Dangote refinery to provide free fuel distribution to Nigeria’s independent retailers
The refinery will deliver fuel directly to consumers and independent retailers nationwide at no logistics cost, aiming to slash prices and challenge established fuel marketers.
Kemi Badenoch makes false claim about Nigerian citizenship
The Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their parents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
Ms Badenoch, however, said on Sunday that while many Nigerians are taking advantage of the UK’s relatively easy citizenship acquisition process, it remains “virtually impossible to obtain Nigerian citizenship.”
While speaking with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria during an interview, the 45-year-old British politician said there was a need for the UK to tighten its citizenship and immigration policy.
She used her children’s alleged inability to get Nigerian citizenship to illustrate the stark contrast between Nigeria’s approach and that of the UK.
“I have that (Nigerian) citizenship by virtue of my parents, but I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she said.
“Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquiring British citizenship. We need to stop being naive,” she added.
Despite being born to Nigerian parents and migrating to the UK at the age of 16, Ms Badenoch has repeatedly criticised the UK’s immigration policy, which she says makes it too easy for citizens of Nigeria and other countries to move to the UK.
She has consistently called for stricter immigration controls.
“We are allowing our tolerance to be exploited. That is not right,” she said in the CNN interview.
“Nigerians would not tolerate that. That’s not something that many countries would accept.
“There are many people who come to our country, to the UK, who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries,” she added.
Reviewing Claim of Nigerian citizenship
Ms Badenoch’s claim about Nigeria’s citizenship policy is at best inaccurate.
Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their paparents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the child’s birth. This is regardless of whether that parent is the mother or the father.
By this, a Nigerian-born mother can pass citizenship to her child, just like a Nigerian-born father can.
Ms Badenoch did not provide details of her efforts to get Nigerian passports for her three children. However, based on the constitutional provision, the children could only legally have been denied Nigerian citizenship if she had renounced her Nigerian citizenship before their birth. Ms Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch, a Northern Irish bank official and politician. They got married in 2012.
The Conservative Party leader said that if her party becomes the UK’s ruling party, under her leadership, the UK would prioritise implementing stricter policies on citizenship acquisition and immigration.
“It’s been too easy. It is basically a conveyor belt. We want people who want to come to the UK and be net contributors, not people who will immigrate and then need welfare and social housing.
“That’s not right because they haven’t paid into the system,” she said.
By Beloved John, Premium Times
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Issah Abiola: The Railroad Dream of Nigeria’s First Female Train Driver
In 2008, Nigerian woman Issah Abiola joined China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), where she dedicated herself to mastering diverse skills through rigorous training. Her perseverance and determination propelled her to become Nigeria’s first female train driver.
As a bridge of friendship between China and Nigeria, Abiola has actively shared stories of Sino-African cooperation everywhere she went. She adopted the Chinese name Bai Yang, which means “the resilient poplar tree”. In an exclusive interview with China News Service’s “W. E. Talk”, Abiola shared her “railroad dream” and her vision of China-Africa cooperation.
Here are the excerpts of the interview:
CNS: What motivated you to become Nigeria’s first female train driver in history? What challenges did you face during this journey, and how did you overcome them?
Abiola: While working on the Abuja-Kaduna Railway project, I learned that a professional training program for train drivers was about to begin. That moment sparked something in me, and I mustered the courage to apply. During my time studying in China, I was deeply impressed by the speed and orderliness of Chinese railways — that’s when the dream of becoming a train driver first took root in my heart. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I wanted to break gender stereotypes by myself, and set an example for more Nigerian women.
Throughout the training, I faced many challenges. There was skepticism from society, as many believed women were not suited to be train drivers. The physical demands and technical requirements were also intense. But I firmly believed that ability has nothing to do with gender. With determination, hard work, and the dedicated guidance of my Chinese instructors, I gradually overcame the difficulties and proudly became Nigeria’s first certified female train driver.
CNS: You self-learned Chinese and chose the Chinese name Bai Yang which means poplar trees. What is the story and meaning behind this?
Abiola: In 2010, I came to China to study language and culture. During a train ride, I was struck by the sight of rows of tall, upright trees outside the window. A Chinese colleague told me they were poplar trees (baiyang), symbolizing resilience and the strength to stand tall in the face of adversity.
That moment deeply moved me, and I decided to adopt “Bai Yang” as my Chinese name. I hope to be like the poplar tree, standing firm in any environment. More importantly, I want to pass on this spirit of resilience and confidence to African women, encouraging them to chase their dreams and break through social barriers.
As a woman in this industry, I hope to break traditional stereotypes and inspire more women to pursue their dreams. My story shows that as long as you are willing to try, there is nothing a woman cannot achieve. For Nigerian society, especially for young women, this carries an important and positive message.
CNS: What changes do you think the BRI has brought to Nigeria? How do you see the role of Africa-China friendship and cooperation in promoting cultural exchanges and friendship?
Abiola: The BRI has brought tangible changes to Nigeria. In the past, many areas faced transportation difficulties, which affected people’s lives and regional development. Today, with the construction of railways and light rail systems by Chinese enterprises, not only has travel efficiency improved, but the local economies along the routes have also been stimulated.
Chinese technology and engineering standards have set a new benchmark for railway construction in Nigeria. From engineering design and equipment manufacturing to operations and maintenance, they are always demonstrating high quality and efficiency. These advanced experiences have provided strong support for the modernization of Nigeria’s transportation system and have greatly benefited front-line workers like me.
Transportation is the lifeline of a nation’s development. Africa-China cooperation in the transportation sector has not only improved our infrastructure, but also created opportunities for economic recovery and employment. For local young people like me, these projects have provided a chance to learn new skills, secure meaningful jobs, and even inspire more women to join the railway industry.
The significance of Africa-China cooperation goes beyond economics — it extends to cultural understanding and people-to-people connection. Through working and living with my Chinese colleagues, I’ve learned about Chinese culture, language, and cuisine, while also sharing Nigeria’s traditions. This kind of interaction brings us closer and lays a solid foundation for lasting friendship between African and Chinese people.
CNS: Promoted by the BRI, what potential do you see for future cooperation between Africa and China? How can we further strengthen Africa-China relations？
Abiola: In the future, Africa-China cooperation can further explore areas such as education and vocational training, green development, and digital infrastructure. For example, providing more scholarship programs and technical training opportunities for African youth can help us build local capacity for independent development.
At the same time, more cultural exchanges, youth visits, and joint initiatives can be carried out, shifting the focus from the “nfrastructure project level” to the “people-to-people engagement level”. I believe that as long as we uphold the principles of mutual benefit and mutual respect, Africa-China relations will continue to grow stronger and go even further.
Baiyang (Issah Abiola), Nigeria’s first female locomotive driver, joined China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria in 2008. When the Abuja Rail Mass Transit officially launched in 2018, she was received by then-President Muhammadu Buhari as the train’s driver. In 2019, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria awarded her the “China-Nigeria Friendship Contribution Award”. In 2025, she received the Friendship Envoy Award at the second Orchid Awards.
Dangote links power shortages in Nigeria to stolen funds hidden abroad
“We as a company alone are producing, group-wide for our own consumption, over 1,500 MW,” he stated.
"So, Nigeria should not be three times what we are producing as a country. Nigeria should be at about 50,000 MW to 60,000 MW,” Dangote added.
The Nigerian business mogul, whose refinery and fertilizer plants are among Africa's largest, explained that his company's investment in energy demonstrates how private sector engagement in power generating can be game-changing.
He encouraged Nigeria's government to further open up the industry to encourage private investment and involvement.
Dangote, who has spent the last decade developing the $20 billion refinery project, also stated that, while establishing the refinery was extremely tough, increasing Nigeria's power generating capacity to 30,000 MW is far easier - provided the appropriate policies and commitments are in place.
“What we have done here just shows that there’s nothing impossible. All this can be replicated in our power sector. There’s no reason why Nigeria should be doing 5,000 MW,” Dangote asserted.
“What we have actually done here is much more difficult than making Nigeria 25,000 or 30,000 megawatts of power, with transmission and distribution. But it’s not the work of the government alone,” he continued.
Dangote's comments come as his refinery, which is projected to drastically cut Nigeria's dependency on foreign petroleum products, ramps up operations.
Dangote links power shortages to a lack of investment and stolen funds hidden abroad
Much like the fact that such a facility which is typically supposed to be a government initiative is now privately owned, the Nigerian philanthropist noted that the power sector is also privatized, which presents an opportunity for investors.
“We, the private sector, Nigerians, most especially us, should stop taking our money abroad and invest the money here to make sure that we develop our own country and continent, because without us showing the confidence that, yes, we have confidence in our own economy and the leadership of the country, foreigners will not come,” Dangote explained.
“We know our leaders; we have confidence in them. So, that money they’re taking out of the country, they should leave it here so that it can benefit everybody.”
As reported by the Punch newspaper, he criticized people who stole public assets and hid them overseas rather than utilizing them to help develop the country, as he connected capital flight to stunted growth.
“I keep saying this: there’s nowhere that you will say that there’s no corruption. There are lots of countries that have more corruption than we do, but they are growing. Our biggest problem and challenge is that people who have stolen money have taken the money abroad,” he said.
“So, the money has no use to them; it has no use to their family because they cannot show their family that they have stolen money. And they are not investing here to grow the domestic economy.”
Much like the fact that such a facility which is typically supposed to be a government initiative is now privately owned, the Nigerian philanthropist noted that the power sector is also privatized, which presents an opportunity for investors.
“We, the private sector, Nigerians, most especially us, should stop taking our money abroad and invest the money here to make sure that we develop our own country and continent, because without us showing the confidence that, yes, we have confidence in our own economy and the leadership of the country, foreigners will not come,” Dangote explained.
“We know our leaders; we have confidence in them. So, that money they’re taking out of the country, they should leave it here so that it can benefit everybody.”
As reported by the Punch newspaper, he criticized people who stole public assets and hid them overseas rather than utilizing them to help develop the country, as he connected capital flight to stunted growth.
“I keep saying this: there’s nowhere that you will say that there’s no corruption. There are lots of countries that have more corruption than we do, but they are growing. Our biggest problem and challenge is that people who have stolen money have taken the money abroad,” he said.
“So, the money has no use to them; it has no use to their family because they cannot show their family that they have stolen money. And they are not investing here to grow the domestic economy.”
By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa
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