As Nigeria prepares for general elections in January 2027, petrol subsidies have emerged as a key campaign issue. President Bola Tinubu’s government scrapped the subsidy in 2023, triggering a sharp rise in fuel prices. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has now pledged to reinstate petrol subsidies if elected president.
Monday, August 31, 2026
Video - Nigeria subsidy debate returns ahead of elections
As Nigeria prepares for general elections in January 2027, petrol subsidies have emerged as a key campaign issue. President Bola Tinubu’s government scrapped the subsidy in 2023, triggering a sharp rise in fuel prices. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has now pledged to reinstate petrol subsidies if elected president.
Africa’s largest refinery faces fresh challenge at home as Dangote threatens to cut off petrol importers
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is considering restricting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sales to major Nigerian marketers that continue to import petrol, as the refinery raises concerns over product quality, market transparency and the protection of its brand.
The proposed measure could take effect as early as this week, subject to further consultations and any last-minute intervention, according to sources familiar with the refinery’s position.
The potential restriction comes as Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market undergoes a major shift from decades of dependence on imported refined products towards increased domestic production.
At the centre of Dangote Refinery’s concerns is the alleged blending of imported petrol with products purchased from the refinery before the mixture is distributed to consumers.
The refinery is concerned that if imported PMS of uncertain quality is mixed with its products, consumers may be unable to distinguish between fuel supplied directly by Dangote and products subsequently blended or handled by marketers.
The Punch reported that a source familiar with the refinery’s position said, “It is difficult to understand why we would invest heavily in producing high-quality petroleum products for Nigerians, only for those products to be mixed with imported products of uncertain quality and the resulting product to be associated with the refinery.”.
The proposed measure could take effect as early as this week, subject to further consultations and any last-minute intervention, according to sources familiar with the refinery’s position.
The potential restriction comes as Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market undergoes a major shift from decades of dependence on imported refined products towards increased domestic production.
At the centre of Dangote Refinery’s concerns is the alleged blending of imported petrol with products purchased from the refinery before the mixture is distributed to consumers.
The refinery is concerned that if imported PMS of uncertain quality is mixed with its products, consumers may be unable to distinguish between fuel supplied directly by Dangote and products subsequently blended or handled by marketers.
The Punch reported that a source familiar with the refinery’s position said, “It is difficult to understand why we would invest heavily in producing high-quality petroleum products for Nigerians, only for those products to be mixed with imported products of uncertain quality and the resulting product to be associated with the refinery.”.
Dangote challenges continued petrol imports
The refinery has also raised concerns about Nigeria’s ability to independently test and certify imported petroleum products.
The Punch further reported that sources familiar with the refinery’s position said the regulator lacks a standard laboratory and sufficient quality-control infrastructure to independently verify the specifications of some imported petroleum products
That concern has become more significant as Dangote’s 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery has expanded domestic production and emerged as a major supplier of refined products in Nigeria and international markets.
The refinery’s position reflects a broader argument that continued petrol imports are becoming increasingly difficult to justify as Nigeria develops substantial domestic refining capacity.
The United States Energy Information Administration recently highlighted the transformation in Nigeria’s refined-product trade, identifying the Dangote refinery as a major contributor to the country's rising seaborne petroleum-product exports.
Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum-product shipments averaged about 561,000 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an annual average of just 79,000 barrels per day in 2023.
The development underscores how rapidly Nigeria’s role in the international refined-products market has changed since the Dangote refinery began ramping up operations.
The refinery has also gained a growing presence in international aviation-fuel markets. Its jet fuel has been supplied to major overseas markets, including Europe and the US, where its exports have become increasingly significant.
For Dangote, the dispute is therefore not simply about controlling who buys its petrol. It is also about protecting the reputation of products carrying the refinery’s name at a time when it is seeking to establish Nigerian refined petroleum products as a competitive alternative to imports.
Any decision to restrict supplies to marketers that continue importing PMS could further reshape Nigeria’s downstream market, putting additional pressure on major fuel distributors to choose between domestic supply and imported petrol.
It could also intensify the debate over whether Nigeria should continue allowing significant petrol imports while one of Africa’s largest refineries is operating at scale and increasingly supplying both domestic and international markets.
The refinery has also raised concerns about Nigeria’s ability to independently test and certify imported petroleum products.
The Punch further reported that sources familiar with the refinery’s position said the regulator lacks a standard laboratory and sufficient quality-control infrastructure to independently verify the specifications of some imported petroleum products
That concern has become more significant as Dangote’s 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery has expanded domestic production and emerged as a major supplier of refined products in Nigeria and international markets.
The refinery’s position reflects a broader argument that continued petrol imports are becoming increasingly difficult to justify as Nigeria develops substantial domestic refining capacity.
The United States Energy Information Administration recently highlighted the transformation in Nigeria’s refined-product trade, identifying the Dangote refinery as a major contributor to the country's rising seaborne petroleum-product exports.
Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum-product shipments averaged about 561,000 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an annual average of just 79,000 barrels per day in 2023.
The development underscores how rapidly Nigeria’s role in the international refined-products market has changed since the Dangote refinery began ramping up operations.
The refinery has also gained a growing presence in international aviation-fuel markets. Its jet fuel has been supplied to major overseas markets, including Europe and the US, where its exports have become increasingly significant.
For Dangote, the dispute is therefore not simply about controlling who buys its petrol. It is also about protecting the reputation of products carrying the refinery’s name at a time when it is seeking to establish Nigerian refined petroleum products as a competitive alternative to imports.
Any decision to restrict supplies to marketers that continue importing PMS could further reshape Nigeria’s downstream market, putting additional pressure on major fuel distributors to choose between domestic supply and imported petrol.
It could also intensify the debate over whether Nigeria should continue allowing significant petrol imports while one of Africa’s largest refineries is operating at scale and increasingly supplying both domestic and international markets.
By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa
Huawei Launches Agentic AI Cloud in Nigeria to Accelerate AI Adoption
Huawei has launched its Agentic AI Cloud and related artificial intelligence solutions in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s AI capabilities and accelerate the adoption of AI agents across key sectors.
The solutions were unveiled at the Huawei Nigeria AI & Cloud Summit held in Lagos on August 27, where government officials, industry stakeholders and technology partners discussed opportunities for advancing Nigeria’s digital and intelligent transformation.
Huawei said its local cloud infrastructure, supported by data residency, security, compliance and low-latency capabilities, will enable organisations to develop and deploy AI agents more efficiently across sectors including finance, telecommunications, internet services, government and enterprises.
Speaking at the summit, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat said AI readiness requires more than advanced models and algorithms, highlighting the importance of reliable connectivity, cloud and digital infrastructure, secure data, digital talent and collaboration.
“Lagos is not a city waiting for the AI future to arrive. We are building the digital foundations and real-world conditions in which that future can take root.”
– Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor, Lagos State
He said Lagos aims not only to become a market for emerging technologies but also to serve as a platform for technological innovation, solution validation and large-scale deployment.
NITDA Director-General and CEO Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi also stressed the importance of infrastructure, data, talent, funding, governance and partnerships in determining Nigeria’s AI future.
He said the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative is intended to create a secure, resilient and competitive ecosystem capable of attracting investment and helping Nigeria transition from a technology-consuming country into a leading African hub for AI and cloud innovation.
Huawei Nigeria CEO Austin You, in a keynote titled Advancing Nigeria’s AI Future, Together, said the country has the necessary foundation to take a leading position in Africa’s AI development.
“Nigeria has the foundation to lead Africa’s AI era. Huawei’s commitment is to turn that foundation into intelligent productivity through All Intelligence, deep local capabilities, an open ecosystem and build the next chapter of Nigeria’s growth, together.”
– Austin You, CEO, Huawei Nigeria
Huawei said it has operated in Nigeria for 27 years, expanding its presence from network connectivity and digital infrastructure into cloud computing and AI technologies.
The company said Huawei Cloud launched its first hyperscale local cloud in Nigeria in 2024, enabling local data storage and computing while supporting data residency requirements.
In 2025, Huawei Cloud expanded its local data and cloud services with industry-focused capabilities for the finance, internet, government and enterprise sectors, with emphasis on data security, compliance and digitalisation.
The launch of Agentic AI Cloud in 2026 represents the latest stage of that development, with Huawei positioning its local cloud infrastructure as a platform for delivering intelligent services rather than primarily hosting data.
Roc Bai, Managing Director of Huawei Cloud Nigeria, said the technology could help organisations convert local data, industry expertise and business requirements into practical AI applications.
“With Huawei Cloud as a trusted local foundation, AI can turn local data, industry knowledge, and business needs into real intelligence and lasting value.”
– Roc Bai, Managing Director, Huawei Cloud Nigeria
At the summit, Huawei Cloud also showcased AI-native technologies covering big data, artificial intelligence and AI agents, while holding discussions with Nigerian ecosystem partners on joint innovation and industry applications.
Huawei said it will continue working with the Nigerian government, customers, partners and developers to strengthen local cloud and AI capabilities, accelerate the integration of cloud and AI technologies, and support the growth of intelligent industries in Nigeria.
By Jennifer Onyeagoro, Tech Africa News
The solutions were unveiled at the Huawei Nigeria AI & Cloud Summit held in Lagos on August 27, where government officials, industry stakeholders and technology partners discussed opportunities for advancing Nigeria’s digital and intelligent transformation.
Huawei said its local cloud infrastructure, supported by data residency, security, compliance and low-latency capabilities, will enable organisations to develop and deploy AI agents more efficiently across sectors including finance, telecommunications, internet services, government and enterprises.
Speaking at the summit, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat said AI readiness requires more than advanced models and algorithms, highlighting the importance of reliable connectivity, cloud and digital infrastructure, secure data, digital talent and collaboration.
“Lagos is not a city waiting for the AI future to arrive. We are building the digital foundations and real-world conditions in which that future can take root.”
– Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor, Lagos State
He said Lagos aims not only to become a market for emerging technologies but also to serve as a platform for technological innovation, solution validation and large-scale deployment.
NITDA Director-General and CEO Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi also stressed the importance of infrastructure, data, talent, funding, governance and partnerships in determining Nigeria’s AI future.
He said the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative is intended to create a secure, resilient and competitive ecosystem capable of attracting investment and helping Nigeria transition from a technology-consuming country into a leading African hub for AI and cloud innovation.
Huawei Nigeria CEO Austin You, in a keynote titled Advancing Nigeria’s AI Future, Together, said the country has the necessary foundation to take a leading position in Africa’s AI development.
“Nigeria has the foundation to lead Africa’s AI era. Huawei’s commitment is to turn that foundation into intelligent productivity through All Intelligence, deep local capabilities, an open ecosystem and build the next chapter of Nigeria’s growth, together.”
– Austin You, CEO, Huawei Nigeria
Huawei said it has operated in Nigeria for 27 years, expanding its presence from network connectivity and digital infrastructure into cloud computing and AI technologies.
The company said Huawei Cloud launched its first hyperscale local cloud in Nigeria in 2024, enabling local data storage and computing while supporting data residency requirements.
In 2025, Huawei Cloud expanded its local data and cloud services with industry-focused capabilities for the finance, internet, government and enterprise sectors, with emphasis on data security, compliance and digitalisation.
The launch of Agentic AI Cloud in 2026 represents the latest stage of that development, with Huawei positioning its local cloud infrastructure as a platform for delivering intelligent services rather than primarily hosting data.
Roc Bai, Managing Director of Huawei Cloud Nigeria, said the technology could help organisations convert local data, industry expertise and business requirements into practical AI applications.
“With Huawei Cloud as a trusted local foundation, AI can turn local data, industry knowledge, and business needs into real intelligence and lasting value.”
– Roc Bai, Managing Director, Huawei Cloud Nigeria
At the summit, Huawei Cloud also showcased AI-native technologies covering big data, artificial intelligence and AI agents, while holding discussions with Nigerian ecosystem partners on joint innovation and industry applications.
Huawei said it will continue working with the Nigerian government, customers, partners and developers to strengthen local cloud and AI capabilities, accelerate the integration of cloud and AI technologies, and support the growth of intelligent industries in Nigeria.
By Jennifer Onyeagoro, Tech Africa News
Nigeria’s worsening insecurity tests president’s second-term bid
The mass abduction of hundreds of people from mosques in northern Nigeria this month was at once shocking and yet unsurprising: The targeting of civilians by insurgents and bandits has surged compared to last year, and the three months through June were the most violent in at least three decades.
The latest attack comes on the heels of a retired army general's shocking death in captivity after being kidnapped on his way to a wedding, and the kidnap of more than a hundred other travelers in two separate events in the northwest.
President Bola Tinubu, who began a three-week vacation in Europe on Sunday, ordered an army and police rescue operation of the 600 people kidnapped in Niger state, but the episode comes at a crucial moment: He is in the midst of campaigning for reelection and while his team has trumpeted economic progress, it has been quieter about Nigeria's security situation.
Tinubu anchored his 2023 manifesto on grand national security promises of "a proactive and intelligence driven security approach," but he has mainly focused on fixing Nigeria's ailing economy in his first term. His team put out a scorecard this month of his three-year performance that focused on economic results.
"Certainly in the first couple of years of this administration, insecurity did not seem to be the priority," said James Barnett, a non-resident fellow at the Hudson Institute who has lived and researched conflict in Nigeria. "That doesn't mean there weren't security policies being implemented, but it was not really getting the top level engagement."
Leading opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, also Tinubu's main rivals ballot in 2023, have pledged to hire more people and "decentralize security management" to tackle insecurity, if elected. For his part, Tinubu has backed a law that will allow Nigerian states to set up their own police departments, and tasked a security committee with drafting a five-year "strategic defence operations plan."
By Alexander Onukwue, SEMAFOR
The latest attack comes on the heels of a retired army general's shocking death in captivity after being kidnapped on his way to a wedding, and the kidnap of more than a hundred other travelers in two separate events in the northwest.
President Bola Tinubu, who began a three-week vacation in Europe on Sunday, ordered an army and police rescue operation of the 600 people kidnapped in Niger state, but the episode comes at a crucial moment: He is in the midst of campaigning for reelection and while his team has trumpeted economic progress, it has been quieter about Nigeria's security situation.
Tinubu anchored his 2023 manifesto on grand national security promises of "a proactive and intelligence driven security approach," but he has mainly focused on fixing Nigeria's ailing economy in his first term. His team put out a scorecard this month of his three-year performance that focused on economic results.
"Certainly in the first couple of years of this administration, insecurity did not seem to be the priority," said James Barnett, a non-resident fellow at the Hudson Institute who has lived and researched conflict in Nigeria. "That doesn't mean there weren't security policies being implemented, but it was not really getting the top level engagement."
Leading opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, also Tinubu's main rivals ballot in 2023, have pledged to hire more people and "decentralize security management" to tackle insecurity, if elected. For his part, Tinubu has backed a law that will allow Nigerian states to set up their own police departments, and tasked a security committee with drafting a five-year "strategic defence operations plan."
Alexander's view
The worry over being abducted is more firmly ingrained in the Nigerian psyche compared to three years ago. The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu's firm campaign pledges.
Since his first day in office, Tinubu has made sweeping economic changes — from a fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluations, to overhauling tax laws and reigniting oil and gas investment — but has not shown the same urgency on security issues that should be his primary duty. It means that Nigeria's continuing failure to stamp out abduction and terrorism is Tinubu's failure.
"Despite sustained military pressure, there's no evidence that Nigeria's insecurity is abating in substantial terms," Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa, told me. "Nigerian security planners need to ask and respond to the questions about how the armed groups source their weapons, get fuel they use to power their bikes, and access Starlink for connectivity in their remote locations where telco service is off," Adebayo said.
For Tinubu and his chief adversaries Atiku and Obi, then, Nigeria's security predicament will require more than election season sloganeering. The candidates are yet to captivate voters with a robust action plan that seriously takes into account the ideological, economic, and governance gaps that enable bad actors to thrive. And so in facing the same electoral choices as last time, Nigerians are limited to the same set of ideas ill-suited against worsening problems.
The worry over being abducted is more firmly ingrained in the Nigerian psyche compared to three years ago. The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu's firm campaign pledges.
Since his first day in office, Tinubu has made sweeping economic changes — from a fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluations, to overhauling tax laws and reigniting oil and gas investment — but has not shown the same urgency on security issues that should be his primary duty. It means that Nigeria's continuing failure to stamp out abduction and terrorism is Tinubu's failure.
"Despite sustained military pressure, there's no evidence that Nigeria's insecurity is abating in substantial terms," Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa, told me. "Nigerian security planners need to ask and respond to the questions about how the armed groups source their weapons, get fuel they use to power their bikes, and access Starlink for connectivity in their remote locations where telco service is off," Adebayo said.
For Tinubu and his chief adversaries Atiku and Obi, then, Nigeria's security predicament will require more than election season sloganeering. The candidates are yet to captivate voters with a robust action plan that seriously takes into account the ideological, economic, and governance gaps that enable bad actors to thrive. And so in facing the same electoral choices as last time, Nigerians are limited to the same set of ideas ill-suited against worsening problems.
Know More
Ladd Serwat, senior Africa analyst at ACLED whose data shows a 30% rise in the targeting of civilians by insurgents and bandit groups in Nigeria, said this year's second quarter was the country's most violent since the Wisconsin-based firm began collecting data in 1997. "The spread and intensification of armed banditry across northern and central Nigeria" drove the escalation, Serwat told Semafor.
Banditry is increasingly lucrative: Between July 2025 and this year, ransom payments for abductions in Nigeria tripled to $5.8 million, according to the SBM, a Lagos-based consultancy. The rise was on the back of a 66% year-on-year increase in the number of kidnap victims, the firm said.
Analysts say terror groups like rival factions of Boko Haram and al-Qaida affiliates such as the JNIM sect are surging in number and increasingly competing with one another in Nigeria, to a degree that makes it sometimes difficult to distinguish between them and correctly attribute actions.
The insecurity landscape is also more chaotic because some groups, after initially being invited to help defend against insurgents, turned into terrorists, said Dengiyefa Angalapu, an analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja.
One such group is Lakurawa. It entered Nigeria from the Sahel following a recourse to self-help by some communities in the northwest, but Nigeria declared it a terrorist group last year for its al-Qaida ties. This identity flux adds to the difficulty of Nigeria's fight against guerrilla warfare, Angalapu said. "They sometimes mix very well with their communities. Sometimes they are bandits by night, and community members by day."
Other conflicts such as between farmers and herders, separatist movements in the southeast, and oil theft in the Niger Delta make up Nigeria's "increasingly layered and geographically dispersed," security troubles that raise the cost of doing business, Jervin Naidoo, political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, said.
Ladd Serwat, senior Africa analyst at ACLED whose data shows a 30% rise in the targeting of civilians by insurgents and bandit groups in Nigeria, said this year's second quarter was the country's most violent since the Wisconsin-based firm began collecting data in 1997. "The spread and intensification of armed banditry across northern and central Nigeria" drove the escalation, Serwat told Semafor.
Banditry is increasingly lucrative: Between July 2025 and this year, ransom payments for abductions in Nigeria tripled to $5.8 million, according to the SBM, a Lagos-based consultancy. The rise was on the back of a 66% year-on-year increase in the number of kidnap victims, the firm said.
Analysts say terror groups like rival factions of Boko Haram and al-Qaida affiliates such as the JNIM sect are surging in number and increasingly competing with one another in Nigeria, to a degree that makes it sometimes difficult to distinguish between them and correctly attribute actions.
The insecurity landscape is also more chaotic because some groups, after initially being invited to help defend against insurgents, turned into terrorists, said Dengiyefa Angalapu, an analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja.
One such group is Lakurawa. It entered Nigeria from the Sahel following a recourse to self-help by some communities in the northwest, but Nigeria declared it a terrorist group last year for its al-Qaida ties. This identity flux adds to the difficulty of Nigeria's fight against guerrilla warfare, Angalapu said. "They sometimes mix very well with their communities. Sometimes they are bandits by night, and community members by day."
Other conflicts such as between farmers and herders, separatist movements in the southeast, and oil theft in the Niger Delta make up Nigeria's "increasingly layered and geographically dispersed," security troubles that raise the cost of doing business, Jervin Naidoo, political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, said.
Step Back
After the threat of a coup late last year, Tinubu reshuffled the Nigerian military's top brass. The new leadership then participated in a joint operation with the US in December, striking terrorist enclaves. This year, Tinubu has raised army officers' pay and created more army units, while Nuhu Ribadu, his national security advisor, has met with US officials on three occasions since November to update Washington on Nigeria's efforts to prosecute terrorists and counter terrorist financing.
Yet, "a lot of the Nigerian government's reaction has had to do with managing diplomatic relations," Barnett, of the Hudson Institute, said. Raising military pay and expanding firepower were positive measures, but whether Tinubu maintains the political energy needed to fully implement structural changes beyond this election season remains to be seen, Barnett said.
After the threat of a coup late last year, Tinubu reshuffled the Nigerian military's top brass. The new leadership then participated in a joint operation with the US in December, striking terrorist enclaves. This year, Tinubu has raised army officers' pay and created more army units, while Nuhu Ribadu, his national security advisor, has met with US officials on three occasions since November to update Washington on Nigeria's efforts to prosecute terrorists and counter terrorist financing.
Yet, "a lot of the Nigerian government's reaction has had to do with managing diplomatic relations," Barnett, of the Hudson Institute, said. Raising military pay and expanding firepower were positive measures, but whether Tinubu maintains the political energy needed to fully implement structural changes beyond this election season remains to be seen, Barnett said.
Room for Disagreement
Ebenezer Obadare, the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow on African Studies, tallies about a half dozen military operations by the Tinubu administration that have rescued hostages, and declares that "the Nigerian President has every reason to be delighted." The killing of at least four high-profile terror group leaders and more than 1,000 terrorists with the US government's assistance suggests that the tide of a prolonged fight against jihadist insurgency "has turned in favor of the Nigerian authorities," he wrote.
But Obadare added that Nigeria's security situation "remains critical," and that continued cooperation with the US remains necessary "for the foreseeable future."
Ebenezer Obadare, the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow on African Studies, tallies about a half dozen military operations by the Tinubu administration that have rescued hostages, and declares that "the Nigerian President has every reason to be delighted." The killing of at least four high-profile terror group leaders and more than 1,000 terrorists with the US government's assistance suggests that the tide of a prolonged fight against jihadist insurgency "has turned in favor of the Nigerian authorities," he wrote.
But Obadare added that Nigeria's security situation "remains critical," and that continued cooperation with the US remains necessary "for the foreseeable future."
The View From Washington DC
The US Department of Defense plans to withdraw 200 troops who were deployed to Nigeria in February as part of the Trump administration's counter-terrorism assistance. The mission generated "significant security returns," the Pentagon said.
President Donald Trump's aides and Republican political allies have often framed security engagements with Nigeria firstly as a defense of Christians that are supposedly being particularly targeted by jihadists. It continues to be the leading priority of a joint working group that said Abuja has taken steps to prosecute hundreds of terror suspects, and improve law enforcement capacity.
Nigeria has spent at least $9 million on lobbying in the US to counter sentiments questioning Tinubu's security commitment. But that has not stopped Trump allies, like Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the US Senate's Africa subcommittee, from threatening sanctions and an aid freeze in response to what they still deem to be "mass violence against Christians and religious minorities."
The US Department of Defense plans to withdraw 200 troops who were deployed to Nigeria in February as part of the Trump administration's counter-terrorism assistance. The mission generated "significant security returns," the Pentagon said.
President Donald Trump's aides and Republican political allies have often framed security engagements with Nigeria firstly as a defense of Christians that are supposedly being particularly targeted by jihadists. It continues to be the leading priority of a joint working group that said Abuja has taken steps to prosecute hundreds of terror suspects, and improve law enforcement capacity.
Nigeria has spent at least $9 million on lobbying in the US to counter sentiments questioning Tinubu's security commitment. But that has not stopped Trump allies, like Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the US Senate's Africa subcommittee, from threatening sanctions and an aid freeze in response to what they still deem to be "mass violence against Christians and religious minorities."
Friday, August 28, 2026
Entire Nigeria FA board resigns
Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Musa Gusau, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and the entire NFF executive committee resigned Thursday, amid mounting public pressure following a series of failures by the country's national teams.
Gusau was elected in September 2022 and his resignation comes just 34 days to the end of his four-year term. The NFF president was seeking re-election at next month's election, but announced his departure at a news conference at the NFF headquarters in Abuja.
He pointed to the sustained public demand for the leadership to go, following the failures of both the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, as major reasons for the decision, despite successes elsewhere. "Because of that, there was so much clamour from here and there," Gusau said. "We feel it is important to see that as Nigerians, nobody is greater than this country.
"And we all love our country and we all love the progress of our country and we need to look at yourselves and say what next.
"So we made consultations with family, friends and I decided to resign my position as president of the NFF and I advised my board members that everybody should also resign."
Gusau said he was leaving office with a sense of satisfaction over what his administration had been able to achieve during his tenure, pointing to the renewed and vigorous focus on coaching education, with coaching courses organized consistently in virtually all the license categories, culminating in the long-awaited CAF A-License course set to commence on September 13.
He also pointed to the improved stability in the domestic league calendar, progress in the refereeing sector and infrastructure in the form of a 68-room Players' Hostel and new training pitches at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, as well as silver and bronze medal finishes of the Super Eagles from the past two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and the Super Falcons' WAFCON triumph in Morocco in 2025.
Still, the immediate trigger for the demands for the leadership to resign was the Super Falcons' disastrous Women's Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco last month.
Nigeria arrived at the tournament as defending champions and 10-time African champions but suffered their worst performance in WAFCON history, losing three of five matches and failing to reach the semifinals for the first time.
The Super Falcons still had a second opportunity to remain in World Cup qualifying through the WAFCON playoffs but lost 2-1 to South Africa four days later.
That defeat meant the Super Falcons will miss the Women's World Cup for the first time since the competition began in 1991. Nigeria had been one of only seven countries to appear at every edition of the tournament.
The twin failures sparked widespread demands for Gusau and the NFF leadership to resign, and came less than a year after the Super Eagles also failed to qualify for the 2026 men's World Cup.
It was Nigeria's second consecutive failure to qualify for the men's World Cup after also missing Qatar 2022.
The pressure on the NFF intensified after the Super Falcons' elimination, with the federation apologizing to the country's President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians following the quarterfinal defeat.
Gusau then established a six-member fact-finding committee headed by former NFF general secretary Fanny Amun to investigate what he described as the "direct and remote causes" of the recent failures of Nigeria's national teams, with particular attention to the Super Falcons.
The committee's findings ultimately went considerably further. In its four-page report submitted August 21, the panel identified administrative, technical, financial, organizational and developmental problems across Nigerian football, including concerns about the structure and composition of the NFF Congress.
The committee accused the Congress of resisting changes to the federation's statutes despite reform requests under three Nigerian presidents, saying amendments were needed to broaden representation and "liberate" the federation.
It recommended that Congress members be knowledgeable, credible and experienced and serve no more than two terms.
Amun also said Gusau had declined an invitation to appear before the committee.
The findings reinforced an argument the National Sports Commission had been making for months.
NSC chairman Shehu Dikko told delegates at the NFF's Extraordinary General Assembly in March that the federation needed to undertake wide-ranging governance reforms, including greater representation for players, clubs, leagues, referees, coaches and administrators.
"This Assembly must set aside any personal interest and or any immediate benefits, to initiate and drive a process of reform that is deliberate, inclusive, and aligned with both international standards and national realities," Dikko said in his address to the Congress.
"Football governance must now be designed not only to administer the game, but to grow its economic value as well as ensure its sustained competitiveness and success on the pitch."
He ended his address with a warning: "Let me state this clearly and without ambiguity: the system must correct itself. If it does not, the correction will be done for it."
The resignations potentially clear the way for the NSC, which supervises Nigerian sports, to begin implementing those reforms without directly removing the NFF's elected leadership and risking a confrontation with FIFA over third-party interference.
FIFA statutes require member associations to manage their affairs independently and without undue third-party influence, and Nigeria has previously faced the threat of suspension over government involvement in NFF affairs.
The voluntary departure of Gusau and the entire executive committee now provides a pathway toward establishing an interim management structure while the governance reforms are carried out.
Gusau said his resignation should help accelerate that process: "My resignation is intended to give way to a comprehensive and orderly reform process aimed at addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges confronting Nigerian football."
By Colin Udoh, ESPN
Gusau was elected in September 2022 and his resignation comes just 34 days to the end of his four-year term. The NFF president was seeking re-election at next month's election, but announced his departure at a news conference at the NFF headquarters in Abuja.
He pointed to the sustained public demand for the leadership to go, following the failures of both the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, as major reasons for the decision, despite successes elsewhere. "Because of that, there was so much clamour from here and there," Gusau said. "We feel it is important to see that as Nigerians, nobody is greater than this country.
"And we all love our country and we all love the progress of our country and we need to look at yourselves and say what next.
"So we made consultations with family, friends and I decided to resign my position as president of the NFF and I advised my board members that everybody should also resign."
Gusau said he was leaving office with a sense of satisfaction over what his administration had been able to achieve during his tenure, pointing to the renewed and vigorous focus on coaching education, with coaching courses organized consistently in virtually all the license categories, culminating in the long-awaited CAF A-License course set to commence on September 13.
He also pointed to the improved stability in the domestic league calendar, progress in the refereeing sector and infrastructure in the form of a 68-room Players' Hostel and new training pitches at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, as well as silver and bronze medal finishes of the Super Eagles from the past two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and the Super Falcons' WAFCON triumph in Morocco in 2025.
Still, the immediate trigger for the demands for the leadership to resign was the Super Falcons' disastrous Women's Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco last month.
Nigeria arrived at the tournament as defending champions and 10-time African champions but suffered their worst performance in WAFCON history, losing three of five matches and failing to reach the semifinals for the first time.
The Super Falcons still had a second opportunity to remain in World Cup qualifying through the WAFCON playoffs but lost 2-1 to South Africa four days later.
That defeat meant the Super Falcons will miss the Women's World Cup for the first time since the competition began in 1991. Nigeria had been one of only seven countries to appear at every edition of the tournament.
The twin failures sparked widespread demands for Gusau and the NFF leadership to resign, and came less than a year after the Super Eagles also failed to qualify for the 2026 men's World Cup.
It was Nigeria's second consecutive failure to qualify for the men's World Cup after also missing Qatar 2022.
The pressure on the NFF intensified after the Super Falcons' elimination, with the federation apologizing to the country's President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians following the quarterfinal defeat.
Gusau then established a six-member fact-finding committee headed by former NFF general secretary Fanny Amun to investigate what he described as the "direct and remote causes" of the recent failures of Nigeria's national teams, with particular attention to the Super Falcons.
The committee's findings ultimately went considerably further. In its four-page report submitted August 21, the panel identified administrative, technical, financial, organizational and developmental problems across Nigerian football, including concerns about the structure and composition of the NFF Congress.
The committee accused the Congress of resisting changes to the federation's statutes despite reform requests under three Nigerian presidents, saying amendments were needed to broaden representation and "liberate" the federation.
It recommended that Congress members be knowledgeable, credible and experienced and serve no more than two terms.
Amun also said Gusau had declined an invitation to appear before the committee.
The findings reinforced an argument the National Sports Commission had been making for months.
NSC chairman Shehu Dikko told delegates at the NFF's Extraordinary General Assembly in March that the federation needed to undertake wide-ranging governance reforms, including greater representation for players, clubs, leagues, referees, coaches and administrators.
"This Assembly must set aside any personal interest and or any immediate benefits, to initiate and drive a process of reform that is deliberate, inclusive, and aligned with both international standards and national realities," Dikko said in his address to the Congress.
"Football governance must now be designed not only to administer the game, but to grow its economic value as well as ensure its sustained competitiveness and success on the pitch."
He ended his address with a warning: "Let me state this clearly and without ambiguity: the system must correct itself. If it does not, the correction will be done for it."
The resignations potentially clear the way for the NSC, which supervises Nigerian sports, to begin implementing those reforms without directly removing the NFF's elected leadership and risking a confrontation with FIFA over third-party interference.
FIFA statutes require member associations to manage their affairs independently and without undue third-party influence, and Nigeria has previously faced the threat of suspension over government involvement in NFF affairs.
The voluntary departure of Gusau and the entire executive committee now provides a pathway toward establishing an interim management structure while the governance reforms are carried out.
Gusau said his resignation should help accelerate that process: "My resignation is intended to give way to a comprehensive and orderly reform process aimed at addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges confronting Nigerian football."
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