Fubara Returns, Belittled, Wike Holds the State’s Reins; Food Insecurity Soars | More in This Week’s Roundup
By The Insight Team
This week’s headlines paint a turbulent picture for Nigeria as Governor Siminalayi Fubara resumes office in Rivers State, stripped of political clout, with Nyesom Wike firmly controlling the state’s power structure after a six-month emergency rule. Meanwhile, Nigeria leads global food insecurity rankings, with 24.2 million citizens facing acute hunger in 2025, driven by conflict, climate shocks, and crumbling supply chains.
Rising national debt fuels fears despite claims of fiscal restraint, while northern states’ negotiations with bandits ignite debate over tackling insecurity. A horrific blasphemy lynching in Niger State echoes past tragedies, pensioners threaten nationwide protests over unpaid arrears, and NUPENG’s clash with Dangote Refinery’s free petrol scheme sparks public outcry. From NECO result controversies to Tinubu’s reform push, this roundup unpacks the critical issues shaping Nigeria’s complex landscape. Dive in for the full story.
Combo photo of Martin Amaewhule led Assembly and Gov Siminalayi Fubara
Tinubu Returns to Abuja, Calls Fubara Back, as Wike’s Grip on Rivers State Persists
Governor Siminalayi Fubara resumed duties at the Rivers State Government House today, marking the end of a six-month state of emergency imposed by President Bola Tinubu on March 18 amid a crippling political feud with his erstwhile godfather, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
While the reinstatement of Fubara, Deputy Ngozi Odu, and the pro-Wike House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule signals a fragile return to civilian rule, political analysts and insiders warn that the governor’s political clout has been decisively emasculated, with the state’s power structures firmly handed over to Wike’s loyalists.
In a nationwide address on September 17, Tinubu praised the emergency period’s achievements under Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), including peaceful local government elections on August 30 that saw Wike’s allies dominate 20 of 23 councils under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“No victory is worth Rivers blood,” Tinubu urged, calling for reconciliation after over 40 lawsuits and Supreme Court rulings affirmed the constitutional collapse triggered by the 2023-2025 crisis. Jubilation ensued with transport fare reductions and thanksgiving services, but beneath the surface lies a stark reality: Fubara’s return is ceremonial at best.
Fubara will no longer wield the influence of a governor upon his return
The emergency rule, approved by the National Assembly despite opposition, was ostensibly to stabilize the oil-rich Niger Delta hub plagued by assembly paralysis and alleged militant attacks on facilities. Yet, sources reveal it facilitated Wike’s consolidation of power. Post-reconciliation in June 2025, Fubara’s support groups like ‘Simplified Family’ dissolved, while Wike’s ‘Wikematics’ network absorbed key positions.
The August polls, boycotted by Fubara, installed Wike-backed chairmen and councillors, with the assembly—upheld by the Supreme Court as pro-Wike—poised to check the governor’s moves. “Fubara will no longer wield the influence of a governor upon his return,” elder statesman High Chief Sunnie Chukumele of the Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought declared, labeling the elections a “charade” and Wike’s grip “temporary but ironclad.”
Power has been taken from Fubara
Presidential insiders confirm Fubara’s reinstatement came with strings: no re-election bid in 2027, acceptance of Wike’s nominations for local posts, and non-interference in assembly affairs. “He will not control LG and Rivers Assembly,” a source noted, emphasizing Wike’s role in “taking all the bullets” for Fubara while shielding him from impeachment threats. The APC’s pledge to recruit Wike and assembly members signals a strategic handover of PDP structures to Tinubu’s fold, leaving Fubara cornered by loyalists.
There can be no real peace in Rivers State as long as Wike controls the Legislature, the Local Government Chairmen, and the Councillors.
Governor Fubara has been stripped of power in his own state, reduced to a figurehead under his godfather’s shadow. Unless he takes decisive… https://t.co/TrUCgDKGgD— Hon. SarkiB (@realYangaB) September 17, 2025
“Power has been taken from Fubara… parts of the agreement signed in the presence of Mr. President,” a close aide revealed, echoing Arise TV analysts who described it as “arm-twisting” over state resources.
On X (formerly Twitter), sentiments amplify this view: “Governor Fubara has been stripped of power… reduced to a figurehead under his godfather’s shadow,” tweeted @realYangaB, warning of potential impeachment without decisive action. Another user, @obnetobs, called the emergency a ploy to “forcefully take over the vote-manipulation structure from Fubara to Wike,” dubbing it the “Structure of Criminality.” @TmOladipo added,
State of emergency in River State has been lifted by the President. Gov Fubara, D.Governor and all Members of State House of Assembly are expected to resume to office. Gov Fubara will definitely dance to the tune of Wike & River State will be lead by the Gov & Wike. Absolutely.
— OMO’BA ADERONMU OWOADE (@TmOladipo) September 17, 2025
Stakeholders, including PDP warnings against Fubara’s defection, demand inclusive governance to avert relapse into instability. With APC gains positioning Rivers as an economic beacon under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—bolstered by cash transfers and rail investments—the governor’s eroded autonomy raises quest
Nigeria Leads Global Food Insecurity Rankings with 24.2 Million Facing Crisis in 2025
Nigeria has surged to the top of the World Bank’s list of countries grappling with severe food insecurity, with 24.2 million citizens projected to face acute hunger in 2025, outpacing even war-torn neighbors like the Democratic Republic of Congo (22.4 million) and Sudan (14.6 million). This alarming statistic, highlighted in a recent Business Insider Africa report citing World Bank data, underscores a deepening crisis on the continent where 58% of Africans—twice the global average—battle food shortages despite a 160% growth in food production over three decades.
Children Queuing For Meal
The paradox is stark: while Africa’s agricultural output has boomed, hunger has risen 60% in the last decade alone, driven by a toxic mix of conflicts, extreme weather, economic shocks, and overlooked logistical nightmares like poor roads, congested ports, and high trade costs that fragment supply chains and isolate communities from affordable staples. In Nigeria, inflation at 34.2%—with food prices skyrocketing 40.7%—exacerbates the plight, pushing millions into crisis levels (IPC Phase 3 or worse) during the 2025 lean season, a 32% jump from 2024.
The World Food Programme projects 33 million Nigerians at risk, urging global aid to avert catastrophe. As President Tinubu’s administration rolls out palliatives, critics demand bolder action to bridge the “invisible barriers” fueling this humanitarian emergency.
Rising National Debt Sparks Fears Despite Claims of ‘Under-Borrowing’ at 39% of GDP
Amid public anxiety over Nigeria’s ballooning debt, the Presidency has sparked controversy by insisting the nation is “under-borrowing” at just 39% of GDP, down from a crippling 120% in 2022. Special Assistant on Economy, Tope Fasua, made the bold claim during a Channels Television interview on September 16, defending the Tinubu administration’s fiscal strategy as a success story of prudent management that has eased debt by 39% since 2023 and slashed servicing costs by 64%.
External debt hit $45.97 billion (₦70.63 trillion) in Q1 2025, a 26.07% year-on-year surge fueled by new loans and naira depreciation
Official data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) paints a mixed picture: external debt hit $45.97 billion (₦70.63 trillion) in Q1 2025, a 26.07% year-on-year surge fueled by new loans and naira depreciation. Fasua argues this is necessary to plug a massive infrastructural gap estimated at $3 trillion annually, emphasizing that low borrowing enables investments in growth amid falling inflation (20.12% in August). “We used all revenues for debt service before; now we’re doing a great job,” he asserted, welcoming constructive criticism while highlighting reserves at $41.66 billion.
Critics, including opposition figures, decry the opacity and risks of over-reliance on loans, warning that even at 39% of GDP, rising service costs—39% of the 2025 budget—could strain the economy if global shocks hit. With total public debt at ₦149.39 trillion ($97.24 billion) by March 2025, stakeholders urge transparency to prevent a debt trap, especially as tax revenues lag due to exemptions and low compliance. The debate underscores Nigeria’s tightrope walk between development and fiscal sustainability.
Mob Burns Woman Alive Over Blasphemy Allegations in Niger State, Echoing Deborah Samuel Tragedy
In a chilling echo of the 2022 Deborah Samuel lynching, a mob in Niger State’s Kasuwan-Garba town burned a female food vendor named Amaye alive on August 30, 2025, after accusing her of blaspheming Prophet Muhammad. The gruesome incident, confirmed by police in September, has ignited outrage over recurring “jungle justice” in northern Nigeria, where Sharia law coexists with secular statutes in 12 Muslim-majority states.
Eyewitnesses told journalists that the violence erupted around 2 p.m. when a man jokingly proposed marriage to Amaye, and her response—deemed offensive by onlookers—sparked fury. Despite initial police intervention, the mob overpowered officers, stoned her, and set her ablaze before reinforcements arrived. Niger State Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun condemned the act, vowing arrests and prosecutions, while appealing for calm. “Blasphemy must be proven in court,” he stressed, referencing Supreme Court rulings.
Amnesty International decried the killing as part of a pattern where accusations are “weaponized for personal scores,” noting at least two similar lynchings in recent years targeting Christians. The Deborah Samuel case in Sokoto, where a student was beaten and burned for alleged social media blasphemy, drew global condemnation but little systemic change. Rights groups highlight inconsistent enforcement of free speech protections under Nigeria’s constitution, amid rising religious tensions.
Pensioners Threaten Nationwide Naked Protest Over Unpaid Arrears
Desperate retired federal workers under the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria have vowed a shocking nationwide “naked protest” on October 6 if the government fails to pay outstanding arrears, implement a ₦32,000 pension increment, and disburse ₦25,000 palliatives by month’s end. National Chairman Mukaila Ogunbote, also head of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NIPOST chapter), issued the ultimatum at a September 16 Lagos press conference, decrying the exclusion of pensioners from benefits enjoyed by active workers and NYSC members.
This is injustice; are we no longer Nigerian citizens?
Ogunbote lamented that while workers received 10 months of palliatives, pensioners await six months’ arrears, and President Tinubu’s approved ₦13,000 hike—escalating to ₦32,000—remains omitted from the 2024 and 2025 budgets due to lapses by the Finance Ministry and Accountant-General’s office. “This is injustice; are we no longer Nigerian citizens?” he fumed, vowing the nudity symbolizes “exposing government failures” amid soaring living costs where even the increment falls short.
Retiree Fashola Oluwo from the Ministry of Information echoed the frustration, demanding accountability for non-implementation. The coalition gave until September for resolution, highlighting how unpaid benefits exacerbate elderly poverty in an economy with 34.2% inflation. Critics view the threat as a last resort in a nation where pension fraud has long plagued retirees, urging swift action to avert public embarrassment and social unrest.
‘We Want Greek Gift’: Nigerians Reply to NUPENG Over Dangote Refinery’s Free Petrol as Deceptive Comments
Nigerians have overwhelmingly mocked the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for branding Dangote Refinery’s free nationwide petrol delivery a “deceptive Greek gift,” with social media erupting in sarcasm: “We want the Greek gift!” The backlash followed NUPENG’s September 12 statement accusing the refinery of using the initiative to crush unions, sideline drivers, and monopolize the sector by forcing them into a company-backed Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA).
Aliko Dangote and other officials of the Dangote group during a press briefing
NUPENG, led by President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, alleged anti-labor practices, including sticker removals from trucks and sponsorship of union divisions since 2023, warning the “free” scheme ensures only DTCDA members get jobs, hiking fuel prices long-term. They placed members on red alert for strikes amid disputes with MRS Oil drivers. Dangote refuted this on September 11 as “unfounded lies,” affirming voluntary unionization and highlighting the scheme’s job creation (24,000 roles) via CNG trucks to cut logistics costs and end queues.
Public reaction trended with quips like “Why can’t NUPENG offer a French gift?” from users, praising Aliko Dangote’s price cuts (e.g., ₦704/liter in some states) amid 20.12% inflation. As exports hit 1.1 billion liters since June, the feud exposes tensions in Nigeria’s downstream sector, with calls for labor rights balance against consumer relief.
NECO Releases SSCE Results Amid Complaints of Exam Irregularities, Leaks
The National Examinations Council (NECO) released the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal results on September 17 at its Minna headquarters, announcing that 60.26% of 1,358,339 candidates—818,492 students—secured five credits including Math and English, up slightly from prior years. Registrar Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi hailed the 54-day turnaround as efficient, crediting President Tinubu’s support, but lamented disruptions from July 7-25 malpractice incidents affecting 13 subjects and 29 papers in affected schools.
Malpractice cases plunged 61.58% to 3,878 from 10,094 in 2024, a win for reforms, though complaints surged over alleged leaks and irregularities, with candidates decrying unfairness in subjects like English and Mathematics. NECO promised re-exams for impacted schools via state partnerships and slimmed the curriculum to 38 subjects for faster processing. To check results, candidates need a ₦800 token via remita.neco.gov.ng, entering exam numbers on results.neco.gov.ng.
As JAMB admissions loom, the release spotlights education’s role in national development, but outcry demands probes into leaks to restore trust. With 3,878 withheld for cheating, Wushishi urged integrity, warning of productivity awards on September 18 to incentivize excellence amid Nigeria’s youth bulge.
Northern States Turn to Negotiation with Bandits, Highlighting Lack of Political Will in Ongoing Insecurity Crisis
Katsina Governor Dikko Umar Radda confirmed on September 8 that his administration is actively negotiating with bandits in frontline local governments, securing peace deals in four of eight high-risk areas like Jibia and Batsari, with talks ongoing in Kankara and Safana. This admission, amid an EU-funded conflict resolution project, reveals a pragmatic shift from military-only approaches, but critics slam it as evidence of waning political will to eradicate banditry ravaging the northwest.
We’ve resolved crises in four LGAs; negotiation continues in two more
Radda detailed how community-led truces have reopened schools and markets closed by raids that displaced 1.3 million since February 2025, destroyed farms, and fueled youth unemployment and resource clashes exacerbated by drought. “We’ve resolved crises in four LGAs; negotiation continues in two more,” he said at the Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience launch with IOM, CDD, and Mercy Corps partners. The Chief of Defence Operations clarified no federal payments to bandits, emphasizing negotiations’ limits.
Yet, with over 33 million Nigerians facing food insecurity partly due to insecurity, northern elders and analysts decry the strategy as legitimizing criminals, pointing to killings of children and persistent abductions. As banditry intertwines with ISWAP threats, calls grow for holistic solutions—beyond dialogue—to address root causes like desertification and economic stagnation, lest negotiations become a band-aid on a hemorrhaging crisis.
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