Mr. Oluwagbenga Abiola, the Vice Chairman of Agege Local Government and a leading candidate for the July 12 council elections, has expressed his support for his party’s choice of Abdulganiyu Obasa as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming local government election.

Mr. Abiola is a political follower of Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and a prominent APC figure in Agege.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday, Mr. Abiola affirmed his loyalty to both the party and Mr. Obasa.

NAN reported that on Monday, stakeholders in Agege had urged Mr. Obasa to allow his son, Abdulganiyu, to run for the position of council chairman.

According to these stakeholders, this would serve as recognition for the Speaker’s long-standing humanitarian work and significant political impact in Agege.

Responding to claims that he faced pressure to withdraw from the race, Mr. Abiola stated that he remains deeply grateful to Mr. Obasa for his role in shaping his political career.

He pledged his complete support for the Speaker’s leadership and stated that he would never go against the party’s directives or Mr. Obasa’s guidance.

Mr. Abiola emphasized, “Let me be clear — I will never oppose my leader, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. He is the one who made me who I am politically. He appointed me as his Special Assistant on Media when he became Speaker in 2015. In 2016, thanks to his recommendation to the governor, I was appointed the Sole Administrator of Agege Local Government. That appointment made me the youngest council head in Lagos State at the time.”

He continued, “In 2017, I became the Secretary to the Local Government, and in 2021, I became the Vice Chairman — all through the support of the party and the Speaker. So, tell me, why would I oppose a man who built my political career and helped me gain experience and influence?”

He acknowledged his ambition to become Chairman but insisted that he must adhere to the party’s collective decision.

Mr. Abiola added, “Yes, I had aspirations. Every Vice Chairman dreams of becoming Chairman. But the party has made its decision, and I fully agree with it. Leaders and stakeholders have come together. They have asked the Speaker to allow his son to contest. I respect and support that. I stand with Mr. Obasa, with APC Agege, and with all decisions made by the party and stakeholders.”

Mr. Abiola noted that his primary goal was to serve the people and expressed his belief that more opportunities would arise for him in the future.

He stated, “I trust my leader. He knows what is best and can recommend me for even greater responsibilities when the time is right. I am still young and full of energy. I will work for the party and ensure we achieve victory.”

He further mentioned that he had instructed members of his Obasa Youth Alliance to fully support the party’s decision.

Credit: NAN

The United Kingdom Home Office has recorded 22,619 asylum requests from Nigerian citizens between 2010 and 2024.

This is according to findings by The Punch.

During that time frame, Nigerians made up roughly one in every 30 asylum applications submitted in the UK, placing Nigeria 11th in the Home Office’s latest Asylum and Resettlement year-end report.

The Home Office disclosed that asylum applications from Nigerians nearly doubled in 2024, rising to 2,841 from 1,462 in 2023.

In total, 2024 saw a record 108,138 asylum requests submitted in the UK—a 378% increase from 2010. A majority of these were first-time submissions by individuals from South Asia and the Middle East.

Iran led the list with 75,737 applications, likely due to growing repression of opposition figures by Iranian authorities. Pakistan followed with 57,621 applications. In 2024 alone, 10,542 Pakistanis sought asylum in the UK, a surge attributed to post-election instability, high inflation, and an increase in blasphemy-related arrests cited by human rights groups.

Afghanistan ranked third with 54,363 applications since 2010. In 2024, 8,508 Afghans applied for asylum—part of the continuing fallout from the 2022 ousting of the Karzai administration by the Taliban. That year, 11,358 Afghans applied, followed by 9,710 in 2023.

Other notable figures include Albania (50,944), Iraq (45,711), Eritrea (37,687), Syria (34,997), and Bangladesh (31,744). The number of Bangladeshi asylum seekers increased from 5,097 in 2023 to 7,225 in 2024, coinciding with the political shift that removed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power.

Sudan and India completed the top 10 list with 30,897 and 30,179 applications, respectively.

With 22,619 filings, Nigeria edged ahead of Sri Lanka (22,059), surpassing countries like Vietnam, China, and Turkey. At the bottom of the chart were Brazil, Kuwait, Yemen, Colombia, and Jordan, each contributing under 6,500 applications.

Experts say Nigeria’s rise in asylum applications is linked to worsening security conditions, including terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and a steep drop in purchasing power following the naira’s 2023 devaluation.

Speaking (to The Punch), Charles Onunaiju, Research Director at the Centre for China Studies in Abuja, said, “We have a challenge. Since Nigeria is becoming inhospitable, especially for young people with no opportunities, there is desperation to go abroad.”

Reports suggest that many young Nigerian professionals who initially enter the UK via skilled worker routes often switch to asylum claims once inside the country. Others arrive through irregular routes via Europe, citing threats such as kidnapping or communal violence in their testimonies.

Applicants frequently cite political persecution stemming from Nigeria’s cybercrime laws or discrimination based on sexual orientation—grounds that qualify for protection under the Refugee Convention.

British law requires asylum seekers to prove a “well-founded fear of persecution” due to race, religion, nationality, political views, or association with a particular social group, according to the Home Office.

Initial decisions are made by the Home Office, and rejected claims may be appealed to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

Theoretically, the Illegal Migration Act 2023 disqualifies applicants who passed through a “safe third country.” However, the UK’s controversial plan—originally spearheaded by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak—to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has stalled due to legal challenges.

As a result, the majority of applicants arriving in 2024 and 2025 continue to be processed through standard asylum procedures.

Development economist Dr. Aliyu Ilias, speaking from Abuja, noted that the continued departure and permanent relocation of Nigerians abroad signals a loss of skilled labour for the country.

He said many Nigerians, burdened by economic hardship and insecurity, view UK asylum—even with its uncertainties—as a better alternative.

“It’s definitely a cause of concern because this includes our professionals who are moving, and it takes a whole lot to train these professionals.

In the medical sector, Nigeria subsidises a lot to get people trained. You cannot get trained as a medical doctor or an engineer abroad for a cheaper cost compared to what we get in Nigeria.

So, it is total brain drain in the long run and for the economy, it is reducing our GDP. The appalling part is that most of our Nigerian brothers and sisters who go out do not return. They get permanent residency, and they become valuable to the immediate country,” he stated.

Credit: The Punch

• Government sets 8,000MW power goal by 2027, taps private sector for grid expansion

The Federal Government has announced its plan to build modular solar power plants totaling 1,900 megawatts across the 19 northern states. This initiative aims to promote the use of renewable energy and enhance the capacity of the national electricity grid.

Additionally, the government has set a target to generate and supply around 8,000MW of electricity by the conclusion of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in 2027.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during the sixth session of the “2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series” held on Thursday in Abuja.

Adelabu noted that each solar facility would generate roughly 100MW, allowing individual states to become more energy self-sufficient and reduce dependence on the national grid.

He also mentioned the government’s efforts to attract private investments to improve power generation and grid infrastructure.

Recall the northern region has recently experienced power instability due to widespread vandalism and the theft of crucial transmission equipment.

In October, vandals damaged the vital “330kV Shiroro-Kaduna power line,” affecting electricity supply in Kano and Kaduna. Another line serving Bauchi, Gombe, and parts of the northeast was also compromised.

This resulted in a blackout that lasted a month across 17 of the 19 northern states. After restoration, governors in the region advocated for energy diversification to stabilize power delivery.

The affected states include Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Benue.

Speaking at the briefing, the minister pointed out that Nigeria’s abundant solar resources make it well-suited for large-scale solar power production.

He said, “In addition to these initiatives, private investors like Sun Africa Energy and Skipper Electric are keen to invest in Nigeria’s power sector, emphasising renewable generation and grid expansion. What we have today on our grid are just two types of power, hydropower and gas-powered plants.”

“But with the abundance of sunshine that we have in Nigeria, nothing stops us from having utility-scale solar power generation. And we have two companies that have expressed interest in this. We have evaluated, and discussions are at a very, very high stage.”

“Number one is Sun Africa, which intends to bring in about 1,000MW of solar energy to complement the efforts of Niger Delta Power Holding Company at their various locations. And this will go straight into the grid. That’s adding solar power to our grid.”

“Then the second is Skipper Energy, who has also decided to construct modular solar power plants in the 19 states of the northern part of Nigeria, about 100MW each, so that each state will be independent and the independence of the national grid will be reduced. This will ensure that we have solar power in our national grid.”

Adelabu described the 8,000MW target as achievable, citing a 40 percent increase in power generation since the Tinubu administration began.

He reported that average daily power generation climbed from 4,100MW in Q3 2023 to 5,700MW in Q4 2025, with a peak of 5,800MW.

While it took nearly four decades—from 1984 to 2022—for Nigeria to increase output from 2,000MW to 4,000MW, the current government has managed to add 1,700MW in just over one year.

“I assumed office in August 2023, and within a short time, we’ve moved from an unstable 4,100MW to a steady 5,800MW,” he said. He emphasized that consistent annual additions since 1999 could have seen Nigeria producing more than 30,000MW by now.

He credited the progress to President Tinubu’s support and expressed optimism that with continued momentum, the country would hit the 8,000MW milestone by 2027.

“Now that we have created a trajectory, if we sustain this trajectory, I can assure you that before the end of this administration in 2027, we should be able to generate and distribute nothing less than 8,000MW of power,” he assured.

Highlighting the issue of limited public funds, the minister noted the need for private capital to build new transmission lines, substations, and additional transformers.

“We have received various offers from private investors. The national grid is owned 100 per cent by the government. But I can tell you, with other ministries competing for funds, we cannot fund the national grid alone. We are looking to expand the national grid. If you look at the grid, I will give you the features of the grid. It is too large, and there are some dedicated lines in which some private investors have expressed interest.”

“And with the Nigerian Independent System Operator, it will be much easier for us to invite the private sector investors and let them finance the construction of new lines, construction of new substations, and introduction of new transformers,” the former CBN director noted.

The minister also highlighted improvements in the national grid under President Tinubu, noting that the Transmission Company of Nigeria had commissioned 61 new transformers.

“It is a huge grid to cover over 200 million people, and it’s been there for so long, and we know that the maintenance history has been poor, replacement history has been poor, expansion history has been poor,” the minister said.

He continued, “It is old, so collectively enabling our grid 8.7 gigawatt operational capacity, as of today, if we grow our generation to 8,700 megawatts, the grid can still carry it, thanks to the activities of the TCN and the FGN power company. Two years ago, once it gets to 5,000MW, the grid collapses, then we have evacuated 5,800MW successfully without the grid blinking, it was still stable, so we can transport 8,700MW.”

“To strengthen this critical network, TCN commissioned 61 new transformers, totalling 5,589 MVA in 2024. Followed by nine additional transformers in quarter one of 2025 across key locations in Lagos, Benin, Bauchi, Oshogbo, Kano, and Kaduna, we have the list of the sites. I once mentioned that TCN had over 100 unfinished projects.”

“In the 2025 appropriation, we already have N25 billion to support TCN to complete some of these projects, and that will also improve power supply. Beyond TCN, we have the activities of the presidential power initiative, which is being executed by the FGN Power Company. The pilot phase delivered infrastructure across 13 locations, adding 700 megawatts to the national grid.”

“We experienced several grid disturbances towards the end of last year, but since January up till today, four months into the new year, we have not seen any major disturbance to the grid. I can assure you, we do everything possible to maintain and sustain the current scenario. If there’s any little disturbance, our turnaround time is being worked upon; within one to two hours, the grid will be up.”

Due to these initiatives, Adelabu said around 150 million Nigerians now have reliable electricity access, while about 80 million are still underserved.

“As it is today, Nigeria—a country with about 240 million people—has access for 150 million people already, while about 80 million lack access to adequate electricity in Nigeria.”

“The real challenge lies in the stability and affordability of electricity. That’s how we measure reliability. We must ensure that those who have access enjoy consistent and affordable power,” he said.

Another significant update from the briefing was the progress toward regionalising the national grid, with eastern and western “supergrid” plans underway. This approach aims to reduce the impact of outages in one region from affecting the entire country.

Regarding the long-abandoned Kaduna Power Plant, Adelabu confirmed it is now 87 per cent completed and expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

The 215MW project, initiated by the Ministry of Power, had been stalled for six years before the current administration resumed work on it.

Adelabu said his site visit prompted a push for approval from President Tinubu to finalize the plant’s construction.

“It is 87 per cent completed, but was neglected for six years since 2018/2019. They have stopped working on it.”

“I inspected it and ensured that we got Mr President’s approval for us to complete this project, and it has a capacity of 215MW. So, before the end of the year, the Kaduna Power Plant will be in operation. I can assure you,” Adelabu stated.

The project was initially awarded in November 2009 to General Electric and Rockson Engineering to build a dual thermal plant powered by Low Pour Fuel Oil and natural gas. Its original completion date was set for December 31, 2013.

Credit: The Punch