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Rise to The Occasion Over Plateau Killings, Cattle Ranches, Public Affairs Analysts Tells Govt
ELDERS, patriots, the international community and all those who have genuine interest in the nation called Nigeria and in humanity generally have been called upon to rise to the challenges that are about to rock the ship of the country completely.
Making the call is the National Association of Public Affairs Analysts (NAPAA) in a release made available to newsmen in Ibadan and signed by Honourable Seun Adelore and Comrade Jare Ajayi, president and secretary general respectively.
The association stated that it is highly concerned about the incessant killings occurring on a daily basis in parts of the country “in a manner that is not only unprecedented but bordering on genocide”.
Burning of villages and settlements, killings of tens and hundreds of people, devastation of economic activities especially farmlands and kidnappings for ransom are some of the challenges the association cited as capable of leading to the disintegration of the country if nothing is done to urgently stop them.
It would be recalled that in Benue, Nassarawa, Plateau etc, lives running into thousands have been lost in these areas as a result of their settlements being set ablaze and people being extra-judicially killed in recent times. The latest one that happened on a large scale was that of Plateau State over the weekend where as many as over 200 people were reportedly killed although the Police said that the figure is considerably less than that.
According to NAPAA, “what matters here is not the necessarily the number of people died. The important thing requiring the attention of everyone is that there is a killing at all. No life of any Nigeria should be lost extra-judicially unless it is through a natural cause.”
Referring to the reason allegedly given by the spokesman of Miyetti Allah that the Plateau incident was a reprisal for the killings by local farmers, NAPAA insisted that the government owes it a duty to ensure that criminals are apprehended and tried while innocent people do not suffer in any way as we are not witnessing in the instances cited. It maintained that the leadership of Miyetti Allah should be questioned by security agencies as it is clear that the organization knows one or two things about the unwarranted and genocidal killings.
Making reference to the recent announcement by the government to establish cattle ranches in parts of the country, NAPAA called the government to exercise caution on the way it goes about this very delicate issue.
“We all know that cattle rearing are like any other business. Nigeria is operating a capitalist system – meaning that individuals engage in businesses that suit them. If government decides to assist a segment of the citizenry in setting up its business, there is need for wide consultation. It should not be a thing to be imposed on the people in order to avoid frictions and clashes.”
Regretting that the Plateau incident happened even in spite of the planned ranches, the public affairs insisted that the government has not truly addressed the issue squarely and sincerely “hence the frequent attacks and killings”.
After itemizing various incidents in which human lives are avoidably wasted in the country, NAPAA lamented that “at no time in the history of this country has our situation been this worrisome. Armed robbery, kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clashes, high stake corruption, not to talk of dysfunctional infrastructures are pointers to a country that is rapidly failing – if it has not already failed. It is not surprising therefore that Nigeria is reported to be among the most dangerous countries to live in now”.
Lamenting the effect this is having on the well-being of the people, the public affairs analysts said that report now has it that Nigeria has overtaken India as a country with the highest number of people living below the poverty line in proportion to its population.
They, however demanded an end to the wanton killings.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has mourned the death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo, popularly known as Able, describing his demise as a painful loss to the progressive family.
Oladipupo, who represented Ibadan North-West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, was widely regarded as a grassroots politician and committed party loyalist until his passing.
Oseni, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the late politician’s death had created a vacuum within the party and among those who benefitted from his unwavering commitment to public service.
In a condolence statement issued on Monday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the federal lawmaker described the late Oladipupo as a dependable progressive, humble political actor and loyal party stalwart whose impact would remain indelible.
He said the deceased dedicated his life to serving humanity, strengthening the progressive movement and supporting the aspirations of many at the grassroots.
Oseni said, “The death of Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo (Able) came to me as a rude shock. Oyo State and the progressive family have indeed lost a committed, loyal and selfless leader whose passion for service, humility and dedication to the people stood him out.
“He was not just a politician but a bridge-builder, a dependable ally and a grassroots mobiliser who believed strongly in the ideals of our great party. His contributions to the growth of the APC in Oyo State and his service to humanity will remain unforgettable.”
The APC senatorial candidate noted that the late former lawmaker remained steadfast in promoting peace, unity and political development, adding that his simplicity and accessibility endeared him to many across political divides.
According to Oseni, the late politician’s legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire younger politicians and party faithful.
He, however, urged members of the APC, associates and family members of the deceased to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the positive impact he made during his lifetime.
Oseni also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”
The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.
Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.
The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.
The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.
The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.
The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.
A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.
Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.
However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.
The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.
Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.
At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.
Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.
Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.
According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.
Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.
The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.
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