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How I Would Have Led Nigeria Differently – Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has outlined measures he would have adopted if he were President, emphasizing a targeted strategy to alleviate Nigeria’s ongoing economic hardships.
Responding to frequent inquiries from Nigerians, Atiku shared his vision in a detailed post on his X handle on Sunday, highlighting the urgency of addressing the country’s pressing economic issues.
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Atiku, who ran for President under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, stated that President Bola Tinubu’s “trial-and-error” approach to economic policy has created “excruciating pains” for citizens.
His statement, titled “What We Would Have Done Differently,” detailed four areas he believes need immediate intervention.
Atiku emphasized that combating corruption would have been a top priority in his administration, beginning with an overhaul of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
He described the NNPCL as “a huge beneficiary of the status quo” and expressed doubts about its commitment to genuine reform, stating that reforms would likely face resistance from vested interests.
“Yes, I have always advocated for the removal of subsidy on PMS because its administration has been, mildly put, opaque with so much scope for arbitrariness and corruption. Mind-boggling rent profit from oil subsidy accrued to the cabals in public institutions and the private sector,” he wrote.
“Fighting corruption should have commenced with the repositioning of the NNPCL, which is a huge beneficiary of the status quo. Its commitment to reform and capacity to implement and enforce reforms is suspect. The subsidy regime has provided an avenue for rent-seeking, individuals, the NNPCL and its guardians will be threatened by reforms.”
Criticizing Nigeria’s inefficiency in oil refining, Atiku labeled the nation the most inefficient of all OPEC member countries. He emphasized the need to privatize state-owned refineries and set a target to refine at least 50% of its crude oil output domestically, with the aim of exporting refined products to ECOWAS member states.
“We are by far the most inefficient OPEC member country in terms of both the percentage of installed refining capacity that works and the percentage of crude refined.
“We would’ve commenced the privatization of all state-owned refineries and ensure that Nigeria starts to refine at least 50% of its current crude oil output. Nigeria should aspire to export 50% of that capacity to ECOWAS member states,” Atiku stated.
Atiku also advocated for a “gradualist approach” to subsidy removal, arguing that an abrupt removal of subsidies would disrupt the economy and hurt Nigerians.
Citing his experience as Vice President, he explained that a phased approach was more beneficial, noting that successful reforms in other countries have been implemented gradually.
“Subsidies would not have been removed suddenly and completely. It is instructive that when I was Vice President, we adopted a gradualist approach and had completed phases 1 and 2 of the reform before our tenure ended.
“The incoming administration in 2007 abandoned the reforms, unfortunately. The gradualist approach allows for adjustments, and adaptation and minimizes disruptions and vulnerability,” he said.
Additionally, Atiku outlined his plans to support Nigeria’s vulnerable populations amid economic reforms.
He proposed investing savings from subsidy withdrawals in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and agriculture to strengthen the economy and create job opportunities for Nigerian youth.
“We would’ve invested the savings from subsidy withdrawal to strengthen the productive base of the economy through infrastructure maintenance and development; to improve outcomes in education and healthcare delivery; to improve rural infrastructure and support livelihood expansion in agriculture; and develop the skills and entrepreneurial capacity of our youth in order to enhance their access to better economic opportunities,” he said.
In addition, Atiku reiterated his commitment to subsidy removal while underscoring the need for a well-thought-out, phased approach to ensure Nigerians are shielded from undue economic hardship.
In a historic move, Turkey’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, has resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus after a 13-year suspension.
The first flight, carrying 349 passengers, departed from Istanbul International Airport on Thursday morning, according to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu.
The resumption of flights marks the end of a pause dating back to April 2012, when the airline suspended operations due to the onset of the Syrian civil war.
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The decision comes as relations between the two nations improve and reflects a growing trend of Syrians returning to their homeland after years of displacement.
Turkey, which hosts approximately 3 million Syrian refugees—the highest number worldwide—has witnessed many Syrians preparing to return home.
Anadolu reported that several passengers on Thursday’s flight were traveling to Syria for the first time in over a decade.
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” said Ahmet Kiraz, a passenger who had lived in Turkey since 2012. Kiraz expressed his disbelief at finally being able to return home, a moment he had thought might never come.
Images from the scene showed travelers boarding the plane with the Syrian flag draped across their shoulders, a symbol of both pride and a longing for their homeland.
Turkish Airlines announced plans to operate three flights per week to Damascus, with further details expected to be disclosed later in the day.
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Ezra Vandan, also known as Azranur AV, has been detained in Istanbul for publicly announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
The announcement, made on social media, sparked outrage and led to her arrest by the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate’s Morality Bureau.
Vandan had shared her intentions on January 14, 2025, posting a photo of herself in red lingerie with the caption: “My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record! I’m starting with 100 men in 24 hours.”
She reportedly planned to live-stream the event, which was widely criticised as “obscene” and “damaging to societal morals.”
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According to reports, the post drew the attention of authorities, who initiated an investigation and apprehended her while she awaited a cosmetic surgery operation in Atasehir. Footage captured her being escorted down the stairs of a hospital by female officers, her wrists bound behind her.
In a controversial twist, Vandan allegedly uploaded a revealing image taken during her arrest by a police officer, captioning it, “I had the photo taken by one of the officers, he didn’t object much.”
Her husband, Pedram Behdar Vandan, 25, was also briefly detained but later released.
The Istanbul 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace has charged Vandan with obscenity, resisting an officer on duty, and slander, stating that her actions and posts were “damaging to moral values” and “provocative to society.”
Defending herself in court, Vandan argued that her posts were personal and did not harm anyone. “I do not deserve to be judged,” she said.
The case has reignited debates in Turkey about personal freedom and societal values.
Eleven passengers tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in Maharashtra, India, after jumping off a moving train amid fears of a fire, only to be struck by an oncoming train.
The incident occurred in Jalgaon district, approximately 400 kilometres from Mumbai, and has once again highlighted safety issues in India’s extensive railway network, which serves millions of passengers daily.
Ayush Prasad, a senior district official, confirmed the fatalities and stated that five other passengers are receiving medical treatment. “People were run over by a train,” he said, without clarifying if the fire alarm was genuine or false.
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According to a spokesperson for Indian Railways, the chaos began when someone activated the “alarm chain” on the Mumbai-bound train, prompting several passengers to disembark. Tragically, they were struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction.
India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, expressed his grief over the incident, saying, “Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident.” Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the tragedy as “deeply disturbing” and said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite efforts to modernise the railway infrastructure with a $30 billion investment aimed at improving safety and connectivity, accidents remain a significant concern. Official records indicate that an average of 20,000 people died annually in rail-related accidents between 2017 and 2021.
In 2023, one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters claimed nearly 300 lives when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, leading to further collisions.
India continues to grapple with balancing its rapid economic growth with ensuring the safety of its ageing railway network.
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