By Muhyideen Jimoh

President Bola Tinubu has over the last three years, deployed dialogue, reconciliation and stakeholder engagement to resolve longstanding national disputes and accelerate economic recovery.

Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information and Public Relations, State House, made this known in a statement titled: “Tinubu @3: Peace-Building, Conflict Resolution and National Development,” released on Monday in Abuja.

He noted that the Tinubu administration has pursued major reforms since assuming office, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate harmonisation, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the CNG initiative, improved workers’ welfare and infrastructure expansion.

Oladunjoye stressed that beyond the economic reforms, the administration had also prioritised peace-building and conflict resolution as critical tools for national stability, investor confidence and economic growth.

He cited the Ogoni crisis, which began in the 1990s over environmental concerns and led to decades of unrest and suspension of oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta, as one of the major disputes resolved through dialogue.

The director said that the Tinubu administration initiated consultations through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) involving community leaders, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), traditional institutions and security agencies.

“The submission of the report of the Presidential Committee on Ogoni Consultations, chaired by Prof. Don Baridam, on Sept. 25, 2025, paved the way for renewed peace and the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland,” he said.

Oladunjoye added that President Tinubu personally hosted meetings at the Presidential Villa and honoured key figures killed during the crisis, including Ken Saro-Wiwa.

He also highlighted the resolution of the long-running Malabu Oil (OPL 245) dispute, describing it as one of Nigeria’s most commercially significant oil assets.

According to him, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the resolution ended years of legal and political uncertainty that stalled development of the asset.

“The resolution of the dispute is expected to boost investor confidence and increase Nigeria’s oil production capacity by about 150,000 barrels per day,” he stated.

Oladunjoye further noted that the administration resolved the over 20-year dispute between the Federal Government and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited over the concession of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos.

He said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), announced the resolution on April 30, following extensive dialogue with stakeholders.

Oladunjoye also referenced Plateau, where Tinubu hosted a 32-member stakeholders’ meeting involving Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, former governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders and youth groups over recurring ethno-religious violence and land disputes.

“Rather than impose solutions, the President urged stakeholders to review previous White Papers and propose workable recommendations for lasting peace,” Oladunjoye said.

He added that analysts believed the administration’s emphasis on negotiation, institutional coordination and diplomacy had helped reduce tensions, strengthen investor confidence and create opportunities for national reconciliation.

“As President Tinubu enters the fourth year of his administration, the sustainability of these gains will depend on continued dialogue, transparency, implementation of agreements and inclusive governance,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised fresh concerns over the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning that ongoing violence and humanitarian challenges are hampering efforts to contain the disease.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed on Sunday in a post on X that more than 900 suspected Ebola cases have so far been identified in the DRC, including 101 confirmed infections and 220 suspected deaths.

The latest outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has also spread beyond the DRC, with neighbouring Uganda recording two additional confirmed cases among healthcare workers, bringing its total to seven confirmed cases and one death.

WHO had declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following confirmed cross-border infections.

Emergency funds

The WHO had earlier announced the release of $3.9 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to strengthen response efforts in the DRC and neighbouring Uganda.

It also said it is setting up a continental Incident Management Support Team with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to coordinate and scale up the outbreak response.

Mr Ghebreyesus said the national risk level in the DRC had been raised to “very high” because of rapid transmission and the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics for the Bundibugyo strain.

He added that the health agency is finalising a multi-agency Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan aligned with national response plans for DRC and Uganda, while expanding contact tracing, treatment centres, laboratory capacity and community engagement.

Disease in conflict zone

Mr Ghebreyesus said the outbreak is centred in Ituri Province, a conflict-ridden region where nearly five million people are living amid insecurity and a humanitarian crisis.

He added that “1 in 4 people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 1 in 5 are internally displaced.”

“The violence is forcing people to flee, including health and humanitarian workers. This is severely impeding efforts to scale up Ebola contact tracing and identify infections early enough to provide supportive care,” he stated.

He added that ongoing insecurity and fear are also “fueling mistrust within communities,” a development that could further complicate containment efforts.

Providing an update on the outbreak, Mr Ghebreyesus said 101 Ebola cases had been confirmed in the DRC, including 10 confirmed deaths.

Health interventions

Despite the challenges, Mr Ghebreyesus said WHO and its humanitarian partners are maintaining operations across Ituri, including in “some of the hardest-to-reach and most insecure areas.”

He said health partners are also supporting the delivery of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent healthcare; treatment for severe acute malnutrition; mental health services, wound care and support for survivors of sexual violence; medical supplies; routine immunisation; community health services.

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“Delivering a comprehensive package of healthcare services is essential,” he said, adding that such interventions were necessary “not only to meet urgent health needs, but also to build the trust that is critical for an effective Ebola response.”

More cases expected

Mr Ghebreyesus said response efforts are being intensified in collaboration with health partners, but warned that more infections are likely to be detected in the coming days and weeks.

“The sooner we can trace people with infections and identify their contacts, the sooner we can provide the care they need and bring this outbreak under control,” he said.