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A CALL TO SALVAGE THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, NIA. OPEN LETTER TO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
29th January, 2018
ADVERTORIAL
PREAMBLE: This letter is in demonstration of our collective patriotism emanating from our undiluted loyalty to the Nigerian nation. It emanate from our love for fairness, justice, equity and fairness in the pursuit of national goals. Given our limitations, we are signing this letter under pseudo names.
1. It is therefore with a great sense of responsibility and respect that we write to thank and commend you for the timely intervention in the crisis of confidence rocking the National Intelligence, NIA following the recent unceremonious change of leadership.
2. We are constrained to write to you and make some vital imputes as you investigate the circumstances of the change in leadership and its possible consequences on the agency viz-a-viz the nation’s security apparatus.
3. Mr Chairman, honorable members, we wish to first alert you that there is an imminent threat to the cohesion for which the NIA has been known, as this is the first time a Director General was picked from the rank below that of a Director.
4. Since its inception 32 years ago , nobody below the rank of a Director has been appointed as its head. This explains why we regard the recent appointment of Ahmed Rufai ABUBAKAR, a man who is on record to have failed to merit elevation to the rank of Director and who has retired from service to come and preside over people who are not only his seniors in rank but who fit into the order of precedence.
5. Rufai ABUBAKAR’s appointment as DG NIA will certainly set a dangerous precedence, with equally dangerous implications. While we are aware that part of the new DG’s agenda is to retire those of us who are his seniors, as it is more likely that he may not want to work with us, it is evident that he will pursue a vendetta mission, which he has already indicated in his very first address to us.
6. While we wish to state that, he is at liberty to go ahead with what we know he intends to do, we wish to point out the underlying dangers in a massive purge of senior officers of the agency, to the effect that, not only will the millions of dollars spent on training and retraining us be lost, we are also custodians of the country’s intelligence dossiers, and may decide to use same for mischief.
7. Already, the nation is in a precarious security condition, and further penetration by Hostile Intelligence Services could spell even greater danger. It is very unlikely that we will be insulated from penetration if we are treated as renegades after putting in our best for the country.
8. In the event that Ahmed Rufai ABUBAKAR finds it difficult to work with those of us who are still in service and who have better credentials, the choice left to the authorities is to revert to the status quo and allow a serving director who understands the dynamics to continue.
9. Having failed promotion examinations to the directorship rank, which we can attest to, we make bold to state that it amounts to administrative suicide to allow a practical misfit take over the agency and later mortgage same to his paymasters, who have ulterior motives.
10. Since the Government itself admitted that Rufai ABUBAKAR was born and bred in Chad, while on the other hand he claims to have been born in Nigeria; at least going by his the records and his CV, suffice it to point out that there is an obvious contradiction. We call upon this honorable body to thoroughly look into this seeming discrepancy.
11. As insiders, we are in a position to state that, the process of vetting in respect of the new NIA DG negates conventional practice, as nobody has visited Chad where he claims to have grown up and schooled to probe into his differential associates, or even his likely espionage roles.
12. The rule requires that, anybody being considered for such strategic position must be vetted from the cradle. It is an incontrovertible fact Rufai ABUBAKAR’s links with Chad, a country with likely rival interest with Nigeria, makes Rufai suspect as espionage and not fit to head the country’s elite intelligence agency.
13. It is necessary for us to alert that, the issue of likely doubtful loyalty, is a serious issue in intelligence corridors. Where a person’s nationality or that of his spouse becomes unclear, a thorough vetting from the cradle becomes even more demanding. In this case, it is very dangerous that the vetting process has been compromised, which is an ominous danger to the nation’s security.
14. While it is increasingly becoming necessary to investigate the activities of the Presidential panel under the leadership of Ambassador Babagana KINGIBE and the current DG, we hasten to state that, the panel was in the first place a contemptuous affront on the office of the Vice President. It is unheard of for an officer with a lower rank being appointed to review the work of a higher officer; more so the Vice President of the country.
15. It is very curious that, paragraph 4(1) of the recommendations of the Kingibe panel prescribes that a serving Director should be picked as the Director General, only for the same characters that sat in judgement over the need to reorganize the NIA, turning around to violate its own recommendations, by picking one of them to contemptuously assume duty as head of the NIA.
16. It is very clear from the onset that the Presidential Review panel (PRP) led by Ambassador Babagana KINGIBE, was inaugurated purposely to defend Ambassador Ayo Oke, who had often threatened to spill the beans when the chips are down, as he will not sink alone. Oke had severally threatened to expose the beneficiaries of his largesse if they allowed him to be disgraced. The other obvious motive was to ensure that the remaining $44 million, of the NIA intervention fund is kept within the reach of the cabal. The failure of the immediate past Acting DG, Muhammed Dauda to allow them access to the money may be the under pinning reason for his removal
17. Be that as it may, we implore this honorable committee to demand from the Kingibe led panel a copy of their own report and that of the Vice President and probe if there is any substantial divergence.
18. As the conscience of our democratic quest, we request you to look passionately into the issues raised and those observations from other quarters where you can see that, merit, fairness, justice, equity and competence have been sacrificed on a [platter of selfish personal quest by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and his associates.
19. Before we round up, permit us to disclose to you that, the Clandestine Operations Unit of the NIA, has been ordered to manufacture and clone documents that could be used to defend Abubakar Rufai Ahmed, who from all indication is facing legitimacy crisis.
20. As we draw to a close, we wish to urge this honorable committee to in the interest of national unity, federal character as enshrined in the constitution, fairness, justice or even common sense to Prevail on the President to drop Ahmed Rufai ABUBAKAR as the Director General of the NIA in the face of the obvious odds against his appointment. Coupled with the fact that it is an aberration to thrust the headship of Nigeria’s most sensitive security and intelligence organizations in the hands of people from the same ethnic stock, state and even town. In a country of over 200 million people, we feel it was not only highly contemptuous but dangerous. As Professor Itsey Sagay said, we are indeed uncomfortable with this appoint.
21. While thanking you for the attention, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.
E O OLAREWAJU NELSON OBIAKOR AHMED SARKI
For and on behalf of Concerned Directors of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC), Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has joined Nigerians in celebrating Former Governor Jonah Jang, fondly called Baba Jang, as he clocks 82 years.
In a glowing tribute, Dogara described Baba Jang as a visionary leader whose life and service remain a beacon of hope for generations. He noted that Jang’s tenure as Governor of Plateau State was marked by courage, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to peace, unity, and development.
“Baba Jang’s life is a testimony of service and sacrifice. He invested in infrastructure, strengthened institutions, and worked tirelessly to foster unity in Plateau State. His leadership was never about personal gain but about building lasting foundations for progress,” Dogara said.
He further emphasized that Jang’s integrity, resilience, and mentorship have shaped leaders across Nigeria, adding that his legacy continues to inspire beyond the boundaries of Plateau State.
“As he celebrates 82 years, we honor him not just for the offices he has held, but for the enduring impact he has made on countless lives. Baba Jang remains a statesman, a father figure, and a model of quality leadership,” Dogara added.
The tribute underscores Baba Jang’s enduring influence in Nigerian politics and governance, highlighting his role as a leader whose footprints on the sands of time cannot be erased.
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), maritime experts and policy advocates has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s maritime boundary management and the allocation of offshore oil wells, calling for urgent intervention by the Federal Government.
The concerns were presented on Thursday in Abuja during a civil society roundtable where the coalition leader, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, addressed stakeholders and unveiled the communiqué issued after a recent verification mission to Nigeria’s offshore maritime corridor bordering Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
The communiqué followed a technical fact-finding and verification exercise conducted at sea on February 28, 2026, focusing on Nigeria’s offshore hydrocarbon blocks OML 114, OML 115 and OML 123 as well as the maritime boundary areas involving Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
Dr. Nwambu explained that the mission involved maritime governance stakeholders, mapping professionals and public policy experts who undertook physical observation of the maritime corridor, technical mapping verification and consultations with relevant authorities.
According to the coalition, the mission sought to independently verify the status of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries, offshore hydrocarbon entitlements and the implications of administrative and regulatory decisions affecting the Cross River maritime corridor.
ICJ Judgment Clarified
Presenting the findings, the coalition noted that the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) between Nigeria and Cameroon ceded only specific settlements in the southern Bakassi Peninsula — Atabong, Akwabana and Archibong Town — to Cameroon.
The coalition stressed that several areas often assumed to have been ceded were not included in the ruling.
“The Cross River Estuary and the western Bakassi peninsular islands of Dayspring I and II, Abana and Kwa Island were not ceded under the ICJ judgment,” the communiqué stated.
The group further emphasized that Nigeria still maintains maritime boundary continuity between the Cross River Estuary and the Akwayefe River Estuary based on the ICJ cartographic evidence and the physical geography of the region.
Dr. Nwambu also clarified that the Cross River Estuary remains Nigeria’s natural maritime gateway to the Atlantic Ocean and provides Cross River State with direct offshore access.
Questions Over Boundary Management
A major concern raised by the coalition relates to the actions of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) in implementing the Offshore/Onshore Dichotomy Abrogation Act using what it described as a temporary implementation map.
According to the communiqué, the baseline drawn from Tom Shot into the Cross River Estuary effectively closed the estuary’s mouth to the sea, thereby rendering Cross River State non-littoral.
The coalition warned that this development raises serious constitutional, economic and national security concerns.
It further criticized the NBC for failing to demarcate the Nigeria–Cameroon maritime boundary more than two decades after the ICJ ruling, stating that continued reliance on the temporary map could jeopardize Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
The report also alleged that the situation has effectively resulted in the ceding of about 780 hectares of maritime waters within the Cross River Estuary toward the Akwayefe River Estuary to Cameroon.
Oil Wells and Revenue Concerns
Beyond boundary issues, the civil society coalition raised alarm over oil revenue allocation and the management of transboundary oil fields.
According to the findings, the failure of relevant institutions to brief the President on key inter-agency reports could prevent Nigeria from exploiting 49 identified transboundary oil wells located within OML 114 in the Cross River Estuary.
The coalition also raised concerns over alleged financial irregularities relating to the Ekanga and Zafiro transboundary oil fields jointly developed by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
It alleged that more than ₦33 billion may have been approved from the Federation Account in favour of Akwa Ibom State without clear presidential authorization.
The group further questioned whether revenues from the Ekanga and Zafiro fields — estimated at over $8 billion — had been properly remitted into the Federation Account.
Call for Presidential Intervention
To address the concerns, the coalition recommended several urgent measures, including a presidential review of the 2024 and 2025 inter-agency oil verification reports affecting Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
It also called for the proper demarcation of the Nigeria–Cameroon maritime boundary in line with the ICJ judgment and the establishment of a Presidential Special Investigation Panel to probe the alleged loss of Nigerian maritime waters.
Other recommendations include a forensic audit of revenues from the Ekanga and Zafiro oil fields, investigation into the alleged ₦33 billion payment approvals, and diplomatic engagement with Cameroon to develop transboundary reservoir agreements.
The coalition also urged the Federal Government to restore and recognize Cross River State’s littoral status based on the geographic and legal status of the Cross River Estuary.
National Security Implications
In its concluding remarks, the coalition warned that the issues uncovered during the verification mission have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s territorial integrity, maritime sovereignty, national security and oil revenue accountability.
Dr. Nwambu called on the President to treat the matter with urgency, stressing that transparent management of maritime boundaries and offshore resources remains critical to Nigeria’s economic stability and geopolitical standing.
The communiqué was jointly signed by representatives of the coalition of civil society organizations, maritime policy experts, technical observers and economic governance accountability groups.
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Nigerian Youth Storm National Assembly Demands Access to Present Dishonourable Award to Senator
Nigerian Youth under the leadership of Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly to present Senator Olajide Ipinsagba with the Most Dishonourable Senator of the year award.
EUYI previously threatened to present the Senator with the award, citing a plethora infractions and unwholesome dealings especially with his legislative aids and associates.
The group urged the Senate President to grant them access to the hallowed chambers to make the presentation as wake up call to other public servants.
Addressing the press at the National Assembly complex, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince disclosed that they had gathered as early as 7 am at the National Assembly gate only to discover that the Senate is not sitting and that the embattled Senator was absent despite prior information.
“We’re angry that Senator Olajide Ipinsagba has refused to show up and collect his award for his dishonourable conduct especially as it pertains the exploitation and underemployment of Nigeria youth under his office
“How can a Senator be paying his legislative aid 30,000 naira when the national minimum wage is 70,000 Naira? Is he the only one that needs money? Is it not wickedness to treat unemployed Nigerian youth like that?”, he queried.
The group vowed to go ahead and present the award to the Senator in person, be it in the Senate Chambers or his house. We shall however not give the award to anybody but the senator due to the “seriousness of his offense”
Dogara Celebrates Baba Jang at 82, Hails Him as a Visionary Statesman
I’ ll contest for Nasarawa Governor in 2027, says Ombugadu
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