President Bola Tinubu has shared how he worked to pay for his university education in the United States, saying the experience shaped his government's education policies.

What he said

In a post on his official X account on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, the President said that when he arrived in the US as a young man, he drove a taxi to earn money for his education, and even had to postpone starting school for several months to save enough. He said he did several other jobs while studying.

The policy link

Tinubu connected his personal story to his administration's education programmes, pointing to the student loan scheme, investment in medical schools and increased enrolment in nursing training as evidence of efforts to widen access to education.

Background

The President studied accounting at Chicago State University, graduating in 1979. On Tuesday, Education Minister Tunji Alausa said Tinubu graduated with a first class and described him as a genius, urging Nigerians to ignore opposition questions about his academic record. The Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the President's 2023 election, including claims about his certificates. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, set up in 2024, provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions.

How people reacted

Supporters said the story showed the President understood the struggles of young Nigerians, while critics said many students still face high fees and limited opportunities despite the loan scheme.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has sparked reactions after saying that politicians are struggling to find private jets to hire as campaigning for the 2027 elections gathers pace.

What he said

Speaking during a Senate debate on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Akpabio reportedly said there were not enough private jets available for hire, and linked the problem to the failure of domestic airlines to keep up with rising demand for air travel. He pointed to the December festive season as a time when the country's aviation capacity is badly stretched, and urged the federal government to take urgent steps to address the problems facing local airlines.

The debate

The comments came during debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno of Borno North, which urged the government to renegotiate the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and China so that Nigerian airlines can fly directly to China.

How people reacted

Many social media users criticised the remark, saying it showed how far some politicians are from the everyday struggles of Nigerians facing high costs of food and transport. Others said Akpabio was making a broader point about the poor state of domestic aviation, which often leaves ordinary passengers stranded by delays and cancellations.

Background

Nigeria's domestic airlines have long faced problems including ageing fleets, high fuel costs, foreign exchange shortages and frequent flight disruptions. The government has promised reforms to strengthen the sector. Akpabio has been Senate President since 2023 and is a leading member of the APC.

The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of four men who had been accused of belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Who they are

The four men, Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry, were arrested in May 2022 in the Sampou and Akeddei communities of Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State. That means they spent about four and a half years in custody before their release.

₦5 million each

After they were cleared of the allegations, the DG approved an initial compensation package of ₦20 million, with each man receiving ₦5 million. The men are also expected to receive psychological and medical support and help returning to normal life.

Security sources said investigations showed the men had been lured by people claiming to be IPOB members, who promised them ₦100,000 a month under the Federal Government's Amnesty Programme.

"Where we admit our mistakes, we offer compensation, and seek ways to improve operations in tandem with the rule of law," Ajayi said. One of the freed men, Emele Uduma Ibe, described the day as the happiest of his life.

Not the first time

This is not the first such case under Ajayi. After he took office in 2024, he ordered a review of more than 300 inherited terrorism cases. Others who have since been compensated include a Jos businessman shot in error by DSS personnel, who received ₦20 million, and several people cleared of IPOB ties who received between ₦5 million and ₦10 million.

Can money repair the damage?

For anyone who has spent years in detention over an allegation they did not commit, freedom alone may not be enough to repair the damage. There is the emotional suffering, the disruption of family life, the loss of income and the stigma that often follows such accusations.

The ₦5 million payment may provide some financial relief, but it cannot replace the time lost.

Still, the decision sends an important message about accountability within Nigeria's security system. Security agencies have a duty to investigate threats to national security and protect citizens, but that duty must be carried out within the law and with respect for the rights of people who have not been convicted of any offence.

Many Nigerians will be watching to see whether similar attention is given to other people who may have been wrongly accused or detained, especially given the controversies around IPOB-linked arrests in the South-East and South-South.

The bigger question remains: if someone is arrested, detained and later cleared of wrongdoing, should compensation automatically follow? What do you think about the DSS Director-General's decision?

Nigeria's political arguments have taken another interesting turn after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, questioned why former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi should be considered politically superior to other prominent leaders in the country.

What Umahi said

In remarks attributed to him, Umahi reportedly asked a direct question: "Who is Peter Obi better than? Is he better than me? Is he better than Anyim Pius Anyim?"

The comments have brought an old political argument back into focus, particularly in the South-East, where debates about leadership, political experience and who deserves national support continue to divide opinion.

The three men

Umahi is a former governor of Ebonyi State and now serves as Minister of Works. Anyim Pius Anyim is a former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Both have held important positions in Nigeria.

Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State who contested for president under the Labour Party in 2023 and is now a member of the NDC, has built a strong following, particularly among young Nigerians who see him as an alternative to the traditional political establishment.

What makes one politician better than another?

Umahi's reported remarks raise a fair question. Is it the number of offices someone has held? The projects completed while in government? Or should Nigerians judge leaders by their integrity, performance, accountability and ability to improve ordinary people's lives?

All three men have political records that Nigerians can examine, and perhaps that is where the real argument should begin.

Rather than letting politicians decide who is superior through public arguments, Nigerians should be the ones examining their achievements and deciding who deserves their confidence.

Over to you

Between Peter Obi, David Umahi and Pius Anyim, who has shown the kind of leadership Nigeria needs today? Share your thoughts on their records, achievements and political contributions.