Federal Government open to negotiating release of Nnamdi Kanu, but warns against political bargaining — Minister Umahi

The Federal Government has signaled willingness to negotiate the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), but warned that his freedom must not be made a political bargaining chip, according to Senator Dave Umahi, Minister of Works.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on July 4, 2025, Umahi dismissed reports suggesting that the South-East region had made Kanu's release a precondition for backing President Bola Tinubu’s government.

“We are willing to negotiate his release, but no one should make it a condition because the President did not put him there,” Umahi stated.

Describing Tinubu as a "listening leader", Umahi expressed confidence that Kanu’s release would be achieved through "divine grace and dialogue", rather than through sectarian or political pressure.

He added that the move reflected the broader intention of the administration to prioritize national unity while avoiding “political distractions”.

Despite Umahi's assurances, calls for Kanu’s release have intensified from South‑East leaders. Most recently, a delegation of 15 senators and 43 House members from the region urged President Tinubu to release Kanu on condition that it would restore peace and revive economic activity in the region.

Regional bodies such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo have also renewed their appeals, describing Kanu’s ongoing detention as “a moral burden on the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system”