₦airaland Forum

While, on the other hand, for over two decades and counting, you have been siphoning and milking the entire commonwealth of Lagosians through a blueprint conduit pipe that connects the coffers of the Lagos State Treasury to your personal pocket.

MrBadNews:
Reno omokri the confused man, Peter obi fit the guy very well, treating Reno like a nobody

Of course, Reno Omokri is a no body

Burob:
Bobloco after all your wailing, how far

What do you know about this bill

Reno Omokri is truly a rabble rouser

tnerro1:
Why will you even do a PDP zonal Congress in an APC controlled state self?

Wike is a mad man and a drunkard

GeneralPula:
That Osun sure for Apc well..

And they are bringing Oyetola, the failed former governor and currently a failed minister of Marine and Blue Economy

Wike took some of his friends to Calabar for a jamboree and then turned around to call it South-South PDP congress.

Is he still a member of the PDP?

Truly, Wike is a mad man, a drunkard getting drunk on a forty-year-old whiskey.

That's the kind of individual working for Tinubu and who sits on the Federal Executive Council, chaired by Tinubu. And you wonder why this regime is the worst in the history of this country.

Mad men

Thunder 🔥 Wike and Tinubu

louken:
Funny how you people see Peter Obi in every post and comment even when the post is talking about Atiku or Tinubu. Is this obsession or pure phobia

Peter Obi gives them nightmares

Shinjawestern:
Please I have no business with ipob cannibals

And you have a business with skull miners

Shinjawestern:
Obi..I pity u honestly.

Southsouth will never vote for u again .

Your Igbos brother wanted akpabio a son of Southsouth out ...

Anyway God bless the good people of Southsouth and southwest.

You are sounding incoherent, putting together unrelated events just to continue propagating your extreme tribal and ethnic bigotry.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt.

He equally slammed the President Bola Tinubu administration for spending N21bn on a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it a misplaced priority and conduit designed to embezzle public funds.

The ex-leader disclosed this in chapter six of his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’ where he painted the portrait and characters of chief executives at both the federal and state levels.

The book was one of the two new books unveiled to mark Obasanjo’s 88th birthday last week.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, had revealed that the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will cost N4.93bn per kilometre, stating that the contract was awarded on a counterpart-funding basis and not a Public-Private Partnership.

About N1.06tn has been released for the pilot phase, or six per cent of the project, which begins at Eko Atlantic and is expected to terminate at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

Many prominent Nigerians, including the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, have questioned the Federal Government’s decision to award the contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company without competitive bidding.

Chagoury is believed to be Tinubu’s long-time business partner and friend.

Assessing the two years of Tinubu in office, Obasanjo said it appears that the game of short-changing the over 230 million Nigerians would continue because “Everything is said to be transactional and the slogan is ‘It is my turn to chop.’’’

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, declined to react to Obasanjo’s criticism of his principal when contacted on Wednesday night.

The former President said the majority of those who have been opportune to hold leadership positions in the country as governors, presidents, ministers, commissioners even as local government chairmen are ill-prepared, satanic, self-centred and are all out to corruptly enrich themselves while the nation continues to wallow in abject poverty and condemnable underdevelopment.

Obasanjo said that many clamouring to be governors or lead the country in one form or the other are only interested in using their offices to enrich themselves and their cronies and then leave the country worse than they met it.

The former President pointed out that most office-seekers in the country would go as far as obtaining loans of billions of naira believing that paying back from the public funds after being elected won’t be a problem.

He stated, “How do you explain the situation of a chief executive, a governor, whose business was owing the banks billions of naira and millions of dollars before becoming a governor and within two years of becoming governor, without his company doing any business, he paid all that his businesses owed the banks.


“You are left to guess where the money came from. Having got away with that in the first term, he consigned to himself almost half of the state resources in the second term. He was a typical example of the goings-on at that level almost universally in the country with only a few exceptions.

“State resources are captured and appropriated to themselves with a pittance to staff and associates to close the mouths of those that could blow the whistle or raise alarm against them while in office and when they are out of office.’’

He further noted that “The ones that are criminally ridiculous are the chief executives that deceive, lie and try to cover up on the realities and truth of action and inaction on contract awards, agreements, treaties, borrowings and forward sales of national assets. Such chief executives are unfit for the job they find themselves in.

“Typical examples of waste, corruption and misplaced priority are the murky Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on which the President had turned deaf ears to protests and the new Vice-President’s official residence built at a cost of N21bn in the time of economic hardship to showcase the administration hitting the ground running and to show the importance of the office of the Vice-President. What small minds!”

To address some of the challenges facing the country, the former President said that there is a need to interrogate the Western liberal democracy being practised and see how it could be reviewed to reflect African peculiarities.

“If the West, from where the liberal democracy started should complain about it not working well for them, we should be wise enough at this stage to interrogate, carry out introspection, internal analysis and realise that Western liberal democracy is not working for us and is not delivering apart from the shortcomings of the operators.

“We should seek democracy within African history, culture, attributes and characteristics, one that will take necessary African factors into consideration. Until we can get a better word or description for it, let us call it Afrodemocracy.

“It is from Afrodemocracy that we will draw up an African people’s constitution for any African that chooses to go the way of Afrodemocracy, which will avoid most, to all, the faults we have found in Western liberal democracy,” he suggested.


https://punchng.com/lagos-calabar-highway-project-wasteful-corrupt-obasanjo/

Seun OAM4J Nlfpmod Mynd44

aswani:
8 solid years as governor of Lagos state, and unlike Peter Obi and Atiku, he is yet to appear in Pandora papers, an expose on corrupt politicians all over the world.

Not even just him, him and all his lieutenants that served alongside him in Lagos state and those that are branches of his political tree. None are in Pandora papers.

What drug, what certificate and what criminal state capture?

Peter Obi came third, bikonu rest small.

Ask Grok?

TheBillyonaire:
Why is Sim still a Governor ?

Why is it necessary not to impeach that boy?

Why is Wike still a minister of FCT?

Why is Tinubu allowing a notorious drunkard to sit at federal executive council meetings, fomenting trouble and causing a crisis in Rivers State?

What has Rivers State and its citizens benefited from Tinubu's government, if not crisis and chaos?

Tinubu is a notorious narcotics drug trafficker, certificate forger, buccaneering power grabber engaging in criminal state capture

stanluiz:
Wike want to put tribal crises in rivers state so that he will blame fubara for it and use it as an excuse to remove fubara via impeachment or through state of emergency.

He learn it from Roun people because they are good in that.

Wike is not just turning into a tribal and ethnic bigot; he has become one, embodying the trademark of Tinubu's Emilokan tribal and ethnic bigotry government that he is working for.

Fubara will not be impeached.

Wike is drunk and intoxicated from gulping forty-year-old whiskey

President Bola Tinubu presenting the 2025 budget proposal to members of the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 in Abuja. Photo Credit: Presidency

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu signed the N54.99 trillion 2025 budget penultimate Friday, calling it a “Budget of Restoration” to secure Nigeria’s future and rebuild prosperity. But for many Nigerians, the past 21 months have been a brutal economic test. Petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange liberalisation, and soaring electricity costs have instigated an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, forced business closures, and fuelled economic uncertainty.

While the government insists the economy is recovering, this budget remains expansionary—loaded with a massive deficit and heavy debt servicing. Still, increased allocations to security, agriculture, education, and health offer some hope despite inflation and naira volatility. The question remains: Will this budget truly work for the people?

At N54.99 trillion, the 2025 budget is double 2024’s N27.5 trillion. Capital expenditure gets a notable boost, rising to N23.4 trillion (42.6 per cent of total spending) from N7.72 trillion in 2024, signalling a push for infrastructure and economic investment.

However, debt servicing claims a staggering N14.32 trillion (26.1 per cent of the budget), while the fiscal deficit stands at N9.22 trillion, pegging the deficit-to-GDP ratio at 1.52 per cent.

Despite its record naira value, the budget shrinks in dollar terms—from $47.39 billion in 2023 to $36.7 billion in 2024 and now just $32.09 billion. Simply put, Nigeria has less money to spend than in previous years due to the naira’s depreciation.

The recurrent allocation of N14.2 trillion is a 20.34 per cent increase from 2024. This benefits public sector workers as it is expected to service the current national minimum wage of N70,000, which was approved in July. Although the wage is double the previous one at N30,000, hyperinflation tempers the increment.

With N6.11 trillion (11.1 per cent of the budget), security receives the highest allocation in Nigeria’s history. This reflects the urgent need to combat insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes that threaten lives, disrupt farming, and choke commerce.

For this spending to be effective, funds must be directed towards advanced surveillance technology, troop expansion, police reinforcement, and improved border security. If well implemented, these efforts could restore confidence, allowing displaced farmers to return to their fields, boosting food production, and easing inflationary pressures.

Agriculture employs 35 per cent of Nigerians and contributes 22 per cent to GDP, making it vital for food security. The budget allocates N3.6 trillion (6.55 per cent), a tenfold increase from 2024’s N362.6 billion. However, this still falls short of the 10 per cent commitment recommended by the Maputo Declaration for African countries.

While the increased funding could drive mechanisation, irrigation, and storage improvements, success depends on complementary investments in security, energy, and rural roads. Without these, productivity may stagnate, worsening food insecurity and driving up prices.

The government must fully explore opportunities in the livestock and fisheries sector, which have underperformed due to a lack of investments and adoption of modern practices.

The N5.99 trillion (10.8 per cent of the budget) earmarked for infrastructure is a step in the right direction, covering transportation, energy, and urban development.

However, it remains grossly inadequate. Most highways are dilapidated and worsen during the rainy season.

The World Bank says Nigeria needs an estimated $100 billion annually for the next 30 years to bridge its infrastructure gap, but the 2025 allocation is just $3.9 billion or 4.0 per cent of the requirement.

If well executed, infrastructure spending can lower transport costs, attract investment, and create jobs. However, past failures in project implementation and corruption raise concerns about whether Nigerians will see real benefits from these funds.

At N2.56 trillion, the health budget sees a 58.53 per cent increase from 2024. Yet, healthcare still receives just 5.15 per cent of total spending, which is far from adequate given Nigeria’s growing population and ongoing challenges.

For ordinary Nigerians, soaring private healthcare costs, lack of medical personnel, and inadequate facilities remain pressing concerns. Tinubu’s plan to subsidise kidney dialysis by 80 per cent in some government hospitals is commendable but insufficient.

More investment is needed in child and maternal care, vaccine production, and training for medical professionals to curb the brain drain. Without better working conditions, health workers will continue to leave, further straining an already broken system.

Education gets N3.5 trillion (6.36 per cent), yet Nigeria’s schooling crisis deepens. Out-of-school children have surged from 8.7 million in 2014 to a shocking 20 million in 2024. Federal tertiary institutions are underfunded, relying on alumni donations to maintain facilities. Only Ahmadu Bello University ranked among the world’s top 1,000 universities in 2025.

Tinubu’s plan to scrap TETFUND may further erode infrastructure funding. While the student loan scheme may improve access, quality education will remain expensive and elusive for many, jeopardising Nigeria’s ability to build a skilled workforce.

The budget allocates N723.68 billion for social welfare, targeting youth, women, and vulnerable Nigerians. However, past welfare programmes have been plagued by corruption and inefficiency. Without transparency and proper implementation, this allocation risks becoming another failed initiative.

If executed correctly, social programmes could help cushion the economic impact on struggling Nigerians. However, systemic failures in social protection leave millions without support, forcing them to navigate an economy with rising costs and limited job opportunities.

The government targets an inflation rate of 15 per cent for 2025, but this seems overly optimistic.

Inflation stood at 24 per cent in January, and despite a slight naira appreciation, prices remain high. Key inflation drivers—exchange rate volatility, subsidy removal, and global economic pressures—persist.

With Value Added Tax set to increase to 12.5 per cent by 2026, consumer spending may weaken further. The naira’s stability remains uncertain as it depends on oil prices, foreign investment, and government monetary policies. While a stronger naira could ease inflation, Nigeria’s external vulnerabilities remain a risk.

Nigeria’s economy has grown at an average of 3.0 per cent over the past three years, barely keeping pace with population growth. Economist Bismarck Rewane projects a best-case scenario of 6.0 per cent GDP growth in 2025, but this hinges on coordinated efforts between the government, the central bank, and the private sector.

The official unemployment rate stands at 4.3 per cent, but only 15 per cent of the workforce holds formal sector jobs.

About 93 per cent work in the informal economy, often in low-income, insecure jobs without social protection. Without a clear strategy to support manufacturers and SMEs, job creation will remain sluggish, deepening poverty.

While the 2025 budget aims to restore economic stability, its success depends on execution. Increased investments in security, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure are promising, but challenges such as high inflation, a weakened naira, and a struggling labour market continue to linger.

With inflationary pressures expected to ease slightly due to improved local refining, oil production and agricultural output, Nigerians may see some relief.

However, without decisive action to attract foreign investment, manage deficits, and cut wasteful spending, the budget may fall short of delivering real progress.

For millions of struggling Nigerians, the true test of this budget will not be in its numbers but in its impact on daily life defined by stable prices, job opportunities, and a sense of economic security. Anything less will make 2025 another tough year


https://punchng.com/2025-budget-whats-in-it-for-nigerians/

AfonjaFula:
Wike is turning this into tribal politics, after ijaw have help him to power.
Well Governor Fubara is Ijaw son and he is Governor. So what?

Wike is not just turning into a tribal and ethnic bigot; he has become one, embodying the trademark of Tinubu's Emilokan tribal and ethnic bigotry government that he is working for.

Wickedlywicked:
I wonder how people like you have been able to make it this far into adulthood because I used to think stupidity kills😂.
Let’s even assume you’re an elementary school kid and that you weren’t born yet when those events happened, at least, the writer explicitly explained how the SDP-AD-ACN-APC transmutation happened but you still chose to be fuuuuliwsh. Ehn Chinedu?
When Awo was busy fighting for free education in the West, your father, Azikiwe was busy competing for power with him.
Also, another very important thing you must have noticed (the one I wish every ibo person should work on) is the fact that the agbados are not worshiping Reno because we know the kind of dishonorable man he is but imagine the tables were turned and he was against PBAT, our highly gullible brothers from the East would be singing his praises everyday—-that’s just how dead easy it is to control the ibos. You can easily use their empty heads just the same way El Rufia, Fubara, Odili (them don put this one for trouble already😂) and Natasha are doing presently
I never knew a day like this would come when the same short demon of Kaduna would later become the messiah of the ibos 😂 The same man we all called a midget o for killing southern kaduna people

You are irredeemable

DeLaRue:
So the President puts a call to the Chief Justice and dictated the case outcome to her abi.

People just don't understand that a Nigerian President simply don't have the time for a lot of petty things.

It is also interesting that Nigerians will call for a fight against corruption, as long as it doesn't involve someone from their region or party.

Anything is possible, especially when Wike, who built duplexes for judges, is an interested party.

Rule of law

Tinubu is a mad man

Tinubuagbado:
WIKE is nothing but a political gangster

And a notorious drunkard getting drunk on a forty-year-old whiskey.