₦airaland Forum

An Ibom Air passenger who was recently released from custody, Comfort Emmanson, has taken to social media to thank her supporters and describe her post-release condition.

In a statement posted on her Instagram page on Wednesday, Emmanson (#soft_commy), said she is still “in pains due to how I was treated” and requires medical attention before she can share her full account of the incident.

She also maintained that she needed some rest and medical treatment before she could give out her side of the story.

The statement comes after a widely publicised dispute between Emmanson and the airline, which reportedly led to her arrest and detention.

While details of the original altercation remain a subject of debate, the passenger’s latest post focuses on the physical and emotional toll of her time in custody.

The full statement from her Instagram page reads, “Thank you so much for the prayers, love and support. I’ve been released from the prison, but I’m still in pains due to how I was treated.

“I just need some rest and medical treatment before I give out my own version of the event. Thank you so much, my lovely friends and supporters. I really appreciate y’all from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all. Thank you, my great God!!!”

The airline has not yet issued a public response to Emmanson’s latest post, but earlier statements from Ibom Air confirmed a customer service incident had taken place and was being handled internally.

The airline’s management has previously maintained that the well-being of all passengers and staff is a top priority.

Emmanson’s post has garnered thousands of likes and comments, with supporters offering words of encouragement and demanding an official investigation into her treatment while in custody. The public now awaits her full account of the events that led to the dispute and her subsequent arrest.

by Claire Mom


https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Emmanuel-Ehioma--768x522.jpeg
Reverend Father Emmanuel Ehioma

Emmanuel Ehioma, a Catholic priest, has asked repeated viewers of the now-viral Ibom Air passenger footage to head for confession.

Ehioma warned that rewatching the footage crosses a moral line.

On Sunday, videos shared on X showed Comfort Emmanson, a passenger, hitting a flight attendant on an Ibom Air plane and confronting airport security officials.

Ibom Air imposed a travel restriction on the passenger for her conduct.

In the initial videos shared, Emmanson’s shirt was noticeably torn amid the kerfuffle.

Afterwards, more videos surfaced showing the passenger being forcefully dragged off the aircraft, with her clothes torn and her breasts fully exposed as she made to conceal them.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) called for the prosecution of those who captured and published the “unedited” video of the passenger.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Ehioma acknowledged that viewers of the video did not sin initially because they did not expect what was coming.

“But if you went back to watch it again, you have to go for confession,” he said.

“This post doesn’t need to make you feel good,” he added, equating watching the video to viewing adult videos and obscene pictures.

“The second, third, fourth and other times you went back to watch that video were because of your hunger to see her nude and feel good about it, just the same way you act towards porns,” the reverend father said.

“It is really regrettable to see husbands, fathers and even wives and mothers, describing a lady’s breasts. It felt so terrible.

“Kindly meet your Priest and confess to the Lord.”

The NBA said it would provide Emmanson with pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations suffered.

By Magaji Hunkuyi

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has turned to faith in addressing the prolonged absence of his deputy, Alhaji Aminu Alkali, declaring in a statewide broadcast that “this is not a political matter but a human one” and urging residents to “lift him in prayers” for a quick recovery.

Speaking publicly on the issue for the first time on Monday, Kefas acknowledged growing concern over the fact that the state has been without an active deputy governor for several months.

“I understand the concerns and questions, and I want to speak to you directly—not just as your governor, but as a fellow human being guided by faith, morality, and conscience,” he said.

Drawing from his military background, the governor recalled the spirit of esprit de corps—standing together in service without regard to religion, ethnicity, or background. He urged residents to pray for Alkali, who fell ill while on official duty.

Quoting from both Christian and Islamic scripture, Kefas appealed for unity: “In the Bible, Galatians 6:2 teaches us to ‘bear one another’s burdens.’ In the Qur’an, Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:32) reminds us that ‘whoever saves one life, it is as though he has saved all mankind.’”

While noting that the constitution outlines the proper legal process, he said laws alone were insufficient without morality and conscience.

“Now, in his moment of need, it is our turn to stand by him. Let us lift him in prayer, support his family, and show that in Taraba State, leadership is about humanity before politics. I have no hidden agenda in the way we are handling this matter. If the need arises to act according to the constitution regarding his position, I will not hesitate to do so in the right way. For now, our duty is clear—to care, to support, and to let compassion lead us,” Kefas stated.


Lawyer warns against setting dangerous precedent

Reacting to the governor’s remarks, Jalingo-based human rights lawyer Barrister Bilyaminu Maihanci cautioned that while compassion was vital, governance must still operate within the law.

“This is not about replacing the deputy governor out of malice; it is about ensuring the machinery of governance functions within the law,” he said.

Maihanci warned that leaving the state without a functioning deputy and taking no formal action could undermine constitutional democracy.

“We therefore call on the governor, the State Executive Council, and the House of Assembly to act now in line with Sections 189 and 191 of the Constitution. The conscience of leaders should align with the constitution, not stand in place of it,” he added.

by Jesupemi Are


Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm over a new tactic by some politicians to evade anti-graft scrutiny by declaring assets they do not yet own before assuming office.

Speaking at the launch of the virtual tool on the code of conduct for public officers in Abuja on Tuesday, Olukoye described the practice as “anticipatory looting” of government funds by public office holders.

According to Daily Trust, the event was organised by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in collaboration with the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR).

The EFCC chairman said investigations have revealed cases where politicians falsify their asset declaration forms by listing properties they intend to acquire while in office.

“There was an investigation we carried out, and we discovered something not too strange, but it proves the ingenuity and the criminally smart way that some of our politically exposed persons carried out some of the nefarious activities we investigated them for,” he said.

He recounted a case where a public officer declared ownership of a multi-billion-naira property before it was built.

“There was a matter we investigated. I told my guys, ‘Just get the CCB form and look at it.” There’s something I’m not comfortable with in this report,” Olukoyede said.

“So, they got the CCB form. We looked at it. We discovered one of the very big properties valued well over N3 billion the person declared in the CCB form.

“We saw that the address that was in the CCB form was different from the one that the person put down, from the particular address where that particular property was located. So, I felt something was amiss.”

The EFCC chairman said further checks showed that the individual had listed a property at No. 39 while the actual mansion was at No. 44.

“So, while we were asking questions, eventually, we discovered what we call anticipatory declaration of assets. And that is the smart way that some of these leaders have resorted to now,” he said.

“Now, they declare what they intend to acquire by the time they are in the office before they are sworn in to the office. It is terrible. We saw that, and we felt, “No, this is pretty bad.”

Olukoyede added that the politician had even registered the property in the land registry before owning it and had designed the mansion he planned to build there.

“Before he was sworn in, he had started thinking about the money to steal and what to do with the money,” he said.

By Nafisat Abdulrahman


The federal government has ordered a fresh verification of thousands of federal civil servants recruited between 2013 and 2020, following mounting allegations of job racketeering and the sale of employment slots to desperate Nigerians.

The directive, contained in an August 4, 2025 circular signed by Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), warned that any worker who fails to appear for the exercise will be presumed to possess a fake appointment letter and face immediate removal.

The re-verification targets officers who failed to participate in the 2021 verification exercise. “No further extension will be granted,” the circular stated, accusing some civil servants of “deliberately staying away to avoid detection.”

The move followed revelations by whistleblower Martins Oghenerhoro Richard Atijegbe, a staff member in the Ministry of Works’ Human Resource Management Department, who alleged that senior ministry officials had been selling federal jobs for up to N2.5 million.

“My petition to both chambers of the National Assembly has to do with employment racketeering involving the Minister of Works,” Martins said.

According to him, ministry directors “would collect the sum of N2.5 million from people, sell a job to them, and within a month, they would issue fake documents and enrol them into IPPIS.”

Martins claimed that his decision to expose the alleged fraud has made him a target. “I discovered it and made it public, and I am being persecuted for doing so. I am on the verge of losing my job,” he said.

His petition, filed by lawyer Liberty Semper Fidelis, accuses the Ministry of Works of fraud, abuse of power, conspiracy, and attempts to cover up the scandal. The ministry has dismissed the allegations as “incredibly fictitious.”

On Monday, Martins said the new verification order was directly linked to his petition. “Due to my petition, the Federal Civil Service Commission is verifying all appointment letters made from 2013 to 2020, to ascertain the level of fake letters in the system,” he said.

According to the FCSC circular, affected officers must check their names on the Commission’s website (www.fedcivilservice.gov.ng), the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation’s website (www.ohcsf.gov.ng), and notice boards of their ministries.

They are required to present original and photocopies of key documents, including their letters of appointment, regularisation, promotion, gazette confirmation, and July 2025 IPPIS payslip.

The re-verification exercise will run from Monday, August 18 to Thursday, August 28, 2025, covering ministries and agencies such as Agriculture, Defence, Education, Justice, Works, Information, Science and Technology, Aviation, Finance, Interior, and the State House.

The Commission’s circular emphasised that, Officers on posting, secondment, transfer, or study leave must still appear, those who have recently completed the exercise need not appear again, and any officer who fails to show up will be deemed to have presented a fake appointment letter.

“No further extension will be granted any officer who fails to turn up for the exercise,” the statement warned.

by Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman

The management of Ibom Air on Monday said the airline did not release the widely circulated video showing a passenger stripped naked while being dragged off an aeroplane.

The Group Manager, Marketing and Communications at Ibom Air, Aniekan Essienette, made this known in response to the controversy that has gripped social media over the incident.

In an interview with TVC News on Monday, Ms Essienette said while the video was recorded onboard the plane, it was neither filmed nor shared by Ibom Air staff.

“The video was recorded on the plane, but there were several people on board who were not Ibom Air employees. Anyone could have taken it,” she said.

“I can tell you categorically that Ibom Air did not release the video. We do not condone such indecent exposure, and it is unfortunate that the video has gone viral.”

The incident took place on 10 August after the passenger allegedly refused to switch off her electronic device in defiance of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) safety regulations mandating total device shutdown during flight.

The Ibom Air official said the pilot-in-command was compelled to call security after the passenger resisted disembarking, which led to the crew restraining her to ensure a safe removal.

“Our crew had to restrain her to ensure security could escort her off the plane,” she explained.

The intervention came amid a rising wave of public outrage over the incident, which has sparked debate about passenger rights, airline conduct, and aviation security in Nigeria.

The video’s widespread circulation has drawn condemnation from many Nigerians, who described the passenger’s treatment as humiliating and degrading.

Despite the backlash, Ms Essienette defended the airline’s position, underscoring Ibom Air’s commitment to customer service and safety.

“Ibom Air values our customers and prides itself on reliability and excellent service. We remain committed to these principles,” she said.

She urged passengers to respect aviation regulations, emphasising that “most people obey the rule to switch off devices. The airline environment is controlled, and safety must come first.”

However, Ibom Air has yet to confirm if it will investigate the source of the video leak or take disciplinary action against those responsible

By Princess Etuk


The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the release of a video showing the indecent exposure of an unruly passenger during an Ibom Airline incident, describing it as “totally unacceptable” and ordering sanctions against the staff responsible.

The passenger, identified as Miss Comfort Emmanson, also known as Comfort Bob, allegedly assaulted both flight crew and ground staff during an Ibom Airline flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025.

In a statement on his official X account on Monday, Keyamo said while the filming of her behaviour was necessary for prosecution, the public release of the indecent content was deplorable.

Keyamo said, “Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her.

“That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood.

“I have therefore directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.”

The minister also directed airlines to train and retrain their staff in public relations and handling of volatile situations, adding that a joint security meeting between relevant agencies would be held next week for better coordination of aviation security.

Ibom Air passenger’s arrest sparks debate over crew’s conduct, public decorum
He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:54 p.m. on Ibom Airline Flight Q153 from Uyo to Lagos after the passenger refused to switch off her phone during takeoff, in violation of International Civil Aviation Regulations.

According to him, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has imposed an indefinite ban on the passenger, covering both local and international flights.

“Consequently, in the last few hours, I have been speaking with the Commissioner of Police of the Airport Police Command, the DG of the NCAA and his team, the MD of FAAN and her team, the COO of Ibom Air and his team about the incident,” he said.

She was arraigned on Monday before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, where she was remanded at Kirikiri Prison for failing to provide sureties.

Keyamo urged passengers with grievances to use the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Directorate rather than resort to disruptive behaviour, warning that erring passengers would face flight bans and possible criminal prosecution.

“We will continue to apply equal sanctions available to us in Aviation on any such erring passengers, that is lengthy flight bans and report the matters to other law enforcement agencies to do their bit within their powers,” the statement concluded.

By Andrew Agbese (Abuja) & Ibrahim Musa Giginyu (Kano)


It is now more than a month after former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, “resigned” as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but the dust over the manner by which he left office has not settled with many wondering how he “fell out” with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other power brokers in the party.

Also, following his resignation, many thought that he would be offered another position of similar weight or something close to that, but that has not happened.

Recall that in January 2025, President Tinubu appointed Ganduje as the chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), but was only inaugurated in July, a few days after he seized to be the national chairman of the ruling party.

There were insinuations in some quarters that after his exit as chairman of the APC, and despite the claim that he wanted to go and attend to his health, Ganduje would swap position with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume but that did not materialise.

Even though some sources close to Ganduje in separate interviews with the Weekend Trust insisted that he left the coveted seat on his own volition, other sources said he was forced out of the equation in order to negotiate with the leaders of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), notably the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the governor, Abba Yusuf, to join the APC due to the cult followership the latter enjoys in Kano State and the relationship between him and President Tinubu which started since both were governors between 1999 and 2003.

Our correspondent was reliably informed that the plan could not pull through as APC stakeholders in Kano are not forthcoming in working with the NNPP leaders due to past experiences.

Sources said the case of Kano is different from that of other states because once the NNPP stalwarts are allowed into the party, most of the current APC leaders in the state would abandon the party due to the irreconcilable differences between them and the NNPP leaders.

“Many of them can’t possibly work together and that is the dilemma the party has found itself in because once you give opportunity to Kwankwaso and his group to migrate to the APC, the likes of Ganduje and others would either remain placid or move out of the party because they can’t work together,” one of the source said.

The situation, another source indicate, has made it difficult to complement the initial plan of wooing the NNPP leaders in a bid to win Kano in the 2027 elections as it can neither move ahead with the plan or go back since a new national chairman from the North Central has been appointed.

When Ganduje resigned on June 27, he stated that it was on grounds of ill health but few days after that, he was seen at the inauguration of the board of FAAN and shortly after, he visited the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s family in London.

Observers noted that seeing that he appeared strong enough on the two occasions, it was obvious that health condition did not prevent him from moving about, hence insinuations that his resignation had little or nothing to do with ill health.

It is believed that Ganduje vacated the position of national chairman of the APC for three reasons;

The first reason, according to sources, was that he was asked to step aside with a promise for a bigger position in order to pave way for Kwankwaso to join the party.

Secondly, there are allegations that he had fallen out with the presidency and was asked to go and thirdly, that it was to placate the North Central region which agitation for retention of the seat after the exit of Abdullahi Adamu became a heated issue.

More than one month after the former chairman left the position, however, Ganduje has neither been compensated with a bigger position nor has Kwankwaso joined the APC.


Truce with Kwankwaso

Weekend Trust learnt from a very reliable source close to the former national chairman that his travail began when on assuming office, he was told point-blank to go and reconcile with his former boss and political ally, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The source said this was a very had pill for Ganduje to swallow as he had not only parted ways with Kwankwaso, but had also drawn the battle line with him.

He was, however, said to have managed that situation, even though he was not happy about it thinking that he would be able to win the president over in due course.

“It was a tough moment for him when they said he should go and reconcile with Kwankwaso and thought that the pressure will fizzle out with time.

“But the call on him to act quickly persisted from the powers that be. Unfortunately, Ganduje was a bit reluctant in his approach to the matter which also sounded somehow to the Kwankwaso camp,” the source said.

He also cited the manner in which Ganduje spoke during a certain occasion on the rumoured return of Kwankwaso and went ahead to quote what the former chairman said.

The source said, “Let me take you back to when Dr Ganduje received in audience, the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, at the APC national headquarters in Abuja. The then chairman said: ‘The APC is deepening and widening democracy in the country. Kwankwaso is a fish out of water, trying to find its way back into the waters. We cannot say we can’t accommodate him, because a friend in need is a friend indeed. We don’t want to leave him completely abandoned. We can still have him in, if he wants to join us. When you see your son running to where he would get shelter and you are a big brother in a big home, I think it is morally right to accommodate him. So, we cannot say we cannot accommodate him,”’ the source recalled, alleging that the words do not sound reconciliatory.

Another source said that even though Ganduje did very well as chairman by getting more members including governors into the party, the earlier thinking of the president about having Kwankwaso was not forgotten.

The last straw, Weekend Trust gathered was his inability to balance the chairmanship tickets of the party in the six area council of the FCT as requested by someone very close to the president on a 50-50 basis between the two major faiths in the country.

Unfortunately, the source said the choice of a lady for one of the tickets could not pull through, thereby altering the earlier instructions of having three each for the two faiths as against the 4-2 that emerged.

This was said to have angered the president’s close ally, who made the request and therefore persuaded Tinubu to ease him (Ganduje) off.

There are also indications that the presidency believes Kwankwaso controls the chunk of the votes in Kano and as such, a better option to work with in 2027, it was gathered.

There are observations that since the time he left the APC, Ganduje has not strayed close to the party or the presidency.

This has been interpreted as a confirmation that the former chairman did not voluntarily resign and maybe harbouring some grudges.

Party members who spoke with our correspondents in Kano on condition of anonymity said on three occasions that the former chairman was supposed to be in Kano to show his solidary to the president, the vice president and the APC, he was nowhere near the state.

“The excuse is that he travelled out of the country but the question you should ask yourself is whether Ganduje would have missed such opportunities were he to be in the position of national chairman no matter where he was,” the source said.

Ganduje’s aides and associates, however, do not see the situation in that light and have attributed his absence in the country to his resolve to rest after serving the party.

Chief of Staff to Ganduje, Malam Mohammed Garba, when contacted, said there is no problem between Ganduje and President Tinubu.

He said, “They remain bosom friends and have been in constant touch with the president who is the leader of the party. My principal was not removed as national chairman of the APC; he voluntarily resigned in the best interest of the party and to attend to some personal matters. He is currently in sound health and taking a well-deserved rest in London.

“Again, it is important to reiterate that he was not removed from office. His present stay outside the country is purely for rest, and no political party is in talks with him. Dr. Ganduje remains a committed member and leader of the APC, working tirelessly for the re-election of President Tinubu and to ensure the APC regains full control of Kano State.

“His associates are solidly working with him towards these goals, and together, they are focused on strengthening the party’s structures and ensuring electoral success at all levels.”

Another associate of Ganduje, Salihu Tanko Yakassai, explained that while Ganduje has remained loyal to the party, his associates are not happy with the way he was treated.

He said, “I’m a member of the APC, and I am aggrieved. So, if I feel that way, it’s safe to ask whether others do too.”

As the presidency keeps the blocs in Kano guessing, most of the leaders have decided to keep their fingers crossed until a concrete step is taken concerning the former national chairman.

Yakasai said: “The APC in Kano State remains strong and united. Dr. Ganduje, as the leader of the party in the state, will continue to bring his wealth of political experience to bear in ensuring the party’s victory in the 2027 elections.”

Since his exit, our correspondents learnt that though Ganduje has been trying to keep calm and has travelled outside the country to allow things simmer, it has not been easy for him to regain his composure.

Sources said that was why he did not rush back as he was wont to when the president and vice president visited Kano on condolence visits.

He was also not in hand to present the views of the government at the Kaduna summit, being the immediate past chairman of the ruling party.

The most glaring was during the stakeholders meeting held in Kano, where he was absent though some persons said he monitored the event via Skype.

But many are of the view that whatever decision is finally taken on the position of Ganduje would redefine the power configurations within the party.

At one end is the deputy president of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, who is already making efforts to increase his structure by wooing members of the NNPP to the APC. There are also speculations that Murtala Sule Garo, given his control structures at the grassroots, is bound to play a role in how things shape up for the party in Kano.

Analysts say if Ganduje remains within the party, it is not likely that Kwankwaso would be willing to join the APC given the no love lost relationship between them and if Kwankwaso finally joins the APC, there will be the battle of who should be the leader of the party in the state as the latter is not likely to take instructions from Ganduje given his position as his former boss.

By Chibuzo Ukaibe


Former presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan offered ex-Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, a slot of Coordinating Minister of the Economy, if he withdraws from the 2027 race to support him.

Kachikwu made the claim at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

He alleged that the Northern political interests have drafted the former president into the presidential race to weaken the South.

Kachikwu added that Obi was also told that he cannot get Northern votes because he is an Ibo man.

He said, “In order to weaken the South, they have now drafted in former President Jonathan into the race who is alleged to be offering Peter Obi the position of Coordinating Minister of the Economy for him to support his ambition.”

He accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a few northern elites of holding political power for decades without nothing to alleviate the illiteracy and poverty in the region.

The former presidential candidate accused the elites from northern Nigeria of using the “weapons of region, religion, tongue, tribe and poverty as they convince millions of poor Northerners that a southern President Tinubu hates them and is the cause of their poverty.”

He continued, “On a daily basis they are spreading deliberate falsehoods against not only President Tinubu but against all potential southern aspirants for the Office of President. A Peter Obi has been told in very clear terms that he will never get northern votes as an Ibo man and as such he should accept to be Atiku’s running mate.”

He called on all Nigerians “to resist former vice president Atiku and his co-travellers who don’t believe in an equitable Nigeria. We must all come to equity with clean hands and sincerity of purpose.

“We don’t burn our houses because we want to kill rats and cockroaches; sometimes we just need to make our houses clean so that rats and cockroaches leave on their own.

“My earnest prayer is that Nigeria will soon work for every one of us,” he said.

By Damilola Aina

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has resumed the sale of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, after a one-week suspension, with a revised ex-depot price of N850 per litre, up from the previous rate of N820.

This represents a 3.66 per cent or N30 increase in the ex-depot price, raising fresh concerns about potential hikes in pump prices across the country. The updated price, tracked via industry platform petroleumprice.ng, became effective Thursday as loading activities resumed at the 650,000-barrels-per-day facility located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos.

The PUNCH had last week reported a sudden halt in petrol sales at the multi-billion-dollar facility, a move that created uncertainty across the downstream market and triggered price volatility nationwide.

In a notice titled “Important Update on DPRP Collection Account for PMS”, Dangote refinery instructed marketers to halt all payments for PMS loading at its gantry, effectively freezing further allocations. “Please be advised that, effective immediately, all payments to the DPRP collection account for PMS gantry should be placed on hold,” the internal memo read. “Further updates will be communicated shortly.”

But resuming sales after a week-long pause, the refinery has increased its loading cost to N850, indicating a possible increase in pump price next week nationwide.

Although the refinery has not issued a public statement on the price increase, industry insiders attribute the move to fluctuations in global crude oil prices. Dangote Refinery reportedly imports around 50 per cent of its crude feedstock from the United States, leaving it vulnerable to international market dynamics.

Despite the hike in petrol price, the refinery has maintained its competitive edge in diesel sales, offering Automotive Gas Oil at N990 per litre to bulk buyers. This figure remains significantly lower than the N1,030 average seen across private depots in Lagos and other regions.

Checks by The PUNCH on Thursday confirmed that diesel continues to retail between N1,010 and N1,050 per litre at other private terminals, reinforcing Dangote’s pricing advantage in the diesel segment.

The refinery’s decision to resume loading operations has brought temporary relief to marketers, many of whom had feared a prolonged disruption. However, some operators remain on edge, citing the unpredictability of crude pricing and a lack of transparency around the refinery’s supply protocols.

The Dangote refinery, commissioned in 2023 and currently expanding from 650,000 barrels per day to 700,000 bpd, was expected to stabilise the Nigerian downstream sector and reduce import dependence. However, recent developments suggest that the road to full operational consistency may still lie ahead.

Fresh data from the downstream regulator of the oil sector revealed that marketers have resumed large-scale importation of refined petroleum products, choosing not to patronise local refineries.

Findings by The PUNCH, based on the latest fuel supply data obtained from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, showed that a staggering 71.38 per cent of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption in May and June 2025 was met through imports.

The remaining 28.62 per cent was sourced from the $20bn Lekki-based Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This indicates that marketers, who are expected to access products locally with ease in the country, are instead spending the country’s scarce foreign exchange to import refined petroleum products.

Meanwhile, the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, has largely stabilised across major private depots nationwide, despite Dangote Petroleum Refinery announcing a 3.66 per cent upward adjustment to N850 per litre after resuming sales.

Market data monitored on Petroleumprice.ng on Thursday showed that prices at most Lagos depots hovered between N855 and N860 per litre, with only minimal changes compared to the previous trading sessions.

At Pinnacle, Aiteo, and MRS Tincan depots, petrol is sold at N855 per litre, reflecting a marginal decline of N5 or 0.58 per cent. Similarly, Zamsom, Parker and A\&E reported prices of N859 per litre, also recording a slight drop of between N3 and N0.35 per cent.

Depot operators such as Nipco Lagos, Matrix Warri and Prudent Lagos maintained stable prices at N860 per litre with no visible change, indicating a wait-and-see attitude among many players following Dangote’s price adjustment.

A separate check around Port Harcourt and Warri terminals revealed slight downward corrections in some facilities. For example, TSL and Ever posted prices of N872 per litre, declining by N10 (1.13 per cent) and N8 (0.91 per cent) respectively. Sigmund and Masters sold at N875 per litre, shedding N5 and N4 respectively compared to their previous trading day levels.

Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola has shared details of a heated encounter with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over diesel deregulation, in his forthcoming memoir titled Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business.

In excerpts from the book, Otedola recalled that Obasanjo lashed out at him in 2004 following reports of diesel scarcity across Nigeria.

At the time, the federal government had recently deregulated diesel importation based on advice from Otedola and other private sector players.

Otedola’s company, Zenon Petroleum, had assured the presidency that private firms could meet national demand without the involvement of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which was then the sole importer, operating under a subsidy regime.

“When President Obasanjo deregulated diesel in 2004, Zenon took an unassailable lead in the market,” Otedola wrote.

“My opponents’ reaction was to tell the president that we’d turned the market upside down… and that industries were shutting down because there was no diesel.”

According to him, Obasanjo called him around 2am, visibly furious. “‘You’re a stupid boy! God will punish you!’ he shouted. ‘You persuaded me to deregulate diesel, and now there’s no diesel in the country!’”

Otedola said he flew to Abuja the next day to clarify the situation. “As soon as Obasanjo saw me, he flew into a rage again… I allowed him to cool down, and when he stopped talking, I explained the situation,” he wrote.

He told the former president that there were six ships with diesel waiting to discharge, and provided letters of credit as evidence.

He also alleged that some officials within the NNPC, opposed to deregulation, had deliberately misled the president to protect their subsidy benefits.

To counter the misinformation, Otedola said he began publishing the availability and price of diesel in newspapers to reassure the public and government of steady supply.

He described Obasanjo as a “determined and robust president” who, once convinced of a person’s integrity, stood firm in his support.

By Omeiza Ajayi


ABUJA: Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume has raised the alarm over the activities of some criminal syndicates who he said have cloned his voice in attempts to swindle high profile individuals with promises of federal government appointments.

“From information available to the office, the fraudsters cloned the voice of the SGF, using it to solicit money in return for federal appointments”, Akume said in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga.

The SGF who distanced himself from the scammers, said they have also “cloned the phone numbers of high profile individuals to solicit funds from unsuspecting members of the public”.

While he warned the public to be wary of such schemes, Akume also alerted that the modus operandi of the scammers was to tell victims that they have been pencilled down for Federal Government appointments while demanding payment of money to facilitate such fake appointments.

“The warning becomes necessary as the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has been inundated with enquiries relating to the activities of these fraudulent individuals and groups”, he said.

Odunuga said the fraudsters also attach bank account details to messages sent to the would -be victims for funds deposit ranging from N5m to N15m in addition to asking them to send their curriculum vitae to cloned emails.

“Senator Akume emphasized that the appointment processes for Nigerians into boards and parastatals are transparent and verifiable, urging individuals not to pay any money in expectation of securing a position.

“Some of the account details of the scammers made available to the office are domiciled in but not limited to both new generation banks and the popular fintech mobile money operating companies in the country.

“While the relevant security agencies have been briefed on the matter, the Office of the SGF strongly advises Nigerians to report the activities of these fraudulent people to the authorities while taking all precautionary steps necessary to avoid being victims of the scammers”, the statement added.

By Mohammed Salihu


Farmers once believed that planting seeds from any harvest — no matter how shriveled, diseased, or worm-eaten — would still yield a healthy crop the next season. Year after year, they watered these seeds, fertilized the soil, prayed for rain and sunlight, and waited. But the harvest rarely changed. It was always stunted, bitter, or decayed.

What they refused to confront was brutally simple: you cannot grow a good harvest from a rotten seed.

While modern agriculture has since moved past such mistakes, Nigeria’s political culture remains stuck in that primitive logic. For over two decades, we’ve recycled the same kind of leaders — self-interested, unprepared, and unaccountable — and still act surprised when the nation continues to falter. With each election cycle, we plant the same seed of dysfunction and expect governance to flourish. We hope. We pray. We argue. But nothing fundamentally changes.

Since 1999, every political transition has been dressed in the garb of renewal. We’ve been promised reform, transformation, change, and more recently, “renewed hope.” But the essence of leadership in Nigeria has remained distressingly consistent: power is seen as conquest, governance as reward, and politics as a hustle — not public service.

And so, the outcomes are predictable. Our national wealth grows, yet poverty deepens. We have Africa’s largest youth population, yet millions are unemployed or underemployed. Our public hospitals are starved, and our public universities are either on strike or crumbling. Kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism now define life in states that were once peaceful. Corruption has become routine. Incompetence is not punished. And public trust, perhaps the most precious asset of any democracy, is in shreds.

Yet when the failures surface — and they always do — we act bewildered. We huddle around news reports and social media, asking: “How did this happen again?”

But the answer is simple: we planted rotten seed, again.

Each time, we choose leaders not by merit or vision, but by tribe, religion, wealth, or sheer familiarity. We overlook red flags, excuse mediocrity, and rationalise incompetence. We trust recycled names with no record of service, while mocking competent outsiders as unrealistic idealists. In the end, we convince ourselves to lower the bar — and then express outrage when our expectations are not met.

Some argue that Nigerians vote out of hope, not habit — that people are desperate for change. But this kind of hope, disconnected from history and evidence, becomes dangerous. It blinds us to patterns. It teaches us to suspend logic and expect transformation from the very instruments of dysfunction.

And the damage goes deeper. We are raising a generation of Nigerians who see politics as performance, not policy. Young people watch as campaign promises evaporate into excuses, budgets vanish into private pockets, and national tragedies are met with silence or spin. Disillusionment is hardening into apathy. Faith in democracy is eroding — not just because of corrupt leaders, but because the system seems impervious to change.

This erosion is not sustainable. A country cannot keep punishing its people for participating in democracy. If the ballot box delivers disappointment every cycle, citizens will eventually stop believing in the process — and when that belief dies, so does democracy itself.

So where do we go from here?

First, we must face the uncomfortable truth: bad leadership is not just a supply problem; it’s a demand problem. We must raise our standards. We must learn to interrogate candidates before they get power, not after. We must demand competence, not charisma; substance, not sloganeering. We must stop confusing familiarity with fitness to govern.

Second, civil society, media, and educational institutions must invest in civic education year-round — not just in the months before elections. Nigerians need to understand how power works, how policies are made, and why elections are not the end but the beginning of democratic engagement.

Third, we must build institutions that hold leaders accountable, no matter who is in power. Too often, our watchdogs become lapdogs once the ruling party changes. Without consistent oversight, corruption thrives — and the harvest, again, is failure.

Changing Nigeria will not happen in one election cycle. But nothing will change until we, the electorate, change what we reward and what we tolerate. We must stop planting rotten seeds and expecting a sweet harvest. Our soil — our country — is not cursed. But it demands more from those who till it.

Until we learn to sow better, Nigeria will keep reaping sorrow.

Oscar Okhifo


A wave of outrage has swept through Oviri Olomu community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, as women have declared a sex strike in protest against persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen.

The women, who took to the streets on Tuesday and Wednesday vowed to withhold cooking, trading, and sexual relations with their husbands until government and security agencies take decisive action to end the violence ravaging their community.

Chanting songs of sorrow and resistance, the highly charged protesters decried what they described as the continuous rape of women, destruction of farmlands, and general insecurity in their once-peaceful village.

Many of them carried placards bearing messages like “Enough of the killings” and “Our lives matter too.”

Mrs. Ejiro Otomiewo, one of the leaders of the protesters, said the women had been pushed to the wall.

“Our farms are no longer safe. Our daughters are being raped. Our husbands are helpless. They no longer go to their farms. Hunger is killing us. We have decided to stop cooking, trading, and even sleeping with our men until the government acts,” she said.

They accused herdsmen of attacking farmers with dangerous weapons, destroying crops, and making life unbearable in the community.

The protesters also called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Delta State Police Command to enforce the anti-open grazing law and ensure the safety of residents.

Mrs. Patience Okparavero, another protester, said the community was under siege.

“We live in fear. You can’t go to the farm. The herdsmen are armed. They harass us, steal our harvests, and dare anyone who tries to stop them. We are tired of empty promises,” she said.

The Oviri Olomu protest adds to a growing list of community actions in Delta State against the activities of armed herders.

In recent months, similar protests have erupted in Egbo-Kokori, Ekakpamre, Abraka and other communities, all demanding government protection from violent herdsmen.

Community leaders say repeated reports and petitions have yielded no meaningful response from authorities, leaving residents to fend for themselves in the face of violence and intimidation.

With the sex strike now underway, the women of Oviri Olomu hope their voices will finally be heard not just in Asaba, but across the nation. At the time of going to press, it was not confirmed if the wife of the Governor and the Commissioners’ would join in the sex strike in solidarity with the rural women and victims of herders’s extremism and brutality.

by Jesupemi Are


Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says many abandoned estates in the federal capital territory (FCT) are owned by civil servants who have stolen money.

Olukoyede spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a policy dialogue organised by Law Corridor with the theme, “Critical Issues Affecting Nigeria’s Real Estate Ecosystem.”

While noting that some of the estates have been abandoned for over 10 years, the EFCC chairman said the anti-graft agency has set up a special team that would start visiting such properties.

“I have set up the team. We will start visiting all the estates, not only in Abuja but across Nigeria. We want to know who owns what,” he said.

“It will shock you that some of these estates have been abandoned for 10 to 20 years. They just take it to a level, and they abandon it.

“Nobody knows what is going on. What we have been able to gather is that most of these estates were funded by civil servants who have stolen money.

“The moment they leave public service, and the money is no longer coming, they abandon the estate. Then, the developer will start looking for investors to support them to complete the project.”

Olukoyede said the agency has had cause to file for forfeiture for about 15 estates in recent times.

“We have gotten more intelligence, too. Some of you sitting in this room, probably some of those estates belong to you,” he said.

“But very soon, we expect to meet you in court because there is no way we will develop this sector if we continue with that attitude. I know some of you have your genuine source of capital.”

He warned lawyers and real estate developers not to lend themselves as willing tools in the hands of those who engage in money laundering.

Afam Osigwe, president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said there is a need for a centralised system that would enhance the verification of ownership of properties in the country.

Osigwe also warned that the arbitrary revocation of land titles due to alleged failure to pay ground rent could scare away foreign investors.

Ayokunle Erin, the practice group lead for real estate, construction, and infrastructure at the Law Corridor, said the current estimate puts Nigeria’s housing deficit at between 17 and 20 million units, with a required annual delivery of 700,000 units to meet demand.

“Unfortunately, output falls drastically short. In Abuja, for example, only about 5,000 units were constructed in 2024, satisfying less than 10 percent of the city’s needs,” Erin said.

“These gaps reflect deep-rooted policy failures, regulatory lapses, and legal ambiguities that continue to embolden fraudsters, quacks, and unlicensed agents.”

by Samuel Akpan


Kabiru Mai Palace, a member of the house of representatives, has renovated 80 cemeteries in Zamfara state.

Speaking at the project inauguration on Tuesday, Mai Palace, chairman of the house committee on sports, said all humans would end up in the grave when their time comes.

The renovated cemeteries are located in the Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency of the state.

“Today, we embarked on the renovation of 80 cemeteries in Gusau and Tsafe LGAs as part of my second-year anniversary as a second-term member of the House of representatives for the Gusau and Tsafe federal constituency,” the lawmaker said.

“We had noticed the dilapidated conditions of our cemeteries in various communities across my constituency.

“As human beings, we know one day, all of us are going to be buried here; therefore, we must ensure we do good to improve the conditions of our last home.

“As we all know in Islam, we know the value of keeping cemeteries in good condition. It prevents various disasters and calamities in society.”

The legislator pledged to engage cemetery guards, pay workers’ allowances and provide working tools.

He also empowered constituents with tricycles and motorcycles across the constituency.

By Joshua Odeyemi


The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) in the US has condemned the ‘deteriorating’ condition of the Nigeria House in New York, calling for urgent action.

In a statement issued by Ms Funmi Dike, spokesperson for the body, on Monday, in New York, OAN also lamented that staff of the Nigerian mission are owed several months of salary arrears.

OAN, a foremost diaspora body committed to the welfare and progress of Nigerians in the US, said it was “compelled to draw urgent and serious attention to the deplorable and deteriorating condition of the property”.

The iconic skyscraper, located in the heart of Manhattan, houses both the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN and the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York.

“This imposing structure, once a symbol of national pride and diplomatic strength, has now become a metaphor for systemic neglect and administrative irresponsibility,” OAN said.

“Over recent weeks and months, the building has descended into a condition unworthy of the great nation it represents.

“Foremost among the current challenges is the complete failure of the central air conditioning and ventilation system in a building that was architecturally designed without cross-ventilation or operable windows.

“During one of the hottest summers recorded in New York City, Permanent Mission and Consulate staff are forced to work in suffocating, oven-like conditions, relying on hand-held fans strapped to their bodies.”

OAN stressed that the building’s decaying infrastructure, including poor maintenance, plumbing issues, unreliable elevators, stained ceilings and outdated fixtures, reflected an embarrassing lack of foresight and priority from those responsible for the upkeep of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.

OAN said it was equally disturbing that the staff of the missions had reportedly not been paid salaries and allowances for several months.

“This is unacceptable in any civilised society, let alone for officers posted abroad to represent Nigeria and those hired from the host countries.

“This is a recipe for illegal activities, where employees look for illicit ways to make ends meet, or fleece their fellow Nigerian applicants for Consular services.”

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, did not pick up his calls and did not respond to messages sent to his WhatsApp number when contacted over the issues raised.

Abdulkadri Alkasim, a media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, declined comment, saying the questions should be directed to the spokesperson of the ministry.

Delta state has again emerged as Nigeria’s top producer of crude oil and condensates, maintaining a wide lead over other states and reinforcing its central role in the country’s hydrocarbon economy.

This is according to the latest data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which covered crude oil and gas production figures from November 2023 to September 2024.

The report showed that Delta alone accounted for nearly 100 million barrels of oil and condensate within the 11-month period. Specifically, the state produced 99.9 million barrels, by far the largest contribution by any state during the review window.

This figure represented over a third of Nigeria’s total attributed crude and condensate production of 295.34 million barrels during the same period.

Following Delta in oil production were Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, which have traditionally formed the backbone of Nigeria’s petroleum output. Akwa Ibom produced about 60.32 million barrels, while Bayelsa delivered roughly 53.2 million barrels during the period under consideration.

In the same vein, Rivers was only slightly behind Bayelsa with 50.83 million barrels. These four states alone accounted for nearly 90 per cent of the country’s oil output, underlining their significance in the sector.

However, Lagos State, which had been listed among Nigeria’s oil-producing states following marginal production from the Aje Field in the Dahomey Basin since 2016, recorded zero production of crude oil and gas within the period under review.

Last year, the Lagos state government disclosed that the sum of N3.911 billion had been realised since it became an oil-producing state, but noted that production had been hampered due to challenges faced by the company managing its exploration.

At the time, the state’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, said that there was a disagreement among the owners of the asset, OML 113. Following in that line, the NUPRC data showed that Lagos produced zero oil during the 11-month period, underscoring the fact that the pending issues on the oil asset remained unresolved.

Outside the traditional powerhouses of the Niger Delta, oil production in other states was relatively modest. Ondo State produced 8.71 million barrels of crude oil, while Edo State contributed 7.76 million barrels. Imo State followed with 6.32 million barrels. Anambra and Abia states produced 4.77 million barrels and 3.41 million barrels respectively.

The gas production data presented a slightly different picture in terms of leading states. Rivers State topped the chart with a massive 391.3 billion standard cubic feet (scf) of gas produced, even though it placed fourth in crude oil output. Bayelsa followed with 341.2 billion scf, while Delta again ranked high with 318.2 billion scf of gas.

Akwa Ibom also remained a significant contributor to Nigeria’s gas production, accounting for 211.9 billion scf. Edo State, despite its relatively modest oil volumes, showed strong gas potential, producing 95.4 billion scf, well ahead of other states in its production category.

Besides, Ondo State added 27.1 billion scf, while Anambra and Imo produced 7.4 billion scf and 6.4 billion scf respectively. Abia contributed 4.46 billion scf of gas, while Lagos also recorded zero, consistent with its performance in oil.

In total, Nigeria produced 1.4 trillion standard cubic feet of gas during the review period, reinforcing the country’s considerable gas reserves and production capacity. The combined gas output from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom accounted for over 85 per cent of the national total.

The NUPRC’s state-by-state attribution system is designed to ensure transparency and equity in the distribution of revenue from hydrocarbon resources. It also serves as the foundation for monthly remittances to RMAFC, which uses the figures to calculate the derivation entitlements and allocations to oil-producing states under Nigeria’s revenue sharing formula.

In all, the NUPRC figures re-affirmed the strategic role of the Niger Delta in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, even as production challenges persist across many fields.

The data further underscored the urgency of unlocking potential in underutilised regions and improving upstream investments, particularly in gas infrastructure and marginal fields that could boost output and revenue.

The impressive output from Delta reflects the concentration of oil fields and infrastructure within the state, as well as its relatively stable upstream operations. Delta is home to major assets operated by multinational and indigenous companies, including Shell, Chevron, and NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), among others.

written by Undu Joseph


ABUJA – The heightening insecurity situation in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria, has now hit the citadel of learning as students of the Federal University of Lafia have come under heavy attacks by bandits and armed thugs who rape and inflict varying degrees of injury on the affected students.

Sources within the University community who pleaded strict anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the attacks, told DAILY INDEPENDENT that for over two weeks now, students of the institution have come under the brutal and ferocious attack of rape, kidnapping and killings by bandits and thugs.

DAILY INDEPENDENT reliably gathered that, since the establishment of the Federal University of Lafia in 2011, the University has witnessed an explosion of student population which cannot match the accommodation and hostel needs of her student.

To provide for the hostel needs of the students, there has been a growing student population stuck up in the inner getthos and slums of satellite University Student Villiages known as Akunza, Gandu, and Burkan Kwato.

These getthos and slums, according to sources “have long served as the hide out for criminal elements mostly bandits and thugs who have ravaged the peace and security of the University over time.”

Two years ago, the management of the University was said to have decried the nefarious and hideous activities of these bandits who regularly raided the student villiages for sex, rape, kidnappings and outright killing of innocent defenceless students of the University.

“The University Management adopted far reaching security measures to curb the ugly trend of the invasion and killings of her students but without real lasting success.”

It is observed that lasting and genuine security of the students cannot be achieved without the commitment and sincere support of the indigenous host communities where the students live in and reside.

The local communities are alleged to be “collaborating with these criminal elements through some kind of providing cover and shelter for the bandits. This has been one of Nigeria’s biggest challenge of combating banditry and kidnapping in that indigenous host communities often decline both intelligence and information gathering that could had either preempt the operations of criminal elements or could had aborted their operations in outright terms.

“The safety and well-being undergraduate Students of have come under severe attack and compromise arising from the ineptitude of the indigenous host communities in partnership with the University Management to protect and defend the students.”

DAILY INDEPENDENT investigation revealed that, “On the 26th of July 2025 alone, over 30 female students were raped by the bandits who mobilized and invaded the student villiages in large convoy and vehicles.

“The operation is similar to the Boko Haram episode in the Chibok and Dapchi Girls Kidnap incident. The Lafia rape is a sad reminder of the collapse of the Nigerian State that has led to the gross devaluation of life and human right abuses of the Nigerian people in the hands of bandits and terrorist.

“In the same operation, male students who resisted the invasion were brutally hacked and butchered by the bandits. By the end of the invasion, the bandits had left a trail of blood, tears and sorrows on the mind of the University community.”

The sources also told DAILY INDEPENDENT that, “What is more worrisome is the fact that the invasion did not draw the attention of both the local and national media. It appears, the non media coverage and reportage is a deliberate strategy of conspiracy of silence by the ruling political class of the state.”

When contacted for confirmation, the Nasarawa State Police Command Spokesperson, Mr. Nansel Ramhan who was at a “meeting” has not returned the call or replied the WhatsApp message earlier sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

There seems to be confusion in Rivers State over the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for August 30, 2025 in Rivers State as some card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were being returned as chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in majority of the local government areas in the state.

LEADERSHIP observed that out of the 23 LGAs in the state, PDP members emerged as APC chairmanship candidates in 12 LGAs in results so far released after primaries conducted on Saturday.

The council areas where PDP members emerged as APC candidates include Asari Toru, Ikwerre, Khana, Tai, Degema, Bonny, Oyigbo, Omuma, Ogu/Bolo, Gokana and Etche.

Our correspondent observed that those who are PDP members and won on the party’s platform so far were from Emohua, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas of the state.

Meanwhile, there are indications that major political parties in Rivers State, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Action Peoples Party (APP) and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may boycott the planned local government elections.

Recall that APP, which had the support of the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, won 22, out of the 23 local government areas in the state during the October 5, 2024 LG election in the state.

The elected chairmen and their councillors were however sacked by the February 25, 2025 judgement of the Supreme Court, which ruled that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) did not observe the 90 day-notice as stipulated by the Electoral Act.

Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, ADC spokesman in the state, Chief Luckyman Egila, said the party was yet to decide on whether to participate in the election, noting that a stakeholders’ meeting will determine their final position.

Egila said, “In the coming days, the critical stakeholders of the ADC will meet, deliberate and share our position on whether we will be partaking in the forthcoming LG election or not. That is our position. It is after the meeting that we will tell everyone our position.”

Also, spokesman of the Chief Emeka Beke-led faction of APC in the state, Hon. Darlington Nwauju, stated that the participation of the party in the election hinges on resolving internal conflicts, as well as gaining RSIEC’s full recognition.

Nwauju said, “We have taken a position based on some of the missteps that the RSIEC had made in terms of recognising the duly validated leadership of the APC in Rivers.”

“But with the interaction we had with the national leadership of the APC, I think we will have some rapprochement to ensure that the fortunes of the party are not endangered because of vested interest of some individuals who are politically desperate.”

By Nafisat Abdulrahman


Kenya’s Uasin Gishu County has successfully exported 50 high-performing dairy cows to Lagos State, Nigeria, marking a new chapter in the international livestock trade in Africa.

The cows, flown out via a cargo plane from Eldoret International Airport, were selected from top-performing smallholder farms across Uasin Gishu, a region long recognised as the heartbeat of Kenya’s dairy sector.

Announcing the development in a Facebook post, Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim described the export as a “major milestone,” crediting ongoing county investments in livestock quality and farmer support.

“These cows, carefully selected from our smallholder farmers across the County of Champions, are a testament to the strength and potential of our local dairy sector,” said Chelilim in the terse statement posted to his official Facebook page.

While Nigeria is home to one of the largest livestock populations in Africa, the country continues to grapple with low milk yields and underdeveloped dairy genetics. The import of Kenyan dairy breeds, known for their superior milk production, is expected to enhance productivity in Nigeria’s dairy industry.

“This move reflects the results of our continued investment in livestock farming through the rehabilitation of cattle dips, subsidized artificial insemination programs, and enhanced extension services,” Chelilim added.

The export represents a win-win for both countries, Kenyan farmers gain access to a broader market and better incomes, while Nigeria benefits from improved dairy productivity and genetic diversity.

Agricultural experts viewed the deal as more than symbolic as it demonstrates the rising potential of intra-African trade in high-value agricultural commodities and the growing reputation of Kenyan dairy genetics.

“Step by step, we are transforming dairy farming into an income-generating enterprise and opening new markets for our farmers beyond our borders,” Governor Chelilim added.

The export came amid ongoing efforts by Kenya to position itself as a leader in agribusiness innovation and by African governments to deepen regional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative.

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By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja


Petroleum products marketers have reiterated their support for the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery, stressing that their focus remains on ensuring Nigerians have access to high-quality petroleum products at affordable prices.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) in Abuja, the marketers called on the Federal Government to guarantee sufficient crude oil supply to local refineries to meet domestic demand.

President of NOGASA, Mr. Benneth Korie, emphasized the need for effective management of the downstream sector to ensure the continued survival of petrol station operators.

Korie affirmed the marketers’ support for domestic refining but cautioned that pricing must remain competitive to sustain market balance across the country. He urged refinery owners to leave room for independent marketers to thrive in the industry and preserve thousands of jobs.

“So today again, we plead with Mr. President to intervene by advising Dangote to slow down and play by the rules of the game. Nobody is against the refinery. If there is any group that supported the Dangote Refinery more than anyone else, it is NOGASA—100%.

“But when certain developments began to unfold, we felt the need to offer advice on how best to proceed, even though we’ve never had the opportunity for a one-on-one discussion with him. He’s never invited us, but we’re not bothered. What matters is that the refinery is blending, products are being released, and Nigerians are benefiting,” he said.

Korie, however, alleged that the refinery’s direct supply initiative was being influenced by individuals unfamiliar with the operational dynamics of the downstream sector, potentially leading to misguided strategies.

Also speaking, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), warned against any attempt to monopolize the downstream sector. He urged the Federal Government to allocate at least one million barrels of crude oil to local refineries to guarantee steady supply for domestic consumption.

He raised concerns over what he described as Dangote’s attempt to dominate the market, noting that retail outlet operators are losing as much as ₦80 per litre due to sudden price adjustments.

“PETROAN had earlier warned about Dangote’s plans to dominate the downstream sector. We feared the company might use its market power to fix prices, limit competition, and those concerns are now materializing.

“Just yesterday, some of them began selling products at ₦817 per litre. That represents a loss of over ₦80 per litre for filling station operators. When you consider the volume of product involved, it becomes clear that, very soon, salaries may not be paid.

“They’re doing this to corner market share, but is it healthy? The answer is no. It’s a classic price-penetration strategy aimed at driving competitors out of business. If it continues, it could lead to widespread closure of retail outlets and significant job losses,” he stated.

On his part, Executive Secretary of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Olufemi Adewole, disclosed that discussions are ongoing among key stakeholders to ensure product availability, quality, and affordability.

“The man on the street is our primary concern, and that is what has driven our recent engagements. We’ve been in marathon meetings over the past week to ensure Nigerians get the best quality petroleum products at the most affordable prices,” Adewole said.

By Daily Trust


Former Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has said the recent condemnation by the United States Mission in Nigeria has exposed the country to global ridicule.

The US Mission, in a post shared under its #TransparencyTuesday campaign, criticised some Nigerian governors for spending billions on new government houses, airports, and flyovers while asking citizens to endure economic hardship.

Reacting via his official X account, Obi said the comments confirm Nigeria’s worsening leadership crisis and the urgent need to reset the system.

“I have consistently maintained that leadership failure lies at the heart of Nigeria’s problems. Until we confront it directly, the country cannot move in the right direction,” he said.

Obi described the US remarks as a reflection of what many Nigerians have long pointed out.

“Our declining governance has drawn global attention, as shown in the recent statement by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria. Once again, let me be clear, you cannot ask the people to keep fasting while you feast every day,” he wrote.

Quoting late author Chinua Achebe, Obi added, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”

He decried the growing trend of attacking critics instead of addressing core issues of governance.

“I speak out to help build a new Nigeria, free of criminality and corruption. But instead of addressing the message, those who have hijacked our country deploy media thugs to insult and distract,” he said.

Obi called on Nigerians to move beyond politics of ethnicity and religion, urging citizens to elect leaders based on competence, character, and capacity.

“We have voted based on tribe and religion for too long. It is time to vote for competence. Let us move from waste, looting, and reckless borrowing to production. Let us build a Nigeria that works,” he added.

Daily Trust reports that former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, sharply accused the United States of hypocrisy.

He faulted the US for attempting to moralise on governance while allegedly contributing to global crises.

“Whilst the children of Gaza are being slaughtered and starved, the American government is sending more and more weapons to Israel to assist them in committing genocide,” he wrote.

By Philip Shimnom Clement


The cash price splashed on Nigeria’s women national football team, the Super Falcons, is enough to take care of the monthly wage bill of about 16,000 doctors, 66,000 teachers and over 78,000 lowest ranked officers of the Police Force, Checks by Daily Trust has shown.

Daily Trust reports that following their triumph at the just-concluded 2024 WAFCON tournament in Morocco, the 24 players and 11 technical crew of the Super Falcons were rewarded with a cash prize of N4.602 billion ($100,000 and $50, 000) each as well as the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The players and officials were also given the sum of N350m by the Nigerian Governors Forum, which took their cash reward to N4.952bn

Nigeria won the WAFCON title for a record-extending 10th time on Saturday after coming back from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final at the Rabat Olympic Stadium.

The team landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday before proceeding to a reception organised for them by the Presidency.

President Tinubu had promised the team a befitting reception on Sunday while speaking with them after their triumph.

“Nothing else could have represented it, crucial time, crucial victory. On behalf of the grateful nation, I hereby confer on the players and the 11-man technical team the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger,” Tinubu had announced.

“Additionally, I hereby direct the allocation of a three-bedroom apartment for each of the players and the technical crew in our Renewed Hope Estate.

“In addition, there is a cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each of the 24 players and equivalent of $50,000 to the 11-man technical crew. Once again, I congratulate you, and I continue to pray for you. With this, the Nigerian spirit is unyielding and will never die. God bless you” the president had said.

Tinubu’s cash reward was calculated at the exchange rate of N1,562/1$.

The Super Falcons also dominated the tournament’s awards as captain Rasheedat Ajibade won the Player of the Tournament; Chiamaka Nnadozie was named the best keeper while coach Justine Madugu won the best coach award.

The thrilling dominance marked the 10th triumph of the Falcons on the continental stage after their previous triumphs in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

However, Tinubu’s cash rewards have been criticized in many quarters considering the current economic situation in the country.

Many Nigerians argued that the money, when put to good use, is enough to help every Nigerian have a decent living.

A social commentator Fr. Kelvin Ugwu who spoke on the issue noted that “The worth of the cup in WAFCON is $1m, but the money spent on the footballers and crew, both as cash gifts and material gifts, including housing, totals beyond $4m.

“Twenty-four players were given $100,000 each, that is $2.4m. Eleven crew members at $50,000 each is $550,000. That is roughly $3m. I don’t know the cost of the fully finished three-bedroom apartment for each player and crew. But you can do the maths and see. I also don’t know the cost of the dinner party and how much was paid to all the artists who performed. But I am sure you already know it will be in millions. If you put everything together, you will see that about $5m has been spent to celebrate the winning of $1m,” he said.

However, Daily Trust calculated the said amount and what it can do for critical workers like doctors, teachers and policemen with regards to their wages and welfare.


Doctors

Over time, medical doctors in Nigeria have raised concerns over poor remuneration and unfavourable working conditions with some earning less than N250,000 per month in some states despite risking their lives to care for patients.

Daily Trust findings show that the poor welfare for medical doctors is one of the key factors driving many medical professionals to seek better opportunities abroad, worsening the country’s brain drain crisis popularly known as ‘japa syndrome’.

Further findings by our correspondent revealed that private hospitals tend to pay higher salaries, while government-employed doctors are often left with inadequate incentives, earning between N200,000 and N250,000.

A medical doctor at a government-owned hospital in Abuja who did not mention his name for security concerns, lamented the financial burden he faces despite years of medical training and experience.

He explained, “It is heartbreaking to work so hard, especially in a public hospital, and still earn only N250,000 a month. The cost of living in Abuja is high with rent, transport and other things and that amount is not just sustainable.”

He explained that while Nigerian doctors are fully capable of meeting the country’s medical needs, their low pay largely explains the ongoing brain drain.

The government is indeed taking steps to increase medical school admissions and build pharmacies, laboratories, and nursing schools. However, these efforts have not stemmed the tide of doctors relocating to the US, UK and Europe. What we need are incentives and salaries commensurate with our skills and responsibilities.

The over N4bn if divided by the minimum salary of a medical doctor in a government-owned hospital can pay the wages of about 16,000 doctors.


Teachers

In Nigeria, teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future generation, yet they often find themselves undervalued and unappreciated. Despite their significant contributions to society, teachers face numerous challenges that hinder their ability to thrive and make a lasting impact on their students.

Many teachers struggle to make ends meet due to low salaries, delayed payments, and irregularities in pension schemes. This financial strain not only affects their motivation and morale but also detracts talented individuals from pursuing a career in education.

Some Nigerian teachers, particularly those in private schools, earn salaries as low as N45,000 per month. Some even earn below the national minimum wage of N30,000. This situation is compounded by the rising cost of living and inflation, making it difficult for teachers to make ends meet.

Only recently, teachers in the FCT were on strike for over 100 days due to poor welfare.

During that time, primary school pupils in Abuja were left to their fate while government authorities and labour unions continued a protracted tug-of-war.

The industrial action, led by the FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, was the fourth since late 2023.

The teachers were demanding the full implementation of a tripartite agreement signed on December 11, 2024, which promised a N70,000 minimum wage for teachers.

Due to the prolonged strike, children who should be in class were found roaming markets, chasing after vehicles, or hawking sachet water and groundnuts under the scorching sun.

For teachers earning just about N66,000 monthly, the over N4bn splashed on the Super Falcons by the president will be adequate to pay about 66,000 of them.


Police officers

The issue of poor packages for retired police officers has been on the front burner for a very long time in Nigeria.

Only recently, these retired officers stormed the streets nationwide protesting poor welfare, pension and other living conditions.

In Abuja, the retired police personnel who defied the downpour protested at the Force headquarters and National Assembly entrance gate, to ventilate their anger and frustration.

Also, a former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, slammed the government’s reward structure, calling it “brutally unfair” to officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

Further checks by Daily Trust have shown that a constable in the Nigerian Police Force earns between N51,000 and N75 000 monthly.

Now, the amount showered on the Super Falcons can pay about 78,000 of the lowest ranked constables in the Nigeria Police Force.

The US administration’s decision to destroy nearly $10 million worth of women’s contraception products has sparked furious condemnation from doctors and aid groups, who have slammed the move as a wasteful attack on women’s rights.

The contraceptives are being stored in Belgium and are reportedly planned to be incinerated in France. Both European countries are under pressure to prevent the destruction.

– What has the US announced? –

On July 18, British newspaper The Guardian cited two US Congress sources as saying that President Donald Trump’s administration planned to destroy $9.7 million worth of contraceptives, which are mostly long-acting such as IUDs and birth control implants. Abuja Formula 1 Grand Prix tickets

The contraceptives — intended for some of the world’s poorest countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa — are stored in a warehouse in the Belgian city of Geel.

They are to be incinerated at the end of July, according to the Guardian report.

A US State Department spokesperson told AFP this week that “a preliminary decision was made to destroy certain” birth control products from “terminated Biden-era USAID contracts”. The Guardian e-books

Trump’s administration dismantled USAID, the country’s foreign aid arm, after returning to the White House in January, replacing President Joe Biden.

The State Department spokesperson said the destruction will cost $167,000 and “no HIV medications or condoms are being destroyed.”


– Why? –

The spokesperson pointed AFP to a policy that prohibits providing aid to non-governmental organisations that perform or promote abortions. Abuja Formula 1 Grand Prix tickets

The Mexico City Policy, which critics call the “global gag rule”, was first introduced by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, and has been reinstated under every Republican president since.

The Trump administration has also slashed foreign aid, with the Senate this month approving a package that cut around $8 billion in international funding, much of it intended for USAID.

Research has estimated that the USAID cuts will lead to the deaths of 14 million people by 2030.

Earlier this month, the US also incinerated nearly 500 metric tons of high-nutrition biscuits which were meant to keep malnourished children in Afghanistan and Pakistan alive.

Trump has also repeatedly moved to restrict abortion access in the United States, taking credit for the Supreme Court overturning the nationwide right to abortion in 2022.

The US State Department also suggested to the Guardian that the contraceptives were nearing the end of their shelf life. The Guardian e-books

However media reports have since said that the products expire between April 2027 and September 2031. Abuja Formula 1 Grand Prix tickets


– What are the alternatives? –

Belgium’s foreign ministry told AFP that it has “initiated diplomatic efforts with the United States embassy in Brussels” about the contraceptives.

The government “is exploring all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these products, including temporary relocation solutions,” it added.

The international organisation MSI Reproductive Choices said it had offered to “purchase, repackage, and manage logistics at our expense, ensuring the products reach those in need”.

However this offer was repeatedly rejected, it said in a statement.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) made a similar offer at “no cost to the US government” that was also turned down.


– What are people saying? –

New Hampshire’s Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen pointed to the Trump administration’s stated goal of reducing government waste, saying the contraceptives plan “is the epitome of waste, fraud and abuse”.

Shaheen and Democratic Senator Brian Schatz have introduced a bill aiming to prevent further US aid being wasted.
The IPPF said the contraceptives plan is “an intentional act of reproductive coercion”.

Doctors Without Borders called it a “callous waste”.

MSI advocacy director Sarah Shaw said it was “an ideological assault on reproductive rights, and one that is already harming women”.

The head of the French Family Planning group, Sarah Durocher, observed that last year France became the first country to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution.

“France has a moral responsibility to act,” she said.

French Green leader Marine Tondelier signed an open letter calling on President Emmanuel Macron to stop the contraceptives from being destroyed.

“Our country cannot be complicit, even indirectly, in retrograde policies,” the letter read. Contacted by AFP, the office of the French presidency declined to comment.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has narrated how the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu nearly abandoned his dinner on Saturday because of the match between Nigeria and Morocco.

After going down 2-0, in the first half, the Super Falcons fought back to win the match 3-2.

Speaking when he hosted the victorious team at the Presidential Villa on Monday, the President recounted the emotional moments of the final match, noting how the team’s performance lifted the nation’s spirits and united Nigerians from all walks of life.

“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency.”

“Honestly, I didn’t want to watch the match. I didn’t want to have high blood pressure. But people came in and turned my TV on that channel. When it was 2-0, I got very offended and restless. But I was still watching with the spirit of resilience, determination, and courage. And after that penalty, my strength was lifted, and I believe that of the nation was lifted too.

“But you almost made me angrier because your mother (the First Lady) was in the kitchen, nearly abandoning my dinner.

”She doesn’t watch the game except when the girls are playing. And at the end of the final whistle, it was joy all over the country,” he said.

The President assured the team of his administration’s continued support and commitment to sports development, pledging that the government would invest further in women’s football and youth talent development across the country.

“Your story is a story of hope. And in this era of Renewed Hope, we celebrate you not just as champions of Africa, but as champions of the Nigerian dream.”

Also speaking the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, described the Super Falcons as role models and shining examples of courage and excellence.

She congratulated the team for their exceptional performance and unwavering spirit, describing their journey as “a testament to resilience, teamwork, and determination.

“You played with passion, confidence, and an unshakeable belief in yourselves—that it is not over until it is over.

“The zeal you displayed on the pitch was nothing short of inspirational. You never wavered and reminded the world why Nigeria remains a powerhouse in African women’s football.”

The First Lady prayed for the team’s continued success and shared an earlier conversation with President Tinubu about the team’s bright future as world champions.

“I told Mr. President this morning that you are going on to win the World Cup, and he thought I was too ambitious. But Ajibade, the team captain, just seconded that, and that is possible,” he said.

Super Falcons Captain Rasheedat Ajibade said the victory was for the team and for every Nigerian girl who dreams of achieving greatness.

“Today, I stand before you not just as the captain of the Super Falcons, but as a proud daughter of Nigeria, carrying the dreams, resilience, and spirit of our great nation,” she said.

“On behalf of my teammates, coaches, and technical staff, I express our heartfelt gratitude for this warm reception and the unwavering belief you have shown in us.”

Emphasising the significance of their 10th WAFCON title, the team captain said:

“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream… This 10th title is for you, Mr. President, for Nigerians, for Super Falcons, and for every young child who believes and dreams to be on this stage someday.”

Ajibade called for continued support from the government and stakeholders to elevate Nigeria’s global standing in women’s football.

Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says no governor is willing to join the coalition because of the alleged intimidation by the Federal Government.

Abdullahi said this at the third plenary session of the Northern Political Consultative Group (NPCG), in Abuja, on Saturday.

At the programme which had as its theme: ‘Peace and social cohesion: A panacea to challenges of the North’, Abdullahi said the ADC remains open to everyone.

“No serving governor would be willing to cross over because of the intimidation that they are facing,” he said.

“We know what they are doing to them. Some of them who cannot jump to their party are saying we are endorsing their presidential candidate. No problem. But what you are seeing is a conspiracy against the Nigerian people.

“The ADC welcomes everybody, but we are convinced that we are a movement that has the backing of the majority of Nigerians who are not happy with the direction this country is going.”

On the 2027 Presidential Candidate, he said the ADC has not entered into any discussions about who will emerge.

“We don’t have any favourite aspirants or candidates. We are not having any conversation at the moment,” he said.

“Nobody has ever had any conversation about who will be the party’s flag bearer. We believe that it is too early in the day. Our focus now is to build a political party that is strong enough to deliver on the mission that we have set for ourselves.”

Earlier, Babachir David Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who is also a member of the coalition, had said the ADC would rally round anyone who wins its presidential ticket.

“The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. We are going to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election. And whoever emerges—be it North, South, Central, West—whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.”

So far, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, have indicated interest in the ADC presidential ticket.

The coalition has vowed to use every lawful means to unseat President Bola Tinubu, but dismissing their threat, Tinubu described the group as a “Coalition of confusion”.

By Imoleayo Oyedeji


At least 12 states have earmarked about N102bn in their 2025 budgets for upgrading official lodges and offices as well as acquisition of new Sport Utility Vehicles and other automobiles, findings by Sunday PUNCH have revealed.

The funds cover modernisation and tech upgrades of government lodges and VIP suites, alongside acquisition of vehicle fleets dominated by Toyota Prado SUVs, Jeep models, Hilux pickups, Camry, Corolla sedans, and other brands.

These allocations are captured under the capital expenditure details in the first-quarter budget performance reports of the states, accessed via their websites.

The affected states are Lagos, Adamawa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ondo, Taraba, and Yobe.

Lagos topped the list, setting aside about N33bn for vehicle procurement and lodge upgrades.

Of this, N20.67bn went into acquiring backup vehicles for the state’s lawmakers.

Another N11.04bn was earmarked for rehabilitating the Assembly Complex, N150m for renovating the speaker’s residence and guest house, while N1.15bn covered upgrades of the state’s lodges in Alausa and Abuja.

Delta followed with a total of N14.91bn for vehicles and lodge-related projects.

A sum of N11.23bn went into procuring 50 Toyota SUVs, and 210 other vehicles for the Government House.

Additional vehicle votes included N451.91m for 10 official cars (assembly staff), N100m for vehicles under the SSG/ad-hoc bodies, N200m for 10 SUVs and five corollas for former governors and a former deputy, and N200m for five Hilux pickups.

The N2.73bn earmarked for lodge-renovation works was distributed across various locations.

In Asaba, N1.5bn was set aside for government quarters, N250m for Government House maintenance, N250m for office rehabilitation, N100m for the deputy governor’s lodge, and N100m for the former Speaker’s quarters.

A total of N205m was allocated for renovating the governor and deputy governor’s lodge and guest houses in Abuja.

This is as N100m was also budgeted for the state’s lodges in Warri and Lagos, while VIP guest house upkeep across unspecified locations received N220.18m.

Taraba allocated N9.57bn for executive lodge upgrade. In Jalingo, N2.4bn went into renovating the Government House and lodges, N700m for Twin Hall Lodge, and N100m for the Presidential Lodge Annex.

The deputy governor’s office and guest house got N1.17bn for construction and furnishing, while N3bn was set aside for the state’s lodges in Kakara, Wukari, Gembu, Serti, Takum, and Donga areas of the state.

Additional provisions included N800m for lodge 77 in Yola, N300m for the Taraba Motel VIP lodge, N400m for general upgrades, and N650m for renovating and furnishing the head of service’s guest house.

Similarly, Borno State budgeted N7.75bn, with N6.92bn going to vehicle procurement in which N5.4bn went to the Ministry of Finance for 50 vehicles, including Volkswagen wagons.

Other allocations included N1bn for two golf cars (Internal Security), N200m for one hilux and two corollas (Local Government), N100m for three hilux (health), N80m for five hilux (community development), N100m for five vans (information), and N35m for five hilux under the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

Lodge-related works totaled N830.5m: N30.5m for constructing two new lodges, N200m for repairs on 20 office buildings, N100m for the assembly guest house, and N500m for 60 staff quarters within the Government House.

In Ondo State, N7.51bn, including N3.95bn for lawmakers’ vehicles was budgeted. Of this, N245m covered three jeeps for the speaker, deputy speaker, and majority leader; N2.16bn for 27 Toyota Fortuner SUVs; N1.04bn for 13 corollas; N425m for five hilux pickups; and N80m for a Tacoma hilux.

For the executive, N2bn was earmarked for an armoured vehicle, a prado, and a GAC, while a Prado SUV for the commissioner for finance got N230m.

Lodge-related projects took N1.33bn, comprising N480m for lawmakers’ quarters, N600m for office and lodge renovations, and N253m for fumigation and pest control.

Adamawa State allocated N6.46bn for lodge upgrades and vehicle procurement, with N2.9bn going to procurement of 42 SUVs.

The state also earmarked a total of N3.56bn for the renovations and furnishings of the governor and deputy governor’s lodges, as well as SSG’s guest houses in Yola and Abuja.

Kebbi State allocated N5.66bn, with N2.36bn going to vehicles for the state house of assembly, while liaison office upgrades in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and Sokoto took a total of N3.3bn.

Ekiti State earmarked N5.16bn for vehicles and executive residences with N2.36bn for renovating the government lodges and guest houses in Ado Ekiti, Oke-Ayoba and other areas.

While N25m went for the presidential lodge, N1.8bn was voted for the governor and deputy governor’s lodges in Asokoro, Abuja.

The state also set aside N3bn for vehicle procurement, including N1.5bn for eight Prado Jeeps and 20 JAC SUVs (for political appointees), and a total of N800m for 52 other vehicles for the state assembly and Permanent Secretaries.

Cross River State allocated N4.52bn for lodge projects and vehicles with N1.5bn being voted for renovating and furnishing the Governor and Deputy Governor’s lodges as well as other charlets across the state.

Other allocations include N900m for the state’s Presidential Lodge Annex in Calabar, while N1.05bn was set for upkeep of general lodges and the state liaison offices in Abuja and Lagos.

The state also earmarked N173.5m for legislative housing upgrade, and N1.39bn for procuring 28 Toyota Prado SUVs for its House of Assembly members.

Among the low spenders is Jigawa State, which budgeted N3.39bn for vehicles and lodge upgrades. Of this, N300m went for the state guest house renovations, N100m each for furnishing the Governor’s residence and office, N300m for the presidential wing, while N1bn was set aside for four Hilux pickups.

A total of N355m was also voted for renovating the Deputy Governor’s lodge, SSG’s guest house in Dutse and other liaison lodges in Kano and Kaduna.

Vehicles took N1.14bn, including N150m for two Jeeps (Accountant General and Permanent Secretary), N200m for a Prado Jeep and two cars (Speaker and the Deputy), N100m for six vehicles (Assembly leaders), and a total of N689m for other vehicles across the ministries.

Yobe State voted N2.91bn, including N2.18bn for 30 Hilux pickups and two Camry cars for judges and Khadis, and N87.5m for two Hilux vehicles for the Fiscal Responsibility Board.

Lodge upgrades included N500m for renovating the Emir’s Lodge and installing a fuel pump, and N140m for upgrading the State Hotel chalets in Damaturu.

Imo State also earmarked N1.45bn for vehicles and official residence upgrades. Renovation votes included N150m for the Governor’s Lodge (Owerri), N100m for the Deputy Governor’s lodge, N150m for his office, N50m for the Lagos lodge, N80m for Gwarimpa staff quarters, N30m for House 24 in the Government House, N100m for Heroes Square, and N20m for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s lodges.

Vehicles took N770m, covering N250m for 15 Prado Jeeps for judges, N300m for 43 Hilux pickups for judicial officers, N120m for the Chief Judge’s vehicle, and N100m for a car under Tertiary and Technical Education ministry.

However, the capital expenditure details of the remaining 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory could not be obtained, as they were not disclosed in their respective budget performance reports.

by Jerrywright Ukwu


Daniel Bwala, a media aide to President Bola Tinubu, says his principal is “physically fitter than most leaders in advanced countries”.

Speaking in an interview with DW Africa, Bwala addressed questions surrounding Tinubu’s frequent medical trips abroad and recent endorsements ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“In fact, the president of Nigeria physically is fitter than most presidents in the advanced countries,” he said.

Responding to whether the early endorsements were a strategy to consolidate power, Bwala said the process was in line with the All Progressives Congress (APC) internal tradition.

“It’s a procedure or a process with our party that there will be mid-term assessment,” he said.

“So. it’s not President Bola. Whoever is the president at the time, after every mid-term, we will assess and see whether the president has performed to a point where we would entrust the person to continue.”

He said Tinubu had passed that assessment with distinction.

“We have measured that he has performed wonderfully well,” Bwala said.

“And so we are absolutely confident ahead of 2027 that we have the support of our people.”

Asked to name specific achievements of the Tinubu administration, Bwala listed local government autonomy as a major milestone.

“Deepening democracy is one, which is the introduction of local government autonomy,” he said.

“Autonomy that gives the local government chairmen or administrators the enormous resources.

“State governments now are able to recruit vigilantes.

“They are able to buy vehicles and equipment that is necessary for surveillance and intelligence gathering, and then law enforcement.”

He added that Tinubu’s administration had improved healthcare and food access for ordinary Nigerians.

“We also provided dispensaries, for example, free caesarean section for mothers who are having trouble giving birth,” he said.

“We also have a rice policy that has made rice available to Nigerians across all levels.”

“There are subsidies also on certain prescription drugs for the people at the local level. And people are able to access that.

“We’ve been able to register, I think, close to 10 million Nigerians in the national healthcare.”

By Clement A. Oloyede


On Monday, media reports (not Daily Trust) suggested that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), held a secret meeting at the Presidential Villa.

The report, which has since been debunked to Daily Trust by close aides of the former Kano State governor and credible sources at the Presidency, emerged amidst speculation that the presidency was finalising plans to seal Kwankwaso’s return to the ruling party, as permutations of his potential emergence as vice presidential candidate for the 2027 election continued to gather momentum.

According to the purported report, “Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Monday held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the president’s official residence.

“The meeting followed Kwankwaso’s appearance at the opening of the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025 held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

“It is the second publicly known encounter between the two men in just over two years.

“Their last recorded meeting in the Aso Rock Villa took place on June 9, 2023, days after Tinubu’s inauguration, making Kwankwaso the first presidential candidate to visit the President.

“Addressing State House correspondents at the time, Kwankwaso said he discussed politics and governance with the president. He also said he might work with Tinubu, but did not state the details.

“Although Monday’s meeting was not open to the press, the visit came only weeks after the opposition African Democratic Congress announced a broad-based coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections.

“Presidency sources contacted for this report could not confirm the details of the discussion between the two men.

“One source said the meeting was held at the residence and was, therefore, off limits for most aides,” the newspaper reported.

However, one of the sources close to Kwankwaso said, “That narrative is far from the truth. Kwankwaso was only at the Villa for the stated conference and nothing more.”

Also, two sources at the Presidency told the Daily Trust that the meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso did not hold.

For instance, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and other Matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, described the Tinubu/Kwankwaso meeting as “Fake News”.

The other source said, “There was nothing like that. If the meeting has held either in the office or at the residence, it will be known. Take it from me, there was nothing like that.”


The reality on ground

Daily Trust reports that if anything, the relationship being reportedly cultivated between the duo appears to have hit a brick wall after weeks of political speculation ahead of the 2027 contest.

The expected alliance, which had seemed close to materialising following the abrupt resignation of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje — Kwankwaso’s political foe — as national chairman of the president’s All Progressives Congress (APC), now appears to have reached a dead end.

Until June 27, when Ganduje surprisingly threw in the towel, citing ill health in what many considered an unconvincing excuse, political observers had seen his presence at the helm of the ruling party as the main obstacle to Kwankwaso’s return to the APC.

However, the faint hope for an alliance appeared to flicker out between Thursday and the early hours of Friday. First, it was Kwankwaso who, uncharacteristically, fired the first salvo.

Speaking in Kano, just days after his aides debunked rumours of a secret meeting with the president, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement accused the Tinubu administration of neglecting the North and channelling national resources into developing the Southern region, where the president hails from. His accusations resonated across the North, where leaders including some within the APC, had previously expressed concerns about perceived nepotism by the president.

The event at which he made these remarks also raised eyebrows, as it was a Kano State government-sponsored programme broadcast live on television. Many had questioned why the state, outside the National Assembly’s arrangement for a constitution review zonal hearing, decided to organise its own “stakeholders’ dialogue” to present its position on the 2025 constitution amendment proposals — just two weeks after the Kaduna zonal hearing involving Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa States.

Those wondering about the rationale for the event got their answer when Kwankwaso, widely regarded as the political godfather of Kano, took the stage and hit the president with a below-the-belt jab.

“Let me advise those who are struggling by all means to take everything to remember that some of the issues that we have in this part of the country today have to do with the lack of enough resources and mismanagement of the little that comes in. That is why we have insecurity, we have poverty and so on. It is happening here mainly, but like a desert, it would go everywhere,” he said.

Kwankwaso said most roads in the North were in deplorable condition, while the APC-led government continued to allocate massive funds for infrastructure in the South.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), I was to come by air, but unfortunately, my airline decided to shift our takeoff from 3pm to 8pm. I had to come by road. From Abuja to Kaduna to Kano was a hell.”

Sensing the weight of these remarks, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Tinubu, responded on Friday, faulting Kwankwaso’s claims that the federal government had sidelined the North.

In a post on X, Dare said the former Kano governor’s position did not align with “facts on the ground.”

He went on to list more than 40 projects and programmes across sectors that the Tinubu administration had initiated or sustained in northern Nigeria over two years.


Strengthening NNPP base as options increase

Doubling down on his message, Kwankwaso on Friday posted on his own X account that he had welcomed thousands of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the NNPP at his residence in Kano.

He said the NNPP’s growing influence and “distinguished leadership style” in Kano continued to attract new members, encouraging more to join.

“Yesterday was a momentous occasion, as I received thousands of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP),” he stated.

“Speaking during the event at my residence in Kano, I welcomed the new members into our party and promised them equitable treatment and cooperation.

“The distinguished leadership style in Kano and our political leadership keep attracting more people into our fold, and I encourage those considering joining to do so without any hesitation,” the tweet read.

For a politician who had remained unusually quiet while the opposition coalition in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gathered momentum, Kwankwaso’s comments have left many wondering what became of the alliance the president had sought to cement as early as 2023.

Recall that shortly after Tinubu’s victory in 2023, reports emerged of a meeting between the two in Paris, with credible sources confirming that Kwankwaso had agreed to work with the president. The report was hardly surprising, as Kwankwaso had said before the election that if he were not contesting, he would have supported Tinubu’s candidacy.

Close Kwankwaso’s aides even confirmed he had agreed to serve as a minister in Tinubu’s government. But when the president’s list of 45 ministers was released in August 2023, Kwankwaso’s name was conspicuously missing, signalling the first visible crack in the alliance.

A flicker of hope returned when Tinubu reportedly directed Ganduje, then APC chairman, to initiate reconciliation with Kwankwaso and facilitate his return to the party. But Ganduje’s hostility to the idea was apparent, as his public comments were believed to have further strained the would-be alliance.

So when speculation emerged that there was tension within the presidency and that Tinubu might not retain Vice President Kashim Shettima on his 2027 ticket, Kwankwaso’s name once again surfaced as a possible replacement. Thus, Ganduje’s abrupt resignation was seen by analysts as a move to pave the way for Kwankwaso’s return to the APC.

Sources also told Daily Trust at the time that Kwankwaso, whom Tinubu is believed to have long courted, was being approached by the Atiku-led opposition coalition.

“You know Kwankwaso gave the president one condition for rejoining the APC: Ganduje’s removal as national chairman. With Ganduje in charge, Kwankwaso couldn’t assume party leadership in Kano.

“We learnt that the president was informed that Kwankwaso had been approached by the Atiku-led coalition and was already considering the offer. That may have triggered Ganduje’s removal,” a source close to the presidency added.

Following Monday’s rumoured meeting with the president, which never happened, Kwankwaso’s top aides told Weekend Trust that their principal is in no rush to decide whether to work with Tinubu or join the Atiku-led coalition.

“The options before Jagora (Kwankwaso’s affectionate name) are about four now. The option of working with Tinubu has existed since before the 2023 election, but that one is not straightforward. He could either outrightly join the ruling party with or without the offer of a vice presidency, or he could remain in the NNPP with a deal that allows him to control Kano State in 2027 while he runs for president mainly to block Atiku from gaining a foothold.

“Another option is to align with the Atiku-led ADC. But that’s tricky. Since 2019, Madugu (another nickname for Kwankwaso) and Atiku haven’t been on good terms due to the fallout of the 2019 elections. There’s mutual distrust.

“The last option, which we’re all still watching, is returning to the PDP. We’ve heard that some people are lobbying former President Goodluck Jonathan to run again since he’s only eligible for one term — and some are already advancing Jagora as his potential running mate. That’s why he’s not speaking yet. He’s still observing,” a senior aide, who asked not to be named, told Weekend Trust earlier in the week.


Criticism could be a strategy to pressure Tinubu – Dr Hayatu

Providing context, a Kano-based political analyst, Dr Aminu Hayatu, said Kwankwaso’s latest moves may be aimed at forcing Tinubu’s hand, especially now that speculation about dropping Shettima is waning.

“If you observe Kwankwaso’s body language and what has been transpiring between him and Tinubu, you’ll see that Tinubu really wants him in his camp. But Kwankwaso has his own calculations. He could have moved to the APC already, but he’s holding back because it’s too early,” Hayatu said.

“It’s a political gamble. He’s buying time to observe developments. His calculation isn’t just about Tinubu, it’s also about the evolving dynamics in the opposition. He’s watching carefully to decide where to throw his weight.”

Hayatu, a senior lecturer in political science at Bayero University, Kano, said Kwankwaso’s criticism should not be taken at face value.

“Whenever he criticises Tinubu, it doesn’t mean they’re done. He’s doing it to pressurise the administration and show he’s a formidable figure who shouldn’t be ignored.

“It seems the presidency is taking him for granted now. When talk of dropping the vice president started, he sensed an opportunity. But now that’s cooled off, he probably feels overlooked; and as a politician, he has to periodically demonstrate his strength, whether by criticising the administration or welcoming defectors like he did yesterday.”

He said Kwankwaso’s political strategy is calculated, not confrontational.

“It’s not about fighting Tinubu. It’s a strategic push to extract meaningful concessions.”

Hayatu also noted that Kwankwaso is treading carefully with the opposition coalition.

“He wants to be sure he’s backing the right side,” he added.

“In the end, it’s the political dynamics that will determine whether he joins the APC or not. And don’t forget, his base matters. If he joins the APC, there’s a risk of losing support, especially since many of his followers are Tinubu critics.

“In politics, you measure your strength and vulnerability against available opportunities and threats. His calculations are ongoing. It won’t be surprising if he makes a move soon, either towards the APC or by consolidating his NNPP base.

“What he’s after is not necessarily the presidency, he knows that’s unlikely right now. But he’s positioning himself to negotiate a meaningful role in government.

“He’s in no hurry to choose between Tinubu and the opposition. He’ll wait and watch until the timing is right.”


How the ‘relationship’ started

For nearly two years, the political atmosphere had been filled with conjectures suggesting that Kwankwaso, who garnered a significant 1,496,687 votes in the 2023 presidential election, had indirectly aided Tinubu’s path to victory by allegedly eroding the northern base of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Tinubu secured only 517,341 votes in Kano State, which is far behind Kwankwaso’s 997,279, but enough to block Atiku, who managed just 131,716 votes in the state.

Some analysts believe that had Kwankwaso stepped aside and endorsed Atiku, the PDP candidate could have enjoyed a significant northern surge, possibly changing the national outcome.

Tinubu ultimately won the presidency with 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku got 6,984,520. The margin, which is just over 1.8 million votes, raises eyebrows when juxtaposed against Kwankwaso’s haul, particularly in Kano and neighbouring states such as Jigawa and Katsina. The arithmetic provides a tempting basis for the theory that Kwankwaso was a silent enabler of Tinubu’s victory, even if unintentionally.

With the political climate gradually tilting toward the 2027 general elections, Kwankwaso’s next move could have far-reaching consequences. Should he contest again or throw his weight behind a major contender especially one from the North, the electoral dynamics would be shaken. His influence in Kano, which remains the most populous state in Nigeria with over 5.9 million registered voters in 2023, is still potent.

In the last presidential poll, Kwankwaso not only won the state but also proved that he could sway elections far beyond the NNPP’s limited national reach. That sort of electoral heft will be sought after by anyone challenging Tinubu in 2027, including Atiku Abubakar if he chooses to run again, or a new northern consensus candidate.

Meanwhile, Tinubu may be facing a slow erosion of political goodwill in the North. Already accused of leaning heavily toward the South-West in key appointments, his strained relationship with influential northern figures like Kwankwaso could jeopardise his northern base, which was critical to his 2023 victory.

But sources believed that Tinubu is also exploring other options in the North to solidify his chances.

One of them said: “The truth is that Kwankwaso wants the alliance to be done on his own terms which is not possible.

“For instance, ahead of the appointment of ministers, he was asked to nominate his preferred candidate but he looked the other way.

“This may appear to be a different narrative from what is out there, that he will be made a minister. What of if the president only wants him to remain as a kingmaker?

“Also, against all entreaties that Kwankwaso and the Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf should allow the status quo remains at the Kano Emirate, they turned the other way. Now, look at the stalemate in the state. These are some of the issues,” he said.

Eko Electricity Distribution Company has announced a 25-day blackout in parts of Lagos State.

Eko DisCo disclosed this in a notice to customers on Friday posted on its X account.

According to EKEDC, the blackout would commence on 28th July and last until August 21st, 2025, between 8am and 5pm daily.

The Disco explained that the outage is to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria carry out work on the Omotosho-Ikeja West 330 kV line.

“EKEDC has announced a daily planned power outage from Monday, 28 July, to Thursday, 21 August 2025, due to essential maintenance work by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the Omotosho-Ikeja West 330 kV line.

“The outage will occur between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day, affecting several parts of Lagos and other serviced areas. During this period, residents should expect intermittent electricity supply and load shedding across the Eko Disco network,” the Disco stated.

By Hussaini Ibrahim


An African rock python has reportedly escaped from the private residence of a former Accountant General of the Federation in Daneji, a densely populated area of the Kano Municipal Local Government Area.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has sparked fears among residents, with reports indicating that the snake has yet to be found.

Speaking to Arewa PUNCH on Thursday, a resident, Nurulhaq Kabir Muhammad, confirmed that the development has thrown the neighbourhood into anxiety.

“Since the python escaped, everyone has been living in fear. All the other animals in the house were evacuated on Tuesday,” he said.

Another resident, Rabi’u Isma’il, described the situation as terrifying, saying, “We can’t sleep peacefully knowing that a giant snake is on the loose and hiding somewhere. Many of us have stopped allowing our children to play outside,” he added.

Similarly, Aisha Lawal, a mother of three, called on authorities to act swiftly. “This is not just about the snake – it’s about our safety. We need help before something tragic happens,” she cried out.

Arewa PUNCH could not immediately ascertain how the snake managed to escape or what safety measures were in place at the residence that failed to check the python’s escape.

Efforts to reach the former AGF or members of his household were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Our correspondent recalls that the former AGF, who served under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, was previously enmeshed in a high-profile corruption investigation involving the alleged misappropriation of over N109 billion.

His name made national headlines when he was arrested and arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with the case.

Though legal proceedings are still ongoing, the former official has maintained a low profile since leaving office.

Smarting with panic over the escaped python, not a few of the residents have called on security agencies and relevant authorities to intervene and ensure the reptile is found and immediately evacuated to prevent any possible harm.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command has started an investigation on the ex-Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmad Idiris, for maintaining within the City Center, dangerous pets and species, which included pythons and crocodiles.

The State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, told our Correspondent that, “it is true we have invited the former AGF yesterday with regards to maintaining pets at his home, causing tension and pandemonium among Residents.”

Although the Police Chief explained that Ahmad Idiris had agreed to surrender all the dangerous pets to the state zoology, he noted that they are still investigating the matter to ascertain weather or not they have caused injuries, misnomer among the residents.

He added, “we have since dispatched an Intelligent Unit of the Command to the State Zoology to ascertain the facts of if the former AGF has truly surrendered the pets to them and to also find out whether anybody sustained injuries or even death from the escaped Phyton from his house.”

In the same vein, the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi has warned Idris to quickly evacuate his dangerous pets from within the City Center.

The Emir who received the resident’s of Danaji Quarters where the former AGF lives, and who complained to him concerning their fears about the pets living in their midst, warned Ahmad Idiris that should anything happen to anybody he will be held responsible.

The dangerous python escaped last Sunday from the Country Home of Idris into the City Center, causing panic and pandemonium.