₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reduced the retail price of petrol at its outlets to N925 per litre in Lagos and N965 per litre in Abuja.

NNPC dropped the price of the product from N1,025 per litre in Lagos and N1,040 in Abuja.

TheCable observed that the petrol price dropped to N925 per litre at NNPC retail outlets in Ago Palace Way, Lagos.

A pump attendant told TheCable that the NNPC outlet at Apple Junction reduced its petrol price on Monday afternoon to N925.

However, at the NNPC retail branch at College Road, Ogba, the price of the product stood at N1,015.

The pump price of petrol also dropped to N1,015 — from N1,025 per litre at the Mobile filling station, at College Road.

In Abuja, NNPC also slashed the petrol price to N965 at its Lugbe outlet.

At the MRS filling station on Kubwa road, the pump price dropped to N935 per litre from N1,070.

In Ibadan, NNPC reduced the price of the product to N985 per litre — from N1,015 per litre — at the Agodi retail outlet.

The development comes after a reduction in the product’s ex-depot prices in the downstream sector.

On December 19, Dangote Petroleum Refinery reduced the ex-depot price of its petrol to N899.50 per litre.

Similarly, the refinery partnered with MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations to sell petrol at N935 per litre at its retail outlets.

On December 21, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) said the NNPC reduced its ex-depot price to N899 per litre in Lagos.

The federal government voted N2.3 trillion for the scrapped ministries of Niger Delta and Sports Development in the 2025 budget proposals, checks by Daily Trust have revealed.

Our correspondents could not establish whether it was an error or not, but experts said there was no diligence in putting the budget documents together even if at the end of the day it turned out that the monies earmarked were meant for the new Ministry of Regional Development and the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The Niger Delta and sports ministries were scrapped by the government in October when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the decision after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The National Sports Commission took over the role of the Ministry of Sports Development.

President Tinubu had last week presented the Appropriation Bill of N49.7 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly.

Checks by the Daily Trust also revealed that the budget proposals did not capture the new Ministry of Regional Development.

The reinstated National Sports Commission (NSC) was also not allocated any funds, according to the document.

For the scrapped Ministry of Sports Development, the budget shows an allocation of N95 billion, with N0.9 billion allocated for personnel, N14 billion for overhead and N79.7 billion for capital expenditure.

The Ministry of Regional Development is meant to supervise all the regional development bodies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the North East Development Commission (NEDC), the North West Development Commission (NWDC), the South West Development Commission (SWDC) and the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

However, in the details of the 2025 Appropriation Bill that was released by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the sum of N2.23 trillion was budgeted for the scrapped Niger Delta Ministry.

A breakdown of the budgetary provision for the ministry shows that personnel cost will gulp N2.205 trillion, while N1.7 billion is budgeted for overhead and N24.5 billion for capital expenditure.

What is curious in the details of the budget estimates is that besides the allocation to the scrapped Niger Delta ministry, all the five regional development commissions also have their separate allocations.


Regional commissions to gulp N2.49trn

The Appropriation Bill showed the allocations of N2.49 trillion for the existing NDDC and NEDC, as well as the newly established NWDC, SWDC and SEDC.

A sum of N776.53 billion was proposed for the NDDC; NWDC got N585.93 billion; SWDC got N498.40 billion; SEDC got N341.27 billion; and NEDC got N290.99 billion.


N180m for Villa’s animals

Meanwhile, the State House has been allocated the sum of N179.6 million for wildlife conservation in the 2025 budget proposals.

Daily Trust reports that the Presidential Wildlife Sanctuary (PWLS), formerly known as the State House Zoo, was approved for upgrade during the last administration of then President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the details of the budget, N124,612,890 would be spent on wildlife conservation while another N54,951,622 was allocated for the conversion/upgrade of Villa Ranch and the construction of Wildlife Conservation Capture.

The Appropriation Bill also showed that maintenance of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, would gulp N5,492,349,184; and procurement of operational vehicles, N3,661,566,123


Budget lacks structural reforms, fiscal discipline – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his assessment of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, said it lacks the structural reforms and fiscal discipline required to address Nigeria’s multifaceted economic challenges.

He said to enhance the budget’s credibility, the administration must prioritise the reduction of inefficiencies in government operations, tackle contract inflation, and focus on long-term fiscal sustainability rather than perpetuate “unsustainable borrowing and recurrent spending patterns.”

According to him, a shift towards a more disciplined and growth-oriented fiscal policy is essential for the nation’s economic recovery.

Atiku alleged that the budget reflects a continuation of business-as-usual fiscal practices.

“This represents a persistent trend under the APC-led administration since 2016, wherein budget deficits have been consistently presented, accompanied by an increasing reliance on external borrowing.

“To bridge this fiscal gap, the administration plans to secure over N13 trillion in new borrowings, including N9 trillion in direct borrowings and N4 trillion in project-specific loans. This borrowing strategy mirrors the approach of previous administrations, resulting in rising public debt and exacerbating the attendant risks related to interest payments and foreign exchange exposure.”

He also said the 2025 budget’s capacity to foster sustainable economic growth and tackle Nigeria’s deep-rooted challenges is questionable.

“Key issues arise from several factors: 1. Weak Budgetary Foundations: The 2024 budget’s underperformance signals poor budgetary execution. By Q3 of the fiscal year, less than 35% of the allocated capital expenditure for MDAs had been disbursed, despite claims of 85% budget execution.

“This underperformance in capital spending, crucial for fostering economic transformation, raises concerns about the execution of the 2025 budget.

“Disproportionate debt servicing: Debt servicing, which accounts for N15.8 trillion (33% of the total expenditure), is nearly equal to planned capital expenditure (N16 trillion, or 34%). Moreover, debt servicing surpasses spending on key priority sectors such as defence (N4.91 trillion), infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), education (N3.52 trillion), and health (N2.4 trillion). This imbalance will likely crowd out essential investments and perpetuate a cycle of increasing borrowing and debt accumulation, undermining fiscal stability.

“Unsustainable government expenditure: The government’s recurrent expenditure remains disproportionately high, with over N14 trillion (30% of the budget) allocated to operating an oversized bureaucracy and supporting inefficient public enterprises. The lack of concrete steps to curb wastage and enhance the efficiency of public spending exacerbates the fiscal challenges, leaving limited resources for development.

“Insufficient capital investment: After accounting for debt servicing and recurrent expenditure, the remaining allocation for capital spending, ranging from 25% to 34% of the total budget is insufficient to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and stimulate growth. This equates to an average capital allocation of approximately N80,000 (US$45) per capita, insufficient to meet the demands of a nation grappling with slow growth and infrastructural underdevelopment.

“Regressive taxation and economic strain: The administration’s decision to increase the VAT rate from 7.5% to 10% is a retrogressive measure that will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis and impede economic growth.

By imposing additional tax burdens on an already struggling populace while failing to address governance inefficiencies, the government risks stifling domestic consumption and further deepening economic hardship,” Atiku said.

Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, yesterday said making provisions for the scrapped ministries in the 2025 budget proposals was embarrassing, scandalous and ridiculous.

In a chat with Daily Trust, he urged the National Assembly to be very vigilant and not to approve the fiscal document in a hurry.

“The discovery of this insertion or provisions of the budgetary allocation to these ministries that have been scrapped by Mr. President clearly shows that this budget was not done thoroughly and was not done on the basis of need assessment and was not done with the view to ensure that there is a quality service or good governance attached to it.

“We cannot be doing this analogue budget of copy and paste. Mr. President needs to caution the people that are putting this budget because it is very embarrassing to see that government is putting huge amount of money to places where they did not even exist.

“This is very scandalous and very ridiculous and shows really clearly the intention of some people to siphon this money. Because if this budget is not done properly, it is not going to be a good thing for the government. If this budget goes without removing these items, it clearly means that some people are out there to corner this money and that is why in the first place this bogus budget that the government presented is uncalled for.

He said that Nigeria need to do a realistic budget that will really help bring about quality governance and development.

He said, “We need to do a budget that can finance development and reduce poverty, reduce unemployment, create conducive atmosphere in terms of social infrastructure, in terms of security, in terms of the well-being of Nigerians.

“We cannot be doing a budget of copy and paste that clearly showed intention, deliberate and conscious intention to make provision of agencies or ministries that didn’t even exist. This really clearly showed that the National Assembly members have to do something very rigorous to find out all those areas of suspicion, duplication, and areas that are clearly meant to waste public taxpayers’ money,” he said.

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, and Thursday, December, 25 and 26 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations, respectively.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government on Monday morning, extended warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.

Tunji-ojo, in a statement signed by the Ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, further emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and strengthen bonds across families and communities.

The Minister also felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion.

Dr Tunji-Ojo enjoined Christians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ in his practice and teachings of humility, service, compassion, and patience.

He stressed that peace and security are critical prerequisites for economic development and prosperity.

The minister assured that the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, will continue to put in place effective measures for the security of lives and property.

He urged Nigerians to be security-conscious, and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agencies.

Tunji-Ojo noted that the Yuletide season calls for discipline to protect the lives and property of everyone in their respective communities and the nation as a whole.

The Minister urged all citizens to remain focused that the year 2025 will be a better year with the Renewed Hope agenda of the President.

“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” he stated.

He assured citizens of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.

While wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025, he expressed his confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu-led administration ushering in the New Year a better and prosperous economy that will be the envy of the world.

The Nigeria Customs Service on Saturday sold approximately 20,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from a tanker seized from smugglers at an auction price of ₦630 per liter to members of the public in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The seizure of the petroleum product was carried out by operatives of Operation Whirlwind in the Oyo/Osun axis, according to information obtained by Sunday Tribune.

The fuel was sold at Afoo Filling Station in the Masfala area of Ibadan.

Flagging off the sale, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, revealed that the intercepted tanker, along with another 30 kegs containing 25 liters of petrol each, was seized while being smuggled out of the country.

He disclosed that the total duty-paid value of the seized petrol, amounting to 30,750 liters, was estimated at ₦42.75 million.

Comptroller Ejibunu explained that Customs decided to sell the petrol to members of the public after obtaining a court condemnation order through the office of the legal adviser. This followed a period during which the seized items remained unclaimed.

He further stated that the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashiru Adeniyi, directed the sale to ensure the public could access the product, especially during the festive season.

Comptroller Ejibunu added:
“Government at every level ensures that citizens receive what they are entitled to, as and when due. It is part of government policy to ensure that seized goods are auctioned to Nigerians for their use.”

Oil marketers operating under the auspices of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria have projected a decrease in the retail cost of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, to N950 per litre in Lagos State.

It also said petrol customers in the Federal Capital Territory may pay N990 for a litre.

The IPMAN National Publicity Officer, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, gave the hint during an interview with our correspondent, stressing that the product will now trade for less than a thousand naira.

He said, “Once there is a price reduction, it will trickle down. There will be a change to the pump price. It will be less than N1,000. But the difference will be determined by location. It may be N950 in Lagos and possibly N990 in Abuja. Logistics will play a key role. Remember that the price of diesel hasn’t reduced and that is what we put in our tankers.”

This expected price reduction follows the decision by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to lower its ex-depot price to N899.50 per litre.

The new price is the second reduction within a month and a decrease of N71 or seven.per cent from the previously adjusted price of N970 per litre on November 24.

Earlier on Thursday, a statement by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, announced the introduction of a special petrol price offer to benefit Nigerians.

In addition to the holiday discount, it said customers are now allowed to purchase an additional litre of fuel on credit for every litre bought on a cash basis.

The refinery offered a price of N899.5 (cash payment) for two million litres and a matching two million litres on a Bank Guarantee valid for 15 days (Access, Zenith & First Bank) from the N970 per litre announced by the company last month.

It also proposed an N895 (cash payment) for 10 million litres and a matching 10 million litres on a BG valid for 15 days (Access, Zenith & First Bank).

It said the reduction is to provide much-needed relief for Nigerians ahead of the holiday season.

Chiejina said, “To alleviate transport costs during this holiday season, Dangote Refinery is offering a holiday discount on PMS. From today, our petrol will be available at N899.50 per litre at our truck loading gantry or SPM. Furthermore, for every litre purchased on a cash basis, consumers will have the opportunity to buy another litre on credit, backed by a bank guarantee from Access Bank, First Bank, or Zenith Bank.”

The refinery also expressed its gratitude to Nigerians for their continued support as the country enters the festive season.

Chiejina further emphasised the refinery’s commitment to ensuring Nigerians have access to premium quality petroleum products that are competitively priced, as well as environmentally and engine friendly.

He highlighted that the refinery’s operations mark the end of Nigeria being a dumping ground for substandard and ‘blended’ imported products, which have posed significant risks to human health, machinery, and the environment.

He noted, “The Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is the largest single-train refinery in the world. It is fully capable of meeting 100 per cent of Nigeria’s refined petroleum product requirements, with a surplus available for export.”

Last week, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria sought a reduction in the price of petrol from the refinery.

The group urged the Dangote refinery to consider reducing its ex-depot price from N970 per litre since the estimated cost of landing petrol on Nigeria’s shores has dropped to N900.28 per litre.

Reacting to the new price change, the IPMAN Chairman, Abubakar Maigandi, said the gesture was expected and will reduce the retail price of petrol once offtaking begins.

Abubakar, in an interview with Arise TV, said, “What Dangote has done is what we have been expecting. My marketers are very happy about the reduction, which they have put at the rate of N899.50 per litre for those who are buying two million litres and those buying above 10 million litres will also have their reduction. This is a welcome development. We are happy because we know that the masses will enjoy the benefits.

“We have been telling Nigerians to exercise patience; we knew the price would drop, and we all are seeing it now little by little. The offer to get one million on credit after purchasing two million is also welcome.”

On the reduction of the retail price, he noted, “Once we start picking up products, we are going to change our price so that the consumer will enjoy the benefit.

“Our major challenge was the cost of products from Dangote, so I assure you that with this, all transportation and economic activities will change, especially because transportation is a major driver, and we hope to resolve it with this new change. Now, there is no need to import products from outside the country.”

Also speaking, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria applauded the management of Dangote refinery for slashing the ex-depot price of PMS to N899.50 per litre.

According to the National President of PETROAN, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, “The price reduction will alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and reduce the cost of living and transportation during this festive period.”

Harry commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for ensuring sufficient PMS stocks during the yuletide season. However, he urged NNPCL to revisit its PMS selling rate to foster competition in the downstream sector.

“The reduction in petrol prices by Dangote Refinery has shown that competition can benefit consumers,”

Harry emphasised, “We call on NNPCL to facilitate the privatization of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which will introduce innovative consumer incentives, improve product quality, and enhance service delivery.”

Speaking further in an interview with our correspondent, the PETROAN President stated that its members, empathetic to the suffering of Nigerians, have lowered their prices at retail outlets to nearly N900.

Gillis-Harry said the gesture is intended to demonstrate their leadership in the downstream sector and ensure an adequate supply of petroleum products for Nigerians during the Yuletide season.

He said, “PETROAN members and leadership have reduced their price to almost N900 in several stations even before the Dangote reduction. When we made a strategic agreement with Dangote, even when we hadn’t concluded the whole process. We already know that the PMS and other products will be reviewed and reduced. PETROAN is leading the way to ensure fuel sufficiency and availability. We are making the sacrifice to show our leadership and provide relief for Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, the NNPCL has faltered in its mandate to deliver 385,000 barrels of crude to Dangote Refinery in the month of December, a new report by Argus has stated.

It said the national oil firm only supplied around 202,000 barrels per day in December.

The report further noted that the ramp-up of production at the 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery, likely to occur next year, will affect West African crude trade flows in 2025.

“The refinery remains well below full capacity for now, with estimated deliveries averaging just under 260,000 b/d since March, but Nigerian operator Dangote Group is aiming for 350,000 b/d throughout the first phase of operations.

“When this takes place, and Dangote makes full use of its 385,000 b/d monthly allocation deal with state-owned NNPC, it will affect the amount of Nigerian crude left to be exported to the country’s key outlet – the European market,” it stated.

Although NNPC only supplied around 202,000 b/d in December, the total volume under the deal is equivalent to around a quarter of Nigeria’s crude and condensate monthly exports.

“The deal will eventually bring support to Nigerian crude differentials when European demand is stronger or at least cushion the decline when demand is weaker,” it added.

As Dangote ramps up operations, the refiner could widen its crude slate, which could also affect crude trade flows.

The refinery will take receipt of a 2m barrels cargo of US light sweet WTI bought from Chevron via a tender that closed in November, after a three-month hiatus related to credit issues.

The report noted that Dangote has so far run exclusively on Nigerian crude and WTI, but Nigerian banks eased restrictions on the provision of trade finance to the refiner, which could open the door for possible purchases of non-Nigerian West African crude.

Sources close to the refinery point to Angolan heavy and medium sweet grades as likely to become part of the refinery’s basket intake.

Market participants also pointed out that the recent WTI tender might signal Dangote’s attempt to increase run rates.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will spend N9.36 billion on local and foreign travels as well as refreshments in the coming year.

This is contained in the details of the 2025 Appropriation Bill released by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

The president had, on Wednesday, present the N49.7 trillion 2025 budget proposals to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The fiscal document is christened: ‘Restoration Budget, Securing peace and building prosperity.’

According to the budget proposal, Tinubu will spend N7.44 billion on travels and refreshments; while Shettima will spend N1.9 billion for same.

The president’s international travels in 2025 will gulp N6.14 billion; and his local trips, N873.9 million.

Also, the sum of N431.6 million was earmarked for Tinubu’s refreshments and meals as well as foodstuffs and catering supplies.

The vice president’s international travels in 2025 will gulp N1.31 billion; and local trips, N417.5 million.

Refreshments and meals as well as foodstuff and catering supplies for the vice president will gulp N186.02 million.

In 2024, President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and First Lady Remi Tinubu spent not less than N5.24 billion on local and foreign travel between January and March 2024, according to an analysis of the travel expenses using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending.

Presidency to spend N10.6bn on cars, honorarium, fuel, SAs office

The Office of the President also proposed N4,760,035,960 for vehicles, with N3,661,566,123 for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1 billion for the replacement of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUVs).

Another N255,728,214 was budgeted for purchase of cars, with N127,864,107 set aside for the procurement of SUVS for the president and vice president as well as N127,864,107 for the purchase of operational vehicles at the Presidential Conference Car Unit (CCU) fleet.

The sum of N5,938,883,548 was proposed for honorarium, construction for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants’ Office Complex and fuel for generators.

The budget proposals showed that N2,118,521,128 was earmarked for sitting allowance/honorarium, N1,989,579,359 for fuel and N1,830,783,061 (billion) is for construction of office complex for SAs and SSAs.


2025 Appropriation Bill scales second reading

The National Assembly yesterday passed the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ Budget for a second reading.

The budget was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives after various deliberations on the bill’s general principles by senators and members of the House of Representatives at their separate sittings.

In the Senate, the budget was passed and referred to the Committee on Appropriations after being put to a voice vote by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session.

Similarly, in the House of Representatives, the appropriation bill was passed for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Appropriation for further legislative actions.

Also, the House also passed through Second Reading, a Bill to extend the capital component of the 2024 Budget to June 30th, 2025.

The bill was presented on the floor of the House by the House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvere.

It was titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Appropriation Act, 2024 to extend the Implementation of the Capital Component of the Appropriation Act, 2024 from 31 December, 2024 to 30 June 2025 and for Related Matters (HB.2023).’

Meanwhile, both chambers of the National Assembly have adjourned sittings to January 14, 2025, to observe recess for the yuletide celebrations.

By Victor Olorunfemi


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on Wednesday, approved the plan by California to ban the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035 as part of the state’s regulatory efforts towards cleaner energy.

According to Reuters, the plan, which was approved by the EPA as part of President Joe Biden’s administration’s final acts in office, was first announced in 2020 and will require a minimum of 80 per cent of new cars sold be electric.

Under the California Clean Air Act, up to 20 per cent of new vehicles must be plug-in hybrid models by 2035.

“Clean cars are here to stay,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said. “Naysayers like President-elect Trump would prefer to side with the oil industry over consumers and American automakers, but California will continue fostering new innovations in the market.”

Mr Newsom’s comments were in reference to Mr Trump’s vow that he would revoke the approvals granted by the EPA to California, requiring more EVs and tighter vehicle emissions standards once he entered the White House in January.

A series of other waivers were also approved by the EPA for California, including the state’s “Omnibus” low-NOx, or low-nitrogen oxide, regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines, while six others are pending, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, New York, Oregon, Massachusetts and eight other states in the U.S. have also adopted California’s rules. It is unclear if those states will succeed in getting approval to implement the plan under the incoming Trump administration.

The Bureau, which made this known in a short statement issued on its X social media handle at 8.32pm on Wednesday, warned the general public to disregard any message or report posted on its behalf by any source until the website is fully restored.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has raised an alarm that its official website has been hacked by unknown fraudsters.

The Bureau, which made this known in a short statement issued on its X social media handle at 8.32pm on Wednesday, warned the general public to disregard any message or report posted on its behalf by any source until the website is fully restored.

It noted that its technical team is working to recover the website.

The statement reads, “This is to inform the public that the NBS Website has been hacked and we are working to recover it. Please disregard any message or report posted until the website is fully restored.”

SaharaReporters’ quick check on the Bureau’s website confirmed that it displayed, “Page Hacked.”

Further attempts to access the website failed as it displayed: “Internal Server Error. The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

“Please contact the server administrator at webmaster@nigerianstat.gov.ng to inform them of the time this error occurred, and the actions you performed just before this error.

“More information about this error may be available in the server error log.

“Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.”

By Seun Opejobi


The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas was caught on camera, exchanging banters with President Bola Tinubu after the 2025 budget presentation.

Abbas was seen saying he would come to Lagos to see Tinubu.

He said: “Congratulations sir, we will come and see you in Lagos.”

Tinubu had presented a proposed N47.9 trillion budget to a joint session of the National Assembly for the 2025 fiscal year.

The 2025 budget was tagged ‘The Restoration Budget: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity’.

In the highlights, Tinubu said N4.91 trillion has been allocated to Defence and Security, while Infrastructure has N4.06 trillion, Education – N3.52 trillion, and Health – N2.48 trillion.

By Justice Okamgba


The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has disclosed that MTN Nigeria contributes over N200 billion in Value Added Tax monthly, making it the largest contributor to the nation’s VAT pool.

Oyedele made the disclosure recently while speaking as a panellist during Channels Television’s Town Hall on Tax Reforms.

He used the platform to highlight disparities in the current VAT distribution system and explained the reforms aimed at addressing them.

According to the tax expert, the current system allocates all VAT paid by the country’s biggest telco to Lagos State, where the company’s headquarters is located, even though the services that generate this revenue are consumed nationwide.

“MTN is the largest contributor to VAT in Nigeria. So they, in fact, pay VAT of over N200bn every month; the gap between them and number two is huge.”

He added, “Today, all the VAT paid by MTN is credited and attributed to Lagos State, even as calls are made in Kano, the FCT, Ekiti, Edo, or Kebbi.”

Part of the reform bill proposes adjustments to ensure a more equitable distribution of VAT revenues across states based on actual consumption rather than the location of corporate headquarters.

To demonstrate the implications of the proposed reforms, Oyedele provided a hypothetical redistribution model of MTN’s VAT contributions.

He illustrated how the reforms would allocate the VAT revenue based on consumption rather than the location of the company’s headquarters.

Under this new framework, Lagos State, which currently retains the full N200bn, would see its share reduced to approximately 20 per cent, while other states across the federation would benefit from a fairer distribution.

“This adjustment ensures that states where the VAT is generated get their fair share,” Oyedele said.

“When you analyse the data, you see Lagos State’s share reduces slightly, but every other state gains.”

The tax reform bill, which aims to address longstanding issues in Nigeria’s fiscal policies, includes provisions for revenue redistribution, addressing inefficiencies, and promoting fairness in the tax system.

The reform proposal has sparked debates recently, with some critics accusing the committee of pushing policies that could adversely affect some parties.

Oyedele dismissed these claims, emphasising that the current system is flawed and unfair. “If you’re doing the wrong thing, how can Lagos State disagree with us when we propose to fix it?” he argued.

There is no end in sight yet to the low cash supply by commercial banks as customers face increasing difficulty with cash withdrawal, checks by Daily Trust have shown.

There are indications that commercial banks have also limited cash withdrawal on Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) to N20,000 for multiple account holders.

Daily Trust reports that the cash scarcity has worsened in recent times despite a warning by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to impose sanctions on commercial banks.

This is in spite of over N4.3 trillion currency in circulation, which has sustained an upward trajectory in the outgoing year.

The CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso had at the annual Bankers’ Dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos recently assured that the bank would continue to “Maintain a robust cash offering to meet the country’s needs, particularly during high demand periods such as the festive season and year-end.”

Reports from across the country indicated that customers were still having difficulty with withdrawing cash from either the banks or ATMs.

It was learnt that customers with multiple accounts are only allowed to make ATM withdrawal of N20,000 on a daily basis.

A bank customer told our correspondent that he couldn’t make further withdrawal from his other account after withdrawing N20,000 from his first account.

“Because I needed more cash, I used another ATM card to make further withdrawals but I got a response that the daily withdrawal limit has been exceeded,” the customer said.

Daily Trust findings also showed that withdrawal limit varies depending on the availability of cash even as some ATMs pegged maximum withdrawal from other banks to N5,000.

Daily Trust gathered that the withdrawal limit at one of the branches of Guaranty Trust Bank, (GTB) was pegged at N5,000. Further findings showed that a user with two ATM cards of different banks could withdraw N5,000 each.

For GTB customers, the withdrawal limit was pegged at N20,000 both at the ATM and over the counter.

One of the bank officials who was asked about the withdrawal limit said: “It depends on the availability of cash but now the limit is N20,000.”

At FCMB, our correspondent gathered that the withdrawal limit of other banks was pegged at N20,000 while the withdrawal limit for FCMB customers was pegged at N40,000.

Also, at Zenith Bank, it was gathered that the withdrawal limit was N20,000.

A point-of-sale (POS) agent, Mosuru Oluwasegun pleaded with bank authorities to ease the means of doing business for POS operators, saying the withdrawal limit of N5000 as an untold hardship.

“We are facing serious problems with scarcity of cash, it has not been easy as banks do not dispense enough money. They dispense only N5,000, which is not enough for us to do our business,” he added.


Cash supply is low, we are rationing – Bank sources

Sources at some DMBs told our correspondent that cash supply is slow across the bank branches while confirming the withdrawal limit by some banks.

“Cash supply is low so banks are managing for it to go round. POS people don’t even get cash from the banks. They source from fuel stations and markets but people will think it’s from banks,” one of the bank officials who spoke with our correspondent in confidence said.

Written by Nafisat Abdulrahman


The latest ‘Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey’ (CESPS) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024.

The report underscored the worsening security crisis across the country and its devastating financial impact on households.

According to the survey, 65% of households affected by kidnapping were forced to pay ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones. The average ransom paid stood at N2.67 million, highlighting the heavy burden placed on victims.

The report stated, “Among households that experienced kidnapping incidents, 65.0% paid a ransom. The average amount paid as ransom was N2,670,693, with an estimated total ransom of N2,231,772,563,507 paid within the reference period.”

The CESPS recorded a total of 51.89 million crime incidents affecting Nigerian households during the 12-month period. The North-West emerged as the most affected region, reporting 14.4 million crime cases, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million cases. In contrast, the South-East recorded the lowest number of crime incidents at 6.18 million.

The survey further revealed that crime rates were higher in rural areas than in urban settings. Rural households experienced 26.53 million crime cases, compared to 25.36 million in urban areas.

Home robbery remained a major concern, affecting approximately 4.14 million households. Despite its prevalence, only 36.3% of affected households reported the incidents to the police, reflecting a lack of confidence in law enforcement.

The report noted, “Less than half (36.3%) of the households who were victims of home robbery reported their experience to the police.”

The low reporting rates extended to kidnappings as well, with many victims believing that police intervention would not lead to meaningful action.

The survey also highlighted the prevalence of sexual offences, affecting approximately 1.4 million Nigerians. Disturbingly, many of these crimes occurred either in victims’ homes (22.2%) or in the homes of others (27.7%). Reporting rates for sexual offences were alarmingly low, with only 22.7% of victims informing the police.

Phone theft emerged as the most common individual crime, affecting 13.8% of Nigerians. Despite its frequency, 90% of victims reported the incidents to law enforcement, though only half expressed satisfaction with the police response.

The survey also shed light on Nigerians’ growing fear of crime, with 9.6% of respondents expressing concern about becoming victims within the next year. This fear was more pronounced in rural areas (13.0%) compared to urban areas (7.0%).

The CESPS highlighted critical gaps in the response time of security agencies. Nationally, only 33.1% of Nigerians reported that security forces responded to emergency calls within 30 minutes. Slow police responses and dissatisfaction with law enforcement performance have forced many rural communities to rely on local vigilante groups for security.

The report further revealed, “Approximately 4 out of 10 households interacted with state or local security forces during the survey period, with 1 in 2 households contacting the Nigerian Police.”

Satisfaction with police response was particularly low in cases involving livestock and crop theft, with levels at 42.9% and 42.4%, respectively.

The NBS report painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s security landscape, with kidnapping, home robbery, and other crimes continuing to rise. As ransom payments soar and rural communities grapple with inadequate security, the call for improved law enforcement efficiency and trust remained urgent.

[img]https://i0.wp.com/newtelegraphng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/bonnie-blue.webp?w=700&ssl=1[/img]

A woman who slept with 100 men in one day has got candid about her challenge. Lily Phillips has made £2million from her use of content creation site OnlyFans as her challenges – and controversial films – have helped her build an audience of 36,000 paying subscribers.

Her career might be a stark contrast to her childhood dreams of owning a wedding dress boutique, like her aunt did, but Lily is now determined to break the “world record” next month and have sex with 1,000 in the same period of time.

The model, who grew up in Denby, Derbyshire, said: “I didn’t get into OnlyFans because I was desperate for money. My parents loved to spoil us, I had a very comfortable, happy life.

It was the picture-perfect childhood and I had amazing parents.” Lily, though, left state school with five GCSEs and then went to university to study Nutrition.

However, there she admitted she started “sleeping around” and decided to start her OnlyFans account in 2020. She made £2,000 in the first month, giving her a taste for more.

By Punch Editorial Board

IT is indisputable that the economy has been weak for close to two years and many Nigerians are undergoing an excruciating cost of living crisis. Inflation, as of November, was at 34.6 per cent, food inflation at 39.93 per cent and the naira is still very depressed.

Against this backdrop, organised labour fought for and won the promulgation into law of the N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers. The new wage was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in July.

As of November, 14 states and the FCT had yet to implement the law. This is wrong.

Thus, the Nigeria Labour Congress had to direct public servants in the 14 states and the FCT to strike on the issue on December 2.

Between December 2 and now, many of the affected states have committed to paying the minimum wage. As of that date, the strike only took place in the FCT and Nasarawa, Kaduna and Ebonyi. Zamfara has agreed with the workers to start paying by March 2025. The Nasarawa government said it would start payment from December.

By law, every employer is expected to pay. So, the government at all levels should be in the driving seat to ensure the payment. However, it is discomfiting that some state governors are dragging their feet on the law.

Surprisingly, the prevarication is happening when the minimum wage itself is barely enough for poor Nigerians facing an existential financial crisis. When converted to dollars at the current exchange rate, the N70,000 is barely $45 and cannot even buy a bag of rice. The minimum wage in California is $16 (N24,000) per hour for employers with 25 or more employees.

So, it is inexcusable for any government, especially at the state level, with raised monthly allocations from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee purse, to complain about their inability to pay.

The FAAC reported an income of N3.14tn in November, the highest ever for the three tiers. The three tiers have witnessed an appreciable level of revenue from FAAC after the cancellation of petrol subsidies in May 2023 though inflation has tempered the high receipts.

Rather than default, states should reduce the number of aides and excusable expenditures. Aides feed fat on their states and add to the overhead costs due to a lack of prudence.

Governors should stop junketing around the world looking for elusive foreign investors when all they need to do is create enabling environments to make their states a haven for investors. It is high time all the states embraced fiscal responsibility to make their states economically viable. Putting more money in the pockets of their workers will improve commercial activities in their respective states.

Another issue is that the arrears of the minimum wage need to be paid. The arrears would vary from state to state but their payment is essential because any state that does not pay will be in breach of the law that makes it mandatory for both public and private employers to pay.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress should continue to monitor the states to ensure that the arrears are eventually paid.

Besides paying the minimum wage, the states need to collaborate with the Federal Government to reduce food inflation, which is eroding the purchasing power of workers.

So far, most collaborative efforts on food security between the states and the Federal Government have been more in palliatives which is like scratching the problem on the surface.

Inflation is not letting up yet and the cost-of-living crisis is still raging. More collaborative efforts need to be made directly to increase food supplies to force down prices.

The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals complex has been hailed as an astonishing masterpiece, showcasing Nigeria’s technological advancements on the global stage.

This accolade was shared by a delegation from the Japanese Business Community in Nigeria, led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo.

The Dangote Group also reiterated that its petroleum products are in demand worldwide, as it expands its polypropylene section to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported polypropylene, a crucial material used in packaging, textiles, and the automotive manufacturing industries.

The Japanese delegation, which toured the impressive facilities housing both the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as well as Dangote Fertilisers, commended the state-of-the-art technology on display, noting that it reinforces Nigeria’s role as the gateway to Africa.

Managing Director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Takashi Oku, remarked that while Nigeria remains the gateway to Africa, the Dangote Refinery stands as a remarkable project that showcases the country’s technological progress.

He added that the facility, as the world’s largest single-train refinery, is a point of immense pride for Nigeria. JETRO is Japan’s governmental organisation for trade and investment.

“We had heard about the excellence of the Dangote Refinery through the media but seeing it in person has left us truly amazed by its vastness and grandeur.

“It demonstrates that Nigeria’s population is not only growing but also advancing in technology. We are keen to collaborate with Nigerian companies, especially Dangote Refinery,” he said.

Emphasising that the refinery has bolstered Nigeria’s leading position in Africa, he further noted that the facility serves as an ideal introduction to the country for the global community.

Managing Director of Itochu Nigeria Limited, Masahiro Tsuno, also praised the sheer size and automation of the Dangote Refinery, calling it a miracle and one of the wonders of the world.

“I’ve seen many standalone refineries across the globe, including in Vietnam and the Middle East. However, this size of a refinery built by one single investor is probably a miracle in the world. And I’m just actually witnessing a miracle, to be honest, today,” he said.
Tsuno indicated that his company would seek collaboration with the refinery across various sectors, including polypropylene and other petroleum products.

Commending the ambassador-designate and his team, which described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a wonder of modern technology, Vice President of Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, explained that the facility is the vision of a Nigerian investor – Aliko Dangote, designed and built by Nigerians, and intended to serve the global market.

He said that it is a point of pride that a Nigerian company not only designed but also built the world’s largest single-train refinery complex.

Dangote Industries Limited, a Nigerian company, acted as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the refinery.

In the process, cutting-edge technologies from around the world were incorporated to ensure that the facility meets the highest standards.

Edwin assured the ambassador-designate and the delegation that the company is open to collaboration, always striving to maintain the best possible standards.

“Even now, we have a lot of Japanese equipment inside both the refinery and the fertiliser plant. There are significant opportunities for collaboration, as we always seek the latest technology in any business we engage in.

“For instance, our cement plant laboratory is managed by robots, and we always embrace advanced technology. With Japan’s focus on technological innovation, there is ample scope for cooperation and for supplying various types of technology,” he said.

Edwin also stated that the Dangote Petrochemical project will significantly boost investment in downstream industries, creating substantial value, generating employment, increasing tax revenues, reducing foreign exchange outflows, and contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He confirmed that products from the refinery meet international standards and are already being exported globally.

“In recent weeks, we’ve exported petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa among others. Diesel has gone all over the world, and jet fuel is being heavily exported to European markets. Our products are already making their mark internationally,” he said.

He further added that by leveraging Africa’s vast crude oil resources to produce refined products locally, the Dangote Group aims to create a virtuous cycle of industrial development, job creation, and economic prosperity.

The Dangote refinery has exported Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to Cameroon, Angola, Ghana, and South Africa in the past few weeks.

The Vice President of Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, disclosed this while playing host to a delegation from the Japanese Business Community in Nigeria, led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo.

In a statement on Sunday, the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, quoted Edwin as confirming that products from the refinery meet international standards and are already being exported globally.

“In recent weeks, we’ve exported petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa, among others. Diesel has gone all over the world, and jet fuel is being heavily exported to European markets. Our products are already making their mark internationally,” Edwin said.

Edwin explained that the facility is the vision of a Nigerian investor – Aliko Dangote, designed and built by Nigerians, and intended to serve the global market.

He said it is a point of pride that a Nigerian company not only designed but also built the world’s largest single-train refinery complex.

According to him, Dangote Industries Limited acted as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contractor for the refinery, saying cutting-edge technologies from around the world were incorporated to ensure that the facility meets the highest standards.

Edwin assured the ambassador-designate and the delegation that the company is open to collaboration, always striving to maintain the best possible standards.

“Even now, we have a lot of Japanese equipment inside both the refinery and the fertiliser plant. There are significant opportunities for collaboration, as we always seek the latest technology in any business we engage in. For instance, our cement plant laboratory is managed by robots, and we always embrace advanced technology. With Japan’s focus on technological innovation, there is ample scope for cooperation and for supplying various types of technology,” he said.

Edwin also stated that the Dangote Petrochemical project will significantly boost investment in downstream industries, creating substantial value, generating employment, increasing tax revenues, reducing foreign exchange outflows, and contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

He added that by leveraging Africa’s vast crude oil resources to produce refined products locally, the Dangote Group aims to create a virtuous cycle of industrial development, job creation, and economic prosperity.

He reiterated that the refinery’s petroleum products are in demand worldwide, as it expands its polypropylene section to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported polypropylene, a crucial material used in packaging, textiles, and the automotive manufacturing industries.

The statement disclosed that the Japanese delegation hailed the refinery and the petrochemicals complex, describing it as an astonishing masterpiece, showcasing Nigeria’s technological advancements on the global stage.

The Japanese delegation, which toured the facilities housing both the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as well as Dangote Fertilisers, commended the technology, noting that it reinforces Nigeria’s role as the gateway to Africa.

Managing Director of the Japan External Trade Organisation, Takashi Oku, was said to have remarked that while Nigeria remains the gateway to Africa, the refinery stands as a remarkable project that showcases the country’s technological progress.

Oku added that the facility, as the world’s largest single-train refinery, is a point of immense pride for Nigeria.

“We had heard about the excellence of the Dangote Refinery through the media but seeing it in person has left us truly amazed by its vastness and grandeur. It demonstrates that Nigeria’s population is not only growing but also advancing in technology. We are keen to collaborate with Nigerian companies, especially Dangote Refinery,” he said.

Emphasising that the refinery has bolstered Nigeria’s leading position in Africa, he further noted that the facility serves as an ideal introduction to the country for the global community.

The Managing Director of Itochu Nigeria Limited, Masahiro Tsuno, was said to have also praised the sheer size and automation of the Dangote refinery, calling it a miracle and one of the wonders of the world.

“I’ve seen many standalone refineries across the globe, including in Vietnam and the Middle East. However, the size of a refinery built by one single investor is probably a miracle in the world. And I’m just actually witnessing a miracle,” he said.

Tsuno indicated that his company would seek collaboration with the refinery across various sectors, including polypropylene and other petroleum products.

By Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Kano


The influential, wealthy and prominent members of the society always want to remain ‘up there’, and marriage is one of the ways to achieve that. So, sometimes they give out their children in marriage to people of the same social class. This unions strengthen political and business relationships and other forms of alliances. While many view this as an act of fostering elitism, others see it as a way to sustain socio-cultural relationships. Some say, it is just love.

Here are a few marriages of the sons and daughters of the elite that took place between 2023 and 2024.


Ashraf Adam Lamido and Sultana Nazifi

Ashraf Adam Lamido is one of the sons of Muhammad Sanusi II, the recently restored Emir of Kano, who is also a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He served in that capacity from 2009 to 2014, when he was suspended by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

He later became the Emir of Kano in 2020, but was deposed by the Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration for allegedly “disrespecting lawful instructions.”

He was, however, reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf amidst controversies.

The bride, Sultana Nazif, is the daughter of Bauchi politician, Senator Suleiman Mohammed Nazif. She is also a social media personality as well as event planner.

The wedding was held at the National Mosque, Abuja. The wedding began to gather attention when the groom’s sister, Fulani Siddika, shared the pre-wedding photos and video via her Instagram handle. The wedding was a grand celebration.


Sanusi Aminu Bayero and Rumana Nasir Ado Bayero

In April 2024, the son of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and daughter of former Bichi Emir, Nasiru Ado Bayero, tied the nuptial knot in a grand style in the ancient city of Kano. The marriage excited many people as it symbolised the strong cordial relationship between the two brothers.

The groom, Sanusi Aminu Ado Bayero graduated from MTI University, Cairo, Egypt, with BSc in Business Management in 2020 and is currently working with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

The bride, Rumana Nasiru Ado Bayero is a graduate of Building Surveying from Portsmouth University, United Kingdom.

The royal wedding was officiated by the Chief Imam of Kano, Professor Sani Zahradeen. While Kano deputy governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, stood for the groom and sought the hand of Rumana from her ‘wali,’ Dan Iyan Kano, Ahmad Ado Bayero. The sum of N250,000 was paid as dowry.

The wedding Fatiha attracted dignitaries that ranged from diplomats, politicians, top government officials, to members of the business community.


Laila Atiku Abubakar and Saleh Maitala

Similarly, in August 2024, the family of a former vice president and the Waziri of Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, celebrated a significant milestone, as his daughter, Laila, tied the knot with her groom, Saleh Maitala, in a colourful wedding ceremony held at the National Mosque in Abuja.

Laila Atiku Abubakar is one of the daughters of the former vice president while the groom, Saleh Ilyasu Maitala, is one of the sons of a former federal government executive and an international businessman.

The event attracted a host of notable dignitaries from northern Nigeria, including a former vice president, Namadi Sambo; a former governor of Kano State; Rabiu Kwankwaso; the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje; a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and many others.

It was also gathered that the National Mosque venue was crowded with well-wishers and entertainers. Expressing his gratitude for the support from friends and family, Atiku shared a message on his X account.

“The joy of giving away a daughter in marriage supported by family and friends is priceless. I wish Laila and her husband, Saleh Maitala, a blessed marriage. My gratitude also goes to all the dignitaries, associates, and friends who honoured my family with their presence at the wedding Fatiha in Abuja today,” he had written.


Fauziyya Danjuma Goje and Aliyu Ahmed Abubakar

In October 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, were among the dignitaries who attended the wedding of the daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje which was held in Abuja.

Fauziyya Danjuma Goje is one of the daughters of former Gombe State governor and senator, Muhammad Ganjuma Goje. He is currently in the red chamber representing Gombe-central district.

Fauziyya’s husband, Aliyu Ahmed Abubakar, is one of the sons of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Ahmed Abubakar, who is also a former Special Advisor to Gombe State governor.

The wedding between Fauziyya Danjuma Goje and Aliyu Ahmed Abubakar was held at the National Mosque, Abuja, after Juma’at prayer. The wedding was also graced by personalities such as the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin; former national chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Gombe State governor, Inuwa Yahaya; and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, among others.

Top politicians from across the country, including governors, senators, ministers, business tycoons, and traditional and religious leaders graced the occasion. Also in attendance were Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni; Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda; Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State; former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido; former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai and former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff.

Presidential aides, including the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, were also in attendance.


Fahad Dahiru Mangal and Aishatu Kwankwaso

In November 2024, Kano State hosted dignitaries from different walks of life as former Kano State governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, gave out his daughter’s hand in marriage to the son of Nigeria’s business mogul, Dahiru Barau Mangal.

Fahad Dahiru Mangal is the son of an international business mogul, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal. He is the founder of Max Air, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines. He is also into transportation, oil and gas, construction among others. His son, Fahad, is a trained engineer.

The bride, Dr Aishatu Kwankwaso, is the last daughter of former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who was also the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Prominent among dignitaries at the event were; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Vice President Kashim Shettima and former vice president Atiku Abubakar among others.

The wedding, which took place at the Kano emir’s palace, was conducted by the Chief Imam of the city’s central mosque, Prof. Sani Zahraddeen.

The Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, gave Kwankwaso’s daughter, Dr Aishatu Kwankwaso’s hand in marriage to Fahad. The sum of N1million was paid as bride price.

The arrival of former President Obasanjo wearing a red cap, which is the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya political movement led by Senator Kwankwaso, had captured the attention of many people, especially the members of the movement and their supporters.

Other personalities who attended the wedding are; former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi; former governor of Zamfara State,Senator Abdulaziz Yari; Senator Abdul Ningi; and Senator Adamu Aliero, who is also a former governor of Kebbi State. The others were; former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion; former governor of Zamfara State, Mahmud Shinkafi; former governor of Bauchi State, Isah Yuguda; former governor of Akwa Ibom, Victor Attah, and former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa.


Ifeatu Adaora and Arinze Ibekwe

On August 17, 2024, Ifeatu Adaora—daughter of Anambra State governor and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Charles Soludo, exchanged vows with Arinze Ibekwe in a beautiful wedding ceremony.

Ifeatu Adaora is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of Aorah international fashion outfit.

Arinze Ibekwe, on his part, is a software engineer. He currently works at Deliveroo, a British online food delivery company.

It was gathered that the traditional marriage was held earlier on August 10 at the governor’s hometown in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of the state, and was attended by several dignitaries, government officials and traditional rulers.

They also had a wedding in a London registry in the presence of a few family members.


Keziah Kefas and Bitrus Josiah

In August 2024, a Nigerian politician, retired army lieutenant colonel and current governor of Taraba State, Kefas Agbu, held a wedding ceremony for his daughter, Keziah and her hubby, Bitrus Josiah, in Jalingo. The husband, Bitrus Josiah, is one of the sons of a Nigerian based businessman, Bitrus Josiah.

The wedding ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Vice President Kashim Shettima; former president Goodluck Jonathan, and governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, among others.

After the wedding, Governor Kefas, in a Facebook post expressed gratitude for the presence of dignitaries at the event. He wrote, “It is with great joy, as a father, that I witnessed the marriage ceremony between my daughter, Keziah, and her groom, Bitrus. We are happy as a family to host friends, political associates, and distinguished personalities from within and outside Taraba State.”


Abdullahi Barau Jibrin and Bilkisu Aliyu Sani Madaki

In August 2023, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, were among the dignitaries that stormed the ancient city of Kano for the wedding of the son of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin and the daughter of one of the lawmakers, also from Kano, Aliyu Sani Madakin Gini.

Abdullahi Jibrin tied the knot with his heartthrob, Bilkisu Aliyu Sani Madaki, daughter of Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki, who was then the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

The vice president, who arrived the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, was received by the deputy governor of Kano State, Alhaji Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele and Sen. Kawu Sumaila.

Some of the dignitaries who attended were Sen. Aliyu Wamakko; Sen. Kabiru Gaya; Sen. Aminu Tambuwal; Sen. Mohammed Musa; former president of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed; and governors of Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto states.

Also in attendance were Kano business mogul, Alhassan Dantata; the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Alhaji Dahiru Mangal; Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to the President, Ibrahim Masari; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, among others.

The wedding was conducted by Sheikh Abdullahi Mudi. Shettima stood in as the groom’s representative with a dowry of N500,000, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, stood for the bride.


DSP Barau’s two children’s wedding

Also this Friday, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, married off two of his children.

Barau’s son, Jibrin Barau Jibrin, tied the knot with Maryam Ado Bayero; the daughter of the former emir of Bichi, His Highness, Nasir Ado Bayero, while his daughter, Aisha Jibrin, got married to the son of Dr Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, the president of Azman Group, Abubakar Yunusa, in a ceremony which held in Abuja.


Nothing is new – Marriage specialist

A Kano-based marriage specialist, Ibraheem Khaleel Ketare, said there is nothing new about the development. According to him, there is nothing wrong if prominent personalities give out their daughters’ hands in marriage to their friends’ wards in as much as the arrangement is not forced.

He explained that history has shown that royalty usually gets married to royalty, adding that people have learnt to accept it.

“What is happening now is not new, probably we are only oblivious of the processes. Maybe what is new is royalty and politics and even at that, such development is not alien to our setting. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing wrong even though the whole process has an element of elitism attached to it, but that not withstanding, it is not a crime,” he said.

Nigeria has made its first full payment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) levy in 19 years, contributing N85.54 billion and $54 million for 2023 and part of 2024.

Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, made the announcement during the 66th ordinary summit of ECOWAS in Abuja on Sunday.

He called the payment “a vote of confidence” in the organisation and a demonstration of Nigeria’s leadership in West Africa.

Touray also highlighted the importance of the payment, noting that it would support ECOWAS efforts in regional integration and development.

The payment, made on December 13, 2024, marks a key moment in the relationship between Nigeria and ECOWAS.

Nigeria had struggled to meet its financial obligations to the regional body in previous years, but this move reflects a renewed commitment to the organisation.

At the summit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is chairing the event, praised Nigeria’s role in the regional body.

The summit also addressed other pressing issues, including the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, following military coups in those countries.

These nations have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and leaders are now seeking ways to manage the situation diplomatically.

The summit is also focused on discussions regarding the proposed single currency for West Africa, the ECO, and ways to enhance economic cooperation among member states.

Damilola Aina, Ismaeel Uthman and Babatunde Titilola
:

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has sought a reduction in the price of petrol across the country.

The group urged the Dangote refinery to consider reducing its ex-depot price from N970 per litre since the estimated cost of landing petrol on Nigeria’s shores has dropped to N900.28 per litre.

President Bola Tinubu had during a Federal Executive Council meeting on July 29 proposed the sale of crude to local refineries in naira.

The FEC adopted the proposal by Tinubu to sell crude to Dangote and other refineries in the local currency.

FEC approved that the 450,000 barrels meant for domestic consumption be offered in naira to Nigerian refineries, using the Dangote refinery as a pilot.

It also approved an initial six-month trial period pending further review by the Technical Sub-Committee on Domestic Sales of Crude Oil in Local Currency.

“From October 1, NNPC will commence the supply of about 385,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the Dangote refinery to be paid for in naira,” the committee had declared.

This implies that NNPC is to supply about 11.5m barrels of crude oil to the Dangote refinery monthly and an equivalent of over 23m barrels in two months.

However, sources who were informed about the local crude sale deal told our correspondents on Saturday that the deal was still ongoing despite little information about the volume of crude traded within the period.

A source said, “There is no information to the contrary, which means the deal is still on. If it had been suspended or ended, you would have seen a statement from the parties involved or the committee in charge announcing that the deal was no longer working. It means if there is no statement, the deal is still ongoing.”

Efforts to reach the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Dangote Refinery on the amount traded between parties proved abortive as the NNPCL spokesperson, Femi Soneye, did not respond to enquiries.

In October, The PUNCH exclusively reported that four cargoes of crude oil were delivered to the refinery.

Sources told our correspondent that the refinery was still waiting to receive more crude oil cargo.

But in an interview a month later, the Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the amount of crude received from the national oil firm was “peanuts” compared to the volume needed to ramp the production of refined products.

He said NNPCL had yet to meet its target to deliver a minimum of 385,000 bpd since the commencement of the programme in October.

“We need 650,000 barrels per day. NNPCL agreed to give a minimum of 385,000 bpd, but they are not even delivering that,” the official informed Reuters.

Meanwhile, the 650,000-barrel refinery has resorted to crude oil imports to ramp up its production capacity and commence export to West African countries.

This development was confirmed by the IPMAN National Publicity Officer, Chinedu Ukadike, who also called on the refinery to consider reducing prices to foster healthy competition within the sector.

Ukadike, speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Saturday, acknowledged that the 650,000-barrel facility would set its price based on production costs, although the foreign exchange rate remains a significant factor in determining its ex-depot price.

He said, “The cost of production is peculiar to any refinery, and for Dangote analysis, I think the refinery would have to be further reviewed because you would also remember that in one month, the facility has reviewed its processes twice. It dropped the price from N990 to N980 and then reduced it further to N970.

“This situation is a classic example of the deregulation process. Factors of demand and supply, as well as factors of production cost and sourcing, will determine price.

“Also, remember that the benchmark for petroleum products is foreign exchange. Remember, too, that the naira gained recently. This would normally affect the domestic market, especially the price of goods and commodities, including oil and gas.

“You can’t waive the fact that what is happening in Nigeria is a healthy development. Whether Dangote will reduce its price. That is sacrosanct, but he will.”

The IPMAN national officer added that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority should be commended for halting monopolistic plans, which had, in turn, fostered healthy competition and pricing.

“The naira-for-crude initiative is still based on foreign exchange, the volume of crude oil the Federal Government has allocated to the refinery since inception and what the production is.

“I have also heard from a great authority that Dangote is still importing crude from the USA. If my assertion is correct, it means that domestic intervention may not be able to encourage lower prices,” he added.

Responding to the disappointment of Nigerians that the naira-for-crude initiative has not reduced petrol prices, he retorted, “No, it is healthy; it will continue to make the sector better, like the telecommunications sector. Now, we are no longer talking about scarcity; what we are talking about is pricing. The issue of scarcity is gone, which was one of the factors that made the price of petroleum products go high. All things being equal, we will reap the benefit of deregulation.

“These things are done for the benefit of Nigerians, and marketers are committed to anything that would alleviate the suffering of people queueing for fuel. Remember, this is a festive period, and fuel needs to be available at a cheaper rate.”

However, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, stated that the association would not be swayed by the reduced landing costs to consider importing petroleum products.

He said, “Please, you people should forget about importation for now. We are not importing, and we have all made a decision not to bother about importing. If Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries do not give us what we want, that is when we will come back to talk about importation.

“Importation is cheaper for us at PETROAN, but we are not going to do that because we have promised the president that we would not import.

“Recall that we had negotiated with some partners to import, and we are not even paying in advance. We negotiated an agreement of $70m just for import. They were to bring in products, and when we bought, we would pay back in naira, but we had to stop all of that.

“The issue of import should be kept in the cooler for now, and let us see what will happen after our meeting in January if our demands on product offtake will be met.

“NNPCL has called us to start applying for products from the Port-Harcourt depot. So, there are quite a lot of benefits.”


CSOs blame cabal, govt

Commenting on why the naira-for-crude transaction to Dangote and the operation of the Port Harcourt refinery have not impacted the price of fuel, the National President, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Debo Adeniran, blamed the ‘fuel cabal’ for the high price of petrol.

He said, “We should know that there is an oil cartel, and usually, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is the leader of the cartel that determines what you produce in your own country and how much you sell it. Not only OPEC, but some world powers also want to determine how much gets into your country. That is why they manipulate OPEC to regulate prices so that you can’t have so much from the world market.

“If you have your products, they make it economically inert as much as they can. That is the first reason we cannot make extra gains from locally refined products, and it can even be more expensive.

“The local cabal is also not helping matters, because they impose all sorts of official and unofficial taxes and regulations on the local producers of fuel. That is the reason imported fuel can even be cheaper than the locally produced ones. It is unfortunate that we have it that way.”

Similarly, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre condemned the high price of fuel amid local production.

The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani, said the government didn’t care about the people.

“In the past, the government used to say it couldn’t afford to discontinue the importation of petroleum products because our refineries were not working. Now that one of our refineries is working, will you revise the situation, or should we just continue with what we have now? I think if the government cares about the people, they should do something to at least show concern,” he said.

Rafsanjani said the citizens should be relieved with the local production of fuel and operation of the refineries.

He said, “The government decided to withdraw fuel subsidy without taking into consideration that if you have a public-owned refinery, the citizens should be able to have some relief. You cannot have public-owned processed petroleum products and be selling them in the same commercial way as you are importing them into the country or it is Dangote selling them.

“This means that the government has not planned on how to mitigate these rising costs of petroleum products. I think the government is only interested in generating money without considering the citizens’ affordability.

“If you have natural resources and a citizen cannot benefit from it, then it is as good as you don’t have. What is the difference between when the refineries are working and when they are not working, the prices of what you get in a commercial enterprise and what you get from the government?”

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) is in the middle of a major financial scandal after the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Working Committe confirmed recieving N325million from the Nigerian government agency to run the party's day-to-day activities in Adamawa State.

SaharaReporters learnt that the money from the education fund came to the APC state committee in payment of N25,000,000 monthly from October 2023 to October 2024 and is now a subject of controversy as some of the party leaders accused the others of embezzlement and management.

TETFUNF is a scheme established by the Nigerian government in 2011 to disburse, manage, and monitor education tax to government-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

It is meant to be an "intervention agency set up to provide supplementary support to all levels of public tertiary institutions for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of tertiary education in Nigeria."

SaharaReporters on Thursday obtained a petition from the Adamawa State APC women leader, Mrs Patricia Yakubu, to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, whom she refered to as "our leader in Adamawa State APC" where she confirmed that TETFUND sent monies to the party in the state but it was embezzled by some party leaders.

In the petition copied to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Bola Tinubu's wife, Oluremi, and others, Mrs Yakubu explained how the state APC leadership had mismanaged and squandered funds meant to run the party and how she and others had been relegated from the party.

Her petition is titled, "A CALL FOR URGENT INTERVENTION: MONUMENTAL FRAUD, MISAPPROPRIATION OF PARTY FUNDS TO THE TUNE OF N500.000,000, NAME DROPPING, INTIMIDATION AND VIOLATION OF THE PARTY CONSTITUTION."

Addressed to Ribadu, she said, "I wish to respectfully write, and as our leader in Adamawa State APC, to humbly draw your attention to some incessant violations of party constitution, injustice, monumental fraud and lack of matured leadership strides, being committed by few members of the State Working Committee, which might require your urgent intervention, despite your tight schedules, Sir:

"Ancillary Matters. Your Excellency, I now wish to draw your attention and seek for your intervention as our leader on. some very serious financial matters.

Corruption and Criminal misappropriation of Party funds:

a. Payment of =N=25, 000, 000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) Monthly from TETFund started October, 2023 till October, 2024 totalling: Three Hundred and Twenty-Five Million naira (N325,000,000.00).

"The money is meant for running day to day party activities in and outude the state. The party account has been completely abandoned; the financial secretary has been removed as a signatory against the party constitution. Treasurer has been totally sidelined in all financial dealings. All Financial transactions are done through an individual account faccount details for investigation available).

"There was this time they collected three months at once totaling Seventy-Five Million naira (N75,000,000.00). Sometimes, these monies are paid through BDCs. All issues about these are kept secret by the Chairman, Secretary and Organizing Secretary, while some party executives and faithfuls are languishing in abject poverty, cannot afford to pay school fees, their children are home, some have died because they cannot afford hospital bills.

"b. Contracts from TETFund at FCE Yola and GMMC Yola for the benefit of the party was kept secret. They sold contracts and concealed the proceed. c. That sometime in December, 2023 the former minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, equally gave the Party Executives N15milliion Naira for Christmas but only Fifty Thousand naira (=N=50,000.00) was given to each Exco (which is less than million naira) therefore Forty Eight Million naira (N48,000,000,00) deficit unaccounted for."

The state women leader continued in he revelation, adding that there is a plot to remove her from office and cover up all the atrocities and financial mismanagement.

"Plot To Remove Them. Your Excellency, please allow me to bring up another crucial matter here. Sometimes ago Aminu Bobboi put a call across to me that I signed a petition to remove the State Chairman, the State Secretary and the State organizing Secretary, which I know nothing about, I told him in very clear terms during the phone conversation. I reiterated to him that my role is to focus on improving the lives of our Party Women.

"Your Excellency, these two incidences are the key catalysts to the frivolous letter that J received inviting me to appear before a kangaroo disciplinary committee. The key objective Is to get rid of me as a State Woman Leader. So, I humbly plead to address these issues.

"Conclusion / prayers. Based on the above particulars of prima facie, pursuant to Article 21.3 (v) (a) of the Constitution of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) 2022 as amended, The Disciplinary committee as the case may be is under the obligation to recuse itself / seized with the original Jurisdiction to hear and determine the petition, thereby transferring it to the next higher organ of the party; currently there is total loss of confidence from the party faithfuls in the entire state, and orchestrated by the duo of the worst leadership under a cabal."

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, says the opposition parties have yet to believe that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won the last governorship election in Edo State.

Mr Akpabio also made fun of Bauchi Central Senator Abdul Ningi for not commenting on the election on the floor of the Senate for fear of being sanctioned by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The senate president made the comments during the plenary on Wednesday after the senators allowed Governor Monday Okpebholo into the chamber to bid them farewell.

Mr Okpebholo served as the senator representing Edo Central for two years before his inauguration as governor on 12 November.

After the governor entered the chamber, Mr Akpabio said the APC senators were happy with him, but the opposition senators were not.

“This side (majority senators) is excited because they won. This side (minority senators) is quiet because they still can’t believe that they lost. But I must say that even here, some are indifferent because their political party did not contest, that is APGA.

“For the first time, Senator Ningi did not raise his hand because he does not want to make the mistake of saying something, and when he leaves here, his political party will go and sanction him,” he said.

Recently, the Senate Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that the candidate of the party, Asuerinme Ighodalo, won the 21 September Edo governorship election.

The Caucus led by the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, insisted that the PDP’s mandate was stolen in the state and vowed that the party would work hard to retrieve it.

The national and state leaderships of the PDP and Mr Ighodalo also rejected the outcome of the election, alleging that it was manipulated.

Mr Ighodalo has since filed a petition before the state tribunal to challenge the declaration of Mr Okpebholo as the winner of the election.

The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Benin City, held its inaugural session on Monday ahead of pre-hearing sittings.

By Adeyemi Adepetun


A report has revealed that National Identification cards are the most attacked document type in the region.

The report said in West Africa, most fraudulent documents were spotted because of failed security features, indicating a significant presence of counterfeit identification documents.

With the economy struggling to remain afloat, telecommunications operators have advocated policies that can foster innovation and investments.

This was as the immediate past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, urged the Federal Government to play a key role and create a conducive environment to enable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to develop.

According to the 2024 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report by Smile ID, in the last two years, an overwhelming number of attacks were directed at National ID cards, which accounted for 80 per cent of all document fraud attacks in the region.

The report noted that 11 out of the top 19 most attacked document types were also national IDs, with the Kenyan ID being the most vulnerable at a 26 per cent fraud rate.

On the list, Nigeria’s National ID (NIN) suffered an 18 per cent attack.

The security around the NIN has come under serious scrutiny in the last seven months. It was alleged that even there were some compromises from some front-end partners, which led to data breaches, including that of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, whose NIN was reportedly bought for ridiculous prices, a development the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) denied.

However, insisting that there was a major compromise and that there was a breach of the NIN data at NIMC, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a pan-African organisation and thought leader in the digital rights and inclusion space, accused the Commission of improper protection of NIN data and challenged NIMC at an Abuja High Court for negligence over citizens’ data kept at its custody.

According to the Executive Director, PIN, Gbenga Sesan, the case comes up next month.

The national ID of Ghana (Ghana Card), the report noted, also saw 16 per cent of attempted attacks; Cameroon 14 per cent, Botswana National ID, 11 per cent.

THE call on the Federal Government came from the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) at the weekend in Lagos.

It came as Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the sector plummeted by $99.02 million in quarter three, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the NBS Capital Importation, the telecoms sector was only able to attract $14.4 million in Q3, a sharp decline from the $113.42 investments recorded in Q2. This implied that the FDI to the sector slumped by 87 per cent in the period under review.

The data showed that on a year-on-year basis, the Q3 2024 capital importation for the telecoms sector also represented a 77 per cent decline when compared to the $64.05 million recorded in the same period last year.

However, despite the challenge, the President of ATCON at the 31st Anniversary Dinner, Tony Emoekpere, said the body and members remain committed to ensuring Nigeria remains competitive among the comity of nations.

Emoekpere said ATCON would continue to advocate policies that foster innovation and investment; drive infrastructure development to bridge connectivity gaps and collaborate across public and private sectors to position Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa.

At the ATCON event, Obaseki, who was awarded the ‘Digital Governor of the Year’, stressed the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors.

He said, “It is phenomenal and important that our reputations in the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence (AI) are redefined in the world. Africa and Nigeria cannot afford not to be AI-inclined. This is why we prioritise technology and digitisation during my tenure as governor.”

The Lagos State government on Sunday promised to flood the market with Eko Rice in the next one to two weeks to ensure that residents have access to quality rice at a cheaper price.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, stated this on Sunday at the Lagos Food Festival 2024, themed: “A Taste of Culture.”

According to her, the volume of rice being processed at the Lagos Rice Mill would be greatly increased to ensure that a good number of residents who want rice at an affordable rate can get it.

She said the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has given special consideration to acquiring additional rice paddy so that the rice mill can increase its production.

Olusanya stated that the state government is working to lower food prices across sectors by ensuring that critical stakeholders improve production.

She added that the Food Festival is held annually to showcase the diversity of African cuisine, from the spicy and savory to the sweet and tangy, as well as interactive cooking masterclasses, engaging competitions, and mouth-watering food exhibitions.

Olusanya further said that the festival is also aimed at celebrating all the critical stakeholders within the food value chain.

This year, there was a cooking competition among students from some tertiary institutions in the state, including the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology.

The crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party appears far from over, with the camp of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, backing the embattled acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

Some members of the party alleged that the Wike faction had finalised plans to suspend some of its opponents.

A senior party member, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Sunday PUNCH, confirmed that the camp led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory was preparing to confront those against its efforts to maintain Damagum’s position.

The source revealed that in the coming days, Wike’s faction would take measures such as expulsion and suspension to neutralise members of the opposing camp, particularly those loyal to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the state, local government and ward levels.

The PUNCH had previously reported that four governors – Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba), are aligned with Wike in supporting Damagum.

In contrast, the PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara; and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, are reportedly opposed to Damagum continuing in acting capacity.

Since his appointment as acting National Chairman following Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s court-ordered removal, Damagum has faced criticism from party leaders and calls for his resignation have intensified.

At the PDP’s 98th National Executive Committee meeting on April 18, party leaders approved the creation of a reconciliation and disciplinary committee.

They also decided to hold ward and state congresses and tasked the North Central caucus with consulting on finding a replacement for Damagum.

The 99th NEC meeting of the PDP, originally scheduled for August 15, was first postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled for November 28, 2024, and later suspended indefinitely.

Despite this, the PDP Governors Forum instructed the National Working Committee to convene the NEC latest February, 2025.

Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, and the Board of Trustees of the party also urged the NWC to hold the NEC in February to resolve outstanding issues, including the need for the North Central to nominate a replacement for Damagum.

The anti-Wike/Damagum camp believes the repeated postponements are designed to safeguard the interests of Wike’s faction and preserve his control over the party.

As a result, both camps have been mobilising their supporters for verbal confrontations aimed at exposing and derailing each other’s plans.

The senior party member told Sunday PUNCH that Wike’s camp targeted Ikenga Ugochinyere, the representative for Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, for his criticism of Wike and the Damagum-led NWC.

The source claimed that Ugochinyere’s expulsion was part of Wike’s faction’s wider strategy to consolidate power by removing or silencing opponents.

“There’s a deliberate plan to move against party members and even members of the public who oppose their interests,” the source said, adding that the Wike camp planned to prevent any opposition from having a voice or influence by February.

According to sources, some NWC members have stopped attending meetings regularly due to growing disunity within the party.

These members are reportedly managing the situation until the party establishes a National Elective Convention planning committee next year.

Attempts to reach Damagum and the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for commentS on the reported plan were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to calls or messages.

However, a member of the NEC and Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, dismissed the claims, asserting that it was normal for individuals to pursue their aspirations.

“I want to believe that this is in the realm of speculation. Ultimately, people want their aspirations and ideals to take precedence.”

“So, if there are those who believe the Damagum-led NWC is underperforming, it is only natural, as not all PDP members are on the same page. Therefore, I see no reason the Damagum-led NWC would use its position to target anyone. The only thing I believe Damagum is doing is working to reconcile issues and members within the party,” Osadolor said.

Meanwhile, a NEC member from the North Central and immediate past PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that the zone would honour the Board of Trustees by selecting a substantive National Chairman.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, he described the mood in the zone as both calm and hopeful.

“We commend the BoT for supporting the call for North Central to nominate a replacement who will complete Ayu’s term,” he said.

Also, a former National Secretary of the party, Umar Ibrahim-Tsauri, expressed confidence that the PDP would overcome its internal challenges.

“PDP is a political party founded by Nigerians for Nigerians. Regardless of the current issues, it is a party that cannot be defeated by internal crises. We always find a way to overcome them,” he stated.

In a related development, the NWC of the PDP has rejected the reported expulsion of Ugochinyere from the party by the Umuopia/Umukegwu Ward chapter in Imo State.

In a statement on Saturday, the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, declared the alleged expulsion null and void, stating that it was inconsistent with the clear provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

It was previously reported that the representative for Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State and spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties was expelled by the Imo PDP Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiak, through a statement released on Friday.

The statement indicated that Ugochinyere’s expulsion was carried out by the PDP executive in Ideato LGA, through a letter dated December 5, 2024, signed by the LGA Chairman, ThankGod Okeke, and Secretary, Onyebuchi Umeh.

The expulsion was reportedly due to alleged gross indiscipline, insubordination, and anti-party activities.

The PDP publicity secretary emphasised that no ward, local government, or state chapter of the party had the authority to suspend, expel, or discipline a National Assembly member in any way without following the proper procedures set by the party’s constitution, which requires consultation with the NWC.

By Olugbenga Ige


At last, December has arrived! It’s the season when Christmas decorations and lights brighten offices, schools, churches, streets, and shopping malls while the sound of fireworks echoes across the nation.

December is the time when many Nigerians return to their villages or country homes to celebrate with family and friends before resuming work or business in January. It’s a season for families to reunite, share meals and drinks, and exchange gifts.

For many Nigerians, the holiday season is marked by several typical customs. If you’re new to the country and want to know how to celebrate Christmas Naija-style, we’ve got you covered.

Below are some traditions that Nigerians widely practice to make the most of this festive season:

1. Father Christmas

The Christmas period is when children look forward to seeing “Santa Claus”, popularly known as “Father Christmas” in Nigeria, and receiving gifts and goody bags.

Churches, schools, and organisations often invite Father Christmas, who is placed in a room while children are brought to him to receive their gifts.

Most Nigerian kids are usually terrified during this activity because, trust me, Father Christmas is so different from Santa Claus, but we’re all cool with that. It’s part of the process. Nowadays, most workplaces hold “Secret Santa” gatherings for adults where employees exchange gifts and make Santa wish lists. The good news is that both concepts are the same, aside from the name confusion.

The arrival of Father Christmas from “Rome” is one tradition Nigerians embrace and fervently celebrate.

2. Christmas Tree, Decorations and Lights

What is Christmas in Nigeria without decorations? How else would we set the mood? Whether in churches, homes, or organisations, Nigerians look forward to lavishly decorating for Christmas, much like people do in most other countries.

Families decorate windows, doors, and trees with golden balls, ribbons, and lighting strings. Major office buildings and shopping centres are lit up for Christmas, and the main streets are beautifully adorned. The Christmas decorations add to the festive cheer, with Christmas songs playing everywhere. What a way to set the mood.

3. Christmas Clothes, Shoes, and Hair

Nigerian parents love buying new clothes, shoes, and hairstyles for their children to celebrate Christmas. This is one of the traditions Nigerians truly enjoy. Nigerians and looking good, especially for a worldwide celebration like Christmas, go hand in hand. Trust them to go all out when shopping for the finest clothing on Christmas Day. This important tradition increases the festive fun and excitement.

However, the biggest stakeholder in Christmas attire, hairstyles, footwear, etc., is children. Families often set aside a budget for buying things for their kids, and they certainly look forward to it. As a parent, you dare not miss this most important activity.

4. Knock-outs and Fireworks

Nigerians commonly refer to fireworks or firecrackers as “knock-outs” or “bangers”. Almost every Nigerian sets off different fireworks during this period, typically starting on Christmas Eve and lasting until the New Year. Some families even go so far as to purchase bigger fireworks, hold a small ceremony, record videos, and post them online or on their family pages. Younger kids often use the tradition to pull practical jokes on passersby by throwing firecrackers around when they’re not looking.

The tradition is thrilling because of the lights and the adrenaline rush that accompanies the knockouts. It’s also a sound we are all familiar with and eagerly anticipate.

5. Carol Service

This is one tradition Nigerians share with other nationalities. The Christmas season is incomplete without carol services. Most churches in Nigeria hold carol services in the weeks leading up to Christmas, consisting of hymns about Christmas and readings from the Gospels telling the Christmas story. Many candles are lit around the church, and sometimes, the congregation holds candles to see by.

A carol service is the name for a Christmas church service, and Christmas carols are sung by the students who practice for the event during December.

Many organisations also offer carol services to interested employees. Churches usually organise carol services for their members and anyone who happens to find their way to the church. Food, dancing, games, and singing are some of the activities included in this service. It’s truly a season to be jolly!

6. Christmas Chicken/Turkey

Christmas dinner is a meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Day. This meal can take place anytime from the evening of Christmas Eve to Christmas Day itself. The meals are often rich and prepared with love. In Nigeria, Christmas rice is a must, usually served with either chicken or turkey.

Many families kill the chicken themselves, while others prefer dressed ones. Dressing the chicken and cooking is an activity that strengthens special family bonds in Nigeria because all hands are usually on deck, and it is accompanied by lots of conversations and inside jokes.

7. Christmas Rice

There’s no better time to taste the original Naija jollof rice than at Christmas. Of course, jollof rice is also served during weddings or funerals, but Christmas jollof rice remains the best. Friends often ask the most common question during this period: “Where is the location?” or “Where’s my Christmas rice?”

Having rice on hand for visitors who call on you at Christmas is a national tradition, often served in large coolers along with numerous side dishes. Depending on the family’s budget, the rice can be topped with chicken or goat meat and served with additional appetizers or desserts. As mentioned above, rice prepared on Christmas Day usually has a distinct, mouthwatering taste, and every Nigerian can attest to this. The extra seasoning is indeed in the season.

8. Christmas Movies

Watching Christmas movies under a cosy blanket with a bucket of popcorn and chicken wings is a fun way to spend time with family or friends. Classic movies often transport us back in time, reliving fond childhood memories and reflecting on simpler days. The Christmas season is incomplete without watching a Christmas-themed movie at home or the cinema.

Many Christmas stories have been adapted into films and TV specials, which are broadcast repeatedly during the holiday season. Since the popularisation of home video in the 1980s, these films have been sold and resold yearly during the holiday shopping season.

9. Christmas Parties

Christmas parties are social gatherings that celebrate the holidays and the blessings of the year. They often include food, drinks, festive decorations, and activities. When planning a Christmas party, it’s essential to send out invitations with plenty of notice, especially if the event is on Christmas Eve or a weekend in December. Some popular Christmas party ideas include a movie marathon, karaoke, Christmas bake-offs, Christmas carol-oke, writing letters to Santa, and Christmas cocktail-making, among others.

10. Christmas Gifts

Christmas gifts are presents exchanged in celebration of Christmas. They are often given on December 25th. The practice of gift-giving at Christmas can be traced back to the biblical story of the Three Wise Men, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus.

Regularly showing your love and appreciation through gifts can help strengthen and maintain bonds over time. In essence, gifts are more than just items; they are expressions of love, gratitude, and thoughtfulness. They connect people, create joy, and leave lasting imprints on hearts, especially during Christmas.

by Idris Shehu


The presidency’s graphic image on social media has listed two executive secretaries for the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).

On Friday, President Bola Tinubu appointed heads of some government agencies in a rejig of a handful of parastatals.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) all got new chief executive officers.

According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani was announced as the executive secretary of SMDF/PAGMI.

However, in a subsequent statement, Onanuga said Tinubu had cancelled the appointment because “there is no vacancy in the agency”.

Fatima Shinkafi was therefore reappointed as SMDF’s executive secretary.

But on Saturday, the graphic image shared on the official X account of the presidency listed both Shinkafi and Danfulani as the executive secretaries of SMDF/PAGMI.

https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-07-at-10.14.35.jpegThe X post


INTRIGUES AROUND DANFULANI’S APPOINTMENT

TheCable understands that Danfulani’s appointment was orchestrated by Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence.

Danfulani was the commissioner of commerce and industry when Matawalle was the governor of Zamfara state.

Sources privy to the development informed TheCable that the minister used his influence to shoehorn his former employee into the list of appointments.

Dale Alake, whose solid minerals ministry supervises SMDF/PAGMI, would later get wind of the development and intervene to ensure the reversal of Danfulani’s appointment.

A few hours later, the presidency made a U-turn, and Danfulani’s appointment was withdrawn.


AREWA YOUTH GROUP PROTESTS

Meanwhile, the Arewa Youth Development Ambassadors (AYDA) has kicked against the cancellation of Danfulani’s appointment.

The AYDA, led by Abubakar Abubakar, spoke to NAN in Abuja on Saturday.

Abubakar said the reversal represents sabotage of the efforts of those who worked for Tinubu’s election victory.

“Aside from using his influence to galvanise massive youth support, he ensured a total victory for the party’s presidential candidate,” he said.

“The group believes without an iota of a doubt that it is the best appointment that Mr President has made in recent times, especially as a reward for the youth of northern Nigeria.”

The AYDA president described Danfulani as one of the most influential youths in northern Nigeria.

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has urged health authorities to activate heightened alert systems in response to the newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant that is rapidly spreading across the globe.

XEC is the latest in a long list of past and current COVID variants being monitored as the COVID-19 virus naturally evolves.

This directive comes after the strain, first identified in Australia, has now been confirmed in 29 countries.

This was contained in a letter dated December 5 but made available to PUNCH Online on Saturday, addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Head of the Teaching Hospital Division, Dr. O.N. Anuma.

The letter read, “I am directed to inform you of a newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant which has been reported in Australia and has already spread to 29 countries globally.

“You may wish to know that this variant has shown a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health.”

Anuma emphasised the need for vigilance and immediate action.

“Alert systems should be immediately activated throughout our hospitals for high index of suspicion in patients with COVID-like symptoms,” he stated.

The directive also highlighted the importance of collaboration and timely information-sharing among health institutions and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure an effective response.

Medical professionals are also urged to enhance monitoring protocols and share critical data on the XEC variant.

“We request your committee to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to share critical data regarding this strain and implement enhanced monitoring protocols.

“Timely information sharing among relevant stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Health will be vital for effective response strategies,” he warned.

In September, PUNCH Healthwise reported that XEC has spread across 27 countries, including France and the United States, infecting more than 600 people.

Findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that XEC was identified in Germany in June with more cases of the variant having since emerged in the UK, the US, Denmark and several other countries.

XEC has some new mutations that might help it spread this autumn, although vaccines should still help prevent severe cases, according to scientists.

Indications emerged during the week to suggest that the cozy relationship that exists between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his French counterpart, Mr Emmanuel Macron, is causing some disquiet in the North.

Saturday Telegraph gathered during the week in separate interviews with prominent leaders in the North that they are not finding the relationship funny and that they are observing the trend.

Those who spoke with our correspondent on the development include, a chieftain of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Engr. Buba Galadima; a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Garus Gololo.

Others who spoke include a former Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai.

A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf’s views were monitored in a televised interview during the week.

Except for Yakassai, who pleaded that President Tinubu be allowed to govern, those who spoke were unanimous in their respective assertions that the relationship will spell doom for the North in the wake of the frosty relations that exists between France and some of its former colonies in West Africa.

Countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Republic have in recent times reviewed their ties with their erstwhile colonial master with many of them putting in place several measures to wean themselves off control by France, which in turn is doing all it can to retain its control in the sub-region.

In many of the meetings of the regional bloc, Nigeria had initially threatened to use force to restore democratic order in Niger and Burkina Faso in the wake of the coup d’état in the two countries.

President Tinubu is the chairman of the regional economic bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

While a military junta seized power in Niger on July 26, 2023, their counterparts in Burkina Faso struck earlier on September 30, 2022.

However, the decision by ECOWAS led by Nigeria to restore democracy in Niger Republic was vehemently rejected by stakeholders in the Northern part of the country who have continued to argue that such decision is a declaration of war on them considering that they occupy the frontline position should hostilities break out.

Those who opposed this move also stated that the kinship between the people of the North and their cousins in Niger Republic is a source of worry to them too.

The reservations of these elements in the North once again came to the fore with the recent visit of a Federal Government delegation, led by President Tinubu to France where he was hosted by his counterpart, President Macron, to a lavish reception in Paris, the French capital.

Commenting on the development as it affects the North, Galadima in an interview with our correspondent during the week urged President Tinubu whom he described as a ‘friend’ to be careful, saying the North is watching his moves.

He said: “I will advise the President to be extremely careful in his dealings with France. I am saying this because France is drawing him close because they want to use him to change the governments in Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso.

“He will have problems on his hands because people from the (Northern) part of the country will not support him in his journey.

“We can’t support President Tinubu because of what these countries did for us during the Civil War.

“He has to be careful in his relationship with France. All of us in the North are looking at him (President Tinubu) with some suspicion.

“At least, as a friend, I can tell him this.”

Similarly, Gololo said though he is a member of the APC, who worked for the enthronement of the current regime last year, recent developments have however prompted him to review his position going by some actions of the president as well as his disposition to the North so far.

“Why is the North so much treated this way? Is this the way to practice democracy? I am insisting that no French soldier, not to talk of forces, will be allowed to be stationed in the North.

“We will never accept it. I am a retired soldier and I can tell you that I am willing to pick up the gun again to defend the North,” he said.

Gololo, who accused the French authorities of duplicity in the fight against insurgency in the West African region, however stated that the scourge abated when the government of Niger and Burkina Faso expelled French troops from their respective countries.

While accusing the Federal Government of signing a treaty with the French government for the establishment of a base in the North, he however stated that “Nobody can carry foreign troops to land in our land.”

Professor Yusuf in a clip monitored by our correspondent said: “Danger is coming; Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s romance with France is no good news for Nigeria.

“President Tinubu, you were elected by us, we are asking that you’re not going to [quote]commit us to any foreign military presence in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Whatever investment or commitment that you’ve made must be vetted by the National Assembly but I dare say that your romance with the French is not good for us.

“You have to tell us the reason why the French are cozying up to Nigeria,” he said, adding that the region will resist any attempt to establish a base in the North.

When contacted, Yakassai, who feigned ignorance of the development said: “The president is elected by the Nigerian people, please allow him to govern the country.”

One Malami Gebawa of Durbawa village in Kware Local Government Area of Sokoto State has allegedly broken the right leg and hand of his wife for attending a clinic without his permission.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim, Malam Halimatu Sadiya, who is currently on admission at Wamakko Orthopaedic Hospital, said her husband broke her leg and hand because he saw drugs in her bag after she returned from her sick mother’s home.

“I have been sick for about four months. I know he (her husband) did his best by calling a health worker who came and administered drips on me but the sickness persisted.

“I had been pleading with him to allow me to go to the hospital but he declined. There was even my relative, who volunteered to take me to the hospital but he refused.

“So, when I went to see my sick mother, I consulted the health personnel, who was attending to her and he gave me some drugs.

“When I came back home and he saw the drugs, he started arguing with me that I went to the hospital without his permission. I told him it was the health worker that was attending to my mother who gave me the drugs.

“He then insisted on seeing the health worker and I agreed to take him to him.

“While I was dressing up in my room, he came in, locked the door and started beating me with his vigilante’s stick until I fainted.

“When he realised that he had broken my leg and hand, he started crying, pleading with me not to tell anybody what happened between us and in case somebody ask me I should say I was knocked down by an Okada man”.

The husband, Malami, while confessing to his offence, described it as an act of the devil.

Her offence, he said, was that she went to the hospital without his permission despite all the efforts being made to cater for his family members who fall sick.

“When she came back from seeing her sick mother, I saw something concealed in the bucket she came home with and inquired about its contents, which she refused to disclose to me.

“I insisted on seeing the contents. Then, I snatched the bucket and attempted to run away with it but she held my cloth from behind and tore it. When I checked the bucket I saw a hospital card, some drugs and plastic kettles.

“I then asked her why she went to the hospital without telling me and she knew I always cater for their medical needs because even last week I brought a health worker who treated her of diarrhoea,” he said.

Malami, however, denied beating her with stick, saying it was when she was pursuing him to get back her bucket that she fell down and sustained fractures on her leg and hand.

“After breaking her leg and hand, I brought a traditional bone setter who set her bones back and later her relatives brought another bone setter, who I gave N50,000 to reset the bones and spent another N25,000 on drugs.

“I am now providing for her and the woman looking after her despite my lean resources because I am a farmer and a leader of the vigilantes group in my community,” he said

Malami, who was regretting his actions, admitted that, “I caused her injury and I am ready to bear the consequences of my actions.

“But please don’t let her leave me because I love her so much and I know she loves me too. What happened is an act of a devil. Please try and convince her not to leave me.”

On why he was not allowing his family members to attend hospital, he said “Because there is no functional clinic in our area”.

Our reporter learnt that the husband had since been arrested and brought to the Sokoto State Police Command.

But the spokesman for the command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’I, said he was not yet briefed about the incident.

A total of 29 state governors spent N1.994tn on recurrent expenditures, including refreshments, sitting allowances, travelling, and utilities in the first nine months of 2024, findings by The PUNCH have shown.

It was also gathered that the states obtained a N533.29bn loan, while it spent N658.93bn to service its debts owed to local, foreign, and multilateral creditors.

However, these states fell short in their revenue-generating targets, collecting a total sum of N1.92tn as internally generated revenue but fell short of the revenue target of N2.868tn, recording a deficit of N948.28bn.

The recurrent data utilised in this report did not include personnel costs.

An analysis of the fiscal performance of each state, utilizing data from the Q1 to Q3 budget performance reports obtained from each state’s website, revealed a pressing need for stringent measures to prioritise fiscal discipline, especially amidst growing calls to reduce the costs of governance.

This comes despite a 40 per cent increase in the state’s statutory allocations from the Federation Account.

For the first three quarters of the year, our correspondent examined budget implementation data from twenty-nine states; data for six states was not available.

Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Sokoto, and Ogun states were the ones without the latest data from January to September 2024.

Since the commencement of the current administration, state governments have enjoyed improved monthly allocation mainly due to the elimination of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative recently noted that the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee disbursed N3.473tn to the three tiers of government in the second quarter of 2024.

This reflects an increase of N46.77bn (1.42 per cent) compared to the first quarter of 2024.

The Federal Government received N1.102tn, representing 33.35 per cent of the total allocation, while 36 states received N1.337tn (40.47 per cent), and the 774 local government councils shared N864.98bn (26.18 per cent).

A comparison with the previous quarter shows that the Federal Government’s allocation decreased by N41.44bn (3.76 per cent), while state governments saw an increase of N58.13bn (4.29 per cent), and local government councils experienced a rise of N30.82bn (3.57 per cent).

But this improved funding hasn’t translated to an improved standard of living for its citizens.

A breakdown showed that the 29-state government spent N1.994tn on its recurrent expenditure, which included refreshments for guests, sitting allowances to government officials, local and foreign travel expenses, and utility bills.

The general utilities include electricity, internet, telephone charges, water rates, and sewerage charges, among others.

Lagos, Plateau, and Delta States spent the highest on their operating expenses, incurring a cost of N375.19bn, N144.87bn, and N121.54bn, respectively. This was followed by Ondo and Bauchi spending N107.34bn and N99.31bn.

Niger State, under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, was the highest borrower within the review period, obtaining loans worth N79.09bn. Katsina followed with a loan of N72.89bn. Oyo State also got a loan of N62.48bn.

In terms of revenue, Lagos State collected the highest of N912.17bn, followed by Rivers State with a collection of N269.18bn. Third on the list was Delta (N97.02bn).

A state-by-state analysis revealed that Abia State, led by Governor Alex Otti, spent N17.91bn on operating expenses and generated N22.15bn in revenue, falling short of the N32.14bn revenue target. Additionally, the state borrowed N3.901bn and allocated N10.91bn for debt servicing.

Adamawa State spent N41.45bn on recurrent expenditure, while it earned N9.16bn income out of its revenue of N22.24bn. This state borrowed N10bn and paid N22.68bn to service its debts.

Akwa-Ibom State recurrent spending reached N85.45bn in nine months, N43.98bn more than its generated revenue of N41.47bn in nine months. The state paid N34.47bn as debt service but didn’t borrow.

Anambra State generated more revenue (N28.296bn) than its recurrent spending of N12.70bn. It spent N4.56bn on debt service and didn’t record any borrowing.

The Bauchi government spent N99.31bn on its operating expenses. This state only got N15.92bn out of its budgeted target of N37.03bn but borrowed N33.64bn and paid N27.54bn as debt service.

Bayelsa state got N57.85bn IGR more than its revenue target of N23.87bn. It spent N75.23bn on its operating costs and spent N30.54bn on its debt service.

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state approved the spending of N29.45bn for operating expenses while it collected N8.71bn as revenue out of an N23.91bn target. This state didn’t borrow but spent N5.48bn to service previous loans collected.

Similarly, Cross Rivers spent N55.73bn on recurring expenses, collected N32.42bn IGR, borrowed N20.67bn from its creditors and spent N19.99bn on debt service.

Delta state recurrent expenditure reached N121.54bn in nine months while it earned N97.02bn as revenue out of the N110.3bn target. The oil-rich state serviced its debt with N55.9bn and didn’t obtain any loan.

Also, Ebonyi State spent N37.73bn on its recurrent expenses but earned N15.67bn as revenue. The state borrowed N15.65bn and spent N8.46bn on debt service.

Edo State spent N75.78bn on recurrent expenditure but generated N52.68bn revenue. The state borrowed N12.84bn and spent N27.5bn on its debt service commitments.

Similarly, Ekiti State recurrent spending was N74.73bn, generated N23.16bn revenue, borrowed N11.75bn and spent N12.93bn to service its debts.

Enugu State spent N10.88bn on its operating expenses but got N39.98bn in revenue. This state borrowed N1.39bn and spent N6.93bn on its debt service.

Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, spent N42.75bn on its operating expenses but got N15.24bn as revenue. This state spent N15.94bn to service its debts but didn’t obtain any loan.

While Jigawa incurred N35.69bn as operating expenses, it collected N18.41bn as revenue out of its target of N50.65bn borrowed N744.75m, and N2.17bn on debt service.

Further analysis showed that Katsina State spent N40.73bn on its recurrent expenditure while it generated revenue of N29.95bn. This state increased its loan by N72.89bn and paid N12.78bn as debt service.

Kebbi state recurrent spending was N22.42bn while it generated N7.86bn revenue. It also obtained an N24.59bn loan and paid debt service of N3.42bn.

Kogi State spent N84.48bn on its operating expenses but earned N19.86bn in revenue. The confluence state also obtained N51.68bn as loans and repaid N18.12bn debt.

Lagos state spending on recurrent expenses was N375.19bn, while it earned N912.15bn revenue. The state paid N84.53bn as debt service but didn’t obtain any loan.

Within the same period, Nasarawa spent N42.63bn on its operating expenses but got N22.78bn as revenue, Niger state recurrent expenses reached N41.28bn while it earned N29.22bn.

Ondo State spent N107.34bn on recurring expenses but only earned N24.43bn, Osun State spent N48.87bn but earned N28.86bn as revenue while Oyo State spent N51.24 on its recurrent expenditure, N45.79bn was collected as revenue.

Plateau spent N144.86bn on its recurring expenses but only earned N18.03bn; Rivers State’s spending on its operating costs was N72.69bn, but it earned N269.17bn.

Taraba state spending on recurrent expenditure reached N58.39bn, surpassing its revenue generation of N7.84bn, resulting in a deficit of N50.55bn. This state borrowed N52.63bn and paid N21.19bn.

Yobe State spent N51.29bn on its recurrent costs but earned N8.14bn as revenue. Also, Zamfara spent N36.34bn on its recurrent expenditure but earned N18.46bn.

Commenting in an interview, A professor of Economics at Babcock University, Segun Ajibola, stated that the enduring problem of high governance expenses had persisted at the state level, with inadequate oversight and accountability resulting in minimal economic benefits for grassroots citizens.

Ajibola, a former president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, lamented that state assemblies had also abandoned their oversight duties, leaving the state governors to operate with no iota of transparency and accountability.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission last week expressed concerns over Nigeria’s current fiscal federalism structure, cautioning that the system may be unsustainable in its present form.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has said work is currently ongoing at the 150,000 barrels per day plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State.

PHRC has two plants including the 60,000bpd facility, and the 150,000bpd plant.

Onanuga also said the 60,000bpd refinery is operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity and plans to increase production shortly.

He further said the refinery receives regular crude oil contrary to claims of lacking the product.

He disclosed this after joining a fact-finding team at the 60,000 barrels per day refinery on Wednesday.

On Thursday in a post on X titled “Putting to Rest Rumours about Port Harcourt Refinery Complex: Our Fact-Finding Mission”, the presidential aide said the lies and doubts about the refinery had been dismissed by the team’s fact-finding mission.

He explained that the team was satisfied with the state of the refinery.

Onanuga said, “I was part of a fact-finding team that visited the 60,000 barrels daily Port Harcourt Refining Complex on Wednesday. I will now share our findings.

“Our team, guided by the refinery’s Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, toured the entire complex, from the computerised control room to the loading bay and every section in between. We asked pointed questions and received satisfactory answers, dispelling our doubts and misconceptions.

“Nigerians must ignore naysayers and false information about the refinery’s operations. While it is not currently running at 100 per cent, it is functioning at 70 per cent installed capacity, with plans to increase production shortly.

“Furthermore, the refinery receives regular crude supplies, contrary to claims that it lacks crude to refine.”

He commended NNPCL for reviving “this dead asset,” on the “verge of becoming a museum piece.”

In November, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Olufemi Soneye, announced the commencement of the Port Harcourt refinery.

NNPCL spokesman said the refinery commenced operation with 60 per cent capacity with ongoing efforts to ramp up production.

Soneye said the Refinery is processing 60,000 barrels per day of crude, adding that the facility has a combined 210,000 barrels per day capacity.

During the visit, Onanuga said the team verified that the refinery processes petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel, and petrol.

“The latter is blended with other products to make the petrol we use in our cars. We even tested samples of the products,” he said.

“The refinery’s recent overhaul has transformed it into a modern facility. We saw upgraded and replaced parts, including part of the 300km new pipelines.

“Some parts the company had not changed in 27 years have been replaced with new ones, bringing the refinery up to 21st-century standard.”

The spokesperson said the revamping work has “indeed brought the refinery back to life,” adding that what was formerly a 20th-century refinery has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility.

Onanuga said the team also visited the co-located second Port Harcourt refinery, commissioned in 1989, adding that workers were busy dismantling old, rusty parts and installing new ones.

“Although officials declined to provide a timeline for its completion, there was an air of confidence that it would soon be operational, joining its 60,000 barrels a day counterpart,” the spokesperson said.

“My curiosity has been satisfied. I commend NNPC Limited and the refinery team for reviving this dead asset, which was on the verge of becoming a museum piece.”

Onanuga said the fact-finding mission “has buried the various doubts and lies about the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex”.