₦airaland Forum

House Of Reps Member Gagdi Laments Tinubu's Non-Release Of Capital Funds For Lawmakers Despite Subsidy Savings, Several Loans

A Member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, has expressed deep concern over the Nigerian government’s failure to release any funds for capital projects in the 2025 fiscal year, barely two months before the year ends.

Speaking during a town hall meeting with his constituents in Plateau State, Gagdi lamented that not a single kobo had been released for capital projects since the passage of the 2025 Appropriation Act last December.

He explained that although President Bola Tinubu had initially approved an intervention of ₦1billion worth of constituency projects for each member of the House of Representatives, the allocation had recently been cut by half due to funding challenges.

"Our legislators are here, and we have pecularity. There is no federal lawmaker in Abuja who is directly given constituency funds in cash. Instead, in each state, lawmakers are allocated an envelope worth ₦1 billion to propose project ideas.
"For instance, in Kano, the ₦1 billion envelope is shared among all 27 federal lawmakers from the state for constituency projects," Gagdi said.

The lawmaker clarified that contrary to public perception, no federal lawmaker in Abuja receives constituency project funds in cash. Rather, each is allocated an envelope for project proposals worth a specified amount, depending on the number of lawmakers from their state.

"In Plateau, for example, we have eight federal lawmakers. If ₦1 billion is shared among them, each lawmaker will receive ₦125 million for constituency projects. As a legislator, I am required to submit project proposals worth ₦125 million, and the same applies to Hon. Maje and others.

"However, in states with a higher number of legislators, such as Kano, the individual allocation is smaller — each lawmaker may receive between ₦25 million and ₦30 million for projects. When this intervention is released, it is used to fund constituency projects. Any additional projects seen within the constituency are usually the result of lobbying for more funding and interventions."

Gagdi stressed that the delayed release of funds has stalled development projects across the country, leaving both legislators and citizens frustrated.

"Secondly, I have never received constituency project funds exceeding ₦125 million until this year. What happened this year was that when the President presented the budget proposal to the House of Representatives for consideration, he increased the intervention allocation for each member of the House from ₦125million to ₦1billion worth of constituency projects. Senators also received ₦2billion each for constituency projects.

"Now, here’s what happened: since the passage of the 2025 Appropriation Act last December, no capital project funds have been released to either the Executive or the Legislature, even though there are only two months left before the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

"For me and all other federal lawmakers in the state, we have not received any constituency project funds yet. It was only last week that the President informed the Speaker of the House of Representatives that the 2025 budget could not be fully funded. Consequently, the President reduced our constituency intervention allocation from ₦1 billion to ₦500 million," the lawmaker added.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to question the whereabouts of the country’s reported excess revenue, subsidy savings, and loans acquired by the federal government, demanding transparency and accountability in public finance management.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that President Bola Tinubu requested the approval of the Senate for a fresh domestic borrowing of ₦1.15trillion to finance the deficit component of the 2025 national budget.

The President’s request was conveyed in an official letter read during Tuesday’s plenary session by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In the correspondence, Tinubu explained that the proposed loan was necessary to bridge the funding gap in the 2025 fiscal plan and ensure the smooth execution of critical government programmes and projects.

According to the letter, the administration intends to source the loan from the domestic debt market.

After the letter was read, Senate President Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wammako (APC, Sokoto North).

The committee was directed to review the proposal and present its report within one week for further legislative consideration.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has released the passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following outrage over what she described as an unlawful and politically motivated seizure of her travel documents at a Nigerian airport.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, was reportedly stopped by immigration officers on Tuesday morning, who withheld her passport without any official explanation.

The lawmaker, visibly frustrated, went live on social media to protest the action, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of ordering the seizure.

“I have committed no offence and there is no order from the court to withhold my passport and deny me travelling. The last time this happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate President, Godswin Akpabio instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling because he said each time I travel out of the country, I spoil the country's image by granting interviews out in international media.

"Please, can you tell them to release my passport and this embarrassment should stop? You have no right to withhold my passport.

"You have no right to deny me exit and entrance into my country. I have not committed any offence and this must stop. No, this must stop.

"As a matter of fact, I think I have to sue you for continuously embarrassing me. No, don't tell me sorry. Can I please have my passport? You can't keep doing this to me all the time," she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently celebrated her second year in office, described the incident as a continuous pattern of harassment.

She noted that her passport had previously been seized under similar circumstances, only to be released after intervention from someone influential.

The female Senator said, "I've been standing here for the past 20 minutes. Why are you doing this? What have I committed? The last time it had to take someone influential to call you to release my passport. That was what allowed me travel.

"Now again, you're withholding my passport while I'm making calls. Is Godswin Akpabio so important? Why is he overruling boundaries? Godswin Akpabio, the Senate President, has instructed the Comptroller General of Customs to deny me exit, to withhold my passport. This is wrong.

"Yes, I know I have two federal government cases against me, of which the president of Nigeria instructed the AGF to cancel the cases, to withdraw the cases.

"This president, Bola Tinubu, actually spoke with Godwin Akpabio to terminate all the cases against me because he admitted, he agreed that they were politically witch-hunting cases. So there is no reason why my passport should be withheld at the international airport.

"There is no reason why. You have no right to do that, madam. You have no right. You are taking laws into your hands. There is no court order. I have not missed any of my court appearances.

"I have attended all my court sessions. I am not a flight risk. I am not a risk to my country. So why are you treating me like a criminal? Can I have my passport, please? Thank you very much. Sometimes I think you just have to be a rebel to get things right. Then you keep asking Nigerians to be good citizens.

Minutes after her public protest gained traction online, the NIS reportedly bowed to pressure and released her passport.

"If I had not gone public, would you have given me my passport," she added.

Troops of Joint Task Force Operation MESA in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State led by 3rd Brigade Nigerian Army contained terrorists’ incursion into the area and protected vulnerable communities, but lost two officers while neutralizing 19 bandits.

Captain Babatunde Zubairu, an Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Brigade, Nigerian Army, in a statement said, the gun duel with the bandits was following a tip-off on their movement around Ungwan Tudu, Ungwan Tsamiya, Goron Dutse axis of Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State at about 5:00pm on 1 November 2025.

He said the troops of 3 Brigade supported by other security agencies raided the bandits and pushed them out of Shanono resulting in a heavy fire fight. It was further confirmed that the bandits who sustained several casualties arrived on motorcycles.

The statement read, “The intervention commenced when gallant troops swiftly responded to reports of bandits movements in the area. Own troops deployed at Tsaure came in contact with the bandits which led to exchange of fire where own troops successfully pursued the bandits and recovered several motorcycles and 2 mobile phones from the criminals.”

”It was confirmed that 19 bandits were neutralized during the encounter, regrettably, 2 gallant soldiers and one local Vigilante paid the supreme sacrifice”, Captain Babatunde added.

“Additionally, further operations are ongoing in the general area. Efforts are being made to protect vulnerable communities who have been prone to cattle rustling from the bandits. The Nigerian Army urges citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.”

The Spokesperson noted that the Commander 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Tukur, assures law abiding Citizens of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state, while working together with the sister Services and security agencies.

A large rice farm in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State was reportedly set ablaze on Sunday afternoon, November 2, 2025, by suspected herdsmen, leaving massive destruction in its wake.

The farm, owned by Mr. Ugbakayaa, was located at Tse Orbiam along the Naka–Makurdi road. Eyewitnesses said the inferno engulfed several hectares of cultivated land, destroying both standing crops and already harvested rice packed for threshing.

According to an eyewitness, Mr. Ado Bartholomew, the fire spread rapidly and consumed everything within minutes.

“The whole farm went up in flames within minutes. All the rice that was harvested and packed for threshing was destroyed,” Bartholomew said, describing the incident as a devastating loss for the family.

The Ugbakayaa family, whose livelihood depended largely on the rice farm, was left in shock and despair following the destruction.

Residents and sympathizers who visited the scene condemned the recurring attacks on farmers in the area, lamenting the growing insecurity that has crippled agricultural activities across Benue State.

They appealed to the Nigerian government and security agencies to step up efforts to protect farmers in Gwer West and other vulnerable communities who have faced persistent assaults and displacement linked to armed herdsmen.

As of the time of filing this report, security operatives had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, popularly known as Ilera Eko, was launched in 2018 by the state government to provide universal health coverage for all residents, reduce high out-of-pocket medical expenses, and provide access to quality and affordable healthcare. Findings, however, showed that many residents who enrolled in the scheme are still battling with catastrophic medical bills and out-of-pocket payments at the state-owned hospitals. SODIQ OJUROUNGBE reports

Bosun Aderinoku sat quietly at the entrance of the maternity ward of Gbagada General Hospital, his eyes heavy with fatigue and disappointment. Every few seconds, he let out a hiss. In his hand was a crumpled hospital bill, one that mocked the very promise that encouraged him to register for the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme six months earlier.

Ilera Eko is a Social Health Insurance initiative of the Lagos State Government managed by the Lagos State Health Management Agency.

Aderinoku enrolled in Ilera Eko with the hope that his pregnant wife would get quality maternal care without the crushing bills that send many families into debt.

“The LASHMA officials told me that once I am registered, I don’t have to worry. I was told that caesarean sections and vaginal deliveries were covered. That was why I paid,” he recalled bitterly to our correspondent.

But on October 22, 2025, when his wife was rushed to the hospital in labour and doctors decided she needed an emergency CS, that promise began to crumble.

Nurses asked him to buy drugs and consumables required for the surgery. Confused but desperate to save his wife and unborn child, Aderinoku hurried to the hospital’s pharmacy and told the pharmacists on duty that he was under LASHMA (Ilera Eko).

“They gave me just a few items. Even the gloves were only ten pieces. I had to pay for almost everything else myself,” he said.

By the time the surgery was done and his wife stabilised, Aderinoku said he had spent over N115,000 from his pocket.

Six days later, when he thought the bills were over, the hospital handed him a final bill of 294,000.

“I went to the LASHMA office to complain, but they told me the policy has changed. I was told that the free CS package is no longer available to people who registered six months ago. Even when the healthcare providers themselves (the hospital) sent my case details to LASHMA for confirmation, the approval was rejected.

“I enrolled in Ilera Eko to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses and not to suffer like this,” the Keke driver said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Bills rejected

Temitope Usman stood by the hospital bed, clutching his wife’s hand, his eyes darting between her pale face and the monitor beeping faintly beside her. Antiseptic smell filled the air, mingling with the faint cries of newborns from nearby wards. For a moment, he wondered if the dream of affordable healthcare he was promised had only existed on paper.

Eight months earlier, Usman had walked into a LASHMA registration centre with hope in his chest and N55,000 in his hand. His wife had just discovered she was pregnant, and like many young couples in Lagos, they feared the financial weight of childbirth. Ilera Eko health insurance scheme, he was told, would ease that financial burden.

He told PUNCH Healthwise, “They said once you are registered, you don’t have to worry. They assured me that everything concerning pregnancy, antenatal, delivery, and even surgery would be covered if I were registered. So, I didn’t think twice about registering.”

For months, his wife attended her antenatal sessions at a government hospital in Kosofe, her file stamped with the LASHMA logo. The nurses knew her name. The doctors commended her for registering under the insurance scheme. Every visit deepened their trust in a system that promised care without crippling cost.

On a Friday morning in late October, Usman’s wife woke up groaning with pain that signalled the onset of labour. By noon, the contractions had intensified, and the couple hurried to the hospital.

“The doctor checked her and said we should wait for them to monitor the progress. So, we waited, and she was admitted. By night, the pain was worse.

“By Saturday afternoon, it was obvious that the labour was not progressing. The baby was in distress, and time was running out. My wife was crying. She begged them to do something. The doctor said they needed to do a caesarean section,” he said.

It was supposed to be less expensive. Ilera Eko covered such procedures, he thought. That was the reason for the health insurance, but the nurse’s next words would shatter that illusion.

“She told me, ‘You’ll have to buy the consumables and drugs yourself. Approval from LASHMA will take time, and this is an emergency,” Usman said.

He was running between the pharmacy and the ward, buying endless consumables including gloves, syringes, drips, theatre packages, and antibiotics, among others, demanded by the nurses for the surgery. Each item chipped away at his savings. By the time the operation started that evening, he had spent nearly everything he had on him.

The surgery was successful. His wife and child survived, but peace did not return due to catastrophic medical bills.

When discharge day came, Usman approached the hospital’s accounts office, confident that LASHMA would settle the bill. Instead, he was told his claim had been rejected.

He explained to our correspondent, “At first, I thought it was a mistake. They said LASHMA didn’t approve it. Not even one naira.

“I sought help from the consultant gynaecologist who had handled my wife’s case. The doctor intervened and wrote a medical note on why they went ahead with the CS. She even reached out to LASHMA officials to explain that it was an emergency, that it had saved two lives. But the agency stood its ground.

“They said the policy has changed, and procedures previously covered are no longer covered.”

The helpless father further recounted, “Nobody told us that when we registered, nor when we started using the insurance scheme. Now, instead of relief, I am left with a stack of receipts and a debt I never planned for. The total cost of the surgery and hospital stay ran into hundreds of thousands of naira.

“I enrolled in Ilera Eko because I didn’t want to beg or borrow when my wife delivered. Now I am indebted. I have borrowed from friends. I don’t even know how to repay the money I borrowed.”

Hailed as a people-centred initiative designed to make healthcare affordable for all Lagosians, findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that the state’s insurance scheme is now leaving many of its enrollees stranded.

A scheme established to provide relief

LASHMA was established by a law signed in May 2015, but the mandatory health insurance scheme it manages, called Ilera Eko, was officially launched in December 2018.

When it was launched in 2018, the initiative was celebrated as a step toward achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.

The scheme was designed to ensure that every resident, regardless of social class, had access to quality healthcare at an affordable cost.

Under the plan, individuals and families could register with a modest premium and access a range of medical services in both public and private hospitals across the state.

From maternity care to treatment for common ailments, surgeries, and emergency services, the scheme was sold as a safety net for the vulnerable — a way to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in healthcare access.

Then-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, while signing the scheme into law, had declared that the initiative would “end the era of people selling property or begging for funds to pay hospital bills”.

The idea was to create a pool of health financing sustained by government contributions, premiums from residents, and support from donor agencies.

For the first few years, the scheme gained traction. Market women, artisans, commercial drivers, and even civil servants began to embrace it. The packages were affordable, and enrollees could access outpatient care, laboratory tests, surgeries, maternity services, and even emergency procedures like cesarean sections at little or no extra cost.

As of the end of September 2025, over 1.3 million people are registered under the Ilera Eko health scheme.

Hospitals under the LASHMA umbrella were expected to receive prompt reimbursement for services rendered to enrollees, creating a sustainable cycle of trust between the public and the government.

Promises fading amid policy shifts

In recent months, an investigation by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that new policy adjustments quietly introduced by the agency have left many enrollees blindsided.

Some of the enrollees who spoke with our correspondent stated that they were unaware of any policy changes until they arrived at the hospital, only to discover that certain services now require prior approval from LASHMA.

According to them, some of their requests for coverage, once automatically guaranteed, are now being rejected outright.

They added that services that were once fully covered now require partial or full payment, especially for maternal and emergency care.

Health workers who spoke with PUNCH Healthwise under anonymity said the policy changes were introduced in mid-2025, following what the agency described as a “review of coverage and funding structure”.

A midwife at a government hospital in Lagos explained, “We used to call LASHMA patients ‘government patients. Once they brought their card, we knew CS, delivery, or emergency care would be handled. But since the policy changed, we are not aware of what is covered anymore. People come expecting help, and we have to tell them to go buy things themselves.”

The nurse added that the sudden shift had created confusion and frustration, both for patients who trusted the system and for healthcare providers who now bear the burden of explaining these frustrations.

Enrollees groan

PUNCH Healthwise’s findings showed that many enrollees of Ilera Eko requiring care are struggling to pay for services that were once fully covered.

Several enrollees at different hospitals recounted experiences that illustrate the challenges under the new policy to our correspondent.

Salau Adekale sank into the hard plastic chair outside the maternity ward of Lagos Island General Hospital, a bundle of receipts clutched tightly in his hands. His eyes were rimmed red from fatigue, worry, and sleepless nights.

Just days earlier, his wife had undergone an emergency caesarean section, and what was meant to be a moment of joy had turned into a financial nightmare.

“I spent over N150,000 buying all the consumables and drugs they asked for before the operation could be carried out. I thought LASHMA was supposed to cover all of this. I registered my wife six months ago, hoping she could deliver safely without me losing sleep over the money. But now they say I am not eligible because I registered less than six months ago. And they gave me a bill of N300,000 on top of everything I had spent earlier,” he said.

Fatima Mohammed said she spent her savings buying consumables such as gloves, drapes, syringes, and antibiotics before her Caesarean section.

“It was supposed to be free. I registered under LASHMA so I wouldn’t have to beg for money, but now, I have no idea how I will pay the remaining bills since things have changed,” she said

Similarly, Amina Bello said her husband had registered her with LASHMA before her pregnancy.

During an emergency, she said a hospital staff member insisted she purchase items that were previously covered.

She added, “I didn’t even have N50,000 at that moment. We had to borrow from neighbours just to save my life and the baby’s.”

Chukwuma Okeke, a father of three, stated that his wife’s delivery at Randle General Hospital was almost entirely paid from his own pocket.

“I was sure LASHMA would cover the delivery. But they asked me to pay for almost everything. I had to take out a loan because the claim was not approved immediately,” he said.

52-year-old Abiola Salami said she found herself grappling with unexpected medical expenses despite being enrolled in Ilera Eko.

Salami, who has a history of hypertension, was prescribed both anti-hypertensive drugs and medication for severe back pain by her attending physician. She assumed that as a registered LASHMA patient, all necessary medications would be fully covered.

However, when her prescription was submitted for approval, only the anti-hypertensive drugs were sanctioned. The back pain medication, which doctors said was critical for her mobility and daily functioning, was rejected.

“I was shocked. I rely on both prescriptions to function. I didn’t expect to pay for part of my treatment out of my own pocket,” Salami said.

Salami said sourcing funds for the rejected drugs has been a major challenge, leaving her to shoulder the cost of essential medication.

“I have been a loyal enrollee. I pay my premiums regularly, but now it feels like the insurance only helps partially. I am left struggling to find the money for what my doctor says I need,” she added.

Experts worry over persistent out-of-pocket payments

Health insurance is important for pregnant women because it provides financial protection against high medical costs, ensures access to quality prenatal and delivery care, and encourages timely treatment and preventive care, which leads to better maternal and infant health outcomes.

The World Health Organisation emphasised the need for greater insurance coverage to help women meet its recommended minimum of eight antenatal care visits.

While LASHMA officials insist that recent policy adjustments are necessary to maintain financial sustainability, policy experts cautioned that the reforms were creating a significant financial burden for enrollees.

Analysts argued that when residents enroll with the expectation that essential services, such as Caesarean sections and maternal care, are guaranteed, sudden denials not only impose financial strain but also erode trust in the scheme.

A health economist, Dr. Ifeoma Okonkwo, noted that some of the most vulnerable residents, those who register late in pregnancy or in emergencies, are disproportionately affected.

She said, “Once people realise the benefits they were promised are no longer automatic, the whole idea of prepaid health coverage collapses in practice.

“Telling people they must enroll by a certain date to get full benefits without a proper grandfathering system creates inequity. You end up with families who need immediate care being forced to pay out-of-pocket for services that should have been covered.”

Speaking earlier with our correspondent on the benefits of health insurance, a consultant gynaecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Ernest Orji, identified out-of-pocket payments as a major factor contributing to the high maternal mortality rate in the country.

According to him, many women die during childbirth because their families are unable to afford the costs associated with delivery.

Orji, who has over 40 years of experience in the medical field, proposed a system of pooled resources, similar to an insurance model, where pregnant women contribute a small fee towards their delivery costs.

This, he noted, could ensure that necessary funds are available for complications, reducing financial barriers to accessing quality maternal care.

He urged the government to prioritise maternal health, suggesting that making delivery free at government hospitals could be a step toward reducing the number of deaths.

He cited the example of a former governor of Ondo State, who successfully implemented a policy of low-cost or free maternity care, attracting women from all over the country.

“The key is early registration and proper preparation for childbirth. If more women access proper medical care early, many of these tragic deaths can be avoided,” he noted.

LASHMA defends policy change

On October 31, when PUNCH Healthwise reached out to the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, for comments on the development, she requested that questions be sent to her for an official response.


Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba

After about five hours without a reply to the sent questions, PUNCH Healthwise made a follow-up call to the Permanent Secretary, who explained that the state’s Ministry of Health was in the process of drafting a formal response, adding that it might take up to a week to finalise.

However, our correspondent informed her that there was an urgent need to obtain a response, as it was crucial to balance the story scheduled for publication within two days.

When pressed further on the reasons behind the policy change and the alleged lack of proper notification to enrollees, Zamba defended the agency’s decision, insisting that adequate announcements were made before the new policy was implemented.

She maintained that the agency followed due process and ensured that information about the changes was disseminated through multiple channels.

According to her, the policy changes, which reportedly affect some aspects of the health insurance benefit package, particularly in areas such as maternal services, were properly communicated to both service providers and the public.

“Of course, we communicated with them. We are a very responsible organisation. It was even posted on social media. It was sent to the providers. There were messages sent. So we will not just come up with a policy overnight and start implementing it,” she said.

Following her comments, our correspondent contacted all the enrollees interviewed earlier to verify the claim that they had been duly informed of the policy change. Responding, all the respondents respectively maintained that they did not receive any message or official notification from LASHMA regarding the new policy.

Similarly, some healthcare providers who spoke with PUNCH Healthwise on the condition of anonymity also confirmed that there was no clear or formal communication to them from the agency about the policy changes before implementation.

Responding to some of the other complaints raised, Zamba explained that part of the misunderstanding often arises from enrollees’ limited attention to policy details of their benefit packages.

She stressed that the agency consistently informs subscribers about changes, but that many fail to pay attention to important information.

“Let’s just be clear on one thing. Many customers, when they come and buy, they will not always ask for all the details. And even when you explain the details to them, part of it goes away. That’s part of the problem that we have always had. It is not about us not explaining,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary, however, acknowledged that it was necessary to properly explain the policy shift with data, saying she had directed the Director of Public Relations for the state’s Ministry of Health, Olatunbosun Ogunbanwo, to compile relevant figures that would explain the rationale behind the change.

She noted that LASHMA was open to clarifying any misconceptions and ensuring that the public was adequately informed.

At about 7:24 p.m. on October 31, Ogunbanwo also contacted our correspondent, explaining that LASHMA was in the process of drafting a detailed response on the issue.

FG knows terror sponsors but lacks courage to prosecute— Ex-Defence Director, Olawunmi

Former Deputy Director of Defence Administration at the Defence Headquarters, Commodore Kunle Olawunmi (retd.), speaks with DANIEL AYANTOYE about the recent reported coup plot, rising insecurity, and the arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu, among other national issues

In 2001, following the attack on the NDA facility, you queried the opening of the Defence Headquarters and other military facilities across the country on Fridays for Islamic prayers. Your position then was that religion and socio-cultural issues are the problems of insecurity in Nigeria. Four years down the line, has anything changed?

I am no longer in the military circle, so I wouldn’t know if they have reduced the congregations at the Defence Headquarters and other military and paramilitary formations since I left in 2017. My interview then was really talking about my 35 years of military operations. But the big picture is that the issue of religion and socio-cultural matters has pervaded. It is very pervasive and still ongoing. So, if it has changed, I don’t think we would have the situation we have in Kwara and Benue states recently. They are getting stronger, and I think President Tinubu needs to act very quickly. What he is doing is trying to be politically correct, and terrorists don’t forgive when you make errors in trying to assuage them. You can’t negotiate with them. What he needs to do is to round up all the names that have been given to him as terrorist sponsors and try them.

You condemned negotiation with terrorists, but the likes of Sheikh Gumi and others would disagree. Recently, some northern leaders held public negotiation meetings with the terrorists wielding weapons in broad daylight. How will you describe that?


It is an aberration. You don’t negotiate with terrorists. Secondly, the event in Katsina is an indication and symptom of a failed state. If armed militias can go around on motorcycles and people can gather to discuss with them, the question we want to ask is: are they negotiating on behalf of the Federal Government? Are they negotiating on behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces? We need to know. And I think Tinubu is playing with fire because if that incident happened and he has not interrogated that action, then he is playing with fire. We need to know whether the five local governments that negotiated with the bandits took permission from the state government, and if they did, we want to know whether the state governor took permission from the Federal Government. The power and security architecture of this country reside only in the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (the President). So, that incident is going to become a state practice, and eventually, Nigeria will collapse. If you continue to condone this kind of thing that I saw in Katsina, it’s going to lead to state collapse.

The Federal Government once claimed to have uncovered those financing insurgency, yet there appeared to be no concrete action afterward. Do you think these sponsors are still operating freely?

Yes, they are still doing it and getting emboldened. You mentioned somebody, look at the people like him parading themselves around. I did an interview on Arise TV and I challenged Tinubu, asking: what is he afraid of? So, somebody is not just a sponsor but also like a mentor. And you allow him to roam the streets because you’re afraid of him? What is he afraid of? Until they come to Aso Rock and flush him out of the place? You shouldn’t be afraid of them; you should take the bull by the horns. The Interpol, the DSS, and others have all this information. You can’t say, because of political correctness, you allow them to ground your country. They make your presidential tenure ungovernable, and they are warming up toward 2027 to give him the treatment they gave Goodluck Jonathan, and they are boasting about it. They are telling him to go and ask Jonathan, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. They are impudent to be challenging him. Some of these people should have been rounded up a long time ago. They made so much money during Buhari’s time. They basically milked the CBN dry, and they have so much money to play around with. So, for me, Tinubu should do the right thing: call all the intelligence chiefs together and give them a task, identify both the domestic and foreign sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria. The foreign elements are from some Islamic countries, while the domestic aspect has to do with our own people here. The DIA knows them. Once you round them up, try them for treason, and execute the punishment, you will see that terrorism in Nigeria will be reduced by half.

As for the foreign elements, there are procedures. I was in the DIA and was in charge of foreign liaison. You should activate that code, they can trace the money. What is the job of the CBN? What is EFCC doing? They should trace the money as it’s coming in: who is sponsoring what in Nigeria, and who are the people establishing certain financial institutions here, and for what purpose? It’s for money laundering. They establish financial institutions and use them to launder money in and out. You cannot basically query them because the CBN Act allows them to operate in the country. So, how do you trace the money when the financial instruments are already hijacked?

Why has the Federal Government found it difficult to prosecute the identified sponsors of terrorism?

The democracy that we run is such that people finance political activities. If you want to be a governor, senator, or president; you need to get a sponsor. Whatever you want to be in the political sphere, there are people who sponsor your ambition. They are not in government, but they call the shots. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, these are the people who, because of religious and economic reasons, sponsor people to power. And when you are in power, you cannot challenge them. How can you now arrest the people that actually helped you to become whatever you are in the political space? The second reason is that, when they sponsor you to be in those positions, they also sponsor another set of people who will be in certain strategic positions in the country. You can’t hold a certain ministerial appointment if you are not sponsored by the deep stakes and pushed down the throat of the president to nominate you. And if you get to the Senate, they also have their cronies there. So, these are the same people sponsoring terrorism for economic and religious reasons. When their names are mentioned, as being done, you cannot arrest them because they made you. That’s why people like me cannot aspire to be a governor or a senator, because I know how they do it.

Doesn’t that raise questions about our practice of democracy in Nigeria?

In the international sense, there’s nothing wrong with allowing people to vote for who they want. The only thing is that in Nigeria, it has become cash and carry. If you have money, then you can become a senator, governor, or anything else. Or, if you don’t have money but have a big sponsor, then you can be a minister or governor. So, is that democracy? The answer is no. I think it’s the implementation of democratic norms and practices that is wrong. It is the operators of the system that are destroying democracy. But in reality, democracy is not a bad thing.

Many have raised concerns about the decision of the Federal Government on the rehabilitation and release of some terrorists. How will you react to that?

What I discovered is that there are a lot of half-educated people in the government. They are trying to copy the United Nations Convention. If there is a rebellion and maybe there is no victory, no vanquished, or nobody won, there is what you call DDR, meaning you want to demobilise or disarm them and reintegrate them into society. So, there is that formula designed by the United Nations. What these people did was to apply it to the Boko Haram issue. We designed it for the Niger Delta militants when I did the operation for the country. It applied to the Niger Delta in a way because they had a legitimate reason for what they were doing, resource control. But these people (terrorists) that are killing people, what is their reason? Because the Niger Delta militants had a legitimate reason, a 13% derivation was introduced, a lot of other incentives were provided, and the Niger Delta states, like Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and others that are oil-producing, are doing well today.

The issue has been minimised, and the strain on the security environment there has been manageable since that time.

The issue in the North is not the same with that of the Niger Delta. They said they should be forgiven and reintegrated. What are you forgiving them for? These are just criminals. You can’t even really call them non-state actors. These are just criminals brought in from other countries. They are not even Nigerians. So, why do you start putting them in the armed forces? What is going on? This country is going to explode maybe in the next 20 or 30 years because all the people you are reintegrating and putting into the military are going to become major generals soon. And they are going to command your army, then turn the country into an Islamic state. What they are doing is wrong, and should be stopped. They should meet this force with force because this is a terrorist action.

Were the Niger Delta militants not terrorists?

The Niger Delta militants are not terrorists. They have never been classified as terrorists. I prosecuted the Niger Delta issue, and there was no time we sat down at a security and intelligence briefing to classify them as terrorists. They were never terrorists. But these ones from the North, they are terrorists, and they have been classified as such by the President. So, you now say you are going to negotiate with terrorists and reintegrate and rehabilitate them? Those ones they rehabilitated so far have gone back to the bush. They are the ones leaking information to those in the bush to know where to strike. These are the same people ensuring that our security men are dying now. You don’t do things like that. It’s an aberration. It’s very wrong.

Would it also be wrong to have labelled Nnamdi Kanu a terrorist, given that he is agitating against the marginalisation of his region?

If I were to speak as a professional, I would say what they did to Kanu was a badly executed operation. It was poorly done. They just wanted to copy what we did to the leader of MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta), Henry Okah, during Yar’Adua’s administration. But these people are very corrupt and can be very irritating. Look at how the job was badly done during Buhari’s government. You went to Kenya to capture him and then brought him to Abuja, where you paraded him at the airport. As a professional, I followed the trend, and I saw that the people who carried out that operation were supposed to be dismissed from the army and the security services. The leader of MEND was a tougher job to handle than Kanu. We were talking about terrible, hardened people, and we got approval from Yar’Adua to go into the operation. We brought him to Nigeria, nobody knew where he came from or where we took him to until he appeared in court. But here, Kanu was brought in and placed on a chair, and people were taking pictures.

On Nnamdi Kanu issue, it’s political, and I am not a politician. I hate politics. As I said earlier, I prosecuted the MEND leader in Jos. We moved him from Abuja to Bauchi. We flew him at night to court and took him back to his detention facility without any media knowing. But that was not so in Kanu’s case. It was only when the then Attorney-General said they felt we should allow the MEND leader to go that I withdrew from the case.


Why did you withdraw from the case?

It is not yet time to talk about this country. But I don’t want to mention the SAN who was with me and knew details about this issue. Some of these people felt that it’s a political thing, and I withdrew. Now, you want to do the same thing to Nnamdi Kanu, look at what they did.

The President recently granted pardon to some convicted criminals, a decision that has generated mixed reactions. What’s your view on this?

Mr President has the prerogative of mercy. He can forgive whoever he wants and everybody can interpret it however they want. Even state governors do it. The President can release all the criminals if he wants. He may have other deeper reasons which the media may not understand. That’s the truth. You don’t understand international politics sometimes. There may be negotiations going on between the Nigerian government and certain people who say, “release our prisoners,” and he released them. But you will be shouting that they are drug dealers. You will never know what is going on behind the scenes.

A petrol tanker crashed in the early hours of Friday in J

aji, Kaduna State, spilling Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) along the Kaduna–Zaria highway.

In a statement on X on Saturday, the National Emergency Management Agency confirmed the incident, saying it occurred on October 31, 2025, and was reportedly caused by the impatience of the tanker driver.

NEMA said, “Upon receiving the alert, the Head of NEMA Kaduna Operations Office, Mallam Suleiman Muhammad, activated the Agency’s Emergency Response Team. The Search and Rescue Unit arrived promptly at the scene, where officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps had already commenced response activities.”

The agency added that the FRSC, under the leadership of Kaduna Sector Commander Tijjani Iliyasu, “successfully supervised the safe evacuation of the tanker’s contents into another truck provided for the operation, thereby averting a potential disaster.”

The accident caused heavy traffic disruption along both lanes of the Kaduna–Zaria highway, forcing authorities to divert motorists through Amana, Mai Madaci, and Turunku communities.

“NEMA, FRSC, security agencies, and other stakeholders worked collaboratively to ensure public safety and ease traffic congestion,” the statement said, urging road users to remain patient and obey traffic directives as normal movement gradually resumed.

The latest incident comes barely two weeks after a petrol tanker explosion in Niger State claimed 45 lives and left several others injured at Essa community in Katcha Local Government Area.

Petroleum marketers have warned that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, could exceed N1,000 per litre following President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a 15 per cent ad valorem import tariff on fuel imports.

The new policy, which takes effect after a 30-day transition period expected to end on 21 November 2025, is part of the government’s strategy to protect local refiners and reduce the influx of cheaper imported products that threaten domestic refining investments.

However, marketers say the move could backfire and push retail prices beyond the reach of average Nigerians.

Commenting in a telephone interview on Thursday, multiple depot operators with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the decision could further raise the price of petrol, which already sells for around N920 per litre, in many parts of the country.

Explainer: Cholera

“As it is, the price of fuel may go above N1,000 per litre. I don’t know why the government will be adding more to people’s suffering,” one of the depot operators said.


Another depot operator added, “Unfortunately, some of the importers are working in alignment with Dangote, which is why the last price increase was general; all players raised their prices at once. Let’s just wait and see what happens next.”

Another operator added that without a clear framework to stabilise market forces and ensure fair competition, the new import duty could trigger another round of price hikes and worsen the hardship faced by consumers.

The National Vice-President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, also agreed that the tariff had its implications, saying it might lead to a price surge.

Fashola said the policy had both positive and negative effects, adding that it could discourage importation while promoting local refining.

The IPMAN leader opined that some marketers moght perceive it as an opportunity to monopolise the sector in favour of Dangote and a few other refineries.

“The 15 per cent tariff on imported fuel has its own implications. Maybe the price will go up, and equally, it will discourage importers from bringing in fuel if it becomes too costly.

“But it has both negative and positive effects on the sector. I see that the government is trying to protect local refiners, but it will have its own implications because people will see it as a way of monopolising the industry for certain people. At the same time, the government aims to protect the local refiners.”

However, Fashola stressed that the failure of the local refiners to supply enough fuel into the domestic market could trigger a fuel crisis.

“If the local refiners fail, it will have its own implications. It may lead to scarcity, and people will not have an alternative. So, it has both positive and negative effects. That’s the way I see it,” he added.

On whether the development is in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, Fashola said, “I don’t think the government will do anything outside the law. They would not like to do anything against the PIA. Ordinarily, everybody would like to see that our local refineries are surviving and they are doing well, which is good for our economy. I don’t think it has anything to do with the PIA.”

In his advice to local refiners, especially the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Fashola urged them to live up to expectations. He sought the revamp of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.

“My advice or my prayer is to the new management of NNPC: the way they are going, I think they are going in the right direction, and they have to do it fast by bringing in investors to revive our refineries. If all NNPC refineries can come on board, it will solve a lot of problems. I hear people trying to say that maybe they’re going to practise monopoly, but that will not be there. This applies to other private refineries like BUA; when they are able to come up, I think that the fear of monopoly will not be there anymore. There will be competition among the refineries, and that will be good for us,” Fashola stated.

Meanwhile, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, described the 15 per cent tariff as a win-win situation, stressing that the policy would be tested, though it is not a totally new policy.

“Our expectation is that at some point, it might be reviewed. We are looking for product availability and affordability. We must always keep an eagle eye on these two things. That’s what PETROAN will advise at this time. I want Nigerians to know that if we are looking for cheap fuel and we are driving everybody out of the business, the product will not be available, and then prices will skyrocket.

“As it is today, everybody is working with Dangote, and we know that Dangote cannot satisfy the country. So, there has to be a mix of product availability,” he added.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that President Tinubu approved the introduction of a 15 per cent ad valorem import duty on petrol and diesel imports into Nigeria.


The initiative is aimed at protecting local refineries and stabilising the downstream market. In a letter dated 21 October 2025, reported publicly on 30 October 2025, and addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Tinubu directed the immediate implementation of the tariff as part of what the government described as a “market-responsive import tariff framework.”

The letter, signed by his Private Secretary, Damilotun Aderemi, and obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, conveyed the President’s approval following a proposal by the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Zacch Adedeji.

The proposal sought the application of a 15 per cent duty on the cost, insurance and freight value of imported petrol and diesel to align import costs with domestic market realities. The tariff is separate from the additional 5 per cent surcharge to be charged on locally produced and imported fuel in the new tax act, starting January 2026.

Adedeji, in his memo to the President, explained that the measure was part of ongoing reforms to boost local refining, ensure price stability, and strengthen the naira-based oil economy in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for energy security and fiscal sustainability.

According to projections contained in the letter, the 15 per cent import duty could increase the landing cost of petrol by an estimated N99.72 per litre, based on an average daily consumption of 19.26 million litres as of September 2025. This translates to an additional N1.92bn in daily import costs and revenue to government coffers.

The letter read, “At current CIF levels, this represents an increment of approximately N99.72 per litre, which nudges imported landed costs towards local cost recovery without choking supply or inflating consumer prices beyond sustainable thresholds. Even with this adjustment, estimated Lagos pump prices would remain in the range of N964.72 per litre ($0.62), still significantly below regional averages such as Senegal ($1.76 per litre), Côte d’Ivoire ($1.52 per litre), and Ghana ($1.37 per litre).”

It added that payments are to be made into a designated Federal Government revenue account managed by the Nigeria Revenue Service, with verification and clearance oversight by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

Experts Urge CBN to Issue Higher Naira Denominations of N10,000 and N20,000

An economic review has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria to issue higher-denomination naira notes such as N10,000 and N20,000 to restore the currency’s portability and ease the rising cost of cash transactions.

The report observed that the naira’s persistent depreciation has rendered the N1,000 note—Nigeria’s highest denomination—almost valueless in real purchasing terms.

It noted that while a N1,000 note was worth about $7 in 2005, it now equals less than 60 cents, reflecting a 94% loss in value over two decades. Analysts argued that higher-value notes would not worsen inflation, as price increases are driven by production and demand factors, not currency denomination.

They explained that many countries issue higher-value bills to maintain convenience after major currency depreciation, not to trigger inflation.

The review highlighted that everyday transactions, especially in the informal sector, have become cumbersome as traders and rural dwellers must carry large amounts of cash for simple purchases.

It also stressed that the cost of printing, moving, and securing existing lower-value notes has become excessively high for the apex bank.

Introducing N10,000 and N20,000 notes—or undertaking a currency redenomination—was described as a practical step to enhance transaction efficiency, cut operational expenses, and align Nigeria’s currency system with global standards.

The analysts maintained that this proposal does not mean printing more money but simply modernising the naira to match present economic realities and the steep decline in its purchasing power.

The Majority Leader of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Lawan Hussaini Dala has raised alarm over what he described as a gross injustice and imbalance in the ongoing recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alleging that the process favours the southern part of the country.

Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, Hon. Dala said the recruitment exercise violated the principles of Federal Character.

He said whereas there ought to be fairness and equal representation in federal appointments and employments, the recruitment was designed to favour a section of the country against the other.

“I am on this floor to challenge the way and manner the recruitment exercise is going on at the Nigeria Customs Service. To us, there is injustice, the Federal Character that was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring equitable sharing of rights wasn’t considered,” he stated.

According to him, a total of 1,785 candidates were recruited nationwide, but the distribution of the slots heavily favoured states in the South-West, particularly Lagos and Ogun States, which he said received a disproportionately higher share.

“Lagos alone got 207, Ogun 145, Ondo 132, Osun 127, Oyo 108, and Ekiti, which is not more than Nasarawa Local Government in Kano, got 93. Altogether, the South-West got 812 slots, more than half of the total number of recruits in the entire country,” Dala lamented.

He contrasted this with the allocations given to states in the North-West, describing the disparity as “unacceptable and unjustifiable.”

“In the North-West, Kano got only 31, Katsina 20, Jigawa 18, and Zamfara 16. Altogether, the entire region got only about 7 percent of the total number recruited,” he said.

The lawmaker further revealed that across the northern region, only 651 slots were allotted, while the bulk of the opportunities went to states in the southern part of the country.

“Honourable Speaker, this is injustice, and if we keep quiet on issues like this, our people will continue to be cheated. The entire northern region was just left with 651 slots. If this continues, the Nigeria Customs Service in a few years to come will belong to a particular ethnicity or region,” he warned.

Dala urged the House to officially communicate the Assembly’s concern to relevant federal authorities, including the National Assembly, the Federal Character Commission (FCC), and the Nigeria Customs Service, demanding a review of the recruitment process to reflect fairness and inclusivity.

He said such imbalances in federal employment opportunities could further deepen regional mistrust and threaten national unity if not promptly addressed.

“We are calling on the Federal Character Commission and other relevant agencies to ensure that recruitment into federal institutions adheres strictly to fairness, equity, and justice, as enshrined in our constitution,” Dala added.

Other members of the Assembly who spoke on the matter supported Dala’s motion, calling on northern lawmakers at the National Assembly to take up the issue and ensure that corrective measures are taken.

The Speaker of the House commended Hon. Dala for bringing the matter to light, describing it as “a patriotic move in defence of fairness and justice.”

He directed the relevant House Committee to investigate the recruitment figures and report back for further legislative action.

NIGERIA’S headline inflation eased to 18.02 per cent in September, according to the latest NBS data, marking the first time in over three years that inflation has fallen below 20 per cent.

This technical milestone, supported by six consecutive months of tapering inflation rates and aided significantly by the recent rebasing of the Consumer Price Index, reinforces the official narrative of economic stabilisation.

However, any celebration will be premature. These numbers belie a gaping disconnect from the reality experienced by millions of Nigerians enduring escalating costs of living, stagnant incomes, and widespread poverty.

The rebasing exercise, updating the CPI base year to 2024, has recalibrated inflation calculations to reflect contemporary consumption patterns better, contributing to the statistical drop in headline inflation in January from 34.8 per cent to 24.48 per cent.

The recent cut in the Monetary Policy Rate by the CBN to 27.0 per cent, the first in five years, and relative stability in the forex market have contributed to tempering inflationary pressures, especially in food prices.

These signify policy successes, prompting economists to anticipate possible further rate cuts to stimulate economic growth.

Yet, while statistical data suggests improvement, the lived experience of ordinary Nigerians is marked by persistent economic hardship.

SB Morgen Intelligence says the “non-linear and fragile” moderation in food prices in Q3 2025 was driven mainly by seasonal harvests (of staples such as maize, cassava, yams and onions), rather than structural improvements and has done little to ease the strain on households as insecurity and poor logistics continue to drive the country’s food inflation.

In its latest report, titled ‘Jollof Index Q3 2025: A Tale of Two Economies’, SBM said the national average Jollof index (cost of cooking a pot of jollof rice) fell by just 3.17 per cent from N27,528 in June to N26,656 in September.

“Nigeria’s food affordability crisis remains acute. The easing of inflation is largely statistical, not practical,” the report said.

The research firm partially credited the easing momentum to government interventions, notably import waivers for key food items, which improved market supply, and a more stable naira, which helped curb the cost of imported inputs.

These findings reinforce a recent World Bank country assessment that classifies 139 million Nigerians as remaining trapped in poverty due to sustained inflationary pressure amid shrinking real incomes, with 50 per cent of households spending up to 70 per cent of income on food alone.

Critics argue that inflation in Nigeria is largely cost-push rather than demand-driven, fuelled by structural factors like elevated energy prices, supply chain disruptions, insecurity in food-producing regions, and heavy dependence on imports.

The removal of fuel subsidies and the managed floating of the naira have, despite aiming to restore fiscal discipline, exacerbated cost pressures. Petrol prices are five times the pre-May 2023 figures.

Many Nigerians express scepticism toward official inflation figures, perceiving a disconnect between government-reported statistics and their own realities of price hikes at markets and fuel stations.

Independent inflation trackers report significantly higher inflation rates than government data, further deepening public distrust.

Indeed, President Bola Tinubu’s inflation target of 15 per cent for 2025 and the dramatic drop in inflation numbers in recent months fuel speculations that the government is working towards a predetermined end.

Addressing this disconnect and the underlying inflation problem requires more than statistical adjustments or monetary policy tweaks.

Yemi Kale, group chief economist and MD of Afreximbank, notes that economic stability often benefits investors and businesses first, who might start posting great results, but it can take months or even years before this translates into job creation, higher wages, or cheaper goods for citizens.

Policymakers must, therefore, pursue a comprehensive strategy that tackles Nigeria’s structural economic challenges and abridges the time for reform benefits to materialise.

This includes reviving domestic agricultural and industrial production to reduce dependence on imports, stabilising the FX market, improving security in agricultural zones, and investing in energy and transport infrastructure to lower production and distribution costs.

Strengthening social safety nets to protect the vulnerable and ensuring fiscal discipline with transparent governance are also critical.

In essence, the real measure of success will not be an inflation figure on paper but tangible improvements in Nigerians’ ability to afford necessities without distress.

Punch Editorial Board