₦airaland Forum

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty on petrol and diesel, warning that the move will worsen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

Emami raised the concerns at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, which initiated the proposal and secured the President’s approval, said the new tariff was designed to protect domestic refineries, stabilise the downstream oil sector, and strengthen local refining capacity.

FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, explained that the initiative was part of ongoing reforms to “operationalise crude transactions in local currency, strengthen local refining capacity, and ensure a stable, affordable supply of petroleum products across Nigeria.”

But Emami, who is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A & E Group, an oil, construction and haulage company, disagreed.

Speaking with journalists, he lamented that the policy would “hurt the masses, not marketers.”

The APC stalwart also urged the President to suspend it until the government provides more relief to Nigerians.


“Anybody advising Mr President to impose a 15 per cent tax on petroleum right now is not doing him any good. This kind of policy will not hurt marketers — it will hurt ordinary Nigerians.

“Whatever tax you put on petroleum goes straight back to the people on the streets. Nigerians are already hungry and struggling,” he said.

Emami also warned that the cost of fuel has already crippled daily livelihoods, particularly among rural and riverine communities dependent on fishing and transport.

He said, When you buy fuel, it determines whether you can even go out to fish. It’s not that the fish are gone — it’s that we can’t afford to reach them anymore.

“For me, that 15 per cent should be kept aside until the government provides more relief to Nigerians. Even after removing the fuel subsidy, we haven’t seen much positive reflection. Things are still hard. So why add another burden?”

The oil mogul also expressed fear that certain persons must have been misleading the President.

“Some people don’t care about Mr President or what he’s going through — they just want to create more problems. Those are my honest opinions on the matter,” he added.

PUNCH Online reported that Tinubu’s approval of the new tariff was conveyed in an October 21, 2025, letter to the FIRS and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, directing immediate enforcement.

According to official projections, the 15 per cent import duty could increase the landing cost of petrol by about ₦99.72 per litre — nudging pump prices in Lagos to around ₦964.72 per litre, though still below regional averages.

The policy, government sources say, is part of efforts to encourage the Dangote Refinery and modular plants in Edo, Rivers, and Imo states to scale up production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports, which still account for roughly 67 per cent of national demand.

However, industry experts warn that without corresponding relief measures, the new duty could further squeeze households already battling the effects of fuel subsidy removal and inflation.

IMF warns Nigeria of debt and oil and revenue risks.

IMF Warns Nigeria Over Rising Debt, Falling Oil Revenue and Fiscal Risks

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a cautionary note to Nigeria, warning that the country’s heavy reliance on oil, growing domestic debt, and overly optimistic revenue projections pose significant thr+ats to its economy.

The warning came during the IMF’s latest Article IV consultation, which revealed that Nigeria’s 2025 budget remains vulnerable due to declining oil prices, reduced production output, and a fiscal deficit projected to reach 4.7% of GDP.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC knew Goodluck Jonathan was doing well but they used misinformation and propaganda to grab power. Hear it This is one of the most unpatriotic statements I have ever heard in my life. If you understand what this man said here, then you will understand… pic.twitter.com/JNKHkQi0mc

— Anthony Ehilebo (@AnthonyEhilebo) October 28, 2025

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the federal government of dishonesty over its claims of increased local food production, arguing that widespread insecurity and the displacement of farmers—especially in northern Nigeria—make such assertions untrue.

The party lamented that even farmers who have not been displaced are struggling to afford fertilisers and other essential agricultural inputs due to soaring costs.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned the rationale behind hoarding imported food while millions of Nigerians face hunger, describing it as a deliberate weaponisation of poverty for political advantage.


The ADC called for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s agricultural strategy, urging the government to implement policies that protect local production, stabilise food prices, safeguard farmers’ lives, and ensure long-term food sovereignty.

“The ADC is deeply concerned about the Federal Government’s misleading narrative around the so-called drop in food prices. Contrary to what is being celebrated in official circles, the reality on the ground—as confirmed by struggling farmers and families across the country—is that the Tinubu administration is manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political gains,” the statement said.

The party said the reported reduction in food prices is artificial and driven by import waivers that have flooded the market with cheap foreign food.

“This is neither evidence of sound economic policy nor proof of increased local production. While it may temporarily reduce food prices, it comes at a heavy cost to local farmers who can no longer compete due to rising input prices, particularly fertilisers, and worsening insecurity,” the ADC said.

The party further described as “strange and dishonest” the government’s claim that its policies are boosting domestic production at a time when many farmers have been displaced by bandits.

“How can production be increasing when the rural economy is under siege by bandits and the cost of planting is now beyond the reach of the average farmer?” the statement added.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Mahmuda Mamman, announced the development on Monday in Abuja at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Association of Power Generation Companies of Nigeria (APGC).

The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has constituted a committee to resolve the longstanding debt crisis plaguing Power Generation Companies (GenCos).

The move, coming after years of strained relations between the government and power producers over unpaid invoices, is aimed not only at clearing the arrears but also at creating a payment structure that ensures future sustainability.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Mahmuda Mamman, announced the development on Monday in Abuja at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Association of Power Generation Companies of Nigeria (APGC).

Mamman, who was represented by Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Evangeline Babalola, said the committee’s task extends beyond debt repayment to establishing mechanisms that would prevent a recurrence of the liquidity crisis that has crippled the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

“In recognition of the critical importance of resolving this issue for the sustainability of our power sector, Mr. President has constituted a committee specifically mandated to address the payment of outstanding debts owed to the GenCos,” he said.

He commended the GenCos for their endurance and patriotism despite operating under immense financial strain.

"You have not abandoned your posts in spite of severe liquidity challenges that would have forced closure in any other industry. This is not just business; this is patriotism in action,” Mamman said.

He assured industry players that President Tinubu was fully aware of the liquidity challenges confronting the sector and remained determined to implement measures that would bring lasting relief.

“As we work to resolve the debt situation, I encourage you to maintain the same spirit of resilience and commitment that has characterised your operations over the past decade,” Mamman said.

The event, themed “A Decade of Powering Progress, Driving Nigeria’s Energy Transformation,” provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the sector’s decade-long journey since privatisation — one marked by ambition, investment, and recurring financial bottlenecks that continue to test Nigeria’s power reform agenda.

In April, Power generation companies (GenCos) in Nigeria raised the alarm over an imminent shutdown of electricity plants across the country due to a staggering N4trillion debt owed by the Nigerian government.

In a statement issued by Colonel Sani Bello, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), the GenCos had disclosed that they were currently owed N2trillion for electricity supplied in 2024 and an additional N1.9 trillion in legacy debts.

The companies had lamented that they receive less than 30% of their monthly invoices for power supplied to the national grid, severely hampering their ability to sustain operations.

“The power generation companies have continued to bear the brunt of the liquidity crisis in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

"Despite significant investments and efforts to ramp up capacity, GenCos face systemic constraints, unfriendly policies, and mounting debts without a clear repayment plan. The absence of firm contracts and a securitized market has further complicated financial planning," the statement read.

The GenCos had warned that the liquidity crisis could trigger a total collapse of the electricity value chain, leading to widespread blackouts.

Farmers and the federal government have disagreed over the recent drop in prices of food items across the country.

Many of the farmers and their associations, who spoke to Daily Trust, cited what they described as massive importation of food items recently approved by the government as the cause of the price crash.

But the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, attributed the development to the various incentives introduced by the present administration to boost local production.


This is just as farmers have also expressed worries over the soaring cost of agricultural inputs which, according to them, is making food production increasingly difficult.


5 teenagers die in Gombe boat mishap
Farmers, FG disagree over drop in food prices
They told Daily Trust that they had held on to old stock, hoping to sell at higher prices to cushion earlier losses.

The government had, in September 2024, opened a 150-day duty-free window for the import of essential grains such as rice, maize, sorghum and wheat.

The July–December 2024 waiver was aimed at reducing the prices of essential food to provide relief to millions of Nigerians struggling with high living costs.

However, the import, which continued until January 2025, forced the prices of major grains, including wheat, millet, sorghum rice and maize, to plummet below production cost.

As a result of this, a large number of farmers who made significant financial investments in the production of grains are still losing money, and some of them are still trapped with old stock.

However, the minister, Abdullahi, said the government had yet to release the food items it imported. Answering questions from journalists during the World Food Day celebrations in Abuja, he said the government was aware of the impact of the drop in food prices and that it was working to mitigate it.

“We are fully aware of some of these dynamics, but let me make it very clear that, of course, we are looking at food security for our citizens, that is the overall interest of government. And if food is available, accessible, but not affordable, whoever is involved in the non-affordability will tell you it’s not food secure. Yet, we want an economy and a country where everybody is inclusively included in whatever we are doing.

“No one is left behind. So, what the government is doing is, ever since we came on board, we did not hide our intention to see that the prices of food come down to a level that is affordable.

“Now, what has happened is that from 2023, we went into massive production through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Programme. We injected a large volume, almost more than 500,000 metric tons of wheat, including maize, cassava, and all the other commodities that we promoted.

“This year, we also have a marginal increase, which means we are ramping up production. Now, the volume of food that is produced is responsible for the drop in prices,” he explained.

But farmers insisted that a simple visit to markets across the country would confirm the influx of imported food items, including other things like starch and ginger that were not among things approved.

And like in the states, price of foodstuffs, especially local rice, beans, guinea-corn, maize, millet, cassava flour, yam, and garri, has further crashed by up to 50 per cent in various rural markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Farmers count losses

Mrs Blessing Janaru said she had many bags of maize, paddy and millet from 2024 harvest unsold because if she sells now, ‘the losses will be too much.’

“I spent more than N2.5 million and if I sell all of them, I cannot even get N1.5 million. So I decided to keep it hoping the prices go up; instead, it continues to fall, particularly for maize and millet,” she said.

Prof. Yusuf Sani Ahmad, the Executive Director, of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), while presenting the 2025 Wet Season Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) recently, drew the attention of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, to the fact that the current low prices of crops caused huge losses to the farmers.

“While the farmers have issue with high cost of inputs, especially fertilizer, the prices of food significantly crashed.

“Sir, the farmers are crying, it is only the consumers that are smiling. Something has to be done, that is the truth. Some are reporting that they would not go back to the farm. I have a client that lost over N27 million. So, there must be a special intervention to see how we can encourage the farmers to go back to the farm,” he told the minister in Abuja.

Alhaji Sani Abdullahi invested N6 million in rice production in Awe, Nasarawa State last season in a 10 hectare farm but could not recoup his investment because the price of rice crashed below the cost of production.

“When I sold the rice I harvested, I could only realise about N2.7 million. It was terrible! I became sick for some days because I was overthinking how to deal with the situation. I borrowed a lot of money to put into the farm and did not know what to do about it.


“This year, I did not even bother to farm rice because I’m still struggling to pay the loan I collected from different cooperatives,” he said.

Abdullahi said he knows many people who are in serious problem today because of similar issue.

Mohammed Kabir Salihu, chairman of the Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Kaduna State chapter, said farmers are deeply concerned over the current trends.

“Remember the presidential fertiliser initiative under Buhari? Fertiliser was sold at between N5, 000 and N5,500. That made it affordable for smallholder farmers.


“At that time, a bag of maize sold at a low price, but it made sense because the cost of inputs was low. Fertiliser is like medicine to maize; you can’t grow maize without it. For example, last year under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, herbicides were about N1,500 to N1,700. Now, they cost N8,000 to N10,000. Even the labourers we hire have increased their charges drastically. A job that used to cost N50,000 now costs N300,000. That’s why we are appealing to the government to prioritize fertiliser supply more than anything else.

“We are deeply concerned. How can anyone buy urea at N50,000 or DAP at N70,000 to N80,000 per bag? Most of our maize producers are smallholder farmers. They don’t have the capital to buy inputs at such rates, let alone make any profit,” he said.

Cassava farmers in agony

A few months ago, cassava farmers suffered severe losses due to massive import of starch which crashed domestic price of cassava.

The situation is said to have angered industrial cassava processors who spent billions to set up factories to produce starch and high-quality food-grade flour, forcing some of them to shut down operations.

Daily Trust gathered that farmers are now left to rely solely on garri processors, who give reduced rates that are less than the cost of production, since industrial processors no longer purchase cassava from farmers.

Kehinde Lawrence, the programme manager of the Industrial Cassava Stakeholders’ Association of Nigeria (ICSAN), had earlier told the Daily Trust during a telephone interview that the processors and the farmers were in a distressed situation.

He said the association was concerned that a lot of people had gone into cassava production, and that the output of the harvest, which is taken primarily by industrial processors, suffered a setback because these are the people who have the capacity to process.

In Idah, Kogi State, Ben Ameh had cultivated 40 acres of cassava but was unable to sell because the prices per ton crashed from N170,000 to N45,000.

“Even at that price, you will still have to pay transport. So, the whole thing is better imagined. I put more than N16 million in that farm but when we harvested, we could not even realize N10 million. It was a sad experience for me. That was the first time I tried cassava in such large quantity and everything collapsed,” he said.


Malam Hassan Yusuf, who farmed sesame said he invested about N 3 million into the venture but that he could only realize about N700,000 due to drop in the cost of the produce, He said he is discouraged by the development and that he will not cultivate it next year.


Current cost of production per hectare

Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u, a farmer in Kano, said the overall cost of cultivating one hectare of maize or rice has now gone up to almost N2 million, compared to the initial cultivation cost of N600,000 obtainable in previous years.

A director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who prefers not to be mentioned, said the cost of producing most grains in some areas was about N650,000 per hectare at the beginning of the season but it had increased to over N1.2 million, a 100% increase by July.

At the beginning of this year’s rainy season, the retail prices for various fertilizers showed that NPK 20:10:10 was N49,000, NPK 15:15:15 was N52,000, urea was N36,500, granulated diammonium phosphate (DAP) was N70,000 per 50kg bag, while single super phosphate (SSP) was N39,500.

But in July, prices went up sharply, with DAP rising to N96,000, NPK 20:10:10, N60,000, and NPK 15:15:15 reaching N108,000 depending on the location.

Malam Bello Isah Lajawa, a farmer in Kano, said several rural markets in Bunkure, Kura, and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas, sold a 50kg bag of urea fertilizer between N50, 000 and N55,000, while NPK was sold at N55,000 and above as against the N22,000 sold in the previous farming season.

He further revealed that herbicides and pesticides had also witnessed sharp increases, with some brands selling at 80 per cent higher than last year’s prices.

The National President of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim, had, in a recent chat with Daily Trust, warned that the country’s efforts to attain food security would be severely threatened by the high cost of fertiliser.

“Most of our Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) and a host of large-scale ones are groaning under the high cost of fertiliser, and this certainly portends a serious threat to the attainment of food security in Nigeria,” he stated.


In[b] most markets across the country, a 100 kg bag of maize currently costs N22,000, a bag of paddy costs N35,000, soy beans cost N45,000, sorghum N20,000, millet N35,000, and beans N65,000.
[/b]
However, there is minimal fluctuation in these pricing across different locations.

Haruna Saidu, a large scale farmer in Mutum Biyu, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, said he spent millions on his maize farm and that price has not gone up, therefore, he may not make any profit.

He accused the federal government of discouraging farmers from growing farm produce, adding that importation of grains like maize and the refusal to subsidise farm inputs is killing farming.

Another farmer, Lawal Mayoreniyo, in Ardo Kola Local Government Area, said farmers were gradually shifting from farming of food crops to cash crops because of crash in the price of grains.

More farmers speak

Salihu Ibrahim, a farmer in Lemu, Gbako LGA Niger State, said farming is no longer viable on its own unless they seek out other sources of income.

“We, farmers are already in a mess. On our last market day, a bag of maize was N20, 000 while a mudu went for N300. In some places, a bag of maize is N22, 000. And not only maize, prices of other farm produce have reduced drastically. We have lost our investments. But as I always say, farmers should no longer rely on farming because prices of what we produce are going down while prices of what we need to buy after selling our farm produce are not going down. You can see the gap and disparities.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tell Nigerians the real reasons behind the sudden removal of the country’s service chiefs, saying the abrupt shake-up has raised questions about transparency and stability in government.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said that although the President, as Commander-in-Chief, has the authority to make such changes, the timing, coming amid widespread rumours of an attempted coup, makes openness and clear communication essential.

“We acknowledge that the President reserves the power to make such changes as he may deem fit. However, we are somewhat concerned that this change is coming in the wake of widespread rumours of an attempted coup,” the ADC said.

The opposition party criticised the Federal Government for what it described as a confusing and evasive response to the rumours, saying Nigerians deserved clarity, not mixed signals.

“The reactions of government to the dangerous rumour have veered between deliberate obfuscation and outright confusion in a matter that required crystal clarity,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC also pointed out that many of the service chiefs removed had been appointed only about 28 months ago, while the current Chief of Defence Staff had only been in his previous post as Chief of Army Staff for a year. It argued that such a major change in the military hierarchy could not have been made without serious underlying reasons.

“This kind of decision has serious and far-reaching implications for stability within the ranks and therefore could not have been taken without strong reasons,” the party noted.

The ADC said Nigerians deserve a categorical explanation from the government, stressing that its concern was for the country’s peace and the health of its democracy.

“As an opposition political party, our interest remains the stability of our country and our democracy. In light of developments in our neighbourhood, particularly in Chad and across the Sahel, we are gravely concerned,” it said.

The party accused the Tinubu administration of being distracted, saying insecurity is worsening even as government attention appears more focused on politics than on protecting lives and property.

“Insecurity continues to spread, with terrorist groups staging a comeback in some parts of the country, while bandits reign supreme in others.

“But this is not the reason the government is changing the service chiefs. Instead, the administration’s attention appears fully focused on regime politics rather than securing the lives of Nigerians,” the ADC said.

It warned that the sweeping changes in the military could deepen public anxiety and feed further conspiracy theories rather than restore confidence.

“This action, if anything, will only further promote rumours and conspiracy theories,” the party cautioned.

The ADC further urged the Federal Government to be transparent about its decision and reassure citizens that Nigeria’s democracy is not under threat.

“We therefore reiterate our earlier position that the Federal Government must address the issue transparently and reassure Nigerians that our democracy is not under threat,” the party said.

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has vowed never to negotiate with bandits or pay ransom for kidnapped victims, saying instead residents must be prepared to defend themselves against attacks.

The governor made the disclosure, when he visited the people of Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas of the state, whose communities were recently attacked by bandits in Kontagora.

The governor said: “The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and defend themselves because ransom will only turn kidnapping into a thriving business.


“I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom. The moment we start paying, they will open shop on our heads and continue kidnapping people. The situation has reached a state of war that requires collective resistance.

“We are surrounded by enemies, but we will not give up. The constitution gives us the right to defend our lives and property, and we will do just that. There is no going back.”

Describing as “embarrassing and unacceptable” the frequent invasions of communities and the displacement of residents, Bago announced plans by his administration to recruit and train 10,000 members into the Joint Task Force, JTF, to help restore security across the state.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, said the governor has also declared a total ban on all mining activities across Zone C of the state, covering eight local government areas of Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu and Agwara.

He said: “Illegal mining has become one of the major drivers of insecurity in the area, with miners often accessing forest zones unharmed while residents suffer repeated attacks.


“It is suspicious that miners can enter the forests freely, yet the bandits don’t touch them. I have now ordered the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to arrest anyone caught engaging in mining activities.”


The governor assured victims of recent attacks that his administration would provide support, including compensation for families of those killed, medical treatment for the injured, and assistance for those who lost their sources of livelihood.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has said that a strategic and robust public-private partnership will reform the agricultural sector and cut the nation’s annual post-harvest losses estimated at N3.5 trillion.

The minister stated this during a high-level panel discussion at the FAO Hand-in-Hand Sahel Regional Initiative with a focus on accelerating capacity, partnerships, and investments to transform agrifood systems in the region, held in Rome, Italy, recently.


Senator Kyari said scaling up the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), which is the largest such initiative in Africa, currently being expanded from eight to 27 states, will provide integrated infrastructure and reduce costs for agro-processors.


He added that implementing the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), will reduce the N3.5trn lost annually to postharvest inefficiencies through improved storage, cold chain, and warehousing solutions.

Kyari stressed the need for a Sahel region that would leverage strong institutions, innovative financing, strategic and robust public – private collaboration, and smart governance to unlock the full potential of farmers, processors, small businesses, and revolutionize the agricultural ecosystem.

The minister said, “The pathway to upscale is to implement a laudable agenda. Implementation is not abstract. It requires due diligence, smart governance, and unwavering political will.

The Federal Government has said Mathematics is a compulsory subject for all students sitting for O-Level examinations.

This was conveyed in a press statement issued by Boriowo Folashade, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, on Sunday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Boriowo had announced that senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities would no longer be required to present a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for tertiary admissions.

Boriowo had stated that the reform became necessary after years of restricted access, which denied many qualified candidates admission opportunities.

She had said while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination annually, only about 700,000 gain admission.
However, the issue had generated controversy as some educationists rejected the policy shift, saying it would further encourage laziness among students and negatively impact their academic excellence and performance.

But in the new statement, Boriowo said the new admission guidelines do not exempt any candidate from registering and sitting for Mathematics.

“All students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level examinations,” the statement read.

The statement added that while institutions may now admit candidates into certain programmes where credit passes in either English or Mathematics are not mandatory, students are still required to take both subjects during their O-Level exams.

“This adjustment affects only admission criteria, not the requirement to take these subjects,” she clarified.

According to the statement, the reform supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development.

“English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning,” the Ministry noted.

The Ministry also urged students, parents, and stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels for verified policy updates

Asked if the new development meant a U-turn on the earlier stance of the ministry, Boriowo said, “No, no U-turn — it’s a clarification on the streamlined admission requirements to expand access to tertiary education, please.”

Army Officers Detained For Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu Are Attached To NSA Ribadu's Office, Include Ex-Governor’s Nephew

The Nigerian Army officers who are currently in detention for allegedly planning a coup d’etat to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), SaharaReporters has gathered.

ONSA is led by Nuhu Ribadu, a lawyer and retired police officer serving as National Security Adviser to President Tinubu.

The staff in the office are usually drawn from the Nigerian intelligence, armed forces, law enforcement and paramilitary units.

Earlier, SaharaReporters exclusively reported the arrest and subsequent detention of senior military officers led by an Army Brigadier General for planning a coup d’etat on October 1st Independent Day celebrations.

While the Nigerian military in a statement few days ago claimed the detention of the officers was linked to "repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation", top sources had revealed that they were actually arrested over a coup plot.

According to a senior official of the Defence Intelligence Agency, those arrested were planning to stage a coup and take over government from “selfish politicians”.

He added the coup attempt was thwarted after an intelligence gathering by the DIA and sister agencies.

“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in the statement released by the spokesperson. They had started doing secret meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top government officials,” the source had told SaharaReporters.

“They're all officers within the rank of Captain to Brigadier-General and are still in detention at DIA as we talk. They were picked recently at their various houses around the country. Their main objective was to overthrow Tinubu and announce a military government.”

“Yes, they were arrested for planning to stage a coup and take over government. That was the main reason why the Independence Day parade scheduled to hold on Wednesday, October 1 as part of activities marking the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary was cancelled,” another source had said.

Giving an update on Saturday evening, the senior intelligence official told SaharaReporters that the officers, mostly Northerners are attached to the NSA office.

He identified one of the alleged leaders of the plot as Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura who just returned from a special combat course in China.

The accused officer is a nephew to Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State and current Board Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

“The ring leader of the coup is Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura. Don’t be confused cause we have two Al-Makuras in the Army, two brothers and both are Lieutenant Colonel. One is the Commanding Officer of 343 Artillery Regiment in Elele, though he was detained briefly but he was released last night (Friday) after investigation showed he wasn’t involved in the planned coup plot by his brother and others.

“The accused, Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura just came back from a course in China and was posted to the NSA office few months ago. He is a no nonsense infantry officers and very popular in Maiduguri, Borno state. Both Al-Makuras are nephews of the former Nigerian governor.

“Seeing the full list of the accused officers, most of them are from Northern Nigeria, sadly the young ones among them were deceived to join the plan.”

He added, “None of them has access to their family members currently.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Saturday said that ethnic politics cannot stop the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The APC Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, said this in a statement in Lagos.

He was reacting to Chief Dele Momodu, a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), counselling opposition parties to come together and play the ethnic card in 2027 to defeat Tinubu.


Oladejo commended Momodu, who recently dumped PDP for African Democratic Congress (ADC), for finally admitting “the obvious – that President Bola Tinubu remains politically unstoppable”.

He said, “Let it be known that the days of weaponising ethnicity as a shortcut to power are long gone.

“The Nigerian electorate has evolved. They are now focused on who can deliver results, not who can divide the nation.

“Nigerians know better. They know that leadership is earned through vision, performance, and consistency – not through editorials written from the sidelines of social gigs.”

According to him, under Tinubu, Nigeria is being rebuilt on the foundation of equity, inclusion, and reform.

He said that these cut across infrastructural renewal to economic stabilisation and social investment.

“This administration is proving that leadership is about ideas, not identity,” he said.


Oladejo urged Momodu to focus on rediscovering his own political direction before attempting to offer others advice.

“Truth be told, political realists have accepted the defeat of the opposition, come the year 2027, individually and collectively.

“The 2027 election will be a referendum on competence and performance, not on ethnicity or nostalgia. And in that contest, Dele Momodu’s brand of political showmanship will have no place,” he added. (NAN)

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) and the Nigeria Police have agreed to review the tinted permit policy.

Prof. Paul Ananaba, the Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, disclosed this in Ikeja on Thursday during an interactive session held as part of activities ahead of the NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference in Akwa-Ibom.

Ananaba, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said the review was to ensure it aligned with public interest and national security objectives.

The learned silk said the decision followed weeks of engagement between both parties after concerns were raised by Nigerians over the harassment of motorists whose vehicle windows were not completely transparent.

He said the association intervened after several reports of indiscriminate arrests and impoundment of vehicles by police officers enforcing the tinted permit directive.

“Following our discussions with senior police officers, we agreed that enforcement of the tinted permit should be suspended while a joint review committee is constituted.

“SPIDEL’s engagement with the police is not confrontational but aimed at promoting accountability and justice in public administration.

“The committee, comprising representatives of NBA-SPIDEL and the Nigeria Police, will examine the legal and security implications of the policy and recommend new modalities for its regulation,” Ananaba said.

He said the association filed a suit against the police over alleged discrimination against some citizens, adding that such legal actions were necessary to uphold the rule of law.

“SPIDEL is not a body of activists. Our focus is public interest and development,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual conference will be taking place from Dec. 1 to 5.


Also speaking, Mrs Adaobi Egboka, Director of the Africa Initiative at the Vance Centre, New York City Bar, said the Centre for International Justice had proposed a partnership with NBA-SPIDEL to strengthen public interest law and institutionalise pro bono legal services across Africa.

Egboka made this known while presenting the centre’s proposal to collaborate with the NBA in promoting access to justice, ethical legal practice and development.

Egboka said the Vance Centre, a non-profit arm of the New York City Bar Association, works globally to advance justice through cross-border legal collaborations, pro bono services and institutional integrity.

She explained that the centre operates through four major programme areas – environment, human rights and access to justice, institutional integrity, and public interest reporting – to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.

According to her, the proposed partnership will help the NBA develop a structured pro bono framework, create a database of participating law firms and establish standards for measuring legal aid contributions.

Egboka also called for collaboration in establishing a “Pro Bono Declaration for Africa”, similar to the Pro Bono Declaration of the Americas, which committed law firms to dedicate specific hours annually to free legal services for the underprivileged.

“Such initiative will promote accountability, enhance diversity within the legal profession and improve access to justice for vulnerable groups.

“The Vance Centre has successfully launched a Pro Bono Institute in Kenya in partnership with local universities and law firms, serving as a model for possible replication in Nigeria through collaboration with the NBA-SPIDEL.

“We urge the NBA to support the centre’s vision of building a stronger, data-driven, and institutionalised pro bono culture in Africa,” Egboka said. (NAN)

Further review shows that production in June 2025 stood at 1.50 million barrels daily; May, 1.45 million daily; April, 1.48 million daily; and March, 1.40 million daily.

ASaharaReporters review of the monthly crude oil production data released by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has shown that Nigeria recorded its lowest crude oil production in ten months in September 2025.

According to OPEC, Nigeria's crude oil production stood at 1.39 million barrels per day in September 2025, down from 1.43 million barrels recorded in August and 1.50 million in July 2025.


Further review shows that production in June 2025 stood at 1.50 million barrels daily; May, 1.45 million daily; April, 1.48 million daily; and March, 1.40 million daily.

Other figures include February 2025 with a daily average of 1.46 million barrels, January 2025 with 1.53 million barrels daily, and December 2024 with 1.48 million barrels daily.

Of the ten months reviewed, Nigeria failed to meet OPEC’s quota of 1.5 million barrels per day on seven occasions.


Crude oil production has continued to be hampered by several factors, including widespread sabotage, pipeline vandalism, and poor management of the country's oil sector.

These challenges have led to Nigeria consistently falling short of its production quotas despite having the capacity to produce more.

Industry experts have called on the government to intensify efforts to address these issues, warning that continued shortfalls in crude oil production could affect the country’s revenue generation and economic growth.

Nigeria has also been unable to meet local refinery demand for crude oil, SaharaReporters earlier reported.

This comes as the Federal Government disclosed that a total of 67,657,559 barrels of crude oil were supplied to local refiners for processing between January and August 2025.

This figure, confirmed by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), highlights ongoing challenges in bridging the crude allocation gap facing indigenous refineries despite Nigeria’s rising production levels.

Speaking in Abuja, the Head of Media and Strategic Communications at the NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, said the crude allocation was made in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation policy.

"A total of 67,657,559 barrels were delivered to local refiners between January and August this year. All refiners got that amount within the eight-month period,” Akinkuotu stated.

In a document seen by SaharaReporters and published by the NUPRC, an estimated total of 123.4 million barrels was projected to be required by local refineries between January and June. The daily requirement was put at 770,500 barrels, while the monthly need was forecast at 23.8 million barrels.



With 67.7 million barrels of crude oil made available to domestic refineries between January and August, it means that over 55.8 million barrels needed for local consumption (using January to June NUPRC domestic needs estimates) were not supplied.



This indicates that the Nigerian government could not provide at least 45% of the crude oil required locally.



Previously, SaharaReporters reported that Nigeria’s foreign trade statistics for the first and second quarters of 2025 showed that the country imported fuel worth N4.13 trillion between January and June 2025.