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Politics › Peter Obi Is Desperate, He Can’t Fix Nigeria In Four Years - Oshiomhole by treesun(op): 11:25am On Jul 28

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the 2027 presidential ambition of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi, describing his promise to transform Nigeria within a single four-year term as unrealistic and driven by desperation.

Oshiomhole made the remarks during an appearance on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines, following Obi’s recent interview in which he reaffirmed his commitment to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.

Questioning Obi’s credibility, the former Edo State governor argued that the former Anambra governor had not remained consistent in his political convictions, citing his exit from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after leaving office.

“Let’s face it. The Peter Obi that was governor of Anambra State is not the Peter Obi of today, because the Peter Obi of Anambra was one who said, as a matter of respect to the memory of Ojukwu, he will not ever abandon APGA.

“But before daybreak, once his tenure ended, Obi became a political wanderer,” Oshiomhole said.

The APC chieftain also argued that Obi’s background as a trader makes him unsuitable to undertake the long-term planning required to govern Nigeria.

According to him, traders are primarily focused on short-term returns, unlike manufacturers and investors who plan over several years.

“Obi is a trader. Traders have short-term calculation. They are not into long-term projections. They are not wired to think of what situation will be in the long run,” he said.

Oshiomhole further alleged that Obi’s business interests revolve around importation rather than domestic production.

“Obi’s business is to export jobs and import unemployment to the country. That is what he lives for. He’s a trader,” he said.

In contrast, Oshiomhole praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the President inherited a country facing severe economic challenges but had taken difficult decisions to reposition it.

“Bola Ahmed Tinubu is someone who believes that for your tomorrow, we must do certain things today, painful as it may be,” he said.

He likened Tinubu’s reforms to a life-saving surgical operation, arguing that the country is beginning to experience the benefits despite criticism from the opposition.

Oshiomhole also referenced Obi’s past comments during xenophobic attacks in South Africa, claiming they reflected poor judgment for someone seeking Nigeria’s highest office.

“Do you really believe that anybody whose business is for real, who couldn’t fix a state in four years, he worked hard in eight years, he didn’t fix it… is telling you and me at our age that he just needs four years? That is the height of desperation,” he said.

He added that desperation affects sound judgment, arguing that Obi’s campaign promises lacked credibility.

“Once you are desperate, you become emotionally imbalanced,” Oshiomhole said, adding that Obi would be “the easiest person to engage in a debate.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/peter-obi-is-desperate-he-cant-fix-nigeria-in-four-years-oshiomhole/

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Politics › Re: Gunshots As Police Allegedly Escort Thugs To Seize Osun Motor Park Despite Govt' by treesun(op): 7:43am On Jul 28

Nlfpmod!

Politics › Re: Gunshots As Police Allegedly Escort Thugs To Seize Osun Motor Park Despite Govt' by treesun(op): 8:39am On Jul 27

press9jatv:
lies of the highest order here. Not true at all.

I know you want to defend you party, It is very true, Nlfpmod!

Business › Hardship Threatens Personal Pension Plan, 92% Of Accounts Dormant by treesun(op): 8:37am On Jul 27

*Only 8% of 215,412 accounts receive contributions *PenCom to drive awareness through agents, fintechs, cooperatives *Experts commend scheme, point way forward

More than 90 per cent of informal sector workers who enrolled in the Personal Pension Plan, PPP, have abandoned the scheme, as subscribers blame worsening economic hardship for their inability to make regular pension contributions.

Financial Vanguard findings show that only 17,320, representing eight per cent of the 215,412 registered Retirement Savings Accounts, RSAs, under the scheme, had received contributions as at December 2025, while the remaining 198,092 accounts, representing 92 per cent, were dormant.

Many traders and artisans also expressed ignorance of the scheme or how it works, even as the National Pension Commission, PenCom, pledged to expand awareness through accredited agents, fintechs, cooperatives and other distribution partners.

Financial Vanguard findings showed that although registrations under the PPP have continued to rise, the proportion of active contributors has remained extremely low.

Available PenCom data showed that while registered PPP accounts rose by 175 per cent in four years to 215,412 in 2025 from 78,087 in 2022, the proportion of dormant accounts also increased to 92 per cent from 87.4 per cent during the same period.

The trend has persisted over the years. In 2024, about 157,476 out of the 172,936 registered accounts, representing 91.1 per cent, were dormant, as only 15,460 accounts received contributions. Similarly, in 2023, about 101,232 of the 114,382 registered accounts, representing 88.5 per cent, were inactive, while only 13,150 contributors made pension payments.

Decrying the situation, PenCom stated that registrations are not savings, and that registration without funding creates a misleading picture of inclusion.

PenCom noted that the development indicates the need for targeted strategies to drive regular contributions, such as improved participant education, incentive structures and streamlined remittance processes, to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the PPP.

The PPP, formerly known as the Micro Pension Plan, was created by PenCom to extend Nigeria’s financial inclusion frontier, while encouraging low-income groups, mainly self-employed and informal sector workers, to build pension savings for their old age.

The scheme, one of the Federal Government’s most strategic financial inclusion initiatives packaged and implemented by PenCom, envisaged enrolling about nine million registrants by 2023.

However, PenCom believes that Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, have been lackadaisical in creating awareness of the PPP.

This development compelled the regulatory body to mandate PFAs to submit annual awareness plans for the PPP or face sanctions.

While PFAs have been complying with the directive, the PPP has continued to crawl over the years.

Experts’ insight
Worried by the state of the PPP, experts believe there is vast untapped potential in the informal sector and an urgent need for a broader, more coordinated effort by the pension industry to deepen PPP penetration.

According to them, strengthening public awareness, expanding agent networks and tailoring products to the realities of informal sector workers will be essential to achieving national pension inclusion targets and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the PPP.

Speaking on the development, Managing Director of Anchor Actuarial Services, Mr. Pius Apere, said that the PPP is designed to bring self-employed members of the public into the pension system with a view to safeguarding them against poverty in old age.

Apere stated: “The government must do all within its power to turn the economy around for the better to prevent further withdrawals from pension savings. An average Nigerian must have one form of pension scheme or the other, whether formal or informal, and the PPP can help us include more Nigerians in the financial safety net. PPP can be made a big deal in Nigeria.”

Also commenting, former President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, Mr. Edwin Igbiti, said: “The implementation of the PPP will improve the standard of living of informal sector participants at retirement and reduce dependence on extended family support.”

He noted that self-employed people and workers in the informal sector could enjoy financial and economic protection by participating in the plan, as the initiative would provide income in old age and inculcate a savings culture through highly protected and regulated investments.

In his own comment, Managing Director of Boff Insurance Brokers, Mr. Olumide Fatogun, said that pension fund operators must be more creative in product design by introducing products that hold multiple benefits to attract more people to embrace the scheme.

He stated: “The era of one-size-fits-all in consumer engagement is gone; therefore, operators should be more ingenious in their product designs.

“We have to sufficiently target specific segments of society with varying needs. This means operators must remain innovative and creative with their services and products. We need to rethink our old ways.”

Informal sector concerns
However, Founder and President of the Association of Micro Enterprises of Nigeria, AMEN, Prince Saviour Iche, believes that the stagnation being experienced in the PPP is due to little or no awareness of the scheme.

Iche stated: “The PPP is a good scheme and can go a long way in eradicating old-age poverty. However, there is little or no awareness of the scheme. How do you expect people to key into something when they have little or no knowledge about it? Many of my members have never heard of the scheme.

“We expect the National Pension Commission, PenCom, as well as other stakeholders in the industry, to carry out regular enlightenment on the scheme, but we are not seeing that.”

Also speaking, Iyaloja of Onigbongo, Mrs. Fasilat Yusuf, said she had never heard of the PPP before.

She stated: “I have not heard of the PPP before, and my fellow traders are not aware of it. Nobody has come to tell us what it is, how it works or how it can benefit us.”

Also, Chairman of the Vulcanisers Association, Maryland (Lagos) Zone, Mr. Bayo Alagbe, said that the absence of sensitisation on the PPP is adversely affecting the scheme.

He stated: “I heard about the PPP some time ago, but I did not understand anything about it. Even my members do not know anything about it. Nobody has come to tell us what it entails and what we stand to gain.

“I know that some people opened accounts, but many of them still do not understand it. That is why they are not following up.”

On her part, Acting National President of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation, Mrs. Ojo Florence, said that the worsening economic situation is affecting the income of many informal sector workers. She stated: “The economy is not smiling. As such, putting money aside for pension is not the priority of many informal sector workers at the moment.

“Even many of my members are not aware that something like the PPP exists because nobody has ever come to educate them about it.”

Way forward, by PenCom
To improve the situation, PenCom stated: “We will accelerate engagement and onboarding under the accredited pension agent framework; activate accredited agents; deepen distribution partnerships with cooperatives, fintechs, telcos, trade unions and professional associations; and drive sustained sensitisation campaigns to bring informal sector workers, MSMEs, gig workers and self-employed Nigerians onto the Personal Pension Plan.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/hardship-threatens-personal-pension-plan-92-of-accounts-dormant/

Politics › Gunshots As Police Allegedly Escort Thugs To Seize Osun Motor Park Despite Govt' by treesun(op): 3:35pm On Jul 26

AAccording to multiple accounts, gunshots were fired and teargas deployed while the alleged thugs were being escorted to the park, causing panic among motorists, traders and residents in the area.

Despite the Osun State Government's directive suspending union activities in motor parks across the state, sources have narrated to SaharaReporters how armed police personnel allegedly escorted thugs to take over the Mayfair Motor Park in the Ile-Ife area of the state on Sunday morning.

According to multiple accounts, gunshots were fired and teargas deployed while the alleged thugs were being escorted to the park, causing panic among motorists, traders and residents in the area.

Sources who spoke to SaharaReporters expressed concern that, despite the government's efforts to prevent motor parks from becoming flashpoints for violence, some police officers appeared to be undermining those efforts.

"The governor's order is to ensure normalcy is restored to the parks, imagine that the Police that should be concerned about peace now escorts thugs to go against the governor's order, it is an unfortunate situation," a source told SaharaReporters.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters appears to show police officers discharging firearms and deploying teargas during the incident at Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

According to sources, after the sporadic gunfire and the alleged takeover of the park, personnel of the Nigerian Navy in Ile-Ife intervened and arrested four suspected thugs allegedly found in possession of pump-action guns.

"After shootings to scare away people and harassing motorists, men of the Nigerian Navy at Ile Ife intervened to stop the police aided thugs from the invasion of the Mayfair Park, arrested four thugs with pump action guns," another source told SaharaReporters.

The latest incident occurred despite the Osun State Government's recent suspension of activities at motor parks and the collection of levies, a decision taken in response to escalating security concerns and repeated clashes linked to transport union operations.

Last Thursday, Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered the immediate suspension of all activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in motor parks across the state and directed security agencies to arrest anyone operating in the name of the union.

The directive followed a meeting of the Osun State Security Council chaired by the governor, during which measures were considered to restore order and strengthen public safety after recent violence associated with motor park operations.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government said the decision followed extensive deliberations on the prevailing security situation and the need to restore sanity in motor parks across Osun State.

Governor Adeleke, however, clarified that commercial transport activities should continue uninterrupted despite the suspension of union operations.

He also ordered the immediate suspension of the collection of all levies in motor parks and instructed security agencies to arrest anyone parading as an official or executive of the union.

"I hereby direct the police and other security agencies to stop all activities of the union in all our parks across the state. I am not saying you should close the parks, but you should not allow anyone to operate in the parks in the name of the union.

“Anyone found contravening this order should be arrested for possible prosecution for disturbance of public peace,” the governor said.

The governor later explained that the suspension of activities at motor parks was intended to create an atmosphere for peace to return and did not amount to the dissolution of the existing NURTW leadership in the state.

The government also maintained that Nurudeen Alowonle remains the substantive Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the NURTW, stressing that neither Governor Adeleke nor the state government removed any duly appointed officers of the union.

In a statement issued on Friday, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi clarified that Alowonle and his executives across the local government areas remain the recognised leadership of the union.

According to the statement, Alowonle and his executive were appointed by the national leadership of the NURTW in line with the regulations and guidelines of the national union.

The government further stated that, "there is no vacuum in the leadership of the union."

Earlier last Monday, Governor Adeleke condemned repeated shootings and the intimidation of innocent residents around Old Garage and other motor parks in Osogbo. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor also expressed concern over what he described as police protection for individuals allegedly responsible for the unrest.

"The video of sporadic shooting by Asiri Eniba and his gang is everywhere on social media. Lorry loads of police men accompanied Asiri and his group as they paraded across motorway parks in the state," the governor lamented.

Adeleke said he had already brought the matter to the attention of the nation's top security authorities and demanded swift action against those allegedly responsible for the violence.

"I have personally called the attention of the Inspector General of Police and other service chiefs to these open attacks on public peace. I demand immediate arrest of Asiri Eniba for this open defiance of public security act."

The governor questioned the motive behind the attacks, arguing that no legitimate protest should endanger the lives of innocent commuters and residents using the state's motor parks.

With the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election less than three weeks away, security concerns have continued to mount, with recurring violent incidents resulting in deaths, injuries and the destruction of property, raising fears over the safety of residents and the conduct of the forthcoming poll.

Efforts to obtain comments from the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi Zechariah, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his telephone line were not answered, while text messages sent to him had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report.

https://saharareporters.com/2026/07/26/gunshots-police-allegedly-escort-thugs-seize-osun-motor-park-despite-govts-suspension

https://x.com/i/status/2081372823507927087

WATCH: Gunshots As Police Allegedly Escort Thugs To Seize Osun Motor Park Despite Govt's Suspension Order

More on SaharaTV: https://t.co/40CAhwWRi6 pic.twitter.com/pfKCjSC74R
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 26, 2026

Politics › Re: NBA: I’ll Resign If Evidence Of Election Rigging Emerges – Badejo- Okusanya by treesun(op): 10:10am On Jul 25

I doubt she will do this, Nlfpmod!

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Politics › Tinubu’s Government Of Ghosts, Doubles And Phantom Agencies by treesun(op): 10:09am On Jul 25

A disturbing pattern of unending, self-destructive administrative chaos in appointments to consequential public office positions is defining the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government, which signposts Tinubu’s lack of control of his government and the reality of a shadowy, disorganized, feuding and mercenary cabal of conscienceless influence peddlers in the Presidential Villa.

Muhammadu Buhari pioneered this sort of disabling administrative anarchy, but Tinubu has upped it a notch, to the point that no one can be certain of the validity or even legitimacy of appointments announced by the presidential spokesperson. Africans & Diaspora

As I’ll elaborate shortly, there is now a recurring pattern of the Presidency repeatedly announcing appointments before verifying the legal office, the incumbent’s status, the supervising minister’s knowledge and the SGF’s capacity or willingness to implement the decision. The result is a government in which press releases conflict with appointment letters, agencies announce presidential decisions of doubtful origin and incumbents disregard publicly announced replacements.

In this atmosphere of administrative anomie, it’s no surprise that someone can forge, or be assisted to forge, presidential instruments to establish a fraudulent presidential council that can pass through multiple layers of the Nigerian federal bureaucracy.Executive Branch

Buhari’s administrative infirmity expressed itself chiefly through lethargy, vacancy and spectacular absent-mindedness. He took more than five months to constitute his first cabinet in 2015. After dissolving the boards of federal agencies in July 2015, he waited until December 2017 to announce 209 chairpersons and 1,258 board members. At least eight of the appointees had died. In 2020, Buhari appointed Tobias Chukwuemeka Okwuru to the Federal Character Commission two months after Okwuru’s death. By August 2020, reports counted about 80 federal agencies without substantive heads or governing boards or both.Government

Buhari’s major weakness was that he forgot to appoint people when he needed to, which I used to characterize as “ungovernance,” but Tinubu’s is a different hue. He appoints, unappoints and reappoints people with the nervous rapidity of a man changing television channels during a thunderstorm.

The examples have become too numerous to ignore. Maryam Shetty arrived at the National Assembly for ministerial screening in 2023 and discovered that her nomination had vanished. Tinubu replaced Niger Delta Development Commission nominees within 24 hours of naming them. Kashim Imam’s appointment as chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency lasted less than a week. Africans & Diaspora

In August 2025, the presidency reappointed Muheeba Dankaka as chair of the Federal Character Commission at 6:35 p.m. and announced Ayo Omidiran as chair at 10:44 p.m. One commission acquired two presidentially appointed chairs within four hours.Government

The Nigerian Television Authority provided an even more dramatic case. Tinubu, through his official spokesman, appointed Rotimi Pedro as director-general in August 2025 while Salihu Dembos still had an uncompleted tenure. Two weeks later, the presidency reversed itself and restored the incumbents. Premium Times reported that the supervising information minister learned of the original appointments through the media. Its investigation traced the upheaval to a presidential aide who had bypassed the minister and supplied allegations that an official review found spurious.

That episode illuminates the anatomy of the disorder. Access appears to have become authority. An aide can insinuate an allegation into the presidential bloodstream, procure a consequential announcement and leave ministers scrambling to discover what their own government has done.

Then came NIPOST. In October 2023, the presidency appointed Tola Odeyemi postmaster-general with immediate effect. But NIPOST’s own communications channels subsequently announced the reinstatement of Sunday Adepoju. Workers barricaded the headquarters against Odeyemi. She eventually assumed office.Africans & Diaspora

The current imbroglio at the Border Communities Development Agency perfects the absurdity. On June 27, 2026, the presidency announced Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas as the agency’s new director-general, replacing Dakorinama Alabo George who it said had resigned to run for an election in Rivers State.

Namdas reportedly still awaits the formal appointment letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. George says he never resigned, claims his announced replacement was an error and continues to act as head. On July 9, he met the finance minister to discuss agency funding. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga answered with two words: “Namdas stays.”Executive Branch

Who, then, leads BCDA? The man announced by the presidency, the man recognized by the bureaucracy or the man exercising operational control? Trust TV’s analysis sharpened the question by pointing out that the BCDA Act creates the office of executive secretary, while the presidency calls the office director-general. The Act also makes clear that the executive secretary is the accounting officer who controls contracts, staff and public property. This semantic confusion therefore carries fiscal consequences. One agency now has two titles, two claimants and three divergent sources of authority: public announcement, formal instrument and administrative possession.

A president has the prerogative to hire and fire appointees. State authority, however, requires legible procedure. An appointment exists in law and administration through an authenticated instrument, a clear effective date, a lawful office and an orderly transfer of power. A press release floating free of these elements is risible political theatre. Repeated reversals convert presidential words into provisional rumors.

The suspicion of a cabal arises here. “Cabal” often functions in Nigerian discourse as an all-purpose name for invisible conclave of devils in the seat of power, an informal constellation of aides, patrons, bureaucratic gatekeepers and political financiers who can insert a name into a presidential announcement, withhold the letter that activates it, reverse the decision after resistance or sustain an incumbent against a published presidential directive.Africans & Diaspora

The observable pattern establishes that Tinubu has lost the monopoly over the voice and force of his own presidency and that a cabal rules on his behalf. Competing nodes around him appear able to originate, obstruct and annul decisions. His government speaks in tongues, with each tongue claiming the presidential seal.

The scandal of the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, or PFIPC, becomes intelligible within this administrative Babel. The presidency says Adeniyi Adeyemi fabricated an appointment as director-general of a fictitious presidential agency. Yet this phantom acquired a ₦1.3 billion line in the 2026 budget, occupied federal office space, met foreign diplomats and secured an approved staff establishment after official verification failed. The Central Bank opened dollar and pound accounts for it on the Accountant-General’s mandate, although the accounts remained empty and inactive.Government

Calling Adeyemi a con man explains his intention, but his success diagnoses the sad, cabal-infested, fraud-prone, dysfunctional pathology of the Tinubu government. A solitary impostor cannot travel through the Office of the SGF, Head of Service, Budget Office, Accountant-General, Central Bank and diplomatic system unless verification gates have collapsed or helpful insiders have opened them. PFIPC became a government agency through serial bureaucratic authentication. Fiction accumulated official stamps until it acquired the material attributes of fact.

How do we reverse this? We can learn from our former colonizer. Britain subjects many public appointments to a published Governance Code and oversight by an independent Commissioner for Public Appointments. Nigeria needs a publicly searchable presidential appointments register showing the statutory office, appointee, tenure, effective date, instrument number and current status. Executive Branch

Every presidential council and every entity in the federal budget since 2023 deserves a forensic audit. The National Assembly should trace who inserted PFIPC into the budget and who validated each stage of its bureaucratic incarnation.

PFIPC surfaced because its counterfeit authority collided with the real Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission. How many silent phantoms flourish because they have avoided such a collision? How many presidential appointments originate from people Tinubu cannot identify? How many announced decisions die inside the SGF’s office while their ghosts roam the news?

A government that cannot authenticate its own voice invites impostors to speak for it. A president whose appointees cannot tell whether they have been hired, fired or duplicated presides over a dysfunctional, self-dealing banana republic. His authority has become divisible, tradable and deniable.Africans & Diaspora

https://www.farooqkperogi.com/2026/07/tinubus-government-of-ghosts-doubles.html

Politics › NBA: I’ll Resign If Evidence Of Election Rigging Emerges – Badejo- Okusanya by treesun(op): 9:34am On Jul 24

President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has pledged to resign if credible proof surfaces that the election which brought her into office was manipulated.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News on Thursday, Badejo-Okusanya dismissed allegations by some contestants and members of the legal profession that the 2026 NBA presidential election was rigged in her favour.

She maintained that the electronic voting process underwent extensive public scrutiny and showed no indication of electoral malpractice.

“The process that they say they cannot trust, my opponents are saying that it was rigged in my favour and thankfully, this electoral process has come under the greatest scrutiny that any of our elections have come under since we started universal suffrage and electronic voting,” she said.

According to the senior advocate, the voting pattern remained consistent throughout the exercise, with no irregularities such as sudden surges in votes that could indicate manipulation.

“From the time that I led, I led the election throughout consistently. There was never a time that I dropped down. There was never a time that any of my opponents passed me. I led consistently and the gap kept widening.

“The votes were trickling in organically. There was no evidence of dumping, which is what they say happens when there’s rigging going on. You didn’t suddenly see 20, 30, 50 votes coming.

“This election was the most watched. We have a system that refreshes every 10 seconds. People were watching and reposting. It was clear that there was no rigging,” she said.

Responding to comparisons with former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who acknowledged that the election which brought him to office was flawed, Badejo-Okusanya said she would not remain in office if the legitimacy of her own election was successfully challenged.

“I had no desire to be a president whose electoral process, the process that brought me to power, was being questioned.

“I told my co-contestants in public that if there was any indication or allegation that the process that brought me to power was flawed, I wouldn’t even discuss it with anyone before I resigned. That still remains my goal,” she said.

Addressing claims that she received the backing of the outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, Badejo-Okusanya said he never informed her that she was his preferred candidate.

“As a matter of fact, he never told me that.

“If he said it to anyone else, he never said it to me. I don’t know whether the cordiality and civility that he showed to me, whether I don’t have any impression that he wasn’t showing it to anyone else,” she said.

The NBA president-elect also rejected suggestions that her family connections to the Federal Government would compromise the association’s independence.

“How can I be the candidate of the Tinubu administration when the Tinubu administration is not a member of the NBA?” she asked.

She stressed that her allegiance would remain with members of the legal profession.

“The constitution of the NBA is very clear. I read it very closely before I offered myself to serve. I’m well aware of the responsibilities of the president of the NBA, and I have the mandate of members of the NBA to lead them. My obligation is to them,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya said her administration would prioritise improving the NBA’s professional relevance to lawyers while strengthening its role in promoting justice and defending the rule of law.

“For the members, I want them to remember my presidency as one that made the NBA more relevant to them professionally.

“For Nigerians, I want them to remember the NBA as one that took its responsibility to protect and promote the rule of law, to be the watchdog of society and to defend those who are less able to speak for themselves very, very seriously,” she said.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/nba-ill-resign-if-evidence-of-election-rigging-emerges-badejo-okusanya/

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Politics › Onanuga Tackles Atiku For Reporting Tinubu To Trump, US Congress by treesun(op): 8:07pm On Jul 23

The Presidency on Thursday took a swipe at the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for reporting President Bola Tinubu to American President Donald Trump and the US Congress over a matter that has long been concluded.

In a statement titled “When will Atiku Abubakar report himself to President Trump,” the Presidency said it is baffling that someone who has sought the presidency for over three decades would resort to reporting President Tinubu to President Trump and members of the US Congress.

The statement, issued by the presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, accused the former vice-president of using a lobbying group in the US and submitting petitions to President Trump and the US State Department regarding a civil forfeiture case from 1993 — a matter long settled, with no criminal conviction or finding of guilt.

The statement read: “Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s relentless desire to become President of Nigeria has regrettably closed his eyes to the virtues of statesmanship, decorum, and propriety expected of an elder statesman. Instead of embracing the dignity and maturity that come with his standing, he continues to diminish himself through reckless public statements and desperate political manoeuvres.

“It is baffling and disappointing that someone who has sought the presidency for over three decades would now resort to reporting the President of Nigeria to US President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress.

“In his latest act, Atiku Abubakar’s lobbying group in the US has submitted petitions to President Trump and the US State Department regarding a civil forfeiture case from 1993 — a matter long settled, with no criminal conviction or finding of guilt.

“This issue was resolved over 30 years ago in the United States and has been thoroughly litigated, explained, and rendered moot by the electoral mandates conferred on President Bola Tinubu by the people of Lagos and Nigeria at large. Reviving this matter today is an affront to the intelligence of Nigerians and an attempt to rewrite history for personal gain.”

According to the Presidency, “It is important to remind Atiku and his associates that Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite of any foreign power. Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence. Such actions are incongruous with the responsibilities of a statesman and are ultimately self-defeating.

“If Atiku has chosen to disregard his own sense of self-respect and self-worth, he should, at the very least, show respect for the country he aspires to lead and the office he so ardently seeks.”

It acknowledged that lobbying is part of American politics but said hiring paid foreign agents to discredit a sitting president undermines the country’s sovereignty.

While lobbying is a legitimate part of American politics, employing paid foreign agents to peddle discredited documents against a sitting Nigerian President is not advocacy — it is an attempt to externalise domestic politics and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty. Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands, and Atiku’s latest fishing expedition would amount to nought.

“Furthermore, if Atiku Abubakar can spend $1.2 million on American lobbyists to report President Tinubu, perhaps he should also clarify his own legal standing in the United States.

The Presidency reminded the former vice-president that he had baggage and corruption allegations against him.

“He featured most prominently in the William Jefferson bribery scandal, a matter which saw the American congressman jailed.

“Atiku, along with his former wife Jennifer Douglas, was one of the subjects of an elaborate US Senate investigation, ‘Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories.’

“The report of the investigation, chaired by Senator Carl Levin, was released in February 2010. It documented how Atiku used offshore companies to bring suspect funds, including bribes from multinationals running into millions of dollars, into the United States.

“Atiku’s obsession with the presidency is driven not just by his marabout-fuelled ambition, but by a desire for diplomatic immunity and to evade potential legal issues abroad. Recycling discredited allegations and documents from the 2023 campaign will not improve his chances in 2027.

“Nigerians have not forgotten the legacy of the privatisation programme under Atiku’s watch as vice-president. He presided over an egregious privatisation heist, selling national assets to cronies for peanuts and causing thousands of job losses and unpaid salaries and pensions that President Tinubu is clearing today.

“A man with such a dismal record as a public servant certainly has no business asking for our votes. Indeed, if Atiku Abubakar were Chinese, he would be rotting away in jail for his crimes against the Nigerian people.

“Rather than present policy alternatives to address the country’s challenges, the former vice-president has chosen the path of media theatrics and lobbying in Washington. The challenges Nigeria faces require serious engagement, thoughtful solutions, and leadership at home — not grandstanding abroad.

“President Tinubu is unfazed by Atiku’s theatrics as he remains focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda: stabilising the economy, attracting investments, securing the nation, and restoring Nigeria’s standing in the world. He is not distracted by political actors, perennial losers like Atiku, who now seek validation abroad.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/presidency-tackles-atiku-for-reporting-tinubu-to-trump-us-congress/Hello

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Business › Dangote Refinery Resumes Petrol Loading In Naira At N1,215 Per Litre by treesun(op): 8:14am On Jul 23

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has resumed gantry loading of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, in naira after a week suspension, ending uncertainty in the downstream sector over its temporary shift to dollar-denominated sales.

Checks by Vanguard showed that the refinery has fixed its new ex-depot (gantry) price at N1,215 per litre, representing an increase of N140 per litre, or 13.02 per cent, from the previous price of N1,075 per litre.

The increase in the gantry price is directly linked to the sharp rally in global crude oil prices, which has raised the cost of producing refined petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, heightening concerns over fresh fuel price hikes in Nigeria and other oil-importing countries.

Market data on Wednesday showed that Brent crude, the international benchmark against which Nigeria’s crude is priced, climbed 3.18 per cent to $93.90 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 2.74 per cent to $86.65 per barrel.

The price adjustment also comes at a time when domestic petrol prices have already risen sharply following increases in ex-depot prices by major suppliers, raising fears of another round of pump price increases at filling stations.

The resumption of naira-denominated truck loading is expected to improve product availability after supply disruptions caused by the suspension.

Industry sources confirmed that marketers had been notified of the resumption of gantry operations, with loading set to commence immediately under the revised naira pricing structure.

The refinery’s return to naira pricing for truck loading follows some days of uncertainty in the downstream petroleum market after the suspension forced many independent marketers to source products from private depots.

Before halting product loading, Dangote Refinery attributed the suspension to challenges in securing adequate crude oil supplies under the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude initiative, prompting its temporary switch to dollar-denominated sales.

The refinery’s decision to restore naira transactions is expected to ease supply constraints in the inland market and improve the nationwide distribution of petroleum products.

Already, petrol prices at depots across Nigeria recorded fresh increases on Wednesday, while diesel prices surged sharply in several locations, signaling renewed cost pressures for fuel marketers and transport operators.

Mid-day depot price data for July 22, 2026, showed that petrol depot prices rose across major supply hubs, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar, with some depots increasing prices by as much as N87 per litre.

The sharpest increase was recorded at Bulk Strategic Reserve in Lagos, where the ex-depot petrol price jumped by N87 per litre to N1,350, from N1,263.

The increase places the depot among the highest-priced suppliers in the country and could influence retail pump prices if sustained.

Other Lagos depots posted more modest increases. Liquid Bulk, Masters Energy, Matrix and Sigmund all raised petrol prices by between N15 and N17 per litre to N1,280, while TSL did not quote a new price.

Meanwhile, fresh increases in the pump price of petrol—to an average of N1,350 per litre, from N1,260 per litre, across filling stations in Lagos and its environs—have heightened concerns over the rising cost of living, with millions of Nigerians expected to face higher transportation, food and business costs.

Checks by Vanguard showed that several retail outlets adjusted their pump prices to between N1,300 per litre and N1,400 per litre following increases in ex-depot prices by depot owners, pushing fuel costs to their highest levels in recent months.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/dangote-refinery-resumes-petrol-loading-in-naira-at-n1215-per-litre/

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Crime › My Life Is In Danger, I’m Not A Criminal – Aisha Achimugu by treesun(op): 3:58pm On Jul 22

ABUJA — Businesswoman and founder of Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, Aisha Achimugu, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of persecution, intimidation and abuse of process, alleging that the agency’s actions have endangered her life, damaged her reputation and crippled her business interests.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Achimugu said she was not a criminal and had never been convicted of any offence, insisting that the anti-graft agency had subjected her to a sustained campaign of harassment and character assassination.

“I have never been known to be a troublemaker. I am not a criminal and I have never been convicted of any offence,” she said.

Achimugu alleged that the EFCC had engaged in “oppression, character assassination, intimidation and the deliberate dissipation of my lawfully acquired personal property,” adding that the agency’s actions had put her, her children and her investments at risk.

She said the commission’s repeated public statements and legal actions had unfairly portrayed her as a criminal, leading to the loss of business opportunities and reputational damage.

The statement comes days after a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Apo, granted a final forfeiture order transferring several assets linked to Achimugu to the Federal Government.

The forfeited assets include jewellery valued at over N4.6 billion, 11 luxury vehicles worth about N4.29 billion, as well as $50,000 and N30 million in cash.

The development followed an earlier ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to Achimugu and Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd after the EFCC argued that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

However, Achimugu maintained that the forfeiture order is being challenged on appeal.

She argued that the $13 million formed part of a $20 million payment made by her company to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for petroleum prospecting licences and not proceeds of any criminal activity.

According to her, documentary evidence of the payments had already been submitted to the NUPRC, including transfers of $2 million and $5 million made through a South African bank into designated government accounts.

She accused the EFCC of ignoring those records and continuing to advance allegations against her both in court and in the media.

Achimugu further alleged that the commission acted in bad faith by declaring her wanted despite being aware of her whereabouts and maintaining correspondence with her lawyers.

According to her, shortly after she was declared wanted, about 30 EFCC operatives raided her residence, seized jewellery, safes and personal funds, and subjected members of her family to intimidation.

She claimed that her elderly mother, who had just returned from spinal surgery abroad, was forced to remain seated for hours during the operation despite her health condition.

The businesswoman also alleged that EFCC operatives returned to her residence on January 20, 2026, while court proceedings relating to the matter were still pending, and removed all vehicles found on the premises using cranes and flatbed trucks without regard to ownership or possible damage.

She said that when she approached the court seeking the return of the seized vehicles and other personal belongings, the commission instead obtained another ex parte forfeiture order from an FCT High Court.

Achimugu also claimed that the EFCC’s actions affected her international travel, alleging that her United States visa was revoked shortly after she was declared wanted.

She further claimed that she encountered difficulties obtaining a visa using her Grenadian passport, preventing her from attending a Harvard executive programme for which she had already enrolled.

According to her, the developments have resulted in significant financial losses and denied her several business opportunities.

She maintained that she has always cooperated with authorities and has never attempted to evade investigation.

The EFCC has consistently maintained that its actions against Achimugu are based on ongoing investigations into alleged money laundering and the proceeds of unlawful activities. The commission has yet to respond to the latest allegations contained in her statement.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/my-life-is-in-danger-im-not-a-criminal-aisha-achimugu/

European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Kevin Keegan Has Dies At Age 75 by treesun(op): 1:40pm On Jul 22

He was a great man, Nlfpmod!

1 Like

Politics › Tinubu Govt’s Borrowing Astronomical, Now A Concern – Sen Aliero by treesun(op): 10:41pm On Jul 21

The senator representing Kebbi Central, Adamu Aliero, has said borrowings by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration has become a serious concern to Nigerians.

Senator Aliero described the borrowings by the President Tinubu administration as astronomical.

Speaking in Abuja, the lawmaker said: “We have seen an astronomical rise in borrowing and this borrowing is of serious concern to Nigerians. What I’m saying is in the public domain as it’s not anything hidden.

“When this government came in, it inherited I think over N75 trillion and now it has added almost N75 to N80 trillion in borrowing.

“And despite this, the budget implementation is nowhere close to where we want it to be. We have not even started implementing the 2026 budget.”

https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/21/tinubu-govts-borrowing-astronomical-now-a-concern-sen-aliero/

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Politics › ADC Queries Tinubu Government Over N17.5trillion NNPC ‘energy Security by treesun(op): 9:03am On Jul 21

The opposition party said the figures contained in the audited accounts raise serious questions about transparency, accountability and value for money, particularly at a time millions of Nigerians are grappling with worsening economic hardship.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the President Bola Tinubu-led government to explain what it described as the extraordinary surge in spending on pipeline surveillance and energy security, following the release of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited's (NNPC Ltd.) audited 2024 financial statements.

The opposition party said the figures contained in the audited accounts raise serious questions about transparency, accountability and value for money, particularly at a time millions of Nigerians are grappling with worsening economic hardship.

In a statement released on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC noted that while public attention had previously focused on pipeline surveillance contracts worth about N48billion, the latest audited accounts showed that NNPC recorded N7.13trillion under "Energy Security" for the 2024 financial year alone.

According to the party, when other fuel-related costs and receivables reflected in the accounts are added, the amount rises to approximately N17.5trillion.

"The figures raise questions that cannot be ignored by the Tinubu-led APC government," Abdullahi said.

"Only a few years ago, Nigerians debated a pipeline surveillance contract worth about N48billion. Today, the audited accounts record N7.13trillion under 'Energy Security' for 2024. When other fuel-related costs and receivables reflected in the accounts are taken into consideration, the amount rises to about N17.5trillion."

He said Nigerians deserve a detailed explanation for what accounts for such a massive increase in expenditure and what tangible benefits the country has derived from it.

"Nigerians deserve to know what accounts for such an extraordinary escalation and, more importantly, what value the country has received in return," he stated.

While acknowledging that safeguarding Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure is a legitimate national responsibility, the ADC argued that expenditures made in the name of national security cannot be shielded from public scrutiny.

"As a responsible political party, the ADC recognises that protecting Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure is a legitimate national priority. But spending in the name of security cannot be exempt from public scrutiny. The bigger the bill, the stronger the obligation to explain it," Abdullahi said.

The party also referenced public reports identifying Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a company linked to former Niger Delta militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as a major beneficiary of pipeline surveillance contracts.

According to the ADC, recent political developments have made transparency even more necessary.

"Public reports have consistently identified Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd., a company linked to Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), as a major beneficiary of pipeline surveillance contracts.

"At the same time, Government Ekpemupolo has recently emerged as a prominent mobiliser for President Tinubu's re-election campaign. These are facts that make transparency even more imperative.

"Nigerians are entitled to ask whether public funds appropriated for pipeline security are being used solely to protect critical national assets, or whether the lines between state expenditure and political mobilisation have become blurred."

The opposition party consequently demanded a comprehensive breakdown of all spending on pipeline surveillance and energy security since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

It asked the Federal Government to disclose the identities of contractors awarded the jobs, the sums paid to each contractor, the specific outcomes achieved and whether any independent value-for-money assessment had been conducted.

"In this regard, Nigerians are entitled to know how much has been spent on pipeline surveillance and energy security since President Bola Tinubu came into office in May 2023, who received the contracts, how much was paid, what results were achieved, and whether any independent value-for-money assessment was carried out.

"These are ordinary questions that, in any democracy, should attract ordinary answers," the statement added.

The ADC further argued that the huge expenditure should translate into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians, especially amid the country's economic challenges.

"At a time when families are struggling with the cost of food, transport and electricity, when businesses are closing their doors and young people cannot find jobs, Nigerians have a right to ask whether the trillions of naira spent in the name of energy security have made the country more secure, the economy more productive, or the lives of ordinary citizens any better.

"If the answer is yes, the government should have no difficulty showing Nigerians the evidence."

The party called on President Tinubu, the Board and Management of NNPC Ltd. and the relevant committees of the National Assembly to immediately publish a full breakdown of the energy security expenditure.

"The question is no longer how much was spent. The question is what Nigeria has to show for it," the statement concluded.

https://saharareporters.com/2026/07/21/adc-queries-tinubu-government-over-n175trillion-nnpc-energy-security-spending-demands

European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Kevin Keegan Has Dies At Age 75 by treesun(op): 4:26pm On Jul 20

Former England player and manager Kevin Keegan has died aged 75.

https://x.com/i/status/2079212676928913525

4 Likes 1 Share

Christianity Etc › 2027: Anglican Church Urges Conscience-Based Voting by treesun(op): 4:20pm On Jul 19

With a few months to the 2027 general election, the Akoko-Edo Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Global Anglican Communion, has called on politicians, political parties and their candidates to allow Nigerians to vote based on their convictions and not through inducements.

The Church also raised concerns about the troubling issue of kidnapping in the area, calling for concerted efforts to check it.

These were contained in the Bishop’s Charge during the 2026 2nd Session of the 6th Synod delivered by the Bishop of the Diocese and the President of Synod, Rt. Rev Ebenezer Saiki, held at St Peter’s Church, Ikakumo, Edo North on Sunday.

He commended Governor Monday Okoebholo for the palliative work going on along the Auchi – Igarra- Ibillo Road and urged him to also embark on new developmental projects in the area as being done in other parts of the state

The Bishop said, “National discourse is increasingly focused on the approaching 2027 presidential election, and this is likely to remain so in the coming months.

“Yet even in the midst of political competition, we must conduct ourselves responsibly and with integrity. We appeal for decency, fairness, and respect for democratic values. Elections should never become occasions for abandoning the principles we claim to uphold.

“Nigeria will make greater progress when citizens vote according to conviction rather than inducement. The political class should allow the citizens to vote according to their conscience.”

On security issues in the area and Edo State, Saiki said, “Akoko-Edo must not surrender to fear. Every community has a role to play in protecting its people and territory.

“While these idiots often possess sophisticated weapons, our communities are not helpless. Working together, with courage, vigilance, and lawful cooperation with security agencies, we can strengthen our collective resistance against those who seek to terrorise our land.”

He said that Edo State possessed immense potential and abundant resources in agriculture, liquid and solid mineral resources, among others.

“We appreciate the palliative work presently being carried out on the Auchi-Ibillo Road, which has brought measurable improvement. At the same time, we respectfully urge the Government to pursue long-term and lasting solutions that will stand the test of time.

“We are seeing the massive road projects going on elsewhere while we are getting palliative work done here. As much as we are grateful for the one done, we deserve more than this. Others should not eat the food, and you rub the oil in our mouth.”

He also said there was a need to prepare the youths in the area for the huge responsibilities ahead of them, adding, “To fulfil their potential, they must be intentionally prepared for leadership and service.”

https://punchng.com/2027-allow-citizens-vote-according-to-their-conscience-anglican-church-urges-politicians/

3 Likes

Sports › Re: France vs England: World Cup 2026 3rd Place Match (4 - 6) On 18th July 2026 by treesun(op): 10:11pm On Jul 18

England already scored!

Sports › Re: France vs England: World Cup 2026 3rd Place Match (4 - 6) On 18th July 2026 by treesun(op): 1:14pm On Jul 18

Amovingman:
England under 1.5 ft stake high

I dont bet like that!

1 Like 1 Share

Sports › Re: France vs England: World Cup 2026 3rd Place Match (4 - 6) On 18th July 2026 by treesun(op): 11:39pm On Jul 17

Loosers final, not going to be interesting!

3 Likes 1 Share

Politics › FG Renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway After Tinubu by treesun(op): 10:17am On Jul 17

The Federal Government has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway, with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, saying the decision was taken in recognition of the President’s long-standing vision for the project.

Umahi announced the development on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, where he also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a 400-kilometre extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway and the reconstruction of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to the minister, the decision to rename the coastal highway was taken by the Ministry of Works after consultations with the ministry’s leadership.

“That (coastal) highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway. By the powers conferred on me as Minister of Works, in consultation with my Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, directors and staff of the ministry, we decided to name it after him because of his dream for it.

“He had that dream about 27 years back as governor of Lagos State. It is one thing to dream and another thing to have the grace of God to actualise that dream,” he said.

Umahi described the first section of the 750-kilometre highway, stretching from Victoria Island to Lekki, as a major infrastructure milestone.

According to him, the 47.47-kilometre six-lane carriageway includes a 25-metre median reserved for a future railway line.

The minister also announced that Tinubu had approved an additional 400 kilometres for the Fourth Legacy Highway, extending the project from 700 kilometres to 1,100 kilometres.

He said the highway, originally designed to link Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Maiduguri in Borno State through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu, would now extend into Taraba State.

“The greatest story is that yesterday President Bola Tinubu approved the addition of 400 kilometres to our Fourth Legacy Road. That is an 800-kilometre road now extended to 1,100 kilometres, and that is unprecedented,” he said.

He added that the President also approved the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement, the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State and the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lao Bridge.

Umahi said the projects formed part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve connectivity, stimulate economic activities and modernise critical transport infrastructure across country.

https://punchng.com/fg-renames-lagos-calabar-coastal-highway-after-tinubu/Please

17 Likes 1 Share

Politics › Re: Poverty Threatens 79% Of Nigerians Despite Reforms – World Bank by treesun(op): 8:43pm On Jul 16

If 79% are in poverty, it means a lot!

39 Likes

Politics › Mary Habila Spoke With Her Boyfriend, Complained Of Nose Bleeding - Dave Umahi by treesun(op): 8:21pm On Jul 16

David Umahi, Minister of Works, has made fresh revelations about Mary Habila, the nurse who died at the residence.

Habila, an employee of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital in Ebonyi, died at the residence of the Minister in Uburu, Ebonyi State, on June 27.

Her death has sparked a nationwide outrage, with many calling for an independent probe.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Umahi said the deceased was like a daughter to him.

Umahi said Habila had worked closely with him for about three years and was like a daughter to him and his family.

The Minister clarified that Habila was a nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State, and not a physiotherapist.

He said she had been receiving medical treatment for an existing health condition at a Turkish hospital, adding that he personally paid her medical bills.

The Minister said before her death, she spoke with her boyfriend and complained of nose bleeding.

Anita Baaki, a close friend and colleague of Habila, had earlier narrated circumstances leading to her death.

In an affidavit sworn before the Ebonyi State High Court on Wednesday, she recounted the final hours she spent with the deceased.

According to the document, Baaki travelled with Habila and other Ministry Staff from Abuja to Ebonyi on June 24, 2026, for official assignments.

They were reportedly accommodated in separate but adjoining rooms at a staff chalet located within Umahi’s country home in Uburu, Ohaozara LGA.

Baaki stated that she last saw Habila alive on the evening of June 26, after the nurse had returned from having her hair done.

Habila reportedly visited Baaki’s room and complained of exhaustion.

“Mary told me she was tired and wanted to take a shower before sleeping. That was the last time I saw her alive,” the affidavit read.

Baaki said she became concerned the following morning when Habila did not come out of her room as expected.

https://dailytrust.com/breaking-habila-was-sick-she-had-a-boyfriend-umahi/

2 Likes

Politics › Poverty Threatens 79% Of Nigerians Despite Reforms – World Bank by treesun(op): 5:36pm On Jul 16

Despite nearly three years of sweeping economic reforms by the Federal Government, about 79 per cent of Nigerians remain poor or vulnerable to falling into poverty, highlighting the country’s deepening social and economic challenges, new World Bank documents obtained by The PUNCH have shown.

The findings are contained in the World Bank’s newly approved Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria, covering 2026 to 2032, and its accompanying Streamlined Country Diagnostic. The seven-year strategy seeks to support Nigeria’s ambition to create more and better jobs through private-sector-led growth while accelerating poverty reduction.

According to the Streamlined Country Diagnostic document, “Thirty-three per cent of its population is ultra-poor (food insecure by age-weighted caloric intake), 61 per cent is below the poverty line, and 79 per cent is near poor (below the poverty line or vulnerable to falling back into poverty).”

The documents indicate that while recent macroeconomic reforms have helped stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence, the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful improvements in living standards for most Nigerians.

The World Bank noted that Nigeria’s economic performance over the past decade had been constrained by structural rigidities, policy missteps, dependence on crude oil, and repeated external shocks, leaving millions trapped in poverty.

It stated that about 139 million Nigerians currently live below the national poverty line, with poverty concentrated largely in the northern part of the country. The report also noted that more than 86 million Nigerians remain without electricity, while three to four million young people enter the labour market every year with limited employment opportunities.

The Bank said, “Despite recent bold reforms stabilising the economy and laying the groundwork for the Renewed Hope Agenda, significant structural challenges remain.”

It added that sustaining macro-fiscal and structural reforms would be critical to reducing inflation, expanding fiscal space and ensuring that recent economic stabilisation translates into improved living standards.

The reports reviewed reforms introduced by the Bola Tinubu administration, including the removal of petrol subsidy, exchange rate liberalisation, tighter monetary policy and tax reforms.

According to the Bank, the reforms have begun to improve macroeconomic indicators. Economic growth increased from 3.5 per cent in the first half of 2024 to 3.9 per cent during the corresponding period of 2025, foreign reserves exceeded $42bn, fiscal deficits narrowed, and investor confidence strengthened.

However, it warned that high inflation continues to undermine household incomes. The report stated, “High inflation, though declining, continues to erode real incomes, particularly for the poor. Social protection efforts to support the most vulnerable have been slow and uneven in their rollout.”

The Bank added that although the reforms helped Nigeria avoid a more severe economic crisis, institutional weaknesses, weak policy coordination, and inadequate budget transparency continue to pose significant risks. It warned that sustained reform implementation, backed by deeper structural measures, would be required to improve Nigeria’s medium-term economic outlook.

Under the new Country Partnership Framework, the World Bank said job creation would serve as the primary pathway for reducing poverty. The report explained that international experience from countries such as India, Indonesia, and China shows that moving people into productive employment remains the most effective tool for reducing poverty.

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the institution would focus on helping Nigeria convert recent macroeconomic gains into improved living standards.

“Our new Country Partnership Framework provides the strategy for how the World Bank Group will support Nigeria over the coming years, with a strong focus on helping to create more and better jobs, particularly by enabling private sector-led growth.

“The recent macroeconomic gains have been critical to help stabilise the economy. Translating improved macroeconomic conditions into better living standards will require addressing the structural constraints to spur private sector investment and job creation,” he said.

The Bank concluded that preserving the current reform momentum while accelerating private investment, strengthening governance, and creating productive jobs would determine whether Nigeria succeeds in lifting millions of people out of poverty.

https://punchng.com/poverty-threatens-79-of-nigerians-despite-reforms-world-bank/

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Politics › Kogi, Niger, Benue Record Nigeria's Highest Food Inflation Rates As Prices Soar by treesun(op): 8:04pm On Jul 15

The NBS report showed that while Nigeria's headline food inflation rate stood at 17.52 per cent on a year-on-year basis in June 2026, significant disparities existed across states, with Kogi recording a staggering 53.02 per cent, the highest in the country.

Food prices remained under intense pressure across several Nigerian states in June 2026, with Kogi, Niger and Benue recording the highest year-on-year food inflation rates, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The NBS report showed that while Nigeria's headline food inflation rate stood at 17.52 per cent on a year-on-year basis in June 2026, significant disparities existed across states, with Kogi recording a staggering 53.02 per cent, the highest in the country.

Although the national food inflation rate was lower than the 25.41 per cent recorded in June 2025, food prices continued to rise sharply in several states.

Niger State followed Kogi with a year-on-year food inflation rate of 43.83 per cent, while Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria's food basket because of its extensive agricultural production, recorded the third-highest food inflation rate at 40.83 per cent.

According to the NBS, the increase in food inflation nationwide was driven by changes in the average prices of key food items, including crayfish, fresh pepper, fresh tomatoes, dried green peas, yam flour sold loose, water yam, beef, banana, cassava flour, cowpea, garri, Irish potatoes and yam tubers, among other staple commodities.

The bureau further disclosed that on a month-on-month basis, the national food inflation rate rose to 3.75 per cent in June 2026 from 2.98 per cent recorded in May 2026, representing an increase of 0.77 percentage points, reflecting a faster pace of food price increases during the month.

Despite the monthly increase, the average annual food inflation rate for the 12 months ending June 2026 stood at 16.42 per cent, which was 15.51 percentage points lower than the 31.93 per cent recorded in the corresponding period ending June 2025.

State-by-state figures, however, revealed substantial differences in food price movements.

Kogi recorded the highest year-on-year food inflation rate at 53.02 per cent, meaning food prices in the state increased by more than half compared to June last year.

Niger followed with 43.83 per cent, while Benue posted 40.83 per cent, underscoring persistent food price pressures even in one of Nigeria's largest agricultural producing states.

Conversely, Katsina recorded the slowest annual increase in food inflation at 19.15 per cent, followed by Rivers at 23.81 per cent and Imo at 24.60 per cent.

On a month-on-month basis, Katsina experienced the sharpest increase in food prices at 16.82 per cent, followed by Kebbi at 9.79 per cent and Niger at 8.96 per cent.

Meanwhile, Borno recorded the lowest monthly food inflation rate at -3.54 per cent, indicating a decline in average food prices during the month. Benue also posted -2.36 per cent, while Bayelsa recorded -1.34 per cent, suggesting easing food prices compared to May.

Beyond food inflation, the NBS report showed that Niger State recorded the country's highest year-on-year all-items inflation rate at 42.23 per cent, followed by Kogi at 41.59 per cent and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at 39.91 per cent.

States with the slowest annual all-items inflation were Imo at 19.47 per cent, Ebonyi at 20.79 per cent, and Katsina at 21.87 per cent.

On a month-on-month basis, Niger again topped the all-items inflation ranking at 11.65 per cent, followed by Katsina at 8.13 per cent and Kwara at 7.52 per cent, while Bayelsa (-6.48 per cent), Benue (-5.58 per cent) and Cross River (-5.12 per cent) recorded declines in their overall price levels.

The June 2026 inflation figures underscore the uneven inflationary pressures across Nigeria, with food-producing states such as Niger and Benue continuing to experience some of the country's highest annual food inflation rates despite their agricultural significance, raising concerns over food affordability, household purchasing power and food security.

https://saharareporters.com/2026/07/15/kogi-niger-benue-record-nigerias-highest-food-inflation-rates-prices-soar-nbs

Politics › South East Has Been North’s Ally, We Must Forgive Ourselves — Kwankwaso by treesun(op): 10:32am On Jul 15

The 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called for renewed political cooperation between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, saying both regions share a long history of political alliance that should be revived.

Kwankwaso made the remarks in an interview with BBC Igbo published on the broadcaster’s Facebook page on Wednesday.

He said Nigeria’s political leaders had, over the years, demonstrated the importance of reconciliation and inclusion, particularly after the Civil War, urging Nigerians to embrace forgiveness and national unity.

“We have to forgive ourselves. We have to work together as a family. South-East has been our ally, our friends, over the years,” he said.

The former governor recalled the alliance between the Northern People’s Congress and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens during the First Republic, noting that the partnership was led by prominent leaders, including Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He also cited the Second Republic, when President Shehu Shagari and leaders of the National Party of Nigeria worked closely with politicians from the South-East.

“During our own time, or the time of our fathers, grandfathers in politics—in the First Republic—you could see the NPC then, which is mainly northern political party, had an alliance with the NCNC, headed by Nnamdi Azikiwe.

“Even the Second Republic, you could see our leaders, Shagari and co, of course, went coincidentally to the Southeast and even Anambra State, even Azikiwe himself from Anambra State, and so on and so forth. So our leaders had foresight

“The Civil War was finished in 1970. In 1978 and 1979, when democracy came back, the first thing they said was, ‘Look, they are not our enemies. Let’s prove to them. Let’s bring them. Let’s work together.’

“Our leaders of the First Republic worked together with them, and that’s how they brought Alex Ekwueme to be the Vice President,” he said.

Kwankwaso described the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as a friend of the North and recalled attending his burial in Oko, Anambra State.

“I went to Oko, the hometown. I was there during Alex Ekwueme’s burial. Throughout his life, he was our friend. It’s only that democracy was truncated,” he added.

He also referred to the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile, saying Northern political leaders at the time demonstrated reconciliation by facilitating his return and participation in democratic politics.

“The NPN, a mainly northern party, had to invite Ojukwu to come back. He came back, contested for a Senate seat and lost. But despite the fact that he was the leader of Biafra at that particular time, our leaders decided to forgive themselves and forge ahead.

“We cannot be in the same country and start fighting. We have to have the spirit of forgiveness, whoever offended the other. It depends on who is giving the story,” he said.

Kwankwaso stressed that stronger ties with the South-East should not be interpreted as hostility towards other regions.

“We are so happy that we in the North have decided to go back to history to work with the Southeast. That’s not to say we are fighting the South-West or any zone in this country. No, we are all friends.

“You can’t play politics in this country alone—politics of Muslims, or Christians, or North, or South—not at this level,” he said.

The remarks come amid preparations for the 2027 general election, with Kwankwaso serving as the vice-presidential candidate of NDC alongside the party’s presidential candidate, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

https://punchng.com/seast-has-been-norths-ally-we-must-forgive-ourselves-kwankwaso/

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Sports › France vs England: World Cup 2026 3rd Place Match (4 - 6) On 18th July 2026 by treesun(op): 10:11pm On Jul 14

England to meet France in the third place 2026 World Cup .

Politics › GbajaGate Too Serious To Be Swept Under The Carpet - Atiku by treesun(op): 12:20pm On Jul 14

PRESS RELEASE by Paul Ibe, Atiku's Aide

#GbajaGate too serious to be swept under the carpet - Atiku
*Says Tinubu can't be persecuting opposition in the guise of fighting corruption and covering his own officials

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar says silence, indifference and passage of time cannot kill the unfolding corruption allegations against Tinubu’s Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.

Reacting to the latest report by the Gazette newspaper, accusing the Chief of Staff of "illegally cornering tens of billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from petroleum regulatory commission, citing a fake law for presidential approval, Atiku said he is baffled by such level of large-scale corruption and the impunity that legitimises it.

According to the ADC Presidential candidate, "this issue goes beyond partisan politics; it's about the impunity of corruption that undermines the welfare and future of ordinary Nigerians."

The former Vice President explained that "this level of corruption is unprecedented, and the government can't pretend to be prosecuting opposition figures for corruption, while corruption is growing like weed under its own nose."

Atiku reminded the Tinubu administration that "you can’t preach the rule of law when your own officials are awarded with the trophy of untouchability."

The former Vice President said that "Gbajabiamila must be held accountable like every other public official and independently investigated to give him full opportunity to defend himself against the brazen act of corruption as detailed in the Gazette report."
Atiku
According to Atiku, "former President Buhari suspended his SGF Babachir Lawal from office in order to allow for unfettered investigation against him and Gbajabiamila shouldn’t be treated differently."

He reminded that the controversial Chief of Staff has been mentioned in multiple allegations of bribery and corruption that has tainted the office of the President’s key aide: Stealing of $25,000 from a client in Georgia, USA leading to his debarment; Multiple allegations of bribe-for-appointments; Bribery allegation of N400m in the PFIPC and now this illegal cornering of N54 billion from an oil and gas regulatory agency.

The ADC presidential candidate added that, "given the apathetic and lackadaisical attitude of the Tinubu administration to the gales of corruption scandals against the Chief of Staff, it's apparent that the government is just going through the motions to fool Nigerians."

"Democracy is public service and when political office holders prioritise the amassing of personal wealth while the ordinary people are dying of hunger and preventable diseases, the Tinubu administration cannot pretend to be serving the people."

Signed:
Atiku Media Office
Abuja
14 July 2026.

Source

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Politics › Court Of Appeal Judgment Has No Effect Whatsoever On The Direct Primaries- ADC by treesun(op): 6:35pm On Jul 13

We wish to assure members of the ADC and the general public that today’s Court of Appeal judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the ADC’s candidates emerged at all levels.

APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT DOES NOT AFFECT ADC PRIMARIES

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) notes the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday in a matter relating to party congresses for the election of ward, local government and state executive committees of the Party.

We wish to assure members of the Party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the Party's candidates have emerged at all levels.

The Party has already commenced the process of appealing the judgment, which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable.

We also note the dissenting judgment of the presiding Justice, which, in our view, more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the Party's position.We urge all Party members and the millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focused.

The African Democratic Congress remains committed to the task of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative and will continue to pursue that mission in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.

Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Source

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Politics › Buhari Remains The Only Sitting President To Have Addressed Nigerians In Hausa by treesun(op): 1:18pm On Jul 13

Buhari Remains the Only Sitting President to Have Addressed Nigerians in Hausa — Osuntokun

The late President Buhari achieved his aspiration to live and die as a Northern hero. His military regime was a dictatorship and remains the only administration in Nigeria where both the head of state and his deputy came from Hausa-Fulani stock. However, he also had a strong reputation as a man of integrity and a crusader against corruption. While he was a hero of the north he did not govern well. His appointments were categorically a northern dominated government

Akin Osuntokun, Director of Politics, ARISE News

Buhari Remains the Only Sitting President to Have Addressed Nigerians in Hausa — Osuntokun

The late President Buhari achieved his aspiration to live and die as a Northern hero. His military regime was a dictatorship and remains the only administration in Nigeria where both the… pic.twitter.com/M6bEsXjuAQ
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) July 13, 2026

Politics › Buhari Remains the Only President to Have Addressed Nigerians in Hausa (Video) by treesun(op): 12:48pm On Jul 13

Buhari Remains the Only Sitting President to Have Addressed Nigerians in Hausa — Osuntokun

The late President Buhari achieved his aspiration to live and die as a Northern hero. His military regime was a dictatorship and remains the only administration in Nigeria where both the… pic.twitter.com/M6bEsXjuAQ
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) July 13, 2026

2 Likes

Crime › Re: Benue, Plateau Communities Hit By Fresh Attacks, 27 Killed by treesun(op): 7:46pm On Jul 12

We all these killings ever end, Nlfpmod!

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