Month: December 2025

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered 41 properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, a former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.

Findings indicate that the assets include hotels, residential houses, schools, parcels of land, and a printing press. These properties are spread across Kebbi State, Kano State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Assets located in Kebbi State carry an estimated value of N162,195,950,000.

Properties identified in Kano State are valued at N16,011,800,000. Those situated in the FCT are estimated at N34,685,000,000.

In addition, the federal government has filed a 16-count charge against Malami and his son, Abdulaziz Malami. The charges border on money laundering. Both men are accused of committing offences contrary to Sections 15, 18, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

A full breakdown of the traced assets has also emerged.

Kebbi State Assets

Total Valuation: N162,195,950,000

Educational institutions dominate the list in Kebbi. Rayhaan University Permanent Site is valued at N56,000,000,000. Rayhaan University Temporary Site stands at N37,800,000,000. The third site of the university carries a valuation of N2,450,000,000. The Vice Chancellor’s House is valued at N490,000,000.

Rayhaan Model Academy is listed at N11,200,000,000, while Rayhaan Primary and Secondary School stands at N8,750,000,000.

Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory & Commercial properties include factory buildings valued at N4,200,000,000, machines and plant units valued at N10,500,000,000, and a factory mosque valued at N2,450,000,000. Rayhaan Mill Staff Quarters, which consist of ten units, are valued at N1,487,500,000. Rayhaan Bustan Building carries a valuation of N3,150,000,000.

Other identified properties include a printing press valued at N1,050,000,000, Al-Afiya Energy Tanker Garage valued at N2,450,000,000, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd Structure valued at N1,050,000,000, and Rayhaan Radio valued at N78,750,000.

Azbir Brand properties also feature prominently. Azbir Hotel is valued at N10,325,000,000. The gallery stands at N581,000,000. Gardens are valued at N392,000,000. The mosque is valued at N252,000,000. Azbir Clothing is valued at N350,000,000, while Azbir Pharmacy and Supermarket stands at N175,000,000.

Several residential and foundation-related assets were also traced. Malami House in GRA is valued at N350,000,000. Malami House behind Mobil is valued at N490,000,000. Malami Residence behind the cemetery stands at N350,000,000. Abdulaziz’s house, described as the first son’s house, is valued at N1,659,000,000. Ahbiru’s house, listed as the second son’s house, carries a valuation of N2,989,000,000. Malami Support Organization Building at ADC is valued at N210,000,000. Kadi Malami Foundation Building stands at N56,000,000. Rayhaan Security House is valued at N245,700,000. An uncompleted three-storey complex carries a valuation of N665,000,000.

Kano State Assets

Total Valuation: N16,011,800,000

In Kano State, Zeennoor Hotel leads the list with a valuation of N11,200,000,000. Zeennoor Mosque stands at N84,000,000. Zeennoor Old Hotel Building is valued at N280,000,000. Rayhaan Hotel Kano carries a valuation of N2,240,000,000. Rayhaan Gym Kano is valued at N1,225,000,000. A house described as the wife’s house along Ahmadu Bello Way is valued at N982,800,000.

FCT Abuja Assets

Total Valuation: N34,685,000,000

Properties traced to the FCT include a duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, valued at N5,950,000,000. Meethaq Hotel in Jabi is valued at N8,400,000,000. Meethaq Hotel in Maitama carries a valuation of N12,950,000,000. Forty-two units of bungalows at Efab Estate are valued at N385,000,000. Harmonia Hotels in Area 11, Garki, stands at N7,000,000,000.

The cumulative valuation of all 41 properties traced to Malami stands at N212,892,750,000.

By Uzair Adam

The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC-ONSA), Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, has warned that some Point of Sale (POS) operators are playing active roles in facilitating terrorism and kidnapping in Nigeria.

Maj. Gen. Laka raised the alarm on Tuesday during an end-of-year briefing in Abuja, where he disclosed that ransom payments demanded by kidnappers are often routed through accounts owned by POS operators, making it difficult for security agencies to trace the funds.

According to him, investigations have revealed a recurring pattern in which kidnappers provide victims’ families with POS account details for ransom transfers. Once the money is sent, the criminals simply collect the cash from the operators.

“You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate the account, it belongs to a POS operator.

“The kidnappers give out the POS operator’s number, the money is transferred, and they go to collect it,” he explained.

He said the practice has become a major challenge for counter-terrorism efforts, as it allows criminal networks to move funds discreetly while evading financial tracking mechanisms.

By Uzair Adam

Kidnappers operating across Nigeria collected at least N2.57 billion in ransom payments between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a new report released by SBM Intelligence.

The report, titled “The Year Ahead at an Inflection Point” and published on December 19, 2025, examined key political and economic trends shaping Africa in 2025. It revealed that while kidnappers demanded an estimated N48 billion within the 12-month period, only a small fraction of that amount was eventually paid by victims and their families.

SBM Intelligence noted that kidnapping in Nigeria has increasingly become a well-organised, profit-oriented enterprise, flourishing amid weak governance structures, expansive ungoverned rural areas and deteriorating security conditions in several regions of the country.

According to the findings, at least 4,722 people were abducted in 997 kidnapping incidents during the period under review, while no fewer than 762 people lost their lives in attacks linked to banditry and related criminal violence.

Although ransom demands rose sharply in naira terms, the report observed that the actual earnings of kidnappers remained relatively modest when converted to dollars due to the depreciation of the naira. The N2.57 billion paid translates to approximately $1.66 million, only slightly higher than the $1.13 million equivalent of N653.7 million collected in 2022.

The Northwest emerged as the epicentre of kidnapping activities, accounting for 425 incidents, representing 42.6 per cent of cases nationwide. The region also recorded 2,938 victims, amounting to 62.2 per cent of all abducted persons across the country.

Zamfara State recorded the highest number of victims at 1,203, followed by Kaduna and Katsina States. SBM Intelligence attributed the prevalence of kidnappings in the region to vast, poorly governed rural communities and the presence of entrenched bandit networks capable of carrying out large-scale operations with minimal resistance.

In contrast, the Southwest recorded the lowest level of kidnapping activity, accounting for just 5.3 per cent of incidents and 3 per cent of victims during the same period.

The report further highlighted a rise in mass abductions, defined as incidents involving more than five victims, which accounted for about 23 per cent of all recorded cases and were largely concentrated in northern states. It noted that entire communities were sometimes targeted, with abducted persons reportedly forced to work on farms and mining sites controlled by criminal groups.

Beyond kidnapping, SBM Intelligence drew attention to escalating violence across several parts of the country in 2025. In the Northcentral region, attacks linked to armed herders persisted through March, with Benue State particularly affected. A single attack in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on March 7 reportedly claimed 15 lives.

Zamfara State also experienced repeated deadly incidents, including an attack in Tsafe Local Government Area on March 13 that left 40 people dead, alongside mass abductions in Maru Local Government Area on the same day.

April and May were identified as some of the deadliest months of the year, with attacks in Plateau and Benue States killing more than 100 people combined, while mass abductions involving up to 100 victims were recorded in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto States.

By Ahmed Usman

As the year 2025 draws to a close, moments of reflection naturally set in, especially for an economy that has endured sharp shocks, painful adjustments, and cautious reforms. In an era of global economic turbulence marked by uneven commodity prices, persistently tight financial conditions, rising geopolitical tensions, regional insecurity, and an international retreat from development aid, many emerging economies have suffered currency instability, capital flight, and fiscal distress. 

For Nigeria, however, the year presents an unusual picture. Amid global uncertainty and domestic strain, key economic indicators are beginning to stabilise, prompting a deeper question about whether the country is merely ending the year on a fortunate note or finally turning a policy-driven corner.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Nigeria’s economy will grow by about 3.9 per cent in 2025, with growth expected to strengthen modestly to around 4.1 per cent in 2026, driven by macroeconomic stabilisation and reform efforts across key sectors. While these numbers may not yet place Nigeria among the world’s fastest-growing economies, they mark a notable improvement from the passive growth of recent years and signal a gradual return of confidence.

One of the most significant recent developments is Nigeria’s GDP rebasing, which revealed that the economy is about 30 per cent larger than previously estimated. This adjustment is not merely a statistical exercise. It reflects the growing importance of services, digital trade, creative industries, and telecommunications, sectors that employ millions of Nigerians, particularly young people.

For households, a larger and more diversified economy is essential because it reduces overdependence on oil and expands opportunities for income outside traditional sectors. For policymakers, it improves Nigeria’s standing in global markets and provides a clearer picture of where growth is coming from, enabling more targeted policies.

The rebasing has also reshaped Nigeria’s debt profile. The debt-to-GDP ratio now stands at about 40 per cent, well below the levels seen in many peer emerging economies. More importantly, debt service as a share of government revenue has fallen to below 50 per cent, from much higher levels in previous years. This easing of fiscal pressure means the government now has slightly more flexibility to allocate resources to infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection. However, the challenge remains that Nigeria’s revenue base remains among the weakest globally, making sustained revenue mobilisation critical.

Perhaps the most tangible improvement for households and businesses has come from the foreign exchange market. After years of volatility and sharp depreciation, recent months have seen a reduction in exchange rate volatility, a narrowing of the gap between official and parallel market rates, and a gradual buildup of external reserves, now estimated at over $36 billion. This stabilisation has practical consequences. It helps slow imported inflation, reducing pressure on food, fuel, and medicine prices. Foreign portfolio inflows have also picked up, reflecting renewed investor confidence.

Nigeria’s capital markets are also telling a positive story. The stock market is enjoying its strongest rally in nearly two decades, with the All-Share Index posting record gains. This surge reflects expectations of improved corporate earnings and better macroeconomic coordination. Similarly, Nigeria’s bond market has entered a bullish phase, with falling yields and strong demand from both domestic and foreign investors. Lower bond yields reduce government borrowing costs and can eventually translate into lower interest rates for businesses and households seeking credit.

After reaching painful highs, inflation (food inflation) has begun to ease, FX conditions have improved, and supply pressures have eased. Although prices remain elevated, the slowdown in food prices offers some relief to households whose purchasing power has been severely eroded over the past two years.

Perhaps the most encouraging fiscal development is the sharp rise in government revenue. This improvement reflects tax administration reforms, subsidy removal, and better compliance. Higher revenue is central to Nigeria’s long-term stability. It reduces reliance on borrowing, strengthens public services, and allows targeted social spending to cushion vulnerable households from reform-related shocks.

Despite these gains, Nigeria’s resilience should not be mistaken for strength. The economy remains vulnerable to oil price swings, climate shocks, global financial tightening, and domestic security challenges. Monetary pressures, fiscal constraints, and external risks continue to interact in ways that could quickly reverse progress.

However, resilience built on sound fiscal management, credible monetary policy, and structural reform is fundamentally different from resilience driven by temporary luck. Strengthening domestic revenue, managing debt prudently, investing in human capital, and deepening diversification are not optional; they are essential.

Is the question whether Nigeria’s current resilience is the product of good policies or good luck? The evidence increasingly points toward policy-driven stabilisation, though aided by favourable timing and improved coordination.

The fundamentals are improving, confidence is returning, and the economy is stronger than it has been in years. The challenge now is to convert this fragile resilience into inclusive and durable growth, growth that raises living standards, creates jobs, and restores hope for millions of households.

Ahmed Usman wrote via ahmedusmanbox@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam

Former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has attributed the persistent insecurity in Nigeria to what he described as a lack of political will by the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.

Kwankwaso made the assertion on Tuesday while serving as the special guest of honour at the passing-out parade of 2,000 newly recruited personnel of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps.

Drawing from his experience as a former Minister of Defence, the NNPP leader said Nigerian troops have consistently demonstrated professionalism and effectiveness during international peacekeeping missions but face difficulties in tackling insecurity at home due to inadequate political backing.

According to him, the capacity of Nigeria’s security personnel is not in doubt, stressing that what is missing is firm commitment at the highest level of leadership.

He said the Commander-in-Chief must ensure adequate training, recruitment, equipment, arms and ammunition for the military and other security agencies to enable them to confront security challenges effectively.

Kwankwaso also called on the federal government to integrate trained personnel from northern states such as Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara into national security operations.

He argued that Nigeria needs no fewer than one million military personnel to effectively address both internal and regional security threats.

He further noted that beyond the North-West, the country requires additional armed security forces to complement the efforts of the military and other agencies, adding that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of the federal government.

Despite his criticism, Kwankwaso expressed optimism that the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps initiative would contribute significantly to restoring peace in border and vulnerable communities grappling with insecurity.

By Engr. Kabiru Garba

Kano State remains one of Nigeria’s most populous states, where security is not an abstract policy but a daily reality.

For every citizen, security is the bedrock of daily life, commerce, and culture. It is undoubtedly a concern that resonates from the crowded city markets to the vast, farm-lined hinterlands.

For Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, confronting this challenge has demanded a strategy that is equally multifaceted. It requires moving beyond a centralised command to embedding safety within the communities themselves. This is not a top-down decree, but rather a ground-up compact.

This conviction now drives a multi-million naira, multi-layered initiative aimed at turning the tide through visibility, mobility, and local intelligence.

The most visible symbol of this compact is the newly inaugurated Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps.

On Tuesday, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, the governor stood before 2,000 recruits, comprising of 1,870 men and 130 women drawn from every one of the state’s 44 Local Government Areas.

Their passing-out parade activated a frontline distinct from the conventional vigilante groups. These corps members have undergone formal training and will be legally equipped. Their primary advantage is intrinsic: they are local. They know the alleyways, the dialects, the rhythms, and the people.

Their mandate is to act as the first line of defence and intelligence, helping to combat crimes like banditry, kidnapping, and rural violence that have tested the region’s peace.

Recognising that even the most knowledgeable personnel need mobility to cover ground, the state has made a substantial investment in logistics.

At the inauguration, Governor Yusuf commissioned 88 new Hilux patrol vehicles and 440 motorcycles for the corps. This fleet is a force multiplier, designed to make security presence constant. The practical goal is to shrink emergency response times, enable patrols across difficult terrain, and ensure a visible, reassuring presence that deters crime before it begins.

This deployment is part of a sustained financial commitment. Just before the launch, the governor approved N484 million to procure 300 Boxer motorcycles to further amplify the corps’ reach at the community level.

This sequential investment reveals a strategy of layered reinforcement, building capacity piece by critical piece.

The neighbourhood watch initiative is the Kano’s newest layer in a security architecture that has been under construction.

Months earlier, in November, the governor targeted areas under acute pressure. He provided 10 vehicles and 50 motorcycles to the federal-state Joint Task Force (JTF). This aimed at boosting their operational efficiency in seven frontline local government areas: Kiru, Tsanyawa, Kunchi, Gwarzo, Shanono, Tudun Wada, and Doguwa.

This support was a direct response to immediate threats, enhancing rapid response and inter-agency coordination in the state’s most vulnerable regions.

Perhaps the most forward-thinking layer of Governor Abba’s strategy focuses on protection beyond immediate conflict.

In May this year, he approved the immediate recruitment of 17,600 security guards for public schools across Kano.

This move, while distinct from law enforcement, addresses a deep societal anxiety. By hardening these soft targets, the government seeks to safeguard not only buildings but the state’s future, its children, and to restore a fundamental sense of normalcy and security to education.

Taken together, these actions sketch a comprehensive philosophy that simply says security is interconnected. It requires empowering formal task forces, establishing legitimate community-based forces, and proactively protecting critical social infrastructure.

Analysts observe that the governor’s approach tackles Kano’s complex security situation on three fronts: strengthening formal joint operations with the JTF, establishing a dedicated, locally-rooted armed corps, and hardening soft targets like schools.

Meanwhile, the substantial allocation of resources, from hundreds of millions for motorcycles to over a hundred patrol vehicles signals a clear prioritization of security expenditure in our dear state, Kano.

Therefore, it is the hope of every citizen that the true measure of this security compact will determine the state’s trajectory of peace and prosperity for years to come.

By Suleiman Usman Yusuf 

Right now, I am deeply pained and genuinely confused, perhaps like many other well-meaning Nigerians who still believe this country can rise above its failures. If all I have to offer is my voice and my pen, then I will continue writing about Nigeria’s lingering security crisis until my last strength fades. Silence is no longer an option when the nation is bleeding this profusely.

This country is bruised. Every week, the news reminds us that Nigeria is fighting for its own life, not in theory but in blood and dust. Yet we move on too quickly, as if these tragedies belong to someone else.

The death of Brigadier General M. Uba should stop us in our tracks.

Not just because he was a senior officer. Not because his story is more important than the stories of countless others who fell before him. But because his final hours reveal both the extraordinary courage of the men defending this country and the painful weaknesses of the institutions meant to protect them.

Two days ago, Nigerians were told he was alive and safe. Today, the truth arrived from insurgent propaganda channels rather than from the State he served. That alone should trouble every citizen who still believes this country can be redeemed.

But beyond the misinformation, beyond the chaos of battle and the failures of communication, there was a man. A man who fought through one ambush, shielded his men, and kept talking on the radio even as danger closed in from every direction. A man who understood the terrain, the risks, and the meaning of service in a way many of us never will.

His killers did not find him by magic. They found him because insurgent groups in the North-East have evolved into highly adaptive, intelligence-driven networks. They have spotters, informants, trackers, and a familiarity with the terrain that gives them dangerous advantages. Our troops face that reality every day with limited resources and uneven institutional support. Yet they still go out, still patrol, still hold their ground.

Brigadier General Uba died in uniform, under a harsh Borno sky, in the service of a country that has not yet learned how to protect its defenders fully. His death is not just a battlefield loss. It is a national failure.

But this is where our story must change.

Nigeria cannot survive if we continue pretending that insecurity is a Northern problem, or a Christian problem, or a Muslim problem, or a regional competition in suffering. Nigeria is bleeding in too many places for that false comfort.

This is a Nigerian problem. All of us are inside this fire.

If we want to save this country, we must begin by admitting the truth.

We have an overburdened military fighting a war that politicians treat like background noise. We have intelligence agencies that do not always speak to each other. We have a society more invested in ethnic debates than national survival. We have families quietly burying soldiers while the rest of us argue online. We have institutions that hide failures rather than learn from them.

But we also have something else. We have citizens who still believe in Nigeria. We have communities ready to cooperate when trust is restored. We have young officers and men who refuse to give up on this country, even when this country sometimes gives up on them. We have people like Brigadier General Uba, whose courage reminds us of the Nigeria that is still possible.

If his death is to mean anything, it must push us toward a national rebuilding rooted in truth, accountability, and collective responsibility. It must force us to demand better communication protocols, better extraction procedures, better intelligence coordination, and better welfare for every man and woman who carries a rifle for this country.

Saving Nigeria is not a slogan. It is a long, disciplined, painful process that requires leadership, honesty, citizen cooperation, and institutional courage.

Brigadier General Uba has paid his share in full. The account is now with us.

Suleiman Usman Yusuf, a Governance, Security, and Development Consultant, AI Policy and Governance Advocate, and a Shaper of Africa’s Tech Future, wrote via suleimanusmanbac@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigeria emerged as Africa’s largest exporter of crude oil to the United States between January and August 2025, shipping 33.23 million barrels valued at $2.57 billion, according to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday through a post on the Mission’s official X handle, @USinNigeria. The Mission stated that Nigeria’s shipments during the eight-month period represented more than half of total African crude oil exports to the American market.

The U.S. Mission said the figures highlight Nigeria’s strong position among African oil-producing countries supplying crude to the United States and reflect the depth of economic ties between both nations.

“#DidYouKnow that Nigeria was the leading African exporter of crude oil to the United States between January and August 2025, shipping 33.23 million barrels worth $2.57 billion? That’s more than half of all African crude oil exports to the United States during that period,” the Mission stated.

The Mission added that the ongoing trade relationship continues to deliver economic value to both countries. “Our strong trade ties create jobs and drive prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic,” the statement said.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest oil producers and a key supplier to the global energy market, despite recent output challenges linked to oil theft, pipeline vandalism and operational constraints.

The strong trade performance comes against the backdrop of shifting diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United States in 2025. During the latter part of the year, bilateral ties experienced tension linked to immigration, security and religious freedom concerns, before easing toward the end of the year.

On December 16, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”

The order, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, expanded an existing travel restriction list to 39 countries. Nigeria was among 15 countries subjected to partial entry limitations, including a halt to new F, M and J visa issuances.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has announced public holidays for the 2025 Christmas and New Year celebrations, while security agencies across the country have intensified measures to ensure safety during the festive period.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Monday declared Thursday, December 25, 2025; Friday, December 26, 2025; and Thursday, January 1, 2026, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year. The announcement was made on behalf of the Federal Government.

In a statement, the minister conveyed Christmas and New Year goodwill messages to Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora, as well as to all citizens marking the close of the year and the start of a new one. He described the season as a time for reflection and national unity.

The holiday declaration came amid heightened security arrangements ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The IGP directed the nationwide deployment of police personnel and assets to maintain public safety throughout the festive season.

According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, all zonal Assistant Inspectors-General and state Commissioners of Police have been instructed to boost patrols, strengthen visibility policing, deepen intelligence-driven operations and expand community engagement.

“In line with the Force’s proactive security strategy for the festive season, the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and State Command CPs to intensify patrols, visibility policing, intelligence-led operations, and confidence-building engagements throughout the period.

“Specialised units, including the Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Command, Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, Special Intervention Squad, Highway Patrol, Marine Police, and the Airwing, have been placed on heightened operational readiness,” the statement read.

Hundeyin said security coverage includes places of worship, recreational centres, markets, motor parks, event venues, transport terminals, highways, critical national infrastructure and other crowded public locations.

He added, “Additional patrol teams and surveillance units have also been activated to cover inter-state routes and major expressways to prevent road-related crimes, traffic disorder, and accidents.

“The deployed officers have been charged to be firm but courteous in the discharge of their duties.”

The police spokesman further stated that commands across the country have been directed to sustain raids on identified blackspots, forests, criminal hideouts and flashpoints, while collaboration with other security agencies has been strengthened.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government has made drug tests compulsory for anyone applying for a job in the public service.

The move aims to tackle the growing problem of drug abuse and its effects on security and work performance.

The directive came in an official circular issued today by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

It orders all Permanent Secretaries and heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and parastatals to include drug screening in their hiring process.

According to the circular, all MDAs must work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to carry out the tests and ensure they meet required standards.

The government said the policy is a response to the “alarming rate” of substance abuse, especially among young Nigerians.

It warned that the trend poses a serious threat to public health, the economy, workplace safety, and national security.

The statement was signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information at the OSGF.

He stated that the administration is determined to safeguard the workforce from drug-related harms.

This new rule for federal jobs follows similar recent policies that introduced mandatory drug testing in universities and other sectors.