Admin

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kwara State Government has closed an unapproved orphanage in Ilorin and taken 30 children found at the facility into government care.

Officials of the state Ministry of Social Development carried out the operation on Thursday at the Iranlowo Oluwa Orphanage and Children’s Home.

The children, made up of boys and girls between the ages of two and 15, have since been moved to a government-approved shelter.

The state government said the children would receive medical attention, food, education and psychosocial support at the shelter while officials determine their individual circumstances.

The intervention was disclosed in a statement issued by the Kwara State Ministry of Social Development and signed by its Press Secretary, Rasheedat Shodunnke.

The ministry said the action formed part of measures to protect children living in care institutions from neglect, abuse and other risks.

The Commissioner for Social Development, Mariam Nnfatima Imam, said authorities would first establish the needs and backgrounds of the rescued children before deciding on their long-term care.

She said the ministry would conduct family tracing and seek to reunite the children with their relatives where such reunification was considered safe and appropriate.

“The children are undergoing comprehensive medical screening, nutrition support and psychosocial counselling, while the ministry is also working on family tracing and reunification, where appropriate,” Imam said.

According to the commissioner, children whose return to their families is found to be unsafe will remain in government-approved care facilities.

She explained that the placement process would follow the required documentation and assessment procedures. Further assessments would also be carried out to ensure that each child continues to receive appropriate care.

Imam said the discovery had also led the ministry to intensify its monitoring of orphanages and other child-care institutions across Kwara State.

She directed operators of orphanages and children’s homes to secure government approval before operating.

The commissioner also instructed approved facilities to display the inscription, “Approved by the Kwara State Government,” prominently on their signposts.

She said the measure would help residents identify facilities that have received official authorisation from those operating without approval.

The Director of Social Work in the ministry, Hamzat Abdulfatah, who took part in the rescue operation, stressed the importance of cooperation among government agencies and other stakeholders involved in child protection.

“This intervention has given these children hope and encouraged us to work together. We now understand that if we manage this process properly and follow due process, these children will have the opportunity to live better and more fulfilled lives,” Abdulfatah said.

The ministry said efforts would continue to establish the identities and family backgrounds of the children and determine suitable long-term arrangements for their care.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Ann, to 25 years in prison for importing 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu imposed the sentence on Thursday after Ann pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking charges filed against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The convict was first brought before the court in August after the anti-narcotics agency accused her of importing the prohibited substance into the country.

According to the NDLEA, Ann was arrested in July during the inward clearance of passengers aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1433 from Doha at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The agency said Ann had travelled with her three-year-old son and initially denied having check-in luggage.

However, the NDLEA said she later admitted ownership of two bags after its officers discovered that the tags on them corresponded with the claim tags attached to her passport.

The agency further disclosed that Ann’s husband was arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 27, 2026, over an alleged attempt to traffic 3.2 kilogrammes of illicit drugs to Hong Kong.

Court Considers Value Of Seized Heroin

After Ann entered her guilty plea, the prosecution asked the court to consider the quantity and estimated value of the heroin when determining the appropriate punishment.

The prosecution told the court that one kilogramme of the drug was worth approximately N18 million.

Ann appealed to the court for mercy. She said she was remorseful and promised not to commit a similar offence again.

She also claimed that she was unaware that the bags contained illicit drugs.

In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu noted that Ann had admitted the offence in an extrajudicial statement before entering her guilty plea in court.

The judge held that the law provides that a conviction follows a guilty plea and subsequently found Ann guilty.

While handing down the sentence, Egwuatu said “crime does not pay” and that the law does not recognise “emotions”.

The judge sentenced Ann to 15 years in prison on the first count and 25 years on the second count.

He ordered that both terms should run concurrently, meaning Ann will serve a total of 25 years behind bars.

The court also ordered the destruction of the seized heroin if the convict does not appeal the judgment within the period allowed by law.

By Maji Bappa Maina

What happens when markets are no longer treated as isolated projects, but as interconnected pieces of an economic system?

That question becomes interesting when we look at the spread of modern and ultra-modern markets being developed across Yobe State under Governor Mai Mala Buni.

From the Yobe City Mall in Damaturu to markets in Yunusari, Potiskum, Nguru, Gashua and Ngalda, and from Geidam, Buni Yadi, Machina and Jajere to Ngelzarma, Sabon Garin Nangere, Yusufari, Jajimaji, Bumsa and Gir Gir, the locations tell a story that goes beyond the construction of individual market buildings.

They suggest a broader attempt to create an economic network across the state.

To understand this, perhaps we need to change the way we look at a market.

A market is not simply a place where people come to buy and sell.

It is where farmers meet traders, where goods move from producers to consumers, where transporters find business, where small enterprises grow, where money circulates and where economic relationships are created.

In development planning, therefore, the location of a market can be just as important as the structure itself.

Consider Geidam.

Its proximity to Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic gives commercial infrastructure there a significance that extends beyond the immediate community.

A functional market in such a location can potentially serve local commerce while also connecting Yobe to wider patterns of regional trade.

Then consider Nguru, Gashua and Machina.

These are important points within Yobe’s commercial geography.

When modern trading facilities are introduced in such locations, they can help distribute economic activity across different parts of the state rather than concentrating everything around the capital.

Then there is Potiskum, with its long-standing reputation as one of the major commercial centres of Yobe.

And in Damaturu, the Yobe City Mall introduces another form of commercial infrastructure, one associated with a more formal and modern retail environment.

But perhaps the more interesting part of the strategy is found outside these major centres.
Ngalda. Buni Yadi. Jajere. Yusufari. Sabon Garin Nangere. Jajimaji. Bumsa. Gir Gir.

Why invest in markets across such a wide geographical spread?
Because development does not become inclusive simply because a state has a few major commercial centres.

Economic opportunity has to be connected to where people actually live and produce.

A farmer in a rural community needs somewhere to sell.
A trader needs somewhere to operate.

A transporter needs somewhere goods can be aggregated.
A small business needs customers.

And consumers need accessible places where goods and services can be exchanged.

This is where Governor Buni’s market strategy becomes interesting from a public-policy perspective.

The question is no longer simply how many markets are being constructed.

The more important question is:

What economic relationships can these markets create when they begin functioning as a network?
Imagine the possibility.
A farmer produces in one community.

The produce moves to a nearby market.
From there, traders aggregate it and transport it to a larger commercial centre.

From a major centre, goods can move toward other parts of Yobe or beyond the state.

At the border, commercial activity can potentially connect with regional markets.

Along the way, transporters, wholesalers, retailers, financial institutions and small businesses participate in the same economic chain.

That is how infrastructure begins to function as an economic ecosystem.
And there is another important dimension.

For a state that has experienced prolonged disruption to economic activities in some communities, rebuilding commercial infrastructure can also contribute to restoring normal economic life.

A market can become a sign that people are returning to ordinary economic activity.
Traders return.
Customers return.

Farmers have somewhere to sell.
Young people can establish small businesses.
Communities begin to reconnect economically.

In that sense, the market becomes part of a wider process of economic recovery and reintegration.

But there is a deeper lesson here for public administration.

Government projects should ultimately be judged not only by what is constructed, but by the systems they help create.

A beautiful market that remains empty is infrastructure without sufficient economic function.

A functioning market, however, can generate activity far beyond its walls.

That is why the next phase becomes just as important as construction itself.

Will traders occupy the shops?
Will farmers gain easier access to markets?
Will storage facilities reduce post-harvest losses?
Will transport networks connect the markets efficiently?
Will financial services follow the commercial activity?
Will the markets create employment?
Will they contribute to sustainable internally generated revenue?
These questions will determine whether the buildings become genuine economic assets.

And this is perhaps the most interesting way to understand the direction Governor Mai Mala Buni appears to be taking with market infrastructure.

The strategy is potentially bigger than building markets.

It is about creating places through which economic activity can move.

From Damaturu to Geidam, from Potiskum to Nguru, from Gashua to Ngalda, and from the larger towns to smaller communities, these projects can be understood as nodes within a wider economic geography.

The Yobe City Mall represents one end of that commercial spectrum.

The border communities represent another.

The modern markets scattered across the state provide the connecting points in between.

And when those points begin functioning together, something more important than individual buildings can emerge: a more connected local economy.

Perhaps, therefore, the real measure of this strategy will not be the number of markets opened.

It will be the number of economic opportunities that begin moving through them.

Because in development, infrastructure matters most when people can use it to move goods, services, ideas, income and opportunity.

That is where a market stops being merely a building.
It becomes part of the development system.

Maji Bappa Maina is a Political Writer | Voice of Development, Leadership & Public Insight

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has begun consultations with provosts and other stakeholders in the North-East as part of efforts to address challenges that could affect the implementation of the Dual Mandate Policy for Colleges of Education.

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Dr Angela Ajala, disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholder engagement held in Gombe.

Ajala said the engagement was designed to enable the commission to understand the specific difficulties confronting institutions in the region and work out practical measures before the policy becomes fully operational.

She explained that the consultations formed part of a wider engagement with Colleges of Education across the country, with the aim of strengthening teacher education and ensuring that graduates acquire both professional qualifications and practical skills.

Under the new policy, students of Colleges of Education are expected to have the opportunity to earn the National Certificate in Education, a Bachelor of Education degree and a skills certificate.

“We are here to know their challenges and how they can be solved. If it is what the colleges can solve on their own, what NCCE can solve or what the government needs to intervene,” she said.

Ajala added that issues beyond the capacity of individual institutions or the NCCE would be taken to the appropriate authorities for intervention.

She said challenges that require government action would be presented to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, while the commission would also seek the support of development partners where necessary.

According to her, the skills component of the policy is expected to equip graduates with abilities that can help them become self-reliant and develop solutions to problems within their communities.

Speaking on the theme, “Dual Mandate of Colleges of Education: Challenges, Opportunities and Expectations,” a former Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, Dr Ali Adamu, listed inadequate funding, a shortage of qualified personnel and insufficient infrastructure among the major concerns that could affect the policy’s implementation.

Adamu, however, said the Dual Mandate Policy could create opportunities for improved career progression, revitalisation of Colleges of Education, better teacher quality and stronger human capital development.

He urged the government to provide more funding, improve infrastructure and sustain staff development programmes to support the successful implementation of the policy.

The Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, Dr Mohammed Abdulhamid, commended the Federal Government and the NCCE for their efforts to reposition teacher education in Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has rescued victims of a multiple-vehicle crash on Otedola Bridge, inward Berger, with no death recorded.

The accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon and involved five vehicles, including two trucks, a trailer, a white Honda and a Lexus.

LASEMA said its LRT Tiger Squad stationed at C3 was alerted to the incident at about 1:18 p.m. following a distress call. The team arrived at the scene about 10 minutes later.

The vehicles involved included a truck carrying a generator, a containerised truck with registration number ENU 135ZG, a loaded trailer with an unknown registration number, a white Honda with registration number LSR 870BF and a Lexus with registration number KTU 682HX.

Preliminary findings at the scene indicated that the containerised truck developed a mechanical fault while in motion. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which then crashed into three other vehicles.

Another truck later collided with the vehicles, causing further damage and creating a multiple-vehicle pile-up.

Following the incident, LASEMA activated its emergency response procedures and took charge of the rescue operation in collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police Force.

Traffic control and safety measures were introduced at the scene to protect motorists, prevent additional collisions and manage the situation.

LASEMA paramedics provided immediate medical attention to the affected victims before they were taken to the Trauma Centre for further treatment.

The agency said recovery operations were still in progress, with private towing vehicles and a crane deployed to clear the damaged vehicles and help restore normal traffic flow along the route.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, praised the emergency responders and partner agencies for their swift response.

He advised motorists, especially drivers of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, to maintain their vehicles regularly, observe road safety rules and exercise caution on major highways.

LASEMA also urged members of the public to report emergencies through the toll-free 767 or 112 emergency numbers.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kano State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has adopted Muhammad Sani Abacha as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election after Muhammad Bello Dalhatu withdrew from the race.

The decision was reached at an expanded meeting of the party’s State Executive Committee in Kano on Wednesday, September 16.

PDP state chairman, Dr Bello Gambo Bichi, said the process followed the party’s constitution and relevant electoral provisions governing the replacement of a candidate who voluntarily steps down.

“Last time we did a primary election in which Mohammed Bello Dalha was declared winner, but following consultations among stakeholders in Kano and Abuja, the candidate decided to withdraw.

“The law says that as a result of withdrawal, a replacement primary must be held. That is what brought us here today.

“We have affirmed Muhammad Sani Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate of our great party in Kano State,” Bichi explained.”

The party subsequently conducted a replacement primary on September 16, with Dr Abba Abdullahi, chairman of the electoral panel, declaring Abacha the winner.

Abdullahi said the exercise complied with the PDP’s internal guidelines and applicable electoral regulations. He also stated that Abacha fulfilled the conditions required to secure the party’s nomination.

The state chairman also announced that the party had reached an agreement to resolve its factional disagreements through a reconciliation arrangement.

Under the agreement, the deputy governorship ticket was allocated to the Turaki faction. Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former factional PDP chairman and former Commissioner for Land and Agriculture, was subsequently announced as the party’s deputy governorship candidate.

“After a wide consultation and reconciliation, we agreed to give the deputy governorship slot to the Turaki faction here in Kano. With this, there is no faction in Kano PDP.

“We have reconciled,” he said, adding that representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) witnessed the process,” he said.

Bichi further disclosed that the reconciliation also resulted in changes to some of the party’s National Assembly and state assembly candidates.

He maintained that the developments had brought the different camps together and described the party as “waxing stronger” ahead of the elections.

The resolution of the internal dispute and the emergence of Abacha come after a period of disagreements within the Kano PDP.

Party leaders said the reconciliation was intended to bring members of the different camps together and strengthen the party’s organisation across the state ahead of the 2027 governorship contest.

Bichi expressed confidence in the party’s prospects, saying the resolution of the dispute and Abacha’s emergence had positioned the PDP to win the next general election.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has attributed the persistence of insecurity in Nigeria to years of ethnic and religious divisions that, according to him, were fuelled by political rhetoric and public discourse.

Sanusi made the remarks in Abuja on Wednesday at the launch of a biography chronicling the tenure of retired Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai as Chief of Army Staff.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor said the roots of Nigeria’s security challenges went beyond the emergence of Boko Haram, banditry and terrorism. He argued that the country’s present difficulties were preceded by a pattern of political and media discourse that divided Nigerians along regional, religious and ethnic lines.

“The fundamental point I wish to emphasise is that the security crisis in this nation did not commence with violence as we currently witness it, nor did it commence with banditry. It did not commence with Boko Haram and terrorism. It originated with the violence inherent in language that appeared in newspapers and emanated from political discourse, wherein we commenced categorising ourselves not as Nigerians, but as Northerners and Southerners, Muslims and Christians, Yoruba and Igbo and Hausa, thereby establishing an environment that facilitated the emergence of these movements,” stated the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Sanusi warned that the country could face another cycle of violence if political leaders and other influential groups fail to move away from the use of ethnicity and religion as tools of political mobilisation.

“We are only laying the foundation for a new round of violence. We have to go back to seeing ourselves as Nigerians, as people committed to this country, and focus on what is important, which is the development of our people. It is not the responsibility of politicians to give us religion. They are there to give us education, to give us healthcare, to give us an economy and allow the religion to be in the hands of those who are religious leaders.

“It is also not the duty of religious leaders to get into politics. Right now, there is no distinction between imams and bishops and senators and how everybody is a politician. We’ve got to start tracing ourselves. Otherwise, we create these interests that feed and benefit from insecurity.

“The moment we all get absorbed into the projects of politicians, we cannot hold political society in check. We cannot have a country that we want because we need to have those institutions who are not there on elections, the army cannot think in four-year cycles. The police cannot think in four-year cycles. The central bank cannot think in four-year cycles. We have to think 20 years, 30 years, 50 years, whereas elected officers are thinking in four-year cycles.”

Also at the event, retired Lieutenant General Domenico Giani, Inspector General of the Corpo della Gendarmeria, the police and security force of Vatican City, spoke about leadership, institutional accountability and the need to assess the legacy of those who command security institutions.

Giani said lasting institutional progress should be judged by the strength of institutions, protection of civilians and public trust.

“Transformation is measured by institutions strengthened, civilians protected, trust earned.

“Boko Haram was not born in 2015. Its roots lie in the poverty and distrust of the early 2000s North-East. After Yusuf’s death in 2009, it hardened under Shekau. Chibok in 2014 revealed what Borno, Yobe and Adamawa had endured. By 2016, it had split into JAS and ISWAP, fragmented, mobile, adaptive.

“A terrorist organisation that changes form must be met by a state that learns faster than its enemy. Intelligence and regional cooperation are essential, but so are schools, justice and opportunity. If the state arrives with weapons but not services, the vacuum returns.”

By Anwar Usman

The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has appointed Barr. Hafsat Kutama as the Acting Chairperson of the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Media, Ibrahim Adam, on his verified social media handle on Wednesday.

“His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has appointed Barr. Hafsat Ada’u Kutama, as the Acting Chairperson of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Kano State,” he said.

“Until her appointment, Barr. Hafsat served as the Secretary of the Commission,” he added.

The Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Saidu Yahaya, was reported to have resigned his appointment on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Yahaya was appointed chairman of the PCACC in August 2025, following the expiration of the tenure of the former chairman, Muhuyi Rimin Gado.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Award-winning Nigerian journalist Zainab Bala, a former presenter of GIST Nigeria, has recounted the difficulties she said she faced after wearing her hijab while presenting the current affairs programme jointly produced by BBC Africa and Channels Television.

Bala, who spent about nine months with the BBC, spoke about her experience during an appearance on the second episode of The HSM Tribe, a YouTube platform focused on Muslim women. The episode was aired on August 28, 2026.

According to Premium Times newspaper, she said the issue began after she was recruited in 2023. She said she wore her hijab during the recruitment interview and was asked whether she would continue to cover her head if she got the job.

“I said yes because this is how I dress,” she said.

Bala later moved from Abuja to Lagos after receiving an offer from the BBC. She underwent training and subsequently recorded her first episode at the Channels Television headquarters in Lagos.

She said the programme was not broadcast for several weeks, while episodes presented by another member of the team continued to air.

According to Bala, her editor later informed her that discussions had taken place with Channels Television over her appearance.

“The reason why my programme was not aired was that they had been having a back-and-forth with Channels, and that’s because Channels said they do not project a hijab-wearing person on their screens,” she said.

She said the situation made her feel “stereotyped” and demoralised.

Bala said she had expected the matter to have been resolved before her recruitment because she had already made her position clear during the interview.

“I don’t think this is something to debate about,” she said.

She said the BBC later sought an arrangement with Channels Television that would enable her to remain on the programme while wearing a head covering, although she alleged that certain restrictions were attached to her appearance.

Bala said she initially considered leaving the programme. She eventually decided to stay because she believed her continued presence could create opportunities for other Muslim women.

“I stayed because I realised that this was deeply rooted, and there hasn’t been any conversation around this,” she said.

During her time on the programme, she presented several editions and said her background as a Muslim woman from northern Nigeria influenced some of the subjects she brought to the show. She particularly highlighted stories involving women who challenged stereotypes associated with northern Nigeria.

Bala Cites Other Reasons For Leaving

The journalist said the disagreement over her hijab was not the only factor behind her departure from the BBC.

She alleged that she experienced what she described as “mental and emotional bullying” from her editor. Bala said the experience contributed to her decision to leave, despite her earlier intention to move between BBC teams and continue her career with the organisation.

“I just left for my peace of mind. It was the most depressing nine months of my life,” she said.

She also alleged that other members of the team had raised complaints about the editor’s conduct.

Channels Television Denies Discrimination Claim

Channels Television rejected the allegations through its Assistant General Manager, Operations, Kingsley Uranta.

“For clarity, Channels Television does not discriminate based on religion. We respect Nigeria’s religious diversity and are committed to the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and equality that underpin our journalism and organisational culture,” Mr Uranta noted

Uranta also disputed Bala’s account that Channels Television told the BBC it did not allow people who wore hijabs to appear on its screens.

He further rejected the allegation that Bala was asked to change her appearance so that she would not look “too Muslim”.

BBC Says Hijab-Wearing Presenters Appear On Its Programmes

The BBC also responded to questions about Bala’s account of her recruitment, the delay in airing her first programme and whether restrictions existed on presenters wearing hijabs.

Robin Miller, Head of Communications, BBC News, responded on behalf of the organisation.

Miller initially questioned the premise of the enquiry, pointing out that the BBC had evidence that Bala had appeared on GIST Nigeria wearing her hijab.

“This contradicts much of what you have put to us in your questions below,” he said.

The publication subsequently clarified that its questions concerned the form of hijab Bala wore, including the discussions surrounding her appearance and allegations that she was asked not to “look too Muslim”.

The BBC was also asked about Bala’s allegation of mental and emotional bullying by her editor.

On September 10, Miller provided a photograph of Bala wearing a hijab while presenting a report, alongside the BBC’s response.

“The BBC strives to be an inclusive workplace where every colleague feels respected, supported and able to do their best work.”

He said BBC presenters and correspondents regularly appear on television in hijabs, “and this includes whilst presenting GIST Nigeria.”

“We do not comment on individual HR matters; however, as a general principle, we take complaints about bullying very seriously, and where allegations are made, they are fully investigated,” he added.

Bala Disputes BBC’s Evidence

After receiving the photograph from the BBC, Bala told Premium Times that the image did not show her presenting GIST Nigeria.

“This is a report, not a presentation of the show,” she said.

She also said she did not believe footage existed that showed her presenting the programme in the full hijab she normally wore.

Bala acknowledged that other Muslim women had presented BBC programmes while wearing hijabs. She suggested, however, that her circumstances may have been different because GIST Nigeria was jointly produced with Channels Television.

“I am hoping other Muslim women who come to these platforms are allowed to present shows without making compromises,” she said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Presidency has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, to honour his pledge to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if claims that he left Anambra State with outstanding financial liabilities are established.

The challenge was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in a post on X on Wednesday. It followed a fresh exchange between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the financial position of the state when he left office as governor in 2014.

Onanuga said Obi had previously claimed that he handed over Anambra without debt and had also pledged to stop his presidential campaign if evidence emerged to the contrary.

“Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt and even threatened to quit the presidential race if his claims were proven otherwise.”

He said the Anambra State Government had now presented what it described as records of liabilities linked to Obi’s tenure.

“Now, the Anambra government has confronted him with facts and figures showing he owed Water Corporation workers, teachers, and pension and gratuities, and had also borrowed for frivolous things,” Onanuga said.

“The ball is back in his court. Will he follow through on his threat by quitting the race?” he asked.

The latest development came after the Anambra Government disputed Obi’s response to allegations that his administration left behind debts and other financial obligations.

Obi had maintained that his administration cleared more than ₦35bn in historical gratuities and arrears before leaving office. He also rejected claims that the state owed salaries, pensions, gratuities or contractors for duly completed and certified projects.

One of the major points of disagreement concerns an alleged ₦2.13bn ecological fund. Obi said the money was left untouched in a First Bank account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

The Anambra Government, however, disputed the description of the account and the amount claimed. Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, said a certified statement obtained by the government showed that the account was an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account rather than an ecological fund account.

Mefor said, “We have obtained a certified printout of the account from inception to date. The account is an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account, not an ecological fund account.”

He further stated, “From 2011 when the account was opened until date, there has never been any such amount—whether as inflow or balance—in the account.”

The state government also disputed Obi’s account of outstanding loans and arrears. According to Mefor, eight external loans remained after Obi left office, with their combined balance put at ₦127.4bn as of June 30, 2026, at the official exchange rate.

The loans listed by the government relate to projects in areas such as healthcare, education, erosion control, agriculture and community development.

The government also said it had addressed inherited gratuity arrears and alleged outstanding salary obligations involving some workers, including retired teachers and former Water Corporation employees.

On the Water Corporation workers, Mefor said, “salary arrears lingered through the Obi administration and were eventually settled under the Soludo administration, with the first two of three instalments already paid.”

He also said, “The Obi administration verified/certified 16 months of salary arrears for primary school teachers but paid only five months.”

The state government further questioned Obi’s claim that his administration left more than ₦75bn in savings.

Mefor said, “We will not engage in nebulous creative accounting. If there were ₦75 billion in savings, as claimed, where are the records?”

Obi, however, has challenged anyone who can establish that his account of Anambra’s finances was incorrect.

“If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning,” Obi said.

The dispute has therefore shifted from competing statements about Anambra’s finances to a demand for supporting records, with Obi and the state government maintaining different accounts of the state’s financial position at the end of his administration.