National

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office, expressing confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will retain the presidency in the 2027 general election.

Adeleke made the declaration on Wednesday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), where he urged Nigerians to give Tinubu more time to implement his administration’s reform agenda.

The governor expressed optimism about the ruling party’s electoral prospects and called on its supporters to sustain their efforts ahead of the 2027 polls.

He argued that a single four-year term would not be sufficient for Tinubu to fully implement his proposed reforms, urging Nigerians to remain patient with the administration.

“Nobody can stop this movement. We shall dance all the way back to Aso Rock.

“We must give our father, the President of this nation, time for his reforms to work. It’s not easy. Four years is not enough,” Adeleke said.

The Osun governor also called for greater emphasis on action rather than rhetoric, noting that efforts were already underway to secure Tinubu’s re-election.

His declaration signals support for the President’s second-term ambition as political activities and preparations for the 2027 general election continue to gather momentum.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned the Nigerian government against restoring blanket petrol subsidies, advising it to direct financial support towards vulnerable households struggling with rising fuel and transportation costs.

Rodrigo Valdés, Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, gave the advice on Wednesday during the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

He was responding to growing calls for the reinstatement of petrol subsidies in Nigeria amid rising energy prices and political pressure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Valdés acknowledged that increases in petrol and diesel prices could create significant political challenges for governments. However, he warned that subsidising fuel consumption for everyone could place an additional burden on public finances.

He said, “At the end of the day, it’s very tempting politically speaking because it’s not trivial the political effect of the price of oil, of fuels, of gasoline, of diesel.

“But you have to explain that this is a global shock, first. Second, that it’s very, very expensive for the country not to recognise that shock.

“And third, it’s much better to use some of that money that would be spent in the subsidies channelled towards more vulnerable people.”

The IMF official argued that targeted assistance would offer greater benefits to low-income households than a universal subsidy that applies to all consumers, regardless of their financial circumstances.

He also proposed transport support as a possible alternative to reducing petrol prices across the board.

“Yeah, gasoline could go up, and perhaps bus fees may be subsidised in a way. That is a much better policy at the end of the day than just a blanket subsidy for everybody,” Valdés said.

The IMF has consistently argued that universal fuel subsidies can strain public finances while disproportionately benefiting wealthier households, which typically consume more petroleum products.

FG Introduces Temporary Petrol Price Relief

The IMF’s warning comes amid renewed concerns over petrol affordability in Nigeria, where rising international energy prices have increased pressure on household budgets and transport operators.

In response, the Federal Government recently introduced a 30-day petrol price discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) retail outlets, with public transport operators listed among the priority beneficiaries.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the arrangement required NNPC Retail to temporarily forgo its profit margin and sell petrol at cost to provide relief to consumers.

Oyedele stressed that the measure was a temporary intervention and did not represent a return to the former petrol subsidy system.

IMF Raises Concern Over Fuel Demand

Beyond the financial implications, Valdés warned that keeping fuel prices artificially low during periods of supply disruption could encourage consumption and worsen pressure on global petroleum supplies.

According to the IMF’s position, allowing fuel prices to reflect market conditions can encourage consumers to moderate demand when supplies are limited.

The fund’s recommendation places emphasis on targeted support for vulnerable Nigerians, particularly those most affected by rising living costs, rather than a nationwide subsidy that benefits consumers across all income groups.

The debate over petrol pricing remains a major economic and political issue in Nigeria, as the government faces pressure to ease the cost-of-living burden while maintaining fiscal stability.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovering assets worth more than N1.23 trillion and securing 10,872 convictions between October 2023 and July 2026.

Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the eighth EFCC and National Judicial Institute (NJI) workshop for judges and justices.

The three-day workshop, which ends on Thursday, October 15, is themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age”.

The president said the commission had made significant progress in tackling financial crimes, recovering illicit assets and improving Nigeria’s standing in the international financial system.

He also praised the EFCC’s efforts to combat cryptocurrency fraud and recover virtual assets.

“The EFCC’s recent momentum in tackling cryptocurrency fraud and its commendable strides in recovering virtual assets is highly reassuring,” he said.

Tinubu cited the prosecution and subsequent deportation of 192 foreign nationals arrested over alleged cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud as evidence of efforts to address technology-driven crimes.

According to figures released by the EFCC, the commission received 49,673 petitions and investigated 39,615 cases between October 1, 2023, and July 31, 2026.

The investigations led to 14,476 court filings and 10,872 convictions, representing a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 per cent.

The commission also reported recovering N1.233 trillion, $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million during the period.

Tinubu said the growing sophistication of financial crimes, particularly those involving blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, made continuous training essential for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.

He pledged the government’s continued support for judicial capacity development and described an independent, reform-oriented judiciary as crucial to the fight against corruption.

The president urged the EFCC and the judiciary to strengthen prosecutorial discipline and address procedural gaps that could delay trials or allow defendants to frustrate proceedings.

He warned that major corruption cases lost on procedural technicalities could weaken public confidence in the justice system.

Tinubu added that the fight against corruption required cooperation among all arms of government, rather than being treated as the sole responsibility of the executive.

He also said asset recoveries had supported social intervention programmes, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP).

EFCC Seeks Faster Trials, Stronger Investigations

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the commission had introduced operational reforms to improve asset recovery and increase convictions.

He said the agency was expanding intelligence-led investigations, strengthening forensic capabilities and improving domestic and international cooperation while building its capacity to investigate emerging financial technologies.

“We do not seek simply to investigate more people; we seek to investigate more intelligently,” Olukoyede said.

“We do not seek merely to prosecute more cases; we seek to prosecute cases that are properly investigated and capable of meeting the required standard of proof.”

Olukoyede said the commission also wanted to ensure that asset recoveries were lawful, transparent and sustainable.

He identified institutional bottlenecks, procedural delays, frivolous adjournments and frequent changes of legal counsel as obstacles to the prosecution of complex financial crime cases.

He warned that prolonged trials could weaken evidence, affect witnesses and undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

The EFCC chairman urged judges to handle corruption cases with integrity, judicial courage and respect for the rule of law.

He stressed that the commission was not asking judges to compromise due process or manufacture evidence to secure convictions, but to ensure that cases were decided rigorously and without unnecessary delays.

He added that effective prosecution required investigators to understand evidentiary standards, prosecutors to anticipate legal challenges, forensic specialists to present digital evidence clearly and judges to understand emerging forms of financial crime.

CJN Insists On Fair Hearing In Financial Crime Cases

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, called on the judiciary to strengthen its capacity to handle emerging financial crimes without compromising fair hearing, due process or judicial independence.

She said cryptocurrency transactions, encrypted communications, electronic records and cross-border financial activities had introduced new complexities into criminal proceedings.

Kekere-Ekun said judges needed to understand how digital evidence was collected, preserved, authenticated and assessed in court.

She emphasised that the seriousness of an allegation must not determine the outcome of a trial, noting that prosecutors must establish their cases through credible and legally admissible evidence.

The CJN also urged judges to apply the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, effectively by preventing unnecessary delays while protecting the rights of all parties.

She said continued judicial education had improved judges’ ability to handle financial crime cases.

Kekere-Ekun cited Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list on October 24, 2025, as an important milestone that required sustained commitment from relevant institutions.

She urged the judiciary to maintain high professional standards in cases involving corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An additional 17.9 million Nigerians became multidimensionally poor between 2021 and 2024, marking the largest increase recorded by any country during its latest assessment period, according to the 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index.

The report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), showed that Nigeria’s progress in reducing multidimensional poverty between 2018 and 2021 was reversed in the subsequent three years.

Afghanistan followed Nigeria with an increase of 5.3 million people living in multidimensional poverty during its latest assessment period.

The report stated, “In absolute terms, the largest increase in the number of poor people is seen in Nigeria, where although poverty had decreased in the previous period (2018–2021), in the recent period (2021–2024), 17.9 million people became multidimensionally poor, followed by 5.3 million in Afghanistan.”

Nigeria was among five countries that recorded increases in multidimensional poverty during their respective assessment periods. The others were Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Guinea and Kyrgyzstan.

The report stated, “In contrast, five countries reported increases in multidimensional poverty. These are Afghanistan (2015/16–2022/23), Central African Republic (2010–2018/19), Guinea (2016–2018), Kyrgyzstan (2018–2023) and Nigeria (2021–2024).”

Poverty Rate Rises To 38.7 Per Cent

Unlike conventional poverty measures based on income or consumption, the Multidimensional Poverty Index assesses overlapping disadvantages in health, education and living standards.

These include inadequate nutrition, limited access to healthcare and education, poor sanitation, insufficient drinking water, lack of electricity and substandard housing.

The report’s harmonised historical comparison showed that Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty rate increased from 33 per cent in 2021 to 38.7 per cent in 2024, a rise of 5.7 percentage points.

The number of people affected rose from 72.21 million to 90.07 million, while the country’s Multidimensional Poverty Index value increased from 0.175 to 0.208.

However, the report’s separate national estimate for 2024 put the number of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty at 113.32 million, representing 48.7 per cent of the population. This estimate was based on the latest survey without the adjustments used for the historical comparison.

The report also found that 28.7 per cent of Nigerians experienced severe multidimensional poverty, while another 18.1 per cent were vulnerable to it.

It explained, “In Nigeria, poverty incidence declined from 2018–2021, then increased from 2021–2024.”

Significant Differences Across States

The report highlighted wide variations in the causes and severity of poverty across Nigeria’s states. Kebbi, Yobe and Sokoto were among the states with the highest multidimensional poverty burdens, while Lagos recorded the lowest MPI value.

It used Yobe and Sokoto to illustrate how similar levels of poverty can arise from different forms of deprivation.

The report noted, “Compare, for example, the poorest subnational regions of Nigeria: Yobe and Sokoto, which have similar MPI values. Deprivations in nutrition and child mortality contribute more to poverty in Yobe, while in Sokoto, deprivations in water and electricity are stronger contributors.”

It stressed that identifying these differences was important for developing interventions that respond to the specific needs of individual communities.

Sub-Saharan Africa Records Largest Share Of Global Poverty

Globally, the report estimated that 1.2 billion people, representing 18.9 per cent of the population covered by the index, lived in acute multidimensional poverty.

Of this number, 534 million experienced severe poverty, while another 952 million people were classified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 616 million people living in multidimensional poverty, more than half of the global total.

Children bore a disproportionate share of the burden, with 617 million people under the age of 18 classified as multidimensionally poor worldwide.

The report stated, “Roughly one in every three children is multidimensionally poor, compared to one in seven adults.”

The findings raise concerns about Nigeria’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing poverty in all its forms and dimensions by at least half by 2030.

Utomi Raises Concern Over Economic Hardship

The findings come amid concerns about the cost of living, food insecurity and the widening gap between wealthy Nigerians and citizens struggling to meet basic needs.

Professor of Political Economy Pat Utomi recently warned that rising poverty, hunger and insecurity, alongside declining public confidence in government institutions, were putting pressure on the country.

He also urged Nigerians to resist the erosion of democratic values ahead of the 2027 elections.

Utomi warned that growing inequality between wealthy politicians and impoverished citizens could threaten national stability.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has received 105 Nigerians rescued from cybercrime syndicates in Ghana during a coordinated security operation.

According to a statement issued on Monday by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, the operation was coordinated by Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser following a report from Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority.

The Ghanaian authorities said 119 Nigerians were rescued during the operation, with 105 repatriated to Nigeria while the remaining 14 were undergoing processing.

Receiving the returnees on behalf of the Nigerian government, NAPTIP Director-General Binta Lami Adamu Bello assured them of their safety and said they would undergo profiling and reintegration processes to determine their individual needs.

The operation involved several Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies, alongside Ghanaian authorities and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.

NAPTIP commended the agencies and international partners for their collaboration, reaffirming its commitment to combating human trafficking and related exploitation.

The agency also urged Nigerians to exercise caution when considering overseas employment, scholarships and other opportunities, particularly offers involving unrealistic promises, unclear job descriptions or suspicious recruitment arrangements.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The exercise covers eligible voters who registered during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, as well as those who applied for polling unit transfers or replacements for lost or damaged PVCs.

Registered voters have been advised to contact their respective INEC offices to confirm whether their cards are ready for collection and to obtain information about the collection process.

Those who applied for polling unit transfers should also confirm their updated registration details to ensure they know their designated polling units ahead of the elections.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Ishaya Audu, has called for love, peace and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians during a visit to the Jos Central Mosque.

The visit, which formed part of his week-long pastoral engagement, was aimed at strengthening interfaith relations and promoting good neighbourliness amid security challenges in Plateau State.

The Archbishop was received by the Chief Imam of Jos, Sheikh Ghazali Ismaila Adam, who highlighted the longstanding cordial relationship between the Muslim community and the Catholic Church, particularly during former Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama’s tenure.

The Chief Imam also cited teachings from the Holy Qur’an to emphasise mutual respect, compassion and peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.

Alhaji Sani Mu’azu, Makama of Jos North and chairman of the Jos Muslim Ummah Committee on Security, Peace and Stability (JOMUPSEC), stressed the need for sustained interfaith dialogue and community-based efforts to address insecurity in the state.

He said Muslims and Christians must work together to rebuild trust, strengthen relationships and tackle their shared security challenges.

Mu’azu described the Archbishop’s visit as a reminder that religious differences should not overshadow the shared humanity and collective responsibility of both communities to promote lasting peace and stability in Plateau State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has predicted that the President will record a wider margin of victory in the 2027 presidential election.

Bwala expressed confidence that Tinubu would outperform his 2023 presidential election result when he seeks another term in office.

He made the prediction during an interview reported by Channels Television on Wednesday.

“Let me tell you and let me say it categorically and I will be happy to come back. The margin of gap that President Bola Tinubu will give each and everyone of these candidates will be so much that you won’t believe it,” Bwala said.

Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election with 8,794,726 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by 1.81 million votes and the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, by 2.69 million votes.

Bwala linked his confidence in Tinubu’s prospects to what he described as increasing support for the President among governors elected on opposition party platforms.

Several governors have moved from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress since the 2023 election.

The presidential aide said he expected more governors to back Tinubu in the 2027 election than did during the previous presidential contest.

His prediction comes as political parties and their candidates step up preparations for the 2027 general elections.

However, Bwala’s comments are a political assessment of the forthcoming election and do not constitute an established outcome of the 2027 presidential contest.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the distribution of non-sensitive election materials to some states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a national stakeholders’ meeting held to mark 100 days to the 2027 general election.

Amupitan also revealed that contracts for offshore production and fleets had been awarded, while production of 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices was at an advanced stage.

He said the commission had also begun receiving new operational vehicles, while construction and renovation projects were progressing across its offices nationwide.

The INEC chairman further disclosed that work was ongoing on dedicated BVAS storage facilities and local government area offices as part of preparations for the election.

“Some states have started receiving some non-sensitive materials ahead of the election, procurement for the printing of ballot papers and results sheets is nearly completed, and advancement towards the final contract awards.

“The contract for solar power installation across all the commission offices has been awarded to ICT infrastructure upgrades to critical ICT applications and core infrastructures have been implemented.

“The procurement department continues to monitor suppliers, contractors, and interdepartmental delivery schedules closely, so that all the procurement aligns with our statutory timelines,” he said.

The commission is also carrying out ICT infrastructure upgrades and implementing measures to strengthen critical applications and core infrastructure ahead of the elections.

According to Amupitan, the procurement process is being closely monitored to ensure that suppliers and contractors meet the commission’s schedules and statutory deadlines.

The latest developments form part of INEC’s wider preparations for the 2027 general elections, which are now 100 days away.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence tools as part of its result verification process for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday during the commission’s world press conference and national stakeholders’ forum on preparations for the 2027 elections.

Amupitan said the commission had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence division within its Information and Communication Technology department to oversee the integration of AI into its electoral processes.

“Artificial intelligence governance, the commission has established a dedicated artificial intelligence division with the ICT department.

“Automated AI auditing tools are being integrated into our results verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework operating under the masonry human governance oversight and AI framework policy is being finalised by the commission,” he said.

The planned AI deployment is expected to support the commission’s efforts to verify election results as part of its broader preparations for the 2027 polls.

The INEC chairman said the commission was developing a governance framework to guide the application of artificial intelligence within the electoral system.

According to him, human oversight would remain part of the framework as the commission works towards integrating automated auditing tools into its result verification procedures.

The announcement comes as INEC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission undertaking several technological and administrative measures aimed at strengthening the electoral process.