National

By Sabiu Abdullahi

About more than 30 state governments spent at least N512.10bn on Government Houses, Governors’ Offices, travel and transport in the first six months of 2026, according to an analysis of state budget implementation reports.

The amount was about 4,713 times the combined six-month basic salaries of Nigeria’s 36 governors.

A governor’s official monthly salary of N503,000 amounts to N3.018m over six months. For all 36 governors, the combined salary would be N108.65m.

However, available records showed that N420.01bn was spent under Government House, Governor’s Office and related executive administration heads, while N92.09bn went to travel and transport.

The combined expenditure represented a sharp contrast with the salaries of the governors. Their total six-month basic pay accounted for only about 0.02 per cent of the identified spending on executive offices and official travel.

The figures have renewed attention on the broader cost of maintaining state executive offices, particularly amid recent comments by Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, about the remuneration of governors.

Oborevwori had said his monthly salary was N503,000 and noted that some senior civil servants, including permanent secretaries, earned N900,000 monthly.

However, the analysis indicates that the basic salary of a governor constitutes only a small part of the public expenditure associated with the office.

The Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure covers several official costs, including administration, personnel, maintenance, utilities, official residences, protocol, security-related activities and state functions.

The travel and transport category also includes official domestic and foreign trips as well as transportation-related expenses across the state public service.

The figures therefore do not represent the personal income of the governors. Rather, they indicate the wider public resources required to operate the executive structures attached to their offices.

The analysis was based on available first- and second-quarter 2026 Budget Implementation Reports. It used the largest identifiable Government House, Governor’s Office or executive administration expenditure line in each state, alongside the general travel and transport budget head.

Comparable data were available for Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara. Data for Edo, Osun and Rivers were unavailable.

For the corresponding period in 2025, available records showed N465.07bn under Government House, Governor’s Office and similar executive administration heads, while N92.73bn was recorded for travel and transport.

The combined 2025 figure was N557.80bn, which means the comparable first-half 2026 expenditure declined by about N45.70bn, or 8.19 per cent.

Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure accounted for most of the reduction. It fell from N465.07bn in the first half of 2025 to N420.01bn in 2026, a decrease of N45.05bn, or 9.69 per cent.

Travel and transport expenditure remained relatively stable. States recorded N92.09bn under the category in the first six months of 2026, compared with N92.73bn in the same period of 2025. That represents a decline of about N643.66m, or 0.69 per cent.

A development economist, Aliyu Ilias, said the scale of expenditure showed why focusing only on governors’ basic salaries could give an incomplete picture of the cost of political office.

He said executive offices in Nigeria had become expensive to maintain because political office holders exert considerable influence over the structures and funding of institutions under their control.

“Ordinarily, anything that has to do with executive office in Nigeria appears to be much more expensive because they actually direct how it works there. And with the docile state assemblies we have, who always concur, it is clear that our democracy is very expensive because of the way we maintain their offices, and that is why it is very juicy.

“Some even want to go as far as borrowing money to win an election and, when they enter office, they believe they are going to repay the money. So, it is not correct to say that a Permanent Secretary is earning better than a governor when you isolate the governor’s salary without adding the other travel perks and expenses attached to the office.

“The governor just wanted to be sensational. But with the addition you have done, it shows that they are taking the bigger cheque from the spending arising from the high income that the state is generating,” Ilias said.

Kogi Tops Government House Spending

A state-by-state breakdown showed that Kogi recorded the highest identifiable Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure at N65.34bn during the first six months of 2026.

Ogun followed with N45.26bn, while Lagos recorded N45.04bn.

Kano spent N25.87bn, Ekiti N25.22bn and Cross River N23.92bn. Bayelsa recorded N22.99bn, Imo N19.43bn and Enugu N16.20bn.

At the lower end of the available figures, Oyo recorded about N1.95bn, followed by Sokoto with N2.20bn, Kwara with N2.59bn and Abia with N2.78bn.

Kogi’s N65.34bn accounted for more than 15 per cent of the identifiable Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure in the 2026 dataset.

For travel and transport, Plateau recorded the highest identifiable expenditure at N10.11bn.

Lagos followed with N8.23bn, while Taraba recorded N5.16bn. Niger spent N4.45bn, Ekiti N4.41bn, Bauchi N3.75bn and Yobe N3.68bn.

Oyo recorded about N667.52m under the category, while Kano recorded N626.95m.

The records also showed significant differences in spending patterns between states and between the two years.

Kogi’s Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure rose from N51.99bn in the first half of 2025 to N65.34bn in 2026. That represented an increase of about N13.34bn, or 25.66 per cent.

Bayelsa’s spending increased from N14.48bn to N22.99bn, a rise of N8.51bn, or 58.75 per cent.

Cross River recorded an even larger increase, from N9.91bn in 2025 to N23.92bn in 2026. The difference was about N14.01bn, representing 141.37 per cent.

Ekiti, which had no comparable 2025 figure in the dataset, recorded N25.22bn during the first six months of 2026.

Ogun, however, recorded a decline from N49.83bn in the first half of 2025 to N45.26bn in 2026. The reduction was N4.57bn, or 9.17 per cent.

Kano’s expenditure also fell from N28.84bn to N25.87bn, representing a decrease of about N2.98bn, or 10.32 per cent.

Niger’s figure rose from N13.13bn to N14.15bn, an increase of about N1.02bn, or 7.74 per cent.

Lagos recorded one of the largest increases, with its identifiable spending rising from N25.86bn in 2025 to N45.04bn in 2026. The increase amounted to about N19.18bn, or 74.16 per cent.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is responsible under the Constitution for determining the remuneration of governors and other political office holders.

The existing remuneration framework remains in force, while a broader review is being processed by the relevant authorities.

RMAFC recently said its review of the remuneration of executive and legislative office holders had reached an advanced stage, with proposed legislation expected to be presented to the National Assembly.

The expenditure has also come amid increased allocations to state governments from the Federation Account following the Federal Government’s economic reforms.

Previous Ministry of Finance data showed that N47.25tn was shared through the Federation Account between 2023 and 2025. The amount represented more than half of the N93.13tn distributed over the nine years from 2017 to 2025.

The increase in revenues has intensified scrutiny of how states utilise their additional resources, particularly whether higher allocations are producing improvements in infrastructure and public services.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim, a Nigerian academic from Kano and lecturer at the University of Cologne, Germany, has urged Islamic clerics in Northern Nigeria to stop using religion to campaign for politicians with questionable records.

Ibrahim, who is also active on social media, made the call in a Facebook post on Tuesday while reflecting on the changing role of Islamic scholars in Northern Nigerian society.

He recalled the late Malam Jaafar Mahmud Adam as an example of a cleric who combined strong Islamic scholarship, powerful oratory and independence from political authorities.

Ibrahim specifically cited Sheikh Jaafar’s resignation from the Kano State Hisbah Board during the administration of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau as an indication of his independence from state power.

According to him, Jaafar’s sermons commanded attention because he was willing to speak against those in authority regardless of who occupied political office.

“While, of course, times have changed and many people today lack that religious fervor, we apparently no longer have clerics like Malam Jaafar. His colleagues, including his contemporaries or students, are either in politics or lack that charisma,” he wrote.

The university lecturer said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the conduct of some religious scholars who use their platforms to support politicians despite corruption allegations and questionable records.

“I feel deeply embarrassed by the conduct of some so-called religious scholars. I am of the opinion that everyone has the right to join politics. But how so?” Ibrahim stated.

He urged clerics to separate religious guidance from political support for individuals whose conduct contradicts the values they preach.

“I kindly urge our clerics to stop using religion to campaign for corrupt politicians and others with very questionable records. It’s counterproductive to the religious injunctions you preach. Islam, or any other religion for that matter, doesn’t condone corruption and injustice,” he said.

Ibrahim also called on Islamic scholars to use their pulpits to demand greater protection for Nigerians amid worsening insecurity across the country.

“Our clerics need to change course. Use your pulpits to call on the government to protect the lives and the businesses of the Nigerian citizens,” he said.

He expressed concern over the spread of kidnapping, noting that innocent Nigerians were being abducted from places that should ordinarily provide safety.

“From mosques to markets, schools, and houses, innocent people have been kidnapped. Pressure the authorities to stop this madness. This is the leadership we need,” Ibrahim added.

Ibrahim’s comments come amid renewed public discussions about the role of Islamic scholars and religious institutions in Nigerian politics, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, in the Facebook post, he did not specifically mention the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or any particular political party or candidate.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy, warning that such a move could reverse the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The renewed disagreement followed Atiku’s declaration that he would introduce a targeted and transparent petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, argued that Nigerians had yet to benefit sufficiently from the funds said to have been saved after the removal of petrol subsidy.

He also demanded greater transparency over the use of the savings, saying the resources should have supported poverty reduction, education, security and opportunities for young Nigerians.

His Economic Recovery Plan 2027 proposes a production-based subsidy system that would differ from the pre-2023 arrangement. Under the proposal, qualifying Nigerian refineries would receive crude oil at preferential prices under strict conditions, with the aim of lowering petrol prices and encouraging domestic refining.

The Federal Government, however, said returning to subsidy would recreate the fiscal challenges that prompted its removal.

Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy regime during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023. He said the policy had become unsustainable and that the resources previously spent on it would be redirected to infrastructure, education, healthcare and job creation.

Responding to Atiku’s proposal on Sunday, APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, described it as a “deeply troubling policy U-turn.”

Yilwatda questioned how the opposition would finance the proposed subsidy and warned against introducing a major economic policy as an election promise without explaining its long-term financial implications.

“Economic policy cannot be reduced to election-season promises. Nigerians deserve to know precisely where the money will come from, what sectors will bear the cost and whether such a policy can be sustained without reopening the fiscal pressures that necessitated reform in the first place,” Yilwatda said.

The APC chairman spoke during a visit to the headquarters of the City Boy Movement in Abuja.

He maintained that subsidy removal, despite the hardship associated with it, was necessary. He said the government should strengthen social interventions and productive sectors instead of returning to the former subsidy system.

Yilwatda also urged Nigerians to assess the economic records and policy proposals of the various presidential contenders before the 2027 election.

He said the APC would continue to defend the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms while remaining open to credible alternatives.

FG Says Subsidy Removal Released N15.8tn

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also defended the subsidy removal, saying the reform had created additional fiscal resources for the three tiers of government.

Idris said figures contained in the Federal Government’s Reform Scorecard showed that subsidy savings generated N15.8tn for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

According to him, the Federal Government received about N5.43tn, while states and local governments received approximately N6.52tn and N3.88tn respectively.

The minister clarified that the N15.8tn was not money kept in a separate government account. He said the figure represented resources released into the wider fiscal system and made available to the three levels of government.

He added that the additional funds had strengthened the capacity of state and local governments to pay salaries and pensions as well as finance infrastructure and essential services.

At the federal level, Idris said the additional fiscal space had supported infrastructure, human capital development and social programmes.

He put additional expenditure on strategic infrastructure at about N6.47tn. The projects, he said, covered areas such as transport, housing, agriculture and security.

The minister also disclosed that more than 10 million households had benefited from social transfers. He said more than N400bn had been committed to programmes such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation.

Idris warned that reversing the subsidy reform could also undermine developments in the petroleum sector at a time when domestic refining capacity was expanding.


Atiku Accuses FG Of Double Standards

Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, criticised the Federal Government’s defence of subsidy removal.

He described the administration’s celebration of the policy as “one of the biggest economic frauds being sold to Nigerians.”

The former vice president argued that the government could not oppose intervention aimed at reducing hardship for ordinary citizens while granting tax credits and other fiscal incentives to major investors in the petroleum sector.

Atiku summarised his position by declaring, “You cannot subsidise capital and criminalise relief for citizens. You cannot offer cushions upstairs and call suffering downstairs.”

He also questioned the incentives available under the government’s Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects framework.

“Under Tinubu’s own Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives framework, qualifying petroleum developments can receive production tax credits beginning at $3 and $4.50 per barrel, with supplementary credits capable, in qualifying circumstances, of taking the combined benefit to as much as $11.50 per barrel,” he said.

Atiku asked why government intervention could be considered appropriate when it reduced investment risks for major petroleum operators but was rejected when aimed at reducing the burden on households.

“So, what exactly is Tinubu’s objection: government intervention itself, or government intervention for Nigerians?” he asked.

He also raised questions about petroleum-related expenditures recorded after subsidy removal.

Atiku cited financial statements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, claiming that the company recorded about N4.84tn in energy-security expenses and related shortfalls in 2023 and approximately N7.13tn in 2024.

He said NNPCL had linked part of the expenditure to the difference between the exchange rate used to determine regulated PMS ex-coastal prices and the prevailing exchange rate at the time import obligations were settled.

“Where exactly did the subsidy go? If Nigerians were paying market prices because ‘subsidy is gone,’ why was the federation still carrying trillions of naira in under-recovery and energy-security costs?” he said.

Atiku argued that changing the terminology for such expenditures did not alter their economic effect.

“Nigerians do not eat semantics. Whether government calls it subsidy, under-recovery, shortfall or energy security, public resources were being used to bridge a gap between economic cost and the price at which petrol was sold,” he added.

The ADC candidate said the removal of subsidy had increased transportation, food, production and household costs.

He accused the administration of applying “brutally savage capitalism” to poor Nigerians while pursuing “compassionate capitalism for big oil money operators.”

He continued, “The government can protect a multibillion-dollar oil investment from risk, yet it says protecting the Nigerian worker from crushing hardship is bad economics,” Atiku said.

He added that the government could not “roll out the red carpet for rich oil operators while leaving its citizens to walk barefoot through hardship.”

Lawmaker Rejects Subsidy Restoration

The member representing Agege Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, Dr Wale Ahmed, also rejected Atiku’s proposal.

Ahmed described the proposed policy as economically unsustainable and politically expedient. He warned that reversing the subsidy removal could disrupt the country’s economic recovery.

“Nigeria cannot afford to return to the subsidy era. What we need is to consolidate reforms and ensure their benefits reach ordinary Nigerians,” Ahmed said.

The lawmaker said the subsidy removal had increased government revenue by freeing funds previously used to keep petrol prices artificially low.

“The question should be how these additional resources are deployed to improve infrastructure, healthcare, education, transportation and security, not how we recreate an unsustainable subsidy regime,” he said.

Ahmed also asked Atiku to explain how the proposed subsidy arrangement would be financed without putting additional pressure on government finances.

“Where will the money come from? Will government borrow again to finance subsidy? Will allocations to states and local governments be reduced? Nigerians deserve clear answers,” he said.

He said the savings were not kept in a government vault but increased the revenue available to the federation.

“The savings were not money kept in a vault by the Federal Government. They increased revenues available to the federation and were shared among the three tiers of government,” he said.

Ahmed acknowledged the hardship caused by the reforms but argued that returning to the previous system would not resolve the underlying problems.

“Nobody is denying the hardship. It is real. But returning to the policies that contributed to our fiscal problems cannot be the solution,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to accelerate measures aimed at reducing production and transportation costs through improved electricity supply and investment in agriculture.

ADC Leaders Back Atiku

Meanwhile, ADC chieftains have supported Atiku’s proposal, with former Edo State governorship aspirant Kenneth Imasuagbon describing criticism from the Presidency and APC as “misplaced and politically motivated.”

Imasuagbon said subsidy removal had worsened the economic situation of Nigerians through increased inflation and higher costs of living.

“The removal of fuel subsidy has not translated into a better life for Nigerians. Instead, it has pauperised millions of citizens, destroyed the purchasing power of workers, increased the cost of transportation, food, healthcare and education, while businesses continue to shut down under the weight of unbearable operating costs.”

He argued that Atiku’s willingness to reconsider the policy showed his readiness to review measures that had failed to deliver the expected benefits.

“Atiku should not be attacked simply because he is prepared to reconsider a position he held in 2023. That is the mark of a compassionate and people-oriented leader,” he said.

Imasuagbon also questioned the Federal Government’s account of the savings from subsidy removal.

“Where are the trillions reportedly saved? Nigerians deserve transparent answers.

“We still have collapsing infrastructure, worsening insecurity, failing hospitals, underfunded schools, mass unemployment and deepening poverty.

“If these enormous resources were truly invested in the people’s welfare, the ordinary Nigerian should have felt the impact by now,” he stated.

He said the debate should focus on whether the policy had improved the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

The former governorship aspirant expressed confidence in Atiku’s ability to tackle what he described as Nigeria’s “economic quagmire.”

Also backing Atiku was the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Dan’Iya.

Dan’Iya said a targeted and accountable subsidy system could reduce the pressure caused by rising transportation, food and other essential costs.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Media Aide, Aminu Abdullahi, he said the economic situation required measures that would cushion the impact of rising living costs.

“At a time when Nigerian families are struggling to afford transportation, food and necessities, any credible policy capable of reducing the cost of living deserves serious consideration,” Dan’Iya said.

He stressed, however, that any future subsidy arrangement should be targeted, transparent and accountable to prevent corruption and waste.

Dan’Iya said Atiku’s proposal should also support domestic refining and reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

“The 2027 election is an opportunity for Nigerians to choose a government that understands their hardship and is prepared to act.

“We must support policies that reduce the burden on our people, restore hope, strengthen institutions and put Nigeria back on the path of sustainable development,” he said.

The subsidy debate is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the Tinubu administration defending its removal as necessary for fiscal stability while opposition politicians continue to argue that the policy has imposed severe hardship on households and businesses.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he is determined to keep opposition politicians under pressure as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the statement on Friday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The minister, who addressed the political situation ahead of the elections, said the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party had weakened the opposition and made it difficult to identify a dominant opposition party.

According to him, the PDP would ordinarily be regarded as the leading opposition party, but its internal problems had affected its ability to play that role effectively.

He said, “I’ve told you there is no position. What do you have people who are not trying to see whether they can be relevant? Who’s the opposition leader now? Ordinarily, it would have been PDP, but because of the crisis we have had, and so you can’t see a formidable party that you call a leading opposition party.

“So, whatever they feel, it’s none of my business. I don’t want them to feel well. It’s not my wish that they should feel well.

“My business is to make them not to feel well all the days. Because they will be having high blood pressure. Yes, that’s my job.

“To make them to have high blood pressure. I am not here to make them to feel good, no. You see, when you are having a contest with somebody, your business is not to make him feel well.

“Your business is to make sure you beat him thoroughly. So that he will be sick all through. And that’s what we are doing to them.”

Wike, a former Rivers State governor and a member of the PDP, has been involved in a prolonged political dispute with several opposition figures amid the party’s internal crisis.

The FCT Minister also played down concerns about how former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, might respond to the unfolding political developments.

He said their reactions would not affect his approach to the political contest.

He added, “So how Atiku feels, how Obi feels, it does not give any headache. If I know how they feel now, I will add more crisis for them.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the declaration during an interview on Wednesday.

He said he did not oppose the removal of the subsidy but questioned how the funds saved from the policy had been used by the government.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go? It was intended to reduce poverty and help children attend school. Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku said in Hausa.

He added, “If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it.”

According to Atiku, the removal of the subsidy would have been acceptable if the government had invested the resulting savings in projects that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different. If elected, I can remove the subsidy and use the money to do all these properly.”

President Bola Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023.

The policy was followed by a sharp rise in the cost of living as petrol prices increased and the cost of goods and services rose across the country.

However, some state governors have said their monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) increased considerably after the subsidy was removed.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said on Wednesday that the removal of the subsidy had generated N15.8 trillion in additional resources for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Oyedele attributed the increase partly to higher revenue collections, particularly the naira value of transactions denominated in US dollars after the exchange-rate reforms.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with effect from August 27, 2026.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesperson, who said Enitan would take over from Didi Walson-Jack.

Walson-Jack is expected to retire from the federal civil service after reaching the statutory retirement age of 60.

Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is currently the most senior permanent secretary in the federal civil service, according to the statement.

“He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President,” the statement reads.

The statement added: “He is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.”

Enitan’s appointment places him at the head of the federal civil service as Walson-Jack prepares to leave office at the end of her statutory service period.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former senator Ben Murray-Bruce has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint more officials who are willing to challenge established interests and pursue measurable results.

Murray-Bruce made the call while urging the president to make the rehabilitation and commercially viable operation of Nigeria’s government-owned refineries a top priority.

His comments followed Tinubu’s recent statement that his administration remained committed to restoring the nation’s refineries to productive capacity and ensuring that they become profitable.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Murray-Bruce used the expression “mad men” to describe officials who would confront ineffective systems, challenge powerful interests and take difficult decisions in the national interest.

“Mr President, Nigeria needs more mad men in your government,” he said.

“And before anybody deliberately misunderstands me, let me explain what I mean by mad men.

“I mean men and women who are crazy enough to confront a broken system, step on powerful toes, offend entrenched interests and refuse to accept mediocrity simply because mediocrity has become normal.

“We need people who wake up every morning obsessed with results. We need people who are prepared to become unpopular in Abuja if that is the price of becoming useful to Nigeria.”

The former senator said such an approach was particularly necessary in the petroleum sector, where he wants the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries revived alongside efforts to increase crude oil production.

“Mr President, make the rehabilitation and commercially viable operation of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries a national obsession,” he said.

“And please, no more excuses. Nigerians have heard enough explanations about turnaround maintenance, contractors, technical reviews, committees, timelines and billions spent. We want products coming out of those refineries.”

Murray-Bruce also advised the Federal Government to explore alternative ownership and management arrangements if such options would make the refineries efficient and profitable.

“If government cannot operate them efficiently, find the structure that can. Bring in world-class technical partners. Introduce private capital where necessary. Restructure them. Concession them if that produces the best outcome,” he said.

“But whatever model is chosen, the objective must be brutally simple: MAKE THE REFINERIES WORK.”

He pointed to the Dangote refinery as proof that large-scale petroleum refining could operate in Nigeria. The facility has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

According to him, the three government-owned refineries should aim for at least half of that capacity, which would amount to about 325,000 barrels per day, as reliable and commercially viable output.

The former senator further called on Tinubu to appoint a person who could drive the administration’s target of increasing crude oil production to four million barrels per day by 2030.

“Find somebody who considers 1.5 million barrels unacceptable when the national ambition is 4 million,” he said.

He said such an official should be prepared to tackle crude oil theft, bureaucratic obstacles and other challenges that limit production while also attracting fresh investment and unlocking dormant assets.

“I don’t want another committee chairman. I want a mad man. I don’t want somebody who will spend four years explaining why something cannot be done. I want somebody crazy enough to do it,” he said.

Murray-Bruce named Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu as examples of the type of officials he believes the president needs.

“Two mad men are not enough for a country of more than 200 million people,” he said, urging Tinubu to bring more officials into government who are “obsessed with results”.

“Four million barrels per day. Working refineries. A Nigeria that refines its own crude and exports petroleum products to the world. No excuses. No clowns. No passengers. Only results,” he added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general elections.

The commission disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja when it hosted a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI), led by its president, Dan Twining.

The IRI team is in Nigeria from August 11 to 21 as part of a pre-election assessment aimed at reviewing INEC’s preparations and identifying areas where international technical assistance could support the electoral process.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the planned personnel would be deployed across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.

He said the commission was also improving its logistics arrangements, expanding early deployment of personnel and materials, and strengthening cooperation with transport unions to facilitate the movement of election officials and election materials.

Amupitan described the IRI visit as timely, particularly after the recent Osun governorship election and ahead of the 2027 campaign season.

He said recent off-cycle governorship elections and legislative by-elections had provided opportunities for INEC to test its technology, logistics and security arrangements.

According to him, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal have continued to perform reliably, with more than 98 per cent of results uploaded in recent elections.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission was introducing measures to improve voter registration. The measures include online registration, continuous updating of the voters’ register and efforts to ensure that voter information remains accurate.

He said additional measures would be introduced to make the electoral process more accessible to persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.

Amupitan identified misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence as some of the emerging challenges that could threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections.

He said INEC had established a unit focused on artificial intelligence to develop guidelines for responsible technology use and tackle false information capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process.

The chairman reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality, stating that INEC would not favour any political party or candidate.

He said the commission’s primary duty was to conduct elections that represent the wishes of Nigerians, with the recent Osun governorship election cited as part of efforts to promote credible and peaceful elections.

Amupitan also acknowledged the need for the commission to take further steps to increase voter participation in future elections.

Speaking on the purpose of the IRI mission, Twining said the organisation wanted to support a competitive, peaceful and credible electoral process in Nigeria.

He said the delegation would examine INEC’s preparations, identify possible challenges and consider ways the international community could assist Nigeria’s democratic development.

“We know how committed Nigerians are to exercising their democratic rights,” Twining said.

“Our interest is a competitive, peaceful and credible election in Nigeria, and we look forward to learning how we can support that objective.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has uploaded 2,897 polling unit results from the Osun State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal.

The figure represents 76.99 per cent of the 3,763 results expected from polling units across the state.

As of 7:24pm on Saturday, checks on the portal showed that the number of uploaded results had risen from 2,266, representing 60.22 per cent, recorded about an hour earlier.

The latest upload was recorded at 7:21:09pm from polling unit 29/08/08/001 in Ife North Local Government Area.

The uploads came as the collation of results continued across the 30 local government areas of the state.

The election is being closely monitored through the IReV platform, which allows polling unit results to be accessed by the public as they are uploaded.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is seeking another term in office against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji; the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam; and other contenders.

The commission’s Result Stats section showed continuous updates as more results were uploaded from polling units. Users can refresh the portal to view the latest figures.

The development comes as voters, political parties and election observers await the completion of the result collation process and the eventual declaration of the winner.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to upload their candidates for the governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

The commission moved the deadline from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Mohammed Haruna, chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday.

“The submission window, which, according to the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the general election, was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the statement reads.

According to the commission, the decision followed requests from several political parties for more time to complete the submission process.

“The extension follows growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process.”

INEC also announced the end of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

It said voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs had until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.

“In a related development, the commission wishes to notify voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVC that the window to print downloadable copies of their cards will expire by midnight of Sunday, 9th August, 2026,” the statement added.

The commission said the measure would enable it to determine the final number of PVCs collected before the election.

“This is to allow the commission to compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15th Osun governorship election.”

INEC also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been provided for voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose cards were reportedly taken during an invasion of two collection centres.

“The commission also wishes to state that replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife central local government areas whose cards were carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two centres. The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” INEC said.

Haruna explained that the PVC collection exercise in Osun began at the Registration Area level on July 22 and was initially scheduled to end on July 28.

“It will be recalled that the collection of PVCs in Osun State commenced at the Registration Area (RA) level from 22nd to 28th July, 2026,” he said.

He added that the commission extended the exercise after voters complained about overcrowding and challenges at collection centres.

“Owing to complaints of large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres, the commission approved an extension of RA-level collection to 31st July, 2026, before collection moved to LGA level, running from 1st to 7th August, 2026.”

INEC restated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State on August 15.