National

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has said his administration’s financial and fiscal reforms have placed Nigeria’s economy on a path of steady growth after three years in office.

The president made the remarks on Wednesday at the State House in Abuja when he received a delegation from Deloitte Africa led by its Chief Executive Officer, Ruwayda Redfearn.

According to Tinubu, although the reforms came with initial difficulties, they have strengthened the country’s economic foundation and created conditions for long-term growth.

“We are following the example of Deloitte’s greatness to change things from the foundation, building the necessary future for our people,” Tinubu said.

“Yes, reforms are difficult. It has not been a McDonald’s customer relationship but a harvester of good things, if implemented well, and that is what we are about.

“Thank you for your partnership in paying attention to what we are doing here, as we have heard from the honourable minister of finance about the fiscal, revenue and tax reforms that have taken place and are moving the nation forward.

“The reforms on revenue will continue to stimulate growth. And the effect of the reform? Yes, some issues are difficult to take the bitter medicine, but it is working well. For the economy, Nigeria is making serious foundational progress.”

The president stated that the reforms have improved Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue systems, repositioned financial institutions and enhanced the country’s competitiveness. He also urged Deloitte Africa to support the government’s efforts by investing in youth development and job creation.

“The family of Deloitte; you just reminded me of my cradle years in accountancy and where I cut my childhood accounting teeth in Chicago,” he said.

“Deloitte has a good training programme, and I believe you will continue to reflect that.”

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, also encouraged the firm to prioritise programmes that build the capacity of young Nigerians.

Speaking on behalf of the firm, Redfearn reaffirmed Deloitte Africa’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s reform agenda.

“We are before you to say that we want to serve,” she said.

“We have a local team on the ground that is ready, as well as the global firm, to support you and support your administration as you lead the country.”

She disclosed that Deloitte employs more than 500,000 people worldwide, including over 6,000 in Africa, and generated $74 billion in revenue in 2025.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte West Africa, Yomi Olugbenro, said the firm is prepared to deploy its international experience to support Nigeria’s economic transformation.

“We do believe that with the capabilities that the firm has all over the world, with the half a million people that our CEO spoke about, we have use cases, examples and experiences of how we supported nations all around the world, so Nigeria will definitely benefit from those experiences,” Olugbenro said.

“So that is why we are here, and we welcome the invitation that you may grant us as to where exactly you want us to support you.”

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Former Nigerian Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has deleted a social media post announcing that he facilitated the recruitment of two young men into the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) after it sparked widespread criticism online.

In the now-deleted post, Lawan said he received the two recruits after a Senate plenary and congratulated them on their successful employment, stating that he had facilitated their recruitment into the intelligence agency. He described the appointments as part of his commitment to creating opportunities for young people from Yobe North Senatorial District.

However, the post quickly drew criticism on social media, with many Nigerians accusing the former Senate President of promoting nepotism and favoritism in public sector recruitment. Critics argued that his remarks appeared to suggest political influence played a role in securing the jobs, raising concerns about fairness and merit-based employment in government institutions.

Following the backlash, the post was removed from his verified Facebook page. As of the time of reporting, Lawan has not publicly explained why the post was deleted or responded to the criticism.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has granted former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku permission to travel to Dubai for medical examination and surgery.

Justice Slyvanus Oriji approved the request on Tuesday after Ishaku’s lawyer, Chris Umar, filed the application before the court. The prosecution did not object to the request.

Following the ruling, the court adjourned the case until October 5, 2026, for the continuation of trial.

Ishaku and Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary in the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, are facing a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and the alleged diversion of public funds. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution witness Taiwo Johns continued his testimony on the alleged diversion of funds meant for the purchase and distribution of Christmas grains in Taraba State.

Johns, an official of the Taraba Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, told the court that local government councils transferred money into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited, through several transactions in July 2019.

He identified Donga, Zing, Gassol, and Yorro local government areas as some of the councils that made the payments.

The witness further testified that N3 million paid into his company’s account by Yorro Local Government on July 22, 2019, was later withdrawn and handed over to Bello Yero, who took the money to the Government House.

He also told the court: “On July 24, 2019, Blessed Springs Modern Communication credited my account with N4.4 million.

“On that day, I reported to my superior, Babangida Hassan, the director of finance. On the same date, he gave an instruction on the account the money would be transferred to, which he said was a directive from above.

“On the same July 24, 2019, there were two transfers of N10 million each, into the P3 Cornerstone account. I reported the same to my boss.

“The two N10 million was paid into my account by the same person, Henrietta Meepatan, I withdrew N6 million, N5million and N1million.”

On Monday, Johns had told the court that N1.8 billion earmarked for the purchase of Christmas grains was diverted through his company’s account. He said the transfers were carried out on the instruction of Yero, his former superior, in 69 separate transactions.

Ishaku served as governor of Taraba State from 2015 to 2023.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon have agreed to work together to reduce the export of raw cocoa beans after signing the Abuja Declaration at the 2026 Cocoa Value Addition Summit in Abuja.

The agreement seeks to unite the four countries as a single negotiating bloc in discussions with international cocoa buyers. Together, the countries account for about 75 percent of global cocoa production.

The declaration also reflects a broader commitment to promote local processing and branding of cocoa products instead of exporting raw beans.

President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said Nigeria would end the practice of exporting raw cocoa while importing finished chocolate products.

“Nigeria will no longer export raw beans while importing finished value.

“We will grind our beans at home, we will press our butter at home, we will make our chocolate at home, brand it at home and sell it to the world on our own terms.”

Tinubu disclosed that investors are constructing a 70,000-tonne cocoa processing facility in Sagamu, Ogun State, which he described as the largest in Nigeria’s history. He also said the country’s installed cocoa grinding capacity now exceeds 120,000 tonnes annually.

The president added that the Bank of Industry (BOI), one of the summit’s co-conveners, has funding available for viable cocoa projects.

Speaking at the event, BOI Managing Director Olasupo Olusi said Nigeria produces more than 300,000 tonnes of cocoa every year, but only about 50,000 tonnes of its installed processing capacity is currently in use.

Olusi said the bank disbursed more than N164 billion to over 3,500 agro-processing businesses in 2025. He added that BOI also secured a €60 million credit facility from the European Investment Bank to support cocoa value addition.

According to him, the bank will introduce dedicated financing for cocoa processing, ingredient manufacturing, packaging, and chocolate production.

“We are not approaching cocoa as a lending programme; we are building an industrial ecosystem,” Olusi said.

Minister of State for Industry John Owan Enoh said the alliance would help African cocoa-producing countries secure a larger share of the global chocolate market, which is valued at more than $130 billion.

“We are not interested in exporting anonymous sacks anymore. We are interested in exporting value,” he said.

Enoh also said the four countries would adopt a common position on the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation, which is scheduled to take effect for large and medium-sized cocoa operators on December 30, 2026. He said the bloc would seek recognition of its national traceability systems and oppose any move to transfer compliance costs to smallholder farmers.

He added that Nigeria had adopted a Cocoa Value Addition Accord to improve cocoa processing and farmers’ incomes. A delivery council will oversee implementation and publish annual progress reports.

Also speaking, Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Ransford Abbey, said Africa produces between 75 and 77 percent of the world’s cocoa but earns less than 10 percent of the value generated by the global chocolate industry.

“We do not need charity. We deserve equity. The time has come for Africa to process its own wealth, protect its farmers and negotiate with one voice in the global cocoa market,” Abbey said.

He also noted that global cocoa prices had dropped sharply after rising above $11,000 per tonne in late 2024, a development that forced Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to reduce producer prices.

The summit ended with the adoption of both the Abuja Declaration and the Cocoa Value Addition Accord.

By Anas Abbas

The Federal Government has withdrawn its recent increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council’s (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following widespread criticism from Nigerians.

The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, announced the suspension in a statement on Monday, confirming that the letter dated June 18, 2026, which had communicated the new fees, has been withdrawn pending further review.

According to the ministry, the initial proposal was driven by rising operational costs, covering logistics, security, printing, technology deployment and quality assurance, needed to maintain credible national examinations, noting that registration fees had stayed largely the same for years despite these growing expenses. 

However, Minister of Education Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa has now directed that the plan be put on hold in the interest of a more inclusive and transparent policy process.

The ministry said it would consult more broadly with examination bodies, state education ministries, school administrators, parents’ groups, labour representatives and other stakeholders before any new fee structure is considered. 

It added that the review would not proceed until this consultation process concludes, and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students’ welfare and equitable access to education.

The fee increase had drawn sharp criticism from prominent Nigerians, including African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had described the hike as insensitive to the realities facing Nigerian families.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has emerged as the overall winner of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) Faculty Capstone Project Competition, defeating six other federal universities in a keenly contested event held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The competition, which brought together faculty teams from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the University of Ibadan; the University of Lagos; the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and the University of Port Harcourt, saw BUK’s delegation distinguish itself through exceptional innovation, collaborative synergy, and academic rigour.

The victorious BUK team was represented by Dr. Shukrah Bello, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Rasheed, Dr. Halima Abdulkadir Idris, Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Dauda, and Dr. Adenekan Lanre Qasim. Their outstanding performance not only secured the top prize but also brought national acclaim to the Kano-based institution.

In a statement following the victory, the team expressed deep gratitude to the university’s management, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Haruna Musa, FSI, praising his administration’s unwavering commitment to staff development and institutional support, which they credited as instrumental to their success.

The latest feat adds to BUK’s growing stature as a beacon of academic excellence and leadership within Nigeria’s higher education landscape, reaffirming its position among the country’s foremost centres of learning and innovation.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Army has officially commenced the training of 5,300 newly recruited soldiers at the Depot Nigerian Army in Osogbo, Osun State, marking a significant boost to the nation’s military manpower.

Major General IM Abdullahi, Chief of Administration (Army), formally handed over the recruits to Brigadier General BM Madaki, Commandant of the Depot, signalling the start of their basic military instruction. The recruits, part of the 91 Regular Recruit Intake, will undergo an intensive six-month training programme aimed at instilling discipline, physical fitness, leadership skills, and combat readiness.

“This intake represents our commitment to strengthening the Nigerian Army’s capacity to meet the nation’s evolving security challenges,” Major General Abdullahi stated during the handover ceremony.

Receiving the recruits, Brigadier General Madaki assured that the training would produce highly disciplined, mission-ready soldiers capable of supporting the Army’s operational responsibilities. “Through rigorous military instruction and character development, we will transform these recruits into professional soldiers,” he said.

The exercise underscores the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to enhance its operational effectiveness as the country continues to confront diverse security threats across various regions. Upon completion of their training, the new soldiers are expected to be deployed in support of ongoing security operations nationwide.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies following the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

The victims regained their freedom on Friday after spending 56 days in captivity. Security operatives from the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police carried out the rescue operation.

Speaking during a telephone interview with Channels Television shortly after the victims were freed, Makinde described the development as a great relief for the state.

He said, “It is such a big relief for all of us. Just right now, I am overjoyed and can hardly say much.

“I use this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the service commands, the police, DSS, military and, of course, the president for pushing for their release.”

The abduction occurred on May 15 when armed men attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Esiele, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire Local Government Area.

The incident forced the Oyo State Government to close schools in four local government areas as security agencies intensified efforts to secure the victims’ release. The kidnapping also sparked protests in different parts of the country, where citizens demanded the safe return of the pupils and teachers.

Three days after the attack, Makinde disclosed that one of the abducted teachers had been killed while in captivity.

President Tinubu also welcomed the successful rescue and praised the military, the DSS, and the police for their efforts. He said the operation brought an end to more than 50 days of uncertainty for the victims and their families. He also commended the security agencies for rescuing the victims without collateral damage.

The president further praised the Oyo State Government for its cooperation with the Federal Government throughout the operation. He directed emergency response agencies to work with the state government to provide medical treatment and other forms of assistance to the rescued pupils and teachers.

Tinubu also pledged that his administration would ensure justice for the victims and for the family of the teacher, Oyedokun, who lost his life during the abduction.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies following the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

The victims regained their freedom on Friday after spending 56 days in captivity. Security operatives from the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police carried out the rescue operation.

Speaking during a telephone interview with Channels Television shortly after the victims were freed, Makinde described the development as a great relief for the state.

He said, “It is such a big relief for all of us. Just right now, I am overjoyed and can hardly say much.

“I use this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the service commands, the police, DSS, military and, of course, the president for pushing for their release.”

The abduction occurred on May 15 when armed men attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Esiele, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire Local Government Area.

The incident forced the Oyo State Government to close schools in four local government areas as security agencies intensified efforts to secure the victims’ release. The kidnapping also sparked protests in different parts of the country, where citizens demanded the safe return of the pupils and teachers.

Three days after the attack, Makinde disclosed that one of the abducted teachers had been killed while in captivity.

President Tinubu also welcomed the successful rescue and praised the military, the DSS, and the police for their efforts. He said the operation brought an end to more than 50 days of uncertainty for the victims and their families. He also commended the security agencies for rescuing the victims without collateral damage.

The president further praised the Oyo State Government for its cooperation with the Federal Government throughout the operation. He directed emergency response agencies to work with the state government to provide medical treatment and other forms of assistance to the rescued pupils and teachers.

Tinubu also pledged that his administration would ensure justice for the victims and for the family of the teacher, Oyedokun, who lost his life during the abduction.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu has called on Nigerian authorities to release CCTV footage that could identify those responsible for the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.

Yesufu made the demand in a post on her verified X account on Saturday. Her comments came after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over an alleged violation of parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Keyamo had asked Obi to apologise to airport authorities and pay a ₦25,000 fine for the alleged breach.

The exchange followed recent remarks by Obi, who claimed in an interview that the Federal Government, led by the All Progressives Congress (APC), was targeting him. He also alleged that he has continued to face intimidation and harassment.

Reacting to the development, Yesufu questioned the government’s priorities and urged security agencies to focus on more pressing security concerns.

She wrote, “Pathetic cowards! Let them bring out the CCTV of the kidnappers that took away children in Oyo or of the ones that have been terrorising citizens.

“Majoring in the minor is all they are freaking good at.”