National

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has asked Nigerians to scrutinise his past and publicly disclose any wrongdoing they believe he has committed.

Obi made the call on Thursday at a town hall meeting with voters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he answered questions on the 2027 general election.

The former Anambra State governor spoke amid renewed public scrutiny of the records of politicians seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election, including President Bola Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

There has also been public discussion about the educational records of some leading presidential contenders after they left out their primary and secondary school certificates from the personal particulars submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in July.

Obi said he and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had made information about their backgrounds available for public verification.

“I want to give every Nigerian the opportunity to know who I am,” he said.

“Both of us have presented our backgrounds, from our dates of birth to our schools, education and all, to the people. You can go and verify our backgrounds worldwide, anywhere.”

The former governor also referred indirectly to his legal dispute with Kenneth Okonkwo, who served as his spokesperson during the 2023 presidential campaign.

Obi had instituted a court case against the Nollywood actor over alleged defamatory statements concerning their previous dealings. He said the action followed Okonkwo’s claim that he possessed information about Obi’s past that could shock the public.

“We have sued somebody in court. He said he knows something he can say and the people will be shocked. I said I want you to say what people will be shocked about,” Obi said.

He then challenged Nigerians and people around the world to produce evidence of any wrongdoing against him or Kwankwaso.

“And I’m challenging every Nigerian. If there is anything that you know I have done that is wrong, say it out now.

“I’m challenging the world over: if you know anything that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has done that is wrong, say it out now.”

Obi also argued that candidates for senior political positions should be judged by the credibility of the processes through which they attain office.

“You cannot continue to answer his excellency when the process that got you there is not excellent,” he said.

By Uzair Adam

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has urged state governors and lawmakers to stop distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the motorcycles eventually find their way into the hands of terrorists and bandits.

Musa gave the warning on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism and other security challenges confronting the country.

According to him, motorcycles provided to vulnerable Nigerians sometimes end up being used by terrorists to facilitate their movements and carry out attacks.

“We try to appeal to even governors to stop giving motorcycles out as palliatives. Because these motorcycles are the same ones that still end up with these terrorists,” he said.

The minister advised that where motorcycles must be distributed, authorities should consider smaller-capacity models that would be less useful to terrorists operating in difficult terrains.

“Even if you have to give, don’t give them the big capacity motorcycles; give them the small capacity ones that they won’t be able to use to run around, because that gives them leverage. They can easily enter and then disappear,” Musa said.

He also warned that motorcycles distributed by lawmakers under constituency projects and other intervention programmes could eventually be diverted to bandits and terrorists.

“Those bikes… before you know it, they’re already back to the bandits, and that’s what they’re using. So we must stop that,” he added.

Musa further disclosed that security agencies had identified illegal markets and motor parks as major channels through which terrorists transport arms and ammunition to their areas of operation.

“What we realise from experience is they establish illegal markets or illicit motor parks. They go to those motor parks; that’s where they move arms and ammunition into those areas,” he said.

The defence minister also called for greater involvement of local governments in the fight against insecurity, arguing that local authorities are better positioned to identify criminal activities within their communities.

“We must allow our local governments to work. Failure of local government is what is aggravating what we’re dealing with, and if we want a better solution, a quick fix, our local governments must work,” he said.

According to Musa, local government chairmen should regularly convene security meetings and monitor developments within their respective areas.

He also urged state and local authorities to strengthen surveillance around markets, motor parks and other locations that could be exploited to transport drugs, weapons and ammunition.

“If we’re able to make sure that we man all the markets, all the motor parks, all these areas where drugs, weapons, ammunition move, it will make it difficult for them,” the minister added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

More than 1,400 schools have been destroyed across Nigeria’s North-East, while 2,295 teachers have lost their lives and about 19,000 others have been displaced as a result of prolonged insurgency and conflict in the region.

The Borno State Government also disclosed that approximately three million children are in urgent need of emergency education support due to the impact of the crisis.

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, disclosed the figures in Maiduguri while representing Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at a two-day National Dialogue on the Psychosocial Impact of Conflict on Children in Nigeria.

Kadafur said the statistics showed the severe consequences of years of conflict on children, particularly its effects on their mental health, education and prospects for the future.

He explained that the effects of insurgency often continued after active fighting had stopped, with many children experiencing trauma that affected their behaviour, relationships and ability to trust others.

“Trauma does not end when the guns fall silent. It embeds itself in their developing brains. It alters their cognition, behaviour, and their capacity to trust,” he said.

The deputy governor warned that failure to address trauma among affected children could create bitterness and alienation. He also cautioned that vulnerable children could become targets for recruitment by violent groups.

Kadafur said military operations alone could not resolve the long-term effects of insurgency. He called for mental health and psychosocial support to become part of recovery and security programmes in conflict-affected communities.

He advocated the establishment of a national mental health framework for children affected by conflict. He also called for more mental health professionals in affected communities, alongside increased investment in education and community-based interventions.

Professor Andrew Zamani, who also spoke at the dialogue, described the psychological effects of conflict as a national emergency. He warned that untreated trauma could transform grief and anger into a desire for revenge.

The Director of Medical Intelligence, Dr Patience Omokri, who represented the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said child trauma should be regarded as a national security issue.

She noted that children exposed to insurgency, terrorism and communal violence had experienced the loss of parents and homes, displacement, abduction and other forms of exploitation.

“A traumatized child is not only a victim. If left unsupported, they can become a vector of instability,” Ribadu said in the message.

The UNICEF representative, Francis Otuochi, disclosed that 270,864 children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe require mental health and psychosocial support under the 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan.

Otuochi urged governments to incorporate mental health and psychosocial support into child protection, healthcare, education and social welfare programmes to address the needs of children affected by conflict.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Moody’s Ratings has revised Nigeria’s credit outlook from stable to positive, citing stronger-than-expected economic growth and improved macroeconomic stability, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The credit rating agency affirmed the nation’s long-term issuer rating at B3, which remains six levels below investment grade. However, the positive outlook revision signals that Africa’s largest oil producer is moving closer to a potential credit upgrade.

In a statement released Friday, Moody’s analysts Jorge Valez and Matt Robinson highlighted the country’s strengthening external buffers and greater macroeconomic stability. The agency also noted that rising oil production is expected to boost economic growth in 2026 and 2027.

“If sustained, the economic growth would enhance the country’s capacity to absorb external shocks, strengthen economic resilience and, over time, support a gradual increase in government revenue,” the analysts wrote.

The positive assessment underscores President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fiscal consolidation and economic reforms, which have been a cornerstone of his administration’s policy agenda since taking office.

The outlook revision comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government to address structural challenges in the economy, including foreign exchange shortages and inflationary pressures. Tinubu’s administration has implemented several bold policy measures, including the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of the exchange rate, aimed at attracting foreign investment and stabilising the economy.

Economic analysts view the Moody’s decision as a vote of confidence in the administration’s reform trajectory, though they caution that sustained implementation will be critical to achieving a full credit rating upgrade.

Finance Ministry officials welcomed the development, describing it as recognition of the government’s prudent economic management and reform agenda.

The improved outlook is expected to boost investor sentiment and potentially lower borrowing costs for the West African nation, which has faced significant economic headwinds in recent years.

Moody’s noted that continued policy discipline and sustained economic growth would be key factors in determining Nigeria’s future credit rating trajectory.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have killed two terrorists and recovered weapons and motorcycles during an encounter in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The operation took place after security forces received intelligence in the early hours of 28 August 2026 about the movement of terrorists who were reportedly transporting hundreds of rustled cattle through the Maikujera general area of Rabah LGA.

Acting on the information, troops from Sector 2 moved to the area to intercept the suspected terrorists. The troops, however, came under attack after encountering an ambush laid by the terrorists.

The soldiers responded with superior firepower and fought their way through the ambush. Two terrorists were killed, while others fled into nearby bushes.

A subsequent search of the area resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and three motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

The gun battle caused the rustled cattle to scatter into the surrounding bushes. The military said efforts were underway with the support of local vigilantes to trace and recover the livestock.

According to the Joint Task Force, the area remained calm after the operation as troops continued to maintain a strong presence and monitor the surroundings to prevent further attacks.

The force said its personnel remained committed to sustaining operations against terrorist and criminal groups while protecting lives and property within its area of responsibility.

The statement was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, on 28 August 2026.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has received the Distinguished Alumnus Star Award from the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, for his contributions to strategic military leadership, professional military education and national security.

The award was presented on Friday, 28 August 2026, during the graduation ceremony of NDC Course 34 in Abuja.

The ceremony was attended by President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The event also highlighted the Federal Government’s focus on developing strategic leaders and promoting professionalism across the country’s defence and security institutions.

Lieutenant General Shaibu has previously served at the NDC as a Directing Staff and later as Director Coordination. During his time at the institution, he contributed to programmes designed to strengthen strategic thinking and leadership among senior military officers and other national security practitioners.

The Distinguished Alumnus Star Award recognises his record of service in strategic military education and leadership.

The honour also reflects his continued efforts to build a Nigerian Army that is professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of 500 additional compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations across Nigeria as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, in what, according to many citizens, appears to be fear of losing 2027 election.

Tinubu disclosed this in a statement he personally signed on Thursday after discussions with members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on measures to make transportation more affordable.

According to the President, the governors had agreed to pursue measures that would lower transport costs, with particular attention to the savings offered by CNG-powered and electric vehicles.

Tinubu said the Federal Government is already supporting more than 100 gas-related projects across the country. These include 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations.

He said the Federal Government and state governments had also agreed to establish a joint committee that would commence work on the agreed measures immediately.

“I have also directed the additional rollout of another 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide in addition to the 500 stations ordered earlier in the year by the Fund, bringing the programme to 1,000 stations across the country,” the statement reads.

The President said state governments have an important role to play because intra-state transportation has a direct impact on Nigerians.

“Intra-state transport is where Nigerians feel the cost most directly, and it is where the states hold the levers.

“I am encouraged that our Governors are moving to bring these benefits closer to the people they serve.

“We have agreed to set up a joint Federal and State committee to begin implementing these measures immediately. A vehicle running on CNG spends 60 to 80 per cent less on fuel than one running on petrol.

“From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares. We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares!”

The President urged all levels of government to coordinate their efforts to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the programme.

“Each tier of government must keep doing its part and work together for the benefit of every Nigerian.”

Governors Consider Nationwide Fare Reduction

The development follows a communiqué issued by the NGF after its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The governors said they were considering a nationwide reduction in transportation fares under the proposed National Affordable CNG Transit Programme (NACTP).

The forum said the programme would take advantage of the lower operating costs associated with CNG to provide more affordable public transportation.

Tinubu approved the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) in August 2023.

The Presidency said the initiative was designed to reduce the impact of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians through lower energy costs.

With the latest directive, the number of CNG refuelling stations targeted under the programme is expected to rise to 1,000 nationwide.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Federal Government to account for more than N600 billion reportedly disbursed under its cash transfer programme for vulnerable Nigerians.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), raised the concerns in a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, on Thursday.

He also questioned the difference between the number of households the government currently says have benefited from the programme and an earlier figure announced by the Presidency.

On July 16, President Bola Tinubu said the expanded cash transfer programme had reached 15 million vulnerable households and lifted an estimated 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty.

However, Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, said on Wednesday that more than N600 billion had been disbursed to slightly over 10 million households since Tinubu became president.

Doro made the disclosure during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he said the beneficiaries could amount to about 40 million people based on an average household size of four.

“We have done over N600 billion in cash transfers to be able to support vulnerable Nigerians within three years,” Doro said.

Atiku Questions Five-Million Household Difference

Atiku said the figures from the government did not correspond and called for clarification on the actual number of beneficiaries.

“On 16 July 2026, the Presidency officially declared that expanded cash transfers had reached 15 million vulnerable households,” the statement reads.

“It repeated essentially the same figure on 2 August 2026. Yet on 26 August 2026, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs suddenly told Nigerians that only ‘slightly over 10 million households’ had been reached.

“So where did five million households go? These are not opposition figures. They are Tinubu’s figures contradicting Tinubu’s figures.”

The former vice-president also challenged the government’s expenditure figures based on the amount each qualifying household was expected to receive.

According to him, the government had indicated that eligible households would receive N25,000 monthly for three months, which amounted to N75,000 per household.

“If 10 million households received the full payment, that would be about N750 billion. If 15 million households did, it would exceed N1.1 trillion. Yet government says it spent just over N600 billion,” he said.

Atiku demanded information on the number of beneficiaries who received one, two or all three payments. He also sought details of failed and reversed transactions.

“A name on a social register is not a bank alert. Counting people in a database is not the same thing as proving money reached them,” Atiku said.

Atiku Demands Disbursement Records

The ADC presidential candidate urged the Federal Government to publish verifiable records showing how the funds were distributed.

“If N600 billion truly moved, then government must show the trail: unique verified households, payment tranches, state-by-state distribution, failed transactions, reversals and an independent audit,” he said.

Atiku also criticised the government’s wider poverty-reduction strategy. He argued that economic policies should tackle the factors that increase the cost of living rather than rely mainly on cash support after households become vulnerable.

He cited his proposed intervention in the domestic petroleum value chain as an approach aimed at reducing fuel and transportation costs.

“When petrol becomes cheaper, the bus driver spends less, the farmer moves produce more cheaply, the trader pays less for haulage, businesses face lower logistics costs and the savings travel through the economy to the family kitchen,” he said.

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.