News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that the sharp depreciation of the naira has significantly reduced Nigerians’ purchasing power and worsened poverty.

Obasanjo made the remarks on Wednesday at the Financial Times Africa Summit 2026 in London, United Kingdom, where he faulted the administration’s decision to devalue the naira in 2023.

He argued that the currency’s decline had impoverished Nigerians, citing the movement of the exchange rate from about N500 to the dollar to N1,500.

The former president said, “We do not live in isolation as a country. We interact with the rest of the world. And overnight, you devalue the currency by 300 per cent. The naira went from N500 to a dollar to N1,500 to a dollar. What that meant was that every Nigerian is made poor by 300 per cent.”

Obasanjo said the situation had made Nigeria “the poverty capital of the world,” referring to the country’s large population of people living in poverty.

“You cannot say to me that that is good for Nigeria. You cannot say to me that that is good for us in any sense,” he noted.

He also questioned calls for the Tinubu administration to be given more time to implement its economic policies, saying he had yet to see meaningful improvement in the economy.

“For the economy, I don’t see anything getting better. What policies are you seeing through? You impoverish your people, and you want to see impoverishment through?” he remarked.

Obasanjo further maintained that the policies introduced by the administration were “not in the best interest of Nigerians,” adding, “Nobody can deny that.”

On petrol subsidy removal, the former president acknowledged the importance of fuel to economic activities but argued that corruption associated with the subsidy system should have been addressed first.

He said a country facing severe economic difficulties must “curb corruption, wastefulness and unnecessary luxury and produce.”

Figures cited in the report show that before the Central Bank of Nigeria unified the exchange-rate windows on June 14, 2023, the official naira-to-dollar rate stood at approximately N460.80. By October 19, the official rate had weakened to about N1,333.54, while the currency reached a low of approximately N1,607.05 in early May 2025.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that headline inflation fell to 14.63 per cent in September from 20.98 per cent a year earlier. Food inflation, however, stood at 19.59 per cent, while Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele said on August 19 that the removal of the petrol subsidy saved the government N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025.

Efforts to obtain the Presidency’s response to Obasanjo’s criticism were unsuccessful, as Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, could not be reached.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government’s plan to introduce a tax on petroleum products has triggered criticism from Nigerians, who fear the move could increase their financial burden amid rising living costs and high fuel prices.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, recently disclosed the plan, explaining that the tax would only take effect when the economy had stabilised and income levels had improved enough to accommodate the additional cost.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, Oyedele said revenue from the proposed levy would support road infrastructure and the development of a fuel reserve to cushion the effects of future price shocks.

He explained that implementing the tax while petrol was subsidised would have meant the government effectively paid the charge itself. Introducing it immediately after the removal of the subsidy, he added, would have placed further pressure on Nigerians.

“The objective should be that instead of trying to suppress prices, which hasn’t worked for us or for any country in the world, not one, and instead of trying to suppress prices, we should think about how to grow income faster than prices rise.

“That’s how you bring prosperity and grow the middle class, and that is exactly what we are doing, as led by Mr President himself.

“At the appropriate time, when the economy is stabilised and income levels are able to accommodate it, those taxes will come. Not because we want to impose taxes,” Oyedele said.

The proposal has revived concerns over the financial consequences of the fuel subsidy removal, particularly among small business owners who depend on petrol-powered generators because of unreliable electricity supply.

Oyedele said the proposed fuel reserve would “help moderate prices of fuel products if anything happens.” He added that the government could temporarily waive the tax during future price shocks to reduce the burden on consumers.

He also explained that the existing legal framework requires the finance minister to issue an order published in the Official Gazette before the surcharge can take effect.

“The good thing is that the law says that tax cannot come into effect until there is a gazette. There has to be an order published in the gazette by the finance minister, which means we can’t do it in secret. Plus, we have no intention of doing stuff in secret.

“At the appropriate time, it will be clear to everyone why it needed to be done, and the benefits will be clear also to every Nigerian,” he said.

The proposed levy is linked to a five per cent surcharge on chargeable fossil fuel products provided for under Nigeria’s tax framework. The framework exempts household kerosene, cooking gas, compressed natural gas and clean or renewable energy products.

On June 16, 2026, the government had dismissed reports that it was introducing fresh taxes on petroleum products following recommendations in the International Monetary Fund’s Article IV consultation report. It said the value-added tax waiver on petroleum products remained in place and that no process to activate the fuel surcharge was then under consideration.

Oyedele noted that taxes account for between 20 and 80 per cent of pump prices in some countries, while several African nations impose between six and 10 different charges on petroleum products.

He also discussed the sequence of the petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, explaining that the government initially removed support for petrol prices before allowing the naira to adjust gradually.

“That is the reason why there was still a bit of subsidy in 2023. It was to manage that process because you need to be mindful of the impact on the people.”

According to the minister, the petrol subsidy was completely removed in October 2023, leaving no government support for either petrol prices or foreign exchange.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism from citizens who argue that the government should prioritise measures to ease the effects of existing economic pressures rather than introduce another charge.

A tailor, Niyi Osundare, said the proposed tax could worsen the difficulties faced by small businesses already struggling with high operating costs.

“Why is this government so wicked? How can anybody be thinking of putting a tax on fuel when we are complaining that a litre of fuel is selling for N1,400?

“Do you know that businesses are folding up because their owners can no longer cope with the situation?

“For instance, there is hardly any electricity for small businesses to operate, so most of us rely on generators. And then, you ask yourself, how much fuel at N1,400 per litre are you prepared to buy every day?

“We are running at a great loss, and that’s why most businesses are closing down. And somebody is talking about a fuel tax, which will automatically push up the price of fuel again.

“What is wrong with the APC government? What sort of thing is this? How can people decide that the only thing they will do to their citizens is inflict pain and more pain on them?

“This is wickedness, and Nigerians should rise up. This cannot be like the announcement that ‘subsidy is gone’, which was what brought us to where we are today.

“We are crying that we can’t afford the price of fuel as it is currently sold, and somebody is telling us that the government wants to introduce a fuel tax when the economy stabilises and people’s incomes improve. When will that be?

“Can this government ever do that? It is not possible. Since 2023, when this government came in, it has been one promise after another, and all of them have ended up bringing agony and sorrow to Nigerians.

“So, this time around, they can tell their story to the marine because we will not accept any fuel tax; it won’t happen,” he stated.

A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Kunle Onatade, also questioned the government’s plan to channel the revenue into infrastructure and a fuel reserve.

He argued that Nigerians had previously been assured that savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy would support infrastructure development, but he disputed whether the expected benefits had materialised.

“Who is deceiving who? Where is all the money made from the fuel subsidy removal? Has this government, in three years, not borrowed more than Buhari in eight years? What are we talking about?

“This fuel tax move is just another avenue for making more money available for them to steal. They don’t care about the citizens as long as they keep amassing wealth for themselves.

“These are a bunch of heartless and corrupt politicians masquerading as political leaders; they don’t care about anybody. Nigerians should not listen to them. The fuel tax will bring about more hardship for Nigerians,” he said.

Business groups have also raised concerns about the possible effects of an additional fuel charge on production expenses, transportation costs and consumer prices.

The Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria called on the government to prioritise relief for households and businesses, warning that another fuel-related levy could further strain their finances.

While the Federal Government maintains that the tax would only be introduced when economic conditions permit, critics insist that any additional charge on petroleum products could deepen the pressure on Nigerians.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee has freed 55 inmates and granted bail to 51 others following a visit to the Yolde Pate Correctional Centre in Yola South Local Government Area.

The exercise took place on Wednesday under the leadership of the state Chief Judge, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, who chairs the committee.

The committee comprises representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Area Court, the Legal Department of the Adamawa State Police Command, the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Ministry of Justice, and the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Jail delivery exercises typically focus on eligible cases involving minor civil disputes, less serious infractions and petty theft. Serious offences, including culpable homicide, rape and gang-related crimes, remain for the conventional courts to handle.

During the visit, Abdulrahman donated delivery kits to a female inmate who had given birth to a baby girl while awaiting trial. In appreciation, the family head named the child Hafsat in honour of the chief judge.

The chief judge also provided transport fares for discharged inmates travelling to Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe states.

The exercise forms part of efforts to address prison congestion and support inmates eligible for release or bail under the applicable legal procedures.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Italian authorities rejected 2,220 Nigerian asylum applications in first-instance decisions in 2025, while 1,175 Nigerians received different forms of international or national protection, according to a new report on the country’s asylum system.

The figures are contained in the 2025 Country Report on Italy by the Asylum Information Database (AIDA), a project of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles. The report was produced by the Association for Legal Studies on Immigration using data from Italy’s Asylum Service and the European Union Agency for Asylum.

According to the report, 3,385 Nigerians applied for asylum in Italy during the year, making Nigeria the only sub-Saharan African country among the top 10 nationalities seeking asylum in the European country.

Of the 3,390 decisions recorded on Nigerian cases, 660 applicants, representing 19.47 per cent, were granted full refugee status. The report identified this as the highest refugee recognition rate among the 10 leading nationalities and nearly three and a half times Italy’s national average of 5.7 per cent.

Another 55 Nigerians, representing 1.62 per cent, received subsidiary protection, which applies to people facing serious harm who do not qualify for refugee status. Meanwhile, 460 applicants, or 13.57 per cent, received Italy’s national or special protection, known as protezione speciale.

Overall, 1,175 Nigerians obtained some form of protection, representing 34.66 per cent of decisions on their cases. This was above Italy’s national protection rate of 30 per cent in 2025.

However, the report stated that 4,120 Nigerian cases were still pending before Italian authorities as of December 31, 2025.

Among other African countries, Egypt recorded the highest number of asylum applications, with 11,790. Of the 10,685 decisions made on Egyptian cases, 8,900, or 83.30 per cent, were rejected.

Morocco recorded 9,485 applications, while 5,695 of the 6,315 decisions on Moroccan cases resulted in rejection, representing 90.18 per cent. Tunisia recorded 6,290 applications, with 5,035 of the 5,895 decisions, or 85.41 per cent, rejected.

The report also documented asylum applications by unaccompanied minors from several African countries. These included 61 children from The Gambia, 44 from Mali, 42 from Guinea, 34 from Burkina Faso, 30 from Somalia, 27 from Ivory Coast, nine from Senegal and 16 from Nigeria.

Italy registered 126,635 first-time asylum applications in 2025, down from 151,120 in 2024. However, the figure remained considerably higher than the 77,200 applications recorded in 2022.

“In 2025, 126,635 first asylum requests were registered in Italy, representing a decrease compared to 2024 (when 151,120 applications were registered), but still almost double the number of applications registered in 2022 (77,200).”

Italian authorities issued 104,560 first-instance decisions during the year. The overall protection rate, including special protection, declined to 30 per cent from 35 per cent in 2024 and 47 per cent in 2022.

The report recorded 5,965 decisions granting refugee status, representing 5.7 per cent of the total. A further 11,455 decisions, or 10.96 per cent, granted subsidiary protection, while 13,945, or 13.34 per cent, resulted in national protection.

By the end of December 2025, 234,165 asylum applications remained pending in Italy.

The country processes asylum claims through 20 Territorial Commissions and 23 sub-commissions under a three-tier protection system. Applicants whose claims are rejected can appeal to civil courts and subsequently seek recourse through the Council of State.

Italy’s asylum framework has also faced legal challenges over its designation of safe countries of origin. In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union struck down Italy’s mechanism for designating such countries, resulting in Nigeria’s removal from the list. The designation had subjected applications from Nigerians to accelerated procedures.

Further legal disputes emerged in 2025 over the Italy-Albania Agreement, which provides for migrants intercepted at sea to be transferred to Albanian territory for processing under Italian jurisdiction.

On accommodation, the report stated that 101,106 asylum seekers were housed in emergency reception centres as of December 31, 2025. Another 3,342 were accommodated in government centres, while 3,652 were housed in hotspots.

Sea arrivals in Italy totalled 66,296 in 2025, slightly below the 66,617 recorded in 2024 and considerably lower than the 157,651 arrivals reported in 2023.

Bangladesh accounted for the largest number of sea arrivals, with 20,164 people, followed by Egypt with 9,091, Eritrea with 7,579, Pakistan with 4,383 and Sudan with 4,183.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has donated vehicles to eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly following their return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The donation is intended to ease the lawmakers’ transportation difficulties and support their political activities and engagement with constituents across the state.

The move comes amid efforts by APC leaders to reconcile aggrieved members and strengthen the party’s structure in Zamfara ahead of the next general elections.

Matawalle, a former governor of the state, reportedly ordered the immediate release of the vehicles following President Bola Tinubu’s reported directive for the lawmakers to return to Zamfara and help promote unity within the party.

The vehicles were presented in Gusau on Wednesday by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Yazid Danfulani.

Danfulani said the gesture demonstrated Matawalle’s commitment to reconciliation and party unity, adding that the minister had continued to engage stakeholders to encourage cooperation among APC members.

He explained that the donation was part of broader efforts to reconnect the lawmakers with their constituencies and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Aliyu Kagara expressed appreciation to Matawalle and pledged their support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

“We sincerely appreciate the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for this gesture. We assure him of our commitment to working assiduously for the success of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections,” Kagara said.

The development followed commendation from the Northern Elders of the APC Forum, which praised Tinubu and Matawalle for their roles in facilitating the lawmakers’ return to the ruling party.

The forum’s chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, described the development as an important step towards resolving internal disputes and rebuilding unity within the party.

“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly role and commitment to promoting reconciliation within the party, despite his tight schedule. His leadership and willingness to encourage dialogue remain crucial to strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Abubakar said.

The forum also commended Matawalle’s efforts to restore confidence among party stakeholders and prevent further divisions. It said the lawmakers agreed to return to the APC after discussions with the minister, who reportedly presented them to Tinubu after they reaffirmed their allegiance to the President and the party.

However, the elders warned that the return of the eight lawmakers should not bring reconciliation efforts to an end. They urged the party leadership to address the concerns of other aggrieved members.

“Party unity must go beyond the return of elected officials; it must involve building trust and ensuring that every stakeholder has a sense of belonging,” the forum said.

Matawalle governed Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023 before losing his re-election bid to Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 governorship election. He was subsequently appointed Minister of State for Defence.

The latest development forms part of the APC’s efforts to consolidate its political base in Zamfara and mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The party’s ability to sustain the reconciliation process may depend on how it addresses outstanding grievances and accommodates the interests of its various stakeholders.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on his 70th birthday, describing him as an influential and progressive politician.

In a statement issued on October 21, 2026, Tinubu said he and Kwankwaso had maintained a longstanding association dating back to their time in the National Assembly in 1992, when Kwankwaso was in the House of Representatives and Tinubu in the Senate. He noted that both later emerged as governors in 1999 and, as members of the “Class of ’99 Governors,” played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for Nigeria’s democracy.

The President recalled that although their political paths differed due to different choices, they coalesced in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress, adding that history and service had kept them intertwined since then.

Tinubu acknowledged Kwankwaso’s contributions to Kano State and Nigeria as a two-term governor, former Minister of Defence, former Senator, former presidential candidate and now a presidential running mate.

He said that being in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election would not diminish his affection for Kwankwaso.

The President wished the former governor good health, personal fulfilment and many more years of engagement in the nation’s democratic process.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed during a scheduled training flight in the Kaliningrad region on October 21, near the town of Chernyakhovsk, authorities said.

The aircraft went down between the settlements of Timofeyevka and Zelyony Bor, close to a local cemetery. Footage circulating online appeared to show the moment the jet crashed and burst into flames.

Both pilots ejected before impact and were rescued. Russian authorities said their lives were not in danger, while local media reported that both were injured and taken to a military hospital.

The fighter jet was reportedly flying without ammunition. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no official explanation has been announced.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have begun discussions on areas of mutual cooperation to improve their respective operations and address institutional needs.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, received JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, and his delegation at the NCS Operational Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, on October 16, 2026.

During the meeting, Adeniyi praised JAMB’s transformation over the years, particularly its use of technology, timely release of examination results and improvements in placing candidates in tertiary institutions.

“The improvement JAMB has recorded over the years, particularly through the integration of technology into its operations, is commendable.

“The Board has continued to evolve, making its processes more efficient and improving the placement of candidates into tertiary institutions,” Adeniyi said.

He expressed confidence in Aina’s ability to sustain the Board’s progress and urged its management team to support his leadership.

Adeniyi also welcomed JAMB’s offer to make its electronic facilities available to the Customs Service. He explained that officers deployed across the country sometimes need to gather at designated centres for examinations and other official exercises, adding that access to the facilities would help facilitate such activities.

On JAMB’s request for operational vehicles, the customs chief acknowledged the importance of mobility to the Board’s nationwide responsibilities. He said the Service would explore possible assistance, subject to available resources and the applicable framework.

Earlier, Aina said the visit was intended to establish a professional relationship between the two institutions and identify opportunities for collaboration.

“We want to formally come and introduce ourselves. We recognise the important work the Nigeria Customs Service is doing and are aware of the operations you carry out,” Aina said.

The JAMB registrar disclosed that the Board serves approximately five million people annually, operates Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria and conducts examinations in more than 15 countries.

He added that JAMB provides electronic services to government agencies and professional bodies, while emphasising that adequate mobility was necessary for reaching communities, including local government areas, to verify candidates and maintain examination standards.

The meeting ended with both organisations expressing their commitment to exploring practical ways to support each other’s operations and make effective use of their respective resources.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has approved an 18-month extension of the tenures of the heads of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The affected officials are Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller-General of the NIS, and Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, Controller-General of the NCoS.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the decision in a statement on Monday, stating that Nwakuche would remain in office until May 26, 2028, while Nandap’s tenure would run until June 30, 2028.

According to Onanuga, the extension followed a recommendation by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Tinubu commended both officials for the reforms recorded under their leadership and urged them to sustain and build on the progress made.

Nwakuche was appointed Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service in December 2024, with his appointment confirmed by the Senate in March 2025.

Nandap was nominated as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service on February 21, 2024, and her appointment received Senate confirmation on March 1, 2024.

The extensions will allow both officials to remain in their respective positions beyond their previously scheduled tenure periods.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been handed a 30-day suspension and fined €255 by the Portuguese Football Federation following his departure from the national team’s camp in Denmark during the September international break.

Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano disclosed the development in a post on X, attributing the decision to the federation.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days plus fined for €255.

“The decision has been made by Portugal Federation after he left the national team’s camp in Denmark.

“Cristiano himself had suggested a punishment after apologizing for that,” Romano wrote.

Ronaldo reportedly left the camp ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Denmark on September 30, following tensions with head coach Jorge Jesus.

The forward later apologised for his actions and indicated his willingness to accept disciplinary measures.

According to the report, the suspension is expected to expire in time for Portugal’s November international fixtures, subject to his selection.

However, the supplied report does not include an official statement from the Portuguese Football Federation confirming the suspension or fine.