Nigeria

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

Indonesian authorities have deported a Nigerian national after he failed to provide immigration officials with a valid travel document or residence permit.

The Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre in Riau Islands Province announced the deportation on Thursday, according to ANTARA News.

The Nigerian was among two foreign nationals deported on Tuesday, August 18, through the immigration checkpoint at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang.

“The Nigerian national could not show immigration officers a valid travel document or residence permit, violating Article 71(b) of the Immigration Law,” the report noted.

Prior to his deportation, the Nigerian was held at the Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, where officials confirmed his identity and prepared the necessary travel documents.

An official of the detention centre, I Wayan Putu Wiadnya, described the deportation as an administrative measure against foreign nationals who breach Indonesia’s immigration regulations.

He said, “We returned them and ensured the entire process was conducted professionally, orderly, safely and accountably.”

The Nigerian was deported alongside a Palestinian national who was also found to have breached Indonesian immigration rules.

Authorities said the Palestinian was deported after overstaying his permitted period in the country, in violation of Article 78(3) of the Immigration Law.

The Head of Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, Erybowo Radyan Asmono, said the action was part of efforts to enforce immigration laws and regulate the stay of foreign nationals in Indonesia.

He said, “Immigration law enforcement is essential to protecting national sovereignty, but it must remain firm, professional and guided by humanitarian principles.”

Asmono also stressed that all foreigners in Indonesia must comply with the country’s immigration laws and regulations.

He added that violations would lead to appropriate administrative action by the relevant authorities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s electoral influence, arguing that he lacked the political strength to secure victory in his home state and the South-West during the 1999 presidential election.

Atiku made the remarks while speaking with journalists on Wednesday amid his renewed disagreement with Obasanjo over their political relationship and the events that preceded their victory in the 1999 presidential election.

“In 1999, he could not even win his own state or the South-West; it was Arewa that made him President. He possesses no electoral value,” Atiku said.

The latest disagreement between the two former political allies follows a series of public accusations over their roles in the administration they jointly led between 1999 and 2007.

The dispute became more intense after Obasanjo described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the “biggest mistake” of his presidency. He also accused the former vice president of disloyalty and involvement in an alleged plan to remove him from office through impeachment.

Atiku rejected Obasanjo’s version of events and accused the former president of distorting history for political purposes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former vice president has also defended his contribution to the administration, saying he supported Obasanjo after his release from prison and played a role in establishing the political structure that helped them win the 1999 election.

On the 2027 presidential election, Atiku also pointed to his record of providing opportunities for young Nigerians during his tenure as vice president.

He said some beneficiaries of those opportunities later became governors, ministers, directors and other public officeholders.

Atiku pledged that his administration would continue to provide opportunities for young Nigerians to participate in governance and assume leadership responsibilities if he wins the presidency in 2027.

He is contesting the 2027 presidential election under the ADC after joining forces with other opposition politicians in an effort to challenge the ruling party.

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‎‎By Maji Bappa Maina
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‎Governments are often judged by what they build.
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‎But the more important question is what they are able to sustain.
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‎For Governor Mai Mala Buni, governance appears to extend beyond the boundaries of projects, institutions and even the state itself.
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‎His recent engagement in Chad provides another dimension to a governance philosophy shaped by continuity, institutional strengthening, peacebuilding, post-conflict recovery, regional cooperation and inclusive development.
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‎The report of his visit to Nigerian refugees in Kaya, Chad, may appear to be simply a humanitarian engagement. But viewed through the wider lens of governance, it represents something deeper.
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‎Governance does not end where a political boundary begins when the problems themselves cross that boundary.
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‎Insecurity does not recognise borders. Neither does displacement, climate pressure, trade or the movement of people.
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‎The Lake Chad region therefore requires more than individual government interventions. It requires institutions that can cooperate across borders and leadership capable of seeing the region as an interconnected system.
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‎This is where Governor Buni’s role as Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum becomes significant.
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‎His visit to the Nigerian refugees in Kaya was not merely about seeing displaced people. It was about listening to them, understanding their circumstances and discussing pathways towards sustainable solutions.
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‎When the refugees described him as the first Nigerian government official to visit them, the significance went beyond protocol.
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‎Presence itself became a form of governance.
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‎But the engagement did not stop at sympathy. The discussion around livelihoods, peaceful coexistence and voluntary return demonstrates an important principle of humanitarian governance: support should not merely sustain vulnerability; it should help people move towards dignity, productivity and resilience.
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‎The Governor’s engagement with the Chadian authorities and the Lake Chad Basin Commission further reinforces this approach.
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‎The emphasis on sustainable security, economic growth, institutional partnership and opening waterways reflects an understanding that the future of the Lake Chad region cannot be secured through security measures alone.
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‎Security creates the space for development.
‎Development strengthens stability.
‎Stability creates the conditions for peace to endure.
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‎This connects directly with the broader governance philosophy of the Buni Administration.
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‎A road is more than infrastructure when it connects communities and markets.
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‎Agricultural support is more than an intervention when it enables people to become producers and employers.
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‎And humanitarian assistance becomes more meaningful when it forms part of a pathway towards stability, livelihood and reintegration.
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‎In each case, development becomes an ecosystem rather than a collection of projects.
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‎Perhaps this is the deeper story behind the Buni Administration, not simply what has been constructed or commissioned, but the attempt to build systems capable of moving from recovery to stability, from stability to development, and from development to sustainability.
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‎The journey is neither instant nor complete.
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‎Governance is always a work in progress.
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‎But when leadership begins to think beyond individual projects and toward institutions, systems, communities and generations, development acquires something more valuable than visibility.
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‎It acquires continuity.
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‎And perhaps the strongest measure of leadership is not how loudly achievements are announced, but how quietly the systems created continue to improve people’s lives long after the announcement has ended.
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‎That is when governance becomes more than administration.
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‎It becomes a philosophy.
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‎Maji Bappa Maina is a ‎Political Writer, PhD Researcher, ‎Voice of Development, Leadership & Public Insight.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Bank of Ghana has appointed prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), to chair the council overseeing interest-free banking operations in the country.

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Pandit Asiama, formally inaugurated the new members of the council at a brief ceremony held in Accra.

Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar’s appointment highlights the growing role of Islamic scholars and experts in the development of interest-free banking and Islamic finance.

Professor Umar is a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, and a prominent scholar of Islamic studies. The council is expected to help ensure that interest-free banking operations in Ghana comply with the principles and requirements of Islamic law.

The appointment comes at a time when Islamic banking and finance are gaining increasing acceptance in different parts of the world.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of four suspects, including a private home lesson teacher and a father, over separate allegations of child defilement across the state.

The arrests were disclosed during a press briefing by Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, who also unveiled a major shift in the command’s operational strategy aimed at curbing crime and protecting vulnerable citizens.

“Let me state clearly from the outset that the security and safety of Edo people remain the central priority of this Command,” CP Daaor said. “We are also strengthening our operational posture by turning Edo State into a highly Mobile Command. The objective is simple: to ensure that criminals do not find Edo State a comfortable operating environment.”

In one of the cases, 52-year-old Daniel Erumudonmoh Okhuilegbe, a home lesson teacher, was apprehended on August 5, 2026, for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old pupil entrusted to his care.

“The complainant alleged that the suspect was engaged as a home lesson teacher but allegedly abused the trust placed in him and sexually assaulted the child,” Daaor stated.

Following the conclusion of investigation, the suspect was charged before the Benin High Court on August 14, 2026, and subsequently remanded at Oko Correctional Centre, Benin.

In a separate incident reported on August 6, 2026, a 42-year-old father was apprehended in Iyahmo over the alleged defilement of his 15-year-old daughter. Following a discrete investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the suspect was charged to court on August 14, 2026, and remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre.

The command also arrested 29-year-old Samson Amachie following an August 10 report transferred from the Okhoro Police Station to the Gender and Family Support Unit. Amachie allegedly lured an 11-year-old girl into an uncompleted building behind his shop. He has since been arraigned before the Benin High Court and remanded at the Oko Correctional Centre.

In another case reported on August 12 in Okpella, police arrested 26-year-old Otaru Jonathan for allegedly taking a 14-year-old girl on a motorcycle to an uncompleted building in Afokpella, where he assaulted her and gave her ₦2,000.

“The survivor was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation and attention,” CP Daaor noted, adding that the suspect remains in custody pending arraignment.

Alongside the gender-based violence arrests, police operatives recorded success in tracking down stolen property following a late-night home invasion.

According to the commissioner, on August 14, 2026, at approximately 1:15 a.m., six armed hoodlums invaded a residential compound on Jesus Christ Street, Iduowinna Community, dispossessing residents of mobile phones, laptops, wristwatches, perfumes, human hair, and a Lexus 350 saloon car bearing registration number BWR 988 DH.

“The scene was immediately visited, all divisions were alerted for possible recovery of the vehicle, and patrols were intensified within the community,” Daaor explained. “In a major breakthrough, at about 0900hrs the same day, the stolen Lexus 350 was recovered at Oba Market.”

The police chief assured residents that investigations remain active to track down the fleeing members of the robbery gang and recover the remaining stolen items.

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 Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started demolishing houses and other structures erected on designated waterways across Abuja.

The enforcement exercise began in Maitama on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following a directive from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Officials of the FCTA deployed heavy-duty equipment to remove some of the structures identified as obstructing water channels.

Wike gave the directive after inspecting areas affected by flash floods that swept through parts of the Federal Capital Territory after heavy rainfall on Saturday.

The minister blamed the severity of the flooding partly on buildings constructed on waterways and warned that the status of property owners would not prevent the removal of illegal structures.

“We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel. Some of them are senators. Some of them are big men,” Wike said.

He said the demolition exercise would continue from Tuesday to Saturday.

The minister also ordered the immediate desilting of drainage channels identified across the FCT as part of measures to reduce the risk of further flooding.

The recent flooding affected several parts of Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse 2, Gudu and Lokogoma, where residents were stranded and vehicles were submerged.

According to Wike, the flooding resulted from both natural and human factors. He identified construction on waterways, blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate disposal of waste as some of the factors that worsened the situation.

The FCT Administration said it would strengthen enforcement of development regulations to prevent structures from blocking the natural flow of stormwater.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United Kingdom has praised the conduct of the Osun State governorship election and congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.

The British High Commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday after the poll, noting that it had engaged various stakeholders before election day and deployed accredited observers to monitor the exercise.

The commission said its observers recorded several positive developments that were also identified by credible independent observer groups that monitored the election across the state.

“Based on their observations, and consistent with the findings of credible independent observer groups with wider deployments across the state, we welcome several encouraging signs of a positive democratic process,” the statement reads.

“This includes the opening of polls as scheduled in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order, and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials.

“Most of all, we were encouraged by the patience, resilience and participation demonstrated by voters throughout the day.”

Despite the positive assessment, the British High Commission said it observed reports of isolated incidents that caused tension before and during the election.

It listed some of the concerns as voter interference, vote-buying involving different political parties, inadequate access for persons with disabilities and elderly voters, as well as congestion linked to the rapid deployment and limited availability of BVAS devices for accreditation.

The commission called on relevant Nigerian institutions to examine the challenges and use the findings to improve public confidence in the electoral system.

It also urged authorities to consider recommendations from civil society organisations, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.

The UK mission cautioned that some of the advantages available during an off-cycle election may be difficult to reproduce during a nationwide election.

“As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, we note that off-cycle elections benefit from the availability of additional personnel and resources that may be more difficult to replicate at nationwide scale,” the statement reads.

“We nevertheless hope that the experience of the Osun election will help inform further improvements that strengthen the integrity, inclusiveness and credibility of future electoral processes.”

The British High Commission reaffirmed the UK’s readiness to work with Nigeria’s electoral bodies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections.

It said such cooperation would also support efforts to strengthen the democratic institutions that underpin Nigeria’s electoral system.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into Haruna Yusuf over the alleged possession of undeclared foreign currencies intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The currencies, which include $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals, were recovered by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during routine checks on passengers between August 8 and 12.

The EFCC disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.

U. U. Adamu, acting customs area comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, said officers first intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage on August 8.

According to him, the bag contained 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300, which were concealed inside footwear.

Adamu said another interception occurred four days later when customs officers examined a luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived in Kano aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.

He said a secondary examination with non-intrusive inspection technology uncovered $20,000 and £15,957 hidden inside sports shoes.

Adamu later transferred Yusuf and the recovered currencies to the EFCC on behalf of the NCS.

However, the EFCC statement did not establish whether Yusuf was the owner of the unaccompanied luggage that contained the Saudi Riyals.

Adamu said the seizures reflected the vigilance of customs officers in monitoring the movement of undeclared foreign currencies across Nigeria’s borders.

He added that the NCS would maintain cooperation with the EFCC and other relevant agencies in the fight against financial crimes.

Receiving the suspect and the recovered currencies on behalf of EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Friday S. Ebelo, acting zonal director of the EFCC Kano Directorate, said failure to declare substantial amounts of foreign currency contravened the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Ebelo advised travellers to observe the requirements for declaring foreign currencies at points of entry and exit.

He explained that declaring funds does not attract a penalty, while the source of undeclared money could raise legal concerns.

The EFCC official said the commission would conduct a comprehensive investigation and take further action in accordance with the law.