Author: user user

Tinubu seeks Reps’ approval for N269.446bn promissory note to offset verified liabilities

President Bola Tinubu is soliciting the approval of the House of Representatives to issue an N269,446,402,822.56 promissory note for the settlement of verified liabilities.

The President’s communication, titled: ‘Re: Request for transmission, establishment and expansion of the Promissory Note Programme for the outstanding Federal Government liabilities’, was conveyed through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and read on the floor of the House by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.

According to him, the proposed request is for the payment of various categories of creditors.

He added that the liabilities comprise obligations arising from outstanding contractual, project-related, and other verified financial commitments of the government, amounting to an aggregate sum of N269,446,402,822.56.

He said: ‘I write to convey the compliments of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and transmit for the consideration and approval of the National Assembly the request for the establishment and expansion of the Federal Government of Nigeria Promissory Note Programme for the settlement of outstanding and verified liabilities of the Federal Government.

‘The request arises from the nced to address the identified outstanding oplgatiuns owed to the various categories of creditors, as detailed in the accompanying schedule and supporting documentation. The liabilities comprise obligations arising from outstanding contractual, project-related and other verified financial commitments of Government, with an aggregate verified amount of N269,446,402,522.56.

‘Following a comprehensive review of the outstanding obligatons by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and in furtherance of the Federal Government’s commitment to the orderly settlement of legitimate obligations, His Excellency, Mr. President, has considered and approved the proposal for the establishment and expansion of the Promissory Note Programme to provide an appropriate mechanism for the settlement of the liabilities.

‘The proposed Programme is intended to provide a structured, transparent and fiscally responsible framework for settling the outstand ng obligat ons while ensuring that only duly verified and validated claims are admitted for settlement. The implementation will be undertaken in accordance with applicable laws, extant financial regulations and established procedures for public debt management.

‘The proposal is also intended to mitigate the continued accumulation of interest, penalties and other financial costs associated with the outstanding liabilities, while providing relief to affected creditors and strengthening confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to honouring legitimate contractual and other obligations.

‘It is pertinent to note that the Federal Government’s Promissory Note Programme has previously been utilised as an instrument for the settlement of inherited local debts and contractual obligations. The establishment of the earlier programme followed Federal Executive Council approval and was subsequently subjected to National Assembly approval, consistent with the applicable fiscal and public debt management framework.

‘In view of the foregoing and pursuant to the approval granted by His Excellency, Mr. President, I am directed to respectfully request the National Assembly to consider and grant the necessary legislative approval for: the establishment and expansion of the Federal Government of Nigeria Promissory Note Programme: the issuance of Promissory Notes in an aggregate amount of N269,446,402,822.56, or such amount as may be approved by the National Assembly, for the settlement of the verified outstanding liabilities contained in the attached schedule; the inclusion of the identified categories of liabiities and beneficiaries in the Programme, subject to final verification, reconciliation and certification by the relevant Government Agencies; the authorisation of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, in collaboration with the Debt Management Office and other relevant Agencies, to take all necessary steps to implement the Programme in accordance with the approval of the National Assembly; and such other approvals, resolutions of legislative measures as may be necessary to give full effect to the Programme.

‘The proposed arrangement is expected to facilitate the orderly settlement of the outstanding obligations without imposing an immed ate and disproportionate cash-flow burden on the Federal Government. It will also support fiscal planning by spreading the associated repayment obligations over an appropriate tenor, consistent with the principles of prudent debt management.

‘In view of the magnitude and ace of some of the outstanding liabilities, as well as the potential for further accumulation of interest and associated costs, the matter requires urgent consideration and approval by the National Assembly. Early legislative approval will enable the Federal Government to commence the necessary processes for the issuance of the Promissory Notes and bring closure to the affected liabilities.

‘Accordingly, the detailed schedule of the liabilites, including the relevant categories, beneficiaries, amounts and supporting documentation, is forwarded herewith for the information and consideration of the National Assembly.’

To this end, the SGF solicited expeditious consideration of the request in the national interest and in support of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen fiscal sustainability, honour legitimate obligations, and promote confidence in the Nigerian economy.

Kaduna ginger farmers record promising harvest as BOA revives blight-hit industry

Ginger farmers in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State are recording promising harvests, following an intervention by the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to revive production after ginger blight destroyed a significant proportion of the crop in the area.

The intervention, which provides ginger planting materials and agricultural extension services, has reached about 3,400 farmers across 15 farming clusters, with plans to expand the programme to other communities and states.

Managing Director of BOA, Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, disclosed this, on Sunday during a visit to ginger farms in Kachia to inspect mature crops and harvested produce under the programme.

Sotinrin said the intervention, which began last year, was designed to rebuild Nigeria’s ginger industry following the devastating impact of ginger blight on farmers and production in major growing areas.

He explained that some of the harvested ginger would be used for tissue culture to multiply planting materials and enable the bank to extend the programme to more farmers.

According to him, the process involves taking ginger rhizomes to specialised laboratories for multiplication before transferring the resulting plantlets to nurseries, where they would be developed into seedlings for distribution to farmers.

The BOA managing director said the bank was working towards establishing ginger nurseries in 16 states as part of a broader strategy to expand cultivation and strengthen the country’s capacity to recover from the disease outbreak.

He expressed optimism that sustained intervention and expansion of production could raise Nigeria’s ginger output to three million tonnes within five years, potentially generating about $3 billion in economic value.

Sotinrin said the projected growth would create opportunities for farmers to increase their earnings, improve their livelihoods and contribute more significantly to the national economy.

‘The people that you’ll call poor farmers or vulnerable farmers, they’re the ones that will be making N70 to N80 million per hectare, not me,’ he said, highlighting the potential financial returns from ginger cultivation.

He added that BOA was providing agricultural financing at an interest rate of nine per cent, in line with the Federal Government’s directive to improve farmers’ access to affordable credit.

The initiative involves collaboration among the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government, agricultural institutions, local authorities, traditional leaders and farmer groups. The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) and Agrolog are also contributing to efforts to restore production and provide technical support.

The Chairman of Kachia Local Government Area, Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari, said ginger blight had destroyed about 90 per cent of production in the area, depriving many farmers of their primary source of livelihood.

Maigari explained that farmers received support, including alternative agricultural inputs, following the outbreak, but production had yet to return to its previous level.

He estimated that the sector had recovered to about 30 per cent of its former capacity, expressing confidence that sustained support could accelerate recovery within the next two years.

The council chairman also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in the revival programme, saying it had set a target of at least 50 per cent female participation, although he did not provide the number of women currently benefiting.

Agrolog’s Operations Manager, Cham Datiyoung Yakubu, said the organisation was responsible for coordinating farmers into clusters and providing extension services to guide cultivation and monitor crop development.

‘Our role is to provide extension services and coordinate these farmers, which we did. We formed them into clusters,’ Yakubu said.

He disclosed that the programme also included internally displaced farmers affected by insecurity, with more than 900 displaced farmers organised into one cluster.

According to him, the farmers were expected to begin harvesting within three weeks of an earlier assessment, although security concerns had limited physical visits to their farms.

Yakubu said reports from extension monitoring indicated that the crops were developing well despite the challenges associated with accessing the cluster.

The programme currently covers 15 clusters: Assako 1, Matankadi Farms, Utro Akyi Muli Cooperative, Mothercat, Mission Farmers, CM Cluster, Maigidas, Zisshya, Gidan Tagwai Ginger Farmers, Sakainu Farmers Cooperative, Kachia Urban, Maraba Farmer, Bazachat Farmers, Ibika Farmers Group and Jerry Farms.

Cluster heads Malachy Gadani of Gidan Tagwai Ginger Farmers and Caleb Dallah of Ibika Farmers Group commended BOA for the intervention, saying it would help farmers recover from losses caused by ginger blight.

One of the beneficiaries, Blessing Ali, also expressed appreciation to the bank, describing the intervention as a positive development for ginger farmers in Kaduna State.

Beyond ginger, Sotinrin said BOA was working with the Federal Government on interventions across other agricultural value chains to improve farmers’ earnings and strengthen food production.

He cited the Guaranteed Minimum Price programme for maize, explaining that the government had intervened in the market by purchasing produce at a guaranteed floor price to protect farmers when market prices declined.

According to him, the intervention helped raise prices and encouraged farmers to return to their farms rather than abandon production because of unfavourable market conditions.

He also disclosed that the bank was exploring ways to support cassava farmers by partnering with processors of cassava derivatives to purchase produce left on farms and offer farmers better prices.

Sotinrin acknowledged the contributions of President Bola Tinubu, the Kaduna State Government, the Kachia local government chairman, traditional rulers, cluster heads, BOA staff and NAERLS to the ginger revival effort.

He said the broader interventions were aimed at strengthening agricultural production, cushioning farmers against severe market fluctuations and making farming more profitable.

The progress recorded in Kachia offers renewed hope for farmers whose livelihoods were severely affected by ginger blight, although restoring production to pre-outbreak levels will require sustained support, wider access to planting materials, effective extension services and continued investment in the value chain.

INEC distributes 31,444 new PVCs in Bayelsa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has distributed 31,444 new Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in Bayelsa.

Mallam Isah Shaka, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state disclosed this on Tuesday, at the 2026 Election Stakeholders Forum held at the State Secretariat in Yenagoa.

The figure, he said, was out of the 52,225 PVCs allocated in the first phase of Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) across the eight Local Government Areas of the state, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Breaking down the figure, Shaka said Brass received 6,211 PVCs; Ekermor, 12,023; Nembe, 3,620 and Kolokoma/Opokoma, 3,712.

Others according to him, are Ogbia, 3,132 PVCs; Sagbama, 10,080; Yenegoa, 6,332 and Southern Ijaw 7,115.

The INEC official stated that the CVR exercise commenced on Aug. 18, 2025 and was initially scheduled to end on July 12.

He noted, however, that following an extension of two weeks, the exercise concluded on July 26.

According to him, political competition should be conducted within the provision of the law and the guidelines issued by the commission.

‘I, therefore, expect all political parties to play by the rules.

‘Respect the rights and other contestants and avoid any action capable of threatening public peace or undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

‘The commission has made significant progress in its preparatory activities in monitoring of political parties progress and Primaries, publications of candidates credentials and final list of nominated candidates,’ he said.

The REC encouraged qualified and interested members of the public to take advantage of the ongoing recruitment into the commission to submit their applications through the official recruitment portal before the deadline.

He asserted that the recruitment process remained an important part of the preparation for the general elections.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, Mr Ajao Adewale said the idea of bringing together all the key stakeholders was not just a mere gathering but a strategic, non-kinetic engagement, aimed at ensuring a credible and rancour-free electoral process.

He stressed that the responsibility of the police is to help provide a safe environment before, during and after the elections, while respecting the independence of INEC and the rights of every citizen.

The police commissioner added that voters must be able to exercise their choices without intimidation, while electoral officials must be able to carry out their duties without interference.

‘We are paying attention to potential threats that could disrupt the electoral process, including political violence, election-related criminal activities, threats against election officials and the spread of inflammatory misinformation.

‘In view of this fact that security agencies cannot achieve peaceful elections alone, I urge political parties, candidates and all political actors to respect one another’s rights,’ he said.

The police chief called on community leaders, youth groups and civil society organisations to help resolve tensions early and report credible threats promptly.

He noted that the police command, alongside other security agencies are committed to protecting the people’s right to participate in the electoral process peacefully.

Azerbaijan Railways to expand regional connectivity with new passenger trains

Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), an AZCON Holding company, has signed a contract with CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, China’s leading rolling stock manufacturer, to purchase four new passenger trains as part of efforts to modernize its fleet and expand rail connections across the country.

The agreement was signed on October 27 by ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov and Wang Xiaolin, head of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive.

Rovshan Rustamov said the new electric trains would feature modern amenities, multiple passenger classes and accessibility solutions. The fleet expansion will support plans to gradually resume inland passenger rail services to Yalama, Minjivan and Astara by 2030, while the Baku-Khankendi route is also planned to open to passenger traffic.

“By expanding our fleet with these new trains, we will further extend the geographical coverage of our services and gradually resume passenger rail services to Yalama, Minjivan and Astara by 2030,” Rustamov emphasized.

The planned routes are expected to strengthen transport links between Baku and the regions, improve access to education, healthcare and employment, and support domestic tourism and regional economic activity.

The introduction of passenger services to Khankendi and Minjivan would also strengthen Karabakh and East Zangezur’s integration into Azerbaijan’s national transport network, improving connectivity for residents returning to their native lands. Meanwhile, the restoration of services to northern Yalama and southern Astara regions is expected to support the development of regional tourism and commerce.

Each new train will consist of seven carriages and measure approximately 135 meters in length. The trains will have a maximum operating speed of 140 kilometers per hour and a design speed of 160 kilometers per hour.

With a seating capacity of 434 passengers per train, the fleet will offer first-class, business-class and standard-class accommodations. Delivery is expected within two years under the agreement.

The purchase is part of ADY’s broader rolling stock modernization program. In June, the company signed a contract with China’s CRRC Ziyang to purchase four mainline passenger locomotives.

ADY is also evaluating proposals from foreign manufacturers for the procurement of 20 passenger trains and 50 sleeping carriages for interregional services. The procurement is being considered under the State Program for the Improvement of Transport Infrastructure in Baku and Surrounding Areas for 2025-2030, approved by a presidential decree on January 30, 2025.

In a further step toward modernizing its fleet, seven freight locomotives were delivered from China last month, with the acquisition of 14 additional freight locomotives planned for the next phase.

The initiatives form part of ADY’s efforts to improve passenger comfort, expand rail network coverage and strengthen transport links between Azerbaijan’s regions.

Tinubu seeks Senate approval for $20.52bn, pound 1.05bn foreign loans

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve a fresh external borrowing plan of $20.52 billion and pound 1.05 billion for 2026 and 2027 to fund infrastructure and development projects across Nigeria.

The request was contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during plenary on Tuesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Tinubu said the proposed loans would support key sectors, including power, transportation, healthcare, agriculture, education, water supply, security and job creation. The funds would also support reforms aimed at improving public financial management.

The President explained that the borrowing was necessary to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and provide funds for projects expected to boost economic growth and improve living conditions.

Loans to fund projects across Nigeria

Tinubu said the proposed projects were selected after technical and economic assessments to determine their importance to national development.

According to him, most of the projects would be carried out across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He added that Nigeria needed substantial investment to tackle its infrastructure challenges and close the funding gap.

‘In light of the need for significant infrastructure investment in the country and the vast financial resources needed to address this gap, it has become essential to pursue prudent external borrowings to close the financing shortfall,’ the President said.

He urged the Senate to consider the request quickly, saying approval would enable the government to release funds on time and ensure effective implementation of the projects.

Senate refers request to committees

Akpabio said the borrowing plan had been included in the Federal Government’s previously approved borrowing programme.

He noted that the external borrowing plan had been approved as far back as 2025 for the 2025 to 2027 period.

The Senate President referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further consideration, alongside the Committees on Appropriations and Finance.

The committees are expected to examine the proposal before the Senate takes further action.

Nigeria’s public debt rises to N166.79 trillion

The latest borrowing request comes as Nigeria’s public debt continues to increase.

Data from the Debt Management Office showed that the country’s total public debt rose to N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026, up from N159.35 trillion at the end of March.

Domestic debt accounted for N91.59 trillion, representing 54.91 per cent of the total debt.

Nigeria’s debt has also increased significantly since Tinubu became president in 2023. The country’s total public debt stood at N87.38 trillion as of June 30, 2023.

External debt rose from $42.49 billion in December 2023 to $51.86 billion by December 2025, while domestic debt increased from N59.1 trillion to N89.4 trillion over the same period.

2027: NEDMO backs SDP’s Adebayo, unveils nationwide mobilisation plan

The New Direction for Nigeria Movement (NEDMO) has declared support for Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo ahead of the 2027 general election, announcing plans for a nationwide mobilisation campaign across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The movement said it had mapped out activities aimed at building grassroots support for Adebayo and promoting the SDP’s policy blueprint ahead of the presidential poll.

The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by NEDMO’s Acting National Coordinator, Muhammad Yahaya Alkali.

According to the statement, the movement’s decision followed a review of Nigeria’s political landscape, after which it described the SDP presidential candidate’s blueprint as a framework it believes could address the country’s development challenges.

NEDMO said the proposed roadmap offered what it considered a practical and comprehensive approach to revitalising Nigeria’s development potential, while blaming successive leadership failures for the country’s prolonged difficulties.

The movement also praised Adebayo’s integrity, administrative experience and approach to governance, arguing that Nigeria needed leadership capable of combining policy knowledge with practical solutions to national challenges.

As part of its mobilisation strategy, NEDMO said it would organise town hall meetings, political awareness rallies targeting young people and women, community-by-community engagements and digital advocacy campaigns.

The activities, it said, would be extended across the country to encourage public engagement and rally support around its campaign for what it described as sustainable national progress.

The movement also called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and professional bodies to join its initiative, saying the campaign was intended to promote leadership that responds to the needs of citizens.

NEDMO added that its decision to support Adebayo had the backing of the movement’s founder and convener.

The declaration adds NEDMO to the groups publicly aligning themselves with political candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The statement, however, did not provide details of the campaign timetable, funding arrangements or specific mobilisation targets for the proposed nationwide activities.

High Court declines to hear suit on Tata Magadi permit suspension

The High Court has declined to hear a suit by Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, which sought to challenge the government’s decision to suspend its mining operations, saying it should have been filed before the Environment and Land Court (ELC).

The court held that disputes relating to minerals and mining are closely linked to land use and the environment.

‘Minerals and mines are intertwined with land and environment. That would explain why the Mining Act is peppered with provisions on land, land use and the environment. That then ought to raise questions about jurisdiction, concerning which court would have jurisdiction to handle disputes relating to minerals and mining,’ the court said.

The judge added: ‘Clearly, the Environment and Land Court is the court with jurisdiction to hear disputes relating to mining in Kenya.’

The company had moved to court after the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy wrote to it on July 28, 2026, directing it to suspend its mining operations over alleged non-compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Tata Chemicals Magadi sought to quash the letter, arguing that the decision was unconstitutional, null and void, and violated its rights under the Constitution and the Mining Act.

The company contended that the suspension was imposed without prior notice or an opportunity to respond to the allegations, address the alleged deficiencies, or show cause why its operations should not be halted.

While acknowledging that the government has powers under the Mining Act to administer the law, including suspending or revoking mineral rights and licences, the company argued that such powers must be exercised in accordance with the law.

It further argued that the decision was disproportionate because it imposed an immediate and blanket suspension of all its mining operations, which it said was unrelated to the allegations contained in the ministry’s letter.

In response, Secretary of Mines in the State Department for Mining, Thomas Mutwiwa, said the government had engaged the company over several years regarding its statutory obligations.

He said the notice was issued to compel the company to comply with the law following several alleged violations, including non-payment of royalties and the accumulation of royalty arrears.

Mr Mutwiwa said the ministry had written several letters to the company over the outstanding issues, which were followed by visits from inspection teams.

He added that the local community had raised complaints against the company, accusing it of exploiting local mineral resources and degrading the environment without providing tangible economic benefits to residents.

The ministry also cited complaints relating to land rates and alleged non-compliance with local content requirements.

Mr Mutwiwa said the issues remained unresolved despite engagements with the company to address the complaints.

He told the court that a meeting was held on July 29, 2026, a day after the suspension notice was issued, during which the company committed to cooperate with the ministry by providing information and documentation.

The ministry further argued that the company had applied for a licence, which was still being processed.

Mutwiwa said Tata Chemicals Magadi did not hold a mining licence or any other mineral right granted under the Mining Act. He therefore maintained that the decision to halt its operations did not amount to the suspension of a mineral right.

Can D’Tigers qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup?

Nigeria’s D’Tigers enter the final window of the D’Tigers World Cup qualifiers with 14 points and fourth place in Group E.

Reaching the 2027 FIBA World Cup is still possible, but the margin for error is thin, as Caleb Agada and his teammates probably need to win all three February fixtures, then wait on results elsewhere.

Group E after four windows

The fourth window ended with Cameroon and South Sudan tied on 16 points at the top. Guinea sit third on 15, while Nigeria and Tunisia are level on 14. Cape Verde round out the group on 12.

In August 2026, Nigeria had two different outcomes, as they lost 78 to 62 against Cameroon and again 82 to 79 against South Sudan before winning 100 to 84 against Cape Verde. It was that last victory that kept them in contention for the qualification spots.

Why first-round points still shape the race

FIBA has confirmed that the results from the first round are carried forward into the second round, which is why all the matches played in the opening phase still count.

Nigeria had a record of 4 wins and 2 losses in Group C, earning them 10 points before the second round started. It is because of the rule that carries over the results that the D’Tigers are not beginning Group E from zero, and that their losses in August were damaging but did not eliminate their chances.

The rule also means point differential can matter. Nigeria finished the first round with a +30 differential after a 106-62 win over Rwanda in Luanda. In a tight group, that margin could separate teams on equal points.

D’Tigers fixtures in the final window

The fifth window runs from 25 to 28 February 2027, and Nigeria face Cameroon on 25 February, South Sudan on 26 February and Cape Verde on 28 February. The host cities and tip-off times had not been confirmed when the programme was published.

The order of fixtures for the 2027 FIBA World Cup matters as Cameroon and South Sudan are the two teams directly above Nigeria in the table.

2027: APC outlines campaign strategy for Tinubu, Oborevwori in Delta

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the achievements of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu would be central to the party’s campaign for the 2027 general elections.

Mr Charles Aniagwu, APC Media and Publicity Committee Chairman in the state, said this in Asaba while outlining the communication strategy of the Delta APC campaign council.

He said the campaign would highlight Oborevwori’s performance across various sectors and explain how the Tinubu administration’s policies had enhanced the capacity of state and local governments to deliver development projects and programmes.

Aniagwu, who is also the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, said the campaign would be anchored on the administration’s record of performance rather than personal attacks against political opponents.

According to him, Oborevwori remains committed to delivering on his mandate while the campaign team will ensure that the administration’s achievements were effectively communicated to the electorate.

‘The governor’s desire is to continue to show his achievements. His report card is made up of results, and in the course of this campaign, he will continue to govern while it is our responsibility to make the achievements known to the people.’

Aniagwu said the campaign would focus on issues affecting the people, particularly infrastructure, economic opportunities and the delivery of responsive governance.

‘The APC will highlight projects and policies that address the needs and aspirations of people of Delta, and the party will not be distracted from its message by political opponents.

‘We will stay with the issues. We will focus on projects that speak to the needs of our people and their desire to have a state that works for them and a government that responds to their needs and aspirations,’ he said.

He added that the campaign would respect opposing views and engage political opponents without resorting to mudslinging or name-calling.

‘Those on the other side seeking positions of influence are also our people.

‘We will respect their views while making it clear that we remain in a better position to address the needs of of the people and residents of Delta,’ Aniagwu said.

He also said the APC will explain the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies on states and local government areas.

He said that increased resources available to the sub-national governments had created greater opportunities for development.

He acknowledged the economic difficulties facing Nigerians but maintained that the Federal Government had introduced measures aimed at addressing the challenges and improving economic conditions.

Aniagwu said the campaign will explain how the effects of the administration’s policies at the macroeconomic level were gradually translating into opportunities for states and local governments to respond to the needs of their people.

‘Oborevwori’s footprints are bold across various sectors in our state, and those achievements have been made possible, in part, by the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.

‘The President’s policies have made more resources available to states and local governments to perform for the people,’ he said.

Aniagwu said Delta APC campaign council would work to secure more votes for Tinubu, Oborevwori and other candidates of the party in the 2027 general elections.

He expressed confidence that a campaign built around governance, performance and the issues affecting the electorate would help the APC consolidate its support across the state.

Two charged over separate fraud cases at Equity Bank, Old Mutual

Two people have been charged in separate cases involving alleged insider fraud at Equity Bank and Old Mutual, with one accused of duplicating banking system profiles in a suspected theft plot and the other of stealing Sh89.5 million from the insurer and laundering the money through three companies.

In the Equity Bank case, Ian Maina faced three charges over alleged manipulation of the lender’s banking system known as Finacle. In the Old Mutual case, a former employee Bernard Ngugi was charged with stealing Sh89.5 million from the insurer and laundering the alleged proceeds.

Mr Maina is accused of duplicating Finacle user profiles between May and October 21, 2026, alongside people who have not yet appeared in court.

The charge sheet says he duplicated two banking-system profiles and the alleged offences occurred at an unknown. The counts concern computer access, attempted theft and conspiracy.

Finacle is banking software used to manage bank accounts and transactions; user profiles determine access permissions.

The first count accuses him of unauthorised access to Equity Bank’s computer system, contrary to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. It alleges he duplicated the profiles ‘with intent to commit a further offence, namely theft.’

A second count charges him with attempted theft by servant, while the third count accuses him of conspiring with others to commit a felony.

The charge sheet does not state how much money was allegedly targeted or say that funds were taken from the bank.

Mr Maina denied the charges and was released on cash bail of Sh200,000 or an alternative bond of Sh600,000 pending the trial.

The Old Mutual case alleges theft over a longer period. Mr Ngugi is accused of stealing Sh89.5 million between 2018 and November 10, 2025. The charge sheet says the money went into his possession through his employment.

He also faces money-laundering allegations alongside Donbitz Global Limited, Auris General Merchants Limited and Pedram Global Limited.

Prosecutors allege transactions were arranged to conceal the funds’ source and ownership, despite knowing or having reason to believe they were proceeds of crime.

One count concerns Sh35.2 million allegedly transferred through a Co-operative Bank account belonging to Auris General Merchants. Another cites Sh32.6 million routed through an NCBA Bank Kenya account held by Donbitz. The charges claim Sh21.6million was channelled through a company known as Pedram.

The court trial followed a probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Banking Fraud Investigations Unit.

Mr Ngugi denied the charges and was released on a Sh2 million bond or Sh800,000 cash bail. The case was listed for pre-trial directions on November 10, 2026.