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Digital banking platform, PalmPay, has identified collaboration as a crucial element in defeating the menace of cybercrimes as digital banking takes a strong foothold across the country.

Its Managing Director, Mr Chika Reginald Nwosu, who spoke when the firm supported the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) during its Cybersecurity Awareness Walk held in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month, pledged the continued support of the firm to the initiatives of NPF-NCCC.

Nwosu commended the NPF-NCCC for its efforts in combating cybercrime and protecting consumers. He emphasised the need for continued collaboration across sectors to build a safe and secure payment ecosystem for all Nigerians.

‘We commend the NPF-NCCC for its proactive leadership in driving cybersecurity awareness. At PalmPay, we are committed to supporting initiatives that promote digital safety and foster trust in Nigeria’s growing digital economy,’ he said.

With: ‘Secure Our World,’ as the theme, the event brought together key stakeholders from law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to promote public awareness on cybersecurity, financial fraud prevention, and safe online practices.

PalmPay used the opportunity to join other participants in advocating for stronger public vigilance and safer digital engagement, reaffirming its commitment to supporting national efforts that enhance cybersecurity and consumer protection.

At the event, PalmPay was commended for its outstanding efforts in strengthening regulatory engagement and advancing consumer protection initiatives across the fintech industry.

The partnership underscores PalmPay’s ongoing commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness, consumer protection, and fraud prevention as part of its mission to create a safer digital financial ecosystem in Nigeria.

PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.

PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.

Preparations are underway for the inaugural edition of À?É10: A Reign of Peace, Culture and Unity, a global cultural festival designed to celebrate Yoruba heritage and strengthen connections across the African diaspora.

Organised by SloweGanzi International, the week-long event will hold from November 30 to December 7, 2025, under the royal patronage of Arolé Odùduwà, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojájá II, the 51st Ooni of Ife.

The festival coincides with the Ooni’s 10th Coronation Anniversary, marking a decade of what organisers describe as visionary leadership dedicated to peace, youth empowerment, and the global renaissance of Yoruba culture.

According to a statement from SloweGanzi International, À?É10 represents more than just a cultural gathering. It is a movement to reunite Yoruba people at home and abroad, from Africa to the Americas, the Caribbean, and beyond, in a renewed spirit of shared identity and cultural pride.

The festival will unfold across Lagos and Ile-Ife, combining exhibitions, performances, academic discussions, and traditional ceremonies that highlight the richness of Yoruba civilization.

Activities will include art and cultural showcases, film premieres, scholarly dialogues on Yoruba identity and Pan-Africanism, fashion and culinary displays, as well as music and dance performances blending traditional and contemporary influences.

A royal banquet and fireworks display will crown the week-long celebration in Ile-Ife, often regarded as the spiritual cradle of the Yoruba people.

In addition to the festivities, organisers will unveil plans for the Yoruba History and Arts Museum, a landmark legacy project to be established in Ile-Ife.

The museum is envisioned as a global center for the preservation and promotion of Yoruba art, history, and philosophy, ensuring that future generations can access and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Speaking on the significance of the event, a representative of SloweGanzi International described À?É10 as ‘a call to reconnect, rediscover, and reassert the power of Yoruba heritage as a global force for unity and peace.’

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, also commended the initiative, noting that the Ooni’s decade on the throne has redefined traditional leadership as ‘a living, evolving anchor for culture, unity, and development.’

The organisers said the festival aims to promote cultural preservation, strengthen diaspora bonds, foster economic empowerment through tourism and creative industries, and position Ile-Ife as a global hub for African creativity and identity.

SloweGanzi International has called for participation from traditional rulers, cultural custodians, artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, development agencies, and sponsors across the world.

Based in the United States and Nigeria, SloweGanzi International is a global sports and entertainment event company known for creating transformative cultural experiences that connect communities, inspire engagement, and promote social and cultural growth.

It is crucial to start this by acknowledging the importance of Dangote Refinery as a turning point in Nigeria’s oil and gas downstream sector. For nearly 40 years, the country has relied on imports to meet its energy needs, even though Nigeria is a major crude oil producer and the government has built three refineries.

This situation has caused a lot of contention for the country, including the introduction of fuel subsidies to provide a cushion for impoverished citizens in the country at the mercy of international markets.

The completion of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery is a monumental achievement. With a projected capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, it is the largest single-train refinery in the world and a symbol of industrial ambition with the potential to change the lives of Nigerians for the better or worse.

The Dangote Refinery can become a catalyst for healthy competition, accelerating the development of the downstream sector, or a monopolistic force that stifles competition, dictates prices, and undermines the broader goals of economic inclusion. The direction the refinery takes will be decided by the actions of Nigeria’s regulatory agencies.

The Promise and the Peril

The Dangote Refinery promises to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape. We can already see the added benefits of local production in the stabilisation of the naira against the dollar as the country saves billions in foreign exchange and reduces its reliance on imported refined petroleum products. But, there have also been concerns about how the Dangote Refinery, which, despite its scale, intends to achieve vertical integration, will stay profitable without artificial market dominance.

Moves made in the company’s first year of operations suggest the Dangote Refinery is looking to replicate its attempts at a forced monopoly in other sectors in the downstream oil and gas sector. The refinery has already sought to disrupt the complex logistical network that ensures petroleum reaches final consumers by introducing a ‘free’ delivery service targeting major retailers, in a bid to incentivise them to ditch their long-term relationships with importers and depots and to buy products exclusively from the refinery. Industry stakeholders have condemned this move as predatory.

The Dangote Refinery has also been accused of abruptly lowering ex-depot petroleum prices and bearing the cost differential to undercut importers who cannot bear the losses incurred by this tactic. Already, many major importers and depots have been forced to shutter their businesses or risk bankruptcy. When challenged on the integrity of its tactics, the Dangote Refinery has defended its actions as healthy market competition.

A monopoly, even one born from private investment and innovation, can distort markets. It can lead to price manipulation, limit consumer choice, and create barriers for new entrants. In the absence of robust regulatory oversight, the very infrastructure meant to empower the economy could end up concentrating power in the hands of a few.

The Mandate of Regulators

Nigeria’s regulatory bodies, particularly the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), have a constitutional and moral obligation to safeguard the principles of fair competition.

It is their responsibility to ensure transparency in all business practices, monitor market behaviour and intervene when predatory actions are taken against competitors or consumers, even when they are ‘legal’. They must also enforce anti-trust laws and deter larger corporations from engaging in anti-competitive practices that marginalise smaller marketers. But most importantly, it is their responsibility to provide a favourable environment for new entrants into the downstream sector, and by doing so, ensure the energy sector remains resilient and dynamic.

The Dangote Group is only as big and successful as it is today because regulatory agencies ensured indigenous entrepreneurs were protected from monopolistic manoeuvres from international competitors. The same consideration must now be extended to other players in the energy sector to balance industrial ambition and market fairness. The Dangote Refinery represents a significant advancement towards self-sufficiency, but that doesn’t exempt it from the same standards of accountability that any other market participant must adhere to.

A Delicate Balance

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The emergence of the Dangote Refinery offers a rare opportunity to redefine the country’s energy future. The refinery may be privately owned, but the market it operates in belongs to the people.

The future of the energy sector is the responsibility of the agencies tasked with ensuring that Nigerians reap the benefits of deregulation and that companies maximise the opportunities a free market offers Nigerian entrepreneurs. If local regulators rise to the occasion, they can ensure that this refinery becomes a cornerstone of shared prosperity, not a symbol of concentrated power.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order for the final forfeiture of $49, 700. 00 said to have been recovered from a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections, Dr Nura Ali.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order in a ruling on Wednesday after a lawyer from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved a motion on notice he filed.

Akponimisingha said following an earlier interim forfeiture order granted by the court, the ICPC made a newspaper publication for interested person(s) to show cause why the recovered funds should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government, as directed by the court.

He said no person indicated interest after publication and that no body came to court on Wednesday to contest the ownerahip of the funds

The lawyer then prayed the court to issue an order forfeiting the sum of $49, 700.00 to the Federal Government since no one came forward to claim same.

Justice Nwite had, on December 30, 2024 issued an order of temporary forfeiture of the seized funds, while ruling on amotion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024, filed by the ICPC.

The ICPC in a court filing, claimed that the victim of the alleged crime was the Federal Government of Nigeria and innocent taxpayers which include judges of courts across the country.

It said the money was recovered during a search operation by operatives of the DSS at the residence of Ali.

The ICPC added: ‘The alleged moveable property of $49,700.00 was bribe money received by Dr Nura Ali when he was the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State.

‘The alleged moveable property is not the legitimate earning of Dr Ali as independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner.

‘The alleged moveable property is suspected to be proceed of crime,’ it said.

The ICPC argued that INEC is not in the practice of paying its staff with United States dollar as salaries or allowances.

It said the essence of the application was not to compulsorily acquire the alleged moveable property from the alleged owner, but to preserve the property from dissipation.

The House of Representatives is to investigate the activities and accounts of the Nigerian Football Federation from 2015 to date, while resolving to take appropriate action aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability of NFF, with a view to restoring national and international confidence.

Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Dr Adedayo Samuel Adesola (APC, Lagos and Nwaeke Felix Uche (PDP, Rivers), the House asked the leadership of NFF to appear before the House Committee on Sports with records of activities, receipts and disbursements of funds from 2015 to date.

Leading debate on the motion, Adesola recall recent lamentation of former Super Eagles Captain Sunday Oliseh, accusing the NFF of undermining the growth of soccer in Nigeria through misappropriation of grants from FIFA and CAF, citing the questionable handling of USD 1.0 Million NFF got from FIFA to prepare the Super Eagles for the 2002 World Cup.

He said between 2015 and 2025, NFF allegedly received development funds in excess of USD 25 Million from FIFA and CAF with nothing tangible on ground to justify the huge capital inflow from these soccer bodies.

He said ‘in December 2016, FIFA sent an audit query over the mishandling of US$1.1 development grant to NFF and reported that USS802,000 lacked proper documentation; prompting Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung to order an independent audit and asked NFF to account for receipts and disbursements.

According to him, between 2018 and 2019, NFF officials (including the then President, Amaju Pinnick) faced public criticism and were subject of EFCC and ICPC probes and court actions tied to alleged mismanagement of various funds and sponsorship monies. One of these monies, US$1.2 Million is the subject of a news item currently trending on the social media which NFF allegedly used to construct the Birnin Kebbi Stadium.

He said a physical inspection of the Stadium In Birnin Kebbi showed a substandard facility in terms of quality and quantity which cannot justify the sum of US$1.2 claimed to have spent on the project by the NFF,whereas Kenyan Football Federation used the same amount of grant to develop a standard and well-equipped facility, to further raise eye brows on the profligacy in NFF F.

He said with another African Cup of Nation round the corner and the World Cup play off, both involving the Super. Eagles of Nigeria, there is need to take decisive action on further misuse of public funds by the leadership of NFF.

The quality of a country’s healthcare system is a mirror image of its leaders’ commitment to citizens’ health. Countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland are among the world’s top countries with best healthcare for citizens, driven majorly by robust funding and well-structured policy programme. Leaders in these countries do not go to foreign countries for medical tourism, as they have absolute confidence in the delivery capacity of the healthcare system.

But in Nigeria, the healthcare system is fraught with dysfunctionality, forcing elasticity of reliability southward. Poor health facilities, unprofessionalism, unethical standards, weak regulatory agencies, bad personnel attitude, questionable health insurance schemes, unreliable health management organisations (HMOs), mismanagement, corruption, fake drugs and obsolete equipment are incidental to lack of commitment by Nigerian leaders to efficient and quality healthcare system.

Though, this is a symptom of greater disorders in Nigeria, poor funding and non-utilisation of health facilities by the ruling elites undermine efficiency, quality and delivery capacity of the healthcare system.

In the 2025 federal government budget, only N2.56 trillion was budgeted for the health sector, representing 5.15 percent of the country’s total budget of N49.7 trillion, which is far below the 15 percent recommended by the Abuja Declaration, to which Nigeria is a signatory. Though, the N2.56 trillion is an increase of about 58.53 percent of the 2024 budget of N1.62 trillion, however, when viewed in dollar terms, the amount decreased by 15.45 percent, dropping to $1.7 billion from $2.02 billion.

Since the famous coup speech of late Sani Abacha on December 31, 1983 that the country’s health services were in shambles, and hospitals had been reduced to mere consulting clinics without drugs, water and equipment, the health sector has not shown promises of improvement.

Unfortunately, 42 years after these observations were made by the powers that were, the healthcare sector is still defined by lack of government’s commitment. This is particularly worrisome when viewed against the background of Nigeria’s growing population, currently characterized by low life expectancy, high maternal and child mortality rates.

Globally, Nigeria is ranked 157th out of 191 countries by WHO in the areas of quality health delivery performance. As the largest oil producer in Africa and 16th largest in the world, it is untenable for Nigeria not to provide robust funding for the health sector, given the country’s huge earnings from crude oil sales.

Even among African countries, Nigeria is rated poorly in healthcare provision. In a report released by The Legatum Institute, a London-based global healthcare assessment organization, Nigeria was ranked 11th out of 12 African countries with poor healthcare system. The countries include Central African Republic, South Sudan, Chad, Lesotho, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland (Eswatini), Liberia, Guinea, Angola, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

Despite this poor performance ranking, no concerted effort is being made by government to improve quality service delivery, as budget allocation to the health sector has been on the downward swing. Since leaders who determine the condition of the sector, do not utilize the facilities due to poor services, it means the Nigerian healthcare system is designed to service the health needs of the poor and common Nigerians, and not the leaders.

The poor premium placed on the health sector by Nigerian leaders has obviously prevented them from knowing that there is a correlation between robust funding of healthcare system and a healthy workforce, and by extension, robust economy. A vibrant economy is contingent upon a healthy population and a healthy workforce, as health is a critical contributory factor to economic development. This is the reason advanced economies invest so much in healthcare services, a contrast to Nigeria’s healthcare sector that is troubled by incapacity, unable to address mounting health challenges in the country.

The healthcare delivery system in Nigeria is executed through public and private facilities. Unfortunately, the private healthcare providers are also enmeshed in unprofessional conduct driven by pecuniary motive. Most of them take advantage of the country’s weak systemic policies to deliver poor health services. Regulatory authorities like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) are not doing enough to enforce professionalism and standards in the country’s healthcare system.

I recently lost a friend to prostrate operation in one of the private hospitals in Lagos. Prior to the operation, he walked into the hospital by himself, looking normal. But what he took to be a proactive step to avoid future complications ended his life. He was admitted under a health insurance cover managed by an HMO on executive plan with full options. But rapid deterioration of his health in the hospital triggered scepticism on whether quality of treatment was commensurate with subscribed insurance plan.

There are numerous public complaints about HMOs conniving with private hospitals to render inadequate and poor services for financial gains. Most of these hospitals deliberately delay diagnosis and treatment until approval is obtained from HMOs, notwithstanding conditions of patients and category of insurance plans. The NHIA which carries out accreditation of HMOs before approval must look beyond this process to ensure they are continually monitored during operations.

My late friend’s case reminded me of the case of a professional colleague, Yusuph Olaniyonu, who narrated how God spared his life and given another chance to live again at 58. His experience also proved that without connection at the top, patients can die out of share negligence and abandonment without consequence.

After undergoing six major operations and three minor procedures for prostrate, his survival was still on a cliff edge, necessitating the intervention of the Minister of Health through the help of ThisDay Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki. This intervention notwithstanding, he had to be flown to Egypt where he underwent successful corrective surgical operations.

It is depressing to know that out of about 34,000 general hospitals, 21,000 primary health centres and 60 teaching hospital and federal medical centres located across the country, only about 41,000 hospitals are functional.

Government must therefore reorder its priorities to make health facilities efficient, affordable and reliable to enable both leaders and poor Nigerians alike to receive treatment in-country, as against resort to medical tourism which cost Nigeria approximately $1.6 billion annually.

As political momentum builds toward the 2027 general elections, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, founder of the Disciples of Jagaban (DOJ) and a key figure in the Tinubu Support Movement, has declared that ‘Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have neither the influence nor the credibility to turn the North against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.’

In a strongly worded statement, Alawuje cautioned politicians ‘engaging in underground ethnic and religious politics,’ insisting that every move is being closely monitored.

‘Be warned. There is no political or ethnic scheme you can execute without the awareness of our agents. The North will not be deceived again,’ he said.

Recalling Tinubu’s pivotal role in the 2015 elections, Alawuje said history will not forget how the then-APC National Leader ‘stood firmly with the North when it mattered most.’

‘At that crucial moment, Tinubu traversed the region, convincing millions who once opposed Buhari to support him. The North has not forgotten that selfless act,’ he stated.

He described the North as ‘a region of loyalty and honour,’ stressing that it would ‘reward Tinubu with its votes again in 2027.’

The Tinubu loyalist accused Atiku of masking a ‘Northern agenda’ while alleging that Peter Obi was ‘hiding behind religious sentiments.’

‘Both are playing hypocritical politics of the highest order. No propaganda will turn the North against its trusted ally from the Southwest,’ he declared.

Citing recent remarks by the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, who noted that ‘Nigeria has pulled back from the brink of economic collapse,’ Alawuje commended President Tinubu’s ‘bold and transformative reforms.’

‘Tinubu is performing exceptionally well-transforming Nigeria’s economic and developmental landscape. Nigerians only need patience,’ he added.

Praising the President’s resilience amid criticism, Alawuje said Tinubu’s governance had silenced detractors.

‘Despite social media ‘economists’ sowing fear, Tinubu has proven them wrong. He is a courageous and visionary leader-an economic reformer and a true champion of human development,’ he said.

Alawuje urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s ongoing reforms and resist divisive politics, saying, ‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made us proud. He has laid a solid foundation for Nigeria’s future.’

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has begun tree-planting campaign in Ondo State, as part of efforts to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability across Niger Delta.

The initiative, aimed at ensuring a greener environment, had earlier been launched in Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo states in partnership with the Foundation for Sustainable Development Options (FOSDO), an environmental solutions non-governmental organisation.

This development comes amid reports of several coastal communities, particularly in southern Nigeria, being devastated by gully erosion.

Speaking yesterday at a one-day sensitisation workshop and tree-planting event held in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with the theme: ‘Reawakening the Practice of Tree Planting’, the Acting State Director of NDDC, Dr. Asonye Victor-Ngozi, said the initiative became necessary in view of the severe ecological impact of erosion across Niger Delta communities.

He noted that the campaign underscored the commission’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, describing the exercise as a practical demonstration of NDDC’s dedication to safeguard the environment.

‘Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating greenhouse effects, improving air and water quality, and sustaining biodiversity,’ he said.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FOSDO, Dr. Anthony Chovwen, lauded NDDC for funding and supporting tree-planting campaigns across the nine Niger Delta states.

Represented by Ms. Abigail Bokoyeibo, the FOSDO Ondo State programme director, Chovwen said the region was not immune to the effects of climate change, adding that the campaign aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability.

‘Through this collaboration, we have conducted sensitisation programmes and environmental education projects, reaching more than 1,000 young people in secondary and primary schools across Niger Delta,’ she said.

Delivering a keynote address, Dr. Menakai Kekwaru, an environmental zoologist from the University of Port Harcourt, highlighted the growing threat of climate change caused by human activities that increased carbon emissions and heated the planet.

Dr. Michael Rotimi Olujugba, a lecturer at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, emphasised the vital role of trees in sustaining life and reducing noise pollution.

He urged all tiers of government to implement policies promoting afforestation, noting that ‘anyone who cuts down a tree should be mandated to plant three new ones.’

The event featured practical tree-planting sessions involving students from participating schools, including Community Primary School, Kofawa; Caring Heart Mega School; Ilaje High School and Community Grammar School, Igbokoda.

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, accompanied by his wife, Olori Abiwunmi Owoade, made a significant courtesy visit to High Chief Habeeb Olalekan Okunola, the Akosin of Yorubaland on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

This meeting took place at High Chief Okunola’s private residence in Lekki, Lagos, and underscored the intention to strengthen collaboration between the Alaafin and his chiefs, with the aim of fostering development in Yorubaland.

During the visit, High Chief Okunola reflected on the historical significance of the occasion, noting that the immediate past Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, had also paid him a visit while offering prayers and counsel.

He expressed gratitude for the new Alaafin’s visit, seeing it as a pivotal moment that heralds a fresh chapter in the partnership between himself and the Alaafin throne. ‘I consider myself fortunate to have received this visit,’ he stated. ‘The implications of this meeting extend beyond mere formality; it symbolizes a renewed commitment to foster development and empowerment for the people of Oyo and, indeed, all of Yorubaland.’

High Chief Okunola emphasized that he shares a vision aligned with the Alaafin’s mandate for the advancement and prosperity of Yoruba land. His long-standing efforts through the Habeeb Okunola Foundation, dedicated to community development and empowerment, will be invigorated by the discussions held during this visit. ‘This engagement strengthens my resolve to work toward the greater good of our community,’ he added.

In response, Alaafin Owoade articulated the importance of the visit, highlighting that Chief Habeeb has been a steadfast supporter since his accession to the throne. ‘My visit to Chief Habeeb’s residence is one that brings me immense joy. His insights have been invaluable to me, and our discussions have addressed critical issues facing our communities. This meeting is an opportunity to deepen our bond and enhance collaboration aimed at promoting development throughout Yoruba land,’ he added.

As a gesture of respect and tradition, the Alaafin offered prayers to his ancestors by breaking kolanuts, bitter cola, and alligator pepper, seeking divine blessings for peace, growth, and prosperity across Yoruba land.

This visit is poised to mark a new era of partnership between the throne of Alaafin and its chiefs, signaling a mutual dedication to uplifting the Yoruba people and fostering a progressive future for their rich cultural heritage.

The Global Director of BudgIT, Oluseun Onigbinde, has called on state governments to deepen fiscal reforms and build stronger local economies that can sustain their ambitions without overdependence on federal allocations.

Speaking in Abuja at the 10th anniversary of the State of States report, Onigbinde said the initiative was conceived from a simple belief that every public kobo meant for citizens should be traceable, justified, and used to improve lives.

He said the State of States report, which began a decade ago as a modest effort to promote fiscal transparency, had become a national benchmark for assessing governance at the subnational level.

‘Every year, we gather not just to present numbers, charts, or fiscal rankings,’ he said. ‘We gather to hold up a mirror – a mirror that reflects the choices our state governments are making, the paths they are taking, and the opportunities they are either seizing or leaving on the table.’

Onigbinde noted that when the project began, only five states in the federation published their budgets, but today, transparency has become a competitive advantage among governors who now await the report’s rankings with keen interest.

He acknowledged the progress made over the years, crediting it to citizens’ growing demand for accountability and the emergence of reform-minded leaders who understand the power of data in governance.

‘Governors now wait eagerly – sometimes nervously – to see where they stand. Citizens have stronger voices. Data has become a lever for accountability. We celebrate that progress sincerely,’ he said.

However, the BudgIT chief warned that despite the gains, Nigeria remains at a fiscal crossroads. He pointed to the widening gap between potential and performance in many states, adding that inflation and debt obligations were rising faster than household earnings and revenue reforms.

‘We must be honest with ourselves,’ Onigbinde said. ‘Many states still rely excessively on federal allocations rather than building resilient local economies. The gap between potential and performance remains wide.’

He said the essence of this year’s report was not to name winners or losers, but to encourage collective responsibility toward building sustainable governance structures that prioritize human development and economic opportunity.

‘Today’s conversations are therefore not about winners and losers. They are about ensuring that children can learn in safe classrooms, that small businesses can thrive without being strangled by taxes or power costs, and that basic healthcare is not a privilege but a guarantee,’ he added.

Onigbinde emphasized that the State of States report is not merely BudgIT’s publication, but a public resource and a call to action for leaders and citizens alike.

‘Nigeria’s future is not shaped only in Abuja,’ he said. ‘The engine of national prosperity must fire in Kano, Enugu, Bauchi, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, and across every corner of this federation.’

He thanked BudgIT’s partners and reform advocates in government who, despite challenges, continue to push for improved governance and accountability.

As the report marks its 10th anniversary, Onigbinde urged state governments to move beyond transparency checklists and adopt innovation-driven policies that prioritize education, healthcare, and infrastructure as the pillars of sustainable development.

‘Let us build states that can fund their ambitions through innovation – states that see transparency not as a box to tick but as a foundation for trust,’ he said.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, urged subnational governments to use the current surge in federal allocations to build sustainable, people-centered economies rather than expand recurrent expenditures that do little to improve citizens’ lives.

Speaking on the theme ‘A Decade of Subnational Fiscal Evolution,’ Oyedele commended BudgIT for sustaining ten years of evidence-based fiscal analysis, describing the report as ‘a consistent, unblinking light on the financial health of Nigeria’s states.’

‘Today, we are not merely launching another report,’ Oyedele said. ‘We are marking ten years of fiscal X-rays-ten years of holding a mirror to our subnational governments and asking a profound question: what have we done with the resources entrusted to us?’

Oyedele observed that the 2025 edition of the report comes at a defining moment for Nigeria’s fiscal landscape. Since May 2023, he noted, the country has witnessed sweeping economic reforms including the removal of fuel subsidy, floating of the naira, and tax restructuring – measures that, despite their pains, helped to avert a potential economic collapse.

He revealed that the total Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) transfers nearly doubled within a year, from ?5.4 trillion in 2023 to ?11.4 trillion in 2024, as a result of these reforms.

‘States are receiving more money than ever before,’ he said. ‘But there is a paradox – while governments have more naira, ordinary Nigerians have less disposable income in their pockets. Fiscal abundance does not automatically translate into social prosperity.’

According to Oyedele, the report shows that 21 states now rely on federal allocations for at least 70% of their total revenue, an indication that FAAC dependency has worsened over the past year.

Nonetheless, he highlighted several bright spots in revenue generation, noting that Enugu grew its internally generated revenue (IGR) by 381%, Bayelsa by 174%, and Abia by 129%. Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Anambra, and Edo, he said, continued to display resilience through steady IGR performance.

Oyedele urged states to convert their current windfalls into sustainable fiscal capacity, taking advantage of new tax laws that expand VAT shares, assign the electronic money transfer levy entirely to states, and offer tax exemptions for government bonds to reduce borrowing costs.

The 2025 report ranked Anambra as the best-performing state, followed by Lagos, Kwara, Abia, and Edo. Akwa Ibom and Zamfara were also commended for significant improvements.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. AbdulLateef Shittu, commended BudgIT for sustaining the State of States report for a decade, describing it as a credible tool for promoting fiscal transparency and accountability across Nigeria’s 36 states.

Shittu said the theme, ‘A Decade of Subnational Fiscal Analysis: Growth, Decline and Middling Performance,’ presents an opportunity for honest reflection on the progress made and areas requiring deeper reforms.

He said BudgIT has remained a vital civic partner in improving citizen access to public finance information, while the NGF continues to use such independent assessments to drive evidence-based dialogue on state performance.

According to him, the World Bank-supported States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme helped institutionalise budget credibility, debt transparency, and audit integrity, creating the data foundations that make such reports possible.

He added that the ongoing State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme is extending the reform frontier beyond fiscal transparency to improving the business climate at the subnational level.

Shittu said both programmes demonstrate what can be achieved when incentives, data, and collaboration align between government, civil society, and development partners.

He emphasized that transparency is not an end in itself but a continuous journey. ‘Each state faces unique fiscal realities. What matters is refining data, improving dialogue, and strengthening mutual accountability,’ he said.

The NGF, he added, will continue to provide a platform for peer learning and engagement among states, while partnering with civil society to sustain fiscal reforms.

He congratulated BudgIT on the 10th anniversary of the State of States report and commended development partners for their consistent support to subnational governance reforms.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting fiscal transparency and governance reforms in Nigeria, describing sound fiscal management as a cornerstone of effective service delivery and inclusive growth.

Speaking on behalf of the Foundation’s Country Director, Mr. Uche Amaonwu, at the launch of BudgIT’s 2025 State of States report in Abuja, Deputy Director for Program Advocacy and Communications, Ekenem Isichei, commended BudgIT for a decade of promoting accountability in public finance.

Amaonwu praised the State of States report as one of Nigeria’s most credible measures of subnational fiscal health, noting that it has evolved beyond rankings to highlight how governance decisions directly impact citizens.

He said the 2025 edition, themed ‘Growth, Decline, and Middling Performance,’ reflects the uneven progress across Nigeria’s 36 states and underscores that fiscal performance is ultimately a question of governance – about how decisions are made, resources are managed, and people are served.

He linked the Foundation’s partnership with BudgIT to its broader goal of improving health outcomes through stronger fiscal discipline. Good governance and sound fiscal systems, he said, ensure that budgeted health funds reach the frontline, that facilities are staffed, medicines are available, and mothers and children receive quality care.

According to him, subnational fiscal management directly influences the success of public health campaigns against diseases such as polio, malaria, and measles, and determines the effectiveness of healthcare delivery at the primary level.

Amaonwu urged states to strengthen public financial management practices such as budget profiling, cash forecasting, and post-mortem budget reviews to ensure better fiscal outcomes.

He cited Kaduna State’s coordination between its budget and health ministries as evidence that governance-centered transparency delivers results.

Closing his remarks, he emphasized that fiscal transparency is not an end in itself but a means to ensure every naira allocated to health, education, and human capital delivers real impact. ‘Fiscal health is human health,’ he said. ‘When governance is transparent and accountable, it becomes the bridge that connects both.’