Category: Daily Trust

The House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating the existence and inclusion of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the Federal Government’s budget framework has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any wrongdoing in connection with the controversial council.

The Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau) disclosed this yesterday while presenting the preliminary findings of the committee to journalists at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The committee was constituted by the House following the adoption of Resolution 68/07/2026 on July 8, 2026, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of the ‘fictitious’ PFIPC in the federal budget framework and determine its legal status, funding, activities and persons connected to it.

Among the institutions invited by the committee during the investigative hearings were the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), State House, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Others included the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Gagdi stressed that the findings were preliminary and did not constitute the committee’s final report or the final position of the House.

Daily Trust reports that the purported Director General of the council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, had accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a 48 per cent kickback from N27.3bn take-off grant allegedly approved for the PFIPC. He also claimed to have paid N400m to Gbajabiamila through a proxy to secure the appointment.

However, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi or authorising anyone to act on his behalf and subsequently filed N15bn defamation suit against him.

In the suit, he is seeking N10bn in general damages, N5bn in aggravated damages, N200m as the cost of the action, and an order directing Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and apology in five national dailies.

Gbajabiamila acted promptly, says panel

Presenting the committee’s preliminary findings, Gagdi said there was no evidence that Gbajabiamila authorised, established, approved or participated in the activities of the ‘phantom’ council.

Rather, the committee said documentary evidence showed that the Chief of Staff took steps to alert relevant security and law enforcement agencies after concerns about the organisation were brought to his attention.

According to the committee, official correspondence showed that concerns about the purported organisation had previously been brought to Gbajabiamila’s attention.

It said that following an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) over suspected fraud and misuse of institutional materials, the Chief of Staff acted within one day by communicating with the police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Services and anti-corruption agencies and initiating administrative verification.

The committee said further concerns, including those surrounding a proposed World Investment Summit, prompted additional communications requesting investigation and appropriate action.

‘Documentary evidence before the committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the purported organisation,’ the committee said.

It consequently commended Gbajabiamila for his response to the alerts and recommended that his timely interventions be formally acknowledged.

58 bank accounts, 12 entities linked to ‘DG’

The committee said its preliminary findings linked about 58 bank accounts as well as 12 companies, foundations and other entities to Adeyemi.

It also identified what it described as institutional lapses within government agencies, including the Budget Office of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, in relation to the recognition and processing of documents connected to the purported organisation.

Among the entities uncovered include Confederation of United Nations Youths, FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership, Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, United Nations Youth Global Agency, United Nations Youth Global Foundation, World United Nations Youth Global Foundation, World Entrepreneurship University Limited, World Enterprise University Limited, FCT Investment Promotion Act, FCT Promotion Agency and Olubadan of Ibadan Foundation.

The panel observed that similarities in names, objectives, management structures, signatories and banking relationships raised concerns that multiple organisations might have been created or deployed using government, international, investment, educational, charitable and United Nations-related identities to create credibility.

However, the committee stressed that it had not concluded that every account, entity or transaction identified was unlawful.

The committee said it was reconciling registration records, account mandates, beneficial ownership information, signatories and transaction histories to establish the true nature and control of the accounts and entities.

The panel said its findings were based on oral testimony, documentary evidence, financial records and submissions received from relevant institutions and individuals.

‘PFIPC does not exist in law’

The committee said its investigations so far found no valid Act of the National Assembly, gazetted enactment, presidential executive order or other lawful instrument establishing the PFIPC.

It said none of the competent federal authorities had produced an authentic record showing that the organisation was created, approved or authorised by the President, Federal Executive Council, National Assembly or any other legally empowered institution.

The committee also observed that the organisation operated under different descriptions, including the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

It said the inconsistent nomenclature, alongside the documentary evidence before it, undermined any claim that the organisation was a legitimate federal institution.

The lawmakers said they examined a document purporting to appoint Adeyemi as Director General of the organisation and allegedly bearing the authority and signature of the Chief of Staff to the President.

According to the committee, evidence from the State House established that no such appointment was made or approved by the Presidency.

It said Gbajabiamila neither issued nor signed the letter and that the letterhead was not an authentic State House letterhead.

The panel also noted that the purported reference number was found to be inconsistent with the official referencing system of the State House, while the format and language of the letter differed materially from genuine official correspondence.

‘The committee therefore preliminarily concluded that the appointment letter was fabricated and falsely attributed to the Presidency.’

It also examined a purported approval for the take-off of the organisation and a document described as ‘Presidential Executive Order No. 5 of 24 February 2026’.

The panel said available evidence indicated that the documents did not emanate from the Presidency or any competent federal authority.

It described the alleged fabrication of an executive order as particularly serious because such an instrument carries the authority of the President.

The committee further said a document presented as an Act of the National Assembly establishing the purported organisation was never enacted by Parliament.

It described the alleged act as an affront to the legislative authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The panel said no individual or organisation could lawfully manufacture legislative authority by editing or fabricating a document and presenting it as an enactment of parliament.

The committee said it also uncovered a letter dated November 7, 2024, purportedly from the State House and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, requesting an administrative code for the PFIPC.

The letter was allegedly signed by one Akambi Adewale, described as ‘Director, Administration and Support Services’ for the Permanent Secretary.

However, the committee said State House evidence showed that the office cited in the letter did not exist. It also said no official known as Akambi Adewale served in the purported capacity and that the letter was neither issued nor authorised by the State House.

The committee said fictitious names, offices and designations appeared to have been used to mislead a key financial institution of the federal government.

Budget Office, AGF accused of institutional lapses

The panel accused the Budget Office of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation of possible institutional lapses in their dealings with the phony council.

The committee said although the Budget Office claimed to have been presented with documents purporting to establish the organisation as a federal institution, verification of the legal existence of an organisation should be a fundamental prerequisite before its recognition within the federal budget framework.

The committee said it was reviewing relevant correspondence, electronic records, approvals and actions to establish whether the lapses resulted from administrative weakness, negligence, circumvention of procedure, unauthorised facilitation or active complicity.

The panel similarly questioned the circumstances surrounding the response of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to the purported request for an administrative code.

The OAGF, according to the committee, confirmed that its response was an authentic communication, although the request that prompted it was allegedly forged.

The committee described the incident as a serious administrative and security lapse and said it would determine whether negligence, failure to follow verification procedures, breach of correspondence protocols or deliberate facilitation was involved.

‘Fake agency office at Federal Secretariat not officially allocated’

The committee’s investigation also revealed that the PFIPC occupied office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex without being allocated the facility by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The committee said evidence indicated that part of accommodation earlier allocated to the Office of the SGF was subsequently made available to the council by some officers without lawful authority.

It said the occupation of the facility was significant because it could have strengthened the organisation’s claim that it was a legitimate federal agency.

The panel said that the identities and responsibilities of officials involved in the alleged unauthorised allocation are still being investigated.

The panel also said that about 39 people were represented as employees of the council across junior, intermediate and senior cadres.

It, however, said it was still investigating their recruitment, appointment letters, identity cards, salaries and allowances.

N400m alleged transaction under investigation

Meanwhile, the committee said it has received complaints from individuals and organisations who claimed to have been deceived, offered jobs, promised contracts or investment opportunities, or induced to make payments based on representations that the PFIPC was a legitimate federal institution.

Of particular concern, it said, was the complaint of a company that alleged that Adeyemi induced it to pay about N400 million in four instalments.

The company allegedly made the payments on the understanding that it would receive a contract involving the renovation, furnishing or improvement of a residence purportedly allocated to Adeyemi in his capacity as the Director General.

The committee said it was tracing the payment destinations, identifying account holders and beneficial owners, verifying the ownership and status of the property and determining whether any public officer or other person participated in or benefited from the transaction.

It said that if established through competent investigative and judicial processes, the conduct could disclose offences including fraudulent misrepresentation, obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, conspiracy and forgery.

Beyond the alleged activities of the individuals and entities under investigation, the committee said it had identified systemic weaknesses within government institutions.

These included deficiencies in verifying the lawful existence of government institutions, creation and administration of budget and administrative codes, authentication and custody of official correspondence, verification of presidential appointments, allocation of government accommodation and processing of official number plates.

Panel’s recommendations

Pending the conclusion of the investigation, the committee, among others, recommended that all ministries, departments and agencies should refrain from recognising or transacting with the PFIPC or any related entity whose legal status had not been independently verified.

The panel urged financial institutions and investigative agencies to preserve all relevant account records, transaction histories, mandates and beneficial ownership information connected to the persons and entities under investigation. It further recommended that security and anti-corruption agencies conclude their investigations and coordinate evidence in accordance with the law.

The committee called for the preservation of relevant documentary and electronic evidence, including websites, devices, correspondence, properties and institutional records.

It also recommended enhanced authentication procedures by the Budget Office and Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for new institutions, budget codes, administrative codes and correspondence purportedly emanating from the Presidency or other high offices.

The panel proposed the establishment or strengthening of a centralised digital verification platform through which the legal existence and status of federal ministries, departments and agencies could be authenticated.

It further recommended an audit of office allocations within Federal Secretariat complexes and a review by the Federal Road Safety Corps of procedures for issuing official and special number plates.

The committee urged relevant agencies to trace, preserve, freeze and recover proceeds of any unlawful activity where supported by evidence and authorised by law.

Reps committee should have given Adeyemi fair hearing – CHRICED

The Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim Zikrullahi, has accused the House of Representatives committee investigating the PFIPC of lacking fairness and objectivity.

Zikrullahi said the committee’s decision to announce the discovery of 58 bank accounts and 12 entities allegedly linked to Adeyemi without giving him an opportunity to respond raised questions about the credibility of the investigation.

CHRICED executive director said due process was a constitutional requirement and should not be treated as a favour to anyone under investigation.

‘A man’s head cannot be shaved in his absence,’ he said.

Some residents of Zango and Kogo communities in Bwari Area Council, FCT have appealed to the district administration to expedite work on ongoing road construction projects in the communities.

The residents made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Bwari, Abuja.

The residents while lauding the government’s efforts to develop the areas after years of neglect noted that the quick completion of the roads would ease movement and improve livelihoods.

A resident of Zango community, Mallam Buhari Aminu, a tailor in the area, said the prolonged construction had worsened commuting.

According to him, motorists and commercial motorcyclists now spend more time and money navigating alternative routes or portions of the road under construction.

He said: ‘The situation has affected activities in the community, especially for some of us business owners, because our customers now find it difficult to access us, so business has slowed down.’

Aminu appealed to the contractors handling the projects to increase the pace of work, and urged them to ensure that the roads were completed to the required standard to avoid the need for sudden repairs.

He, however, commended the present administration of the council for initiating the road project, adding that its completion would improve accessibility, boost economic activities, and enhance the quality of life in Zango community.

Another resident of the community, Mrs Rita Felix, urged relevant stakeholders to closely monitor the ongoing project.

This, she said, was to ensure that contractors remained committed to agreed timelines and addressed challenges slowing down the construction.

‘This is so that the situation would not end up frustrating residents rather than earning applause for the government’s efforts,’ Felix said.

Similarly, Mr Matthew Ikenna, a business owner in Kogo II community, said the slow pace of work had made movement difficult for both residents and commuters.

Ikenna expressed concern over the effect of the prolonged construction on vehicles, saying motorists were spending more on fuel and repairs due to the frequent use of alternative roads and sometimes rough routes.

Ikenna also noted that the road was an important route connecting residents to the market, Ushafa, the Defence College camp, workplaces, health facilities, and other parts of the area council.

The chairman of the council, Joshua Ishaku, assured that his administration was working assiduously to ensure that challenges slowing down the road construction would be addressed soon.

Inspecting the ongoing asphalt overlay and construction of concrete drainage lines at Zango, linking Daban Avenue in the town, Ishaku acknowledged the importance of the road to the development of the communities.(NAN)

Ishaku said the council was concerned about the challenges residents were facing as a result of the ongoing construction.

The council chairman assured that efforts were being made to engage the relevant authorities and contractors on the need to accelerate work.

He added that the council would continue to monitor the projects and liaise with relevant stakeholders to ensure that construction was completed within the agreed timeframe and in line with required standards. (NAN)

A sworn declaration filed by the FBI in a US federal court has reaffirmed that Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a subject of a criminal investigation involving the agency and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the early 1990s.

The declaration, filed Aug. 28 before the US District Court for the District of Columbia, forms part of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit seeking access to US law enforcement records relating to Tinubu.

The FBI said the records sought in the case were ‘compiled in furtherance’ of its investigation of multiple individuals for drug-trafficking crimes, according to excerpts of the declaration published by Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York.

Tinubu’s team has dismissed the claims surrounding the FBI records.

The firm, which has been retained by former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said it obtained a large volume of records from the FBI and was reviewing and redacting some of the material before publication.

The latest filing follows an April 2025 ruling by US District Judge Beryl Howell, who found that public filings by the US Justice Department had already officially acknowledged that Tinubu was one subject of a criminal investigation involving, among other agencies, the FBI and DEA.

The judge consequently ordered the FBI and DEA to search for and process non-exempt records sought under FOIA.

The case was brought by Aaron Greenspan, who requested FBI records relating to Tinubu, including his entire FBI file and interview records from 1992 and 1993.

The records relate to a broader investigation into a Chicago-based heroin trafficking and money-laundering operation in the early 1990s.

The court’s 2025 ruling, however, did not find that Tinubu committed a drug-trafficking offence, nor did it amount to a criminal charge or conviction against him.

The FBI has continued to withhold or redact portions of the records, citing exemptions under US freedom-of-information law covering personal privacy, confidential sources, law enforcement methods and information that could endanger individuals.

Tinubu’s legal team has also challenged further disclosure of records in the case, according to recent court filings.

The renewed disclosure comes as Nigeria’s political parties prepare for the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku among opposition politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu’s administration.

Reacting to the development, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, dismissed the claims as politically motivated and accused Atiku of using a Washington-based lobbying firm to create controversy ahead of the 2027 election.

Dare described the campaign as ‘a clinical demonstration of desperation’ and said the materials being circulated did not constitute an intelligence breakthrough.

‘The coordinated media blitz orchestrated around a Washington D.C. advisory firm is not an intelligence breakthrough; it is a clinical demonstration of desperation,’ Dare said.

He questioned the credibility of the lobbying firm’s representations, arguing that its statements should not be presented as the position of the US government.

‘The incendiary press releases being carefully churned out from Washington are public relations propaganda sheets passed off as the view of the US Government,’ he said.

Dare also challenged those making allegations to produce evidence supporting claims about classified intelligence.

‘Sane minds must categorically dismiss these reports as fabricated, politically motivated, and entirely unsupported by evidence,’ he said.

‘We demand that they produce the so-called ‘highly classified intelligence report,’ identify their unnamed sources, and provide tangible evidence for their wild allegations.’

He alleged that publicly available US Department of Justice Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings showed that Atiku contracted Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. on a $1.2 million, 12-month retainer.

According to Dare, the arrangement was designed to ‘counterbalance’ Nigerian government narratives and use historical US judicial records for political leverage ahead of the 2027 elections.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come clean on the issues surrounding his educational background.

Obi, in a statement posted on his official social media handle, described the attempts to block the public release of foreign court records concerning his past, particularly documents as ‘profoundly embarrassing’ for Nigeria, arguing that matters of legitimate public interest should not be hidden behind legal shields.

‘Leadership, in my humble view, demands the courage and humility to confront one’s history – to acknowledge mistakes, provide candid explanations where questions arise, and, where necessary, apologize and seek forgiveness,’ Obi said.

He added that true authority is strengthened, rather than diminished, when leaders take personal responsibility instead of resorting to legal battles to conceal public records.

The NDC candidate noted that the issue becomes critical when it involves foundational primary and secondary educational credentials, stressing that such details should not remain unresolved or fought out through court proceedings.

‘Nigerians deserve clear, credible, and verifiable explanations, especially when such had been submitted in the past,’ Obi stated, emphasizing that questions over foundational schooling demand straightforward answers.

Obi expressed worry over the message these legal actions send to the country’s youth, particularly the more than 30 million students currently pursuing their education. He asserted that the Presidency-as the nation’s highest office-must serve as a benchmark for integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership.

While acknowledging that human imperfection is universal, Obi maintained that what distinguishes true leaders is their willingness to address past mistakes with honesty, make necessary amends, and place national interest ahead of personal political ambitions.

He added that while the presidency is an office held for a temporary season, the moral precedents set by its occupants leave a lasting impact across generations.

Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, has felicitated Vice President Kashim Shettima on his 60th birthday, describing his decades of public service as a testament to courage, resilience and commitment to Nigeria’s unity and development.

Dafinone, in a birthday message, said Shettima’s transition from the banking profession to the highest levels of public service had been marked by ‘distinguished public service, leadership and an enduring commitment to the unity and progress of our nation.’

The senator said he was joining Shettima’s family, colleagues and Nigerians across the country to celebrate the milestone, while commending the Vice President for the experience and dedication he has brought to national governance.

‘I warmly felicitate with His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the occasion of his 60th birthday,’ Dafinone said.

‘On behalf of my family, the people of Delta Central Senatorial District, I join his family, colleagues and Nigerians across the country in celebrating this significant milestone and honouring a life marked by distinguished public service, leadership and an enduring commitment to the unity and progress of our nation.’

Dafinone particularly highlighted Shettima’s career trajectory, from banking to serving as Governor of Borno State, Senator representing Borno Central and eventually Vice President of Nigeria, describing the progression as evidence of a life dedicated to public responsibility.

According to him, Shettima’s tenure as Borno State governor was especially significant because it came at a period of severe security and socio-economic challenges in the state.

‘His years in public office, particularly his stewardship of Borno State during a period of profound security and socio-economic challenges, have demonstrated courage, resilience and a willingness to serve the nation in difficult times,’ he said.

‘These are qualities that deserve recognition as he attains this important milestone.’

The Delta Central senator also commended Shettima’s role in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his experience in governance, public administration and economic affairs remained valuable to the country’s ongoing development efforts.

‘As he marks his 60th birthday, I commend the Vice President for the wisdom, experience and commitment he continues to bring to the service of our country and for his important role in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ Dafinone said.

He noted that Nigeria, at its present stage of development, required leadership that was purposeful, inclusive and firmly anchored in the national interest.

‘At a time when Nigeria requires leadership that is purposeful, inclusive and anchored in the national interest, I am confident that Vice President Shettima’s experience in governance, public administration and economic affairs will continue to contribute meaningfully to our collective efforts to strengthen the economy, deepen national unity and promote sustainable development,’ he added.

Dafinone prayed for many more years of good health, wisdom and fulfilment for the Vice President, urging God to continue to guide him in the discharge of his national responsibilities.

‘I join Nigerians, his family, friends and associates in wishing His Excellency many more years of good health, wisdom and fulfilment in the service of our nation,’ he said.

‘May Almighty God continue to guide and protect him, grant him strength and sound judgment in the discharge of his responsibilities, and bless him with many more years in which to contribute to the peace, unity and prosperity of Nigeria.’

A wife of a suspected terrorist, Yaganama Abdul, 45, has surrendered to troops of the Nigerian Army together with her two children in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Sources said she surrendered to troops of the 112 Task Force Battalion at about 4pm on August 28, after escaping from the Burari terrorist enclave.

The two children, who accompanied her, were identified as Yafatai Abdul, 9, and Guja Abdul, 4.

Preliminary interrogation conducted by the troops indicated that the family escaped from the enclave following violent clashes between rival terrorist factions operating in the area.

The escapees were subsequently profiled and documented by the troops as part of ongoing security and intelligence procedures.

The development provides security agencies with an opportunity to obtain further information on activities and internal dynamics within the terrorist enclave, particularly amid reported clashes between rival factions.

The federal government has announced plans to establish a Technology innovation hub in Taraba State.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this when he received a delegation of the Taraba State Youth Development Agency (TSYDA), led by Prince Gara Nongha, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

The minister also expressed his office’s readiness to deepen collaboration with Taraba State government to complement the ongoing efforts of Governor Agbu Kefas towards preparing young people for a productive future.

He disclosed that the technology hub proposed by the federal government is to provide opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire relevant digital and technological skills to participate meaningfully in the emerging digital economy.

The minister called on Taraba youth to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election to achieve the desired target for young Nigerians in the digital economy.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Taraba State Youth Development Agency (TSYDA) Prince Gara Nongha, said that the proposed technology innovation hub will also provide opportunities for young Tarabans to explore innovation ideas and business development.

The Nigerian Advocacy for Good Governance Alliance (NAGA-Diaspora) has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the continued hardship associated with the removal of fuel subsidy, saying millions of Nigerians are yet to benefit from the promised economic relief.

In a statement signed by its Global Coordinator, Tope Adesipo, the group said three years after Tinubu announced that ‘fuel subsidy is gone,’ Nigerians continue to face high petrol prices, rising transport fares, increased food costs and declining purchasing power.

NAGA said the government had repeatedly highlighted the fiscal savings generated by subsidy removal, but argued that the benefits had not translated into meaningful improvements in the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians.

The group said households were still struggling with rising living costs, while businesses faced increased operating expenses due largely to higher energy and transportation costs.

‘NAGA holds that a government that removes a major cushion without delivering visible, timely, and sufficient relief to the people who bear the burden has failed a basic test of governance,’ the statement said.

According to the group, announcements about improved macroeconomic indicators and plans to expand compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure were insufficient to address the immediate economic pressures confronting citizens.

‘Nigerians were told the pain would be temporary and that savings would fund development and social protection. Too many still wait for that dividend,’ NAGA said.

The organisation, however, commended former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for making the cost-of-living crisis a central part of his political message.

NAGA said Atiku had proposed a targeted, production-linked intervention aimed at reducing energy and transportation costs, improving the value of wages and easing pressure on households and businesses.

The group said his position that Nigeria, as a resource-rich country, should not leave its citizens to endure prolonged hardship reflected concerns shared by many Nigerians.

NAGA stressed that it was not advocating a return to the previous subsidy regime without safeguards.

‘Any future arrangement must be transparent, independently audited, capped, and tied to domestic production rather than a return to opaque import rackets,’ it said.

The group also called for greater transparency over the utilisation of funds saved from subsidy removal, saying Nigerians deserved clearer explanations about how the proceeds had been deployed.

It urged the Tinubu administration to urgently assess and account for the impact of its energy and fiscal policies on ordinary Nigerians.

NAGA also called on Nigerians in the country and abroad to assess political leadership based on tangible outcomes in their homes, markets and transport hubs rather than government statements.

‘The cost-of-living crisis is not an abstract debate. It is the daily experience of millions,’ the group said, adding that leaders who recognise the hardship and present credible solutions deserve serious consideration.

NAGA-Diaspora reaffirmed its commitment to promoting good governance, accountability and policies focused on improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has named Imo and Kwara governors, Hope Uzodinma and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, respectively, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors working against him.

Wike made the allegation during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

He also dismissed suggestions that his political activities were aimed at undermining APC governors.

The minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of increasing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike, while remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is openly supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

His relationship with some APC governors has consequently attracted attention, particularly as politicians across party lines position themselves around the emerging 2027 political configuration.

Wike’s strongest criticism was directed at AbdulRazaq, whom he accused of leading a campaign against him in political circles.

‘Take for example, Kwara, he has been the one championing this campaign against me everywhere. Yes, I have confronted him too. I don’t talk about what I cannot defend,’ Wike said.

According to the minister, AbdulRazaq had accused him of sponsoring politicians against the governor’s preferred candidates in Kwara.

Wike, however, said the governor should instead appreciate his role in providing a political platform for aggrieved APC figures who left the ruling party for the PDP.

He said such politicians could have joined the wider coalition opposed to Tinubu but chose to operate within the PDP, which he presented as evidence of the political accommodation he had provided.

The accusation comes as Kwara APC faces intense manoeuvring over the state’s political succession ahead of 2027.

AbdulRazaq, who is serving his second term, has been at the centre of competing interests within the party over who succeeds him.

Several APC governorship aspirants had earlier raised concerns over the direction of the party in the state, while the G15 group of APC stakeholders subsequently mounted a public challenge to the governor’s leadership of the party structure.

The contest has also produced competing endorsements, with different groups within the party backing preferred candidates for the 2027 governorship election.

In August, the Coalition of Kwara APC Young Stakeholders and Supporters endorsed Speaker Salisu Yakubu Danladi as its preferred candidate while passing a vote of confidence in AbdulRazaq’s administration.

Wike’s allegation against Uzodinma was less detailed but equally direct.

‘Governor Hope, he knows the support I give to him,’ he said, recalling that the Imo governor had at one point declined to support him.

The relationship between the two politicians has previously included periods of political interaction, with Wike publicly defending Uzodinma’s position after the Supreme Court overturned Emeka Ihedioha’s election as Imo governor in 2020.

The latest exchange comes as Uzodinma has continued to occupy a prominent position within the APC’s political calculations in the South East, while Wike has maintained his support for Tinubu despite remaining formally within the opposition PDP.

Wike, however, said the disagreements would not distract him from his stated objective of helping Tinubu secure another term in office.

He maintained that personal political disputes would not alter his commitment to the president’s re-election bid.

The former Rivers State governor also challenged those accusing him of working against APC governors to identify the support they had given him during his own political struggles.

He insisted that his political positions had never been hidden from the public.

‘Any Nigerian who knows me knows that I have never hidden my intention,’ Wike said.

The President of MAAUN Group of Universities, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has congratulated Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, describing him as an accomplished leader, bridge-builder, and achiever.

Professor Gwarzo, in a congratulatory message, commended the Vice President’s remarkable track record and his contributions to national development, noting that his journey from banking to public service as a Commissioner, Governor, Senator, and ultimately Vice President of Nigeria is a testament to his experience, dedication, and commitment to the service of the nation.

‘Your Excellency, on behalf of my family and the entire MAAUN community, I wish to warmly congratulate you on the occasion of your 60th birthday.

‘Attaining the age of 60 is a remarkable milestone, and it is particularly significant when viewed against the background of your accomplished career and contributions to the development of our dear country.

‘You are an accomplished personality who has risen through the ranks, from the banking sector to various positions of public responsibility, and eventually to become the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This remarkable journey is a testimony to your loyalty, integrity, experience, and commitment to the service of the people and the nation.

‘Your achievements as a banker, Commissioner, Governor of Borno State, Senator, and Vice President demonstrate your capacity for leadership and your ability to serve effectively in different spheres of public life. Your reputation as a bridge-builder and advocate of peace, unity, and development remains worthy of commendation.

‘At 60, you have every reason to look back with pride at the milestones you have achieved and the lives you have positively impacted. You remain a worthy example to the younger generation and an inspiration to those aspiring to contribute meaningfully to the progress of Nigeria.

‘On this auspicious occasion, I pray Almighty Allah to grant you many more years in good health, wisdom, peace, and continued success. May He strengthen you with greater capacity to serve the nation and grant you many happy returns of the day.

‘Once again, congratulations, Your Excellency, and best wishes for a long, fulfilling, and impactful life in the service of humanity and our great nation,’ Professor Gwarzo said.