Category: PM News

The Federal Government has confirmed that another group of Nigerians stranded in South Africa will arrive in Lagos on Thursday evening as the ongoing evacuation exercise continues.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the ministry said the fourth repatriation flight, operated by Air Peace, is scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 7.30 p.m.

According to the ministry, the aircraft departed South Africa with 284 passengers, comprising 272 adults and 12 infants. Two government officials are also travelling on the flight to oversee the operation.

The statement said: ‘The expected time of arrival of the 4th evacuation flight from South Africa today, operated by Air Peace at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, is 7.30pm.’

The latest operation forms part of the Federal Government’s continuing effort to bring home Nigerians who opted to leave South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks and heightened security concerns.

It is the fourth flight organised under the evacuation programme aimed at assisting affected Nigerian citizens to return safely to the country.

A former Zenith Bank employee, Richard Agulu, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how he allegedly processed cash deposits running into billions of naira for former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Agulu testified as the third prosecution witness in the alleged ?7.8bn fraud case filed against Emefiele by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

While being cross-examined by defence counsel, Mathew Burkaa, SAN, the witness said he received large cash sums from Eric Ocheme, identified in court as Emefiele’s personal assistant.

He said the money was either paid into the accounts of Ifeabigo Integrated Services and Kelvito Integrated Services or kept in the bank’s vault.

According to Agulu, the instructions for the transactions were passed to him through telephone conversations with Ocheme.

He told the court that the directives allegedly came from Emefiele.

‘For every transaction, I followed normal banking procedures. I was given a verbal waiver by my superiors to attend to the defendant’s transactions,’ the witness said.

Agulu, however, refused to name the bank officials who allegedly gave him the verbal approval when pressed during cross-examination.

He maintained that he acted on instructions and approvals from his superiors while carrying out the transactions.

Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Yusuf Halilu on charges bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, unlawful possession of property and conferring corrupt advantage.

The EFCC alleged that large sums of money were moved through company accounts, including Kelvito Integrated Services and Ifeabigo Integrated Services, in transactions linked to the former CBN governor.

Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court adjourned the matter for continuation of trial.

Nigeria’s external reserves have climbed from $3.99 billion in May 2023 to $50.11 billion, while annual tax collections have risen from ?12.3 trillion to ?28.3 trillion, according to a new Economic Snapshot Report (2023 vs 2026) released by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

The report, which reviewed the country’s economic performance from President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, to mid-2026, said Nigeria has moved from ‘crisis management into a consolidation phase’ following major policy reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market, implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and tax reforms.

According to the report, the administration inherited an economy weighed down by four major structural challenges: an unsustainable fuel subsidy, multiple foreign exchange windows, weak oil production caused by theft and underinvestment, and a tax system operating below its revenue potential.

It said these reforms had since produced measurable improvements across several economic indicators.

The report showed that GDP growth increased from 2.74 per cent in 2023 to 3.89 per cent by the first quarter of 2026, while headline inflation, which stood at 22.2 per cent in April 2023 and later peaked at 34.8 per cent in December 2024, declined to 15.9 per cent in 2026.

The NRS also reported that the country’s balance of payments moved from a $3.34 billion deficit at the beginning of the administration to a $2.38 billion surplus in the first quarter of 2026.

It attributed the turnaround to the removal of fuel subsidy, exchange-rate unification and tight monetary policy maintained by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

According to the report, Nigeria’s external reserves rose from $3.99 billion to $50.11 billion, the highest level recorded in 17 years, providing import cover well above international adequacy thresholds.

On public finance, the report stated that although total public debt increased from ?87.4 trillion in 2023 to ?159.28 trillion, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio declined from 38 per cent to 32.3 per cent, marking what it described as the first sustained decline in more than a decade.

The report explained that the increase in the naira value of public debt largely reflected the revaluation of external debt following exchange-rate reforms rather than fresh borrowing.

It also noted that the share of government revenue used for debt servicing dropped from 68 per cent to a projected 53 per cent, while cautioning that reducing debt-service costs further remains an important priority.

The oil sector also recorded significant changes.

According to the report, crude oil and condensate production increased from 1.2-1.3 million barrels per day in May 2023 to 1.9 million barrels per day by May 2026, representing 102 per cent of Nigeria’s OPEC quota.

The report linked the increase to intensified security operations against pipeline vandalism and crude theft, as well as continued implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, which it said improved investor confidence in the upstream petroleum sector.

The report also highlighted major changes in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry.

Domestic refining capacity, it said, expanded from 30,000 barrels per day in 2023 to about 700,000 barrels per day by mid-2026.

It added that about 90 per cent of Nigeria’s petrol demand is now supplied through local refining, diesel imports have dropped to zero, and Nigeria recorded its first-ever net petrol export in March 2026.

According to the report, these developments were driven largely by the commercial operations of the Dangote Refinery, the NNPC-Dangote crude-for-naira arrangement and regulatory support from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The report further stated that Nigeria’s trade balance improved from a marginal surplus of ?44.7 billion in 2023 to a ?7.55 trillion surplus in the first quarter of 2026.

It noted that while crude oil remains the country’s dominant export, exports of refined petroleum products increased by 51 per cent year-on-year to ?6.78 trillion during the period under review.

The report also highlighted improvements in foreign investment and the capital market, attributing them to increased investor confidence following macroeconomic reforms.

According to the NRS, capital importation rose sharply from $1.03 billion in the third quarter of 2023 to $10.37 billion in the first quarter of 2026, with portfolio investment accounting for the largest share of inflows. The report noted that while foreign direct investment remained below four per cent of total capital inflows, Nigeria’s improved foreign exchange liquidity and tighter monetary policy helped attract increased foreign capital.

On the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), the report said the All-Share Index climbed from 55,738 points in May 2023 to 242,278 points by mid-2026, while market capitalisation expanded from ?30.36 trillion to ?155 trillion.

The report attributed the rally to improved macroeconomic stability, foreign exchange reforms, the Central Bank’s bank recapitalisation programme between 2024 and 2026 and continued growth in pension fund assets, which now exceed ?17 trillion. It described the sustained growth as a reflection of renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms.

On revenue mobilisation, the report said tax collections recorded significant growth during the review period.

It stated that total collections increased from ?12.3 trillion in 2023 to ?21 trillion in 2024 and ?28.3 trillion in 2025, while collections for the first half of 2026 stood at ?21.6 trillion, representing a 49 per cent year-on-year increase.

According to the report, the non-oil share of revenue collections now accounts for 76 per cent of total collections, while Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio improved from 10.3 per cent to 13 per cent.

The NRS attributed the gains to the rollout of the national e-invoicing system for large taxpayers, the implementation of four major tax reform laws that took effect on January 1, 2026, and the transformation of the Federal Inland Revenue Service into the Nigeria Revenue Service, which consolidated tax and non-tax revenue collection under one institution.

The Nigerian Red Cross Society, NRCS, Kogi State branch has sought the collaboration of governments, public office holders, and well-meaning individuals in the state in advancing its operational objectives on meeting the needs of vulnerable groups, health emergencies, and disaster management.

The state chairman of NRCS Comrade Benjamin Ajodo made the appeal in Lokoja on Tuesday at the investiture of new honorary members of the group.

The new members included the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf; the Head of Service, Barrister Faridat Yusuf Musa; the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Media, Ismaila Isah; and the Executive Secretary of the Kogi Sta Health Insurance Agency, Dr. David Adekunle Aledare.

‘We are gathered here not merely for a ceremony but for a fortification of our mission. In a world, and indeed a nation, frequently tested by disasters, health crises, and economic shifts, the Nigerian Red Cross Society remains the first line of defence for vulnerable communities’ Ajodo said.

He noted that the Society was deliberately expanding its ‘Circle of Humanity’ by bringing respected leaders on board to champion humanitarian causes and mobilise greater support for vulnerable citizens.

‘Your investiture today is a recognition of past integrity and, most importantly, a call to future action. By accepting this honorary membership, you are not just receiving a certificate; you are donning a mantle of neutrality, impartiality, and voluntary service.

‘The Red Cross cannot do it alone. The synergy we celebrate today between the Society and the leaders of our state is the engine that will drive our humanitarian goals to every corner of Kogi State-from Lokoja to Okene, from Idah to Kabba.’

The Branch Chairman used the event to appeal to the Kogi State Government and development partners to help strengthen the operational capacity of the Society through the provision of a befitting state headquarters, a fully equipped ambulance and an annual subvention to support emergency operations, volunteer training and community outreach, assuring that every assistance will be managed prudently.

‘Wear the Red Cross emblem with pride and responsibility. Let it remind you that wherever there is a human being in need, there is an opportunity for us to demonstrate the best of our collective humanity.’

Responding on behalf of the others, the Head of Service, Barrister Faridat Yusuf Musa, thanked the NRCS for the recognition and pledged the unwavering support of the awardees toward advancing the organisation’s humanitarian vision.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has rejected allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that he abused medical privileges and violated a court order.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai described the ICPC’s July 7 statement as inaccurate in both facts and law.

The statement said El-Rufai’s absence from court on July 6 resulted from unresolved health concerns already communicated to the ICPC before the hearing.

It alleged that his personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, was denied access to examine him despite prior coordination with the commission’s medical personnel.

According to the statement, the family later requested that El-Rufai be taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for a medical consultation scheduled for July 7.

It maintained that the medical request predated notification of the July 6 court sitting in Kaduna and was consistent with an existing court order.

The statement argued that El-Rufai’s health condition made the journey to Kaduna impossible, contrary to the ICPC’s claim that he refused to attend court.

It also faulted the commission’s account that El-Rufai had no immediate medical complaints and only sought to see his physician at his wife’s request.

The rebuttal stated that the prosecution attempted to present its account from the Bar without calling witnesses or tendering evidence before the court.

It added that the defence objected, insisting such allegations required sworn testimony and cross examination.

According to the statement, the court adjourned the matter until July 15 to hear El-Rufai’s recusal application and await a decision on a pending transfer petition.

The statement further argued that the ICPC omitted key facts, including an April 1 court order guaranteeing El-Rufai access to medical care while in custody.

It denied claims that El-Rufai violated any court order during his hospital visit, insisting no order restricted who could see him while receiving treatment.

The statement said the April 1 order only required the ICPC to facilitate medical access and imposed no additional conditions.

It accused the ICPC of changing the approved hospital appointment from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. without prior notice to the family.

According to the statement, El-Rufai remained briefly in a public area awaiting his medical report, during which visitors greeted him.

It argued that the commission’s claim of a political gathering ignored the fact that ICPC officials controlled the visit and security arrangements.

The statement described access to medical care as a legal right protected by the court order and the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

It warned that any restriction of El-Rufai’s access to medical care, family or legal counsel would attract contempt proceedings against the commission.

The statement also questioned the arrest of Prof. Abubakar, demanding details of the alleged false statements attributed to the physician.

It called for the professor’s immediate and unconditional release pending disclosure of the allegations against him.

The statement maintained that no court order had been disobeyed and insisted the ICPC had complied with, rather than breached, the medical access order.

It urged the commission to retract its July 7 statement alleging violation of a court order.

The statement reaffirmed El-Rufai’s commitment to defending his right to a fair trial, medical care of his choice and treatment in accordance with the law.

Former Kano governor and running mate to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed claim that Northerners will not vote for the party in the 2027 general election.

Kwankwaso said this while reacting to an interview granted by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to Channels Television on Monday.

Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, had in the interview said Northerners will not vote for Peter Obi in the 2027 election.

He said this was because Northerners believe Peter Obi will take steps to divide the country if elected.

But Kwankwaso, in a statement published on his social media handles on Tuesday faulted the assertions of the former governor.

He said the claim by Sherrif indicated that time has not sharpened his judgment despite his long absence from public discourse.

Kwankwaso also dismissed the claim by the former Borno governor that Peter Obi cannot command sizeable support in Northern Nigeria in 2027.

The former Kano governor backed his assertions with statistics of performance of the former Anambra governor in the 2023 election as the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the North.

‘It is curious that he has appointed himself spokesperson for the Northern masses. For the record, in his first outing on the presidential ballot, Mr. Obi secured approximately 2.8 million votes in the region – a remarkable achievement that cannot be dismissed lightly’

He added that with the current state of the country under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC as well as his addition to the presidential ticket, the NDC will be a formidable force in Northern Nigeria in 2027.

‘Given the current national hardships, the widespread consensus on the failure of the APC administration, and the addition of a strong Northern figure to the ticket who previously garnered 1.45 million votes in the region, the OK ticket remains a formidable force in Northern politics,’ Kwankawaso said.

He also faulted the claim that the people of Kano will note vote for Peter Obi in 2027.

The former Kano governor advised Sheriff to focus on security challenges in his state, Borno in his subsequent media outings instead of politics.

‘Even more surprising was Senator Sheriff’s assertion that the people of Kano would not vote for Mr. Obi. Let me state clearly: the good people of Kano are neither bigoted nor xenophobic. They have consistently demonstrated strong trust in the Kwankwasiyya movement and will support any credible ticket presented under its banner.

‘I respectfully advise Senator Sheriff that, in future national television appearances, he would do better to speak to the serious insecurity and humanitarian challenges facing his home state, rather than making divisive and poorly considered remarks.

‘The OK ticket currently represents the best opportunity for Nigerians to reset the country and place it on a path of competence, unity, and progress’

The controversy over the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has taken a fresh turn after its embattled acclaimed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, questioned how a body the Presidency described as non-existent found its way into the national budget.

Adeyemi said he was ready to cooperate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission after President Bola Tinubu ordered a 30-day probe into the activities of the purported agency.

Speaking during an Instagram interview with social media personality VeryDarkMan, Adeyemi said he would submit documents in his possession to security agencies to assist the investigation.

‘I am willing and ready to help security agencies or any panel set up by Mr President to unravel the truth,’ he said.

‘In fact, any moment from now, I will go to the DSS or the police to submit all the documents I have to help them investigate and look into this matter.’

Adeyemi said investigators should authenticate the documents and determine how the council became linked to government processes.

‘They should authenticate them. They should verify them. They should unravel the truth,’ he said.

He also questioned the Presidency’s position that the council was fake, saying he did not understand how a non-existent agency could appear in the national budget.

‘When the Presidency, through the Chief of Staff, said the agency does not exist, I wondered how an agency that found its way into the national budget could suddenly be described as fake,’ he said.

Adeyemi added that he was in detention for 23 days during the period the budget was being prepared and insisted that he neither prepared nor defended any budget.

‘I did not prepare or defend any budget, and nobody went to defend it on my behalf. That is why I am confused about how the agency found its way into the national budget,’ he said.

On his allegations involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Adeyemi said he would prefer an independent investigation to determine the truth.

‘I wouldn’t say he’s lying, and I wouldn’t say he’s telling the truth. That is why I requested that Mr President set up an investigative panel to unravel the truth, so we will know those involved,’ he said.

The Presidency has maintained that the Federal Government never established the PFIPC and that the body has no legal backing, presidential approval or lawful instrument.

Tinubu has directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forged appointment letters, official documents, bank accounts and diplomatic engagements linked to the purported agency.

The ICPC is expected to submit its report within 30 days.

UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa(UBA) Group, has strengthened its commitment to financial education by partnering with Slum2School Africa to deliver a hands-on financial literacy workshop for underserved children, equipping them with essential money management skills from an early age.

At the heart of the initiative was the UBA Money Explorers Book, an engaging learning companion designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of financial literacy through interactive stories, practical money ledgers, games and activities.

The programme also introduced pupils to the UBA Red Vault, a savings product created to encourage healthy financial habits from childhood.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, underscored the importance of introducing children to financial education early, noting that such interventions help build lifelong habits that foster confidence, responsibility and economic independence.

‘Every child deserves the tools to dream bigger and plan better, regardless of where they come from,’ Atta said. ‘When we teach a child to understand money, we are giving them confidence, choice and a clearer sense of what is possible.

Our partnership with Slum2School Africa enables us to reach children who stand to benefit the most, and seeing their enthusiasm as they learn reminds us why this work is so important.’

The workshop benefited from the expertise of the Slum2School Africa team, led by Senior Programmes Manager, Adekunle Idowu, and Education and Innovation Manager, Oluyemi Alugo, whose contributions helped create an engaging and impactful learning experience for the children.

Speaking on UBA’s commitment to nurturing financially responsible young people, UBA’s Segment Executive, Children and Youth Banking, Ozioma Obi, said the initiative reflects the Bank’s broader vision of raising a financially confident generation.

‘We are creating products and experiences that make banking simple, relatable and enjoyable for children from their very first lesson,’ Obi said. ‘The Money Explorers Book and the UBA Red Vault are designed to make saving exciting rather than a task. When children begin this journey early, they develop habits that will serve them throughout their lives. That is how we nurture informed, empowered and financially responsible future generations.’

The initiative forms part of UBA Foundation’s broader financial inclusion and social impact agenda, which promotes education, youth empowerment and community development through innovative learning programmes and grassroots outreach across the Group’s twenty African countries of operation.

Members of a police patrol team early Wednesday killed two suspected kidnappers in response to a distress call in Ilu Abo community, along the Akure-Owo Expressway of Ondo State.

Abayomi Jimoh, the spokesperson for Ondo Police Command said in a statement that the suspected kidnappers were killed by operatives of a patrol team from the Federal Highway Unit, Ilu-Abo.

He said the operatives had responded to a distress call about presence of gunmen at Olaiya Block Industry, located beside Ilu-Abo High School along the Akure-Owo Expressway.

The spokesperson said preliminary reports indicated that about seven masked gunmen invaded the premises of the block industry and demanded to see the owner.

But acting swiftly on credible intelligence, the police patrol team mobilized to the scene, where they engaged the suspects in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

He added that during the gun battle, two of the suspected kidnappers were killed, while the remaining members of the gang escaped into the surrounding bush with varying degrees of injuries.

The Ondo Police Command spokesperson added that one locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks, as well as two ATM Cards believed to belong to the criminal syndicate or their victims were recovered at the scene of the encounter.

‘The bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, for preservation and other necessary procedures, while the case has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet and comprehensive investigation,’ Jimoh said.

The Ondo Police spokesperson further informed that efforts to track and apprehend the fleeing members of the gang, who are believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter have commenced.

He therefore advised residents, particularly healthcare providers and members of the public to promptly report any individual presenting suspicious gunshot injuries or exhibiting suspicious movements to the nearest police station.

Jimoh said the operation further underscored the unwavering resolve of the Ondo Police Command to rid the State of kidnapping and other violent crimes.

‘The Command remains steadfast in its commitment to deploying intelligence-led policing, strengthening operational responses, and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven within Ondo State.

‘The Command equally appreciates members of the public for their continued cooperation and encourages them to provide timely and credible information that will aid ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal elements,’ the spokesperson concluded.

The Senate has resolved to await the outcome of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigation before taking further action on the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and its ?1.302 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu (Kano South), who called for an investigation into the budgetary allocation, operations and controversy surrounding the purported council to protect the integrity of the Senate, the National Assembly and the Federal Government’s budget process.

Presenting the motion under Order 9, Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders 2026, Kawu described the issue as a matter of grave institutional concern, noting that the PFIPC had been publicly disowned by senior Presidency officials as a fake, fictitious and unauthorised body.

Despite this, he said, the agency appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act under Budget Code 0111062001 with an allocation of ?1.302 billion, comprising ?802.98 million for personnel costs, ?200 million for overhead and ?300 million for capital expenditure.

The lawmaker warned that unless the circumstances surrounding the allocation were thoroughly investigated, public confidence in the country’s budget process and the oversight role of the National Assembly would continue to erode.

He also urged the Senate to condemn what he described as administrative lapses, possible internal collaboration or fraudulent acts that allowed a purportedly non-existent agency to be captured in the national budget.

Kawu proposed that the Senate Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as well as Appropriations, be mandated to investigate the matter.

However, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, advised against launching an immediate parliamentary probe, noting that President Bola Tinubu had already directed the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the controversy.

Barau said the Presidency had activated the appropriate investigative process and urged the Senate to await the commission’s findings before taking legislative action.

‘The Presidency has taken up this matter by directing that the ICPC should investigate fully how this matter came to be. The marching order has been given and I think the ICPC has started.

‘To me, I believe that what we need to do at this stage is to have the report of the ICPC, and then we can act on that report and deal with it as we feel appropriate,’ he said.

The Senate subsequently adopted the proposal to await the ICPC’s report before determining its next course of action.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the PFIPC and all matters connected to the controversy, with a mandate to submit its report within 30 days.