Category: PM News

Professor Kunle Macaulay, a renowned Christian leader and theological expert widely known as the Father of Theology in Africa, has cautioned politicians against using churches to seek political favour, urging religious leaders to protect the sanctity of their institutions from partisan interests ahead of elections.

Macaulay, in a statement sent to PM News on Monday, stressed that churches should remain dedicated to the worship of God, spiritual growth and the fulfilment of their religious responsibilities, rather than becoming platforms for political manoeuvring, personal promotion or the pursuit of political influence.

He expressed concern over what he described as the growing tendency to introduce activities and interests that could distract religious institutions from their core mission, citing the increasing emphasis on fashion, entertainment and music in some church settings.

According to him, the church occupies a sacred position in society and should not allow external pressures or the ambitions of political actors to undermine its spiritual purpose.

He particularly warned against situations in which politicians seek the favour of pastors and church leaders through financial inducements, stressing that such practices could compromise the independence of religious institutions and weaken public confidence in their moral authority.

Macaulay urged Christian leaders to exercise caution when engaging with politicians, insisting that religious institutions must maintain their integrity and avoid becoming instruments for advancing political ambitions.

He also called on politicians to respect the independence of the church and refrain from using religious gatherings to pursue personal or electoral interests.

According to him, churches should provide moral guidance, promote spiritual development and encourage values that contribute to a peaceful and responsible society, regardless of the political affiliations of their members.

Beyond his concerns about the relationship between religion and politics, Macaulay criticised the government’s performance, calling for greater attention to the welfare and everyday challenges of Nigerians.

He identified insecurity, unreliable electricity supply, the high cost of education and inadequate access to affordable healthcare as critical issues requiring urgent government intervention.

He maintained that the success of any administration should be measured by its ability to protect citizens, improve access to essential services and create conditions that enable individuals and families to live with dignity.

Macaulay further argued that effective governance required more than political promises, urging public officials to maintain regular engagement with citizens, listen to their concerns and develop practical solutions to the challenges confronting their communities.

He stressed that leaders should remain connected to the people they govern, noting that understanding citizens’ needs was essential to formulating policies that could deliver meaningful improvements in their lives.

The theological expert also cautioned the government against interfering in the affairs of the church, insisting that public officials should concentrate on their constitutional responsibilities while allowing religious institutions to manage their spiritual affairs independently.

He maintained that a clear distinction between political authority and religious responsibility was necessary to preserve the integrity of both institutions.

A coalition of water justice organisations across Africa has called on governments to reject water privatisation and increase public investment in water infrastructure to guarantee affordable and reliable access to safe water for all.

The Our Water, Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) made the call in a statement marking the 2026 Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation, under the theme, ‘Reclaiming Africa’s Water Future: Public Water for All.’

The statement was read on Monday, October 26, at Ogba, Lagos.

The coalition argued that transferring responsibility for public water services to commercial interests would deepen existing inequalities, particularly for low-income households and underserved communities.

‘OWORAC therefore calls on governments across the continent to ensure that Africa’s water future is shaped by the needs, rights and voices of the people who depend on water every day,’ the statement said.

It expressed concern over the growing reliance on public-private partnerships, concessions, commercial tariffs, prepaid water meters and other arrangements that increase private-sector participation in water service delivery.

According to the coalition, ‘over the years, untold sums have been poured into efforts to privatise public water systems where that money and political will could be otherwise better spent on directly meeting the needs of people.’

While acknowledging the urgent need for investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, OWORAC maintained that the approach adopted by governments was equally important.

‘Where access to water becomes increasingly dependent on people’s ability to pay before access, existing inequalities can be deepened rather than resolved,’ it said.

The coalition also warned that privatisation schemes had a record of failures extending beyond unaffordable services to include infrastructure neglect, labour abuses and environmental degradation.

It added that inadequate public investment and administrative failures should not be used to justify transferring essential public responsibilities to private companies.

Citing the scale of the global water crisis, OWORAC said 2.1 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water in 2024, while 3.4 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation.

It noted that 167 million people in sub-Saharan Africa relied on limited drinking-water services in the same year, accounting for more than half of the global population using services at that level.

The statement said the situation disproportionately affected low-income households, rural communities and underserved urban and peri-urban settlements.

For many of these communities, the absence of reliable public water services meant relying on unsafe water sources or purchasing water from vendors, public standpipes, private boreholes, tankers and packaged-water suppliers without adequate guarantees of quality and safety.

The coalition cited research indicating that low-income households dependent on water vendors in urban sub-Saharan Africa could pay between 10 and 20 times more per unit of water than wealthier households connected to public networks.

‘This is a poverty penalty in which those with the lowest incomes can end up paying the highest prices for an essential service,’ it said.

OWORAC further raised concerns about the management of sanitation, wastewater and solid waste, warning that poor sanitation infrastructure and unmanaged waste continued to contaminate water bodies, undermine public health and worsen flooding in African cities.

It argued that outsourcing environmental services did not necessarily resolve these problems and could aggravate them.

The coalition cited allegations involving multinational water companies to support its concerns about private-sector involvement in essential services.

It referred to a 2025 report by Global Witness concerning Veolia, a multinational company involved in water and environmental services, which reportedly found that footage from a landfill managed by the company in Colombia appeared to show untreated leachate being discharged into waterways flowing into protected wetlands.

The statement also referred to allegations by the Gabonese state that petroleum waste had been found in ‘nearly all’ pumping stations following years of Veolia’s operations in the country.

It further accused Suez, another multinational water company, of controlling urban and peri-urban water systems in Senegal to the detriment of local communities and workers, alongside allegations of significant financial mismanagement.

The coalition said such concerns had become more pressing as droughts, floods, pollution and other climate-related disruptions intensified water insecurity across the continent.

‘Ordinarily, these realities should compel governments to strengthen public water institutions, publicly invest in resilient infrastructure and ensure that every community can rely on safe water,’ it said.

‘Instead, public-sector weakness is increasingly treated as an invitation for commercial intervention. OWORAC rejects this logic.’

The coalition insisted that Africa’s water future should be built around effective public institutions, adequate funding, resilient infrastructure and community participation rather than increased dependence on private investment.

‘Africa’s water future cannot hinge on attracting more private investment. It must be built on functioning public water systems that people can rely on,’ the statement added.

It urged governments to strengthen public water institutions, invest in water infrastructure and workers, improve data collection and planning, protect public water resources and ensure that communities participated in decisions affecting their access to water.

OWORAC also pointed to the African Union’s designation of 2026 as the Year of ‘Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063’, alongside the launch of the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy.

It said the 2026 United Nations Water Conference offered another opportunity to advance commitments on water and sanitation, but stressed that the commitments must translate into concrete action.

As part of its advocacy, the coalition said it had developed a position paper titled Implementing the Africa Water Vision 2063: An OWORAC Coalition Position on Water Justice, Public Financing and Democratic Water Governance.

The document examines opportunities and gaps in implementing the continental water vision and proposes measures to promote human rights, public accountability, adequate public financing and democratic governance of water resources.

Among other demands, the coalition called on African governments to make universal access to safe, affordable and reliable water and sanitation services a public responsibility and a human right.

It also urged governments to establish measurable national and regional financing commitments, including public investment benchmarks for water and sanitation, and adequately fund public water institutions and utilities.

Other demands included transparency in water-related contracts, agreements, financing arrangements, tariffs, allocations and expenditures, as well as meaningful participation by communities, workers, women and other affected groups in water governance.

The coalition called on governments to reject ‘privatisation, commercialisation, concessions, public-private partnerships, management and lease contracts, outsourcing, prepaid water-meter systems, and other arrangements that transfer the control or delivery of public water services to commercial interests.’

The statement was signed by 11 organisations, including the Senegalese Water Justice Network, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Amaka Nweke Foundation, Water Citizens Network/Revenue Mobilisation Africa, Disability Not a Barrier Initiative, Cheriehomes Global Initiatives, Christian Initiative for Nation Building, Green Scenery, Voices for Water, Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya, and Corporate Accountability International.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed a N10 billion fundamental human rights suit filed by Abuja-based businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Achimugu had approached the court for determination of whether the defendant, EFCC’s action of searching her house and seizing her cars and jewelries and other items was within the powers of the Commission.

She also asked the court to enforce her rights to privacy, including an order of the court restraining the defendant from threatening or harassing and invading her private residence.

Part of her claim was for the court to award a N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) damage against the EFCC for what she described as invasion of her privacy.

Delivering judgment in the suit on Monday, October 10, 2026, Justice Justice M.S. Liman dismissed the suit and held that the defendant has the power to search the plaintiff’s property after receiving intelligence on the alleged criminal activities of the plaintiff.

‘EFCC has the right to search the residence,’ he said.

The judge said that Achimugu and her legal representatives failed to show reason to warrant the kind of damage she demanded from the EFCC and equally dismissed the request for N10 billion damages.

On the whole, Justice Liman agreed that there was nothing that should have stopped the EFCC from carrying out its statutory duties. The court therefore held that the matter lacked merit and was dismissed because ‘it is frivolous and it was brought in bad faith’.

The damage she sought was also denied.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the EFCC, Emenike Mgbemele said the judgment was in the interest of justice, adding that the suit was a ploy to waste the time of the court.

Hon. Suleiman Abubakar Magaji, North Central Zonal Youth Coordinator of the City Boy Movement (CBM), has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening grassroots political engagement and youth participation across the region ahead of the 2027 general election.

Magaji made this known on Saturday at a solidarity rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, organised by the North Central Grassroots Mobilisation Network and hosted by Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The rally attracted prominent political leaders, government officials, youth groups and political stakeholders from across the region, including APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; First Lady Oluremi Tinubu; members of the party’s National Working Committee; governors; and other senior party leaders.

Magaji’s participation formed part of his ongoing political engagement and mobilisation activities aimed at strengthening youth participation and building grassroots connections across the North Central geopolitical zone.

Speaking after the gathering, he said the turnout demonstrated the importance of sustained community engagement, organised mobilisation and active youth participation in the political process.

‘The work has been stressful, but it is worth it. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made my job better because his works are there to see. All I have been doing is to point the youth of North Central to the achievements of our government, and they have all agreed with me that the President deserves a second term,’ Magaji said.

‘As you can see, the rally was filled with young people. We have met with a lot of our people, and they are seriously ready to vote massively for President Tinubu and the APC in 2027.’

Magaji Sets Five-Million-Vote Mobilisation Target

Magaji expressed confidence in the potential of coordinated grassroots engagement to generate substantial support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

He disclosed that his team was working towards a mobilisation target of more than five million votes for the President across the North Central region.

‘As the North Central Zonal Youth Coordinator, I can assure President Tinubu that the youths of North Central are ready to give him over five million votes,’ he said.

He noted that achieving the target would require more than attendance at major political gatherings, emphasising the importance of sustained engagement with communities, stronger local networks and consistent outreach to eligible voters.

According to Magaji, effective political mobilisation depends on the ability to bring people together, coordinate activities across different communities and maintain relationships with grassroots stakeholders beyond major events.

He said his focus was to strengthen these structures across the North Central states and the Federal Capital Territory, working with youth organisers and other political stakeholders to expand participation in the political process.

The five-million-vote figure represents Magaji’s stated mobilisation ambition for 2027.

Highlights Tinubu Administration’s Policy Initiatives

In explaining his support for the President’s re-election bid, Magaji highlighted federal government initiatives in education, infrastructure, energy and consumer finance.

He cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides eligible students with access to approved educational loans, as an important intervention aimed at reducing financial barriers to higher education.

He also referenced major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, alongside the compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP).

According to him, these programmes form part of the administration’s efforts to pursue economic reforms, improve infrastructure and expand opportunities for Nigerians.

He maintained that political engagement must include explaining government policies and creating opportunities for citizens, particularly young people, to understand the objectives of public programmes and participate in discussions about the country’s development.

Magaji also acknowledged the importance of addressing public concerns about economic conditions, security and the cost of living, noting that continued engagement with communities would remain necessary ahead of the next general election.

Recognises Seyi Tinubu, Tosin Shoga and APC Leadership

Magaji acknowledged the leadership and guidance of Seyi Tinubu within the City Boy Movement, recognising his contribution to the movement’s activities and its engagement with young Nigerians.

He also commended the movement’s Director General, Tosin Shoga, popularly known as Shoga Francis Oluwatosin, for his role in coordinating its activities and advancing its organisational objectives.

Magaji said effective leadership, coordination and cooperation between the movement’s leadership and its grassroots structures were important to sustaining political engagement across the country.

He further expressed appreciation to APC leaders and other stakeholders for providing opportunities for young people to participate in political activities and contribute to the party’s mobilisation efforts.

He noted that building stronger grassroots structures required consistent engagement, organisational discipline and collaboration between youth organisers and established political stakeholders.

Focus on Grassroots Engagement Across the North Central

The North Central region, comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states, alongside the Federal Capital Territory in the broader regional mobilisation framework, occupies an important place in Nigeria’s political landscape.

For Magaji, the task ahead is to strengthen engagement across these areas, expand local networks and encourage greater participation among young people and other eligible voters.

He said major political gatherings provided opportunities to bring stakeholders together, but that the long-term work of mobilisation depended on consistent community outreach and effective coordination at the grassroots level.

He expressed optimism that continued engagement, combined with communication of the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes, would help strengthen support for the President ahead of the 2027 election.

Magaji reiterated his commitment to expanding youth participation and working with political stakeholders across the region as preparations for the next general election continue.

The Nigeria Police Force has listed arrest of a suspect allegedly connected to the killing of two people at Kurun Kudu Fulani Settlement in Kebbi State among the recent achievement of operatives in operations across the country.

The arrest of the suspect who reportedly confessed to conspiring with another individual, who is still at large was contained in 24-hour summary of police operations released by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Monday.

He listed the achievements to include arrest of a suspect linked to the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl by police detectives in Cross River.

The child was rescued and taken for medical examination, while the suspect remains in custody.

In Lagos, police operatives arrested seven suspected cultists following a cult-related clash in the Ijesha area.

The suspects are being held as detectives investigate the incident, which was reported as a murder case.

Police operatives also arrested five suspects after a cult-related clash in Okpoko. Two victims who sustained severe injuries were rescued by security operatives.

Also, a suspect allegedly linked to the killing of an 18-year-old man was arrested in Kano.

The suspect reportedly confessed to the crime and remains in custody.

In Rivers State, police operatives arrested two suspects allegedly involved in the transportation and receipt of stolen vehicles.

The recovered vehicles comprised two Toyota Camry cars, one Toyota Corolla and a shuttle bus. Police said efforts were ongoing to track down other members of the suspected gang.

Iniedu added that in Akwa Ibom State, a suspect was arrested along Oron Road while allegedly in possession of a stolen tricycle.

Investigators are working to apprehend other suspected gang members.

A joint police operation at Ubulu-Nor community of Delta State led to the arrest of a suspected kidnapper with two live cartridges and one expended cartridge reportedly recovered from the suspect.

Also in Delta State, a suspected cultist and armed robbery suspect were arrested following intelligence reports.

A locally made firearm, two live cartridges and a cutlass were recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.

Iniedu also revealed that a stop-and-search operation by the police in Katsina led to interception of a vehicle conveying a large quantity of railway tracks and sleepers suspected to have been vandalised.

Two suspects were arrested, while the recovered materials were secured as exhibits.

Iniedu said the cases are being investigated by the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCIDs), with further arrests expected as officers pursue suspects who remain at large.

The Air Component of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, has neutralised more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including a prominent commander, in an air strike on a terrorist enclave in Borno State.

Captain Mohammed Goni, Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, disclosed this in a statement on on Monday.

The operation was carried out on October 10, 2026, at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.

Goni said the intelligence-driven operation followed credible reports that ISWAP fighters had assembled in the area to launch coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3.

He explained that the Air Component responded by conducting targeted aerial surveillance, identifying terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities before executing a precision strike on a building occupied by the fighters.

According to Goni, preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessment indicated that more than 40 terrorists, including a prominent ISWAP commander known as a Qaid, were neutralised during the operation.

He added that the strike also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations.

Goni said the destruction of the assets had significantly weakened the terrorists’ operational capacity and disrupted their planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities.

He disclosed that further intelligence indicated that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile unit responsible for conducting patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist activities in the area.

According to him, the destruction of the enclave and its associated operational assets represents a major setback to the group’s ability to launch attacks and sustain its activities in the Lake Chad region.

Goni said further assessments were ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted during the air strike.

He noted that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led, technology-enabled and coordinated air operations in dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting hostile activities and restricting the movement of armed groups.

Goni added that troops under Operation Hadin Kai remained committed to sustaining coordinated air and ground operations to eliminate terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities and strengthen security across the North-East.

He said the Joint Task Force would continue its operations to degrade terrorist capabilities and support efforts to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.

The Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, plc, and its Director, Zavyalov Dmitry were on Monday arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged money laundering offences involving N582,430,250.00.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Dmitry who is at large and the company on a six-count amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/644/2025 before Justice O. A. Egwuatu.

According to the charge, the company, a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession, DNFBP, and Its Director, Dmitry, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) single transfers made from the company’s account between March and July 2024, as required under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

This was contained in a statement by Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency on Monday.

The transfers include N147,515,050.00 in March 2024, N156,026,860.00 in April 2024, N121,425,200.00 in May 2024 and N127,338,190.00 in July 2024, all paid to UDATSON NIGERIA. Others are N15,124,950.00 paid to Urico Global Services in April 2024 and N15,000,000.00 paid to one Christopher Azogu in June 2024.

Count one reads: ‘That you, Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Limited, plc, a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP) and Zavyalov Dmitry (at large) being Director of the said DNFBP sometime in March, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a single transfer of the sum of N147,515,050.00 (One Hundred and Forty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Fifty Naira) paid into UDATSON NIGERIA from account no. 1013726291 operated by Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc as specified under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 11 (3), 19(2) (b), and 22 of the same Act.’

Count two: ‘That you, Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria, plc, a. Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP) and Zavyalov Dmitry (at large) being Director of the said DNFBP sometime in April, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a single transfer of the sum of N156,026,860.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Twenty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty Naira) paid into UDATSON NIGERIA from account no. 1013726291 operated by Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc as specified under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 11 (3), 19(2) (b), and 22 of the same Act.’

Count four of the charge sheet reads, ‘That you, Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc, a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession and Zavyalov Dmitry (at large) being Director of the said DNFBP sometime in May, 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to report in writing to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a single transfer of the sum of N121,425,200.00 (One Hundred and Twenty One Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand, Two Hundred Naira) paid into Udatson Nigeria from account no. 1013726291 operated by Aluminium Smelter Company Of Nigeria Plc as specified under section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 11 (3), 19(2) (b), and 22 of the same Act.’

Lead counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the offences are punishable under sections 11(3), 19(2)(b) and 22 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

When the charges were read, the company’s Acting Managing Director, Ime Monday Inyang, pleaded not guilty to all six counts on its behalf.

Counsel to the company had asked the court to quash the charges, claiming that the company was innocent of the charges.

In view of the plea, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to January 27, 2027, for commencement of trial.

Youth-led movements across the country gathered with the sole aim to review the candidates for the forthcoming 2027 elections. Among these are the Omoluwabi Movement of Africa, the 4th Thribe, and the Coalition of Concerned Youths (CCY). These organizations, reflecting the aspirations and energy of a new generation, have come together across party lines to form a unified front in endorsing Adebayo as their presidential candidate in the 2027 presidential election.

This coalition not only emphasizes the importance of political experience and a defined ideological direction but also seeks to engage young voters who are eager for a new chapter of freshness for the country.

The involved groups are characterized by their commitment to fostering civic engagement, advocating for social justice, and driving inclusive political discourse. The Omoluwabi Movement, for example, emphasizes integrity and moral values in leadership, while the 4th Thribe champions a progressive agenda that prioritizes the needs of the youth. The CCY focuses on uniting young voices to influence policy changes and promote good governance.

Together, these movements represent a powerful force in the political landscape, signaling a shift in how leadership is perceived and executed. By endorsing Adebayo, they are not just supporting a candidate; they are endorsing a vision for a brighter future that resonates with the needs and aspirations of the youths while also giving a big boost to his growing popularity.

According to the MIP Nigeria, Prince Adebayo’s candidacy stands out through his extensive experience managing firms and his passion for youth development. Having served in various capacities and leadership roles, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.

Adebayo is not just another candidate; he stands out with a well-defined ideological framework that resonates with the values of the youths. His vision encompasses empowerment, educational reform, and a commitment to sustainable development.

By aligning his goals with the interests of the youths, Adebayo creates a sense of ownership and involvement among young voters, motivating them to participate actively in the electoral process.

His ideological direction is crucial in a political environment that often lacks clarity and purpose. Young voters today are not merely looking for someone to vote for; they seek a leader who embodies their beliefs and aspirations such as Pa Awolowo did in the past. Adebayo’s clear stance on key issues positions him as a candidate that the youths can rally around.

Lawyer and actor Kenneth Okonkwo has accused Taiwo Oyedele of misleading Nigerians over the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount, alleging that the Tinubu administration has effectively reintroduced fuel subsidy while refusing to acknowledge it.

Okonkwo made the allegation during an appearance on Channels Television, where he challenged the government’s insistence that the temporary reduction in petrol prices was a discount rather than a subsidy.

‘Sorry to say this, Taiwo Oyedele lied when he said it was not subsidy. It was subsidy,’ Okonkwo declared.

He argued that the government’s decision to reduce petrol prices from about N1,500 to N1,350 per litre amounted to a subsidy because the intervention was intended to ease the financial burden on Nigerians.

‘What were they trying to do? They were trying to reduce cost. They acknowledged by themselves that the cost was becoming unbearable for the people and they have to intervene to give relief for the people,’ he said.

Okonkwo maintained that the measure met the definition of a subsidy, describing it as financial assistance intended to reduce costs or achieve economic and social objectives.

‘And they say it’s not subsidy. Then the whole idea of subsidy has to be redefined. Because what he did is exactly the definition of subsidy,’ he added.

The lawyer alleged that the administration was reluctant to describe the intervention as a subsidy because it had repeatedly ruled out restoring the petrol subsidy.

He also referred to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s position that the government should introduce measures to ease the hardship facing Nigerians, regardless of what such measures were called.

Mocking the government’s handling of the policy, Okonkwo compared its approach to a student copying another person’s answers during an examination.

‘In the examination hall, when you are copying the answer of your fellow classmate, you will always copy even the words you should not copy,’ he said.

Kenneth Okonkwo’s allegation adds to the controversy over the government’s temporary petrol price intervention and whether it represents a return to fuel subsidy or a separate relief measure.

The Federal Government has maintained that the discount does not amount to the return of fuel subsidy, a position Okonkwo disputes.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has appointed Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his new Chief of Staff following the resignation of Segun Ogunwuyi.

The appointment, which takes immediate effect, comes after Ogunwuyi stepped down from the position on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Makinde also approved the appointment of Aderonke Adedayo as Director-General of the Oyo State Due Process Office.

The appointments were announced in separate letters signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde.

Akinwole, a grassroots politician, previously served as Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission.

Adedayo, who currently serves as Special Adviser on General Intervention and Donor Agencies, will retain her existing position while taking on her new responsibilities.

Governor Makinde congratulated the two appointees and urged them to discharge their duties with loyalty, commitment and dedication to the service of Oyo State.