The Arewa Think Tank has described allegations against the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, over the Frontier Exploration Fund as a plot to discredit the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group’s Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said the allegations should be treated with caution, particularly following Adedeji’s denial of the reports, which he described as sponsored fake news.
An online report had alleged that $279 million was transferred from the Frontier Exploration Fund’s account to unnamed accounts and claimed that Adedeji and the NRS were aware of the alleged movement of funds.
The report also alleged that the development had put the NRS chairman under pressure, with some stakeholders purportedly calling for a forensic audit of the fund.
However, Adedeji dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as an attempt to tarnish his reputation and that of the NRS.
‘That report is not true in any way. It is pure fake news sponsored by some jobless persons whose pastime is to throw mud at high performers in the President Tinubu government,’ he was quoted as saying.
Reacting to the controversy, Yakubu said the allegations were part of what he described as sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeting officials involved in the Tinubu administration’s reforms.
‘We are concerned about the growing pattern of sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeted at officials who are playing critical roles in the ongoing reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The latest allegations against the NRS Chairman are unfortunate and should not be allowed to distract the government from its reform agenda.’ he said.
Yakubu urged Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate scrutiny and politically motivated attempts to damage the reputation of public officials.
He said the Frontier Exploration Fund was established under Section 9 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to finance petroleum exploration activities in frontier basins where commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves had not been fully established.
He listed the relevant basins as Bida, Benue Trough, Anambra, Chad, Sokoto and Dahomey.
According to him, the fund supports activities including geological mapping, seismic surveys, exploratory drilling, appraisal wells, basin studies and other exploration-related activities.
Yakubu said the technical nature of the fund made it important for stakeholders and members of the public to rely on verifiable information rather than unverified online reports.
‘We must be careful not to turn every allegation on social media into a conviction. If there are genuine questions about public funds, the appropriate institutions should investigate them. But deliberately publishing allegations without establishing the facts is not in the interest of Nigeria,’ he said.
He also urged media organisations and online publishers to verify allegations and give accused individuals and institutions an opportunity to respond before publication.
‘Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental, but they must go together with responsibility. Journalists and publishers should verify their information, especially when allegations concern integrity, public funds and the reputation of public officials,’ Yakubu said.
He further warned against what he described as attempts by fifth columnists to use social media to create confusion and undermine public confidence in government institutions.
Yakubu said government officials should not be shielded from scrutiny but insisted that such scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based.
‘We are not saying that government officials should be above scrutiny. Far from it. What we are saying is that scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based. Where there are allegations, let the appropriate authorities examine them. But nobody should be condemned based on a story whose claims have not been substantiated,’ he said.
The Arewa Think Tank urged the NRS leadership to remain focused on its mandate and continue supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen revenue mobilisation, transparency and economic development.
The group also urged members of the public to verify contentious claims through credible official channels rather than relying solely on social media reports.
…..hails JAMB Registrar for clearing 5,000 pending complaints in five days
The Arewa Think Tank has commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, for clearing more than 5,000 pending complaints from candidates and other clients of the board within five days.
Convener of the group, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said Aina’s relocation to the Board’s Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) Unit to examine complaints demonstrated responsive leadership and commitment to public service.
‘We commend Prof. Segun Aina for demonstrating that leadership in a public institution is not merely about sitting in an office and issuing directives. His decision to personally engage with complaints and seek immediate solutions is a clear demonstration of leadership by example,’ Yakubu said.
The complaints covered biometric verification failures, payment and e-PIN difficulties, inappropriate examination venues, technical problems, lost phones and SIM cards, as well as issues involving the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
Other complaints involved changes to candidates’ names, dates of birth, states of origin and local government areas, while some concerned candidates who converted from Direct Entry to UTME and graduates whose names were missing from the National Matriculation List.
Yakubu said the clearance of the complaints showed that many bureaucratic challenges could be resolved when public institutions adopt a proactive approach.
‘These are not just technical complaints. Behind every complaint is a young Nigerian whose future may depend on gaining admission into a university, polytechnic or college of education. That is why the direct intervention of the Registrar is worthy of commendation,’ he said.
He urged other government agencies to adopt similar approaches to complaint management, saying citizens should not be made to move from one office to another endlessly before their genuine problems are resolved.
‘We congratulate the JAMB Registrar and his team on this achievement. Five thousand resolved complaints in five days is significant, but more importantly, it demonstrates what can happen when leadership listens, engages directly with citizens and acts decisively.
‘Our young people deserve a system that is fair, responsive and humane. We believe the current intervention is a step in the right direction, and we encourage the JAMB leadership to keep up the good work,’ he added.
Yakubu also urged JAMB to sustain the initiative and strengthen its complaint-resolution mechanism to prevent recurring challenges and improve public confidence in the Board.