General
Peter Obi Questions Tinubu’s Approval of NNPC Debt Cancellation
By Adedapo Adesanya
The presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has queried the decision of President Bola Tinubu to write-off about N8 trillion in debts owed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited despite unresolved audit queries running into trillions of Naira.
Mr Obi, in a statement titled Era of Financial Recklessness, described the reported debt forgiveness as alarming, especially at a time Nigerians are grappling with rising energy costs, inflation and heavier tax burdens.
“Just last week, it was alarmingly reported that the President approved the write-off of N5.57 trillion and $1.42 billion, approximately N8 trillion, in debts owed by NNPC, a company that recently announced profits and claimed it had turned a new leaf,” Mr Obi said in the statement on X, formerly Twitter.
He noted that the development comes amid ongoing audit investigations into NNPC over an alleged failure to account for N210 trillion, a figure he said exceeds Nigeria’s combined federal budgets between 2023 and 2026.
“For context, the total federal government budgets from 2023 to 2026 amount to about N178.56 trillion. Nigerians are still waiting for the outcome of the National Assembly investigation into the missing trillions,” Mr Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor questioned the rationale behind the debt write-off, pointing out that NNPC is also under scrutiny over trillions of naira spent on non-functional refineries.
“This is the same agency facing serious audit inquiries and yet the President, who also serves as the Minister in charge, has approved the write-off of about N8 trillion in NNPC debts,” he said.
Mr Obi argued that the debt forgiveness effectively shifts the revenue burden to ordinary Nigerians, who are already reeling from the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies.
“Nigerians, already enduring severe hardships, are now confronted with this unexplained debt forgiveness. The nearly N8 trillion write-off will effectively replace revenue that the government is now seeking through unfair taxation,” he said.
Mr Obi stressed that the amount written off could have significantly strengthened key sectors of the economy.
“This almost N8 trillion exceeds the combined 2025 federal budget allocations for education, health and agriculture, which total N7.1 trillion,” he noted, adding that it is also “nearly twice the 2025 federal security budget of N4.9 trillion.”
He maintained that such resources could have been deployed to stimulate productivity, create jobs and reduce poverty, particularly in an economy struggling with unemployment and weak growth.
“The President owes Nigerians clear answers. Citizens deserve honesty, fiscal discipline and governance that protects their interests, not the interests of mismanaged corporations or political elites,” Mr Obi said.
He called for transparency around the reported write-off, warning that unchecked fiscal decisions in the energy sector could further undermine public trust and economic stability.
“This betrayal of the people must be stopped,” Mr Obi concluded.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its development partnership with Kano and Jigawa States, as part of its long-term commitment to development and reform in northern Nigeria.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission Abuja, Ms Cynthia Rowe, recently completed high-level engagements with governors of both states as well as senior government officials and civil society leaders.
The discussions underscored the UK’s modern approach to development as a genuine partnership with Nigeria, which prioritises state-led ownership and sustainable development that delivers lasting impact through strengthening systems and partnerships grounded in investment, trade, climate financing, technical expertise and joint accountability.
According to a statement, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, via the British High Commission, said Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most significant development partners, adding that the engagements underlined the strength and ambition of the bilateral relationship reaffirmed during the recent UK-Nigeria State Visit.
In Kano, Ms Rowe met with Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo and senior officials, including the newly confirmed Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the State Government. The visit recognised Kano’s progress on climate finance, health system reform and private sector investment supported through UK technical assistance.
In Jigawa, she met with Governor Umar Namadi and heads of key ministries, departments and agencies. The meeting celebrated more than 25 years of UK-Jigawa partnership, one of the most longstanding bilateral development relationships at the subnational level in Nigeria. Discussions covered the state’s continued progress on health systems reform, agriculture, and governance and the path forward under UK technical assistance.
Since 2022, PLANE has supported Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa to strengthen state-led education delivery systems, working through Ministries of Education, SUBEB and key agencies. Its RANA+ foundational learning packages have reached 1.4 million pupils across the three states, alongside wider system strengthening.
Speaking on this, Ms Rowe said, “For more than 25 years, we have worked side by side with state governments, including Jigawa and Kano states, their communities, and civil society to build stronger health systems, improve learning outcomes for millions of children, support farmers to grow their businesses, and help states attract the investment they need to thrive.
These visits have reinforced our confidence in what this partnership can achieve. We are working together to deliver lasting change, and deepening a relationship built on genuine mutual respect and shared ambition for Nigeria’s growth and development.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on data sharing to enhance economic productivity.
This was done at a meeting at CBN Head Office in Abuja, where the weather body led by its Director General, Mr Charles Anosike, on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of integrating weather and climate data into economic research, especially in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
He noted that extreme weather events can reduce agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
He added that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises food security through major agricultural investment, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the distribution of mechanised equipment.
Mr Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report that showed that extreme weather driven by climate change is significantly affecting global food security, with more than 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and 52 million in West and Central Africa.
He also referenced the latest Berkeley Earth Report, which projects that 2026 is likely to be the fourth warmest year on record, a trend that continues to shape agricultural and energy market projections.
In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, said the signing of the MoU marked an important step in strengthening the partnership between two key national institutions whose mandates intersect in data, research, and policy support.
He emphasised that, in an increasingly complex and dynamic economic environment, timely and reliable data remain essential for effective policy decisions.
According to him, the Economic Policy Directorate relies heavily on timely and credible statistical information from NiMet, saying that such data are critical for inflation monitoring, agricultural sector assessment, and broader economic policy advisory functions.
He described the initiative as both timely and important, adding that strong institutional partnerships are essential for strengthening evidence-based policymaking and improving the robustness of national data systems.
At the close of the event, Mr Anosike and Mr Sani Abdullahi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu, has ordered an immediate nationwide ban prohibiting Point-of-Sale (POS) operators from running their businesses within a 200-metre radius of any police station, divisional headquarters, or police formation across Nigeria.
This directive, released via an internal police wireless message, addresses critical systemic challenges regarding extortion and corrupt financial practices within law enforcement facilities.
The order is to be strictly enforced nationwide, with senior officers overseeing various formations to be held accountable for any breach of the directive.
The Nigeria Police Force stated that the measure is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the policing system.
The decision comes after an alarming proliferation of POS businesses near police facilities, with investigations and public complaints revealing that some operators were actively complicit in facilitating extortion, bribery, and illegal cash transfers forced upon civilians or suspects during police encounters.
Under the directive, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), State Commissioners of Police (CPs), and heads of formations will be held vicariously liable for any breach within their jurisdictions.
The IGP’s order states: “Any officer or POS merchant found flouting the 200-metre operational boundary or colluding in illicit transactions will face immediate disciplinary and criminal actions under extant laws.
“If you are a POS agent or looking into regulatory compliance for financial services in Nigeria, let me know. I can provide details on current Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) radius registration guidelines or share methods to report officer misconduct directly to the Force Headquarters.”
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