General
SERAP Begs National Assembly to Stop Sale of National Assets
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the National Assembly to stop the federal government from selling the country’s properties to fund the 2021 budget.
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration said it plans to sell some national assets to finance the 2021 Appropriation Bills signed last month.
SERAP, which has always risen up to fight against some unpopular policies of the government, said in a statement on Sunday, January 17 signed by its deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, it has written to the National Assembly to prevail on the executive to halt the process.
The group appealed to the Senate President, Mr Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, to bar the President from carrying out such moves via a letter addressed on January 16.
The organisation wants the leadership of the National Assembly to “urgently review the 2021 appropriation legislation to stop the government of President Muhammadu Buhari from selling public properties to fund the 2021 budget, and to identify areas in the budget to cut such as salaries and allowances for members and the Presidency to make sayings to address the growing level of deficit and borrowing.”
“The National Assembly has a constitutional and oversight responsibility to protect valuable public properties and to ensure responsible budget spending.
“Allowing the government to sell public properties, and to enjoy almost absolute discretion to borrow to fund the 2021 budget would amount to a fundamental breach of constitutional and fiduciary duties.”
The group gave a sound warning that selling valuable public properties to fund the 2021 budget would be counter-productive as this would hurt the country in the long run.
“This would be vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement. It would undermine the social contract with Nigerians, leave the government worse off, and hurt the country in the long run. It is neither necessary nor in the public interest.”
The organisation also called for a change in the country’s fiscal situation through some combination of cuts in spending on salaries and allowances, and a freeze on spending in certain areas of the budget such as hardship and furniture allowances, entertainment allowances, international travels, and buying of motor vehicles and utilities for members and the Presidency.
SERAP also kicked against the borrowing of loans and asked the parliament to stop acquiescing to the loan requests by the Federal Government, noting that, “if it continues to fail to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the spending of the loans so far obtained.”
“We would consider the option of pursuing legal action to stop the Federal Government from selling public properties, and we may join the National Assembly in any such suit.”
“The budget deficit and debt problems threaten Nigerians’ access to essential public goods and services and will hurt future generations.
“If not urgently addressed, the deficit and debt problems would seriously undermine access to public goods and services for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people who continue to endure the grimmest of conditions.”
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the country’s international human rights obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Nigeria has ratified both human rights treaties,” the statement added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over a suspicious credit into one of his private bank accounts, alleging that his confidential banking details may have been compromised.
Mr Atiku, who is one of the top candidates challenging President Bola Tinubu in next year’s election, disclosed this in a statement on Friday signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Phrank Shaibu.
The statement said the transfer was made by an individual unknown to the former vice president, with the narration, Contribution Electioneering Campaign.
“Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,” a part of the statement read.
According to the statement, the circumstances surrounding the transaction were “deeply troubling” as the account was strictly private and its details were not publicly available.
“The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” it added.
Mr Atiku said the alleged access to his banking information raised broader concerns about the protection of Nigerians’ financial privacy.
“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe,” the statement quoted him as saying.
The former vice president also expressed concern over the possibility that the information was obtained through individuals with privileged access.
“Even more disturbing is the suspicion that such confidential information may have been obtained through persons with privileged access,” the statement said.
Mr Atiku warned that a breach of confidential banking information could expose citizens to security threats.
“If established, this would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing the account holder to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements,” the statement added.
The ADC presidential candidate said security agencies and Nigerians had been notified of the development, describing it as part of a series of suspicious activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We therefore put the Nigerian public — and the security agencies — on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections,” he said.
Mr Atiku urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he described as attempts to smear his reputation as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
“As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination,” the statement read.
“Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again,” he added.
The former vice president maintained his commitment to providing what he described as credible leadership and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
“The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges,” the statement said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
For the second consecutive month, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has become the largest supplier of jet fuel to Europe, outpacing the United States of America (USA).
Data from Kpler showed that in July 2026, the Lagos-based oil facility, which has the capacity to refine 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, produced more than 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel.
In June 2026, the private refinery, owned by Mr Aliko Dangote, exported 466,000 tonnes to Europe, underscoring its growing influence on international fuel markets and highlighting Nigeria’s emergence as a strategic player in global refined petroleum trade.
The latest data indicated that Dangote Refinery accounts for approximately 20 per cent of Europe’s total jet fuel imports last month.
The sustained export performance marks a significant milestone for the refinery, demonstrating its ability to consistently supply one of the world’s most demanding fuel markets with aviation fuel that meets stringent international quality specifications. Europe imported approximately 2.06 million tonnes of jet fuel in July, with Dangote accounting for the single largest share of those imports, ahead of traditional suppliers from the United States and the Middle East.
Industry observers say the refinery is rapidly reshaping established Atlantic Basin fuel trade flows by offering a competitive alternative to long-standing suppliers. While European buyers have traditionally relied on refiners in the United States, the Middle East and Asia, Dangote’s strategic location on Nigeria’s Atlantic coast, combined with its scale, modern technology and export capability, has enabled it to become an increasingly important source of aviation fuel for European markets.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the court ordering the freezing of the bank account of the Osun Srate government.
In a statement today by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President said he’s “deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order” because of its timing, which is just a few days to the governorship election in the state next Saturday.
According to him, actions of an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.
“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference. I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.
“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers. While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.
“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” the statement stated.
