General
8 million in Dire Conditions in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe—UN
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Nations has issued an alert over the deteriorating situation for millions of mainly women and children in northeast Nigeria who continue to be affected by protracted armed conflict, just as the country enters the lean season.
The body said that well over 8 million people are in need of assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) States and an estimated 600,000 face emergency levels of food insecurity because of extremist violence centred around the Lake Chad region, that’s now in its 12th year.
The UN’s top relief official to Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale revealed that although the previously dominant Boko Haram militia have been significantly weakened since the group’s leader was killed over a year ago, it continues to carry out indiscriminate attacks.
Another extremist offshoot, ISWAP, is also dangerous, although it had also suffered setbacks, he noted.
As in previous years, a staggering one million people are also beyond the reach of international aid teams, said Mr Schmale.
More than 80 per cent of those in need are women and children, who also face “abductions, rape and abuse”, while indiscriminate attacks in Borno state make it the most “unstable place to be”, he added.
He told journalists in Geneva that the UN was aiming to support at least 5.5 million, out of the 8.4 million in need overall.
“The conflict has left 2.2 million people presently displaced. We’ve just entered what is called the lean season that normally lasts until September; last year it lasted until November, so we’re also seeing the impact of climate change.”
Mr Schmale noted that although Nigeria is a major oil producer, it lacks refineries which means that it has not benefited from the global surge in energy prices, linked to the war in Ukraine.
“It’s early days yet in terms of understanding the full impact, as you may know, in Nigeria from the beginning there was speculation as to whether Nigeria would benefit as an oil-producing country.
“We’re not seeing that in fact at all, because Nigeria, as contradictory as this may sound, depends very largely on imports of refined oil so, the price rises we’ve seen are not benefiting Nigeria, that’s one concern.”
In time, the massive country could feed itself and avoid ever costlier food imports, the UN official insisted, although, for the moment, it lacks the infrastructure and agricultural investment required to be competitive at a global level.
It noted that there is a particular concern for 1.74 million children under five who are expected to be suffer from acute malnutrition in the northeast in the coming months.
“A key message is ringing the alarm bell,” Mr Schmale said. “If we don’t get immediate funding soon for an initial multisector response plan worth $350 million, we will have a crisis that will be much worse in a couple of months.”
He added: “We hope that the international community realises that you ignore a situation like in the north-east of Nigeria at your own peril; it could have far-reaching consequences beyond the borders of Nigeria if we’re not able to keep it stable.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu has been asked to urgently investigate allegations that more than N128 billion cannot be accounted for by the Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc.
This call for a probe was made by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a statement issued on Sunday.
The group urged Mr Tinubu to give directive to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to look into the allegations of the missing N128 billion.
It declared that anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, especially if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing or diverted public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.
In the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on September 9, 2025, it was claimed that the funds could not be accounted and may have been diverted by some persons.
In its statements today, SERAP said Nigerians continue to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the power sector, stressing that there is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.
“Tackling corruption in the power sector would go a long way in addressing the persistent breakdown of transmission lines in the country, and improving access of Nigerians to regular and uninterrupted electricity supply,” a part of the statement read.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
All the terrorists behind the deadly attack on the Kasuwan Daji community in Niger State must be apprehended, President Bola Tinubu has directed.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President condemned the attack as well as the abduction of women and children in the community.
He asked the Minister of Defence, Mr Christopher Musa, to mobilise the security apparatus to hunt down the perpetrators of the act.
In the statement, Mr Tinubu stressed that the Chief of Defence Staff, the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) must track down and apprehend them, ensuring they are swiftly brought to justice.
He also directed security agencies to rescue all the abducted victims urgently.
President Tinubu issued the directives on Sunday in response to the recent killings of several villagers in Niger State by terrorists suspected to be fleeing from Sokoto and Zamfara following the United States’ air strike on Christmas Eve.
He sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Niger State.
“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must, therefore, face the full consequences of their criminal actions. No matter who they are or what their intent is, they must be hunted down. They, and all those who aid, abet, or enable them in any form, will be caught and brought to justice,” he declared.
Mr Tinubu assured the people of Niger State that security agencies have been mandated to intensify operations around vulnerable communities, particularly those near the forests that have served as hideouts for criminal elements, urging Nigerians to remain united and resolute in the face of this tragedy and cautioned against divisive rhetoric that could undermine national security and cohesion during this challenging period.
“These times demand our humanity. We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison. United, we can and must defeat them, deny them any sanctuary. We must reclaim the peace and security of these attacked communities,” he stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed January 7 to hear the bail application of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, over alleged money laundering.
Recall that the same court had ordered the remand of Mr Malami at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, his son, Abdulaziz, and one of his wives, Mrs Bashir Asabe, are standing trial predicated on a 16-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trio, who are accused of laundering N8.7 billion, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025.
Following their plea of not guilty, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre till January 2, 2026, when their written bail application would be argued by his legal team.
In the charge, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the defendants were accused of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities.
The indictment claimed that they used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly ten years to indirectly acquire the illicit funds.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences took place between 2015 and 2025, primarily within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s time as the country’s Attorney-General.
The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025.
They were also accused of depositing an additional N600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The properties in question include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased for N500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, bought for N700 million; and another in Jabi District for N850 million.
Additional acquisitions include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million); in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million); and at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million).
The EFCC further alleges that Mr Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling N952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023.
The acquisitions were allegedly made through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership.
The commission claimed that the alleged actions violate the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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