The Niger State Police Command has arrested and detained a 19-year-old named Yakubu Tanko for the killing of his 14-year-old friend, Sikiru Tajudeen, in the Bosso Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, March 30, 2024, said the body of the minor was recovered from a septic tank in the community after he was declared missing.
According to the PPRO, the suspect hit the deceased with a stick, killing him instantly and then hid the corpse in a sack in the kitchen.
Tanko returned with a borrowed wheelbarrow, evacuated the corpse and dumped it in a nearby septic tank, in an attempt to cover the crime.
Upon arrest and interrogation, he confessed to the crime, claiming that he had no reason for his actions, but the deceased had given him a phone to charge for him.
“On 20/03/2024 at about 1900hrs, Police operatives attached to Bosso Div arrested one Yakubu Tanko 19yrs of Tudun-fulani area of Minna for a suspected culpable homicide of one Sikiru Tajudeen 14yrs of the same area,” the statement read.
"On the same date at about 0700hrs, the deceased was reported missing at Bosso Div, that on 19/03/2024 at about 2130hrs, the deceased was not seen at home, but his school uniform trouser, a stick and a stone were found with suspected blood stains in his room.
"Later around 1830hrs of 20/03/2024, information received from the community indicated that a strange odour was being perceived from a septic tank within the community, and after a proper check with the Police, a tied sack was found in the tank, evacuated and discovered the lifeless body of Sikiru Tajudeen.
"Further findings from the community pointed to Yakubu Tanko and he was immediately arrested. During interrogation, he confessed to the homicide of the deceased who was his friend.
"He stated that on 19/03/2024 at about 1400hrs, he met Sikiru in the room sleeping and he picked a stick from the kitchen, which he used to hit the deceased on the head. He said blood gushed out and he left the scene immediately, but returned after two hours.
"He narrated further that he hid the corpse in a sack and kept it in the kitchen till around 2000hrs, when he returned with a borrowed wheelbarrow, evacuated the corpse alone and dumped it in a nearby septic tank, in an attempt to cover the crime.
“He claimed that he had no reason for his actions, but he said Sikiru gave him a phone to charge for him, and that he personally conceived the idea and executed it. However, the suspect has been transferred to SCID for further investigation.”
Take Your Kids For DNA Test If Your Wife Is Supporting Mohbad’s Wife – Actress Charity Nnaji Urges Men
AFOLABIPopular Nigerian actress, Charity Nnaji has taken to her Instastories to advise men whose wives are in support of Wunmi, the widow of late Mohbad who insisted on not doing a DNA test on her son, Liam.
It would be recalled that the widow vowed never to carry out any DNA test on her son, Liam because no one has any right to compel her to do the test.
However, this declaration was greeted with mixed reactions from netizens round different social media platforms.
Reacting to this, Charity Nnaji opined that if she had nothing to fear, she should be willing to do the test.
She warned men to take action immediately if they find out that their wife is in support of Mohbad’s wife not doing the DNA test.
Charity Nnaji urged men to check for paternity fraud if their wives are supporting Mohbad’s wife.
She wrote;
“Men listen, if your wife is Supporting mobad,s wife not to do dna test , she’s a suspect , kindly take those kids you have with that betrayer of awife that’s supporting mobad wife and go for DNA test , for crying out loud ,who will want to go through this type of pressure without wanting to clear her conscience and free her self from all this public disgrace.,you are not far from a witch if you keep allowing your husband train another man’s child .. remember na only woman know who give am belle please don’t vouch for my gender, after all. They said a clear conscience fear no accusation”
Wunmi, the wife of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad has vowed not to allow anybody conduct DNA test on her son, Liam.
This is a U-turn from her previous stance.
Some Nigerians, including her father-in-law, Joseph Aloba, have been clamouring for a DNA test to be conducted on Liam to ascertain his true paternity following the tragic death of the rapper.
In a recent turn of events, Wunmi, who had previously expressed her willingness for a DNA test on her son, said she is no longer open to a DNA test on Liam.
Speaking in an audio message making the rounds on X, Wunmi said only her late husband has the right to request a DNA test from her.
She claimed that Mohbad disvirgined her and he is the only man she has ever known.
Wunmi said: “Mohbad disvirgined me; nobody has the right to tell me to do a DNA test. I have never slept with any man except him. I will never do any DNA; no one can tell me to do DNA except I wish to. Koni daa fun gbogbo yin ranting about DNA.”
Video link:
Media
Nobody has the right to tell me to do a DNA test. I will never do it because my late husband took my cha§tity. He’s the only man I have ever known — Mohbad’s widow, Wunmi, makes a U-turn days after telling her father-in-law that she was ready to take a DNA test pic.twitter.com/BtUCnSqBym
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) March 31, 2024
Embattled actress, Eniola Ajao has sent a special message to Nigerians.
She thanked them for watching her movie, ‘Beast of Two Worlds’: ‘Ajakaju’ after it achieved a new record.
Recall that the filmmaker had faced severe backlash after crowning the controversial transvestite Bobrisky as the ‘Best Dressed Female’ at the movie’s premiere.
In a post on her Instagram page, Eniola appreciated the effort of everyone who supported her movie as it marks a milestone of 16M views on its first day at the Box Office.
While appreciating Nigerians for forgiving her, and the lessons learnt, she praised the likes of Odunlade Adekola, Funke Akindele, and many others.
She wrote: “The cinema run of AJAKAJU, #beastoftwoworlds has taught me lessons, lessons I will not forget in a hurry. But this is not the time to dish out the lessons because I am not yet an expert at the box office! Leave that to @funkejenifaakindele, @odunomoadekola, @femiadebayosalami, @iyaboojofespris @niyi_akinmolayan, @toyin_abraham and @realmercyaigbe what I am here to do today is to say THANK YOU. Nigerians, I am grateful. You allowed God to use you to turn my shame into testimony, sorrow into joy, and fear into courage. Eshe gan. I am glad we made 16m in one day, what an opening! But it is important I let you all know that this place I am in now is a journey that started before today. I am grateful to my dearest Boss @odunladeadekola for taking me under his wings and leading me through this part. He co-directed this movie, lent me money, and was there through and through. My Nollywood story won’t be complete without him. Eshe gan. To my daddy @adebayotijani, thank you for being a good director. You helped me succeed.
“I am grateful to my colleagues from the Yoruba industry for standing by me, for posting, for reaching out, for meet and greet, and many other things. I am grateful to fans who have sent gifts, and money, and offered moral support. God bless you. To my boss @femiadebayosalami and his beautiful wife @iyanaladuke thank you for your understanding. And to those who were dragged and trolled because of this movie, @dayoamusa, @bobrisky222, Nollywood, I am sorry but know that this success is for us all. You allowed God to use you to tell a beautiful story about me and Nollywood, Eshe gan. Oun rere la ma ba ara wase. And to those who have said they will not support us—cast and crew—and are waiting for us to fail, I want to appreciate you too. It was because of you that I ran to God and Nigerians. See now, with God and Nigerians behind me, the story will end well. To those I offended, forgive me. I’m just a small girl, treat me like your daughter and sister. Please let’s keep watching #beastoftwoworlds #ajakajuthemovie in all cinemas nationwide. Let’s create a new record together. @ajakajuthemovie.”
First Lady, Sen Remi Tinubu has assured Nigerians that her husband, President Bola Tinubu would do all it takes to make the country better.
She said Nigeria would be better after the tenure of her husband as President.
She made the submission on Sunday when she hosted former first ladies, govenors’ wives, others to Iftar.
A statement by her Special Adviser on Media, Busola Kukoyi, quoted Mrs Tinubu to have said “Mr. President will do all it takes to make the nation better, that even when we live here, we will go back to a better Nigeria.”
She, however, called for all hands to be on deck in realizing the country gets back on track.
“We all have tasks to do to get this nation back on track,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu noted that the various social investment programmes of the administration are all on track, and the results are becoming evident.
Those in attendance include former First Ladies of Nigeria, female justices, wives of governors, female ministers, wives of ministers and wives of service chiefs.
The women offered prayers for the nation, the President and the world.
Dare Samuel Akinrodoye, a swimming instructor, has purportedly achieved an astonishing feat by swimming a remarkable 11.8-kilometre stretch of water near the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
Akinrodoye, better known as Coach Dreh started swimming from Oworonshoki, Mainland, and finished at Adeniji Adele on Lagos Island.
The feat was done to raise awareness of mental health and it was supported by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).
Akinrodoye announced his intention on Instagram to swim the 11.8 km length of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge on March 30, 2024.
In a viral video, he disclosed that it was to raise awareness and sensitise people to the issues of mental health, suicide and depression.
He said: “On the 30th of March, 2024, I am going to be swimming the entire length of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge to raise awareness and sensitise the public on mental health, suicide and depression.
“It is an 11.8 km swim from Mainland Oworoshoki to Island Adeniji Adele. My years of experience in the aquatic premise is over a decade and swimming for me, I can do anything and become anything I want with it.”
According to him, his choice of location for the event was because many individuals who committed suicide publicly in Lagos jumped off the Third Mainland Bridge.
However, on Saturday morning, the professional swimming coach embarked on the task from Oworonshoki, Mainland, to Adeniji Adenle on the Island.
Coach Dreh was accompanied by his close teammates, supporters, journalists, and medical personnel.
Coach Dreh jumped into the water at around 9:28 am and swam for 2 hours, 33 minutes at a stretch, to complete the journey.
Media
Dare Samuel, a professional swimming coach, embarked on an extraordinary journey today by swimming across the Third Mainland Bridge from Oworoshoki to Adeniji Island, covering a distance of 11.8km in 2 hours and 33 minutes.
— Lagos Junction (@LagosJunction) March 30, 2024
Follow us to stay connected @LagosJunction @Mr_JAGs pic.twitter.com/P6UFrPkvZZ
A 39-year-old man named Dolapo Babalola has been apprehended by the Ondo State Police Command. He is accused of murdering his childhood friend, Evangelist Opeyemi Oyelakin, aged 34, and subsequently stealing the deceased's motorcycle. Babalola then sold the motorcycle to a buyer in Ibadan for N130,000.
The suspect and his accomplice, Sikiru Mutiu, who is at large, committed the offence on March 15, 2024, in Ondo town.
Babalola, who confessed to the crime, said he and Mutiu deceived the deceased to take them to Oke-Igbo, a few kilometres from Ondo town, to check a piece of land.
On getting to the land, which was situated inside a bush, Sikiru grabbed the deceased from behind while Babalola, struck him with a stick and stone until he died.
Police said the suspects dragged the corpse to a shallow pit and covered it with leaves before making off with the motorcycle.
The family of the father of one lodged a complaint with police after efforts to locate his whereabouts proved abortive.
Detectives swung into action and arrested Babalola at his residence in Ondo town, headquarters of the Ondo West Local Council Area of the state, after the tracking of the call logs of the deceased.
Babalola, who spoke after he led the police to the spot where the victim was dumped, said he regretted killing his close friend and blamed the devil.
“It’s the work of the devil; I can’t explain because this person that we are talking about is my close friend. Truly, his bike is not the first I will ever snatch, but I have never killed one before. Even those that are not related to me, I snatched bikes from them, and I did not even do anything harmful to them,” he said.
"At least I have snatched about 15 bikes, but I have never killed before. His own is the first; my buyer is in Ibadan. But we sold this one at the rate of N130,000, and we share the money equally because we are two in the business.
"When we intended to collect the bike from him, he dragged it with us, and I hit him with a stone. I know his mum and younger brother. I can’t really explain why I killed him. I am a trader. I sell oranges, but I don’t have a shop. I do go to villages to buy oranges. I am from Oyo State, Ibadan, precisely. But I reside in Ondo town.”
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abayomi Oladipo, who led detectives and medical personnel to evacuate the decomposing body of the deceased from the pit where it was dumped, said the suspect has a large syndicate and that efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang.
“He has snatched an uncountable number of motorcycles. Through technical intelligence, the suspect was arrested and upon interrogation he confessed to how he committed the crime,” the CP stated.
“I want to use this opportunity to alert the members of the public, most especially those who ride Okada to be careful of the passengers that will engage their services to far areas and take them to isolated roads.
“Also, I want to say that the residents of this area, especially those who farm here since on the 15th of March, when this incident happened till date, kept mute which is not supposed to be. So what we are saying is that if you see something you must say something."
Controversial Nigerian activist, Martins Otse aka Verydarkman, has finally been released from police detention in Abuja.
His release was facilitated after several days of legal intervention and public advocacy, as confirmed by Deji Adeyanju, on Sunday.
Verydarkman, 27, found himself in police custody over allegations of cyberbullying, with former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore highlighting the case as an example of the police’s misuse of power, purportedly under the influence of prominent individuals aiming to suppress dissent.
Deji Adeyanju took to the social media platform X to announce the release, expressing gratitude to all who supported the effort, including Sowore and the legal team representing Verydarkman.
He emphasized the collective effort that contributed to securing the critic’s freedom after a contentious five-day period.
He wrote, “After five days of back and forth, we have secured VDM’s release. Thank you to everyone that made this happen especially Sowore, Kefiano & VDM’s wonderful lawyers.”
This incident marks the second arrest of Verydarkman within the year, following an earlier incident in January where he was detained after a complaint by actress Tonto Dikeh.
He was accused of making derogatory comments related to the late Nigerian singer Mohbad’s case, involving Dikeh and her colleague Iyabo Ojo, which he termed as ‘chasing clout’ following the singer’s death.
Abosede Adeyemo, the mother of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, has stated that the DNA test she and Mohbad's father wish to conduct on the late singer's son, Liam Aloba, is a private family matter and not the concern of Nigerians.
In an interview with Punch, Ms Abosede said; ‘’I asked him to conduct the DNA test before now. There is nothing that concerns Nigerians with the DNA issue. It's a family issue. It was his father that publicized the issue.
"I insisted on it from the onset. It was his father that publicized it. Omowunmi is his daughter in-law and they were in good terms before then. I don't know why he couldn't tell her politely to conduct the DNA test. Did Mohbad say he was not the owner of the child?
"When he had the boy, Josy was the one that said it is Liam that will be the one to buy his, Josy's coffin. Now he is calling the same child a Bastard. My child is not a bastard''
The distraught mum said she will indeed get justice for her child but she will not do it with the different intention the late singer's father has.
"Nigerians know the truth. How can we bring family issues into Justice for Mohbad? Was my quarrel with you part of Justice for Mohbad? Can't you see how wicked you are?''
She said she told Mohbad's father not to bury him on September 25 when he died as she believed he wasn't dead but that his dad refused to listen.
"How can you Jose(Mohbad's father) be a threat to Liam? Has he forgotten the hereafter? I begged him to forgive Wunmi if she offended him and sort the issue at hand. How can a good father demanding justice for his child be behaving like this? Jose has forgotten the hereafter and the fact that we shall all go to where Mohbad is someday. He destroyed his life and I don't want him to ruin my other children's lives.
"Jose is using Mohbad's death to make money but he wil meet his doom soon''
Watch a video of Mohbad’s mother speaking below…
Media
Oluwafemi Idris, a Nigerian Islamic cleric, has been arrested by police operatives in Ondo State after being caught with fresh human parts in the state.
The Idrisc was nabbed alongside two other suspects identified as Samuel Kutelu and Babatunde Kayode in the Akoko axis of the northern senatorial district of the state.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the suspects were apprehended following an intel received over the ritualistic activities of the cleric.
The PPRO disclosed that, upon a raid of the cleric’s residence, police operatives discovered a grim collection of human body parts in his possession. The recovered items included human hands, three kidneys, three hearts, a spine, and a tongue.
The police spokesperson added that detectives are on the trail of a fleeing suspect, whom Idris claimed supplied the human parts as well as three human heads, which he had earlier supplied.
Odunlami-Omisanya, however, stressed that the identities of the suspects and the particular location of the arrested will be revealed in due course in order not to jeopardise ongoing investigations.
“The police got intel from a reliable source in January 2024 that one Idris, popularly known as Alfa in his area, kept human parts in his house and intended to use them for ritual purposes.
“The police swung into action and apprehended the suspect. A search was conducted in his house at Akoko, and the following human parts were found in his possession: human hands, three kidneys, three hearts, a spine, and a tongue.
“The suspect claimed he is an Islamic cleric, and some of the human parts were supplied by his friend, an Alhaji, who is also a cleric, and one Samuel Kutelu, while he supplied one Babatunde Kayode (an Oluawo) with three human heads.”
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Kaduna APC Suspends Women Leader For Criticising Governor Sani, Defending El-Rufai Over Kaduna Debt Burden
AFOLABIThe All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna has suspended Maryam Suleiman, its women leader, for criticising Uba Sani, govenor of the state.
Suleiman’s suspension was contained in a letter dated March 31, and signed by Ali Maishago, and Zakkah Bassahuwa, APC chairman, and secretary of Badarawa/Malali ward, respectively.
The ward executive committee said Suleiman was suspended over “gross misconduct” and for allegedly defaming the character of the state governor.
BACKGROUND
While speaking during a town hall meeting in Kaduna, on Saturday, Sani said he inherited a debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion and 115 contractual liabilities from the administration of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of the state.
He said his government is unable to pay workers’ salaries due to the inherited debt, adding that the debt burden is eating deep into the state’s coffers.
Reacting in a video, the APC women leader, who is an ally of el-Rufai, criticised the govenor over his remarks, urging him to desist from blaming his predecessor.
‘SHE’S UNDER SUSPENSION PENDING INVESTIGATION’
The APC ward executive said the women leader’s suspension subsists until further investigation is conducted by “constituted authority”.
“The Badarawa/Malal/ Ward APC Executive Committee after due deliberations and careful examinations on the viral video clip released on 30th March 2024, via social networks: Facebook, WhatsApp, and Tiktok which is against the constitution of our dear party, APC as stated in article 21.2 (v),” the letter reads.
“In view of the above, below are the gross misconducts where the subsequent suspension relied upon:
“Defamation of character of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State Malam Uba Sani.
“Unauthorized publicity of the party dispute that discredited the personality of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.
“Furthermore, from today Sunday 31 of March 2024, the leadership of APC Badarawa/Malali Ward unanimously resolved to suspend Hajiya Maryam Suleiman (Mai Rusau) from the Party pending further investigation on the matter from the constituted authority.”
Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna central, says he was insulted for rejecting the $350 million World Bank loan request by the government of Kaduna under Nasir El-Rufai.
Sani spoke in an interview with journalists on Sunday.
On March 30, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, disclosed that the state is heavily indebted and unable to pay salaries.
Reacting to the governor’s statement on the huge debt profile of the state, Sani said if his advice had been heeded, Kaduna would not have found itself in the present predicament.
In 2018, Sani and two other senators from Kaduna state — Suleiman Hunkuyi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Kaduna north senatorial zone; and Danjuma Laah of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna south-central senatorial zone — rejected moves by El-Rufai to take a $350 million World Bank loan.
Sani and Hunkuyi eventually lost their bids for re-election and were replaced by Uba Sani and Suleiman Kwari who lobbied for the approval of the loan.
Eventually, the senate rejected the loan request by the Kaduna state government, following stiff opposition by the three senators from Kaduna state.
At the time, Sani was the chairman of the committee on local and foreign debt — the senate panel that rejected the loan.
In May 2018, El-Rufai, while flagging off a campaign for local government elections in Kaduna, angrily rained curses and insults on Sani, Hunkuyi and Laah for rejecting the loan and called on the people to “shave their beards and heads whenever they come to Kaduna”.
Despite the opposition, El-Rufai confirmed the approval of the loan in 2019, explaining that he had backed up the loan request with pictures of rundown schools.
“The hour of reckoning has come for every citizen of the state,” Sani said, reacting to the current fiscal challenges in Kaduna.
“I was insulted for saying no to that loan. The hour of reckoning is here to every person in Kaduna state.
“Just like the way Lot (in the Bible) warned people, prophets of the past warned people, but they refused to hear and then you see pedition and affliction.
“In the same way, I warned the people of this state, but they were told that the money will bring paradise — land of milk and honey.
“Today, you can see the problems at hand as far as that loan was concerned.
“If you look at what I said about this state, there has never been any of my predictions that has not come to pass.
“Today the state is strangulated because of that money which we couldn’t pay.
“We borrowed $350 million when the naira was N400 to the dollar and we are going to pay when the naira is what it is today.”
The ex-senator said if people had heeded what he had said and “understood me and agreed with me, we couldn’t have been where we are today”.
Olukayode Ajulo, attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Ondo, has appointed 273 lawyers as aides.
The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) made the announcement in a statement released on Saturday.
The commissioner said the aides are honorary and technical advisers.
“Upon assuming the position of Honourable Attorney General of Ondo State, a total of 273 lawyers, comprising both seasoned professionals and junior colleagues, eagerly presented a multitude of ideas to lend their support to me in serving the government and people of Ondo State,” the statement reads.
“I have graciously appointed all the 273 lawyers, dividing them into two categories: Honorary Advisers and Technical Advisers to the Honorable Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice of Ondo State.”
Ajulo said the terms of engagement for the advisers are “remarkably innovative”, adding that they will enhance excellence and ethical legal services to Ondo state.
He said the names of the appointees will be revealed soon, noting that they are lawyers who have “distinguished themselves” in law practice, government, academia, and social work, among others.
“They will provide invaluable guidance to reinforce the vision of the Office of the Attorney-General of Ondo State to be the best public law office in Nigeria,” Ajulo said.
The state attorney-general listed his eight-point agenda to include access to justice, justice sector reform, uniform law enforcement, law officers welfare, obedience to court order, adherence to executive order and rule of law, and protection of women, children and persons with disability.
At least six new governors have collectively increased their domestic debts by N109.21 billion within six months (June-December 2023) since they assumed office.
This is based on TheCable Index analysis of states’ domestic debt profile data published by the Debt Management Office (DMO) for June and December 2023, respectively.
The six states are Katsina, Niger, Rivers, Zamfara, Plateau, and Cross Rivers.
Under the leadership of Siminalayi Fubara, the domestic debt profile of Rivers surged from N225.51 billion to N232.58 billion. This, according to the data, increased the state’s debt by N7.7 billion or 3 percent within the six months under review.
The DMO said Umar Radda, governor of Kastina, borrowed about N36.94 billion (59 percent increase) between December and June 2023, as the state’s debt moved from N62.37 billion to N99.31 billion.
Also, Umar Bago, governor of Niger, accumulated a debt of N17.85 billion — indicating a 15 percent domestic debt increase from N121.95 billion to N139.80 billion in six months.
Similarly, in Zamfara, Dauda Lawal, the state governor, was said to have borrowed N14.26 billion in the review period, sending the state’s domestic debt to N110.57 billion — from N96.31 billion.
According to the data, Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau governor, increased the state’s debt from N157.62 billion to N173.93 billion between June and December last year — up by N16.31 billion or 10 percent.
The DMO said it recorded an 8 percent increase in the domestic debt profile of Cross River after Edet Otu, the state governor, borrowed the sum of N16.15 billion — moving the debt burden from N204.05 billion to N220.20 billion in six months.
STATES THAT DECREASED THEIR DOMESTIC DEBT BY N119 BILLION
Meanwhile, further analysis shows that 11 states reduced their domestic debts.
The states — Delta, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Sokoto, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Jigawa, Benue, and Kebbi — collectively reduced their debt by N119.96 billion.
Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, reduced the state’s domestic debt from N465.40 billion to N373.41 billion, representing a decrease of N91.99 billion.
Francis Nwifuru, governor of Ebonyi, cut the domestic debt of the state from N76.14 billion to N70.44 billion — down by N6.30 billion.
The debt office said Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom also reduced the state’s domestic debt stock by N9.10 billion, which fell from N199.58 billion in June to N190.48 billion in December.
Alex Otti, governor of Abia, reduced the state’s debt from N142.47 billion to N138.64 billion (a decline of N3.83 billion).
On his part, Ahmad Aliyu, the governor of Sokoto, made a reduction of a decline of N2.46 billion as the state’s domestic debt crashed from N91.68 billion to N89.22 billion.
For Kaduna state, the governor, Uba Sani, moved the state’s domestic debt from N87.28 billion to N85.52 billion — down by N2.24 billion.
Agbu Kefas, governor of Taraba reduced the domestic debt from N83.13 billion in June to N81.33 billion in December, a 2 percent cut or N2.20 billion.
In addition, Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, also reduced the state domestic debt from N93.20 billion to N92.21 billion – down by 1 percent or N99 million.
Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa, cut the domestic debt of the state from N43.13 billion to N42.76 billion, recording adecreas of -1 percent to N37 million.
The DMO said Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, also made an effort to reduce the domestic debt of the state from N187.18 billion in June to N186.94 billion in December — a decrease of -0.1 percent or N24 million in six months.
Nasir Idris, governor of Kebbi, also attempted to reduce the state’s debt which moved from N60.94 billion in June to N60.69 billion in December 2023, recording a decrease of N25 million.
STATES WITH INCREASED FOREIGN DEBT
In addition, states such as Ebonyi ($37.54 million), Kaduna ($17.69 million), Kano ($6.6 million), Niger ($1.27 million), Plateau ($831,008), Sokoto ($499,472), Taraba ($1.51 million), Cross River ($59.95 million), and Zamfara ($655,563) borrowed a total of $124.54 million from external sources like World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) within the six-month period.
Using the official exchange rate as at December 31, 2023, the total foreign debt by these states stood at N111.24 billion.
According to the DMO, the total domestic debt for all 36 states and FCT stood at N5.86 trillion, while foreign debt was $42.49 billion at the end of last year.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu had assured that his administration would not continue with the massive borrowings of the previous government to fund its expenditures.
In 2023, state governors got the most Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations in at least seven years.
The rise in FAAC allocations to the three tiers of government, especially the states, followed the removal of the subsidy on petrol and currency reforms by the Tinubu administration. The reforms have reportedly led to a 40 percent boost in income.
TheCable Inex analysis of the 2023 FAAC monthly allocations showed that the subnational and local government councils got the highest allocation of N627.73 billion in September, followed by N610.5 billion in December, N555.75 billion in August, N533 billion in November, N514 billion in July, and N497.97 billion in October.