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Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress to tender a formal apology to Peter Obi and the Nigerian people over the use of inflammatory and “disgraceful language” in a recent interview.
Atiku disclosed this in a tweet posted on his official X account.
His demand was a fallout of Sunday’s interview on Arise Television, where the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, claimed that the former Anambra governor “crossed the line” in his persistent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that Obi deserved to get whatever came his way.
Morka also alleged that Obi was desperately seeking to incite Nigerians into bringing down the current government.
Morka’s perceived threat has since elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians, with Obi’s supporters warning that nothing should happen to the former LP presidential candidate following the perceived threat.
Atiku asserted that such inflammatory remarks by Morka serve as a disturbing emblem of the current administration’s unsettling strategy in addressing opposition figures.
The former vice president also said the face-off signals a worrisome shift towards an authoritarian governance model, where the rights of opposition voices are being suffocated.
He said, “Such reckless and derogatory expressions cannot be tolerated, and it is incumbent upon the APC to issue a formal apology to Obi and the Nigerian people for such disgraceful language.
“Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme. It is not merely the right but the solemn duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics, engage in meaningful dialogue, and allow space for the articulation of alternative viewpoints.
“A true democracy thrives on the healthy exchange of ideas, where the criticisms and contributions of opposition leaders, like Peter Obi, are seen as vital for the betterment of governance and the promotion of public accountability.”
In a similar development, the Labour Party on Tuesday gave the President seven days to reprimand and call Morka to order.
The ultimatum comes barely 24 hours after the ruling party and the Obedient Movement had a heated debate on Monday over the perceived threat to the life of the former Anambra governor.
In his petition on Tuesday, the Director-General of the Labour Party Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei, warned against targeting Obi over his New Year’s State of the Nation message.
The LP chieftain raised concerns that the manner Morka went about his statements showed that his disagreement went beyond party rivalry and the principle of free speech required in a democracy.
He said, “These statements, which target Peter Obi, a respected global figure and LP Presidential candidate in the last election, go beyond political rivalry and pose a direct threat to our democracy, peace, and unity.
“Your Excellency, as a key leader in the opposition for many years, you and the APC were beneficiaries of the freedoms and protections afforded by Nigeria’s democratic system under the then President Goodluck Jonathan, which allowed you to challenge the status quo and ultimately ascend to power.
“We, therefore, call on you to reprimand Mr Felix Morka for his inflammatory statements within the next seven days. Should Your Excellency choose not to act decisively by openly condemning Mr Morka’s statements, it will send a troubling signal to Nigerians and the international community that your administration is either complicit in or indifferent to threats against democracy and political dissent.
“It is imperative for your administration to distance itself from any rhetoric or actions that threaten free speech, suppress opposition, or endanger the lives of political leaders.”
In what looks like a counter-allegation, Morka, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, called on the former Anambra governor to call his supporters to order.
Morka said he had become the target of many online trolls, which he claimed were from Obi’s supporters over his alleged inflammatory utterances.
According to him, there was nowhere he threatened the former governor in the controversial interview.
The statement read, “We call on Mr Obi to immediately set the record straight, withdraw his false allegation against Morka, and call his online supporters to order. Obi leads a restless band of online mob who continue to attack, intimidate, bully and issue death threats to other citizens who dare disagree or criticize his opinions on any matter of national conversation.
“Obi has never condemned their conduct or called them to order. To be clear and for the record, Morka did not threaten Mr Obi, his family or those around him or anyone. Nothing that Morka said in that interview or any other forum remotely suggests a threat against Mr Obi or anyone else.
“As the national spokesman of the ruling party, I will continue to hold Obi and other opposition actors accountable for their actions, just as they seek to, and should, hold our great party and administration accountable when truth and public trust are compromised.”
Meanwhile, a member of the APC National Working Committee, Tolu Bankole, has thrown his weight behind Morka, who he said was merely doing his job.
Bankole also chided Obi for playing the victim after allegedly inciting his online supporters to troll the APC spokesman.
The APC chieftain disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.
The APC national leader, saddled with the responsibility of Persons living with Disabilities matters, stated that Morka was carrying out his official assignment as a committed spokesman.
He said, “I urge Mr Obi to stop playing the victim and focus on providing fact-based constructive opposition. The APC administration under President Bola Tinubu remains committed to nation-building and we welcome constructive criticisms grounded in truth.
“Let it be known that no amount of false allegations can distract the APC from its mandate of delivering good governance to the Nigerian people. It is the duty of the National Publicity Secretary to defend our government, President and APC policies.
“It is, however, troubling that Mr Obi, whose followers have gained notoriety for online bullying and issuing threats, would level such accusations while failing to address the toxic behaviours of his supporters.”
The APC chieftain said he reviewed the controversial video clips of the Arise TV interview and found no evidence of any threat to Obi or his family.
“I know Morka to be a man of peace who would never threaten anyone’s life. His comments were within the bounds of political discourse and in response to criticisms of our government. He has also discharged this role with the utmost professionalism, maturity and a commitment to truth,” Bankole said.
When contacted for reaction, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, vowed that his principal would not be intimidated by APC’s antics.
Ibrahim told The PUNCH that the former governor already had an indelible track record for holding leaders accountable.
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation has uncovered financial irregularities totalling ₦514 billion in the 2021 operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The findings were detailed in an audit report highlighting non-compliance and internal control weaknesses within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the 2021 financial year.
Breakdown of Infractions
The audit revealed four major financial discrepancies:
1. Irregular Deductions: ₦343.64 billion was deducted from domestic crude oil sales at source without proper documentation.
2. Sinking Fund Deposits: ₦83.66 billion, classified as miscellaneous income, was retained in a sinking fund account.
3. Unauthorised Refinery Deductions: ₦82.95 billion was deducted from federation revenue purportedly for refinery rehabilitation.
4. Unsubstantiated Payments: ₦3.75 billion was flagged for unverified transactions relating to petrol sales.
Constitutional Violations
The Auditor-General’s report stated that these transactions breached the 1999 Constitution and the Financial Regulations Act of 2009.
Details of Irregularities
The report noted that ₦484.73 billion was generated from domestic crude oil sales in March and May 2021.
However, ₦343.64 billion was deducted for various expenses, including “Value Shortfall,” “Strategic Stock Holding Cost,” and “Pipeline Maintenance.”
These deductions were unilaterally made by NNPCL without sufficient documentation to justify the expenses.
Additionally, ₦50 billion of the net payable amount for May 2021 was unaccounted for, leaving a significant gap in federation revenue.
Audit Concerns
The Auditor-General attributed these issues to weak internal controls within NNPC, now operating as NNPCL.
The report warned that such practices pose risks of public fund diversion, misappropriation, and significant revenue losses for the federation.
The report read, “Audit observed from the review of NNPC SAP payment record for March and May 2021 payments that the sum of ₦484.73bn was the gross amount generated for the sale of domestic crude for the months of March and May 2021.
“The sum of ₦343.64bn from the gross amount was unilaterally deducted from the gross domestic crude sales as NNPC Value shortfall, Strategic Stock Holding Cost, Crude Oil and Products Pipeline Losses, as well as the pipelines maintenance and management costs.
“The details of each of the cost components deducted were not provided for audit review. Hence, the reasons for the deductions could not be justified by the management.
“In the month of May, the net payable that could have been remitted ought to have been ₦127.075bn, but only the sum of ₦77.075bn was remitted, leaving an unremitted balance of N50bn to the Federation Account, which has remained unaccounted for.
“The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at NNPC, now NNPC Ltd. This is a potential loss of Federation revenue, diversion of public funds, or misapplication or misappropriation of funds.”
The Nigerian Police Force have announced the arrest of 751 suspects for cybercrime-related fraud in the year 2024.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi who reeled out the score card explains that 14 convictions have been secured during the period under review with 508 cases.
Adejobi also explains that a total of $840, 000 was recovered for victims of cyber crimes, while a total of N914 million, as well as a total of over $115,000, are frozen in different bank accounts and crypto wallets.
A further breakdown of the report according to the force PRO includes the recovery of 26 vehicles, sixteen houses 16 houses and 39 plots of land.
John Mahama today took the oath of office as Ghana’s new president in a ceremony attended by world leaders.
John Mahama returned to the office he held eight years ago following his commanding victory in December elections.
Mahama, 66, defeated the ruling-party’s candidate amid voter anger over economic hardship exacerbated by Ghana’s 2022 sovereign-debt default.
He clinched 56.6% support in a country where the margin between the two main political parties has previously been very slim.
Naija News reports that Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attended Mahama’s oath taking ceremony.
Meanwhile some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) visited Mahama before his swearing in.
Among the PDP governors who paid the visit to Mahama were the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
In a brief post on his social media handle, Governor Oborevwori said the visit was to enhance bilateral relations between Ghana and their states.
“It was a privilege to pay a courtesy visit to the President-elect of Ghana, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, earlier today alongside my brother governors.
“This visit will enhance the bilateral relations between our states and, by extension, strengthen the ties between our beloved country, Nigeria and our sister nation, Ghana,” he stated.
Also, Governor Fintiri stated that the visit was a show of solidarity with Mahama as he begins a new chapter of leadership in Ghana.
The ruling All Progressives Congress and supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, engaged themselves in a war of words on Monday over an alleged threat to the life of the former Anambra State governor.
The hostility was a fallout of Sunday’s interview on Arise Television, where the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, claimed that the former Anambra governor had “crossed the line” in his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
An emotional Morka claimed that Obi was desperately seeking to incite Nigerians into bringing down the current government.
The APC spokesman subsequently ended his argument with a subtle threat of “he has coming to him whatever he gets.”
He said, “Mr Obi is shooting from the hip. He is not looking or taking an aim. He just shoots widely like the Wild Wild West movies we used to see back in the day. He is absolutely irrational in his thinking about a man who was governor for eight years and left nothing to remember in Anambra State by way of legacy.
“Now that he didn’t win, he is sulking. Rather than get a perspective or figure out why he lost so he can do better in the future, he thinks he can bring down the government by simply being maliciously deceptive. That is wrong.
“I am not somebody to go on the offensive in that manner, but Mr Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times, and I think that at this point, he has come to him whatever he gets.”
Reacting in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, warned the APC against intimidating Obi, his family members or close associates, insisting that such a threat should not be allowed to go unaddressed.
The former spokesman of the Obi presidential campaign council also warned against any attempt to arrest his principal, adding that Nigerians would call for the head of the ruling party.
He said, “That is a threat. If they make the move (to arrest Obi), it will boomerang on their government. In a democratic setting, Obi did not in any way impugn anybody’s integrity, nor did he cross any line. We are not making any false allegations.
“But if they threaten anybody with some level of impunity, believe me, the Nigerian people will react negatively to them. They must learn to accept it. If they have a counter-allegation to the issues we are raising, they should be provided with facts.
“Obi only spoke to the issue that concerns every Nigerian, which he has a right to. So, what this simply means is that what we have been accusing them of, gagging, arresting and then maiming people to the level of intimidation and impunity, is what they are planning to administer on Nigerians starting from this January just because people have spoken against bad governance.”
Speaking further, the Labour Party chieftain called on security agents not to allow the APC spokesman’s threat to slide without proper investigation.
According to him, the Obidient Movement will not be cowed into silence by the ruling APC government.
He said, “We stand firmly with Peter Obi and his vision for a just, equitable and prosperous Nigeria. We call on Nigerians to resist this slide into authoritarianism by continuing to demand accountability, justice and the protection of democratic values. Finally, we urge the security services to not sweep such threats under the carpet as they had done in previous times but engage Mr Morka to elucidate on his utterance.
“Furthermore, the ruling party called to order their mouthpiece and members at large to desist from actions that could heat up the polity. In addition, the government of the day should foster an environment of noble ideas to shape our national discourse and not threats. They must be seen to be tolerant of criticism.
“The level of impunity and attack they put on the previous government of the PDP was worse than this and they are getting less of that criticism in their own government. So, criticising them is a way of uplifting the standards of our democracy. We Nigerians have the right as covered under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to speak to issues.”
Similarly, Obi also reacted to the threat made by the APC spokesman, saying he would not be silenced for speaking truth to power.
Reacting via his official X handle, Obi wondered how a harmless New Year message he gave could elicit a threat from the APC spokesman.
“Have I really crossed the line? I ask the question because my New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of “crossing the line” and has warned that I will face the consequences.
“I find it necessary to share this message again and urge everyone who has not seen it to watch. If I have truly crossed the line, I invite anyone to point it out, as I remain committed to upholding decorum. However, I will not be silenced in my resolve to speak truthfully, especially as our nation continues to drift toward undemocratic practices.
“We are increasingly transforming into an authoritarian and repressive regime, where freedom of expression is being systematically suppressed. May God help us create a better and freer society for the sake of our children,” he stated.
However, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, expressed disappointment over the manner Obi’s supporters and loyalists went about the issue.
While asserting that Morka neither threatened nor insulted anyone in the said interview, Ibrahim urged the former governor to call his supporters to order.
“They are taking politics to a different level. By now, having come this far, we should be playing politics without bitterness. We shouldn’t be playing the kind of politics that will reduce us from human beings to lower animals. There is nothing threatening, insulting or harmful in what my boss, Mr Felix Morka, said in response to Peter Obi’s remark.
“There is nothing, depending on how you look at it. If you look at the content upside down or sideways, either way, you look at it, there is nothing to warrant the kind of social media bombardment and threats sent in the direction of the national publicity secretary. The Obidients have to revisit their conscience and understand the main intention of opposition in politics.
“It’s not supposed to be a show of insult and threats. No, we should be playing politics of maturity. I expect someone like Peter Obi, who was a governor for two terms and who has been on the political scene for a long time, to caution his supporters against using threats and language that are capable of derailing the meaning of democracy.”
When contacted, the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, denied knowledge of the incident.
Aadejobi said he wasn’t aware and thus couldn’t tell if there was a threat to Obi and Morka’s life or not.
“I’m not aware of what you are saying. Has he informed us?” Adejobi queried.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation after nine years in office, saying he will leave office as soon as the ruling Liberal party chooses a new leader after months of slumping polls and internal division.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader,” Trudeau, who has been in power since 2015, told reporters in Ottawa following a protracted political crisis that saw top Liberal allies urge him to quit.
It was not immediately clear how long Trudeau will remain in office as a caretaker premier.
He said the Liberal leadership race will be “a robust, nationwide competitive process.”
That means Trudeau will continue to lead Canada when incoming US president Donald Trump takes office this month and will be tasked with leading the country’s initial response to the new US administration, including a possible trade war.
Trump has vowed to impose 25 percent on all Canadian imports, which could prove devastating to the Canadian economy, and Trudeau has vowed to retaliate.
Trudeau’s support within the Liberal party had been teetering through much of last year but plunged to new depths following the surprise resignation in December of his former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland.
In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of focusing on political gimmicks to appease voters, including a costly Christmas tax holiday, instead of steadying Canada’s finances ahead of Trump’s promised tariffs.
Canadian media have tipped Freeland as a possible contender to taker over the Liberal Party along with the former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, a Canadian who also previously led the Bank of Canada.
Lori Turnbull, a political science professor at Dalhousie University, said traditionally a Liberal leadership race would take four to six months but this time “they’ve got to be quicker than that.”
“If they don’t have a new leader for the next election, then there’s no point,” she told AFP.
Trudeau’s Liberals are trailing badly in the polls to the opposition Conservatives and narrowly survived three non-confidence votes in parliament late last year.
His minority government had been held up by a deal with the left-wing New Democratic Party but in December the NDP said they would vote to topple Trudeau at the next opportunity.
Trudeau confirmed that he had received permission from Canada’s governor general to suspend all parliamentary business until March 24.
That could could give the Liberals time to choose a new leader while restricting the opposition chances to bring a vote of non-confidence.
Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, has assigned portfolios to the newly appointed commissioners, permanent secretaries, and special advisers.
Yusuf asked new appointees, sworn in on Monday, to serve with dedication, integrity, and humility to meet the administration’s expectations.
Wada Sagagi, the former secretary to the state government (SSG), was sworn in as the commissioner for investment, commerce, and industry.
Ismail Danmaraya is the new commissioner for finance; Shehu Sani is the commissioner for power and sustainable energy, while Dahiru Hashim will serve as the commissioner for environment.
Also sworn in were Abdulkadir Abdulsalam (commissioner for rural development), Abdullahi Waiya (information), and Wada Ma’aji (public procurement).
Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, the spokesperson to the governor of Kano, said in a statement that Yusuf asked the new cabinet members to rededicate themselves to meeting public expectations.
“I remain fully committed to fulfiling my campaign promises. These appointments therefore reflect our determination to identify and empower individuals who will help us implement policies and programmes that make a tangible difference in the lives of our citizens,” the statement reads.
“Over the past months, we have worked tirelessly to address pressing issues, including infrastructure development, education, healthcare, security, empowerment and employment generation for the citizens.
“Today’s appointments and the creation of the Local Government Service Commission further demonstrate our resolve to build a more efficient and people centred government.”
Barring any last-minute change in plans, marketers and retailers of petroleum products will start lifting Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the Port Harcourt Refining Company this week.
The Publicity Secretary of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Joseph Obele, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent.
According to Obele, since the refinery commenced operations in November, it has been supplying fuel to retail outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited only.
Though marketers still load fuel from the NNPCL, Obele clarified that the products marketers currently buy from the state-owned oil company were imported.
He expressed concerns that the NNPCL was selling PMS to retailers in Port Harcourt at prices higher than that of Lagos State, pleading that the refinery should sell at N899 per litre instead of N970.
“NNPC is still telling us to buy at a rate different from the rate they are selling to Lagos at the moment because of logistics. So, Port Harcourt retail outlet owners are not really comfortable with that. Hence, the Port Harcourt refinery will start servicing us this week.
“We are also requesting that the same rate NNPC is selling to our members at Lagos should be the rate they will be selling to us over here in Port Harcourt too. We are not really comfortable with that disparity,” he disclosed.
Asked whether or not marketers in Port Harcourt and environs have started buying directly from the NNPC refinery, he replied, “No, but it will commence this week. The trucks loading out are for the NNPC retail outlets only.”
In his request to the NNPC, Obele stated, “We in Port Harcourt, we plead with the NNPC to sell to us at the same rate they are selling fuel to Lagos marketers. The difference is too much. It is N899 per litre in Lagos but N970 in Port Harcourt. It is far higher than that of Lagos.
“The way they explain it, it is like their own vessel will be bringing it and shipping it over to Port Harcourt depot for us to buy. So, we are now saying that since you will be selling directly to us from the refinery, you now have the stock available. Sell to us at the same rate you are selling to Lagos marketers.
“So, that’s where we are right now. Our request is that the NNPC should sell to us from the Port Harcourt refinery at the same rate they are selling the product to those in Lagos.”
Asked if he meant the NNPC was still importing fuel to Lagos, the PETROAN spokesman replied in the affirmative, saying “The stocks in Lagos are imported stocks.”
After several postponements, the NNPC announced in November that the old 60,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed operations.
The NNPC promised that rehabilitation works at the new Port Harcourt refinery with 150,000 barrels per day capacity would soon be completed.
NNPC spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed that the refinery currently produces naptha which it blends to produce petrol.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is not planning to destroy uncollected permanent voter cards (PVCs).
An online report recently claimed that the electoral commission wanted to destroy six million uncollected PVCs.
In a statement on Sunday, INEC described the report as “false” and advised members of the public to ignore it.
“Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the Commission is contemplating the destruction of over six million uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) going back to the 2015 voter registration,” the statement reads.
“The report is incorrect. At no time did the Commission contemplate the destruction of uncollected PVCs. The public is advised to discountenance the story.”
In December 2024, INEC proposed the use of computer-generated slips for voter accreditation during elections.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, had said the introduction of the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) calls for a review of the use of the PVC as the sole means of voter identification on election day.
Yakubu said the commission would soon approach the national assembly with its recommendations for electoral reform.
Forty-eight hours before the 2023 presidential election, the commissionannounced that 87,209,007 PVCs had been collected across the country.
The PVCs collection data meant that 93.3 percent of 93,469,008 registered voters had collected their PVCs.
However, 6,259,229 PVCs—representing 6.7 percent of PVCs—remain uncollected.
President Bola Tinubu will depart Lagos on January 6, 2025, for Accra, the capital of Ghana, to attend the inauguration of President-elect John Mahama on January 7, 2025.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
Mahama, who served as the 12th president of Ghana between 2011 and 2017, was reelected in December 2024. He will succeed President Nana Akuffo-Addo (2017-2025).
Onanuga said, “Tinubu’s trip to Accra is at the invitation of the president-elect, who had visited the Nigerian leader earlier in December.
“Mahama and Tinubu have a longstanding personal relationship, just like Nigeria and Ghana maintain a longstanding bilateral relationship.”
Tinubu, as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, would join other African leaders at the ceremony.
Onanuga said the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and other senior government officials would accompany Tinubu on the trip.
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Receipts into the federation account grew by 7.48 per cent to N6.86 trillion in the third quarter of 2024, the latest Economic Report by the Central Bank of Nigeria has revealed.
According to the report, the increase in the gross federation account earnings was driven by higher receipts from corporate tax and value-added tax.
The Federal Internal Revenue Service describes corporate tax as a tax levied on the profits made by companies operating in Nigeria. It is regulated by the Companies Income Tax Act under the supervision of the FIRS, while VAT is a tax levied on the consumption of goods and services.
The non-oil revenue was N5.56tn, as oil revenue made up the balance.
The CBN report said, “Gross federation account earnings improved, occasioned by higher receipts from non-oil revenue. At N6.86tn, the provisional gross federation account receipt was 7.48 per cent above the level in the preceding quarter but 23.71 per cent short of the benchmark.
“The increase was due largely to higher receipts from corporate tax and value-added tax. The composition of gross federation revenue showed that non-oil revenue remained dominant, accounting for 81.00 per cent, while oil revenue constituted the balance.
“Non-oil revenue, at N5.56tn, was 19.48 and 50.36 per cent above the levels in the preceding quarter and target, respectively. The increase relative to the preceding quarter was driven largely by higher collections from corporate tax and value-added tax. The increase relative to quarterly targets reflects improved revenue collection relative to budget expectations.”
The apex bank revealed that in the quarter under review, oil revenue, however, fell by 24.72 per cent to N1.30tn, relative to the level in Q2 2024 on account of lower receipts from petroleum profit, taxes, and royalties.
It was also 75.39 per cent short of the quarterly target due to shut-ins arising from ageing oil pipelines and installations.
Meanwhile, from the federally collected revenue of N6.87tn, about N3.92tn was distributed to the three tiers of government.
The federal, state, and local governments received N1.27tn, N1.36tn, and N0.99tn, respectively, while the balance of N0.30tn was allocated to the 13 per cent Derivation Fund for oil-producing states.
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu: Eastern Rail Line Will Be Completed, And Anambra Basin Will Receive Development Support
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President Bola Tinubu has made a firm commitment that his administration will complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
President Tinubu gave the assurance during an interactive session with South East leaders during his official visit to Enugu State on Saturday.
The President also pledged that his administration would support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve.
The basin is estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.
During the meeting, the President was attentive to the requests made by former Minister of Power Professor Chinedu Nebo and Enugu State indigene Chris Ugoh and responded with a commitment to address their concerns.
While applauding the Tinubu administration for completing the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the Eastern rail line, Nebo appealed to the President to prioritise the completion of the remaining portions of the rail link.
He emphasised the rail link's potential to boost Nigeria's non-oil exports and economic growth.
Ugoh noted that the Anambra Basin has the potential to support power generation and industrial feedstocks.
He appealed to the Federal Government to develop this resource to benefit the southeast and other regions of the country, including the Middle Belt and the North.
Onyemauche Nnamani, the National Commissioner representing the South East in the Police Service Commission, urged the Federal Government to implement modern security strategies in the region, akin to the statewide CCTV system and patrol cars with surveillance cameras in Enugu State.
Nnamani called on the federal government to de-emphasise the mounting of checkpoints and roadblocks in the region, saying, "It is inefficient and exposes our security personnel to attacks by non-state actors."
Responding to the request for the rail line, President Tinubu reassured the audience, saying, "It is a work in progress. I inherited some of these critical problems and am committed to solving them."
"On the support of the gas infrastructure. Sure, gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no wasting of time than to invest more in it. We will do it together, and I am lucky I have good governors. ''
Acknowledging the presence of various dignitaries, including governors, traditional rulers, captains of industry and serving and former presiding officers of the National Officer from the South East, President Tinubu praised former Senate President Ken Nnamani for saving Nigeria's democracy from those who wanted to derail it with the Third Term project.
Earlier at the meeting, President Tinubu praised Governor Peter Mbah for his development model and philosophy after inaugurating several projects executed by the state government.
He pledged that the federal government would continue to support Enugu and other states in their development efforts.
Among the projects inaugurated by the President are the GTC Smart Green School, New Haven/Bisalla Road, the International Conference Center, the Command-and-Control Center, and 150 patrol vehicles equipped with surveillance cameras.
The President also performed the virtual commissioning of other notable projects from the Enugu State Government House.
At the inauguration of the Command-and-Control Center, the President said investment in security will bring rapid development.
"This is a profound demonstration of what we can do together. It reassures me that more revenue going to the sub-nationals and local government is not a waste. It is for development.
"We have committed leaders like Peter Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st-century development, taking Enugu to greater heights, and building our tomorrow today.
"I cannot forget the sight of those children I just met at the Smart Green School.
"I have seen the gadgets and vehicles with 21st-century technology. Yes, you are indeed working for today, tomorrow and the future.
"My good friend Peter, we can go places together to build Nigeria and build the future.
"It is audacious to have this home filled with technology, and they are ready for use. To promote investment, I know you are a private sector person, and we must encourage more private sector people to come into politics.
"When you are sure of security and development and give value for money, investors will be your friend," he said.
President Tinubu further lauded the governor, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, for demonstrating an irrevocable commitment to human development.
"I don't care which party you come from; you are my friend. Alex Otti of Abia State is also doing very well. It is not about the differences in languages and place of birth.
"No one of us has control of the mother tongue. God created us, and you can find yourself in Enugu, Onitsha or Lagos. We are all members of one huge family called Nigeria, but we live in different rooms in the same house.
"We must build this house to satisfy our immediate and future needs," he said.
At the interactive session, Governor Mbah described President Tinubu as a true federalist.
He commended the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission and liberalising the electricity sector through the Electricity Act (Amendment).
He congratulated the President on being named ThisDay Man of the Year and acknowledged his efforts to revitalise Nigeria's growth and economic resilience.
"Your Excellency, your credential as a true federalist stands out brightly, and the legacies thereof will long earn you resounding accolades.
"In signing the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, you liberalised electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. That singular act will consistently rank as an enduring legacy.
"It is noteworthy that Enugu State was the first sub-national to which the NERC ceded regulatory oversight of the local electricity market. That reflects how swiftly we are pursuing our goals," he said.
According to the governor, the South East Development Commission will address infrastructure and ecological challenges in the region while complementing the many development strides unfolding across the state.
Governor Mbah reiterated his vision to grow Enugu's economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within 4 years, aiming to position the state among Nigeria's top three states in terms of GDP.
He said this grand dream can be achieved when security is guaranteed, quality education thrives, and citizens can access affordable healthcare.
The governor outlined the bold steps taken to enhance public safety in the state, including ending the illegal sit-at-home order imposed across the Southeast by a criminal gang and non-state actors.
''We no longer observe sit-at-home in Enugu. Our people go to work every day of the week, and we no longer take orders from non-state actors," he said.
The governor told the President that some of the Smart Green Schools commissioned during the state visit were part of the modern schools introduced by his administration across 260 wards to equip students with 21st-century skills.
The governor explained that his administration has focused on primary healthcare, upgrading all 260 primary healthcare centres to maintain consistent quality, even in remote areas.
"All these infrastructural developments are mainly possible because of your bold initiatives.
"The courageous pronouncements you made to free up funds for development: the removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the foreign exchange, and several social interventions that your government continues to provide for the people of this country.
"We are now essentially, with those funds freed, able to fully complete these projects. And it's not just physical infrastructure; social and digital infrastructure are going on," Governor Mbah said.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
From left: Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah during the commissioning of International Conference Center, Government House Command and Control Center and Security Vehicles in Enugu on Saturday.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he was made Governor of Rivers State by some political leaders in the state.
Wike, however, maintained that while he received political support from certain leaders, he ultimately fought his way to power.
He contrasted his rise politically to that of the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, whom he claimed he made governor of Rivers State.
Wike made the remarks during a civic reception he held in honor of some Rivers State politicians loyal to him on Friday in Port Harcourt.
The statement follows the resurfacing of old videos circulating on social media, where former First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, appeared to present Wike to former governor Peter Odili and some political leaders in Rivers State as the preferred successor to then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
The videos resurfaced amid a verbal exchange between Wike and Odili, arising from the political crisis in the state that has placed the FCT Minister at loggerheads with his successor, Fubara.
Odili had publicly shown support for Governor Fubara, which infuriated Wike, who believes the former governor should have refrained from taking sides and instead played the role of a father figure by addressing the political crisis in the state.
Wike said, “You didn’t give me. To be governor of Rivers State 2014, I fought for the party structure. I took it from Magnus Abe, yes, I did.
“So you can’t say you made me Governor. Nobody, I don’t want to make comments about certain people, I won’t do that.
“You Magnus, all of you, Victor Giadom, I fought you people, took the party structure.
“So, nobody can say I brought Wike, I dashed you. Nobody can say that. But it would be unfair to me, to Almighty God, for me to say nobody supported me.
“No you can’t say that. You need people’s support, but not to say you gave me.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience Jonathan, and Peter Odili were said to have played major roles in Wike’s emergence as Governor of Rivers State in 2015.
At the time, former Governor Amaechi had fallen out with Jonathan and his wife, prompting them to throw their support behind Wike, who had served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff and later as Minister of State for Education under Jonathan.
![[PRESS RELEASE] Notice Of Planned Power Rationing Due To FCDA Road Dualization Project](/media/k2/items/cache/4adc02f7552cc02b606d84f7f0d92bc3_XS.jpg)
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) notifies the public that due to the Federal Capital Development Agency's (FCDA) road dualization project along the Apo axis, eight number 132kV and 33kV towers will be relocated along the Kukwaba/Apo 132kV line (Outer Southern Expressway route).
This relocation work will necessitate a planned power outage from Monday, 6th January to Monday, 20th January 2025 from 9am to 4pm daily, which is the estimated duration for the dismantling and construction of the towers as well as restringing of the power cables that would enable resumption of bulk power supply to the Apo Transmission Substation from Gwagwalada Substation.
Consequently, there will be a rationing of electricity supply for AEDC's customers in Kubwa, Karu,Maraba, Nyanya,Masaka,Keffi, Kukwaba, and Apo Mechanic. This will also affect parts of Lugbe, Trademore Estate, Pyakasa, Sabon Lugbe Chika Alaita axis.
While the relocation of the transmission towers is a necessity for the road completion project, TCN apologizes for the inconvenience this planned power outage will cause and assures that power supply will be restored as soon as the towers relocation and cable stringing are completed.
Ndidi Mbah
GM, Public Affairs