Security operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) have apprehended a wanted kidnapper at the Hajj camp in Abuja during the screening of pilgrims preparing to depart for Saudi Arabia, a security source confirmed to Daily Trust.

The security source revealed that the suspected kidnapper, identified as Yahaya Zango, was arrested on Sunday.

Zango, who resides in the Paikon-Kore area of Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had reportedly been declared wanted by security agencies over his alleged involvement in multiple kidnapping incidents.

According to the source, Zango was apprehended after he presented his passport as part of a group of Muslim pilgrims from Abuja preparing to embark on this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

“It was this afternoon during the screening at the hajj camp in (the) airport when the DSS operatives apprehended him and whisked him away,” the source was quoted as saying.

A senior official from the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, who preferred to remain anonymous, also confirmed the suspect's arrest.

Daily Trust reports that the suspect had been on the run following a security-led manhunt.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has yet to issue an official statement regarding the development.

Nigeria has been grappling with multiple security threats that vary across its regions. In the Northeast, Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have waged a violent insurgency since 2009. This conflict has caused massive loss of lives, displacement of millions, and destruction of infrastructure.

In the Northwest and parts of the North-Central region, armed bandits engage in cattle rustling, armed robbery, and large-scale kidnappings for ransom. They operate from forested and rugged terrain, which makes it difficult for security forces to track and apprehend them.

Kidnapping has become a nationwide problem, affecting not only the North but also the South and Middle Belt. It is used as a lucrative criminal enterprise, targeting students, government officials, businessmen, and ordinary citizens.

In what will come across as a really tragic development, a Nigerian pastor in Eche Ezema community in Ibagwa Aka, the headquarters of Igbo Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, has been accused of k!lling four siblings.

The children, Kamsiyochukwu Ezema (7), Ezinne Ezema (6), Ujunwa Ezema (5), and Chinedu Ezema (2), were said to have been gruesomely murd£red with a pestle allegedly by one pastor of a sabbath church located in the area.

The suspect is currently in custody at the Divisional Police Station in Ibagwa Aka.

A family source who confirmed the incident to The Sun said the children were alone at home when the pastor allegedly scaled the fence and carried out the horrific act.

“The suspect used a pestle to k!ll them,” the source said.

The deceased's parents, Chinonso Ezema and Loveth Ezema, who were reportedly away when the tragic incident occurred, called for justice.

“We want the police to thoroughly investigate this and ensure the culprit is brought to book,” the father said.

He noted that their compound shares a fence with the church where the suspected pastor works.

A police officer at the Ibagwa Aka Station, who confirmed the report but pleaded anonymity, said the case had been officially recorded and that investigations were ongoing.

“We urge the public to remain calm and allow a full investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” the officer told the publication

The Edo State Police Command has apprehended the recently dethroned traditional ruler, Ohen of Okhoromi, Ovbokhan Igbinovia Kevin, along with four members of his syndicate during a sting operation.

Spokesperson of the command, CSP Moses Joel Yamu, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, May 18, 2025, said a suspected human skull, arms and ammunition were recovered during the operation.

“The Edo State Command in a sting operation carried out by operatives of the Command Intelligence and Rapid Response Squad alongside the Anti-Kidnapping Squad today 17/05/2025 arrested the recently dethroned Ohen of Okhoromi one Ovbokhan Igbinovia Kelvin 43yrs, Osarodion Omoregie 41yrs, Charles Otasowei 55yrs, Edwin Igbinovia 45yrs and Osagie Igbinovia 44yrs,” the statement read.

"The following exhibits; two (2) AK 47 rifles with breach numbers TH4782 and 6683 respectively, two (2) single barrel locally made shotguns, Three (3) empty AK47 magazines, one (1) OFM magazine, eleven (11) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and a suspected human skull were recovered from the premises of Ovbokhan Igbinovia Kelvin the dethroned Ohen of Okhoromi when search was conducted.

"The investigation is ongoing to recover other arms and ammunition in his possession and arrest his fleeing gang members.

“CP Monday Agbonika, fdc assures the general public that the Command would not be deterred or distracted in its resolve to rid the state of all forms of crimes and criminality

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has announced that its members are restricted to purchasing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly referred to as fuel or petrol exclusively from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, as the refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are unable to produce petrol efficiently, instead generating naphtha.

Naija News reports that DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, confirmed this during a conversation with journalists on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

He told The PUNCH that DAPPMAN members are prepared to source petroleum products from the Dangote refinery, which is currently the only effective petrol-producing facility in the nation.

As a result, Adewole emphasised that the marketers will only consider importing the product if local procurement proves impossible.

He also noted that the Dangote refinery is not prepared to supply premium motor spirit to members seeking to purchase in bulk.

Adewole further explained that his members will not approach the Port Harcourt or Warri refineries for petrol, as these facilities are producing naphtha and are not capable of adequately producing the essential petrol.

“The NNPC refineries, both the revamped Port Harcourt and Warri, are not yet optimally producing PMS; they are producing naphtha.

“Our members will not go to them for now.

“But where we can get the product is Dangote refinery and we are willing to work with Dangote refinery, we are willing to buy from Dangote refinery, but if we don’t get the product from Dangote refinery, the PIA allows us to import which is what we’ll go for,” Adewole said.

He asserted that domestic production of PMS should be increased to provide marketers with additional sources for acquiring the product.

He emphasised that the depot owners do not primarily wish to import, as they prefer to purchase locally and sell to Nigerians; however, the available opportunities are constrained.

“In-country production should be ramped up because we need to have more sources of getting the product. It is not the primary will of the depot owners to import; we would rather buy locally and sell to Nigerians, but the opportunities are limited,” he stated.

He contended that the Dangote refinery adopts a selective strategy by engaging with a limited number of marketers, emphasising its preference for gantry supply.

Adewole, representing the depot owners, stated that the association favours bulk purchases of up to 25 metric tonnes.

He highlighted that if the portal were accessible and members could load their vessels, it would facilitate their patronage of the Dangote refinery.

“Dangote refinery, in this context, prefers a selective approach that chooses a few marketers and deals through them, and it prefers the gantry supply. But we are depot owners. We pick in bulk. We are picking 15 – 25 metric tonnes. So, if the portal is open and we are allowed to load our vessels, then it’s a lot easier for us,” he posited.

Adewole stated that his members possess depots throughout Nigeria and are prepared to acquire PMS and diesel from the Dangote refinery, although he expressed uncertainty regarding the refinery’s readiness to supply them.

He mentioned that discussions with Dangote are still in progress, but the members are seeking the most favourable pricing without being disadvantaged.

“We have depots all over the country, spread all over the coastal areas. So, all these depots are ready and willing to pick from Dangote. But is Dangote ready and willing? We’ve had several meetings with Dangote Refinery at the highest level of their management. We’re still talking with them. So, it’s not yet closed, but we want a situation in which we can pick from the refinery at the best possible price without being shortchanged,” he explained.

Adewole spoke further that the aim of DAPPMAN is to ensure it gives customers in all parts of the country quality products at the best price, no matter where the product legitimately comes from.

“Wherever we can source the product, we will get it for them. The PIA allows us to import, and when people ask, ’Why are you importing? Why are you not patronising the local refinery?’ The reality is that we want to patronise the local refinery, but is the local refinery willing to give us the product? If we import cargos at a cheaper rate, we will sell to Nigerians at a cheaper rate,” he stated.

Adewole added that it is DAPPMAN’s pride that the Dangote refinery is up and running, saying the association wants to work with the refinery without losing money.

“It’s our pride that the Dangote refinery is up and running. We want to work with Dangote, but we are also not going to keep losing money because the bottom line is that we are in business,” he submitted.

In November 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced that the Port Harcourt refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, had resumed operations after being inactive for several years.

The NNPC reported that the refurbished facility is now functioning at 70 per cent of its total refining capacity, utilising modern equipment.

The primary outputs from the refinery are expected to be diesel and Pour Fuel Oil, with daily production capacities of 1.5 million litres and 2.1 million litres, respectively.

Additionally, the refinery will produce 1.4 million litres of Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha) blended into Premium Motor Spirit, along with 900,000 litres of kerosene and 2.1 million litres of low-pour fuel oil. It was also mentioned that approximately 200 trucks of petrol would be distributed to the Nigerian market each day.

NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye addressed allegations from various sources claiming that the Port Harcourt refinery was not generating fuel but was instead blending through Indorama Petrochemicals.

“We are, however, aware of unfounded claims by certain individuals suggesting that the refinery is not producing products. For clarity, the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent.

“The refinery is producing the following daily outputs: Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha): Blended into 1.4 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol); Kerosene: 900,000 litres; Automotive Gas Oil (AGO or Diesel): 1.5 million litres; Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO): 2.1 million litres; Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Additional volumes

“It is worth noting that the refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals (formerly Eleme Petrochemicals), to produce gasoline that meets required specifications. Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes,” Soneye disclosed in November.

He stated that the NNPC has made significant advancements regarding the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which he indicated would commence operations ‘shortly’ without any prior announcements.

In April, a report from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority revealed that the Port Harcourt refinery has been functioning at less than 40 per cent capacity.

Additionally, it was noted that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company has been inactive since January 25, 2025, due to safety concerns related to its Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater.

Reports indicated that the new board of the NNPC has dismissed the three Managing Directors of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.

However, according to The PUNCH, Soneye has not yet responded to inquiries from journalists regarding this matter.

The Imo State Police Command has said the 15 students who were declared missing on their way from Onitsha in Anambra State to write the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Okigwe in Imo State have been found and reunited with their families.

The command announced the development on its X handle yesterday while responding to a post on the whereabouts of the students.

The command wrote: “It is true that they made the travel to Okigwe, where they were scheduled to write the UTME. However, their vehicle developed a mechanical fault while at it, but they were secured and have now been returned with their families.

“We appreciate citizens and stakeholders, such as yourself, who raise awareness concerning issues of security. We encourage the spirit.”

Also, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has urged the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to carry out an independent and transparent audit of its examination infrastructure.

Addressing reporters in Abuja on the glitches that hampered this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Kalu faulted what he called the hurried rescheduling of the examination at a time many students were writing the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) which required some of them to travel far distances to write the examination.

According to him, it is only by triangulating internal findings with external audits that Nigerians can ensure that no affected candidate is left behind.

Kalu also urged JAMB to safeguard the educational path of the affected candidates from the Southeast and Lagos, saying they should not be made to face further stress, having borne the brunt of the glitches.

He said: “JAMB must provide a clear, accessible mechanism for remark and appeal, especially for those dissatisfied with the hurried retake or who experienced technical difficulties during the second sitting.

“Furthermore, coordination with WAEC and other examination bodies must continue to ensure that no candidate’s academic progression is impeded by scheduling conflicts.”

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called on the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to design innovative technologies to aid the fight against corruption, assuring the agency of ICPC’s willingness to collaborate in this effort.

Dr. Aliyu made this call during a courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and his team to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Highlighting the critical role of technology in both perpetrating and combating corruption, the ICPC Chairman disclosed that the Commission recently blocked the diversion of approximately N1.6 billion through the deployment of technology-based interventions.

“We cannot fight corruption without being smart. We know the increasing use of technology in committing corrupt acts, but we are also leveraging the same technology to fight back. Because of the deployment of technological tools, we were able to block N1.6 billion that could have been stolen.” Dr. Aliyu said.

The ICPC Boss emphasized the need for strategic partnerships in addressing corruption, especially given its global nature, stressing that the innovative mandate of NASENI and the enforcement mandate of ICPC provide a unique opportunity for synergy that could yield impactful results.

He further assured that ICPC is prepared to use its enforcement powers and lawful instruments to ensure compliance with technology-driven innovations targeted at fighting corruption adding, “If we could work together, we would be able to block some areas where we are having this challenge,”.

Dr. Aliyu outlined specific areas for collaboration between the two agencies. “First, I would like us to collaborate in the tracking of public funds and procurement processes. Seventy to eighty percent of corruption happens in the area of procurement. Second, we need to design a secure whistleblower platform, because we cannot fight corruption without access to information.”

He also offered the Commission’s support in further promoting transparency and accountability within NASENI through the strengthening of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in the agency.

To solidify the collaboration, Dr. Aliyu proposed the creation of a Joint Innovation Task Team (JITT) to identify priority areas for joint action and ensure the sustainability of the partnership through consistent engagement and then the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

In his remarks, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, expressed his commitment to deepening the agency’s collaboration with the ICPC. He emphasized the importance of digitalizing operational processes to prevent issues such as document leakage and pledged NASENI’s readiness to share its technical expertise with the Commission.

Mr. Halilu said, “We are keen to extend our partnership to the ICPC. There is an urgent need to digitalize internal processes to improve security and efficiency, and we would be happy to share our knowledge and experience in this area.”

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared vision of using innovation and collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office confirmed on Sunday.

The announcement follows a series of medical evaluations prompted by urinary symptoms last week.

According to the statement, Biden, 82, was diagnosed on Friday.

His cancer is characterised by a Gleason score of 9, a measure that indicates a highly aggressive form of the disease.

The cancer has spread to the bone but is classified as hormone-sensitive, meaning it may be treatable through hormone therapy and other targeted treatments.

Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team, the statement added.

The diagnosis comes less than a year after Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, following a widely criticised debate performance that fueled concerns about his physical and cognitive health.

In February 2024, his longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, described him as “fit to serve” following a routine medical examination. Another update in July 2024, shortly after he exited the race, described his health as “excellent.”

Despite the prior assessments, Sunday’s announcement reignited debate over the transparency of Biden’s health status while in office, with critics pointing to possible signs of decline that were not disclosed to the public.

Biden served as the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 and was the oldest person ever elected to the office at the time. He previously served as vice president under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.

Further updates on his condition and treatment plans are expected in the coming days.

Foremost politician and elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, yesterday reflected on the early and preliminary preparations for the 2027 general election.

The nonagenarian, assessing the likely presidential candidates on the various platforms, said none of them has the capacity to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next election.

The special adviser to Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, who is 99 years old, spoke with reporters in Kaduna.

Yakassai spoke on the imperative of ideology in politics, urging defectors to be guided by ideas and ethos.

He also spoke on the challenges of nation-building and development, which should be tackled by the patriotic efforts of Nigerians and foreign support.

The nonagenarian nationalist said in particular, tackling insecurity requires citizens’ commitment and international collaboration.

Yakasai, who advised politicians to shun politics of ethnicity and religion, insisted that President Tinubu would have an edge in the 2027 contest.

Ahead of the 2027 polls, politicians have intensified consultations and mobilisation across the country.

Also, opposition figures are neck-deep in alliance and coalition talks, despite the leadership crises rocking their platforms.

He said: “I haven’t heard anybody making any proposition about the 2027 presidential election from Arewa Consultative Forum. What is tagged the Arewa Consultative Forum or Northern Elders Forum’s position is mere individual opinions, because all sections of the north have not taken stand on this.”

Yakasai said Nigerians should shun speculations and wait until the northerners meet and officially take a position.

He added: ”In Nigeria today, Bola Tinubu is the president. He has his ministers and governors who are backing him. Who else has all what it takes to move into the contest with the kind of stamina and strength to be more successful comparatively with Tinubu?

Yakasai said while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is controlling majority of states, some governors from the opposition parties are also supporting President Tinubu.

He stressed: “We should all wait and see if the picture will change drastically, otherwise for now, the odds are in his (Tinubu’s) favour because I have not seen anything that will prevent him from winning the next election.

“He hasn’t done anything against the North in my understanding and the North alone cannot decide who becomes the president of the country.”

The elderstatesman said the crisis assailing the major opposition parties has further softened the grounds for Tinubu to win in 2027.

But Yakassai refrained from assessing the Tinubu administration in the last two years, saying that he would do so later.

He, however, advised politicians to always have the interest of the masses at the centre of their actions and plans.

Yakassai said: “Our politicians should see politics as a dynamic game and what I will advise is for them to play the game on the basis of ideology and programmes. Let them envision the way they want the country to be and not targeting to be ministers, governors and president.

“After becoming all these and nothing is done in the interest of the country, we will not get better. They should eschew politics of ethnicity and religion because not making our country the focal point of our politics has held us down for so long.”

Yakassai, who would be 100 years in December, attributed the longevity to the grace of God.

Noting that his father died at the age of 107 years and his mother at 100, he said the combined effects hereditary may have contributed to his longevity.

He added: “My children, grandchildren and great grand children are more than 80 and still expanding. I give glory to God for these.”

Yakassai said tackling security challenges requires commitment by Nigerians and international collaboration, stressing that government alone cannot tackle the problem.

He said Nigerians should collaborate with security agencies in terms of intelligence gathering, adding that other countries should assist by checking the sources of arms and ammunition supply and financial backing for terrorist groups.

Yakassai said: “The problems of security in Nigeria has taken a universal dimension. What the government should do is to take a critical review of the problem with a view to drawing more workable plans to tackle the challenges.

“Government should know the number of security personnel, weapons and other logistics they need and even exceed the plan in order to get good results at the end of the day.”

The elderstatesman said since terrorism, banditry and agitations by some sections of the country are driven by different causes, they also require different solutions.

He added: ”Even the United Kingdom, China and India, all have their internal challenges and what is important is patriotism on the part of the citizens.”

On the performance of the 10th National Assembly, he said the lawmakers were doing their best.

He also attributed the gale of defecations at the National Assembly to a feature of the dynamic game.

Yakassai said: “You see how people are changing parties. It started one, two, three and now it’s gathering momentum. They are now in hundreds, leaving their parties and joining others.

“What is important now is for Nigerians to be very watchful and know where the pendulum will eventually swing. The masses should be careful about who to support.”

Yakassai, a disciple of the radical politician, Mallam Aminu Kano, said politicians and political office holders should be guided by ideology rather than personal interests.

He said political parties should be formed by people with the same ideas and thinking.

Yakassai stressed: “The way political parties emerge in this country, especially when you look at the events that followed this democratic dispensation, is not ideal.

“People were not sure of where to go initially. It is only now that things are beginning to take some shape.

“This is a country where we have a federation with East, West and North, yet many politicians don’t consider what should be the interest of their people and the nation at large; rather, all they think is personal gains, as politicians.”

Yakassai attributed the frequent defections by politicians from one political party to another to the dearth of ideologies.

The eminent politician, who described himself as a proponent of rotational presidency, said the idea was the brain-child of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Noting no group had opposed the principle of zoning, he said that it was a valid proposition for national unity.

He added: “This is a country where we originally had three regions and later 36 states. In the long run, letting key political offices, such as the president, to go round will promote unity.”

Yakassai said it is impossible for Nigeria to return to regional government as practised in the First Republic.

He said: “I am almost 100 years old. I was born in December 1925. I know what is possible and what is not possible. I can’t venture into what is not possible. I don’t think regional government is possible again in Nigeria.

“Read the newspapers; how many people are supporting the call for a return to regional government? Where are those people from the North, West or South?

“That you have few people who are talking about regional government doesn’t translate into the fact that the majority of the country are craving for what is being talked about.

“What the few are talking about could be regarded as their wishful thinking. If government scales their calls and uncovers that it is not what the majority want, they will keep quiet.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 15, 2025, presented its first prosecution witness, PW1, Abdulmajeed Agboola, a staff of Access Bank Plc, in the alleged N5,726,994, 110.23( Five Billion, Seven Hundred and Twenty Six Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, One Hundred and Ten Naira, Twenty three kobo) fraud involving a former employee of the bank, Olajide Ogunmoroti, , Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje before Justice O.O.Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

The defendants are being prosecuted on an amended 10-count charge bordering on stealing, retention of proceeds of crime, money laundering , obtaining credit by false pretence and unauthorized access to computer materials.

One of the charges reads: “ That you, Olajide Ogunmoroti, Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje, sometime in 2023, with a dishonest intent, stole and converted for your own use the sum of N2,253,827,379.23, being property of Access Bank Plc., thereby committed an offence of Stealing, contrary to Sections 280 and punishable under section 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Another charge reads: “ That you, “Olajide Ogunmoroti, Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje, sometime in 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with a dishonest intent, stole and converted for your own use the sum of N3,473,166,731.00 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy- Three Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty One Naira) Property of Access Bank PIc., thereby committed an offence of Stealing, contrary to Sections 280 and punishable under section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid L. Tukur, the witness told the court that the first defendant, Ogunmoroti , was the ICT representative of the Abakaliki branch of the bank. He told the court that there was a glitch in the bank’s server, which was traced to the Abakaliki branch during investigations.

According to him, “There was a fraudulent overdraft limit maintained on our customers’ accounts, which enabled them to make withdrawals from the unfunded accounts. We observed those suspicious overdraft limits maintained on customers’ accounts, which allowed them to access funds and transferred to accounts maintained in both Access Bank and other banks. We identified customers whose accounts benefitted from the suspicious overdraft maintenance with total exposure of over N5bn.”

Giving further evidence, the witness said when the CCTV footage was checked, it was discovered that everything had been wiped out.

“During investigations, everything was pointing at the first defendant. He admitted that he used a private laptop in connection with the bank’s server through which they gained access to the bank’s data,” he further told the court.

He, however, told the court that the use of personal laptops wasn’t allowed in the bank’s policy.

The prosecution counsel, thereafter, sought to tender in evidence the petitions from the bank. There was no objection by the defence counsel and the document was admitted by the court.

Justice Fadipe adjourned the case till May 20, 2025 for the continuation of trial

BudgIT, a prominent civic-tech organisation promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance, has raised significant concerns over the Federal Government’s 2025 Budget, describing its formulation as legally questionable and lacking adequate disclosure, particularly regarding its revenue framework.

Recall that the Presidency initially submitted a proposed expenditure of N47.9 trillion, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu later revised to N54.2 trillion through a presidential letter citing increased revenue expectations.

The National Assembly further increased this figure to N54.9 trillion, without publishing any accompanying macroeconomic or fiscal analysis to justify the additions.

These changes fall short of the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2007, which mandates that aggregate expenditure must not exceed estimated aggregate revenue plus a deficit of no more than 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Specifically, section 12 stipulates that: “Aggregate expenditure and the aggregate amount appropriated by the National Assembly for each financial year shall not be more than the estimated aggregate revenue plus a deficit not exceeding 3% of the estimated Gross Domestic Product or any sustainable percentage as may be determined by the National Assembly for each financial year.”

Based on the Budget Office’s GDP projection of N338 trillion, total spending should not have surpassed N51.95 trillion. The current appropriation exceeds that limit by more than N3 trillion, raising concerns about fiscal discipline and legal compliance.

Equally troubling is the government’s continued refusal to publish a detailed revenue breakdown for the 2025 fiscal year.

While references have been made to certain revenue sources, no comprehensive data has been released to allow for independent scrutiny.

Compounding the opacity is the fact that the latest available federal Budget Implementation Report covers only the second quarter of 2024, despite formal requests made to the Budget Office of the Federation for more recent updates.

Commenting, BudgIT’s Group Head of Research and Policy Advisory, Vahyala Kwaga, stresses that these patterns signal a regression from the standards of fiscal transparency and accountability that Nigeria has worked to establish over the past decade.

“Transparency is not a favour to citizens; it is a constitutional and moral obligation of the government. The 2025 budget, as it stands, fails the basic tests of legality, transparency, and economic prudence. At a time when Nigeria faces rising debt, inflationary pressures, and critical development challenges, the importance of fiscal clarity cannot be overstated. Citizens have the right to know how public funds are sourced and allocated, and the government has the duty to provide such information,” he said.

These concerns are far from trivial; they point to a worrying shift towards arbitrariness and opacity in the presidency’s fiscal conduct. If left unchecked, such actions risk undermining Nigeria’s significant gains in institutionalising transparency and compliance within its public finance framework.

BudgIT, therefore, calls on the Presidency to uphold the principles of transparency, due process, and legal compliance in the management of public funds.

We also urge citizens, civil society organisations, the private sector, and the international community to collectively demand the immediate publication of the full revenue framework underpinning the Federal Government’s 2025 Budget