Former Minister of Youth, Solomon Dalung has doubled down on the claim that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is not insulated from the activities of ‘dangerous cabals’.

The former Minister reiterated his recent claim about the existence of cabals in Tinubu’s administration while appearing on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Dalung said the activities of the cabals are unhealthy to good governance, adding that most of the decisions of the Tinubu administration are influenced by the cabals.

“If you look at the hardship in the country and the president’s reaction, it’s completely a disconnect from the reality we are dealing with.

“Of course, I still maintain that the infrastructure of the cabal is still effective and also influencing most of the things we see happening in government,” he said.

Explaining why he described the cabals as dangerous, Dalung said the people around Tinubu pursue their personal interests, disconnecting the president from the reality of Nigerians’ plights.

“They are dangerous because they pursue their selfish interest against the interest of their principal and that, of course, is at cross purposes with the intention of whosoever appointed them. That is dangerous because they are doing things different from what ordinarily would have impacted positively on Nigerians,” he explained.

When asked to mention the names of the people who constitute the cabals, derailing Tinubu’s directives, the ex-minister said he reserves the right to mention no name. 

“As to asking me to name some names, I have clearly given you my opinion about what I know as a cabal. And it is up to you to dig deeper as an investigative journalist to find out

“But for you to ask me to name some names, I think I have the right to reserve the names of those I in my opinion think are a cabal,” Dalung said.

Jubilation has erupted in the ancient city of Kano as a Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in the crucial legal battle over the Emirship stool.

Supporters of Emir Sanusi, including youths and elderly individuals, celebrated the victory with drums, dancing, and other festivities.

The judgement delivered by the Appeal Court which sat in Abuja has brought an end to the prolonged legal dispute that threatened the stability of the Kano Emirate.

Recall that the dispute began when Governor Abba Yusuf sometime in May 2024 dissolved all the Emirates and dethroned the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero while he was away from the state (the palace) and that which paved way for the reinstatement of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II who was immediately moved into the Kofar-Kudu palace to ascend the throne.

Upon return to the state, Bayero was forced to occupy the Nassarawa mini palace in a sit tight and where he currently carries out his courts.

The Federal Government has said the promise of a better economy for the nation was being delivered.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated this on Thursday while briefing the Senate Committee on Appropriations on the 2025 budget.

The briefing provided critical updates on the performance of the 2024 budget and the administration’s progress in implementing key economic reforms.

During the briefing, Edun sought a closed session when was grilled concerning revenues accruing from the removed petrol subsidy.

During the session, the Minister said the significant fiscal recovery in the economy was a result of bold reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the market-based pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and foreign exchange policies, which collectively could save the country up to 5% of previously lost revenue.

“The administration inherited an economy on the brink, but through targeted reforms, we are now on a recovery path.

“Our focus remains on growing revenues, improving fiscal discipline, and ensuring sustainable economic growth for all Nigerians,” he said.

Edun stressed the strong performance of recurrent revenue at nearly 100% in 2024 as evidence of the government’s ability to meet its obligations despite a challenging economic environment.

He also expressed the government’s commitment to funding capital expenditure, which has been extended to run through June 30, 2025.

He pointed out that the over 3% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth recorded last year as a key milestone, was a result of sound macroeconomic reforms of the government.

“Our macroeconomic reforms have begun to deliver results. With stronger performances from agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, we are seeing consistent revenue growth, which is critical for funding our development goals,” he stated.

The Minister explained that the 2025 budget was designed to build on the successes of the past year by increasing tax-to-GDP ratios and shoring up national revenues.

He reaffirmed the President’s commitment to maintaining fiscal stability and meeting debt obligations while implementing reforms that will foster inclusive growth to the benefit of all Nigerians, including creating jobs and attracting investment.

The Finance Minister further assured the Committee that the government’s reforms are setting the stage for sustained economic growth and fiscal recovery.

He added that the administration remains determined to achieve higher growth rates and create a more stable economic environment that benefits all Nigerians through increased job opportunities, higher investments, and inclusive growth.

Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Igboho has vowed to go after bandits hiding in forests across the South-West region, provided the government permits him.

Speaking via a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, Igboho lamented that he can no longer stand by and watch bandits attacking, killing and raping his people.

He insisted that he is always ready to defend his kinsmen against activities of bandits and rogue herders, adding that it is a wicked act to unleash violence on innocent farmers trying to earn a living.

He said, “I can’t fold my arms and refuse to stop the marauding bandits and herdsmen attacking, raping and killing my people engaging in farming and other legitimate activities in various communities.

“I will go after the bandits and herdsmen lurking in the forests and some communities in the South West provided the government gives me the go-ahead to do so.

“I am always ready to defend and protect my kinsmen anywhere in the South-West against the inimical activities of bandits and rogue herders, who have already infiltrated our forests.

“It is callous and unjustifiable for anyone or group of people to unleash violence on innocent farmers earning their living anywhere in Nigeria. Government and other relevant stakeholders must rise to ensure the safety of the citizenry.”

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo following the recommendation of the Oyomesi, the kingmakers of Oyo Kingdom.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, made the announcement on Friday.

He explained that Owoade was chosen after extensive consultations and traditional divinations.

“Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by Governor Seyi Makinde as the new Alaafin of Oyo,” the statement read.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademola Ojo, noted that the appointment resolves the legal and social disputes that followed the former Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III’s death on April 22, 2022.

“This decision has put to rest all the socio-legal controversies that have arisen since the transition of the late Oba Adeyemi. We urge the people of Oyo State to support the new Alaafin and join the government in celebrating this historic moment,” Ojo said.

The government expressed hope that the reign of Prince Abimbola Owoade would bring peace, unity and prosperity to Oyo Kingdom.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, yesterday said that illegal and hidden activities like prostitution and drugs peddling will now be included in the calculation of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

Meanwhile, NBS has proposed 2019 as a new GDP base year and 2024 as new base year for inflation computation.

NBS disclosed this at a sensitization workshop on GDP and Consumer Price Index, CPI Rebasing organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

According to the bureau, 2019 was proposed as the new GDP base year because economic activities were relatively stable during the year, compared to subsequent years disrupted by the impact of COVID and policy shifts..

The bureau added that the rebased GDP is expected to capture new segments such as the digital economy, activities of pension fund administrators, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSTIF), activities of modular refineries, domestic households as employers of labour and coverage of illegal and hidden activities.

Elaborating on the inclusion of illegal and hidden activities in the classification of economic activities for computation of the GDP, Head of National Accounts, NBS, Dr. Baba Madu, said: “Illegal activities will be in line with the national best practices, that is System of National Accounts, SNA 2008.

“If you are into, for instance, drugs, there are some countries, it is this drug that is driving their economy. It is illegal here because there is no legal backing. Also prostitution, they also earn income. Some even live bigger than those in the formal sector. The SNA does not say no to these, it is we. But the challenge is the legal backing and how do we get the data.

“And then, of course, the hidden economy. If I ask you, how much do you earn in a month, you will lower your income. Or if somebody is selling provision in a store, and before you know it he started selling India hemp. Those are the things we are seeing. There are challenges all over the world. But the beauty is that they are less than 3.0 to 3.5% of the GDP.”

Highlighting the importance of the GDP and CPI rebasing exercise, Statistician General, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, said: “The rebasing is a vital exercise that ensures our economic indicators are current and accurate reflections of the economic realities on the ground. As economies evolve, new industries emerge, and consumption patterns shift, it becomes imperative to update our statistical measures to capture these changes. Rebasing our GDP and CPI allows us to align with these transformations, providing a more precise and relevant picture of Nigeria’s economic landscape. This process is foundational to informed policymaking, strategic planning, and effective governance; hence, it is one exercise that NBS is conducting with significant importance and professionalism.

Highlighting the benefits of GDP rebasing, Chief Executive Officer, NESG, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, in his welcome address, said: “Accurate data enhances credibility. Our debt-to-GDP ratio, a critical indicator of fiscal health, dropped from 19% to 11% after the 2014 rebasing.

“This improved Nigeria’s creditworthiness, making us a more attractive destination for foreign direct investment. Investors are drawn to transparency and growth potential, and rebasing sends a clear message: we understand our economy, and we are open for business.

“Second, rebasing sharpens policymaking. It provides a detailed map of our economic terrain, enabling governments to identify high-growth sectors for scaling and low-growth sectors that require targeted interventions to drive impactful and balanced development. For example, after Ghana’s 2010 rebasing—which resulted in a 60% GDP increase—its policymakers could better plan for infrastructure and social investments, fueling sustained growth.”

Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, has called on southwest governors to get ready to take serious action against the influx of bandits into their region.

The organisation said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

This is coming days after Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Governor, disclosed that bandits are infiltrating his state.

Makinde said, “During a security briefing this morning, I learned that some bad elements from the North-West are relocating here due to military heat in their zones.”

Sharing his personal experience, the governor said when he observed his quiet birthday ceremony at Fashola near Oyo Alaafin in December 2024, he got a report that bandits camped two kilometres away from the area he was.

“During my birthday retreat in Fashola, bandits had camped less than two kilometres from where I was staying. This underscores the seriousness of the situation,” he said.

Reacting to this, Afenifere said such a revelation from a state governor should not be handled with levity.

The group, therefore, called on the six governors in the region to “as a matter of urgency, hold a meeting to map out strategies to expel the bandits from the region and to ensure that such elements do not infiltrate Yorubaland at any time again.

“For these objectives to be achieved, there is the need to carry certain groups along. These are the security agencies that will implement whatever security decisions are reached, traditional rulers and heads of local vigilantes known as ‘Ode.’”

While calling on traditional leaders in the region not to keep quiet on the matter, Ajayi urged the governors to include functional, up-to-date equipment in their strategies to combat the bandits and map out strategies to expel them from the region.

• President orders probe into killing of soldiers

The Federal Government would not hire mercenaries to fight terrorism and banditry in the North, Foreign Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar said yesterday.

He explained that engaging mercenaries, which are private armies, to tackle insecurity is unsustainable.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa also recently ruled out the use of mercenaries, saying the nation’s military is capable of fighting and winning the battle.

Tuggar made the clarification at the State House, Abuja, during a joint news conference with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

The Chinese foreign minister is in Nigeria on a visit to strengthen bilateral ties.

Noting the limitations of deploying private military companies for security tasks, the minister said fully equipped Nigerian security agencies can meet the challenge.

He called for collaboration with China in domesticating the production of military equipment to eliminate delays associated with foreign procurement.

“Private military companies, no matter where they are coming from, are not the solution to tackling the country’s security challenges,” Tuggar said.

Following the renewed sporadic terrorist attacks in the North, there have been calls for foreign mercenaries, which were once deployed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

New terror groups, including Lakurawa, have sprang up, wrecking havoc on towns and villages in the Northwest and Northeast.

On January 4, some suspected terrorists attacked the Army Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Damboa, Borno State. The troops in retaliation killed no fewer than 46 terrorists.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday commiserated with the military and families of the slain soldiers.

He ordered an investigation into the attack.

Tuggar said the war against terror can be won if nations collaborate.

He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in fostering peace and security within the region and across the continent.

Tuggar said: “Nigeria has consistently proved effective in leading other countries in our region, and I would even say on the continent at large, in addressing challenges to peace and security.”

The minister emphasised the importance of partnerships that involve Nigeria directly in the process, describing China as a reliable ally.

He added: “This is why we work well with countries like China. Where we have a problem is whenever Nigeria is left out of such arrangements.”

Tuggar also stressed the need to prioritise local production of military equipment to ensure efficiency.

He said: “We want to work with countries like China in domesticating the production of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic. This is what we’re looking for, so that we don’t have to go out looking to procure because of the delays and so many rules and regulations. We need to be able to produce locally.”

The minister described Nigeria as a responsible country operating within its constitutional framework, adding that the commitment to law and order has earned the country the confidence of other nations.

Tuggar pointed out that the Chinese minister’s visit  would build on the success of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent state visit to China.

He explained that  discussions with the Chinese delegation focused on mutual interests in economic and political spheres, as well as agreements signed in various sectors, including energy, communications, agriculture, finance, transportation, infrastructure, and petrochemicals.

Tuggar added: “We will continue to work with countries such as China in addressing these challenges and rely on them to help ensure that private military companies and external interference remain outside.”

Tinubu orders probe into soldiers’ killing

Yesterday, President Tinubu ordered a probe into the killing of six soldiers during the attack on the Sabon Gida military base in Damboa, Borno State.

Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga said in a statement that the president had also directed security agencies to intensify military operations by taking the war to the terrorists.

He said the President extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, describing their sacrifice as a cornerstone of the fight for security.

“Their sacrifice in defending our nation will forever be honoured and remembered,” he said.

Praising the Armed Forces for their swift response, President Tinubu also lauded the military’s air component for its decisive retaliatory strikes, which neutralised many terrorists and destroyed their assets as they attempted to escape.

He said: “This resolute action by the Army demonstrates the capability and readiness of our military to confront and defeat threats to our nation’s security. Their actions testify to our resolve to eradicate terrorism and banditry, paving the way for a future where peace and security prevail for all Nigerians.

 “Your sacrifices and dedication do not go unnoticed, and we stand firmly behind you in this ongoing fight to eliminate these threats.”

President Tinubu also appealed to Nigerians and the media to support the military in its efforts to restore peace across the country.

He said: “Together, we can support our security forces in achieving the peace and security our nation deserves.”

Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, former Chief of Staff to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has implicated his former principal in a confessional statement related to an ongoing money laundering case against him.

It will be recalled that the Chief Magistrate Court in Rigasa remanded Sa’idu at the Kaduna Correctional Centre following his arrest and arraignment by security agencies on 31 December 2024.

The charges against the former Chief of Staff allege that he sold $45 million in hard currency belonging to the Kaduna State Government—equivalent to ₦18,450,000,000—at the significantly undervalued rate of ₦410 per dollar.

This was instead of the parallel market rate of ₦498 per dollar, with criminal intent, resulting in a ₦3,960,000,000 loss to the government.

According to the prosecution, the offence allegedly took place in 2022, when Sa’idu served as Commissioner of Finance in the El-Rufai administration.

The prosecution further alleged that the ₦3,960,000,000 discrepancy was laundered by Sa’idu, in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

A security source, speaking anonymously to select journalists in Kaduna, disclosed that Sa’idu implicated El-Rufai in his confessional statement to the police.

The accused reportedly stated, “The procedure for currency conversion was not the decision of the Commissioner of Finance but that of His Excellency, the then Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai. Whenever the need arose to convert funds to naira, the Governor would direct how much to convert. Bids from various buyers were obtained, and in most cases, the bids I forwarded to His Excellency for approval were higher than those available in the parallel market.”

Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, stipulates that anyone who violates subsection (2) is liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for a term of not less than four years and not more than 14 years, a fine of no less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime, or both.