Abuja — In a significant political realignment, former Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bafarawa, who governed Sokoto State from 1999 to 2007 under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), announced his move on Wednesday, citing confidence in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
In a statement, the former governor expressed admiration for President Tinubu’s “bold economic reforms” and leadership style, while also commending Governor Aliyu’s “excellent leadership” in Sokoto.
Bafarawa pledged to actively support both President Tinubu and Governor Aliyu in their re-election bids ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defection marks a major gain for the APC in Sokoto and the North-West region, bolstering the party’s grassroots structure ahead of the next electoral cycle.
ABUJA — The Chief Executives of Nigeria’s two main petroleum regulatory agencies have resigned amid a widening controversy sparked by allegations of misconduct and a petition filed by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
The Presidency on Wednesday announced the resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The move follows days of escalating accusations by Dangote, who publicly alleged that Ahmed paid about $5 million for the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland—a claim he labeled economic sabotage. Dangote subsequently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the NMDPRA boss.
Presidency Nominates Replacements
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayi Onanuga, confirmed the resignations and announced that President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm new nominees for the positions.
The nominees are:
· Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan — nominated as CEO of NUPRC. A University of Benin economics graduate, she spent 33 years at the NNPC, retiring as Executive Vice President, Upstream.
· Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed — nominated as CEO of NMDPRA. A chemical engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, he previously served as Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company.
Background of the Conflict
The conflict dates to 2024, when Dangote Refinery officials accused the NMDPRA of indiscriminately issuing import licenses for refined products, which they said undercut local production. Tensions peaked last week when NMDPRA data showed marketers imported 1.5 billion litres of petrol in November—the highest since Dangote began petrol production.
Dangote accused Ahmed of sabotaging the economy by approving “reckless” import licenses while the refinery’s storage tanks were full. In a televised statement on Sunday, he questioned Ahmed’s source of wealth and called for a probe.
Komolafe’s Exit
Although not directly implicated in the recent allegations, Komolafe’s resignation is linked to longstanding disputes between Dangote Refinery and the NUPRC over domestic crude supply obligations. The refinery had previously accused international oil companies of selling crude above market rates, with the NUPRC accused of failing to enforce local supply rules.
Industry Reaction
Oil marketers expressed anxiety over the developments, warning that the regulatory shakeup—coupled with Dangote’s aggressive price cuts—could accelerate business failures in the downstream sector.
“There is tension,” a major marketer said anonymously. “Since Dangote crashed petrol prices to ₦699 per litre, we’ve lost over 90% of marketers who lift from our depots.”
Energy lawyer Rasheed Osagie said the outcome was inevitable given Dangote’s economic influence. Professor of Petroleum Economics Wumi Iledare described the resignations as a “moment of truth” for regulators under the Petroleum Industry Act.
Civil society leaders, including Auwal Rafsanjani and Debo Adeniran, called for full investigations, insisting that resignation alone was not enough.
The leadership change throws Nigeria’s petroleum sector into a period of uncertainty as operators await whether the new appointments will restore stability or deepen fears in an industry already shaken by a fierce price war.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of two mortgage banks—Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc—as part of efforts to reposition the mortgage sub-sector and enforce strict compliance with regulatory standards.
The decision was announced in a circular issued on Tuesday and signed by the Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Ali. The apex bank said the action was taken in line with its powers under Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and Section 7.3 of the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks in Nigeria.
According to the CBN, the affected institutions breached several regulatory provisions, including failure to meet the minimum paid-up share capital required for their licence category and inability to maintain sufficient assets to cover liabilities.
Other infractions cited include critical undercapitalisation, with capital adequacy ratios falling below prudential minimum requirements, as well as persistent non-compliance with directives and obligations issued by the regulator.
“The CBN remains committed to its core mandate of ensuring financial system stability,” the bank stated, adding that the move underscores its resolve to strengthen confidence and discipline within the financial system.
LAGOS — A tanker explosion in the early hours of Wednesday damaged six vehicles along the Temu–Sabo route near the Bypass Pobona area of Epe, Lagos State. No casualties were recorded in the incident.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Sector Command, confirmed that the explosion occurred around 2:05 a.m. and was reported five minutes later. Operatives from the FRSC Epe Unit Command arrived swiftly at the scene.
According to preliminary investigation, the accident was caused by brake failure, which led to a loss of control and a lone crash involving a commercial MACK tanker. The crash subsequently triggered an explosion that affected five other vehicles.
Superintendent Route Commander (SRC) Oluwadamilola Jayeola, the Sector Public Education Officer, stated that although two adults were involved, no injuries or fatalities were recorded.
Following the explosion, FRSC personnel established traffic control to prevent secondary accidents. They collaborated with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the Lagos State Fire Service, which contained and extinguished the fire.
A private tow truck was placed on standby to facilitate the removal of damaged vehicles and clear the roadway.
The Sector Commander, FRSC Lagos Sector Command, Corps Commander Kehinde Ganiyu Hamzat, reiterated the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, especially for heavy-duty vehicles, with particular attention to braking systems.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos FRSC to prompt emergency response, effective traffic management, and the protection of lives and property on the state’s roads.
ABUJA — The Labour Party (LP) has commenced an ambitious nationwide drive to register and revalidate 10 million members, setting the stage for a series of congresses and a national convention ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The membership mobilization initiative, tagged Labour Party Connect 10 Million Nigerians, was officially launched on Wednesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. The exercise began on December 17 and will run through January 20, 2026.
Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator Nenadi Usman, who addressed members via Zoom, stated that the drive is part of a strategic repositioning of the party to strengthen its base and prepare for upcoming electoral contests.
“Our party—like many opposition political platforms in Nigeria—has, in recent times, passed through a period of intense challenges and distractions,” Usman noted. She expressed confidence that with the launch of the exercise and the newly approved timetable, the LP would “not only recover lost ground but emerge stronger, more united, and better prepared for the task ahead.”
Congress, Convention Schedule Released
The party also unveiled a schedule of internal elections:
· World Congress — January 13, 2026
· Local Government Congress — January 17, 2026
· State Congress — January 24, 2026
· Zonal Congress — January 31, 2026
· National Convention — February 28, 2026
Steering Committee Inaugurated
A 110-member National Steering Committee for Membership Revalidation and Registration was inaugurated to drive the mobilization. The committee is chaired by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu.
Emetu described the 10 million target as “not merely a numerical target” but “a national call to action” aimed at strengthening democracy and amplifying citizens’ voices.
The committee includes representatives from every state—drawn from the three senatorial districts per state—plus two representatives from the Federal Capital Territory. Also included are members from the Labour Party Board of Trustees (BOT), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Political Commissions.
A technical team comprising experts such as Prof. Sam Amadi and Dr. Chibuzo Okereke will provide strategic support.
Senator Usman urged existing members to revalidate their membership and called on “Nigerians of goodwill” who believe in good governance, social justice, and accountability to join the party.
The mobilization marks a significant step in the LP’s effort to rebuild and expand its political structure following recent internal challenges and court resolutions.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Friday, December 19, 2025, present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, formally laying before lawmakers the Federal Government’s fiscal roadmap for the coming year.
Ahead of the presentation, a formal communication from the Presidency is expected to be read on the floor of the House of Representatives when plenary resumes on Thursday, officially notifying legislators and National Assembly staff of the President’s appearance.
The development follows an internal circular dated December 17, 2025, signed by the Secretary of Human Resources and Staff Development, Adm. Essien Eyo Essien, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana. The notice was also circulated to the Deputy Clerk and heads of departments.
According to the letter, President Tinubu, in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will present the proposed 2026 Budget at exactly 2:00 p.m. on Friday.
The communication also detailed security and access arrangements for the event. All accredited persons are expected to be at their duty posts by 11:00 a.m., after which access to the National Assembly complex will be restricted. Non-accredited individuals have been advised to stay away from the premises.
Staff members, excluding the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Clerk of the House, Clerk of the Senate and their deputies, were directed to park their vehicles at designated areas within the Annex or the new car park near the National Assembly Service (NASS) Gate.
A National Assembly official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said lawmakers had begun preparations for the budget presentation.
“We are preparing to receive the President and carefully scrutinise the 2026 Budget proposals in line with our constitutional responsibilities,” the official said.
The annual budget presentation signals the formal submission of the Federal Government’s spending and revenue proposals to the legislature for consideration, debate and eventual approval. The 2026 Budget is expected to spell out the administration’s fiscal priorities, including revenue generation, infrastructure development, economic recovery strategies and social welfare programmes amid persistent inflationary and economic pressures.
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to approve a ₦43.56 trillion budget re-enactment for the 2025 fiscal year, aimed at consolidating public spending and ending the practice of multiple budgets.
The request was conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who said the Appropriation, Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2024 has been submitted in line with constitutional appropriation processes.
According to the President, the proposed sum of ₦43,561,041,744,507 is allocated as follows:
· ₦1 trillion for statutory transfers
· ₦8.2 trillion for debt servicing
· ₦11.2 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure
· ₦22.2 trillion for capital projects and development fund contributions
In his letter, Tinubu explained that the bill is designed to “end the practice of running multiple budgets while ensuring high capital performance rates for both the 2024 and 2025 capital budgets.”
He added that the legislation provides a “transparent and constitutionally grounded appropriation mechanism for the orderly consolidation of critical and time-sensitive expenditures undertaken in response to emergency exigencies.”
The President emphasized that the proposal would promote national well-being, safeguard security, and reinforce fiscal discipline, accountability, and sound public financial management.
Key oversight provisions in the bill include:
· Ensuring appropriated funds are used only for purposes specified in the schedule
· Requiring prior National Assembly approval for any virement (reallocation)
· Mandating separate recording of excess revenue, with spending only permitted through legislative approval
· Enforcing due process compliance and periodic reporting on releases, agency revenues, and assistance disbursements
Tinubu urged the Senate to “consider and pass the bill expeditiously” to ensure fiscal stability and effective budget implementation.
Senate President Akpabio confirmed that the letter had been forwarded to the relevant channels for legislative consideration. “The letter has been referred to the Senate secretariat to do the needful,” he stated.
The bill is now expected to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming days as lawmakers assess its provisions and implications for Nigeria’s public finances and development agenda..
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday unveiled a revealing memoir aimed at dismantling what he described as widespread misconceptions surrounding the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 584-page book, Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration, was presented in Abuja and chronicles Mohammed’s nearly eight years as Nigeria’s longest-serving Minister of Information and Culture, overseeing information, culture, tourism and national orientation.
At the launch, Mohammed described the book as a first-hand account of policy making and government communication during the Buhari era, written to provide context and clarity amid what he said were sustained narrative battles and misinformation.
“For almost eight years, I was at the centre of government communication, crisis management, national orientation, culture and tourism,” he said. “I saw firsthand how decisions were made, how narratives were shaped, and how misinformation often overshadowed facts. This book is about correcting misconceptions, providing context and sharing accounts that history must not forget.”
He argued that only insiders with direct access to power could accurately document such periods, warning that distorted narratives could easily define history if left unchallenged.
Mohammed revealed that the book contains behind-the-scenes accounts of difficult decisions that almost led to his resignation, communication strategies during the 2023 general elections, the recovery of Nigeria’s looted artefacts, and confrontations with the Bring Back Our Girls campaign.
Other highlights include the government’s battles against security-related misinformation, the “Change Begins With Me” campaign, and personal reflections on the late former president.
Responding to questions on whether the book was meant to defend Buhari’s legacy, Mohammed said the truth needed no defense, citing the administration’s scorecard series and legacy portal as evidence of its record.
“President Muhammadu Buhari did his best and left the rest to posterity, which I am confident will be kind to him,” he said.
He added that the book was intended as a reference tool for researchers, journalists and students interested in politics, public communication and governance.
Reviewing the book, former presidential spokesman and ThisDay Editorial Board Chairman, Segun Adeniyi, described it as a significant insider account of the Buhari years, blending history, policy explanations and pointed rebuttals to critics of both the administration and Mohammed himself.
“What emerges is the portrait of a minister who saw himself not merely as a government spokesperson, but as a strategic communicator tasked with changing the narrative,” Adeniyi said.
He praised the book’s detailed accounts of crisis communications during COVID-19, the P&ID arbitration case, security media tours and the digital television switchover, as well as achievements such as the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes and the revival of the National Theatre.
However, Adeniyi noted that sections on sensitive issues like the Twitter suspension and the #EndSARS protests read more like legal defenses than balanced history, pointing to limited self-criticism and a tendency to frame dissent as disinformation.
“Future researchers will find valuable raw materials here, but they will need to triangulate this account with other sources to arrive at a fuller picture,” he said.
ABUJA — The Agaba of Jiwa Chiefdom in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Alhaji Idris Musa, has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term aspiration and donated ₦1 million to a pro-Tinubu support group in the Federal Capital Territory.
The donation was made on Wednesday when the FCT Renewed Hope Ambassadors, led by its Coordinator, Hon. Adamu Abdullahi, paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler at his palace in Jiwa.
Alhaji Musa commended President Tinubu’s leadership and praised his appointment of Barr. Nyesom Wike as Minister of the FCT. He also lauded the President for selecting Hon. Abdullahi to coordinate the support group in the territory, describing him as “a worthy son.”
The monarch pledged to personally lead mobilization efforts within his chiefdom and beyond to ensure Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He urged residents to appreciate what he termed the President’s “inclusive governance and brotherly gestures” toward the people of Abuja, particularly through strategic appointments and development-focused policies.
In his response, Hon. Abdullahi commended the Tinubu administration for its “deliberate and inclusive” approach to governing the FCT, highlighting key appointments, infrastructure projects, and policies aimed at repositioning Abuja.
He also emphasized the important role of traditional institutions in driving sustainable development and sought the Agaba’s permission to engage with tribal chiefs across the chiefdom to promote peace and mobilization.
The visit underscores early grassroots political engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections and highlights the role of traditional rulers in Nigeria’s political mobilization efforts.
The House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements has launched a nationwide review of all bilateral and multilateral treaties, protocols, agreements and foreign-assisted contracts entered into by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The initiative comes amid rising public concern over foreign-funded projects and international commitments, with growing calls for stronger oversight, transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s cross-border obligations.
The committee disclosed the exercise on Wednesday during a press briefing at the House of Representatives Media Centre in Abuja, noting that the review is aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty, ensuring compliance with the law and protecting the country from potentially harmful financial and legal liabilities arising from poorly negotiated agreements.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Rabiu Yusuf, expressed concern over what he described as weak oversight mechanisms in previous treaty arrangements.
“Nigeria cannot be constrained by agreements that threaten her sovereignty, destabilise her economy or impose unfair burdens on future generations,” Yusuf said. “This committee will ensure transparency, strengthen accountability and guarantee that every treaty aligns with the national interest.”
He explained that the review would span critical sectors including infrastructure, finance, power, transportation, ICT, aviation, ports, environment and security. Special attention, he added, would be paid to compliance with Section 12 of the Constitution on treaty domestication, procurement procedures, arbitration clauses, loan terms, collateral risks and local content requirements.
As part of the exercise, Yusuf said the committee would issue formal requests for documents to 53 key stakeholders, including federal ministries and agencies, regulators, state governments, foreign contractors, Chinese firms, development partners and financial institutions.
He also disclosed that a nationwide public sensitisation campaign has commenced, featuring full-page newspaper advertisements and televised announcements to educate Nigerians on the scope and importance of the review.
To ensure technical depth and credibility, the committee has engaged Technical and Strategic Consultants to conduct forensic treaty analyses, legal and financial risk assessments, stakeholder mapping, document evaluations and digital treaty-tracking.
The lawmaker further revealed that the committee plans to hold interrogative sessions, public hearings and field verification visits to major national project sites beginning early next year. A final report, expected by May 2026, will present legislative recommendations and a comprehensive framework for reforming Nigeria’s treaty governance system.
“This is not a political exercise but a constitutional and patriotic duty in the interest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Yusuf stressed, urging all ministries, agencies, companies and international partners to cooperate fully with the committee.
Members of the public and the media have been encouraged to follow updates through official National Assembly communication channels.
