President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pushed back against claims of favoritism in the allocation of federal projects and appointments, insisting that his administration has been guided strictly by fairness, justice, and equity. Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday, Tinubu said every part of the country has benefitted from his government’s policies and projects, contrary to narratives suggesting otherwise. “This administration has demonstrated uncommon commitment to balanced development. No region is playing second fiddle or ignored. Nigerians can rest assured that under my watch, no part of this country will be left behind,” Tinubu…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
In the first half of 2025, Nigeria’s 36 states received a combined ₦3.61 trillion in net allocations from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). The figure reflects funds shared after statutory deductions, excluding transfers to local governments and other external disbursements. Top beneficiaries Delta State received the highest allocation at ₦299.96 billion, representing 8.31% of the total. Rivers State followed with ₦264.90 billion (7.34%). Lagos State came third with ₦236.92 billion (6.56%). These three states alone accounted for over 22% of all net FAAC disbursements in the period, underscoring the fiscal advantage of oil-producing states and Nigeria’s commercial hub. ALSO…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has faulted the Federal Government over the recent hike in passport fees, describing the move as arbitrary, unlawful, and discriminatory. In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the decision by the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was inconsistent with constitutional provisions and fundamental rights. According to SERAP, the increase in passport fees will deepen inequality and deny millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians access to essential travel documents, as many citizens will now be forced to choose between meeting basic…
Global mpox cases fall, but sharp rises in Ghana, Philippines and China raise fresh concerns over localized outbreaks and vaccine needs. In Ghana, confirmed cases of Mpox nearly doubled within a week, rising from 167 to 313. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) described the situation as “exponential.” Ghana and Guinea have requested vaccine support to contain the outbreak. The Western Pacific region also recorded sharp increases. In the Philippines, cases jumped from zero in June to 126 in July, while China reported an increase from 108 to 152 within the same period. By contrast, overall…
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in expanding access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services across the country. Utsev gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja when he received the new UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the ministry. Commending UNICEF’s long-standing support, the minister said the collaboration aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and would remain a priority, especially in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene…
The University of Maiduguri has announced the promotion of Dr. Halima Idrisa Gambo to the rank of Professor of Veterinary Pathology, making her the first woman in Nigeria to attain the position. Her promotion was approved by the institution’s Governing Council, marking a major milestone in the history of veterinary education in the country. Professor Gambo began her academic career in 2004 as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri. Over the past 20 years, she has built a career in teaching, research, mentorship, and community service. She also holds several leadership positions, including National Vice President of the…
The atmosphere at the symbolic Central Bank Café in KudiMarket once again reflected the weight of Nigeria’s monetary policy decisions, as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) convened to deliberate on the nation’s economic direction. At the heart of discussions was the challenge of inflation management. Headline inflation, described as noisy and disruptive, continues to dominate the economic landscape, while core inflation provided a quieter but more telling signal of underlying trends. In response, the Policy Rate was carefully adjusted to calm uncertainties and maintain stability, supported by instruments such as the Cash Reserve Ratio, Open Market Operations, and Liquidity Management.…
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for selecting Prof. Muhammad Bashar Nuhu, as the Executive Director representing Niger State on the Board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Governor Bago described the appointment as a “welcome development,” commending Prof. Nuhu’s multi-disciplinary scholarship and extensive leadership experience. The governor highlighted that Prof. Nuhu is the first Professor of Estate Management and Valuation from Northern Nigeria, and has held several leadership positions at various universities. He also recalled Prof. Nuhu’s dedicated public service, having…
Africa is at a critical point in the climate crisis. The State of Africa’s Environment 2025: Africa and Climate Change report, set for launch in Addis Ababa, highlights the continent’s mounting risks—and opportunities—in the face of global warming. The report, produced by India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in collaboration with Down To Earth magazine, the Alliance for Science-Ethiopia, and the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) in Kenya, will bring together journalists and climate communicators from across Africa to unpack the findings and discuss how best to tell Africa’s climate story. Here are the five biggest…
The 2025 Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago shows New Delhi consistently leads the world in lost life expectancy due to air pollution, with residents losing an average of 8.2 years if current pollution levels persist—down from nearly 10 years in 2018. India has made strides in tackling air pollution—establishing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, launching the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), deploying the GRAP emergency response, expanding real-time monitoring infrastructure, and leapfrogging to BS6 fuel standards—but progress remains uneven. In 2023, Delhi’s average fine-particulate (PM₂.₅)…