Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The three-count charge, entered before the Federal High Court in Abuja through the Department of State Services, accused El-Rufai of carrying out the act with accomplices said to be at large. Prosecutors alleged the offence breached provisions of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes law. Government filings further told the court that the former governor admitted involvement during a February 3 appearance on a television programme, an assertion cited as part of the prosecution’s case.…
Author: Editor
Nigeria’s state governments have experienced one of their strongest revenue expansions in recent years, driven by fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and improved oil receipts that boosted Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements into trillions of naira. Yet rising allocations have not translated into improved fiscal health or welfare outcomes. Instead, debt servicing — particularly on foreign obligations — is absorbing an increasing share of resources, while spending on healthcare and other human development priorities remains low. The outcome is a widening disconnect between fiscal inflows and living conditions in a country grappling with rising poverty. Data from BudgIT’s…
This month of October 2021, Nigeria is 61 years old as an independent nation, free from colonialism, and 107 years old as a nation called Nigeria. The amalgamation of the British colonies and the northern and southern protectorates into a single country, Nigeria, in 1914 was made by fiat, without any consultation with the people. Under colonization, the land, its contents, and the people were considered as booty of the colonial masters. Some people felt, and still feel, that the amalgamation was an “accident of history”, which shouldn’t have been; how can over “200 nations” be fiercely jam-packed as “one…
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has said his calm, non-aggressive approach to the political crisis in Rivers State is deliberate and strategic, aimed at preserving peace and protecting broader national interests. Speaking Friday night while receiving the Man of the Year 2025 award from New Telegraph at a ceremony in Lagos, the governor said his posture should not be mistaken for weakness. “I chose, for many reasons, to appear weak — weak because I want peace, and because I must protect what is dear not only to me but to our nation,” he said. Fubara acknowledged the sacrifices of his supporters, noting…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to concerns over its timetable for the 2027 general election, following criticism that the scheduled dates overlap with the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan. The commission announced Friday that presidential and National Assembly elections would be held on February 20, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls are slated for March 6, 2027. It also fixed party primaries between May 22 and June 20, 2026, for candidate nominations. However, some Nigerians — particularly Muslims — have raised concerns about the timing, noting that the February poll date coincides with Ramadan. They argued…
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the schedule for the 2027 general elections, warning that the timeline overlaps with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. INEC announced on Friday that presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on February 20, 2027, with governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls set for March 6, 2027, in line with constitutional provisions. The timetable has drawn criticism, as Ramadan is projected to run from about February 8 to March 10, meaning both election dates fall within the fasting period. In a statement, Atiku said…
Nigeria’s inflation expectations index edged down to 41.4 points in January 2026 from 41.7 points recorded in December 2025, indicating a marginal improvement in price sentiment across the economy, according to the latest survey by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The slight moderation, captured in the bank’s Inflation Expectations Survey, reflects shifting perceptions among businesses and households, though structural cost pressures remain elevated. Businesses drove the improvement in outlook, recording a softening in inflation sentiment during the review period, while household expectations remained broadly high. Energy, transportation, exchange rate movements, insecurity, and interest rates were identified as the dominant factors…
A new phase of geopolitical contestation is unfolding across Africa — one that bears resemblance to the Cold War rivalry of the twentieth century, yet differs in structure, motivation, and complexity. This emerging contest is less defined by ideological polarization and more by strategic competition over resources, markets, and influence. Its multiplicity of actors and fluid alliances make it potentially more volatile than the bipolar standoff that shaped global politics in the latter half of the last century. Unlike the earlier era dominated by two superpowers, today’s environment reflects a crowded and overlapping field of state and non-state competitors. The…
In the shadowy world of Nigerian politics, a high-stakes game of cat and mouse is unfolding between two former allies, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i and Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser. The air is thick with tension as the battle for supremacy reaches a fever pitch. The war of words has been brewing for some time, with El-Rufa’i unleashing a barrage of criticisms against Ribadu, labeling him a tyrant. However, Ribadu, the epitome of a spy master, has chosen to remain silent, refusing to be drawn into the fray. The latest salvo in this war is El-Rufa’i’s claim that Ribadu’s…
Nasir El-Rufai claimed in his interview with Arise News that someone intercepted and recorded his former friend Nuhu Ribadu’s phone call in which Ribadu allegedly instructed El-Rufai’s arrest. He acknowledged the illegality of the act but said the government had used similar methods against him. My strong suspicion is that El-Rufai is merely playing mind games. It is operationally improbable that a serving NSA, with all the personnel and paraphernalia available to him, would issue a sensitive directive of that nature over an unsecure call. I would bet my bottom dollar that the claim is made up. Still, the allegation…