Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has criticised what he described as the excessive deployment of security operatives around the family of President Bola Tinubu, warning that such overreach undermines Nigeria’s security priorities.

Speaking at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Awards in Lagos on Tuesday, the literary icon recounted his recent encounter with what he termed a “battalion-level” security detail attached to the president’s son at a hotel in Ikoyi.

Soyinka said he had initially assumed a film was being shot on the hotel premises due to the sheer number of heavily armed personnel he saw.

“I was coming out of my hotel, and I saw what looked like a film set,” he said. “A young man detached himself from the actors, came over and greeted me politely. When I asked if they were shooting a film, he said no. I looked around and there was nearly a whole battalion occupying the hotel grounds.”

According to him, about 15 heavily armed officers formed the president’s son’s security cordon—an arrangement he found alarming.

“When I got back in my car and asked the driver who the young man was, he told me. And I saw this SWAT team, heavily armed to the teeth. They looked sufficient to take over a neighbouring small country or city like Benin,” he said.

The playwright added that he was so disturbed that he attempted reaching the National Security Adviser (NSA) to verify whether the deployment was official.

“I began looking for the NSA immediately. I said, track him down for me. They got him somewhere in Paris, but he was in a meeting with the president. I described the scene and asked: ‘Do you mean a child of the head of state goes around with an army for his protection?’ I couldn’t believe it.”

Soyinka, in a tone laced with sarcasm, suggested that the federal government need not deploy the military or air force to quell threats in neighbouring countries when such a formidable force already escorts the president’s son.

“Tinubu didn’t have to send the air force or military to deal with any insurrection. There is an easier way,” he said.

“Next time there’s an uprising, the president should call that young man and say, ‘Seyi, go and put down those stupid people there. You have troops under your command.’”

He stressed that while heads of state often have families, such privilege must never be abused or allowed to distort national security structures.

“Children should know their place. They are not potentates; they are not heads of state,” he said. “The security architecture of a nation suffers when we see such heavy devotion of security to one young individual.”

Soyinka’s remarks added to ongoing public debate about the scale and visibility of state-provided security for politically connected individuals, particularly in a period of heightened security challenges across the country.

The post Security guarding Tinubu’s son enough to crush Benin Republic uprising – Soyinka appeared first on Vanguard News.

SOURCE PAGE

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has identified the procurement process as one of the areas where corrupt practices are mostly perpetuated.

The antigraft agency noted that issues such as inflated contracts, substandard project delivery, ghost projects, and abandoned contracts as some of the issues associated with procurement.

Speaking at a one-day procurement engagement workshop in Abuja for directors and heads of procurement across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), chairman of the ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu empathised the strategic importance of procurement officers in safeguarding public funds and ensuring that government projects translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

“Public procurement is the single largest channel of public expenditure and, unfortunately, the highest point of corruption risk,” he said, highlighting recurring issues such as contract inflation, splitting of contracts to evade thresholds, substandard project delivery, repeated budget entries, and abandoned projects.

Represented by the secretary to the commission, Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, the ICPC boss noted the commission’s Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), which has, since 2019, uncovered ghost projects, duplicated budget items, and cases where contractors collected funds but delivered work far below specification.

According to him, “We have tracked projects from inception to completion across the six geopolitical zones and the FCT. These findings confirm that transparency directly improves citizens’ lives.”
While speaking on preventive measures to tackle procurement process, the ICPC chairman said all MDAs must adopt, including the publication of procurement plans, clear evaluation criteria, full contract award details, implementation updates with photographic evidence, and proper handover documentation.

He further stressed the importance of deploying technology-driven procurement systems to create audit trails, enable early detection of anomalies, and minimise discretionary human decisions.

He also called for legislative reforms, including stronger sanctions for procurement violations, establishment of special courts for corruption cases, and standardisation of public projects to reduce waste.

Also, the chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Hon. Kayode Akiolu commended the ICPC for its preventive approach, explaining that many practices Nigerians consider normal are in fact corruption.

The director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun ssid the ICPC has improved compliance with procurement rules, highlighting the recent approval of the National Infrastructure Development Policy, which provides a stronger legal framework for prosecuting contractors delivering substandard projects.

SOURCE PAGE

A deeply troubling corruption scandal has erupted within Nigeria’s House of Representatives, with Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, Chairman of Basic Examination Bodies, now exposed for allegedly demanding millions in kickbacks from the country’s major examination agencies and launching a vengeful probe when they refused to pay.

Strong-Arm Tactics and Retaliation
Hon. Oforji is accused of repeatedly pressuring key examination bodies including WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS, and JAMB to hand over a significant share of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), purportedly for “committee use.” When the agencies resisted these unlawful demands, Oforji weaponized his constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89, initiating a so-called “performance audit” and demanding sensitive financial documents under the guise of legislative oversight.

Rigged Audits and Targeted Harassment
Behind the scenes, Oforji allegedly hired and later fired a consultant for refusing to help implicate uncooperative exam body CEOs. He then brought in a second consultant with clear instructions to find or fabricate evidence against officials who declined to divert public funds into his pockets.

Committee Revolt: “He Used Our Names, Kept the Money
Fellow committee members have broken their silence, accusing Oforji of operating a one-man extortion scheme. They reveal that he:
Secured ₦62.7 million for an official event that never took place, Diverted the full amount into the committee’s Zenith Bank account (No. 1311194060) Refused to release funds to members, preventing their participation and returned only ₦43 million when confronted — leaving ₦19.7 million unaccounted for

In a separate incident, Oforji obtained funds for an official trip to London, claiming it was committee business — then went alone and kept the money.

A Betrayal of Public Trust
This isn’t just corruption — it Nigeria’s educational integrity. By threatening the agencies responsible for safeguarding national exams, Oforji has compromised the credibility of the very institutions millions of students depend on.

Related

SOURCE PAGE

No fewer than 11 terrorists causing mayhem in Sokoto and other states in the North West have been neutralized by the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma Strike.

A statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Nigerian Army Headquarters, said the bold and tactical operation was conducted near Kurawa Village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The statement said the operation disrupted a planned attack on Tara Village, “a critical area for cross-movement by terrorist and bandit elements”.

“Acting on precise credible intelligence the strike team executed a well-coordinated ambush engaging the bandits in an intense firefight.

“The operation resulted in the neutralization of 11 bandits, while others fled with gunshot wounds”, the statement added.

The Nigerian Army further revealed that the troops recovered some dangerous weapons including 8 AK-47 rifles, 5 extra magazine and 26 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the terrorists.

SOURCE PAGE

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a suspected criminal, identified as Godspower Cletus, while attempting to withdraw a ₦1 million ransom allegedly collected from the husband of a woman he abducted in Akure.

The arrest was made by detectives assigned to the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad after intelligence tracking.

According to police sources who spoke with Vanguard, Cletus reportedly stormed the residence of one Mrs Farimoyo Endurance in the Odudu area of Akure, where he allegedly robbed her at gunpoint, carting away her Android phone and ATM card.

The suspect was said to have coerced the victim into calling her husband, during which he demanded a ransom of ₦5 million under duress.

“The husband later transferred ₦1 million into the victim’s Opay account, which the suspect intended to access,” a source revealed.

Believing his operation had succeeded, the suspect fled the scene.

However, police detectives were able to track him to a POS terminal where he attempted to withdraw the ransom.

Speaking on the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed that the suspect was apprehended while trying to access the funds.

Olayinka said, Ayanlade said, “Upon interrogation, the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime, and investigations are ongoing to determine if he has accomplices or links to similar criminal activities within the state.”

He commended “the swift and professional response of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.”

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]

SOURCE PAGE

Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its resolve to clear all buildings and structures erected beneath high-tension power lines across the state, warning that continued encroachment poses grave risks to public safety.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Electronic Geographic Information System, eGIS, and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, issued the warning during an on-site inspection of the Third Mainland Bridge corridor.

Babatunde was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki; the General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, LASURA, Oladimeji Animashaun; and senior officials from other relevant agencies.

The assessment tour covered the stretch from Oworonshoki to Adekunle and the Makoko section of Ebute Meta, where officials identified several shanties and unlawful structures encroaching on the legally required 50-metre setback around the bridge and beneath high-tension transmission lines.

Babatunde stressed that the state can no longer permit habitation or commercial activities in restricted corridors, particularly under power lines, describing such actions as dangerous and unacceptable.

He added that enforcement operations would be intensified to ensure compliance with planning laws, protect public infrastructure, and safeguard lives.

Speaking during the tour, Oki revealed that the government had held numerous engagements with residents in Makoko and neighbouring communities, repeatedly warning them of the dangers of erecting structures directly under power lines or too close to the Third Mainland Bridge.

“As far back as February this year, we issued a 14-day notice for them to vacate the area, but they ignored it. Many of them have even extended their structures toward the midpoint of the bridge. We have warned them several times; the next step is decisive enforcement,” Oki said.

He reiterated that authorities made it clear during earlier meetings that after continuous warnings, no further notice would precede enforcement actions.

While the government remains open to dialogue with community leaders, he stressed that public safety remains paramount.

“If any of those cables were to snap and a disaster occurs, the blame would be directed at the government. Protecting lives is our priority. Beyond the power lines, their activities are now creeping dangerously close to the Third Mainland Bridge,” he added.

SOURCE PAGE

Members of the the Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly attacked a position of the Nigerian Army in Mairari, Borno State.

Naija News reports that security expert in East and West Africa, Brant Philip, disclosed that the attack was carried out on Tuesday.

According to the security expert, the terrorists burned the base of the Nigerian Army and several vehicles belonging to them.

He, however, noted that no casualty was reported on both sides.

Brant Philip wrote: “ISWAP attacked a position of the Nigerian army in Mairari, Borno State, yesterday, the terrorists burned the position along with three vehicles, and captured a fourth after the troops withdrew from the area, no casualties reported on either side.”

ISWAP later released a video showing the attack on Nigeria’s military base.

Meanwhile, the US Air Force reportedly resumed Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Nigeria.

According to Brant Philip, the US Air Force ISR mission is targeting ISWAP and Boko Haram zones of influence in Borno State, northeast Nigeria, on the fringes of Lake Chad.

The security expert disclosed that US aircraft took off from Accra, Ghana “as usual, still not using a Nigerian airport.”

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]

SOURCE PAGE

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International (TI), has raised the alarm over the role of corruption in driving insecurity across Nigeria.

In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES to mark the United Nations Anti-Corruption Day on Tuesday, CISLAC Executive Director and TI-Nigeria Head, Auwal Musa, said that despite massive government investments in defence and internal security, entrenched corruption continues to weaken national safety and expose citizens to violence.

“Nigeria cannot overcome insecurity without first addressing corruption in the security sector. No volume of military spending or sophisticated equipment will deliver results if diverted funds, weak oversight, and entrenched impunity continue to undermine the system,” Mr Musa, popularly called Rafsanjani, said.

The organisation noted that Nigeria’s battles with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, militancy, communal clashes, and organised crime have been worsened by corruption affecting defence procurement, personnel recruitment, welfare administration, intelligence sharing, and operational command.

CISLAC/TI-Nigeria said security funds are frequently siphoned through inflated contracts, misallocation of resources, and outright diversion.

Welfare-related corruption, the group added, leaves frontline officers poorly motivated and families of fallen personnel often uncompensated, eroding morale and trust.

The group also spotlighted recruitment irregularities that place unqualified individuals in sensitive positions, as well as nepotism, unlawful tenure extensions, and misuse of security priorities, describing these practices as dangerous to national stability.

Mr Musa said weak oversight by the National Assembly and poor collaboration among security agencies create loopholes exploited by criminal networks.

The statement noted that routine police corruption, such as illegal roadblock payments remitted to superiors, further reflects systemic decay.

A report also cited the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, estimating that Nigeria holds roughly 70 per cent of illicit arms in West Africa.

The 2024 Global Terrorism Index ranked Nigeria eighth globally for terrorism, underscoring the urgent need for security sector reforms and anti-corruption measures.

The organisation called for full transparency in procurement, independent audits, stronger legislative oversight, strict disciplinary action for corrupt officers, and improved welfare and equipment for frontline personnel.

It also urged enhanced intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation, and protection for whistle-blowers.

“Nigeria deserves a secure, just, and prosperous future. Such a future can only be achieved by confronting and eliminating corruption at the heart of the country’s security framework,” the statement added.

READ ALSO: CISLAC calls for implementation of Edo child rights law in rural communities

Reports by CISLAC and TI-Nigeria indicate that despite significant investments, funds meant for operations and equipment are routinely diverted.

Analysts link these irregularities, along with illicit arms proliferation, to rising terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and organised crime.

Experts have urged urgent reforms to restore accountability, transparency, and public trust in Nigeria’s security apparatus.

Source link

•Senate backs president, okays deployment of troops to neighbouring country

•ECOWAS states nation’s role in averting coup should be standard to safeguard democracy

•We also provided logistic support to avert coup, France declares

Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Emmanuel Addeh, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), yesterday, declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in Sunday’s attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, saying his timely role prevented a major security threat to Nigeria. Chairman of NGF and governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this while reacting to the development.

That was as Senate granted Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to Benin, endorsing what the lawmakers described as a decisive and constitutionally grounded move to prevent the collapse of democratic order in the neighbouring country.

At the same time, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) applauded Nigeria’s role in quashing the coup, saying it must be the standard to safeguard democracy.

Relatedly, France, yesterday, said it provided intelligence and logistical support to Benin to help thwart Sunday’s coup attempt in the former French colony, according to officials from the French presidency.

AbdulRazaq said a successful military takeover in Benin would have created opportunities for militants and other non-state actors operating across the Sahel to further destabilise Nigeria.

He said large portions of the country, including the forests, had already been infiltrated by armed groups.

The governor, in a statement, insisted that any collapse of constitutional order in the neighbouring country would have had direct security implications for Nigerian border communities.

He stated, “Apart from supporting democratic order in the Sub-region, the president acted in the best interest of Nigeria and West Africa.

“With the Sahel already in severe security distress, a successful coup in Benin would have had devastating effects on our own country due to the long and porous borders we share.”

The forum praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for the rapid response that helped restore stability in Benin, stating that threats to cities such as Porto Novo, Cotonou or Parakou pose serious risks to Nigeria.

“It is our position that democracy, despite its challenges, remains the most reliable framework for regional peace, stability and development,” it added.

NGF said the intervention, carried out at the request of Benin, strengthened ongoing ECOWAS security efforts aimed at preventing further spread of militancy in the region.

Senate Okays Troops’ Deployment, Backs Tinubu

Senate, yesterday, granted Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to the Republic of Benin. The lawmakers described the move as decisive and constitutionally grounded to prevent the collapse of democratic order in the neighbouring country.

The approval came moments after the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, read Tinubu’s urgent letter, triggering an immediate debate and a vote of affirmation from senators, who said Nigeria could not afford instability next door.

Ruling after the session, Akpabio declared, “Distinguished colleagues, will the senate now confirm the actions of Mr. President, the deployment of the Air Force and troops to the Benin Republic to ensure a peace mission and restore order and sanity in that country? Those in support say ‘aye’… Those against say ‘nay.’ The ayes have it. The approval is hereby confirmed.”

Akpabio praised Tinubu for adhering to constitutional provisions by seeking legislative consent before putting Nigerian troops in harm’s way.

He said, “Let me thank the president for complying with the constitutional requirements.

“We believe he has taken a step in the right direction. This is about saving a neighbouring democracy, protecting Nigerians from the ripple effects, and preventing the influx of thousands of refugees. Injury to one is injury to all.”

He added that senators approved the request “without much discussion” because the threat unfolding in Cotonou demanded unity of purpose. “We congratulate the president for rising to the occasion,” he said.

In his letter, Tinubu informed the upper chamber that the government of the Republic of Benin had come under immediate threat from an “attempted unconstitutional seizure of power” that imperilled its democratic institutions.

Tinubu said the situation required “urgent external intervention,” particularly air support from Nigeria, to prevent anti-democratic forces from toppling the government.

Tinubu wrote, “The government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and destabilisation of democratic institutions.

“The distinguished Senate may wish to note the close ties of brotherhood and friendship between Nigeria and Benin, as well as the principles of collective security within ECOWAS.”

The president, who doubles as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, anchored his request on Section 5(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandated Senate approval for deployment of the armed forces on foreign missions.

He urged senators to grant “expeditious consideration” so that the armed forces could respond without delay.

Immediately after reading the letter, Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for deliberation, saying the matter is “a national priority with far-reaching security implications for Nigeria and the ECOWAS region”.

Senators subsequently reviewed the operational, legal and diplomatic dimensions of the planned deployment before giving the green light.

The senate president promised that the approval document would be transmitted to the president immediately.

The attempted coup in Benin had further heightened concerns within ECOWAS, which had, in the past four years, witnessed multiple military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger.

Under Tinubu’s leadership, the regional bloc had repeatedly warned that unconstitutional changes of government posed an existential threat to West Africa’s stability and economic integration.

Only days before the senate received Tinubu’s request, ECOWAS had issued a strongly worded statement condemning developments in Cotonou and urging member states to stand firmly against anti-democratic forces.

Nigeria and Benin share deep security cooperation, especially along their expansive land borders, where joint operations target smuggling, terrorism and transnational crime.

The unfolding crisis presented a major test of that longstanding partnership and Nigeria’s readiness to assert leadership in defending democratic governance in the region.

Lawmakers warned that failing to act quickly could trigger destabilisation that would spill into Nigeria, affecting border communities and potentially overwhelming security agencies with refugee inflows.

Akpabio summed up the chamber’s stance, when he said, “The impact this would have had on Nigeria in terms of the security of our brothers would have been terrible. We have acted swiftly, and in the national interest.”

ECOWAS: Nigeria’s Role in Averting Coup Should be Standard to Safeguard Democracy

ECOWAS applauded Nigeria’s role in quashing the attempted coup in Benin Republic.

Speaking at the opening of the 55th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the ministerial level in Abuja, President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, lamented that with recent insecurity in the sub-region, it would not be out of place to say the region was in a state of emergency.

Extolling the contribution of Nigeria in truncating the overthrow of democratic governance in Benin Republic, Touray asked that Nigeria should be given a standing ovation by the gathering.

He stated the swift intervention of Nigeria’s military within a short period to stop the coupists, insisting that this should be the standard in the region if democracy must be protected.

The ECOWAS commission president said, “Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.

“Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency. For that, the sessions of the mediation and security council should be organised more regularly beyond the two ordinary sessions for the next one year. We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve.

“We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries.”

He called for constant meetings of the mediation and security council, beyond the two ordinary sessions, for the next one year, calling for an urgent need to confront these threats with the attention they deserve.

Touray said the region must pool its resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operated without respect for territorial boundaries, while lamenting the scaring humanitarian figure as a fallout of insecurity within the sub-region.

He stated that the recent data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa as of October 2025 – showed approximately 7.6 million individuals forcibly displayed and an additional 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers.

The ECOWAS president said the different risk levels across the region demanded immediate and concerted action.

He listed the risk factors to include the persistence of military interventions (Guinea-Bissau and Republic of Benin just days ago) and non-compliance with transition norms in Guinea, as the country witnessed a military leader turning into a civilian leader).

He also highlighted other causes of humanitarian challenge to include growing erosion of electoral inclusivity across multiple states; expanding influence of terrorists and armed groups and criminal networks threatening regional stability.

Touray pointed out the need for constant monitoring of political situations within member states.

“This council needs to constantly monitor the political and security situation in our Community, to provide guidance and to enable regional action,” he said.

France Reveals It Provided Logistical Support to Thwart Attempted Benin Coup

France provided intelligence and logistical support to Benin to help thwart Sunday’s coup attempt in the former French colony, officials from the French presidency said yesterday.

French officials said they also shared intelligence with Nigeria, which sent fighter jets and ground troops to its much smaller neighbour at Benin’s request, a Reuters report said.

The unrest was the latest threat to democratic rule in the region, where militaries had in recent years seized power in Benin’s neighbours – Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea and, only last month, Guinea-Bissau.

“France provided support in terms of surveillance, observation, and logistics to Benin forces,” a French presidential adviser told reporters. “This support was done as part of regional efforts by ECOWAS,” the adviser said, referring to the regional bloc.

French officials declined to give more detail. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to the presidents of Nigeria and Benin on the phone over the weekend, his office said.

After retreating from much of its former West African sphere of influence over the past few years following coups in several nations, France had been lying low, preferring to work in support of local governments rather than intervene directly as it did for most of the post-colonial decades.

Northern Benin had suffered repeated jihadist attacks, including major assaults in January and April that killed dozens of soldiers. The coup plotters cited insecurity in the north as a justification for attempting the putsch, the Reuters report added.

Cleric Hails Tinubu for Quick Action

Religious and community leader, Apostle Lawrence Bamilaw of Apostolic Grace Network International, commended for his proactive response to the failed coup in Benin, saying his decisive leadership saved the neighbouring country from what could have escalated into a full-blown crisis.

Bamilaw made the remarks while addressing journalists during this year’s edition of the African Marathon Praise “25,” held at the Correspondents’ Chapel in Osogbo yesterday.

Bamilaw thanked Tinubu for his timely intervention, emphasising that such initiative demonstrated the leadership qualities that Nigerians hoped to see applied domestically, particularly in addressing the country’s persistent insecurity challenges.

He highlighted the pressing need for urgent action against crimes, such as kidnapping, banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, and other violent criminal activities that continued to threaten peace and stability in Nigeria.

Bamilaw stated, “The Nigerian crime situation requires drastic action and strategic measures. The president’s swift response in the Benin Republic shows that with determination and effective leadership, security challenges can be managed.

“This same proactive approach should be applied within our borders to protect citizens from criminal activities and insurgency.”

SOURCE PAGE

The Chairman of Agege Local Government, Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, has proposed N14.88 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

He described it as the Budget of Restoration, Innovation and Development.

Obasa stated that the projected revenue would be largely driven by federal allocations amounting to N14.57 billion, comprising N2.08 billion from statutory allocation, N12.14 billion from Value Added Tax, and N355.29 million from other FAAC-related sources, while Internally Generated Revenue is expected to contribute N306.8 million.

He explained that the proposed expenditure was equally balanced at N14.88 billion, with recurrent expenditure standing at N8.23 billion, covering personnel costs of N2.95 billion, pension obligations of N503.46 million, and overhead costs estimated at N4.77 billion, while capital expenditure was put at N6.65 billion.

The chairman said the budget is anchored on three core pillars of restoration of public infrastructure, innovation in governance and service delivery, and sustainable, inclusive development aimed at improving the quality of life of residents across all seven wards of the local government.

He noted that major priorities under the capital programme include road rehabilitation and construction, drainage expansion, street lighting, modernization of public facilities, school infrastructure upgrades, healthcare facility improvement, and environmental sanitation and beautification projects.

Obasa further stressed that education, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental management, youths and women empowerment, and social welfare would remain the strategic sectors driving the implementation of the fiscal plan.

Reflecting on the performance of the outgoing year, the council boss highlighted the construction and rehabilitation of key roads across Agege and Dopemu, extensive drainage works to tackle flooding, renovation of several public primary schools, establishment of a tech hub, e-library, and vocational centres, as well as landscaping projects across major roads.

He also listed wide-ranging environmental and health interventions, including the employment of 300 street sweepers, acquisition of refuse compactors, community sanitation campaigns, provision of vaccine storage equipment, digital health tools, community health outreach, and health insurance for vulnerable pregnant women.

SOURCE PAGE