A fresh political storm has erupted within the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid accusations that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, mismanaged party funds and made misleading claims regarding financial donations.

In a statement issued by the Zamfara APC Secretary, Hon. Mansur Aminu Khalifa, the party dismissed Matawalle’s claim of donating ₦500 million to APC supporters as a fabrication, challenging him to provide proof of how the funds were distributed. The statement accused Matawalle’s faction of peddling falsehoods to manipulate party members.

“The claim that Minister Matawalle donated ₦500 million to Zamfara APC supporters is misleading. Even Bashir Ataka, the former Welfare Secretary under Tukur Danfulani, has debunked this narrative,” the statement read.

The controversy within the state APC escalated further as Khalifa asserted that Tukur Danfulani, the current state chairman, was no longer recognized by the party, insisting that his suspension remains valid. Consequently, he declared all actions taken by Danfulani and his executives as illegitimate.

Beyond financial disputes, the party also accused Matawalle and his associates of diverting relief materials, including 12,000 bags of rice donated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to APC supporters in Zamfara. Additionally, allegations surfaced regarding the misappropriation of ₦50 million donated by President Tinubu for victims of armed banditry and fire disasters, with claims that the funds have not reached the intended beneficiaries.

The statement praised Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, a prominent APC leader in the state, for his unwavering support for party members and his contributions to President Tinubu’s 2023 election victory. It described Jaji as a key political force in Zamfara’s APC structure.

Further highlighting Matawalle’s diminishing influence, the statement referenced an incident in which his convoy was allegedly stoned by residents during his recent visit to Zamfara, underscoring the growing opposition to his leadership.

With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the statement warned that Matawalle’s political relevance in Zamfara was declining, urging President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to be wary of his actions.

Meanwhile, the party reaffirmed its support for the Isiyaka Ajiya Anka-led APC faction, emphasizing that it remains the legitimate leadership in Zamfara until a new congress is held.

As the battle for political dominance within the Zamfara APC intensifies, party factions continue to trade accusations, setting the stage for a prolonged power struggle in the state.

A Nigerian woman based in the United States of America, Funke Iyanda, is at risk of 10 years imprisonment following her indictment in a $40,980 unemployment benefit fraud.

TheNigerian Metro learnt in a statement by the US Department of Justice on Thursday that Iyanda was an illegal resident of the US and was not entitled to the benefit for which she filed claims.

The statement noted that between May 2020 and May 2021, the suspect applied for the unemployment benefit scheme using another person’s identity and received a sum of $40,980.

The statement read, “A Nigerian national residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of government property. The one-count Indictment named Funke Iyanda, 43, with no U.S. status, as the sole defendant.

“According to the Indictment, from May 27, 2020, to May 24, 2021, Iyanda prepared and submitted a false application and claim for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in the name of another person to the PA Department of Labour, for which Iyanda received approximately $40,980 in unemployment benefits to which Iyanda was not legally entitled.”

The statement continued that if found guilty, the suspect could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

It acknowledged that the suspect was considered innocent until proved otherwise by the court.

“The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

“Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence would be based on the seriousness of the offence and the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any.

“An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty,” the statement concluded.

TheNigerian Metro reported on March 5 that a US-based Professor of Nigeria origin, Gordian Ndubizu, was sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Trenton federal court for tax evasion.

The DoJ noted that Ndubizu alongside his wife, ran a pharmacy that earned about $3.28m in income, resulting in the evasion of approximately $1.25m in tax due and owing between 2014 and 2017.

Despite possessing over 200 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves, Nigeria continues to struggle with underutilisation, infrastructure deficits, and investment roadblocks in its gas sector.

The chairman of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), Prof. Mohammed M. Ibrahim, who disclosed this at the 6th West Africa LPG Expo on Tuesday in Lagos, highlighted critical challenges impeding Nigeria’s efforts to maximise its gas potential.

Ibrahim pointed to inadequate infrastructure, environmental concerns, and policy inconsistencies as major barriers to fully harnessing natural gas for domestic use and export.

Explaining further, the chairman said Nigeria’s gas fields, including Bonga, Amenam, and Utorogu, remain underdeveloped due to aging pipelines, processing constraints, and political instability, adding that, the lack of sufficient midstream and downstream infrastructure means many remote areas still lack access to gas, limiting its role in power generation, industrial production, and economic diversification.

“High capital costs for exploration, pipeline construction, and processing facilities have further slowed progress. Although the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 established a Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund to enhance financing, challenges persist due to inadequate in-country manufacturing capacity for critical machinery and equipment. Environmental degradation in the Niger Delta also remains a pressing issue. Gas flaring, oil spills, and soil contamination have sparked tensions with local communities, who often feel marginalized and inadequately compensated,” he added.

While government policies, including tax incentives and import duty waivers, aim to attract foreign investment, regulatory uncertainties and slow implementation continue to hinder investor confidence, even as Ibrahim stressed that Nigeria’s reliance on a single gas stream—Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)—poses risks to long-term energy security, advocating for a broader approach to gas utilisation.

To unlock Nigeria’s gas potential, the chairman called for increased public-private partnerships, local capacity-building, and strict adherence to regulatory frameworks. Expanding small-scale gas distribution centers and investing in local manufacturing of equipment could accelerate development and reduce costs, he affirmed.

“The National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) is positioned as a catalyst for these reforms, aiming to shift Nigeria from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified, gas-powered future. However, without decisive action to address infrastructure deficits, environmental concerns, and investment constraints, the country risks missing out on the full benefits of its vast gas reserves,” he stated.

The Ebonyi State Police Command said it has initiated a disciplinary action against one of its officers operating a tricycle business during which he engaged in an altercation with his passengers and brandished his service rifle.

The action of the officer which was captured in a viral video on the social media has received wide condemnations among residents of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital and other Facebook users.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, said the Command strongly condemned the officer’s actions as violation of the ethics and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Nigeria Police Force.

He noted that the officer involved has been identified, and an investigation has commenced, stating that disciplinary actions have already been initiated against him.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Anthonia Adaku Uche-Anya, assures residents of Ebonyi State that the Command has zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct from its officers and they will be held accountable for their actions,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, some residents of Abakaliki the Ebonyi State capital have called on the police commissioner to restrict officers of the command from carrying arms while engaging in other businesses.

A human right activist, Comrade Chukwuma Egwu also decried the activities of some police officers, and called on the CP to set up a taskforce that will ensure that his men do not carry or brandish arms while off duty.

He described the viral video incident as just one out of many incidents of men of the command brandishing arms while engaging in other businesses like operating motorcycles, popularly known as ‘Okada’, and tricycles, also known as ‘Keke’, especially at night.

Egwu said some police officers will place their rifles in front of the motorcycles and still be picking and dropping passengers at different locations while some visit drinking joints at night, “You will see police officers with their rifles consuming several bottles of alcoholic drinks.”

He stressed the need to check the activities of the officers to forestall accidental discharge. “If they must engage in Okada or Keke business or refresh themselves, they should drop their rifles at the station. It’s dangerous to carry arms to joints to drink alcohol.”

Experts say no viable product conveyor belts Funding causes setback  |  Rehab to address tanker explosion incidents

 

Key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have demanded a cautious approach to the planned pipelines and depot rehabilitation exercise by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

NNPCL’s chief corporate communications officer (CCCO), Olufemi Soneye, said the company had commenced the rehabilitation of pipelines and depots to strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure for the long term benefits.

According to Soneye, the company had achieved a cost-effective funding model for the project, but that funding had been a critical setback.

The ongoing rehabilitation project is expected to be completed within two to three years, and is intended to resolve longstanding challenges in petroleum distribution.

Upon completion, Nigeria will achieve a sustainable crude oil supply to refineries, seamless product distribution through pipelines, reduced reliance on trucks, improved energy security and reduced fuel importation, lower transportation costs and reduced road hazards caused by fuel tankers.

However, some security analysts and marketers have expressed doubt about the reliability of the pipelines without adequate deployment of technology to support their safety operations.

Royson Stephen Onyishi, a security consultant, said the government has to put all necessary machinery in place, including the right professionals and technology, as well as engagement with all stakeholders involved in securing the pipelines.

Onyishi said, “An effective monitoring system can also help track the activities of vandals and oil thieves. Most of these measures have been deployed before. They are still experiencing cases of vandals because a stage in monitoring is falling or there is compromise amongst the team, thereby sabotaging the government’s effort.”

The secretary general of the Petroleum Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) Ibrahim Shehu Yahaya, noted that using pipelines for product distribution was a global trend. However, transporting products safely using rail, as was done in the 1970s and the early 1980s, offers no stoppage time and no losses.

Yahaya said there was no indication at the moment suggesting pipeline transportation and distribution of petroleum products across the country, even though pipelines and depots are in place in all regions and most states.

“No one to my knowledge is talking about this prospect because it will go against the interests of the most  powerful unions in the nation, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD). To my knowledge, there are no measures to protect the pipelines.

“The experience of Oando Plc has put to rest that prospect, and there are companies that are willing to partner with Nigeria railway corporation on the freight and haulage of goods and products but have met brick walls despite their persistent efforts.

“Such companies include Safr Terminals Development Company Ltd, which has long been trying without success.

“Others are there because all the jetties and depots in Lagos and Port Harcourt are connected with rail lines,” said Yahaya.

Onyishi, on his part, said, “These pipelines continue to experience incessant vandalism because of the failure of all key stakeholders in the deployment of the right technology, equipment and skills.

“Before now, a monitoring agency within the government was created to oversee the activities of vandals. How well were they able to sustain the fight against vandals? What are their response plans for detecting, delaying, or denying the vandals the opportunity to continue their activities?”

He called for the deployment of the proper monitoring system and technology, which can detect and delay any form of vandalism,  as well as engagement with community heads to create countermeasures in monitoring as they can play a vital role in fighting vandalism.

He further advocated continuous training and retraining of all involved in fighting vandalism, adding that the deployment of modern technology is highly cost-effective as it is a faster measure to curb vandalism effectively.

“Modern technology deployed along the pipelines will give instant notifications on the systems, stating the exact location where the act is being attempted.

“Community engagement cannot be overemphasised as these vandals are mostly within the community or neighbouring community. The engagement will complement them in securing the pipelines as they can serve as spies and physical protection officers. However, a counter community physical deployment can be applied as some communities in the past have promoted vandalism, either directly or indirectly.”

Soneye, however, gave assurance about the financing model of the national oil company’s renovation project,

“We can assure Nigerians that NNPC’s pipeline and the depot rehabilitation project is imbued with a structured financial model, strategic partnerships and committed execution. The initiative is set to resolve longstanding challenges in petroleum supply and strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure for the long term.”

According to him, though there are limited financial resources, which continue to pose a challenge in executing both refinery and pipeline rehabilitation projects simultaneously, “we are exploring creative and innovative approaches to ensure a cost-effective funding model to proceed with the pipeline and depot rehabilitation.”

Soneye acknowledged that the company had already designed a robust rehabilitation plan for the pipelines and depots and would deploy a new financial model—the Finance, Build, Operate, and Transfer (FBOT) approach.

He asserted that the ongoing activities would not be  limited to the construction of new crude oil and product pipelines and the replacement of obsolete ones.

Soneye said advanced technology would be provided to enhance the pipeline security, prevent vandalism, and support the rehabilitation and modernisation of storage terminals.

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted a warrant of arrest against Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.

The judge granted the order on Thursday sequel to a motion exparte brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking arrest of the manager.

When the case came up on Thursday, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, announced her appearance for the EFCC.

Buhari then informed the court of an application brought by the EFCC pursuant to Section 35(1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

However, she moved the application seeking an order to issue a warrant of arrest against the manager.

She said the warrant would be to compel the manager’s appearance in court to answer to criminal offences he allegedly committed.

Buhari stated that if the commission was not able to arrest the manager, it would bring a public summons to declare him wanted.

After listening to her submissions the court granted the application, and adjourned the case until January 24, 2025, for the arraignment of the manager.

In an affidavit in support of the application, the EFCC averred that it received a petition from Chinwo against the manager.

The affidavit was deposed to by an investigator with the commission, Mr Michael Idoko.

He averred that the gospel singer alleged that the manager was receiving royalty on all her digital platforms and events without disclosure.

According to the EFCC, the gospel singer claimed that the manager diverted about $345,000, without remitting her share.

It said efforts to arrest the manager failed, necessitating the application for a warrant of arrest.

The court adjourned the case until January 24 for arraignment of the manager.

In January, Jigawa State commenced the payment of workers’ pensions and gratuities. This is the third phase of such quarterly payments since Governor Umar Namadi assumed power in the state, and over N7 billion was released.

Upon assumption, Governor Namadi constituted a committee under the chairmanship of former state Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Mustapha Aminu (Wamban Dutse), to review the operation of the State and Local Government Contributory Pension Board and recommend how to improve and reposition the Board to meet up with contemporary challenges and global standard.

Though Jigawa State has been a role model and a reference point in terms of effective pension management and prompt payment of workers’ entitlements for over two decades, Governor Umar Namadi’s support and intervention have enabled the system to continue to take the lead in Nigeria.
As workers in another state of the federation spent 4- 8 years struggling to get their gratuity after 35 years of service in Jigawa state, paying workers pension and gratuity at one due is not an issue because of the reform.

Workers in Jigawa state have confidence in the State and Local Government Contributory Pension Board as it has never failed them in ensuring the safety and prosperity of their monthly contribution as well as approving to pay them back at the right time.

Between February 2023 and March 2024, the board experienced unprecedented challenges, to the extent that none of the quarterly gratuity payments were made. This prompted the establishment of Alhaji Mustapha Aminu’s lead committee to rescue the situation.

The Mustapha Aminu Committee’s recommendations included approving bailout funds to clear the pension and gratuity backlog and continuing with timely payments until the pension assets investment matured.

Other recommendations made were that the government ensure the payment of state and local government monthly contributions and deductions from workers’ salaries and employ additional workers to boost the contribution and bridge the huge manpower gap in the state civil service.

In response to the committee’s recommendation in April 2024, Governor Namadi approved N2 billion as a bailout to the Pension Board. The money was used to settle the gratuity and other related entitlements of 709 workers excited from the state, local government, and Local Education Authority service in the state.
In August 2024, Governor Namadi also approved the release of N3,422,239,826.32 billion for the payment of 1,331 workers who exited from active service on attainment of thirty-five years in service and those who died while in active service.

The payment was categorized into four, the first batch of 1001 retired staff consist of those who retired either by reaching the mandatory retirement age of 35 years in service or sixty years by birth were paid N2,579,605,965.12 billion.

The second category of 241 staff are those who died while in active service where the sum of N730,367,087.60 million was paid to their relatives, while the third batch consist of 84 retirees who retired from service and started receiving monthly pension but died before reaching their minimum period of five years after retirement. Those people were paid N109, 561, 313. 67 million.

The last batch of beneficiaries were those who did not contribute up to a period of five years, and the law stated that for every staff to qualify to be paid from the scheme must him contribute for a minimum period of five years under this category, one person was paid the sum of N2,705,459.02 million including 15% interest.

In January 2025 the sum of N1,543 billion was released for the payment of terminal benefits to 609 who retired from active service on attainment of thirty-five years in service between the period of August to December 2024.

The State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme Board has already commenced the payment exercise.

According to the Board Executive Secretary, Dr. Bilyaminu Shitu Aminu, the payment was categorized into four categories as usual, first batch of 465 of those who retired either by reaching the mandatory retirement age of 35 years in service or sixty years by birth were paid N1,173,946,287 billion.

The second category of 103 staff members is those who died while in active service, and their relatives were paid N315,023,121.01 million; the third batch consists of 39 retirees who retired from service and started receiving monthly pensions but died before reaching their minimum period of five years after retirement. These people were paid N54,193,759.77 million.

The last batch was beneficiaries who did not contribute for a period of five years. The law stated that for every staff member to qualify to be paid from the scheme, he had to contribute for a minimum period of five years. Under this category, we have paid two people N749,010.31 million, including 15% interest.

Other recommendations made by the Mustapha Aminu-led committee included recruiting more permanent and pensionable workers to fortify the monthly contribution to the pension board. Under this, Governor Umar Namadi has already recruited and presented offers of employment to over 5,000 successful applicants, mostly teachers and health workers.

On different occasions, Governor Umar Namadi has repeatedly said, “Civil servants are the engine room of his government; they propel the implementation of his 12-point agenda design to make Jigawa great; they are critical partners in the project. Therefore, he vowed to create an enabling environment for them to play the expected role.

Governor Namadi has already commenced the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage with convincing consequential adjustments (increases). He also approved N3 billion in Agri loans for civil servants to support workers’ having more sources of income for a better life.

Today, the average Jigawa worker has no fear of their future under Governor Umar Namadi’s leadership, as they have job security and timely payment of monthly salary, pension, gratuity, and other entitlements.
With the current reforms and sincere commitment of Governor Namadi, staff, and management of Jigawa State and the Local Government Contributory Pension Board, the state pension will continue to be one of the reliable, viable pension systems worth emulation in Nigeria and beyond.

The Nigerian telecommunications industry faces a critical crossroads, as the CEO of 9mobile, Obafemi Banigbe, has issued a stark warning about the sector’s sustainability.

Speaking to journalists, amidst debates over a proposed tariff increase, Banigbe called attention to the urgent need for substantial infrastructure investment to ensure continued quality of service. Banigbe highlighted the sector’s indispensable role in Nigeria’s economy, noting its contribution to GDP and its pivotal position in driving the nation’s digital transformation.

Despite these achievements, he painted a grim picture of the challenges posed by Nigeria’s current macroeconomic climate, including runaway inflation and severe currency devaluation.

“With the Naira devaluation from N400 to over N1,500 in just two years, our operational and capital costs have skyrocketed, as most are tied to foreign currencies. Meanwhile, our revenues are in local currency, creating a widening gap that threatens the industry’s financial stability,” Banigbe explained.

This economic strain, he argued, has forced telecom operators to rely heavily on borrowing, a practice he described as unsustainable. “For an industry to thrive, it must generate enough revenue to cover costs and fund reinvestment. Without this, service quality deteriorates, customers suffer, and the sector becomes unsustainable,” he cautioned.

Banigbe did not shy away from addressing the controversial call for higher tariffs, acknowledging the public’s concern over affordability. However, he emphasised that failing to adjust pricing could jeopardise the entire ecosystem. Drawing on 9mobile’s experience, he pointed out that, underinvestment in recent years has already led to noticeable declines in service quality, driving customers to competitors.

“We are at a tipping point. Without immediate action to balance affordability with sustainability, the industry risks collapsing under its own weight, leaving millions without reliable communication services,” Banigbe warned. Banigbe called for a collaborative approach, urging policymakers, operators, and stakeholders to prioritise the survival and growth of the telecom industry.

“This is not just about tariff increases; it’s about securing the future of a sector that underpins every aspect of our economy. We must act now to ensure we have the infrastructure and resources needed to deliver the services that Nigerians expect and deserve,” he recommended.