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Ban movement of cattle from North to South, Ganduje urges FG

Published

6 years ago

January 31, 2021

Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has urged the Federal Government to make a law banning movement of cattle by herders across the country.

He stated this at the weekend in an interview with journalists in Daura, Katsina State.

According to him, farmers/herders conflicts will not end until a law banning movement of cows from the North to the Middle Belt and the southern parts of the country.

He said the challenge of cattle rustling, just like that of the farmers/herders constant conflicts, would be also addressed with such a law.

The governor said Kano had been able to largely curtail banditry and related criminal activities because his administration had built a cattle rearing colony.

Ganduje said, “We are building a Ruga settlement in Samsosua Forest, our border with Katsina, and we have succeeded in curtailing the effect of banditry in that area.

“So, we are building many houses; we are constructing a dam; we are establishing a cattle artificial insemination centre. We are establishing veterinary clinic and already, we have started building houses for herdsmen.

“My advocacy is that we should abolish the transportation or trekking of herdsmen from the northern part of Nigeria to the Middle Belt and to the southern part of Nigeria.

“There should be a law that will ban (it); otherwise we cannot control the conflicts between herdsmen and farmers and cannot control the cattle rustling, which is affecting us greatly.”

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FG installs 668,000 electricity meters as Nigeria moves to close metering gap

Published

13 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

Trends Admin

FG installs 668,000 electricity meters as Nigeria moves to close metering gap

The Federal Government has announced the deployment and installation of 668,000 electricity meters under Phase One of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) as part of efforts to reduce Nigeria’s electricity metering gap and improve billing accuracy for consumers.

The figure represents about 60 per cent of the 1.033 million meters delivered under the first phase of the programme, according to the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi.

Gbeleyi disclosed the development while briefing journalists after the second 2026 meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said the council reviewed progress on several government interventions in the electricity sector, including the deployment of meters to customers’ premises.

“On various issues, we provided updates on meter deployment under Phase 1 of the World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. We have implemented 60 per cent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000. So far, we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises,” Gbeleyi said.

The latest installations are expected to give more electricity consumers access to meters that record actual consumption, helping to reduce disputes over estimated electricity bills.

Estimated billing has remained a major source of complaints among electricity consumers, particularly where customers believe bills issued by distribution companies do not accurately reflect the electricity supplied or consumed.

The Federal Government is implementing DISREP alongside other interventions, including the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), to accelerate meter deployment and progressively reduce the number of unmetered electricity customers.

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The World Bank-backed DISREP is part of wider efforts to improve the financial and operational performance of Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector. The programme also supports investments intended to strengthen distribution infrastructure and improve the ability of distribution companies to provide reliable services.

Government officials have previously indicated that DISREP could facilitate the delivery of more than 3.2 million meters, while the Presidential Metering Initiative is expected to provide additional meters as part of the government’s broader effort to address the national metering deficit.

The push is significant because millions of electricity customers have historically relied on estimated billing due to the shortage of meters.

Increasing metering coverage is expected to improve transparency between electricity distribution companies and consumers, as customers can monitor their consumption and receive bills based on recorded usage.

However, meter installation alone does not resolve all the challenges confronting Nigeria’s electricity sector. Distribution infrastructure, electricity supply, collection efficiency and the financial health of distribution companies remain important issues affecting service delivery.

Gbeleyi also disclosed that the NCP reviewed developments arising from the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, particularly the growing role of states in regulating electricity markets within their jurisdictions.

According to him, about 17 states had established State Electricity Regulatory Commissions since April 2024, as states increasingly assume responsibility for regulating intrastate electricity markets.

He identified Akwa Ibom State as the latest state to establish its own electricity regulatory commission in July 2026.

The development followed the constitutional and legislative changes introduced by the Electricity Act, which allows states to establish electricity markets and regulatory structures within their territories, subject to the provisions of the law.

Gbeleyi said, however, that the implementation of the Electricity Act had exposed areas requiring further clarification and coordination among government institutions.

“Some fine-tuning is required here and there in the implementation of that Act,” he said.

The NCP subsequently directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Power, Special Adviser to the President on Power, Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), BPE and other relevant stakeholders to work together on proposed amendments and other measures to streamline implementation.

Gbeleyi said the stakeholders were expected to engage constructively to harmonise the Federal Government’s position on the changes required to fine-tune the law.

Also speaking after the meeting, Minister of Power Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe said the Federal Government was working collaboratively to ensure Nigerians receive greater value from electricity and other critical sectors of the economy.

“We are working concertedly and in a very collaborative manner to ensure that we give value, either in electricity or in telecoms—whichever area—to make sure that Nigerians benefit from this government,” Tegbe said.

The latest metering figures come as the government continues to pursue reforms aimed at improving electricity billing, distribution and regulation.

For consumers, wider access to meters could provide greater certainty over monthly electricity bills and reduce disputes arising from estimated consumption.

The government will nevertheless need to sustain the pace of deployment to reach the millions of customers who remain without meters.

The NCP meeting, which brought together senior government officials and private members of the council, forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen reforms in the power sector and other critical areas of the economy.

With 668,000 meters already installed under Phase One of DISREP, authorities are expected to continue deploying additional units as they work towards narrowing the metering gap and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on estimated electricity billing.

FG installs 668,000 electricity meters as Nigeria moves to close metering gap

News

PFIPC Probe: ICPC Indicts Civil Servants Over ₦1.3bn Fake Agency Scandal

Published

2 hours ago

August 27, 2026

Trends Admin

PFIPC Probe: ICPC Indicts Civil Servants Over ₦1.3bn Fake Agency Scandal

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered how several civil servants allegedly helped Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, the director-general of the now-disowned Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), obtain government approvals and gain access to official financial and administrative systems. The findings are contained in the ICPC interim investigation report on the PFIPC saga, submitted to President Bola Tinubu on August 6, 2026, exactly 30 days after the President directed the commission to investigate the matter. The investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the PFIPC had no legal basis for its existence.

The ICPC report reveals that Adeyemi’s ability to penetrate government structures went beyond the forged documents he allegedly presented. It also depended on the actions of officials in several government institutions who processed his requests and facilitated approvals despite gaps in the required procedures. According to the ICPC, Adeyemi began seeking formal recognition within government structures in November 2024 when he approached the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) for an administrative code, self-accounting status and approval to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He supported the applications with purported official documents, including an appointment letter, an establishment instrument, and a letter on State House letterhead allegedly signed by one Akanbi Adewale. Investigators found that Akanbi Adewale did not exist. Forensic examination also showed that the letter attributed to him was signed by Adeyemi himself. Despite these irregularities, the documents were used to process the applications. On 27 May 2025, the OAGF granted the organisation self-accounting status and assigned it the administrative code 0111062001, alongside authorised establishment and recruitment waiver arrangements. The approvals enabled the purported PFIPC to secure a place in the 2026 federal budget and gain access to government financial systems. The OAGF subsequently created a Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform and a Sub-Treasury Account for the organisation. Acting on a request from the PFIPC, the OAGF also issued a mandate to the CBN for the creation of two domiciliary accounts. The CBN later told the House of Representatives that the accounts were never activated because the purported agency failed to provide authorised signatories.

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The ICPC investigation examined the roles of several civil servants who allegedly facilitated the PFIPC’s operations. Three civil servants played key roles in securing an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver for the PFIPC. They are Rose Achem, senior administrative officer to the director-general of the Budget Office of the Federation; Patricia Akhigbe, an assistant director in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; and Mimi Abu, director of organisation design and development at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). According to the ICPC, Achem introduced Akhigbe to Abu as the head of human resources of the PFIPC, even though Akhigbe was an assistant director in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The introduction was made to facilitate the purported council’s application for authorised establishment and recruitment waiver. The ICPC found that Achem, Akhigbe and Abu subsequently facilitated the approvals through the OHCSF. The investigation also found that Adeyemi paid Akhigbe ₦500,000 during Easter in 2025, with the payment described in evidence as a “thank you for your support”. The authorised establishment was granted on the same day the three officials met. Investigators found no evidence that the PFIPC had formally applied for an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver. Instead, Abu, Achem and Akhigbe proceeded with the approvals outside the required process. When investigators requested the relevant file from the OHCSF, the office reportedly said it was missing.

The ICPC scrutinised Abu’s role because her department is responsible for authorised establishment, manpower requirements and recruitment waivers for federal government organisations. Under the standard procedure, newly established government organisations seeking authorisation are expected to submit documents showing their mandate and establishment instruments, as well as the appointment letter of the head of the organisation. The investigation found that Achem and Akhigbe met Abu on behalf of the PFIPC and presented what investigators described as forged establishment instruments and a forged appointment letter for Adeyemi. Abu reportedly described the controversial appointment letter, said to have been issued by the Chief of Staff to the President, as an “aberration.” She told investigators she could not recall another government organisation presenting an appointment letter signed by the Chief of Staff. The ICPC also confirmed that the purported appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency and that forensic examination found the signature did not match the Chief of Staff’s official specimen signature.

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The ICPC also examined the role of Aminu Abdullahi, the official responsible for office allocation within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Abdullahi was responsible for coordinating the allocation of offices to political appointees within the OSGF. According to the investigation, Abdullahi was introduced to Adeyemi in March 2025 by Ibrahim Abdulkadir, a deputy director in General Services. The introduction was intended to guide Adeyemi through the process of obtaining office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat. The ICPC found that Abdullahi allocated offices previously occupied by the former Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Doyin Salami, at the Federal Secretariat Phase III for temporary use by the PFIPC without written approval. Only two keys were available for the allocated offices. The investigation found that Abdullahi broke the locks on the remaining doors to give Adeyemi access to the other office spaces. The financial trail also raised questions. An analysis of Abdullahi’s bank statement showed that he received ₦3.25 million from Adeyemi in three tranches between March and November 2025, according to the ICPC.

The ICPC has cleared Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any involvement in the scandal. According to the investigation, Adeyemi allegedly produced a fake appointment letter dated March 2024 using a State House letterhead, with a signature presented as that of Gbajabiamila. Investigators said they found no record showing that Gbajabiamila appointed Adeyemi or had any direct dealings with him over the purported agency. The ICPC also found no link between the Office of the Chief of Staff, the State House, and Adeyemi or the PFIPC. The commission explained that the Office of the Chief of Staff does not issue appointment letters for heads of government ministries, departments, and agencies. Its responsibility is to transmit presidential approvals to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which handles the formal appointment process. The ICPC also checked official correspondence records from the Office of the Chief of Staff, including its dispatch system and electronic correspondence platform, and found no communication involving Adeyemi or the PFIPC from 2024 to September 2025.

The investigation further uncovered two other purported fictitious agencies allegedly created by Adeyemi to facilitate and expand the activities of the scheme. These are the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIFA-PPP). According to ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu, forged legislative instruments were allegedly used to create the purported agencies and facilitate the opening and operation of bank accounts in their names.

The ICPC investigation identified weaknesses in existing civil service procedures that enabled the purported organisation to obtain official approvals. The commission said the OHCSF’s standard operating procedure did not adequately require newly established federal institutions to submit relevant establishment documents. It also found insufficient mechanisms for vetting and verifying documents presented by such organisations. Aliyu stated that weaknesses in verification procedures and inter-agency oversight created opportunities which were allegedly exploited by the suspect and his collaborators to operate the fictitious organisation. The self-accounting status granted by the OAGF was particularly significant because it enabled the purported council to operate within government financial reporting structures and became an important document in its dealings with other government institutions.

Following the ICPC findings, President Tinubu has directed the commissioning of a comprehensive forensic investigation into government processes and internal controls. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council meeting on August 19, 2026. Oyedele said the investigation would establish how such bodies were able to operate within the government structure and identify weaknesses in existing administrative, accounting and governance systems. The review will also examine the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), particularly because the existence of fictitious agencies could potentially create room for the registration of non-existent employees.

The ICPC has recommended the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi for offences including forgery, impersonation and other related offences. The commission also recommended administrative sanctions against public officers whose acts of commission, omission or negligence facilitated the illegal operation of PFIPC. The ICPC further proposed institutional reforms aimed at strengthening verification mechanisms, internal controls and inter-agency oversight across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government. Aliyu stressed that the investigation is still ongoing, particularly to identify other persons who may have participated in or facilitated the alleged scheme and to obtain further evidence necessary to support criminal prosecution.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the ICPC interim report as predictable and inadequate, accusing the federal government of prioritising damage control over a thorough investigation. The ADC said the report failed to explain how a fictitious agency secured federal office space, had civil servants deployed to it and found its way into the 2026 budget with a N1.3 billion provision. The party stated: “A forgery may explain the first door that was opened. It cannot explain why every subsequent door appears to have opened as well”.

PFIPC Probe: ICPC Indicts Civil Servants Over ₦1.3bn Fake Agency Scandal

News

Subsidy removal stabilising Nigeria’s economy despite hardship — Doro

Published

2 hours ago

August 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro

Subsidy removal stabilising Nigeria’s economy despite hardship — Doro

The Federal Government has defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, saying the policy has contributed to greater stability in the Nigerian economy despite the hardship and higher living costs experienced by households.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Doro said the reforms should not be assessed solely by their immediate impact on household finances but within the broader objective of correcting longstanding economic imbalances and creating a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.

According to the minister, the government is working to reduce inflation, improve purchasing power and address the economic difficulties facing Nigerians through a combination of macroeconomic reforms and targeted social interventions.

He also rejected claims that seven million Nigerians had fallen into poverty under the Tinubu administration, arguing that Nigeria’s poverty challenge predates the current government and requires sustained interventions to reverse.

Doro acknowledged the scale of poverty in the country but said meaningful poverty reduction could not be achieved overnight.

He cited China’s decades-long poverty-reduction experience as an example of the sustained effort required to achieve significant results.

“It took China 40 years to achieve the scale they achieved, Nigeria can scale up poverty reduction,” Doro said.

The minister said the government’s responsibility was to ensure that improvements in macroeconomic indicators eventually translate into better conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

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He said the administration was therefore combining economic reforms with social protection programmes, including cash transfers, skills development and other initiatives designed to help vulnerable households move towards economic independence.

Doro disclosed that the Federal Government had distributed more than N600 billion in cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians over the past three years, with the intervention reaching slightly more than 10 million households.

The minister said the government was also strengthening its approach to poverty reduction by tracking beneficiaries and assessing whether interventions were producing lasting improvements in household welfare.

The latest effort includes the Federal Government’s $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme, which is designed to provide support to vulnerable Nigerians while helping beneficiaries build more sustainable livelihoods.

One component of the programme, the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP), targets about 7.6 million vulnerable households nationwide.

Under the programme, eligible households are expected to receive a one-off N40,000 digital shock-response payment, with beneficiaries selected from the National Social Register and validated through their National Identification Numbers.

The government says the programme is designed to move beyond emergency assistance by linking vulnerable households to interventions that can improve their economic prospects.

Doro said poverty reduction would require more than cash transfers, stressing the importance of skills acquisition, employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

The minister’s comments come amid continued debate over the consequences of the petrol subsidy removal announced in May 2023.

The policy immediately changed the fuel-pricing system and contributed to significant increases in transportation and living costs. The government has consistently argued that the previous subsidy regime was financially unsustainable and that its removal was necessary to improve public finances and redirect resources towards development.

The administration has also implemented foreign exchange reforms, which initially placed additional pressure on prices and the value of the naira.

Government officials now argue that the combination of subsidy removal and foreign-exchange reforms has helped address structural weaknesses in the economy and created the basis for stronger fiscal management.

Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Zacch Adedeji recently similarly defended the reforms, saying the government inherited an economy facing significant fiscal and structural challenges, including an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime and distortions in the foreign exchange market.

However, the government’s assessment of economic stability continues to face scrutiny as households contend with food prices, transport costs and reduced purchasing power.

While some economic indicators have improved, many Nigerians continue to feel the effects of the cost-of-living crisis created by the rapid adjustment in fuel prices and other reforms.

This has increased pressure on the government to ensure that reported macroeconomic improvements translate into tangible benefits for households.

Doro said the administration recognised those concerns and would continue combining economic reforms with targeted social protection to cushion vulnerable Nigerians.

He maintained that the objective was not simply to provide temporary relief but to create a system capable of helping people escape poverty permanently.

The minister’s position reflects the Federal Government’s broader argument that the short-term pain associated with subsidy removal was necessary to address deeper economic problems and establish a more sustainable economic framework.

The challenge for the administration now is to demonstrate that the claimed gains in economic stability, government revenue and fiscal management can translate into lower inflation, stronger purchasing power, employment opportunities and measurable reductions in poverty.

For Nigerians, the ultimate measure of the reforms will be whether improvements in economic indicators eventually translate into a noticeable improvement in everyday living standards.