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Salah: Prices of rams shoot up, sell N200,000 to N250,000

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Salah: Prices of rams shoot up, sell N200,000 to N250,000

Ahead of the forthcoming Eid-el Kabir celebration, prices of animals used for sacrifice during the annual festival have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many celebrants, Daily Trust Saturday reports.

Every year during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world who have the means, slaughter animals like sheep, goat, cow or camel – to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God.

While it is not the only livestock acceptable, a narration in Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sought out horned, white rams to sacrifice during the Eid el-Kabir, as the ram of Prophet Ibrahim had been.

At least, one third of the meat from the animal should go to the poor or vulnerable people.

Like that of ram, prices of cow and camel have also hit the roof top, as findings by our correspondents revealed.

The hike in the cost of basic commodities in Nigeria has reflected itself boldly in the livestock sector, a situation that is likely to deny average Muslims the means to partake in the annual sacrifice amidst economic crunch.

Findings by Daily Trust Saturday in Abuja, Kano, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, among others, showed that the cost of rams currently hover between N150,000 and N1 million, depending on the size and the location one is buying from.

Stakeholders interviewed blamed the situation on the insecurity around some major rearing states in the North West and North East, devaluation of the naira as well as withdrawal of fuel subsidy, which have in addition affected the price of animal feeds and the cost of transportation.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, had declared Friday, June 7, 2024, as the First Day of Dhul Hijjah 1445AH and Sunday, June 16th, which will be equivalent to the 10th of Dhul Hijjah will be marked as this year’s Eid-El-Kabir.

Low patronage in Abuja

Few days to the Sallah celebration, sales have yet to pick up as noticed during a visit to the Abuja main livestock market located in the Dei-Dei area in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

This is a sharp contrast with the past when the market served as a rallying point for suppliers and off-takers well ahead of the Sallah festivity.

A livestock merchant in the market, Uzairu Dan-Kudalo, said that the insecurity problem bedevilling some major rearing states, like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina, is affecting the sector, sending many stakeholders out of the business.

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“I know a lot of our members from Zamfara State that lost their capital to this problem just in one fell swoop, after their communities were attacked by bandits or run into their trap along the way. You can see how our animals’ stalls look empty, and it is less than 10 days to the Sallah festivity.

“From Zamfara State alone, we used to receive a supply of no less than 30 trailers during this period, with each trailer loading between 200 and 250 rams,” he said.

“This does not include other mini trucks like canter, which used to supply without getting any attention. But as I am talking to you today, we are yet to receive any kind of supply from there. If you are talking about other states, by this time, a single merchant alone from other states like Kano, Jigawa, or Yobe, would supply about 200 rams into the market. However, many of them can no longer afford a capital of 50 rams now, due to the cost of transportation and the naira devaluation”, he said.

He said bulk buyers and individuals were also not forthcoming.

“By now, I would have finished with the supply of rams to all my regular customers who may decide to keep the animals here, or transport them to their agency, for onward distribution among the beneficiaries. But I am yet to witness this gesture so far,” he said.

Another trader, Yahuza Abdullahi, said that some of them that usually travel to the neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad, or Cameroun to supply the animals are now constrained as a result of the naira devaluation, which according to him has given an edge to the traders that come from the Francophone currency nations.

“Their currency (CFA) has greater value compared to the naira, and as such, nothing you can buy from those countries and expect to make any gain out of it there.

“Rather, the traders of those countries stand to gain a lot when they convert their currency to naira and export our commodities,” he said.

The price of ram has either tripled or doubled when compared with how it went last year.

The same thing goes to the animal feed and cost of transportation.

Given the breakdown of ram price, based on their categories, a trader, Abdullahi Adamu, said the smallest animal that attained the level of sacrifice currently sold between N120,000 and N150,000.

He said such categories of rams were sold between N70,000 and N100,000 last year.

According to him, a middle-sized ram, which sold between N150,000 and N180,000 last year now costs between N250,000 and N300,000.

There are also jumbo-sized rams, which cost from N800,000 and N1.4 million.

Same rams were said to be sold last year, at the rate of N500,000, while the biggest of all, sold at N1.1 million last year.

The same scenario is playing out at the animals’ feed commodity.

A breakdown of the commodity in the market indicates that a bag of animals’ feed extracted from raw beans is now sold between N13,000 and N14,000 per bag, depending on product quality and location. This is in contrast to the N7,000 to N8,000 sold last year.

Same goes to the dried groundnut leaves, which are currently sold at between N5,000 and N6,000, compared to previous year, when it was sold at between N3,500 and N4,000.

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For the harvested corn by-product, its bag costs between N6,000 and N7,000, compared to the previous price of N4,000 and N4,500.

A bag of grounded maize by-product, or dusa in Hausa, is sold at between N18,000 and N20,000, compared to its previous price of N9,000 to N10,000 last year.

In the transportation sector, the traders said a canter truck supplying rams from Katsina or Kano that they paid between N200,000 and N250,000 last year, now goes for between N400,000 to N500,000.

Same truck transporting the animals from either Adamawa or Yobe states in the North East costs around N700,000, in contrast to between N400,000 and N500,000 paid in the past.

It was further learnt that transporting rams in trailer trucks from Mubi, in Adamawa State, a town neighbouring Cameroon Republic, now costs up to N1.5 million, as against last year’s N800,000.

They’re beyond our reach

An Abuja resident, Alhaji Shuaib Hassan who went to buy ram at the livestock market on Wednesday, left there disappointed, as according to him, the N200,000 he budgeted for the kind of ram he bought at N150,000 last year could not get him a ram as it now costs N300,000.

He said he was contemplating returning to the market on Saturday when more traders, especially those from the rural areas, are expected to arrive.

Sani Yusuf said he found succour when he bought two rams at his home town of Bichi, in Kano State, two months ago.

“I bought them at the rate of N150,000, and so far, I have sent about N10,000 for their feeding. I am expecting to pay an additional N10,000 for their transportation from the area to Abuja in the company of other animals tomorrow,” he said.

There was the same lamentation from some roadside ram markets visited in the neighbouring Niger State.

A ram trader in Suleja town in the state, Abubakar Kwamba, predicted the likely drop in ram supply, as well as patronage of buyers this year, owing to the present economic reality.

“We are about 20 traders that supplied ram to this makeshift market last year. But as I am speaking to you now, there are only three of us that arrived, and still with lower supply, compared to what we brought last year. I could only afford to buy 12 rams this year, against 20 that I bought last year”, he said.

Sale outlets springing up in Kano

Roadside livestock markets are springing up in Kano, our correspondent reports.

At Kofar Naisa, where the sacrificial animals are available for would-be buyers, a trader, Yusuf Sani said they were bringing the animals from outside the state, in the hope of making little profit.

He said that the economic situation in the country makes everything look bleak at the moment, but he was hopeful that in the next few days, the market will record improved patronage.

READ ALSO:

He said the price of a big ram starts from N400,000, while medium-sized ones go for N300,000.  A small-sized ram costs N100,000.

Another ram seller, Aminu Gwagwarmaya from Hauran Makaranta, said with N150,000, one can get a modest ram in the market.

Hajiya Ummah Kulthum Muhammad Lawan was seen at one of the markets.

She said the money she used and bought many rams last year, which she shared with relatives, will not give her half the number this time around.

“The price for each ram has almost tripled and only God can see us through,” she said.

At the Kofar Naisa Market, the price of camels range from N780,000, depending on the size.

It is permissible for three to seven people to contribute money to buy a camel or a cow for sacrifice and share the meat, clerics said.

The situation in Jigawa State is the same as merchants at Dutse temporary animals’ market lament low patronage.

One of them, Shafiu Hamisu, said scarcity of rams in the state has forced them to resort to buying from neighbouring states.

He said the prices of rams have increased significantly, with a big ram now selling for between N200,000 and N250,000, compared to less than N120,000 in 2023.

Sani Muhammad Bashir, a buyer at Dutse temporary ram market, said he will manage to buy the ram, though the price is very costly.

He called on the government to look into the matter and make things easy for the masses by finding ways to tackle inflation and provision of affordable means of transportation.

Yobe traders in a fix

In Yobe State, livestock sellers have decried low patronage of the sacrificial animal ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir.

The sellers said buyers are reluctant to come forward, saying this may not be unconnected with the high cost of the animals at a time people were struggling to buy food for their families.

The few buyers seen were lamenting over the price of ram and cow, which has increased significantly compared with last year.

A buyer at the livestock market in Potiskum, Adamu Umar, told Daily Trust Saturday that “A cow that you can buy at the cost of N400,000 last year, has now been increased to N650,000, while a bull, which we used to buy at N1,000,000 has now skyrocketed to N1,600,000.

“The situation of the market is not encouraging and by the body language of the buyers, you will understand that many people will not slaughter cows this year,” he said.

MD Adechu, a buyer from Lagos told Daily Trust Saturday that cattle are very expensive even though the Potiskum market is one of the largest livestock markets in the North.

“I don’t know what is happening; please, our government should make things easy for the masses and its citizens”, he said.

Abubakar Usman, a dealer said the price of a medium-sized ram starts from N100,000.

Another ram seller, Alhaji Zakari Yau, told Daily Trust Saturday that most of the buyers are from the southern part of the country.

In Lagos, Abduwasiu Ibrahim, a middleman, said rams and cattle are cheaper in the North.

“The ram that you can buy for N120,000 will cost you around N220,000 here; and a cow of N1,000,000 in the North will be sold at around N1,500,000 here,” he said.

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He said the situation is the same in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Uyo.

“The reason is the cost of transportation and other challenges on the highway. You have to pay a lot of money to many tax collectors,” he said.

The same thing goes to the animal feed and cost of transportation.

Given the breakdown of ram price, based on their categories, a trader, Abdullahi Adamu, said the smallest animal that attained the level of sacrifice currently sold between N120,000 and N150,000.

He said such categories of rams were sold between N70,000 and N100,000 last year.

According to him, a middle-sized ram, which sold between N150,000 and N180,000 last year now costs between N250,000 and N300,000.

There are also jumbo-sized rams, which cost from N800,000 and N1.4 million.

Same rams were said to be sold last year, at the rate of N500,000, while the biggest of all, sold at N1.1 million last year.

The same scenario is playing out at the animals’ feed commodity.

A breakdown of the commodity in the market indicates that a bag of animals’ feed extracted from raw beans is now sold between N13,000 and N14,000 per bag, depending on product quality and location. This is in contrast to the N7,000 to N8,000 sold last year.

Same goes to the dried groundnut leaves, which are currently sold at between N5,000 and N6,000, compared to previous year, when it was sold at between N3,500 and N4,000.

For the harvested corn by-product, its bag costs between N6,000 and N7,000, compared to the previous price of N4,000 and N4,500.

A bag of grounded maize by-product, or dusa in Hausa, is sold at between N18,000 and N20,000, compared to its previous price of N9,000 to N10,000 last year.

In the transportation sector, the traders said a canter truck supplying rams from Katsina or Kano that they paid between N200,000 and N250,000 last year, now goes for between N400,000 to N500,000.

Same truck transporting the animals from either Adamawa or Yobe states in the North East costs around N700,000, in contrast to between N400,000 and N500,000 paid in the past.

It was further learnt that transporting rams in trailer trucks from Mubi, in Adamawa State, a town neighbouring Cameroon Republic, now costs up to N1.5 million, as against last year’s N800,000.

They’re beyond our reach

An Abuja resident, Alhaji Shuaib Hassan who went to buy ram at the livestock market on Wednesday, left there disappointed, as according to him, the N200,000 he budgeted for the kind of ram he bought at N150,000 last year could not get him a ram as it now costs N300,000.

He said he was contemplating returning to the market on Saturday when more traders, especially those from the rural areas, are expected to arrive.

Sani Yusuf said he found succour when he bought two rams at his home town of Bichi, in Kano State, two months ago.

“I bought them at the rate of N150,000, and so far, I have sent about N10,000 for their feeding. I am expecting to pay an additional N10,000 for their transportation from the area to Abuja in the company of other animals tomorrow,” he said.

There was the same lamentation from some roadside ram markets visited in the neighbouring Niger State.

READ ALSO:

A ram trader in Suleja town in the state, Abubakar Kwamba, predicted the likely drop in ram supply, as well as patronage of buyers this year, owing to the present economic reality.

“We are about 20 traders that supplied ram to this makeshift market last year. But as I am speaking to you now, there are only three of us that arrived, and still with lower supply, compared to what we brought last year. I could only afford to buy 12 rams this year, against 20 that I bought last year”, he said.

Sale outlets springing up in Kano

Roadside livestock markets are springing up in Kano, our correspondent reports.

At Kofar Naisa, where the sacrificial animals are available for would-be buyers, a trader, Yusuf Sani said they were bringing the animals from outside the state, in the hope of making little profit.

He said that the economic situation in the country makes everything look bleak at the moment, but he was hopeful that in the next few days, the market will record improved patronage.

He said the price of a big ram starts from N400,000, while medium-sized ones go for N300,000.  A small-sized ram costs N100,000.

Another ram seller, Aminu Gwagwarmaya from Hauran Makaranta, said with N150,000, one can get a modest ram in the market.

Hajiya Ummah Kulthum Muhammad Lawan was seen at one of the markets.

She said the money she used and bought many rams last year, which she shared with relatives, will not give her half the number this time around.

“The price for each ram has almost tripled and only God can see us through,” she said.

At the Kofar Naisa Market, the price of camels range from N780,000, depending on the size.

It is permissible for three to seven people to contribute money to buy a camel or a cow for sacrifice and share the meat, clerics said.

The situation in Jigawa State is the same as merchants at Dutse temporary animals’ market lament low patronage.

One of them, Shafiu Hamisu, said scarcity of rams in the state has forced them to resort to buying from neighbouring states.

He said the prices of rams have increased significantly, with a big ram now selling for between N200,000 and N250,000, compared to less than N120,000 in 2023.

Sani Muhammad Bashir, a buyer at Dutse temporary ram market, said he will manage to buy the ram, though the price is very costly.

He called on the government to look into the matter and make things easy for the masses by finding ways to tackle inflation and provision of affordable means of transportation.

Yobe traders in a fix

In Yobe State, livestock sellers have decried low patronage of the sacrificial animal ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir.

The sellers said buyers are reluctant to come forward, saying this may not be unconnected with the high cost of the animals at a time people were struggling to buy food for their families.

The few buyers seen were lamenting over the price of ram and cow, which has increased significantly compared with last year.

READ ALSO:

A buyer at the livestock market in Potiskum, Adamu Umar, told Daily Trust Saturday that “A cow that you can buy at the cost of N400,000 last year, has now been increased to N650,000, while a bull, which we used to buy at N1,000,000 has now skyrocketed to N1,600,000.

“The situation of the market is not encouraging and by the body language of the buyers, you will understand that many people will not slaughter cows this year,” he said.

MD Adechu, a buyer from Lagos told Daily Trust Saturday that cattle are very expensive even though the Potiskum market is one of the largest livestock markets in the North.

“I don’t know what is happening; please, our government should make things easy for the masses and its citizens”, he said.

Abubakar Usman, a dealer said the price of a medium-sized ram starts from N100,000.

Another ram seller, Alhaji Zakari Yau, told Daily Trust Saturday that most of the buyers are from the southern part of the country.

In Lagos, Abduwasiu Ibrahim, a middleman, said rams and cattle are cheaper in the North.

“The ram that you can buy for N120,000 will cost you around N220,000 here; and a cow of N1,000,000 in the North will be sold at around N1,500,000 here,” he said.

He said the situation is the same in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Uyo.

“The reason is the cost of transportation and other challenges on the highway. You have to pay a lot of money to many tax collectors,” he said.

Salah: Prices of rams shoot up, sell N200,000 to N250,000

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South Africa Releases Fani-Kayode’s Speech After Protest Over Livestream Snub

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November 13, 2026

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South Africa Releases Fani-Kayode’s Speech After Protest Over Livestream Snub
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
South Africa Releases Fani-Kayode’s Speech After Protest Over Livestream Snub

PRETORIA – The South African authorities have released the speech delivered by Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, after he protested the omission of his address from the official livestream of a diplomatic ceremony attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The development followed complaints by Fani-Kayode that Nigeria was the only country among 15 participating diplomatic missions whose ambassador’s introduction and speech were excluded from the live broadcast of the presentation of Letters of Credence.

The ceremony, held on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, brought together ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions from 15 countries, alongside the European Union, to formally present their credentials to President Ramaphosa.

Fani-Kayode had expressed displeasure after observing that the official livestream captured the introductions and speeches of other diplomats but was interrupted when it was Nigeria’s turn.

According to the Nigerian envoy, the transmission resumed immediately after he had completed his presentation to the South African President.

Describing the development as disturbing, Fani-Kayode said Nigeria was singled out in the broadcast, raising concerns about the treatment of the country and its diplomatic representation.

“The entire event was livestreamed, but of all the 15 introductions and speeches made that morning, only Nigeria’s was cut out,” he said.

The ambassador suggested that the omission might reflect the attitude of some individuals towards Nigeria, although no independent evidence has established that the country was deliberately censored.

“Clearly, some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces, but we are here to stay as long as we are welcome and have the confidence of President Ramaphosa, which I am sure we do,” he added.

Fani-Kayode Raises Complaint With Ramaphosa

The Nigerian diplomat disclosed that he personally drew President Ramaphosa’s attention to the missing broadcast during the official photograph session that followed the presentation of credentials.

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According to Fani-Kayode, the South African leader reacted immediately, confronted officials responsible for the broadcast and questioned them about why Nigeria’s segment had been omitted.

He said Ramaphosa directed the relevant officials to address the situation.

However, the intervention came after the Nigerian ambassador’s presentation had already been excluded from the live transmission.

Fani-Kayode maintained that the omission did not mean his address was unavailable, as media organisations covering the ceremony, including Nigerian television crews, recorded the proceedings.

He also disclosed that he declined an interview request from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), advising its representatives to watch the speech that had been left out of the official livestream.

The subsequent release of the speech has brought the development into renewed focus, although the circumstances surrounding its initial exclusion from the broadcast have not been independently established.

Tinubu’s Message to Ramaphosa

Despite the controversy, Fani-Kayode used the diplomatic occasion to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening relations with South Africa.

He conveyed fraternal greetings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Ramaphosa, emphasising the historical relationship between both countries and Nigeria’s contributions to South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.

The ambassador said his diplomatic assignment would focus on rebuilding confidence, addressing areas of disagreement and expanding cooperation between the two African nations.

He identified trade, industrial development, economic cooperation and regional stability as important areas requiring greater collaboration.

Fani-Kayode also stressed that Nigeria and South Africa must maintain mutual respect, given their historical contributions, strategic importance and influence across the African continent.

He acknowledged Ramaphosa’s personal intervention following his complaint but maintained that his respect for South Africa and its people would not prevent him from speaking against actions he considered disrespectful to Nigeria and its citizens.

The diplomatic incident comes amid heightened concerns over the treatment and safety of Nigerians living in South Africa, following reported xenophobic attacks and killings that have strained relations between the two countries.

Fani-Kayode has previously warned that Nigeria’s patience was wearing thin over attacks on its citizens but cautioned against calls for a complete breakdown of diplomatic and economic relations.

The ambassador has consistently advocated dialogue, mutual respect and stronger Pan-African cooperation, arguing that the historical sacrifices made by Nigeria and other African countries towards ending apartheid should remain a foundation for lasting friendship.

With the release of his speech following the protest, attention is now expected to focus on the circumstances surrounding the broadcast omission and the need to ensure that diplomatic engagements involving Nigeria receive appropriate representation.

 

South Africa Releases Fani-Kayode’s Speech After Protest Over Livestream Snub

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ICPC Recovers ₦5.3bn in Seven States, FCT as LG Financial Probe Uncovers Irregularities

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November 13, 2026

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ICPC Recovers ₦5.3bn in Seven States, FCT as LG Financial Probe Uncovers Irregularities
ICPC Reovers ₦5.3bn in Seven States, FCT as LG Financial Probe Uncovers Irregularities

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered more than ₦5.3 billion following a review of local government accounts in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The anti-corruption agency has also announced plans to make all 774 local government areas in Nigeria publish their financial records online, in a move aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the recoveries on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the launch of the ICPC-National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Local Government Websites Pilot.

According to the commission, the review of local government accounts exposed financial risks at the grassroots level and demonstrated the importance of monitoring how public allocations and other revenues are managed.

Aliyu said the recovery of more than ₦5.3 billion showed what scrutiny could achieve, adding that the proposed digital disclosure initiative would help prevent further financial abuses.

He explained that the programme was designed to ensure that local governments made information about their finances and activities accessible to residents, journalists and relevant oversight institutions.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy, which affirmed that statutory allocations due to democratically elected councils should be paid directly to them rather than being controlled by state governments.

Aliyu said the judgment had increased the responsibility of local government authorities to account for funds received and ensure that public resources were used for the benefit of residents.

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“Autonomy brings responsibility. Funds that now flow directly to the councils must be spent openly and for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Under the new arrangement, local government councils will be required to publish information in five major areas, including financial records, public procurement, human resources, citizen engagement and anti-corruption measures.

The financial disclosures will cover budgets, statutory allocations, internally generated revenue, expenditure, audit reports and debts.

The platforms will also provide information on procurement processes, staffing and opportunities for residents to submit feedback, complaints and whistleblowing reports.

Aliyu said regular publication of these records would enable citizens to monitor how public funds were spent, while journalists and oversight agencies would have better access to information needed to identify possible irregularities.

He urged local government chairpersons to appoint dedicated officers to manage the websites and ensure that the information published was accurate, current and regularly updated.

The ICPC chairman warned that launching the websites without maintaining them would undermine the purpose of the initiative.

He added that the commission intended to approach the programme as a partnership for preventing corruption rather than an instrument for witch-hunting local government officials.

The National Information Technology Development Agency, led by its Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, is providing the technological support for the project.

Abdullahi disclosed that NITDA would register domain names, develop the websites and provide hosting services for at least one year for all 774 local government areas.

While NITDA will provide the digital infrastructure, the ICPC will establish the content standards and accountability framework to guide the information councils are expected to publish.

He said the initiative was designed to improve governance, strengthen citizen engagement and create economic opportunities by making government information easier to access.

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Abdullahi also said the project would reduce the difficulties residents face when trying to obtain information about community projects or lodge complaints with their local councils.

The pilot programme commenced in Nasarawa State, making it the first state to begin implementing the ICPC-NITDA local government website initiative.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, who formally flagged off the programme in Lafia, designated the Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency as the state’s technical partner.

Sule directed local government councils to take responsibility for the accuracy of information published on their platforms and appoint officers to verify records before uploading them.

He said the success of the initiative would depend on whether residents could easily access useful and up-to-date information, rather than merely on the launch of the websites.

The governor also challenged the ICPC and NITDA to extend the financial disclosure initiative to state governments, offering Nasarawa as the first state willing to participate.

He said publishing information about funds meant for local governments would help citizens establish where such allocations were held up and improve accountability across the different levels of government.

The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, pledged the legislature’s support for the programme, noting that the Constitution empowers state assemblies to oversee local government finances.

The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (retd.), also commended the ICPC, NITDA and the Nasarawa State Government for the initiative.

The nationwide rollout is expected to extend the digital disclosure system to all 774 local government areas, giving residents a more direct way to scrutinise council budgets, allocations, spending and development projects.

For the ICPC, the initiative represents an effort to complement the recovery of public funds with preventive measures designed to make financial information accessible and strengthen accountability at the grassroots.

However, the commission’s disclosure did not identify the seven states or provide a breakdown of the amounts recovered from each state and the FCT. The ₦5.3 billion figure therefore represents the aggregate recovery announced by the agency.

ICPC Recovers ₦5.3bn in Seven States, FCT as LG Financial Probe Uncovers Irregularities

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FG Moves to Scrap 269 Obsolete Laws, Prepares 663 Others for NASS Review After 22 Years

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November 13, 2026

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FG Moves to Scrap 269 Obsolete Laws, Prepares 663 Others for NASS Review After 22 Years
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN
FG Moves to Scrap 269 Obsolete Laws, Prepares 663 Others for NASS Review After 22 Years

The Federal Government has concluded a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s federal laws, identifying 269 obsolete, archaic or spent enactments for removal from the statute books while recommending 663 others for inclusion in the proposed 2025 edition of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN).

The exercise, which covers more than two decades of legislative developments, represents the first comprehensive review and consolidation of the country’s federal laws since 2004.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), disclosed the development on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Abuja while receiving the final report of the Committee on the Review, Update and Consolidation of the Laws of the Federation.

Fagbemi explained that the committee examined 932 federal enactments and 731 pieces of subsidiary legislation as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s legal framework and eliminate outdated provisions.

Of the 932 enactments reviewed, 663 were identified for inclusion in the proposed Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2025, while 269 were classified as obsolete, spent or repealed.

The Attorney-General said the reviewed legislation, together with relevant subsidiary laws, would provide a more reliable and accessible legal reference for courts, legal practitioners, government institutions, investors and members of the public.

He explained that the next step would be to present the committee’s report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for onward transmission to the National Assembly for the necessary legislative consideration and action.

Fagbemi urged lawmakers to cooperate with the executive arm of government to ensure the timely consideration of the proposed legislative measures.

He described the exercise as a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector, improve the administration of justice and bring Nigeria’s legal system in line with contemporary realities and international best practices.

According to him, more than 20 years have passed since the last official consolidation of the Laws of the Federation in 2004, during which Nigeria experienced substantial legislative, constitutional, institutional and technological changes.

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He noted that several new laws and amendments had accumulated over the period, making a comprehensive review necessary to ensure that federal legislation remained coherent, current, accessible and responsive to the country’s needs.

Fagbemi warned that Nigeria must avoid another prolonged gap between comprehensive reviews, stressing the importance of establishing a sustainable system for regularly updating the country’s laws.

He said the quality, accuracy and practical usefulness of the revised legal framework must remain priorities, adding that the laws should promote the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights, strengthen governance and support national development and security.

Why the Federal Government is removing obsolete laws

Earlier, the chairman of the review committee, Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), disclosed that the assignment took more than two years and involved extensive legal research, legislative analysis, harmonisation and consolidation of existing federal legislation.

He explained that the committee’s responsibility went beyond compiling existing laws, as it also examined their continuing relevance, identified conflicting provisions and recommended the removal of redundant legislation.

According to Fapohunda, the exercise was designed to eliminate obsolete statutes, resolve inconsistencies and incorporate contemporary social, economic and technological developments into Nigeria’s legal framework.

The committee discovered several weaknesses in existing legislation, including archaic statutory language, cumbersome cross-references, outdated chapter numbers and inconsistencies in the sequencing of some Acts.

It also identified statutory fines and fees that no longer reflect current economic realities.

Some of the penalties prescribed under existing laws were as low as ₦10 and ₦50, despite significant changes in the country’s economic conditions over the years.

Fapohunda said such outdated provisions required further legislative attention to ensure that penalties and statutory charges remained relevant and effective.

How the review was conducted

The committee adopted a structured approach involving 14 thematic working groups supported by technical teams responsible for research, collation, drafting, quality assurance and editorial review.

The groups also participated in retreats and technical engagements across different locations to harmonise their findings, examine international best practices and improve the accuracy of the revised legislation.

The exercise involved consultations with several institutions, including the National Assembly, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, the National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies and the Lagos State Law Reform Commission.

International and technical partners, including the Law Commission of England and Wales, LexisNexis South Africa and Law Pavilion, also contributed to the process.

Fapohunda further disclosed that the committee recommended the establishment of a centralised national repository of federal legislation to make existing laws easier to access and facilitate regular updates.

He explained that the absence of a comprehensive and easily accessible database of federal laws had made the committee’s assignment more difficult.

The committee also recommended that the Attorney-General issue an advisory note to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) outlining established procedures for reviewing their enabling laws and subsidiary legislation.

The recommendation followed recurring deficiencies in legal drafting by some government institutions, which could result in ambiguities, conflicting provisions and difficulties in implementing laws.

What happens next?

With the submission of the final report and draft 20-volume edition of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2025, the Federal Government is expected to forward the proposed measures to President Tinubu.

The President will subsequently transmit the relevant proposals to the National Assembly for consideration and necessary legislative action.

The proposed changes are expected to improve access to federal legislation, remove redundant provisions and provide a more organised legal framework for governance, business, investment and the administration of justice.

However, the proposed removal of the 269 obsolete enactments and the legislative measures arising from the review will require the appropriate legal and legislative processes before they can take effect.

Fagbemi said the government would work towards establishing a continuous review mechanism to ensure that future laws, amendments and subsidiary legislation are properly tracked and incorporated without another prolonged delay.

 

FG Moves to Scrap 269 Obsolete Laws, Prepares 663 Others for NASS Review After 22 Years

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