Security Row: El-Rufai Accuses Ribadu of Procuring Dangerous Chemicals

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of procuring what he described as “dangerous toxic chemicals” from Poland, raising serious national security and public safety concerns.

El-Rufai made the allegation while reacting to ongoing political tensions and security-related debates at the federal level. He claimed that the alleged procurement of the chemicals was carried out under the guise of national security operations, warning that such substances could pose grave risks if mishandled or misused.

According to El-Rufai, the chemicals in question are highly toxic and capable of causing severe harm, insisting that their importation into Nigeria demands urgent clarification and transparency from the Office of the National Security Adviser. He called on relevant authorities to immediately disclose the nature, purpose, and handling protocols of the chemicals to reassure Nigerians.

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The former governor further argued that Nigeria’s fragile security environment makes the alleged acquisition particularly troubling, stressing that the country cannot afford actions that may worsen insecurity or endanger civilian lives. He urged the National Assembly and appropriate oversight bodies to investigate the matter thoroughly.

As of the time of this report, Ribadu has not publicly responded to the allegation. However, government officials familiar with security procurement processes have previously maintained that acquisitions linked to national security are usually subject to strict regulations and inter-agency oversight.

The allegation has since sparked widespread reactions across political and security circles, with calls for accountability and clarification dominating public discourse. Analysts say the claims, if substantiated, could raise questions about procurement standards, inter-agency coordination, and chemical safety regulations in Nigeria.

The development adds another layer to the ongoing political friction between key figures in the ruling establishment and highlights the increasing intensity of public exchanges among senior political actors.

Security Row: El-Rufai Accuses Ribadu of Procuring Dangerous Chemicals

Singer Market Fire: Tinubu Sends Shettima, FG Delegation to Kano

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead a high-powered Federal Government delegation to Kano State to express sympathy and provide support to victims of the devastating Singer Market fire disaster.

The directive was disclosed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, the delegation is scheduled to depart Abuja on Monday and will formally convey President Tinubu’s condolences to traders who lost goods worth billions of naira in the weekend inferno, which engulfed the market — the second major fire incident at Singer Market in less than two weeks.

The delegation will also convey the Federal Government’s pledge of financial assistance to support affected traders and assist the Kano State Government in facilitating the swift reopening of the market, which serves as a major food distribution hub for northern Nigeria and beyond.

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Members of the delegation include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Kawu Ismaila; and Abubakar Kabir Bichi, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation. Also on the team are the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard M. Doro, and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar.

President Tinubu had earlier spoken by telephone with Abba Kabir Yusuf, expressing his condolences to traders and residents of Kano over the devastating fire outbreak. He described the incident as deeply distressing, particularly as it occurred shortly after a previous fire destroyed dozens of shops and large quantities of goods at the same market.

The fire reportedly started on Saturday evening and raged into Sunday morning, causing extensive damage at Singer Market, widely regarded as Nigeria’s largest food market and a critical centre for the distribution of grains and foodstuffs across the country.

Concerned by the recurring nature of market fires, President Tinubu has directed a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the repeated incidents, with a view to strengthening fire safety measures, emergency response capacity, and preventive mechanisms in major commercial centres nationwide.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected traders, safeguarding livelihoods, and working closely with state governments to prevent future disasters.

Singer Market Fire: Tinubu Sends Shettima, FG Delegation to Kano

Omokri Alleges Possible Hacking in Obi–Oyedepo Audio Leak, Mentions el-Rufai

Political commentator, Reno Omokri, has alleged that the controversial leaked telephone conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, may have been the result of a coordinated hacking operation.

Omokri, in a statement shared on his verified social media handle, suggested that associates of a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, could have had both the capacity and motive to compromise Obi’s phone and leak the conversation to the public during the heat of the 2023 presidential campaign.

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The leaked audio, which surfaced weeks before the presidential election, generated widespread reactions across political and religious lines, with critics interpreting parts of the conversation as religiously charged. Obi had, at the time, denied any wrongdoing and maintained that his comments were taken out of context.

In his latest remarks, Omokri argued that political phone hacking was not impossible in Nigeria’s political environment, adding that if high-profile communications could allegedly be breached, then the phones of political actors might also be vulnerable. He, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Efforts to reach el-Rufai’s media aides for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. There was also no immediate response from Obi’s camp regarding the fresh claims.

No security agency has publicly linked any individual or group to the leaked audio, and there is no official confirmation that the conversation was obtained through hacking.

Analysts say the renewed allegations reflect lingering tensions from the 2023 general elections and underscore growing concerns over cybersecurity and political misinformation in the country.

Omokri Alleges Possible Hacking in Obi–Oyedepo Audio Leak, Mentions el-Rufai