N'Assembly approves N14.3tn for debt service out of N45.9tn 2025 budget – Newstrends
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N’Assembly approves N14.3tn for debt service out of N45.9tn 2025 budget

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N’Assembly approves N14.3tn for debt service out of N45.9tn 2025 budget

 

The National Assembly on Thursday passed N45.9 trillion as budget for the 2025 fiscal year, setting aside N14.317 trillion for debt servicing.

Both chambers of the assembly agreed to jerk up the budget by N719.5bn over what the executive submitted for approval.

President Bola Tinubu had initially proposed a N49.7 trillion budget but later revised it to N54.2 trillion before seeking legislative approval.

A breakdown of the N14.317 trillion total debt servicing showed that N7.191 trillion is for domestic debts (including Ways and Means), N6.749 trillion is for foreign debts, and N377.299 billion is for sinking funds to retire maturing promissory notes.

Newstrends discovered from a document of the Federal Ministry of Finance that Nigeria’s total debt as of the second quarter of 2024 “grew in naira terms to N134.3 trillion ($91.3 billion) from N121.7 trillion ($91.5 billion) in Q1 2024, driven mainly by exchange rate devaluation.”

Apart from debt service, the approved budget also showed N3.645 trillion for statutory transfers, N13.64 trillion for recurrent expenditure, and N23.963 trillion for capital expenditure (development fund), with a fiscal deficit put at N13.08 trillion.

Under the statutory transfers, National Judicial Council gets N521.626 billion, Niger Delta Development Commission gets N626.533 billion, South East Development Commission gets N140 billion, North West Development Commission gets N145.607 billion, South West Development Commission gets N140 billion, South-South Development Commission gets N140 billion and North Central Development Commission gets N140 billion.

The Universal Basic Education Commission gets N496.842 billion, National Assembly gets N344.853 billion, Public Complaint Commission gets N14.460 billion, Independent National Electoral Commission gets N140 billion, National Human Rights Commission gets N8 billion, North East Development Commission gets N240.988 billion while Basic Health Care Provision Fund gets N298.421 billion, respectively.

From the recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, Presidency gets N111.094 billion, Ministry of Defence gets N2.510 trillion, Ministry of Police Affairs gets N1.226 trillion, Ministry of Interior gets N658.586 billion, National Security Adviser gets N335.975 billion, Ministry of Education gets N1.159 trillion, Ministry of Youths gets N442.271 billion, Ministry of Foreign Affairs gets N286.887 billion, Information and National Orientation gets N75.887 billion, among others.

Under the Capital expenditure, Presidency gets N144.485 billion, Ministry of Defence gets N604.917 billion, National Security Adviser gets N316.864 billion, Secretary to the Government of the Federation gets N155.812 billion, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security gets N1.201 trillion, Ministry of Finance gets N892.939 billion, Ministry of Works gets N2.045 trillion, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation gets N578.398 billion, FCTA gets N229.625 billion, Ministry of Education gets N953.931 billion, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare gets N1.154 trillion, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation gets N291.548 billion, among others.

Under the Multilateral/Bilateral loan funded projects, Ministry of Power receives N1.307 trillion; Ministry of Interior, N400.630 billion; Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, N400.630 billion; FCTA N235.369 billion; Ministry of Finance N236.657 billion; Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, N208.466 billion; Ministry of Education, N193.098 billion; Ministry of Health and Social Welfare gets N56.489 billion, among others.

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I’m honoured, excited over World Bank’s appointment – Dangote

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Africa’s richest man and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote

I’m honoured, excited over World Bank’s appointment – Dangote

President and CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has expressed gratitude following his appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, a global initiative aimed at accelerating private investment and job creation in emerging economies.

In a statement confirming the development, Dangote described the appointment as both an honour and a reflection of his long-standing commitment to economic development through private enterprise.

“I am both honoured and excited to accept my appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, dedicated to advancing investment and employment in emerging economies,” Dangote said.

“This opportunity aligns with my long-standing commitment to sustainable development and unlocking the potential of developing economies.”

He referenced the successes of the so-called Asian Tigers, economies that experienced rapid growth through strategic investment, as a source of inspiration for advancing similar outcomes in other parts of the world.

The World Bank announced Dangote’s inclusion on Wednesday as part of a broader expansion of the Lab, which enters a new phase focused on scaling up solutions that attract private capital and generate employment in developing countries.

Other newly appointed members include Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer AG; Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises; and Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

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World Bank Group President Ajay Banga noted that the expanded membership underscores the institution’s focus on integrating private-sector leadership into its strategy for global job creation.

“With the expanded membership, we are mainstreaming this work across our operations and tying it directly to the jobs agenda that is driving our strategy,” Banga said.

“This isn’t about altruism—it’s about helping the private sector see a path to investments that will deliver returns, and lift people and economies alike. It’s central to our mandate.”

The lab, which was co-chaired in 2023 by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, previously sought to mobilise £1 trillion in sustainable investment, particularly targeting energy transition projects in emerging markets.

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Air Peace suspends flights nationwide over NiMet strike

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Air Peace suspends flights nationwide over NiMet strike

 

Air Peace has suspended all its flight operations across the country due to the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The airline said in a statement on Wednesday that it was also suspending operations due to the unavailability of QNH (hazardous weather) reports required for safe landings.

“Due to the ongoing NiMet strike and the unavailability of QNH (hazardous weather) reports required for safe landings, Air Peace has suspended all flight operations nationwide until the strike is over,” Air Peace said.

“Your safety is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and will share updates as the situation unfolds.”

The airline had earlier announced that the NiMet strike could lead to flight delays and cancellations across its network.

Air Peace added that it was monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders to minimise the impact on customers’ travel plans.

Employees of NiMet commenced a nationwide indefinite strike over welfare issues on Wednesday.

Some of the issues raised involve “NiMet’s refusal to negotiate or implement agreed financial allowances and unresolved entitlements,” including wage awards, peculiar allowances, and outstanding payments from the 2019 minimum wage.

They also accused the management of the agency of withholding important documents, ignoring requests for inclusion of omitted staff in past payments, and neglecting key training programmes in favour of executive retreats.

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Nigeria’s gas production increases by 15.6% to 227,931.65 mscf

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Nigeria’s gas production increases by 15.6% to 227,931.65 mscf

 

Nigeria’s gas output has increased 15,6 percent month-on-month, MoM, to 227,931.65 million standard cubic feet, mscf, in March 2025.

But on year-on-year, YoY basis, the nation’s gas output recorded a marginal increase to 227,931.65 mscf in March 2025, from 198,353.62 mscf, recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

Data obtained from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Gas Production Status reports indicated that of the total of 227,931.65 mscf produced in March 2025, 119,552.75 mscf was associated while 108,378.90 mscf was non-associated gas.

Associated gas is extracted in the process of producing crude oil while non-associated gas is produced without crude oil after much investment, exploration and development.

 

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), which is directly involved in the development of policies, targeted at increasing investment in the sector said efforts have been made to increase investment and production of gas in Nigeria.

Similarly, in its recent report obtained by Vanguard, the Nigerian LNG Limited stated: “We are fully committed to expanding our operations with the NLNG Train 7 Project, which will boost our production capacity by 35%, increasing from 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (mtpa) to 30 mtpa. This project underscores our role as a key player in the global LNG market and positions Nigeria as a top-tier supplier of LNG, leveraging its vast proven gas reserves of 202 trillion cubic feet (the 9th largest globally).

Vanguard

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