Obi links govt officials to oil theft, seeks total overhaul of security architecture - Newstrends
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Obi links govt officials to oil theft, seeks total overhaul of security architecture

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Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has called for a total overhaul of the nation’s security architecture to achieve sustainable economic growth.

He also linked some top government officials to the huge oil theft in Nigeria, lamenting that the inability of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to curtail the high network crime which he claimed cost the country N2.7 trillion in two months (July and August).

Obi, who stated this at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce (LCCI) Private Sector Economic Forum on the 2023 Presidential election in Lagos on Monday, described Nigeria as a failed state that is begging to be rescued.

He said, “On the issue of insecurity, let me tell you, whoever comes into government in 2023, one thing we must decisively and aggressively deal with is the issue of security.

“Insecurity is the number one thing that is impacting Nigeria’z economic growth today and we need to deal with it as quickly as possible and am assuring you, when am saying I am going to be in charge during my administration, we will deal with it decisively and head on.

“Insecurity, people will say how are you going to deal with it? Yes, you need to overhaul the entire security architecture in the country.

“Ensure that it is put in place aggressively, including having multiple-level policing; federal, states and community.

“Equip the public and provide them with modern gadgets. You cannot tell me today that anybody can say that somebody is kidnapped, kept somewhere and they are using phones to exchange calls with his family members in this time and age.

“If he is sick, they even invite doctor to go and treat him, and police will say they didn’t know where they are? I am not going to take that for one day in my government. “Go and check with what I did with the security in Anambra state. Go and ask people.

“We provided every community with vehicles; new vehicles and gadgets for security purposes. No state in Nigeria has done that. I can assure you, we will do exactly that come 2023 with our government in place because at the heart of what we are going through today is security and it must be decisively death with holistically.”

He also said the oil theft in the country was politically motivated and a failure of political will by the current government to stop it because some insiders in the government are benefiting, including security agencies. Obi said, “When it comes to the issue of oil theft, I have said it before; there is no way under my watch we will not find solution to oil theft in this country.

“It is possible. Look at the oil theft at a time we critically need every single resources. In July, we were the only country in the world that did not meet up with our OPEC production except Venezuela, because of hardships.

“At the beginning of July, our oil production was 1.83mmbpd. Whereas, same July, we had 700,000mbpd shortage. Then when you multiply it by 31 days, it is 22.2mmbpd that we lost to oil theft and the average trading of oil in July was $110.

“So, we lost $2.45 billion in revenue in one month. If you multiply $2.45 billion by N550 official exchange rate, it will give you N1.34 trillion and we are still owing ASUU N1.3 trillion of ther severance packages. “One month of stealing. In the month of August, it became even worse. Our oil supply in the month of August went down to 975,000bpd.”

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Presidency Clarifies Edun, Dangiwa Resigned—Not Sacked

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Wale Edun and Ahmed Dangiwa

Presidency Clarifies Edun, Dangiwa Resigned—Not Sacked

The Presidency has clarified that former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, resigned from office on health grounds and was not removed, putting to rest speculation surrounding his exit from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In a statement issued in Abuja by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the government also confirmed that the former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, similarly stepped down voluntarily.

According to the Presidency, Edun conveyed his decision in a formal resignation letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing health concerns. The former minister, who recently turned 70, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the administration.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda. Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected,” his letter read in part.

The Presidency disclosed that Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President on Tuesday, where both men held a closed-door meeting lasting about an hour before the official announcement of his resignation.

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Following the meeting, Edun was said to have departed Abuja to focus on private business interests and personal matters, marking the end of his tenure in public office for now.

Similarly, Ahmed Dangiwa thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, as the administration acknowledged his contributions to housing and urban development policies during his time in office.

President Tinubu expressed appreciation to both former ministers for their service and roles in advancing the government’s reform agenda, wishing them success in their future endeavours.

As part of the transition, the Presidency confirmed that Taiwo Oyedele has assumed office as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. He has been tasked with consolidating ongoing fiscal reforms and driving Nigeria’s economic agenda with renewed discipline and innovation.

In the housing sector, the President is expected to forward the nomination of Muttaqha Darma to the Senate for confirmation as Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

Edun, a seasoned economist and investment banker, previously served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2004 during Tinubu’s tenure as governor, where he played a key role in fiscal reforms at the state level.

His tenure at the federal level was marked by efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s economy, manage public finances, and implement reforms amid inflationary pressures and global economic uncertainty.

The Presidency’s clarification comes amid heightened public interest and political commentary following the recent cabinet reshuffle, with officials emphasising that the exits were voluntary and part of a smooth leadership transition within the administration.

Presidency Clarifies Edun, Dangiwa Resigned—Not Sacked

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Insecurity in Nigeria: US Lawmaker Accuses Matawalle of Attempt to Silence Global Scrutiny

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A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels
A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels

Insecurity in Nigeria: US Lawmaker Accuses Matawalle of Attempt to Silence Global Scrutiny

A fresh controversy has erupted over Nigeria insecurity, drawing international attention after a United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels, accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of attempting to suppress global scrutiny of ongoing violence across parts of the country.

Daniels, a member of the Florida House of Representatives and Chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats, made the allegations during a Facebook Live broadcast, where she claimed there were coordinated efforts linked to the minister to influence American officials and control the narrative surrounding the security crisis in Nigeria.

According to Daniels, her earlier statements highlighting what she described as targeted killings in Nigeria, particularly affecting Christian communities, triggered pressure from individuals she alleged were associated with Matawalle. She said these efforts included attempts to discredit her report, circulate counter-narratives, and lobby U.S.-based elected officials to publicly oppose her position. Daniels further alleged that an unnamed American lawmaker was “persuaded” to defend Nigeria’s defence leadership, raising concerns about possible external influence on U.S. political voices.

“I am speaking on behalf of people who say they are under attack,” Daniels stated, emphasizing that her intervention was intended to call for investigation into the violence in Northern Nigeria rather than make outright accusations. She insisted that no amount of pressure would silence her, citing her constitutional right to speak on international human rights issues.

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The controversy stems from a report released on April 14, 2026, by Daniels under the UN-WCD, which spotlighted escalating insecurity in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-Central and North-West regions. The report referenced attacks during the Easter period in Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states, noting what it described as a widening gap between government assurances and the realities faced by communities on the ground.

In addition to documenting the Nigeria killings crisis, the report questioned the credibility of the current defence leadership and recommended a review of the country’s security architecture. It specifically called on Bola Tinubu to consider redeploying Matawalle and initiating a transparent investigation into both the security situation and the allegations of influence operations.

Daniels maintained that her findings were based on testimonies from affected communities, contributions from members of the Nigerian diaspora, and intelligence gathered through the UN-WCD’s multinational network spanning the United States, Nigeria, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Canada. She stressed that the aim was to promote accountability and draw global attention to the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, not to interfere with the country’s sovereignty.

As of now, Matawalle has not issued an official response to the allegations. However, the development has sparked debate within political and diplomatic circles, with some Nigerian stakeholders cautioning against foreign involvement in domestic security matters, while others argue that international attention could help address the Nigeria security crisis more effectively.

The situation underscores growing global concern over banditry in Nigeria, insurgency, and communal violence, as well as increasing scrutiny of how Nigeria’s defence leadership is handling the crisis. It also highlights the expanding influence of diaspora voices and foreign lawmakers in shaping international narratives around Nigeria’s internal security challenges.

Insecurity in Nigeria: US Lawmaker Accuses Matawalle of Attempt to Silence Global Scrutiny

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BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

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Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun
Wale Edun

BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly approved a minor cabinet reshuffle involving key changes in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), including the removal of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, alongside the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.

The development was said to have been contained in a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, directing immediate transition processes across the affected ministries.

Wale Edun, Dangiwa Relieved of Ministerial Duties

According to the reported directive, Wale Edun has been asked to hand over duties at the Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Similarly, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa is to vacate his position as Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

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The memo reportedly instructed that all handover processes be concluded on or before close of business on Thursday, April 23, 2026, ensuring a smooth administrative transition within the affected ministries.

Succession Arrangements and Ministerial Changes

The document further stated that Mr. Taiwo Oyedele has been named as the incoming Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, following Edun’s exit.

In the housing ministry, Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma has reportedly been nominated as Minister-designate for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, pending formal confirmation procedures. Until then, Dangiwa has been directed to hand over to the Minister of State within the ministry.

Presidency Explains Reason for Reshuffle

Explaining the development, SGF George Akume was quoted as saying the changes are aimed at improving cohesion, synergy in governance, and economic delivery under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He added that President Tinubu acted within his constitutional powers under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), emphasizing that cabinet adjustments remain part of ongoing efforts to improve governance efficiency.

Presidential Appreciation and Next Steps

The memo also reportedly conveyed President Tinubu’s appreciation to outgoing ministers for their service to the nation, while wishing them success in their future engagements. It further indicated that the President assured Nigerians and cabinet members that government reinvigoration efforts will continue periodically.

 

 

BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

 

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