Speaker Abbas to Tinubu: Your reforms have disrupted status quo
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, yesterday, said the bold steps taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition the Nigerian economy have no doubt disrupted the status quo in the country, sparking strong resistance from vested interests.
Speaking during the presentation of the 2025 Budget estimate to a joint session of the National Assembly, the Speaker said the reforms which have begun to yield positive results are a clear indication of the President’s resolve to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians.
The Speaker, however, said while the reforms are yielding results, the current fiscal realities need critical reflections, saying despite being Africa’s most populous nation with over 220 million people, the 2024 national budget of $36.7 billion remains modest compared to countries like South Africa, with a budget of $160 billion for its 60 million citizens; Egypt, with $110 billion for 110 million people; Algeria, with $60 billion for 45 million people; and Morocco, allocating $50 billion for its 37 million residents.
“Indeed, Nigeria’s low tax revenue also remains a major constraint. Our tax-to-GDP ratio, currently at approximately 10.9 per cent for 2024, is among the lowest in Africa, significantly below the continental average of 15.6 per cent.
“In comparison, South Africa’s tax-to-GDP ratio stands at 25.4 per cent, while Rwanda and Ghana, with much smaller populations, report ratios of 15.1 per cent and 14.1 per cent, respectively.
“Even our Value Added Tax (VAT) collection efficiency – at approximately 20 per cent – is notably below the near 70 per cent efficiency achieved by South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, and Zambia”.
The Speaker said “over the past 18 months, your administration has taken bold and decisive steps to reform our economy. The removal of fuel subsidies, unification of foreign exchange rates, and introduction of innovative economic policies have laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth and development.
“While these reforms have demanded short-term sacrifices, they are acts of courage and patriotism. History teaches us that transformative progress often begins with difficult decisions. Examples from China’s market reforms, India’s liberalisation, and South Korea’s industrialisation affirm the enduring benefits of such bold action.
“These lessons inspire confidence that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms will foster economic growth, reduce poverty, and ensure long-term prosperity.
“Your administration’s reforms have disrupted the status quo, sparking resistance from vested interests. Yet, these courageous measures underscore your resolve to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians.
“The National Assembly stands ready to support these reforms through legislative backing and to facilitate public engagement for greater understanding and acceptance. Collaboration between all arms of government remains essential to achieving our shared objectives.”
The Speaker said 2024 has been a year of mixed economic fortunes with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reporting a GDP growth of 3.46 per cent in the third quarter, up from 3.19 per cent in the second quarter, largely driven by the services sector.
He said despite challenges posed by climate change and insecurity, agriculture remained a critical contributor, accounting for 17.22 per cent of nominal GDP in the first quarter and 22.61 per cent in the second quarter.
However, inflation, rising to 33.88 per cent in October, alongside escalating food and energy costs, continues to strain households across the country. “Nonetheless, the International Monetary Fund’s projection of 3.2 per cent growth for 2025 underscores a positive trajectory if reforms are sustained and structural issues addressed,” he said.
Abbas said the President’s international engagements have further reinforced Nigeria’s global standing, adding that the agreements from the September 2024 visit to China are set to transform rail transport, enhance digital literacy, boost agriculture, and strengthen national security while elevating Nigeria-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
He said further that his engagements in France similarly secured €300 million for critical sectors, while Brazil’s $4.2 billion grant to strengthen agriculture underscores the president’s focus on sustainable growth.
Speaker Abbas commended the government for its remarkable achievements in advancing local government autonomy, ensuring that resources reach grassroots communities and empowering them to address their specific needs, saying this commitment to transparency and accountability will have a lasting impact, particularly on rural communities.
He commended the proposed 2025 budget of N49.7 trillion, adding that the projections of 4.6 per cent GDP growth, a crude oil price of $75 per barrel, an exchange rate of N1,400 to the dollar, and oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day are bold but achievable.
The Speaker said: “Addressing these challenges requires urgent and comprehensive tax reforms to broaden our tax base, improve compliance, streamline administration and reduce reliance on borrowing. The National Assembly will continue to work with your administration to ensure that such reforms are equitable, effective, and considerate of the needs of vulnerable populations.
“To this end, we have engaged stakeholders to address concerns raised on the tax reform bills, fostering trust and cooperation. I have personally led numerous high-level meetings and consultations with state governors and other key stakeholders on this issue, achieving positive outcomes.
“As we approach 2025, we must embrace the realities before us with determination. Stabilising prices, boosting agricultural productivity, expanding infrastructure, and investing in education, healthcare, and security remain priorities. To strengthen national unity and build trust, it is essential for the government to communicate its achievements effectively to the Nigerian people.”
He assured the President that the National Assembly is fully committed to supporting the successful implementation of the 2025 budget, saying “this is not merely your budget; it is a national project requiring collaboration across all arms of government.
“We will work to ensure its timely passage, provide legislative support for critical reforms, and conduct robust oversight to guarantee transparency and efficiency in its execution.
“Let us take a moment to recognise and honour the profound sacrifices made by each and every Nigerian over the past year. The removal of fuel subsidies, rising inflation, and adjustments to economic policies have created challenges. Yet these sacrifices are necessary for building a stronger, self-reliant, and prosperous nation.
“I call on all Nigerians to remain resilient and united in our collective pursuit of a brighter and better Nigeria.”
Reps express satisfaction with N49.7tr 2025 budget
Meanwhile, some members of the House of Representatives have expressed satisfaction with the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N47.9 trillion presented to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.
In the 2025 budget, the sum of N4.90 trillion was allocated to Defence, N4.06 trillion to infrastructure, N2.48 trillion to health and N3.52 trillion to education, among others.
The lawmakers, in their separate reactions after the presentation of the budget, described the budget as a ‘huge improvement’ on the 2024 budget.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Rep. Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos), said that if well-implemented, the budget would meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“It’s very ambitious, a huge improvement from last year’s budget. It shows the president is bold and is a reformist.
“He wants to connect Nigeria with rail and roads; the Sokoto-Badagry expressway project is a game changer; that of Lagos-Calabar is a game changer as well.
“There is a huge improvement in security, budget, health and education. That shows somebody who has a mission and a vision. The renewed hope infrastructure fund he spoke about also will take us to the next level.
“So, we believe that it is a good budget, and he has prayed for cooperation from the national assembly.
“To ensure that, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has emphatically said that we will ensure that the budget is ruthlessly implemented; so we are hoping for a renewal of hope in 2025,” he said.
Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) also said that all the assumptions in the budget were very satisfactory, except a few areas.
Fulata said the over 15 trillion set aside for debt servicing out of the entire sum was not very impressive.
He stated that the current price of crude oil was hovering between $73 and $74 per barrel, with the budget predicated on $15 dollars per barrel.
“Already, we have a deficit of about $1.5 in each barrel. So, I hope that we will be able to raise the money we are expecting to realise.
“We also hope that there will be peace in the Niger Delta so that we will be able to get the 2.06 million barrels per day,” he said.
On his part, Rep. Idem Unyime (PDP-Akwa Ibom) said that the January to December budget circle would not be realised.
He said though the budget was presented within the stipulated time, the assembly could only consider it after the Christmas holidays.
Unyime, however, said the assembly would work on the budget and ensure its passage before the end of January 2025
Speaker Abbas to Tinubu: Your reforms have disrupted status quo
Troops arrest three suspects over killing of soldier in Imo ambush, recover stolen rifles
Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the killing of a soldier during a deadly ambush in Imo State and recovered several weapons, including military rifles believed to have been stolen during the attack.
The arrests followed months of intelligence-led investigations and coordinated operations conducted by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade under Operation UDO KA (OPUK) across Rivers, Delta and Imo states.
The operation was launched after an ambush on May 4, 2026, in which one soldier was killed, another sustained injuries and service weapons were reportedly taken away by the attackers.
Security sources said sustained intelligence gathering, targeted raids and the interrogation of previously arrested suspects provided information that helped investigators identify three men believed to be key suspects in the attack.
The suspects were identified as Albert Tony, popularly known as “Chiboy”; Temple Eburua, also known as “Marathon”; and Vitalis Eburua, alias “Onowu.”
Investigators reportedly established that the suspects fled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after the attack before relocating to Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State with the assistance of an associate identified as Mr Abire.
Troops reportedly arrested Abire in Port Harcourt on July 30. During questioning, he allegedly provided intelligence that led security operatives to the suspected hideout of the three men in Delta State.
Acting on the information, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade moved into Delta State in the early hours of July 31 and worked with personnel of the 181 Battalion to conduct a coordinated raid at Opaebe in Oleh.
The operation led to the arrest of the three suspects, who were taken into military custody for further investigation.
Following their arrest, the suspects allegedly led troops to a hideout in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, where weapons believed to have been stolen during the May ambush were concealed.
Further intelligence-led operations reportedly led security personnel to another suspected camp at Umudike Plantation, where additional weapons, ammunition and other materials were recovered.
Items recovered during the operation included one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, one FN rifle and two FN rifle magazines believed to have been taken from the soldiers during the ambush.
Troops also recovered three additional AK-47 rifles, nine AK-47 magazines, one pistol with its magazine, 194 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and a fragmentation jacket.
Other materials suspected to be connected to the activities of the criminal network were also seized during the operation.
The three suspects are currently being held by the 34 Artillery Brigade for further interrogation as investigators work to identify other individuals who may be connected to the attack and determine the full scope of the group’s activities.
Military sources described the arrests and recovery of the weapons as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to identify and dismantle criminal networks responsible for attacks on security personnel.
The recovery of the suspected stolen service weapons is expected to support ongoing investigations into the May ambush and help security agencies trace other individuals who may have played a role in the attack.
The operation also reflects the continued use of intelligence gathering and coordinated security operations to disrupt armed groups, recover illegal weapons and improve security across Imo Stateand neighbouring areas.
Troops arrest three suspects over killing of soldier in Imo ambush, recover stolen rifles
Kidnapped Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, civilian rescued after 10-day military operation in Enugu
A joint military task force has rescued a senior Nigerian Army officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr Ikechukwu Onwuanra, following a 10-day intelligence-led search-and-rescue operation across forests and neighbouring communities in Enugu State.
The rescue operation was conducted by troops under Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA, involving personnel from the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Reinforced), the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service and the 197 Special Forces Battalion.
The joint operation was led by the Commander of the 82 Division Garrison, with support from the Air Component, which provided surveillance and helped sustain pressure on suspected criminal hideouts.
Security sources said the troops carried out extensive search operations across the Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests, as well as nearby communities in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The operation reportedly intensified between the evening of July 31 and the early hours of August 1 after security personnel received actionable intelligence concerning the possible location of the abducted victims.
At about 2:00 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer of the Inyi Division alerted the troops to information pointing to the suspected location of Lt. Col. Amobi and Onwuanra.
The troops immediately mobilised and launched a fighting patrol into the area, where the two victims were found abandoned at the edge of a forest in Inyi.
Reports indicated that both victims sustained gunshot wounds during their captivity. They were safely evacuated from the area and taken to Inyi before being transferred to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for treatment and comprehensive medical evaluation.
During preliminary debriefing, the victims reportedly told security personnel that they were blindfolded shortly after their abduction and taken to an unknown location.
They were later abandoned in a forest around the Enugu–Anambra border as sustained military operations restricted the movement of their captors and placed them under increasing operational pressure.
Military sources attributed the successful rescue to the persistent intelligence-led offensive mounted by the joint force, supported by aerial surveillance and coordinated ground operations.
The sustained pressure reportedly disrupted the kidnappers’ activities, limited their freedom of movement and forced them to abandon the victims before fleeing the area.
The rescue highlights the continued use of coordinated intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and joint security operations in efforts to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities across parts of the South-East.
The military is expected to provide further information as follow-up operations and security assessments continue.
Kidnapped Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, civilian rescued after 10-day military operation in Enugu
NAHCON Seeks Phased Implementation of Saudi Hajj Reform, Warns Against Abrupt Shift
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has proposed a gradual transition to Saudi Arabia’s new business-to-business model, arguing that an immediate overhaul could disrupt the country’s well-established pilgrimage administration and hurt ordinary pilgrims.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said it will pursue a phased implementation of the Saudi Arabian government’s proposed business-to-business model for future Hajj operations, arguing that an immediate migration to a private tour operator framework would be impractical and disruptive. Chairman of the Commission, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the State House, Abuja, after briefing government officials on the proposed reforms by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. He noted that though the commission has received an official policy communication from the Saudi authorities about the decision, it is proposing a phased implementation of the new arrangement due to the significant economic and operational risks. Yusuf said the Saudi authorities had officially communicated their intention to transfer about 98 per cent of Nigeria’s traditional public Hajj quota to private tour operators, but stressed that such a sweeping reform could not be implemented overnight given Nigeria’s long-established Hajj administration system. He explained that the country’s Hajj operations have for decades been coordinated through NAHCON in collaboration with State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, making an abrupt transition to a predominantly private sector model both operationally and economically challenging.
The NAHCON chairman warned that an immediate adoption of the new arrangement could undermine existing government-to-government agreements between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, disrupt established operational processes, weaken the statutory responsibilities of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and negatively affect the affordability and accessibility of Hajj for ordinary Nigerian pilgrims. He explained that the structural shift of the proposed policy would disrupt established operational arrangements and adversely affect the orderly management of Hajj for millions of Nigerian Muslims. Yusuf said the Commission was particularly concerned about ensuring that any reform does not compromise the orderly management of Nigeria’s annual Hajj exercise or place additional financial burdens on intending pilgrims. He maintained that while Nigeria fully supports Saudi’s digital transformation agenda and the expansion of private sector participation in Hajj operations, the Commission believes that such reforms should be implemented through mutual consultation and a carefully managed transition.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed support for the ongoing reforms aimed at making Hajj administration more efficient, transparent and sustainable. Receiving NAHCON officials at the Presidential Villa, Shettima commended the commission for the “near-flawless” conduct of the 2026 Hajj, which involved more than 38,000 Nigerian pilgrims, and urged stakeholders to build on the success as Nigeria embraces a new model for pilgrimage administration. “The performance of the team in the 2026 exercise should be the benchmark going forward, particularly as authorities move towards adopting a more sustainable model that guarantees a 100 per cent hitch-free pilgrimage,” the vice president said. Under the proposed arrangement, NAHCON would maintain its regulatory and supervisory responsibilities while operational aspects of the pilgrimage would increasingly be handled by private-sector operators. Ambassador Yusuf said the commission had already begun preparations to implement the new framework and remained committed to delivering on its expanded regulatory responsibilities.
The 2026 Hajj marked significant operational reforms, including expanded digital processes, stricter medical screening requirements, enhanced coordination with Saudi service providers, and closer collaboration with state pilgrims’ welfare boards. The commission successfully coordinated the airlift of 38,052 Nigerian pilgrims through 97 outbound and return flights. However, NAHCON has also acknowledged areas requiring improvement. No fewer than 109 Nigerian pilgrims circumvented mandatory medical screening requirements during the 2026 Hajj, which the commission described as one of the major compliance failures. Ambassador Yusuf identified this alongside lapses in catering services, accommodation challenges, and weaknesses in monitoring and enforcement mechanisms as issues requiring urgent corrective measures. Following the conclusion of the Hajj, NAHCON launched a comprehensive post-Hajj review and reform process to improve future operations. At its Post-Hajj Stakeholders’ Summit in Abuja, the commission unveiled a reform agenda centred on digital transformation, accountability, improved pilgrim services and greater transparency ahead of the 2027 Hajj exercise.
Ahead of the 2027 Hajj operations, NAHCON has also commenced diplomatic efforts to restore Nigeria’s Hajj allocation to 95,000 pilgrims from the approximately 50,000 who performed the 2026 Hajj. The commission’s Director of Administration, Alhaji Alidu Shuti, disclosed that NAHCON would engage Saudi Arabian authorities to reverse the reduction in Nigeria’s Hajj quota. Stakeholders at the summit called for greater transparency in Hajj slot allocation and urged the commission to involve tour operators in selecting service providers in Saudi Arabia. The state Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards Forum also called for the introduction of a standard pilgrims’ education module to ensure uniform orientation across Nigeria. Ambassador Yusuf expressed confidence that through sustained engagement with the Saudi authorities, a workable implementation framework that balances reform with operational stability could be achieved.
NAHCON Seeks Phased Implementation of Saudi Hajj Reform, Warns Against Abrupt Shift
