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  • SERAP urges Tinubu to probe alleged ₦94.4bn petroleum-sector irregularities

    SERAP urges Tinubu to probe alleged ₦94.4bn petroleum-sector irregularities

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to account for more than ₦94.4 billion in public funds it said were reportedly diverted, unremitted, unaccounted for or irregularly spent.

    SERAP said the allegations were documented in Volume II of the 2024 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on Aug. 7, 2026, with findings covering various periods between January 2023 and Dec. 31, 2024.

    In a statement on Sunday, the organisation called on Tinubu to direct relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the audit findings, prosecute anyone found responsible where sufficient admissible evidence exists, and recover and remit any affected public funds.

    SERAP also urged the MDGIF to submit and publish its audited financial statements for 2022, 2023 and 2024 and ensure that they are forwarded to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, as recommended by the Auditor-General.

    In a letter dated Oct. 3 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said anyone found responsible should be appropriately sanctioned and prosecuted, regardless of status, position or institutional affiliation.

    SERAP said the MDGIF and NUPRC should also publish a clear schedule showing the amounts due, collected, remitted and recovered, the dates of transactions, the institutions or officials responsible and the accounts into which the funds were paid.

    It gave the government seven days from receipt or publication of the letter to act, warning that it would consider legal and other lawful measures if its demands were not addressed.

    Audit findings cited by SERAP

    SERAP cited an Auditor-General finding that the MDGIF failed to remit ₦26.549 billion in revenue from the sale of petroleum products between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2024.

    The Auditor-General reportedly expressed concern that the money might have been diverted and recommended its recovery and remittance to the Treasury.

    The organisation also cited ₦12.480 billion in gas-flaring penalties for 2023 which the MDGIF reportedly failed to remit and report.

    According to SERAP, the Auditor-General raised concerns about the failure to collect and promptly remit net revenue generated by NUPRC from gas flaring into the MDGIF account, as required under Section 52(8) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

    The report reportedly warned that failure to remit gas-flaring penalties could create funding shortages for environmental remediation and increase the risk of civil unrest arising from unresolved environmental hazards.

    SERAP further cited an MDGIF payment of ₦3.518 billion to a consultant for the recovery of gas-flaring penalties without presidential approval.

    The Auditor-General reportedly found no evidence of due process or due diligence in the engagement and expressed concern that the money might have been diverted.

    Another finding cited by SERAP involved ₦38.610 billion in gas-flaring penalties that NUPRC reportedly failed to remit to the MDGIF.

    The Auditor-General again expressed concern over potential shortages of funds for environmental remediation and related risks.

    SERAP also cited ₦12.940 billion in revenue from 2024 natural-gas sales which the MDGIF reportedly failed to collect and account for. The Auditor-General recommended recovery and remittance of the funds.

    Other expenditures highlighted included ₦261.852 million paid to Transaction Advisors without evidence of work performed and ₦65.8 million paid to Transaction Advisors in August 2024 without due process.

    According to SERAP, the Auditor-General recommended that the Executive Director of the MDGIF account for the latter expenditure and raised concerns that procurement procedures may have been violated.

    MDGIF disputes aspects of audit findings

    The MDGIF has, however, rejected the suggestion that the audit queries establish missing or unaccounted revenue, saying some discrepancies arose from timing and reconciliation issues in the multi-agency Federation Account remittance process.

    The Fund also said it does not collect gas-flaring penalties, arguing that NUPRC is responsible for their collection under the statutory framework.

    According to the MDGIF, gas-flaring penalties collected by NUPRC are remitted into the Federation Account, from which allocations are subsequently made to the Fund through the Federation Account Allocation Committee.

    The Fund said it had submitted relevant Federation Account records to the Auditor-General and requested a review of the findings.

    Accountability and public interest

    SERAP said the audit findings raised questions about the integrity, transparency and effectiveness of the management of Nigeria’s petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties.

    It said the failure to properly account for petroleum-product revenues, natural-gas sales and gas-flaring penalties could undermine public confidence in the management of the country’s petroleum resources and create risks for funds intended for lawful public purposes, including environmental remediation.

    The organisation also said the absence of supporting documentation for some expenditures, payments without evidence of work performed, and procurement and consultancy arrangements allegedly undertaken without required approvals raised concerns about financial controls.

    SERAP cited constitutional provisions requiring government to combat corruption and promote the welfare of citizens, as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.

    It said those obligations require effective measures to prevent, investigate and sanction corruption and promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

  • Ogun deep sea port construction to begin in November — Abiodun

    Ogun deep sea port construction to begin in November — Abiodun

    ABEOKUTA, Nigeria (NPA) — Construction of the over $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside will commence in November, Governor Dapo Abiodun has announced.

    Abiodun disclosed this in a statement he personally issued on Monday, saying the construction would begin immediately after the planned groundbreaking ceremony.

    “We are pleased to announce that construction of the over $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside will commence in November, immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony,” he said.

    The governor said the announcement followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with DP World MEA FZE in Paris, witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He said the project was expected to be substantially completed within two and a half years.

    According to Abiodun, the project would unlock Ogun State’s maritime and economic potential, attract major investments, create jobs and position Ogun Waterside as a major maritime hub in West Africa.

    He also cited the rehabilitation of the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode–Ore Road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as developments that would strengthen connectivity and economic activities across Ogun East.

    “Beyond maritime development, we remain committed to harnessing the vast bitumen deposits within the Ijebu East axis and exploring the crude oil potential identified in parts of our State,” the governor said.

    Abiodun expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and commitment to the project, saying his administration would continue to combine vision with implementation to attract investment and create opportunities for residents.

    Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone and the Gateway Deep Seaport.

    The Ogun State delegation was led by Governor Dapo Abiodun and included Secretary to the State Government Tokunbo Talabi and commissioners responsible for finance, works, industry, trade and investment, and transport, as well as a representative of the host community.

    The ceremony was also attended by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Ambassador to France Emmanuel Ayodele Oke, Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, DP World Group CEO Yuvraj Narayan and other investors and partners.

    Tinubu said the agreements brought together investment capital, technical expertise and execution capacity, describing DP World as a major global ports and logistics operator.

    “The agreements before us bring together vision, expertise, capital and execution capacity. I particularly welcome DP World, one of the world’s leading port and logistics operators,” he said.

  • Tinubu receives NCSU Shield Award at 114th anniversary

    Tinubu receives NCSU Shield Award at 114th anniversary

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) has conferred its Shield Award on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in recognition of his administration’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.

    The award was presented on Monday as part of activities marking the union’s 114th anniversary and was received on behalf of the President by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN), at Merit House, Abuja.

    According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister, the Shield Award is the NCSU’s highest honour and is reserved for individuals recognised for exceptional service and commitment to the advancement of Nigerian workers.

    The award was presented by the union’s leadership, led by its National President, Comrade Oluwole Sunday. He was accompanied by the immediate past President, Comrade Lawrence Ameachi, who also served as Chairman of the Occasion; Chairman of the Federal Council, Comrade Adoga Gupada; and Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Yildet Bigwan.

    In conferring the honour, Sunday described Tinubu as a “true shield of the Nigerian worker”, saying the President’s policies had consistently prioritised the interests of the labour force.

    The union said the President’s interventions had helped raise morale within the civil service and demonstrated concern for the welfare of workers across the country.

    The NCSU, which has 84 affiliates, is described in the statement as Nigeria’s oldest trade union, with a history spanning more than a century and predating the country’s independence. The union is also credited with confronting British colonial authorities in defence of Nigerian workers.

    Keyamo, who received the award on Tinubu’s behalf, expressed appreciation for the recognition from the union, which he described as Nigeria’s oldest trade union.

    The Minister, who was also recognised by the NCSU for his continued solidarity with Nigerian workers, used the occasion to highlight what he described as Tinubu’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare.

  • Rabies: FG urges states, LGAs to intensify annual dog vaccination

    Rabies: FG urges states, LGAs to intensify annual dog vaccination

    ABUJA, Nigeria (Agency Report) — The Federal Government has urged states and Local Government Areas (LGAs) to intensify annual mass dog vaccination to prevent human deaths from rabies.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD), Dr Chinyere Akunjobi, made the call on Monday in Abuja at a symposium organised to commemorate World Rabies Day.

    World Rabies Day is observed annually on September 28. The 2026 theme is “Stronger Together”, reflecting the One Health approach to addressing diseases at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.

    Akunjobi, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Maiha, said no Nigerian should die from a dog bite because rabies was preventable through vaccination and appropriate response.

    She said every dog-bite incident should trigger veterinary investigation, laboratory diagnosis, post-exposure prophylaxis and community sensitisation.

    According to her, effective rabies prevention required collaboration among veterinary clinics, hospitals, laboratories, public health authorities and communities.

    Akunjobi also called for responsible dog ownership, including regular vaccination, proper confinement and supervision, identification and prompt veterinary care for sick animals.

    “Rabies remains one of the world’s most devastating yet entirely preventable zoonotic diseases. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100 per cent fatal. Yet, it is also 100 per cent preventable with the tools, vaccines and knowledge we already possess. No Nigerian should die from a dog bite,” she said.

    She said dogs accounted for more than 99 per cent of human rabies deaths globally, making dog vaccination critical to preventing transmission.

    Akunjobi said mass dog vaccination was an effective and cost-effective way of breaking the transmission cycle, adding that 70 per cent vaccination coverage could interrupt transmission.

    She said the ministry was working to improve veterinary services, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and veterinary public health, while Nigeria was targeting zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

    Stakeholders seek stronger collaboration

    The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr Samuel Anzaku, called for stronger collaboration among sectors involved in disease prevention and control.

    Anzaku said effective rabies prevention required the involvement of veterinary and medical services, environmental health authorities, local governments, research institutions, the private sector and development partners.

    He said controlling rabies in the dog population was critical to reducing human infections.

    The CVON identified inadequate vaccination coverage in some areas, under-reporting, limited access to post-exposure prophylaxis, weak surveillance and inadequate funding as key challenges.

    “These challenges require innovative, evidence-based and locally appropriate solutions,” he said.

    Anzaku said the symposium provided an opportunity to examine existing challenges, share experiences and identify practical measures to reduce human deaths from rabies.

    (NAN)

  • Ghana Armed Forces launch week-long rabies prevention campaign in STMA

    Ghana Armed Forces launch week-long rabies prevention campaign in STMA

    SEKONDI-TAKORADI, Ghana (NPA) — The 2 Garrison Veterinary Service of the Ghana Armed Forces has joined the global observance of World Rabies Day with a week-long campaign in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA).

    According to a statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces on Tuesday, the campaign, which began on Monday, September 28, is being held under the theme “Stronger Together” and aims to raise awareness about rabies prevention and promote responsible pet ownership.

    As part of the campaign, the Veterinary Service is conducting a free anti-rabies vaccination exercise for dogs in selected communities across the metropolis, including Essikado, Kojokrom, New Takoradi and Sekondi.

    The Ghana Armed Forces said the initiative was designed to make rabies vaccination more accessible to residents and contribute to the prevention and control of the disease within the metropolis.

    The campaign also includes community education and media engagements to disseminate information on rabies, including its transmission, signs and symptoms, prevention and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention following suspected exposure.

    The 2 Garrison Veterinary Service has urged residents, particularly dog owners, to take advantage of the free vaccination exercise and present their animals at designated community locations.

    The observance is expected to strengthen collaboration among the Ghana Armed Forces Veterinary Service, local authorities, communities and the media in efforts to prevent rabies and promote public health.

  • First in Africa: Lagos unveils GBV prevention policy to strengthen prevention, accountability

    First in Africa: Lagos unveils GBV prevention policy to strengthen prevention, accountability

    LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Government has unveiled the Lagos State Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Policy, with support from the Ford Foundation, to strengthen efforts to prevent Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and coordinate interventions across the state.

    In a statement issued by the state government on Monday, the authorities said the policy provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the changing nature of SGBV in Lagos, including violence occurring in homes, workplaces, educational institutions and digital spaces through Technology-Facilitated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (TF-SGBV).

    The policy operationalises the Lagos Declaration of Zero Tolerance for All Forms of SGBV and represents a shift from a largely response-centred approach towards a stronger institutionalised prevention strategy focused on addressing root causes, harmful social norms, protection and accountability.

    Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the policy provides a structured framework for making prevention a sustained and collective responsibility.

    “We cannot continue to focus only on what happens after violence occurs. Prevention requires us to identify the factors that enable violence, challenge harmful social norms and strengthen the systems that protect people before harm occurs,” she said.

    “ This policy gives us a clear framework to coordinate these efforts across sectors and communities.”

    The policy is built around four interconnected pillars: Primary Prevention through Education and Awareness; Secondary Prevention through Strengthened Legal and Policy Frameworks; Tertiary Prevention through Survivor-Centred Services; and Quaternary Prevention through Capacity Building of First Responders.

    The Primary Prevention pillar focuses on education, awareness and social norm transformation, including the promotion of consent, bodily autonomy and digital safety.

    The Secondary Prevention pillar strengthens legal and institutional mechanisms for early intervention and accountability, including streamlined Standard Operating Procedures for law enforcement and the use of the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register.

    The Tertiary Prevention pillar promotes survivor-centred services, prioritising survivors’ rights, choices, dignity and privacy, while improving access to medical, legal, psychosocial and economic support.

    The fourth pillar focuses on strengthening the capacity of first responders and service providers to prevent and respond effectively to SGBV.

    Implementation of the policy will be overseen by a multi-sectoral Technical Working Group anchored by the DSVA, in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and civil society partners.

    The framework also provides for localised data indicators, heat mapping, quarterly reviews and public reporting to monitor progress and ensure interventions remain responsive and accountable.

  • Amnesty raises alarm over police treatment of Kaduna journalist Zainab Salihu Yabagi

    Amnesty raises alarm over police treatment of Kaduna journalist Zainab Salihu Yabagi

    KADUNA, Nigeria (NPA) — Amnesty International Nigeria has raised concerns over what it described as a shrinking civic space in Nigeria, following the declaration of Kaduna journalist Zainab Salihu Yabagi as wanted by the state police command over a video explainer concerning Ibrahim Masari, a Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.

    The rights group said the development was part of what it described as an increasingly worrying pattern in which journalists, activists and human rights defenders face arrest, intimidation, harassment, prosecution and other reprisals in connection with their work.

    According to Amnesty, heavily armed police officers invaded the Kaduna studios of JKD Radio/Television in Millennium City on September 11, 2026, while searching for Yabagi.

    The group said the officers initially cited a “stolen phone” in connection with their search for the journalist, but the operation was linked to a video explainer produced by the station concerning Masari.

    During the operation, the station’s General Manager, Charles Abah, and a security guard were arrested and detained for more than seven hours, according to reports cited by Amnesty.

    Amnesty condemned the declaration of Yabagi as wanted and the raid on the media organisation, warning that such actions could further restrict the ability of journalists and media organisations to report on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals.

    The rights group said the targeting of journalists over their professional activities threatened press freedom and contributed to what it described as a broader erosion of civic space in Nigeria.

    It urged the authorities to end what it described as the harassment and intimidation of JKD Radio/Television and allow journalists to carry out their professional duties without undue interference.

    Other media and rights organisations, including the International Press Institute Nigeria and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, have also expressed concern over the incident and called for due process, restraint and dialogue.

  • Ebonyi governor’s aide responds to KAA’s criticisms over infrastructure, sanitation and investment climate 

    Ebonyi governor’s aide responds to KAA’s criticisms over infrastructure, sanitation and investment climate 

    ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — The Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, has responded to criticisms by Ebonyi-born writer and KaaTruths Podcast host, Kel Armstrong Amobi, over governance, infrastructure, environmental sanitation and resource management in the state.

    Amobi, in an open letter to Governor Francis Nwifuru on Sunday, urged the governor to engage skilled Ebonyians who have built careers and businesses outside politics in developing practical strategies for growing the state’s economy and improving its public image.

    Amobi said his platforms reach more than 60 million people monthly and claimed that he had consistently promoted Ebonyi through his podcast, articles and international engagements.

    However, after a recent visit to the state, he expressed concern over what he described as deteriorating infrastructure, poor sanitation and declining business activity.

    He cited his experience travelling through Abakaliki and other parts of the state, including Vanco Junction, the Meat Market tunnel, Nwofe and the Abakaliki Rice Mill area.

    Amobi questioned the planning and execution of some ongoing projects, including the Vanco Junction tunnel and the Nwofe flyover, and also raised concerns about the condition of roads, bridges and public spaces.

    He further criticised the state government’s handling of the airport, noting that he had to use the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu rather than Ebonyi Airport.

    Amobi also alleged that businesses were leaving the state and said he had personally abandoned projects worth hundreds of millions of naira because of what he described as an unfavourable business environment.

    He urged the governor to engage successful Ebonyians and investors in developing the state, arguing that a clear vision, credible plans and visible commitment would help restore confidence.

    “Ebonyi has thousands of intelligent, accomplished and passionate sons and daughters who want to help build the state,” Amobi said. “Give them a genuine invitation and show them that your government is ready to act.”

    He also criticised what he described as worsening refuse disposal and environmental sanitation in parts of Abakaliki.

    Governor’s aide responds

    Responding on September 27, Oketa acknowledged Amobi’s right to criticise the government but said the assessment was based on a limited experience of the state.

    Oketa argued that Ebonyi should not be defined by one journey through Abakaliki or observations of individual roads, flyovers or the airport.

    He said the Nwifuru administration inherited both challenges and projects from previous governments and had pursued what he described as a policy of continuity, maintenance, expansion and new development.

    According to Oketa, the administration has invested in roads, bridges, education, healthcare, agriculture, industrialisation, technology, housing and human capital development.

    He cited the development of the ICT University at Oferekpe and the University of Aeronautic Engineering and Aerospace Engineering, as well as scholarships, recruitment of health workers, hospital upgrades, ambulances and expanded health insurance coverage.

    Oketa also pointed to investments in fertiliser production and distribution, agricultural mechanisation, rice and cassava processing and other initiatives aimed at increasing the economic value derived from agriculture.

    He listed the rehabilitation of the state’s Pipe Production Company and Fertilizer Chemical Company, a 10-storey building at Presco Junction and plans for a new cement factory among projects he said were being pursued by the administration.

    He rejected Amobi’s description of Ebonyi as a “wasteland”, arguing that the scale of public investment across several sectors contradicted such a characterisation.

    Oketa, however, said the government had not completed its work and acknowledged that there were areas requiring further attention.

    He also challenged Amobi to provide details of the businesses and projects he said he had abandoned, including what he believed the government had done or failed to do.

    “My brother, if you have ideas that can attract investment, create jobs, develop the creative economy or improve Ebonyi’s visibility internationally, bring them forward,” Oketa said.

    He also invited Amobi to identify potential investors and their requirements, saying such information could help the government improve the investment environment.

    Oketa urged stakeholders to present both the achievements and shortcomings of the state, rather than portraying Ebonyi as either perfect or hopeless.

    He said the state remained a work in progress and called for contributions from accomplished Ebonyians to support its development.

    The exchange has brought renewed attention to competing assessments of governance, infrastructure, sanitation and investment conditions in Ebonyi State, with both sides calling for greater engagement in the state’s development.

  • El-Rufai’s 222 days in detention draw contrasting political reactions

    El-Rufai’s 222 days in detention draw contrasting political reactions

    KADUNA, Nigeria (NPA) — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has spent 222 days in custody since the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) took him into custody on February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office.

    El-Rufai has denied the allegations.

    The former governor faces separate proceedings before the Federal High Court and the Kaduna State High Court over allegations including money laundering, fraud, abuse of office and conferring undue advantage.

    The ICPC initially obtained a 14-day remand order against El-Rufai and subsequently secured a further 14-day extension on March 5. The commission said the detention was authorised by the court and linked to its ongoing investigation.

    On April 14, Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties.

    One surety was required to be a serving or retired federal government official not below Grade Level 15, while the other had to be a recognised traditional ruler. The court also imposed other conditions, including the surrender of passports, but ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody until the bail conditions were fulfilled.

    In the separate Kaduna State High Court proceedings, El-Rufai has faced allegations bordering on fraud, abuse of office and undue advantage. His bail applications have been the subject of several court proceedings.

    On June 29, Justice Darius Khobo rejected a further bail application filed on medical grounds. The ICPC said the court found that the medical evidence presented by the defence was not sufficiently credible to justify bail on health grounds. The court, however, directed the commission to allow El-Rufai access to his personal doctors and specialised medical facilities in Nigeria when required.

    The prolonged detention has generated contrasting reactions among political figures.

    Phrank Shaibu, media aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, described El-Rufai as a “political prisoner of conscience” and criticised the bail conditions as excessively stringent. He called for the former governor to be released pending the conclusion of his trial.

    Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani took a different position, arguing that El-Rufai’s detention should be viewed in the context of his record while governor.

    Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 25, Sani said El-Rufai was “paying the price” for what he described as alleged misgovernance and irresponsibility during his eight years in office. He also acknowledged the difficulties associated with prolonged detention.

    Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju also criticised the continued detention, despite his stated disagreements with El-Rufai’s record in office.

    Adeyanju argued that the former governor should not spend more than 200 days in custody over an offence he described as bailable, and accused the Federal Government of political persecution.

    El-Rufai’s administration, which governed Kaduna from 2015 to 2023, also faced criticism over its handling of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), commonly known as the Shiite movement, and allegations of discriminatory treatment of some communities in Southern Kaduna. These remain matters of political and public dispute, rather than established findings in the current criminal proceedings.

    The criminal cases against El-Rufai remain before the courts, with the former governor maintaining his denial of the allegations. The outcome of the proceedings and any eventual determination of his criminal liability remain matters for the courts.

  • NiMet alerts 15 states, FCT over severe thunderstorms, strong winds

    NiMet alerts 15 states, FCT over severe thunderstorms, strong winds

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather alert warning of active severe thunderstorms, moderate rainfall and strong winds across parts of several states in northern and central Nigeria.

    The alert, issued at 12:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 27, 2026, is valid until 6:00 p.m. the same day.

    NiMet said severe thunderstorm cells were being observed over parts of Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba states.

    The agency said the thunderstorm system was expected to propagate westward within the next one to six hours, affecting parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory.

    NiMet warned that strong winds could precede rainfall and potentially displace loose objects, while moderate rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning were expected in affected areas.

    The agency also warned of possible flash flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas, falling tree branches, damage to weak structures, power disruptions and electrical hazards.

    It advised motorists to exercise caution during rainfall because of reduced visibility and slippery roads, and to avoid driving through flooded areas.

    NiMet urged residents to secure loose outdoor objects, stay away from tall trees and weak structures, and disconnect electrical appliances from sockets during thunderstorms.

    The agency also advised farmers to refrain from applying fertilisers and pesticides immediately before the rains to avoid leaching of nutrients.

    Airline operators were advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for effective flight planning.

    The agency urged the public to continue monitoring official NiMet weather updates and advisories.