News

AGF Lauds the Merits of The Supreme Court Ruling on LG Autonomy

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), recently highlighted the Supreme Court’s historic decision to grant full financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local governments, describing it as a significant step toward enhancing local governance, security, and human rights.

Speaking at the 17th anniversary of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) in Abuja, Fagbemi noted that local governments, being closest to the grassroots, had been stifled by state governors’ control for over two decades, impairing their effectiveness. He praised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for taking decisive action to address this issue by bringing it before the Supreme Court. The landmark judgment, Fagbemi asserted, will improve local governance and significantly bolster security and access to human rights.

“The administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognized the critical link between governance, security, and human rights, and made a bold move to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention. This pivotal judgment will enhance local governance and substantially improve security and human rights,” Fagbemi stated.

He stressed the vital connection between governance, security, and human rights for societal progress, urging the exploration of these links to serve citizens better and protect their rights. Fagbemi pointed out that effective governance necessitates collaboration among all branches of government, warning that poor governance can lead to rights erosion and injustice. He also highlighted the judiciary’s role and the recent passage of the Minimum Wage Bill as key measures that could address underlying issues like poverty and unemployment, which contribute to insecurity.

“Without security, rights such as freedom of movement, expression, and association cannot be enjoyed. However, security measures must be balanced with respect for human rights. Excessive force, arbitrary detentions, and abuses undermine our democratic foundations,” Fagbemi emphasized.

He cautioned law enforcement against detaining individuals beyond constitutional limits, warning of penalties for breaches. “Law enforcement agents must respect the law and not detain people beyond reasonable time as stipulated in Section 35 of the Constitution. Due diligence must be exercised before arrests, and detentions beyond constitutional or court-ordered time frames will no longer be tolerated,” he warned.

Fagbemi reaffirmed his commitment to protecting individual rights and ensuring justice, announcing the creation of a Department of Citizens Rights within the Federal Ministry of Justice to handle complaints. He also highlighted recent advancements like the 2024-2025 Strategic Action Plan by the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee and the signing of the Practice Direction and Guidelines on Remanding Proceedings by the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf.

“These milestones in refining the remand system demonstrate our dedication to protecting suspects’ rights and administering justice promptly. In the same spirit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exempted the National Human Rights Commission Board from the dissolution of federal agency boards,” Fagbemi concluded.

News

Ex-AGF Malami, who is on trial for ₦8.7 billion fraud, emerges ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi state

Former AGF Abubakar Malami emerges as ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 election amid ongoing controversy over alleged ₦8.7 billion fraud claims.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has emerged as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 general election, despite ongoing corruption allegations linked to an alleged ₦8.7 billion fraud case.

Malami, who recently dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the African Democratic Congress, was affirmed as the party’s consensus candidate during consultations held by ADC stakeholders in Kebbi State.

The development was announced in a statement released on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka.

In the statement, Malami expressed appreciation to party leaders and supporters for backing his ambition ahead of the 2027 governorship race.

I sincerely appreciate the confidence and support shown by leaders, stakeholders, and supporters of the African Democratic Congress in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Malami said.

The former AGF also confirmed that the party agreed on candidates for key elective positions in the state through consensus arrangements.

According to the statement, “ADC Governorship Candidate for Kebbi State — Dr Abubakar Malami SAN,” while retired Major General Aminu Bande emerged as the party’s senatorial candidate for Kebbi Central.

The party also picked retired Deputy Comptroller General Ibrahim Muhammad Mera for Kebbi North Senatorial District and Garba Danjuma Limi for Kebbi South.

Malami said the ADC was focused on delivering “purposeful leadership, good governance, justice, security, and sustainable development for Kebbi State and Nigeria as a whole.”

He further stated that “together, with unity and determination, we shall build a more prosperous future for generations to come.”

News

Governor Alex Otti unveils ₦1.3bn water projects in Abia

Abia State Governor Alex Otti flags off ₦1.3 billion Ubakala and Ariaria water scheme rehabilitation projects to improve access to clean water across Abia. Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially flagged off the rehabilitation of the Ubakala Water Scheme and Ariaria Water Scheme in Aba, projects valued at ₦1.3 billion, as part of activities marking his administration’s third anniversary in office.

Speaking during the ceremony held at Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area on Sunday, Otti said the projects are aimed at improving access to clean and safe water across Abia State, stressing that potable water remains one of the most important needs of the people.

The governor appreciated humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps for supporting the state government on the projects, noting that the intervention would make a major impact on residents once completed.

I want to thank them for this support and their resilience. N1.3 Billion is a lot of money and we cannot take it for granted. As we flag it off, we will assume that we have flagged-off the two projects. So, when we return here again, it will be for commissioning the water scheme,” Otti said.

He explained that both the Ubakala and Ariaria water schemes would be completed and commissioned together, adding that his administration considers water supply a top priority because of its direct connection to public health and economic development.

“Water is so critical to life and a lot of people have passed on because of unsafe water.”

“That is why this government has taken it as a critical project, one of her critical projects, to ensure that we have potable water across the State,” the governor added.

Otti also revealed that the Aba Regional Water Project has already reached about 95 per cent completion, another indication of the government’s push to revive water infrastructure in the commercial city.

The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, said the projects are part of the broader Abia Integrated WASH Accelerated Programme earlier launched by the governor to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services across the state.

According to him, the projects had faced repeated delays in the past due to security and funding issues.

“This is the third time that the flag-off of these projects has been planned.

“The first time, we had a date, the financier was on their way to this place, and along Anambra, they were kidnapped. As you know, this project was initially financed by USAID through the Mercy Corps. The second one was in January last year.

Business

Nigeria remains the World Bank’s third-largest borrower with $18.5bn

Nigeria remains the World Bank’s third-largest borrower, with $18.5bn in debt exposure, as fresh data show the country’s reliance on concessional loans continues to rise amid economic reforms and infrastructure funding needs.

Nigeria has remained the third-largest borrower from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with the country’s debt exposure now standing at $18.5 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Fresh figures contained in the IDA’s March 2026 financial statements showed that Nigeria’s exposure dropped slightly from the $18.7 billion recorded in December 2025, representing a decline of about $200 million within three months.

Even with the slight quarterly drop, Nigeria’s debt to the World Bank has continued to rise on a yearly basis. The latest figure is about $1.2 billion higher than the $17.3 billion exposure recorded in March 2025, showing a 6.9 per cent increase over one year.

The new ranking places Nigeria behind Bangladesh and Pakistan among countries with the highest borrowing from the World Bank’s concessional lending arm. According to the report, Bangladesh remained the largest borrower with $22.7 billion exposure, while Pakistan followed with $19.2 billion. Nigeria came third with $18.5 billion.

Nigeria alone accounts for around eight per cent of the institution’s total loan portfolio and roughly 13.3 per cent of the combined exposure of the IDA’s ten largest borrowers.

The report further showed that the 10 largest borrowing countries account for about 60 per cent of the World Bank’s concessional lending exposure globally.

Nigeria’s rising exposure highlights the country’s growing dependence on multilateral financing to support infrastructure projects, social programmes, economic reforms and budget support amid ongoing fiscal pressures.

The Federal Government is also in talks with the World Bank for another fresh loan facility valued at $1.25 billion. If approved, total World Bank loan approvals secured by Nigeria since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 could rise to around $10.6 billion.