Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has significantly increased the financial resources available to state and local governments across Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu said the policy, though initially difficult for Nigerians, had resulted in a substantial increase in federal allocations to the subnational governments, giving states and local councils greater capacity to execute development projects and meet their obligations.

The governor made the remarks while defending the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and dismissing calls by some politicians for the return of fuel subsidy. According to him, politicians promising to restore the subsidy are engaging in populist politics and making promises that may not be sustainable.

Sanwo-Olu noted that monthly allocations to states and local governments have more than doubled in naira terms since the removal of the subsidy. He argued that the increased allocations have provided subnational governments with additional resources to fund infrastructure, social services and other development programmes.

He maintained that before the subsidy removal, a significant portion of government resources was committed to maintaining the subsidy regime, limiting the funds available for development at the state and local government levels. The reform, he said, has changed the fiscal position of the subnational governments.

The Lagos governor therefore urged Nigerians to consider the long-term benefits of the reform rather than calls for a return to the old subsidy regime. He said reversing the policy without addressing its fiscal implications could undermine the gains recorded in government revenue and funding for the states and local governments.

Sanwo-Olu’s position comes amid renewed debate over the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, particularly following calls by opposition figures and other stakeholders for measures to reduce the hardship associated with higher petrol prices.

He maintained that the focus should now be on ensuring that the additional revenues accruing to governments are translated into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens through effective governance, infrastructure and social interventions.

Ogun State Government has intensified preparations against possible flooding as the state braces for an expected 72-hour period of heavy rainfall, with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (OGSEMA) conducting a full-scale flood disaster response simulation exercise in Abeokuta.

The exercise, held at the Apo River area of Owu, Abeokuta, brought together emergency management agencies, security organisations, health personnel, fire services, volunteers, community representatives and other stakeholders to test the state’s preparedness and strengthen coordination ahead of possible flood emergencies. NEMA said the simulation was designed to improve communication, interoperability and the efficiency of emergency responders.

Speaking at the exercise, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who represented Governor Dapo Abiodun, said the exercise was timely given the flood risks identified in the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook. She said the practical exercise would allow stakeholders to test their preparedness, identify gaps in their response systems and determine how quickly affected communities could be reached during an emergency.

The Deputy Governor said the state government had continued to strengthen its partnership with NEMA through training, provision of rescue equipment, ambulances and other emergency-response resources. She stressed, however, that disaster management should not be left to government agencies alone, urging traditional rulers, community leaders, local governments, security agencies, health workers, volunteers and the media to play active roles in disseminating early-warning information.

Salako-Oyedele particularly called on residents to take early-warning information seriously, avoid building on waterways and drainage channels, and desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse. She also urged residents to cooperate with authorities whenever evacuation or other preventive measures become necessary.

Representing the Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, the Director of Search and Rescue, Commodore Nature Usman, said flooding remained one of Nigeria’s most recurrent and destructive natural hazards, with serious consequences for lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and communities. He stressed that increasing flood risks made early warning, anticipatory action, preparedness and coordinated emergency response essential.

NEMA said the 2026 flood outlook identified 31 states, including Ogun, as being at high risk of flooding, reinforcing the need for proactive measures. The agency explained that the simulation was intended to test existing emergency plans and procedures, identify operational gaps and strengthen collaboration among agencies before an actual disaster occurs.

The development comes days after the Ogun State Government issued a fresh flood alert ahead of the second phase of the 2026 rainy season. The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said NiMet’s seasonal prediction indicated that Ogun could experience intense rainfall averaging about 360mm in September. He warned that prolonged rainfall, possible controlled overflow from Oyan Dam and tidal fluctuations could increase the risk of river and coastal flooding in vulnerable areas.

The government had identified several areas requiring heightened vigilance, including Isheri, Arepo, Mawere, Magboro, Akute and Warewa, parts of Abeokuta and several coastal and riverine communities in Ogun Waterside, Ijebu East and Ipokia. Fish farmers operating within floodplains and river corridors were also advised to take precautionary measures to minimise potential losses.

Authorities have therefore urged residents to remain vigilant, monitor official weather and emergency alerts, keep drainage channels free of refuse and avoid activities that could obstruct the free flow of water.

The government said lessons from the simulation exercise would be used to improve preparedness, communication, evacuation procedures, search-and-rescue operations and inter-agency coordination, with the ultimate objective of protecting lives and property should severe flooding occur.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the Oyo State Supplementary Finance Bill, 2026, approving an additional N210 billion to finance the state’s supplementary appropriation for the 2026 fiscal year.

The passage followed the presentation and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning during plenary on Thursday.

The report read by the Chairman, Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola considered the Bill clause by clause, taking into account inputs from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and projections contained in the Oyo State Government Medium Term Expenditure Framework adopted by the House.

With the approval of the supplementary finance, the total amount approved under the 2026 Finance Law now rose from Eight Hundred And Ninety-Two Billion, Eighty-Five Million, Seventy-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo (N892,085,074,480.79) to One Trillion, One Hundred and Two Billion, Eighty-Five Million, Seventy-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo (N1,102,085.074,480.79) Only.

The Committee recommended that the N210 billion supplementary finance be granted from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Oyo State for the year ending December 31, 2026, with the sources of the funds set out in the schedule to the Bill.

The passage brings the total approved 2026 financial provision for the state to over N1.1 trillion.

Resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital have staged a protest over unpaid wage arrears, poor working conditions and severe understaffing affecting the hospital’s operations.

The doctors expressed concern that delays in the payment of their salaries and other entitlements have placed significant financial pressure on medical personnel, despite the demanding nature of their duties. They called for urgent action to resolve the outstanding payments.

The protesting doctors also highlighted the shortage of medical personnel, warning that the situation is increasing the workload on existing staff and could negatively affect the quality and efficiency of healthcare services provided to patients.

They appealed to the Oyo State Government and relevant authorities to intervene promptly by addressing the outstanding wage arrears, improving working conditions and recruiting more doctors and other healthcare professionals to fill existing vacancies.

The doctors stressed that resolving the challenges would not only improve their welfare and morale but also strengthen healthcare delivery at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. They urged the government to engage with the affected workers and implement lasting measures to prevent a recurrence of the problems.

A young man identified as Oderinde Saheed, popularly known as “Seedorf,” was reportedly beaten and set ablaze by an angry mob following a road accident in the Ajia area of Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident reportedly occurred on August 25, 2026, after Saheed was driving when he was involved in an accident and allegedly hit a pedestrian.

Following the accident, witnesses and other people who gathered at the scene reportedly accused Saheed of being a “Yahoo Boy” and took the law into their own hands. The mob allegedly subjected him to a brutal a+sault before setting him and his vehicle ablaze.

Saheed reportedly died at the scene as a result of the attack.

His younger brother, who was reportedly in the vehicle with him at the time of the incident, was also brutally assaulted by the mob. He reportedly sustained critical injuries and remains hospitalised, where he is said to be fighting for his life.

Calls have also been made for the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation, ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice, and take urgent measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

Says NBS, NPC,NIMC NSSNCO and NCTO must reconcile data to enable financial accountability

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has called for greater clarity, consistency and harmonisation of Nigeria’s household and social-protection data, following the Federal Government’s reported figures on the size of the National Social Register and the reach of its cash-transfer programme.

The Executive Director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said the organisation’s concern was not an allegation of wrongdoing, but a call for government to provide Nigerians with a clear statistical bridge connecting the different household, population, beneficiary and expenditure figures being used across public institutions.

“We are not questioning the importance of social protection or the efforts of government to support vulnerable Nigerians. We are asking a simple public-interest question: what exactly is being counted, under what definition, and how do the different numbers relate to one another?” Hamzat said.

19.7 million households and 70 million Nigerians
According to statements attributed to the Federal Government in September 2025, approximately 19.7 million poor and vulnerable households had been captured in the National Social Register, representing more than 70 million individuals.
A subsequent World Bank publication describes Nigeria’s wider Social Registry as covering more than 19 million households and approximately 86 million individuals, comprising the National Social Registry and Rapid Response Registry. The World Bank also describes the National Social Registry as an aggregation of State Social Registries.

PeacePro says the differences in these figures may reflect differences in dates, registry components or definitions, but that is precisely why the underlying methodology and reporting date should be made explicit.

Hamzat said the reported 19.7 million households and 70 million individuals imply an average of approximately 3.55 persons per household.

That figure differs from the 5.06 persons per household national average reported by the National Bureau of Statistics in its Nigeria Living Standards Survey 2020. The NBS reported an average household size of 5.42 persons in rural areas and 4.50 in urban areas.

“If the 5.06 national average were mechanically applied to 19.7 million households, it would produce a population of approximately 99.7 million people,” Hamzat said.

“However, we are not suggesting that this calculation proves that either figure is incorrect. The Social Register is a targeted administrative database, not a population census. Household composition among registered poor and vulnerable households may differ from the national average.
“Our legitimate question is therefore, what household definition and household size methodology produced the reported relationship between 19.7 million households and more than 70 million individuals?”

The agricultural household question
PeacePro said another official dataset makes the need for reconciliation even more important.

The National Bureau of Statistics’ National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC) 2022 reported an estimated 40.2 million agricultural households in Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Information, reporting the NBS census results, also stated that the country had about 40.2 million agricultural households.

The NBS describes the NASC as an agricultural census designed to provide comprehensive information on agricultural activities, including crop production, livestock, fisheries and forestry.

PeacePro stresses that an agricultural household should not automatically be interpreted as a household whose only activity is agriculture, and the figure should not be added to non-agricultural households as though the categories were necessarily mutually exclusive.

Nevertheless, Hamzat said the figure raises an important national statistical question.

“According to the 2006 Population and Housing Census data published by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria had 28,900,492 households at the time, including regular, institutional, homeless, nomadic, transient and fishing/hunting household categories. Regular households alone numbered 28,197,085.
“Sixteen years later, the NBS agricultural census reported approximately 40.2 million agricultural households alone.

“Obviously, these exercises have different purposes, methodologies and reference periods. We are not saying the two figures should be identical.

“But Nigerians deserve to understand the statistical relationship between them.

How did the national household universe evolve from the 2006 census to the 2022 agricultural census? What is the current estimated total number of households in Nigeria? How many of those households are agricultural, and how many are not classified as agricultural?
“These are reasonable questions for a national statistical system.”

PeacePro said the issue becomes even more important when the various social intervention figures are placed side by side.

The Federal Government has reported a programme target of 15 million households, with each household intended to receive ₦75,000 over three months, through three monthly payments of ₦25,000. The World Bank documented the government’s 15-million-household programme and its ₦75,000 three-month structure.

In September 2025, government reporting stated that approximately 8.1 million households had received at least one tranche of ₦25,000, while another account of the same briefing reported 8.5 million households.

Government also stated that some households had received two or three payments.

PeacePro believes this difference should be clarified rather than interpreted prematurely.
“Was the difference caused by the timing of reporting, an additional payment cycle, a distinction between successful and processed payments, or another administrative definition?” Hamzat asked.

“We are not alleging an error. We are asking for the reconciliation.”

Government has also reported approximately ₦330 billion in cash transfer disbursements.

PeacePro said the figure should be reconciled against the number and distribution of payments.

At ₦25,000 per tranche,
8.1 million households × ₦25,000 = ₦202.5 billion.
If 8.1 million households had each received three tranches, 8.1 million × ₦75,000 = ₦607.5 billion.

“These calculations do not establish an inconsistency because government has clearly indicated that households received different numbers of tranches,” Hamzat said.

“That is exactly why we need the underlying distribution. How many households received one payment? How many received two? How many received three? And how does that distribution reconcile precisely to the reported ₦330 billion?”

PeacePro said this would turn an understandable public question into a straightforward accounting exercise.

PeacePro also believes the source and use of programme funding should be presented clearly.

The World Bank announced in December 2021 that it had approved an $800 million International Development Association (IDA) credit for the National Social Safety Net Program Scale-Up (NASSP-SU). The World Bank said the financing was intended both to expand shock responsive safety net support and strengthen Nigeria’s national safety net delivery system.

World Bank project documentation shows that the $800 million project allocation included approximately $747 million for cash transfers, alongside allocations for other components, including expansion of the registry, NASSCO operations and NCTO operations.

PeacePro therefore stresses that the $800 million should not simply be described as $800 million in cash handed to beneficiaries.

“The World Bank documentation itself shows that the facility has several components,” Hamzat said.

“What Nigerians need is a transparent reconciliation showing the amount committed, amount disbursed, amount used for cash transfers, amount used for delivery systems and other components, and the amount remaining under the facility.”

PeacePro proposes that every major social intervention programme should be traceable through a clearly defined chain.

Hamzat said this would help distinguish between households, individuals, beneficiaries and transactions.

“Three payments to one household do not constitute three households,” he said.
“Likewise, one person appearing in two programmes does not automatically represent two individuals. Several members of the same household receiving different interventions do not automatically constitute several households.”

PeacePro is therefore calling on the relevant institutions, including the National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, National Cash Transfer Office and National Identity Management Commission to work together on a harmonised household data framework.

The organisation is asking government to publish a consolidated statement showing, for a clearly stated reference date, Nigeria’s total estimated number of households; the definition used for “household” in each major statistical and social protection system;
the number of agricultural households;
the number of households in the National Social Register;
the number of individuals represented in the register; the methodology used to derive the individual count; the number of households assessed as poor or vulnerable; the number eligible for each intervention;the number approved;the number of unique households actually paid;the number of unique individuals reached;the number of payment transactions;
the number receiving one, two and three tranches;the amount allocated;the amount disbursed;the source of each tranche of funding; and the number of records added, removed, merged, duplicated or updated during the reporting period.

PeacePro is also calling for an independent technical review of the data architecture, not as an investigation into wrongdoing, but as a standard measure for strengthening the integrity of a large public database.

The review, Hamzat said, should examine duplicate records, outdated records, changes in household composition, relocation, identity matching and payment reconciliation, while respecting applicable privacy and data protection requirements.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, declaring that his commitment to the President is based on action rather than empty promises.

Adeleke made the declaration while reflecting on his administration’s relationship with the Federal Government and his previous role in the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly.

The governor recalled that during the leadership elections of the National Assembly, he played a role in mobilising Osun State lawmakers to support candidates preferred by President Tinubu. According to him, the move demonstrated his willingness to work with the President in the interest of the state and the country.

Adeleke stressed that his support for Tinubu should not be interpreted as mere political rhetoric, insisting that he does not make promises he cannot keep. He maintained that his administration would continue to cooperate with the Federal Government where such collaboration would advance the interests of Osun State.

The governor’s latest position further strengthens the political relationship between him and the Tinubu administration, despite Adeleke belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He also suggested that political differences should not prevent leaders from pursuing areas of common interest, particularly where such cooperation could attract federal projects, development initiatives and other benefits to the people of Osun State.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections gradually intensify, Adeleke’s renewed declaration is expected to generate political reactions, particularly within the PDP and across the opposition political landscape.

The governor’s comments also come amid increasing realignments among political actors ahead of the 2027 elections, with politicians at both the state and federal levels reassessing alliances and strategic partnerships ahead of the contest.

For Adeleke, however, his priority remains what he describes as securing tangible benefits for Osun while maintaining a working relationship with the Federal Government. His latest declaration indicates that he intends to sustain that position as the country moves closer to the 2027 presidential election.

By Oduduwa News

The Ekiti State Government has commenced moves to harness the cultural festivals of communities across the state as a major driver of tourism, economic growth and wealth creation.

The Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Wale Ojo-Lanre, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti while receiving organisers of the Epa Festival in Omuo-Ekiti, who formally registered the festival with the state government. He urged communities across Ekiti to register their cultural festivals with the Bureau to enhance their visibility, preserve cultural heritage and unlock their economic potential.

Ojo-Lanre explained that formal registration would provide festivals with better coordination, branding, publicity, consultancy and legal recognition, while also enabling the government to work with communities to develop the celebrations into well-organised events capable of attracting tourists from within and outside Nigeria. He stressed that proper planning and adherence to peace and security measures would be essential to making Ekiti’s festivals world-class attractions.

According to him, the economic benefits of increased tourist traffic would extend beyond the immediate festival organisers to hotels, transport operators, filling stations, event centres, food vendors, fashion designers, artisans and other businesses. He cited a recent cultural event in Ado-Ekiti which attracted more than 3,000 visitors, describing it as an indication of the economic opportunities that well-promoted cultural events could generate.

The DG also highlighted some of the Oyebanji administration’s interventions aimed at strengthening tourism, including the development of tourism policies and a tourism development master plan, improved infrastructure and security, and the establishment of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development. The state government says the International Cargo Airport has also improved accessibility to Ekiti and could help attract more visitors and investors.

Ojo-Lanre further called for greater private-sector participation, noting that while government could provide the necessary legislation, infrastructure, security and policy direction, private investors remained critical to transforming tourism opportunities into sustainable commercial ventures.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ekiti East Local Government, Oluwasegun Ojo, said the revival of the Epa Festival was driven by the desire of residents, particularly young people, to reconnect with their cultural heritage. The festival, which was last celebrated in 1982, was revived in 2022 and has since continued to attract interest among residents and indigenes of Omuo-Ekiti in the diaspora.

Ojo said organisers were now working to transform the seven-day Epa Festival from a traditional community celebration into a major tourism attraction capable of driving economic activities in Omuo-Ekiti. He disclosed that hotels were fully booked during the previous edition and that plans were underway to attract more indigenes living abroad, with a committee already established in the Americas to coordinate diaspora participation.

Traditional rulers from Omuo-Ekiti, including the Saruku of Omuo-Ekiti, Chief Sunday Adepoju; Eye Olori-Eru of Omuo-Ekiti, Chief (Mrs) Titilayo Aladesanmi; and the Oloka of Omuo-Ekiti, Chief Akinlolu Adedoyin, welcomed the formal registration of the festival.

They expressed optimism that official recognition and institutional support from the state government would give the festival greater visibility and help position it beyond a local celebration into a recognised cultural tourism attraction.

The initiative is consistent with the state government’s broader tourism strategy, which includes promoting cultural festivals alongside natural and historical attractions. The Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development lists cultural festivals among the tourism offerings it seeks to develop while promoting sustainable tourism and supporting local economies.

With the renewed focus on festivals such as Epa and Udiroko, Ekiti is positioning its rich cultural heritage not only as something to preserve, but as an economic asset capable of attracting visitors, creating jobs, supporting businesses and generating revenue for communities across the state. Governor Biodun Oyebanji had similarly said recently that cultural festivals should be transformed into platforms for tourism promotion, wealth creation and economic development.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has called for the establishment of Special Criminal Divisions within the Oyo State High Court to facilitate the speedy hearing and determination of criminal cases, particularly offences involving kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism and other serious crimes.

The resolution followed a Motion titled “Need for the Establishment of Special Criminal Divisions within the Oyo State High Court for Speedy Trial of Criminal Cases and Strengthening of the Administration of Criminal Justice,” moved by Hon. Dawood Olalere, representing Ibadan North-West Constituency, during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.

The House noted that effective administration of criminal justice was fundamental to maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, preserving public confidence in the judiciary and ensuring the rule of law.

It stressed that timely adjudication was essential to ensuring that justice was not only done but seen to be done.

The lawmakers expressed concern over the increasing incidents of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cultism, murder, rape, cybercrime and other violent offences in Oyo State.

They noted that organised criminal activities and violent attacks in parts of northern Oyo further underscored the need for a stronger and more responsive criminal justice system.

According to the House, despite the commitment and diligence of judicial officers, the fact that High Courts currently handle both civil and criminal matters has contributed to congested dockets, frequent adjournments and prolonged criminal trials, thereby delaying justice for victims, defendants and the wider society.

The Assembly observed that while the Oyo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law was designed to promote speedy and efficient criminal proceedings, the increasing volume and complexity of criminal litigation required specialised judicial structures, dedicated judges, improved case management systems and focused attention on criminal matters.

The lawmakers argued that swift prosecution and determination of criminal cases would deter criminal activities, reinforce public confidence in the justice system and discourage impunity.

They stressed that perpetrators of kidnapping, banditry and other heinous crimes must face the full weight of the law without undue delay, warning that prolonged proceedings could embolden criminal elements and undermine public confidence.

The House also noted that delays in prosecuting serious criminal cases could discourage victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement agencies and undermine the efforts of security personnel who risk their lives to apprehend suspected offenders.

The Assembly therefore urged the Chief Judge of Oyo State and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to take necessary steps towards establishing Special Criminal Divisions within the Oyo State High Court for the exclusive and speedy hearing and determination of serious criminal cases.

It called on the executive arm of government to provide adequate financial, technological and administrative support, including digital case management systems, electronic recording facilities and sufficient judicial personnel.

The House further urged the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Judiciary, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant stakeholders, to develop a coordinated framework for accelerated prosecution of criminal cases and strict compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

It also called for adequate funding of witness protection programmes, victim support services and free legal aid for indigent defendants, noting that such measures would encourage cooperation with the justice system while safeguarding the constitutional right to fair trial.

The lawmakers urged the Chief Judge to designate specific High Court judges and courtrooms as dedicated Criminal Divisions across the judicial divisions of the state and introduce modern case-management procedures to ensure expeditious hearing and determination of criminal cases.

Similarly, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice was urged to establish and adequately staff a specialised unit within the existing Directorate of Public Prosecutions for the Special Criminal Divisions and ensure regular training of prosecutors on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

The Assembly also called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies to expedite investigations and ensure prompt transmission of case files to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to eliminate avoidable delays in prosecution.

The Nigerian Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, was urged to provide regular nominal rolls of awaiting-trial inmates to the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice and facilitate virtual or remote court proceedings where appropriate to enable the speedy arraignment and trial of inmates.

The House mandated its Committee on Public Petitions, Justice and Judiciary to interface with the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary on the implementation of the initiative and report progress to the Assembly.