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Edo Govt. Clears Air On 13% Derivation Refund

Published

3 years ago

November 23, 2022

L-R: Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, Commissioner, Budget; Mr. Chris Nehikhare, Commissioner, Communications and Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser, Media Project

The Edo State Government says it has received just N2.1billion so far out of the N28 billion accrued to the state from the backlog of one trillion naira 13 per cent derivation refund that is due to the oil producing states in Nigeria.

The state’s Commissioner for Finance, Budget, Economic Planning and Development, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin City at a press conference shortly after the State Executive Council meeting.

Evoigbe, flanked by Mr. Chris Nehikhare, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation and Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media Project, said: “Edo State’s share of that figure was N28billion naira. A small figure out of the N1 trillion, that was what got to us.

“So, we have received three quarterly releases so far, N700 million, N700 Million, N700 million, totaling N2.1billion. That is what has come into the State’s coffers and it is verifiable in the bank, and the office of the Accountant-General has the records.

“Our share was N28 billion, the net is to be distributed over five years, quarterly, that will be 20 quarterly installment releases, three have come so far, each has been N700 million, N700 million, N700 million and how that money was spent again, we have the records for anybody that wishes to see.”

Providing a context for the derivation refund and how the money was established, the Commissioner explained: “The commissioners of finance in Nigeria under the aegis of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), especially those from the oil producing States, we spotted the fact that there was an anomaly in the way federal government was spending money from crude oil and gas sales and not taking out derivation. So the work was done, and a total of about one trillion naira was established to the oil producing states.

“It went through the whole process, the Economic Council approved, and the President approved and a distribution methodology was adopted from the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) and they now established what was going to each State. Edo State’s share was N28 billion. What was also approved was the way and manner this money was to be distributed to the States.

“The net amount, again there are usually sundry deductions, so the net amount will come to each state over five years, each year you will have quarterly remittances which means four releases each year over five years. This disbursement was to start this year, but some States went to court with restraining order. Releases now started in October, just last month.

“What the Federal government did do was to keep the share of each State. So by the time they started releasing, Edo State got 2 tranches in arrears and what we got was 700 million per quarter, this is verifiable in our bank account just behind here at sterling bank.”

The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation,

Also speaking, Nehikhare emphasized that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration will continue to apply all resources due to the State in the most frugal manner and in the best interest of Edo people.

“The state has consistently used our resources prudently. We are not using our money for fancy projects but for projects that have direct impact on the lives on the majority of our people,” Nehikhare stressed.

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Insecurity: US Congressman Riley Moore Reveals Trump’s Mission In Nigeria

Published

16 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

US Congressman Riley Moore has dismissed insinuations that President Donald Trump is attempting to bring war to Nigeria.

Moore made the remark in a post on his verified X handle on Monday.

His comments followed a US military airstrike on a terrorist enclave in north-west Nigeria on Christmas Day, reportedly carried out on the directive of President Trump.

“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death.

“The strikes against ISIS on Christmas, in coordination with the Nigerian government, have given hope to the Christians in Nigeria,” he said.

Recall that the lawmaker had previously stated that President Trump is focused on ending the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

It will be recalled that Moore led a US delegation on a fact-finding mission into alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria some weeks ago.

During his brief stay in the country, Moore travelled to Benue State, where he interfaced with religious and traditional leaders, as well as internally displaced persons.

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Russia Calls up 135,000 Military Personnel

Published

23 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

Russia has enlisted 135,000 conscripts for military service in 2026, following the conclusion of the autumn army draft by the Defense Ministry.

A statement on Monday said most personnel have been assigned to training units and military formations where they will “get a military specialty and learn to operate modern military hardware.”

The conscripts can choose to serve in any of the various military branches and armed services after an assessment of their health condition and the results of psychological examinations.

READ ALSO:Russian Strike On Odesa Region Kills Eight, Injures 27

The ministry disclosed that 680 recruits have joined scientific and research-production units, while 240 from the country’s national teams in Olympic disciplines joined sports companies.

However, military personnel who have served the established term of military service have been discharged and sent to their places of residence.

The latest enlistment confirms Russia is shoring up its troops deployed to the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine ahead of the new year.

A fortnight ago, European leaders reaffirmed their pledge to form a multinational force–under the aegis of the Coalition of the Willing–to assist Ukraine in securing land, skies, and seas.

The pledge is one of the six commitments the EU and heads of state developed for Ukraine’s security and economic recovery support measures.

In an interview with TASS on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned Europe’s insistence on sending military forces to Ukraine.

“We have said many times that our Armed Forces would view them as a legitimate target,” he said, warning that anyone who attacks Russia would face “a devastating blow.”

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How Our Airstrikes Stopped Christmas Attacks In Nigeria — US Lawmaker

Published

3 days ago

December 27, 2025

Editor

Riley Moore, a member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia’s 2nd District, has linked the absence of Christmas attacks in Nigeria this year to US military airstrikes carried out against Islamist militants on Christmas Day.

In a post on his official X account on Saturday, Moore contrasted the situation with the past two Christmas seasons, during which he claimed Christians were killed in attacks across parts of Nigeria.

The lawmaker noted that this year’s response targeted extremist groups instead of marking another period of violence.

He added that US forces acted decisively against militants in coordination with the Nigerian government.

“For the past two Christmases, Christians have been murdered in Nigeria. This year, thanks to @POTUS, Radical Islamic Terrorists were on the receiving end of 12 Tomahawk missiles as a present.

“The successful strikes on ISIS, in coordination with the Nigerian government, are just the first step to secure the country and end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Moore wrote.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that American forces had conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in north-western Nigeria.

Trump, who spoke via his Truth Social platform, warned that more attacks would follow if the militants continued killing Christians, adding that the Department of War executed numerous “perfect strikes.”