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Ex-Deputy Gov CBN Says Economy Better Under PDP, Presidency Faults Claim

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2024

Editor

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, and a former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, on Wednesday, traded blame on the state of the nation’s economy under the administrations of the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Moghalu had claimed in a series of tweets via his X handle on Wednesday that the nation’s economic state, which had experienced a downward trajectory in the past 40 years, only saw the light of the day “briefly” under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Moghalu added that the improved economy was also observed during subsequent PDP-led governments of the late Umaru Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan.

The former CBN deputy governor, who served from 2009 to 2014, added that from 2015 till date, Nigeria has fallen under a “completely incompetent economic management.”

The tweet read, “Nigeria’s economic distress is simply part of a 40-year downward trajectory that was broken only briefly by the Obasanjo civilian presidency and to some degree under Yar’Adua/Jonathan (up to mid-2014). Ever since, especially from 2015, we fell under completely incompetent economic management and have not recovered.”

The political economist called on the Federal Government to lay a “real foundation for longer-term economic transformation,” while stating that “80% of Nigeria’s exports in 2023 was oil tells you we have yet to get serious..”

Moghalu noted that the presidential palliatives initiative is not a good economic tool to curb poverty, and consequently improve wealth distribution.

“Palliatives (just google the dictionary definition of the word) will never reverse poverty. Wealth is positively created,” he stated.

Moghalu, a former presidential candidate of the Young Progressives, also criticised the appointments of the nation’s economic management team, stating, “Real economic thinking is not happening, so economic transformation can’t follow. Like it or not, individuals in certain positions matter. Sanusi and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made a huge difference in their roles. That’s because they had capacity. Their appointments went above politics of cronyism. The results, which is what matters more than sound and fury at the end of the day, followed.”

The tweet concluded, “May we recover one day. Like it or not, appointments have real consequences.”

Reacting to the tweets later in the day, President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Ajayi, admitted that the Obasanjo-led administration from 1999-2007 truly paved the way for some economic reforms, yet “Nigeria didn’t see any progress in infrastructural development” that would have a “direct bearing on the quality of life.”

Ajayi wondered how Moghalu and some others claimed that their era in government was the “golden era of competence” in the nation’s economic management.

Ajayi lamented how Moghalu and his former principal, Sanusi, at the CBN, couldn’t explain the whereabouts of the missing $20 billion in oil revenue, adding that “hundreds of millions of dollars were looted under various guises yet Moghalu wants us to believe that that period was the gold standard in economic management in Nigeria.”

“That period till 2015 was a period of trillions of unpaid salary and pension arrears. A period when contractors were owed hundreds of billions with thousands of abandoned and uncompleted projects,” Ajayi stated.

The presidential aide also noted that since 2015, the nation enjoyed key reforms and changes under the ruling APC government, part of which were the payments of owed salaries and pensions, “massive investments in critical economic infrastructure,” and the “reconstruction of 13,000 kilometres of roads across the country out of 33,000 kilometres of Federal roads in 8 years of President Buhari.”

Ajayi claimed that during the handover of government from Jonathan to the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29, 2015, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product “declined from 7% growth rate to 2% and Nigeria was already primed for recession which eventually happened with collapse of crude oil price.”

“It should be said too that every indices of measuring economic growth significantly declined from 2010- May 2015, a period when Moghalu was Deputy Governor at CBN,” he added.

Ajayi lamented that Nigeria’s foreign reserve dropped about 52 per cent “from the height of $60 billion to $29 billion when Moghalu was part of the ‘competent leaders’ in government and Excess Crude Account dropped from $20 billion to $2 billion at the time crude oil sold for $100 per barrel for straight 4years from 2011-2014.

“The period between 2010-2014 was when Nigeria made most money from crude oil in history yet nothing to show for it.”
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News

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

8 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

8 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.