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Subsidy Removal: Roll Out Palliative Measures, ActionAid Tells Tinubu

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As Nigerians groan over the removal of fuel subsidy, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, has on President Bola Tinubu to immediately provide palliative measures to reduce the impact on Nigerians.

The call was made by the Country Director, AAN, Ene Obi, in an address during a press conference on the issue of subsidy removal and the plight of Nigerians.

Obi who was represented by the Director of Resource Mobilization, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Memedu, where Tinubu was made to understand that his declaration had thrown millions of Nigerians into untold hardship, which also businesses have been negatively impacted.

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Meanwhile, AAN also pointed out that Tinubu also failed to “acknowledge the inadequacies of the electoral umpire and the marred February 25th General Elections that brought him to power as the fifth democratically elected president of Nigeria. Instead, the president hailed the election as the best election since the Fourth Republic.”

Therefore, CSO described the President’s speech on the February 25 presidential election, which AAN was an observer as “unacceptable”, and condemn it, accusing the President of “erroneously” opined outcome of the election as a reflection of the will of Nigerians.

READ ALSO: Fuel Subsidy Removal: Embrace Bicycle – FRSC Urges Nigerians

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The statement pointed out that the President failed to acknowledge and accept the many violence that characterized the election which took the lives of many and disenfranchised thousands of eligible voters.

She said: “In his (Tinubu) speech, the President also made a far-reaching statement – “subsidy is gone”-concerning the subsidy regime of the country which immediately plunged the already impoverished Nigerians into untold hardship.

“This statement was welcomed with reckless reactions from oil marketers – hoarding petrol products and in many cases, selling petroleum products at unregulated prices.

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“Less than 48hours after the inauguration speech, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Ltd jumped on the President’s announcement and released a national price list for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) – capping the new price between N488-N550 per liter.

“The removal of petrol subsidy undoubtedly has significant adverse effect on Nigerians and this ranges from increased transportation cost, higher cost of living, inflation, reduced purchasing power, social unrest, as well as heightened level of crime and criminality.

READ ALSO: Fuel Subsidy Removal: Yoruba Council Frowns At NLC Planned Strike

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“Also, a critical underlining negative impact of the removal of petrol subsidy is that it is certainly going to widen poverty bracket in Nigeria, particularly amongst the poor masses and the excluded citizens with the ravaging unemployed youth.

 

“We acknowledge the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari administration to resuscitate the 4 abandoned refineries with all the funding voted to it.

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“We think the focus is to think of bringing that investment back to life. The question is, how can a nation so endowed by such natural resources, not refined its products and now asking citizens to pay the price.

“Now the new President comes and says, no discussion as if there we have committed a crime against our leaders.

“As advocates of human rights, ActionAid Nigeria makes its recommendations to the Federal Government as follows: Resuscitate the four refineries to create more jobs to engage the volume of young people of Nigeria; We need to first establish, review and investigate what makes up this subsidy with citizens, organized labour involved, CSOs and stakeholders in a transparent investigative process, as government inefficiencies should not be passed to the citizens as subsidy.

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READ ALSO: Fuel Subsidy: NLC Declares Nationwide Strike

“Review the Social Protection programme for the most vulnerable which was started by the past administration. Remember that the survey on multi-dimensional survey by the National Bureau of Statistics stated that more than 133m Nigerians live below the poverty line. This was before the flooding last year that affected more than 31 states. Government must also ensure that women, young persons and Persons with Disability are specially considered in the Social Protection Programme.

“Promote alternative energy sources like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce the reliance on petrol by all.Immediately provide affordable and safe public transportation system across the country.

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“In conclusion, the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria presents a huge challenge and the untold hardship has been reported from different parts of the country. ActionAid Nigeria stands firm in our commitment to advocate for the protection of the most vulnerable and marginalized during this transition.

“We call on the government to prioritize social protection measures, invest in critical sectors, and ensure transparency in the utilization of saved resources.

“Together, let us work towards a Nigeria where the well-being and dignity of every citizen is upheld.”

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7.6m Tramadol Pills, 76,273kg Colorado, Skunk Seized In Delta, Imo, Adamawa

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recovered over 7.6 million pills of tramadol and 76,273.4 kilogrammes of different strains of cannabis, Colorado, Loud and Skunk with members of drug trafficking organisations linked to the seizures arrested.

Out of the total opioids seized during the raids, not less than 3,874,000 pills of 225mg and 100mg tramadol, and others as well as of codeine syrup were recovered from a warehouse at Oko market, Asaba, Delta State, on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

About 1.2 million tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized from a suspect, Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, on Wednesday, December 3, when NDLEA operatives on patrol at Orogwe, along Onitsha/Owerri road, Imo State, intercepted his vehicle conveying the consignment, which was loaded at Aba, Abia State, heading to Onitsha, Anambra State.

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In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers, on Monday, December 1, 2025, intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus marked MGU 554 XB along Maraba/Mubi coming from Jos, Plateau State, with 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets, all concealed inside jumbo bags mixed with new rubber sandals and slippers.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Seizes 7.6m Tramadol Pills, 76,273kg Cannabis In Nationwide Raids

Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested in connection with the seizure. Another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was nabbed along Zaria/Kano road, Kano State, with 197,000 pills of exol-5.

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Operatives of a special unit of NDLEA stormed forests in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where they destroyed 14,654 kilogrammes of skunk and arrested two suspects: Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26.

In another operation, the operatives on Tuesday, December 2, stormed the forests in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole Local Council, Ekiti State, where they destroyed 54,300kg of skunk in two large warehouses that were razed while 28.3kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered for the purpose of prosecution.

Following actionable intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, December 2, raided Igoba forest in Akure North Local Council, Ondo State, where 2,483 compressed blocks of skunk and 247 bags of same substance, all weighing 5,442 kilogrammes, were recovered and five suspects arrested. Those nabbed include Jacob Omodowo, 66; Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24; Babatunde Olamide, 40; Echi Fidelis Joseph, 57; and Ankrah Akano, 56.

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READ ALSO:NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine-laden Vessel From Brazil, Detains 20 Filipinos (VIDEO)

While 500kg of same substance was recovered from a Mercedes Benz van marked MGU 614 XB by NDLEA officers on patrol along Mokwa/Jebba road in Niger State on December 4, with the driver, Amos Yakubu, 46, arrested, operatives in Abuja on Wednesday, December 3, intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, weighing 22kg at Abaji expressway.

A follow-up operation at the Jabi park in Abuja led to the arrest of a female receiver, Blessing Ali, 33. Also in the FCT, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested by operatives on Friday, December 5, with 24kg skunk and 573,500 pills of exol-5 along Kwali/Gwagwalada expressway

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In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 217 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 113kg from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo Market, Mushin, while Izuchukwu Usulor was nabbed with 351kg skunk at Onipanu area of the state on December 5, and Susan Okoro arrested with 104.1kg of same psychoactive substance at Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, on Tuesday, December 2.

A total of 447.5kg of skunk was recovered from two Honda Accord cars marked: ABC-678 KK and GGE-772 FB at Agho forest, Akoko Edo Local Council, Edo State.

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A suspect, Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56, was apprehended in connection with the seizure. A raid at a warehouse in the Isiefve community, Ohuwunde Local Council, led to the seizure of 315.8kg of skunk and the arrest of a suspect, Stanley Obasuwa.

With the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men of SOU, Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger and Edo commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.

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He stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts were well appreciated.
Photo and Caption: Intercepted illicit drugs and suspects
(GUARDIAN)

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ICPC, Works Ministry Launch Nationwide Audit Of 760 Road Projects Worth N36tn

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Ministry of Works have jointly embarked on an unprecedented nationwide audit of 760 federal road projects valued at more than N36 trillion.

This is according to a statement released by J. Okor Odey, spokesperson for the anti-graft commission, which described the feat as one of the most extensive infrastructure verification exercises in Nigeria’s history.

Odey said the Special Tracking Exercise, which commenced on November 14, 2025, deploys combined teams of ICPC investigators, engineers from the Works Ministry, and independent experts from professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS).

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According to the statement, the audit teams are currently operating across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to conduct physical verification and performance assessments of the targeted projects.

READ ALSO:ICPC Arraigns Woman For Forging Marriage Certificate, Visa Fraud

The initiative aims to close financial leakages, strengthen procurement integrity, and guarantee that Nigeria’s massive investments in road infrastructure yield real value for citizens.

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The commission said key objectives of the exercise include enhancing fiscal governance, exposing and deterring contract fraud, enforcing contractor accountability, and recovering funds from inflated or failed projects.

The commission emphasised that the collaborative approach was designed to ensure sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure delivery nationwide.

The field activities involve detailed inspections of project sites, scrutiny of contract documents, and evaluation of deliverables.

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The commission promised that at the end of the state-by-state assessments, findings would be compiled into a comprehensive national audit report. This will form the basis for sanctions, financial recoveries, and other enforcement actions against individuals or companies implicated in wrongdoing.

READ ALSO:ICPC Probes N71.2bn Discrepancy In Student Loan Disbursement

“This exercise represents a proactive, system-driven approach to safeguarding our national infrastructure investments,” the commission stated.

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Tracking 760 projects of this magnitude underscores our resolve to partner with government institutions in closing leakages, promoting accountability, and ensuring that public projects translate into tangible public good.”

The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening transparency in public procurement and ensuring full value for every naira allocated to federal road projects.

In other news, Justice Josephine Obanor of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Jabi, Abuja, has affirmed the powers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate scholarship funds in Kano State.

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READ ALSO:ICPC Interrogates CBN Officials, Others Over $3.4bn COVID-19 Loan

Officials from the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, led by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Hadi Bala, and those from the Kano State Scholarship Board, had dragged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the ICPC before the court, alleging that invitations sent to them by the commission violated their fundamental rights.

Their invitation, which requested that the officials provide documents and clarification on allegations against them, was part of the ICPC’s investigation into a petition received by the commission, alleging financial impropriety in the administration of scholarship funds in the state.

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Delivering judgment in the case brought before the court in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2857/2025, the judge upheld the power of the anti-graft agency to carry out its statutory mandate of investigation.

Justice Obanor held that an invitation letter from ICPC for investigative purposes does not constitute a breach of fundamental rights.

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Gbaboyor’s Allegations Against Otuaro Baseless, Malicious — PAP Office

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The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has described the recent allegations made by Mr Jude Gbaboyor against the Administrator of the Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, as baseless and malicious.

In a video circulating on Facebook, which he purportedly recorded in the United States, Gbaboyor levelled grave and unfounded accusations against Dr Otuaro, including claims of murder, ritualism, and kidnapping.

Reacting to the video, in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Mr Igoniko Oduma, on Monday, stated that the video in which he called for the Administrator’s removal, “represents yet another desperate attempt by Gbaboyor to defame Otuaro’s character and undermine the credible work of the Programme.”

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The statement added that “Gbaboyor now a fugitive committed the crimes of cyberstalking among others and decided to flee the country to evade arrest and prosecution.”

READ ALSO:Otuaro Pledges To Expand PAP Scholarship As Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities

The statement emphasized that the said Gbaboyor was dismissed from the PAP due to his “unacceptable conduct some years back and should be discountenanced by the reading public.”

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The statement reads, ‘’This is not the first time Gbaboyor has made outrageous and unsubstantiated claims against the PAP boss. His persistent campaign of calumny prompted the PAP Administrator to formally petition relevant security agencies, citing cyberstalking and criminal intimidation.

“When invited by the Nigeria Police Force to answer questions regarding these spurious allegations, Gbaboyor fled the country, effectively making himself a fugitive from justice.

‘’It is instructive to note that Gbaboyor’s relentless attacks on Dr Otuaro began only after the Administrator rejected his request for reinstatement at the Amnesty Office, from which he was previously dismissed several years ago due to his lack of character.

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READ ALSO:PAP Begins Second Phase Distribution Of Laptops To Scholarship Beneficiaries

“Having failed to ingratiate himself with the PAP leadership and secure reemployment through proper channels, Gbaboyor has resorted to character assassination and the dissemination of false information.

‘’Particularly troubling is Gbaboyor’s appeal to the President of the United States to interfere in what is purely a personal matter under local jurisdiction. This represents a profound insult to Nigeria’s sovereignty and a misguided attempt to internationalise personal grievances.

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‘’The Presidential Amnesty Programme urges members of the public to disregard these irresponsible acts and baseless allegations in their entirety. If Gbaboyor genuinely believes in the veracity of his claims, he should demonstrate the courage of his convictions by returning to Nigeria to substantiate them before the appropriate authorities and courts of law.

READ ALSO:Otuaro Thanks Tinubu As PAP Deploys 161 For Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship

’Instead, his flight from lawful police invitation and subsequent attacks from abroad reveal the true nature of his campaign: a calculated effort to malign a public servant from the safety of foreign shores, beyond the immediate reach of Nigerian law enforcement.

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‘’Under Dr Dennis Otuaro’s leadership, the Presidential Amnesty Programme has remained focused on its mandate of fostering sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta region. The Programme will not be distracted by spurious allegations from misguided and individuals pursuing personal vendettas.

‘’The Presidential Amnesty Programme reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law and will continue to pursue all legal remedies available to protect the integrity and reputation of the Administrator and the agency.”

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