United States President, Barack Obama has promised to support Nigeria’s quest to quell years of terrorism championed by the Boko Haram Islamist sect.Obama made the pledge during a bilateral meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, which held during the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor (Mrs.) Viola Adaku Onwuliri, who detailed the president’s engagements at the Assembly, revealed that asides meeting the U.S. president, Jonathan also met the Nigerian Community in the U.S., was at a gues at the New York Stock Exchange, and also addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“Mr. President arrived New York in the early hours of Sunday 22nd September 2013. He had a lunch reception with a cross section of Nigerian professionals and community leaders in New York later that same day. This afforded the president the opportunity, for the first time, to interact with the Nigerian community in the US and to apprise them of developments in Nigeria, Onwuliri said.
“To underscore Mr. President's commitment to the promotion of trade and investment in the Nigerian economy, especially in Agriculture and infrastructure, Mr. President met the Eminent Persons in Agriculture where the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development disclosed that some investments are being expected from the United States including a 37 Million Dollars portfolio for sorghum production.
“Significantly, Mr. President held a bilateral meeting with President Barack Obama on Monday, 23rd September 2013. During the meeting, the US President pledged his continuous support for Nigeria's democracy and Counter-Terrorism efforts. The President and the First Lady were later that day, treated to a dinner by President Obama.
“In addition, Mr. President was the Special Guest of Honour at the New York Stock Exchange on 23rd September 2013, where he rang the Closing Bell as the fourth African President and First Nigerian Leader ever to do so.
“As you would recall, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, 24th September, 2013 as the fourth speaker after the Presidents of Brazil, United States and Turkey. It is important to stress that becoming the fourth speaker was as a result of astute diplomacy and goodwill of Nigeria with the UN and the global community. Mr. President's address covered a wide range of issues ranging from Nigeria's domestic issues, regional and International peace, security and cooperation as well as a Renascent Africa and the post-2015 Development Agenda. Mr. President also used the opportunity to call for support for Nigeria's bid for the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.”
Onwuliri confirmed that the president participated at the Treaty Event during which he deposited the instruments of Nigeria's ratification of, and accession to the United Nations Conventions on the Suppression of Terrorists Bombings and Hostage Taking.
She added that he held bilateral discussions with Secretary-General of the UN, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe; while on Wednesday, 25th September 2013, he honoured an invitation from the Ghanaian President, President John Mahama to attend a breakfast meeting on the new African Urban Agenda hosted by the UN Habitat Group.
“Mr. President used the opportunity to call for collaboration with the UN Habitat in the quest of the group to implement its agenda of Shelter for All and regeneration of the urban environment within the context of post 2015 Developmental Agenda.
“Mr. President also hosted his colleagues, the Presidents of Ghana, Liberia, Senegal and South Africa as well as development partners, to a side event on the MDGs, to showcase Nigeria's accomplishments and continuous commitment to the realization of the MDGs as well as the post 2015 framework. During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General commended Nigeria for the giant strides recorded in the implementation of the MDGs.
“Mr. President was represented at the other events namely: the fourth Investment Forum on Nigeria, organized by the African Business Round Table (ABR), the side event on the High Level Meeting on the Sahel, the Session on Nuclear Disarmament as well as the African Union Peace and Security Council where his various statements were delivered.
“During the High Level segment, the First Lady participated in a series of activities including receptions hosted by Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, the spouse of the UN Secretary-General, cultural event for Spouses of Heads of State and Government and luncheon hosted by Mrs. Obama. The First Lady also participated in the Breakfast Launch of "End Cervical Cancer Now", a global campaign initiative for universal access to Cervical Cancer Prevention. Similarly, the First Lady attended the Sixth Annual World Focus on Autism as part of her active involvement in humanitarian activities.
“The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, represented Mr. President at the High Level Round Table Meeting on the Realization of the Millennium Development Goals and Other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities on the 23rd of September, 2013. Other Ministers who were members of the Nigerian delegation also took part in several events. The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala participated at the side events on Domestic Resource Mobilization within the Future Global Partnership for Development on the 24th September 2013. In addition, the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbenol delivered a statement on Nigeria's impressive records in this regard.”
The honourable minister of foreign affairs represented the president at the 7th Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition and the First Economic Forum of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA).
In his remarks, he invited the over-7,000 Members of NAPPSA to key into the Transformation Agenda and partner with his government to advance the Pharmaceutical sector and the delivery of improved health care to all Nigerians. The high point of the conference was the conferment of the "Distinguished Leadership Award" on H.E. President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR "in recognition of his commitment and efforts to transform the Nigerian Healthcare system".
Nigeria also participated actively in the High Level segment of the General Assembly, under the leadership and guidance of Mr. President; while the minister attended several multilateral meetings, including the following: High Level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament, the Annual Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), the Peace-Building Commission (PBC)/UN Women High Level Ministerial Event on Women's Economic Empowerment for Peace-building, and Counter Terrorism Forum hosted by the US Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry.
Continuing, Onwuliri said: “Furthermore, Nigeria co-hosted and co-chaired together with the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, the Consultative Meeting on Responsibility to Protect (R2P). The meeting was also attended by the UN Under-Secretary-General for the Prevention of Genocide and 12 other Foreign Ministers with 20 others as observers and development partners. In its intervention, Nigeria advocated preventive diplomacy as a panacea to conflict situation including observance of the rule of law, human rights and protection of vulnerable groups and persons.
“Nigeria also participated at the Inaugural Session of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the successor to the Commission for Sustainable Development. In addition, Nigeria participated in other multilateral fora, including the AU Consultative Meeting Preparatory to the Extraordinary Summit Meeting of the AU Assembly scheduled to hold in October 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement; the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 15.
“At the meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers and the meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Mali, Nigeria, represented by the Honurable Minister of State II, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, expressed the hope that the Organization will continue with its laudable support to the new Government to enable it discharge its mandate to the people of Mali. Nigeria also reiterated its position for a negotiated settlement of the Middle East crisis on the basis of a two-state solution. In addition, Nigeria called for a political dialogue towards ending the conflict in Syria.
“It is important to note that Nigeria delivered statements at these meetings in the course of which broad and specific themes of the sessions were addressed. For example, at the AU Peace and Security Meeting, Nigeria called for support for the consolidation of democracy in Mali, as well as concerted global efforts in tackling the menace of terrorism in the sub-region. At the Counter-Terrorism Forum, Nigerian delegation reiterated its call for assistance and cooperation in dealing with this menace.
“At the informal consultations at Ministerial level on preparation for the proposed AU Extra-Ordinary Summit, cooperation between the African Union and the International Criminal Court was discussed. In the context of current indictment of the Kenyan President and his deputy, Nigeria and other African countries reiterated its solidarity with the Government and people of Kenya, including its condolences on the recent terrorist incident in Nairobi. While affirming its readiness to participate in the proposed Summit, Nigeria further urged African countries to speak with one voice in defence of the dignity and solidarity of the continent.
“At the UN High Level Ministerial Meeting on Women's Economic Empowerment for Peace-building, Nigeria reported on the giant strides recorded in this sphere by the Jonathan Administration and presented the “Abuja Commitment” of Global Power Women Network Africa, which was also presented to the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting.”
A series of bilateral meetings at the ministerial level were held with colleagues from the following the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Russian Federation, Argentina, Honduras, Morocco, Latvia, Luxemburg, Hungary, Djibouti, The Gambia, Angola, Kenya and Lebanon, and so on.
Similar meetings were held with the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Mark Simmons and the President of the International Crisis Group, Ms. Louise Arbour, who commended Nigeria's role in conflict prevention and resolution in Africa.
“These meetings provided the opportunity to further engage witrh the global community and exchange views on bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest. During the interactions, request for support for Nigeria's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council was reiterated and the countries pledged their endorsement,” the minister enthused, emphasizing the significance of the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Honduras, during which an agreement on the establishment of Diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level was signed.
“Remarkably, Hungary disclosed its preparedness to reopen its diplomatic Mission in Abuja soon, which will facilitate people-to- people contacts and visits by Nigerians to Hungary.
“In all, Nigeria's outing in the on-going Session of the General Assembly has commenced on a sure footing with Nigeria's robust engagement with the world. Remarkably, Nigeria had the rare honour of speaking on the first day of the General Assembly. In recognition of Nigeria's untiring efforts against terrorism and its commitments to international peace and security, Nigeria was invited as one of the first speakers at the High Level event on Nuclear Disarmament alongside the Presidents of Mongolia, Brazil and the Prime Ministers of Ireland and Japan.
“Nigeria made insightful statements at all the High Level Meetings and Multilateral fora, thereby participating in the agenda setting of global discourse. At the bilateral level, Nigeria held talks with an unprecedented number of countries from across the globe which provided the opportunity to strengthen and deepen vistas of cooperation and engagement, in addition to fostering Nigeria's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-2015 Biennium.”
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Tinubu Meets Bolloré in Paris Over Expanded Investment in Nigeria’s Creative, Digital Economy
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held talks with French businessman Vincent Bolloré in Paris on plans to expand investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
The meeting, held during the President’s working vacation, focused on opportunities to deepen the localisation of operations by the Bolloré Group and increase investment in sectors including film, entertainment, fibre-optic infrastructure and digital services, according to a statement issued by the presidency.
Bolloré and members of his executive team outlined proposed investments centred on Nigeria, highlighting the country’s growing influence in global entertainment through Nollywood and Afrobeats.
The group also expressed interest in expanding its operations and local presence in Nigeria, with the presidency saying the plans could support increased production, investment and employment opportunities in the country.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s focus on economic growth, job creation and digitalisation, while welcoming the group’s reported plans to deepen its activities in Nigeria.
The President said the government would continue to support investments aimed at developing the creative and digital economy, strengthening infrastructure and creating opportunities for Nigerian talent.
According to the statement, Tinubu also emphasised the potential for Nigeria to serve as a base for companies seeking to operate across Africa and international markets.
The meeting comes as Nigeria continues to promote its entertainment and technology sectors as areas of economic opportunity, with the government seeking to attract investment while expanding employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
Tinubu said his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda seeks to harness Nigeria’s talent, entrepreneurship and growing global cultural influence to create greater economic opportunities and improve livelihoods.
News
Banks Shut 476 Branches as Nigeria’s Banking Landscape Goes Digital
Nigeria’s banks are rapidly abandoning the traditional banking model, shutting down hundreds of branches and cash centres as customers increasingly move to digital and electronic channels.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria show that banks closed a net 476 branches and cash centres between 2022 and 2025, cutting the country’s physical banking network by 8.8 per cent in just three years.
The number of bank branches and cash centres plunged from 5,410 in 2022 to 4,934 in 2025, signalling a dramatic shift away from brick-and-mortar banking.
The contraction has gathered pace in recent years.
Banks closed 37 locations in 2023, followed by a much steeper reduction of 229 locations in 2024. Another 210 branches and cash centres disappeared in 2025.
In effect, more than nine out of every 10 locations lost during the three-year period were closed in 2024 and 2025.
The figures, contained in the CBN’s 2025 Statistical Bulletin for the Financial Sector, cover branches and cash centres operated by commercial, merchant and non-interest banks. The data were sourced from the CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Lagos bears the biggest hit Lagos, Nigeria’s financial powerhouse, recorded the largest decline.
The state had 1,602 bank branches and cash centres in 2022. That figure dropped to 1,532 in 2023, 1,521 in 2024 and just 1,444 in 2025.
That represents a loss of 158 locations, or nearly 10 per cent, in three years.
Despite the closures, Lagos remains overwhelmingly dominant, accounting for almost 29 per cent of all physical banking locations in Nigeria.
The Federal Capital Territory also suffered a significant contraction. Abuja went from 400 locations in 2022 to 362 in 2025, a decline of 38, or 9.5 per cent.
But some states experienced far more dramatic cuts.
Ekiti lost almost half of its banking locations, falling from 107 in 2022 to just 57 in 2025 — a staggering 46.7 per cent decline.
Enugu lost 44 locations, dropping from 162 to 118, while Oyo shed 41, falling from 237 to 196.
Other notable declines were recorded in Ondo, Plateau, Osun, Cross River and Rivers.
Northern banking centres also feel the squeeze
The contraction was not confined to the South.
Kano, for instance, initially expanded its banking footprint, rising from 164 locations in 2022 to 183 in 2024. But the reversal was sharp in 2025, when the figure crashed to 157.
Kaduna followed a similar pattern. Its locations climbed from 148 in 2022 to 164 in 2024 before falling back to 146 in 2025.
Yet not every state is losing branches.
Delta recorded the strongest expansion among the states highlighted, adding 23 locations and rising from 173 in 2022 to 196 in 2025.
Edo added 10, while Jigawa and Kogi gained six and five locations respectively.
A widening banking divide
The figures expose a striking disparity in access to physical banking infrastructure across Nigeria.
While Lagos had 1,444 branches and cash centres in 2025, Yobe had only 23, Taraba 26 and Zamfara 28.
Bayelsa and Gombe had 31 each, while Ebonyi had 32.
The imbalance underscores how heavily physical banking infrastructure remains concentrated in Nigeria’s major commercial and economic centres.
The bank branch may be losing its battle
The shrinking branch network comes despite the number of banks operating in Nigeria initially increasing.
The country had 32 banks in 2022, 33 in 2023 and 35 in 2024, before the figure slipped slightly to 34 in 2025.
That means the branch closures cannot simply be explained by a shrinking number of banks.
Instead, the figures point to a much bigger transformation: Nigerian banking is moving away from physical locations and towards digital platforms.
The CBN has itself been pushing greater adoption of alternative payment channels, particularly among farmers, traders, small businesses and informal-sector operators who may have limited access to conventional banking services.
Speaking at the 2026 CBN Fair in Lokoja, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Hakama Sidi-Ali, stressed the importance of alternative payment channels in expanding financial access and stimulating economic activity.
The message from the numbers is even clearer.
The era of banking halls on every major street may be fading.
With hundreds of branches disappearing in just three years — and the pace of closures accelerating — Nigeria’s banking industry is betting increasingly on phones, apps, electronic payments and other digital channels rather than physical walls and counters.
For millions of Nigerians, the next bank branch may no longer be a building. It may be sitting in their hands.
Business
In The Spotlight
Dangote: OPM Made You 36th Globally—How Many Investors Will Become Billionaires?
Alhaji Aliko Dangote has done what very few Africans have ever done. He has built a business empire of extraordinary scale, crossed the $50 billion mark in personal wealth, and reportedly risen to the 36th position among the world’s 3,397 billionaires.
That is an achievement Nigerians can acknowledge. But today, I want to ask a different question. Alhaji Dangote, how many of the Nigerians who are now investing their hard-earned money in your businesses will you help turn into millionaires—and eventually billionaires? That, in my view, is the more important question. Because behind every great fortune is an army of people whose money, labour, patronage, trust and participation helped create that wealth. And that brings us to OPM—Other People’s Money.
Other People's Money Built More Than One Fortune
Let us be honest: no business empire is built by one person alone. Investors provide capital. Banks provide financing. Workers provide labour. Consumers provide revenue. Suppliers provide goods and services. Governments provide infrastructure and an operating environment. And ordinary Nigerians have been buying Dangote products for decades. Now, Nigerians are being invited to take another step—from being customers to becoming owners.
The public offering of shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery gives ordinary Nigerians an opportunity to put their money into one of the country's biggest industrial projects. That opportunity comes with risk, of course. Nobody should invest money they cannot afford to lose, and nobody should assume that buying shares automatically guarantees wealth.
But there is a bigger principle here.If Nigerians are going to put their money into Dangote's business, Nigerians should also have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the wealth that business creates.
Don't Take Nigerians for Granted
Alhaji Dangote, Nigerians have supported your businesses.They have bought your cement.They have bought your sugar. They have bought your flour. They have bought countless other products connected to your business empire.Nigerian workers have built factories, transported products, operated plants, sold products and provided services.
Now, ordinary Nigerians are being asked to invest directly. That creates a responsibility—not merely to shareholders, but to the broader Nigerian public.
Don't take Nigerians for granted. Treat the small investor with the same seriousness you would give the institutional investor. Give shareholders transparency. Give them accountability. Give them information. Give them confidence that their money is being managed responsibly. And when the business succeeds, shareholders should have the opportunity to benefit from that success.
Your Greatest Legacy Should Be Bigger Than Your Net Worth
There is nothing wrong with becoming extraordinarily wealthy by building successful businesses.But there comes a point when the conversation should move beyond “How much is Dangote worth?" The more interesting question becomes:How many people became wealthy because Dangote built these businesses?
Imagine the impact if hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who invest today eventually build substantial wealth from their investments. Imagine a young Nigerian who starts with a modest investment and, over decades, builds an investment portfolio capable of paying school fees, buying a home, funding a business or securing retirement. Imagine Nigerian families passing shares from one generation to another. That is how an ownership culture is created.And Nigeria desperately needs an ownership culture.
We Need More Than One Dangote
Nigeria does not simply need another Dangote. Nigeria needs 10,000 Dangotes in different industries.
We need Nigerians who build technology companies, manufacturing companies, agricultural businesses, energy companies, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies and global brands.But we also need millions of Nigerians who can become shareholders in those businesses. A country becomes economically stronger when wealth creation spreads beyond a handful of extraordinarily wealthy individuals.
The refinery therefore presents an interesting test. Can a Nigerian industrial giant create not just a massive fortune for its founder, but also a new generation of Nigerian investors? Can ordinary Nigerians who put their money into the company eventually look back and say:I was there when it started, and I benefited from its growth”?
That would be a powerful story.
From Billionaire to Wealth Creator
Dangote has already demonstrated that he knows how to create enormous corporate value. The next challenge is different.Can he help create enormous shareholder value for ordinary Nigerians?That is where the conversation about his $51.3 billion fortune becomes relevant.
If one man's wealth can grow by tens of billions of dollars, Nigerians are entitled to ask whether the people who invest alongside him can also experience meaningful wealth creation. Not necessarily overnight.Not necessarily without risk. But over time.That is what investing is supposed to be about.
The Question Nigerians Should Keep Asking
So, Alhaji Dangote, congratulations on reaching another extraordinary milestone.But don't stop at building your own fortune. Build an ecosystem in which others can build theirs. Don't let Nigerians remain merely consumers of Dangote products. Make them owners. Don't let the story end with one Nigerian becoming one of the world's richest people. Let the next chapter be about thousands, perhaps millions, of Nigerians building meaningful wealth through ownership and investment. Because the real measure of an economic giant is not only how high the founder climbs. It is how many people rise because of the platform he created.
So here is the question Nigerians should be asking: Aliko Dangote, OPM has helped take you to the 36th richest person in the world. Now that Nigerians are putting their own money into your empire, how many of those investors will you help turn into millionaires—and, ultimately, billionaires? That is the legacy question.
By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe (EEA) Publisher/Editor-in- Chief)
In The Spotlight
Mixed metaphors: Eating them young
On this page, I have praised former Minister Nasir el-Rufai for his work in the Federal Capital Territory.
As governor, I praised some of his work, including when he fired state teachers. I also criticised him when he became arrogant and presumptuous.
Powerful people tend to misjudge distance, in terms of how long they will remain powerful, as well as the depth of their relevance, measuring how power, once in the hands of others, can remain in their favour.
El-Rufai made both miscalculations. Following over two decades of untouchability in power from Olusegun Obasanjo to Muhammadu Buhari, he has now spent 200 days in pre-trial detention on ICPC and DSS charges.
This should not happen to a citizen, any citizen. But some citizens, when fate grants them the winning lottery ticket, become Cronus, the Titan in Greek mythology who, to maintain his power, swallowed five of his six children soon after birth.
But not Zeus, his youngest son, who miraculously survived and, becoming the supreme ruler of the Olympian gods and the “Father of Gods and Men, “would exact vengeance.
In power, el-Rufai forgot not only the principle of right and wrong, but also the concept of justice.
But it was right there the whole time: on the flip side of injustice. The truth is that wearing glasses to be able to see arms, nobody to see through clouds.
Last Tuesday’s disruption by political thugs of the visit to Benue State of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, is an early reminder of the temptations of power in a Nigerian election year.
The ruling party controls the state, which is in the thick of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis. Its governor, Hyacinth Alia, is a Catholic priest. Having, in 2025, been involved in trying to prevent the same Obi from a humanitarian visit, claiming that his intervention was purely on security grounds, Mr Alia is trying to persuade the country that his are not the hands behind the crude attempt to stop, particularly Mr Obi, from travelling freely and safely in the state.
As Minister Festus Keyamo wisely said, this kind of menace is not a part of our democracy. Mr Alia, show the world your strengths, not your limitations.
Big news: the 2024 Auditor-General’s Non-Compliance report, published last month, identified over N1.34trn in audit lapses.
It found that the National Cash Transfer Office paid N33.751 billion to 3,295,207 households in 35 states in 2023 with no evidence that the money reached genuine beneficiaries.
The Office could not produce REMITA records to authenticate the payments. SERAP has written to President Tinubu demanding a published audit trail and investigation of the flagged N78.8bn in total irregularities.
Similarly, Femi Falana (SAN) has called on the EFCC to investigate and prosecute officials.
Given that we are dealing with a specific regime of governance coated in colours of ruthlessness, it is doubtful that these calls will yield anything.
The truth is that the situation is worse than what we know so far, and so, I have a different call: that Nigerians pay close attention to what is actually a long-running looting spree of our poorest and most vulnerable. There is a scorched-earth assault going on.
I begin in 2019, the start of the second term of the fake anti-corruption champion Muhammadu Buhari:
The Auditor-General’s 2019 report on the FGN Consolidated Financial Statements discovered that 36 MDAs made individual transfer payments,totalingN15,534,467,561.26, without identifying the beneficiaries, ignoring the relevant budget lines for “Transfers–Payment to Unemployed” and “Transfers–Payment to Aged/Vulnerable Group.” The Auditor-General flagged the risk of “diversion of public funds” and “misapplication of funds.”
The 2020 report is more curious. In the MDA-by-MDA budget-performance schedule, the National Social Investment Office shows: Approved Budget N0.00, Supplementary Budget N0.00, Total Budget N0.00, but the actual spending is N275,010,764,595.02! That is, the NSIO somehow recorded spending N275bn with no budgetary authorisation at all.
Surely, somebody has an explanation?
The 2021 Non-Compliance report, Volume II, found under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs that N54,630,000,000 in N-Power Batch C1 stipends (the August–December 2021 backlog) was recorded as paid but, per the Auditor-General’s own field visits, “was not actually effected to the beneficiaries.”
The same section found N2,617,090,786 paid for the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (COVID-19 period), the Auditor-General recommending full recovery to the Treasury: a combined N58.05bn flagged in that one ministry in that one year.
Surely, somebody has an explanation?
The 2022 Non-Compliance file is titled as Volumes I and II merged, but despite that filename, Volume II appears to be absent, as it excludes Humanitarian Affairs, NSIPA, NCTO or NASSCO, meaning that their work was either not audited at all, or that that specific audit has yet to be published.
Again, and similarly, despite examining the two volumes of the 2023 Non-Compliance report, neither the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, NSIPA, NCTO, NASSCO, N-Power, GEEP nor school feeding appears anywhere, although many other agencies were thoroughly audited.
Surely, somebody has an explanation?
That brings us to the 2024 itemised findings SERAP has publicized: N33.751bn in cash transfers with no beneficiary confirmation; N36.744bn paid in December 2023 without prepayment audit; N4.616bn in unsupported expenditure which the Auditor-General says “may have been diverted”; N350.18m in enrolment payments to state coordinators with no supporting documentation; N89.51m for store items never delivered or logged; N17.42m in diesel cash advances with no traceable purchases; and at NASSCO, N2.24bn paid through 158 vouchers without prepayment audit.
These appear to be the patterns that Nigerian MDAs exhibit in their work every year, with vulnerable Nigerians exploited every year.
But the first challenge is for journalists to track Humanitarian Affairs/NSIPA through every audit year to establish the full carnage.
There is another crisis: that despite all of this, a lot of MDAs still fail to submit audited accounts to the Auditor-General, representing one of Nigeria’s worst accountability challenges. This is a problem that worsened significantly under the Buhari administration despite his anti-corruption rhetoric. According to the Auditor-General, the 2016 audit year saw the highest number of non-submissions (324) in modern Nigerian history: more than double the previous 22-year high of 148. In 2016-2017 alone, 436 agencies failed to submit accounts. Think about that.
President Bola Tinubu is in the middle of a three-week foreign trip, departing without formally informing the National Assembly or handing over to Vice President Shettima, violating the constitution.
For a man who is seeking a second term of office, this is a stark reminder of how little the rules, or for that matter, Nigeria, really matter to Mr Tinubu. Keep in mind that when he headed north, Mr Shettima headed south, to Angola.
The general debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly will begin on 22 September. Mr Tinubu is scheduled to speak the following morning.
At a time of chaos and doubt in his leadership, and in democracy under his watch, he will confront the theme: “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”
By Sonala Olumhense