News
Bauchi Speaker Defects To PDP
Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman has formally tendered resignation letter from All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Guda Ward of Ningi Local Government, the Speaker said that due to the factionalization of the Party at all levels in the State with every factions claiming the leadership of the party, coupled with litigations which led to court orders restraining any faction from claiming the leadership of the party, it becomes difficult for him to determine which of the factional leadership of the Party is legitimate.
He added that this is coming after series of persecution being meted on him and his supporters since his election as Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly in June, 2019 as against the wish of some vested interests in the Party.
The Speaker narrated that; “It’s a well known fact that getting Speakership position has been one of the lifetime dreams of my Emirate, Ningi. People of my Constituency gave me their mandate to represent them and subsequently asked me to pursue their dream of producing Speaker from Ningi. I can’t be bigger than my Constituency and no interest should be superior than that of my constituents. Thus, I pursued the dream of my constituents and as Almighty Allah willed it, we got it against all odds.
Doctor’s Spectacle: Kperogi, Patriotism Has No Religion.
“Since my election as Speaker, the Party sidelined me from its activities and meted various forms of persecution on me and my supporters. Despite these, I remained loyal and committed to the Party and continued contributing financially to the Party and attending its functions and meetings even if they didn’t invite me. Sometimes I would only get notice of Party meetings from my Colleagues, but I would still attend.
“It reach to the level that I was removed as the Chairman of the stakeholders of the Party in Ningi Local Government and replaced with someone who barely knows the local government and the Party. Through that, they made sure any Party member loyal to me is edged out from the leadership or mainstream activities of the Party.
“I was called unprintable names by the Party Leaders and Stakeholders for their perception of the harmonious working relationship between the Assembly and the Executive Arm led by His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad as a threat to them, their political ambition and the Party. I always tell them, Bauchi State is bigger than any personal interest, unhealthy relationship between the two critical arms of Government would not only halt the development of the State but will affect the well-being of the people and bring instability in the State which will not augur well for all of us. But they ignored this patriotic disposition.
“Just recently, these vested interests in the Party worked against my inclusion as Member of the National Convention Planning Committee in which they made sure my name was removed. I tried my best to draw the attention of the Party leadership and its critical stakeholders to the injustice being done on me and my supporters but one of the major stakeholders talked to my face, that the Party won’t recognize any grievance from me and they resolved not to recognize anything that emanate from me even if it’s a document that contains my signature, because of my relationship with the Executive Governor of Bauchi Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad. It further became clearer to me that I am no longer needed in APC.”
According to the Speaker, there has been intense calls on him from supporters, groups, party stalwarts and constituents to dump the Party due to the realities on grounds, hence he set up a Committee drawn from all parts of Ningi Central Constituency under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bala Gideru to make further consultations and recommendations.
Speaker Abubakar Suleiman further stated that the Committee after series of consultations and review of the situation, recommended that; “we should quit the Party and join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to consolidate on the unprecedented development being executed in Ningi Local Government and all parts of the State by the Executive Governor of Bauchi State His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad”
“Based on the recommendations of the Committee and due to the prevailing situation and the uncertainties and fractionalizations in the Party, I have formally resigned from the All Progressive Congress alongside my thousands of supporters.
“I thank the Party for the opportunity given to me to serve my Constituency and the State in general.” He declared.
Meanwhile, the Speaker obtained a membership card of his new Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Guda Ward of Ningi Local Government and pledged to work for the success of the Party at all levels and consolidate on the successes of the adminstration of His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad in the State.
News
Report: Nigeria Records N166trn Public Debt
By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026.
The DMO published the latest public debt portfolio report on Friday.
The figure represents a 9.4 percent or N14.39 trillion increase from the N152.4 trillion recorded at the end of June 2025.
It also represents an increase of N7.44 trillion or 4.7 percent compared with the N159.35 trillion recorded at the end of the first quarter (Q1) of 2026.
According to the latest report, the debt stock comprises N91.59 trillion in domestic debt, which accounts for 54.91 percent of the total debt stock, and N75.2 trillion in external debt, representing 45.09 percent.
The debt office said domestic debt increased by N11.04 trillion (13.7 percent) from N80.55 trillion recorded in June 2025.
The office said external debt also rose by N3.35 trillion (4.7 percent) from N71.85 trillion in the same period.
According to the DMO, the federal government accounted for N152.77 trillion of the total debt stock, comprising N86.99 trillion in domestic debt and N65.77 trillion in external debt.
On the other hand, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounted for the remaining N14.01 trillion — N4.59 trillion in domestic debt and N9.42 trillion in external debt.
In dollar terms, the agency said Nigeria’s total public debt stood at $120.93 billion as of June 30, 2026 — up from $99.66 billion recorded in June 2025.
The DMO said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official exchange rate of N1,379 per dollar as of June 30 was used to convert the external debt to naira.
News
NNPC Ltd Welcomes $800m Ima Gas Final Investment Decision
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has welcomed the $800 million Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ima Gas Project, describing it as a landmark development that affirms the growing viability of Nigeria’s upstream gas sector.
The project, located offshore in OMLs 112 and 117 and developed by AMNI International in partnership with TotalEnergies, will produce about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at peak. The output will supply critical feedgas to Nigeria LNG Limited in support of its Train 7 expansion, which will increase capacity at the Bonny Island plant from 22 million tons per annum to 30 Mtpa.
The FID was enabled by the Presidential Directives of 2024, which provided fiscal incentives for non-associated gas, streamlined contracting and lowered development costs. Ima is the fourth major gas project to reach FID under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after Iseni, Ubeta and HI.
Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari described it as “a decisive vote of confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector and in the bold reforms” that have created competitive terms and a predictable investment environment.
NNPC Ltd. also commends the collaboration between AMNI, TotalEnergies and the Nigerian financial sector, saying the model of indigenous operator, international partner and domestic capital is a template for future developments.
In a statement signed by Andy Odeh Chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd. reaffirms its commitment to work with government, regulators and industry partners to sustain investment momentum and deploy Nigeria’s gas resources for industrialisation, job creation and long-term prosperity.
News
At MAN AGM In Kano, Manufacturers Throng Dangote Pavilion Over ‘Peoples IPO’
Manufacturers under the aegis of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) thronged the Dangote Group’s pavilion at the exhibition to seek information and clarification on the ongoing Public Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP).
The three-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Kano-Jigawa Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the 54th in the series, ended on Thursday, with the Dangote Group’s representative hosting participants and engaging manufacturers who expressed keen interest in the ongoing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Refinery.
The Dangote Refinery Peoples’ IPO offers Nigerians and other eligible investors an opportunity to buy shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, thereby becoming part-owners of one of Africa’s largest industrial projects and participating in its future growth.
The Dangote Refinery IPO runs from 14 September to 13 October 2026.
Dangote Industries Limited is one of the sponsors of the 54th MAN AGM.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Sharada/Challawa Branch, Alhaji Nura S. Madugu, highlighted the mounting burden of multiple taxes, levies and charges on manufacturers, warning that the situation is increasing the cost of doing business and undermining the competitiveness of local industries.
Madugu urged the Kano State and Federal Governments to ease the tax burden on manufacturers and accelerate efforts to harmonise taxes and levies imposed on businesses.
He particularly decried the practice of double and multiple taxation, which he said continued to place additional financial pressure on manufacturers already grappling with high energy costs, inadequate infrastructure, expensive financing, insecurity, foreign exchange challenges and unfair competition from imported goods.
“We are especially concerned about instances of double and even multiple taxation, where the three tiers of government impose what is essentially the same levy under different names and different guises. This practice places our products at a serious disadvantage in their constant competition with imported goods, a disadvantage made worse by the high cost of alternative power supply and the volatility of the foreign exchange rate.
Madugu reminded the meeting of MAN’s enormous contribution to the society and provide employment to thousands of Nigerians, as well as participating actively in tax revenue generation for the country.
“We provide employment to thousands of Nigerians. We participate actively in tax revenue generation for the states and the federation through the deduction of Value Added Tax on our products, the remittance of Pay-As-You-Earn on behalf of our staff, and the payment of Withholding Tax, Education Tax, Tertiary Education Tax, Company Income Tax, and a whole host of other levies too numerous to mention individually. Beyond taxation, we also discharge our Corporate Social Responsibility diligently to the communities in which we operate.
“Even though what we receive in return remains modest, we continue, in strength and in good faith, to serve this nation and to hold up its economy. We do this because we believe in Nigeria and in Kano State. But it must be said plainly,” Madugu added.
In his remarks also, MAN Chairman, Bompai/Jigawa Branch, Mohammed Bello I. Umar, appreciated the association’s members for their resilience, commitment and continued investment in the Nigerian economy despite the difficult operating environment.
He pointed out that the meeting provides the members of the association with an opportunity to reflect on its activities, review the challenges confronting their businesses, acknowledge the progress they have made, and chart a stronger course for the future of manufacturing in the country.
However, he said, the members must acknowledge that manufacturing remains under serious pressure.
He highlighted that the high cost of energy, multiple taxes and levies, inadequate infrastructure, high financing costs, insecurity, foreign exchange challenges and unfair competition from imported goods continue to affect our competitiveness.
“One issue that requires our collective attention is the importation of contraband and substandard goods. These products undermine local manufacturers who invest heavily
“Reliable and affordable electricity remains one of the most important requirements for industrial development.
He however welcomed the ongoing electricity reforms and efforts by the Kano State Government and the State House of Assembly towards establishing a more effective electricity framework for the State.
He called for the swift implementation of reforms that will create a more reliable, competitive and affordable electricity market for industries.
He noted that manufacturers continue to provide employment, generate wealth, support local communities and contribute significantly to government revenue in production, employ Nigerians and comply with government regulations.
“We must therefore stand together and call for stronger enforcement at our borders and markets.
He urged the relevant government agencies to intensify the fight against smuggling, counterfeiting and the importation of goods that compete unfairly with locally
Report: Nigeria Records N166trn Public Debt
NNPC Ltd Welcomes $800m Ima Gas Final Investment Decision
At MAN AGM In Kano, Manufacturers Throng Dangote Pavilion Over ‘Peoples IPO’
NLC President Ajaero: It Is Wrong to Negotiate Minimum Wage Without Minimum Pension
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Report: Nigeria Records N166trn Public Debt
NNPC Ltd Welcomes $800m Ima Gas Final Investment Decision
At MAN AGM In Kano, Manufacturers Throng Dangote Pavilion Over ‘Peoples IPO’
NLC President Ajaero: It Is Wrong to Negotiate Minimum Wage Without Minimum Pension
Prof Yusuf Adamu Delivers BUK’s 63rd Professorial Inaugural Lecture, Reflects on Medical Geography and Academic Legacy
Zamfara Varsity ASUU Threatens Warning Strike Over FG-ASUU Agreement, Promotion Arrears
Bello Sharada: A Great Writer, A Bookish Soul, Gone Too Soon
Kano Chemists Threaten Warning Strike Over Alleged PCN Pressure
Per Ishaq Samaila: “Waziri” for Strategy. “Mai Jama’a” for Service. One Man. One Mission. Ibrahim Kabir Masari
Court Ultimatum Forces FBI to Hand Over Tinubu’s Fraud Records to Judge—But Keeps Them Hidden from Public
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