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Illegal Oil Deals : Federal Government says it has Begun Gathering Evidence on Government Officials Linked to the Alleged Looting of $69bn

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The Federal Government says it has begun gathering evidence on government officials linked to the alleged looting of $69bn (N28.3tn) stashed in various bank accounts in Texas, the United States.

The loot reportedly accrued from illegal oil deals involving some officials of the government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Central Bank of Nigeria during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Our correspondence on Friday exclusively reported that an American assets recovery firm, Forensic Assets Investigation and Recovery Services LLC, discovered the $69bn loot.

Findings showed that the American company, FAIR, is a specialist in anti-corruption asset recovery working independently to trace and help repatriate money stashed away in foreign bank accounts and loot converted to real estate, luxury items, yachts and the money markets.

The firm, founded by a lawyer, Gary Riebschlager, comprises investigators, forensic accountants, bankers, and cyber experts who utilise Mutual Legal Agreements and global Financial Intelligence Units, Camden Assets Recovery Inter-Agency Network, Global Focus Point Network in Asset Recovery (Interpol), and the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the World Bank.

In a January 2019 confidential memo to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel, FAIR said it could help the Federal Government recover the money if hired and compensated for its services.

Out of the loot, $9bn was reportedly traced to a Texas bank account allegedly belonging to the late National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi.

Azazi died in a helicopter crash in Okoroba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in December 2012 alongside the Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, and others.

Two months after FAIR wrote the SPIP, the latter wrote a letter dated March 18, 2019 to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), on the matter, explaining FAIR’s proposal.

SPIP stated that FAIR assured that the $9bn allegedly stolen by Azazi could be recovered within three to five months.

The SPIP’s letter to the President, with reference number SPIP/SH/2019/VOL.1/1, was titled, ‘American assets investigation and recovery company has traced a definite $9bn funds linked to the late Gen Azazi.’

The letter was signed by a former SPIP Chairman, Okoi Obono-Obla.

It read in part, “In January 2019, an American assets recovery company, Forensic Assets Investigation and Recovery Services LLC, sent a confidential memo to us stating the discovery of a definite total amount of $9bn in the State of Texas linked to the late General Azazi (former NSA), plus an additional huge amount in excess of $60bn from multiple sources of illegal sales of crude oil from Nigeria into the entire United States of America.

“Mr President, the confidential memo to us prompted our agency to seriously engage the US company to determine the veracity of the information, which resulted in an official invitation to them that they may visit us to further discuss and agree on steps needed to recover and return the funds to the Nigerian government.”

Following the overwhelming evidence provided by the assets recovery company regarding the $9bn and their capacity to recover and return the fund,  the SPIP explained that it decided to engage the American forensic experts on a face-to-face meeting scheduled for March 29, 2019.

The panel also attached a copy of the firm’s acceptance letter to its memo to the President and sought Buhari’s approval for the planned meeting with the American company.

The memo noted, “Mr President, we intend to work together with the Americans in order to secure the recovery of the definite $9bn within 3-5 months they stated and to engage them to see and recover the larger part of the estimated $60bn-$80bn stolen from Nigeria during the oil boom. Also, to engage the NNPC and the CBN in the overall recovery of those funds in the United States.

“Our prayers to the President are: To approve the engagement of the American company to recover the funds and assets in the US and to approve the support of the visiting American firm to integrate software technology in the CBN in order to trace fraud funds.

“To approve the presence of interface offices of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel in NNPC and the CBN. Your Excellency, the immediate recovery of the identified $9bn within the stated timeframe of 3-5 months will totally eliminate borrowing to fund the 2018 budget deficit and sustain the 2019 budget.”

However, two years after the SPIP notified the President of the loot, the Federal Government was said to have not taken concrete steps to recover the money.

Also, Obono-Obla had yet to conclude the recovery process when he was removed from the panel by the President and replaced by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata.

Over 400 criminal and graft cases retrieved from the SPIP by the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice were also found to have been abandoned.

However, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Friday told one of our correspondents that the Federal Government had swung into action with the aim of getting adequate information on the $69bn loot allegedly hidden in American banks in Texas as well as the government officials involved.

The AGF also said the relevant bank details would be traced.

Malami’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu, who spoke on behalf of the minister, said the government was at the information-gathering stage and would work on verifiable information.

Gwandu said, “The government has swung into action to generate adequate information on the alleged $69bn, inclusive of the Nigerians involved, incidental bank details, and actionable intelligence to enable us to deal with the matter.

“The details of the alleged lawyers involved and what information is at their disposal can also be very helpful.

Gwandu said the Buhari regime had the track record of repatriating stolen funds stashed in foreign accounts, saying it was one of the “visible and indelible” successes recorded by the regime.

He said, “The Office of the Attorney General has established a historical record of acting on cogent and verifiable information that has led to the recoveries of looted assets upon valid revelations that are subjected to integrity test by the assets recovery units of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

“The integrity test of information is not media-based but a process being conducted through the laid-down official process in compliance with the extant laws.

“One of the prime and uncompromising policies of the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is the fight against corruption.”

 We have nothing to say now–NNPC

Meanwhile, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, told one of our correspondents that the corporation had nothing to say about the allegations.

“You know the way NNPC is run, particularly on issues like this. We don’t have anything to say about it,” he stated.

However, some officials of the NNPC who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed doubt over the authenticity of FAIR’s findings.

“What is the entire budget of the country for a company to come up with an allegation that $69bn from illegal oil deals by NNPC was traced to American accounts?” asked an official, who requested not to be named due to the nature of the matter.

The official added, “Because somebody made an allegation does not mean that it has become a fact. Proper investigations should be done.”

Besides, as of the time of filing this report, efforts to get the reactions of the CBN, Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning had yet to yield positive results.

SERAP, CACOL, SAN, lawyers call for thorough probe

However, civil rights organisations, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, have called on the Federal Government to conduct a thorough probe of the alleged $69bn loot in Texas banks.

He said, “The Nigerian authorities should investigate how the money got to the said accounts and hold whoever is/are responsible for it accountable so that the money does not get finally lost.”

Also, the Executive Director, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, said no stone should be left unturned in ensuring that the loot was repatriated back to the country.

“All of us should be vigilant, the media and the anti-corruption agencies, to ensure that no stone is left unturned on this matter,” he said.

Adeniran argued that the fraud happened in the first place because institutions such as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Office of the Accountant General, and anti-corruption agencies did not perform their duties of monitoring the receipts and expenditures of oil revenue.

He said, “There are international protocols which the Attorney General ought to have commenced but has been reluctant to do.

“The Auditor-General, Accountant General, and the minister under who it happened must answer questions.”

Also, a human rights lawyer and former General Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Malachy Ugwumadu, said it was the responsibility of the government to recover stolen funds.

He said, “The government should try to avoid the pit-holes that we have all been encountering in the efforts to recover stolen funds in the past.

“Some of those pit-holes include the lengthy period of time that it takes to recover them.

“Take a look at the (Sani) Abacha loot, do you remember when Abacha ruled Nigeria?”

The lawyer advised that the issue should be tackled at the level of diplomatic engagement so that the loot would be “almost automatically” repatriated.

Meanwhile, the Convener, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Dare Ariyo-Akintoye, tackled the Buhari regime, saying it had no good reputation in dealing with foreign loot recovery firms.

He said, “Ordinarily, the Buhari administration is incapable of such recoveries, but if it can swallow its pride and seek the help of global assets recovery firms, it has a chance.”

Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, urged the government to recover the loot and use it for the benefit of Nigeria in a transparent and accountable way.

“The government should go ahead and recover the funds. It’s Nigeria’s money and it should be recovered and used for the Nigerian people. And there must be transparency and accountability in the use of the money.

“What projects is the money being used for? How is it being used? Where will it be kept first when it comes? How much is it? There must be transparency and accountability about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission would investigate the graft case, the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, simply said the agency doesn’t give advance notice of its investigations.

He also declined to speak further.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, could not be reached for comment.


 

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State Police: Five More State Assemblies Pass Bill as 90% of States Are Ready for Transmission to National Assembly on October 29 – Gbajabiamila

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October 21, 2026

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The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill on Tuesday said it had submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review and validation.

This comes as Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa state assemblies approved the police bill alongside Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, which had earlier endorsed the constitutional amendments required to institute state policing.

The proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026 by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, for consideration and approval.

The Sixth Alteration Bill amends section 214 of the Constitution to replace the single Nigeria Police Force with a Federal Police Service and State Police Services as part of efforts to address the country’s security challenges.

In a statement signed Tuesday by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, the group said it had completed the drafting stage of its assignment.

The PWG explained that the draft bill was submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Monday.

It said, “The submission was made on October 19, 2026, to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in line with the Working Group’s work plan.

“The ministry’s review will ensure that the bills conform to legislative drafting standards and conventions, and that they do not conflict with existing laws.

“The Ministry of Justice is expected to return the validated draft bills to the Working Group on or before Friday, 30th October 2026. The Working Group will then give the validated bills final consideration before presenting them to Mr President, thereby concluding its mandate.”

Gbajabiamila said the proposed National Policing Bill seeks to establish the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure, made up of a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

He added that the Working Group remained committed to “a rigorous and transparent process” that would deliver a comprehensive legislative proposal for the President’s consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.

According to the former legislator, the work was proceeding alongside the ongoing consideration of the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 by the State Houses of Assembly, which “must be completed before the Bill is transmitted to the National Assembly”.

On October 15, Gbajabiamila told State House correspondents that the policing bill was “90 per cent ready” and would be transmitted to the National Assembly on October 29.

The Senate passed the bill on June 24, after which it was also passed by the House of Representatives.

Afterwards, the National Assembly sent it to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, where it must be approved by at least 24 state assemblies.

Tinubu inaugurated the seven-member Presidential Working Group on July 7, with its steering committee starting work on August 3.

He mandated it to produce a “technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill.’’

When asked how long the review by the justice ministry would take, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Assistant, Media, to the AGF, said, “Is there any rule that says that it must be done within one week, two months, three months or four months? When did we start having periods within which a case should be treated and sent for approval?

‘’I am not in the position to confirm that now. This thing has a procedure; it has a process, and due process must be followed. So, now saying that maybe it has to be done within one week or two weeks or whatever, where no law says it must be done within that period or whatever, is unnecessary,” he added.

The Senate also declined to comment on the Executive’s proposed timeline, saying it would wait until it formally receives the bills before taking a position.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this.

“Well, we cannot pass comment on what the Executive said until we receive correspondence from them,” he said.

Adaramodu, however, described the proposed legislation as a matter of public interest that lawmakers were determined to conclude expeditiously.

The Senate spokesman dismissed concerns over delays by state assemblies in approving the constitutional amendment, despite the expiration of the 30-day deadline set for them to submit their inputs.

He explained that the deadline was intended for state legislatures to communicate their positions, adding that the Senate would consider their responses alongside the executive’s proposals.

“All those things (state approvals) will be brought to us, and we will put them under consideration because we are still going to hold a conference to address it.

“Again, you need to understand that the 30-day deadline is not for us. It is for the states to send in their inputs. And they have been doing that,” he said.

Adaramodu expressed confidence that all states would have submitted their responses by the time the executive formally transmitted its proposals. He maintained that the process would not undermine the Senate’s commitment to passing the legislation before the end of the year.
Ogun State House of Assembly passed a resolution supporting the consideration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, on the establishment of State Police Services.

The assembly, during its sitting on Tuesday, passed the resolution, titled: ‘H.R. No. 194/OG/2025- Consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( 1999) (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (Establishment of State Police Services).’

The passage of the resolution followed the presentation of the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Constitutional Review chaired by a former Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, who presented the committee’s report on 26 clauses and sectional amendments to the Constitution.

Oluomo took the proposed amendments one after the other, with members voting in favour of all the clauses and sections contained in the amendments.

The proposed amendments covered different aspects of the bill, including the substitution, insertion and alteration of specific constitutional provisions.

The lawmaker later moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, seconded by Adegoke Adeyanju and supported by all the members through a voice vote.

The House Leader, Yusuf Sherif, subsequently moved that the report be adopted as a resolution of the House, seconded by the Chief Whip, Omolola Bakare, and was unanimously supported by all the lawmakers through a voice vote.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Daisi Elemide, said, “The Assembly joined other state Houses of Assembly across the country in supporting the establishment of State Police, and this decision is historic.

“The passage of the resolution reflected the position of the lawmakers and the people of the State in supporting the establishment of State Police to strengthen security, through improved security measures in protecting the lives and property of the citizenry, thereby promoting the social well-being and economic development of the state”

Elemide later directed that a clean copy of the resolution be transmitted to the National Assembly to communicate the state’s support for the establishment of State Police Services.

Similarly, members of the Delta State House of Assembly unanimously approved the 6th Alteration Bill of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to provide for the establishment of State Police Services.

All 23 members present at plenary on Tuesday, through head count, voted in favour of the bill.

The letter, which was read on the floor by the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, outlined the objective of the bill, which seeks to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services while preserving the Nigeria Police Force as the Federal Police Service.

Leading the debate on the merits of the bill, the Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, said, “The proposed amendment aims to guarantee security of lives and property through a dual policing system, allowing states to establish and fund their own police services to address rising cases of insecurity, particularly at the local level.”

Other lawmakers, who spoke in favour of the bill, affirmed their support, noting that it would strengthen local intelligence gathering, improve response to security challenges, create employment opportunities and help tackle insecurity at the grassroots.

Guwor commended the members for their support and patriotism, assuring that “the establishment of state police would go a long way in strengthening grassroots policing and creating a safer environment for investment and development to thrive in Delta State in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda of the Oborevwori administration.”

Guwor, who is also the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, stated, “Distinguished colleagues, I commend you for approving the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, in line with section 9 sub-section (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).

“This is a significant step towards the establishment of State Police in Nigeria. It brings us closer to a policing system that is more responsive to our communities, improves intelligence gathering and strengthens our capacity to tackle security challenges.

“For Delta State, this reform holds great promise for protecting lives and property, sustaining peace and creating a safer environment for investment and development in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda of our amiable Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.

“I congratulate this Honourable House on this important resolution. May our collective efforts continue to advance peace, security and good governance in Delta State and Nigeria in general.”

The speaker, thereafter, directed the Clerk of the House, Otto Aghoghophia, to communicate the resolution of the Delta State House of Assembly to the National Assembly, accordingly.

‎‎Earlier at the plenary, the House observed a one-minute silence in honour of former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who passed away on Monday.

The Adamawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed 24 out of 26 clauses of the state Police Bill, 2026, rejecting two clauses.

At an emergency sitting on Tuesday, the lawmakers, who had been on recess in China, spent over two hours reading each section of the Alteration Bill for members to approve or disapprove.

Speaker Bathiya Wesley, who presided over the session, directed the Clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the approved 24 clauses and transmit them to the National Assembly.

Speaking to journalists after the sitting, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Musa Kallam, representing Mayo-Belwa State Constituency, pointed out that state policing would help combat criminal activities in the country.

On the two rejected clauses, he disclosed that they were not properly defined and that the majority of the members were not clear on those clauses.

“Some of my colleagues were not clear on those clauses, and they decided to reject them. Since they were in the majority, there is nothing we can do.”

On the concern that governors could deploy state police against their political opponents, he clarified that the Constitutional alteration had stipulated the limit of governors’ powers in controlling state police.

“Let us not jump to the conclusion that state governors will take over when the state police take off, and if there is anything that the National Assembly feels should be amended to strengthen the state police, the Constitution will still be amended. The idea of state police is fantastic and must be sustained,” he noted.

Like Delta and Ogun, the Kwara State House of Assembly also approved the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police in the country.

The approval was given during Tuesday’s plenary in Ilorin after the speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, read a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly on the proposed constitutional alteration.

The development was disclosed in a statement made available toour correspondence by the Chief Press Secretary to the speaker, Abdulkadir Yusuf.

Leading the debate on the amendment, the House Leader, Mogaji Abdulkadri, enumerated the various advantages the proposed amendment would have on the country’s policing system.

Other lawmakers who spoke on the constitutional amendment supported the proposal, saying “it would bring policing closer to the people and strengthen security across the country.”

The lawmakers affirmed that the alteration would “bring police closer to the people, thereby improving the security of lives and property of people across the country.”

Following the debate, the speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Ahmed Olayiwola, to communicate the Assembly’s approval to the National Assembly for further action.

The Plateau State House of Assembly equally endorsed the Constitution amendment bill seeking the creation of a state police, describing the proposal as timely and necessary to address the country’s security challenges.

The endorsement followed the adoption of the report of the Ad-hoc Committee constituted to scrutinise the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which was considered at plenary on Monday.

In a statement signed by the media aide to the speaker, Philip Eplong, and made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, he said the decision was taken during Monday’s plenary session presided over by Speaker Naanlong Daniel.

Eplong’s statement read, “Presenting the committee’s report, its chairman and member representing Qua’an-Pan South Constituency, Prof. Theodore Maiyaki, said the proposed constitutional alteration was necessary in view of prevailing security challenges, the shortage of manpower in the Nigeria Police Force and the need to strengthen local policing arrangements.’’

He explained that the proposal sought to establish a constitutional framework for Federal and State Police Services, with appropriate safeguards for human rights, operational standards, accountability and coordination. The committee observed that the proposed amendment was timely, considering the need to strengthen security and improve responses to threats within communities.

The committee further noted that security remained critical to the socioeconomic development of Plateau State and other parts of the country.

It, therefore, recommended that the House supported the proposed constitutional alteration in line with the relevant legislative requirements.

Following deliberations, the House adopted the committee’s recommendations and voted in support of the proposed constitutional amendment.

The speaker commended the committee for its work and appreciated members for their patience, commitment and sacrifice in considering the important legislative matter.

The Kebbi State House of Assembly has received a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police services across the country.

The bill was transmitted to the Assembly by the National Assembly for consideration and approval as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

The Majority Leader of the Kebbi Assembly, Faruku Aliyu Nassarawa Jega, disclosed this during Tuesday’s plenary session while reading a letter from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.

The letter, dated September 16, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the Kebbi Assembly, Salihu Maikasuwa Dangoje, stated that the bill was passed by the Senate on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026.

According to the letter, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a constitutional framework for state police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.

The National Assembly urged the Kebbi Assembly to give the bill expeditious consideration and communicate its decision promptly to facilitate the completion of the constitutional amendment process.

“The leadership of the National Assembly respectfully requests that the Kebbi State House of Assembly accord the Bill expeditious consideration and communicate its resolution to the National Assembly at the earliest opportunity,” the letter stated.

It added that the request was made pursuant to Section 9(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, following directives from the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Internal Security for further deliberation ahead of the Assembly’s decision.

Under the constitutional amendment procedure, a proposed alteration must be approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can be presented to the President for assent.

The proposed establishment of state police has remained a major issue in Nigeria’s security debate, with proponents arguing that decentralising policing would improve responses to local security threats and strengthen community-based security efforts.

The proposal is particularly significant for states such as Kebbi, which have faced security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Supporters believe state police officers would be better positioned to gather intelligence, understand local security concerns and respond more quickly to emerging threats because of their proximity to the communities they serve.

However, the proposal has also raised concerns about potential political interference, abuse of power and the need for adequate safeguards to guarantee the independence, accountability and professionalism of state police services.

The Kebbi Assembly is expected to deliberate on the bill through its legislative processes before communicating its position to the National Assembly.

Murtala Adamu Diri, Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.

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Breaking : Tinubu Breaks New Ground as First Nigerian President to Receive Proposed UN Budget

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21 hours ago

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October 20, 2026

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No President Bola Tinubu received in audience the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim after he presented the proposed $14 billion UN budget for 2027.

President Bola Tinubu has received copies of the proposed 2027 United Nations budget from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, who chairs the UN committee responsible for budgetary and administrative matters, presented the seven-volume document to the President at the State House, Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the presentation, Ibrahim described the occasion as historic, saying it was the first time in 66 years that a Nigerian president had received the proposed UN budget through the process.

He said, “This is the presentation of the United Nations proposed budget for 2027 that was presented to me by the General Assembly, by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the Fifth Committee, and that budget has seven volumes.

“So it has to be presented to my country because my country is a member of the United Nations. I share the budget at the committee, so the appropriate thing to do is to bring the budget home and deliver it to the President.

“This is the first time in 66 years that Nigeria will share budget in the committee. The first time. So I don’t know when we’re going to do that again in history.”

Ibrahim added, “President Bola Tinubu is making history to have been able to receive that budget, being the first President in 66 years that will receive such budget from the United Nations, and it’s not a small issue for a country to receive the whole UN budget.”

He said the proposed budget covered the organisation’s regular activities and peacekeeping operations, with approximately $3.4bn allocated to the regular budget and $8.5bn for peacekeeping.

Ibrahim put the total at about $14bn, although the figures he cited for the two components add up to $11.9bn.

He stressed that the document was still a proposal and had not received final approval from UN member states.

“The budget still has to be approved. This is a proposed budget. It’s at the proposed stage. You submit it to your country, and thereafter the budget is finally discussed. Figures are adjusted, and then finally the final budget is approved and spending commences,” he said.

Asked about the support Nigeria could receive from the UN, Ibrahim said discussions on the proposed budget were ongoing and declined to specify what Nigeria might benefit from it.

He also cited the construction of a $267m UN conference centre in Kenya as an example of the organisation’s investment in facilities in member states.

The proposed budget will undergo further scrutiny and adjustments before member states approve the final figures and spending begins.

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Abuja-Kaduna Train: Opeifa Denies NRC’s Involvement in Ticket Racketeering, Blames Scammers and High Demand

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3 days ago

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October 18, 2026

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……..NRC Introduces Double Verification to Curb Racketeering

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has denied allegations that the corporation deliberately creates artificial scarcity of train tickets on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) to facilitate their resale at inflated prices through unauthorised agents.

The controversy followed a viral social media video by Instagram blogger Faizah Raji, who operates under the handle @wearegst, alleging that the corporation deliberately withholds tickets from its official electronic ticketing platform and makes them available through agents at exorbitant prices.

In the video, titled “The NRC Is Stealing Its Own Tickets to Resell,” the blogger claimed that she was unable to obtain a ticket through the official booking portal but subsequently purchased one from an agent at twice the official price.

Responding to the allegations, the NRC management described the claims linking the corporation to the alleged racketeering as misleading, insisting that the corporation does not directly buy or sell tickets on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor.

According to the management, electronic ticketing on the standard-gauge rail services operates under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, with private concessionaires responsible for ticket sales.

SecureID/TPS handles ticketing for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, while Global Software Digital Solutions (GSDS) manages the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service. Fane Warri-Itakpe Ticketing Solutions Limited is responsible for ticketing on the Warri-Itakpe Train Service.

The NRC said the concessionaires were approved by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) before 2023.

Explaining the persistent difficulty passengers face in securing tickets, the corporation attributed the situation largely to a significant imbalance between passenger demand and the number of seats available.

According to the NRC, demand for train services on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor has exceeded available capacity by more than tenfold, putting considerable pressure on the ticketing system.

The management maintained that the reported experience of purchasing a ticket through an agent did not, in itself, establish that the corporation was responsible for creating artificial scarcity or facilitating the alleged resale.

It also warned passengers against patronising unofficial ticket agents, stressing that those who purchase tickets outside approved channels do so at their own risk.

The corporation explained that the Federal Government introduced the National Identification Number (NIN) requirement for train ticket purchases following the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, as part of measures to improve passenger identification and curb ticket racketeering.

However, it said suspected fraudsters had devised ways of obtaining multiple NINs to purchase tickets for resale to unsuspecting travellers.

To address the challenge, the NRC introduced a double-verification process in 2025, requiring passengers to undergo NIN verification and present personal identification before boarding.

The corporation said its ticketing and verification system is integrated with the database of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), enabling officials at Idu and Kubwa in Abuja, as well as Rigasa in Kaduna, to verify the identity and photograph associated with the NIN used to purchase a ticket.

The management, however, acknowledged that the Rigasa station in Kaduna lacks an adequate access-control system, a shortcoming it said could occasionally allow agents linked to ticket scams to overwhelm security personnel.

The introduction of a second verification process, modelled on the system used at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, is intended to strengthen checks and prevent passengers from travelling with tickets purchased using another person’s identity.

As part of efforts to address complaints about ticket availability, the NRC said the electronic ticketing concessionaires had been directed to improve access to their online platforms and ensure compliance with established ticketing procedures.

The corporation also reiterated that purchasing tickets from third parties using another person’s NIN or name was unacceptable, describing the practice as economic sabotage.

It stressed that passengers should book through approved portals and avoid sharing their NIN details and other personal information with agents or third parties who could exploit such information for fraudulent transactions.

The NRC management declared zero tolerance for ticket racketeering, warning that any staff member found participating in or colluding with individuals involved in the practice would face disciplinary action.

The corporation said it remained committed to protecting the integrity of its operations, improving customer service and ensuring that passengers have access to safe, affordable, reliable and convenient rail transportation.

While the allegations have renewed public debate over ticket availability and the effectiveness of the electronic ticketing system, the NRC maintained that the immediate challenges include rising passenger demand, limited seating capacity and the activities of individuals exploiting the system.

The corporation urged passengers to use only approved ticketing platforms and cooperate with verification procedures to help curb fraud and protect the railway system.

The NRC said it would continue working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen its ticketing processes and improve the passenger experience across its rail corridors.

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