Economy
Amaechi, Atiku, El-Rufai Desperate, Disoriented By Tinubu’s Reforms: APC
Amaechi, Atiku, El-Rufai Desperate, Disoriented By Tinubu’s Reforms: APC
Amaechi, Atiku, el-Rufai desperate, disoriented by Tinubu’s reforms: APC. The All Progressives Congress (APC) says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-minister Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, are united by a desperate desire to return to power for personal gain.
The party said the three politicians, who made critical remarks about President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies during Amaechi’s 60th birthday lecture in Abuja on May 31, are simply “frustrated rent-seekers clinging to a fading political relevance”.
While commenting on the state of the economy, Amaechi, who was the speaker of the Rivers house of assembly between 1999 and 2007 and also the two-term governor of the state from 2007 to 2015, said he is hungry.
“We’re all hungry; all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power,” Amaechi had said at the event.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of the APC, carpeted the politicians for blaming Tinubu for a problem they also failed to eradicate in almost 25 years their party was in control.
“The APC strongly rejects the baseless allegation that the APC government of President Bola Tinubu was ‘weaponising’ poverty by not eradicating the scourge in two years – a feat they themselves failed to achieve during a quarter of a century in power,” the statement reads.
Morka said the birthday lecture was turned into a “frenzied” gathering of “displaced rent-seekers who misused their time in office and are now disoriented by Tinubu’s reforms”.
“These three individuals have occupied Nigeria’s highest political offices between 1999 and 2023,” he said.
“In all 24 years, the trio, individually or collectively, could not and did not eradicate poverty in their states or the country.
“They did not even attempt to address, let alone tackle, the structural challenges and distortions that stifled the economy and worsened poverty over the years.”
Morka accused them of “mindless rent-seeking, selling national assets to cronies, wasteful spending, and sponsoring state violence”.
Reacting to comments by the former minister of transportation, the APC spokesperson said, “That’s about a quarter of a century of freeloading by Amaechi on state resources, with absolutely no record of attempting to combat poverty in his Rivers state or the country.”
“When Amaechi declared, ‘I am hungry,’ he must mean, and must be understood to mean, that he is hungry and desperate to return to his felt entitled dependency on state resources and patronage.”
Morka added that the former minister’s complaint about “hunger” barely two years out of office “underscores the depth of the self-serving motivations” behind his criticism.
The APC spokesperson said Nigerians can see through what he described as “disruptive politicking” from opposition figures, who are “losing their grip on the economy”.
He noted that Tinubu’s economic reforms have forced a departure from the rent-seeking model, replacing it with one that rewards “hard work, productivity, and innovation”.
Morka also blamed past administrations — especially the 16 years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — for failing to allow the naira to find its real value.
“The erstwhile, artificially overvalued naira stifled local production, encouraged import dependency, and exacerbated poverty,” he said.

El-Rufai Desperate
“Atiku and Peter Obi, who are now vociferously criticising President Tinubu’s policies, amassed their wealth from the very import-dependent system they are desperately trying to preserve.”
He said Atiku, a former customs officer, and Obi, a successful importer, “reaped enormous benefits from the old system”.
“Their criticisms reek of special interest masqueraded as concern for the people,” he added.
According to Morka, by letting market forces determine the naira’s value, Tinubu is incentivising investment and economic growth.
“In two years, President Tinubu has demonstrated political will to tackle structural barriers to the country’s economic growth and development far more than any other president in Nigeria’s modern history,” he said.
Morka described the president’s critics as “beneficiaries of a corrupt and inefficient economic system” who are unsettled by reforms dismantling “their reckless plunder and exploitation of the economy”.
He said the removal of the fuel subsidy “ended massive corruption”, eliminated fuel queues, and attracted investments to the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the harmonisation of exchange rates has boosted competitiveness and revenue, enabling governments to invest more in infrastructure, health, education and social welfare. He noted that states now pay N70,000 minimum wage, up from N30,000, attributing it to Tinubu’s reforms.
“The president’s reforms are dawning a new day for Nigeria, now witnessing economic transformation never before seen in our country’s history,” Morka said.
“Our trade balances are seeing a drastic improvement, with a sharp decline in imports and a steep rise in exports.”
He said Nigeria recorded 4.6 percent GDP growth in the last quarter of 2024, the highest in a decade, despite the global oil price downturn.
He added that the reforms are laying a foundation for food security, industrialisation and sustainable growth.
He said the administration is focused on long-term prosperity, even if it comes with short-term cost-of-living challenges.
“Mr President is on course and will not be distracted by the selfish partisan rambling of some hardened political opportunists and economic exploiters,” he said.
“The best strategic interest of our economy and the good people of Nigeria must continue to trump any and all political or electoral calculations.”
Economy
Governor Uba Sani Presents N985.9bn ‘People-Centred’ 2026 Budget To Kaduna Assembly
Governor Uba Sani Presents N985.9bn ‘People-Centred’ 2026 Budget To Kaduna Assembly
Governor Uba Sani presents N985.9bn ‘people-centred’ 2026 budget to Kaduna assembly. Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, has presented a N985.9 billion 2026 appropriation bill to the state house of assembly for consideration and passage.
Speaking at the Lugard Hall on Monday, the governor said the draft budget emerged from “one of the widest consultation processes” ever undertaken in the state, involving traditional rulers, civil society organisations (CSOs), women’s groups, youth associations, business leaders and vulnerable groups across all local governments.
Sani described the budget proposal as a people-centred financial plan designed to consolidate ongoing reforms in security, infrastructure, education and rural development.
He added that the contributions of farmers, traders, teachers, artisans, persons with disabilities and widows formed “the backbone” of the proposal, strengthening participatory governance and accountability.
According to the governor, the appropriation bill comprises N734.2 billion in recurrent revenue and N251.6 billion in capital receipts, with capital expenditure accounting for 71 percent of the total figure.
He said education and infrastructure each received 25 percent of the draft budget, while health was allocated 15 percent.
Agriculture received 11 percent, security six percent, social development five percent, governance five percent, and climate action four percent of the proposed budget.
The governor also announced that every one of the state’s 255 wards would receive N100 million for community-identified projects under the ward development committee, which he said is “Nigeria’s largest grassroots budget model”.
He urged lawmakers to give the budget expeditious consideration, describing it as a vision of “renewal, resilience and far-reaching vision” for every ward and local government.
Reviewing the outgoing 2025 fiscal year, Sani said the period would be remembered for “remarkable achievements and resilient advancement”, despite economic headwinds, fluctuating federal allocations and persistent security threats.
On security, he said Kaduna faced threats ranging from banditry to kidnappings and communal conflicts, adding that improved collaboration with federal security agencies has restored confidence in many troubled communities.
According to him, previously divided communities are reconciling, farmlands are reopening, and schools once shut due to insecurity have returned to full activity through the Kaduna peace model.
The governor said his administration is executing 140 road projects covering 1,335 kilometres, adding that 64 roads have been completed.
The roads, he said, have opened new economic corridors and linked long-neglected communities.
He also said the Kaduna bus rapid transit (KBRT) system would be the first in northern Nigeria, featuring CNG-powered buses, digital ticketing and a 24-kilometre dedicated corridor.
Sani noted that the interstate bus terminal in Kakuri is 75 percent completed, while the subsidised transport scheme has saved residents more than N500 million through free and discounted rides.
He added that work on the Kaduna light rail is progressing, with phase 1 targeting the Rigachikun–Sabon Tasha corridor and phase 2 planned to link Millennium City to Rigasa.
‘300,000 CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL’
The governor said education remains the “cornerstone” of his development agenda, noting that 535 schools were reopened and more than 300,000 out-of-school children returned to classrooms in 2025.
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He recalled slashing tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by 40 percent and listed other interventions, including the construction of 736 classrooms, renovation of 1,220 schools, and provision of water and sanitation facilities, furniture, and training for over 33,000 teachers.
In the health sector, Sani said all 255 primary healthcare centres have been upgraded to Level 2 status.
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He also announced the renovation of 15 general hospitals, the completion of five, and the commissioning of the 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital.
He added that the state has implemented CONMESS and CONHESS, strengthened emergency services, built an oxygen plant, improved the medical warehouse and set aside ₦1 billion to insure vulnerable households.

Uba Sani Says
The governor said agricultural investment rose from N1.4 billion (2023) to N74.2 billion (2025), enabling the distribution of more than 900 trucks of free fertiliser and expanded support for irrigation, mechanisation, vaccines and seed improvement.
He added that the African Development Bank-supported $510 million special agro-industrial processing zone project is transforming the state into an agro-industrial hub.
On skills development, he highlighted the establishment of the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, satellite campuses, partnerships with Microsoft and Google, and the ongoing remodelling of Panteka Market to support over 38,000 artisans.
ASSEMBLY PROMISES SPEEDY REVIEW
Yusuf Liman, speaker of the Kaduna state house of assembly, described the budget as “ambitious, comprehensive and aligned with the state’s development priorities”.
Liman said the proposal reflects a commitment to strengthening human capital, expanding rural infrastructure and ensuring balanced urban-rural development.
He commended the governor for granting lawmakers direct involvement in constituency projects and praised the executive-legislative synergy, which according to him, has accelerated development interventions.
The speaker promised a thorough review of the document and pledged that the assembly would work with the executive to ensure its speedy passage.
UBA SANI HAILS TAJUDEEN ABBAS
Meanwhile, Sani has hailed Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, as one of the most accomplished presiding officers in the history of the national assembly.
Speaking on Sunday in Zaria at the renewed hope empowerment programme sponsored by Abbas, the governor said the speaker’s ability to manage the complexities of the 360-member lower chamber sets him apart.
Sani, who was special guest of honour at the event, added that his assessment is shared by President Bola Tinubu.
“As a former senator, I know how difficult it is to preside over the house of representatives,” the governor said.
“No matter your competence, patience and hard work, one day you will be pushed to the wall. But as of today, in the history of Nigeria, no speaker has brought about development like Tajudeen Abbas,” he said.
“I’m not the one praising him; it was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who said it. I’m only repeating what he said.”
Sani said he is proud of Abbas for championing empowerment initiatives for youths and women, not only in his Zaria constituency but across Kaduna state and the country.
The governor also recalled that some political actors questioned his role in rallying support for Abbas during the contest for speaker.
“I told them my support was not based on politics. I will support anyone who will bring development to Kaduna state,” he said.
“Now, I have been vindicated by the projects he has executed and the empowerment programmes he is doing.
“I have told all legislators here that we can only be on good terms if they bring development to their people.
“Anyone who does not attract a school, hospital or any project to his constituency, we will part ways with him.”
Sani said the speaker has assisted all Kaduna federal lawmakers in securing projects for their constituencies, adding that Abbas is also personally executing projects across all 23 LGAs in the state.
He appealed for similar consideration for Sabon Gari LGA, saying residents want a stadium like the one being constructed in Zaria.
The event, held at Kofar Doka, featured the distribution of empowerment tools, including SUVs for traditional leaders; tractors, combine harvesters, fertiliser applicators and knapsack sprayers for farmers; as well as solar- and petrol-powered irrigation pumps.
Women beneficiaries also received deep freezers, grinding machines, industrial sewing machines and haulage tricycles.
Economy
APC Chieftain Asks Governor Otti To Review Levies Imposed On Aba Traders
APC Chieftain Asks Governor Otti To Review Levies Imposed On Aba Traders
APC chieftain asks governor Otti to review levies imposed on Aba traders. Paul Ikonne, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia, has criticised Alex Otti, governor of Abia, over the “excessive” levies imposed on traders in Aba markets.
BACKGROUND
Some traders in Abia state recently appealed to Otti to intervene in what they described as the illegal demolition of their shops and the escalating cost of spaces in the market currently undergoing remodelling.

Alex Otti
They said the firm handling the project has not fulfilled its agreement to provide temporary accommodation and halt further demolition until existing work is completed.
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Economy
FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje Affected As FCTA Begins Enforcement On Revoked Property Titles
FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje Affected As FCTA Begins Enforcement On Revoked Property Titles
FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje affected as FCTA begins enforcement on revoked property titles. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has published the names of entities and individuals linked to 1,095 property titles recently revoked over the non-payment of statutory land charges.
The affected properties are located in high-brow districts including Asokoro, Maitama, Garki and Wuse.
In a public notice signed by the FCTA management, the agency said enforcement actions against the properties will commence following the expiration of the final grace period of 14 days on November 25, 2025.
The FCTA said 835 properties defaulted in payment of ground rents, while 260 properties defaulted in payment of violation fee and land use conversion fee.

Patience Jonathan
Among the individuals whose properties were listed in the notice are Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano; Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River; Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan; David Mark, former senate president; and Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governor of Osun.
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