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Anti-corruption: We’ve Advanced in Fiscal Transparency – Buhari

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By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said his administration has reached advanced stage in Fiscal Transparency, adding that the Appropriation Bill was placed online within hours of its presentation in the National Assembly.

 

The President assured that with the various reform agenda implemented by his administration, very soon, all government financial transactions would be done in the open.

 

Buhari said this in Kaduna at the Passing-Out Parade of Detective Inspector Course Five of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“My resolve is to ensure that the reforms are deepened such that there will be no hiding place for corrupt persons and proceeds of corruption.

My aim is to ensure that no government financial transaction is done in secret and all are subjected to public scrutiny.

“The objective of this administration is to institute a level of transparency in governance through mainly information technology platforms. Just as advanced democracies and some developing countries, I am determined that within a short period, citizens would be able to follow core government operations online,” President Buhari said.

The Budget Office of the Federation, he added, had been engaging interest groups in the budget cycle just as a pilot scheme of 10 MDAs had been test-running online displaying their budgets and expenditure movements.”

The Federal Government’s “commitment to online disclosure of Beneficial Owners of Companies, generally within the framework of the Corporate Affairs Commission, and in the extractive industries through Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), is on course.

“I am aware that the portals are ready but owners of companies are unwilling to comply with all disclosure requirements. May I use this opportunity to urge all well-meaning Nigerians to fully comply”, President Buhari added.

Various national reforms and collaborative efforts with international organisations, according to him, were designed to institutionally strengthen Anti-corruption agencies in the country.

 “We have been working within the frameworks of National Action Plan for Open Government Partnership (OGP), National Anti-Corruption Strategy which is an adaptation of United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the Global Forum for Asset Recovery (GFAR).  

“Several of the reforms have been effective for several years with great impact on revenue and expenditure management. These include; the Government Integrated, Financial and Management Information System (GIFMIS), Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Single Treasury Account, and Bank Verification Number (BVN).

“Executive Orders, such as Preservation of Suspicious Assets Connected with Corruption (Executive Order 6), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Act 2018; and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2018 have been operating for a few years and effectively limiting system opportunities for corrupt practices.

“This administration, right from the inception, aligned with the Open Governance Partnership and Global Forum for Asset Recovery in addition to existing commitments to African Union and Economic Community of West African States’ Conventions Against Corruption, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).  

“These frameworks focus significantly on systems reforms in order to prevent corruption. Nigeria’s active participation in these global anti-corruption platforms means that the country is subjecting itself to periodic review of its progress in implementing the articles of conventions thus the fight against corruption.”

President Buhari said his administration’s war against corruption is also attracting international endorsements, stressing: “Our fight against corruption is being recognized by the international community as real and effective.

“The face of the country abroad is also changing as the international community is beginning to see Nigeria making substantial progress in the enthronement of transparency, accountability and good governance,” he noted.

President Buhari also commended the EFCC in making the war against corruption effective.

“I have listened attentively to the report in the speech presented by the Chairman of EFCC. The report is an attestation that the right policies have been put in place to fight corruption and the fight is becoming much more effective. I make bold to say that Nigeria is winning the war against corruption.  I congratulate the EFCC on its good work and I urge that the current level of success be sustained and accelerated,” he said.

In his remarks, the EFCC acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu said “EFCC on its part is currently developing its Statement of Strategy for 2020 to 2025, in line with the five pillars of National Anti-Corruption Strategy. This was preceded by an earlier strategic plan which was successfully implemented.”

He added that the EFCC, with the support of development partners, had built one of the best investigative laboratories in West Africa, which had aided investigators and prosecutors in achieving accuracy and deployment of incontrovertible evidence in courts.

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Guinea Insurance Reports N1.42bn Revenue Growth in H1 2025

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Guinea Insurance says it generated N1.42 billion revenue growth in the first half of 2025, representing a 12.38 percent increase from N1.27 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.The company announced this through a corporate disclosure through the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.

Profit after tax for the six months period declined by 198.
95 per cent to a loss of N114.7 million from a gain N115.
9 million reported the previous year.The company’s total asset grew from N5.704 billion in the first half of 2024 to N6.97 billion in 2025.Total liabilities stood at N1.86 billion, down from N1.85 billion in June 2024Earnings per share (EPS) of the company dropped to 1.44 kobo from the EPS of 1.46 kobo reported same period last year.
N278.07 million was generated as investment income.(NAN)

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Benue killings: Police Burst Bandits Hideout, Recover Rifles

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From Attah Ede, Makurdi, Joseph Amedu, Lokoja and Dan Amasingha, Minna

Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT) have apprehended two notorious illegal arms dealers and some bandits who participated in the recent herdsmen attack on Yelewata community and recovered a cache of deadly weapons in Abinsi town, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Force police public relations officer (FPPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi who disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the Police operatives successfully intercepted and dismantled a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue State and other North-Central States.
Adejobi explained that on June, 21, operatives of the FID-IRT acting on credible intelligence on the activities of some bandits who participated in the Yelwata killings, stormed the hideout of the bandits in a forest at the boundary of Kardako, Nassarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State.He maintained that a fierce gun duel ensued causing the bandits to flee with various degrees of gunshot injuries and in the process 2 GPMG were recovered from their hideout in the process He added that on July 8, 2025, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), in a tactical operation, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Makurdi, Benue State, arrested one Abubakar Isah, aged 25, found in possession of 3 AK47 rifles and 1002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.According to him, the arrest followed actionable intelligence indicating an impending arms movement intended for distribution to bandits groups known to be terrorizing various communities in Benue State.”In furtherance of Police investigation on the deadly attacks by bandits on communities in Benue State, Police operatives have again successfully intercepted and dismantled a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue State and other North-Central States.”Further investigations revealed that the arms and ammunition were supplied by a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, operating from Abinsi, Guma Local Government area of Benue State, and was to be delivered to one Dan Hassan, a bandit kingpin known for orchestrating deadly attacks against communities across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.”In another related development, on the 12th of July, 2025, FID-IRT operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested one ibrahim AKA Chelsea, who confessed to have sent the sum of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira( 6,500,000) to the same Adikwu Jacob, Six Million Naira (6,000,000) being payment for delivery of 2 AK47 rifles and 2000 rounds of live ammunition, while Five Hundred Thousand Naira (500,000)would serve as payment for construction of a compartment in the Volkswagen vehicle to conceal the said arms for transportation to Kwara State. “In a swift follow-up clearance operation, the operatives stormed Abinsi town and successfully apprehended Jacob Adikwu on 16th July 2025 and recovered three (3) AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition and a volkswagen car from his hideout. Further investigation carried out by the operatives on the 17th July 2025, led to the recovery of additional five (5) AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1000 rounds of live ammunition from the same arms dealer.Adejobi maintained that efforts were being intensified to ensure Dan Hassan and other criminal elements responsible for terrorizing Benue State and other parts of the country are brought to book, while others in custody will have their day in court upon conclusion of investigation.He added that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the operatives for their doggedness at all times, and reiterated that there will be no hiding place for those who profit from the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians.Kogi, Kwara Security Joint Forces Arrests 12 Suspected Kidnappers, One InformantTwelve suspected kidnappers and one informant have been arrested in a coordinated security operation carried out across parts of Kogi and Kwara States.This was disclosed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo through a press statement yesterday in Lokoja.He said the suspects were apprehended during a series of raids jointly executed by the Hybrid Force from the Office of the National Security Adviser and Officers and Men of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Egbe. The operations covered Isanlu-Esa and Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, and Patigi, Lafiagi and Gbugbu in Kwara State.The statement identified the suspected kidnappers as Mainasara Abubakar, Sadik Abubakar, Jude Sani, Sanda Abubakar, Lawali Usman, Tukur Shehu, Hassan Abubakar, Kabiru Surajo, Makiri Dodo, Bala Hassan, Umaru Sanda, and Ruwa Abubakar. Also arrested was Rabiu Makeri, who is believed to be an informant for the gang.According to the statement, the security forces engaged the suspects in a fierce gun battle, during which some of the kidnappers fled, abandoning their motorcycles and kidnap victims. Several kidnapped women were successfully rescued during the confrontation.The Commissioner further assured the public that the arrested suspects will face full prosecution after investigations, reaffirming the state’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality.In a separate remark, the Executive Chairman of Yagba West LGA and ALGON Chairman for Kogi State, Hon. Tosin Olokun, expressed gratitude to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing the logistics and support that enabled the success of the operation.“Governor Ododo promised to restore peace to Yagba West and Yagba as a whole. Today, he has backed those words with decisive action. We can now heave a sigh of relief. The people of Yagba are grateful for his leadership and the results it is delivering,” Olokun said.The Kogi State Government emphasized its ongoing commitment to working with federal and regional partners to ensure the safety and security of all communities within the state.Cholera Outbreak Claims 13 Lives over 236 hospitalized in Six Niger LGAsA Cholera outbreak has been reported in parts of Niger State that has claimed twelve lives and led to the hospitalization of about 236 patients.It was gathered that the outbreak was first reported on Sunday in Shiroro local government area of Niger State.The water borne disease has claimed over 12 lives as of Wednesday from over four local government areas of the state.Sources disclosed that the worst hit local government areas are Minna, Bosso, Shiroro, Magama, Bisa and Munya Local government councils.The Health care official noted that over 239 people have been afflicted by the disease and are currently receiving medical attention across several primary healthcare centres across the affected councils.Worried by the development, the State government has opened an isolation centre at the old wing of late Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta primary healthcare centre along old airport road Minna.Confirming the development, Commissioner of primary healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana said the State government has swung into action by setting up a multi sectoral approach to halt the epidemic in the six local government areas.The Commissioner disclosed that, a treatment and isolation centres has been set up in each of the affected local government areas with a view of arresting the spread.”We have set up treatment and isolation centres to mitigate and also embarking on aggressive sensitization exercises”The campaign is now targeting religious bodies like CAN and Islamic bodies and the entire eight Emirates of the State.”The Commissioner commended Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for his commitment and all the donor agencies for coming to the aid of the State.Collaborating with the Commissioner, Director of public health Ministry of tertiary health care, Dr. Ibrahim Idris said Chanchaga (Minna) Bosso and Shiroro local government area are the worst hit Councils.

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CBN Holds MPC Meeting, Maintains Lending Rate at 27.5%

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has, once again, kept its key lending rate, known as the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), at 27.5 percent.The Governor of CBN, Yemi Cardoso announced the decision yesterday in Abuja, following the 301st Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.Cardoso said that all 12 MPC members voted unanimously to hold all key monetary parameters.

The committee, thus, retained the cash reserve ratio at 50 percent for deposit money banks and 16 per cent for merchant banks.
It also retained a liquidity ratio at 30 per cent, and the asymmetric corridor was held at +500/-100 basis points around the MPR.With this decision, the MPC has retained the rates for three consecutive meetings.
(NAN)

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