NEWS
Experts, Stakeholders Brainstorm on Insecurity in Middle Belt Region

Experts in the security sector under the aegis of Middle Belt Brain Trust (MBBT) on Tuesday, met with stakeholders in Nasarawa State towards finding lasting solution to recurring problems of insecurity in the region. The meeting convened in Lafia, in collaboration with the Institute For Integrated Transitions (IFIT), drew participants from the Nasarawa State Government and other stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious bodies and Civil Society Organisations.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of MBBT and former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Gen. Martin Luther-Agwai, said the mission of the group is to build social cohesion. According to him, the group’s vision is to support leaders from Nasarawa State develop frameworks for developing a new security architecture as well as improve on the state’s dispute resolution mechanism. “This is by working together to create locally-driven social covenant to be led by the people in entrenching lasting peace. “We are a team of volunteers made up of 15 experts in various areas – security, peace building, community and social development, inter-religious dialogue, mediation, and justice reform, drawn from Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau and Taraba States. “We focus on key medium-term structural and institutional challenges that have an outsized impact on state’s violence and prospects. “Leveraging our deep understanding of the local context and access to international best practices, we at the MBBT aim to combine a top-down and bottom-up approach that can simultaneously address the state’s challenges from multiple directions,” he said. On the choice of Nasarawa State for the meeting, Luther-Agwai said the state scored very high in terms of access to political, social leadership and collaboration indexes. “The state provides us an opportunity to build elite and social consensus. Nasarawa is a convergence point of urbanisation, diverse ethnic groups, and an increase in mega agro processing industries,” he said. Also, Mr Thomas Bimba, Country Coordinator, IFIT, said the institute is an International Non Government Organisation working through MBBT to generate creative, realistic and principled ideas aimed at expanding the range of perceived options available to advance peace and reconciliation. Gov. Abdullahi Sule, who declared the meeting open, lauded the organisers for the choice of Nasarawa. “Today’s event is in tandem with our collective commitment to bring lasting solution to the security challenges bedeviling our region and is line with the posture of President Muhammadu Buhari to restore permanent peace in the country,” Sule said. He reiterated that peace and security is a collective responsibility for all and “We must endeavour to come together in unison to fight crimes and criminality in our society for the collective good of all.”Sule called on citizens to always encourage and support the efforts of security agencies towards securing the environment for socio-economic activities to prosper. The governor assured that his administration would continue to welcome initiatives that would assist in promoting peaceful co-existence for socio-economic development of the society. (NAN)NEWS
FG, States, LGCs Share N2.001trn July, 2025 Revenue

By Tony Obiechina Abuja
A total sum of N2.001 trillion, being July 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils. The revenue was shared at the August 2025 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja.
The N2.001 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N1,282. 872 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N640. 610 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N37.601 billion, Exchange Difference N39.745 billion. A communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that total gross revenue of N3,836.980 trillion was available in the month of July 2025. In a statement by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public relations of the OAGF, on Friday, total deduction for cost of collection was N152,681 billion while total transfers, interventions, refunds and savings was N1,683.471 trillion. According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N3,070.127 trillion was received for the month of July 2025. This was lower than the sum of N3,485.235 trillion received in the month of June 2025 by N415.108 billion. Gross revenue of N687.940 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in July 2025. This was higher than the N678.165 billion available in the month of June 2025 by N9.775 billion. The communiqué stated that from the N2,000.828 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received total sum of N735.081 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N660.349 billion. The Local government Council received N485.039 billion, while the sum of N120.359 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting State as derivation revenue. On the N1,282.872 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N613.805 billion and the State Governments received N311.330 billion. The Local Government Councils received N240.023 billion and the sum of N117.714 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue. From the N640.610 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N96.092 billion, the State Governments received N320.305 billion and the Local Government Councils received N224.214 billion. A total sum of N5.640 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N37.601 billion, The State Governments received N18.801 billion and the Local Government Councils received N13.160 billion.From the N39.745 billion Exchange Difference, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N19.544 billion and the State Governments received N9.913 billion. The Local Government Councils received N7.643 billion, while the sum of N2.643 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue. In July 2025, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Oil and Gas Royalty, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) and Excise Duty increased significantly while Value Added Tax (VAT)and import Duty increased marginally. Companies Income Tax (CIT) and CET Levies recorded decreases.NEWS
Wike Reaffirms Support for Tinubu 2027 Re-election

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike yesterday said he will support any politician that supports President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 second term election.
Wike revealed this in Abuja at the construction and expansion of water supply in Karu, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The FCT Minister said the project was one of the promises of Tinubu last year and assured the residents of its timely completion.
He said, “And so, Mr. President, we have fulfilled the promises he made in providing potable clean water to the satellite towns. When we are coming, because when you commissioned this road, all of you have forgotten that this road was not passable.
You have forgotten.“From here to Kashi, 17 kilometers, we came and we did it. Now again, we are here to provide water for Karu, Orozo, Kurudu, and other neighboring communities. Water is key”.
He said the President has already approved that 60% of their money should be paid to the contractor.
“All I appeal to the community leaders, our youth, is to say that we support the company so that they will be able to finish this job on time. Initially, this job was to be done in 18 months, but with our plea to them and with the approval of Mr. President, that 60% of the sum should be paid to them, the contractors have promised, by the special grace of God, by June next year, we will come back here and thank God and you will all get water. So you no longer depend on digging your own borehole”, he said.
He said, “I have told them I will only support anyone who supports President Tinubu, because he is doing well.
“You know, one thing about government, one thing about government and politics, support those who have capacity to bring something to the people. Do you understand what I mean? Don’t support people who go on television, talk, talk, talk, talk, do you understand what I mean?
“Do you understand me? Don’t support those every day just to claim national television. This is not the time to cry. This is the time to bring something to the people”, he said.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud described water as one of the most essential resources for life and development.
According to her, “it sustains human health, supports agriculture, drives industry, and maintains ecosystems.”
Mahmoud, therefore, extended the administration’s profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his Renewed Hope Agenda which continues to translate into tangible projects that directly impact the lives of rural communities.
The project proposes the construction of approximately 194 kilometers of transmission and distribution pipelines to systematically enhance the capacity and coverage of the existing water supply network.
Presently only around one-quarter of the 344,000 residents have access to the municipal water supply system, and the overall coverage remains insufficient to meet the growing demand for potable water.
NEWS
Over 1,016 NYSC Members Complete Orientation Course in Abia

No fewer than 1,016 Batch ‘B’ Stream I National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed in Abia for 2025 have completed their orientation course.
The low-key closing ceremony took place, on Tuesday, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Umunna, Bende Local Government Area.
In a speech, the NYSC State Coordinator, Gladys Adama, who presided over the ceremony, urged the corps members to reflect on the progress they made during the three-week exercise.
She said that all the corps members had been posted to different parts of the state for their primary assignment.
Adama further said that the orientation course was designed to equip them with essential skills, knowledge, and values necessary for a successful service year.
Adama also advised them to adhere to the NYSC by-laws, adding that any infringement might attract sanctions, which could impact negatively on their service year.
She charged them to remain committed to acquiring valuable skills that would enhance their employability and entrepreneurial prospects during their post-camp Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training.
The state NYSC boss urged the corps members to actively engage with their host communities, stakeholders and fellow corps members “to promote cultural exchange, national integration and development”.
“When travelling, ensure your safety by avoiding night journeys and using approved motor parks,” she said.
Adama expressed profound gratitude to the State Government for its numerous support to the organisation in the state.
ReplyReply allForwardAdd reaction |