By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed an unprecedented N15.

26 trillion to the Federal, State and Local Governments in 2024.

The disbursements according to a statement by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), represent a historic high in revenue distribution and a 43% increase compared to previous years.

The FAAC Quarterly Review released in Abuja on Tuesday by NEITI attributed the surge in revenue disbursements to sustained fiscal reform policies of the Federal Government especially the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign adjustment exchange rate policies which has continued to impact positively on oil revenue remittances.

Announcing the report’s release at the NEITI House in Abuja, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of NEITI, noted that the analyses were conducted against the backdrop of major fiscal reforms that reshaped the revenue landscape, particularly the impact of subsidy removal in mid-2023 on national and subnational finances and the consequences of debt repayment deductions on state allocations.

According to Dr. Orji, the report’s objective is to assess the sustainability of the federal and state governments’ borrowing to fund their projects and programmes, as well as the implications of natural resource dependence, particularly for states benefitting from the 13% derivation revenue from oil, gas, and solid minerals.

He added, “The analysis focused on crude oil revenue derivation states, as solid minerals continue to underperform despite their significant potentials.”

A breakdown of disbursements showed that the Federal Government got N4.95 trillion; State Governments, N5.81 trillion; Local Governments, N3.77 trillion.

Total FAAC Disbursements (Including Derivation Revenue) stood at N15.26 trillion.

The NEITI FAAC Quarterly Review showed that distribution to state governments in 2024 recorded the largest percentage increase of 62% from N3.58 trillion in 2023, followed by local government councils with a 47% increase, while the Federal Government’s share rose by 24% from N3.99 trillion in 2023 to N4.95 trillion in 2024.

The report highlights that total FAAC allocations increased by 66.2% from N9.18 trillion in 2022 to N10.9 trillion in 2023 and N15.26 trillion in 2024, with the most significant growth occurring between 2023 and 2024.

The Quarterly Review attributes the sustained rise in revenue disbursements to the government’s fiscal reforms, specifically the removal of fuel subsidy and exchange rate adjustments, which boosted naira-denominated mineral revenue by over 400%.

While NEITI welcomes and would continue to support the reforms with credible information and data, the Review called for adequate measures to manage and mitigate economic and other social risks associated with reforms in transitional economies like Nigeria.

NEITI outlined such risks to include, Inflationary Pressures, possible rise in Debt Servicing Costs, Fiscal Uncertainties for States Dependent on oil revenues.

NEITI recommended that governments at all levels take innovative actions to mitigate the impact of these economic challenges.

The report also revealed that Lagos State received the highest allocation of N531.1 billion in 2024, followed by Delta (N450.4 billion) and Rivers (N349.9 billion). Conversely, Nasarawa State received the least allocation of N108.3 billion, followed by Ebonyi (N110 billion) and Ekiti (N111.9 billion).

Furthermore, six states—Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Kano—each received over N200 billion, collectively accounting for 33% of total allocations to all states, while the six lowest-receiving states—Yobe, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa—accounted for only 11.5%.

The report revealed a major financial divide, with the top four states—Lagos, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom—collectively receiving N1.49 trillion, over three times more than the combined total of the bottom four states—Kwara, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa—which received N442.4 billion.

The review highlighted that total debt deductions for states’ foreign debts and other contractual obligations amounted to N800 billion, representing 12.3% of total allocations to the 36 states, including derivation revenue.

Lagos State recorded the highest debt deduction of N164.7 billion, accounting for over 20% of total deductions; Kaduna State followed with N51.2 billion, while Rivers (N38.6 billion) and Bauchi (N37.2 billion) also recorded significant debt deductions.

The report noted that many states with high debt ratios were in the lower half of the FAAC allocation rankings but ranked higher for debt deductions, raising concerns about their debt-to-revenue ratios and overall fiscal health.

In recommendations, NEITI urged the government to sustain policy reform measures to encourage sustainable revenue growth and economic stability with priority attention focussed on job creation, poverty reduction and control of inflation on goods and services.

It also recommended exchange rate stability to mitigate inflationary pressures, adopting conservative estimates for crude oil production and pricing to prevent budget shortfall; reviewing and diversifying minerals revenue dependence while incentivizing investment and strengthening regulatory oversight; enhancing internal revenue generation by all three tiers of government an bolstering savings in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to create a buffer against revenue volatility.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

In order to address the challenges of Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria, Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV),  Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDs), the National Assembly (NASS) on Tuesday said it has allocated N700 billion.

The Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Hon.

Amobi Godwin Ogah, disclosed this during a pre-World TB Day press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme for this year’s World TB Day is “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver”.

Ogah commended President Bola Tinubu administration for allocating the money and for prioritizing health funding, especially following the recent withdrawal of U.

S. financial support for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs in Nigeria.

Nigeria remains the country with the highest TB burden in Africa, with an estimated 499,000 new cases annually, according to the 2024 Global TB Report.

The disease, which is airborne and preventable, continues to claim thousands of lives due to inadequate detection and treatment coverage. Ogah emphasized that one untreated TB patient can infect up to 15 others in a year, underscoring the urgent need for increased screening and treatment initiatives.

To accelerate progress, Nigeria is scaling up the deployment of digital X-ray machines with artificial intelligence capabilities for TB screening, particularly in underserved communities. Other measures include integrating TB services into maternal and child healthcare programs, strengthening community engagement and launching nationwide awareness campaigns to reduce stigma.

“This N700 billion must be fully accounted for, and we will not tolerate any mismanagement or diversion of these critical resources,” he warned.

He urged all stakeholders, including private sector partners and civil society organizations, to work together in achieving the goal of eliminating TB in Nigeria by 2030. “If we commit, invest, and deliver, we can end TB in Nigeria. The time to act is now,” Ogah concluded.

Also, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health at the federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said 499,000 Nigerians will develop Tuberculosis in 2023.

He said it is imperative for the nation to increase its efforts to combat tuberculosis in Nigeria.

Dr. Ntadom noted a worrisome trend in the rise of multidrug-resistant TB cases, stressing the importance of strategic interventions.

According to Dr. Labaran Shehu, National Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Program, said “Nigeria remains one of the world’s highest-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB), contributing 20% of the cases in Africa in 2023.

He disclosed that Nigeria recorded approximately 499,000 TB cases last year, with an alarming mortality rate of 71,000 deaths—18% of TB-related deaths across the continent. He emphasized that every hour, eight Nigerians die from tuberculosis, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened intervention and awareness.

Dr. Shehu lamented that, despite the fact that TB is preventable and curable, public knowledge about the disease remains low. Findings from a recent national survey showed that 64% of Nigerian women and 70% of men are unaware of TB or hold incorrect beliefs about it. The financial burden on TB patients is also severe, with 71% experiencing catastrophic costs—spending over 20% of their household income on treatment—while 23% reported selling their properties to cover medical expenses.

He stressed that TB is no longer a “disease of the poor,” as it can spread within households through close contact with infected individuals.

He said Funding for TB control remains grossly inadequate, with only 30% of the required budget available in 2023.

He therefore called for increased domestic financing, stressing that relying on international aid is unsustainable. However, he noted that Nigeria has made some progress, expanding TB testing facilities and deploying over 370 portable digital X-ray machines to enhance early diagnosis. While the country’s TB case detection gap has reduced from 76% in 2017 to 40% in 2022 and 53% in 2023,

Shehu urged stakeholders, including the media, to intensify advocacy efforts to close the gap and accelerate Nigeria’s fight against TB.

In her address, Acting Board Chair of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo has called for stronger commitments from policymakers and increased healthcare financing to accelerate tuberculosis (TB) eradication.

She highlighted recent innovations, such as shorter treatment regimens and digital adherence technologies, as crucial steps toward eliminating TB in Nigeria but stressed the need for sustained efforts.

She outlined key achievements in 2024, including the investiture of Nigeria’s First Lady as the Global Stop TB Champion and the commitment of governors’ wives as state-level champions. Advocacy efforts have led to significant resource mobilization, with the federal government and private sector pledging $50 million for TB initiatives.

By Joel Aladele, Abuja

In a move aimed at restoring order and governance in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu yesterday declared a state of emergency, citing severe political instability and unprecedented challenges to democratic processes.

Tinubu made the proclamation during a nationwide broadcast, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy Ngozi Odu and all the members of the House of Assembly for an initial six months.

Consequently, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) has been appointed as the state’s interim military administrator, tasked with steering the region back to stability.

The president cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution while making the proclamation.

The section interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger, disaster or terrorist attacks in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.

A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety.

For about two months, there seemed to be no end in sight in the protracted feud and power tussle between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and his estranged ex-political godson Fubara over the control of the political structure in the oil-rich Rivers State.

Pipelines have reportedly exploded in the state as the political tension heightened, with civil servants threatening mass protests against the Martins Amaewhule group in the House of Assembly loyal to Wike.

According to the President, the latest security reports made available show that “between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.”

In view of the development, Tinubu therefore declared Fubara, his Deputy and elected lawmakers suspended for six months.

“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.

 “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.

 “By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.

 “In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.

He, however, said that for the avoidance of doubt, the declaration did not affect the judicial arm of the state, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.

“The Administrator will not make any new laws.

‘He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.

“This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.

“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State.

“It will awaken all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole,” he said

The President’s action followed a Supreme Court ruling that deemed Governor Fubara’s actions unconstitutional, declaring, “A government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended.” The court found that Fubara’s unilateral decision to demolish the state legislature — a move made over a year ago — effectively rendered the governance structure in Rivers non-existent. The court’s judgment emphasized the need for immediate restoration of constitutional order in the state, further complicating the already fraught political landscape.

On May 18, 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo declared state of emergency on Plateau State, suspending the elected Governor Joshua Dariye and the State House of Assembly in the process,  also citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.  He accused the governor of failing to act to end a cycle of bloodletting violence between the Plateau State’s Muslim and Christian communities that claimed over 2,000 lives since September 2001.

Similarly, President Goodluck Jonathan also declared a State of Emergency in some local governments in Borno and Plateau States in 2011 before full declaration in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States.

Too Early to Comment on Presidential Declaration – Rivers Govt

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has stated that it is too early to make comments on the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast, yesterday, had suspended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, as well as the members of the State House of Assembly.

When contacted immediately after the declaration by the president, the Commissioner of Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said it was too hasty for the government to take any position.

Johnson said: “The president has made a declaration and what do you think we can say. I think it is too hasty to make any comment about it.”