Rountrip

The Sokoto State Students Forum (SSSF) has added its voice to mounting calls for the immediate sack of Engr. Ahmed Farouk, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over what it described as an “unforgivable abuse of public trust”. In a statement issued in Sokoto on Sunday and signed by the group’s president, Abdullahi Al-Majeed, the forum accused the NMDPRA boss of “mocking the suffering of Nigerian students” by allegedly diverting public funds to finance the elite foreign education of his children while millions of children, especially in the north, remain out of school. “The allegations levelled against Engr. Farouk Ahmed are deeply troubling to all well-meaning Nigerians, but especially to students and young people who are already disillusioned by the scale of systemic corruption,” Al-Majeed said. “We have studied the evidence submitted by credible civil society organisations. These include school records showing that ...

By Thomas Amuna In the bustling heart of Nigeria’s economic landscape, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON, stepped into the role of Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, carrying the weight of a nation’s hopes. With a vision sharpened by years of academic rigour and a heart fueled by patriotic zeal, he embarked on a mission to reshape the nation’s fiscal destiny, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and renewal. Appointed by President Tinubu to steer the Renewed Hope Agenda, he set out to transform Nigeria’s economic narrative, weaving policies that promised growth, stability, and opportunity. With a master’s touch, he tackled fiscal challenges and championed welfare programs, determined to carve a path to prosperity for millions. His bold reforms, from stabilising the naira to empowering communities, lit a spark of hope in a nation yearning for progress. Born in 1961 to a teacher father whose lessons of discipline shaped him, Bagudu’s journey from the classrooms of Usm...

A leading policy think tank within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Progressive Research Initiative (PRI), has raised concerns about those angling to lead the party, declaring that Senator Tanko Al-Makura and Chief Barnabas Gemade do not possess the competence or contemporary political credentials required to guide the ruling party into the 2027 elections. In a statement jointly signed by Dr. Ali Ahmed and Dr. Tersoo Aondona, senior research fellows of the PRI, the group described the two aspirants as “yesterday’s men seeking tomorrow’s responsibilities”, and warned that recycling obsolete figures would jeopardise the party’s prospects in a fast-evolving political environment. “We have studied, with concern, the growing speculation around the possible return of Senator Al-Makura and Chief Barnabas Gemade to national party leadership,” the statement reads. “Our findings are unequivocal: neither of them reflects the tactical depth, ideological clarity, or generational appeal that...

By Amdrew Akor Tanimu Yakubu, Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, has emerged as a central figure in Nigeria’s public financial management landscape—an institutional reformer whose career has consistently fused macroeconomic insight with operational discipline. Since assuming office, he has redefined Nigeria’s budgeting architecture, embedding transparency, policy coherence, and institutional accountability into the heart of the federal fiscal process. A seasoned technocrat with extensive experience as Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning in Katsina State (1999–2002) and as Chief Economic Adviser to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Tanimu brings a uniquely integrative understanding of public finance—from subnational fiscal strategy to sovereign economic planning. His tenure at the Budget Office marks a return to first principles: restoring credibility, reasserting control, and retooling the budget as both a development and stabilization instrument....

A Northern youth advocacy group has raised the alarm over what it describes as the sharp decline in governance and development under Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, accusing the administration of reversing the modest gains recorded in the last administration. In a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday, the Arewa Youths for Democracy and Development (AYDD) said Zamfara is “far worse off today than it was before Lawal assumed office” in May 2023. The group said the current administration has failed across key sectors, including security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment. Comrade Ibrahim Danladi Gwaska, president of the group, said the optimism that trailed Lawal’s emergence has quickly turned into disillusionment. “Zamfara has effectively gone six years backward under Governor Dauda Lawal. What we see is not governance, but a tragic abdication of responsibility. There is no vision, no urgency, no coordination,” Gwaska said. According to him, the administr...

  By Andrew Oche    The Budget Office of the Federation, an agency within the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, traces its origins to 1921 when it was established as the Bureau of the Budget (BOB) within the Treasury Department. Since its inception, it has played a critical role of varying significance in Nigeria’s governance and economic planning.   Over the years, the Budget Office has undergone progressive transformation, evolving through innovative reforms, restructuring initiatives, and strategic collaborations at both national and subnational levels. The agency has adapted through institutional and stakeholder engagements, focusing on developing and implementing the federal budget, overseeing budget allocations across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and managing government-wide initiatives to improve the welfare of citizens.   These transformative changes reflect the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment to refining the b...

A coalition of youth groups drawn from over 1,000 All Progressives Congress (APC) support organisations in Nigeria’s North Central region has announced plans to dispatch a 100-man delegation to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urging him to back Senator Mohammed Sani Musa for the position of APC National Chairman. The decision was reached during an emergency meeting held in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital, on Thursday, where the youth leaders gathered to discuss the political future of the North Central geopolitical zone and the need for strategic positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Comrade Dan Okwa, the convener of the North Central APC Youth Vanguard, the groups reaffirmed their commitment to the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and declared that delivering on that objective would require a strong, pragmatic, and politically astute party leadership. “We believe that the North Central must no...

The Coalition of Civil Rights Groups (CCRG) has condemned the planned protest on Monday, July 21, 2025, to advocate for the welfare of retired members of the Nigerian Police Force. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Secretary of the Coalition, Abe Emmanuel Kolawole, said the protest is not in good faith nor in the interest of the Nigerian people. Kolawole warned the convener of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, to stop exploiting legitimate national concerns as a cover for a deeper, politically motivated campaign aimed at destabilizing the country and discrediting the administration of President Bola Tinubu. He said: "At the forefront of this charade is Mr. Omoyele Sowore, a serial presidential aspirant, publisher of Sahara Reporters, and a defeated candidate in the last presidential election. "Sowore, who has once again declared interest in the 2027 elections, is clearly not acting in good faith nor in the interest of the Nigerian people. "Rather, he is exploiting ...

The Coalition for Transparency (CT) has called for the immediate resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over allegations of unexplained wealth used to fund his children’s elite education abroad. In a press conference on Friday, the group demanded that Ahmed account for over $5.5 million spent on his four children’s secondary and tertiary education at some of the world’s most expensive institutions, a sum they claim is vastly disproportionate to his earnings as a career civil servant. The CT alleges that Ahmed’s children—Faisal (Montreux), Farouk Jr., Ashraf (Aiglon College), Ashraf (Institut Le Rosey) and  Farhana (La Garenne International School) - all elite Swiss boarding schools with annual costs per child ranging from $180,000 to $200,000. In his address, Obinna Francis, CT’s convener, said that in over six years, this amounted to between $4.32 million and $4.8 million for se...

Public Interest lawyers in the country have approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to seek an order compelling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to declare a State of Emergency in Zamfara State. The lawyers are seeking the order following the insecurity and political crisis in the state. According to the plaintiffs, Reuben Boma Esq., Okoro Nwadiegwu Esq., and the Incorporated Trustees One Love Foundation, they are seeking an order mandating the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take over the Zamfara State House of Assembly in the overall best interest of Justice, Peace, Democracy and for the good and progress of the good people of Zamfara State Defendants in the suit are the Attorney General Federation, President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Attorney General of Zamfara State and the Governor Of Zamfara State. In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1363/25, dated July 8, 2025 and filed by Goddy Uche, SAN, they raised fou...

Oduduwa Solidarity Network has asked the Federal Government to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, over alleged $5 million fraud. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, the Convener of the group, Comrade Tunde Osinowo, said an Independent Report on the Allegations of Abuse of Office has indicted Ahmed of spending an estimated $5.5 million equivalent of N8 billion at current exchange rates on the elite foreign education of his children. Osinowo said this expenditure, if left unaccounted for, strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s anti-corruption battle, making a mockery of the laws and the suffering of ordinary citizens. He said: "This report arises from a growing crisis of confidence in the leadership of NMDPRA and by extension, the integrity of public finance management in Nigeria. "At the centre of this storm are credible allegations that Engr. Farouk Ahmed funded ...

The Concerned Citizens Network of Nigeria (CCNN) has slammed Engineer Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), for his full-page newspaper advertisements published on July 11, 2025, as a “disgraceful charade” and "diversionary" designed to dodge accountability. The group said the ads, appearing on page 12 of Thisday, page 17 of The Guardian, page 15 of Vanguard, page 3 of BusinessDay, and page 19 of Daily Trust, were unsigned and devoid of substance, failing to address explosive allegations that Ahmed spent over $5.5 million (approximately N8.25 billion) on his children’s secondary education abroad. In a fiery press conference on Monday in Abuja, the CCNN, led by Dr. Emmanuel Agibi, demanded an immediate investigation, accusing Ahmed of insulting Nigerians’ intelligence with his evasive tactics. The CCNN highlighted that Ahmed’s children—Faisal Farouk attended the Montreux school, Farouk Jr attended the Ai...

Bello Matawalle, a former Zamfara governor and current Minister of State for Defence, has emerged as the clear frontrunner in an early opinion poll assessing potential candidates for the 2027 gubernatorial election in Zamfara State. The online survey, conducted by northern research group Arewa Trend, showed that 87 percent of respondents would prefer Matawalle to return as governor, while incumbent Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled just 13 percent. Arewa Trend said the poll, carried out between June 15 and 30, drew over 40,570 voluntary responses from active internet users across Zamfara’s 14 local government areas, including young voters, professionals, students, and civil servants. The survey, though not nationally representative, gives early insight into the mood of electorate in the state. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the research group said voters overwhelmingly rated Matawalle higher on key governance metrics such as security coordination, inf...

The Energy Governance Alliance (EGA) has commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for generating a record N12.25 trillion in revenue in 2024, describing it as a testament to the commission’s regulatory reforms and strategic leadership under Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe. In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Dr Kelvin Sotonye William, the alliance said the revenue achievement marked a watershed moment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, affirming NUPRC’s central role in repositioning the upstream industry for value creation, fiscal accountability and national development. The figure, disclosed in the commission’s newly released 2024 Annual Report, represents a 182.25 percent increase from the N4.34 trillion generated in 2023. It also significantly surpassed the 2024 forecast revenue of N6.93 trillion by over N5 trillion. “The Energy Governance Alliance welcomes the stellar performance of the NUPRC, under the visionary stew...

A 32-year-old Nigerian, Temitope Sekinat Idris, is said to be in trouble over allegation of being a lesbian. Temitope, a former staff of the Lagos State Government and a physically challenged, was said to have been sacked over her alleged lesbianism, as same sex relationship is against the laws of the country. The lady has since escaped arrest by the Nigeria Police Force as her case as been reported for prosecution and it was gathered that her whereabouts are unknown at the moment. A source in the Nigeria Police revealed that Temitope was relieved of her job by the Lagos State Government as she became a negative influence on other female members of staff of the state government. We were also informed that her sex status was the cause of the separation between her and her husband. "The issue caused crisis between her and her husband because the man caught her with his sister and it was also discovered that she was having sex with some females in the neighborhood and as such, her hu...

The Senate had said it is set to begin probe of Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as the protest of public interest lawyers to the National Assembly enters day two. The lawyers stormed the National Assembly, Tuesday, calling on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to immediately suspend and prosecute Farouk Ahmed. The lawyers cited grave allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest against Ahmed. In the petition signed by Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr and three others, they also demanded that the National Assembly commence an immediate investigation, recommend Ahmed's immediate sack and suspension, and arrest. Senator Kawu Ismaila, Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas who received the petition on behalf of the Senate promised to liaise with other members of the committee and investigate the agency. "One of our constitutional rights is to do oversight. We will look ...

A group of 500 public interest lawyers has stormed the Presidential Villa and National Assembly with a petition demanding the immediate sack and prosecution of Ahmed Farouk, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The lawyers cited grave allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest against Farouk, including the alleged diversion of over $5 million of public funds to finance his children's education in elite institutions in Switzerland and India. Led by Samuel Ihensekhien, they also accused Farouk of employing his son, Faisal Ahmed, in Oando PLC, a private entity directly under NMDPRA's regulatory oversight, constituting a clear conflict of interest. The petitioners further alleged that Farouk has fled the country to evade arrest and is hiding on a private island in the United States, an act they described as "cowardly" and indicative of guilt. " It is alleged that M...

By Philip Agbese The seeds of greatness are often sown in the fertile soil of community, nurtured by the collective efforts of individuals who dare to dream big. For Rt. Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, it was always about the people. Their stories, struggles, and triumphs have guided his journey as a leader, inspiring him to build bridges, empower lives, and create opportunities that have transformed the landscape of Bichi Federal Constituency and beyond. Recently, his commitment to public service and education was recognised with an honorary degree from the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, another proof of his outstanding contributions to the development of education in his constituency and beyond. This achievement is a fitting tribute to a leader who has dedicated his life to the service of others. On a crisp October 2, 1981, a future leader was born in the ancient town of Bichi, Kano State. Rt. Hon.Bichi's journey began with a spark of curiosity, fuelled by his education at ...