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God bless whoever stole the budget-Etcetera writes….

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It is very hard to explain to a non-Nigerian abroad that Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people. He/she would wonder how a country of over 200 million citizens became so tamed to the point of stupidity — that a few individuals could keep millions of people locked in hell for over 20 years would have been termed impossible, but as the world has come to know, there’s nothing impossible in Nigeria. We hold the record of the most persevering people on earth. We have an unbelievable threshold for endurance.
One of the reasons why I think Nigeria may never recover from her present predicament is because as a people, Nigerians love poverty. This is the only country in the world where a politician steals money and the people provide tangible reasons why the politician is actually supposed to steal.
This is the only country in the world where it has become acceptable that whoever gets into government is advised to loot with impunity. Looting of government funds is now fashionably done on a turn-by-turn basis. Listening to Nigerians defend their kinsmen who have looted the country is very sad: Abi if you get there, you sef no go chop? Abeg leave my brother make him chop him own, after all when your brother dey there, himsef too chop. Life na turn by turn. This is the mentality of the average Nigerian on the street.
If not for our level of docility, our government wouldn’t have the effrontery to tell us that they spent millions of naira to open a Facebook account. The National Assembly wouldn’t embarrass us by asking the founders of Facebook down here to set up their Facebook accounts. A governor wouldn’t tell us he spent N72m of taxpayers’ money to build a personal website and still be made a minister of the federal republic in this current dispensation.
The hard and soft copies of the 2016 budget documents President Muhammadu Buhari handed over to the National Assembly on December 22, 2015 was declared missing a couple of days back and Nigerians have been screaming like banshees how the country had been placed at the forefront of ridicule, forgetting that we have been living in ridicule for ages. Is the shame of a missing budget more embarrassing than the content of the budget itself?
With all the fight against corruption, what has changed? Have the police stopped collecting money illegally on our streets? Has impunity stopped in our petrol stations where fuel is blatantly and flagrantly sold above the recommended price? Has the leadership of Nigeria stopped living in comfort while the people live in poverty? Must we continue funding 10 airplanes in the midst of gargantuan poverty? The exchange rate is at an unprecedented high of N305 to a dollar and the minimum wage of N18,000 is about $64 and this same government has been advising us on the need to be prudent in our spending while public officials have failed to reduce their level of comfort. Even the proposed 2016 budget submitted to the joint session of the National Assembly showed that Buhari himself failed to heed to his own advice of being prudent.
How do you consider the stealing of the proposed budget as an embarrassment when President Buhari and Vice-President Osinbajo will be spending N2.2bn on travels and transport, foodstuffs and catering materials, refreshment and meals as well as honorarium in the 2016 fiscal year? This is a figure that is N710m higher than what was budgeted for the same under the immediate past government in 2015. A further breakdown of the budget for the presidency also includes general renovation of the Guest House at N387m, complete furnishing of the Guest House at N45m, purchase of computers for N27.5m and the construction and provision of recreational facilities for N764m.
A sum of N3.6bn was budgeted for BMW saloon cars for principal officers and another N189m was allocated for tyres for operational vehicles in the presidency. What is more embarrassing to you? That over 300 girls were kidnapped and nothing has been done to bring them back? Is it not more embarrassing that our soldiers are being slaughtered by a bunch of untrained terrorists because of the corruption within the military hierarchy? Is it not more embarrassing that the PDP is already calling for the impeachment of the president just after nine months of assuming office?
Abeg abeg, May God bless whoever stole the budget. He/she is a patriot. I believe he/she, like everyone else in the country, must have lost hope in our useless National Assembly and can’t trust them to cut down the discrepancies in the budget.
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Governor Sani Commissions 35km Road Linking 76 Communities, Longest in Kaduna Since 2004

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Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has commissioned a monumental 35-kilometre asphaltic road described as the longest single infrastructure project delivered in the state over the past two decades, connecting 76 farming communities across three local government areas.

The historic road, inaugurated on Monday at a ceremony attended by traditional rulers, community leaders and residents, stretches from Gadan Gayan through Gwaraji to Kujama Junction, linking Igabi, Kajuru and Chikun local governments.

A standout feature of the project is a 130-metre bridge spanning River Kaduna, providing vital access to rural populations who had previously faced isolation during rainy seasons when the waterway became impassable.

Governor Sani characterized the infrastructure delivery as a watershed moment in Kaduna’s development trajectory, emphasizing that the project reflects his administration’s commitment to inclusive, people-centered governance that prioritizes underserved communities.

The governor recalled that when construction commenced in January 2024, his administration promised to deliver a durable and efficient transport corridor, adding that disciplined planning and professional execution ensured that pledge was fulfilled within record time.

Beyond physical mobility, the road addresses critical economic needs by creating direct linkages between agricultural production zones and commercial consumption centers across the state.

“By traversing agriculturally productive rural communities across three local government areas, this road directly links farms to markets, aggregation centers, processing facilities, and urban consumption hubs,” Governor Sani explained, noting the infrastructure would dramatically reduce post-harvest losses while strengthening agricultural value chains.

The governor highlighted that agriculture remains the leading contributor to Kaduna State’s gross domestic product growth, making rural connectivity essential for sustaining the sector’s economic dominance.

Early indicators suggest the infrastructure investment is already generating multiplier effects, with new filling stations, markets and small businesses emerging along the corridor even before formal commissioning.

“This is the quiet but powerful multiplier effect of well-planned infrastructure,” the governor remarked, pointing to the organic economic revival happening in communities previously isolated from development opportunities.

The project specifically targets historical inequities in public infrastructure distribution, particularly in Kajuru Local Government Area, which had not benefited from any road construction initiative for over twelve years prior to this administration.

“This prolonged neglect constrained economic activity, and that reality was unacceptable,” Governor Sani stated, adding that his administration is deliberately reversing decades of underinvestment in marginalized communities.

The commissioned road also provides an alternative route that reduces dependence on the frequently congested Kaduna metropolis, cutting travel time and transportation costs for commuters and traders while improving emergency response capabilities.

“Emergency services will respond faster, schoolchildren will reach classrooms with greater ease, and families will enjoy improved access to healthcare, markets and social services,” the governor noted.

Managing Director of Kaduna Road Agency Abdullahi Baba-Ahmad commended Governor Sani for executing massive infrastructure projects across the state, describing the 35-kilometre road as a landmark achievement that demonstrates commitment to delivering democratic dividends to all parts of Kaduna.

Baba-Ahmad revealed that the current administration has completed over 1,300 kilometres of roads across the state, significantly boosting commercial activities, easing travel and improving productivity.

Governor Sani explained that the commissioned road forms part of a broader infrastructure programme encompassing 140 road projects totaling 1,335 kilometres across Kaduna State, with 66 already completed while others are between 60 and 75 percent completion stages.

The infrastructure push follows an earlier achievement in May 2025 when Governor Sani broke another 20-year road construction jinx in Kagarko Local Government Area, underscoring systematic efforts to end infrastructure neglect across all parts of the state.

Traditional rulers and community leaders who spoke at the commissioning ceremony described the road as transformational, with many residents testifying about revived livelihoods, revitalized local economies and communities emerging from years of isolation with renewed confidence in government.

The project’s completion within approximately 14 months from flag-off demonstrates the administration’s capacity for rapid infrastructure delivery despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment and budgetary constraints affecting many state governments.

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Wole Olanipekun, Taiwo Oyedele Urge South-West Governors to Maximise Tinubu Presidency for Regional Growth

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Senior  Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanipekun, and Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, have called on South-West governors and political leaders to fully leverage President Bola Tinubu’s administration to drive accelerated development across the region.
The duo made the call on Monday in Akure, Ondo State capital, while speaking at a public lecture organised as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Ondo State’s creation.
They stressed that the South-West must prioritise massive investments in infrastructure, industrialisation, and economic reforms during Tinubu’s tenure to secure long-term regional prosperity.
Olanipekun cautioned that the political advantage of having a South-West president is temporary, noting that President Tinubu’s tenure will come to an end after his second term in 2031.
According to him, the region must act decisively within this window to strengthen its economic base and ensure sustainable development beyond the current administration.

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BREAKING: Malami Tells Court He Earned ₦12bn+ Legitimately, Seeks Release of Seized Properties

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Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has disclosed details of his earnings while asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside an interim order authorising the seizure of 57 properties allegedly linked to him.
Malami made the disclosure through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), in a motion on notice filed before the court. The application seeks to vacate an interim forfeiture order affecting three of the 57 properties currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the court filing, Malami stated that he had fully and transparently declared his sources of income in his asset declaration submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The document outlined multiple income streams, including:
₦374.63 million earned from salaries, estacodes, severance allowances, and related entitlements.
₦574.07 million generated from the disposal of personal assets.
₦10.01 billion recorded as turnover from private business ventures.
₦2.52 billion issued as loans to various businesses.
₦958 million received as traditional gifts from personal friends.
₦509.88 million realised from the launch and public presentation of his book titled “Contemporary Issues on Nigerian Law and Practice: Thorny Terrains in Traversing the Nigerian Justice Sector – My Travails and Triumphs.”
Malami’s legal team argued that the declared earnings sufficiently explain the source of funds used to acquire the properties in question, urging the court to lift the interim seizure order.
The matter remains pending before the Federal High Court as the EFCC continues its forfeiture proceedings.

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