Nigeria may be heading for a season of unusual rainfall patterns and intense heatwaves as climate change continues to disrupt long-established weather cycles, experts have warned. They explained that the disruption in the established weather cycles was already evident in parts of Nigeria, where communities have experienced off-season rains, extreme heat, and unpredictable weather conditions. The experts, who spoke exclusively with Our correspondent, said these changes may also impact flooding, food production, and public health. THENEWSCREDIT reports that there had been some heavy rainfall in parts of Lagos, Ogun, and other states in January and early February 2026, which does not follow the usual patterns in the country. Reacting to the matter, the Director of Environmental Service, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Mr Ahoton James, said the rainfall in January and early February remains a pointer that the country may experience unusual rainfall and heatwaves. According to him, the changes are evidence of climate change impact. This, he said, was evident in the harmattan pattern in December 2025 and January 2026, which many Nigerians do not experience. “Since climate change is happening, the impact is that we are no longer able to predict climate conditions the way we used to. Rain can now fall at any time. “If you observe, there was no harmattan last year. And up till this moment, we haven’t witnessed it. The one we experienced just came on one morning in late January and evaporated in the afternoon. Those are the impacts of climate change,” he said. He noted that the rising global temperatures are altering rainfall distribution, leading to heavier downpours in some areas and prolonged dry spells in others. “Climate change itself is a result of global warming. When we say global warming, it means there is an increase in the temperature of the globe, and this increase has altered the climate. “The climate is no longer the way we knew it when we were younger. So, this is one of the impacts of climate change. That is why we are experiencing heavy rainfall in January, whereas we used to expect heavy rainfall from late April. “If you also observe last year, there was a serious alteration in the rainfall pattern. The rain fell at times when we did not expect it, and at times when we expected rainfall, it did not come. In some parts of the country, rainfall did not occur the way it used to. These are all impacts of climate change that we are experiencing,” James said. With the off-season rainfall, he noted that Nigeria, including Nigerians, should brace up for likely unusual rain and heat. “Not only unusual rainfall. We should also expect unusual heat. There is likely to be a rise in temperature beyond what we consider normal, and there is also the likelihood of heavier rainfall than what we used to experience. “Either of these can occur, or both can occur, because climate conditions are no longer predictable. We cannot really predict them again,” he said. The director of environmental service maintained that the unpredictability of the weather was responsible for many outcomes of predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, where weather changes despite different predictions. “Sometimes you listen to NiMET, and they say it is going to be hazy, or it is going to be rainy, or it is going to be dry. But you later discover that though what the NiMET equipment picked was right, what was predicted did not happen, and something else occurred instead. “So, we are likely to experience both extreme heat and rainfall. The early warning signs are already here. The heavy rainfall we experienced in January and early February is an early warning sign that we need to prepare for heavier rainfall this year. These signs are already present. “Another early warning sign is the unusual heat we are already experiencing. We are beginning to get used to it, but it is not normal. It is an early warning sign that extreme heat is coming,” James said. He, however, urged the government and individuals to ensure adequate preparedness in mitigating the impact of the weather conditions. “Flooding will come. It is part of climate change. The question is not whether flooding will occur, but how prepared we are to ensure that it does not have devastating effects on us. That should be our main concern,” he said. Also speaking, a public health physician, Prof Adebayo Onajole, explained that with the situation across the world, the country may likely experience unusual weather conditions. “Given what is happening across the world, yes, we may experience unusual rainfall in certain areas. We may also experience increased dryness in other areas. “These are the effects of what we refer to as climate variability, and these changes have direct impacts on atmospheric conditions globally,” he said. The don noted that both weather conditions have a direct impact on public health. “When there is increased rainfall, there is usually an increase in disease occurrence because there will be more bodies of water. If temperatures rise, the rate of reproduction of disease vectors also increases. As a result, diseases transmitted by vectors become more common. All these factors are interconnected and relate directly to human life,” he said. According to him, if there is an expectation of increased rainfall, flooding is likely, and disease outbreaks may follow. He urged the government and Nigerians to plan to mitigate the impact of climate change. Also speaking with THENEWSCREDIT, the President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, Afolabi Abiodun, said the government must up its emergency and disaster response. Afolabi Abiodun Afolabi Abiodun He urged them to review the design and maintenance of drainage systems. Abiodun also urged Nigerians to desist from blocking drainage channels. “Overall, maintenance of drainage systems must be improved to accommodate increasing volumes of water. Rivers and waterways also need to be properly managed. Flooding has become frequent, and government response has often been inadequate. What is needed is preparedness, clear emergency response plans, proactive infrastructure maintenance, and timely intervention before disasters occur. “The government must be ready to respond both before and after flooding events, with practical measures in place to protect lives and property,” Abiodun said.

A Ndola-based woman in Zambia, who claims that a member of parliament, Bowman Lusambo, fathered her four children has submitted that there is a high likelihood that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test to ascertain the children’s paternity may be tampered with. Mercy Cowham, in an affidavit filed in the Lusaka High Court in support of Lusambo’s application for the four children to undergo DNA tests, stated that while she did not wish to oppose the application for a paternity test, she was deeply concerned about the safety and security of the DNA samples and where they would be taken for testing. According Zambia Observer, Mercy stated that there was a high likelihood that the same may be tampered with, given the media attention this matter has attracted and the many parties interested in the outcome of the case. “In the premises, to ensure protection of DNA samples and entire DNA testing process, I am of the view that the same should be a court-supervised DNA test where neither myself nor the plaintiff will know the laboratory chosen to conduct the DNA test, except the court and the results will only be communicated directly to the court,” Mercy stated. She added that she was agreeable to a paternity test to be carried out as it would help prove that Lusambo is the father to her children. “I am willing to contribute towards the expense of the DNA test, which expense can be communicated to the parties by the court once the court has appointed the institution(s) that will conduct the DNA test,” Mercy stated. And Mercy stated that it was not true that Lusambo did not know her at all because they have known each other for a very long time now. “I have been in an on-and-off s3xual relationship with the plaintiff from 2014 to date and it was during this time that the four children I have with the plaintiff were conceived,” she said. “During the subsistence of our relationship, the plaintiff and I would meet at Ngweshi Lodge in Ndola but sometime in 2017, the plaintiff rented a house for me in Kansenshi and Ndeke area in Ndola and he would occasionally visit me.” Last month, Lusambo filed an affidavit in support of an application for a paternity test. He stated that a DNA test was the only sure way that the paternity of the children would be ascertained and prayed that the order for DNA be granted in the interest of justice.

A man, Lukman, has told Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, that he is no longer interested in his marriage to his wife, Aderonke, giving troublesomeness, constant fight, infidelity, and threat to his life by the latter as his reasons. Lukman stated that he found it hard to live in peace with his wife since they got married because of her troublesome and destructive nature. The plaintiff explained that the defendant always sought every opportunity to fight him. Lukman added that any time he and his wife had a brawl, she would destroy things in the home. He gave an instance of when Aderonke broke the door of their house and the louvre blades on the windows with a pestle. According to Lukman, Aderonke once set a part of their home on fire, and rather than show remorse, she bragged that her intention was to roast him alive together with the house. The plaintiff further told the court that the defendant extended her hostility to his place of business where she turned him to a source of ridicule. Lukman stated that Aderonke brought soldiers to his shop, who attacked him, turned his shop upside down and went away with his stock. He also said that she later took to immorality and was regularly spotted with other men. Lukman stated that his wife had done him enough harm and therefore implored the court to end their union. He also pleaded that the court should order his wife to quit the two-bedroom flat she was staying in because it solely belonged to him. The plaintiff again entreated the court to grant him access to their children, who are in the defendant’s custody, at weekends and during holidays. Lukman further requested an order restricting Aderonke from threatening him and interfering with his private life. Aderonke denied all the allegations brought against her. She also refused that their marriage be dissolved. She stated that she still loved her husband and that she was sure it was same with her husband. According to the defendant, her mother-in-law was the one behind the crisis in their home. Aderonke added that she owns the land her husband built his house on. According to her, she included her husband’s name on the land document out of her love and respect for him. The defendant demanded the sum of N150,000 as monthly allowance for the maintenance of their three children. Lukman in his evidence said: “My wife and I did not hold a marriage ceremony. We met, dated and she moved in with me. “Aderonke started showing her true nature immediately she started living with me. She became troublesome and uncontrollable. She refused that I have a say in the home. “My wife also derived pleasure in fighting me. She was in the habit of creating a scene over trivial issues and would fight me. “My lord, Aderonke succeeded in ruining me because she always destroyed my property any time we fought. “She once fought me and pulled down the door to our house with a pestle. “She also broke the louvres on the windows with the same pestle. “Aderonke at another time set a part of our house on fire. “Rather than being remorseful, she boasted that she thought I was indoors and that her intention was to roast me alive. “I was afraid and left home after this because I felt she could one day make her threat real. “Aderonke refused that I had rest of mind despite leaving the whole house for her. “She came with her relatives to my shop to fight me. “My wife dug her teeth deep into my hand and almost tore off the flesh covering the spot. “Aderonke at another time brought soldiers to my shop, who attacked me, turned my shop upside down and went away with some of my goods. “This prompted me to file a claim in court. “My wife again came to my shop to fight me after the bailiff served her a court summon. “She tore my clothes and left me almost naked thus embarrassing me. “My lord, my wife is promiscuous. I have sighted her on different occasions with strange men, and I no longer trust her. “Aderonke has made life difficult for me and I do not wish to continue in our marriage. “I pray that the court rules that we go our separate ways. “I want my wife to vacate the two-bedroom apartment she is presently occupying because it belongs solely to me. “I request an order from the court granting me access to our children at weekends and during holidays. “I again request an order restraining my wife from harassing, threatening and interfering with my private life.” Aderonke, in her response said, “My husband and I did not carry out any marital rites. We only went for blessing in the church. “My lord, I do not agree that our marriage be dissolved. “I love my husband and I am sure he loves me. It is his mother that is causing the differences between us. “He lied that I made life difficult for him. “I do not know where he lives since he moved out of home. “I was also at his shop only once since he left. “He beat me blue and black for having the audacity to come to his shop and also slapped my brother who went with me. “My lord, I own the land on which he built the two-bedroom apartment. “I included his name on the land document out of the respect I have for him, while I put our first child’s name on the survey plan. “My lord, if my husband is insisting on divorce, I pray that the court rules that he gives our children N150,000 per month for their upkeep. “I further plead that the court mandate him to be responsible for our children’s education and health care.” The president of the court, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, giving her judgment stated that from the evidence given both parties, it was gathered that both were never married nor the bride price paid. She said they were merely cohabiting. She added that the plaintiff had adduced in evidence that he was no longer interested in the relationship that they shared. Owoseni ordered that both parties should go their different ways in order to avoid a breakdown of law and order between them. She added that the defendant did not contradict the evidence by her husband that she had been a threat to his life giving instances. Owoseni, therefore, gave an order restraining the defendant from harassing, threatening and interfering with the plaintiff’s private life. She further dismissed the plaintiff’s claim on the two-bedroom apartment, stating that the court cannot grant it because according to her, the plaintiff did not contradict nor challenge the defendant’s evidence that the land belong to her during cross examination, which is deemed as admission of the fact which tilts towards joint ownership. Owoseni ruled that the plaintiff give the defendant N60,000 per month for food and be responsible for their education. She granted the plaintiff reasonable access to children upon informing the defendant ahead of time.

A financial analyst, Kalu Aja, said that 95 percent of Nigerians do not have up to N500,000 in their bank accounts. He made this disclosure in a statement on X on Thursday. His comment was in response to President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun’s claim on X that Nigerian Treasury Bills recently recorded a massive total subscription of N4.59 trillion. “This figure represents an oversubscription of nearly four times the initial N1.15 trillion offered by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” Olusegun wrote. Reacting, Aja explained that high yields in the debt market is not something to rejoice over because they are linked to higher inflation and issuer risk. According to him, an economy needs lower rates to grow. Aja noted that individuals who celebrate high yield are ‘the rich who can fix cash,’ but the majority of Nigerians are not. He wrote, “High yields are not a flex; oh, you are essentially compensating for higher inflation and issuer risk.” “High yields reflect higher borrowing costs to SMEs and are reflective of high government borrowings or sovereign risk. “An economy that wants to expand needs lower rates. “The folks who celebrate high yield are the rich who can fix cash, but 95 percent of Nigerians don’t have N500,000 in their accounts.” THENEWSCREDIT that capital market data on Wednesday showed that T-bill subscriptions surged as investors ran after high yields. In June 2025, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N152.40 trillion or $99.66 billion, according to the Debt Management Office; however, it has been projected to rise amid recent borrowings by President Tinubu’s government. The 2026 budget proposal of N58.18 trillion has a deficit of N23.85 trillion.

Islamic leaders and scholars under the platform of League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland have announced 18 February as the date for the commencement of this year’s Ramadan fast. The League made the declaration in a communique read to journalists by the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, at the end of its meeting in Ibadan on Thursday. The meeting was attended by President General of the League, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere, Chief Imam of Ogun State, Sheikh Saadulah Bamgbola, Chief Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Rabiu Animasahun, and Grand Chief Imam of Ondo State, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede. Others at the meeting are Chairman, Leagues of Imams and Alfas in Lagos State, Sheikh Seifudeen Ademoritan Olowooribi, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the League, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory, Secretary General of the League, Sheikh Mustapha Adewale Hossein Doak, Professor Kamil Oloso and Dr Abdul-Barri Adetunji and other prominent Islamic leaders and scholars from the six states in South-West Nigeria. The League in the communique noted that the first day of Ramadan fast will be Wednesday 18 February based on its findings and based on the resolutions of the first session of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee held in Istanbul from November 27-30, 1978. The League while justifying its resolutions maintained that the announcement is also based on the outcomes of the International Conference on the Confirmation of Lunar Months and resolutions of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and the outcomes of International Conference on the Unification of the Hijrah Calendar held in Istanbul from May 28-30, 2016. The League noted that based on the above facts, it is confirmed that the Ramadan fast will begin on Wednesday, 18 February, 2026. “The first day of Ramadan 1447 AH, Insha Allah, will be Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The League also takes this opportunity to announce the beginning of month of Ramadan in the year 1447 AH (2026 CE), in accordance with the resolutions of the first session of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee held in Istanbul from 26-29 Dhul-Hijjah 1389 AH (November 27-30, 1978 CE). “This is also based on the confirmation by the International Fiqh Council in its Resolution No. (18) during its third conference in 1986, as well as the outcomes of the scientific symposium held in Paris on 12-13 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1433 AH (February 4-5, 2012 CE), which was titled “The Beginning of Hijrah Months and the Hijrah Calendar” “Additionally, this announcement is based on the outcomes of the International Conference on the Confirmation of Lunar Months, attended by scholars of Sharia and astronomical calculations, as well as the resolutions of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from 19-21 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1433 AH (February 11-13, 2012 CE), which was attended by a large number of jurists and Muslims astronomers. “Furthermore, it is based on the outcomes of the International Conference on the Unification of the Hijrah Calendar held in Istanbul from 21-23 Sha’ban 1437 AH (May 28-30, 2016 CE), which was attended by representatives from over ninety countries, including ministries of endowments, fatwa councils, scholars, jurists, and astronomers, as well as representatives from most Islamic jurisprudential councils worldwide. “Based on the above facts, the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland hereby announces the following: Precise astronomical calculations for the crescent moon of Ramadan 1447AH confirm that the conjunction (Astronomical New Moon) will occur at (12:01 PM) Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, corresponding to 29 Sha’ban 1447AH, which is 1:01 (1:01 PM) local time in Nigeria. “Furthermore, the League wishes to clarify that Wednesday, 18th March 2026, shall mark the 29th day of Ramadan. There shall be no possibility of crescent sighting on the evening of 18th March 2026, as astronomical conjunction will not yet have occurred, meaning there will be no moon at all in existence for sighting on that evening. “The conjunction for the month of Shawwāl shall occur on Thursday, 19th March 2026 at 2:23 PM (Nigeria Local Time). Consequently, Ramadan this year shall be completed as 30 days, and fasting shall not end at 29 days,” parts of the communique read.

The Northern Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. John Hayab, has advised youths to desist from cybercrime and money-making rituals, stressing that ill-gotten money cannot make them rich. Hayab gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday. He spoke against the increasing rate of youth involvement in the heinous acts popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo” and “Yahoo-plus.” He said, “The Bible does not discourage money-making or wealth creation; however, it says that the love of money is the root of all evil. “Ill-gotten money cannot make you rich. “Those involved in cybercrime and ritual killing take money that does not belong to them and must desist from it. “Painful as it is, if they do that just to compete with others doing the same, then it is sad.” According to him, many English words are used to describe certain actions, and such words tend to downplay the gravity of the acts. “A word like financial embezzlement might sound pedestrian, but it means stealing money that is not your own. “When you steal money, you are a thief. “That is unacceptable because if that continues, these young people will become nothing but terrors in the future. “No wonder they can abduct young girls and end up using them for criminal activities or rituals. “When you begin to kill in order to make money, then you lose your humanity and your peace,” he said. The cleric attributed the increasing youth involvement in such acts to what he described as the erosion of parental discipline. “Parental discipline has been abandoned by many parents, and that is why you find some of them encouraging, endorsing, or even boasting about what their children are doing. “Moral decadence has eaten deep into society, and that is why some parents accept this terrible and ungodly means of making money. “Some parents will never allow that to happen in their homes,” he said. According to him, if society ignores the trend and such children grow up to become leaders with aspirations to be chairmen, governors, senators, and members of the House of Representatives, things will become worse. This, he said, is because they will use their ill-gotten wealth to buy their way into elective positions. “So, I advise parents to teach their children to eschew laziness and embrace hard work, transparency, honesty, and integrity. “As a nation, we must stand up and fight it,” the cleric said. Hayab, who is also the Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, said that to ensure proper youth upbringing, the organisation had made youth development one of its major focus areas. According to him, the foundation has been promoting girl-child education in Nigeria, with the expectation that such efforts would help raise disciplined mothers. He said the mothers would, in turn, train their children to become decent and responsible individuals who would care for others. “We ensure that mothers are educated by mentoring young girls to grow and become responsible parents. “We help girls to enrol in school and complete their education; otherwise, they could be enticed and recruited by the so-called ‘Yahoo boys,’ and that would be a shame,” he said.

Despite receiving an estimated N9tn in Federation Account Allocation Committee inflows in 2025, state governors are facing mounting criticism from labour unions, civil society groups and opposition parties over what many describe as a widening gap between soaring revenues and limited improvements in citizens’ welfare. FAAC allocations to states surged by over N2tn in one year, according to an analysis of Federation Account disbursement data published by the National Bureau of Statistics and collated by The PUNCH, highlighting the scale of the revenue windfall that flowed to subnational governments in 2025 amid higher federation inflows. The sharp rise has triggered criticism from organised labour and opposition political parties, with the Nigeria Labour Congress warning that higher allocations have failed to deliver meaningful improvements in citizens’ welfare due to weak governance, misplaced priorities, and corruption at the state level. Civil society organisations have also faulted state governments, accusing them of mismanaging the inflows and failing to translate increased revenues into visible development outcomes, while calling for stronger accountability and oversight. Economists, meanwhile, say the surge has expanded states’ fiscal space but caution that heavy dependence on federally shared revenue and poor revenue management continue to undermine sustainable development at the subnational level. The Federation Account disbursement data show that state governments received a total of N7.315tn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee in 2025, compared with N5.186tn in 2024. The year-on-year increase of roughly N2.13tn represents a jump of about 41 per cent in direct FAAC allocations to states. When the constitutionally mandated 13 per cent derivation revenue is added, total inflows attributable to states climbed to N8.934tn (about N9tn) in 2025, up from N6.533tn in 2024, a rise of N2.4tn or 36.74 per cent. This surge came against the backdrop of a sharp expansion in total FAAC distributions. Aggregate allocations to the three tiers of government, including derivation, rose from N15.259tn in 2024 to N21.897tn in 2025. States therefore captured a substantial share of the overall increase, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of total federation revenues. Without the 13 per cent derivation component, states’ N7.315tn allocation in 2025 accounted for about 33.4 per cent of the N21.897tn total FAAC disbursement for the year, compared with roughly 34.0 per cent in 2024. When derivation revenue is included, total state-linked receipts of N8.934tn represented about 40.8 per cent of total FAAC disbursements in 2025, down from around 42.8 per cent in 2024, indicating that while inflows grew in nominal terms, their relative share declined as allocations to all tiers expanded. A closer look at monthly disbursements shows that state allocations improved steadily throughout 2025. States received N498.50bn in January, well above the N396.69bn recorded in January 2024. Monthly allocations continued to trend higher, peaking at N727.17bn in October before easing to N601.73bn in December. By contrast, only two months in 2024 recorded allocations above N500bn, with the highest monthly figure being N549.79bn in December. By the end of June 2025, states had already received over N3.32tn, compared with about N2.33tn in the first half of 2024, easing short-term liquidity pressures, particularly for states with heavy wage bills and debt service obligations. Derivation revenue also played a critical role. In 2025, derivation payments rose to N1.619tn from N1.347tn in 2024, an increase of about N272bn or just over 20 per cent. Monthly derivation inflows were especially strong in September 2025, when oil-producing states shared N183.01bn, compared with N99.47bn in September 2024. Despite the surge, states did not disproportionately outpace other tiers. Federal Government allocations rose from N4.951tn in 2024 to N7.613tn in 2025, while local government allocations increased from N3.774tn to N5.351tn. Nevertheless, the impact on states is particularly significant given their responsibility for delivering education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The additional N2.4tn received in 2025 alone is equivalent to nearly half of what states received from FAAC in total in 2024. The 10th edition of the BudgIT State of States Report, titled ‘A Decade of Subnational Fiscal Analysis: Growth, Decline and Middling Performance’, revealed that over 30 states rely heavily on FAAC allocations. An executive of BudgIT said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, “At least thirty states, excluding Lagos, Ogun, and Enugu, relied on FAAC for more than sixty per cent of their recurrent revenue. Lagos remains an outlier, but Ogun and Enugu also seem to be performing quite well. “In total, 31 states depended on FAAC for at least 80 per cent of their current revenue, which shows just how challenging the fiscal situation has become for many of them. “For example, Lagos’s FAAC allocation rose from N4.24bn to N11.38bn, a massive increase that highlights how significant federation account transfers have become within a single fiscal year. Still, credit should go to the states that recorded strong year-on-year growth, as well as those that grew consistently over the ten-year period we reviewed.” The report added that 29 states relied on FAAC receipts for at least half of their total revenue, 28 relied on it for at least 55 per cent, and 21 relied on it for over 70 per cent. The BudgIT executives expressed concern that rising FAAC inflows were discouraging states from expanding internally generated revenue. This is “concerning because the more FAAC money states receive, the less incentive some of them have to develop their own internal revenue sources”. They noted that “the proportion of IGR within total recurrent revenue declined slightly from 25.27 per cent in 2023 to 20.27 per cent in 2024, indicating continued dependence on federal transfers”. The Managing Director of Optimus by Afrinvest, Dr Ayodeji Ebo, said, “These revenues are volatile and largely outside state control, making budgets vulnerable to oil price shocks. Over time, this approach also discourages ingenuity, as states become dependent on external inflows rather than building durable local revenue sources.” A development economist and Chief Executive Officer of CSA Advisory, Dr Aliyu Ilias, said subnational governments are creating challenges for the federation through how they manage FAAC allocations. He suggested “counterpart funding,” where states that increase their IGR receive proportional benefits, warning that without incentives, states would continue to rely heavily on Abuja. Ilias said, “While FAAC allocations are at unprecedented levels, they are not necessarily translating into improved living standards.” NLC speaks The country’s biggest labour union said rising FAAC allocations have failed to deliver meaningful benefits to citizens, blaming weak governance, misplaced priorities, and persistent corruption at the state level. “Very few states are doing well in terms of how they deploy what they receive,” Assistant Secretary-General of the NLC, Onyeka Christopher, told The THENEWSCREDIT “The idea behind federal allocations is to bring the government closer to the grassroots, but unfortunately, in many states, this has not translated into the desired results for well-known reasons.” The NLC added that, “Once people know there are no consequences, they will continue to steal public funds,” warning that kleptocracy continues to undermine development. “For FAAC to truly benefit the people, the issue of kleptocracy must be addressed. What are the EFCC and ICPC doing?” it asked. CSOs react Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, described subnational governments as “meddlesome interlopers”. “Because we have been so complacent, we in the civil society, and maybe the media, have not been following the money from the point of release to the point of expenditure,” he said. “The increase in allocations to states has just increased the financial opportunity for the state governors, not percolating to the level of the people that are supposed to be the final recipients of government charities,” Adeniran added. The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said, “There’s no physical, verifiable, tangible evidence to show that the monies the governments are receiving are touching lives in terms of healthcare, electricity, physical infrastructure, or even agriculture.” “What you see in the states is that these monies are collected, but it is about decamping, defections, and strategising for 2027,” he said. Opposition parties lament As federal allocations to states continue to rise, opposition parties, civil society actors and government officials across several states have expressed sharply differing views on whether the increased revenue has translated into tangible development and improved living conditions for citizens. In Lagos State, the Chairman of the opposition African Democratic Congress, George Ashiru, said rising federal allocations and internally generated revenue had failed to ease hardship among residents. According to him, inflationary pressures triggered by federal policies have outweighed gains from increased funding. “Rents have gone up between 200 and 400 per cent in many areas. Social services have not matched inflationary trends, while infrastructure development still focuses on legacy projects instead of overcrowded inner-city areas,” Ashiru said. He added that ongoing demolitions appeared to favour high-end housing projects, while public schools, healthcare facilities, intra-city roads and the overall cost of governance continued to suffer neglect. The Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State rated the current development in the state as zero when compared to the huge allocations received from the federal government. The spokesman of the party in the state, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, while speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, said the state government, led by Governor Ahmad Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress, only concentrates on two out of the 23 local government areas in the state. “There is nothing on the ground to show for the huge allocation. We have 23 LGs in the state, but there is absolutely nothing going on in 21 LGs. In the two LGs within the metropolis, they are busy doing roundabouts, street fencing, and beautification. “They did not do anything that the people of the state needed. Water is no longer running in the metropolis, the health sector is not getting attention, our education is not getting the necessary attention, among many others, but they are beautifying the metropolis. “The beautification has no economic impact on the people of the state. They need to do better when you compare it with the money being received now,” he added. On his part, the Kano State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Ali Shettima, said the absence of clear information on state allocations made it difficult to carry out a fair assessment of the government’s performance. “I don’t even know how much is allocated to the state. I can’t give an accurate assessment based on something I don’t know,” he said. In Plateau State, the Chairman of the Alternative Democratic Party (ADP), Bitrus Boyi, questioned the visibility of development projects despite claims of increased federal allocation. “If truly there has been an increment in federal allocations, it has not translated to development. Most of the projects we see are funded by development partners,” he said, urging the state government to ensure that increased revenue benefits residents. Similarly, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State accused the state government of prioritising “luxury and white elephant projects” over education and healthcare. The party’s chairman, Abbas Abba, described the condition of schools and hospitals as “poor and alarming,” alleging that government spending focused more on propaganda than sustainable impact. However, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi rejected the claims, insisting that development was evident in regular salary payments, road projects, healthcare revitalisation and school renovations across the state. In Zamfara State, politicians Alhaji Musa Yankuzo and Mohammed Sani said the state had little to show despite higher federal allocations, accusing governors of mismanaging funds for selfish interests rather than development. The ADC in Kebbi State also dismissed the achievements of Governor Nasir Idris, with the party’s chairman, Sufiyanu Bala, citing unemployment, dilapidated schools, out-of-school children and weak healthcare services as evidence that increased allocations had failed to improve living standards. In Gombe State, the PDP said development remained “one-sided,” alleging that the ruling APC focused mainly on capital projects with little direct impact on citizens’ welfare. “The essence of democracy is to improve education, health, water supply and security. That is not what we are seeing,” PDP spokesman Abdulkadir Ahmad said. Contrasting views In contrast, the Labour Party in Nasarawa State commended the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led APC government for infrastructure development, particularly the completion of the over N16bn Lafia flyover and ongoing projects in Akwanga, Keffi and Karu. LP chairman Alexander Ombugu praised the administration’s prudence and commitment, urging the governor to do more. President Bola Tinubu had commissioned the Lafia flyover in June 2025 alongside other projects, including roads, a new secretariat complex and a solar mini-grid. In Kwara State, the PDP and APC traded blame over the impact of rising federal revenue. The PDP accused the state government of concentrating spending in limited areas of Ilorin, the capital city, and neglecting insecurity, workers’ welfare and rural communities. “We have had huge allocations since 2019, yet the people have benefited close to nothing,” PDP spokesman Olusegun Adewara said, calling for improved security, better wages and investment in the informal sector.

Prof Ibrahim Gambari, an ex-Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, says those who benefited most from Nigeria are the ones least committed to its stability. Prof Gambari spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday. He said that his three years of service in the administration equipped him with insights into Nigeria. According to him, this category of people often seeks power but lacks the willingness to make sacrifices for ordinary citizens. “What is shocking is that I have seen the possibilities of that office, of the presidency. But I have also seen how those who benefitted most from what this country has to offer are the least committed to its stability, progress and development. “They seek power, but they are not willing to make the sacrifices that come with the responsibility to govern, which include being fair and just, and thinking nationally rather than ethnically or religiously. “Some of these issues weigh heavily on me, but the opportunities for change are there. “However, with experience, you also come to understand the limitations involved in bringing about rapid change,” he said. THENEWSCREDIT recalls that Buhari appointed Gambari, who served as a minister during his military regime in the 1980s, as his Chief of Staff in 2020 after the death of Abba Kyari, who occupied the position until his demise.

Director of Public Sector Initiative, Lagos Business School, Franklin Ngwu, says at least 140 million Nigerians will be described as poor in 2026 despite the reform by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly the issue of foreign exchange floating. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Monday, Ngwu said unemployment is going up. “I think the way to look at it is maybe to look at key economic indicators before and after. But in terms of, did we need reform? Yes, we needed reforms. “Another issue is the way the reforms were implemented, basically looking at fuel subsidy removal and then foreign exchange, I mean, other reforms follow that. “So if we look at key economic indicators; unemployment, how are we doing at the moment? it’s rising. Poverty, is it going down or going up? It’s increasing. Debt- Is it going up or going down? It’s increasing. “Inflation is being rebased, and we are told it’s coming down to about 15%. Revenue of the government, is it increasing? Yes, it’s increasing in terms of other economic indicators. “So you have some of them going up and some of them coming down. But the main thing is how do ordinary Nigerians see, perceive and feel about these reforms? And the two key areas will be poverty and unemployment. “And if you look at this, the UN report has said that about 30 million Nigerians will move into poverty this year. So it means that we are looking at almost 140 million Nigerians described as poor in terms of unemployment,” he said.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, shared a total sum of N1.969 trillion as the December 2025 Federation Account Revenue with the Federal Government, states, and the local government councils in Nigeria. In a statement by the Director of Press at Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, the revenue was shared at the January 2026 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja. The N1.969 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N1.084 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N846.507 billion, and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N38.110 billion. The distributable amount rose when compared with the N1.928 trillion shared in November 2025. FAAC indicated that total gross revenue of N2.585 trillion was available in the month of December 2025. Total deduction for cost of collection was N104.697 billion, while total transfers, refunds, and savings were N511.585 billion. According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.631 trillion was received for the month of December 2025. This was lower than the sum of N1.736 trillion received in the month of November 2025 by N105.202 billion. Gross revenue of N913.957 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in December 2025. This was higher than the N563.042 billion available in the month of November 2025 by N350.915 billion. The communiqué stated that from the N1.969 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N653.500 billion and the State Governments received a total sum of N706.469 billion. The local government council received N513.272 billion, while the sum of N96.083 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared with the benefiting state as derivation revenue. On the N1.084 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N520.807 billion and the State Governments received N264.160 billion. The Local Government Councils received N203.656 billion, and the sum of N96.083 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared with the benefiting states as derivation revenue. From the N846.507 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N126.976 billion, the State Governments received N423.254 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N296.277 billion. A total sum of N5.717 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N38.110 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), the State Governments received N19.055 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N13.338 billion. In December 2025, Companies Income Tax (CIT)/CGT and STD, Import Duty, and Value Added Tax (VAT) increased significantly, while Oil and Gas Royalty, CET Levies, and Fees increased marginally. Excise Duty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT)/Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) recorded considerable decreases.