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2026 Budget Defence: Zero Capital Release Ignites Anger as NASS Joint Committee Grill Regional Devt Minister Over 2025 Budget Failure
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The National Assembly Joint Committee on Public Procurement on Friday raised alarm over the non-release of capital funds to the Ministry of Regional Development for the 2025 fiscal year, as the Minister, Abubakar Momoh, disclosed that the ministry had not received a single kobo from the promised 30 per cent capital disbursement.
Addressing the lawmakers during the ministry’s 2026 budget presentation and review of 2025 performance, Momoh said assurances had been given that 30 per cent of the capital allocation would be released before March 31, but no funds had been received.
“We have not received a dime from that 30 per cent. We have not even received a warrant,” the minister told the committee, adding that the ministry only saw documentation of a purported release of about 9 million naira which did not reflect the promised 30 per cent capital disbursement.
The joint Committee, chaired by Senator and co-chaired by Hon. , expressed serious concern over the zero capital performance recorded by the ministry in 2025.
Momoh explained that while the total capital provision for 2024 stood at N24.8 billion, only 46 per cent had been released, leaving an outstanding 54 per cent. For 2025, however, he said the ministry had received zero capital allocation.
He warned that failure to release the promised 30 per cent before the end of March could significantly hamper the execution of ongoing projects and expose the government to potential legal disputes from contractors.
Lawmakers also faulted the sharp increase in overhead allocations in the proposed 2026 budget. While personnel costs were projected at N3.13 billion, overhead at N6 billion and capital at N70 billion, members described the nearly 400 per cent rise in overhead, from about N1.7 billion in 2025 to over N6.6 billion in 2026, as unjustifiable.
One lawmaker queried why overhead would increase by over N5 billion when the capital component recorded zero performance in 2025, describing the situation as troubling.
Members further criticised the ministry for failing to provide a detailed breakdown of overhead expenditures, saying the budget documents submitted were incomplete.
In response, Momoh said the ministry did not determine the overhead figures, noting that they were prepared by the Budget Office. He suggested the increase might be linked to the ministry’s expanded mandate beyond the Niger Delta to cover broader regional development across the country.
The committee observed that the non-release of the 30 per cent capital component was not peculiar to the Ministry of Regional Development. Lawmakers disclosed that during a previous engagement with the Accountant-General of the Federation, it was revealed that many Ministries, Departments and Agencies had yet to receive the promised release, despite the extension of the 2025 budget implementation to March 31.
They warned that rolling over 70 per cent of the 2025 capital allocation into 2026 without implementing the initial 30 per cent would effectively “amputate” that portion of the budget, with serious consequences for project execution nationwide.
The panel resolved to invite the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to clarify the status of releases and explain the persistent funding gaps affecting MDAs.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over the continued reflection of the defunct “Ministry of Niger Delta” in official budget documents, despite its transition to the Ministry of Regional Development. The minister confirmed that representations had been made to the Budget Office to correct the nomenclature, but no changes had been effected.
After deliberations, the committee adopted the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal as a “watching document,” noting that the minister could be recalled if necessary, particularly if there are changes in the status of fund releases. The session was subsequently adjourned, with members stressing the need for urgent engagement with the Ministry of Finance to prevent a repeat of funding shortfalls recorded in previous fiscal years.
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Makinde Hails Adeleke’s Re-election, Berates Attempt to Use Federal Might
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has hailed his Osun State counterpart, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, on his re-election, describing the victory as a triumph for democracy and the people of Osun State.
Makinde, who is also Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said Adeleke’s victory was a reward for his commitment to serving the people and delivering good governance.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor commended Osun voters for demonstrating courage and determination in exercising their franchise despite what he described as violence and the use of federal power.
He urged Adeleke to see his re-election as an opportunity and encouragement to consolidate his achievements and deliver more development to the people of Osun State.
Makinde said the outcome of the election had once again demonstrated that power ultimately belongs to the people in a democracy.
“The results of the election proved again that the people reserve the absolute power in a democracy and that their movement will always triumph over all other considerations,” he said.
The governor also commended the people of Osun State for voting for their preferred candidate, saying their action demonstrated that the will of the electorate could prevail over political manoeuvring.
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Osun election: Read What Adeleke Said After Defeating Oyebamiji
Osun State Governor and candidate of the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke, has thanked God and the people of the state following his victory in the governorship election, saying he expects the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to call and congratulate him.
Adeleke, speaking after the declaration of the election result, described his victory as a triumph for democracy and a reward from the people of Osun State for his administration’s achievements.
He thanked God for what he described as a successful election, saying the outcome reflected the people’s appreciation of his administration’s efforts in infrastructure, healthcare, security and other areas.
“I thank God Almighty for this victory. It’s a victory for democracy. Victory for Osun election,” Adeleke said.
According to him, the result was also a way for the people of Osun to repay his administration for its efforts in improving infrastructure, healthcare and security across the state.
He said: “The victory is a way Osun people is repaying me for the infrastructural developments, health, security and other things I have delivered for my people.”
Adeleke, who adopted a conciliatory tone after the election, said there was no victor and no vanquished, while expressing optimism that his main challenger would accept the outcome.
It’s no victor, no vanquish. I am expecting for the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to call me and congratulate me,” he said.
The governor also attributed his victory to his faith in God, saying, “I have a God who never fails.”
Adeleke further thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a successful election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner of the election after he polled 511,067 votes, defeating Oyebamiji of the APC, who scored 444,815 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11, giving the incumbent a 66,252-vote margin.
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NDLEA nabs India-bound bizman with cocaine, recovers N3.6b Colos, codeine in Lagos(Photos)
. 70-year-old grandpa nabbed, large consignments of opioids, others seized in Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo, Delta sweeps
A 48-year-old businessman Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi who liquidated all his assets to chase a dream of quick riches in the illicit drug trade has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, while heading to New Delhi, India, with 1.550 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed within the side walls and railings of his bag.

Nwankwo who deals in marbles in Lagos was arrested at the departure hall of terminal II of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
A search of his check-in bag uncovered 1.550 kilograms of cocaine factory-fitted in the walls and railings of his bag.
In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as N100 million.
With his assets gone, and Nwankwo’s dream of transiting from a marble trader to a drug kingpin effectively shattered following his arrest, the suspect remains in custody awaiting prosecution and likely time in jail.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu street Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos, where a massive stockpile of codeine-based syrup was discovered.
A total of 3,776 cartons, comprising 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance, valued at over N2.6 billion, were recovered between Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August 2026.
In yet another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 14th August raided the residence of a 55-year-old kingpin Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare street, Ipaja estate, Ipaja area of Lagos, recovering 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a street value of Nine Hundred and Seventy-Two Million Naira (N972,000,000).
Also recovered from the suspect were a Mercedes-Benz car and a Toyota Corolla car.
In Kwara, two suspects: Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were on Thursday 13th August arrested at Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96kg skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL recovered, while two other suspects: 70-year-old grandpa Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were nabbed by NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ibadan, Oyo state on Wednesday 12th August. Recovered from their Toyota Sienna vehicle marked FFA-115KA, include: 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.


A total of 124,100 pills of tramadol; 786 bottles of codeine syrup; 2,598 tablets of rohypnol;
4,800 tablets of diazepam; 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered from two suspects: Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along Onitsha/Asaba expressway on Thursday 13th August, while another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was nabbed with 1,244 pieces of cartridges and monetary exhibit of eight million naira (N8,000,000) only along Kwale/Ozoro expressway on Wednesday 12th August.
A Toyota Corolla car with registration number MKD 341 EA was intercepted by NDLEA operatives along Riyom/Jos road, Jos Plateau state where 239,490 caps of tramaforce, a brand of tramadol were recovered and a suspect Kasum Sherif arrested.
In Kano, six suspects were arrested on Monday 10th August by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Zaria-Kano road.
They include: Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39. Large consignments of opioids were recovered from them include 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol, and others as well as 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

Also in Kano, NDLEA operatives on Friday 14th August raided the Zawaciki Gida Dubu, Kumbotso LGA, where they recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and arrested two suspects: Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24 in connection with the seizure.
A total of 4,628.9775kg skunk was destroyed on two cannabis farms that measured 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo state where a suspect Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested in one of the farms during a raid by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 12th August. Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was nabbed with 25.857kg Loud and 93 grams of meth during a raid of drug joints at Oluku area of Benin city on Friday 14th August.

The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School, Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos state, among others.
While commending the officers, men and women of MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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