News
Senate C’ttee screens 2026 Budget proposal of Fed Ministry of Environment, wants enhanced funding for critical interventions
The Senate Committee on Environment has commenced the budget defence of the Federal Ministry of Environment as part of legislative consideration of the 2026 Appropriation Bill currently before the Nigerian Senate.
Speaking during the session, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi underscored the strategic importance of the environment to national health, economic stability and security, noting that environmental sustainability remains fundamental to Nigeria’s long-term development.
He expressed concern over the persistent underfunding of the Ministry and its agencies, particularly in light of the growing challenges of oil pollution, erosion, coastal flooding, deforestation, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and remediation.
The Lawmaker observed that while the 2025 recurrent budget recorded appreciable performance, capital releases remained significantly constrained, with warrants issued but no corresponding cash backing for major projects.
According to the Ministry’s presentation, the 2026 budget proposal stands at ₦65.96 billion, largely a rollover of the 2025 allocation in line with directives from the Budget Office of the Federation. However, a substantial portion of the proposed capital allocation is tied to ongoing externally supported programmes, including the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, leaving limited resources for other pressing environmental priorities.
Fadeyi reiterated the need for improved funding mechanisms and appealed for the consideration of a Special Intervention Fund to strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to deliver on its mandate. It also emphasised the importance of meeting Nigeria’s climate-related financial commitments in order to unlock international climate finance opportunities and strengthen global environmental partnerships.
In his remarks, the Minister of Environment, Hon Balarabe Abbas Lawal highlighted key interventions undertaken by the Ministry, including flood and erosion control projects, solar-powered boreholes, renewable energy initiatives, clean cooking policy implementation, forest conservation efforts, and strengthened collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders.
“I can confidently say that a large number of population, particularly around the coastal areas, have disappeared because of the rising sea levels. We need to do more in that area.
“Then we have also put in some funds on clean cooking stoves , because the federal government approved the clean cooking policy. And this policy, which I’m sure most of us know, is supposed to do three things. Number one, try to reduce deforestation.
“And number two, it’s also trying to address the issues of health. Because when a woman goes into the kitchen and cooks for a family of three to five, you find that she has a lot of this smoke. And from what we have heard from the doctors, she smokes three packets of cigarettes.
“And we have seen a lot of cases of lung cancer come from the rural areas, from people who have never seen cigarettes in their lives. They are coming down with lung cancer. So that’s why we took this policy to the council, Lawal said
The Committee Chairman Assured the Ministry of its continued support while reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and diligent oversight to ensure that appropriated funds are effectively utilised for the benefit of Nigerians.
“The Senate Committee on Environment remains resolute in working collaboratively with the Executive to achieve a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Nigeria.” Olubiyi said.
The leadership of God’s City International Church (GCIC), Abuja, has announced the postponement of its “Special Abuja Power Touch Night” scheduled for today, Friday, February 20, 2026 by one week.
The event will now be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, according to a statement by the Church Administration.
The Church said “this decision followed the official announcement by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Minister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, as well as directives from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command regarding the restriction of movement across the FCT in preparation for the Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, 21st February 2026.
“In compliance with the security measures and in the interest of the safety and convenience of our members and guests, the programme will now hold on:Friday, 27th February 2026 with Venue and time remaining unchanged.
“We encourage all members to participate peacefully in the electoral process and continue to pray for peaceful and credible elections within the Federal Capital Territory.
“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Kindly share this information across all church platforms and groups”
Signed:
Church Administration
God’s City International Church (GCIC)
#AbujaSpecialPowertouchNight2026
The Department of State Services (DSS) has reopened investigations into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, and is set to invite suspects for questioning in connection with the case.
Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma, was declared missing on August 1, 2019, after gunmen reportedly abducted him from his residence in Kaduna State.
Nearly seven years after the incident, his whereabouts remain unknown.
A security source disclosed that the DSS had revived the case alongside other unresolved cases of missing persons.
“The DSS has reopened the case of the 2019 disappearance in Kaduna of a renowned government critic, Abubakar Idris, better known as Dadiyata, and several other cases of missing persons,” the source told The PUNCH.
The development comes amid renewed public attention following a video interview released by ambassador-designate Reno Omokri on his X handle.
In the interview, Kadijah, Dadiyata’s wife, expressed fresh concerns over her husband’s disappearance and appealed for help.
“We pray that one day, he will come back,” she said when asked about the long years of uncertainty.
Appealing to Nigerians, she added, “They should please do whatever they can to help us know his whereabouts, if he’s alive or not.”
Kadijah recounted how her husband was abducted as he alighted from his car in their compound on August 2, 2019, saying she witnessed the incident from a window.
She also reacted to an old social media comment allegedly made by the son of a former governor, describing how she felt upon seeing the post.
“I felt bad about it (the comment). I can’t even explain,” she said.
Omokri, who visited the family, called for support and urged the Kaduna State Government to assist.
“Nigeria owes a duty of care to this family for what has happened to them,” he said, appealing to Governor Uba Sani to consider measures such as relocation, educational support for the children, or employment assistance for Kadijah.
The case resurfaced recently after former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, denied involvement in the disappearance.
“Dadiyata was not a fierce critic of the Kaduna State government. He was a fierce critic of the Kano State government,” El-Rufai said, insisting that he only became aware of the lecturer after the abduction was reported.
“If anybody is to be asked about the disappearance of Dadiyata, it is the Kano State Government; it has nothing to do with the Kaduna State Government. We didn’t even know he existed,” he added.
Reacting, former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, dismissed the claims as “reckless” and “a clear attempt to shift responsibility.”
“Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at,” Ganduje said in a statement.
Sources also disclosed that the DSS recently seized El-Rufai’s passport at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to prevent him from travelling abroad while investigations are ongoing.
“El’Rufai is fully aware that the DSS is investigating him and his two sons for Dadiyata’s kidnapping,” the source alleged.
The Service is reportedly set to invite El-Rufai’s sons for questioning as part of the reopened investigation.
Punch
Big Brother Naija Star, Natacha Akide, better known as Tacha, has demanded the prosecution of a female TikTok user, identified as Mirabel, after admitting that her earlier claim of rape was false.
Mirabel had earlier alleged that she was attacked and raped by a stranger who forcibly gained access to her apartment in the Ogijo area of Ogun State.
The allegation, which she shared on the social media platform TikTok, sparked widespread outrage, with many users calling for swift action against sexual violence.
However, Mirabel, in the audio recording of a conversation, shared online by social media critic, VeryDarkMan, popularly known as VDM, admitted that her previous claim was false, stressing that she has been dealing with serious personal and mental health struggles.
She said, “Yes, sir, please help me, I am very sorry, I have been taking drugs, and I was not thinking clearly when I posted the videos.”
Following the development, the Ogun State Police Command has concluded plans to arrest and prosecute Mirabel.
A police source, who spoke with PUNCH, said that a Divisional Police Officer and other senior officers were at the hospital where Mirabel was receiving treatment, noting that she would be taken into custody upon discharge and charged in court.
The source said, “The DPO and some senior police officers are currently at the hospital where she is admitted. Once she is discharged, she will be taken into custody, and a charge will be prepared against her for trial. The essence is to serve as a deterrent to others.”
In a post via X, Tacha said police and the agencies in charge of handling rape and assault cases should make sure they penalise Mirabel and make sure she receives the same punishment a rapist would get.
She wrote, “Now that its been established that Mirabel lied about the rape allegation, I expect the police and the agencies in charge of handling rape and assault cases to make sure they penalize Mirabel and that she receives the same punishment a r*pist would get… CAUSE we live in a very wicked and terrible society where r*pists and r*pe apologists are looking for excuses to continue to r*pe and abuse women..
We should NEVER allow stupid women to empower these evil and wicked men! She must be penalized.”
FCT Area Council polls force postponement of GCIC’s “Abuja Power Touch” programme
El-Rufai: DSS Reopens Dadiyata Probe, Set To Invite Suspects
‘Ensure Mirabel Gets Same Penalty A Rapist Would Get’ – Tacha Tells Police
-
News22 hours agoSAD : Rivers Senator reportedly dies at 64
-
Sports3 hours agoReal Madrid Submit Evidence To UEFA In Vinicius Racism Probe
-
News22 hours agoRamadan and Lent: HoR minority caucus celebrates faith, unity and prayer for Nigeria
-
News9 hours agoHow bandits hacked Ondo monarch to death — Daughter
-
News9 hours agoJust in: ICPC searches Ex-Kaduna State governor’ El-rufai’s residence
-
Foreign9 hours agoKing Charles III speaks out after former Prince Andrew’s arrest
-
News9 hours agoMob lynches gunrunner after bike crash exposes cache of AK-47s
-
News9 hours agoNigerian bags 8-year jail term over $1.3m cyber fraud in US