The Parroters

  By Philip Agbese From the sunlit plains of Zaria to the heart of Nigeria’s National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, GCON, has carved a legacy of leadership that resonates like a clarion call across a nation yearning for progress. As Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, his steady hand guides lawmakers through turbulent times, weaving laws that empower women, ignite youth ambition, and champion sustainability, earning him a rare reverence that echoes from Nigerian villages to global forums. His story is one of grit and vision, a leader who transforms challenges into stepping stones for a united Nigeria. With a quiet charisma and sharp intellect, Abbas has redefined legislative leadership, not merely as a position but as a mission to uplift communities and rewrite narratives of governance, making him a figure cherished by constituents and admired by peers. Abbas' words and deeds, steeped in a commitment to unity and progress, have anointed him a guiding light, revered b...

  The Yoruba Youth Progressive Forum (YYPF) has praised Vice President Kashim Shettima for his “unalloyed loyalty” to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that his selection in 2023 was a pivotal decision for Nigeria’s progress. Addressing a gathering of youths, stakeholders, and media at a press conference in Lagos, the YYPF celebrated Shettima’s steadfast commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing him as a “pillar of humility, steadfast loyalty, and composure” in the face of relentless opposition-driven rumours aimed at destabilising the administration. The Forum emphasised Shettima’s loyalty predating his vice presidency, recalling his support for Tinubu during the 2023 primaries when he boldly championed a Southern presidential candidate, a stance requiring “the highest moral courage and strong commitment to equity and justice.” “Even long before 2023, when others hesitated and doubted, he stood boldly behind the candidature of Ahmed Tinubu, believing in his capacity a...

  The Arewa Action Group (AAG), a civil advocacy coalition based in Kaduna, has issued a damning assessment of Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, accusing him of gross incompetence and declaring his office “technically vacant” in the face of worsening insecurity in the northern region. In a strongly worded press statement on Sunday signed by the group’s president, Comrade Ibrahim Adamu Bature, the AAG expressed deep frustration over what it described as Badaru’s “utter cluelessness, lack of coordination, and commercial mindset” in handling one of the most sensitive roles in the nation’s security architecture. “For all practical purposes, the office of the Minister of Defence is vacant. Mr. Badaru has not shown any intellectual capacity, strategic seriousness, or political coordination required to confront the scale of insecurity Nigeria is currently facing. His continued stay in office is a grave disservice to the country and especially to northern communities...

The Centre for Energy Governance and Accountability (CEGA) has commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for securing federal government approval of 37 new crude oil evacuation routes as part of a broader strategy to curb oil theft, deepen transparency, and revive Nigeria’s oil production. Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of NUPRC, had on Tuesday at the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja announced the new routes and provided updates on sector-wide reforms designed to reposition Nigeria’s upstream industry for resilience and global competitiveness. He said the commission’s alignment with the armed forces and security agencies has also helped protect critical oil infrastructure. In a statement on Sunday, CEGA described the development as “a major milestone” in Nigeria’s decades-long struggle with oil theft and revenue losses, and praised Komolafe for “translating policy into measurable results.” “The approval of 37 new evacuation routes is n...

A civil society organisation, the Coalition for Social Accountability and Fiscal Justice (CSAFJ), has called on the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, to publicly disclose his full asset portfolio, citing glaring discrepancies between his known income as a civil servant and his alleged property and luxury acquisitions within and outside Nigeria. In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday and signed by the group’s president, Barr. Nafisat Bako Waziri, the CSAFJ said it was deeply concerned about “emerging patterns of opulence” associated with Ahmed and members of his immediate family. The group’s intervention follows recent national outrage over revelations that Ahmed allegedly spent more than $5.5 million on his children’s private education in elite international schools. While the outrage around the tuition expenses has not been addressed transparently, CSAFJ said its concern extended beyond sch...

Public Interest Lawyers have dragged the Attorney-General of the Federation and minister of Justice before a High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, seeking the investigation and criminal trial of Ahmed Farouk, the managing director of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, NMDPRA. Also joined as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit are the the Code of Conduct and Ahmed, respectively. In the suit, the plaintiffs, Incorparted Trustees of Once Love Caring and Foundation and Barrister Reuben Boma, are praying the court for an order, granting  them leave to serve on the respondents, an application for an order of mandamus compelling the respondents forthwith to initiate criminal charges and take any appropriate action against the 3rd defendant (Ahmed) in view of the alleged diversion of public funds for private benefit an allegations In the court documents with suit number FCT/HC/1311/117/744/25, the plaintiffs also prayed the court for an order of...

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 budgetary process, enhancing ...

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...