News
SGF Akume, Where’re our Appointments Letters, Please?
The entire thing is confusing. We have a mandate to contribute to the actualisation of the renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President in the agricultural sector. But here we are waiting endlessly to hit the ground running.”

The 72 appointees of the Executive Management of 12 River Basin Development Authorities are demanding their letters of appointment from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
They say that the appointment letters have not been issued to them in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It’s sad that three months after the President pronounced our appointments, we have been left in the cold.
There is no explanation from the SGF who is supposed to issue our letters of appointment. We can’t access the SGF as we speak.
There are no words from him,” One of the appointees who pleaded anonymity told the Guardian.
He continued:” The entire thing is confusing. We have a mandate to contribute to the actualisation of the renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President in the agricultural sector. But here we are waiting endlessly to hit the ground running.”
According to him, no explanation has been offered by the SGF over the delay in issuing the appointment letters since December 18, last year. Recall President Tinubu had charged the appointees to use their wealth of experience to bolster the efficiency of the organisations, in line with the administration’s commitment to bettering the lives of citizens.
The River Basins Development Authorities and their appointees spread across the country comprise: HADEJIA JAMAERE RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, KANO
(Kano, Jigawa and Bauchi) 1 . Mamman Aliyu – Chairman (Jigawa) 2. Rabiu Bichi – Managing Director Director (Kano) 3. Tijjani Isa – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Jigawa) 4. Zainab Gamawa – Executive Director Agric Services (Bauchi) 5. Baffa Abdulkadir – Executive Director, Engineering (Kano) 6. Musa Kwankwaso – Executive Director Finance (Kano)
OGUN-OSUN RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, ABEOKUTA (Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun) 1. Odebunmi Olusegun – Chairman (Oyo) 2. Dr. Adedeji Ashiru – Managing Director (Osun) 3. Ayo Oyalowo – Executive Director, Finance (Oyo) 4. Dokunmu Oyekunle – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Ogun) 5. Suleiman Oris – Executive Director, Agric Services (Lagos) 6 . Julius Oloro – Executive Director, Engineering (Lagos)
UPPER BENUE RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, YOLA. Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi) 1. Sanusi Babantanko – Chairman (Bauchi) 2. Samuel Mahmud Mohammed – Managing Director (Taraba) 3. Usman Bakare – Executive Director, Engineering (Taraba) 4. Ibrahim Jalo – Executive Director Finance (Gombe) 5. Isa Matori – Executive Director, Planning and Design Part of Bauchi 6. Hamman Dikko – Executive Director, Agric Services (Adamawa)
CHAD BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, MAIDUGURI (Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa) 1. Prof. Abdu Dauda – Chairman (Borno) 2. Tijjani Tumsa – Managing Director (Yobe) 3. Bashir Baale – Executive Director, Finance (Yobe) 4. lliyasu Muazu – Executive Director, Agric Services (Adamawa) 5. Mohammed Shetima – Executive Director, Engineering (Borno) 6. Vrati Nzonzo – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Borno)
BENIN-OWENA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (Edo, Delta North, Ondo and Ekiti) 1. Mike Ezomo – Chairman (Edo) 2. Femi Adekanbi – Managing Director (Ondo) 3. Dr. Austin Izagbo – Executive Director Planning and Design (Delta) 4. Johnson Oghuma – Executive Director, Agric Services (Edo) 5. Adegboyega Bamisile – Executive Director Finance (Ekiti) 6. Bayode Akinduro – Executive Director Engineering (Ondo)
NIGER DELTA BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (Rivers, Bayelsa and parts of Delta) 1. Ebikemi Bosin – Chairman (Delta) 2. Amgbare Ebitimi – Managing Director (Bayelsa) 3. Mary Alagoa – Executive Director Finance (Rivers) 4. Dr. Austin Izagbo – Executive Director, Engineering (Delta) 5. Felix Kurogha – Executive Director Agric Services (Bayelsa) 6. Dr. Nnamdi Akani – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Rivers) , etc.
News
Kogi State Ranks 5th Lowest in Debt, Boosts Economy with Mining Deal

The strategic economic and fiscal reforms of the Kogi State Government have begun to yield fruitful results, with the state now ranked as having the 5th lowest domestic debt among the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) as of March 31, 2025.
The report shows that Kogi State’s domestic debt stands at ₦20.38 billion, marking a significant drop from the ₦121.81 billion recorded in Q4 of 2023, when the state ranked 18th lowest in the country.
This reflects a remarkable debt reduction of over ₦101.43 billion in just over one fiscal quarter.
Speaking on the achievement, the State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, attributed the success to the state’s aggressive implementation of global best practices in financial management, including prudent borrowing, enhanced revenue performance, and strategic expenditure control.
“We are deliberate in our financial approach, cutting waste and focusing on impactful spending. This improvement is not accidental; it is the result of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s transparent , accountable and reform-minded leadership,” he said.
Also speaking, the Auditor General of the State, Alhaji Yakubu Okala, said Kogi’s improved debt standing is evidence of transparency and effective oversight.
“We ensure that all government funds are deployed strictly for their intended purposes. His Excellency’s accounting background has brought a culture of accountability and efficiency to every level of government. Our systems now deliver more results with fewer resources,” he said.
Alhaji Okala commended Governor Ododo’s unwavering support for fiscal institutions, saying the Governor has not only backed reforms but insisted on compliance and value-for-money across all MDAs.
Both the Commissioner of Finance and the Auditor General of the State agreed that the results are products of the hard work by the finance team in the last administration and the consolidation of the present administration in the State to ensure that the resources of the state serve for the people of the State.
They also attribute improved revenue to the reduced need for domestic borrowing, saying the State Government is conveniently funding a good number of capital projects in the State.
In a related development, the Kogi State Government says it has acquired licenses to fully participate in solid minerals mining in the State in a bold move to diversify the state’s economy and expand its revenue base.
The State Government confirmed that it has acquired 15 mining licenses to begin strategic participation in the nation’s solid minerals sector.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, who said the move was driven by the government’s resolve to ensure that Kogites benefit directly from the natural resources on their land.
“With these licenses, Kogi will now take its rightful place in the mining sector, not just as a host but as an active operator. This will unlock value, create jobs for our teeming youth, and grow our internally generated revenue,” Fanwo stated.
He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s support and the policy framework that now enables subnational entities to participate more directly in mining and resource development.
“This is a major economic breakthrough for our state. We thank Mr. President for enabling states like Kogi to take charge of their destiny. Governor Ododo’s leadership is positioning Kogi not just for today, but for a prosperous, resource-driven future,” Fanwo added.
He assured that the licenses would be put to use through environmentally responsible and community-focused mining initiatives that will stimulate industrial growth and promote local content development.
With the twin achievements of improved debt ranking and entry into strategic mining operations, Kogi State is fast becoming a national model in fiscal sustainability and economic diversification.
News
UniPort’s Prof Charles Nnolim is dead
The renowned academic died in Port Harcourt, where he lectured for many years.

•Professor Charles Nnolim
Professor of English and World Literatures, Charles Nnolim, is dead.
Nnolim died in Port Harcourt, where he lectured for many years.
Though Nnolim’s age at death is not very clear, it is estimated at mid to late eighties.
Nnolim’s scholarly works include: “Approaches to the African Novel”, “Teaching African Literature Today,. “Literature, Literary Criticism and National Development.”
Prof Chijoke Uwasomba of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife who is familiar with Nnolim’s works, said that Nnolim remains one of the finest as far as literary criticism is concerned.
Nnolim left an impressive imprint that is fascinating and worthy.
Nnolim’s death is the fall of an iroko, which will definitely be felt in the literary world.
Nnolim is a product of the old Alvan Ikokwu College of Education.
He capped his intellectual height with a PhD from the Catholic University in the United States.
He returned to Nigeria, landing at the University of Port Harcourt, in the thriving and tempting atmosphere at the time Nigerian universities were seen as the place to be.
News
GARBA SHEHU: BUHARI IS BROKE
Shehu stated these in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists after a press conference to announce the public presentation of his 260-page book on July 9 titled, “According to The President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience.”

• ex-President Muhammad Buhari
Mallam Garba Shehu, the Spokesperson to former President Muhammadu Buhari, declared on Tuesday :” Buhari is Broke,” a Nigerian English for being hard up financially .
Garba Shehu maintained that Buhari left office with his personal integrity intact as nobody can say he gave him a bribe.
While insisting that Buhari is broke and does not have money, he also said that the allegation that the former President does not have a certificate was a product of politics surrounding the 2015 election.
Shehu stated these in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists after a press conference to announce the public presentation of his 260-page book on July 9 titled, “According to The President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience.”
According to him, contrary to insinuations, “Buhari is one of the most voracious readers in Nigeria.
He reads all Newspapers and asks for Newspapers every morning.
Shehu said Buhari did not speak to media because he was not a showman and wanted his work to impact on the people.
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