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Budget Padding: Akpabio Denies Responsibility For Ningi’s Suspension, Replies Falana

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Budget Padding: Akpabio Denies Responsibility For Ningi’s Suspension, Replies Falana....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a twist to the ongoing saga surrounding the suspension of Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has vehemently denied any involvement in the suspension and challenged assertions made by Ningi’s legal counsel, Femi Falana.….READ ALSO

 

 

Ningi, who was suspended by the Senate on allegations of budget padding, had demanded the lifting of his suspension through his lawyer, Falana, within seven days, threatening legal action against Akpabio if his demands were not met.

However, in a robust response, Akpabio’s counsel, Umeh Kalu, SAN, issued a letter to Falana refuting the claims made against the Senate President. Titled ‘Re: Request to Lift the Suspension of Sen. Abdul Ningi’, the letter elucidated Akpabio’s non-involvement in Ningi’s suspension and challenged the legal basis of Falana’s assertions.

The letter highlighted that Akpabio’s role in the Senate proceedings leading to Ningi’s suspension was purely procedural, in line with the statutory duties of a Legislative House Presiding Officer. It clarified that Akpabio neither acted as Ningi’s accuser, prosecutor, nor judge, but merely facilitated the Senate’s decision-making process.

Moreover, Akpabio’s counsel contested Falana’s reference to legal authorities and court decisions, demanding specific particulars to substantiate the claims. Kalu emphasized the importance of adhering to legislative rules and urged Falana to reconsider his stance in light of the clarifications provided.

In a terse yet assertive tone, the letter cautioned against unwarranted threats of legal action and petitioning to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), urging Falana to approach the matter with due consideration of the legal intricacies involved.

As the controversy surrounding Ningi’s suspension continues to unfold, Akpabio’s firm stance underscores the complexity of legislative proceedings and the importance of upholding procedural fairness in such matters.

Economy

World Bank Upgrades Nigeria Growth Forecast As Reforms Boost Investor Confidence.

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According to Nivo News, the World Bank has projected that Nigeria’s economy will grow by 4.4 percent in 2026 and 2027, driven by new tax legislation, prudent monetary policies, and ongoing economic reforms. The announcement was made in the bank’s January 2026 Global Economic Prospects report, which described the anticipated growth rate as the fastest for Nigeria in over a decade.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This latest projection represents an upgrade from the World Bank’s previous forecast of 3.7 percent published in June 2025. The bank highlighted that reforms in the tax system, combined with continued monetary prudence, are expected to stimulate economic activity, improve investor confidence, and reduce inflation. It also noted that increased oil production is likely to offset lower global oil prices, boosting fiscal revenue and strengthening Nigeria’s external balance.

The projection comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.98 percent year-on-year in real terms during the third quarter of 2025, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics.

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Economy

Nigeria’s Inflation Eases Sharply To 14.45% As Consumer Prices Stabilize.

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Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased to 14.45 per cent year on year in November 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report showed that while consumer prices continued to rise on a monthly basis, annual inflation moderated significantly under the revised base year.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The CPI increased to 130.5 points in November from 128.9 points in October, marking a 1.6-point month-on-month rise. Despite this, the headline inflation rate declined from 16.05 per cent recorded in October. The NBS highlighted that the November 2025 figure represents a 1.6 percentage point decrease compared with the previous month.

Monthly inflation, however, rose to 1.22 per cent in November from 0.93 per cent in October, indicating that average prices increased at a faster pace during the month despite the moderation in annual inflation. Headline inflation for November 2025 was 20.15 percentage points lower than the 34.60 per cent recorded in November 2024, reflecting the impact of the rebasing exercise that reset the base year to 2024 from 2009.

Over the twelve months ending November 2025, the average CPI increased by 20.41 per cent, down sharply from 32.77 per cent in the corresponding period of 2024. Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the largest contributor to annual headline inflation at 5.78 percentage points, followed by restaurants and accommodation services at 1.87 percentage points, and transport at 1.54 percentage points. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels added 1.22 percentage points, while education and health contributed 0.90 and 0.88 percentage points, respectively. On a month-on-month basis, food and non-alcoholic beverages drove price increases with a contribution of 0.49 percentage points.

Urban inflation declined sharply to 13.61 per cent year on year in November, down 23.49 percentage points from November 2024, while rural inflation remained higher at 15.15 per cent but fell 17.12 percentage points from the previous year. Month-on-month, urban inflation slowed to 0.95 per cent, while rural inflation accelerated to 1.88 per cent.

Food inflation moderated annually to 11.08 per cent in November 2025 from 39.93 per cent in November 2024. Monthly food inflation rose to 1.13 per cent, driven by price increases in items such as dried tomatoes, cassava tubers, ground pepper, eggs, crayfish, egusi, oxtail, and fresh onions. Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural and energy prices, stood at 18.04 per cent year on year, down from 28.75 per cent in November 2024.

State-level data showed Rivers recorded the highest year-on-year inflation at 17.78 per cent, followed by Ogun at 17.65 per cent and Ekiti at 16.77 per cent. Plateau had the lowest at 9.13 per cent, alongside Kebbi at 10.32 per cent and Katsina at 10.60 per cent. The NBS cautioned that interstate comparisons should be interpreted carefully due to differing consumption patterns and CPI weights across states.

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Economy

NNPCL Targets Over Two Million Barrels Per Day In 2026, Credits Community Cooperation.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has set a crude oil production target of more than two million barrels per day for 2026, citing strong collaboration with pipeline host communities as a key factor in sustaining increased output.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Akponime Omojevwhe, Head of Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office (PMO), disclosed the projection during a monthly stakeholders’ meeting with host communities along the Trans Niger Pipeline in Port Harcourt. The meeting was organized by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL).

Omojevwhe revealed that the 2026 national production budget is pegged at 2.80 million barrels per day (mbpd), with a starting benchmark of 1.84 mbpd and a targeted achievable output of 2.06 mbpd. He affirmed that the Trans Niger Pipeline is currently operating efficiently, attributing its success to the active cooperation between local communities, stakeholders, and PINL.

He emphasized that community participation is critical to pipeline protection, stating, “No private security structure can succeed without grassroots involvement. The communities are a vital part of this job. Their continued support ensures uninterrupted flow along the pipeline.”

Edi Julius, representing the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, lauded the partnership between PINL and the communities, noting that local peace is essential for boosting national oil production. “We are confident that by 2026, Nigeria will exceed two million barrels per day, generating additional revenue and enabling greater support for host communities,” he added.

Dr. Akpos Mezeh, General Manager of Community and Stakeholders’ Relations at PINL, reviewed the year’s progress, highlighting achievements such as strengthened security along the TNP corridor, expanded stakeholder engagement, empowerment programs for women and students, zero incidence of illegal bunkering, and improved community-company trust. He also announced Christmas palliatives for the 215 TNP host communities.

Responding on behalf of the host communities, His Majesty King Philip Osaro Obele urged the federal government to channel more development projects into the region. He praised PINL for its transparency and consistent engagement, emphasizing that ongoing dialogue is essential to maintaining peace along the pipeline.

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