....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Federal Government has provided clarification regarding the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement signed with Ethiopia. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, stated that the agreement is a diplomatic and humanitarian initiative designed to allow Nigerians convicted in Ethiopia to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home country.

• Clarification on Inmate Numbers: Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu dismissed a viral list claiming there are 136 Nigerian inmates, clarifying that the agreement actually covers 98 prisoners located across two maximum-security facilities, Kaliti and Aba Samuel.

• Humanitarian Rationale: The transfer aims to address the precarious conditions faced by these inmates, which include poor feeding, health challenges, lack of medical facilities, denial of visitation rights, and language barriers.

• Safeguards Against Early Release: The Minister refuted concerns that transferred inmates would be pardoned upon arrival, noting that the memorandum of understanding explicitly prohibits granting amnesty or pardon without the consent of the sentencing state.

• Rejection of Ethnic Bias: Addressing claims regarding the origin of the inmates, the Minister debunked allegations that the prisoners are from only one region, emphasizing that the 98 individuals originate from various parts of Nigeria, including the Southeast, Southwest, and South-South.

• Urgency of Action: The need for the agreement was underscored by the fact that four Nigerian prisoners died while the two nations were finalizing the deal.

Sources have confirmed that approximately ₦500 billion was deducted from the May 2026 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenue to support an emergency national security intervention. This deduction occurred prior to the distribution of monthly revenue among the Federal Government, states, and the 774 local government councils.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Senior officials noted that this deduction accounts for a significant portion of the disparity between total gross revenue and the final distributable amount.

• While official communiqués did not itemize the specific deductions under transfers and refunds, sources confirmed that the security allocation was part of the adjustments made before distribution.

• State commissioners of finance, who serve on the FAAC, are reportedly aware of this deduction.

• Additional documents indicate other major deductions, including ₦250 billion for a Military Intervention Fund, ₦252 billion for an Infrastructure Development Fund for states, and ₦450 billion for the Non-Oil Excess Revenue Account, totaling ₦952 billion in pre-distribution deductions.

Overview of May 2026 Revenue

• FAAC announced a total distribution of ₦2.3 trillion to the various tiers of government for May 2026, marking a ₦43 billion increase from the previous month.

• The total gross revenue for May was reported at ₦3.395 trillion, from which ₦123.546 billion was taken for collection costs and ₦971.610 billion for transfers and refunds.

• Final disbursements included ₦818.680 billion for the Federal Government, ₦759.141 billion for state governments, ₦534.277 billion for local councils, and ₦188.132 billion for oil-producing states as 13% derivation revenue.

Context of Security Challenges

• This financial intervention occurs as the administration faces continued pressure to address widespread insecurity, including insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, and oil theft.

• President Bola Tinubu’s administration maintains that national security is a prerequisite for economic and social stability, having consistently increased defense funding and military procurement since taking office in May 2023.

On Thursday, the Federal Government inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness to ensure the nation remains proactive rather than reactive. Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, confirmed that while there are currently zero reported cases of Ebola in Nigeria, the government is committed to maintaining this status by shifting the focus from curative measures to prevention. Gbajabiamila emphasized that the government aims to avoid the chaotic response seen during the 2014 outbreak.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Coordinated Surveillance: The task force has established subcommittees to manage emergency responses, immigration, and surveillance, with collaboration from state governors representing Lagos, Rivers, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory.

• Border Vigilance: Beyond monitoring airports, the government is placing significant emphasis on securing land borders to address risks associated with informal migration routes, involving the Border Control Development Agency and immigration services.

• NCDC Preparedness: Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), stated that surveillance systems at all major entry points have been strengthened.

• Rapid Response Framework: Although the primary objective is to prevent the virus from entering the country, the NCDC is upgrading emergency response systems to ensure that any potential case can be rapidly identified and managed.

This multi-sectoral approach involves the ministries of health, interior, and education, as well as border control agencies and state governments, all working in unison to address potential Ebola-related threats.