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“Outrage In Kogi As ₦2 Billion Spent on Governor’s House While Debt Skyrockets”.
According to Nivo News, Kogi State has come under public scrutiny after its 2026 draft budget revealed plans to spend over ₦2 billion on the remodelling of the Government House and related projects, despite mounting concerns over the state’s rising debt and weak revenue base. The draft budget allocates ₦1.015 billion for extensive renovations of the Government House structure, alongside ₦1 billion for minor capital works to be executed through direct labour.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In addition, the budget earmarks ₦500 million for the construction of residential apartments for members of the State House of Assembly and the head of legislative services. The project is described as being on an “owner-occupier basis,” implying that lawmakers would eventually take ownership of the houses built with public funds.
The planned expenditure has drawn criticism, particularly against the backdrop of Kogi’s growing debt servicing obligations. A review of the state’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2025–2027 indicates that more than 80 per cent of internally generated revenue (IGR) will be committed to debt servicing. The state is projected to generate ₦35.1 billion in IGR for both 2025 and 2026, with debt servicing expected to consume ₦27.9 billion and ₦28.2 billion respectively. By 2027, debt service is projected to rise to ₦28.5 billion, representing 81.1 per cent of projected revenue.
The MTEF warned that Kogi’s financial position remains fragile, with a “very high risk” that the state’s ability to meet debt obligations may be unexpectedly weakened due to lower-than-expected revenue, higher expenditures, or an unforeseen increase in liabilities. The framework also highlighted the state’s weak revenue robustness, largely driven by socio-economic challenges and heavy reliance on volatile federal allocations, including VAT and statutory transfers. Internally generated revenue accounts for less than 20 per cent of total operating revenue, significantly below the Nigerian states’ average.
A review of the first half of 2025 budget performance showed that ₦28.1 billion was spent on debt servicing between January and June, surpassing allocations to several critical sectors. Combined expenditure by the Ministry of Works and Planning, the Road Maintenance Agency, and the state fire service was ₦17.2 billion, while the Ministry of Water Resources received ₦1.4 billion, Education ₦20.3 billion, and Health ₦12.3 billion. Notably, the 2025 budget had also earmarked ₦7 billion for the purchase of 60 vehicles for ministries, departments, and agencies.
Residents and analysts have expressed concern over the state government’s spending priorities, questioning its commitment to fiscal prudence and responsible management of public resources amid dwindling revenues and mounting debt obligations.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed how he rejected an offer of political asylum from the United States despite warnings that he could be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The former leader also recounted how he left the Nigerian Army to pursue farming before his return to the country led to his arrest and imprisonment under the administration of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo shared the experience while discussing his encounter with Abacha in an interview featured in a video published by BBC News Pidgin on Tuesday.
The 89-year-old explained that he ventured into agriculture after leaving office as Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1979.
According to him, his farming business was progressing successfully until Abacha allegedly made plans to eliminate him.
Obasanjo said he had not intended to retire from the Army at the age of 42, but had reached the highest position possible in the military, having become a four-star general and Head of State.
He said, “When I was leaving government as military head of state, there was, I was leaving too early. I didn’t join the army to retire at the age of 42.
“Now I had to retire at the age of 42. At the age of 42, I had become a four-star general. There’s nothing else I can do in the army. I’ve become the military head of state. That’s the highest political office I could rise.
“So what can I do? I decided I would go into farming. It really was going well, and it went well until I was arrested. Abacha had decided that I must be liquidated; otherwise he would not be able to have his way.”
The former President further disclosed that he was unaware of the alleged plan against him until the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him while he was travelling.
According to Obasanjo, the ambassador informed him that the US government had offered him political asylum because it anticipated that he would be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.
However, he said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted an arrest.
He explained that upon arriving in Nigeria, his passport was seized, and he headed to his farm, only to discover that security operatives had surrounded the premises.
Obasanjo said a plain-clothes police officer later approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted him to assist with an issue.
He recalled rejecting the invitation, insisting that the AIG should personally come to his farm if he needed his assistance.
The former leader said he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had been instructed to arrest him.
Obasanjo added that he was subsequently detained, and former US President Jimmy Carter later intervened on his behalf, leading to his placement under house arrest.
However, he said security operatives returned one night while he was playing squash at about 1 a.m. and took him away to prison.
He said, “I didn’t know that it was a decision of Abacha that some of us must not be kept free; otherwise, he would feel unsafe. I was put in a place. Then President Jimmy Carter came. He pleaded, and then they put me under house arrest.
“Then they came one day; I was playing squash at about 1 am. They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison.”
Nigerian music producer Krizbeatz has recounted an experience from a visit to the residence of popular Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The producer shared the story while speaking about his Christian faith during an interview on the Zikoko podcast.
Krizbeatz described himself as someone who grew up in the church and has continued to maintain a connection with Christianity.
Recalling his encounter with Tiwa Savage during a music production session, he said he visited the singer’s home to work on her song titled Energy.
However, he was surprised by what he found the award-winning singer doing when he arrived at her residence.
According to him, Tiwa Savage was reading the Bible at the time.
He said, “I am the producer of Tiwa Savage’s song ‘Energy.’ The day I visited her house to produce the song, I saw her reading the Bible.”
Meanwhile, Tiwa Savage recently responded to a social media user who questioned her decision to describe herself as an African Baddie.
The controversy started after the man criticised the singer for using the description despite being in her 40s.
He wrote, “African baddie at 40… this one no serious.”
Reacting, the singer disclosed that she is 46 years old and expressed confidence in her appearance, financial status and music career.
She also dismissed the criticism while promoting her forthcoming song, African Baddie.
Tiwa wrote, “46, fine, paid, unbothered and dropping my super hottttt record ‘African Baddie’ on Friday. What exactly is the problem, boy?😂 #AfricanBaddie.”
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed how he rejected an offer of political asylum from the United States despite warnings that he could be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The former leader also recounted how he left the Nigerian Army to pursue farming before his return to the country led to his arrest and imprisonment under the administration of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo shared the experience while discussing his encounter with Abacha in an interview featured in a video published by BBC News Pidgin on Tuesday.
The 89-year-old explained that he ventured into agriculture after leaving office as Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1979.
According to him, his farming business was progressing successfully until Abacha allegedly made plans to eliminate him.
Obasanjo said he had not intended to retire from the Army at the age of 42, but had reached the highest position possible in the military, having become a four-star general and Head of State.
He said, “When I was leaving government as military head of state, there was, I was leaving too early. I didn’t join the army to retire at the age of 42.
“Now I had to retire at the age of 42. At the age of 42, I had become a four-star general. There’s nothing else I can do in the army. I’ve become the military head of state. That’s the highest political office I could rise.
“So what can I do? I decided I would go into farming. It really was going well, and it went well until I was arrested. Abacha had decided that I must be liquidated; otherwise he would not be able to have his way.”
The former President further disclosed that he was unaware of the alleged plan against him until the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him while he was travelling.
According to Obasanjo, the ambassador informed him that the US government had offered him political asylum because it anticipated that he would be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.
However, he said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted an arrest.
He explained that upon arriving in Nigeria, his passport was seized, and he headed to his farm, only to discover that security operatives had surrounded the premises.
Obasanjo said a plain-clothes police officer later approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted him to assist with an issue.
He recalled rejecting the invitation, insisting that the AIG should personally come to his farm if he needed his assistance.
The former leader said he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had been instructed to arrest him.
Obasanjo added that he was subsequently detained, and former US President Jimmy Carter later intervened on his behalf, leading to his placement under house arrest.
However, he said security operatives returned one night while he was playing squash at about 1 a.m. and took him away to prison.
He said, “I didn’t know that it was a decision of Abacha that some of us must not be kept free; otherwise, he would feel unsafe. I was put in a place. Then President Jimmy Carter came. He pleaded, and then they put me under house arrest.
“Then they came one day; I was playing squash at about 1 am. They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison.”
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