The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has cautioned state governments in the country on their reliance on short-term borrowing and overdrafts, which it said is affecting its plan to control inflation.
The CBN said the action is having serious impacts on its monetary policy, citing debt accumulation, spending patterns, wage bills, capital project execution, salary arrears, contractor financing as some of the actions of sub-nationals driving high inflation in the country.
CBN’s Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate, Dr Muhammad Abdullahi made the remark in a statement issued by the apex bank, on Sunday after a meeting with state government officials under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF.
Abdullahi said the expenditure and borrowing pattern of state governments must align with the “prevailing macroeconomic conditions” in the country, calling on sub-nationals to collaborate with he CBN on these issues as their actions will greatly affect inflation outcomes.
Part of the statement: “The Deputy Governor emphasised that the absence of fiscal dominance, where government borrowing pressures compel the central bank to monetise deficits, is a core prerequisite for successful inflation targeting. He noted that this principle applies not only at the federal level but equally to State Governments.
“He urged States to reduce reliance on overdrafts and short‑term financing, ensure that borrowing decisions align with debt sustainability thresholds, improve budget realism and revenue forecasting, prioritise expenditure, and better synchronise fiscal calendars with prevailing macroeconomic conditions.”
A yet-to-be identified student of the University of Benin, (UNIBEN) was shot dead by masked gunmen in his JLK Mercedes Benz while driving out of the main gate of the campus at Ugbowo, Sunday night.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the student was shot at close range by masked gunmen who later fled the scene.
The victim had reportedly finished his exams in the Political Science Department about an hour earlier before he met his tragic end.
Two other victims in the JLK Mercedes Benz who survived the attack, were rushed to the University of Benin Health Care center.
One student said, “They shot him at close range and there was no way he could have survived the attack.
“Two others who were in the vehicle were also injured and rushed to the school’s health care center.”
Police Operatives from the Ugbowo Divisional Police Headquarters arrived the scene and evacuated the remains of the victim.
In a separate report, another student was allegedly chased with a machete at the Social Science Lecture Theatre on Saturday, but escaped unhurt.
The Management of the University, in a reaction by the spokesperson, Benedicta Ehanire, on Monday, explained that the incidents happened outside the campus.
According to her, the incidents were fallout from cult-related activities which took place outside the campus and might not have involved the University.
She appealed to students and staff of the institution to go about their normal daily activities peacefully, and assured them of adequate security.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state is very popular among the people of the state, so much so, that the upcoming governorship election will be a walkover for him.
The governor’s campaign council, Director-General, Olalere Oyewumi made the remark on Sunday in Osogbo, the state’s capital during the opening of the Imole Campaign Media Centre.
According to Olalere, Governor Adeleke does not require campaign billboards to win the election to return to office for a second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has set the next governorship election in the state for August 15 this year, and Governor Adeleke is seeking to return to office under the Accord party.
The magazine, however, learnt that supporters of candidates from political parties seeking to contest the governorship election have been erecting campaign bill boards and other publicity methods that can help their candidates during the election.
Supporters of various governorship candidates have also being discovered to be destroying the campaign billboards of opponents, according to eye witnesses in the state.
The two dominant political parties in the state, Accord and the All Progressives Congress, APC have been trading blames over this.
Speaking, Oyewumi, said Governor Adeleke would not necessarily require campaign billboards to win the next election, as he’s already popular with the people of the state who have identify with him, saying the destruction of his campaign billboards will not help his opopnent to defeat him.
“You all know that Governor Adeleke does not need to flood the state with posters or billboards before winning the election. His acceptance among the people speaks louder than campaign materials,” Oyewumi said but urged security agencies in the state to rein in those causing troubles ahead the election.
He also called on the security agencies to arrest the killer of an Accord party supporters who was killed by yet-to-be identified assailants last weekend, warning politicians that their ‘political ambition” is not worth the “blood” of the citizens of the state.
Candidates sponsored.by the Rivers state Governor Siminalayi Fubara ,were among the about 56 aspirants disqualified from contesting the 2027 elections by the All Progressive Congress, APC, Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee.
The Source reports that the embattled Rivers State Governor who is facing political ostracization from his estranged godfather, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike had last week sponsored some aspirants for the House of Assembly contest, against the expressed wishes of Wike’s Rainbow Coalition platform.
However, the Screening Committee, in its report disqualified about 56 of the 98 aspirants who appeared before it , with Fubara’s aspirants ,and those of Tonye Cole, a Governorship aspirants among those disqualified from the contesting the elections .
In a report dated May 10, 2026, the Screening Committee headed by Muraine Ajibola also cleared about 33 aspirants, all of whom were, allegedly, sponsored by the FCT Minister ,who is still a member of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP.
Some notable aspirants disqualified by the Screening Committee which sat between Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10 ,2026 include Victor Oko-Jumbo, a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Fubara, and Chijioke Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Council of the State ,and others.
The Committee’s report was endorsed by the trio of Ajibola as Secretary, Danjuma Samuel and Ishake Yamawe as members.
The Source reports that Governor Fubara had, on Sunday, angrily stormed out of the Abuja venue of the APC Screening Committee, a move perceived to have signposted a fundamental disagreement with the Committee.
Fubara who arrived the screening venue at about 3.00 pm., left after about 20 minutes in anger.
Although, he did not disclose the cause of his sudden exit, it is however becoming clear that he may have gotten an idea of the fate of his sponsored aspirants.
With what has just happened to his favoured House of Assembly aspirants , it is also suspected that Governor Fubara’s own return bid may equally be frustrated by the Committee.
His erstwhile political mentor, Wike, has insisted that part of the presidential truce brokered between the warring Rivers political actors was that Governor Fubara will not seek a second term in office.
He is an elderly man deeply in love with good governance. He has extended this affection to Mr. Peter Obi because, beyond seeing him as a son, he admires what Gen Z would call his political “vibes,” delivered with “steeze.” To him, Obi represents an extension of the ideals of good governance he has always cherished.
As soon as I left the church where I joined Profs. Stella Chinyere Okunna and Patrick Obi to celebrate the 60th birthday of one of the most outspoken bishops in Nigeria, Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor, I switched on my phone and saw his messages waiting for me.
The first read: “This is what we fear most – how can this buffoon called Reno Omokri simply walk up to Peter Obi at the airport and shake hands with him after mildly calling him ‘Mr Obi’? PO’s personal security is too loose for comfort. Omokri is too dangerous and too disrespectful to get near any decent person. We are taking so many things for granted. Please.Unless, of course, someone wants to convince me that the video is AI. Good evening as I leave for Evening Mass. Ndewo!”
Apparently still disturbed, he sent another message showing he forwarded the disturbing meeting to an expert for analysis. He sent the expert’s reaction: “Nna anyi ukwu, it’s not AI. I sent this video to some security experts. They had a good laugh and advised that PO should better get serious with his security.”
I replied: “Good evening sir. You know at that point there was hardly anything anyone could have done. I assure you that he is usually fully alert at all times.”
Relieved, he responded: “Good. This is heartwarming. Daalu rinne.”
It was clear that many Nigerians experienced what my mentor, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, would call “psychic encumbrances” after watching that episode, because it was part of planned show by Reno Omokiri.
Having followed Reno Omokri’s actions over time, many people believe there is only a thin line between thought and action and that, overcome by emotion, he might attempt something ridiculous. I understand their apprehension. If, as the saying goes, from the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step, then from paid mischief to reckless action may be even less than a step.
Yet, at every point, Mr. Peter Obi showed himself superior to his environment. Did you see how calmly he used his abundant wisdom to subdue whatever was Reno’s plan – intrigue stretched to the bursting point?
Watching the clip carefully, it was obvious that upon sighting Obi, Reno told those with him that he wanted a clip he could later use to embarrass him. The manner in which he shouted from a distance, “Mr. Obi, how are you?” revealed the performance. Is that the natural reflex of someone greeting another person casually at an airport? It was clearly a gimmick designed to attract attention and create a scene.
After the perfunctory handshake, he patted Obi on the shoulder. Have we seen him patting Bola Ahmed Tinubu or other powerful figures in the same manner? Is it a the younger person that should show that level of familiarity to an elder, and or vice versa?
Valentine Obienyem
The truth is that he probably expected Obi not to shake his hand, so he could go to town speaking about Obi’s “poverty of spirit.” But Obi, a man who reads people quickly and is well bred, shook him cheerfully and calmly. Reno was disappointed.
The shoulder pat was another calculated move. He likely expected Obi to react sharply or remove his hand angrily. Again, Obi remained calm. Again, Reno was disappointed.
To show that the encounter was planned, his cameraman was hiding nearby, pretending to fiddle with his phone while secretly recording the exchange.
There is hardly any situation in which Obi does not display visible composure and maturity in handling matters. Nigerians have seen this repeatedly. If he becomes president tomorrow, many believe he would manage the country with the same calmness and emotional discipline.
The elderly man who reacted, like many Nigerians reacting, is right. To understand Reno Omokri, one must, with some depth, understand the history and character of well-known betrayers, especially those driven by hunger, whose blood runs like an intermittent fever in Reno’s veins.
As he is now an ambassador, he is expected to be more virulent towards Peter Obi, who, in their view, threatens the early stability of his ambassadorial appointment even in its honeymoon phase with his assured presidential victory, but Obi is not vindictive. Characters like Kenneth Okonkwo are also minted from the same furnace. Are you following him lately?
Meanwhile, let us be informed once Reno resumes duty in any country as an ambassador, so that we can also inform that country of who he truly is.
Victor Osimhen, Super Eagles Striker and Galatasaray Football Club of Turkey forward has won the Turkish Super League for the Second Time in a row, following a 4-2 triumph over Antalyaspor.
Osimhen scored a brace to further increase his Club’s success with the Turkish Giant.
Galatasaray faced early pressure as Antalyaspor took the lead shortly before half-time through Dikmen.
The champions responded strongly in the second half, with Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina equalising in the 56th minute to revive Galatasaray’s title hopes.
However, Antalyaspor regained the advantage six minutes later when Dikmen grabbed his second goal of the match to make it 2-1.
With the title race hanging on the balance, Osimhen stepped up in decisive fashion. The Nigerian striker netted twice in the 66th and 88th minutes, turning the game around and putting Galatasaray firmly in control.
Kaan Ayhan added a late goal during stoppage time to seal a convincing 4-2 victory for the Istanbul giants.
The triumph secured the Turkish Super Lig title for Galatasaray for the fourth consecutive season, with Osimhen playing a major role in the club’s recent successes.
Since joining Galatasaray from Napoli, the Super Eagles forward has become one of the club’s most influential players. He has now scored 61 goals in 75 appearances for the Turkish champions, cementing his place as fan’s favourite and one of Africa’s top football stars.
Osimhen’s impact has extended beyond goals, with the striker providing leadership, consistency, and match-winning performances throughout the season.
For Galatasaray, the latest title victory further confirms the club’s dominance in Turkish football, while for Osimhen, it represents another major achievement in an already impressive career.
Osimhem has now won Two Turkish Super League Trophy in his first Two Season with the Turkish outfit, scoring over 60 goals in 75 appearances.
He has further cemented his status as a formidable striker, not only in Turkey, but as one of Africa’s best plying his trade in Europe.
The Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni on Sunday May 10, 2026, gave an indication that the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the State may be forced into the conduct of direct primaries if aspirants continue to reject the consensus option.
The Source reports that the APC in Yobe State has been embroiled in a unity-threatening disagreement over the selection of its gubernatorial candidate in the last few days.
About six Governorship aspirants including a serving Senator, have vehemently rejected the emergence of Governor Buni-backed Baba Mallam Wali as the APC consensus candidate.
The six aspirants- Senator Ibrahim Bomoi ,former Inspector -General of Police IGP Mohammed Baba , Lawan Kolo , Bashir Machina , Kashim Musa-Tumsah ,and Mustapha Maihaja have all distanced themselves from the efforts of a Stakeholders group that midwifed the adoption of Wali as the consensus candidate.
They have, instead, demanded credible, free and fair direct primaries to settle the issue of who flies the APC gubernatorial flag in the state.
But despite having his efforts being rubbished, Governor Buni has informed that the party is not averse to the conduct of direct primaries if it is the only roadmap for the achievement of peace and stability of the APC in Yobe state.
In a statement on Sunday from Mamman Mohammed, his spokesperson, Governor Buni pledged the readiness and commitment of the party leadership in the State towards ensuring the conduct of free, fair and credible direct primaries.
This was as he emphasized the need for APC members in the state to subscribe to peace and unity, urging them to prioritize the generation of more members for the party ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to the Governor, the party in the state has not foreclosed the possibility of having direct primaries for contestable offices on offer despite the earlier efforts of stakeholders on April 23, 2026 that produced consensus candidates.
He, however, informed that efforts are underway to reach out to aggrieved aspirants with a view to exploring the possibility of arriving at a peaceful settlement of the impasse.
“The emergence of Baba Mallam Wali as the preferred candidate of the party followed the resolutions of the critical stakeholders meeting of 23rd April, 2026.
“He was endorsed and adopted as the preferred candidate, but if there is no general agreement, we shall adopt the election mode.
“This is not new. In 2019, I was nominated as a consensus candidate, a few other aspirants contested the decision and we went for an election where I emerged as the party’s candidate with a very wide margin. We are ready to repeat history if we cannot reach consensus.
“I will be the happiest person to see the State and party peaceful and united. We remain citizens of Yobe state and members of APC.
“My expectation is to see us more united and collectively working for our candidates to win the 2007 general elections .
“As a founding member, former Secretary and National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC, the unity and progress of the party means so much to me personally.
“I will continue to support and protect the ideals of the party to remain Nigeria’s ruling political party”, Governor Buni stated.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, angrily made his way out of the Abuja venue of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Screening Committee.
Governor Fubara had arrived the screening venue at about 3 pm.on Sunday ,but was seen furiously leaving just a few minutes after, with not a few observers perceiving the situation as signposting a possible disagreement between the Governor and the screening Committee.
The Source reports that , Governor Fubara was conspicuously missing during Saturday’s screening exercise which saw his challenger Hon Kingsley Chinda ,a serving member of the House of Representatives,and a staunch ally of the Governor’s estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister cleared by the committee.
Speculations have been rife linking Wike to the gubernatorial ambition of Chinda ,who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers state at the National Assembly..
Chinda is strongly believed to be one of the preferred candidates lined up by the FCT Minister to frustrate the return bid of Fubara who he had earlier vowed not allow to secure a second term in office.
The National Chairman of the APC, Prof Nentawe Yilwaltda, had in addressing concerns raised by the absence of Fubara at Saturday’s screening exercise , informed that Governors Fubara, and his Kwara and Ebonyi states counterparts- AbdulRaham AbdulRazaq and Francis Nwifuru respectively were excused owing to pressing official engagements.
He, however, assured that the three Governors will be taking their turns in the screening exercise, whenever they signal the intention to do so.
” Any Governor who has issues to attend to, we understand.
” The Governor of Kwara said he has issues to attend to ,so we excused him. The Governor of Rivers also said he has issues to attend to, and we equally excused him.
“We know that they are Chief Executives; they are commanders in their states. Anytime, they are free, let them call the screening Committee and we will give them room. They can come at own will” Yilwaltda stated .
Although Fubara did not speak with the press on what actually transpired between him and the committee, there are widespread insinuations suggesting that the committee may have refused to screen him, a development that forced him to storm out angrily.
But responding to the speculations, the National Secretary of APC Ajibola Bashir, who is also the screening Committee secretary urged everyone to wait for the official report of the committee.
” I don’t know what you mean by screening and or not screening because I am aware that appearing before the committee is part of the screening exercise.
” It is natural that everybody must appear before the screening Committee. Of course, it is a necessary part of the process. After the exercise, the Screening Committee will issue it’s report” Bashir noted .
Authorities of the Yaba College of Technology say they are fully ready for the transformation of the premier technological college into a full-fledged University of Technology with 200 PhD holders.
The Rector, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, disclosed that legislative steps are being taken to give legal teeth to the proposed university.
“We are in the process of getting to the final laps. Let me call it ‘the final act of this Conversion.’
“That has to do with the necessary legislative steps. And, the next legislative steps have started; the National Assembly will wrap it up.
“Once the legislative step is complete, the take-off will begin. So we are rounding up very soon,”
Established in 1947, President Bola Tinubu approved the conversion of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to a university in February 2025.
The federal government began the final steps for this upgrade in November 2025, confirming the institution’s transition from a polytechnic to a university.
The conversion was initiated to leverage the institution’s high capacity, including over 200 staff members with doctorate degrees
Dr Ismail Bidmus, the College’s Deputy Rector (Academic), also told The news Zenith in an exclusive interview with at the weekend in Lagos that the college management is enthusiastically making all arrangements to transform the college into a university.
“We are trying to transition to university, and we have been on it for a long time. You know we are a public polytechnic; we are still on it.
Dr Ismail Badmus, Deputy Rector (ACAD), Yaba College of Technology”
However, we run affiliated programmes with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in the area of technical education, but you know they award degrees.
“Our eyes are on becoming the University of Technology and Vocational Studies. We have a presidential order that is yet to be implemented.”
Asked how fully ready the college management is for becoming a degree-awarding institution, Bidmus noted that to run a university, the first thing to look for is the number of those with doctoral degrees.
“Today, YabaTech has 199 doctoral degree holders. We have the manpower, we have the experience, and we have the facilities that we can think of for a federal institution.
“Of course, the school is landlocked. If you look at the size of our campus, we have another one at Epe.
“Actually, Epe houses two schools: the School of Agricultural Technology and the School of Technical Education and two other departments from here.
“These are the Department of Tourism Management Technology and the Department of Agricultural Technology and Environmental Engineering.
“We are the toast of the town, the name is a brand; we cannot reasonably think about horizontal expansion, we are going vertical.
“In the near future, you are going to be seeing skyscrapers in YabaTech, and as a matter of fact, we have about thirteen-storey buildings approved to be erected, but there is no space.
“On our side, we are ready. In fact, if you do not have a PhD from YabaTech today, you feel out of place as a lecturer.
“That is why apart from TETFUND, we are trying to institutionalise study leave with pay and sponsorship to encourage people to go for their PhD,’’ Bidmus said.
The Kebbi State authorities have described former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, as a hypocrite only out to deceive unsuspecting residents of the State.
This is as it accused Malami of being part of the over-pampered elite that have been responsible for the challenges being faced by Kebbi state and its citizens.
The Kebbi State Government’s position comes on the heels of Malami’s allegation that the state has been plunged into a state of unmitigated misgovernance and purposeless leadership in the last few years.
Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN
In a statement on his official site on Saturday to announce his purchase of the expression of interest and nomination forms for the Kebbi state Governorship race, the former Minister of Justice cited the need to retrieve the State from the precipice as a major reason for his involvement in the gubernatorial contest.
He noted that it has become extremely impossible to keep silent in the face of worsening insecurity, abject poverty, educational decline and the excruciating economic hardships ravaging the state.
Particularly, Malami expressed serious concern over the astronomical increase in the number of out-of-school children ,the growing level of poverty, malnutrition and poor access to adequate healthcare services under the watch of the Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris-led All Progressive Congress APC Government in the State.
But in a statement on Sunday from Yahaya Sarki, his spokesperson, Governor Idris described Malami’s posturing as akin to that of “a wolf in a sheep’s clothing” insisting that the late President Mohammadu Buhari’s era Minister of Justice remains one of the architects of the challenges being faced not only by Kebbi citizens but Nigerians at large.
While acknowledging the inalienable and constitutional right of Malami to vie for the highest office in the State, the Government described his scathing criticisms of the authorities as being insincere and laced with falsehood and political hypocrisy.
The Kebbi State authorities expressed regret that Malami is trying to build and harvest an unmerited political capital from the spate of insecurity ,poverty, educational decline and economic hardships which he alongside others who served in the Buhari’s administration largely created.
The Kebbi State Government accused the former Minister of Justice and others who served in the Buhari’s administration between 2015 and 2023 of merely exploiting public trusts to enrich themselves at the expense of the country’s socio-economic and security problems.
The authorities emphasized that the issues of insecurity in Kebbi State and other parts of the country worsened during the immediate past administration of Buhari ,in which Malami was a major player.
Gov Idris accused Malami and his associates of gross failure to act decisively in the face of worsening insecurity and humanitarian crisis that were at their heights when they were in Government.
The State Government, therefore, warned against allowing those who allegedly contributed hugely to Nigeria’s governance failures to benefit from it by presenting themselves as emergency reformers.
