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N30bn To Govs: ‘My Statement Unverified’, Akpabio Recants
“The President of the Senate recognizes and appreciates the current efforts of the governors at ameliorating the adverse effects of the current inclement socio-economic environment and therefore invites more hands on the plow to complement the renewed hope agenda.”
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has recanted his claim that state governors received an additional N30 billion from the Federal Government to address the biting economic hardship in the country by the distribution of palliatives to Nigerians.
Recall that Akpabio made the claim on Wednesday, February 22 while the Senate considered the report of its joint Committees on Finance, Agriculture/Food Sufficiency, Banking and Insurance.
The committee had interfaced with the economic management team of the government, led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, to find out what the government had done to tackle hunger, food inflation, a free-falling naira exchange rate to the US dollar, among others.
In the course of deliberations on the matter by senators, Akpabio had repeatedly stated without mincing word that each state governor received an additional N30bn from the centre to address the challenges, besides the regular allocations the states draw from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
“Each of the 36 states received N30bn; they received N30bn”, he kept saying.
However, 24 hours later, governors began refuting the claim.
Prominent among them was the Governor of Akpabio’s own state, Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno, who not only said such an amount was not received by the state but also added that it was possible the Senate President was speaking with prophetic expectations.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State also said much, dismissing Akpabio’s claim.
On Monday night, Akpabio’s office finally summoned the courage to recant his statement, saying that he acted on unverified information.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in a statement on Monday night, appealed for calm, saying that Akpabio held the governors in high esteem.
Eyiboh’s full statement is reproduced below: “The office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to various misconceptions in the public domain on the statement credited to the President of the Senate in plenary of Wednesday, February 21, 2024, during the presentation of a report of the joint Committees on Finance, Agriculture/Food Sufficiency, Banking and Insurance. During the session the President of the Senate commented on the payment of an unverified cumulative sum of about N30b to the sub-national governments by the Federal Government for various interventions to ameliorate the food situation of our citizens at the sub-national governments.
“The unfortunate conjectures to take away the kernel in the material facts of FAAC payment are rather regretted. In considering the well-intended motive of urging state governments to collaborate with the Federal government of President Bola Tinubu to facilitate strategic interventions to mitigate the prevailing economic situation in the country remains the underpinning motivation in the comment.
“The President of the Senate is not oblivious to the fact that State governments are functional partners in all the efforts of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu and are also valuable Stakeholders’ in the various legislative engagements of the legislature in creating the nexus between the legislature and the people.
“The President of the Senate has always demonstrated commitment to team building and shall not do less in the circumstance. He therefore urges the sub-national governments not to be distracted by any misunderstanding of the context and true meaning of the statement.
“The President of the Senate recognizes and appreciates the current efforts of the governors at ameliorating the adverse effects of the current inclement socio-economic environment and therefore invites more hands on the plow to complement the renewed hope agenda.”
James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives and founder of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), has officially picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The forms, which include the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, were obtained on April 28, 2026, following a payment of ₦100 million. This move effectively kicks off the President’s campaign for a second term.
The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, on Tuesday in Abuja, declared the process open and presented the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to Faleke, who also serves as the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The commission also announced that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.
INEC further stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.
More details later…
The Nigerian Naira maintained a steady yet cautious position against the US Dollar as the market opened for trading today, Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Financial analysts are observing localised fluctuations in liquidity across both the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and the parallel market segments.
Official Market (NFEM) Activity
In the early trading hours of the official window, the Naira showed resilience, trading at approximately 1,360.19 NGN per 1 USD. This follows a trend of minor adjustments as the FMDQ Securities Exchange records ongoing transactions from institutional buyers and sellers. The rate has seen slight volatility since the market opened, moving from an initial 1,359.23 NGN to its current level as demand and supply forces seek a daily equilibrium.
The Central Bank of Nigeria continues to monitor the official window closely, ensuring that the transparency of the “willing buyer, willing seller” model supports price discovery while mitigating drastic shocks to the local currency.
Parallel Market Trends
The informal parallel market continues to operate at a premium, reflecting the immediate retail demand for the greenback. In major cities such as Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, currency dealers are quoting the Dollar between 1,480 NGN and 1,495 NGN.
The gap between the NFEM and the parallel market remains a focal point for economic observers, as it often indicates the level of unmet demand in the official sectors. Traders in the parallel market suggest that small-scale importers and individual travelers are the primary drivers of the current activity in the informal sector this morning.
Factors Affecting Today’s Rate
Today’s market performance is being influenced by several key macroeconomic factors. Global oil prices remain a significant driver, providing the necessary foreign exchange reserves to support the Naira. Additionally, internal market liquidity is being shaped by the clearance of corporate foreign exchange backlogs and seasonal demand for international payments.
As the day progresses, participants expect the market to remain within the current range unless there is a significant intervention or a shift in global market sentiment. Stakeholders are advised to keep track of the closing rates later today to gauge the definitive performance of the Naira for the midweek trading period.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially endorsed his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election.
The announcement was made on Monday, April 27, 2026, during a meeting at the Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat formally declared his intention to run.
In the past few weeks, Hamzat has received widespread endorsement from political and community leaders across the state during his various consultative visits.
Recall that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had expressed support for Hamzat’s governorship bid.
Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senator representing Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru; and former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and other stakeholders have endorsed Hamzat’s gubernatorial bid.
Details shortly…
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