The Harbingerngr News

*Nigeria’s debts to hit N155trn *Experts highlight  naira depreciation, debt service risks *Atiku slams Tinubu, Senate over $6bn loan approval in 4hrs Nigeria’s total debt stock is set to rise to N155.1 trillion, following an additional $6 billion loan request by President Bola Tinubu, hurriedly approved by the Senate yesterday. The $6 billion loan at an exchange rate of N1,400 per dollar, adds N8.4 trillion to the country’s debt stock which stood at N146.69 trillion at the end of 2025, to N155.1 trillion. Experts, however, warned that the new borrowing comes with huge foreign exchange risks and will lead to worsening of the federal government’s debt service-to-revenue ratio, which is estimated at 60 per cent by the end of 2025.  The approval for the $6 billion  yesterday  came barely three and half hours after the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, read the letter from the President, seeking the approval. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, flayed...

Reps: APC 280, PDP 38, ADC 15, LP 12, NNPP 5, Accord 2, APP 2 NO fewer than 27 members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, announced a change in party affiliation, triggering a fresh realignment within the lower chamber, with the All Progressives Congress, APC, emerging the biggest beneficiary. Following the defections, the APC gained about 14 lawmakers, despite losing two members, bringing its total strength in the House to approximately 280. Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which remains the largest opposition party, now has 38 members. The African Democratic Congress, ADC, increased its membership to 15, while Labour Party now has 12 lawmakers. New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, which initially had 18 members, has seen its number dwindled to five, while Accord  and Action Peoples Party, APP, now have two members each. This marks a significant shift from the composition at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 23, 2023, when  APC held about 181 seats against the ...

*Dispel claims of political retirement Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed reports suggesting his withdrawal from active politics, labelling the claims as a “calculated lie” designed to undermine the growing momentum of African Democratic Congress, ADC. In a statement by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, dismissed allegations that the Waziri Adamawa had met with ADC stakeholders to announce he was “stepping aside.” Shaibu explained that while Atiku recently engaged with stakeholders in Adamawa State, no such meeting occurred at the national level nor had any decision been made to exit the political stage. “A matter as grave and consequential as withdrawing from active politics is not, and will never be communicated through anonymous leaks, street-corner gossip, or faceless propaganda,” Shaibu stated. He emphasised that any such decision would be “formally and unequivocally announced through the appropriate channels.” Shaibu describ...

NO fewer than 27 members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, announced a change in party affiliation, triggering a fresh realignment within the lower chamber, with the All Progressives Congress, APC, emerging the biggest beneficiary. Following the defections, the APC gained about 14 lawmakers, despite losing two members, bringing its total strength in the House to approximately 280. Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which remains the largest opposition party, now has 38 members. The African Democratic Congress, ADC, increased its membership to 15, while Labour Party now has 12 lawmakers. New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, which initially had 18 members, has seen its number dwindled to five, while Accord  and Action Peoples Party, APP, now have two members each. This marks a significant shift from the composition at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 23, 2023, when  APC held about 181 seats against the opposition’s 179, with the PDP alone accounting for about 115 ...

•Take 2027 polls seriously — Kwankwaso  •Makes ADC membership card, PVC gate pass to residence,   THE National Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator David Mark, has said that All Progressive Congress, APC, represented the most dangerous threat to multiparty democracy in the country. Mark stated this during the reception of the strongman of Kano politics and former governor of the state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, into the ADC in Kano. He said the defection of Kwankwaso from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, to ADC was not merely a political statement, but a response to the clarion call by well-meaning Nigerians for all opposition leaders to be united and present a common front to protect the country’s democracy, and say no to totalitarian rule in Nigeria. Personalities who graced the occasion included David Mark; 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, former National Chairman of APC, Odigie- Oyegun and former speaker of the House...

*No ambition is greater than PDP — Party Chair •Come back home, Sule Lamido begs defectors THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been taken back by loyal members, blasting defectors and asserting control of the party. He also took a swipe at opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections. He said this at the PDP’s 10th Elective National Convention in Abuja, while rival camps stayed away. The convention, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was cited by Wike as proof that the party had regained institutional footing after a prolonged dispute over its leadership. His words: “Today (yesterday) marks the rebirth of our party in a new form. Today (yesterday) is the birth of a united party, ready to move forward. We have seen the convention monitored by the electoral umpire which also tells you the importance of this gathering.” He said: “Leadership is not easy...

Fresh political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections gathered momentum, weekend, as former governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, concluded plans to defect to  the African Democratic Congress, ADC, a move that may significantly reshape the electoral landscape. It was gathered that Kwankwaso’s decision followed the conclusion of high-level negotiations with the leadership of the ADC, amid speculations of a possible alliance that could produce an Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket. Barring last-minute changes, Kwankwaso, who formally resigned from the NNPP, yesterday, will join the ADC, today, in Kano. Multiple sources disclosed that while the development jolted the NNPP leadership, not all key figures in the party are willing to follow the former governor to his new political platform, a situation that could trigger internal realignments within the NNPP. National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, ...

  THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called on political leaders at all levels to demonstrate empathy and take urgent steps to ease the growing economic hardship facing Nigerians, as Christians marked Palm Sunday yesterday. CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who made the call, said in a statement that the significance of Palm Sunday offered timely lessons for leadership, particularly during a period marked by economic strain and global uncertainty. Reflecting on the biblical account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Okoh noted that the moment symbolised humility, peace, and purposeful leadership, rather than a display of power. “Jesus entered Jerusalem with calm resolve at a time of uncertainty and expectation. It was not a show of force, but a message of peace, purpose, and hope,” he said. Okoh, who noted that the country’s current socio-economic realities demanded similar qualities from those in authority, said:  “Across Nigeria, many are feeling the weight of ...

THE National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Musiliu Akinsanya, yesterday regained control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, following a forcible takeover by a rival faction, led by Baruwa. Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, visited the secretariat to assess the extent of damage to the property after the facility was recovered.  A video shared by TVC News on X showed the union leader inspecting affected areas within the premises. Shortly after the assessment, he held a meeting with executive members from Kaduna State, even as security personnel and supporters remained stationed at the secretariat to maintain order. Reacting to the development in a statement posted on his X page, Akinsanya described the incident as a “forcible takeover,” insisting that due legal processes regarding the leadership tussle were still ongoing. He clarified that he was not a defendant in the judgment being relied upon by the Baruwa-led faction, adding t...

THE Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has appointed Olatunji Fatai as the new Commissioner of Police in Lagos State. According to a statement, yesterday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, Fatai will replace AIG Moshood Jimoh, who has been redeployed to Zone 2, Lagos, following his recent promotion. “The postings are in line with the Force’s commitment to an effective command structure and the strategic deployment of personnel across commands, formations, and departments,” the statement read. The IG stated that the redeployment is part of efforts to strengthen operations, enhance leadership capacity, and improve service delivery nationwide. At the level of Commissioners of Police, CP Muhammed Sanusi Ahmed was posted to head the Federal Capital Territory Command, while CP Haruna Alaba Yahaya, CP Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola, and CP Olubode Ojajuni were deployed to Jigawa, Oyo, and Ogun state commands, respectively. Others include CP Michael Adegoroye Fala...

Nigerian Breweries Plc has earned the 2026 Top Employer Certification in Nigeria, following an independent assessment of its people practices by the Top Employers Institute. The Top Employer Certification is a globally recognised benchmark that recognises organisations that demonstrate excellence across critical human resource areas, including people strategy, talent acquisition, learning and development, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, employee well-being, and work environment.  Speaking on the certification, the Human Resources Director, NB Plc, Grace Omo-Lamai, explained that the recognition underscores the company’s deliberate investment in its workforce and its commitment to nurturing talent. Omo-Lamai maintained that the certification aligns with the company’s ambition to build a resilient and future-ready workforce. “At Nigerian Breweries, we are committed to fostering a workplace where our employees feel valued, empowered, and inspired to perform at their b...

AS the stand-off over the Strait of Hormuz continued, following its effective blockade by Iran, the US and the gulf state are trading threats of further destruction of energy and oil infrastructure across the Middle East with US President, Donald Trump, saying Tehran would face possible obliteration of its energy facilities if it failed to reopen the channel within 48 hours  In a swift response, Iran threatened to irreversibly destroy US-linked energy sites across the Middle East if its power plants were targeted. The 48 hours deadline expires today. Trump’s ultimatum came hours after two Iranian missiles struck southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, injuring more than 160 people in the most destructive attack since the war began.  This, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to retaliate “on all fronts”. Iran had blocked the vital waterway, which carries a fifth of global crude oil trade in peacetime, as its key leverage in the war. The standoff has se...

•Most states back move; others warn of abuse, repression   •North divided; Kaduna, Plateau, Kano, Taraba set pace  •Tinubu can’t create it by fiat — Afenifere  •Lawmakers, governors face crucial test   •We’ll address Nigerians’ concerns — Senate THE push for state police gained fresh momentum at the weekend as rising insecurity across the country forced governors, lawmakers and stakeholders into a defining debate, with most states backing the proposal while others warned of abuse, repression and political misuse. From the North to the South, the fault lines are clear: while many states are already laying structures for decentralised policing, critics insist Nigeria lacked the safeguards to prevent governors from turning such outfits into instruments of control. While governors of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Abba Yusuf of Kano State and those of Zamfara, Taraba, Kebbi, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Kwara states argued that state police...

*Says Electoral reforms urgent, unavoidable AHEAD of the 2027 general elections, Conveners of GoNigeria, yesterday, warned that surveys have shown that less than 50 percent of Nigerians have confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. While it stated that credible electoral reform remains urgent and unavoidable, the group called for the strengthening of public confidence in the electoral process. GoNigeria, in a statement titled ‘Electoral reform and the sanctity of Nigeria’s democratic future’, by its convener, Mr Atedo Peterside and 24 others, noted that electoral reforms, judicial reforms and freedom of speech, among others, are critical for Nigeria’s democracy. The statement reads: “Four pillars are critical for Nigeria’s democracy: electoral reform, judicial reform, freedom of speech, and the security of life and property. These pillars are the practical guardrails required for a democracy that is durable and productive. “Among these pillars, electoral refor...