By Our Correspondent

In a dramatic pushback three days after the Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s plan to borrow more than $21 billion from external sources, Senator Abdul Ningi has publicly rejected the facility, insisting Nigerians “can’t keep borrowing without knowing the details.” “Nigerians have a right to understand where this money is going,” he said, questioning the transparency of the package.

The Senate on July 23, 2025 endorsed the administration’s sweeping borrowing plan — $21.19bn in foreign loans alongside €4bn, ¥15bn, a $65m grant, and additional domestic borrowing — to help fund the 2025 budget and priority projects. Lawmakers who backed the plan stressed that the loans are concessional, spread over multiple years, and already embedded in the 2025 Appropriation Act and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.

While many senators framed the borrowing as a strategic necessity to unlock infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, security and housing investments — including $3bn earmarked to revitalise the Eastern rail corridor — Ningi, an opposition lawmaker, said the chamber failed to give Nigerians the granular breakdown they deserve. During debate on the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, he raised concerns over the absence of project-by-project clarity and the full borrowing terms.

“We need to tell our constituents exactly how much is being borrowed in their name, and for what purpose,” Ningi argued, doubling down in subsequent public comments after the approval.

Supporters say it’s procedural, long-term and lawful

Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, chair of the Appropriations Committee, described the vote as largely procedural, saying the borrowing had already been “baked into” the budget framework — approval merely “connects the final dots” to fund the 2025 spending plan. Finance Committee chair Sani Musa added that disbursement would run for six years, not just 2025, aligning with “global best practice” on leveraging debt for growth. Tokunbo Abiru, who heads the Banking Committee, said the loans comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Debt Management Act and come with favourable terms.

Why Ningi’s stance matters

Ningi’s refusal to align with the Senate majority sharpens an already heated national debate over Nigeria’s debt trajectory, debt-service pressures, and the opacity that often surrounds big-ticket borrowing plans. His call echoes civil society demands for project-level disclosure, timelines, interest costs, and repayment schedules before fresh debt is piled onto future generations. Though the Senate’s approval stands, Ningi’s dissent could galvanise watchdog groups to press for enhanced quarterly reporting from the Debt Management Office (DMO) and line ministries.

What happens next

Implementation & oversight: With the Senate’s green light, attention shifts to how quickly the executive will draw down the loans — and how transparently it will publish spending trails. Expect louder demands for a public-facing dashboard that tracks every dollar, euro and yen, project by project.

House of Representatives & harmonisation: Reuters reported the House was expected to align with the plan this week, tightening the legislative cover for the borrowing. Any resistance there — emboldened by Ningi’s posture — could slow disbursements or force added disclosure requirements.

Political optics: For an administration selling “Renewed Hope,” Ningi’s message is politically potent: Nigerians want growth, but not blind debt. The presidency and pro-loan senators may now need to over-communicate the specifics to blunt public scepticism.

The bigger question

Nigeria’s long-running dilemma persists: Can the country borrow its way to growth without drowning in repayments — and can it convince citizens every kobo is well spent? Senator Abdul Ningi has planted a flag on the side of radical transparency. Whether his colleagues — and the executive — meet him there will determine how this $21bn story is ultimately written.

By Our Correspondent

Motorists and commuters travelling through the Gadan Oji area of Sabon Garin Kwami in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State were left stranded for over three hours, once again highlighting the long-standing neglect of a critical bridge that connects Gombe to major northern states.

According to Nasiru Abubakar Kwali, a commercial driver who plies the route regularly, the condition of the makeshift bridge has remained deplorable for over two decades, despite repeated appeals from road users and residents.

“This bridge has been like this for over 20 years,” Kwali said. “Today, we spent more than three hours waiting because the water overflowed and damaged the passage again. The government has continuously turned a blind eye while the people suffer.”

The Gadan Oji bridge serves as a vital link between Gombe and several major states, including Kano, Abuja, Dukku, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba (Jalingo), and Adamawa. Each rainfall season, the condition of the crossing worsens, causing gridlock, delays, and in some cases, accidents.

Travellers, including women and children, were visibly frustrated as vehicles queued up on both sides of the failed portion. Some passengers were forced to disembark and walk several kilometres in search of alternative transport.

Kwali and other commuters believe the persistent neglect is a result of misplaced government priorities. “Government officials only remember us during elections. If this road connected their villages, they would have fixed it long ago,” he lamented.

He called on the federal and Gombe State governments, as well as relevant agencies like the Federal Ministry of Works, FERMA, and the National Assembly representatives from the region, to immediately intervene and construct a durable bridge that can withstand seasonal flooding.

“Enough is enough,” said Kwali. “This suffering must stop. We are not asking for luxury—just a functional bridge that ensures safe and smooth passage.”

As rainy season intensifies, residents and commuters fear the worst is yet to come if urgent action is not taken. The Gadan Oji bridge may just be one of many neglected rural infrastructures, but for those whose lives depend on it daily, it is a lifeline that has been ignored for far too long.

By Our Correspondent

Renowned activist and social critic, Comrade Ibrahim Garba Wala, popularly known as IG Wala, has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, describing it as “clueless and indifferent” to the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.

In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, Wala lamented the deepening economic crisis, rising insecurity, and what he termed the “complete absence of empathy” from the current leadership. He said the current administration under APC has failed woefully in addressing the fundamental needs of the people, stressing that its performance is even worse than what Nigerians experienced during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) era.

> “Honestly, we have not seen a government that cares less and is as clueless about the lives of Nigerians as the APC. It is worse than the days of the PDP,” Comrade Wala declared.

Wala, who has long been a vocal advocate for transparency, good governance, and citizen rights, accused the APC government of betraying the hope and trust that millions of Nigerians invested in it when it took over power in 2015. According to him, the rising cost of living, joblessness, insecurity, and general despair among Nigerians are clear indicators of failed leadership.

He criticised the administration’s economic policies, alleging that they are driven more by elite interests than the welfare of the masses. He also questioned the sincerity behind the government’s claims of social interventions, which he said have had little or no meaningful impact on the lives of the poor.

The activist called on Nigerians to wake up from their slumber and hold leaders accountable through democratic means. He urged citizens to reject parties and individuals who have demonstrated poor governance, insisting that the nation cannot afford to recycle failure in 2027.

> “This is not about party politics anymore; it is about survival and justice. We need leaders who are competent, compassionate, and committed to real change — not just campaign slogans,” he added.

Comrade Wala’s remarks come amid growing criticism of the APC-led federal government over rising inflation, naira depreciation, and insecurity in various parts of the country. His statement reflects a growing chorus of public discontent as Nigerians continue to struggle with economic and social challenges.

While the APC is yet to issue a response to the criticism, political analysts believe such bold statements from civil society leaders could further ignite conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections, as Nigerians begin to reflect on the direction of the country.