By Our Correspondent

The United States embassy in Nigeria has released a scathing report about Nigerian governors.

The US embassy accused governors of extravagant spending of public funds while citizens wallow in poverty.

The embassy stated this on Tuesday while sharing a report on the governors’ extravagant spending.

The report revealed how governors lavish billions on building or renovating government houses in the midst of the prevailing economic hardship plaguing the common man in the country.

It also said that while President Bola Tinubu asked Nigerians to endure the economic hardship resulting from his policies, the governors do not share in the sacrifice.

“While Nigerians are tightening their belts, the same cannot be said of the ruling class.

“Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration approved N63.4bn for the renovation of the Government House, claiming it was an embarrassment and an unbefitting facility.

In Gombe, one of the poorest states in Nigeria, Governor Inuwa Yahaya committed N14.9bn for a new ultra-modern residence. Another N14.23bn is being spent on the House of Assembly complex,” the report read in part.

Reacting via its official X handle on Tuesday, the US embassy shared the link to the report alongside quotes from transparency and accountability advocacy groups.

“Such alleged lack of fiscal responsibility fuels inequality and erodes public trust,” the embassy wrote.

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.