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Timi Frank Backs Trump for Declaring Nigeria ‘Country of Particular Concern’

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…Calls for targeted sanctions on corrupt, complicit officials

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has commended United States President Donald Trump for declaring Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over persistent human rights violations and the government’s failure to protect citizens from killings and insecurity.

He also called for targeted sanctions against corrupt government officials fueling insecurity and impunity in the country.

Trump had on Friday announced that the United States is designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over what he described as widespread attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

Trump, wrote on his Truth Social account that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.

“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.

“I am hereby making Nigeria a COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN — but that is the least of it.”

Frank in a statement in Abuja described the U.S. action as a bold and long-overdue decision, saying it reflects international recognition of the Nigerian government’s negligence in the face of growing atrocities and systemic corruption.

“We commend President Trump for taking this stand, it is long overdue,” Frank said.

“By this action, President Trump has shown he cares more about the welfare and safety of ordinary Nigerians than those elected to lead them.”

He said the declaration was a direct consequence of the Nigerian government’s tolerance for impunity and the deepening culture of lack of accountability in handling insecurity.

Frank urged the U.S. government to ensure that any sanctions or punitive measures arising from the CPC designation are strictly targeted at officials and their family members implicated in human rights abuses and corruption, rather than innocent Nigerians.

“We appeal to the United States to protect ordinary Nigerians from the fallout of sanctions after due investigations.

“The measures should be directed at those directly responsible for the atrocities, not at citizens already suffering from the government’s failures, Christians and non-Christians alike,” he said.

Frank accused the government of complicity in the worsening insecurity, claiming that officials know those behind the killings but continue to negotiate with insurgents and bandits instead of prosecuting them.

He said: “The truth is that this administration is not interested in ending the killings.

“Insecurity has become a business for some within the system. Corruption and impunity are the twin engines driving this crisis.”

He called on the international community, especially the U.S. and its allies, to take concrete steps to hold corrupt Nigerian officials accountable through visa bans, asset freezes, and blocking of access to illicitly acquired wealth abroad.

Frank said the global community must not remain silent while ordinary Nigerians continue to pay the price for the failure of leadership at home.

“The time for polite diplomacy is over. The world must stand with victims, not with those profiting from bloodshed.

“President Trump’s action gives hope to millions of Nigerians who feel abandoned by their own leaders,” he said.

Frank also warned that failure to act decisively will deepen Nigeria’s crisis, resulting in more deaths, displaced communities, and economic collapse.

“The recurring bloodshed is a direct reflection of governance failure.

“Officials entrusted with protecting lives must be held accountable when they fail,” he added.

Frank thanked Trump for his moral courage and urged other world leaders to emulate his example in standing up for human rights and justice.

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Senate Approves Tinubu’s N1.15tr Domestic Loan Request to Fund 2025 Budget Deficit

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The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to raise N1.15 trillion from the domestic debt market to cover the unfunded portion of the 2025 budget deficit.

The approval followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt during plenary on Wednesday.

The committee noted that the 2025 Appropriation Act provides for a total expenditure of N59.99 trillion, representing an increase of N5.25 trillion over the N54.74 trillion initially proposed by the Executive.

This expansion created a total budget deficit of N14.10 trillion. Of this, N12.95 trillion had already been approved for borrowing, leaving an unfunded deficit of approximately N1.15 trillion (N1,147,462,863,321).

In a related development, a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi was adopted, directing the Senate Committee on Appropriations to intensify its oversight to ensure that the borrowed funds are properly implemented in the 2025 fiscal year and used strictly for their intended purposes.

President Tinubu had on November 4th requested the approval of the National Assembly for a fresh ₦1.15 trillion borrowing from the domestic debt market to help finance the deficit in the 2025 budget.

The President’s request was conveyed in a letter. According to the letter, the proposed borrowing is intended to bridge the funding gap and ensure full implementation of government programs and projects under the 2025 fiscal plan.

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APC’s Joe Igbokwe Calls for Dismissal of Soldier Who Stood His Ground Against Wike

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A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has called for the dismissal of the soldier who resisted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The soldier had blocked Wike and officials of the FCTA from accessing a portion of land in the FCT.

The officer, claiming he was acting on instructions, told Wike that he would not be allowed into the property. Wike, however, questioned his authority, leading to a heated confrontation and name calling.

Reacting on Facebook, Igbokwe questioned who was behind the military officer in challenging the FCT Minister.

He wrote, “Who is this man in uniform? Of what meat is he fed? Who is beating the drum for him? This is unacceptable? His uniform has to be removed.”

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Senates Rejects NNPCL’s Explanation, Orders Refund of N210trn to Govt

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The Senate has rejected the explanations provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding the ₦210 trillion outstanding against the oil firm.

It came to the conclusion on Wednesday that the money, which had not been accounted for, must be refunded to the Federation Account by the company.

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Aliyu Wadada, which has been on the probe for months, took the decision on Tuesday after the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, failed to turn up at its resumed sitting at the National Assembly.

The session was called to give the NNPCL the opportunity to make clarifications on the answers the company provided to the 19 questions the panel asked the firm about the ₦210 trillion.

Following a review of the operations of the NNPCL from 2017-2023, the committee sighted the unexplained transaction, totaling ₦103 trillion (accrued expenses) and ₦107 trillion (receivables) in the audited financial statements of the firm, prompting it to raise the queries.

After weeks of back-and-forth between the committee and the NNPCL, the NNPCL eventually responded to the 19 questions.

However, at a resumed session, Senator Wadada frowned at the absence of  Ojulari, whom the committee said gave no reasons for staying away, consequently rejected the explanations.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada, while speaking on the panel’s findings, said the responses were not only unsatisfactory, but were also contradictory.

“NNPC claimed ₦103 trillion as accrued expenses and ₦107 trillion as receivables -amounting to ₦210 trillion. On question eight, NNPC’s explanation on the ₦107 trillion receivables -equivalent to about $117 billion -contradicts available facts and evidence provided by NNPC itself. The committee is duty-bound to reject this,” he stated.

Wadada further questioned how the firm could pay ₦103 trillion in Cash Calls to Joint Venture (JV) partners in 2023 alone, despite generating only ₦24 trillion in crude revenue between 2017 and 2022.

“Cash Call arrangements were abolished in 2016 under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. How can NNPC claim to have paid ₦103trn in one year, when it only generated ₦24trn in revenue over five years? Where did NNPC get that money?

“As far as this committee is concerned, that figure is unjustifiable and unacceptable. The ₦103 trillion must be returned to the Treasury. This will be concluded when the NNPCL appears before us,” he stated.

The committee said it would have been better for the current management of the NNPCL to admit that it encountered challenges in explaining what happened to the funds than giving contradictory answers to the questions.

“If the present management of NNPCL is finding it difficult to provide acceptable answers, it is better they say so. The committee will not hesitate to subpoena former officials of NNPCL and NAPIMS,” Wadada added.

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