NEWS
BREAKING: APC Urges El-Rufai To Salvage Some Responsibility
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has shred Mal Nasir El-Rufai over his assertion that the party had deviated from its original goals, with many members now in pursuit of personal interests.
This was detailed in a statement on Monday, in Abuja under the signature of its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, Esq.
Morka maintained that El-Rufai’s “claim that he exited because the Party had deviated from its founding values or progressive ideology is a smokescreen to weaponise personal grievance garbed as principled dissent. El-Rufai appears traumatised by his failure to land a ministerial position. Nursing a bruised ego, he now lashes out at the platform he rode to political prominence.”
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Issued under the subject, ‘APC to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai: Quit Sulking, Get a Grip, Salvage Some Responsibility, the statement reads, “In his frenzied attempt to justify his rather implausible exit from the All Progressives Party (APC), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, in an interview with BBC Hausa, opined that APC has deviated from the progressive ideals of its founders and turned into a party where “everyone is now pursuing personal interests.”
In a once viral video, El-Rufai did not hold back when he deprecated politicians, who he argued were consumed by the pursuit of self-interest. In his words, “We have politics of private interest. We have no politics of public interest. Politicians will proudly tell you that politics is about interest. They are ready to collapse the system if they don’t get what they want.”
Today, El-Rufai stands diminished as the epitome of a self-interested politician, blinded by ego, driven by untamed emotion, and brimming with a vengeful desire to “collapse the system.”
In his BBC interview under reference, El-Rufai supplied the real reason for his soreness, stating that he was disappointed by the way he was treated by President Bola Tinubu and his administration, in ostensible reference to his failed ministerial bid. His claim that he exited because the Party had deviated from its founding values or progressive ideology is a smokescreen to weaponise personal grievance garbed as principled dissent. El-Rufai appears traumatised by his failure to land a ministerial position. Nursing a bruised ego, he now lashes out at the platform he rode to political prominence.
APC’s commitment to its founding values and ideals remains as valid and progressive today as they were then. El-Rufai’s allegation of a drift from our Party’s founding values exists only in his foggy imagination. Assuming that matters of political conviction had anything to do with his exit, exactly how is the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai’s new political abode, an ideological safe haven?
El-Rufai’s call for opposition members to join him under SDP banner is nothing short of an invitation to drink from a chalice poisoned by selfishness, vengefulness, and delusion of grandeur. Nigerians are far more savvy than El-Rufai thinks, and they know that he is driven by raw self-interest rather than a genuine concern for the country.
Our great Party is unfazed by El-Rufai’s grudge-laden tirade. We continue to welcome millions of new members across the country, who are joining to identify with the Party’s lofty values and support President Tinubu’s bold and transformative policies now birthing sustainable growth and prosperity for our country.
El-Rufai’s claim that Tinubu has failed is as outrageous as it is bogus, and a gross distortion of the reality on the ground. Across all sectors, Nigerians are witnessing tangible progress in the delivery of the President’s campaign promises. Indisputably, Nigeria is better off today than when he took office.
President Tinubu has demonstrated an ironclad commitment to good governance and launched unprecedented policy reforms to address the country’s generational challenges. The removal of fuel subsidy now saves Nigeria an estimated ₦4 trillion annually. The unification of exchange rates has resulted in higher foreign exchange inflow, while the country’s foreign reserves have shown resilient growth despite global economic pressures. President Tinubu’s financial diplomacy has attracted significant foreign direct investment, and reforms in customs and taxation have led to a massive increase in non-oil revenues, while sustained reform in the oil and gas sector has led to a historic boost in the country’s oil export, now upwards of 1.8 million barrels per day.
The President’s strong political will to re-imagine and revitalize Nigeria’s economy is paying off with significant improvement in the country’s GDP growth rate now surging to 3.8% year-on-year in Q4 2024, up from 3.46% in the previous quarter, marking the highest growth rate posted since Q4 2021. This is a direct outcome of the administration’s prudent economic policies and providing a favorable business environment that is widely applauded by the international financial and investment community.
Further, Nigeria’s balance of payment has seen remarkable improvement, with a substantial trade surplus of $14.31 billion in 2024. This is a result of the administration’s vigorous promotion of non-oil exports, reduced reliance on imported goods, and diversification of the country’s economy.
This impressive performance precedes an impending data overhaul, which may reveal an economy that is larger than initially estimated. Prospects for further growth is assuredly bright, with real GDP projected to increase from 3.0% in 2024 to 3.6% in 2025, according to Afreximbank Trade Intelligence Solutions.
In addition, under President Tinubu’s steady leadership, state and local governments now receive vastly higher allocations from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), enabling them to extend development to their people. This increased funding has become a potential game-changer for grassroots development, making it possible to execute critical projects and provide essential services to all Nigerians.
Nigerians do not doubt President Tinubu’s uncompromising commitment to economic reform, good governance, and improving their welfare. Rather than engaging in scurrilous propaganda and deliberate misinformation, El-Rufai should offer constructive criticism or alternative policies as expected of serious-minded political opposition. His misleading rhetoric and personal attacks on the president are reprehensible and calculated to undermine the country’s progress.
El-Rufai is free to choose his political affiliation, as he has done. He should stop sulking, get a grip, and salvage some respectability.
A fire outbreak has ravaged part of the Technology Incubation Centre near the Police Headquarters in Gombe, destroying property estimated at N4 million.
The incident occurred on Friday and affected five shops at the centre, according to the Federal Fire Service, Gombe State Command.
The command said its prompt intervention prevented the fire from spreading further, enabling firefighters to save property estimated at N15 million.
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The Federal Fire Service said it received a distress call about the incident at approximately 10:14 a.m., after which a multipurpose water tender was immediately deployed to the scene.
The firefighting operation was led by ASF II Mukhtar Shehu, with IF Bernard serving as the driver.
The crew successfully contained the blaze and extinguished it using one medium jet of water.
According to the command, four of the five affected shops were successfully saved, limiting the extent of the damage.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASF MB Muazu, said firefighters carried out a thorough inspection after extinguishing the flames and confirmed that there was no immediate threat of re-ignition.
Muazu said, “The Federal Fire Service, Gombe State Command, has successfully contained a fire outbreak involving five shops at the Technology Incubation Centre, near the Police Headquarters, Gombe.”
He added, “Four of the five affected shops were successfully saved, with property estimated at N15m salvaged, while the estimated loss stood at approximately N4m.”
The fire appliance and crew returned to the station at about 11:09 a.m. after confirming that the fire had been completely extinguished.
The Federal Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to responding promptly to emergencies and protecting lives and property.
Muazu urged members of the public to report fire incidents promptly and adhere to basic fire safety precautions to prevent avoidable losses.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has expressed the view that Nigeria’s positive economic outlook is predicated on the strategic reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and improved crude oil output.
The views were expressed in its latest assessment of the Nigerian economy, in which it noted that the country’s economy expanded by 3.9 percent year-on-year in Q1, 2026.
It added that the growth rate was only slightly below the 4.0 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, a confirmation that economic growth remained close to recent highs.
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According to the oil producers’ organisation, the non-oil economy continued to provide the main support for growth, with activity driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction, trade, finance and insurance.
It pointed out that higher oil output had also improved fiscal revenues, foreign exchange inflows and external buffers. “The economy expanded by 3.9 percent, year-on-year, in 1Q26, only slightly below the 4Q25 pace of 4.0 percent, confirming that growth remains close to recent highs,” OPEC stated.
The organisation said survey indicators pointed to continued, though moderating, momentum in private-sector activity. It noted that the Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased to 52.5 in July, from 53.4 in June and 54.1 in May.
The July reading, it said, was the weakest since March but still signalled a sixth consecutive monthly improvement in private-sector conditions. The OPEC said firms again reported a marked increase in new orders, supported by improved customer demand, better pricing and new product launches.
It added that output and employment also rose modestly during the month. The organisation predicted that higher domestic refining capacity, particularly improved fuel supply from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP), should further support energy availability and reduce some of the pressures associated with petroleum imports.
“Higher domestic refining capacity, including improved fuel supply from the Dangote refinery, should continue to support energy availability and reduce some import-related pressures,” OPEC stated.
The DPRP, with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has become a major source of locally refined petroleum products as its operations have expanded.
The refinery’s increased supply of petrol and other refined products has also reduced some of the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products, in line with the impact highlighted by the OPEC.
On inflation, the OPEC said pressures had begun to soften, with headline inflation standing at 15.9 percent year-on-year in both June and May. “The July PMI pointed to softening input costs, despite higher fuel and raw material costs,” the organisation stated.
The report said the moderation in input costs was an indication that some cost pressures facing businesses had begun to ease, although higher fuel and raw material costs remained a challenge.
The OPEC said Nigeria’s near-term outlook remained positive, with oil production, reform progress, infrastructure investment and stronger business activity providing support.
“Overall, Nigeria’s near-term outlook remains positive, supported by oil production, progress on reforms, infrastructure investment, and stronger business activity,” it stated.
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation to Friday, August 21, 2026.
The extension, announced on Thursday, is aimed at giving Nigerians, institutions and other stakeholders more time to prepare and submit substantive contributions to the proposed reform of the country’s policing architecture.
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Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the additional time was necessary to ensure broad consultation and enable stakeholders to make well-considered and technically sound contributions.
“The Presidential Working Group is committed to ensuring that the process of developing the National Policing Bill benefits from broad consultation and the informed perspectives of Nigerians and relevant stakeholders.
“The proposed legislation is intended to provide the operational, administrative, institutional and funding framework necessary for an effective policing architecture that responds to Nigeria’s evolving security needs while providing appropriate safeguards for accountability, professionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Working Group had initially set August 13 as the deadline for public submissions but has now shifted it to 5:00 p.m. WAT on August 21.
Gbajabiamila urged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security sector professionals, state governments, professional bodies, academics, experts and other interested members of the public to take advantage of the extension.
“All submissions must be made on or before 5:00 p.m. WAT on Friday, August 21, 2026, exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal, nationalpolicingbill.com,” he stated.
According to the Working Group, the proposed legislation will address critical areas including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
Gbajabiamila said these issues make extensive stakeholder engagement essential to producing a policing framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the security needs of communities across the federation.
“The Working Group recognises that developing an effective policing framework requires careful consideration of critical issues, including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
“These considerations underscore the importance of robust stakeholder engagement in developing a framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the peculiar security needs of communities across the Federation,” he said.
The Working Group, inaugurated by President Tinubu to develop the legal framework for the implementation of state police, is expected to present a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for onward legislative processing.
The proposed bill is being developed alongside the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police, with the legislation expected to provide the detailed operational framework for federal and state policing.
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