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SERAP Calls Out Tinubu On Loan Agreements By Former Presidents
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct appropriate ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to provide our organization with copies of the loan agreements obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.”
In a statement made available to Biztellers, the SERAP also sought “the spending details of any such loans as well as the interests and other payments so far made on the loans.”
In addition, the SERAP urged President Tinubu “to establish an independent audit on the spending of the loans obtained by the governments of the former presidents, and to make public the findings of any such audit.”
The call was detailed in the Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 13 April 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
The not-for-profit said, “Publishing copies of the agreements would prevent and combat waste, corruption, mismanagement, and abuse in the spending of public funds.
“No one should be able to pull curtains of secrecy around decisions on the spending of public funds which can be revealed without injury to the public interest. Democracy requires accountability and accountability requires transparency.”
According to the SERAP, “Nigerians are entitled to information about what their government is doing in their name. This is part of their right to information.”
The FOI request, read in part, “Nigerians’ right to a democratic governance allows them to appreciably influence the direction of government, and have an opportunity to assess progress and assign blame.
“The accountability of government to the general public is a hallmark of democratic governance, which Nigeria seeks to achieve.
“Your government should make it possible for citizens to have access to the agreements and spending details to judge whether their government is working for them or not.
“Publishing the agreements would demonstrate your oft-expressed commitment to openness in government and to promote accountability. It would also improve public accountability in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
“Publishing the agreements and spending details would allow the public to see how and on what these governments spent the loans and foster transparency and accountability.
“The information may help to explain why, despite several billions of dollars in loans obtained by successive governments, millions of Nigerians continue to face extreme poverty and lack access to basic public goods and services.
“Providing us with copies of the loan agreements signed by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and widely publishing the agreements would allow Nigerians to scrutinise it and to demand accountability for the spending of the loans.
“We would therefore be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the UN Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to Nigeria is a state party.
“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s is N97.3 trillion ($108 billion). The Federal Government’s debt is N87.3 trillion ($97 billion).
“Nigeria paid $6.2 billion in 2019 as interest on loans while the country paid $6.5 as interest in 2018. Nigeria also paid $5 billion as interest on loans in 2017 while the country paid $4.4 billion as interest in 2016. For 2015, the interest paid on loans was $5.5 billion.
“SERAP is seriously concerned that substantial parts of the loans obtained by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 may have been mismanaged, diverted or stolen, and in any case remain unaccounted for.
“Publishing copies of the agreements would also ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for the performance of their duties including the management of the loans obtained between May 1999 and May 2023.
“Your government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by the Federal Government are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.
“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including to copies of the loan agreements obtained by successive governments since 1999.
“By the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, there are transparency obligations imposed on your government to widely publish the agreements and details of the projects on which the loans were spent.
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has explained the reason behind the suspension of the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course for prospective corps members deployed to Niger State.
In a notice shared on its official X account on Sunday, the scheme said the orientation exercise was put on hold due to ongoing renovation work at the state’s orientation camp.
According to the NYSC, the temporary suspension affects all prospective corps members (PCMs) posted to Niger State for the current orientation programme.
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“This is to notify the General Public and Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) deployed to Niger State for the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course that their Orientation Course Exercise is suspended for now due to ongoing renovation work at the Orientation Camp,” the statement read.
The scheme assured affected corps members that alternative arrangements would be communicated soon, noting that they would be informed of a new reporting date and venue once preparations are completed.
“PCMs affected should note that they will be contacted at a short notice on where and when to report for their Orientation Course,” the NYSC added.
The management also apologised for the inconvenience caused to both the prospective corps members and their parents.
“The Management regrets all inconveniences to the affected PCMs and their parents,” the statement said.
The suspension comes months after a devastating windstorm damaged critical facilities at the NYSC orientation camp in Paiko, located in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The storm reportedly affected several structures, including male hostels, the multipurpose hall, kitchen and staff quarters.
Following the incident, the Niger State Government commenced rehabilitation and renovation works aimed at restoring the camp’s infrastructure to a suitable condition for hosting corps members.
While the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course began nationwide on June 10 and is expected to conclude on June 30, corps members posted to Niger State will now have to await further directives from the NYSC regarding their orientation exercise.
The Nigerian Army has recorded another success in its ongoing offensive against terrorism and banditry in Zamfara State, forcing terrorists to flee their hideout, destroying their camp, and rescuing three kidnapped victims.
According to an operational report released on Saturday, troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, carried out the operation on June 12 across communities in Zurmi and Shinkafi Local Government Areas of the state.
The report stated that troops conducting a fighting patrol through Birnin Saba, Yanbuki, and Sabon Garin Daudawa communities came into contact with terrorists operating in the Yanbuki District of Zurmi LGA.
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During the encounter, troops engaged the criminals in a gun battle, successfully neutralising one terrorist while others escaped into nearby areas.
Security forces recovered several items from the scene, including rifles, four magazines loaded with ammunition, two motorcycles, seven mobile phones, two MP3 players, woodland camouflage trousers, and an inner vest.
Maintaining pressure on the fleeing terrorists, the troops advanced toward Sabon Garin Daudawa. On sighting the approaching soldiers, the terrorists reportedly abandoned their camp and fled.
The troops subsequently cleared the area and destroyed the camp to prevent it from serving as a base for future criminal operations.
In the course of the clearance operation, three kidnapped victims were rescued and safely evacuated from the area.
The military said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to rid Zamfara and other parts of the North-West of terrorist and bandit groups responsible for attacks, kidnappings, and other criminal activities.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations across the region until lasting peace and security are restored to affected communities.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a shipment of weapons allegedly destined for a notorious bandit kingpin operating in Zamfara State and arrested a suspected arms courier in Kano State.
According to an operational report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the suspect was apprehended on Friday in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State following intelligence-led operations by DSS operatives.
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The report disclosed that the suspect was intercepted while transporting a cache of arms and ammunition from Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Funtua in Katsina State, from where the weapons were expected to be delivered to criminal elements.
Items recovered from the suspect included three AK-47 rifles, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes and warheads, as well as two empty magazines.
Security sources said preliminary investigations linked the weapons consignment to a suspected bandit leader believed to be operating in parts of Zamfara State.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that he had been contracted to move the weapons from Maigatari to Funtua and was promised a payment of N450,000 upon successful delivery.
The report noted that investigations are ongoing to uncover the network behind the arms trafficking operation and identify other individuals connected to the movement of the weapons.
Authorities described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in efforts to disrupt the flow of arms and ammunition to criminal groups responsible for violent attacks, kidnappings, and other security threats across the North-West region.
The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.
The development comes as security agencies continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling logistics networks that support banditry, terrorism, and other forms of organised crime across Nigeria.
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