By Okey Maduforo, Awka

Residents of Umudimishi Village, Umuoru, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, have petitioned Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the worsening menace of gully erosion allegedly caused by illegal and unregulated sand mining activities in the community.

The villagers said about 120 buildings are currently threatened by the expanding gully, with some residents already making arrangements to relocate for fear of losing their homes to the erosion.

In the petition addressed to Governor Soludo and copied to the state Ministries of Environment and Works, the villagers alleged that the activities of sand miners posed a serious threat to human lives, property and the continued existence of the community.

The petition, signed by the Chairman of Umudimishi Development Union, Nze Ibeabuchi Umeugochukwu, stated that several homes in the area were located only a few metres from the mining sites and had consequently become vulnerable to erosion.

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The villagers said: “Many homesteads in Umudimishi are close to and along the line of mining by few metres and, as a result, stand eroded in the course of this ecological problem fueled by unregulated sand mining.”

They further alleged that the erosion menace was largely triggered by human activities, particularly unregulated sand mining along the Aguata-Orumba axis, where they said the soil structure was highly susceptible to erosion.

According to them, “Erosion menace is being triggered by human factor of unregulated sand mining, especially as it is in Aguata-Orumba Axis where the sand structure is prone to erosion, which is the major environmental hazard in the region.”

The community also claimed that sand mining had become the major source of environmental crises affecting Umudimishi Quarter, Umuoru Village and Uga generally.

Beyond the environmental consequences, the villagers expressed concern that the availability of quick money from sand mining was discouraging youths from learning vocational skills.

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They said many youths now preferred sand mining to acquiring skills, while the worsening erosion had also discouraged residents and prospective investors from establishing businesses in the area.

The villagers therefore appealed to Governor Soludo to permanently shut down the mining sites in Umudimishi to prevent further deterioration of the already deplorable environmental situation.

They also urged the governor to direct the appropriate agency of the Anambra State Government to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the erosion sites and produce a comprehensive report with recommendations on how to tackle the problem and reclaim lands already lost to erosion.

The petitioners said urgent intervention by the state government was necessary to protect lives, homes and the remaining land in the community from further destruction.

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An Italian-born former Catholic priest has left the priesthood and married a Kenyan woman in a colourful traditional wedding ceremony in Baringo County, Kenya.

Father Sandro Ferretto reportedly served as a Catholic parish priest in Kasiela and Mochongoi before leaving the ministry.

According to reports, Ferretto met Sharon Jepng’ok, a Tugen woman and daughter of former councillor John Wendot, while carrying out missionary work in the area.

Their relationship reportedly developed into a romance, eventually leading Ferretto to relinquish his priestly vows and pursue a family life with her.

The couple recently held their traditional wedding at Seretion Village in Kasiela, Baringo South, reportedly at the parish where Ferretto once served as a priest.

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The ceremony was attended by relatives, friends and members of the local community. Ferretto also participated in Tugen cultural rites as he formally joined his bride’s family.

The marriage marks a significant transition for the former priest, who had previously devoted his life to Catholic ministry in the Kenyan community.

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Federal Government for the ongoing maintenance work on the First Niger Bridge, describing the intervention as a timely response that will avert a looming economic crisis in the South-East and South-South regions.

The party said the decision to temporarily close the bridge for repairs was necessary to prevent a possible collapse that could have severely affected commercial and economic activities across the two geopolitical zones.

Recall that the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, during a working visit to Anambra, Delta and Edo states, had announced plans to temporarily close the bridge to enable the government to carry out urgent repairs, particularly following reported acts of vandalism around the facility.

The Federal Government subsequently announced the closure of the bridge for two weeks, with the closure taking effect on Sunday.

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Reacting to the development, the Anambra State APC Chairman, Sen. Emma Anosike, in a statement, described the intervention as evidence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s responsiveness to the socio-economic needs of the South-East and South-South regions.

Anosike said the maintenance work was particularly important given the strategic role of the Niger Bridge as a major commercial and economic link between the regions.

According to him, the intervention further demonstrated the administration’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and sustaining economic activities in the region.

“We, as a political party, are once again vindicated by the compassion and quick response shown by Mr President by embarking on the repair of that bridge without delay.

“People have gone to town, especially because of the election, to peddle rumours and falsehoods about Mr President, but today they are no longer saying anything in the face of what is happening.

“They claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is anti-Igbo, but what is happening now with the total overhaul of the old River Niger Bridge, which is our commercial and economic gateway?”

The APC chairman commended President Tinubu for what he described as “quality leadership and magnanimity” in approving the urgent intervention.

He also praised the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for his efforts towards improving road infrastructure across the South-East and South-South.

“We in the APC, Anambra State, commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this show of quality leadership and magnanimity.

“We also salute our able and hardworking Minister of Works, His Excellency Dave Umahi, for the beautiful job he is doing on road infrastructure in the South-East and South-South.”

Anosike further appealed to residents of the South-East to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that the administration’s infrastructure projects in the region demonstrate its commitment to development.

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“We also use this opportunity to once again urge our people in the South-East to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. In view of what he has done so far, we believe the next four years would be better,” he said.

At least 26 Nigerian states were unable to generate enough Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to cover their personnel expenditure in 2025, highlighting the continued dependence of many state governments on allocations from the Federation Account.

An analysis of a 2026 BudgIT report showed that only eight of the 34 states covered by the study generated more IGR than they spent on personnel during the year.

The eight states were Lagos, Enugu, Ogun, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Abia and Anambra.

The remaining 26 states collectively generated about ₦1.16 trillion in IGR but spent approximately ₦1.91 trillion on personnel, leaving a shortfall of about ₦747 billion.

The figures were contained in BudgIT’s 2026 report, Nigeria’s Economic Reforms: What Has Changed Across Nigeria’s States? An Analysis of State Finances in the Post-Subsidy Years.

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The report examined actual figures contained in states’ full-year budget implementation reports for 2022 and 2025. Akwa Ibom and Rivers states were excluded because of incomplete or unavailable data.

BudgIT clarified that the figures do not suggest that states are expected to finance salaries exclusively from internally generated revenue, since statutory allocations are a legitimate source of government income. However, the data illustrate the extent to which several states would struggle to meet their personnel obligations without federal transfers.

Dependence on federal allocations rises

The growing dependence on federal transfers has continued despite a significant increase in revenues available to state governments following the removal of the petrol subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and increased receipts into the Federation Account.

According to BudgIT, aggregate FAAC allocations to states rose from ₦3.43 trillion in 2022 to ₦11.38 trillion in 2025, representing a 232.06 per cent increase.

State IGR also increased substantially, rising from ₦1.57 trillion to ₦4.15 trillion during the same period.

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However, the growth in FAAC allocations outpaced the increase in IGR. As a result, FAAC accounted for 73.3 per cent of aggregate state revenue in 2025, compared with 68.7 per cent in 2022.

Conversely, the contribution of IGR declined from 31.4 per cent to 26.7 per cent over the same period.

BudgIT said stronger domestic revenue mobilisation would be essential to improving the long-term fiscal sustainability of state governments and reducing their dependence on federal transfers.

Yobe records widest personnel-to-IGR disparity

The state-by-state figures revealed significant differences in the ability of states to finance personnel costs from internally generated revenue.

Yobe recorded one of the widest gaps, generating only ₦15.42 billion in IGR in 2025 while spending ₦76.34 billion on personnel. Its personnel expenditure was therefore almost five times its IGR.

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Taraba generated ₦17.89 billion against personnel expenditure of ₦55.60 billion, while Sokoto recorded IGR of ₦20.58 billion against personnel costs of ₦58.65 billion.

Adamawa generated ₦24.14 billion internally but spent ₦65.73 billion on personnel.

Jigawa’s personnel expenditure stood at ₦92.66 billion, compared with IGR of ₦35.27 billion, while Benue generated ₦29.38 billion but spent ₦73.94 billion on personnel.

Kogi generated ₦36.50 billion against personnel expenditure of ₦89.20 billion, while Kebbi recorded IGR of ₦18.41 billion, less than half of its ₦44.82 billion personnel expenditure.

Other states where personnel costs exceeded IGR included Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

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Oyo records largest absolute gap

In absolute terms, Oyo recorded the largest gap among the 26 states.

The state generated ₦102.52 billion in IGR but spent ₦170.04 billion on personnel, leaving a shortfall of approximately ₦67.51 billion.

Yobe followed with a gap of about ₦60.91 billion, while Jigawa recorded a shortfall of ₦57.39 billion.

Ondo generated ₦45.63 billion but spent ₦99.58 billion on personnel, creating a gap of ₦53.94 billion.

Kogi recorded a difference of ₦52.70 billion, while Bayelsa generated ₦52.15 billion against personnel expenditure of ₦98.75 billion, leaving a gap of ₦46.60 billion.

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Some states, however, came close to covering their personnel costs through IGR.

Edo generated ₦98.45 billion and spent ₦99.27 billion on personnel, leaving a gap of less than ₦1 billion.

Gombe generated ₦36.36 billion compared with personnel expenditure of ₦53.95 billion, while Osun recorded ₦58.80 billion in IGR against personnel costs of ₦87.46 billion.

Slight improvement from 2022

The situation represented a modest improvement from 2022, when 28 of the 34 states covered by the report had personnel expenditure exceeding their IGR.

Abia, Delta, Enugu and Kwara moved from having IGR below personnel expenditure in 2022 to generating enough revenue to cover their personnel costs in 2025.

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However, Ebonyi and Jigawa moved in the opposite direction.

Lagos and Enugu drive aggregate figures

The data also showed the enormous influence of Lagos on the overall IGR figures.

Lagos generated ₦1.85 trillion in IGR in 2025, up from ₦656.35 billion in 2022. Its revenue accounted for about 44 per cent of the ₦4.15 trillion generated by the 34 states covered by the report.

The state spent ₦333.67 billion on personnel, meaning its IGR was more than five times its personnel expenditure.

Enugu generated ₦406.77 billion compared with personnel expenditure of ₦56.40 billion, while Ogun recorded IGR of ₦237.65 billion against personnel costs of ₦151.27 billion.

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Delta generated ₦206.44 billion in IGR and spent ₦197.81 billion on personnel.

Other states whose IGR exceeded personnel expenditure were Kaduna, with ₦86.72 billion in IGR against ₦77.63 billion in personnel costs; Kwara, ₦85.21 billion against ₦65.22 billion; Abia, ₦66.86 billion against ₦62.26 billion; and Anambra, ₦54.24 billion against ₦39.95 billion.

Excluding Lagos, the remaining 33 states generated about ₦2.30 trillion in IGR in 2025, while their combined personnel expenditure stood at roughly ₦2.56 trillion.

Enugu records dramatic IGR increase

Enugu recorded the most significant increase in IGR during the period, rising from ₦25.12 billion in 2022 to ₦406.77 billion in 2025.

The increase of approximately ₦381.66 billion represented a compound annual growth rate of 153.01 per cent.

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BudgIT, however, noted that much of the increase was linked to proceeds collected by the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation following the state government’s intervention in the landed property market.

The organisation expressed reservations about the classification of the receipts and warned about their potentially cyclical nature.

Niger recorded the second-fastest IGR growth, with collections increasing from ₦12.11 billion to ₦66.37 billion, while Abia’s IGR rose from ₦14.67 billion to ₦66.86 billion.

Not all states recorded growth. Jigawa experienced the sharpest decline, with IGR falling from ₦59.40 billion in 2022 to ₦35.27 billion in 2025.

Sokoto’s IGR dropped from ₦23.60 billion to ₦20.58 billion, while Ebonyi recorded a marginal decline from ₦23.89 billion to ₦23.25 billion.

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Jigawa’s situation was particularly concerning because its personnel expenditure increased from ₦52.37 billion to ₦92.66 billion during the same period, even as its IGR declined.

FG urges states to increase revenue

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, recently called for stronger fiscal federalism, improved revenue generation and economic diversification.

Speaking at the 2026 National Council on Finance and Economic Development Retreat in Owerri, Imo State, Oyedele urged stakeholders to review existing allocation and derivation principles while promoting greater fiscal responsibility and accountability among the three tiers of government.

He also urged state governments to improve their IGR, attract investments and create jobs rather than rely heavily on federal allocations.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, represented at the event by his deputy, Chinyere Ekomaru, said states must be empowered to generate more revenue and efficiently manage available resources.

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Economist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, also called on states to explore new ways of increasing IGR, particularly by improving service delivery and creating conditions capable of attracting more revenue.

Similarly, Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, warned that many states remained financially unsustainable and could face serious fiscal challenges without increased investment.

He also urged governors to address bloated bureaucracies, excessive overheads and the large number of political appointees on state payrolls.

The findings underline the growing need for Nigerian states to strengthen their internally generated revenue, attract private investment and control recurrent expenditure if they are to reduce their dependence on federal allocations.

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Our Reporter

Five people have been killed and 18 others injured in a multiple-vehicle crash at the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Enugu State.

The crash occurred on Thursday at about 3:18 p.m. near the Liquefied Natural Gas plant at Ugwu Onyeama, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps.

FRSC Route Commander, Theophilus Okoduwa, who confirmed the incident in Enugu, said 25 people were involved in the crash, comprising 13 males and 12 females.

He said 18 victims—seven males and 11 females—sustained various degrees of injuries, while five others, comprising four males and one female, died.

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The vehicles involved were identified as a Dongfeng trailer, a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus and a Honda car.

Okoduwa said FRSC personnel arrived at the scene within nine minutes of receiving the report and immediately commenced rescue and traffic management operations.

The injured victims were evacuated to Tex Hospital at 9th Mile Corner for medical treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at Ekochin Morgue, 9th Mile, after they were confirmed dead by medical personnel.

He added that traffic was diverted while efforts were made to remove the wreckage and restore normal movement along the expressway.

According to the FRSC official, preliminary findings suggested that wrongful overtaking and speeding may have contributed to the crash.

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