Connect with us

Business & Economy

Budget 2022: Nigerian Army seeks exemption from envelope allocation system

Published

on

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya
Share

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, on Wednesday, sought for exemption of the Nigerian Army from the budget ceiling or envelope allocation system to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He made the appeal when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Army for budget defence.

While noting that the army was committed to securing the territorial integrity of the country from any violation, the COAS said if the army was taken off the envelope system, it would enable it carry out its operations more effectively.

Yahaya, however, said that the proposed budget for the army for the 2022 budget is N710 billion.

“The sum of N642.7 billion only should be approved for Nigerian Army Personnel Emolument for Year 2022 Budget.

“The sum of N29.6 billion only should be approved for overhead budget and N37.6 billion for Capital Budget.

“The National Assembly should cause the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to begin the release of Year 2022 Nigerian Army Capital Budget in the First Quarter of 2022.”

He, however, said that of the figure, the ministry’s budget ceiling reduced it to a total sum of N579 billion.

He said that the reduction would impede the capacity and tempo of the Nigerian Army in carrying out its constitutional duties particularly the ongoing war against Boko Haram Terrorists and other criminalities across the country.

“I passionately appeal to this committee to impress it on the ministry of finance, budget and national planning to begin the release of Year 2022 Nigerian Army Capital Budget in the First Quarter of 2022.

“This will help the Nigerian Army to rehabilitate dilapidated accommodations in over 138 barracks and training facilities across army units/formations.

“It will also help in procuring the needed equipment and platforms to prosecute the war against terrorism and other criminalities across the country.”

He noted that adequate funding would help the army to invest in needed technology and platforms to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate.

The chief of army staff further called for a review of the subsisting envelope budget system which over the years had been a major challenge in adequately funding the army for its constitutional duties.

After a closed-door session, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Mohammed Ndume said that the committee looked at the 2021 budget performance and it was satisfied so far with what the military had presented.

“Looking at the budget vis a vis what is being allocated to the Nigerian Army, we find this under the circumstances we are operating grossly inadequate.

“We asked the chief of army staff what is happening; he mentioned the fact that the Nigerian Army have to operate within the envelope.

“The committee is in agreement that you can’t be facing security challenges and putting the security agencies in envelope while the problem is not already in the envelope.

“Or you can’t say the budget of the security agencies will have a ceiling. After all, the problems that we have are already above the ceiling. So you need to actually give the military what they need because there is no price tag for peace,” Ndume said.

He said that the committee would invite the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed to tackle the issue of budget envelope for the Nigerian Army.(NAN)

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business & Economy

Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Ex-Depot Price to N774 Per Litre

Published

on

Aliko Dangote
Share

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by N25 per litre, bringing the gantry price down from N799 to N774 per litre.

The refinery communicated the price adjustment to marketers on Tuesday, stating that the new rate takes immediate effect.

In a notice issued by its Group Commercial Operations Department, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE said: “This is to notify you of a change in our PMS gantry price from N799 per litre to N774 per litre.”

Industry pricing platform petroleumprice.ng confirmed on Tuesday that the revised price had been reflected.

The refinery also announced the end of its PMS lifting incentive. According to the notice, the bonus scheme closed at 12:00 a.m. on February 10, 2026, while credits for volumes lifted between February 2 and February 10, within previously communicated thresholds, will be posted to marketers’ account statements.

The price reduction comes amid continued adjustments in Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum sector. PMS prices remained volatile throughout 2025 following the removal of petrol subsidies, with ex-depot prices fluctuating between about N700 and over N800 per litre, largely influenced by exchange rate movements, global crude oil prices and import dependence.

Large-scale domestic supply from the Dangote refinery, which commenced toward the end of 2025, helped moderate prices in some regions by reducing reliance on imported fuel. In early 2026, the refinery had raised its PMS gantry price to N799 per litre after selling at N699 during the festive period.

The latest reduction to N774 per litre suggests easing cost pressures and improving operational efficiency, as well as increased competition from imported cargoes and expected output from modular refineries.

With a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, Dangote Petroleum Refinery is Africa’s largest single-train refinery and a key component of Nigeria’s strategy to cut fuel imports and conserve foreign exchange. Since beginning domestic PMS supply, the refinery has played an increasingly influential role in shaping ex-depot pricing in the downstream market.

Continue Reading

Business & Economy

Tinubu Tables ₦58.18trn 2026 Budget, Projects Sustained Economic Stability

Published

on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Share

President Bola Tinubu on Friday presented a ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly of Nigeria, declaring that Nigeria’s economy is showing measurable signs of stabilisation following years of structural pressure.

Tagged “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the 2026 fiscal plan is aimed at locking in recent macroeconomic gains while translating economic recovery into improved living standards for citizens.

According to the President, Nigeria’s economy expanded by 3.98 per cent in Q3 2025, while inflation moderated significantly, falling to 14.45 per cent in November 2025 from 24.23 per cent in March 2025.

“With stabilising food and energy prices, tighter monetary conditions, and improving supply responses, we expect the disinflationary trend to persist into 2026, barring major supply shocks,” Tinubu said during the presentation on December 19, 2025.

The President highlighted additional positive indicators, including improved crude oil production, rising non-oil revenues, renewed investor confidence, and external reserves climbing to a seven-year high of approximately $47 billion.

Under the proposal, the Federal Government projects ₦34.33 trillion in revenue against planned expenditure of ₦58.18 trillion, resulting in a budget deficit of ₦23.85 trillion, equivalent to 4.28 per cent of GDP. Tinubu emphasised that the fiscal framework is built on realism, prudence, and growth-driven assumptions.

He further assured lawmakers of tighter discipline in budget implementation, stressing that fiscal spending in 2026 would be more outcome-focused.

“Every naira spent or borrowed must deliver measurable public value,” the President said.

Continue Reading

Business & Economy

CBN Governor Reassures U.S. Investors on Nigeria’s Economic Reforms, Stability

Published

on

CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso
Share

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has reassured United States investors of Nigeria’s commitment to macroeconomic stability and market-driven reforms, amid global economic uncertainty.

Cardoso gave the assurance during high-level engagements with U.S. business leaders and institutional investors in Washington, D.C., including the U.S.–Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable.

Speaking at the forum, the CBN governor said Nigeria remains focused on rules-based economic management, transparent markets, and predictable policy frameworks to restore investor confidence and drive sustainable economic growth.

He highlighted recent reforms in the foreign exchange market, the adoption of orthodox monetary policy measures, ongoing banking sector reforms, and the modernisation of the payments system. According to him, the reforms are aimed at stabilising the economy and supporting private-sector-led development.

The roundtable, convened by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center, focused on macroeconomic stabilisation, regulatory clarity, and opportunities to scale bankable projects across key sectors of the Nigerian economy. Discussions also emphasised efforts to deepen commercial and investment ties between Nigeria and the United States.

Commenting on the outcome of the engagement, President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center, Ms. Kendra Gaither, said investors are increasingly prioritising policy credibility and consistency.

She noted that clarity of rules, credible reforms, and disciplined economic management are critical factors driving investor interest, adding that Nigeria’s evolving message of discipline and opportunity is important in a global economy seeking stability and predictability.

Continue Reading