National
FG, states, LGs share N1.578trn revenue for March – FAAC
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.578 trillion among the Federal Government, states and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) for the month of March.
A communiqué issued by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), said the revenue was shared at the April meeting of FAAC in Abuja.
The communiqué said that the total revenue of N1.578 trillion comprised statutory revenue of N931.325 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N593.750 billion, and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N24.971 billion.
“It also comprised Exchange Difference revenue of N28.711 billion,” it said.
It said that total gross revenue of N2.411 trillion was available in the month of March.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N85.376 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N747.180 billion.
“Gross statutory revenue of N1.718 trillion was received for the month of March 2025. This was higher than the sum of N1.653 trillion received in February 2025 by N65.422 billion.
“Gross revenue of N637.618 billion was available from VAT. This was lower than the N654.456 billion available in February by N16.838 billion,” it said.
The communiqué said that from the total revenue of N1.578 trillion, the Federal Government received N528.696 billion and the State Governments received N530.448 billion.
It said that the LGCs received total sum of N387.002 billion, and a total sum of N132.611 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.
“On the N931.325 billion statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N422.485 billion and the State Governments received N214.290 billion.
“The LGCs received N165.209 billion, and the sum of N129.341 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
“From the N593.750 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N89.063 billion, the State Governments received N296.875 billion and the LGCs received N207.813 billion,” it said.
It said that total sum of N3.746 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N24.971 billion EMTL, while he State Governments received N12.485 billion and the LGCs received N8.740 billion.
According to the communiqué, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Companies Income Tax (CIT) increased considerably while Oil and Gas royalty, EMTL, VAT, Excise Duty, Import Duty and CET Levies recorded decreases.
The Northern Youth Congress of Nigeria (NYC) has honoured Dr. Ibrahim Aminu Trader, Executive Director of the Regional Sustainable Energy Centre of Excellence for Sub-Saharan Africa (RSECE), with its coveted Northern Elders Award of Excellence, “Garkuwan Marayun Arewa,” in recognition of his outstanding service to youth empowerment, national unity and social development.
The prestigious award, which translates to “Shield of Northern Orphans,” was conferred during a colourful ceremony at the RSECE headquarters in Abuja.
The event drew a cross-section of youth leaders, civil society groups, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
National President of the NYC, Ambassador Auwalu Mohammed Majiri, commended Dr. Trader’s enduring commitment to nation-building.
“This recognition is rooted in Dr. Trader’s consistent efforts to empower young people and his unwavering role as a bridge-builder in Nigeria’s journey toward unity and peace,” he said.
Dr. Trader, who has a storied career in public service and finance, expressed deep gratitude to the NYC.
He described the recognition as “humbling,” adding that his passion for uplifting the next generation remains central to his work.
“As someone who became the first Northerner to graduate at the age of 19, and having held top roles in the civil service and banking sector, I understand the power of opportunity,” he stated.
“Through RSECE, I continue to support youth initiatives and encourage entrepreneurship as a tool for nation-building.”
The award serves as a powerful endorsement of Dr. Trader’s leadership, humanitarian values and grassroots impact, particularly among marginalised communities.
His honour, according to observers, stands as a beacon of hope and a call to action for others committed to Nigeria’s collective progress.
National
Talata Mafara Resident Praises Tinubu, Matawalle For Eliminating Bandit Leaders Jijji, Kachallah Sagili
Residents of Talata Mafara Local Government Area in Zamfara State have expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Minister of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa for their roles in the elimination of two notorious bandit leaders
The operation, which targeted Jajji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, has been hailed as a significant step towards restoring peace in the troubled region.
Yakubu Ibrahim Mafara, speaking on behalf of the Talata Mafara community, issued a statement on Friday commending the concerted efforts of the Nigerian government and security forces.
“We are very grateful to Matawalle, Tinubu, NSA, and others,” he said, reflecting the community’s relief and optimism following the operation.
The statement underscored the profound impact of the operation on the local population, which has long endured the terror inflicted by bandit groups in Zamfara State.
The operation took place on Thursday in Maikwanugga, a community within Talata Mafara Local Government Area, where security forces, alongside local vigilante groups, conducted targeted patrols along the Mafara axis.
According to the statement, reports indicate that Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, both feared bandit leaders responsible for numerous attacks, kidnappings, and extortion in the region, were neutralised during the operation.
” Their deaths have been described as a turning point for the community, which has suffered years of violence and insecurity.
“The killing of Jijji Ɗan Auta has brought relief and fresh air into our community,” Yakubu said, echoing the sentiments of residents who have lived under the shadow of banditry for years.
The operation is seen as a direct response to the escalating violence in Zamfara, where armed groups have terrorised rural communities, disrupted livelihoods, and displaced thousands.
The community’s gratitude reflects growing confidence in the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest.
Meanwhile, the operation was a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian military and local vigilantes, who have increasingly played a critical role in intelligence-gathering and community defence.
The patrols in the Mafara axis were part of a broader strategy to dismantle bandit strongholds and restore normalcy to Zamfara, a state that has become a hotspot for banditry and kidnapping in recent years.
“The elimination of Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili is expected to weaken the operational capacity of bandit groups in the region.”
The Nigerian military has called for stronger collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure proper documentation of individuals entering the country, citing the role of foreign herders in escalating violence in regions like Plateau and Benue States.
Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, made the appeal during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
“There are agencies responsible for this, and we need to collaborate effectively,” Kangye said, emphasizing the importance of a joint framework to tackle insecurity.
“Those entering Nigeria must be properly documented and accounted for.”
He said recent attacks by armed herders in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country have left dozens dead and displaced thousands, particularly in farming communities.
Kangye revealed that investigations point to foreign herders as the primary perpetrators of these violent attacks, with their distinct speech patterns and physical features setting them apart from local herders.
“The Hausa language spoken in Nigeria differs significantly from that in Mali, the Central African Republic, or Ghana,” he explained.
“When we apprehend these herders and terrorists, their speech and appearance—sometimes even their hair—indicate they are not from Nigeria.”
He noted that the Shuwa Arabs in Borno are the only Nigerian community with some similarities to Sahel-region herders, but even they are distinguishable.
While acknowledging that some Nigerian herders contribute to conflicts by encroaching on farmlands, Kangye stressed that the majority of the violence is driven by foreigners crossing Nigeria’s porous borders.
“The ongoing killings reported in certain areas are primarily committed by individuals who have infiltrated our borders,” he said.