By Naomi Sharang

The National Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Godknows Igali, has called for restoration of true fiscal federalism, saying Nigeria’s over-centralised system has weakened productivity.

Igali made the call at the Concerned Citizens Assembly organised by Citizens Rebirth and Awareness Initiative (C-RAIN), in Abuja, on Monday

The event had the theme, “A Nation Built on Consent, Strengthened by Strong Regions and United for Peace, Prosperity and Progress”, with participants examining governance, federalism, development and national unity.

He said that the over-centralised structure had also weakened security and accountability, while criticising state governors for failing to translate regional cooperation into concrete economic development.

According to him, restructuring is not about breaking up Nigeria, but strengthening Nigeria.

Igali said PANDEF was gathered not to divide Nigeria, but to save it, adding that the objective was not to weaken the centre, but to strengthen the federation for development.

He said Nigeria’s founding fathers deliberately negotiated a federal system that allowed the regions to develop according to their resources, priorities and peculiar circumstances, without excessive dependence on the centre.

He said that the Western Region developed free primary education and Cocoa House, while the Eastern Region built industries and the Northern Region developed its agricultural base and educational institutions.

“The regions also developed educational institutions and other productive sectors. They achieved significant progress without waiting for monthly allocations from the centre or direct federal intervention.

“That was the dream: a federation of strong, productive units paying dues to a limited but effective centre,” Igali said.

He called for constitutional amendments to devolve powers, strengthen fiscal federalism, restore greater resource control, guarantee local government autonomy and encourage regional cooperation across Nigeria’s federating units for sustainable development.

He, however, said that restructuring should not be equated with disintegration, urging Nigerians to preserve national unity while discussing reforms aimed at improving the federation’s effectiveness, accountability and national development.

“Let us not separate ourselves under ethnicity, let us not separate ourselves under religion, or under those lines. Those lines should be the basis for constructive discussion,” he said.

Convener of the Concerned Citizens Assembly, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, said that restructuring Nigeria was no longer a political option but a national survival strategy for Nigeria’s future and lasting prosperity.

He said the country’s highly centralised political structure had become increasingly incapable of responding effectively and appropriately to the realities of a complex and diverse federation and its national challenges.

Oladejo said that Nigeria’s crisis could not be resolved merely by changing political leaders, insisting that the fundamental architecture of governance must also be re-examined to achieve stability and progress.

He said that Nigeria needed a new federal compact founded on consent, stronger regions, fiscal responsibility and constitutional reform to address persistent national challenges and strengthen democratic governance nationwide.

“Nigeria needs restructuring, not as a political slogan, but as a national survival strategy.

“There is an urgency of fundamental reforms to Nigeria’s governance structure and national development goals,” he said.

Similarly, General Secretary of the Rebirth Group (TRG) and Citizens for Restructured Nigeria (CRN), Ali Ocheni, said consultations across the six geopolitical zones showed widespread concern over power and centralisation.

Ocheni said ìithat the groups consulted citizens in Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Jos between May 2024 and March 2026 on Nigeria’s political future, governance reforms and development.

He said the consultations identified over-centralisation and excessive concentration of executive authority at the federal level as major factors behind Nigeria’s fractured unity and poor economic performance across the country.

“Power must be devolved to the sub-regional federating units of government with separate but mutually administered federal and regional constitutions,” Ocheni said.

He said that delegates were favourably disposed to returning to a regional federal structure similar to that established under the 1963 Constitution, which granted regions greater autonomy and developmental responsibility.

He said that autonomous regions would promote productivity through healthy competition and cooperation, while enabling federating units to respond effectively to their distinct developmental priorities and local needs.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

NNL/KAE

=========

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation of a suspect, Haruna Yusuf  and multiple undeclared foreign currencies, ,   $73,000( Seventy Three United States Dollar)  £15,957 ( Fifteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Seven Pound Sterling) & 827,800 Saudi Riyal  intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service,  NCS,   at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,  MAKIA.

The investigation commenced after  the handover  of the suspect and the undeclared currencies by the Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command,  Deputy Comptroller U. U.  Adamu at the Customs Area Command in Kano.
The intercepted currencies, which exceeded the legally permitted threshold, were discovered during routine primary and secondary screenings of arriving passengers between August 8 and August 12, 2026.

The Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC,  Kano Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, received the suspect and the recovered funds on behalf of the Commission.
According to Adamu,  the Customs made two separate interceptions.
On August 8,  2026,  “at approximately 14:20 hours, officers conducting passenger screening at the baggage seat of MAKIA intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage  containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300  The currencies were found concealed inside a footwear.” Adamu stated.
Similarly, on  August 12, 2026 “at approximately 13:50 hours, officers of the Nigerian Custom Service also flagged a luggage belonging to one Mr. Haruna Yusuf, who arrived at MAKIA on board Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941. During secondary screening using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, $20,000 USD and £15,957  were found concealed inside sportswear shoes”, he said.
Adamu thereafter formally handed over the suspect, Mr. Haruna Yusuf, alongside all recovered exhibits to Ebelo for further investigation and prosecution.   He noted that the handover was in accordance with Section 4(f) of the NCS Act 2023, which empowers the Service to collaborate with other border regulatory agencies.
Adamu further explained that,  “these interceptions demonstrate the readiness and vigilance of our officers in detecting cross-border movement of undeclared foreign currencies above the allowed threshold.  The Command will continue to deploy technology, professional expertise, and intelligence-driven measures, including inter-agency collaboration to strengthen border controls and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial systems.”

Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede,  Ebelo  expressed profound gratitude to the Customs Service for its  professionalism and cooperation with EFCC officers recently deployed to the airport.
“We must sustain this vigilance at all our entry points to counter the illegal movement of currency. The failure to declare large sums of currency and its equivalent is a violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” he said.
He  urged the public to comply with the law, emphasizing that declaring currency attracts no penalty, only the source of undeclared funds may raise legal concerns.
“Once more, we call on the general public: as much as we are Nigerians and we encourage trade in and out of the country, people must adhere to the laws of the land. You must declare the currency you are carrying. If you declare it, nobody will seize your currency,” he said.
Ebelo reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to  thorough investigations and prosecution, stating that the Commission would continue to follow the law diligently
Both Ebelo and Adamu applauded the longstanding synergy between  the EFCC and NCS which has been critical to combating financial crimes and illegal cash movement across Nigeria’s borders.