News
India: ‘We Were Brought To Another Detention’, Says El-Zakzaky
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, has said that the condition at the Indian hospital where he and his wife, Zeenat were taken to, is worse than that of Nigeria.
El-Zakzaky alleged that hey were only brought to another detention facility and they do not feel safe there because a new set of doctors whom he had not made any prior arrangement with, were brought to handle his case.
This development was confirmed by the spokesperson of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa, who said the group had received an audio message from El-Zakzaky in which he told them of the “terrible condition” they had been subjected to in India.
Read the full transcript below.
We are now here in New Delhi, India. As you all know there was an arrangement for us to come here to seek medical care regarding the ailments that we have, myself and Malama Zeenah.
She, Malama Zeenah has a full bullet lodged in her body(that needs to be removed), also she is in need of a knee replacement surgery in addition to other problems. As for me, there are shrapnel, very small fragments in my eyes, in my hands and some in my right thigh that were slowly releasing toxins into my system which caused a lot of complications, which we later discovered that they were the caused of the mini-strokes I have had, both the first and the second time. So we were thinking the first thing to be done is to remove the shrapnel, which is a procedure that couldn’t be done at home and the doctors suggested that we should go abroad where it will be possible for the procedure to be done.
Then the second thing would be to clean my body of the toxins, which I was told are deposited in the bones and some in the flesh and this normally takes time to be done.
I also have a problem with my eye which the doctors that attended to us since after I had a second operation and my sight weakened, suggested that I should be taken to better facilities to have it tended to.
After all this, we were all happy that we are in Delhi and we would be going to a suitable hospital to receive appropriate treatment. In addition, the doctors that came to visit us when we were in Nigeria advised us to come to this hospital called Medanta. That is why we requested to be brought to this hospital.
So before we left Nigeria we heard the news that the American embassy here in India was pressuring the hospital not to admit us when we arrive. And that the hospital had agreed to refuse admitting us. So we were considering going somewhere else when we arrive. But we were later informed that the problem had been sorted out and we would be admitted to the hospital. So we set out from Nigeria.
As soon as we arrived here, we were met with some hospital staff at the airport that escorted us to the hospital.
Since we were in the ambulance they informed that there were a lot of people at the airport waiting to see us even if just when we are boarding the ambulance. But they have evaded them and distracted them by placing two ambulances at that exit claiming we will be boarding those but they decided to bring a different ambulance and leave through a different route so the people at the airport didn’t even get a glimpse.
And they also said that there was a lot of people at the hospital entrance to see us arrive. But they informed us that if we arrive we will be taken in through a back entrance. They said they did this due to the high number of people, they were concerned that in people’s attempt to reach us in the crowd some harm can be done to us, that’s what they said.
After we arrived we realized that in this hospital, or better yet someone working in the Nigerian embassy here told us that before we came, they had carried out a meeting with the hospital staff, the workers from the Nigerian embassy and some security operatives on how to go about things once we are here.
So we saw that we were practically brought to another detention facility which is even stricter than the one we were in back in Nigeria. They came here with police armed with guns and a lot of staff from the Nigerian embassy. And we also noticed we were brought into another detention that we only came based on trust.
Even in Nigeria, they agreed where we were detained that we would be treated only by the doctors we choose and are comfortable with allowing to treat us. But here we understand that the doctors that advised us to come here are blocked from having any say in our case. They even told us when we spoke to them, they are only allowed to advise but the hospital reserves the right to decide the course of our treatment. So I told them that, we came here based on the trust we have in our doctors, we cannot just see any doctor that we don’t know, or trust to treat us.
And without recommendation from those we do trust, we cannot allow a stranger to treat us, lest not what couldn’t be done with bullets be carried out in a different way.
Due to this, we think that based on everything we have seen so far indicates to us that we are not safe here. We were just brought to another detention.
I have been detained now for a collective total of about 13 years but I have never seen a detention like the one I am in now.
Even at the door, they have placed armed police. Even between one room to the next we are not allowed to move. Then I see that even where we were, and of all the times I have been imprisoned in Nigeria, I have not seen anything like this. When I was in an actual prison They used to lock us up around 9:00 pm and open the doors at 7:00 am, and we could move about where ever we wish within the prison facility we were detained in.
I see here that even when I was in kirikiri prison it wasn’t as constricting as in this situation. So I feel that it is not reasonable to leave detention in order to seek medical help and we be placed in a different detention and on top of that, we be handed over to be treated by people we do not trust.
So, based on this we are thinking that Insha Allah by all apparent indications that there is a need for us to return home since we were allowed to travel abroad for medical care and India doesn’t appear to be a safe place for us. We would have to return home, afterall, there are other countries that offered to receive us if we could go there.
These countries include Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey, we can convene to decide which one to go to and then go there Insha Allahul Adheem.
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements to the federal, state, and local governments surged by 43 per cent in 2024, reflecting a major boost in government revenue inflows.
According to the latest FAAC Quarterly Review released in Abuja on Tuesday, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) disclosed that a total of N15.26 trillion was allocated to the three tiers of government within the year under review.
NEITI’s Acting Director, Communication & Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, described the disbursements as a historic high, noting that the allocations surpassed previous years by a remarkable margin.
Key Drivers of Revenue Growth
The report attributed the surge in FAAC disbursements to sustained fiscal reforms by the Federal Government, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange rate adjustments. These policies have significantly boosted oil revenue remittances and overall government earnings.
Speaking at the official release of the report in Abuja, NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, highlighted the impact of these reforms on national and subnational finances. He noted that the withdrawal of fuel subsidies in mid-2023 reshaped revenue distribution and affected debt repayment deductions from state allocations.
Dr Orji stated that the objective of the report was to assess the sustainability of government borrowing, the fiscal implications of resource dependence, and the economic realities confronting states benefitting from the 13% derivation revenue from oil, gas, and solid minerals.
“The analysis focused on crude oil revenue derivation states, as solid minerals continue to underperform despite their significant potential,” he added.
Breakdown of FAAC Allocations
According to the NEITI report, FAAC disbursements in 2024 were as follows:
Federal Government: N4.95 trillion
State Governments: N5.81 trillion
Local Governments: N3.77 trillion
Total FAAC Disbursement (Including Derivation Revenue): N15.26 trillion
State governments recorded the highest percentage increase in allocations, jumping by 62% from N3.58 trillion in 2023 to N5.81 trillion in 2024. Local government councils saw a 47% increase, while the federal government’s share rose by 24% from N3.99 trillion in 2023.
The report highlighted that FAAC allocations grew by 66.2% over three years, rising from N9.18 trillion in 2022 to N10.9 trillion in 2023 and N15.26 trillion in 2024, with the most significant leap occurring between 2023 and 2024.
Economic Risks and Challenges
Despite the revenue boost, NEITI cautioned that economic risks associated with fiscal reforms must be managed effectively. Key risks identified include:
Inflationary pressures
Possible rise in debt servicing costs
Fiscal uncertainty for oil-dependent states
The agency urged governments at all levels to adopt innovative measures to cushion the impact of these economic challenges.
State-by-State Allocation Analysis
Lagos received the highest FAAC allocation in 2024, with N531.1 billion, followed by:
Delta State: N450.4 billion
Rivers State: N349.9 billion
Conversely, the least allocations went to:
Nasarawa State: N108.3 billion
Ebonyi State: N110 billion
Ekiti State: N111.9 billion
The report also showed that six states—Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Kano—each received over N200 billion, collectively accounting for 33% of total state allocations. Meanwhile, the six lowest-receiving states—Yobe, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa—received only 11.5% of total allocations.
Debt Deductions Raise Fiscal Concerns
A total of N800 billion was deducted from states’ allocations for foreign debt servicing and contractual obligations, representing 12.3% of total state allocations.
Lagos State had the highest debt deduction, with N164.7 billion, followed by:
Kaduna State: N51.2 billion
Rivers State: N38.6 billion
Bauchi State: N37.2 billion
NEITI warned that many states with high debt burdens were among the lower FAAC recipients, raising concerns about debt sustainability and overall fiscal health.
With the federal and state governments increasingly reliant on oil revenue, the report emphasized the need for economic diversification, stronger financial management, and sustainable debt practices to ensure long-term fiscal stability.
Ido Local Government chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State has congratulated the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, on his conferment as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE).
In a statement signed by the APC Ido LG Secretary, Engr. Ebenezer Olatiilu, the party described the recognition as a pivotal milestone in the lawmaker’s professional journey, acknowledging his contributions to engineering excellence and community development.
“This noble recognition is a testament to your unwavering dedication to the advancement of engineering practices, your exemplary leadership, and your commitment to the moral, spiritual, and political upliftment of our communities,” the statement read.
The party also highlighted Oseni’s influence in politics, noting his strategic insight and deep understanding of governance, which have earned him widespread admiration within Oyo State and beyond.
It further commended his role as Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), stating that his leadership continues to shape progressive governance in Ido LG, his federal constituency, and Oyo State.
The party described the FNSE conferment as a blessing to the local government and Oyo State’s political landscape, praying for wisdom, good health, and strength for Oseni to continue his service with excellence.
“May this new chapter bring greater achievements and divine favour,” the statement concluded.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has conferred its prestigious fellowship on Engr. Aderemi Oseni and 177 other members, urging them to promote Nigerian content and uphold the highest standards of the profession.
The conferment ceremony, held on Thursday in Abuja, brought together engineers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to celebrate excellence in the field.
Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in Oyo State and serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has been a Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE) for over a decade. He is also a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and a member of several international professional bodies, including the London Institute of Engineers and Technicians and the Nigeria Association of Technological Engineers.
Speaking shortly after receiving the fellowship, the lawmaker dedicated the award to God and the entire engineering community, expressing his commitment to upholding the principles of the profession.
“It is another great day. I feel very excited, and it was an opportunity for me to reconnect with some of my old colleagues, people I had lost contact with for quite a while,” he said. “Having been conferred as a fellow, it is an opportunity for us to continue to do the good work that we have been doing as professionals.”
At a dinner organised in honour of the new fellows, NSE President Margaret Oguntala lauded the awardees for their dedication to innovation and nation-building. She noted that Nigerian engineers had been instrumental in advancing critical sectors, including infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and information technology. She emphasised that the recognition was not just an honour but a responsibility to uphold the integrity and standards of the profession.
Oguntala further charged the new fellows to be ambassadors of engineering excellence and to conduct themselves with dignity befitting their status. “It behoves you to carry the banner of our society high anywhere you go,” she said. “We also expect you to carry yourselves always with the dignity and comportment that this fellowship bestows on you.”
She stressed the need for engineers to play a greater role in national development, advocating for collaborations across sectors to address pressing challenges such as infrastructure deficits, poverty alleviation, and job creation. “The collective strength of engineers alongside other professionals will undoubtedly unlock the potential that will bring about the much-needed development in our country,” she said. She urged them to be torchbearers of progress, quality, and sustainability in their respective fields.
The Chairman of the NSE Board of Fellows, Maliki Kamila, highlighted the rigorous selection process for the fellowship, describing it as the highest honour any practising engineer in Nigeria can attain. “These eminent professionals are commended for having scaled through the procedures for screening and assessment, as the process has remained very thorough but fair,” he said. Despite NSE’s membership strength of about 82,000, he noted that only a select percentage had been elevated to the fellowship grade.
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, commended the NSE for its contributions to national development. Represented by Malam Bala Ibrahim, Secretary to the State Government, he urged engineers to remain committed to nation-building and to uphold the ethics of the profession in all their endeavours.
-
News1 week agoRep Oseni Hails Oyo Progressive Leader, Jolaoso, on 90th Milestone
-
News1 week ago
Tinubu Appoints Aminu as NABTEB Registrar, Names New UBEC Board Leadership
-
Opinion1 week ago
El-Rufai’s SDP Gambit: A Political ‘Harakiri’ | By Adeniyi Olowofela
-
Politics7 days ago
Aleshinloye Market Inferno: Oyo APC to Makinde – Where Are the Fire Trucks?
