Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of borrowing Nigeria into slavery.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Okonkwo described the administration as a “total failure,” despite the removal of fuel subsidy. He argued that the government had failed to invest subsidy savings in essential infrastructure and social programmes.

According to him, previous administrations introduced initiatives such as the Petroleum Trust Fund under General Sani Abacha and SURE-P under Goodluck Jonathan to reinvest subsidy savings.

Okonkwo questioned the reported ₦166.6 trillion debt under the Tinubu administration, noting that Nigerians continue to face rising electricity tariffs, poor roads, inadequate power supply and limited energy access.

He further alleged that public funds were being wasted on unnecessary agencies and luxury assets, demanding greater accountability from the government.

The Nigerian Army and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are deepening collaboration to identify, trace and block financial networks linked to terrorism and other criminal activities.

The initiative was discussed during a courtesy visit by the Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 23 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Adamu Abdul, to the ICPC Adamawa State Command.

Abdul stressed that disrupting terrorist financing was essential to weakening insurgent groups and limiting their operations. He called for the identification and closure of financial loopholes and clandestine channels used to fund criminal activities.

He also highlighted the ICPC’s role in intelligence gathering, financial investigations and information sharing with security agencies. According to him, the fight against terrorism must address not only fighters and operational networks, but also the financial systems that provide logistics and sustain criminal activities.

The commander identified Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and kidnapping as threats requiring increased attention to their financial and logistical structures.

Responding, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Okoro Ulu James, reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to working with the military within its mandate. He noted that both institutions had previously collaborated through personnel training and information sharing.

James said stronger cooperation between anti-corruption and security agencies was vital to addressing Nigeria’s security and governance challenges. He assured the Army of the Commission’s continued support in financial and intelligence-related efforts aimed at countering terrorism and other criminal activities.

The Bauchi State Police Command has advised traders, foreign exchange dealers and members of the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters allegedly using counterfeit US dollars to defraud unsuspecting victims.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that two suspects had been arrested within the week in connection with alleged counterfeit-dollar fraud. One of the suspects reportedly travelled from Lagos and allegedly defrauded a man of more than ₦4 million before assaulting him.

Habib said similar incidents had occurred in Bauchi in the past, but security agencies had driven the perpetrators away. He warned that the criminals had now returned to the state.

The police urged residents to be wary of unusually cheap offers, noting that the desire to obtain goods or foreign currency at reduced prices could lead people into unsafe and unauthorised locations where fraudsters operate.

The command advised residents to conduct foreign exchange transactions only through commercial banks and licensed Bureau de Change operators. Using approved financial institutions, it said, remains the safest way to avoid counterfeit currency scams and related criminal activities.