By Our Reporter with agency report

President Bola Tinubu has sought the approval of the Senate for a 2026–2027 supplementary external borrowing plan of $20.52 billion dollars and 1.05 billion euros.

Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read at plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu said the proposed borrowing plan would be utilised on critical sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, water supply, security, employment generation and financial management reforms.

He said the funds would help address the country’s infrastructure deficit and bridge the financing gap required to implement critical development projects.

The president said that the projects and programmes under the plan were selected following technical and economic evaluations, with consideration on its anticipated contributions to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

“These initiatives aim to generate employment, promote skill acquisition, foster entrepreneurship, reduce poverty and enhance food security, all of which improve the livelihood of the Nigerian child,” he said.

Tinubu said most of the projects and programmes would be implemented across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. (FCT).

He said substantial investment in infrastructure remained necessary to support economic growth and address longstanding development challenges.

“In light of the need for significant infrastructure investment in the country and the vast financial resources needed to address this gap.

“It has become essential to pursue prudent external borrowings to close the financing shortfall,” the President said.

He said the funds would primarily be channelled into critical infrastructure projects, particularly in the power, transportation and healthcare sectors.

Tinubu urged the Senate to give the borrowing plan urgent consideration, adding that approval would enable the government to meet its obligations to Nigerians through timely disbursements and effective project implementation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, said that the borrowing plan had been previously featured in the approved borrowing plan of the federal government.

He thereafter referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further legislative inputs with collaboration from the Committees on Appropriations and Finance.

“The borrowing plan is attached, but of course, this was even earlier approved in our budget, and also the external borrowing plan was approved as far back as 2025 to 2027,” Akpabio said. (NAN)

England captain Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or winner, beating Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé to claim the prestigious individual award.

Kane received the award at the Palladium Theatre in London, United Kingdom, on Monday, becoming the first English player to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.

The 33-year-old striker enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 season, scoring 73 goals for club and country. His goals played a key role in helping Bayern Munich secure the German Bundesliga title and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Kane also captained England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where the Three Lions finished with a bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Barcelona and Spain legend Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, joining fellow Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí as the only players to have achieved the feat.

Putellas’ latest triumph further underlines her status as one of the most decorated players in women’s football.

Earlier in the ceremony, Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Trophy in recognition of his humanitarian and charitable activities.

Saka was honoured for his charity work, which has supported surgeries for children in Nigeria and other African countries.

Full List of 2026 Ballon d’Or Winners

1- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Harry Kane
2- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas
3- Best Young Talent of the Year: Lamine Yamal and Vicky López
4- Best Goalkeeper Trophy: Cata Coll and Unai Simón
5- Women’s Best Striker of the Year: Charlyn Corral
-6- Men’s Best Striker of the Year: Harry Kane
7- Best Men’s Coach: Luis de la Fuente
8- Best Women’s Coach: Pere Romeu
9+ Men’s Best Club: Paris Saint-Germain
10+ Women’s Club of the Year: FC Barcelona
11- Socrates Trophy: Bukayo Saka

By Our Reporter with agency report

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says President Bola Tinubu must leave office in 2027, accusing his administration of worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Obi spoke in Abuja on Monday at the inauguration of the NDC’s national campaign council.

The former governor of Anambra said Nigeria is facing a crisis under Tinubu’s leadership, insisting that Nigerians are seeking a change of government.

“Tinubu has led this country into a crisis. Today, everything is collapsing. From our engagements across Nigeria, Nigerians are looking for new leadership, and we assure you that we will create that leadership,” Obi said.

“Today, President Tinubu has led us with a government that lacks competence, capacity, compassion and commitment to deal with Nigeria’s problems.

“Above all, President Tinubu does not have the energy and resolve required to lead Nigeria today, and he must go home.

“We need him to go home. Nigeria cannot be governed with the energy he has today. Nigeria needs a president who will be available and present.”

Obi also criticised the administration over poverty, unemployment, corruption and insecurity, saying the country had recorded poor results across key development indicators.

Obi faulted Tinubu for launching his re-election campaign under the All Progressives Congress (APC) without accounting for the funds borrowed by his administration and its achievements under the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets.

“In the past three years, President Tinubu has foisted a reign of corruption on Nigeria. He has made history as the president presiding over the highest number of poor people, according to recent reports,” he said.

“Just last Friday, President Tinubu launched his second general campaign rather than explain to Nigerians what he has used the billions he borrowed to do.

“Rather than explain what he has achieved with the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets, he chose to blame the opposition for creating poverty.

“Let me assure you: we will not lead a government of blame. The purpose of governance is to solve problems, not to blame people. I will not blame anybody. We will create that new Nigeria that is possible.

“We need a revolution that will turn this country around, and we are committed to that. The APC-led government under President Tinubu has failed Nigeria.

“We will start by fighting the most important problem crippling Nigeria today: corruption. We will ensure that we tackle corruption head-on in a manner nobody has tackled it before.”

Obi further cited Nigeria’s worsening position on global terrorism and hunger indices, as well as rising poverty levels, to argue that the country’s situation had deteriorated under Tinubu.

“There is no single indicator under Tinubu that has improved. When he came into office, our record on terrorism was better. Today, we are number four,” he said.

“When he came in, we were ranked 109th on the hunger list. Today, we are the 117th. When he came in, our poverty ranking was below 140. Today, we are above 140.

“I can go on and on. No single indicator is working, except hunger, and this is because of corruption.”

The inauguration was attended by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NDC vice-presidential candidate; Seriake Dickson, the party’s national leader; members of the national working committee; and other party leaders.

TheCable