Amanze Chinonye
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the fire outbreak that occurred Monday morning at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja.
The civil rights group also urged the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the alleged non-release of trillions of naira meant for the capital components of federal ministries’ budgets over the past two years.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the group described the failure to fund capital projects as a potential “massive economic and financial crime” that it said had serious implications for governance and the welfare of Nigerians.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHURIWA argued that although appropriation bills are passed annually and the federal government continues to borrow funds to support budget implementation, many ministries have reportedly received little or no capital allocations.
The group cited testimony by the Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, before the National Assembly of Nigeria indicating that the Federal Ministry of Health received only a small fraction of its approved capital allocation for 2025.
HURIWA said such funding gaps were affecting critical sectors including health, education, agriculture, water resources and humanitarian services.
The advocacy organisation also raised concerns about recurring fire incidents in key government offices that house financial and procurement records.
READ ALSO : How Wike Undermined Smooth Local Council Poll: by HURIWA
According to the group, similar fires had previously occurred in agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Office of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, stressing that the causes of many of those incidents were never fully determined.
It questioned why such fires often occur in departments handling financial documentation and procurement records, calling for thorough investigations to rule out sabotage.
HURIWA further referenced a recent budget defence session at the House of Representatives where a lawmaker, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, reportedly confronted the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, over the status of funds approved for capital projects.
According to the group, Ikwechegh told the committee that about ₦1.15 trillion had been raised and approved by lawmakers to fund roughly 30 per cent of the 2025 capital budget. He also cited multiple external loans secured by the federal government, including funds earmarked for digital infrastructure, economic stimulus, small businesses and energy transition.
HURIWA said the lawmaker questioned why, despite the loans and revenue generation by agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service, many capital projects across the country had reportedly seen little or no disbursement.
During the hearing, Edun reportedly referred questions on disbursement to the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, who later told lawmakers that although the funds had been approved, certain procedural conditions needed to be met by ministries before disbursements could be made.
However, lawmakers pressed for explanations on why some ministries had reportedly received minimal allocations despite urgent project needs.
Meanwhile, the advocacy group also condemned what it described as inadequate funding for strategic ministries responsible for social services, arguing that poor capital funding could negatively impact healthcare delivery and other essential public services.
HURIWA urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate the management of capital budget allocations and trace the whereabouts of funds already approved by the legislature.
The group also called for a probe into Monday’s fire incident at the Federal Secretariat complex in Abuja.
The fire reportedly affected Section C of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service building and was first noticed around 8:20 a.m., with thick smoke seen rising from the structure.
Emergency responders later arrived at the scene and the area was cordoned off while firefighters worked to contain the blaze. No casualties were reported, and the cause of the fire had yet to be determined as of the time of filing this report.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
- Amanze Chinonye
