News
World Bank Report: ADC Asks Tinubu-led Govt to Explain ‘Missing’ $12.4bn
Reading in data-saving mode. Read full article from This Day website.
Published 10/17/2026 9:13:57 PM
ADC Asks Tinubu-led Govt to Explain ‘Missing’ $12.4bn – THISDAYLIVE
• Says gap equivalent to almost a quarter of 2026 budget
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to explain the $12.4 billion gap, equivalent to about N16.5 trillion, in Nigeria’s external accounts identified in the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said Tinubu owed Nigerians a clear account of the discrepancy, especially as families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis were forced to account for every naira.
Citing the report, the ADC said Nigeria recorded a $12 billion current-account surplus and $6.2 billion in net financial inflows in the first half of 2026.
The party said these inflows should have strengthened the country’s reserves, but the report instead identified a $12.4 billion gap.
Abdullahi said the World Bank attributed the gap, in part, to oil export earnings that were not repatriated. He added that the report noted that the repatriation of export proceeds remained limited, partly because Nigerian oil had been pledged against several long-term loans.
“The scale is staggering,” the ADC said.
“This unexplained gap is larger than the entire current-account surplus for the same period. It is about 5.6 times the $2.2 billion Nigeria attracted in foreign direct investment. In naira terms, it is almost a quarter of the N68.32 trillion 2026 federal budget.
“This cannot be dismissed as a minor accounting discrepancy. President Tinubu welcomed this report. He cannot celebrate one part of the report and stay silent on a gap bigger than the surplus that he and his government are celebrating.
“Due to President Tinubu’s failed policies, families across Nigeria are forced to skip meals and account for every naira just to survive. Meanwhile, money that could have eased their hardship is currently unaccounted for. Tinubu owes Nigerians an explanation.
“Sacrifice cannot be compulsory for everyday citizens while accountability remains optional for the government that is in charge of our collective resources.”
The ADC called on the federal government to publish a full public reconciliation of the $12.4 billion gap and disclose all oil-backed loans and pledged crude commitments.
It also demanded updated net reserve figures and clear evidence that higher revenues were improving essential services such as health, education and power.
“President Tinubu must open the books. Nigerians have sacrificed enough. We deserve answers,” the party said.
§
Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce.
Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.
Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.
‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.
This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.
Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.
By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.
To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.
These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.
‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.
