The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said that President Bola Tinubu deserves credit for bringing Nigeria’s economy back from the brink, citing improvements in economic growth, inflation, foreign reserves, and export diversification.

Emir Sanusi, who gave the commendation while speaking on Tuesday at the Oxford Global Think Tank conference convened by Arunma Oteh, said the country is beginning to lay the foundations for economic stability, although significant challenges remain.

“I’m not a fan of politicians, but we need to give credit to President Tinubu’s administration for bringing us back from the brink,” he said.

Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, said the economy grew by 4.48 percent in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, describing the performance as progress compared with the average growth recorded during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“GDP in Q2 2026 was at 4.48 percent. It’s not as high as it was under the Yar’Adua/Jonathan government, but during the Buhari years, the economy grew by 0.9 percent. Today it’s at 4.5 percent. That’s progress,” he said.

Sanusi also noted the decline in inflation from about 30 percent to 14.6 percent, adding that it was projected to fall to 12.5 percent by the end of the year.

He said Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, measured in dollar terms, had increased by 47 percent since 2023.

According to the emir, “If we continue at this rate, by the end of next year, GDP per capita will be back to where it was in 2005”.

He also cited the country’s foreign reserves, which he put at $55 billion, but cautioned that a significant portion of the inflows was driven by foreign portfolio investments (FPI), which are volatile.

He attributed the continued inflows partly to high oil prices amid the war in the Strait of Hormuz and the attractive returns available to investors in Nigeria.

“Our reserves are at $55 billion, and yes, a lot of it is driven by portfolio flows, which are volatile,” he said.

He said high oil prices and returns on Nigerian investments have encouraged foreign investors to maintain their exposure to the country.

On diversification, Sanusi said “20 percent of Nigeria’s exports were coming from the Dangote refinery”, describing the development as evidence of progress beyond the country’s traditional export sources.

“There are clearly foundations being laid for stability. It’s not the end, but the first step towards stability,” he said.

The emir, however, criticised the Tinubu administration’s communication of its economic policies, saying the government appeared to interpret criticism and suggestions as attacks.

“This government doesn’t express itself properly. It sees every suggestion and contribution it does not like as an attack, and it doesn’t have good spokespersons,” he said.

Despite his reservations about the government’s communication, Sanusi said the administration deserved recognition for the economic gains recorded so far.

The controversy surrounding the burial plans for late Olayemi Bolaji, better known as Toluwanisings, may have been laid to rest following the intervention by the Oyo State Police Command.

There have been several reports of disagreements between the late singer’s family and associates over his burial arrangements.

But the police command disclosed on Tuesday that the parties have signed a peace undertaking at its headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, after being invited by the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga.

The intervention followed concerns over allegations of conspiracy, defamation of character and conduct capable of causing a breach of the peace amid public exchanges over the singer’s death and burial.

In a statement issued and signed by the Oyo Police Command spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka,  it was stated that the Commissioner of Police received information about the disagreement on October 28, involving the singer’s family and associates over the proposed burial arrangements.

According to the statement, “In view of the potential implications of the disagreement for public peace and order, the Commissioner of Police, exercising his statutory responsibilities under Section 4 of the Police Act and other relevant provisions of the law, directed that all parties be invited to the Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, for an intervention aimed at preventing further escalation and facilitating an amicable resolution.”

The parties who signed the undertaking included the singer’s wife, Olayemi Elizabeth Damilola; his father, Muniru Olayemi; and his friends and associates, Oyindamola Esther, Babadunni Gbolabo and Lawal Ademola Rafiu.

His personal assistant and other representatives were also present.

The disagreement had centred on where the singer should be buried.

His father had reportedly proposed that he be buried at the house he built or beside his late mother in Osun State, while his wife was said to have opposed the idea of burying him in their home.

According to the police, the parties agreed to maintain peace and good behaviour, refrain from actions capable of causing a breach of the peace and discontinue public exchanges, interviews and discussions that could worsen the disagreement.

The command said, “Under the terms of the undertaking, all parties agreed to maintain peace and be of good behaviour, refrain from any act capable of causing a breach of the peace, and discontinue public exchanges, interviews and discussions capable of inflaming tensions or aggravating the existing disagreement surrounding the unfortunate demise of the singer and related issues.”

The police added that the parties also agreed to stop circulating information, allegations and publications about the matter through social media, print media, radio, blogs and other communication channels.

The undertaking further requires them to ensure that their proxies, agents, associates and representatives do not make, sponsor, amplify or circulate publications capable of reigniting the dispute.

The Commissioner of Police warned that the agreement must be respected by all parties and those acting on their behalf.

The statement quoted him as cautioning that “no individual should take advantage of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the singer’s demise to instigate hostility, promote unsubstantiated allegations or engage in conduct capable of disrupting public peace.”

It added that anyone whose actions constituted an offence under applicable laws would be arrested and prosecuted.

The command also appealed to members of the public, bloggers and media practitioners to exercise restraint and avoid amplifying unverified information capable of reigniting tensions.

Toluwanisings died in Ibadan on October 14, 2026, after reportedly slumping. His death generated controversy over allegations that several hospitals turned him away while efforts were being made to obtain emergency medical attention.

His personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, had alleged that the singer was taken to seven or eight hospitals before his death. The University College Hospital, Ibadan, however, said it had no record confirming that he was brought to the facility.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have uncovered an illegal oil refinery operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence gathering and surveillance of the activities of illegal sludge oil refiners.

Oyewale said the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises, following an earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.

The operatives discovered waste products from the refining process and underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

According to the statement, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered an illegal oil refinery operated by Chinese in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

“The operation, conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, followed credible intelligence and surveillance by the Commission on the activities of the illegal sludge oil refiners.

“The refinery was found deserted when EFCC operatives stormed the premises, following the Commission’s earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area. However, waste products from the refining process were discovered at the location.”

Oyewale said operatives also discovered underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

“Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and transported it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing,” Oyewale added.

He said the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.

“Personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the facility.

“Consequently, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC have since taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage,” he added.