Nigerian states spend N512bn on travel, offices; police bust baby factory; 19 oil licenses to expire

Nigerian states have collectively spent at least N512.10 billion on their Government Houses, Governors' Offices, and travel expenses within the first six months of 2026. This figure is approximately 4,713 times higher than the combined six-month salary of Nigeria's 36 governors.

In Ogun State, police successfully dismantled an illegal baby factory syndicate in Abaren Village, Mowe. During the operation, two heavily pregnant women and four children were rescued, and six suspects, including a nurse, were apprehended. Authorities are still searching for a newborn who was reportedly missing from the facility.

Meanwhile, a report from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission indicates that 19 oil licenses in the country's upstream sector are scheduled to expire within 2026. This includes 12 Petroleum Prospecting Licenses and seven Oil Prospecting Licenses, with some potentially eligible for extension or conversion. This development occurs as new upstream licensing awards are being considered and the government pursues its "drill or drop" policy.

In other news, the Internally Generated Revenue for Nigerian states has seen a significant increase, rising by 34 percent to N2.43 trillion in the first half of 2026, despite prevailing economic hardships faced by households. The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd.), has emphasized the necessity of seizing drug lords' assets, stating that arrests alone are insufficient to combat trafficking without recovering the proceeds of crime.