₦airaland Forum

The Enugu State Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, says the government has begun strict enforcement of a ₦500,000 fine against motorists caught driving against traffic, otherwise known as one-way driving.

Ozor disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Enugu.

He said the measure was part of efforts by the government to curb the increasing rate of road accidents and ensure discipline among motorists.

He also said the government had invested heavily in road infrastructure, including the construction of dual carriageways and the installation of medians, yet many drivers continued to violate traffic rules.

“Government has spent billions to provide adequate road infrastructure, yet people deliberately drive against traffic, endangering their lives and those of others,” he said.

The commissioner cited areas such as Abakpa and the Penoks axis where, despite the presence of medians and clearly marked lanes, motorists still engage in one-way driving.

He said the enforcement would apply to all roads in the state.
He also said the government was particularly concerned about the increasing number of fatalities linked to such violations.

“Every day, we record accidents and carry bodies from roads that are in good condition. This is unacceptable,” Ozor said.

He revealed that, in addition to the fine, offenders would undergo psychiatric evaluation to determine if their actions were influenced by substance abuse or other mental health conditions.

He explained that the assessment could lead to rehabilitation recommendations before offenders would be allowed to reclaim their impounded vehicles upon payment of the fine.

Ozor emphasised that the policy was not aimed at generating revenue but at saving lives, urging motorists to exercise patience and obey traffic regulations.

“One minute will not kill you. Waiting at traffic lights or taking the proper route will save your life and that of others,” he said.
He said the government had commenced public enlightenment campaigns through collaboration with transport unions and the media.

He also said the government recently held meetings with taxi, tricycle, bus, tanker, and tipper operators to reinforce compliance.
The commissioner warned that strict enforcement, including the impoundment of vehicles, would continue until motorists fully adhered to traffic rules.

According to him, the government remains committed to promoting road safety and reducing avoidable accidents across the state. (NAN)

The Air Component of Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in a carefully planned and intelligence-driven operation, has successfully conducted a precision air strike on a known terrorist enclave and logistics hub located near the abandoned village of Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. The successful strike, executed on 11 April 2026, followed sustained intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Bindul–Jilli axis, an area long identified as a major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and their collaborators.

It[b] will be recalled that in January 2026, troops moving from Gubio towards Damasak came under a major Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack along the road at Bindul, resulting in the tragic loss of eight soldiers, while several others were wounded in action. More recently, on 9 April, coordinated attacks were recorded in Ngamdu and Benisheik, supported by the same terrorist logistics network. Consequently, the Theatre intensified overhead surveillance and intelligence gathering across the area in response to persistent reports of terrorist movement and logistics activity.[/b]

On 11 April 2026, multiple reports were received of ISWAP Gun Trucks(GT) and Motorcycles (MC) moving along the axis. Consequently, ISR coverage over the area was immediately intensified. During the surveillance mission, a contingent of motorcycles was observed moving in the direction of Jilli, followed shortly by the movement of several additional vehicles, all converging on the same location. These suspicious movements were subsequently corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, confirming that the converging elements were terrorists, their collaborators, and logistics handlers. In line with established operational procedures, a rigorous and professional targeting process was undertaken. Target fidelity was confirmed through multiple credible Human Intelligence sources, supported by persistent aerial surveillance. Upon final validation, the Air Component executed a series of precision strikes on the objective, while Surveillance platforms maintained continuous overwatch for real-time battle damage assessment.

Post-strike assessment confirmed that the target area was struck with high accuracy, resulting in the destruction of the identified terrorist logistics enclave. Scores of terrorists were neutralised in the strike, with their vehicles and technicals destroyed, while surviving elements were observed fleeing in multiple directions. Intelligence further indicates that the neutralised elements were in the final stages of receiving logistics from couriers, for coordinated attacks on troop locations within the Gubio axis. This decisive action has therefore significantly disrupted imminent terrorist plans and degraded their operational capability within the Theatre.

Instructively, on 12 April 2026, a terrorist logistics courier identified as “Turja Bulu”, was arrested at Ngamdu Town, and upon preliminary investigation confessed that he took part in the attack at 29 Bde location on 9 April 2026 at Benisheik and had been dispatched by ISWAP from Jilli where most of his fellow terrorists were hibernating to provide food items for another group of terrorists currently hibernating around the Magumeri-Gubio General Area.

Troops arrest teenage iswap logistics courier in ngamdu, link suspect to Jilli strikes

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested a 15-year-old suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics courier in Ngamdu, Borno, linking him to… pic.twitter.com/WWWAlvPGhG

— Zagazola (@ZagazOlaMakama) April 12, 2026

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pushed back against claims by President Bola Tinubu that Nigeria’s economy compares favourably with that of Kenya.

Earlier, Tinubu had pointed to Nigeria’s relatively cheaper fuel prices compared to Kenya and other African nations as evidence of economic advantage.

In response, Atiku, through his media aide Phrank Shaibu, argued that such a comparison is overly simplistic and fails to reflect the harsh economic realities faced by Nigerians. He maintained that focusing solely on fuel prices ignores key indicators like purchasing power, income levels, and overall cost of living.

According to him, when these broader factors are considered, Nigeria is actually more expensive to live in than Kenya, despite having lower petrol prices.

Atiku stressed that while fuel may be cheaper in Nigeria, the benefit is eroded by weak earning power and high living costs. He added that Kenya’s economic indicators present a stronger picture, noting that the country’s GDP per capita is significantly higher.

He further highlighted the disparity in wages, stating that Kenya’s minimum wage is about twice Nigeria’s ₦70,000, with workers in Nairobi reportedly earning the equivalent of around ₦170,000 monthly.

The former vice president concluded that using fuel prices alone as a measure of economic wellbeing misrepresents the true state of living conditions in Nigeria.

Heirs Energies, a Nigerian oil producer, has obtained a $750 million credit facility from the African Export-Import Bank to finance its production operations, the company announced.
The Lagos-based energy firm finalized the financing agreement with the Cairo-based multilateral lender on December 20. According to the company’s statement, the facility will “strengthen Heirs Energies’ balance sheet, enhance liquidity, and provide the flexibility required to accelerate field development and optimize production.”

The company currently manages Oil Mining Lease 17, an asset it acquired from Shell Plc in 2021. In August, Heirs Energies revealed ambitious growth targets, aiming to double its daily output from 55,000 barrels to 110,000 barrels by 2030, while simultaneously extending its footprint across the African continent.

The expansion comes amid a broader transformation in Nigeria’s oil sector, where domestic independent producers are capitalizing on improved operational conditions. These companies have been acquiring onshore and shallow-water assets from international oil majors that are redirecting their focus toward deepwater exploration.

Other Nigerian independents, including Seplat Energy Plc, Oando Plc, and Renaissance Africa Energy Co., are similarly ramping up activities by reactivating dormant wells and channeling substantial investments into new drilling projects and infrastructure upgrades. These efforts are part of a collective push to help Nigeria increase its overall crude oil production capacity.

Maduka University on November 23 commemorated its second Founder’s Day with a renewed call for Nigeria’s educational system to urgently and intentionally rethink how it leads, manages, and develops young minds within the school ecosystem.

The week-long celebration, which also coincided with the University’s second anniversary and the Global Entrepreneurship Week, featured a fitness walk, a church service, and a symposium.

A major highlight of the event was an endowment by the Special Guest of Honour and Royal Father of the Day, His Royal Highness Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu (Eze Ogadagidi) of the Eden Ani Ancient Kingdom. The monarch announced a professorial endowment for ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) for 10 years.

The endowment, the first of its kind in the university, was described by Igwe Asadu—who also chairs the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers—as a gesture inspired by his admiration for the institution’s Founder and Chancellor, Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi. He described Dr. Onyishi as a visionary pathfinder whose journey in establishing the university was marked by determination and resilience. The royal father urged staff and students to embrace love, unity, and collaboration for the progress of the institution.

Welcoming guests, the Registrar, Mr. John Omeje, explained that Founder’s Day, which also marks the Chancellor’s birthday, offers the University an opportunity to reflect on a journey that began on November 23, 2023, when it opened for administrative and academic activities. He said the institution has recorded remarkable growth in its mission to redefine university education, noting that the Chancellor’s personal achievements reflect the University’s values of excellence, innovation, and service.

In his address titled “Evolving a Credible University Identity: Lessons from History”, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ogbulogo, emphasised that universities exist to serve society and must produce graduates whose knowledge, attitudes, and skills foster personal productivity and societal development. He noted that these ideals underpin the global evolution of universities and are central to Maduka University’s aspiration to become a leading entrepreneurial institution. According to him, entrepreneurial universities serve as knowledge hubs supporting the rising demand for skilled workers in fast-growing, knowledge-driven sectors—a vision reflected in Maduka University’s motto, vision, and anthem. Core members of the University Management made contributions to the remarks on the strategies for making Maduka University truly entrepreneurial.

Delivering the keynote to mark the Global Entrepreneurship Week, themed “Innovate, Create, and Scale: Empowering the Next Generation of African Entrepreneurs”, the guest speaker, Professor Olusegun Oladapo Sogbesan, founder and CEO (Director-General) of Onitsha Business School, noted that education systems worldwide are shifting from theoretical spaces to engines of innovation where universities train students to build businesses, solve real-world problems, and lead future industries. “Knowledge without application is impotence, and education without innovation is a luxury we can no longer afford,” he said.

Professor Sogbesan warned that universities that remain purely theoretical risk becoming obsolete—or worse, “factories of frustration”. Without entrepreneurial learning, he cautioned, Nigeria will continue to produce brilliant yet unprepared graduates “trained to memorise, not monetise; to seek jobs that do not exist instead of creating the ones society urgently needs”. He commended Maduka University’s entrepreneurial efforts, especially its ability to generate its own electricity and its impressive infrastructural growth within its first two years.

In his remarks, the Founder/Chancellor, Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi, expressed gratitude for the University’s progress, noting that the achievements recorded within two years were a testament to divine grace and collective effort, adding that the journey ahead holds even greater promise. He said he looks forward with excitement to the institution’s first convocation ceremony. Dr. Onyishi thanked his family for their support, the University’s management for organising an impactful symposium, and all guests for honouring the celebration. He encouraged students to apply the insights gained from the event to their academic and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Refresher: Abubakar Atiku was once a prominent and dedicated member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was one of the major backers of Muhammadu Buhari in his successful run to become President in 2014/15. To achieve that, Atiku abandoned the then ruling party that he co-founded and he brazenly supported the opposition in their efforts to remove Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, the incumbent president. (Reasons?)

He, alongside others, such as the current President delivered the Presidency to Buhari & APC. Shortly afterwards, he defected back to the same PDP he unseated, and launched a quest to unseat the Buhari & APC that he had helped elect.

Following Atiku’s defeat in the 2019 presidential election by Buhari & APC, everyone set their sights on 2023, by then Buhari would become term-barred. It was also widely acknowledged that the Presidency should be rotated to Southern Nigeria in 2023, in accordance with the unwritten North-South power rotation agreement.

Despite this, Atiku remained steadfast in his position and reclaimed the leadership of the PDP to become the flag bearer, with hope that Nigerians generally would be okay with another Northerner serving another 4-year term (possibly twice) after Buhari, thereby extending the period of Northern rule in a country like Nigeria to sixteen years.

As neutral observer, How would you describe Atiku Abubakar?

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce vehicle number plates to identify persons with disabilities in the state.

Speaking at the 2025 ministerial press briefing to mark the second year of Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term as governor on Tuesday, the transportation commissioner, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority will implement the scheme.

“The authority is also into the production of customised 716 fancy motor vehicle plates and 347 motorcycle fancy plates for vehicle owners on request,” he said.

The commissioner added that LSNPPA produced 224 out-of-series number plates on special requests and unique numbering needs.

“The authority issued 11,152 standard number plate replacements, 212 motorcycle plate replacements, and 63 standard fancy replacements to maintain accurate vehicle identification.

“They also produced 428 official number plates, 1,510 dealer plates and 4,000 articulated vehicle plates,” he said.

Osiyemi said that the authority, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, was developing initiatives that would lead to the production of number plates that would align with the ’Go Green’ initiatives.

Regarding the fading of number plates, he said the state used high-quality materials in their production.

“We should also understand that fading of the number plate is a function of the kind of material we use to wash our cars, which are very corrosive.

“We should also know that as man has a life span, so also are plate numbers; and they should be changed when the need arises,” he said.

Nigeria and South Africa have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in mining development, a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda. The MoU, formalized by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, H.E. Gwede Mantashe, is part of the renewed Nigeria–South Africa Bi-National Commission, jointly advanced by both Presidents.

Key highlights of the MoU include:

• Capacity Building in Geoscience Applications Using UAVs: Developing local expertise in drone-based geological applications.

• Advanced Mineral Exploration Technologies: Joint use of multi- and hyper-spectral remote sensing tools for mapping and exploration.

• Strategic Geoscientific Data Sharing: Facilitated by the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to enable critical mineral intelligence exchange.

• Training in Mineral Processing: Programs focused on value addition and beneficiation of raw minerals.

• Elemental Fingerprint Technology: Knowledge sharing on LA-ICP-MS for accurate mineral identification and traceability.

• Exploration of Agro and Energy Minerals: Unlocking Nigeria’s vast potential in agro-minerals and energy resources.

This partnership not only accelerates technology transfer and investment promotion but also enhances regional integration, job creation, and local content development. It reflects President Tinubu’s forward-looking leadership in positioning Nigeria as a continental hub for responsible and strategic mining.

— Kamorudeen Yusuf, Personal Assistant on Special Duties to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

A few days ago, I made the decision to protect my tweets following a coordinated wave of falsehoods, personal insults, and even curses directed at me. Sadly, the nature of discourse on social media—especially Twitter (X)—often swings in a binary fashion: “you’re either with us or against us.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.

To those suggesting I’ve been deleting tweets, I simply say this: I don’t owe you that explanation, nor do I have the time or interest to engage in such distractions. This space has always been, for me, a place to share, learn, and unwind. If I find a tweet that lacks context or no longer serves clarity, I’m happy to remove it. That doesn’t change my lifelong commitment to public accountability—a principle I believe remains one of the strongest levers for a better society.

Twitter, for all its promise, has sadly become a poisoned well—where anonymity, monetized virality, and troll farms work together to tear down honest voices and raise toxicity.

My hope for younger Nigerians is to resist the harmful stereotypes that shrink their worldview and undermine their potential. I have been shaped by friendships and support from people across faiths, races, and genders.

What I long for is a civic culture where people respect differing views, hold government accountable through facts and data, and collectively build a country where everyone can thrive.

If you don’t follow my work in BudgIT, Tracka, or Ogbomoso but choose to show up with vile commentary, chances are you’ve already been muted or blocked. These are not acts of malice—they’re simply boundaries.

Wishing you clarity, growth, and peace.
—Oluseun

Former governor Peter Obi reminds me of the image I once saw on a painting…the picture of a lone figure, walking with drooping shoulders into the sunset; his indistinguishable face obscured by the interplay of dim rays from the setting sun; the image of a tragic character who must walk the hard road of his choices, hubris and all, into the dipping horizon; a fitting epilogue to the road not taken.

Yet here is a man whom had his work cut out for him by providence. Here is a man who chanced on the scene when Ikemba Nnewi, Ezigbo Gburugburu needed someone to anoint; when the Igbo political forest needed poplars but found only shrubs.

Peter Obi had many things going for him when Ikemba took him under his wings. He was young and rich and deceptively humble. Although it was obvious from a mile that he was neither brilliant nor intellectual and could not by any means be termed cerebral, Peter Obi’s native intelligence seemed just enough at the time. Little did we know that possessing only native wisdom means that Peter Obi’s politics can never grow beyond Anambra State. And the more I think of it, the more I see the picture of the man in the folklore who has the carcass of an elephant on his head but is still busy digging for crickets on the ground with his toe. He has no depth to glimpse the big picture!

Yet, if only he had cast his gaze across the Niger; if only he had borrowed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s political manual (Zik never borrowed ideas from Awo but these are strange times), if only he had fully understood the import of the anointing he got from Ojukwu, Peter Obi would have become the pillar of the Igbo nation today. In an era when the Igbo are looking for a battle axe to slash through the clutter of prejudices against them; Peter Obi would have been one of the leading contenders. He is within the age bracket. He is no longer in government. He has extensive political and business contacts and he is a man of immense wealth. But political myopia seems to have played the uninvited guest to the bargain, scuttling what would have been the making of an illustrious career in leadership!

Perhaps his Chi did not mark him out for greatness after all. H[b]ow else would one explain a scenario where someone who had played the big fish in a small pond for a long while suddenly jumps into an ocean full of bloodthirsty sharks?[/b] To think that Peter Obi did this after all that Ojukwu had done for him is to realize that he actually never had any regard for the Igbo or considered himself worthy of stepping into the large shoes of the great man who adopted him in the hope that he had found a successor, a heir to the throne! This conclusion is drawn from what Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, the warlord’s perceptive widow told revealed. In a widely publicized interview in the Sun newspaper of October 20, 2014, Bianca claimed that Peter Obi would have been one of the many political stragglers if not for Ojukwu and APGA. According to her, “APGA catapulted him literally from obscurity to national prominence. He served two consecutive terms as governor of Anambra state, a first in history of the state. He swore to Ojukwu upon his honour, that he would never leave APGA; in his own words that he would sink or swim in APGA. I am glad that today, there are living witnesses to attest to this fact. Ojukwu believed him and was convinced beyond doubt that even if there was ever a mass exodus from APGA, Peter Obi would be the last man standing…Ojukwu used him as a yardstick to measure other politicians because Obi presented himself before him as a disciplined, principled and trustworthy politician who was fully committed to CARRYING ON HIS LEGACY (emphasis mine). Any other party member or politician decamping from APGA is not held to the same standards as Obi. He was fully aware of his responsibilities and what was expected of him. He has dashed the hopes of many and reduced his prestige to the level of any other “food is ready” politician by this betrayal and unimaginable breach of trust.”

Obi, a Food-is-ready politician? It is not certain whether Ambassador Ojukwu knows it but she gave Nigerians a new, striking phrase in that. The truth is that no one had ever expected Obi to join Nigeria’s large tribe of food-is-ready politicians. Many people have continued to wonder what is left for Obi. After spitting on his own personal anointing in pursuit of illusory glory, Obi has found himself in a political cul-de-sac. Had he been as wise as Bola Tinubu, Obi would have seen the obvious potentials of APGA. He would have studied the evolutional trajectory of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) which progressed with Nigeria’s political tides to Action Congress (AC) and then to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before finally maturing into APC (All Progressives Congress). Obi would have seen how one man has adroitly managed his political ambition so well that he was able to nurture it into the democratic dream of a nation. Anyone who is familiar with Nigeria’s contemporary political history would know that neither AD nor AC nor ACN draws the raw emotion that surrounds APGA. While one is the wishful thought of one political strategist, the other is the political Ark of Covenant of a persecuted people; a great heritage that needed a worthy heir! Sadly, Obi read the script upside down and narrowly saw the party as a mere ladder whose purpose expired once he climbed to political limelight! If only he had Tinubu’s acuity of vision!

As it were, this lack of vision has taken its toll on Obi. After a failed bid in national politics, Obi is still contending with the realities of being out of power and out of relevance. Not long ago, the social media was abuzz with snide remarks and derisive laughter at his pointedly intrusive appearance at Adams Oshiomoleh’s wedding. And not a few people wonder why Obi has to be in every photograph of any event in Nigeria. In the heat of the last rush of xenophobia in South Africa, Obi’s toothy grin in a photograph with the victims was the defining image of the moment. Curiously, we were not told of any serious engagement with the victims. He did not make any weighty comment to frame the incident in a context. There was no attempt on his part to seize the moment to impose himself on the Igbo consciousness. It was all about the photo-op. The obvious lack of depth put paid to all of that.

Obi’s narrow interpretation of his place in history is almost comical. No one is impressed with his current antic of moving around a couple of villages to present N1m cheques to secondary schools. The thing to mourn about Peter Obi is that rather than appropriating the major themes that resonate with the Igbo world, he has willfully whittled down his own relevance to his home state where he is locked up in a cock-fight with his successor. Rather than aspiring to lead the Igbo, Obi is content with proving to his Agulu kinsmen that if he had the power to pave the way for Obiano’s entry into the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia he also has the power to speed up his exit. Tragically, this is the sum total of Peter Obi’s political ambition for now! And this is why Peter Obi will never be compared to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu!

Odigboegwu writes from Ozubulu

The management of Ekiti State University are extorting students in the name of Convocation. EKSU convocation is this Friday.
Convocating students must pay
N100,000 each for certificate.
How can people be so callous and wicked?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePQmCbtOFpM?si=4k7Rl-OgxKbwta6A


The Lagos - Calabar Coastal highway will run from Ahmadu Bello way in Victoria Island Lagos all the way to Calabar in cross-rivers state. The 700km highway way will connect different states across the coastal areas of the country from Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross rivers with two spurs. The first spur connecting Badagry to Sokoto while the second spur will connect Enugu to Abakaliki to Ogoja then to the border of Cameroon.
The project will be constructed in different phases and sections, presently Phase 1 section 1 is under construction which runs from the junction of Ahmadu Bello way with Adetokunbo Ademola in Victoria Island to Lekki Deep Sea port in Lagos which is 47.47kms.
In this video I will be showing an update on the Okun-Ajah Section at The Lekki corridor which is part of the Phase 1 section 1 of the project.
We will be taking a look at the progress achieved so far on this project around Okun-Ajah as at March 2025.

While el-Rufai was giving a press conference inciting Nigerians against their lawfully constituted government and condemning the Rivers Emergency Declaration, his own son, who is a member of the House, did not go to the House of Representatives to challenge the declaration. He cannot get his son to do his dirty work, so it is you here on social media that he has come to incite, because your life and future do not mean as much to him as his son's life and future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgIR6W3pHJA?si=PBW03knRyePKqLm7

The Demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly is ongoing. The Reasons for the demolition are yet to be revealed but it may not be far from the recent crisis that rocked the House of Assembly

Yesterday a High Court Sitting in Port Harcourt under the seal of Hon. Justice M.W.Danagogo restrained Martin Amaewhule and Dumle Maol from Parading themselves nor interfering with the activities of Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Presiding Judge in an Experte motion warned against the use of Thugs and Police officers to forcefully gain access to the premises of Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.

BREAKING NEWS

DEMOLITION of Rivers State House of Assembly Complex ONGOING

The Demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly is ongoing. The Reasons for the demolition are yet to be revealed but it may not be far from the recent crisis that rocked the House of Assembly… pic.twitter.com/Mx9tvcBBBy

— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) December 13, 2023

Nigeria’s oil production surged in February, exceeding its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day by 70,000 bpd, and contributing to the cartel’s increased output in February, a Reuters survey has found.

The survey, released on Wednesday, revealed that Nigeria recorded the second-largest production increase among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), contributing to the bloc’s overall rise in output.

OPEC reportedly pumped 26.74 million bpd last month, up by 170,000 bpd from January’s total, with Iran contributing the highest increase of 80,000 bpd.

The increase in Nigeria’s output is attributed to a rise in crude oil exports and an increase in domestic consumption, particularly at the 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery.

OPEC+, a group that includes OPEC, Russia, and some other oil-producing partners, is keeping production cuts in place through March because of concerns about weak demand and increasing oil supply from non-member countries.

However, on Monday, the group confirmed its decision to begin increasing production in April as planned.

The increase in Nigeria’s output despite OPEC’s production cuts shows that the largest oil producer in Africa is improving its status in the global oil market.

Nigeria has struggled with fluctuating production due to oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and operational inefficiencies in recent years, making February’s output growth a significant development.

Iran leads OPEC production increase, slight decrease in Saudi
Iran led OPEC’s production increase in February with an 80,000 bpd boost, reaching 3.30 million bpd. This came despite renewed U.S. efforts to curb Iranian oil exports by President Donald Trump, who has vowed to reinstate strict sanctions earlier imposed by his predecessor.

The survey found that oil production in Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest producer, slightly decreased, while Iraq’s output saw a small increase. However, both countries are still producing below their OPEC+ quotas.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates produced slightly more than its target. While January data provided by OPEC’s secondary sources indicate that the UAE and Iraq are staying close to their assigned quotas, other estimates, including those from the International Energy Agency, suggest their actual production levels may be much higher.

Reuters noted that its “survey aims to track supply to the market and is based on flows data from financial group LSEG, information from other companies that track flows such as Kpler, and information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants.”

What you should know
Nairametrics reported that Nigeria slightly exceeded its OPEC quota in January 2025, when it produced an average of 1,539,000 bpd, according to OPEC’s Monthly Oil Market Report.

The Nigerian government has maintained its commitment to boosting oil output in 2025, from 1.5 million bpd to above 2 million bpd. However, experts say this may be difficult if issues such as oil theft in the Niger Delta and low investment persist.
The government is looking to explore offshore drilling and the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, among other options, to boost production.

Senator Natasha Akpoti is a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics, known for her ambition, resilience, andf a trail of controversies that have defined her rise. At the heart of her public persona lies a knack of pivoting from one controversy to another. Many of these allegations are often polarising and evoking strong emotions, dying away when a light of truth is used to illuminate it. Her journey from schoolyards to the Senate is a blend of achievement and allegations, leaving many to question the methods behind her success.

Early Life and Education

Natasha’s knack for navigating challenges emerged early, earning her the nickname "NKOM" (Natasha Akpoti of Manipulation) among secondary school friends. They recall her skillfully deflecting trouble with teachers through charm, feminine guile, and persuasion. This early reputation foreshadowed a pattern that would follow her into adulthood.

In 2000, Natasha enrolled at the University of Abuja to study law, arriving with a flair that turned heads. Her classmate’s recollection paints a vivid picture: “From day one, Nkom’s goals were clear. She relied on her sex appeal via see-through outfits, expensive perfumes, and a wardrobe that outshone everyone on campus.” Her academic performance reportedly lagged initially, but by her third year (300L), her grades improved significantly despite rare class appearances, sparking whispers of favoritism from lecturers. She graduated in 2004 and attended the Nigerian Law School in 2005, where rumours of using influence to pass the bar exams swirled, though no evidence substantiated these claims.

Years later, seeking to bolster her credentials, Natasha pursued an MBA in Oil & Gas Management abroad in 2011, completing it in 2012. This move not only added a degree but also connected her with powerful “mentors and associates”, a network that would prove instrumental in her career.

Career: Climbing the Ladder Amid Controversy

Natasha’s professional life began in 2007 as legal counsel at a top LNG company, a position she held until 2010. Described as a “gift” from influential allies, her tenure was shadowed by allegations of secret deals and favours exchanged with executives to climb the ranks. These whispers of impropriety set the stage for her next venture.

In 2015, she launched BHIIP, an investment scheme promising high returns and exclusive perks, reportedly targeting wealthy men and politicians. Critics, including Reno Omokri, labeled it a fraudulent front, though Natasha fiercely denied such claims, touting her transparency. The venture’s reliance on persuasion and promises mirrors the tactics seen in her 2014 accusation against Omokri. In that incident, she claimed he harassed her at an Aso Rock event, only for Omokri to produce evidence shared publicly on his social media that he was abroad during the alleged time. Natasha’s subsequent deletion of the accusation fueled speculation that it was a strategic move gone awry, a controversy that would haunt her reputation.

Her career peaked in 2018 when, on March 1, she testified before the National Assembly about corruption at the Ajaokuta steel mill. Armed with documents, she accused politicians and businessmen of embezzlement, though some pointed to her own controversial dealings as undermining her credibility. The ministry dismissed her claims, and rivals called her a corporate pawn, but Natasha turned the spotlight into a legal offensive, suing a tabloid that exposed her involvement. This ability to pivot from accusation to advantage echoes the Omokri episode, reinforcing a pattern of using controversy as a tool.

But by far, her most spectacular controversial stunt was the threat of legal action against her then boyfriend, now husband, to marry her or he'll be criminally prosecuted for procuring abortions for her. As usual, the letter from her lawyers got “leaked” to the media and the man agreed to marry her,prompting protests from his clan's men and women, and the man's senior wife.


Political Career: Power Through Allegations

Natasha’s political ambitions took flight in 2018 with a Senate run in Kogi Central, leveraging a gender-centric campaign and “strategic alliances” within the PDP by May 2022. Her media team clashed with supporters of Peter Obi and the Obedient movement, showcasing her combative style. The 2023 elections brought further drama as she accused then Governor Yahaya Bello, a former ally turned rival, of blocking roads to suppress her voters. Losing narrowly with 51,763 votes to her opponent’s 52,132, she challenged the results.

On September 6, 2023, an election tribunal overturned the outcome in her favor, a decision the Court of Appeal upheld on October 31, 2023, securing her Senate seat.

The Omokri incident looms large over her political narrative however. That 2014 accusation, disproven and retracted, parallels her earlier and later moves like her road-blockage claims against Bello and the present brouhaha against the leadership of the Senate suggesting a reliance on bold allegations to shift narratives or gain sympathy. Critics argue this tactic reflects her “NKOM” persona: a willingness to rewrite rules or, as one observer put it, “burn everything down to win.” Her charm, style, and strategic flair, her “nuclear weapons”, have undeniably propelled her, but the false Omokri claim, blackmail for marriage, and other unproven allegations from her remains a glaring Achilles’ heel, casting doubt on her credibility. How much of her success stems from merit versus maneuver? Causing chaos or actually being a true victim?

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) rate grew by 3.84 percent in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024.

In its GDP report published on Tuesday, NBS said the growth rate is higher than the 3.46 percent recorded in Q3 2024.

The bureau said the growth rate is also higher than the 3.46 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

According to the report, the performance of the GDP in the period reviewed was driven mainly by the services sector, which recorded a growth rate of 5.37 percent and contributed 57.38 percent to the aggregate GDP.

“The agriculture sector grew by 1.76%, from the growth of 2.10% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023,” the report reads.

“The growth of the industry sector was 2.00%, a decline from 3.86% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

“In terms of share of the GDP, the services sector contributed more to the aggregate GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023.


“Overall, the annual GDP growth in 2024 stood at 3.40%, an increase from 2.74% in 2023.”

The NBS also said the nominal GDP was N78.37 trillion in Q4 2024.

Nominal GDP and real GDP both quantify the total value of all goods produced in a country in a year. however, while real GDP is adjusted for inflation, nominal GDP is not.

“This performance is higher when compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 which recorded aggregate GDP of N65,908,258.59 million, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth of 18.91%,” the bureau said.

‘OIL PRODUCTION DROPPED TO 1.54M BARRELS IN Q4 2024 (Y-ON-Y)’

In the report, the data bureau said the country recorded an average oil production of 1.54 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the fourth quarter of the year.

According to NBS, it is “0.03million bpd lower” than the fourth quarter of 2023 production volume of 1.56mbpd and “0.06mbd higher than the daily average production of 1.47mbpd recorded in the third quarter of 2024”.

“The real growth of the oil sector was 1.48% (year-on-year) in Q4 2024, indicating a decrease of 10.64% points relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2023 (12.11%),” the report reads.

“Growth decreased by 3.70% points when compared to Q3 2024 which was 5.17%.

“On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the oil sector recorded a growth rate of -7.19% in Q4 2024.

“The annual growth rate of oil stood at 5.54%, higher than the -2.22% recorded in 2023.”

The report further explained that the oil sector contributed 4.60 percent to Nigeria’s total real GDP in Q4 2024. compared to 4.70 percent in the corresponding period in 2023.

Additionally, the sector’s contribution also dropped from the preceding quarter, where it accounted for 5.57 percent of real GDP.

‘NON-OIL SECTOR CONTRIBUTED 95.40% TO Q4 GDP RATE GROWTH’

The non-oil sector grew by 3.96 percent in real terms in Q4 2024.

NBS said the rate was higher by 0.89 percent points compared to the rate recorded in the same quarter of 2023 which was 3.07 percent and higher than the 3.37 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2024.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the sector was mainly driven by financial and insurance institutions and information and communication (telecommunications).

The industries played a key role in supporting economic activity during the period.

Additionally, Agriculture (crop production), transportation and storage (road transport), trade, and manufacturing contributed to positive GDP growth.

“In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 95.40% to the nation’s GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024, higher than the share recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 which was 95.30% and higher than the third quarter of 2024 recorded as 94.43%,” the report added

“Moreover, on aggregate of 94.49% was contributed in 2024, lower than the 94.60% reported in 2023.”

On February 18, NBS said Nigeria’s inflation rate dropped from 34.8 percent in December 2024, to 24.48 percent in January 2025.

Frame 1 — March 2007: NAFDAC shut down Anambra market over fake drugs. Peter Obi, then Governor, intervened for the market to be reopened.

Frame 2 — Feb 2025: NAFDAC shut down another Anambra market over fake drugs. Same Peter Obi intervened for the market to be reopened.

State Visit is the highest pedestal of diplomatic relation between two countries. Apart from the bilateral discussions and other businesses, a State Visit is usually hallmarked with large dose of pomp and circumstance.

In a joint opinion article widely published by local and international media in Nigeria and France, President Tinubu and President Macron espoused the shared values and mutual cooperation between the two countries.

During this visit, the two leaders will work to further enhance bilateral ties, focusing on key areas such as agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement, innovation, and energy transition.

While in France, President Tinubu will address initiatives to boost youth exchange programs and enhance skills in automation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

Following discreet surveillance exercises carried out across black spots in the metropolis, the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce today, raided some locations including the notorious 31 Road junction, Bless Jah Street, Adenle Crescent, Owo Omo Osho Street all in Gowon Estate and a part of Okunola road in Mosan-Okunola LCDA in Alimosho LGA.

The sting operation led to the arrest of 53 suspected dealers and users of illicit substances who have turned the entire area to a safe haven for illicit drugs activities.

A significant quantity of different illicit drugs, including Colorado, substance suspected to be Kanedian Loud Hemp, Tramadol Capsules, Codeine Syrups, several Illicit substances Weighing Scales, packs of Indian jemp crushers, knives, amongst others were recovered from the suspects.

All suspects will be charged to court accordingly.

#ZeroToleranceLagos

Following discreet surveillance exercises carried out across black spots in the metropolis, the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce today, raided some locations including the notorious 31 Road junction, Bless Jah Street, Adenle Crescent, Owo Omo Osho Street all in Gowon Estate… pic.twitter.com/JdD2G6WI7R

— Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab) November 26, 2024

Nokio2:
, about ten of us queue for general hospital for doctors consultation
Later all of us meet for pharmacy
I come realize say all of come to collect ULcer medicine....Omo what a baby steps of quenching stomach lining