₦airaland Forum

By Ademola Adegbite


Mrs Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, sister of a former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin children, who were kidnapped during the week have regained their freedom.

A senior police source told PUNCH Online in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, that they were rescued this night.

The PUNCH reports that John-Paul, who is a biological sister to the former minister, Adelabu, was kidnapped alongside her 12-year-old twin sons at Elewura-Challenge in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state.

The abduction was carried out by some armed attackers who were said to have trailed the car conveying the victims from their home before flagging them down at 7.30am at the scene of the incident.

It will also be recalled that a chieftain of APC in the state, Wale Oriade, was abducted by armed men in Ibadan, the state capital, in December, 2025.

It was gathered that the incident occurred around 7:06 pm at his office located at PJ Square Shopping Complex, beside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited station, Elewure, along Iyana Ajanla, Akala Expressway, New Garage, Ibadan.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in a blue Micra vehicle with two occupants, a driver and an armed man, who forcibly seized Oriade and whisked him away in the same vehicle.

“The nature of the attack and the precision with which it was carried out have caused deep concern within his community,” the eyewitness.

By : Chidinma Enweani


There has been a concerning surge in abductions nationwide. Over the past decade, the Nigeria Security Tracker has documented over 19,366 cases in 2,694 incidents. These attacks on helpless citizens affect everyone across all regions North-East, South-South, North-Central, North-West, South-West, and South-East, due to terrorist activities, militants, and other armed groups. The affluent are no longer the sole targets; kidnappers target everyone, including employees, students, and children, regardless of wealth.

While security agencies are working to combat these threats, every citizen must take responsibility for their safety. You do not need to live in fear, but you must be proactive. Criminals often look for targets who are predictable, distracted, or flashy to prey on.

Here are some safety tips to help you stay safe and avoid being a target.


Vary your routine

Never take the same route to work or the market every day. Change your timing and paths frequently to stay unpredictable.


Keep emergency contact information handy

People should always be prepared for emergencies and have access to important phone numbers, including those of security operatives. These numbers can be used to report suspicious activity and ensure a swift response. It is also important to have the contact information of family members for reassurance and support during times of crisis.

The location mode feature on mobile phones can be extremely useful in emergency situations, allowing individuals to share their real-time location with trusted contacts or emergency responders.


Identify threats and report them

If you find yourself in a situation where you are being targeted for kidnapping, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself.

One effective method is to draw attention to yourself by screaming or immersing yourself in a crowd. Creating a commotion by throwing or breaking objects can also attract attention and deter kidnappers, especially if they are not armed. Report any threats or concerns about kidnapping to the police. Additionally, consider undergoing self-defense training as a way to further safeguard yourself.


Watch your mirrors

If you are driving, make it a habit to check your rearview and side mirrors constantly. If you notice a vehicle following you through several turns, do not go home. Drive directly to the nearest police station. Never reveal your home address to potential trackers.


Listen to local news

Developing the habit of staying informed about local news through listening and reading is highly recommended in order to be aware of areas where kidnappings occur frequently. Stay updated on current news, especially when traveling or passing through certain regions, as it enables you to respond appropriately.


Avoid late-night movement

Avoid unnecessary travel or outings late at night. If you do not have a car, ensure you are home before dark.


Avoid suspicious transport

Do not board public transport that looks empty or has individuals who make you feel uncomfortable. Use reputable ride-hailing apps instead. Also, always share your live location with a trusted family member or friend when moving across town.


Use the head-up rule

Never walk while staring at your phone. Keep your head up to scan your surroundings for any potential danger.


Trust your instincts

If a place or person gives you a “bad feeling,” leave immediately. Do not worry about being polite; your safety comes first.


Secure your gate

Before entering or exiting your home, take a moment to scan the street for loitering strangers or suspicious parked vehicles.

Always keep your phone charged
Ensure your phone is always charged and has enough credit to make emergency calls.


Avoid flashy life

Avoid flaunting wealth or wearing expensive jewelry that draws unnecessary attention to you in public.


Be discreet about finances

Do not discuss large sums of money or business deals in public spaces or over the phone in crowded areas.


Limit social media sharing

Do not post your real-time location or daily schedule. Avoid sharing photos that reveal your house, office, or school uniforms.


Vet domestic staff

Perform thorough background checks on housekeepers, drivers, and other employees before hiring them.


Know your neighbours

Build a good relationship with your neighbours so you can easily spot if something unusual is happening in your area.


Don’t be a hero

If you are confronted, remember that your life is worth more than your phone, bag, or car. De-escalate and comply to survive.


Avoid dark shortcuts

Always choose well-lit, busy paths. Avoid lonely alleys, even if they are shorter.


Stay observant

Be an investigator in your own life. Notice who is always hanging around your street or workplace and report suspicious activity to local security. Safety is not about luck; it is about being prepared. By staying alert, you protect not just yourself, but your loved ones as well.


Keep car doors locked

Always keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up, especially when in slow-moving traffic or at traffic lights.

The National Industrial Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from blocking Nigerian roads, or frustrating and shutting down the operations of Dangote refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.

The court also restrained NUPENG and other drivers’ associations from embarking on an industrial action or compelling other truck drivers to join in its industrial action.

Emmanuel Subilim, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by George Ibrahim, the refinery’s lawyer.

Granting the ex parte, the judge said ‘irreparable damage” may be caused to Dangote refinery if the necessary orders were not granted.

Ibrahim approached the court with an ex parte motion filed alongside the originating processes and a motion on notice, dated and filed September 15.

The lawyer prayed the court to direct NUPENG and its members to continue petroleum trucking services to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public pending the determination of the motion on notice.

In an affidavit deposed by Ahmed Hashem, the group’s general manager, government and strategic relations of the refinery, the applicants provided an undertaking of damages to the organisation if the court ultimately rules against the restraining request.

After hearing Ibrahim, the judge held that “this court, having satisfied itself that there is a serious issue to be tried, that the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the Applicants (Dangote Refinery), that irreparable damage may be occasioned if the necessary orders are not granted, and that the Applicants have given an undertaking as to damages”.

He ruled that NUPENG ought to be restrained, granting interim injunction on the refinery’s request.


‘RESTRAINING ORDER TO LAST FOR SEVEN DAYS’

The judge noted that the restraining orders would remain in effect for seven days.

He further directed the applicants to serve the respondents with the motion on notice and all accompanying processes in the suit within seven days from the date of the order.

The judge also noted that the court’s authority to sit during the ongoing vacation would expire on September 23.

Consequently, he ordered that the case file be forwarded to the president of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for reassignment to another judge, who will hear and determine the motion on notice as well as the substantive case on its merits.

On September 11, NUPENG placed its members on red alert for the resumption of its nationwide industrial action — two days after it suspended its strike action, in protest against Dangote refinery’s “anti-union practices”.

The union said it made the decision after Sayyu Dantata, the owner of Mrs Oil, allegedly instructed his truck drivers, who had been NUPENG-Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) members for several years, to remove union stickers from their trucks.

NUPENG said the action led to an altercation between the truck drivers and its officials.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been thrown into mourning after four of its senior officials were killed in the fire outbreak that ravaged Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Tuesday.

The victims, who were trapped on duty at the agency’s sixth and seventh-floor offices inside the high-rise building, have been identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George (Assistant Director), Mr. David Sunday-Jatto (Assistant Director), Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe (Senior Manager), and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye (Manager).

In a statement signed by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, the agency confirmed the deaths and described the tragedy as a devastating blow to its workforce.

“It is with a heavy heart that FIRS announces the tragic loss of four of its staff members during the fire incident at Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday,” the statement read.

“Our Security and Safety officials quickly mobilised and contacted the fire service as soon as they were alerted. On getting to the scene, thick dark smoke was already billowing out of the building.”

Eyewitnesses said the fire spread quickly through the multi-storey building, trapping workers as thick smoke engulfed several floors before emergency responders arrived.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service disclosed that at least nine people were rescued, five resuscitated, while others managed to escape unhurt during the chaotic evacuation.

The FIRS, which operates its Medium Tax Audit Office and Onikan Emerging Tax Office from the affected floors, said it was working closely with emergency agencies to determine the exact cause of the inferno.

The management also pledged to support the bereaved families and review safety standards across all its offices nationwide.

“The Management and entire staff are in deep shock and sorrow. We are in touch with the families of our departed colleagues whose commitment and professionalism were never in doubt.

"We will provide every necessary support at this trying time and are reviewing safety measures across FIRS offices in both rented and owned buildings nationwide,” the statement added.

Speaking on Arise Television, Okowa described his acceptance of the role as a misalignment with the prevailing sentiments in Delta State — an issue he said he has deeply reflected upon.

Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said he regretted his decision to run as the vice-presidential candidate alongside Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, admitting that it contradicted the zoning and wishes of his people.

Speaking on Arise Television, Okowa described his acceptance of the role as a misalignment with the prevailing sentiments in Delta State — an issue he said he has deeply reflected upon.

He said, "Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power.

“But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party (PDP) and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people."

He also fired back at former Senate President Bukola Saraki for criticising his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa, former presidential running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, said that Saraki lacks the moral standing to comment on or criticise his defection.

“I did not expect that someone like Senator Bukola Saraki should be able to speak concerning me, because he knows that he had also moved to APC before and eventually returned,” Okowa said.

“So he has had movement to and fro. So, I don’t think that he has the moral right to even speak about my defection at all.”

Okowa explained that the decision to defect was not taken lightly and was a collective resolution by key political figures in Delta State.

He said it was necessitated by internal crises and a lack of strategic direction within the PDP.

“Several things have been going on in the party. While I do not want to join issues with people, as stakeholders, our leaders in this state have sat down to look at the events in the last several months,” Okowa noted.

“Because of the events that we see and the communications coming out from the leadership of the PDP at the moment, it did not appear to us that that was a proper political vehicle for us to continue in.”

He further pointed to the PDP governors’ resistance to forming a coalition and the ongoing leadership crisis as clear signs that the opposition party is not prepared for serious political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

By Daniel Chibuike


A wedding ceremony slated to hold at Assemblies of God Church, Okpu 2, in Aba, Abia State, weekend, was cancelled by the Church following the alleged refusal of the bride to adhere to the church’s pre-marriage procedures.

It was gathered that the bride refused to spend the night at the parsonage of the church where she was supposed to have been counseled by the wife of the officiating priest on the eve of the wedding.

It was also gathered that in accordance with the church’s tradition, a pregnancy test was to be conducted on her before the wedding.

The bride, it was alleged, was properly informed that the processes would be observed before the wedding which she earlier agreed to, according to her knowledge of the Assemblies of God doctrine but did not show up on the eve of her wedding.

According to Promise Uzoma Okoro, “the bride’s refusal to stay at the parsonage, as required, prompted church authorities to cancel the wedding.”

“Guests had already assembled for the event when the announcement was made”, Okoro disclosed.

It was not confirmed if the bride and her husband-to-be procured the service of another pastor to join them together in another church.

Guests and well wishes who came for the wedding from different places, dispersed in disappointment and confusion.

Neither the church nor the couple has released any official statement on the issue as of the time of filing this report.

by Claire Mom


The federal government has expressed concern over a reported increase in the trafficking of Nigerian youths into forced cybercrime operations across West Africa.

A statement issued on Sunday by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesperson of the federal ministry of foreign affairs, said the victims, including teenagers, are often lured under the false promise of lucrative job offers abroad, particularly in crypto-related operations.

According to the statement, many of the victims are often trapped into working for sophisticated scam networks, also known as “419 cyber-scam factories”.

“There, they are forced under coercive and inhumane conditions to send thousands of fraudulent emails, text messages, and calls aimed at defrauding victims worldwide,” the statement reads.

The federal government urged Nigerians to exercise caution by verifying employment opportunities through official channels, particularly those promising easy money, offering international travel, or remote work involving cryptocurrencies.

The government asked citizens to report any suspicious cases to the appropriate authorities for swift investigation and action.

It added that Nigerian authorities are working with regional partners and law enforcement agencies to nab the perpetrators.

The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding citizens, noting that it would continue to raise public awareness about emerging threats to the welfare and dignity of Nigerians, both at home and abroad.

By Idowu Isamotu


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet to release the reports of its investigations into the alleged fraud cases involving former Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk and Betta Edu, Daily Trust reports.

The investigations, which were launched 15 months, also involved a former coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu and a contractor, James Okwete.

This is just as the EFCC said that the investigations were still ongoing.

Over N30 billion was said to have been recovered by the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from 50 bank accounts linked to the ministry when Edu and Sadiya held sway there.


How it all started

Trouble began for Edu, Sadiya and other top civil servants in the ministry after a memo surfaced on the social media wherein Edu allegedly asked the then Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million into a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget.

The ministry had claimed that Bridget was serving as Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

Later, documents where Edu allegedly gave some controversial approvals, including that of air fares to Kogi, a state without an airport, went viral.

Edu was suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on January 8, 2024.

A week before Edu’s suspension, Halima Shehu had been suspended as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) over alleged financial malfeasance when Edu alleged that billions of naira went missing under Shehu’s watch.

Shehu was subsequently arrested and questioned by the EFCC in connection with the alleged movement of N44 billion from the NSIPA’ account to some private and corporate accounts within the last four days in December 2023.

The EFCC also interrogated Sadiya Umar-Farouq over allegations of corruption in the handling of N37.1 billion social intervention funds during her tenure.

Tinubu constituted a panel led the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to “among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes”

The social investment programmes were domiciled in the ministry then and were implemented by the NSIPA.

The programmes included the N-Power Programme, the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

The programmes were later put on hold after Edu’s suspension.

Findings by our correspondent at the weekend showed that the EFCC had not compiled any charge(s) against the officials being probed.

It was learnt that Shehu, who worked as the National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under former President Muhammadu Buhari before her appointment as NSIPA boss, had stopped going to the EFCC as part of bail conditions given to her last year.

Multiple sources at the EFCC told Daily Trust yesterday that the case was “complicated” because of the involvement of other high-profile individuals.

One of the sources said: “The case is complicated. Not complicated per se, but tracking some financial fraud is a herculean task that must be done properly. You and I know that some top bankers were also involved and you know many of them have connections with top people in the country.”

Another source said the EFCC would get to the root of the matter, but needs more time “in order not to fail in the court like some previous cases.”

“You can’t just go to the court to prosecute a suspect if you don’t have evidence to hold on to; if not, the judge will just thrash your case,” the source stated.


Investigations ongoing – EFCC’s spokesman

When contacted yesterday, the spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, told Daily Trust said investigations into the case were still ongoing.

He declined comment on when the investigations would be concluded.

“I will get back to you on that,” he said.

Last year, the EFCC, in its bulletin titled, ‘EFCC Alert’, had detailed some major arrests, prosecutions and recoveries it made

It revealed that it recovered N30 billion in the case involving Betta Edu, Sadiya and others.

It was stated in the document, authorised by the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, that the recovered N30 billion was in the Federal Government’s coffers.

The document had read, “Update on Betta Edu investigation. We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension, and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.

“Moreover, concerning this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government.

“It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago. Some cases take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it, and we need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen. Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case, and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.

“As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no child’s play. That’s a big deal. Then you ask about my staff strength.”


Nothing yet after interim report submission

Daily Trust had exclusively reported that the EFCC had, last October, said it had submitted its interim report to President Tinubu.

It was gathered that the report revealed how some billions of naira were recovered from Edu and Sadiya.

Sources hinted that N30 billion was returned to the government’s coffer within two months of their arrests by the anti-graft agency.


Delay in investigations shows no consequences for corruption – Expert

Speaking to Daily Trust last night, the Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Ayodeji Ologun, alleged that the delay in concluding the case showed that there are no consequences for corruption.

He said: “The danger the act portends is enormous to our collective resolve at eradicating corruption.

“It is often said that justice delayed is justice denied, hence waiting for investigation into a fraud of such monumental magnitude as reported in about 15 months makes one gets worried about if there are really consequences for actions in this country.

“An anti-corruption agency that prides herself on arrests of little politicians and even young internet fraudsters can’t claim to lack the wherewithal to follow up on investigation into sleaze in the ministry of humanitarian affairs except there are directives from higher quarters to step down on such investigation or let it pass because of same political affiliations not minding the ethics and rules of the profession.

“It is becoming almost certain that the present administration seems to be looking away when our collective efforts are being pilfered away under whatever guisey.”


Nigerians must know what’s happening – HEDA

The chairman of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre, an anti-corruption organisation working on illicit financial flows and unresolved corruption cases, Olanrewaju Suraju, said the federal government and the EFCC should let Nigerians know what is happening on the scandal.

“Nigerians commended the EFCC for its actions so far on the case. They are waiting for the outcome of the investigations, especially now that it is more than one year and they have not seen anyone charged to court,” Suraju said.

The Akwa Ibom State government say it has entered a bond with its medical trainees to to protect its investment and prevent them from absconding.

The government said this is one of its strategies to stop brain drain of its trained medical professionals trained, saying it is now mandatory for them to serve the state before they leave the country for greener pastures.

Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, stated during the weekend in Uyo.

Essien said the state government would recruit 600 medical personnel as well as 100 occupational safety officers into the newly created Department of Occupational Safety in the Office of the Head of Service.

“Every person that government is sending out on training now is bonded to serve the government for a period that government would have recovered the investment on their training.

“The bonding is a very serious issue now, so none of them will escape. For the medical doctors, we go as far as the Medical Council that usually gives clearance for any professional who is travelling out of the country.

“So if we send your name that government has trained you, you are under bond to serve the government, so the Medical Council will not allow such a person travel out again,” he stated.

The HOS announced that the government has disbursed N60 billion out of the over N90 billion owed in gratuities, promotions, and other arrears to its workforce.

He explained that Governor Umo Eno has prioritized the welfare of workers’ since he assumed office 23 months ago, noting that the consistent release of funds toward clearing long-standing gratuity debts is a demonstration of his commitment to the well-being of retired and active civil a d public servants in the state.

He revealed that so far, the government has refunded the 7.5 percent contributory pension to 15 Local Education Authorities, adding that Governor Eno has been releasing N500 million monthly to settle outstanding contributions.

“Governor Umo Eno has proven that workers’ welfare is not just a campaign promise but a practical commitment. The productivity index across ministries has significantly improved as a result.

“The administration is steadily closing the gaps left by years of neglect. We’re not just playing catch-up; we’re building a sustainable structure,” he stated.

By Adeyinka Adedipe


The Edo State Government and the state Peoples Democratic Party on Monday traded words over Governor Monday Okpebholo’s re-election campaign for President Bola Tinubu.

The Presidency, on Saturday, called for a halt to any of such campaigns and disclaimed any campaign material.

Reacting through a press statement on Monday, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, said the Federal Government’s disclaimer was a major blow to Okpebholo’s attempts to curry Tinubu’s favour through unlawful political grandstanding.

The statement read, “The Presidency has publicly disclaimed the premature and illegal 2027 campaign billboards flooding parts of Nigeria, including those promoted by Senator Monday Okpebholo and the APC-led government in Edo State.

“In a statement titled ‘Presidency disclaims 2027 campaign billboards nationwide,’ the Federal Government expressed dismay over the growing number of unauthorised political billboards and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law.

“This marks a major blow to Senator Okpebholo’s desperate attempts to curry favour with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through reckless and unlawful political grandstanding.

“The Presidency’s intervention clearly validates our concerns and exposes the deceitful tactics of the Edo APC, which has shown a complete disregard for the nation’s electoral laws.”

Responding, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, said the latest PDP press release was misleading, reckless and malicious.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to yet another reckless, misleading, and malicious statement credited to the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare.

“In the said statement, the PDP once again peddled baseless claims and sought to mislead the public on matters it clearly does not understand or deliberately chooses to misrepresent.

“Let it be clearly stated that the statement is a shameful display of the PDP’s consistent obsession with fabricating lies against the person of Governor Monday Okpebholo and the progressive administration of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State.

“These repeated outbursts are the product of a party drowning in irrelevance and struggling desperately to remain in public discourse.”

The government said it was hypocritical for the PDP, which it claimed had consistently desecrated the rule of law through executive impunity and abuse of office, to now quote the Electoral Act in a dishonest attempt to score cheap political points.

“The Edo PDP is in no moral position to lecture anyone on constitutional order or democratic values.

“Their tenure in power was defined by deceit, maladministration, and a relentless assault on truth and transparency.

“Let it also be noted that at the appropriate time, the PDP and its officials, including Chris Nehikhare, will be held accountable for the spurious allegations they have repeatedly made against Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State and other public officials.

“Edo belongs to all of us, and no amount of bitterness or false propaganda will derail the will of the people or slow down the pace of development,” the statement concluded.

By : Collins Olayinka, Abuja


Despite the implementation of the national minimum wage across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stakeholders and labour unions have raised concerns about the cost of living in the country, insisting that many workers will be unable to feed their families.

This comes as states set the average floor wage at N73,471.43, according to data analysed by The Guardian. The mean of states’ minimum wage is N3,471.43 or five per cent higher than the legislated wage peg.

Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Lagos, Niger, Oyo and Rivers pay much higher than both the Federal Government’s peg (N70,000) and the national average.

Less than a year into the rigorously negotiated new wage law, the new salary structure has lost much of its real value, triggering a fresh agitation from stakeholders.

With inflation already eating up a large chunk of the addition to the old wages, agitations seem to have commenced ahead of the 2027 renegotiation times. The labour leaders are already setting an agenda for the deliberation, saying that the government only gave with one hand and took with another when it adjusted wages last year.

At about 24 per cent headline inflation, nominal incomes have lost over one-fourth of their value. Simply, the average minimum wage of state governments is N55,000 in real terms compared to a year ago when the minimum wage was meant to take effect.

It also means that workers across different salary structures have had 25 per cent of their income completely eroded by strained purchasing power.

But sadly, while the minimum wage has been implemented, The Guardian understands that the government, at different levels, has reneged on consequential adjustments that should have raised the general wage level to match the speed of inflation.

The consequential adjustment, The Guardian learnt, was yet to be agreed on with all the state governments as of last week.

With states paying between N70,000 and N85,000, rising costs of telecommunications services, transportation, food items, electricity bills, school fees, house rents, as well as premium motor spirit (PMS) would continue to make most workers feed from hand to mouth, stakeholders said yesterday.

With the average daily cost of a healthy diet in the country at N1,255 per adult as of August 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a worker earning N70,000 a month would have spent N37,650 on a daily meal for an adult in a month. The amount is already 53.79 per cent of the entire salary.

While all the state governments are also negotiating with the labour state councils on the modalities of minimum wage implementation, Enugu state has yet to begin negotiation, according to information obtained from labour organisations. However, the state has commenced a provisional payment of N80,000 minimum wage to its workers.

The implementation update report exclusively obtained by The Guardian at the weekend also showed that the implementation dates also differ from state to state.

As of July 29, 2024, when President Bola Tinubu signed the 2024 national minimum wage bill into law, the inflation rate stood at 33.4 per cent, sliding from 34.19 per cent in June 2024. While the inflation rate decelerated to 24.48 per cent in January 2025 and further came down to 23.18 per cent in February 2025, prices of basic food items and household needs remain stubbornly high.

According to the progress report, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, and Bauchi states are paying N70,000 as negotiated with the state labour councils, and the implementation has since commenced.

Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa are paying N80,000 as negotiated with their state labour councils, which took effect from 1st November 2024, about five months after the law was signed.

However, the National Minimum Wage Act does not apply to part-time workers, workers paid on commission or piece rate, establishments employing less than 25 persons, workers in seasonal employment, like agriculture and any person employed in a vessel or aircraft.

While one key achievement of the 2024 national minimum wage is the reduction of the negotiation cycle which means both the Nigeria Labour Congress and its Trade Union Congress (TUC) can begin to gear up for another round of negotiation next year (2026), there are concerns that the expected gains of the present minimum wage have been eroded by inflation.

The General Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions (NASU), Peters Adeyemi, who lauded the reduction in the negotiation cycle, said labour now has headroom to negotiate based on reigning realities.

He argued: “I have always argued that the five-year period was too long in a volatile economy. Prices of goods and services go up almost daily, which renders the take-home pay of workers inadequate. Devaluation, price of PMS and inflation are the real enemies of the working class in Nigeria because these are what consume a large chunk of their salaries. With a year renegotiation period, hopefully, the figure that will be arrived at will be pocket-friendly.”

Even with the raise in the minimum wage to N70,000, President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, maintained that the weak value of the naira, increase in electricity tariffs and total deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry have added a multi-layer economic burden that renders the new wage inadequate.

He accused the government of reneging on its promise not to increase the pump price of petrol, which was the pre-condition for accepting N70,000 from about the N250,000 the organised labour movement insisted on during the negotiation.

However, he believes that agreeing to a three-year negotiation cycle, which will be due in 2027, presents the movement as unique to further push for a wage that will be closer to the reigning economic reality.

The National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, said no governor deserves commendation for implementing the new wage.

He argued that a wage that is below $50 for 30 days is one of the lowest in the world.

“The minimum wage is too low at N70,000. In these states, no one knows the number of workers they have. How can we then arrive at how much they are paying from what they get? We simply take whatever they tell us. The argument that the compliance level is high is not tenable to me.”

Onwubiko added that for a currency that has lost more than 100 per cent of its value in the last year, N70,000 is not enough to sustain a family of three for one month, saying: “The cost of living has skyrocketed by at least five folds in the last one year. What the former minimum wage of N30,000 could buy, N70,000 of today cannot buy it.”

He urged the tripartite bodies to gear up for another round of negotiations before the 2027 date.

On what the state governments can do to generate resources for the betterment of the populace, Onwubiko said going into a business venture is not a good idea.

He explained that the success the Akwa Ibom state government has recorded in the aviation sector is an exception that would be difficult for any state.

He cautioned the Enugu state government against exploring the possibility of going into the venture, while he also has the same words of caution for the Kogi state, which has procured a license to go into mining.

His words: “How many state governments have recorded success in the aviation sector? Don’t we remember the experience of the Cross Rivers state government? I think that the Enugu state government should focus on building the infrastructure it is doing right now. As for the Kogi state, the state should create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. The state government should ensure there is adequate security and infrastructure that can sustain a booming private sector.”

An investment banker, Tolulope Alayande, lauded labour for ensuring that the renegotiation cycle was reduced from five to three years.

He submitted that the step will allow the labour movement to ensure that the future minimum wage aligns with inflationary trends.

He said: “Yes, it is true that N70,000 is grossly inadequate, but it is a step in the right direction looking at the resources available to the Federal Government. The removal of the petrol subsidy was inevitable and the only option available at the time. I think the economy was greatly mismanaged under the previous government.

The level of borrowing was too high, and the subsidy regime was unsustainable. It was a period when Nigerians were lied to and deceived into believing they could live a life larger than life. Now, we are bearing the brunt. This is our reality, and we have to confront it.”

By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt


The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Etteh Ibas (retired), has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to refund the N300 million his administration paid for the hosting rights of the 2025 Annual General Conference.

The NBA had previously reversed its decision to hold the event in Rivers State, citing the declaration of a state of emergency and the collapse of democratic structures in the state as reasons for moving the event to Enugu.

In response to this development on Monday, Ibas stated, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its ‘principled position’—has not addressed the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.”

He added, “If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”

By Nnanna Nwogu


The Nigerian Army has expressed concern that youths from the South East are shunning recruitment into the army, highlighting the need for sensitisation.

The team leader of the Year 2025 Nigerian Army Recruitment Awareness Team, Brigadier General Chima Ekeator, who was in Umuahia on Wednesday, stated that they came to sensitise youths from the South East on the importance of taking up the slots allocated to the region during the Nigerian Army recruitment.

Speaking during his visit to the state governor, Brigadier General Chima Ekeator noted that the leadership of the Nigerian Army had observed that the recruitment slots allocated to Southeastern states were barely filled by applicants from the region. Consequently, the team was sent to sensitise youths on the need to take advantage of these opportunities.

Ekeator expressed regret that the region is losing out during recruitment exercises, citing an example from last year when Abia State was allocated nearly 200 slots, but only 53 were taken up. He added that similar situations were observed in other Southeastern states. He assured that the Nigerian Army is working to change this narrative.

While thanking the governor for the assistance provided so far, Ekeator informed that the team had conducted town hall meetings with traditional rulers and mayors to ensure the message reached the target audience.

Responding, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, stated that the government would establish the necessary structures to ensure that those within the recruitment age bracket are sensitised. He assured, “We will help to make sure that Abians, especially the youths, embrace this opportunity.”

According to him, “We are going to set up the necessary structures to ensure that those within the targeted age bracket see the need to be part of the general progress and vision of the Nigerian Army, to ensure adequate security in this nation.

“We will also pass the information to youths within the catchment group targeted for this exercise. One thing we can assure you is that, going forward, this sensitisation will become more regular.”

Otti commended the Nigerian Army for its efforts to ensure that the Southeast is fully integrated into the Nigerian Army, noting that the institution has continued to engage with local stakeholders, including mayors and traditional institutions. He added, “I want to deeply appreciate you. We are quite impressed by the professionalism that the Nigerian Army has continued to display.”

Otti emphasised the importance of security to the economic development of a nation, stating, “No matter what you invest, no matter the level of infrastructure you provide, if there is no conducive environment, which is a by-product of sound security, even the people would be scared to come close and would not appreciate the level of infrastructure in this place.”

He commended the Nigerian Army for its sacrifice and commitment to ensuring that every part of the country is included. He maintained that everyone has a role to play in achieving the goal of sensitising Abia youths to enlist in the Nigerian Army.

By Guardian Nigeria


The Federal Government has marked 700 properties for demolition for the Lagos-Calabar Highway project.

Lagos State Controller of Works, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting on the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

According to her, the number was significantly lower than initial estimates.

“Instead of having to demolish about 1,500 houses, we took the most economical route. Now we are left with less than 700 houses to be demolished,” she said.

She lauded the pace and planning of the project, stating that Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is 47 plus 400 kilometres, was awarded some time ago.

Addressing concerns over alignment and property demolition, Kesha said a lot of people complained about set alignments, but they are not duty-bound to follow any alignment.

“It was set aside when somebody else was to do it, but now that it’s the Federal Government, we have to look at the most feasible, most economical route,” she said.

Earlier, the Minister of Works, David Umahi declared that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will not only revolutionise Nigeria’s transport landscape but also generate carbon credits through its eco-friendly construction and design.

He explained that the road will ease traffic congestion and integrate multi-modal transport infrastructure.

“This project is going to evacuate all the traffic out of the town, and that will be a big plus for us. We are not only building for today. We are also building for tomorrow. And, of course, there will be a rail line in the middle. The middle is 12 metres gap,” he stated.

The minister added that some areas would also have train stations and facilities for future developments.

Addressing the challenges in Section two of the project, Umahi said the existing industrial infrastructure posed a serious challenge, noting that with Dangote refinery, one needs about 60 metres clearance for the trucks to go in and out.

He said: “We are now building a flyover that has a span of 60 metres. And then the next span is 41.6 metres, counterbalanced by the next span, and then the rest is 22, 23 metres.

“So, we are flying over Dangote’s refinery, we are flying over Dangote’s fertilizer, and we are flying over some other conflict points.”

On plans for further expansion, Umahi said there are extensive ongoing and planned projects across several states.

“We have started in Cross River, and of course, Akwa Ibom. We are going there to flag off the construction,” he stated.

Touching on the Sokoto-Badagry legacy project, the minister explained the challenges and solutions being considered.

He revealed that the third section of Sokoto-Badagry is going to start from Badagry, where there are very big challenges.

According to him, there are three kilometres of rivers across the stretch, and it would cost a lot of money to deal with them. He, however, said they have devised about four options to handle it.

Umahi said the four legacy projects are connected and inclusive, explaining that the third legacy project is the one that is coming from Calabar, going through Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Abuja.

“The fourth legacy project goes from Abuja to Makurdi, Keffi, Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, and Gombe. The four legacy projects are all connected together and no region is left aside,” he said.

The minister issued a stern warning against the misuse of infrastructure.

By Salifu Usman


Nigeria has officially expressed its interest to bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with Abuja poised to be the host city.

The announcement followed the Nigeria Olympic Committee’s (NOC) confirmation that they have successfully met the March 28 deadline for submission of interest.

The spokesperson for the NOC, Tony Nezianya, in a statement released on Monday, said the next steps in the bidding process hinged on receiving formal backing from the federal government of Nigeria.

“Nigeria’s bid will present a unique opportunity to showcase our development, enhance our global standing, and invigorate our sports culture,” Nezianya said, emphasiding the importance of hosting such an event not only for sports but also for national pride.

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The last major multi-sport event hosted by Nigeria was the All African Games in 2003, which took place in Abuja. The experience gained from that event has laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s potential to organise large-scale international competitions effectively.

The proposed bid aims to spur investment in sports infrastructure, especially in Abuja, which could revitalise the local sports economy and improve facilities for future generations. Hosting the Commonwealth Games could catalyse the construction and upgrading of sports venues, transportation systems, and accommodations, bringing lasting benefits to both the sports community and the general populace.

Nezianya further noted the potential for significant economic boost, stating that the influx of tourists would support local businesses and create jobs, especially in the hospitality sector. The preparation for such an event would generate numerous employment opportunities, particularly in event management and construction, fostering local enterprise and skills development.

Moreover, the Games were expected to inspire a new generation of athletes, providing them with motivation and resources to excel in their sports disciplines. The bid is not just about hosting but also about positioning Nigeria as a nation that values athletic achievement and fosters talent.

According to NOC’s statement, the announcement aligns with a broader schedule of sporting events, including the ANOCA School Sports’ Games in Algeria this July and the upcoming Commonwealth Games set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, in March 2026. Notably, Africa has been awarded the Youth Olympic Games for the first time, with Dakar, Senegal, set to host in late 2026.

As Nigeria embarks on this ambitious bid, the hope is that it will foster national unity and celebrate the country’s rich cultural diversity.

When officers forced their way into the apartment, they were hit by the stench and the shocking sight of the decomposing body hidden beneath the bed.

There’s serious drama unfolding in the Marine Base area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and it’s straight out of a crime thriller—but this one is real.

A young woman has allegedly poisoned her boyfriend to death in what many are calling a deadly act of revenge over infidelity.

Sources from the Iyo Polo community say the woman found out her boyfriend had been cheating on her and decided to take matters into her own hands—literally.

According to local gossip, she reportedly laced his food or drink with poison and watched him breathe his last. But here’s where it gets even darker—she didn’t call for help or alert anyone. Instead, she allegedly dragged his lifeless body under the bed in his room… and left it there for three whole days.

The neighbors started getting suspicious when a terrible smell began wafting through the area. They tried reaching out to the guy but got no response.

Meanwhile, the girlfriend was reportedly acting cagey—refusing visitors, locking herself in, and generally behaving like someone with a very dark secret. Naturally, the neighbors did what nosy neighbors do best—they called the police.

When officers forced their way into the apartment, they were hit by the stench and the shocking sight of the decomposing body hidden beneath the bed.

The young woman was promptly arrested and taken into custody. The police are still piecing together the full story, but early reports hint that the whole thing may have been triggered by a heated relationship dispute gone horribly wrong.

By Usman Bello


The Edo State House of Assembly has removed Hon Natasha Osawaru Irobosa of the the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as minority leader.

Osawaru was removed alongside Charity Aiguobarueghian, Majority Leader. However. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and Maria Edeko, who are also members of the PDP still retained their positions as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker respectively.

The assembly also removed Hon Yekini Idaiye, PDP, as Chief Whip of the house.

Daily Trust reports that the changes were as a result letter to the assembly by the state acting All Progressives Congress (APC)’s chairman, Jarret Tenebe following the PDP losing majority status in the assembly as a result of the defection of four of its lawmakers to the APC.

Speaker of the House who announced the change in the principal positions said they were replaced with Hon Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan, APC, Esan West as Majority Leader, Hon Addeh Emakhu Isibor, APC, Esan North-East I, and Hon Lecky Hussein Mustapha, APC, Etsako West I as Majority Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Whip respectively.

He said PDP leadership in the state would also bring its list of nominees of principal officers to the House.

Agbebaku added that his position as the Speaker and that of the Deputy Speaker were not certain in the leadership change of the House.

By Joshua Ogbologugo


The acquitted persons at a press conference in Rivers State on Monday, April 7, 2025

Four persons who were previously detained in connection with the fire incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly have raised fresh allegations, claiming they are being pressured to alter their original statements to implicate Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

They are Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, Oladele Lukman, and MacPherson Olumini who were in November last year acquitted of the charges after about six months in Kuje Correctional Facility.

At a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, Ezebalike said they were recently contacted by a prominent PDP leader in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to revise their narrative.

Three of the four acquitted suspects consented to appear on camera during the press briefing.

According to them, the request was linked to a wider political scheme, allegedly aimed at corroborating claims made in a press briefing by former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, in Abuja.

“We were asked to rewrite our story and falsely name Edison Ehie as the mastermind of the Assembly fire. This is after everything we have been through. We cannot be part of any nefarious plot, especially not after the trauma we endured,” he said.

They said crime which they were framed and now want them to robe Edison include the Assembly fire, the gruesome murder of Bako Angbashim, a DPO in the Ahaoda Area, and an alleged assassination attempt on the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule.

They narrated their harrowing six-month ordeal in the hands of security agents and political figures, beginning in December 2023.

They recounted being arrested under alleged dubious circumstances begining with Oladele on December 5, 2023, Chime and MacPherson on December 16, and Kenneth on January 5—then allegedly blindfolded and detained at the Federal Intelligence Response Team (F-IRT) facility in Port Harcourt.

They said there, they were allegedly tortured, denied legal access, and coerced to sign false confessions.

One particularly disturbing incident, they said, involved a serving member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who visited them with a uniformed officer and pressured them to implicate Ehie.

“When we refused, they turned to beatings and starvation,” they said.

They also accused a former Local Government Chairman of offering them bribes, including ₦200 million and overseas relocation for their cooperation.

These inducements were reportedly offered again during their detention in Abuja, to which some of them had been forcibly transferred.

In one case, they explained that a different detainee was allegedly promised his freedom if he identified Kenneth Kpasa as an arsonist.

After over six months in Kuje Correctional Facility, the matter was transferred to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt where in November 2024, all charges were dropped.

Now free, they say it is time to speak out, not just for themselves but for other innocent citizens who may be suffering in silence.

“This country belongs to us all. No one should be tortured or forced to lie for political convenience. We call on civil society, the media, and all justice-loving Nigerians to rise and resist the weaponization of state institutions against innocent citizens.”

Dangote Industries Ltd. has reaffirmed its commitment to making Nigeria self-sufficient in key sectors such as cement production, agriculture, mining, and petroleum refining.

Dr. Abayomi Shittu, Regional Sales Director (Southeast) of Dangote Cement, made the pledge during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at the ongoing 36th Enugu International Trade Fair.

“Dangote Industries Ltd. operates across several sectors including cement, sugar, salt, poly products, real estate, agriculture, logistics, telecommunications, steel, oil, and gas,” Shittu said.

He noted that three of its major subsidiaries—Dangote Cement Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, and NASCON Allied Industries Plc (producers of Dangote Salt)—are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, reflecting the company’s strong investment footprint in the country.

“Our continued innovation, value creation, and investments in Nigeria are driven by our deep belief in the country’s vast economic potential,” he added.

Highlighting the group’s impact, Shittu said the Dangote Sugar Refinery’s out-grower scheme has provided employment to thousands of farmers in its host communities, boosting local economies.

He also emphasized the transformative role of Dangote Fertiliser in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and the anticipated economic ripple effect from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which is poised to stimulate the development of supporting industries.

“In addition, we recruit engineering and technology graduates and train them across various areas of industrial operations to build local capacity,” Shittu said.

He praised the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) for organizing impactful trade fairs, describing the Enugu event as a strategic platform given the state’s significant industrial base in the Southeast and South-South regions.

“ECCIMA trade fairs offer a unique opportunity for industries like ours to connect with customers and partners from across these regions,” he noted.

The 36th Enugu International Trade Fair continues to attract major industry players, showcasing investment opportunities and fostering business collaborations. NAN

When listeners in northern Nigeria tuned into Voice of America last month, they found music playing in place of their regular broadcast -- a telltale sign, historically, that soldiers had seized telecoms offices, and even the government.

“Was there a coup in the US?” Babangida Jibrin, a VOA journalist, recalled one worried listener asking, as he and colleagues fielded unending calls after the US-funded station abruptly went off air.

The dismantling of VOA by President Donald Trump’s administration has left a particular dent in northern Nigeria, where a now-shuttered Hausa-language service that Jibrin worked for served tens of millions in Africa’s most populous country.

The radio broadcasts to Hausa speakers across rural Ghana, Cameroon and Niger, where print media is sparse and internet service spotty — was a key resource for those not fluent in official languages like English or French.

“People are now cut off from news, especially international news,” said Moussa Jaharou, from southern Niger, among the many VOA Hausa listeners living in poor areas prone to conflict and jihadist violence who now find themselves further isolated.


– Difficult media environment –

Established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA expanded amid tensions between the United States and communist countries during the Cold War.

Though backed by US government funding, it was considered in modern times a source of reliable, professional journalism in Nigeria — and an important alternative when other outlets were sometimes seen as too close to the government or business interests.

Trump’s first term, however, saw accusations that the president was politicising the outlet. His second time around, he gutted its funding as part of his administration’s massive budget cuts.

While it’s hardly a death blow to Hausa-language media, which serves an estimated 80 million people and banks on a strong radio culture in west Africa, it represents yet another hit against an already fragile industry, taking out a service with a widespread network of local stringers.

In addition to daily news, VOA’s health programming — including on HIV, and, right as the rainy season starts, malaria — has also come to an abrupt end.

“It’s really, really a shame,” Sadibou Marong, West Africa chief for Reporters Without Borders, said, noting that VOA reported on areas hit by armed groups in Nigeria and Niger, even situations where the military pressured journalists to report favourably on their campaigns.

The dismantling of VOA — currently being challenged in a US court — comes as Radio France Internationale (RFI), including its Hausa service, has been banned by military authorities in Niger. Britain’s BBC was recently hit with a three-month suspension in the country.


– Strong radio culture –

The establishment of radio stations in Kano city in 1944 entrenched a strong radio culture across northern Nigeria, which had a low English literacy rate during British colonial rule.

With its syndication across local stations, VOA’s service, established in 1979, could broadcast to millions in otherwise hard-to-reach rural locales.

Nigerian listener Muhammad Mukhtar, who picked up a habit of waking up for the 6:00 am broadcast from his father, said he was not worried about losing out on daily news — there are still plenty of local stations.

But the 50-year-old was worried about the loss of VOA’s in-depth shows, including those on health, Islam in America and a Nigerian political debate programme called “Hot Seat”.

“I still have not come to terms with this shocking reality,” he said.

The service was also known for its “solutions-based journalism,” such as a story on a young inventor in Kaduna who used drones to monitor crop diseases, said Alhassan Bala, another laid-off reporter.

Other times, the network’s stories prompted government investigations, including into concerns over dangerous heavy metal exposure in children from mining operations in Zamfara state.


– Journalists laid off –

For the journalists, the decision to shut down the service is heartbreaking.

Recounting the harassment he faced during the junta leader Sani Abacha’s rule during the 1990s, Jibrin recalled through tears that “there are places we used to go where they would address us as CIA agents”.

“So now who will have the last laugh?” he asked, unsure how he will now be able to provide for his family.

Bala received the news while working on a story for his Hausa language fact-checking website, Alkalanci.

“I just said, ‘Oh my God,'” he told AFP. “This is bad.”

Then he went back to his story — reckoning his fact-checking work is now more important than ever.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja


A total of 101 out of 410 refineries around the world are at risk of getting shut down over the next decade, Wood Mackenzie analysts have estimated, noting that this number represented 21 per cent of global refining capacity.

The reasons for this estimate include peak oil demand that would reduce demand for the output of refineries and high operating costs in places such as Europe, which collect carbon taxes from their energy industry.

Wood Mac said it considers the inflated operating costs of refineries an especially important risk factor for their future prospects, as well as their investments in decarbonisation, oilprice.com reported.

“Refineries without committed investments in low-carbon technologies, such as carbon capture, energy efficiency upgrades, or alternative fuels, are especially exposed,” the analysts wrote.

“Those located in regions with established or escalating carbon pricing costs, including the European Union, UK, and Canada, are under the greatest pressure,” the report added.

The carbon prices in these jurisdictions are scheduled to rise to three times above the global average by 2035, the analysts also noted, which will likely make the continuation of the life of some refineries in the EU, the UK, and Canada economically nonsensical—unless policies change.

Many observers have argued that China’s concerted electrification push and the diversification into LNG-powered trucks would kill a lot of oil demand. Indeed, consumption data suggests there has been an impact.

The refining and petrochemical facilities have the best chances of survival, according to Wood Mackenzie. This is because most forecasts for fuel demand, albeit based on policies that are not as immutable as most assume, see a drop in that over the medium term. Most forecasts for plastics, on the other hand, are rather brighter, regardless of climate policies.

If closures proceed as predicted, which is quite likely in the current political context in places such as Europe, the EU, and Canada, there is a risk of fuel shortages emerging, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in the March edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook.

Meanwhile, eight Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) countries unexpectedly agreed yesterday to advance their plan to phase out oil output cuts by increasing output by 411,000 barrels per day in May, a decision that prompted oil prices to extend earlier sharp losses.

Oil, which was already down over 4 per cent on U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on trading partners, extended declines after OPEC updated its plans in a statement, with Brent crude dropping over 6 per cent to below $70 a barrel.

Eight members of OPEC+, which includes OPEC allies led by Russia, had been scheduled to raise output by 135,000 barrels per day in May as part of a plan to gradually unwind their most recent layer of output cuts.

But after a meeting of the eight countries held online on Thursday, the group announced it would boost output by 411,000 bpd in May. OPEC cited “continuing healthy market fundamentals and the positive market outlook.”

“This comprises the increment originally planned for May in addition to two monthly increments,” OPEC said in a statement referring to the volume. “The gradual increases may be paused or reversed subject to evolving market conditions,” it said.

The May hike is the next increment of a plan agreed by Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman to gradually unwind their most recent output cut of 2.2 million bpd, which came into effect this month.

OPEC+ also has 3.65 million bpd of other output cuts in place until the end of next year to support the market. The total of 5.85 million bpd is equal to about 5.7 per cent of global supply.

The Police Service Commission, PSC, has removed Mrs Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Edo State Command.

DAILY POST gathered that she was removed as Commissioner of Police in the state due to the killing of 16 Hausa-Fulani travelers in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State on March 27, 2025.

The PSC appointed Monday Agbonika as her replacement.

Betty Otimenyin was appointed as the 49th CP of the State on January 16, 2025.

She took over from CP Peter Umoru Ozigi at his retirement on January 25, 2025.

A statement by the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said the new Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika was until his deployment to Edo State, the Commissioner of Police (Mounted Troop), Force Equitation Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja

Ani said the new CP, who was at the Police Service Commission for a posting interview presided over by the Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), was charged to be proactive and to settle down quickly so as to reduce the crime rate in Edo State.

The new CP was also advised to look into the issues surrounding the recent killings in the state.

“You have to sit up and also work to win the confidence of the people, consult relevant stakeholders and always document every incident and action taken and make sure those who should be informed are properly informed of your actions,” the statement added.

Ani added that the new CP assured that he would stand by relevant laws in the discharge of his duties.

He promised that he would always depend on the Inspector General of Police for necessary guidance.

Agbonika is a seasoned police officer of 32 years experience which covered operations, investigation, administration, police public information and area/divisional Police management.

The new Commissioner was earlier Commissioner of Police Communications (Operations), Deputy Commissioner Interpol, Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon Close, Lagos; DCP Ops, Ports Authority Police Command, Port Harcourt.

He also served as DCP Department of Finance and Admin, Zone 16 Yenagoa; Area Commander Ota, Ogun State; Area Commander ‘M’ Idimu, Lagos, and pioneer Area Commander, Ayetoro, Ogun State amongst other postings.

By Leadership News

Stakeholders have raised concerns over the investment climate in Nigeria following plans by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo to invest $700 million (approximately N1.75 trillion) in Cameroon.

LEADERSHIP reported that the former President through his firm, Agro-Allied Business Ltd (OABL), will launch investment this April into strategic sectors; including agriculture, maritime logistics, hospitality and energy with significant operations centered around the Kribi deep-sea port.

OABL’s strategic expansion includes acquiring 610 hectares for maize and soybean cultivation, establishing fertilizer distribution and warehouse infrastructure and setting up a 10-hectare wood processing facility in Cameroon.

Additionally, the company will provide transshipment services to decongest Nigerian ports and construct oil and gas storage terminals for ship refueling.

A five-star hotel is also in the works to support regional business and tourism.

While the investment aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives, to foster intra-African trade and strengthen supply chains, stakeholders in Nigeria have expressed mixed reactions.

They believe that Obasanjo’s decision to invest in Cameroon serves as a reminder of Nigeria’s need to foster a more competitive and secure business environment.

Reacting to the development in a chat with LEADERSHIP, president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim voiced concerns about Obasanjo’s decision to invest in Cameroon.

He stated that farmers would have been a lot happier if such funds had been injected into investment in Nigeria.

He warned that such moves could send the wrong signal to local farmers about the profitability and safety of agricultural investments within the country.

Ibrahim said, “I would have certainly been a lot happier if he invested this colossal sum in Nigeria. It might send the wrong signal to our farmers that the profitability and safety of investment in agriculture are higher there than here.”

Deputy director at the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), Dr. Segun Adebayo, who spoke with LEADERSHIP while acknowledging the rationale behind the move but lamented Nigeria’s unfriendly investment environment.

“With the current security challenges in Nigeria, it is not surprising that a Nigerian investor would choose to take such an investment to a neighboring country. It is a win for Africa, but it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t facilitate such investments within Nigeria.

So with the African free trade, continental free trade agreement, the yield and the investment would benefit Nigeria eventually and other parts of Africa”.

Adebayo also pointed out that Aliko Dangote has similarly pursued major investments outside Nigeria, emphasising that if ease of doing business policies remain unfavorable, more investors may seek opportunities abroad.

A House of Representatives member representing Owo/Ose federal constituency of Ondo State, Timehin Adelegbe, has engaged local vigilantes to combat kidnapping in his constituency following the killing of his brother by bandits.

Adelegbe explained that the efforts of the vigilante group have been effective, forcing the bandits to flee from the area, which was once a hotspot for kidnapping.

After his younger brother, Bola Adelegbe, was killed in 2023 by kidnappers who also collected ransom, the lawmaker took action to address the security crisis by equipping vigilante groups with vehicles and other logistics support.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Adelegbe detailed his efforts to protect his constituents, who are mainly local farmers.

“When kidnappers were abducting people frequently, I engaged the vigilante group to help combat the crime. Since they began operations, they have arrested some kidnappers, while others fled the community,” he said.

To further improve security, Adelegbe facilitated the construction of the Ute/Okeluse road, ensuring criminals no longer use the route as an escape corridor.

He also revealed plans to construct a 40km road linking 14 communities between Owo and Ute, with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa pledging to lay asphalt once construction is complete.

Other projects Adelegbe mentioned included the construction of science laboratories at Emure Grammar School and Uso Grammar School to boost students’ performance in science subjects.

Prominent leaders from Omuma Local Government Area in Rivers State have distanced themselves from the recent allegations made by Dr. George Nweke, a former Head of Service in the state, against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the leader of the Concerned Omuma Stakeholders, Maximus Nwafor, expressed disappointment in Nweke’s statements and accused him of attempting to mislead the public.

“We are saddened that Dr. George Nweke has allowed himself to be used as a tool for misinformation,” Nwafor said. “The claims he made against the governor are false and baseless. We fully support and stand with Governor Fubara.”

Nwafor, who previously served as the state’s Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, alleged that Nweke had, until recently, sought financial assistance from the governor and his Chief of Staff.

“We are aware that after his resignation, Dr. Nweke reached out to the governor and the Chief of Staff for financial aid. When things did not go as he wanted, he resorted to making unfounded claims,” he stated.

He urged the public to disregard Nweke’s allegations, noting that the former HoS was neither part of the local government’s inner caucus nor the state caucus.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loyal to Governor Fubara, has dismissed Nweke’s claims, including allegations that the governor ordered the bombing of the State House of Assembly.

PDP factional chairman Dr. Robinson Ewhor described the accusations as an orchestrated attempt to discredit the governor.

“Dr. Nweke is acting out a script prepared by those who want to undermine Governor Fubara,” Ewhor stated. “The claim that the governor ordered the bombing of the State Assembly is completely false.”

Ewhor also refuted allegations that Fubara was supporting Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s potential presidential bid in 2027. He emphasized that the PDP Governors’ Forum chairman had not declared any intention to contest the presidency.

“The assertion that the governor and Senator Bala Mohammed hold secret meetings is another fabrication,” he said. “As chairman and deputy chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, it is natural for them to interact on party matters.”

Addressing the accusations of a plot to demolish the Assembly quarters, Ewhor challenged Nweke to provide evidence. “If there was such a plan, why has the auditorium not been demolished to this day?” he asked.

He further urged Governor Fubara to remain focused on governance, adding, “The governor should find it in his heart to forgive those conspiring against him. The truth will always prevail.”

Ewhor reaffirmed the PDP’s confidence in Fubara’s leadership, calling on Rivers people to disregard misinformation and continue supporting the governor.

By John Owen Nwachukwu


Mr Lawal Idris, a former Senior Special Assistant to the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has slammed his former boss, describing his administration as a failure.

He described the tenure of Matawalle as the dark days of political upheavals, economic stagnation, insecurity and confusion, when civil servants were owed months of their wages and pensions.

According to him, his former principal could not pay the then minimum wage of N30,000.00, but paid N7000.00 to civil servants.

He said this in response to a factional All Progressives Congress, APC, Publicity Secretary in the State, Yusuf Idris Gusau, who said that the payment of the much awaited N70,000.00 minimum wage by Gov Dauda Lawal was a deceit to hoodwink civil servants that he is an action governor who has their welfare at heart.

In response, Idris, a former aide to Matawalle, said that the APC is envious of the achievements of Gov Lawal in barely two years in office, which according to him, surpassed the four years of the immediate past APC-led government of Matawalle.

According to him, the APC is still groaning over its defeat in the 2023 governorship election.

Writing on behalf of Zamfara Rescue Movement, Idris said, “To state that the governor is working hard, particularly in the implementation of the minimum wage to civil servants as a ‘deceit’ to gain their support is a deliberate distortion of [truth].

“To distort facts and try to incite citizens against the government they overwhelmingly voted into office and still support is unpatriotic and counterproductive.

“Partisan politics should be set aside as the government strives to provide dividends of democracy to citizens.

“This is what APC failed to understand. Politics of bitterness has no place in Zamfara State, which was why the people voted out the party in the 2023 gubernatorial election and why the party also remains factionalized in the state without direction and future.

“The government of Bello Matawalle of APC could not pay then minimum wage of N30,000.00, instead he paid N7000.00 to civil servants for a month salary.

“Civil servants were demoralised and impoverished which grossly affected their potentials and productivity essential in charting economic growth and prosperity.

“Despite this meagre salary workers and pensioners were equally owed months of their wages and pensions; promotion, human capital development trainings etc, were suspended due to lack of initiatives and strategic management of scarce resources.

“It was this atmosphere of despondency and insecurity that compelled the good people of Zamfara State to vote out a sitting governor, Bello Matawalle of APC.

“For the people of Zamfara, the dark days of political upheavals, economic stagnation, insecurity and confusion in governance is over.

“All benefits to former members of the State House of Assembly were settled, funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state withheld for two years by the Matawalle’s administration were released.”

Marketers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol have lost N200billion in six months owing to the volatility of prices.

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), National Public Relations Officer, Chief Chinedu Ukadike made this known to The Nation yesterday.

His words: “The fluctuations have led to persistent losses for marketers especially as prices have trended downwards recently. Marketers have lost over N200bn in the last 6 months due to price volatility.”

The losses, he said, have resulted in depletion of the number of active traders from 70 marketers in September 2024 to less than 30 in March this year.

Ukadike noted that competition in the market has crashed the price.

“This has narrowed down the number of players trading products in bulk. Active bulk traders have reduced from over 70 marketers in September 2024 to less than 30 in March 2025.

” Prices to retailers have been relatively low due to competition.”

The spokesman was, however, worried that the losses may result in abandonment of the downstream business.

Continuing, he said, “But the fear is that the capital migration from the downstream may exacerbate any supply shock in the industry.

“For example, during the recent impasse between Dangote and FG ex-depot prices have increased to as high as N900 per liter in some states as only a few marketers are currently trading petroleum products unlike in the past. Any further structural changes may lead to severe high pump prices in the near future.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is more expensive to conduct a recall election than a constituency election. This suggests that the commission may spend more money to complete the recall process of the embattled Kogi senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, than was spent conducting her election, whether or not the recall is successful.

The Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Mohammed Kunna, made the statement on the high cost of a recall process during an online discussion on “INEC Regulation and Guidelines for Recall 2024.” The discussion also covered BVAS and IREV: Facts and Myths.

At the event, held on Saturday on X, Mr Kunna explained that conducting a recall election was similar to conducting three constituency elections, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

“Once a petition is received and verified to meet legal requirements, INEC must first conduct a verification exercise at the affected polling units.

“For that verification to happen, we have to use the Bi-Modal Voter Verification System (BVAS) because those who signed the petition must be verified as genuine registered voters in those units.

“Then, INEC needs to establish 50 per cent plus one signature from the constituency.

“After that, we proceed to the final stage: conducting the referendum, which involves a yes or no vote by registered voters in the constituency,” Mr Kunna said.

He added that this process involved mobilising staff, deploying election materials, transportation, and other resources, much like conducting three senatorial district elections.

“In my opinion, the recall process is much more expensive than conducting a single senatorial district election,” he said.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, acknowledged the high cost but emphasised that INEC must adhere to the law.

“What is important is what the law says we should do in each case if constituents wish to recall their representatives,” Mr Oyekanmi said.

Earlier, Mr Oyekanmi explained that INEC’s regulations and the Electoral Act specified the process for conducting a recall election.

“The law allows a recall election only if the petitioners meet constitutional requirements, including submitting signatures from at least half of the registered voters in the constituency.

“Once the petition is received, INEC performs a preliminary check and then verifies the signatures.

“The lawmaker facing recall is informed and has the right to deploy agents to observe the process.

“Observers and media personnel can also participate in the verification and referendum,” he said.

Mr Oyekanmi also addressed the possibility of online voting, stating that the Constitution did not permit INEC to conduct electronic voting.


Move to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan

PREMIUM TIMES reports that INEC announced that it had begun the process of verifying the over 200,000 signatures on the petition to recall Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The persons who submitted the petition claimed that all the signatories existed and were voters in Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituency.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan and many observers have, however, raised concerns that many of the signatures were fake and that she enjoys the support of the majority of her over 400,000 constituents.

INEC, by law, will now have to conduct the verification process of the signatories as part of the recall process.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ordeal began when she challenged the sitting arrangement for senators put in place by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The mode of her challenge of what was by Senate rules the role of the senate president put her in conflict with the majority of her colleagues in the Senate and the Senate committee on ethics recommended her suspension for it.

On the day she was to be suspended, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, on the floor of the Senate, raised an allegation of sexual harassment against Mr Akpabio, an allegation he has since denied.

Minutes after she raised her allegation, the Senate adopted the earlier resolution of its ethics committee and suspended her for six months. She was also barred from entering the Senate building during the suspension and her salaries and allowances were stopped for the period of the suspension.

The six-month suspension was issued despite previous court rulings that a lawmaker cannot be suspended for more than two weeks.

Amidst the controversy, some residents of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituency announced that they would recall the senator, who many believe enjoys the support of the majority of the residents of her constituency.

No recall of a lawmaker has been successful in Nigeria’s history.

Emmanuel Uduaghan, the husband of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has demanded a public apology from Ebonyi North Senator, Onyekachi Nwebonyi over his statement alleging that he married the suspended Kogi senator under duress.

Mr Uduaghan, a traditional chief of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, gave Mr Nwebonyi a 14-day ultimatum to issue a written apology and ensure its circulation across media platforms.

He warned that failure to comply, the matter would lead to legal action.

The demand was conveyed through a letter dated 27 March and written by Mr Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Nwebonyi’s controversial public appearances
Mr Nwebonyi has been actively defending the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, against allegations of sexual harassment made by the Kogi senator.

As the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Mr Nwebonyi has appeared on multiple television platforms to support Mr Akpabio, consistently presenting himself as a witness to what transpired in Akwa Ibom between the senate president and Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

He consistently claimed to have been present on the day Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Mr Akpabio made inappropriate advances toward her during a visit to the senate president’s residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

On Tuesday, Mr Nwebonyi represented the senate president at a hearing on the sexual harassment allegations before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. The session later escalated into a heated verbal exchange between him and a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.

In a recent interview on News Central Television, Mr Nwebonyi alleged that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan pressured her husband into marriage through blackmail, claiming that their union was established under duress.

“In my own assessment she is not among the beautiful women in Nigeria and it is high time we come hard on her and why people like us are speaking on top of our voice is not just to protect and defend the senate president but to protect and defend her future victims. Even her present husband, she married him out of something like this. She threatened to sue the man. I have a letter circulated over the world that the man should pay her N10 billion or marry her under duress.

“So the marriage was under duress. A product of blackmail. I was watching a video of how the father of the first wife of the husband narrated her ordeal. This lady came into their family, destabilised the family and took over her husband. And without going into her character, ask Senator Natasha how many husbands has she had in her life at the age of 47 or 45,” Mr Nwebonyi said during the interview on News Central TV.


Defamation and reputational damage

In the letter, Mr Uduaghan’s lawyer refuted the allegations and emphasised that the senator and her husband are well-respected personalities.

“The said defamatory statements made by you were widely circulated by users of other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and many more within and outside Nigeria with the intention of damaging the reputation of our clients.

“Contrary to the malicious words spoken by you, our clients are very respectable, successful, result oriented and self-decision driven members of the Nigerian Society. Chief Uduaghan is a very successful businessman, community leader, high chief and philanthropist, known for upholding cherished values of the Nigerian society to the admiration of many,” the lawyer said.

The legal counsel noted that the defamatory statements had caused embarrassment, distrust, and damage to the couple’s reputation among family, friends, and associates.

“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a successful Nigerian politician, opinion moulder, defender of the needy, efficient wife and mother well admired at home and abroad.

“Since you uttered your said defamatory words that were widely aired, some family members, friends, political and business associates of our clients now view them with a strange level of disdain and distrust. Our clients have been deeply embarrassed by the extent and effect of your false and malicious words,” he said.


Public apology or legal action

Mr Uduaghan’s lawyer, however, demanded that Mr Nwebonyi should issue a public apology within 14 days of receiving the letter and that the apology must be prominently aired on News Central Television and widely circulated across social media platforms where the defamatory statements were spread.

“Consequently, we hereby demand a written apology from you within 14 days from the date of your receipt of this letter. The apology should be widely circulated. It must, in particular, be aired on News Central TV and published by various social media platforms which published your defarnatory words,” the lawyer said.

The counsel warned that failure to comply would result in legal action to seek redress for the reputational damage inflicted on Mr Uduaghan and his wife.

“Failing a satisfactory response from you, our instruction is to initiate the necessary legal process to seek redress for our clients ” he said.

Oil marketing body has said Dangote’s petrol sales in dollars has not taken off as depot prices of the product at the refinery remain unchanged.

President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, while speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday said, though the refinery management made announcement that sale of petroleum products would now be in dollars, it is yet to commence transactions in foreign currencies.

Gillis-Harry, further confirmed his members were still buying products in Naira, the local currency of Nigeria, and further stressed that, PETROAN had not been formally informed that any changes had been made to the sale of products, nor had the prices of fuel risen at the depots as of Wednesday.

“So as far as I know, up until yesterday, our members who bought products are still buying in Nigeria and Naira. And I don’t think that Dangote is looking for how to create any panic in the system.

“But he’s also crying out loud for how the business of the refinery should be stable, which any businessman should do. But as far as buying in US dollars as of today, I cannot confirm that that has happened,” Gillis-Harry added.

Dangote had, on March 19, announced the temporary suspension of the sale of petroleum products in Naira, implying that the company cannot continue to dispense in the local currency while purchasing crude oil in dollars.

In a statement, the facility located in Lagos-owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, stated that, if it continues to sell in Naira, it will experience a mismatch in sales proceeds and crude oil purchases. Since then, although there have been several meetings to sort out the issues, no agreement has been reached.
But Gillis-Harry stated that PETROAN has been at the forefront of the advocacy for Nigerian crude oil to be sold in Naira, stressing that the organisation believes that the policy should continue.

“And if for some reason that decision is going to be reviewed, my opinion is that it should be done in a full stakeholder value chain, so that way we do not just think that the government woke up on just these two policies.

“There is a stakeholder forum that’s already set up for the industry. It’s called the Petroleum Industry Stakeholder Forum that is being headed by the Minister of Petroleum (Oil).

And we believe that this decision should be presented to the stakeholders so we can all make input as to the pros and cons of any of these policies,” PETROAN president stated.

The organisation also stated that, prices of products will continue to fluctuate, dictated by several factors, including landing cost of products, explaining that, it cannot give a commitment on either increase or decrease in prices.

“The price of petroleum products, especially PMS, is dependent on different parameters, mostly the cost for production, cost for delivery, and the total cost of landing. So if there is a shift in any one of these, it will obviously impact the price.

“If the cost goes down, then we’ll have lower prices. If the cost goes up, then we’ll have higher prices. So it’s not fixed, and we do hope that it will keep this up-and-down movement until sometime we’ll be able to deliver it on a particular average,” he added.

Gillis-Harry reiterated an earlier statement by the organisation that Nigerians should not embark on panic buying of products, noting that the circumstances that will determine whether there will be product scarcity or not are not there yet.

Karimi claimed that recent developments in the Senate involving Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, have justified the actions of former Governor Yahaya Bello.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for regular drug tests for senators following critical remarks made about her by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Karimi claimed that recent developments in the Senate involving Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, have justified the actions of former Governor Yahaya Bello.

Karimi said he could confidently state that the former governor may not have been at fault for the issues Akpoti-Uduaghan previously accused him of in Kogi State before the National Assembly elections.

Speaking to journalists in Lokoja, Karimi reacted to the ongoing dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, saying, "Former Governor Yahaya Bello must have seen it coming."

“Other Kogi lawmakers and I played major roles in ensuring that the State was not brought to ridicule, but no amount of reasoning could prevail. Our intervention was rebuffed,” he said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended from the Senate for six months over alleged misconduct following her accusation that Senate President Godswill Akpabio sexually harassed her.

In response to Karimi’s remarks, Akpoti-Uduaghan said: “NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) needs to conduct periodic tests on senators. That singular process will save the parliament from erratic legislative hallucinations.”