₦airaland Forum

Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, the controversial Onitsha-based cleric better known as Odumeje, has declared his intention to run for Nigeria’s presidential seat.

Odumeje, however, did not state the specific election year he would actualise his presidential ambition.

The next presidential election is scheduled to hold in 2027 and political actors have begun to make moves ahead of the polls.

In a viral video showing the prophet speaking at his church, Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry in Anambra state, Odumeje said he understands the plights of Nigerians.

He said if elected president, he would provide Nigerians with “modern and digital life.”

Odumeje said the country needs a younger leader who is in tune with the people.

“We need a young leader in this country, and I think I am coming out. We need a young leader as a president, a digital leader, not old cargoes. I think I will come out, I will come out for president,” he said in the video.

“Are you ready for me? Odumeje for president? Are you ready for me? Because I know what you need. I know what you want.

“I want to construct a main road called Citadel for you. I want to give you a modern life, a digital life.”

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has discontinued the naira-for-crude deal with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other local refineries, TheCable understands.

The development could trigger an uptick in the pump price of petrol as local refineries — including Dangote — will now rely on international suppliers for feedstock, gulping huge costs in dollars.

The NNPC reportedly told the refineries it has forward-sold all its crude, although production is now said to be higher than when the deal commenced.

Nigeria officially commenced the sale of crude oil and refined petroleum products in naira to local refineries on October 1, 2024.

The move was meant to improve supply, save the country millions of dollars in petroleum products imports, and ultimately reduce pump prices.

However, multiple sources said the initiative will be suspended until 2030.

A high-level source confirmed that the NNPC has notified Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other local refiners that it will no longer provide crude oil to them, as it has forward-sold all of its crude supplies until 2030.

Despite recent attempts to bolster domestic refining capacity, the country has spent “over $4.3 billion importing 6.38 billion litres of premium motor spirit (petrol) and automotive gas oil (diesel) in just five months”, industry sources said.

The NNPC is said to be among the entities still importing products, an act backed by the recent deregulation of the downstream sector.

Another source said at a time when Nigerians are hoping for further price reductions, “the NNPC unilaterally decided to end the naira-for-crude initiative”.

TheCable has contacted the NNPC for comments.

While the Dangote refinery has declined to comment on the NNPC’s recent move, an official said the company will carefully assess its options and decide on the appropriate course of action.

The decision to stop the naira-based crude supply might lead to volatility in the foreign exchange (FX) market, thereby eroding recent gains, according to market analysts.


THE TROUBLED CRUDE-FOR-NAIRA DEAL

In October 2024, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the allocation of 450,000 barrels of crude intended for domestic consumption to be sold in naira to Nigerian refineries, with the Dangote refinery serving as a pilot project.

Under the scheme, the NNPC was expected to supply 385,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the Lekki-based refinery.

However, the national oil firm has been accused of consistently failing to meet the allocation.

In November 2024, the refinery said the crude-for-naira initiative was faltering, as it was still unable to secure adequate supplies.

“We need 650,000 barrels per day, (state oil firm NNPC Ltd) agreed to give a minimum of 385,000 bpd but they are not even delivering that,” Edwin Devakumar, the vice-president of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) had said.

He further described the NNPC’s supply as “peanuts”.

ADEFEMOLA AKINTADE


Neda Imasuen, chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics that recommended the suspension of Natasha Akpoti, has been stripped of his bar licence in New York, U.S., over allegations of multimillion-dollar fraud and gross misconduct.

A document obtained by Peoples Gazette showed that Mr Imasuen had been disbarred for life in New York after he swindled his client, absconding with representation fees without making an appearance for her in court.

The Gazette spoke with a court officer who said Mr Imasuen was permanently disbarred after collecting money from a client and failing to represent her. He also refused to comply with the disciplinary panel’s attempt to investigate his misconduct.

Daphne Shyfield hired Mr Imasuen to represent her on a matter in 2009 and paid him tens of millions of dollars for legal fees.

Instead of appearing for Ms Shyfield, Mr Imasuen absconded with the money, a move that triggered a morass of petitions, given that his actions contravened existing New York bar code and rules.

Despite being served with petitions on multiple occasions in the U.S., Mr Imasuen failed to respond to any of the petitions and did not ask for an extension of time to file a response.

The Edo South senator, instead, fled to Nigeria with Ms Shyfield’s funds to lay low and escape disciplinary actions from the Grievance Committee, the body responsible for issuing rulings for the infractions of jurists.

Following several failed attempts to obtain a response to petition files, the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts terminated Mr Imasuen’s licence to practice law in New York.

“Neda B. Imasuen, admitted as Neda Bernards Imasuen, is disbarred, and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law,” reads a decision of the Grievance Committee on May 10, 2010.

“Neda Bernards Imasuen is commanded to desist and refrain from (1) practicing law in any form, either as principal or agent, clerk, or employee of another, (2) appearing as an attorney or counsellor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission, or other public authority,” reads a notice of his disbarment.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Mr Imasuen, 66, rode on the waves of the Labour Party to win the Edo South senatorial poll in 2023 and wormed his way to becoming the chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.

That the same man with a 15-year-old history of disregarding petitions was now heading the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions called into question the integrity —if any, of the people in the nation’s leadership positions.

Last Wednesday, Mr Imasuen was quick to dismiss Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the ground that it did not follow due process.

The Edo senator dismissed the petition as “dead on arrival” because Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the document, which he said violated the Senate rule book. He later accepted it on Friday after the female lawmaker resubmitted it with the signature of her constituent’s member.

Mr Imasuen did not immediately return comments on his New York disbarment.

His disbarment is typical of many Nigerian politicians who commit crimes on foreign soil and flee to Nigeria with fraud proceeds, with which they contest elections.

Former speaker and the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, got his law licence terminated by the State Bar of Georgia in the U.S. over his corruption and ethical lapses. He admitted to stealing $25,000 from his client.

Mr Imasuen’s disbarment by the New York Supreme Court adds yet a new name to the growing list of individuals with tainted pasts occupying high-ranking government positions in Nigeria.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has criticised those commenting on the affairs of the upper legislative chamber, likening their arguments to football fans debating Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday while receiving a delegation of youth leaders from the Niger Delta region, Akpabio expressed concerns over what he described as “uninformed public commentary” on senate matters.

His remarks followed the controversy surrounding the suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central lawmaker.

Akpabio said that the senate’s decision was in line with its standing rules and internal disciplinary processes.

“You should try to go and know the facts before you start running commentaries on television,” Akpabio said.

“If you have not studied the Bible or have nothing to do with Christianity, you cannot claim to know the Bible more than the Pope. In the same vein, if you are not an Imam, you cannot begin to quote the Quran.

“But you see people who are not well-informed sitting down, just like they do as football commentators, saying, ‘Ronaldo should have come from the left to score’, or ‘If you were Messi, you would have kicked from the centre’. Then, they do commentaries on television.

“But when it comes to matters of the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly, you cannot begin to quote what you have never seen.

“When people are not well informed about the procedures yet begin to debate provisions they don’t understand, sometimes it worries me.

“So we advise members of the public to desist from running commentaries on things that they do not know, misquoting the rules of the senate.”

He said the senate has its own mechanism for resolving issues, adding that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s matter has already been settled in line with the rules.

Jonathan Lokpobiri, president of the Ijaw Youth Council, who led the delegation, had earlier expressed concerns about developments in the Senate but assured Akpabio of the Niger Delta region’s support.

by Busola Aro


The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it has issued licences to three oil companies to construct refineries.

In a post on X Friday, NMDPRA said the refineries would contribute 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.

NMDPRA said Eghudu Refinery Limited will produce 100,000 bpd, MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited will produce 30,000 bpd, and HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited will establish 10,000 bpd.

“The authority Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed presented a License to Construct a 100,000 bpd refinery to Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo state, a License to Establish a 30,000 bpd refinery to MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta state,and a License to Establish a 10,000 bpd refinery to HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd. in Abia state,” NMDPRA said.

“These licenses, which would add 140,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity, were presented to the MDs of the companies.”

In August 2024, NMDPRA issued an operational licence to Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, Ologbo, Edo state.

NMDPRA said the operational licence was the final stage of approval from the regulatory authority, as the plant can now fully operate as a refinery.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a new rule that requires applicants for green cards and visas to disclose their social media handles.

The initiative aims to strengthen security screening, but it has raised concerns about privacy and potential misuse of data.

The proposed rule would apply to various immigration forms, including applications for US citizenship, asylum, and adjustments of status from an H-1B visa to a green card.

Specifically, forms like the N-400 for naturalisation, I-131 for advance parole, I-485 for green card applications, and I-589 for asylum will be affected.

US Africa Online reports that the immigration experts have expressed concerns about how social media information will be interpreted and used.

Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden stated, "It remains unclear how USCIS will interpret posts, how long they will store data, or what guidelines they will use to flag concerns."

He also warned that applicants may face denials based on online activity taken out of context, saying, "There is also a risk that applicants could face denials based on online activity that is taken out of context", as quoted by TravelBiz.

The USCIS has opened a 60-day public comment period, allowing individuals and organizations to provide feedback on the proposed rule. This is an opportunity for the public to express concerns about the rule's necessity, effectiveness, and impact before it is finalized.

Reports indicate that this move by the US Immigration to request social media handles of visa applicants is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) effort to enhance security vetting through more comprehensive background checks.

The Dangote Industries Limited, (Dangote Group), and its subsidiaries paid over N402 billion in taxes in 2024, making it the highest taxpayer in the country.

Dangote’s Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, who disclosed this yesterday in his office in Lagos said the taxes were paid by the group and its subsidiaries comprising Dangote Cement, NASCON, Dangote Packaging Limited among others.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had in late 2024 recognised DIL and its subsidiary, Bluestar Shipping as the most tax compliant organizations in the country during its Special Day at the 2024 Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Chiejina stated that as a responsible business organisation, DIL and its subsidiaries have never shied away from its obligations either to the government in the form of tax payment at all levels or to host communities in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

According to him, the Group’s corporate strategy has evolved just as its businesses have grown, matured and diversified into new sectors and regions over the last four decades, noting that Dangote Group has almost single-handedly taken Nigeria to self-sufficiency in cement and refined petroleum products and is expanding rapidly across Africa.

An internal auditor of American International School in Abuja told the Federal High Court in Abuja that former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, paid his children’s school fees up until graduation in dollars

Bello is being prosecuted by the EFCC, which has accused him of paying $760,000 in advance for his children’s school fees shortly before leaving office.

The witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, revealed this to the court on Thursday.

Ojehomon told the court that he did not know Yahya Bello personally at the time but was aware that he was a parent who had enrolled four of his children in the school.

He identified the former governor’s children who were enrolled in the school as Zayan Bello, Zara Bello, Farid Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Nana Fatima Bello.

He told the court that the former governor paid $90,074 for Farid Bello, $87,470 for Zara Bello, $26,241 for Na’ima Bello, and $18,707 for Nana Bello.

“Mr Ali Bello contacted the American International School, Abuja, on Friday, August 13, requesting to pay the Bello children’s school fees until they graduate. The school management accepted his offer,” said Ojehomon.

He tendered the agreement for prepaid tuition fees to the court, which, upon examination, confirmed that Ali Bello, Yahaya Bello’s cousin, had contacted the school in 2021 to pay the children’s fees in advance until their graduation.

The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, also tendered some documents, including email correspondences between Ali Bello, Yahaya Bello’s cousin, and the school, statements of account from TD Bank USA and the American International School, certified copies of the AISA admission letters to the defendant’s children, a contractual agreement for prepaid tuition until graduation and teller copies of payments to the court.

The court has admitted these documents as exhibits.

The school requested a valid account number from the EFCC to refund the fees. The refund is to be made in a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.

The Senate on Thursday advised Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to respect and obey the rules and orders of the legislative institution.

Rising on Order 55(1), the Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Monguno pointed out that “it is the Rules and Order of the Senate that when the Senate President is being ushered into the chamber by the Sergeant-at-arms, all senators must stand up”.

The chief whip regretted that Natasha disrespected the Rules and Order of the Senate on Wednesday and Thursday by refusing to stand up like other senators, as required, when Akpabio entered the chamber.

He called on the female lawmaker to abide by the rules, irrespective of any circumstances, noting that the institution must be protected at all costs.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio sustained the order and urged all senators to be guided.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, will on March 19, 2025, hear an ongoing dispute over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service (EMTS) which is the holder and operator of 9mobile Telecommunication licence.

The plaintiff, Abubakar Isa Funtua had sued General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd) and his company LH Telecommunication Limited, as well as the other defendants over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited trading under the name of 9mobile.

The other defendants are: Seltrix Limited (sued as the 1st Defendant); The Corporate Affairs Commission; Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Hayatu Hassan Hadeija; Teleology Nigerian Limited and one Mohammed Edewor, a Director in Teleology Nigeria Limited.

In his Statement of Claim, the plaintiff seeks amongst other reliefs: “A Declaration that he is the beneficial owner of the 43,000,000 (Forty-three Million) ordinary shares held in trust for him by the 1st Defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd Defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited)”.

“A declaration that the acquisition of the 43,000,000 (Forty-three Million) ordinary shares purportedly transferred or surrendered to the 3rd Defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) in breach of the 1st Defendant’s (Seltrix Limited) duty as Trustee of the Plaintiff and in contravention of Clause 48 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st Defendant (Seltrix Limited) is null, void and of no effect.”

“That the purported registration of the transfer by way of surrender/gift of Forty-three Million (43,000,000) ordinary shares held by 1st Defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd Defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) is unlawful, null and void.”

“An Order setting aside the purported registration by the 6th Defendant (Corporate Affairs Commission) of the increase in the share capital and the allotment of the newly created One Billion, Nine Hundred Ten Million (1,910,000,000) ordinary shares of the 5th Defendant (Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited) in contravention of Section 127 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.”

The plaintiff also seeks the sum of N100 billion, as general damages from the defendants, jointly and severally, amongst other reliefs.

Further surge in cooking gas prices is looming due to a significant decline in supplies from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

The operational crisis at NLNG Limited continues to deepen as the outage at its Bonny Island facility drags on, with gas supplies plummeting by a staggering 80 per cent.

The NLNG, a major supplier of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), has seen its supply drop by 80 per cent, exacerbating existing shortages and driving up costs for consumers.

People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on Tuesday that natural gas supplies to NLNG Ltd. have fallen 80 per cent to one-fifth of the massive plant’s needs.

This prolonged disruption, triggered by persistent pipeline vandalism, raises serious concerns about Nigeria’s ability to meet its export commitments and potential impact on its economy.

Data compiled by Bloomberg showed declining output from Nigeria’s only LNG facility could trigger higher spot prices as global supply to Asia and Europe tightens.

Europe, which relies on NLNG for a substantial portion of its gas imports, is particularly vulnerable to supply disruption.

“In 2024, almost half of Nigeria’s LNG exports went to Asia, with another third going to Europe and the remaining to the Americas and Middle East,” Bloomberg data showed.

Managing director of NLNG Limited Philip Mshelbila, emphasised that the company has struggled to meet global demand for liquefied natural gas because of the damage caused by illegal pipeline connections.

“At the current moment, I am only running two trains out of six,” Mshelbila lamented at a panel session during this year’s Nigeria International Energy Summit.

The NLNG boss also called for a reevaluation of energy security, highlighting that while progress has been made in securing oil infrastructure, the situation for gas is becoming precarious.

“Energy security has to be seen as important as national security. However, gas security has deteriorated, and until we can safeguard these pipelines, we will continue to underperform,” he said.

The NLNG, a key player in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, has been grappling with the fallout of repeated attacks on critical gas pipelines supplying its facility.

These attacks, often attributed to militant groups and criminal syndicates operating in the Niger Delta region, have severely hampered the company’s operations, forcing it to shut down a significant portion of its production capacity.

This comes at a time when global energy markets are already facing volatility due to geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, further exacerbating an already tight global gas market.

The economic implications for Nigeria are also substantial. NLNG is a major revenue generator for the country, contributing billions of dollars annually to the national treasury.

The prolonged outage translates to significant losses in export earnings, impacting government revenue and foreign exchange reserves at a time when the nation can ill afford it.

Nigeria’s LNG exports declined by 40 per cent in February from the previous month, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Experts have warned that the persistent attacks on NLNG’s gas supply pipelines could jeopardise its projected dividends of N727 billion to the Nigerian government by 2025, a 113 percent growth from N346 billion last year.

Available data showed that the federal government has received about $21.56 billion of the $44 billion dividends disbursed by NLNG in the last 25 years.

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said he is currently resting after delivering his refinery project.

The 650,000-barrel refinery and petrochemicals project worth over $20bn has come to disrupt the oil and gas market in Africa and the world even as the refinery now exports refined products to other countries in Africa and Middle East.

Dangote recently spoke about the challenges he faced constructing the refinery which he described as the biggest risk of his life, saying he went through hell.

But speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of the 43-storey building new First Bank Head Office at Eko Atlantic City in Lagos, Dangote said he’s now resting after delivering the project.

He commended his friend and ally, Mr. Femi Otedola, who is the Chairman of FirstHoldCo for daring to put up a 43-storey edifice in Eko Atlantic as the new Head Office of FirstBank, Nigeria’s oldest financial institution.

He said Eko Atlantic has become the new City of Lagos and with FirstBank joining the list of corporate entities in the emerging industrial city, more banks would come in.

Dangote however stated that Otedola had also invited him to come to Eko Atlantic, adding, “Maybe soon, not now I’m resting right now. Having delivered the refinery I need some rest but I’ll come, I’ll be here very soon. So I want to congratulate you (Otedola) and the entire board and management of First Bank for taking this bold move of building a massive edifice in the new City of Lagos.”

The groundbreaking is being attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Governors of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo – Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Dapo Abiodun and Lucky Aiyedatiwa respectively.

Others are Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamza; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, among others.

Other billionaires and CEOs in attendance included CEO of Pacific Holdings, Dr. Deji Adeleke; CEO of Sapetro, Senator Daisy Danjuma; Ambassador Gilbert Chagoury; Alhaji Mustapha Indimi, among others.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the upgrade of Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson as Special Adviser (SAD) to the President on Job Creation & MSME in the Office of the Vice President, and Mrs Uju Anwuka as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health (Office of the Vice President).

According to a statement by the spokesman of the vice president, Stanley Nkwocha, on Wednesday, the appointments were in continuation of efforts to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, especially in the respective sectors.

Prior to their upgrade, Mr Adekunle-Johnson and Mrs Anwuka served in the same portfolios as Senior Special Assistant and Special Assistant to the President, respectively, all in the office of the Vice President.

As Senior Special Assistant, Mr Adekunle-Johnson had diligently driven some of the administration’s policies and programmes in areas of job creation and development in the micro, small and medium enterprises space in Nigeria.

Key initiatives implemented under his supervision included the Expanded National MSME Clinics, and the Shared Facility Initiative, among others.

Mrs Onwuka, on the other hand, had industriously anchored the administration’s vision in combating malnutrition and hunger, especially in vulnerable communities across the country, while serving as Special Assistant. A key programme under her watch is the recently launched Nutrition 774 Initiative.

Their latest appointments as Special Adviser and Senior Special Assistant, respectively were with immediate effect.

Chairman, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has opened up on the controversy in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speaking for the first time since the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker and election of Mojisola Meranda on January 13, 2025, the APC leader stated that whereas the lawmakers have no absolute powers to remove or install their leaders, neither the GAC nor the party was consulted.

Daily Trust reports that both Obasa and Meranda are now laying claim to the Speakership of the House of Assembly.

The GAC is the highest decision making organ of the APC which has held series of meetings with the aggrieved lawmakers since the crisis started.

Speaking with newsmen, Olusi said, “Members of the GAC are not members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allegedly be behind the removal of Obasa. It can’t be true.

“We read it also that morning. The lawmakers carried it out without consulting the party and those of us in the GAC. That is our position.

“We invited all of them and insisted that all of them are products of the party. They lodged their complaints and we listened to them.

“I blamed them for one thing and that is for not lodging the complaints earlier before the party. It is for the party to decide, they (lawmakers) have no absolute power to remove and install their leaders.

“Nobody can become a member of the House of Assembly unless sponsored by a political party and the sponsors are the inspectors.”

He however added that discussions were ongoing to resolve the crisis.

“The problem is the speaker (Obasa) and his colleagues which had led to his removal. It is a disputer among them.

“Currently, there is a high powered committee of the party led by Chief Bisi Akande and members, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and former APC National Vice Chairman, South-west, Chief Pius Akinyelure and others,

“They are working and making efforts to resolve the matter. I know they are in consultation with the House of Assembly, Obasa and the other Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.

“Those of us in the GAC and the Chairman of the Party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi are doing all within our power to assist the committee,” he added.

By Abdullateef Aliyu & Peter Moses, Lagos

What started like an internal crisis on January 13, 2025, when 36 lawmakers impeached Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly has now degenerated into a major political crisis unsettling the home base of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Even though he is yet to formally declare his interest in the race, sources say that the development in Lagos could pose some threats to the 2027 second term bid of President Tinubu, who needs all the home support he can get to actualise his ppresidential dream.

It would be recalled that Tinubu did not win Lagos State in the 2023 presidential election, but the dynamics of voting might change significantly in 2027, according to political pundits.

About two years ahead of the 2027 election, alignment and realignment of forces have started even as old foes and friends are reuniting, positioning strategically for the poll.

Politicians across all divides also have their eyes on the race, forming strategic alliances to make their dreams come true.

The are some indications that the northern part of Nigeria, where President Tinubu made great inroad in 2023, is unhappy with the current administration at the Centre over a number of factors.

This hint was voiced out by some notable personalities in the region, including former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

In an interview with ThisDay, a former National Secretary of the defunct Action Congress (AC), Dr Usman Bugaje, described the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government as a disaster.

“If you cannot perform, you leave. What is the performance of the budget of 2024 for this particular president? My figure is that the budget performance was only 22 per cent. Do you think these kind of people should be allowed to continue? Now, forget that he’s from the south or the north or from anywhere. For me, wherever he comes from, if he cannot perform, he should leave; simple!” Bugaje made these remarks when referred to El-Rufai’s statement that Tinubu might get the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s treatment in the next round of election.

And it is from this perspective that the crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly may further worsen Tinubu’s stand in the 2027 presidential race as analysts say this could unsettle the machinery which he had deployed for over two decades to help in winning various elections in Lagos State.

This is despite the vote of confidence recently passed on him by the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) citing his performance in the last two years. But analysts say he needs more than the confidence vote to prosecute his 2027 agenda.

The crisis in the Lagos House of Assembly has also been linked to the jockeying for the 2027 election in the state with several politicians who are members of Tinubu’s political dynasty eyeing the coveted governorship seat with the hope of succeeding Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The impeachment of Obasa on January 13th was considered a move to “clip” the wing of the Speaker who was perceived to be wielding enormous influence in the state’s political firmament, which might work for him in securing the APC’s ticket for the Government House in Alausa.

Obasa was away on vacation in the United States when the lawmakers impeached him and immediately elected his Deputy, Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker.

Some of the allegations aagainst Obasa were gross misconduct and poor leadership, highhandedness and lack of regard for members, intimidation and suppression of members, including inciting members against one another, misappropriation of funds and lack of transparency, gross abuse of office and privilege; the allegations which he has debunked.

When many people thought his impeachment was a foregone conclusion, Obasa arrived in the country on January 24, 2025, to describe his removal as null and void, saying it did not follow due process.

Amidst the disquiet and anxiety surrounding the impeachment and the leadership turmoil in the House of Assembly, President Tinubu was said to have expressed displeasure over Obasa’s impeachment. Unconfirmed reports said the president even directed that Obasa be reinstated.

Many keen observers fear that if this impasse lingers, the monolithic force that has always been a force behind the president within the ranks of his associates could be shattered completely. And given that he was unable to win Lagos State in the 2023 presidential election, this development may end up worsening his performance in the 2027 presidential poll.

Added to the fears is the indication of an expected big battle over the 2027 governorship bid in the state even within the APC, with the president’s son, Seyi said to be eyeing the No. 1 Seat.

According to some observers, the president’s inability to keep his home base intact ahead of the 2027 elections may give a wrong signal to his other associates within and outside the South West geopolitical zone.


GAC’s role in crisis

Tinubu was said to have been in the dark over the development and drafted the “GAC” to intervene. The Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making organ of the APC in Lagos State, is revered by all party members. The members comprising former governors, serving and former

senators, former deputy governors and other APC leaders, across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas in the state, decide who gets what at every election.

Political observers cannot forget in a hurry how the GAC decided the fate of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and he lost his second term bid in 2019.

The GAC was, however, drafted to intercede in the ongoing impasse in the Lagos Assembly. Part of the group’s tasks, according to feelers, was to see to the reinstatement of Obasa.

But the 36 lawmakers backing Meranda rejected the decision, in what analysts describe as a direct challenge on the authority of the president who is invariably the leader of the party in the state.

Weekend Trust gathered that for the first time, the GAC failed to resolve a major political crisis because members of the council have taken sides in the matter, and are therefore divided. The GAC has been turned along pro and anti-Obasa lines, it was gathered.

Two GAC members, Chief Muraina Taiwo and Senator Anthony Adefuye had sided with Obasa. They openly spoke against the process of his removal. Inside sources also said several others were backing him.

One of the GAC members who spoke with our correspondent, on the condition of anonymity, however, backed Meranda, reflecting the deep-seated division among leaders of the party.

The GAC member who was asked to comment on the crisis said: “Obasa is just one out of the 40-member House and if your colleagues say they don’t want you, why are you creating problems for us. To me, I think Obasa should just allow peace to reign and stop causing crisis.”


Bisi Akande drafted to resolve crisis

Weekend Trust learnt that when the GAC appear to have failed to resolve the crisis, former national chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba, both confidants of Tinubu, were drafted to resolve the crisis. They were joined by other leaders, including Rep. James Faleke (Ikeja Federal Constituency), former Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Muiz Banire, among others.

Several meetings held last weekend pointed to the direction of Obasa resuming with the condition that he would resign afterwards to give him a “soft landing.” This, it was gathered from sources, was why his security details were restored by the police to pave way for his return to the House.

Weekend Trust learnt further that the restoration of Obasa’s details early this week was a pointer to the gentlemen’s agreement which enabled him (Obasa) to storm the House of Assembly on Thursday with his supporters and loyalists. But the Akande-led committee was said to be unable to get the buy-in of other lawmakers to do the president’s rumoured bidding.


Is Tinubu behind Obasa?

Analysts believe the decision of Obasa to storm the assembly in a triumphant move on Thursday was a reflection of the support and green light he got from the top, however, “unpopular” the action might be.

Many lawmakers loyal to Meranda were within the premises of the House when Obasa arrived.

They watched in awe as the drama unfolded, but rejected his return and insisted Meranda remains their Speaker. They said they had decided to move on and there was no going back.

Sources said the decision by the lawmakers not to accept Obasa back was considered an affront to the president, who is widely reported to be in favour of Obasa’s return. “The president wanted a soft landing for Obasa and he doesn’t want him to be rubbished like nobody,” a source said.

The source said in backing Obasa, the president and those in alignment with him consider his popularity as a grassroots politician. In Agege, where he hails from, he is like a tin-god. The Arewa Community adores him and he remains one of the strongest APC leaders in the state, whose popularity the party cannot dispense with.

A chieftain of the party who spoke with our correspondent yesterday said: “The lawmakers insisting Obasa cannot return are actually daring the president. They cannot do such if the president were to be in the state.

“The president is now the father of the nation and that is why he has not spoken openly on the matter. But can these lawmakers confront him if he is in the state? The president said he doesn’t want something and you are saying otherwise. They are actually stepping beyond their boundaries. No doubt the House has its extant rules and regulations guiding its conducts, but the party is supreme and the leadership of the party cannot be challenged for anything”, he said.

Political scientist, Gbade Ojo, said the coup against Obasa was very “ridiculous,” saying he was impeached when he was not available to defend himself.

However, he stated that Obasa’s removal as Speaker might not affect the president’s second term ambition, adding: “The fact that the president is supporting him is still a rumour. The president needs everybody and the election has nothing to do with Obasa”.


Sanwo-Olu’s connection

In all of these, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the number one political office holder in the state, has been mum as the crisis rages. But he has been fingered as the brain behind the removal of Obasa who, sources claim, has been “disrespectful” to the governor. There were speculations that the governor “mobilised” the lawmakers to carry out the impeachment and the new leadership of the house under Meranda has been paying obeisance to him.

While he has kept mute over the development, it was learnt that his position over the crisis has pitched him against the president to the extent that he has been denied “access” to Tinubu.

Public Affairs commentator, Jide Ojo, believes Obasa’s removal was masterminded by the governor in cahoots with some members of the GAC.

“There is no smoke without fire, and obviously GAC in cahoots with the governor masterminded the removal of Obasa”, he said.

Meranda’s family background, support from colleagues threaten Obasa’s return

The crisis has thrown up the indigene-settlers’ crisis given the background of Meranda as a Princess of Iru land and a sister to the present traditional ruler of Oniru, a first class monarch in the state.

Following the withdrawal of Meranda’s security details, there were reports that those of the Oniru, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, were also withdrawn, allegedly in connection with the Lagos Assembly crisis.

The monarch openly celebrated the election of his sister as the first female Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Following Meranda’s election, Oba Lawal wrote on his social media page thus: “I’ve just received the heart-warming news that my sister, Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been sworn-in as the first female speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“I am thrilled & excited that providence has provided her a bigger platform to serve the good people of Lagos State. I pray to Almighty Allah, to give her wisdom, strength and courage to discharge her duties without fear or favour”, he wrote.

Already, the crisis has fuelled an indigene-settler debate with some people claiming that Obasa is originally from Ogun State while the indigenes are siding Meranda, asking her not to resign despite the pressure.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that Meranda’s background has been a pillar for her in the current battle of the speaker position.

“She is not just a princess, she is an indigene of Lagos and she is a woman. Unlike when the governor would be a man and deputy, a woman, today, we have men as governor and deputy governor and the women are happy that her emergence has given the women their place in the top echelon of leadership in the state,” Jide Ojo, an associate professor added.

He, however, advised that the president needs to do a serious fence-mending in order not to truncate his 2027 ambition. He stated that the lawmakers who are against returning Obasa were concerned about their fate in 2027 as well, which explains why the house spokesperson was beckoning on their leaders to meet them directly.

“If they have a promise of a return ticket, they don’t mind throwing Meranda under the bus. They are doing this because they want assurances from their leaders,” he added.


Meranda talks tough

Speaking yesterday, Meranda, described as a show of shame, the plenary conducted on Thursday by the ousted speaker, Obasa, with four members in attendance.

Yesterday, the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, ordered that all members of the Lagos House of Assembly be joined as parties in the suit filed by the ousted speaker.

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro also adjourned till March 7, to hear all pending applications in the matter.

The 35 lawmakers backing Meranda as the speaker were at the court for the hearing of a matter brought by Obasa.

Despite the claim of gender inclusivity in his administration, no female government official was present on Friday when President Bola Tinubu signed the 2025 appropriation bill into law.

During the signing ceremony at the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu was surrounded by some male cabinet members, including Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff (CoS).

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives; Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy; Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA); and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, were seen standing on the left-hand side of the president as he signed the document.

By the right were Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Abubakar Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning.

Some key female officials in Tinubu’s cabinet include Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade, and investment; Doris Uzoka-Anite, minister of state for finance; and Mariya Mahmoud, FCT minister of state.

Tinubu signed the N54.99 trillion bill into law, marking a 99.96 percent increase from the 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion.

The national assembly approved the bill on February 13, after revisions to the president’s initial budget proposal of N49.7 trillion.

The key breakdown of the 2025 budget includes a total expenditure of N54.99 trillion, statutory transfers of N3.65 trillion, and a recurrent (non-debt) expenditure of N13.64 trillion.

Other components are capital expenditure (N23.96 trillion), debt servicing (N14.32 trillion), and a deficit-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of 1.52 percent.

A legal standoff erupted at the Lagos State High Court on Friday as two senior lawyers laid claim to representing the Lagos State House of Assembly in a high-profile case filed by Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who is challenging his removal as Speaker.

Obasa’s suit, numbered ID/9047GCM/2025 and heard before Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, contests the legality of the Assembly’s sitting on January 13, 2025, during its recess, where the decision to impeach him was made. His lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, argued that the sitting was unconstitutional, as the Speaker neither reconvened the House nor delegated authority.

However, court proceedings took an unexpected turn when Abang Mkpandiok challenged the appearance of Femi Falana, SAN, who had been representing the Assembly. Mkpandiok claimed he had been newly briefed by the Assembly and had filed a motion to replace Falana as counsel.

Falana, in response, objected, stating he had not been formally served with any notice of the change.

After reviewing court records, Justice Pinheiro ruled that Mkpandiok’s application was premature as it had not been properly served on all parties. The court deferred the matter until due process was followed.

Meanwhile, 33 members of the Lagos Assembly have filed a motion seeking to join the suit, asserting their interest in the case.

Justice Pinheiro scheduled the hearing of all pending applications for March 7.

Speaking to journalists after the session, current Speaker Mojosola Lasbat Meranda dismissed reports of her resignation and condemned Obasa’s alleged invasion of the Assembly complex. She also revealed that her full security detail had yet to be restored.

The factional Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has said that he has been a disciple to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since he left secondary school.

Obasa stated this while answering questions in relation to the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.

Obasa had stormed the assembly on Thursday alongside his security details and presided over ‘plenary’ attended by four lawmakers, a development which has deepened the crisis.

When asked whether he has Tinubu’s backing in the crisis, Obasa said, “I have been following this man since I just left secondary school. I have pictures to prove this. During SDP I contested for delegate.

“Since then I have always been one of his disciples and I will not change tomorrow. I have always been a loyalist. If they are just realising that now, then they have not been part of us from the genesis.”

On the alleged misunderstanding with Governor Sanwo-Olu, Obasa said that he had been working with the governor smoothly.

“It is not a sin to have an ambition. The governor is my leader and brother. And there is no reason for me to disrespect him. If I have taken a step or an action that seems disrespecting him that might have happened unconsciously.

“Number one, the governor is in our state. We have to respect him and he is my brother. So, as far as I am concerned, there is nothing like that.

“Governorship ambition is not in my consideration. But that doesn’t mean I am not qualified,” he added.

The Kano State Government has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the removal of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero from the Nasarawa Palace in Kano, citing the need to restore peace and stability.

The government alleged that certain individuals were exploiting the emir’s continued presence in Nasarawa Palace to fuel unrest across the state.

Speaking at the Kano Government House during the distribution of relief materials provided by Tarauni Federal Constituency Representative, Hon. Kabiru Dahiru Sule, the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, reiterated the administration’s stance, calling on the president to intervene.

“We are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove the emir he enthroned and kept in a graveyard,” Gwarzo said.

“The people of Kano, especially the youth, are tired of this nonsense. It is shocking that in a democratic setting, security forces are being deployed to fire teargas at peaceful protesters, with some reports even alleging the use of live ammunition.

“In the evening, military vehicles patrolled the city, even parking in front of my house. But we want to make it clear that there is no intimidation. This is a democracy, and democracy must be upheld, whether some people like it or not. We stand firmly with the youth who took to the streets to express their grievances.

“The president should remove the emir he appointed and take him to his own state. Kano already has an emir and that’s Muhammadu Sanusi II. Today, regardless of who you are, even if you are the ‘Emir of the World,’ you cannot appoint an emir in Kano unless you are Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.”

Gwarzo further asserted that keeping Emir Aminu Ado Bayero in Nasarawa palace is a deliberate attempt to destabilize the Kano State Government and hinder its ability to govern effectively.

The deputy governor acknowledged the recent protests by Kano residents, emphasizing that peaceful demonstrations are a fundamental right in a democratic society.

He condemned the security forces’ actions in dispersing protesters and arresting some of them, insisting that the people of Kano have the right to demand the removal of Emir Bayero.

He reiterated the state government’s demand for President Tinubu to act swiftly in removing Emir Bayero.

The Kano State Government emphasized that the law facilitated the appointment of the former Emir, and the same law has now reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II. Therefore, the government insists that the rule of law must be upheld and allowed to take its course.

On Tuesday, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, filed a lawsuit against Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, for alleged defamation.

In the suit Akpoti-Uduaghan filed, she alleged that defamatory statements were made by the Senate President and published by his aide on Facebook.

The senator then went on to ask the court to order the Akpabio to pay her N100 billion in general damages and N300 million as litigation costs.

The dispute between the aggrieved senator and the Senate President became public knowledge when her seat was reassigned within the Senate chamber without her consent.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was moved from her original position in the minority section to the last row. She resisted the sudden change.

When she persisted in her protest, her microphone was muted and Akpabio directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her from the legislative chamber.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted the directive, standing her ground and insisting on her right to speak.

In protest, the Kogi lawmaker raised her voice, accusing Akpabio of silencing her.

“Since the nightclub incident, you [Akpabio] have deliberately silenced me and the voice of Kogi Central on this floor. You have denied me the right to contribute to motions,” she said.

“I have not been able to take the second readings of my numerous debates. So, Mr Senate President, I am not afraid of further being silenced but I will not be shoved to the corner. I choose to remain on this seat as a senator duly elected by my people come what may.

“The worst you will do, Mr Senate President, is to suspend me from sitting. And I promise you, the fact that I am suspended does not mean that I cease to contribute my quota to the development of my people and Nigerians at large.

“Mr Senate President, I have taken a whole lot from you. Some I don’t want to speak [about] publicly. But I will let Nigerians know how you are discriminating against me, how you have maligned me, how you have dehumanised me,” Akpoti-Uduaghan continued.

“Your choice of words since I resumed in this Senate have [caused me] to be dehumanised. Mr Senate President, I am not afraid of you. Do what you may but I will not leave this seat.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan later stated that she had faced a lot of harassment at the Senate chambers.

“I have faced a lot of harassment, I have been going through a lot, a lot. And I have remained quiet because I didn’t want to be interpreted wrongly, I didn’t want any lawsuits against me. I just wanted to be given a chance to work,” she said.

The senator added that she has been funding her international trips personally since 2024, as the Senate leadership systematically blocked her from attending any externally-sponsored events.

It was not the first time the Senate President was accused of wrongdoing by a female colleague or an associate.

On December 12, Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), temporarily walked out of the senate chamber after Akpabio refused to entertain her motion on the need to probe the demolition of structures in the nation’s capital.

In one extreme case, Akpabio was accused of sexual harassment.


‘I SLAPPED AKPABIO FOR SEXUALLY HARASSING ME’

In July 2020, Joy Nunieh, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), claimed she slapped Akpabio, who was then the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, for sexually assaulting her.

“Why did he not tell Nigerians that I slapped him in his guest house at Apo? I am the only Ogoni woman, the only Nigerian woman that has slapped him. I slapped him because of his plan B. Since he couldn’t get me to take that money, he thought that he could come up on me,” while entertaining questions on an Arise TV programme at the time.

“He didn’t know that I’m a Port Harcourt girl. Port Harcourt girls are not moved by money…by somebody telling me that he will make me the substantive MD. Akpabio’s meetings with me were either at Apo or Meridien…Yes, I am accusing him of sexual harassment.”

Akpabio later denied sexually harassing Nunieh, saying unnamed individuals “afraid of the Forensic Audit at the NDDC” sponsored Nunieh to tarnish his image.

Immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-rufai has accused his successor, Governor Uba Sani and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu of alleged moves that empower bandits.

DAILY POST reports that an X user @realYusufTukur had shared a report of a kidnapping incident in Kaudna State where over 30 persons were kidnapped.

In the post, the X user lamented that the report “will not trend, since @elrufai, the man they’ve sworn to hate, is not the Governor.

“Meanwhile, NSA @NuhuRibadu is busy playing politics with security”.

Yusuf was reacting particularly to a recent incident where the daredevil criminal elements attacked a community located in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Wakilin Fulani of Janjala, Alhaji Atah Adamu Wakili, a nursing mother and 37 other residents of the community were reportedly kidnapped during the unprovoked attack.

Sharing Yusuf’s post, El-rufai claimed that the kidnappers “will be paid to release them early, and then the NSA will hand the victims over to the state government in colorful ceremony. Propaganda trumps sensible governance.”

According to the former governor, such moves empower the bandits financially, resulting in the purchase of more sophisticated weapons.

“The terrorists, thus further financially empowered, will purchase even more sophisticated weapons and abduct even more people in Kaduna and elsewhere, that is the new ‘modus operandi’ of the geniuses in charge of our state these days”, he added.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has condemned the unauthorised and forceful entry of the suspended Clerk, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, into the Assembly premises following the announcement of his suspension on the floor of the House by a two-thirds majority of the members.

According to the Chief Security Officer, Kushoro Idowu, Onafeko arrived with unknown men and blocked the Assembly staff gate with his car.

He later proceeded to the Clerk’s office with the intent to break in.

This act of defiance constitutes a clear disregard for legislative protocols and security regulations.

The leadership of the House views this action as an affront to the integrity of the institution and will take all necessary steps to uphold discipline and order within its premises.

Olalekan Onafeko has filed a suit against the Assembly, the Acting Clerk, the State Government, and others in court.

He should, therefore, focus on the legal process instead of disrupting activities in the Assembly.

Hence, the appropriate authorities have been duly informed, and necessary measures are being taken to prevent any further breach of the Assembly’s security and sanctity.

By Abdullateef Aliyu


Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot (gantry) price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol, by N65.00, from N890 to N825 per litre, effective from 27th February 2025.

The price adjustment, according to Dangote was designed to provide essential relief to Nigerians in anticipation of the upcoming Ramadan season, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy by alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.

Daily Trust reports that Dangote has severally reduced the prices of petrol and other refined petroleum products.

This marks the second price reduction of PMS in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60.00 earlier in the month.

Additionally, in December 2024, during the yuletide period, the refinery reduced the price of PMS by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre, as part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the holiday season.

With the latest reduction, the management of the refinery said Nigerians will be able to purchase the Dangote petrol at the following prices in all our partners’ retail outlets.

“For MRS Holdings stations, it will sell for N860 per litre in Lagos, N870 per litre in the South-West, N880 per litre in the North, and N890 per litre in the South-South and South-East respectively.”

“The same product will also be available at the following prices in AP (Ardova Petroleum) and Heyden stations: N865 per litre in Lagos, N875 per litre in the South-West, N885 per litre in the North, and N895 per litre in the South-South and South-East.”

The company assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand, as well as a surplus for export to enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

It called on marketers to support this initiative, ensuring that Nigerians remain the primary beneficiaries of this effort.

Belgium has raised concerns over the potential loss of a significant portion of its petroleum products exports to Nigeria as President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, in Abuja, intensified efforts to attract energy investors and expand domestic refining capacity.

This comes as stakeholders at the eighth Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja accused the government of developed nations of frustrating oil and gas investment in Nigeria and other African countries, stressing that Africans must look inward, or risk stranded oil and gas reserves.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said tax reforms in the oil sector, as well as streamlining of regulatory and executive action, pushed investment into Nigeria and moved oil production to about 1.8 million barrels per day mbpd).

Asking investors to look in the way of oil exploration, critical minerals, hydrogen, power generation, domestic gas utilisation and oil refining, Tinubu said Presidential Executive Order on Oil and Gas Sector Reforms streamlined processes, fast-tracked licensing rounds and encouraged indigenous participation for local content development

Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, acknowledged that Belgium supplies 40 per cent of Nigeria’s European refined oil imports, stressing that as Nigeria’s refining capacity grows, the reliance is expected to decline.

According to him, while the country supports the shift, it is a challenge to its trade relations.

Leenknegt noted that industrialising African economies solely on renewables might not be realistic, adding that “transition fuels like gas remain crucial”.

While stakeholders at the summit accused developed nations of obstructing investments in Nigeria’s energy sector under the guise of climate policies, the ambassador cited Namibia’s green hydrogen project, co-financed by Belgium, Denmark and Germany as an example of Europe’s continued commitment to Africa’s energy development.

At the summit, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, emphasised Nigeria’s role as Africa’s largest oil and gas producer and its growing influence in the global energy market.

“Oil will remain a critical component of the global energy mix, contributing over 39 per cent of global demand in 2025,” Kyari said.

Nigeria is banking on tax reforms and investment incentives to drive its energy agenda, as Kyari said: “Investors now see Nigeria as a stable fiscal environment that promises long-term profitability.”

He added that gas infrastructure development was crucial for Nigeria’s transition to a trillion-dollar economy, with the NNPCL leading efforts to supply domestic industries and power plants.

Secretary-General of African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), Dr Omar Ibrahim, said Africa must prioritise energy security and not rely solely on external funding.

“The African Energy Bank marks a fundamental shift. Governments must protect investments in the energy sector. Developed nations provide subsidies for critical industries, Africa must do the same,” Ibrahim said.

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank, Benedict Oramah, stated that the bank had already disbursed nearly $3 billion for Nigerian energy projects and remains committed to financing sustainable investments.

Represented by Senior Manager, Project and Asset-Based Finance at the bank, Ayoola Mubarak, the president said the bank remained committed to structuring bankable deals that align with regulatory frameworks and economic realities to create a sustainable investment model that ensures continued financing for the energy sector

Also speaking at the summit with the theme, ‘Bridging Continents: Connecting Investors Worldwide with Africa’s Energy Potential’, the Secretary General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham al-Ghais, said Africa must secure its energy future or risk being left behind in the global energy race.

“For 65 years, OPEC provided stability, ensuring that energy remains affordable and accessible. But today, we are at a crossroads. A misguided narrative discouraging oil and gas investment has hindered Africa’s progress,” he said.

Al-Ghais pointed to the ongoing push by developed nations to phase out fossil fuels, a transition that, while inevitable, must be gradual and inclusive.

Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said Nigeria secured over $1.2 billion in gas sector investments within a year, driven by targeted reforms and a data-driven approach to energy development.

She noted that Nigeria’s focus on improving the commercial viability of its non-associated gas reserves, which is nearly 75 per cent of its remaining reserves, was yielding results.

In 2024 alone, Verheijen explained, over $700 million flowed into the gas sector, boosting portfolio values and returns by about 30 per cent along with another $600 million deal between Total and NNPCL.

“Capital follows what makes financial sense. We designed investor-friendly solutions to ensure Nigeria remains attractive, whether to independent financiers or multinational corporations,” she added.

Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Anap Foundation, says the Nigerian elite may “normalise” deceit if they have their way.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels TV, Peterside said the Nigerian elite need to speak the truth always and not treat serious matters with levity.

Peterside was reacting to the recently released autobiography titled, ‘A Journey In Service’ by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).

The book chronicled the events before and after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

In the memoir, Babangida, among several revelations, said he was in Katsina when the annulment of the election, won by MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was announced by the press secretary of his second-in-command without his knowledge or permission.

He said he later discovered that the forces against the June 12 election were led by Sani Abacha, his chief of defence staff who later became military head of state.

Peterside said Nigeria needs the emergence of elders who will speak the truth and show the younger generation the right path.

“I’m not here to indict anybody but I think if we are not careful, the Nigerian elite would normalise deceit or fraud and things like that. They would normalise all sorts of things. That is why some people have pointed out that enough is enough. Let’s draw the line somewhere. There are some issues you cannot joke with,” Peterside said.

“The other thing I want to explain is that, very recently, we lost two very respected elder statesmen. People who showed examples in terms of standing for the truth repeatedly.

“When you hear something from Chief Ayo Adebanjo, you can take it to the bank. When you hear something from chief Edwin Clark, you can take it to the bank. Two of them passed on very recently. I served at the national conference with both of them. We were together in Abuja in 2014. We were delegates.

“So, we have to be careful because elder statemen like that who helped to set the right values for some of our young stars in terms of standing for something. Always telling the truth and so on.

“We have to make sure that a different group of elders also appear to fill that vacuum — stand for the truth. Tell the same story the same way. Tell the whole truth that would set them free. Because at the end of the day, it is a struggle for the soul of the nation.

“When IBB annulled that election on June 12. That was the first time we had mobile phones. I voted on my street in Victoria Island. We saw the results coming from all over the country except Taraba state. I was in my 30s. I knew what happened. I was among the people that came out after the annulment to say we can’t do this.

“Interestingly, one of the articles I wrote then. I have never heard anybody use that expression. I sat in my house and wrote it because there was no internet. I called it the ghost of June 12. What I was writing then was that June 12 would be like a ghost and it would haunt some people forever.”

Peterside added that the book launch “was the ghost of June 12 haunting some people and it is still haunting them, unfortunately”.

By Leadership News


The Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly has reminded the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members of the State House of Assembly that they have lost their seats after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, leader of the Caucus, Hon. Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante, also reminded the embattled 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, that the judgement of a Federal High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Omotosho, had nothing to do with their defection to the APC.

Abiante accused some members of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly, who addressed journalists recently, of attempting to mislead members of the public.

He said: “Our attention was recently drawn to a visit as well as a Press Conference by some Rivers State National Assembly members in sympathy with former Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and his group-committee of former lawmakers.

“At the press conference, the group claimed “to put a stop to the falsehood and misrepresentation of facts on the judgments of courts as it affects the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Governor of Rivers State.

“However, contrary to the false claim by the group, the truth of the matter is that the objective of the Press Conference was to mislead the public on the true situation in Rivers State. It thus becomes necessary on our part to set the records straight and put the public in proper perspective, because lies unrebutted soon overtakes the truth. Besides, as Mark Twain once said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

“To set the records straight, the true position regarding applicability of the judgment of His Lordship, Hon Justice Omotosho in the case Rivers State House of Assembly versus the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/
2023), is as follows:

“The judgment of Hon Justice Omotosho does not touch on the status of Rt Hor Martin Amaewhule and his group of 27 as former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly;

“Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule and 26 others had lost their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly following their voluntary defection/cross-carpeting which happened on the floor of the House of Assembly in the full glare of the public on 11th December 2023.

“The legal effect of these provisions and the Supreme Court judgments is that, as of 11th December, 2023 when Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule read out the letters of defection of himself and 26 others on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly, they lost their seats and automatically and mandatorily became former members of the House.

“The only legal implication of the above is that, Hon Martins Amaewhule and his group of 27, remain former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and accordingly are no longer entitled to parade themselves as members of the House or to partake in any business or affair of the House.

“It is worthy to note that neither the fact of their defection nor any issue relating to their defection nor on their status as former lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly was raised, submitted or discussed in the proceedings leading to the 22 January 2024 judgment of Hon Justice Omotosho.”

A recent report has revealed that nearly 50,000 foreign students failed to enrol in their designated institutions after arriving in Canada, with Indian students accounting for the largest share of untracked cases.

According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 19,582 Indian students did not enrol, followed by 4,279 Chinese students, 3,902 Nigerian students, and 2,712 Ghanaian students.

The missing students, who arrived between March and April last year, represent 6.9% of the 717,539 international students monitored at the time.

While 89.8% were confirmed to be compliant, the status of 23,514 students remained unrecorded.

Concerns have been raised over visa fraud, as some students were allegedly misled by fraudulent institutions, while others may have deliberately exploited Canada’s lenient reporting system to enter the country for work.

A Times of India report highlighted the case of a 24-year-old Indian student who traveled to Canada believing he had been admitted to a university in Brampton, only to find the institution was a small office with no classrooms. Unable to enrol, he was forced to take a job at a gas station to survive.

Similarly, some students admitted to enrolling in low-cost community colleges solely to work in Canada.

“Many people from my region have done the same, so I followed suit. I know it’s illegal, but this was my only way in,” a 27-year-old from Gujarat said in a report by The Times of India.

Unlike the U.S. and Australia, Canada does not require international students to pay tuition before arrival, making it easier for individuals to obtain study permits but never attend school. In response, the Canadian government has tightened immigration policies, including capping study permits and limiting post-graduation work opportunities.

Authorities in India are now investigating potential links between Canadian colleges and illegal migration networks, as some missing students are suspected of crossing into the U.S. illegally instead of attending school.

The issue comes as Canada reassesses its immigration policies amid growing concerns about housing, healthcare, and public services.

By Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki


Following the revelation by former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida during the launch of his book “A Journey in Service” that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup as alleged, the Igbo apex group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Sunday demanded an apology and N10 trillion as compensation from President Bola Tinubu to the Igbo.

The group noted that the coup unleashed disastrous repercussions on the Igbo people, among other factors, which ultimately led to the cataclysmic horrors of the Biafra War.

In a statement obtained by The Guardian in Abakaliki, the Deputy National President of the Ohanaeze faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that the apology and compensation had become necessary due to the staggering loss of life, with approximately three million Igbo—predominantly innocent women and children—slaughtered during the conflict, an event that continues to reverberate through the collective consciousness of the Igbo people.

He stated that the revelations would compel Nigerians to confront the stark injustices perpetrated against the Igbo people, insisting that President Tinubu must recognise this moment as an opportunity to extend a public and unequivocal apology on behalf of previous military regimes, particularly General Yakubu Gowon’s administration.

He added that such an apology was long overdue for the myriad wrongdoings inflicted upon the Igbo nation, which continue even decades after the conclusion of the Biafra War.

He noted that the demand for ten trillion naira in reparations remained steadfast, stressing that the figure was not arbitrary but a symbolic recognition of the indelible losses the Igbo people had endured.

He further stated that the Igbo people extended forgiveness to General Babangida and all others involved in the atrocities committed during the Biafra conflict, stressing that the confessions brought forth by Babangida should warrant accountability for those who participated in the tragic events that decimated the Igbo populace.

The statement read: “The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, extends its profound appreciation to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) for his remarkable courage in officially declaring that the January 1966 coup was unequivocally not an Igbo coup.

“This pivotal acknowledgement is not merely a correction of historical nomenclature but a significant moment in our collective pursuit of justice and reconciliation, signalling a potential end to the historical vindictiveness and cruelty that have been pervasive in Federal Government policies towards the Igbo Nation.

“His forthright exemption of the Igbo from the egregious classification as enemies of the Northern region in the aftermath of the coup is both timely and necessary, even if it arrives decades later.

“The mislabeling of the January 1966 coup has unleashed disastrous repercussions upon the Igbo people, most tragically culminating in the July 1966 counter-coup, which decimated a military Head of State of Igbo descent.

“The staggering loss of life, with approximately three million Igbos—predominantly innocent women and children—slaughtered during this conflict, continues to reverberate through our collective consciousness.

“Furthermore, even in the post-Biafra era, the Igbo Nation continues to grapple with systemic injustices, evidenced by acute marginalisation that leaves us with the smallest representation of states within the Nigerian federation.

“The political conspiracies designed to deny the Igbo the rights to ascend to the highest office in the land—Nigeria’s Presidency—the chronic economic neglect symbolised by the closure of the Calabar seaport, the inoperative state of several ports in Igbo land, the implementation of a discriminatory quota system, and the conspicuous absence of functional international airports in the Southeast starkly illustrate the Federal Government’s long-standing policy of exclusion.

“In light of these egregious injustices and the deliberate neglect exhibited by successive administrations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo hereby restates its demands, as articulated previously during the Justice Oputa-led Judicial Commission for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations Panel in 1999.

“We assert that the Nigerian Federal Government, under General Yakubu Gowon, conducted indiscriminate and unjustified bombardments in Igbo territory during the Nigeria-Biafra War, resulting in overwhelming loss of life. These historical realities establish an irrefutable case for the reparations we seek.

“The present Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must recognise this moment as an opportunity to extend a public and unequivocal apology on behalf of previous military regimes. Our demand for ten trillion naira in reparations remains steadfast.

“This figure is not arbitrary but a symbolic recognition of the indelible losses the Igbo people have endured. The time has come for true acknowledgement of these historical wrongs, which can only be rectified through both reparations and sincere apologies.”

By Vincent Ujumadu


Following the introduction of Agunechemba, a new security outfit in Anambra State, town criers in some communities have warned that individuals risk arrest as Governor Chukwuma Soludo has allegedly banned girls from walking the streets without bras and pants. As a result, such sights have vanished across the state.

Additionally, youths with dreadlocks, colored low cuts, and sagging trousers are rushing to hair salons for proper haircuts, as sagging trousers appear to have fallen out of fashion.

In Anambra, the fear of Agunechemba has led many to abandon extreme fashion styles, which have been linked to kidnapping and cyber fraud (Yahoo Yahoo). At a popular hair salon on Ifite Road in Awka, young men and women were seen queuing to either cut off their dreadlocks or remove the colors from their hair. The sudden surge in demand has driven up the cost of a haircut in the city from an average of ₦2,000 to ₦5,000.

Similarly, the common sight of girls parading the streets in transparent outfits without bras and pants—especially around the popular Aroma and Abakaliki Street areas of Awka—has completely disappeared.

Although the state government has denied issuing any such directive, Agunechemba operatives in some areas have reportedly harassed individuals moving about without bras and pants, as well as boys with dreadlocks and girls with colored low cuts.

Some youths have questioned why the government is focused on physical appearance and hairstyles instead of addressing the state’s rising insecurity. However, many say they have chosen to comply with the alleged order due to pressure from relatives.

The allegation that the state government ordered the enforcement of a dress code has drawn the attention of state officials. In response, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, dismissed the claims as a misrepresentation of the new Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025.

“In one instance, a town crier told the people that those wearing dreadlocks or sagging their trousers would be arrested. In another, perhaps the most absurd, a town crier claimed that women not wearing bras and pants would be arrested,” Mefor stated.

“These misleading statements are neither part of the new law nor a directive from the state government. Such false information and misrepresentation must stop, as they can incite public unrest. For the avoidance of doubt, the new law has nothing to do with dress codes,” he added.

According to Mefor, the law is primarily aimed at combating criminality and eradicating certain practices, such as the activities of native doctors, sorcerers, and idolaters who prepare Oke-Ite and similar charms for criminals.

He further warned that town criers must consult their communities’ Presidents-General before making public broadcasts, as these officials would be held accountable for any misinformation. “If in doubt, Presidents-General should consult the government, especially the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Security,” Mefor cautioned.

Similarly, Governor Soludo’s Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, urged the public to ignore the false reports.

“We categorically state that this information is not only false but also mischievous and intended to mislead the public while tarnishing the state government’s image,” Aburime said.

He reassured residents that the Soludo administration remains focused on security, economic transformation, human capital development, and urban regeneration—rather than on trivial matters like dress codes.

By Leadership News


A shocking BBC Eye Investigation has uncovered how an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, was illegally manufacturing and exporting highly addictive opioids to West Africa, fueling a growing public health crisis.

The Mumbai-based company produced unlicensed pills containing a dangerous combination of tapentadol, a potent opioid, and carisoprodol, a banned muscle relaxant. These drugs, marketed under various brand names, were being widely sold on the streets of Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, despite being illegal in these countries.

A BBC undercover operative, posing as a Nigerian businessman, infiltrated Aveo’s factory and secretly filmed a company director, Vinod Sharma, openly promoting the dangerous pills.

In the footage published by the BBC, Sharma acknowledged the harmful effects of the drugs but dismisses concerns, saying, “This is very harmful for their health—but nowadays, this is business.”

The devastating impact of the opioids is evident in West Africa. In Tamale, Ghana, an increasing number of young people are addicted to the drugs, prompting local chief Alhassan Maham to form a volunteer task force to seize and destroy illicit pills.

In Nigeria, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), warned that opioids are “devastating our youths, our families, and every community in Nigeria.”

According to BBC World Service/BBC Eye report, “Indian law prohibits the manufacture and export of unlicensed drugs unless they meet the importing country’s regulations, however, Aveo has been shipping these opioids to Ghana, violating Indian and international drug laws. The Indian drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), stated that the government was committed to preventing illegal pharmaceutical exports and has pledged to take immediate action against any companies involved in malpractice.”

Officials from Nigeria’s drug enforcement agencies, including NAFDAC and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), confirmed that efforts were underway to crack down on illegal opioid distribution network. Recent raids in Lagos State and other cities have led to multiple arrests and the seizure of billions of naira worth of illicit drugs.

Public health advocates are calling for stronger diplomatic pressure on India to hold Aveo Pharmaceuticals accountable.

For instance, the executive director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, emphasised the need for punitive action, stating, “If you don’t get punished for a crime, you will do it again.”

The BBC’s findings have sparked outrage, with calls for tighter international controls on pharmaceutical exports. As the crisis deepens, authorities in West Africa continue to battle the influx of illegal opioids, hoping to protect future generations from the devastating consequences of addiction.

By Olugbenga Ige


President Bola Tinubu has approved the relocation of 29 correctional centres from urban areas across the country.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known on Friday during the unveiling of some operational vehicles for the Nigerian Correctional Service.