sh.or.t.g.un: I’m in London with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and we are already making real progress — advancing a major partnership with Coventry University to bring UK degrees to Nigeria.
This is personal.
For too long, families have had to send their children thousands of miles away in search of quality education. We are changing that.
With Coventry University Nigeria, our students will be able to earn fully accredited UK degrees — at significantly lower cost — without leaving the country.
As I’ve said, we want Nigerian parents to enjoy having their children at home, while still receiving a world-class UK education.
The proposed campus in Alaro City, Lagos will offer Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes across STEMM, Business, and TVET, with admissions expected between Q3 and Q4 of 2026 (subject to approvals).
Beyond access, this is about building Nigeria’s human capital — developing the skills, talent, and workforce needed to drive innovation, productivity, and long-term national growth.
We are bringing global opportunity home — where it belongs.
#alausaedureform #NoDaysOff Tunji Alausa Honourable Minister of Education
Ironf.acem.an: The United States Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint seeking to revoke the citizenship of a Nigerian, Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, over his role in a large-scale identity theft and tax fraud scheme.
According to a press release issued by the department on Thursday, Kazeem orchestrated a massive identity theft and tax fraud scheme that targeted over 259,000 victims and attempted to steal more than $91 million from the US Internal Revenue Service.
The complaint, filed on Wednesday in the US District Court in Baltimore, Maryland, seeks to revoke Kazeem’s American citizenship, which the government alleges he obtained through fraud and concealment of his crimes.
Kazeem was convicted in 2017 on 19 counts of mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
He served only six years before then-President Joe Biden commuted his sentence in December 2024 alongside nearly 1,500 others who had been serving under house arrest following early prison releases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DOJ’s Civil Division Assistant Attorney General, Brett Shumate, said the Trump administration would not allow wrongdoers to retain citizenship they were never entitled to.
The Trump Administration will not permit wrongdoers to retain the U.S. citizenship that they were never entitled to in the first place. U.S. Citizenship is a privilege, and we will continue to ask courts to revoke a status that was obtained through fraud and deceit.”
According to the press release, the denaturalisation complaint alleges that Kazeem’s fraudulent activities which were carried out both before and after his naturalisation, disqualified him from lawfully obtaining citizenship.
The complaint further alleges that he had earlier entered a sham marriage to secure permanent resident status before marrying a second woman, a conduct that independently disqualified him from naturalisation.
The fraud scheme came to light in May 2013 when, according to the DOJ, “a victim in Medford, Oregon, notified the IRS that false federal and Oregon state tax returns were filed electronically using her and her husband’s personal identifying information.”
An IRS investigation led to search warrants executed at residences in Illinois, Maryland, and Georgia, as well as numerous email and instant messenger accounts used by Kazeem and his co-conspirators.
The press release stated that agents seized “approximately 150 prepaid debit cards and $50,000 in money orders” at a Chicago property, and more than 50 electronic devices, 40 money orders exceeding $29,000, $14,000 in cash, and prepaid debit cards containing over $12,000 in fraudulent tax refunds at properties in Maryland and Georgia.
The search warrants, according to the DOJ, “helped agents identify Kazeem as the leader and mastermind of the scheme.”
Investigators found that the scheme resulted in the conspirators possessing stolen personal identifying information of more than 259,000 victims.
The DOJ said Kazeem “purchased more than 91,000 identities from a Vietnamese hacker that originated from an Oregon company’s private database”, a firm that provided pre-employment and volunteer background checks for thousands of clients.
Kazeem divided the stolen identities into batches and distributed them to co-conspirators, including his younger brother, Michael Oluwasegun Kazeem.
The press release said Kazeem “trained and directed his co-conspirators…to use stolen PII to obtain thousands of electronic filing PINs to bypass IRS authentication procedures.”
They acquired over 19,500 electronic filing PINs and gained unauthorised access to thousands of taxpayers’ financial transcripts during the course of the conspiracy.
In total, Kazeem was linked to 10,139 fraudulent federal tax returns seeking over $91 million in refunds, of which more than $11.6 million was successfully obtained.
The DOJ said “at least 2,000 wire transfers totalling over $2.1 million dollars were sent to Nigeria,” with over 700 transfers worth more than $690,000 directly linked to Kazeem.
He used the proceeds to make a nearly $200,000 down payment on a newly constructed house and to purchase a $175,000 townhouse, both in Maryland
His average monthly credit card payment between 2012 and 2015 exceeded $8,300.
He also reportedly attempted to invest the funds in the development of what the DOJ described as “a $6 million dollar, 4-star hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.”
One day before his arrest in May 2015, Kazeem transferred the townhouse to his sister in Nigeria for $10 and added her to the deed of his Maryland home for the same amount.
He was sentenced on 20 June 2018 and ordered to pay more than $12 million in restitution.
His criminal conviction followed a joint investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.
AnonPoet: Nigerian billionaire entrepreneur Folorunso Alakija has been ranked the second richest woman in Africa in the latest list released by Forbes, reaffirming her position as one of the continent’s most powerful business figures.
With an estimated net worth exceeding $1 billion, Alakija has maintained her status as the richest woman in Nigeria for several years. Her wealth stems largely from her investments in the oil and gas sector, alongside ventures in fashion printing and real estate.
She is the founder and managing director of Rose of Sharon Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning multiple key industries.
Leading the ranking is Angolan business magnate Isabel dos Santos, whose fortune is estimated at $2.2 billion. Nigerian entrepreneur Bola Shagaya occupies the third position with an estimated net worth of $630 million.
The ranking underscores the rising economic influence of women across Africa, particularly in sectors such as energy, finance, and manufacturing. Notably, South Africa recorded the highest number of entries, with six women featured on the list, highlighting its strong presence in the continent’s business landscape.
According to Forbes, the list focuses on women with a minimum net worth of $10 million, celebrating those who have not only built significant wealth but also contributed meaningfully to economic development in their respective countries.
Born on July 15, 1951, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Alakija has built a formidable reputation through decades of strategic investments and entrepreneurship. Her journey from the fashion industry to becoming a key player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector reflects resilience, innovation, and sharp business acumen.
Beyond her business success, she is also widely recognized for her philanthropic work, supporting initiatives in education, healthcare, and community development.
Alakija’s continued presence among Africa’s wealthiest women highlights her enduring influence and the growing role of female entrepreneurs in shaping the continent’s economic future.
InfoGuru118: Girls and women were reportedly raped, molested, and assaulted by youths in Ozoro Kingdom, the headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State, SaharaReporters has learned.
The incident, which has sparked widespread condemnation, occurred on Thursday during the kingdom’s festival.
Traditionally, girls and women are expected to remain indoors during certain hours of the celebration.
Normally, the kingdom’s leadership issues approvals, notifications, and sensitization ahead of the festival, but no such guidance was given this year, contributing to the alleged attacks.
A youth who helped rescue some of the victims expressed outrage, calling on the Delta State government, the Isoko North council chairman, Ozoro kingdom leaders, and security agencies to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Meanwhile, public outrage is mounting following disturbing reports and viral videos showing the group of young men celebrating after forcibly stripping a woman naked in Ozoro.
Several reports claim that the event, described by residents as a so-called “raping festival”, has created an atmosphere of fear, with young women allegedly warned to remain indoors to avoid being attacked.
According to these accounts, any woman seen in public during the period risks being accosted by groups of men.
Sources within the community alleged that multiple cases of molestation and rape have occurred, although authorities have yet to release an official statement confirming the incidents.
Particular concern has been raised over the safety of female students of Delta State University, Ozoro, as well as visitors unfamiliar with the alleged dangers associated with the festival.
The Delta State Police Command Public Relation Officer, Edafe Bright confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters on Friday, describing the act as “barbaric, unacceptable, and a gross violation of human rights.”
Edafe stated that the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola has ordered an investigation into the disturbing incident, which has sparked widespread outrage across social media and among civil society groups.
"This is alarming, disgusting and embarrassing. The CP has ordered an investigation into the incident. The command condemns this in totality, no custom or tradition is superior to the rights of citizens.
"The Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Aina Adesola urges Deltans to remain calm while assuring that those responsible for this barbaric act will be arrested and brought to justice. The command also calls for witnesses who can provide with useful information that can aid the ongoing investigation," Edafe added.
Reacting to the incident, Isoko North Local Government chairman Godwin Ogorugba condemned the assaults as “inhumane, barbaric, and totally unacceptable,” promising to prosecute those responsible to serve as a deterrent. He added that some disgruntled individuals had exploited the festival to harass and assault women, but denied that rape occurred.
The Isoko North council chairman, described the act as "sacrilegious and barbaric", saying "This is a condemnable and wicked act for the youths to hide under any form of guise to molest and assault harmless and innocent women during the kingdom's festival. The act is unacceptable, shameful, and completely at variance with the customers and values of the Isoko people.
“Security agencies are already scrutinising the videos already in circulation to identify the disgruntled elements masquerading as youths that carried out the dastardly act against women during the kingdom's festival.
"This is very disappointing. Painfully, there was no official notification or approval from the community leadership for any such festival, making the incident even more troubling.
“It is disheartening that young people, who should represent the pride and future of our society, would engage in acts that degrade and violate the dignity of women, our mothers and sisters for just no cause.
“No cultural or social activity justifies, any form of molestation, harassment, intimidation and misconduct. Every individual, indigene or non-indigenes deserves to be treated with respect, dignity and protected under the law. Not under my watch should this barbaric take place.
"We are already working closely with security agencies, who are in possession of relevant evidence and are currently reviewing the situation and I want assure the public that all those found culpable would be identified and brought to justice.”
“We are a peaceful and accommodating people, but we will not allow a few individuals to tarnish the image of our land. This unfortunate incident must serve as a lesson, and such behaviour will not be condoned under any circumstances,” Ogorugba warned.
Also condemning the act, the Delta State Government described the incident as barbaric and unacceptable.
In a statement issued on Friday, the State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the government was deeply disturbed by reports of women being harassed and, in some cases, sexually assaulted under the guise of festival activities.
Aniagwu added that the state government frowns on any act that violates the dignity and rights of women, noting that cultural celebrations must never be used as a cover for criminality.
“The Delta State Government strongly condemns the harassment of ladies and the reported cases of rape during the Ozoro Festival,” Aniagwu said.
“Such barbaric acts are totally unacceptable and have no place in our society. We are calling on the police and other security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice. No individual or group should be allowed to hide under the guise of a festival to perpetrate criminal activities.”
The commissioner further assured residents that the state government remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of all citizens, especially women and vulnerable groups.
The government urged community leaders and organizers of cultural festivals across the state to put in place adequate measures to safeguard participants and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
nlfp.mod: Two dead, warehouses burnt as gas tanker-trailer collision sparks Lagos inferno
A gas explosion in the Ajah axis of Lagos on Saturday claimed two lives and destroyed several properties, including warehouses and roadside shops.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday along the Lekki-Epe Expressway at Tera Ahmed bus stop, Sangotedo, following a collision between a gas tanker and a tipper truck.
Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the development to our correspondent.
According to the Director of Public Affairs of the agency, Amodu Shakiru, the fire had been extinguished as of the time of filing this report.
In a statement signed by the Controller General of the agency, Margaret Adeseye, the service said it had brought the situation under control.
“The accident which was alerted at 02:36 wee hours Saturday saw Lekki Phase II, Oniru and Epe II Fire Stations of the agency raced to the scene after it was reported that an oncoming speeding 20-tonne tipper truck from the Epe end rammed from behind into a stationed 30-tonne gas truck that failed to pull over from the highway.
“The resultant effects culminated in fire spreading to three adjoining warehouses and 10 roadside shops, including a gym and generator house, before the fire was put out, saving a Total Petrol Filling Station, its fully loaded 33,000-litre PMS tanker and a host of properties,” the statement read.
The agency added that after the blaze was doused, three Sienna buses, one Toyota Corolla car and a forklift were recovered from the affected premises.
It further disclosed that the tipper driver and his assistant, both male adults, were burnt beyond recognition, while the driver of the gas truck escaped unhurt.
It was added that efforts were ongoing to evacuate the remains of both trucks from the road, as normalcy had begun to return to the scene of the accident.
ManirBK: Israeli PM Netanyahu Sparks Outrage After Comparing Jesus Christ With Warlord Genghis Khan Amid Iranian War
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire after drawing a controversial comparison between Jesus Christ and Genghis Khan, the founder and first khan of the Mongol Empire.
Netanyahu has made the comparison during a press conference while defending ongoing military actions against Iran.
The remarks, delivered in both Hebrew and English, were made as Netanyahu sought to justify continued military coordination with the United States and warn of the global risks posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
While emphasising the need for strength in confronting perceived threats, the Israeli leader referenced a historical argument suggesting that moral virtue alone is insufficient in the face of aggression.
Paraphrasing American historian Will Durant, Netanyahu said, “History proves that, unfortunately and unhappily, Jesus Christ has no advantage over Genghis Khan. Because if you are strong enough, ruthless enough, powerful enough, evil will overcome good. Aggression will overcome moderation.”
The comparison quickly drew criticism from religious groups and political commentators, many of whom viewed the juxtaposition of Jesus Christ — revered by billions as a symbol of peace — with Genghis Khan, known for his conquests and brutality, as offensive and inappropriate.
Netanyahu later indicated that no offense was intended, suggesting the remark was meant to underscore the dangers of weakness in a hostile world.
The controversy emerged amid heightened tensions over the military conflict involving Iran, which has also divided opinion in the United States. Supporters of the intervention argue it is necessary for national security, while critics warn against deeper involvement in another Middle East conflict without clear objectives or an exit strategy.
During his prepared remarks, Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in supporting the campaign.
“President Trump always makes his decisions on what he thinks is good for America, and may I add, I think what is also good for future generations,” Netanyahu said.
“The world owes a debt of deep indebtedness, deep indebtedness, to President Trump for leading this effort to safeguard our future.”
Responding to questions from reporters, Netanyahu doubled down on the need for decisive action, arguing that moral clarity without strength is ineffective in modern geopolitics.
“You know, if people want to be naive, then they don’t see the kind of world we’re living in. In this world, it’s not enough to be moral. It’s not enough to be just. It’s not enough to be right,” he said.
He added that democracies, particularly those led by the United States, must act before threats escalate beyond control.
“So you have no choice. If you look at the world as it is today, you have to be blind not to see that the democracies led by the United States have to reassert their will to defend themselves,” Netanyahu said.
“And to oppose their enemies in time, while there’s still time, before the jarring gong of danger wakes them up and wakes them up too late. This is where we are now.”
The Israeli leader concluded by stressing the need for military strength, warning that failure to act decisively could have dire consequences.
“We have to be armed. We have to be more powerful than the barbarians, or they will not be merely at the gate. They’ll crash our gates and destroy our societies,” he said.
“That’s what Israel is doing now with the United States. And I’m very proud of the fact that the Israeli people are standing strong, that the Israeli army is standing strong.”
Nethanyahu later attempted to play down the comments, stating that he was misquoted after facing backlash online.
“More fake news about my attitude towards Christians, who are protected and flourish in Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement on X. “Let me be clear: I did not denigrate Jesus Christ at my news conference this evening.”
"To the contrary, I cited the great American historian Will Durant. A fervent admirer of Jesus Christ, Durant stated that morality by itself is not enough to ensure survival,” said Netanyahu.
“A morally superior civilisation may still fall to a ruthless enemy if it does not have the power to defend itself,” he concluded. “No offense was meant.”
Paraphrasing American historian Will Durant, Netanyahu said, “History proves that, unfortunately and unhappily, Jesus Christ has no advantage over Genghis Khan. Because if you are strong enough, ruthless enough, powerful enough, evil will overcome good. Aggression will overcome moderation.”
ogo.do.do: Although structural, political, and economic conditions appear to constrain any credibly concerted impediment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 reelection chances, at least from my admittedly imperfect reading of the auguries, Tinubu still seems so insecure that he is borrowing a leaf from former Head of State Sani Abacha, his arch enemy, to annihilate the opposition and smooth his path to reelection.
There are at least three reasons why I think the odds are, at least for now, in Tinubu’s favor.
First, the opposition hasn’t coalesced around a single, powerful, unifying candidate, such as the APC did with Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, less than a year before the next presidential election. Meanwhile, Tinubu is already the undisputed candidate of his party and has effectively been in campaign mode, with all the advantages that incumbency confers.
Second, Tinubu’s economic policies have so pauperized a vast swath of the electorate that many voters are even more susceptible to financial inducement in exchange for their votes than at any time in recent memory. In a context where hunger and desperation shape electoral behavior, the moral calculus of voting changes.
Given that Tinubu commands a larger financial war chest than any individual opposition figure and perhaps more than all of them combined, he is better positioned to prevail in a contest defined by voter inducement. It often makes little difference to voters that the source of their hardship is also the source of the money offered to temporarily alleviate it.
Third, the institutions of the state that determine electoral outcomes inspire little confidence in their independence. INEC, which showed flashes of autonomy during Professor Attahiru Jega’s tenure, particularly in overseeing the 2015 transition, no longer enjoys the same level of public trust.
The judiciary, which ought to serve as the final arbiter of electoral disputes, is widely perceived as susceptible to political manipulation. Whether this perception is entirely fair is beside the point; what matters is that it is widespread and shapes expectations about electoral outcomes.
Given these seemingly insurmountable advantages, one might expect Tinubu to sit comfortably and await what could amount to an electoral formality. Yet his actions suggest a deep, crippling anxiety about 2027. He appears determined not just to win an election but to eliminate the possibility of a meaningful contest.
He is stealthily but systematically weakening all the political parties that could provide viable platforms for his opponents in 2027.
The Labor Party, which rode the crest of the wave of Peter Obi’s popularity to emerge from near obscurity to national prominence in 2023, has been mired in irresolvably debilitating internal crises. These crises may have internal origins, but their persistence and intensity have effectively neutralized the party as a coherent opposition force.
The Peoples Democratic Party is also deeply fractured. Through the outsized influence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who retains significant leverage within the party despite serving in an APC administration, the PDP has been thrown into a prolonged internal dissension that has eroded its capacity to function as a credible opposition platform.
It would be an exaggeration to say that only APC sympathizers remain in the PDP, but it is accurate to say that its internal divisions have weakened its ability to mount a coordinated challenge.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) had begun to present itself as a refuge for politicians displaced from the PDP, the Labor Party, and even factions within the APC. That possibility now appears imperiled by an emerging leadership crisis.
While David Mark is widely recognized as the party’s national chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman, is contesting that leadership in court. Given how the courts have ruled in the past in respect of the PDP and LP, which many people suspect is induced from the Tinubu camp, it won’t come to me as a surprise if Gombe gets judicial imprimatur to displace Mark.
Allegations that Gombe is aligned with Tinubu or with interests sympathetic to him come primarily from partisan sources within the ADC and have not been independently substantiated. Still, given the pattern observable in other opposition parties, such suspicions are not entirely surprising. If the courts eventually validate Gombe’s claim, the ADC could become inhospitable to the very opposition figures who had begun to see it as a viable platform, as a safe political asylum.
The cumulative effect of these developments is that major opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi may find themselves without stable or credible party platforms on which to base presidential bids. Even if parties remain on paper, they risk becoming hollow shells, fielding “dummy” candidates who pose no real threat and merely sustain the illusion of competition. That’s banana-republic-level perversion of basic democratic norms.
This trajectory calls to mind the 1998 transition program under Sani Abacha. In that case, the regime licensed and controlled the only legal political parties, suppressed dissent, and orchestrated a process in which all five parties eventually adopted Abacha as their sole presidential candidate. It was a carefully managed political ritual dubiously designed to legitimize continued rule. Abacha didn’t get elected because he died before that could happen.
Nigeria is not under military rule, and the present circumstances are not, by any means, wholly identical. But the logic of narrowing the political field to the point where competition becomes illusory bears an uncomfortable resemblance.
There is no point in pretending to be a democracy if something as basic as the latitude to run for the office of president is strewn with avoidable cataracts and oxbow lakes, to paraphrase Nigeria’s most famous sesquipedalian Patrick Obahiagbon.
The danger for Tinubu is that such a strategy, even if it succeeds electorally, could strip his reelection of the faintest scintilla of credibility and render his administration vulnerable to an enervating crisis of legitimacy, including possible international scrutiny. Electoral victory is one thing; perceived legitimacy is another, and the latter is harder to manufacture.
It is true that incumbents often seek every available advantage. Olusegun Obasanjo’s 2003 reelection was marred by widely reported irregularities. He was so intent on extracting electoral insurance against Muhammadu Buhari in 2003 (even though Buhari was actually unelectable at that time) that he got more votes in native Ogun State than there were registered voters. But at least he allowed Buhari to run against him on a prominent political platform.
Goodluck Jonathan also benefited from incumbency advantages. Like Obasanjo, he faced recognizable opposition candidates on functioning party platforms. Even in 2019, when Atiku Abubakar mounted a serious challenge to Muhammadu Buhari, the contest, despite its controversies, retained the basic structure of competitive politics.
Tinubu risks earning a dubious distinction as Nigeria’s only civilian president who appears unwilling to tolerate even the minimum conditions for credible electoral competition. That is a striking departure for a man whose political reputation was built, in part, on opposition to military authoritarianism.
He still has time to recalibrate. The more prudent path is to allow opposition parties to organize freely and to make his case for reelection on the basis of his record. That, more than any tactical maneuvering, is what confers durable political legitimacy. https://www.farooqkperogi.com/2026/03/tinubus-abacha-tactics-against.html?m=1
A businesswoman, Tracy Ohiri, who recently accused Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, of owing her money has now publicly apologized in a new video that surfaced online.
In the video message, Ohiri explained that after consulting with her legal team, family members, and close friends, she decided it was best to give peace a chance and move on from the controversy.
She also addressed one of the most widely circulated claims from the earlier dispute. According to her, she never said that the Minister tied a towel while meeting her in a hotel room, a statement that had generated widespread discussion online.
In her words, she said: “I never said Engineer David Umahi tied a towel to meet me in a hotel room. I apologize if the allegations have been magnified and taken out of context. My family and I have decided to move on and face our lives and business, and we want everyone to respect this decision.”
The dispute between Ohiri and the Minister had earlier drawn massive attention across social media, with several commentators and influencers reacting to the matter.
Among those who spoke about the issue were personalities such as VeryDarkMan and Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, as well as other concerned Nigerians.
Following the apology video, reactions online have been mixed. While some social media users believe the apology may have come after pressure or a possible settlement, others argue that the decision to step back from the dispute could simply be an effort to restore peace and move forward.
The situation continues to generate conversations online as many Nigerians share differing opinions about the sudden apology.
Businesswoman Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri has alleged that her earlier retraction of claims against the Minister of Works, David Umahi, was scripted and made under pressure, insisting she was promised $70,000 that was never paid.
In a fresh video circulating online, Ohiri said a lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, coerced her into recording the retraction and assured her that Umahi had agreed to compensate her before the video was made public.
“Marshal, you gave me a script… you forced me to do this video. You said the person told you he was willing to pay me and compensate me for even arresting me and body-shaming me in public,” she said.
She alleged that the agreement was that payment would be made before the video was released, but claimed that did not happen.
“You told me that I will receive my payment before you release the video. How did you release the video without me collecting my money?” she asked.
Ohiri further alleged that she was isolated and intimidated during the process.
“You made sure I did not speak to anybody… you kept on threatening me,” she said, calling on the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate Abubakar’s conduct, which she described as unethical.
Ohiri had earlier accused Umahi of owing her about N250 million for promotional and printing services she claimed to have rendered during his 2015 governorship campaign in Ebonyi State. She also alleged sexual harassment and intimidation after she demanded payment, claims the minister has consistently denied.
She was later arrested in Lagos over allegations of cyberbullying linked to her social media posts and transferred to Abuja, where she was detained at the FCT police command. She was subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court in Wuse on a defamation charge and granted bail.
The matter gained public attention after activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore confronted the minister at the police headquarters, criticising what he described as the criminalisation of a civil dispute.
Umahi, in his response, denied both the allegation of indebtedness and the claims of sexual harassment, describing them as baseless.
“As party chairman, I owed nobody… I presided over both men and women, and nobody ever said I harassed them,” he said, adding, “What you read on social media, I’m not worried about it… it’s just to make social media alive.”
Amid the controversy, Ohiri had released a video retracting her allegations and apologising to the minister and his family, saying the decision followed consultations with her family, friends and legal team. In that video, she stated that there was no formally signed agreement between her and the minister and suggested that any materials she supplied may have been used by aides without his knowledge.
However, her latest claims challenge that retraction, as she now insists it was made under duress and tied to a promise of financial settlement that was not fulfilled.
Responding on his Facebook page, Abubakar denied coercing Ohiri or withholding any payment, describing her allegations as false.
He said he had supported her during her arrest by mobilising assistance, engaging activists and helping to secure her bail. According to him, attempts were made to mediate between Ohiri and the minister, who maintained that he was not indebted to her.
“He insisted that he wasn’t owing her and wouldn’t pay unless she can establish the existence of a contract,” Abubakar said.
He added that he found no evidence to support her claims during the mediation process.
“There was no single real evidence of any contractual agreement… no evidence that the minister ever engaged her,” he said.
Abubakar said Ohiri eventually agreed to retract her allegations as part of efforts to resolve the dispute, adding that the $70,000 mentioned was provided by a third party, Joseph Ekumankama, not as compensation or an admission of liability, but to facilitate peace.
He denied benefiting financially from the arrangement and alleged that Ohiri later demanded a significantly higher sum.
“She promised to drag my name online unless I meet them to pay her N300 million,” he said, adding that he is considering legal action over the claims made against him.
Islie: As many countries grapple with ageing populations and shrinking rural communities, governments and local authorities are increasingly introducing incentives to attract new residents and stimulate economic activity.
From financial grants to housing support and business funding, these initiatives are aimed at reversing population decline and revitalising underpopulated areas.
As reported by Forbes and cited by PUNCH Online on Friday, these are the eight countries currently offering relocation incentives
1. Italy
Italy remains one of the most prominent examples. In regions such as Calabria, Sardinia, and Puglia, small towns facing population decline are offering grants of up to €30,000 to individuals willing to relocate and start businesses. The country has also drawn global attention with symbolic €1 home schemes, though buyers are typically required to renovate the properties within a set timeframe.
2. Switzerland
In Switzerland, the alpine village of Albinen has introduced one of Europe’s most publicised relocation programmes. To attract younger residents, the village offers about 25,000 Swiss francs per adult and 10,000 francs per child to families who commit to living there for at least 10 years and invest in property. The initiative is aimed at sustaining the long-term viability of the community.
3. Japan
Japan is tackling a major demographic challenge as rural areas continue to lose residents to urban centres. Authorities have introduced subsidies encouraging families to move from major cities like Tokyo to smaller towns. Some programmes offer up to one million yen per child, along with additional support for housing and business development, in a bid to revitalise declining regions.
4. Spain
Similarly, Spain has experimented with a range of incentives to breathe life back into rural communities. In regions such as Asturias and Galicia, authorities and private groups provide housing support, relocation grants, and job opportunities to attract families and entrepreneurs to ageing towns.
5. Greece
In Greece, targeted schemes are focused on island communities experiencing population decline. On the island of Antikythera, for example, families are offered housing, land, and monthly stipends to encourage long-term settlement, as part of broader efforts to sustain small, remote populations.
6. Ireland
Ireland has also introduced initiatives under its “Our Living Islands” strategy. The programme provides financial assistance for renovating vacant or derelict homes on remote islands, aiming to reverse depopulation and stimulate local development.
7. Croatia
In Croatia, smaller municipalities are offering housing subsidies and financial support to individuals willing to purchase and renovate homes in rural areas. Combined with the country’s growing digital nomad visa programme, these efforts are making Croatia increasingly attractive to remote workers.
Chile
Chile has taken a different approach by targeting entrepreneurs. Through initiatives such as Start-Up Chile, founders can receive funding and support to establish businesses, helping to draw global talent while boosting innovation and economic activity.
MaobiCarl: Jehovah’s Witnesses ease policy on transfusions, allowing storage and use of one’s own blood
*Jehovah’s Witnesses announced members may now store and use their own blood for surgery, marking the first significant shift in the religion’s 75-year transfusion prohibition.
*The organization maintains its ban on receiving transfusions of others’ blood, a prohibition that ex-members say has led to preventable deaths.
*Critics argue the policy change falls short, as members who accept donor blood in medical emergencies could face shunning from the faith community.
Leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses are modifying their prohibition on receiving blood transfusions on religious grounds, now allowing members to decide whether to allow their own blood to be drawn and stored in advance for such things as a scheduled surgery with a risk of significant blood loss.
But the organization is retaining its wider prohibition against receiving transfusions of others’ blood — a procedure routinely used with patients after accidents, violence or other blood loss. This long-held prohibition is one of the most distinctive and controversial teachings of the movement, which is headquartered in New York state and well-known for its assertive public proselytizing.
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses announced what it called a “clarification” of its teaching on Friday, saying it came after extensive prayer and consideration.
“Each Christian must decide for himself how his own blood will be used in all medical and surgical care,” Governing Body member Gerrit Lösch said in a video statement posted Friday on the denomination’s website.
“This includes whether to allow his own blood to be removed, stored, and then given back to him. What does this mean? Some Christians may decide that they would allow their blood to be stored and then be given back to them, others may object.”
After decades of martyr, public backslash and high mortality among members of named sect. Jehovah's Witnesses conscience or lifestyle directors (Governing body) has finally agreed to let there members accept blood transfusions at point of death.
Although this new update comes with conditions. Blood transfusions is still blood transfusions, whether is your blood, relatives blood or a strangers blood. Will they apologise for thousand of faithful adherents who preferred to die than save there lives medically? No They've never apologised for deceiving anyone rather they'll blame staunch members for doing too much...
Memphis357: An announcement on Chuck Norris’ Instagram page revealed the action movie legend died yesterday morning in Hawaii. Just last week, Norris posted a video to social media, below, showing him beating up an opponent.
"I don’t age. I level up," he said, celebrating his 86th birthday. "Nothing like some playful action on a sunny day to make you feel young. I’m grateful for another year, good health and the chance to keep doing what I love. Thank you all for being the best fans in the world. Your support through the years has meant more to me than you’ll ever know."
In London, @nsia_nigeria signed an MoU with UK based Asset Green to develop an integrated dairy factory in Nigeria.
The partnership builds on early UK technical support that helped establish NSIA, now driving major investment for food security & jobs. #GrowUKNG #UKNGStateVisit
There's an urgent need to have these integrated Dairy farms/factories in all regions of Nigeria just like the Western Region had thriving Dairy farms in the Fasola area of Ibadan from 1946. The Chief Obafemi Awolowo, GCFR, SAN, further expanded the Fasola Dairy farms in the 1950s to a profitable venture. I posted just last year a YouTube video of an interview on the history of the Fasola Dairy farms in Oyo State indicating how indigenous cows were crossbred with imported cows to achieve significant yields. The modern cattle/dairy industry is highly lucrative once you have improved breeds of cattle from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Argentina, USA, South Africa, etc.
Enough of having the insidious foreign Fula herders who are originally of Berber ancestral origins from North Africa (Morocco and Algeria) migrating from other West African countries and dominating the cattle and dairy market in Nigeria, alongside the horrendous banditry caused by their members with the intent to deliberately take over the ancestral homelands of indigenous Nigerian ethnic groups in Hausaland right into the Middle Belt States and the core Southern States bordering the Middle Belt.
I know it's just politics, but some people were saying that ordinary Nigerians do not benefit anything from foreign trips by the president and other leaders.
I said that it's very obvious that this is a lie because almost all the big projects that have been done have come about because of these foreign trips and everybody can see them. I listed some of these projects like the Lagos-Abuja rail line, the Lagos-Ibadan rail line, the railway university, the rail coach and wagon factory, the trains for the Blue Line and Red Line railways, the Super Tucano attack aircraft, etc.
However, despite best efforts, it's not all the plans that succeed. This post is about a very good plan that Muhammadu Buhari had, but which failed because of the Nigerian situation.
Shagari and Mambilla
President Shehu Shagari planned a lot of hydro-electric projects in his 4 years in power, but unfortunately he could not complete any of them. The biggest of these projects was the Mambilla Power Project.
The Mambilla Power Project was designed to be the biggest power plant in Nigeria. It was to provide 3,050 megawatts of power. For comparison, the Egbin power plant in Lagos, which is currently the biggest power plant in Nigeria and which burns gas, has a capacity of 1,320 megawatts.
The Mambilla Power Project consists of 4 dams and 2 underground power stations across the Donga River in Taraba State (near the border between Nigeria and Cameroon).
President Shagari's administration conceived of the project, but Nigeria ran into a financial crisis in 1982 and the government was overthrown on December 31st, 1983. The project was therefore abandoned.
Importance of the Mambilla Project
Nigeria depended on hydro power plants when I was a kid (that's why people often spoke about "no water in the dam", but we have since transitioned to thermal power plants, specifically gas powered plants.
The argument for using gas was that Nigeria had the 3rd largest gas reserves in the world and therefore, we might as well use it.
However, gas is expensive.
That's one of the reasons why the Mambilla Project is important to me. It helps us balance our energy mix.
Gas is expensive and you run into trouble when you can't pay for it. Furthermore, there are strange people in Nigeria who actually go and cut gas pipelines and besides, some of those pipelines are not well maintained.
You don't need to worry about buying gas when you are using a hudro plant. God provides the river water. However, you still need to pay workers and maintain equipment, so money is important.
Which brings me to my important point. The Mambilla project is not the solution to the power crisis in Nigeria. The solution is to remove subsidy. If you don't remove subsidy and charge a cost reflective tariff, then you'll still have problems maintaining equipment, paying workers and buying equipment at the Mambilla Power Plant.
However, the addition of Mambilla's 3,050 megawatts will help significantly.
Muhammadu Buhari and Mambilla
Nigeria is a poor country and this fact has affected the ability of many governments to deliver services to the people. However, the Buhari Administration did not allow this to disturb them. The administration borrowed a lot of money and used the loans to provide projects and services to Nigerians.
So President Buhari travelled to China and reached a deal with the Chinese that the China Export Bank will provide 85% of the funds to complete the Mambilla Power Project and the Nigerian Government would provide 15%. Obviously the construction work would be done by Chinese companies. That's when the Nigerian factor came in.
Obasanjo and Mambilla
Dr Olu Agunloye was a protege of Professor Wole Soyinka. There were many former students of Professor Soyinka (and other young people that admired him) who collaborated with him after they graduated from school.
Professor Soyinka pitched the idea of a Federal Road Safety Corps to President Babangida and Babangida made him the first chairman of the corps (this was in 1988). Dr Olu Agunloye was made the first corp marshal (chief executive) of the corps.
Dr Agunloye had problems with the Abacha Regime (probably because Professor Soyinka was campaigning against the regime) and he was removed from the FRSC and harassed.
President Obasanjo made Dr Agunloye his personal assistant on power. He later made him the minister of state for defence (Navy) and then the minister of power and steel.
Dr Agunloye took a proposal to President Obasanjo when he was minister of power and steel. It was from a company that wanted to partner with the Federal Government to complete the Mambilla Power Project.
President Obasanjo told Dr Agunloye to bring the proposal to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
President Obasanjo said that Dr Agunloye never brought the proposal to FEC.
However, when the Buhari Administration wanted to partner with the Chinese to complete the project, they discovered that they were sued by a company that claimed that the Federal Government breached an agreement to complete the project. The company claimed that President Obasanjo and Dr Agunloye agreed that it would complete the project, but the FG reneged on the agreement. The company was thus suing the Federal Government for compensation.
President Obasanjo said that he never approved any such agreement and that his last instruction to was that Dr Agunloye should bring the proposal to the FEC.
The Mambilla Power Project has thus been grounded because of that dispute.
Indeed, the last national duty of President Buhari was to testify at the arbitration hearing in Paris over the dispute.
The Mambilla Power Project construction has stalled for some time now.
TruthU87: The Trump administration has waived sanctions on Iranian oil purchases at sea for 30 days to ease surging oil prices driven by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said the waiver would bring about 140m barrels of oil to global markets and help relieve pressure on energy supply.
The move reflects White House concern that soaring oil prices – up about 50% to more than $100 a barrel, the highest since 2022 – will hurt US businesses and consumers ahead of the November midterm elections, when Republicans hope to retain control of Congress.
However, Bessent’s earlier suggestion of a waiver raised concerns that it could benefit Iran’s war effort.
It is the third time the US has temporarily waived sanctions in about two weeks.
It had previously eased sanctions on Russian oil, and on Friday issued a general licence allowing the sale of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels as of Friday to 19 April, according to the licence posted to the US treasury website.
“By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding the amount of worldwide energy and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran,” Bessent said in a statement on X. Source: The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/us-sanctions-iranian-oil
chopnaira: NDPC Warns Content Creators To Respect Citizens’ Privacy
The attention of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has been drawn to the activities of individuals who take pictures and video footage of unsuspecting members of the general public and share same on social media platforms. These acts violate the rights of citizens to informational self-determination as guaranteed under S.37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act).
The particular case of a content creator who stands at roadsides in Lagos State to create a "reality show" of unsuspecting members of the general public raises concerns about abuse of rights in the name of entertainment. Processing the images of people, in this circumstance, requires consent unless the creator can justify her actions under other lawful bases of data processing. Preliminary investigation by the Commission reveals that this wilful invasion of citizens' privacy serves neither a public nor a legitimate interest. In any event, the data subjects involved have no expectation that their images will be captured and shared with the whole world by an unknown individual.
In the wake of this development, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has directed platform owners (such as TikTok, X, and Meta) to step up enforcement of community guidelines with a view to preventing harm to individuals through unlawful and unfair processing of personal data.
For the avoidance of doubt, where a platform owner fails or neglects to act timeously in addressing harms, the Commission will not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions under the NDP Act. More importantly, individual content creators are accountable for their acts and omissions, and may be liable to criminal prosecution for violating the privacy rights of citizens and other data subjects in Nigeria. source
helinues: Pdp could bounce back in 2031. Thats exactly what the current party tussle have been about
The Northerners want to take charge of the party so that outsiders won't dictate for them in 2031 while some southerners like Wike are holding on to the party to negotiate VP position for South South in 2031.
As for the Apc, I don't see Apc surviving before the 2031 election. Northerners would rather contest under Pdp or any other party than Apc.
One of the pillar holding Apc already collapsed, the remaining pillar will be retired after his second term.. Regional party will take over
PACIONS: My 10-Point Policy Vision for a Cleaner, Organized and Progressive Abeokuta North Abeokuta North is one of the largest and most important local governments in Ogun State. Because of its closeness to Abeokuta South and its growing population, our communities should experience strong development, good environmental management, and proper urban organization.
However, from careful observation of places like Lafenwa, Ita oshi and many other areas in Abeokuta North, we can clearly see that there are issues that need urgent attention. Environmental sanitation, roadside trading, transportation disorder, poor road maintenance, and lack of structured development planning are some of the challenges affecting the growth of our communities.
My mission is not only to create new policies but also to review, update, and strengthen existing policies, many of which are already in place but are not properly enforced.
Below is my 10-Point Policy Vision that will help move Abeokuta North to the next level of development.
1. Clean Abeokuta North Environmental Policy There must be stronger enforcement against dumping refuse on roads and in drainages. Anyone caught violating sanitation rules should face appropriate penalties to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
2. Strategic Waste Bin Placement The problem of dirt is not limited to Lafenwa alone. If one walks across different parts of Abeokuta North, almost every four kilometres there are refuse dumps scattered along the roadside. To address this,at least two large waste bins will be placed strategically in areas where refuse usually accumulates. These bins will be designed to accommodate waste for about three days.
3. Ward-Based Waste Collection System Waste management vehicles will operate within each ward and move around the communities every three days to collect and dispose of waste properly. This will prevent refuse from piling up on our roads.
4. Transportation and Parking Regulation There must be clear laws that prevent double parking and improper parking on major roads. Random parking creates congestion and sometimes leads to accidents. Proper parking zones will be established to ensure safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
5. Proper Transport Movement and Parks We must ensure proper taxi, motorcycle and tricycle movement within Abeokuta North. These transport operators should operate from designated parks, not randomly on the road. Inter-state transport vehicles must use proper motor parks or parking garages. They should not park or load passengers by the roadside.
6. Market and Road Usage Policy In many places, especially around Lafenwa, traders occupy almost one-third of the road to sell goods. Roads are meant for transportation, not permanent trading. There must be policies that ensure traders operate within proper market areas, not on the roadside.
7. Development of Organized Market Spaces Government should also improve and expand organized market spaces so traders can operate in a more structured and safe environment without blocking roads. This will support both economic activity and urban order.
8. Routine Road Maintenance Policy Roads must be regularly monitored. Whenever potholes or road damage appear, responsible authorities must respond quickly and repair them appropriately. Routine maintenance will prevent small road problems from becoming major infrastructure failures.
9. Planned Urban Development As a skilled draftsman, I strongly believe in proper planning and design. Through structured planning we can create organized transport parks, proper parking spaces, improved market layouts, and better infrastructure across Abeokuta North.
10. Education Discipline, Vocational Training and Digital Learning Education remains the foundation of development. As an educator, I have observed that many students in public schools across Abeokuta North sometimes lack proper discipline and learning motivation. Some students go to school very late, dress improperly, or carry phones that distract them from learning. There should be clear school discipline policies that promote punctuality, proper dressing, and responsible behavior among students. At the same time, we must motivate learners to develop useful skills. I will push for a policy where vocational education becomes part of the school system, with at least one day in a week dedicated to vocational and practical skills training. In addition, I will advocate for improved school facilities, especially in ICT and digital education, so that our students can compete in the modern world.
Moving Abeokuta North Forward My goal is to ensure that policies are not only written on paper but strictly followed for the greater good of Abeokuta North. These policies are foundational steps toward taking Abeokuta North to the next level of cleanliness, organization, education, and development. A cleaner environment, organized transport system, disciplined education system, and well-planned communities will benefit every resident.
Let the discussion continue.
Support Hon. Ogunfeyitimi Tope Joshua for House of Assembly Abeokuta North
Hon. Ogunfeyitimi Tope Joshua Abeokuta North The New Generation Voice
Pakute: Tinubu’s Aide Slams Peter Obi Over Critique Of Rising Fuel Prices by Pakute: 5:50pm On Mar 14 Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun has rebuked the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his comments on Nigeria’s rising fuel prices.
Olusegun told Obi to stop commenting on issues he does not understand, describing the former governor’s remarks on rising fuel prices as wrong and embarrassing.
Olusegun made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday, responding to a statement by Obi published on Thursday, in which the former Anambra State governor blamed Nigeria’s vulnerability to global oil price shocks on the absence of a strategic petroleum reserve and a lack of government planning.
PUNCH Online reports that Obi had noted that petrol, which sold for less than N1,000 per litre weeks ago, had risen to over N1,200 per litre, while diesel had climbed from below N1,000 to over N1,500 per litre, linking the increases to tensions involving Iran and their effect on global oil prices.
“The reason for this is straightforward: most countries, whether they are oil-producing or non-oil-producing, maintain strategic petroleum reserves to cushion against supply or price shocks.
“This means that when there is a disruption in the global oil market, they can release part of these reserves to stabilize supply. However, Nigeria lacks such a buffer, so the impact is felt almost immediately.
“The underlying issue is a lack of planning. Countries that engage in planning create buffers against shocks, while those that do not remain vulnerable to them. The old maxim remains true: when a country fails to plan, it has already planned to fail,” Obi said.
But Olusegun dismissed the position, saying the more immediate driver of rising pump prices was the deregulation of the fuel market following the removal of subsidy by the Tinubu administration, not the absence of a strategic reserve.
“The recent rise in fuel prices in Nigeria is not primarily because the country lacks a strategic petroleum reserve. The more immediate factor is that the fuel market is now largely deregulated following the subsidy removal by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
He explained the mechanics of a deregulated market, saying, “In a deregulated system, petrol prices respond directly to global oil prices, exchange rates, shipping costs, and supply risks.
“So when geopolitical tensions involving Iran push global oil prices upward, countries that rely heavily on imported refined products like Nigeria will inevitably feel the effect at the pump. That is simply how an open market behaves.”
Olusegun also challenged Obi’s characterisation of strategic petroleum reserves, arguing that even countries with large reserves, such as the United States and China, maintain them primarily for supply emergencies such as wars and embargoes, and do not deploy them in response to routine market price movements.
“It is also not accurate to suggest that strategic petroleum reserves are tools used to control everyday pump prices.
“Even countries with very large reserves, such as the United States and China, maintain them primarily for serious supply emergencies, wars, embargoes, or major disruptions to global supply chains.
“They are not routinely deployed simply because prices move in the global market,” he said.
Olusegun acknowledged that Nigeria faces deep structural challenges but said the framing of the argument was misleading.
“Nigeria’s real challenge has always been deeper and more structural. For decades, the country has struggled with limited refining capacity and a heavy dependence on imported refined products, despite being one of the world’s major crude oil producers.
“That structural imbalance, combined with exchange rate pressures, has consistently made the country vulnerable to global price movements,” he said.
He argued that reducing the issue to a failure of planning around strategic reserves missed the point entirely.
“So yes, planning matters. But reducing the entire issue to ‘Nigeria failed to plan because it does not have a strategic reserve’ completely misses the broader reality.
“Real planning would involve expanding domestic refining capacity, strengthening supply chains, stabilizing the foreign exchange environment, and maintaining consistent energy policies,” Olusegun said.
He also turned Obi’s own campaign record against him, noting that the former governor had publicly pledged to remove fuel subsidy if elected president in 2023.
“It is worth reminding you that during your presidential campaign, you clearly stated that you would remove fuel subsidy if elected.
“So the same policy framework that now allows prices to reflect market realities is one you publicly supported,” he said.
Olusegun went further to question Obi’s grasp of the subject, saying it was “frankly embarrassing” for a former governor to make sweeping conclusions about a complex global energy market.
“When someone who once held the office of governor begins to make such sweeping conclusions about a complex global energy market, it is frankly embarrassing.
“A former governor should know better than to reduce a multi-layered economic issue to a simplistic talking point,” he said.
He urged Obi to refrain from commenting on issues he did not fully understand, saying the former governor had made a habit of maligning Nigeria.
“Sometimes the wiser thing to do is simply sit a conversation out when one does not fully understand how the system works rather than jumping at every opportunity to malign Nigeria, as this has been your modus operandi. It would save both the country and the speaker from unnecessary embarrassment,” Olusegun said. https://punchng.com/tinubus-aide-slams-peter-obi-over-critique-of-rising-fuel-prices/
adenigga: Despite the fact that the pump price of fuel has hit nearly double, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State says President Bola Tinubu has shielded Nigeria from global fuel crisis as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.
Prices of fuel hit roof top globally after the barricade at Strait of Hormuz, a vital 30-mile-wide shipping lane between Iran and Oman.
It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean. As a critical global oil chokepoint, roughly 20% of the world’s total liquid petroleum consumption passes through it daily.
However, after Israel and US launched a war on Iran, the Middle East country fought back, blocking vessels from the lane.
But when members of the City Boy Movement visited him at the Government House, Owerri, this weekend, Uzodimma said Tinubu’s reforms prevented scarcity and domestic fuel price hikes, in spite the Middle East crisis.
He said that in spite of the ongoing war in the Middle East, the naira remained stable at N1,240, while other African currencies faced significant volatility.
“Nigeria was almost at a decaying level when the President assumed office in 2023.
“In spite the speculative tension in the Middle East, occasioned by the crisis in Iran, the prices of fuel would have gone up but in the African continent, Nigerian naira remains stable.
“The exchange rate of U.S. Dollar and South Africa has gone up but in Nigeria, our exchange rate remains stable at N1,240 because we no longer fund subsidy,” Uzodimma said.
He hailed the subsidy removal for stabilising the exchange rate and allowing the Dangote Refinery to purchase crude in naira.
He emphasised that the global community now recognised Nigeria’s recovery, calling for a united front to sustain the new development trajectory.
Addressing a delegation of the movement, led by its Patron, Mr Seyi Tinubu, and Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, the governor described their visit as “home coming”.
He described the initiative as a “new mentality” designed to prepare young Nigerians for future leadership.
He commended them for supporting and providing charity to the sick and vulnerable in hospitals.
The governor highlighted the South-East region’s improved infrastructure and political peace.
He urged the delegation to act as “Renewed Hope” ambassadors, ensuring that Tinubu’s achievements resonate in every grassroots and urban centers.
Uzodimma, therefore, promised full support to the youth movement.
Earlier, Olawande commended Uzodimma for supporting the movement, the Renewed Hope Initiative and youth programmes in the state.
He sought continued backing for youth initiatives, aligning with the movement’s goals.
adenigga: Tinubu Appoints GTB Co-Founder Adeola To Lead Petroleum Sector Reform Taskforce by adenigga(m): 7:13pm On Mar 13 President Bola Tinubu has established a Presidential Petroleum Reform and Value Optimisation Taskforce to design and sequence the next phase of structural reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
The President appointed Mr Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank and founder/chairman of the Fate Foundation, as chairman of the task force.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday disclosed that the task force would operate as a time-bound, high-level executive working group tasked with producing execution-ready reform blueprints.
Other members of the taskforce are Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Osagie Okunbor, Abubakar Suleiman, Adaeze Aguele, Farouk Gumel, Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye, and Seyi Bella, with Mofoluwasho Fadayomi serving as secretary.
According to the statement, the task force will consolidate ongoing reforms, unlock capital within the petroleum sector, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading global energy investment destination.
“The initiative reflects the President’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s petroleum industry into a more competitive, transparent, and value-maximising sector capable of driving long-term economic growth, macroeconomic resilience, and industrial development,” it read.
The taskforce will operate as a technical reform body rather than a representative committee, engaging industry operators, regulators, investors, and civil society as consultees while focusing on actionable policy design and implementation strategies.
It will report directly to the President and provide monthly progress memoranda, with an interim report expected after three months and final outputs within six months of inauguration.
Tinubu has directed the task force to deliver three major reform blueprints.
The first deliverable is the Implementation Toolkit for Immediate Structural Fixes, including draft legislative amendments, executive instruments, and institutional restructuring proposals.
The second deliverable is the Capital & Liquidity Acceleration Blueprint, aimed at unlocking $5bn to $10bn in sectoral liquidity while safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereign interests.
The third blueprint will focus on the National Energy Transformation Strategy, a 10-year roadmap with measurable targets for production, foreign exchange earnings, GDP contribution, and cost competitiveness.
Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, regulators, and relevant institutions to provide full technical support to the task force and to submit inventories of ongoing initiatives to ensure alignment with the emerging reform framework.
The President also directed all existing committees, teams, and working groups established under various reform initiatives within the sector to align their activities, reporting structures, and work programmes with the new taskforce.
“The streamlining will ensure coordination, avoid duplication of mandates, and provide institutional clarity, thereby ensuring coherence in the petroleum sector reform architecture,” the statement noted.
The President further directed that all relevant documentation, institutional knowledge, and ongoing workstreams should be made available to the task force to support the development and implementation of its comprehensive reform framework.
Onanuga described the creation of the taskforce as “a strategic presidential instrument to accelerate petroleum sector reforms, strengthen governance architecture, optimise national energy assets, and position Nigeria’s petroleum resources as a foundation for sustainable economic transformation.”
The task force will automatically dissolve upon submission and acceptance of its final report.
Adeola, a chartered accountant and entrepreneur, co-founded Guaranty Trust Bank in 1990 and served as its pioneer managing director until 2002.
He established the Fate Foundation in 2000 to promote entrepreneurship and wealth creation in Nigeria.
Politics › Re: I am in London to facilitate UK degrees to Nigeria - Education Minister, Alausa by Konquest: 8:03pm On Mar 21
