₦airaland Forum

The Independent National Electoral Commission has explained that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, is currently away from Abuja on an official assignment, adding that he has the authority to delegate his responsibilities to any National Commissioner.

The clarification was made by INEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, in response to questions raised by the Obidient Movement over the whereabouts of the Chairman.

“The Chairman is on an official assignment outside Abuja. He can delegate powers to any National Commissioner,” Eta-Messi said in a short message to our corespondent via WhatsApp.

The response followed a statement by the Obidient Movement on Wednesday, demanding an explanation from INEC over Amupitan’s whereabouts after National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, appeared as Acting Chairman during an engagement with an African Union delegation at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The movement, through its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, had questioned why there was no public announcement explaining when or why Amupitan handed over his duties to Gumus.
It also asked INEC to disclose whether the Chairman had travelled outside Nigeria and, if so, his official engagements.

“As far as the Obidient Movement and Nigerians are concerned, there was no official communication of Professor Amupitan’s handover to anyone, either in acting or substantive capacity.

“This raises legitimate questions about the Chairman’s current location, official schedule and the circumstances surrounding his absence,” the statement partly read.

Tanko said the questions were necessary because of INEC’s constitutional responsibility for conducting elections and the importance of public confidence in the commission’s leadership ahead of the 2027 polls.

“As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the INEC Chairman cannot operate in secrecy,” he said.

Checks by our correspondent on the Commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts showed that the Chairman has been engaged in activities outside the country, supporting the commission’s position that his absence from Abuja is connected with official duties.

A post on Friday showed the Chairman in Ottawa, Canada, where he met with Google Global Lead, Civic Responsibility, David J. Lopez, accompanied by the Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections.


Earlier on Thursday, the Chairman had held strategic partnership meetings with senior officials of Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

The Chairman engaged Ethan Chumley, Emerging Tech and Cyber Lead, and Ariana Molina, Programme Manager, on areas of mutual interest in emerging technologies, cybersecurity and responsible artificial intelligence, particularly as they relate to strengthening the resilience and security of electoral processes.

Amupitan had also addressed the AI Conference sharing Nigeria’s experience and lessons in institutionalising responsible AI for electoral administration.

The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the commission as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, another top official at INEC who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, described the Obidient Movement’s concern as “a non-issue”, stressing that the Chairman wasn’t required to be in Abuja or at the Commission to perform his duties.

“It is a non-issue. Must he be in Abuja to perform his duties? So, if I were to go on leave, can’t I hand over to someone until I return? The Chairman is attending a conference and even gave an address at the conference. He had some meetings too. So what is the issue? It’s just noise,” the official said.

Reacting to the development, in a post on 𝕏 Olayinka wrote;

“The Government of Anambra State under the leadership of Professor Charles Soludo, has released evidence to support the earlier statement made by the Governor that the state is still paying part of loans procured by the administration of Peter Obi.

“ME: Now that evidence has been provided, will Peter Obi be a man of his words for once and stop campaigning as he promised?”

The Presidency has reacted to the ongoing dispute between former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and the state government over the state’s debts and financial liabilities.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on X on Wednesday, said Obi had claimed to have left Anambra without debt and challenged him to follow through on his pledge to quit the presidential race if his claim was disproved.

Onanuga wrote, “Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt and even threatened to quit the presidential race if his claims were proven otherwise.”

He added that the Anambra State Government had responded with claims concerning liabilities allegedly left by the former governor’s administration.

“Now, the Anambra government has confronted him with facts and figures showing he owed Water Corporation workers, teachers, and pension and gratuities, and had also borrowed for frivolous things,” Onanuga said.

“The ball is back in his court. Will he follow through on his threat by quitting the race?” he asked.

The reaction followed a fresh response by the Anambra State Government to Obi’s Tuesday denial of claims that his administration left behind inherited debts, including a ₦2bn ecological fund, contractor liabilities and unpaid salaries, gratuities and pensions.

Obi had said his administration cleared more than ₦35bn in historical gratuities and arrears and left office without outstanding salary, pension or gratuity obligations.

He also disputed the government’s claim concerning the ecological fund, saying more than ₦2.13bn was left untouched in a First Bank account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, disputed Obi’s account, saying the account he identified was an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account and not an ecological fund account.

Mefor said the government obtained a certified printout of the account and claimed that “from 2011 when the account was opened until date, there has never been any such amount—whether as inflow or balance—in the account.”

Obi had challenged anyone who could establish that his account of the state’s finances was incorrect, saying, “If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning.”

The Federal Government says it has commenced the payment of ₦18 billion in outstanding severance benefits to 2,100 former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, more than two decades after the national carrier was liquidated.

The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying payments had been concluded for 2,100 beneficiaries across Batches 1 to 7, while another 600 beneficiaries under Batches 8 and 9 are being finalised for payment in the coming days.

The development follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the settlement of outstanding severance obligations owed to former Nigeria Airways workers.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the payment was part of the government’s commitment to addressing legitimate outstanding obligations owed to Nigerians.

“Behind these figures are people and families who have waited for years to receive what is legitimately due to them,” Oyedele said.

“Our responsibility is to confront outstanding obligations, complete the necessary processes and, once the resources are secured, ensure that the people affected feel the impact of government positively.”

The Minister said the exercise demonstrated what could be achieved when government institutions worked together to resolve longstanding issues, while ensuring that appropriate safeguards were maintained in the management of public funds.

The Ministry said the payment process involved extensive verification of beneficiary records, including biometric capture and validation of personal and banking information, to ensure that the funds were paid to legitimate beneficiaries.

The Director in charge of the Presidential Initiative and Continuous Audit (PICA) Department, Seldam Dangin, said the Ministry was also preparing a second-phase mop-up exercise to capture eligible beneficiaries whose records could not be processed during the first phase.

According to him, the exercise will involve updating inaccurate or outdated information, additional biometric verification where necessary and correction of banking details.

It will also cover cases involving deceased beneficiaries, with their next of kin or estates required to complete the necessary verification and legal processes before payment can be made.

The mop-up exercise is expected to commence by the end of September or early October, subject to final arrangements.

The Ministry acknowledged the collaboration of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, as well as the National Assembly Joint Committees on Aviation, in advancing efforts to resolve the outstanding payments.

The Senate Committee on Aviation, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and the House Committee on Aviation, chaired by Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, were also acknowledged for their oversight and engagement on the matter.

The Federal Government said the commencement of payments to the first seven batches, alongside the readiness of Batches 8 and 9, represents a major step towards resolving the longstanding severance obligations to former Nigeria Airways workers.

The planned mop-up exercise, it added, is expected to provide an opportunity to address outstanding cases and bring more eligible beneficiaries into the payment process.

Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, says state governors, rather than President Bola Tinubu, should explain how the gains from the removal of petrol subsidy are being spent.

Abiodun spoke on Thursday during a rally held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.

He said governors are better placed to account for the gains because the funds have increased allocations to states, which he said have been used to finance infrastructural projects.

“They said they want to return the subsidy. Are they mad? They were asking our leader to explain what he did with subsidy removal gains,” he said in Yoruba.

“It is we (governors) that should make such explanations because it is we, state governors, that collect the money.

“Besides, what have we been using to build roads, schools, provide good housing and incentives for farmers? Isn’t it from subsidy?”

Abiodun also dismissed the opposition’s chances in the 2027 elections, boasting that the APC would defeat its rivals.

“Go and tell your people that all of them are not up to one. We will defeat them mercilessly,” he said.

The debate over subsidy gains has intensified in recent weeks, with opposition politicians, including Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticising the Tinubu administration over its handling of the funds saved from subsidy removal.

Atiku has vowed to restore the subsidy if elected, saying the Tinubu administration has failed to account for the savings from its removal.

Tinubu, however, dismissed Atiku’s proposal as evidence of “serious ignorance of governance and economy”, saying some states struggled to pay salaries and pensions before he assumed office.

On August 19, Taiwo Oyedele, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, said the removal of the subsidy had mobilised N15.8 trillion for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja for permission to amend their suit challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The plaintiffs are seeking to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the election over an allegation that a forged National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, discharge certificate was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, also has INEC as the third defendant.

In a motion filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo, Atiku and the ADC asked the court to grant them leave to amend their originating summons and deem the amended processes as properly filed.

They said the amendment became necessary after they discovered errors in the nomenclature of some INEC forms attached to their affidavit, which were referred to as Form CF001 instead of Form EC9A.

The plaintiffs also said they needed to set out the particulars of the alleged fraud more specifically, include Atiku’s written deposition and attach clearer copies of exhibits referred to in the suit.

Tinubu and the APC, however, have asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that it is incompetent and that the plaintiffs lack the legal standing to institute it.

In a joint counter-affidavit filed on September 9, the President and APC denied submitting any forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections.

They also said they did not submit Form CF001 to INEC for either election as alleged by the plaintiffs, adding that the NYSC had never denied issuing a discharge certificate to Tinubu after his service year.

In their written address, the defendants argued that allegations of forgery, being criminal, must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

Their counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, argued that evidence from the institution alleged to have issued the disputed certificate would be required to establish that it was forged.

Olujinmi said Atiku and the ADC had not produced any evidence from the NYSC disclaiming the issuance of the discharge certificate to Tinubu.

He therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as incompetent and lacking a proper basis for the plaintiffs’ claims.

The court has fixed September 28 for hearing in the case.

The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and resolved to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by the Southern African country until further notice, in response to continuing reports of xenophobic attacks and hostility against Nigerians and other African nationals.

The decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon businesses, investments, homes and other properties amid recurring violence.

In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the leadership said it was seriously concerned about the situation and noted that repeated appeals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators to justice had not stopped reports of further incidents.

Under the resolution, official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff are suspended.
The boycott also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other activities organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.

Physical participation in South African-hosted legislative programmes, as well as participation through virtual or online platforms, is also covered.

The leadership has directed the Clerk to issue the necessary communication to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff to ensure strict compliance.

The suspension, it said, would remain in force until further notice and would be subject to review by the leadership as circumstances warrant.

WIDER GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The National Assembly’s action comes after months of renewed hostility towards African migrants in South Africa and a series of measures by the Nigerian government.

In June, Nigeria began evacuating citizens from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks.

The first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 11, while subsequent evacuation flights brought back several more.

By July 9, the number of Nigerians evacuated had risen to about 1,000.

The Federal Government said that Nigerians who voluntarily registered, were screened, and cleared would be brought home safely.
The returns continued beyond the initial evacuation exercise.

In August, 83 Nigerian returnees arrived in Lagos following renewed xenophobic attacks, while another 67 returned a week later.

The returnees were received by government agencies for documentation, profiling, and reunification with their families.

DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE

Nigeria has also pressed South Africa to take concrete action against the attacks.

In July, the Federal Government urged South African authorities to address recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, while Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa said the government had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by returning Nigerians with a view to seeking possible compensation.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently raised the issue at the African Union, calling for collective action and urging the AU to place xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027.

Vice President Kashim Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s opposition to the mistreatment of Nigerians and other African nationals, while stressing that Nigeria remained committed to dialogue and peaceful engagement with South Africa.

However, the National Assembly said its latest decision is not intended to undermine the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

Rather, it described the suspension as a strong expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses there.

It called on the South African government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals, prevent further xenophobic attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable in accordance with the law.

The leadership also urged state Houses of Assembly to take note of the decision and said they may consider taking similar action, reaffirming its commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and saying it would continue to monitor developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.

Socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has spoken out on why he believes the Igbo community will throw its weight behind President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a video posted to his Instagram page on September 7, 2026, the nightlife entrepreneur addressed APC supporters in Imo state in his capacity as the state Director of the City Boy Movement, a political support group aligned with Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda.

According to Cubana Chief Priest, the key reason Igbos are rallying around the president is the access they now have to his office through his son, Seyi Tinubu.

"We Igbos now have access to Mr. President Tinubu through his son, Seyi Tinubu. That's why we're doing everything to make sure he's re-elected," he said in the clip.

The celebrity barman also reported that Imo state residents were turning out in large numbers to register with the APC, describing the enthusiasm as a sign of genuine belief in the movement rather than mere political obligation.

"Thousands of Imolites are trooping in for registration for APC. Ndi Imo don't just love the City Boys Movement, they believe in it. Let's do politics with lifestyle. On Asiwaju's mandate, we shall stand. Imo is APC. Here, it's zero competition," he added.

His caption echoed these sentiments, with Cubana Chief Priest stating that he had relocated back home to personally ensure APC's success in the state and that registration queues had been too long to clear in a single day.

"I Have Moved Back Home To Make Sure I Deliver @officialasiwajubat It Was A Very Busy Day At The Office Today, We Had Thousands Of Imolites Trooping In For Registration. Ndi IMO Don’t Just Love @cityboy.movement They Believe In It So They Want To Be Part Of It. We Couldn’t Register All But Tomorrow Is Another Day See Y’all At The Office Tomorrow Let’s Do Politics With Lifestyle. On Asiwaju’s Mandate We Shall Stand. IMO Is 💯 APC, Here It’s Zero Competition."

Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi does not give out money for political campaigns.

Olayinka recalled that Obi “dropped money” for party delegates in Ekiti State during the 2023 elections.

Featuring on AIT’s Democracy Today, the minister’s spokesman insisted that politics is business.

According to Olayinka: “As a politician or a business man, if your competitor wins what happens to you? If you are seeking a contract from somewhere and your competitor wins, what happens to you? You will lose out.

“Most of us Nigerians, politics is business and service. You can only serve when you get to power.

“You want to serve me, for instance, why do politicians spend money including the US? Don’t politicians spend money on campaigns? They spend money to seek election.

“I contested for the House of Representatives in 2023, in your party primaries, you give people money; so let’s not come on television and start deceiving ourselves and people.

“They said that the candidate of the NDC, Peter Obi does not give ‘shishi,’ it’s a lie. I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was in PDP before going to the Labour Party, he came to Ekiti and dropped money for delegates.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed a petition seeking an investigation into alleged “systemic kidnappings in Nigeria as crimes against humanity”.

The petition was dismissed by the pre-trial chamber II of the ICC on September 1.

The development comes amid rising cases of kidnappings across the country.

The decision was issued by Rosario Salvatore Aitala, the presiding judge, alongside Sergio Godínez, and Haykel Mahfoudh.

In the decision published on the ICC website, the three-member panel said the court’s registrar transmitted the petition filed, by an unnamed individual, to the president of the pre-trial division on August 24, 2026.

The petition was titled “Formal Communication Requesting Investigation into Systemic Kidnappings in Nigeria as Crimes Against Humanity”.

However, after the petition was assigned to the chamber on August 26, 2026, the panel dismissed it for lacking “any legal basis”.

FG FAULTS ICC’S HANDLING OF ANONYMOUS PETITION

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, said it was improper for the president of the pre-trial division of the ICC to assign an unverified filing from an anonymous person to the pre-trial chamber II.

Fagbemi said the petition was assigned without establishing whether the chamber had the legal authority to handle the matter or whether the complaint was manifestly frivolous.

“The Federal Government notes with serious concern that on 26th August 2026, the President of the Pre-Trial Division improperly initiated a procedural process by assigning an unverified filing from an anonymous submitter to Pre-Trial Chamber II, purportedly pursuant to Regulation 46(3) of the Regulations of the Court.

The statement reads;

“This administrative assignment was executed without a prior, reasoned threshold determination on the competence of the Pre-Trial Chamber or whether the communication was manifestly frivolous, thereby breaching the foundational procedural safeguards established under the Court’s own regulations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, internal administrative guidelines cannot be used to bypass the strict rules established under the Rome Statute.

“The authority to evaluate information or request an investigation rests solely with the Prosecutor of the ICC, or through formal referrals by a State Party or the UN Security Council. The Rome Statute gives neither the President of the Pre-Trial Division nor any Pre-Trial Chamber the power to receive anonymous petitions or interfere in the internal security matters of a sovereign nation.

“The Federal Government emphasizes that such procedural breaches risk casting an unnecessary shadow over the integrity of the Court’s judicial processes.

“Unchecked administrative entertainments of unverified, anonymous requests have the potential to impugn and strain the progress, mutual respect, and constructive cooperation painstakingly built over the years between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Criminal Court.”.

Fagbemi assured Nigerians that ICC had not initiated any investigation against the Nigerian state or its institutions.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says filling stations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will begin adjusting petrol pump prices downward in the next few days.

The National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Mr Chinedu Ukadike, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Ukadike said that marketers were preparing to adjust their pricing and sales strategies when the new products enter the market.

He said the arrival of the new products could bring changes to the current market.

He further said that marketers would make necessary adjustments to ensure that consumers could continue to purchase the products they need.

He said the timing of the arrival of the new products remained uncertain, as marketers had yet to have a definite date.

According to him, the process will be guided by existing rules and regulations.

“Once the new products begin arriving, marketers are expected to respond quickly by reviewing their prices and updating their product offerings.

“After this process, when we make purchases tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, as soon as it starts, we will adjust our prices and begin making the new products available to consumers.

“The purchases can begin in few days, depending on when the process officially commences,” he said.

He said the development was expected to bring further changes to the market as filling stations adjust their prices and make the new products available to consumers.

NAN reports that Dangote Refinery increased its gantry price, or ex-depot price, from N1,165 per litre to N1,185 per litre, and subsequently to N1,200 and N1,265 within the last week.

The increase has been reflected in pump prices across filling stations in the FCT.

Many motorists expressed concerns over the high pump prices and urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene by stabilising fuel prices.

President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has commended the federal government for implementing bold and transformative economic reforms that are repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth, strengthening investor confidence, and accelerating the country’s economic recovery.

Dangote said ongoing fiscal, monetary, and regulatory reforms had contributed significantly to improving macroeconomic stability, enhancing productivity across key sectors, increasing Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination, and fostering a more resilient business environment.

According to a statement issued yesterday by Dangote Group, the chief executive stated that the positive outcomes emerging from the federal government’s reform agenda underscore the importance of consistent, market-driven policies in advancing national development and economic prosperity.

Dangote stated, “The economic reforms being implemented by the federal government are beginning to yield tangible results. We are witnessing improved economic activity, stronger investor confidence, increased industrial productivity, and a more resilient business environment.

“These measures are laying a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth and long-term prosperity for Nigeria.”

Dangote explained that the reforms had created a more enabling operating environment for businesses, particularly large-scale manufacturing and industrial enterprises critical to economic diversification, job creation, foreign exchange generation, and national competitiveness.

He added that government initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, promoting investment, enhancing transparency, and supporting domestic production were already providing a solid framework for industrial expansion.

“We commend the federal government for its courage and determination in implementing reforms that are essential for economic transformation,” he stated.

“While every reform process comes with initial challenges, the benefits are increasingly evident in stronger economic indicators, improved business confidence, and renewed investor interest in Nigeria,” Dangote said.

Dangote observed that the government’s favourable policy environment had supported the continued growth and efficient operation of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex, Africa’s largest integrated refining and petrochemical facility.

He stated that policy measures designed to strengthen local refining capacity, reduce import dependence, improve energy security, and encourage value addition had contributed meaningfully to the refinery’s success and Nigeria’s broader economic development objectives.

The statement said, “The progress being recorded at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex is closely linked to a policy environment that encourages investment, supports domestic industrialisation, and promotes self-sufficiency.

“These reforms are helping Nigerian businesses to plan with greater certainty, invest with confidence, and compete effectively on the global stage.”

Dangote stated that the refinery’s increasing production capacity and expanding export footprint were contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic resurgence by generating foreign exchange earnings, creating employment opportunities, strengthening local supply chains, and positioning the country as a leading energy and manufacturing hub.

Reaffirming the group’s commitment to supporting the federal government’s economic agenda, Dangote said the DIL would continue to invest in strategic sectors, drive innovation, promote industrial development, and create sustainable employment opportunities.

Dangote stated, “Our vision has always been to support Nigeria’s economic development through transformative investments. Today, we are witnessing how the combination of private-sector commitment and decisive government policies can unlock unprecedented opportunities for national growth.

“The refinery, petrochemical operations, fertiliser production, and our other industrial investments are helping to build a more self-reliant, competitive, and prosperous economy.”

He expressed confidence that sustained reforms, policy consistency, and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors would further stimulate economic growth, attract increased foreign direct investment, and reinforce Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations.

Dangote said, “Nigeria is on the path to becoming one of the world’s leading industrial and economic powers. With continued policy consistency, robust private-sector participation, and investment-led growth, the future of our economy is exceptionally bright.”

Ambassador Designate to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, Reno Omokri, has cautioned against any plans to reintroduce fuel subsidy and full reopening of Nigeria’s land borders, warning that such move could trigger massive smuggling and worsen insecurity.

Omokri spoke, in an apparent reaction to the plans by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and remove fuel subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Atiku had said the policy would revive transborder trade, which he argued had been disrupted by prolonged restrictions on the country’s borders with neighbouring countries.

The former Vice President made the pledge while addressing supporters in a video shared online by ADC chieftain, Dele Momodu, on Friday.

According to Atiku who had earlier revealed plans to reintroduce fuel subsidy, the border restrictions had negatively affected businesses and contributed to unemployment, particularly among young Nigerians who depend on cross-border trade.

He said many young people who previously operated businesses with substantial capital had been forced out of business following the closure and restrictions imposed on some land borders.

“So I said I am going to reopen the borders and I will,” Atiku said.

However, in a terse statement on Friday, Omokri stressed that combining both policies would “unleash the greatest ever smuggling of petroleum products from Nigeria to neighbouring nations.”

He recalled that the last time Nigeria operated full fuel subsidy with open borders, “25 million litres per day of a total subsidised quota of 66.1 million litres per day were smuggled out of Nigeria,” while rice and poultry imported through neighbours were also smuggled into the country.

According to Omokri, “If you reintroduce fuel subsidy and simultaneously reopen all of Nigeria’s land borders, what you are doing is unleashing the greatest ever smuggling of petroleum products from Nigeria to neighbouring nations.

“Let us be careful! The last time we had these conditions (full fuel subsidy, along with open borders), 25 million litres per day of a total subsidised quota of 66.1 million litres per day were smuggled out of Nigeria, while rice and poultry imported via our neighbours were smuggled into Nigeria.

“The immediate effect was the depletion of our foreign reserves, the collapse of the Naira, and the near destruction of our rice and poultry farmers, who could not compete with smuggled imported rice and chicken that flooded the market.

“Please fact-check me: The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) reported that as of 2026, rice smuggling has forced 90 of the 150 industrial-scale rice mills in Nigeria to go out of business, and those that are not yet out of business operate below capacity, while the Poultry Association of Nigeria revealed that Nigeria loses $2 billion each year as a result of smuggled poultry.

“But, even more than that, when you open Nigeria’s borders without restrictions, as has been proposed, you give terrorists and bandits a leeway to flood Nigeria with light weapons and ammunition, because the borders will be overwhelmed and our customs and immigration officials will be overstretched.

“Again, I urge us all to think things through. Elections will come and go, but Nigeria remains.

“President Bola Tinubu directed the reopening of Nigeria’s land borders with the Republic of Niger via specific routes on March 13, 2024. On February 6, 2026, the President also ordered the reopening of an additional route, the Tsamiya border in Kebbi State.

“His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has ordered the immediate expansion of Nigeria’s military through the recruitment of additional troops.

“The Nigerian Army will expand from eight to twelve Divisions. The additional 4 divisions will increase Nigerian Army personnel by 28,000 troops.

“The President also plans for Nigeria to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards per state, depending on the state’s landmass.

“Once we have the personnel needed to secure our porous borders, we will eventually reopen all of them.

“But to reopen all borders without first securing them is to put Nigeria’s security and her economy at risk and portends great danger for Nigerian citizens.”

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, has described President Bola Tinubu as a formidable political opponent, warning opposition politicians against attempting to unseat the incumbent without first building a united front ahead of the 2027 general election.

Duke, a former Cross River State governor, disclosed this in an interview shared by Symfoni, a podcast on its YouTube channel on Friday.
There, he warned that fragmented coalition can’t beat Tinubu in 2027.

Discussing the prospects of opposition parties challenging the All Progressives Congress in 2027, Duke said the advantage of incumbency should not be underestimated.

He argued that the ruling party’s control of government institutions gives an incumbent president a significant advantage during elections.

“Even if the APC did nothing, right? They’re the party in power. If there’s a problem on that day, the IG of police will not go to any of the contestants. He’ll go to the president.

“So everything is skewed in favour of incumbent. Respect that,” Duke said.

According to him, opposition parties must therefore come together if they hope to mount a serious challenge against Tinubu.

He stated, “The only way you can seriously charge tackling incumbent is to come together to tackle and to have the force.

“Otherwise, you’ll be factionalised. So, I think when you talk of rigging, we’re rigging it against ourselves because of our ego. We need to come together.”

Duke then used a colourful analogy to describe the challenge of taking on Tinubu, urging opposition politicians to recognise the President’s political strength.

“Bola Tinubu is not an average politician. You don’t go to fight a lion who also has horns,” he said.

Explaining the metaphor, Duke said confronting such an opponent without adequate preparation would leave the challenger vulnerable.

“Can you imagine a lion with a horn? Yes, right? It’s already a dangerous animal.

“Then you now give it a horn and you say go and fight it with knife and fork. You’ll be the dinner. So, let’s get real,” he said.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has emerged as the major driver of a seven-fold increase in Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product exports since 2023, according to the latest report by the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The U.S. agency said Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product shipments averaged 561,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter of 2026, representing a significant increase from the annual average of 79,000 bpd recorded in 2023.

According to the EIA, the surge in exports has strengthened Nigeria’s position in the international petroleum products market at a time when supplies from several other regions have experienced constraints.

The agency attributed the increase largely to the commencement of operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in January 2024.

However, the report was coming a day after the factsheet from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) indicated that Dangote fuel supply to the domestic market dropped significantly.

Supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petroleum by Dangote Petrochemical Refinery to the local market dropped by 21 per cent to 25.8 million litres per day in July.

According to the NMDPRA figure, the refinery produced 25.9 million litres of PMS per day and exported 3.4 million litres per day.
The July figure is the lowest the refinery supplied to the domestic market in 2026.

On the other hand, importation of the product increased by nine per cent to 19.7 million barrels per day from the 18.1 million litres imported in June.

This implies that the refinery has continued to export a large chunk of its products while at the same remaining the dominant supplier of petroleum products in Nigeria.

WHAT THE EIA REPORT IS SAYING?

Data from energy intelligence firm Vortexa showed that of the 561,000 bpd shipped during the second quarter of 2026, about 350,000 bpd were exported, compared with an annual average of 46,000 bpd in 2023.

The EIA said increased production from the refinery has transformed Nigeria’s petroleum products market by reducing dependence on imports while increasing domestic supply.

“With increased supply of petroleum products from the country’s largest refinery, imports fell, exports increased, and Nigeria became more self-sufficient in refined petroleum products,” the agency said.

Before the Dangote Refinery began operations, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries collectively shipped less than 100,000 bpd of petroleum products, both domestically and internationally.

The EIA noted that shipments increased significantly after the refinery commenced operations and received another boost following the completion of maintenance and expansion activities in February 2026.

The agency explained that the refinery’s crude distillation capacity rose from 650,000 bpd to 700,000 bpd after the completion of the expansion programme, allowing for higher output and greater availability of petroleum products.

According to the report, total petroleum product shipments increased further as supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz generated additional demand for alternative sources of refined petroleum products.

The EIA reported that intra-Nigerian shipments climbed to 211,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 81,000 bpd in 2025 and 33,000 bpd in 2023. The increase reflects the growing role of the Dangote Refinery in supplying petroleum products across the country.

By supplying refined petroleum products to various regions of Nigeria, the Dangote Refinery has significantly reduced the country’s dependence on imported fuels.

Nigeria, which imported nearly 400,000 bpd of petroleum products in 2023, recorded a decline in seaborne imports to less than 130,000 bpd by the second quarter of 2026, according to the report.

The EIA also pointed to increasing demand for Nigerian petroleum products in international markets. Vortexa data cited by the agency showed that exports to Europe averaged 130,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 40,000 bpd in 2025 and 15,000 bpd in 2023.

Dangote Refinery has also announced plans to bring an additional 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) of fully complex refining capacity on stream by the end of 2028.

The additional capacity would be added to its current capacity of about 700,000 bpd, potentially bringing the refinery’s total capacity to around 1.4 million bpd.

The refinery’s CEO, David Bird, said long-lead equipment has already been procured and construction contracts are being awarded.

OIL PRICES FALL

Meanwhile, oil prices fell on Tuesday as hopes for a negotiated settlement between the United States and Iran offset growing concerns over tightening sanctions and disruptions to Iranian crude exports.

The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Tehran, threatening sanctions against commercial partners that continue trading with Iran.

The move comes amid a sharp decline in Iranian crude exports, which have fallen significantly below the 2025 average of 1.7 million barrels per day.

However, efforts by Pakistan to mediate between the two sides have raised hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough, easing some of the bullish momentum in the oil market.

Brent crude fell to around $89 per barrel yesterday it eased further to $88.40 as of press time as traders weighed the possibility of negotiations against the risk of further disruption to Iranian oil supplies.

Iran’s August crude exports have so far averaged only about 300,000 barrels per day, compared with last year’s average, while Chinese buyers have continued to take Iranian barrels from available stocks.

Reports hinted that prolonged restrictions on Iranian oil shipments could further tighten supplies, with Iranian floating storage outside the Gulf already declining.

Reno Omokri, Ambassador-designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, has challenged Atiku Abubakar’s claim that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old.

Omokri, in a statement on Friday, also challenged journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, to testify to the authenticity of a photograph he said was taken with Tinubu in London in 1996.

The intervention came after Atiku, in a BBC interview published on Friday, claimed that Tinubu was 90 years old and said he had evidence to prove the allegation in court.

Atiku had said, “I have a president who is 90 years old now, and who is sick, and I am healthy, I am strong, so why would I not make my services available to my fellow countrymen?”

When the interviewer challenged the claim, noting that Tinubu was not yet 90 and that his age could not be confirmed or denied, Atiku replied, “I have evidence that he is, and I will present it in court.”

Reacting to the claim, Omokri posted a photograph purportedly showing Tinubu and Momodu in London in 1996, arguing that the image raised questions about the allegation that the President was 90.

He said, “This is a photo of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dele Momodu taken in London in 1996. If Asiwaju is indeed 90 years old, as recently alleged, then Dele Momodu must be in his eighties.

“Look at the photo yourself. I have not altered it in any way. Dele Momodu is alive to testify to the authenticity of this photograph and the date and place where it was taken.”

Omokri then questioned whether Tinubu appeared to be 60 years old in the photograph, arguing that if the President were 90 in 2026, he would have been 60 when the photograph was allegedly taken 30 years ago.

“Does His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, look like a sixty-year-old in this photo?” he asked.

He added, “If Asiwaju is indeed ninety years of age, then he would have been sixty when this photo was taken exactly thirty years ago.

“I urge objective Nigerians and citizens of the world to again look at this photo. Does the gentleman on the right look sixty? Does he even look fifty?”

Omokri also appealed to Momodu, recalling the latter’s previous comments about Tinubu’s support for him during his exile from the regime of the late military dictator, Sani Abacha.

“I remind Dele Momodu that, by his own admission, Asiwaju was good to him when he was in exile from the Abacha regime.

“Mr Momodu is free to support whichever candidate he chooses. But will it be morally acceptable for Dele Momodu to watch idly by as a man who was once his benefactor, and who he once referred to as his friend, is being accused of being a nonagenarian suffering from ill health?” he said.

Omokri said political campaigns should focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than what he described as attempts to “age-shame” political opponents.

“Perhaps we can raise the bar for this election by raising issues germane to the Nigerian people and brainstorming ideas to resolve the challenges plaguing our polity.

“But to age-shame people with ages that are not even theirs is to reduce the discussion about who governs Nigeria to an unbecoming level,” he said.

Tinubu, 74, according to his publicly stated date of birth, was born on March 29, 1952. The President has previously faced questions and controversies over his age and academic records, although he has consistently maintained his stated personal details.

Meanwhile, Atiku, who emerged as the ADC presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election, said he remained fit and capable of contesting for the presidency.

The former vice president said, “Why should you question me on my right? It is my constitutional right. I am strong, I am healthy, I am agile.”

Atiku said his experience, competence and patriotism were among the reasons he believed he was qualified to lead Nigeria.

He also criticised the Federal Government over insecurity, arguing that inadequate manpower and equipment had weakened the country’s security architecture.

The former vice president promised that if elected in 2027, his administration would tackle insurgency and insecurity within its first year in office.

“I believe within one year they should be able to see that. And believe me, within one year, we can control this insurgency and insecurity that is all over the place,” Atiku said.