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Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, says the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project reached 72 percent completion rate at the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Ojulari announced the development at the 2025 Oloibiri lecture series and energy forum (OLEF) organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
In his keynote address, Ojulari, represented by Udy Ntia, NNPC executive vice-president, upstream, said globally, upstream oil and gas companies are expected to invest more than $30 billion in digital technologies in 2025.
“These technologies are not optional extras. They are foundational to improving asset reliability, lowering lifting costs, and reducing greenhouse gas effects,” he said.
“At the NNPC Ltd., we have embraced digital transformation not as a buzzword but as an operational imperative. We have embraced this reality with deliberate strategy.
“Our upstream subsidiary is deploying real-time reservoir monitoring, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven subsurface imaging to drive value and operational resilience.”
Ojulari said its digital transformation roadmap is anchored on three core pillars: intelligent automation, data governance, and cyber resilience.
“But beyond revenue, our hydrocarbon wealth must now become a bridge to a broader, more sustainable energy future. Technology is no longer an enabler. It has now become a fulcrum,” the NNPC boss said.
“In alignment with Nigeria’s energy transition plan, targeting to achieve net zero emissions by 2060, the NNPC Ltd. has initiated gas-led transition programmes, including the expansion of autogas programme, targeting more than one million vehicles through 2026.
“Energy transition is not a story. It is a global necessity, but its pathways must be shaped by local realities. Africa cannot afford a transition that leaves its people in the dark.
“As we forge ahead into this new energy era, let us remember sustainability is not a destination. It is a journey, a journey powered by technology, guided by sound policy, and anchored on a robust ethical supply chain.”
In June 2024, the federal government said the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project would be delivered by the first quarter of 2025, but the deadline has been missed.
[TheCable]
‘Go to court not police’ - Falana slams Akpabio for petitioning IGP over Natasha’s allegation
AFOLABI
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Femi Falana has slammed the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for petitioning the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun over the assassination allegation made against him by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Falana said in seeking redress, the Senate President should not have petitioned the IGP on the matter if he believes the Kogi Central lawmaker defamed his character.
Describing the matter as politically-motivated, Falana said since Akpabio in his petition alleged character defamation and claimed that the allegation of assassination plot is false, he (the Senate President) should desist from using the Police to criminalise a civil dispute.
“In the said petition, Senator Akpabio, stated that the alleged defamatory statement is ‘entirely false, unfounded and politically motivated’. To that extent, the Nigeria Police Force should not be asked to criminalise a civil dispute that is ‘politically motivated,’” the senior lawyer said.
Citing a couple of cases, Falana said the Court of Appeal had cautioned public officers against using state’s machinery to harass or intimidate their political opponents.
He also said that the court also urged public office holders to ensure they do not diminish from the freedom gained from colonial masters by resorting to laws enacted by them to suit their purpose.
Further noting that public officers must be tolerant of criticism and where a writer overshoots his or her boundary, Falana said there should be a resort to the law of libel rather than intimidation.
He added, “In view of the above epochal words of the Court of Appeal, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio should be advised to institute a libel suit in the appropriate High Court if he feels defamed by the statement credited to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at a political rally.”
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, April 10, gifted the best-graduating student of the Lagos State University (LASU) a whooping sum of N10 million.
Ojo Nwosu Isioma who received the funds from the Lagos State governor bagged a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93.
Portable Reveals What Stopped Him From Sleeping With Bobrisky
A graduate of Biochemistry, Nwosu finished from the university with a first-class degree.
Speaking during the convocation ceremony of the institution, the governor represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat said the state government is committed to ensuring the provision of quality education for the younger ones.
He also stated that Nwosu’s success has made the Lagos State government, LASU, and the entire university community proud.
He assured that Lagos State is working closely with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to ensure that students get all the financial assistance they need to excel in their academics.Nigerian cultural tours
“Education is the backbone of our society, and we must recognise its importance in addressing societal needs and human development.
“As leaders, we must ensure our educational system remains relevant and effective in providing innovative solutions to real-life problems,” the governor said.
The Ebonyi State High Court on Thursday ordered the release of 12 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who had been in custody since May 24, 2021.
Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, IPOB lawyer, who made this known in a statement issued after the court ruling said that the freed individuals are part of a larger group of 36 IPOB supporters who were arrested nearly four years ago.
Ejiofor noted that despite multiple court rulings over the years discharging and acquitting them of all charges, they had remained in detention until Thursday’s ruling.
The ruling followed a formal application by the Ebonyi State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
He said that the DPP acknowledged the series of judicial pronouncements and formally withdrew the latest charges against the 12 detainees, effectively ending their years-long incarceration.
According to him, the court directive was carried out without delay, and the individuals were handed over in compliance with the ruling.
“It marked a long-overdue respect for the rule of law and a reaffirmation of their innocence, which courts had upheld time and again,” Ejiofor said.
Ejiofor emphasised that the legal team remains committed to the release of the remaining IPOB members, who, according to him, have also been acquitted by no fewer than four separate High Courts in Ebonyi State.
“Their release is no longer a matter of if but when, and that moment draws closer by the day,” he said.
A leading Islamic cleric and National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Ibrahim Jalingo, has stirred intense controversy after publicly endorsing the death penalty for individuals who renounce Islam, claiming it is supported by the Qur’an.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Jalingo defended a Hadith that prescribes death for apostates, dismissing critics who challenge its validity as suffering from “compound ignorance.”
Responding to what he called fabricated arguments aimed at discrediting Hadith literature, Jalingo quoted the contentious narration: “Whoever changes his religion, kill him” and insisted it aligns with Islamic teachings.
He accused those questioning the Hadith of lacking proper religious understanding.
“The Qur’an is a revelation from Allah, and so is the Hadith,” Jalingo wrote.
“Often, the Qur’an addresses matters briefly, while the Hadith comes to elaborate. This Hadith does not contradict the Qur’an—it reinforces it.”
Citing verses from the Qur’an—Surah At-Tawbah (9:5), Surah Al-Baqarah (2:193), and Surah An-Nisa’ (4:89 and 4:91)—Jalingo argued that Islamic scripture calls for severe consequences for apostasy and polytheism, including death in certain contexts.
He also claimed that the oft-quoted verse promoting religious freedom, “There is no compulsion in religion” (Qur’an 2:256), had been abrogated by later revelations.
In a particularly inflammatory remark, Jalingo launched a personal attack on his critics, likening them to “prostitutes and effeminate men,” while praising his supporters for upholding “true” Islamic principles.
His comments have since gone viral, drawing both applause from hardline followers and widespread condemnation from other Muslim scholars, civil society actors, and human rights advocates
The South-East Elders Alliance for Tinubu 2027 has called on Nigerians to support the second-term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
The Enugu North Senatorial District chapter of the group called for support for the president’s re-election after a meeting on Wednesday.
In a communique jointly signed by its leaders including its National Coordinator, South East, Humphrey Nsofor and the Deputy National Coordinator, Damian Opata, the group said President Tinubu has done well for the region.
According to the group, the region has immensely benefitted from the president’s administration, especially with key appointments handed to their sons.
Listing some of the juicy positions handed to some individuals from the Southeast region, the group pleaded with Mr. President to originate and forward to the National Assembly, the bill amending the constitutional provisions to create more states in Nigeria.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Professor Iliyasu Usman was the first Igbo Imam of the Central Mosque, Abuja. Professor Usman is of Nsukka Igbo extraction.”
“The appointment of Dr Mrs Amaka Onu as Board Member, Federal Polytechnic, Jigawa State,” the communique said.
The group further urged President Tinubu to put in more efforts into improving the security situation across the country.
“In this regard, we suggest that the President should seriously consider the idea of setting up a Digital Response Arm / Unit within the Nigerian security system.
“Finally, we plead with all Nigerians to support President Tinubu for a second term, come 2027. This would enable him to complete the Southern mandate of eight years. We believe that this would reduce acrimony in the choice of presidential candidates for the 2027 presidential elections,” it added.
Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) ban on the broadcast of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa,” describing it as a violation of freedom of expression and the right to access information.
In a statement released on its official Facebook page, Amnesty International stated that the ban, which categorized the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” for its critical tone towards the government, is an abuse of power.
The organisation called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately direct NBC to withdraw the ban, emphasising that the song’s criticism of those in power is not grounds for censorship.
Amnesty International argued that the Nigerian people have a right to freedom of expression and that there is no legal justification for prohibiting the song from being aired on radio and television. The organization also criticised NBC’s reliance on the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, which they called deeply flawed, as a basis for the ban. Amnesty stressed that such actions represent an increasing intolerance of dissenting voices in Nigeria.
The statement further highlighted that the ban is incompatible with the right to access information and media freedom. It called for the urgent repeal of heavy censorship regulations by NBC, which have been used to limit freedom of expression in the country. Amnesty warned that the arbitrary nature of the ban would create a chilling effect on media outlets, potentially silencing artists and stifling creativity.
Amnesty International also pointed out that the ban violates Nigeria’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights protecting freedom of expression.
The organisation urged President Tinubu’s government to act swiftly and reverse the ban to avoid further promoting censorship and creating a climate of fear and repression.
This comes after the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government and the NBC, demanding the immediate reversal of the ban on Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa.”
Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president of Nigeria on Friday, April 11, visited the immediate past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna.
In a video shared by the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on X, Atiku said he paid a post-Sallah visit to Buhari.
The video also captured other leaders including the former governors of Sokoto and Kaduna States, Aminu Tambuwal and Nasir El-Rufai.
It is, however, not clear whether the former vice president visited the home of Buhari in the company of the other politicians.
In his post, Atiku said the former President in his usual manner cracked them up with jokes during their time with him.
He wrote, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in my Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations.
“Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015-2023.
“It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour,” Atiku stated.
As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in my Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu… pic.twitter.com/99R24FUGB3
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) April 11, 2025
Lamidi Apapa, the factional leader of the Labour Party has said that considering rank and age, he should become the next National Chairman of the Labour Party.
Speaking on News Night Programme on Arise Television on Thursday, April 10, Apapa said in the situation where the National Chairman is unable to perform his duties, he (Apapa) ought to be the next in line.
Citing Article 14 of the Labour Party’s constitution, Apapa said out of all the leaders withing the party, he is the only one with the authority to serve as the National Chairman of LP.
“If the National Chairman of the party for any reason is unable to person his duties, the deputy chairman of the party takes over. It’s automatic, I don’t have to derive authority from anybody because the constitution has allowed me to do that.
“That is the function of the deputy national chairman, unfortunately, among all the deputy national chairmen, I happen to be the oldest among them; on the hierarchy, I am the next person to Abure,” the LP leaders stated.
He added that “On the list of officers, I am the next person to Abure which means I am the closest person to him in rank and everything.
“When I took over, what I told those who called themselves stakeholders today is that nobody can be a judge in his own case. Allow Abure to step aside, let us investigate Abure; that time, the NEC, the Obi who is our principal and the so-called stakeholders were backing him and I was being blackmailed of being sponsored,” Apapa said.
He also alleged that key leaders of the party had earlier left substance to pursue shadows by first accusing him of being sponsored by the ruling party.
The LP’s factional leader said he now feels vindicated with the current happenings within the Labour Party.
Life expectancy is the average lifespan of a population and can often be attributed to factors such as high infant and maternal mortality rates, prevalence of infectious diseases, limited access to quality healthcare, malnutrition, socio-economic challenges and unsafe living conditions.
1. Chad (52.5 years)
Chad has the shortest life expectancy among African countries and this tragic reality can be attributed to health issues and diseases.
In Chad, communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions have been leading causes of death, contributing to the low life expectancy in the nation.
According to WHO, in Chad, life expectancy at birth improved by 7.92 years from 51.2 [50.3 – 52.2] years in 2000 to 59.1 [57.9 – 60.4] years in 2021.
2. Nigeria (53.63 years)
Nigerian life expectancy stands second on the list of shortest life expectancy in Africa with several communicable diseases and health issues. The leading cause of death in Nigeria is malaria followed by ischemic heart disease and stroke.
3. Central African Republic (53.9 years)
The average lifespan in the Central African Republic (CAR) is around 57 years, highlighting the severe effects of decades of poverty, armed conflict and political instability on the nation’s healthcare system. The leading causes of death in the Central African Republic are tuberculosis, malaria and violence.
4. South Sudan (55.0 years)
Although South Sudan holds the distinction of being the world’s youngest nation, Since its inception, South Sudan has faced significant challenges, including political instability and economic hardships. This young country has a low life expectancy and there are many reasons for this, such as inadequate healthcare services, insufficient food, displacement and continuous civil violence.
5. Somalia (56 years)
The Federal Republic of Somalia is a country in East Africa with more than half of its population living below the poverty line. Famine in Somalia has put millions of people at risk of severe malnutrition and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and measles. The leading cause of death in Somalia, according to WHO, is lower respiratory infections, putting Somalia at number five on the list of countries with the lowest life expectancy.
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Annkio Briggs accuses Ibas of Acting Wike’s Script In Rivers By sacking Fubara’s men - appointing Wike’s allies
AFOLABI
Nigerian environmentalist and human rights activist, Annkio Briggs has accused Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired) of bias in handling the political affairs of the state.Nigerian cultural tours
Briggs while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Times Show said there are serious concerns brewing among indigenes and residents of Rivers State following that actions taken by Ibas.
Briggs allegations against the state’s sole administrator comes shortly after he (Ibas) appointed administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
According to the activist, the recent appointments announced by Ibas could lead to a political turmoil among the people of Rivers State and stakeholders in the state.
She said, “There’s serious concern, I can take the responsibility for that and say it to you, as a Rivers daughter, that there’s serious concern because this is the sort of thing that will explode. You will not be able to control it.”
Annikio-Briggs said she was in a meeting in Abuja when her phone kept ringing and she also received series of messages following the recent appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State by Ibas.
While expressing her shock over the recent appointments she said, “He has no such right constitutionally, the constitution does not give him those rights.
“I do not believe that President asked him that when you get to Rivers State, dismantle what you find there and agitate the people of Rivers State.
“He is not neutral, he is working a script, he is playing out a script and we all know what script he is playing out – the script of Nyesom Wike. Because the people that are being removed right now as I speak to you are the people that Fubara put there; the people that he Ibas is bringing in are majorly Wike’s people. It is a disaster,” Briggs noted.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and top party stalwarts have resolved not to join any coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, opting instead to focus on rebuilding and strengthening the PDP.
This decision was reached at a crucial overnight meeting held from Wednesday night into Thursday morning in Abuja, where party leaders unanimously agreed that resources and energy should be channeled into revitalizing the PDP rather than exploring new political alliances.
The meeting comes days after former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, hinted at a possible coalition of opposition forces to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Attending the meeting were influential party figures, including former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki; former governors Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri; and former Defence Minister, Lawal Batagarawa.
Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State represented the PDP Governors’ Forum.
A source privy to the meeting said the gathering was held in a frank and purposeful atmosphere, with a shared determination to strengthen the party from within.
“They resolved that there’s no need to abandon the PDP or work on any coalition,” the source told Daily Sun.
“Instead, they believe the same resources, energy, time, and strategies intended for building a coalition should be deployed toward revamping the PDP.”
The leaders also noted that all political parties, including the ruling APC, are grappling with internal crises and should not be seen as ideal alternatives.
The PDP, they emphasized, must focus on reconciliation, party unity, and grassroots mobilization as the 2027 elections approach.
The Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure has accused its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of orchestrating a plot to seize control of the party’s leadership structure for personal political gain.
In a statement on Thursday, LP National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, described a recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened by Obi and Otti in Abuja as “illegal” and a violation of the party’s constitution.
He claimed the duo is working to destabilize the party’s leadership and undermine its internal democratic processes.
“At the end of their illegal meeting in Abuja, Obi led other party outlaws to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in an attempt to pressure the Commission to take unlawful action against the party leadership,” Ibrahim said.
He questioned the urgency of their visit to INEC, saying, “If the Supreme Court ruling truly supports them, why the rush to INEC to exert undue influence?”
Ibrahim also alleged that Obi and Otti offered a “soft landing” to National Chairman Julius Abure, proposing to elevate him to Chairman of the Board of Trustees—an offer that was rejected.
“Abure did not appoint himself chairman. It’s not about personalities; it’s about the supremacy of party organs and adherence to due process,” he stated.
He further warned that attempts to offer political patronage in exchange for structural control undermined the essence of internal democracy and good governance.
He said: “This sort of arbitrary behaviour is partly responsible for the poor state of governance in Nigeria.”
Nigerian cultural tours
The LP Secretary alleged that the Abuja meeting included threats and plans to forcefully reclaim the party’s leadership—a move he described as “desperate” and unlawful.
Referencing a similar position from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who has threatened to picket LP offices across the country, Ibrahim added, “Our response to Obi, Otti, and other renegades is clear: their plans amount to self-help. If they believe the law is on their side, they should follow due process.”
He maintained that only the National Secretary, in consultation with the National Chairman, is authorized to convene NEC meetings, a position upheld by a recent Supreme Court ruling.
“Obi and Otti lack the constitutional authority to convene such a meeting. Therefore, both the meeting and its resolutions are null and void,” he said.
The statement also dismissed the list of attendees circulated ahead of the meeting—which reportedly included the 2023 vice-presidential candidate, members of a so-called “National Caretaker Committee,” lawmakers, and representatives of the NLC and TUC—as illegitimate.
“There is no provision for a ‘National Caretaker Committee’ in our constitution. Nor can a governor or a former presidential candidate unilaterally summon a NEC meeting,” Ibrahim insisted
Gunmen in South Africa have abducted a US missionary from his church as he was delivering a sermon, police and a colleague said Friday.
Pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted late Thursday at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell outside the coastal city of Gqeberha in what appeared to be a kidnapping for ransom, a colleague told AFP.
“It is alleged that while a sermon was conducted at the church, four armed and masked male suspects entered the church,” police said in a statement.
“They robbed two cell phones and then took the 45-year-old male pastor with them and fled the scene.”
Reverend Jeremy Hall, a pastor also based in the southeastern city, told AFP the abduction was probably “financially related”.
Sullivan was holding a prayer meeting with about 30 people, including his wife and six children, when four kidnappers entered, Hall said.
“They knew him by name,” he said. They took him at gunpoint and forced him into his car and drove off. The abandoned car was recovered about 1.5 kilometres (under a mile) from the church.
Sullivan arrived in South Africa with his family from Tennessee in November 2018, according to his personal website.
The police anti-gang unit said a Chinese national was kidnapped Tuesday in the city, which is on the Indian Ocean and about 920 kilometres (570 miles) southeast of Johannesburg.
There were more than 17,000 kidnappings in South Africa in the 2023/2024 financial year, an 11-percent increase over the previous year, according to police statistics.
AFP