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Former Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has disclosed that nearly six months into the fiscal year, the federal government has not released funds for the 2025 national budget.
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Speaking at a media and civil society roundtable on Friday in Abuja, Fayemi stated that no federal ministry, department, or agency (MDA) had received any allocation from the budget.
“June is in two days. Yet not one naira of the 2025 budget has been released to any MDA,” he said, describing the situation as a troubling disconnect between the National Assembly’s appropriation process and the executive arm’s implementation.
The roundtable, themed: “The Relevance of the FOI Act in Electoral Transparency and Accountability,” was organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) with support from the European Union under its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Phase II programme, marking the 14th anniversary of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Fayemi used the occasion to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey and the continuing push for openness in governance.
He commended the foundational role played by civil society organisations such as the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), and the IPC.
“This work is a long struggle in gestation,” Fayemi said. “CLO provided the space from which MRA and others emerged. Even IPC started from that push for accountability.”
The former Ekiti State Governor recounted publicly declaring his assets in 2010 during his time as governor, even when some advised against it. “I asked: what is ‘public’ about a secret asset declaration?” he said.
Fayemi credited the FOI Act with helping to expose “padded budgets, inserted projects, and ghost contracts,” citing recent revelations by civic tech platform BudgIT. However, he cautioned that transparency alone was not sufficient.
“You can have information without transparency, and transparency without accountability. Power knows the truth—it just chooses when to use it,” he said.
Highlighting reforms under his leadership, he pointed to the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme, which he chaired as head of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Dr Fayemi noted that Ekiti was one of the first states to publish contract and procurement data online.
“Under SFTAS, we encouraged peer review among states. You could go on the Ekiti procurement portal and see who got what contract, for how much, and under what terms,” he said.
In his welcome remarks, IPC Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, described the roundtable as a strategic platform for assessing how the FOI Act can enhance democratic governance, transparency, and accountability.
He also highlighted that the event marked the 14th anniversary of the Ekiti State FOI Law, which was enacted during Fayemi’s tenure as governor, making the state the first to domesticate the federal law.
“Ekiti State remains the first to have a state-level FOI law after the National Assembly passed it,” he said.
He also announced the belated presentation of a 2021 IPC FOI Champions Award to Fayemi in recognition of that milestone.
While noting the FOI Act’s impact, Arogundade pointed out its underutilisation by journalists, civil society groups, and citizens.
“The relatively low usage of the FOI Act is still a concern. But it remains a critical tool for transparency, especially in monitoring political financing and electoral processes,” he said.
Arogundade reaffirmed IPC’s commitment to using the EU-SDGN programme to strengthen media professionalism, counter disinformation, and support inclusive electoral coverage.
“We hope this roundtable will not only generate dialogue but also produce actionable steps and measurable outcomes to improve FOI compliance across Nigeria,” he added.
Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ovwian Ward 7, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have warned members not to allow anybody deceive them into joining the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The PDP leaders handed down the warning at a meeting held at the Ovwian Community’s town hall, calling on members to remain and work for the party to reclaim its stolen mandate from the local governments to the presidency.
In a remark, a former PDP Ward 7 leader, Odjeku Matthew Uparan said those they brought into the party were the ones deceiving them, assuring members of the party that the leaders will not betray the trust and confidence reposed in them as they remain in the PDP.
“There’s no other party apart from the PDP in Ovwian Ward 7.
“Nobody should deceive you to join APC. Stay in PDP and work for the party, if the APC comes to you, tell them to stay in their APC and let’s stay in our PDP.”
Another party Chieftain, Lawson.A. Oghoifo said those who defected to the APC had been problematic within the PDP before their defection.
He claimed that since their defection, the PDP has attained freedom, insisting that is a reason to celebrate.
Oghoifo said the PDP leaders are not running anywhere because they’re not thieves. “Na who thief nai dey run. We nor thief. So, we cannot leave PDP.”
The Federal Government has announced that students in both federal and state technical colleges will now enjoy free education.
According to the government, the package includes free tuition, accommodation, feeding, and a monthly stipend of N22,500 for each student.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement during the launch of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme in Abuja, on Friday.
Alausa explained that the initiative is aimed at attracting more young people to TVET and encouraging them to acquire relevant skills that will make them productive members of society.
Details later….
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joe Igbokwe, has again, rubbished the agitations for the actualization of Biafra as a sovereign state for Ndigbos.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Igbokwe said the “senseless agitations will destroy” the geo-political zone.
He wrote, “I wrote the Book, IGBO: 25 Years After Biafra in 1995 they did not listen. I wrote IGBO: 50 Years After Biafra in 2020 they did not listen.
“I have written hundreds of articles that these senseless agitations will destroy SE they did not listen. I am done”.
DAILY POST reports that Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB members are currently enforcing a compulsory sit-at-home in the region to mark the 2025 Biafra Day.
Several cities, including Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State, witnessed empty streets on Friday morning.
In many parts of the region, roads were virtually deserted except for occasional movements of tricycles and a few vehicles.
Nigerian singer and producer, Cobhams Asuquo, has opened up about his life as a visually impaired artiste.
The ‘One Hit’ hitmaker explained that due to his condition, he works five times harder than his colleagues.
Speaking during a recent interview with Hip TV, Cobhams urged people living with disabilities to embrace their reality and draw strength from it.
He said, “My awareness of myself as a blind person makes me work five times as hard [as others]. Because I realised that there is a stereotype around a blind person and the general assumption is that you are incapable. And because of that, I work hard to show that I can be capable of so many things.
“I think it’s totally okay to be blind. Secondly, for all intents and purposes, I think the world has just gone soft to a certain degree. And that’s fine. I think it’s okay to be sensitive. But I think it’s also okay to identify where you are and what you are dealing with so that you are not living in denial and looking for all kinds of euphemistic ways and names to call it.
“Call it what it is. Deal with it for what it is and ensure your strength through your disability as opposed to all these very interesting names. Not everybody is going to agree with me and that’s fine.
“I’m comfortable with being blind. Sometimes, we say impaired and I think impaired is great. My understanding of an impairment is that it’s weakness, it’s not a complete absence of something. So, if you are impaired, you are either weakened or unable to fully function in that capability. I’m not visually impaired, I don’t have a little bit of vision.
“I’m completely blind, I can’t see a thing. And that’s totally alright. I’m good with it. As a matter of fact, there’s some dark humour around it sometimes and I’m totally good with that. That is who I am. And I embrace it. I think it makes it even more special that I have been able to live the life that I’ve lived and I’ve been able to do the things that I’ve done.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced Saturday, July 20, and Saturday, August 8, 2026, respectively, as dates for governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made this known on Friday, during the swearing-in of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners recently confirmed by the National Assembly.
He said the conduct of elections in Nigeria is a challenging and sacred responsibility.
“The conduct of elections is not only a huge responsibility but also a sacred duty.”
He added that the commission is finalising arrangements for bye-elections to fill vacant seats in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
The sexual offences and domestic violence court in Ikeja, Lagos State has sentenced a 25 year old teacher identified as Chukwunonso Okafor to life imprisonment for raping a three year old girl.
Okafor was arraigned before Justice Abiola Soladoye convicted Chukwunonso on Wednesday, May 28 on three counts for rape and sexual assault.
The culprit carried out this act offences between July and December 2022 in Abaranje, Ikotun, Lagos State, while he was working as a teacher.
During the court ruling, the culprit testified that the he had been molesting the girl for a long time.
Justice Soladoye then sentenced him to life imprisonment on two counts and seven years jail term on the third count.
In the first count, Justice Soladoye sentenced Chukwunonso to life imprisonment for sexual assault, having forcefully engaged in sexual activity with a minor an offense that violates Section 261 of the Criminal Law, Chapter 17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
For the second count of defilement, he also received a life sentence, as prescribed under Section 137 of the same law.
The third count resulted in a seven-year prison term under Section 135.
Nollywood actor, Nonso Diobi has opened up about his personal life, and his decision to remain single, pointing out the challenge of separating his movie characters from real-life relationships.
The actor, who is known for his romantic roles in several Nollywood classics, explained that the romantic roles he usually plays in movies affected his approach to love and commitment.
The 48-year-old noted that it became difficult to draw a clear line between acting and authentic emotional connection.
He added that despite making conscious decisions to settle down, it hasn’t worked well for him.
“Everything I knew about love came from a script. As a young man growing up, I never experienced real love. There was no time for me to engage in that journey or create my own world of relationships. I found love before I found fame. That was love for me but industry happened.
“I became too busy. I changed. She was too good, too real, but I was changing, she couldn’t understand it.
“Everything about the industry took all of me. If I knew that the world would be what it is today, I would have tied the knot with her back then,” he noted.
Former US first Lady Michelle Obama has spoken about her frustrations about being married to Barack Obama.
She spoke during an interview with her brother Craig Robinson for an episode of their IMO podcast, bringing on as their guest Dr. Sharon Malone, who is married to former Attorney General Eric Holder.
She recalled that the women first met at a Congressional Black Caucus event when Barack Obama was a U.S. senator.
'They put us together because we were both reluctant spouses attending one of these huge dinners,' the former first lady recalled. 'And what, where were they? Was Barack a U.S. senator?'
President Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 after becoming a nationally recognised political figure for the stirring keynote he delivered at the Democratic National Convention earlier that year. He remained a senator until 2008, resigning after he was elected president of the United States.
'There was a line of people waiting to shake hands with our respective husbands,' Michelle recalled of the Senate-era affair. 'You know, people, like reaching over our heads and spilling water on us, trying to get to these two, you know, illustrious men.'
She made eye contact with Malone and realised they needed to be friends.
'She had the same look on her face as I did, like, "Here we go,"' Michelle recalled. 'And I looked over at this beautiful woman ... But I just saw the look on her face, which expressed the sentiments that I felt, which was.'
'P***ed off,' Robinson offered. Michelle rejected that. She said it was more like, 'You see this? Like, this is crazy, isn't it, girl?' the former first lady said.
This comes after Michelle addressed divorce rumours between herself and her husband during a taping of actress Sophia Bush's podcast last month
'That's the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with disappointing people. I mean, so much so that this year people were, you know, they couldn't even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,' Michelle said.
'That this couldn't be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?' she continued.
Michelle added: 'That's what society does to us.'
'We start actually, finally going, "What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?" And if it doesn't fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible.'
No fewer than 40 oil licences will expire in June 2025, and the companies holding these assets may lose them unless the Minister of Petroleum renews their licences in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act.
According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s Upstream Concession Situation Report in May, the various licences, which were granted to different companies on June 28, 2022, will expire on June 27, 2025.
They include petroleum prospecting licences granted to oil companies after the completion of the 2020 marginal fields bid round. The NUPRC said the law provides for an optional extension of three or five years, however, the extension will depend on the company’s performance.
Marginal fields are smaller oil blocks that have been developed but have remained unproductive for a period of over 10 years.
The Federal Government began the marginal field programme in the 90s to offer Nigerian indigenous oil and gas companies the opportunity to play a more active part in the exploration and production segment of the petroleum sector by owning and operating oil blocks.
The 2020 marginal bid round had successful bidders for the 57 marginal oil fields put up for lease by the government at that time.
Some of the companies that emerged as winners at the time included Matrix Energy, AA Rano, Ardova Plc, Duport Midstream, Genesis Technical, Twin Summit, Bono Energy, Deep Offshore Integrated, Odu’a Oil, MRS, and Petrogas.
Others were North Oils and Gas, Pierport, Metropole, Pioneer Global, Shepherd Hill, Akata, NIPCO, Aida, YY Connect, Accord Oil, Pathway Oil, Tempo Oil, and Virgin Forest, among others.
It was shown from the NUPRC data that the licence to operate the Emohua field of OML 22 by EOP Energy will expire next month. EOP Energy comprises Erebina Energy Resources Limited, Omega-Butter Marginal Fields Ltd, and Intessa Energy Ltd. In the same vein, Ardova Plc and Petrodev’s approval to operate the Olua field of OML 25 through Ardogreen Energy will expire at the same time.
Ingentia Energies Limited, made up of Suntrust Oil Company, Petrogas Energy, and Sonora GTP Ltd, may lose the Egbolom field of OML 23 without renewal. Unless renewed, Matrix Energy and Bono Energy Limited’s Atambia E&P will cease to be the operators of the Alamba field of OML 42, while Energia and Annajul Rosari will lose the Irigbo field in the same OML 42.
ENEROG Limited, comprising Energia and Sterov Consortium, may also lose its licence to produce oil from the Ugbo field of OML 40. It was reported that A. A. Rano and Acrete Petroleum’s licence to operate the Oloye field of OML 95 is also affected.
Similarly, Odu’a Investment Company and Pioneer Global Resource & Integrated Energy Ltd may cease to be the operators of the Bita oil field under OML 95 without the approval of the minister. Transit Oil’s Kudo field in OML 89 will also expire in June.
It was also gathered that Deep Offshore Integrated and Virgin Forest E&P’s licence to run the Bime field in OML 49 is set to expire at the same time. Platform Petroleum, Shepherdhill, and Nord Oil’s SHN Energy Ltd are currently the operators of the Kurl field in OML 49, but the licence expires soon.
Our correspondent reports that the licence issued to Northwest Petroleum, Genesis Technical, and Gab & Nutella to operate the Ede field of OML 67 under Ede E&P Ltd is also affected. Duport’s Ekpat field in OML 67 is also involved, as well as Oceangate Engineering Oil’s Udara field in OML 70.
Nkuku field of OML 70, being operated by NIPCO E&P, Aries Petroco Resources, Vhelberg E&P, Pathway Universal Investment, Grende Oil, and AMG, is also affected. Our correspondent gathered that some of the holders of these licences have left them idle since 2022.
According to the document sourced from the NUPRC website, it was stated in accordance with the PIA and other regulations that an application shall be made to the commission for renewal of an oil mining lease or conversion under certain regulations.
“In the case of a production sharing contract, the application shall be made by the concessionaire. In the case of indigenous Nigerian companies on a sole risk basis for which the government has not backed in, the application shall be made by the concessionaire(s), which include assignees.
“In the case of a joint venture, the application shall be made jointly by the concessionaire(s). In the case of marginal fields, the application shall be made jointly by the awardee(s). In the case of a renewal of an oil mining lease granted to Nigerian companies on a sole risk basis for which the government has successfully backed in, the application shall be made and signed jointly by the concessionaire(s).
“In the case of an oil mining lease, an application for renewal shall be made to the Commission by the lessee(s) pursuant to section 303(1) of the Act and the regulations,” it was stated.
According to the commission, in the case of renewal of an oil mining lease, pursuant to Sections 303 (1) and 93 of the Petroleum Industry Act, the application shall be made at least 12 months before the expiration of the oil mining lease. This means that any company that wants its licence renewed ought to have applied for that since June last year.
The NUPRC told our correspondent that the law provides for an optional extension of three or five years, depending on the terrain. However, the extension will depend on the company’s performance.
The commission’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Olaide Sonola, said in an exclusive interview that the renewal or otherwise depends on the result of an ongoing engagement with these companies. Sonola added that this will also have to do with the guidelines the commission is working on.
“The law provides for an optional extension of three or five years, depending on the terrain. The extension will depend on the company’s performance, the result of an ongoing engagement, and the guidelines we are working on,” she said.
Expert reacts
An energy expert, Professor Emeritus Wumi Iledare, said the renewal of the licences is only likely if meaningful exploration or development activities have been undertaken. According to Iledare, where such activities are absent, renewal becomes increasingly unlikely.
After careful scrutiny of the NUPRC data, Iledare said the licenses are primarily Petroleum Prospecting Licenses governed by the stipulations of the Petroleum Industry Act. He stated that each licence comes with a predetermined expiration or relinquishment date.
Renewal, he stressed, is contingent upon meeting the criteria set by the upstream regulatory commission. The don noted that the holders of the oil blocks ought to or might have contacted the commission since they knew their licences would expire soon.
“It is not unusual for licences to expire after the initial three-year term, and renewal is only likely if meaningful exploration or development activities have been undertaken. Where such activities are absent, renewal becomes increasingly unlikely,” Iledare stated.
He commended the commission for supporting leaseholders and enforcing the PIA. “The commission deserves commendation for its efforts in supporting leaseholders while firmly enforcing the PIA’s provisions, particularly regarding the timely relinquishment of hydrocarbon blocks at the end of their terms. I am proud of this new approach to regulatory enforcement under the PIA,” Iledare added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has made known its determination to revoke all dormant oil assets.
Apparently worried by the country’s dwindling oil revenue, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, said the ‘drill or drop’ policy will be implemented, saying the government will take over all idle oil wells from operators holding on to them.
The government also threatened to revoke all licences given to individuals and companies that have refused to start oil exploration.
“One of the things we want to do to ramp up production is to see that any well that is idle has to be allocated to people. The PIA gives the opportunity that any well that hasn’t been used in the past few years could be farmed out and given to people who have proven capacity to do exploration so that we can boost production.
“I am engaging stakeholders, the IOCs, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to say, ‘Look, if you have a multiplicity of oil wells and you are not using them, we will apply the law’.
“One of the reasons why our production is low is because we have too many shut wells, some of them contiguous to our marginal fields or oil wells. But by the time we take those wells in line with the law and give them to people, and we give a timeline upon which you must produce, we will be able to increase production,” Lokpobiri said at a function last year.
The minister disclosed that out of about 60 companies that got approvals in the last marginal bid round, only a few had started production, saying he would not hesitate to cancel unused licences.
“I don’t need to know you to renew or sign your licence, and I will also not look at your face for me to cancel it. Out of those who benefited from the last marginal bid round, out of about 60, maybe only about three or four or five have started producing.
“Their licences will expire soon because it is for three years, and renewable for another three years. But the condition is that you have a work plan. if you don’t follow your work plan, I also have the discretion to cancel it. If somebody has the marginal oil licence and doesn’t have the capacity to raise funding, you’re just impoverishing him,” he mentioned.
The PUNCH reports that the NUPRC will soon launch the 2025 licensing bid round.
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...violators to pay hefty fine
France will ban smoking in outdoor areas where children are likely to be present, starting July 1, 2025. This includes beaches, parks, bus stops, school entrances, and sports venues.
Health and Family Minister, Catherine Vautrin, made this known on Thursday, May 29.
“Tobacco must disappear where there are children.
“The freedom to smoke stops where children’s right to breathe clean air starts,” Vautrin told Ouest-France newspaper.
The rule will also stop students from smoking in front of schools. Anyone who breaks the rule may be fined up to €135 ($154).
However, the ban does not apply to France’s famous outdoor cafe terraces or to electronic cigarettes.
France already bans smoking in many public places like workplaces, airports, train stations, and playgrounds.
Anti-smoking groups have long called for wider restrictions.
According to the World Health Organisation, about 35 per cent of France’s population smokes—more than the average in Europe (25 per cent) and around the world (21 per cent).
Against his earlier pronouncement that he was not keen on returning to the Brick House (Government House), the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that he will soon return to his duty post.
Fubara charged supporters, Rivers people, and Nigerians to thank President Bola Tinubu for his swift intervention to avert anarchy in the state, which was looming due to the festering political crisis.
He also said that the peace and reconciliation process, which was a precursor to restoring all Executive and Legislative institutions and offices, was already underway, and assured that democracy and good governance would soon return in the State, with both arms working together for the good of the people.
Governor Fubara stated these at a meeting with leaders and stakeholders of the Simplified Movement as part of activities to mark his two years in office as Governor of Rivers State in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
“I want to assure you that the issues will soon be resolved, and you will come back to your offices, not just at the Executive arm, but also legislative arm. And I also believe that the strong relationships we had before will return, and we will begin to work together again, for the good and progress of the State. What is important is for us to have a forgiving spirit.”
While urging his supporters and the entire Rivers people to show unreserved appreciation to the president for his bold action to halt the degenerating political crisis in the state, he tasked them to totally subject themselves to the peace process to enable the state move forward.
“We are already in the peace process. I want you to thank Mr President for his timely intervention to salvage the situation, and stabilise the polity and the State. If not for Mr President, the story today would have been different.
“I don’t know how he gets his information, but the truth is that he acted with wisdom at the right time. He is the one you should thank. And let me also thank him personally for his intervention, and the personalities across the country, who moved in and appealed to him to intervene.
“We have to come down from our high horses and subject ourselves to the peace process. And that is what we are doing. What is important is for the State to move forward. It is not about you; the interest of the State is paramount.”
He noted that but for the political situation, orchestrated by the crisis, the second year celebrations would have been used to showcase some of the key milestones recorded by the administration in various sectors across the state, and assured that the government would bounce back stronger, more united and engineered to deliver quality dividends of democracy to the people.
Governor Fubara explained that those expressing anger and grievances have the right to do so, but quickly added that the time has come for all to embrace peace, pursue reconciliation and forgiveness for the development and progress of the state.
The governor pleaded for forgiveness from anyone who may have felt disappointed in his handling of the crisis, emphasising that his actions were guided by a desire to protect the peace and progress of the State.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the steps he has taken as a father to restore peace, stability and good governance in the state, and assured reconciliation with the former governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, very soon.
The governor disclosed that since the President’s intervention, several reconciliatory meetings had been held, including some at the FCT minister’s residence.
“There is no reason why there will not be peace between me and my Oga,” in reference to Wike, adding, “There will be peace. We are meeting. We will reconcile.”
Fubara said that he was indebted to the people for their sacrifices and opportunity to serve and promised to continue to show respect for the people of the State, who entrusted him with the mandate.
“One important thing in this life is respect. I want to earn the respect of the people, not force it on them…I’m with you completely,” he said, and thanked Rivers people and all Nigerians who stood by him during the period of political turbulence, acknowledging their loyalty and prayers.
A wanted Enugu State-based native doctor, Obi Obieze, was on Wednesday arrested at Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme expressway by men of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
More details have emerged on how the wanted and alleged ritualist and kidnapper was arrested.
Witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Obieze, also known as Obu Onyeka, was on a commercial Bajaj motorcycle going to Seme to escape when the personnel of NIS Lagos State Border Patrol Command at about 2.00 p.m. arrested him.
According to the sources, Obieze, a resident of Umuojor village in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, escaped and took a night bus to Mile 2, Lagos, around 10.00 a.m.
“He took a commercial car from Mile 2 to Badagry roundabout, from where he hired a commercial Okada rider to Seme border.
“The commercial motorcyclist had passed the checkpoint of the immigration in Gbaji a little before an officer ordered the rider to stop, recognising the person he was carrying.
“Obieze made an attempt to escape, but he was quickly apprehended by the officers who took him to the command office immediately.
“He was detained at the NIS cell while the controller in charge of Lagos State Border Patrol Command contacted the headquarters of NIS about the arrest,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller General, NIS, Kemi Nandap, had confirmed his arrest.
Nandap confirmed it in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Akinsola Akinlabi, on Thursday, in Abuja.
According to the statement, the NIS Comptroller General said that the suspect had been declared wanted by the Enugu State Police Command.
She said that Obieze, a native of Umuojor village in Ezeagu Council Area, Enugu, and a known traditionalist, was allegedly involved in the abduction of a 13-year-old girl on Tuesday, May 27.
“According to reports, the girl was kidnapped by three men while walking to the farm with her father.
“She was later rescued by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force from a shrine allegedly linked to the suspect. The incident was first reported by a national daily on Wednesday, May 28.
“Acting on credible intelligence, officers of the NIS Lagos State Border Patrol Command apprehended Obieze at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme Road while he attempted to flee the country on a motorcycle.
“The suspect was found in possession of a National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) enrolment slip, which confirmed his identity.
“During preliminary questioning, he reportedly confessed to the crimes,” she said.
Nandap, however, said that the NIS was working closely with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a seamless handover of the suspect for further investigation and prosecution.
She reaffirmed the service commitment to national security and border control, stating that NIS would continue to support law enforcement agencies in the fight against cross-border crimes. (NAN)
Former Senate President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s claims of having revived Nigeria’s economy as an insult to the millions of Nigerians currently enduring severe hardship.
Senator Wabara argued that if the President’s assertions were accurate, there would be no need to convince Nigerians—citizens themselves would be attesting to the administration’s achievements.
“The reality on the ground does not support President Tinubu’s claims. If he had truly improved the economy, Nigerians would be the first to testify,” Wabara said.
He pointed to the soaring inflation, widespread hunger, and deepening poverty as evidence contradicting the President’s remarks.
“It’s ironic that Mr. President is talking about economic revival when the economy is clearly deteriorating under his watch. The indices say otherwise,” he added. “Poor and hungry Nigerians do not need a lecture on economic revival. The first sign of improvement will be reflected in market prices.”
Wabara urged the President to use the remaining two years of his tenure to focus on real economic reforms rather than making rhetorical statements. He called on Tinubu to review key economic policies, particularly those related to multiple taxation, which he said are stifling businesses and worsening living conditions.
The PDP BoT Chairman also highlighted the urgent need to address the country’s security crisis, stating that insecurity has significantly contributed to food shortages by displacing farmers from agrarian communities due to attacks by bandits and criminal herders.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of mismanaging a once-thriving economy. “When the PDP was in power, Nigeria’s economy was among the top two in Africa. The APC has reversed those gains,” he said.
Despite the current challenges, Wabara expressed optimism that Nigeria’s economy would rebound once the PDP returns to power in 2027.