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The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has declared that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was dead and it will soon be buried.
The APC national chairman also hinted that the 2023 presidential candidate of NNPP and the party’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will soon come back to the ruling party which he had been a member.
Ganduje, who stated this when he hosted leaders and members of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, said the ruling party under his leadership will welcome Kwankwaso and other opposition leaders back to the ‘broom family’.
He also said the on-going coalition moves by opposition leaders against President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027 general elections will soon collapse.
Ganduje said his leadership has been receiving prominent politicians and lawmakers across the country into the APC in the recent times, noting that the move by the former Kano State governor to return to the governing party was due to the dwindling fortunes of NNPP.
He said: “the NNPP is dead. And it will soon be buried very, very soon. I’m looking at where we will bury the body, the coffin has already been constructed. What remains now is to dig the grave. And already they are digging the grave very, very soon.
“Even like that, the so-called NNPP national leader, he too, he says after losing everyone, he wants to come back to us, we will welcome him, because he’s coming back home.”
Ganduje charged all APC support groups to remain committed and continue to support the Tinubu-led administration, assuring them of inclusion in the party’s activities.
Meanwhile, the APC national chairman, inaugurated a six-man reconciliation committee for each of the three Senatorial districts for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.
He told all party faithful in the state that only a united party can guarantee victory in the November 8 Anambra governorship election and charged the committee to work hard and bring everyone in Anambra APC onboard.
The committee members for Anambra North Senatorial Zone are: Nelson Onubogu, Sen. Margery Okadigbo, Sen. Stella Oduah, Sen. Emma Anosike, Dr Obidigbo and Franca Obiesie.
Those for Anambra South Senatorial Zone are: Azuka Okwuosa, Dr Chidozie Nwankwo; former governorship aspirants JohnBosco Onunkwo and Hon Edozie Madu as well as Innocent Obi and Chibogwu Benson-Oraelosi
Anambra Central Senatorial Zone committee is made up of Obi Onwuachu, Chibuzo Obiakor, Kodilichukwu Okelekwe, Ify Nwachukwu and Sen. Uche Ekwunife.
The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has said that the 2027 election would be a contest between Nigerians and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Nigerian cultural tours
Makinde said this on Tuesday, April 15, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The governor decrying the challenges faced by the Peoples Democratic Party said it is time for the opposition to go back to the drawing board and get things right before the next election.
Makinde also described the PDP as the hope of the common man ahead of the 2027 election.
He said the party could not afford to Gail Nigerians again by strategizing on ways to oust power from APC.
His words, “Same thing repeated itself in 2023, we should pull back and say, look, this party still remains the major hope of the common man.
“Most people in this country, what they are saying is, “You guys will have to get yourselves together and then leave the rest to us.
“And I kept saying it, 2027 election, it won’t even be PDP vs APC; it will be Nigerians vs APC. Mark my word on that,” Makinde stated.
No fewer than 27 persons have reportedly been hospitalised following the crash of a digital digital asset trading platform, known as CBEX in Oyo State.
Nigerians who subscribed to what is now regarded as a Ponzi scheme took to their various social media platforms to lament their losses after CBEX allegedly swept over N1.3 trillion from investors’ accounts on Monday.
This comes as CBEX, operating without legal approval from the Nigeria Securities Commission, crashed on Monday with the money in their investors’ wallets vanished.
The digital platform also locked its Telegram channels and postponed withdrawals while offering investors the option of $200 for $2,000 verification and $100 for deposits below $1,000.
The development had sparked condemnations from Nigerians on X with some landing in hospitals.
A victim, Sherif Latifu, who resides in Ibadan said that many who lost money to the crash of the digital platform have now been hospitalised at various hospitals in the town, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to help them to subsidise the hospital bills.
“Many hospitals in Ibadan are now admitting victims of CBEX fraud. Over 27 people that I know have been admitted. This is a major crisis in Ibadan and the governor should come to our rescue by subsidising the hospital bills for many,” he said.
Explaining the CBEX crash, a cryptocurrency expert and security analyst, Taiwo Owolabi said the total volume of stolen investors’ funds so far in USDT was $847 million and likely to increase.
Owolabi questioned why Nigerians would invest their money in a digital platform that was unregistered by the SEC with the promise of a 100 percent return on investment.
“They designed the weak website to convince people in the future that it was a security breach that affected them.
“Apparently, when you make payments, you pay them into a TRX account, and then, immediately, they move it from that TRX wallet, gather it, convert it to USDT, and then to ETH. So, when you are logging into your account, there is literally no money on your profile.
“What you see are just numbers. All the daily activities you do to ‘trade’ increase your money. All the AI trading is fake. When it’s time for withdrawal, they will send you another person’s money,” Owolabi explained on an X space.
The development comes after the SEC recently warned Nigerians to stay clear of unregistered trading platforms.
The SEC particularly pointed out that, in accordance with the ISA 2025 recently signed by President Bola Tinubu, it is now an offense for any entity to operate an online forex trading platform or provide related services without prior registration with the commission.
“By virtue of this act, it is an offense in Nigeria for any entity that is not registered by the commission to carry out the business of online foreign exchange trading platforms or related services.
“Any business entity planning to set up a business in any of these areas is advised to visit the HOD DRM Department of the commission for further direction on how to register with the commission to avoid sanctions,” it added.
Meanwhile, some residents of Ibadan, Oyo State have stormed the office of CBEX located at Oke Ado area of Ibadan in protest.
It was gathered that the residents stormed the office following the report of the crash of the platform, which scores of residents of Ibadan have invested in the online platform
- Party organs with PDP governors
- Anyanwu kicks
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday shed light on the rejection of coalition, alliance and merger proposed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He said the merger or coalition talks are unknown to the main opposition party.
The Oyo State governor said: “We didn’t just wake up and say me as xyz in the party just draw the party into any arrangements when the party organs do not have clue on what you are doing.
“They have no clue of what is in this coalition. They also have no clue whether this is personal or whether you are doing this in best interest of the party and the people of Nigeria. Those are critical.”
The former vice president on March 20 at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, along with some others, including Malam Nasir EL-Rufai, declared the formation of a coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 election.
The governor reiterated the resolution of the PDP Governors’ Forum, which distanced itself from the coalition.
Defending the communique of the meeting, Makinde said the resolutions reflected the wide consultations with party stakeholders.
Emphasising that the Ibadan meeting was validated by the leadership of his party, he pointed out that the governors did not only meet as PDP Governors’ Forum, but they also invited the managers of the party.
He added: “The acting National Chairman, National Legal Adviser and the National Organizing Secretary were there with us. Other members of the NWC were waiting around the venue of the meeting, just in case there would be any need for them.
“We decided to tackle headlong the challenges within our party, and I’m quite glad we were able to make those decisions.”
Makinde added: “There must be a process. If the managers of the party, the organs of the party are going into a merger or coalition, there’s need for the managers of the party to know.
“But, if you have individuals, it is still within their right to associate with whoever they want to associate with. However, as a party, we haven’t gotten there. Our first assignment is to put the party on a sound pedestal.
“Politics is a game of interest. You must be interested, you must have alignment with the wider organs of your party before you go out to meet other people.”
The governors also rejected the claims by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Monday Ude-Okoye to the position of the National Secretary.
But rejecting the Forum’s directive that the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, should act as secretary in the interim, Anyanwu said it contradicted the judgment of the Supreme Court on the party’s leadership crisis.
I remain PDP national secretary, says Anyanwu
Anyanwu said the position of the National Secretary is not vacant, adding that he cannot be supplanted.
He said: “I remain the National Secretary of the PDP; this is not the first time that some people are trying a shortcut that falls short of the PDP constitution and contradicts the orders of the court.”
Anyanwu said those influencing the governors to remove him from office are not helping the party.
He said the Supreme Court judgment of March explicitly invalidated two previous judgments that those involved in the proxy war against him had relied upon.
He also pointed out that a subsisting Federal High Court order of January clearly restrains the PDP, its leaders, Deputy National Secretary, Koshoedo, or any other person from acting as the National Secretary.
Anyanwu said he would resume fully at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, insisting that there is no vacancy.
He added: “It seems that they deliberately want to kill the PDP today and tomorrow and blame Wike for it.
At the governors’ meeting, the party’s National Legal Adviser told them that such decision on the position of PDP National Secretary is wrong, that the Supreme Court had spoken on the matter.”
Anyanwu said the copy of the Supreme Court judgment affirming his position as National Secretary has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by his lawyer.
Group to governors: leave Anyanwu alone
A group, ‘PDP Youth Group in the Southsouth,’ warned the governors against troubling Anyanwu, saying that they are creating tension in the party.
It accused the governors of hypocrisy, adding that five of them are supporting President Tinubu for a second term.
The group said in a statement: “Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s reinstatement by the Supreme Court in March 2025 confirms his position as the authentic National Secretary of the party, but some governors who are reportedly upset over his ties or friendship with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, are pushing for his ouster, even in ways contrary to the party’s constitution.”
I won’t be distracted, says Makinde
Speaking further on the programme, Makinde said he would not be distracted by the clamour in some quarters for him to run for President in 2027.
The governor said he would not allow anyone to set an agenda for him, adding that as of now, he remained committed to delivering infrastructure, policies and programmes that will make lives more meaningful for the people, which is the mandate given to him.
He maintained that though he has the capacity to occupy the highest position in the land, he would put into consideration what the Nigerian people want, what his political party wants and what would be in the best interest of the people.
He added that if his political journey ends with being governor of Oyo State, he would cherish the opportunity given to him by the people.
The governor maintained that his administration has been able to build road infrastructure and put in place adequate security across the state, noting that these are the enablers for the agribusiness success and economic expansion being witnessed.
He made a reference to his recent trip to France, saying that it was to finalise the deal to have a Food Wholesale Market established in Ijaiye by the Rungis International. He described the project and the Special Agro-Processing Zones springing up in Eruwa and Ijaiye as some of the gains of the agribusiness policy of the administration.
Several top lawmakers of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State have entered into closed-door discussions with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, signaling their likely return to the ruling party.
According to sources, the strategic meeting—held discreetly in Abuja—was attended by key NNPP lawmakers including Senator Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South Senatorial District), Kabiru Alhassan Rurum (Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure Federal Constituency), Ali Madaki (Dala Federal Constituency), and Hon. Badamasi Ayuba, a former federal lawmaker for Danbatta/Makoda.
Insiders describe the meeting as part of a defection strategy amid growing discontent within the NNPP over what some lawmakers have labeled “injustice, favoritism, and lack of internal democracy” under the leadership of party founder, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
Although Senator Sumaila’s media aide, Abbas Adam Abbas, confirmed the meeting with Ganduje, he denied that it amounted to a defection.
Speaking in Hausa on Nasara Radio Nigeria, Abbas insisted that while overtures were made, Sumaila had not officially accepted any offer from the APC.
Nonetheless, political observers suggest the lawmakers’ move could reshape Kano’s political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, recently expressed confidence that the APC would reclaim Kano in 2027, citing the combined influence of Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, Senator Basheer Lado, and Ganduje.
“Ahead of 2027, we are confident that with Senator Barau, Dr. Ganduje, and your strategic self, Kano is already in the kitty of APC,” Akpabio said.
Reacting to the developments, NNPP Chairman in Kano State, Hashim Dungurawa, dismissed the lawmakers as insignificant and described them as “traitors” who had already been suspended from the party.
“They are not important to us. They betrayed the NNPP long ago, and we had taken disciplinary action before now,” Dungurawa said.
“We’ve long suspected their intentions. This only proves that they were sent to create division. But we thank God we discovered their mission early enough,” he added.
Dungurawa stated that suspending senior party members was never easy, but reiterated that the party would not tolerate betrayal.
“Yes, politics needs people—but not traitors. We don’t need them,” he said.
Inflationary pressure has reappeared as Nigerians grapple with increases in average costs of basic food items and energy.
For the first time after the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), headline inflation spiked in March to 24.23 per cent – 105 basis points above the 23.18 per cent recorded in the previous month.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday indicated that the rate of increase in the average price level was higher in March than the level in February.
In January, the NBS updated the weight and price reference periods in calculation of the CPI to make the inflationary gauge more reflective of changes in consumption patterns and the economy generally.
The rebasing did not only brought the base year closer to the current period from 2009 to 2024, it also introduced some critical methodology changes to improve the computation processes.
After the rebasing, inflation dropped from 34.80 per cent in the pre-rebased period of December 2024 to 24.48 per cent in January 2025. It dropped further to 23.18 per cent in February.
In its latest report, NBS recorded 186 basis points changes between the monthly inflation rate, with the month-on-month rate rising from 2.04 per cent in February to 3.90 per cent in March.
The NBS attributed the spike to the rise in costs of food and alcoholic beverages, fuels and electricity, among other items.
Analysts at CardinalStone said the resurgence was due to renewed foreign exchange (forex) pressures amid heightened global risk-off sentiment.
They pointed at foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) outflows and increased dollar demand, which saw naira dropping by 2.4 per cent in March.
Experts also cited increase in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, following the temporary suspension of the naira-for-crude swap arrangement.
Food inflation rate stood at 21.79 per cent in March 2025. The composite food index decreased to 21.79 per cent from 23.51 per cent.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural produce prices and energy, rose to 24.43 per cent from 23.01 per cent.
Specifically, the month-on-month food inflation rose by 50 basis points from 1.67 per cent in February to 2.18 per cent in March.
The NBS attributed the increase in food inflation to increases in the average prices of basic food items including ginger, garri, broken rice, honey, crabs, potatoes, plantain flour, periwinkle and pepper amongst others.
On a state-by-state basis, food inflation was higher in Oyo with 34.41 per cent; Kaduna (31.14 per cent) and Kebbi (30.85 per cent).
On the other side, the 9.61 per cent recorded by Bayelsa; Adamawa (12.41 per cent) and Akwa Ibom (12.60 per cent), were the lowest inflation rates.
Analysts expressed concerns that the resurgent inflationary pressure might lead to renewed tightening stance by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
CBN Governor Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, had at the end of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in 2025, reiterated the apex bank’s commitment to orthodox monetary policies, noting that the apex bank’s stance will be reflective of the inflationary trend.
With inflation rate dropping in February, the MPC had decided to maintain all key monetary policy parameters, including the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27.50 per cent, the asymmetric corridor around the MPR at +500/-100 basis points, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 50.00 per cent for Deposit Money Banks and 16.00 per cent for Merchant Banks, and the Liquidity Ratio at 30.00 per cent.
Clarifying the impact of the rebased CPI, Cardoso had explained that the lower inflation figure should not be misinterpreted.
He underlined the need to analyse more data before drawing comparisons, noting that the CBN is currently assessing the figures and will provide further guidance in due course.
The CBN boss stressed the critical importance of collaboration between monetary and fiscal authorities in sustaining recent economic improvements.
Addressing concerns about the impact of elevated borrowing costs on economic growth, the CBN governor assured that the apex bank’s primary objective is to stabilize the foreign exchange and financial markets.
He expressed confidence that such stability would attract increased foreign investments, stimulating the much-needed economic growth.
Cardoso also highlighted the competitiveness of the Nigerian currency, which has spurred growing interest from international investors.
Rivers State Government yesterday insisted that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) must refund the N300 million it received or face a lawsuit.
It countered the NBA’s claims that the money was “an unconditional gift” and not tied to the hosting of its Annual General Conference (AGC) in the state.
The AGC, to be held from August 22 to 28, was originally billed for Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.
The association later chose Enugu as the host city in protest against the declaration of emergency in the oil-rich state.
The state government vowed to deploy all legal processes to retrieve the state’s resources if the NBA failed to willingly refund the money.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Sole Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo, insisted that the records of the government showed that the N300 million was tied to the hosting of the AGC in the state.
The statement said: “The government rejects the NBA’s allegation that the N300million payment made by the state was a ‘gift’ unrelated to hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025.
“For clarity, the Rivers State Government’s records show that the payment of N300 million to the NBA was made with the mutual understanding that Rivers State would host the 2025 edition of the NBA AGC.
“The Rivers State Government entered into this arrangement with the NBA in good faith, with the understanding that hosting the conference in the state would attract significant economic benefits to our state, positively and directly impact the businesses of our people.
“The NBA’s unilateral decision to relocate the AGC 2025 against our mutual understanding and subsequent decision to withhold the N300 million paid for the purpose of hosting the NBA AGC 2025 in Rivers State is unethical and amounts to a breach of trust.
“Failure of the NBA to immediately refund the N300 million to the Rivers State Government will compel the implementation of all legal means to recover the property of the good people of Rivers State.
“We reaffirm our willingness to engage in partnerships with all professional bodies, including the NBA, but we will not accommodate exploitation of our people and the Rivers State Government.”
Also, stakeholders faulted the NBA for relocating its annual conference from Port Harcourt after collecting N300m from the state government.
They called on the leadership of the legal body to immediately redeem the association’s image by refunding the money.
The commentators described the position of the NBA that the money was an unconditional gift as odious and irresponsible, insisting that the government paid the money to attract some economic and social benefits to Rivers people.
A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, said the NBA missed the point and squandered a platform it would have used to speak to power on its position concerning Rivers.
Eradiri advised the body to return the money to Rivers warning that failure to do so would bring an integrity crisis to the association.
He said: “The NBA should return the money since they have relocated the conference.
“I don’t think the management of the NBA was right to have moved that conference.
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“It would have been a landmark opportunity to express their grievances over it. But the NBA seems to be blowing hot and cold.
“The honourable thing is to return the money. This money is not (suspended Governor Siminalayi) Fubara’s money, it is Rivers State money.
“If you collected money for a purpose and you are no longer going to carry out that purpose, you should honourably return the money. The NBA is losing its integrity.”
A former Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, a lawyer, called for the immediate resignation of the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN).
He was of the opinion that Osigwe had brought the legal profession to disrepute.
He insisted that the money should be refunded because it was not even budgeted for by virtue of the Supreme Court’s judgment.
He said: “How many other states contributed to the hosting of an NBA conference? Where was the NBA when a governor of a state recklessly demolished an arm of government?
“Afam Osigwe didn’t make any statement. Where was the NBA when a governor of a state presented a budget to three members of a state Assembly? The NBA didn’t say anything.
“More worrisome is that the N300 million they gave to the NBA was not appropriated. And as lawyers, we ought to know that.
“The best thing for Afam to do is to refund that money. Let’s assume the Sole Administrator hired him as a lawyer to get this money from the NBA, what will be his defence?
“I am asking him to step down. He has made the NBA a beggarly organisation. But we are not. Lawyers are aristocrats. Let them refund the money to Rivers government because it was not appropriated and he should resign.
“Agreement is agreement. How many millions did the Enugu State Government give to them to take the conference to Enugu?
“I am a member of the NBA and I pay my dues and this is how lawyers all over the federation pay their dues. We also pay conference dues. So, Afam has no reason to be going around to be begging for money.”
The President of the Movement for Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Amb. Kennedy Tonjo-West said the defence of the NBA did not hold any water.
“The claim that a whole N300 million is an unconditional gift doesn’t hold any water. If they felt that democratic governance is lacking in Rivers, the best is to still hold the programme. If you feel you want to relocate it, you must let go of the cash.”
A former Publicity Secretary, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Ebilade Ekerefe, said the primary reason the money was given to NBA was to enable Rivers to host the conference.
He said: “If for whatever reason they are relocating the conference to Enugu, the honourable thing is to refund the money. There is no better way to put it.
“It is Rivers State money and the reason it was given to them was for the NBA to invest the money in Rivers so that Rivers people can benefit.
“If they are moving the programme to Enugu and you are taking the money along, it is capital flight. NBA is an honourable organisation and has a reputation it built over the years. The society is watching.
“If you collect that money without organising the programme in Rivers it will look like the Rivers government is being swindled. It is not Sim Fubara’s money. The money belongs to Rivers.
“It is not the first time Rivers has hosted the conference. They had done it before and we saw the impact.
“Nobody is saying that you should not pull out of Rivers. If you are doing so, return the money because the money belongs to Rivers people. It doesn’t belong to the sole Administrator or to Fubara.”
NBA’s position
NBA declined comments yesterday on Rivers government’s threat to sue.
In a statement by its AGC 2025 Planning Committee Chair Emeka Obegolu (SAN) on Monday, it clarified the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject to any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights.
NBA said: “The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city.
“Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organisations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.
“Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organisations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA.
“Such financial support is in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships. The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.
“We are committed to delivering a world-class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.”
The CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, says the ongoing instability in global oil markets is negatively impacting Nigeria’s economy.
He said while falling petroleum product prices may benefit consumers, the broader economic consequences are severe for Nigeria, which heavily relies on oil exports.
“As consumers, we are happy that the price is coming down, but…as a nation, it’s not good for our economy because our revenue inflow is also impacted,” Ahmed told State House Correspondents at the Meet-the-Press briefing series organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
“Most importantly, what is even destabilising the market is inconsistencies in the way the USA President Donald Trump also sends his policies. He moves today. Tomorrow, he reverses. So, it’s been challenging to predict the next level,” Ahmed explained.
He cited a recent sharp drop in prices—from $73 to $60 per barrel in a single day—as an example of how revenue inflows are being disrupted.
Further compounding the crisis are domestic challenges, including pipeline vandalism and reduced production, he argued.
His comments follow recent OPEC reports indicating that Nigeria’s oil output has fallen to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day.
In recent weeks, Trump’s aggressive trade policies—including sweeping tariffs on goods from several nations, especially China, and threats of levies on other countries—have injected uncertainty into global markets.
These measures, often abruptly announced or reversed, have disrupted supply chains and investor confidence, contributing to fluctuations in commodity prices, including crude oil.
The oil market, already sensitive to geopolitical tensions and demand shifts, has seen added volatility as Trump’s tariffs and waivers sway economic forecasts.
For instance, when tariffs were imposed, oil prices often dipped on fears of slowed global growth, while exemptions or rollbacks triggered temporary rebounds.
Pundits say such instability complicates long-term planning for oil-dependent economies like Nigeria, where revenue hinges on steady crude prices.
The NMDPRA Chief told journalists: “Recently, as we all know, the global oil market – not only the oil market but the global economy – has been a bit volatile in the sense of the new American government’s policy of tariffs, not only targeted at China but at the whole world.
“Investors and traders not only in the oil and gas industry but also in the general economies of the world are moving left and right to the extent that some are doing day trading. That means you do your trading today. You close by the end of today because you never know what tomorrow’s policy will drive the market into.
“So the crude oil and petrol products market continues to have a downward trajectory because of these inconsistencies and policies of the government of the United States, and the key aspect of it is the aspiration of the American president to ensure that the crude oil pricing, or the crude oil price, comes down to maybe below $50 a barrel; that’s why he encourages more exploration in his country.”
Turning to the local implications, Ahmed acknowledged that while lower product prices benefit Nigerian consumers, the overall impact on the economy is negative.
He said, “So how does it relate to our own local industry regarding crude oil pricing, product pricing, demand and supply? We see a downward trajectory in terms of product pricing and crude oil pricing.
“So, we are happy as consumers of the derivatives of product pricing that the price is coming down, but when you look at it globally as a nation, it’s not good for our economy because our revenue inflow is also impacted.
“If the crude oil price, like what happened some Fridays ago, where it dropped in one day from about $73 a barrel to $60, you can see that in terms of our crude oil production, our revenue is impacted severely.”
The NMDPRA chief urged stakeholders to prepare for prolonged uncertainty in the oil sector.
He added, “This volatility will continue because as recently as yesterday, when President Trump again exempted some sectors from tariffs, particularly to China, like in terms of vehicular tariffs, you saw the market again start to go up.
“So, this is how it will continue to show, just to give you a general perspective of the oil industry.
“We recently had a report from OPEC that Nigeria’s production has come down to about 1.4 million barrels a day. If we lose the price by $10, you can see the negative impact on our economy, national reserves, and the strength of our naira. Again, when you look at the product market, we are happy to say, oh, the price is coming down.”
In a similar vein, Ahmed revealed that imports of premium motor spirit (petrol) have plunged from 44.6 million litres a day in August 2024 to 14.7 million by 13 April 2025—a fall of roughly 30 million, or 67 per cent, according to the latest Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority supply tracker.
This was as local supply rose 670 per cent within that period.
Ahmed said after contributing virtually nothing in August, local plants delivered 26.2 ML/day in early April, a jump from the 3.4 ML recorded in September, the first month with measurable output.
He hinged the surge on the phased restart of the Port Harcourt Refining Company in late November and incremental volumes from modular refineries.
Despite the progress, combined supply crossed the government’s 50 ML/day consumption benchmark only twice in the eight-month window—November (56 ML) and February (52.3 ML).
In March it slipped just below target at 51.5 ML, and in the first half of April, it remained short at 40.9 ML.
Figures from the NMDPRA also showed the balance among the three sources of PMS —Oil Marketing Companies, Dangote refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited — fared since last October.
OMCs raised average daily imports from about 22 million litres in October 2024 to roughly 30 million litres in December, settling in the mid 20s. They now account for 55 60 per cent of all petrol on most days.
Meanwhile, deliveries from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals rose steadily from 10 ML/day in October to around 22 ML in January and February before easing to 18 ML by mid April 2025. The plant now meets about two fifth of national demand.
From 24 ML/day in October, the NNPCL volumes fell monthly, slipping to 1 ML in January and zero recorded supply after February, Ahmed revealed in his slide presentation.
The NMDPRA Chief argued that the authority only grants import licences relative to the country’s supply requirements.
On refining operations, he explained that six licensed private and four public refineries currently produce 1.12 million barrels per day.
Six licensed private plants account for 679,500 bpd of the total. The Dangote single train complex refines 650,000 bpd.
Other modular sites include Aradel (11,000 bpd), OPAC (10,000 bpd), Waltersmith (5,000 bpd), Duport Midstream Limited (2,500 bpd) and Edo Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited (1,000 bpd).
State owned facilities add 445,000 bpd. The refurbished Port Harcourt complex (150,000 bpd), Warri (125,000 bpd), Kaduna (110,000 bpd) and the old Port Harcourt unit (60,000 bpd) make up the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s share.
The NMDPRA said it has issued 47 licences to establish covering 1.75 million bpd and 30 licences to construct for 1.23 million bpd. Only four plants currently hold licences to operate, and these together have a 27,000-bpd steady output.
Ahmed said five LTC projects with a combined capacity of 689,500 bpd are at the commissioning or construction stage, including Dangote with 650,000 bpd. Smaller builds include AIPCC Energy’s 30,000 bpd plant and Waltersmith’s 5,000 bpd second train.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has not apologised to him to consider forgiving him.
According to him, for there to be forgiveness, the person who did wrong must first acknowledge it and seek forgiveness.
The minister, speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, was reacting to the call by Niger Delta ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who called on him to forgive Fubara, his estranged political godson.
Tompolo, while speaking on the Rivers State crisis in a statement recently, emphasised the need for restraint and unity and urged Wike to set aside his anger for the greater good.
“And just like I will not accept rebellion from my son, I will also not cause more problems. Wike is angry, but he has to bring his temper down for the good of all. We will have a dialogue and resolve all lingering issues, and again Fubara will return to his seat,” Tompolo said.
Asked for his response to the call by Tompolo, Wike, through his aide, “There is no offence. It is when somebody has offended you personally that you are talking about the person seeking forgiveness or whatever. As Christians, let’s now assume that Fubara has offended the minister, do you forgive someone who has not come to you to seek forgiveness?”
Olayinka, emphasising the process of reconciliation, added, “The person who has wronged you must first agree that in his mind he has wronged you. Let’s assume that Fubara has offended the minister, has he come to seek forgiveness? I’m not saying there is an offence and there should be forgiveness but he has not even come for forgiveness.”
According to Olayinka, Wike has not accused Fubara of personal wrongdoing but has merely called for adherence to governance principles.
“The minister has never said that Fubara offended him personally. He only said that Fubara should govern in accordance with the rule of law and that Fubara should not throw away those who risked their lives and resources and that is not too much to ask. He said, ‘Those who worked to make you governor, don’t throw them away like that’. So, that is not about forgiveness. If there is one person Fubara would say he has offended, it should be the President.”
He further questioned the governor’s change in posture towards Wike, noting that Fubara once worked closely with him.
“He is the one to go for soul-searching because throughout the time he was working with this same Wike, throughout the time Wike was facing the bullet for him, Wike was not a bad person then. So, at what point did Wike become a bad person to him? He should ask himself. When did Wike become somebody that Fubara would be so bold, telling him that he would deal with him? At what point? He should ask himself questions like this.”
Waxing proverbial, Olayinka added, “You are begging a doctor to provide medicine for someone that is sick, but you are not begging the person that is sick to take the medicine. What happens?”
Google has announced the rollout of Veo 2, its advanced AI-powered video generation model, for users subscribed to Gemini Advanced, the tech giant’s premium artificial intelligence plan.
This strategic move signals Google’s response to the competitive generative video AI space, as it positions Veo 2 as a direct challenger to OpenAI’s Sora platform.
The launch comes just weeks after leading AI media firm Runway unveiled the fourth generation of its own video model, while also securing over $300 million in new funding, underscoring the rapidly growing investor appetite in synthetic media.
Access to the tool
Starting Tuesday, Gemini Advanced users can access Veo 2 through the model selection menu within Google’s Gemini apps.
The tool allows users to create eight-second video clips in 720p resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
- These clips can be shared directly to platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, or downloaded in MP4 format.
- Each video carries a watermark enabled by SynthID, Google’s proprietary AI content tagging technology.
- However, Veo 2 comes with limitations. There is a cap on the number of videos that users can generate monthly, and the feature is currently unavailable to those on Google Workspace business and education plans.
Integration into Whisk
In tandem with the Veo 2 expansion, Google is also integrating the model into Whisk, an experimental feature within Google Labs.
- Whisk allows users to generate images using visual prompts, and a new addition—Whisk Animate—lets users animate those images into short videos using Veo 2.
- These features are gated behind Google’s $20-per-month Google One AI Premium subscription, which offers early access to the company’s experimental AI tools.
- While Veo 2’s applications remain relatively simple for now, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has hinted at more ambitious plans.
The company aims to eventually merge its Gemini models with Veo to enhance AI’s comprehension of real-world physics and dynamics.
Concerns over AI video generator
Meanwhile, the rise of generative video tools like Veo 2 has sparked concern among creative professionals.
- A 2024 study commissioned by the Animation Guild, a U.S. union representing animators and cartoonists, projects that over 100,000 film, TV, and animation jobs in the U.S. could be disrupted by AI technologies by 2026.
- Last year, Google’s major competitor in the AI space, OpenAI, launched Sora, a generative AI that can take a short text description and turn it into a vividly realistic AI video clip.
Sora can generate 1080p movie-like scenes with multiple characters, different types of motion, and background details when given a brief or detailed description or a still image. Sora can also “extend” existing video clips — doing its best to fill in the missing details, the company claims.
[Nairametrics]
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Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has stated that “every community must defend itself” in response to the growing wave of attacks and mass killings in the state attributed to suspected armed herders.
Naija News gathered that over 100 people have been killed in a series of attacks in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau in the past two weeks. The latest attack took place early Monday morning when gunmen raided the Zike and Kimakpa communities in the Kwall District of the Iregwe Chiefdom. More than 50 people were killed, and several houses and properties were destroyed.
Governor Mutfwang, who visited the affected communities on Tuesday, expressed his concern over the security challenges, which he said have hindered the state’s growth and development. He revealed that the state government had made significant investments in technology to address these security issues.
“Immediately we assumed office, we took decisive steps and invested heavily in technology just to end these security challenges facing us,” Mutfwang stated, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He further explained that the security issues, including insurgency and terrorism, have deprived the state of its natural resources and slowed its development. “There is no reason for us to be where we are; our people cannot go to their farms and engage in any economic venture. But as a government, we are doing everything possible to end these cycles of attacks and killings,” he said.
The governor commiserated with the families of the victims and promised to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support and urged security agencies to intensify their efforts in addressing the security challenges in the state.
“We are here with all the security apparatus in the state to reassure you that we are committed to your safety. You have every reason not to be happy, but I want to assure you that we have taken steps to correct all the lapses of the past,” Mutfwang added.
Since taking office in 2023, Mutfwang stated that his administration has provided support to the military and other security agencies, ensuring that the state remains safe. However, he argued that security cannot be achieved unless communities take responsibility for their own defense.
“But let me remind you that whatever arrangements the security agencies will make may not solve the problem, the solution will come from the communities. We have come to a point in Nigeria, where every community must defend itself,” he said.
While advocating for communal defense, Mutfwang emphasized that his government would not support lawlessness. “I will not, however, support lawlessness, but we can’t afford to go to sleep,” he added, urging the youth to rise up and protect their communities.
The governor’s call for self-defense is not new. Several Nigerian leaders, including former army chief Theophilus Danjuma, have previously advocated for communities to arm themselves to protect against invaders, citing the inability of security agencies to provide adequate protection. However, others have raised concerns that such calls could escalate the situation, leading to more arms in the hands of non-state actors and exacerbating the violence.
Over the past decade, armed attacks on communities in several northern states, including Niger, Benue, Taraba, and Kaduna, have resulted in thousands of deaths. These attacks are often driven by conflicts over land, grazing rights between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers, and ethno-religious tensions. Despite ongoing efforts by security agencies, the violence continues unabated.
[NaijaNews]
Digital transformation leader AVEVA is fueling the future of clean energy by powering the nation’s largest renewable natural gas (RNG) producer with advanced industrial intelligence.
This is even as AVEVA has been selected by Archaea Energy, the top RNG producer in the U.S., to deliver a powerful operations data management infrastructure that will supercharge performance across its expanding network of renewable energy plants.
The collaboration marks a pivotal step in accelerating the digitalization of clean energy production. Archaea will leverage AVEVA’s industrial software—including the robust AVEVA PI Data Infrastructure and CONNECT cloud platform—to collect, unify, and visualize real-time operational data across multiple sites. This centralized intelligence will enable predictive performance analysis, rapid scalability, and operational excellence as the company continues its national expansion.
CEO of AVEVA, Caspar Herzberg, in a press statement, said Data is the backbone of energy innovation.
“By integrating our data infrastructure and CONNECT platform, Archaea will unlock deeper insights and greater efficiency across its RNG plants—scaling smarter, cleaner energy production to meet tomorrow’s sustainability demands,” Herzberg added.
Archaea CEO, Starlee Sykes, underscored the strategic value of the partnership.
“As the largest RNG producer in the U.S., our mission is to deliver clean, reliable energy with precision and speed. AVEVA’s technology empowers us to optimize operations in real time and drive smarter growth as we expand across the country,” Sykes stated.
The alliance reflects a broader industry shift toward digital-first energy strategies that prioritize sustainability, transparency, and innovation at scale.
[Leadership]
A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of incompetence, nepotism and betrayal of the founding ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai, who recently dumped the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), alleged that Nigeria had been moving backwards since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.
He made the allegation during an interview with Deutsche Welle Hausa in Katsina. El-Rufai was in Katsina on Monday, but the video of the interview was released Tuesday.
El-Rufai, once a close ally of President Tinubu and a key figure in the APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019 and 2023, now presents himself as one of the fiercest critics of the administration, alleging that what the APC has become is a far cry from what its founders envisioned.
According to the ex-governor, the country is worse off today in terms of insecurity, economy and governance than it was under previous administrations.
‘Country retrogressing’
El-Rufai alleged that the Tinubu-led administration was the most intolerant since the return to democracy in 1999.
He also accused Tinubu’s administration of being insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
“Ever since the assumption of office of Tinubu as Nigeria’s president, the country has begun to go backwards. Insecurity has increased, the economy is dwindling, affluent people are now poor, and ethnic profiling is on the rise.
“Whoever he is giving an appointment to must be someone he knows or from his tribe. They can dismiss that, but Nigerians are not stupid. There is no way your name is this, and they will say no, you are from Katsina,” he stated.
‘APC no longer represents justice, equity’
“This kind of injustice, ethnic profiling, and theft that we are seeing is not what APC was built on. What we planned when we started building APC was a platform for justice, equity, competence, and national integration. But today, we see nothing but sheer injustice, nepotism, and disregard for those ideals,” El-Rufai said.
He explained that those were the reasons behind his decision to join the SDP which he described as a party that would “rescue the masses from injustice.”
“So, whoever his party cheated or did something he felt was not right, the only party he sees is the SDP. So, don’t be surprised by the kind of people you see in this room and others that are not here—we are working together in broad daylight and midnight doing what we should do to strategise in order to salvage our people from what this government has put us through,” he stated.
Responding to concerns that his journey with the SDP could end up like his earlier alliance with the APC, El-Rufai insisted that it was the APC that strayed from its founding ideals, not him.
“I did not leave APC; it’s the party that left me. Since Bola Tinubu became president, the country has started to go backwards. We told them what they are doing is not good, and they are always behaving like nobody can tell them anything.
“Even when they deny the allegation of nepotism, people are not blind or stupid. When they see the names, they know where they come from,” he said.
El-Rufai recalled meeting with APC leaders like Bisi Akande, Adams Oshiomhole and Abdullahi Adamu to tell them that the party had deviated from its founding vision.
“I met with Bisi Akande, Adams Oshiomhole and Abdullahi Adamu, and I asked them if this was what we had planned for the people when we started and registered our party. And they said it has changed.
“So, if it has changed, then should you stay in what you are not okay with? I spoke with leaders that we should come back to the radar, but they shunned us away,” he said.
He said the fact that the APC refused to convene meetings for two years demonstrated the party’s leadership’s disregard for internal democracy and collective decision-making.
“That is why I said it is the party that left me, so I have to look for a party that shares similarity with the kind of ideology we had when 37 of us signed for the registration of the APC. I am among them. I am a founding father.
“But even if it is a child you gave birth to and he went wayward and you tried your best to bring him back on track and he refused, then you let him be. I have sworn off APC and left it with the world,” he said.
‘Ruling party only remembered Buhari after my defection’
El-Rufai also reacted to the recent visit by APC National Working Committee members to former President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that it was an afterthought motivated by political desperation.
“Is it not the same Ganduje that called Buhari ‘Habu na Habu’ (a derogatory Hausa name)? Is it now that he knows Buhari is important?
“Since when Buhari left government, how many times did they go to him seeking for a single piece of advice? It is when they heard that I went to Buhari and I left the APC. And I told him before I left. I didn’t go to him to ask him to come to SDP or seek his permission to leave the party—I am 65 years old. I only went to tell him that this party has changed, and I want to leave it.
“Two days later, I left. It was after I left that they remembered that Buhari is important. What took them was that they understood that Atiku Abubakar went with us to pay Sallah homage; that’s all, and they went running at midnight, denying an old man sleep and disturbing him,” he added.
‘SDP building nationwide momentum’
El-Rufai said the SDP was rapidly gaining support across the country because many Nigerians had grown tired of both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He added that the SDP was preparing a movement that would “rock the foundation of the country” and return power to the people.
“Every state you go to, you see people queuing, trying to get SDP tickets because they are tired of the injustice of these old parties — PDP and APC. And people have seen the kind of leaders coming to the SDP. They are positive that justice will be served and people will be held accountable. They believe they will be saved from hunger, poverty, and all the ills we are facing today in this country.
“Everywhere, not only in Katsina. My chairman, Bello Safana, when he goes to his office, doesn’t leave until late in the night because of the kind of people trooping in. It is the same everywhere—in Kaduna, Niger, Borno, Gombe. Everywhere it’s like that. People are tired,” he alleged.
The former governor said many Nigerians still remembered what he and others did in the past and believed in their capacity to effect positive change.
“Some of us are all aware of what we did in the past, and they know what we can do. That’s why, God willing, with the prayers of the masses, a storm is coming that will wipe off the entire country.
“All these bad leaders will go back to their villages, and SDP will form the federal government and many state governments and will come with a new form of leadership that caters to the poor,” he said.
El-Rufai’s past criticisms of Tinubu and APC
El-Rufai, whose ministerial nomination in 2023 was blocked by his opponents within the ruling APC, recently became a vocal critic of both the party and Tinubu’s administration.
At a democracy conference in Abuja in January, he had accused the Tinubu government of undermining democracy and attempting to weaken the opposition.
Following his defection to the SDP in March, El-Rufai revisited the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic records, saying he and other politicians were aware of the issues before the 2023 elections but supported him in the hope he would replicate his performance in Lagos.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges. We all knew about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed,” he said.
On 15 March, El-Rufai criticised the administration’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State, particularly the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials.
“In a statement on his X handle, he, at that time, described the president’s action as “wanton aggression against democratic tenets and the rule of law.”
“There are things that are so clearly wrong that the justifications summoned in their defence fall flat. The decision of Mr. President to suspend the elected officials of the Rivers State Government is one of those,” he wrote.
Presidency mum
When contacted to react to the allegations by El-Rufai, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told Daily Trust “I need to read El-Rufai’s statement first.”
[DailyTrust]
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan yesterday rejected an out-of-court settlement proposed by legal luminary Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), counsel for Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Agbakoba had suggested a resolution in the case by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan against Akpabio.
He also urged her to substantiate her allegations.
But the Kogi Central Senator rejected the idea, insisting that Akpabio should subject himself to an investigation.
Asked if she would accept to settle with Akpabio, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan told The Nation: “Out-of-court settlement? To settle how? Who? What about how I felt? I don’t know how to explain it.
“To me, am not looking for an out-of-court settlement. I don’t think I’m looking for an out-of-court settlement for today. As of now, an out-of-court settlement is out of it.
“I am not considering an out-of-court settlement because nobody has to suffer this amount of intimidation just because she is speaking out her truth.
“They should have investigated it. It is not about settlement, it is about justice. It is very painful that you subject somebody to so much.
“I am not looking forward to an out-of-court settlement. He should subject himself to an investigation.
“Besides, Akpabio is denting the image of the President. Akpabio’s actions are sending a negative signal on President Tinubu’s government.”
Agbakoba urged the senator should tender more proof as she had promised to do in her media interviews.
He reporters in Lagos that the allegations were hanging without substantial evidence.
He said: “We request Senator Natasha to provide more evidence, particularly in furtherance to the fact that she previously stated she reserves the right to provide further particulars and evidence to support the allegations against the Senate President.
“We feel like the allegation as it currently stands falls short of the threshold for proving sexual harassment anywhere in the world.”
Agbakoba, who had written to Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan as counsel for Akpabio to supply more proof, said he accepted the brief in a conciliatory manner.
He also “honestly wishes” that the matter is resolved without going to court, adding that he had requested a meeting with Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers.
Agbakoba clarified that at this stage, the Senator is not to be believed or disbelieved, stressing that she would need to clarify the difference between her behaviour between December 8 and 9, 2023.
The SAN described sexual harassment as a serious matter that deserves careful and fair consideration, adding that the difficulty faced by anyone making the allegation and the importance of treating all parties with dignity should be acknowledged.
However, the senior lawyer said the review of the available public records revealed significant contradictions that must be considered for a fair evaluation of the situation.
According to him, proper institutional processes, rather than media forums, should provide an appropriate venue for addressing serious matters.
Agbakoba insisted that while he supports a society where individuals feel safe to speak up, the principles of justice that require evidence and fairness should be upheld.
He stressed: “Allegations, however serious, must be scrutinised with diligence and care to avoid situations where they are being weaponised for vendetta.
“Our legal system is built on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and this fundamental principle must be respected, even in sensitive cases.”
Noting that Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan had said she would submit material evidence and present further particulars and facts, he expressed surprise that she had withheld the evidence.
The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said this is unusual.
Agbakoba noted that Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s local and international engagements have highlighted the global attention her allegations have garnered in the past weeks.
Emphasising the contradictions between her claims and subsequent behaviour, he said Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan who made a serious allegation turned to her Instagram to also eulogise Akpabio and spoke highly of the birthday event she attended in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He pointed out that while Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that sexual harassment occurred on December 8, which was her birthday and that of Akpabio, she praised the Senate President on December 9.
The lawyer stressed: “The timeline and dates are so contradictory. On one hand, you complained about sexual harassment on December 8, 2023.
“Yet, on the other, you praised Senator Akpabio who you allege sexually harassed you on December 9, 2023.
“The juxtaposition of these two events, an alleged traumatic harassment followed by voluntary, public expression of admiration requires careful consideration.”
Agbakoba acknowledged that there is no defined or definite description of harassment, saying that it could be in words or behaviour.
He doubted any absolute physical act in respect of Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio.
Urging critics to do with unguarded emotion, Akpabio said “98 per cent of what you see on social media is not court-useable.”
[TheNation]