Latest News
A prominent figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has raised eyebrows over the political maneuvers surrounding the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
Naija News reports that Galadima claimed that El-Rufai is being used as a placeholder for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, within the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In an interview with AIT, Galadima expressed disbelief over why Atiku, who has had a history of political clashes with El-Rufai, would align himself with the former governor.
He questioned the logic behind the alliance, considering the animosity between the two politicians in the past.
Galadima said, “Did El-Rufai win one local government in Kaduna in 2020? He was a sitting governor in Kaduna when PDP won all three senatorial elections.
“He was a sitting governor in Kaduna when the PDP won 12 out of 14 House of Reps seats, and they won only one, while the other one was won by the Labour Party. That is, as a sitting governor. Now that he’s out and even fighting the governor from outside, how many votes do you think he can win?
“The SDP coalition is ineffective; their activities are merely noisemaking. El-Rufai is actually serving as a placeholder for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar within the SDP.
“I am surprised at Atiku’s willingness to work with El-Rufai. El-Rufai had previously advised Atiku to save his money for his children and declared that Atiku would never become president in Nigeria.
“The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) would emerge as the larger vehicle to unite opposition parties in the 2027 presidential election.”
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has predicted that the outcome of the 2027 election will be a huge lesson for some people.
According to him, some people are planning to use ‘fake news’ to win the 2027 election.
The APC chieftain, who is a known supporter of President Bola Tinubu, however, insisted that such persons are in for a shocker before 12 noon on election day.
“It looks as if FAKE NEWS is what some people plan to use to win elections in 2027. Please encourage them to continue.
“By 12 noon on Election Day, some people will learn lessons they will never, ever forget in a hurry. Make we de play,” Igbokwe wrote on his Facebook account.
Meanwhile, a prominent figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has raised eyebrows over the political maneuvers surrounding the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
Naija News reports that Galadima claimed that El-Rufai is being used as a placeholder for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, within the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In an interview with AIT, Galadima expressed disbelief over why Atiku, who has had a history of political clashes with El-Rufai, would align himself with the former governor.
He questioned the logic behind the alliance, considering the animosity between the two politicians in the past.
No fewer than 211,000 candidates on Thursday sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination Mock exam conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board across designated Computer-Based Test in the country.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who disclosed this while monitoring the exercise at a CBT centre in Bwari, Abuja, revealed that the results of the mock examination will be released on Friday.
“They will have the results tomorrow. The results will be ready. Those who finished, we are working now on their results, but we want to compare with the second batch, the third batch, and so on. And see that everything is working well. But later by tomorrow, they will have the results,” he said.
Explaining the purpose of the UTME Mock, Oloyede said the exercise was aimed at testing the board’s readiness for the main examination and experimenting with new strategies to improve the process.
“The word is mock, and we want to say so far so good. What we want to do is to try some things. As students are getting wiser, we are also getting better.
“Because we are doing certain things to ensure that those things are done. So we are trying to make sure that when we go for the exam, we will have taken experience and taken some lessons from our experience at the Mock level. So, so far, so good,” he said.
The Registrar, who said the only way to pass UTME is by studying hard, expressed concerns that some candidates are patronisng rogue websites in order to cheat in the exam, adding that JAMB has also opened a decoy website targeting such individuals.
“We need to let the students know that the best way to pass the examination, UTME in particular, is to study. We are aware of some rogue websites asking people to come and pay that they can help.
“It cannot work. We have also opened our own rogue website. And as of this morning, about 180 students have paid.
“So those students, because to attempt to cheat is already an infraction. So those who paid into that account, looking for questions, we are going to deal firmly with them. And many of the institutions, UTME is not a school-based examination.
“We register students individually. And that is why we tell the students, do not give (out) your registration number. Do not register by proxy.
“Do not give your registration number to anybody. Because some of these schools want to be able to brag that, oh, my 10 students from my school scored 280. There was a state where even the governor of a state was misinformed, and they were celebrating nothing. So this type of thing that people want to cut corners, we are abreast of all this. And we are doing everything possible (to stop it).
“We have about 180 of them. And we are going to deal with them firmly. We are going to cancel their results, both UTME and DE,” Oloyede said.
He advised candidates to steer clear of fraudulent websites and individuals claiming to offer assistance during the examination.
“Some of them are paying N30,000 for something that will never work. And to some, when I look at those who have paid to us this money, I smile,” he added.
Recall that the 2025 UTME is scheduled to commence on April 25 at approved CBT centres across the country.
As exclusively predicted by The PUNCH, the Dangote refinery has informed marketers and its customers of a downward review of its ex-gantry loading cost to N865 per litre.
The new price is a reduction of N15 from N880 per litre sold by the facility on Wednesday.
Our correspondent gathered that the refinery informed its customers in a notice sent out on Thursday morning.
A Pro forma invoice was sighted by our correspondent and checks into petroleumprice.ng also confirmed the development.
Recall that marketers had exclusively informed our correspondent that the 650,000 barrels refinery was anticipated to lower its petrol loading costs by the end of this week, further contributing to the reduction in fuel prices.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, reassured the public of the price drop while commenting on the Federal Executive Council’s directive regarding the naira-for-crude agreement.
On Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council, after an initial delay, directed the full implementation of the suspended Naira-for-Crude agreement with local refiners.
It said the initiative with local refineries is not a temporary measure but a “key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining.”
The Ministry of Finance disclosed this in a statement published on its official X handle titled, “Update on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira Initiative.” The statement was released following a meeting on Tuesday between the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives from Dangote Refinery, a major beneficiary of the agreement, to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.
The committee said the policy is not temporary but a long-term plan to cut Nigeria’s dependence on foreign exchange for petroleum.
It added that the initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining and bolster energy security.
The statement read, “The Technical Sub-Committee on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative convened an update meeting on Tuesday to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.
“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council.
“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.”
Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, says 23 indigenes of the state are currently on death row in Indonesia due to drug-related offences.
Soludo spoke on Wednesday, while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to support his re-election bid.
“Go to Indonesia, 23 Ndi Anambra are on death row there for drug-related offences,” he said.
“These native doctors will deceive you that they will prepare a charm that when you carry drugs and enter the airport, the white man’s scanner will go blind.
“These young people believe them and today, many of our people are languishing in jail across the world.”
Soludo warned against the deceptive practices of some native doctors, noting that anyone who claims to have such powers would be arrested by the state government.
“If he makes one person a millionaire, we will bring Anambra people and line them up. Don’t you want an Anambra where everyone will be a millionaire? I will equally present myself because I need money too,” he said.
“One of the native doctors who is in detention, his son is a waiter in a hotel in Nnewi. If it was that simple, why didn’t he make his son a millionaire?
“One of them that we arrested has sworn that he is just a content creator, yet he has used things like these to deceive our young people that you can become rich without doing any work, as far as you have done oke Ite (money rituals).”
Soludo reiterated the negative impact of such beliefs on young people.
“That is why you see young people who wake up in the morning and retire to beer parlours drinking, hoping to get rich later in life,” he added.
The governor clarified that the state is not against traditional worshippers but against those engaging in dangerous practices.
“We are not against traditional worshippers; what we are against is people who are doing dangerous medicines and charms,” he said.
“We have always known those who are into traditional practices, they have things they believe in, and they were about the most upright people then.
“Those were people who believed that if you did the wrong thing, you could be killed by the gods of the land. But what these new crop of criminal native doctors are doing is deceit, and we will not allow that to continue.”
Soludo reiterated his commitment to the ongoing clampdown on native doctors promoting oke-ite (get-rich-quick charm).
Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, has narrated the events that led to the remand of Alabi Quadri, a teenager who went viral in the buildup to the 2023 presidential election.
In February 2023, Quadri dominated social media discourse after he was pictured stretching his arms in front of the motorcade of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the election.
Obi, who stood through the open roof of his car during a campaign stop in Lagos, had responded to the teenager’s gesture with a broad smile.
Recently, an activist posted on X that Quadri is currently languishing in Kirikiri prison for an offence he did not commit.
The activist said Quadri was returning home from work when he was forcefully taken to the police station by some young men over claims that he was among a group of robbers in the community.
The post caught the attention of many Nigerians, including Obi and Effiong. The human rights lawyer had promised to intervene.
Providing an update, Effiong said he and Quadri’s family members visited the teenager at the custodial centre on Wednesday.
He said the teenager has been in custody since January.
Effiong relayed that the teenager’s mother attributed Quadri’s ordeal to the entitlement of some street urchins to the largesse he reportedly received after making the headlines in 2023.
The lawyer said because Quadri refused to “properly settle” the street urchins, they plotted to get back at him.
Effiong said the teenager was subsequently “abducted” by the street urchins.
“After abducting Alabi, the same area boys who have been threatening to deal with him for not sharing the money he was gifted dragged him to the Amukoko Police Station (Pako Police Station), where he was detained,” Effiong said.
“The area boys initially claimed that Alabi was one of the young men who had been involved in street fights.
“However, it came as a rude shock when the Police took him before a Magistrate along with four other individuals who are complete strangers to him, alleging that he conspired with them to commit ‘armed robbery’ with cutlasses.
“The police in the charge sheet alleged that the two victims were robbed of money and four mobile phones.
“The value of both the physical cash and four phones is N579,000 only.
“I spent about two hours interviewing Alabi about the veracity of the charges brought by the police.
“Speaking objectively, we all left Kirikiri with a strong conviction that this gentleman is just another victim of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“The last point that we want to state on the record is that Alabi is a Minor. He is less than 18 years old.
“Currently, Alabi has appeared before the Magistrate on three occasions.
“The court remanded him along with the four strange individuals who are all adults at the custodial centre pending legal advice by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).”
The lawyer said his team will do everything “legally permissible” to secure the release of the minor.
Festus Onifade, a lawyer, has withdrawn a suit against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, challenging the recent hike in subscription fees for DStv and GOtv services.
On February 24, MultiChoice officially announced an increase in the subscription prices of DStv and GOtv packages, with effect from March 1.
The adjustments saw prices increase by up to 25 percent across various packages, with DStv Compact rising from N15,700 to N19,000.
Compact Plus increased from N25,000 to N30,000; DStv Premium moved from N37,000 to N44,500 and GOtv Supa Plus moved from N15,700 to N16,800.
The announcement, which came nearly one year after the firm’s subscription rates were hiked, led to public criticisms.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/363/2025 and filed on February 27, Onifade asked the court to declare that Multichoice’s eight-day notice period for the tariff increase was “unjust, unfair, unreasonable, illegal, grossly inadequate and a breach of the claimant consumer rights”.
He also said Multichoice ought not to have increased the bouquet prices since there is a pending appeal on the same subject before the court of appeal.
He prayed the court for an order mandating and compelling Multichoice Nigeria to suspend the price increase for non-compliance with the provision of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) was also joined in the suit as the second defendant.
However, in a notice of discontinuance dated and filed on April 7, the lawyer said he would no longer be proceeding with the suit.
“Take notice that the claimant hereby wholly discontinues this suit against the defendants,” the notice reads.
Meanwhile, a federal high court in Abuja has fixed May 8 to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the FCCPC challenging the price hike.
The Ondo police command has recovered three headless corpses from a river in the Odigbo LGA.
Locals reportedly stumbled on the decomposing bodies on Wednesday — with some lodged on the riverbanks.
Eyewitnesses said the victims may have been murdered and dumped in the river by suspected kidnappers.
A former youth leader in the community, who identified himself as Shileola, said he was shocked by the incident.
“I was shocked when I first heard about it over the phone. I rushed to the scene, hoping to identify the victims through their clothing or any other means, but all efforts proved abortive,” he said.
He speculated that the victims may have been killed elsewhere and their bodies dumped in the river, noting that there have been no reports of missing persons in the area.
Shileola urged residents to be security conscious.
Ayanlade Olayinka, spokesperson of the Ondo police command, confirmed the development.
“I can confirm to you that some three bodies were recovered at the river in Odigbo. And immediately it was reported at the Ore Division, the DPO of that division moved a detective to the scene where the three bodies were recovered,” Olayinka said.
“Upon recovering the bodies, they were taken to the morgue at General Hospital and the DPO summoned the community leaders and all interest groups to ensure the identification of the body.
“But, we have not seen anybody to identify any of the bodies and it is believed that those bodies were brought there and dumped at that site by some unknown men. So we believe that it did not actually happen in Ondo state.
“The area it happened bordered a lot of states, both Ogun and Edo states. So we believe the body is not from this state. However, it was dumped in that river.”
Olayinka said further details would be provided as investigations continue.
Literary legend, Wole Soyinka has expressed his sadness over the outcome of the administration of the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald Trump.
In an interview with Laura Collins-Hughes which was published in the New York Times, Soyinka said what is happening in the US currently should not be happening in such a progressive nation.
Recall that in 2016, the Nobel Laureate had threatened to destroy his American green card should Trump win the election at that time.
However, speaking to Collin-Hughes, “I just feel very, very sad that what’s happening in the States should be happening in such a potentially progressive country.”
Speaking on whether he feels safe in the US following the tense political atmosphere involving the nation and governments of other countries, he said, “Oh, I’ve lived in a constant state of nonsafety.
“So I’m used to that. If I’m walking through the street and they pick me up, I have no problem whatsoever. You know, my laptop is where it is. It’s up in the clouds,” Soyinka added.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has received backing from leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun West Senatorial District to seek re-election in 2026.
The endorsement came during a PDP zonal meeting held in the district and hosted by Senator Akogun Lere Oyewumi.
Adeleke, who became governor in November 2022, is expected to complete his first term in 2026. The PDP leaders said he deserves a second term because of his performance so far.
During the meeting, Hon. Alidu Adeoye, chairman of the PDP in Iwo Local Government, officially moved the motion for Adeleke to be given the party’s ticket again in 2026.
Adeoye said the governor had achieved a lot in just two years, and he believes a working governor should automatically be allowed to run again. “A performing governor deserves the ticket automatically,” he stated.
The motion was seconded by the party’s state legal adviser, Ebenezer Bolarinwa. Others who supported the endorsement included Hon. Sunday Oroniyi, who spoke for commissioners, and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, who represented party elders.
The endorsement was received on behalf of the governor by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazeem Akinleye, who thanked party members for their support.
“Mr Governor is elated by this endorsement and he humbly accepts it as a further call for him to serve the good people of Osun State. The Governor will build on his present successes to provide good leadership for Osun State till 2030,” Akinleye said.
He promised that Adeleke would continue delivering good governance under the PDP’s five-point development agenda.
Senator Oyewumi, the host of the meeting, praised the governor and described him as a symbol of progress in Osun.
“This endorsement is a confirmation of the popularity, acceptance, and support of Mr Governor from his home zone of Osun West,” he said. “We are here telling the state that we are re-presenting our son, our leader, Ademola Adeleke for a second term in July 2026.”
Alhaji Akinbade, speaking for the elders, also praised Adeleke for his mature and effective leadership. He said the governor had strengthened the image of the PDP through his achievements and added that re-electing him would be the best decision for the future of Osun State.
The meeting was attended by several key figures in the party, including commissioners, advisers, and local government party chairmen from across Osun West.
More...
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a new acting chairman, Mr. Sam Olumekun, Naija News reports.
Olumekun, who is INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, was referred to as the acting INEC Chairman during a meeting with the Labour Party leadership on Wednesday.
According to The Whistler, Professor Yakubu, the current INEC chairman, is in the Gambia attending the ECONEC (ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions) meeting.
According to constitutional provisions, the tenure of an INEC chairman is five years, and they typically leave at the end of their term unless their appointment is renewed. Yakubu assumed the role on November 9, 2015, and became the first INEC chairman to be sworn in for a second term after former President Muhammadu Buhari renewed his appointment in 2020.
Section 157 of the constitution states that the president can only remove the INEC chairman with the support of two-thirds of the Senate.
On Monday afternoon, a message circulated on WhatsApp, falsely claiming that Prof. Yakubu had been replaced by Prof. Olamilekan Bashiru.
The message, which lacked credible attribution, stated: “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.”
In response to the report, the Senior Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Digital Media and New Media, O’tega Ogra, in a post on his ? handle on Monday afternoon, described it as ‘fake news.’
Yakubu, who is nearing the end of his second term as INEC Chairman, is expected to exit the position towards the end of this year.
[NaijaNews]
The United States government has announced that it will begin screening the social media accounts of foreigners applying for American visas, including students and immigrants, to detect anti-semitic activities.
The new directive, which takes effect immediately, will apply to those seeking permanent residency (Green Card), student visas, and even applicants connected to universities or organisations accused of practices that are hostile, discriminatory, or prejudiced against Jewish people.
According to a statement by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by Daily Trust, foreigners who have supported or encouraged violent religious extremism — including online posts backing groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, or Yemen’s Houthi rebels — risk being automatically disqualified from obtaining a US visa or residency permit.
“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin. “Sec. Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism – think again. You are not welcome here.”
The statement, issued on Wednesday, says the crackdown is in line with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump aimed at combating religious extremism and terrorism.
The statement partly reads, “Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering aliens’ antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests.
“This will immediately affect aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.
“Consistent with President Trump’s executive orders on combating anti-semitism, additional measures to combat anti-semitism and protecting the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats, DHS will enforce all relevant immigration laws to the maximum degree, to protect the homeland from extremists and terrorist aliens, including those who support antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah aka: “the Houthis.
“Under this guidance, USCIS will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This guidance is effective immediately.”
Analysts say the policy could affect international students from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, especially those active on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
Critics have raised concerns that the policy could be used to target pro-Palestinian voices or human rights activists, blurring the line between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and promoting religious hate speech.
The US government insists that it is not targeting any religion but is focused on violent extremists, regardless of faith.
[DailyTrust]
[Full List] Gbajabiamila missing as presidency releases names of Tinubu’s appointments to date
Admin![[Full List] Gbajabiamila missing as presidency releases names of Tinubu’s appointments to date](/media/k2/items/cache/68d9ba68bf20d8e51368c3a98e982a88_XS.jpg)
The Presidency, through Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has provided a list of the President’s appointments to date as it tries to defend alleged lopsided appointments.
In the list, South West has 29 appointees of the President as against 24 stated by Dare.
For instance, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is one of the first appointees of the President, appointed as Chief Of Staff on Friday, June 2, 2023, was not mentioned in the list.
The South East has fewer appointments.
Also, it appears that the West Eest, where the President comes from, has the majority of the key appointments into ‘juicy’ positions.
Here is the list of Tinubu’s appointments to day:
South West:
1. Bosun Tijani
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
2. Wale Edun
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
3. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo
Minister of Interior
4. Adebayo Adelabu
Minister of Power
5. Dele Alake
Minister of Solid Minerals Development
6. Dr. Jumoke Oduwole
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
7. Adegboyega Oyetola
Minister of Marine & Blue Economy
8. Olayemi Cardoso
CBN Governor
9. Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja
Chief of Army Staff
10. Kayode Egbetokun
Inspector General of Police
11. Zaccheus Adedeji
Chairman, FIRS
12. Adeola Ajayi
Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS)
13. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi
Comptroller-General of Customs
14. Olanipekun Olukoyede
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
15. Kayode Isiak Opeifa
Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation
16. Oluwasegun Faleye
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund
17. Vincent Olatunji
(NSITF)
18. Raji Kazeem Kolawole
Managing Director /CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)
19. Bayo Onanuga
Director General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)
20. Sunday Dare
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy
21. Tope Kolade Fasua
Special Adviser on Public Communications Orientation
22. Peju Adedajo
Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters (Office of the VP)
23. Temitola Asekunle-Johnson
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Investment & Privatisation (Office of VP)
24. Mariam Temitope
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Job Creation & NSMEs (Office of VP)
25. Tunde Rahman
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Regional Development Programmes
26. Moremi Ojudu
SSAP on Community Engagement
27. Tope Ajayi
SSA, Media and Public Affairs
28. Segun Dada
Special Assistant, Social Media
29. Demola Oshodi
SSA, Protocol
North Central:
1. Shuaibu Audu
Minister of Steel Development
2.Muhammed Idris
Minister of Information
3. Zaphanian Jisalo
Minister of Special Duties
4. Lateef Fagbemi
Minister of Justice
5. Joseph Utsev
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
6. Nentawe Yilwatde
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
7. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim
Minister of State, Police Affairs
8. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security
9. Bashir Bayo Ojulari
GMD, NNPC Limited
10. Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed
Director General, National Intelligence Agency
11. Dr. Idris A. Sulaimon
Director General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
12. Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
13. Engr. Jaji O. Abdulganiyu Controller General of the Federal Fire Service
14. Kemi Nandap
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service
15. Haruna Y. Usman
Chairman, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority
16. Dangajere Shuaibu Bawa Jaja Managing Director, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority
17. Dr. Amos Gizo Yadukso
Chairman, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority
18. Engr. Ninga Terese
Managing Director, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority
19. Abiodun Essiet SSAP on Community Engagement
20. Gimba Kakanda
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Research and Analytics (Office of the VP)
21. Isaq Ahmed Ningi,
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital media & Emergency Management
22. Mr. Aliyu Audu,
Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs
23. Sen. Ibrahim Oloriege
Chairman, NHIA
24. Tunde Ajibulu,
Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), UBEC
25. Sunday Sylva Togo Echono Executive Secretary, TETFUND
North East:
1. Abubakar Kyari
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
2. Idi Mukhtar Maiha
Minister of Livestock Development
3. Sa’idu Alkali
Minister of Tranportation
4. Yusuf Tuggar
Minister of Foreign Affairs
5. Muhammad Ali Pate
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare
6. Ibrahim Gaidam
Minister of Police Affairs
7. Uba Maigari Ahmadu
Minister of State for Regional Development
8. Ahmadu Musa Kida
NNPCL Non-executive Chairman.
9. Nuhu Ribadu
National Security Adviser
10. Mohammed Buba Marwa Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
11. Hajiya Hafsat Bakari
CEO, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit
12. Prof. Abdu Dauda
Chairman, Chad Basin Development Authority
13. Tijjani Musa Tumsa
Managing Director, Chad Basin Development Authority
14. Alh. Sanusi Mohammed Babantanko
Chairman, Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority
15. Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba SSAP on Community Engagement
16. Dr. Bala Mohammed
Deputy Governor, CBN
17. Aliyu Modibbo Umar
Special Adviser (SAD), General Duties
18. Sadiq Wanna Special Adviser (SAD), to the President on Power Infrastructure (Office of the VP)
19. Usman Muhammad
SSA to the President on Administration & Office Accommodation (Office of the VP)
20. Nasir Yammama
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Innovation (Office of the VP)
21. Bashir Maidugu
Deputy State House Counsel (Senior Special Assistant to the President)
22. Dr. Daniel Bwala,
Special Adviser on Media and Policy Communications
23. Mr. Francis Adah Abah
Personal Assistant to the President, Special Duties
24. Mumuni Dagazau
Executive Vice President for Downstream
North West:
1. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar Minister of Defence
2. Hannatu Musawa
Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy
3. Ahmed Dangiwa
Minister of Housing and Urban Development
4. Bello Goronyo
Minister of State for Water Resources
5. Yusuf Tanko Sununu
Minister of State for Education
6. Bello Matawalle
Minister of State for Defence
7. Hajiya Hafsat Bakari
CEO, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit
8. General Christopher Gwabin Musa Chief of Defence Staff
9. Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar Chief of Air Staff
10. Haliru Nababa
Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service
11. Shehu Usman Mohammed Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission
12. Aminu Maida
EVC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
13. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
14. Brig Gen YD Ahmed
Director-General, National Youth Service Corps
15. Mohammed Buba Marwa Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
16. Abdullahi U. Ganduje
Chairman, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
17. H. E. Abdullahi U. Ganduje Chairman, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria
18. Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu
Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
19. Nasiru Gawuna
Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria
20. Musa Sarkin Adar
Chairman, National Inland Waterways Authority
21. H. E. Nasiru Gawuna
Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria
22. H.E Aminu Bello Masari
Chairman, TETFUND
23. Alh. Bashir Usman Gumel Chairman, Federal Medical Centre, Yola
24. Dr. Mohammed Gusau Hassan Chairman, Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu
25. Isa Sadiq Achida
Chairman, Raw Materials Research and Development Council
26. Amb. Abubakar Shehu Wurno Chairman, Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority
27. Major Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik Secretary, Civil Defence, Immigration and Prisons Services Board
28. Dr Mohammed Mohammed Aminu
Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (NABTEB)
29. Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai SSAP on Community Engagement
30. Sani Dattijo
Deputy Governor, CBN
31. Rukaiya El-Rufai
Special Adviser to President on NEC & Climate Change (Office of the VP)
32. Hakeem Baba Ahmed
Special Adviser (SAD), on Political Matters (Office of VP)
33. Muhammad Bulama
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Politics/Special Duties (office of the VP)
34. Zainab Yunusa
Senior Special Assistant to the President on NEC (Office of the VP)
35. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Print Media
36. Ibrahim Masari
SSA Politics
South South:
1. Festus Keyamo
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
2. Ekperipe Ekpo
Minister of State, Gas Resources
3. Heineken Lokpobiri
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources
4. John Enoh
Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment
5. Nyesom Wike
Minister of Federal Capital Territory
6. Abubakar Momoh
Minister of Regional Development
7. Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla
Chief of Naval Staff
8. Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye
Chief of Defence Intelligence
9. Emomotimi Agama
Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
10. Mrs. Glory Ekpo Oho
Managing Director, Cross River Basin Development Authority
11. Sen. Magnus Abe
Chairman, National Agency for the Great Green Wall
12. Chief (Barr.) Ebikemi Boi Bosin Chairman, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority
13. Hon. Amgbare Ebitimi
Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority
14. Mr. Saleh Abubakar
Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW)
15. Dr. Dakorinama Alabo George Director-General, Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).
16. Gift Johnbull SSAP on Community Engagement
17. Emem Nnana Usoro
CBN Deputy Governor
18. O’tega Ogra SSA, Digital/New Media to the President
19. Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe SSA, Strategic Communications
20. Rowland Ewubare
Group Chief Operating Officer, NNPCL
21. Nosa Asemota
Special Assistant, Visual Communications to the President
22. Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey
Project Coordinator, HYPREP
South East:
1. Dr. Doris Anite Uzoka
Minister of State for Finance
2. Bianca Ojukwu
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
3. Nkeiru Onyejiocha
Minister of State for Labour
4. Sen. Dave Umahi
Minister of Works
5. Dr. Uche Nnaji
Minister of Science and Technology
6. Uzoma Nwagba
MD, Credicorp
7. Rt. Hon. Emeka Nduka
Managing Director, Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority
8. Adesua Dozie
Company Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, NNPCL
9. Hon. Mark Okoye
MD/CEO, South-East Development Commission (SEDC)
10. Philip Ikeazor
Deputy Governor for Financial System Stability, CBN
11. Sophia Mbakwe
Executive Vice President of Business Services, NNPCL
12. Mr. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment
13. Chioma Nweze
SSAP on Community Engagement
14. Kingsley Stanley Nkwocha SSA to the President, Media and Communication (Office of VP)
15. Kingsley Uzoma
SSA to the President on Agribusiness & Productivity Enhancement (Office of VP)
16. Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo
SSA to the President on Public Engagement
Tony Elumelu, chairman of Transcorp Group, says Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy target cannot be realised without urgent and sustained efforts to address challenges in the country’s electricity sector.
Elumelu spoke on Wednesday at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) held in Abuja.
The business mogul said access to reliable power remains the single most critical factor in transforming the Nigerian economy, particularly as the country pushes for increased contribution from the non-oil sector.
“I want to use this opportunity to reiterate that access to electricity remains the single most critical factor in fixing the Nigerian economy, especially as we seek to have the non-oil sector make greater contributions to our economy,” he said.
“We must, therefore, have the power to fix and transform Nigeria. We know that to grow a $1 trillion economy, electricity must be fixed. That is not the case today.”
Elumelu added that although President Bola Tinubu had directed last year that all impediments to the power sector be removed, the pace of implementation remained slow.
“The president directed last year that all impediments to the power sector should be removed,” he added.
“But I’m afraid to say that critical people who should help to see the president’s vision come alive are afraid to do so.
“May I use this opportunity to call on them to help translate the President’s initiative idea into action?”
‘FG OWES TRANSCORP N600BN FOR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY’
Elumelu also said the federal government owed the company N600 billion for electricity supplied to the national grid.
“As of date, federal government owes your company over N600 billion. That is $400 million,” he said.
“Much as we, patriotic Nigerian investors, are committed to supporting the efforts of the federal government in fixing the economy, we have a rather excruciating burden of subsidising the sector. It requires urgent attention.”
Elumelu acknowledged efforts by the present administration to address liquidity issues in the power sector, including the presidential metering initiative and transmission reforms.
He added that implementation must be swift to prevent further deterioration.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Elumelu said it experienced significant growth within the group despite economic challenges.
He said Transcorp Plc’s market capitalisation had risen to over N4.5 trillion from less than N20 billion in 2011 when his group took over the company.
Elumelu added that since the takeover, the company has consistently paid dividends, declaring N1 per share for the 2024 financial year.
“By the time we took over the company in 2011, they had not paid dividends one day. But since we took over the company, we have consistently paid dividends to shareholders,” he said.
“We have declared N1 dividend for 2024. And 2025 will definitely be better than 2024.”
According to Elumelu, Transcorp Power now has a market value of over N2.7 trillion and has fully repaid its foreign exchange (FX) acquisition loan of $215 million in 2024.
“When we say that Transcorp is about transforming lives, improving lives and transforming Nigeria and Africa, it is based on the role we play in catalysing development. Power is critical for the development of every economy,” he said.
He also announced the completion of a new 5,000-capacity event centre at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a hub for global events.
“Rwanda, Dubai, and Kenya have become event centres. So, we want to put your country on that mark. And you have succeeded,” he said.
Elumelu also said the company was considering expanding into other critical sectors, including agriculture and renewable energy, following recommendations from shareholders.
On her part, Owen Omogiafo, president and group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Transcorp Group, said the firm is committed to excellence and innovation.
Omogiafo said the firm is exploring strategic diversification into agriculture, targeting high-impact opportunities.