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The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled an illegal internet fraud training facility, known as a “Yahoo School,” in the Iju area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Tuesday, stated that four principal suspects were arrested alongside six trainees.
According to him, among the trainees was an underaged boy identified as Minachi Udochukwu.
Hundeyin noted that preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspects recruited the trainees from Anambra State, engaged them in internet fraud, and confiscated their earnings.
The statement read in part, “During the successful operations, the police detectives arrested four Yahoo experts who were running the notorious school, namely Chibuike Ihejika, 23; Stanley Ihejika, 22; Obiora Oyediba, 26; and Emmanuel Oyedibe, 25.
“The other six suspects are their criminal trainees, all of whom were undergoing training in cybercrime and fraud: Okorie Henry, Otoh Chisom, 20; Okeke Kwufrochikwu, 26; Uchenna Obeji, 26; Minachi Udochukwu, 12; and Chinedu Ukachukwu, 23.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspects of the facility recruited their trainees from Anambra State, engaged them to commit internet fraud and other related crimes.
“The proceeds from their fraudulent activities were being confiscated by the principal suspects.”
While the command warned the owner of the facility to turn himself in at the State Criminal Investigation Department, it assured all that all suspects would be charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation into the case.
The statement further revealed that Ugochukwu had been provided with medical care after healing marks of injury believed to have been sustained during the training was found on his body
“In line with due process of the law, the underage suspect among them, Minachi Ugochukwu, 12 years old, with healing marks of injuries on his body allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts, is being given medical attention and kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him,” Hundeyin stated.
The command also warned parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards to prevent them from being exploited, lured, or compelled into falling into criminal activities.
It, however, called on members of the public who have fallen victim to the fraudulent activities of the criminal syndicate to come forward to the SCID, Yaba, with their complaints.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, also commends the police personnel involved in this operation for their dedication and professionalism that resulted in this success.
“The CP Jimoh assures all Lagosians that the Command remains resolute and committed to combating all forms of crimes and criminalities, including cybercrime tagged ‘yahoo,’ etc.
“He urges residents to report every suspicious activity or incident to the police in their localities for prompt action,” the statement added.
The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has praised the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, acknowledging his sterling leadership qualities, deep understanding of Islamic principles, and contemporary perspectives.
Yusuf, while receiving the Emir and his entourage on the traditional Hauwa Nassarawa homage at the Government House on Tuesday, stated that Sanusi’s return to the palace was a result of his exceptional leadership skills and commitment to the welfare of the people.
“Since he came, he has been leading us in prayers, unlike many Emirs. When we look at formal education, he has all it takes to be everywhere. An emir who loves his people,” Yusuf said.
The Governor further emphasized that Sanusi, since his reinstatement, has worked diligently to unite the emirate council and various Islamic sects, while also leading efforts against social vices in Kano. This, Yusuf highlighted, demonstrates Sanusi’s multifaceted leadership approach, combining traditional wisdom with a commitment to modern social challenges.
Governor Yusuf used the occasion to spotlight his administration’s developmental projects and reaffirmed his goal of transforming Kano into a mega city.
He mentioned that his efforts are not only focused on infrastructure but are also aimed at ensuring that local government administration aligns with the needs of the grassroots to ensure that the dividends of democracy reach all corners of the state.
“The impact of our developmental projects is becoming visible, and we are extending similar efforts to the local governments to ensure that every citizen enjoys the benefits of governance,” Yusuf added.
Emir Sanusi II Commends The Government For Reinstatement
Emir Sanusi II, in his address, expressed his gratitude to the government and the state House of Assembly for reinstating him to the throne.
He praised the state for its remarkable strides in human development, noting that the progress in education, infrastructure, and healthcare under Governor Yusuf’s leadership is commendable.
The Emir also urged local government chairmen to step up their efforts to improve living conditions at the grassroots, ensuring that the benefits of governance reach the most underserved communities.
“The local government chairmen must intensify their efforts towards ensuring better living conditions for the people,” Sanusi said.
In keeping with tradition, Emir Sanusi II participated in the 1903 traditional Hauwa Nassarawa homage, a highly regarded cultural practice.
However, due to the security concerns surrounding large public gatherings, Naija News reports that the Emir chose not to participate in the usual horse procession, opting instead to travel in a vehicle convoy to the Government House.
Sanusi also made a conscious decision to avoid the regular state road routes to the Government House, further ensuring the security of his movement and avoiding any potential conflicts.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday approved the appointment of Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), replacing Mallam Mele Kyari.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, comes as part of a sweeping overhaul of the NNPCL board, which also saw the removal of Chairman Chief Pius Akinyelure and all other board members appointed in November 2023.
The NNPC is a government-owned oil Company that was established in 1977.
Notably, 20 individuals have headed the organisation since inception in the capacity of group managing director.
See all NNPC’s MD from inception to date:
1. Bashir Bayo Ojulari (2025-present)
Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, who hails from Kwara State, brings over three decades of experience in the oil and gas sector to his new role.
Until his appointment, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. Under his leadership, Renaissance spearheaded a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) through a consortium of indigenous energy firms.
Ojulari is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He began his career with Elf Aquitaine, where he was the first Nigerian process engineer, and later joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991.
2. Mele Kyari (2019-2025)
Mele Kyari is a Nigerian geologist, crude oil marketer, and the first group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. Before this appointment, Kyari was the group general manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC and the Nigerian National Representative at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 2018.
3. Maikanti Baru (2016-2019)
He was a Nigerian engineer, crude oil marketer, and the 18th Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He served in this position from July 2016 to July 2019 and had previously served as the Group General Manager (GGM) of National Petroleum Investment Management Services. Maikanti Baru was a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
4. Ibe Kachikwu (2015-2016)
Ibe Kachikwu is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
5. Joseph Thlama Dawha (2014-2015)
He was appointed as The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation by President Goodluck Jonathan, serving from August 2014 to August 2015. Prior to his appointment, he was the Group Executive Director of Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
6. Andrew Yakubu (2012-2014)
He served as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from 2012-2014. He was appointed by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2012. However, he and the Management team were relieved of their appointments to strengthen the reforms of NNPC by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in July 2014 and Joseph Dawha was named his successor in August 2014.
7. Augustine O. Oniwon (2010-2012)
Augustine Oniwon is a Harvard and Oxford-educated engineer who joined NNPC in 1977 and became the head of planning at the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company in 1987. Oniwon then served as technical assistant to the downstream department’s Group Executives Director (1988-91), before serving as head of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company’s Engineering and Technical Services Department (ETSD) in 1991 to 1992. Following this, he was appointed head of NNPC’s New Business Development, Corporate Planning and Development Division, until moving to become head of ETSD at Port Harcourt Refinery between 1993 to 1999.
8. Shenu Ladan (2010)
He was a Nigerian lawyer, philanthropist, and oil and gas management strategist at Kaduna State. He served as the group managing director of NNPC in 2010.
9. Muhammed Barkindo (2009-2010)
He was the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2006. He helped to create an alliance between OPEC members and other oil-producing countries.
He led the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as the Group Managing Director from 2009 to 2010, and headed Nigeria’s technical delegation to UN climate negotiations beginning in 1991
10. Abubakar Yar’Adua (2007-2009)
Abubakar Yar’adua was the former Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the late former president, Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua between 2007 and 2009. Yar’Adua, according to the investigation, never worked anywhere outside the NNPC. He joined the corporation as a corps member at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) in 1976. He declared that there will be zero tolerance for corruption during his tenure.
11. Funsho Kupolokun (2003-2007)
Engineer Kupolokun holds a first degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos where he studied as a Shell scholar, and an honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. He worked briefly with Shell BP before joining the Nigeria National Oil Corporation now the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He occupied various strategic roles within NNPC, including Head of Special Projects in the NNPC JV, Head of the Petroleum Engineering Department, Group General Manager, Head of NNPC’s London office and Group Executive Director, Commercial & Investment (at the time, the youngest person to serve on the NNPC Group Board).
He was appointed Special Assistant to the President on Petroleum Matters in 1999 and soon after that, he became the Group Managing Director of NNPC in 2003; a position he held till 2007.
12. Jackson G. Obaseki (1999-2003)
Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki is an energy technocrat and reformer with many landmark contributions to Nigeria’s and the global oil and gas industry. He served as NNPC’s GMD from 1999 to 2003. He had served in different positions before his most deserving appointment. He demonstrated a strong commitment to the making of policies and incentives, including the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which metamorphosed into the current Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
13. Dalhatu Bayero (1995-1999)
He served as the Group Managing Director of NNPC between 1995-1999. He was a younger brother to the former Emir of Kano, HRH Alhaji Ado Bayero.
14. Chamberlain Oyibo (1993-1995)
Chief Chamberlain Oruwari Oyibo is a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He was the 10th GMD of NNPC and served for two years from 1993 until his retirement in 1995.
15. Edmund Daukoru (1992-1993)
Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru is a former Nigerian Minister of State for Energy and was Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2006. He obtained a PhD in Geology from Imperial College, London.
He worked with Shell International Petroleum Company from 1970, where he rose from Chief Geologist to General Manager of Exploration in Nigeria. In 1992, he became Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
16. Thomas John (April 1990-June 1992)
Dr. John was the fifth Group Managing Director of NNPC, succeeding the late Dr. Aret Adams from April 1990 to June 1992. Also, he was a non-executive director of South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO), executive Chairman of Hydropec Engineering Services Ltd., and former Non-Executive Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc., among other positions.
17. Aret Adams (1985-1990)
During his time as the Managing Director of NNPC between 1985-1990, Aret Adams introduced a group structure and merit system into the management and transformed the organisation into a mega National Corporation, able to compete globally.
18. Lawrence Amu (1981-1985)
He obtained a B.S.C in Engineering from The Imperial College of Science & Technology in 1960. In August 1981, he was announced as the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) while he was in Canada, finalising the final engineering designs of the 6 x 230 MW Egbin Power Station. He never applied for this role.
19. Odoliyi Lolomari (1980-1981)
Chief Odoliyi Lolomari served as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Nigeria’s OPEC representative. He has over 50 years experience in the petroleum industry having served as the Chairman of Frontier Oil Limited, Founding Member of the Nigerian National Oil Company (NNOC), and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Also, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Petroleum, London and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of London and a Diploma in Oil Technology from the Imperial College (DIC), London.
20. Remilekun Marinho (1977-1980)
Armed with degrees from the University College, Ibadan and the Imperial College, London, Marinho joined the Hydrocarbons Section of Nigeria’s Ministry of Mines and Power and Lagos Affairs. He later became the pioneer and two-time Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (1977 – 1980 and 1984 – 1985)
Chief Marinho’s administration developed policies and practices in the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria, with initial production of about 50,000 barrels a day to its established potential of more than 2.5 million barrels at the time of his retirement.
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule has warned government officials against the ‘get rich quick’ syndrome.
The Governor spoke on Tuesday when he hosted the state Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Akabe, who led a delegation of government officials to him on a Sallah homage in Gudi, Akwanga local government area.
He urged the government officials to join him in building the state.
“What I have noticed over and over is that people look for this quick money to come and they take the money and it doesn’t benefit them in any way whatsoever.
”The sad thing is for somebody to accumulate illegal wealth and then die. People don’t even know where the money is hidden,” he said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to institutionalising policies and projects that would outlive his tenure.
Sule emphasised that he is taking every measure to ensure that investors coming into the state are protected even after he leaves office in 2027.
“We are doing everything to ensure that we protect some of the investors that are coming by putting some legal instruments that would protect investments.
”It is one of the reasons why the investors are showing interest to invest in the state,” he said.
The delegation was made up of commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants, as well as heads of agencies, departments and parastatals.
2025 has already been a chaotic year for both Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), with the former losing 6% of its value and the latter losing 28% even as both are exposed to major catalysts in the form of an emerging apparently pro-crypto regulatory regime in the U.S.
But through the rest of the year, there could be a lot of upward action in both of these coins. Here's which one is the better option for an investment of $2,000.
A question of appetite for risk
Bitcoin is the safer of these coins, which makes it the better choice for conservative investors. The reason for that is Bitcoin does not need to compete with other chains for investors' capital on the basis of its technology or the value of the projects in its blockchain ecosystem.
Think about buying gold. Nobody expects that gold will get any upgrades that make it easier to use as a store of value; people buy it because it's scarce, and it's energy-intensive to mine. It's the same idea with Bitcoin. As there can only be 21 million Bitcoins that ever exist, every new coin that's mined and purchased is a coin that someone else can't have.
The world could change a vast amount over the coming years, and those central precepts would still remain true, and the coin would retain value due to its scarcity. But, generally, investments that have a shot at retaining most of their value are not as effective at positioning investors to gain from changes to that value, as the assets themselves are less likely to change. So it's reasonable to expect that there will not be as much growth with an investment in Bitcoin compared to an investment in an alternative like Solana.
For Solana, consider it to be closer to an ecosystem that you're betting will expand and become prosperous. If the many projects hosted on Solana's chain flourish (and based on their ever-increasing application revenues over time it seems like that's the case), there will be more demand for the coin, as the coin is a prerequisite for taking most actions when using the chain. If, on the other hand, a more effective chain comes along that beats Solana on its technical chops, it might be a problem.
In terms of the future segments that could drive Solana to higher values, artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to be the most important. There are already a slew of projects on Solana claiming to offer infrastructure for AI agents to hold resources on and interact with the blockchain. But it remains to be seen if those projects will actually generate value in a way that attracts more capital to invest in Solana or its tokens.
Therein lies the risk: While an AI-fueled boom would send the coin's price higher by increasing the total value stored on the chain as distributed in its tokens, such a boom would need to be more than a flash in the pan to keep the price rising over the long term. And it's too early to tell what might happen, which implies that investors will be taking a significant risk if they buy Solana, even if the upside could be tremendous.
Give these investments plenty of time to deliver their value
Regardless of whether you prefer the higher-risk proposition of Solana or the safer pick of Bitcoin, you're going to need to retain your coins for at least a few years to give time for the investment theses for each to play out in full.
On that front, Bitcoin is probably the asset that will require the longer hold to fully benefit. Its increasing mining difficulty occurs over the course of years, and in all probability, decades. It is possible to sell your coins before those long periods have elapsed, but you'll be leaving money on the table by doing so.
In contrast, a lot can change with Solana in just a couple of years, especially considering the pace at which trends in cryptocurrency segments come and go. So far, the most durable trend that the chain has claimed as its own is the meme coin casino -- a dubious distinction, but a driver of its value nonetheless. Ongoing success in more serious segments like AI agents, AI infrastructure, or decentralized finance (DeFi) would do a lot to ensure that the chain's value survives as the world changes around it.
[The Motley Fool ]
So far, crypto markets haven’t behaved as expected under the Trump Administration. Investors hoped that regulatory reform and policies like a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve would drive prices appreciably higher. But it’s been the opposite. Bitcoin has fallen from highs well above $100,000 at the beginning of the year to a trough in the mid-80,000s for most of March.
Crypto prices have suffered from being increasingly correlated with traditional assets like stocks and bonds, which have been hit by macroeconomic uncertainty. Tariffs — surcharges the U.S. places on imports from other countries — have Wall Street worried about a global recession. Crypto investors have been steering clear of crypto assets, which are seen as relatively risky.
“This is all about markets’ ‘risk appetite’ which continues to deteriorate, and for the time being drives a wedge between crypto assets and gold, which continues to be the ‘safe haven’ of choice,” said Marc Ostwald, Chief Economist & Global Strategist at ADM Investor Services International.
“[That’s] in no small part driven by central bank FX reserve managers, who are seeking to reduce USD exposure, which has long been a source of concern to them.”
As the global financial and trade system becomes more fragmented, investors are seeking alternatives to riskier assets, including dollars. For now, that means turning to gold, which is up 18% year-to-date.
But that could change, said Omid Malekan, an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and author of "The Story of the Blockchain: A Beginner's Guide to the Technology That Nobody Understands." Bitcoin could be the new gold soon enough.
“I think the entire [future] is uncertain and in some ways unknowable, because there are many crosscurrents and both crypto and tariffs are new. Some people argue that crypto is just a risk-on tech asset and would sell off due to tariffs. But bitcoin has found footing in some circles as ‘digital gold’ and the physical variety is soaring on the tariff news. So which will it be?”
In other words, economic uncertainty could lead investors to seek out bitcoin just as they have sought out gold in recent months.
Another note of positivity: the impact of tariffs on crypto could be “priced in” and the worst might be over already, said Zach Pandl, head of research at Grayscale, a leading crypto asset management firm.
President Trump is due to announce U.S. tariffs on Wednesday, April 2, at 4 p.m. ET—what’s known as “Liberation Day.” According to reports, he’ll lay out “reciprocal tariffs” against 15 countries that have levied tariffs against the U.S., including China, Canada and Mexico.
Pandl estimates tariffs have so far taken 2% off economic growth this year. But Liberation Day might actually stop the worst of the pain felt in financial markets. “If we see an announcement [on Wednesday] that is tough but phased, and focused on the 15 countries they seem to be targeting, my expectation is that markets will rally on that news,” Pandl told CoinDesk.
“Potentially once we get through this announcement, crypto markets can focus back on the fundamentals which are very positive.”
Pandl said announcements like Circle’s IPO wouldn’t be happening if institutions didn’t have a high degree of confidence in the digital assets sector and the policies around it.
Moreover, Pandl, a former macro-economist at Goldman Sachs, believes that tariffs will increase the appetite for currencies that aren’t dollars.
“I think tariffs will weaken the dominant role of the dollar and create space for competitors including bitcoin. Prices have gone down in the short run. But the first few months of the Trump Administration have raised my conviction in the longer term for bitcoin as a global monetary asset.”
Pendl still believes that bitcoin will hit new all-time highs this year, despite current pessimism around prices. “I wouldn’t have quit my Wall Street job if I didn’t think bitcoin will be the winner in the long term,” he said.
[CoinDesk]
The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, yesterday, defied security restrictions imposed on Kogi State hours to her home-coming rally, shutting down all commercial and other activities in the senatorial district.
The suspended lawmaker, who arrived in a chopper, was received by a jubilant crowd in Okehi Local Government Area of the state, where the council chairman had earlier declared a curfew.
Her return came after the Kogi State government banned public gatherings and rallies over alleged security concerns.
The Kogi State police command had also asked her to cancel a planned Eid-el-Fitr celebration rally in the district.
The state Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, had in a statement signed, yesterday, by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, said the rally was against the proclamation on ban on political gathering by the state government issued on Monday.
He said: “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of Rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of planned rally at Okene to cancel such event in the interest of the peace in Kogi State.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is, therefore, advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the state.
‘’The command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the state.’’
However, her media team dismissed any speculation about a cancellation, maintaining that the visit would proceed as planned.
Earlier, the chairman of Okehi LGA, Amoka Monday, had also declared a curfew across the council area.
Amoka had in a statement he personally signed yesterday, said: “The curfew, which takes immediate effect, restricts movement and gatherings in designated areas.
“Anyone found loitering or assembling in restricted zones without clearance from the relevant authorities will be arrested and prosecuted. This is in line with the directive of the state government and Kogi State Commissioner of Police.
“The safety and security of our people are our top priority. We will not tolerate any actions that could compromise the peace and stability of our communities.”
He added that the decision to impose the curfew was a “proactive measure” to prevent any potential security breaches.’’
Nobody can stop me from coming home —Akpoti-Uduaghan
Before her return, the senator had alleged that any violence during the event should be blamed on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, and former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello.
She wrote on Facebook: “My dear people of Kogi Central, I look forward to our peaceful Sallah celebrations today (yesterday).
“However, should we be met with or infiltrated by violence, Nigerians should hold Governor Ododo, Yahaya Bello and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, wholly responsible.”
However, despite the security concerns and government restrictions, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return was met with widespread celebrations, as supporters gathered to welcome the lawmaker back to her hometown.
Addressing constituents in Ebira language, the suspended senator said: “Nobody and nothing can stop me from coming home. I’m an Ebira person; this is my land.
“I’m the daughter of the late Jimoh Abdul Akpoti. I know my roots; I’m not a bastard and I’m not afraid of anybody.”
…accuses INEC of bias in her recall
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of bias in her recall from the Senate.
She told the jubilant crowd: “What I see INEC doing is aiding and guiding petitioners on how to perfect their illicit acts. The first time the petition was submitted, they didn’t have address and phone numbers, so INEC went out to guide them on how to submit information that will perfect their petition.
“What did they do? The petitioners, who were from the other party, the APC, submitted a letterhead. What was the name on it? Kogi Central Political Frontier and the address there was number 4, Oboroke.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan said the address does not exist, adding that she ran a check on the status of registration of Kogi Central Political Frontier, the association, which sponsored her recall.
According to her, “the CAC report came negative, that the association is not registered. So, I’m still waiting and wondering why INEC has not yet made a statement to that effect or sent people down to Oboroke here, which is just five minutes away, to ascertain whether that address is real.
“Or have we stooped to the point whereby fictitious, non-existing associations and individuals can call for the recall of a senator? Are we in a kangaroo country? We should not allow that.
“I don’t know whether the process will be stalled but we are in courts as well. Also, I don’t know when they will come down here to verify.
“But I will say this, if the time ever comes for the verification of the 250,000 people that signed for my recall, I trust that you will do right.”
Natasha has no respect for rules, laws —Kogi govt
Reacting to the suspended senator’s visit, yesterday, Kogi State government accused her of inciting chaos in the state.
In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, the government said: “The attention of the Kogi State government has been drawn to the reckless, malicious and utterly false allegations made by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in her verified Facebook Page, in which she claims that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible if anything happens to her.
“This is yet another desperate and calculated attempt by her to mislead the public, incite unrest, and present herself as a victim, after deliberately violating the ban on political gatherings imposed by the state government to maintain law and order.
“Her statement exposed her plans to use her visit to stir trouble and violence in Kogi Central senatorial district. We will not allow any part of the state to go up in flames nor permit killing of innocent souls by the actions of the suspended senator.
“Although she has since deleted the post after realising what the lie would cost her, we have a screenshot of it which was saved before she deleted the post. Her actions since the early hours of today (yesterday) have confirmed the authenticity of the security report that certain elements were planning to foment trouble in Kogi Central.
“Let it be categorically stated that Governor Ododo absolutely has no interest in the political theatrics of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her baseless allegations are nothing but a feeble attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and cover up her blatant disregard for the law. She has once again proven that she has no respect for rules and the laws.
“Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently demonstrated a pattern of lawlessness, using lies and deceit as her tools of political engagement. The recent disturbances in Kogi State, orchestrated by her defiance of the state’s security directives, have further confirmed her status as a security threat to the people of the state.
“She deliberately violated the state government’s ban on political gatherings, which was put in place to prevent security breaches and maintain peace. Instead of respecting the law, she chose to incite chaos, disregarding the safety and stability of the state.
‘’When confronted with the consequences of her actions, she resorted to her usual tactics of playing the victim and fabricating baseless accusations against respected leaders of the state and the nation.
“The people of Kogi State and Nigerians at large should see through her deceptive ploys and reject her attempt to manipulate public perception with outright lies. Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan is not a victim; she is an instigator of disorder who thrives on spreading falsehoods to gain public sympathy.
“Kogi State government will not be blackmailed or intimidated by the antics of a politician who has built her political career on falsehoods. We remain committed to upholding law and order and will take all necessary steps to ensure that no individual, no matter how highly placed, is allowed to breach public peace with impunity.
‘’The building tension and cloud of violence hanging on Kogi Central wouldn’t have been necessary if Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had complied with the position of the state government and cooperated with security agencies. She would be held responsible if her actions result in any violence in Kogi Central or any part of the state.
“Let it be clear that the security of every citizen in Kogi State, including that of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, remains a priority. However, the government will not tolerate anyone deliberately provoking crises and then crying wolf when confronted with the consequences of his or her actions.
“We call on the security agencies to take note of her reckless utterances and inflammatory actions that pose a serious threat to peace and stability in the state. She should be held accountable for her blatant attempts to incite violence and cause unnecessary tension.’’
[Opinion Nigeria]
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has faulted the governance system in Nigeria, submitting that the government is not working for the people.
In an interview with Arise News on Tuesday, Obi insisted that Nigeria is not a democratic country.
The former Anambra State Governor submitted that it is simply a lie to describe what Nigeria is operating as democracy, stating that the country lacks the tenets and yardsticks of measuring democracy.
Naija News reports he lamented that the citizens are not getting any benefit from the government and their votes are not allowed to count at the polls.
According to him, Nigeria’s democracy had been progressing since 1999 but is now suffering a collapse under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“I have said it, and I maintain that there is no democracy in Nigeria today. Nigeria today is not a democratic country. Let’s stop telling ourselves lies. If you look at all the tenets and yardsticks measuring democracy, it doesn’t exist here.
“Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Today, the government we have is not of the people.
“It is not by the people because the people didn’t vote. It wasn’t their votes. I’m not just talking about the presidency; it’s across the line. Look at what happened in Edo. Can you call that democracy?
“It is not the vote of the people. And it is not for the people. I have just told you that I went to an IDP camp where we have thousands of people. No primary health care.
“They were begging me to have one nurse, which I said I must make sure they have. They don’t even have a primary school, which again I have told them I will make sure it happens,” Obi said.
Bukayo Saka made a sensational return for Arsenal on Tuesday, scoring in a 2-1 win over Fulham after a three-month spell on the sidelines.
Saka, 23, hadn’t featured for Arsenal since injuring his hamstring at Crystal Palace just before Christmas, with the England star forced into surgery and a rehabilitation programme.
But he came off the bench in the 66th minute to a raucous ovation from the Emirates crowd and then netted Arsenal’s second goal of the night with a cushioned header at the back post after a neat flick on from Gabriel Martinelli.
“The reception speaks for itself,” Saka’s teammate Declan Rice said after the game. “That’s why he’s one of the best wingers in the world, because he attacks the box and sniffs the goal. You take them, he’s in the right position at the right time and topped off a great night for him and for us.
“He gives us an outlet. All of our front players are so different and rotate so well. With Bukayo back it’s a real boost.”
The second-place Gunners were all over Fulham in the opening half and finally took the lead in the 37th minute with a strike from Mikel Merino.
[Leadership]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), replacing Mallam Mele Kyari.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, comes as part of a sweeping overhaul of the NNPCL board, which also saw the removal of Chairman Chief Pius Akinyelure and all other board members appointed in November 2023.
The newly reconstituted 11-member board features Ahmadu Musa Kida as Non-Executive Chairman, alongside Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO.
Adedapo Segun, who succeeded Umaru Isa Ajiya as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) last year, has been retained as a member of the new board.
The board also includes six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones:
North West: Bello Rabiu
North East: Yusuf Usman
North Central: Babs Omotowa, former MD of Nigeria LNG
South South: Austin Avuru
South West: David Ige
South East: Henry Obih
Additionally, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the Ministry of Finance, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
All appointments take effect from April 2, 2025.
Who is Bayo Ojulari?
Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, who hails from Kwara State, brings over three decades of experience in the oil and gas sector to his new role.
Until his appointment, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. Under his leadership, Renaissance spearheaded a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) through a consortium of indigenous energy firms.
Ojulari is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He began his career with Elf Aquitaine, where he was the first Nigerian process engineer, and later joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991.
His international experience spans Europe and the Middle East, where he worked in various technical and leadership roles including strategic planner, asset manager, field developer, and production engineer.
In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).
Ojulari has also served as Chairman and Board Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
More...
•Apex bank insists it is at 3-year high
Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves (NFER) was $23.11 billion at the end of last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said. The value is $15.6 billion short of the current gross reserves, which are currently at $38.7 billion, a slight slip from the $40.2 billion it closed last year.
There may be a material difference between the real-term value and what it was three months ago. Yet, the peg has laid to rest the speculation that Nigeria might have carried on with negative NFER in the face of the protracted FX crisis. Still, the CBN said the net value is at its highest in over three years.
The apex bank, yesterday, said the feat achieved as of the end of 2024 reflects a substantial improvement in the country’s external liquidity, reduced short-term obligations and renewed investor confidence.
According to the CBN, the figure was a remarkable increase from $3.99 billion at 2023 ending, $8.19 billion in 2022 and $14.59 billion in 2021. NFER adjusts gross reserves to account for near-term liabilities such as FX swaps and forward contracts.
It is widely regarded as a more accurate indicator of the foreign exchange buffers available to meet immediate external obligations. A few years ago, there was apprehension that Nigeria’s net FX reserve would have slipped into negative territory. The CBN, then, kept mute over the actual figure.
Last year at the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) general meeting in Washington DC, the apex bank’s boss, Yemi Cardoso, promised that his team would, beginning from last quarter, start disclosing the NFER as part of its commitment to full disclosure and transparency.
Gross external reserves also increased to $40.19 billion, compared to $33.22 billion at the close of 2023, the bank argued. The bank noted that the increase in reserves reflects a combination of its strategic measures, including a deliberate and substantial reduction in short-term foreign exchange liabilities – notably swaps and forward obligations.
It added that the strengthening was also spurred by policy actions to rebuild confidence in the FX market and increase reserve buffers, along with recently improved foreign exchange inflows – particularly from non-oil sources.
It further disclosed that the result is a stronger and more transparent reserves position that better equips Nigeria to withstand external shocks. The expansion occurred even as the CBN continued to reduce short-term liabilities, thereby improving the overall quality of the reserve position.
In his comment on the achievement, the governor of the CBN, Yemi Cardoso, said: “This improvement in our net reserves is not accidental; it is the outcome of deliberate policy choices aimed at rebuilding confidence, reducing vulnerabilities and laying the foundation for long-term stability. We remain focused on sustaining this progress through transparency, discipline, and market-driven reforms.”
The CBN hinted that reserves would continue to strengthen in 2025.
While the first quarter figures reflected some seasonal and transitional adjustments, including significant interest payments on foreign-denominated debt, underlying fundamentals remain intact, and reserves are expected to continue improving over the second quarter of this year.
Going forward, the CBN said it anticipates a steady uptick in reserves, underpinned by improved oil production levels, and a more supporting export growth environment expected to boost non-oil FX earnings and diversify external inflows.
“The CBN remains committed to prudent reserve management, transparent reporting and macroeconomic policies that support a stable exchange rate, attract investment and build long-term resilience,” it stated
[Guardian]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dissolved the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari and board chairman Pius Akinyelure.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced the sweeping changes, effective April 2, 2025, in a statement early Wednesday posted on X.
Meet Kida, ex-basketballer
According to the statement, the new board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida hails from Borno State and is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1984.
He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris. He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985. Musa became Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015.
“Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group. Apart from his oil industry career, Kida is a former basketballer and the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation(NBBF) board,” the statement added.
Ojulari
Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL GCEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company which recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), worth $2.4 billion.
Ojulari is also an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, according to the statement. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Elf Aquitaine as the first Nigerian process engineer to begin a stellar career in the oil sector.
From Elf, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991 as an associate production technologist. Apart from working in Nigeria, he worked in Europe and the Middle East in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager.
“In 2015, he became the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO). During his career, he was chairman and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers,” it added.
[DailyTrust]
US presidency: Barack Obama worked against Kamala Harris after Biden dropped out – Jonathan Allen
Admin
A reporter and author, Jonathan Allen on Tuesday alleged that former United States, US, President, Barack Obama secretly worked against former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Allen, a senior reporter with NBC News, alleged that Obama worked against Harris after former President Joe Biden dropped out.
In an interview with MSNBC, Allen claimed that Obama advocated for an open primary because he didn’t think Harris could win.
“President Obama absolutely did not think that Joe Biden should continue, according to our sources close to President Obama.
“And he also didn’t want Kamala Harris to be the replacement for Biden. He didn’t think that she was the best choice for Democrats, and he worked really behind the scenes for a long time to try to have a mini-primary, or an open convention, or a mini-primary leading to an open convention, did not have faith in her ability to win the election.
“As it turned out, she didn’t win, but he was really working against her,” he claimed.
Harris, a Democrat had emerged as the party’s presidential candidate after Biden stepped down from running for a second term.
Despite Allen’s allegations, Obama had openly endorsed and campaigned for Harris to emerge as president ahead of Donald Trump.
[DailyPost]
Oil wells’ licensees that have failed to initiate drilling operations in the last 30 years risk losing such licenses.
They will as well lose ownership of the facilities under the “drill or drop” provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made this known while speaking at the Cross Industry Group (CIG) Meeting held in Florence, Italy, organised by international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria. He said any proactive government will revoke the licenses for undeveloped assets and reallocate them to those willing and ready to drill them.
He urged industry players to explore collaborative measures such as shared resources for contiguous assets, farm-outs, and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
According to his spokesman Nneamaka Okafor, the minister added that the decision to enforce the “drill or drop” in the PIA 2021, is in line with the Federal Government’s drive to boost production.
“We cannot continue to have assets sitting idle for 20 to 30 years without development. If you are not utilising an asset and it remains underdeveloped for decades, it neither adds value to your books nor to us as a country.
“We encourage industry players to explore collaborative measures such as shared resources for contiguous assets, farm-outs, and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production. Otherwise, like any responsible government, we will take back these assets and allocate them to those willing to go to work,” Lokpobiri said.
The minister also urged operators to consider farm-out agreements where assets are close to existing infrastructure, rather than incurring high costs on new Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units.
He urged IOCs operating in Nigeria to ramp up investments in the country’s oil and gas sector, emphasising that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had provided every necessary incentive to ensure seamless and profitable operations.
Lokpobiri noted that while IOCs have pointed to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, EPCs will only commit when they see strong investment decisions from industry players.
“The government has done its part by providing the requisite and investment-friendly fiscal policies, including the President’s Executive Order incentivising deepwater investments. Now, the ball is in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” the Minister stated.
He further emphasised the need for IOCs to support local refining efforts, noting that more refineries are coming on stream and will require a steady supply of crude oil.
To make this easy and possible, he stressed that ramping up production will enable Nigeria to meet both local and international obligations.
The Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Osagie Osunbor, commended the Minister for his direct engagement with industry players and for the Federal Government’s continued efforts in advancing the sector.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for investment. The Minister’s engagement has provided critical insights and has also challenged us as industry players to step up efforts to increase production,” Osunbor stated.
The Federal Government, he said, remains committed to ensuring a thriving oil and gas industry and expects operators to match its commitment by making tangible investment decisions that will drive growth, sustainability, and national energy security.
[TheNation]