Latest News
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal.
The Vice President is expected to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Senegal’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.
Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4 each year, commemorating its freedom from French colonial rule in 1960. The day is marked by national pride, with ceremonies, parades and cultural events.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media and Communications, Office of The Vice President in a statement said Shettima’s attendance at the annual event is in honour of an invitation extended to President Tinubu by the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and Senegal.
The independence Day celebrations will be held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar, with President Faye playing host to Vice President Shettima and other distinguished guests from across Africa and beyond.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria after the one-day event.
[DailyTrust]
Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 Edo governorship election, has rejected the ruling of the election petition tribunal.
The tribunal on Wednesday upheld the election of Monday Okpebholo as governor of the state while dismissing Ighodalo’s petition.
In a statement, Ighodalo said while he respects the judiciary, he remains steadfast in his belief that the right of the Edo people to elect their leaders through a credible process must not be compromised.
“Our pursuit of justice in this regard is an affirmation of our firm belief that the right of the good people of Edo State to freely choose their leaders through a credible, free and fair electoral process must never be compromised,” the statement reads.
“As an avowed democrat, I respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, and I urge all of you, our dear good people of Edo State, to remain peaceful, calm and law-abiding in the aftermath of this Judgement.
“However, let it be clear: this is not the end of our journey, but the beginning of a greater struggle for justice, democracy, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate freely conferred on my running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie and I on the platform of our great Party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”
Ighodalo said his legal team has been instructed to challenge the judgment at the court of appeal.
“I have, therefore, instructed my legal team to proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge this decision which we consider a huge travesty of justice,” he added.
“This is not about me or any single individual; it is about the very essence of democracy, the preservation of our collective right to freely determine our future, and the legacy we leave for generations unborn.
“We remain resolute. We remain committed. And we shall not waver in our pursuit of truth and justice.”
President Bola Tinubu’s decision to sack Mele Kyari and other board members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stems from mounting concern over performance and a failure to meet key production targets, Presidency officials have disclosed.
In an abrupt move on Wednesday, Tinubu removed Kyari, who had been at the helm of the national oil company since 2019, as part of a broader overhaul, which the Presidency said was aimed at boosting Nigeria’s crude and gas output.
“President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Pius Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday.
Consequently, he appointed Bashir Ojulari as the new Group CEO, effective from April 2, 2025.
“The new 11-man board has Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Musa Ahmadu-Kida as non-executive chairman,” the statement read.
Multiple Presidency officials familiar with the developments said the shake-up was a performance-based reshuffle, arguing that those previously in charge “were going in circles” and some of them had “become part of the problem, rather than the solution.”
One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter officially, told our correspondent, “The President did this because of their performance because we needed to do things differently. The former people were taking us in circles, and then some of them became part of the problem.
“There needs to be a new direction. You need new people to bring new energy into the system.
“Look at them. Every one of them is capable. They are core industry professionals, real industry experts who know the industry inside and out. They are not politicians. This is the first time we have an entire cast of technocrats.”
Another official familiar with the development said the President believed that new blood was essential to jump-start production growth.
The official explained, “It is not about (Kyari’s) age. The NNPCL is a limited liability company and is not governed by civil service rules. So, it’s not about his age. There is always a need to get new brains that can deliver in new directions. The President has his mandate, which is clearly stated in the statement. He gave them his performance metrics, such as the amount of crude we produce. He asked them to review all blocks because we want to know which ones are producing and which are not.
“We have to optimise those that are not producing. He wants them to review all our assets within a certain period and give us good production. By 2030, they must be producing 3,000,000 barrels per day, and between now and 2027, we must stabilise at 2,000,000 per day. Then, gas, we must produce 10 billion cubic meters between now and 2030. These are performance metrics, and that is how it should be done.
“But the former system was not giving us that. They have been around the same spot for years. Our OPEC quota has not improved much since 1973. We have not been able to meet them. That is why reforms are important.”
Also appointed to the new 11-man board is Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November.
Six board members and non-executive directors represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are: Bello Rabiu (North West); Yusuf Usman (North East); a former managing director of the NLNG, Babs Omotowa (North Central); Austin Avuru (South-South); David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East).
Onanuga said Mrs Lydia Jafiya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed represents the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
“All the appointments are effective today, April 2,” he announced.
Tinubu handed out an immediate action plan to the new board, asking them to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPCL-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.
While the NNPCL reported $17bn in new investments within the sector last year, Onanuga said the administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30bn by 2027 and $60bn by 2030.
“Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.
The new board chairman, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, is from Borno State. 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.
Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance 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, worth $2.4bn.
Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns.
Nigeria, once Africa’s leading oil producer, has struggled for years to fulfil its production quota stipulated by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. While OPEC figures have often placed the country’s desired output above two million barrels per day, the NNPCL has repeatedly fallen short – citing pipeline vandalism, underinvestment, and ageing infrastructure.
Pundits say that under Kyari, some reforms were introduced, but overall production remained below target.
Refineries revamp
Operators and experts in the oil and gas sector have set an agenda for the new Group Chief Executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Ojulari who replaces the the company’s former GCEO, Kyari.
While congratulating Ojulari and the other board members newly appointed by Tinubu, stakeholders enjoined them to ensure all the refineries under the watch of the NNPCL are revamped.
The new NNPC leaders were charged to rebrand the NNPC, renew the naira-for-crude deal, divest some of the company’s assets, restore investors’ confidence, and be apolitical.
In an interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, described the sweeping reconstitution as a welcome development.
He said IPMAN received the news with warmest regards, saying Tinubu is reforming the oil and gas sector.
Ukadike told the new NNPCL team to ensure that the refineries resume operations at full capacity to give enough and affordable fuel to Nigerians.
He urged Ojulari and his team to ensure the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries are maximised to create more jobs for the masses.
“We received the news with the warmest regards. Mr President is renewing and reforming the oil and gas industry. And whatever that will drive both the implementation of policies and the Petroleum Industry Act is in order.
“What is imminent is change. So, we the independent marketers association welcome this.
“We congratulate the new man and charge him to ensure that all these government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna are producing enough fuel for the economy. This will also create jobs for the people amd and make petroleum products available,” he said.
Ukadike appealed to Ojulari and the board to settle the rift between the NNPCL and the Dangote refinery as far as the naira-for-crude deal is concerned.
He urged them to renew the deal and put an end to the crisis so as to enable smooth fuel distribution across the nation.
“We also want the new GCEO to use this good office to revisit the naira-for-crude deal; look into the saga and put an end to it so that it will better the distribution process and strengthen our economy,” Ukadike stated.
Similarly, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists lauded Tinubu for the new NNPCL board appointments noting that it was a bold step towards repositioning the oil and gas industry for greater efficiency, transparency, and profitability.
In a statement signed by NAPE President, Johnbosco Uche, the association said the new board has a mandate to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and increase commercial viability, saying this aligns with NAPE’s goals and aspirations for the industry.
The explorationists expressed confidence that the new team would bring the necessary expertise and experience to drive the oil and gas sector forward.
According to Uche, NAPE is delighted to observe that the newly appointed board comprises seasoned professionals, including Austin Avuru, a former President of NAPE who has held esteemed top management positions within the oil and gas industry.
“We look forward to collaborating with them to achieve the desired growth and development in the oil and gas sector,” the statement added.
The Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria requested that the newly appointed board take bold steps towards ensuring Nigeria achieved self-sufficiency in domestic refining and energy security.
CORAN’s Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, said, “CORAN congratulates the new board of the NNPCL and the new GCEO on their appointment. They are coming in at a time when the market globally is repositioning, and the Nigerian market, particularly in the midstream and downstream sectors, is receiving increasing attention.”
“We hope that the new NNPCL board will be bullish in the quest to make Nigeria self-sufficient in domestic refining and energy security. We want to see a more visible NNPCL that coordinates and works closely with local investors, especially in the emerging midstream segment. We look forward to them building on the legacy of the last administration and ensuring that Nigeria becomes a refining hub.”
Similarly, the National President of the Petroleum Retailers Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, asked the board to ensure a daily production of 700,000 barrels per day in refining strictly for domestic use to achieve energy independence.
“Our message is simple: wherever Mele Kyari’s administration stopped, the new board should take it to the next level. They must ensure that the oil and gas sector grows, driving the economic value that it should in Nigeria,” Gillis-Harry said.
“We want to see discussions around how we can increase local refining capacity. This could start with a boost of 700,000 barrels per day dedicated strictly to domestic refining. This would require new work on how communities can cooperate with the NNPCL and the government for a win-win situation.”
Hope rising
Meanwhile, an expert in the oil and gas industry, Professor Emeritus Wumi Iledare, has expressed high hopes that the new NNPC leadership will not fail as their failure is a bad signal for the country.
In an interview with our correspondent, Iledare said this was the first time the NNPC had a board that was apolitical, expressing optimism in the capacity of the people he called “core professionals.”
“Finally, NNPCL has a board that is majorly apolitical by nature with the appointments of timber and caliber professionals. It is the dawn of a new era for NNPCL to rekindle, restructure, and rebound itself along the intent of PIA 2021,” he said
Iledare listed what he expects the new board to focus on immediately: “First is (settling) the dilemma naira-for-crude deal with local refineries; second is selling NNPCL shares to the public with a limit to what individual can buy and restrict corporate buyers; third, divest some joint venture shares in divested international oil companies’ shares; fourth, rekindle, restructure, and rebound NNPC Limited along the intent of the PIA.”
He urged Ojulari to “promote the economy of scale mentality and correct the apparent diseconomies of scale bounding the potential of NNPCL.
He added, “Bayo Oujulari, Austin Avuru, Yusuf Usman, Rabiu Bello, David Ige, Babs Omotowa are professionals I know personally. I pray that Nigeria does not get them. It is like having six GCEOs.”
Speaking on the sack of Kyari, the don posited that “he was thrown into the fire the way he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari without following the process of the PIA.”
He spoke further that it is difficult for a leopard to change its skin without a surgical operation.
“Going from GMD to GCEO was difficult for him and working with an incompetent board imposed on him was difficult. So, I admired his attitude to risk. He was a risk seeker but politically constrained and very too transactionally minded. He should have resigned the way his CFO retired. Best wishes to him.
“His exit, notwithstanding, the change is the dawn of a new era for NNPCL. For the first time ever, the NNPCL has an apolitical Board with a good understanding of what it takes to have a commercial mentality,” Iledare maintained.
Farewell for Kyari
Following the new appointments, the management and staff of NNPC on Wednesday welcomed Ojulari and the Board of Directors.
A statement by the company’s spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said, “We extend our profound appreciation to the outgoing CCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, and the former Board Members for their selfless and dedicated service to the Company and to the nation.
“Mr Kyari’s leadership and tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on NNPC Ltd., and we are sincerely grateful for his outstanding contributions.
“We wish him and all departing Board Members continued success and fulfilment in their future endeavours.”
The PUNCH reports that Kyari’s removal came at a time when the NNPC refused to sell crude to the Dangote refinery in naira as ordered by the President last year.
The seeming collapse of the deal led to the suspension of fuel naira sales to local marketers in naira.
This has since led to a hike in petrol prices from N860 per litre to N930 or more, depending on the location.
Tompolo lauds Tinubu
Chairman, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, has lauded President Tinubu for his “careful selection of seasoned professionals” as the new Management Board of the NNPCL.
He also congratulated the newly appointed 11-member board and management of the NNPCL.
In a personally signed statement made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday, Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, noted that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited recognised the new appointments “as a pivotal moment in the journey of the NNPCL and the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”
The statement read, “Indeed, this decision by Mr. President underscores his administration’s dedication to ensuring that only competent hands are entrusted with optimising the vast benefits of our nation’s oil and gas sector.
“The challenges and opportunities before this new management and board are immense, but we are confident in their ability to drive the ongoing restructuring of the NNPCL to greater heights.
“Under their stewardship, we believe that the President’s mandate to ramp up local refining capacity and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2mbpd in record time will be realised and surpassed.
“As our company has always done, TSSNL remains steadfast in its commitment to partnering with the NNPCL to secure and enhance Nigeria’s oil production capabilities. Our expertise in oil asset protection and our deep-rooted presence in the Niger Delta position us as a reliable ally in ensuring that the nation’s resources are safeguarded and utilised efficiently for the collective benefit of all stakeholders.”
Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos: Press Release On Immediate Reopening Of I Dependence Bridge (Ahmadu Bello Way-Marina Bound)
Admin
The Honorable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has directed the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos to vehicular traffic.
This directive follows the earlier closure of the bridge for planned maintenance and rehabilitation works.
Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure palliative works are carried out on the already opened bridge to make it motorable .
The Ministry hereby express regret for the inconvenience caused to the motoring public by the closure and appealed for their understanding and cooperation.
The Federal Ministry of Works clarified that the necessary repair works on the bridge would be carried out at a later time.
E-signed
Engr. (Mrs.) O. I. Kesha
Federal Controller of Works, Lagos
![[STATEHOUSE PRESS STATEMENT] President Tinubu To Embark On Working Visit To Paris](/media/k2/items/cache/1baaf1f7f7ef357ebd6412a16a3791c2_M.jpg)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart for Paris, France, today on a short working visit.
During the visit, the President will appraise his administration's mid-term performance and assess key milestones.
He will also use the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration's second anniversary.
This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year.
Recent economic strides reinforce the President's commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion—a testament to the administration's fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion.
While away, President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities.
He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
The President of the Ijaw Nation Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a careless speaker who could say anything under the influence of alcohol.
Prof Okaba said this in response to Wike’s claim that the Ijaws are a minority ethnic group in Nigeria.
Wike recently made a controversial comment while addressing journalists about the political crisis involving him and Siminalayi Fubara, an Ijaw man who succeeded him as governor of Rivers State.
Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the Professor of Sociology dismissed Wike’s remark as a careless comment.
Prof Okaba explained that the Ijaws are among the four largest ethnic groups in Nigeria and that their territories extend beyond the country’s land areas.
He said, “The person you’re talking about (Wike) could say anything under the influence of alcohol and later debunk it; he is a very careless speaker. These are basic demographics that are well-known. Ijaws are not the fourth largest; they are one of the four largest.
“Most times, we look at the land mass, the land mass in terms of space cannot exist outside a water space. So the boundaries of the Ijawland or may be Nigeria beyond land; it goes into the rivers. So from wherever that is a boundary of Nigeria, all that River spots belong to the Ijawland.”
Prof Okaba explained further that the Ijaws are the most populous ethnic group in the Niger Delta region, spreading across six states.
“We are not minorities, in fact, we are the most populous and most indigenous ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta, that’s a fact that is well known. Ijaws are in six states,” he maintained.
Apart from Bayelsa State, he stated that the Ijaws are indigenous to many communities in Abia, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers State, adding that Wike’s comment was a deliberate distortion of fact.
“They are in Abia. 26 communities in Abia State are indigenous Ijaw people. So we felt that was a deliberate distortion. In Delta State, we have more than four local government areas; even in Rivers State, we have 10 and a half local government areas, and Ikwerre has three. Forget about those who distorted political census figures; when the time comes for real counting, we shall know them. Ijaws are in Ondo State; they are in Edo State, he submitted.
The academic, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu not to allow one individual to destroy his efforts to ensure democracy in Nigeria, stating that Wike is nothing outside government.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) party challenging the outcome of the state’s September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled against the petition filed against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The Action Alliance (AA) and one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje had filed a petition before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Omoaje had, in the petition, asked the Tribunal to declare the declaration of Okpebholo and APC as winners of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as illegal, unlawful, unconditional, and null and void due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He also alleged corruption and that Okpebholo and APC did not win the majority of lawful votes in the election.
Omoaje further alleged that AA was not allowed to nominate a lawful governorship candidate for the election, having not signed the nomination form as the National Chairman of the party.
However, the APC countered the allegations, stating that the petitioners, who claimed there was over-voting, had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove their case.
The APC argued that in order to prove over-voting, the petitioner needed to call polling unit agents, eyewitnesses who could testify to the alleged irregularities.
The APC’s legal team contended that the AA had failed to meet this requirement, urging the tribunal to dismiss the case as it lacked merit, jurisdiction, and competence.
In response, the tribunal agreed with the APC’s defense and struck out the petition, citing the petitioners’ failure to present sufficient proof of their claims.
Additionally, in one of its rulings, the tribunal noted that only the candidate who contested the election is legally entitled to challenge the outcome. Since the AA’s candidate did not contest the election, the tribunal held that the AA, as a party, lacked the standing to challenge the result.
The Tribunal also held that Omoaje’s grievance against the election was that he was not recognized as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance for the purpose of nominating candidates for the poll. However, it was held that his claims had no basis in the Electoral Act of 2022.
Booker’s marathon speech required him to stay on his feet without taking a break, echoing the famous filibuster scene from Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
His effort surpassed the previous record set by Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
“Strom Thurmond’s record always… really irked me,” Booker later told MSNBC.
“That the longest speech on our great Senate floor was someone who was trying to stop people like me from being in the Senate.”
A Defiant Stand for Democracy
As Booker approached the record-breaking moment, Democratic lawmakers filled the chamber in support, while most Republicans remained absent.
“This is a moral moment. It’s not left or right. It’s right or wrong,” Booker declared before concluding his speech.
Citing his mentor, civil rights leader John Lewis, he encouraged Americans to embrace “good trouble” before yielding the floor.
Despite the physical strain, Booker maintained his composure, even injecting humor into the moment.
“I want to go a little bit past this and then I’m going to deal with some of the biological urgencies I’m feeling,” he joked.
Criticizing Trump’s Leadership
Booker, a former presidential candidate, began speaking at 7:00 PM Monday and continued until 8:05 PM Tuesday.
While his speech did not technically block Senate proceedings, it became a rallying cry for Democrats concerned about Trump’s administration.
He condemned the president’s aggressive policies, including radical budget cuts and executive overreach, particularly criticizing Elon Musk, Trump’s top advisor, for dismantling government programs without congressional approval.
“Unnecessary hardships are being borne by Americans of all backgrounds. And institutions which are special in America, which are precious and which are unique in our country, are being recklessly — and I would say even unconstitutionally — affected, attacked, even shattered,” Booker stated.
He further warned that Trump’s leadership had severely harmed American democracy.
“In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy,” he said.
Still, he encouraged Americans to remain hopeful: “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
Enduring the Physical Challenge
After the speech, Booker shared how he managed the grueling experience.
“My strategy was to stop eating. I think I stopped eating Friday and then to stop drinking the night before I started on Monday,” he explained.
While the approach helped, it came with drawbacks.
“Different muscle groups start to really cramp up,” he admitted, adding that dehydration made the challenge even tougher.
In a statement released later, Booker acknowledged that he was “tired and a little hoarse” but remained resolute in his message.
A Symbolic Protest
With Democrats in the minority in both the Senate and the House, lawmakers have struggled to counter Trump’s efforts to shrink government, increase deportations, and dismantle political norms.
Fellow Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock commended Booker for his effort.
“I just want to thank you for holding vigil for this country all night,” he said.
Throughout his speech, Booker not only criticized Trump’s policies but also recited poetry, discussed sports, and engaged with colleagues to keep the momentum going.
“If you love your neighbor, if you love this country, show your love. Stop them from doing what they’re trying to (do),” he urged.
His record-breaking speech now stands as a defining moment in Senate history
Popular Nigerian musician, Innocent Idibia, also known as 2Face or 2Baba, on Wednesday, stormed the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
He arrived at the tribunal with his new lover, Natasha Osawaru, who is the lawmaker representing Egor Constituency at the Edo State House of Assembly.
The tribunal is set to deliver judgement on the petition the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo, filed to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Osawaru, who is the Deputy Majority Leader of the Edo State Assembly, was elected on the platform of the PDP.
In January, 2Face announced his separation from his wife, Annie.
His subsequent proposal to Natasha the next month gained widespread attention.
Since then, the singer and the lawmaker have been spotted together in public on multiple occasions, including shopping outings and social engagements.
The Edo lawmaker recently updated her Instagram bio to reflect the singer’s surname, Idibia.
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has again faulted the Rivers’ state of emergency.
Naija News reports that Obi said the political crisis in Rivers State did not require the action of a state of emergency.
In an interview with Arise News, on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party said even though he had issues with his successor, Willy Obiano, he allowed him to govern.
“You cannot take the action that has been taken in River State for what happened. There’s a clear path to dealing with that issue. River State, for the past two years, has become ungovernable for obvious political reasons and interests, which shouldn’t be in a democratic environment. It’s clear. It shouldn’t be. I have been a governor, and I have left government, had issues with the person that replaced me, with my successor.
“But, for God’s sake, the state is far more important than anybody. We have a governor who has been sworn in as a governor, he should be allowed to govern,” he said.
Responding to a question from the anchor, Charles, whether he subscribed to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi‘s allegation that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State to intimidate governors ahead of 2027, Obi stated that it was unfortunate.
He added that if that is what President Tinubu was trying to do, it showed the country has no democracy.
“Well, for me, what happened in the Rivers State is very unfortunate, and is impacting very negatively to the little or remaining democratic space we had. It eroded a lot from there. So, as for intimidating the governors for 2027, it shouldn’t be. The governors are going to seek re-election. You’re going to seek re-election. You’re going to seek re-election based on what you’ve been able to do, your performance, on Nigerians. The governors just have one vote. It is because of what I told you that it is not a democratic country that you are trying to intimidate the governors,” he stated.
When Charles pressed further whether he believed the President’s action was to intimidate governors ahead of 2027, Obi responded, “I believe so. I believe so.”
More...
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has said Peter Obi’s style of politics may not be enough to defeat President Bola Tinubu in an election.
Adeyanju stated this while responding to the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party’s analyses of President Tinubu’s nearly two years in office, on Tuesday.
Naija News reported that Obi condemned the hardship in the country and also faulted the situation of Nigeria’s democracy under Tinubu.
On his ? handle on Wednesday, Adeyanju wrote: “Peter Obi is on Arise talking calmly and gently about Nigeria. Nigerians acting like they are not aware sef. In today’s Nigeria, Obi is only good for beautiful speeches and motivational beautiful stories about China, etc. Only extremely rugged folks can contest against Tinubu.”
Meanwhile, a former member of Peter Obi and Ahmed Datti’s presidential campaign organization, Fabian Onunaku has responded to criticism of Obi’s interview by Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala.
Naija News reported that Bwala said the former Governor of Anambra’s analyses of Tinubu’s policies were lacking in facts. He added that Obi had yet to recover from his loss in 2023.
Reacting, Onunaku responded: “You can spin it all you want, but Peter Obi spoke about what the people feel and live every day. He spoke truth to power, something that even you will not understand, since you have swallowed your own vomit to become a defender of the indefensible. All the presidential spokesmen in the world cannot change that. Your employers might be happy with you for insulting Obi, but you can’t fool the Nigerian people. The more you insult him, the more his support base increases. You people have absolutely nothing to offer Nigerians.”
[STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Reconstitutes NNPC Limited Board, Appoints New Chairman, Group CEO
Admin![[STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Reconstitutes NNPC Limited Board, Appoints New Chairman, Group CEO](/media/k2/items/cache/6af30bfdf3d4edbf3cb0c3c6705d3a57_XS.jpg)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group chief executive officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.
President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023.
The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.
Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu.
Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country's geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central.
President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East.
Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
All the appointments are effective today, April 2.
President Tinubu, invoking the powers granted under Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, emphasised that the board's restructuring is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification.
President Tinubu also handed out an immediate action plan to the new board: to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.
Since 2023, the Tinubu administration has implemented oil sector reforms to attract investment. Last year, NNPC reported $17 billion in new investments within the sector. The administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.
The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million daily by 2030. Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030.
Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC's share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.
The new board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is from Borno State. He 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, Ahmadu Musa Kida is a former basketballer and the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation(NBBF) board.
Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State.
Until his new appointment, He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance 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.
Like Kida, Ojulari is also an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. 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.
President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavours.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) have arrested two principal suspects involved in the killing of 16 Nigerians of Northern extraction in Uromi, Esan North-East local government area of Edo State last week.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the DSS in Uromi, following credible intelligence. Operatives of various security agencies were hunting for other key suspects involved in the unfortunate incidents
Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, had on Monday during a condolence visit to Kano State, revealed that 14 suspects had already been arrested in connection with the killing and were to be moved to Abuja for further interrogation.
Governor Okpebholo, who visited the State to condole with the government and families of the victims, had vowed that justice will be served and those involved in the killing will be brought to justice.
Governor Okpebholo had also assured families of the victims that adequate compensations will be paid.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday evening by the Edo State governor’s media office, said the two principal suspects arrested by officials of the DSS, have been transferred to Abuja, the nation’s capital, for further interrogation and prosecution by the relevant authorities.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking
The fate of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District, will be decided within the next 90 days.
Last week, constituents from Kogi Central submitted a recall petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking to remove Akpoti-Uduaghan from office. INEC is now in the process of verifying the signatures attached to the petition.
For the petition to progress, it must be endorsed by more than half of the registered voters in the Kogi Central District.
According to Punch, if the required threshold is met, the commission will organize a referendum within 90 days from receiving the petition. According to INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a public notice will be issued, providing details of the referendum’s time, date, and location.
However, if the petition fails to meet the necessary number of signatures, a public notice will be issued informing the public of this outcome.
INEC’s guidelines dictate that a referendum will only be conducted if it is confirmed that over half of the registered voters in the district support the petition.
The recall petition stems from several controversies surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan, including her suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025, for alleged “gross misconduct” following a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The petition cites “loss of confidence” as the main reason for the recall and accuses the suspended senator of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceit.
Accompanying the petition were six bags filled with documents containing signatures collected from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central.
These signatures were gathered from 902 polling units across the five local government areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
As part of the recall process, Naija News gathered that INEC has sent a notification letter to Akpoti-Uduaghan, informing her of the receipt of the petition. A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the presiding officer of the Senate.