NewStats: 3,263,457 , 8,180,193 topics. Date: Friday, 06 June 2025 at 01:30 AM 4t4c5y

To recover import duties from some private jet owners in the country, the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Customs Service, has grounded about 60 private jets across major airports in Nigeria, The PUNCH reports.

It was also gathered that private jet hangars in Lagos and Abuja airports were reportedly sealed up. However, owners of the aircraft, including bank chiefs and multinational oil companies among other individuals, have begun to lobby the Presidency to secure the release of their jets.

Some of the grounded luxury aircraft include Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, BD-700 Global 6500, BD-700 Global 7500, among others. Officials of the NCS and those in the aviation sector confirmed this in separate interviews on Wednesday.

There are reports that duties are not being paid on the majority of private jets currently in the country, with the Nigeria Customs Service seeking to recover unpaid import duties running into several billions of naira.

The Customs had asked private jet owners to proceed on a verification exercise with the government. The exercise was to determine defaulters in the payment of import duty.

Recall that on October 14, 2024, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Customs Service, had planned to ground over 60 private jets owned by very important persons in the country over unpaid import duty beginning from that day.

This was not implemented as the NCS later that same day announced the extension of the verification exercise for private jet owners by one month, from October 14, 2024, to November 14, 2024.

At the expiration of the deadline on November 14, nothing was said about the development. The PUNCH questioned the agency’s silence on the matter, but the spokesperson of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, hinted that varying court cases hindered the Customs from executing its vow at that time.

However, on Wednesday, it was gathered that the NCS had quietly commenced the grounding of both private and corporately-owned jets. The exercise started on Monday without any fresh notice, according to those affected.

The officials of the agency of the NCS sealed some aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The drastic enforcement came barely seven months after The PUNCH reported Customs warnings against defaulters.

When ed on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the service, Maiwada, confirmed the development, stressing that the service won’t rest until all that is due to the government is collected from the airlines.

He said, “Yes, enforcement has started. The aircraft are grounded for the non-payment of customs duty, and as soon as they come over to regularise their payment and give what is due to Nigerians, they will get it back.

“We issued a statement when we started the verification, and we extended the period and even ‘over extended the period’, now that we are acting, everyone already knows our reason. We just have to enforce, we have to collect revenue for Nigerians so that it will be used for Nigerians.”

Maiwada recalled a long period of appeals extended to the defaulters to validate their jets or pay the duty, but noted that this fell on deaf ears.

“Now that we have grounded them, they will have to comply. We are hopeful and we know that they will comply,” he stated.

Meanwhile, impeccable sources in customs familiar with the development told our correspondent that some of the aircraft owners had started to make s even with the presidency for the release of their jets.

One of the top banks in Nigeria has already promised to pay next Tuesday, while another is negotiating with Customs in proxy. An energy company with three jets has also promised to pay in the coming week.

However, The PUNCH gathered that there were rumours that the Customs service was making moves to unseal the grounded aircraft while inviting the jet owners to a meeting in Abuja to discuss how the issue would be permanently resolved.

A document, dated June 4, 2025, said to have been signed by Deputy-Comptroller General, one C.K. Niagwan, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, noted that the “temporary unsealing” of the grounded aircraft received the approval of the Comptroller.

According to the document, the temporary unsealing of the aircraft was to allow the operators the chance to present all relevant documents regarding the affected aircraft and engage the service to discuss and agree on appropriate modalities for the settlement of outstanding duties and taxes.

The circular expressed that the unsealing was solely to facilitate compliance, adding that this did not constitute a waiver of any statutory obligations. Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt the unsealing was only for a few of the grounded jets.


Experts react

A former deputy director of engineering of the defunct national carrier, Nigerian Airways, Frank Oruye, called on both operators of private jets and the Nigeria Customs Service to adopt global best practices in their activities.

He appealed to customers to pay what was due to the government, and also called on Customs to be professional in their dealings.

He said, “For a conducive aviation sector to be created, it’s essential for stakeholders to fully understand what it takes. Everything should not end in ‘gra-gra and rofo-rofo’. Investors and importers should be ready to foot all local taxes and customs duties.”

While recalling the disagreement that ensued between the defunct Nigeria Airways and Customs during the airline’s lifetime, Oruye stated that “NCS should endeavour to follow global best practices in fixing duties.”

He added, “I recall that we had difficulties with Customs when I was at Nigeria Airways in the 70s through the 90s. There’s a class of aircraft components known as Rotables. They are high-cost items ranging from electrical and hydraulic Pumps and motors to avionics components. In the course of their operating lives, they need to be removed from the aircraft for scheduled maintenance or repairs at approved foreign bases. Let’s imagine a generator whose price is $50,000.

“After operating in Nigeria for two years, it was sent abroad for repairs, which cost $1,500. Upon its return to Nigeria, NCS would be targeting duties based on $50,000, ignoring that it had been duty-paid at its first entry to Nigeria. Advanced nations don’t burden their airlines with such debilitating levies.”

Also, retired Group Captain John Ojikutu stated that most of the grounded aircraft were foreign-based, a development he described as a security threat to the country.

Ojikutu blamed both Customs and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority for allowing an “unclear number of aircraft” to fly in the country.

While recalling how he grounded aircraft belonging to the late Kashimawo Abiola, for running afoul of regulatory laws, he appealed to the NCAA to live up to expectations.

“All these things happening now didn’t happen before. In the first place, why are foreign-ed aircraft flying in the country? Who permitted them? When I was at the airport, I seized Abiola’s aircraft twice! Why are people behaving this way nowadays? In Demuren’s days, such wouldn’t have happened. I had the authority to monitor foreign airlines. They can’t fly without security clearance, and aside from the customs airport, which is the point of entry, they can’t fly to more than one airport.

“All these things happening are risky, not even now that we don’t know the people in charge of the insurgency. To now fly foreign aircraft without clearance is a threat to national security. Both customs and the NCAA should be blamed for allowing them to fly such aircraft in the country. Let the NCAA check its regulations. There should be a regulation for such an act.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/vips-lobby-presidency-as-fg-grounds-60-private-jets/%3famp

The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed Deposit Money Banks to start deducting charges for unstructured supplementary service data transactions directly from s’ mobile airtime.

According to an email from the United Bank for Africa to customers on Tuesday, the charges will no longer be deducted from customers’ s.

The UBA said the directive takes effect from Tuesday, June 3.

The statement reads, “In line with the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), please be informed that effective June 3, 2025, charges for USSD banking services will no longer be deducted from your bank .

“Going forward, these charges will be deducted directly from your mobile airtime balance in accordance with the NCC’s End- Billing model.

“Under this new billing structure, each USSD session will attract a charge of ₦6.98 per 120 seconds, which will be billed by your mobile network operator.

“You will receive a consent prompt at the start of each session, and airtime will only be deducted upon your confirmation and availability of the bank to fulfil this service.

“If you do not wish to continue using USSD banking under this new model, you may choose to discontinue use of the USSD channel.”

UBA said customers can continue using other digital banking options and internet banking platform for convenience.

The latest directive may be another move by the commission to address the historical USSD payment conflict between Mobile Network Operators and commercial banks.

In December 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the NCC directed mobile network operators and DMBs to resolve the long-standing N250 billion USSD debt.

Following threats by telcos to withdraw services over the debt accumulated by banks, the NCC, in January, threatened to suspend the USSD service and publish a list of banks still owing telcos.

On January 15, the regulator directed telcos to disconnect the USSD codes assigned to nine banks by January 27 due to unpaid debts.

On February 28, MTN Nigeria said it received N32 billion — out of N72 billion — from banks as part of payment for the USSD debt.

https://punchng.com/ncc-asks-banks-to-deduct-ussd-transaction-fees-from-s-airtime/?amp

Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, says Nigerians will soon experience a reduction in the cost of living, as the effects of the istration’s economic reforms start to materialise

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, Onanuga stated that the positive effects of Tinubu’s policies would soon be felt across all segments of the nation.

Onanuga highlighted that the President had not only introduced progressive reforms but had also tackled challenges that previous istrations avoided.

He added that two years is an insufficient yardstick to fully measure the istration’s achievements, noting that policy experts typically assess the impact of policies over a period of 10 years to 12 years.

“The President’s years in office began with clear policy directions and implementation.

“A lot of reforms have taken place across sectors. The President has laid down many fundamentals that would ensure growth,” he stated.

He acknowledged that while the positives of the President’s actions over the past two years were gradually trickling down, a significant paradigm shift had occurred in the economy, addressing many pre-existing problems.

Onanuga, while referring to the situation before the subsidy removal, said, “There was no fuel. Many stations were saying no fuel, no fuel.

“What was happening at that time was that the NNPC had reached the bottom point. It had no money to import fuel, it claimed that it was owing suppliers about six billion dollars and the government was owing it about four trillion dollars. So, it could not import any more.”

Addressing concerns about borrowing, Onanuga clarified that it is a common practice globally, with even countries like the U.S. engaging in it.

“Nigeria has abundant resources that we are harnessing, but not as much readily available money as people might think,” he explained.

He stressed that borrowed funds were not squandered but rather used for their intended purposes, citing large-scale projects like the coastal roads that necessitate external financing due to their immense benefits.

Regarding currency devaluation, Onanuga explained that it is a universal economic principle, citing instances where even the UK and the US have resorted to it.

“Even UK and the US at some point devalued. These are economic principles that are universal and cannot be changed because it is Nigeria,” he asserted.

He added that the government had made tough decisions and simultaneously created opportunities through infrastructure development, noting that many ongoing road constructions were not initially part of the budget.

Onanuga further stated that Nigeria had seen an increase in production and a rise in disposable income.

He pointed to companies like Nestle and Nigerian Breweries, which initially faced challenges but were now sourcing materials locally and reporting profits.

“This economy has opened up opportunities in many forms for Nigerians. Those who can really exploit it. And they are making money,” he emphasised, giving examples of individuals making profits from exporting agricultural products like cocoa and even Zobo.

According to him, many companies are now investing and producing in Nigeria, and these positive shifts will soon become evident and tangible for all Nigerians.

Onanuga stressed the importance of public understanding of the economic context, saying, “We don’t do our people any good when we keep on pushing stories of gloom and doom without allowing them to see the truth, without allowing them to see the context, and without allowing them to know that there’s actually light at the end of the tunnel.”

https://punchng.com/tinubus-reforms-will-ease-cost-of-living-soon-onanuga/

By Adegwu John and Leadership


President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Festus Osifo, has revealed that the union has successfully negotiated wage increase of up to 300 per cent for some oil and gas workers.

Osifo said that the union’s ongoing push for fair wage in the sector was in response to rising inflation, Naira devaluation and economic challenges faced by Nigerian workers, particularly in the oil and gas industry.

The labour leader, who spoke while addressing delegates at the 2025 PENGASSAN Women Annual Convention (PWAC) held in Abuja on Monday, noted that since inflation started biting hard, the union has been carrying out Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations across board with tangible results.

He disclosed that some companies in the oil and gas sector have implemented nearly 300% salary increments and many others have seen increases above 200%.

“Since this inflation came, since this inflation started, we’ve been doing CBA negotiations across board and there have been tremendous response we’ve had since 2023, we have some companies in PENGASSAN that have done close to 300% salary increment.

“So, it’s been success stories from one branch to another, from one company to another. So, the response or the push that we have given to the management in oil and gas company is second to none. And we’ll continuously do that.

“So for us in PENGASSAN, we are not even talking about 70,000 naira, we are talking about the effect of devaluation,” Osifo said.

Speaking at the convention themed “She Powers the Future: Driving Industry Transformation, Leadership and Technology”, the PENGASSAN president also contrasted the union’s success with the broader national wage realities.

While PENGASSAN workers have experienced significant wage adjustments, many workers in the public sector and other industries, he noted, continued to face stagnant wages amid rising living costs.

Osifo further offered a mixed a‌s⁠sessmen‌t of Presi‌dent Bola Tinubu a‍dministration⁠’s economic performa⁠nce in two year⁠s, scoring him mod‌est gains in some secto⁠rs b‌ut lamente⁠d widespread economic hardship for m‌os​t Nigerians.

“It’s a mixed feeling, while macroeconomic policies may look promising on paper, their impact on household incomes, food prices, education and healthcare remain limited,” he added.

Earlier, Comrade Mar⁠ya‍nn Ada Mba​naso, National Chairp‍e‍rson of the PENGASSAN⁠ Women Commissi‌on,‌ emphasised​ the commission’s commitment t​o raising a new generation of women l‌eaders ca​pable of reshapin‍g the industry and public policy.​

“​The future is​ women. The energy industry is wom​en. If‌ th⁠e door is close⁠d, w‍e will op​en it ourselv⁠es, we have all it takes to change t‌he narrative and the dynamics of the indu‍s⁠try.

“This year’s theme reflects our mission: to change our world, to raise leaders, and to claim our seat at the table. If the doors are closed to us, we will open them ourselves,” Mba​naso declared.

https://leadership.ng/pengassan-secures-300-wage-increase-for-oil-and-gas-workers/

Thugs hired by parent assault Ondo teacher for stopping WASSCE student from cheating

A Vice Principal of Complete Child Development College Aule, Akure, Ondo state, identified as Mr. Rotifa, who stopped one of his students from cheating during the ongoing West Africa School Certificate Examination, has been brutally assaulted.

Rotifa beating was allegedly orchestrated by the parent of the student, who hired suspected thugs to beat the teacher to pulp for not allowing the student to cheat with his handset.

It was gathered that the Vice Principal drew the ire of the mother of the student for disallowing him to cheat during this ongoing WASC examination, and seizing his Android phone.

The mother of the student was said to have threatened to deal with teachers and the school authority if they try to stop her ward from using his phone in the forthcoming mathematics examination.

The Vice Principal was said to have insisted in repeating his action of the student bring the phone into the examination hall again, saying no student will be allowed to cheat.

It was gathered that some suspected thugs invaded the school area and despite reporting the incident to the state Police command, Rotifa was dragged down from police van and beaten blue black.

He was subsequently rushed to the hospital where he was treated following the injuries sustained from the beating and discharged the following day, but did not return to his house over fear of being traced to the house.

Meanwhile, the Ondo state government through the Director of Schools, Ondo State Ministry of Education, has reacted to the incident in a statement, with a promise to bring the attackers to book.

The statement read: The incident started on Monday May 26, when an android phone was found with one SS 3 student which is contrary to the rules and regulations of the school and Mr Rotifa, the vice principal of the school seized the phone from him.

“On Thursday, the mother of the student came to the school to fight with the school management so much that the proprietor of the school ordered that the phone be returned to her which was done.

“The brother of the student who happens to be an old student of the school later came to the school to harass the vice principal and threatened to deal him.

“After school hours the boys were seen loitering in the street and the proprietor was informed who told Mr Rotifa to go to the police station to lodge complaint.

“He went and two policemen took him in their van to look for the boys probably for arrest. They couldn’t get them.

“As they were going back to the station, the boys waylaid the Police Van, stopped it, brought out Mr Rotifa and beat him up. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

“According to the principal of the school, he has been discharged from the hospital but did not go back to his house for the fear of the boys coming back for him. Further investigations and efforts to get the culprit are in progress.

“Arrangements for the safety of the staff and students of the school for period of the remaining papers in WASSCE are ongoing”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/tribuneonlineng.com/thugs-hired-by-parent-assault-ondo-teacher-for-stopping-wassce-student-from-cheating/amp/

The Energy Information istration (IEA) has reported that US crude and fuel inventories all fell last week, while crude imports from Nigeria hit their highest level in nearly six years.

Crude imports from Nigeria rose by 358,000 bpd to 364,000 bpd, marking the highest import figure from the African nation since October 2019.

The jump in imports comes as Nigeria’s 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery has faced an unplanned outage from April 7 to May 11, the Agency said on Thursday.

Crude inventories fell by 2.8 million barrels to 440.4 million barrels in the week ending May 23, the EIA said, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 118,000-barrel rise.

U.S. crude exports rose during the week by 794,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 4.3 million bpd, helping push inventories lower.

“I found it a ive report, with higher US.. crude exports resulting in a crude draw,” said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS.

“Pumping stations demanding more gasoline and diesel last week ahead of Memorial Day resulted in higher implied demand and draws for gasoline and distillates,” he added, referring to a U.S. holiday this week.

Oil prices rose slightly after the EIA reported a surprise draw in stockpiles, but were still trading in negative territory. Global Brent crude futures were off 56 cents to $64.34 a barrel at 12:11 p.m. EDT (1611 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were down 65 cents to $61.20 a barrel . Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 75,000 barrels, the EIA said.

U.S. refinery crude runs fell by 162,000 barrels per day in the week, while utilisation rates fell by 0.5 percentage points in the week to 90.2%, the EIA said. U.S. gasoline stocks fell by 2.4 million barrels in the week to 223.1 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with analysts’ expectations for a 527,000-barrel draw.

Gasoline supplied, a proxy for demand, rose last week to 9.45 million bpd, up from 8.64 million bpd the prior week.Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 724,000 barrels in the week to 103.4 million barrels, versus expectations for a 481,000-barrel rise, the EIA data showed.

U.S. distillate fuel oil stocks fell to their lowest last week since April 2005, while inventories in the U.S. Midwest were at their lowest since November 2017.

Net U.S. crude imports fell last week by 532,000 bpd to 2.05 million bpd, EIA said.

https://leadership.ng/nigerias-crude-export-to-us-hit-highest-level-in-6-years/

.....APC governors may meet Ganduje after Sallah

......I will follow party’s decision – Uzodimma

.....Party mum as ex-minister in Buhari’s cabinet dumps APC

There is simmering unease within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over automatic tickets for the party’s National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general election.

It was learnt that some APC governors oppose the automatic ticket plan and may have concluded plans to frustrate the arrangement.

A governor from the South East and his counterpart from the South West are leading the move to stop automatic tickets for National Assembly in their states.

The governors might discuss the issue with the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, in Abuja shortly after the Sallah celebration.

It was further gathered that while some governors are indifferent to the offer, others are said to be cautious about opposing it because it enjoys the president’s backing.

The chairman of the APC governors and Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, told LEADERSHIP yesterday that he will abide by the party’s position on the matter.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Hon. Oguwike Nwachuku, stressed that Uzodimma, as a loyal party man, “will follow the party’s decision in respect of automatic ticket to lawmakers.”

He, however, underscored that he spoke for Uzodimma and not for other APC governors.

Attempts to get the APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, to react to the issue were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not replied to.

LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported plans from the Villa to offer APC lawmakers automatic tickets ahead of the 2027 election. The offer was to ensure stability within the party and reduce the likelihood of legal issues that would arise while conducting the party’s primaries.

However, the APC national chairman, Ganduje, at the gathering of party leaders from the North Central geopolitical zone, where they endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, said,

“We should continue to thank our legislators for their … why are we having high turnover of our legislators after four years? Can that encourage institutional memory? If we cannot do it by law, we can do it by advocacy.

“So, it is the responsibility of the party to dialogue with the leadership of the National Assembly so that those legislators who are very active, who are movers, to see how they can come back,” he said.

However, a source within the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), who pleaded anonymity, told LEADERSHIP that two South West governors do not stopping automatic tickets for National Assembly .

At a gathering shortly after the APC summit, which endorsed Tinubu for a second term at the Villa, the governors told some of their colleagues that the President decided to give automatic tickets to the National Assembly and should not be challenged by any governor.

“Most of the governors are adamant. They are even threatening a showdown over this. A governor from the South West and the South East is pushing this agenda. They have successfully recruited a few APC governors, especially those who inherited elected lawmakers and became governors through off-season polls, into their agenda.

“But two other South West governors made it clear that they are not part of the agenda. They feared that since the President’s decision to give automatic tickets to National Assembly may have come for strategic reasons, the governors should refrain from challenging it,” the source revealed.

According to sources within the ruling party, the move to grant automatic tickets to the President and National Assembly is seen as part of the President’s firm grip on party structures nationwide and to forestall situations whereby rookies dominate the National Assembly and create trouble.

It was learnt that the automatic ticket idea was designed to prevent possible litigation and loopholes that aggrieved could use to stifle the party’s preparations for the 2027 election cycle.

A party source added that the idea was behind the recent defection of former opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly to the ruling APC.

Meanwhile, ripples of automatic tickets are beginning to emerge, as an APC chieftain in Ondo State and an ex-Niger Delta agitator have threatened to fund opposition platforms if the President insists on granting automatic tickets to National Assembly in the state.

At the weekend, it was gathered that the party chieftain vowed to sponsor candidates against the senator and House of Representatives member from his federal constituency if the idea of an automatic ticket was not jettisoned.


Buhari’s Minister, Hassan, Resigns From APC

Barrister Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, former Minister of Environment, has tendered his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abdullahi served as Minister of State for Science and Technology under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s istration before his elevation to substantive Minister of the Environment.

Abdullahi previously served as Secretary to the State Government under former Governor Tanko Almakura.

On Sunday, the former minister submitted his resignation letter to the APC chairman in his Uke ward of Karu Local Government Area in Nasarawa State.

The letter, which was also copied to other party officials, cited personal reasons for his departure.

He expressed gratitude to the party’s leadership for the opportunities to serve the country and the received during his tenure.

“I wish you and the party good luck,” the letter stated

https://leadership.ng/2027-disquiet-in-apc-over-automatic-tickets/

A new bill that will impose a seven-year jail term or a N5 m fine on anyone found guilty of aiding and abetting bribes in workplaces in Nigeria has been mooted by the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Paul Nnamchi (Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency) and three others, the new law, which will be deliberated on when the House resumes on June 17, aims to checkmate inherent bribery and corruption in both public and private workplaces.

A copy of the bill, which is already circulating among media organizations, states that “the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of anything of value as an inducement or reward to influence the actions of an employee, officer, or agent in the workplace.” Under the proposed law, anyone who offers or gives a bribe “in cash, gifts, favours, or other benefits” to influence an official action will be liable, upon conviction, to a fine of not less than N5m or three times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher, and/or imprisonment for at least seven years.

The bill also proposes immediate dismissal from public service and a 15-year ban from holding elective or appointive office if a public officer is convicted of bribery. Also, corporate organisations guilty of the same offence risk N100m, while their directors or responsible officers will be prosecuted and face minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, if found guilty.

Companies convicted of workplace bribery may also lose their operating licences and face a 10-year ban from public procurement contracts., The bill also includes whistleblower protections, mandating all workplaces to implement anti-bribery policies and anonymous reporting channels. It criminalises retaliation against whistleblowers, imposing a minimum N10m fine and a five-year jail term on employers or individuals who harass or victimise them.

Employers are therefore compelled to report any form of bribery within their organisation or face a minimum fine of N20m and/or five years’ imprisonment.

More importantly, the creation of the Workplace Anti-Bribery Unit under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is also being mooted to investigate workplace bribery, prosecute offenders, monitor compliance and drive enforcement. It also advocates full protection for whistleblowers within every organizations.

https://guardian.ng/news/workplace-bribery-reps-weigh-seven-year-jail-for-offenders/

By Ismaeel Uthman, Grace Edema, Olufemi Adediran, Imoleayo Oyedeyi, Daniel Ayantoye and Bola Bamigbola


The West African Examinations Council has started investigating the leakage of examination questions in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, Sunday PUNCH reports.

Our correspondents gathered that some officials of the exam body might be connected to the leakage, particularly the circulation of the English Language paper to the public four days before the examination.

It was learnt that the police had also opened a probe into the matter.

The 2025 WASSCE English Language paper was leaked in some parts of the country, forcing WAEC to reprint new sets of questions.

The situation forced many candidates to sit the exam late into the night without electricity. Some of the affected states are Lagos, Ogun, Taraba, and Osun.

Videos and photos circulated on social media showed students sitting the examination as late as 12am and relying on torchlights and lanterns due to power outages.

The exam body, however, apologised for the delay in the conduct of the exam, blaming it on question paper leakage and malpractice.

In a statement on Thursday, WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, said the measures taken to prevent paper leakage “inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination.”

She cited logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural issues as contributing factors.

No fewer than 1,973,253 candidates ed for this year’s WASSCE across 23,554 schools in the country.

This came barely a month after the t issions and Matriculation Board suffered a major glitch during the 2025/2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which left thousands of candidates stranded and disrupted scheduled sittings nationwide.


How exam papers leaked

Credible sources within the council, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that WAEC had already involved the police and other security agencies to investigate those behind the leak.

One of the sources explained that the council had printed the exam questions, which were being distributed when a concerned Nigerian sent information about the leak.

The source said the council was forced to reprint question papers in response to the tip-off.

The official itted that the situation took staff by surprise, disrupting scheduled logistics and putting pressure on human resources.

“Everybody was under pressure. Some people worked 48 hours non-stop just to manage the crisis. Some staff in Ikorodu had to travel to printing presses and help pack and code question papers,” the source said.

According to insider revelations, a syndicate of “exam run” operators made millions from leaked papers.

Another source said, “One platform had over 80,000 subscribers. They were charging N1,000 per candidate for answers to the English Language paper. Even if only 50,000 people paid, that’s N50m. We have begun tracing payments made to rogue platforms, especially on WhatsApp and Telegram.”

When asked whether arrests had been made, the source simply stated, “We have met with all necessary agencies and are tracking the information. The process is ongoing.”


Leaked papers

Sunday PUNCH sighted leaked question papers that included English Language, Geography, Physics, and Literature-in-English on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

Some of the platforms included Free WAEC Exam Infos, WAEC, Free WAEC NECO IJMB/JUBEP Students Connect, King of Exams Runs, WAEC GCE NECO Expo, Nigeria School Exams, Exam Tips Solution, and WAEC, NECO and JAMB Expo.

On some of them, s were asked to pay between N1,500 and N5,000, depending on the subject, to “buy” leaked examination papers.

A message on one of the platforms, posted on Saturday, May 24, four days before the exam, read, “For English and Mathematics, N1,500 compulsory. It will be dropping at midnight with full essay and objectives. Start subscribing ‘cause only those in the VIP will be lucky. 09159611255.”

On another platform, the cover page of the English Language Paper Two was posted on Tuesday, May 27, a day before the examination, with the poster urging candidates to pay N1,000 to get the questions.

A school , who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, alleged that the questions were leaked by senior officials of the council.

He blamed the incident on the greedy officials, adding that they were only interested in personal gain.

“The question had been out as early as Saturday and Sunday, even before the exam on Wednesday. We had access to the summary, comprehension, essay, and objective questions.

“Some people got the questions through different platforms on social media. The questions were sold for as much as N4,000.

“I will blame the incident on greedy officials of the council who are all out to make money through whatever means possible.”


Parents, candidates fear mass failure

Parents and some candidates expressed fear of mass failure following the late-night conduct of the English Language paper on Wednesday in some centres across the country.

Some parents, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, blamed the exam body for subjecting candidates to inhumane and mentally draining conditions, and called for an immediate re-sit of the examination to prevent mass failure.

The parents, under the aegis of the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria, condemned the poor conduct of the examination and called on WAEC to cancel the English Language paper and reschedule it.

The National Publicity Secretary of NAPTAN, Ademola Ekundayo, made the call in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.

The body bemoaned the hardship students went through during the examination, adding that parents were also thrown into turmoil while worrying about the whereabouts of their children.

They called for the outright cancellation of the English Language paper, arguing that no reasonable results could come out of the examination.

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, the father of one of the candidates at Islahudeen Grammar School, Oke-Oniti, Osogbo, Osun State, Ajayi Ademola, lamented that the development was disturbing for him and his daughter.

He said his daughter could not revise for the next day’s paper after getting home around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

Ademola said, “It was a disturbing experience for me when Idowu didn’t return home around 6:30–7 p.m. She had the English paper around 2pm, and she was expected to be back home around 6pm. I started reaching out to people in town to find out what was happening, and I was told they were just starting the exam around 7 p.m.

“I was moved to tears as I pitied the students who had been seated since 1:30pm in preparation for an exam that was supposed to start by 2pm. How were they going to perform well in the exam? WAEC is not fair to the students. If you claim the exam question leaked, were the students responsible for that? The body should sanitise itself and stop punishing our children for the inadequacies of its staff. The exam should have been cancelled and rescheduled for another day.”

Another parent, Dele Ajewole, said his daughter sat the examination at a private school in the Ogo-Oluwa area in Osogbo, and was distraught before the papers were distributed to the students around 7:35 p.m. in her school.

He added that many of her colleagues were too tired by the time the examination eventually commenced.

“As a parent, if you are told by your child what they went through, then you already have an idea of what the result would be. If this suggestion can be considered, then I would say students should be allowed to re-sit the paper.

“The likelihood of mass failure is high with the challenges that marred the conduct of the exams. I waited for my daughter to complete her paper around 9:30 p.m. before we left the school premises. Everyone was rushing the paper because it was late,” he said.

Speaking in a similar vein, another parent, Isiaka Akande, who said the paper should be cancelled and a new date fixed, noted that parents and students already had an excuse should mass failure be recorded in the subject.

Also narrating her experience, a mother, Mrs Ngozi Akasike, said she became apprehensive when her daughter, Peace, didn’t return home around 7pm.

“I came back from work at 7 o’clock in the evening, only to find that my daughter, who is currently sitting the WASSCE, had not yet returned home. As a mother, I became apprehensive and was eager to know the reason she hadn’t come back. I ed I needed to call one of the teachers at school, but his phone was switched off, which heightened my fears,” she said.

Upon arriving at the venue, Akasike said she discovered her daughter was still in the exam hall, writing English Language at exactly 23 minutes past 7.


‘Leaked exam placed serious students at disadvantage’

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a candidate, Olamide Adefowope, lamented that the leaked examination questions placed honest students at a serious disadvantage.

She expressed concern that the integrity of the exam process had been compromised, adding that WAEC must take decisive action to restore fairness and ability.

Adefowope expressed fear of mass failure following the circumstances in which students were forced to sit the examination.

“We would have performed better if we had written it in the afternoon because within that afternoon, our brains were still cool, but that night, our brains were already hot because some people already wanted to go home.

“Nigeria’s education system is getting worse every day. A similar thing happened during the JAMB examination. They are making things hard for us, and it’s not supposed to be like that.

“I was under stress and pressure during the examination. I just managed to answer the questions, I did the little I could and left because it was very late in the night,” she stated.

Another candidate, Fatima Yusuf, who sat the examination in Lagos, called for the immediate cancellation of the English Language paper, describing the situation as unfair and demoralising.

She urged the examination body to prioritise integrity and justice, stressing that failure to act could erode public confidence in WAEC examinations.


Calls for CBT, stronger safeguards

Stakeholders, including the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, have called for the adoption of Computer-Based Testing for the conduct of senior secondary school examinations.

The National President of ANCOPPS, Mallam Musa Ibrahim, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, argued that the introduction of CBT at the secondary school level would further curtail malpractice and eliminate the influence of “miracle centres” and rogue websites.

He said, “Just like JAMB, if WAEC goes paperless, you throw rogue websites and miracle centres out of business. The attack on WAEC and JAMB is part of a wider resistance to reform. Some people don’t want CBT at the secondary school level because it will destroy their illicit business.”

He advised WAEC to improve the early detection of leaks and continue to act swiftly, as they did during the recent incident.

On his part, the National President of NAPPS, Yomi Otubela, called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Otubela explained the need for a fact-finding committee to ascertain the actual events surrounding the examination before making any definitive decisions.

He said, “I am not against a re-sit, but a committee that will investigate the exact thing that happened should come first. If the committee finds that all the information circulating on social media is true, then there may actually be a need for a re-sit.”

“From my investigation, what some schools are saying is that students finished at 6 p.m., and I felt if they finished at 6, it might be okay. But we also need to investigate what the scheduled finishing time for the paper was. I guess it wasn’t 6 p.m.”

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Management at the University of Lagos, Dr Olusola Thomas, urged the examination body to revisit some of the affected subjects.

“As it stands, we’ve not been able to fully ascertain the extent of the damage. So far, we’ve relied largely on public s and preliminary reports, which may not be comprehensive or detailed.

We don’t even have an exact count of the schools that have been compromised. This clearly suggests that the affected subjects need to be revisited,” she said.

According to her, the long hours of waiting before writing exams could have far-reaching consequences on the students’ mental health and potentially lead to widespread failure.

https://punchng.com/exclusive-inside-story-of-wassce-leak-that-triggered-midnight-exams/?amp

Tinubu Dangles N45,000 Monthly Stipend Before Students At Technical Colleges

The federal government has announced a monthly stipend of N45,000 for students enrolled in technical colleges across the country.

This is in a landmark move to revitalise Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Idris Bugaje, disclosed this in Abuja on the second-year istration of President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to reposition the TVET sector and make it a more attractive alternative to traditional university education.

Mr Bugaje explained that the new policy aimed to fast-track the development of the TVET sector and expand enrolment at the sub-tertiary level.

He stated that, beyond the monthly stipend, the government would also cover teaching fees, pay industry-based supervisors (known as “master class” instructors) where students undertake industrial attachments, and finance the cost of skill certification.

He added, “With this, young people will find it more attractive to come to a technical college, acquire skills qualification, get jobs locally and even beyond the borders of Nigeria. This way, the whole sector is being repositioned. We are at the moment facing what you may call either a resurrection or a rebirth of TVET. During colonial days and early part of our independence, TVET had received attention. But, since the 1980s, we have been going down the drains. That is why the number of technical colleges has dropped, from 129 at the moment, compared to 15,000 senior secondary schools in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Bugaje was, however, optimistic that the new initiative would reverse the trend and restore the TVET sector to its former prominence.

He said that the government of Mr Tinubu had allocated a N120 billion grant to students under the new TVET initiative.

He said the grant would be disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), signalling a major shift in government strategy to encourage skills-based education.

He said, “The N45,000 is not a loan, but a grant. Students who enjoy this are not going to pay back. We want to encourage more people to enroll in technical education.”

To sustain and expand the programme, Mr Bugaje said the Minister of Education is championing a legislative bill to establish a National Skills Fund under a new Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

According to him, the bill is expected to be presented to the National Assembly in the near future.

He stated, “This was an idea we have been talking about in the past years, but the new minister has taken it up. The bill shall soon be presented in the National Assembly to establish the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework and under it, the National Skills Fund. The National Skills Fund will continue to fund TVET institutions, not only those in government colleges, but also those in the private sector.’’

https://gazettengr.com/tinubu-dangles-n45000-monthly-stipend-before-students-at-technical-colleges/

by Jerrywright Ukwu


[i]Orji Uzor Kalu wearing attire with inscription Tinubu for president[/I]


Orji Uzor Kalu, senator representing Abia north, attended Tuesday’s plenary at the senate wearing an outfit bearing the inscription ‘Tinubu for President 2027’.

Speaking with journalists at the national assembly, Kalu described his attire as an “open endorsement” of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

“Can you see what I’m wearing? If you look at the dress I’m wearing, you will know what it is,” he said.

“This is the endorsement for president. My dress is perfectly tailored to that and the southeast caucus is fully in .”

The senator said the campaign outfit is already being adopted by others.

“People are already wearing it; I’m not just the first person wearing it,” he said.

“Because you people have a gold eye, that you can see what I’m wearing. I’m wearing something for the president, our president, your president.”

Kalu noted that the south-east caucus of the APC had endorsed Tinubu’s re-election long before other groups did.

“We endorsed him weeks ago, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma and co-chaired by the governor of Ebonyi and the deputy speaker. We initiated the national endorsement,” he added.

Kalu praised Tinubu’s economic policies, including subsidy removal and exchange rate unification.

The former Abia state governor did not confirm whether the attire was part of an official campaign rollout for the president ahead of the 2027 elections.

https://www.thecable.ng/extra-orji-kalu-wears-tinubu-for-president-2027-attire-to-nassembly/

Nlfpmod

Fresh details have emerged indicating that prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, was aware of the entry restriction imposed on him by Saudi Arabian authorities before he embarked on the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.

The Cleric had on Monday claimed in a public statement on his official Facebook page titled “My Hajj 2025!” that he was turned back at the Medina airport on Saturday despite holding a valid visa.

However, an official at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), who spoke on the condition of anonymity, explained to The Guardian on Tuesday that Sheikh Gumi had “since been banned from entry into the Kingdom” and was fully aware of the restriction placed on him.

The official clarified that the issuance of a visa by Saudi authorities does not guarantee entry into the Kingdom, particularly for individuals who have been flagged by security or immigration systems.

“He has since been banned from entry into the Kingdom. They normally will issue a visa, and then upon arrival, they will not allow you to leave immigration and will deport you. He is not the only person deported this year”.

When pressed further if Gumi was aware of the entry restriction placed on him, the official responded that, “Yes, he is aware.”

Meanwhile, Gumi suggested that the move by Saudi authorities was politically motivated while attributing it to his outspoken views on global affairs.

Gumi, known for his controversial stance on national and international issues, said: “For some obvious reasons, my views about the world politics, the Saudi authorities are uncomfortable about my presence in Hajj after giving me the Hajj Visa.

“Thanks to the Nigerian authorities, who have pledged to take up the matter immediately with Saudi authorities. That is the value of our cherished freedom and democracy.

“I’m now free to attend to my health and farming activities. We should continue to pray for the safe return of all pilgrims, peace, and prosperity for our dear nation.”

He quoted Qur’an 2:196 to reflect on his situation.

“And accomplish the Hajj, i.e, pilgrimage and the Umra for Allah, but if you are prevented, (slaughter) the offering available with you. (meaning, you are then free from Hajj or Umra).”

https://guardian.ng/news/why-saudi-authorities-deported-sheikh-gumi-to-nigeria-official/]

Recall:
Saudi Arabia Deports Sheikh Gumi

By Anozie Egole

The President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said that in the next two years, the company will be exporting almost 16,000 tonnes of fertiliser, which will amount to about $7m daily revenue to the Federal Government.

In a statement on Monday, Dangote announced this when he paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority in Marina, Lagos. He added that with the exportation of fertiliser, the company would be the major supplier of foreign exchange earnings in the country.

“In the next two years, we will be exporting about 16,000 tonnes of fertiliser. When you talk about 16,000 tonnes of fertiliser, it’s about $6.5m to $7m revenue that will be coming into the country daily. With our export programme, our company will be the major supplier of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria,” Dangote said.

Africa’s richest man also mentioned that in a few weeks’ time, the company would commence the exportation of coal.

“In the next couple of weeks, we will start exporting coal out of Nigeria. The refinery operations will not export less than 25 million tonnes of various products. We will also be exporting about 600,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes of polypropylene.

So when you are talking about export, we are going to be very big,” he said.

He highlighted the need to work with the NPA on the development of the Marine and Blue Economy sector, with plans to ensure the expansion of Nigeria’s export operations, stressing that, as the biggest customer of the NPA, it is important that the interaction between NPA and DIL is sustained.

“I think this kind of interaction is very important for the growth of the industry. We discussed quite a lot of issues. We also discussed issues of how to deepen the Marine and Blue Economy sector. And we have agreed to work together for the benefit of Nigeria,” he stated.

Dangote explained that the size of their operations at Lekki alone is almost 240 ships of crude, with each ship carrying one million crude.

“And then we will have products which now will amount to over 600 ships in a year. Then we also have our fertiliser operation, which will be loading almost eight ships. This is an operation that has never, ever been seen in the country,” he said.

While underscoring the importance of collaboration with the NPA, Dangote mentioned that the company’s operation would sink if the NPA didn’t give them the required services.

“The NPA will need a lot of from the Federal Government because they won’t be able to do these things with their own physical hands; they need equipment, and they need more tug boats. We will also be putting in a few words in the necessary quarters to make sure that NPA gets all the necessary assistance from the Federal Government,” he said.

In the area of export, Dangote said, “We will soon be massively expanding our export operations. We are already exporting cement out of Nigeria. We have a whole factory of six million tons for cement export. So the operations of Nigerian ports will double in the next one or two years.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, explained that the visit was for Dangote to show appreciation for the dividends of the naira for the crude sale policy of the Federal Government.

“Dangote is here to show appreciation, especially regarding the establishment of the One-Stop-Shop policy on naira for crude deals, which is being coordinated by the NPA. He is here to appreciate that the initiative has contributed immensely to achieving a lot of efficiency in the area of transactions and operations between government agencies,” he said.

Dantsoho explained that since the policy started in October 2024, the agency has operated 57 vessels every month.

“The projected volume that Dangote was looking at per annum was 600 vessels. If you do 56 or 57 vessels in 12 months, you will see that we are already doing bigger than what they projected. We will continue to do our best with from the government. If all agencies of government can collaborate and be on the same dashboard, then efficiencies in other sectors of the economy will also be witnessed,” Dantsoho stated.

The NPA boss announced that the government has approved the National Single Window, stressing that the NPA is 95 per cent ready for the Port Community System.

On the development of new ports, Dantsoho said, “There are two ways you can handle capacity improvement/expansion, or deepen port capacity. You can do it on a brownfield, which is when you renovate or rehabilitate existing ports, or on a greenfield, which is to build new ports.

“The last time the government built a new port in Nigeria was in 1977, which was the Tincan Island Port. There is already approval for the port modernisation of both Tincan and Apapa ports. We are hopefully looking at maybe the third quarter of this year to commence construction.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/fg-to-earn-7m-daily-from-fertiliser-exports-dangote/%3famp

A second shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery within five months has sparked calls by many Nigerians, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and industry experts, for ability by those who superintend over the national oil facility.

A national daily had reported in December 2024 that the Port Harcourt Refining Company had stopped working less than a month after it resumed production. According to the report, the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, with the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery empty when a reporter visited the facility.

LEADERSHIP recalls that barely a month earlier, precisely on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 the former chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, had inaugurated the 60,000 barrel per day production capacity plant with much public excitement.

Consequently, the latest shutdown of the Port Harcourt refinery for maintenance has raised many questions about the status of public refineries operated by the NNPCL.

Industry experts and legal scholars have raised questions about the transparency of the refineries’ operations.

Experts’ opinion, as understood by LEADERSHIP, shows a significant gap in oversight functions by industry regulators.

Taiwo Ogunloye, an energy expert and lawyer with technical knowledge of the industry told our Correspondent that the failure of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to provide a technical audit report on the status of the public refineries had led to anxieties about transparency in the management of the refineries.

Ogunloye said Section 32 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) empowered the agency to audit refineries and issue operator guidelines and standards.

He said that the regulator’s failure to intervene placed a significant burden on the NNPCL, as the public is not aware of the current status of those refineries.

He also expressed concern at the nondisclosure of the real reason for the shutdown of an asset that had gulped huge public funds.

“I think it’s proper for the NNPCL to make public the issues with the refineries and specifically indicate the areas affected so that people can forecast and assess the level of competence in the refineries’ management,” he added.

Spokesman of the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN), Eche Idoko, similarly decried the lack of transparency, saying the public is unaware of the refinery’s state.

Idoko called for a review of public funds channelled into rehabilitating the NNPCL refinery.

According to him, despite such government interventions, products from the company’s refineries are more expensive than those from the Dangote Refinery.

He said that CORAN had always advocated a level playing field for all operators and called on government to extend funds to other private refinery operators to create a balanced market structure.

For his part, Henry Adigun, a public affairs analyst and energy expert, said that the routine maintenance announced by the NNPCL should not be seen as unusual.

In the argument, Adigun said that the refinery has been down for an extended period and that it is expected that after the rehabilitation, the test run would identify potential problems, which would be resolved as they occur.

“We should realise that the plant is old and not newly built, and as such, technical hitches should be expected and rectified as they emerge,” he noted.

LEADERSHIP reports that the NNPCL announced the shutdown of the Port Harcourt refinery for maintenance starting May 24. According to the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Shoneye, the refinery will undergo a maintenance shutdown. He said the exercise would take a month and that the company is working with relevant stakeholders to ensure efficiency and transparency.

“We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently,” he said.

Nigerians were jolted at the announcement of the refinery’s resumption late last year. The refinery, with 60,000 barrels per day capacity, operated at 70 per cent installed capacity. The restart marked a significant step toward reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.

The refinery underwent a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project approved by the Nigerian government in 2021.

The refinery’s daily output includes 1.4 million litres of petrol, 1.5 million litres of diesel, 2.1 million litres of heavy fuel oil, 900,000 litres of kerosene, and unspecified volumes of LPG.

The restart is a significant step towards Nigeria’s energy independence and economic growth.

.
Firm didn’t function – NLC

The assistant general secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Chris Onyeka, said the NNPC cannot shut down what was not operational.

He said, “The government is taking Nigerians for granted; they are not sincere, and we believe they are deliberately sabotaging themselves. Or how can they tell us that the Port Harcourt refinery is working, coupled with that of Dangote, yet we are still importing, yet we are still talking of landing cost? How can Nigerians be paying high fuel costs if the PH Refinery is truly working? Does it mean Nigerians are consuming more fuel?

“We are just watching because we know what they are doing. It is just like telling us that the army has defeated Boko Haram, a number of them have been killed but they will not show the public the bodies of those killed.”

Onyeka recalled that government had said the PH was technically completed and operating.

“What is the meaning of technically completed? Shouldn’t the price of fuel, etc, drop drastically if truly the PH refinery is working along with that of Dangote?

“Let them keep fooling themselves; we are only waiting for the appropriate time to talk,” he said.


NNPCL must for turnaround maintenance money- CSOs

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called for the NNPCL to for the money spent on the turnaround of the Port Harcourt refinery.

Reacting to the controversy surrounding the shutdown of the Port Harcourt refinery, the head of Transparency International (TI), the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Awwal Musa Rafsanjani, condemned the action and called for ability from the public officials and contractors who had worked on the facility’s repairs.

Rafsanjani, while attributing the whole issue to corruption, insisted that those involved in the earlier repairs of the refinery ed for the money made available to that effect.

He further said Nigerians must be told what happened and the money must be returned; any attempt not to return the funds will be tantamount to a waste of time and dubious reforms, even if the new management of NNPCL intends to carry it out.

“What Nigeria is facing today is the collapse of responsible governance and patriotism by public officials. Everything is about the acquisition of public funds. It’s not about service. Otherwise, you can’t understand why, since the regime of Obasanjo, we have been spending money in the name of turnaround maintenance on these refineries that appear to be completely dormant.

“Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna…we keep spending money on maintenance. Billions have been spent without any commensurate repairs or upgrades to these facilities. That is to tell you that public officials are only interested in siphoning taxpayers’ money; they are not interested in service delivery.

He noted that the absence of ability and responsible governance in the country has continued to hamper progress in of economic development, especially the oil and gas sector.

“Now that they close down this refinery, it is just to tell you how shameful or insincere and how corruption has taken the centre stage in our country.

“We condemn this act; after spending huge public taxpayers’ money, you close it down, so could you explain to Nigerians what happened to the money spent on the refinery? Was it that the money was not properly utilised, or what happened, and where’s the money? Are they going to refund the money because of the poor treatment that was done? There must be an explanation for Nigerians.

“So, the contractors and the public officials who worked on these refinery repairs must for this money. They must tell Nigerians what happened, and they must return the money.’’

According to him, if the new GCEO (of NNPC) does not pursue the money, then any reforms he brings are a waste of time and dubious.

“We need to get this explanation and money returned. We can’t allow people to be siphoning billions in the name of turnaround maintenance, and nothing is repaired,” Rafsanjani added.

https://leadership.ng/2-shutdowns-of-port-harcourt-refinery-in-5-months-raise-questions/

By Timileyin Akinmoyeje


On Saturday, President Bola Tinubu announced a fresh round of appointments to key positions in federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The list includes postings to the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Nigerian Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced Tinubu’s decision on Saturday. However, some of the newly appointed officials have long-standing corruption allegations and unresolved legal issues. FIJ reviewed some of these names.


Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya: From Streetlight Scandal to NALDA Chair

Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya, the newly appointed chairman of NALDA, is a serving senator representing Katsina State. He was recently linked to the diversion of a solar-powered streetlight project.

FIJ reported that the streetlights meant for his senatorial district were instead installed at his private residence. The project, tracked by civic group Tracka, was funded with N97 million from the 2023 federal budget through the Energy Commission of Nigeria.

There has been no public ing for the project, and Barkiya has not responded to the accusations.


Ibrahim Shehu Shema

Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former governor of Katsina State, has been named chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority, one agency overseeing land use and infrastructure development in the country.

Shema has been at the centre of two major corruption cases. In 2017, he was arraigned in court by the Katsina State government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly embezzling N11 billion.

That case was discontinued in 2023 after the state filed a nolle prosequi, ending the prosecution without a court verdict.

In a separate matter, the EFCC charged Shema with misappropriating N5.7 billion under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Although he contested the court’s jurisdiction, both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court ruled against him.

The most recent public update on the case was its adjournment in February 2020.


Anyim Pius Anyim

Among the most prominent names on the list is Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Senate President. Anyim, who was also Secretary to the Government of the Federation once, has been appointed chair of the National Merit Awards Committee.

His career has long been trailed by corruption allegations. In 2015, a House of Representatives report described the Centenary City project, which Anyim supervised, as a “complete fraud” and recommended criminal investigations.

He was also questioned by the EFCC about N520 million allegedly received from Sambo Dasuki’s office before the 2015 elections.

In 2021, Anyim was detained during probes into mismanaged aviation funds totalling N780 million. None of these investigations led to formal charges.

Over the years, he has been linked to cases involving missing ecological funds, inflated contracts and questionable asset declarations. Still, none resulted in conviction or legal closure.

His reappointment comes shortly after his 2024 defection to the APC.

https://fij.ng/article/tinubus-latest-federal-appointees-have-multibillion-naira-corruption-baggage/

At least five ministers in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Executive Council contested for the governorship seats in their respective states in 2023.

They are Ahmed Idris Malagi, the minister for information; Nentawe Yiltwada Goshwe, minister for humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction; Adegboyega Oyetola, minister marine and blue economy; Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence and Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power.

ln addition to the five that contested in 2023, there are Senator Abubakar Kyari and Yusuf Tuggar, who in the past, have indicated interests in vying for the governorship positions in their respective states of Borno and Bauchi, and who may use their present positions to revive their ambitions.

With the five being candidates of the APC in 2023 except Malagi who lost in the primary, their appointments as ministers are believed to be in order to make up and enable them sustain their relevance and empower them to consolidate on their efforts in future.

Barely one year to the primary elections, it is believed that some of them have started showing signs that betray their interests to re-contest the governorship elections.

In the case of Matawalle and Oyetola, it is a case of re-engaging old opponents under a different scenario believing that the odds favour them now than in 2023 when they lost.

For Adelabu, the coast seems clearer now with the current governor, Seyi Makinde, rounding off his second term and a Tinubu presidency that may favour an APC candidate in the South West.


In the past

Since the Second Republic, ministerial appointments, especially in states not under the grip of the ruling party, have been seen as special arrangements to empower the beneficiaries to challenge sitting governors.

In the build up to the 1983 elections, Shehu Shagari’s minister for Federal Capital Territory, Mr John Khadiya, who hailed from Plateau State, challenged the then governor, Chief Solomon Lar, in a keenly contested race that rattled the NPP as the ruling party in the state.

It was however the reverse in Benue State where Chief Paul Unongo, who served as minister of steel in the Shagari istration under the NPN-NPP accord, challenged the NPN governor, Aper Aku, and gave the latter a run for his money.

Subsequently, the method became a deliberate political strategy for the ruling parties to win states not controlled by them. But it also enabled others who benefited from such appointments to challenge the status quo.

Under the istration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, many ministerial appointees saw their elevations as invitations to challenge their governors whether they belong to the same parties or not.

Damishi Sango, who was minister of sports, later ran against Joshua Dariye on the platform of the AD in 2003 though they were initially in the same party; Solomon Ewuga who was minister of state for FCT was highly touted as contesting, Isa Yuguda in Bauchi and others.

When Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso lost the governorship seat in 2003, he was appointed minister of defence and later was able to reclaim the seat in 2011. Adamu Maina Waziri who has contested the governorship previously was also appointed minister in the Umaru Yar’Adua cabinet and later intensified his bid to take over the Yobe Government House.

Other former ministers who used their positions to take a go at the governorship seat include Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom; Bala Mohammed, Darius Ishaku etc.


What is happening now

In the current dispensation, no less than seven persons are believed to be eyeing the governorship seats of their respective states regardless of whether they belong to the same parties as the current governors or not.

Sources told Weekend Trust that they are not letting go as they believe the office of a governor is more secure and powerful than that of a minister whose tenure is at the discretion of the president.

The fact that the position is zoned to senatorial zones have made them not to give up because allowing the incumbents complete an eight year-reign would seal their fates as by 2031, the position would have been moved to another zone as is the case in Niger and Plateau states.

Our correspondents also found that for the ministers who have been governors before but failed to secure their second , like Matawalle and Oyetola, they see 2027 as a good opportunity to bounce back since their party is in control of the centre.

There are indications also that those that ran in 2023 but lost have continued to oil their structures and have not surrendered same to the governors, signalling the fact that they have not withdrawn their ambitions.

Weekend Trust also observed that there are those who did not contest in 2023 but have indicated interests in the past but now see a golden opportunity to strike as the seat would be vacant in 2027 due to the term limits of the incumbents. They include Senator Abubakar Kyari and Yusuf Tuggar.


Borno and Kyari

Senator Abubakar Kyari is the former deputy national chairman (north) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who later replaced Abdullahi Adamu as chairman.

Kyari’s political journey started in 1996 when he became a founding member of the United Nigeria Congress (UNC) which later morphed into the United Nigeria Congress Party (UN).

He contested and won a House of Representatives seat in 1999 under the All People’s Party (APP), after four years in the green chamber and was made a commissioner in Borno State.

However, during the tumultuous years of picking a successor to Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Kyari was widely believed to be among the most qualified.

But the governor decided to anoint his cousin, Fannami Gubio, to succeed him, a move that angered key party and ers. Gubio was assassinated a few months before the election.

Kyari was again touted as a possible replacement after the murder of Gubio, but fate played a fast one and Kashim Shettima, the current vice president got the nod of the then governor.

Kyari, who later became a senator representing Borno North but resigned to President Tinubu’s cabinet, is widely believed to be among the forefront aspirants for the governorship position in 2027.

Many believe he has what it takes to run because of his experience and loyalty to both Zulum and Shettima.

Political analysts also opine that Kyari may have Tinubu’s blessing and the party’s at the national level to clinch the gubernatorial position.

He is hailed as having stayed with the opposition since 1999 even when many of his contemporaries were moving to the then ruling party, PDP.

During the September 10 flood disaster that ravaged Maiduguri, Kyari had, through his Ministry of Agriculture, donated 100 trailers of rice; 50 trailers of maize; 30 trailers of sorghum; and 20 trailers of millet to the victims.


Oyo and Adelabu

It is a no brainer that the minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, giving his two attempts at the governorship, would not allow this opportunity to slip past him.

He is one of the major contenders for the Oyo State governorship poll in the next election. His credentials, political party and current position place him at the front burner in the battle to take over from Governor Seyi Makinde.

When Adelabu, then Deputy Governor in charge of operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in 2028, resigned to pursue his governorship ambition, he was quick to gain political prominence riding on his family’s political legacy in the state.

He is the grandson of late Adegoke Adelabu, one of Oyo’s most revered politicians. Late Adelabu was referred to as a flamboyant and articulate grassroots politician of the pre-independence political era in the South West of Nigeria. His political influence in the Western Region was profound, and his name still commands respect, particularly in Ibadan. The phrase “Penkelemesi”, a corruption of “peculiar mess,” which late Adelabu famously used in a political debate, still remains a part of Yoruba political lexicon.

In the build-up to 2019 guber poll, Adelabu adopted his grandfather’s “Penkelemesi” to gain relevance. He however did not win despite flying the APC’s ticket.

He re-contested for the seat in 2023 on the platform of the Accord Party after defecting from the APC. Again, he lost to Makinde.

Despite contesting on the platform of the opposition party, President Bola Tinubu handed him a ministerial nomination and assigned him the Ministry of Power.

In December 2023, Adelabu returned to the ruling APC and he has been putting in structures towards his ambition in 2027.

Although he declared that his return to APC was to help Tinubu’s istration succeed, insiders say the decision remains a strong pointer to his governorship ambition.

Adelabu, while speaking at the party’s secretariat in Oyo State, said “I returned not because of 2027 governorship ambition or to take over the party, but because I believe this is a party that brought President Bola Tinubu to power, and we need to him to deliver on his electoral promises.”

He added that “This is not time for politics, it is time for governance and Tinubu needs our for him to succeed and deliver on his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I have come back to the party not to take over the party and not to dissolve executives; we have come to the party to extend hands of fellowship and reconciliation.”

Adelabu assured cooperation and collaboration to build a strong party so that the party “will take over power in the state at the end of the day in 2027.”

Findings revealed that Adelabu has been re-strategizing to replace Makinde as Oyo governor come 2027. Insiders say that the financial expert has improved on his relationship with Makinde who is a major political force in the state. Makinde promised to name his preferred candidate in January next year.

It was gathered that Adelabu, despite being a minister, stays more at home in Ibadan as part of his strategy to “get closer” to the people. He is said to be in charge of most of the Federal Government’s palliative items distribution for Oyo State and he is taking advantage of the opportunity to solidify his position as leader in the state’s APC.

For Adelabu to get the APC’s gubernatorial ticket in 2027, it will be a straight fight between him and the party’s candidate in the last election, Teslim Folarin. Fatai Buhari, Senator representing Oyo North and other politicians are equally eyeing the ticket.

However, keen watchers believe that Adelabu banking on the of President Tinubu will likely secure the ticket the same way he was appointed minister despite being an opposition figure.


Plateau and Nentawe

Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda was the APC governorship candidate in Plateau State in 2023. He is currently Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Immediately he was announced as minister last year, the APC in Plateau State became energized.

His recent visit to the state confirms he is still interested in running as governor.

Our correspondent reports that the minister paid condolence visits to the families of those who lost loved ones recently to sympathize with them over their losses.

Pundits argue that the minister’s condolence visit is a strategic move to bolster his opposition stance, demonstrating his commitment to the community and potentially garnering from influential families and stakeholders in the state.

The minister also visited the Paramount Ruler of Ngas, Chief Jikat Golit, in the Plateau Central senatorial district, Pankshin LGA. Sources told Weekend Trust that this condolence visit was to mourn the death of David Parradang, the former Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration, who hailed from the area.

Political commentators opine that these visits could also serve to strengthen the minister’s relationship with the traditional leaders, other key stakeholders and the entire Ngas community politically.

To further strengthen the relationship with other stakeholders, the minister visited the National Chairman of Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikatis Sunnah , Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, over the death of deputy national chairman of the group, Sheikh Hassan Jingir. Pundits say this visit could also harmonize his relationship with the group and Muslim community.

For the first time since his defeat, the minister – a COCIN member, attended a church service at the COCIN headquarters, where he engaged with women, especially widows, and empowered them. Political commentators say the development could earn the minister sympathy from women and church at large.

The minister visited a Jos market where locally produced foods by different ethnic groups in Plateau are showcased. In the market, dishes made by the ethnic groups were patronized. Pundits opine that this visit to the market can add to his political career by showcasing his for local businesses and cultural diversity, potentially boosting his popularity and credibility among residents.


Impact of visit

His recent visit to the state has spoken volumes with residents, especially politicians, expressing divergent views from both the opposition and the ruling PDP. For the APC faithful, his visit was a welcome idea and has given them courage to discuss party politics despite the opposition in the state.

What marks a new era in the state’s political atmosphere is the minister’s recent appearance on a Rhythm FM programme in Jos. During the programme, he explained that his silence was intentional, as he wanted to give the state government the opportunity to focus on implementing developmental projects. He said “Politically, I have the capacity to put pressure on the state but I choose to give them space to work so we can rate them at the end.”

During the radio programme, the minister criticized some of the state government’s policies and actions. He reflected on his close relationship with the previous government, saying, “I was very close to the Simon Lalong government; Lalong achieved a lot in of roads.” He then posed a question, “Can we put on the table the achievements of the APC and PDP?”

But the stance of the party in the state that there’s no automatic ticket for any contestant is seen as a hindrance.

Rufus Bature, state chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Rufus Bature, said APC as a Democratic Party will give chance to interested individuals who want to contest for the party’s primary, explaining that the issue of giving an automatic ticket to an individual depends on the general decision of the people in the state.


Lokpobiri in Bayelsa

Though the 2027 off-cycle governorship election in Bayelsa State is two years away, politicians from the state who have ambition to succeed Governor Douye Diri are already consulting and meeting key power brokers in the state.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the current minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), is one of the frontier contenders who are eyeing the governorship seat of the oil rich state.

Lokpobiri, a former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and two term Senator, had in 2027 contested for the governorship primary of APC in 2019 but lost to Chief David Lyon.

Though he seems to have had misunderstanding with former Governor Timipre Sylva, who is leader of the party in the state, but Lokpobiri’s alliance with the Minister for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, may give him an easy ride to the creek haven, the Bayelsa State seat of power.

Though, the zoning may not favour Lokpobiri’s Bayelsa West Senatorial district, since the generality of the people in the state think power must move to Bayelsa East Senatorial District, who last produced governor through Timipre Sylva about 13 years ago, but Lokpobiri’s ers are of the opinion that there is no zoning arrangement in APC.

Though Lokpobiri is yet to publicly declare his intention to run for 2027 governorship race, the body language and moves by his ers show he is interested in it.

With Lokpobiri as serving minister and from his political ally, Chief Nyesom Wike, it may be very easy for him to get the ticket of APC for the 2027 election.

His er from Ekeremor local government told Weekend Trust on condition of anonymity that Lokpobiri has built his political family right from when he was in the House of Assembly, and the base for his governorship election is overwhelming.

He said all the local governments in the state will vote for Lokpobiri if he decides to the race and if APC gives him a ticket, because he has also backed his politics with human empowerment.


Malagi and Niger

Political watchers believe that the growing cracks within the APC in Niger State could create an opening for the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, who is also said to be quietly positioning himself for the 2027 race.

Although Malagi has not publicly declared his intention to contest, party insiders say he remains a strong contender, especially amid rising dissatisfaction within Bago’s camp.

A source close to Malagi confirmed that the minister has been strategically positioning himself, securing federal appointments and economic opportunities for his loyalists and allies.

One such appointment is that of Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, the former APC state chairman, who was recently named a member of the newly created North Central Development Commission. Sources say the slot, originally earmarked for Senator Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger North), was ceded to Malagi after he lobbied for Jikantoro.

Jikantoro had resigned shortly after Governor Bago was sworn in, citing personal reasons. However, sources told Weekend Trust that his resignation was triggered by long standing friction between him and the governor dating back to the party primaries. Jikantoro has since declared his loyalty to the minister.

Similarly, the former state secretary of the APC, Ibrahim Khalil, who resigned just a week after Jikantoro, has been appointed Director of Special Duties at the NTA – another recommendation reportedly made by Malagi. Khalil has been seen at several events alongside the minister, particularly in Niger State.

“The minister is operating silently but effectively. If Bago’s camp faces prolonged internal opposition, Malagi could emerge as a viable alternative, especially given his federal leverage and Abuja connections,” one of the sources said.

A chieftain of the APC in the state and close associate of the minister, Tongzum Barde, said he cannot confirm whether or not the minister is contesting, adding that only time will tell.

While Governor Bago is working to consolidate power, the unresolved disputes over local government consensus arrangements may prove to be the biggest test of his grip on the APC ahead of 2027.

https://dailytrust.com/2027-ministers-eyeing-governorship-seats/

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has said the real reason the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) shut down Port Harcourt Refinery after spending $1.5 billion on its rehabilitation is incompetence.

The National President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed this in a telephone interview with DAILY POST on Saturday.

His comment comes as NNPCL on Saturday announced the shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

The spokesperson of the state-owned oil firm, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

According to him, the shutdown is due to planned maintenance and sustainability assessment scheduled for May 24th, 2025.

However, Soneye did not state when the Refinery would resume operation.

“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025.”

Reacting, Gillis-Harry said the shutdown showed the level of insincerity on the part of NNPCL.

“The shutdown of the state-owned refinery showed that the managers of Port Harcourt Refinery are incompetent and insincere all along,” he told DAILY POST.

The shutdown of Port Harcourt Refinery comes amid speculation over its petroleum production capacity after it was resuscitated in November 2024.

Barely four days ago, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association raised an alarm over the delays in the rehabilitation of the 210,000 barrels-per-day Port Harcourt Refinery and the Warri and Kaduna Refineries.

https://dailypost.ng/2025/05/24/incompetence-petroan-reveals-reason-nnpcl-shut-down-port-harcourt-refinery/

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Australia’s ‘most sexually active woman’ hospitalised after sleeping with 583 men in a day

Annie Knight, a 27-year-old OnlyFans star known as “Australia’s most sexually active woman,” has been hospitalised after taking part in a challenge where she reportedly slept with 583 men in a single day.

She shared a video from her hospital bed on Wednesday, revealing she went in for treatment due to severe cramps and excessive bleeding. The symptoms appeared just a day after the event, which was filmed on Sunday.

Knight said the issue was related to her pre-existing endometriosis, a condition she believes was triggered by stress.

“On Sunday everything was all good, but the next day I had a lot of bleeding that I shouldn’t really have because I’m on contraception, and I was a little bit worried about it but decided I would wait it out and see how it goes,” she told Perth Now.

“Then it turned into really bad cramps and pains, then I started to get a bit worried and decided to take myself to hospital.”

Doctors initially suspected the pain and bleeding were due to the extreme physical activity involved in the challenge, but later ruled that out.

“We ran a bunch of tests all day, then eventually it was my endometriosis had been exasperated by mostly stress and not so much the physical challenge that I did on Sunday,” Knight explained.

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those in the uterus grow outside it. These cells bleed each month like uterine tissue, but the blood has nowhere to go.

Symptoms include heavy periods, pain, fatigue, and a higher risk of infertility. The exact cause is unknown but may involve genetics, immune system problems, or chemical exposure.

Treatment usually focuses on pain relief and improving quality of life, sometimes through hormone therapy or surgery.

This is not Knight’s first recent hospital visit. Just a month ago, she was hospitalized with a mysterious ailment.

Her fiancé, Henry Brayshaw, shared a photo on Instagram showing her in a blue hospital gown, resting in bed surrounded by monitors.

“Wonder where the life switch is?” he joked in the caption.

The couple made headlines recently after announcing their engagement—just one week into officially dating.

Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Knight explained the history behind the whirlwind romance.

“The crazy bit about it is we’ve only been officially dating for a week,” she said. “However, we’ve been best friends for ten years and we have dated in the past.”

“And we’ve been sort of seeing each other recently. It’s not a shotgun engagement or anything like that. It’s been ten years in the making.”

Despite her engagement, Knight made it clear her lifestyle won’t be changing anytime soon.

She said that she still plans to sleep with 1,000 men before the end of 2025.

“He is super ive, he’s just the best and he understands that I’m very work-oriented and that I enjoy my job,” she said.

“We have ten years of history. He knows me better than anyone, better than I even know myself, we’ve been through so much together and the and the love that we have for each other is unmatched—he accepts me for who I am.”

Interestingly, while Knight’s lifestyle remains open, her fiancé’s does not.

“He is completely monogamous and faithful to me and is forbidden from sleeping with other women—but the same rules don’t apply to me,” she said.

Knight’s unique choices and public openness continue to spark debate around sexuality, relationships, and personal freedom.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/australias-most-sexually-active-woman-hospitalised-after-sleeping-with-583-men-in-a-day/

By Abdullateef Aliyu and Faruk Shuaibu


Despite consistent reduction in price of motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petroleum by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, the price of the product remains very high, analysis by Daily Trust has shown.

Yesterday, the refinery announced another reduction of N15 in the price of its high-quality Motor Spirit (PMS).

As a result of this reduction, Nigerians will now purchase the product at the following prices: N875 per litre in Lagos; N885 per litre in the South West; N895 per litre in the North West and North Central, while it will be sold for N905 per litre in the South East, South South, and North East.

In a statement, it said the prices will apply through all its partners, including MRS, AP (Ardova), Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde.

The refinery called on other marketers to its expanding network of partners to demonstrate their for President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy, which advocates for the prioritisation of locally-produced goods and services.


Catalogue of price cuts

Daily Trust reports that since the commencement of operations, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently implemented cost-reduction strategies which it stated was aimed at “delivering tangible savings to Nigerians.”

In February 2025, the company carried out two price reductions on petrol, resulting in a total decrease of N125 per litre. This was followed by a further reduction of approximately N45 per litre in April.

Additionally, the prices of other key products, such as diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), have been significantly lowered, improving affordability across transportation, industrial, and domestic energy sectors.


Despite reduction, prices remain high

Our correspondent reports that in spite of the reduction in prices by Dangote, the prices remain on the high side.

So far, analysis by Daily Trust indicated that Dangote has reduced prices at different times in 2025 amounting to N195.

It would be recalled that in January, the Refinery announced an upward review of the price, saying its refined product would now sell at N955 per litre at the loading gantry.

Dangote had earlier in December, 2024 slashed its price from N970 per litre to N899.50 in what it described as a holiday bonanza.

The refinery stated that marketers buying between 2 million – 4.99 million litres will now buy at N955 per litre while 5 million litres & above will buy at N950 per litre.

However, on February 1, the refinery undertook a significant price reduction, slashing the price by N60 to N890 at the ex-depot price.

On February 26, it slashed the price again, now the second time in a month, cutting N65 off the previous price of N890, bringing it down to N825 per litre at the gantry (ex-depot).

The ex-depot price thus decreased from N950 per litre in January to the current price of N825 per litre, representing a reduction of N125 per litre within 26 days.

According to a statement issued at the time, the price reduction will also ensure that Nigerians pay between N860 and N865 per litre for petrol at the pump in Lagos.


March saw price increase

March saw a significant increase in price reduction by Dangote refinery following the stoppage of naira-for-crude arrangement with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

It would be recalled that the refinery had on March 19, 2025, announced that it will stop the domestic supply of petrol in naira due to the suspension of the naira for crude by the NNPC.

It stated that the temporary decision is necessary to avoid a mismatch between its sales proceeds and our crude oil purchase obligations, which are currently denominated in U.S. dollars.

This subsequently shot up the price of PMS with a litre selling at N930 per litre in Lagos as against the former price of N865.

In April, it reduced the price twice. On April 16th, 2025, the gantry price (ex-depot price) of petrol was reduced from N865 to N835.

Earlier in the same month, the refinery slashed the price from N880 to N865 per litre.

With the reduction in May, the refinery has reduced prices by N195 in 2025 alone. However, the present price of N875 is still highehr compared to the price in March which was N865.


Filling stations yet to adjust prices

As of the time of filing this report, filling stations were yet to adjust their prices as a litre is still sold between N890 and N910 in Lagos.

This is even as marketers while welcoming the price reduction expressed mixed feelings over what they called the short notice.

In April when Dangote effected price reduction twice, marketers reportedly lost billions of naira over what they called the sudden price cut.

The Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike warned that marketers face a lose-win situation over the ongoing price war.

“For us, the independent marketers, it is a lose-win situation.

“The loss is that those who have already gotten petrol products from Dangote Refinery or its partners will have to lose a N20 to N25 margin per litre and revert to the new price,” he said.

Another marketer who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity stated that the short-term reduction is a cause for concern.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently reassured Nigerians of price stability despite fluctuations in global crude oil prices, reaffirming its commitment to ing Nigeria’s economy.

“By refining petroleum products domestically at the world’s largest single-train refinery, we are proud to make a substantial contribution to Nigeria’s energy security, foreign exchange savings, and overall economic resilience—aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on addressing the nation’s economic challenges and improving the well-being of Nigerians. We are immensely grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for making this possible through the commendable Naira-for-Crude Initiative, which has enabled us to consistently reduce the price of petroleum products for the benefit of all Nigerians,” it stated.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery further assures the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand, as well as a surplus for export to enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.


Price of petrol increased by 76.73% – NBS

Meanwhile, the average retail price paid by consumers for Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, rose to N1,239.33 in April 2025, reflecting a 76.73% year-on-year increase compared to N701.24 recorded in April 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

The Bureau however, said the price dropped by 1.77% when compared to the N1,261.65 average price recorded in March 2025.

This information is contained in the latest “ Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch” released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.

On state analysis, it stated that Imo State recorded the highest average retail price of PMS at N1,588.50, followed by Jigawa and Sokoto States with N1,567.84 and N1,550.00, respectively.

On the other end, Yobe had the lowest average price at N970.00, with Kwara and Osun States following at N1,014.85 and N1,042.49, respectively.

“At the zonal level, the South East recorded the highest average price of N1,341.71, while the South West posted the lowest average at N1,138.64.

The report demonstrates the continued volatility in fuel pricing across regions, despite recent interventions aimed at stabilizing the downstream petroleum sector.

https://dailytrust.com/despite-6-time-price-cuts-by-dangote-petrol-cost-still-high/

by Bunmi Aduloju


Former President Goodluck Jonathan says no laws were designed to protect Nigerians when oil was discovered in 1956.

Jonathan spoke on Wednesday night at the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards Dinner organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

Jonathan said a Ugandan once told him how he developed skills before g an agreement with international oil companies (IOCs) to avoid mistakes made by Nigeria.

“I brought up this story because I used to tell people that if at the beginning of the oil discovery we had laws designed to protect us, Nigeria would have gone further than this. But we didn’t have those kinds of laws,” he said.

“Of course, the first law that controlled the oil industry was the Mineral Oil Ordinance of 1886, I’m not sure if Nigeria played any role in developing that law.

“The second one was the Mineral Oil Ordinance of 1914, when we amalgamated. I don’t know how many Nigerians have any knowledge about petroleum law.”

Jonathan said the bill that became the law that started the oil industry was the Petroleum Act of 1969, which came after the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in 1956 and after independence in 1960.

“The next proposed law was the Petroleum Industry Act that we worked on during my government, but luckily, in 2021, it was ed into law,” he said.


JONATHAN: WHY LAW WAS ED TO LOCAL CONTENT

The former president said the Local Content Act was ed in April 2010 when the minister of petroleum told him there was a private law sponsored by senator Lee Maeba to promote local content in the oil and gas industry.

“What is the story about the Nigerian content, or what’s popularly called the local content? I signed that law in April 2010 because of the experience I had in the Year 2000,” he said.

“Then, I was the deputy governor of Bayelsa state, and I led a trade delegation to China. And because we are from the Niger Delta, an oil-producing area, we decided to visit some of the oil cities.

“When he visited what the Chinese call the oil capital, Daqing, they took us through their library, through their museum. They told us stories from the beginning of the mining activities up to that time.

“ that the Western companies discovered oil in commercial quantities in Nigeria in 1956. The same Western companies discovered oil in commercial quantities in China in 1968, two years later.”

Jonathan said that by 2000, most of the needs of the oil industry in China were manufactured locally — a situation that was not obtainable in Nigeria.

The former president said he immediately signed the bill after his experience in China.

https://www.thecable.ng/jonathan-no-laws-were-designed-to-protect-nigerians-when-oil-was-discovered/

By Ogaga Ariemu


The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association has revealed that Dangote Refinery’s motor spirit price drops to control the country’s petroleum downstream sector.

The spokesperson of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, disclosed this Thursday in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST.

His comments came as Dangote Refinery announced a fresh N15 retail fuel price drop nationwide.

According to Dangote Refinery’s fresh price template, its retail partners, such as MRS, Ardova PLC, Optima, and others, would sell petrol between N875 and N905 per litre, from N890 to N920 nationwide announced in April 2025.

Reacting, Ukadike said the president of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, is using the fuel price war to take control of the buying and distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria.

According to him, Dangote has shown the capacity to rattle fuel importers in Nigeria.

He, however, said that petroleum marketers have been left with a lose-win situation following the price fluctuation.

He added marketers may have to lose between N20 and 25 per litre if they are to revert to the latest price reduction.

“Dangote wants to use fuel price drops to tell Nigerians who his master is in the business downstream. The downstream petroleum market is very competitive. He has decided to use the price war to ensure he holds firm on the buying and distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria.

“The price war has started, and importers should gear up to see if they can get the products cheaper than Dangote Refinery’s offer.

“For us, the independent marketers, it is a lose-win situation.

“The loss is that those who have already gotten petrol products from Dangote Refinery or its partnership will have to lose a N20 to N25 margin per litre and revert to the new price. Well, I also know that the indices of the market would be able to allow us to sell out our old stock for balance of trade,” he told DAILY POST.

DAILY POST reports that from April to date 2025, the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery had announced at least two fuel price cuts after the Federal Government reinstated its commitment to the Naira-for-crude deal.

https://dailypost.ng/2025/05/22/real-reason-for-dangote-refinerys-fresh-fuel-price-drop-ipman/

By Seun Adeuyi


Former governor of Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufai, has vowed that the opposition coalition would ensure President Bola Tinubu is removed in 2027.

Speaking on Wednesday at the second edition of the Arewa Tech Fest in Katsina, El-Rufai said Tinubu will be removed, while the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, will be retained in the next government.

The former governor and chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said Tijani is doing good work and therefore should be retained.

He said: “They (the organising team) had to come without me because yesterday (Tuesday) at 8pm there was a very important meeting of the coalition we’re putting together to ensure that President Tinubu goes back to Lagos.

“Though we will still keep Bosun Tijani, we will still keep the minister because he is doing good work.

“I had to attend that meeting at 8pm. The Katsina airport does not operate after 8pm, so I could not come until this morning.”

El-Rufai is a leading figure among opposition politicians actively mobilising to form a broad coalition of political parties to unseat President Tinubu in 2027.

The former Kaduna Governor’s political alignment shifted in March when he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the SDP.

https://dailytrust.com/we-are-sending-tinubu-to-lagos-but-will-retain-his-minister-el-rufai/

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Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, says the Nigerian government gets 52 kobo revenue from every N1 generated from the production and sale of Dangote Cement.

Dangote spoke on Wednesday at the 2025 Taraba International Investment Summit on May 21.

“I’m sure it might be shocking to you to know that the federal government of Nigeria, not even the state, makes more money from, for example, our cement business. For every N1 we turn around, 52 kobo goes to the federal government of Nigeria,” the entrepreneur said.

He said governments benefit from investments, whether private or public, when they create conducive environments for businesses to operate and pay taxes.

“We always say that the government has no business in business. If it’s true, they don’t have business in business. Though, how are they going to make money, educate people, you know, do the hospital, road, infrastructure? It’s through what? Taxes,” Dangote said.

“Have you ever heard of the American government owning an oil block? No, the American government doesn’t own an oil block. And they are the biggest producers of oil today in the world. But they make their money through taxes.”

He added that foreign investors are unlikely to invest in a country unless local investors thrive.

Dangote said the group would continue to invest in Nigeria to create jobs and local communities.

https://www.thecable.ng/dangote-fg-makes-52-kobo-from-every-n1-generated-by-my-cement-company/

The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ganiyu Egunjobi, has thrown his weight behind the emergence of Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa’s son as the All Progressives Congress chairmanship candidate for the council polls, declaring that the young man “deserves to succeed me.”

Egunjobi, in an interview with select journalists, addressed the mounting controversy that followed the May 10 APC primaries, dismissing claims of imposition and defending the legitimacy of the process that produced candidates across local government areas.

“I think the reactions in those quarters where they are shouting ‘imposition’ is in the character of politicians in our clime,” Vanguard quoted him as saying on Friday.

“I’m sure if the results had gone their way, they would be lavishing praise on the electoral process. The election committee put up a good show and should be commended, same with the leadership of the party in the state.”

Tensions had risen after a protest in Agege and Orile-Agege by some APC who accused Speaker Obasa of planting loyalists and family , including his son (Abdulganiyu), as flagbearers in the July 12 council elections.

But Egunjobi dismissed the demonstration as a charade sponsored by political desperadoes.

“I watched the video of the so-called protest and I was amazed to see those who led it. A political neophyte, who is a charge-and-bail lawyer, anchored it.

“For your information, this man until recently was gushing about the Speaker, thinking singing the praise of Obasa would get him the party chairmanship ticket for Orile-Agege,” he said.

He added that some of the aggrieved aspirants, including Sola Osolana and Bukola Sofidiya, only returned to the party shortly before the primaries and lacked the moral and constitutional right to contest.

“We know some of their paymasters in the persons of a certain serving senator from Ogun State and a three-time House of Assembly member in our area, to mention but a few,” he hinted, without naming names.

Addressing the controversy over the candidacy of Obasa’s son, who is reportedly running as a vice-chairmanship candidate in Agege, Egunjobi defended the Speaker’s son as eminently qualified, drawing comparisons to political dynasties in the United States and Nigeria.

Obasa’s son, Abdulganiyu

“This is someone that is well-read, a PhD student for that matter, who has been touching lives in Agege long before now. In fact, he deserves to succeed me.

“People blabbing ‘imposition’ in respect of the Speaker’s son’s matter are not fair to the young man and Agege,” he declared.

Highlighting his own tenure, which ends in about two months, Egunjobi reeled out achievements including the construction of roads, health centres, public school infrastructure, vocational training, youth empowerment programmes, and local job creation.

“We built a CBT centre for JAMB candidates, upgraded our vocational training institute, and even created a deradicalisation programme for louts post-EndSARS,” he said.

“Over 700 staff, including security personnel under ‘Paramole’, are on our payroll, receiving stipends to maintain peace and order.”

When asked about the perennial Awori versus non-indigene divide in Agege politics, the chairman responded with a rebuke of identity politics.

“We are all born and bred in Agege. Come to think of it, no Awori person in Agege is more Agege than me. The dichotomy doesn’t hold water and is inconsequential,” he concluded.

https://punchng.com/lagos-council-chair-backs-obasas-son-as-successor/?amp

‘Countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil have adopted compulsory voting with positive outcomes in political participation and public ability. When more people vote, election results are more likely to reflect the true will of the people’.

‘No country, not even the most totalitarian country compels its citizens to vote. Voting is a civic responsibility; if you want, you can vote, if you don’t, you can stay in your house; compelling people to vote is a violation of their rights.’

A cross section of Nigerians, including lawyers and civil society organisations have opposed a bill in the House of Representatives seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022, to make voting in all national, state and local council elections compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.

The bill, tly sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Daniel Asama Ago, is titled: A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, 2022 to make it Mandatory for Nigerians of Maturity Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters (HB.1930).

The bill proposes a six-month imprisonment or a fine of not more than N100, 000 for any ed voter convicted for failing to exercise his or her franchise during national, state and local council polls.

But Nigerians who spoke to Daily Trust described the proposed legislation as a misplacement of priority; while lawyers declared it unconstitutional.

Tunde Akinyemi, a civil rights lawyer in Surulere, Lagos, said: “This bill is not only draconian, it is tone-deaf. You don’t threaten citizens into participating in democracy; you inspire and earn their trust. Has the government considered the reasons why people don’t vote? Fix electoral violence, rigging and insecurity first, and then we can talk about turnout.”

On her part, Hajiya Rabi Abdullahi, a school teacher from Keffi, Nasarawa State, said people avoid taking part in election for their safety and other reasons.

Chukwuemeka Obi, an unemployed graduate from Enugu, said, “Many of us have lost faith in politicians. They come every four years with promises and disappear after winning. If I choose not to vote, that’s my right too. Compelling people with jail is dictatorship, not democracy.”

An elder from Maiduguri, Bulama Gubio said, “We are still recovering from insurgency here. Many of our people are displaced and don’t even have voter cards. How can they be expected to vote? This kind of law ignores our reality.”

Ngozi Chukwuemeka, a youth corps member in Jos, said, “We spend hours under the sun during elections and the results are often manipulated. Now the National Assembly wants to punish us for not showing up? They should punish those who rig, not those who are tired of being deceived.”

Alhaji Sulaimon Adigun, a retired teacher said, “Voting should be a right, not a legal obligation with threat of jail. What about elderly people who can’t make it to polling stations or sick people at home? Or are we now in military era?”

Bassey Okon, a student activist in Calabar, said, “This bill is oppressive. Instead of blaming poor turnout on citizens, lawmakers should look inwards. Maybe if they were more able and transparent, people would actually want to vote.”

On his part, Aminu Naganye, a Kano-based journalist, said, “The law doesn’t make any sense to me since democracy is all about freedom, and the moment you say something is compulsory, you have tampered with the basic democratic provisions.”

However, in Benue State, some citizens said the proposed legislation has several benefits.

Tertsea Benga said it would increase voters’ turnout as a higher percentage of eligible citizens would be participating in the electoral process and improve ability.

A political and public affairs analyst in Rivers State, Bassey Isangedighi, said if the bill is ed, it would encourage voters to come out on election day to discharge civil responsibility.

Alice Kabowei, from Bayelsa State, said the compulsory voting would help in advancing democracy in the country, as it would make it compulsory for every person on voting age to be committed to their civil responsibility.


Dons flay bill

Dr Sikiru Lanre Nurudeen, an associate professor of Political Science and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Al-Hikmah University, dismissed the proposal, saying it fails to address the root causes of voter apathy, particularly the widespread dissatisfaction with governance. He described the lawmakers’ move as a “layman’s approach to increasing voter participation,” and instead called for a thorough sanitisation of the voter .

“When people cannot clearly see the benefits of democracy, they are likely to become apathetic. Forcing people to vote undermines the very freedom democracy promises,” he said.

Also, Prof. Abdulrauf Ambali, a political scientist, said coercing people to vote misses the bigger picture.

“What is needed is to build structures that inspire trust and enthusiasm among the electorate. When people keep participating without seeing results, trust erodes. The real question is: how do we restore that trust?

“There is nothing like this in the United States or other western countries often cited as models of democracy.

“Instead of making laws to coerce people, our leaders should focus on restoring hope by fighting corruption and ensuring good governance,” he said.


It is unconstitutional – SANs

Professor Paul Ananaba (SAN) said no country, not even the most totalitarian countries, compels its citizens to vote.

“Voting is a civic responsibility; if you want, you can vote, if you don’t, you can stay in your house; compelling people to vote is a violation of their rights,” he said.

For Etigwe Uwa (SAN), said it is laudable as a civic duty for citizens to vote in an election, but making it a criminal offence needs to be looked at very well.

“What they should have done is to say that if you vote, you can get this, and if you don’t, you don’t, and you may not be able to apply for certain things.”

On his part, Kehinde Eleja (SAN) said voting is a voluntary act across the world and criticised the lawmakers’ proposal as “misdirected attention.”

“Why should it be a crime if someone refuses to vote, as the lawmakers are suggesting? Efforts should be directed towards enlightenment and encouraging the electorate to see the value in participating in the electoral process. Refusal to vote should not be criminalised,” he stated.


CISLAC, Yiaga Africa, other CSOs kick

Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said: “This is one of the most ridiculous and the most idle proposal that this legislators are proposing and I think it is important that instead of doing this, they should embark on voter education or electoral education to also be able to let Nigerians understand what democracy stands for and what Nigerians stand to gain by participating in the electoral process rather than threatening them with a proposal to jail them.

“There is nowhere in the world where this kind of ridiculous proposal is put forward. In the first place, Nigeria has no capacity in of enforcement to impose this kind of legal framework, if eventually it happens. It is going to be a very difficult if not impossible for this kind of legal framework to be enforced,” Rafsanjani said.

Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, described the bill as unreasonable and impractical.

He said that every individual possesses the fundamental right to determine their own level of participation in the electoral process.

He noted that abstaining from voting can serve as a legitimate form of dissent, particularly in Nigeria, where elections often appear to function more as selections rather than genuine democratic exercises.

Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said the bill has positive and negative sides.

According to him, it could be a welcome development because compulsory voting will do three things, including increasing the level of turnout, especially for a country like Nigeria that is dealing with low voter turnout during elections.

“So this could lead to high turnout. Secondly, it could also lead to strengthening citizens’ participation because you’re sanctioning and making participation in civic life, especially elections compulsory. So, it will enhance and strengthen civic participation,” Itodo said.

Executive Director, Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation (GCRCO), Armsfree Ajanaku, said that the lawmakers’ legislation does not represent the best practice for getting people out to vote.

“It is draconian and it misses the fundamental issues in the electoral process. As much as we want Nigerians to be enthusiastic about participating in the democratic process, the threat of jail time for those who refuse makes no sense. Instead of wasting precious legislative time on this type of legislation, the National Assembly should focus on realistic reforms and amendments, particularly those which will address the obstacles and encumbrances, which discourage willing voters from going to the polls,” Ajanaku said.


Provisions of the bill

The bill, which is sponsored by the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, proposes a 6-month imprisonment or a fine of not more than N100, 000 for any ed voter convicted for failing to exercise his or her franchise during national and state elections, as well as local council polls in the country.

According to its explanatory memorandum, “the bill seeks to remedy the large-scale apathy to performing a vital civic duty in electing Nigerian leaders. The percentage of ed voters that present themselves for actual voting is abysmally low and requires parliamentary attention.”

Specifically, the bill is seeking for an alteration of Sections 9,10, 12 and 47 of the Electoral Act 2022 to mandate INEC to compile a voter which shall include the names of all Nigerians, who are 18 years and above and are therefore eligible to vote during elections, and for continuous voter registration exercise.

The proposed amendment of the principal act states that “the Commission shall compile, maintain, and update, on a continuous basis, a National of Voters (in this Act referred to as ‘the of Voters’) which shall include the names of all persons-(a) who have attained the Majority Age of 18 and are entitled to vote in any Federal, State, Local Government or Federal Capital Territory Area Council election…”

The proposed amendment to Section 47(4a) provides that “It shall be mandatory for all ed voters who have attained the age of 18 and above to vote in all National and State Elections;

(b) A person who has attained the maturity age of 18 years who refuses to perform his Civic Duty to vote commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not more than #100,000 or imprisonment for a term not more than six months.”


Debate on the bill

Leading the debate on the bill yesterday, Ago said it was aimed at promoting active citizen participation in the democratic process.

“Nigeria continues to record alarmingly low voter participation. In the 2023 general elections, less than 30 per cent of ed voters turned out. This undermines the legitimacy of elected governments and weakens democratic institutions.

“Countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil have adopted compulsory voting with positive outcomes in political participation and public ability. When more people vote, election results are more likely to reflect the true will of the people.

“By making voting mandatory, we aim to foster a stronger culture of civic responsibility, reduce electoral apathy and increase the inclusiveness and fairness of our elections,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu said compulsory voting would foster broader participation in choosing leaders.

Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Rivers) welcomed the intent of the bill, but raised concerns over enforcement.

He questioned the integrity of the voter and logistics for Nigerians in the diaspora or remote areas to mandatorily participate in elections.

Akarachi Amadi (Imo) said it is unpatriotic for eligible Nigerians to abstain from elections, while noting that voter apathy weakens democracy and limits citizens’ ability to demand ability.

Ghali Mustapha Tijjani (Kano) said mandatory voting would foster greater youth participation in politics and reduce disillusionment with the system.

However, Mark Esset (Akwa Ibom State) cautioned: “We shouldn’t build on a shaky foundation. Many Nigerians abstain from voting because they doubt the credibility of the process. If we’re going to make voting compulsory, we must also ensure that people believe their votes truly count.”

In his response, the speaker clarified that mandatory participation does not mean choosing a specific candidate but simply showing up to vote.

He acknowledged concerns about trust in the system, but insisted that making voting compulsory could increase civic engagement and hold leaders more able.


Voter turnout in years

Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigeria’s electoral landscape has experienced a steady but worrying decline in voter turnout, raising critical questions about citizen engagement, trust in democratic institutions, and the inclusiveness of the political process.

In 1999, at the dawn of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, approximately 57.9 million Nigerians were ed to vote. Of this number, just over 30.2 million participated in the presidential election, resulting in a voter turnout of 52.3%. Four years later, in 2003, turnout surged to 69.1%, the highest ever recorded in the Fourth Republic. This election, which returned President Olusegun Obasanjo for a second term, marked the peak of electoral enthusiasm in post-military Nigeria.

However, the subsequent elections showed a gradual erosion of voter participation. In 2007, despite an increase in the number of ed voters to over 61.5 million, turnout dropped to 57.5%. The 2011 election, held under improved electoral reforms and a more transparent Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), still only managed a turnout of 53.7%, with nearly 40 million votes cast from a ed pool of 73.5 million.

A more dramatic decline emerged in 2015, when voter turnout fell to 43.7%. Though this election was notable for the historic defeat of an incumbent president, signaling a maturing democracy, only about 29.4 million out of over 67.4 million ed voters cast their ballots.

The downward trajectory continued in 2019. Despite a significant increase in ed voters to 82.3 million, turnout slumped further to 34.8%, with fewer than 29 million Nigerians participating. This marked the first time since 1999 that turnout fell below 40%.

By the 2023 general elections, voter apathy had reached its most alarming level yet. Nigeria recorded its highest-ever number of ed voters of over 93.4 million, yet only 24.9 million people voted. This amounted to a mere 26.7% turnout, the lowest in the nation’s modern democratic history.

The turnout in local government elections is the worst as eligible voters hardly come out to cast their votes, due largely to what analysts blamed on lack of trust in the process.

Analysts said the decline underscores a crisis of confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system. Despite rising voter registration figures and increased civic awareness campaigns, many Nigerians appear disillusioned with the political process.

https://dailytrust.com/electoral-act-amendment-nigerians-reject-reps-proposal-for-compulsory-voting/

Nlfpmod

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has said the t issions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has shown more ability in the wake of the 2025 UTME technical challenges than some prominent Nigerian politicians and religious leaders.

Omokri made the statement on his official Facebook page following the public apology issued by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, over the system glitch that affected several candidates during the examination.

He commended the Registrar for taking personal responsibility and offering remedial steps to address the issue, describing the move as an uncommon gesture.

“Not only did the Registrar General of the t issions and Matriculation Board take full personal responsibility, but he also provided remedial solutions to indemnify those affected by the unfortunate incident,” Omokri stated.

He argued that public figures in Nigeria rarely accept responsibility for errors, using examples from politics and the church.

“If you think it is easy, ask yourself this: How many big politicians, pastors, churches, and others in society have made errors and itted them?” he asked.

Omokri referred to a leaked audio involving former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where he was heard describing the 2023 general elections as a “religious war.”

“Has he ever itted to that? We know it was his voice,” Omokri claimed, adding that two years later, Obi had yet to pursue legal action against the media platform that leaked the audio.

He further recalled an interview on Arise TV where Obi reportedly declined to directly answer whether it was his voice on the tape, despite the question being asked multiple times.

Turning to religious leaders, Omokri referenced past statements by Pastor Tunde Bakare of Citadel Global Community Church. He cited an interview Bakare granted to *Punch* newspaper in 2006, where the pastor declared by the “Spirit of God” that certain Nigerian political figures, including Muhammadu Buhari, represented the old political order.

Omokri noted that Bakare later became Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 elections, contrary to his earlier declaration.

“He later said that he was the anointed ‘sixteenth’ President of Nigeria and that the matter had been settled,” Omokri stated, quoting Bakare as saying: “I make it plain this morning, I let you know it this morning, nothing can change it in the name of Jesus. He (Buhari) is number 15, I am number 16.”

Omokri said Bakare had yet to apologise for his earlier claims, yet continues to critique others.

He also criticised Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, referencing an incident where Enenche urged his congregation to instruct others on who to vote for, including mentioning specific names and images. Omokri described the act as unethical, claiming it breached both the church’s registration status and Nigeria’s Electoral Act.

“By engaging in open and partisan political campaigning while on the pulpit, even to the point of telling people who to vote for, with their photos, Pastor Enenche violated that provision, and the Body of Christ would not tolerate that coming from a prominent Muslim cleric,” Omokri said.

He alleged that Enenche’s conduct, if done in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, could have attracted sanctions, including revocation of preaching licenses and tax exemptions.

Omokri also referenced a statement Enenche made on January 29, 2023, where the pastor criticised an unnamed political candidate, describing them as lacking transparency in key aspects of their background.

Omokri argued that such statements could lead to unrest in Nigeria’s multi-religious society.

He added that, rather than apologise, Enenche pursued legal action against him, which Omokri claimed was dismissed in his favour.

He reiterated that the JAMB registrar’s apology demonstrated a level of courage that is uncommon among public figures in Nigeria.

“In light of this, Nigerians should understand that what JAMB did took courage. Courage that is in short supply in Nigeria,” Omokri said.

https://guardian.ng/news/jamb-more-credible-than-some-politicians-clergy-says-omokri/

Nlfpmod

By Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba


Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has explained the reason behind the dispute between him and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state and his Deputy, Muhammad Auwal Jatau.

On April 19, the minister was among dignitaries who accompanied Vice-President Kashim Shettima to Bauchi.

Hours later, reports alleged that Jatau dished a slap on Tuggar in a bus conveying dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa international airport to the emir of Bauchi’s palace.

The reports claimed the slap occurred after the minister made disparaging comments about the governor.

The Deputy Governor denied the claims.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, the Minister shed more light on what led to the misunderstanding that escalated into a confrontation.

According to him, contrary to some claims that he clashed with the Deputy Governor, the issue actually started with the Governor himself, while they were in a bus with the Vice President during the latter’s visit to the state.

He said: “We were traveling in a vehicle accompanying the Vice President on a visit to Bauchi State. The Vice President spoke to me, and the Governor, who was sitting beside him, interjected in a conversation that didn’t concern him.

“After that, he insulted my late father—my father who has been dead for over twenty years—and then went further to threaten to slap me. But I saw that if left alone there is no way he can have advantage over me, so I stood up to show him my height.

“After that, his deputy came rushing from the back of the bus, saying he too would slap me, but he couldn’t even get close to me, especially since the Vice President was in the same vehicle.”

He stated that the security personnel present were not from Bauchi but had been brought in from Abuja.

Tuggar further said, “There was no physical between the Governor and 1—he merely said he would slap me, but when he realized he couldn’t actually reach me, the matter ended there. However, the Governor’s son, who is trying to meddle in politics, went online spreading the story that Deputy Governor Auwal Jatau slapped me.”

“The Deputy Governor himself later itted the story wasn’t true and began spreading a different version that he didn’t slap me.”

Regarding suggestions that the rift between the Minister and the Governor stemmed from Tuggar’s alleged ambition to run for Governor of Bauchi in the future, he responded: “Whether I have such an ambition or not, if you look at my history, you’ll see that when it’s time to speak the truth, I do so. What’s happening directly affects my local government and our town, Udubo.”
Ambassador Tuggar attributed the rift to differences over how the Bauchi State government is being run.

He said: “Everyone can see how farmlands and grazing lands are being taken away from farmers and herders and handed over to companies. These companies then come in under the pretense of engaging in agriculture, taking loans in the process.

“This is disheartening, because when farmlands or grazing areas are seized from people, some end up being pushed into criminal activities.”

He added that if these actions were truly aimed at developing the state as claimed, “then why hasn’t Bauchi State become a leader in grain production or cattle rearing? Instead, things seem to be going backward.”

Both Tuggar and Jatau hail from the Bauchi North Senatorial District, a region that has never produced a state governor since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Although Tuggar has not formally declared his intention to run for governor in 2027, strong indications suggest he is eyeing the position.

https://dailytrust.com/why-gov-bala-threatened-to-slap-me-tuggar/

Previous threads https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/8403971/auwal-jatau-denies-slapping-foreign

30% of Lagos civil servants sent abroad for training fail to return, says commissioner

Afolabi Ayantayo, the commissioner for establishments and training in Lagos, says 30 percent of civil servants sent abroad for training do not return to Nigeria.

Ayantayo spoke on Wednesday during a press briefing to mark the second anniversary of Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s, governor of Lagos, second term in office.

The commissioner noted that the state government’s aim of initiating international trainings is gradually being undermined by the increasing number of Nigerians seeking to leave the country for better opportunities.

“While 70 percent returned, 30percent failed to come back,” Ayantayo said.

“For those that are still receiving their salaries, we didn’t pay for their courses, but those who no longer receive salaries, we paid for their courses, and it has added to productivity.

“This cuts across multiple cadres, skill levels and thematic areas relevant to public sector efficiency, leadership development and regulatory compliance.”

He said the state has trained 23,420 officials from May 2022 to December 2024, adding that about 8,000 civil servants across various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) have been granted study leave to improve their qualifications and skills.

Ayantayo noted that the government has paid the medical residency training fund, rural allowance for primary healthcare workers, and also provided bonuses and wage awards to staff of the Lagos State College of Medicine.

He added that the state also approved N35,000 minimum wage increases for workers to reduce the effect of economic hardship.

“It covers areas such as digital transformation, emotional intelligence, policy analysis and project management,” he added.

“The ministry processed 742 sign-off training requests for various ministries, departments and agencies.

“A total of 5,342 officers participated in the 2024 civil service examination in Lagos State, with only 15 candidates failing. The outcome is highly encouraging and reflects the quality of the state’s workforce.”

https://www.thecable.ng/30-of-lagos-civil-servants-sent-abroad-for-training-fail-to-return-says-commissioner/

By Dirisu Yakubu


A member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State, Aminu Jaji, has decried the worsening security situation in his state, alleging that armed insurgents have degenerated to the point of feeding newborns in captivity to their dogs.

Jaji, who represents Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency and is a member of the All Progressives Congress, made the shocking revelation on Wednesday while addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Narrating the ordeal of residents in his constituency, the visibly distressed lawmaker said: “A pregnant woman was abducted. She gave birth to a set of twins in captivity. Then the leader of the bandits took the twins and threw them at his dogs. The dogs ate them up, one after the other.

“This is something that we need to rise to the occasion. We need to speak to ourselves. Something needs to be done.”

Jaji, however, dismissed calls for the deployment of mercenaries to assist the military in combating insecurity, insisting that Nigeria’s armed forces are capable of securing the country if properly equipped and motivated.

He also opposed the idea of declaring a state of emergency in Zamfara, arguing instead for a strategic shift in military operations, particularly through the use of technology.

“I don’t believe that in Nigeria we need mercenaries to prosecute the war against terrorists.

Our gallant soldiers have the capacity to secure the country. But the only thing that we need to do as a country is to step up a little bit and be more digitalised in the way we operate.”

“Honestly, I don’t subscribe to the idea of hiring mercenaries. We must make sure the resources given to our security agents by the Federal Government are satisfactory. But let’s ensure the monitoring and the efficacy of how they discharge their duty, and then, how they can continue to be ed in of their welfare. If they are being motivated in of their welfare and so many other things, they can step up to fight these people.”

Speaking in an emotionally charged tone, Jaji struggled to convey the horrors being inflicted daily on the people of his constituency.

“In my constituency alone, over 200 people have been kidnapped by bandits. Two weeks ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. Ten of them were later killed because the community could not raise the N30m ransom demanded by the abductors. As we were grieving, another 25 were taken from Gabake. Just yesterday, fresh attacks occurred in Kungurki,” he said.

He further lamented that bandits had effectively seized control of large portions of his constituency, operating with impunity and acting as de facto authorities over the local population.

Jaji called for an urgent overhaul of the nation’s security architecture and expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu may not be receiving accurate reports about the situation in the North-West.

https://punchng.com/bandits-feeding-kidnapped-babies-to-dogs-zamfara-rep-alleges/?utm_source=auto-read-also&utm_medium=web

Oil marketers have declared that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and others in Nigeria may raise the pump price of petrol to N1,500 per litre once there is an outright ban on fuel importation.

While the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Udadike, affirmed this, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria said PETROAN could not predict any price, but stressed that there will be a surge in price if the Federal Government stops fuel importation.

However, officials of the Dangote refinery dismissed the projection, saying the marketers made the claims to justify their intention to continue importing “substandard” fuel.

The PUNCH reports that the marketers spoke amid concerns that President Bola Tinubu might ban fuel importation as part of his ‘Nigeria First Policy’, which ordered government agencies to stop the importation of products that can be produced locally.

With the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote refinery and other modular refineries coming on stream, there are speculations that the Federal Government might end fuel importation, which is now about 14.7 million litres per day.

Also, the fact that the Dangote refinery dragged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to court, alongside other players in the industry, is a source of concern to importers, depot owners, and marketers.

As a result, the stakeholders voiced out, saying the Dangote refinery does not have the capacity to meet local demand. But Dangote refuted the claim, saying it has enough to satisfy local consumption and export to other countries.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Ukadike argued that importation is necessary to check the local refiners and prevent profiteering. The IPMAN spokesperson argued that even the modular refineries producing diesel still sell at prices higher than the prices offered by the importers.

According to Ukadike, the rumour that Tinubu may ban fuel imports was not welcomed by IPMAN, asking the President not to consider such a move.

He noted that importers were the only hope of the nation at a time when there were no functioning refineries in the country, saying it was pertinent to allow them to continue their businesses to check domestic fuel prices.

Ukadike warned that refiners might resort to extortion if there are no alternatives from other sources.

“Importation has been long there, and it has been sustaining us. Now that we have the Dangote refinery that has been producing petroleum products and the NNPC that has been struggling to see whether they can produce one keg of petrol for this country, it is also pertinent to allow importation to check the domestic prices of fuel in this country.

“We won’t want refiners to start extorting Nigerians because there are no more imports. Sometimes, import helps to regulate the prices of petroleum products. You will also agree with me that the modular refineries producing diesel are not selling it cheaper than the imported one. I will appeal to Mr President to allow the importation of petroleum products,” he explained.

Ukadike said fuel importers will stop importing once they notice that the local price is lower than the cost of imported fuel.

“It is the factor of price that will ban importation. If the prices of local fuel are cheap, the marketers will buy, and importers will ban themselves from importing. Allow the importers to look at the indices of the market and see when local refineries are becoming exploitative. Once you ban them from importing, Dangote will raise its PMS to N1,500, and this is not good for Nigerians,” he stated.

Instead of banning importation, Ukadike urged the government to local refiners with financing, tax waivers, reduction in interest rates, and other incentives that could make them exporters of petroleum products.

“We, the independent marketers, don’t encourage the banning of petroleum products imports. Let the government give aid and to our local refineries and manufacturers. Look at the taxes, look at the bank charges to ensure their prices are good for export, not only for internal consumption. The government can give a mandate to local refineries to export petroleum products after meeting domestic consumption,” he noted.


PETROAN agrees

Meanwhile, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, agreed with IPMAN that petrol prices could surge without importation, saying the current price reductions by the refinery were artificial.

While saying PETROAN would not speculate on any price, Gillis-Harry warned that the country should not allow only one source of securing its energy needs.

According to him, banning fuel importation is against the Petroleum Industry Act, which created an open market for all players.

“There will be price surges if fuel importation is banned. Even these price reductions, as far as we are concerned, are artificial. And if there are no empirical values to give us any clear-cut financial engineering that will give us the prices we see in the market, it means something is wrong and something will be wrong in the future, too.

“So, the authorities need to do quite a lot. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should also do quite a lot to check everything and make sure that the industry is stable,” he said.

When he was reminded that the Dangote refinery had boasted that it could supply fuel to the nation and export to other countries, Gillis-Harry replied, “I’m a businessman. When you ask me what my capacity is or what I do, I will not tell you that it’s not possible. But the taste of the food is in the eating.

“We stopped importation from November for six months. What was the result? And today, we have a situation where somebody just wakes up to increase the fuel price or reduce it. How does that work? We need to find a different way to work. The size of the product that’s needed is big, now, we are fluctuating between 46, 47, and 48 million litres a day. So, where’s the production capacity in the country that’s doing that? Even if it can be done on the first 100 per cent of production, how long can it be sustained? So, the thing is, at this point, I don’t think anybody should be bothering about trying to create a kind of panic in the system.

“What we should do is, everybody should do their bit. All refiners should refine their products, storage facility owners should continue to give the best service to Nigerians, and make sure that we have products at affordable prices, not prices that are engineered to suit a need or appetite. Let the logistics companies, NARTO, NUPENG, PTD, and others do their work. That way, the entire value chain is busy. Nigerians will be better for it. The economy will be more robust and taxes will be paid from all sectors.”

Asked what his reaction would be if the court grants Dangote’s request to stop fuel importation, the PETROAN boss said the court will base its judgment on the provisions of the law.

“What will be the basis on which the court is working? Nigeria is operated by our constitution and laws. There is a law that guides everything we’re doing in this country, and the court’s job is simply to interpret it properly, not by assumption. We have a business law that should make us very disciplined. So, we should be able to get that working. If the laws are working, we should refer to all the extant laws.

“Doesn’t that decision to go to court tell you that something is wrong? Why would you control somebody else’s business? That in itself signals the present danger. Let us not speculate. The facts are clear that everybody is entitled to do business, provided they are qualified.

“And these licences don’t come cheap; they’re very expensive. So, when you go around and then qualify for it, and somebody says, Oh, stop! Is that good?” he asked.


Dangote counters dealers

However, the Dangote refinery refuted the assumption that it would raise petrol price to N1,500 a litre if there is a halt on fuel importation. It argued that the marketers said this so as to continue the importation of low-quality fuels.

A top official of the refinery, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence due to the lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, said there was no logic in the claim that prices would just be hiked from N890 to N1,500.

“That is the marketers’ wish. They want to keep importing substandard and dirty fuel. There’s nothing like that,” the source said.

Another Dangote official said the refinery was built to make life better for Nigerians and not for profiteering. He emphasised that the refinery can meet local demands and send more to other countries.

He explained that prices are determined by crude oil cost and the exchange rate, not by mere speculations.

Earlier, the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria said the naira-for-crude deal will prompt a reduction in fuel prices.

CORAN spokesperson, Eche Idoko, said with the naira-for-crude deal and the crash in crude prices, petrol prices could drop below N700 per litre or N350 if crude crashes to $50 per barrel.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, disagreed with claims that the recently approved procurement policy could enable a monopoly over petroleum products importers, particularly from the Dangote refinery.

He argued that any fear of a monopoly may arise from downstream sector players categorising the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as one of the government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with procurement powers.

Yusuf queried, “What has the importation of oil got to do with government procurement? Well, maybe the NNPC people are seeing themselves as one of the government MDAs.”

He urged players in the downstream sector to allay their fears by working to set up extra refineries while maximising the four NNPC-operated refineries, especially those in Warri and Port Harcourt.

“If they want to compete with the Dangote refinery, they should go and set up their own refinery. What the government is saying is that whatever we are producing, if it is sufficient, don’t go and import it. So, if they don’t want a monopoly, let all the other refineries work. NNPC has four refineries. If they are not able to refine, whose fault is that?” he asked.

Yusuf further argued that the claims of a monopoly appear improbable because of the absence of a level playing field between importers of petroleum products and local refiners.

“There is no level playing field. Imported fuel and fuel that is locally produced are not the same thing. There is no fair competition because, for the person importing petroleum products, the environment is different, the cost of production is different, the regulatory environment is different, and maybe the quality itself is different. When we are talking about competition, it has to be somebody producing locally, competing with another person producing locally,” he stressed.

https://punchng.com/fuel-import-ban-fears-re-ignite-dangote-marketers-row/?amp

Nlfpmod

Hussaini Ibrahim


The management of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria has ordered the immediate closure of Al-Ansar Indabo female students’ hostels located at Hotoro and UDB Road in the Kano metropolis over safety and disciplinary concerns.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, by the university’s Vice President, Campus Life, Dr. Hamza Garba.

The university also announced the withdrawal of its approval for the use of the hostels following reported violations of its code of conduct.

According to the statement, the decision was taken as part of MAAUN’s efforts to ensure the provision of safe, secure, and morally upright accommodation for its students.

“I am directed by the management to write, inform, and bring to the attention of our esteemed parents and students that the university has withdrawn its approval for Al-Ansar Indabo female students hostels located at UDB Road and Hotoro,” the statement read.

Garba noted that the hostels failed to comply with university regulations guiding the operation of private student accommodations.

He said the non-compliance had led to various infractions, including reported cases of immoral behaviour, poor water and electricity supply, student violence, unauthorised movement at night, and the sharing of facilities with unknown tenants.

“These issues pose a serious threat to the well-being of our students,” he said.

The university, therefore, directed all affected students to vacate the hostels immediately after the conclusion of the current semester examinations and warned them against further association with the facilities for their own safety and security.

“Management is working closely with relevant security agencies to ensure total compliance with the directive,” the statement added.

Students and parents were advised to the Office of the Vice President, Campus Life, via the official email address — [email protected] — for guidance on approved and secure hostel options.

The university further stated that it would not take responsibility for any consequences arising from non-compliance with the directive.

https://punchng.com/kano-varsity-shuts-female-hostel-over-immorality/?amp

Professor convicted for rigging election for Akpabio walks free instead of serving jail term

Many Nigerians, including journalists, erroneously think Mr Ogban has served or is still serving his jail term.

by Chinagorom Ugwu


Peter Ogban, the disgraced Nigerian professor convicted and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for rigging a 2019 senatorial election for the country’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has been walking free instead of serving his jail term, TIMES can authoritatively report.

Many Nigerians, including journalists, erroneously think Mr Ogban has served or is still serving his jail term.

Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a strong ally of President Bola Tinubu.

The Court of Appeal, Calabar, on 30 April, upheld the lower court conviction and the three-year jail term for Mr Ogban, a professor of soil science at the University of Calabar and a returning officer in the 2019 general elections in Akwa Ibom North-West District.

A State High Court in Uyo, on 25 March 2021, found Mr Ogban guilty of announcing fake election results in two local government areas—Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo—in Mr Akpabio’s favour and sentenced him to jail the same day.

Mr Ogban was taken from the courtroom in Uyo to a federal prison in Ikot Ekpene, still in Akwa Ibom, to serve his prison term.


Audience Survey

However, the professor spent only about four months in prison as another judge, Pius Idiong of the State High Court, Ikot Ekpene, granted him bail on 12 July 2021, despite the opposition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which prosecuted the professor.

The professor was freed on bail while pursuing his appeal against his conviction and sentence by the lower court.

The Court of Appeal judgement, which upheld Mr Ogban’s conviction and jail term, was delivered virtually.

A lawyer knowledgeable about the case told TIMES on Monday that the professor was not at the Court of Appeal courtroom when the judgement was delivered.

“The officials of the Nigerian prisons ought to have made sure Prof Ogban was present in the courtroom during that judgement, and they should have taken him straight to Ikot Ekpene prisons immediately after the judgement,” he said.

A lawyer, identified by Truecaller App as Eddy, a member of the Kanu G. Agabi & Associates, itted to TIMES on Monday that the convicted professor ought to be in jail but said she did not know his exact location “at the moment.”

Richard Metong, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Akwa Ibom, said he did not know if Mr Ogban was in any of the prison facilities in Akwa Ibom. He asked our reporter to give him time to run a check, but did not call back or respond to further calls from our reporter.

How jailed professor got his ‘freedom’
Clement Onwuenwunor was the INEC lawyer during the hearing of Mr Ogban’s bail application, while Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the professor.

Mr Agabi claimed Mr Ogban had high blood pressure and tuberculosis.

According to a court document seen by TIMES, he pleaded with the court to grant his client bail because of ill health, while he was about to go to the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction and sentence.

He argued that the professor may suffer injustice if he remained in prison and the Court of Appeal eventually reduced his sentence, gave him an option of a fine, or discharged and acquitted him, an argument Mr Idiong upheld in his ruling on the bail application.

According to the court document, the INEC lawyer, Mr Onwuenwunor, in his argument, said the professor’s claim that he was ill, neither qualified for an exceptional circumstance nor an unusual reason for him to be granted bail. He said what the Supreme Court has qualified as such exceptional circumstance or unusual reason is where the convict’s ailment cannot be treated in the prison and the prison authorities are unable to arrange for such treatment outside the prison facility.

Mr Idiong said in his ruling, “The Court agrees with the senior learned counsel (Agabi) that it is a possibility that the appeal may be allowed and the applicant (Ogban) discharged and acquitted.

“It is also possible that the sentence imposed on the applicant by the trial court may, at the end of the day, be reduced. At the end, the appellate court may also resolve to give the applicant an option of a fine in count 2 of the charge. And above all, the applicant may be cautioned and discharged by the appellate court.”

In addition, the judge ruled that “This court holds the view that although the applicant’s so-called health conditions and medical report cannot constitute such an exceptional circumstance, he has nonetheless made out a case to warrant being granted a temporary reprieve.”

According to a court document seen by our reporter, Mr Agabi is going to the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s judgement affirming Mr Ogban’s conviction and sentence for election fraud.


Another professor jailed for election fraud, but also enjoying freedom

Another professor, Ignatius Uduk, was recently jailed by a State High Court in Uyo for election fraud.

Mr Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics in the Department of Physical and Health Education at the University of Uyo, was jailed for three years.

INEC prosecuted him on three charges: announcement of false election results, publication of false results, and perjury during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency, where he served as INEC’s collation and returning officer.

The professor falsified the election results to the advantage of the APC candidate, Nse Ntuen, who was then an ally of Mr Akpabio.

However, Mr Uduk was recently granted bail by a State High Court in Uyo.

https://www.timesng.com/news/top-news/793834-professor-convicted-for-rigging-election-for-akpabio-walks-free-instead-of-serving-jail-term.html