Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bashir Ojulari, has warned that crude oil theft in Africa has escalated beyond local crime, with international syndicates now orchestrating the illicit trade. Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference, Ojulari said the crime was being driven by organised cartels exploiting weaknesses in national and continental security systems. “Oil theft is no longer a backyard operation. It is run by organised international syndicates who exploit gaps in state and continental security,” he said. He stressed that security had…

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to shut down major infrastructure across the country if the Federal Government fails to resolve its lingering dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has again threatened to embark on a nationwide strike. NANS Assistant General Secretary, Emmanuel Adejuwon, speaking in Abuja on Monday, said the union would mobilise students for “massive protests” that would paralyse activities nationwide should ASUU proceed with its threat. “Let it be on record: if this strike is not averted, we will bring the country to a standstill until the future of Nigerian…

Retired military personnel across Nigeria have renewed their calls for an upward review of salaries and pensions for both serving and retired officers, warning that prolonged delays are worsening frustrations within the veterans’ community. The demand was raised last week during a meeting between the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and members of the Ministry of Defence’s five-man Ministerial Standing Committee on Military Veterans’ Welfare, led by retired Air Commodore Femi Oguntuyi. Although the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, confirmed the meeting, he did not disclose further details. Sources at the meeting revealed that the…

Osun State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) more than doubled in 2024, rising to N54.7bn from N25.3bn in 2023, according to the state’s Financial Statements and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024. The report, presented by the State Auditor-General, Kolapo Idris, showed that total revenue inflows for the year stood at N306.8bn. Of this, statutory allocation accounted for N159.7bn, Value Added Tax contributed N66.8bn, while capital receipts and funds from development partners totalled N25.4bn. On the expenditure side, the state recorded a total spend of N273.5bn. Capital expenditure was the largest item at N118.6bn, followed by personnel costs at…

The Federal Government on Monday launched a digital portal aimed at creating a credible database of Nigerian teachers, streamlining licensing processes, and promoting professionalism in the education sector. The platform, unveiled in Abuja by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in partnership with the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme, is expected to enhance transparency and efficiency in teacher management. Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, described the initiative as a transformative step for the sector. “Today, we are not merely unveiling a portal, we are opening a…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unveiled plans to establish a 260,000-strong rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade, requiring an annual budget of $2.5 billion. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, disclosed this during the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.” Represented by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Touray said the funds would support the activation of the force, logistics provision, and financial assistance to frontline states battling terrorism. He…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has collapsed politically, pointing to the results of the recently concluded bye-elections as evidence of the public’s growing rejection of the opposition party. In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the outcome of the bye-elections reflected the popularity of President Bola Tinubu’s policies among Nigerians. “The PDP has since fallen into ruins, and stands rejected by Nigerians,” Morka said. “When its governors gather in their scanty numbers, one would expect them to have some shame and concentrate on how…

The Benue State House of Assembly has firmly denied claims that Governor Hyacinth Alia played any role in the recent resignation of Speaker Aondona Dajoh, stressing that the move was based solely on personal principle and not the result of political interference. Speaking during an appearance on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme, Assembly spokesperson Elias Audu stated that the lawmakers of the Benue Assembly are “independent-minded” and cannot be influenced or coerced, either by the executive or external forces. “The Speaker made his decision based on personal principle,” Audu said. “If the governor had an interest—whatever it might…

The Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in Ekiti State, Engr. Simon Adeniran Adeniyi, has addressed the persistent concerns surrounding the deteriorating state of federal roads in the state, attributing the delays in maintenance to the ongoing rainy season and funding challenges. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, Engr. Adeniyi explained that the heavy and consistent rains have rendered it nearly impossible to carry out any meaningful maintenance work. “The rainy season has been a major obstacle. It is difficult to achieve substantial progress on road projects under such conditions,” he said. He clarified FERMA’s specific mandate, noting that the agency…

Prominent constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to resign if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu refuses to heed his legal advice. Ozekhome made the call in reaction to the Federal Government’s decision to withhold funds meant for local governments in Osun State, describing the move as a politically motivated action that undermines democracy. According to him, the President may not be receiving sound legal counsel from the AGF, citing Fagbemi’s recommendation in a letter to the Ministry of Finance that allocations be channelled to sacked All…