Author: Nouman Ali

A milestone medical surgery will be recorded in the country today.

A team of experts on the United States, United Kingdom and Europe are in the country to perform robotic surgery.

This will take place at the newly established Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre located within the revamped Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri

An elated Governor Hope Uzodimma who announced the historic development during a pre-procedure briefing at the Government House Owerri ,described the achievement as a testament to strategic state investments by the state government to revolutionize local medical care.

He disclosed that the landmark operation will be led by a UK-based consultant robotic and laparoscopic surgeon, Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, an indigene of Imo State.

Uzodimma emphasized that the state-of-the-art facility at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre was built not just for advanced patient care but as a hub for continuous skill transfer to local healthcare workers

‘Our plan has never been to acquire sophisticated medical equipment and leave it idle. Equipment must be matched with competence, and technology must be matched with training,’ Uzodimma stated.

He highlighted that robotic-assisted techniques offer superior precision, minimal invasiveness, reduced blood loss, and significantly faster recovery times for patients.

The Robotics and Oncology Centre, he said, is part of a broader upgrade to the Imo Specialist Hospital Complex, which now boasts expanded Intensive Care Units (ICU), advanced diagnostic facilities, modern surgical theatres, neonatal care, and specialized oncology departments.

To ensure equitable access to these high-end medical services, the governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to expanding coverage through the Imo Health Insurance Scheme.

‘The real measure of success will be in the patients treated, the skills transferred, the specialists developed, the lives improved, and the confidence that our people build in our local healthcare system,’ Uzodimma noted, adding that this milestone is just the beginning of Imo State’s journey toward becoming a premier destination for specialized medical care.

Robotic surgery is an advanced form of minimally invasive operation where a doctor uses a computer console to control robotic arms. The machine does not act on its own; it translates the surgeon’s hand movements into smaller, more precise actions inside tiny cuts.

Geregu Power Plc has announced the full settlement of its outstanding bond obligations, as the company’s Chairman, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, assuring investors and other stakeholders of the board’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations.

He described the development as an important step towards strengthening investor confidence and preserving shareholder value.

Speaking on the settlement, Yari said the board remained committed to meeting the company’s obligations to bondholders and trustees.

‘Our Board is fully committed to meeting Geregu’s financial obligations to its bondholders and trustees. I am pleased to confirm that payment has just been effected in line with our obligations,’ he said.

Yari assured bondholders and shareholders that the board would continue to take necessary measures to protect their interests while maintaining high standards of corporate governance.

The company also disclosed that it was working with relevant parties to resolve legacy administrative matters that predated the current board.

It said the issues would not affect its capacity to meet its bond obligations.

The Geregu chairman further reaffirmed the board’s support for the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly efforts to transform the power sector.

He said the company would continue to contribute to Nigeria’s power sector through reliable power generation.

Geregu Power said it would provide formal confirmation of the settlement upon completion of the payment process and continue to keep bondholders, trustees and other stakeholders informed of material developments.

The company added that it remained focused on sustainable and efficient power generation as part of its contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

As we count down to the 2027 general elections, the presidential campaigns have begun, in line with the elections timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Accordingly, I wish to reiterate my view on the hypocrisy of the elites, and how they have largely conbtributed to the current political, economic and social chanllenges of our country, and how the elites of this country should view and participate in governance in 2027 and beyond.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been taking some bold decisions and reforms in the past three years since the beginning of his administration. Those decisions have in many cases, further worsened the hitherto excruciating and brutal microeconomics and social situations of majority of Nigerians. For instance, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, as at two months ago, the number of multidimensionally poor Nigerians have increased to over 140million from the 133million as at the time President Tinubu became the President in May, 2023. Indeed the reforms have yielded some macroeconomic outcomes like the stabilization of foreign exchange. However, at the microeconomic level; the brutal and exacerbating national insecurity, increasing cost of living, rising employment, etc are yet to demonstrably and significantly reduce to bearable levels. This situation, have triggered regional, and national concerns, debates, and/ or controversies, as the government tries to defend, rationalize, justify, deny, and even somtimed push back (rightly, or wrongly).

Consequently, some of those decisions, or reforms have exposed the hypocrisy of the elites of this Country with regard to where they stand on germane issues that affect the masses or generality of the citizenry of Nigeria. In most cases, the hue and cries are louder or sustained, only if those decisions or reforms affect the elites, their families and friends. They are not really concerned or do not demonstrate the same level of emotions and sensitivities with regard to issues that only impact the masses of this country.

By ‘elites’, I mean, the middle-class citizens, who are mostly educated, gainfully employed, and part of the governance and leadership structure of Nigeria; in the civil service, public service, and private sector. We are mostly employees or employers of labor as professionals, traditional leaders, religious leaders, businessmen/women, entrepreneurs, academics, craftsmen, etc.

Except for a few, we, the elites have been serially failing the masses of this Country, by not really taking tangible actions that add value to our national collective good. Most of us remain aloof to our current national, and sub national realities. While some of us engage in ‘armchair ‘criticisms or cynicism’. The key questions are; What contributions and sacrifices are the Nigerian elites really making to better the political, economic, and social situation of our Country? What solutions are we offering, and/ or how are we part of the solutions? Curiously, when things affect our relatively comfortable lives, we try to gaslight the situations and behave as if ‘we are all in it together’ with the poor citizens.

Furthermore, during elections, about 80% of the people who go to vote, are the masses, i.e the poor people and the needy. Majority of the elites do not even turn up to vote during elections. We are not really part of actual political process, except if our selfish and parochial interests will be served, and yet we expect Nigeria to be better. Those are some of the things that I call the ‘hypocrisy of our expectations’.

When reforms or policies affect the masses, most of Nigerian elites do not really care, while some of them only engage in political statements, or play to the gallery. The elites are not persistent, and assertive on things that largely affect the masses. This behavior of the majority of Nigerian elites (which is similar to elitist behaviors in other societies and countries) has been the bane of our growth and development as a nation since independence – over 65 years ago. Sadly, majority of the elites that have been the architects and part of the problems that Nigeria and Nigerians are facing today; from our collusion in wanton corruption, to our deliberate or inadvertent contribution to the political, social, and economic retrogression of Nigeria – either by our actions or inaction.

An instance of some government decisions that further exposed the hypocrisy of the elites of this country was the allegations of ‘forced retrenchment’ of some staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which happened between 2024 and last year (2025) under the current its leadership. There were claims of attempts to force some staff of CBN that are from some sections of Nigeria, out of the CBN. The CBN insisted that the exercise was based on an initiative to downsize an over-bloated CBN. The CBN claimed that part of the initiative, was the offer of exit packages to ‘willing staff’ that will accept to voluntarily resign. There were also allegations that the CBN leadership was planning to the Headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from Abuja (Northern Nigeria) to Lagos.

There was a major push back by some elites against the actions of CBN, and the questions I was asking were; How many of the CBN staff are actually children of the 65% multi-dimensional Nationally poor Nigerians – whether they are from northern or southern Nigeria? How many of them are children of the masses? I even heard that in some cases the elites don’t want their children to be transferred out of the CBN Headquarters in Abuja. How many children of the masses are working in those ‘elitist’ federal government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies? Therefore, it is only in the aforementioned cases that you hear Nigerian elites shouting or crying out.

If the elites of the Nigeria, put the level of fervor, gusto, and determination that we use to pursue our individual and collective interests, to pursue good governance, fairness, equity, justice, unity, and demand for accountability; Nigeria would have been far ahead of its current situation, which is far behind its peers across the world, i.e Malaysia, Brazil, etc.

Moreover, Nigerian elites should apply the same sentiments, commitment, and gusto to ensure the performance of political leaders not just at federal level but also at sub-national levels- Nigeria. How are the elites are advocating for, or pushing the agenda for government at federal and subnational levels to deliver good governance, catalyse economic recovery, growth and development, etc? And yet we still expect that by some magic, Nigeria will suddenly recover from the current multidimensional challenges, and zoom to economic prosperity, and social justice! That is why I will continue to talk about the hypocrisy of our expectations.

The elites and conspiracy of

corruption:

Most Nigerian elites have been serially failing the people of this country, even worse than the politicians. And why am I saying so? Because, we constitute the powerhouse of governance in Nigeria; as Presidents, Governors, Federal ministers, Chairmen of Boards, or Managing Directors. Chief Executive Officers, Board members (in public and private sector), Permanent Secretaries, Commissioners, Directors, Businessmen, Businesswomen, Entrepreneurs, Academics, Professionals, Religious Leaders, Traditional Leaders, etc. We are all members of the ‘Elite’ strata of Nigeria, and have been privileged and so Blessed by Almighty God. It is sad, and an ultimate disservice, that most of us that have been privileged to be in those privileged positions (currently or in the past), are in cahoots with the vested interest to further plunder resources or cripple the economy of Nigeria. Most of us have become the key drivers of the corruption value chain in Nigeria. And yet we conveniently blame Presidents or governors or ‘politicians’ at our convenience. What level of shamelessness!

Interestingly, for every politician that commits graft, you will find more that 10 elites that enable, facilitate, and protect corruption. Sadly, most of those corrupt elites are so crafty, that most of the time, they escape justice. While most of the elites share money, political positions, or when some of them engage in corrupt practices; they do not have religious, tribal, ethnic, or regional sentiments. Indeed, Nigerian elites are mostly united in the conspiracy of corruption in all its ramifications.

The elites of Nigeria should stop being ‘happy passive consumers and looters of our commonwealth’. We should dutifully and conscientiously, deliver our respective responsibilities for a better Nigeria.

Traditional rulers from the South-West, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, are set to hold a security meeting with Yoruba nation activist and founder of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

The meeting is scheduled to hold in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday and will be hosted by the Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole.

According to a statement issued by Igboho’s media office, the meeting will focus on security in Yorubaland and measures to sustain peace and communal stability across the South-West.

The statement said monarchs from Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and parts of Kwara states are expected to attend the meeting.

It said the meeting would be presided over by Ogunwusi, who is Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC).

The stakeholders are expected to discuss ways of strengthening security across the region and improving cooperation between traditional institutions and local security initiatives such as the Iru Ekun Security Network.

The statement said particular attention would be given to protecting rural communities and strengthening the role of traditional rulers in local security, given their proximity to communities and their roles in preventing and resolving conflicts.

The organisers commended the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their support for the Iru Ekun Security Network.

They also pledged continued cooperation with security stakeholders to sustain peace and safety across the South-West.

The statement specifically commended the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.); Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; and heads of other paramilitary agencies for their efforts in combating insecurity and criminality.

Child rights experts and social workers have called for stronger action to curb the exploitation and abuse of children engaged in domestic work.

They warned that emerging forms of abuse require better-equipped protection systems and frontline responders.

The call was made on Tuesday at a capacity-building workshop organised by the CeCe Yara Child Advocacy Centre for frontline child protection professionals in Lagos.

The workshop, held at the LCCI Conference Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, focused on practical child welfare strategies, professional development and measures to improve the response to cases of child abuse and exploitation.

A gender justice and child protection expert, Mrs Alexis Sanya-Kawa, said continuous learning, mentorship and regular evaluation were essential for professionals working to protect children. Mrs Sanya-Kawa urged child rights practitioners to invest in their personal and professional development, noting that improved capacity would translate into better outcomes for vulnerable children.

She described Lagos State as proactive in its response to child abuse and other forms of violence, urging other states to replicate systems that have strengthened child protection efforts in the state.

‘Lagos State is very proactive in responding to issues of child abuse and other forms of violence against persons. I would like other state governments to replicate the systems that are in place within Lagos State,’ she said.

According to her, the establishment of special courts, forensic laboratories and other mechanisms had strengthened the state’s response to abuse, but more attention was needed to ensure effective implementation.

‘We have the special courts, we have the forensic lab, we have things that ensure that abuse is curbed. But what we need to do is ensure that we strengthen implementation,’ she added.

The founder of CeCe Yara, Mrs Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, said child abuse through exploitative domestic work was assuming new dimensions, requiring stronger interventions from government, communities and child protection professionals.

Ajayi-Kayode also warned that frontline workers handling abuse cases were vulnerable to burnout and vicarious trauma if they were not adequately equipped and supported.

‘We have child helpline counsellors, lawyers and case workers. If they are not well equipped and not well taken care of, they will burn out,’ she said.

She called on community members and victims to speak out against the abuse and exploitation of children, stressing the importance of early reporting and intervention.

Also a counsellor and mental health psychologist, Ms Gloria Joaquim, emphasised the importance of mental wellbeing among child protection professionals.

Joaquim led participants through sessions on wellness therapy and body movement healing, urging activists and social workers to prioritise self-care as part of effective professional practice.

‘Your mental wellbeing is very important. Respond with intentionality,’ she said.

She noted that effective stress management could improve decision-making among professionals who routinely deal with traumatic cases involving children.

Participants, including the Chief State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Public Defender, Mrs Azeezat Ajaga, pledged renewed commitment to strengthening the protection of vulnerable children.

The workshop was sponsored by The Freedom Fund with support from the United States Government and was designed to strengthen the capacity of child protection professionals to prevent abuse, respond to exploitation and support survivors.

WAPTV has reached another ground breaking milestone, as it will be the first TV channel in Nigeria, to broadcast the smash hit Indian Romantic Drama, Rajjo.

The move, according to an official statement from the channel, is an effort to ensure the TV channel maintains its apex position in ensuring premium programming for its millions of viewers worldwide, in the ever rising competitive world of broadcasting.

The show revolves around the trials and tests of an aspiring athlete Rajjo from Uttarakhand. Her mother, Manorama, has a dark past, and hence is against Rajjo’s dreams of turning an athlete.

Rajjo is a family drama, fully dubbed and subtitled in English Language.

Wale Adenuga Jnr, Director WAPTV, excitedly announced; ‘after years of painstakingly pursuing the broadcast license of the hit show: Rajjo, we were delighted when we acquired the rights, as the series is tailor-fitted to our core values at WAPTV, to provide wholesome family friendly entertainment, that will keep our audiences glued to their screens, both TV and Mobile.’ Rajjo will start showing from September 7 between Mondays and Fridays on the WAPTV channels.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Maryam Ibrahim Dan’ Azumi of Gombe State on her emergence as winner of the women’s category at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The President described the feat, which saw the Nigerian beat contestants from 132 other countries to win a 300,000 Saudi Riyal prize, equivalent to about N120 million, as a remarkable achievement that has brought immense honour to the country.

In a statement on Friday, President Tinubu said Maryam’s performance at the prestigious international competition demonstrated the excellence, discipline, dedication, and intellectual capacity of Nigerian youths.

Maryam competed in the highly competitive category covering memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation of all 60 Hizb with Tafsir.

The President said her victory was not merely a personal triumph but a source of national pride, noting that she had placed Nigeria prominently on the global stage through her mastery of the Holy Qur’an.

‘Maryam Ibrahim Dan Azumi’s victory in the highly competitive category covering memorisation of the entire Holy Qur’an, recitation, Tajweed and interpretation of all 60 Hizb with Tafsir is a remarkable achievement that has brought immense honour to Nigeria and further demonstrated the excellence, discipline, dedication and intellectual capacity of Nigerian youths.

‘She has made Nigeria proud. Her achievement in Makkah is a powerful testimony to what our young people can accomplish when talent is matched with discipline, faith, hard work and dedicated mentorship’, Tinubu said.

The President also recalled the achievement of Maryam’s elder sister, Hajara Ibrahim Dan Azumi, who emerged first in a similar Qur’anic competition in Jordan in 2024, describing both sisters as an inspiration to young Nigerians.

He particularly commended their parents, teachers and mentors, as well as others who contributed to their development, saying their accomplishments reflected the sacrifice and commitment required to attain an exceptional level of Qur’anic scholarship.

Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the organisers of the King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition and the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for providing an international platform for promoting excellence in Qur’anic memorisation, recitation, understanding and scholarship.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to initiatives aimed at nurturing the intellectual, moral and spiritual development of young Nigerians and creating opportunities for them to distinguish themselves at home and abroad.

‘On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I congratulate Maryam on this remarkable victory. May Almighty Allah continue to guide, protect and increase her in knowledge and wisdom, and may her achievement inspire many more young Nigerians to pursue excellence,’ he said.

Tinubu wished Maryam continued success in her Qur’anic scholarship and future endeavours.

The President and Founder of HerGame Foundation, Dr Pat Ajuma Ayegba, says she expects the 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Football Tournament to unearth a new generation of talented female footballers capable of progressing to the professional and international stage.

Ayegba, also a Board Member of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA), spoke ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on Friday, August 21, with six Area Councils competing for honours.

The competition, organised by the FCT FA, is designed to strengthen women’s football at the grassroots while giving young female players competitive exposure and a pathway into the professional game. Ayegba said the tournament has already proved its worth as a talent-discovery platform, pointing to promising players who emerged from last year’s edition.

‘We are hoping to see new talents. We are hoping to have new emerging professionals, international stars,’ she said. ‘I am excited because last year, we found some good talents from this particular tournament. We saw some newbies, and I want to see their progress this year. A lot more is expected.’

She commended the FCT FA for its preparation and support for the participating teams. ‘To be honest with you, FCT FA has come up, and they are doing well with the whole preparation,’ she said.

Ayegba also disclosed that HerGame Foundation contributed directly to last year’s competition, revealing she personally supported each participating team with ?120,000. ‘Last year personally, I supported the teams with ?120,000 each, of which I saw the FA taking it up from there. And this is a lot. This is a lot. The FA has supported us a lot to make this happen, so we are grateful,’ she said.

The 2026 tournament will feature all six FCT Area Councils, split into two groups. Bwari, Gwagwalada and AMAC make up Group A, while Abaji, Kuje and Kwali form Group B. The group stage will be played on a home-and-away basis, with the semi-finals set for September 2 and the final on September 5.

Ayegba confirmed that Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, will attend the opening ceremony, describing her as a strong supporter of women’s football and girl-child development whose backing could help create further opportunities for young girls through the sport. Ayegba said her visit to the FCC chairman was aimed at building a stronger partnership around women’s football development, and she was pleased with Omidiran’s response.

‘She has done so much for us. To whom honour is due, honour should be given. I came here today to see her in person, and she is actually a jolly good fellow,’ Ayegba said. ‘She is more than what I have heard of-a true supporter, one who has heart for the game of football, like myself. Like I have heard, I saw it myself today.’

With the opening ceremony set for Friday, Ayegba believes the tournament can be more than a contest for Area Council bragging rights, serving instead as a scouting ground for players who go on to represent the FCT, professional clubs and the national teams.

Actors from the Yoruba film industry held a special prayer session for veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, as he continues to battle health challenges.

In a video circulating on social media on Friday, several prominent Yoruba film stars gathered to pray for Allah’s mercy, divine intervention, strength and complete healing for the actor.

Those present included Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun (aka Madam Saje), Yinka Quadri, Rotimi Salami, Mr Latin, Adewale Elesho and Antar Laniyan.

The prayer session comes amid growing concern over Ogogo’s health.

His family and colleagues have urged Nigerians to keep praying for him.

Earlier this week, Kosoko appealed to fans and well-wishers to continue praying for Ogogo.

In a statement on his Instagram page on Wednesday, he also explained why the actor could not be moved to another facility despite offers of spiritual and medical help, citing his current medical condition.

The appeal followed an emotional request from Ogogo’s daughters, who sought medical assistance for their father amid reports that he is battling stage-four cancer.

The veteran’s condition has triggered an outpouring of support from across the Nigerian entertainment industry, with colleagues asking the public to keep him in their prayers.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies to ensure policy stability, faster approvals and predictable regulations to attract more investment into the oil and gas sector.

PENGASSAN also urged the government to submit recent executive orders on the petroleum industry to the National Assembly as an executive bill seeking amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that the process should be transparent and involve all stakeholders.

The union made the demands in a communiqué signed by PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, and its General Secretary, Comrade Jerry Amah, at the end of its three-day 5th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja, from August 19 to 21, 2026.

The summit, with the theme, ‘Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks as a Catalyst for Stability and Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry,’ brought together government representatives, regulators, oil and gas companies, investors, organised labour, industry professionals and other stakeholders.

The association said Nigeria needed a stable and competitive fiscal and regulatory environment to attract the long-term capital required to develop its oil and gas resources.

It urged the government and regulatory institutions to minimise abrupt policy changes and ensure adequate consultation with stakeholders before introducing major changes in the industry.

PENGASSAN also called for improved coordination among regulatory and government agencies to eliminate overlapping mandates, repetitive approvals and conflicting directives which, it said, increased the cost of doing business and weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness for global energy capital.

The union said regulation should protect national interests, workers, host communities, investors, safety and the environment while enabling legitimate businesses to operate efficiently.

It urged regulators to embrace digitalisation, set clear approval timelines, and adopt transparent processes, arguing that regulatory effectiveness should be measured by its impact on investment, production, revenue generation, worker protection, and national value creation.

On investment and production, PENGASSAN said Nigeria could not rely solely on its large hydrocarbon reserves to attract investors, noting that the country was competing with other oil-producing jurisdictions for limited global capital.

It therefore urged the government to consolidate recent reforms and incentives that had encouraged fresh investments and Final Investment Decisions in the sector.

The association also identified gas as a key driver of industrialisation, noting that Nigeria had more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves but had yet to fully convert the resource into reliable energy and economic growth.

It called for an integrated national gas development strategy covering upstream supply, processing, pipelines, storage, LNG, LPG and CNG infrastructure.

PENGASSAN further urged the government to accelerate the use of gas for electricity generation, manufacturing, transportation, fertiliser, petrochemicals and domestic cooking, while reducing routine gas flaring and methane emissions.

The union also called for sustained policies and investments to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

It stressed the need to protect refineries operating within Nigeria, including the Dangote and Waltersmith refineries, saying greater domestic refining and processing would create jobs, conserve foreign exchange and promote industrial development.

On labour issues, PENGASSAN said capital and labour were complementary rather than competing interests, stressing that sustainable investment required skilled, motivated and fairly treated workers.

It called for stronger protection of jobs, accrued benefits, pensions, collective bargaining agreements and other established workers’ rights, particularly during mergers, acquisitions, divestments and asset transfers.

The association also warned that increased production must not come at the expense of workers’ lives and well-being, insisting that occupational health and safety remain non-negotiable.

On Nigerian content, the union called for a shift from procurement targets to developing Nigerian companies and professionals capable of competing globally on competence, quality, governance, and cost.

It also demanded stronger enforcement of expatriate quota requirements to ensure that foreign expertise was deployed only where genuine skills gaps existed and accompanied by measurable knowledge transfer and succession plans for qualified Nigerians.

PENGASSAN urged the government to sustain collaboration with security agencies, operators and host communities to consolidate recent gains in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

It also called for effective implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust framework under the PIA, saying host communities must become genuine partners in petroleum development.

The association said Nigeria’s major challenge was no longer a lack of resources, laws, institutions or human capacity but the failure to translate them into bankable projects and measurable outcomes.

It therefore called for stronger execution discipline, measurable targets, clearly assigned responsibilities and transparent monitoring of commitments.

The union said, ‘Policies must translate into implementation; resources into projects; projects into production; production into value; and investment into sustainable jobs and national prosperity.’

PENGASSAN called for deeper collaboration among the Federal Government, regulators, NNPC Limited, operators, investors, organised labour and host communities to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate investment and production.