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Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged the United Nations (UN) to institutionalise the protection of the world’s deltas, including Nigeria’s Niger Delta, through a convention.

Governor Diri identified the increasing threats from erosion, pollution, flooding as well as shrinking salt marshes and mangroves to the world’s 25 deltas as a global problem that required international cooperation to find solutions and prevent the extinction of the deltas and their capacity for sustainable livelihood and economic development.

Diri’s spokesman, Mr Daniel Alabrah, in a statement on Monday, quoted him as saying this during the opening of a three-day ‘4th Mega Delta Meeting: International Conference on Dialogue Between Land and Sea’ in Shanghai, China.

He cited the report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission titled: ‘An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria’ as detailing what happens when ecosystems are exploited without accountability.

He also said it was a reminder that environmental resilience must begin with justice.

Diri averred that the global body must take responsibility and urgent action to prevent the ongoing depletion of the river deltas.

He said: ‘These deltas feed nations, anchor economies, and nurture biodiversity. Yet, they face rising seas, land subsidence, and dwindling sediment flows. From the Yangtze River (in China) to the Mekong River (in Southeast Asia; from the Danube (in Europe) to the Niger Delta, the pattern is the same. The deltas that sustain us are under threat.

‘If deltas connect rivers to the oceans, then this conference must connect knowledge to action. That is why Bayelsa State, with the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, has been leading the call for a United Nations Convention on the Conservation of River Deltas (UNCCRD)’

Urging stakeholders at the conference to point the way forward by making a declaration of intent, he said the proposed convention would protect deltas as unique and fragile ecosystems, restore degraded wetlands and empower local livelihoods as well as mobilise global science and finance for sustainability and adaptation.

Vigilantes have arrested two scavengers, identified as Naziru Bala and Shuaibu Lawal, over the theft of transformer cables in the Kango community in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

A member of the vigilante group, Joshua Isaac, said the suspects were arrested in the early hours of Monday, around 4:13 am, during a patrol in the area.

He said the suspects allegedly vandalized one of the community’s transformers and hid the stolen cables inside a sack.

Isaac explained that the suspects took advantage of a blackout in the community, went behind the transformer, and used a cutter to sever the connected cables.

According to him, after cutting the cables, the suspects went and hid them inside an uncompleted building in the community.

He said vigilantes on patrol sighted them with a big sack from where the cables were found.

‘In fact, upon sighting the vigilantes, one of them attempted to escape until one of the vigilantes pulled the trigger as if he wanted to shoot before he stopped. And in the process of checking the content of the sack, electric cables were discovered,’ he said.

Isaac added that the suspects later led the vigilantes to their residence in the neighboring Kuchiakwo area, where some other cables were also recovered.

The vigilante member confirmed that the two suspects confessed to stealing the cables and were later handed over along with the cables to security operatives in Kuje.

A police source at the Kuje division, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the arrest of the two scavengers for the theft of transformer cables saying would be handed over to the FCT Police Command after the conclusion of the investigation.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the party’s Cross River State chapter have disagreed over the suspension of the National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr Usani Uguru Usani, over alleged misconduct.

Reports emerged on Monday that the Cross River State Working Committee (SWC) suspended Dr Usani after a meeting held on October 15.

Reacting to the development, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told Daily Trust that the state chapter had no constitutional authority to suspend any member of the party’s NWC.

‘No, the state does not have the power to suspend any NWC member. What they did is unconstitutional, and the party will address the issue accordingly,’ Abdullahi said.

However, in a statement signed by Hon. James Otudor, the Cross River State Publicity Secretary, the state chapter insisted that Dr Usani’s recent conduct was inconsistent with the ADC constitution. The SWC said it deliberated extensively on several petitions accusing him of anti-party activities, insubordination, and acts capable of undermining the party’s image and cohesion before deciding on the suspension.

‘In accordance with the party’s constitution and disciplinary procedures, Dr Usani’s suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of a formal investigation by the relevant party organs,’ the statement said.

Efforts to reach Dr Usani for comments were unsuccessful at press time.

Meanwhile, the Cross River ADC also raised concerns over the failure of some opposition coalition leaders to register formally with the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. It gave them until Saturday, October 25, to regularise their membership or risk exclusion.

The statement noted that several coalition leaders who had attended ADC strategy meetings had since accepted leadership roles in their former political parties.

While the party did not mention any individual by name, a former governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke, is among the leaders of the coalition that adopted the ADC, though it remains unclear whether he has formally registered as a member of the party.

‘The ADC will not tolerate dual membership or allow its platform to be used by individuals pursuing multiple partisan interests,’ the statement warned.

The SWC further called on the national leadership to review the appointment of Ms Jackie Wayas as Deputy National Publicity Secretary, saying her appointment was made without adequate consultation.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned the federal government against using the reports of an alleged coup plot as a pretext to clamp down on opposition leaders or subject dissenting voices to unlawful surveillance.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it views any threat to Nigeria’s democratic order with the utmost seriousness.

However, it warned that the government must not exploit the situation to instil fear, suppress dissent, or seek political advantage under the guise of national security.

The ADC said it has been closely following reports linking some arrested military officers to a purported coup plot and subsequent media claims that a former southern governor is being investigated for allegedly funding the suspects.

‘While we vehemently oppose any effort to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order, we are equally concerned about the potential misuse of such allegations to justify political witch-hunts, suppress dissent, or manipulate public sentiment,’ the statement said.

The party also expressed worry over ‘conflicting signals’ from government sources, noting that the Defence Headquarters had publicly denied ever mentioning a coup plot despite widespread media reports suggesting otherwise. ‘Such inconsistency raises serious fears that the coup narrative may have been politically engineered,’ it added.

The ADC faulted the government’s silence on the matter, describing it as a deliberate attempt to allow the story to fester. It is alleged that the administration might be exploiting the narrative to divert public attention from issues of misgovernance and to gain sympathy.

‘What is clear, however, is that the government is using the coup story to distract from pressing national challenges and create a pretext to clamp down on opposition figures or place them under surveillance,’ the statement continued.

The party urged the Federal Government to immediately clarify the true nature of the alleged coup. ‘The government has a duty to decisively quash the swirling rumour. Conversely, if there is indeed any such threat to national security, it must be transparent about it and brief the nation accordingly,’ Abdullahi stated.

He emphasised that national security should never be weaponised to silence opposition voices or legitimate political dissent.

‘The ADC remains resolute in its opposition to dictatorship of any form-whether military or civilian. We support any lawful measures taken to defend the constitution and democracy, but we reject any ploy to intimidate citizens under the guise of national security,’ the statement said.

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 28 suspected oil thieves, deactivated four illegal refining sites, and seized over 290,000 litres of stolen products across states in the Niger Delta region.

The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said in a statement on Monday in Port Harcourt that the arrests were made in conjunction with other security agencies.

He noted that the collaboration consolidates the Army’s efforts in the ongoing Anti-Crude Oil Theft operations in the Niger Delta Region.

He said the operations, which were conducted between October 6 and 19, 2025, resulted in the arrest of the 28 suspected oil thieves after the troops acted on credible intelligence regarding the activities of oil thieves.

He detailed the successful operations: ‘Several operations were conducted across Rivers State with tremendous successes recorded. At Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area (LGA), two wooden boats were intercepted while loading Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from a vessel offloading the product at a jetty.

”Additionally, two boats were intercepted at Okrika, with one loaded with over 33,000 litres of stolen products at a jetty in Okrika. Relatedly, another wooden boat loaded with over 5,000 litres of stolen products was also intercepted in the area.

‘In a related development, following a tip-off on illegal oil bunkering activities around a pipeline after Sterling Global Company Road, Akpabo, at Elele Alimini in Emohua LGA, troops swung into action and impounded a tanker with registration number Rivers JJN 287 ZU coming out of the pipeline right of way. The vehicle was suspected to have loaded about 90,000 litres of stolen products from the site. Two suspects, the driver and his motor boy, were taken into custody.

‘Also, at Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, over 2,600 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered.

‘Along Imo River, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites and seized three drum pots, three receivers, and over 2,500 litres of stolen crude around Obuzor, Asa Asa in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State. At Orashi River waterside, two wooden boats were intercepted with over 700 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) recovered. Six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.”

Equities portfolios surged by approximately N613 billion on Monday, as Nigerian Exchange (NGX) market capitalisation hit N95 trillion.

Our correspondent reports that the market opened the week on a positive note, as key performance indicators appreciated by 65 basis points, and year to date return expanded to 45% mark.

Investors’ sentiment remained upbeat, while the market patiently awaited the release of the company’s third quarter of 2025 earnings results.

The market index or All-Share Index increased by 965.63 basis points in today’s trading session, reflecting a 0.65% growth to close at a fresh all-time high of 149,943.27.

The market cap gained N612.90 billion, representing a growth of 0.65%, soaring to N95.17 trillion.

However, market activities were mixed as the total volume of all trades dropped by -14.94%, while the total value of all transactions conducted increased by +60.09%.

In terms of volume, FIDELITYBK led the activity chart, accounting for 11.99% of the total volume of all trades executed in the market, followed by ACCESSCORP (10.28%), CHAMS (4.90%), NB (4.34%), and JAPAULGOLD (3.92%), rounding out the top five.

GEREGU emerged as the most traded stock in terms of value, accounting for 34.50% of the total value of trade on the exchange.

UNIONDICON topped the advancers’ chart for today with a price appreciation of 10.00 percent, trailed by EUNISELL (+9.92%), SOVRENINS (+6.44%), BUACEMENT (+6.25%), ENAMELWA (+6.01%), UACN (+5.19%) and twenty-four others.

Thirty-three stocks depreciated in the local bourse due to investors’ sell-offs. JULI was the top loser, with a price depreciation of -9.94%, trailed by DAARCOMM (-7.14%), CONOIL (-4.07%), VERITASKAP (-3.23%), CADBURY (-2.90%), and WEMBANK (-1.84%).

Despite the heated up demand for value stocks, the market breadth closed negatively, recording 30 gainers and 33 losers. On the other hand, sectoral performance was positive.

The industrial sector appreciated by 2.34%, followed by the Oil and Gas sector with an increase of +0.65%; the banking sector rose by +0.48%, and the consumer goods sector gained +0.08%. The insurance sector dropped by (-0.70%).

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced plans for the construction of a new auditorium at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari Campus, to accommodate the growing number of students seeking admission into the institution.

The minister made the announcement on Monday during the official flag-off ceremony for the construction of over 600-bed hostels for male and female students at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja.

According to the minister, the decision to build an additional auditorium followed discussions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who approved the project after learning of the current facility’s limitations.

‘When I discussed with my son, who was recently called to the bar, he told me that even with the new hostels, the existing auditorium may not take all the students. I raised this with Mr. President last night, and he directed that another auditorium should be built for the Nigerian Law School,’ Wike said.

He described the gesture as part of President Tinubu’s ongoing commitment to improving legal education in Nigeria, noting that the administration has already undertaken several projects within the institution through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

‘This is leadership at work. In just two years, Mr. President has intervened twice in the affairs of the Nigerian Law School. Each visit has brought tangible development, from staff quarters to student hostels and now, the forthcoming auditorium,’ Wike said.

The minister emphasized that the hostel project, comprising 316 spaces each for male and female students, fulfills a promise made by President Tinubu in December 2024 to address the school’s acute accommodation shortage.

‘When there is good leadership, there is nothing difficult in achieving results. We will ensure this project is completed within 12 months without variation,’ Wike assured.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the School, Prof. Chiroma, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Attorney-General, and the FCT Minister for their sustained support, noting that the new hostels will significantly ease the accommodation challenges faced by students.

Governor Dauda Lawal has said insecurity in Zamfara State has reduced significantly compared to previous years, with the fear of bandits ‘crippled’ across most parts of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday, October 20, by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, after the 18th State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House, Gusau.

The governor, in his opening remarks, said his administration had made ‘significant progress’ in restoring relative calm and peace across communities that were once under siege by criminal elements.

‘We have made significant progress and succeeded in restoring relative calm to most areas of the state. The terror of bandits has been crippled, unlike in previous years,’ Lawal said.

He reminded council members that combating insecurity remained a collective responsibility and urged them to remain proactive and accessible to their constituents to sustain the gains already recorded.

‘I urge you all to be proactive, stay accessible to your constituents and elected local government officials, and consistently provide status reports to the Hon. Commissioner for Security. Let us pray for the souls of all our fallen heroes,’ the governor added.

According to Idris, the meeting also discussed key areas of governance, including security, education, health, and infrastructural development.

Governor Lawal further charged members of the council to strengthen collaboration and synergy with other political appointees and elected officials to ensure effective governance and service delivery across the state.

In a shocking confession, a gang of robbery suspects arrested in connection with a string of bus robberies in Lagos have revealed the tactics they employed to carry out their crimes.

According to the suspects, who spoke to investigators at the Lagos State Police Command, they targeted commercial buses plying busy routes during peak hours by pretending to be stranded passengers.

Taiwo Alabi, 42, while narrating the gang’s operation to the police, said they would board the buses at designated stops, pretending to be ordinary passengers, before striking at unsuspecting victims.

‘We would often target passengers who appeared affluent or were carrying large amounts of cash,’ one of the suspects confessed.

‘We also preyed on passengers who were distracted or asleep, making it easier for us to steal their belongings,’ Taiwo alleged.

The suspects, whose names were given as Taiwo Alabi (42), Ogedengbe Lowis (46), Ighodalo Enato Francis (37), and Osaro Eghe Abiodun (34), explained that they worked in groups of three to five, with each member playing a specific role.

‘One member would create a diversion, while another would snatch valuables from passengers. The third member would serve as a lookout, alerting the others to any potential threats,’ Taiwo explained. The suspects also revealed that they used various tactics to evade detection, including changing their appearances and using different modes of transportation to escape.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest, saying that the operation was a major breakthrough in the command’s ongoing fight against violent crimes in the state.

Adebisi disclosed that detectives and crack operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s Tactical Squads successfully smashed the notorious and vicious armed robbery and car-snatching gang after weeks of discrete investigation.

The spokesperson stated that the gang is responsible for a series of violent attacks on vehicle owners.

‘The suspects specialized in entering vehicles as passengers and, while in transit, dispossessing the owners of their vehicles at gunpoint,” the police spokesman said.

The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has described the Dangote Refinery and other Modular Refineries as assets of strategic national interest.

The Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, who made the declaration in Abuja, said against this backdrop, all stakeholders must unite towards protecting, projecting and promoting these critical national assets.

Ugochinyere said with the operations of these home based plants, the country now proudly boasts of expanding refining capacity and industrial growth across the energy value chain.

He noted that the Dangote Refinery, at 650,000 barrels per day, now stands as Africa’s largest, redefining our refining landscape and boosting regional energy stability.

According to the lawmaker, Indorama Petrochemicals, expanded its urea and fertilizer capacity to 2.8 million metric tonnes per annum, advancing agriculture and gas utilisation.

Ugochinyere also noted that Waltersmith Modular Refinery in Imo State is expanding from 5,000 to 50,000 barrels per day, showing the promise of indigenous enterprise while OPAC Refinery in Delta, and similar projects in Edo and Rivers, continue to advance.

He stressed that these developments, supported by over $13 billion in new upstream investments in 2024 alone, are clear signals of renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector.

‘The Dangote Refinery and these other modular refineries are assets of strategic national interest. With their giant strides, Nigeria proudly boasts of expanding refining capacity and industrial growth across the energy value chain today.

‘These developments, supported by over $13 billion in new upstream investments in 2024 alone, are clear signals of renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector. Consequently, we must protect, project and promote these plants and encourage others to spring up in the interest of the country,’ he noted.

Ugochinyere commended the recent policy actions of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) to enforce the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DCSO) on all producers in Nigeria.

‘This bold move ensures that local refineries, including modular and conventional operators have guaranteed access to crude feedstock before export allocations are made. It represents a decisive shift from policy rhetoric to practical support for local value addition, job creation, and energy independence.

‘By ensuring that every barrel of Nigerian crude first serves the Nigerian refinery, the NUPRC has sent a strong signal: Nigeria will refine what it produces and consume what it refines.

‘The House Committee on Downstream Petroleum Resources fully supports this policy, which aligns with our legislative vision to prioritize domestic refining capacity, enhance supply security, and strengthen the naira through reduced import dependence,’ he said.

The committee’s chairman assured the industry players of the panel’s commitment to making the necessary legislative interventions to amongst others grant local refineries first right of refusal on crude allocations and streamline regulations to remove all unnecessary delays.

‘We still face challenges, from feedstock shortages and pricing uncertainty to regulatory overlaps. To address these, the House Committee on petroleum resources (downstream) intends to pursue new legislative measures to:

‘Grant local refineries first right of refusal on crude allocations.

‘Streamline regulations to remove all unnecessary delays.

‘Assist the House to Develop a Refinery Protection and Promotion Bill to classify refineries as strategic national assets, ensuring they receive priority protection and support.

‘Introduce measures that guarantee unhindered access to crude feedstock and promote non-disruption of refinery operations across the country.’

‘These steps are vital to sustaining investor confidence, creating jobs, and strengthening our energy independence. On labour issues, it must be noted that no reform can succeed without industrial harmony.

‘The Committee is aware of the recent labour concerns involving Dangote Refinery and sector unions. While such issues are not uncommon in developing economies, they must never be allowed to undermine productivity or national stability.

‘We therefore call upon both labour unions and industry operators to always pursue dialogue over disruptions at all times. The House Committee stands ready to facilitate peace, fairness, and mutual respect in all industrial engagements.

‘Our shared goal must be to protect jobs, sustain businesses, and promote Nigeria’s economic sovereignty. To all operators in the downstream sector, let me emphasize that responsibility stands equal to profitability,’ he added.