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Nigeria has joined the World Energy Council’s global network with a newly constituted National Member Committee and Governing Board, opening a renewed chapter in the country’s long standing relationship with the Council.

World Energy Council Nigeria will provide an independent, impartial and technology-neutral platform bringing together government, industry, finance, academia and civil society to advance practical responses to Nigeria’s Energy Trilemma: energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability.

The Governing Board is chaired by Mr Abdulrazaq Isa, Co-founder and Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited and a leading advocate for indigenous energy development.

Mr. Bala Wunti, a seasoned energy executive with more than three decades of experience across the oil and gas value chain and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Limited, serves as inaugural Chief Executive Officer.

Other members of the Board are Professor Wumi Iledare, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Mrs. Aisha Farida Katagum, Dr Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune, Dr Emmanuel Okon, Dr Victor Ekpenyong and Dr Imamuddeen Talba.

Together, the Board brings extensive experience across energy policy, operations, investment, regulation, technology, research and enterprise development, reflecting the breadth of Nigeria’s energy ecosystem.

Welcoming the Nigerian Member Committee, Dr Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the World Energy Council, said: ‘Nigeria has a significant leadership role, and the Member Committee will help bring that expertise and voice onto the world stage at the Riyadh World Energy Congress in April 2027 and beyond.’

Nigeria’s return comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.

Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Mr Abdulrazaq Isa, said: ‘Nigeria’s return marks more than renewed participation; it creates a platform for stronger national and African leadership within the global energy community. We will work across sectors to advance solutions grounded in our realities, responsive to our development priorities and capable of attracting sustainable investment.’

On his part, Wunti said Nigeria must build an energy system that is secure, affordable, sustainable and capable of powering shared prosperity.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismantled an alleged transnational human trafficking and fraudulent recruitment syndicate operating in Lagos State and arrested 12 foreigners linked to the operation.

NIS public relations officer, DCI AS Akinlabi, in a statement, said the arrest followed actionable intelligence on trafficking syndicates operating in the state.

The statement said the syndicate allegedly lured foreign nationals into Nigeria with false promises of employment and business opportunities under the guise of the QNET/IGNITE network.

NIS identified the alleged syndicate leader as Ouattra Adama, a Burkinabe national.

He was arrested alongside 11 suspected accomplices, comprising eight Liberians and three Cameroonians.

The service said two victims were also rescued in the process.

The statement said the 12 suspects and the two victims have been transferred to the Service Headquarters for further investigation and necessary legal action.

The immigration service described the QNET/IGNITE network as a transnational organised crime syndicate allegedly involved in fraudulent employment and business schemes used to facilitate irregular migration.

According to the service, the group’s activities extend beyond Nigeria, with investigations indicating links to a wider cross-border criminal network.

The NIS urged members of the public to exercise caution and verify offers of employment, education, business opportunities and migration through appropriate government channels before making financial commitments or embarking on international travel.

‘The arrest of the syndicate leader and other facilitators demonstrates the Nigeria Immigration Service’s commitment to intelligence-driven border management,’ the statement added.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery delivered over 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel to Europe in July.

Disclosing this in its latest data, a global commodities intelligence firm Kpler, said shipment accounted for about 20% of the continent’s total jet fuel imports for the month.

The development comes on the heels of a record 466,000 tonnes exported to Europe in June – the month Nigeria first overtook the United States as Europe’s leading supplier of imported aviation fuel.

According to the firm, the back-to-back performance signals a major milestone for the refinery, proving it can consistently meet the stringent quality standards of one of the world’s most demanding fuel markets.

Europe imported approximately 2.06 million tonnes of jet fuel in July, with Dangote accounting for the single largest share of those imports, ahead of traditional suppliers from the United States and the Middle East.

Industry observers say the refinery is rapidly reshaping established Atlantic Basin fuel trade flows by offering a competitive alternative to long standing suppliers. While European buyers have traditionally relied on refiners in the United States, the Middle East and Asia, Dangote’s strategic location on Nigeria’s Atlantic coast, combined with its scale, modern technology and export capability, has enabled it to become an increasingly important source of aviation fuel for European markets.

The refinery’s export momentum has been supported by steadily rising production. Jet fuel loadings at Dangote’s Lekki export terminal reached a record 550,000 tonnes in June, while crude deliveries to the refinery climbed to an all time high of 660,000 barrels per day, providing the throughput required to sustain growing exports of refined petroleum products to international markets.

The company said the latest figures come at a time of shifting global energy flows.

Although Europe received limited volumes of jet fuel from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman in July, market disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and evolving geopolitical dynamics have encouraged buyers to diversify supply sources. Against this backdrop,

Dangote Refinery has emerged as a reliable and competitive supplier, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing importance in global refined products trade against this backdrop.

David Bird, MD/CEO, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, noted that: ‘Beyond aviation fuel, the refinery has continued to expand exports of diesel, gasoline and other refined petroleum products to destinations across Europe, Africa and other international markets, further strengthening Nigeria’s position as a net exporter of high value petroleum products.’

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining monetary and financial system stability, controlling inflation and ensuring price stability in line with its statutory mandate.

The assurance was given on Thursday in Bauchi by the Acting Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, during a one-day stakeholders’ fair organised to promote financial inclusion, enhance public awareness of the Bank’s operations and obtain feedback on its policies and services.

According to a statement by the bank, Sidi-Ali was represented by the CBN Branch Controller in Bauchi, Michael Dalyop, who assured that the Bank remained focused on achieving sustainable economic growth through sound monetary policies.

She described the stakeholders’ fair as one of the apex bank’s strategic initiatives aimed at improving the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians through enhanced financial literacy and increased access to alternative payment channels.

According to her, Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose above $52.5 billion as of July 17, 2026, representing a 17-year high and surpassing the CBN’s annual target.

She attributed the increase to sustained foreign exchange inflows, renewed investor confidence and stronger participation across various asset classes, adding that the ongoing economic reforms were restoring stability to the country’s financial system.

‘The reforms introduced under the current leadership are beginning to yield measurable results, including improved macroeconomic stability, easing inflation and stronger confidence in the foreign exchange market,’ she said.

Sidi Ali noted that headline inflation declined marginally from 15.93 per cent in May to 15.91 per cent in June 2026, while food and core inflation also moderated, attributing the trend to disciplined monetary tightening, exchange rate unification and improved market transparency.

She added that the naira had continued to strengthen, with the gap between the official exchange rate and Bureau de Change rates narrowing to below two per cent, describing it as evidence of improved stability in the foreign exchange market.

He said the Bank had implemented several reforms over the past 34 months to lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

According to her, the reforms include the unification and greater transparency of the foreign exchange market, banking sector recapitalisation, introduction of the non-resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN), the B-Match foreign exchange trading system and the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028.

She also highlighted the introduction of a 75 per cent Cash Reserve Ratio on non-Treasury Single Account public sector deposits to improve liquidity management and reduce inflationary pressures.

In addition, Sidi Ali said the CBN collaborated with the Financial Markets Dealers Association to introduce the Nigerian Overnight Financing Rate as a transparent, market-based benchmark for short-term funding transactions in line with international best practices.

Speaking on the theme of the stakeholders’ fair, she said the initiative was designed to promote alternative payment channels, deepen financial inclusion and strengthen engagement between the apex bank and the public.

‘The Fair is one of the Bank’s platforms strategically designed to engage the public on the Bank’s policies and initiatives,’ she said.

She encouraged participants to actively engage with officials and seek clarification on issues relating to financial consumer protection, innovations in Nigeria’s payment system, microfinance, monetary policy and currency management.

The CBN also used the event to reiterate its warning against the abuse and misuse of the naira, urging Nigerians to obtain information on its policies only from verified official platforms.

‘I also urge you to uphold the cleanliness and respect of the naira. It is prohibited to spray, hawk, mutilate or counterfeit the naira,’ she said, describing the national currency as ‘an indispensable national symbol and a source of our collective pride.’

Earlier, the CBN Branch Controller, Michael Dalyop, represented by Assistant Director Salahu Bello Mohammed, said the Bank’s Strategy 2024-2028 was designed to ensure monetary, price and financial system stability as a catalyst for inclusive growth and sustainable economic development.

He explained that the Bank’s policies were aimed at empowering individuals, small businesses and larger enterprises to access financial services, undertake productive activities and contribute to national economic growth.

The dangerous practice of travelling on top of trailers from the southern part of the country to the North and vice versa is becoming a fast-growing habit among some carefree Nigerians, many of whom are young people. Such persons are frequently seen sitting on trailers fully loaded with cattle or other goods as they travel to either the North or the South. This practice has resulted in the loss of many young lives.

Notably, most of those who engage in this practice are cattle sellers, commercial okada riders, or operators of various petty businesses who travel to the South to carry out their activities. Apparently, the desire to reduce the financial cost of such journeys drives them to recklessly use trailers as a means of transportation.

It is clear that those who, for instance, travel from Sokoto to Port Harcourt and vice versa on top of trailers expose themselves to grave danger. Their continued indulgence in such reckless behaviour demonstrates the extent to which many ordinary Nigerians have, regrettably, continued to undervalue their own lives.

Furthermore, the persistence of this dangerous practice indicates both a tendency among such travellers to violate existing transportation laws and the failure of relevant authorities and operators within the transport sector to enforce those laws. It is the combination of passengers’ recklessness, the greed of trailer drivers, and the complicity of some officials of traffic regulatory agencies that has allowed this hazardous practice to persist.

Daily Trust not only condemns this practice but also calls for the immediate adoption of effective measures to bring it to an end. Public sensitisation and strict enforcement of transportation regulations are undoubtedly necessary steps in this regard.

We, therefore, urge relevant government agencies, as well as transport associations and unions, to consider this unwanted practice as a challenge that requires urgent and sustained attention. Concerted efforts by these agencies and organisations will certainly help to eliminate this ugly trend.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in particular, as the agency mandated to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and ascertain the roadworthiness of vehicles, should regard the widespread use of trailers for passenger journeys as a serious challenge requiring immediate action. Few violations of transportation laws demonstrate as clearly the failure of enforcement as the continued sighting of passengers on top of trailers.

Similarly, organisations such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) must ensure that their members comply with the laws guiding transportation. Restoring sanity to our roads and, by extension, the transport sector, can only be achieved if these bodies play their roles effectively.

Another important way to facilitate the movement of persons, cattle, and goods is the expansion of the rail transport system, which remains too limited to meet the country’s critical economic needs. The absence of an efficient and extensive rail network has made the use of trailers and other heavy vehicles for transporting cattle and goods an attractive option.

This newspaper recognises the immense benefits of a functional railway system to the national economy and, therefore, calls for the rapid transformation of the existing network to meet the demands of a modern Nigeria. Rail transport is arguably the most suitable means for hauling cattle and heavy goods because of its capacity to accommodate large volumes.

The safety and convenience provided by rail transport make it highly suitable for the movement of cattle. Significant financial costs, security challenges, and other risks associated with long journeys can be reduced if trains become the preferred means of transporting animals and heavy goods.

Meanwhile, even before the rail system is adequately upgraded, travelling on top of trailers must be completely banned. The FRSC should collaborate with all relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure that this dangerous practice comes to an immediate end.