Category: Nigerian Tribune

National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party has dismissed Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s claim that the party is ‘dead,’ insisting instead that it is growing stronger and expanding its national support base ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued late Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the PDP said recent political developments showed that the party was attracting influential figures and consolidating its position across the country.

Akpabio had made the remark in Abuja during the inauguration of projects executed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he described the PDP as a ‘dead’ political party and urged Wike to ‘allow what is dead to remain dead.’

Responding, the PDP argued that the ruling All Progressives Congress could not celebrate projects delivered by a minister it described as being ‘on political loan’ from the PDP while simultaneously declaring the opposition party irrelevant.

‘The growing momentum around our great party is visible and undeniable,’ the statement read.

The party cited what it described as the decision of Iyabo Obasanjo to identify with the PDP, the entry of Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami into the party, its victory in the Adamawa State local government elections, its success in the Rivers State Senate bye-election, and the influx of political leaders from Katsina, Jigawa, Imo, Oyo, and other states as evidence of its growing strength.

According to the PDP, ‘These developments stand in sharp contrast to the claim by the President of the Senate… that the PDP is ‘dead.”

The opposition party further argued that Wike’s performance in the Federal Capital Territory demonstrated the calibre of leaders the PDP had produced over the years.

‘A proud PDP member remains the most outstanding and best-performing minister in this administration. If anything, the occasion was a celebration of the competence, capacity and leadership that the PDP has consistently produced over the years,’ the statement said.

The party added that the APC’s comments reflected growing anxiety over the PDP’s rebuilding efforts and increasing public support.

‘We understand the anxiety within the ruling party over the growing momentum of the PDP as it consolidates internally, expands its support base and reconnects with Nigerians across the country,’ it said.

The PDP also commended Wike for delivering infrastructure and public services in the FCT, saying his performance reflected the party’s longstanding tradition of competence and effective governance.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been ranked among the top three best-performing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government in the 2026 Public Service Reforms Performance Assessment conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).

In the Public Service Reforms Performance Assessment, the commission was ranked third overall, following a comprehensive evaluation across key reform indicators, including the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), Freedom of Information (FOI) Compliance Score, Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Index, and official website performance metrics.

In the ranking, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) came first and second, respectively.

The institutional ranking, conducted across all MDAs of the Federal Government, recognises those that have distinguished themselves in advancing public service reforms and delivering excellence in service.

Aside from the institutional awards, 20 individuals across federal, state and local levels received various distinguished public service excellence and leadership awards, for their sterling performance in public service, including the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire, among others.

Representing the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, at the award ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr Abraham Oshadami, spoke on behalf of the NCC and other awardees, expressing appreciation to the Bureau for sustaining the annual assessment framework.

‘First; on behalf of all awardees, and second, on behalf of the Board, Management, and staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission, we thank the Bureau for these recognitions. For us at NCC, this recognition acknowledges our ongoing reform efforts and underscores the need to sustain them,’ he said.

He stated that the BPSR recognition served as a motivation for MDAs to strengthen their commitment to service delivery, noting that, for the NCC, the award also served as an affirmation that its reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the sector were yielding greater public acceptance and positive recognition.

‘For our telecommunications consumers, this recognition reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen service quality, transparency, and responsiveness across the sector. The assessment outcome also reinforces the importance of maintaining standards that support improved customer experience and greater confidence in telecom services nationwide,’ he said.

Oshadami restated the Commission’s commitment to applying regulatory tools and innovative approaches towards supporting measurable improvements in service quality and consumer protection across Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

The Commission has, over the past two years, introduced far-reaching reforms to promote transparency and accountability in the telecommunications sector. These include the introduction of the National Coverage Map, which provides near-real-time information on the performance and availability of operators’ networks across the country, as well as the publication of Quarterly Network Performance Reports, which provide detailed assessments of network performance nationwide.

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s food security by embarking on the inspection of fertiliser production and blending facilities across the country, declaring that increased local production remained central to reducing dependence on imports, lowering production costs and boosting agricultural productivity.

The inspection exercise, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, Engagement and New Media Strategy, O’tega Ogra, has taken the presidential fact-finding delegation to major fertiliser production and blending plants in Lagos, Kaduna, Rivers and other states participating in the restructured Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).

The tour is aimed at assessing production capacity, quality control measures, operational efficiency and the impact of the Federal Government’s intervention on making quality fertiliser available and affordable to Nigerian farmers.

Speaking during the inspection in Kaduna, Ogra said local fertiliser production had become a strategic national priority, particularly at a time when global supply chains continue to face disruptions arising from geopolitical tensions and rising input costs.

According to Ogra, Nigeria possesses abundant raw materials required for fertiliser production and must continue to maximise local capacity to guarantee sustainable food production, adding that if the material is locally produced with proper quality control, the standard of farming would improve, crop yields would increase and, thereby ‘strengthen food security and food sovereignty in our country.’

‘When we have about 80 per cent of the raw materials in Nigeria and can produce fertilisers, why import them? If we have locally produced fertilisers with proper quality control, the standard of farming will improve, crop yields will increase and we will strengthen food security and food sovereignty in our country,’ he said.

Speaking further, Ogra noted that the Federal Government’s investment in local fertiliser production is designed not only to protect farmers from fluctuations in global prices but also to improve agricultural output, create jobs and deepen industrial development.

At OCP Africa’s Kaduna Blending Plant, the delegation inspected the company’s specialised blending process, where fertilisers are produced according to the nutrient requirements of specific crops and soil conditions rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

The general manager of the plant, Peter Amahwe, said quality assurance was critical to protecting the investments of Nigerian farmers.

‘At the end of the day, what is key is that when the farmer is paying for these nutrients, he knows that the nutrients he is paying for are exactly what he is getting. The labour, seeds and every other investment depend on that quality. If the fertiliser is compromised, the farmer’s entire production plan is affected,’ he said.

According to him, OCP Africa conducts extensive laboratory analysis to develop customised fertiliser blends for crops, including maize, rice, cocoa, ginger and several other agricultural commodities cultivated across the country.

The inspection team also visited Barbedos Fertilizers and Blending Company Limited in Kaduna, where officials toured a facility with a blending capacity of about 90 metric tonnes per hour.

The company’s production manager, Nasser Ismail, said local blending had significantly reduced production costs while creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.

‘Our primary objective is to produce high-quality fertiliser blends specifically tailored to meet the distinct soil and crop requirements of Nigerian farmers. By blending locally, we are reducing costs, creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for young people and supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,’ he stated.

Ismail added that the company deploys moisture-resistant BOPP-coated packaging to preserve fertiliser quality from production through transportation to farms across the country.

The Federal Government has continued to reposition the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative by promoting local blending and encouraging the utilisation of indigenous raw materials while importing only essential components such as phosphate.

The initiative is aimed at shielding Nigerian farmers from international market volatility, improving access to quality fertilisers and strengthening domestic agricultural production.

Government estimates indicate that the programme has saved the country about ?61.58 billion in 2026 by reducing fertiliser costs and supporting local production.

Similarly, under the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme (RH-FISP), implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), 515,720 bags of locally blended fertiliser are currently being distributed to 128,930 smallholder farmers across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The ongoing inspection of fertiliser facilities across Lagos, Kaduna, Rivers and other participating states underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that local production meets global quality standards while expanding farmers’ access to affordable farm inputs.

Officials say the initiative is expected to improve crop yields, strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers and accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards sustainable food security and agricultural self-sufficiency.

Paystack has launched Paystack Index, an experimental AI-powered payments tool, enabling users in Nigeria to complete everyday transactions through AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude.

The product allows users to buy airtime, send money via Zap by Paystack and order food from Chowdeck using simple text prompts. Instead of switching between multiple apps, users can instruct an AI assistant to execute transactions directly.

Paystack Index acts as a bridge between AI agents, merchants and Paystack’s payments infrastructure while ensuring users retain control of authorised transactions.

The company said it does not store sensitive financial information such as card details, PINs or bank account credentials.

Developed with support from TSG Labs, Paystack’s innovation arm, the product builds on Paystack Checkout and Zap and forms part of the company’s broader work on AI-enabled commerce.

It is initially available to selected Zap users in Nigeria through an early-access beta programme and currently supports airtime and data purchases, wallet funding, money transfers and food orders.

Paystack said the launch reflects its belief that AI agents are emerging as a new interface for commerce, enabling users to move from prompts to real-world transactions.

Announced by co-founder and chief executive officer, Shola Akinlade, the product positions AI assistants as execution layers for payments and commerce, rather than just tools for information and recommendations.

The launch comes amid rising AI adoption in Nigeria. According to a Google-Ipsos survey, 88 per cent of Nigerians surveyed said they had used generative AI in the past year, while 62 per cent said they used it for everyday tasks such as planning trips, meals or workouts.

The launch also follows Paystack’s recent restructuring under The Stack Group (TSG), which created dedicated business units for merchant payments, consumer transactions, banking services and emerging technologies.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, says he feels saddened whenever people insult President Bola Tinubu, praising the President’s commitment to infrastructure development and describing him as a leader driven by action rather than words.

Umahi made the remarks on Wednesday during the launch of the Akwanga-Maiduguri Superhighway project in Nasarawa State, where he also announced that the President had approved N111 billion for the first phase of the project.

He said contractors would commence physical construction within one week.

According to the minister, the Akwanga-Maiduguri Superhighway is one of four legacy infrastructure projects being executed by the Tinubu administration to connect Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He listed the projects as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja corridor, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Yobe-Maiduguri Superhighway.

Umahi said the interconnected road projects would reduce travel time, boost interstate commerce, strengthen national security, and promote regional economic growth.

The minister also defended the Federal Government’s adoption of reinforced concrete pavement technology for major highways, saying it is more durable and requires less maintenance than conventional asphalt roads.

Commending Tinubu’s leadership, Umahi described the ongoing road projects as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history and urged Nigerians to reciprocate the administration’s efforts with electoral support.

‘I am so lucky to have a President who is infrastructure-driven, a man of few words, a man of courage, a man that has a lot of desire to take back our country.

‘So, when people insult the President, I feel so sad because every day we are on the road. Every day, we are pushed by the President.

‘Tomorrow we will be in Plateau State to flag off another road. The next day we are in Maiduguri for another flag-off. The next day we are going to Lagos to solve the problem of flooding along the coastal highway,’ Umahi said.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to an open debate on governance, accusing the former Anambra State governor of attacking his integrity and personality.

Umahi threw the challenge on Wednesday while speaking at the inauguration of the construction of the Akwanga-Jos Super Highway, where he also criticised Obi’s recent comments about the condition of some federal roads.

According to the minister, the reinforced concrete road technology being adopted by the administration of President Bola Tinubu is an innovative solution aimed at improving the country’s road infrastructure.

‘I feel so sad when my brother, the former governor of Anambra State, who should understand what administration and governance is, got to a point where the road is bad, snapped it and posted it on social media,’ Umahi said.

‘When did governance reduce to comedy? He was attacking my integrity and personality, and I’m always ready for a debate with him.’

Umahi said governance is a collective responsibility and should not be reduced to assigning blame to the President alone.

‘The President is not here today, but I have to be the President by performing the job he assigned to me,’ he said.

‘So governance is the responsibility of everybody. Look at our infrastructure being destroyed and vehicles parked on our roads. Must the President go there and stand there?

‘We take responsibility. If anything goes wrong in the Ministry of Works, I take responsibility and not the President. So, I want to commend the President very highly,’ he added.

No fewer than 36,000 young Nigerians are set to receive training in agricultural mechanisation under a new initiative by TracTrac Mechanisation Services Limited (TracTrac MSL), as the agritech company intensifies efforts to bridge the mechanisation gap and improve food production.

The programme, known as Young People in Mechanisation (YPiM), is designed to equip youths between the ages of 18 and 35 with practical skills in agricultural mechanisation, entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and advocacy, while creating employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

TracTrac said the initiative, described as Nigeria’s first youth-focused mechanisation movement, seeks to address the shortage of technical skills and low youth participation in mechanised agriculture by preparing a new generation of service providers and industry leaders.

Chief Executive Officer of TracTrac MSL, Godson Ohuruogu, during a parley with agriculture journalists, said the company believes mechanisation should be accessible to every farmer rather than being a privilege enjoyed by a few.

‘At TracTrac, we believe tractors should be within reach of every farmer, not a privilege for a few. Through technology, policy engagement, financial inclusion and strong partnerships, we’re building an ecosystem that not only delivers services but creates lasting capacity for Nigeria’s agricultural sector,’ he said.

He urged young Nigerians to play a leading role in transforming the agricultural sector. ‘Young people should not just observe the future of agriculture. They should lead it,’ Ohuruogu stated.

The company disclosed that it has built one of the country’s largest mechanization networks, reaching more than 500,000 smallholder farmers across the country through over 6,000 Mechanization Service Providers (MSPs) and the deployment of more than 800 tractors in multiple states.

According to the firm, its digital platform, TracTrac Plus, has become central to improving farmers’ access to mechanization services by connecting farmers directly with Mechanisation Service Providers in real time. The platform also supports asset tracking, farm mapping and demand aggregation.

Since its launch, the application has recorded over 5,000 downloads and facilitated more than 2,000 mechanization service engagements.

The company attributed its growth to four strategic pillars, accessibility, availability, affordability and capacity, which it said ensure mechanisation services reach farmers when and where they are needed at affordable rates.

TracTrac said it is also contributing to policy reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural mechanisation ecosystem.

The company is partnering in the development of the draft National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy (NAMP), a five-year framework intended to promote sustainable and inclusive mechanisation through private sector investment, improved financing, local manufacturing, climate-smart agriculture and digital innovation.

According to the company, the proposed policy prioritises sustainable land development, human capital development and the adoption of appropriate technologies to drive productivity across the sector.

TracTrac said it is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation and other public and private sector stakeholders to advance policies that will improve investment and expand farmers’ access to mechanisation services.

The company also highlighted its role in implementing the Mastercard Foundation’s Improving Smallholder Farmers’ Access to Small-Scale Agricultural Mechanisation Services (ISSAM) project, under which youth-led Mechanisation Service Providers are trained and deployed to rural communities.

The initiative, it said, is helping to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen rural livelihoods and expand opportunities for women and young people within Nigeria’s mechanisation value chain.

Stakeholders in the agriculture sector have continued to identify inadequate mechanization as one of the major constraints limiting agricultural productivity in Nigeria, with experts calling for greater investment in modern farming equipment, skilled operators and supportive policies to boost food security and attract more young people into agriculture.

The Plateau State Government has temporarily sealed pedestrian entry points into Jos Wildlife Park following repeated cases of illegal grazing and other unauthorised activities within the conservation area.

In a statement signed by Thomas Artu on behalf of the management of the Plateau State Tourism Corporation (PSTC), the government said the action was taken following several reports of herders sneaking cattle into the park for night grazing between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., taking advantage of periods when personnel presence is limited.

The management of the PSTC said the herders allegedly gained access through water channels and by breaking padlocks on gates located along the park’s western boundary near the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) headquarters.

It added that security measures had been introduced to halt the activities and protect the facility, stressing that all pedestrian access points had been temporarily closed, while patrol operations within and around the park had been strengthened.

The PSTC disclosed that some arrests and prosecutions involving herders and illegal miners had already been secured, highlighting its commitment to enforcing the law and preserving the integrity of the park.

The corporation assured residents that Governor Caleb Mutfwang was undertaking urgent efforts to implement long-term measures aimed at strengthening security and ensuring sustained protection of the wildlife park.

It commended neighbouring communities, particularly Dong Kassa, for their vigilance and support in reporting suspicious activities.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a high-alert warning for residents of Lagos and other coastal states to brace for intense rainfall and a high risk of flash flooding through the rest of Tuesday.

The urgent advisory is part of the agency’s daily weather outlook for Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Having already experienced morning thunderstorms and light showers, NiMet forecasts that the weather pattern across the southern region will deteriorate significantly as the afternoon and evening progress.

According to the agency, widespread moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to envelop the entire southern region for the remainder of the day.

NiMet placed a strong emphasis on a ‘high likelihood of flash flooding in coastal areas,’ specifically identifying Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States as critical flashpoints.

‘Wet weather conditions are expected throughout the day. Continuous rainfall may result in flash flooding in coastal and low-lying communities,’ the agency warned.

Given that the intense weather coincides with afternoon commutes, NiMet issued a strict safety advisory urging the public to drive with extreme caution, noting that strong winds preceding the storms could drastically reduce visibility.

The agency warned citizens to completely avoid driving or walking through fast-moving floodwaters, which can be deceptively deep and dangerous.

Additionally, residents were advised against sheltering under tall trees during the thunderstorms to mitigate the risk of lightning strikes.

While the coastal south faces severe flood risks, NiMet similarly forecast that afternoon and evening conditions across the central and northern states-including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano, Kaduna, and Nasarawa-will be dominated by increasing cloudiness, widespread thunderstorms, and moderate rainfall.

The agency also directed airline operators nationwide to obtain airport-specific weather reports strictly to ensure safe and efficient flight operations amidst the turbulent afternoon weather.

The Federal Government has called on petroleum marketers to reduce the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to reflect the recent decline in global crude oil prices, while maintaining that fuel prices remain determined by market forces under the deregulated downstream petroleum sector.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 General Counsel and Legal Advisers’ Forum organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

His remarks came amid growing criticism from consumers and industry stakeholders, who accused marketers of failing to reduce petrol prices despite the recent fall in international crude oil prices.

Lokpobiri said the easing of tensions between Iran and the United States had raised expectations that crude oil prices would decline globally, with a corresponding reduction in the cost of petrol and other petroleum products in Nigeria.

‘Following the de-escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, we expected to see commensurate downward adjustment in the prices of PMS and other petroleum products. However, that has not yet happened,’ Lokpobiri said.

He said although market forces are expected to eventually drive prices to appropriate levels, regulators must prevent the deregulated market from being used to exploit consumers.

‘While we believe that market forces will eventually restore equilibrium, the regulator also has a statutory responsibility to ensure that deregulation does not become an avenue for profiteering. This must be done in line with the extant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA),’ he stated.

The minister explained that the Federal Government no longer fixes petrol prices following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which deregulated the downstream petroleum sector.

He said pump prices are now driven by competition, supply and demand, rather than government intervention.

Lokpobiri, however, noted that the NMDPRA remains responsible for overseeing market operators and ensuring consumers are not subjected to unfair pricing practices.

According to him, deregulation has produced positive results for the petroleum industry by improving the supply of petroleum products and encouraging fresh investment in local refining.

He added that the policy paved the way for the commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery while also stimulating the development of other refinery projects across the country.

Lokpobiri further said the frequent fuel shortages that once characterised the sector had largely disappeared, adding that petroleum products have remained available nationwide since 2023 despite global market disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions.

‘It also ensured that artificial scarcity has become a thing of the past. You can attest to the fact that since 2023 there has been availability of product in the country even with the recent challenges posed by the US-Iran conflict,’ he said.

Speaking at the forum, the Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, represented by the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, said attention has shifted from enacting the Petroleum Industry Act to ensuring its effective implementation.

He said regulators, legal practitioners and corporate advisers must work together to strengthen compliance with the law and create a stable regulatory environment that will attract investment into the petroleum industry.

‘When the Authority established the General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum, it did so in recognition of a simple reality that effective regulation cannot be achieved through regulations alone,’ Umar said.

‘The most carefully drafted law, the most comprehensive regulation, and the most robust compliance framework ultimately depend on people for their implementation.’

Also speaking, the Authority’s Secretary and Legal Adviser, Dr. Joseph Tolorunse, said maintaining regulatory certainty is essential to attracting investors and sustaining growth in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.