Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has cautioned applicants participating in its 2025 recruitment exercise to disregard social media posts claiming to reveal the number of shortlisted candidates per state for the final stage of recruitment, describing the information as false and unverified.

The Service reaffirmed that its recruitment process remains transparent, merit-driven, and aligned with global best practices.

In a statement shared on X on Saturday, titled ‘Unverified Social Media Post on 2025 Nigeria Customs Service Recruitment Exercise,’ the NCS clarified that the viral publication did not originate from the Service or any of its authorised communication channels.

‘The Service wishes to categorically state that the publication did not originate from the Nigeria Customs Service or any of its authorised communication channels,’ the statement read. It urged members of the public, particularly applicants, ‘to disregard the information in its entirety.’

Reiterating its commitment to a credible and fair process, the NCS stated, ‘The Nigeria Customs Service remains firmly committed to a selection process consistent with global best practices and in line with the principle of Federal Character.’

The Service noted that all official updates are communicated directly to shortlisted applicants through the Recruitment Update Portal at https://updates.customs.gov.ng.

It also reminded the public that the official recruitment exercise, which commenced on December 27, 2024, received 573,523 applications across the Superintendent, Inspectorate, and Customs Assistant cadres. Following documentary screening, 286,697 candidates were shortlisted for the first phase of the Computer-Based Test (CBT), which was conducted in batches ‘to ensure fairness and system efficiency.’

If I read news of the death of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, at her residence in Katampe, Abuja, on September 29, with deep sorrow, I read news of the arrest of the perpetrators with heartbreak and exhaustion. According to the FCT police command, which arrested 12 of the robbers that had invaded Somtochukwu’s residence and caused her to jump down to her death from an impossible height in utter fright, one of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, confessed to shooting the security guard who perished in the attack, while another, Sani Sirajo, admitted to trying to prevent the journalist from falling off the three-storey building but being overpowered by her weight. The 12 suspects each received N200,000 from the robbery and bloodshed, and presumably had a dinner of drugs and choice food while their victims lay in the pool of their own blood, silenced forever, and their (the victims’) families wailed in unending agony, disconsolate.

I was in the Tribune House, Ibadan, writing recently when I suddenly learnt that the police were engaged in a shootout with a gang of robbers right behind our fence! One was killed and another arrested. That day, I marveled that if the robbers, who had earlier shot two people in different places, had not been caught that day, they would have gone home to sleep soundly and engage in whatever revelry they chose.

I asked a colleague: ‘How do the women of these criminals engage in pleasure with them despite knowing that they have shed blood and caused other people untold pain?’ The brain of some women is full of sawdust.

In Missouri, United States, 16-year-old schoolboy, Evan Bottler, lies in his hasty grave. The victim of a sextortion network traced to Lagos, Evan took his own life shortly after receiving a blackmail message from someone posing as a teenage girl on Snapchat. That ‘someone,’ one child of perdition called Ola, had obtained nude images of the boy while posing as an online lover. He then began threatening to release the nudes if the boy did not pay up. One of his messages read: ‘I have your nudes and everything needed to ruin your life.’

Now, hear the incredible statement that this murderer made when US investigators asked him if he felt any remorse: ‘I don’t feel bad because I need the money.’ The denominations can pillory the Laodicean Age messenger, William Branham, as much as they want, but there are two distinct categories of humans on this planet, one of them carrying the DNA of the adversary. Ola’s victims, dead or ruined, will never recover from his assault, but he does not care a hoot. Regardless of whatever punishment the authorities come up with, it is my sincere hope that everything that Ola has amassed from his sextortion will perish before his eyes.

His co-demon, one Ikechukwu, has just been arrested in Argentina over multiple romance scams involving thousands of women and for leading an international cybercrime network. Back home, this lunatic would have paraded town as an Odogwu – perhaps he is a chief in his hometown. But if you think Ikechukwu is mean, then consider the trio of Chukwuebuka Nka, Uche Okechukwu and Somto Chukwuma, three kidnappers who were recently arrested by the police in Delta State. Do you know what they did? They shot their victim for having ‘insufficient funds’ in his account! They had seized the victim’s Toyota Venza, then flown into a rage when they found ‘just N2 million’ in his account. And for having the temerity to be that poor, the victim got blazing bullets in his leg!

Various theories explain why some criminals apparently ‘enjoy’ post-crime life. Individuals with psychopathic traits are said to experience shallow emotions and to lack guilt, allowing them to pursue pleasure without remorse. It is also said that the brain’s mesolimbic system can be hyper-responsive to thrill-seeking or material gain, reinforcing criminal behaviour. Then there is cognitive dissonance reduction. The idea is that to cope with the conflict between action and self-image, offenders may rationalize or minimize the harm.

Again, it is a no-brainer that peer groups or subcultures that glorify crime can provide camaraderie, making the offender feel a sense of social reward. In short, crime does pay. Mechanisms such as dehumanizing victims, diffusing responsibility, or blaming someone else allow offenders to detach from the moral weight of their crime. Besides, substance abuse can create a temporary ‘high’ that masks guilt. This may be why criminals have a love affair with hard drugs and drinks.

Experts say that if a child’s early environment rewards rule-breaking, he or she may internalize crime as a normal pathway to gratification. So, what are we teaching our children? I ask this question because I remember certain things that my father used to do that, as a child, I thought were wrong or excessive, but which I came to appreciate in adult life.

One day in Ekotedo, Ibadan, he sent me to buy rice and beans from a certain Egba woman’s place. As it happened, the woman had mistakenly put four pieces of meat instead of three in the food. But while eating, my dad detected the error and gave me that piece of intelligence. Then after eating the food, he proceeded to the woman’s place and paid for the extra meat. As a nine-year-old or thereabouts, I thought that the mistake was a happy one and told him he should not bother since we had not asked the woman to make a mistake. But he insisted that he would rather die than eat what he would not pay for.

What I am today is due to my faith, but I remember shunning many things in life after imagining what my father would say. For instance, he used to insist that we should return any lost money we found on the road to that exact spot! Many years later, in Ondo town, I returned via taxi to a restaurant in Sabo from my residence in Odosida to pay for food that I had eaten but had honestly forgotten to pay for. I will never forget what one of the people eating in the restaurant said: ‘Ah, this one is a man of God!’

I am not trying to suggest that my father was an angel – he was categorically not – but he taught us to be honest. Actually, that’s what most of our parents were like. But what are we teaching our own children? Do you think the criminals we have referenced in this piece had good upbringing? Many parents today act like common criminals: they lie, rob and cheat others with Luciferic fervor, then wonder that their children have become crooks.

Today in many markets, if you buy fish and ask the seller to cut it for you, you will discover when you get home that it is not complete. People steal and cheat and call it business. Why won’t their future pay for their present?

Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has inaugurated a 29-member committee to implement the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), marking another decisive step in the state’s climate leadership journey.

Inaugurating the committee on Friday at the Government House, Enugu, Mbah said the initiative was in demonstration of the administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling the global climate crisis through local solutions and sustainable development strategies.

According to the governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, the ESCPAP, which was launched on March 17, 2025, provides a comprehensive framework to promote low-carbon economic growth, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and build resilience against climate impacts.

‘This plan positions Enugu as a leading subnational player in climate governance and sustainability across Africa,’ he said.

The governor explained that the newly inaugurated committee would provide strategic oversight, coordination, and technical guidance for the effective implementation of the policy, adding that ‘The committee will ensure the successful delivery of climate mitigation, adaptation, finance mobilisation, and monitoring in line with state, national, and global climate commitments.’

Outlining its major responsibilities, Mbah said the committee would drive sectoral coordination across all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs); strengthen climate governance; mobilise climate finance through green bonds, carbon markets, and development partnerships; and monitor progress through an established results-based framework.

‘Under mitigation, the committee will promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon transport systems such as electric and CNG vehicles, sustainable waste management, afforestation, and climate-smart agriculture.

‘For adaptation and resilience, the committee will undertake vulnerability assessments, develop local adaptation plans, and implement nature-based solutions for erosion and flood control. It will also promote climate-smart infrastructure, clean cooking technologies, and resilient livelihoods in communities.

‘On governance and inclusion, the committee will mainstream climate actions across state policies, ensuring the integration of gender, youth, and disability considerations. It will also intensify climate education, capacity building, and public awareness programmes,’ he further stressed.

Governor Mbah maintained that that the committee had been mandated to develop a comprehensive Climate Finance Plan, attract domestic and international funding, and publish its annual progress reports for transparency, accountability and evaluation.

While stating that the committee would brief the State Executive Council quarterly and submit an annual progress report to his office, he urged members to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, transparency, and inclusivity, describing the committee as ‘a key mechanism for translating Enugu’s climate vision into tangible action.’

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change thanked the governor for the trust reposed in them and pledged that the team would work diligently to deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for the state.

The 29-member team is chaired by the SSG, with the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, and the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Nathaniel Urama, serving as first and second vice chairmen, while the Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development, Prof Chukwumerije Okereke, serves as secretary.

Other members include representatives of key MDAs-such as Environment, Energy, Agriculture, Transport, Finance, and Health-alongside academics, civil society groups, youth and women representatives, traditional leaders, and climate finance experts.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has said it does not control or interfere with the personal decisions of its members who choose to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It explained that at best, a governor intent on leaving the party could only be advised to reconsider their position, adding that where such intervention failed, the forum would not prevent the defection.

The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, made the clarification in Abuja on Saturday amid reports that the Governor of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mbah, planned to join the APC.

Mbah, who also serves as the Secretary of the PDP’s National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) for its forthcoming November 15 Ibadan convention, is expected to be formally received by the APC on Tuesday next week, a move already widely publicised by the ruling party.

However, the Enugu governor has not personally made any official statement regarding the defection.

Mohammed noted that while the PDP remained resolute in its determination to reclaim power from the APC in 2027, the forum would continue to work with members committed to the project but would not stand in the way of those choosing to leave.

The Bauchi governor, who also chairs the Media and Communication Sub-Committee for the convention, emphasised that it would be difficult to ‘determine the decisions or actions’ of any governor.

He stated, ‘If you ask me whether I’m concerned about our governors leaving for APC, I am more than concerned. But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or inactions of my colleagues, but certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes.’

He continued, ‘I cannot say that my colleagues are wrong; they are free to do whatever they choose. But I have been advising them that even those who left are not finding it easier because most of the people at the grassroots level are PDP and are not happy with the defections.

‘Sometimes it is done because of permutations and calculations. I will not denigrate or speak negatively about my colleagues.’

Mohammed explained that what the PDP and its stakeholders would strongly oppose was any attempt by a defecting member to demarket the party or damage its reputation before leaving.

The governor also dismissed speculation that he, too, planned to defect.

‘For me, I am assuring you that I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP, my state is PDP and Nigeria is PDP.

‘What I don’t like is for you to demarket the PDP. Just go if you want to go.

‘I am sure we are still going to come up with a new set of leaders in 2027 to address all the challenges,’ he added.

Speaking specifically about Governor Mbah, the Bauchi governor said he had yet to communicate any defection plans to the Governors’ Forum.

‘Actually, governor Mbah has not told us his position. It is a personal decision. We cannot remove his picture before he leaves. When he leaves, we will replace him with another person. Up till now, he has not told me he’s leaving.

‘I have discussed this issue with him separately, and he has given me assurances. He is a governor like me. I respect him and his decisions. If he goes, we will replace him,’ he said.

Addressing PDP reporters at the Legacy House, Abuja, where his committee was inaugurated, Mohammed also spoke about the purported plan to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race with him (Mohammed) as a running mate.

He described the Jonathan speculation as part of the ‘permutations that make the PDP thick’ and affirmed that it reflected the enduring interest Nigerians still had in the party.

The governor noted that several names, including Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and himself, had been mentioned, adding that such developments showed that Nigerians still loved the PDP and wished it well.

Mohammed, who said he was ready to serve in any capacity within the party, observed that the most significant message emerging from the ongoing permutations ‘is that we have removed personal interests. We are united and will come up with leadership that will be the best choice for Nigerians to put in Aso Rock, inshallah.’

The Media and Communication Sub-Committee is primarily responsible for publicity for the Ibadan convention. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, serves as the Secretary of the committee.

On Saturday, the committee was further divided into five additional sub-committees – Content Development, Print Media, Electronic Media, Social Media, and Foreign Media – to simplify its assignments.

All sub-committees are to report to Governor Mohammed, as the party charged members with the task of promoting the PDP by rekindling in voters the ‘sweet memories’ of its years in power between 1999 and 2015.

‘We have to change governance entirely as a country. We, as Nigerians, have suffered under the APC.

‘Since we left office in 2015, nobody took over; what we have is a vacuum in Nigeria. We have to work and sensitise Nigerians,’ Mohammed charged the members.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on Friday, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of Police Detective College in Bende, Abia State.

The appreciation followed the signing into law of the bill to provide a legal framework to regularise the existing police training institutions and for the establishment of new ones sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori in the Senate.

Kalu, who lamented that Abia does not have one, lobbied extensively for the State to be included in the list of new institutions, as it was initially excluded.

While the Senate passed the Bill on March 5, 2025, the House approved it on May 7, 2025.

The Deputy Speaker thanked the sponsor of the bill, the Senate, and his colleagues in the House for their support.

The establishment of the Police Detective College in Bende is expected to enhance security in Abia State and the broader South East region, demonstrating Kalu’s commitment to the development and security of his people.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to honour the agreements and understandings reached among the legacy parties-the ANPP, ACN, CPC, and others-that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president made this known in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, during a ceremony where over 64,000 members of opposition parties formally defected to the APC.

Represented by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, President Tinubu assured that justice and fairness would be extended to all political blocs that contributed to the formation of the ruling party.

He added that his administration would continue to uphold the APC manifesto, which prioritises the welfare of citizens in both rural and urban communities.

Buni noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda was already delivering results in key sectors, stressing that the administration was focused on repositioning the economy and improving living standards.

‘You are all living witnesses that food prices have started coming down to a level the common man can afford. Government will continue to ensure the welfare of the people,’ he stated.

He further disclosed that the Federal Government would intensify its support for farmers through the provision of inputs and implements to boost agricultural production.

On infrastructure, the president directed the speedy completion of the remaining sections of the Kano-Maiduguri highway without further delay.

President Tinubu commended Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State for his developmental strides and inclusive governance, which he said had attracted massive defections from opposition parties.

He assured the new entrants of equal rights and privileges within the APC. In his remarks, the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwada, described the defection of over 64,000 people as a strong indication of the ruling party’s dominance in the state.

‘What we have seen today is a clear testimony that Jigawa is for APC and APC is for Jigawa. We are confident of winning all elective positions in 2027,’ he said.

Professor Yilwada congratulated the new members, saying, ‘You have returned home. Your decision is timely and commendable.’

Governor Namadi also lauded President Tinubu for his leadership style and commitment to fairness across all regions.

He presented the compiled list and political profiles of the defectors to the national chairman during the event.

Nigerian-born entrepreneur Tersoo Hulugh is charting an extraordinary path in technology and operations. From his humble beginnings in Benue State to leading enterprise innovation projects across Africa, Europe, and North America, his story is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and the power of building solutions that matter. In this interview, he speaks with COLLINS NNABUIFE on his current works.

Tell us about your early life and what sparked your interest in entrepreneurship.

I was born and raised in Benue State, Nigeria. My entrepreneurial journey officially started in 2019 when I founded Maxify Global Limited. What began as a small web-design outfit has since evolved into a global software development and AI automation company serving clients in Nigeria, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Those early years taught me that success comes from solving real business problems. We focused on helping organizations work smarter and more efficiently, that’s what set us apart.

What motivated your move to the United States, and how did it shape your mission?

My desire for world-class education brought me to the U.S. While studying Operations Management at South Dakota State University (SDSU), I noticed that even large corporations were struggling with fragmented service operations, from call centers to HR and finance.

This realization inspired my growing interest in enterprise productivity and systems optimization. Despite all the technological advancement, many firms still operated in silos. I wanted to explore how better process design and intelligent automation could change that.

You described operational efficiency as a national issue earlier when we met. What did you mean by that?

I see operational efficiency as a national issue because inefficiency drains competitiveness at a national scale. The U.S., for example, spends hundreds of billions annually on service operations like HR, finance, and customer support. A 10% improvement could save over $100 billion across the economy.

To me, boosting operational performance is not just a corporate goal, it’s a strategic economic priority.

You recently worked at Amazon’s DTW1 Fulfillment Center. What was that experience like?

Earlier this summer, I joined Amazon’s DTW1 in Michigan, one of the company’s largest robotics-enabled fulfillment centers, as a Pathways Operations Manager Intern. I managed over 100 associates and led a process improvement project that reduced costly post-SLAM missorts by 47 percent, projected to save the company over $400,000 annually.

That hands-on experience reshaped my understanding of large-scale operational systems and continuous improvement at the enterprise level. It was intense, but it reaffirmed how data, discipline, and people-centric leadership drive operational excellence.

Beyond tech and operations, you’ve also contributed to sustainability projects. Can you tell us about that?

In the summer of 2024, I worked with the South Dakota Mesonet expansion team in SDSU, deploying 16 high-resolution weather and soil monitoring stations across the state, a project funded by NOAA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

My role covered procurement, inventory control, quality assurance, scheduling, and field operations. It was fulfilling to contribute to a project that strengthens climate resilience and supports farmers across the state of South Dakota.

How have your experiences shaped your global perspective on problem-solving?

I’ve learned that impactful innovations aren’t just about new technology. They’re about understanding how organizations function and designing systems that make measurable improvements in people’s day-to-day work.

You’ve received several recognitions. Which ones stand out to you?

In 2021, I received the Hyperion Scholarship to pursue an Executive MBA at Quantic School of Business and Technology, one of the most selective business innovation programs in the U.S.

I’ve also been profiled by the Ness School of Management and Economics, interviewed by Benue Television, and featured by Technext for my contributions to EdTech innovation.

But for me, one recognition stands above the rest, founding the Benue Tech Foundation, and the many lives the NGO has transformed so far in my home state. The Foundation helps young Nigerians access digital skills and innovation opportunities. We’re nurturing a new generation of problem-solvers and tech builders.

What’s your long-term vision, and what advice would you give to young African innovators?

My long-term vision is to prove that world-class innovation can come from anywhere, including Benue. I believe the next wave of global transformation will come from Africans who understand both local and global contexts.

Start with problems, not hype. Deliver results, even at a small scale. Learn how systems work, in business, government, or technology, and then build solutions that make those systems better. Above all, stay consistent.

Why do you think stories like yours matter?

The world is changing fast. Technology only matters when applied to real challenges. My story isn’t about success; it’s about persistence, about proving that African entrepreneurs can build solutions that make global systems work better.

The caption, as seen by TRIBUNE ONLINE, reads:

‘EXPOSED!!! THE NEW INEC CHAIRMAN, AMUPITAN, WAS ONE OF THE LEAD COUNSELS WHO DEFENDED TINUBU AND APC AT THE PRESIDENTIAL TRIBUNAL IN 2023. If the opposition leaders allow this infraction and abnormality to slide, then 2027 is gone. There is no basis for contesting the 2027 election against Tinubu once this appointment is allowed to stay.’

The claim emerged following President Tinubu’s nomination of Prof Amupitan as INEC chairman to fill the vacant position created by Prof Mahmood Yakubu’s exit.

The post had garnered over 100 views at the time of filing this report.

CLAIM

President Tinubu appointed one of his 2023 legal team members as INEC chairman.

VERIFICATION

Findings by TRIBUNE ONLINE show that the claim is FALSE.

Checks revealed that no credible news outlet reported or linked Prof Amupitan to Tinubu’s defense team.

The legal team included Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), a distinguished academic from the University of Lagos, which may have led to confusion due to the similarity in their names and professional backgrounds.

Additionally, a confidential list containing details of Tinubu’s defense team, obtained by our reporter, confirmed that Prof Amupitan’s name was not included.

VERDICT

The claim that Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan was part of President Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) legal team is FALSE.

Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), a different legal scholar, served on the defense team. This distinction reinforces Prof Amupitan’s apolitical stance in relation to his INEC nomination.

A United Kingdom-based energy watchdog, Impact Investigators Platform (IIP), has dismissed allegations that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery imported substandard petrol into Nigeria, describing the claims as ‘technically inaccurate, commercially implausible, and unsupported by verifiable evidence’.

In an investigative report signed on Friday by its lead investigator, Raymond Neil, the IIP said its independent assessment of shipping data, customs declarations, and refinery process documentation found no indication that the refinery imported or sold finished Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with sulphur levels above Nigeria’s approved limit of 50 parts per million (ppm).

Neil said the IIP launched its own investigation after media reports claimed that a vessel had delivered high-sulphur petrol to the Dangote Refinery under the guise of locally refined products.

The investigator, however, noted that the cargo in question was an intermediate feedstock; a raw material commonly traded among refineries worldwide for further processing, not a finished fuel for retail.

‘Our analysis confirms that the shipment being referenced was a blending component, not a finished petrol product,’ Neil said.

‘It was imported within the context of refinery optimisation and was never intended for direct distribution or public sale. The claim that Dangote Refinery imported dirty fuel into Nigeria is therefore misleading and inconsistent with both technical and commercial realities.’

He emphasized that global refinery complexes, including those in Europe and Asia, regularly import intermediate streams such as high-sulphur catalytic gasoline (HSCG) or straight-run naphtha to balance their production yields.

‘This is normal industry practice and it does not in any way imply that substandard or harmful fuel is being sold to consumers,’ the expert said.

According to the IIP report, the Dangote Refinery’s import documentation and regulatory clearances were consistent with the rules of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which oversee feedstock imports and quality assurance.

The refinery, it said, also operates under a free trade zone licence, meaning that all materials brought in are subject to internal refining before entering the domestic fuel market.

Neil noted that his organisation’s review included a verification of laboratory test results, refinery capacity utilisation records, and inspection certificates filed with port authorities in both the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

He said none of the reviewed documents supported the claim that the refinery imported petrol ready for local consumption.

‘The sulphur levels cited in the reports were associated with intermediate-grade gasoline used as a processing input, not finished fuel. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand how refineries work. The Dangote complex is designed to upgrade such feedstocks into ultra-low-sulphur petrol through hydrodesulphurisation and other advanced refining processes,’ Neil clarified.

He stressed that misreporting such technical details could erode public confidence in the refinery at a time when Nigeria is seeking to strengthen domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported fuel.

‘The Dangote project remains a strategic national asset. Public debate around it must be grounded in fact, not conjecture,’ Neil said.

The IIP also urged Nigerian authorities to establish a rapid-response mechanism for verifying refinery operations and product quality claims to prevent misinformation from spreading unchecked.

‘Transparency is key. But transparency also requires responsible reporting and technical understanding of what the data means,’ Neil said.

The IIP report further commended the refinery for what it described as its ‘proactive compliance culture,’ noting that its internal audit systems mirror the standards applied by the European Refining Association and the American Petroleum Institute.

‘Our review shows that every product stream leaving the Dangote Refinery is accompanied by a certificate of quality issued by an ISO-certified laboratory,’ Neil said.

‘We also found evidence that these certificates are regularly submitted to NMDPRA before any local dispatch. This is the kind of governance structure that should be encouraged, not vilified.’

He concluded by reaffirming the group’s readiness to share its findings with relevant Nigerian institutions and civil society organisations to foster evidence-based discourse around the refinery’s operations.

‘The energy transition requires accuracy, not alarmism. Our findings clear the Dangote Refinery of the claims of importing dirty fuel. What we found instead is a refinery engaged in legitimate global trade practice, subject to regulation, and committed to delivering cleaner fuels that meet international standards,’ Neil said.

Ekiti Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has presented the sum of N415 billion as the 2026 appropriation bill to the State House of Assembly.

The governor, who presented the budget to the lawmakers on Friday as part of activities marking his third anniversary, explained that his administration would remain committed to implementing policies and projects aimed at positively impacting the people and the state’s economy.

Gov Oyebanji revealed that the 2026 appropriation tagged ‘Budget of Impactful Governance’ was designed to focus on consolidating the achievements of the administration in the last three years in the area of agriculture, infrastructural development, and other critical sectors of the economy.

Giving the breakdown of the proposed document, the governor said that the expenditure component is N221.87 billion, while the capital expenditure is N193.70 billion, leading to the recurrent/capital ratio at 53:47 percent.

On how the appropriation bill will be funded, the governor revealed that the federation allocation (N126,684 billion), VAT (N80,101 billion), Independent revenue (N45,455 billion), External grants(N119,755 billion), Loan plan(N10 billion), and opening balance of N33,574 billion have been projected as the revenue for 2026.

According to him, ‘ the proposed 2026 Budget has been carefully prepared to consolidate on our achievements in infrastructural transformation. We shall consolidate on our achievements in the agricultural sector by providing an enabling and conducive environment to investors in agri-business. We shall continue to provide incentives, seedlings, and farm implements to our local farmers.

‘ We shall sustain our tractorization scheme in 2026 to enhance food security in the State. As you are aware, the recent report rated Ekiti State as the State with the lowest price of food items in south-western Nigeria.

‘ As gratifying as this report is, we will not relent on our efforts to make life more meaningful and bearable to our people. We will collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including Federal Government Agencies and the Private Sector, to further stimulate the economy of the State.

‘ In 2026, the informal sector will be given pride of place. The need to provide an enabling environment for existing and emerging businesses cannot be overemphasized.

‘ Therefore, as a Government, we shall collaborate with relevant financial institutions to provide credit facilities to business owners at affordable interest rates. We will also embark on empowerment programmes for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMSEs) in the State. In addition, registered cooperatives in the State will be provided with the needed support to boost their businesses.’