Category: PM News

The ongoing industrial row between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has led to a significant shortfall in gas supply.

This is according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) which says this has led to the slashing off of the country’s power generation by more than 1,100 megawatts.

NISO is a critical division within the country’s power sector, responsible for managing and coordinating the operations of the national electricity grid.

According to a statement released by NISO on Tuesday, total generation on the National Grid dropped sharply from over 4,300MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28 September 2025, to just 3,200MW at its lowest point, raising serious concerns of a potential nationwide blackout.

‘These disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation and putting immense pressure on the grid,’ the statement said.

NISO said to stabilise the grid, it swiftly deployed emergency interventions, including ramping up output from Nigeria’s major hydropower stations, which contributed over 400MW to offset the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

According to the Operator, it took more measures which included: Real-time load adjustments to match generation with demand, frequency and voltage control to maintain system integrity, and selective load shedding, applied as a last resort to avoid a total system collapse.

‘These timely actions enabled the NISO National Control Centre (NCC) to minimise the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages and preserve power supply to critical infrastructure,’ the statement said.

Despite the crisis, NISO reaffirmed its commitment to ‘proactive grid management and operational excellence,’ pledging to uphold secure, stable electricity delivery across the country.

The power supply crisis follows a nationwide strike declared by PENGASSAN in protest over the reported dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The union ordered all members across companies, institutions, and agencies to withdraw services from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, 29 September, with field workers instructed to begin a round-the-clock prayer vigil starting Sunday morning.

The fallout has effectively paralysed operations in key oil and gas institutions, severely impacting gas distribution and regulatory oversight across the sector.

Attempts by the Federal Government to broker peace on Monday ended in a deadlock, with no resolution reached after extended dialogue sessions.

A 27-year-old carpenter identified as Toheeb Ahmed has been arrested for allegedly hacking his grandmother to death in Aiyegbami Street, Ore town, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State

The tragic incident which occurred on Tuesday threw residents of the community into panic.

An eyewitness and neighbour of the victim who preferred anonymity, said that what transpired between the suspect and the grandmother who has been living quietly in her residence, could not be ascertained.

‘The movement of suspect was suspicious and out of curiosity, I went to mama’s room while he was away and discovered she had been hacked to death.

‘When he returned, I noticed he was carrying a cutlass and was accompanied by a friend, probably to move the corpse, that was when I raised the alarm,’ the neighbour said.

Meanwhile, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who confirmed the incident to NAN said that the suspect has been arrested and in police custody.

He said that investigation was ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure justice.

‘Yes, I can confirm the incident. The suspect is in our custody and investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surround the incident for justice to take it’s course,’ Ayanlade said.

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has threatened drag a company, Winhomes Global Services Ltd. to the EFCC over claims that Nigerians in the Diaspora invested $250 million in its estate affected by the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Umahi who made the threat during inspection of the highway on Monday also said he doubted the claim of Winhomes that it bought 12 hectares of land in the area for N50 million.

‘Winhoomes says it bought 12 hectares of land in 2022 for the sum of N50 million.

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‘ I don’t know if the villagers have been terribly cheated, if the purchase went through the normal process for you to buy 12 hectares of land for N50 million in 2022 with all this development all around the place.

‘What we have done here, in passing the coastal highway, is that not more than four hectares have been taken; so, you still have eight hectares left,’ Umahi said.

He said that it was the Lagos State Government that had legal right over the land.

‘Our own is for Lagos State Government to give us the right of way where we need; so, it has revoked it, it has gazetted it. The matter has gone beyond the Federal Ministry of Works.’

He noted that Winhomes had taken the ministry to court over the matter.

‘The court has ruled that we are right.

‘Let me make it very clear that I never invited Win Homes for any negotiation, I never called it for any meeting. The matter is closed in court.

‘ I am going to be writing to EFCC to investigate; the woman (Winhomes chief executive officer) claimed that there was no MTN cable passing through the coastline that made us to divert.

‘We have the letters,’ he said.

The minister said that passing the road through the coastline would be more profitable for the ministry but it would mean destroying over 8,000 property.

‘The president directed me not to cut any cable of MTN or True Africa Network in the interest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

He emphasised that Winhomes claimed that USD250 million was invested in Winhomes Estates located at Okun Ajah Town, Off Orchid Hotel Road in Lagos State.

‘Before infrastructure is developed in Lagos State, there must be proof of that – they have to stamp it.

‘Where are those approvals?

‘ Also, remittance from diaspora carries evidence through CBN. How did it pass?

‘Who and who paid this money? Can they publish those who paid and how much they paid?

‘If you are talking about 250 million U.S. dollars and we can’t locate where it is, we can’t locate those who paid it, we can’t locate the means by which they paid it, then, it is a fraud, to me.’

He demanded an apology from Winhomes within seven days if it would fail to provide relevant documents to support its claims.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its resolve to reposition micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as the foundation of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua, gave the assurance at the 6th Annual Lecture of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) held in Abuja on Thursday.

Shettima noted that MSMEs account for more than 80 percent of national employment and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP, making them central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘MSMEs are not peripheral actors; they are the lifeblood of our economy. As government provides policy clarity and enabling infrastructure, institutions such as DBN are vital in turning vision into action,’ he said.

The Vice President highlighted key reform measures of the administration, including the removal of fuel subsidies, foreign exchange unification, infrastructure renewal, human capital investment, and stronger global engagement-all designed to stimulate enterprise, attract investment, and widen opportunities for small businesses.

DBN Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, described the bank as more than a financier. He said DBN had become ‘a convener of ideas, a builder of capacity, and a partner in national transformation,’ stressing that Nigerian entrepreneurs can rise stronger with access to finance, knowledge, and enabling policies.

SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii, announced fresh strategies to boost the global competitiveness of Nigerian SMEs. These include regulatory reforms to ease exports, shared infrastructure such as garment hubs, financial and non-financial support for expansion, and innovative logistics partnerships.

‘These small but significant steps are designed to make our SMEs not only visible globally but also competitive,’ Odii said, noting Nigeria’s recent ‘Best Pavilion’ award at the International Africa Trade Fair as evidence of growing potential.

Keynote speaker, Kenyan entrepreneur Flora Mutahi, urged African businesses to scale deliberately as a way to address youth unemployment across the continent. With 10-12 million youths entering the labour market annually but only 3-4 million formal jobs available, she said entrepreneurship must be backed by resilience and determination.

At the end of the session, stakeholders, including policymakers, financiers, and entrepreneurs, agreed that the success of Nigeria’s economy is inseparably tied to the growth and sustainability of its MSMEs.

The Department of State Services, DSS, has arraigned controversial Nigerian activist and politician Omoyele Sowore to Court.

The politician was arraigned to the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, after making an alleged offending post against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sowore is being accused of making false posts about the President to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country.

‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!,’ he wrote on X.

The prosecution claims that the post is contrary to Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024.

Sowore, however at the time of this report has over 20 lawyers representing him in the trial.

US President Donald Trump has set a strict three-to-four-day deadline for Hamas to respond to his 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the 23-month war in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn, Trump said all other parties including Israel and Arab nations, have signed on, leaving Hamas as the last obstacle.

Trump warned that if Hamas rejects the proposal, ‘it’s going to be a very sad end,’ and pledged full US backing for Israel to act as it sees fit, without specifying the measures. ‘With Hamas, it’s very simple,’ he added. ‘We want the hostages back immediately and we want some good behaviour.’

The plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours of an agreement, and a phased Israeli troop withdrawal. It also demands Hamas disarm-an element the group has previously rejected without guarantees of Palestinian statehood.

Qatar, which hosts the Hamas political bureau, said the group is studying the proposal responsibly, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apology for a recent strike on Qatari soil. Netanyahu, who supports the plan, has insisted Israeli forces will remain in most of Gaza.

The US-backed initiative faces internal challenges. Key Israeli ministers, including far-right hardliner Bezalel Smotrich, have criticised it, calling the plan a ‘resounding diplomatic failure.’ Meanwhile, Palestinians in the West Bank have urged action, highlighting the urgency of the conflict.

The Edo State Executive Council has approved a revised supplementary budget for the 2025 fiscal year from ?675.220 billion to ?799.820 billion.

The approximately ?125 billion increment represents 18 percent jack-up of the budget.

The approval followed an emergency executive meeting held on Monday, September 29, 2025, and presided over by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, while briefing journalists after the meeting, explained that the adjustment was necessitated by government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

He explained: ‘Previously we have a budget of ?675 billion with recurrent expenditure having about 33 percent and capital 67 percent. The new revised budget now has about 70 percent for capital expenditure as against 30 percent for recurrent expenditure. It shows the commitment of governor Monday Okpebholo in infrastructural development in Edo state.

‘The increment in the budget is about ?125 billion, which signifies about 18 percent of the previous budget. Recurrent increased with about ?12 billion, while capital is about ?113 billion from the previous one. Given about 25 percent increment in capital expenditure and just 5 percent increment in recurrent expenditure.

‘It clearly shows that the government is concerned about infrastructural development making Edo people happy. We have done about 254 kilometers of road across the state, and many more construction works are ongoing.

‘Recurrent expenditure has about 5 percent increment as the increase in minimum wage necessitated that increment including a lot of employment the present administration did in hospital management board for over 1000 and it needs to be captured.

‘The budget has been increased by ?125 billion, which is about 18 percent, and capita expenditure about 25 percent increment, from ?450 billion to ?563 billion.’

The revised budget is expected to be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and passage.

Nigerian comedian and actor Bovi Ugboma, has opened up on his relationship with fellow colleague, Bright Okpocha, also known as Basketmouth.

While speaking in an interview, Bovi explained that there is no ongoing feud or rift between them, stating that hey both just drifted apart.

Bovi further explained that there was a shift in his focus, which led him to invest in other interests and his family.

‘I’m cool with Basketmouth, nothing happened. I’ve answered this question before. You get what I’m saying. Interests changed, especially for me. You know, I wanted to focus more, spend more time with my family. I wanted to also elevate myself. I easily get bored with things. So when I’m doing something for too long, I try to do something else,’ he stated.

Bovi also explained the need for independence. He revealed that he wanted to be able to grow professionally and financially as an independent creator.

‘So as you know, I started to do films. I went back to TV, and then I wanted to build my own brand in the sense that I needed people. I needed the world to know that I can stand with the mic endlessly by myself and talk. You know, also, there’s the, I also started to think of stuff like when I blow the whistle and say, I’m having an Eko hotel, it fills up. So why should I go and share money? Why should we be many doing one show? And then I guess I can keep all the money myself,’ he added.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has strongly condemned FIFA’s decision to deduct three points from its tally in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, describing the move as unfair and without precedent.

In a statement issued on Monday, the association expressed shock and disappointment, insisting that it was not given the opportunity to defend itself before the disciplinary ruling was handed down.

According to SAFA, the decision was reached by a single member of FIFA’s disciplinary committee and came without a clear explanation or justification.

‘We are deeply concerned by this development. It is unprecedented that such a weighty decision was made without affording us the chance to present our legal arguments,’ the association noted.

FIFA had earlier confirmed the much-anticipated sanction, cutting South Africa’s total from 17 points. The ruling has thrown Group standings into uncertainty and sparked debate among fans and stakeholders across the continent.

SAFA stressed that it will continue to pursue all available legal and diplomatic avenues to challenge the ruling, which it says undermines the principles of fair play and natural justice.

‘As custodians of South African football, we cannot stand by while decisions of this magnitude are imposed on us without transparency,’ the statement added.

The development has cast a shadow over Bafana Bafana’s qualifying campaign and raised questions about FIFA’s disciplinary processes, with analysts warning that the dispute could escalate if not swiftly resolved.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that its application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session will open in the second week of October 2025, providing fresh opportunities for students to access the government’s interest-free loan scheme.

The Fund explained that the new application cycle will remain open until January 2026, giving prospective beneficiaries ample time to complete their submissions.

NELFUND also urged institutions to promptly update student records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to enable seamless processing of applications.

The development follows the closure of the 2024/2025 portal on September 30, 2025, marking the end of the scheme’s second full cycle.

According to NELFUND, all unverified applications from the outgoing session will be automatically cancelled after October 8, 2025, with affected students required to reapply under the new cycle.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, said the timelines were designed to provide clarity and ensure no eligible student is excluded.

‘Announcing the closure of the current application portal is a necessary step to prepare for the next cycle. NELFUND remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and to working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind,’ Sawyerr stated.

He also assured that upkeep payments for students under the 2024/2025 session would continue until November 2025, but stressed that all students must reapply for the 2025/2026 cycle to remain eligible.

Institutions that fail to complete mandatory verification of student lists by the deadline will be named publicly for non-compliance, NELFUND warned.

The Fund advised students to maintain close contact with their school management and submit their applications early, emphasising that transparency and institutional cooperation remain central to the success of the scheme.