Category: PM News

Laja Adeoye, 2027 Lagos State governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), says Gov. Seyi Makinde, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, will reset Nigeria within four years.

Adeoye made the assertion while speaking on a television programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

He said Makinde’s proposed four-year administration would deliver significant improvements in infrastructure, the economy, education, healthcare and social services.

Adeoye also said Makinde’s advocacy for a single six-year presidential term was consistent with the need to strengthen Nigeria’s unwritten principle of rotational presidency between the North and South.

‘We believe in the unwritten principle of rotational presidency between the North and the South.

‘The current President, Bola Tinubu, is from the South-West and is therefore regarded as representing the South in the current rotation.

‘However, many people in the South expected stronger representation and greater benefits from the current administration.

‘What we are seeing today is not what we expected from a government that is supposed to represent the interests of our region.

‘That is why Makinde is telling Nigerians that, under his leadership, Nigeria can be reset within four years.

‘We believe that four years should be sufficient to make significant and lasting improvements in the country,’ he said.

Adeoye said the proposed four-year reset agenda would make substantial progress in infrastructure, the economy, education, healthcare and social services before the presidency returned to the North under the principle of rotation.

On fuel pricing, Adeoye said Makinde was not advocating a return to the old subsidy regime but wanted Nigerians to derive greater benefits from the country’s crude oil resources.

‘His argument is that Nigeria owns its crude oil resources and should ensure that Nigerians benefit from those resources before they are sold on the international market.

‘If crude oil is produced in Nigeria, Nigerians should not have to buy petroleum products as though the crude has travelled around the world before returning to the country.

‘The Nigerian people should benefit from the resources extracted from their own soil, that is the fundamental principle behind his position on fuel pricing,’ Adeoye said.

He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) should play a stronger role in protecting Nigeria’s interests and ensuring that citizens derived maximum benefit from the country’s natural resources.

Adeoye said the APM presidential manifesto, which he said would be released soon, would explain how Nigerians could benefit more from the country’s oil resources and how the party intended to implement its policies.

He said the manifesto would be made public to enable Nigerians to hold the party accountable for its campaign promises.

On security, Adeoye commended Makinde for his role in the rescue of kidnapped schoolchildren in Oyo State, saying the governor had provided leadership and resources during the incident.

‘During that period, I had the opportunity to engage with him personally. I saw how emotionally affected he was by the incident and how seriously he treated the situation.

‘He convened meetings with the state security apparatus, received direct reports, deployed resources and provided logistics to security agencies involved in the operation.

‘Nigerians saw many of these efforts, and they know the role he played in the eventual release of the children,’ he said.

Adeoye said the experience further strengthened APM’s support for state, community and decentralised policing to enable governors to exercise greater responsibility for security.

He dismissed suggestions that Makinde was contesting the presidency merely to distract President Tinubu or reduce his votes in the South-West, saying the governor was determined to win the election.

‘It is incorrect to suggest that Governor Makinde is contesting the presidency merely to distract President Tinubu or reduce his votes in the South-West.

‘Makinde genuinely believes he can win the presidential election. He has told us about how, when he first expressed his intention to contest for governor, some of his friends made jokes about the idea.

‘They did not believe he could become governor. But he persisted, contested and eventually became governor,’ Adeoye said.

He said Makinde had demonstrated seriousness by travelling across the country, holding town hall meetings and engaging Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.

‘Today, among the presidential candidates, he is actively travelling across the country, holding town hall meetings and engaging directly with Nigerians.

‘He is moving across the six geopolitical zones, listening to the people, understanding their concerns and allowing them to participate in the political process.

‘Someone who is not serious about winning an election would not undertake this level of engagement,’ he said.

Adeoye also said the APM administration would pursue an ambitious four-year development programme for Lagos if elected in the 2027 governorship election.

He identified housing, food security, education, infrastructure and other social challenges as areas requiring urgent attention, promising targeted free education for students.

‘Within our first four years, we intend to make Lagos one of the three best-performing states in Nigeria in terms of educational outcomes, particularly in public examinations such as WAEC and NECO.

‘These are measurable objectives that we intend to pursue. At the end of the four years, Lagosians will have the opportunity to decide whether they want us to continue or elect another government.

‘Our politics is based on the will of the people. We do not believe in forcing ourselves on the people or using power to impose leaders on them,’ Adeoye said.

He said the party would also pursue greater administrative decentralisation through the constitutional recognition of Lagos State’s Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) as full local governments.

Adeoye said such decentralisation would bring governance closer to the people, improve service delivery and create opportunities for economic expansion across the state.

He said the proposed administration would work with the Federal Government and National Assembly to pursue the constitutional process required for the creation and recognition of additional local governments.

Adeoye also identified indiscriminate refuse disposal, blocked drainage channels and flooding as major challenges confronting Lagos, saying they required comprehensive and sustainable solutions.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has announced a 24-hour traffic management operation across Lagos ahead of the Ember Months and festive season.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the move was aimed at managing the expected increase in vehicular and pedestrian movement and preventing major roads from being overwhelmed by traffic.

Bakare-Oki said LASTMA officers and special response teams would be deployed to traffic hotspots, major interchanges, bridges, arterial roads, transport terminals and busy commercial areas across the state.

He said the operation would focus on real-time traffic monitoring, better control of major routes and quick response to accidents, vehicle breakdowns and other incidents that could disrupt traffic flow.

The LASTMA boss said the agency would pay particular attention to illegal parking, indiscriminate loading and offloading, road obstructions and broken-down vehicles.

He added that accidented and disabled vehicles would be removed quickly from carriageways to reduce the risk of prolonged traffic congestion.

Bakare-Oki said temporary traffic diversions and other control measures would be introduced when necessary to keep vehicles moving and prevent isolated incidents from causing widespread gridlock.

He also announced stronger cooperation between LASTMA and other emergency and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos Ambulance Service Agency and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

According to him, the collaboration would focus on traffic control, accident evacuation, emergency response and enforcement during the festive period.

Bakare-Oki urged motorists, commercial transport operators, truck and tanker drivers and other road users to obey traffic regulations and exercise caution.

He warned against speeding, reckless overtaking, driving against traffic, illegal parking and blocking traffic lanes.

He also advised motorists travelling long distances to check their brakes, tyres, lights and other critical vehicle components before setting out.

The LASTMA general manager urged Lagos residents to report crashes, vehicle breakdowns and other traffic incidents through the agency’s toll-free short code, 3367, to enable quick intervention.

He assured residents and visitors that LASTMA would remain committed to ensuring safe and efficient movement across Lagos throughout the Ember Months and festive season.

The Nigerian Army has described the late retired Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Obiakor as an exceptional soldier and international peacekeeper whose career elevated Nigeria’s profile in global security.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, stated this in a tribute at an Evening of Tributes organised by the Army in honour of Obiakor in Abuja on Saturday.

The tribute was read on behalf of the COAS by the Chief of Transformation and Innovation (Army), Maj.-Gen. Peter Okoye.

Shaibu said Obiakor’s career was marked by professionalism, courage, intellectual depth, humility and an unwavering commitment to the service of Nigeria and humanity.

According to him, Obiakor was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1973 as a member of the 10th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He said the late general distinguished himself in command and operational appointments both within Nigeria and international peace-support organisations.

The COAS said Obiakor’s service reflected the highest traditions of the Nigerian Army and contributed significantly to strengthening Nigeria’s reputation as a major contributor to global peace and security.

He recalled that the deceased commanded the ECOMOG Artillery Brigade in Liberia between 1996 and 1997 and played a significant role in coordinating the country’s elections.

Shaibu said Obiakor later became the first Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), providing strategic and operational leadership to the mission.

He added that in 2008, then UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed the deceased as Military Adviser for UN Peacekeeping Operations at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The appointment, according to him, made Obiakor the first African to occupy the position and underscored the confidence reposed in his professional competence and leadership.

The COAS said the deceased continued contributing to international peace and security after his retirement from active service in 2011.

He said the late general undertook several important United Nations assignments involving conflicts in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria.

Shaibu recalled that Obiakor led a UN special investigation into an incident in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018 and later chaired the UN Secretary-General’s Board of Inquiry into the destruction of humanitarian facilities in north-west Syria.

‘Gen. Obiakor’s post-retirement contributions demonstrated that his commitment to service transcends the boundaries of the military uniform,’ he said.

He also described Obiakor as an ambassador of the Nigerian Army whose accomplishments projected the competence, professionalism and values of the service to the international community.

NDLEA operatives at the Apapa, Tincan Island and Onne seaports have intercepted container consignments of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, and codeine-based syrup worth over N5 billion, following months of intelligence gathering and tracking of the shipments from their ports of origin.

According to the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, NDLEA officers at the Apapa Port in Lagos, acting on intelligence, subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination alongside men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.

Babafemi said a search of one of the containers on Saturday, September 3, yielded 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg and valued at N372 million.

He said the consignment was concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.

At the Onne Port in Rivers State, Babafemi revealed that two containers watch-listed by the NDLEA based on processed intelligence were subjected to joint examination with Customs and other security agencies.

He stated that the exercise led to the discovery of 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg, hidden inside a travelling bag and three of five vehicles-a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra, shipped in one of the containers.

Babafemi said the second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg.

According to him, the container had left India for Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was deleted to prevent it from being targeted.

He added that the codeine and Loud consignments recovered at the Onne Port had a combined street value of N833.2 million.

At the Tincan Island Port in Lagos, Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, September 29, conducted a joint examination of a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada, alongside Customs and other stakeholders.

He said the operation resulted in the seizure of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg and valued at over N3.8 billion in street value.

Babafemi said the cannabis was concealed inside a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags in the container.

In Edo State, Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA officers on Friday, October 2, raided the residence of a 35-year-old suspect, Saturday Omimi, at Uyere community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, recovering 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.

He said on the same day, another suspect, 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael, was arrested at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59 grams of Loud, 12 grams of Colorado, 19 grams of Tramadol, 16 grams of methamphetamine, 4 grams of Swinol and 4 grams of Molly.

Babafemi also disclosed that NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, September 29, arrested 47-year-old fugitive Idris Mohammed Kurra, six years after he jumped bail.

He said Kurra was facing trial before the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State, over alleged possession and dealing in 198kg of skunk.

According to Babafemi, the suspect had been granted bail by the court in December 2020 but subsequently jumped bail and remained at large until his arrest.

Meanwhile, Babafemi said Commands and formations of the agency across the country sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.

Babafemi said NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended officers and men of the various commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the successful operations.

He said Marwa urged the officers, as well as their colleagues across the country, to sustain the agency’s efforts against drug trafficking networks while continuing with its current balanced approach to drug control.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Sunday launched 200 electric tricycles and 30 CNG hybrid buses in Katsina as part of the state government’s drive to modernise public transportation.

The vehicles, launched during Shettima’s one-day official visit to the state, are expected to provide cleaner, more efficient and affordable transportation for residents across the three senatorial districts.

Gov. Dikko Radda said the 200 electric tricycles were the first phase of a programme aimed at deploying 500 electric Keke EVs across the state.

Radda said the initiative would not only promote cleaner mobility but also create opportunities for transport operators, young people, technicians and businesses in the emerging electric mobility sector.

He described the initiative as ‘From Energy Transition to Economic Transformation’, saying the objective was to build a modern transportation ecosystem capable of creating jobs, supporting businesses and improving mobility.

The governor said the 30 CNG hybrid buses would serve Katsina, Daura and Funtua, with students, workers, traders and other residents expected to benefit from the service.

He said the government had established a main terminal and workshop in Katsina, alongside mini-terminal stations in Daura and Funtua, to support the operation and maintenance of the buses.

According to him, 40 modern bus stops were also being provided across the three selected Local Government Areas, with facilities including Wi-Fi and solar inverter systems.

Radda said effective public transportation required not only vehicles but also functional terminals, maintenance facilities, passenger infrastructure and reliable operational arrangements.

The governor also disclosed that more than 240 kilometres of urban and rural roads had been covered through various infrastructure interventions across the state.

Earlier, Shettima commissioned 11.2 kilometres of major road projects in the Katsina metropolis.

The commissioned roads comprised the dualised 4.80-kilometre Kofar Sauri-Central Mosque Roundabout Road, the 2.40-kilometre Central Police Station Junction-Kofar Kaura Underpass Road and the newly constructed 4-kilometre Filin Polo-Ring Road.

Radda said the roads formed part of 12 major urban renewal projects being implemented in Katsina metropolis to improve connectivity, ease traffic congestion and reduce travel time.

He said similar interventions were being extended to Daura and Funtua to ensure that infrastructure development reached the three senatorial zones.

The governor said the state government’s approach was to establish an integrated and interconnected road network rather than execute isolated projects.

He added that the investments were aimed at connecting communities to markets, schools and healthcare facilities, while creating better conditions for agriculture, commerce and private-sector investment.

Radda appreciated President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for supporting infrastructure development and economic growth in the state.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to order an investigation into more than ?94.4bn in public funds reportedly diverted, unremitted, unaccounted for or irregularly spent by the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

SERAP also urged the President to ensure the recovery and remittance of the affected funds to the Treasury and the prosecution of anyone found culpable.

The organisation made the demands in a letter dated October 3, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, addressed to the President and made available to PM NEWS on Sunday.

According to SERAP, the allegations appear in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 (Volume 2) Annual Report, published on August 7, 2026.

The organisation said the report covered periods from January to December 2023 and ended on December 31, 2024.

SERAP urged the President ‘to direct the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate over N94.4 billion in public funds reportedly diverted, unremitted, unaccounted for or irregularly spent, and ensure the prosecution of anyone responsible where sufficient admissible evidence is established, as well as the recovery and remittance of all the affected public funds.’

It also urged him ‘to direct the MDGIF to submit and publish its audited financial statements for 2022, 2023 and 2024 and ensure that they are promptly forwarded to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, as recommended by the Auditor-General.’

The group added, ‘Anyone found responsible should be appropriately sanctioned and prosecuted where sufficient admissible evidence is established, irrespective of status, position or institutional affiliation. Every naira identified in the Auditor-General’s report must be properly accounted for, and any oil funds found to have been diverted, misapplied, improperly spent or otherwise unaccounted for must be fully recovered and remitted to the Treasury.’

The organisation said the findings raised questions about the management of petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties. It gave the government seven days to act on its demands, threatening legal action if the requests were not addressed.

‘There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave findings. The findings raise fundamental questions about the integrity, transparency and effectiveness of the management of Nigeria’s petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties, involving billions of naira in public funds.

‘We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions and other lawful measures to compel your government, the MDGIF, NUPRC and other relevant authorities to comply with our requests in the public interest,’ the organisation’s letter partly read.

The organisation also called for the publication of details of the transactions and the officials and institutions responsible for the funds. It noted that Tinubu’s position as President and Minister of Petroleum Resources placed a particular responsibility on him to ensure accountability in the sector.

‘The MDGIF and NUPRC should be directed to publish a clear schedule showing the amounts due, collected, remitted and recovered, the dates of the transactions, the institutions or officials responsible and the accounts into which the funds were paid. These findings concern petroleum-sector institutions and revenues over which the President, as Minister of Petroleum Resources, has a particular responsibility to ensure effective oversight, transparency and accountability.

‘The President’s dual role makes it especially important that the Auditor-General’s findings concerning billions of naira in petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties are promptly investigated and that all public funds found to have been improperly withheld, diverted, misapplied or otherwise unaccounted for are recovered,’ the organisation stated.

On the specific findings, SERAP said the MDGIF ‘failed to remit N26.549 billion (N26,549,415,244.48) in revenue from the sale of petroleum products between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024.’ The Auditor-General expressed concern that ‘the money may have been diverted’, and recommended its recovery and remittance to the Treasury.

The organisation said the MDGIF also ‘failed to remit and report N12.480 billion (N12,479,683,553.87) in gas-flaring penalties for 2023.’ It said the Auditor-General raised concerns about the failure to collect and promptly remit the net revenue generated by NUPRC from gas flaring into the MDGIF Account, as required by section 52(8) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

‘The Auditor-General is concerned that ‘the failure to remit gas-flaring penalties creates risks of shortages of funds for environmental remediation and potential civil crisis arising from the non-remediation of environmental hazards.”

SERAP further said the MDGIF ‘engaged and paid a consultant N3.518 billion (N3,517,519,272.95) to recover gas-flaring penalties without the approval of the President.’ According to the Auditor-General, ‘there was no evidence of due process or due diligence in the engagement.’ The Auditor-General expressed concern that the money may have been ‘diverted.’

It also alleged that ‘NUPRC reportedly ‘failed to remit N38.610 billion (N38,610,104,671.31) in gas-flaring penalties collected and due to the MDGIF. The Auditor-General expressed concerns about the ‘risks of shortages of funds for environmental remediation and civil crisis arising from the non-remediation of environmental hazards.”

According to SERAP, the MDGIF also ‘failed to collect and account for N12.940 billion (N12,940,311,072.81) in revenue from 2024 sales of natural gas.’ The Auditor-General expressed concern that the money may have been ‘diverted’, and recommended its recovery and remittance to the Treasury.

The organisation said the MDGIF reportedly spent N261.852m to engage Transaction Advisors, but the Auditor-General found no evidence of work done.

‘The MDGIF reportedly spent N261.852 million (N261,851,719.18) to engage Transaction Advisors, but the Auditor-General found no evidence of job execution by the Transaction Advisors and expressed concern that the money may have been ‘diverted.”

It added that the MDGIF spent another N65.8m on Transaction Advisors without due process. ‘The MDGIF also spent N65.8 million (N65,800,000.00) to engage Transaction Advisors in August 2024 without due process. The Auditor-General stated that the action ‘may have violated public procurement procedures’ and recommended that the Executive Director of the MDGIF account for the expenditure.’

SERAP said the alleged failures represented a broader problem with financial controls in the management of the petroleum sector.

‘The failure to properly account for billions of naira in petroleum-product revenues, natural-gas sales revenues and gas-flaring penalties undermines public confidence in the management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources and creates a serious risk that public funds intended for lawful public purposes, including environmental remediation, may have been lost, misapplied or improperly withheld.’

It further stated, ‘The failure to remit billions of naira in revenues and gas-flaring penalties, the absence of supporting documentation for several expenditures, payments without evidence of work performed, and procurement and consultancy arrangements without the required approvals or due process also raise serious concerns about the adequacy of existing safeguards over public funds.

‘The audit findings reveal repeated failures of basic financial and administrative controls, including the failure to remit and account for public revenues, inadequate documentation, payments without evidence of work performed, procurement and consultancy arrangements without required approvals or due process, and failures to submit and publish audited financial statements.’

It said accountability was particularly important because some of the funds involved were gas-flaring penalties intended to support environmental remediation.

‘Transparent investigation and accountability are especially important where the public funds concerned include petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties that should be available for lawful public purposes, including environmental remediation and the protection of affected communities.’

SERAP also criticised the failure to publish audited financial statements for the MDGIF for three consecutive years. ‘The failure to submit and publish audited financial statements for three consecutive financial years also undermines effective legislative oversight and public scrutiny of the financial management of the MDGIF.’

The organisation said the demands were also supported by constitutional and international anti-corruption obligations.

‘Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) imposes a responsibility on government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution. Section 15(5) requires the State to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 14 further provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’, it stated.

SERAP added, ‘Nigeria is also a state party to the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which require effective measures to prevent, investigate and sanction corruption and promote accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.’

It further cited the UN Convention, saying, ‘Article 9 of the UN Convention requires appropriate systems of public procurement and public finances founded on transparency, competition and objective criteria. Article 10 requires measures to enhance transparency in public administration, including access to information. Article 13 recognises the role of civil society and public participation in preventing and combating corruption.’

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria was on the brink of economic collapse when President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, insisting that tough reforms taken by the administration prevented the country from ‘falling into pieces.’

Shettima spoke on Saturday while addressing journalists after visiting Tinubu at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria’s foreign reserves had fallen below $3.9 billion when the administration took office, a situation he said left the country unable to fund even one month of fuel imports.

‘When we assumed the mantle of leadership, our foreign reserves were a staggering below $3.9 billion that was not enough to import fuel for one month,’ Shettima said.

He defended Tinubu’s decision to remove petrol subsidy and unify the country’s multiple exchange rates, describing both measures as necessary responses to the state of the economy.

‘The withdrawal of the fuel subsidy, the realignment of the multiple exchange rate were far-reaching decisions.

‘The economy was actually on the verge of collapse. He saved the economy,’ he said.

Shettima compared Nigeria’s economic trajectory at the time to the crisis experienced in Venezuela.

‘I want Nigerians to understand this fundamental truism. We were on the road to Caracas. He saved our economy; he saved the nation from falling into pieces.’

The Vice President acknowledged the hardship facing Nigerians but said the government was introducing programmes aimed at reducing the pressure on households.

‘We appreciate the pains Nigerians are going through, but tough times do not last forever; tough people do,’ he said.

‘The government is rolling out programmes and projects to assuage the pains of our people.’

Shettima disclosed that the administration would soon launch an e-logistics programme in the North-West as well as thousands of electric tricycles, buses and taxis in other parts of the country.

‘In the next couple of weeks, we are going to launch e-logistics in the North-West. We are going to launch 10,600 electric tricycles to ease the pains of the people in the North-East, and 300 buses and e-taxis; all these are meant to ameliorate the suffering of our people,’ he said.

He also described Tinubu as a leader who has ’empathy for the common man.’

The meeting was the first public interaction between Tinubu and Shettima since the President returned from his vacation in Europe and the Vice President returned from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

A joint operation involving the Nigerian Navy and the Federal Government Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft has uncovered a 40,000-litre-capacity illegal refinery concealed in the creeks of Bonny Island, Rivers State.

The facility was discovered following intelligence coordinated through the Joint Intelligence Monitoring Team, which comprises personnel from various security and intelligence agencies.

Speaking to journalists in Bonny on Friday, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Captain Stanley Umeh, described the discovery as the biggest made by his team since he assumed command in March 2026.

According to him, naval gunboats transported the operatives into the creeks, after which they trekked through thick vegetation before reaching the hidden refinery.

‘This discovery here is a product of long-time synergy between the base and other security agencies within the island and outside. It has been a product of actionable intelligence over time,’ he stated.

Umeh said the facility was yet to commence full operations, unlike several illegal refineries previously discovered with crude oil already stored or processed.

‘Most times we go, we see illegal refineries with pits and crude deposited inside. Some have already cooked, and some are yet to be cooked. But this discovery is like nipping the act in the bud.

‘This is their preparatory stage. You could see from the build-up and the set-up of the illegal refinery, it’s meant to be a very big one that would see the siphoning or stealing of crude and brought here for cooking in large quantity,’ he said.

He described the operation as a significant step in the Federal Government’s efforts to curb crude oil theft and boost production.

‘This discovery is a plus to the fight against crude oil theft in Nigeria, towards increasing the production or crude sales production in the country,’ Umeh said.

The commander vowed that the Navy would sustain its surveillance of Bonny’s waterways and difficult-to-access areas to prevent oil thieves from establishing illegal facilities.

‘It’s been a zero tolerance for us, both in and out of the waters. It’s been zero tolerance for this kind of illegalities within Bonny Local Government Area generally,’ he said.

‘We will continue to raid and make sure they have no hiding places. It is a zero tolerance,’ Umeh added, noting that the operation was in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s directive on crude oil theft.

Also speaking, the Head of Investigation of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft, Omar John Sini, said the discovery demonstrated the importance of collaboration among intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies.

Sini said the task force, inaugurated by the Federal Government on March 1, 2025, had secured at least 137 convictions in connection with illicit activities in the hydrocarbon sector.

‘Since inception to now, we’ve been able to secure at least 137 convictions, and that is largely responsible for the drop in the illicit activities in the hydrocarbon sector,’ Sini said.

He said intelligence from the Joint Intelligence Monitoring Team, led by Major General A.A. Idris under the supervision of the Chief of Defence Staff, was instrumental to the operation.

Sini explained that while the intelligence team was responsible for gathering and tracking information, the Special Prosecution Team handled investigation and prosecution.

‘It is this sync that gave rise to this identity. As we were working as a team with them, by sheer providence, the commander, my elder brother here beside me, was also working.

‘So you can imagine that when we put these two teams together, without no time, we deploy relevant technology, identify and track this location.’

He said the agencies were focused on preventing oil theft before criminal operations became fully established.

‘The primary purpose of law enforcement is to detect crime. We don’t even want it to occur so that we don’t be reactive, we want to be preventive,’ he explained.

Sini disclosed that three suspects allegedly linked to the financing of the illegal refinery were already in custody.

‘We’ve been able to detect, we allowed them to invest their money, their hard-earned resources, and they’ve built this refinery with an amount that would be running into millions of Naira.

‘What we will do after now is that we are going to treat this place in accordance with extant laws, afterwards face and prosecute the culprits because we already have three suspects in custody that are associated with the financing of this typology of crime in this axis.

‘We have already approached the court of law to apply for relevant order,’ Sini stated.

He also called for tougher sentencing provisions for petroleum theft offences, arguing that existing penalties may not provide enough deterrence.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has invited young Nigerian innovators between the ages of 18 and 28 to submit innovative ideas capable of driving growth and transformation in Nigeria’s blue economy.

NIMASA made the appeal while announcing that the opening of the application portal for its Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (NIMASA-BEAP) will take place on Monday, October 5, 2026.

NIMASA, in a statement by Osagie Edward, its Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations, said the initiative, which includes a National Innovation Hackathon and a 12-week accelerator programme, is designed to identify, nurture and support young talents with innovative solutions that can unlock the vast economic opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sectors.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, stated that the programme reflects the Agency’s commitment to positioning young Nigerians as active participants in the development of the nation’s blue economy through innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.

According to him, Nigeria’s maritime sector holds enormous potential for economic growth, job creation and national development, but unlocking this potential requires fresh ideas, technological innovation and the active participation of young people.

‘The future of Nigeria’s blue economy will be built on ideas, innovation, enterprise and collaboration. Through NIMASA-BEAP, we are creating a platform for young Nigerians to develop practical solutions, transform innovative ideas into viable enterprises and contribute meaningfully to the growth of our maritime sector,’ Mobereola stated.

The application portal will remain open from October 5 to November 13, 2026, after which submitted applications will undergo evaluation and due diligence from November 16 to December 2, 2026.

Successful applicants will proceed to the National Innovation Hackathon scheduled for December 8-10, 2026, where innovative ideas will be further developed and assessed as part of the programme’s selection process.

The selected innovators will subsequently participate in a 12-week accelerator programme in the first quarter of 2027, culminating in a National Demo Day in the second quarter of the year. The Demo Day will provide a platform for participants to showcase their solutions, demonstrate their progress and explore opportunities for collaboration and enterprise development.

NIMASA therefore encouraged eligible young Nigerians with innovative ideas and solutions relevant to the maritime and blue economy sectors to take advantage of the opportunity by submitting their applications through the programme portal once it opens.

The Agency also reiterated its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering the next generation of maritime entrepreneurs and supporting solutions that will strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global blue economy.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) senatorial candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign over what he described as worsening insecurity across the country.

Ajadi also urged Tinubu to abandon his 2027 re-election bid, arguing that the President should relinquish office if his administration could not adequately address the security challenges confronting Nigerians.

He made the call while reacting to the reported abduction of 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The prospective corps members were reportedly abducted when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, on Thursday.

Ajadi described the incident as unacceptable, particularly because the victims were young Nigerians travelling to serve their country under the NYSC scheme.

‘It is ridiculous and unreasonable that corps members who are travelling to serve their motherland should be kidnapped. These are young Nigerians who have completed their education and are being deployed to contribute to the development of their country,’ he said.

The APM candidate urged President Tinubu to direct security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the abducted corps members, stressing that their safe return should be treated as a matter of national urgency.

‘Mr President must make the immediate rescue of these corps members a priority. It is the responsibility of the government to protect Nigerians, particularly young people who are travelling across the country in the service of their nation,’ Ajadi said.

He expressed concern over reports that the abductors were demanding N50 million for each of the 19 victims, which would amount to N950 million, saying such a demand would place the affected families under severe financial and emotional pressure.

Ajadi called on the government to take decisive action to secure the victims’ release while strengthening security arrangements along major highways used by prospective corps members and other Nigerians travelling between states.

He said the persistent security challenges across the country showed that the Federal Government needed to adopt more decisive measures to protect lives and property.

‘If these corps members are unable to be rescued, then Mr President should resign. It is barbaric for the father of the nation to continue his duty as President while some of his children are in the den of kidnappers,’ Ajadi said.

He further urged Tinubu not to seek re-election in 2027 if his administration could not find effective solutions to the country’s security challenges.

According to Ajadi, the President should instead resign and allow another administration to take responsibility for addressing the insecurity confronting Nigerians.

‘Tinubu should resign because he has not been able to meet the responsibility of solving the insecurity in the nation. He should not bother to contest in the 2027 general election. He should rather resign now,’ he said.

Ajadi urged security agencies to sustain their search-and-rescue operations until all the abducted prospective corps members are safely reunited with their families.

He also appealed to Nigerians to remain vigilant and provide useful information to security agencies that could assist in rescuing the victims and preventing further attacks on people travelling across the country.