Category: The Nation – Nigeria

With more than 25 million people to feed and over 70 per cent of its food supplies coming from outside the state, Lagos is betting on a network of food hubs and a N500 billion offtake guarantee scheme to reduce its dependence on long-distance food supply chains and stabilise food prices.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the strategy was part of a long-term plan to transform the state from a largely consumption-driven market into an integrated food production, processing, logistics and distribution centre capable of supporting jobs, investment and ultimately, agricultural exports.

Speaking yesterday at the commissioning of the Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Agege, Sanwo-Olu said the state was building a food economy designed to handle more than 1.5 million metric tons of food annually, support 1,500 food trucks daily and unlock a N500 billion market guarantee for farmers under the Produce for Lagos Programme.

The governor said Lagos could no longer depend on fragmented supply chains to feed its rapidly growing population, noting that the heavy reliance on food brought in from other parts of the country exposed consumers to high transportation costs, post-harvest losses, inefficient storage and price volatility.

According to him, the emerging network of food hubs is designed to bring farmers, aggregators, traders, processors and consumers into a more coordinated market structure.

Sanwo-Olu said the Mushin food hub, commissioned in December 2023, had already recorded more than N4 billion in transactions over 228 market days, created over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs and attracted more than 850 registered vendors.

He said similar facilities were being developed in Opebi, Agege, Ikorodu and Bombata, adding that the network would eventually extend across all Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the state.

The governor said the infrastructure expansion was being backed by the N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund under the Produce for Lagos Programme, which he described as a response to two of the biggest constraints facing farmers – access to finance and reliable markets.

Sanwo-Olu said the flagship of the initiative was the Lagos Central Food Systems and Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe.

‘The Lagos Central Food Systems and Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe, is designed to handle more than 1.5 million metric tons of food annually and service more than 1,500 food trucks every day,’ he said.

He added that the facility would combine cold and dry storage, processing and repackaging facilities, quality-control laboratories, warehouses, logistics bays and digital trading platforms, describing it as a critical piece of infrastructure in Lagos’ food security strategy.

Sanwo-Olu said construction of the Epe facility was at an advanced stage and would be completed and commissioned before the end of his administration.

Sanwo-Olu said the food transformation programme could eventually move Lagos beyond meeting its own food needs to becoming an exporter of agricultural commodities.

‘The question before us has never been whether there is a market. There will always be a market. The real question is whether we can build a food system worthy of the size, ambition and economic strength of Lagos,’ he said.

He called for stronger collaboration among farmers, private investors, financial institutions, logistics operators, traders, technology providers, development partners and communities to make the state’s food transformation agenda sustainable.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the newly commissioned Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Agege was projected to facilitate more than N5 billion worth of food transactions annually.

She said the facility was designed not simply as another conventional food market, but as a strategically positioned middle-level food hub linked to the state’s broader Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub.

Olusanya asked rhetorically: ‘Every project begins with a problem that needs solving. For us, the challenge was clear: how do we move food more efficiently into and across a city of this size, reduce what we lose along the way and, at the same time, begin to properly understand a food distribution system that has remained largely invisible to us?’

She explained that the state was responding through an interconnected food distribution network based on a hub-and-spoke model, with the central logistics hub serving as the ‘mothership’ while middle-level hubs would be located closer to consumers and major trading centres.

According to her, the Agege facility, alongside the existing Mushin hub and other hubs under development, would operate as interconnected nodes within the same distribution system.

‘The thinking behind these controlled hubs goes beyond food distribution. We are also tackling some of the problems that have become inseparable from the way food is traditionally traded in a city of this size,’ she said.

Olusanya identified poor handling and inadequate storage, post-harvest losses, traffic congestion associated with food trading and logistics, poor sanitation and difficult trading conditions as some of the challenges the hub model was designed to address.

She said relocating food trading activities into properly designed facilities would enable the government to improve waste management, organise loading and offloading, strengthen sanitation and provide traders with a cleaner, safer and more dignified trading environment.

The commissioner said the model would also help bring a largely informal food economy into a more organised and visible system without undermining the commercial relationships that sustain Lagos’ markets.

The Agege hub, developed in partnership with Origin Tech Group, occupies about 7,000 square metres, including a 4,000-square-metre trading floor capable of accommodating between 350 and 400 vendors.

The facility also has about 1,200 square metres of dry storage with a capacity of approximately 800 metric tons, as well as cold storage capacity of about 300 metric tons.

It includes a purpose-built seafood section, parking space for between 80 and 90 vehicles and 10 electric vehicle charging points.

Olusanya said the scale of the facility was deliberately designed to provide the storage, logistics and trading capacity required to handle significant volumes of fresh food moving through Lagos.

‘Based on the trading capacity of the facility, the number of operators it can accommodate and the volume of food it is designed to handle, we project that the Lagos Fresh Food Hub, Agege, will facilitate well in excess of N5 billion in food transactions annually,’ she said.

To ensure that the facility operates beyond the conventional market model, Olusanya said the state had developed a 351-page operating framework to guide its management and day-to-day activities.

She said produce would move into the facility through farmers, aggregators, processors, suppliers and bulk dealers before reaching commissioned agents, retailers and institutional buyers.

‘Cold and dry storage facilities will allow produce to be preserved where immediate sale is not necessary, while the governance framework will cover operator selection, produce receiving and quality control, inventory management, sanitation, waste management and the use of trading spaces,’ she said.

Olusanya said the system would also provide the government with more reliable data on food flows across Lagos.

Chairman, Agege Local Government, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, commended the Lagos State Government for locating the fresh food hub in the area, saying the project would strengthen Agege’s position as an important node in the state’s expanding food economy.

Obasa said the facility would improve the way food was received, stored and distributed in Agege while creating opportunities for traders, food processors, transport operators, farmers and other businesses connected to the food value chain.

He said the project was particularly significant because of the growing interest of food processors and other investors in Lagos, adding that improved food infrastructure would help the state attract more private-sector investment while creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities for residents.

‘Agege is not just receiving a new food market; we are gaining a strategic piece of infrastructure that can strengthen the entire food value chain. This facility will improve food distribution, create opportunities for businesses and further position Agege as an important gateway in Lagos’ food economy,’ Obasa said.

He pledged the council’s support for the effective management and security of the facility, saying its success would depend on collaboration among the state government, local government, traders, investors and residents.

The commissioning attracted members of the Lagos State Executive Council, members of the Lagos Council of Chiefs, traditional rulers, food and agricultural stakeholders, private-sector operators and other dignitaries.

The Agege facility is expected to become one of the key links in Lagos’ emerging food hub network as the state seeks to build a more efficient system capable of moving food from farms and production centres to consumers while reducing losses, improving market access and strengthening food security.

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Nigerian Army high command has deployed troops to the new Army Battalion in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

President Bola Tinubu last month approved the establishment of an Army battalion as a measure against banditry in the area.

Speaking at the welcome ceremony for the troops, Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba AbdulRaheem Adeoti, said the traditional rulers and people of the community were pleased with the establishment of the Army battalion in Omu-Aran under Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. Kehinde Avoseh.

‘I want to assure you that our support, especially in terms of the welfare of the battalion, will be 100 per cent by the grace of God. You will enjoy your stay in Omu-Aran.

‘We are together by the grace of God. The Lord who has brought us together has done so in peace, and we pray that this development will continue to bring blessings, security and progress to our communities,’ the monarch added.

Oba Adeoti expressed appreciation to the military authorities for ensuring that the location of the battalion was not changed.

The ceremony was attended by traditional rulers and community leaders, including the Alara of Aran Orin, Alaran of Arandun, and Oloko of Oko Irese

The council Chair Abdulazeez Yakub, expressed appreciation to the Federal and Kwara State governments for the establishment of the battalion.

Yakub assured the Army of the council’s support.

‘On behalf of the people of Irepodun Local Government, I assure you of our full cooperation and support as you carry out your duties,’ he said.

Also, the President, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), Prince Niyi Adeyeye, said the deployment of the battalion to Omu-Aran would restore peace and security in the community and Kwara South.

Adeyeye commended security agencies, local vigilantes and community security volunteers for their courage, dedication and sacrifices in protecting the communities.

He also commended AbdulRazaq for his efforts and responsiveness to the concerns of the people.

‘We are particularly grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for responding decisively to the security concerns of the people of Kwara South and Omu-Aran in particular,’ the council chairman said.

‘This intervention is a significant demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of Nigerians and restoring peace, confidence and economic stability to the communities.’

Also, a community leader and retired General, Lasisi Abidoye, acknowledged the efforts of President Tinubu and AbdulRazaq towards the establishment of the new battalion and assured officers and men of the Army deployed to Omu-Aran of maximum support to carry out their duties.

Earlier, the Commander of 22 Armoured Brigade, Brig Gen. Nicholas Rume, expressed appreciation to the people of Omu-Aran for the warm reception accorded the officers and soldiers.

He said the deployment was part of the Federal Government’s directive to expand the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity across the country.

‘It is a very remarkable day for all of us, and we all know that as part of the President’s Strategic Directive, the Nigerian Army is expanding. The Chief of Army Staff, on his own part, to achieve his strategic vision, has deployed his battalion here to take care of security incidents in Kwara South.

Rume thanked residents of Omu-Aran axis for their support to the Army.

‘I sincerely appreciate everybody for coming out. This is really surprising. I was just expecting to come and start cleaning our rooms and entering. We didn’t know that anything of this was being planned. So, thank you everybody for coming out.

‘To my soldiers and officers out there, you can see the kind of support you already have on coming here. So I don’t think that the task would be difficult. When you have the people on your side, I think 75 percent of the job is done,’ the army chief added.

Comedian and skit maker Josh Alfred, popularly known as Josh2Funny, has responded to the growing debate over ‘brain-rot’ content and semi-literate influencers in Nigeria.

The conversation was sparked by rapper YCee, who described the trend as the ‘Olodo Uprising’.

In a recent interview with media personality Nedu Wazobia, Josh2Funny said the so-called uprising is both a blessing and a curse.

He criticised critics for being too harsh on the new wave of creators, arguing that comedy was never intended to be intellectual.

‘What YCee said is straight-up the truth. There’s an uprising of the Olodo people. Now, it’s a blessing and a curse,’ he said.

‘When I started, it was easy for people to call me part of the Olodo Uprising. My character, ‘Mama Felicia’, didn’t make any sense. It wasn’t well-articulated comedy. I was just fooling around.’

Josh2Funny added that the elite’s dismissal of such content overlooks its impact.

‘Comedy has never been something that is supposed to be intelligent. The so-called elite might call it ‘stupid’, but it built a million-dollar industry called Nollywood,’ he said.

The comedian also blamed social media for amplifying the trend.

He cited streamer Peller as an example, saying he would have remained unknown without online platforms.

‘It’s just that social media has now exaggerated it. The person in question, Peller, you see him all the time. If it were when there was no social media, nobody would know what he does.

‘So, it is easy for trolls to come for him because his life is in public. Also, some people are envious of him for being blessed without a degree or quality education.’

He concluded, ‘But what would you have him do? Should he become a thief because he doesn’t know how to speak good English?’

A growing campaign of allegations against the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, deserves to be tested against the law, institutional responsibilities and verifiable data rather than insinuation.

The latest claims by the self-styled Oil and Gas Professional Forum, including allegations that Ojulari influenced associates to secure an Oil Mining Lease (OML) and that NNPC has become unproductive, raise fundamental questions about whether the critics understand Nigeria’s post-Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) regulatory framework.

Under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the administration and award of petroleum prospecting licences and petroleum mining leases fall within the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), subject to the provisions of the law.

Section 73 of the PIA further provides that petroleum prospecting licences and petroleum mining leases shall be granted through a fair, transparent and competitive bidding process in accordance with the Act, relevant regulations and licensing-round guidelines issued by the Commission.

NNPCL, by contrast, operates as Nigeria’s national oil company with a distinct commercial mandate.

Conflating NUPRC’s regulatory responsibilities with NNPCL’s commercial functions risks creating a misleading impression of how petroleum licensing operates under the PIA.

Public officials and institutions should undoubtedly be subjected to rigorous scrutiny, but such scrutiny must be based on facts, evidence and the actual legal framework governing the sector.

Production figures tell a different story

The claim that NNPCL under Ojulari has been unproductive is difficult to reconcile with available production figures.

Average crude oil production, including condensates, rose from approximately 1.60 million barrels per day in April 2025 to 1.67 million barrels per day in April 2026, an increase of about 70,000 barrels per day.

Gas production also increased from approximately 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd in April 2026, representing growth of about five per cent.

These figures do not suggest an organisation moving backwards.

Nigeria’s petroleum industry continues to face challenges, including ageing infrastructure, under-investment, insecurity, production disruptions and operational bottlenecks, making sustained increases in crude and gas output significant.

If the Oil and Gas Professional Forum has contrary data demonstrating that NNPCL’s performance has deteriorated, it should publish those figures and subject them to independent scrutiny.

Transparency must be measured by evidence

The allegation that NNPCL lacks accountability also requires examination against its publicly available financial disclosures.

NNPCL publishes regular financial and operational reports, providing figures for examination by investors, regulators and the public.

In June 2026, the company recorded ?535 billion in profit after tax, up from ?462 billion in May, while total revenue stood at ?4.389 trillion.

Cumulative statutory payments to the Federation between January and June 2026 were ?6.286 trillion.

If these figures are disputed, critics should present the evidence supporting their claims rather than relying on broad allegations.

Accountability is ultimately about disclosure, measurable performance and the willingness to subject published figures to scrutiny.

Scrutiny must not become a weapon

There is nothing wrong with questioning NNPCL’s leadership or demanding greater transparency from the national oil company.

What should concern Nigerians is the possibility that legitimate oversight could be turned into a tool in the broader contest for influence, access and commercial opportunities in an industry undergoing significant structural change.

Nigeria’s petroleum sector requires transparency, competition, effective regulation and institutional discipline.

It does not need manufactured allegations, selective statistics or narratives designed to undermine institutions without verifiable evidence.

If the allegations against Ojulari and NNPCL are genuine, those making them should provide the documents, data and evidence necessary for independent scrutiny.

But where the law assigns petroleum licensing to NUPRC, production figures show measurable increases, and NNPCL is publishing substantial financial disclosures, sweeping claims of regulatory interference, non-productivity and lack of accountability require considerably more evidence than has so far been presented.

Nigeria deserves scrutiny of its petroleum industry, but that scrutiny must be evidence-based, legally grounded and directed at strengthening institutions rather than advancing private interests.

The National Authomative Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are set to train 300 youth corps members on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion by equipping them with skills that can translate into employment, preparing them for the world of the new automotive economy.

NADDC’s Director General, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, said this would expose corps members to entrepreneurial opportunities as the government builds a pool of competent youths who can support the safe and sustainable expansion of the CNG ecosystem across Nigeria.

Osanipin announced this during the official flag-off of NADDC and the NYSC CNG retrofitting training under the NYSC SAED programme in Abuja. The NADDC’s boss explained that through the partnership with NYSC, the commission was taking technical skills development directly to a generation of young Nigerians who were already contributing to national development through the NYSC.

He said: ‘The ultimate measure of this programme will not simply be the number of corps members trained. Our success will be measured by what happens after the training. For this reason, NADDC will place greater emphasis on competency, certification, practical training, safety, and industry relevance.

‘Our objective is to ensure that those who pass through this programme are not merely holders of certificates, but are genuinely competent of applying their skills and knowledge in real-world situations. This training represents a deliberate step in translating the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the government into practical opportunities for our young people. It is also a demonstration of what can be achieved when government institutions work together with a common purpose, align their mandates and place the Nigerian youth at the centre of national development.

‘The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles is an important component of this national response. It provides Nigeria with an opportunity to take advantage of a resource in which the country is richly endowed, ranking ninth globally and first in Africa, while providing a cleaner and potentially more affordable alternative for transportation’.

The DG urged the corps members to embrace this opportunity, as the CNG ecosystem would require engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs, installers, maintenance specialists, safety professionals, trainers, and business owners, stating that some of the corps members here may become leaders of major automotive enterprises tomorrow. Some may establish CNG conversion and maintenance industries, some may become instructors and technical experts, others may go on to develop innovations that will amaze the entire world that we cannot yet imagine.

Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande advised the corps members not to wait for white-collar jobs as he urged them to prepare for innovation and do all they can to succeed after youth service. He said they shall be given certification after the training, which will launch them into a great future.

The Director General of the Osun West Governorship Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Omooba Dotun Babayemi, has appealed to residents of the state to come out peacefully on Saturday to elect a new governor.

Babayemi specifically urged voters to support the APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), stressing that his emergence would bring transformational change to Osun.

In a statement from his Media Office, Babayemi cautioned against bloodshed and destruction of lives and property during the election.

‘The task before all of us is to choose a new governor, and this we can do peacefully through our votes without maiming, killings, or destroying property. Elections will come and go, but our state will remain,’ he said.

He warned that the cost of repairing damage caused by violence could be immeasurable, insisting that elections must not be treated as a do-or-die affair. Babayemi assured that Oyebamiji would ensure judicious use of resources and balanced development across the state, with priority on road rehabilitation, education, healthcare, and other essential services.

The APC campaign chief also accused Accord Party members of attacking APC supporters while portraying themselves as victims. He urged party members to remain united, mobilise voters, and guard against electoral malpractice.

Babayemi acknowledged endorsements for Oyebamiji from former Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, and other political leaders in Odo-Otin, expressing confidence in APC’s victory.

In a related development, Babayemi concluded a three-day staggered medical outreach, tagged ‘Omooba Dotun Babayemi-AMBO Medical Outreach,’ in Gbongan, Ayedade Local Government. The programme, held in Orile-Owu, Tonkere, and Gbongan, provided free medical services to about 10,000 people, including blood pressure and sugar tests, consultations, medications, eye care, and referrals for further treatment-all funded by Babayemi.

He said the outreach demonstrated APC’s commitment to grassroots welfare. ‘Healthcare should not be a luxury. Our primary healthcare centres have been abandoned, and the suffering of our people cannot continue. This outreach shows that APC and its candidate remain connected to the people and place their welfare above politics,’ Babayemi stated.

Thirty-three chairmanship and 351 councillorship candidates of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State have taken the party to the Federal High Court in Ibadan over reports of ‘planned primaries’ for the coming local government elections.

The suit has APM, its National Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second, third and fourth defendants.

The plaintiffs, who emerged as candidates from the APM local government and councillorship primaries conducted across the state on August 3, are seeking to stop the party from conducting another primary for the same positions.

According to the court documents, the August 3 primaries were monitored by OYSIEC, with the results of the exercise subsequently submitted to the commission.

The candidates said the suit became necessary following reports that the APM National Chairman was seeking to have the earlier primaries nullified and another set of primaries conducted.

The development came after factional candidates emerged in the party, with candidates backed by one of the party chieftains in Oyo State, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan, reportedly emerging in competition with candidates supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether OYSIEC can accept or recognise more than one candidate nominated by the APM for the same local government or ward, particularly after it had monitored the August 3 primaries.

They are also challenging the possibility of OYSIEC monitoring another APM primary for the same positions, arguing that the electoral body had already monitored the August 3 exercise.

The candidates further wanted the court to determine whether persons whose names were not contained in the party’s membership register submitted to INEC within the period prescribed by law could participate in the party’s primaries.

The plaintiffs are asking the Federal High Court to grant the declarations and orders sought in their originating summons, as the dispute over the party’s candidates for the forthcoming local government elections continues.

The reliefs sought in the court papers as sighted by The Nation reads: ‘A declaration that, in view of the provisions of Section 197(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Paragraphs 1(A), 4(A), 5 and 6(D) of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission Regulation and Guidelines for the 2026 Local Government Election in Oyo State, the 3rd Defendant is not permitted to accept, recognie, or publish more than one nomination in respect of the same Local Government and ward for the same election.

‘A declaration that, having regard to the provisions of Paragraph 1(A) of the 2024 Guidelines to the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission Regulation and Guidelines for the 2026 Local Government Election in Oyo State, the 3rd Defendant, having attended and monitored the primaries election conducted by the 1st Defendant in respect of the same Local Governments and wards on the 3rd day of August 2026, cannot lawfully attend, supervise or monitor any other primary election subsequently conducted by the 1st Defendant to nomination another candidate in respect of the same ward or constituency for the same Local Government election.

‘A declaration that, having regard to the provisions of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026, a person or persons whose name(s) are not contained in the membership register submitted to the 4th Defendant in accordance with the said Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026, cannot lawfully participate in the primary election of the 1st Defendant.

‘An order mandating and/or directing the 3rd Defendant not to attend, supervise or monitor any other primary election conducted to by the 1st Defendant for the purpose of nominating another candidate or candidates in respect of the same Local Governments and wards for the forthcoming Oyo State Local Government Election, having already attended and monitored the primary election conducted by the 1st Defendant on the 3rd day of August 2026.

‘An order excluding and/or disqualifying from recognition any person or persons whose name was never contained in membership register submitted 21 days to the primaries of the 1st Defendant held 3rd day of August 2026 in accordance with Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence has dismissed as false and mischievous reports that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is lobbying to become the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.

The group, through its National Chairman, Haruna Bature, described the report as a calculated attempt to tarnish Wike’s political image and create unnecessary tension within the country’s political space.

Bature said the claim had no basis in reality, stressing that Wike had neither lobbied nor expressed interest in becoming the APC presidential campaign DG.

According to him, Wike remains committed to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and is focused on delivering on his responsibilities as FCT Minister, as well as contributing to the President’s political success in Rivers State and the FCT.

He said Wike, who is currently holidaying in Spain, had just concluded about 30 days of commissioning projects across the country, arguing that his recent activities were evidence of his focus on governance rather than lobbying for political appointments.

‘Wike never lobbied,’ Bature declared, adding that the minister had dismissed the report as a total lie and urged Nigerians to disregard the allegation.

The Arewa youth leader accused unnamed political actors of deploying what he described as ‘hypocrisy, duplicity and fabricated lies’ against Wike in an attempt to score cheap political points and cause friction between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the alleged campaign was part of a broader attempt to distract Wike from his duties and obstruct the minister from carrying out what he described as his good work in the nation’s capital.

Bature argued that Wike’s political influence in Rivers State and his record in infrastructure development had made him a target of political attacks, insisting that his achievements should be judged on their merits rather than through unsubstantiated reports.

‘Falsehood may fly on the wings of the wind and spread to every corner of the earth, but truth, though slow and solemn, will always catch up with it,’ he said.

The group described Wike as a major political force in Rivers State and an ‘irreplaceable asset’ in leadership, particularly in view of his role in the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory.

Bature said the Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence remained proud of Wike’s achievements and urged him to remain focused on delivering projects and supporting national development, while calling on Nigerians to reject political propaganda capable of deepening divisions in the country.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Wednesday that it has recovered more than N115 billion in statutory levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by defaulting oil companies between 2021 and 2023.

Francis Oka-Phillips Usani, an EFCC representative, disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts in Abuja.

Usani said the amount comprised N76.883 billion and $81.076 million in outstanding liabilities.

The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, is investigating queries arising from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2021-2023 Oil and Gas Sector Audit Report.

Usani said the EFCC investigated 43 oil companies, of which 24 operating in the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding three per cent statutory levies payable to the NDDC.

He said the remaining 19 companies were cleared after the investigation found no outstanding liabilities against them.

‘At the commencement of the investigation, EFCC invited 43 oil companies, out of which 24 operating within the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding liabilities in the sums of N76,883,705,907.17 and $81,076,655.00, while the remaining 19 other oil companies were given a clean bill of health,’ Usani said.

He added that, following the investigation and mounting pressure on the affected companies, some paid their outstanding liabilities directly to the NDDC.

According to him, the companies paid N6.709 billion and $16.994 million directly to the commission.

Usani further disclosed that N73.373 billion and $67.070 million recovered by the EFCC on behalf of the NDDC had been released to the development commission, leaving N3.510 billion and $14.005 million in the EFCC’s recovery account.

Explaining the scope of the investigation, Usani said the EFCC focused primarily on unpaid three per cent statutory levies due to the NDDC, as identified in the NEITI audit report.

He, however, said the commission was also mindful that other statutory obligations and taxes could be outstanding from the affected companies and payable to the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, the committee rejected an attempt by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to defend queries raised against it in the NEITI audit report, citing under-representation.

The committee consequently directed the Managing Director of TotalEnergies to appear in person before it at a date to be fixed next week.

It also gave the managing directors of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, Oando Oil Limited, Famfa Oil and Green Energy International Limited a final opportunity to appear physically before the committee.

Dankwambo said that the investigation would continue on Thursday.