Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Forum of Retired Oil Workers has commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for its bold reforms, transparency initiatives, and renewed investor confidence under the leadership of its Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe.

In a statement on Monday signed by its president, Richard Jackson, the forum described Komolafe’s leadership as ‘visionary, reform-driven, and deeply aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to reposition the oil and gas sector for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.’

The group noted that the series of policy initiatives and operational reforms introduced by the NUPRC since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) have revitalised investor trust, boosted production output, and strengthened Nigeria’s position as an attractive energy investment hub in Africa.

‘The Commission’s approach under Engr. Gbenga Komolafe represents a decisive shift from bureaucracy to performance. By focusing on regulatory clarity, transparency, and accountability, the NUPRC has restored credibility to the upstream sector and demonstrated that Nigeria remains open for responsible and profitable investment,’ the statement reads.

The forum noted that the 28 Field Development Plans (FDPs) approved by the Commission in 2025 alone, projected to deliver 600,000 barrels of oil per day and more than 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily, underscore a strategic turnaround for the industry.

‘These are not mere figures; they represent renewed life in an industry once bogged down by uncertainty and underinvestment. An additional 1.4 billion barrels of oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of gas unlocked in one year shows that the reforms are not cosmetic; they are delivering measurable results,’ Jackson added.

According to the forum, Komolafe’s regulatory model has not only driven production but also attracted significant capital inflows, with over $18 billion in new investment commitments recorded this year.

The retired oil workers said this scale of investor response was proof that the Commission’s transparent licensing rounds and fiscal stability measures were being recognised globally.

‘From the 2022 Petroleum Prospecting Licences to the 2024 deep offshore bid round, every process has been transparent and benchmarked to international standards. That is the type of leadership and accountability we had always hoped to see in Nigeria’s oil industry,’ the group observed.

The forum particularly praised the Commission’s collaboration with host communities and its emphasis on decarbonisation and energy transition through measurable frameworks that balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.

‘Komolafe has brought a pragmatic approach to energy transition; one that recognises the need for cleaner energy while protecting Nigeria’s economic stability,’ Jackson said.

‘The Decade of Gas initiative, complemented by the Commission’s Decarbonisation Framework, shows that the regulator understands both the global conversation and local realities.’

The retired oil professionals also lauded the Commission’s enforcement of 24 new regulations aligned with the PIA, describing them as ‘a solid foundation for a predictable, investor-friendly operating environment’.

‘Rig activity rising from just 8 in 2021 to 70 today, alongside rising oil output to 1.8 million barrels per day, are strong indicators that the NUPRC’s strategies are working,’ the statement said.

The forum urged the Commission to sustain its reform momentum, deepen stakeholder engagement, and continue to hold operators accountable to global safety, governance, and transparency standards.

‘We believe the NUPRC is writing a new chapter in Nigeria’s oil and gas history. Under Komolafe’s stewardship, the sector is becoming more efficient, responsible, and profitable. That is the best tribute to decades of work by Nigerians who built this industry,’ the statement added.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude ongoing negotiations with unions across the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The labour body also criticised the government’s no-work-no-pay policy imposed on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as punishment for embarking on a nationwide strike.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made this known during an interactive session with labour correspondents on Monday in Abuja.

The session came after a meeting between the NLC and leaders of tertiary institutions-based unions at the Congress headquarters.

‘We have decided to give the federal government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU but the problem in this sector goes beyond ASUU.

‘That is why we are extending this to four weeks. If after four weeks this negotiation is not concluded, the organs of the NEC will meet and take a nationwide action that all workers in the country, all unions in the country will be involved so that we get to the root of all this.

‘The era of signing agreements, negotiations and threatening the unions involved, that era has come to an end. ‘The policy, the so-called policy of no work, no pay, will henceforth be no pay, no work. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated. We have discovered that most, 90% of strike actions in this country are caused by failure to obey agreements,’ Ajaero said.

The Senate Committee on Army has condoled with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, over the tragic death of Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko and other soldiers in Borno State.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, in a statement described the fallen soldiers as heroes who exemplified the highest standards of military professionalism and patriotism.

The statement reads: ‘On behalf of the Senate Committee on Army, I extend our heartfelt condolences to you, the Nigerian Army, and the families of the gallant officers and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.’

The Committee assured the Nigerian Army of its continued support in ensuring the welfare and well-being of troops, saying, ‘We will work tirelessly to provide adequate resources and support to the Nigerian Army in its quest to maintain peace and security in our great nation.’

The Senate Committee on Army also extended its deepest sympathies to the families of the fallen heroes, praying that Almighty Allah grants them Jannatul Firdaus and comfort their loved ones during this difficult time.

‘May their sacrifice never be in vain, and may their memory continue to inspire us to work towards a safer and more prosperous Nigeria,’ Yar’Adua said.

Sir: School feeding programme is a noble policy which every government in Nigeria must endeavour to practice. Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the first to introduce school feeding policy as premier of Western Region 1954 – 1959. In 1955, his party, the Action Group, introduced the compulsory free primary education in the Western Region and free feeding of pupils was one method the party used to win the hearts of parents to release their children and wards to enrol for primary education.

Many parents withdrew their children from the farms to enrol in the free education programme and the gesture of free feeding became the catalyst for increased enrolment. Such policy till date gave the now Southwest its leadership educationally over and above all other states of the country.

It is gratifying that Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State seems to be replicating that same old idea of the former Western Region where he has elevated the school feeding programme into a model of inclusive development. By providing daily meals to thousands of children, the Kaduna State government has succeeded in improving the nutrition of the children, increasing school attendance and enrolment, empowering women who daily cook and prepare such meals and also empowering farmers who supply the needed foodstuffs on daily basis.

It is a chain of advantages for which Governor Uba has been praised and commended largely for such rare vision, leadership quality and as a bridge builder. The idea of school feeding programme goes beyond mere provision of food; it is a bridge to learning, a shield against poverty and a sheer promise that the state government will never abandon the children to the vagaries of unpalatable socio-economic and political circumstances they found themselves.

In Kaduna State, the slogan by children is no longer that I am disadvantaged, but the slogan is am I willing to take advantage of the available opportunity now at their beck and call to grow and achieve destiny? Other states of the federation should also copy and embrace the lofty ideal of school feeding programme as practised in Kaduna State so as to build up also the future of the children in those states.

More than 60years after the free education in the West, beneficiaries continue to thank those responsible for such initiative and they remain eternally grateful to the proponents even in death. Finally, in the words of the late South African president, Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the best legacy either parents or governments can bequeath to nation’s children’. Training of children is training future generations. Children are future leaders of any nation.

A nation that fails to train its children will also fail to reap their future benefits.

Political leaders in the Southwest have thrown their weight behind Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.

They urged residents of the state to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration at the national and state levels.

The Southwest leaders, under the auspices of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), also praised the governor on security measures his government deployed to tackle the menace of insecurity in the state.

Also, GAC hailed the governor on the pace of his administration’s infrastructural development across the Northcentral state.

The Southwest group spoke in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when its members paid a condolence visit to the state on the killing of over 200 people in the Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area.

The Benue community was reportedly attacked by suspected herdsmen, leading to numerous deaths, with several others injured and displaced.

In its assessment of the security breach, the GAC, led by its chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olùsi, expressed satisfaction with how Governor Alia and his team responded and handled the unsavory situation.

To the GAC, the state government could not have done better in how it handled both the medical and the political outcome of the attack.

The delegation also visited the survivors of the attack undergoing treatment at the Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had visited Benue on the heels of the deadly attack and directed security agencies to urgently gather actionable intelligence to flush out the armed herdsmen responsible for the dastardly act.

Addressing leaders and members of the Yelwata community, Olusi, who consoled with them, stated that GAC shared in their pains.

The elder statesman assured the community that the highest body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos would support every effort to restore peace in the area.

He said the visit, which was in solidarity with the APC-led administration of the Benue State governor, was intended to comfort the families of the deceased, the victims, and the survivors.

According to him, this became necessary to reassure those affected by the attack and the state that they were not alone during this trying time.

‘The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), a top organ of the Lagos APC, is here in solidarity with the APC administration of your hardworking governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to console with you and assure you that we feel your pains. We will also support all efforts to restore security and rekindle hope.

‘We also appeal to you to keep faith with the administration of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was here in Benue to condole with you and gave directives to the security agencies to fish out the culprits and restore security so that you can go about your normal businesses. The mother of the nation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was here too to bring succour to you.

‘Your governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is also doing his best in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the APC-led government to make you more secured and comfortable,’Olusi said.

At the Adasu University Teaching Hospital, the delegation sympathised with the victims undergoing treatment and recuperating, and wished them a quick recovery.

The delegation also inspected the high-level roundabout underpass in Makurdi and other infrastructural development projects embarked upon by the Alia administration.

The Olusi-led GAC delegation lauded Governor Alia’s giant strides in Benue State, almost surpassing previous administrations in just two years.

The group urged the residents to continue to support him to do more.

A stalwart of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Afolabi Momoh, has said President Bola Tinubu’s achievements and economic reforms will guarantee him a smooth re-election in 2027.

Momoh spoke on Friday while declaring his senatorial ambition at his home in Ekan, Ikare-Akoko, in Akoko North-East Local Government.

The event also witnessed defection of over 100 members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.

He noted that Tinubu’s economic reforms were yielding positive results, saying the prices of food items and essential commodities had started to drop.

‘The naira is coming back gradually, and prices of food items have reduced compared to before. Considering the infrastructural development and other reforms, Tinubu deserves re-election,’ he said.

Momoh said his senatorial ambition was driven by hardship faced by his constituents, who he said had been deprived dividends of democracy.

‘People are suffering in Ondo North Senatorial District. There is no employment, and nothing in place to improve our people. We can’t continue this way,’ he said.

A pioneer member of the APC in Ondo State, Chief Ekunusi Momodu, urged residents to support President Tinubu and Afolabi Momoh, describing the latter as a compassionate leader whose generosity reflects that of his late father.

‘People support Afolabi because of his father, who did so much for this town, the local government, and the state.

He was known for his generosity – often paying other people’s children’s school fees before his own.

‘Afolabi has followed in his footsteps, helping the less privileged and the physically challenged without holding any public office.

”That is why many believe he will do even better when elected,’ Momodu said.

Corroborating Momodu’s remarks, a former Chairman of Akoko North-East Local Government, Pastor Arowolo Oluwole, said the declaration was also aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

‘When Afolabi’s father was alive, he supported many families and children in Ikare. People now see Afolabi as a continuation of that legacy – and they also love Tinubu,’ he said.

A Special Assistant to the Minister of Interior on Women Affairs, Atinuke Akadri also lauded Momoh’s generosity, saying the people of Ondo North had long awaited a leader who could ease their hardship.

‘We’ve been voting in Ondo North without seeing the dividends of democracy. But now, we believe Afolabi will change that. His generosity and compassion speak for him,’ Akadri said.

Selai Gas Limited has launched the Selai School Initiative, a flagship back-to-school programme designed to support low-income pupils in Lagos State.

The initiative, unveiled in the Agege, saw the energy company distribute essential learning materials, including exercise books, pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, and school bags, to 300 pupils drawn from primary and secondary schools within the community.

Head of Selai Community Programs, Mrs Omolola Amadi, said the company’s intervention goes beyond material support, describing it as an investment in the confidence and potential of young learners.

‘We believe that for children to thrive in the classroom, they need more than just tuition; they need the tools, the confidence, and the encouragement to excel. The Selai School Initiative is about investing in young minds, making sure every child is better prepared and more self-assured,’ Amadi said.

The event also featured mentoring sessions aimed at inspiring the pupils to begin the new school year with renewed enthusiasm and purpose.

Head of State Universal Basic Education Board, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege, Mrs. Florence Adegbuyi, commended Selai Gas for easing the financial strain on some parents.

‘This is a timely intervention, as many parents struggle to provide all the required academic materials for their children. By stepping in, Selai Gas has not only reduced that burden but also sent a message to these children that their education matters,’ she said.

According to the company’s CSR team, the Selai School Initiative forms part of Selai Gas’s broader mission to promote education and social development in underserved communities. The team also urged other corporate organizations to emulate the gesture, noting that sustained investment in education can significantly improve literacy rates and reduce school dropouts.

The company announced that the initiative will now be an annual programme, with plans already underway to expand its reach to more schools and communities across Lagos State in future editions.

The 2025 edition of the Lagos Women run is now in full swing as the Lagos State Government has set out machinery in motion for the annual event billed to take place on November 8.

All those involved in the 10km event have been holding meetings at the instance of the state government in an attempt to stage a better race this year.

The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, has directed all the various committees working on the event to speed up work and make this edition a step up to the last one.

Fatodu was fully involved last year and he has been a strong pillar behind the organizing team for the 2025 edition.

Lagos Women run an initiative of Gym Assured, Marathon and Road Race Organization, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and a dedicated group of women with professional backgrounds in sports management, administration, and other women- focused organizations.

Since its inception in 2016 in Lagos, the event has grown and is expected to expand to other parts of the nation.

Coordinator of the big project, Tayo Popoola, told newsmen at the weekend that all was set for the event.

‘The Lagos Women Run is much more than just the race. We have many other activities on the cards to enlighten and generally educate the women more.

‘Lagos State Sports Commission DG, (Fatodu) has been of tremendous assistance and we have started registration and making advanced plans over other activities.’ Popoola said.

The participants are expected to receive running Vests, running bibs, goody bag, certificate, medals, and sponsors’ products.

The quartet of Pa Elijah Folawewo, Kayode Folawewo, Sesan Odukoya and Dotun Olakunle – all representatives of Folawewo family of Siun in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State – being the claimants, have taken Young Agro Services Company and Shodesam Properties Investment Ltd – designated as 1st, 2nd defendants – to a state High Court sitting in Abeokuta over alleged acquisition of 47 acres of land.

Also sued in connection with the land are the Director General, Bureau of Land and Survey, Ogun State and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ogun State, listed as 3rd and 4th defendants.

The land is situated at Abomide Village, via Obadeyi Road, opposite Imo Emulu/Day Waterman College, off Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway, Siun, a suburb of Abeokuta.

In the suit marked AB/661/25 and filed on October 3, by a lawyer who craves being identified simply as Folawewo’s family lawyer, the claimants are seeking the court order, declaring that the purported acquisition of the land by the 1st and 2nd defendants without prior negotiations with them, being the customary owners of the land, is unlawful, null and void.

The claimants are also demanding N2billion as general damages from the 1st and 2nd defendants as unlawful acts of bulldozing and clearing acres of their land with economic crops, destruction of family huts and the age- long ancestral shrines.

They are equally praying the court to restrain the 3rd and 4th defendants from taking any decision such as processing Certificate of Occupancy against the interest of the claimants without adequate compensation paid to them by the 1st and 2nd defendants.

ýýThe four representatives of Folawewo family want the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, officers and privies from taking any further step that can disturb their interest in the 47 acres of land.

ýýThe matter has not been assigned to any court yet, but defending their right of ownership of the 47 acres of land, the claimants stated in the writ of summons that their progenitor, Adejimi Folawewo, migrated from Ita Lanloko Compound in Igbore, Abeokuta, centuries ago and settled at Abomide as was the practice at that time with valiant warriors to seek distant arable land for farming and settlement.

ýýThey claimed that after their progenitor had settled at Abomide, which he founded, he expanded his land holdings to encompass the 47 acres spread within Abomide village and stretching to what is today designated as Obadeyi, opposite Day Waterman College and up to the boundary of Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway.

ýEfforts by our correspondent to contact Young Agro Services Company and Shodesam Properties Investment Ltd for their reactions did not yield fruitful result, as phone calls placed to their GSM numbers were not responded to.

Fintech company, PalmPay has been awarded Digital Governance Company of the Year (Fintech Innovation) at the Nigeria GovTech Awards 2025, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).

The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, celebrated organisations and individuals driving digital transformation, innovation, and good governance through technology in Nigeria.

Receiving the award, Managing Director of PalmPay Limited, Chika Nwosu expressed gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance financial inclusion and support Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.

‘This award reflects our dedication to creating inclusive, secure, and innovative financial solutions for Nigerians. We remain committed to supporting the government’s digital transformation drive and empowering individuals and businesses through accessible fintech innovation,’ Nwosu said.

The Nigeria GovTech Awards, organised annually by the BPSR, recognise outstanding achievements in public and private sector innovation, highlighting the crucial role of technology in governance and development.

PalmPay’s recognition as the Digital Governance Company of the Year (Fintech Innovation) reinforces its position as a trusted digital finance platform driving growth, transparency, and innovation across Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem.

PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.

PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.