Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries+ (OPEC+) has agreed to raise oil output from November by 137,000 barrels per day (bpd), opting for the same fairly modest monthly increase as in October amid persistent worries over a looming supply glut.

The group comprising the OPEC plus Russia and some smaller producers has so far increased its oil output targets by more than 2.7 million bpd this year, equating to about 2.5 per cent of global demand.

At the virtual meeting yesterday, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman reaffirmed their commitment to market stability on current healthy oil market fundamentals and steady global economic outlook and adjust production.

The eight OPEC+ countries, which previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, namely Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman met virtually yesterday to review global market conditions and outlook.

Available outcome of the meeting uploaded on the OPEC website shortly after the meeting and monitored by The Nation, indicated that in view of a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories, the eight participating countries decided to implement a production adjustment of 137,000 barrels per day from the 1.65 million barrels per day additional voluntary adjustments announced in April 2023.

This adjustment will be implemented in November 2025. The 1.65 mbpd may be returned in part or in full subject to evolving market conditions and in a gradual manner. The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions and in their continuous efforts to support market stability, they reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to pause or reverse the additional voluntary production adjustments, including the previously implemented voluntary adjustments of the 2.2 mbpd announced in November 2023.

The eight OPEC+ countries also noted that this measure will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation. The eight countries reiterated their collective commitment to achieve full conformity with the Declaration of Cooperation, including the additional voluntary production adjustments that will be monitored by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC).

They also confirmed their intention to fully compensate for any overproduced volume since January 2024. The eight OPEC+ countries will hold monthly meetings to review market conditions, conformity, and compensation. The eight countries will meet on November 2, 2025.

Brent prices fell below $65 per barrel on Friday, as most analysts predict a supply glut in the fourth quarter and in 2026 due to slower demand and rising U.S. supply. Prices are trading below this year’s peaks of $82 per barrel but above $60 per barrel seen in May.

In the run-up to the meeting, Russia and Saudi Arabia, the two biggest producers in the OPEC+ group, had different views. Russia was advocating for a modest output increase, the same as in October, to avoid pressuring oil prices and because it would struggle to raise output owing to sanctions over its war in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, would have preferred double, triple or even quadruple that figure – 274,000 bpd, 411,000 bpd or 548,000 bpd respectively – because it has spare capacity and wants to regain market share more quickly.

OPEC views the global economic outlook as steady and market fundamentals as healthy because of low oil inventories, it said in a statement on yesterday.

Consequently, it is expected that oil prices may rise today by up to $1 per barrel as the November production increase turned out to be modest.

‘OPEC+ stepped carefully after witnessing how nervous the market had become . The group is walking a tightrope between maintaining stability and clawing back market share in a surplus environment,’ said Rystad Energy said analyst, Jorge Leon.

OPEC+ output cuts had peaked in March, amounting to 5.85 million bpd in total. The cuts were made up of three elements: voluntary cuts of 2.2 million bpd, 1.65 million bpd by eight members and a further 2 million bpd by the whole group.

The eight producers plan to fully unwind one element of those cuts – 2.2 million bpd – by the end of September. For October, they started removing the second layer of 1.65 million bpd with the increase of 137,000 bpd.

The eight producers will meet again on November 2, 2025.

Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Governing Council of Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Jide Owoeye, has called for strategic collaboration between universities, industry, donors, and international institutions for development of Africa.

He said governments, private sectors, and regional bodies should continue to implement and refine frameworks (such as those under Addis Convention and HAQAA) that ensure comparability, accountability, and transparency in higher education.

Owoeye, in a lecture: ‘Quality of Education in Developing Countries: Collaboration in Africa and Role of Private Universities’ at the 13th Convocation of Protestant University, Rwanda, said Africa’s journey to transformation, through quality education is not just a goal, but one dependent on the mechanism by which development becomes sustainable, inclusive and dynamic.

On policies and frameworks, he said: ‘Today, universities play a pivotal role in the development of nations.

‘Africa possesses robust policy frameworks that underscore quality education as central to development.

‘Under Agenda 2063, African Union defines one of its key goals as ‘Well-Educated Citizens and Skills Revolution underpinned by Science, Technology and Innovation’.

‘This goal envisions universal access to quality early childhood, basic, secondary, and tertiary education, alongside a substantial increase in qualified teachers and technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship skills.

‘The Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016-2025), aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), has made it clear that equity, inclusion, and quality must go hand in hand.’

He encouraged private universities to invest beyond enrolment growth, because growth in numbers matched by investments in faculty development, infrastructure, learning technologies, research capacity, and curricular relevance is critical.

Owoeye identified strengthening of regulatory oversight in the education sector, quality assurance and collaboration between private and public universities as parameters for transformation of Africa.

He wants an alignment of funding with quality imperatives because both private and public higher education will require more funding-‘not just for access, but to deliver quality: for research, for infrastructure, for teacher training, for quality assurance systems. Innovative financing (grants, endowments, industry-sponsored programmes) should be explored.’

In the area of monitoring of outcomes and ensuring accountability, he said robust metrics of graduate employability, research output, student satisfaction, and learning gains should be tracked and published, while feedback loops must exist so institutions can adjust policies and practices in light of what works and what does not.

Stressing the powers of collaboration, he said private universities have demonstrated their potential to supplement public institutions, to innovate, and to meet growing demand, but their full promise will be realised only when they do not act alone.

Underscoring the importance of inclusion and equity, he advised private universities to be mindful of access for less privileged or rural students; scholarships or financial assistance programmes can counterbalance high tuition fees and reduce inequality.

As a way of kicking off the suggested partnerships, Lead City University is offering full tuition scholarships to graduates of the Protestant University of Rwanda who might wish to undertake their postgraduate programmes in Nigeria.

Chancellor of the University and President of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda, Dr Pascal Bataringaya, appreciated Prof Owoeye for the convocation lecture and the promised scholarship.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has elected executives in the state headed by Mr. Nosa Ogieva.

The new factional executive was elected at a Congress in Benin City, Edo State capital.

Five hundred and seventy-six delegates from the 192 wards participated in the election.

Last week, another Edo PDP faction held its Congress and elected Tony Aziegbemi as its chairman.

Addressing the PDP delegates, SouthSouth Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, accused former governor Godwin Obaseki of causing decline in the fortunes of the party.

He said the poor performance of the party at the recently conducted by-election showed how unpopular PDP had become in Edo State.

He urged the delegates to elect people with capacity that would reawaken PDP.

He said: ‘Just yesterday (Saturday), I saw a statement issued by some funny characters saying they are advising party members not to attend this event. Are you not here?

‘Those who don’t have any moral authority to speak on behalf of the party should keep their mouth shut.

‘As we prepare to elect our executive, I will appeal to you to vote for those with capacity to lead this party, not those who will sell out, not those who will deny members their legitimate right.

‘As members of our great party, there is no doubt that PDP is going through leadership crisis at the national level and several other states.

‘Let us not deceive ourselves. For the first time in the history of our great party, we have elected governors of PDP and founding leaders, founding members of this party, leaving this party every day for one simple reason, failure of leadership.

‘Elected governors are leaving. Elected senators are leaving. Elected members of the House are leaving. In Edo State, we know the root of our problem. We had a united party where everybody related with one another as brothers and sisters, until Godwin Obaseki joined our party.

‘Obaseki destroyed our party. He sowed the seeds of discord, deep rooted seeds of discord in our party. He sinned against the party. He sinned against the people. He sinned against the state.

‘Obaseki came into the party and destroyed everything that was good in the party. Today, our party’s umbrella is shattered, torn and we are here today to rebuild the party.

‘What used to put us together as a family was destroyed by Obaseki. He fought every person except himself, and at the end, we are at a very disadvantaged position in the politics of Edo State.’

The new factional chairman promised to reunite the party, saying PDP would soon begin to win elections again in the state.

Imisi Eniola Ayanwale was crowned the winner of the popular Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija) reality television show last night.

She won N150 million as the grand prize in the hot contest that lasted 70 days.

Having walked into the house with her head held high and after some tribulations, Imisi expressed joy and excitement over her triumph.

In an unprecedented move, Big Brother had announced that the winner would be chosen from the last 10 housemates, as against the last two housemates.

However, the show proceeded to the usual routine of the last two housemates leaving Imisi and Dede as the last two before the announcement by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

Imisi said she had no immediate plan for the grand prize if she won the contest.

The excited winner stated that she might seek financial guidance before deciding how to use the money.

During her final diary session with Big Brother earlier yesterday, Imisi appeared excited yet reflective as she discussed her journey in the house and what lay ahead after the show.

‘Honestly, right now, I don’t have a set plan for the money.

‘I need to seek financial advice first, because I’ve never had such a large amount before,’ Imisi said

She explained that while she had managed smaller sums in the past, handling such a huge amount required maturity and professional input.

Imisi said she intended to take her time to make thoughtful decisions that would help her avoid financial mistakes.

The former housemate, who has built a strong fan base for her bubbly personality and emotional honesty, also spoke about her fellow finalists, naming Dede, Jason Jae, Kola, Kaybobo, and Isabella as those she would love to see win if the crown did not go her way.

Imisi walked off the stage last night with the prize money and other goodies after an exciting grand finale that wrapped up over two months of drama, laughter, and unforgettable moments.

Beyond the competition, Imisi reflected on her growth in the house, describing the experience as a roller coaster of emotions but one that taught her resilience and self-awareness. The elated winner said she looked forward to reuniting with her family and returning to normal life after the period of isolation.

Throughout her stay, Imisi stood out for her candidness in diary sessions and her ability to navigate conflicts calmly.

Her personality has earned her strong online support, with fans praising her for staying authentic, despite the pressures of the game.

Before the curtains fell last night on BBNaija S10, there was tension among viewers who were eager to see the winner of the grand prize and join the league of past winners like Phyna, Mercy Eke, Laycon, Whitemoney, and Ilebaye.

Sahara Group, in partnership with the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC), has unveiled its ‘Making A Difference: Workshop’, a capacity-building initiative designed to promote excellence and sustainability in energy reporting.

The workshop, which holds today, will precede the NAEC Annual Energy Conference taking place on October 9.

The 2025 NAEC Energy Conference will convene policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and journalists to deliberate on key issues shaping Nigeria’s energy future. The workshop will serve as a strategic prelude, equipping correspondents to deliver impactful coverage during the conference and beyond.

In a joint statement, Sahara Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Bethel Obioma, and NAEC Chairman, Ugo Amadi, said the workshop reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the role of journalists in driving Nigeria’s energy reforms and advancing the global energy transition.

‘At Sahara, we believe accurate, responsible, and insightful reporting has the power to shape perception, attract investment, and promote transparency in the energy sector,’ Obioma noted. ‘Through #M.A.DWithNAEC, we are investing in journalists to enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s energy ecosystem while fostering knowledge sharing and sustainability.’

He added that every headline and analysis influences how the energy sector is perceived, stressing the need to equip correspondents for impactful storytelling.

Amadi, on his part, said the initiative will empower reporters to effectively set agendas, provide checks and balances, and deepen public understanding of critical industry issues.

‘As we prepare for our annual conference, we are delighted to collaborate with Sahara Group on this laudable initiative. Continuous learning is a core value at NAEC, and we look forward to broadening perspectives that inspire trust and accountability in energy reporting,’ he said.

The workshop will feature sessions led by industry experts including Head of Corporate Communications at Ikeja Electric Plc., Kingsley Okotie, CEO of Cabtree Ltd; Olabode Sowunmi, and Editorial Board member at Daily Trust, Vincent Nwanma.

Singer Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, known professionally as Seyi Shay has opened up about her close working relationship with Afrobeats sensation Wizkid, shedding light on the mentorship and friendship that developed through their early collaborations.

She disclosed that they had worked together on several projects, including her song Crazy and one of Wizkid’s tracks, adding that she also provided backing vocals on some of his other records.

‘I did ‘Crazy’ with Wizkid. I featured him on the song and he featured me on one of his songs. I also did backing vocals for a couple of his other songs then.

‘We became genuine friends,’ she recalled.

Speaking on her admiration for his artistry, Seyi Shay said: ‘I realised that he is actually so smart and so talented. I have actually seen him record while eating, and that was mad to me. I don’t know where he gets his inspiration from. He is like a magician, and I am heavily attracted to people with such levels of talent. My spirit, my soul, everything resonates with people that are inhumanly talented.’

She also mentioned that beyond music, Wizkid was supportive and often gave her helpful advice about the entertainment industry.

‘He used to advise me a lot and used to tell me how people behave in this industry,’ she added.

Seyi Shay expressed profound admiration for Wizkid’s artistic brilliance, highlighting the authentic friendship and mentorship that have significantly shaped her musical journey.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has said that Nigeria’s crude oil production is on course to reach 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) before the end of 2025, following months of consistent growth and strategic maintenance interventions across production facilities.

Ojulari disclosed this after briefing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Lagos residence on the company’s performance and ongoing developments in the oil and gas sector.

According to him, production hit 1.68 million barrels per day in September-the highest level in about five years-while gas output also reached a record 7 billion cubic feet (BCF) per day.

‘With the turnaround maintenance completed in August and September now coming back onstream, we expect that before the end of the year, we should be clocking at least 1.8 million barrels per day, all things being equal,’ Ojulari said.

He noted that the achievement aligns with the President’s directive to ramp up production to at least 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels by 2030 under the Renewed Hope energy roadmap.

However, the NNPCL boss lamented the recent losses occasioned by the industrial action involving the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery.

‘It was quite unfortunate that the Dangote and PENGASSAN issue led to the strike. As you know, whenever critical staff manning key facilities are unavailable, operations are disrupted. We actually lost significant production of over 200,000 barrels per day and also experienced deferred gas output, while about 1.2 megawatts of power generation was affected,’ he explained.

Ojulari commended the Federal Government for swiftly intervening through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, with full support from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to broker peace.

‘Everyone was brought to the table, and a communiqué was agreed on the way forward. We are very hopeful that all parties will abide by it,’ he said, adding that production had largely been restored to pre-strike levels, with only minor areas still catching up.

Responding to public concerns over recent gas price spikes, the NNPCL helmsman attributed the rise to temporary supply chain disruptions during the strike.

‘The increase you saw was relatively artificial. For the period of the strike, loading and movement were delayed by about two or three days, and that created a temporary scarcity. Some marketers exploited the situation to raise prices. Now that things are back to normal, prices should return to what they were before the strike,’ he assured.

Ojulari reaffirmed NNPCL’s commitment to meeting the President’s production and investment targets, assuring that ongoing reforms and new partnerships would sustain growth in both the crude and gas value chains.

Actress Tonto Dikeh has encouraged people to embrace their individuality and stop trying to please everyone.

In a post shared on Instagram, Dikeh said it is perfectly fine not to be liked or accepted by everyone, describing that realization as a source of strength and power.

She advised her followers to avoid shrinking themselves to fit into spaces they’ve outgrown or diluting their essence just to gain approval.

‘The more you try to please everyone, the more you lose the magic that makes you who you are,’ she wrote.

Dikeh urged people to always show up as their full, bold, and unapologetic selves, adding, ‘Here’s something you need to remember: you are not for everyone, and that’s okay. In fact, that’s powerful.’

‘Whether it’s your personality, your business, your content, your voice, your style, or what you stand for, not everyone will get it. Not everyone is supposed to.

‘Stop shrinking to fit places you’ve outgrown or trying to water yourself down so you’re easier to swallow. The more you try to please everyone, the more you lose the magic that makes you you.

‘The truth is, the right people will connect with your realness. The right clients will find your brand. The right audience will feel your message.

‘So keep showing up as your full, bold, unapologetic self. You are not for everyone, and that’s exactly what makes you unforgettable’.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, has described the rising number of global road traffic crashes as a ‘silent pandemic,’ calling for urgent collective action to curb the devastating loss of lives.

Speaking during a visit to the National Headquarters of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abuja, Todt expressed deep concern over the alarming statistics, revealing that more than 1.2 million people die annually in road crashes worldwide, while millions more sustain life-altering injuries.

‘The scale of road traffic crashes across the globe is nothing short of catastrophic. This is a silent pandemic that continues to claim lives daily, and unless governments, institutions, and individuals take decisive action, the numbers will only rise,’ Todt warned.

He emphasised the need for Nigeria and other nations to adopt the Safe System Approach, which focuses on education, strict enforcement of traffic laws, safer roads and vehicles, and improved post-crash care.

The UN envoy also called for a change in road use culture among motorists, noting that widespread disregard for traffic regulations remains a major cause of preventable deaths and injuries.

Todt commended the FRSC and its Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, for their proactive engagement in global road safety efforts, describing Nigeria’s role as vital to achieving the goals of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.

He, however, urged stakeholders – from policymakers and transport unions to individual drivers – to intensify efforts in reducing road carnage and promoting safer mobility.

In response, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling road traffic deaths and injuries, noting that the FRSC’s unique combination of legislation, enforcement, and public education has positioned it as a model agency globally.

He lauded the federal government’s continued support and assured that the FRSC would strengthen collaboration with local and international partners to ensure safer roads for all Nigerians.

Weeks after the Dangote Refinery commenced free fuel distribution across the country, the pump price of petrol has remained as high as N900 per litre in Edo State.

The refinery had earlier announced that fuel prices in Edo would drop to N851 per litre following the start of its free distribution initiative nationwide.

However, checks across petrol stations in Benin City on Monday showed prices ranging between N885 and N900 per litre, with no visible reduction.

While most station managers declined to comment, some attendants who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were yet to receive any free fuel supply from the Dangote Refinery.

A commercial driver, Nosa Igbinosun, expressed disappointment over the situation, saying he was surprised that stations in Edo had not reduced their prices despite reports that some had received products from the refinery.

He called on the state Task Force to intervene and ensure that petrol stations benefitting from Dangote’s distribution scheme sell fuel at the approved price.