Category: The Nation – Nigeria

In a bold demonstration of visionary leadership and commitment to human capital development, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Borno North, has unveiled a groundbreaking scholarship scheme that will send 11 exceptional science graduates abroad for fully funded Master’s degree programmes.

The initiative, established under the M.T. Monguno Foreign Scholarship Programme, represents a monumental investment in education and youth empowerment, offering hope and opportunity to a region that has endured years of hardship due to insurgency.

It also aligns with the transformative agenda of Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, whose unrelenting drive to reposition Borno State through education and empowerment continues to inspire progress across the state.

The beneficiaries, carefully selected after a merit-driven process, emerged from a pool of qualified applicants with Second Class Upper degrees in STEM disciplines. They excelled in a rigorous aptitude test overseen by an independent assessment committee, reflecting both academic brilliance and resilience. Drawn from across the senatorial district, these scholars will proceed to India for a two-year Master’s programme, with the first year dedicated to coursework and the second to groundbreaking research, culminating in the award of MSc degrees that will equip them to compete globally.

Valued at hundreds of millions of naira, the comprehensive scholarship package covers tuition, visa and travel costs, living allowances, laptops, research funding, and every resource necessary to ensure the students succeed abroad. It is a holistic empowerment model designed not just to educate, but to transform the lives of the beneficiaries and, by extension, their communities.

Senator Monguno described the programme as a deliberate effort to rebuild Northern Borno through the strategic empowerment of its brightest minds. He emphasized that education remains the most potent weapon for progress and pledged to institutionalize the programme annually, ensuring that future cohorts of young people also benefit.

‘This initiative is about producing a new generation of leaders and professionals who will return with the knowledge and expertise required to rebuild our communities and reposition Northern Borno. Education is the strongest foundation for sustainable growth, and by investing in our youths, we are investing in the destiny of our people,’ Monguno declared.

The initiative has been hailed across the state as a landmark intervention and a testament to the transformative role of legislative leadership. It is expected to inspire a ripple effect of hope, development, and progress, placing Borno North on a stronger path toward recovery and prosperity.

Former Oyo State First Lady and wife of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Ayaba Mutiat Ladoja, has donated over N2 million in cash and several million worth of items to at least 16 orphanages and care homes for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD) as part of activities marking her 70th birthday.

She urged government at all levels, corporate bodies, and well-meaning individuals to be more responsive to the challenges faced by PLWDs, stressing that they deserve love, care, and opportunities rather than discrimination.

Ayaba Ladoja added that many PLWDs possess untapped potential that can be nurtured through scholarships and other forms of support to help them achieve greatness in life.

She said, ‘I started associating with the Persons Living with Disabilities 30 years ago. I have been using the few resources that God blesses me with to assist them.

‘They deserve our attention, love, and care. Rather than looking down on them, we should identify their potential and build on it.

‘We should let them have a sense of belonging. They are part of society. The government at all levels, corporate organisations, and individuals should intensify their efforts towards them.

‘Disabilities can come in any form. It comes with age. It can come through accident and any other forms, hence the reason we must not look down on them. We all have our disabilities.

‘When they want to cross the road, assist them instead of making a mockery of their situation. Also, assist them with the little that you have. Don’t wait until you have millions of naira in your account

‘I started what we are witnessing today 30 years ago. It has become my way of life, and I thank the likes of Babs Oduyoye for sharing the vision.

‘Today, I will be giving N100,000 to 15 Homes, two wheelchairs, two bags of rice each, two cartons of Indomie each, and cartons of soap

‘Also, five vulnerable people will be assisted with Deep chest freezers and grinding machines to start their businesses.

‘My message to us is that we should show them love, attention, and care.’

More than 200 PLD attended the birthday celebrations with members of the PLD community on the live band stand.

Delivering a public lecture earlier at the event, the Chief Imam, Oluyole Estate Extension, Southwest, Ring Road, Ibadan, Alhaji Mudashiru Bada quoted various philosophers and views of scholars that have shaped the thinking of people on perseverance and resilience.

Speaking on the topic: ‘Celebrating the woman of substance at 70’, the guest lecturer noted that Ayaba Ladoja, despite being out of government for years, has never withdrawn her support for a pet project she started while in office as the First Lady.

He described the monarch’s wife as a landscape of charity in the eyes of a discerning mind, urging her not to relent in her vision of giving succour to humanity within the limit of her visionary capacity to the glory of God and admiration of mankind.

Bada said, ‘This summarises my definitions of our dear mama of substance. Her Excellency Ayaba Mutiat Ladoja, who, despite that she is no longer in governance, has never withdrawn her profound and unwavering commitment in respect of her Idera De Pet project, her servitude to God through succor to humanity.

‘A woman of vision and a landscape in the eye of a discerning mind she is, allowing others to see the hope inside and beyond.’

The head coach of Ghana’s Black Starlets, Prosper Narteh Ogum, has credited mental preparation, tactical discipline and psychological focus as the key factors behind their 2-0 semifinal victory over Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets at the WAFU-B U17 Championship in Abidjan.

Nigeria, five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, crashed out of the tournament following the defeat on Tuesday night, ending yet another qualification campaign for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations – the only route to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The loss marks the second consecutive time the Golden Eaglets will miss the global stage, a stark contrast to their once-dominant reputation.

Reflecting on the performance, Narteh explained that Ghana’s coaching staff had worked on correcting early mistakes that had plagued the team in previous matches.

‘We prepare them mentally, psychologically, that they need to be very focused throughout the 90 minutes,’ he said. ‘We try as much as possible to make sure that they don’t commit early mistakes like in our previous games, where we had a red card and conceded early goals. Once they are able to do that and travel into the game, they get their confidence and then play.’

The Black Starlets’ coach added that neutralizing Nigeria’s captain was a decisive tactical move.

‘Tactically, we just play their captain out and that was it,’ he stated.

The victory means Ghana will now face Cote d’Ivoire in the WAFU-B final as they push for continental glory after they have both secured tickets to the next Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Narteh further stressed that Ghana’s approach the final completely different from the group stage, where they were previously beaten by the Baby Elephants

He said: ‘It will be a different Ghana – our structure, our mentality, our character, everything will be different,’ he said. ‘We know what to do, go back and prepare ourselves in terms of our mentality, our character, how we need to stay focused on the ball. Tactically, we also have to re-strategize to make sure that we meet them boot for boot.’

Narteh, who manages Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko and serves as assistant coach of Ghana’s CHAN team and is widely respected as a sports psychologist and educationist-attributes that have shaped his coaching philosophy and success at youth level.

Power struggle in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) National Working Committee (NWC) has deepened the crisis in the opposition platform ahead of next month’s National Convention.

The convention, scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State capital, is billed for November 15 and 16.

The fresh discord is triggered by the decision of the divided NWC to dissolve the Akwa Ibom State chapter and set up a caretaker committee.

While a section of the party leadership, led by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, approved the decision, other party officers, led by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, voided it.

Anyanwu explained that there was no formal sitting of the NWC where the decision was ratified.

The secretary chided the Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for misleading the Akwa Ibom chapter and the public with a fabricated decision.

Trouble started when the secretary rejected a directive from the chairman to summon the NWC meeting to deliberate on the composition of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Committee.

Ologunagba explained that a new caretaker committee for the chapter was set up to replace the state executive committee controlled by the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who had defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, Anyanwu said any meeting of NWC presided by Damagum without a prior notice by him as provided by the PDP Constitution is illegal, null and void.

The secretary said that he has the constitutional duty of taking the notes of the meeting, which was not exercised.

Anyanwu, insisting that the NWC never decided on the dissolution of the leadership of the party in the state, pointed out that the National Executive Committee (NEC), and not the NWC, has the power to dissolve any state executive committee.

A letter by Anyanwu, dated October 1, and titled: ‘RE: Dissolution of Akwa Ibom State Working Committee,’ reads: ‘My attention has been drawn to the purported press statement by the National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of our party, announcing the dissolution of the State Working Committee of Akwa Ibom State.

‘For purposes of clarity, that press statement should be discountenanced because there was no formal sitting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in which such a decision was taken.

‘It is not in the official position and duties of the national Publicity secretary to take actions relating to the implementation of the decisions of the National Working Committee of our party. As a result, the purported press statement is null and void and of no effect.

‘The State Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State stands un-dissolved.

‘Please, consider this letter as the rightful authority for you to continue in your duties as provided in the PDP Constitution 2017, as amended.’

Anyanwu is a member of the Nyesom Wike camp that has been locked in conflict with Damagum over the position of the national leadership on outstanding party issues.

Anyanwu can’t void NWC’s decision, says Ologunagba

Ologunagba said Anyanwu, who claimed to have voided the NWC’s decision, went beyond his constitutional role.

Citing the PDP Constitution, he said only the national chairman can summon any meeting of the party, adding that the 607th meeting was duly held and decisions binding on the party taken.

He said 16 of the 18 NWC members attended the meeting where the situation in the Akwa Ibom chapter was discussed and decision taken.

Ologunagba dismissed reports of a crisis between the acting national chairman and the national secretary over the conduct of congresses in some states and the setting up of a caretaker committee for the chapter.

He said it was important for every member of the NWC to understand their role as contained in the constitution to avoid violations.

The secretary, who also spoke on Channels Television last night, accused Anyanwu of promoting his personal interest

He said: ‘There was indeed a meeting of the NWC summoned by the national chairman in line with the constitution. It was attended by 16 of 19 members. The national secretary was absent, and having failed to issue the notice of meeting as directed by the chairman, the chairman exercised his powers under Section 29 of our constitution to summon the meeting. ‘Decisions were taken, including the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom executives, and I was directed to communicate same. That is what I did.’

He insisted that Anyanwu’s rejection of the decision was not in defence of party interest.

Ologunagba added: ‘What you are seeing is the projection of personal interest above the collective interest of the PDP. It is not in the duties of the national secretary to nullify decisions of the NWC simply because he was absent or disagrees personally,’ Ologunagba declared.

Explaining why the Akwa Ibom executives were dissolved, he said the NWC acted on reports that the state structure was compromised and in open alignment with the APC.

He said: ‘Section 10 (6) of our constitution is clear: no member of the party shall align with other parties or groups to undermine the PDP. The Akwa Ibom executive was openly controlled by the governor, who even boasted in public that he was in charge of PDP and APC in the state. For us, that was unacceptable.’

Ogidi: caretaker committee in order

The National Vice Chairman (Southsouth), Chief Emmanuel Ogidi defended the setting up of the caretaker committees for Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

He said: ‘Since the governors left, we thought all was well. We found out that a few people were taking advantage of it. The NWC of the party intervened and set up a caretaker committee to manage the affairs, pending when the issues would be resolved. It is an NWC decision that must be respected.’

Last month, members of the group met at the minister’s official residence in Abuja, warning that failure to meet their demands would ‘render the proposed convention invalid as legitimate members of the party would be disenfranchised.’

At the meeting were Wike; PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu; former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

The meeting was also attended by the Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, Senator Phillips Aduda, Senator George Sekibo, Micah Jiba, some serving and former members of the National Assembly, as well as some state chairmen and some BoT members.

A communique read by Ortom listed the demands:

Fresh congresses to be held in Ebonyi and Anambra states in compliance with subsisting court judgments;

A new Southeast Zonal Congress must be conducted.

The outcome of the Southsouth Congress in Calabar, upheld by the courts, must be respected;

PDP should conduct the Ekiti local government congresses in line with judicial pronouncements;

There should be no micro-zoning of offices beyond the general zoning formula adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to maintain peace and stability; and

The national chairmanship position must remain in the Northcentral, consistent with the zoning arrangement of the 2021 convention.

Before the meeting, Wike, who had spoken on the preparations for the convention on a television station programme, said: ‘The issue of the national convention is not the problem; the issue is the problem leading to the convention, and people should understand that.

‘If they are not well taken care of, there is a likelihood that the convention will not hold.’

Wike also said the choice of venue was not in dispute, insisting that the party must resolve its internal issues before convening.

He stressed: ‘The venue is not the subject matter, the subject matter is: ‘Have you done what you were supposed to do before holding that convention? If not, it may be a setback.’

Sir: When Bayo Ojulari assumed leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in April, he inherited more than a corporation. He stepped into a storm defined by falling oil production, chronic revenue leakages, dwindling investor confidence, and the mounting global pressures of energy transition and geopolitical competition. Six months later, the story of NNPC and Nigeria’s energy sector has begun to change.

Ojulari’s leadership has been marked by an insistence on transparency, fiscal discipline, and operational accountability. Unlike previous reform attempts that often remained trapped in rhetoric, his approach has been anchored on execution and measurable outcomes. This shift fits squarely within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes energy independence, foreign investment, domestic refining, and Nigeria’s long-term net-zero ambitions. Reform, in Ojulari’s hands, is no longer an aspiration, it is a working reality.

Daily oil production rebounded from 1.485 million barrels in April to 1.71 million in July, crossing the 1.8 million barrel mark for the first time since late 2024. In the same period, NNPC generated N20.9 trillion while halting costly refinery losses that had drained up to N500 million monthly. Operational efficiency has improved, with 100 percent pipeline availability, natural gas production climbing to 7.72 billion cubic feet per day, and major projects like the AKK and OB3 pipelines now nearing completion. Security reforms have also delivered dramatic results, with coordinated efforts nearly eliminating pipeline theft. Perhaps most notably, Ojulari introduced monthly financial reporting for the first time, signalling unprecedented transparency to investors, regulators, and the Nigerian public.

These gains are not just domestic achievements. By surpassing Angola and Libya in production, Nigeria has reclaimed its position as Africa’s largest oil producer, restoring both its credibility and its leverage in OPEC+ negotiations. In a volatile global energy market where reliability is everything, Nigeria is once again being seen as a dependable player, a factor that has begun to restore investor confidence and strengthen its geopolitical standing.

Yet Ojulari’s strategy is not confined to oil alone. He has placed sustainability and transition at the heart of NNPC’s future. Gas is being positioned as a critical bridge fuel, powering local industries, reducing emissions, and boosting LNG exports. At the same time, the company is advancing renewable energy pilots, reducing gas flaring, and exploring carbon-capture initiatives; all of which signal a shift toward greener operations. These efforts align NNPC with global environmental, social, and governance standards, positioning it to meet the expectations

Technology is another pillar of the transformation. Under Ojulari, the company has deployed AI-driven analytics to optimize production and minimize downtime, blockchain platforms to ensure revenue and supply chain traceability, and automation to enhance safety and efficiency. These moves bring NNPC closer to the practices of global energy giants like Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, and Petrobras, underscoring its ambition to compete at the highest levels.

The reforms are also resonating beyond corporate boardrooms. Inside NNPC, employees are experiencing a new merit-driven culture that rewards performance. Across the wider economy, Nigerian small and medium enterprises are finding expanded opportunities in the energy supply chain. In host communities, improved security and reduced oil theft are strengthening peace and trust. And nationally, stronger revenues are bolstering the budget and foreign reserves at a time when fiscal stability is sorely needed.

Ojulari is quick to acknowledge that the journey has only just begun. Scaling production to two million barrels per day by 2027 will require unwavering discipline, relentless efficiency, and an estimated $60 billion in new investment. Completing critical gas infrastructure remains central to unlocking regional integration and expanding Nigeria’s role in global gas markets. The competition will not stand still either, as Angola and Libya push to reclaim lost ground. But

Ojulari’s vision is clear: NNPC must set a new benchmark for African energy companies and emerge as a global player of repute.

The first six months of his leadership have already marked a decisive break from the past. Production recovery, record revenues, operational discipline, and world-class transparency demonstrate that Nigeria’s energy sector is capable of reform and resilience when leadership is committed to delivery. The challenge now is to institutionalize these gains and ensure that momentum is not lost.

For Nigeria, the choice is stark: to entrench excellence as the new standard, or risk sliding back into inefficiency and missed opportunity.

The opportunity is global. Above all, the momentum must not be lost.

In the wee hours of September 29, Nigeria lost Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a talented journalist, model, lawyer and shining star during an armed robbery attack at her residence in the Kamtape area of Abuja. Sommie, as she was fondly called by family, friends, colleagues and her admirers, was a victim of an egregious and gruesome attack on residents who were helpless and had their hearts in their mouths.

At such moments, you are afraid, worried, and not sure how violent the attackers would be. Families stay huddled together, praying and anticipating the worst-case scenario. Those fearful and traumatic moments are worse than death itself. Sommie died, not by the slow grind of economic hardship, but by the animal boldness of a blood-thirsty and murdering gang that will never know peace.

The 29-year-old Arise TV news anchor was a multi-faceted individual who made a name for herself in various fields. Sommie who was a warm and vibrant personality did not die from bullet wounds as early reports suggested. She died because terror itself cornered her. That night, armed robbers stormed her apartment complex, moving from flat to flat like a hunting pack, stripping residents of money, phones and dignity.

Frantic calls to the police rang unanswered. As the intruders closed in, Sommie, unsure of what would happen next, made a desperate bid to save herself. According to the latest account narrated by her obviously distressed colleague, Ojy Okpe, on The Morning Show on Arise News, she jumped from her window. The fall proved fatal.

It was not surprising that Okpe betrayed her emotions as she recounted the events. The Arise News family was thrown into an unexpected grief and deep mourning, followed by tributes from the high and mighty which has become a tradition. These are the same people who should use their positions and access to privileges to improve the quality of our lives.

During the programme, I sent a message to Reuben Abati, the lead anchor. ‘I don’t know Sommie, but her untimely death is a personal tragedy,’ I told Abati. ‘Her dreams have been suddenly cut short, family ties broken forever. How low have we become in this country?’

Her death is not an isolated tragedy. It is the latest entry in a grim national ledger written in blood. Nigeria is being held hostage by criminals of various hues, stalking our homes, streets and, too often, our dreams. What can we do differently as a way out of the encircling gloom of insecurity? Are state and community policing options to be considered? It looks like it is now every man for himself.

Sommie’s story is heartbreakingly familiar. She was a lawyer by training and a journalist by conviction; a young woman who had returned from the UK not to flee Nigeria’s chaos but to help mend it as a TV news anchor, producer and reporter. She advocated for social justice, particularly on issues like gender-based violence and education reform. Studying law aligned with her passion for social justice and public service.

Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, was designed to be a secure centre of power and governance. Instead, the city is turning into a hunting ground for marauders.

The FCT Police Command described the incident as ‘cruel and senseless’ and promised to deploy tactical teams and intelligence units. Yet, words mean little when people die, and response times are counted in hours rather than in minutes.

Residents say the robbers operated without fear of interruption. Tenants barricaded themselves indoors while help failed to arrive. A young journalist’s life ended not for lack of courage, but because the state that owed her protection was absent.

This insecurity is no longer confined to remote villages. It stalks urban centres from Lagos to Abuja. The men who terrorise neighbourhoods are by-products of an economy that excludes millions who are poor, a collapsed education system and a healthcare and social welfare system that exists mostly on paper.

If a 29-year-old forward-looking professional, highly educated, visible and engaged in public life cannot find safety in her own home, what hope is left for ordinary citizens? Sommie would have 30 years old on December 26.

The beauty queen now joins a sorrowful roll-call: Okezie Nwokocha, a tech innovator shot in his sleep; Chinelo, the young emigrant whose journey to a better life was cut short, and many others whose names are reduced to mere statistics. These are not random tragedies – they are the symptoms of a failing state where the powerful offer condolences on television while families grieve in silence.

Nigerians can no longer rely on prayers and promises. We must demand accountability with the same force that Sommie brought to her reporting. The lorry-loads of tributes by government officials are empathetic, but they are not enough to solve our embarrassing security challenges.

To her colleagues at Arise News, Sommie was more than a pearl and bright presenter. She was a reminder that journalism, at its best, stands against darkness, oppression, corruption, and bad leadership. A bright star was dimmed in the journalism firmament – just like that. Every form of death is painful, but Sommie was not sick. Her death is deeply painful and completely heart-breaking. Her passing leaves searing questions: Who will save us? Are we safe?

Answers to these questions must begin with citizens insisting on protection of life and property, with communities practicing vigilance and shinning their eyes. Our political elite and those in authority must be willing to take full responsibility for security lapses and confront the blood on their hands.

We have reported cases of kidnappers and unknown gunmen wreaking havoc across the entire length and breadth of the country, unrestrained. But it shouldn’t be so; we should feel safe at all times of the day – whether at home, in the work place or on the road.

Sommie’s voice may be gone, but the fire she lit against impunity and bad behaviour without consequences must not die; let the glow constantly remind us of our immortality.

The greatness of a person may be a concatenation of outstanding acts, a culmination of modest triumphs, or a single earthquake exploit, or a quiet heroic or simply the example of a lifestyle. It could come as a leader in an epic tale, a choreographer of an action, or the man in the centre of it.

Greatness does not come in a formula. Parry Osayande, who passed on recently, ended his career, as deputy inspector- general of police. He did not head the Nigeria Police. But in the annals of security history in the country, few can equal his accolade.

He is famously remembered as the mastermind of a capture and eventual execution of a savage mastermind: Lawrence Anini. The daredevil bandit was a slim, easily undistinguished frame of a fellow who held the then Bendel State and its environs captive for a long time.

He was more dreaded than any soldier in the country, even though we were under a military rule. Travellers dreaded the highways. Homes turned off their lights at night but not their eyes. Gate men contemplated him with trepidation. Fear grazed business and goods. Banks shook not because of the fluttering naira on the counters but the bankers themselves who were not sure if the next entrant was a man with a gun and a gang.

He was the devious touchstone of a rock star. His robbery acts read like movie scripts. There were tales of police officers on the run from him. Vigilantes could not pray to play host to him. One day, before television cameras, before the convening of the top military government’s Armed Forces Ruling Council meeting, then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, sneered at the then inspector-general of police, Etim Inyang. Then the general quipped: ‘My friend, where is Anini.’

It was one of the big quotes of his era, and it encapsulated official unease about the bandit. Anini was to lard that time with his quote before he faced firing squad: ‘E be like say I wan’ run mental.’

It was the police commissioner in charge of Bendel State, now split into Edo and Delta states, that took on the task of tackling the bear. Osayande worked with his men who eventually cornered him and felled him with a bullet, though not mortally. He was arrested with his partner, Monday Osunbor. It was the high point of Osayande’s career. It cannot but be the high point of any career. That informed the accolade of the Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo when he passed on.

‘The name Parry Osayande is synonymous with courage, discipline, and a sterling commitment to justice. His legendary exploits during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the then Bendel State, especially in confronting the high-profile criminal gangs of the 1980s, remain a benchmark for police operational excellence in our country.’

He was also the commissioner of police who helped to quell religious rage on the streets of Bauchi State in which Christians and Muslims went after each other burning churches and mosques as well as shops and houses. Scores died in the mayhem.

Few know that he was in the trenches to mow down the Agbekoya Riots in the then Western Nigeria when farmers protested taxes. He was the Aide de Camp to the gallant soldier and governor of the then Western Region, Lt. Col Adekunle Fajuyi, who died during the Nigerian crisis of the 1960’s.

The example of Osayande is a model for today’s armed forces. Today, we have bandits running riot in parts of the country. We need to see police officers take on such exploits. Osayande was a cop who made corpses of hoodlums. So should they.

The authorities of the Delta State Environmental Taskforce have arrested four environmental marshals involved in illegal night extortion of residents of Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were apprehended on Friday along Summit Road in Asaba, the state capital.

The task force team, led by Chief Agbari, recognised the marshals engaging in unauthorised activities and contacted Comrade Adim Dikedi, the Supervisory Officer on Environment for Oshimili South, for clarification regarding the marshals’ actions.

Upon receiving the call, Supervisor Dikedi ordered the immediate detention of the four officers at a police station until he could address the matter personally.

It was revealed that one of the apprehended marshals was impersonating the current Supervisor on Environment, prompting further concern about corruption within the ranks.

Dikedi emphasised his agency’s commitment to eradicating corruption among environmental marshals.

He expressed that any form of misconduct would not be tolerated and reaffirmed a directive issued in January, prohibiting marshals from operating beyond 4:00 pm.

He said the incident underscored the challenges of overseeing environmental enforcement and the need for accountability within such an agency.

Dikedi said ensuring transparency and integrity among environmental officers is crucial for maintaining public trust, especially when allegations of extortion are involved.

Supervisor Dikedi expressed commitment to a stricter policy, indicating a proactive approach to preventing similar incidents in the future, reinforcing operational guidelines for environmental personnel.

He stressed that the incident had raised awareness about the importance of ethical conduct in governance and the effective management of environmental resources.

Dikedi noted the popular Ogbegonogo Central Market in Asaba is the only market, he officially authorised environmental marshals to operate in the evenings to assist in the decongestion of the traffic jam always occurring there.

He warned that henceforth any Oshimili South environmental marshal caught operating at odd hours should be arrested with immediate effect and taken to the nearest police station.

Afrobeats singer Oxlade has expressed gratitude to his early supporters, appreciating those who believed in him before he gained widespread success.

Oxlade, on X, acknowledged that not everyone can see potential in an artist early on and value the support of those who stood by him from the beginning.

He thanked his loyal fans and supporters for their faith in him and his music, subtly acknowledging that doubters won’t deter him from his path to success.

Oxlade wrote, ‘I know this isn’t meant for everyone to see . but For those that saw the light early enough, those that ddnt need to see me succeed before they started to believe my shit. I just wanna thank you.. Cause no be everybody fit see am that early before E start dey make sense. I cherish the early investors in my stocks Una own no go actuall spoil’.

Oxlade’s unique sound blends Afrobeats with contemporary styles, resonating with fans globally.

His breakthrough hit ‘Ku Lo Sa’ achieved global recognition, and he has since released successful albums like ‘OFA’.

Drawing inspiration from his life experiences, including his struggles and triumphs, Oxlade has made a significant impact in the music industry, selling out venues and collaborating with notable artists like Sarkodie, Flavour, and Dave.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC – Edo North) has criticized the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for shutting down government-owned oil organizations over its trade dispute with Dangote Refinery.

Speaking on ‘The Morning Show’ on Arise News Television on Friday, the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president said the action was misplaced and should not have been escalated to the level of crippling the oil sector.

PENGASSAN had ordered members to withdraw their services following the alleged dismissal of about 800 workers by Dangote Refinery, leading to the closure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) offices in Abuja on Monday.

The move triggered fuel scarcity across the country as queues resurfaced at petrol stations.

Oshiomhole, however, maintained that while workers’ rights must be respected, shutting down critical oil agencies in solidarity with a small group of employees was an overreach.

Oshiomhole said, ‘What I’m not sure is right is the ease with which Ferguson resorted to escalating the manner to secondary level, what we call the secondary solidarity, to a point of shutting down the oil sector. I think that, in seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the job of several other workers.’

Oshiomhole averred that before a labour union can call for a national strike, there must have been an argument or a fight with the government over an issue that affects all Nigerians.

‘I don’t have any proof, but my experience is that, before you shut the gate of NNPCL, there has to be a fight. So when I saw NNPCL’s gate effortlessly closed, all the other companies, government-owned oil companies, without any effort. I’m like, if this were private employers, would they allow their companies to close without any resistance. I do not think so. So, why is everybody seemingly so helpless that we are at the mercy of anyone?’ he said.

Oshiomhole argued that labour unions’ operations are regulated by the law, adding that before union leaders can go to the extent of shutting down the economy, the workers must see a valid reason to support their call.

‘Before you take those measures, you are ready for a fight. And the workers for them to follow must see the linkage between their well-being and what is at stake,’ he said.