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The 762.5 per cent leap, said Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), indicates renewed investor confidence in the nation’s energy sector.

NUPRC, in a statement highlighting its successes in the last four years, expects the number of rigs to increase in the coming months.

The commission, however, revealed that it identified 400 dormant oil fields during the period.

The statement yesterday by its spokesman, Eniola Akinkuotu, was titled: ”Rising Rig Count: As a testament to the renewed vigour in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.”

NUPRC also explained that it approved 79 Field Development Plans (FDPs) between 2024 and 2025, with estimated investments valued at $39.98 billion. This comprises $20.55billion in 2024 and $19.43billion in 2025.’

The commission, which put current crude oil production at 1.65mbpd, projected the figure to 2.5 Mbpd in 2027.

It added that crude oil theft has dropped by 90 per cent with the combined efforts of ”General Security Forces and a private security contractor, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

The statement partly reads: ‘The latest rig count of 69 which comprises 40 active rigs, eight on standby, five on warm stack, four on cold stack and 12 on the move, represents a 762.5 per cent increase in barely four years.”

On dormant oil fields, the commission said: ‘We successfully identified 400 dormant oil fields and have also propelled complacent oil companies to take quick action.’

NUPRC explained that its successes in the past four years align with the charge of President Tinubu that Nigeria is ready for business and that the right investment climate prevails now in the Nigerian upstream sector.

NUPRC listed 16 high-impact post-Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) successes, saying they were attained despite challenges it inherited from the pre-Petroleum Industry Act era.

One of the achievements was surpassing the revenue targets.

The commission said that in 2022, 2023 and 2024, it surpassed its revenue target by 18.3 per cent, 14.65 per cent and 84.2 per cent, respectively.

On transparent bid rounds, NUPRC recalled that before its establishment, licensing rounds were clouded by political influence.

NUPRC said in line with the PIA and with the support of President Tinubu, it began implementation of the ‘Drill or Drop’ policy which prescribes that unexplored acreages are to be relinquished.

The commission added: ‘ We approved divestments running into billions of dollars in 2024. From the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to Oando Energy Resources; Equinor to Chappal Energies; Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energies; and Shell Development Company Nigeria Limited to Renaissance Africa Energy.

‘The divestment is about investor portfolio re-ordering to focus on deep-offshore development.”

To give meaning to the intent of the PIA, the commission, in consultation with stakeholders, developed 24 forward-thinking Regulations out of which 19 have been gazetted.

On gas flare commercialisation, NUPRC said it has completed awards of flare sites to successful bidders under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP).

The programme is aimed at eliminating gas flaring and attracting at least $2.5 billion in investments.

It also said that Host Community Development Trusts have remitted N122.34billion and over $168.91 million as of the first week of this month to oil host communities.

NUPRC added that it was currently overseeing at least 536 projects, including schools, health centres, roads and vocational centres in the oil host communities.

The projects, according to the commission, are being funded by the trust fund.

One hundred and five Nigerian innovators, selected from 3,000 entries, will gather at Hilton London Paddington for the grand finale of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025.

The innovators, from all 36 states and FCT, will pitch revolutionary solutions in HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, Clean Energy, Artificial Intelligence, and IoT before investors, policymakers, and development partners.

The initiative, spearheaded by National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) in partnership with UKALD London, is a defining moment in Nigeria’s push towards becoming a global leader in innovation diplomacy.

Launched on May 28 in Abuja by Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, the challenge has evolved into ‘a national innovation movement’.

MBTI Director General, Dr. Kazeem Raji, said the country is not exporting talent but amplifying African solutions to the world.

He said following rigorous vetting, led by Prof. Hari Mohan of London South Bank University, the top 105 showcased their innovations at the National Showcase in Abuja on July 9, before top leaders, diplomats, and investors.

Some standout innovations expected to capture global attention, he said are: Bra-X: A smart wearable for early breast cancer detection; Multi-patient ventilator: Capable of supporting six patients simultaneously; AI-powered drones for precision farming and pest control; Clean energy solutions tailored for underserved communities and Next-generation FinTech platforms for inclusive financial access.

He said London was chosen due to its position as a hub of global capital, innovation, and diaspora investment networks.

According to him, the event will provide a platform for Nigerian innovators to connect with venture capitalists, diaspora investors, and European industry leaders, while unveiling strategic partnerships and bilateral opportunities.

Key features, he added, include: Live pitches from 105 finalists; Consortium Project Showcase: Including Interface Africa, Ogoni Land Renewal, and $1 billion Innovate Africa Israel/BIPVco Solar Project.

Others are launch of Lagos coastal areas as world’s safest innovation and leisure spot.

‘Global spotlights from SpinLab (Germany), Innovate UK, and Commonwealth Roundtable. Awards and recognition for standout innovators and partners’.

He said the event will deliver results, such as: signing of renewable energy and clean growth MOUs, among others.

Speakers and guests are Dr. Shambhu Pokharel, of Tesla, Europe; Amanda Haber, of Global Development at Innovation: Africa; Eric Weber, of SpinLab; top officials from UK Department of Business and Trade; Commonwealth Group; and local UK mayors.

He added that investor organisations expected at the event include Tesla Europe, UNDP, DP World Dubai, Innovate UK, BIPVco Wales, SpinLab Germany, Africa House London, Middlesbrough University, Kerna Ventures, Kudy Financials USA, and several African and European business chambers.

Speaking further, he said the movement enjoys the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda is credited with reviving Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

He however added that entries for the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 will open in the first quarter of next year, alongside new training and e-learning platforms designed to scale commercially viable projects nationwide.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris took time out last week to interrogate characterisations in sections of the foreign media of religion-induced attacks and violence in the country. He was piqued by claims from some international platforms and online commentators that terrorists in Nigeria were carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians.

Though he named neither the offending social media platforms nor the commentators, the minister considered their claims so grave that he had to issue a statement to correct the wrong impressions created.

‘The federal government strongly condemns and categorically refutes recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians. Such claims are false, baseless, despicable, and divisive’, he said.

He sees as misrepresentation of reality, the portrayal of Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group and that though Nigeria is faced with security challenges, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful. He is largely right.

The minister’s position seems to find further support in subsisting incidences of such attacks across the country. So, when he said the criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology regardless of faith, he is backed by facts.

But that is not all there is to the matter. Yes, the criminals target all those who reject their ‘murderous ideology’ without regard to faith. They attack Muslims who do not identify with their own brand of teaching. They also attack Christians because they belong to a different religious fate. If other people who do not belong to any of these two religions are attacked, they were caught in the course of the onslaught on the two dominant religious groups. But what is this murderous ideology? And who are its purveyors in our circumstance?

Answers to these posers may chart the part to the misinterpretation and mischaracterisation of the security challenges in the country by the foreign media. And they may well be located in the way religion-induced violence and attacks on worship places budded and escalated in the last couple of years.

The first bomb attack on worship places surfaced around 2011 when the Boko Haram insurgents attacked St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla near Abuja on a Christmas day leaving in its trail deaths, sorrow and awe. More than 30 worshippers were killed, many others injured and properties of inestimable value destroyed.

This was followed very closely by bomb blasts at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church Jos, Plateau State and another at a Church in Gadaka, Yobe State. Those attacks were received with mixed feelings given their targets. But Boko Haram was later to begin attacks on Mosques following mounting suspicions on its motive.

The situation became complex when the so-called bandits whose motivation has not proved different from that of Boko Haram joined the fray. In the last two months or so, bandits are known to have mounted attacks on Mosques in the northern parts of the country bringing in their wake the death of innocent Muslim worshippers.

Bandits struck in August this year, during prayer time at Anguwar Montau Mosque in the Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State. At least 32 worshippers were killed in reprisal for the killing of their commanders by villagers the previous weekend. Malumfashi youths were so aggrieved by the attack that they took to protests blocking the Malumfashi-Funtua highway.

A couple of days ago, armed bandits stormed a Mosque in Yandoto community, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State killed at least five people and abducted several others. The attack came less than a week after gunmen abducted worshippers during morning prayers at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village also in Tsafe LGA of the same state.

Before this time, a bomb attack and mass shooting during mass service at St, Francis Catholic church, Owo, Ondo State had left more than 50 people killed. The Nigerian security agencies then fingered ISWAP for the dastardly killings. Four of the masterminds have since been arrested and are facing prosecution.

Yet, herdsmen attacked St Paul’s Catholic Church, Aye-Twar, Katsina Ala, Benue State last August. Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA) Katsina Ala, Rev. Fr. Samuel Fila gave a disturbing account of the attack. According to him, ‘the attack has finally shut down all pastoral activities since all the 26 outstations have been occupied by herdsmen long before now.

The malevolent attach left in its wake the desecration and destruction of the parish church, destruction of the parish secretariat, the burning to ashes of the Father’s House, destruction of household items, pastoral logistic vehicles in addition to many other items’ the NCDPA chairman recounted.

All these seem to reinforce Idris’ argument that the terrorists operating in the country attacks Muslim and Christian places of worship and therefore puts a lie to the narrative of a systematic genocide against Christians. What could have then, led the foreign media outfits and commentators to their conclusion? Could it be a deliberate voyage on mischief or the general biases and ignorance that sometimes blur western media perception of events in Africa and the less developed nations?

Even as the motivations of western media platforms remain a matter of conjecture, it would appear they were deceived by the profile of the terrorists. Who are these terrorists operating in Nigeria and what is their mission?

Top on the list is the Boko Haram insurgents. They are opposed to western education and propelled by the weird desire to institute an Islamic state. Islamic State for West Africa Province ISWAP is another. It broke away from Islamic State (IS) another radical religious group linked to Al-Qaida. Its name gives out its doctrinaire.

There are also the bandits whose motivations are yet to be clearly decoded. At one time, they share the same characteristics with the killer herdsmen. And at another, it is difficult to draw a line between them and the Boko Haram insurgents or other terrorist groups masquerading around. They are largely responsible for the attacks in Katsina and Zamfara among other states in the north.

Attacks on worship places also come from the insurgency of the herdsmen ranked by Global Terrorism Index as the fourth most deadly terrorist group in the world. The case of Katsina Ala is just a tip of the iceberg of such attacks and despoliations. Of course, there are other less effective ones like the Lukarawa. The proliferation of these terror groups propelled by strange religious ideological leanings could obviously send wrong signals.

There are other forms criminalities in and around the country. But their purveyors are not engaged in mounting attacks on places of religious worship. So, it is not unlikely that the profile of these insurgents, doctrines and their preoccupation with attacks on places of worship may have influenced the foreign media platforms.

They may not have captured the real situation on ground. But the fact that such attacks could lend themselves to misinterpretation outside our shores, illustrates most poignantly the danger in the activities of insurgency groups propagating religious beliefs that run at cross purposes with the secularity of the country. That is the issue to contend with.

Admittedly, the government has been waging a relentless war against the insurgency of these extremists. In recent times, arrests of key leaders of the insurgent groups have been made. There are also copious reports of their being neutralised in huge numbers by the security agencies.

But the resurgence of the attacks as the tempo of the 2027 general elections draw nearer raises suspicions of political colouration. Data collected by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project shows there have been 43 separate attacks on Church premises this year.

This should instruct a re-assessment of the current strategy in prosecuting the war against terrorism to secure total defeat. As long as the terror groups pursue their weird religious doctrines, so long will their motivations lend themselves to misinterpretation.

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.

Sir: In 1975 at Dodan Barracks, an iconic photo was taken. In that frame stood three young men already carrying the weight of the nation on their shoulders: Adamu Ciroma, 41, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, 37, Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, and Murtala Muhammed, 36, Head of State.

They were young, sharp, ambitious, and responsible. Just five years before that moment, Nigeria had fought a brutal civil war. At only 33, Obasanjo took the surrender of Biafra. And even earlier, Yakubu Gowon became Head of State at just 31. These were young Nigerians who carried heavy responsibilities with courage.

Mr. President, where are we today?

At age 30, millions of Nigerian youths are jobless, roaming the streets with certificates that mean nothing. Many of us have no employable skills because our education system is broken. Some have fallen into crime-cultism, fraud, kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism. Others risk their lives crossing the desert or drowning in the sea, chasing the Japa dream, only to end up stranded in foreign lands.

We are not lazy. We are simply lost in a system that has failed us. We are tired of being called the leaders of tomorrow when our today has already been stolen.

We are trapped in bad schools and poor education, hospitals without medicine or equipment, insecurity that keeps farmers from their land and families from sleeping in peace, darkness because of lack of electricity, hunger everywhere-more than 85% of Nigerians cannot afford three meals a day, and joblessness-over 95% of youths have no chance to grow or contribute to this country

This pain is real, Mr. President. It is why crimes keep rising. It is why peace is broken. It is why our youths are angry, desperate, and hopeless.

I am almost 30, and I write this with tears as a voice for millions of young Nigerians. We believe in your Renewed Hope agenda. Your Excellency, every day it seems life only gets harder.

We need action, not promises. We need jobs, not slogans. We need food, not hunger. We need schools that work, hospitals that heal, and electricity that stays on, and leaders who care.

Mr. President, history has given you this chance. Please do not fail us. We need a rebirth of Nigeria. We need discipline, education, patriotism, and above all, leadership that put people first.

Sir, hear our cry. Hear the cry of your youths. If Nigeria fails us again, the future will be lost. But if you act now, history will remember you as the leader who saved a generation.

Nigeria must rise again.

Amanda Anisimova beat Linda Noskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to win the China Open for her second title of a breakthrough year and fourth overall.

Yesterday, the third-seeded American survived a second-set wobble to overpower the Czech 26th seed in one hour and 46 minutes in Beijing.

She lifted the trophy in the Chinese capital almost exactly one month after reaching the US Open final, where she lost to world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

‘It’s been an incredible few weeks,’ Anisimova said. ‘I felt a lot of love,’ she added, thanking the crowd for their support at the centre Diamond Court.

The 24-year-old Anisimova is the third American to win the China Open after last year’s champion Coco Gauff and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

Anisimova collapsed to the hard court in victory, lying on her back and putting her hands over her face.

Anisimova began ruthlessly, winning the first set in 23 minutes without dropping a game.

A defiant Noskova – contesting her first WTA 1000 final – found her feet in the second set, breaking early and powering to a 5-2 lead before closing out.

The two went toe-to-toe in the decider until Anisimova broke for a 4-2 lead, digging deep to reach the finish line with a winner on the first match point.

It’s been a stellar season for the world number four, who was also runner-up at Wimbledon.

This time last year, Anisimova was at world no. 43.

After her win Anisimova extended her gratitude to her coaches.

‘We’ve had a lot of challenges and despite that we also still have so much fun.

‘It’s crazy that we made it this far and to get the win today has been very special.

‘I’m excited for a lot more, and hopefully we can keep going.’

Anisimova dumped out second seed Gauff in the Beijing semi-finals, thrashing the two-time Grand Slam winner 6-1, 6-2 in 58 minutes.

Noskova, who started her Beijing run as world no. 27, said: ‘I definitely wasn’t coming here feeling like I was gonna play finals, so nice surprise.’

Anisimova congratulated her opponent whom she called ‘so young’ and said they ‘still have a lot of finals to play’.

Their match was the second WTA 1000 final in which both players were born during the 2000s.

Union Bank of Nigeria has underscored the importance of healthy body and workplace as the bank staged the inaugural edition of its ‘Stay Recharged Health Walk’.

The walk, which kicked off at the Stallion Plaza, Union Bank’s head office in Marina, passed through 7.5 kilometres of several vibrant Lagos streets to terminate at the bank’s sports complex, The Stable, on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere.

Chief Talent Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria, Omayuli Wale-Ajayi, said the dynamic event affirmed the bank’s steadfast commitment to employee well-being and sustainable workplace development.

According to her, the overwhelming participation and enthusiasm from employees from diverse departments and locations made it a celebration of physical fitness, mental health, and the power of community spirit.

She explained that ‘Stay Recharged’ was a featured event drawn from a cornerstone of Union Bank’s employee value proposition of employee wellness, thoughtfully crafted to foster a culture where health, happiness, and productivity flourish.

She noted that the initiative responded directly to the urgent need for purposeful wellness programmes that nurture both physical and mental health at work, adding that the programme reflected the bank’s recognition that employee wellbeing is fundamental to sustained productivity, engagement, and organisational excellence.

She said: ‘At Union Bank, well-being is not an afterthought; it is part of how we work. Our inaugural Stay Recharged Health Walk reflects our commitment to building a culture where our people are energised, supported, and thriving. When we take care of ourselves, we build stronger teams and stronger institutions.

‘The ‘Stay Recharged Health Walk’ aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. This initiative reflects Union Bank’s commitment to fostering a workplace culture that prioritises employee wellness, supports decent and productive work, and contributes to long-term organisational sustainability.

‘By investing in these wellness experiences, Union Bank not only strengthens its internal community but also reinforces its reputation as an employer of choice. Union Bank remains dedicated to developing innovative, health-focused programmes that inspire employees to adopt healthier lifestyles, supporting long-term growth for both individuals and the organisation’.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled two major drug cartels behind six consignments of cocaine in a series of intelligence-led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos.

The drugs were concealed in walls of stainless cups, body cream and hair gel containers, leading to the arrest of five suspects and ultimately the arrowhead of the syndicate, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, who parades as a businessman and real estate developer, according to Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi.

In a statement, on September 16, this year, Babafemi said, the agency’s operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilogrammes, which were concealed in walls of cocoa butter body cream containers.

Ahead of the 2nd edition of the 10th c Football Championship, top officials of the Grassroots Sports Federation (GRASOF) has paid a courtesy visit to its patron, Distinguished Senator Dr. Mao Ohanbunwa and the Ambassador of Burundi, His Excellency Hon. Edward Nduwimana. The delegation was led by Hon. Alhaji Ali Gombe, Chairman of Mobilization, Marketing, and Sponsorship, and Hon. John Ekpenyong, Tournament Coordinator.

During the visit, the GRASOF team briefed Senator Ohanbunwa, Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, on the forthcoming 2nd edition of the 10th Senate President’s U-18 Unity Football Championship. The tournament is scheduled to take place from November 7th to 17th in Abuja.

Senator Ohanbunwa expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament and promised to be fully involved in this year’s edition. He commended GRASOF’s efforts in developing and discovering young talents, urging the organization to continue the good work.

The visit is part of GRASOF’s efforts to engage with stakeholders and partners to ensure the success of the tournament. The Senate President’s U-18 Unity Football Championship aims to promote unity, sportsmanship, and healthy competition among Nigerian youths while identifying and nurturing budding football talents.

The United Nations (UN) has invited Ondo South Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to its Global Parliamentary Conference on Counter-Terrorism and the Prevention of Violent Extremism.

Ibrahim is a member of the African Parliamentary Union delegation.

The conference will be held by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism, with the support of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar.

It is slated for October 7 and 8, in Istanbul, Republic of Trkiye.

A letter of invitation by DiC Chief Special Projects and Innovation Branch, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Guadalupe Megre, which was addressed to the Secretary-General of the African Parliamentary Union in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Mr. Idi Gado Boubacar, stated that the senator’s contribution would add significant value to the discussions and outcomes.

‘I am pleased to extend, through your esteemed Office, an invitation to Professor Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and member of the African Parliamentary Union delegation, to participate in this important Conference. His contribution will add significant value to the discussions and outcomes.

‘UNOCT will be pleased to cover round-trip economy-class airfare and hotel accommodation for Senator Folorunsho’s participation.

‘The conference will bring together parliamentarians from across the world, representatives of parliamentary assemblies, United Nations entities, civil society, and academic experts to strengthen parliament-led responses to evolving terrorist threats in full respect of international law and human rights,’ the letter said.