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The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have called for stronger policies, regulations and enforcement mechanisms to accelerate energy efficiency and conservation in Nigeria.

The call was made at the ECN-JICA two-day National Workshop on Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Abuja, themed ‘Accelerating Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Nigeria: Bridging Policy, Regulation and Implementation for Measurable Impact.’

Director-General of the ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, said energy efficiency should be treated as an additional source of energy because it reduces the need for new generation capacity while improving the utilisation of available electricity.

Abdullahi said the Commission’s recent industrial energy survey, conducted with the National Bureau of Statistics, showed that industrial energy expenditure runs into trillions of naira annually, with a significant proportion spent on self-generated electricity, particularly diesel-powered generation.

He said inefficiencies, ranging from oversized captive generators to poorly maintained equipment, represented substantial economic losses that coordinated policy, regulation and implementation could address.

‘Every inefficiency in that chain, from oversized captive generators to poorly maintained equipment, is money leaving the productive economy for no productive return,’ he said.

The ECN boss said the workshop was designed to bring policymakers, regulators and industry implementers together to develop specific actions covering the built environment, transportation, human capacity development, industry, standards and enforcement.

He stressed that energy efficiency policies would have limited impact without clear standards, effective enforcement and appropriate financing mechanisms.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who chaired the opening ceremony, said Nigeria’s growing energy needs could not be addressed solely by increasing power generation and expanding infrastructure.

The minister said greater attention must also be given to how energy is produced, distributed and consumed, describing energy efficiency and conservation as practical pathways to reducing waste, lowering operating costs, improving industrial competitiveness and strengthening energy security.

He said emerging technologies, including smart energy-management systems, digital monitoring, efficient appliances, advanced building technologies, smart meters, energy storage, artificial intelligence and data analytics, could help transform energy management in Nigeria.

The minister urged stronger collaboration among research institutions, universities, technology hubs, industries, and policymakers to ensure research and innovation translate into practical solutions.

The keynote speaker, former ECN Director-General, Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sambo, said Nigeria needed to move away from an almost exclusive focus on increasing electricity supply and give greater attention to energy efficiency as a ‘first fuel’.

Sambo said the country’s energy efficiency regulatory framework faced a legislative gap, noting that although policies such as the National Energy Policy and Renewable Energy Master Plan had laid the foundations, Nigeria still lacked a standalone, legally binding Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.

He proposed establishing an EE and C Legislative Task Force involving the ECN and relevant National Assembly committees to advance the proposed legislation.

Sambo also called for a National Energy Efficiency Fund (NEEF) to provide low-interest financing for industrial energy-efficiency retrofits.

He further proposed that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) require electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to dedicate between two and five per cent of their annual operational budgets to demand-side management programmes.

Such measures, he said, would encourage DisCos to move beyond simply selling electricity towards helping consumers reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.

On appliance standards, Sambo called for stronger enforcement of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), including closer cooperation between the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigeria Customs Service to prevent inefficient appliances from entering the Nigerian market.

He proposed a phased implementation of MEPS involving institutional strengthening, market surveillance, public awareness and eventual mandatory enforcement.

Sambo also advocated establishing a National Energy Efficiency Testing Laboratory, harmonising regional standards, and training customs personnel to identify non-compliant appliances.

He said energy efficiency could provide significant additional capacity without the capital costs of building new power plants.

Sambo further proposed incorporating energy-efficiency compliance certification into building development processes, arguing that passive design measures such as shading, natural ventilation and daylighting should be integrated into buildings from the design stage.

He said the proposed measures would help Nigeria shift from prolonged policy discussions to measurable implementation.

‘Efficiency is our cleanest, cheapest, and most abundant energy source,’ Sambo said, stressing the need for Nigeria to leverage the ECN-JICA partnership to achieve practical and measurable improvements in energy efficiency.

Chief Representative of the JICA Nigeria Office, Mr Ishigame Keiji, said improving energy efficiency had become imperative as Nigeria continued to experience rapid population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation and increasing demand for electricity.

He stressed the need for the country to adopt smarter energy solutions that improve energy productivity while supporting sustainable economic development.

According to him, Nigeria can draw valuable lessons from Japan’s experience in improving energy efficiency through the deployment of energy management systems, efficient technologies, standards and effective regulatory frameworks.

He said adopting such measures could help Nigeria maximise available energy resources while reducing wastage and improving productivity across key sectors of the economy.

Keiji reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen capacity and develop practical approaches to energy efficiency and conservation.

Wema Bank has empowered empowered over 500 business owners with the knowledge and skills at the second Wema Export Trade Academy (WETA) held in Lagos. Participants were taken through critical areas of export by experts from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among other.

Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Oluwole Ajimisinmi, said: ‘At Wema Bank, we recognise that the potential of Nigerian businesses in global trade can only be fully realised when they have access to the right knowledge, the right connections, and the right financial support. WETA brings these critical elements together and our ambition is to create a platform that helps businesses understand the export ecosystem, connect with the right stakeholders, and build the capacity required to participate sustainably in international trade.’

Deputy Director, NAFDAC, Oluseyi Sanyaolu, added: ‘For businesses looking to take their products to international markets, understanding the processes, regulatory requirements and institutions involved is critical to ensuring that their products meet the required standards.

This is why initiatives like the Wema Export Academy are important, because they equip businesses with the knowledge and guidance needed to navigate the export journey and compete more confidently in global markets.’

For participants, the programme also provided an opportunity to reassess their businesses through the lens of international trade and better understand what would be required to take locally developed products and services into new markets. One of the participants, Dele Badejo, an importer exploring opportunities within the export market, described the programme as an important step in understanding the opportunities available to Nigerian businesses seeking to diversify into export.

Tajudeen Bakare, Divisional Executive, Wema Bank, spoke on the continuity of the engagement. ‘Our intention is not to end its engagement with the participating businesses at the completion of the Academy. We are not training and leaving them to navigate the journey alone. The goal is to continue to work with them, understand what they require at different stages and provide the relevant financial and non-financial support that can help them grow. For us, this is the beginning of a partnership.’

For Wema Bank, the Export Trade Academy represents a broader approach to SME development that goes beyond providing financial products to building the capacity businesses require to grow. The successful completion of the second edition of WETA builds on the Bank’s wider international trade agenda to nurture businesses and aspiring exporters through the different stages of international trade.

Through initiatives such as WETA, Wema Bank continues to position itself as a partner to Nigerian businesses across different stages of growth, supporting SMEs to strengthen their operations locally while building the knowledge, capacity and connections required to compete globally.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the structures to win next year’s general elections in the state.

Governor Okpebholo said the Edo APC is well positioned ahead of the elections.

Okpebholo spoke at a mobilisation rally in Ologbo Wards 9 and 10 in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

He said the mobilisation exercise aimed to strengthen the party at the grassroots and secure support for candidates vying for National Assembly seats.

The Edo Governor, who urged members to remain united and committed to the party’s programmes, said his administration would continue to work for the state’s development.

He thanked the electorate for supporting his administration and said he was confident the party would consolidate its support across the state.

Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe said the party was targeting 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the state in the 2027 general elections. He said the party leadership had commenced mobilisation across the 18 local government areas to achieve the target.

Tenebe said the governor and his deputy, Hon Dennis Idahosa, had been visiting communities and engaging with party members to strengthen the party ahead of the elections. He urged members to work collectively to achieve the party’s electoral objectives.

Kwara State Government yesterday began this year’s promotion test for over 2,500 workers.

The examination is billed for Tuesday and Wednesday this week and it is being conducted through participants’ Android phones.

Speaking with The Nation on the sidelines of the exercise in Ilorin, the Chairperson, Kwara State Civil Service Commission, Hajia Habibat Yusuf, said about 1,300 workers took part in the test yesterday, adding that over 1,200 would sit for theirs today.

She said the oral interview would start on October 5.

Yusuf said the use of Android phones would make the test easier for the participants.

She urged the participants to be ‘up and doing, steadfast, loyal and dedicated.’

Acting Head of Service (HoS), Dr Olufunke Shittu, said the state had moved away from analogue, adding that digitalisation had come to stay in the civil service.

‘My advice to civil servants is for them to upscale their knowledge. The programme is an assessment of competence of officers who are moving from lower grade levels to higher ones.’

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has charged chief executives of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to step up public communication of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s achievements while aligning their operations with the administration’s $1 trillion economic target.

Addressing a delegation of MDA heads and political appointees at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Yilwatda emphasised that government appointees carry a dual responsibility of professional service and political accountability.

He cautioned agency leaders against viewing themselves strictly as technocrats, reminding them that their appointments carry an obligation to actively defend and communicate the administration’s policies to the public.

‘Most of you are political appointees who earned the confidence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because of your competence, experience, and commitment,’ Yilwatda told the delegates. ‘Your appointments are not accidental. They are both professional and political responsibilities. When you accepted these positions, you accepted the duty not only to serve the nation but also to contribute to the success of the administration that entrusted you with those responsibilities.’

Expressing concern over what he described as an information gap between the government and citizens, the party boss urged appointees to use their institutions, professional networks, and grassroots connections to highlight key reforms and interventions across various sectors.

‘Achievements do not speak for themselves. They must be communicated clearly, consistently, and credibly,’ he stated, adding that the agencies executing these initiatives are best placed to explain their practical impact to the public.

Turning to economic governance, Yilwatda challenged every federal agency to re-evaluate its internal priorities and demonstrate its direct contribution to President Tinubu’s ambitious drive for a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

‘Every agency should be able to answer a simple question: What contribution is it making towards achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy?’ Yilwatda asked.

He urged the CEOs to audit their strategic programmes, budgetary allocations, and operations to ensure they drive productivity, foster job creation, attract foreign investment, and support overall national growth.

Highlighting ongoing investments in transport corridors, deep seaports, rail expansion, energy reforms, and the coastal highway, the APC chief noted that such infrastructure projects are vital pillars of the administration’s broader vision to establish Nigeria as a dominant economic hub in West and Central Africa.

‘These initiatives are not isolated projects. They are components of a broader strategy aimed at creating jobs, attracting investment, increasing productivity, and strengthening Nigeria’s economic competitiveness,’ he noted.

Yilwatda reaffirmed that the APC would remain a key vehicle for projecting the administration’s economic agenda, stressing that sustained synergy between the ruling party, government institutions, and political appointees is essential to improving the general welfare of Nigerians.

Earlier, the leader of the team and Chief Executive of the National Board of Technology, Innovation, Dr. Kazeem Raji, said the forum was set to ensure victory for President Tinubu at the polls next year, promising that the forum would deliver a minimum of 10 million votes at the January 16 presidential election.

Commending the party for setting up the Presidential Campaign Council, Raji said the task ahead of the council is enormous and would require the additional support of an Independent Presidential Campaign Council (IPCC).

Referencing the 2023 election, where the IPCC played a vital role, Raji suggested that the party could equally engage members of the forum in such a council in order to ensure victory for President Tinubu and the party.

American model Amber Rose has revealed that becoming a mother changed her stance on feminism.

The former self-described liberal feminist disclosed in an interview that she no longer identifies as one, despite still believing in girl power.

Rose, now a mother of boys, said motherhood made her see life from a different angle and appreciate men’s role.

‘I have been a liberal feminist for most of my life, but as I got older and gave birth, I am no longer feminist, and I see both sides now. I think you have to either become a mom or put yourself in your dad’s or uncle’s shoes and look at life like we really do need men,’ she said.

She added that women need men in many aspects of life.

According to her, ‘I think sometimes you have to either become a mom. We really need you guys for a lot of things.’

Rose further noted that men are essential for certain responsibilities she believes women cannot handle alone.

‘We need men for babies. We need men for heavy lifting. We need men for, you know, the really hard jobs that we can’t do,’ she explained.

She admitted her new position hasn’t gone down well with some of her female supporters.

‘I feel like a lot of my girl fans, they’re, like, low-key mad at me that I’m not a feminist anymore,’ she said.

To illustrate her point, Rose cited getting on a yacht as a moment when she prefers male support for safety.

‘Even just getting on the yacht. Like, that safety net of a man, making sure that I get on. I wouldn’t want a woman to help me, because I’m like, girl, we both gonna fall,’ she added.

Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva has paid an emotional tribute to her late husband, veteran actor Olu Jacobs, as the entertainment industry gathers in Lagos for his Night of Tributes.

Silva shared a throwback photograph of herself and Jacobs on Instagram on Wednesday, accompanied by a white heart and praying hands emojis.

The tribute comes 14 days after Jacobs died at the age of 84.

Jacobs, whose full name was Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, died on September 16, 2026. His family announced his death in a statement describing him as ‘The Lion of Lufodo’ while appealing for privacy as they mourned him.

Silva and Jacobs were married for several decades and became one of Nigeria’s most celebrated couples in the entertainment industry. Beyond their marriage, the pair shared a professional partnership and co-founded the Lufodo Group, an organisation involved in theatre and film production.

Jacobs is being honoured at a Night of Tributes at the Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos today. The event is scheduled to begin at 4 pm.

His funeral service is scheduled for Friday, October 2, at 10 am at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos.

Jacobs was one of Nollywood’s most respected actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film.

His death has continued to draw tributes from colleagues, fans and other members of the entertainment industry, who have celebrated his contributions to Nigeria’s performing arts.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has said that despite the achievements in the oil and gas industry, road transport, tank operations, and evacuation systems are increasing costs and affecting the supply chain.

He also said global oil prices, market volatility, exchange rates, and product prices have increased market uncertainty.

Recall there has been a spike in the cost of petroleum products across the country.

He spoke in Abuja during the Petroleum Technology Development Fund Journal Summit yesterday.

The theme of the summit was ‘Private Sector Participation in Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Sector: Prospects, Challenges and the Way Forward’

Lokpobiri, who was represented by the Technical Adviser, Engr Emmanuel Sinime, said, ‘Another key challenge is logistical transportation, which of course includes road transport, tank operations, and evacuation systems, which of course are raising costs and disrupting the supply chain.

‘Market volatility, global oil prices, exchange rates, freight costs, and product prices create uncertainties. Investors need risk management tools and stable policies.’

The minister, who also listed major accomplishments in the petroleum sector, said challenges still remain, including infrastructure deficits that cut across limited pipelines and storage systems and the need for an evacuation facility.

He stressed that the critical facilities drive up logistics costs and reduce product competitiveness.

According to him, regulatory uncertainties and fiscal issues are equally part of the challenges.

Lokpobiri earlier said ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector are designed to restore investors’ confidence, improve regulatory certainty, and create conditions for sustainable private sector investment across the oil and gas value chain.

The minister stressed that as a foundation of this transformation, upstream performance has continued to improve.

He said Nigerian crude oil production has risen from around 1 million barrels per day in 2023 to over 1.7 million barrels per day, moving closer to the national target of 1.8 million barrels per day.

According to him, while the number of active drilling rigs has grown from about 14 to more than 60, the sector has also recorded more than $10 billion in FDI in recent years, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream industry.

The government, he said, has also made significant progress in the restructuring of the industry by completing major divestment transactions involving international oil companies.

Lokpobiri said the transactions are creating great opportunities for indigenous operators who now account for more than 50% of Nigerian crude oil production, a historic milestone for our industry.

The oil minister said on the midstream and downstream side, specifically, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has introduced a new domestic gas pricing framework to give producers and off-takers greater certainty, and has also begun work on the new regulation to curb anti-competitive practices and ensure fair, non-discriminatory access to pipelines, depots, and terminals.

He recalled that the NMDPRA is also partnering with international commodity analyst providers to develop a West African refined product pricing benchmark, therefore reducing our region’s reliance on external pricing indices.

Projecting into the future, he said Nigeria also needs a predictable, transparent regulatory environment that enables business, attracts investment, creates jobs, and not one that is burdened with assessing regulations and guidelines.

According to him, history will not judge stakeholders by the number of regulations they issue or guidelines they publish, but by the number of businesses they actually create.

He added that ‘The investment that we actually attract, the pieces of light that come out of these regulations, there must be a balance between the regulations that we bring, and of course, the jobs that these regulations will actually bring to attract.’

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Executive Secretary, Prof. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, has revealed that the fund is currently focusing on measures to translate the research in the oil and gas industry into solutions.

‘The Summit extends this role further by transforming ideas beyond the pages of the Journal into dialogue, collaboration, and practical solutions for the industry.

The focus of PTDF is how we translate research into solutions,’ said the Executive Secretary.

As an institution dedicated to human-capacity development, research, and innovation, Aliyu said, PTDF is particularly focused on ensuring that research outputs go beyond mere publication and move towards application, intellectual property development, and commercialisation.

He said stronger partnerships between industry and research institutions will be critical in achieving this goal.

Aliyu said Nigeria’s petroleum industry is experiencing a substantial transformation, presenting growing opportunities in areas such as exploration, geophysics, refining, gas development, processing, transportation, storage, and distribution.

On the other hand, he stressed that to fully realise these opportunities, stakeholders need not only investment and infrastructure but also the right policies, technical capacity, technology, research, and effective collaboration among government, industry, and academia.

The PTDJ, he said, plays an essential role in today’s Summit and serves as a key avenue through which PTDF advances its mandate in research, technology development, and human-capital development.

Aliyu said the summit extends to transforming ideas beyond the pages of the Journal into dialogue, collaboration, and practical solutions for the industry.

According to him, the growing involvement of private investors in refining, gas processing, logistics, storage, and the distribution of petroleum products presents substantial opportunities for economic growth, job creation, technology development, and building local capacity.

He stressed that, however, PTDF also confront with challenges related to financing, infrastructure, regulatory certainty, access to technology, market efficiency, and technical capacity, all of which require open and constructive discussion.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Home Ekperikpe Ekpo, said that through the PTDF’s investment in education, research, training, and human capital development, the Fund is helping build the technical capabilities required to support a competitive, technology-driven petroleum sector.

He encouraged the PTDF to continue strengthening collaboration with industry operators, universities, and research institutions to ensure that research outcomes translate into practical solutions and commercial opportunities.

He was confident that the summit’s deliberations would generate actionable recommendations to strengthen private sector participation, improve the investment climate, and accelerate the development of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sector.

Asiko Energy Holdings Limited has completed the first phase of its tri-fuel terminal in Ijora, Lagos, unveiling a fully mounded 5,000-metric-ton LPG and propane storage facility as part of efforts to deepen investment in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure. The terminal was developed as part of the company’s broader vision of establishing a world-class tri-fuel facility capable of handling LPG, propane and LNG.

The facility, whose construction commenced in 2022, is designed to strengthen the storage and distribution of LPG and propane while providing the platform for the company’s planned expansion into liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Speaking at the completion ceremony in Lagos yesterday, Chairman of Asiko Energy Holdings, Alex Ogedegbe, described the project as the outcome of years of investment, determination, technical expertise and collaboration among stakeholders.

Ogedegbe said the project was particularly significant to Nigeria’s gas development ambitions, stressing that the country’s abundant gas resources could play a greater role in industrialisation, energy security and economic development if supported by adequate infrastructure.

The multi-jetty connection is expected to provide the facility with greater flexibility in receiving products, reduce dependence on a single supply point and improve the reliability of coastal gas supply into Lagos.

The facility comprises five 1,000-metric-tonne propane-rated storage tanks, constructed using a fully mounded design in which the tanks are protected beneath a concrete mound. The terminal is connected to Apapa Port through a 1.7-kilometre underground pipeline linking it to three jetty connection points – PWA, NOJ and NNPC jetties.

Ogedegbe said the completion of the first phase was not merely the commissioning of another storage facility but another step in the development of Nigeria’s gas value chain.

He acknowledged the contributions of financiers, engineers, contractors, consultants, regulators, vendors, management and other stakeholders who contributed to the project.

The Divisional Head, Extractive Industries, Bank of Industry (BoI), Nafisa Sambu, described the project as a significant milestone for the country’s energy sector and a demonstration of the opportunities within the gas value chain. He said the facility will also contribute to energy security, job creation, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.

‘At BOI, we remain committed to supporting projects of this nature through appropriate financing, partnerships and interventions that drive investment, expand local value creation and strengthen industrial growth,’ Sambu said.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Adeleye Falade, an engineer, described the Asiko terminal as a major addition to Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

Falade commended Asiko for what he described as its resilience, doggedness and commitment to completing the project despite the challenges associated with developing major infrastructure.

He said Nigeria remained a gas-rich country but that inadequate infrastructure continued to constrain the production, distribution and utilisation of the resource.

Falade said expanding gas infrastructure was essential to improving energy security and ensuring that Nigeria derived greater economic value from its gas resources.

He recalled that NLNG decided in 2022 to dedicate 100 per cent of its LPG production – propane and butane – to the domestic market, saying the company had been working to expand LPG availability in Nigeria.

According to him, NLNG introduced cooking gas into the Nigerian market in 2005 with about 70,000 tons and had subsequently increased its production to about 500,000 tons annually.

He said NLNG was also targeting a further 50 per cent increase in LPG production capacity by the end of 2027, subject to the completion of its ongoing programme.

Falade said investments such as the Asiko terminal were necessary to strengthen the domestic gas value chain, improve supply and support the country’s energy transition and economic development.

Also speaking, Head, Commercial Client Coverage, Stanbic IBTC, Babatunde Akindile, described the terminal as a transformational investment in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure.

He said completing the project demonstrated Asiko Energy’s determination and resilience despite changing market conditions, cost pressures, foreign exchange volatility and infrastructure challenges.

Akindile said the facility would enhance storage and distribution capacity for LPG and propane, improve supply-chain efficiency and contribute to greater domestic gas utilisation.

He added that Stanbic IBTC, as a long-standing banking partner of Asiko Energy, remained committed to supporting businesses investing in critical infrastructure and creating long-term economic value.

The representative of Wema Bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Divisional Head, Corporate Banking, Kayode Oladipo, also described the project as a testament to the company’s vision, resilience, planning and disciplined execution.

He said the bank was proud to have supported Asiko on part of its journey, stressing that the role of banks went beyond providing capital to supporting businesses that create jobs, strengthen critical sectors and contribute to economic development.

He said the new terminal would increase energy capacity, improve access to gas and create new opportunities for businesses and communities.

The Chief Risk Officer, Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited (InfraCredit), Chidi Ene, said the project demonstrated what could be achieved when commercially viable infrastructure was matched with appropriate financing and credit enhancement.

He said InfraCredit supported the project through its guarantee, helping to mobilise long-term local credit financing.

According to Ene, the transaction also demonstrated the importance of risk-sharing and partnerships in financing critical infrastructure.

He said InfraCredit’s role was not limited to providing guarantees but also involved creating conditions that enable viable infrastructure projects to access capital, manage risk and reach completion.

The next phase of the project will focus on LNG infrastructure, with the company planning additional modular tanks and a large fully contained LNG storage tank.

The expansion, planned to commence in 2027, is expected to complete the terminal’s tri-fuel configuration.

Company project details indicate plans for 12 modular tanks of 250 cubic metres each, followed by a large fully contained LNG tank. The LNG phase is expected to provide additional capacity for the storage and distribution of natural gas and support future LNG-to-CNG applications where appropriate compression infrastructure is deployed.

Speaking on the engineering challenges involved in developing the terminal, Asiko Energy’s Felix Ekundayo said the project involved extensive underground construction, including about two kilometres of drilling and pipeline work between Ijora and Apapa.

He said about 1,500 stone columns were drilled to a depth of 13.5 metres to strengthen the ground, while thousands of truckloads of sand and thousands of tonnes of steel were used in the construction.

Ekundayo said the project also included an underground fire-water storage system larger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool and systems for cathodic protection and product tracking.

He said the pipeline linking the terminal to three Apapa jetties would enable the company to receive cargo through multiple points, providing operational flexibility.

On the planned LNG phase, Ekundayo said the company would construct additional tanks of increasing heights, with the largest LNG tank expected to reach about 42 metres.

He said the LNG storage system would incorporate double-walled stainless-steel construction and vaporisers capable of supplying LNG or natural gas into the pipeline network.

Ekundayo said the LNG expansion would require further investment, including infrastructure for receiving LNG vessels.

The completion of the LPG and propane terminal marks the first major phase of Asiko Energy’s long-term plan to establish a tri-fuel gas facility capable of supporting LPG, propane and LNG operations from its Ijora location.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a ruling for December 7 on the outcome of the trial-within-trial to determine whether the six defendants made statements to investigators voluntarily.

The defendants are retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Capt. Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the trial-within-trial on May 11 after the defendants’ lawyers objected to the admissibility of the defendants’ statements, arguing, among other things, that they were coerced into making them, some of which contained admissions.

Justice Abdulmalik chose the date for ruling on Wednesday after lawyers for both the prosecution and defence made their final submissions and adopted their written addresses on the trial-within-trial.

While the lawyer for the prosecution, Maryam Okorie, urged the court to hold that the defendants volunteered their statements and to admit them along with other accompanying exhibits, lawyers for the defendants urged the court otherwise.

The defendants were arraigned on April 22 on a 13-count charge filed for the Federal Government by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timpre Sylva, was mentioned in the charge, but was said to be at large.

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, was read to them.

They are charged with offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

The defendants objected to the admissibility of their statements when the prosecution, which had called four witnesses, applied to tender them in evidence.

In a video evidence played in court on May 20, Umoru (the fourth defendant) was heard saying that discussions were held among the alleged plotters on switching off electricity supply to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to aid the execution of the alleged coup.

Umoru, an employee in the Maintenance Department of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, stationed at the Presidential Villa, said he warned that such an action would immediately trigger investigations and the detention of workers on duty if it were carried out.

He alleged that Col. Mohammed Ma’aji, the alleged coup mastermind, offered him money, through Insp. Ahmed Ibrahim, the 3rd defendant, to recruit between 18 and 19 persons working inside the Villa.

Umoru said those to be recruited include soldiers, officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Julius Berger staff.

He also told investigators that Ma’aji allegedly said he wanted access to the Presidential Villa and could achieve it ‘with force,’ even if those recruited from inside decline to cooperate.

The sixth defendant, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, an Islamic cleric, said in another video evidence that he warned the co-suspects that the plan would fail and that they would eventually be exposed.

Abdulkadir, a Zaria-based Imam, said he was informed about the plot and recruited to pray against the leakage of information about the activities of those behind it.