2027 Presidency: “You Are On Your Own”, Giadom Tells Jonathan

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September 4, 2025

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A South-south political leader has cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan against succumbing to the temptations of going against the grain of popular opinion by accepting to contest against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 Presidential Election.

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, South South region, Victor Giadom, insisted that much as Jonathan reserves the right to contest, he will not enjoy the support of the region which he said has decided to queue behind President Tinubu in his bid for a second term in office.

The Source reports that President Tinubu was one of the arrowheads of the plot that ousted Jonathan from office in 2015, thereby denying him and the South-south the chance for a second tenure.

According to Giadom, the former President, who is a prominent son of the South-south, will not enjoy the support of the Region’s political leaders.

Talks about the former President contesting the 2027 Presidential polls have continued to dominate both conventional and social media space in recent times with sundry groups, particularly, from the Northern part of the country, leading the clamour for his return.

The opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, and the African Democratic Congress, are, also, said to be wooing the Bayelsa State born former President.

However, the APC National Vice Chairman who spoke from his Gokana Local Council of Rivers State with The Punch, insisted that political leaders, major stakeholders and overwhelming majority of the people have resolved to firmly pursue the re-election bid of President Tinubu come 2027.

“It is optional and up to anybody to decide what he wants to do, and what he doesn’t want to.

” Former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to join the Presidential race, but for us as the political leaders of this place (South South region), we have taken our position, and our decision is to support President Tinubu in 2027.

“We, the South- south Region have concrete reasons for doing that. Look at the East-West Road , especially the Eleme section, which has been crying for help for decades, now, quality construction work has gone far.

“The Bodo-Bonny Road is, almost, 90 percent completed. You can drive from Mogo Junction ( in Ogoni) to Bonny in less than 22 minutes when final work is completed. Look at what HYREP is doing in Ogoni land”, the APC National Vice Chairman stated.

He emphasized that going by the massive transformation of the region by the APC-led Federal Government, President Tinubu deserves to be supported by the people of the Zone.

“The progress recorded under the President Tinubu administration in the region represents a huge difference in governance, so the people must applaud and support him

“I know that this is very fertile ground for the All Progressive Congress; very fertile for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we know that delivering him in the South South has already been accomplished”, Giadom asserted .

His position is coming on the heels of that of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, who last week advised against the former President and his erstwhile benefactor, succumbing to pressures to come out of political retirement.

Wike is an acclaimed supporter, and promoter of the second term ambition of President Tinubu who compensated him with the FCT Ministerial job, for helping him in not only scuttling the ambition of the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, but is also assisting in holding down the PDP from posing a threat to the President’s re-election bid in 2027.

For the records, however, Giadom was not speaking for the South-south Leaders, but on his own behalf and that of the South-south APC members and supporters.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has neither confirmed nor denied interest in the 2027 Presidential election. He is watching in studied silence.

Ondo LGs Accuse State Govt Of Tampering With Monthly Allocation

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Ayodele Oni

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September 4, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

State Govt: “Deductions used to pay salaries, pensions”

Ondo State Government and Local Councils in the state are at loggerhead over monthly allocations to the Third Tier of Government.

The 18 Local Councils are complaining that the State Government still controls funds meant for the Councils, following continued delay in the implementation of autonomy for the Councils.

Going by fund allocation to the Third Tier which comes to between N500 million and N600million monthly, what goes to the Local Councils from the joint account with State is a meagre N4 million monthly.

This has paralyzed execution of projects by the Councils which cannot also meet other obligations to the citizenry.

It was gathered that part of the funds deducted is used to finance the Local Councils Development Authority, (LCDAs), which are yet to receive constitutional backing.

The State Government has denied that it is tampering with the funds, but maintained that what is being deducted from their allocation is used to meet salary and pension obligations of the Councils.

But, the Chairmen allege that they are only entitled to N4 million monthly from FAAC funds, while the substantial part of their funds is controlled by the State Government.

According to one Chairman who spoke anonymously, “You know we are still operating a joint account for the Local Government Funds, and when the FAAC allocation is released, they will disburse what each Local Government is entitled to, but we are made to return the substantial part of the funds into the Ministry of Local Government account, while we are left with N4 million.”

The Chairmen cited an example with some Local Government allocation funds stating that despite receiving huge allocations, they are only entitled to N4 million to run the Councils.

“For instance, in the last FAAC for June, some local governments received N644 million, N590 million, and N405 million. You can verify this from the BudgIT website. So, despite this huge allocation, the Chairmen are only entitled to N4 million to run the Councils.”

However, the Ondo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, dismissed the allegations, describing them as “not true.”

He explained that deductions from Council allocations are statutory, citing payments for workers’ salaries, pensioners, and other government obligations.

“Are they not going to pay the salary of their workers? Is it not still Government paying on their behalf? We have the Local Government Service Commission, we have SUBEB, we have the Pension Board, training schools, loans board. All these are deducted from their own percentage of the money.”

Enugu Road Crashes: “Truck Does Not Belong To Us” – Dangote

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 4, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Five members of a family going back to Abuja after their mother’s funeral crushed

The Management of Dangote Group has denied the alleged involvement of one of its haulage trucks in the Wednesday Enugu fatal road mishap.

The Source reports that the Enugu state police Command on Wednesday September 3,2025 , confirmed multiple road accidents that cumulatively claimed no fewer than 10 lives,with equal number said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries .

A statement from the Enugu State Police Command spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, informed that one of the crashes of the day involved a Sino Truck laden with bags of cement ,and marked Visco Investment Global. It collided with a Toyota Corolla along the Ozalala/Four Corner axis of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway.

In another mishap ,a Foton bus and a Daihatsu Hijet minibus ,both of which were driving against traffic ,had a ahead on collision.

According to the police spokesperson , the Global Investment Truck , rammed into a fully loaded tricycle in the Gariki area of Enugu metropolis , crushing to death all the occupants said to be members of one family.

The story of the family members is heartbreaking. They were returning to Abuja after they had buried their mother, Lolo Stella Uzoma. She was the wife of late Chief Timothy Uzoma. Their children who came home from Abuja were on their way back when they met death.

Those who met death were:

*Mr Leo Uzoma.

*Leo’s wife.

*Leo’s brother, Ezeala.

*Ogechi, their only daughter.

*Ogechi’s daughter- (an 8-year old)

Early reports and witness accounts had linked the truck to Dangote Group ,which has been on the spot in recent times following the spate of fatal crashes and multiple deaths involving a couple of vehicles in its fleet.

But in a statement, the Dangote Management said that although the truck involved in one of the Enugu accidents bore the Group’s logo and brand signature, it, however, does not belong to it.

According to the Dangote Management, the truck in question is being operated by a third party- Visco Investment Global Limited.

The Group expressed serious concern about the tendency for people to rush into linking its name to, and exploiting such tragedies for malicious or financial gains.

This is as it assured that the Group will be introducing some strict measures to protect its brand from being abused and misrepresented.

“We are engaging with that appropriate agencies to find out why the truck was carrying our logo when it is not part of our fleet

“Going forward, we will apply more scrutiny to the unauthorized use of our brand identity, especially the misuse of our logo on vehicles not linked to the Group.

“Ordinarily, it is not our policy to comment on individual cases, but the spread of misinformation linking these incidents to the Dangote Group without evidence has compelled us to respond.

“We are committed to cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and insist that investigations should be allowed to run their course without interference.

“We strongly reject attempts to exploit tragedies like this for malicious or financial gain”, the Dangote Management stated.

Fidelity Bank Deepens Push For Nigeria’s Non-oil Exports

By

Tosin Olatokunbo

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September 4, 2025

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Nigeria’s diversification drive has gathered momentum in recent years as government initiatives push to reduce dependence on crude oil and strengthen non-oil sectors as engines of growth. From the Central Bank of Nigeria’s RT200 programme to incentives offered by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, the country has implemented policies designed to encourage exporters, boost foreign exchange inflows, and integrate local enterprises into global value chains.
Complementing these efforts, Fidelity Bank Plc has steadily positioned itself as one of the private-sector leaders advancing the country’s non-oil export agenda. Through its flagship initiative—the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade & Creative Connect, FNITCC, the bank has built a global platform that links Nigerian exporters with international buyers, diaspora markets, and strategic investors.

For a country where oil revenues remain vulnerable to global shocks, FNITCC is more than a corporate innovation. It is a deliberate tool to help Nigeria unlock new streams of foreign exchange, strengthen small businesses, and showcase the creativity and resilience of its people to the world.

Beyond Commodities: A Broader Vision

The design of FNITCC reflects Fidelity Bank’s conviction that Nigeria’s future global competitiveness lies not only in raw commodities but also in value-added goods and services. The expo has created space for agriculture and consumer-packaged goods, but equally for sectors such as fashion, cosmetics, fintech, and the wider creative economy.

The federal government has also increasingly emphasised the need for value addition rather than the mere export of raw commodities. A recent policy directive on shea butter, for instance, underscores this shift by encouraging local processors to refine and package the product before it leaves Nigeria. The move aligns with broader industrialisation and job-creation objectives, while ensuring that the country captures more value across the production chain—a goal that platforms like FNITCC are now helping to actualise by connecting these upgraded products to international markets.

FNITCC events are immersive and deliberately multi-sectoral. They combine product exhibitions, breakout sessions, diaspora investment panels, curated workshops, art displays, and even theatrical and fashion performances. The aim is clear: to connect the breadth of Nigerian enterprise to global markets, while ensuring that exporters are able to meet international standards and access the finance required to scale.

In a statement announcing this year’s FNITCC, Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said: “Since 2022 when we hosted the maiden edition, FNITCC has evolved beyond a platform for promoting Nigeria’s non-oil exports to become a veritable showcase of the immense value Nigeria has to offer the global market.”

Showcasing Nigeria on the Global Stage

The FNITCC journey began in London in November 2022. Hosted at the Novotel London West, the inaugural event drew more than 100 exhibitors and 90 speakers, attracting over 1,000 daily attendees. It unlocked trade and investment deals worth about $250 million, validating the proposition that Nigerian businesses could compete abroad if given the right exposure and institutional support. A year later, the platform moved to Houston, Texas a city known for its energy base but also home to one of the largest Nigerian diaspora communities in the United States. FNITCC Houston, held in October 2023, attracted over 160 Nigerian and U.S.-based businesses across fintech, commodities, fashion, agriculture, and creative industries. The highlight was a landmark $40 million pre-export finance facility in favour of JohnVents Industries, one of Nigeria’s fast-rising cocoa exporters. The facility, arranged by Afreximbank with Fidelity Bank as the local administrative agent, demonstrated how trade promotion could be matched with access to finance to deliver real outcomes for exporters.

This month, September 18-20, 2025, FNITCC is heading to Atlanta, Georgia. The choice is deliberate: Atlanta has become a hub for black entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and diaspora investment in the United States. Its large Nigerian and African diaspora population provides a ready market for ethnic and value-added products, while its robust chambers of commerce and international trade networks make it an attractive gateway for exporters. Fidelity is also partnering with Amplify Africa, the organizers of AFRICON, one of the largest African diaspora business and culture summits in the U.S., to amplify the reach of this edition.
By situating FNITCC in Atlanta, Fidelity Bank is tapping into a dynamic U.S. market and aligning with diaspora-led networks that can act as long-term anchors for trade and investment flows.

Onyeali-Ikpe added: “As part of our commitment to developing platforms that promote economic growth, creativity, and sustainable trade both within Nigeria and internationally, we are pleased to announce the third edition of FNITCC. Since 2022, when we hosted the inaugural edition, the FNITCC expo has been at the heart of driving global market access for local businesses, and I am delighted that this year we will be in the city of Atlanta, USA.”

Consolidating Success and Expanding Scope

Between the London and Houston editions, FNITCC generated a consolidated deal pipeline of over $500 million. For Nigeria, where non-oil exports are still under $5 billion annually, this is a significant achievement. It demonstrates the potential of structured, private-sector-led platforms to complement government diversification policies with measurable outcomes.

FNITCC Atlanta is expected to attract more than 3,000 participants—including exporters, U.S. buyers, policymakers, investors, multinational corporations, and development finance institutions. Programming highlights include B2B matchmaking sessions, policy dialogues, diaspora investment roundtables, and sector-specific workshops. Strategic sectors in focus will include agriculture, consumer goods, energy transition minerals, fashion, beauty, and creative services.
By positioning exporters side-by-side with financiers, regulators, and global buyers, FNITCC provides the missing ecosystem Nigerian businesses often lack when venturing into foreign markets.

Nigeria’s FX Outlook, Case for Diversification

The timing of Fidelity’s intervention could not be more strategic. The naira has shown greater stability in recent months, supported by a mix of policy reforms and improving inflows, helping to restore investor confidence in the broader economy. With global attention once again turning to Nigeria’s vast potential, this is an opportune moment to deepen non-oil export growth.

The long-term case remains clear: as the world transitions away from fossil fuels, Nigeria cannot afford to depend solely on crude oil revenues. Building new, resilient export pillars is essential to sustaining growth, creating jobs, and securing foreign exchange inflows that are less vulnerable to commodity price swings.
FNITCC sits at the heart of this shift. By showcasing value-added goods, creating structured access to global markets, and linking exporters to international buyers, the platform helps convert Nigeria’s comparative advantages into tangible competitiveness. In doing so, it strengthens the broader diversification drive while reinforcing the growing sense of economic optimism.

Shared Path to Diversification

Ultimately, what makes FNITCC unique is its ability to bring together policy, finance, and culture under a single umbrella. It complements government-led initiatives and continental frameworks like AfCFTA by giving exporters practical exposure to international markets. It also addresses the financing gap through partnerships with institutions such as Afreximbank, ensuring that deals struck at the expos are not just ceremonial but backed by capital. And by spotlighting Nigeria’s creative and service industries, fashion, fintech, music, and art, FNITCC underscores the country’s growing soft power as a source of foreign exchange in its own right.

In this way, FNITCC is more than an exhibition; it is a platform for national transformation. It embodies the collaboration between government policy and private initiative, while providing exporters the tools to compete on a global stage. From London to Houston and now Atlanta, it has grown into an institution that is helping Nigeria move closer to the long-held dream of economic diversification, reinforcing optimism that the non-oil sector can become the bedrock of a more resilient, export-led economy.

2027: Tinubu, Kwakwanso Alliance Still Possible

By

James Orji

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September 4, 2025

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Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representative representing Kano state says the potential alliance between the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP cannot be totally ruled out.

The lawmaker said there is a still a chance for the two political parties to work together, particularly the reported alliance between the NNPP Leader , Rabiu Kwakwanso and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Jibrin said the alliance will boost Tinubu’s bid to return to office, saying the Governor of the state will join Kwankwanso to strengthen the alliance.

The magazine reported that some political analysts have been touting the Tinubu/ Kwakwanso alliance, to bolster the chances of the president’s return to office in 2027, as his popularity in the northern part of the country faces serious challenges ahead the important election.

Some northern leaders have recently vowed to work against Tinubu, after accusing him of abandoning the region development wise, and his alleged nepotism in the sharing of key federal appointments.

The president has been accused of favouring the south west, where he comes from with juicy appointments, while leaving the north in the cold, even though he got huge support from the region during his bid for presidency in 2023.

To avoid any mishap for his re-election, the president is said to be considering forging an alliance with Kwankwanso because of his popularity in some northern states, particularly Kano state where the former Minister NNPP currently holds sway. The party came a distant third in the 2023 presidential election.

But the alliance talk has recently waxed cold, particularly after the former governor accused President Tinubu of concentrating key development projects in the south west, particularly Lagos state where the president once served as governor, stressing that the action is causing insecurity and other social problems in the region.

Kwakwanso allegation: “Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of federal resources. From the information available to us, it is like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country.

“Let me advise those who are struggling by all means to take everything to remember that some of the issues that we have in this part of the country today have to do with the lack of enough resources and mismanagement of the little that comes in.

“That is why we have insecurity, we have poverty and so on. It is happening here mainly, but like a desert, it would go everywhere.”

But Jibrin said the NNPP “is still open’ to discussion on the proposed alliance between the ruling party and NNP, adding that Kwakwanso will bring his massive supporters into the alliance, noting, however, that some vested interest in the APC are stalling the alliance talks.

“If Kwankwaso goes to APC, the governor of Kano state will almost go with him, and his supporters will follow,” Jibrin said, noting the goodwill that the former governor will bring to the alliance.

The magazine had earlier reported the political shenanigans in the ruling APC which, in June led to the ouster of Abdullahi Ganduje, the erstwhile National Chairman of the party, who was said to have been forced to resign from his postilion for allegedly hindering the alliance talk between Tinubu and Kwakwanso.

Ganduje, a former governor of the state was once a strong ally of Kwakwanso, who he served as Deputy before the duo parted ways over the struggle to control the soul of the state.

Lagos 2027: Ambode Declares Gov’ship Bid

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James Orji

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September 4, 2025

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A former governor of Lagos state, Akinwumi Ambode has promised to lead the campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu re-election in 2027.

The ex- Lagos helmsman has also declared his bid to run for the state highset office, six years after he lost the quest for re-election, following a spat with Tinubu and some state leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former governor made the promise in Badagry during a sensitisation programme on Permanent Voter Card, PVC, registration, where he urged the people of the area to ensure that they register and vote in the upcoming election.

According to him, President Tinubu has shown that he has the capacity and vision to steer the country successfully, he should be given the opportunity to return to office, the former governor said.

The former governor who was represented at the occasion by the Director General of Tinubu-Ambo Support Group, Dr. Seyi Bamigbade stressed that Tinubu has laid a solid foundation for the nation’s future, saying he needs a second term to consolidate on his achievements, describing his leadership as a progressive one.

Ambode: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proven his capacity to lead this country with vision and courage. I call on Lagosians and Nigerians at large to ensure he gets a second term in 2027 so we can all continue to benefit from his progressive leadership.

“As for Lagos State, I am offering myself once again to serve, with a renewed vision to build on the gains of the past and address today’s realities.”

Recall that lost his bid to return to the Lagos State, Alausa Government House in 2019, following his clash with Tinubu.

The former governor has been touted to be staging a comeback in the next governorship election in the Centre of Excellence, as Lagos is well known.

CSP Hundeyin Replaces DCP Adejobi As Force PRO

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Adesina Soyooye

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September 4, 2025

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By Adesina Soyooye

Lagos State Police Command has lost its competent Public Relations Officer to the Force Headquarters.

Benjamin Hundeyin was, on Wednesday, appointed the new Force Public Relations Officer.

Until his appointment, Hundeyin, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, was the Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command.

He was reassigned to Abuja on Wednesday to replace Adejobi who was recently promoted to a Deputy Commissioner of Police, and reassigned to Delta State as the DCP, Operations.

CSP Hundeyin embraces his new office well prepared. A well grounded Officer, he is quite experienced in security operations and strategic communications.

He holds a Bachelors Degree in English Language from the Lagos State University. He also holds a Masters degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

Hundeyin is an accomplished communicator and has undergone a number of specialized training.

In the course of his career, among others, he had a stint with the United Nations – African Union Mission in Dafur where he was exposed to international peacekeeping and crisis management.

Gov. Nwifuru Clamps Down On House, Land Agents In Ebonyi, Bans Operations

By

Ayodele Oni

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September 3, 2025

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Ebonyi State Governor - Francis Nwifuru — Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru

By Ayodele Oni

Property Agents in Ebonyi State are in for a hard time as the State announced new policy which will guide tenants and reduce cost of rentage.

As part of measures to address the rising cost of accommodation, Governor Francis Nwifuru, has announced a complete ban on house and land agent businesses across the state.

Effective date is January 1, 2026.

Governor Nwifuru attributed the skyrocketing rents and property prices in Ebonyi to the exploitative practices of agents, who often charge exorbitant fees sometimes up to ₦500,000 merely to show prospective tenants properties that are not even their own.

“I don’t want to see or hear anything about house or land agents in Ebonyi State from 2026. I am here for the good people of Ebonyi.

“This exploitation must stop. No agent should collect any money from anyone seeking accommodation again,” the Governor declared.

The ban, which has generated widespread reactions, is welcomed by many residents who see it as a bold move to curb exploitation in the real estate sector and make housing more affordable.

This development also aligns with ongoing efforts by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, which has expressed concerns about rising rents and deliberated on bills to regulate landlords and housing practices.

The Assembly’s interventions are aimed at easing the burden on low- and middle-income earners struggling with the high cost of accommodation.

Overall, the ban is designed to stop exploitation, reduce the cost of housing and shops, and ensure fairer access to accommodation for the people of Ebonyi State.

From 2026, the government hopes to restore balance in the housing sector by eliminating exploitative intermediaries.

“I Swear To Almighty Allah, Wherever A Bandit Leader Is Located In Zamfara, I know” – Gov Lawal

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 3, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Indicts the Federal Government

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has made a startling statement. He said he knows exactly the whereabouts of every bandit, every terrorist in his State, murdering his subjects.

To confirm how serious he is, the Governor swore in the name of the Almighty Allah. But if he does then, why has he not been able to tell alert Security Authorities so can take care of them?

Lawal has an answer. He lays the blame on the feet of the Federal Government. He puts the greatest part of the blame for the unending insurgency in the State on the tradition of Heads of Security Agencies taking instructions from the Federal Government.

The Governor

affirmed that he could end all forms of insecurity and terrorist activities in Zamfara within two months ,if he has full control of the operations of security in the state.

In a viral video in circulation, Governor Lawal whose state is one of the most ravaged by the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, insisted that he has the magic wand to fish out the so-called bandits because he knows their modus-operandi and movement charts.

“I swear to Almighty Allah , wherever a bandit leader is located within Zamfara State, I know it. If he moves out ,I also know. With my mobile phone, I can show you their exact locations today.

“But because I don’t have the power to give direct orders to Security Agencies, nothing can be done immediately.

“We have invested heavily in surveillance and Intelligence-gathering technologies.

“We have dozens of tracking facilities fixed across the State which can pinpoint bandits movements.

“Sadly, the information often goes to waste because security operatives insist they must get clearance from Abuja before taking action”, Governor Lawal stated.

Relieving one of those occasions when security personnel refused to act unless there was a directive from Abuja, the Zamfara State Governor said he was moved to tears when security operatives failed to intervened

to save some communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area because there was were no directives from Abuja.

“That day I shed tears for my people. I saw the problem clearly,but I was powerless”, Lawal lamented.

But despite the constraints and the challenges, Governor Lawal stated that Zamfara State Government has continued to demonstrate resilience and unflinching commitment towards addressing the security situation.

In addition to supporting Security Agencies in their task of combating insecurity, the State authorities, he informed, has recruited over several thousands of personnel into the Zamfara State Community Protections Guards, about 2000 local hunters from Borno and Yobe States, to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies in addressing the situation.

He also expressed the willingness to assist resettling the bandits, should they choose the part of peace.

“I am doing all these despite not having authority over security agencies. As the Chief Security Officer CSO of Zamfara state, I cannot fold my arms when lives are at risk.

“If the bandits lack water, I am ready to provide it. If they are complaining about lack of schools, I will build them. If they lack healthcare facilities, we are ready to provide them. In fact, whatever they need to live in peace, we are ready to provide for them”, Lawal assured.

CNPP and CNCSOs Commend NNPCL GCEO for Exposing Rot In PH Refinery, Demand Full Probe

By

The Source

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September 3, 2025

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Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari- NNPCL — Bayo Ojulari

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have commended the courage of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, for his recent bold revelations about the monumental rot, neglect, and financial bleeding of Nigeria’s refineries, particularly the Port Harcourt Refinery.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, August 29, 2025, while receiving the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr. Ojulari disclosed that the NNPCL was losing between ₦300 million to ₦500 million monthly on the overall refineries, with the Port Harcourt refinery alone consuming resources without commensurate output. He further revealed that despite pumping about 950,000 barrels into the facility, less than 40 percent of inputs were being processed, leaving Nigeria with mid-grade, substandard products because only half of the refinery was functional.

According to Ojulari, the refinery’s design had long been misunderstood and deliberately misrepresented, stressing that the so-called “old and new” refineries were actually interconnected systems meant to work together. Years of willful neglect and deceit, he said, had made rehabilitation extremely challenging.

The CNPP and CNCSOs consider these disclosures to be a courageous confirmation of what we have consistently warned Nigerians about under the former NNPCL leadership led by Engr. Mele Kyari. For years, we sounded the alarm about the deliberate sabotage of the refineries to sustain fraudulent petroleum importation rackets, the manipulation of figures, and the economic sabotage being perpetuated under Kyari’s watch. Rather than address these issues, our coalition was bullied, blackmailed, and suppressed in the media by the then NNPCL management, while Nigerians continued to suffer under fuel scarcity, rising subsidy bills, and worsening economic hardship.

We recall that the CNPP had openly described as absurd and unacceptable the so-called profits declared by the Mele Kyari-led NNPCL, which stood in stark contradiction to the staggering subsidy claims submitted to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). These were not mere accounting inconsistencies—they were deliberate deceit, now being vindicated by the honest disclosures of the current GCEO.

To those who wonder why we have remained relentless on the NNPCL, our answer is simple: Nigeria’s economic suffocation is rooted in years of corruption at NNPCL—until the rot is cleaned out, citizens will never breathe. The suffering of Nigerians today is not accidental; it is the bitter fruit of entrenched corruption in the NNPCL and unless this rot is dismantled, Nigerians will remain trapped in hardship and denied true economic relief unless Nigeria reasonably diversifies our national revenue sources.

It is now beyond doubt that the corruption entrenched in the NNPCL under Kyari’s leadership is far bigger than what conventional anti-graft agencies like the EFCC can unravel on their own. This is why we once again call for a forensic investigation and an independent judicial inquiry into the operations of the NNPCL between 2017 and 2023. The probe must be public, transparent, and aimed at recovering every kobo of the stolen commonwealth of Nigerians.

We therefore urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to save the economy and the suffering masses by immediately ordering a judicial probe of the NNPCL from 2017–2023. This probe must expose the manipulation, deceit, and economic sabotage that have crippled Nigeria’s oil sector and held our country hostage to the greed of a few.

Furthermore, given the scale of losses, contradictions, and unresolved allegations—including fraudulent subsidy claims, questionable crude oil swap deals, unaccounted proceeds from crude sales, and the deliberate incapacitation of Nigeria’s refineries—we insist that Engr. Mele Kyari must be arrested and compelled to give a full account of his stewardship. Anything short of this would be an endorsement of impunity and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.

In conclusion, we commend Mr. Bayo Ojulari for daring to confront the truth, for lifting the veil of deceit that shielded past corruption, and for rekindling the hope that accountability is still possible in Nigeria. His courage must be matched by decisive government action. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must act now to ensure that the NNPCL ceases to be a den of corruption and instead becomes a true national asset for all Nigerians.

Signed:
Comrade James Ezema
Deputy National Publicity Secretary, CNPP

Alhaji Ali Abacha
National Secretary, CNCSOs