ExpressDay

24/05/2025

2027: Sen. Dafinone applauds APC’s adoption of Tinubu as timely https://expressday.ng/2027-sen-dafinone-applauds-apcs-adoption-of-tinubu-as-timely/

2027: Sen. Dafinone applauds APC’s adoption of Tinubu as timely

The endorsement and adoption of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the preferred choice of the stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 presidential election, has been described by Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) as timely and deserving for the president and the polity.

Sen. Dafinone bared his mind on the sidelines of the APC National Summit on Renewed Hope Agenda which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

Governors of the APC, the National Working Committee of the party as well as the APC-led leadership of the National Assembly had on the occasion separately and overwhelmingly adopted President Tinubu as their sole candidate for re-election in 2027.

Senator Dafinone expressed enthusiasm over the development and commended his party leadership for being proactive to quickly reward the achievements of President Tinubu in the past two years.

“We are building a future rooted in accountability, growth and grassroots empowerment. Mr. President through his Renewed Hope Agenda has laid a pathway to achieving these targets”, he said.

He reflected that “there are very clear early indications that the Nigerian economy is starting to improve which more than justify the very difficult decisions taken by Mr. President, especially with regard to the fuel subsidy and the exchange rate. The repositioning of our economy was an essential piece of the renewed hope agenda and this will guarantee a strong, vibrant economy.”

The Senator further explained that an early endorsement as witnessed now solidifies the unity of the party as it prepares for the next general elections, and lessens the opportunities for rancorous and divisive congresses and build-up to the polls.

“What we are seeing now is a testament to the wisdom and foresight of the APC leadership under Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, and the National Assembly hierarchy led by Senator Godswill Akpabio and Honourable Tajudeen Abbas.

“While other parties are battling with challenges of leadership and defections, our APC is consolidating both at the leadership and membership levels. We can see this happening in Delta State as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori steers the ship to victory.

“So, while I applaud the steps taken, I am also confident that APC is heading for an even more commanding victory in Delta State and across the country at the polls in 2027”, Sen. Dafinone enthused.

02/04/2025

Germany, Nextier explore German-Nigerian development, security cooperation

The government of Germany and public policy think-tank - Nextier - have explored Germany’s evolving development cooperation with Nigeria and West Africa, focusing on economic growth, security, climate resilience, and investment opportunities.

This cooperation was the focus of the latest episode of Nextier’s ‘Crossing Perspectives’ Podcast which featured an insightful conversation between Dr. Ndu Nwokolo, Managing Partner at Nextier, and Ambassador Johannes Lehne, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Nigeria.

Ambassador Lehne emphasised Germany’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria, highlighting the country’s ongoing economic improvements, noting that “the German government sees that the reforms President Tinubu has implemented over the last two years are taking hold. Inflation is decreasing, foreign exchange reserves are stabilising, and oil production is picking up”.

He stated that German companies have increased their interest in Nigeria, indicating growing confidence in the business environment even as Germany’s approach to development aid in Nigeria is evolving, with a greater focus on investment and business promotion rather than crisis response.

Ambassador Lehnestated said “we will adapt accordingly. We will put more investment into the country. We will shift from crisis management to promoting businesses”, while reaffirming Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s defence sector in terms of security cooperation.

“Germany has already established a military support program with the Nigerian Armed Forces, and we will likely increase this in the future”, he said; just as he highlighted Germany’s role in strengthening ECOWAS’ counterterrorism standby force by providing mobile headquarters, hospitals, and logistics infrastructure.

Addressing concerns about potential budget cuts in climate resilience, food security, and gender-related initiatives, Ambassador Lehne reassured listeners: “I don’t see any cuts happening. In fact, the Green Party in Germany secured €100 billion for climate, resilience, and gender programs. As the United States reduces its aid footprint, Germany will step in to fill the gap.

“Germany will maintain its active development cooperation through GIZ in energy, climate resilience, agriculture, and job creation, including expanding the African Power Program for regional electricity integration.”

Ambassador Lehne acknowledged the desperation that drives young Nigerians to migrate illegally but warned against the dangers of human trafficking networks. “Don’t do it. It’s highly dangerous. Criminals exploit migrants, and the journey is filled with risks,” he cautioned.

Instead, he emphasised Germany’s efforts to establish legal migration pathways, saying that “we are working on a legal migration agreement with Nigeria to provide structured opportunities for skilled workers.”

Ambassador Lehne further highlighted Germany’s role in supporting Nigeria’s energy transition and infrastructure development, pointing to initiatives such as the West African Power Program, which aims to integrate electricity networks across the region.

On investment in Nigeria’s critical minerals sector, Ambassador Lehne revealed that German companies are actively exploring opportunities. “They have conducted satellite mapping of Nigeria’s resources and are engaging with state governments to secure investment opportunities,” he said. However, he cautioned that security and energy infrastructure must improve to attract sustained foreign investment.

The conversation also touched on the challenges facing ECOWAS, particularly the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Ambassador Lehne stressed the importance of regional unity, comparing the situation to Brexit.

“ECOWAS must decide whether to tolerate military dictatorships or uphold democratic values. Countries cannot cherry-pick benefits without sharing responsibilities,” he said. With the upcoming German government transition, Ambassador Lena expects heightened defence investments due to global security concerns. Germany recently strengthened military cooperation with Nigeria through a $2 million defencesupport program for 2025-2026 and continues supporting ECOWAS counterterrorism efforts.

The government of Germany and public policy think-tank – Nextier – have explored Germany’s evolving development cooperation with Nigeria and West Africa, focusing on economic growth, security, climate resilience, and investment opportunities. This cooperation was the focus of the latest episod...

02/04/2025

Tinubu appoints Ojulari to replace Kyari as CEO of NNPC

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.

President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023, announced a press statement issued Wednesday morning by the president’s office.

It revealed that the new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.

Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu.

Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country's geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central.

President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East.

Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

All the appointments are effective today, April 2, said the statement signed by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

President Tinubu, invoking the powers granted under Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, emphasised that the board's restructuring is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification.

President Tinubu also handed out an immediate action plan to the new board: to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.

Since 2023, the Tinubu administration has implemented oil sector reforms to attract investment. Last year, NNPC reported $17 billion in new investments within the sector. The administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.

The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million daily by 2030. Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030.

Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC's share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.

The new board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is from Borno State. He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1984. He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris

He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985.

Musa became Total Nigeria's Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.

Apart from his oil industry career, Ahmadu Musa Kida is a former basketballer and the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation(NBBF) board.

Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), worth $2.4 billion.

Like Kida, Ojulari is also an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Elf Aquitaine as the first Nigerian process engineer to begin a stellar career in the oil sector. From Elf, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991 as an associate production technologist.

Apart from working in Nigeria, he worked in Europe and the Middle East in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he became the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).

During his career, he was chairman and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

“President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavours”, Onanuga added in his statement.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari. President Tinubu removed all other board members ap....

02/04/2025

Tinubu jets out to France for 2 weeks

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart for Paris, France, today on a short working visit, during which his office says he will appraise his administration's mid-term performance and assess key milestones.

He will also use his stay there to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration's second anniversary, explained his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

“This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year.

“Recent economic strides reinforce the President's commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion—a testament to the administration's fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion.

“While away, President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities. He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight”, Onanuga stated.

24/03/2025

NEC charges Tinubu to immortalize Humphrey Nwosu

By Balarabe Oshiafi The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, late Professor Humphrey Nwosu and urged President Bola Tinubu to immortalize him. Speaking at a solemn tribute ceremony at INEC Headquarter...

04/02/2025

Tinubu approves University of Environment for Ogoniland

President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Abuja signed into law a bill establishing the Federal University of Environment and Technology(FUET) in Rivers State and pledged more support for the Ogoni community.


The Ogoni town of Tai will host the University.

During the signing ceremony at the State House, President Tinubu said the establishment of the University would further empower Ogoni citizens and provide more opportunities for participation and development.



"Today marks a significant milestone in our national journey towards environmental justice, education and sustainable development.



"The Ogoni have been at the forefront of our development and agitation and have suffered enough environmental degradation,'' the President said.



"It is more than the creation of a university. It is the reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the people of Ogoni, the Niger Delta and the entire nation as a whole.



"For decades, the Ogoni people have been at the forefront of the fight for environmental restoration and sustainable development, shaping national and global conversations on these critical issues.



"By signing this bill into law, we are taking a decisive step towards addressing historical grievances and creating new opportunities for learning, growth and prosperity,'' he stated.



The President affirmed that the University will "serve as a centre of excellence, equipping young Nigerians with the knowledge and skill to tackle present environmental challenges, drive clean energy solutions and contribute to our national sustainable economic development.''



President Tinubu thanked the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and House of Representatives leadership, for properly considering the bill.



"Let me also commend the Ogoni delegation. Your steadfast advocacy for justice is encouraging. It will be rewarded, I assure you.



"As we look ahead, I urge all the stakeholders, traditional institutions, the academic community, the private sector, partners and all other youth to embrace this University as a beacon of knowledge, unity and progress.



"Together, we will ensure that it will not only fulfil its mandate but also stand as a catalyst for transformational development across the country,'' the President said.



Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa said the University will prioritise interdisciplinary programmes in environmental science, clean energy, and sustainable technology, equipping students to tackle regional and national ecological issues.



The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said the establishment of the University will address long-standing concerns and efforts to restore Ogoniland.



Ribadu noted that Ogoniland should be prioritised for inclusive development and environmental sustainability.



Sen. Mpigi Barinada, leader of the Ogoni delegation, thanked the President for signing the bill establishing the Federal University of Environment and Technology.



He also recognised the contributions of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and NSA Ribadu in facilitating the bill's passage.



Barinada said establishing a university would serve as a beacon of hope for the Ogoni community and an encouragement to "shield the sword" and embrace peace.

04/02/2025

LP holds Anambra guber primary April 5

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) has approved April 5, 2025 as the date for the primaries to elect the party's candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.

According to a statement signed by the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the sale of expression and Interest/Nomination forms will commence on Monday, 10th of February, 2025, while the sale of the delegate form will commence on the 20th of March 2025.

“By this information, all interested aspirants are advised to visit the National Headquarters of the Labour Party for the collection of the guidelines for the party primaries and other necessary information”, said a statement issued by the party on Tuesday.

20/01/2025

S’East Insecurity: Separate secession from banditry, Nextier advises FG

The Federal Government has been advised to draw a clearer distinction between secessionist agitation for Biafra and banditry in the Southeast of the country as criminals as using the cover of such political activism to engage in kidnappings, extortion, robbery, human organ harvesting, among other crimes.

According to the latest report released by researchers at Nextier, a public policy think-tank, distinguishing these two groups by security agencies and acting appropriately will stem the tide of insecurity ravaging that part of the country.

“Secessionist agitation exists in the South East. But there are also gunmen attacks, banditry, group violence and kidnapping. Interestingly, one group could carry out this entire set of activities. While there are agitators who are committed to the course of exiting the country and working for it without engaging in criminal activities, there are criminal groups who find a convenient hiding within the secessionist struggle to engage in their activities.

“Most kidnapping incidents in the South East are carried out by bandits who cover the entire range of violent crimes, extort money from innocent citizens and have no commitment whatsoever to secession. To sum it all up, it's about profit from lucrative criminality”, explained the report authored by Dr. Ben Nwosu and Dr. Ndu Nwokolo.

Nwosu is an Associate Consultant at Nextier, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, and a Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department; while Nwokolo is a Managing Partner at Nextier and an Honorary Fellow at the School of Government at the University of Birmingham, UK. He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime, and Security at York University Canada.

Following their findings, the duo recommended that government at the federal and subnational levels should critically re-evaluate their engagement with insecurity in the South East by revisiting their understanding and classification of security challenges in the region to properly situate banditry, armed robbery, group violence and secession, because by focusing a lot of firepower on secession, enough attention is not given to banditry, and this enables it to thrive.

Besides, “government should embark on confidence-building measures and create safe spaces to support information gathering in order to engage more in intelligence-based operations.

“Reclassifying security operations as efforts to eliminate banditry and its associated kidnapping will eliminate any sentiment or sympathy that people may have for Biafra in the affected communities because they will now understand the bandits for what they are. Raising this consciousness is important to achieving the aim of community support.

“Communities should be encouraged to quietly release information on the local collaborators with bandits for arrests and furtherance of other security actions in the various camps.

“The dearth of modern equipment, arms, and protection for security forces should be addressed through enhanced procurement and the establishment of mechanisms for the proper audit of the security procurement budget.”

It can be recalled that insecurity worsened in the Southeast following the violent suppression of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a secessionist group that later formed the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the eventual arrest and detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by federal security agencies while he is being prosecuted in court for alleged treason.

20/01/2025

The endorsement of the tax reform bills brought before the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu by the 36 state governors is believed to have averted a strained relationship between the president and Vice President Kashim Shettima, which was allegedly on the brink of escalating into a full-blown fallout.

According to sources close to the presidency, the initial rejection of the bills by the governors had created tension between Tinubu and Shettima

23/03/2024

ASDEV ‘81 Club holds medical outreach

23/03/2024

We’re okay with removal of subsidy — NNPC

23/03/2024

Subsidy: FG saves N1trn in 2 months, to invest N300bn for CNG buses, MSMEs