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Ojulari takes over NNPCL leadership from Kyari

Ehime ALEX
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Ojulari takes over NNPCL leadership from Kyari

THE newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has officially taken over the reins of the company, pledging to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.

He took over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, Mele Kyari, at an official handover ceremony at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Friday, April 4, according to a statement by the company’s chief corporate communications officer, Olufemi Soneye.

The new helmsman at the state-owned oil company noted that the objective of his lead management would be to consolidate the successes of his predecessor and take the company to the next level.

He said though the targets set for his management were quite enormous, he would be relying on the cooperation of the management and staff of the company, as well as the counsel of his predecessor, to achieve the set targets.

He commended Kyari for his contributions to the growth of NNPCL and his sterling service to the nation.

“I will be counting on your support. I will need it. I will be coming around to seek your counsel,” Ojulari told Kyari.

In his remarks, Kyari congratulated Ojulari and thanked the management and staff of the company for their support while in office.

The former NNPCL boss pledged to do everything within his power to support the new management to succeed, stressing that he would only be a call away.

President Bola Tinubu had on Wednesday, April 2, sacked Kyari, along with board chairman Pius Akinyelure and other board members, The ICIR reported.

He replaced the former border with Ojulari as the GCEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as the non-executive chairman.

The shakeup saw a complete overhaul of the 11-man board appointed in November 2023.

In the new appointment, the President named Adedapo Segun as the chief financial officer and appointed six non-executive directors to represent Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

They are Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), Babs Omotowa (North Central), Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East).

Tinubu also appointed Lydia Shehu Jafiya, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to the board.

The president said he acted in line with Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, stressing his decision was necessary to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, boost local content, and advance gas commercialisation and diversification.

He directed the new board to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPCL-operated and joint venture assets to align them with value maximisation objectives.

FG reopens Lagos Independence bridge after traffic chaos

Ehime ALEX
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FG reopens Lagos Independence bridge after traffic chaos

THE Federal Government has officially reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos after the severe traffic repair work on the site on Wednesday night.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, reportedly oversaw the reopening on Friday, April 4.

He said the initial closure of the bridge was prompted by a structural failure involving the approach slab of the bridge, which caved in due to a faulty design.

The ICIR reported that the Independence Bridge closure caused severe traffic congestion on Wednesday and Thursday morning due to ongoing repair work on the site.

Its closure was to allow for essential repairs. However Lagosians were left stranded, resulting in poor management of traffic.

As a result, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had to render a public apology to Lagosians, assuring of adequate deployment of road traffic officers and proper management of the road.

On March 16, the Lagos state government announced the shutdown of the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS route) for two months to allow emergency repairs, The ICIR earlier reported.

Commenting on the reopening, the minister explained that the initial construction of the approach slab was done as a cantilever, which was structurally inappropriate.

“It’s not supposed to be a cantilever. What we had was a free-standing approach slab, which is incorrect. Every approach slab must have at least one end fixed,” Umahi explained.

He said the slab failed when the sand fill beneath it leaked, compromising the structure and posing a serious risk to commuters.

He admitted that proper procedures were not followed in announcing the closure.

“The mistake that the controller, Olukorede Kesha, made was that she did not notify us. We also didn’t adequately inform Lagosians of the alternative routes,” Umahi said.

Commenting on plans to avert future occurrences; the minister disclosed that the government plans to introduce a standardised national procedure for road and bridge closures.

“Going forward, no road or bridge in Nigeria will be closed without a clearly defined process. Controllers must submit drone surveys, state the nature of the technical problem and solution, propose alternative routes, and publish this information to the public,” Umahi maintained.

He hinted at the government’s plan to redesign the project as a one-span bridge, stressing it will eliminate the lateral head pressure on the abutment and address unknown factors such as piling depth.

He noted that the Third Mainland, Carter, and Iddo bridges, held by skin-friction piling, depend on the surrounding sand for stability.

“Any scouring or sand excavation puts the piles at risk,” he said, noting that ongoing studies will guide further reinforcement work,” he said.

He added that more permanent works are to commence on the site in three weeks, once the integrity of underground pipes is verified.

Umahi said that going forward, the road works would be split into two phases, with each phase lasting about 21 days, even as some construction schedules would be carried out exclusively on weekends or at night.

“This is not just about engineering; it’s about communication, safety, and accountability. We owe it to Nigerians to do better,” the minister stated.

Suspension: Court restrains Natasha, Akpabio, others from interviews

Mustapha USMAN
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Suspension: Court restrains Natasha, Akpabio, others from interviews

THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senator representing Kogi Central, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and three others from granting press interviews on issues relating to the six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The case filed by suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three others challenges her suspension by the Nigerian Senate.

In her prayers to the Court, she argued that she was not accorded a fair hearing before the Senate suspended her.

While presiding over the case on Friday, August 4, Binta Nyako, a Justice, barred subsequent press interviews by all parties and their lawyers on the case, according to Channels Television.

Nyako’s ruling followed a complaint raised by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a counsel to Akpabio, who said the plaintiff has been granting interviews on the matter currently pending before the court.

He further mentioned that the plaintiff had appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Cable News Network (CNN)  to speak on the issue.

Nyako, however, prohibited the parties and their legal representatives from also live-streaming the case proceedings on social media.  

During the hearing, Jibril Okutepa, counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, informed the court that the case was appearing for the first time after being transferred from  Obiora Egwuatu’s court, stating that all relevant documents had been filed and exchanged except one, and requested a consolidated hearing of all pending applications alongside the main suit. 

Okutepa emphasised the urgency of the matter, noting that his client’s suspension was for a limited period and she sought a swift resolution. 

While counsel for the Clerk of the National Assembly, Charles Iyoila, and Paul Daudu, representing the Senate, did not oppose Okutepa’s request, Ogunwumiju and Umeh Kalu (SAN), representing Senator Neda Imasuem, objected. 

But the presiding judge, Nyako, ruled in favour of Okutepa, allowing the consolidated hearing and scheduled proceedings for May 12. 

The ICIR reports that Natasha is challenging the Senate’s decision to suspend her for six months over alleged misconduct.

The suspension, which took effect from March 6, means that the lawmaker would be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises, and her office will be locked over the period. 

The punishment also extended to her salary and those of her legislative aides being withheld for the duration of the suspension.

The Senate further ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan would not be allowed to represent Nigeria in any official capacity while serving the suspension. 

This was, however, despite the court order that barred the Senate from continuing with the investigation.

Background

The crisis began on February 20 when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested a reassignment of her seat in the Senate without prior notice. 

She resisted the change, calling it an attempt to silence her, while Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, justified the move, citing Senate rules and party affiliations.

Her protest led to a heated exchange with Akpabio, who ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove her from the chamber.

This led to the Senate’s unanimously referring her to the Ethics Committee for disciplinary review, which later recommended her suspension.

Amid the dispute, in an interview on Arise Television, she accused Akpabio of making repeated sexual advances toward her, which she said she rejected. 

She alleged that her refusal was the reason behind their frequent clashes at plenary sessions.

According to her, some of Akpabio’s love proposals were made with her on the phone and face-to-face in her husband’s presence. She further alleged that she had all the evidence for her claims.

The ICIR reported that, amid the crisis, the lawmaker filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick.

Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that a Facebook post by Patrick allegedly contained defamatory remarks about her legislative competence and personal appearance.

Supreme Court sacks Abure as Labour Party’s national chairman

Bankole ABE
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Supreme Court sacks Abure as Labour Party’s national chairman

THE Supreme Court has sacked Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

The court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which recognised Abure as chairman of LP.

The apex court in a unanimous judgment on Friday, April 4, held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to declare Abure as the National Chairman of the LP, having earlier decided that the case was about the party’s leadership.

The five-member panel of the court declared that issues of leadership are internal affairs of a political party over which courts lack jurisdiction. The court ruled that Abure’s tenure had since expired.

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Nenadi Usman, a former senator who heads the caretaker committee of the LP.

The court dismissed the appeal court ruling, declaring it invalid, while dismissing the opposing appeal by Abure’s faction of the LP for lacking merit.

Recall, The ICIR reported that the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in January 2025, affirmed Abure as the national chairman of the LP.

The court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, upheld the October 8 judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give the LP under Abure’s leadership all the rights and privileges accorded a political party duly registered in Nigeria.

In the judgment delivered on Friday, January, the lead judge, Hamma Barka, upheld the earlier judgment of November 13, 2024, which recognises Abure as the party’s national chairman.

The court affirmed that this decision had not been reversed by any other court.

It maintained that a previous judgment made by the Federal High Court on October 8, 2024, by Emeka Nwite was no longer valid because it was made without the court having the proper jurisdiction.

As a result, the Court of Appeal struck out that judgment and stated that its decision was consistent with other recent rulings, including one from the Supreme Court that affirmed the candidacy of an LP candidate in the Imo state governorship election.

The ICIR had reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier declared Abure as the substantive national chairman of the LP.

Delivering judgment in the suit on Tuesday, October 8, the judge, Emeka Nwite, affirmed the Abure-led leadership.

The court also recognised the March 2024 Nnewi convention that produced Abure and other executives of the party.

The judge ordered INEC to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman of the LP, overturning the commission’s rejection of the Abure-led leadership.

INEC had earlier claimed that the LP’s national convention held in Nnewi violated the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act and failed to meet legal requirements.

The electoral body claimed Abure’s tenure as LP chairman expired in June 2024 and refused to recognise him as the party’s national chairman.

The commission stated this in response to a lawsuit filed by the LP challenging its exclusion from INEC’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

The INEC’s legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa, a senior advocate, said that the LP’s lawsuit seeking declaratory reliefs would not be granted.

The ICIR reported in September 2024 that the crisis in the LP reached its peak when the Abure-led faction withdrew the automatic ticket it previously earmarked for the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and Abia State governor, Alex Otti, for the 2027 presidential and governorship elections, respectively.

Trump’s tariff measures pose risk to global economy, IMF warns

Ehime ALEX
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Trump’s tariff measures pose risk to global economy, IMF warns

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concerns that United States President Donald Trump’s tariff measures pose a significant risk to the global economy.

The IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, raised the concern in a statement issued late on Thursday, April 3.

She said, “We are still assessing the macroeconomic implications of the announced tariff measures, but they represent a significant risk to the global outlook at a time of sluggish growth. It is important to avoid steps that could further harm the world economy.

“We appeal to the United States and its trading partners to work constructively to resolve trade tensions and reduce uncertainty.”

Georgieva indicated that the IMF, a member of the Bretton Woods financial institution, would publish its assessment of Trump’s tariff disruption to the global economy later this month.

“We will share the results of our assessment in the World Economic Outlook, which will be published at the time of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings later this month,” she added.

The U.S. president intensified a global trade war Wednesday, April 2, slapping sweeping tariffs on imports from allies and foes alike, sending markets into a tailspin and challenging long-established free trade norms.

He imposed a 14 per cent tariff on exports from Nigeria to the U.S., arguing that Nigeria imposes a 27 per cent tariff on U.S. exports, which he said has long harmed American businesses and consumers, The ICIR reported.

Trump also introduced a broader trade policy that includes a standard 10 per cent tariff on all U.S. imports, along a 14 per cent tariff on Nigerian exports.

The new tariffs, effective immediately, apply to over 50 countries, including major trade partners such as China, the European Union (EU), India, and Japan, along with developing economies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

China and the EU have vowed retaliation against the levies, with Australia’s leader saying the new tariffs were “not the act of a friend” and would hurt the close allies’ relationship.

Shortly after Trump’s announcement, separate tariffs of 25 per cent on all foreign-made cars and light trucks went into effect, with auto parts also scheduled to be affected by May 3.

He tagged his stinging tariffs on major trade partners, China and the EU, on what he called “Liberation Day.”

This is one of the most important days, in my opinion, in American history. It’s our declaration of economic independence, Trump had said.

Trump believes the tariffs would restore the U.S. economy to a lost “Golden Age,” he had maintained, stressing that for decades, the U.S. has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike.

Trump, whose mantra is to ‘Make America wealthy again, portrays his tariff measures as part of a broader effort to safeguard American industries and ensure that foreign nations adhere to “fair” trade rules.

Court restrains police, SSS from arresting Fubara’s chief of staff

Bankole ABE
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Court restrains police, SSS from arresting Fubara’s chief of staff

A STATE High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Director-General, State Security Service (SSS) from inviting or arresting the Chief of Staff to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Edison Ehie.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Police Service Commission (PSC), and State Director of SSS are also defendants in the case.

The trial judge, I. Igwe, on Thursday, April 3, ruled in favour of the claimant after the defendants failed to appear, granting several orders.

The court grants the claimant permission to serve legal documents on the defendants, who are outside the court’s jurisdiction, specifically in Abuja.

He ruled that the documents can be served directly to their addresses in Abuja or by sending them via courier service to their Abuja addresses, with proof of delivery filed in court.

The court also issued a temporary order stopping the defendants from inviting, harassing, arresting, or detaining the claimant about an alleged arson incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly and statements made by a former Head of Service (HoS) in Rivers State, George Nwaeke.

The judge added that both parties must maintain the current situation until the court hears the motion. The court ruled that Ehie must also provide a ₦2 million guarantee.

The case was adjourned until April 30, 2025, for the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Recall that the former HoS, Nwaeke, granted an interview where he made some serious allegations against suspended Rivers Governor Fubara.

He claimed the governor was planning to back Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed in the 2027 presidential election and even accused him of meeting with militants to orchestrate attacks on oil facilities and other assets.

A short time after, Florence, the wife of the former HoS Nwaeke, raised an alarm over the whereabouts of her husband.

Florence, who spoke in an interview on Channels TV late Friday evening, March 28 told journalists she was afraid for her husband’s safety and had no idea where he was. She further called on Nigerians for help in locating her husband.

However, Nwaeke in a separate interview contradicted the wife’s claim that he was kidnapped.

Nwaeke, in a video released in the early hours of Saturday, said he’s safe in Abuja, where he voluntarily went to report himself to security agencies over recent developments in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, Fubara, in response to Nwaeke’s claims suggested that the former HoS may have been paid or coerced to have made the “false” claims against him.

Fubara shared screenshots of chats between Nwaeke and his HoS, Ehie.

The chats revealed that Nwaeke asked Ehie for money and support, promising loyalty in return. He claimed his N500,000 salary was insufficient for his needs.

The ICIR reported that Nwaeke’s resignation as HoS was announced in a statement Tuesday morning by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

President Bola Tinubu also declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, March 18,The ICIR also reported.

The declaration followed political turbulence in the state.

I will soon present sexual Assault evidence against Akpabio — Natasha

Mustapha USMAN
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I will soon present sexual Assault evidence against Akpabio — Natasha

THE Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has again reaffirmed her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that she has evidence to support her claims and will present it in court at the appropriate time.  

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television program on Thursday night, April 3, the embattled senator addressed growing questions over whether she had proof to support her allegations against Akpabio.

She maintained that her suspension from the Senate was politically motivated and linked to her refusal to yield to Akpabio’s alleged advances.  

“At the right time and the right space, I will present the evidence that I have,” she stated. “But let me say this, when I was suspended, I wasn’t given a chance for the matter to be investigated, and the committee that was set up did not invite me.”  

Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier accused Akpabio of targeting her after she rejected his alleged advances, claiming that her suspension was orchestrated to silence her.  

She made the allegations following the altercation over the sitting arrangement that led to Akpabio ordering the sergeant-at-arms to eject her from the Senate chamber.

She said her stance towards the advances was the reason for her incessant conflicts with the Senate President at plenaries within the National Assembly Complex.

Speaking during an earlier interview on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” on Friday, February 28, the female lawmaker claimed that some of Akpabio’s love proposals were made to her on the phone and face to face in her husband’s presence.

But following her allegations, the Kogi senator was suspended from the Senate in March over what the Senate described as violations of the ground rules.

However, Akpabio denied allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Dismissing the allegations, Senator Akpabio said, “At no time did I ever harass any woman. My late single mother raised me very well, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.”

The Senate President, who said he had been inundated with calls on the matter since February 25 and that he was aware of the growing social media discourse. He urged Nigerians, the media, and social media users to refrain from concluding and instead await the court’s decision on the matter.

Although the Kogi senator, on Wednesday, March 5, submitted an official petition regarding the sexual harassment and abuse of office by Akpabio, the Ethics Committee threw out the petition, citing key procedural oversights that allegedly undermined the petition’s legitimacy.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, resubmitted the petition shortly before her suspension.

Wike: I will send condolence letters to those spreading dead rumours about me

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Wike: I will send condolence letters to those spreading dead rumours about me

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stated on Thursday that he intends to write condolence letters to those who falsely reported his death.

Wike made these remarks on Thursday, April 3, in Abuja, following an inspection of four ongoing projects in the Federal Capital Territory, including the International Conference Centre.

He dismissed the social media rumour alleging that he had collapsed at an event last week as the work of individuals attempting to gain cheap political points.

He said, “I don’t want to give credence to people who are only interested in carrrying rumours. First of all, I am a human being; it is not a ghost that would collapse; it is a human being that will collapse if there were any health issues. Unfortunately, I did not collapse.”

A social media post had surfaced online on March 29, claiming the minister had collapsed during a meeting in Abuja and had been flown to France.

The minister asserted that the rumours were fabricated to divert attention from revelations made by the immediate past Rivers Head of Service (HoS), George Nwaeke, regarding the explosion at the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Everyone will die one day; no one will remain forever, but it is only God who can tell you when you will die, not human beings.

“Some of those who said I would die, I can assure you that I will write their condolence letters,” he added.

On March 29, few days after he resigned as HoS, George Nwaeke alleged that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalyi Fubara, orchestrated the destruction of the State House of Assembly and engaged in economic sabotage to undermine President Bola Tinubu.

In a video press conference, Nwaeke alleged that Fubara orchestrated the bombing of the State House of Assembly through his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie.

Nwaeke’s wife, Florence Nwaeke, raised concerns about her husband’s whereabouts on March 28.

In an interview on Channels TV Florence said she was afraid for her husband’s safety and had no knowledge of his location.
However, in a video released in the early hours of March 29, the former Head of Service contradicted his wife’s claims that he had been kidnapped, stating that he was safe in Abuja, where he had voluntarily gone to report recent developments in Rivers State to security agencies.

PETROAN cautions against substandard petrol importation

Ehime ALEX
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PETROAN cautions against substandard petrol importation

THE Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on regulatory bodies in the oil and gas industry to monitor the importation of substandard petroleum products, as the renewal of the naira-for-crude agreement is delayed.

PETROAN made the call in a statement on Thursday, April 3 by its spokesperson, Joseph Obele.

It noted that as the naira-for-crude tenure had ended, the association was cautioning refinery operators to prioritise the importation of high-quality crude oil.

“We call on regulatory agencies to be on high alert and conduct thorough laboratory analysis on all crude oil imports to ensure they meet the required standards.

“We also urge the relevant authorities to ensure that refinery operators adhere to the highest standards in their operations, including the importation of high-quality crude oil,” Obele stated.

The ICIR reports that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) are apex regulators in the Nigerian downstream and upstream oil and gas sector.

In the statement on Thursday, Obele said the association is concerned that the importation of substandard petroleum products would compromise the quality, undermine the growth and development of the oil and gas industry, and ultimately harm Nigerian consumers.

“We urge the refinery operators to ensure that the crude oil imported meets global standards to guarantee the production of high-quality petroleum products.

“It is noteworthy that Nigerian crude oil, classified as Sweet Crude (with less than 0.5 per cent sulphur content), is among the best in the world, and we see no reason why imported crude oil should be of lower standards,” he stressed.

He said the notion that the price of petroleum products might likely increase as the naira-for-crude deal comes to an end is a serious concern to PETROAN.

“To avoid this scenario and ensure price stability and energy sufficiency, PETROAN advocates that the window for importation of refined petroleum products should remain open,” Obele said.

He, however, said PETROAN was optimistic that the recent increase in the price of petrol is temporary.

Obele noted that the federal government’s reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) encourage competition in the downstream sector, maintaining that competition is a catalyst for price reduction in any sector.

“We believe that as the market adjusts to the new realities, prices will stabilise and eventually decrease.

“To further protect the interests of our members and the Nigerian consumers, PETROAN will be vigilant and proactive,” he said.

The PETROAN spokesman hinted that the association would conduct laboratory tests on refined petroleum products to ensure its members and the public are not sold substandard products.

The Dangote Refinery on March 19 announced a temporary suspension of its sale of petroleum products in naira to oil marketers.

This comes as the naira-for-crude initiative, which started on October 1, 2024, and ended on March 31, 2025, has yet to be renewed, The ICIR reported.

The deal mandates that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) sell crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in naira.

During the period, the pump prices of petrol products dropped sharply to about N860 in some retail outlets across the country.

However, following a delay in negotiations for the renewal of the deal, the Dangote Refinery on March 19 announced a temporary halt on the sale of petroleum products in naira.

Since then, the pump prices of petrol have been adjusted upward to above N900 in major cities, including Lagos and Abuja.

PSC approves appointment of Agbonika as Edo police commissioner amid Uromi killings controversy

Bankole ABE
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PSC approves appointment of Agbonika as Edo police commissioner amid Uromi killings controversy

THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of Monday Agbonika as the Commissioner of Police (CP) for Edo State.

He replaces Betty Otimenyin, who was appointed on January 16, 2025.

Prior to his deployment to Edo State, where he now serves as the CP, Agbonika held the position of Commissioner of Police (Mounted Troops), Force Equitation Officer at Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In a statement released on Thursday, April 2, PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani disclosed that Agbonika, who attended a posting interview chaired by PSC Chairman Hashimu Argungu, was tasked with proactively addressing and reducing the crime rate in Edo State.

He was specifically directed to investigate the recent killings of 16 travelling hunters in the state, and was informed that his success in the role would depend on how he handled the suspects arrested in connection with these killings.

Furthermore, the new CP was advised to ensure the involvement of relevant police departments, and not to rely solely on tactical units.

According to the statement, Agbonika assured the commission that he would uphold the relevant laws in the discharge of his duties and would always rely on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for necessary guidance.

The new Edo CP served as Commissioner of Police Communications (Operations), Deputy Commissioner of Interpol, Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon Close, Lagos; DCP Operations, Ports Authority Police Command, Port Harcourt.

He also served as DCP Department of Finance and Admin, Zone 16 Yenagoa; Area Commander Ota, Ogun State; Area Commander Idiimu, Lagos; and pioneer Area Commander, Ayetoro, Ogun State, amongst other postings.

The ICIR reported that President Bola Tinubu and other prominent Nigerians condemned the gruesome murder of some hunters who were in transit by an irate mob in Uromi, Edo State.

The ICIR gathered that the victims were travelling in a Dangote Cement truck when they were waylaid around 1.30 pm in the Udune Efandion community by local security.

Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, March 28, ordered a manhunt for the killers.

Tinubu, who expressed shock at the dastardly act, directed police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits.

Also commenting on the incident, a former vice president and the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, said he was deeply saddened by reports of the tragic killing that took place in Edo State.

In a tweet he posted on X, Abubakar said the protection of innocent lives must remain paramount and urged the authorities to act swiftly and decisively to prevent a recurrence of jungle justice.

In a post on X regarding the incident, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, stated that the news of the killings of travellers is deeply saddening.

According to him, such killings have become a recurring tragedy in our decaying society.

He hailed the government for condemning the incident and initiating an investigation, and urged the authorities to address the killings of Edo indigenes to ensure that justice is served for all.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has confirmed that suspects arrested in connection with the brutal killing would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation after the Eid-el-Fitri public holiday.

Okpebholo disclosed this on Monday, March 31, during a meeting with his Kano State counterpart, Abba Yusuf, and the deceased families. 

While speaking at the gathering, Okpebholo reiterated his commitment to ensuring justice for the victims. 

The unfortunate killing of the travellers in Edo State has generated outrage on social media, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the ugly incident.

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