FocalPoint Reports

Nigeria’s power supply fell below the 4,000 megawatt threshold on Tuesday morning as the strike by oil and gas workers over a dispute with Dangote Petroleum Refinery entered its second day. The face-off between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the $20 billion Dangote Refinery stems from the reported sack of 800 workers by the company. Checks on grid supply showed that as of 7 a.m., load allocation to electricity distribution companies had dropped to 3,656MW, down from 4,320MW recorded the previous day. Abuja DisCo received 537MW, Ikeja Electric 530MW, while Eko DisCo got 451MW. Most gas-fired thermal power plants were off the grid, with Delta (472MW) and Egbin (447MW) serving as the main suppliers. Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) attributed the shortfall in generation to the industrial action by PENGASSAN within the gas supply chain. NISO, in a statement on Tuesday morning, said “these disrupt...

Ellu Community, Delta State – Tensions are rising in the oil-rich Ellu community of Isoko North as residents of Otekpo Quarter have formally protested what they describe as “years of neglect, unfair treatment, and unpaid obligations” by Sterling Global, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), and other stakeholders. In a letter submitted to the companies’ Ogini and Warri offices, the community outlined several grievances and demanded urgent redress. The letter, signed by representatives of Otekpo Quarter, Mr Uzezi Warri, Odio Ogugberi highlights the non-payment of salaries to local surveillance workers who have been securing company assets for months without compensation. The delay, they claim, has caused untold hardship for families who rely on these earnings for survival, despite the workers’ continued dedication to their duties. Another major point of contention is the unpaid rent for the access road and a critical 16-inch delivery pipeline that ru...

Officials of Dangote Petroleum Refinery alongside a team representing the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) are attending a reconciliation meeting organized by the Federal Government. According to Channels Television, members of PENGASSAN, under the leadership of President Festus Osifo, along with representatives from the Dangote refinery management, are currently assembled in the conference room of the Minister of Labour and Employment for the scheduled meeting. Also in attendance are the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha. The union and the private refinery are in a dispute concerning unresolved labor matters. It was reported that members of PENGASSAN, on Monday, blocked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) premises in Abuja. This action was taken in response to instructions from the association’s national executive committee to init...

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the nationwide strike declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which on Monday paralysed activities in key oil and gas regulatory institutions. The strike, which followed a weekend directive by the union’s National Executive Council, shut down operations at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Reacting to the development, Obi, in a post on X, faulted the government’s handling of the situation, warning that the industrial action was already worsening the plight of Nigerians and hurting the economy. “I am worried about the lack of response by the Government to the threat and eventual commencement of a strike by PENGASSAN, which is already having a very adverse impact on Nig...

Warri – Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), a non-governmental organization dedicated to promote education and intellectual growth, sets to organize a quiz and essay competition for students from riverine and rural areas in Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State. The event aimed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and knowledge sharing among young minds. Venue: Federal Government College, Warri Date: 14th October, 2025 Time: 10:00am Stay Tuned

The Federal Government is set to declare Wednesday, October 1, 2025, a public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary. It was reported that the declaration, expected to be made by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, will officially announce the holiday on behalf of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. As part of the celebrations, President Tinubu will deliver a national broadcast at 7:00 a.m. on October 1. The address is expected to highlight his government’s reform agenda and reflect on the country’s democratic journey since independence in 1960. Later in the morning, at 10:00 a.m., the traditional Independence anniversary parade will take place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and invited guests in attendance. The Presidency had earlier unveiled the complete line-up of activities under the theme, “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation.” On Sunday, Se...

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, barred Prof. Pat Utomi from establishing “a shadow government” in the country, describing the move as “unconstitutional and void.” Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, upheld the arguments of the Department of State Services (DSS) that Utomi’s action portends danger to the peace and security of Nigeria. Justice Omotosho said he had perused the country’s constitution and there was no part that supports the formation of a shadow or parallel government. Citing Section 1(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, the judge said the constitution is supreme and binding on all citizens irrespective of political divides. “The Nigerian constitution makes me room for shadow government. “Therefore, any participation in any government which is unknown to law will be struck down by this court “I hereby declared the formation as void,” the judge ruled. The judge also affirmed the jurisdictional power of the court to entertain the matter. The News Agency of Nig...

The nationwide strike declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has paralysed operations at key oil and gas regulatory institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). According to Reports, the main gate of the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja was firmly locked, with several employees stranded outside the premises. Security operatives on duty confirmed that no staff were allowed entry, in line with the strike directive issued by the union. Also, activities in the NMDPRA were stalled as workers fully complied with the industrial action. Confirming the situation, the PENGASSAN Chairman in NMDPRA, Tony Iziogba, told the aforementioned publication that the union had achieved “100 per cent compliance,” effectively restricting access to staff and visitors. He added ...

The Concerned Nigerian Consumers Forum has called on the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate what it describes as desperate attempts by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to undermine the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a critical national asset aimed at achieving Nigeria’s energy independence. In a statement by Comrade Olabisi Taiwo, President, and Dr. Justice Akani Alikor, Secretary, the Forum expressed alarm over PENGASSAN’s threats to picket the $20 billion refinery over alleged mass sackings. The group accused the union of risking Nigeria’s return to fuel scarcity, economic instability, and national embarrassment, urging Nigerians to question PENGASSAN’s motives. “PENGASSAN, alongside NUPENG, played a significant role in the collapse of Nigeria’s public refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna,” the Forum stated. “They resisted reforms, blocked privatization, and crippled fuel supply wit...

At least 10 vigilante members, including forest guards, have reportedly been killed and five others abducted after terrorists suspected to be armed bandits attacked Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Residents said the heavily armed assailants stormed the agrarian town in the early hours of Sunday and engaged local security volunteers in a fierce gun battle. Community sources confirmed that the vigilantes, who had long served as the first line of defence in rural Kwara, were overpowered during the confrontation. A video obtained from the scene and made available to the media showed lifeless bodies of the slain guards lying in pools of blood as grieving relatives and sympathisers wailed around them. One resident lamented the sudden withdrawal of soldiers who had previously been stationed nearby. “We don’t know why they withdrew the soldiers. Now our people are exposed. We learnt that 10 people were killed and five were kidnapped. The situation is now...

Residents of Ikota and the Lekki axis have sent a passionate Save-Our-Souls (SOS) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, describing Tuesday’s downpour as yet another nightmare that left homes and roads completely submerged. According to residents, the floods swallowed streets, destroyed businesses, and forced families to scramble to salvage what little they could. “This is no way to live,” a distraught resident lamented. “Every rainfall is a disaster. We are losing everything while the government watches.” The residents blamed the recurring flooding on man-made causes, namely illegal structures built on canals and drainage channels particularly System 156 and 157 drainage channels.  They accused developers of blocking waterways and the Lagos State Government of failing to enforce its own planning laws. “Until the government restores this area according to the original master plan, the flooding will not stop,” another homeowner said, standing in knee-deep water. Urban planners confirm that...

The face-off between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has escalated, as the union has directed its members to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery in protest over the alleged victimisation and disengagement of unionised workers. In a directive from its National Secretariat to branch leaders, the General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN, accused the refinery’s management of targeting workers who exercised their constitutional right to freedom of association. It said instead of engaging in dialogue to resolve grievances, the company resorted to “misinformation and propaganda” to justify its actions. “The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disengaged our members in reaction to their decision to unionise. This illegitimacy cannot stand,” the union stated in its memo. Following the directive, the Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company, NGIC, unit was instructed to stop all gas supply to the...

The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has promised to intervene in the ongoing dispute between the Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). Chairman of the committee, Ikenga Ugochinyere, told newsmen that the lawmakers were determined to mediate in the issue and bring the parties involved to the table. The resolution follows the end of a three-day retreat in Lagos, where lawmakers, industry players and regulators deliberated on pressing issues facing Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. He stated that the panel would not allow disputes between major investors and unions to derail operations or undermine the quest for energy security. Ugochinyere said, “ Our priority is to deliver real reforms that guarantee efficiency, fairness and competitiveness across the board. We are going to step in to ensure that no stakeholder feels sidelined or shortchanged.” The retreat also reviewed ongoing challenges facing...

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated the new Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on his coronation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan. Speaking via his 𝕏 account, Atiku stated that the monarch would create an impact during his reign. He expressed the belief that the wealth of knowledge from Ladoja’s time as a businessman, politician, and seasoned administrator would be beneficial to his administration. He noted that the people of Ibadan are lucky to have a man with a diverse worldview like Ladoja. Atiku wrote,  “I congratulate my brother and compatriot, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Arusa I on his installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan. “I am confident that Oba Ladoja would bring his wealth of experience as a businessman, politician, and seasoned administrator into his new role as the Olubadan. “I have no doubt that just like his tenure as governor created the template for the development of modern Oyo State, Oba Ladoja will create an impact as Oluba...

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria(IPMAN) has stated that Nigerians should prepare for a potential increase in petrol prices, following the suspension of Naira transactions by the Dangote Refinery. The association’s National President, Abubakar Maigandi, confirmed on Saturday that the refinery formally notified its customers via email on Friday of its decision to halt sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Naira effective Sunday, September 28, 2025. According to Maigandi, the implication of the decision is that fuel pump prices will climb beyond their current range of ₦865 per litre in Lagos and ₦910 in Abuja. “Yes, we received the email from Dangote Refinery on the suspension of Premium Motor Spirit sales in Naira on Friday evening. The implication is that our members will announce a fuel price increase. It may take effect from Monday if the Federal Government does not intervene,”  he said. He warned that without urgent talks between the Federal Government ...

The Police Command in Anambra has confirmed the death of one person from the two people rescued in a tragic incident involving the collapse of a two-storey building at Akpaka GRA 33, on Tuesday in Onitsha. The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday in Awka. Ikenga noted that the incident happened at about 9:00 a.m. as two people were rescued. “Unfortunately, one of the recused victims was confirmed dead on arrival by the doctor on duty, while the other was stabilised and is responding to treatment. “The remains of the deceased had since been deposited at the hospital for preservation and autopsy. “Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the command, in collaboration with emergency agencies, is making efforts to ensure no other persons remain trapped under the debris,” he said. Ikenga noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has extended condolences to the family of the deceased. Orutugu assured reside...

The State of Georgia in the United States has conferred honorary citizenship on former presidential candidate Peter Obi. Obi disclosed the development in a post shared on his 𝕏 account after his participation in the Black Congressional Week events in Washington, DC. He said the day began with the Congressional Black Caucus Week Reception at the U.S. Senate Kennedy Caucus Room, hosted by Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock. According to him, Senator Warnock encouraged him to speak on African democracy and development. Obi also met with Georgia Power, the state’s largest independent power company, where he discussed energy generation and distribution with its Chief Executive Officer, Kim Clark. He wrote, “ Second was an engagement hosted by Georgia Power, the largest independent power company in Georgia, which generates and distributes over 20,000 megawatts of electricity nationwide. My conversation with the company’s CEO, Ms Kim Clark, was deeply insightful.” He furthe...

At least five muslim worshippers were reportedly killed on Friday when armed bandits stormed a mosque in Yandoto village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during early morning prayers. Eyewitnesses said the attackers opened fire indiscriminately, killing five people instantly and injuring several others. A resident, who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, revealed that the bandits also abducted an unspecified number of worshippers before escaping into a nearby forest. Describing the incident as “ barbaric and inhuman,”  the source added that some of the injured victims were already receiving treatment and responding to care however no security operative has yet issued official statement regarding today’s attack. When contacted, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, told journalists that he had not yet been briefed about the incident by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area. The assault comes barely a...

Tragedy struck Obinwanne community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday when an explosion killed a man and left two passers-by injured. A disturbing video of the incident seen online, which quickly circulated on social media, showed the victim writhing in pain with his legs shattered by the blast. Unidentified residents whose voices are heard in the clip alleged that the deceased, identified as Chinworeke Mmadu, may have been attempting to plant the explosive device in a nearby market before it detonated. Some residents also claimed he was linked to a terror group parading as Biafra agitators. Confirming the incident in a terse statement, the spokesman of the Imo State Police Command,  Henry Okoye,  said preliminary findings revealed that the victim was carrying the device when it  “exploded prematurely.” “On receipt of the distress call, operatives from Njaba Divisional Headquarters immediately mobilised to the scene ,” Okoye stated. He added...

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has ordered the immediate suspension of activities at the Mararrabar Birnin Yauri gold mining site in Ngaski Local Government Area following a violent clash that claimed one life. The governor, who made an unscheduled visit to the site on Thursday, said the decision was to restore peace and forestall further bloodshed. Idris directed security operatives to take full control of the area until a lasting resolution is reached between the host communities and the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI). He expressed dismay that Kebbi indigenes were being sidelined in the mining business, despite being landowners. The governor also raised alarm over the influx of foreigners from Mali, Tanzania, Chad and Niger into the state through mining activities. The governor further instructed the state Ministry of Mining to compile a comprehensive register of all licensed miners and firms operating in Kebbi. According to him, this would ensure order...

Suspected thugs on Thursday attacked and prevented a Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) task force from carrying out their operation at a book market in Sagamu, Ogun. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement team had raided two bookshops inside the bustling Sabo market in Sagamu, confiscated books and sealed the shops. However, suspected thugs were mobilised to resist the team and stop them from removing the confiscated books. After serious threats from the thugs, the NCC team had to release the confiscated books before they were allowed to leave the scene. Speaking to newsmen after the incident, Mrs Oluropo Oke, State Coordinator, NCC, Ibadan Office, expressed sadness over the incident. Oke emphasised that winning the war against piracy requires sustained efforts, warning that those obstructing arrests would face consequences and prosecution. “In the course of evacuating pirated books and sealed shops, the shop owner’s husband organised a group of boys to come an...

ABUJA – The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has disbursed about N1.1 trillion to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. The Managing Director of the bank, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, disclosed this on Thursday at the sixth annual lecture of the organisation in Abuja. “At DBN, we are proud to be playing our part. By the end of December 2024, DBN had disbursed a cumulative sum of over N1.1 trillion to MSMEs across the country, working through 79 Participating Financial Institutions to on-lend to over 700,000 businesses,” he said. “These figures represent more than just numbers; they reflect jobs sustained, dreams realised, and enterprises positioned for growth.” Okpanachi noted that MSMEs have in recent years been challenged by historic policy shifts and limited access to finance, which hampered their growth and sustainability. He, however, described the current period as a “new dawn and a rekindled hope,” citing several government initiatives, including the inaugurat...

The control centre gate of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Osogbo was on Thursday shut as electricity workers began an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries, non-implementation of the minimum wage, and casualisation of workers, among other grievance. It wasobserved that the gates of the TCN office along the Osogbo/Ikirun Road were locked, preventing workers from gaining access to the premises. Those who had reported for duty eventually returned home. A letter dated September 24, 2025, and signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, directed members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to commence the strike. The union listed issues including non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisation of staff, lack of working tools and materials, and non-payment of salaries since April 2025. They also cited lack of operational vehicles, non-provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs) since 2021, problems from the unbundl...

The White House has told US federal agencies to prepare for more mass firings during a possible government shutdown next week, according to a memo first published by US news outlet Politico. The memo by the Office of Management and Budget indicated that President Donald Trump’s administration would go beyond the usual practice of temporary furloughs during previous shutdowns. Sent to US media on Wednesday, it instructed federal agencies to target programs they are not legally required to continue. “Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown,” the memo said, ordering agencies to submit their proposed staff reduction plans and notify employees. It comes as the Trump administration clashes with congressional Democrats over federal funding ahead of a fiscal deadline of midnight on September 30. Democrats in the Senate rejected a stopgap funding bill last week hurriedly passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representat...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Burutu Local Government Area has launched a scathing critique of the administration of Hon. Julius Takeme as Burutu Council Chairman, Delta State, describing his governance as a "monumental failure" that has left the Burutu grappling with severe challenges. In a press conference held on Monday, party officials expressed their disappointment over the lack of tangible progress and development in the area since Takeme assumed office a year ago. In a statement signed by the Acting Chairman, Burutu PDP  Comrade Jackson Agbor on Thursday, copies of which were made available to news in Warri, alleged that "The council chairman has reduced the council to a wasteland and a private estate where opportunities are squandered, public resources converted to private pockets.  The PDP's Burutu LGA accused Takeme of failing to address critical issues such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education, which they claim have deteriorated...

By Tessy ogbemi An angry mob set ablaze a woman accused in a failed child kidnapping attempt in Agbarho community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.  The incident happened on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.  An eyewitness disclosed at the scene of the incident at Ekwvere Road claimed that the woman hid the seven year old boy she allegedly abducted in a sack, adding that she was even carrying a Bible on one hand.  Community sources said some residents in the area accosted the lady when they observed the way she was dragging the sack, to know what she had in it.  "She was unstable when they asked her to disclose what she was carrying in the sack. When the bag was forced open, they found a seven year old child in it. They shouted and it attracted a large crowd,” a source said.  It was gathered that the angry mob immediately brought a used tyre to the scene, which they forced down her neck after beating her to a pulp.  “The lady and the tyre we...

The immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), on Wednesday visited President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The development comes following the cessation of the six-month emergency rule in the state Ibas, who left office on September 17 was received at Aso Rock in the company of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede. The former administrator arrived at the State House around 6 p.m. and was ushered into the meeting by Edun and Olukoyede. Although details of the closed-door discussions were not made public as of press time, a source close to the Presidency hinted that the talks were linked to Ibas’ management of state affairs during the emergency period. The meeting took place just three days after Ibas rejected moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe expenditures during his six-month tenure....

A Delta State-born renowned peace and development advocate Comrade Mulade Sheriff, Ph.D. has appeal to the various ethnic nationalities, particularly the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State. The Ibe-Serimowei of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom made the appeal while addressing stakeholders during this year International Day of Peace celebration, with the theme: 'Act Now for a Peaceful World.' As we gather today, we are reminded that peace is not just a dream, but a necessity for a thriving world. This theme calls upon us to take immediate action, to be proactive, effective, and to be responsible stewards of peace. Let us use this occasion to reflect on our individual and collective roles in fostering peace and peaceful coexistence, understanding, and cooperation. Let me, once again, urge our dear traditional rulers, community leaders and youths in Delta State, and Nigeria at large, not to give room for violence or be used t...

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for strongly supporting the agency’s recent deployment of its foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries Otuaro said the PAP had so far sent 161 postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries to universities in the U.K. for the 2025/2026 academic year. He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his invaluable input and guidance in the exercise. Otuaro, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media, Otuaro Oduma, attributed the huge deployment to the backing and generosity of the President. He urged stakeholders of the Niger Delta to stand with President Tinubu and support his reelection bid in 2027. Otuaro stressed that the president had demonstrated good intentions for the region and deserved reciprocal action in 2027. Recall that the PAP office had penultimate week, organised a pre-departure...

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has reduced the benchmark interest rate to 27 per cent, down from 27.5 per cent in July, in its latest effort to stabilise the economy. In a recent report, the Committee also announced fresh adjustments to banks’ cash reserve obligations. Commercial banks will now operate with a 45 per cent Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR), while merchant banks have been pegged at 16 per cent. In a significant policy shift, the MPC also introduced a 75 per cent CRR on non-TSA public sector deposits, aimed at tightening control over idle government funds outside the Treasury Single Account framework. Despite the changes, the MPC left the liquidity ratio untouched at 30 per cent, signalling the Bank’s intention to maintain a balance between credit flow and financial stability.

Fresh details have emerged following the abduction of the lawmaker representing Pankshin South Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Laven Denty. Jacob. It was earlier reported that gunmen whisked away Jacob on Monday night at his residence in the Dong area of Jos North Local Government Area. While neither the state government nor security agencies had issued a statement as of Tuesday morning, a family member confirmed the incident in an interview. The source, who pleaded anonymity, said Jacob was abducted shortly after returning home from an outing with friends. “We suspect he was trailed from where he had gone to hang out with his friends because immediately the gateman opened the gate for him to drive in, the gunmen emerged from their vehicle and whisked him away,”  the relative said. The source added that the abductors have yet to contact the family or make any ransom demand.  “As we speak, the abductors of Hon. Denty Laven Jacob have not...

By Tessy Ogbemi The Ijaw Publishers Forum heartily felicitates with Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, on the occasion of his birthday. In a statement signed by the Secretary of Ijaw Publishers Forum, Comrade Tare Magbei on Tuesday, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Warri said; "We commend your steady leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which has continued to strengthen peace, rehabilitation, and development in the Niger Delta.  "Your efforts in providing opportunities for ex-agitators and in advancing stability across the region stand as clear evidence of your dedication to the people and progress of our land. "As you mark this new year of life, we join your family, friends, and well-wishers in praying for good health, wisdom, and greater success in the service of the Niger Delta and Nigeria".

Strong indications emerged on Tuesday that the imbroglio between the embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,  PDP, Kogi Central and the President of the Senate,  Senator Godswill Akpabio, is coming to an end as the Sergeant at Arms of the National Assembly, along with combined personnel of security organisations, have  unsealed her 205 office of the Senate wing. With this development,  the National Assembly has now granted the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan access to her office and the National Assembly premises. With her office now unsealed, Akpoti-Uduaghan can access the National Assembly premises, potentially paving the way for her to resume her legislative duties. It was gathered that the move to open her office prior to resumption is to enable Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to be in the hallowed chamber upon resumption on 7th October, 2025. According to a source, the decision was arrived at during yesterday’s leadership meeting of the Senate, where a moti...

Confusion has trailed the postponement of plenary sessions at the National Assembly after the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Kamoru Ogunlana, on Tuesday, issued a statement announcing a shift in resumption—hours after similar notices had already been released by his subordinates. Earlier, the Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Yahaya Danzaria, had separately informed lawmakers of the two-week postponement, moving the resumption date from Tuesday, September 23, to Tuesday, October 7, 2025. In his own notice, titled “Reschedule of Resumption Date of Plenary Activities in the National Assembly,” Ogunlana said: “I am directed by the presiding officers of both Chambers of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to inform all members of the National Assembly and the general public that the resumption date of the National Assembly earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd September 2025, is postpone...

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, has expressed deep reservations over the recent award conferred by the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on the Executive Chairman of Burutu LGA, Hon. (Chief) Dr. Julius Takeme, JP. The NYCN had stated that, after careful observation of local government chairmen across the country, it found Dr. Takeme’s record of service “exceptional.” We disagree. On Misplaced Achievements The so-called “achievements” of Dr. Takeme appear more as fabrications from the figment of imagination than true records of service. The Northern Youths Council has clearly misconstrued statutory responsibilities as if they were extraordinary achievements. Let it be known: roads, minor renovations and other small social projects are not gifts, they are statutory obligations funded by taxpayers. To amplify these as landmark achievements deserving of national recognition is an insult to the intelligence of the people of...

A former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has berated the First Lady of Nigeria, Remi Tinubu over her birthday request to Nigerians. Tinubu had asked Nigerians willing to celebrate her with gifts to channel their gesture towards the completion of the National Library in Abuja. Reacting to the development in a post shared on 𝕏, Obi applauded Tinubu’s request but argued that beneath it lies an indictment of the nation. He asserted that Nigeria does not need to wait for birthday gifts before completing its National Library. Obi lamented that millions of dollars are being wasted on trips, jets and yachts while a nation like Nigeria will now wait for Remi Tinubu’s well-wishers to make contributions for her birthday before completing a national asset. He wrote, “ We are finished! I join millions of Nigerians in wishing Her Excellency, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, a happy birthday. May God Almighty, who has been with her all these years, grant her many more healthy, fruitful, and happy yea...

INC-A Scribe, Amafini, Urges Shift from 'Ijaw Struggle' to 'Ijaw Dev't Agenda' Bulou Kosin  The Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress of the Americas (INC-A), Mr. Ebikeme Amafini, has called on the Ijaw nation to discontinue the term “Ijaw struggle” for a more progressive and empowering “Ijaw development agenda.” Amafini made the appeal in a statement congratulating the parent Ijaw National Congress, INC, in Nigeria, for the successful conduct of its Western, Central and Eastern Zone elections recently ahead of the incoming polls to the national leadership. He appealed to the new Ijaw leadership in INC and all Ijaw bodies to reshape the language and mindset that guides the Ijaw people’s agitations. According to him, the phrase “Ijaw struggle” carries a heavy, self-defeating connotation that traps the people in a cycle of resistance rather than progress. “The term ‘Ijaw struggle’ has become a psychologically infectious label,” Amafini explained. “It con...