News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has recorded another breakthrough with the successful crossing of 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline through River Niger.  The feat was achieved through NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of NNPCL, marking a major milestone in the expansion of Nigeria’s national gas transmission network.  It further unlocked the full potential of the OB3 Pipeline, a strategic infrastructure designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, significantly strengthening energy availability, enhancing supply reliability, and accelerating national economic development.  Executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed, the technically complex crossing was delivered by the NNPC project team working with PCE Nig. Limited, using advanced Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology. Commending the achievement, the Group Chief E...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  Joseph Tegbe President Bola Tinubu has named Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The nomination has been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution. This follows the resignation of the former Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down from office to pursue elective office. Tegbe, from Oyo State, is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors.  He is a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led wide-ranging initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional transformation, and governance.  Tegbe had advised key government institutions and private sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks, and investment structuring. He is presently the Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnershi...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Rilwan Babalola President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser to the President on Power. Babalola will also serve as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration. This is even as the President redesignated the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy) as the Special Adviser (Oil & Gas) to clarify roles and avoid duplication of functions within the energy governance framework. Babalola, a former Minister for Power, brings deep sectoral expertise and a proven understanding of the structural and operational challenges within the electricity value chain. His appointment underscores the President’s determination to undertake a decisive and results-driven reset of Nigeria’s power sector.  The Presidential taskforce, which he heads, will operate under a direct presidential mandate as a high-level, delivery-focused vehicle to restore discipline, efficiency, and commercial viab...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo The Federal Government has declared Friday, May 1, 2026, as public holiday to mark this year’s International Workers’ Day. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration on behalf of the government.  In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani on Thursday, the minister commended workers across the country for their dedication and contributions to national development. He stated that the efforts of Nigerian workers remain central to the nation’s growth and prosperity, urging them to continue upholding the values of patriotism, productivity, and commitment to duty. Tunji-Ojo said that workers' efforts are essential for the nation’s growth and prosperity. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and security, as well as fostering an enabling environment for economic growth. While wishing workers a successful celebration, the minister urged Nigerians t...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Government has approved the dualisation of 8.9-kilometre road connecting Bodo-Bonny to the East-West Road in the Niger Delta. To be executed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, the project is expected to cost N150 billion.  Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi stated this when he received the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Adeleye Falade in Wednesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.  The meeting centered on the completed Bodo-Bonny Road and the next phase of development that will link it to the East-West Road, an important route for movement of people and goods in the Niger Delta. Umahi noted that President Tinubu approved the project, which will be constructed with concrete, alongside  two flyovers, solar-powered streetlights, and modern monitoring systems. He said: "We are working with Julius Berger since they are on site, it is more economi...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja      Bianca Ojukwu and Sola Enikanolaiye President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, the President nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation. Until his nomination, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. Enikanolaiye is a distinguished diplomat and seasoned public servant with over three decades of exemplary service in Nigeria’s foreign service.  He previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held key diplomatic postings in Addis Ababa,...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja     Saidu Mohammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sacked Mr Saidu Mohammed as the  Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in the public interest. To this end, the President nominated  Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. The decision, made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, was aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. Mr Umar is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, and a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery. He is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.  Pending Senate confirmation of the new ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented more witnesses in the ongoing trial between the former Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku alongside the former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero.  As the trial continued on Tuesday, April 28, before Justice S. C. Oriji of the FCT High Court in Abuja, the EFCC fielded the Third Prosecution Witness (PW3) Taiwo Johns against the trio.  The EFCC is prosecuting both defendants on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-seven Billion Naira). News Rider reports that the  testimony of the PW3, followed the conclusion of the cross-examination of the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2 Prince Emmanuel Onwuzulike, by the counsel to the second defendant, Samuel Fagade during the proceeding. In his cross-examina...

President Bola Tinubu has formally endorsed Obafemi Hamzat as the Lagos APC consensus candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.  The endorsement took place at a meeting with members of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council, led by Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday.  Hamzat is currently the Deputy Governor of Lagos State. 

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  In its latest crackdown, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed 30 construction sites in the Federal Capital Territory over environmental infractions.  The defaulters violated the provisions of the National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations, 2011, compelling the enforcement team of NESREA to seal the sites on Tuesday.  Briefing newsmen, the Director General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor said though the sector is crucial to national development but must be properly regulated to avoid problems such as improper waste management, building on floodplains and eco-sensitive areas, and uncontrolled dust emissions.  He listed other problems as unsafe handling of materials and chemicals, poor site drainage, erosion and sedimentation, as well as negative impacts on nearby communities. Represented by the Director of Environmental Quality Control, Mr Elijah Udofia...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed Paradise Estate, Abuja over lopsidedness in allocation of houses to off-takers.  This followed complaints received and reviewed concerning the estate including allegations that some buyers completed payment but are yet to receive the homes promised to them, a situation that compelled FCCPC to initiate regulatory action in line with its statutory mandate. According to the commission, consumer protection is not limited to everyday retail purchases. It also applies to major financial commitments such as housing, where many Nigerians invest life savings based on promises made by developers. The commission maintained that businesses must not make promises they cannot fulfil, adding that where payment has been received, agreed timelines must be honoured, delays properly explained, and lawful remedies provided where obligations are unmet.   "Confiden...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled its revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Elections. This is contained in the revised schedule of activities signed by the Party’s National Organising Secretary, His Excellency Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu.  The revision includes changes to timelines, screening, appeals, and primary elections, as well as directives on the sale of forms and the party’s bank accounts approved to receive all payments relating to the purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed a supermarket in Guzape area of Abuja, following consumer complaints about irregular pricing practices. While inspecting the supermarket, the enforcement team of FCCPC identified several potential consumer protection violations, including differences between shelf prices and checkout prices, products displayed without price tags, expired products offered for sale, improper storage of perishable items, and suspected counterfeit products, including rice, which were confiscated. Following the findings, the supermarket was sealed pending further regulatory action. The FCCPC reminded businesses that consumers are entitled to transparent pricing, safe products, and fair treatment at all times. News Rider reports that the commission will take appropriate regulatory action after a full review of the findings. However, members of the public were encouraged to continue reporting suspi...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn-in Dr Muttaqha Rabe Darma from Katsina State, as the new minister of housing and urban development following clearance by the Senate.  He replaced Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who recently resigned. During the short ceremony at the State House on Friday, Tinubu congratulated Dr Darma for coming on board at a very challenging time of national development.  "You have a very rich and interesting background. As a leader, we need competent hands like yours.  "There is no doubt that you have rendered valuable services in all the assignments you have embarked upon; You are a fitting peg in the right position," he said. Tinubu informed him to be ready to serve in any capacity in which he is called upon. Briefly Darma is a distinguished Nigerian scholar, administrator, and development expert who holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from A...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Vice President Kashim Shettima Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima has demanded aggressive expansion of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to drive Nigeria’s economic ambitions. Speaking on Thursday during the first 2026 meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima said that the administration is focused on attracting investment and ensuring that such capital is strategically aligned with national development priorities. "The task before us is not only to ensure that Nigeria emerges as a safe destination for private investment, but to align that investment with the governing purpose of this administration and the larger destiny of our nation," he said. VP Shettima stressed that Nigeria’s long-standing ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy would remain out of reach without a deliberate balance between public enterprise and private sector dynamism, noting that economic prosperity ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has hailed Nigeria's impressive 91.45 per cent aviation safety rating from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The ICAO is a United Nations agency that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation. It fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Through the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), ICAO assesses countries to ensure they manage safety risks effectively, ensuring that no country is left behind and directly influencing international confidence in that nation's airspace. Nigeria, as an ICAO member state, is obligated to comply with applicable international standards and to establish and implement these safety-critical oversight elements. Since the inception of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme in 1999, Nigeria has undergone four USOAP safety audits conducted by ICAO auditors, with res...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) has condemned the death of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who died after an Israeli strike hit the house where she was seeking shelter. Khalil, along with her colleague Zeinab Faraj, was trapped and alive for hours under rubble as Red Cross teams came under fire while attempting rescue efforts. IWMF is the only global organisation built to serve the holistic needs of women and nonbinary journalists.  President of IWMF, Elisa Lees Muñoz lamented that the horrific incident occurred during a truce between Israel and Lebanon, when any deliberate attack on civilians, or interference with rescue efforts, would violate the agreement. She said that journalists should never be the object of military operations, yet there is mounting evidence that Israel is targeting reporters.  "We demand clarity into the circumstances around these strikes and accountability for Khalil’s death. "Journalists are our e...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Minister of Works Engr. David Umahi has assured the African Development Bank (AfDB) and  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that the 1028km Lagos–Abidjan Corridor will bolster trade and connectivity across West Africa. He stated this during a high-level meeting with delegations from the ECOWAS Commission and the AfDB in Abuja on Thursday.  The team visited Umahi who is the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the project and Nigeria's representative at the ministerial level, to brief him on progress and resolve outstanding technical and financing issues. Umahi conveyed the backing of  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that infrastructure development remains central to the administration’s agenda. The project is connecting Cote D’Ivoire from Abidjan, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria from Lagos.  Umahi explained that the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, spanning about 1,028 kilometres, is being developed to match the s...

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.  El-Rufai who was arraigned on a five-count amended charge before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, pleaded not guilty to all the counts. When the case was heard, Counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN) told the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to take his plea. Aladedoye informed that an amended five-count charge was filed on April 13, praying the court to substitute it with the earlier three-count charge. However, Counsel to El-Rufai, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN) said that he had been served with the amended charge and was not opposing it, making the judge to strike out the earlier three-count charge. After the counts were read to the former governor, he pleaded not guilty, and Aladedoye sought three consecutive trial dates. But Iy...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Political leaders from Enugu State have pledged unalloyed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in 2027. Representing the state’s seven million citizens, the leaders made this pledge on Tuesday when Governor Peter Mbah led them to a meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The high-powered delegation included Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke;  former Senate President, Sen. Ken Nnamani; former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla; former Governors of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo. Others on the delegation were members of the National Assembly, former ministers, traditional and religious leaders, and academics. Some of the leaders came with their spouses. President Tinubu thanked the delegation for their support. He noted tha...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening economic relations with the United Kingdom, particularly in the aviation sector and other mutually beneficial areas. He gave the assurance on Wednesday when he met with a delegation from British Airways led by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery and the Commercial Officer of British Airways, Mr Colm Lacy at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President, while highlighting the longstanding and productive partnership between both countries, noted that Nigeria places great value on its strategic relationship with Britain. Tinubu particularly reflected on his recent historic visit to the United Kingdom and the wonderful reception he received from the Royal family. He assured the delegation that the partnership will continue to create opportunities for growth, investment, and shared prosperity. "It is a very great joy to share with you this afternoon...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWO), Hajia Aishatu Ibrahim has officially inaugurated the newly elected executive members of the association in Niger State, charging them to uphold professionalism, unity, and core values of journalism. At the inauguration ceremony, Hajia Ibrahim congratulated the new executives and described their election as a call to greater service, dedication, and responsibility.  She urged them to work collectively to strengthen the association, promote ethical journalism, and advocate for the welfare and development of women journalists across the state. The newly inaugurated executives of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Niger State chapter include: Dr. Asabe Garba — Chairperson Ruth Gana — Vice Chairperson Hauwa Inuwa — Secretary Aishatu Aliyu Babadoko — Assistant Secretary Safiya Yaman — Financial Secretary Fatima Kaka Mohammed — Treasurer Hussaina Musa — Auditor In her ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reconstituted the 16-member governing council of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, appointing the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, as the chairman. Other members of the council include the chairman of the Police Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police, and one representative each from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Ministry of Justice. The President also appointed six persons to represent the six geopolitical zones. They are: Babagana Zannah Adam (DCP Rtd.) – North East  Emmanuel Torkuma Manger – North Central   Maigari Abati Dikko (DIG Rtd.) – North West  Dubem A. Obaze (KSM) – South East   Ajibogere Toyin – South West   Udom Udo Ekpoudom (DIG Rtd.) – South South The Commandant of the Academy, Provost, and Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of training will s...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja has fined the United Bank for Africa (UBA) N2 million for initiating a frivolous and unmeritorious case against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).  Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday dismissed a suit by UBA Plc seeking to contest the jurisdiction of the FCCPC, affirming the commission’s statutory authority to investigate consumer complaints involving banks and other financial institutions. In the suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1972/2025, United Bank of Africa Plc sought to determine whether in light of Section 251 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended 2023) and Section 65(1)(a) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, the FCCPC could validly exercise jurisdiction over a commercial bank duly licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and over any of its functions, acts, financial products, or financial services. Omotosho considered S...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Moved to end trafficking on endeangered species, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) apprehended a fugitive wildlife trafficker, Shamsideen Abubakar.  The criminal was previously declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Lagos and was identified as a key figure in the trafficking network. Abubakar, who has been on the run since September 2021, was arrested following a coordinated operation by the WJC and NCS that led to the arrest of his associates, Sunday Ebenyi and Salif Sandwidi. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales in the Ikeja area of Lagos. Abubakar's arrest comes five years after his involvement in large-scale wildlife trafficking and almost two years being officially declared wanted by the Federal High Court, demonstrates the commitment of Nig...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja     Chief Moji Makanjuola  The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) FCT Chapter proudly celebrates a trailblazer, mentor and veteran journalist, Chief Moji Makanjuola as she marked her 70th birthday on April 21.  Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT, Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang in a statement on Tuesday, described Makanjuola as the mother of all.  She said: "Aunty Moji as we call her stands tall as one of the pioneering founding figures of NAWOJ and one of its earliest Presidents. Her visionary leadership, courage, and commitment laid the strong foundation upon which the association continues to thrive today. "Beyond her immense contributions to journalism and the advancement of women in media, Chief Makanjuola has distinguished herself as a passionate advocate in the health sector. "Her unwavering dedication to public health, especially in championing issues that affect women and children, has left an indelible mark across Nigeri...