The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced the appointment of two seasoned executives, Andy Odeh and Mrs. Morenike Adewunmi, as new spokespersons for the company. A statement from the company said that Odeh has been appointed as Chief Corporate Communications Officer, while Mrs. Adewunmi would assume the role of Chief Relations Officer. It said that Odeh is bringing in over three decades of extensive experience in communications and business administration across the oil and gas, advertising and broadcasting sectors. Prior to joining NNPCL, he had a distinguished 26-year career at Nigeria LNG (NLNG). There, he held various leadership roles in Community Relations and Development; Business Logistics and Services; Information Management and Technology; Corporate Communications and Public Affairs; Government Relations and Regulatory Compliance and most recently, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development. He is recognized for his work on major public relations and advertising campaigns for top brands. At NLNG, he successfully managed the company’s rebranding and implemented one of Nigeria’s best-run micro-credit schemes for host communities. Odeh was also instrumental in instituting the NLNG Prize for Energy Reporting. He is an alumnus of the University of Jos, the University of Lagos, INSEAD Business School, and the Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), among others. Mrs. Adewunmi is a legal professional with over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Her expertise is in stakeholder management and advocacy, particularly from her extensive tenure at the Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCIN). She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex external landscapes, ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting the company’s “License to operate.” At Shell, she held key roles, including Regulatory Affairs Manager, where she managed all mandatory regulatory engagements and permits. As the Government Relations Manager, she built and maintained constructive relationships with the Presidency, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Mrs. Adewunmi is known for her strong leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to build robust stakeholder networks. She is a subject matter expert on non-technical risks and has a background in law from the Nigerian Law School and Olabisi Onabanjo University. The appointment of Odeh and Mrs. Adewunmi reflects NNPC Limited’s commitment to enhancing communication and engagement with stakeholders.
One time Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has accused the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of looking the other way as the North is reeling in Bloodbath through banditry and other criminalities. “The resurgence of killings in the North-Central shows clearly that the Tinubu administration has abandoned the region to bloodshed. Kwara, once safe, is now a hotspot of bandit and kidnap attacks. Niger State has seen militants attack military bases, murder soldiers, and even massacre worshippers in a mosque. Plateau and Benue continue to bury their dead while the Federal Government looks away.” In a personally signed statement today, September 2, Atiku said that by May this year, 2025, just two years of Tinubu’s rule, over 10,000 lives had been lost in Northern states, with Benue accounting for more than half. He added that since then, mass killings continue weekly, while the Tinubu government pretends nothing is wrong. “This is a monumental failure in the basic duty of securing lives and property.” Atiku said that instead of fighting insecurity, the ruling APC has been fighting the opposition, using thugs, infiltrators, and hired hooligans to break up political meetings in Kaduna, Kebbi, and Ogun. “In each case, security forces failed to act and even blamed the victims. The silence of the APC leadership is proof of complicity.” Atiku, who contested 2023 Presidential election against Tinubu, under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Part (PDP), made it clear that violence is a vicious circle that will eventually consume those who use it. “Any politician who needs violence to win is desperate, unpopular, and dangerous to democracy. “We remind the Nigeria Police: you are funded by taxpayers, not by the APC. Your duty is to remain neutral, fair, and constitutional. Anything less is betrayal of public trust.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised Vice President Kashim Shettima to high heaven for standing firmly with him in partnership for the Renewed Hope Agenda of his government for Nigeria. Tinubu, who used Shettima’s 59th birthday today, September 2, to acknowledge the contribution of the Vice President to the overall government efforts at bettering the lives of Nigerians said: “Your dedication reassures me that I did not make a mistake in choosing you as my deputy. “Every day, as Vice President, you have justified that choice by strengthening our work, bringing fresh perspectives, and upholding our commitment to Nigerians. Your dedication reassures me that I did not make a mistake in choosing you as my deputy. “Together, we have begun to lay the foundations of the Renewed Hope Agenda. From securing new global partnerships across the Atlantic to driving food security and investment reforms at home, your partnership has been integral to our success.” The birthday message was personally signed and issued by President Tinubu, and part of it goes thus: Today, September 2, 2025, presents another unique opportunity to celebrate you, my brother, co-traveller and Vice President, as you mark another birthday. Since we embarked on this journey, united by the shared vision of building a more prosperous nation, your courage, sense of duty, tenacity, determination, and belief in Nigeria’s greatness have remained unshaken. You served the people of Borno, your home state, excellently as Governor for eight years and later as Senator representing Borno Central in the National Assembly. In both roles, you showed that leadership is service, not privilege, even in the face of immense challenges. However, your service to Nigeria, fueled by your passion for democracy, good governance, and economic development, has been even more remarkable. I deeply appreciate your vibrancy, loyalty, partnership, and support as my deputy. In choosing you then as a partner, I selected competence and other qualities that Nigeria could depend on. In the months ahead, as we unlock new trade corridors and deliver more schools, hospitals, and jobs, our partnership will continue to yield results that Nigerians can see and feel. We must continue to work towards the full realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which will foster prosperity in the country and enhance the living standards of our people. Our relationship transcends official duties. It is a bridge across regions and traditions, united in purpose and service. You remind us of what is possible when Nigeria comes first — an example worthy of emulation by those who aspire to lead. On this occasion of your 59th birthday, I heartily wish you renewed vitality, wisdom and more years of impact. Happy birthday, Kashim, and many happy returns!
Former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has expressed grief over the death of Mrs. Grace Adayilo, the Head of Service of the FCT. Late Grace Adayilo, who was the first female and indigenous occupant of the position, passed away suddenly, leaving a vacuum in the FCT administration and among her admirers nationwide. In a statement, the former minister said: “I am heartbroken by the passing of Mrs. Grace Adayilo, the respected Head of Service of the Federal Capital Territory. Her sudden exit is a painful loss, not only to her family but to the entire FCT and indeed our nation. “She was a woman of vision whose career spoke of courage and excellence. Becoming the first female and indigenous Head of Service in the FCT was no small feat; it was a bold statement that women and indigenes have a rightful place at the highest levels of governance.” Dr. Aliyu, who is also the Zinariya of Lokoja and Onize of Ebiraland in Kogi State, described Grace Adayilo as an empathetic leader. She said that the deceased was admired for her warmth, humanity and commitment to people’s welfare. She said that the late FCT Head of Service’s legacy would continue to inspire those she left behind. “What set Mrs. Adayilo apart was more than her office. She was a woman of empathy, widely admired for her warmth and commitment to people’s welfare. Her nickname, ‘Mama Africa,’ was well-earned as she carried humanity in her heart and extended kindness wherever she served. “Her dream of a more efficient and people-focused administration will remain alive in the many lives she touched. I pray for strength for her family and colleagues, and I ask the Almighty to grant her eternal rest. Her memory will remain a source of inspiration to us all.”
Immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai has sworn to high heaven that President Bola Tinubu will lose the 2027 election for second term inspite of what people think are his strength and advantages. “He can deceive himself; he may think, oh, you know, I have money, because they have taken all the money in the country; I have INEC, I have the police, I have the army. “You know what? President Tinubu (should) invite ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for a chat, and ask him if he didn’t have all these in 2015, and we got him out. Is the case still the same? Similar to 2015? It’s worse. “It’s like those who say Tinubu has never lost an election. That can be contested, but it’s okay. He’s a political strategist, he’s this, he’s that. Wait. “I naturally have said, if you want to learn some lessons, invite ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for a chat over coffee, and ask him what happened in 2015. That’s all.” Nasiru El-Rufai spoke during an interview with Channels Television. He is one of the key players in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The former Kaduna State Governor emphasized that the Incumbent president will come third in his bid to win and return for the second term, based on the analysis he had made. “Tinubu will be third in the 2027 election. I have done my maths and I can tell you Tinubu has no pathway to win. The worst case scenario is that there will not be any winner in the first ballot. “Ask yourself, is your life better now under President Tinubu?” “I was governor of Kaduna state; I was one of Bola Tinubu’s biggest campaigners, but I couldn’t deliver the state to him. “Bola Tinubu himself couldn’t win his state with his own governor in place. So, these things are not as theoretical as people want them to be. “If you want to engage in self-delusion, you are free to do so. I will not tell you how we are going to win, but I tell you very clearly — the worst-case scenario in the 2027 elections is that no winner will emerge in the first round. “We may have to go for a runoff, and Bola Tinubu will not be on the ballot for the runoff, because he will, at best, be third in the election. “He has no pathway to win. I have done the maths, I have done the analysis; he cannot — he will, at best, be third.”
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has given a detail list of projects and appointments that proved the fact that the government of President Ahmed Tinubu has been guided, at all times, by the principles of fairness, justice, and equity in the distribution of federal government projects, appointments and opportunities across all six geopolitical zones of our country. Reacting to what he called “recent insinuations, half-truths and fake information being circulated,” in a statement today, September 1, Mohammed Idris said that contrary to the perception being pushed in some quarters, Tinubu’s government has demonstrated uncommon commitment to balanced development and inclusivity since assuming office. According to him, the distribution of capital projects under President Tinubu is equitable, adding that there is no region that is playing a second fiddle or ignored. “In addition to projects by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, all six regions now have Regional Development Commissions to re-kickstart development efforts. “While the Coastal Highway courses through the South, the Badagry–Sokoto Highway, under construction, traverses majorly the North. This sense of balance runs through all the major infrastructure projects being implemented today.” The Minister said that major infrastructural interventions are simultaneously ongoing across the federation, from highways and bridges to rail and power projects. He said that Tinubu’s government has secured funding for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna states to the tune of ₦150 billion and ₦100 billion, respectively, saying that the metroline projects in Lagos and Ogun States form part of the government’s effort to develop Nigeria’s light rail infrastructure. “Collectively, these projects are expected to create over 250,000 jobs nationwide.” Part of the ministers statement goes thus: There is also a renewed push for the rehabilitation of the Eastern Corridor of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. In addition, over 1,000 primary health care centres have been rehabilitated across the country, underscoring the administration’s commitment to human capital and social infrastructure. From verifiable data, the actual distribution of projects shows the Northwest as the biggest beneficiary: • Northwest: ₦5.97 trillion (over 40% of approvals) • South South: ₦2.41 trillion • North Central: ₦1.13 trillion • South East: ₦407 billion • North East: ₦400 billion • South West (excluding Lagos): ₦604 billion Legacy Road Projects under President Tinubu: 1. Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (750 km): 175 km ongoing in Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States. 2. Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway (1,068 km): 378 km ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto sections. 3. Trans-Sahara Highway (465 km): 118 km ongoing in Ebonyi State. 4. Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (439 km): Being redesigned from flexible to rigid pavement for durability. Out of the total length of these projects, the North accounts for 52% and the South for 48%. Other Major Projects in the North: • Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275 km dualised, ₦824bn). • Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350 km dualised, ₦764bn). • BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, Kano (256 km dualised). • Zaria–Hunkuyi Road (156 km). • Kano Northern Bypass (49 km). • Kano–Maiduguri Road (100.9 km). • Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno (100 km). • Damaturu–Maiduguri Road (110 km). • Malando Road in Kebbi (76 km). • Benue–9th Mile Road (250 km dualised, $958m). • Lokoja–Okene Dualisation (86 km). • Kaduna–Katsina Roads (Sections 1 and 2, ₦150bn). Major Projects in the South: • Lagos–Ibadan (8.5 km, ₦33bn). • Lagos–Sagamu (12 km dualised). • Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin (₦146bn). • Rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges (₦120bn). South East: • Enugu–Onitsha Road (107 km, ₦202bn via MTN Tax Credit). • Enugu–Onitsha Road (72 km, ₦150bn via CBC). • Enugu–Abakaliki Road (36 km). • 2nd Niger Bridge Access Road (17.5 km dualised, ₦175bn). • Lokpanta–Enugu Road (61 km dualised, ₦100bn). South South: • Eleme–Onne Road (30 km, ₦156bn). • Eket Bypass (9.7 km dualised, ₦76bn). • East–West Road Section 2 (₦186bn). • Nembe–Brass Road (₦150bn). • Lokoja–Benin Dualisation (₦167bn). • 2nd Niger Bridge Access Road in Delta (17 km dualised, ₦146bn). • Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers (35 km with 12 bridges, ₦200bn). Beyond roads and rail, this administration has also revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, advanced the AKK Gas Project, and expanded oil and gas exploration in the North with the drilling of three oil wells in the Kolmani region of Bauchi and Gombe States. Kano-Maradi rail line, inherited at 5% has received huge funding support from the government making it attain 67% within a short time. President Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. Lagos is rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but the Northwest holds the lion’s share of approvals. This proves that all regions are receiving fair consideration. Equity is also evident in federal appointments. President Tinubu has consistently appointed capable Nigerians from every part of the country, guided by competence and inclusivity rather than sectional considerations. Inclusivity lies at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda. The establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development further illustrate the President’s determination to address Nigeria’s unique developmental needs in a manner that benefits all sections of the country. On the whole, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only kept faith with Nigerians but has proven himself to be a fair, pragmatic, and consequential reformer. His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering. Nigerians can rest assured that under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind.
Factional leader agitating for the establishment of the Biafran Republic nation out of Nigeria, Simon Ekpa, has been sentenced to six years in prison over terrorism, sggravated tax fraud and others. A document of Di Päijät-Häme District Court sighted by BBC News Pidgin today, September 1, said that the 40-year-old Ekpa, a former Lahti municipal politician, was found to be participating in the activities of a terrorist group and inciting the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes. He was accused also of engaging in aggravated tax fraud as well as violating the provisions of the Lawyers Act. He was accused of promoting the secession of the Biafra region in South East of Nigeria from the Federal Republic of Nigeria by illegal means between August 2021 and November 2024. He was said to have deployed social media to gain political influence and take advantage of the confusion from it for the key separatist movement in Nigeria, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to take a significant role. The court said that it found out that Ekpa founded and developed the activities of the separatist movement into increasingly organised form alongside others. It said that armed groups were established under the movement, equipping members of the armed groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his contact network. He was also accused of using his X account followers to commit crimes in Nigeria. According to the BBC, the hearing, by a panel of three judges, heard the case from May 30 to June 25, 2025 in 12 sessions.
A 40-year-old Nigerian, Daniel Chima Inweregbu, has pleaded guilty in the United States, to charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering, in connection with a romance scam that defrauded multiple American women of more than $405,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, in a statement, said that Inweregbu entered the plea on August 21, 2025, before Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown. According to court documents, between July 2017 and December 2018, Inweregbu and his accomplices operated a scheme using a fictitious online persona named “Larry Pham” to lure victims through dating sites and social media. Once trust was established, they persuaded victims to transfer funds into bank accounts under their control. The funds were later laundered through intermediaries to conceal their origins and ownership. Prosecutors said the conspiracy caused actual and intended losses exceeding $405,000. Inweregbu now faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for fraud, and an additional 20 years with a fine of up to $500,000 for money laundering, along with supervised release and mandatory fees. Sentencing has been fixed for December 4, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for spearheading the probe, with support from the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State.
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has fixed its ninth annual annual conference for October 9, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The conference will be themed: “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.” A statement today , August 29, by the publicity secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, quoted the conference planning committee chairman, Danlami Nmodu as saying that the event is being aimed at generating actionable strategies for bridging the gap between electoral promises and effective governance in Nigeria and Africa. Nmodu, who doubles as the deputy president of GOCOP said that the conference will feature a distinguished keynote speaker and panel discussions. GOCOP conferences in the past had hosted prominent speakers, including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto who delivered the 2019 lecture on “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward.” In 2021, Boss Mustapha, then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, delivered a keynote address in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. He spoke on: “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria.” In 2022, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), delivered the keynote titled: “2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome.” The 2023 edition, which held in Abuja, had the theme: “Nigeria: Roadmap for Socio-Economic Recovery and Sustainability,” and was addressed by Professor Uche Uwaleke, a Professor of Capital Market. The statement said that the conference will offer unique sponsorship opportunities for brand visibility, media recognition and networking with high-level journalists, editors and policy influencers. GOCOP, a professional body that is made up of 119 members, was founded to uphold the tenets of journalism in the digital age. Its members are seasoned editors and senior journalists who have transitioned from traditional media to online publishing.
Yobe state Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Abba Idris, has rolled out several billion naira that has been committed to the education sector by the government of Governor Mai Mala Buni. According to him, Governor Buni pumped so much into the sector because of his belief in the power of education as a key to a prosperous future of his people and the state. “Today, we are celebrating victory; a victory of the people’s resilience and a victory of an uncommon commitment of a Governor.” Professor Abba Idris, spoke today, August 29, while presenting Nafisa Garba, Rukayya Mohammed Fema and Khadija Kashim, the winners of the 2025 TeenEagle Global competition in London, United Kingdom to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
The commissioner said: “l am happy to share with you that part of the measures adopted by the Buni administration to revamp the basic education sector include the reconstruction of about 300 schools destroyed by the insurgency, established 15 Mega and Model schools, and eight new Government Girls Senior Secondary Schools to boost girl-child education, procured books, laboratory equipment and other instructional materials. “The government constructed 627 new classrooms and renovated 448 others, employed over 5,000 new teachers, trained 9,452, constructed 119 staff quarters, procured 85,550 sets of classroom furniture, 2,200 teacher’s furniture, fenced 61 schools to beef up security around primary schools, constructed 178 blocks of toilets and 35 solar-powered boreholes among others. “l wish to inform this gathering that the state government expended over N4 billion on its school feeding programme for boarding students. This has greatly improved enrolment and checked cases of absenteeism in the schools “l am also proud to inform you that the Yobe state government has consistently paid for WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS, and BECE examination fees for our candidates in all public schools across the state with over N3 Billion paid for this year. As of today, Yobe state government is not indebted to any examination body in respect to examination fees. “In our education investment drive, the state government invested over N2.2billion in scholarships for 890 students at the Nigeria Tulip International College, with Nafisa, Rukayya and Hadiza whom we celebrate at this occasion as part of the beneficiaries. “Similarly, to ensure uninterrupted power supply in our schools, the state government expended N2.3 billion to provide solar-powered electricity supply in 72 secondary schools. “Recently, the state government expended N1.923 billion on rehabilitation of GSS Daura, GDSS Damaturu, GSS Jakusko, GSS Geidam, GSTC Nguru, and GGSS Gadaka, while, N1.1 billion was expended on the construction of perimeter fence at GSTC Damagum, GSS Daura, GHIC Nguru, GSS Dagona, and GSS Jakusko, with an additional N750 Million for rehabilitation of 150 Almajiri schools.” An impressed minister acknowledged that Yobe State government has become a role model among states in the country in the development and promotion of fundational education. The Minister said: “Yobe state government has prioritized foundational education to fast track the development of education in the state.” He said that Yobe State’s participation in the competition and emerging as World champions is a pride to Nigeria as a whole. Dr. Tunji commended the state government, parents and teachers for giving the girls the support that enabled them to excel in the World competition. The Minister assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has firm belief in human capital development and “education has great future for youth in Nigeria.” The Minister presented the winners with tokens of personal support in appreciation of the girls’ performance in the TeenEagle competition.
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