Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Tony Attah has called for stronger alignment across the gas value chain to unlock Africa’s energy potential, strengthen energy security and accelerate industrialisation. Speaking at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week 2026 in Abuja, Tony Attah said that Africa’s challenge is not a lack of gas resources, but the need for greater coordination between production, infrastructure, markets and investment. Addressing the theme of synchronisation, Tony Attah noted that Africa’s energy ambitions would only be realised through coordinated action across the entire gas ecosystem. “Africa does not have a gas resource problem, what we must solve is a delivery and coordination challenge. “The opportunity before us is to align production, infrastructure, financing and demand in a way that consistently delivers energy at scale.” He explained that energy security should not be measured by resources on ground, but by the ability to deliver reliable, accessible and affordable energy to homes, industries and businesses. He therefore called for the creation of an environment that supports sustainable investment. “Capital is available globally. What investors seek is clarity, predictability and confidence in execution. The more aligned our policies, commercial frameworks and market structures become, the more investment we will attract.” Reflecting on the increasing role of indigenous companies in the sector, Tony Attah described Africa’s evolving energy landscape as a transition not only of assets, but of responsibility. “What we are witnessing is a shift from participation to leadership. African companies are increasingly taking responsibility for developing resources, building capacity and creating value across the energy ecosystem. The opportunity before us is to convert our resources into prosperity for our people.” According to him, Africa’s energy transition must reflect the continent’s development realities, pointing out that millions of people still lack access to reliable electricity and modern energy services.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made it clear that both the country’s commemorative ₦100 banknote and the standard ₦100 banknote remain legal tender in Nigeria and must be accepted for all transactions nationwide. A statement today, July 8, by the spokesperson of the CBN, Hakama Sidi-Ali said that the commemorative ₦100 banknote, which was introduced to mark Nigeria’s centenary did not replace the existing standard ₦100 banknote. “The CBN strongly cautions individuals, businesses, financial institutions and other economic agents against rejecting the standard ₦100 banknote. “Such rejection constitutes a violation of the provisions of the CBN Act and undermines confidence in the national currency. “The Bank will not hesitate to apply appropriate enforcement measures against any person or entity found to be in breach. “The Bank remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the Naira, ensuring confidence in all duly issued banknotes and promoting smooth currency circulation across the country. “Accordingly, members of the public are urged to accept and transact with all banknotes legally issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. “For further clarification, members of the public are also advised to contact the CBN through its official communication channels.”
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s water and sanitation sector have called for accelerated reforms, increased investment and stronger collaboration to tackle urban sanitation challenges. The call was made in Abuja at the unveiling of the Nigeria Urban Sanitation Sector Diagnostic Study Report, conducted by the African Water Facility under the African Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII). The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, represented by Acting Permanent Secretary, Ali Dallah, said the report, marked a milestone toward achieving safely managed sanitation services. Professor Utsev thanked the African Water Facility, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other development partners for supporting Nigeria’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector. He said that the study reflected Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, mobilising investment and accelerating reforms to improve public health, protect the environment and enhance livelihoods. He said that sanitation is a strategic investment that reduces disease burden, protects water resources, creates jobs and promotes sustainable economic growth. Professor Utsev said that the report assesses Nigeria’s urban sanitation sector and identifies measures to strengthen regulation, improves utility performance, attracts private investment and develops bankable sanitation projects. He stressed that no single institution can deliver safely managed sanitation services alone, adding that the ministry would deepen collaboration with partners under AUSII. He said that the partnership would support inclusive sanitation, faecal sludge management, resource recovery, institutional capacity building and climate-resilient sanitation systems. The Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Jamilu Danhabu, said that rapid urbanisation, population growth, inadequate water supply and underinvestment are worsening sanitation challenges. He said that the report reviewed Nigeria’s sanitation status, highlighted achievements and challenges, and outlined government’s reform priorities. Danhabu said that access to basic sanitation stands at about 60 per cent nationwide, while safely managed sanitation remains at about 20 per cent. He added that hygiene service coverage stands at about 25 per cent, school sanitation at 44 per cent, healthcare facilities at 15 per cent, while only 20 per cent of public places has adequate sanitation. He said that rapid urbanisation continues to outpace sanitation infrastructure, with most urban households relying on on-site sanitation due to limited sewerage networks. He called for increased investment in faecal sludge collection, transportation, treatment, reuse and resource recovery, as well as stronger collaboration among stakeholders. He said that government has developed policies, including the National Action Plan for WASH Revitalisation and the National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation, which is under review. Earlier, AfDB Lead Operations Manager, Orison Amu, said the report was a roadmap for action and not merely a catalogue of challenges. He said that achieving universal sanitation by 2030 requires coordinated efforts by governments, development partners, financial institutions, communities and the private sector. Also speaking, Mrs. Jeanne-Astrid Ngako of the AfDB said that Nigeria’s projected population of more than 400 million made expanding safe sanitation services urgent. She said that urban sanitation is a national development priority requiring collaboration among governments, partners, academia, civil society and the private sector. Mrs. Ngako said that conventional sewerage systems alone cannot meet future sanitation needs due to high costs and complex infrastructure requirements. She said that AfDB and partners established AUSII to bridge the financing gap, adding that the initiative aimed to provide safe sanitation services to 15 million people. She said that AUSII would mobilise seven billion dollars in additional investments over the next decade to accelerate sanitation development. Ngako urged stakeholders to translate commitments into action, stressing that investment in sanitation supported public health, environmental sustainability, productivity and human dignity.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has announced a significant hydrocarbon discovery following successful delivery of the JK-004 exploration well, located in shallow waters, offshore Nigeria in Oil Mining Lease 74. The leading African oil and gas exploration and production company said in a statement on July 7, that preliminary evaluation indicated that the JK-004 well encountered approximately 1,000 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing column across seven reservoirs, adding: “initial log interpretation and fluid analysis confirm excellent reservoir quality and light oil.” Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance, Tony Attah, described the discovery as a reflection of the company’s determined effort and the dedication of its staff, partners, regulators and contractors to advancing the nation’s goal towards sustainable long-term liquids production. “The success of JK-004, just over one year after assuming operatorship of these assets demonstrates the strength of our exploration programme.” He commended the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), saying that the exploration performance reflected the collaboration with the company’s joint venture partners comprising the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies Limited and Agip Energy and Natural Resources. According to Attah, the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, and the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udobong Ntia, provided the needed strategic guidance with commitment for value delivery across the joint venture assets. Vice President Exploration, and Chief Explorer at Renaissance, Dr. Johnbosco Uche ascribed the exploration success to the company’s subsurface excellence, technical rigour and disciplined approach to reserve replacement. “The JK-004 well provides a strong foundation for accelerated maturation with clear pathways to early development and value realisation.” The Chief Explorer said that the strategic location of JK-004 near existing field would enable rapid commercialisation. The Chief Executive of NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, described the feat as a perfect alignment with the commission’s vision of growing the nation’s reserves “to future-proof sustainable national growth.” He pledged to continue building the enabling regulatory environment required to support the Nigerian oil and gas industry. In his reaction, renowned Nigerian explorationist and industry veteran, Dr. Layi Fatona said that the discovery was a testament to the enduring prospectivity of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon basins and the importance of disciplined and technically grounded exploration. Fatona, who is also the chairman of Renaissance Board of Directors, noted that the success of the exploratory effort “clearly shows that indigenous operators play a critical role in unlocking value, driving investment, and contributing meaningfully to national energy security and economic growth”. Also speaking, NNPC’s EVP Upstream, Udobong Ntia, congratulated the Renaissance JV team for safe execution and for supporting NNPC and the nation in the sustainable growth ambition, adding that the Ojulari-led NNPC would intensify its support to balance reserve replacement as demonstrated in the instant case. Renaissance, recently named Africa’s biggest oil and gas company by Wood Mackenzie, operates Nigeria’s largest upstream joint venture consisting of 18 OMLs, two export terminals and one floating production, storage, and offloading vessel in shallow waters, offshore in the Niger Delta.
President Bola Tinubu has warned that the integrity of the Presidency and the institutions of the Federal Government must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service. The President sounded the warning today, July 7, when he gave a greenlight to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of a “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC) and all related matters. He said that the investigation should be concluded and a comprehensive report submitted to him within 30 days. A statement by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said that the directive for investigation is as a result of the discovery of the fictitious PFIPC, which was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval or other lawful act of Government. Onanuga recalled that a certain Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew presented himself as the Director-General of the so-called PFIPC and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee. Among the issues to be investigated by the ICPC are the forged appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation; and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents. President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate not only the conduct of the principal individual and other collaborators involved but also the wider circumstances that may have enabled a fictitious body and a false claim of presidential appointment to acquire an appearance of official legitimacy. The investigation is to examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged scheme. The President further directed the Commission to identify any weaknesses in government and institutional procedures that may have been exploited and to recommend immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses. All ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government have been directed to provide the ICPC, upon lawful request, with all relevant information, records and assistance required for the expeditious completion of the investigation. The President directed that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.
Wildlife and public health experts have raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s vulnerability to emerging infectious diseases, calling on the governments, communities and individuals to reduce risky human interactions with wildlife and adopt the One Health approach to prevent future outbreaks. The warning came during a media chat with Dr. Mark Ofua, Wildlife Veterinarian and West Africa Representative of Wild Africa.
He said that Nigeria’s recurring Lassa fever outbreaks and the recent re-emergence of Ebola in parts of Africa should serve as a wake-up call for stronger disease surveillance, wildlife conservation and public awareness. Lassa Fever Remains a National Concern Nigeria Representative on Wild Africa,
He said that although there was no official global theme announced for this year’s celebration, the focus remained on increasing vigilance against zoonotic diseases. According to him, Nigeria continues to grapple with Lassa fever while countries like Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda battle Ebola outbreaks, underscoring the need for sustained public education. Dr. Ofua described zoonotic diseases as illnesses transmitted between animals and humans, noting that they remain one of the greatest public health threats globally. He explained that over 60 per cent of known infectious diseases originate from animals, while nearly 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases have animal origins. “Lassa fever is still killing Nigerians. In fact, it has claimed more lives than many people realise. The challenge is that these diseases are often underreported because they mostly affect rural communities before attracting national attention.”
Emerging Diseases Pose Greater Threat The wildlife veterinarian distinguished between known zoonotic diseases for which treatment already exists and newly emerging diseases that remain difficult to control. According to him, the greatest concern lies with emerging pathogens, re-emerging diseases and antimicrobial-resistant infections. “The diseases we worry about the most today are the ones science has not fully understood or developed effective treatments for. These are the diseases capable of triggering the next pandemic.” He cited antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a growing global threat, warning that bacteria previously controlled by common antibiotics are increasingly developing resistance, making routine infections potentially fatal. “Imagine contracting an ordinary bacterial infection that no available antibiotic can cure. That is the reality antimicrobial resistance is creating across the world.”
Bushmeat Consumption Raises Public Health Risks A major highlight of the media briefing was the renewed warning against unsafe bushmeat hunting, processing and consumption. Dr. Ofua explained that the risks associated with bushmeat extend far beyond eating wildlife. According to him, exposure occurs throughout the entire supply chain – from hunting and transportation to butchering, marketing and preparation. “When animals are captured from the wild, they become stressed. That stress can increase the ability of pathogens they carry to spread. When different wildlife species are mixed together in markets, diseases can jump between species and become even more dangerous.” He noted that poor hygiene practices in bushmeat markets significantly increase the chances of disease transmission to humans. “People handle wildlife without protective equipment. Blood and bodily fluids are everywhere. These are perfect conditions for viruses to spread.”
Ebola Re-emergence Should Concern Nigeria Speaking on recent Ebola cases reported in parts of Africa – DRC and Uganda, Dr. Ofua said Nigeria must strengthen surveillance beyond airports and seaports. While acknowledging existing screening mechanisms for international travellers, he warned that illegal wildlife trade routes remain largely unmonitored. “There are routes through which wildlife moves across Central Africa into Nigeria. If infected animals enter through these channels, they could introduce dangerous pathogens long before health authorities detect them.” He cautioned that diseases transmitted through wildlife could spread unnoticed in rural communities before becoming national emergencies. Habitat Destruction Increases Spillover Risks Dr. Ofua also linked environmental degradation to the increasing emergence of zoonotic diseases. He explained that deforestation, agricultural expansion and urban development continue to force wildlife into closer contact with humans. “Habitat destruction increases opportunities for pathogens to move between wildlife and people. Conservation is no longer just about protecting biodiversity; it is now a public health intervention.”
Conflict Zones Fuel Disease Spread The expert further highlighted the relationship between insecurity and emerging diseases, particularly in conflict-affected regions. According to him, insurgency not only disrupts disease surveillance but also drives illegal wildlife hunting and trafficking. “Where there is insecurity, nature suffers first. Wildlife populations become vulnerable to poaching, while insurgents often depend on wild animals for food and income. That creates direct pathways for zoonotic diseases to spread into human communities.” He warned that conservation efforts have been severely hampered in some parts of northern Nigeria due to insecurity.
Nigeria’s Preparedness Still Reactive Responding to questions on Nigeria’s readiness to manage future outbreaks, Dr. Ofua acknowledged the work of health authorities but observed that the country’s response remains largely reactive. “To some extent, there is preparedness, but Nigeria still responds more after outbreaks occur than before they happen. Prevention must become our priority.” He urged greater investment in surveillance systems, public awareness, wildlife monitoring and stronger collaboration among environmental, veterinary and public health institutions.
Experts Advocate One Health Approach Throughout the discussion, speakers repeatedly emphasised the importance of the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health in disease prevention. They argued that preventing future pandemics requires protecting ecosystems, conserving wildlife habitats, improving disease surveillance and promoting safer interactions between humans and animals. According to the experts, reducing spillover risks is significantly cheaper and more effective than responding to disease outbreaks after they occur. Journalists Urged to Drive Public Awareness Participants were encouraged to use World Zoonoses Day as an opportunity to educate Nigerians on the dangers of wildlife exploitation, unsafe bushmeat handling and environmental degradation. The media briefing also highlighted the need for balanced reporting that recognises the economic realities of communities dependent on bushmeat while promoting safer and more sustainable alternatives. As Nigeria continues to battle seasonal Lassa fever outbreaks and Africa remains on alert over Ebola, the experts agreed that preventing the next pandemic will depend not only on stronger healthcare systems but also on how societies protect nature, manage wildlife and rethink their relationship with the environment. “Human health, animal health and environmental health are inseparable. Protecting wildlife ultimately means protecting ourselves.”
With the 2026 rainy season around the corner, experts have issued an alert, warning of what they called “severe flooding, disease outbreaks, water contamination and prolonged electricity outages.” They stressed that adequate preparation could mean the difference between life and death. The advisory, based on reports from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), identified the period between July and September as the most critical phase of the rainy season. According to the agencies, flooding is expected to intensify across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), placing more than 14,000 communities at risk. The advisory noted that continuous rainfall has left soils across much of the country saturated, reducing their ability to absorb additional water and increasing the likelihood of devastating floods. Major urban centres, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Benue, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo and several coastal states, were identified as areas likely to experience severe urban flooding. Experts stressed that this year’s rainfall is heavier and less predictable than in previous years, urging citizens to embrace preparedness instead of panic. The report also warned Nigerians to prepare for prolonged power outages following heavy flooding. According to TCN, floodwaters have already forced the shutdown of major electricity substations, including those at Oworonshoki and Lekki in Lagos, while transmission towers in Osogbo have also suffered significant damage. Submerged transformers and control cables, the advisory said, have made repairs difficult, with engineers unable to restore power until floodwaters recede. Residents were advised to expect electricity outages lasting between three and seven days after major flooding and to unplug electrical appliances during thunderstorms to prevent damage from power surges. One of the most alarming aspects of the advisory concerns the safety of drinking water nationwide. Experts warned that floodwaters have contaminated underground water sources that supply millions of boreholes, sachet water factories, bottled water producers and household storage systems. The advisory cautioned that water previously considered safe may now contain sewage, refuse and other harmful contaminants washed into groundwater by flooding. It therefore called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to urgently intensify testing of finished water products from registered and unregistered producers across the country to ensure public safety. Pending such verification, households have been advised to boil or chlorinate all drinking water obtained from boreholes, wells, sachet water, bottled water and dispensers before consumption. Health experts also warned that flood conditions create ideal environments for the spread of infectious diseases. According to the NCDC, cholera, typhoid fever, malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and Lassa fever are among the diseases expected to increase during the rainy season. Floodwaters contaminated with sewage can spread cholera and typhoid, while stagnant pools of water become breeding grounds for mosquitoes responsible for malaria, dengue and yellow fever. In addition, floods often displace snakes and rodents into residential areas, increasing the risk of snake bites and the spread of Lassa fever. The advisory debunked the widespread misconception that cold weather or sleeping under a fan causes illness, explaining that most rainy season diseases are transmitted through contaminated water, poor sanitation and mosquito bites. To reduce the risks, Nigerians have been urged to adopt a seven-point household safety plan. The recommendations include boiling or chlorinating all drinking water, clearing drainage channels regularly, eliminating stagnant water around homes, sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, using mosquito repellents, maintaining proper food hygiene, preparing emergency power supplies such as rechargeable lamps and power banks, protecting homes against flooding with sandbags where necessary, sealing entry points against snakes and rodents, and seeking immediate medical attention for symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and fever instead of resorting to self-medication. Residents whose homes become flooded were also advised to switch off electricity from a safe location before entering flooded buildings, avoid walking barefoot in floodwaters because of the risks of electrocution, snake bites and contaminated objects, and relocate immediately to higher ground or designated emergency shelters where necessary. The advisory called for collective national action, stressing that no part of Nigeria is immune from the impact of this year’s rains. While acknowledging ongoing flood-control efforts by government agencies, the experts maintained that household preparedness remains the country’s first line of defence against preventable deaths and disease outbreaks. Citizens were urged not to assume that borehole water or sachet water remains safe after flooding and to take preventive measures by treating drinking water, observing proper hygiene and paying close attention to official weather and emergency alerts throughout the rainy season. The advisory was compiled from national updates issued in July 2026 by NiMet, NiHSA, the NCDC and the TCN. Source: The Guardian Nigeria.
A delegation of the Pope Leo XIV, led by Archbishop Paul Gallagher formally met with the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaj, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III in Abuja today, July 6, leaving the meeting satisfied with the harmonious relationship that is existing between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting at the National Mosque, which was convened at the instance of the Sultan, Archbishop Paul Gallagher acknowledged that his conversation with the Sultan was “very frank and illuminating. It was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide. “For me, this is a reason for optimism regarding the religious cohesion of the country and our shared commitment to working for the good of all Nigerians.” The Archbishop observed that there is a common view and a common conviction that Christians and Muslims, particularly their leaders, must work together for the common good of all Nigerians. His Eminence, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III commended the Catholic community, especially in Nigeria, for being very cooperative and highly committed to peaceful coexistence in the country. He acknowledged their willingness to work together with him through various interfaith organisations and activities to ensure that peace and security are promoted in Nigeria. The two sides spoke on the need to fight hate speech because it has been most injurious to peaceful coexistence in the country. They emphasized that hate speech has created perceptual and relational crises among faith communities in Nigeria. They therefore, made a strong call for all religious and faith communities to work together to combat hate speech, especially the growing and unfortunate phenomenon whereby some individuals openly insult religious leaders who are highly respected within their various faith communities. The two sides also called on leaders at all levels to ensure that people refrain from insulting not only important religious figures but even ordinary individuals, who equally deserve respect. They stressed the need also to fight fake news, saying that fake news is another evil being used to precipitate a lot of trouble in the country. “It is something that we must collectively confront. “There was also the need to address the overall moral perversion that is holding sway in the world today. We are witnessing a great deal of moral degeneration and moral perversion globally, and it is the duty of religious leaders and faith workers to ensure that these challenges are confronted. “There is the need to fight atheism—the growing rejection of God among young people, both within the Muslim and Christian communities.” The essence of the visit, according to the Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Professor Salisu Shehu, was to promote mutual understanding with emphasis on the need for cooperation across religious and faith communities in promoting peace and peaceful coexistence, while also working towards maintaining and improving the security situation in Nigeria and the world. The visitor, Archbishop Gallagher was described as an important and key personality from the Vatican. He heads the office that coordinates diplomatic relationships and international linkages at the Vatican. He was accompanied by top leaders in Catholic world from the Vatican. Also at the meeting were top leaders of the Catholic community in Nigeria, including Archbishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Dioses and former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop John Onaiyekan.
Seplat Energy Plc has announced that it has ended routine gas flaring across its onshore operations in Nigeria, describing the milestone as a major step in its commitment to cleaner energy and environmental sustainability. The Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Seplat Energy, Samson Ezugworie, who made the announcement in Benin, Edo State capital today, July 5, 2026, in a parley with journalists, said that the company achieved the feat by the end of 2025. “I will make bold to say that in our operations in the onshore business that we have, both western assets and eastern assets, we actually achieved the end of routine flaring in all our onshore operations as of the end of last year.” The chief Operating Officer said that the company had invested in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) value chain to support the availability of cooking gas and improve access for consumers. According to him, the commitment is being driven through the establishment of an LPG plant in Sapele, Delta. Ezugworie said that the first trucks loaded with LPG cylinders departed the facility on April 20, 2026. “We are committed to contributing to LPG and cooking gas in the country. We already have the plant in Sapele. The plant is not somewhere else but in our area of operation. “Again, all these are actually borne out of the fact that we are committed to the things we say. “One of our key mantras in Seplat is integrity. One of our core values is integrity, and integrity only says the gap between what you say and what you do should not be there.” The Seplat Energy boss said that the investment reflected the company’s commitment to aligning its operations with its stated values while supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources. Source: Environ News.
I independently searched Nigeria’s budget documents from 2019 to the present. Here’s what I found about the PFIPC scandal that nobody is talking about. The name did not come from nowhere Everyone is focused on Adeyemi the man. Nobody has gone back to ask where the name: “Presidential Economic Advisory Council” actually came from. I did. And the answer changes this entire story. The Presidential Economic Advisory Council is not a Tinubu creation. Tinubu’s economic body is called the Presidential Economic Coordination Council. He established it in March 2024, inaugurated it in July 2024, and chairs it himself alongside Dangote, Elumelu, the Senate President and the Governors Forum Chairman. It has a different name, a different structure and a different budget code. The Presidential Economic Advisory Council is a creation of President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari established it in September 2019 to replace the Economic Management Team that Osinbajo was heading. It had real named members. Prof. Doyin Salami as chairman. Charles Soludo. Bismark Rewane. Eight economists reporting directly to the President with a defined mandate and a legal institutional identity. When Tinubu came in and created the PECC in 2024, the Buhari-era PEAC was never formally dissolved. No gazette removing it. No Budget Office circular revoking its institutional identity. It simply went dormant. But dormant in Nigeria’s government system is not the same as deleted. That dormant status is exactly what was exploited. PART 2 — WHAT THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS ACTUALLY SHOW I searched the 2024 Appropriation Act. The Presidential Economic Advisory Council does not appear. Budget code 0111062001 is not there. I searched the 2025 Appropriation Act. The Presidential Economic Advisory Council does not appear. Budget code 0111062001 is not there either. I checked the 2026 Appropriation Act, signed by President Tinubu on April 17, 2026. Budget code 0111062001 appears for the first time, on pages 50 and 51, listed as: “Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” Total allocation: N1,302,978,784. Personnel costs: N802,978,783, including N573 million in salaries. Overhead: N200,000,001. Capital: N300,000,000 under Research and Development. The capital allocation is broken down into ten specific programme lines. N182.5 million for logistics for the World Investment Summit 2026. A Harvard Program on Negotiation. A Certified Investment Management Analyst course. A WTO trade negotiations course. Strategic investment management trainingb. Negotiation and leadership courses. This is not a vague placeholder. This is a detailed, populated budget submission with ten line items written in correct budget language by someone who knows how budget submissions are prepared. This code was not carried forward by Buhari. It did not exist in 2024 or 2025. It was created fresh and inserted into the 2026 budget during the September to December 2025 preparation window. The same window in which Adeyemi was arrested in October 2025 and charged in November 2025. PART 3 — THE BORROWED NAME AND WHY IT WAS CHOSEN This is the dot nobody has connected publicly. Whoever inserted budget code 0111062001 did not invent the name “Presidential Economic Advisory Council” out of thin air. They borrowed it from a real Buhari-era body with an institutional history, former members, and a legitimate place in the record of government advisory structures. A budget reviewer seeing that name would not immediately flag it as suspicious. It sounds like something that exists. Because something by that name did exist. Under a previous president. That is the specific function the Buhari-era PEAC served in this operation. Not as an active siphoning vehicle across multiple budget years. The evidence does not show that. What it shows is that its dormant name was used as camouflage for a fresh 2026 insertion. Familiar enough to pass review. Obscure enough that most reviewers would not immediately know whether it was still active under the current administration or not. This is research, not forgery. Whoever did this knew enough about the history of Nigerian presidential advisory structures to identify a dormant body whose name could be reactivated without triggering immediate scrutiny. That knowledge does not exist in the general public. It exists within a specific group of people with institutional memory of how government advisory bodies are named, coded, and tracked within the Budget Office system. And one more thing. The Presidency’s July 1 statement called both the PEAC and the PFIPC fictitious entities. But the PEAC was not technically fictitious. Adding PFIPC made it so. It was a real body of the Buhari administration. The name was real. The history was real. The exploitation of that history is what is new. PART 4 — THE CIVIL SERVANTS AND THE OAGF TRAIL Premium Times’ reporting, based on court documents, adds the most specific layer to this story, and it needs to be read carefully. In April 2025, Adeyemi wrote to the Accountant General of the Federation on PFIPC letterhead, requesting the deployment of staff to fill five vacancies, including a Principal Accountant, Accountant I, Principal Auditor, Senior Auditor, and Auditor I. He also wrote a separate letter requesting the transfer of two named staff from the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President. The OAGF processed that request. On August 28, 2025, three senior civil servants were officially posted to the PFIPC. Their names are in court documents. Ojo Victor, 55, Assistant Chief Accountant. Omeh Amarachukwu, 40, internal auditor. Wakili Saidu, 45, audit department. Their posting letter was published on the OAGF’s own website. They collected their letters and presented themselves to Adeyemi on September 1. He told them to resume on September 8. They did. They were shown to a shared open office. They were never given any assignments. Never given any documentation. Never briefed on any mandate. Ojo Victor’s statement to police: “I have not been documented, and no schedule has been given to me since my assumption, which I find very strange.” Wakili Saidu: “Since then, there has been no correspondence between me and the DG.” Omeh Amarachukwu: “I only go to work once a week, the reason being that we have nothing to do since we were posted there.” All three said independently that they had never heard of the agency before seeing their names in the posting letter. The OAGF processed a staff deployment request from a fake agency, published the posting letter on their own website, and sent three senior civil servants to sit in an empty office for weeks. Nobody at the OAGF called the SGF’s office to ask if this agency was real before processing that request. PART 5 — THE FULL PICTURE AND THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN Let us put the confirmed timeline together. September 2019: Buhari creates the Presidential Economic Advisory Council with real members and a legal mandate. March 2024: Tinubu creates the Presidential Economic Coordination Council, effectively superseding the PEAC. The PEAC is never formally dissolved. April 2025: Adeyemi writes to the OAGF on PFIPC letterhead requesting civil servant deployments. The OAGF processes the request. May 2025: Adeyemi meets Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu at the National Assembly. Voice of Nigeria, Vanguard and Punch cover it as a legitimate government engagement. June 2025: Adeyemi receives a Chinese investment delegation and announces a Nigeria-China bilateral investment platform. August 28, 2025: Three OAGF civil servants are officially posted to the PFIPC. Their posting letter appears on the OAGF website. September 2025: Adeyemi visits EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede. A joint statement is issued. He also briefs NERC on the World Investment Summit. September to December 2025: During the same budget preparation window, budget code 0111062001, titled Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, is included in the 2026 executive budget bill, with an allocation of N1.3 billion and ten specific programme lines. October 10, 2025: Adeyemi hosts foreign ambassadors at Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, without the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s knowledge. October 17, 2025: Chief of Staff petitions DSS and Police. October 22, 2025: Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, the man Adeyemi says helped him procure the forged appointment letter, dies in a fire at Kachi Hotel in Utako. There is no independent news report of this fire. The only place it exists in the public record is inside the Presidency’s statement. October 27, 2025: Adeyemi is arrested. November 27, 2025: Eight-count charge filed at the Federal High Court. Two co-defendants identified only as Femi and Anu remain at large. December 19, 2025: President Tinubu presents the 2026 Appropriation Bill to NASS. Budget code 0111062001 is already inside it. April 17, 2026: President Tinubu signs the 2026 Appropriation Act into law. Budget code 0111062001 with N1.3 billion survives every review stage. The questions that remain unanswered. Who specifically submitted the budget proposal for code 0111062001 and through which MDA desk? Who at the OAGF approved the staff deployment request without verifying the agency’s legal existence? Who at the Federal Secretariat allocated office space without cross-checking the SGF’s register. Who at NITDA issued a .gov.ng domain to an unregistered agency. What the GIFMIS expenditure records show for code 0111062001 in 2026. Who Femi and Anu are and why their full names have not been published despite being co-defendants in an active federal case. Adeyemi goes to court on July 27. That court process needs to answer all of the above, not just the eight counts against one man. The borrowed name of a dormant Buhari-era body. A brand-new budget code created during the same months as the suspect’s prosecution. A key witness dead in a fire with no press coverage. Three civil servants sitting in an empty office. A .gov.ng domain nobody has explained. And a N1.3 billion budget line in a signed presidential document. This is not the profile of a lone con artist with a forged letter.
Enitan Bello of the Good Governance Group (GGG), wrote in from Abuja.
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