Author: Lawan

Motorists in Lagos are increasingly patronising MRS Oil filling stations following the commencement of petrol sales at ₦739 per litre, a move linked to a significant reduction in the ex-depot price by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The new pump price, observed in areas such as Alapere and other parts of Lagos, represents a sharp decline from the previous range of over ₦800 to as high as ₦970 per litre at many retail outlets. However, the lower price is not uniform across locations. In neighbouring Ogun State, particularly along the Mowe–Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, some MRS stations were still…

Airtel Africa has announced a landmark partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to deploy Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite technology across all 14 of its operating markets in Africa, a move expected to significantly expand mobile connectivity for its more than 174 million customers. Under the agreement, the service is scheduled to launch in 2026, enabling compatible smartphones to connect directly to satellites without the need for traditional cell towers or specialised hardware. The initial phase will support text messaging and limited data services for selected applications, targeting remote, rural, and underserved areas where terrestrial mobile networks are weak or unavailable. With this…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday night held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the State House, Abuja, as efforts intensify to address labour concerns ahead of the union’s planned nationwide protest over rising insecurity. The meeting was attended by key government officials, including the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State; Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. The labour delegation was led by the President of the NLC, Comrade…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the receipt of a formal petition from Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. This was issued on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 and signed by the ICPC spokesperson, Mr. John Okor Odey. The anti-corruption agency said the petition was submitted through Dangote’s legal representatives. “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to confirm that it received a formal petition today, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from Alhaji Aliko…

By James Itodo The Nigerian oil and gas sector, since its discovery, exploration, and exploitation at the turn of the century, has become the goose that lays the golden egg, likened only to the much-sought-after bride. This is because oil, and later gas, remained the main economic sustainer, accounting for virtually all the revenue utilised for the economic sustainability and stability of the country—a nation driven by a monolithic economy. Various attempts at sustaining its viability failed because those reforms lacked the necessary ingredients and the political will of their drivers to succeed. Moreover, the temptation of the enormous amounts…

The Crisis and Situation Monitoring Room (CSMR), a human rights advocacy organisation, has issued a strong demand for an immediate, independent investigation into serious allegations linking the Kwara State Government to the arming of criminal elements responsible for escalating banditry in the state. The group’s intervention follows widespread public concern over claims that prohibited firearms and a government-branded security vehicle ended up in the hands of suspected bandits operating in Ifelodun Local Government Area and beyond. In a statement, Dr. Anthony Rowland Attah, Executive Director of CSMR, sharply criticised Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq’s administration for what he described as a dangerous…

A powerful coalition of civil society organizations has declared joint nationwide protests across Nigeria, with simultaneous demonstrations in New York and London, to demand the immediate removal of Farouk Ahmed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The protests will commence on Wednesday from Ahmed’s office in Abuja and continue throughout the week in major cities, while diaspora actions target the UN House in New York and Nigeria House in London. The coalition includes the Nigerian Citizens for Transparency (NCT), Anti-Corruption Alliance of Nigeria (ACAN), Sokoto Welfare Foundation (SWF), Coalition for Economic Justice…

Nigeria’s security agencies have reportedly uncovered a plan by some opposition politicians to organise protests in Sokoto and other northern states against President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Fresh intelligence reports made available to journalists on Friday show that former Senator Kabiru Marafa is the main arrowhead of the plot. The group is allegedly working to discredit NSA Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, by falsely linking them to bandit groups and using a Sokoto-based militia to trigger violent protests. Sources say the Zamfara State Government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, is…

Her Excellency Erelu Angela Adebayo is a distinguished Nigerian leader whose life and work exemplify compassion, integrity, ethical stewardship, and a profound commitment to public service, responsible corporate governance, and transformative philanthropy. Over the past four decades, she has emerged as one of Africa’s most iconic tri-sector leaders, and most respected female figures, deeply admired for her humility, moral strength, and unwavering devotion to improving society. *Early Life and Education* Born on 23 September 1958, H.E. Erelu Angela Adebayo’s life reflects a rare combination of intellectual depth, strong values, and a deep-seated commitment to service. Her foundational education began at…

By Ibrahim Idris When the momentous task of leading a constituted regulatory edifice like NUPRC is entrusted to a single person, the world expects two things: fidelity to statutory duty and demonstrable outcomes. In Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, it is no surprising that those expectations have been largely met, and have been exceeded on many occasions by Engineer Gbenga Komolafe. Being the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Komolafe is a living metonym for “Regulatory Excellence”, one who is meticulous in method, and relentless in his delivery. Komolafe’s regulatory excellence is a precis of performance. His…