General News
Nigeria’s Mining Sector Gains Momentum with $2.6bn Investment Inflow
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called for the establishment of regional energy hubs across Africa as a key strategy to accelerate mining industrialization and strengthen the continent’s role in the global supply of critical minerals.
Speaking at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington, D.C., Alake said deeper collaboration between African nations and global partners, particularly the United States remains essential to meeting the growing global demand for minerals critical to the energy transition.
He emphasized the need to develop cross-border industrial corridors similar to the Lobito Corridor. According to him, initiatives such as the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, which spans Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, and the Walvis Bay Corridor, could unlock vast mineral resources while boosting regional integration.
Alake explained that such corridors would serve as economic engines by improving infrastructure, expanding energy access, and enabling industrial growth across borders. He added that shared energy solutions; such as nuclear power, could support multiple countries within a corridor, creating opportunities for local processing, manufacturing, and technology transfer.
“If three to five such corridors are developed across Africa, it would significantly fast-track industrialization and deliver mutual benefits for both Africa and its global partners,” he said.
Highlighting recent reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister noted that improvements in governance, regulatory frameworks, and licensing processes have made Nigeria’s mining sector more attractive to investors.
He said the government has strengthened the security of mineral titles, ensuring long-term stability for investors, while also expanding the availability of internationally certified geological data to guide investment decisions.
On tackling illegal mining, Alake pointed to the creation of Mining Marshals, revealing that over 350 suspects; including foreign nationals, have been arrested within the past year, with more than 150 currently facing prosecution.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to attracting foreign investment, he highlighted incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment and the ability for investors to fully repatriate profits after fulfilling tax obligations.
“We have de-risked the sector and created a more transparent environment for investment. In the last two and a half years, Nigeria has attracted over $2.6 billion in foreign direct investment into mining,” Alake stated.
Also speaking at the event, Sarah Whitten of the U.S. Export-Import Bank stressed that sustainable partnerships and long-term policy consistency are critical to unlocking financing for mining projects.
She noted that while American financial institutions are ready to support projects, their role is largely to catalyze private sector investment.
The panel also featured key stakeholders from across the mining and finance sectors, underscoring growing international interest in Africa’s mineral resources amid the global push for clean energy.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced plans to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on multiple charges bordering on alleged financial crimes.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the commission’s spokesperson, Okor Odey, the former governor will be arraigned on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, before the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
The charges, filed under suit number FHC/KD/73/2026, include alleged money laundering, conversion and possession of public property.
The ICPC further disclosed that El-Rufai will also face a separate trial before the Kaduna State High Court on allegations of abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
In the second case, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, the former governor is listed alongside Amadu Sule, also known as LEDA, while another defendant, Joel Adoga, is named in the federal high court case.
Odey noted that both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, and that the defendants have been duly served in accordance with legal procedures. He added that the date for arraignment at the state high court would be communicated in due course.
“The commission remains committed to due process and the rule of law,” the ICPC spokesperson stated.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, following his arrest shortly after his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had earlier detained him for 48 hours between February 16 and 18, 2026.
General News
Ozoro Festival Assault: Senator Thomas Demands Justice, Insists ‘No Place for Such Barbarity in Isoko Culture’
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content and Senator representing Delta South, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has strongly condemned the attack on women and girls during a festival in Oramudu Community, Ozoro Kingdom, describing the incident as “criminal” and a gross violation of human dignity.
The lawmaker, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made his position known in a statement personally signed on Monday, following his visit to Anthony Ogbogbo Ibuka I, the Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, at his palace in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Reacting to the incident, Thomas distanced the Isoko culture from the acts, stressing that the assault does not reflect the traditions or values of the people.
“As an Isoko man, I feel deeply pained by the misrepresentation of our people and our traditions. Let me make this absolutely clear: there is no such thing as a ‘rape festival’ in Ozoro Kingdom or anywhere in Isoko land,” he said.
“Our culture is rooted in peace, respect, and the protection of human dignity, especially for women. What transpired in Oramudu Community was not a reflection of our heritage but the actions of a few criminal elements,” he added.
The senator called for swift justice and urged security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident.
He commended the prompt intervention of community members, local vigilante groups, and security operatives in rescuing victims and restoring calm, but insisted that perpetrators must be held accountable.
“Everyone must be seen to be served. This is non-negotiable,” he stated.
Thomas further urged community leaders and cultural custodians to implement stricter safeguards during festivals and public gatherings to prevent a recurrence.
Condemning all forms of gender-based violence, the lawmaker stressed that sexual assault, molestation, and harassment have no place in society.
“All forms of sexual assault, molestation, harassment, and any actions that inflict harm or trauma on women are utterly unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. Our tradition forbids such behaviour, and no girl or woman should ever again be exposed to such humiliation,” he said.
He also appealed for calm among residents of Ozoro Kingdom and the wider Isoko nation, assuring that he would collaborate with stakeholders and security agencies to ensure justice is served and preventive measures are strengthened.
“Together, we will uphold the values that make Ozoro Kingdom a beacon of peace, culture, and progress,” he concluded.
General News
Promotion Comes With Accountability, Not Privilege – IGP Disu Warns Newly Elevated Police Chiefs
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has charged newly promoted senior officers to view their elevation as a call to greater responsibility rather than a reward for past service.
Disu gave the directive on Monday during the decoration ceremony of senior officers held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall in Abuja, where officers promoted to the ranks of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police were formally decorated.
Addressing the officers, the police chief described their promotion as a “strategic investment in leadership,” stressing that it comes with higher expectations, stricter accountability, and increased public scrutiny.
“This promotion is not a reward; it is a responsibility,” he said, warning that indiscipline, abuse of office, corruption, and dereliction of duty would not be tolerated under their leadership.
He urged the officers to ensure firm supervision and take full responsibility not only for operational outcomes but also for the conduct of personnel under their command, noting that strong leadership is key to maintaining standards within the Force.
Reiterating his reform agenda, Disu emphasised the need for people-centred policing, calling on the officers to uphold professionalism, respect human rights, and strengthen engagement with the public.
“The era of policing that alienates the people is over. We must build trust deliberately and consistently,” he added.
The IGP also highlighted ongoing reform efforts within the Force, urging the officers to embrace innovation, improve efficiency, and abandon outdated practices that do not align with modern policing standards.
As part of the reform drive, he announced a mandatory strategic leadership retreat for newly promoted senior officers, scheduled to begin on March 24, 2026, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. The programme will focus on transformational leadership and contemporary policing strategies.
Disu further disclosed plans for the second edition of National Police Day slated for April 7, 2026, which will be preceded by a week-long series of community-based activities, including medical outreaches and public engagement initiatives aimed at strengthening police-community relations.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for continued support for the Nigeria Police Force, while also commending the Police Service Commission for ensuring transparency and merit in the promotion process.
The ceremony underscores a renewed push by the police leadership to align command structure with professionalism, reform, and the restoration of public trust.