General News
PRESSURE GROUP DEMANDS SACK OF NUPRC DIRECTORS, HAILS NEW CEO APPOINTMENT
A pro-democracy pressure group, the Tinubu-Shettima Leadership Forum, has called on the Federal Government to immediately reassign seven Executive Commissioners and a Head of department at the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. This demand follows the recent appointment of Mrs. Oritsemeiywa Eyesan as the Commission’s new Chief Executive Officer.
The group, in a statement signed by its Director General, Prince Michael Newgent Ekamon, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the bold decision to appoint Mrs. Eyesan. “This appointment demonstrates your commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability in the oil and gas sector in line with the Renewed Hope agenda Policy Thrust,” the statement read. The group congratulated Mrs. Eyesan and expressed confidence in her ability to bring needed expertise and integrity to the role.
However, the forum warned that leaving the current leadership team in place would sabotage reform efforts. The group accused the outgoing CEO, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, and his team of running the agency, established in 2021 after the Petroleum Industry Act, like a private company without due process. Ekamon stated that the directors had allegedly misled and enabled the former chief executive.
Prince Michael Newgent Ekamon further argued that keeping the directors would set the stage for the new leadership to fail. “Leaving the same directors, who allegedly misled the former chief executive at NUPRC without reassigning them will amount to setting the ugly stage for the new leadership of NUPRC to fail because the concerned directors will still be loyal to the former chief executive,” the statement said. The group demanded the immediate sack, arrest, and prosecution of the listed officials.
The officials named include Lamido Muhammad Sabo, Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts; Capt. John Roland Tlonlagha, Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community; Dr. Kelechi O. Ofiegbu, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services and Administration; and Mr. Indabawa Bashari Alka, Executive Commissioner, Exploration and Acreage Management. Others are Mr. Babajide Oluwole Fasina, Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning; Mr. Enorense Amadasu, Executive Commissioner, Development and Production; Barr. Olayemi Adegboyejo, Executive Commissioner, Secretary and Legal Adviser; and Mrs. Tola Fadeni Omowumi, Head of Contract and Procurement.
The TSLF urged the government to take swift action to restore public trust. Ekamon reiterated the forum’s support for the administration’s sector reforms while congratulating Mrs. Eyesan once more and wishing her success. The group emphasized the need to create an enabling environment for the new CEO by reassigning the affected directors without further delay.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, 2026, following his arraignment on alleged corruption-related charges.
El-Rufai was on Tuesday brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa.
During the proceedings, the former governor was docked on one count out of a 10-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency. The charge, according to his counsel, Ubong Akpan, relates to alleged deposits into a domiciliary account and the monetisation of earnings.
El-Rufai was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
Despite pending applications earlier filed before the court, Justice Aikawa proceeded with the arraignment and subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31 to consider all outstanding applications, including the bail request.
No bail application was moved or granted during Tuesday’s session.
Speaking to journalists after the court sitting, Akpan maintained that there was nothing unusual about the proceedings, adding that the defence team was yet to be served with processes relating to other potential charges.
The case is expected to resume on the adjourned date for hearing of the bail application and other pending matters.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit formed part of activities marking the Sallah celebrations, as top government officials and political leaders paid courtesy calls to the President.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also received members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, a key political body in Lagos State.
Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council
The engagements provided an opportunity for discussions on national issues and strengthened ties between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The Sallah homage is a long-standing tradition in Nigeria, where political leaders and stakeholders visit the President and other top officials during major Islamic festivities.