RoundReports

President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of a high-level Presidential Petroleum Reform and Value Optimisation Task Force, aimed at shaping the next phase of structural change in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The new body is expected to produce execution-ready reform plans that build on ongoing initiatives, unlock investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a global energy destination. The task force will be chaired by Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and founder of the Fate Foundation.  Adeola will coordinate the group’s work and oversee delivery within a fixed timeline. Other members are Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Osagie Okunbor, Abubakar Suleiman, Adaeze Aguele, Farouk Gumel, Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye and Seyi Bella, with Mofoluwasho Fadayomi serving as secretary. According to the Presidency, the task force is designed as a technical reform body rather than a representative committee.  It will consult widely with industry operators, regulators, invest...

Nigeria’s meteorological agency has raised the alarm over an increased risk of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in several northern states as dry season conditions intensify. In a public health advisory posted on X, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) said hot, dry and dusty weather patterns were creating favourable conditions for the spread of the potentially deadly infection. CSM is a serious disease that affects the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is most commonly caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis and spreads through respiratory droplets, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. According to the agency, states facing the highest risk include Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno.  Residents in parts of central Nigeria were urged to remain vigilant, while Plateau, Oyo, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti and Enugu were classified as low-vigilance areas. NiMet warned that the disease can ...

Four American service members have died after a United States (US) Air Force KC-135 refuelling aircraft went down in western Iraq, military officials confirmed on Friday.   United States Central Command said the aircraft, which was operating as part of Washington’s ongoing campaign against Iran, crashed during a mission involving two tankers with the second KC-135 able to land safely.   Rescue operations are continuing in the desert region where the plane came down, with investigators examining the circumstances of the incident.  Officials stressed that the loss of the aircraft was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.   The deaths bring the number of US personnel killed in operations linked to the Iran conflict to at least 11.  Reports stated that the names of the crew members have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.   READ ALSO : Ghana Opens Applications for Industrial, Medicinal Cannabis Licences ...

The Delta State Government has pledged full support for the long-awaited Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road and Bridges project, as it joins forces with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited to push the ambitious scheme forward.   Spanning roughly 70 kilometres and incorporating 29 bridges, the project is expected to transform access across riverine communities and stimulate economic growth in the Niger Delta.   Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, speaking at Government House in Asaba during a meeting with NDDC officials and Chevron’s delegation, described the road as “ critical to the development of riverine communities ” and reaffirmed the state’s readiness to partner on its delivery. He praised NDDC Managing Director Dr Sam Ogbuku for progress made under his leadership, but stressed that only a reputable contractor capable of completing the work would be considered.   Oborevwori revealed that a technical team would be establish...

More than 500 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ofoni, the hometown of former Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).   The mass defection, which took place on Thursday in Yenagoa, was described by community leaders as a collective decision aimed at consolidating support for the Prosperity Administration led by Governor Douye Diri.   Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Dr Christopher Ewhrudjakpo said the people of Ofoni had consistently backed the current administration and could not afford to stand in opposition to a government they regard as their own.  Ewhrudjakpo added that more residents of the community were expected to join the APC in the coming weeks.   He assured both Governor Diri and his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, of unwavering loyalty from Ofoni, stressing that the bond between the community and the Prosperity Government “ will not be broken .” Welcoming ...

A human rights lawyer has lodged a fundamental rights enforcement suit against Nollywood actress and self-styled evangelist, Tonto Dikeh, accusing her of subjecting a schoolgirl to a degrading religious ritual and breaching her right to privacy.   The case, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by Ikechukwu Obasi, seeks declarations and orders against the actress, including N200 million in damages.  The suit was brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.   Obasi is representing the minor, a Junior Secondary School 1 pupil at Durumi II, Abuja, who hails from Rivers State.   According to court documents, the incident allegedly took place on 6 March 2026 after a video and photographs surfaced on Dikeh’s official Facebook page.  The footage reportedly showed the actress performing what she described as a deliverance ritual on the child, who was laid on bare ground and pressed against a stony sur...

King Charles III has hosted a celebratory reception for the Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom (UK), setting the tone for the state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, scheduled for next week. The gathering, held under the auspices of the British Royal Family, blended royal formality with unmistakably Nigerian flair.  Guests were treated to jollof rice and live music from the Dele Sosimi Afrobeats Orchestra, as the Palace paid tribute to Nigerian culture and achievement. Photographs released after the event showed the King in animated conversation with attendees, reflecting what the Palace later described as “ a wonderful evening .”  An official statement thanked those who joined the reception, indicating the contribution of Nigerians to British society. The event brought together leading figures from across the Nigerian community, including professionals in healthcare, technology, business and the creative industries.  READ ALSO :  NNPP Chieftain Suggest...

A senior figure in Nigeria’s opposition New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has suggested that Britain should consider recolonising Nigeria if the country’s leadership failed to restore order and good governance. Galadima made the suggestion during a televised appearance on Africa Independent Television (AIT), where he delivered a blistering assessment of the nation’s political direction and security challenges. He argued that Nigeria’s ruling class must abandon what he described as selfish interests and refocus on the core responsibilities of government, protecting citizens and creating conditions for economic and social progress. According to Galadima, if domestic leadership proved incapable of enforcing the rule of law, more radical options should be considered, including the engagement of mercenaries or external intervention. READ ALSO: Britain Tightens Security Ahead of Tinubu State Visit “ The government should remove selfishness and do the job of protecting citizen...

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned the Federal Government that dependence on foreign powers will not guarantee internal security. Falana urged the Nigerian government to urgently reorganise the country and properly equip its armed forces and police. Speaking on Politics Today on Thursday, he said Nigeria must draw hard lessons from current global conflicts, arguing that sovereignty and security cannot be outsourced to allies such as the United States (US). He pointed to the war involving Iran, saying the crisis underlined the limits of foreign protection when national institutions are weak.  Falana also referenced Cuba, claiming that US policies under Donald Trump had contributed to severe humanitarian challenges, including fuel shortages. “ He has imposed a humanitarian crisis in Cuba. No fuel goes to Cuba, and you know what that means in the case of Nigeria. That is why Nigeria must wake up ,” Falana said. According to him, Nigeria should ...

Nigeria’s political landscape witnessed a dramatic shift on Thursday as nine senators abandoned their parties to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The announcement came during plenary, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio read aloud letters from the defecting lawmakers.  The move swells ADC’s ranks in the Senate, positioning the party as a more formidable opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 general elections.   Who Defected The defectors include five senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), and Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central).   From the Labour Party (LP), Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) also crossed over. Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) left the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to join the ADC, though his defection rema...