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Defense Minister appeals against protest, says Tinubu is fixing Nigeria

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The Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has called on the organizers of the proposed hunger protest to shelve the idea and come to a roundtable and dialogue with the Federal Government.

Badaru said protest is no longer necessary at the moment as President Bola Tinubu’s reforms have started yielding fruitful results, adding that the nation’s economy is on a gradual but steady path of recovery.

He therefore assured citizens that the administration will do more to meet their needs.

A statement signed by Matti Ali, Personal Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity and sent to Nationwide Reports, has it that Badaru said the reforms initiated by Mr. President have started improving the lives of Nigerians as the economic growth in Q1 2024 was the second fastest first-quarter growth in the last six years.
He said- “Defence strategy as enshrined in the Renewed Hope Agenda in improving security is yielding result as well. Mr. President is committed to the safety of lives and property through various security interventions. “There is a serious improvement in security as most of the roads and highways hitherto closed due to insecurity have been opened.

“Herders and farmers clashes have been solved by the creation of the Livestock Ministry and many farmers have returned to their farms. Mr. President is supporting the farmers and has encouraged State Governors to do the same.

“Also, there is the massive surrendering of terrorists, and high-profile terrorist kingpins have been arrested.
Another example of President Tinubu’s initiative according to the Minister is the creation of an instrument to support students. The introduction of the Nigerian Student Loan Scheme was initiated to increase access to higher education and reduce financial burdens on students.
“Furthermore, he said that another innovation of Mr. President is the massive increase in funding for infrastructures like roads, rails, energy, and irrigation (Dams and Channels) through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF).”

The Minister opined that the innovation of selling crude oil to indigenous refining companies in Naira is another robust effort by Mr. President and the signing of the National Minimum Wage Act into Law, which is aimed at enhancing the welfare of the Nigerian Workers are all efforts at stabilizing the economy.

He also stated that another bold step taken by Mr. President is the autonomy granted to the Local Governments for effective accountability, development at the grassroots, and strengthening of governance. Adding that the President has also given different levels of palliatives to the State Government to support Nigerians to live a better life, in addition to social security intervention to states (Sub-Nationals), Post Subsidy Removal Presidential Grant and Loans Scheme, Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) and Skilled-Up Artisan Initiative (SUPA).
“The Minister said that since the launch of the compressed natural gas initiative (CNG) by Mr. President, it is expected that the cost of transportation will reduce as much as 50 percent adding that, this has unlocked the nation’s huge potential in the gas sector. CNG conversion centers are growing exponentially across the country, creating job opportunities, he explained. The Federal Government has also made available 30,000 kits for the conversion of 30,000 petrol-powered engines at no cost within the next 90 days. Also, the first batch of CNG Mass Transit Buses procured by the Federal Government for distribution to the 36 states and FCT have arrived.
In addressing the high cost of drugs and encouraging local production, the Minister stated that Mr. President has signed an executive order introducing zero tariffs and duties on imports of raw materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and manufacturing equipment. Also, the Federal Government has conducted two rounds of disbursement for primary healthcare revitalization through the basic health provision fund.
While acknowledging the democratic right to protest, the Minister cautioned against using the protest to cause mayhem, emphasizing that the proposed August 1 protest is poorly timed given the positive economic turnaround.

 

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Gov Alex Otti visits Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto prison

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Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor, on Sunday paid a visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

The governor was accompanied by officials of the Sokoto State Government during the closed-door visit.

Nnamdi Kanu was recently moved to Sokoto after he was convicted on terrorism-related charges and handed a life sentence by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Governor Otti had earlier promised to pursue every lawful and political avenue to ensure that Kanu gets justice. Sunday’s visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts by the Abia State Government regarding his case.

Details of the meeting were not made public as of the time of this report.

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Terrorists abduct bride, bridesmaids in Sokoto attack

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Armed terrorists have abducted a bride-to-be, her bridesmaid, and eight other residents from Chacho village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State

The Sokoto abduction occurred around 1:30 a.m., according to residents, when the attackers stormed the village. Most of the victims were women, with only one man also taken.
One resident sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment. Villagers told reporters that the bride was preparing for her wedding scheduled for later that morning when the raid struck, plunging the community into shock and mourning.

A community member described the attack as “tragic,” noting the delay in security response. “Security operatives were alerted immediately, but they only arrived about an hour after the bandits had fled,” he said, expressing frustration.

 

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Dangote Refinery to supply 1.5bn litres of petrol monthly

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….Writes NMDPRA, Engages Marketers to Stabilise Fuel Market

Photo caption: L R: Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Vishwajit Sinha; Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird; President and Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, South South Development Commission, Usoro Akpabio, during the visit of SSDC members to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lagos on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced plans to supply one billion five hundred million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) monthly to the Nigerian market in December 2025 and January 2026, a move aimed at ensuring uninterrupted nationwide fuel availability through the festive season and into the New Year.

President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, disclosed the plans at the weekend, noting that the refinery will make available 50 million litres of PMS daily beginning December 1.

“In line with our commitment to national wellbeing, and consistent with our track record of ensuring a holiday season free of fuel scarcity, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply 1.5 billion litres of PMS to the Nigerian market this month. This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment. We will supply another 1.5 billion litres in January and increase to 1.7 billion litres in February, which translates to about 60 million litres per day,” Dangote said.

Photo caption: L R: President and Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, South South Development Commission, Usoro Akpabio, during the visit of SSDC members to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lagos on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Speaking during a visit by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to the refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser complex, he stated that the facility currently has adequate stock and is producing between 40 and 45 million litres of PMS daily. He added that the daily supply of 50 million litres should dispel long-standing claims that domestic refineries lack the capacity to meet national demand.

Dangote also revealed ongoing engagement with petroleum marketers to strengthen distribution systems, including expanding the use of CNG-powered haulage.

“Our priority is to ensure Nigeria receives the products it needs. This is not driven by profit motives; it is about guaranteeing the availability of essential energy products. It is similar to the transformation we delivered in the cement sector,” he added.

He further noted that the refinery is progressing with its expansion plan to reach a capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day. More than 100,000 workers are expected to be involved in the expansion of both the refinery and the fertiliser complex. Dangote emphasised that the Group remains committed to its vision, driven by the strong public support for the company’s role in shaping Nigeria’s economic development.

During the visit, the Managing Director of SSDC, Usoro Offiong Akpabio, commended Dangote’s leadership and his continued contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capability, national energy security and long-term economic competitiveness.

She described the South-South region as Nigeria’s natural energy corridor, with vast crude oil reserves, gas infrastructure, maritime assets, agro-industrial activity and emerging industrial clusters. She noted that deeper collaboration between the region and the Dangote Group could unlock opportunities in product distribution, CNG infrastructure, petrochemicals, agriculture, and employment creation.

Akpabio added that such partnerships would advance the Federal Government’s energy stability agenda and position the South-South as a strategic growth hub for the Dangote Group.

“As the statutory development body for the South-South, SSDC is mandated to drive regional economic development, infrastructure integration, human capital advancement, and private-sector–led growth. In this regard, we stand prepared to support State-level policy and regulatory support for Ease-of-doing-business across our six states. Enabling environments for Dangote Group’s expansion into strategic sectors such as gas processing, agro-industrial value chains, renewable energy, logistics, and export-oriented manufacturing,” she said.

In a letter from the refinery’s Managing Director, David Bird, to the Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, the company reaffirmed its readiness to host NMDPRA officials onsite at the refinery from December 1st to verify and publish its daily supply volumes. The refinery also sought the Authority’s support to ensure unhindered importation of crude, feedstocks and blending components, as well as smooth vessel loading for product evacuation.

“In the spirit of full transparency to the public we are willing to publish our daily production and stock volumes (online and print media),” Bird stated. “We seek the full support of NMDPRA to allow Dangote refinery to import our crude, feedstocks and blending components unhindered as well as support the lifting of our products by vessel. We continue to experience delays in vessel clearance which impacts not only the refinery operations but also our customers, adding unnecessary costs and inefficiencies”.

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