General
Nigeria’s Anti-Crude Theft Troop Destroys 50 Illegal Refining Sites
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s anti-crude theft troop, Operation Delta Safe, has destroyed 50 illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta region and arrested 51 suspects in the last week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, who made this known on Thursday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the operations of the military, said the troops also eliminated four criminals and recovered arms and ammunition.
He added that a total of 578,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 454,330 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 10,000 litres of dual-purpose kerosene (DPK) were recovered during the operations.
According to him, troops also destroyed 245 dugout pits, 31 boats, 69 storage tanks, one tricycle, 23 vehicles, 162 cooking ovens, one pumping machine and three outboard engines.
He said the troops neutralised a notorious criminal and recovered one locally made pistol on November 14, in the Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
“On November 15, troops with hybrid forces raided suspected drugs peddlers’ hideout in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta and arrested six suspects.
“The maritime component of Operation Delta Safe on November 17, conducted a search and rescue operation following a distress call on a missing Cameroonian-flagged motor Fishing Vessel MFV AFKI with registration number UK12 and number AFKI 8432780.
“After frantic surveillance, maritime component traced and made contact with the vessel 17 nautical miles off Pennington terminal.
“The vessel was recovered with two foreign crew members onboard,” he said.
In the South East, the troop’s spokesperson said the men of Operation UDO KA neutralised six criminals, apprehended 14 suspected IPOB/ESN elements and rescued two kidnapped hostages.
He added that the troops recovered a pump action gun, one double barrel gun, one locally made pistol, six rounds of 9mm ammo, a motorcycle and two mobile phones, among other items.
According to him, all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to relevant authorities for further action.
The Defence Headquarters also said the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the last week eliminated 99 terrorists and apprehended 198 others in different operations across the country.
The troops also rescued a total of 139 hostages and recovered 141 assorted weapons and 1,463 assorted ammunition in the various operations across North East, North Central and North West theatres of operation.
The breakdown of recovered items, according to him, include one GPMG, one GT3 rifle, one assault rifle, 49 AK47 rifles, one Josef Magnum Pump Action gun, one double barrel gun and two single barrel guns.
Others are nine locally-made pistols, 13 Dane guns, one hand grenade, seven locally-made rifles, and two locally-made hand grenades.
In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai on November 17, apprehended three suspected terrorist collaborators in the Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe.
He added that the suspects claimed to have been coerced to go on the errand by terrorist elements, adding that a total of 108 terrorists and their families comprising 13 adult males, 32 adult females and 63 children surrendered to troops between Nov. 17 and Nov. 23 within the theatre of operations.
He said the troops neutralised 19 terrorists, arrested 21 and rescued eight kidnapped victims within the week across the theatre.
In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised three terrorists, apprehended 32 and rescued eight kidnapped victims as well as recovered various types of arms and ammunition, amongst other items.
He added that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted raids at suspected criminal hideouts in Takum and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of Taraba and Benue States, respectively, neutralised two terrorists, arrested nine terrorists and rescued three kidnapped hostages.
He said the troops also recovered one AK47 rifle, one magazine and 27 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, amongst other items.
In the North West, the Defence spokesman said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 20 terrorists, apprehended 20 terrorists and rescued 83 kidnapped victims in different operations across Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
He said the air component of the operation conducted air interdiction on a targeted terrorist leaders’ enclave known as Lalbi Nagogo.
According to him, the enclave is in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State and the location was struck with rockets and cannons after confirmation that the terrorist and his foot soldiers were present there.
“Battle damage assessment revealed several terrorists were neutralised with various structures destroyed,” he said.
Buba said the troops of Operation Whirl Punch conducted fighting patrols in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and Kuje Area Council of FCT respectively.
He said the troops neutralised 16 terrorists, arrested 16 suspects and rescued three hostages in ambush and offensive operations on the terrorists within the period.
He added that the air component had on November 16, conducted air interdiction at a suspected terrorist leader known as Boderi in his new enclave located in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to him, the location was observed to be active with terrorists and was acquired and engaged with rockets and cannons.
He said the battle damage assessment revealed that the older brother of the terrorist leader named, Nasiru, with several of his lieutenants and foot soldiers were neutralised while their structures were destroyed.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned from his position, in line with the directive that government appointees seeking political offices must resign before March 31.
Business Post reports that the diplomat is eyeing a governorship ambition in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mr Tuggar’s resignation was confirmed in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Monday.
Mr Tuggar submitted his resignation letter on Monday, barely 24 hours before the deadline set by President Bola Tinubu, which directs all political appointees under his administration seeking to contest elective offices in the 2027 elections to resign before March 31.
The directive is in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for party primaries ahead of the 2027 polls.
With this development, more resignations are expected before the March 31 deadline as appointees seeking elective offices move to meet the stipulated deadline.
Earlier today, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Nasiru Gawuna, formally resigned from his position to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with his sights on the Kano governorship ticket.
Mr Tuggar’s resignation comes amid the speculation of his interest in contesting the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The 59-year-old is a seasoned diplomat, policymaker, and political figure who was appointed as minister by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023.
Born on March 12, 1967, he has built a distinguished career spanning diplomacy, politics, energy, and strategic consulting.
He is widely regarded for his role in shaping Nigeria’s global engagement and advancing its foreign policy priorities.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Lagos State government has promised to sustain its collaboration with private sector players to drive sustainable urban development, create jobs, and position Lagos as a leading hub for commerce and industry in Africa.
This assurance was given by the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the commissioning of Irele Tower last Thursday.
The nine-storey facility is the first commercial building within the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ). It is EDGE-certified, which sets a new standard for sustainable workspace in Lekki, Nigeria’s fastest-growing economic corridor.
Irele Tower is designed to host office and retail activities in the Lekki economic corridor. It was built for efficiency with 26 per cent less energy and 46 per cent less water consumption. It is an eco-friendly building, with the design inspired by maritime architecture, reflecting its proximity to the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Mr Sanwo-Olu described the delivery of the Irele Tower as a significant milestone in the development of the economic zone in line with the agenda of making Lagos a 21st-century economy by boosting economic growth to support the state’s developmental plans.
According to him, the facility is critical to unlocking the full potential of the Ibeju-Lekki axis of the economic zone, particularly given the presence of the Lekki Deep Sea Port and other major industrial investments within the Lagos Free Zone.
“The commissioning of Irele Tower is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved through strong collaboration between the public and private sectors. This development not only enhances the infrastructure profile of the Lagos Free Zone but also strengthens our vision of making Lagos a premier destination for investment and economic activities.
“We will continue to support initiatives that promote industrial growth, create employment opportunities, and improve the overall business environment in our state,” he said.
In her remarks, the chief executive of LFZ, Ms Adesuwa Ladoja, stated that the development reflects the zone’s commitment to creating an integrated ecosystem where businesses can thrive, supported by modern infrastructure, a strategic location, and efficient logistics.
“The commissioning of Irele Tower represents a defining milestone in our journey to build a world-class industrial and commercial hub. This development reflects our commitment to providing high-quality infrastructure that supports ease of doing business and enhances operational efficiency for our tenants.
“As the first commercial tower within the Lagos Free Zone, Irele Tower, sets a new benchmark for quality workspace in this corridor and reinforces our position as a preferred destination for investment and enterprise,” she added.
Irele Tower sits on a gross floor area of approximately 12,000 square metres. It offers modern workspaces tailored to evolving business needs. The facility also offers premium amenities, including office spaces, retail outlets, parking facilities, shared workspaces, and a rooftop cafeteria, creating a dynamic, integrated business environment.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Nasiru Gawuna, has formally resigned from his position, obeying a directive that requires office holders with political ambitions to step down before March 31, 2026.
Mr Gawuna, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, submitted his resignation in a letter dated March 27, 2026. In the letter, he stated that his decision takes immediate effect and is in compliance with directives issued by President Bola Tinubu.
He is expected to formally announce his move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday alongside Mr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a prominent political figure and former Governor of Kano, who resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The former governor of Kano and senator rose to prominence through his grassroots-oriented Kwankwasiyya Movement, which has played a decisive role in shaping electoral outcomes in Kano. His political journey has seen him move across major parties before leading the NNPP into the 2023 general elections, where he maintained significant influence in the North-West state.
“My resignation is in strict compliance with the President’s directive requiring all political appointees to step down in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” Mr Gawuna wrote.
In his resignation letter, Mr Gawuna expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve under the current administration, describing his tenure as both an honour and a privilege.
“I am profoundly grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the confidence reposed in me to serve. It has been a privilege to contribute to the growth and development of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and our great country,” he stated.
He also struck a reflective tone regarding his future, adding, “I place my future in the hands of Allah (SWT) and seek His divine guidance in all my endeavours.”
Mr Gawuna assured stakeholders of a seamless transition process, noting that he would hand over responsibilities in line with established procedures.
“I remain committed to ensuring a smooth and orderly handover in accordance with all laid-down directives,” he said.
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