General
Reps to Amend PIA Liability on Host Communities
By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives Committee on Host Committees has assured of speedy amendment to section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 which puts the responsibility of securing oil and gas infrastructure on host communities.
Business Post reports that Section 257 (2) and (3) of the PIA state that “Where in any year, an act of vandalism, sabotage or other civil unrest occurs that causes damage to petroleum and designated facilities or disrupts production activities within the host communities, the community shall forfeit its entitlement. The basis for computation of the trust fund in any year shall always exclude the cost of repairs of damaged facilities attributable to any act of vandalism, sabotage or other civil unrest.”
This was one of the resolutions at the opening of a two-day Technical Session on 3 per cent Opex Funding for Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) organized by Spaces for Change in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday.
The Chairman of the House of Reps Committee on Host Communities, Mr Dumnamene Dekor, said host communities should not be held liable for vandalism, as they do not have the security architecture to protect oil and gas facilities.
“We are working towards amending that section (section 257) of the PIA. Host communities should not be held liable for vandalized oil facilities, that is the position of the Committee.
“It is one of the gaps in the Act and as a committee, we are going to take that up, so that the amendment will be done.”
The Reps Committee also urged settlors (oil operators) who were yet to fund their HCDTs to begin the funding, assuring that no host community will be shortchanged in the PIA implementation.
“Communities may not have been shortchanged, but where they have been shortchanged, we will make sure that doesn’t happen. The implementation of the HCDT aspect of the PIA is quite slow, but I am also sure that the companies are aware that there are penalties for non-implementation.
“Some communities are also part of the problem, there are so many litigations in some communities hindering the implementation of the HCDT, and in that case, you can’t hold the settlor responsible.
“We call on the host communities, the Board of HCDTs and the settlors, to ensure the PIA is implemented and there is real-time development in host communities and that is what we stand for, but the companies must also live up to its responsibilities to ensure that where an HCDT has been put in place, they should go ahead and fund.”
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Mrs Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, said the technical session was imperative to evaluate the progress on the 3 per cent Opex remittance to host communities.
Mrs Ibezim-Ohaeri recalled that the PIA requires companies to remit 3 per cent of the operating cost of the previous year to HCDT for the socio-economic development of the host communities.
“Since the PIA is now a law, so we are engaging host communities to see if they are receiving the remittances, and also understand how the remittances are determined and how they are being applied in the community.
“HCDTs that have been implemented jumped by over 100 after our technical session in 2023, and there has been substantial compliance.
“However, we are not just going to relax because oil companies have begun setting up HCDTs, because it’s not only by setting up the Trust but funding it and ensuring the funds get to the target developmental projects across the communities.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A partnership framework agreement designed to drive sustainable innovation and economic development for large enterprises, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in Nigeria has been signed by the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Both parties put pen to paper on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, positioning them to mutually ensure that capacity building efforts for businesses focuses on strengthening the technical and institutional capabilities of BoI’s Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs), equipping them to deliver higher-impact advisory services to the bank’s customers; as well as enshrine a structured vocational training provided under the ICSS (Inspire, Create, Start and Scale) entrepreneurship programme to enhance productivity, workforce quality and overall business competitiveness to MSMEs.
Through this deal, there will be coordinated interventions across key strategic pillars, including access to finance, entrepreneurship development, capacity building, and market access; and integrates focused support for climate finance and renewable energy investments; and a robust alignment with global sustainability priorities that enables MSMEs to be engines of economic development.
“This partnership is about closing the gap between enterprise potential and enterprise reality. Too many Nigerian businesses, particularly MSMEs, have the ideas, the drive, and the market opportunity, but lack the financing, technical capacity, or market access needed to scale,” the chief executive of BoI, Mr Olasupo Olusi, said.
“This partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to constantly form new partnerships to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nigeria.
“By combining our financing expertise with our partner’s international development experience, we are building a comprehensive framework that will directly translate into jobs, innovation, affordable, long-term financing and sustainable growth for MSMEs in Nigeria,” he added.
In his remarks, the Country Director for GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Magnus Wagner, said, “This partnership demonstrates our joint commitments to strengthening Nigeria’s private sector and to advancing sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Through this partnership, we aim to support small and medium enterprises.
“We are trying more to look at SME, formalised business, which is the resilient backbone of Nigeria’s economy. So, we would like to work, we have decided in areas such as climate and sustainable finance, renewable energy and energy efficiency, entrepreneurship and innovation, women’s economic empowerment, agribusiness and rural transformation, and digital trade and market access.
“We look forward to a close and successful collaboration with the Bank of Industry, one that delivers tangible results for business, communities, and the country and the population as a whole.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday re-arraigned former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and his son, Abdulaziz, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended charge bordering on alleged terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The counsel to the DSS, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), told the court that an amended charge has been filed to replace an earlier one on which they had been arraigned.
Mr Kehinde applied to withdraw the earlier charge and requested that the amended one be read to the defendant for the pleas to be taken afresh.
The counsel to the defendants, Mr Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), confirmed that his clients were served with the amended charge and agreed that the fresh charge be read to the defendants.
Mr Malami and his son are alleged to have, in December 2025, prepared to commit acts of terrorism by having in their possession and without a license, a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar.
However, Mr Malami and his son both pleaded not guilty, following which the prosecution sought a date for the commencement of the trial.
Mr Aruwa did not object to a date for trial, but prayed the court to allow the defendants to remain on the bail earlier granted them by the court, on the conditions they had met.
With Mr Kehinde not opposing Mr Aruwa’s oral application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the defendants should continue on the bail earlier granted them on February 27, which conditions they had met.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned till May 26 and June 15 for trial.
Counts in the amended charge read:
“That you Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without license, a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without a license a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar, contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022 and punishable under Section 26 (3) (a) and (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a license, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a license, did have in your possession Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a license, did have in your possession Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that repentant and active Boko Haram members are being armed to fight alongside Nigerian troops under Operation Safe Corridor.
The allegation, made in a viral video by a Danish vlogger identified as Jones Raw, was described by the military as “false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.”
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, clarified that the facility shown in the video is not one of the programme’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) camps.
He explained that the official OPSC facility handling former Boko Haram members is located in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, and operates as a secure and controlled military environment.
According to him, the location depicted in the video does not match the structural design, layout, or operational setting of the recognised facility.
He further noted that neither the vlogger nor the individuals featured in the footage have ever been granted access to the camp.
The officer stressed that Operation Safe Corridor is a strictly non-kinetic, multi-agency initiative focused on the deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of carefully screened individuals.
“At no point are participants armed, mobilised, or deployed for combat operations,” he said, adding that beneficiaries are handed over to state authorities after completing the programme and remain under monitoring frameworks.
He added that the initiative operates with the support of international partners, including the European Union, ensuring adherence to global best practices and transparency.
The DHQ maintained that the programme remains a key component of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy, aimed at reducing the number of active fighters and encouraging voluntary disengagement from insurgent groups.
He also invited credible observers to visit the OPSC facility in Mallam Sidi to independently verify its operations, urging the public to disregard the misleading claims, which seek to destabilise the country.
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