General
Nigeria Optimistic to Win IMO Category-C Bid Despite Failed Attempts
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria is optimistic it will win its category-C election bid in the forthcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council election after three recent failed efforts.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, said on Monday that the government would bid for the Category-C at the maiden African Strategic Summit on Shipping Decarbonisation in Abuja.
The summit was hosted by the Ministry in collaboration with the Bartlett Energy Institute of University College London (UCL).
The IMO Category-C refers to 20 states not elected under categories A or B, which have interests in maritime transport or navigation.
The category-C ensures representation of all major geographic areas.
If elected, Nigeria will be returning to the IMO category-C council after 20years since its last successful membership in 2005, and after three unsuccessful bids between 2011 and 2019.
Mr Oyetola said that Nigeria, as a vibrant member state of the IMO, was shifting from being a passive recipient of global policies to being an active architect of solutions that reflect unique circumstances and aspirations.
“The global shipping industry is at a pivotal juncture as IMO is set to finalise and adopt the policy framework on the Revised Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Strategy and the Basket of Midterm Measures.
“The progression of negotiations and research work done so far suggest that Africa, along with most developing countries, wil be mostly impacted.
“This is due to the transport cost increase as a result of the energy transition to near-zero and zero-emissions for shipping sector,” he said.
Mr Oyetola solicited support for Nigeria’s candidacy and pledged the country’s commitment to deliver on its mandate to the benefit of Africa if elected.
He said that as IMO was advancing its regulatory framework on decarbonisation, Africa must ensure that its voice is heard and its interests safeguarded in shaping policies that impact the economies and livelihoods.
He urged stakeholders at the summit to solidify Africa’s position and advocate for policy mechanism that ensure fair revenue distribution from global decarbonisation measures.
According to the minister, the summit is a catalyst for Africa to forge stronger collaborations amongst African states, as well as global partners, and to build stronger alliances with regions of similar maritime and economic profiles.
This, he said, was the only way to collectively advocate for a just and equitable implementation of IMO policies that support developing economies.
In his remarks, Mr Harry Conway, Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO, said that Africa’s contribution to the organisation was critical in shaping shipping policies.
Mr Conway said that it was crucial for Africa to make contributions to the IMO policies because 90 per cent of trades in the region were seaborne.
“The IMO has 176 member states, 89 Non-Governmental Organisation, six Inter-Governmental Organisation and only 44 African countries.
“This is only about 25 per cent representation of 176 member states and Africa has to be involved in the policy making that shapes its shipping industry,” he said.
On his part, Mr Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said that it was pertinent to prioritise sustainable and responsible maritime practices as Africa grew and developed.
“The decisions we make today will shape the future of our maritime industry and our contribution to global climate goals.
“This summit provides a unique opportunity to align our regional strategies with international frameworks, while addressing Africa’s challenges and opportunities,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.
On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.
According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;
https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The new chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has assumed office with a clear message to advance the country’s upstream oil and gas sector in line with the mandate of the commission as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
According to a statement signed by Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, the Head of Media & Strategic Communications at the upstream regulator, the NUPRC boss made this assertation during her first town hall meeting with management and staff on Tuesday December 23, 2025.
She further disclosed plans to make the commission a business enabler and re-ignite investments in the upstream sector.
Recall that President Tinubu nominated Mrs Eyesan to take over the NUPRC after the abrupt resignation of her predecessor, Mr Gbenga Komolafe as well as his counterpart in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed.
In her new capacity, Mrs Eyesan also set a firm production ambition of growing Nigeria’s output and increasing gas production.
“The goal is that we must enable the industry, we are regulators. We must enable the industry from our interactions with the stakeholders, from our interactions with everybody.
“My main objective is to ensure that we make a difference. I believe the NUPRC is at the Center of the industry,” she said.
The commission boss who has served for over three decades in the oil and gas sector, promised to entrench digitisation, transparency and efficiency in operations.
The NUPRC head said with the support of staff and management, the NUPRC will become the gold-standard regulator in Africa. She also promised capacity development, stronger technical depth and sustained engagement with stakeholders, unions and professional teams.
On leadership style, Mrs Eyesan promised an open-door policy and frequent staff engagement, while also soliciting for support and cooperation as the industry embarks on the next phase of transformation.
“If we work together we can unleash opportunities, I don’t see impediments only opportunities,” she added.
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