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APC will end PDP’s Reign in Delta 2019—Uduaghan

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By Dipo Olowookere

Former Governor of Delta State, Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has boasted that his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would put to an end the era of the party’s “barrenness” in winning elective positions and also terminate the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Mr Uduaghan, a Delta South Senatorial hopeful, while speaking in Koko, the administrative headquarters of Warri North to consult party leaders and members from Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North ahead of the APC senatorial primaries billed for next week, however urged party members to unite to enable the APC kick out the PDP-led government in the state.

“The APC that I have joined is the one that will win election in 2019. But first, for us to win election, we must be united and that is one of my major assignments upon moving to the progressives’ fold,” he said.

The former governor, whose defection to the APC has risen the party chances of defeating Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the 2019 general elections, added that the crisis rocking the party was almost resolved.

Mr Uduaghan, while stressing on the need for the zone to send their best hands to the National Assembly in 2019 further emphasized that his role as ‘John the Baptist’ include weeding his home LGA, (Warri North) of external influence causing friction in the party.

“I find it embarrassing that someone from another senatorial District would be sponsoring a faction in my LGA. That has stopped today. There is only one APC and so it would be across the state. I can’t be a John the Baptist if I can’t organise my house,” the medical doctor turned politician said.

He alluded that he was one of the major factors APC in the three Warri LGAs and the state at large had not been able to win as low as a councillorship position in previous elections.

Mr Uduaghan, who however promised to turn the tide around in APC’s favour in 2019, added that, “I have come with the winning streak. We shall defeat PDP in 2019 in Delta State.

“When I was on the other side, I clipped the wings of the APC. But today, I am here to reposition APC to takeover power from the failing PDP come 2019.”

While pleading with delegates to vote for him in the coming Senatorial Primary, he promised to make good their mandate when he gets to the Red Chamber through their support.

According to him, “This is the time to send someone who has capacity and influence in governance to represent our blessed district.”

“I will focus on laws that will involve our communities in the security architecture of our region, legalization of local refineries otherwise referred to as illegal refineries, five percentage community ownership in companies and environmental laws that will protect our environment from pollution arising from the destruction of “Cotonou boats” carrying confiscated crude. Give me your support and I will not let you down,” Mr Uduaghan concluded.

Meanwhile, the former governor has chided the government of the PDP in Delta State for incapacitating the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

He, therefore, vowed to restore the intervention agency if the All Progressives Congress (APC) is given a chance to take over the affairs of the state come 2019.

Mr Uduaghan made the declarations when he met with Ijaw APC leaders and delegates at the home of Chief George Timinimi in Effurun.

According to him, “There are a lot of infrastructures we have done through DESOPADEC. I wonder how many people still have contracts in DESOPADEC today.”

“I heard it is even difficult to pay salaries. DESOPADEC was active when I was in office as a governor.

“We were funding it and were doing jobs in our various areas that we were all enjoying.

“It is only an APC government that can bring DESOPADEC back so that it can be properly funded the way I was funding it.

“We have the Ayakoromo bridge that we started, but work is no more ongoing there.

“Once we come in, APC will ensure that the bridge is completed for our people through NDCC.

“We must ensure that APC wins all elections in 2019,” he assured.

Mr Uduaghan, who stressed the need for the Ijaw, Itsekiri and other tribes in the Niger Delta to live in harmony, vowed to ensure the Federal Government completes the abandoned Ayakoromo Bridge in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.”

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via dipo.olowookere@businesspost.ng

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Nigeria’s Daily Fuel Consumption Drops 18.6% to 48 million Litres

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fuel consumption

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has disclosed that average litres of fuel consumed daily by the country decreased by about 18.6 per cent to 48.0 million litres in June 2025 from the 59.0 million litres recorded in May 2025.

The Director of Public Affairs for NMDPRA, Mr George Ene-Ita, confirmed this in a report on Wednesday, noting that for the full month, the fuel consumption also went down by 16.4 per cent or 290 million litres to 1,440,768,129 litres from the previous month’s 1,768,812,804 litres.

Breaking down the fuel supply figures, the NMDPRA report stated that in June, the Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), called diesel, saw a slight increase in supply by 1.73 per cent, reaching 432.18 million litres compared to May’s 424.83 million litres.

In spite of this, diesel distribution (truck-out) declined by 23.23 per cent, falling from 552.35 million litres in May to 424.06 million litres in June.

It further showed that the Household Kerosene (HHK) supply and distribution both recorded a 13 per cent decrease, with June figures at 7.79 million litres, down from nearly nine million litres in May.

The sharpest decline was seen in automotive gasoline supply, which dropped by nearly 48 per cent from 72.36 million litres in May to 37.66 million litres in June.

Distribution also fell by 16.54 per cent within the same period.

The NMDPRA’s report also detailed fuel truck-out volumes to individual states, totalling the 1.44 billion litres evacuated in June.

The report showed that Lagos received the highest volume at 205.66 million litres, followed by Ogun with 88.69 million litres, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 77.51 million litres, and Oyo with 72.81 million litres.

The decline in overall supply and distribution suggests continued challenges in the petroleum midstream and downstream sectors, impacting national fuel consumption patterns in June.

The NMDPRA, then, pledged to work closely with relevant stakeholders to strengthen distribution and guarantee the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across the country.

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Court Dismisses Case Against Ibom Air Passenger Comfort Emmason

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Ibom Air

By Adedapo Adesanya

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday discharged the embattled Ms Comfort Emmason of charges bordering on unruly behaviour and assaulting the flight crew aboard an Ibom Air aircraft from Uyo to Lagos on Monday.

Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five-count charge against Ms Emmason after the police prosecution team withdrew the case.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecuting council, Mrs Oluwabunmi Adeitan, informed the court of new developments that necessitated the withdrawal.

She tendered an application to the court for the withdrawal of the case, which was admitted by the court.

Earlier today, the federal government announced the withdrawal of a criminal complaint against Ms  Emmanson.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday morning, noting that this followed consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector over recent incidents involving disruptive conduct at Nigerian airports.

According to the Minister, Ms Emmanson, had showed “great remorse” during a police interview in the presence of her lawyer.

As a result, Ibom Air has agreed to withdraw its complaint, with the Police expected to complete steps for her release from Kirikiri Prisons within the week.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has also agreed to lift the lifetime flight ban earlier imposed on her.

In a related development, popular Fuji musician, Mr Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as Kwam 1 had his six months ban reduced to one-month following an earlier fracas while the pilots involved in the matter also had their suspension reduced to one-month with their licenses re-activated upon expiry of the punishment.

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FG Gets September Deadline to Close Ex-NSA Dasuki 10-Year Case

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Sambo Dasuki

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has gotten a September 2025 deadline to close the prosecution of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Sambo Dasuki, over alleged money laundering, a case which has been in court for over 10 years.

The Federal High Court through Justice Peter Lifu fixed September 24, 25, and 26 for the government to call any remaining witnesses and tender all exhibits in support of the charges.

Mr Dasuki, who was first arraigned in 2015 was facing a seven-count amended charge and was expected to open his defence once the prosecution closed its case.

At the last hearing, a prosecution witness, Mr Monsur Mohammed, told the court that following Mr Dasuki’s arrest, his residences in Abuja, Kaduna, and Sokoto were searched for arms and cash.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Mr Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN), the witness, an exhibits keeper with the Department of State Services (DSS), listed items recovered from Dasuki’s Abuja residence at 46, Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro.

He claimed that at Mr Dasuki’s House at 46, Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, found items include two Compact Disc of Freedom Radio on Jokolo, two GT Bank Cheque books, two blackberries phones, Nokia phone, flash drive, Apple Laptop and statement of account as part of items found in the house.

Others were a Visa card, approval letter of a radio station granted to Afri-Media Integrated Ltd, one CD on arrest and execution of Mohammed Yusuf, $500 and 533 Saudi Riyadh.

Also recovered were an HSBC account book and a Cheque book of Habibson Ltd of a Mr Abubakar Ibrahim.

The court admitted the items as Exhibits MSD 015 to 034 following no objection from Dasuki’s lawyer, Mr Ahmed Usman.

It was also revealed that at Mr Dasuki’s residence in Sabo Birni, Sokoto State, the exhibits keeper claimed that $150,000 were recovered in the house and subsequently deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The prosecutor said he would ask the DSS to bring the cash to court to be tendered as exhibits.

At the Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto house, the witness told the court that no items were found.

At this stage, the federal government counsel applied for an adjournment to enable him bring before the court other items found in Mr Dasuki’s house during the four search warrants executed in the houses.

Justice Lifu while granting the adjournment request directed the federal government to be ready to close its case against the defendant and for Dasuki to open his defence.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until September 24, 25 and 26.

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