General
Ekiti Guber: Group Knocks Monarchs over Zoning Request
By Dipo Olowookere
Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have been slammed by a group known as Integrity Leadership Organisation over their demand for the zoning of the governorship seat to the south senatorial district of the state.
In a statement issued by the State Coordinator of the group, Mr Lekan Oyediran, the Integrity Leadership Organisation said it wrong for the monarch to demand for such when they held a meeting with the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.
During the meeting last weekend at the Government House in Ado Ekiti, the traditional rulers said political parties must zone the governorship position in the July poll to the zone
But reacting to this, Mr Oyediran said the request by the obas was “stage-managed [and] instigated by Governor Fayose,” claiming they were coerced into the meeting to help the Governor push a ravaging and consuming personal agenda that he started more than two years ago.
“We understand the condition under which the Obas live in Ekiti State under Fayose where the governor had on many occasions resorted to making them his messengers in matters that are clearly beyond their powers just because Fayose wants to paint a picture of participatory governance.
“The Obas cannot be messengers for Fayose in political matters that should better be left to Ekiti people and political parties to decide, and so it is curious that after a meeting with the governor, the traditional rulers read out a statement given to them as if that prepared statement by Fayose represented their general position,” Mr Oyediran said in the statement.
The group reminded the Obas that their constitutional roles do not include deciding the zoning of political offices, regretting that acceding to Fayose’s request to push a personal political agenda is unconstitutional and abuse of power.
“We want to let our Obas know that they are not politicians. Political parties are constitutionally required to field candidates in elections and not Obas.
“We know that Fayose corralled the Obas into this political matter of office zoning, but we want to point the attention of the Obas to the fact that they are not politicians to decide such matter; therefore, their call at the behest of the governor is unconstitutional, offending both the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the constitutions of the various political parties,” the group explained.
Urging the monarchs to operate within the confines of the law, the group also counselled them against being used as tools of disunity in a homogeneous Ekiti State that shares same values, language and culture.
“From Otun-Ekiti to Omuo-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti to Igogo-Ekiti and Oye-Ekiti to Ogotun-Ekiti, we speak one language and share the same culture and values unlike other states of the federation with a multiplicity of cultures and languages.
“We have been living with this unique opportunity for ages and it has helped us in shaping our destiny for good, hence it will be a gross disservice to our people for one man to rankle that great peaceful co-existence for a self-serving agenda at the detriment of Ekiti unity with our traditional rulers being used as tools.
“We sympathise with our Obas that are being coerced into this self-serving agenda, but then we expect our revered obas to also exercise discretion in kowtowing to the whims of the governor who believes that his preferences represent the collective will of Ekiti people,” Mr Oyediran said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) recently hosted a high-level delegation from Newryton International Industrial Development Company Limited, a leading Chinese investment and industrial development consortium, to advance discussions on deepening bilateral trade, industrial cooperation, and development financing between both countries.
The Newryton delegation, led by Mr David Chen, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Hainan Investment Council, had earlier engaged with the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). They were accompanied to the NCSP by Mr Joe Onyuike, Vice-Chairman of NACCIMA’s Agriculture and Livestock Trade Group, who conveyed NACCIMA’s support for the delegation’s engagements.
Discussions centered on the establishment of a Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform, including a proposed Promotion Centre in China to support Nigerian products, investors, and state governments.
The consortium also presented opportunities within Hainan Province’s Free Trade Port (FTP), which offers preferential policies that Nigerian businesses can leverage to expand exports and attract new investments.
In his address on behalf of Newryton, Mr Pong outlined plans to collaborate with NCSP in accessing FOCAC-supported financing for strategic investments in agriculture, energy, mining, solid minerals processing, and related sectors. The delegation identified aquaculture as a key area of interest and referenced the forthcoming Global Aquaculture Conference in Hainan Province, encouraging Nigerian stakeholders to participate.
They also expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in vocational training and employment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Director-General, Martins Olajide, NCSP’s Head of Internal Operations, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
He highlighted NCSP’s strong interest in the proposed Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform and the development of the Nigerian Oil Palm Industrial Park as a flagship demonstration project.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ms Judy Melifonwu, NCSP’s Head of International Relations, underscored the opportunities presented by China’s zero-tariff policy and the forthcoming NAQS–GACC protocol on the export of Nigerian aquaculture products. She noted that these frameworks would significantly enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging global markets.
Both parties expressed commitment to advancing discussions toward a structured cooperation framework covering all priority areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), established in 2019 as part of a 16-year legacy of UK-funded infrastructure support to Nigeria, convened over 100 senior stakeholders on Tuesday, December 2, to review its progress and formally close out its current phase of operations.
The event brought together representatives from federal and state governments, development partners, development finance institutions, and the private sector to reflect on UKNIAF’s work across the power, infrastructure finance, and roads sectors. Discussions focused on institutional reforms, capacity development, and the sustainability of tools and processes introduced over the past six years.
Since inception, UKNIAF has delivered targeted technical assistance designed to embed evidence-based reforms, data-driven decision-making, and improved institutional performance. Its interventions have mobilised significant financing, strengthened regulatory and planning systems, and enhanced investor readiness across multiple infrastructure markets.
In the power sector, participants highlighted landmark achievements including the development of Nigeria’s first Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines a least-cost and low-carbon pathway for expanding electricity supply. UKNIAF also supported the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in building advanced real-time data capabilities for tariff monitoring, grid management, and outage tracking. The programme enabled pioneering states to establish their own electricity markets following constitutional reforms.
In infrastructure finance, UKNIAF was recognised for strengthening project preparation systems and enabling access to capital. Notable accomplishments include supporting the mobilisation of $75 million from the African Development Bank to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme in two states, and accelerating mini-grid and solar deployment through improved technical standards at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
UKNIAF also designed a national project preparation facility, for which N21 billion was allocated in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets to build a pipeline of bankable projects.
Speaking on this, Mr Frank Edozie, UKNIAF Team Lead, described the programme’s close-out as a “handover for sustained delivery,” emphasising that strengthened institutions now hold tools that make Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape more transparent, climate-smart, and investor-ready.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, commended the programme, noting that its technical assistance and advisory services had helped lay the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive electricity supply industry.
Mrs Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Corporation at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, praised the partnership, highlighting achievements ranging from state-level electricity market reforms to unlocking major financing and designing Nigeria’s Climate Change Fund.
Enugu State Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, underscored the lasting influence of the programme, stating that UKNIAF’s impact continues through the expertise and leadership transferred to national and sub-national institutions.
The close-out event reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to sustaining tools, reforms, and knowledge products developed under UKNIAF, while strengthening collaboration among public, private, and development actors in the infrastructure ecosystem.
Participants included federal and state agencies such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Federal Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance, NERC, REA, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, alongside development partners including the African Development Bank, World Bank, and IFC, as well as private sector and civil society stakeholders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has been slashed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Lagos-based oil facility brought down the ex-depot price of the petroleum product by 15.58 per cent or N129 per litre to N828 per litre.
Though the company had yet to release an official statement on this development, real-time market data on Petroleumprice.ng on Friday showed the new price.
Punch reports that data from the platform also showed fresh reductions across several private depots following the refinery’s latest review.
Sigmund Depot cut its ex-depot price by N4 to N824 per litre, Bulk Strategic dropped its price by N3, and TechnoOil slashed its by N15.
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