General
Group Cautions Ortom, Fayose Over Benue Crisis
By Dipo Olowookere
A group known as the Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria has expressed concern over the largely negative impression being promoted by a section of Nigerians, particularly on social media, which it said was aimed at criminalizing the Fulani ethnic group in the country with the ‘Fulani herdsmen’ tag.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, the group described those criminalizing an entire ethnic group as opponents of human rights and advocates of genocide in a peaceful country like Nigeria.
“While commiserating with the immediate families of the victims of the condemnable killings of the past few days in Benue State and the entire citizens of the state, we cannot but condemn the actions of some of our states’ chief executives, including Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, whose actions, abuse of state power and the prevailing insecurity situation in their states, have led to the loss of the innocent lives of some citizens of the state,” the statement signed by the group’s convener, Mr Odeyemi Oladimeji, said.
The group accused Governor Ortom of acting autocratically in violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, which guarantees the right of every Nigerians to live and work in any place of their choice by forcefully evicting thousands of pastoralists, who are engaged in their legitimate businesses, under the guise of implementing the controversial anti-grazing law in the state.
“While as patriots and stakeholders in the Nigerian polity, we can no longer subscribe to Governor Ortom futile argument or his grandstanding on the perennial farmers/pastoralists conflict, which the Governor has clandestinely exploited in Benue State for political reasons.
“It was obvious that the Government of Benue state deliberately nurtured the crisis and promoted bloodbath,” Mr Oladimeji stated.
“We want Nigerians to be aware of the ongoing attempt by some Governors, particularly Governors of Ekiti, Taraba and Benue State to raise illegal armies being presently recruited and armed with sophisticated weapons under the guise of protecting their states against some unknown attackers when in the true sense of it.
“These Governors are merely exploiting the situation in Benue for obvious political reasons, which is aimed at recruiting political thugs as the 2019 general election approaches.
“We have thoroughly considered the dangerous dimension that the crisis has assumed and we cannot but call on every patriotic Nigerians, particularly elders of Benue, Ekiti and Taraba to rise and call these Governors to order.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms and watch these individuals frantically making political gains out of a dangerous situation, which has continued to claim the lives of the innocent people of the state as well as pastoralists, who are engaged in their lawful businesses,” he said further.
The group also advised that rather than creating laws and promoting actions, which seek to divide and threaten the existing peace in these states of the country, these Governors should focus their energy on issues, which have direct positive impact on the living standards of their people and can guarantee the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the ordinary Nigerians.
The statement also described as unfair, the attempt by section of the country to continually push every blames over the crisis on President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Rather than blaming President Buhari and the security agencies alone for the crisis being witnessed is parts of the country, our people should know that President Buhari is a leader who has attested in words and deeds that the security of lives and properties of Nigerians anywhere they reside in the country is paramount and not negotiable.
“Nigerians should also hold these Governors, particularly Governors of Benue, Ekiti and Taraba accountable for the crisis of today, they should ask why these Governors are raising private armies and arming same against the laws of the land.
“While we believe and have it on good authority that the arming of Benue State Civilian JTF and others has resulted into the current crisis, by this statement, we call for an immediate end to all forms of political gimmicks in handling sensitive security issues, particularly in Benue State,” the statement concluded.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has issued a strong warning to heads of agencies under the ministry, demanding strict accountability and measurable results.
Mr Oyetola issued the warning during the signing of performance bonds with heads of maritime agencies at the Ministerial Management Retreat, held alongside the 2026 first-quarter stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Thursday, where he emphasised the need for performance-driven governance.
“Let me emphasise that all Departments and Agencies under the Ministry must remain firmly focused on delivering tangible results,” he said.
In a statement by Mr Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister, Mr Oyetola noted that performance bonds to be signed during the retreat are binding commitments that will be closely monitored and rigorously evaluated.
“These are not ceremonial documents. They are binding commitments. Accountability will not be optional,” the Minister declared.
Mr Oyetola reiterated the need for data-driven decision-making, robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and alignment with the Ministry’s strategic objectives.
“At the institutional level, we must remain disciplined and accountable. Every department and agency must deliver measurable outcomes,” he added.
He explained that the retreat was designed to foster alignment between policy formulation, implementation, and stakeholder expectations.
“The integration of this engagement enables us to listen, reflect, and recalibrate,” he said.
The agencies include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Maritime Academy of Nigeria, and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
He also announced a 160 per cent increase in revenue generated by agencies under the ministry, attributing the growth to sweeping reforms and a renewed focus on accountability.
“In 2023, our agencies generated N700.79 billion. By the end of 2025, this figure had risen to approximately N1.83 trillion. This remarkable achievement is the result of deliberate and sustained reforms,” he stated.
The Minister explained that the gains were driven by strengthened regulatory oversight, improved revenue assurance mechanisms, digitalisation of key processes, and a firm commitment to blocking leakages.
“This gathering reflects our commitment to a governance approach that is inclusive, transparent, and results-driven,” he added, noting that the convergence of stakeholders, policymakers, and institutional leaders was designed to align policy with implementation and public expectations.
Mr Oyetola linked the ministry’s improved performance to broader sectoral reforms, including port modernisation, approval for disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), and ongoing efforts to enhance indigenous participation in maritime activities.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has explained why Mr Bola Tinubu addressed the victims of the Plateau attacks at the airport on Thursday evening.
The decision of President Tinubu to console victims of the attacks, which left over 20 persons dead, at the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos last night has continued to generate reactions.
He was criticised for not visiting the victims at the epicentre, Angwan Rukuba, instead of having them to travel to meet with him at the airport.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Onanuga said his principal’s itinerary for yesterday included two main engagements: receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State.
“After Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s briefing, President Tinubu suspended the trip to Ogun. Overnight, the Presidential Villa made arrangements for the visit to Jos, with presidential assets quickly deployed. However, the President could not postpone the scheduled visit by the Chadian leader.
“The President of Chad was at the Presidential Villa for a very important bilateral meeting focused on strengthening security collaboration between the two countries. The meeting ran longer than expected, affecting President Tinubu’s scheduled departure for Jos.
“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some logistical challenges. While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids. The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk.
“Consequently, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet with them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions. Among the people in the hall were the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police, who had visited Rukuba, the epicentre of the conflict. President Tinubu deployed the high-level team to Rukuba, including the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, to undertake critical groundwork on security and community engagement, with a view to stabilising the area before his arrival.
“Beyond expressing his condolences to the victims, President Tinubu’s objective was to engage with critical stakeholders in Plateau State on ending the recurring, decades-old conflict that has resulted in needless loss of lives and property.
“President Tinubu’s visit to Jos was not merely symbolic. It was a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state.
“He interacted with the victims, consoled them, and listened to them. He also listened to local leaders and assured them that the federal government would deliver justice and end the cycle of violence. He promised the deployment of 5000 AI-enabled cameras to monitor the city and enhance the identification and arrest of troublemakers.
“Furthermore, the President invited the community leaders to Abuja for further talks on finding a lasting solution to the recurring violence in the state.
“The meeting, televised live, was solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence. President Tinubu achieved the purpose of his visit, despite the naysayers’ attempts to ridicule it. He dropped an unmistakable message: sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them,” the presidency explained.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Workers of Seplat Energy Plc, under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), began an indefinite strike on Friday as talks over a collective bargaining agreement and staff welfare issues broke down.
This development may impact Nigeria’s oil production at a time when the world is facing shortages due to the Iran war, and global oil prices are recording multi-year highs.
It will also hurt Seplat Energy’s operation as Nigeria’s largest independent oil and gas producer, adding to pressure on the country to maximise supply, which is fluctuating around 1.3 million barrels per day.
PENGASSAN said its action would remain active “until further notice, adding that its members would suspend most operations, including production reporting and export activities, while maintaining only essential safety and power functions.
The strike notice covers onshore and offshore assets, joint‑venture operations and offices nationwide from Friday.
Other less-skilled workers are covered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which is not on strike with PENGASSAN.
Seplat Energy’s group production averaged 131,506 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025, according to its latest audited results. That is the equivalent of around 7 per cent–9 per cent of Nigeria’s total liquids production.
The company expects output to rise to 155,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, making any sustained disruption particularly sensitive for Nigeria’s supply outlook.
With the company’s output expected to rise, any prolonged disruption could significantly impact Nigeria’s oil supply and fiscal outlook.
The company also plans to revive hundreds of Nigerian oil wells lying fallow, which, according to its chief executive, Mr Roger Brown, will be done in collaboration with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, as legally mandated in the country’s oil and gas industry.
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