By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria is prepared to support global energy stability, particularly as geopolitical tensions continue to affect oil supply in the Middle East.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information, Mr Mohammed Idris, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly in key oil-producing regions, which have disrupted supply expectations, heightened fears of shortages, and driven oil prices higher.

Mr Idris stated that Nigeria remains willing to play a key role in ensuring energy security, stressing that the country stands ready to contribute wherever necessary.

“Nigeria is ever ready to contribute to energy security around the world. Whatever Nigeria can do to ease tension, it will do. The world needs oil, and Nigeria is there,” he stated.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister also highlighted the significance of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing engagements abroad, describing them as crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s international partnerships.

He said the visit reinforces the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, built on shared historical, cultural, and economic ties.

“This visit underscores the historical relationship, the cultural ties, and the economic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. We hope that we will deepen it further in the interest of both countries,” Mr Idris said.

The minister further pointed to the impact of the administration’s reforms, noting that they are already improving Nigeria’s economic outlook and global perception.

“With the reforms that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instituted, we have seen a significant uplift in the economy,” he added.

Mr Idris reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining reforms, improving security, and creating an environment where Nigerians can live and work safely, while positioning the country as a reliable partner on the global stage.

He also rejected the notion of a failure on the part of the Nigeria’s security agencies, saying, “I don’t think they failed. I think that more work needs to be done. Nigerian security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that this does not happen again,” adding, that Maiduguri had recorded significant improvements in peace and stability over time.

“The government is putting a lot of attention. The reform agenda of the President is aimed at ensuring that Nigerians are safe and that this does not happen again,” he further stated.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, to compel the Public Accounts Committee to publish the names and positions of all officials implicated in the alleged N210 trillion missing or unaccounted for from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

In a letter dated March 21, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the Senate was asked to release audit reports, financial records, official communications, and timelines for appearances of implicated officials.

It also demanded the release of full records of the proceedings, including minutes, submissions, and evidence, to ensure transparency and allow Nigerians to scrutinise the investigation.

“The allegations that N210 trillion is missing or unaccounted for can only be taken seriously if the Senate is fully transparent in its investigation,” the group said.

“Transparency would prevent perceptions of cover-ups, political compromise, or selective accountability, and help Nigerians assess the credibility of the claims,” it added.

The Public Accounts Committee is investigating discrepancies in NNPCL accounts from 2017 to 2023, including roughly N103 trillion in joint venture costs and operational expenses, and about N107 trillion in receivables, subsidies, and other financial obligations. Audit reports indicated unreconciled figures and missing supporting documentation, prompting the summons of current and former NNPC officials.

Despite repeated invitations, several officials have failed to appear or provide satisfactory explanations, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in managing Nigeria’s natural resources.

SERAP stressed the urgency of timely, thorough, and impartial investigations, warning that delays could normalise impunity, undermine public confidence, and risk the loss or distortion of evidence.

The organisation gave the Senate a 7-day window to comply with its requests, failing which it intends to take legal action to compel disclosure.

“The magnitude of the alleged loss and NNPCL’s history of opaque practices demand that all discrepancies be fully examined, and those responsible held accountable,” SERAP said.

“Transparency and public access to records are essential to uphold the rule of law, protect Nigeria’s economic future, and restore public trust.”

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Transcorp Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, has been praised by President Bola Tinubu for his Africapitalism drive as he clocks 63 today, Sunday, March 22, 2026.

In a statement on Saturday, Mr Tinubu described the economist, banker and philanthropist as an African business icon and a leading advocate of enterprise on the continent.

He hailed him for his resilience, commitment to excellence and unwavering belief in Africapitalism, which birthed the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), which has significantly empowered young Africans through entrepreneurship.

The President said the foundation’s entrepreneurship programme had trained about 2.5 million youths across 54 African countries and provided over 24,000 entrepreneurs with non-refundable seed capital of 5,000 dollars each.

He highlighted Mr Elumelu’s continued investment in youth development as critical to Africa’s economic transformation and job creation, joining family, friends and associates of the business leader in wishing him good health, strength and more success in his future endeavours.

TEF is rallying young entrepreneurs to power Africa’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda ahead of 2030, according to the chief executive of the organisation, Ms Somachi Chris-Asoluka, during a virtual media parley on Saturday.

The media parley was held ahead of the 2026 TEF selection announcement scheduled for Sunday, March 22, to unveil the newest cohort of 3,200 young African entrepreneurs selected for this year’s TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

Ms Chris-Asoluka said the foundation was prioritising entrepreneurs whose businesses actively contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of efforts to reposition Africa for accelerated development ahead of 2030.

While taking questions from journalists, she said the foundation’s selection framework placed strong emphasis on impact, ensuring that supported enterprises are not only profit-driven but also aligned with global development priorities.

She said that TEF encouraged applicants to clearly demonstrate how their business ideas would contribute to the SDGs, noting that such alignment is critical to closing Africa’s development gaps.

“We want our entrepreneurs to actively contribute to the SDGs so that by 2030, Africa will no longer lag, but will be able to meet and surpass these goals,” she said.

According to her, this focus is central to the foundation’s broader mission of fostering inclusive economic growth, job creation and sustainable development across the continent.

She said that entrepreneurs were assessed, not just on profitability and scalability, but also on their potential to drive measurable social and economic impact in areas such as education, healthcare, climate action and digital innovation.

Ms Chris-Asoluka said that the foundation believed Africa’s young entrepreneurs hold the key to advancing sustainable development, stressing that innovation from the private sector is essential to achieving long-term growth.

She said that TEF remained committed to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs with training, mentorship and seed funding, while ensuring that their ventures align with the continent’s development priorities.