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Isoko Monarchs Endorse Uduaghan for Senate

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By Dipo Olowookere

Ahead of the 2019 National Assembly elections in February, traditional rulers of Isoko ethnic nationality in Delta State have expressed their desire to have the immediate-past governor of the state and All Progressives Congress (APC) 2019 Delta South senatorial candidate, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, represent the district at the upper legislative chamber for a change in status quo, and for the sake of progress in the area.

Speaking for traditional rulers of Isoko South in Oleh on Wednesday, His Royal Majesty, Anthony Ovrawah, Omogha 1, the Odio-Ologbo of Oleh, said Uduaghan had the blessings and support of the royal fathers for the senate seat.

“I have opened the door of the senate to Dr. EEU because he is an illustrious son of Isoko nation and we have confidence in him. We know him. Isoko nation benefited immensely during your tenure. You are one of us.

“I recall when you were governor, you paid me an unexpected visit. I was almost at the point of death.  I didn’t complain to you or anyone close to you of any ailment but as a true medical doctor, you detected I was sick. You insisted that your personal ambulance take me to Oghara Teaching Hospital where I was treated free of charge.

“Before your visit, my people and I had resolved to throw our support behind you and the Itsekiris. The position [senatorial seat] belongs to three children. One child should not monopolize it. It is mother’s breast, only one child cannot suck it.

“Uduaghan has the blessings and support of Isoko nation for the senatorial seat. You’re our candidate for the senate. We picked you not because of APC but for who you are.”

“This is your time; we saw what you did as a state governor. Go to the senate and do more. Your name is already in the senate. Isoko is sending you,” the monarch declared.

The former governor also met with traditional rulers from Isoko North at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Anthony Ogbogbo, Ebuka 1, Ovie of Ozoro kingdom, in continuation of his consultation with traditional rulers in Delta South for his senatorial ambition.

Speaking at Ozoro, HRM Ebuka 1, Ovie of Ozoro kingdom, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, said monarchs in the state would not forget in a hurry Uduaghan’s support for the traditional institution.

The monarchs noted that Uduaghan as a governor accorded the traditional institution its due respect and as well, raised the status of royal fathers to an enviable position in the country.

“The other kings from all the other kingdoms in Isoko North are here to see the man who elevated their status. You did well for us. You fought for traditional rulers and the sanctity of our culture. You won our hearts with your issue-based speech. It is rare.

“We (traditional rulers) in Delta State will not forget you in a hurry. You did well as a governor. You won our hearts with your issue-based speech. We pray God to grant your aspiration with a resounding victory,” the Ozoro king said.

Uduaghan, while speaking during the visit to the two palaces, said he was in Isoko land to solicit the support of Isoko Nation for his senatorial race in the next month’s National Assembly election in Delta South.

He noted that as a secretary to the state government (SSG) and later governor of Delta State, he is well abreast with the role traditional rulers play in ensuring peace in the state.

The former governor also told the monarchs that if elected as senator, he would sponsor bills and law that will give constitutional backing to the traditional institution in the country as well as ensure that their pains are addressed by the federal government.

“As an SSG and secretary to the State Security Council and later as a governor of the state, I know the enormous role traditional rulers play in helping to ensure peace and security.

“Kings have spiritual powers. Somehow, they are gifted with the act of mediation and peace.

“We would have been experiencing more violence if not for the intervention of monarchs especially from Isoko who ensured that their domains were peaceful during my time as governor.

“One of the reasons I am seeking your support to go to the senate is that I believe that our traditional institution should have legal backing in their role in ensuring peace in the country.

“If elected as senator I will also push for the recognition of monarchs in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which would give them a constitutional role to their people.

“I also believe that as people from oil producing communities, we should have a major stake in the ownership of the oil and gas companies in our communities. Through this, our communities will benefit more from the oil and gas that is derived from our area.”

“I will also push for the cleaning of impacted communities. Based on my experience as a governor, there is so much we can do to create jobs for unemployed youths in the region.

“I will push for communities to have at least 5 per cent ownership of companies operating in host communities in Delta South. This will create jobs for men, women and youths.

“I will also push for communities to be in charge of security of government and companies’ properties in their domain.

“Pipeline surveillance contract should be a form of empowerment to our youths but they are only paid peanuts at the end of the day because some persons who are not even from our region are the middlemen. When I become senator, the contract would come straight to our communities so that our youths would be empowered.

“The destruction of localized refineries otherwise known by the government as illegal refineries further causes more harm as much as our boys “cooking” crude oil in the creeks. When I become senator, I will push for the legalization of these localized “refineries”. This will ensure positive engagement across the value chain,” Uduaghan concluded.

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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NIMC Upgrades Diaspora NIN Enrollment Platform, Onboards Partners

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NIMC

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced the completion of an upgrade to its diaspora enrolment platform.

A statement by the commission said the upgrade was to improve service delivery and enhance the management of National Identification Number (NIN) registration for Nigerians abroad.

The agency said the upgrade will deliver a more seamless, secure, robust, and efficient process for NIN enrolment in the diaspora.

As part of the initiative, NIMC Diaspora Front-End Partners (FEPs) have been onboarded to the new system and given intensive training to ensure effective application and management of the platform.

According to NIMC, all Diaspora FEPs are required to obtain and activate their enrolment licences on the upgraded platform within the next 48 hours, while Nigerians abroad can access services from compliant partners.

Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr Kayode Adegoke, apologised for any inconvenience caused during the upgrade process, adding that the commission has set up a dedicated service team to address issues related to diaspora enrolment.

“The commission apologises for any inconvenience the platform upgrade process might have caused and has set up a dedicated service team to resolve all issues related to diaspora enrolment. Diaspora applicants experiencing issues with NIN enrolment should please reach the commission via nimccustomercare@nimc.gov.ng for timely resolution,” he said.

Mr Adegoke also urged Nigerians who have completed their NIN registration to download the NIMC NINAuth App from the iOS or Google Play Store to verify their NINs instantly, approve access to their information, control their data, and enjoy seamless authentication services.

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Nigeria Considers Bond Issuance, Others to Clear N4trn Electricity Debt

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FGN Retail Bonds

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian government may issue bonds and other instruments for the payment of N4 trillion owed players inn the electricity sector to help stabilise the nation’s ailing power industry and improve supply.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, on Wednesday confirmed the presentation of a proposal to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the clearance of the N4 trillion debt owed to power generation companies (GenCos).

Mr Edun told State House reporters after the FEC meeting that he presented a memo on refinancing outstanding obligations in the electricity industry.

“I presented a memo on the all-important refinancing of the electricity sector’s outstanding obligations totalling N4 trillion,” he said, adding that, “Though the financing plan was not fully approved immediately, we have moved into implementation, led by the Debt Management Office and other experts.”

The debt, primarily owed to 27 power generation companies for outstanding invoices between 2015 and 2023, has stifled investment in the industry and exacerbated chronic power outages in Africa’s most populous nation.

He said the refinancing would be executed within three to four weeks under the oversight of the debt management office.

“It is now fully approved, and we move to implementation,” Mr Edun said.

In April, the GenCos warned that the unpaid N4 trillion debt owed by the federal government and stakeholders for electricity generated threatens their operations. A breakdown of the debt includes N2 trillion for 2024 and N1.9 trillion in legacy debts.

Back then, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu said the federal government may borrow to settle GenCos, adding that the federal government plans to pay them N2 trillion of the N4 trillion debts owed to them between now and the end of 2025.

He said he was already discussing with the Minister of Finance, to settle the debt with budgetary allocation or guaranteed debt instruments as promissory notes.

He explained that the promissory notes would be formidable enough for them to tender at the banks for immediate cash needs.

The Minister said, “And I can tell you that between now and the end of the year, we are going to pay close to N2 trillion out of this N4 trillion.

“I have had discussions with the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, who has promised that they working on the promissory note and once we have budget releases, cash payments will also be made.”

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Tinubu Wants Review of NNPC 30% Management Fee, Frontier Exploration Deduction

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NNPC Crude Cargoes pricing

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the review of deductions and revenue retention by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and other major revenue-generating agencies in the country.

The move is to boost public savings, improve spending efficiency, and unlock resources for growth, according to resolutions reached at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

The directive applied to NNPC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Mr Tinubu specifically called for a reassessment of NNPC’s 30 per cent management fee and 30 per cent frontier exploration deduction under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He tasked the Economic Management Team, led by the Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, to present actionable recommendations to FEC on the best way forward.

President Tinubu said the directive was part of efforts to sustain reforms that had dismantled economic distortions, restored policy credibility, enhanced resilience, and bolstered investors’ confidence.

The reforms have created a transparent and competitive business environment attractive to local and foreign investors in critical sectors, such as infrastructure, oil and gas, health, and manufacturing.

Also, President Tinubu noted that Nigeria’s goal of $1 trillion economy by 2030 required growth of at least seven per cent annually from 2027, describing the target as “not just economic, but a moral imperative” as higher growth was the surest way to tackle poverty.

He cited the July 2025 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV report, which he said endorsed Nigeria’s economic trajectory and the need for investment-led growth.

The President also said Nigeria’s goal of $1 trillion economy by 2030 required growth of at least seven per cent annually from 2027.

Mr Tinubu, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, described it as “not just economic, but a moral imperative”, as higher growth is the surest path to tackling poverty.

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