General
Reps to Discuss Buhari’s Refusal to Sign Electoral Act in January
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, has said when the parliament resumes next year, the presidential decline of assent to the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2021 would be discussed.
Mr Gbajabiamila said this on Tuesday when the lower chamber of the National Assembly held its last plenary for 2021.
President Muhammadu Buhari had refused to sign the electoral bill into law, citing the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political actors as reasons.
After reading a letter from Mr Buhari on why he refused to sign the act, the Speaker informed his colleagues that the short notice made it impossible to deliberate the issue before going for the Christmas and New Year break.
“As it is now, that bill has not received presidential assent, and it falls to parliament to decide the best way forward. When we return in the new year, we will resume our efforts to reform the electoral system in our country. And we will do it together.
“That is what the Nigerian people expect of us, and we will do our duty for God and country. As long as this one breathes, it will survive. When we return, we will address it,” Mr Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker, who commended members for the efforts they made to ensure the passage of the bill, also recalled other reform initiatives by the House in 2021, including further interventions in the COVID-19 pandemic, proposals to tackle insecurity and enhancing the capacities of the Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps to deliver on their mandate.
He said in 2022, the House would sustain its commitment to serve the nation, adding that unlike in the past, politics and preparations for the next elections would not distract members from their duty.
Mr Gbajabiamila reminded lawmakers of the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House, which he said must be followed through to its conclusion.
“In the past, election years have witnessed a decline in governance activities as political pursuits cloud the calendar. That will not be the case this time around.
“As you are aware, we have a legislative agenda in this 9th House of Representatives, which we tagged Our Contract with Nigerians. I expect that we will do everything within our power to keep the commitments we made in that document. So that when we appear before our various constituencies, we can stand tall in the knowledge that despite challenges and difficulties, we did what we promised to do, and given a chance again, will do even more,” he said.
Specifically, on COVID-19, Mr Gbajabiamila said vaccination was the way to go, else the country faced the risk of being denied access to participation in cross-national engagements in the in-coming year.
The Speaker recalled that evidently, the virus would not go away soon, a reason the House foresaw the future in 2020 by introducing the infectious diseases bill, which was later marred by controversies.
“At that time, our good faith efforts were wilfully mischaracterised by individuals who saw the moment as an opportunity to score cheap political points. Today, the whole world is grappling with the issues we sought to identify and address then.
“There are many lessons to be learned from that experience. Most paramount of them all, is that public policy is serious business and the welfare of the Nigerian people must never be surrendered on the altar of cheap populism or the pursuit of short term political advantage,” he said.
Mr Gbajabiamila disclosed the plan of the legislature to consider the merging of many Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government with overlapping functions, to help address the increasing inadequacy of budgeting as well as scrapping the envelope system.
The Speaker paid glowing tributes to the personnel of Nigerian security agencies and other Nigerians working in very difficult situations to keep Nigeria safe and together at the risk of sacrificing their own lives.
“I honour their service and sacrifice, and I ask you to join me in doing the same. I also celebrate all Nigerians who, despite challenges, still believe in the promise of Nigeria. And who acting in that belief, continue investing in Nigeria and innovating here.
“I want to assure you that you have the gratitude of the 9th House, and more importantly, our support in every way required,” he said.
Before adjourning the plenary till 2022, the House of Representatives passed the 2022 budget of N17.126 trillion.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Cash and gifts worth about N15 billion were given out to distributors and customers of Dangote Cement Plc at a ceremony organised to reward their continued loyalty, resilience, and outstanding performance.
At the event, held recently at Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, the chairman of president of Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Aliko Dangote, described the distributors as the heartbeat of the organisation and thanked them for their dedication in ensuring the Dangote products reach communities nationwide.
Business Post reports that the 2026 Distributors’ Awards Night, held under the theme, Partner for Growth, recipients received an impressive array of gifts, including cash prizes, containers of cement, high-end SUVs, and CNG-powered trucks.
Mr Dangote used the occasion to reiterate the company’s Vision 2030 strategy, aimed at transforming Dangote Group into a $100 billion enterprise by 2030.
The plan, he explained, focuses on industrial expansion, cross-border investments, and building Africa’s self-sufficiency in sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
“Your tireless work in the field, your alluring commitment to our products and your direct engagement with our customers are what turn our vision and strategies into tangible results,” he posited.
“Vision 2030, an integral aspect of our Africa First project, was borne out of my firm belief that Africa’s future will be built by Africans who refuse to accept limits – people who dream big, work hard, and never stop believing in what is possible,” he added.
On his part, chairman of the board of Dangote Cement, Mr Emmanuel Ikazoboh, highlighted the critical role of distributor partnerships in ensuring the company’s products reach every corner of the country.
“Tonight, we are giving out about ₦9 billion in cash to our distributors. For some of you, it will be a double celebration, as you may receive two alerts in recognition of both your volume and growth results,” he disclosed.
“In addition to the cash prizes, we have prepared other exciting gifts, including CNG-powered trucks, high-end cars, and more, to show our appreciation for your commitment and outstanding performance,” he added.
The board chairman further outlined the company’s plans to start the year strong by supporting its distributor partners, stressing the importance of supply chain efficiency and profitability as key pillars for growth.
Mr Ikazoboh also noted that the company has invested in new CNG-powered trucks, as the company’s target at the end of 2027 is to have all its trucks CNG-powered, supporting both logistics efficiency and empowering customers.
“We have made significant investments in new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks. This initiative not only empowers our customers but also emphasises our dedication to corporate responsibility and global sustainability guidelines. These rewards reflect our promise to support customers and champion sustainable business practices,” he stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Navy has launched Operation Delta Sentinel, a new maritime security initiative designed to curb crude oil theft, secure critical oil assets and support the federal government’s ambition to ramp up crude production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.
The operation, which replaces Operation Delta Sanity II, was formally unveiled at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder Jetty in Port Harcourt, marking a renewed push to stabilise the Niger Delta and protect Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.
Speaking at the launch, Commander Task Group 26.1, Operation Delta Sentinel, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, said the initiative was aligned with the Federal Government’s drive to boost oil exploration and production under the Project 1 Million Barrels Per Day initiative of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
“The transformation from Operation Delta Sanity II to Operation Delta Sentinel is necessitated, among other considerations, by the Federal Government drive to increase oil exploration and production,” he said, adding that, “It is further anticipated that oil production would be about 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.”
Rear Admiral Ibrahim, who is also the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, said Operation Delta Sentinel would run for an initial one-year period, subject to 90-day renewable mandates, and would focus on denying criminal networks access to Nigeria’s maritime and oil infrastructure.
“Our objective is clear and unambiguous: to deny criminal elements freedom of action, protect critical national oil assets, support legitimate economic activities and contribute to enduring peace and stability in the Niger Delta,” he stated.
He explained that the operation would rely heavily on intelligence-driven missions, enhanced inter-agency collaboration and advanced surveillance tools, including Maritime Domain Awareness infrastructure, new maritime platforms, and manned and unmanned air assets.
“Our approach will be deliberate, innovative and technology-enabled. These capabilities will enable us to optimise asset utilisation, improve situational awareness and maintain a proactive operational posture,” he added.
The Navy said early indicators already show progress, noting that crude oil losses have dropped by about 90 per cent, from 102,900 barrels per day in 2021 to 9,600 barrels per day as of September 25.
Earlier, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, highlighted the achievements of Operation Delta Sanity II, which was launched on December 30, 2024, to combat crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
“Operation Delta Sanity II lived up to expectations and made measurable contributions to national security and economic stability,” the Naval commander said.
According to him, between January 1 and December 31, 2025, the operation led to the arrest of 203 suspects, the deactivation of 324 illegal refining sites, and the seizure of stolen petroleum products valued at over N3.65 billion.
“An estimated 3.78 million litres of stolen crude oil, over 1.09 million litres of illegally refined AGO, 86,210 litres of PMS and 74,300 litres of kerosene were seized and appropriately handled,” he disclosed.
Rear Admiral Okehie added that the Navy’s operations, supported by collaboration with regulators, security agencies, oil industry stakeholders and host communities, contributed to a significant decline in crude oil losses, with NUPRC reporting the lowest loss levels since 2009 in September 2025.
With Operation Delta Sentinel now in force, the Navy said it is positioning itself as a key enabler of Nigeria’s oil production growth, investor confidence and long-term stability in the Niger Delta.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) have moved to formalise a closer working relationship under the country’s new tax regime to ensure that upstream oil and gas revenues get tighter oversight and improved collection.
The renewed revenue alliance was activated when the chief executive of NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, paid a strategic visit to the chairman of NRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji, at the tax agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.
The engagement comes less than two weeks after new tax laws took effect on January 1, 2026, mandating deeper collaboration between sector regulators and revenue authorities in the collection of oil and gas proceeds accruing to the Federation.
Speaking during the meeting, Mrs Eyesan said the engagement was part of her post-assumption consultations aimed at aligning the upstream regulator with critical national revenue institutions.
“With the new tax laws now in force, it is important that NUPRC and NRS work in close coordination to ensure that oil and gas revenues due to the Federation are fully captured,” Mrs Eyesan said.
“Our mandate goes beyond regulation. It includes ensuring transparency, efficiency and accountability in revenue flows from upstream petroleum operations.”
She stressed that effective collaboration between both agencies would strengthen compliance, reduce leakages and support government revenue targets at a time of heightened fiscal pressure.
On his part, Mr Adedeji said the tax authority was committed to working with sector regulators to maximise revenue mobilisation under the evolving legal framework.
“The oil and gas sector remains critical to Nigeria’s revenue base, and collaboration with NUPRC is essential to meeting government revenue targets,” Mr Adedeji said.
“With clearer laws and better data-sharing between our institutions, we can significantly improve collection efficiency and enforcement.”
Both agencies agreed to deepen cooperation through information sharing and coordinated operational strategies, in line with the provisions of the new tax laws governing petroleum operations.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve by NUPRC and NRS to prioritise national interest, tighten revenue assurance mechanisms and ensure that Nigeria derives maximum value from its upstream petroleum resources.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn