General
Rivers Warns Resident on Dangers of Expired Gas Cylinders
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Rivers State Government has begun the sensitisation of residents of the state on the dangers of expired gas cylinders, describing it as “a suicide mission”.
The state’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Peter Medee, disclosed that every gas cylinder has an expiry date, as it was important for the public to know when their gas cylinders will expire.
Mr Medee said every gas cylinder is built to expire over time, and they are marked with ABCD, which represents the first to the fourth quarter of the year, such that a cylinder marked D21 is expected to expire by the end of the last quarter of 2021.
“There’s also another very critical situation you know which we are also sensitizing people about. The gas cylinder you have in your house has an expiry date. How do you know if your gas cylinder is expired or not? It is important because that’s another suicide mission.
“You have a gas cylinder, it’s already expired and you are using it in your house and if it explodes, how do you get out of it? The whole family is gone.
“So, we are also sensitizing people and the state on that. If you have a gas cylinder, you look at the expiry date you either see A06 or A21.
“Let me explain that; if you have A21 or B21, C21, or D21; since we are in the year 2021, what that means is that if it is A21, it means that, that cylinder will expire in March 2021 that’s the first quarter. Let’s say it is A22 it means that by end of March 2022 that cylinder will expire so, what you are expected to do is to dispose away that cylinder and buy a new one or take it to a gas plant where they will exchange it with a new cylinder.
“If your cylinder is C22, it means it will expire in the third quarter of 2022. If it is D23, it means it will expire in the fourth quarter of 2023. So, people need to be educated to understand this in the handling of these gas cylinders.”
The Rivers State government also warned against decanting of gas in the shop by retailers, urging the public to always refill their cooking gas at the gas plant and not from roadside retailers.
“You can see a situation where people buy gas in a shop. The vendor goes to the gas plant and buys two big cylinders brings them back to his shop and then stay there to decant these gas into smaller gas bottles.
“When you are doing that, you are, it’s like you are taking sniper that wants to die because if that gas explodes, it would have been better for you to take sniper because you would have died alone; but if you are putting your neighbours into a very serious crisis, the lives and properties of Rivers people is in danger.
“So, the ministry, in collaboration with Commission is putting up a sensitization workshop for all those handling gas to see how they can handle it in the safest way.
“You can imagine you sit in a shop a customer comes there, there’s no safety device there to be able to look at what you are doing, you stay there to exchange gas from one big bottle into a small bottle. If there’s an explosion it kills you, it kills the customer, the property is burnt, all the shop in the neighbourhood is gone, the passerby, including the vehicles, so a lot of people are at risk,” it added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has approached the court against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged N800 billion campaign fund diversion.
The organisation is seeking to compel the electoral body to investigate allegations that about N800 million from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations was diverted by governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to finance political and campaign activities.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja last week, but no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus directing INEC to investigate the claims that the governors channelled public funds into a dedicated campaign account allegedly meant to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The organisation is also requesting an order compelling INEC to demand full disclosure from the governors and the APC on any contributions made to such a campaign fund, including the identities of donors and the lawful sources of the funds.
In addition, SERAP wants the electoral commission to commence a comprehensive review of compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act by political parties and candidates, particularly regarding campaign financing and the sources of political donations.
According to SERAP, the allegations raise fundamental concerns about transparency in political financing, electoral fairness and the constitutional rights of Nigerians to participate freely in democratic governance.
The organisation argued that opaque campaign financing remains a major avenue for corruption and weakens public confidence in democratic institutions.
It maintained that the alleged misuse of public funds for political purposes threatens the credibility of the 2027 general election and undermines public trust in the electoral process.
In the suit filed by its lawyers, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Kehinde Oyewumi, SERAP argued that the reported diversion of public resources for campaign activities warrants immediate action by INEC under its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
The group stated: “The abuse of state resources for electoral advantage undermines democratic integrity and public trust. Fairness, transparency, and accountability in political or campaign finance are essential safeguards against corruption, state capture, and undue influence in democratic processes.”
SERAP further argued: “The allegations of diversion or opaque use of public funds pose a grave risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections.”
The organisation said large-scale public financial allocations, combined with weak oversight and limited transparency, provide sufficient grounds for INEC to activate its investigative powers.
Referring to Section 91 of the Electoral Act, SERAP noted that the law empowers INEC to regulate political donations, enforce contribution limits, demand disclosure of funding sources and impose sanctions where violations occur.
The organisation explained that political parties found to have exceeded donation limits risk fines of up to ₦10 million and forfeiture of excess funds, while individuals who exceed prescribed limits are liable to penalties amounting to five times the excess contribution.
SERAP also contended that campaign financing derived from public resources distorts electoral competition and violates constitutional principles guaranteeing free, fair and transparent elections.
According to SERAP, INEC has a constitutional duty to ensure compliance with campaign finance regulations and to investigate allegations that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted the deadline for political parties to submit the names and credentials of candidates seeking to contest the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The electoral body announced that parties now have until midnight on Tuesday, July 14, to complete the process, extending the earlier deadline of Saturday, July 11.
Under INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general election, political parties were expected to upload the names and personal particulars of their presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates before the initial cut-off date.
Explaining the decision, INEC said the extension followed appeals from political parties that had encountered difficulties meeting the deadline.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the request was formally conveyed through the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
According to him, IPAC sought additional time on behalf of parties that were yet to complete the submission of their candidates’ details through the commission’s portal.
“The decision to extend was based on an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council, on behalf of political parties who were unable to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates within the scheduled timeline,” Mr Haruna stated.
INEC noted that the extension is intended to give all eligible parties a fair opportunity to comply with the requirements of the electoral process while remaining within the framework of the law.
The commission also urged political parties to utilise the extra period to finalise and upload all required information ahead of the revised deadline.
“The commission enjoins political parties to take advantage of this window of opportunity and ensure that all necessary details are uploaded before the expiration of the new deadline,” the statement added.
By Dipo Olowookere
Nigeria’s Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, will run as the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
President Bola Tinubu retained Mr Shettima as his running mate for re-election next year, according to the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Nentawe Yilwatda.
In a post on Friday on X, the ruling party chairman described this as “another significant milestone in the journey of our great party.”
He also said it reaffirms the party’s collective resolve to sustain the Renewed Hope Agenda and deepen the progress already being recorded across the country.
It was gathered that Mr Tinubu submitted his presidential nomination forms today through his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Mr Ibrahim Masari.
The submission was done ceremony at the Continental Hotel, Abuja, attended by several party chieftains, including The event brought together an impressive array of leaders of our great party, including the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Mr Hope Uzodimma; Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, as well as other governors, party executives and critical stakeholders from across the federation.
“The All Progressives Congress remains focused on strengthening its grassroots support, consolidating the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda and working together to build a more prosperous, secure and inclusive Nigeria for all,” the party leader stated.
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