General
Why I’m Very Popular With Kwara People—Governor
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
**To Receive Another N200m Recovered Looted Funds
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked his administration to receive another N200 million recovered looted funds.
The Governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, on Friday, said the state government under him will do the right thing so as not to be a regular visitor to the office of the anti-graft agency after his tenure like his predecessors.
“We have to do the right thing and be cautious. We have seen what has happened to those that have been in (this) position before us. Nobody wants to live office and be going to EFCC’s office daily.
“So, we will do the right thing in Kwara State state. We appreciate the EFCC, they had earlier given us over N100 million. They have invited us (again) to collect another N200 million (recovered looted funds); they have made a lot of progress,” Mr AbdulRazaq was quoted as saying when he took part in a marathon anti-corruption walk in Ilorin, the state capital, today.
In the over two-hour walk themed Nigerian Youths Walk Against Corruption and organised by the EFCC in partnership with the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), the Governor was joined by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Yakubu Danladi; zonal head of EFCC, Mr Isyaku Sharu; State Coordinator of the NYSC, Ms Esther Ikupolati; members of the House of Assembly; hundreds of members of the NYSC; artisans; and civil society organisations.
The walk was one of the EFCC’s public awareness programmes to draw attention to the danger of corruption.
Mr AbdulRazaq, who arrived the EFCC office at 7am and joined the walk from the beginning to the end, repeated President Muhammadu Buhari’s refrain that corruption would kill the country if the country fails to kill the cancer that the Governor said was responsible for the slow pace of development.
“We have been walking the talk, now we are walking in support of the war (against corruption). The message is very clear: kill corruption or it will kill us all,” he said.
Asked what he thought was the reason for Kwarans always wanting to catch a glimpse of him at every opportunity he moves around, Mr AbdulRazaq said the excitement apparently flows from his investment in projects that have direct impact on the masses such as water, health, education, and roads, as well as his constant identification with the people.
“We remain popular with the people because we have invested and are still investing in projects that really make the difference in their lives. We have restored water after many years. We have invested in basic health care, education, and road and people can tell the difference,” he said when the walk terminated at the EFCC office.
Mr Danladi said the corruption crusade requires the support of all Nigerians to succeed, asserting that graft is deadlier to the society than HIV/AIDS and must be stamped out, especially in Kwara where he lamented how billions of naira have been diverted to private pockets at the expense of the masses.
He also lamented the negative impacts of internet fraud on the country and called on the youths to shun it.
Mr Sharu, who lauded Mr AbdulRazaq for being an anti-graft crusader, said the agency has recorded 48 convictions and recovered at least N8.5 billion in cash and properties in Kwara since it began operation last year.
Mr Sharu said the agency is also probing the alleged diversion of over N3bn from the controversial Light Up Kwara project.
“We are also on top of the case of Light Up Kwara where over three billion naira was allegedly diverted. Part of the diverted fund was used to buy a property in Guzape Abuja. Some recoveries were also made,” he said.
Mr Sharu called on the youths to stop celebrating corrupt elements and support anti-corruption crusade through the government’s whistle blower policy because they are the worst hit by the effects of diversion of public funds.
“What we saw last Monday at the Federal High Court Ilorin was a show of shame and national embarrassment by some group of youth who came out en masse to show solidarity to an accused person charged for money laundering by the EFCC. The media houses have all carried the picture of the said accused person waiving hands to those shameless youths. This is indeed sad,” according to the local anti-corruption chief.
Ms Ikupolati also urged youths to support the crusade against corruption as their future depends on how much Nigeria is able to grow, warning graft makes development a mirage.
She commended Governor AbdulRazaq for the phenomenal transformation of the NYSC camp at Yikpata since he assumed office in May, recalling how the Governor’s visit and his experience led him to totally improve the facilities at the camp.
“Today, Kwara now has a camp that is like a five-star hotel. It has never been so good. We now have water running and our story has changed completely,” Ms Ikupolati said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Navy said it has intensified a crackdown on crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, recovering more than 4.698 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during the second quarter of Operation Delta Sentinel.
The Navy disclosed that the renewed offensive, conducted between April and June 2026, also led to the arrest of over 91 suspects, the dismantling of more than 48 illegal refining sites, and the interception of several vessels linked to crude oil theft.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the intensified operations followed the successful completion of the first quarter of the operation and were aimed at consolidating gains in the fight against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, militancy and other forms of economic sabotage.
According to him, naval forces carried out over 580 intelligence-driven operations across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Lagos States, significantly disrupting the activities of criminal syndicates operating within the Niger Delta.
Among the notable achievements recorded during the period was the arrest of the motor tankers MKPODU, WESTAF and STELIOS K, which were allegedly involved in the theft of more than 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil.
The Navy also recovered over 708,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and 310,000 litres of stolen crude oil from a single illegal refining site in Ndoni, Rivers State.
Captain Folorunsho said several intelligence-led operations further dismantled reactivated illegal refining camps, intercepted illicit petroleum consignments and prevented criminal networks from restoring illegal production capacity across the region.
He noted that coordinated riverine operations resulted in the destruction of numerous illegal refining sites, reservoirs, dugout pits, storage facilities, warehouses, concealed fuel dumps, illegal pipeline connections and militant hideouts.
According to him, the Navy also uncovered a growing pattern of criminal groups attempting to reactivate previously dismantled refining camps.
He said sustained follow-up operations successfully prevented the regeneration of the illegal refining ecosystem and further weakened the economic viability of crude oil theft networks.
The Navy attributed the operational successes to sustained intelligence-led operations and enhanced collaboration with other security agencies.
It noted that the achievements coincided with the recent announcement by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) that Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.735 million barrels per day in June 2026, representing 104 per cent of the country’s production quota by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the highest production level recorded since April 2020.
The service said the improved production figures reflected enhanced security around critical oil and gas infrastructure and the collective efforts of security agencies in tackling crude oil theft.
It added that the persistent naval presence across the Niger Delta waterways had denied economic saboteurs freedom of operation, disrupted illicit petroleum supply chains and strengthened the protection of strategic national assets.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain, the Navy pledged to sustain intelligence-driven operations and deepen inter-agency cooperation to further dismantle oil theft networks.
The Service also said it remains committed to supporting the federal government’s target of increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A platform to bring together critical stakeholders for the development of the South East region of Nigeria has been created by Afia Media, Nigeria’s only broadcaster dedicated to the South-East on DStv and GOtv.
The company, established by a foremost media and communications practitioner, Mr Emeka Mba, launched the Afia Annual Lecture and Awards for this purpose.
It is to bring together leaders from government, business, academia, culture and civil society to discuss the future of the South-East and celebrate excellence across the geo-political zone.
The initiative is expected to become an annual gathering focused on thought leadership, policy dialogue, regional development and the recognition of outstanding contributions to society.
The inaugural edition, themed Uwa Bu Afia: Trading Ideas for Development, is fixed for the fourth quarter of 2026 in Enugu.
Uwa Bu Afia was derived from the Igbo expression meaning the world is a marketplace. It was chosen to reflect the entrepreneurial spirit, resilience and innovative capacity that have long defined the people of the South-East.
The event will be broadcast live on Afia TV (DStv Channel 263 and GOtv), Afia 99.3 FM Enugu, and streamed digitally to audiences across Nigeria and the diaspora.
According to the organisers, the Annual Lecture and Awards are designed as a platform that will convene policymakers, business leaders, academics, innovators, creatives, development partners and other stakeholders to examine opportunities and challenges facing the South-East.
Mr Mba said the platform reflects the organisation’s commitment to amplifying the voices, aspirations and development priorities of the region, noting that, “The South East is one of Nigeria’s most entrepreneurial and culturally vibrant regions. The Afia Annual Lecture and Awards is designed to provide a credible platform for dialogue, recognition and collective action towards the region’s future.”
The programme will feature two major segments: the Afia Annual Lecture, bringing together public and private sector leaders, policymakers and development stakeholders for high-level conversations on the future of the region, and the Afia Awards Gala, celebrating individuals and institutions making significant contributions to society.
Organisers said the event is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants physically, while millions more are projected to follow proceedings through television, radio and online broadcasts.
A director at Afia Media, Mrs Ijeoma Ezeasor, said the region must take ownership of its narrative in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.
“If we do not tell our own story, others will tell it for us. We are entering an era where artificial intelligence is shaping conversations, interpreting history and influencing decisions based on the information available to it.
“If the South-East does not deliberately document its achievements, define its aspirations and contribute its perspective to global conversations, others will define us on our behalf.
“Uwa Bu Afia is therefore a call to think critically about our future, confront our challenges honestly and shape the narrative of our region in a rapidly changing world,” she stated.
The platform will serve as an annual opportunity to evaluate regional progress, stimulate policy conversations, encourage investment, promote innovation and strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The Afia Awards will recognise individuals and institutions making outstanding contributions to regional development, across categories including Governance, Business Leadership, Technology and Innovation, Cultural Excellence, Diaspora Impact, Civic and Humanitarian, Leadership in Education, and Youth.
Nominations, partnership opportunities and additional programme details will be announced in the coming months.
Afia Media said it intends for the initiative to evolve into a lasting institution that promotes regional storytelling, celebrates achievement and contributes to the long-term development of the South-East.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed reports linking the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Kemi Nandap, to an ongoing investigation into alleged visa racketeering involving some immigration officers.
The anti-graft agency said Mrs Nandap was not under investigation and had no connection whatsoever with the cases currently being handled by the commission.
The clarification was contained in a statement posted on the EFCC’s official X handle, noting that the clarification became necessary to address media reports and insinuations suggesting that the NIS Comptroller General was being investigated over the alleged visa fraud.
“The commission wishes to state unequivocally that it has no case with the Immigration CG,” the EFCC said.
However, the agency confirmed that it’s prosecuting some immigration officers over alleged visa fraud, adding that investigations remain ongoing.
“There are subsisting cases of alleged visa fraud against some immigration officers at the Federal High Court. Further investigations are ongoing with the possibility that more NIS officers could be arraigned for alleged fraudulent practices in the near future,” the statement read.
The EFCC stressed that despite the ongoing investigations and court cases involving some officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Comptroller General was not linked to the matter.
“However, the Immigration CG is not remotely connected to these investigations,” the organisation stated.
The anti-corruption agency also urged journalists and media organisations to verify information relating to its activities before publication to prevent the dissemination of inaccurate reports, appealing to the media “to always seek clarifications on the activities of the EFCC to avoid misrepresentation of facts.”
