General
Women Coalition Opposes Planned Resumption of Oil Production in Ogoniland
By Adedapo Adesanya
As Nigeria makes moves to resume oil extraction in Ogoniland, a coalition of Ogoni women’s groups has strongly opposed the development.
Recall that Nigeria is looking to resume proper oil production in the largely contested Ogoniland in the oil-rich Niger Delta area of the country after more than 30 years.
In January, President Bola Tinubu received Ogoni leaders including Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State at the Aso Villa alongside Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Business Post reports that at the meeting, the women’s groups were not adequately represented.
In the latest development, the women’s coalition has kicked against the planned resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland, warning that unresolved issues of ecological destruction, social injustice, and historical grievances must be addressed.
In a joint statement, the women expressed deep concern that the government and oil companies are prioritizing oil extraction over the full cleanup of decades-old pollution in Ogoniland.
The statement was signed by multiple Ogoni women’s organizations, including Mba Okase Initiative, Eleme; Eedee Ladies of Tai; We the People; Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre; Concern Ogoni Daughter; League of Queens Intl; Ogoni Women Development Initiative; and the Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA).
The coalition insists that until justice, environmental restoration, and economic recovery are achieved, oil extraction must not resume in Ogoniland.
“How does one explain the fact that a site supposedly being cleaned up will resume full oil extraction activities with all the pollution that comes with it?” the statement queried.
The groups reminded the government of the unresolved grievances that led to Shell’s forced exit from Ogoniland in 1993, following widespread protests led by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP)
“The concerns raised in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, which led to the termination of oil extraction and the repression of the people, have not been addressed,” they stated.
The women further condemned the lack of justice for the victims of the 1990s military crackdown, including the execution of environmental activist, Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders in 1995.
l“No apology has been rendered for the destruction of our environment, the killing of our people, the loss of our livelihoods, the destruction of our villages, the forced exile of our people, and the murder of our leaders,” the statement emphasized.
They also criticized the government’s decision to push for oil resumption despite the incomplete cleanup efforts led by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
The coalition called for an immediate halt to any oil resumption plans and urged the government to focus on decommissioning old infrastructure, fully implementing the UNEP cleanup recommendations, and providing justice and economic restoration for the Ogoni people.
“To assume that extraction can commence while these issues remain unresolved is naive at best and cruel at worst,” the coalition declared.
Nigeria is exploring all avenues to increase its oil production to 2.06 million barrels despite facing challenges including lack of infrastructure and insecurity.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order to extend the detention of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai.
This order gives the anti-graft agency ample time to finalise its investigation into allegations against the former governor, which has now deepened as a result of some new findings.
Subsequently, the new order, which was granted on Tuesday in the presence of Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, will expire on Thursday, March 19.
However, Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, whose application to quash the first remand order was declined by a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, has returned to the same court to nullify the latest order.
Justice Okechukwu John Akweke has fixed March 17 to decide whether or not he should set aside the latest detention order.
He said, “Upon hearing and listening to the prosecuting counsel, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha Esq., praying this Honourable court for the following orders:
“An order of this Honourable Court issuing a remand warrant against the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in favour of the Applicant, i.e. Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in its custody for another fourteen (14) days pending conclusion of investigation activities on allegations of Money Laundering/abuse of office.
“And for such other or further order(s) as this Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances. It is hereby ordered that: Application granted as prayed.
“That the Applicant, i.e. the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC is hereby ordered to re-detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) for an additional 14 days to enable the commission to conclude investigation activities.
“That the return date shall be the 19th day of March 2026, for the report of compliance.”
The scrutiny of Mr El-Rufai by the ICPC follows the report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s ad hoc committee constituted in 2024 to investigate finances, loans and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 under his eight-year administration of the state.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has begun evacuating willing Nigerians in Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The evacuation follows the growing crisis that began on February 28 after coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The attacks triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes across parts of the region, raising fears of a wider conflict.
The chief executive of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in a post on her X handle on Tuesday.
She said officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation of Nigerians who wish to leave the country and are facilitating their safe passage into Armenia.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also reassured that no Nigerian in Iran has so far been affected by the ongoing tensions, noting that embassy officials remain stationed at the border to receive and assist evacuees.
Her post read, “Willing Nigerians [are] being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as officials remain at the border to receive all who want to leave.”
The development comes as tensions in parts of the Middle East continue to raise concerns over the safety of foreign nationals residing in affected areas.
For repatriation flights, the NiDCOM chair said the airspace is currently unsafe but assured Nigerians in the Middle East that the Federal Government team is on standby to evacuate them.
“And as for repatriation flights, the skies are currently unsafe to fly. Luckily, a flight came in from the UAE to Lagos two days ago, just before another strike and the closure of the airspace.
“Once the airspace opens, the multi-agency FG team on crisis and evacuation is on standby. Our prayers are with you and all our people in affected countries,” she said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
All private transmission connected to the national grid must register and get authorisation to operate, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has declared.
In a statement, the electricity regulatory body in Nigeria directed owners of private transmission substations used by bulk electricity consumers to obtain an Independent Electricity Transmission Network Operator (IETNO) Permit before operating or connecting to the grid.
It was disclosed that this latest development, which became effective March 9, 2026, is to strengthen oversight of privately owned substations connected to Nigeria’s national grid.
NERC further said the directive was introduced to improve grid reliability, safety, and operational visibility following frequent transmission line trips reported by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
Under the order, NISO must submit to NERC a comprehensive list of all existing Private Transmission Substation Owners (PTSOs) and notify them of the provisions of the order within five days.
Existing PTSOs must apply to NERC for an IETNO permit within 45 days, while new PTSOs must obtain the permit before connecting to the grid, as non-compliance attracts regulatory sanctions.
NISO will deploy IoT-based metering systems at substation interconnection points within 120 days.
Further, operators must submit monthly operational reports, while NISO will conduct inspections to ensure compliance.
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