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65th Independence: NSCDC deploys 4, 500 personnel for security in Abuja

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, has ordered the deployment of 4, 500 Personnel across the nooks and crannies of the FCT ahead of this year’s Independence Day celebration.

The deployment is in a bid to ensure security of lives and property as well as Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in the FCT and it’s environs before, during and after the celebration.

A statement released Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSC Monica Ojobi, said the deployment of officers and men cuts across specialized departments and units such as Female Strike Force, Arms Squad, Operation Adakasu, Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosives(CBRNE).

The statement said: “There is also massive deployment to vulnerable locations and soft targets such as Shopping Malls, Recreational Centres, prayer grounds, Markets, Motor Parks, Amusement parks, City Gate, 3 Arms Zone, government buildings and areas housing Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.

“In a bit to ensure proactiveness and prevent emergency or unforseen circumstances, men of our under cover unit have already been deployed for covert operations and surveillance.

“Black spots like uncompleted buildings that harbour criminals are also covered to avert security breeches.”

The statement added that Odumosu gave matching orders to all Area Commanders and Divisional Officers to ensure their various Area Councils to be on top of their game and ensure their presence is felt to avoid security hitches.

“All hands must be on deck, I will not tolerate any form of breeches, ensure you deploy your personnel adequately”.

The FCT helmsman, charges all officers to be of good conduct and work in synergy with other security agencies and adhere strictly to the rules of engagement, avoid harassment and intimidation of any citizen as well as accidental discharge.

He accordingly assures residents of FCT of a safe celebration by ensuring a secured environment before, during and after the celebration.

Commandant Odumosu, urges residents of the FCT to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements, individual or group to any Security agency near them.

“my personnel are ready to ensure a peaceful celebration, you have a part to play too by being proactive”.

He warns criminals and vandals to stay off Critical National Assets and Infrastructure stating that NSCDC covert officers are all over the capital city and will not hesitate to bring any offender to justice.

“He wishes residents of the FCT a joyous 65th Independence Day celebration, urging them to continue to have faith in Nigeria as well as prayed for the well being of our Nation, Nigeria.”

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Atiku Abubakar
Headlines

ADC Adamawa Gives Atiku, Babachir Ultimatum to Register Membership

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued an ultimatum to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and other prominent figures in the party to revalidate their membership at their respective wards before the end of the year or risk losing recognition.

Speaking in Yola, the Adamawa State Chairman of the ADC, Shehu Yohanna, said the party had unveiled its membership register and stressed that only those with valid membership cards would be acknowledged.

“Atiku Abubakar should go to his ward in Jada Local Government and register, while Babachir Lawal should do the same in Hong Local Government. That is the only way they can be treated as legitimate members of the party,” Yohanna stated.

He warned that it was unconstitutional for individuals to take decisions or hold leadership positions in the party without being duly registered.

“You cannot be taking decisions for a party you are not constitutionally a member of. All of you should register for the greatness of our party. It is illegal for someone to hold a leadership position at the national level without being a registered member. That makes a caricature of the party,” Yohanna declared.

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Headlines

BREAKING: Dangote Refinery Shut Down as PENGASSAN Enforces Decision

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery was forced to shut down operations on Sunday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) enforced a labour decision following the alleged mass dismissal of over 800 workers.

The development marks a further escalation in the dispute between the union and the management of Africa’s largest refining facility, located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos.

According to updates from PENGASSAN, the refinery has been completely shut down, with the fertiliser plant’s Train Two also fully halted, while Train One is operating at only 60 per cent capacity. The diesel plant, however, remains operational.

The union, which directed its members to down tools after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 27, said the shutdown extends beyond the refinery to other oil installations across the country. Crude oil and gas supply to the plant have also been disrupted.

PENGASSAN’s decision follows the dismissal of hundreds of workers allegedly for their involvement with the union. In a circular signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the association described the action as a necessary response to “anti-labour practices,” vowing not to resume operations until the sacked workers are reinstated and negotiations are held.

Reacting to the union’s move, Dangote Refinery described the directive as “economic sabotage” in a statement issued on Saturday. The company, however, has yet to officially confirm the extent of the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has called on both parties to engage in dialogue and resolve the dispute through peaceful negotiation.

Since its partial commissioning, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery has been central to Nigeria’s strategy to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and stabilise domestic supply.Nigerian real estate

 

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Headlines

BREAKING: Dangote refinery suspends petrol sales in naira

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the suspension of petrol sales in naira, a move that has unsettled marketers and raised fresh concerns about fuel pricing and foreign exchange pressure.

In an email sent to its customers at exactly 6:42 pm on Friday, the refinery disclosed that the decision would take effect from Sunday, September 28, 2025, citing the exhaustion of its crude-for-naira allocation as the reason.

The notice, signed by the Group Commercial Operations of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, was titled “Suspension of DPRP PMS Naira Sales – Effective 28th September 2025”.

The company also asked customers with ongoing naira-based transactions to formally request refunds.

It read in part, “We write to inform you that Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has been selling petroleum products in excess of our Naira-Crude allocations and, consequently, we are unable to sustain PMS sales in Naira going forward.

“Kindly note that this suspension of Naira sales for PMS will be effective from Sunday, 28th of September, 2025. We will provide further updates regarding the resumption of supply once the situation has been resolved.

“All customers with PMS transactions in Naira who would like a refund of their current payments should formally request the processing of their refund.”

The announcement comes at a time the refinery is embroiled in a bitter dispute with labour unions over the alleged mass sack of more than 800 Nigerian workers, a development that has triggered outrage and calls for government intervention.

This is not the first time the refinery has suspended local currency transactions. In March 2025, Dangote had briefly halted sales of refined products in naira, insisting that its allocations under the crude-for-naira programme were inadequate to meet growing domestic demand.

The decision then sparked concerns over the dollarisation of fuel sales in Nigeria, escalating prices at the pump to almost N1,000 per litre.

Analysts warn that the latest move could again trigger volatility in the downstream sector, with fears of a potential hike in petrol prices if transactions are shifted predominantly to dollars.

The Chief Executive Officer of Petroleumprice.ng, Jeremiah Olatide, warned that petrol prices could soar above N900 per litre, noting that the Dangote Refinery had been instrumental in keeping pump prices lower in recent months.

The Chief Executive Officer of Petroleumprice.ng, Jeremiah Olatide, warned that petrol prices could soar above N900 per litre, noting that the Dangote Refinery had been instrumental in keeping pump prices lower in recent months

The suspension also coincides with heightened industrial tension at the refinery. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Friday accused the company of anti-labour practices, following the termination of hundreds of Nigerian workers.

Union leaders have vowed to resist what they described as “an unjust and insensitive corporate decision,” threatening nationwide solidarity actions if the matter is not addressed.

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HeadlinesOpinion

Group hails Remi Tinubu’s National Library Project; appeals to FCT minister to make library/ICT centers mandatory for estate approvals

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

A pro-literacy, pro-vocational group, Books Across Borders Initiative, has hailed the First Lady’s effort at completing the national library project and her other pro-literacy activities.  Speaking during a media chat, the Chairman Board of Trustees of Books Across Borders Initiative, Light Shedrack, said that literacy and skills acquisition are the only antidote to poverty and insecurity, a belief that the First Lady has validated through her pro-literacy activities. Mr Shedrack also appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and other urban planners to ensure that every neighbourhood and estate is integrated with a functional library/ICT center to serve as a gathering place for the youths and adults alike.

”The First Lady has demonstrated and validated the widely accepted fact that literacy and skills acquisition are the only cures for poverty and insecurity. Poverty and illiteracy are interconnected. A nation that fails to promote a reading culture among its young population will likely be poor and restive. Poverty is a byproduct of illiteracy and a lack of skills. It breeds insecurity. Literacy, on the other hand, broadens and enlightens the mind. It promotes tolerance and human dignity.  A well-informed mind understands human unity and the sanctity of life. Skills acquisition makes us self-sufficient. A literate, innovative, and self-reliant society will effortlessly combat terrorism and other forms of insecurity.

“Let me use this opportunity also to appeal to the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike, to integrate it into the FCT policy framework that each estate within the Federal Capital Territory should have a spot that serves as a functional library/ICT center as well as a gathering place for the youths. Even if it is a modular library.

“The First Lady has set the pace.  It would be ideal if the other States’ First Ladies toe the same line and ensure that literacy and ICT advancement are prioritised in their respective states, as their pet projects.

Speaking further on the activities of Books Across Borders Initiative, Mr, Shedrack made a case for skills acquisition, calling on organised private sectors, the governments, the religious bodies and other stakeholders in nation building to wade into the educational deficiency bedeviling the country.

“No efforts would ever produce any positive result if we do not prioritise education and skills acquisition.  Today, the world is migrating to AI and robotics.  How prepared are we as a people?  The time to make decisive efforts in advancing education, skills acquisition, especially in the areas of ICT, robotics and AI, has come.  Religious organisations such as Mosques and Churches, traditional organisations, NGOs, governments at all levels, as well as the organised private sectors should be at the fore of this indispensable message and support of mass education and skills acquisition.  This has been our central message and activity in the Books Across Borders Initiative and Academy for Creating Enterprise.

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Dangote
Headlines

BREAKING: Dangote Refinery sacks Nigerian workers

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the termination of appointment of all its Nigerian staff.

The mass sack is happening less than 24 hours after majority of the workers joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

In a memo signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, the company said the action was part of a “total re-organisation” following alleged sabotage across several units of the refinery. Affected workers were ordered to return all company property and proceed for clearance.

The development has heightened tensions in the oil and gas sector, with PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery already in a long-running dispute over unionisation rights.

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Abuja Bus Terminal
Headlines

Abuja Bus Terminals Remain Shut 100 Days After Tinubu’s commissioning

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The two bus terminals recently commissioned by President Bola Tinubu have remained locked for more than three months after their inauguration, leaving commuters in Abuja to grapple with transportation challenges.

The multi-million naira projects were commissioned in June as part of activities to mark Tinubu’s second term in office.

The facilities are located in Kugbo, along the Abuja-Nyanya-Mararaba road, and in Mabushi, along the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua way.

A third terminal in the Central Business Area is still under construction.

The projects were conceived by the Nyesom Wike-led FCT administration to address Abuja’s chaotic transport system.

In May 2024, Wike awarded the contracts, saying the initiative would enhance security, reduce “one chance” incidents, and provide jobs for residents.

The terminals, designed to process more than 10,000 passengers daily and host 120 buses and taxis, also include cinemas, food courts, and shopping spaces.

Despite the fanfare, Daily Trust reports that the completed terminals remain shut.

Some Nigerians stated that the closure shows nothing has changed since the commissioning.

“What was all the noise about then? Nothing has changed since the so-called commissioning. No buses, nothing. The two facilities have remained closed since then,” Joseph Iwalekun, a resident, said.

Ifeoma Job, a civil servant, described the situation as disappointing.

“How can you commission something and still keep it under lock for more than three months? It is unfortunate because commuters’ suffering continues,” she queried.

Chinedu Elechi, mandate secretary for the FCT transport secretariat, said operations would begin once procurement processes under a public-private partnership are concluded.

“The difference between government and private is bureaucracy. So once the procurement process is done on hiring the operator, we’re good to go,” he said.

 

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Headlines

Be Patient With Me’, Governor Kefas Begs Taraba Residents

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde
  1. Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, has asked residents of the state to be patient with him, saying his administration has mapped out programmes that will impact on their lives positively.

Governor Kefas made the plea on Wednesday when he met with the people of Central Taraba and loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Federal Polytechnic in Bali.

The meeting, which brought together the people of Central Taraba, comprising Kurmi, Gassol, Gasaka, Sardauna, and Bali local governments as well as loyalists and stalwarts of the PDP who expressed their concerns to the governor.

At the meeting, Governor Kefas acknowledged that the people of the state, especially Central Taraba were faced with challenges, and assured that, his administration was going to address them, with the view to improve their living standards.

He pledged that after the rainy season, construction and other critical projects will begin, such that will improve their lives.

“I want you to be patient with the government. I know your many problems, but the resources coming to the state are limited.

“But, we will do our best to put smiles on your faces, especially in the areas of improved electricity, healthcare, roads and other basic needs,” the Governor assured.

 

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Headlines

Heavy Rainfall Submerges Lagos, Leaves Homes, Roads Flooded

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Heavy rainfall on Wednesday left parts of Lagos submerged, causing severe flooding on major roads and in residential areas, especially across the Island axis.

The downpour, which lasted for hours, disrupted traffic, damaged properties, and forced many commuters to abandon vehicles and trek long distances.

Worst-hit areas include Mile 2, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki Expressway, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Ago Palace Way, Ayobo-Ipaja, Fola Osibo, and Sangotedo. Residents and eyewitnesses blamed blocked drainages and clogged water channels for worsening the situation.

An eyewitness stranded on the 3rd Mainland Bridge described the experience as terrifying, saying their bus nearly lost balance in the floodwaters.

In Lekki, residents lamented poor government response, noting that drainage channels remained clogged, with foul odours lingering after the rain.

“There’s traffic everywhere. I can’t even get a ride to deliver an item. The road construction before Abraham Adesanya is making things worse.

“Government should speed it up or pause it until the rainy season ends,” a resident complained.

In Orchid, another resident decried how stagnant water from clogged drains had become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and insects.

The flooding also triggered gridlock across major roads, with commercial drivers struggling to navigate submerged routes.

Traffic officials were deployed to ease movement, while authorities warned residents against dumping refuse into drainage channels, stressing that environmental laws would be strictly enforced to avert future flooding.

 

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Nigerian Army
Headlines

Army Court Hands Life Sentences to Soldiers over Illegal Arms Trade in Maiduguri

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

A Special Court-Martial of the Nigerian Army sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, has sentenced four soldiers for their involvement in illegal arms sales to police officers and terrorist groups.

The trial, held at the Officers’ Mess of the Theatre Command Headquarters, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), was presided over by Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, OPHK.

Delivering judgment, the court president, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, convicted Sergeant Raphael Ameh, Sergeant Ejiga Musa, and Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje, sentencing each of them to life imprisonment.

Corporal Omitoye Rufus was also found guilty and handed a 15-year prison term.

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