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Tag: Tinubu

  • Agbese faults Bafarawa’s open letter, defends Tinubu’s security, economic reforms

    Agbese faults Bafarawa’s open letter, defends Tinubu’s security, economic reforms

    Following former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa’s open letter to President Bola Tinubu, criticizing his administration, Philip Agbese, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State has hit back at the ex-governor.

    In a statement on Monday, February 28, 2025, Agbese accused Bafarawa of misrepresenting the realities of Tinubu’s administration and attempting to undermine its achievements.

    He said the former governor’s claims of authoritarianism and economic mismanagement were misleading and failed to acknowledge the tough decisions needed to stabilise Nigeria.

    “I respect your decades of political experience and your service to Nigeria, and I acknowledge your right to express concerns about the current state of our dear country. However, as an elder statesman, your role ought to be one of guidance based on fairness and objectivity, rather than engaging in narratives that do not align with the realities on the ground,” Agbese said.

    The lawmaker defended Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, stating that the challenges predated his administration and could not be solved overnight.

    He noted that the president had made significant reforms in the security sector, including appointing new military and intelligence chiefs and enhancing regional collaborations.

    “Insecurity that has plagued Nigeria, from terrorism in the North-East to banditry in the North-West and IPOB insurgency in the South-East, did not begin under President Tinubu. The previous administration, despite its best efforts, struggled to fully contain these threats. No sincere observer of Nigeria’s governance landscape would dispute that the country was in dire straits when President Tinubu took office,” he said.

    Agbese also tackled Bafarawa’s assertion that the administration was stifling opposition, arguing that Tinubu had been more inclusive than his predecessors. According to him, the president has assembled a government based on merit rather than political affiliations.

    According to him, Bafarawa’s claim that Tinubu stifles opposition parties is “not only misleading but also dismissive of the political inclusivity that has defined his administration from day one.”

    “For the record, no Nigerian democratic President in history has demonstrated as much commitment to inclusivity as President Tinubu. This is evident in his carefully assembled cabinet; a diverse representation of the country, not just in terms of geography, but in professional expertise and competence,” he said.

    On economic reforms, Agbese defended the removal of fuel subsidies and the restructuring of Nigeria’s financial system, stating that previous administrations had failed to make difficult but necessary decisions. He argued that Tinubu was correcting past economic mismanagement at great political risk.

    “The removal of fuel subsidies, for instance, was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. The subsidy regime had become a black hole of corruption, benefiting only a few while draining national resources that could have been channeled into infrastructure, education, and healthcare,” he said.

    He further dismissed Bafarawa’s claim that Tinubu was working towards a one-party state, describing it as “baseless” and a distortion of the president’s long history in opposition politics.

    “The insinuation that he is now attempting to stifle the opposition is a contradiction that does not stand to reason. Tinubu himself rose to power through opposition politics. To suggest that he would now seek to undermine the very system he helped build is both ironic and unfounded,” Agbese said.

    The lawmaker urged Bafarawa to adopt a more objective stance and contribute to national development instead of fueling division. He maintained that while Nigeria faced serious challenges, Tinubu’s leadership was steering the country towards recovery.

  • APC united, supportive of Tinubu’s government – Uzodinma

    APC united, supportive of Tinubu’s government – Uzodinma

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is united, stronger, focused and supportive of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    Uzodinma said this while briefing newsmen at the end of the party’s caucus meeting, which President Tinubu presided over at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The governor debunked claims that the party operated as a one-man show, adding that the APC’s diverse representation across six geopolitical zones, including governors from various states at the meeting, underscored its inclusive nature.

    He said the party’s structure, as outlined in its constitution, included multiple leadership positions and a hierarchical framework that ensured broad participation in decision-making processes.

    “Our party is united, stronger, focused, and supportive of the government. We need to celebrate our own.

    “The government is heavily supported by the APC, and from time to time, we must show that we are behind the government,” he said.

    On internal party democracy, Uzodinma stated that APC was a very large political party with executives at all levels.

    “We have our internal mechanism for selection. Why are we winning all these elections? It’s because we have demonstrated high capacity and respect for democracy,” he stated.

    The governor said due to good leadership provided by Tinubu, the county was better off in terms of revenue generation, which translated to more infrastructure, social change, and other economic dynamics.

    According to him, the APC is the party to beat and the envy of other political parties, not only in Nigeria but in Africa.

    He said the party had inaugurated the Progressive Institute, its intellectual arm, to conduct research and training for manpower development and to build the intellectual capacity of members.

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    He said President Tinubu’s efforts in managing insecurity were also commended at the meeting.

    “The president has done very well in terms of managing the insecurity in the country, as testified today by one of our members in Zamfara State, where there is relative peace.

    “Now, people are going about their businesses. Farmers have gone back to their farms in the southeast,” Uzodinma said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting brought together key party leaders, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

    Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC National Chairman; Gov. Umar Bago of Niger; Sen. Aliyu Wamakko; Gov. Nasiru Idris of Kebbi; and Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, among others, also attended the meeting. (NAN)

  • El-Rufai Criticizes Tinubu’s Appointments – They Are Imbalance, Appointees Are His Boys

    El-Rufai Criticizes Tinubu’s Appointments – They Are Imbalance, Appointees Are His Boys

    Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed concerns over the pattern of appointments made by President Bola Tinubu since assuming office, accusing him of favoring close associates from Lagos.

    Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai alleged that Tinubu’s appointments lacked balance, emphasizing that the issue should not be attributed to the entire South-West but to the president’s personal choices. “President Tinubu’s appointments are quite imbalanced,” he stated.

    “The president’s appointments are not being made because the appointees are Yoruba, but because they are his own boys, and most of the appointments do not even reasonably cover the South-West.”

    “Don’t blame the South-West for what one individual is doing. These appointments are not about ethnicity but rather about loyalty—most of the appointees are his close associates, primarily from Lagos.”

    El-Rufai cautioned against generalizing the president’s actions as a regional issue, urging Nigerians to focus on individual accountability rather than blaming an entire ethnic group.

    “People should stop confusing the truth. The appointments are not balanced. That is undeniable,” he continued. “However, this is not a Yoruba issue. Please do not punish the Yorubas for this, just as the North was previously blamed for the actions of military rulers.”

    He further urged President Tinubu to address the concerns and make necessary adjustments, warning of growing discontent, particularly in the northern region.

    “It’s not too late to correct this,” El-Rufai advised. “There is palpable anger in the North, and the president needs to take action.”

  • Tinubu: You’re a liar, el-Rufai tells Nuhu Ribadu

    Tinubu: You’re a liar, el-Rufai tells Nuhu Ribadu

    Former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has waded into the raging controversy between the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu,  and ex-commissioner in the Police Service Commission, PSC, Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, saying Ribadu lied that he never accused President Bola Tinubu of corruption during his time as EFCC chairman.

    He also accused the NSA, Ribadu of memory loss

    Recall that Hajia Muhammad had allegedly in a Tik Tok video, listed President Tinubu, Senators George Akume, Orji Uzor Kalu and some other former governors as those Ribadu described as very corrupt governors when he was chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    But Ribadu, through his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, demanded public apology and a retraction from Hajia Muhammad.

    Raji had in a letter to Muhammad, said the damage that had been done to the NSA as a result of the Tik Tok video was unquantifiable.

    The letter had read, among others:  “Clearly, in the text of your recording [reproduced and translated above] you stated that when our client served as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, he allegedly named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside Sen. George Akume and Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu [all former governors, and in that order] as the governors in Nigeria who stole the most from public treasury.

    “You also stated that today, our client who once held the above odious view about President Tinubu has turned around to be his staunchest defender; especially, with regard to what you stated to be the government’s agenda to silence voices of dissent to the government, citing the alleged arrest of a certain

    Prof. Usman Yusuf as an example.

    “You also stated that our client’s alleged attitudinal change towards President Tinubu means that he has either become a liar or that he lied when he allegedly described President Tinubu, Sen. Akume, Sen. Kalu and other governors as thieves.

    ‘’Privately or publicly, our client has never expressed the above viewpoint about President Tinubu and/or Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu, which you attributed to him.

    ‘’In fact, our client has never held such a viewpoint about the President,hence it came as a complete surprise to him when his attention was drawn to the aforesaid publication by you against him.

    ‘’In the foregoing premise, our client hereby challenges you to provide evidence of your allegations therein against him, which have cast him as double-faced, duplicitious and deceitful in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.’’

    However, stepping into the matter yesterday, former Governor El-Rufai, who was

    FCT minister in 2006 when the statement accusing Tinubu of corruption was made, said records of proceedings in the Senate and even the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting would prove that Ribadu was lying.

    While noting that Ribadu was being economical with the truth, el-Rufai said “Nuhu must have serious amnesia,’’ meaning loss of memories, including facts, information and experiences.

    A report in the Daily Trust newspaper yesterday quoted el-Rufai as saying: “The record of proceedings in the Senate will confirm that Nuhu made those statements, sometime in 2006.

    ‘’The subsequent Daily Trust report of February 2007, reconfirms the essence of the statements.

    “The conclusions of the Federal Executive Council in 2006, which can be subpoenaed from the cabinet secretariat of the SGF’s office contain the allegations.

    ‘’In that special FEC meeting in which I was a member, Nuhu’s EFCC made similar presentations accusing many sitting officials, sometime in 2006. These council conclusions will further remove all doubts.

    “This is for the record and to remind the morally-flexible that at some point in our national life, silence is no longer golden.”

    Efforts to get the NSA’s reaction last night proved abortive as neither him nor his spokesman could be reached on phone.

  • Probe ‘missing N26bn in Ministry of Petroleum Resources, PTDF’, SERAP tells Tinubu

    Probe ‘missing N26bn in Ministry of Petroleum Resources, PTDF’, SERAP tells Tinubu

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe allegations that over N26 billion of public funds are missing, diverted or stolen from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in 2021.”

    These damning revelations are documented in the 2021 audited report published on Wednesday 13 November 2024 by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

    SERAP said, “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    SERAP urged him to “use any recovered stolen funds to fund the deficit in the 2025 budget and to ease Nigeria’s crippling debt crisis.”

    In the letter dated 1 February 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations. Tackling corruption in the oil sector would go a long way in addressing the budget deficit and debt problems.”

    According to SERAP, “The allegations suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anticorruption legislation and international anticorruption obligations.”

    The letter, read in part: “Poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the oil sector.”

    “Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.”

    “According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in 2021 reportedly paid over N25 billion [N25,607,890,403.11] for ‘contracts without any supporting documents.’”

    “The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The PTDF also reportedly failed to account for over N326 million [N326,065,638.00] deposited in two banks. The Auditor-General fears the money may be missing and wants it recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The PTDF reportedly failed to account for over N107 million [N107,691,733.93] being money for ‘the supply, installation, and commissioning of Library automation system and RFID at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).’”

    “The contract for the library ‘was awarded without the prior approval from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The PTDF reportedly paid over N46 million [N46,974,216.43] to ‘three companies for services without evidence of execution.’  ‘One of the contractors was engaged on 13th April 2021 but was paid for services rendered in March 2021. All the three contractors were paid for periods they had not rendered the services to the PTDF.’”

    “The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The PTDF also reportedly failed to remit over N60 million [N60,355,670.03] of ‘stamp duty from the capital expenditure contracts awarded in 2019 and 2020.’ The PTDF ‘provided no reason why the money was not remitted.’”

    “The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The PTDF also reportedly failed to account for over N64 million [N64,088,158.44] ‘being payment for store items not supplied.” The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The PTDF also reportedly paid over N41 million [N41,367,493.50] ‘for services not yet performed or goods not yet supplied.’ The payments were made ‘without relevant supporting documents such as invoices, receipts.’”

    “The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources reportedly spent over N137 million [N137,751,789.85] ‘from the Capital Vote for expenditures which were recurrent in nature without any approval by the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance.’”

    “The Auditor-General fears the money may be missing. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants sanctions applied ‘for gross misconduct specified in paragraph 3129 of the Financial Regulations 2009.’”

    “The Ministry reportedly failed to account for over N232 million [N232,509,238.21] ‘being payments to seven companies for consultancy services for stakeholders’ engagement in the Niger Delta in January 2021.’”

    “According to the Auditor-General, ‘the type of engagements and the reasons for contracting the seven companies were not stated. The venue of the engagement remains unknown. This spending of public funds appeared fictitious.’”

    “The Auditor-General fears “the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The Ministry also reportedly failed to remit over N25 million [N25,516,938.00] of ‘taxes collected from payments of N137,929,394.58] made to contractors.’ The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The Ministry also reportedly failed to account for over N43 million [N43,533,036.65] ‘being irregular payments for the replacement of broken ceiling.’ The Auditor-General fears “the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “The Ministry failed to account for over N74 million [N74,721,625.03] ‘being payments made as cash advances granted to officers between March and December 2021 without retirement.’ The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted’, and wants it recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

    “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

    “The country’s wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and for the sake of the present and future generations.”

    “These allegations can promptly be investigated and fairly prosecuted. Taking these steps would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.”

    “Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on your government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

    “Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on your government to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”

    “Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, your government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.’

    “Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

    “The UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party obligate your government to effectively prevent and investigate the plundering of the country’s wealth and hold public officials to account for any violations.”

    “Specifically, article 26 of the UN convention requires your government to ensure ‘effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions’ including criminal and non-criminal sanctions, in cases of grand corruption.”

    “Article 26 complements the more general requirement of article 30, paragraph 1, that sanctions must take into account the gravity of the corruption allegations.”

  • Alake appeals to northern elites to support Tinubu’s policies

    Alake appeals to northern elites to support Tinubu’s policies

    The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, yesterday, appealed to northern elites to support programmes and policies of President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    According to a statement signed by Alake’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Alake made the appeal while delivering his acceptance speech following the conferment of the award as the ‘Most Impactful Minister’ of the current administration by the Arewa Think Tank. In it, he (Alake) said the impact recorded was made possible by the collaborative style put in place by the President.

    The Minister asserted that under the Tinubu-led administration, sanity had been established in the nation’s solid minerals sector, where the government went ahead to establish the Mining Marshals through the joint efforts of the Ministries of Interior and Defence and the success of marketing the mining sector abroad through the support of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Investment as evidence of Tinubu’s style of governance in action.

    However, he pointed out that single-outing the most impactful Minister may not tell the whole story, as each Minister’s success results from the collaboration of many ministries.

    Meanwhile, the Minister went down memory lane as he told the audience, including Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, former Defence chief, Retired General Martin Luther Agwai, former Kaduna State Governor Ramalan Yero, and Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications, Sunday Dare, about the remarkable feats achieved by President Tinubu. At the same time, he served as a Senator in the Third Republic and Lagos State Governor between 1999 and 2007.

    He said, “As Governor, he (Tinubu) brought his skills as a visionary development strategist and financial tactician to the governance of Lagos. He restructured the domestic economy to create wealth for those who could take the risk and welfare for those left behind.

    “His 25-year projection for the Lagos State economy has recorded a roaring success and given birth to a new economic template. If logos are working, Nigeria, in his hands, is destined to work better.”

    Meanwhile, he (Alake) maintained that the current pains Nigerians are going through arising from the policies of the Tinubu administration entailed sacrifices to secure the future of generations unborn, adding that citizens of the countries where Nigerians are emigrating to today made similar sacrifices.

    The Minister also reiterated that the Tinubu administration’s policies seek to transfer power to the people by liberating their energy for wealth creation and plugging the loopholes that stalled the nation’s development.

    “He has taken the battle to the profiteers of the subsidy regime in the downstream petroleum sector, cabals who took advantage of the cheap fuel meant for the masses to become rich by smuggling them across the border.

    “Now that the margin has become unprofitable, he has taken the elephant from the room. You can bet that the next challenge of bringing down the cost has already started with the resumption of petroleum production at the Port Harcourt Refinery. It is a testimony to his doggedness to put smiles on the faces of the masses at all cost”, he said.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Gen Martin Luther Agwai (Retd), urged the Tinubu-led government to prioritize agriculture in view of the threats posed by climate change and insecurity.

    In another remark, the Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Sani Uba, who represented, and other governors commended the Arewa Think Tank for its consistency.

    Uba also highlighted several achievements of his administration in agriculture. According to him, the standard of living of farmers in his State has significantly improved due to the policies implemented.

    In a poignant moment, the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Public Communications, Chief Sunday Dare, reiterated in the Hausa language the achievements of the Tinubu administration, emphasizing that it needs the support of all Nigerians to succeed.

  • Tinubu names former Lagos commissioner, Opeifa NRC MD

    Tinubu names former Lagos commissioner, Opeifa NRC MD

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Kayode Opeifa, as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC.

    Opeifa was the former Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State, under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, before he was subsequently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to help tackle the perennial, intractable Apapa gridlock.

    He was also appointed vice- chairman, Presidential Task Team, PTT, to free Apapa of gridlock by the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who chaired the task team then, charged with unbundling the ravaging traffic at the Lagos ports.

    By his new appointment, Dr. Opeifa succeeded Ben Iloanusi who was acting managing director that replaced former Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, who exited on October 18, 2024 after completion of his second four-year tenure.

    The appointment of Opeifa has been described as well-deserved recognition of his exceptional contributions to the transportation sector in Lagos and Nigeria as whole.

    Friends and family have expressed confidence in his ability to revitalize the nation’s railway system, given his extensive expertise and track record of success.

    Dr. Opeifa gained prominence during his tenure as Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, where he spearheaded transformative initiatives that modernized the city’s transport sector.

    His policies and innovations not only improved traffic management but also established Lagos as a benchmark for urban transportation systems in Africa.

    Based on his laudable achievement in the sector, Opeifa was later appointed as Transport Secretary for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In this capacity, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and competence, ensuring efficient transportation systems in the nation’s capital.

    With a profound understanding of transportation systems, particularly railways, Dr. Opeifa is expected to bring a new vision to the NRC. His leadership is expected to drive the development of a more efficient, interconnected railway system that would boost economic growth and enhance the quality of life for Nigerians

  • ‘They Don’t Behave Like Friends’ – Emir Sanusi Says He Won’t Help Tinubu’s Government

    The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that he would not help them correct policies he believes are adversely affecting citizens.

    Sanusi, speaking on Wednesday as chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025) in Lagos, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the economy and its policies.

    “I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that,” he said.

    The former Emir explained that while he could provide insights to improve the administration’s trajectory, he deliberately chose not to. He attributed this decision to what he described as a lack of reciprocal respect and friendship from the government.

    “I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government.

    “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued,” Sanusi added.

    He further criticized the administration for failing to heed warnings about the potential consequences of certain policies.

    “People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No,” the former Emir said

     

  • JUST IN: Tinubu, Dangote, others hold talks on naira-for-crude policy

    JUST IN: Tinubu, Dangote, others hold talks on naira-for-crude policy

    President Bola Tinubu is currently receiving a briefing from the Implementation Committee on Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, who chairs the committee, is leading the small delegation comprising the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr Mele Kyari.

    Our correspondent spotted the committee members arriving at the Council Chamber at minutes last 02:00 pm.

    In early October, the Federal Government began implementing a policy to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in naira rather than U.S. dollars.

    This followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval which, the FG says, will stabilize fuel prices domestically and strengthen Nigeria’s currency by cutting down on the need for dollars in crude oil transactions.

    The move also allows the NNPC to supply crude oil in local currency, with Dangote’s refinery as the pilot for this strategy.

    By trading in naira, the government aims to improve the availability of petroleum products and decrease import-related costs.

    The Dangote Refinery, which requires significant crude supplies annually, is expected to reciprocate by providing petrol and diesel in naira, simplifying currency transactions and lessening the economic strain of fuel imports.

    The FG said the approach will reduce FOREX demands by up to 40 per cent as key institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria and AfreximBank, support the transition.

    However, in September, the NNPCL and the Dangote Refinery were embroiled in pricing disputes.

    The NNPCL claimed it bought petrol from Dangote at a high price of N898 per litre, a rate that Dangote’s representatives called “misleading,” stating that official pricing terms were yet to be finalised.

    At Tuesday’s meeting, President May likely intervene in the simmering dispute between the two companies.