Day: August 7, 2025

Nigerian Navy shuts 71 illegal Refinery sites, seizes over 590,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in July

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, deactivating 71 illegal refinery sites and confiscating over 590,000 litres of stolen petroleum products during Operation Delta Sanity in July 2025. According to a statement issued on Thursday, August 7, 2025, by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, the operations conducted across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States targeted criminal networks involved in oil theft and smuggling. The Navy’s July operations began on July 4 with the discovery and destruction of six illegal refinery…

Nigeria will not abandon its Citizens abroad — Minister assures Pastor jailed in Benin Republic

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a strong reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to citizen diplomacy, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has visited a Nigerian pastor, Benjamin Egbaji, who has been incarcerated in the Republic of Benin for over two years.   Pastor Egbaji, originally from Cross River State, has lived in the Republic of Benin for more than 30 years. A real estate entrepreneur and cleric, he was arrested on May 17, 2023, over allegations of raping a 13-year-old girl, Bright Sarah Karls, in 2011. He was convicted on July…

NAHCON proposes ₦8.5m Tentative fare for 2026 Hajj, meets State Pilgrims’ Boards on Post-Hajj review

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has proposed a provisional deposit of ₦8.5 million as tentative fare for the 2026 Hajj, pending final negotiations with service providers. This was part of the resolutions reached during a strategic post-Hajj meeting held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the Hajj House Headquarters, Abuja.   The meeting brought together Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to review the 2025 Hajj operations and commence early preparations for the upcoming year. In his remarks, NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, appreciated President…

Political Economy of Illicit Financial Flow in Nigeria By Adefolarin A Olamilekan

Emporium Reporters

In any society where crime and criminal activities take centre stage, it lays the foundation of economic backwardness. Regrettably, criminal activity, such as illicit financial outflow, in many countries across the globe is now a phenomenon, with over $3 trillion lost in 2024 alone via illicit funds that circulate through the global financial system, as reported by Fintech magazine Africa in 2025. While the subject matter of illicit financial outflow occupies a prominent place in the developmental policy discourse of today. The rapid globalization, sophisticated use of tech, and digital…

Nigeria felicitates Côte d’Ivoire on Independence Anniversary, reaffirms strong Bilateral Ties

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has extended warm congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on the occasion of their Independence Anniversary.   In a statement issued on Thursday, August 7, 2025, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, conveyed Nigeria’s goodwill message to his Ivorian counterpart, His Excellency Kacou Houadja Léon Adom, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora.   The message highlighted Nigeria’s admiration for the unity, resilience, and achievements of the Ivorian people, describing the day as a…

AITEC-WORLD launches in Abuja, unveils bold vision to link Africa with Global Tourism and Economic Networks

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Africa-International Tourism and Economic Council (AITEC-WORLD) has announced the official launch of its global initiative in Abuja, Nigeria, as it set out to redefine Africa’s role in the global tourism and economic landscape. Speaking at a media briefing, Ambassador Kazeem Akinola Balogun, Vice President, Communications and International Relations of AITEC-WORLD, described the initiative as a strategic movement that will use tourism as a powerful tool for economic advancement, innovation, and sustainable development. Amb. Balogun conveyed warm greetings from the President of AITEC-WORLD, Ambassador Dine Bouraima, who, although unavoidably absent,…

TMSG accuses ADC of Political Deceit over President Tinubu’s External Borrowing Plan

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has described the position of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the external borrowing plan of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as a clear case of political gamesmanship and public deceit.   The opposition party, through its spokesman and former Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, had recently questioned the federal government’s borrowing trajectory and called for a forensic audit of all loans obtained by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations since 2015, including details of disbursement and utilization.   However, in a strongly worded statement jointly…

NCS resolves PAAR transmission glitch, restores seamless processing for Importers

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the successful resolution of a recent system glitch that disrupted the transmission of Product Certificates and SONCAP documents required for Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) processing.   In a statement issued on August 7, 2025, by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, the NCS explained that the delay stemmed from technical integration challenges encountered during the onboarding of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) onto the B’Odogwu platform on July 23.   The glitch had affected importers and licensed customs…

FG’s $538m commitment to Agro-Industrial Zones ‘ll Guarantee Food Security – TMV

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Tinubu Media Volunteers (TMV) have commended the Federal Government’s commitment of $538 million for the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, describing it as a major step towards achieving food security and job creation in Nigeria.   In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Chukwudi Enekwechi, and Secretary, Segun Ogedengbe, the group noted that the initiative is designed to transform the agricultural landscape of the country through a youth-driven 10-year strategic action plan.   “The SAPZ is a flagship initiative of the federal government…

NIMC warns NIN Users against Multiple Devices, Cache Clearing on Self-Service Portal

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a public advisory, cautioned users of its self-service portal for National Identification Number (NIN) data modification to strictly adhere to access protocols to avoid account lockout.   In a statement signed by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of the Corporate Communications Unit, and released on Thursday, August 7, 2025, the Commission outlined key guidelines that must be followed when accessing the self-service modification platform.   NIMC explained that each user’s self-service account is tied to a specific browser and device used during initial…