Day: September 27, 2026

$600m Ima Gas Project: NUPRC Applauds TotalEnergies, AMNI FID

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has welcomed the Final Investment Decision (FID) by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited on the Ima Gas Development Project, describing the milestone as evidence of what sustained policy direction and committed investment partners can achieve.   The FID was announced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at a ceremony held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, where the Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, commended the partners for advancing the development of the long-standing offshore gas…

Akpabio Urges Nigerians to Keep Faith in Country, Reject Division

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the future of the country, calling for greater unity, sacrifice and commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous nation. Akpabio made the call at an Inter-Denominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary. In his message titled “Keeping Faith with Nigeria,” the Senate President challenged Nigerians to look beyond the country’s present difficulties and envision a nation where peace, prosperity and unity prevail. Reflecting on the biblical…

Nigerians in Canada Applaud Interior Minister, Immigration Service Over Passport Intervention

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigerians in Canada have commended the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for the successful completion of the NiDEC Passport Intervention Programme, which captured 2,233 applicants across five Canadian provinces. The intervention, held as part of the Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NiDEC) in Toronto, ran from August 12 to September 4, 2026, taking passport services directly to Nigerian communities in Toronto, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatoon and Calgary. The programme was delivered through a collaboration involving the Ministry of…

MURIC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Hijab Ban, Forced CRK in Ekiti Schools

Emporium Reporters

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Ekiti State Government to investigate allegations that female Muslim students are being denied the use of hijab in public schools and that Muslim students who registered for Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) are being compelled to study Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK). The allegations were raised by the League of Imams and Alfas in Ekiti State at its monthly meeting held at the Central Mosque, Iyin-Ekiti, on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Reacting to the development on Monday, MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola,…

Navy Recovers 33,800 Litres of Illegally Refined Products in Rivers

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has recovered 33,800 litres of petroleum products and deactivated two illegal refining sites in Rivers State as part of its sustained operations against crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta.   The operation was carried out on Friday, September 25, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, a unit under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following credible intelligence on illegal refining activities at Ogbogolo Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.   The naval team recovered about 28,520 litres of illegally refined Automotive…

FCT Police Unravel Mystery Behind Body Dumped Under Katampe Bridge, Arrest Hotel Staff, Lover

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has unravelled the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a lifeless man dumped under the Kubwa Expressway by Katampe Bridge, revealed that the body was allegedly removed from a Gwarimpa hotel and abandoned by members of the hotel management. The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed this on Saturday, September 26, 2026, during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Abuja, saying the investigation began after the body was discovered on August 26. According to Sanusi, the deceased had…

Comprehensive High School Ilutitun Marks 50 Years, Unveils Golden Jubilee Programme

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Comprehensive High School, Ilutitun, is set to mark its 50th anniversary with a week-long Golden Jubilee celebration highlighting five decades of academic excellence, character formation, leadership and service to humanity. The anniversary, organised by the Comprehensive High School, Ilutitun Old Students’ Association (CHSIOSA), is scheduled to hold from September 28 to October 4, 2026, bringing together old students, current students, staff, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders to celebrate the institution’s five-decade journey.   Established 50 years ago, the school has produced graduates who have distinguished themselves across various professions…

Europe-Bound Newlywed Excretes 72 Cocaine Wraps at Enugu Airport

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 25-year-old newlywed businessman, Lovely Chukwulobelu, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for attempting to smuggle 72 wraps of cocaine to Portugal.   Chukwulobelu was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the airport’s departure hall on Thursday, September 25, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Portugal through Addis Ababa. He had ingested the cocaine and was subsequently placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled all 72 wraps of the Class A illicit drug. The NDLEA Director…

NDLEA, UAE Anti-Drug Agency Sign MoU to Intensify Fight Against Drug Trafficking

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking between Nigeria and the UAE. The agreement was signed on Saturday, September 26, 2026, on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Speaking at the ceremony, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the agreement marked…

The Candidate That Will Get My Vote (2), by Hassan Gimba

Hassan Gimba

The Arbiter Last week, while writing on this topic, I stopped at the point where I said, “The man I will vote for must also promise me one thing about the cost of petroleum products and the role of subsidies.”   Fundamentally, the cost of petroleum products affects our pockets and limits our purchasing power, while subsidies can moderate their cost.   Without subsidies, a severe cost-of-living crisis can hit transportation, logistics, and private electricity generation. No one can escape its ripple effects in daily life.   Transportation is visibly…