Headline

Ogun Denies Gov-Elect’s Transition Team Access To Facilities

Published

7 years ago

May 11, 2019

Eric

Ogun State Government has denied the transition committee set up by the governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun, access to some state-owned facilities for inspection.

The denial was contained in a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, which was obtained by our correspondent in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Thursday.

It was gathered that the letter was a response to a request made by the transition committee chaired by the deputy governor-elect, Noimot Salako-Oyedele.

The committee requested to access some key government facilities for inspection.

But the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the facilities were being used for government business.

The letter dated May 8, 2019, read, “I wish to restate that his excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has directed that your committee shall be offered full cooperation and assistance in the discharge of your mandate.

“The challenge, however, appears to be that most of the facilities indicated in your text message – the Valley View Auditorium, the Presidential Lodge, Mitros, June 12 Cultural Centre, Stadium – are currently being used for the routine business of governance and therefore may not be available until about a few days to the May 29 inauguration as we had duly notified during our inaugural joint meeting of Monday, April 29, 2019.

“As you are aware, the state is preparing for the working visit of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, during the third week of May to inaugurate a number of legacy projects in commemoration of this administration’s end-of-tenure.

“Understandably, all hands are on the deck and most of the named state facilities will be in use. During the month of Ramadan, the state organises and engages in a number of daily programmes, culminating in the state’s special Iftar for which we routinely use many of the named facilities.”

The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress’ Caretaker Committee, Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, confirmed the development, saying that the transition committee set up by Amosun and headed by the SSG had been uncooperative.

Oladunjoye said a meeting scheduled for last Monday could not hold because of the SSG’s absence.

Headline

Mike Adenuga, Emmanuel Macron Hold High-Powered Meeting in Paris

Published

9 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Accomplished billionaire businessman and Commander of the French Légion d’Honneur, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, CdrLH, has held a private meeting with the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

The two powerful citizens of the world held the meeting on Wednesday at the historic Élysée Palace in Paris.

The high-level engagement underscores the longstanding relationship between Dr. Adenuga and the French Republic, as well as his continued relevance in global business and diplomatic circles.

A respected industrialist and philanthropist, Adenuga has been widely acknowledged for his contributions to economic development, telecommunications, energy, and humanitarian causes across Africa and beyond.

The meeting adds to Dr. Adenuga’s growing profile as a bridge between African enterprise and international leadership.

Headline

Free at Last: Burkina Faso Releases 11 Nigerian Soldiers, Aircraft

Published

10 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Burkina Faso has released Nigerian soldiers who were detained after their aircraft made a forced landing in the Sahelian country earlier this month, Nigerian officials said.

The release followed a diplomatic intervention by President Bola Tinubu, who dispatched a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to meet Burkina Faso’s Military Leader, Ibrahim Traoré, on Wednesday.

In a statement, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s spokesperson, said both sides resolved the matter amicably and secured the release of the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew.

The soldiers had been held for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act” carried out in defiance of international law.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, said the crew encountered a technical issue that required a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest available airfield. It said the landing complied with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.

Headline

Corruption Allegations: NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed Meets Tinubu, Resigns

Published

23 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Eric

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, has resigned following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu amid corruption allegations.

Tinubu, on Wednesday, summoned Ahmed to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following allegations of economic sabotage and corruption.

Also caught in the web of resignation was the CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, according to a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy.

Tinubu was said to have nominated successors to the senate for approval.

“Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),” the statement reads.

“The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC.

“Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.”

Onanuga said the two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.