Category Nigeria News

The South-East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to review its relationship with the party if its recommendation of Sunday Ude-Okoye as national secretary is not honoured.

The body made this known at the end of its meeting held at the government house, Enugu, the capital of Enugu State on Wednesday.  

While reading out the communique, the zonal chairman, Ali Odefa, said that the South-East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP with unalloyed loyalty to the party since inception and even as members in other regions continue to defect.

The group also want the National Working Committee to uphold its decision and ensure that the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP functions as the Acting National Secretary pending the ratification of the nominee for the Office of the National Secretary by NEC in line with the recommendations of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC.

READ ALSO: Bode George Backs PDP BoT’s Support For Ude-Okoye As National Secretary

“The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.”

The South-East caucus threatened to reconsider its continued membership in the party if its position is further delayed, despite its longstanding loyalty to the PDP.

“The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In PDP’s near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party.

“Currently, while the party has been losing key members post-2023 general elections, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the Party by rallying major opposition figures such as in Enugu where the Labour Party, LP, gubernatorial candidate, two LP House of Representatives Members, numerous members of the House of Assembly, among other stalwarts into the PDP fold.

“Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves. This would bring to a closure to the needless lingering dispute over the matter.

“However, in the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward,” the communique concluded.

The governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has expressed regret that, despite the state’s abundant deposits of solid minerals, it is currently not generating any revenue from them.

However, he noted that the Federal Government’s lifting of the ban on solid minerals has given him the opportunity to engage with investors who can help develop the sector and boost the state’s revenue.

“I am happy now that the Federal Government has lifted the ban on solid minerals and if you follow the trend, just last month we had a meeting with some private sector that has investment in Zamfara State,” Governor Lawal said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

“That is exactly what we are doing now to try to bring the private sector to invest in the solid minerals aspect in collaboration with the state government as well as the Federal Government and if that works out well, it means additional revenue for Zamfara State as well as the Federal Government.

“But as we speak now, there is no single revenue as far as solid minerals are concerned that is coming to Zamfara State which is unfortunate.”

The governor is optimistic that once investments in solid minerals begin to yield results, Zamfara will no longer need to rely on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to cover its expenses.

READ ALSO: Troops Kill Five Bandit Leaders In Zamfara, Recover Weapons

“And part of what I am doing now under my administration is to really look at this holistically and begin to put all the mechanisms in place and bring investors in Zamfara State that will be able to invest in solid minerals.

“By the time we do that I don’t think we will be relying on FAAC anymore, we will be more than comfortable so as to develop Zamfara State and move the state forward,” he said.

‘Security has improved’

Zamfara is one of the states that have been battling insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria over the years, but Governor Lawal said he has been able to improve security in the state in the last two years. 

He said that upon assuming office, he established Community Protection Guards in all the Local Government Areas, who have been working alongside conventional security agencies to combat banditry in the state.

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the South West Development Commission (SWDC).

He also thanked him for appointing people of impeccable character to run the commission’s affairs for the stipulated time.

The Ooni, who is also the Permanent Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), commended the President on the nomination of Charles ‘Diji Akinola as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SWDC, describing it a visionary choice and a historic turning point for the region’ s developmental trajectory.

In a statement by the Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, on Wednesday, the monarch described Akinola as an outstanding technocrat with an impressive pedigree and passionate commitment to regional and national development.

“Ooni Ogunwusi equally commends the President on the excellent choice of Senator Olu Adetunmbi, a development expert, as the chairman and other members of the Board, including a distinguished Ife daughter, Princess Nike Omoworare, Bolaji Ariyo, Joseph Olugbenga, Olumuyiwa Olabimtan, Adewinle Martins, Ibrahim Olaifa, Kabiru Lakwaya, Abdul Adamu a retired general, Arinola Fagbemi, Ukoha Onyekwere, Howell Ihenacho, Olugbenga Olufehinti, Tele Ogunjobi, Funmilayo Tejuosho, Fatai Ibikunle and Lateef Ajijola saying all the appointees are round pegs for the round holes,” the state read.

While lauding the appointment of two illustrious citizens of Osun State: Charles Akindiji Akinola and Mrs. Nike Omoworare, to executive positions within the newly inaugurated commission, the Ooni described Akinola as a seasoned development expert with impressive public service experience as former chief of staff to the governor of Osun State.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Signs South-West, South-South Commission Bills Into Law

He, however, advised the MD to let his extensive experience in public-private partnerships, rural enterprise development, and international development cooperation positions speak for him to lead the Commission in addressing the infrastructural and socio-economic challenges of the South West region.

The Ooni emphasised that the appointments reflect President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance and the upliftment of the South-West region.

He expressed confidence that the leadership of the SWDC would work diligently to fulfill its mandate of addressing infrastructural deficits, ecological challenges, security gaps and promoting sustainable development in the region.

The monarch further urged them to approach their new responsibilities with integrity, dedication, and a focus on delivering tangible benefits to the people of the South-West.

“Ooni Ogunwusi, the Permanent Chairman, Osun state Council of Obas and chiefs also calls upon all stakeholders, including traditional institutions, state governments, and civil society organisations, to support the SWDC in its mission to transform the South West into a hub of economic prosperity and cultural renaissance assuring the entire South Westerners that Dr Akinola and his team will approach their new responsibilities with integrity, dedication, and a focus on delivering tangible benefits to the people of the South West,” the statement added.

In March 2025, Tinubu assented to the South-West Development Commission Bill and the South-South Development Commission Bill.

The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, who made this known in a statement, noted that the legislation reflected Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress, and Nigeria’s emergence as a global powerhouse.

On May 8, the President formally requested the Senate’s confirmation of appointees to lead the South West, North Central, and South South development commissions.

In a correspondence to the Senate, Tinubu nominated a total of 55 individuals across the three commissions.

Brazilian state oil company, Petrobras, is seeking a return to Nigeria’s oil sector with a renewed focus on frontier deepwater exploration as part of efforts to strengthen ties between both countries.

In a statement on Wednesday, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, announced that the development came during an interministerial review meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was held to prepare for the second session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM) in June 2025.

Petrobras had previously wound down its Nigerian operations at the Agbami Field, but with renewed economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu, the company is now actively engaging Nigerian authorities as it eyes fresh investment opportunities.

Speaking at the session, Vice President Shettima underscored the strategic importance of Nigeria’s relationship with Brazil, especially as Brazil prepares to host a series of global summits this year.

“The presence of six ministers and the Solicitor-General of the Federation in this review meeting ahead of the second session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism shows the importance we have attached to our relationship with Brazil.

“We have not maximally capitalised on the fraternity between us and Brazil, but it is better late than never. The upcoming SDM presents an opportunity to execute sector-specific Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and unlock investment flows,” Shettima said.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Needs $10bn Yearly To Achieve Stable Power Supply – Minister

Highlighting the significance of 2025 as a pivotal year for global diplomacy, Shettima said, “This year is our moment of interface with Brazil. Brazil is hosting so many global events this year – from the BRICS Summit to the G20 Summit and COP30. This convergence of events provides us with a unique opportunity to advance our interests on the global stage.”

The Vice President also commended the ministers for their renewed vigour and patriotic commitment, stating that “there is a sea change in our attitude, disposition, and commitment.”

Petrobras Reengages

Providing further insight into Petrobras’ return, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed ongoing discussions with the company.

“Apart from ethanol, which they are hoping to engage the NNPCL for blending, Petrobras is also being actively engaged, and we expect they will form part of the delegation to Nigeria,” Tuggar said.

“Petrobras is no longer active in Nigeria, but they are very keen on coming back. They said they want frontier acreage in deep waters.”

Tuggar added that Brazil’s own preparations for the 2025 SDM are well underway, with both governmental and private sector entities actively mobilised by Brazil’s Vice President.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is coordinating Nigeria’s interministerial working groups, has compiled 12 draft MOUs awaiting approval by the Ministry of Justice. The draft agreements span key sectors including energy, health, culture, and agriculture.

Sectoral Collaboration Expands

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, spoke on the shared heritage between both countries.

“We must not only preserve this relationship but deepen it. We’ve finalised MOUs with the Nigerian Film Corporation on audiovisual co-productions, the National Gallery of Arts for joint exhibitions, and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation ahead of FESTAC at 50 next year,” Musawa stated.

In the agricultural sector, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced that MOUs had been concluded on key research collaborations.

“We have finalised MOUs that focus on research in three areas: soybean value chain development, cassava research and technology transfer, and agro-forestry systems, which promote integrated crop-livestock models and climate adaptation,” Kyari explained.

These efforts, he noted, build upon the Green Imperative Project (GIP) – an earlier agricultural cooperation initiative between Nigeria and Brazil.

On the health front, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, pointed to Brazil as a model for Nigeria’s ambitions in achieving universal health coverage.

“There are important opportunities for us in several areas in our efforts to achieve universal health coverage and primary health care between Nigeria and Brazil. They have done a lot that we can learn from,” said Pate.

“We see potential for collaboration in pharmaceutical research, local drug manufacturing, and workforce training. Brazil’s experience in addressing tropical and sub-tropical diseases makes it an ideal partner for joint research and development.”

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a former convict, Olayinka Oluwaseyi, for attempting to rob a male motorist on the Mile 12 Bridge in the Ketu area of the state.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspect—armed with two knives—was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon by a patrol team from the Ketu division.

“The other suspect involved in the attempted robbery is currently at large. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend him,” the statement added.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that Oluwaseyi had only recently regained freedom, having been released from a correction centre three months ago for committing the same crime.

According to the statement, the suspect is currently in police custody and will be arraigned upon conclusion of the investigation.

READ ALSO: Troops Kill Bandit, Recover AK-47 Rifle In Taraba

Commending the vigilance and professionalism of the officers involved, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, reiterated the Command’s uncompromising stance against all forms of criminality, especially traffic robberies.

He assured residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed off 21 facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for non-compliance with environmental laws.

Among the affected establishments are major real estate and construction projects, including Ochacho Real Homes Limited in Idu, Cosgrove Shopping Mall Project in Wuse II, Belmont Court in Idu, and several others.

The Director General of NESREA, Professor Innocent Barikor, who led the enforcement operation, stated that the action followed numerous public complaints regarding the adverse environmental impacts caused by the activities of the companies.

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Barikor decried the persistent disregard for environmental regulations, specifically pointing to the continuous breach of the National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations 2011 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.

According to him, the situation is no longer tolerable.

The facilities sealed during the operation include White Avenue Real Estate in Lugbe; CCECC projects located at both the FIRS and Central Business District; Mo Mouna Construction in Katampe; Practis Project; Belmont Court in Idu; Istrom Construction; and MAB Global Estate, also in Idu.

Others are Anarock Global Services Limited, Quali Trends Nigerian Limited, Boked International Limited, Tim Tali Transport Limited, Matilda Rozi Limited, Efedi Homes at Kukwaba District, and T’lon Construction and Facilities Management.