Category Nigeria News

Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s energy transition plan under President Bola Tinubu will unlock over $410 billion in renewable energy investments between 2025 and 2060.

Shettima made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while declaring open the inaugural Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) 2025.

He said the initiative would position Nigeria and Africa as key players in the global race towards net-zero emissions.

According to him, more than $23 billion will be required to expand energy access and connect millions still living in energy poverty.

“We are blessed with the minerals that power clean technologies, and Nigeria brings youth, ambition, and untapped renewable potential,” the Vice President said.

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He called on stakeholders to seize the moment and affirm Nigeria’s readiness to harness its resources and lead Africa’s renewable energy revolution.

“Beyond access lies our grander ambition, to deliver a power system capable of 277 gigawatts by 2060. This ambition demands investment, innovation, and local capacity,” he added.

Shettima revealed that over $400 million in new investment commitments had already been mobilised into Nigeria’s renewable energy manufacturing value chain.

He said the investments cover solar panels, smart meters, battery storage, and recycling facilities, creating over 1,500 direct jobs across multiple states.

“These investments reflect growing global confidence in Nigeria’s clean energy industrialisation drive,” he said.

The Vice President assured investors and development partners of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening policy frameworks that support a self-sustaining renewable market.

“We are enhancing incentives for local manufacturing, streamlining regulations, and deepening collaboration with State Governments and investors,” he noted.

He also urged the private sector and Original Equipment Manufacturers to localise technologies and invest in skills and knowledge transfer.

“We count on State Governments to champion renewable industrial clusters and drive green growth across the federation,” he added.

Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu described the NREIF as a milestone in Nigeria’s energy transformation journey and a step towards expanding local solar production capacity.

He said the Integrated National Electricity Policy aims to strengthen the decentralisation and efficiency of the sector.

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, represented by UN Resident Coordinator Mohammed Malick Fall, said the forum aligns with global ambitions for renewable energy development.

He pledged the UN’s support for Nigeria’s drive to power homes, schools, and communities sustainably.

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has restated his belief that the detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, can only be resolved through a political process.

Speaking during a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday following his public defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mbah said his position on the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu has remained consistent since he assumed office.

 He said. “It took barely a week after I assumed office that I had a meeting with the President, and I was very specific when I came out to address the press that I also raised the issue of Nnamdi Kanu with the President.”

Governor Mbah explained that he had always believed that resolving the matter politically remained the most sustainable approach.

“I believe strongly that the Nnamdi Kanu problem is going to be solved politically,” he said. “With this now, I think it is also an opportunity for the South-East to consolidate our position and make a very strong case for this to be resolved politically.”

READ ALSO: Enugu Gov Peter Mbah Dumps PDP For APC

The Enugu governor urged stakeholders across the South-East to embrace the concept of a political resolution and to work collectively in shaping a unified position before engaging with the federal authorities.

“First of all, we need to accept the concept that this is the right thing to do,” he said. “Then, the details of implementation will be worked out because there will certainly be details. It is not something you can possibly outline now, but it’s for us to even accept the concept that this is the way to move forward.”

READ ALSO:  Enugu Gov Peter Mbah Dumps PDP For APC

 Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had also criticised the prolonged detention of the leader of Kanu, describing it as “an open sore on our nation’s conscience.”

Atiku called for Kanu’s immediate release, insisting that his prolonged detention represented a grave violation of the rule of law.

The IPOB leader has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in Kenya and subsequent extradition to Nigeria in June 2021.

His detention has been marred by legal controversies, including multiple court orders granting him bail orders that have not been complied with by the prosecuting authorities.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a clarification on the status of 101 withdrawn drugs.

A statement released on its official X handle on Tuesday, the agency said the move is to help the public and stakeholders better understand the status and implications of each product category listed.

According to NAFDAC, the terms “withdrawn,” “suspended,” and “cancelled” describe distinct regulatory actions taken to ensure drug quality, safety, and compliance.

Under the clarification, “withdrawn” refers to products whose registration was voluntarily discontinued by the marketing authorisation holder, often for commercial or market-related reasons and not necessarily linked to safety concerns.

“Suspended” denotes temporary halts in registration pending regulatory compliance, while “cancelled” applies to products whose approvals have been fully revoked and are no longer authorised for manufacture, importation, or sale — often due to safety, quality, or poor manufacturing practices.

The agency explained that publishing such lists followed global best practices aimed at preventing counterfeiting and ensuring that delisted products do not remain in circulation.

NAFDAC listed examples across several categories, including antimalarials, antimicrobials, diabetes medicines, eye drops, and injectables.

Among the affected products were Artemether/Lumefantrine 40mg/240mg Tablets and ASAQ (Artesunate Amodiaquine Winthrop) Tablets, both withdrawn voluntarily by Healthline Limited and Sanofi Aventis Nigeria Ltd, respectively, for commercial reasons.

Other affected drugs included Flagyl Suspension and Tablets (400mg), which are no longer approved for manufacture or sale, and Norditropin Growth Hormone Injectables, which have been delisted following regulatory review.

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In the diabetes category, Januvia and Janumet have been withdrawn from the market, while Amaryl M Tablets and Amaryl M SR were voluntarily withdrawn by Sanofi Aventis Nigeria Ltd.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to public safety.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has assured stakeholders that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will not affect its operations.

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Tuesday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, expressed optimism that the ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, would produce fair and positive outcomes.

“As you are aware, the strike has only just commenced, and I know that under the excellent leadership of the Honourable Minister for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the negotiations will continue to move forward,” Sawyerr said.

The FUND at the weekend approved a final reopening of its loan application platform, to enable tertiary institutions yet to complete their student verification exercise to do so.

A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday by Director, Strategic Communications of the Fund, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the portal would be accessible from 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, to 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The extension, she said, was intended to ensure that all eligible students were duly captured and verified by their respective institutions as part of the ongoing 2024/2025 NELFUND loan application process.

Sawyerr added that NELFUND remained confident that the ministry’s plans “will seek to be fair and equitable and will derive the right results,” assuring that the development “will not impact our operations because what the Federal Government has done with NELFUND is put a scheme in place that will address in many ways some of the issues in education.”

“I don’t think this should be jeopardised at all,” he continued. “Even though the funding that NELFUND is providing is for students, the rest of the ‘pie,’ if you like, is also being addressed by the excellent leadership of Dr. Tunji Alausa. So I would not want to preempt those discussions, those negotiations, those positions.”

He emphasised that the agency does not want students to be negatively affected by the strike, stressing the importance of monitoring developments closely before making any pronouncements.

“The reality of it is that we don’t want to see students affected negatively in any way,” he said. “Having said that, we need to be very close to the discussions and look closely at how this unfolds for us to begin to make pronouncements as to what will be affected by NELFUND.”

He explained that the agency is seeking guidance from the Minister of Education on how to proceed, noting that the strike discussions are ongoing.

“We are seeking guidance from the Honourable Minister, who is our leader in this regard, and I will take guidance from him as to the way this should move forward,” Sawyerr said. “As of today, it will not affect upkeep, but the negotiations are ongoing, and we must be responsive to that.”

He maintained that NELFUND, as part of the current administration, is focused on complementing other efforts to ensure that education continues to work effectively in Nigeria.

“I don’t want to make any pronouncements till I hear from the Honourable Minister, who will provide guidance because this is all part of the package to ensure education must work in Nigeria,” he concluded.

His comments come as ASUU dismissed the Federal Government’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ directive, insisting that the union will not be intimidated by threats.

ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, stated this on Monday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

According to him, the union remained united and would not succumb to what he described as the government’s attempt to divide the academic community.

“We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us,” Piwuna said.

Piwuna maintained that all academic bodies, such as the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), were standing together in support of the strike action.

‘No Work, No Pay’

On Monday, the Federal Government directed universities to implement the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy against lecturers participating in the ongoing two-week warning strike.

The directive was contained in a circular dated October 13, signed by the Education Minister.

The Minister expressed the government’s displeasure over ASUU’s decision to embark on a nationwide strike despite ongoing negotiations and appeals for dialogue.

As a way of giving back to oil-producing communities, the Federal Government said it has embarked on a total of 536 community projects across the Niger Delta.

In a statement on Monday, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) noted that the projects are being held simultaneously in the region.

It cited a case of before and after photos of a school in Obagi oil-producing community in Rivers State.

“The school is just one out of the 536 community projects being handled simultaneously through the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT).”

Delivered projects include a two-storey classroom block comprising 18 fully furnished classrooms, the remodelling of Ogbogu Cottage Hospital with a 20-bed capacity and new diagnostic centre, and the upgrade of the Ogbogu Ultra-Modern Civic Centre.

Others include road pavements at Oboburu community, a bottled and sachet water factory in Amah community, and the installation of gas skid plants and school renovations in Erema and Akabuka communities.

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According to the Commission, the HCDT has risen to ₦373bn as of October 13, 2025, in accordance with section 235 of the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, which mandates settlors (oil companies) to incorporate HCDT for the benefit of host communities where they operate.

A statement signed by the Commission’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, also said the fund comprises ₦125bn and $168.9m, contributed by oil companies operating under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The HCDT requires oil companies to deposit three per cent of their operating expenditures of the preceding financial year into a trust fund, which will be housed in a bank with a BBB rating.

While the NUPRC does not have direct access to the funds, it monitors the fund through a dashboard known as HostComply.

The Commission also monitors the implementation of the fund as mandated by the extant laws, in line with the PIA.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has fixed October 16 for ruling on whether the Managing Director of SunTrust Bank, Halima Buba, can cross-examine the EFCC’s witness on issues raised while giving his evidence-in-chief.

Justice Nwite adjourned the trial following an objection raised by the Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, against a question directed to its witness by Johnson Usman, SAN, who appeared for Buba in the Alleged Money Laundering Charge.

While cross-examining the first prosecution witness, mister Sulieman Ciroma, the owner of Funnacle BDC Ltd, the defence lawyer had asked him to confirm to the court the names of those who collected the money in United States dollars from Mrs Aisha Achimugu, the MD of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd.

Earlier, Usman asked Ciroma to confirm that Mr Hassan Dantani is the MD/CEO of Ashrap Energy Oil Ltd and the witness answered in affirmative.

The witness also confirmed that Dantani is the MD/CEO of Ashrap BDC Ltd when he was asked by the lawyer.

The witness equally confirmed that Trimisi is the director of Triple A and D BDC Ltd.

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The anti-graft agency’s lawyer argued that the fact in issue before the court as contained in the charge, substantially bordered on allegations of cash transactions.

He submitted that the question put to the witness was not relevant in issue or remotely connected to the facts in issue.

“My lord, there are two separate legal entities that are involved or that have featured.

“They are Ashrap Energy Oil Services Ltd which is contained in the charge before your lordship and the Ashrap BDC now being introduced by the defence to the witness.”

He said though the word, “Ashrap” featured in the two entities, they are different companies.

“The case of the prosecution as contained in the charge in which the defendants are only entitled to defendants are transactions conducted by Ashrap Energy and Oil Services Ltd.

“The core issue for determination in this case is that those transactions, which perforce, exceeded the legal threshold were conducted without going through financial institutions.

“I refer your lordship to Section 21(a), Section 2(1), and Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition and Prevention Act.

“Furthermore, by the provision of that law, the financial institutions as defined are not only limited to commercial banks but also extended to registered and licensed BDC firms regarded as authorised dealers,” he said.

Oyedepo argued that the attempt by Usman to cross examine Ciroma on the question was not only to mislead the witness but to also introduce a strange fact that was not in issues between the parties.

But Usman vehemently disagreed with Oyedepo ‘s submission.

“My lord, the effect of the entire argument of my learner brother is that the defendants standing trial should kowtow to his charge and lead evidence in support of the charge.

“The defendants, having pleaded not guilty, have shifted the burden of proof on the prosecution. In effect, they denied liability 100 per cent,” he said.

Citing Section 223 of the Evidence Act, he enumerated the purpose of a cross examination in a trial.

The lawyer, who cited Section. 215(2) of Evidence Act, said though a cross examination must relate to relevant facts, he argued that the law equally “states that this need not be confined to what the witness testified in his examination-in-chief.”

Usman further argued that while giving his evidence-in-chief, Ciroma mentioned that Dantani and Trimisi collected the money from Mrs Achimugu.

“My lord, we are only referring to what he had said earlier as can be seen in the record of proceedings.

“He said Dantani of Ashrap and Trimisi collected the USD and credited her (Achimugu’s) account with naira equivalent,” he said.

The lawyer expressed surprise that Oyedepo did not interrupt him while he was earlier questioning the PW-1 about Dantani and Trimisi only to raise objections on how the money was received.

“Having regard to this, I humbly urge my lord to discountenance this objection.

“It is an objection attempting to muscle the defendants from defending themselves.

“I urge your lordship to direct the witness to answer my question,” Usman said.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 for ruling and continuation of trial.

Buba and her co-defendant, Innocent Mbagwu, the Executive Director/Chief Compliance Officer of SunTrust Bank, are being prosecuted on money laundering offences to the tune of $12 million.