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Abia Warriors Leapfrog Nasarawa to Top of NPFL

Abia Warriors Leapfrog Nasarawa to Top of NPFL

Abia Warriors have leapfrogged Nasarawa to the top of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) on the back of a 2-1 defeat of Niger Tornadoes on Sunday evening.

The win moved the Abia State team to 21 points from 11 games, two points ahead of now second-placed Nasarawa United, who fell 1-0 at Rivers United though with a game in hand.

Ikorodu City and Warri Wolves are both tied on 18 points but Ikorodu are third based on better goals difference.

The Ikorodu Oga Boys picked maximum points against Kun Khalifa with 2-0 win while Warri Wolves drew 1-1 at neigbours Bendel Insurance.

Elsewhere, Kano Pillars who fell 2-0 at Enyimba, are rooted to the bottom of the table. The Aba Elephant are now sixth on the log with 16 points.

Defending champions Remo Stars, Barau FC and Bendel Insurance are in the drop zone.

Remo Stars, still reeling from being bundled out of the CAF Champions League by Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, were upstaged 3-1 by Kwara United, while Barau FC were held to a scoreless draw at home  against Wikki Tourist.

There was also a home win for Bayelsa United over Plateau United in an early kick-off game as Katsina United and El Kanemi Warriors were held to draws by Shooting Stars and Enugu Rangers, respectively.

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Abia Warriors have leapfrogged Nasarawa to the top of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) on the back of a 2-1 defeat of Niger Tornadoes on Sunday evening. The win

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FG Gives 30-day Ultimatum to Contractors, Hands over Roads to Abia Governor 

FG Gives 30-day Ultimatum to Contractors, Hands over Roads to Abia Governor 

Umahi urges South-east to reciprocate gesture, vote Tinubu in 2027

Junior works minister concludes visit to China, strengthens bilateral cooperation

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has paid an unscheduled working visit to the ongoing works on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the 56-kilometre Section II (Umuahia Tower-Aba) Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway being handled by Messrs Arab Contractors  Limited. 

He chided the company for not living up to its reputation as a stickler to quality and time in project delivery, giving them one month to complete the remaining 4.1 kilometres (Aba bound) part of the contract, a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, said yesterday.

Following the expiration of a 14-day notice of termination of contract, the team also visited construction works on the reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Section IV, Aba-Port Harcourt by Messrs CCECC (Nig.) Limited. 

During his last visit to the project, Umahi had expressed dismay at the non-adherence to approved engineering standards and the slow pace of work. It took the intervention of the Governor, Alex Otti, for the minister not to revoke the contract. 

The initial contract for alignment was awarded by the past administration in January 2017 with a 30-month completion period. It consists of the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the 41.4-kilometre dual carriageway from Aba in Abia State to Eleme Junction Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

The main objective, according to Umahi, is to complete the last of the four sections starting from Enugu in Enugu State. It is also meant to connect and enhance the performance of such national assets as the sea ports, refineries, petrochemical and fertilizer plants, and others domiciled in the coastal area. 

“The significance of improving the socio-economic life of communities along the corridor, as well as boosting the traffic situation between Aba and Port Harcourt, cannot be overstated, ignored, or denied,” he stressed.

Also,  Umahi handed over some federal roads in the state for completion to Otti. The symbolic handing over took place at a Grand Civic Reception, in honour of the governor at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba at the weekend. They include the Owerri–Umuaka Road, Onuigbo–Umuahia Road, Omezuo Bridge, and Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road. 

Addressing the gathering of members of the National Assembly from the state and the zone, traditional rulers and opinion leaders, and other stakeholders, Umahi explained that the handover followed the express approval of President Bola Tinubu, who authorised  Otti to take charge of the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the roads, based on a request and mutual understanding.

While calling on other state governors to follow suit, the minister commended Otti’s proactive approach to fixing failed federal roads, describing him as a leader focused on the needs of his people rather than partisan considerations. “So, I am happy that the majority of our governors are taking the bull by the horns,” he said, adding that the projects had suffered funding constraints, over the years, marring their planned pace and ultimate completion.

The minister urged Abia people and other South-easterners to fully support the government of the day, as well as endorse Tinubu, for a second term in office to continue being relevant as an integral part of the Nigerian project. 

He informed the gathering that Tinubu has been very fair to the zone in terms of federal projects and appointments, citing his as the first of its kind and the recent appointment of the Chief of Air Staff from the zone, as a tip of the iceberg. 

He also highlighted several ongoing and completed federal road projects in Abia and across the South-east, as indices of Tinubu’s commitment to balanced infrastructure development, nationwide.

Responding, Otti appreciated the President for granting him approval to fund the projects to completion, describing it as value addition to the good people of Abia state and Nigeria in general. He further disclosed that this is not the first time that the state is intervening in the execution of the federal government’s projects.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, has concluded a one-week technical visit to the People’s Republic of China, where he led a joint delegation from the Federal Ministry of Works  and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

The visit, conducted under the existing Technical Cooperation Agreement between FERMA and the Global Cooperation Promotion Research Centre, focused on strengthening collaboration in infrastructure development, technology transfer, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and youth capacity building.

The minister’s first engagement was a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, where he was warmly received by the Head of Chancery, Amb. Ebi Patrick, a statement by his spokesman, Abdullahi Mohammed, said.

At the global headquarters of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the minister was received by the Vice President, Mr. Edward Xu.

He commended CHEC for its pivotal role in Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape, particularly its execution of the Keffi–Akwanga–Makurdi Highway — a landmark  PPP project under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

Goronyo called for deeper collaboration through the PPP framework to fast-track the delivery of durable road infrastructure across Nigeria, in alignment with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. 

The Minister also encouraged CHEC to expand its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by investing in youth technical training in road construction and maintenance to promote employment and self-reliance.

The delegation also examined CHEC’s operational model as a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) to draw insights for enhancing Nigeria’s infrastructure management systems.

In Xuzhou, the minister and the Managing Director of FERMA, Emeka Agbasi, led the delegation in strategic discussions with XCMG — a global leader in heavy-duty construction and maintenance equipment. 

He commended XCMG for its continued investment in Nigeria, particularly through its Lagos office, and for its willingness to support the country’s infrastructure renewal drive. Discussions centered on enhancing FERMA’s capacity to maintain Nigeria’s 36,000-kilometre federal road network through modern equipment support and youth technical training.

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Umahi urges South-east to reciprocate gesture, vote Tinubu in 2027 Junior works minister concludes visit to China, strengthens bilateral cooperation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja  The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has

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Wood Mackenzie: Global Crude Oil Demand Won’t Peak Until 2032

Wood Mackenzie: Global Crude Oil Demand Won’t Peak Until 2032

Says limiting global warming to 2°C will require $4.3tn annual investment 

Africa, India, others to remain key drivers 

OPEC+ pauses output hikes beyond December amid glut fears

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

Global oil demand will not peak until 2032, two years later than earlier thought, consultancy Wood Mackenzie has said in a report, blaming continued momentum on the use of hydrocarbons for transport and petrochemicals.

Rising dependence on fossil fuels due to increased power demand from artificial intelligence and to geopolitical tensions have led to 2050 net zero goals becoming unattainable, Wood Mackenzie said in its Energy Transition Outlook report.

The report comes ahead of the COP30 meeting in Brazil this month where countries are due to present updated national climate commitments and assess progress on renewable energy targets.

Demand for liquid hydrocarbons is expected to peak at 108 million barrels per day in 2032 with natural gas demand remaining resilient well into the 2040s, the report said.

In China, oil demand stood at 16 million bpd in 2025, but rising electric vehicle adoption could lead to demand falling by 35 per cent by 2060, the report said. However, India, Southeast Asia and Africa remain key drivers of oil demand growth.

A Wood Mackenzie analysis suggested that limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius would require $4.3 trillion in annual investment between 2025-2060 – an increase of 30 per cent from current levels – to reach net zero emissions by around 2060.

Energy sector investment would therefore need to grow from 2.5 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) today to 3.35 per cent within the next decade.

“Fossil fuels are no longer uncontested; they are being squeezed into narrower roles, but their decline is proving more gradual than expected,” the Wood Mackenzie report said.

Displacing fossil fuels with renewable power is a pillar of the energy transition that seeks to meet the Paris Agreement target to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 C (2.7 F) above preindustrial levels. The slower pace of energy transition and stronger-than-expected crude demand are making this shift harder.

Meanwhile OPEC+ on Sunday agreed a small oil output increase for December and a pause in increases in the first quarter of next year as the producers’ group moderates plans to regain market share due to rising fears of a supply glut.

OPEC+ has raised output targets by around 2.9 million barrels per day – or around 2.7 per cent of global supply – since April, but slowed the pace from October amid predictions of a looming oversupply.

New Western sanctions on OPEC+ member Russia are adding to challenges in the strategy, as Moscow may struggle to further raise output after the U.S. and Britain imposed new measures on top producers Rosneft and Lukoil.

On Sunday, the eight OPEC+ members taking part in the group’s monthly meeting – Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Kazakhstan and Algeria – agreed to increase December output targets by 137,000 barrels per day, the same as for October and November, Reuters reported.

“Beyond December, due to seasonality, the eight countries also decided to pause the production increments in January, February, and March 2026,” the group said in a statement.

Oil prices fell to a five-month low of about $60 a barrel on October 20 on concerns that a glut was building, but have since recovered to about $65 a barrel on Russian sanctions and optimism over U.S. talks with trade partners.

January to March is the weakest quarter for oil demand and supply balances, and by pausing OPEC+ is showing it is proactively managing the market, said Amrita Sen from Energy Aspects.

OPEC+ had been reducing output for several years until April and cuts had peaked in March, amounting to 5.85 million bpd in total.

The reductions were made up of three elements: voluntary cuts of 2.2 million bpd, 1.65 million bpd by eight members and a further 2 million bpd by the whole group.

The group has been unwinding voluntary cuts, while the last element of the cuts for the whole group is meant to stay in place until the end of 2026. Eight OPEC+ members will meet again on November 30, the same day as a full OPEC+ meeting, the Reuters report said.

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Says limiting global warming to 2°C will require $4.3tn annual investment  Africa, India, others to remain key drivers  OPEC+ pauses output hikes beyond December amid glut fears Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

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Moniepoint Introduces Nigeria’s First Informal Economy AI Chatbot

Moniepoint Introduces Nigeria’s First Informal Economy AI Chatbot

Emma Okonji

Moniepoint Inc, Africa’s leading business payments and personal banking servicing platform, has launched Nigeria’s first artificial intelligence-powered chatbot dedicated to demystify the informal economy.

The feat displayed by Moniepoint has earned it commendations from the federal government for its decade-long commitment to driving financial inclusion and business growth across Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch of the second edition of Nigeria’s Informal Economy Report powered by Moniepoint in Abuja recently, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, noted the informal economy would be at the heart of Nigeria’s story of resilience, creativity, and enterprise, from market traders to artisans, service providers, and young digital entrepreneurs.

“Millions of Nigerians power commerce daily in ways that are unseen yet indispensable to our economy. This report gives an important window into the challenges and opportunities within the sector. It provides a stronger foundation for inclusive, evidence-based policymaking.

“The Tinubu-led administration places high priority on the informal sector, which has remained central to Nigeria’s economic resilience. I commend Moniepoint for its decade-long contribution to financial inclusion, supporting millions of informal businesses across Africa”, Shettima said.

Built on cutting-edge Large Language Model (LLM) technology, the AI Chatbot provides conversational and easy-to-understand responses to complex queries.

It represents Moniepoint’s belief that technology should serve people, especially the everyday entrepreneurs who keep the economy moving.

In his welcome remarks, Managing Director, Moniepoint MFB, Babatunde Olofin, noted the bank’s focus remained at providing millions of these informal operators with the tools they need to thrive sustainably.

“This year’s report dives deeper into unemployment, taxation, savings behavior, and business operations within the informal economy, and what we have found paints a picture of both resilience and fragility.

“These insights remind us that the informal economy is not just a tool for survival but a living ecosystem of innovation and adaptation. We are determined to help shape a more inclusive and sustainable Nigeria, not just for today, but for generations yet unborn.

“The informal economy is not the shadow of our nation’s progress; it is its pulse. Our job is to make sure it beats stronger”, he said.

The launch event also served to mark a significant milestone as Moniepoint commemorates 10 years of service to now over 10 million active businesses and individuals, processing more than one billion transactions monthly and facilitating payments exceeding $22 billion. 

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Emma Okonji Moniepoint Inc, Africa’s leading business payments and personal banking servicing platform, has launched Nigeria’s first artificial intelligence-powered chatbot dedicated to demystify the informal economy. The feat displayed by

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FG Deepens Public Health, Livelihood Restoration Efforts in Ogoniland 

FG Deepens Public Health, Livelihood Restoration Efforts in Ogoniland 

–        Inaugurates new water facilities in Bane, Gwara

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

In deepening public health, recovery of livelihood, the federal government at the weekend, inaugurated new water facilities in Ogoniland, under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), a major step in restoring safe water access after years of oil pollution in the area.

Inaugurating the projects in Bane and Gwara communities in Khana Local Government Area, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the new facilities were not just infrastructure projects, but a lifeline for communities long deprived of clean water due to environmental contamination.

“Access to clean, safe, and reliable water remains one of the most critical determinants of public health and human dignity. Beyond being a basic need, it is a fundamental human right and represents hope as well as renewed confidence in government’s commitment to restore dignity, health, and sustainable development for our people.”

He explained the unveiling of the water projects was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises environmental recovery and community wellbeing across oil-producing areas.

“This is a fresh start for the people of Bane and Gwara after decades of hardship caused by pollution,” the Minister declared. “Through HYPREP, our mandate goes beyond cleanup—it includes restoring livelihoods, providing vital infrastructure, and promoting sustainable development.”

Lawal urged residents to take full ownership of the projects and ensure their sustainability, noting that “sustainability begins at the community level.”

He said: “The projects should be protected and used responsibly to ensure they remain functional for the long term”, assuring that “We will continue to prioritise projects that improve the lives of our people, ensuring clean water, healthy soil, productive livelihoods, and a safe environment.”

 “Our actions today will shape history and echo throughout eternity. Together, we will rebuild trust, heal the land, and lay the groundwork for a brighter, greener future for Ogoni and all of Rivers State”, Minister Lawal concluded.

In his remarks, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said the water projects symbolised the restoration of dignity and improved living conditions for the Ogoni people, while also reflecting steady progress in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

“With today’s commissioning, 45 Ogoni communities now have access to clean and safe drinking water,” Zabbey revealed. “These facilities are a lifeline, and today’s event stands as proof that the vision of a restored and thriving Ogoniland is steadily taking shape.”

Zabbey also disclosed that HYPREP’s interventions were advancing across several sectors, from health to education and livelihoods, aimed at ensuring that environmental recovery translates into tangible human development.

 “Over 7,000 women and youth have benefited from employment opportunities, while over 5,000 have been trained and provided with start-up kits,” he said.

“We are also introducing ICT-supported classrooms in secondary schools and supporting women’s empowerment through clean cookstove initiatives to promote energy efficiency.”

The project coordinator emphasised that public health remains central to HYPREP’s mission, citing ongoing efforts such as the Ogoni public health study by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the near-completion of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital.

 “The Ogoni Specialist Hospital is at 76.8% completion, while the Buan Cottage Hospital is at 98.7%,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that every segment of Ogoni society feels the impact of HYPREP, and no one is left behind.”

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Dumnamene Dekor, who was present at the event, described the cleanup as genuine and far-reaching in impact.

“The cleanup is on course and it’s real. I have been to all the communities where these projects are sited, and I can assure you that the impact of these projects is enormous”, Dekor affirmed.

For many Ogoni residents, the new water facilities mark a turning point, bringing relief from years of dependence on contaminated sources and restoring confidence in government’s promise to make Ogoniland a model for environmental recovery, public health improvement, and sustainable livelihoods.

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–        Inaugurates new water facilities in Bane, Gwara Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt  In deepening public health, recovery of livelihood, the federal government at the weekend, inaugurated new water facilities in

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CPPE Endorses FG’s 15% Duty on Imported Refined Petroleum Products

CPPE Endorses FG’s 15% Duty on Imported Refined Petroleum Products

Dike Onwuamaeze 

The Centre for the Promotion of Public Enterprise (CPPE) has endorsed the imposition of 15 per cent tariff on refined petroleum products by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which it described as a forward-looking policy that could transform Nigeria’s industrial landscape if reinforced with complementary reforms. 

The CPPE gave its endorsement yesterday in a policy brief titled “Strategic Protectionism to Drive Nigeria’s Industrialisation,” in which it advocated strategic protectionism in the form of a calibrated policy approach that safeguards emerging industries while building competitiveness and self-sufficiency.

The Founder/Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said in the policy brief that the recent 15 per cent import duty on refined petroleum products represented a positive policy step that could catalyse industrial expansion, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs, and promote Nigeria’s economic resilience if it is complemented with broader industrial support measures.

Yusuf said: “Nigeria’s journey to sustainable industrialisation must be anchored on strategic, time-bound protectionism, not indiscriminate liberalisation. 

“No country has industrialised through unrestrained exposure to imports. 

“The 15 per cent tariff on refined petroleum products is a forward-looking policy that can transform Nigeria’s industrial landscape if reinforced with complementary reforms.

“This is not merely about a single refinery. Rather, it is a sector-wide proposition that supports all current and future domestic investors in refining and related industries.”

According to him, the continuous importation of petroleum products has imposed immense costs on the Nigerian economy, such as sustained pressure on foreign exchange reserves, fiscal instability, and the collapse of domestic refining. 

He “therefore, said that the 15 per cent import duty on refined petroleum products – petrol and diesel – is a progressive and corrective measure.

“This modest protection will provide the policy support needed for domestic refineries such as Dangote Refinery, NNPCL refineries, and emerging modular refineries to thrive, restore Nigeria’s refining capacity, and reduce foreign exchange exposure.” 

He argued that “protectionism, when pragmatic and disciplined, is not about closing borders. 

“It is about building domestic strength for global competitiveness. The goal is not to shut out the world, but to empower Nigeria to engage it from a position of strength.” 

According to him, the Asian success stories of economies like China, South Korea, India, and Malaysia built their industrial strength through inward-looking strategies during their formative decades. 

“They protected infant industries, promoted local content, and developed domestic value chains before gradually opening up to global competition,” Yusuf said, adding that “even the United States of America, the world’s largest economy, has recently adopted protectionist industrial policies to bolster its manufacturing base.”

He pointed out that Nigeria’s prolonged dependence on imports has created deep structural distortions. 

“The absence of effective protection and inadequate support for local producers has discouraged investment and led to decades of deindustrialisation. 

“The oil and gas sector epitomises this failure as decades of refined product importation have drained foreign reserves, weakened fiscal stability, and eroded economic sovereignty.” 

He justified the case for strategic protectionism on the ground that industrialisation is a gradual process that begins with consolidating the domestic market, progresses through regional expansion, and culminates in global competitiveness.

Strategic protectionism provides the enabling environment for this evolution, he said.

“By shielding emerging industries from premature exposure to unfair competition, strategic protectionism encourages domestic investment, fosters local value addition, and allows firms to achieve efficiency and scale before competing globally.

“For Nigeria, this approach is not economic isolation or the creation of monopolies but a self-strengthening strategy to ensure that domestic economy develops sufficient capacity to compete effectively on the global stage,” he said.  

Yususf pointed out that Nigeria’s industrial history has shown that sectors which received structured protection like flour milling, 70 per cent; agro processing, 30 per cent pharmaceuticals, recorded transformative outcomes. 

“In this context, a 15 per cent duty on refined petroleum products is modest, balanced, and necessary to restore Nigeria’s refining capacity and fiscal resilience,” he said. 

According to him, exposing local industries to global competition without addressing structural constraints is not genuine competition but a policy-induced disadvantage. 

“Nigerian manufacturers face high energy costs, weak infrastructure, limited access to finance, inefficient ports, and complex regulatory frameworks.

“Producers in advanced economies, by contrast, enjoy subsidized energy, efficient logistics, and low-interest financing. 

“Without correcting this imbalance, Nigerian firms cannot compete fairly. 

“Genuine competition requires comparable production conditions, not a contest between subsidised imports and under-supported domestic producers.” 

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Dike Onwuamaeze  The Centre for the Promotion of Public Enterprise (CPPE) has endorsed the imposition of 15 per cent tariff on refined petroleum products by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which