FG Tasks Information Commissioners on Partnership with ICPC to Fight Corruption

The Federal Government has called on state commissioners for information to join hands with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to fight corruption.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the call when he declared open a one-day Rountable Engagement on Strategic integration in fight against corruption on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Rountable with the theme, ‘Partnership for Strengthening Transparency and Accountability at State and Local Government Levels Through Strategic Communications’, was organised by ICPC.

Those in attendance included commissioners for information from Kaduna, Nasarawa, Oyo, Borno, Kwara, Ogun, Cross River, Taraba, Rivers, Kogi and Zamfara States.

Others were those of Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi, Yobe, Anambra and Gombe.

Also in attendance were the Directors-General of Voice of Nigeria, Malam Jibrin Ndace; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bulama; National Orientation Agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu and some officials from the Presidency and National Assembly.

Idris said that the fight against corruption is in line with the eight-point priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He commended ICPC for the theme, adding that the presence of all the state commissioners for information, who have the onerous task of disseminating and cascading information to other strata of the Nigerian society, is remarkable.

“Fighting corruption is indeed one of the eight-point priority areas of President Tinubu’s administration and that is why the president is strengthening the institutional framework to fight corruption, especially through the ICPC and EFCC.

“By its policy of non-interference, the Tinubu administration has made it clear that anti-corruption agencies are not instruments of political witch-hunt; they operate with independence and professionalism in line with the established rule of law.

“However, the president has vowed that there will be no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria and he is also advancing far-reaching judicial reforms aimed at curbing unnecessary delays in corruption trials, ensuring that justice is neither denied nor endlessly deferred.

“I want to implore all of you that irrespective of the political parties you belong to, it is important you identify with the massive opportunities inherent in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

“I want to draw our attention to the need to leverage the vast and effective assets of the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to achieve effective outreach across Nigeria.

“I also want to implore you to partner with ICPC in this very important task they have in ridding Nigeria, not just of corruption but also the perception of corruption that is doing more harm than good to the people of this country,” Idris said.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, described ICPC as custodian of public trust.

Udende urged the ICPC to continue to open its doors and share insights and see the machinery of information in the state not as a peripheral entity but as core operational power.

The lawmaker, who was represented at the event by Mr Uboh Emelike, challenged the commissioners to embrace the programme with zeal and creativity.

“See yourselves as generals in this war and with power of communication to win the hearts and minds of the people.

“Let us leave this room with a common agenda; a blueprint that will ensure our message of transparency, accountability and integrity to transverse the length and breadth of this country.

“Together, by strategically integrating communication into the anti-corruption architecture, we can build the Nigeria that we deserve,” Udende said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Anti-corruption, Hon. Kayode Akiola, urged the ICPC, information commissioners and other stakeholders to join and create a corrupt-free country where governance is transparent, accountable and true representative of the people.

The Commissioners for Information and Internal Security of Borno, Prof. Usman Tar, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, appreciated ICPC and the Federal Government, promising they would collaborate with the relevant authorities to fight corruption. (NAN)

The post FG Tasks Information Commissioners on Partnership with ICPC to Fight Corruption appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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    Dangote Refinery Accuses PENGASSAN of Economic Sabotage, Says Union’s Directive Threatens Fuel Availability, Govt revenue

    Dangote Refinery Accuses PENGASSAN of Economic Sabotage, Says Union’s Directive Threatens Fuel Availability, Govt revenue

    • Warns it can affect investors’ confidence, inflict harm on Nigerians, businesses if PENGASSAN cabal is allowed to enforce its lawless directive

    Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) of attempting to sabotage the country’s energy supply chain following a directive issued by the union to its branches to cut off crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery.

    In a statement issued on Saturday, the company described the directive as “a brazen display of lawlessness and criminality,” warning that the move could plunge Nigeria back into widespread fuel scarcity and disrupt the availability of key petroleum products, including petrol, aviation fuel, kerosene, diesel, and cooking gas.

    According to Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN on 26 September instructed its members in various multinational oil companies and subsidiaries including TotalEnergies, Seplat, Renaissance, Chevron, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas, and NGIC to halt crude oil loading operations and cut off gas supply to the facility “with immediate effect.”

    The refinery stressed that the union had no legal authority to interfere with contracts signed between the refinery and its suppliers, insisting that such interference amounts to “economic sabotage” against both the company and the Nigerian state.

    “This is a brazen, albeit shocking display of lawlessness and criminality by PENGASSAN. Absolutely no law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to “cut off” gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or at all. There is also no law in our statute books that would support or enable the PENGASSAN branches having to “cut off” gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or at all,” the statement read. “Besides, it constitutes a criminal conduct for PENGASSAN or its members to disrupt and/or interfere howsoever in the contract between Dangote Refinery and its various vendors for the supply of gas and crude oil to the Refinery. Those supply contracts were not entered into with PENGASSAN; they were entered into by Dangote Refinery with third party vendors and suppliers and PENGASSAN has no right whatsoever to disrupt and/or interfere with the performance of those contracts”.

    It noted that PENGASSAN needs to be reminded that Nigeria is a country governed by laws.

    “Our laws do not brook self-help and mob action that could introduce mayhem and chaos and easily translate into anarchy,” it added.

    Dangote Petroleum Refinery, world’s largest single-train refinery and one of Nigeria’s highest taxpayers, argued that the directive undermines investor confidence and threatens revenues accruing to federal and state governments. The company also described the refinery as a strategic national asset that should be safeguarded rather than targeted.
    “We are, by this write-up, drawing the attention of the Federal Government and its security and law enforcement agencies – as well as all other levels of governments in Nigeria – to this criminal, lawless, reckless and irresponsible conduct of PENGASSAN and calling on them – the Federal Government and its agencies, in particular – to call the Association to order. PENGASSAN has no right to introduce anarchy and mayhem into our society. The Association is not above the law, and it must not be allowed to believe that it is or behave as if it is,” it said

    The statement further criticised the union for what it called “a contradictory stance,” noting that while PENGASSAN had earlier pledged to pursue legal action against the refinery, it “abandoned the path of lawfulness and embraced mob action.”

    The refinery noted that apart from the lawlessness and criminality inherent in the PENGASSAN’s instruction to its branches, the Association’s directive amounts to economic sabotage at multiple levels.

    “In plain language, PENGASSAN has directed its branches to disrupt and stop the supply of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery to Nigerians. The products that would be disrupted and stopped include but are not limited to aviation fuel, petrol, kerosene, diesel and cooking gas – all products that are used and required by all stripes of Nigerians and persons living in Nigeria, whether high and mighty or lowly and ordinary. In what circumstance would it be justified for PENGASSAN to so disrupt and introduce insufferable hardship into the living conditions of Nigerians? None that we can see. The follow up question is, in whose interest and on whose behalf is PENGASSAN directing and intending to inflict such anarchic and criminal disruption upon the Nigerian society and persons living in Nigeria? Most certainly, not in the interest of the Nigerian State and/or the Nigerian public and citizens,” it added.

    It stressed that it is also economic sabotage against the Nigerian State at multiple levels as the Dangote Refinery is the only refinery of its type in Africa and ordinarily should be the pride of all Nigerians as well as the governments of Nigeria.

    “It should ordinarily have special protection and status and indeed qualifies as a strategic national asset. An irreparable injury to the Dangote Refinery such as PENGASSAN has directed constitutes a national embarrassment to all of us. The directive is a disincentive to external investors who ordinarily would have been encouraged by the success of Dangote Refinery to contemplate investing in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector or generally. PENGASSAN may also not be aware that Dangote Refinery is one of the largest contributors to the revenue purse of the Nigerian governments – both Federal and sub-nationals. That contribution is currently threatened by PENGASSAN and would of course be paused if and as soon as and for as long as the PENGASSAN directive is implemented by its branches,” it added.

    Calling on the federal government and security agencies to intervene, the company urged Nigerians to resist any attempt to disrupt refinery operations, warning that compliance with the directive would cause “irreparable hardship” for households and businesses nationwide.

    “We are also calling on all Nigerians to take note of the unquantifiable and irredeemable hardship which PENGASSAN wishes to inflict on all of us. There is no Nigerian household that does not use or need the petroleum products which PENGASSAN has now directed its branches, by fiat, to withdraw from the Nigerian market – again, we list some of them: petrol, cooking gas, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. The production and supply of these products by Dangote Refinery would cease if the PENGASSAN cabal is allowed or permitted to enforce its lawless and criminal “directive”. The Association must not be allowed to ride roughshod on Nigerians. The repercussions from the PENGASSAN directive would affect and inflict harm on all Nigerians, This is therefore a fight for all Nigerians,” noted the statement.

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    • Warns it can affect investors’ confidence, inflict harm on Nigerians, businesses if PENGASSAN cabal is allowed to enforce its lawless directive Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused the Petroleum and

    Nigerian Delegates Drive Digital Trade Talks at UNGA 80

    Nigerian Delegates Drive Digital Trade Talks at UNGA 80

    At the 80th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Nigerian delegates highlighted the transformative power of technology and digital trade for Africa’s economic future.

    Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, led by Minister Dr Bosun Tijani, hosted a high-level roundtable focused on advancing the digital economy through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    In his address, Tijani stressed that digital trade is no longer optional for Africa but a key pillar for economic integration, empowerment, and innovation.

    The dialogue, titled “Accelerating Digital Trade Across Africa Through AfCFTA,” featured a distinguished lineup of policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors, including Senegal’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Technology, Salima Bah; Andela Co-Founder Iyin Aboyeji; CcHub Africa Managing Director Ojoma Ochai; Computer Warehouse Group Chairman Philip Obioha; CEO of Dioni Visions Entertainment Omoni Oboli; and technology investor Sudeep Ramnani.

    Ramnani commended Nigeria’s efforts to build a resilient, inclusive tech ecosystem, describing it as vital to attracting global investment and scaling innovation across the continent. Alongside his long-time business partner Jai Mahtani, Ramnani has played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s fintech growth, co-founding PalmPay, backing Paystack before its acquisition by Stripe, and recently investing in Lagos-based food delivery startup Chowdeck.

    The roundtable also drew contributions from organisations shaping Nigeria’s innovation space, including Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), which leverages technology for social impact, and EverCorp Industries, with investments spanning insurance, energy, and consumer goods.

    As UNGA 80 concluded, Nigerian delegates and stakeholders left with renewed momentum to deepen collaboration across borders, support talent, and build the infrastructure needed to unlock Africa’s digital potential. The discussions reinforced a common vision: that digital trade, enabled by AfCFTA, can be a cornerstone of sustainable growth across the continent.

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    At the 80th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Nigerian delegates highlighted the transformative power of technology and digital trade for Africa’s economic future. Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of

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