FG MAY BAN TRUCKS ON HIGHWAY AS PETROL TANKER EXPLOSION CLAIMS 493 LIVES, DRIVERS DIFFER

FG MAY BAN TRUCKS ON HIGHWAY AS PETROL EXPLOSION CLAIMS 493 LIVES, DRIVERS DIFFER The Nigerian government and the National Association of Road Transport Owners are not on the same page over the proposal to ban petroleum trucks with 60,000-litre capacity from operating on federal highways. On Wednesday, in a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority proposed a ban on trucks with 60,000-litre capacity to prevent incessant tanker explosion incidents, which had claimed 493 lives in the last three years. Consequently, the Nigerian government wants tankers restricted to a maximum of 45,000 litres as part of a recommendation aimed at reducing fatalities from petroleum tanker accidents to zero. The Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, announced this proposal at the stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday. According to Ahmed, the carnage from the petroleum truck explosion has been on the increase from seven recorded in 2022 to 24 deaths in 2023, while 341 died in 2024; the incident has already hit 121 in 2025, which is only two months from its beginning. “This year to date, we have already recorded five road tanker accidents leading to 121 fatalities and 79 injuries. These incidents are unnecessary and unacceptable. They must be prevented and brought down to zero. “Determination of an appropriate truck carrying capacity of (60,000 litres versus 45,000 litres) given the negative impact on the roads,” he said. He also said downstream operators must adhere to safety guidelines to prevent incessant tanker explosions. “It is therefore unacceptable for any operator to conduct business in contravention of established protocols and safety requirements,” he added. Meanwhile, the President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, said the move to ban petroleum trucks with 60,000 litres would lead to a potential loss of over N300 billion in investment. “I want to remind everybody here that transporters are investors, and these investments are huge. “Any truck that loads 60,000 litres must be a truck with a strong and sound engine at an average cost of N150m. “By our estimation, we have 2,000 of them. We are talking about N300 billion investments, some of which were financed by banks and other lenders,” he declared.

PROTESTERS BLOCK EAST-WEST ROAD OVER ALLEGED MARGINALISATION IN NDDC APPOINTMENT

PROTESTERS BLOCK EAST-WEST ROAD IN DELTA OVER ALLEGED MARGINALISATION IN NDDC APPOINTMENT Protesters in Delta State took to the streets yesterday blocking the East-West Road in Ughelli to demand the appointment of a Delta State indigene as the next Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The demonstration organized by the Niger Delta People’s Assembly caused major disruption to traffic as protesters gathered with placards calling for justice, equity, and fair representation in the leadership of the NDDC. Some of the placards read thus: ‘Niger Delta People’s Assembly Say No To Dr Ogbuku As Managing Director of NDDC. It Is The Turn Of Delta State’. ‘Abuse of The NDDC Act Is A Catalyst of Crisis In The Niger Delta Region. President Tinubu Act Now To Save The Nation’. Others read thus: ‘We call on President Tinubu to Remove Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of NDDC’; ‘Remove Hon. Chiedu Ebie as Chairman’; Reconstitute the Board of NDDC’; ‘Bayelsa must not be allowed to usurp the position of Delta and Let fairness, Justice and Equity Prevail. The Coordinator of the Niger Delta People’s Assembly (NDPA), Charles Ejor, while addressing the protesters, expressed the group’s dissatisfaction with Delta State’s exclusion from holding the office of NDDC Managing Director. He noted that despite Delta State vital role in the oil sector and its significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy, it has been continually overlooked for the position. Eor cited Section 12, Subsection 1(d) of the NDDC Act, which mandates that the Managing Director and Executive Directors of the commission rotate among oil-producing states. House Urges NCC, Minister to Suspend Planned Telecoms Tariff HikeAdedayo Akinwale in Abuja The House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Communications,… Nine Chinese Citizens Arraigned on Alleged Cybercrimes, Security BreachesNine Chinese citizens and their company, Genting International Company Limited, were arraigned last Thursday before… With the recent expiration of Dr. Samuel Ogbaku’s tenure as the Managing Director, the group argued that it is now Delta State’s turn to assume the position. “The exclusion of Delta State from this critical leadership position is unjust and goes against the NDDC Act. Delta State has contributed immensely to the nation’s growth, especially in the oil sector, and it is only fair that we are given our rightful place in the leadership of the NDDC”, he said. Another leader of the protest, Samuel Ibadan, also condemned the continued marginalization of Delta State in NDDC appointments, adding: “We are bitter about the marginalisation of Delta State in NDDC appointments, which is why we came out today. “We are peaceful and loving people, but it is our right to protest and make our grievances known to the world.” The group, in a statement made available to journalists, emphasized that the protest was a peaceful attempt to highlight the regional inequalities in leadership within the NDDC. It called on the federal government to address what they see as a systemic injustice and ensure Delta State is given its fair chance to lead the commission, in line with the principles of fairness and regional representation. The group sought swift intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the issue and ensure that Delta State is given the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region through leadership at the NDDC. NDPA stressed the need for equitable distribution of leadership positions to maintain peace and foster development in the region.

FG MAY BAN TRUCKS ON HIGHWAY AS PETROL EXPLOSION CLAIMS 493 LIVES, DRIVERS DIFFER

FG MAY BAN TRUCKS ON HIGHWAY AS PETROL EXPLOSION CLAIMS 493 LIVES, DRIVERS DIFFER The Nigerian government and the National Association of Road Transport Owners are not on the same page over the proposal to ban petroleum trucks with 60,000-litre capacity from operating on federal highways. On Wednesday, in a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority proposed a ban on trucks with 60,000-litre capacity to prevent incessant tanker explosion incidents, which had claimed 493 lives in the last three years. Consequently, the Nigerian government wants tankers restricted to a maximum of 45,000 litres as part of a recommendation aimed at reducing fatalities from petroleum tanker accidents to zero. The Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, announced this proposal at the stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday. According to Ahmed, the carnage from the petroleum truck explosion has been on the increase from seven recorded in 2022 to 24 deaths in 2023, while 341 died in 2024; the incident has already hit 121 in 2025, which is only two months from its beginning. “This year to date, we have already recorded five road tanker accidents leading to 121 fatalities and 79 injuries. These incidents are unnecessary and unacceptable. They must be prevented and brought down to zero. “Determination of an appropriate truck carrying capacity of (60,000 litres versus 45,000 litres) given the negative impact on the roads,” he said. He also said downstream operators must adhere to safety guidelines to prevent incessant tanker explosions. “It is therefore unacceptable for any operator to conduct business in contravention of established protocols and safety requirements,” he added. Meanwhile, the President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, said the move to ban petroleum trucks with 60,000 litres would lead to a potential loss of over N300 billion in investment. “I want to remind everybody here that transporters are investors, and these investments are huge. “Any truck that loads 60,000 litres must be a truck with a strong and sound engine at an average cost of N150m. “By our estimation, we have 2,000 of them. We are talking about N300 billion investments, some of which were financed by banks and other lenders,” he declared.

EX-ANAMBRA FIRST LADY, EBELE OBIANO, FIGHTS WITH PASSENGER ON AIRPLANE

EX-ANAMBRA FIRST LADY, EBELE OBIANO, FIGHTS WITH PASSENGER ON AIRPLANE A video circulating online shows Ebele Obiano, the former First Lady of Anambra State, engaged in a tense argument with a fellow passenger aboard an airplane. Eyewitnesses claimed that her husband, former Governor Willie Obiano, was also on the flight but chose not to intervene. In the video, Ebele could be heard arguing over seating arrangements, saying, “Are you crazy? This is where I’m sitting. So you let me go first. No, I’m not going to get out of here. Who the hell do you think you are? If you want me to go front… Nonsense. What is all this?” The exact cause of the dispute remains unclear at this time. However, the incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many sharing their opinions on the confrontation. Recall that in 2022, Ebele Obiano and Bianca Ojukwu engaged in a messy fight during the inauguration of Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra state.

I DIDN’T SAY I WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2027 – AFDB BOSS ADESINA

I DIDN’T SAY I WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2027 – AfDB BOSS ADESINA President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has denied nursing an ambition to run for president in 2027. This follows a recent interview on Arise TV, where he was questioned about his political future after his tenure at the AfDB. Responding to the question, Adesina said: “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including in my own country, Nigeria.” The outgoing AfDB Presidents’ remarks generated widespread interpretations that he was subtly declaring interest in the 2027 presidential race. However, Adesina while addressing the issue in a Post X on Thursday, said what he said during the interview was misinterpreted by media outlets. He also encouraged people to go and listen to the interview to confirm what he actually said. He wrote: A segment of my recent interview on @ARISEtv has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. “What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.” “A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online (youtu.be/xgyDRnBWWcY?si…), will show this to be the case. “For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said. The AfDB President who recently celebrated his 65th birthday is set to quit the pan-African bank this year as he completed his two-year tenure.

YORUBA MUSLIMS NOT YOUR SLAVES – AKINTOYE TELLS SULTAN

SHARIA: YORUBA MUSLIMS NOT YOUR SLAVES – AKI TOTE TELLS SULTAN The Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement has described the Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III’s recent call for the imposition of Sharia law in Yorubaland as “disrespectful”. The secessionist group stated this in a statement, signed by its leader Professor Banji Akintoye, arguing that no Islamic provisions mandate Yoruba Muslims to accept Sultan as their leader. The statement also pointed out that the Sultan’s message alleges that Yoruba people are denying Yoruba Muslims their religious rights, which is described as “falsehood.” The statement went on to advise the Fulani nation to reconsider their approach to religious and political matters in Nigeria, citing the dangers of their “born-to-rule” mentality and the need to respect other peoples. The statement reads in part: “We Yoruba people have read your statement that was sent to the public through the Deputy National Adviser of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Imam Haroun Eze, following the failed attempt to impose Sharia Courts on the Oyo and Ekiti States of the Yoruba people of the Nigerian Southwest. Since your spokesperson, Imam Haroun Eze, made your statement to the public, we also hereby make our response public. “The Sultan’s spokesman chose to couch the Sultan’s statement to the Yoruba people as if the Sultan were an overlord of the Yoruba people. The statement said in effect that Yoruba people must accept Sharia as dictated by the Sultan. We have great respect for the Sultan as a traditional ruler, since our own traditional rulers, our Obas, are mightily important to our Yoruba nation. “But because of the Sultan’s chosen approach in his message, we are reluctantly compelled to spell out our response in ways that truthfully uphold our Yoruba nation’s independence, integrity and dignity, leaving no doubt about what is our nation’s relationship with the Sultan. “The Sultan’s message claims that the Sultan is the head of the Islamic religion in Nigeria. Well, while our Yoruba Muslims faithfully surrender their lives to the Almighty God Allah and fully exalt Allah’s great Prophet Mohammed, most do not know the Sultan as their leader. “There is no provision in the tenets of Islam that lays the duty on our Yoruba Muslims to accept the Sultan of Sokoto as their leader. All Yoruba people of all religions have our own traditional rulers, which traditional rulers are among the most revered on the African continent, and of whom the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo are the foremost and topmost royal fathers of all Yoruba people. “Therefore, it is important to get rid of the presumption that the Sultan is the leader of Yoruba Muslims. That the Sultan is not leader or father of Yoruba Muslims is clearly borne out by the fact that while, during the past ten years, the Sultan’s Fulani people have killed countless thousands of Yoruba Muslims in all parts of Yorubaland, have destroyed the farms, villages and other assets of Yoruba Muslim farmers, have raped and killed countless Yoruba Muslim women, and have kidnapped, and extorted millions of Naira as ransom for countless kidnapped Yoruba Muslim men, women and children, the Sultan of Sokoto has not, at any time, raised his influential voice against these heinous crimes by his Fulani people against Yoruba people – or even, at least, against Yoruba Muslims. “Therefore, the Sultan should not find it difficult to understand that Yoruba Muslims cannot see him as their leader. These facts are very important. The Sultan and Imam Haroun Eze must have noticed that in the enormous mass of hostile responses among Yoruba people against the Sultan’s message, there are as many Muslim as non-Muslim voices – in fact, probably more Muslim than non-Muslim…

IN MEMORY OF MURTALA MUHAMMED BY UMAR ARDO, PhD

IN MEMORY OF GENERAL MURTALAMUHAMMED: BY UMAR ARDO, Ph.D Today, February 13, 2025, marks the 49th anniversary of the assassination of General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, Nigeria’s fourth Head of State. Though his leadership lasted only 201 days, his legacy of patriotism, discipline, sacrifice, clarity of purpose and selfless service remains etched in the nation’s collective memory. At a time like now when governance is plagued by indiscipline, corruption, dishonesty, nepotism and incompetence, it is imperative to reflect on Murtala’s leadership virtues and their relevance to Nigeria’s current challenges. May the legacy of General Murtala Muhammed continue to inspire us. And may we, as Nigerians, rise to the challenge of building the nation he envisioned – a strong, united and virile nation rooted in justice, fairness and good governance! Murtala Muhammed assumed power in 1975, inheriting a nation struggling under the weight of military rule and political uncertainty. Yet, within his short tenure, he fashioned out a clear political future for Nigeria and set standard for probity in public service. He put Nigeria on the path to democracy, and undertook a nationwide purge of the public sector, in the military, bureaucracy and traditional institutions. This was not a mere political stunt – it was a genuine attempt to restore trust in governance! The claim by some revisionists that General Muhammed’s mass purge of corrupt public servants fostered insecurity in the civil service and, consequently, encouraged corruption is both illogical and self-serving. This argument conveniently ignores the context, intent and practice behind the purge: to restore integrity, accountability and public trust in governance after years of systemic corruption. First, it is important to note that corruption thrives in an environment of impunity, not accountability. Murtala’s decisive actions signaled that corrupt behavior would not be tolerated; and he led by example – a necessary deterrent in a system riddled with unethical practices by the leadership! Second, the suggestion that fear of consequences encouraged corruption defies common sense. Ethical governance demands clear standards of behavior and corresponding penalties for breaches. By this logic, any anti-corruption initiative would be condemned for creating insecurity among the dishonest. Instead, Murtala’s actions sent a powerful message to honest public servants: integrity would be protected and corruption punished! Finally, blaming the purge for subsequent corruption is a disingenuous attempt to absolve later administrations of responsibility. Corruption flourished afterward not because Murtala took action but because subsequent leaders failed to maintain the same level of discipline and accountability. Rather than vilify Murtala’s legacy, Nigerians should recognize the purge as a bold attempt to instill the leadership virtues we still need today – patriotism, sacrifice, integrity, responsibility and a culture of zero tolerance for corruption. Murtala also exhibited a rare discipline in the use of state resources. Refusing to live a life of excess, Murtala shunned the trappings of power and embraced simplicity. His stance was symbolic but profound: it demonstrated that leadership was not a means to personal enrichment but a sacred trust to serve the people! This principle resonates powerfully today, when many leaders are accused of prioritizing personal gain over public welfare. Today, Nigeria is experiencing a severe trust deficit between its leaders and citizens. Corruption scandals dominate the news cycle, exposing the rot in public institutions and further alienating the populace. Nepotism – where appointments and other forms of public service are based not on merit but on ethnic, regional or familial ties – continues to erode public confidence. Dishonesty in governance, manifest in broken promises and opaque dealings, fuels widespread apathy and resentment. The effects of this collapse of trust are devastating. Poverty and unemployment are rampant, insecurity persists and public services are in decline. With no trust in the state’s ability to govern equitably, citizens often seek alternative…

TINUBU’S TAX BILLS SCALE THROUGH SECOND READING AT HOUSE OF REPS

TINUBU’S TAX REFORM BILLS SCALE THROUGH SECOND READING AT HOUSE OF REPS President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills have passed for second reading in the House of Representatives. The bills passed for second reading after a long debate on the floor of the House. The four tax reform bills, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria, Establishment, Bill 2024, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, and the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 – are meant to overhaul the Nigerian tax system. Tinubu had submitted the bills before the National Assembly in 2024 despite widespread outcry. Leading the debate on Wednesday, the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, commented on the concerns raised about the bills, noting that the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, has resolved the issues. Ihonvbere stated that the House had held several meetings with different caucuses to address their concerns. He also highlighted some of the benefits of the bills, including tax exemptions for low-income earners. After a debate lasting over four hours, the bill was subsequently passed for a second reading when it was put to a vote by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. The bills were later referred to the House Committee on Finance for further legislative action. The tax reform bills, drafted by the Presidential Committee on Tax Reforms and Fiscal Policy, aim to overhaul the existing tax laws in Nigeria. However, the bills have faced stiff opposition, mainly from the northern parts of the country, particularly from northern governors who have described them as “anti-North.”

I’LL BUY YOU A FIRST-CLASS TICKET IF YOU ENTER AMERICA – OMOKRI TAUNTS EL-RUFAI

I’LL BUY YOU A FIRST-CLASS TICKET IF YOU CAN ENTER AMERICA – OMOKRI TAUNTS EL-RUFAI A former presidential spokesman, Reno Omokri, has thrown down the gauntlet to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, daring him to prove he is not under travel restrictions by entering the United States. In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Omokri claimed El-Rufai secretly abandoned his plans to travel abroad for further studies because he is allegedly barred from leaving the country. He further accused the former governor of fabricating a narrative that President Bola Tinubu was planning to arrest him to mask his real predicament. ‘El-Rufai abandoned his plans to travel abroad for further studies because he has been under travel restrictions. He does not want to admit it, which is why he tried to cover his embarrassment by lying that he abandoned his travel plans because President Tinubu wants to arrest him, and he is not a coward.” The explosive allegation has reignited speculation over El-Rufai’s recent silence and absence from international engagements. While the former governor has yet to respond, political observers are watching closely to see if he will take up Omokri’s challenge.