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Nigeria’s NEITI Steps Up Oversight on $6.03 Billion Oil Block Sales to Ensure Accountability
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has announced plans to review the divestment transactions worth $6.03 billion involving 26 oil blocks, as carried out by five International Oil Companies (IOCs). The review, which includes notable deals such as Shell’s sale to Renaissance ($2.4 billion), ExxonMobil’s divestment to Seplat ($1.28 billion), and TotalEnergies’ sale to Chappal ($860 million), was revealed by NEITI’s Executive Director, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, during a media briefing in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Orji emphasized that the divestments were having a significant impact on Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, making it imperative to ensure adherence to proper procedures in these transactions. NEITI will collaborate closely with regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to ensure complete transparency in the financial, social, and environmental aspects of these sales.
The organization is set to expand its industry reports to include dedicated sections addressing divestments, as well as intensifying efforts to disclose forward sales of crude oil and gas. NEITI aims to promote public awareness of these transactions to safeguard national interests, host communities, and the country’s revenue streams.
The Executive Secretary also raised concerns over the environmental impacts of some divestments, urging closer cooperation with relevant agencies to address outstanding issues in oil-producing communities. He further highlighted that NEITI would scrutinize forward sales involving crude oil in exchange for loans, in light of complaints about inadequate supply to local refineries.
Since NEITI’s audit of the oil and gas sector began 23 years ago, Nigeria has earned $831 billion from its extractive industries. Furthermore, the initiative has facilitated the recovery of over $4.85 billion from disclosures amounting to $8.26 billion in the 2021 report.
Dr. Orji also reaffirmed NEITI’s commitment to ensuring that revenues from Nigeria’s oil, gas, and mining sectors are properly managed for the benefit of the country’s citizens. He emphasized the importance of transparency in beneficial ownership, contract disclosure, and environmental remediation efforts, with a focus on strengthening governance and tackling corruption. NEITI will continue to improve its reports and increase collaboration with stakeholders to achieve its goal of a more transparent and accountable extractive sector.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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