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Industry Leaders Fume: Proposed Decommissioning Agency Branded a Threat to Investments
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have voiced strong opposition to a proposed law that seeks to establish a commission dedicated solely to decommissioning and abandoning oil production facilities, describing the move as unnecessary and overlapping with existing structures.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The concerns were raised on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream). The session drew representatives from key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Doguwa defends bill, says it will protect host communities
Committee Chairman, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, defended the proposed legislation—titled the National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Infrastructure (NC‑DOGI) Bill—describing it as a groundbreaking initiative.
“This Bill is not just another legislative exercise; it is a leadership bill,” Doguwa said. “It will align Nigeria with global decommissioning standards, protect host communities, and prevent the environmental hazards that come with poorly abandoned facilities.”
NUPRC insists new agency is unnecessary
However, regulators and industry experts pushed back, warning that the proposal could create bureaucratic bottlenecks and duplicate existing frameworks.
Mark Emmanuel, NUPRC’s Director of Production and Development, noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) already provides a clear legal framework for decommissioning and abandonment.
“Sections 232 and 3 of the PIA already outline comprehensive decommissioning processes,” Emmanuel stated. “Operators are legally required to fund, plan, and execute decommissioning under NUPRC’s oversight. Establishing a new agency now is premature and wasteful, considering most Nigerian oil fields are still in active production.”
Environment ministry echoes concerns
Rofikat Odetoro, Director of Environmental Assessment at the Ministry of Environment, added that decommissioning issues are already addressed in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures.
“Existing laws and agencies, including NOSDRA and NESREA, already cover decommissioning,” she said. “What’s needed is better funding and enforcement—not another agency that will duplicate responsibilities and cause confusion.”
Several other stakeholders echoed these sentiments, urging lawmakers to focus on improving coordination among existing institutions rather than creating new ones.
“Instead of adding another layer, let’s harmonise the roles of NOSDRA, NESREA, and NUPRC,” one participant noted. “The PIA was crafted to address these issues. Let’s allow it to work.”
With industry concerns mounting, the future of the NC‑DOGI Bill remains uncertain as the House Committee continues its consultations.
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The Bulldozers Are Coming! Kano Targets Azman University In Massive Illegal Property Crackdown.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has dismissed recent claims by 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi regarding Nigeria’s power generation goals. During an Arise Television interview, Onanuga clarified that Nigeria’s core electricity crisis stems from structural deficits—such as gas supply shortages, a $4 trillion legacy debt owed to suppliers, and an aging national grid—rather than a lack of generation capacity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Onanuga noted that the nation already possesses an installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts, exceeding Obi’s promise to add 10,000 megawatts. He argued that the former governor lacks a clear understanding of the existing infrastructure limitations. Furthermore, Onanuga highlighted that the Tinubu administration is actively tackling these issues through the Electricity Act, which decentralizes power management, and the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO) to improve performance. He maintained that power generation has seen marked improvement since the current administration took office in May 2023.
President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, has challenged Peter Obi’s pledge to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation by 10,000 megawatts within four years. In a recent interview, Onanuga stated that Obi’s plan ignores the reality that Nigeria’s installed capacity is already 13,500 megawatts—a figure that remains underutilized due to structural failures.
Onanuga identified the country’s primary obstacles as an outdated national grid, chronic gas supply issues, and a massive legacy debt of over ₦4 trillion owed to gas companies. He asserted that the current administration is addressing these systemic problems through legislative reforms, specifically citing the Electricity Act, which allows states to manage their own power generation, transmission, and distribution. Onanuga concluded that electricity output has already trended upward since May 2023 and that the government’s focus remains on optimizing existing assets rather than merely chasing higher capacity targets.
Bayo Onanuga is pushing back against Peter Obi’s recent promise to boost Nigeria’s power supply by 10,000 megawatts. According to President Tinubu’s spokesperson, the real issue isn’t a lack of capacity, but a broken system.
Onanuga pointed out that Nigeria already has 13,500 megawatts of installed capacity, most of which sits idle due to three main roadblocks:
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The Grid: Outdated infrastructure that cannot handle current demands.
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Gas Supply: A crippling lack of fuel for power plants.
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Legacy Debt: A massive ₦4 trillion debt pile-up owed to gas suppliers.
Onanuga credited the Tinubu administration with tackling these hurdles head-on, specifically through the new Electricity Act that empowers states to generate and distribute their own power. He insists that the sector is already performing better than it was in May 2023 and that the focus is on fixing the structural bottlenecks, not just expanding capacity.
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Court Orders Probe Of Leaked Video In Alleged Coup Plot Trial
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja initiated an investigation into the unauthorized release of a video linked to the ongoing trial of six individuals accused of conspiring to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Investigation into the Leaked Video
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Court Directive: Following a complaint from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), regarding a video statement that surfaced on the social media platform of influencer “VeryDarkMan” despite a court-imposed restriction, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct an inquiry.
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National Security Concerns: The DPP characterized the leak as a national security risk that prejudices the ongoing judicial proceedings, noting the video had already surpassed 6,000 views.
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Defense Stance: While defense counsel denied involvement in the leak, they held varying views on a probe; some welcomed an investigation, while others, like Sanusi Musa (SAN), cautioned against acting without formal evidence.
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Judicial Ruling: Invoking Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Justice Abdulmalik mandated the DSS to identify and bring any responsible parties before the court, noting that such prosecution would be handled separately from the main coup trial.
Trial Testimony and Bail Proceedings
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Witness Testimony: A prosecution witness, an Army officer codenamed “DDD,” testified that the investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team—including the Army, DSS, DIA, and EFCC—and explicitly denied that the defendants were chained, coerced, or tortured during interrogation.
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Defense Challenges: During cross-examination, defense lawyers challenged the interrogation process, specifically noting the absence of family members or legal representation during the suspects’ questioning; however, the witness stated no such requests were made by the defendants.
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Bail Applications: The court heard bail arguments from the defense, which the DPP opposed; Justice Abdulmalik has reserved her ruling on these applications and adjourned the trial-within-trial for the first three defendants until June 25 and June 30.
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No Mercy! US Authorities Deport Nigerian Over “Violent Crimes” & Abuse Allegations!.
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Deportation of Nigerian National: A Nigerian citizen named Ayodeji Ajayi has been deported from the United States following a series of criminal convictions, which include domestic violence.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Immigration Status: According to a statement released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on their official account, Ajayi had been living in the US illegally for nearly two decades after failing to depart the country following the expiration of his student visa.
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Criminal History: ICE reported that after abandoning his studies, Ajayi amassed a significant criminal record that includes convictions for domestic violence, trespassing, intimidation, and obstruction. Furthermore, his record includes charges involving kidnapping, rape, and family neglect.
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Administrative Context: ICE attributed the removal of Ajayi to the immigration enforcement policies of President Donald Trump, noting the administration’s commitment to deporting criminal undocumented immigrants.
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Missing Details: While the agency confirmed the deportation, they did not specify when it occurred, nor did they provide additional details regarding the jurisdictions of the convictions or the current status of his pending criminal charges.
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Policy Enforcement: This action reflects the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to intensify enforcement and increase the number of removals of undocumented individuals with criminal backgrounds across the United States.
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