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Kalu Objectively Assessed, Adjudged by Faculty Board, Examiners to be Sound Scholar – THISDAYLIVE
By Michael P. Okom
My attention has been drawn to an article by one Professor Abiodun Ojo of ABUAD on the subject: The New Certificate Craze: How Politicians Are Quietly Eroding Academic Standards In Nigerian Universities.
The distasteful write up is making its ignominious rounds on Social Media. The author made a couple of tendentious, spurious, frivolous and false allegations about the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin O. Kalu, with respect to his PhD, recently obtained in the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, his Alma Mater. By raising doubt about Dr. Kalu’s PhD, he invariably casts aspersions on those who superintended over his academic attainments. In addition, he has also impugned, lampooned and besmirched the integrity and reputation of the senior academia who run the Graduate Programme of the Faculty. Ipso facto, it behoves this writer, as one of those involved, to visit this space and set the records straight.
To start with, it is supremely intriguing and optimally preposterous for a professor to so flagrantly and hastily go public with such grave and weighty allegations (with serious implications), without doing as much as a scintilla of verification, which would have provided him with all the information that would have saved him the embarrassment of espousing such hideous falsehood in the public domain. By the way, if the professor was as punctilious as he would want us to believe, why did he not do what any academician would naturally do; conduct some basic research/findings?
This writer taught Dr. Kalu at the LLB, LLM and PhD levels and supervised his LL.M thesis. He (this writer), has been Head of Department twice, Dean of the Faculty, immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, and currently, Director of Alumni Affairs (which particularly gives him sound locus standi to issue this riposte in defence of Dr.Kalu, a distinguished and stellar Alumnus. The writer is also an ordained clergyman of the Church of God in Christ, Memphis, Tennessee, actively involved in the work of the Gospel.
For the avoidance of every shred of doubt, it is sublimely expedient to let the public know that Dr. Kalu was admitted into the PhD Programme of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar in the 2022 session. He concluded his course work at the end of that session, after writing the first and second semester exams. This writer taught his class International Economic Law, and I hereby attest that he submitted his first and second semester written seminar papers and duly made his oral presentations, under my watch. During the second year of his PhD programme, he made his Mini Proposal and Main Proposal defences. During his third session, (2024/25) he made his Internal and External defences. His External Examiner was a Rev. Father professor of impeccable academic credentials and moral rectitude. Furthermore, it is pertinent for the public to know that the University of Calabar has a well established and unimpeachable international reputation.
As for the Faculty of Law UNICAL, it does not bend rules for anyone.
In view of the foregoing, this writer hereby asseverates thus:
1) Rt. Hon. Benjamin O.Kalu did this PhD in three academic sessions. He did not skip any seminars or exams and he has course mates who are alive and can be contacted.
2) His PhD thesis was supervised by a most erudite and cerebrally endowed professor of international repute, who recently served as a Justice of the Gambian Court of Appeal.
3) The Faculty of Law UNICAL Graduate Board has a well known reputation for its “NO SACRED COWS” stringent policy, which has been consistently upheld and was applied a few sessions ago when a serving Governor did his LLM in the Faculty, when this writer was Dean. In fact, some furore ensued in the University when the Governor came for lectures with his convoy and Social Media went agog.
It is pertinent to assert that during his PhD programme, Dr. Kalu was objectively assessed on his seminars and defences and was adjudged by the Faculty Board and examiners to be a sound scholar, deserving of a PhD. He is definitely not a laid-back armchair or cavalier budding academic because in addition to his seminars and LLM/PHD theses, he has 11(eleven) publications in local and international journals to his credit. All his seminars, exams and defences were done in personam and there are no lack of witnesses to this.
As the Director of Alumni Affairs of the University, yours truly hereby states that the University and the Faculty are proud of Dr. Kalu. In fact, the University is so proud of him that he was invited to deliver the Keynote lecture at the University’s 50th anniversary celebration earlier in the year.
By virtue of all that has been stated so far, it ought to be beyond conjecture that the allegations by Professor Ojo are not only false but also redolent with caprice and crass disregard for the prudence, objectivity and forensic veracity that academicians are known for. As the reader may have observed, specific details as to names and dates have been excluded for the simple reason that this is not a response to an official or judicial inquiry. The details and evidence are available should the matter come to that juncture.
In conclusion, when false statements are made while the truth is just a handbreadth away, it stands to reason that malice might be the sole motive. Disseminating information for malicious purposes does not serve any useful purpose in the society. As the Bible has pungently stated in Matthew 7:12, do unto others what you want others to do unto you. (Paraphrased).
*Professor Michael P. Okom is a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), former Dean, Faculty of Law and Currently, Head of Alumni, University of Calabar. He wrote from Calabar, Cross River State in Defence of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR.
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have repelled a terrorist drone attack on their position at Forward Operating Base Molai in Delwa village, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
A credible source at Army Headquarters confirmed that the incident occurred on December 16.
According to the source, the terrorists deployed four armed drones loaded with explosives, but the troops neutralised all. Efforts are reportedly underway to trace the launch site and apprehend those responsible.
The source added that troops across Sectors 2, 3 and 4 of OPHK are sustaining offensive operations under Desert Sanity IV.
In a related development, troops conducting Operation Safe Haven raided criminal hideouts and an illegal mining site at Rafin Bauna and the Gero mountains in Plateau State on 16 December, arresting three suspects.
Recovered items included a fabricated rifle, a round of 7.62mm special ammunition, a generator, three shovels and water pipes. The suspects and the exhibits are currently in custody.
The source also disclosed that troops under Operation Whirl Stroke rescued a kidnap victim at Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victim, abducted from his shop in Gidan Waya, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on 14 December, was abandoned by the kidnappers after they sighted the approaching troops.
He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to sustained operations against terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements across the country.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu announced the nomination of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the new chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The nomination follows the resignation of Gbenga Komolafe, who previously led the upstream regulator, and comes as the federal government moves to ensure leadership continuity in Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory institutions.
The president had written to the Senate requesting an expedited confirmation process.
This shows the administration’s focus on stabilising the upstream petroleum sector at a time of declining crude oil output, tightening fiscal conditions and renewed efforts to attract investment.
The NUPRC is a key institution under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), responsible for regulating exploration and production activities and enforcing compliance across Nigeria’s upstream value chain.
Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan’s education
Eyesan is a veteran energy executive with more than 30 years of professional experience spanning banking, public service and the oil and gas industry.
She is a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin and began her career in the financial sector, working at People’s Bank of Nigeria and later Gulf Bank of Nigeria, before transitioning into the petroleum industry.
She spent nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its successor, NNPC Ltd., rising through the ranks to occupy some of the most senior positions within the organisation.
Eyesan retired from NNPC Ltd. in 2024 as Executive Vice President, Upstream, a role she held between September 2023 and November 2024, overseeing the company’s upstream portfolio during a period of structural reform and heightened regulatory change.
Her early career experience
Prior to that, she served as NNPC’s pioneer Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer from 2022 to 2023. In that capacity, she led the development of the company’s sustainability framework, institutionalised enterprise-wide data governance and supported the transformation of NNPC into a fully commercial entity in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
Between 2019 and 2022, Eyesan was Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, where she coordinated long-term corporate strategy, budgeting and capital allocation, while also engaging government ministries and agencies on national development plans. Her work during this period included supporting negotiations that led to the renewal of Nigeria’s deepwater production-sharing contracts, unlocking billions of dollars in potential investments.
Eyesan’s career also intersects with several landmark developments in Nigeria’s energy sector, including strategic and regulatory engagements that supported the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act and initiatives aimed at strengthening energy security and investor confidence.
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•Saidu Mohammed heads downstream/midstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan leads upstream
• Tinubu seeks Senate’s confirmation for new picks
•NBA demands probe despite Ahmed’s resignation
Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos
In an unexpected turn of events, the Presidency yesterday announced the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, as well as the his counterpart at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe.
In their place, President Bola Tinubu asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the NMDPRA and the NUPRC, namely: Saidu Aliyu Mohammed and Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan respectively.
Both officials who ‘resigned’ left their positions ahead of the expiry of their tenures next year, having been appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Specifically, the Presidency made the announcement shortly after meeting behind closed doors with the embattled erstwhile CEO of the NMDPRA, Ahmed, at the State House, Abuja.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of mounting allegations against the former petroleum regulator, Ahmed, by renowned industrialist and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Ahmed who arrived at the State House at about 5:30pm left the President’s first floor office in less than 30 minutes at about 5.55 pm and refused to speak with newsmen as he exited the Villa offering no comment on the allegations or the outcome of his meeting with the President, THISDAY observed.
Dangote in recent times has been locked in a public dispute over Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator and the future of domestic refining, with Africa’s richest person accusing him of sleaze and economic sabotage as well as undermining local refining capacity in Nigeria.
Dangote maintained that the continued issuance of import licences for petroleum products, despite in-country capacity was frustrating domestic refiners and entrenching dependence on imports.
He further alleged that the NMDPRA was colluding with international traders and oil importers to the detriment of local operators, a charge the regulatory chief had yet to publicly address before his removal, and for which he had been invited by federal lawmakers.
Besides, the billionaire businessman raised personal allegations against the NMDPRA chief, claiming that Ahmed was living beyond his legitimate means and claiming that four of his children attend secondary schools in Switzerland at a cost running into about $7 million.
Dangote argued that such expenditure raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector, and eventually submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), calling for Ahmed’s arrest, investigation and prosecution.
Perhaps, even more shocking was the ‘resignation’ of the NUPRC chief, Komolafe, the pioneer head of the upstream commission since 2021, with an initial term of five years, which was expected to run out next year.
Komolafe’s tenure has been marked by a series of reforms, touching on regulatory transparency, industry performance, investment confidence, community development, and international engagement.
Under him, Nigeria’s active drilling rig counts surged from just eight in 2021 to almost 70 by October 2025, reflecting renewed exploration and production interest. The regulatory environment has fostered investment approval and capital inflows, with dozens of Field Development Plans (FDPs) worth billions of dollars sanctioned, boosting Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and production potential.
He also oversaw the development and implementation of key regulatory frameworks, leading to the reduction of crude theft as well as expansion of the Host Community Development Trust framework, channeling funds into community infrastructure and social services.
However, a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the two new nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.
Following the ‘resignations’ the President has, therefore, asked the Senate to confirm the nominations of the two new chief executives to fill the positions, requesting expedited confirmation of Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Mohammed as head of the NMDPRA.
Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream between 2023 and 2024, and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy at NNPC from 2019 to 2023.
On the other hand, Saidu Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. Coincidentally, he was also announced yesterday as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.
His prior roles include Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Chair of the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.
He also served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power Directorate, where, according to the Presidency, he provided strategic leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Mohammed, the statement said, played a pivotal role in delivering key projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train, the statement stressed.
NBA Demands Probe Despite Ahmed’s Resignation
Also yesterday, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), insisted that serious allegations, including forgery and false asset declarations, must be thoroughly investigated and should not be allowed to end with the resignation or removal of a public officer.
Osigwe made the remarks in the wake of the resignation of Ahmed, following corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Dangote.
Speaking during on Channels TV Politics Today, the NBA president warned that allowing high-profile officials to quietly leave office without accountability weakens institutions and entrenches a culture of impunity. He stressed that resignation does not amount to exoneration and must not be treated as closure.
“Allegations of this nature are too weighty to be used merely as tools for political expediency or administrative convenience. Once such claims are made, there is a public duty to investigate them to their logical conclusion, either to clear the individual’s name or to establish guilt based on credible evidence,” Osigwe said.
He added: “We have said this before in similar cases. When weighty allegations such as forgery or false declarations are raised, there ought to be an investigation. People should present documents, and where others are complicit, they too should be held accountable.”
Osigwe cautioned against a pattern in which allegations surface, a resignation follows, and public interest fades without any transparent inquiry. Such an approach, he noted, creates the impression that allegations are weaponised simply to remove someone from office, after which no one genuinely seeks the truth.
He emphasised that accountability processes must be driven by a sincere desire to uphold the rule of law, not by political manoeuvring or attempts to give one party an advantage in regulatory or commercial disputes.
Politicising serious accusations, he warned, reduces them to power plays and undermines public confidence in governance and justice.
While declining to take sides in the specific controversy, Osigwe said perceptions of corruption can sometimes be as damaging as proven misconduct, making it all the more important for allegations to be properly examined.
Failure to investigate, he added, harms not only the individuals involved but also the credibility of public institutions. “Building strong institutions requires consistency, transparency, and follow-through in handling allegations against public officers. This is how institutions are built and how we prevent such issues from recurring,” he said.
Osigwe maintained that Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts would remain superficial unless allegations are followed by credible investigations and, where necessary, prosecution. He stressed that accountability must go beyond symbolic gestures to demonstrable outcomes.
Dispute Threatens Nigeria’s Economic Sovereignty, Agbakoba Warns
Meanwhile, a former NBA President, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has warned that the ongoing dispute between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the NMDPRA goes beyond a commercial or regulatory disagreement, raising fundamental questions about Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and constitutional management of its hydrocarbon resources.
In a press statement issued yesterday, titled: “The Dangote Refinery–NMDPRA Dispute: Beyond Commercial Disagreement to Questions of Economic Sovereignty”, Agbakoba said the impasse highlights deeper contradictions in Nigeria’s petroleum governance framework.
According to the statement, the controversy surrounding Africa’s largest refinery, built at an estimated cost of $20 billion—reveals a striking paradox: Nigeria now has world-class refining capacity yet remains heavily dependent on imported petroleum products.
He noted that a private investor has delivered infrastructure long absent in the country but now faces regulatory obstacles from an authority whose mandate includes promoting efficiency, investment, and growth in the downstream sector.
“The issue at stake transcends commercial disagreement,” the statement said, describing the situation as one that strikes “at the heart of a fundamental development question: the sovereignty of Nigeria’s governance process over its hydrocarbon resources.”
Agbakoba criticised policy inconsistencies, particularly the reported difficulty domestic refineries face in securing crude oil feedstock while licenses for imported refined products continue to be issued.
He argued that such outcomes undermine local value addition, sustain foreign exchange pressures, and entrench Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on fuel imports. He warned that the dispute reflects a broader structural problem in Nigeria’s oil sector, described as continued reliance on a “Contract Oil” model.
Under this system, crude oil is largely treated as an export commodity, while refining, job creation, and industrial development are outsourced to foreign economies. As a result, Nigeria exports raw crude only to import refined products at premium prices, perpetuating economic dependency and denying the country the full benefits of its natural resources.
This approach, the statement argued, has contributed to decades of underdevelopment and vulnerability to global energy market shocks. In contrast, Agbakoba highlighted Saudi Arabia’s petroleum governance model, described as “Development Oil.”
Saudi Arabia, he said, prioritises domestic refining, downstream integration, and control of the petroleum value chain, avoiding policies that undermine local capacity. By comparison, Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, lacks similar downstream control, including ownership of a national tanker fleet.
Agbakoba cited Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which vests ownership and control of oil and gas resources in the federal government to be managed for the welfare and security of Nigerian citizens.
He argued that regulatory actions that frustrate investments capable of creating jobs, reducing import dependence, and strengthening local capacity may amount to a breach of this constitutional obligation.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, will on Sunday confer chieftaincy titles on the son of President Bola Tinubu, Seyi and a former governor of Zamfara State, Abubakar Yari.
This was confirmed in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye.
According to the statement, Senator Yari will receive the chieftaincy title of Obaloyin of Yorubaland, representing love, compassion, justice and a bridge between physical and spiritual realms, while Seyi Tinubu, a business magnate, will receive Okanlomo of Yorubaland title, symbolising a custodian of Yoruba values, unity and cultural heritage.
The statement concluded that both titles come with responsibilities such as promoting Yoruba culture, advising the Alaafin, fostering unity and advancing education and social welfare.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 11 kidnapped victims and recovered arms and other items in coordinated operations across the Northwest and North-Central.
A credible source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the successes were recorded under Operations Fansan Yamma, MESA, Enduring Peace (OPEP) and Whirl Stroke (OPWS).
The source said the troops operating under Operation Fansan Yamma rescued two truck drivers abducted along the Magami–Gusau road in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara.
It said that the terrorists were forced to abandon the victims during a hot pursuit by troops through their withdrawal routes.
“In Sokoto State, troops recovered an AK-47 rifle abandoned on farmland at Garin Hilo village, Sabon Birni LGA, following actionable intelligence from locals.
“Similarly, under Operation MESA, troops, working with vigilantes, rescued nine kidnapped victims in Kogi and Kwara States.
“Three farmers abducted at Ojiwo Egume community in the Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi were rescued alongside a motorcycle.
”(Also), six villagers kidnapped at Ikosin village, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara, were freed after a hot pursuit that forced the kidnappers to flee and abandon two motorcycles.
“Efforts are ongoing to rescue four other victims abducted at Owa Onire in Ifelodun LGA during a road project,” it said.
The source said the troops had suspended operations in Taraba to restore peace and order in troubled areas as well as other parts of the country. (NAN)
The post Troops rescue 20 kidnapped victims, nab suspects appeared first on Vanguard News.
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged the federal government to grant special protection to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the new tax implementation framework scheduled to take effect in January 2026.
The ACCI president, Chief Emeka Obegolu, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the Chamber’s 2025 End-of-Year Media Parley, where he expressed concerns over the potential impact of the new tax regime on small businesses.
“MSMEs remain the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, yet they continue to grapple with rising operational costs, limited access to finance, unreliable power supply and regulatory bottlenecks,” Obegolu said. “It is therefore critical that they receive special consideration under the new tax framework.”
He said ACCI supports government efforts to reform the tax system but warned that reforms must strike a balance between revenue generation and business sustainability.
“While we acknowledge the government’s commitment to redesigning the tax architecture for improved revenue generation, economic expansion, not taxation, is the most sustainable path to increased government revenue,” he stated.
The ACCI president called for simplified compliance procedures and reduced penalties for MSMEs, noting that complex tax processes could discourage small businesses and undermine job creation.
“Tax reforms must eliminate multiple taxation, and tax administration must be transparent, efficient and technology-driven to reduce human interference and improve compliance,” Obegolu said.
He also emphasised the importance of ongoing stakeholder engagement beyond the January 2026 rollout of the policy.
“Stakeholder engagement must not end with implementation.
There must be continuous feedback and adjustments to address challenges faced by businesses, especially MSMEs,” he added.
Obegolu further urged the authorities to issue clear and accessible guidelines ahead of the rollout and adopt a phased implementation approach where necessary to allow businesses adequate time to adjust.
He reaffirmed ACCI’s commitment to working with government agencies and tax authorities to build a tax system that is fair, growth-oriented and supportive of enterprise development in the Federal Capital Territory.
Obegolu also commended the media for its role in bridging the gap between policy, business and the public, calling for continued balanced reportage that strengthens investor confidence and supports economic growth.
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has confirmed a fatal road accident that occurred at Iyana Meiran, along inward Meiran Road, leaving two people dead and three others critically injured.
According to LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, the crash happened near the Primary Health Centre, PHC, Meiran, when a Dangote Silo Mixer Truck lost control due to brake failure while traveling at high speed.
The truck reportedly collided with a commercial mini-bus (Korope) with registration number EPP 541 YF and four commercial tricycles (Marwa) bearing registration numbers KTU 360 QN, LND 444 QL, LSR 444 QN, and EKY 122 QP.
The collision caused severe damage to the vehicles, trapping commuters in twisted metal and debris.
LASTMA operatives, with assistance from members of the public, rescued the injured, who were promptly taken to Mobonke Hospital on Meiran Road for urgent medical attention.
The two deceased were handed over to the Nigeria Police, who transported the bodies from the scene.
The Meiran Divisional Police Officer also led a team to the site to secure the area and assist with rescue and recovery operations. The driver of the Dangote Silo Mixer Truck reportedly fled the scene following the crash.
Expressing condolences, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles, to ensure their vehicles are mechanically sound before embarking on journeys.
He emphasised the dangers of excessive speeding and poor vehicle maintenance, which remain major contributors to road accidents in Lagos.
Bakare-Oki also appealed to all road users to exercise caution, comply with traffic regulations, and prioritise roadworthiness in the interest of public safety across the state.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Sokoto State chapter, has suspended its planned street protest over worsening insecurity and resolved to hold special prayers for peace and safety across the state.
The decision was announced on Wednesday by the state NLC Chairman, Abdullahi Jungle, who said it followed consultations and a resolution of the State Executive Council, in line with a directive from the NLC national headquarters.
Jungle said insecurity has continued to take a toll on Sokoto and neighbouring states, noting that many local government areas remain affected.
He said the decision to suspend the protest was reached after stakeholders agreed that special prayers were necessary, in line with the religious and cultural practices of the people of Sokoto during periods of crisis.
According to him, the NLC, working with the Sokoto State Action Committee and other stakeholders, engaged Islamic clerics to offer prayers for peace and security in the state.
The labour leader also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to address insecurity in Sokoto and surrounding states, urging authorities to provide adequate support to security agencies.
He stressed that suspending the protest does not mean labour has abandoned its demand for improved security but reflects a peaceful approach to the current situation.
Special prayer sessions were held at the NLC secretariat, attended by Islamic scholars, labour leaders and community members.
![What Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Said In Burkina Faso [Photos]](https://informationhub.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251217_212227.jpg "What Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Said In Burkina Faso [Photos]")
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has delivered a message of solidarity and fraternity from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the President of Burkina Faso, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré.
Naija News reports that this is as both countries explored ways to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation.
Tuggar conveyed the message on Wednesday during an audience with President Traoré in Ouagadougou, where discussions focused on cooperation across several sectors, including security and the fight against terrorism.
Speaking after the meeting, the minister said Nigeria and Burkina Faso shared longstanding ties and common security concerns, noting that the engagement was aimed at reinforcing mutual understanding and neighbourly relations.
“We exchanged views on cooperation in several sectors. We also discussed the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.
He acknowledged procedural irregularities in the authorisation process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkina Faso’s airspace, expressing Nigeria’s regret over the incident, while emphasising Abuja’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and international aviation protocols.
The minister also distanced the Federal Government from remarks made by a Nigerian political party official alleging maltreatment of Nigerian military personnel in Burkina Faso.
“We clearly dissociate ourselves from those comments and express our sincere regrets to the government of Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.
Tuggar commended President Traoré and his government for their spirit of fraternity and the treatment accorded to the occupants of the aircraft during their stay in Burkina Faso.
He further said discussions covered broader regional efforts to tackle terrorism and violent extremism, noting that Burkina Faso had recorded notable successes in counter-terrorism operations.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustained dialogue, regional solidarity and enhanced cooperation with Burkina Faso and other countries in the sub-region to address shared security challenges.
President Bola Tinubu has signed an executive order prohibiting the export of wood and allied products from Nigeria.
This was announced by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, at the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment held in Katsina State on Wednesday.
Mr Lawal said the directive, titled “Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025,” was necessitated by the need to strengthen Nigeria’s response to climate change and halt the rapid depletion of the country’s forest resources.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s forests are critical to environmental sustainability, providing clean air and water, supporting livelihoods, conserving biodiversity and playing a key role in mitigating climate change.
“The continued export of wood and allied products undermines these benefits and threatens the long-term health of the environment,” Mr Lawal said.
He added that Nigeria’s ecosystem is under severe pressure due to illegal logging and unregulated wood exports, which have significantly weakened the country’s forest cover.
He said all licences and permits previously issued by any ministry, department, or agency for the extraction and export of wood have been suspended and declared invalid.
The ban represents the latest major policy intervention by the federal government aimed at curbing widespread illegal logging and strengthening Nigeria’s climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Not the first time
In 2018, the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recommended the suspension of commercial trade in African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus, also known as Kosso) from Nigeria.
The recommendation followed Nigeria’s authorisation of massive exports—estimated at over 180,000 cubic metres—to China and Vietnam without evidence that the trade was sustainable.
The move raised concerns about the survival of the species. It prompted Nigerian authorities to impose bans and levies, while also drawing attention to the scale of illegal logging in West Africa.
In 2023, the federal government announced a review of its ban on charcoal export and placed a suspension on the exportation of processed wood and other allied products.
Despite these measures, enforcement has remained weak. Illegal logging has continued across major biodiversity hotspots, particularly in Cross River State, which is home to the country’s largest remaining rainforest.
In Nigeria’s north-east, failed harvests and widespread poverty have pushed many farmers into illegal logging, fuelling a cross-border trade dominated by middlemen.
Between 2001 and 2022, Nigeria’s most forested areas lost an estimated 11 per cent of their tree cover, a trend that has persisted as large-scale commercial interests continue to encroach on protected zones.
Amidst the lingering scourge of climate change across the African continent and globally, experts have encouraged the massive planting of trees as part of measures to boost climate resilience and adaptation due to the inherent ability of most tree species to sequester atmospheric carbon.
However, PREMIUM TIMES investigations have repeatedly shown that the federal government’s afforestation programmes aimed at restoring degraded forests are largely unsuccessful and poorly implemented.
Similarly, weak border controls and lax policy enforcement have also allowed perpetrators of illegal logging to evade prosecution and sanctions.
Suspended licences
Speaking on the operationalisation of the executive order, Mr Lawal said all licences and permits previously issued by any ministry, department or agency for the extraction and export of wood have been suspended and declared invalid.
With the new directive, illegal logging and deforestation are prohibited nationwide, marking a significant shift in Nigeria’s environmental policy framework.
The federal government said the prohibition is anchored on Sections 17(2) and 20 of the Nigerian Constitution. These provisions mandate the state to ensure that the nation’s material resources are harnessed for the common good and to protect Nigeria’s water, air, land, forests and wildlife.
The executive order states that unchecked logging and the commercial exportation of wood products are inconsistent with these constitutional obligations.
Under the policy, security agencies and relevant ministries are expected to enforce a nationwide clampdown on illegal logging and related activities.