Year: 2025

The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists has stated that Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings’ acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria is a testament to Nigerian companies’ ability to manage and operate large-scale oil and gas assets.

In a statement signed by NAPE president,
Mr. Johnbosco Uche and made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, NAPE emphasised the importance of indigenous ownership in strengthening Nigeria’s energy landscape.

PUNCH Online reports that Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings successfully completed the landmark transaction between itself and Shell for the acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria.

“The successful completion of this divestment is a testament to the maturity and capability of Nigerian companies to manage and operate large-scale oil and gas assets.

“It reinforces our long-standing advocacy for enhanced local content participation, which is critical for capacity development, energy security, and sustainable production growth.

“At NAPE, we have consistently championed policies and initiatives that drive responsible exploration and production to combat energy poverty and ensure economic stability for millions of Nigerians,” Uche said

According to him, the landmark share sale deal transfers Shell’s 30 per cent stake in 18 Oil Mining Leases within the SPDC Joint Venture to indigenous ownership, marking a new era for Nigeria’s upstream sector.

He said, “The acquisition by Renaissance marks a pivotal step in deepening local capacity-building, fostering indigenous technical expertise, and maximising in-country value retention.

“Additionally, it aligns with Nigeria’s strategic objective to optimise hydrocarbon resources while driving revenue generation and economic diversification.”

Uche also said the transaction signals a positive trajectory for Nigeria’s energy sector and reflects growing investor confidence.

“NAPE remains committed to fostering strategic collaboration among government, investors, and industry stakeholders to ensure a resilient, innovative, and sustainable energy sector that secures Nigeria’s long-term prosperity,” the statement read.

 

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a 30-year-old woman, Hauwa Sani, for allegedly smuggling ammunition concealed in a palm oil container.

The police also apprehended a syndicate transporting hard drugs meant for criminals operating in Yobe State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He noted that the arrests were made by the Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad during separate operations.

According to the statement, Sani was intercepted along the Keffi-Abuja Expressway on December 23, 2024, while carrying 124 rounds of live ammunition of different calibres hidden inside a five-litre container of palm oil.

She allegedly confessed that one Nasiru of Daura had instructed her to deliver the ammunition to Katsina State.

The police said further investigations were ongoing.

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has officially written to the state House of Assembly, notifying it of its new majority status.

The letter was read by the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, during the plenary on Tuesday in Benin.

The letter, personally addressed to the Speaker, was titled: ‘Notification of APC majority status in the Edo State House of Assembly.’

In part, the letter stated: “We write to inform you that APC has achieved majority status in the House following the defection of several members from the PDP and LP.

“Hon. Bright Iyamu of Orhionmwon II, Hon. Richard Edosa of Oredo West, Hon. Chief Sunday Ojiezele of Esan South East and Hon. Roland Okogbe from Akoko-Edo are now APC members.

“At the appropriate time, we will notify your office of the consequential effects resulting from this change in the House.

Agbebaku confirmed that the letter was received from the APC secretariat, clarifying that APC now holds the majority in the assembly.

An explosion has rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction.

Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove from a video that emerged on Tuesday morning.

The TNP is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.

When contacted, the Police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko said she would find out and get back to our reporter, though she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Details later…..

The Nigerian Air Force has said a precision airstrike against Boko Haram enclaves in Chikide and Degbewa in Borno State has inflicted heavy losses on the terrorist group.

Acting on credible intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance reports, the NAF said it targeted key insurgent hideouts within the rugged Mandara Mountains, where notorious terrorist leader Ali Ngulde and his fighters were believed to be meeting.

A statement on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, said surveillance confirmed the presence of a fortified command hub with solar-powered installations, prompting the service to execute a surprise night attack.

The statement read, “In a bold demonstration of air power and precision night warfare capabilities, the NAF executed a devastating nocturnal airstrike against terrorist hideouts in Chikide and Degbewa on 16 March 2025.

“The night operation targeted insurgent enclaves deep within the treacherous Mandara Mountains, delivering a crippling blow to the terrorists’ stronghold and disrupting their activities.
Acting on credible Intelligence, ISR data, reports indicated that the notorious terrorist leader, Ali Ngulde, and his fighters had planned a high-level engagement at the location.

“ISR missions over the area confirmed terrorist activity at a key assembly point in Degbewa, alongside the presence of heavily fortified structures equipped with solar-powered installations – clear evidence of an active command hub. Following this intelligence, the NAF immediately launched a precision night strike under the cover of darkness, achieving complete surprise.”

Ali said the operation destroyed key logistics and command structures, igniting large fires and neutralising scores of terrorists.

“The successful execution of this night operation underscores the NAF’s growing dominance in both day and night air power capabilities, proving that insurgents can no longer operate under the cover of darkness.

“Through relentless precision strikes and sustained air operations, the NAF remains committed to utilising its formidable air power to neutralise terrorist networks and restore lasting peace to the region,” Ali added.

 

Thousands of people in central Ukraine were left without electricity on Tuesday following a countrywide Russian attack involving more than 130 drones that damaged critical infrastructure.

Kyiv and Moscow have recently escalated cross-border drone and missile attacks despite a US-led proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, which the Kremlin claims as part of Russia, said around 3,000 people were cut off from the grid following the attack, which he said damaged critical infrastructure.

The governor of the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region, on which Russian forces have been closing in, said the barrage resulted in a fire at another critical infrastructure facility.

In Kyiv, authorities said the debris from a downed Russian drone landed in the courtyard of a school at the beginning of the school day. Pupils were in shelters at the time of the attack, they added.

The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 63 out of 137 Russian drones.

Russia’s defence ministry meanwhile said that 46 Ukrainian drones used in overnight attacks had been neutralised.

The strikes, which targeted several regions of Russia, wounded six people, according to local authorities.

The attacks came shortly before Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump were due to hold talks on a potential ceasefire to the fighting in Ukraine.

Russia’s forces occupy swathes of its neighbour’s territory.

The 46 Ukrainian drones were “destroyed or intercepted” over the regions of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk near the Ukraine border, as well as over Orlov, the ministry said.

In the city of Belgorod, a man was seriously wounded by falling drone debris, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Five people were wounded in Kursk when drones struck near a truck transporting bread, interim governor Alexander Khinstein posted on Telegram.

The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has said the call for the release of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has no connection to insecurity in the South-East.

Speaking on Monday during a media chat to mark his third year in office, Soludo, who has been advocating for Kanu’s release, stated that the issue should be viewed separately from security concerns in the region.

Soludo said, “The release of Nnamdi Kanu for me is different from the issue of security, I separate the two, I don’t link the two.”

According to Soludo, his call for Kanu’s freedom is based on the need for broader discussions about the future of the Igbo people, while insecurity in the region stems from criminal activities.

“Nnamdi Kanu for me is for us to have a conversation of a long-term future for the Igbos and that is a different conversation.

“For the criminals who are kidnappers, we have given them olive branch, come out, we will train you, we will empower you, we will rehabilitate you, if you don’t we take you out,” the governor added.

He also accused Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed IPOB leader, of hijacking the situation and turning it into a “killing spree.”

A fire outbreak has destroyed properties worth millions of naira at the popular rice mill market in Wurukum, near the River Benue bridge in Makurdi.

The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday.

Firefighters arrived quickly and were able to stop the fire from spreading to other shops.

However, several shops were affected, with processed and unprocessed rice, milling machines, and other goods completely burnt.

One of the victims, Mercy Hanmaikyur, said she opened her shop in December and lost about N10 million in the fire.

“I opened this shop last December after investing about N10 million. I had three machines—a de-stoning machine, a rice polishing machine—and many bags of processed and unprocessed rice. Everything was burnt,” she said.

Another victim, Iorwa Jeremiah, also shared his loss. He said the fire happened at a time when no one could save anything from his shop.

“I got a call in the early hours of today. By the time I arrived, I saw other shop owners with firefighters who were trying to put out the fire. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done,” Jeremiah said.

The Chairman of the Wurukum rice mill market, Terva Igyar, confirmed that a few shops were burnt, along with a motorcycle, about six milling machines and several bags of rice.

Igyar added that he had spoken to officials of Makurdi Local Government and other stakeholders, who promised to visit the market to assess the damage before estimating the total loss.

The traders ruled out electricity as the cause of the fire, saying their shops were not connected to any power supply.

The victims have appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia for assistance to help them recover from the loss.

 

Nigeria’s inflation rate eased for the second consecutive month in February, raising hopes that price pressures may have peaked and could continue to moderate in the coming months.

The National Bureau of Statistics, in its latest report released on Monday, said the country’s headline inflation rate dropped to 23.18 per cent in February 2025 from 24.48 per cent recorded in January, reflecting a 1.30 per cent decrease within the month.

On a year-on-year basis, the inflation rate dropped by 8.52 percentage points from 31.70 per cent recorded in February 2024.

The NBS noted that while the inflation figures were calculated using a different base year, the decline suggests a significant slowdown in price increases compared to the same period last year.

The month-on-month inflation rate for February stood at 2.04 per cent, indicating the rate at which prices increased within the month.

The NBS noted, “In February 2025, the Headline inflation rate eased to 23.18% relative to the January 2025 headline inflation rate of 24.48 per cent.

“Looking at the movement, the February 2025 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.30 per cent compared to the January 2025 Headline inflation rate.

A newly surfaced CCTV video has captured the moment military officers stormed the Ikeja Electric office, forcefully entering the premises and assaulting staff members.

The footage, which went viral on X on Monday, shows armed officers kicking down doors and barging into offices. Shared by Arise TV journalist Oseni Rufai, the video show the officers, dressed in full military gear and wielding whips, entering without authorisation. A female employee was seen fleeing towards the stairs in fear.

This incident follows an earlier report on March 6 detailing how armed military personnel invaded Ikeja Electric.

According to Ikeja Electric, the invasion happened after the company disconnected a military office over an unpaid electricity bill of N4 billion.

Click the link below to watch the video:

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1901666378995675299