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All successful entrepreneurs are trailblazers. They prioritise their vision, break down barriers, and take calculated risks that shapes the economic landscape in sectors where they operate. Their high-impact achievements are what distinguish them from the underling and the small-timer. They always have a legacy of impact.
Whether it’s Evan Spiegel, who co-founded Snapchat, or Patrick and John Collison who founded Stripe that revolutionized online payments or Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of Airbnb, they’re all young entrepreneurs who transformed their business sectors and made indelible marks in the business world.
In Nigeria, one of the youngest business moguls reshaping the country’s economic sectors is Dr. Osahon Okunbo, the Executive Director of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL). Dr. Okunbo was on April 24 awarded the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 by Vanguard Newspapers in recognition of his contributions across multiple sectors.
According to the Vanguard, the recognition highlights Okunbo’s investments and leadership in sectors such as hospitality, oil and gas, agriculture, the arts, and the built environment.
At just 38, Dr Okunbo has etched his name in the golden plaque of transformative business leaders. As the ED of PINL, the company responsible for the maintenance of the Trans Niger Pipeline,Okunbo has been part of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s effort to increase oil production through intensified action against oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other acts of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
Through sustained stakeholders’ engagements with host communities, including women empowerment, scholarship schemes, medical outreach, skills acquisition programmes, and environmental awareness initiatives, PINL is helping the country increase its oil production.
Nigeria’s crude oil production has increased by about 40.5 per cent to 1.84 million barrels per day (bpd) from 1.31 million bpd recorded in February this year. And thanks to the initiatives of organisations like PINL, oil production is set to resume in Ogoni land after 33 years of stoppage.
As Chairman of Vetrinox Capital, his business interests’ straddles Engineering, Oil & Gas Investments, Technology & Innovation, Security Solutions, Project Financing, Real Estate & Hospitality Development, Investment Management, Business Development, and Sustainable Growth.
Vetrinox Capital is a holding company committed to driving sustainable economic progress across Nigeria and Africa. Through the diverse portfolio of the company, he provides the vision, resources and strategic oversight that enable businesses to thrive, communities to grow and industries to evolve.
An entrepreneur who prioritises excellence, people, integrity and passion as core business values, Dr Okunbo is a chip off the old block. His late father, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, was a Nigerian billionaire business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and trained commercial pilot who thought him to always put the people first in whatever he does.
That advice has been his guiding philosophy since he broke on the business scene years ago. He acknowledged this much while receiving the Vanguard award. He recalled that his late father was also honoured by Vanguard as Industrialist of the Year before he died in 2021.
“One of the greatest values my father taught me was that the best investment you can make is in people,” Osahon stated with pride during his acceptance speech.
Dr. Okunbo is gracefully stepping into his late father’s shoes as he holds the baton of resilience, integrity and love for humanity. Besides the Okunbo blood flowing in his veins, he seemed to have studied his legendary father’s success recipe and made it his regular full course meal.
While paying tribute to the late Okunbo, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu described him as a “one of the true icons to have walked our ground, he had a special knack and the visionary brilliance to recognize opportunities long before others could see them, and the discipline and talent to build efficient systems and organizations out of bold ideas. He was a man of many dreams and ambitions who was able to defeat the limitations of the circumstances surrounding his birth and claim a prominent spot in our national memory. He was a solution provider.”
Those who know Dr. Okunbo very well will no doubt agree that the young man also exemplifies these qualities. He is a young leader who continues to inspire others through his compassion and generosity. He carries on the tradition of a family where compassion and love for others are the essence of life and the purpose of wealth.
It’s perhaps no coincidence that he set up businesses in the service industry, especially in the hospitality industry where the customer is treated as a king! His hotel, Wells Carlton Hotel & Apartments, located in the upscale district of Asokoro area of Abuja, is a trailblazer that has redefined the city’s hospitality features.
The hotel offers a beautiful and glamorous world of luxury that focuses on providing comfort, security and leisure.
Besides his service to the country, Dr Okunbi is also a philanthropist serving humanity with the same dedicated passion. Through The Osahon Okunbo Foundation, he is demonstrating commitment to human capital development and social empowerment. He has sponsored students and provided support for underserved communities.
A lover of arts and creativity, Dr. Okunbo is a major supporter of the creative industry, supporting platforms like the +234 Art Fair and providing mentorship grants for emerging screenwriters. He pioneered the creative space in Lagos by founding Live Lounge, the city’s first purpose-built comedy club.
During his birthday last year, a celebrity business leader and foremost promoter of Benin culture, Chief Owen Chamberlain Obaseki, penned a goodwill message which captured the essence of Dr. Okunbo. In the message titled “38 Garlands to a Young Prodigy: A Tapestry of Grace, Purpose, and Eternity,” Chief Obaseki praised his trailblazing achievements and commitment to humanity, noting that his life exemplifies passion, discipline, and a heart for service.
He wrote: “Through his foundation, Dr. Okunbo’s transformative generosity shines as a city on a hill. He is not merely a philanthropist but a steward of hope whose work continues to bridge the gap between potential and destiny.
“At 38, his life reminds us that time is a canvas, and his story is painted with fiery passion and unrelenting resolve.”
It is not fortuitous that after a 12-week rigorous selection exercise, the Vanguard Board of Editors picked Dr.Okunbo for an award as the young entrepreneurship of the year 2025 for cross-sector impact among an array of impactful entrepreneurs in the country. It is a well-deserved award for a young achiever who has unlimited potential.
For the Okunbos, there are no boundaries or restrictions on what is achievable. Success is a boundless target. At 38, Dr. Okunbo is just starting to fly.

Tajudeen Suleiman is an Abuja based journalists

Opinion: Dr. Osahon Okunbo, Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, Stewarding The Legacy is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nigeria’s banking sector has just undergone one of its most ambitious recapitalisation exercises in two decades, all thanks to the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of Olayemi Cardoso. About N4.65tn ($3.38bn) has been raised. Balance sheets have been strengthened, at least the improvement could be said to exist in reports or accounting figures. Regulators have drawn a new line in the sand, proposing N500bn for international banks, N200bn for national banks, and N50bn for regional players. This is a bold reset.

Meanwhile, as the dust settles, an uncomfortable question refuses to go away, which has been in the minds of many asking, “Has Nigeria once again solved yesterday’s problem, while tomorrow’s risks gather quietly ahead?”

At a period when banks globally are being tested against tougher buffers, cross-border shocks, and higher regulatory expectations, Nigeria’s revised benchmarks risk falling short of what the global system demands.

In a world where scale, resilience, and competitiveness define banking credibility, capital is not measured in isolation; it is judged relative to peers, risks, and ambitions.

When placed side by side with a far more unsettling reality, that a single South African bank, Standard Bank Group, rivals or even exceeds the valuation and asset strength of Nigeria’s entire banking sector, the celebration begins to feel premature.

The recapitalisation may be necessary. But is it sufficient? The numbers are not just striking, they are deeply revealing. Standard Bank Group, with a market valuation hovering around $21-22bn and assets approaching $190bn, stands as a continental giant. In contrast, the combined market capitalisation of Nigeria’s listed banks, even after recent capital raises, struggles to match that scale.

The combined value of the 13 listed Nigerian banks reached N16.14tn ($11.9bn) using N1.367/$1 in early April 2026, following the recapitalisation momentum.

Even more revealing is the contrast at the top. Zenith Bank is valued at N4.7tn ($3.44bn), Guaranty Trust Holding Company, widely admired for efficiency and profitability, is valued at under N4.6tn ($3.37bn), while Access Holdings, despite managing tens of billions in assets, carries a market value below the upper Tier’s N1.4tn ($1.02bn).

This is not merely a gap. It is a structural disconnect. And it raises a critical point, revealing that recapitalisation is not just about meeting regulatory thresholds; it is about closing credibility gaps.
With accounting figures or reports, Nigeria’s new capital thresholds appear formidable. But paper strength is not the same as real strength.

The naira’s persistent depreciation has quietly undermined the meaning of these figures. What looks like N500bn in nominal terms translates into a much smaller and shrinking figure in dollar terms.

This is the misapprehension at the heart of Nigeria’s banking reform, as we are measuring financial strength in a currency that has been losing strength.
In real terms, some Nigerian banks today may not be significantly stronger than they were years ago, despite meeting much higher nominal thresholds. So while regulators see progress, global investors see vulnerability. Markets are rarely sentimental. They price risk with ruthless clarity.

The valuation gap between Nigerian banks and their South African counterparts is not an accident; it must be made known that it is strategic intentionality. By this, it truly reflects a deeper judgment about currency stability, regulatory predictability, governance standards, and long-term growth prospects. Investors are not just asking how much capital Nigerian banks have. They are asking how durable that capital is.

Even when Nigerian banks post strong profits, much of it has been driven by foreign exchange revaluation gains rather than core lending or operational efficiency. The CBN’s decision to restrict dividend payments from such gains is telling; it acknowledges that not all profits are created equal. True strength lies not in accounting gains, but in economic impact.

Nigeria has travelled this road before. Under Charles Soludo, the 2004-2006 banking consolidation raised minimum capital from N2bn to N25bn, reducing the number of banks dramatically and producing industry champions like Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa. For a time, Nigerian banks expanded across Africa and became formidable competitors.
But the momentum did not last, emanating with lots of economic headwinds. One amongst all that played out was that the global financial crisis exposed weaknesses in governance and risk management, leading to another wave of reforms under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The lesson from that era remains clear, which revealed that capital reforms can stabilise a system, but they do not automatically transform it. Without bigger structural changes, the gains fade.
The real weakness of Nigeria’s current approach is not the size of the thresholds; it is their rigidity. Fixed capital requirements do not adjust for inflation, reflect currency depreciation, scale with systemic risk, or capture the complexity of modern banking.
In contrast, global regulatory frameworks are increasingly dynamic and risk-based. This is where Nigeria risks falling behind again. Because while the numbers have changed, the philosophy has not.

Nigeria’s economic aspirations are bold. The country speaks confidently about building a $1tn economy, expanding infrastructure, and driving industrialisation, but in dollar terms, many Nigerian banks remain small, too small for the scale of ambition the country now proclaims. Albeit, it must be understood that ambition alone does not finance growth. Banks do.
And here lies the uncomfortable mismatch, which is contradictory in nature because the economy Nigeria wants to build is significantly larger than the banks it currently has.
In South Africa, what Nigerian stakeholders are yet to understand is that large, well-capitalised banks play a central role in financing infrastructure, corporate expansion, and consumer credit. Their scale allows them to absorb risk and deploy capital at levels Nigerian banks struggle to match. Without comparable financial depth, Nigeria’s development ambitions risk being constrained by its own banking system.

At its core, banking is about channeling capital into productive sectors, as this stands as one of its responsibilities if it truly wants to ever catch up to a $1tn economy. Yet Nigerian banks have increasingly, in their usual ways, leaned toward safer, short-term returns, particularly government securities. This is not irrational. It is a response to high credit risk, regulatory uncertainty, and macroeconomic instability.
But it comes at a cost. Yes! The fact is that when banks prioritise safety over lending, the real economy suffers. What this tells us is that manufacturing, agriculture, and small businesses remain underfunded, limiting growth and job creation.

Recapitalisation is meant to change this dynamic. Stronger capital buffers should enable banks to take on more risk and finance larger projects. But capital alone will not solve the problem. Confidence will.

One of the most persistent obstacles facing Nigerian banks is currency volatility. Each major devaluation of the naira erodes investor returns and reduces the dollar value of bank capital. This creates a contradiction whereby banks appear profitable in naira terms, but unattractive in global markets.
In contrast, South Africa benefits from a more stable currency environment and deeper capital markets. Without much ado, it is clear that this stability attracts long-term institutional investors that Nigeria struggles to retain. Until this macroeconomic challenge is addressed, recapitalisation alone cannot close the gap because without making it a priority, even the strongest banks will remain constrained.

In a global competitive financial market, one would agree that capital is necessary, but not sufficient. Beyond the capital, one crucial lesson stakeholders in Nigeria’s banking space must understand is that investors’ confidence is heavily influenced by governance standards and operational efficiency, which mainly guarantee more success and capability. Also, another relevant trait to sustainable banking is transparency, regulatory consistency, and accountability, which matter as much as balance sheet strength.

While Nigerian banks have made progress, lingering concerns remain around insider lending, regulatory unpredictability, and complex ownership structures. If policymakers revisit and reflect on the episodes involving institutions like First Bank of Nigeria and the liquidation of Heritage Bank, this will reinforce the perceptions of systemic risk.
Recapitalisation offers an opportunity to reset governance standards, but only if it is accompanied by stricter enforcement and greater transparency, with the key stakeholders seeing beyond the capital growth.

As if traditional challenges were not enough, Nigerian banks are also facing increasing competition from fintech companies. Nigeria has emerged as a leading fintech hub in Africa, reshaping payments, lending, and digital banking.

To remain relevant, banks must invest heavily in technology, an area that requires not just capital, but smart capital, ensuring that digital innovation becomes a core strength rather than an external add-on. The recapitalisation exercise provides the financial capacity. Whether banks use it effectively is another matter entirely.

So, are Nigeria’s new capital thresholds already outdated? Not yet. But they are already under pressure, pressure from inflation, currency weakness, global competition, and Nigeria’s own economic ambitions.

The truth is that the reforms are a step in the right direction, but they may already be systemically weak in the face of global realities. Whilst the actors keep focusing heavily on capital thresholds without addressing deeper structural issues, the reforms risk creating a system that is compliant, but not competitive, stable but not strong.
The recapitalisation exercise has bought Nigeria time. That is its greatest achievement. But time is only valuable if it is used wisely.
If policymakers treat this reform as a destination, the thresholds will age faster than expected. If they treat it as a foundation, Nigeria has a chance to build a banking system capable of supporting its ambitions.
It can either strengthen its financial foundations to match its economic ambitions or continue to pursue growth on a fragile base.
The warning signs are already visible. Systemic weaknesses, if left unaddressed, will not remain contained; they will surface at the worst possible moment, undermining confidence and limiting progress.
Otherwise, the uncomfortable truth will persist; one well-capitalised bank elsewhere will continue to stand taller than an entire banking system at home. Whilst a $1tn economy cannot be built on a weak banking system. The sooner this reality is acknowledged, the better Nigeria’s chances of turning ambition into achievement.

—Blaise, a journalist and PR professional, writes from Lagos and can be reached via: blaise.udunze@gmail.com

OPINION: Systemically Weak Banks Put Nigeria’s $1tn Ambition At Risk is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Nigerian Army said its troops have rescued kidnapped victim and recovered the sum of N8 million paid as ransom by a family to terrorists in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

​A statement signed by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, said the troops deployed in Sector 9 Shendam, successfully rescued a kidnapped victim and recovered ransom paid by the family during a coordinated operation on Saturday, 25 April, 2026.

It said the operation underscored the military’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and protection of citizens within Operation Enduring Peace joint operations area.

​It said the rescue operation was initiated following the abduction of a female victim from Bauna area of Shendam Local Government Area on 19 April 2026.

Oteh added that, “Through rigorous intelligence gathering and interrogation of an arrested suspect who confessed to the crime, troops were able to identify the victim’s location at Padam Forest in Quanpan Local Government Area, where the victim was found and rescued.

“The operation also resulted in the recovery of the sum of 8 million Naira which was previously paid by the victim’s family as a ransom to the kidnappers.

“Following the rescue, the victim underwent a thorough medical check up at the general hospital Shendam to ensure her well-being before being officially reunited with her family. The ransom amount of 8 million Naira was returned to the family.”

He said that troops were currently conducting exploitation operations of the kidnappers hideouts within Quanpan and Shendam LGAs to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate.

It said that the Operation appreciated the citizenry for their support, while calling for more timely information that would assist in maintaining peace and security in the Joint Operations Area.

Insecurity: Troops rescue kidnapped victims, recover N8m ransom in Plateau

Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), Adetayo Akerele, has disclosed that 50 suspected hoodlums were arrested during a statewide enforcement operation aimed at ensuring compliance with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Akerele said the arrests were made during coordinated operations across several areas identified for persistent environmental violations, including Ikeja, Iyana-Ipaja, Abule-Egba, Agege, Iyana-Oworo, Lagos Island, Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Ijora Causeway, Ijora Underbridge and Iddo.

The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Taskforce spokesperson, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan.

According to the chairman, while there was a notable level of compliance with restrictions on movement and commercial activities, some residents did not fully participate in the sanitation exercise.

In a related operation, the Taskforce also apprehended 50 individuals along the Lekki–Epe Expressway for allegedly engaging in activities that disrupted public peace during the sanitation period.

“Some suspects were implicated in acts threatening public infrastructure, including billboards and road signage. All suspects will be charged to court accordingly,” Akerele stated.

He explained that the sanitation exercise is designed to address issues such as indiscriminate waste disposal, open defecation, street trading and other environmental offences.

Akerele reiterated that offenders would be prosecuted in line with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Law, 2017, stressing that sustained enforcement and public cooperation are critical to maintaining environmental order.

He also advised youths to refrain from playing street football during sanitation hours and instead participate in keeping their surroundings clean.

The chairman reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance approach, noting that continued compliance is essential to achieving a cleaner, safer and more livable Lagos.

Lagos Taskforce arrests 50 suspected hoodlums during sanitation exercise

The Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party (South-South), under the now de-recognized Julius Abure faction, Favour Reuben, has cautioned that ongoing legal disputes within the party are hindering its progress and contributing to the defection of members holding elective positions.

Reuben said the protracted crisis had weakened the party’s internal cohesion, stressing the urgent need for reconciliation among stakeholders.

Reacting to last week’s Court of Appeal judgement in favour of Esther Nenadi Usman, he noted that efforts were underway to stabilise the party and restore order to its leadership structure.

Speaking with DAILY POST, Reuben expressed confidence that the disagreements within the party were not insurmountable, emphasizing that internal conflicts were common in political organizations and could be resolved through dialogue.

“For now, based on the judgement, we are trying to reconcile, though Abure said he will go to the Supreme Court.

“But I think the party is one. What we are after is that the party should be one.

“And in every political party, those that live the party will want the party to go forward, because the litigation has been drawing us backwards.

“You could see how many House of Reps members, Senators and Assembly we have lost because of this litigation.

“And I think that in our own opinion, we better come together as a political party, so that we can face whatever that is going on.

“It’s not a matter of faction. Remember we were the first set of people that dragged Abure. When Appeal Court gave him judgement, we all reconciled with him.

“And now that Appeal Court has also given judgement to Nenadi Usman, I think we’re trying to see how the party can be one, so that we can work together,” he said.

He, however, warned that failure to resolve the crisis before timelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, could have serious consequences for the party’s participation in future elections.

According to him, prolonged uncertainty may compel members to seek alternative political platforms, as remaining in a party unable to conduct primaries or present candidates would be politically damaging.

Despite the challenges, Reuben maintained that there is still room for optimism, expressing hope that the party will overcome its internal disputes and reposition itself ahead of upcoming electoral contests.

“There is no amount of fight in political party that cannot be settled. And I’m very optimistic that we are going to settle this and the party will move forward.

“If the party refuse to move forward, people will decide to go alternatively because, Labour Party is not the only political party in Nigeria.

“Politicians will always move. You know the way defection is moving, crossing from this part to this party.

“If people discover that the party is not ready for the settlement or to move forward, people will start moving and some of us too will leave the party, no matter how the party has been our passion.

“Certainly if issues are not resolved. We will take an alternative route and move out, because you cannot be in a party where there will be no election, nobody will present candidates. That will be suicidal,” he added.

LP chieftain, Reuben warns of mass defection over persistent crisis

With the 2027 general elections fast approaching, Nigerians have expressed concern over the rising wave of attacks in many parts of the country and in Kaduna state, blaming security agencies and the Nigerian government for what they described as “total negligence of their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property of the people.”

In most parts of the north, incessant attacks by terrorists have continued, resulting in the loss of lives, abduction of many, and the displacement of thousands. This has raised serious concerns that many may be unable to exercise their franchise by electing candidates of their choice in the 2027 elections.

Govt not worried about insecurity – Asake

Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Kaduna State election, Mr. Jonathan Asake, in an exclusive chat with DAILY POST said that the present government cares little about the welfare of the people. He said it’s only preoccupied with strategizing on how to rig the elections and retain power.

According to him, “This present government is not thinking about how insecurity affects the people. If they were, they would be more serious in tackling insecurity in the state and the country as a whole. Looking back at areas that had insecurity, election results were returned from such areas, and nobody questioned them.

“That is the kind of society we are living in today. So, will it surprise you that no government official at any level is worried about insecurity? The people can continue to be killed, abducted, or displaced from their communities; it does not bother them because they have other ways of returning themselves to power. They are not warming up for elections; they are warming up to rig elections and return themselves to power.”

He lamented that elected representatives are not speaking up about the problems facing the people, adding that the situation in Kaduna State is so pathetic that ordinary citizens are finding life increasingly difficult.

According to him, “What do you say when we are moving towards a one-party system and other political parties are being frustrated? There is no beauty in democracy when people are forced into a particular political party. The beauty of democracy is to provide the people with options among different political parties and for elections to be free, fair, and credible, so that the people can make their choice.

“With the way we are moving towards a one-party system, I am sorry, our democracy is going to die out in a short time,” he opined.

They are being rewarded for their silence – Mark Jacob

A former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kaduna State, Mark Jacob, told

DAILY POST that Nigerian government cares little about the people.

He said, “We have representatives in the State House of Assembly and the National Assembly from the communities where these attacks are taking place daily. Their primary duty is to speak out on these issues, but they are not. Strangely, they are being rewarded with 4+4. I don’t understand how representatives who fail to represent their people and speak out for them can still be rewarded. I find it very difficult to understand.

“Those in political office today are not expecting any election. I don’t think they want to conduct any election. If they did, this is the year they should be up and doing. This is the year they are supposed to be at their best in ensuring peace in the state, particularly by providing security for all citizens, so that people will be free and available to participate in the elections.

“With the way attacks are ongoing and people are being killed, wounded, and displaced, it means nobody is preparing for any election.”

Jacob, a former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that, given the current situation, what may happen next year may not be an election, but rather an appointment or endorsement, with those in power simply declaring themselves winners.

He argued that if the government was truly preparing for a credible election next year, it would ensure that the challenges of hunger, poverty, and insecurity facing the people were drastically reduced.

According to him, “The policy of this government is that nobody should talk about it. It is the body language of those holding political office. It is shocking that this should be the standard practice of the present government. The ambassadors of government are those holding political office, and if they have adopted a policy of silence, then we are not preparing for elections.

“Those in government know what to do, and security agencies know what to do. A situation where security personnel wait for an attack to occur before going after the attackers, or where security agencies give false information about rescuing abducted persons, is shameful. It is shameful that we are playing politics with the lives of Nigerians. How on earth can security agents claim they have rescued abducted persons, only for relatives of the victims to deny such claims?”

Govt must act now – Usman

A security expert, Mr. Salisu Usman, stated that many leaders care little about the welfare of the people. He told DAILY POST that the only thing politicians care about is doing everything possible to return to power in 2027, regardless of what ordinary citizens are going through.

According to him, “It shows the level of ignorance, especially in the northern part of the country, where people continue hailing those they believe are close to them, irrespective of what they stand to gain as a community. Politicians have understood their people, and as a result, those in power do not take anything seriously, thereby doing things as it pleases them.”

He stressed that the government must act urgently to ensure that ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to exercise their franchise and elect candidates of their choice.

He observed that government must be more responsive to the needs of the citizens by providing adequate security, enabling people to go about their normal activities and perform their civic duties.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, government has continued to insist that all security challenges are being tackled, and that the security of Nigerians is their top priority.

Act now before it’s too late – Asake, Mark, others warn govt over insecurity

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, have denied claims that the institution embarrassed former presidential candidate Peter Obi over a proposed lecture.

This clarification was made known in a press statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju on Sunday.

The statement explained that a group within the student body had invited Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, to deliver a lecture on the university premises.

According to Olarewaju, “the university authorities were not duly informed about the invitation or the status of the guest until Friday, just a day before the scheduled programme.”

He stated, “The university authorities were not duly informed of the status and calibre of the invited guest until Friday, just a day before the scheduled programme.”

Olarewaju emphasised that events involving high-profile personalities require adequate prior notice to enable proper planning and coordination.

He added that “such notice allows the institution to make logistical and security arrangements, including liaison with the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services, DSS.”

Olarewaju said, “This is necessary in order to ensure the safety of the guest, members of the university community and the general public.”

The statement noted that due to the short notice, “the university could not complete the required arrangements and therefore did not approve the use of Oduduwa Hall for the event.”

He stressed that the decision was taken purely in the interest of safety, orderliness and adherence to established protocols and added that it was not a reflection of disregard for Obi, whom the university holds in high esteem.

The statement also stated that the Vice Chancellor, Adebayo Simeon Bamire, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to hosting distinguished personalities, provided due process is followed.

The university administrator urged students, staff and the general public to comply with established procedures when planning events within the institution.

OAU denies embarrassing Peter Obi, justifies aborted lecture

Illegal structures, comprising movable containers, shanties, tables and projections have been demolished by the Abia State government at Ubakala junction, Umuahia South local government area of the State.

The exercise took place about two weeks after the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, demolished unapproved shops and shanties opposite ShopRite area of the State’s capital.

The demolition exercise was monitored by a combined team of security personnel.

When DAILY POST correspondent arrived at the site of the demolished structures, the former occupants were seen salvaging what remained of their property, while some of them appealed for financial assistance from concerned agencies and individuals.

Meanwhile, Abia State government has commenced the fencing and beautification of the areas of the town that were demolished two weeks ago apposite the ShopRite area.

 

Abia govt demolishes more illegal structures in Umuahia

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has explained that it withheld approval for a lecture by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi because organisers gave it barely a day’s notice — leaving the institution unable to put the necessary security and logistics in place.

The clarification, issued Sunday by the university’s Public Relations Officer Abiodun Olarewaju, came after Obi raised alarm over what he described as a worrying pattern of cancelled university engagements across the country.

Obi had disclosed via X on Saturday that he was scheduled to deliver a keynote lecture at the institution by 9 am before heading to Ibadan for an opposition parties’ summit, only to be told the event had been called off.

The former Anambra State governor said the cancellation was far from isolated, noting that similar incidents had occurred more than ten times.

“This is no longer incidental; it points to a troubling pattern that should concern all well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.

OAU’s management, however, offered a different account. According to the institution, organisers failed to furnish it with adequate details about the event and its invited guest until Friday — a single day before the programme was to hold.

The university said the late submission made it impossible to complete the arrangements that hosting a figure of Obi’s profile demands, including coordination with the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

“It is important to note that events involving high-profile personalities of such standing require adequate prior notification to the university authorities because it will enable the institution to make necessary logistical and security arrangements, including proper liaison with relevant security agencies such as the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), in order to ensure the safety of the guests, members of the university community and the general public,” the statement said.

Against that backdrop, the university said it had no choice but to decline the request. “Consequently, given the short notice and the attendant inability to complete these critical arrangements, the university authorities could not approve the use of Oduduwa Hall for the event as requested by the organisers,” management added.

The institution was emphatic that its decision was rooted in protocol and the safety of all parties involved, and should not be read as any slight against Obi’s person or standing.

There are strong indications that domestic airlines in Nigeria may halt operations from Thursday, April 30, 2026, over what operators described as unbearable and unsustainable aviation fuel prices, raising fresh fears of widespread travel disruption across the country.

Industry insiders say the airlines, having engaged both the Federal Government and oil marketers without a breakthrough, may be left with no option but to ground flights by Thursday.

The looming shutdown comes after several complaints by operators, who have watched the price of Jet A1 surge by over 300 per cent compared to February levels, pushing operating costs to the brink.

Passengers, many of whom rely on domestic flights for business and urgent travel, now face uncertainty.

In a bid to avert the crisis, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, convened a meeting with airline operators and fuel marketers in Abuja last week. However, findings indicate that the tripartite talks ended in a deadlock, with operators unwilling to shift their stance unless decisive action is taken.

At the end of the two-day meeting, the minister announced a 30 per cent reduction in aviation-related taxes as part of efforts to ease the burden on airlines. While the gesture was acknowledged, operators insist it falls short of addressing the root problem.

Speaking on the first day of the meeting, Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Allen Onyema, welcomed the government’s intervention but maintained that fuel marketers must account for the sharp rise in prices.

Onyema said, “This government has helped the industry more than anyone since 1999, and the President is even willing to waive 30 per cent of the debts airlines are owing.

“But the truth is that the marketers must be brought to book to explain how they came about the 300 per cent increase when even Dangote is surprised because what he is seǰlling to us is still the cheapest.”

At the end of the second day, Onyema issued a stark warning, giving a seven-day ultimatum from midnight last Thursday for action to be taken. “Since the advent of the US-Iran war, there has been a spike in aviation fuel in Nigeria, which we, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, feel is not proportionate to the hike internationally.

“We expect that in the next 48 hours something drastic should be done because no airline will fly in this country in the next seven days if nothing is done, not because they don’t want to fly, but because fuel may not be available to us at sustainable pricing.”

Providing further insight into the financial strain, Onyema disclosed that fuel prices have skyrocketed from about N900 per litre before the crisis to between N2,700 and N2,900, with some marketers selling as high as N3,500.

“Before the crisis, we were buying fuel at about N900 per litre. Now it has risen to between N2,700 and N2,900, with some selling as high as N3,300 to N3,500,” he said.

According to him, airlines are now operating primarily to service fuel costs. “All the airlines in Nigeria have been flying to pay fuel marketers only, and you don’t want to compromise safety,” he added.

Despite speculations about indebtedness, senior airline officials who spoke in confidence on Sunday, due to the sensitive nature of the matter, insisted that operators are up to date with payments to key aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

It was further gathered that in a document, the Airline Operators of Nigeria have formally requested additional relief measures from the government. In the letter dated April 21 and signed by AON President Abdulmunaf Sarina, the group called for the immediate suspension of aviation taxes, fees, and charges for at least six months.

The operators argued that the unprecedented rise in fuel costs threatens not only airline operations but also jobs and the stability of the aviation sector. Among other demands, the AON proposed the introduction of a non-taxable fuel surcharge, a standard practice in international aviation to help airlines manage rising costs.

They also urged the government to direct oil marketers to issue credit notes to airlines affected by what they described as excessive and arbitrary price hikes. In addition, the group called for the establishment of an industry tax reform committee to review existing charges, assess their relevance, and align them with global standards.

As the deadline approaches, uncertainty hangs over Nigeria’s aviation sector. Another airline executive, who spoke anonymously on Sunday because he was not authorised to comment publicly, warned that the shutdown threat remains real. “If nothing is done, no airline will be flying by Thursday,” he said.