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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has reacted to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s recent partnership with Chinese firms to restart the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

In a statement by NUPENG President, Otunba Salimon Oladiti, he said the refineries’ restart would reduce the economic pressures Nigerians face.

DAILY POST reports that a partnership was recently signed with Chinese firms to revive the country’s refineries.

Reacting, he said the move would effectively address “the long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s petroleum sector and reduce the country’s heavy dependence on imported petroleum products despite its position as a major oil-producing nation.

“The agreement with the Chinese firms presents an opportunity for the country to reposition its oil and gas sector, restore public confidence in the nation’s refining capacity, create employment opportunities, encourage industrial growth, strengthen energy security, and reduce the economic pressure associated with fuel importation.”

He, however, noted that “Nigerians are tired of repeated refinery rehabilitation promises and projects that have consumed huge public resources without delivering lasting results,” and therefore urged all parties involved in the partnership to ensure transparency, accountability, professionalism, and timely execution of the agreement.

It would ease economic pressure – NUPENG reacts to NNPCL’s partnership on Nigerian refineries’ restart

Hon. Natasha Osawaru-Idibia, the lawmaker representing Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly and wife of music star 2Baba, has announced her defection to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

She disclosed the move during a visit to the residence of the party’s national chairman, Senator Seriake Dickson, where she formally aligned with the platform and got her membership card.

Osawaru-Idibia also confirmed the development in a post on her Instagram page, where she shared a picture of her visit alongside former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso.

Before her defection, she was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and currently represents Egor Constituency in the 8th Edo State House of Assembly.

2Face’s wife Natasha Idibia dumps PDP for NDC

Former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has announced his decision not to join Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

In a statement on Thursday, Ihedioha said that while he is not against Obi’s movement to the NDC, he will remain in the ADC.

Peter Obi, alongside a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, recently announced their new political movement.

“Over the past year, we have diligently and consistently endeavoured to establish a coalition of well-intentioned Nigerians under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” he said.

“Our objective has been unequivocal: to provide effective governance to the citizens of Nigeria and to foster a nation that is accountable, inclusive, and prosperous.

“On Sunday, May 3, 2026, my esteemed brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, made the choice to transition to the NDC in pursuit of his political ambitions. Although I would have preferred that this aspiration be pursued within the ADC, I acknowledge that in a democratic society, every leader possesses the right to make political decisions based on their convictions. I respect his choice and extend my best wishes to him.

“We share a mutual desire for a better Nigeria, one that serves all its citizens and honours our diversity. This remains our collective aspiration, one that surpasses political affiliations.

“As a founding member of the ADC coalition, I am thoroughly aware of the meticulous and arduous efforts that have led us to our current position. These endeavours have been founded on sacrifice, strategic alignment, and a clear vision for the future of Nigeria.

“After careful consultation and reflection over the last 72 hours, I have decided to remain with the African Democratic Congress at this juncture. I take intentional political actions, and at this moment, I see no reason to abandon the ADC.

“We will persist in our efforts towards the shared vision of a New Nigeria, with the same objective, but on different platforms,” he said.

2027: I’ll remain in ADC despite Peter Obi’s move to NDC – Ihedioha

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has mourned the death of Mr. Kingsley Uchegbu, a reporter with Independent Television and Radio attached to the Edo State Government House, assuring that the state government will support the family he left behind.

DAILY POST reports that Mr. Kingsley Uchegbu died on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, after a brief illness in Benin City.

The governor, who paid a condolence visit to Mrs. Chineyeamara Uchegbu, the widow of the late reporter, at her residence in Benin City, assured that the government would assist the family following the death of the breadwinner.

The governor was represented by a delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Yakubu Musa.

Speaking through the Commissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, who was also in the entourage, he said the state government will provide succour to the family of the late journalist, who was dedicated and committed to his duties.

“Madam, we were sent here by the governor. We can assure you that we will not leave you alone in this. We will be part and parcel of the process that will give some succour to you and your children.

“We are consoled by the fact that nobody among us here can speak ill of Kingsley, as he was a good friend, dedicated, committed, humble and lived a simple life.

“Please be strong and stay alive for your children because they are the ones who will represent and continue the journey that he was unable to finish before death took its toll on him,” he said.

A church elder of the Winners Chapel, Dr. Magnus Oshiogwe, who spoke on behalf of the family, thanked the representatives of the Edo State Government for the prompt visit to Kingsley Uchegbu’s widow, noting that it has shown respect for him.

“We are expecting some of his close family members, and they are on their way. Whatever the government can do to support this family, please do, as it will go a long way in easing their pain,” he added.

Until his death, Kingsley Uchegbu was a staff member of Independent Television and Radio, seconded to the Government House Press.

He is survived by his wife, children, and an aged mother.

Those in the entourage of the Chief of Staff include the Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Ken Ihensenken; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Ebojele; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic Media, Paul Ezenwa, alongside members of the Government House Press Corps.

Gov Okpebholo mourns late ITV journalist, Kingsley Uchegbu

Fresh defections have hit the House of Representatives as five lawmakers left the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among those who defected is Mohammed El-Rufai, the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the representative for Kaduna North Federal Constituency.

El-Rufai officially transitioned from the APC to the NDC during a plenary session on Thursday, a decision that political analysts suggest further indicates the deepening divide between the El-Rufai political faction and the ruling party.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the letters of defection in the chamber.

Mohammed El-Rufai’s departure follows months of speculation regarding his political prospects, particularly after his father, Nasir El-Rufai, repeatedly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The former governor of Kaduna, once seen as one of Tinubu’s most formidable allies within the APC, has recently accused the ruling party of neglecting internal democracy and marginalizing loyal stakeholders.

Additionally, Joshua Obika, who represents the Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has also joined the NDC.

Obika’s defection from the APC to the NDC marks his third political shift since the commencement of the 10th Assembly.

He was initially elected under the Labour Party in 2023 before switching to the APC in March 2026.

Likewise, Abdulhakeem Kamilu, who represents the Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency of Kano State, has left the ADC for the NDC, citing ongoing leadership conflicts within the party.

Kamilu was elected to the House on the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, platform before previously defecting to the ADC. In another update, two lawmakers from Kaduna…

2027: Fresh defections as El-Rufai, other lawmakers dump APC, PDP, ADC to NDC

A group of concerned stakeholders from Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo State has voiced grievances over what they described as years of deliberate marginalization, despite being oil- and gas-rich areas, noting that neither area has produced a governor since the creation of the state in 1976.

At a press conference held on Thursday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the group demanded that the 2028 governorship slot be zoned to their area as a way of giving them a sense of belonging and appreciating their contributions to the growth of the state.

In a two-page communiqué released to the press and signed by Dr. John-Donald Ikegwuruka, the group stated that any charter of equity that excludes the people “who lay the golden eggs” amounts to nothing but a classroom debate, theoretical, hollow, and insulting to their people.

Recounting their many losses over the years, the group said: “We have lost countless lives and properties in our lawful struggle for recognition and repositioning. Our patience has worn thin. If Imo State is sincere about building a charter of equity that will endure for generations, then it must first adopt a charter of resources,” adding that “justice must precede rotation and contribution must precede entitlement.”

According to the stakeholders, “We demand with one voice, and in the strongest terms, that the next governor of the state must come from the oil- and gas-rich local governments of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.”

“The stakeholders commend the excellent relationship between the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and the respected leaders of our oil- and gas-rich areas. It is our earnest prayer that this time-tested partnership will now be leveraged to address our long-standing grievances and wipe the tears of our people.

“Our areas are blessed with both human and material resources to take the state and the local government areas to the next level. Governance requires men and women with God-given mission and vision to deliver. We assert boldly: the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta are ready, able, and willing to deliver the state to greatness,” they stated.

The stakeholders added that the two local government areas remain the mainstay of both the state and the nation, being hosts to some of the highest deposits of oil and gas in Africa, wondering why, despite their contributions, they have been systematically excluded from political power distribution.

Despite all their contributions to the nation, they said, “we lack essential amenities such as roads, hospitals, schools, and water,” stressing that “the tankers and vehicles transporting these resources routinely crash, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties, thereby leaving our people in varying degrees of suffering.”

Ikegwuruka, therefore, appealed to the governor and other stakeholders in the state to cede the 2028 governorship slot to their area.

Stakeholders want 2028 governorship slot zoned to Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta

No fewer than 45 residents of Ogun State have been arrested by the State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) and sentenced to community service for the indiscriminate disposal of waste products.

The offenders were arrested in the Panseke, Quarry Road and Kolobo areas of the state capital after dumping their waste indiscriminately on roadsides, highways and other public places.

DAILY POST gathered that the arrests, made on Thursday, are part of efforts to enforce the state environmental laws.

Addressing them before their community service, the Special Adviser to the Governor on OGWAMA, Farook Akintunde, outlined the implications of their offences to include defacing the aesthetic beauty of the state, spreading airborne diseases, as well as contaminating underground water in the state capital.

He expressed disappointment, stressing that their behaviour was unpardonable, especially with the massive campaign mounted against indiscriminate dumping of waste in various media outlets and the need to patronize government-licensed waste collectors assigned to their communities.

Akintunde said that due to their pleas and written commitment not to run foul of the law again, as well as their immediate enrollment with the waste collectors in their areas, they would be allowed to carry out community service, warning that anyone caught again for the same offence would be prosecuted according to the state environmental laws.

He also warned other residents of the state who are still in the habit of dumping waste indiscriminately to stop forthwith or face unpleasant consequences in no distant time.

45 Ogun residents arrested for indiscriminate waste disposal

The Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam Abdurrahman Ibrahim Idris, has urged intending pilgrims to safeguard their Nusuk cards while in Saudi Arabia, warning that loss of the card could result in deportation.

He explained that the Nusuk Card is a mandatory digital and physical identification card issued free of charge by Saudi authorities for the 2025/2026 Hajj.

According to him, the card serves as an official permit granting access to Makkah, the Grand Mosque, and other holy sites, including Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.

He added that it also facilitates essential services such as accommodation and transportation, and is accessible via the Nusuk platform.

Imam Idris disclosed this during a press briefing at his office in Bauchi, where he also announced a change in the departure time for the first batch of intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj.

He said the flight is now scheduled to depart at 4:50 pm on May 7, instead of 8:29 pm, due to operational adjustments.

The Executive Secretary stated that screening procedures will commence after the state governor, Bala Mohammed, delivers the farewell address.

Idris further advised pilgrims to secure their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to avoid loss.

He noted that pilgrims are required to pay for Hadaya (sacrificial offering) through Ja’iz Bank, at a cost of approximately N180,000.

He also appealed to the relatives of pilgrims to refrain from parking vehicles at the Hajj camp and airport, citing new security measures that restrict vehicular access to designated areas.

DAILY POST reports that the inaugural flight will convey a total of 485 pilgrims, including 323 from Bauchi State and 162 from Plateau State.

Bauchi pilgrims advised on Nusuk cards, Hajj BTA, travel regulations

The Nasarawa State Police Command has intensified security operations following the abduction of several students from an off-campus lodge in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, was said to have taken place at a students’ residence located in Anguwar Ninzo on the outskirts of Gudi.

According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, unidentified gunmen stormed the lodge at about 9:00 p.m. and whisked away some occupants to an unknown destination.

Nansel confirmed that six of the abducted persons are students of the Faculty of Engineering, Gudi Campus of Nasarawa State University, while another victim was reportedly visiting one of the students at the time of the attack.

In response to the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and assured residents and members of the university community that efforts were underway to secure the safe return of the victims.

“The Command remains fully committed to the safe rescue of the abducted victims, while all necessary security measures are being intensified to ensure those behind the act are apprehended,” the police commissioner stated during the assessment visit.

As part of measures to strengthen the operation, the police command redeployed the Area Commander in Akwanga to coordinate ongoing field operations in the area pending the rescue mission.

The police also disclosed that a joint security task force involving operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilante groups, and other tactical units had been mobilised to comb surrounding areas in search of the abductors and the victims.

Residents have been urged to remain calm but vigilant and to report any useful information to security agencies to aid ongoing investigations and rescue operations.

Police intensify search as gunmen kidnap students in Nasarawa community

An energy expert and accountability advocate, Tekeme Umukoro has demanded accountability from Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited over funds spent on the turnaround maintenance of Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.

He made this known in a statement on Thursday.

This comes as NNPCL recently announced a memorandum of understanding with Chinese firms to restart Nigerian government-owned refineries.

Reacting, Umukoro said NNPCL should first give an account for the alleged $3.5 billion spent on Nigerian refineries before beginning another ‘jamboree’ in the name of an MoU with Chinese firms.

He criticized NNPCL for the recurring cycle of waste, opacity, and unfulfilled promises in Nigeria’s refinery sector.

Umukoro said the latest agreement raised serious accountability concerns, especially in light of previous billions committed to refinery rehabilitation with no visible results.

“We have gathered here today because Nigeria can no longer continue to tolerate a dangerous cycle of waste, opacity, and endless promises in the management of the nation’s refineries,” he said.

“Nigerians have repeatedly been told that the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries were being revived, only for those promises to collapse under the weight of poor execution, secrecy, and lack of accountability,” he added.

‘NNPCL must account for $3.5bn wasted refinery funds before restart jamboree’ – Umokoro