AFNews World

A ROUND PEG IN A ROUND HOLE: DR. MUSTAPHA ABDULLAHI'S INDELIBLE STRIDES IN SOLARIZATION In the annals of Nigeria's energy sector, few appointments have generated as much goodwill and validated confidence as the placement of Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi at the helm of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).  Since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 24, 2023, as the third Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Abdullahi has become the very embodiment of purposeful leadership; a man whose competence, passion, and vision align so perfectly with his mandate that the metaphor writes itself: a round peg, firmly and productively seated in a round hole. Born in Kano and hailing from Okene Local Government Area in Kogi State, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi brings to the ECN an enviable combination of academic distinction and hands-on professional experience that few in his generation can match.  A Chartered Engineer (CEng) and member of ...

A coalition of retired military personnel under the umbrella of the Coalition of Concerned Military Veterans (CCV) has thrown its weight behind the proposed Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN), describing it as a strategic initiative aimed at improving the welfare, coordination, and representation of military veterans across the country. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Secretary-General of the coalition, Dr. Awal Abdullah Aliyu, said the idea of establishing the Veterans Federation of Nigeria was conceived in 2018 during the tenure of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin (rtd), following growing concerns over the proliferation of veterans' associations and the need for a unified platform. According to Aliyu, a series of retreats involving military veterans, international experts, and key stakeholders led to the development of a framework for a national federation that aligns with global best practices in veterans' affairs. He disclos...

A fresh political storm is brewing in Zamfara State as a group known as the Zamfara State Concerned Citizens has announced plans to institute legal proceedings against former Governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, over allegations concerning his educational qualifications. The group, led by Barrister Musa Abdullahi, alleged that Matawalle relied on a certificate obtained from the Vocational Training Centre, Bunza, to secure election into public office and later appointment as a minister, despite what it described as questions surrounding the qualification's compliance with constitutional requirements. In a media statement signed on its behalf, Barrister Abdullahi said the group had concluded consultations and was preparing legal action aimed at testing the validity of the credentials before a court of competent jurisdiction. According to him, public offices are positions of trust that demand honesty, transparency a...

UK Miner Launches Arbitration Case as Nigeria Blocks Access to Multi-Billion-Dollar Lithium Project By Steven Kefas A British mining company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Nigeria after authorities purported to revoke its licences, forcibly escorted company personnel off its legally held tenements, and blocked development of what it says is a multi-billion-dollar lithium and critical minerals project with strategic importance for the UK. Jupiter Lithium Ltd, a UK-registered company, has filed a Request for Arbitration with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) based in Washington DC, Paris and Singapore.  Jupiter has spent several years exploring and delineating what it describes as a world-class hard-rock lithium deposit in central Nigeria. According to the company, the resource is large enough to supply all of Britain’s lithium requirements for decades, positioning it as one of the most significant potential...

EFCC Intercepts ₦4bn Gold Consignment at Kano Airport; Suspects Link Ex-Zamfara Governor Yari to Alleged Smuggling Ring The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intercepted 15 suitcases containing gold bars valued at approximately ₦4 billion at the Aminu Kano International Airport. The consignment was being loaded onto an Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Saudi Arabia when it was seized. Three suspects were arrested during the operation, including Aliyu Baffa, a serving airport security officer, and two accomplices. According to EFCC sources and airport security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the suspects voluntarily confessed that the gold was being smuggled out of the country on the instruction of Senator Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar, former Governor of Zamfara State. The suspects further alleged that they are part of a cartel involved in illegal mining operations across Zamfara, Kaduna, and Kebbi States, which they claim is controlled by Sena...

Northern Democratic Front Accuses Oshiomhole of Lies, Defamation Over Akpabio, NNPC Claims By Our Correspondent, Abuja The Northern Democratic Front (NDF), a political advocacy group, has strongly condemned Senator Adams Oshiomhole over a recent interview in which it said the former governor made several reckless, unsubstantiated, and defamatory statements concerning the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio GCON. In a strongly worded press statement issued on Sunday, the NDF said that while it respects the right of any senator to air legitimate concerns, it cannot stand idly by while falsehoods are peddled and the integrity of the Senate leadership is attacked through baseless allegations. The group specifically took issue with Senator Oshiomhole’s public labelling of NNPC staff as thieves, describing the blanket criminalisation as irresponsible and unbecoming ...