PRESIDENT TINUBU AT 9TH INT’L ENERGY SUMMIT: Nigeria Stands Ready With Africa, Global Partners To Deliver Secure, Affordable, Cleaner Energy

Says energy remains central to peace, prosperity, global stability, unity among communities

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with African nations, global partners and the private sector to deliver cleaner, affordable, inclusive, and more secure energy.

He said energy plays a critical role as the invisible force holding the modern world together, as well as the quiet architecture of balance among nations, the unseen hand that steadies economies and sustains societies.

The Nigerian leader stated this on Tuesday in Abuja when he declared open the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit that was well attended by heads of delegation and senior government officials from across the globe, as well as leaders of international energy organizations, chief executives of global and indigenous energy companies, development finance institutions, and representatives of host communities.

President Tinubu, who was represented at the summit by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, observed that while energy remains central to peace, prosperity, and global stability, Nigeria is focusing heavily on utilizing its vast gas reserves as a transition fuel and expanding renewable energy capacity.

“Energy must unite communities, stabilize economies, and secure futures. It must power factories, illuminate homes, fuel innovation, and build trust between government, investors, and citizens.

“Nigeria stands ready to collaborate with Africa, global partners, and the private sector to deliver energy that is secure, affordable, cleaner, and inclusive,” he declared.

The Nigerian leader recalled that even though his administration inherited an energy sector that was rich in potential in 2023, the sector was “constrained by inefficiencies, uncertainty, and prolonged underinvestment.

“We set to work without fanfare, guided by the clear understanding that energy cannot be treated simply as an economic commodity if stability is our goal. Energy is a catalyst for national security, industrial growth, social inclusion, and regional cooperation,” he noted.

President Tinubu assured that his government was fully committed to “building an energy system that delivers reliability, transparency, sustainability, and shared prosperity.”

Outlining efforts by his administration to boost the energy sector, the President said his administration sustained and deepened the full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, consolidating its role as the live wire of sector reform and strengthened regulatory institutions to ensure clarity of roles, transparency, and investor confidence.

He continued: “Under our watch, Nigeria’s upstream activity recorded a historic rebound. Rig counts rose from eight rigs in 2021 to sixty-nine rigs by late 2025, reflecting renewed exploration and drilling momentum.

“The sector secured Final Investment Decisions exceeding eight billion United States dollars, including major offshore gas developments involving global energy companies. Foreign direct investment into the oil and gas subsector rebounded strongly, driven by regulatory certainty, fiscal reforms, and improved operating conditions.”

Under his watch, President Tinubu said crude oil theft, which had been a major constraint on production and revenue, declined significantly due to enhanced security coordination, surveillance, and regulatory enforcement, adding that the efforts paid off, as they restored operational stability and improved Nigeria’s production reliability in international markets.

Apart from deliberate leadership appointments across key regulatory and development institutions that reinforced professionalism, accountability, and institutional effectiveness, the President stated that “early reforms, most notably fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalization, repositioned the sector’s economics, improved market efficiency, and enhanced long-term investment attractiveness.

“While these measures required national sacrifice, they laid the foundation for sustainability, fiscal resilience, and investor confidence. Industry stakeholders and independent experts have described these reforms as transformational, aligning Nigeria’s energy sector with global best practices,” he added.

Formally declaring the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit open, the Nigerian leader implored participants “to engage constructively, invest confidently, and partner purposefully with Nigeria.”

Earlier, Gambian President, Adama Barrow, observed that Nigeria’s policies have implications far beyond its borders, noting that working together through strategic partnerships is key to regional solutions and energy security.

President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, maintained that Africa must cease to be merely an exporter of raw materials and focus on processing them for the betterment of future generations.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in a speech that was read on his behalf, averred that in Africa, energy is not just about resources but about inclusive and sustainable prosperity.

He assured that the National Assembly is ready to work with relevant stakeholders through legislative backing, agreeing that when the energy system works, the economy grows more resilient.

On his part, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), said the gathering was a call to action to make energy a champion for advancement.

He commended the Dangote Refinery, BUA, and other refiners for making significant investments in Nigeria’s energy sector.

For his part, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), noted that while collaboration is essential in building a reliable energy system, President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is already positioning gas as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy security.

He assured that the government was strengthening oil and gas stability while supporting regional integration and building on the meaningful gains recorded in the sector.

Speaking on behalf of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aradel Holdings Plc, Adegbite Falade, said gas production in Nigeria has grown significantly since 2025, with indigenous producers increasingly allowed to thrive.

According to him, under the leadership of Mr President, requisite reforms and executive orders have been approved, thereby increasing local ownership in the sector.

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd. (Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, also lent his voice, stressing that Africa is at a turning point in the energy sector.

He said Nigeria is well positioned to lead this charge, with over 37 billion barrels of oil potential, making the country an emerging global energy powerhouse.

PRESIDENT TINUBU AT 9TH INT’L ENERGY SUMMIT: Nigeria Stands Ready With Africa, Global Partners To Deliver Secure, Affordable, Cleaner Energy

Marwa Seeks Nationwide Backing for Alternative Development to Curb Illicit Drug Cultivation

By: Michael Mike

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), has called for a coordinated national response to illicit drug cultivation, urging broad support for Nigeria’s newly introduced alternative development programme.

Marwa made the appeal at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, where he highlighted the need for sustained collaboration among government institutions, communities, development partners and the private sector to ensure the success of the initiative.

The alternative development programme, the first of its kind in Africa, was recently launched as a pilot scheme in three cannabis-producing communities — Ilu Abo, Ifon and Eleyewo — in Ondo State.

According to Marwa, the initiative is designed to address the root causes of illicit drug production by providing lawful and sustainable economic opportunities for affected communities.

Explaining the strategy, the NDLEA boss said the programme extends beyond replacing cannabis with other crops, adding that it promotes rural economic growth, strengthens agricultural value chains, improves food security and reduces the pressure on law enforcement and the criminal justice system. He noted that the approach also contributes to peace and social stability in areas previously linked to drug-related crime.

Marwa, while describing the pilot phase as encouraging, said the level of acceptance by host communities and traditional leaders demonstrated the effectiveness of community-driven solutions. He explained that residents have embraced the programme as a dignified pathway to improved livelihoods, reduced poverty and enhanced local security.

Marwa stressed that Nigeria’s drug challenge, particularly cannabis cultivation and use, necessitated a shift from enforcement-only measures to development-focused interventions endorsed by the United Nations.

He cited findings from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, which indicated that over 14 million Nigerians had used psychoactive substances within a one-year period, with cannabis accounting for the highest level of use.

He further revealed that cannabis remains the most prevalent illicit drug in Nigeria, with millions of users nationwide and thousands of hectares of land under cultivation, particularly in forested areas of the South-West. According to him, these cultivation sites are often linked to organized criminal networks that supply both local and cross-border markets.

The NDLEA chairman warned that widespread cannabis production and consumption pose serious public health, social and security risks, especially for young people. He disclosed that more than three-quarters of all illicit drugs seized by the agency in the last five years were cannabis, underscoring the scale of the problem.

Despite the challenge, Marwa expressed optimism that the alternative development programme could significantly reduce illicit cultivation if backed by strong political will and sustained stakeholder support. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of security, agriculture and community development.

Marwa commended both local and international partners for supporting the pilot project, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, agricultural research institutions and development organizations from several countries. He also acknowledged the support of the Ondo State Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He called on communities affected by illicit drug cultivation to work closely with the NDLEA in building legal, productive and secure livelihoods, describing the programme as a people-focused intervention aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s future.

Marwa Seeks Nationwide Backing for Alternative Development to Curb Illicit Drug Cultivation

Army troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA foil bandits’ attack, recover rustled animals in Sokoto

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with other security agencies, have foiled an early morning attack by armed bandits on Gandu Village in Wamako Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Feb. 1, 2026, at about 4:00 a.m., when a large group of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons invaded the community, firing sporadically.

The sources said troops from a nearby Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) and tactical teams were immediately deployed to block entry and exit routes to the village, while combing the area for suspects.

“Two suspects, identified as Aliyu Abubakar and Malam Garba, were arrested in possession of two rustled cows and a pickup vehicle,” the source said, adding that all neighbouring units have been alerted to watch out for fleeing bandits.

Army troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA foil bandits’ attack, recover rustled animals in Sokoto