From Rabiu Sanusi, Kano

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Zuru, who died in the early hours of today in Egypt.

In a condolence message, the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the death of the late Speaker as a painful and monumental loss not only to Kebbi State, but to the North’s democratic and legislative community.

Yahaya said the late Muhammad Zuru was an accomplished lawmaker, a stabilizing force in governance and a patriotic leader who served his people with uncommon commitment, wisdom and humility.

He noted that the deceased Speaker distinguished himself through selfless service, commitment to democratic ideals, and unalloyed loyalty to the progress and development of Kebbi State.

He extends his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Kebbi State, Comrade Nasir Idris, the immediate family of the deceased, members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly and the Zuru Emirate Council over the deeply painful loss.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased, reward his lifetime of service to humanity and grant him Aljannat Firdaus.

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has begun screening of 5,885 shortlisted candidates nationwide for its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for MSc and Ph.D award.

Deputy General Manager, Education and Training, PTDF, Dr. Bello Mustapha said this during the commencement of the interview on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the Fund received over 38,000 applications while 5,885 were shortlisted under transparent process.

The exercise is taking place concurrently across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria as follows: North-central – Abuja; North-East – Bauchi; North-West – Kaduna; South-South – Rivers; South-East – Enugu; South-West – Oyo.

“The shortlisted candidates are drawn from over 38,000 applicants who indicated interest in the scholarship programme. The selection is based on strict criteria, including academic performance, relevant work experience and overall qualifications of applicants.

“Candidates must possess at least a second class upper degree, alongside other requirements, to qualify for consideration. Secondary school results are also assessed, with grades contributing to the overall evaluation of applicants,” he said.

He said the interview process was being conducted simultaneously in six centres across the six geopolitical zones, adding that candidates were allowed to attend interviews at any centre of their choice, regardless of their state of origin.

Mustapha said the final selection would reflect the Federal Character principle, ensuring equitable representation across states.

He added that the number of successful candidates would depend on available budgetary provisions and management approval.

According to him, the scheme covers petroleum-related courses, with some supporting programmes such as management and petroleum law also included.

Some of the candidates also expressed delight to the Federal Government for the opportunity to be selected for postgraduates studies abroad and promised to utilise the career advancement properly if successful.

Maria Ochanya, a graduate of Biochemistry who expressed gratitude for the opportunity said the scheme would give her the foundation to study MSc in Industrial Biotechnology and equally give back to the society.

Alhaji ikoh, who applied for MSc Environmental Science with a background in Architecture described the process as professional, while expressing optimism to be awarded to study abroad.

Global oil markets are no longer reacting to supply and demand; they are reacting to deadlines.

With President Donald Trump declaring a final Tuesday deadline for Iran to strike a deal, tensions have entered a more binary phase: agreement or escalation.

The ultimatum has raised the stakes not just diplomatically, but economically, as markets weigh the potential for further disruption to one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

So far, the response from Tehran has been firm as Iran has rejected a proposed ceasefire framework, insisting on a more permanent resolution and broader concessions, including sanctions relief and security guarantees.

That rejection keeps the Strait of Hormuz effectively constrained, maintaining pressure on global energy flows and limiting any near-term easing of risk.

The result is a market caught in a narrow band of uncertainty.

Oil prices have made only modest moves in recent sessions, reflecting a balance between two competing forces, the risk of escalation and the possibility, however slim, of a negotiated outcome.

Prices surged earlier, with U.S. crude jumping more than 11% in a single move, before stabilizing as traders assessed shifting signals from both sides.

This kind of price behavior is telling. Markets are no longer reacting in a straight line.

Instead, they are recalibrating constantly, pricing in worst-case scenarios, then pulling back slightly as diplomatic headlines emerge, only to reset again when talks stall.

It is less about direction and more about probability. And for investors, the probabilities still lean toward disruption.

Even as negotiations continue behind the scenes, confidence in a quick resolution remains low.

Each rejected proposal and each new ultimatum reinforces the idea that the conflict could persist longer than initially expected. That, in turn, keeps energy disruption at the center of global market thinking.

Because this is not just about oil prices. It is about access, timing, and reliability.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the critical variable. As long as flows through the corridor are constrained, even partially, the market must assume tighter supply conditions, longer shipping routes, higher insurance costs, and increased volatility across both crude and refined products.

That is why energy disruption remains top of mind for investors. Not because supply has fully disappeared, but because the system that moves it has become less predictable.

In today’s market, uncertainty itself is enough to sustain higher prices and elevated risk premiums.

Even a ceasefire, if it comes, may not immediately resolve that.

Shipping, insurance, and logistical systems take time to normalize. Trust in safe passage takes even longer. Markets understand that reopening flows is not the same as restoring stability.

Which brings the focus back to the deadline.

Trump’s “final” timeline is meant to force clarity, but in energy markets, clarity rarely arrives on schedule. Instead, what matters is how long uncertainty persists and how deeply it reshapes behavior.

Right now, the signal is clear. This is no longer just a geopolitical standoff. It is a market event where diplomacy, disruption, and risk perception are all moving prices at the same time.

And until one of those forces definitively breaks, oil will remain less about fundamentals, and more about what happens next.