By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

A legal practitioner and security expert, Blessing Agbomhere, has urged the Federal Government to sustain the petroleum pipeline surveillance contract coordinated by High Chief Government, describing it as “a strategic national instrument” critical to Nigeria’s economic stability and security architecture.

In a public communication addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the leadership of the National Assembly, and other officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Agbomhere argued that the surveillance framework operated through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and other indigenous firms has played a decisive role in curbing crude oil theft and restoring production levels in the Niger Delta.

According to the statement, Nigeria’s petroleum sector had, in recent years, faced what he described as an “unprecedented crisis,” with organized crude oil theft and large-scale pipeline vandalism significantly undermining national revenue.
He noted that daily oil production had fallen below the country’s OPEC quota, resulting in billions of dollars in lost revenue, weakened investor confidence, and mounting fiscal pressures.

“The consequences were catastrophic,” Agbomhere said, adding that conventional security deployments had struggled to contain criminal networks operating across the creeks and offshore installations of the Niger Delta.

Agbomhere credited the introduction of a community-based surveillance model, anchored by local knowledge and grassroots intelligence, as a turning point in addressing the crisis.

Under the coordination of Ekpemupolo through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the framework reportedly led to the identification and dismantling of illegal tapping points, destruction of clandestine refining camps, interception of illicit crude transport routes, and improved stability across major trunk lines.

He maintained that since the activation of the surveillance regime, oil production has recorded a measurable increase, contributing to improved inflows into the Federation Account and enhancing macroeconomic stability.

“This is not conjecture; it is an empirical reality,” he stated, pointing to what he described as renewed investor engagement and greater fiscal predictability.
Beyond revenue recovery, Agbomhere emphasized the broader security implications of the contract, noting that the Niger Delta’s history of militancy and agitation has often been linked to economic exclusion and tensions over oil resources.

He argued that incorporating local actors into a structured and lawful security framework has reduced incentives for sabotage, fostered youth engagement in legitimate economic activities, and strengthened intelligence collaboration between communities and federal authorities. “The surveillance contract has functioned not merely as a protective shield for pipelines but as a stabilizing mechanism for regional peace,” he said.

Agbomhere also addressed recent calls for the cancellation of the contract, suggesting that such advocacy should be carefully scrutinized. He posited that some of the opposition may stem from interests adversely affected by intensified anti-theft operations.
He cautioned against dismantling what he described as a “functioning security architecture” without evidence of non-performance or legal impropriety, warning that abrupt termination could create an intelligence vacuum, encourage the resurgence of bunkering syndicates, and threaten national revenue at a delicate economic moment.

However, he acknowledged the importance of transparency and accountability, noting that legislative oversight and performance audits remain essential in a democratic system.
“No public contract is beyond scrutiny,” he said, “but reform must not degenerate into regression.”
Agbomhere called on President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, and members of the National Assembly to prioritize empirical evidence, safeguard national revenue, and preserve peace in the South-South region.
He described the surveillance arrangement as “not a mere procurement contract, but a strategic safeguard for Nigeria’s economic lifeline,” urging policymakers to consolidate existing gains rather than risk a return to instability.

Mail received.Thanks for sharing!Acknowledged.

From Abel Zwanke, Lafia

Nasarawa State secured domestic and foreign direct investments totaling $1,008,529,220 between January and December 2025. The figure is separate from other investments attracted within the same period by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the state government.

A report detailing the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency’s 2025 investment portfolio made available to journalists on Monday indicates that the total amount comprises $505.

Announced investments refer to public declarations or formal commitments such as Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Letters of Intent made by investors, companies, or institutions expressing their intention to invest in the state. Actualised investments, on the other hand, represent deals that have progressed to the implementation stage.

The report shows that the announced investments totaling $502.8 million span key sectors including mining, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, among others.

The sectoral breakdown of announced investments includes: Mining – $300 million; Agriculture – $800,000; Energy – $70 million (13.9%); Manufacturing – $130 million; and Others – $2 million, respectively.

For actualised investments, eight companies injected a combined $505.7 million into priority sectors of the state’s economy.

The breakdown of actualised investments shows: Mining – $400 million; Agriculture – $48.8 million; Manufacturing – $46 million; Technology – $16.6 million; and Education – $10.9 million, respectively.

These investments are distributed across six Local Government Areas of the state: Kokona, Nasarawa, Akwanga, Keffi, Lafia, and Toto.

Kokona recorded investments worth $45.5 million (8.9%), followed by Nasarawa with $400 million (79%); Akwanga with $31 million (6.12%); Keffi with $25.9 million (5.2%); Lafia with $16.6 million (0.08%); and Toto with $3.3 million (0.7%).

Among the investing companies is Euphoria Press Limited, which operates in agriculture and manufacturing across three local government areas Kokona, Akwanga, and Keffi.

Other companies include Diamond New Energy Company LTD; Advent Integrated Service Limited; Saro Africa Agric Value Chain; Sequoia Cassava Farms; and China Witent Technology Co Ltd.

According to the report, companies that have announced investment plans and are actively working toward resource deployment include Nichi Mine Limited; Nok Motors Limited Electric; Caspian Pacific Africa Green Energy Limited; CMIG Drawin Nig. Ltd; EGTA Environmental Limited; and Maiyamco Investment Nig. Limited.

The document further reveals that a total of 22,645 jobs are projected to be created across the various sectors.

According to the report, breakdown of the projected employment figures shows that Agriculture will generate 10,025 jobs; Manufacturing – 6,600; Education – 5,000; Mining – 1,000; and Technology – 20, respectively.

India and Canada have announced a host of agreements, including a 10-year nuclear energy deal, after their prime ministers met in Delhi to reset ties that plummeted due to diplomatic tensions.

Narendra Modi and Mark Carney also struck agreement in areas such as technology, critical minerals, space, defence and education.

Carney said they agreed to conclude a free trade deal, years in the making, by the end of 2026.

Under Carney, the two governments are trying to repair ties that were strained when his predecessor accused Delhi of a link to the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

India vociferously rejected the allegation by Justin Trudeau. Trade and diplomatic relations almost came to a standstill as both sides expelled each other’s diplomats and cancelled visa services. Canada hosts a huge expatriate Indian community.

But since Carney took office last year, the relationship has been cautiously rebuilt, helped by the fact that his government has said it believes India is not currently linked to violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil.

The case of four men charged over Nijjar’s killing is still before the courts. At talks in Delhi, both Carney and Modi underscored India and Canada’s long-standing relationship, mutual goals and close people-to-people ties.

“In civil nuclear energy, we have reached a landmark deal for long-term uranium supply. We will also work together on small modular reactors and advanced reactors,” Modi told reporters after their meeting at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

He described the two countries as “natural partners in technology and innovation” and said they would enhance co-operation in AI, supercomputing and semiconductors, as well as jointly host a renewable energy summit.

Carney said Canada was well positioned to contribute to energy-hungry India’s nuclear fuel needs and added that the two countries were launching a strategic energy partnership.

He hailed the progress made in rebuilding relations. “There has been more engagement between the Canadian and Indian governments in the last year than there has been in more than two decades combined,” he said.

On trade, Modi said: “Our target is to reach $50bn in bilateral trade. This is why we have decided to finalise a comprehensive economic partnership soon.”

Carney said he wanted to reach a deal on the “ambitious agreement” by the end of the year. It’s been discussed on-and-off for the past 15 years so concluding it would be a significant achievement.

Analysts say that Carney’s decision to put diplomatic tensions behind him and extend an olive branch to India is a pragmatic one, based on present day geopolitical shifts.

The same holds true for India, which is looking to forge new trade partnerships to diversify its imports and also reduce its reliance on Russia for its energy needs.

Carney met India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar where the two discussed charting a “forward-looking partnership”.

Carney’s four-day trip began with a visit to the financial capital, Mumbai, where he met business leaders and ministers on 28 February with a view to boost trade and investment in India.

After concluding his trip in Delhi, Carney is set to travel to Australia and then Japan as part of his strategy to diversify Canada’s trade and invite new investments.