NEWS
NCDC Boss Vows Broad Stakeholder Collaboration to Drive North Central Devt
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Board Chairman of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Barrister Cosmas Ternenge Akighir, has assured the people of the North Central geopolitical zone that the Commission will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to tackle insecurity, improve road infrastructure, and enhance health and education across the region.
Speaking at a dinner held in his honour by the Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Akighir stressed the importance of forging strong partnerships with state governments, individuals, and corporate organizations.
Such collaboration, he said, would position the Commission as a model institution “standing tall when others are sitting down.”“We have a robust roadmap for developing our people—education, healthcare, road networks, and beyond. On insecurity, we will liaise with local vigilantes in partnership with the state governments. In all our endeavours, we will bring every necessary stakeholder on board to drive our agenda. I see the Commission becoming a model others will envy,” he said.
Akighir also highlighted the region’s vast mineral resources, noting that about 40 percent of Nigeria’s mineral deposits lie within the North Central zone. The Commission, he assured, would work within its mandate to ensure proper management of these resources to generate jobs and revenue for the people and government. He added that the NCDC would promote irrigation farming to boost food security in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priorities.
Representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, praised President Tinubu for appointing Akighir as the pioneer Board Chairman of the NCDC. He urged him to remain consultative and engage widely with elders and stakeholders to record steady success.
“Barrister Cosmas is a young man with vibrant ideas. His appointment is well deserved. I thank President Tinubu for giving him this opportunity. I also advise him to always seek guidance from elders and carry stakeholders along so his journey will be smooth,” Utsev said.
Speaking on his ministry’s work, the Minister explained that the government had embarked on a comprehensive assessment of irrigable lands and the state of dams across the country. He noted that ongoing rehabilitation efforts, in partnership with private and development organizations, aim to strengthen year-round farming and reinforce national food security.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association, Sir Frank Aul Mku, expressed the group’s appreciation and loyalty to Senator Akume. He commended the political leadership that has elevated the Jemgbagh axis and congratulated Akighir on his new role.
“We have over 100 members. We are not a political party, but we stand firmly behind you. We appreciate your leadership that has brought recognition to Jemgbagh. We wish our son, Barrister Cosmas Ternenge Akighir, the very best,” he said.
The Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr Peter Tanko, has paid the 2026 West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) registration fees for 250 indigent students in public Secondary Schools.
Speaking at the inauguration of the WAEC fee payment exercise in Kafanchan, Tanko said that the gesture was borne out of his compassion to support less privileged students.
According to him, no child should be denied the opportunity to access education because of lack of funds.
He reiterated his commitment to initiating policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Yunana Barde, lauded the council chairman for placing premium on educational development of his people.
Barde said that the importance of education to societal development could not be overemphasised.
Also speaking, Audu Dogara, the council’s Education Secretary, described the intervention as an investment in the children and the future of the local government.
He admonished the beneficiaries to see the gesture as an opportunity for them to give their best in the examination.
Mr Emmanuel Utung, Chairman of the WAEC Sponsorship Committee, said that the beneficiaries cut across the 12 wards of the local government.
According to him, the gesture would go a long way in easing the financial burden on the beneficiaries’ parents.
Miss Benedicta Boniface, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the chairman for his magnanimity and promised that they would not disappoint him.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abayomi Mumuni, has warned against any attempt to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima on religious grounds ahead of the 2027 general elections
Mumuni said this on Wednesday in reaction to the controversies erupting from the omission of Vice President Shettima’s photograph from a banner displayed at the North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the amendment of the APC constitution.
According to him, the North presently lacks a Christian candidate with the political clout and followership needed to deliver substantial electoral support.
He said the idea of dropping Shettima could undermine the APC’s chances of retaining power.
There have been speculations about a possible plan to drop Shettima from the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Mumuni further said that discussions about replacing Shettima with a Christian vice-presidential candidate, ostensibly to address concerns about religious inclusivity, are not strategically sound in the current political climate.
According to him, the northern region currently lacks a Christian candidate with sufficient grassroots support and nationwide appeal to complement President Bola Tinubu’s electoral strength.
“Any miscalculation in this regard could jeopardise the winning ticket for the current administration,” he warned.
…Says it Has Committed Over US$45 Million in Expenditures in Senegal
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The management of Oranto Petroleum, the firm owned by Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Prince Arthur Eze, has shed light on why it suspended any further investments in the St Louis & Cayar Licenses in Senegal.
The Senegalese government had in January 2026 officially revoked an offshore oil exploration license held by Atlas Oranto Petroleum.
The Senegalese government alleged that the holder had failed to provide the required bank guarantees and carried out only minimal exploration work since the block was awarded.
Responding to the revocation of the license, the management of Oranto Petroleum declared the government of Senegal insisted on US$ 25 Million Bank Guarantee as against agreed Corporate Guarantee as being provided by other Operators in Senegal.
According to the management, “till date, Oranto Petroleum has committed over US$45 Million in expenditures in Senegal covering activities such as seismic acquisition & interpretation, acreage rental, social projects and training of Senegalese locals as stipulated in the contract.
“Oranto Petroleum remains a foremost player in Hydrocarbon Exploration in Africa having committed over US$500 Million in exploration and development of hydrocarbon in Africa.”
The company expressed reservations on why the Senegalese government will single it out for false narratives which it classified as “unfair, unjustified and targeted.”
Part of the statement read: “Oranto Petroleum would like to use this opportunity to respond to the false narrative currently being perpetuated by the Government of Senegal on the St Louis & Cayar Offshore Licenses previously operated by Oranto Petroleum.
“As a matter of fact, Oranto Petroleum in 2025 decided to suspend any further investments in the St Louis & Cayar Licenses in Senegal after the Government of Senegal insisted on US$ 25 Million Bank Guarantee as against agreed Corporate Guarantee as being provided by other Operators in Senegal.
“For record purposes, till date, Oranto Petroleum has committed over US$45 Million in expenditures in Senegal covering activities such as seismic acquisition & interpretation, acreage rental, social projects and training of Senegalese locals as stipulated in the contract. These records exist and can be fact checked.
“It is worth mentioning that for reasons best known to the Government of Senegal, Oranto Petroleum has been singled out in this false narrative – this we classify as unfair, unjustified and targeted.
“We would like to use this opportunity to state that other foreign entities operating in Senegal are also facing challenges doing business in Senegal and this calls for concern.
Some of those include: Woodside currently in court of Arbitration with Government of Senegal on issues bothering
around back costs for the Sangomar Development –
https://www.africabusinessplus.com/en/829378/woodside-vs-dakar-arbitration-proceedings-can
2. Alleged plans by the Government of Senegal to nationalise Kosmos-run Yakaar-Teranga Gas
Project – https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/senegal-plans-nationalise-kosmos-run
yakaar-teranga-gas-project-2025-12-10/
and 3. British Petroleum’s exit from Senegal over disagreement with Government – https://www.offshore
technology.com/news/bp-exits-senegal-gas-field/
“It is worth noting that Oranto Petroleum remains a foremost player in Hydrocarbon Exploration in Africa having committed over US$500 Million in exploration and development of hydrocarbon in Africa.
“OrantoPetroleum as per business model remains an early explorationist focused on acreage derisking and later stage development in collaboration with third party Operators.
“Oranto Petroleum remains respectful for the rule of law in all jurisdictions where it operates and urges the public to disregard any narratives that continuously focuses on demarketing African investment opportunities geared towards the greater good of Africa and her citizens.
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