The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has signaled intention to increase crude oil production in August.

Seven OPEC+ members have already agreed to increase collective oil production by 188,000 bpd in August, continuing the gradual rollback of voluntary production cuts while reaffirming their commitment to maintaining market stability.

The decision was reached during a virtual meeting on Saturday by Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, which have been implementing additional voluntary production adjustments since 2023.

The increase represents the next phase in unwinding the voluntary cuts announced in April 2023.

The OPEC+ said future production increases will remain subject to market conditions and could be accelerated, paused or reversed if necessary.

The group emphasized that it will continue to closely monitor global oil market fundamentals while maintaining a cautious approach to restoring production.

The seven countries also reiterated their commitment to full compliance with the OPEC+ Declaration of Cooperation and pledged to fully compensate for any production above agreed targets since January 2024.

The additional production will also allow participating countries to accelerate compensation for previous overproduction.

The producers said they will continue holding monthly meetings to review market conditions, production conformity and compensation efforts. Their next meeting is scheduled for August.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, has commended the party’s candidate for the Kokona/Karu/Keffi Federal Constituency, Hon.

Daniel Ogah Ogazi, for empowering 550 women with N20,000 each, describing the gesture as a practical demonstration of people-oriented leadership.

Wadada made the commendation during the unveiling of Ogazi’s campaign office and empowerment programme organised by Ogazi in Keffi, where he also donated N2 million to support the initiative.

The APC governorship candidate said governance goes beyond protecting the lives and property of citizens, stressing that true leadership must also create opportunities that improve the standard of living of the people.

“You cannot claim to be protecting lives without caring for those lives. The best way to care for people is to empower them so they can live meaningful lives. Life is meant to be lived, not merely to exist. Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi understands the rudiments of making those alive truly live, and for that, we commend, congratulate and appreciate him,” Wadada said.

He noted that empowerment programmes remain among the most effective ways of reducing poverty and improving livelihoods, adding that Ogazi’s initiative reflects the qualities of a responsive and compassionate leader.

The Nasarawa State APC Chairman, Hon. Dr. Aliyu Bello, described the empowerment programme as unprecedented, applauding Ogazi for demonstrating commitment to the welfare of the people even before securing election into the National Assembly.

“This is leadership in action. Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi has shown commitment to the welfare of our people even before getting to the National Assembly. This aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC’s vision of lifting Nigerians out of poverty,” Bello stated.

The party chairman reiterated the APC’s commitment to fairness, equity and justice, explaining that the party’s zoning arrangement was designed to ensure that every senatorial zone in the state has the opportunity to produce the governor.

“APC is a party rooted in fairness and equity. We decided to adhere to the principle of zoning because the Keffi Zone has spent about 20 years without producing the governor. This arrangement is for the benefit of future generations so that even children from less privileged backgrounds can aspire to become governors someday,” he said.

Bello added that after the Keffi Zone completes its expected eight-year tenure, the governorship position would rotate to the Lafia Zone.

“We must understand that zoning is not for our personal benefit. Most of us are already above 60 years of age. It is about securing the future for the younger generation and sustaining equity across the state,” he added.

In his remarks, Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programme to make productive use of the financial support provided to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Ogazi also appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for the ongoing infrastructural development across Nasarawa State, especially the construction of flyovers in Lafia, Akwanga, Keffi and Mararaba in Karu Local Government Area.

He further called on the people of Nasarawa State to support Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada in the 2027 governorship election, describing him as a man of integrity with the capacity to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

“If we elect Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as governor in 2027, he will build on the good legacy of Governor Abdullahi Sule and take Nasarawa State to greater heights,” Ogazi said.

The Federal Government has urged private security operators to embrace intelligence-driven operations, technology and stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to strengthen national security and tackle evolving security threats nationwide.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr.

Bello Matawalle, made the call at the maiden Nigeria Private Security Development Summit 2026 on Tuesday in Abuja.

Matawalle was represented by his Special Adviser, Retired Rear Adm. Ariku Abdulkadir at the event with the theme “Reimagining Private Security in Nigeria: From Manpower to Intelligence-Driven Protection.

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He said the theme of the summit reflected the changing realities of modern security management.

According to him, terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, transnational organised crime, misinformation and other hybrid threats have become increasingly sophisticated, interconnected and technology-driven.

He added that evolving threats required intelligence superiority, rapid response and effective collaboration among public and private security institutions.

Matawalle said national security now extends beyond territorial defence, stressing that “peace, investment and sustainable development depend on secure environment.”

He said the Federal Government had continued to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The minister listed the reforms to include the National Security Strategy 2024, the National Defence Policy, the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023.

He explained that Nigeria was investing in cyber defence, Artificial Intelligence, digital intelligence, surveillance systems, data analytics and integrated command-and-control platforms.

Matawalle, however, stressed that technology must complement professionalism and remain within legal, ethical and human rights frameworks.

He described the private security industry as an indispensable component of Nigeria’s national security system.

According to him, no modern nation can rely solely on public security institutions to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.

He urged private security companies to evolve beyond manpower deployment to intelligence-based, technology-enabled and professionally regulated operations.

The minister said operators should strengthen intelligence gathering, risk management and critical infrastructure protection in collaboration with government agencies.

He emphasised the need for standard training, professional certification, ethical conduct and continuous capacity development across the industry.

He said stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, academia and international partners remained essential to building safer and resilient Nigeria.

The National President, Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Dr Chris Adikwu, urged government to integrate licenced private security operators into Nigeria’s national security architecture through structured intelligence collaboration.

Represented by Dr. Felix Obaze, Adikwu said more than 1,700 licenced private security companies employing more than four million personnel constituted a strategic national asset capable of strengthening intelligence gathering and protecting critical infrastructure.

He advocated reform of the Private Guard Companies Act, establishment of a National Private Security Intelligence Network, adoption of advanced technologies and joint training with security agencies to enhance national resilience and crime prevention.

The Summit Producer, Chief Agu Amogu, said Nigeria possessed one of Africa’s largest private security workforces whose strategic potential remained underutilised.

Amogu said the industry should move beyond providing guards to becoming key player in intelligence, technology and critical infrastructure protection.

He said the summit would produce practical recommendations culminating in the Abuja Declaration to guide future policy reforms and industry transformation.

The Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of ALPSPN, Chief Lucky Ojealaro, urged operators to embrace innovation, strategic partnerships and continuous professional development.

Ojealaro said the summit would equip participants with knowledge on security governance, enterprise risk management, cybersecurity, emerging threats and regulatory compliance.

He expressed confidence that the engagement would reposition Nigeria’s private security industry as a strategic partner in national security and economic development.

Stakeholders at the summit agreed that private security operators must evolve to be able to function effectively in the national security architecture.