CITAD

 Condemns Continued Detention of Two Nigerians Over Social Media Commentary.

‎The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed deep concern over the continued detention of Sani Waspapping and Abubakar Adamu by the Department of State Services (DSS) over social media commentary relating to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

‎‎In a statement dated March 14, 2026, the organisation says the situation raises serious concerns about the protection of freedom of expression in Nigeria.

‎CITAD explains it considers the actions deeply troubling and inconsistent with constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression.

‎The organisation therefore warned that equating the criticism of the policies of the United States or Israel with incitement poses a threat to democratic freedoms.

Tinubu Iftar With The Media

President Tinubu Promises Review of Media Tariffs.

In an effort to support Nigeria's media industry President Bola Tinubu has promised to review tariffs on newspaper production materials and broadcasting equipment to enable the media discharge its responsibilities seamlessly.

The assurance was given yesterday at a meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Press Organisation, Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists at the State House Abuja.

President Tinubu commended media owners, editors, and journalists for keeping Nigerians informed and providing employment for thousands of citizens. 

He also encouraged the press to continue demanding accountability from all tiers of government.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris lauded the President’s leadership and urged media practitioners to carry out their constitutional responsibilities responsibly while holding the government accountable.

The Grand Patron of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria, Olusegun Osoba who attended the ceremony gave kudos to the Tinubu led administration’s policies and reforms, emphasising the need for continued collaboration between the government and the media.

On behalf of the Nigeria Press Organisation; the President Frank Aigbogun called on government intervention to review import tariffs on newsprint and broadcast equipment, as well as measures to protect journalists’ jobs from the uncompensated use of editorial content by foreign technology companies.

Looted Drum

 Ivory Coast receives sacred talking drum looted during colonial era from France.

A sacred drum looted by French forces during its colonial rule in Ivory Coast has been returned to the country, more than a century after it was taken.

‎The drum was seized by colonial authorities in 1916 before being taken to France in 1929, where it was put on display at the Trocadéro Museum and later at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.

The Djidji Ayôkwé (Panther Lion), as the talking drum is called, was welcomed home by members of the Ebrié community, its original owners.

It arrived aboard a specially chartered plane but was not removed from its large wooden crate marked "fragile".

A traditional group of dancers and several local chiefs were at Abidjan International Airport to receive it.

 It is more than three metres (10 feet) long weighing about 430kg and it is carved from iroko wood.

Director of the Museum of Civilizations in Abidjan, Francis Tagro said the drum would be exhibited "in a place of honour in the heart of the national museum".

The return is part of a wider French effort to repatriate African cultural artefacts, a process which began in 2017.

Airport Cashless Access Policy.

 Aviation Minister Threatens To Sack Airport Officials Who Fail To Comply With Directive.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, has threatened to sack airport officials than risk being removed by the President for failing to fully implement the airport cashless access policy.

The minister made this threat during an on-the-spot assessment of the implementation of the hybrid payment system, which began Friday, March the 13th, 2026.

To fast-track the transition, concessionaires have been engaged to modernise airport access gates, with a subcommittee reviewing proposals from multiple operators.

The minister emphasised that once the system is fully automated, no individual including VIPs will be exempted from payment at airport gates, underlining the government’s commitment to fairness and accountability.

He assured that a massive sensitisation campaign will be carried out across the country, to educate travellers and airport users on the new cashless system, as Nigeria moves toward a fully automated and modernised airport payment process.

Ozekhome Trial

Nigeria Immigration Service denies issuance of passport used in purchase of alleged London Property.

The court hearing the document forgery case against senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome has been told that the passport used for the alleged London property purchase was not issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

The prosecution’s first witness, Aridegbe Akim, told the court that investigations conducted by the NIS revealed that a passport with the name Tali Sha and 

number- A07535463 did not originate from the service. 

Akim explained that the immigration service received correspondence from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) requesting verification of two passports said to belong to a Ponfa Useni and Tali Shani. 

After reviewing their records, the service discovered that while the passport issued in Useni’s name was authentic, the one associated with Shani had no trace in the NIS system.

During the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, tendered both EFCC’s request to the NIS and the response from the immigration authorities through the witness. 

Counsel representing the defendants, Tayo Oyetibo, S.A.N and E. R. Onoja (S.A.N), did not oppose the admission of the documents.

Akim told the court that when officials attempted to verify the name Tali Shani in the immigration system, no data or personal record associated with the name could be found, stating that the service also had no record indicating that a passport with the referenced number was ever sold or processed by the NIS.

During cross-examination by Ozekhome’s counsel, Oyetibo, the witness stated that he assumed the position of principal staff officer in December 2023 but had been on an overseas posting before July of the same year, noting that Nigeria was fully admitted into the Public Key Directory and Public Key Infrastructure systems, as the country carried out an ICAO upgrade in 2025.

The case has been adjourned to April 15th 2026 for continuation of trial.

APC National Convention

Senate President inaugurates APC Convention Sub-Committee on Programmes and Events.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention Sub-Committee on Programmes and Events, charging members to work diligently to ensure the success of the party’s forthcoming national convention.

Akpabio, who also serves as Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Ceremonies, Programmes and Events, said the committee is committed to delivering a seamless convention that will further strengthen the ruling party ahead of future political activities.

The committee, which has 98 members, has the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila serving as its Secretary. 

Other members include the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, and the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Ismael Ahmed, who serves as Assistant Secretary.

Akpabio commended the leadership of the party, for assembling what he described as experienced hands to manage the programmes and events of the party’s national convention scheduled for March 26, 2026.

He assured that the sub-committee would work closely with the National Convention Committee Chairman and Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, to ensure that the event is well organised and hitch-free.

State House Press Release

 President Tinubu Sets Up Presidential Taskforce On Petroleum Sector Reforms.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the establishment of a Presidential Petroleum Reform and Value Optimisation Taskforce to design and sequence the next phase of structural reforms in Nigeria's petroleum sector.

Mr Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank and founder and chairman of the Fate Foundation, is the Task Force's chairman. As chairman, he will coordinate the group's work and ensure the timely delivery of its mandate.

Other members of the Taskforce are: Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Osagie Okunbor, Abubakar Suleiman, Adaeze Aguele, Farouk Gumel, Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye and Seyi Bella.

Mofoluwasho Fadayomi will serve as secretary.

As constituted, the Taskforce is a time-bound, high-level executive working group tasked with producing execution-ready reform blueprints that will consolidate ongoing reforms, unlock capital within the petroleum sector, and strengthen Nigeria's position as a leading global energy investment destination.

The initiative reflects the President's commitment to transforming Nigeria's petroleum industry into a more competitive, transparent, and value-maximising sector capable of driving long-term economic growth, macroeconomic resilience, and industrial development.

It will operate as a technical reform body rather than a representative committee, engaging industry operators, regulators, investors, and civil society as consultees while focusing on actionable policy design and implementation strategies.

The Taskforce will report directly to the President and provide monthly progress memoranda. An interim report will be submitted after three months, while the final outputs are expected within six months of inauguration.

President Tinubu expects the Task Force to deliver three major reform blueprints.

One of the deliverables is the Implementation Toolkit for Immediate Structural Fixes – including draft legislative amendments, executive instruments, and institutional restructuring proposals.

The second deliverable is the Capital & Liquidity Acceleration Blueprint, aimed at unlocking $5–10 billion in sectoral liquidity while safeguarding Nigeria's sovereign interests.

The third blueprint will focus on the National Energy Transformation Strategy – a ten-year roadmap with measurable targets for production, foreign exchange earnings, GDP contribution, and cost competitiveness.

President Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, regulators, and relevant institutions to provide full technical support to the Taskforce and to submit inventories of ongoing initiatives to ensure alignment with the emerging reform framework.

In furtherance of this directive, President Tinubu has also directed all existing committees, teams, and working groups established under various reform initiatives within the sector to align their activities, reporting structures, and work programmes with the new Task Force.

The streamlining will ensure coordination, avoid duplication of mandates, and provide institutional clarity, thereby ensuring coherence in the petroleum sector reform architecture.

The President has also directed that all relevant documentation, institutional knowledge, and ongoing workstreams should be made available to the Taskforce to support the development and implementation of its comprehensive reform framework.

The creation of the Taskforce represents a strategic presidential instrument to accelerate petroleum sector reforms, strengthen governance architecture, optimise national energy assets, and position Nigeria's petroleum resources as a foundation for sustainable economic transformation.

The Taskforce will automatically dissolve upon submission and acceptance of its final report.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

March 13, 2026

Political Appointment

President Tinubu Nominates Taiwo Oyedele As Minister Of State For Finance.

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the Minister of State for Finance; to replace Doris Anite-Uzoka.

Anite-Uzoka is to move to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning as Minister of State which marks her third portfolio in the present administration. 

President Tinubu conveyed Oyedele’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga the nomination is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s fiscal and economic management framework.

Until his nomination, Oyedele, a native of Ikare in Akoko, Ondo State, served as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, where he spearheaded sweeping reforms that overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

The 50 year old Oyedele is an economist, accountant and public policy expert. 

He holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance from Yaba College of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Accounting from the Oxford Brookes University.

APC Delta Congress

The All Progressive Congress, APC in Delta has successfully conducted its state congress with new party executives emerging through consensus.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who expressed satisfaction with the peaceful exercise, charged the new EXCO on 2027 victory.

The governor charged the new executive to strengthen grassroots engagement and intensify voters mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In his acceptance speech, the state's APC chairman, Solomon Arenyeka, thanked party leaders and members for the confidence reposed in him, while assuring the governor of reelection victory in 2027.

APC Bayelsa Congress

The All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State has elected a fresh State Executive Council, with Warman Ogoriba emerging by consensus as the Chairman.

At the State Congress held today at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri asserted firm leadership, declaring that the smooth exercise has ushered the APC into what he described as a new era of unity, discipline, and electoral strength.

The exercise was supervised by the party’s national leadership and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Addressing party faithful, Governor Diri charged the new leadership to uphold discipline, loyalty, and the core values of the APC, urging stakeholders to close ranks as well reposition the party as a formidable force ahead of future elections.

APC Kebbi Congress

The Incumbent Chairman of the APC Kebbi State, Abubakar Muhammad Kana Zuru, has secured another 4 year term, emerging through consensus at the State Congress in Birnin Kebbi.

Also elected through consensus, were twenty nine other executive members, who retained their positions except three who swapped posts.

The Chairman of the Congress, Modibbo Bello, commended the delegates for good conduct, thanking Governor Nasir Idris for providing a conducive environment for clean and robust politicking in the state.

In an acceptance speech, the new chairman, Kana Zuru, pledged absolute loyalty to Governor Idris as leader of the party and to work for the success of the APC in all forthcoming elections.

Governor Idris thanked the delegates for their good and peaceful conduct at the Congress, while the Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu pledged to support all elected leaders to deliver victory for the APC in 2027.

APC Anambra Congress

Members of the All Progressives Congress APC, in Anambra State, have unanimously elected Senator Emmanuel Anosike as its new State Chairman.

Anosike emerged victorious through a consensus system.

Anosike was elected to pilot the affairs of APC in Anambra State through voice affirmation with other Executives, putting an end to the over seven years of the former executive in the State.

The Congress which was held at the Party's State secretariat in Awka, was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Deputy Organising Secretary of the Party.

APC Enugu Congress

At Okpara Square in Enugu, where the Enugu State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC held its State Congress, Martin Chukwunweike emerged as the State Chairman of the Party, while Chukwudi Edozie was elected State Secretary.

Chukwunweike, who until recently led the Peoples Democratic Party in the State, was returned unopposed alongside other members of the new State Executive Committee, as the party adopted taffirmation method of voting.

The congress attracted Party members from across the state and was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

APC Kwara Congress

 In Kwara State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially returned and affirmed Sunday Fagbemi as the State Chairman, alongside 33 other executive members, for another four-year term in office.

The affirmation followed the State Congress supervised by national officials of the party, led by the Congress Chairman, Alkali Alibe, who declared the executives duly elected and returned unopposed.

Party stalwarts and members from across the 16 local government areas of the state thronged the congress venue in a show of unity and solidarity.

In attendance were the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the three senators representing the state at the National Assembly among others.

Ogun State APC Congress

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has elected Yemi Sanusi and 35 others as members of its State Executive Committee for a four-year term.

The election was ratified through a voice affirmation by 1,180 delegates and statutory delegates at the State Congress held today at the June 12 Cultural Centre Abeokuta. 

The exercise was supervised by the APC Congress Committee Chairman, Wale Ohu, alongside officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Yemi Sanusi was re-elected as State Chairman. Other officials elected include Aminat Adigun as State Women Leader, Aderibigbe Tella as State Secretary, and Yemi Adelani as State Organising Secretary.

APC Congress Lagos

Cornelius Ojelabi Re-Elected Party Chairman.

The All Progressives Congress APC Lagos State Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi has been returned in office to steer the affairs of the party for a second tenure following the state congress conducted in the state today by the Stella Okotete led congress committee.                                 

Ojelabi was cleared to continue as the Party’s State Chairman through a consensus arrangement with the party delegates who converged on Mobolaji Johnson stadium, Onikan stadium for the party's congress.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his remark acknowledged the peaceful conduct of delegates noting that the APC structure in the state is next to none in the federation. 

EFCC Vs Yahaya Bello

Court to rule on admissibility of property documents in EFCC, Yahaya Bello case.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed March 9, 2026 to rule on the admissibility of documents sought to be tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in the alleged money laundering trial of the former Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned for ruling after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence on whether or not the property documents should be admitted in evidence.

The disputed documents included a title deed and an irrevocable power of attorney relating to a property located in Gwarinpa, Abuja, allegedly sold by Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company to Azba Real Estate Limited for 100 million naira. 

The documents were said to have been endorsed by Mubarak Dantata on behalf of the construction firm and Ali Bello for the purchasing company.

Counsel to the former governor, Joseph Daudu, S.A.N, objected to their admissibility, arguing that the documents were not properly certified by the appropriate authority.

He contended that as instruments relating to landed property, they must be duly registered and certified by the Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS) to have evidential value. 

Although the documents bore certification from the EFCC, Daudu maintained that the anti-graft agency lacked the statutory authority to certify such instruments.

Lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, S.A.N, urged the court to admit the documents, stating that they were relevant to establishing the transaction between the companies involved.

Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to March 9 for ruling on the admissibility of the contested documents.

Fellowship Conferment

NICA Confers Fellowship On Polaris And Union Bank CEOs Others....

The National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA) has at an investiture ceremony recently held in Lagos conferred its prestigious Fellowship on the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Kayode Lawal, alongside other distinguished leaders across Nigeria’s financial and corporate landscape.

The NICA Fellowship represents the institute’s highest professional distinction and it is usually awarded to individuals whose leadership has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s credit environment, institutional governance frameworks, and financial system integrity.

The ceremony brought together senior financial sector executives, policymakers, regulators, and distinguished guests to celebrate excellence in credit administration and professional practice in Nigeria.

Also honoured was the Managing Director/CEO of Union Bank, Yetunde Oni, in recognition of her contributions to institutional governance and financial sector advancement.

Other honorees included Mrs. Olushola Momoh; the Vice Chairman of Channels Television, who was conferred with a Professional Fellowship Honours in recognition of her leadership contributions and professional impact.

The Founder of Xpress Payment Solutions Ltd, Dr. Awa Ibraheem also received an Honorary Fellowship Award in recognition of his strategic influence and impactful contributions to Nigeria’s payments ecosystem and financial innovation landscape.

In their remarks, representatives of the Institute emphasised the importance of visionary leadership in sustaining economic growth and strengthening responsible credit culture across the financial ecosystem.

Polaris Bank's CEO Kayode Lawal is said to embody the values of professional excellence, integrity, and strategic leadership that the Institute seeks to promote.

His contributions to strengthening financial discipline and institutional governance made him deserving of the distinguished honour.

The recognition further reinforced Mr. Lawal’s deepened distinction within Nigeria’s professional financial leadership community.

He was previously conferred with the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) at the Institute’s Fellowship Investiture Ceremony held November 2025, at the Banquet Hall of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Polaris Bank has described the recognition as a proud milestone reflecting the institution’s enduring commitment to professionalism, innovation, and ethical leadership.