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Insecurity: UK, US, EU told to place travel ban on Zamfara governor

A Nigerian civil society organisation, the Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN), has petitioned the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom to impose sanctions and a travel ban on Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, over what it described as his failure to tackle insecurity in the state. In a petition dated Tuesday, September 16, 2025, signed by CCN’s Executive Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Agabi , the group accused Lawal of negligence despite his claims of having detailed intelligence on the activities of terrorists and bandits in Zamfara. “If he has an iota of shame in him and he is truly powerless as he claims, then honour should have compelled him to resign,” Dr Agabi wrote. “Of what relevance is a leader whose performance is defined by absolute incompetence?” The group urged Washington and London to declare the governor persona non grata, freeze assets allegedly linked to him, and extend restrictions through collaboration with the European Union and the Commonwealth...
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DSS sues Sowore, X and Meta over post labeling Tinubu ‘a criminal’

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count charge against Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), alongside tech giants X Corp and Meta Inc., at the Federal High Court in Abuja, over social media posts deemed defamatory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The DSS, represented by a team of lawyers led by Muhammed Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Ministry of Justice, accused Sowore of publishing “false, malicious and inciting” statements about the President through his official X and Facebook accounts. The agency had earlier issued Sowore a one-week ultimatum , which expired on September 8, demanding he delete the posts. Both Sowore and the social media platforms failed to comply. One of the charges read: “That you, Omoyele Sowore… did use your official X handle page, @YeleSowore, to send out a message… ‘THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME ...
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Komolafe praises Tinubu's reforms as Nigeria secures $18bn in oil, gas investments

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe says President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda has repositioned Nigeria as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for upstream oil and gas investment. Speaking at Africa Oil Week in Accra, Ghana, Komolafe said that bold policy shifts , anchored in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and reinforced by presidential executive orders, have triggered a surge in investor confidence and unlocked billions of dollars in new commitments. “In 2025 alone, the Commission approved 28 new Field Development Plans (FDPs), unlocking 1.4 billion barrels of oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of gas. These projects will add an expected 591,000 barrels of oil per day and 2.1 billion standard cubic feet per day of gas,” Komolafe disclosed. According to him, the FDPs represent $18.2 billion in capital expenditure, underscoring Nigeria’s transformation into “ one of the most dynamic upstream inve...
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Fresh outrage in Niger as governor orders preachers to submit sermons for approval

The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) has urged Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, to withdraw a controversial law requiring preachers to submit their sermons for government approval before delivering them. In a statement signed by its Convener, James Paul Adama, the group described the policy as “anti-religious, retrogressive, oppressive and a gross violation of fundamental human rights.” The CCYF argued that the law amounted to religious censorship, contravening Sections 38 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, religion and expression. It further pointed to global instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which safeguard religious freedom. “Niger State has one of the highest poverty rates in the country with over 64 percent of its population living below the poverty line, yet the government is preoccupied with stifling religious freedom,” t...
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Igbo Imam defends northern gov’s move to vet religious sermons

The Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Haroun Eze, has backed Niger State Governor Umar Bago’s controversial directive, which requires religious leaders to submit their sermons to government authorities for vetting before delivery. Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, September 15, Imam Eze, the first Igbo cleric to hold such a position at the National Mosque, described the policy as “a welcome development” that could help address Nigeria’s pressing challenges. Governor Bago’s directive, reported by Pulse Nigeria , mandates that both Muslim and Christian preachers must first present their sermons to the state government for approval before preaching to their congregations. The move has drawn mixed reactions, with critics warning of state interference in matters of religion. Defending the policy, Imam Eze argued that sermons play a crucial role in shaping society and should therefore align with efforts to promote peace and good governance. “The Niger State government...
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‘Violence has no place in democracy’ — Nigerian activist reacts to Charlie Kirk’s death

Nigerian political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has condemned the killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing it as a devastating blow to the global youth movement and democratic values. In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank said Kirk’s death at 31 represented “a big loss to this generation,” noting that the young activist had already begun to shape political conversations far beyond the United States. “Kirk was a rising figure whose passion for faith, country, and humanity was reflected in his work,”  Frank stated, adding that his dedication to freedom of speech, association , and democracy would continue to inspire young leaders across the world. Frank, who also serves as Ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to East Africa and the Middle East, urged the United States Government and Utah Governor Spencer Cox to ensure a thorough investigation i...
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Dangote accuses DAPPMAN of misleading Nigerians over recent allegations

Recent events and statements made it abundantly clear that the actions and threats issued by certain groups within Nigeria's oil and gas industry are not borne out of legitimate concerns about unionisation. Rather, they constitute a calculated campaign of economic sabotage, orchestrated by vested interests who perceived progress as a threat to their entrenched positions. From the outset, it has been evident that certain actors are intent on undermining the operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, particularly the planned deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for the distribution of fuel. This innovation has been widely recognised as a transformative step towards Nigeria's long-sought goal of energy self-sufficiency. We are not surprised by the disingenuous intervention of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), which appears to be a face-saving attempt to distract from the real issues at hand. In time, Nigerians wi...
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