The Coalition of Southern Groups (CSG) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on all federal roads in Nigeria’s southern regions, citing widespread deterioration that has made road-travel arduous and dangerous.

At the coalition’s first media event held on Thursday in Abuja, CSG leaders highlighted the worsening condition of federal roads across the South-South, South-East, and South-West regions, urging the government to take immediate action. Chairman of the coalition, Prof.

Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, and coalition Secretary Comrade Bello Osaretin stressed that a lack of repairs had left key infrastructure nearly impassable, especially for those commuting to and from the nation’s capital, Abuja.

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“The Coalition of Southern Groups calls on the federal government to, as a matter of urgent national importance and concern, declare a state of emergency on all the federal roads in the southern part of Nigeria,” Ajumbe said.

“The sordid state of the roads is yearning for attention and long overdue for total repairs and overhaul.”

The coalition argued that the southern region, which plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s economy as the center of the oil industry, has seen its infrastructure neglected for decades.

Ajumbe pointed to the southern states’ contributions through “liquid gold” oil revenues, which support the national economy, as a reason for immediate government attention.

To drive accountability, CSG proposed legislation requiring all public officials to use these roads for local travel, a measure they believe would spur greater responsiveness among leaders.

“If public officials experience these roads as ordinary citizens do, they will be more motivated to address the neglect,” Ajumbe suggested.

The coalition also called for enhanced powers for Federal Controllers of Works in each state, arguing that increased authority and resources would enable these officials to fulfill their roles in maintaining and improving infrastructure more effectively.

Looking ahead, CSG expressed a commitment to working with the Presidency and Northern leaders to promote national development and to seek collaborative solutions for pressing infrastructure challenges.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and its partners have revved up crude oil and gas production to 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) and 7.4standard cubic feet per day (scfd).

This was revealed at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, where the NNPC Ltd attributed the feat to compliance with the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

On the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, congratulated the Production War Room Team that anchored the production recovery process.

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According to Kyari, “The team has done a great job in driving this project of not just production recovery but also escalating production to expected levels that are in the short and long terms acceptable to our shareholders based on the mandates that we have from the President, the Honourable Minister, and the Board.”

Giving details of the efforts of the Production War Room, the Chief War Room Coordinator and Senior Business Adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Lawal Musa, disclosed that the feat was achieved through the collaborative efforts of Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the Office of the National Security Adviser, as well as government and private security agencies.

He said the interventions that led to the recovery of production cut across every segment of the production chain with security agencies closely monitoring the pipelines.

He stressed that when the Production War Room team was inaugurated on the 25th June 2024, production was at 1.430mbpd, but the team swung into action, culminating into it sustaining the production recovery to 1.7mbpd in August and hitting the current 1.808mbpd in November.

“We are confident that with this same momentum and with the active collaboration of all stakeholders, especially on the security front, we can see the possibility of getting to 2mbpd by the end of the year,” he stated.

On the development, Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board of Directors, Chief Pius Akinyelure, also congratulated the team, and said he was happy to be part of the production recovery process, adding: “today, I will leave this place with my heart full of joy”.

He charged the Company’s Management to come up with a cashflow projection based on the new production figures to facilitate planning, stressing that he was looking forward to further production increase to 3mbpd.

On his part, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team and pledged the Federal Government’s support for the company to do more.

A delegation from the Defence and Army Headquarters (DHQ/AHQ), led by Major General KI Yusuf, Chief of Accounts and Budgets, has visited Osun State to express condolences to the family of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5, 2024.

The visit was on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, according to a statement issued via the Nigerian Army’s verified handle on micro-blogging site, X under the signature of Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army,  Lieutenant Colonel, Polycarp Okoye.

The statement has it that upon arrival in Osun State, the delegation proceeded to the Government House, where they were warmly received by the Executive Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, and other members of the state cabinet. Accompanied by the Governor, the team paid further condolence visits to His Royal Majesty, Oba Ashiru Olatoye, the Olobu of Ilobu Kingdom, at his palace, and to the family of the late COAS.

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Delivering the official condolence message, Major General KI Yusuf emphasized that the delegation’s visit was a mark of respect and honor for the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. He noted that the news of his passing sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Nigerian Army (NA) and the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). He stated, “We are here to convey the heartfelt condolences of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and all members of the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army, which he led with distinction.”

Major General Yusuf highlighted Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s legacy as a brave and committed officer who led from the front in combating terrorism and other security challenges facing Nigeria. He was deeply committed to the welfare of his troops, as demonstrated by numerous projects he initiated and completed across the country. “Under his command, the Nigerian Army witnessed significant transformation,” he added. He also assured the bereaved family of the continued support of the Armed Forces and conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a state burial at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

In his remarks, Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed profound sorrow over the loss of Lieutenant General Lagbaja, describing him as an illustrious son of Osun State. He praised the late COAS for his exemplary life of simplicity, generosity, patriotism, and unwavering dedication to the nation. The Governor recalled his personal interactions with the late Lieutenant General Lagbaja and acknowledged his substantial support for various state projects in Osun State. He thanked the Armed Forces for their condolence visit and encouraged sustained communication with the family and the state at large.

Similarly, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ashiru Olatoye, expressed deep appreciation for the Armed Forces’ support to the Ilobu community and the family of the late Lieutenant General Lagbaja. The Royal Father’s emotional tribute underscored the strong ties between the community and the Nigerian Army.

Key activities during the condolence visit included the signing of the condolence register and the presentation of condolence letters to the Governor, the Royal Father, and the family of the late General. The delegation also , former included other distinguished members of the Armed Forces, such as Major General OG Onubogu, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General BA Ilori, Director of Planning at AHQ, Major General JO Adeyemo, Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, and Major General AP Oguntola, Commandant of the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies. Additionally, retired officers Major General JB Olawumi, former Director-General of NYSC, and Major General AS Ibikunle former Corps Commander Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps were part of the delegation.