The public, particularly those keen on holding equities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) would soon have their craving satisfied.

This is because plans are already at the final stages for the sale of the shares of the state oil major to interested members of the public through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in keeping with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

This was detailed in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by its Chief Corporate Communications, Olufemi Soneye.

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According to Soneye, the Company’s Chief Finance and Investor Relations Officer, Olugbenga Oluwaniyi, let the cat out of the bag at the development during a consultative meeting with partners at the NNPC headquarters.

Soneye added that at the moment, the NNPC Ltd was working with prospective partners in an exercise tagged, “NNPC Ltd. IPO Beauty Parade” in line with capital market regulations before the commencement of the IPO.

The aim of the IPO, Soneye cited the CFIO, is to access potential partners and determine in what ways they could be of support to the company.

He listed the areas of partnership required to include Investor Relations, IPO Readiness Advisors, and Investment Bank Partners.

He said the company with the best offer in terms of project partnership would be selected for each of the three categories.

Biztellers reports that the PIA stipulates that the NNPC Ltd should list its shares in the capital market in line with the provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990.

Former presidential aide and social media commentator, Reno Omokri, has explained the reasons behind his shift from being a strong critic of President Bola Tinubu to a supporter.

According to Omokri, his stance changed after he uncovered new evidence regarding Tinubu’s academic background and was convinced by a close associate about the government’s intentions.

Speaking on Breakfast Central on Thursday, Omokri acknowledged that many Nigerians have a short memory when it comes to political matters.

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Initially, his opposition to Tinubu was rooted in concerns about the President’s academic credentials and alleged links to drug-related activities.

However, a personal investigation in 2022 made him rethink one of these positions.

“I met with individuals there; I was given incontrovertible evidence that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu attended, passed his exams, and graduated from Chicago State University,” Omokri stated, adding that this discovery prompted him to publicly withdraw his previous claims and encourage others to stop spreading what he now considers misinformation.

Despite this, Omokri remained critical of Tinubu on the drug allegations and even protested against him at Chatham House. However, he later reconsidered his stance after the Supreme Court ruled on the matter.

“The Supreme Court decision… said that they’ve looked into the drug issue and he was not a drug convict… he was involved only to the extent that he was an accountant for that person,” he explained.

This ruling, he admitted, forced him to re-evaluate his position, as he did not want to continue criticizing Tinubu on an issue that had been legally settled.

Beyond legal clarifications, Omokri revealed that his personal relationship with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, played a crucial role in his eventual support for Tinubu’s administration.

“Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and I have had a very solid and strong relationship. In California, we spent a lot of time together; we were like brothers,” he said.

According to Omokri, Ribadu assured him that the government was committed to improving Nigeria, leading him to take a definitive stand in support of its policies.

“He convinced me. After he convinced me, I did a video in his office, and I told Nigerians that as long as Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is in this government, I am going to support this government, and I am going to support their economic policies,” Omokri stated.

He concluded by saying that his shift in position was based on facts and personal principles rather than political convenience, adding that any confusion surrounding his change of heart was due to the Nigerian public’s short memory.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticized the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, over what it described as incompetence, failed leadership, and unnecessary foreign trips while the country grapples with a worsening electricity crisis.

This was detailed in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in Abuja, on Monday, in which the HURIWA expressed disappointment that despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign promise to improve electricity supply, the situation has continued to deteriorate.

The rights group highlighted the frequent collapse of the national grid, erratic power supply, and increasing electricity tariffs that have negatively impacted businesses and the economy.

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“Reports indicate that Nigeria’s national grid experienced at least 12 collapses in 2024, with another recorded in March 2025. These failures have led to widespread power outages across the country, with little explanation from the Ministry of Power beyond references to gas shortages, vandalism, or system disturbances. The recurring collapses have exacerbated economic hardships, leaving millions of citizens and businesses struggling to cope with unreliable power supply,” the HURIWA frowned.

Citing data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the HURIWA noted that the national grid has collapsed at least 141 times in the past decade, with 46 recorded between 2017 and 2024. In 2023 alone, the grid failed more than 10 times, plunging millions of Nigerians into darkness. The group recalled that in September 2023, the national grid collapsed twice in one week, while another failure in February 2024 left major cities such as Lagos and Abuja without electricity for days.

The HURIWA criticized power sector officials for treating these failures as routine occurrences instead of taking decisive corrective measures. It compared Nigeria’s situation to developed nations, where even a single power failure prompts swift government intervention. The group referenced the United Kingdom’s 2019 power outage, which led to an immediate response, contrasting it with Nigeria’s lack of urgency in addressing persistent blackouts.

According to the group, while developed countries invest heavily in maintaining and upgrading their power infrastructure, Nigeria continues to rely on outdated and poorly managed facilities that are prone to frequent breakdowns.

The association also condemned Adelabu’s frequent international travels, questioning their impact on resolving Nigeria’s power issues. Investigations reveal that since assuming office, the minister has travelled to countries including Barbados, Tanzania, Japan, and the United States, as well as meeting with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria.

However, the HURIWA argued that these trips have not translated into tangible improvements in electricity supply. The group insisted that rather than embarking on foreign trips, the minister should focus on implementing policies that would address the fundamental issues plaguing the power sector, such as poor infrastructure, inadequate funding, and lack of transparency.

The HURIWA emphasized the severe consequences of unreliable electricity on businesses, stating that high costs of alternative power sources have forced many to shut down. It noted that hospitals have also struggled to provide critical medical services due to power outages, further endangering lives. The group stressed that industries that rely heavily on electricity, such as manufacturing and technology, have been forced to either downsize operations or relocate to other countries with stable power supply, leading to job losses and economic decline.

The rights group accused the minister of prioritizing personal luxury over national duty and urged President Tinubu to immediately restructure the power ministry.

It called for the replacement of the current leadership with competent professionals and the implementation of accountability measures to ensure improved performance. The HURIWA also urged the government to introduce policies that would encourage private sector participation in power generation and distribution, as seen in other countries with more efficient electricity systems.

The HURIWA further demanded a full audit of the funds allocated to the power sector under the Tinubu administration, questioning why billions of naira budgeted for electricity projects have not translated into improved supply.

It also called on the National Assembly to summon Adelabu for questioning over the persistent failures in the sector. The group emphasized that Nigerians deserve to know how public funds allocated for electricity infrastructure have been spent and whether there has been any mismanagement or diversion of resources.

The group warned that if urgent action is not taken, it would mobilize citizens for mass protests to demand accountability from the government. It stressed that Nigerians deserve better and that the ongoing electricity crisis must be addressed without further delays.

In addition, the HURIWA called on civil society organizations, labour unions, and business communities to join in demanding immediate reforms in the power sector, stating that electricity is a fundamental necessity for national development and economic prosperity. The rights group insisted that if the government fails to take meaningful steps towards resolving the crisis, Nigerians should not hesitate to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand their right to a stable and reliable power supply.

With the worsening power situation, the HURIWA’s demands reflect the frustrations of millions of Nigerians who have endured decades of failed promises and ineffective reforms. Whether the government will heed these calls for change remains to be seen, but the group maintains that urgent and decisive action is needed to prevent further economic deterioration and hardship for citizens.