The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has expressed the view that Nigeria’s positive economic outlook is predicated on the strategic reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and improved crude oil output.

The views were expressed in its latest assessment of the Nigerian economy, in which it noted that the country’s economy expanded by 3.9 percent year-on-year in Q1, 2026.

It added that the growth rate was only slightly below the 4.0 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, a confirmation that economic growth remained close to recent highs.

ALSO READ: NMDPRA Licenses LCFE for Petroleum Liquids Trading

According to the oil producers’ organisation, the non-oil economy continued to provide the main support for growth, with activity driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction, trade, finance and insurance.

It pointed out that higher oil output had also improved fiscal revenues, foreign exchange inflows and external buffers. “The economy expanded by 3.9 percent, year-on-year, in 1Q26, only slightly below the 4Q25 pace of 4.0 percent, confirming that growth remains close to recent highs,” OPEC stated.

The organisation said survey indicators pointed to continued, though moderating, momentum in private-sector activity. It noted that the Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased to 52.5 in July, from 53.4 in June and 54.1 in May.

The July reading, it said, was the weakest since March but still signalled a sixth consecutive monthly improvement in private-sector conditions. The OPEC said firms again reported a marked increase in new orders, supported by improved customer demand, better pricing and new product launches.

It added that output and employment also rose modestly during the month. The organisation predicted that higher domestic refining capacity, particularly improved fuel supply from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP), should further support energy availability and reduce some of the pressures associated with petroleum imports.

“Higher domestic refining capacity, including improved fuel supply from the Dangote refinery, should continue to support energy availability and reduce some import-related pressures,” OPEC stated.

The DPRP, with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has become a major source of locally refined petroleum products as its operations have expanded.

The refinery’s increased supply of petrol and other refined products has also reduced some of the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products, in line with the impact highlighted by the OPEC.

On inflation, the OPEC said pressures had begun to soften, with headline inflation standing at 15.9 percent year-on-year in both June and May. “The July PMI pointed to softening input costs, despite higher fuel and raw material costs,” the organisation stated.

The report said the moderation in input costs was an indication that some cost pressures facing businesses had begun to ease, although higher fuel and raw material costs remained a challenge.

The OPEC said Nigeria’s near-term outlook remained positive, with oil production, reform progress, infrastructure investment and stronger business activity providing support.

“Overall, Nigeria’s near-term outlook remains positive, supported by oil production, progress on reforms, infrastructure investment, and stronger business activity,” it stated.

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation to Friday, August 21, 2026.

The extension, announced on Thursday, is aimed at giving Nigerians, institutions and other stakeholders more time to prepare and submit substantive contributions to the proposed reform of the country’s policing architecture.

SEE ALSO: Tinubu Pushes State Police, Sends Constitutional Amendment Bill to Reps

Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the additional time was necessary to ensure broad consultation and enable stakeholders to make well-considered and technically sound contributions.

“The Presidential Working Group is committed to ensuring that the process of developing the National Policing Bill benefits from broad consultation and the informed perspectives of Nigerians and relevant stakeholders.

“The proposed legislation is intended to provide the operational, administrative, institutional and funding framework necessary for an effective policing architecture that responds to Nigeria’s evolving security needs while providing appropriate safeguards for accountability, professionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights,” Gbajabiamila said.

The Working Group had initially set August 13 as the deadline for public submissions but has now shifted it to 5:00 p.m. WAT on August 21.

Gbajabiamila urged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security sector professionals, state governments, professional bodies, academics, experts and other interested members of the public to take advantage of the extension.

“All submissions must be made on or before 5:00 p.m. WAT on Friday, August 21, 2026, exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal, nationalpolicingbill.com,” he stated.

According to the Working Group, the proposed legislation will address critical areas including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.

Gbajabiamila said these issues make extensive stakeholder engagement essential to producing a policing framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the security needs of communities across the federation.

“The Working Group recognises that developing an effective policing framework requires careful consideration of critical issues, including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.

“These considerations underscore the importance of robust stakeholder engagement in developing a framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the peculiar security needs of communities across the Federation,” he said.

The Working Group, inaugurated by President Tinubu to develop the legal framework for the implementation of state police, is expected to present a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for onward legislative processing.

The proposed bill is being developed alongside the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police, with the legislation expected to provide the detailed operational framework for federal and state policing.

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reshuffled his cabinet, redeploying the suspended Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Omorodion Ikponmwosa, to the Ministry of Oil and Gas.

The minor cabinet shake-up also saw two newly sworn-in commissioners assigned portfolios, while two other serving commissioners were redeployed.

SEE MORE: JUST IN: Abducted Kebbi Judge Finally Regains Freedom, Returns Home Safely

Ikponmwosa was suspended on July 19, 2026, alongside the State Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) Project, Mrs. Ikpikhumi Betsy Aghaku, over what the state government described as an “official infraction.”

The government did not provide further details on the nature of the alleged infraction during his suspension.

The latest changes were contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, who said the exercise was aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing efficiency and improving service delivery across the state.

Under the new arrangement, Mr. Iriabekhai Kayode Jeffery, one of the newly sworn-in commissioners, was deployed to the Ministry of Mining, while Mr. Martin Anayochukwu Oli was assigned to the newly created Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations.

The Commissioner for Communications, Mr. Ohimai Ehijimetor, was redeployed to the Ministry of Livestock Development.

Ikponmwosa, who previously headed Livestock Development, was moved to the Ministry of Oil and Gas, while Mr. Andrew Momodu, the former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, was redeployed to the Ministry of Communications.

The state government said the changes were made to better align responsibilities with the “respective skills, experience and competencies” of members of the State Executive Council.

Explaining the creation of the Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations, the government said it was established to “promote inter-ethnic and inter-community harmony, strengthen peaceful coexistence, and harness the rich and ever-evolving diversity of Edo citizens as an asset for the development and unity of the state.”

All the deployments and redeployments take immediate effect, with the affected commissioners directed to ensure seamless handover and assumption of duties.

Governor Okpebholo also urged members of the State Executive Council to bring “renewed vigour, professionalism and commitment” to their respective assignments.

According to the government, the governor expects the cabinet members to support his administration’s determination to deliver “efficient, responsive and people-centred governance” to the people of Edo State.