NEWS
Insiders Refute Ojulari’s Interference with Award of Oil Blocks
Oil industry insiders have described allegations linking the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, to the recent award of oil blocks as ‘deliberately false, malicious and legally unsustainable.’
Those who know declared that Ojulari neither awarded nor participated in the award of any oil block or marginal field, stressing that neither Ojulari nor the NNPC Ltd has the statutory authority to allocate oil blocks or issue petroleum licences in Nigeria.
Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) upstream licensing is administered by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) while the authority to grant a Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) rests with the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
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Consequently, the sources said any suggestion that Ojulari personally awarded an oil block, influenced the allocation process or used his position to secure a field for any individual or company is not only unsupported by evidence but fundamentally inconsistent with the law.
“This allegation collapses under the slightest scrutiny,” a senior industry official said. “Ojulari did not conduct the bid process, evaluate applicants, select winners or award any oil block. He had absolutely no statutory role in the exercise. Those spreading this narrative know this, but they are deliberately misleading the public.”
They stated that powerful interests threatened by the reform programme of the NNPC Ltd’s leadership are allegedly behind a coordinated campaign to discredit Ojulari and force him from office, according to industry sources familiar with the developments.
The sources alleged that individuals whose commercial interests have been disrupted by Ojulari’s transparency drive, tighter financial controls and cost-reduction measures are supporting a group operating under the name Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF).
The group recently alleged that a company linked to Ojulari’s wife benefited from the award of a marginal oil field. However, it reportedly failed to produce corporate documents, beneficial ownership records, licensing papers or any other credible evidence establishing such a connection.
Industry insiders described the allegation as a calculated fabrication designed to stain Ojulari’s reputation, erode public confidence in his leadership and create artificial grounds for agitation against his continued tenure.
“This is not an innocent misunderstanding of the licensing process,” one source said. “It is a deliberate attempt to hold Ojulari responsible for an exercise over which he had no legal authority, no regulatory responsibility and no decision-making power.”
Sources said the attacks intensified as the NNPC Ltd’s leadership moved to improve transparency in commercial transactions, enforce financial discipline, reduce operating costs and review arrangements considered wasteful or inconsistent with the company’s commercial objectives.
They alleged that some individuals and companies that previously benefited from opaque transactions and weak institutional controls are fighting back because their interests have been affected by the reforms.
According to the sources, the strategy is to portray Ojulari as ethically compromised, weaken his moral authority and distract the NNPC Ltd leadership from implementing far-reaching institutional changes.
Since assuming office, the sources said Ojulari has pursued reforms aimed at repositioning the NNPC Ltd as a commercially driven, operationally efficient and globally competitive energy company.
“His leadership has prioritised cost reduction, improved production, stronger corporate governance, financial accountability and greater transparency across the company’s commercial operations.
“He has also demanded greater discipline in contracting and investment decisions, while seeking to eliminate waste, strengthen internal controls and ensure that commercial arrangements deliver measurable value to the company and the Nigerian people,” a source said.
Industry stakeholders said the measures have inevitably challenged entrenched interests accustomed to benefiting from questionable arrangements and weak oversight.
The insiders dismissed the claims against Ojulari as baseless, mischievous and politically motivated.
A senior company official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said Ojulari had complied with the relevant asset-declaration and Code of Conduct requirements.
“The attempt to link his family to an oil-block award is false and can easily be tested against official corporate and licensing records,” the official said.
“More importantly, the GCEO of NNPC Ltd does not award oil blocks. The NNPC Ltd did not conduct the licensing exercise, and Ojulari neither selected nor approved any beneficiary. The allegation is therefore built on a false premise,” the source added.
NEWS
‘I’m Not Going to Apologise’ — Davido Fires Back at Okpebholo Over WAEC Result
Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has refused to apologise to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over his social media post displaying the governor’s alleged West African Examinations Council result.
Davido insisted that he did nothing wrong by sharing the result, saying he was only informing people in Edo State about the academic record of their governor.
The singer made this known in an exclusive interview with News Central on Tuesday in Osun State.
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He said, “I’m not going to apologise. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just telling people of the state the results their governor has.”
The controversy followed comments by Okpebholo during political activities ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.The Edo governor had mocked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, over his penchant for dancing while campaigning for the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
Okpebholo had said, “Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance.”
Davido, who is Adeleke’s nephew and actively campaigned for his uncle, subsequently shared what appeared to be Okpebholo’s WAEC result on his Instagram Story on Friday.
The post, which had no caption, sparked reactions on social media, with Tugbiyele later describing it as inappropriate and disrespectful.
Responding to calls for an apology, Davido defended his action and accused Okpebholo of leaving Edo State to attack his uncle in Osun.
He said, **“Yes, and you came, you left your state, you came to another state. You came in and then started talking that my uncle is a dancer; he is not serious.
“The road to your Government House is not done. My uncle is not serious. First of all, you were not even elected; you were selected.”**
The singer further questioned Okpebholo’s understanding of electoral victory, saying,
“You don’t know what it means to win an election. That’s why you could go there and talk.”
Davido also criticised the governor over his comments about Adeleke and expressed sympathy for Okpebholo’s children.
He said, “I feel so bad for his kids. Because you see what my dad is doing. Do you understand? Yeah, you’re abusing a sitting governor in his own state.”
The singer also mocked Okpebholo over his reported stay in a hotel and warned that Adeleke would respond politically when the time came.
Davido said, “In fact, finish your three years, we’ll visit you when it’s time for you to get re-elected.”
Earlier, Tugbiyele had called on Davido to apologise to Okpebholo, arguing that the singer should not have personally responded to the Edo governor’s comments about Adeleke.
Tugbiyele said, “I watched a video when Governor Okpebholo called the governor of my state, Adeleke, the dancing governor. And the governor’s relation, David Adeleke, replied by publishing the WAEC Secondary School leaving result of Governor Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State.”
He acknowledged that the alleged result might not have been impressive but said it was inappropriate to use it to ridicule the governor.
He said, “The result is not good enough, but it’s possible. The governor did a resit. We are not aware of that, but I think Davido, David Adeleke’s publication is inappropriate.”
Tugbiyele concluded with a direct appeal to the singer, saying, “Davido, David Adeleke, please, as a proper Yoruba, please apologise to Governor Okpebholo. God bless you, David. God bless Nigeria.”
NEWS
Kano Bans Patent Medicine Stores From Administering IV Drips, Blood Transfusions
The Kano State Government has banned patent medicine stores across the state from administering intravenous (IV) fluids and conducting blood transfusions.
The directive was announced by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Kano State Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA), Khadijah Hussein-Sa’id, during a sensitisation workshop for proprietors and medical directors of private health facilities in Kano.
Hussein-Sa’id said patent medicine stores are legally classified as non-clinical retail outlets and are not authorised to perform invasive medical procedures, administer IV fluids or conduct blood transfusions.
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She explained that the directive was introduced to protect residents from unsafe and illegal medical practices and strengthen the regulation of private health facilities in the state.
“Any patent medicine store or unauthorised facility found administering IV fluids or conducting blood transfusions will face immediate closure and other sanctions in accordance with relevant laws and regulations,” she warned.
The acting executive secretary said IV fluid therapies and blood transfusions must only be carried out in accredited health facilities under the supervision of qualified medical professionals.
She urged residents to remain vigilant and report patent medicine stores and other unauthorised facilities engaging in the prohibited practices.
According to her, complaints can be submitted directly to the PHIMA office at Magaji Rumfa, with supporting evidence such as photographs, receipts or other proof of the services provided.
Hussein-Sa’id said PHIMA would continue to strengthen the regulation of private health institutions and take decisive action against unsafe, illegal and unhygienic medical practices.
She also urged operators of private health facilities to comply with the directive and adhere to approved standards to enhance healthcare delivery across the state.
NEWS
Bayelsa Assembly Sacks Sagbama LGA Chairman, Deputy
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the removal from office of the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area, Alice Allen Tangi, and her Vice-Chairman, Sufade Jefferson Tobi, over alleged gross misconduct.
The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary following consideration of a petition against the two elected local government officials.
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The Speaker of the House, Abraham Ingobere, said the resolution was reached in accordance with the Bayelsa State Local Government Administration Law, 2000, and other relevant legal provisions.
According to him, the petition bordered on the alleged failure of the chairman to present monthly transparent briefings and the annual budget before spending public funds.
Ingobere also said Tangi allegedly failed to honour invitations by the House to respond to the allegations.
The Speaker said the House secured the required two-thirds majority for the removal, with 17 of the 20 lawmakers present voting in favour of the resolution.
“The resolution of the House will be communicated to the executive arm of government for necessary action.”
He added that the affected officials had allegedly failed to appear before the House despite several invitations to respond to the issues raised in the petition.
The Assembly also cited relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Bayelsa State Local Government Administration Law in arriving at its decision.
Meanwhile, the Assembly approved Governor Douye Diri’s request for the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance to staff of the state-owned universities.
Supporting the request, the Leader of the House, Monday Obolo, said the approval was necessary because of the challenges confronting the state-owned universities.
“Due to the enormous challenges faced by state-owned universities, the approval is necessary in order to enhance the productivity of lecturers and non-lecturers.”
Obolo said the projected monthly financial implication of the allowances across the three state-owned universities was N564,842,691.58.
He said the amount would be incorporated into the state’s salary structure, with payment expected to commence next month.
The House also approved a new chart of accounts to accommodate newly created ministries, departments and agencies of the state government.
Lawmakers said the measure was in line with international best practices and intended to promote transparency in tracking government revenue and expenditure and improve budgetary planning.
Similarly, the Assembly approved the 2027–2029 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper submitted by Diri.
Obolo described the MTEF-FSP as a precursor to the annual budget, saying it would enable the government to plan using key macroeconomic indicators, including crude oil prices, exchange rates and inflation.
The Assembly also conducted first readings of the Universal Basic Education Board Amendment Bill, 2026, and the Senior Secondary Education Board Bill, 2026.





