The World Trade Organization (WTO) has confirmed the reappointment of Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its Director-General for a second term, effective September 1, 2025.

This announcement was made on Friday via a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The WTO’s General Council approved the reappointment by consensus, citing Okonjo-Iweala’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision for the organization’s future.

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The decision follows a transparent selection process initiated on October 8, 2024, overseen by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council.

“With no additional nominations submitted by the November 8 deadline, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stood as the sole candidate,” the WTO stated.

“The process was conducted in a fully open and transparent manner, adhering to the WTO’s ‘Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General’ (WT/L/509).”

Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment was formally endorsed after a special General Council meeting on November 28-29, 2024, where she presented her forward-looking vision for the WTO.

Following a Q&A session with members, the Council reaffirmed their confidence in her leadership.

“The General Council commends Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her outstanding leadership during her first term,” the statement continued.

“Amid significant global economic challenges, she strengthened the WTO’s ability to support its members and set a forward-looking agenda for the organization.

Her leadership was instrumental in securing meaningful outcomes at pivotal moments, including the 12th and 13th Ministerial Conferences (MC12 and MC13), where major milestones were achieved.”

Recall that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala first assumed the role of Director-General on March 1, 2021, making history as both the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has voiced strong opposition to the tax reform bills currently under review in Nigeria’s National Assembly, arguing that their passage could severely hinder the development of the northern region and exacerbate economic difficulties nationwide.

The tax reform bills, which were presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in September, have sparked significant backlash, particularly from northern leaders.

Northern governors, traditional rulers, and the Northern Elders Forum have all expressed concern, claiming the reforms do not serve the nation’s interests.

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In an interview with BBC Hausa, Governor Zulum criticized the rapid progression of the bills, pointing out that they have received expedited attention in contrast to other pieces of legislation that have taken years to pass.

“We condemn these bills transmitted to the National Assembly. They will drag the north backward,” Zulum stated.

He also highlighted that the negative impact would not be confined to the north but would extend to other regions, including parts of the South West and South East.

The governor also questioned the urgency behind the bills, recalling the protracted timeline for the passage of other significant legislation.

“There’s a petroleum bill that was presented, but it took almost 20 years before it was finally passed. But this one was transmitted and is already receiving legislative attention within a week,” Zulum noted.

He called for a more cautious approach to ensure long-term benefits for future generations.

Zulum warned that the bills could lead to severe fiscal challenges, particularly for northern states, with the potential to hinder their ability to pay civil servants.

“If these bills scale through, we will not be able to even pay salaries. And if we paid, it won’t be sustainable the following year,” he said.

When asked whether the tax reforms would worsen poverty, hunger, and insecurity in the north, the governor answered in the affirmative, stating that the proposals would have detrimental effects on the entire country.

“Yes, including security,” Zulum added. He also pointed out that opposition to the bills is not only coming from the north but also from southern regions such as Lagos, which has voiced similar concerns.

Despite his strong objections, Zulum clarified that his position was not a political attack on President Tinubu, whom he supported in the recent elections.

“This is not against the government. We supported and voted for him. But these bills will not mean good for us,” he said.

The governor also addressed rumors that lawmakers could be influenced by lobbying or kickbacks to support the bills, though he refrained from making direct allegations.

“There are rumors around, but we are not certain. But you know we are in Nigeria!” Zulum said. He urged fellow Nigerians to act with patriotism, emphasizing the importance of considering the welfare of future generations.

In addition, Governor Zulum appealed directly to President Tinubu to reconsider the tax reform bills, urging him to listen to the concerns raised by northern leaders and ensure that any legislation passed benefits the nation as a whole.

“We are appealing to the President to listen to us and address our concerns,” he added

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed claims made by Timothy Mgbere, a community leader from Alesa in Rivers State, regarding the operational status of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

Mgbere, in a televised interview on Thursday, accused the NNPCL of deceiving Nigerians by falsely stating that the refinery was processing crude oil.

In a statement released on Friday, NNPCL’s spokesperson Olufemi Soneye criticized Mgbere’s remarks, calling them a clear indication of a lack of understanding of refinery operations.

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Soneye expressed that the company would not have responded to Mgbere’s comments were it not necessary to clarify the facts.

Biztellers reports that Mgbere had alleged that the old Port Harcourt Refinery was operating “skeletally” and not producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

He further claimed that PMS was being trucked out from the gantry at the new Port Harcourt Refinery, as opposed to the old one, suggesting that the refinery was not fully operational.

However, Soneye strongly refuted these claims, explaining that both the old and new Port Harcourt Refineries have been integrated into a single operational unit with a common terminal for product load-out.

He emphasized that the refineries share utilities such as power and storage tanks, meaning that both can use the same gantry for loading products.

“His (Mgbere’s) claim that the PMS truck-out was done at the gantry of the new Port Harcourt Refinery as against the gantry of the old Port Harcourt Refinery betrays his scant knowledge of refinery operations,” Soneye said.

“The old and new Port Harcourt Refineries have since been integrated with one single terminal for product load-out.”

Soneye also pointed out a contradiction in Mgbere’s argument, particularly regarding his claim that the PMS trucked out from the new refinery was “old stock” from the old refinery.

“So, how did the purported ‘old stock’ move from the old Port Harcourt Refinery to the loading gantry of the new Port Harcourt Refinery?” Soneye asked, adding that it was a display of “ignorance on full display.”

On the current production capacity, Soneye stated that the Port Harcourt Refinery is operating at 90% of its nameplate capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, yielding approximately 1.4 million liters of PMS, along with other products such as diesel and kerosene.

In conclusion, Soneye urged the public to disregard Mgbere’s claims, describing them as “borne out of sheer mischief and blatant display of ignorance.”