NEWS
Pay more attention to unsettling security situation, nation’s unity, Uzodinma tells Media
Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo has urged the media to pay more attention to issues like the depletion of the country’s crude oil output and the unsettling security situation in the country.
The governor made the call while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.
Uzodinma was reacting to a question about the choice of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to go for Muslim – Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
He said the issues of Nigeria’s unity, increasing cases of oil theft and security challenges should be of more concern to Nigerians rather than granting media space to champions of religious dichotomy and ethnic jingoism.
“I think that even the media – I want to use this opportunity to invite you people to prioritize our areas of interest.
“First, the mood of the country today is not about who the candidates are.
”The mood of the country is that two or three years ago, we were producing 2.1 million barrels of crude oil every day.
“For over 12 years, that has been our main source of foreign exchange.”
He decried that because of the activities of those who are anti-national interest, Nigeria had lost over a million barrels and barely managing to produce one million.
“I think we should arise in unison to condemn the activities of crude oil theft by anti-Nigerian interest groups and bring back the economy of the country, because you have to have a country first before you have a president.
“Look at the quantum of banditry going on in Nigeria today, to the extent that bandits are courageously coming into the capital city.
”We should rise in unison and condemned these activities,’’ he said.
Uzodinma stressed that the media should concentrate more on things that would unite the diverse ethno-religious groups in the country.
He said: “We should make emphasis on things that will unite the country and by the grace of God abandon those things that are capable of dismembering the country.
“Our national interest is important. Our national unity is important. Our ability to live together as brothers and sisters is also important.
“The primary purpose of government is for the security of lives and property and the welfare of our citizens. To what extent have we supported federal government in achieving this primary purpose?
“Those are things that should occupy our minds now. But if you throw Nigeria into a situation where religious dichotomy, ethnic jingoism will be at the front burner, it means you are working against Nigeria.
“So, let us allow political parties who have chosen their candidates, no matter the religion where they come from, to go out and do their campaign.”
According to him, it is left for the electorate to reject the ticket by not voting for them or accept the ticket by voting for them.
“But, if we continue to make these things headlines, you are heating up our polity unnecessarily.
”I want to beg you in the name of God, let us save our country,’’ he said
Speaking to the issue of oil theft, the governor charged the federal government to identify the brains behind the menace in the country and bring them to justice
The governor said “the act is a cancer which must be dealt with to steady the economy.’’
He warned against treating perpetrators as sacred cows, saying that anyone involved in the practice must be brought to book irrespective of the status in the society.
“Crude oil theft is like cancer to our economy and a thief is a thief, no matter his class.
“So, the process that will address the issue of crude oil theft will identify those behind it, irrespective of their class and for me, I don’t see any profile that will make a criminal not to be a criminal.
“All I will pray is the repentant mind to believe in the country and save the country the agony of this criminality.
“So, it is something that is very serious, as a matter of fact, it is something that government must take very seriously.
“Nobody should be a sacred cow; whether your profile is high, whether you’re middle-class profile or low profile, you’re considered a thief to national treasury.
”Commensurate punishment should be mated on such an individual, once identified,’’ he added.
Reacting to a recent World Bank outlook on Nigeria’s economic future, which projected that the country faces an existential threat, he said:
“Even 25 years ago, before 1999, World Bank has always said Nigeria will break into pieces and today Nigeria has not been broken into a half piece.
“This country is loved by God and our faith in God has been keeping this country.
“We have had friendly enemies as partners, both internationally and nationally, but yet Nigeria continues to exist.
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“There is nowhere in the world you will go and the gas stations you will see are not Shell, ExxonMobil, Texaco (Overseas), all the major oil producing companies.
“It is only in Nigeria that you will hear languages like independent market, Okafor & Sons Filling Station and all that. What is the World Bank saying about that?
“It is only in Nigeria you talk about subsidy. What is World Bank saying about that?
”It is only in Nigeria you hear jargons like Turn-Around-Maintenance, where else in the world do you have such language?’’
On his meeting with the president, Uzodinma said he sought his s approval for the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, to be converted to Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital and for Alvan Ikoku College of Education to become Federal University of Education, Owerri
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has restored bulk power supply to its Katampe 330kV Transmission Substation in Abuja following an earlier disruption caused by a fault on the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1.
The development was disclosed in a statement released by TCN management on Friday, October 9, 2026.
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According to the statement, bulk power supply was restored to the Katampe substation at 4:15 p.m. through the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1.
TCN explained that the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1 remains out of service due to a fault, necessitating the use of the Gwagwalada–Katampe line to restore supply to the substation.
The company also announced the suspension of planned maintenance work on the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1 to enable the line to continue supplying the Katampe substation.
The suspended maintenance work involved replacing defective line isolators and the associated earthing switch.
TCN apologised to electricity consumers in the affected areas for any inconvenience caused by the disruption and maintenance arrangements.
The Federal Government has warned politicians against making promises that could reverse Nigeria’s economic reforms, insisting that it will not restore fuel subsidy amid renewed debate over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) petrol discount.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, saying the government would not bring back subsidies on petroleum products.
“This government is not bringing back subsidy on fuel products. We need to be clear,” Oyedele said.
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The minister also criticised politicians who, according to him, make promises to win elections without fully considering the implications of implementing them.
He suggested that some politicians make sweeping promises during election campaigns only to offer excuses when confronted with the realities of governance.
“I think I would pardon people who say all manner of things because they want to get elected. It’s almost like ‘whatever I need to say, when I get there, I’ll give excuses.’ But we have the data,” he said.
Oyedele added that he felt a personal responsibility not to remain silent about the economic realities known to the government or allow populist positions to push Nigeria in the wrong direction.
“I feel the personal responsibility that I cannot see what I see and keep quiet, or populism to move our country in the wrong direction,” he said.
NNPC Petrol Discount Sparks Fresh Subsidy Debate
The minister’s remarks come amid renewed debate over fuel subsidy following the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC retail stations.
The initiative was introduced as a temporary measure to provide relief to Nigerians amid elevated global crude oil prices and concerns about the cost of petroleum products.
NNPC Retail had also announced a N66-per-litre petrol discount to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, with the offer scheduled to run until October 31, 2026, across its retail stations nationwide.
The company maintained that the discount was a customer-relief initiative and did not represent a return to the petroleum subsidy regime.
The distinction has become central to the debate, with the government insisting that temporary price relief at NNPC stations does not amount to restoring the subsidy policy abolished in May 2023.
The administration has maintained that the current arrangement differs from the former subsidy system, under which the government intervened to cover part of the cost of petrol.
FG Defends Economic Reforms
During the interview, Oyedele also referred to a World Bank update, saying the institution had acknowledged a reduction in poverty levels and increased spending on infrastructure, particularly roads.
He urged Nigerians not to reverse the progress he said had been made, arguing that the country was approaching a point where the benefits of ongoing reforms should begin to emerge.
The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has commenced a promotion exercise for 24,000 eligible staff as part of efforts to clear outstanding teachers’ promotions dating back to 2021.
The development was disclosed on Friday as the administration of Governor Uba Sani intensifies efforts to address promotion backlogs, recognise teachers’ years of service and improve staff welfare across the state.
The exercise covers outstanding promotions from 2021 to 2026 and is expected to provide eligible teachers and other staff with opportunities for career progression.
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According to the announcement, eligible personnel will undergo an assessment process, after which promotions will be implemented for those who successfully meet the requirements.
The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen the education sector by recognising the contributions of teachers and supporting their professional development.
The state government has emphasised the importance of investing in teachers, noting that a motivated and valued teaching workforce is essential to building a stronger education system.
The exercise is also expected to address long-standing staff concerns relating to career advancement within the state’s basic education sector.
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