PFIPC: Reps Panel Clears Gbajabiamila, Links 12 Agencies, 58 Bank Accounts to DG

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of allegations that he authorised, created or took part in the activities of the purported agency.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, said its preliminary investigation found that the organisation was not legally established by the Federal Government. It also said documents allegedly presented to give the body presidential and legislative backing were forged, fabricated or altered.

The committee specifically examined a letter purportedly appointing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as Director-General of the PFIPC, which allegedly carried Gbajabiamila’s authority and signature. It found that the letter was not issued by the Chief of Staff or the Presidency.

According to the lawmakers, evidence obtained from the State House showed that no such appointment was made or approved by the Presidency, adding that Gbajabiamila neither issued nor signed the letter.

The committee also discovered that the letterhead used on the document was not genuine State House letterhead, while the reference number on it did not conform to the Presidency’s official numbering system.

It said the format, language and administrative details contained in the document were significantly different from those used in official State House correspondence.

The lawmakers therefore made a preliminary finding that the alleged appointment letter was fabricated and falsely presented as an official document from the Presidency.

The finding clears Gbajabiamila of the allegation, as the committee said it found no evidence connecting him to the purported appointment or the activities of the organisation.

Instead, the committee said documents before it showed that Gbajabiamila took steps to initiate investigations after concerns about the organisation were brought to his attention.

It said that after receiving an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, over suspected fraud and the alleged misuse of government materials, Gbajabiamila acted within 24 hours by contacting security and investigative agencies.

Those agencies included the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The committee added that the Chief of Staff also directed relevant government institutions to carry out administrative verification of the organisation.

It further said that when fresh concerns emerged, including those linked to a proposed World Investment Summit, additional communications were sent to relevant authorities requesting investigations and appropriate action.

WASSCE Result Verification Fee Now at N4,000

Candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions will now pay a one-time fee of N4,000 to verify their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) have announced.

The clarification was made in a joint statement released by JAMB and WAEC on Tuesday after discussions over the newly introduced system for remote uploading and verification of O’Level results.

Under the new arrangement, candidates whose admissions are handled by JAMB will verify their WAEC results once through the board. The verified result will then be sent to the institution where the candidate is seeking admission.

JAMB and WAEC said candidates would not have to pay any additional verification fee to their chosen institutions.

The examination bodies also instructed tertiary institutions to use the verified results sent by JAMB for admission screening, processing and other related activities.

The development follows JAMB’s introduction of a system that allows candidates to upload and verify their O’Level results from home or any location with internet access.

The new process removes the need for candidates to visit JAMB-approved Computer-Based Test centres solely to verify their results.

JAMB said the system was initially introduced for WAEC results and would allow it to confirm candidates’ results directly with the relevant examination bodies.

The initiative is part of efforts to make admission services faster, safer and more convenient for candidates.

Following Tuesday’s clarification, JAMB and WAEC confirmed that result verification through JAMB will only be done once, with the verified result available for use by the relevant institution.

WAEC has also given JAMB permission to forward the verification outcome to the tertiary institutions concerned.

The two agencies said the arrangement would prevent candidates from having to undergo and pay for separate result verification processes at different institutions after completing the verification through JAMB.

Dangote threatens to export petrol as imports rise

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has warned that it may export excess petrol stocks as increasing imports complicate domestic demand forecasts and make inventory management more difficult.

The refinery said imported Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, accounted for about 43 per cent of the fuel supplied to the Nigerian market in July, despite its ability to meet and surpass local demand.

It attributed the uncertainty to the continued issuance of petroleum product import licences, which it said was affecting demand forecasts and making it harder to determine the appropriate volume of petrol to keep in storage for the domestic market.

The refinery said it had maintained adequate stock levels and reserved petrol volumes to ensure uninterrupted supply to the Nigerian market since beginning operations, requiring substantial investments in storage facilities, logistics and working capital.

However, the company said the absence of clear information on the volume of imported petrol expected into the country was affecting its ability to efficiently plan production and manage inventory.

It explained that any petrol surplus that could not be immediately absorbed by the local market would have to be redirected to regional and international markets through exports.

The refinery said the rise in its export volumes should therefore not be viewed as an indication that it was unable to meet domestic demand, but rather as a consequence of excess stocks created by uncertainty surrounding the volume of imported petrol entering the country.

“However, the absence of transparency regarding the actual volume of imported products expected into the country makes effective production and inventory planning increasingly challenging. Maintaining large stock positions without clear visibility into import volumes imposes substantial carrying costs on the refinery and ultimately undermines efficient market operations,” it stated.

The company said exporting the excess petrol would help it avoid additional storage and financing expenses associated with maintaining large inventories.

It stressed that the development did not amount to a withdrawal from the Nigerian market, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining sufficient petrol supplies across the country.

NFF President Gusau, Board Members Resign

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, and other members of the NFF board have resigned from their positions.

The resignations come amid mounting criticism over the administration and management of Nigerian football under the current leadership.

The pressure intensified following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking the first time the team has missed the tournament.

The NFF leadership had also reportedly come under scrutiny from security agencies over the management and utilisation of funds released by the Federal Government for the national football teams.

The Department of State Services was said to have joined other security agencies in investigating the federation’s handling of the N17 billion intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024.

The funds were released to settle outstanding wages, bonuses and other financial obligations owed to players representing Nigeria’s national teams.

FG Targets 8,000MW Power Generation, Transmission by 2027

The Federal Government says it is aiming to achieve 8,000 megawatts of electricity generation and transmission by the end of 2027 as part of measures to boost power supply nationwide.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the launch of the Renewable Energy Assets Management Company by the Rural Electrification Agency.

Tegbe said the government was targeting 6,500MW by the end of 2026, acknowledging that the country currently faces challenges in wheeling about 5,000MW of available electricity.

He expressed optimism that Nigerians would soon have access to round-the-clock electricity, describing the recent improvements in the power sector as the beginning of broader reforms aimed at transforming electricity supply.

The minister lamented that Nigeria had endured an embarrassing situation of inadequate electricity despite possessing significant power resources and infrastructure.

According to him, the newly established RAMCO is expected to adopt a new model for managing and sustaining renewable energy assets, with its mandate eventually expanding to cover the wider electricity grid.

Tegbe added that the government was developing a more flexible electricity system that would integrate grid power, embedded generation, interconnected and distributed renewable energy, energy storage and other emerging technologies.

Dollar exchanges at N1,346 official rate, N1,400 in parallel market

The Nigerian naira remained relatively stable against the United States dollar on Wednesday, although a noticeable difference persists between the official foreign exchange market and the parallel market.

The latest available data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) placed the dollar at approximately ₦1,346.34 on Wednesday, reflecting the current benchmark exchange rate.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NFEM rate is calculated using the volume-weighted average of transactions carried out in the market and represents the official exchange rate for the day.

Other confirmed figures from the official market showed the naira closing at about ₦1,346.90 to the dollar, keeping the currency within the ₦1,347/$ range.

Meanwhile, the dollar was trading at approximately ₦1,400 in the parallel market on Wednesday, according to Aboki Forex, which regularly monitors and publishes street-market exchange rates.

At the parallel-market rate of ₦1,400 to the dollar, $100 would be worth about ₦140,000, while $1,000 would exchange for approximately ₦1.4 million.

The gap between the NFEM rate of ₦1,346.34 and the parallel-market rate of ₦1,400 stands at roughly ₦53.66 per dollar.

The naira’s relative stability comes amid improved conditions in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. The previous week, the currency was trading at around ₦1,345/$ in the official market, compared with approximately ₦1,410/$ on the streets, indicating a reduction in the disparity between both markets.

The CBN’s latest data indicate that NFEM rates are determined from actual transactions in the official market. In contrast, parallel-market rates can vary during the day based on dollar availability, demand, location and transaction volumes.

Tears as Nollywood Icon Ogogo Is Laid to Rest

Tears and grief filled Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday as the remains of veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, were laid to rest.

Family members, friends, colleagues and sympathisers gathered in the actor’s hometown to observe the burial rites of the 66-year-old thespian.

Footage from the funeral procession showed mourners carrying Ogogo’s remains to his final resting place in line with Islamic burial traditions.

Among those present was Ogogo’s longtime friend and colleague, Yinka Quadri, who broke down in tears as mourners tried to comfort him.

The emotional moment underscored the depth of sorrow among the actor’s colleagues, relatives and loved ones as they paid their final respects.

Several Nollywood stars, including Jide Kosoko, Faithia Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Mr Latin and Toyosi Adesanya, had earlier travelled to Ilaro to attend the burial.

Other actors, including Ireti Osayemi and Bisi Omo Logbalogba, were also present alongside family members, friends and sympathisers.

The burial followed the arrival of Ogogo’s remains in Ilaro on Sunday, shortly after the actor died at the age of 66.

FG Spends N6.47tn on Infrastructure as Highways Take Lion’s Share

The Federal Government spent N6.47 trillion on strategic infrastructure projects between June 2023 and December 2025, with major highway projects accounting for more than half of the total expenditure.

An analysis of the newly released Federal Government Nigeria Reform Scorecard on savings from fuel subsidy removal, titled “The Benefits, Costs and Harm Prevented,” showed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway received the largest allocation among the strategic infrastructure projects listed, with N2.23tn disbursed for its construction.

The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway ranked second with N1.11tn, while N489.3bn was spent on the Trans-Sahara Superhighway. Combined, the three highway projects accounted for about N3.83tn of the N6.47tn allocated to strategic infrastructure during the period under review.

The scorecard, which covered June 2023 to December 2025, outlined how the Federal Government deployed additional fiscal resources generated or made available through its economic reform measures.

According to the document, the government recorded incremental expenditure of N30.64tn during the period, with N6.47tn directed towards strategic infrastructure development.

On Wednesday, the Federal Government disclosed that it had spent N30.64tn to cushion the impact of petrol subsidy removal and other major economic reforms, while the reforms generated N15.8tn in savings for the Federation.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market helped mobilise N15.8tn in additional resources for the Federation during the period.

Further analysis of the scorecard showed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of the four legacy road projects of the current administration, received N2.23tn, representing about 34 per cent of the N6.47tn spent on strategic infrastructure.

The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway received N1.11tn, while N489.3bn was allocated to the Trans-Sahara Superhighway. Other significant expenditures included N366bn for emergency road intervention projects and N304.2bn for Section II of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road.

The Federal Government also allocated N291.3bn to the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road, N250bn to the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support Programme and N228.4bn to the Ilesha-Akure-Benin road section.

The scorecard also recorded N124.7bn for the construction of 1,550 housing units for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, while N109.9bn was spent on Operation Lake Sanity, a multinational security operation.

The Ministry of Finance said the infrastructure interventions were designed to tackle longstanding constraints to investment and economic growth.

The spending comes as the Federal Government continues to pursue major road and transport infrastructure projects amid growing pressure from rising debt-service obligations, wage adjustments and other recurrent expenditures.

Veteran Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66

Veteran Nollywood actor and Yoruba film icon, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at the age of 66.

Hassan passed away at about 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, according to an announcement by fellow veteran actor, Jide Kosoko. The development has sparked grief across the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Kosoko disclosed that the late actor’s remains would be taken to his hometown, Ilaro, in Ogun State, on Sunday ahead of his final rites.

A lying-in-state ceremony has been scheduled for Monday, August 24, at 11 a.m. at the Pavilion in Ilaro, Ogun State.

Taiwo Hassan was one of the prominent figures in Yoruba-language cinema, with a career spanning several decades as an actor, filmmaker and screenwriter. He was widely recognised for his memorable roles and contribution to the growth of the Nigerian film industry.

His death comes days after his family appealed for medical assistance as he battled a serious health condition. Colleagues, fans and other members of the entertainment industry had rallied around the actor before his death.

101-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Arrested for Selling Illicit Drugs

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother, Esther Ogunmabo, for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs in Ilisan, Ogun State.

Ogunmabo was reportedly found with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets for sale to residents in the community.

According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the centenarian told investigators that she ventured into the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.

The agency said the arrest was part of its operations against drug trafficking across the country’s land and maritime borders.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and referred for counselling due to her advanced age. Her daughter, however, was also arrested in connection with the case.