IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Former Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of managing the Nigerian Senate as a personal empire, claiming senators are subservient to him. Speaking on Arise News, Abbo alleged that Akpabio orchestrated the removal of lawmakers who opposed him, including himself.

Abbo recalled rejecting Akpabio's request for support during his Senate President bid, stating he was already backing another candidate. He also revealed that Akpabio offered financial inducements to senators, which he refused.

The former senator accused Akpabio of vindictively denying him his vehicle after his removal and sidelining Senator Ali Ndume for challenging Senate leadership. He criticized Akpabio for rewriting Senate rules to allow first-term senators to take leadership positions, further consolidating his control.

Abbo concluded by condemning Akpabio’s leadership style, claiming, "Senators serve him tea at his house," and reaffirming his defense of the Senate’s integrity, separate from its leadership. 

The Niger Delta Sports Festival has officially commenced with a spectacular opening ceremony, celebrating the region’s vibrant cultural heritage and outstanding athletic talent. Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, declared the festival open on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The event, hailed as a major boost for grassroots sports development, aligns with the federal government’s RHINSE (Renewed Hope in Nigeria for Sports Economy) initiative.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, NSC Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade applauded the efforts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other key stakeholders in bringing the festival to life. “This is a brilliant initiative by the NDDC and all involved. It perfectly aligns with the RHINSE agenda, which embodies the Renewed Hope vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” said Olopade. “We are proud and excited about this milestone in Nigerian sports.”

One of the festival’s major highlights is the launch of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) Initiative, designed to identify and develop young sporting talents. The initiative will allow promising athletes from across the country to compete as the 38th state at the upcoming National Sports Festival in Abeokuta. Notably, many of these emerging stars are currently competing in the Niger Delta Sports Festival, further reinforcing its role in youth empowerment.

“This initiative underscores our commitment to harnessing sports for national development, in line with President Tinubu’s vision,” Olopade added.

The festival has drawn an impressive lineup of dignitaries, including the Executive Governors of Akwa Ibom and Ondo states, Umo Eno and Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as the Honourable Minister of the Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh. Leading figures from the sporting community were also present to witness the event.

Running from April 1 to 8, the festival features approximately 3,000 athletes and 500 officials competing across 17 sports disciplines. With such a strong foundation, the event is set to leave a lasting impact on the country’s sports landscape. 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disowned a circular claiming it has introduced two new denominations—N5,000 and N10,000 notes. The apex bank described the circular as “fake” in a statement via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter).

The alleged circular said the new notes were set for circulation from May 1. The viral circular widely shared on WhatsApp, falsely attributed to the CBN, stated, “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially announced the introduction of two new denominations – N5,000 and N10,000 banknotes; as part of ongoing efforts to streamline cash transactions and improve liquidity management.”

The document further alleged that one Deputy CBN Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir Jr., justified the move as a way to reduce cash-handling costs while offering Nigerians more efficient options for larger transactions. However, the apex bank refuted the claims, urging the public to verify information through its official website.

“The content is not from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Kindly note that the official website of the CBN is cbn.gov.ng,” the CBN stated, emphasising its commitment to transparency and accurate communication. 

Nigeria’s oil sector faces fresh uncertainty as host communities in Bayelsa State have issued a 14-day ultimatum to NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL), threatening to shut down operations at Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 86 and 88 over a dispute regarding security contracts.

In a letter dated March 28, 2025, signed by community representatives, including Chief Christopher Tuduo and Dr. Amakiri Ngozi, the communities protested NEPL’s decision to terminate Multiplan Nigeria Limited’s contract and reduce the number of community-owned security vessels from three to two.

The affected communities—spanning Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs—argue that the security contracts, introduced by Chevron in 2007, were meant to safeguard oil infrastructure and maintain peace. They accused NEPL of breaching prior agreements by awarding a security contract to an external firm without consulting them.

The KEFFES Host Communities Development Trust (KHCDT) has demanded the reinstatement of the three security vessels, payment of outstanding invoices from 2024, and an urgent meeting with NEPL’s management within seven days.

“If our demands are not met within 14 days, we will take all necessary steps to shut down oil production at OMLs 86 and 88,” the statement warned.

The standoff raises concerns over potential disruptions to Nigeria’s oil output, as President Bola Tinubu’s administration aims to increase production to two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million by 2030.

This development comes amid Tinubu’s recent decision to sack NNPCL Group CEO Mele Kyari and the company’s board. 

Former senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) has turned down an invitation to serve as a judge for the Miss World Nigeria Beauty Pageant, scheduled for April 4 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

Event organizer and former senator Ben Murray-Bruce announced Sani’s appointment on social media, congratulating him and urging him to attend in his finest attire.

However, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Sani politely declined, citing personal reasons.

“My wives will not be happy if I serve as a judge. I have not been able to determine the most beautiful among them, let alone among people I don’t know,” he wrote.

He also noted his lack of experience in beauty pageants and expressed a preference to spend the Sallah period with family and friends.

Sani apologized for any inconvenience his decision may have caused Bruce and the event organizers, thanking them for the honor and wishing them success.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled that the petition seeking to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central does not meet constitutional requirements.

In a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, INEC stated:

“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

Further details are expected.