Earlier today at the Presidential Villa, the vice president received a comprehensive briefing on preparations for the 2025 Hajj operations from the Board of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

The Commission is set to commence the 2025 Hajj operations with the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia starting from May 9, 2025.

In my remarks, I charged the Commission to ensure that all hands are on deck to guarantee the success of the Hajj exercise.

All necessary measures must be taken to ensure the success of the 2025 Hajj. We owe it to all Nigerians and our pilgrims to provide a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience.

The Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) in Rivers State has once again made history, successfully hosting the ‘Kota Carum’ the largest vessel ever to berth at the Onne Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT).

The milestone event occurred last week further underscoring OMT’s growing prominence as a hub for large-scale maritime trade in West Africa.

Flying the Singaporean flag, the ‘Kota Carum’ is owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL), one of Asia’s leading shipping companies.

Boasting a capacity of 6,606 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), Kota Carum is a major addition to the line of large vessels now calling Onne Port. During its 55-hour port stay, the vessel will discharge 1,250 containers and load 1,619 containers—including export-bound cargo and empty containers.

Speaking at a reception to welcome the vessel, Chief Operating Officer of OMT, Jim Stewart, described the call as a landmark event not only for the terminal but for Nigeria’s maritime industry at large.

“We are incredibly honoured to receive the largest vessel to ever berth at Onne. Following the arrival of the Kota Cempaka last year, this achievement reflects our continued growth, our strategic investments in terminal infrastructure, and our unwavering commitment to operational excellence,” Stewart stated.

Stewart emphasized that OMT’s ongoing modernization efforts, including the acquisition of additional state-of-the-art cranes, have significantly enhanced cargo-handling capabilities and reduced vessel turnaround time.

He further noted the economic advantages of hosting such large vessels at Nigerian ports, explaining that direct calls by larger ships eliminate the need for transshipment via smaller feeder vessels—cutting down logistics costs and reducing freight tariffs for Nigerian importers and exporters.

“This is not just a win for OMT, it’s a win for the Nigerian economy. The ability to berth larger vessels means more direct cargo movement, reduced logistics costs, and increased revenue for the country. Freight forwarders also benefit significantly, as they avoid the extra costs associated with transshipment,” he said

Stewart also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for its vital support in creating an enabling environment for OMT to thrive.

“We have an excellent working relationship with the Port Manager, Mr. Abdulrahmon Hussain, and the entire team at the Nigerian Ports Authority. The leadership of the Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has been instrumental in our success. Allowing a vessel of this magnitude to berth at our terminal is a vote of confidence in our capabilities,” he added.

He called on the Federal Government to allocate more funding for channel dredging at the Onne Port to accommodate even larger vessels and further boost trade volumes.

“We are fully prepared to receive vessels from any shipping line. But for us to unlock the full potential of Onne Port, additional dredging is essential. We urge the Federal Government to support NPA with the necessary resources to deepen and widen the channels,” Stewart appealed.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce vehicle number plates to identify persons with disabilities in the state.

Speaking at the 2025 ministerial press briefing to mark the second year of Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term as governor on Tuesday, the transportation commissioner, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority will implement the scheme.

“The authority is also into the production of customised 716 fancy motor vehicle plates and 347 motorcycle fancy plates for vehicle owners on request,” he said.

The commissioner added that LSNPPA produced 224 out-of-series number plates on special requests and unique numbering needs.

“The authority issued 11,152 standard number plate replacements, 212 motorcycle plate replacements, and 63 standard fancy replacements to maintain accurate vehicle identification.

“They also produced 428 official number plates, 1,510 dealer plates and 4,000 articulated vehicle plates,” he said.

Osiyemi said that the authority, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, was developing initiatives that would lead to the production of number plates that would align with the ’Go Green’ initiatives.

Regarding the fading of number plates, he said the state used high-quality materials in their production.

“We should also understand that fading of the number plate is a function of the kind of material we use to wash our cars, which are very corrosive.

“We should also know that as man has a life span, so also are plate numbers; and they should be changed when the need arises,” he said.

Be Repentant, Bayelsa Gov Tells AIG Tolani
Sacks Community Youth Body

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has restated his administration’s commitment to provide more support to security agencies operating in the state.

Senator Diri stated this on Tuesday when he received heads of security agencies, including Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral N.M. Madugu, Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya, and the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa, Tolani Alausa, in Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor assured security agencies across board that his administration would collaborate with them to protect lives and property as well as critical national assets on land and the waterways by providing patrol vehicles, boats and other necessary logistics.

He informed the new OPDS Commander that the task force had a responsibility to protect critical national, state and community assets contributing not only to the daily oil production output for the federal government but also to development and growth of the state.

The governor stressed that the partnership between the state government and the task force had ensured that crime rate in the state reduced.

He said: “As a government, we are working round the clock with the security agencies so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed and also ensure that national assets are safe for the benefit of the people and the government.

“Often, it is misconstrued as though these assets are only for the federal government. Rather, they are for the state, communities and the federal government. So we must work hand-in-gloves to ensure they are safe.

“Therefore, it is our responsibility to always ensure that these critical national, state and community assets are kept safe.”

Responding to the request of the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya, the governor stated that he had signed the Certificate of Occupancy of the land allocated to the Nigerian Navy at the New Yenagoa City as well as approved a secondary school at Toru-Ebeni in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

He said the state government was waiting for the naval authorities to commence development of the land.

The new JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Madugu, stated that the visit was to formally introduce himself and to solicit the government’s support to achieve his aim of protecting the critical oil and gas facilities in his area of operation as well as fulfil the presidential mandate of increasing oil production to 2.5mbpd.

While promising to work with the Nigerian Police to maintain peace in the state, Diri admonished AIG Tolani to be repentant and be more professional in his duties having attained a top position in the force.

The governor, who recalled the role Tolani played when he was Commissioner of Police in the state during the 2023 governorship election, said: “Let bygone be bygone and work according to your conscience. Ensure that you are repentant and do what is right. Your zone covers Bayelsa and Rivers states and let the interest of both states be uppermost on your mind.”

On disputes among community youth associations, the state’s helmsman wielded the big stick and announced the dissolution of such body in Famgbe community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

He directed the Commissioner for Youth Development, working with the Commissioner of Police, to ensure a proper election is held in the community.

The governor also warned that traditional rulers whose communities were embroiled in conflicts would be sanctioned.

“Every other feuding community, including Ogboinbiri, we are still watching you. I have told all traditional rulers. If you cannot ensure peace in your domain but waiting for my wrath to dangle on you, then both traditional rulers and youth bodies will be sacrificed.”

The State House has allocated the sum of N10bn in the 2025 approved budget for the installation of a solar mini-grid at the Presidential Villa, The PUNCH reports.

This follows an increase in the overall budgetary allocation to the State House Headquarters, which rose from N47.11bn in the initially proposed 2025 budget to N57.11bn in the approved version.

The additional N10bn was traced to a jump in capital expenditure, which moved from N33.55bn to N43.55bn.

A breakdown of the new capital items reveals that the increase was solely due to the planned solar project, titled “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid,” with a full allocation of N10bn.

The move comes amid growing concerns over unreliable public electricity supply and the high cost of electricity for both households and government institutions.

The solar project is expected to reduce dependence on the national grid and limit the impact of tariff hikes on government finances.

The PUNCH observed that electricity costs have continued to soar, especially for Band A consumers, who receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily.

In April 2024, tariffs for Band A consumers surged from N68/kWh to N225/kWh, representing an increase of over 230 per cent.

Although this was later adjusted to N206.8/kWh and then slightly to N209.5/kWh in July, it remains one of the highest energy cost brackets in the country.

Institutions such as the State House, which fall within Band A, have therefore seen their electricity bills increase dramatically in the past year.

The State House has also struggled with unpaid electricity bills. In February 2024, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company listed the Presidential Villa among top government debtors, with an outstanding bill of N923.87m.

However, following a reconciliation process, the debt was revised down to N342.35m. President Bola Tinubu subsequently ordered the immediate settlement of the amount to avoid disconnection, according to statements issued by the Presidency.

The incident underlined long-standing issues around power supply reliability and rising utility costs at the nation’s seat of power.

The PUNCH further learnt that the State House spent a total of N483.34m on electricity bills in 2024, representing a 40.17 per cent increase from the N344.82m it expended in 2023.

This is according to payment records published on the GovSpend platform, which tracks expenditures by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Federal Government.

An analysis of the data showed that while the State House Headquarters made regular monthly payments to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, the largest payment of the year was a lump sum of N316.88m made in October 2024.

The payment was tagged as a settlement for “total outstanding electricity debt as at August 2024,” indicating that the presidency may have accumulated unpaid bills over several months before clearing them in bulk.

In contrast to 2024, the State House’s electricity spending in 2023 was more consistent, with monthly payments ranging between N28m and N30m, and no recorded arrears payment.

Despite the lower monthly amounts paid in 2024, the October clearance significantly raised the total spending for the year.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved N311.09m as the electricity budget for the State House in the 2025 fiscal year.

The figure is contained in the approved 2025 budget and falls under the subhead ‘Electricity Charges’ within the broader ‘Utilities – General’ allocation for the State House.

The reduction from the actual spending in 2024 suggests a return to more moderate billing or an expectation of fewer arrears.

However, it remains unclear whether the 2025 budgeted sum will be sufficient, given the spending patterns of previous years.

The decision to transition to a solar-powered grid at the Villa is seen as a cost-saving and energy-efficient move that aligns with broader sustainability goals.

In addition to the solar mini-grid, several other projects make up the capital allocation to the State House in the 2025 budget.

One of the highest line items is the N11.92bn earmarked for the settlement of liabilities owed to Julius Berger Nigeria and other maintenance contractors dating from 2022.

This includes work done in Kaduna, the VIP wing of the Villa, as well as utility charges and waste disposal obligations.

Another N6.04bn has been budgeted for annual routine maintenance of mechanical, electrical, building, and environmental systems within Villa facilities, including the President and Vice President’s residences, offices, lounges, and the conference and banquet halls.

The State House will also spend N5.49bn on general maintenance works at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Construction of a new office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants will continue with N1.83bn in ongoing funding, while the renovation of four Army residences along Ali Akilu Crescent in the Upper and Lower Artillery Quarters is expected to gulp N534.13m.

An additional N120.28m is set aside for renovation works at the State House security quarters.

Other key capital items include N366.16m for the purchase of PMS and ECM equipment, and N38.45m for the procurement and installation of auditing software tools and related staff training.

The State House is also budgeting N73.35m for facility management services at the gymnasium, auditorium complexes, guest houses, and other residences, as well as N73.23m for the replacement of Villa’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Digital infrastructure and administration are receiving attention, with N50.26m allocated for maintaining the electronic document management system and N56.08m for the procurement of office equipment across various departments, including Finance, ICT, Procurement, and Audit.

A further N25.16m is allocated for systematic data collection to improve project and programme decision-making.

For mobility and logistics, the budget provides N3.66bn for the purchase of new State House operational vehicles and N1.09bn for the replacement of SUVs.

Tyres for bulletproof and other operational vehicles are to be procured at a cost of N164.99m.

Additional allocations include N12.9m for upgrades to the State House Library, N4.59m for digital medical references, N31.21m for the rehabilitation of the Villa’s animal enclosure and veterinary equipment, N38.45m for plant nursery equipment and floral landscaping, and N54.95m for upgrading the Villa Ranch and building a wildlife conservation enclosure.

The solarisation project, however, remains the single most expensive new item in the 2025 budget and reflects a growing shift towards renewable energy in government infrastructure.

President Bola Tinubu earlier signed into law the N54.99tn 2025 Appropriation Bill.

Tinubu signed the budget in the presence of principal officers of the National Assembly and other top government officials in a small ceremony in his office at the State House, Abuja.

The bill was passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly on February 13, after Tinubu asked for an increase from the proposed N49.7tn.

The National Assembly approved a N54.99 trillion ($36.6bn) budget for the fiscal year, surpassing President Bola Tinubu’s initial proposal of N54.2tn.

This increase reflects additional anticipated revenues from agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

The budget aims to address key areas, including security, infrastructure, education, and health, with an allocation of $200m to mitigate the impact of recent US health aid reductions.

The 2025 budget is based on ambitious economic assumptions, including a crude oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day at a benchmark price of $75 per barrel.

Also, the Federal Government projects an exchange rate of N1,500 to the U.S. dollar and aims to reduce inflation from 34.8 per cent to 15 per cent within the year.

The 2025 Appropriation Act represents a 99.96 per cent increase from the 2024 Budget of N27.5tn.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the Federal Government allocated N1.99bn to procure diesel for the electric power generators for the State House in 2025.

This comes amid delays in the FG’s solar power project, initially slated to come on stream between December 2024 and January 2025.

It was gathered that the FG disbursed N88.75m for diesel within the first half of 2024.

Checks by our correspondent on GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending, show four separate diesel payments totalling N88.75m between March 15 and May 20, 2024.

Earlier, official sources familiar with the project told The PUNCH that the prolonged instability of the national grid, coupled with repeated collapses, rising diesel prices, and generator maintenance, forced the State House to resort to alternative power.

The Senior officials who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity say once operational, the 40MW solar power plant could slash the State House’s N6bn annual energy bill by at least N5bn.

The project was expected to be ready by December 2024 for the State House Medical Centre and the State House complex, including Dodan Barracks in Lagos, by January 2025.

While the construction of a 1.2MW solar plant had begun at the medical centre in October 2024, checks by The PUNCH revealed no works at the State House as of February 2025.

An official with knowledge of the solar project said paying hefty bills for infrequent power and still running diesel-guzzling generators daily was no longer sustainable.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit price, DAILY POST reports.

DAILY POST correspondent observed on Saturday that the petrol price at NNPCL filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been reviewed downwards to N935 per litre from N950.

Some motorists in Abuja confirmed the new fuel price adjustment at NNPCL retail outlets.

Abdullahi Hashim, a resident of Kubwa, Abuja, said, ‘I observed the drop in the fuel price to N935 per litre on Saturday morning. It is a welcome development.”

The development comes after Dangote Refinery announced a drop in its ex-depot petrol price to N835 per litre from N865.

The 650,000 barrels per day refinery had announced that its partners, such as MRS and AP filling stations, are expected to sell petrol between N890 and N920 per litre, depending on the location.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST observed that MRS filling stations in Abuja have not been dispensing fuel since Wednesday, April 16, 2025, when Dangote Refinery announced a slash in ex-depot petrol price.

The prolonged power outage experienced in Kano over the past 10 days has disrupted socio-economic activities across the metropolis.

Some Kano residents who spoke to journalists on Sunday lamented that the situation — compounded by recurrent national grid failures — had left many communities in darkness, affecting businesses and households.

Many entrepreneurs also decried the adverse impact of the blackout on their operations.

A hotelier and bar owner, Mr Jude Michael, from the Sabon Gari area of Fagge Local Government, described the situation as frustrating.
Michael said he had lost customers due to the lack of electricity to preserve drinks.

“I have been running on a generator for days, which is making me incur losses. Sometimes customers come, and other times they do not. It is not encouraging,” he said.

A welder in the Dakata quarters of Nasarawa LGA, Abubakar Bala, said relying on diesel to keep his business running was unsustainable.

“We have paid for electricity, yet we do not have access. [b]If power is not restored soon, my business might collapse,” [/b]he said.

Bala urged the government to resolve the issue and consider alternative power sources.

Another welder in Tarauni LGA, Aminu Sani, said he had suspended operations due to the high cost of fuel needed to run his generator.

“We charge more when we use generators, but not everyone can afford the increased prices. Now, we are stranded without work,” he said.

A frozen food dealer along Zaria Road, Manu Garba, said the persistent outage had plunged many business owners into debt as they struggled to prevent their goods from perishing.

“We had expected to make good sales during Easter, even if the profit would be minimal due to the country’s economic situation. But the epileptic power supply since then has pushed many of us into serious debt.

Cartons of frozen chicken and fish got spoiled after a week. While some of us managed to salvage what we could, others were not so lucky,” he said.

A hairdresser in Kumbotso, Bunmi Ola, also said the persistent outage had left many businesses heavily indebted.

She described the situation as a huge blow to those relying on electricity for survival.

Ola added that, despite their losses, electricity companies were still issuing estimated bills.

However, mobile phone charging operators reported increased patronage.
One such operator, Malam Isa Umar, said he had raised his prices due to fuel costs, charging between ₦150 and ₦200 per phone.

Checks across the state further revealed that the water supply had also been affected, with the price of a 25-litre jerrycan rising from ₦100 to ₦200 in some areas.

The Head of Corporate Communications at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Sani Bala, attributed the drop in supply across the franchise area to ongoing network upgrades and vegetation control on feeders.

Bala said the maintenance was necessary to improve infrastructure and ensure safety for engineers working on the network.

He added that the upgrades were part of efforts to sustain progress in electricity distribution, including longer supply hours and improved service delivery.