News
Group Seeks More Women In Governance
Women have been called upon by the Association of Corporate Governance Professionals of Nigeria (ACGPN) to venture into governance even as they appeal to President Bola Tinubu and state governors to ensure increased women representation into public offices in their political appointments.
President of the association, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, made the appealed at a media briefing in Lagos on Monday to herald its forthcoming maiden Women In Governance (WIG) 2023 Conference.
Ohuabunwa said the forthcoming conference which is slated for July 13 at Providence Hotel in Ikeja is with the theme: “Inspiring Visionary Governance: The Role of Women”.
He noted that the appointment of women into various public offices by the President and the governors would close the gap of gender inequality and to fulfill their campaign promises.
He decried that several women in politics had emerged as candidates of their various political parties but their male counterparts outweighed them.
The groups statement reads:
“We want to use this forthcoming conference to urge the Federal and state governments to appoint more women ministers, commissioners, heads of agencies with a view to closing the gap.
“Especially as the President and other state governors are preparing to release the names of ministers, heads of agencies and parastatals for political appointments.
“The association is urging them to ensure that at least, 35 per cent women representation in public offices is achieved.,” he said.
Ohuabunwa said the association realised that the greatest resource to drive corporate and organisational success was the human capital, in which this capital resided in both male and female genders.
He, however, said that for a long time, most nations, including Nigeria had failed to optimise this resource, often preferring to fire only one engine (male) while sub -optimising the second equally powerful engine( female).
According to him, every pilot knows the danger of flying a twin engine turbo on only one engine. Thrust is low, stability is compromised and safety is imperilled.
Ohuabunwa said since Beijing, Nigeria and many other nations had become more deliberate in creating conducive opportunities for the women folk to climb to the top of their careers hitherto ‘reserved’ for only the men folk.
He noted that the association had, therefore, decided to convene this women In governance conference as part of the national effort to highlight what the women folk were bringing into governance.
The president said this forthcoming conference was also to x-ray those factors that were delaying or inhibiting their orderly trajectory.
He said highly accomplished women in political governance, public sector governance and corporate governance would present papers and lead discussions, followed by panel sessions.
Ohuabunwa said there would be plenty of opportunities for networking and building partnerships during the conference.
He said the invited Special Guests of Honour, Guests of Honour and Special Guests including the Wives of some state governors like Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu, legislators, and Economic Diplomats like Dr Stella Okoli.
He said the main speakers would be : Mrs Olajumoke Simplice, Past President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation( CITN); Mrs Ebisan Onyema, Managing Director of Avery Nigeria Ltd; Mrs Omotayo Gbajabiamila, Director, Cabinet office, Lagos State Government.
“Others are Prof. Modupe Osho, former vice chancellor, Afe Babalola University: Mrs Felicia David, Managing Director, Alliance and General Insurance Plc; Mrs Afolake Lawal, Managing Partner, Imperial Law Office, Lagos among others.
Ohuabunwa said the association was set to create a national adoption of good governance principles and the creating of the enabling environment to promote women involvement in governance at all levels of the national endeavour.
… As PTD Passes Vote of No Confidence on NUPENG Leaders
The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has levelled serious allegations against the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), accusing it of extortion and excessive levy collections within the downstream petroleum sector.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, ADITOP’s National President, Alhaji Lawal Dan-zaki, strongly dissociated the association from the purported strike action by NUPENG, declaring that ADITOP was originally established to counter what he described as the “excesses” of NUPENG, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), and other groups allegedly collecting illegal levies under NUPENG’s cover.
Dan-zaki alleged that for the past five years, ADITOP had submitted several petitions to top government agencies—including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation—accusing NUPENG of extortion and illegal financial practices.
According to him, NUPENG and its affiliates impose unauthorized levies on petroleum product distributors, including a charge of ₦1 per litre on every product loaded at depots, and an additional ₦1 per litre by marketers, alongside loading fees ranging between ₦80,000 and ₦100,000 per truck.
“This is outright extortion and economic sabotage by NUPENG, PTD, and their affiliated unions and associations,” Dan-zaki stated.
The allegations surfaced just days after the Lagos Zone of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG passed a vote of no confidence on the union’s national leadership. The vote targeted NUPENG National President, Comrade (Prince) Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, accusing them of “greed, impunity, manipulation, and gross incompetence.”
The internal dissent follows rising tensions over reported resistance by Dangote Refinery and MRS Holdings Limited to unionize their drivers and the rollout of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for nationwide fuel distribution.
Dan-zaki concluded that while NUPENG continues to feed off these alleged illegal levies, it remits no tax revenue to the federal government, further exacerbating challenges in the downstream sector.
The Nigeria Customs Service has appointed Comptroller Wale Adenuga as the new Area Controller for the Seme Command, following the redeployment of Dr. Benedict Oramalugo, who was recently promoted to Assistant Comptroller General.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Isah Sulaiman, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Speaking during the official handover, Comptroller Adenuga commended his predecessor for laying a solid foundation and pledged to focus his leadership on trade facilitation, enhanced security collaboration, and improved stakeholder engagement.
“Trade facilitation is my keyword,” he said. “With accurate declarations from stakeholders, cargo clearance can happen quickly. When trade flows smoothly, we boost revenue and reduce smuggling activities.”
Adenuga also assured that the Command would intensify collaboration with key government agencies including the DSS, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, NAFDAC, and the military to strengthen border security and foster a more conducive environment for legitimate trade.
He emphasized the importance of stakeholder relationships, pledging open lines of communication with traditional leaders, youth groups in Badagry, and the media. He also reaffirmed his commitment to discipline and professionalism within the service.
“My doors are open. I will lead by example to ensure that officers stay focused, disciplined, and committed. Together, we will uphold the values of the Nigeria Customs Service and make the Comptroller General, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, proud,” he stated.
Adenuga praised CGC Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as the President of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing him as an exemplary leader whose standards will guide the Seme Command’s operations.
In his farewell address, Dr. Oramalugo expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve at the Seme border, calling the handover a moment of “mixed emotions”—relief at a successful tenure and sadness at leaving a team he had grown fond of.
He listed some of his key achievements, including:
- Effective suppression of smuggling with major seizures
- Improved revenue collection
- Smoother trade processes for legitimate businesses
- Stronger ties with security and regulatory agencies
Oramalugo also thanked the Customs management and stakeholders for their support and encouraged continued cooperation with the new controller.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has begun an investigation following the discovery of a lifeless body inside a vehicle at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Preliminary reports suggest the deceased may be a 55-year-old construction worker identified as Gaddafi Iwar, although police have not officially confirmed his identity. Sources indicate the vehicle had been parked in the same location for several days before the body was found.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the police confirmed that the body was discovered around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday inside a red Peugeot 406 parked at a construction site within the complex.
“On September 7, 2025, at about 09:00 hours, the FCT Police Command received a distress call reporting the discovery of an unidentified male, suspected to be a labourer, found lifeless at a construction site within the National Assembly Complex,” the statement read.
Officers from the National Assembly Police Division responded to the scene and found the body inside the vehicle, which bore the registration number BWR-577 BF. The body was evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed it was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
The Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, has directed a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and has instructed that efforts be intensified to identify the deceased.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
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