The Federal Government, today , appointed a new Board of Directors for Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), after operating without a Board for over a year

The newly constituted Board of GBB is headed by Senator Dr. George Akume the Chairman & Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Others include: Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju – Managing Director/CEO, Galaxy Backbone; Hon. Olusegun Olulade – Executive Director, Customer Centricity & Marketing; Mr. Olumbe Akinkugbe – Executive Director, Digital Exploration & Technical Services;Mr. Mohammed Sani Ibrahim – Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services.Mrs. Rabi’ah Adamu-Waziri – Non-Executive Director (PTDF Representative)Mrs. Oluwakemi Babalogbon – Non-Executive Director (MOFI Representative)Mr. Abdulqadir Abubakar Maje – Non-Executive Director (Jigawa State Representative)Mrs. Margaret Ene Ebute – Non-Executive Director (Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy)Mrs. Adama Pindar – Company Secretary, Galaxy Backbone.

In a statement signed by the GBB Head of Corporate Communications, Chidi Okpala, the inauguration took place at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Abuja and was presided over by Senator George Akume, who also assumes the role of Chairman of the Board.

Senator Akume said that the new Board’s goal is to make Galaxy Backbone a more “agile, responsive, and impactful” institution, and positioned it at the center of Nigeria’s public digital infrastructure and service delivery.

The Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, who was appointed in February 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, welcomed the Board members and provided a strategic update on the company’s trajectory.

Adeyanju revealed that GBB successfully developed and launched its Integrated Digital Transformation Strategy (IDTS) 2025–2028—a roadmap for modernizing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and public service delivery.

“We are excited to work with a Board whose insight and guidance will be critical to our continued growth and national impact,” Adeyanju said.

Dangote refinery has informed marketers and its customers of a downward review of its ex-gantry loading cost to N865 per litre.

The new price is a reduction of N15 from N880 per litre sold by the facility on Wednesday.

It was gathered that the refinery informed its customers in a notice sent out on Thursday morning.

Recall that marketers had informed newsmen that the 650,000 barrels refinery was anticipated to lower its petrol loading costs by the end of this week, further contributing to the reduction in fuel prices.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, reassured the public of the price drop while commenting on the Federal Executive Council’s directive regarding the naira-for-crude agreement.

On Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council, after an initial delay, directed the full implementation of the suspended Naira-for-Crude agreement with local refiners.

It said the initiative with local refineries is not a temporary measure but a “key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining.

”The Ministry of Finance disclosed this in a statement published on its official X handle titled, “Update on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira Initiative.”

The statement was released following a meeting on Tuesday between the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives from Dangote Refinery, a major beneficiary of the agreement, to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

The committee said the policy is not temporary but a long-term plan to cut Nigeria’s dependence on foreign exchange for petroleum.

It added that the initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining and bolster energy security.

The statement read, “The Technical Sub-Committee on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative convened an update meeting on Tuesday to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council.

“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.”

China officially commenced the implementation of its planned retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods on Thursday, imposing an additional 84 percent duty on imports from the U.S.

The move came after Washington escalated its trade pressure, with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing on Wednesday a new plan to raise tariffs on Chinese imports even further to 125 percent.

Chinese officials have however rejected the U.S. approach, accusing Washington of blackmail and pledging to resist pressure in the ongoing trade dispute.

As tensions rise with the U.S, China is reaching out to other partners.

On Tuesday, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao had a phone call with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to discuss issues including enhancing China-EU economic ties.

Wang criticised the U.S. tariff strategy as harmful to global trade and urged cooperation to uphold the rules-based multilateral system.