An interim report by the Senate’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft has raised alarming concerns about decades of revenue loss in Nigeria’s oil sector. According to the report, the country may have lost more than US$300 billion to theft, leakages, and systemic corruption. The findings, presented on Wednesday by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), reflect deep-rooted lapses in governance, regulation, and oversight of Nigeria’s petroleum industry. Weak enforcement, substandard measurement practices, and unaccounted-for exports...

A landmark change in Nigeria’s fight against sexual misconduct within academia was secured on Wednesday, as the Senate passed the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prohibition and Prevention) Bill, 2025. The legislation prescribes a maximum of 14 years’ imprisonment for lecturers found guilty of harassing students in tertiary institutions. Moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the Bill seeks to shatter what he called a “culture of coercion and silence” that has eroded trust...

…Sets Up Reconciliation Panel Ahead of Convention The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday reaffirmed Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as its National Chairman, following an emergency meeting of its Board of Trustees (BoT) held in Abuja. In a communiqué issued at the close of the meeting, the BoT declared: “BoT reaffirms that the PDP remains a united, formidable and focused political party under the leadership of the Amb. Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).” The...

Nigeria has rejected its designation by the United States as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom, stating that the characterization does not accurately reflect the country’s reality or its constitutional commitment to protecting citizens of all faiths. In a statement personally signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian government reaffirmed its dedication to upholding religious liberty and tolerance, insisting that the country remains a democracy governed by constitutional...