Matawalle Unveils CNG Vehicle Fleet for Military, Backs Tinubu’s Clean Energy Push

In a bold move to modernize Nigeria’s military logistics and embrace sustainable energy, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has commissioned a fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles for the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The unveiling ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on clean energy reform and operational efficiency across government sectors. Speaking during the event, Matawalle described the development as “a transformation of our military into a model of innovation and sustainability.” He emphasized that the initiative goes beyond merely introducing new vehicles—it represents a shift toward reducing reliance on fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions, and cutting operational costs. Accompanied by top defence and energy officials, including Permanent Secretary Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, and Executive Chairman of the Presidential CNG Initiative Barrister Ismael Ahmad, the Minister personally inspected and test-drove one of the CNG vehicles. Matawalle stressed the need to establish CNG refueling stations at all military bases to ensure seamless operations and urged the training of military personnel in the technical maintenance and operation of the CNG fleet. He added that the transition to clean energy would enhance the military’s morale and capability while aligning with Nigeria’s climate commitments. The Minister also reassured the public of the military’s unwavering determination to defeat insurgency and deliver national security. In closing, he called on Nigerians to continue supporting the Armed Forces with prayers and reiterated the Federal Government’s pledge to foster a greener and more secure nation. Ask ChatGPT

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Tension in Ibadan as Students Protest Renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan

Ibadan was thrown into gridlock on Tuesday morning as students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan staged a protest against the Oyo State Government’s decision to rename the institution. The protest caused major disruptions along the busy Sango-Eleyele Road, leaving hundreds of commuters and staff stranded. The unrest follows Governor Seyi Makinde’s announcement to rename the institution as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of Dr. Omololu Olunloyo — the first Ibadan indigene to govern the old Oyo State, albeit briefly between October and December 1983. Students, expressing displeasure over the name change, blocked the school’s main gates and obstructed traffic on the major thoroughfare. Eyewitnesses report that staff members were also unable to access the campus as protesters maintained their blockade. As of press time, the demonstration remained peaceful but tense, with security personnel reportedly deployed to monitor the situation. The state government has yet to issue an official response to the protest. Ask ChatGPT

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Petrol Price Hits ₦945/Litre at NNPC Stations Amid Soaring Global Oil Prices Petrol Price Hits ₦945/Litre at NNPC Stations Amid Soaring Global Oil Prices

Dangote Refinery Slashes Petrol Price to ₦840/Litre as Marketers Plan Nationwide Reduction

In a move that could ease the financial burden on Nigerian consumers, the Dangote Refinery has cut the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from ₦880 to ₦840 per litre. The ₦40 reduction, effective Monday, is expected to trigger a nationwide drop in pump prices starting Tuesday, July 2, 2025. Confirming the development, the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Maigandi, said members will implement the new pricing once they begin loading new supplies from the refinery. “It is true. Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol ex-depot price to ₦840. We are happy. Our members will reflect the new price starting Tuesday,” Maigandi told News360 Nigeria. IPMAN has summoned an emergency meeting to review and align pump prices nationwide. The latest price slash follows a prior hike by the refinery on June 20, attributed to a spike in global oil prices due to the Israel-Iran conflict. However, with the recent ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump and subsequent de-escalation in the Middle East, crude oil prices have declined significantly. As of Monday night, Brent crude dropped to $67.81 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell to $64.97. Despite the refinery’s new template, petrol prices at various filling stations in Lagos and Abuja remained high on Monday, ranging between ₦875 and ₦970 per litre. Partners like MRS, NNPC, AA Rano, Shafa, and Ardova sold at ₦945, while others like Ranoil and Empire were dispensing as high as ₦970. The new price adjustment by Dangote may prompt immediate market-wide corrections in coming days, offering Nigerians much-needed relief from soaring fuel costs. Ask ChatGPT

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Reps Demand Breakdown of Rivers’ ₦1.48tn Budget, Question ₦24bn for CCTV and ₦30bn for Gunboats

Reps Demand Breakdown of Rivers’ ₦1.48tn Budget, Question ₦24bn for CCTV and ₦30bn for Gunboats

The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Rivers State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), demanding a detailed breakdown of key allocations in the controversial ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget. During a session in Abuja on June 30, committee chairman Julius Ihonvbere raised concerns about several budgetary provisions, including ₦24 billion for CCTV installations at the Government House and ₦30 billion for gunboats. Lawmakers also questioned the ₦23 billion contingency reserve and allocations to federal projects without reimbursement agreements. The committee demanded submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a report on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and clarification on the handling of local government funds. Ihonvbere emphasized accountability and praised President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers’ political crisis. Responding, Andrew Nweke, Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy, said many provisions were inherited and based on security needs and agency recommendations.

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EFCC Submits Video to Prove Oyo-Ita Gave Confessional Statement Voluntarily

EFCC Submits Video to Prove Oyo-Ita Gave Confessional Statement Voluntarily

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented video evidence in court to support its claim that former Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, voluntarily wrote her confessional statement during a 2019 interrogation. The footage, submitted on June 30, 2025, during a trial-within-trial before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was introduced by EFCC’s lead witness, Chief Superintendent Hamma Adama Bello. He said the video counters allegations that the statement was extracted under duress. Oyo-Ita is standing trial alongside aides Ugbong Effiok and Garba Umar, and six companies, over alleged diversion of ₦3 billion through fictitious contracts and financial misconduct. The trial resumes on October 14 and 16 to determine the admissibility of the statement.

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PDP United and Focused on Governance, Says Governor Bala Mohammed at NEC Meeting

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has dismissed speculations of internal divisions within the party, declaring that the PDP remains united and resolute. Speaking during the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Mohammed emphasized that the PDP is focused on strengthening its internal cohesion and delivering quality governance. He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to restoring public confidence and retaining its position as a key force in Nigeria’s political arena.

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Lagos Pastor Missing for Three Weeks Without Trace, Wife Raises Alarm

A woman in Lagos, Mrs. Motunrayo Nnaemeka, has cried out over the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Pastor Christian Nnaemeka, who has been missing since June 6, 2025. According to Mrs. Nnaemeka, her 43-year-old husband left their Lekki home to attend a church prayer session but vanished after stepping out around 8 p.m. for a brief walk in preparation for an all-night vigil. He never returned. Recounting the troubling days before his disappearance, she said her husband had been restless and troubled, unable to sleep and deeply immersed in prayer. On the day he went missing, the family had visited their pastor for spiritual guidance, where he was advised to stay behind for the vigil. However, events took a strange turn. Mrs. Nnaemeka revealed that her husband became increasingly unpredictable, choosing to stay back at church with their daughter and later refusing to leave the baptistery, where the child was playing in water. “He said it was what she wanted,” she recalled. “I was shocked.” The last time she saw him was when he ran off unexpectedly after trying to cross the expressway with their daughter, whom she had to forcibly retrieve. Since then, Pastor Nnaemeka has not been seen or heard from. Efforts by the family and church members to locate him have so far yielded no results. The family is appealing to the public for information or assistance in finding him.

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