The Katsina State Government has recovered 30,000 hectares of degraded land and supported about 2.5 million people through the World Bank supported-project, Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL).
Gov. Dikko Radda stated this on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in Katsina, at the launch of the distribution of farm inputs, waste disposal trucks, and 4,000 energy efficient stoves to women in the state.
Radda revealed that some of the interventions included construction of Katsina town stormwater management phase II, construction of riverbank for Jibia flood control phase II.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State
Others were purchase of 36 tractors, waste disposal modern equipment, power tillers, improved seeds, insecticides, herbicides, sprayers, swamp buggy machine for dragging of dams and distribution of three million tree seedlings, among others.
He noted that the waste disposal equipment would enhance sanitation, reduce pollution and improve the quality of life of the people.
“Through the intervention, we are addressing critical challenges like desertification, flooding, poor waste management, food security and degradation of our ecosystem,” he said.
Radda commended the World Bank through the ACReSAL project for their support to the environment, health, and prosperity of the future of the state.
The Programme Coordinator, Mr. Yushau El-Sunais-Sani, said that under the community resilience building component of the project, they distributed over three million tree seedlings across the state.
He added that in order to ensure protection of the trees, the government, through the project, resorted to distribution of the 4,000 energy efficient stoves.
El-Sunais-Sani said that they also distributed waste disposal equipment for effective waste management and prevention of flood in the state.
The Commissioner of Environment, Alhaji Hamza Sule-Faskari, said that the procurement of the equipment was not only about improving sanitation, but also about safeguarding the dignity of people.
He revealed that the state had recorded tremendous achievements through the project, and that was why the state was awarded by the World Bank and the Federal Management Unit of the project during a review meeting recently in Jos.
An Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) report has ranked the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), under Mr. Gbenga Komolafe the most transparent and ethics-compliant agency in Nigeria.
This is contained in the 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) report released in Abuja on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
The report said that contrary to speculations, the “commission is not a den of corruption”.
Gbenga Komolafe, former Chief Executive of NUPRC
According to the report, NUPRC, with 91.83 points, came tops after the evaluation of 357 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“The score reflects ‘Substantial Compliance’ with ethics, internal control mechanisms, and statutory requirements.
“This audit covers the very period Komolafe was accused of ‘diverting revenues’.
“It is statistically and procedurally impossible for an agency to operate ’33 secret bank accounts’ and ‘conceal $20 billion’ while simultaneously passing the ICPC’s rigorous forensic audit of its internal control,” the report said.
“This data paints a clear picture: The regulator (NUPRC) was enforcing strict compliance and maintaining watertight books, while other players in the sector struggled with transparency.
“The narrative that Komolafe was the problem in the sector has been inverted by the facts.
“It appears his strict regulatory oversight – which likely earned him the NUPRC’s high integrity score – may have been exactly what made him a target for those resisting reform,” it said.
The report evaluated MDAs on Financial Management: Guidelines for funds and timely retirement of advances, and Procurement Processes: Adherence to the Public Procurement Act.
Others indices included internal audit: verification of payments and projects.
“By scoring 91.83, the NUPRC demonstrated that its financial pipes were not leaking; they were among the most secure in government.
“While 99 other MDAs lacked guidelines for funds and 114 failed to submit financial reports, Komolafe’s NUPRC stood apart as a model of fiscal responsibility.
“The allegations of a ‘$20 billion diversion’ have now been exposed for what they likely always were: a coordinated hit job designed to tarnish a reformer’s exit. But data does not lie.
“As Komolafe bows out, he does so not with the stain of scandal, but with a badge of honour provided by the ICPC itself.
“He leaves behind an agency that is officially rated as the most ethically compliant institution in Nigeria. The smear campaign has failed. The scoreboard speaks for itself,” it said.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has outlined key imperatives to guide Nigeria’s new petroleum regulators towards sustainable growth and industrialisation.
CPPE founder, Dr Muda Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, December 25, 2025, in Lagos.
Yusuf commended President Bola Tinubu for resetting the petroleum regulatory architecture through appointing new chief executives at NMDPRA and NUPRC.
CPPE founder, Dr Muda Yusuf
He said the appointments offered a strategic opportunity to align regulation with commitments to energy sovereignty, security, self-reliance and accelerated production growth.
Yusuf said the new leadership must urgently cut import dependence, expand domestic capacity and boost investment across the oil and gas value chain.
According to him, domestic refining support in the downstream sector must be an immediate and non-negotiable priority.
“Government policy should clearly favour locally refined petroleum products through targeted fiscal, regulatory and infrastructural support,” Yusuf said.
He added that Nigeria must end distortions allowing imports to compete unfairly with locally refined products.
“This does not constitute fair competition. Genuine competition exists only when operators function under the same policy, tax and regulatory environment,” he said.
Yusuf urged NMDPRA to place domestic refining at the centre of its framework, aligned with the Nigeria-First policy and industrialisation agenda.
He said the approach would safeguard Nigeria’s long-term economic interests, not merely protect investors.
On the upstream sector, Yusuf said Nigeria must urgently ramp up crude oil and gas production to attract fresh onshore and offshore investments.
“This is critical as the global energy transition accelerates. Nigeria must maximise its hydrocarbon value while the opportunity exists,” he said.
Yusuf said NUPRC should target production growth and security, aiming to raise crude output to at least two million barrels per day.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) said it completed and deployed over 200 mini-grids under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), providing electricity to underserved communities nationwide between January and December.
The REA Managing Director, Alhaji Abba Abubakar-Aliyu, disclosed this during a media briefing in Kano, while reviewing the agency’s achievements in 2025.
He said that the completion of the NEP marked a major milestone in efforts to bridge Nigeria’s electricity access gap, and improve the reliability of power supply in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed.
REA Managing Director, Alhaji Abba Abubakar-Aliyu
The MD said that REA recorded significant achievements in renewable energy deployment within the year under review..
He said that the implemention of $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project, was approved by the President, to deploy 1,350 mini-grids to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians.
He explained that the DARES project targets the deployment of 1,350 mini-grids nationwide, including 250 interconnected mini-grids.
“We are currently building over 900 mini-grids across the country; our target is to build 1,350,” he said.
The REA boss said that the agency engaged 21 states through state-by-state roundtable meetings, describing same as an unprecedented initiative that provided states with data, partnership frameworks and details of ongoing electrification projects.
According to him, REA also completed a nationwide electrification mapping exercise, identifying over 150,000 communities without electricity or with unreliable supply, to enable the adoption of least-cost electrification solution.
“REA also completed 15 mega hybrid mini-grid projects in federal universities and commenced project development in eight additional universities expected to be completed by March or April 2026,” he said.
He added that the agency promoted localisation of renewable energy manufacturing, thereby increasing Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity from about 120 megawatts to over 600 megawatts.
According to him, investments worth over $435 million have been signed for new renewable energy manufacturing plants in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kano and Abuja.
He noted that Nigeria had begun exporting manufactured solar panels to Ghana, following a reduction in the importation of finished photovoltaic panels.
“In 2026 the agency would focus on completing the 1,350 mini-grids under the DARES project; We are looking at galvanising more funds.
“The country requires about $23 billion to be able to address the entire electricity access challenge,” he said.
Abubakar-Aliyu also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable power supply for rural and underserved communities.
Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan has officially taken charge as the Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Eyesan, whose nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was confirmed by the Senate earlier in December 2025 following the resignation of the previous CCE, emphasised her commitment to making NUPRC a proactive business enabler rather than just a regulator. She pledged to reignite investor confidence, accelerate digitisation, transparency, and efficiency, and position the Commission as the gold standard regulator in Africa.
Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan (left) officially taking charge as the Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the NUPRC
In a statement issued by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media & Strategic Communications at NUPRC, she expressed a firm ambition to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and significantly boost gas output to support national energy security and economic growth.
Eyesan said she plans to foster stronger stakeholder engagement, including with industry players, unions, professional bodies, and the public, as well as an open-door leadership style with frequent staff interactions and capacity-building initiatives to enhance technical expertise.
She said, “The goal is that we must enable the industry, we are regulators. We must enable the industry from our interactions with the stakeholders, from our interactions with everybody.
“If we work together, we can unleash opportunities, I don’t see impediments only opportunities.”
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) System at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The ECM System is a digital system to strengthen efficiency, accountability and digital governance in the Federal Public Service.
The ECM system “Go-Live” programme was unveiled on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in Abuja, by Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), alongside Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil).
R-L: Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil) and Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources at the inauguration of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) System at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on Wednesday in Abuja
Also in attendance were Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, top management officials of the ministry, HCSF, and the Galaxy Backbone Limited, the custodian of the 1Government Cloud platform.
Speaking, Walson-Jack said the initiative placed the ministry on track to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on the full digitalisation of work processes by Dec. 31, 2025.
According to her, the system will advance Pillar Five of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 2025), which prioritises digitalisation across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Walson-Jack said the ECM system deployment would fast-track work processes, secure records management and a significant reduction in reliance on paper-based operations, particularly in a ministry with a strategic role in Nigeria’s economic stability and energy security.
She said the ministry occupied a critical position in national development through its responsibility for policy formulation, coordination and oversight of the energy sector, while its operational efficiency directly affected revenue generation, investment and national planning.
According to her, the system represents a deliberate shift in how work is organised, records are managed and decisions are supported, especially given the ministry’s extensive engagement with regulatory agencies, operators and other MDAs.
Walson-Jack commended the leadership and staffers of the ministry for embracing digital transformation, saying that its success depends on discipline, professionalism and sustained commitment to new work processes.
“With this deployment, the ministry joins other institutions across the Federal Civil Service already using the ECM system to ensure secure records, clear audit trails, efficient workflows and a reliable institutional memory,” she said.
She explained that the system, deployed on the 1Gov Cloud platform, supports electronic approvals, automated workflows and interoperability across government, shifting decision-making from the physical movement of files to timely access to accurate information.
Walson-Jack added that the project aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which calls for an efficient, accountable and digitally enabled Public Service.
She emphasised that digital transformation goes beyond system deployment, requiring consistent use, adherence to established processes and effective utilisation of complementary digital tools, including Service-Wise GPT and the Compendium of Federal Circulars.
She also acknowledged the Galaxy Backbone Limited, custodian of the 1Gov. Cloud, for its technical expertise and continued partnership in advancing Public Service digitalisation.
Going forward, Wilson-Jack said paper-based processing in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources should progressively give way to disciplined digital practices, with official correspondence routed through designated registry email platforms.
In his remarks, Lokpobiri described the initiative as a major step towards ending delays associated with manual and analogue work processes, noting that government transactions often suffer setbacks due to physical documentation and in-person approvals.
The minister commended Walson-Jack for championing the digitalisation of government processes and said the initiative would help the Federal Government meet the Dec. 31, 2025 deadline for full digitalisation of work processes.
Lokpobiri, while calling for continuous training of civil servants and other stakeholders to ensure effective use of the system, especially among those who are not technologically inclined, congratulated the permanent secretary for the improvements recorded under her leadership.
Earlier, Oyekunle, while describing the ECM as a major milestone in the ministry’s transition from manual, paper-based operations to a modern digital work environment said its deployment would enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability and service delivery across the ministry.
She said the initiative aligned with the ongoing public service reforms being championed by the Federal Government, particularly the drive towards the digitalisation of work processes in the Federal Civil Service.
The permanent secretary commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for her guidance, leadership and commitment to public service reform, noting that her strategic direction made initiatives such as the ECMS possible.
In his remarks, Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone (GBB), Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda following the go-live of the Enterprise Content Management System at the Ministry.
Adeyanju, represented by Mr. Akintayo Bamisaiye, Acting Group Head, Research digital innovation and skills GBB, described the occasion as historic, noting that the programme was following a proven approach that guarantees long-term success and measurable impact.
According to him, the personal involvement of the HCSF has ensured the full buy-in of senior government officials, including ministers and permanent secretaries, which he said was consistent with global best practices for large-scale digital transformation.
He said Galaxy Backbone, as a government-owned ICT infrastructure and services provider, remained fully committed to supporting the Federal Government’s digital transformation objectives in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the key features, digitalisation programme and implementation framework of the system by Mr. Ayodeji Bakare, Programme Manager, GBB 1 Gov Cloud.
According to Bakare, 158 standard operating procedures have been automated, 14 offices, departments and units keyed in, while 500 accounts have been provisioned on the ECM system.
Mr. Saidu Mohammed on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, resumed office as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), replacing Farouk Ahmed, who resigned from the position.
The Authority, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the handover which held in Abuja, underscored its commitment to institutional continuity, accountability, and effective leadership.
Mr Saidu Mohammed, new Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) (right) during handover by the outgoing Authority Chief Executive, Mr Farouk Ahmed
It said the ceremony concluded with the symbolic transfer of documents and responsibilities witnessed by the Executive Directors, Senior Management and Staff, signalling a seamless and orderly transition in line with public service rules and corporate best practices.
President Bola Tinubu had appointed Mohammed, following the resignation of Farouk Ahmed on Dec. 17, 2025.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RSE Energy Nigeria to provide off-grid and embedded power solutions for industrial clusters across the country.
During the signing ceremony on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, said that the agreement marked the culmination of engagements that began before his posting to the ministry.
“We are at a point where an MoU can be signed between our government and RSE.
R-L: The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh and the Chief Executive Officer of RSE Energy Nigeria, Olena Nedryhailo, during the MoU signing in Abuja on Tuesday
“This journey started even before I was posted here, and I am glad that a year after that, we have made progress to a point where we can get this signed,” Enoh said.
He said the timing of the agreement aligned with ongoing policy efforts to address energy challenges facing industries.
“Just about two weeks ago, I convened my first in a series of ministerial roundtables, and that first roundtable focused on energy as the biggest challenge of industry in our country,” he said.
Enoh explained that the MoU outlined mutual commitments and would support the deployment of off-grid and embedded power solutions.
“An MoU has commitments from both parties, with expectations from RSE and from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, representing our country,” he said.
He said that the proposed solutions, including biomass and gas, were aimed at providing reliable energy for industrial clusters, special economic zones and agro-processing establishments.
“The solution that you are coming with is off-grid, embedded power solutions, biomass and gas, that are supposed to provide a pathway to reliable energy,” he said.
The minister said the Idu Industrial Cluster in Abuja was being considered as a pilot project.
According to him, the hope is that the company will be amongst the solution providers for the Idu Industrial Cluster, because it will be used as a test case.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Rimi, said that the partnership was in the overall interest of the country.
“We have come to the conclusion that it is in the overall interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria to go into this partnership,” Rimi said.
He said that the MoU aligned with the Renewable Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the ministry’s flagship programmes.
“Taking into consideration the Renewable Hope Agenda of Mr President and the flagship programme of the Minister of State for Industry, we are here today to sign the MoU,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of RSE Energy Nigeria, Olena Nedryhailo, said that the partnership was based on long-term commitment and practical experience.
“For us, the partnership is first and foremost about responsibility and long-term thinking,” Nedryhailo said.
She said that the company had deployed decentralised co-generation systems under challenging conditions.
“Over the past three years, we have been directly involved in the development and deployment of co-generation solutions under several stress on the energy system in Ukraine,” she said.
According to her, more than 1,020 co-generation units were deployed to support industrial communities.
“This experience taught us how systems integrate into networks, scale and remain reliable over time,” Nedryhailo said.
She said that the company was ready to serve as a long-term partner in building a decentralised energy system for Nigeria.
“We see ourselves, not simply as a supplier, but as a long-term partner in building a stable decentralised energy system for Nigeria,” she said.
Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. (HEOSL) says it committed not less than N101 billion to community development projects across its host communities under Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30.
Dr Adesola Adebawo, General Manager, Government, Joint Venture and External Relations, HEOSL, said the company also awarded N217 million in scholarships to 3,011 beneficiaries.
Adebawo made the disclosure on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the OML 30 media stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos.
Dr Adesola Adebawo, General Manager, Government, Joint Venture and External Relations, Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. (HEOSL)
He said community contracts worth $66.47 million had been awarded to about 300 local vendors, underscoring its growing investment in local participation and inclusive growth.
He said the scale of investment reflects HEOSL’s deliberate strategy to create sustainable value that goes beyond hydrocarbon production.
“We invested in people, infrastructure, digital tools and capability.
“Together with our joint venture partners, we aligned around a vision to operate a world-class independent energy company with the technical.
“Commercial and financial strength needed to deliver long-term value,” Adebawo said.
He described OML 30 as one of Nigeria’s largest onshore assets, noting its record of responsible value delivery to shareholders, partners, employees and host communities.
Adebawo revealed that in 2024 alone, HEOSL supported 126 local content participants from indigenous companies, while providing skills training and empowerment programmes for 237 youths and women.
He said, “The company also invested more than N27 million in the Industrial Training and Work Experience Scheme, enabling students to gain practical industry exposure.”
In the area of healthcare, he said HEOSL supported two health facilities that collectively delivered 34,168 medical incidences of care across four local government areas, improving access to essential health services for host communities.
According to Adebawo, the initiatives highlight the shared commitment of HEOSL and its joint venture partner, Nigerian Exploration and Production Ltd. (NEPL) and Shoreline Natural Resources Ltd. (SNRL) to inclusive and sustainable development.
“These initiatives are not just about corporate responsibility.
“They reflect a shared commitment with NEPL and SNRL to ensure that the benefits of OML 30 extend well beyond production metrics,” he added.
Seplat Energy Plc, a Nigerian independent energy company, says its subsidiaries have completed the conversion of their operated onshore assets to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) fiscal regime.
This was revealed through a corporate disclosure on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd., on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
The company said that Seplat West Ltd. and Seplat East Onshore Ltd. concluded the conversion from the Petroleum Profit Tax regime in line with the PIA.
Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy Plc, Roger Brown
The conversion covered assets formerly held under Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 38, 41 and 53, which averaged working interest production of 42,591 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first nine months of 2025.
According to Seplat, the output represents about 31 per cent of the company’s total production during the period.
The firm said the PIA framework supports increased investment, production growth and improved operational efficiency, in line with its corporate strategy.
It noted that the anticipated impact of the conversion was incorporated into its medium-term guidance presented at its Capital Markets Day in September 2025.
Seplat also said it was targeting the conversion of its offshore assets to the PIA fiscal regime by 2027.
The company explained that following the execution of conversion contracts in February 2023, the company and its joint venture partners had completed all technical and regulatory requirements with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
It added that new Petroleum Mining Lease and Petroleum Prospecting Licence numbers had been issued, with operations under the PIA expected to start from Jan. 1, 2026, subject to regulatory guidance.
Commenting, Mr. Roger Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy, said, “Conversion to the PIA fiscal regime has been an important focus for Seplat.
“We are delighted to have delivered, along with our respective JV partners, the conversion of our onshore operated assets to the PIA regime within the timeline outlined at our recent Capital Markets Day.
“We recognise the enhanced value creation opportunities that we can benefit from, post conversion.
“PIA conversion was factored into our recent medium-term guidance and lays a path to improved profitability and cashflow margins in our onshore business.”
