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Akanimo Udofia: An Enigma in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry and a Strategic Hand for a Renewed Nation


In every defining era of national rebirth, certain individuals emerge whose expertise, vision, and quiet influence become indispensable to progress. 

In Nigeria’s oil and gas sector—long regarded as the backbone of the nation’s economy—Akanimo Udofia stands out as such an enigma: a professional whose depth of knowledge, strategic insight, and commitment to national development make him a vital asset in this age of renewed hope and growing prosperity under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Akanimo Udofia represents a rare blend of technical mastery and forward-thinking leadership. Over the years, he has distinguished himself within the oil and gas industry through an exceptional understanding of both upstream and downstream operations, energy economics, and sectoral reforms. 

His career reflects not just professional success, but a consistent dedication to strengthening systems, optimizing value, and ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources translate into sustainable national wealth.

What sets Udofia apart is his ability to navigate complexity with clarity. The oil and gas industry is among the most technically demanding and politically sensitive sectors in the world, yet he has built a reputation for approaching challenges with innovation, discipline, and integrity. He understands that energy is not merely a commodity but a strategic tool for national growth—one that must be managed efficiently, transparently, and with a long-term vision.

In the era of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is charting a new course focused on economic reforms, investment-driven growth, energy security, and institutional efficiency. 

This moment demands professionals who not only understand policy but can translate policy into performance. Akanimo Udofia fits squarely into this national need. His industry experience aligns with the administration’s drive to reposition oil and gas as a catalyst for industrialization, job creation, and foreign investment.

As Nigeria seeks to maximize the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), deepen local content participation, and transition responsibly within the evolving global energy landscape, Udofia’s expertise becomes even more relevant. 

He embodies the type of leadership required to bridge the gap between government vision and industry execution—ensuring that reforms yield measurable outcomes for the economy and tangible benefits for Nigerians.

Beyond technical competence, Akanimo Udofia is driven by a patriotic sense of service. He understands that national prosperity is built by individuals willing to contribute their skills selflessly, especially at critical moments in a nation’s history. 

His voice, experience, and strategic thinking can add immense value to policy formulation, sectoral governance, and institutional strengthening within Nigeria’s energy ecosystem.

Nigeria today is not short of resources; rather, it needs capable hands and clear minds to harness them effectively. Akanimo Udofia represents that needed hand—equipped with knowledge, experience, and an unwavering belief in Nigeria’s potential. 

As the nation advances under President Tinubu’s leadership toward economic stability and shared prosperity, professionals like Udofia will play a defining role in turning renewed hope into lasting national success.

In the story of Nigeria’s energy future, Akanimo Udofia is not just a participant—he is a strategic enigma whose contribution can help power a stronger, more prosperous nation.


Comrade Olumuyiwa Onlede, YTLC, ANIPR
National Coordinator
Conference of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability (COCTA)
onlede@yahoo.com
Writes from Abuja

Atiku Demands Clarity on Nasir El-Rufai’s Detention

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 



Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has expressed deep concern over the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, urging the federal government to clarify his whereabouts and condition.

In a statement, Atiku highlighted that El-Rufai’s health and welfare have become a source of anxiety for his family, friends, and associates. 

He called on the Nigerian government to disclose which agency is responsible for the former governor’s detention—whether it is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (DSS), or any other body.

“The federal government owes Nigerians clarity,” Atiku said, warning that secrecy around detentions can fuel suspicion and undermine public trust.

He stressed that the responsible agency has a constitutional duty to ensure El-Rufai’s safety, preserve his dignity, and provide access to medical care, family, and legal counsel. 

The former VP described reports of El-Rufai suffering a nosebleed in custody, while allegedly being denied family access, as “deeply troubling” and unacceptable in a democratic society.

Atiku further stated that if authorities cannot guarantee the former governor’s fundamental rights, he should be granted bail immediately. 

He also cautioned that the government would be held accountable should any harm come to El-Rufai.

The former VP warned against what he described as selective prosecution, alleging that opposition figures face aggressive targeting while others enjoy impunity.

“The anti-corruption campaign must not become a political weapon,” he said, emphasizing that accountability efforts must be transparent, even-handed, and free from political bias.

Meanwhile, an aide to El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed that the former governor remains in detention, noting that the ICPC has yet to act on his bail application. 

El-Rufai was initially detained by the EFCC after responding to an invitation on February 16, 2026, before being transferred to ICPC custody.

Adekeye stated that despite submitting a formal bail request following interrogation, El-Rufai’s legal team has not received a response, and no remand order has been presented to justify the continued detention. 

He noted that the constitutional 48-hour limit for holding a suspect without charge has already passed.

FCTDECIDES2026: INEC Declares APC Christopher Maikalangu Winner of Abuja Municipal Area Council Chairmanship Poll

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election.

Maikalangu, who is also the incumbent chairman, secured a decisive victory after polling 40,295 votes out of the 62,861 valid votes cast in the election.

Election Breakdown

Announcing the results, the AMAC Collation Officer, Prof. Andrew Abue, confirmed that Maikalangu met all legal requirements and scored the highest number of votes to be returned elected.

According to the official figures:
Total registered voters: 837,338
Accredited voters: 65,676
Total votes cast: 65,197
Valid votes: 62,861
Rejected votes: 2,336

Party Performance

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) placed third with 3,398 votes.
Other results include:
APGA – 1,111
SDP – 2,185
NNPP – 1,694
YPP – 421
ADP – 588
Accord – 403
ZLP – 189
APM – 122
NRM – 73
Boot Party – 43
APP – 32
PRP – 90
Action Alliance – 108

Reactions

Speaking after the announcement, APC Collation Agent Gambo Babale described the election as credible and transparent, praising INEC for conducting what he called a smooth and well-organized process across polling units, ward centres, and the final collation venue.

He noted that opposition parties also secured victories in some councillorship seats, saying this demonstrated fairness in the exercise.

Similarly, the YPP Ward Collation Agent commended the transparency of the process and congratulated Maikalangu on his victory.

Result sheets were signed by party agents from ADC, APC, APGA, YPP, and NNPP present at the collation centre.

What This Means

Maikalangu’s re-election strengthens APC’s hold on the AMAC council and positions the party ahead of future political contests in the Federal Capital Territory. 

Supporters say the renewed mandate gives the chairman another opportunity to deliver more development projects and democratic dividends to residents.

FCTDECIDES2026, INEC Announces Results for Nyanyan and Karishi Wards in AMAC Council Chairmanship Poll


By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced the results from Nyanyan and Karishi wards, the final outstanding polling areas in the ongoing Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election.
With these declarations, collation across all wards is now nearing completion, paving the way for the final area council result.
Nyanyan Ward Results
The Ward Collation Officer, Chioma Agu, presented the figures as follows:
Registered voters: 60,193
Accredited voters: 5,596
Total valid votes: 5,377
Rejected votes: 204
Total votes cast: 5,581
Votes by party:
A – 37
AA – 4
ADC – 1,035
ADP – 31
APC – 3,537
APGA – 32
APM – 2
APP – 2
BP – 14
NNPP – 16
NRM – 2
PDP – 522
PRP – 5
SDP – 115
YPP – 20
ZLP – 3
The APC recorded the highest number of votes in the ward.
Karishi Ward Results
Announcing the Karishi figures, Ward Collation Officer Eunice Agu stated:
Registered voters: 17,701
Accredited voters: 4,103
Total valid votes: 3,948
Rejected votes: 145
Total votes cast: 4,093
Votes by party:
A – 13
AA – 0
ADC – 186
ADP – 15
APC – 2,309
APGA – 9
APM – 10
APP – 1
BP – 7
NNPP – 1,100
NRM – 2
PDP – 181
PRP – 2
SDP – 103
YPP – 8
ZLP – 2
Again, APC led the tally, while NNPP followed in second place.
Awaiting Final Declaration
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), results from 10 other wards had earlier been collated. With Nyanyan and Karishi now concluded, INEC has commenced the final computation of the overall area council outcome.
The official declaration of the AMAC chairmanship winner is expected once collation is fully completed.

Breaking: PDP Wins Gwagwalada Chairmanship as Kasim Secures Key Victory in FCT Council Polls


By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recorded a significant grassroots victory in Nigeria’s capital, with its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, emerging winner of the chairmanship election in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Kasim polled 22,165 votes, defeating Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured 17,788 votes.

The result was officially announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, who described the exercise as peaceful, orderly, and smoothly conducted.

A Campaign Built on Grassroots Promises

Throughout his campaign, Kasim focused heavily on community-centered development. His manifesto prioritised:
Community welfare programmes
Women’s empowerment initiatives
Improved healthcare services
Better education opportunities for children

These issues appeared to resonate strongly with voters across the council, helping him edge past his closest rival.

Broader Context: A Win Amid PDP’s Internal Crisis

The victory comes at a challenging time for the PDP nationally. The party has been grappling with internal divisions, leadership disputes, and high-profile defections. Notably, figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), weakening the party’s national structure.

Despite these setbacks, the Gwagwalada win suggests the PDP still maintains strong grassroots support in several local communities.

FCT Elections Across Six Councils
The local government elections were conducted across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), covering six area councils:
Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)
Abaji
Kwali
Kuje
Gwagwalada

Voters elected both chairmanship and councillorship candidates.
What This Means Politically
While local elections don’t always reflect national political strength, this result is symbolically important. Gwagwalada’s diverse, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious population makes it a microcosm of Nigeria itself. 

The PDP’s success there could signal that the APC’s recent wave of defections and dominance may not automatically translate into control at the grassroots level.

For the PDP, this win is more than just a seat — it’s a morale boost and a reminder that local connections still matter deeply in Nigerian politics.

FG launches sexual assault referral centre in Abia


By Blessing Okola 
Abuja


The Federal Government has taken a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s protection framework for women and girls with the official launch of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Abia State.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman- Ibrahim described the establishment of the Centre as a strategic and necessary intervention in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which she noted remains pervasive, deeply underreported, and increasingly complex in both physical and digital forms.
“Today marks a major step in strengthening the protection architecture for women and girls in Nigeria,” the Minister stated. “The establishment of this Sexual Assault Referral Centre provides a safe, confidential, and integrated platform for medical care, psychosocial support, legal referral, and justice services for survivors.”

Head, Press and Public Relations FMWASD, Ahmed Lawan Danbazau in a statement issued to blueprint on Thursday in abuja, the Minister emphasised that the Centre represents a structured, survivor-centred response embedded within Nigeria’s broader national social development framework.

She disclosed that as of November 2025, Nigeria has fifty (50) Sexual Assault Referral Centres across twenty-four (24) States, collectively assisting over fifty-eight thousand (58,134) survivors. According to her, the figures remain insufficient compared to the magnitude of reported and unreported cases nationwide.

“A functional SARC ensures that survivors receive confidential, survivor-centred, and integrated services under one coordinated framework,” she said, noting that fragmented responses often compound trauma and weaken justice outcomes.

She further highlighted the rising threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including cyberstalking, digital coercion, online trafficking, image-based abuse, and coordinated digital harassment.

“These emerging threats demand stronger institutional response systems that combine legal, psychosocial, medical, and digital protection mechanisms. This Centre is not only relevant for today’s realities but essential for addressing evolving forms of violence confronting women and girls.”

She commended complementary programmes such as the Osusu Abaala Women Palm-Oil Collective, which aims to strengthen women’s incomes and reduce economic vulnerability—one of the root drivers of gender-based violence.

“When women are economically secure, socially organised, and institutionally supported, their exposure to exploitation, abuse, and dependency significantly declines,” she affirmed.

Reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment, the Minister stated that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development remains focused on strengthening the national GBV response architecture through policy reforms, survivor support systems, data-driven coordination, and strategic partnerships under the Renewed Hope Social Development Agenda.

The Ministér commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring 2026 as the Year for Social Development and Families, describing the declaration as a bold step toward repositioning protection services as a core pillar of national stability, human capital development, and social justice.


Tinubu Signs Amended Electoral Act Amid Outcry from Opposition, Civil Society



By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

It came as a surprise to many opposition politicians and civil society organisations on Wednesday when President Bola Tinubu swiftly signed the amended Electoral Act into law—barely 24 hours after its passage by the National Assembly.

The rapid assent has triggered widespread criticism, particularly from the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), which had urged the President to withhold approval over what it described as “dangerous ambiguities” capable of undermining electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Controversial Network Failure Clause

At the centre of the controversy is a new provision that permits Presiding Officers to rely on Form EC8A for manual result collation whenever electronic transmission is disrupted by alleged network failure.

The CNPP argues that while network challenges may exist in remote areas, the amendment fails to establish a clear, transparent, and independently verifiable system for determining when such failures actually occur.

In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema, the coalition warned that leaving the decision solely to polling officials creates loopholes that could be exploited for electoral manipulation.

“In modern electoral governance, transparency must be anchored on measurable, auditable, and tamper-proof procedures,” the group stated.

Fears of Manipulation and Security Risks
Beyond transparency concerns, the CNPP also warned that the provision could expose officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to public suspicion and hostility.

According to the group, citizens often verify network availability with their personal devices. Any contradiction between public access and officials’ claims of failure could spark distrust, confrontation, and possible unrest at polling units.

The coalition fears this may not only compromise the credibility of election results but also endanger the safety of election personnel.

“Step Backwards” for Electoral Reform
Nigeria has made gradual progress toward technology-driven elections, including digital accreditation and electronic transmission of results.

However, critics say the amendment risks reversing those gains by reopening space for manual collation processes that lack strict oversight.

The CNPP described the move as a regression that could erode public confidence in the electoral system.

The group proposed several safeguards, including:
Independent real-time network verification systems
Mandatory authentication and timestamp checks before manual collation
Clear sanctions for false network failure claims
Third-party monitoring accessible to parties and observers

It urged Tinubu to return the bill with recommendations that prioritize technology and accountability.

Despite Pressure, Tinubu Assents
Despite mounting opposition from political groups, civil society actors, and election observers, President Tinubu proceeded with the signing at the State House Abuja around 5 p.m., witnessed by top lawmakers.

The bill had been fast-tracked through the legislature just days after INEC unveiled its roadmap for the 2027 elections.

Civil Society Reacts

Several civil society organisations expressed shock at the development. Among them were ActionAid and Yiaga Africa, both of which have long advocated for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results to reduce vote rigging.

Last week, activists and opposition figures protested at the National Assembly, demanding stronger technological safeguards to ensure credibility.

However, members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) defended the hybrid system, arguing that unreliable network coverage in rural communities makes full electronic transmission impractical.

What This Means for 2027

With the amendment now law, attention is shifting to how it will be implemented and whether the safeguards demanded by stakeholders will be introduced through regulations or further reforms.

For many Nigerians, the debate highlights a larger question: will electoral laws strengthen transparency—or create fresh opportunities for manipulation?
As the 2027 elections approach, trust in the system may depend on how convincingly those concerns are addressed.