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Akpabio inaugurates inter- ministerial technical committee of SIWP
In its effort at repositioning the Niger Delta Region to meet the needs of the people as directed by President Mohammadu Buhari, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, has presented and launched the Strategic Implementation Work Plan( SIWP), in Abuja.
In his speech at the official presentation, Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who launched the plan and inaugurated the Inter- Ministerial Technical Committee of SIWP said,” it is my honour and privilege to officially present and launch the Strategic Implementation Work Plan for adoption and deployment as a coordinating tool for tracking all planned and budgeted projects and programs of organizations( both Public and Private), operating in the Niger Delta Region”.
Akpabio further noted that, “One of the critical instruments we identified to trigger the anticipated change in the Region is the Strategic Implementation Work Plan (SIWP).. It is not a new initiative in the Niger Delta Region. It emerged as a result of concerted and several high-level political engagements by the Federal Government with key Stakeholders of the of the region in 2016, designed to coordinate all development interventions of both Government Agencies and Private Organizations operating in the Niger Delta Region.”
The former Senate Minority Leader, listed the benefits of SIWP to include, but not limited to, ” bringing to an end to the era of project duplication and multiplication by agencies of government in the region, the SIWP e-portal, a web- based monitoring system allows you to view projects being carried out in the region by both the public and private organizations, noting that, the potential benefits of SIWP is enormous for the Niger Delta Region and this is expected to become more visible and effective when the projects and programmes of the other critical stakeholders in the region are uploaded and all respective efforts are able to be tracked using the e-portal.”
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State, also listed the task before the Committee to include, review and update the Strategic Implementation Work Plan, support in the technical coordination and planning for the implementation of development projects in the region, as encapsulated in the SIWP document and to liase with technical departments in various Ministries and Agencies and implement commitments captured in the Work Plan,” among many others.
Akpabio lauded the youths of the region for their peaceful conduct, saying,” since the Amnesty Programme was introduced by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and continued under the President Buhari-led administration, we have been having peace in the region. The era of pipeline vandalism is gone for good because the youths of the region have embraced peace for development.”
He noted to that the recently signed Petroleum Industrial Act was part of the commitments and demonstration of President Buhari many efforts at ensuring that the oil producing communities benefited from whatever is gotten from their land, adding ,” the PIA is to recognize the need for a by-in of the host communities so that they can also partake and take care of their very urgent needs, instead of going to beg the oil companies for some social amenities.”
He also listed the gains of the recently concluded Forensic Audit into the activities of the interventionist agency; Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), stating that,” after the completion of the forensic audit, we have started seeing projects completion without awarding fresh contracts. We have so far commissioned the NDDC headquarters building, the Police SUP Quarters, while in the next few days, over 1000 bedspace is set to be commissioned by Mr President at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, acknowledged the cooperation of the UK government through Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN) and Facility for Oil Sector Transformation (FOSTER), saying, ” you will recall that at the last Roundtable discussion on SIWP with stakeholders in March, 2020, I had suggested the need to strengthen the initiative to accommodate and capture projects from more MDAs on the e-portal and continually build on this to accommodate all efforts targeted at developing the region. My initial concern and suggestion has been addressed in the SIWP e-portal being presented today”.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has mourned the death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo, popularly known as Able, describing his demise as a painful loss to the progressive family.
Oladipupo, who represented Ibadan North-West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, was widely regarded as a grassroots politician and committed party loyalist until his passing.
Oseni, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the late politician’s death had created a vacuum within the party and among those who benefitted from his unwavering commitment to public service.
In a condolence statement issued on Monday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the federal lawmaker described the late Oladipupo as a dependable progressive, humble political actor and loyal party stalwart whose impact would remain indelible.
He said the deceased dedicated his life to serving humanity, strengthening the progressive movement and supporting the aspirations of many at the grassroots.
Oseni said, “The death of Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo (Able) came to me as a rude shock. Oyo State and the progressive family have indeed lost a committed, loyal and selfless leader whose passion for service, humility and dedication to the people stood him out.
“He was not just a politician but a bridge-builder, a dependable ally and a grassroots mobiliser who believed strongly in the ideals of our great party. His contributions to the growth of the APC in Oyo State and his service to humanity will remain unforgettable.”
The APC senatorial candidate noted that the late former lawmaker remained steadfast in promoting peace, unity and political development, adding that his simplicity and accessibility endeared him to many across political divides.
According to Oseni, the late politician’s legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire younger politicians and party faithful.
He, however, urged members of the APC, associates and family members of the deceased to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the positive impact he made during his lifetime.
Oseni also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”
The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.
Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.
The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.
The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.
The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.
The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.
A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.
Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.
However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.
The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.
Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.
At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.
Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.
Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.
According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.
Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.
The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.
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