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Olu of Warri backs FG’s developmental initiatives in Niger Delta

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The Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Utieyinoritsola Eriko Ogiame Atuwase III has declared his support and that of his kingdom for the programmes and plans of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for the development of the Niger Delta region.

The monarch, who was last week installed as the 21st Olu of Warri, stated this while receiving in courtesy, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, in his palace in Warri on Saturday.

In a statement by the media aide of the minister, Jackson Udom, the Olu of Warri said: “Let me assure and also encourage you to know that when things are being discussed at the highest level in this country about the Niger Delta region, please see us as a staunch ally and a firm supporter.

“Let President Buhari know that, as he communicates his visions and plans for the people of the region through you, that he has a strong ally and supporter here that will help him actualise all those plans. We shall give all our best to ensure those programmes succeed.

“When the Niger Delta region functions optimally, Nigeria will get it right, not when Lagos or Abuja functions. When the region truly fulfills its potentials outside oil and gas, with our seaports fully operational, good road network for communication and economic development, the economy of this nation will blossom”.

The traditional ruler noted that peace in the region was very important if development must come to the people, saying, “what is top on the agenda in this palace is peace, unity and prosperity. We will not visit old wounds and division. All that would be expected of us to make the economy work, we will do that.

“If it is spiritual work, if it is to speak it into existence, we will do that. If it is to use our good offices to re educate, re-orientate our people to see these things that we have in the region as belonging to all of us because we are all one, we will also do that.

“When we achieve this unity and peace in the region, most of our children living in Lagos and Abuja and even outside the country, will relocate and help further develop the region because there is no place like home.”

Speaking earlier, the minister congratulated the monarch for the successful coronation ceremony, saying, “my visit here today is to congratulate His Majesty for peaceful ascension of the throne of your forebears.

“At the event, I was only represented but I decided to be present today as a sign of brotherhood and to register my loyalty to the crown.”

Akpabio charged the monarch to continue his peace and unity agenda in the kingdom and asserted: “With these eminent Nigerians who make up the Council of Chiefs as counsellors, their wisdom and experience given to them by God, you can never go wrong and that is why the Warri Kingdom stands out in the Niger Delta region.

“I know I must get directive from you as the minister in charge of the Niger Delta region, on what and what should be done for the people of your kingdom. Our job is to support you to succeed as the Olu through provision of infrastructure and other needs.

“Work on the abandoned Okorie road, I can assure you, will commence in September this year. My request is simple, you should also help with what you have already started which is the spiritual aspect.

“You would recall, Your Majesty, that shortly after your coronation, you handed over the entire Warri Kingdom to God Almighty, cancelling all curses that was placed on the kingdom by past Olus because of how they were treated by government. You used the authority given to you by God. Do not depart from your set goals because you have a mission.”

The minister promised to work with the monarch as a son for the development of the Niger Delta region, saying “I will work with you as the president’s representative to develop the region.

“I don’t want to be a guest in the palace. I am speaking as a son of the kingdom, who can come at anytime to discuss issues affecting the region.”

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IGP Disu seeks NIPR partnership to boost public trust in police

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NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, in a handshake with the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has called for stronger collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to enhance public confidence in the police.

The IGP made the call on Tuesday when he received a delegation of the NIPR, led by its President and Chairman of Council, Dr Ike Neliaku, on a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the IGP emphasised the importance of effective communication, professionalism, transparency and fairness in strengthening the relationship between the police and members of the public.

Disu noted that every police officer was an image-maker of the Force, adding that the conduct of personnel in their daily interactions with citizens had a direct impact on public perception of the police.

He said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) remained committed to policing by consent and promoting a service-oriented policing culture built on professionalism, empathy, accountability and respect for human rights.

The IGP also sought the support of the NIPR in providing specialised communication training for police personnel and developing a coherent communication framework that would effectively communicate the sacrifices and contributions of police officers to public safety and national security.

Earlier, Neliaku commended the IGP for his professional accomplishments and briefed him on Nigeria’s hosting of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum and Africa Charter Forum.

The international event is scheduled to hold at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, and is expected to attract more than 3,000 delegates from 126 member countries of the Global Alliance for Public Relations.

The NIPR delegation also sought the support of the Nigeria Police Force in security planning and coverage for the event.

Neliaku further invited the IGP to serve as a keynote speaker at the forum and encouraged police officers to register and participate as delegates.

The delegation included the Secretary-General of the African Public Relations Association, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan; Dr Suleiman Haruna; Mrs Maryam Sanusi; Mrs Olubunmi Badejo; Commandant Olusola Odumosu; Chief Uzoma Oyegbadu; Chief Moji Makanjuola; Mr Stanley Ogadigo and other members of the institute.

Iniedu said the meeting reflected the commitment of the  Police Force to building productive partnerships with professional bodies and other stakeholders to strengthen public trust, enhance public safety and promote national security.

 

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Inflation drops marginally to 15.39% — NBS

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Nigeria’s headline inflation rate fell marginally to 15.39 per cent in August 2026 from 15.43 per cent in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The NBS disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index released on Tuesday, saying the latest figure represented a 0.04 percentage point decline from the previous month.

The statistics agency, however, reported a sharper decline in the month-on-month inflation rate, which dropped to 0.71 per cent in August from 1.57 per cent in July.

The month-on-month rate, according to the bureau, declined by 0.86 percentage points compared with the July figure.

The NBS explained that the development indicated that the rate at which the average price level increased in August was slower than that recorded in July.

The latest data also showed a significant moderation in food inflation, which stood at 19.57 per cent year-on-year in August.

The figure was substantially lower than the 25.30 per cent recorded in August 2025.

On a month-on-month basis, food inflation fell to 1.02 per cent in August from 5.56 per cent in July, representing a decline of 4.55 percentage points.

The NBS said the development showed that food prices were still rising, but at a slower rate during the month under review.

It attributed the decline largely to changes in the average prices of a number of food items, including palm oil, carrots, pepper, onions, cassava flour, beef, yam flour, water yam, melon (egusi), fresh ginger, fresh fish, Irish potatoes, wheat grain, frozen chicken and turkey meat.

At the state level, Adamawa recorded the highest year-on-year food inflation rate in August at 38.85 per cent.

It was followed by Zamfara with 37.96 per cent and Bayelsa with 36.20 per cent.

On the other hand, Borno recorded the lowest year-on-year food inflation rate at -4.04 per cent, followed by Jigawa at -0.23 per cent and Kebbi at 3.47 per cent.

The month-on-month figures presented a different picture, with Katsina recording the highest food inflation rate at 9.48 per cent.

Rivers and Osun followed with 8.86 per cent and 8.32 per cent respectively.

Taraba recorded the lowest month-on-month food inflation rate at -12.42 per cent, followed by Borno at -12.15 per cent and Bauchi at -8.88 per cent.

The latest figures indicate a moderation in the pace of price increases, particularly in the food sector, although the NBS data show that consumers continue to face varying price pressures across the states.

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Nigeria’s Oil Output Rises to 1.68m Barrels Per Day

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Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production rose to 1.68 million barrels per day in August 2026, representing a 0.4 per cent increase from the 1.67 million barrels per day recorded in July.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission disclosed this in its latest production report released on Sunday.

Excluding condensate, the country produced an average of 1,500,190 barrels of crude oil per day in August, allowing Nigeria to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries quota for the fourth consecutive month.

Daily combined crude oil and condensate production ranged between 1.64 million barrels and 1.71 million barrels during the month under review.

A breakdown of production by terminals showed that Bonny Terminal recorded the highest output at 320.04 thousand barrels per day, followed by Forcados Terminal with 317.40 thousand barrels per day.

Qua Iboe Terminal recorded an average production of 171.72 thousand barrels per day, while Escravos Oil Terminal posted 131.71 thousand barrels per day.

Bonga ranked fifth among the highest-producing terminals, with an average output of 92.50 thousand barrels per day.

The NUPRC attributed the modest improvement in August production largely to the resolution of operational challenges involving the Single Buoy Mooring at the Erha field.

The commission said the challenges had adversely affected production in the preceding month.

“The restoration of normal evacuation and production operations at the asset contributed positively to overall production volumes during the period under review,” the commission’s spokesperson, Eniola Akinkuotu, said in a statement on Sunday.

The regulator added that production activities across most other producing assets remained relatively stable during the month.

“Production activities across most other producing assets remained relatively stable, with operators sustaining implementation measures aimed at optimising production efficiency, maintaining asset integrity, and minimising operational disruptions,” the statement said.

The latest figures indicate a continued improvement in Nigeria’s oil production, with the country maintaining its OPEC quota compliance for the fourth consecutive month.

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