News
Sanni lauds FG over appointment as NSPRI executive director
° As OYSCATECH felicitates governing council chair on appointment
The newly appointed Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Sanni has appreciated the Federal Government of Nigeria over his appointment as the Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute in Ilorin.
Prof. Sanni also extended his gratitude to the Almighty God for the opportunity.
According to him, “There is the need for one to sustain one’s excellence, integrity, and productivity. And I will make sure that I work together with other team players in solving so of the sustainable development goals and by God’s grace, success is ours.”
The Management of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora under the leadership of Prof. Akinola Akinlabi, and the Governing Council Members of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora have congratulated the institution’s Governing Council Chairman, Prof. Lateef Sanni over his appointment as the Executive Director for Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin
In a congratulatory message signed by the Registrar of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Mr. Rasheed Fasasi Adenrele Adeniji, the Rector described Prof. Sanni as an erudite scholar, exemplary, visionary leader of an impeccable standard and exceptional international researcher whose leadership acumen have not only impacted the academia, industry, the international community and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora in particular but the nation as well.
The Rector noted the remarkable contributions of Prof. Sanni at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), while serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Developments) and to building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seeds System Phase II (BASICS II) and Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase I & II.
Prof. Akinlabi opined that Sanni will record unprecedented achievements in the new assignment, considering his intellectual capacity and professionalism with which he conducts the affairs of the Governing Council of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
The Rector on behalf of the Management, Board of Studies, Staff, Students, and Alumni of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora therefore, wishes Prof. Lateef Sanni God’s guidance, good health, and unparalleled success in his new assignment.
Prof. Sanni is a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, and President, of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops.
Prof. Lateef Oladimeji Sanni until his appointment was the former Head of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Station in Abuja and Project Manager for Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seeds System Phase II (BASICS II).
He is the Chairman, of the Steering Committee of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).
Prof. Sanni has over thirty years of experience in research, consultancy, and collaborations as a post-harvest expert on tropical roots crops mostly implemented by the Natural Resources Institute, United Kingdom, Association of African Universities, Council of Agricultural Research Forum, West and Central Council for Agricultural Development and International Institute of Tropical Root Crop with over seventy overseas trips to six continents.
Prof. Sanni graduated from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta with a Bachelor of Science degree; Second Class Upper Division in the Department of Food Science and Technology in 1990. He obtained Masters’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees at the Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan in February 1993 and April 1999 respectively.
The distinguished Prof. Sanni received Harvard Business School, Boston, USA training on Leading Change and Organizational Renewal from 17th to 22nd March 2013.
Prof. Sanni joined the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), now FUNAAB in 1993 as an Assistant Lecturer and became Professor of Food Science and Technology in 2008.
As a distinguished scholar, Prof. Sanni has published over 109 Technical Journal articles; 30 Books, and 30 Conference proceedings.
He has supervised in collaboration with colleagues well over 100 undergraduates, 17 Masters and 24 PhD students.
Prof. Sanni is globally cited with 3,809.
He successfully served as the Country Manager for Nigeria in a Five-Country project, Cassava: Adding Value for Africa II (CAVA and CAVA II) projects sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 2008 to March 31, 2019.
Professor Lateef Sanni won the World Bank Facility for Academic Staff of Universities to the Natural Resources Institute, Kent, UK in 1995.
The International Foundation for Science, Sweden, launched Prof. Sanni Lateef as a leading contributor to multi-million dollar projects on cassava since 1999.
The erudite Professor was the leader (of Food Processing and Value Addition), Center of Excellence in Agriculture and sustainable environment in 2013 for the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Prof. Lateef served as the Resource Person, World Bank Sponsored project titled “Upscaling the Nigerian Flash Drying Experience for Sustainable Regional Trade and Income Generation in West Africa”(Ghana, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone, Nigeria).
He also served as the Country Manager for the European Union-African Caribbean Pacific (EU-ACP) Science Technology Capacity Building Project, Nov 2009 to October 2012 in collaboration with the Greenwich University/Natural Resources Institute, Chatham.
His wealth of experience made him serve as Project Coordinator, Cassava Value Chain Development project in West Africa, covering Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin Republic; a three-year project, sponsored by the Common Fund for Commodities from August 2008 to March 2012 and implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria.
Prof. Sanni has won several awards, some of which include; the 2008 Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Award, Regional Technology Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, Outstanding Award-2006 Academic Accomplishment by Junior Chambers International, Abeokuta, Gateway Hotel, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and the Best Oral Presenter Award at the 7th African Crops Science Conference organized by African Crops Science Society, Entente, Uganda in December 2005.
Prof. Sanni also won the Research Productivity Award (Senior Academic Category) in January 2011 and the Most Outstanding International Ambassador Award of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in January 2012, and the FUNAAB Students’ Union Award of Excellence in May 2013.
He was an editorial board member of the International Journal of Food Science, and Technology from 2005 to 31st July 2015 and is currently serving as a reviewer to so many international journals around the world.
As a true ambassador and alumnus of FUNAAB, Prof. Lateef Sanni was a member of, Governing Board of FUNAAB and former Dean, of the College of Food Science and Human Ecology, FUNAAB.
Prof. Lateef Sanni facilitated the donation of a Modern Garri Processing Factory worth sixteen Million Naira to the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora on the bill of Cassava Adding Value for Africa II.
Prof. Lateef Sanni is a seasoned scholar, dynamic leader, Postharvest innovator on cassava and root crop development, a facilitator on the enhancement of skills for early career scientists, and a consultant to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Cassava Value Chain, NGOs, and international bodies like FAO, UNIDO, and IITA.
The global oil market has recorded losses exceeding $50bn following massive supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing Iran war, which has now stretched to nearly 50 days.
Data from energy analytics firm Kpler showed that more than 500 million barrels of crude oil and condensate have been wiped off the global market since the crisis began in late February, making it the largest energy supply disruption in modern history.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz had been reopened after a ceasefire agreement reached in Lebanon.
However, tensions escalated again on Saturday as Tehran warned it could shut the strategic waterway if the United States sustains its blockade of Iranian ports.
Also, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a deal to end the conflict could be reached “soon,” although he did not provide a definite timeline.
Analysts warned that the scale of disruption could have prolonged effects on global energy stability, with shocks expected to linger for months or even years.
Providing context, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, Iain Mowat, said the 500 million barrels lost is equivalent to grounding global aviation demand for 10 weeks, halting all road transport worldwide for 11 days, or shutting down the entire global oil supply for five days.
Further estimates showed that the lost volume is nearly equal to one month of oil demand in the United States or more than a month’s supply for Europe. It also represents about six years of fuel consumption by the U.S. military and could power global shipping activities for approximately four months.
The crisis has significantly affected oil-producing nations in the Gulf, with output losses reaching about eight million barrels per day in March—roughly equivalent to the combined production of two of the world’s largest oil companies.
Jet fuel exports from major producers, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, dropped sharply from 19.6 million barrels in February to just 4.1 million barrels recorded across March and April combined. Analysts said the shortfall could have powered about 20,000 round-trip international flights.
With crude prices averaging around $100 per barrel since the onset of the conflict, the lost volumes translate to an estimated $50bn in revenue. Experts noted that this figure is equivalent to about one per cent of Germany’s annual Gross Domestic Product, or roughly the size of the economies of smaller European countries.
Meanwhile, global onshore crude inventories have declined by about 45 million barrels in April alone, while total production outages have risen to approximately 12 million barrels per day since late March.
Industry experts cautioned that unless a lasting resolution is reached, the disruption could intensify volatility in global oil markets, worsen inflationary pressures, and further strain fragile economies worldwide.
A member of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Aderemi Oseni, has been nominated for a Special Award in Politics at the 2026 City People Political Awards.
The nomination was conveyed in a letter dated April 13, 2026, signed by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of City People Magazine, Seye Kehinde.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Oseni’s media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.
According to the statement, the lawmaker earned the nomination in recognition of his “outstanding contributions to politics in Oyo State, particularly in Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency.”
The organisers noted that Oseni emerged as a nominee following a comprehensive review of performances across sectors by the award’s selection committee.
Part of the letter read, “Having performed creditably well in your sector last year, the Organising Committee presented you as a nominee in your sector.”
The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Etal Hall, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, at 4pm.
The City People Awards is an annual event that recognises individuals who have distinguished themselves in governance, public service and other sectors of national development.
The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has announced a crackdown on individuals who assault its staff, warning that offenders will face prosecution and public exposure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the company expressed concern over what it described as a “disturbing surge” in attacks on its field workers and third-party partners.
It noted that the affected personnel were mainly engaged in meter installation, revenue collection and maintenance of electricity infrastructure.
According to the firm, the increasing cases of harassment, physical assault and unlawful detention of its workers pose a serious threat to employee safety and the stability of electricity service delivery across its franchise areas.
The Deputy Managing Director, Abubakar Mohammed, said the company would no longer tolerate any form of aggression against its workforce.
“Let this serve as a clear warning to anyone who engages in the assault of our staff. Kaduna Electric will pursue every case to its logical conclusion,” he said.
“We will work closely with security agencies to ensure offenders are brought to justice and face the full weight of the law,” Mohammed added.
He further disclosed that the company would publicly reveal the identities of individuals found culpable.
According to him, names, photographs and other details of offenders would be published on the company’s official platforms as well as in national and local media.
“This measure is intended to ensure accountability and serve as a strong deterrent. Anyone who chooses to attack our personnel should be prepared not only to face prosecution but also public exposure,” he added.
The company stressed that assaults on utility workers attract serious legal and financial consequences, noting that offenders risk criminal charges that may lead to fines or imprisonment.
It added that perpetrators could also face civil liabilities, including compensation for medical treatment, psychological trauma and loss of work hours.
While condemning the attacks, Kaduna Electric urged customers to adopt peaceful and lawful means of resolving disputes.
It advised aggrieved customers to channel complaints through its customer service units or appropriate regulatory bodies.
The management reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its workforce and partners, stressing that a safe working environment is essential for delivering reliable and efficient electricity services.
Although disputes between electricity providers and consumers are often linked to billing issues, metering challenges and service delivery concerns, the company maintained that such matters must be resolved through dialogue, insisting that violence against its staff will no longer be tolerated.
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