JUST IN: Fire Guts Section of Federal Secretariat in Abuja

A fire outbreak at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja triggered panic on Monday morning after a section of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was engulfed in thick smoke.

The incident occurred around 8:20 a.m. and affected Section C of the multi-storey building located within the federal government administrative complex in Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said heavy black smoke billowed from the affected floor, forcing workers and visitors to evacuate the building immediately as the situation escalated.

Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from the structure while staff members hurried out of the premises as security officials began clearing the area.

Officials from the media department of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation later confirmed the incident, noting that the fire was restricted to Section C of the building.

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“The fire outbreak is limited to Section C of the building and is currently being attended to by emergency officials,” the office said in a statement.

Personnel from the Federal Fire Service and other emergency agencies were quickly deployed to the scene to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the complex.

Security personnel also cordoned off sections of the secretariat while firefighters battled the flames.

The incident reportedly disrupted normal activities around the complex, with workers temporarily stranded outside the building and vehicular movement around the area slowed as emergency vehicles gained access to the premises.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether there were casualties or major structural damage, but officials said efforts were ongoing to fully extinguish the fire and secure the facility.

The cause of the fire had not been determined as of the time of filing this report, and investigations are expected to commence once the situation is brought under control.

JUST IN: Fire Guts Section of Federal Secretariat in Abuja

Osun Youths Storm IBEDC Office Over Prolonged Blackout, Issue 7‑Day Ultimatum

Residents and youths in Boripe Local Government Area, Osun State, have staged a protest at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) office, demanding an immediate restoration of stable electricity supply. The demonstrators issued a seven‑day ultimatum for power to be reinstated, citing weeks of erratic supply and prolonged blackouts that have disrupted daily life, economic activities, and education in the area.

The protest was organised by members of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Boripe chapter, who described the blackout as a severe hardship for households, traders, artisans, and students preparing for exams. Group coordinator Hammed Oyetunji explained that many business owners have been forced to rely on generators and alternative energy sources, driving up operational costs and threatening livelihoods.

“The absence of electricity has disrupted economic activities and daily life for residents,” Oyetunji said. “For weeks, our communities have been subjected to prolonged blackout, causing serious hardship to residents, business owners, students, and artisans.” He added that electricity is essential for economic development and public safety, stressing that the blackout has slowed commercial activities and increased financial pressure on households.

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During the protest at IBEDC’s Osogbo office, demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and presented the company with a seven‑day ultimatum to restore Band A electricity classification, which guarantees longer hours of daily supply. Security personnel were deployed to maintain order, but the youths maintained pressure on the company to act immediately.

In response, IBEDC said the blackout is largely due to constraints in the national electricity grid, including limited gas supply to power plants and unstable energy allocations from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The company acknowledged increased electricity demand in its franchise areas, particularly after the expansion of Band A feeders, and apologised for the disruption.

“Gas supply shortages to electricity generation plants have significantly reduced generation capacity nationwide, forcing distribution companies to implement increased load shedding,” IBEDC said. The company assured residents that it is engaging stakeholders to stabilise supply and minimise disruptions to homes, businesses, and public services.

The protest in Osun reflects growing frustration across Nigeria over unreliable electricity supply and the fragility of the national grid, with residents calling for urgent reforms and more sustainable power distribution solutions.

Osun Youths Storm IBEDC Office Over Prolonged Blackout, Issue 7‑Day Ultimatum

Senate Committee Rejects NNPCL’s Explanation of ₦210 Trillion Financial Discrepancy

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has expressed dissatisfaction with explanations provided by the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over an alleged ₦210 trillion discrepancy in the company’s audited financial statements. The committee said the responses from Group CEO Bayo Ojulari and his team were inadequate and unsatisfactory.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada, revealed the concerns during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. He noted that the discrepancies were identified during the review of NNPCL’s audited accounts from 2017 to 2023, with lawmakers flagging financial entries that lacked sufficient supporting documentation.

Among the disputed entries, ₦103 trillion was recorded as accrued expenses under liabilities, allegedly linked to Joint Venture cash calls, while ₦107 trillion appeared as sundry receivables, reportedly owed by banks and other entities but difficult to verify due to limited transparency. The committee described these figures as “mind‑boggling” and stressed that they were not adequately justified.

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The committee has also summoned former top executives, including immediate past Group CEO Mele Kyari, to provide further explanations. Senator Wadada said that standard accounting practice requires all assets and liabilities to pass through profit and loss accounts before being recognised, a step the committee found insufficiently documented in NNPCL’s accounts.

Responding to earlier queries, NNPCL officials said the alleged discrepancies stemmed from accounting adjustments, timing differences, and technical classifications, promising to reconcile the figures and provide further documentation. The committee has given the company a strict timeline to submit reconciled records and prepare for a public hearing after the Eid holiday.

Lawmakers also questioned ₦5.9 billion spent on NNPCL’s rebranding, as well as costs related to subsidies and production. Senator Wadada emphasised that the investigation is focused on accountability and transparency, and is not politically motivated, although the committee may question any relevant government official, including the Minister of Petroleum Resources, if necessary.

Meanwhile, the federal government recently introduced Executive Order No. 9 of 2026, signed by President Bola Tinubu, to reform aspects of the fiscal framework of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, including directing that revenues from Production Sharing Contracts go directly into the Federation Account and suspending certain deductions previously retained by NNPCL.

The probe continues to attract widespread public interest, highlighting concerns over financial governance and transparency in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Senate Committee Rejects NNPCL’s Explanation of ₦210 Trillion Financial Discrepancy