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Reps to probe $35m sunk into non-existent modular refinery

Published

4 months ago

October 15, 2025

House of Representatives

Reps to probe $35m sunk into non-existent modular refinery

The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate why the government-funded modular refinery in Brass, Bayelsa state, has failed to commence despite an investment of about 35 million dollars in the project.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo), alleging that despite the investment, there is nothing on the ground to suggest that the government has made such a huge investment.

In view of the motion, the House directed its committee on Downstream and Midstream to investigate the circumstances surrounding these huge financial commitments to the tune of $35m, with nothing on the ground to suggest such a huge investment.

Leading the debate on the motion, Osawaru argued that an increased revenue base for the nation reduces the pressure on the foreign exchange regime and lowers the debt burden, especially as it relates to budget financing.

According to him, it was in the light of the above that the Buhari administration graciously embarked on the need to encourage the funding of modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

He maintained that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, indigenous refining has been identified as a key driver of energy independence, job creation, and industrial revitalization.

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He said the key objective of the present administration is to ensure energy security through improved oil production output in order to increase the Nation’s revenue base, and that every available opportunity has been geared towards this objective.

He explained that sometime in 2020, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) invested the sum of Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35 million) in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited – a modular refinery to be located in Brass, Bayelsa State.

He expressed concern that despite this huge investment of $35 million dollars which is more than N50 billion and enough to fund fundamental components of the national budget, the proposed modular refinery was never set up, adding that there is nothing on the ground to show that such a huge financial commitment had been made.

He disclosed that despite the move by the House to unravel the mystery behind this wastage by mandating its relevant committee to investigate the monumental economic sabotage, nothing has been heard in respect of the subject matter.

He said, “In May 2024, a stakeholder submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urging the anti-graft organization to probe the multi-million dollar investments made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) among which was the Atlantic Refinery project; and that despite this noble move by the said stakeholder, nothing has been heard about this profound national waste almost a year ago”.

He said the continued inactivity of this Brass modular refinery project raises significant questions about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Nigeria.

Reps to probe $35m sunk into non-existent modular refinery

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First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy

Published

21 minutes ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Aisha Muhammed Oyebode and late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed

First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy

Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, the first daughter of late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, has opened up about the challenges of growing up without her father, the late military head of state assassinated on February 13, 1976, and her ongoing work in philanthropy, governance, and education.

In an exclusive interview, Aisha, who is a lawyer, entrepreneur, author, activist, and philanthropist, described losing her father at age 12 as a profoundly harrowing experience. She recalled the “silence of absence” and the “noise of expectation” that followed his death, explaining that she had to grow up quickly while navigating the pressures of public scrutiny and preserving her father’s legacy.

“My father treated corruption as an emergency, not a talking point. He believed in strong leadership, discipline, clarity of purpose, and a deep commitment to Nigeria,” she said.

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Aisha also highlighted the stabilizing role of her mother, Ajoke Muhammed, who raised six children after the assassination, instilling discipline, resilience, and a focus on education.

Currently, Aisha is the Group CEO of Asset Management Group Limited and the CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), where she champions girls’ education and youth empowerment. She noted that, particularly in northern Nigeria, female primary net attendance rates are as low as 47.3–47.7%, with young women’s illiteracy reaching 70.8%.

“From our experience, the solution to girls’ education must be holistic — removing economic barriers, ensuring safety, fostering community ownership, and making education relevant to livelihoods,” she said.

She emphasized that educating girls stabilizes families and strengthens the nation, adding that the MMF Foundation has been instrumental in providing scholarships, school feeding programs, and community initiatives to enhance female education.

Reflecting on her father’s legacy, Aisha described him as a man of humility, vision, and principle, whose simple resting place in Kano reflects a life devoted to duty rather than display. She and her siblings have committed to refurbishing his grave and that of their brother Zack while carrying forward his vision through their work.

“A grave does not hold a legacy — people do. The real monument to his memory is in how we choose to live, and the kind of Nigeria we are willing to build,” she said.

Aisha’s reflections combine personal remembrance, national history, and advocacy, highlighting the enduring influence of Murtala Muhammed on his family and the nation, while underscoring the importance of education, integrity, and principled leadership in Nigeria today.

First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy

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Anambra Police Arrest Motel Owner, Two Others Over Firearms, Drug Trafficking

Published

35 minutes ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga

Anambra Police Arrest Motel Owner, Two Others Over Firearms, Drug Trafficking

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three individuals, including a motel owner, in Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area, for alleged possession of illegal firearms and involvement in illicit drug activities.

Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed that the suspects — Ifeanyi Ibeabuchi (39), Abdullahi Shaibu (26), and Obah Chima (18) — were apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu following credible intelligence.

The raid, carried out in the late hours of February 9, 2026, led to the seizure of multiple controlled substances, including Cannabis Sativa, Crystal Methamphetamine, Colos, and Mkpuru-mmiri. Authorities also recovered a Jojef pump action gun (breach number 21SA-0724) loaded with three live cartridges at the scene.

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Ikenga noted that Ibeabuchi confessed to the offenses during initial investigations, which helped law enforcement track and arrest the two other suspects.

“The Command reiterates its commitment to sustaining ongoing operations against criminal elements in the state and urges members of the public to continue providing useful information to aid policing efforts. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” the spokesperson said.

The Anambra State Police Command has vowed to continue targeted operations against firearms and drug-related crimes, reinforcing efforts to enhance public safety in the state.

Anambra Police Arrest Motel Owner, Two Others Over Firearms, Drug Trafficking

metro

2 Nigerians Killed While Fighting for Russian Army in Ukraine War

Published

52 minutes ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole and Mbah Stephen Udoka

2 Nigerians Killed While Fighting for Russian Army in Ukraine War

Two Nigerian men have reportedly died while serving in the Russian Armed Forces during the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War in eastern Luhansk.

The deceased, Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38, were reportedly attached to the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division, according to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence. Their bodies were discovered in late November 2025, highlighting the growing risks faced by foreign nationals recruited into Russia’s military operations.

Kolawole and Udoka reportedly signed contracts with the Russian army in the second half of 2025 — Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28. Udoka received no formal military training and was sent to the front just five days after enlistment on October 3. Kolawole also appears to have been deployed with minimal preparation, raising concerns over the treatment of foreign recruits.

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The men were killed in a drone strike while attempting to storm Ukrainian positions, and Ukrainian authorities reported that they did not engage in conventional combat before their deaths. Kolawole is survived by a wife and three children in Nigeria.

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has used the incident to caution foreign nationals against travelling to Russia for employment, warning that recruits may be sent into dangerous combat units with little or no training. The deaths come amid increased recruitment of foreign fighters from Africa into Russian forces, sparking concern among human rights and foreign policy observers.

This development highlights the risks associated with participation in the Ukraine conflict as a foreign mercenary and underscores the humanitarian and security issues arising from the recruitment of untrained personnel into active combat zones.