By: Fabian Apechihin

The United States’ crude oil exports to Nigeria and other African countries fell for the fifth consecutive month in July 2025, averaging 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd), the lowest level since March 2022.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) disclosed this in its August 2025 Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), attributing the decline to weaker flows to Europe and Africa, particularly Nigeria, but without giving further details.

Industry analysts link the slowdown to the ramp-up of local refining capacity, especially the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery, which has reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported crude, including from the US. Vanguard checks also show that crude importation has slowed further in recent months due to improved domestic production.

According to OPEC data, Nigeria’s crude oil output—excluding condensates—rose by 11 per cent year-on-year to 1.559 million bpd in July 2025, up from 1.386 million bpd in the same period of 2024. This marks the country’s highest monthly production level so far this year.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) corroborated the figures, stating that overall output, including condensates, exceeded 1.8 million bpd in July.

Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the NUPRC, said the milestone was achieved through the agency’s “Project 1 MMBOPD Incremental” initiative, supported by a multi-stakeholder collaborative framework.

“We are glad to report that we crossed the 1.8 million bpd mark on peak production last month, with average production hovering at 1.78 million bpd,” Komolafe stated.

He added that the Commission is working to sustain production growth by optimising the Maximum Efficient Rate (MER) framework, improving produced water management, and aligning operational shutdowns and maintenance schedules to minimise disruptions.

“With these measures and continued collaboration, the presidential mandate on production increase is well within reach,” he said.

Do you want me to make this rewrite more concise for a newspaper front-page brief or keep it detailed like a full energy market report?

• Lauds transparency, fairness in beneficiary selection and grassroots empowerment

• Says reforms align with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, restore trust in Niger Delta

The Niger Delta Youths for Positive Change (NDYPC) has commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, for what it described as bold, people-focused reforms that are restoring trust and delivering tangible benefits to the Niger Delta.

In a statement signed and issued by Comrade Elliott Yibakeni, after the conclusion of leadership training sessions with ex-agitator leaders in Abuja, the group said the PAP, once in urgent need of renewal, is now undergoing a transformation that reflects transparency, fairness, and accountability.

“At a time when public trust in institutions was waning, Dr. Otuaro has emerged as a symbol of credibility and transformation,” the statement read. “His visionary leadership is restoring integrity, empowering communities, and driving a sustainable development agenda that resonates with the aspirations of the Niger Delta.”

According to NDYPC, under Otuaro’s leadership, beneficiary selection has become fair and merit-based, ending years of favoritism and political interference. The group added that access to education, skills training, and empowerment opportunities, both locally and abroad, is now guided by equity and open competition.

The group highlighted several internal reforms, including improved staff welfare, strengthened professional capacity, and strict adherence to best practices in public procurement. These, it said, have made the PAP more efficient, responsive, and transparent.

NDYPC also praised Otuaro’s inclusive governance style, noting his sustained engagement with traditional rulers, women leaders, civil society organizations, and local communities. This approach, the group said, has strengthened peace-building efforts and deepened trust between the PAP and the people it serves.

In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the PAP has maintained consistent payment of stipends to ex-agitators and extended direct support to vulnerable populations. NDYPC also applauded new healthcare interventions for ex-agitators facing health challenges.

The statement further commended the programme’s investments in scholarships, vocational training, and economic empowerment initiatives aimed at preparing Niger Delta youths for leadership, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods.

“Every decision reflects a deep commitment to public trust, responsible stewardship, and long-term development,” NDYPC stated. “Under Dr. Otuaro’s watch, the Niger Delta is rising stronger, united, and filled with renewed hope.”

The race to win DJ Cuppy’s heart just got a dramatic twist, and it comes with a legal caveat!

Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, a foremost promoter of traditional rulers, veteran journalist, human rights activist, and former media adviser to ex-First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, has thrown his hat into the ring as the man ready to end the billionaire heiress’s search for love.

Aigbegbele, who sits atop the Silverdoors Communication Group and leads multiple advocacy organisations including Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI) and the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ), declared that he is “very prepared” to marry the 31-year-old DJ, but on one non-negotiable condition, she and her billionaire father, Femi Otedola, must sign a “submissiveness” agreement.

Beyond his public roles, Aigbegbele is also a mass communication scholar, a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Public Relations (NIPR), with master’s degrees in Mass Communication and International Relations, and is presently pursuing his Doctorate. A seasoned media consultant to topnotch politicians, business bigwigs and military top brass.

“As a true African man, I believe in mutual respect in marriage. I will love, protect, and comfort her at all times, but she must also accept me as the head of the family. That is why I am requesting her father’s formal consent to this agreement,” Aigbegbele told newsmen with a confident smile.

He further revealed that his decision to seek Cuppy’s hand was not made lightly.

“I have watched her all these years and considered so many things, especially knowing fully well that she was brought up well by Chief Otedola. After critical thinking and discussion with my immediate family, I have decided to marry her to show her that genuine love still exists,” he stated.

Describing himself as a man who has experienced life and is ready for a lifelong commitment, the public affairs advocate stressed that his interest in DJ Cuppy is genuine and not influenced by her fame or fortune.

“I am not married currently, though I have children. But I am ready, not just to marry her, but to give her the true African love she says she’s been searching for,” he said.

In recent weeks, Florence “DJ Cuppy” Otedola has been vocal about her readiness to settle down, hinting that she is open to finding “real love” away from the glitz and glamour. Aigbegbele insists he is the perfect match to provide that stability, if she embraces his traditional values.

With the challenge now thrown at Cuppy and her father, social media is already buzzing: will the billionaire DJ trade her independent streak for “true African love”? Or will this be one proposal that remains a headline fantasy?