Business
Malaria : Stakeholders Disagree on Establishment of Eradication AgencyFrom Lateef Taiwo

Critical stakeholders in the health sector on Thursday in Abuja disagreed on move by the Senate for establishment of National Agency for Malaria Eradication .
Disagreements among the critical stakeholders came to the fore during public hearing on the bill seeking for the establishment of the agency as sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko ( Delta North) .
First to kick against establishing a fresh agency for eradication of Malaria in Nigeria was the Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice , Imarha Reuben , who argued that creating such an agency , would to duplication of already existing ones and running contrary to implementation of Orosanye’s report .
” The Federal Ministry of Justice is against National Agency for Malaria Eradication ( Establishment) Bill 2025 SB 172 to avoid duplication of functions of existing similar agencies in line with implementation of the Orosanye’s report “, he said .
Also kicking against the proposed Agency , the Chairman , Malaria Technical Working Group in Nigeria , Dr Kolawole Maxwell , said rather than establishing an eradication agency , government at all levels in the country , should come up with concerted efforts for total elimination of Malaria .
” We recommend that the current eradication target should be changed to elimination .
“We are also suggesting that the malaria program should be housed within a coordinated government structure to avoid fragmentation and for easy coordination.
“If malaria is taken out as agency, it leads to another fragmentation of the health sector “, he said .
Representative of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) , Fraden Bitrus , said concerted efforts towards eradication of Malaria need to be strengthened but should not involve the creation of a new agency.
However, the President of Environmental Health Officers Association , FCT Chapter , Ismaila Haruna Dankogi , supported the move for establishment of Malaria Eradication Agency .
According to him, the proposed agency, will help the country to change its approach of dealing with malaria from curative to preventive .
The Executive Director of Community Vision Initiative , Dr Chioma Amajoh strongly supported move for establishment of the agency which according to her, will serve as required springboard for coordinated action against Malaria .
Dr Amajoh is fondly called Mama Malaria , passionately appealed to the committee to allow the proposal see the light of the day , ” saying ” Clinical Case management of Malaria in Nigeria over the decades, has failed to tame the scorge”.
Earlier in his remarks at the commencement of the public hearing , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio, said “It is time to move from seasonal campaigns to institutionalized eradication, backed by law, science, and accountability”
In her closing remarks , the Chairman of the Committee , Senator Ipalibo Banigo ( Rivers West ) , thanked all the stakeholders for their inputs into the proposed legislation and assured them of objective considerations of submissions made .
Business
Dangote Refinery Boosts Fuel Exports as Gulf Refineries Shut Down

By: Fabian Apechihin
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has ramped up fuel exports to international markets amid widespread refinery shutdowns in the Middle East, industry sources confirmed.
A senior official at the $20bn Lagos-based plant told The PUNCH that the facility exported significant volumes of petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), and aviation fuel (Jet A1) to foreign buyers in August, following earlier shipments in June and July.
The surge comes as Saudi Aramco and other regional producers face heavy maintenance schedules, tightening fuel supply. Aramco has already shut down two plants and plans further closures, including its 460,000 b/d Satorp refinery in Jubail for a 60-day turnaround in November–December. Kuwait and India are also scaling back capacity for maintenance and seasonal demand.
According to Argus Media, these shutdowns are pushing Gulf nations to import record volumes of gasoline, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE sharply increasing purchases from Europe and other markets in recent months.
While some reports pointed to operational constraints at Dangote’s 650,000 b/d facility, the company dismissed such claims, insisting production is on track to reach 700,000 b/d by December. Earlier this year, Aliko Dangote announced the refinery had sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco and recently achieved exports of about 1 million tonnes of petrol between June and July.
“With Gulf refiners offline, Nigeria has now emerged as a net exporter of refined products,” Dangote said.
Analysts suggest the extended refinery outages in the Middle East will further strengthen demand for Dangote’s output, positioning the Nigerian plant as a key supplier in regional fuel markets.
Would you like me to tighten this further into a 5–6 paragraph wire-style news brief, or keep it as a detailed feature-style report with more context on Gulf refinery shutdowns?
Business
US Oil Exports to Nigeria, Others Fall to 3.3m bpd as Local Output Rises

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?
Business
NDYPC Hails Otuaro’s Reforms in Presidential Amnesty Programme

• 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.”
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