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How Corruption And Sabotage Are Suffocating Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector

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How Corruption And Sabotage Are Suffocating Nigeria's Petroleum Sector

Nigeria’s petroleum industry, the lifeblood of the country’s economy, has been shrouded in controversy and corruption for decades. Recent revelations have exposed a complex web of graft, sabotage, and mismanagement, threatening the very foundation of the sector.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently shed light on the industry’s rot, revealing that corruption and mismanagement have been entrenched since the 1970s. “The petroleum industry has been a curse rather than a blessing,” he stated, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms.

The latest controversy surrounds the ongoing row between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Dangote Refineries. The NNPC has accused Dangote Refineries of attempting to monopolize the industry, while Dangote Refineries claims the NNPC is trying to sabotage its operations.

Nigeria’s refineries, which have not functioned optimally in years, have swallowed billions of dollars in maintenance and turnaround costs. The Port Harcourt refinery, for instance, has gulped over $1.5 billion since 2015, with little to show for it. The Kaduna refinery has also received billions in funding, yet remains idle. In total, Nigeria’s refineries have received over $10 billion in funding since 2015, with no significant improvement in production.

The importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has also been marred by corruption, with reports of inflated prices, fake subsidies, and round-tripping. In 2020 alone, Nigeria spent over N1 trillion on PMS importation, with allegations of fraud and mismanagement. This figure represents a significant portion of the country’s annual budget, highlighting the massive financial burden of corruption in the industry.

OPEC indirectly hinted at international impediments in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, citing “external factors” affecting production and pricing. This statement underscores the global implications of Nigeria’s petroleum woes. Nigeria’s production quota with OPEC is 1.8 million barrels per day, but the country currently produces around 1.2 million barrels per day, resulting in significant revenue losses.

The Senate has established a committee to investigate reports of sabotage and corruption in the industry. The committee’s mandate is to investigate the non-functional refineries and associated costs, examine the PMS importation process and identify areas of corruption, and uncover international impediments affecting the industry. To address the challenges facing the petroleum industry, Nigeria must adopt a multifaceted approach. Transparency and accountability must be prioritized, with urgent rehabilitation of refineries and diversification of the economy to reduce dependence on oil. International cooperation is also crucial to address global impediments affecting the industry.

By taking these steps, Nigeria can unlock the full potential of its petroleum industry and achieve sustainable progress. The ongoing row between the NNPC and Dangote Refineries must be resolved, and the industry must be opened up to competition and investment.

The Black Gold Curse can only be lifted by confronting the corruption and sabotage head-on. Nigeria cannot afford to continue hemorrhaging billions of dollars in the petroleum sector. The time for action is now.

According to industry experts, Nigeria loses over $15 billion annually due to corruption in the petroleum industry. This staggering figure highlights the urgent need for reforms and accountability in the sector.

In conclusion, the Nigerian petroleum industry is at a crossroads. The choice is clear: continue down the path of corruption and sabotage or embrace transparency and accountability. The future of Nigeria’s economy depends on it.

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Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting

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Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting

 

Two students were killed and nine others injured after a gunman opened fire at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday, police said.

 

Authorities have detained a person of interest in his 20s, who is now cooperating with investigators.

 

The attack occurred around 4:00 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT) at the Holley Engineering Building on the eastern end of the university campus.

 

Police said the identities of the victims have not yet been released.

 

Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all those affected, including the deceased, were students.

 

In a statement on Sunday, Paxson said parts of the campus remained restricted as police continued investigations.

 

She added that around 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight and expressed gratitude to local residents who opened their homes to students.

 

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said seven of the injured students were in stable condition, one was critical, and another had been discharged.

 

The mayor, who visited victims and their families in hospital, described their courage as “overwhelming” and confirmed that the shelter-in-place order issued earlier had been lifted.

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the suspect was detained at a hotel in Coventry early Sunday morning based on a lead from Providence Police.

 

Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that officers were no longer searching for additional suspects and were working closely with prosecutors to collect evidence.

 

President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, expressed sympathy for the families of the two deceased students and wished a speedy recovery for the nine injured.

 

The shooting brings the number of mass shootings in the United States in 2025 to 389, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents with four or more victims killed or injured, not including the attacker.

 

Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant as the investigation continues, while a vigil is scheduled for Sunday evening to support the Brown University community.

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Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting

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Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting

 

A mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Saturday left 15 people dead, including a child aged 10, during a Hanukkah celebration. Authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack.

 

Police confirmed the shooters were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son.

 

The father died at the scene, while the son remains in critical condition.

 

The 50-year-old was a licensed firearms holder; six guns and two improvised devices were recovered from the site.

 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “an act of pure evil”, saying it deliberately targeted the Jewish community, and promised full resources to support the investigation and combat antisemitism.

 

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said quick response, informed by last year’s Bondi stabbing, helped save lives.

 

328 officers have been deployed to protect Sydney’s Jewish community, while two properties in western Sydney were searched overnight.

 

Among the victims was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Eyewitnesses described the chaos, with some saying the gunfire felt like it lasted “an eternity.”

 

Authorities continue to investigate the attack as Australians reel from the tragedy.

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Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria 

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Trump Congratulates UK’s Farage, Ignores Starmer

Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria 

 

President Donald Trump has pledged a “very serious retaliation” after an ambush in central Syria on Saturday, killing two U.S. service members and one American civilian interpreter, an attack the United States blames on the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

 

In a statement and social‑media post, Trump described the assault near Palmyra—a region still volatile and not fully controlled by the Syrian government—as “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria.”

 

He mourned the three victims as “great American patriots” and confirmed that three other U.S. soldiers wounded in the attack are recovering.

 

Speaking from the White House before departing for a public event, the president said he expected a firm U.S. response, noting that there will be “very serious retaliation” against ISIS and any group that targets American forces.

 

Trump noted that Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, whose government has been cooperating with U.S. forces in counter‑terrorism operations, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the incident.

 

The ambush occurred as U.S. troops were engaged in a counter‑terrorism mission alongside Syrian partners; the suspected attacker was killed by coalition forces, U.S. Central Command said.

 

The identities and units of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification.

 

Defense officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, echoed Trump’s stance, issuing stark warnings that the U.S. will pursue individuals or groups that target Americans.

 

The U.S. maintains a force of around 900 troops in Syria as part of ongoing operations against ISIS remnants, despite the group’s loss of territorial control years earlier.

 

The attack is the first fatal incident involving U.S. personnel in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, highlighting persistent security challenges and raising questions about the future scope of U.S. military engagement in the region.

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