IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

INEC says over 505,906 Nigerians completed online pre-registration for the Continuous Voter Registration within five days of its resumption. Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, represented by National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, described the turnout as proof of citizens’ commitment to democracy.

The physical phase begins August 25 across 811 centres nationwide, where biometrics will be captured. INEC also launched sensitisation campaigns urging eligible citizens, especially youths and first-time voters, to register and secure their PVCs. 

The National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and several upstream gas suppliers have signed long-term Gas Supply Agreements (GSAs) with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) for the delivery of 1.29 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) of Feedgas.

The 20-year agreements, with extension options, were signed at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Friday by the NLNG and Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited; Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited; First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited; SNEPCo; NNPC Gas Marketing Limited; NNPC E&P Limited; Shell Nigeria Gas Solutions Limited; Oando Group; and Aradel Holdings.

The agreements, aimed at bridging the prolonged shortfall in upstream gas availability, mark a major boost for Nigeria’s energy transition agenda and the Federal Government’s gas reforms aimed at strengthening the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Ojulari commended NLNG’s shareholders and the Federal Government for their long-term commitment to value delivery despite the challenges faced over the years.

He described the agreements as a giant step towards value creation and sustainable gas supply. “These GSAs have opened up opportunities for the growth of our industry, both for local and international development. They’re hinged on collaboration, synergies and opportunities. We need to leverage economies of scale, share risks and opportunities for us to attain Mr. President’s Decade of Gas vision,” he said.

Ojulari lauded the enabling environment and private sector support fostered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “It is important to commend the President’s tremendous effort that has enabled the business through the issuance of Executive Orders targeted at gas developments and ease of doing business,” he added. The GCEO reaffirmed NNPC Ltd.’s readiness to accelerate the realisation of the Presidential Executive Orders for the industry, pledging to work with partners to unlock opportunities for collective prosperity, in line with the national gas development targets for incremental production. 

After Chelsea's star man Cole Palmer was ruled out in the warm-up of the Premier League encounter at West Ham, teenage sensation Estevao Willian stepped up to show why Blues fans have been so excited about his arrival.

The 18-year-old replaced England international Palmer for his first Premier League start, but gave the ball away with a flick for Lucas Paqueta's stunning sixth-minute opener for the hosts. Yet that didn't faze the Brazilian forward as he proved why Chelsea were willing to pay £29m to bring him to Stamford Bridge, most notably with his first-half assist for Enzo Fernandez as the Fifa Club World Cup winners eventually cruised to a 5-1 victory.

That smart run and pull-back for Fernandez's close-range finish made Estevao, at the age of 18 years and 120 days, the youngest Chelsea player to assist a goal in the Premier League. "He needs to adapt, he needs to make many mistakes to understand how the Premier League is different to Brazil," Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told BBC Sport.

"We conceded after he did the flick. He needs to understand, but he is a fantastic player." 

The Federal Government is currently discussing a loan funding of $238 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to expand Nigeria’s national electricity grid network, especially the transmission segment of the power value chain. This was part of the outcome of deliberations at the just-concluded Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, where the Nigerian delegation was led by President Bola Tinubu, and attended by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and others.

The national delegation held high-level engagements with Japanese stakeholders, including Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, and Energy Exchange corporations, focusing on transmission infrastructure, operational efficiency, and strategies to reduce system losses. The proposed loan was built on the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals for counterpart funding of ₦19 billion to catalyse a loan funding of $238 million from the JICA.

The loan funding will support the expansion of the national grid with the addition of 102.95km of new 330kV double circuit (DC) line, 104.59km of new 132kV double circuit (DC) line, four 330/132/33kV substations, two132/33kv substations, two 330kV line bays extension, two 132kV line bays extension, and one 132kV Substation. The Minister also announced that Nigeria is advancing a $190 million renewable energy loan facility supported by the JICA, designed to scale distributed renewable energy solutions across underserved communities. This builds on the recently launched $750 million World Bank Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme under the Mission 300 Compact, which aims to bring clean and reliable electricity to more than 17 million Nigerians.

In parallel, three substations funded by JICA through a $32 million grant are set for commissioning in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa State), and Apapa (Lagos State). The projects will directly strengthen supply reliability to households, businesses, and industrial clusters, including critical facilities such as the Lagos Port and surrounding industrial areas. In addition, through the partnership with JICA, Adelabu said the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has commissioned a state-of-the-art training equipment in Abuja to strengthen the skills of distribution engineers and tackle network losses.

The facility is designed to deepen local expertise and promote long-term sustainability in sector operations through capacity development, which remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s power sector strategy. 

The Abia State government has dismissed claims that it spent ₦7bn on Smart Schools, calling the reports false. Special Adviser on Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, clarified that a July 12 contract for 20 Green Smart Schools costs less than ₦7bn, with School Road Primary School, Umuahia, as the pilot. 

He said phase one is completed, while phase two is delayed by drainage works. The schools will feature renewable energy, smart boards, digital tablets, CCTV, and AI-driven learning. 

An erudite technocrat and Executive Director of Fidelity Bank, Sir Stanley Amuchie, has stated that the School can thrive when its alumni network strongly, make massive financial contributions and collectively execute developmental projects on the Campus.

Hence, he urged IMSU alumni to be committed and work strongly on one page in order to lift their alma mater, thereby improving academics and moral excellence.

Amuchie stated this while presenting a Keynote Address titled "Reunion, Renewal And The Power Of Giving Back", organized by Imo State University Alumni Association (IMSUAA), held at the University's Auditorium, on Friday.

He underscored that the state government alone cannot build the school to a glorifying status, explaining that there are multiple effects when alumni gave back to their alma mater.

"When alumni invest in their alma mater, the returns multiply exponentially. Harvard's example is instructive - 77% of donations were less than $250, yet collectively they create transformative impact. Every contribution matters", Amuchie said.

Amuchie emphasized that when IMSU alumni network corldinates very strongly they would be able to make collective or individual impact that would grow their alma mater and hence advance teaching and learning; hinting that "global universities thrive on strong alumni networks. More than 30000 College alumni give to Harvard University each year, supporting everything from financial aid to research facilities".

He told the alumni to adopt the Princeton University, Harvard University, Oxford University and the Cambridge models with Law alumni renovating the law library, the Engineering graduates equipping workshops, Medical alumni upgrading laboratory facilities, among others.

Being a proud Imo son, the seasoned banker and Executive Director, harped critically on the alumni mentoring the students, reflecting that "infrastructure needs updating, research facilities require modernization, our students deserve learning environment that match their ambitions".

"The gap between what you had and what current students need has widened as technology has transformed education globally, yet many of the classrooms remain frozen in time. This is where your collective responsibility begins, not to bemoan what is lacking, but to bridge the gap between current reality and future possibilities", he added.

He extended gratitude to the University for the sacrifices the put through in impacting academic knowledge and skills to the younger generation and all those who seek knowledge; promising to intensify contributions to add to the growth of the University through impact driven alumni partnership.

"But today is not just about nostalgia. It is about reconnecting with your roots while planting measurable seeds for the future. It is about understanding that your success stories remain incomplete until you help write new chapters for those who come after you", Amuchie said.

Hailing the alumnus for the insightful Keynote Address and the selfless donation of the sanitation items to IMSU, IMSUAA President General, Dr. Charles Nwosu, disclosed that Operation Keep IMSU Clean 2025, is not just only to maintain neatness, but to nurture a culture of excellence, responsibility and pride.

The highlight of the event was the official handover of 8 pieces of Lawnmower Machine, 24 pieces of Bin, 12 Rolls of Extra Thick Disposal Bags donated to the university by Sir Stanley Amuchie to facilitate Operation Keep IMSU Clean Project initiated by IMSUAA.