The Federal Government has announced plans to flag off construction of the Cross River section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on April 14, 2025.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, during a stakeholders’ engagement on Section Two of the highway project held in Lagos on Sunday. According to the minister, the segment set for commencement is known as Section B3 of the coastal highway.

“We are going there, to Cross River, on the 14th, to flag off the construction. By the 15th, we also go to Akwa Ibom to flag off,” Umahi stated. He described the terrain in the Cross River section as the most challenging part of the project, noting that the 65-kilometre stretch, when multiplied by two lanes, totals 130 kilometres of dual carriageway.

Highlighting another major project, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, Umahi said one section in Sokoto spans 120 kilometres. He added that the third section, which will begin from Badagry, presents some engineering challenges due to the need to cross three kilometres of rivers.

“We have proposed four options, which I am going to be discussing with Mr President, and whichever option he chooses, that is what we are going to implement,” he explained.

The minister assured stakeholders that procurement for the project would commence immediately after the president makes a decision, paving the way for actual construction to begin.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the government’s flagship infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity across Nigeria’s southern corridor, boosting economic activities, and enhancing regional integration.

The Arewa Voters Assembly (AVA), has issued a scathing press statement accusing the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, of fueling disunity and instigating crisis within the Northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Maishanu Babajir, and the Secretary, Comrade Ibrahim Malangu, AVA expressed deep concern over what it described as “misplaced priorities and gestapo-style leadership” since Bishop Adegbite assumed office.

According to AVA, the tenure of Bishop Adegbite has been marked by avoidable controversies, administrative highhandedness, and divisive maneuvers, including shadowboxing his predecessor and orchestrating unjust dismissals of legitimate staff members of the Commission. The group claimed that these dismissals were later overturned by two separate rulings from the National Industrial Court (NIC), which rejected what was termed “obnoxious and unlawful” terminations.

AVA also alleged that rather than focusing on the mandate of the NCPC, Bishop Adegbite has consistently sought to assert undue influence over religious leadership structures, including an unsuccessful attempt to hijack the Lagos State chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). The group now accuses him of replicating the same tactics in the North with the support of Rev. John Hayab, a former Kaduna CAN spokesperson.

The group claimed that Rev. Hayab has become a “willing tool” in the hands of Bishop Adegbite and other unnamed political actors seeking to install a new leadership in Northern CAN through what it described as an “illegal and kangaroo” process. AVA alleged that the attempt seeks to undermine the longstanding protocols of CAN and disenfranchise stakeholders from other northern states for political expediency.

According to AVA, the move is not only divisive but reckless and potentially subjudicial, as issues concerning Northern CAN leadership are already subject to legal proceedings. The group warned that any attempt to circumvent the judicial process could further escalate tensions and damage the integrity of the Christian body in Northern Nigeria.

The statement further defended Rev. Yakubu Pam, the former Executive Secretary of NCPC and erstwhile Chairman of Northern CAN, stating that he has been unfairly targeted in a smear campaign engineered to destroy his reputation. AVA described Rev. Pam as a unifying figure who has dedicated his ministry to promoting peace, national unity, and interfaith harmony. They added that Pam has never declared any political ambition nor shown interest in vying for political office, including the rumored position of Vice Presidential candidate.

“Rather than commend his consistent peacebuilding efforts across the northern states, some political charlatans masquerading as priests have made it their mission to destroy his legacy,” the group stated, alleging that the motive behind these actions is to curry political favor and pave way for future ambitions under the guise of spiritual leadership.

AVA also challenged the sponsors of the current Northern CAN leadership crisis to redirect their energy toward resolving more pressing issues, such as identifying the beneficiaries of ransom payments in the wave of Christian abductions in Kaduna and other parts of the North.

The group condemned what it called “cash-and-carry” politics and emphasized that the recent developments have been met with disdain and rejection by the majority of Christians in the North who are familiar with the antecedents of those involved.

In conclusion, AVA called on Bishop Adegbite to focus on delivering on the mandate of the NCPC rather than meddling in the affairs of religious organizations. It also urged Rev. Hayab and his backers to retrace their steps and avoid further polarization of the Christian community in Northern Nigeria.

“Hijacking the body of Christ for strange political agendas is not only a disservice to the Christian faith but a grave injustice to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration stands to be undermined by such destabilizing actions,” the statement concluded.

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has secured another breakthrough export deal by shipping out its own cargo to a customer.

The crude will be loaded on 9th or 10th April on Greek owner Delta Tankers’ 164,000-dwt Meltemi I (built 2006), chartered by the Nigerian producer’s NNPC Shipping, which industry sources considered as capable of expanding Nigeria’s economic growth.

Loaded: 4.97NNPC Trading concluded in March a deal to sell the first delivered crude cargo to one of the big oil majors, managing director of NNPC Shipping, Panos Gliatis told TradeWinds. The deal has been done on an ex-ship basis, where the seller takes responsibility for shipping and insurance.

The tanker has options to discharge in various ports in Europe. This is a milestone for NNPC and Nigeria. So far it was considered a free-on-board market, Gliatis added.

The deal follows on from the company’s first shipments of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) on the same basis last year.

TradeWinds reported in August that the move was, ‘in line with its strategic vision to be a dynamic and reliable global energy supplier of choice.’ Two gas shipments went to Japan and China. The milestone was achieved through the collaboration of NNPC LNG and NNPC Shipping.

The first cargo was delivered on Knutsen OAS Shipping’s 174,000-cbm LNG carrier Grazyna Gesicka (built 2023) to Futtsu, Japan. Another vessel then went to China.

The NNPCL has been involved in LNG trading since 2021.

The group has since said it is forming a joint venture with Stena Bulk in Sweden to own a fleet of tankers and gas carriers to serve West African markets.

The two companies will form the venture with domestic oil and gas logistics firm Caverton Marine.

The operation is targeting a modern and efficient fleet, comprising new and existing tonnage depending on market factors and commercial opportunities in the region, the partners said.

The plan is likely to have arisen out of a suezmax charter deal agreed last year by NNPCL Shipping and the Stena group. In October, NNPCL Shipping fixed crude tankers to supply oil to Nigeria’s huge new Dangote refinery.

The company reached a deal to supply two suezmaxes on time charter for the business. The vessels came from the Stena Sonangol Suezmax Pool, controlled by Stena and Angola oil producer Sonangol.