Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, announced that a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited is currently in progress.

Speaking at the Nigerian Investor Forum, which took place alongside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, D.C., Edun highlighted the significance of this audit.

In December 2024, federal government auditors investigated NNPC’s claim for a N2.7 trillion subsidy refund. Additionally, a report released in January by the auditor-general revealed financial irregularities within NNPC.

On April 2, President Bola Tinubu restructured the board of NNPC, appointing Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) to succeed Meld Kyari, while Ahmadu Musa Kida was appointed as the non-executive chairman, replacing Pius Akinyelure.

Following these changes, NNPC announced an eight-member senior management team on April 4. In his new role, Ojulari expressed ambitions to attract $60 billion in sectoral investments by 2030. He also outlined plans to boost crude oil production to over two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030, aiming to increase refining output to 200 thousand barrels per day by 2027 and 500 thousand barrels per day by 2030.

“Enough is Enough” Amid Ongoing Killings in Borno, Benue, Plateau, and Kwara

President Bola Tinubu has called for an urgent and thorough reassessment of Nigeria’s security strategy, insisting on decisive measures to curb escalating violence in Borno, Benue, Plateau, and Kwara states.

The President issued this directive during a two-hour closed-door meeting with security leaders at the State House on Tuesday, where he condemned the ongoing civilian casualties and proclaimed, “Enough is enough.”

National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu briefed the press after the meeting, revealing that the service chiefs presented detailed reports on recent assaults, casualty numbers, and damage to property in the affected regions.

“Mr. President has mandated a new approach to addressing insecurity,” Ribadu stated. “Even while he was overseas in Paris and London, he was closely monitoring the situation and issuing directives. Today’s meeting was comprehensive, and he has provided us with new instructions to amplify our efforts.”

The NSA disclosed that security chiefs had previously visited Plateau, Benue, and Borno—areas severely impacted by recent violence—to assess conditions and engage with local authorities, as directed by the President.

“We assured him of our dedication and updated him on our observations. He emphasized the need for closer collaboration with state governors, local governments, and communities to tackle the underlying causes of these conflicts,” Ribadu added.

President Tinubu expressed significant concern over the attacks, especially the targeting of defenseless civilians through Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and raids on vulnerable communities.

“The President made it clear that these killings must cease. He stated, ‘Enough is enough.’ All security agencies—the military, police, and intelligence services—are under strict orders to swiftly restore peace,” the NSA asserted.

Ribadu further noted that the new strategy would foster stronger partnerships with grassroots leaders to enhance intelligence gathering and crisis response.

“Security is not solely a federal issue. Local governments and traditional institutions must be actively engaged, as many of these crises arise from communal tensions,” he explained.

The meeting included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and heads of intelligence agencies.

The honorable Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing local defence production and military innovation through strategic partnerships with the private sector.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of Homeland Protectors and Supplies Ltd, led by Chairman Muhammad Ali bin Aadi, at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, Matawalle outlined plans for a long-term joint venture between the company and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

The discussions, held at Ship House, focused on capacity-building training and the deployment of advanced technological solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s defence and security framework.

In a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, Matawalle emphasised that such collaborations align with the newly enacted DICON Act, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The legislation mandates that all military procurement be channelled through DICON, cementing its pivotal role in Nigeria’s defence industrial ecosystem.

“The Federal Government is dedicated to enhancing indigenous capabilities in defence production,” Matawalle said, underscoring the importance of private sector involvement in achieving these goals.

The partnership is expected to bolster Nigeria’s ability to address security challenges through homegrown solutions, reducing reliance on foreign military imports.