THE ADMINISTRATION of United States President Donald Trump has imposed fresh tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, citing what it described as inadequate efforts by those economies to prevent goods made with forced labour from entering their markets, a move that has drawn swift criticism from governments across Europe, Asia and Latin America. The new duties, which took effect as a temporary 10 per cent global tariff expired, impose rates of either 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent on imports from the affected economies, including the European Union, China and several other major US trading partners. The tariffs…
Author: National Record
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BY OWEI LAKEMFA A DOZEN Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Lungi, Sierra Leone on July 19, 2026. They issued the usually bland communiqué on a single currency, supported the illegal violation of a sister country’s sovereignty and made false declarations on the region’s political situation and democracy. The West African leaders spoke tongue-in-cheek when they declared that they are satisfied with “the steady progress made in democratic consolidation and political governance, as well as the relative stability and resilience of the region, amidst increasing geopolitical and geostrategic pressures.” In further insulting…
ONE OF the greatest disservices we can do to history is to allow it to become the exclusive property of those who once wielded power. History belongs not to presidents alone, but also to governors, legislators, judges, traditional rulers, party leaders, journalists and ordinary citizens who witnessed the events of their time. When competing narratives emerge, our duty is neither to applaud nor condemn. It is to interrogate. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent attempt to revisit the political events surrounding the 2003 elections deserves precisely that kind of interrogation. Not because he was not a central actor—he undoubtedly was—but because…
NIGERIA has become all too familiar with the spectacle of anti-corruption victories announced in headlines: billions of naira recovered, luxury mansions forfeited, fleets of exotic cars confiscated, and bank accounts frozen. These announcements often dominate public discourse for days before fading into the background, replaced by the next scandal. Yet beneath the celebrations lies a troubling question that deserves far greater attention: If those who plunder the nation’s wealth merely surrender what they stole after years of enjoying it, has justice truly been served? Returning stolen assets simply restores the status quo as far as possible. It does not, by itself,…
THE WAR involving Iran, the United States and its regional allies has entered a more dangerous phase, with fresh military strikes, growing intelligence concerns over Russia’s possible involvement, and attacks on Saudi oil tankers fuelling fears of a broader regional war and renewed volatility in global energy markets. The latest escalation comes as U.S. intelligence agencies investigate whether Russia may have provided Iran with targeting information or advanced technical support used in recent drone attacks on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facilities in the Gulf. According to Reuters, investigators have yet to reach a definitive conclusion, but analysts are examining whether…
By Iduh Onah THE STRUGGLE for political supremacy between Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has become far more than a disagreement between two prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Rather, it has evolved into another of Nigeria’s compelling case studies of the perennial contest between political godfatherism and executive independence. It is certainly a battle whose outcome may ultimately determine not only the future of the APC in Benue State but also the state’s political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections. What…
DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP) has successfully completed a landmark Private Equity Placement that raised approximately US$2.5 billion in new equity, following a highly successful offering. The transaction, which is believed to be Africa’s largest publicly disclosed primary equity private placement, marks a significant milestone in the history of the company and demonstrates strong investor confidence in the refinery’s long-term growth strategy and operational excellence. The capital raise is the first equity funding round involving external investors beyond the company’s legacy shareholder base, underscoring the growing attractiveness of DPRP as a world-class energy and industrial enterprise. The proceeds…
FORMER Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, has urged Nigeria and other African countries to deploy international diplomacy as a strategic instrument for attracting investment, expanding access to finance and driving sustainable development, stressing that trust, the rule of law and strong institutions remain the foundation of enduring national prosperity. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Law and Diplomacy held at the Supreme Court Complex, Abuja, Amb. Ella described the programme’s theme, “Leveraging International Diplomacy for Investment, Finance and Sustainable Development,” as timely in light of…
LEADING diplomats and international law experts have described Nigeria’s successful bid to host the $5 billion Africa Energy Bank as a major diplomatic achievement, while calling for sustained investment in capacity-building in international law and diplomacy to consolidate the country’s growing influence on the African continent and beyond. The call was made during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Law and Diplomacy, a one-week executive programme organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in partnership with the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association (ILA). Amb. Ella shakes hands with Prof.…
FOR BENUE State, the 2025 oil and gas licensing round marks a watershed in its economic and energy history, with three of the 37 oil and gas blocks awarded by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) located on Benue soil, spanning two NUPRC-classified geological basins. The geological basins include the Benue Trough and the Anambra Basin, located in three local government areas – Otukpo, Apa and Okpokwu. Together, the three blocks carry the legacy of five historic exploration wells, the oldest drilled in 1954, marking the state’s long-recognised but largely dormant hydrocarbon potential. The development comes as 31 companies…