By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on European Union (EU) countries to deepen investment ties, strengthen cultural exchanges, and partner with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in areas of mutual interest to build a prosperous Abuja and Nigeria.

Wike, while addressing EU Heads of Mission during a meeting at the European Union House in Abuja on Tuesday, said he will continue to look forward to a continued collaboration and engagement with the EU countries to foster development of the FCT.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Gautier Mignot, had in attendance Envoys of Italy, Austria, Ireland, France, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic and Denmark.

Ambassador Gautier Mignot, who set the tone for the meeting while introducing the Minister, described the EU as Nigeria’s first trade and investment partner.

Addressing the EU Heads of Mission, the Minister spoke about the FCTA priorities as a government, investment opportunities in the FCT, and the political landscape of Nigeria.

He also noted FCT’s position as a business-friendly capital city, listing investment opportunities to include real estate and housing, entertainment and tourism, agriculture, solid minerals, waste management, among others.

“I thank the European Union Delegation to Nigeria for the invitation and continued partnership with the Nigerian Government in advancing shared values of development, stability, and prosperity.

“Today, drawing from the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I will briefly highlight the priority areas of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the investment opportunities therein, and offer an overview on Nigeria’s evolving
political landscape,” Wike said.

He noted that the government has prioritized urban/rural development and infrastructure, security, education, health, social welfare, land administration reforms/revenue generation and rule of law.

“We have embarked on a deliberate and sustained investment in infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth and social inclusion by expanding road networks, modernizing public transport and improving water supply.

“As a priority too, the administration has strengthened security infrastructure through the building of 12 new fully equipped/furnished Divisional Police Headquarters and Officers’ Quarters, (2 each in the 6 Area Councils).”

Wike, who fielded questions from the ambassadors, described the amended Electoral Law as part of governance reforms to further guarantee the integrity and credibility of electoral processes, while also saying growing reliance on legal, institutional and constitutional mechanisms to resolve political disputes by aggrieved parties rather than resorting to self-help and violence was a reflection of greater trust in judicial processes and maturing democratic culture.

“In the newly ammended Electoral Act, there is provision for electronic transmission of results. But because of our peculiarities, it was included that where electronic transmission fails, manual transmission can be used. Meanwhile, there is no such provision in the 2022 ammended Electoral Act,” he said.

Wike also said in a country like Nigeria, where democracy is evolving, opposition should not be seen as an avenue to cause or promote crises, but to provide alternative and guide government.

The Minister said, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s political trajectory was increasingly evolving towards a governance-focused paradigm where competence is increasingly prioritized over ethnic, partisan and religious considerations.

“Compared to earlier periods, there is a decline in highly volatile and rancorous politicking that characterized the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. The relationship between these two key institutions have become that of ‘partners-in-progress’ in the making and implementation of policies and programmes for the welfare of Nigerians,” Wike said, while highlighting the importance of cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government.

On the policy direction of the President Tinubu’s administration, which the Minister said is anchored on bold and difficult reforms, he explained that; “The Current Administration in its Renewed Hope Agenda framework, has made bold and at times, difficult reforms aimed at repositioning the economy and improving citizens’ welfare.

“These include; Economic Reforms and Fiscal Restructuring/Discipline, which ensured Subsidy Removal to eliminating a long-standing but corruption-prone system and free up public funds, unification of foreign exchange rates to stabilize the currency and tax reforms aimed at Streamlining the Tax System to improve revenue generation.

“Expansion of Social and Welfare Interventions with initiatives like the conditional cash tranfster and support for Small and Medium Enterprises to cushion the effect of difficult economic reforms on vulnerable populations and student loan tailored towards giving the Children and Wards of the poor, access to education even at the tertiary education levels.”

He admitted that there are security challenges like the presence of internationally backed terrorist groups in the Sahel, translating into insurgency, farmer-herder conflict, banditry and kidnapping

The Minister however emphasized that there are ongoing and sustained efforts to address insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflicts, which he said has continued to shape policy decisions and political narratives.

Wike also said that sustained efforts are being made to strengthen security architecture, enhance inter-agency coordination and invest in intelligence gathering and technology.

By Philip Nyam

The NNPC Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, for collaboration through a potential Technical Equity Partnership (TEP) in support of the completion and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.

The MoU was signed by the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari; Chairman, Sanjiang Chemical Company, Guan Jianzhong and Chairman of Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, Bill Bi, in Jiaxing City, China, on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

The potential framework would cover completion of outstanding work at the two refineries, together with operating and maintaining both facilities to achieve best-in-class, sustainable performance. Planned expansion and upgrades would elevate both facilities to cleaner, more profitable product standards. The potential collaboration also contemplates expanding the refineries’ petrochemical capacities and harnessing gas and downstream opportunities through the development of co-located, gas-based industrial hubs.

Speaking shortly after the signing, the GCEO of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the MoU execution as a significant milestone, following more than six months of concerted engagement between the technical and management teams of NNPC and the two Chinese partners, Sanjiang and Xinganchen.”All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria, and the collective weight required for success,” Ojulari noted.

The GCEO further stated that the MoU is an important step on the journey towards identifying potential technical equity partner(s) to restart and expand NNPC’s refineries, and to explore opportunities in co-located petrochemicals and gas-based industries.The MoU reflects the parties’ shared intent to progress discussions in good faith, with any definitive arrangements to follow in due course and subject to customary approvals.

On this World Press Freedom Day, we, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition, recognise the vital yet increasingly perilous role that journalists and media workers play in conflict situations, and the important link between a free media and both global and national security. The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is “Shaping a Future at Peace”. At a time when international peace seems more elusive than it has for a long time, a free, independent, pluralistic media can make an important contribution to both achieving and sustaining peace.

During conflicts, independent media coverage helps provide accurate and timely information that is critical for the communities affected. Factual, timely reporting can save lives and livelihoods. Public interest journalism can strengthen information integrity and act as a defence against disinformation and propaganda, both of which could increase as the security situation worsens. A free media can be an early warning mechanism in identifying and reporting possible war crimes. It can also play a part in encouraging dialogue during conflicts and fostering mutual understanding, and raising the voices of those often marginalised in mediation and peace processes.

In times of conflict, journalists risk their lives to inform their fellow citizens and the world about what is happening. The danger they face is increasing. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists,129 journalists and media workers were killed in 2025, making it the deadliest year since CPJ began collecting such data more than 30 years ago. Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and recognised by UN Security Council resolution 2222 (2015), yet in reality, where once a jacket emblazoned with the word “PRESS” offered protection, it is now often seen as a target.

Journalists not only have to deal with increased physical danger; they also face growing online abuse – particularly women – while media organisations have to contend with increasing state censorship, greater financial pressures, a significant rise in disinformation that undermines public trust, and the challenges brought by new technology, including AI.

In fact, global media freedom is under the most sustained attack in decades – at a time when it is also increasingly important to our mutual security and prosperity.

So, amid the high level of conflict in the world today, we call upon states to support a free, independent media as a contribution to “Shaping a Future at Peace”. We also appeal to states to protect those reporting on conflict, and work towards ending impunity for crimes against journalists.

Signed:

Australia Austria Belgium Belize
Botswana Bulgaria Canada Chile Costa Rica Croatia Cyprus
Czechia Denmark
Estonia Finland France
Germany Ghana Greece
Guyana Honduras Iceland Ireland Italy
Japan Kosovo Latvia
Lebanon Lithuania
Luxembourg Maldives
Montenegro New Zealand North Macedonia Norway
Portugal Republic of Korea Serbia
Seychelles Sierra Leone
Slovakia Slovenia
Spain Sweden
Switzerland Ukraine
Uruguay theNetherlands
the United Kingdom