What we are doing with Port Harcourt, Warri Refineries - NNPCL

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says it is pursuing technical equity partnerships with experienced refinery operators to ensure sustainable performance of its refineries.

Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited said this while addressing Journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ojulari said the company would partner with proven records in operating refineries and petrochemical plants, who would also take equity stakes in the facilities.

“The model will align the interests of NNPC and its technical partners towards achieving sustainable results from the refineries.

“Chinese investors have shown strong interest in the two refineries, although no final agreement had been signed,” he said.

He said that an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been provided for the Chinese team to conduct technical studies before submitting a proposal to NNPC.

“Once the Chinese finish the report of their study, they will come back to us with a proposal. Following that proposal, we will go into negotiations, both commercial and technical,” he said.

Ojulari said the level of commitment by the Chinese was demonstrated by the deployment of 33 top engineers, who had spent about three months assessing the facilities.

He said the technical studies would provide the basis for determining the next steps towards possible partnerships on the rehabilitation of the refineries.

The NNPC boss, however, said work had not commenced on the Kaduna Refinery, although the company remained committed to advancing the process.

He said NNPC was working towards becoming a globally competitive energy company, stressing that the company needs to set high standards for transparency, accountability and sustainable performance.

“We are going to be like Saudi Aramco (state-owned national petroleum and natural gas enterprise of Saudi Arabia, one of the World’s largest energy companies)

“That is what we are talking about. Nothing less,” he said.

He said that achieving that ambition required the company to strengthen its governance, transparency and performance standards.

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline

Rumours surrounding my Health politically motivated, I am hale, hearty, ready to go, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu says he is hale, hearty and ready to resume work fully after his working vacation in Europe.

Tinubu dismissed rumours surrounding his health, describing them as politically motivated.

Speaking with journalists shortly after arriving at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday evening, Tinubu said he was healthy and ready to work.

“Rumours will always emanate from politics, but the fact remains that I am here, healthy, sound and ready to go. Ready to work, and ready to go.”

Asked about his vacation, Tinubu said he enjoyed the period,  stressing that he was back to work.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was among the dignitaries who received the President, expressed optimism that the period of rest would translate into renewed vigour and increased activity.

“It is incredibly nice to have him after one month away, and we believe that the days he has spent resting will translate into more action this time around,” Abbas said.

Other dignitaries at the airport include Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara; and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.

Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a working vacation, travelling first to London before proceeding to Paris.

During his stay in France, the President held several engagements, including a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Tinubu is expected to remain in Lagos for activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.

The activities include his nationwide broadcast and other official engagements, including events honouring the late Chief MKO Abiola, before his return to Abuja.

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline

Zenith Bank/NBBF Women's Basketball League: Final 8 set for Lagos Showdown

The road to the 2026 Zenith Bank NBBF Women’s Basketball League title reaches its defining stage as the nation’s top eight teams converge on the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, from September 28 to October 3, 2026, for the highly anticipated national Finals.

Emerging from fiercely contested Atlantic and Savannah Conference campaigns, Nigeria Customs, AS Sky Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, MFM, First Bank, Victoria Queens, and Bayelsa Blue Whales have earned their place in the final battle for national honours.

And there is plenty to look forward to.

Last year’s champions, Dolphins Basketball Club, who lifted the trophy after defeating First Bank in the final, will not be in the mix this year after failing to make the top 4 of the Atlantic Conference, leaving the title firmly up for grabs and setting the stage for a new champion to emerge.

But the trophy will be contested by teams with plenty of championship pedigree.

First Bank, last year’s finalist and the most successful team in the history of the competition, arrives with a record nine league titles, while MFM will be looking to draw on its recent dominance after winning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. With both sides among the Final 8, history, experience and ambition will collide as the battle for the crown unfolds.

It is a level of competition that reflects the growth of a league that has, for more than two decades, provided a platform for Nigeria’s best female basketball talents to emerge, compete and develop. At the heart of that journey has been Zenith Bank, the sole sponsor of the National Women’s Basketball League since 2005.

Through its partnership with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Zenith Bank has consistently supported the development of women’s basketball, helping to provide and sustain a competitive platform where talents can be discovered, nurtured and prepared for the highest levels of the sport.

The league has also served as an important pathway to the National Women Basketball team, D’Tigress, with several players who have featured prominently for Nigeria emerging from the domestic competition. Beyond the national team, the league continues to contribute to youth development by giving young female athletes the opportunity to build confidence, skill, discipline, teamwork and professional sporting careers.

Now, the spotlight turns to Lagos. Which team will grab the opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of Nigerian women’s basketball?

Eight teams. One destination. One crown.

For Zenith Bank, the sponsorship of the Women’s Basketball League represents more than support for a sporting competition. It reflects the Bank’s broader commitment to creating platforms that provide opportunities, develop potential and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young Nigerians.

This commitment extends across several areas of community development, with notable initiatives
including:

 The reconstruction and beautification of Ajose Adeogun Street and Roundabout
 The annual Zenith Bank Youth Parade and Light-Up Ceremony
 The construction of ICT Centres in tertiary institutions across the country, and
 The construction of the ultra-modern Iga Iduganran Primary Healthcare Centre, among
others.

Through these initiatives and its longstanding support for women’s basketball, Zenith Bank continues to demonstrate that its commitment to society goes beyond banking, with a focus on creating opportunities and contributing to the development of communities and the next generation.

Credit Zenith Bank PR