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Ibadanland has been thrown into mourning following the death of its revered traditional ruler, the Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin. The monarch reportedly died in the early hours of Monday, July 7, 2025, just two days after celebrating his 90th birthday. Oba Olakulehin, who was installed as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland on July 12, 2024, reigned for exactly one year. His ascension followed the passing of his predecessor, Oba (Dr.) Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who died at the age of 81 on March 14, 2024. Read Also: Ganduje Pays Tribute to Aminu Dantata, Hails Legacy of Service and Generosity Born on July 5, 1935, Oba Olakulehin rose through the ranks of the Ibadan traditional succession system via the Balogun line. He was installed by the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, following due process within the chieftaincy hierarchy. His passing marks the end of a brief but significant chapter in Ibadan’s rich traditional history. Tributes are expected to pour in from across Yorubaland and Nigeria as the city prepares for burial rites in line with tradition.

The Senate Committee on Federal Character is investigating the Small and Medium Enterprisese Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) over alleged lopsided recruitment practices. At a hearing chaired by Senator Allwell Onyesoh, SMEDAN was criticized for regional imbalances in its staff structure with states like Kogi and Katsina significantly overrepresented, while others like Ebonyi and Kebbi had very few staff. SMEDAN’s Director-General, Mr. Charles Odii, acknowledged the imbalance and pledged to correct it in future exercises. Read Also: FG, Kano State, Rebuild and Launch Kano Digital Park The NUC, which hasn’t recruited since 2014, was also faulted for an uneven staff distribution. Executive Secretary, Professor Abdulahi Yusufu Ribadu, assured the Senate that future recruitment would reflect fairness and inclusivity. Both agencies were urged to present plans to address the disparities, as the Senate emphasized transparency and constitutional compliance in public sector employment.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced that the federal government has approved 37 new crude oil evacuation routes as part of ongoing efforts to curb oil theft and enhance production capacity. Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, said securing oil infrastructure remains a top priority for the commission. According to him, the newly designated routes, alongside improved collaboration with security agencies, are contributing to a reduction in oil theft and enhancing transparency across the upstream sector. “Our domestic crude supply obligation is ensuring feedstock for local refineries, strengthening domestic supply chains, and boosting economic resilience,” Komolafe stated. Read Also: NNPC Alleges Sabotage Plot to Derail Reform Agenda He also highlighted the impact of the HostComply platform, which he said has improved transparency and delivered measurable benefits to oil-producing communities fostering peace and social license to operate. Komolafe added that the commission’s digitisation efforts are transforming regulatory oversight by improving speed, efficiency, and investor clarity. He noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria’s energy sector has attracted over $16 billion in investment commitments within the past two years, thanks to bold reforms and a stable policy direction. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, he said, laid the foundation for these reforms, while the 2024 Executive Orders EO 40 on fiscal incentives, EO 41 on local content, and EO 42 on cost efficiency have accelerated investor confidence. “These reforms have repositioned the sector to ensure greater energy security, sustainability, and economic resilience,” he said. Read Also: Nigeria Pushes Blue Economy Agenda with Seabed Mapping, Hydrography Initiatives On the global stage, Komolafe stressed the need for consistent upstream investment to meet demand, citing projections that oil and gas will remain responsible for over 50% of global energy needs until at least 2050. “To meet that demand, the world will require over $640 billion in upstream investments annually through 2030 amounting to more than $4 trillion. Failure to meet this demand will threaten global stability. Nigeria and Africa cannot afford to ignore this,” he warned. Nigeria Eyes 2.5 Million Barrels per Day through Dormant Field Revival The NUPRC chief also spoke on the commission’s ongoing efforts to scale up production through the One Million Barrels Initiative, launched in 2024. The initiative targets increased output by reviving dormant fields, expediting regulatory approvals, and improving upstream efficiency. “Our goal is to raise daily crude oil production from 1.46 million barrels per day (bpd) to 2.5 million bpd by 2026. We have already reached 1.7 million bpd, and the momentum is strong,” Komolafe revealed. He concluded by reaffirming the commission’s commitment to integrating climate responsibility into its operations, in line with Nigeria’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, even as oil and gas continue to anchor the country’s economy.