The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has pledged that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will maintain firm neutrality during the 2027 general elections, warning that any officer found compromising the integrity of the process will face disciplinary measures, including possible prosecution.

Disu, who was sworn in as the 23rd IGP by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, ahead of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, made the declaration during his inaugural conference with strategic police managers.

He succeeds Kayode Egbetokun, who resigned in February, citing pressing family considerations.

Addressing senior officers, the new IGP stressed that the credibility of the 2027 polls and the stability of Nigeria’s democracy would largely depend on the conduct of the police as the lead agency in election security.

“As we approach the 2027 general elections, our responsibility to the nation becomes both heightened and non-negotiable,” Disu said. “The police must be firm in enforcing the law, impartial in its decisions, professional in its conduct, and strictly neutral in all electoral engagements.”

He declared zero tolerance for partisanship, misconduct, and abuse of authority within the Force, insisting that there would be “no exceptions and no excuses.”

“Any officer found to have compromised neutrality, violated electoral laws, or acted outside approved rules of engagement will face swift and decisive disciplinary action, including prosecution where applicable,” he warned.

Disu assured Nigerians that the police would secure the electoral process before, during, and after the elections, while safeguarding democratic institutions, electoral officials, voters, and critical infrastructure to ensure citizens exercise their civic rights without fear or intimidation.

He added that crowd control and public order duties would be conducted with restraint and respect for human rights, stressing that any use of force must be lawful, proportionate, and accountable.

While pledging collaboration with the armed forces and other security and intelligence agencies, the IGP affirmed that the police would retain clear leadership in election security operations.
Beyond the 2027 polls, Disu reiterated his commitment to internal reforms aimed at restoring public trust in the Force.

He vowed that misconduct, corruption, extortion, unlawful arrests, and abuse of power would not be tolerated under his leadership.

He further disclosed that the Force Provost, the Complaints Response Unit, and the X-Squad would be strengthened to operate decisively and independently in investigating cases of misconduct and corruption.
“No officer is above the law,” he said.

All is now set for the first quarterly national Congress of the County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche Old Boys Association in 2026.

The Congress which is scheduled to take place on Sunday March 8, 2026 at Ema Dominion International School, No 169 Iwofe Road, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt is expected to attract dignitaries from far and wide.

According to a press statement signed by the National President of the Old Boys Association, Venerable Bekwele F. Wabara, Hon. Gabriel Ndah, Chairman of the 1979 set of the institution and Senibo Celestine Ogolo, Chairman of the Media and Publicity sub committee of the National Congress, the meeting which commences at 3pm will address pertinent issues of importance to the Association.

The statement further stated that top of the agenda of the quarterly Congress is the dissolution of the present executive and election of new officers to run the affairs of the association.

The statement further stated that the National Congress, the first in 2026, is bankrolled by the 1979 set of the institution, which has made tremendous preparations for the hosting of hundreds of old boys of the institution, describing it as a reunion not to be missed.

The statement also enjoined all sets of the institution to mobilise their members to attend the quarterly national Congress, which will see to the election of new officers.

The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ngozi Nma Odu, has underscored the pivotal role of women in driving sustainable development, peacebuilding, economic growth and environmental stewardship across the Niger Delta.

Odu spoke on Tuesday at the Niger Delta Women Conference held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The conference, themed “Empowering Niger Delta Women for Enhanced Political Inclusion, Peace, and Development,” was organised by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) with support from the British High Commission.

Describing the gathering as timely and strategic, Odu said it provided a platform for dialogue, empowerment and capacity building for women across the region.

She maintained that no meaningful progress could be achieved in the Niger Delta without placing women at the centre of governance and community development efforts.

According to her, women’s nurturing and protective instincts position them as natural agents of peace and stability.

Drawing an analogy, she likened women to a mother hen shielding her chicks from danger. “When the hawk comes, the mother hen spreads her feathers to protect them. When she finds food, she gives it first to her children,” she said, stressing that such selflessness and resilience are vital for community advancement.

The deputy governor commended PANDEF and its partners for convening the conference and urged participants to leverage their collective strength and creativity to foster unity and sustainable progress in the oil-rich region.

In her remarks, former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who was Special Guest of Honour, called on women to rise above political divides and intensify advocacy for greater inclusion in leadership and decision-making.

“Let us love and support one another. What a man can do, we can do better. We are prosperous. We are honest. We are the best,” she said.

PANDEF National Woman Leader, Grace Ekong, noted that the organisation remained committed to dialogue, equality, peace and environmental sustainability in the Niger Delta. She said the conference was designed to sensitise and equip women with the knowledge and tools required for active participation in governance and regional development.

Ekong added that PANDEF continues to engage the Federal Government on issues affecting the Niger Delta, serving as a voice for the region’s aspirations.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Maureen Etebu stressed that empowering women was integral to strengthening governance, peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

She argued that genuine transformation in the region would remain elusive without deliberate efforts to enhance women’s inclusion and leadership at all levels.

The Federal Government has approved a transition period for the implementation of direct remittance of oil revenues into the Federation Account, as provided under Executive Order 9 signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The decision followed the inaugural meeting of the Implementation Committee on Executive Order 9 of 2026 held on February 26, 2026.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who chairs the committee, said the transition window would allow the new regime to take effect without disrupting existing contractual and financing structures in the oil and gas sector.

The policy stems from Executive Order 9, which mandates that revenues from petroleum operations — including profit oil, royalty oil and tax oil — be paid directly into the Federation Account to safeguard public funds and strengthen the finances of the three tiers of government.

Edun said the committee agreed that the shift must be carefully managed to preserve investor confidence while protecting Nigeria’s revenue base.

“With respect to Section 2, Sub-section 3 of Executive Order 9 on direct payments by contractors into the Federation Account, the Implementation Committee agreed that this transition must be implemented in a manner that respects existing contractual and financing arrangements and maintains investor confidence,” he stated.

He disclosed that contractors would continue to remit revenues under the current framework until detailed operational guidelines are issued.

“Until the Committee releases clear, standardised guidance, contractors will continue to remit under the existing process. The transition period will ensure an orderly changeover to the new system,” Edun added.

To drive the process, the committee approved the establishment of a technical subcommittee tasked with developing the operational framework for direct remittance within three weeks.

The subcommittee will also commence a review of the Petroleum Industry Act to address structural and fiscal anomalies said to be weakening revenues accruing to the Federation.

According to Edun, the review will focus on provisions that may undermine government earnings from petroleum operations.

“The Technical Subcommittee will develop detailed guidelines for the transition within three weeks and begin a review of the Petroleum Industry Act to address structural and fiscal anomalies that weaken Federation revenues,” he said.

The panel will be chaired by the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, and will include the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice; the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service; the Chairman of the Forum of Commissioners of Finance; representatives of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil); while the Budget Office of the Federation will serve as secretariat.

The committee reiterated that the reforms are aimed at ensuring that oil and gas revenues are fully accounted for and paid into the Federation Account in line with constitutional provisions.
It also reaffirmed the President’s directive that petroleum revenues must be managed in a manner that protects public funds and supports fiscal stability at federal, state and local government levels.

As part of the measures under Executive Order 9, the government directed the NNPC Limited to discontinue certain deductions under Production Sharing Contracts.

Specifically, NNPC Limited is to halt the collection of a 30 per cent management fee and a 30 per cent frontier exploration fund deduction from profit oil and profit gas. The directive takes immediate effect.

In addition, all remittances of gas flare penalties into the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund have been suspended with immediate effect in line with the Executive Order.

The implementation committee assured stakeholders in the petroleum industry of continued engagement as the reform process unfolds, describing the measures as part of broader efforts by the Tinubu administration to ensure that Nigeria’s petroleum resources deliver measurable benefits to citizens.

The Presidency on Sunday dismissed as false a viral social media report alleging that a member of the kitchen staff at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was arrested over a purported plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, refuted the claim in a post on his verified X handle, describing the video circulating online as fake and misleading.

The footage, which appeared to show scenes from the Presidential Villa, claimed that a chef working within the presidential complex had been apprehended following intelligence reports of suspicious activities linked to food preparation in restricted areas associated with presidential operations.

According to the narrator in the video, the alleged arrest was said to have prompted swift intervention by a special police squad and heightened security measures within the presidential environment.

The report further suggested that the suspect had been taken into custody for questioning as part of a coordinated investigation by specialised security personnel.

However, the Presidency categorically denied the claims.

“No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by this video,” Onanuga stated.

The Presidency did not provide details on the origin of the video or those responsible for its circulation but urged the public to disregard the unfounded allegation.

As of press time, there has been no official report of any security breach or arrest linked to the Presidential Villa.