Today, 1,757,205 registered voters in Ondo State will head to polling stations across its 18 local government areas to elect a new governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.

This marks an increase in the number of registered voters compared to the 2020 election, which had 1,647,973 registered voters, of which only 580,887 votes were recorded. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness for the exercise, deploying 4,002 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices across 3,933 polling units, with 812 units on standby in case of technical hitches.

Speaking on the commission’s preparations, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, assured the public that sensitive materials were distributed on Thursday to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) for timely deployment.

Key issues to shape victory

While 17 political parties have been cleared by INEC to contest, analysts suggest the election will be a two-horse race between the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer, Agboola Ajayi.

Both contenders, intriguingly, served as deputies to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, leading many to dub this poll the “battle of deputies.” Akeredolu, who died last year after battling prostate cancer and was succeeded by Aiyedatiwa, left a significant political legacy in the state, and this is still expected to shape the outcome.

While Agboola served in Akeredolu’s first term, his ambition was believed to have driven a wedge between them and was replaced with Aiyedatiwa for the 2020 governorship election. 

Heavy deployment of security

In a move aimed at ensuring a peaceful process, over 43,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order during the election.  

The Nigeria Police Force is spearheading the effort, contributing 34,657 officers, with at least four stationed at each polling unit. Supporting this robust presence are 6,000 officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and additional deployments from the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies.

The Nigerian Navy has also mobilised gunboats to secure waterways and protect election materials, particularly in the riverine regions of the state. Additionally, the military has been placed on standby to provide backup where needed.

A show of force was observed in Akure, the state capital, as security operatives conducted a motorcade across major streets, signaling their readiness to respond to any disruptions. 

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has imposed a restriction on vehicular movement from 6 am to 6 pm on election day, barring essential services such as ambulances, fire services, and accredited media personnel. He also prohibited VIP escorts from accompanying their principals to polling units.

He revealed that DIG Sylvester Alabi has been appointed as the coordinating officer for the election, supported by AIG Bennett Igweh and CP Tunji Disu, to oversee the implementation of security measures.

Observers flag vote-buying, misinformation

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has deployed monitors to counter disinformation and fact-check narratives. Adele Jinadu, Chair of CDD’s Election Analysis Centre, called for impartiality and adherence to democratic standards.

Jinadu highlighted concerns over voter apathy and gendered disinformation. “Initiatives to counter misogynistic narratives and empower women in politics are essential,” he said.

Similarly, Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chair of the 2024 Ondo Election Mission for Yiaga Africa, called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone engaging in vote-buying or other electoral malpractices. “We encourage strict enforcement of laws against voter inducement, ballot box snatching, and other illegal activities,” he said.

Residents stock up amid uncertainty

In the lead-up to the election, Akure and other towns in Ondo have witnessed a flurry of activity. Residents on Friday were seen trooping to markets to stock their homes with essential items to prepare for the restriction on movement. Markets, food stores, and supermarkets have been bustling with last-minute shoppers.

At the Oba Adesida and Oba Adedeji markets, traders reported brisk sales. A trader, Ahmed Musa, expressed optimism, saying, “I am happy at how people have been trooping here since morning. Many of us are making good sales. I pray that the election goes on smoothly.”

For many residents, the rush to stock up is driven by concerns over potential post-election unrest. Ms Abiola Adedapo, a resident, said, “I have to stock my home because we don’t know what could happen. The desperation among the politicians is just too much.”

Key Findings

Headline Inflation

- Current Rate: 33.88% (October 2024)

- Previous Month: 32.7% (September 2024)

- Year-over-Year Increase: 6.55 percentage points (from 27.33% in October 2023)

- Monthly Change: 2.64% (up from 2.52% in September)

Food Inflation

- Current Rate: 39.16% (October 2024)

- Previous Month: 33.77% (September 2024)

- Year-over-Year Increase: 7.64 percentage points (from 31.52% in October 2023)

- Monthly Change: 2.94% (up from 2.64% in September)

Major Contributing Factors

Primary Food Categories Driving Inflation

1. Cereals and Bread

   - Guinea corn

   - Rice

   - Maize grains

2. Tubers

   - Yam varieties (Water Yam, Coco Yam)

3. Oils and Fats

   - Palm Oil

   - Vegetable Oil

4. Beverages

   - Milo

   - Lipton

   - Bournvita

Regional Analysis

Highest Food Inflation (Year-on-Year)

1. Sokoto: 52.18%

2. Edo: 46.55%

3. Borno: 45.85%

Lowest Food Inflation (Year-on-Year)

1. Kwara: 31.68%

2. Kogi: 33.30%

3. Rivers: 33.87%

Analysis

The October 2024 inflation data reveals a concerning trend in Nigeria's economy, with both headline and food inflation reaching new heights. The food inflation rate of 39.16% is particularly alarming, as it directly impacts household purchasing power and food security.

Key Implications

1. The persistent rise in food prices suggests structural issues in Nigeria's agricultural and food distribution sectors

2. Regional disparities in inflation rates indicate varying levels of economic stress across states

3. The monthly acceleration in inflation rates suggests that price pressures are not abating

Long-term Trend

The average annual food inflation rate for the twelve months ending October 2024 was 38.12%, representing an 11.79 percentage point increase from the previous year's average of 26.33%. This indicates a sustained deterioration in price stability over the medium term.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended G. C Aguma of the High Court of Rivers State and A.O Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court from performing judicial functions.

They were both suspended for the period of one year without pay and placed on watch list for two years thereafter.

The decision was taken at the 107th Meeting of the NJC chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on 13 and 14 November 2024.

A total of five serving Judicial Officers were sanctioned for various acts of misconduct.

The Council also recommended two Heads of Court for compulsory retirement over falsification of age.

The duo of the Chief Judge of Imo State, T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Babagana Mahdi, were recommended for compulsory retirement for falsification of their ages.

The Council equally considered the Report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which considered a total number of 30 petitions, empanelled 6 Committees for further investigation. While 22 were dismissed for lacking in merit, two were sub judice.

The Council also empanelled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.

Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, deputy director of information of NJC in a statement on Friday revealed that these decisions were reached at its 107th meeting held on November 13 and 14, 2024.

Several petitions against judicial officers were dismissed for lack of merit. Allegations of bribery involving Peter O. Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, were deemed unsubstantiated.

The Council stressed its duty to protect judicial officers from baseless accusations while maintaining accountability for misconduct.

In addition to disciplinary actions, the NJC recommended 36 candidates for judicial appointments across states, including Oyo, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Akwa Ibom, as well as the Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal. These appointments are expected to strengthen the judiciary and improve its capacity to dispense justice.

The Guardian

Iran backs Lebanese government on ceasefire talks, advisor to Khamenei says

Iran will support any decision taken by the Lebanese government and Lebanon's "resistance" in current talks on a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, Ali Larijani, senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said on Friday.

"We are not looking to sabotage anything. We are after a solution to the problems," Larijani said after meeting Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliament speaker Nabih Berri.

Larijani, referring to the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. said Iran would support the "resistance" under all circumstances.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Germany's Scholz calls Putin, ending Western isolation over Ukraine

Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday for the first time in nearly two years as the German leader gears up for a snap election and Europe waits to hear Donald Trump's plan for ending the war in Ukraine.

In a phone call that was swiftly criticised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Scholz urged Putin to pull his forces out of Ukraine and begin talks with Kyiv that would open the way for a "just and lasting peace", the German government said.

The Kremlin said the conversation had come at Berlin's request, and that Putin had told Scholz any agreement to end the war in Ukraine must take Russian security interests into account and reflect "new territorial realities".

The call opened a "Pandora's box" by undermining efforts to isolate the Russian leader, Zelenskiy said. He and other European officials had cautioned Scholz against the move, according to sources familiar with the matter, who believed it was more for domestic consumption.

Facing a snap election on Feb. 23, Scholz's Social Democrats are coming under pressure from Russia-friendly populist parties on both sides of the political spectrum that argue the government has not deployed enough diplomacy to end the war.

"The chancellor urged Russia to show willingness to enter talks with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace," a German government spokesperson said in a statement.

"He stressed Germany's unbroken determination to back Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression for as long as necessary," the spokesperson added.

Ukraine said however that phone conversations with Putin brought no added value on the path to achieving a "just peace" in Ukraine but just help him weaken his isolation.

"Now there may be other conversations, other calls. Just a lot of words," said Zelenskiy in his evening address. "And this is exactly what Putin has long wanted: it is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation and to conduct ordinary negotiations."

The call comes in the week after Trump was elected as the next U.S. president. He has suggested he could put a swift end to the war, without explaining how, and repeatedly criticised the scale of Western financial and military aid for Kyiv.

"It sends a bad signal especially after Trump’s election," said one Western diplomat, noting their country had told Berlin it was not a good idea.

"My hope is that Scholz can now say to his electorate 'look, I have done it, and it’s a waste of time as Putin isn’t open to anything'. But of course, (it is a) question about how Russia spins it."

French President Emmanuel Macron does not have any talks scheduled with Putin, a source in his entourage said.

SCHOLZ TO BRIEF ALLIES

The Kremlin said Putin had told Scholz Russia was willing to look at energy deals if Germany was interested. Germany was heavily reliant on Russian gas before the war but direct shipments ceased when pipelines under the Baltic Sea were blown up in 2022.

Scholz plans to brief Zelenskiy, Germany's allies, partners and the heads of the European Union and NATO on the outcome of Friday's call, German officials said. Putin and Scholz agreed to stay in contact, they added.

Ukraine is facing increasingly difficult conditions on the frontlines in its east amid shortages of arms and personnel, while Russian forces make steady advances.

A separate German government official said Scholz had told Putin the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia for combat missions against Ukraine was seen as a serious escalation and expansion of the conflict.

Zelenskiy says North Korea has 11,000 troops in Russia and that some have suffered casualties in combat with Ukrainian forces which are currently occupying territory in Russia's southern Kursk region.

Germany has given Ukraine a total of 15 billion euros in financial, humanitarian and military support since the start of the full-scale war, making it Kyiv's second-largest backer after the United States.

The future of U.S. aid to Ukraine is unclear following Trump's election victory.

Scholz and Putin last spoke in December 2022, 10 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, plunging relations with the West into their deepest freeze since the Cold War.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Kremlin confirms call with Germany’s Scholz

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by phone on Friday, their first direct contact in almost two years, the Kremlin has confirmed, saying that the Ukraine crisis was the primary topic of the conversation.

According to the Kremlin statement, Putin and Scholz last spoke directly in December 2022. During Friday’s call, which Moscow said was initiated by the German side, the two leaders held a “detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine.”

Putin told Scholz that the current crisis was "a direct result of NATO’s long-standing aggressive policy aimed at creating an anti-Russian bridgehead on Ukrainian territory, while ignoring our country’s interests in the field of security and trampling on the rights of Russian-speaking residents,” the Kremlin said.

Discussing the prospects for a political and diplomatic resolution to the conflict, the Russian president said Moscow has never refused to hold peace negotiations with Kiev and remains open to relaunching talks, which had previously been shut down by the Ukrainian side.

Putin noted, however, that any potential settlements between Moscow and Kiev should take into account Russia’s interests in the sphere of security, as well as the new territorial realities, and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict.”

The two leaders also discussed Russian-German relations, with Putin saying that their"unprecedented degradation" was the result of "unfriendly policies" implemented by Berlin. Moscow, meanwhile, has always adhered to both its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and remains ready for mutually beneficial cooperation, Putin said.
The leaders also discussed tensions in the Middle East and efforts to find peaceful resolutions to the crisis in the region, the Kremlin said. Following their conversation, Putin and Scholz agreed to remain in touch, it added.

German officials also confirmed the talks, reporting that during the phone call, Scholz urged Putin to end the Ukraine conflict and “withdraw his troops.”
According to German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit, the Chancellor “insisted on Russia’s readiness to negotiate with Ukraine in order to achieve a fair and lasting peace” and spoke of Berlin’s “unwavering determination” to support Kiev “as long as necessary.”

Reuters/RT

Has it ever occurred to you that you are after all just one person? As the great humorist and philanthropist extra-ordinary MKO Abiola used to say: “No one is a ‘four-man” [foreman]. “It is sheer flattery to call a man ‘four man’” he used to quip.

And really and truly, no one is ever more than one.

People who hold offices and find themselves surrounded by retinue of servants and hangers- on get so carried away that they hardly ever have time to reflect on their positions in life. When a man gets down from his car and about a dozen people jostle to carry his handbag, he thinks that he is greater than the rest of the world put together. He gets so swollen headed and gets himself puffed up like a balloon. In that circumstance, he imagines himself to be more than what he really is: one person!

This piece has become necessary in view of the nauseating display of opulence by the privileged few in the society, who believe, wrongly though, that life is a straight line and there would never be fluctuations in their life situation.

People elected into offices or appointed into positions get so carried away that in their daily dealings with their subordinates they exhibit an air of ‘I know it all’. In discussions on any subject under the sun, they parade themselves as if they are masters of all disciplines. A governor, who was a school drop-out a few years back, would be talking about aviation as if he was professor of aeronautical engineering.

A governor would be talking down members of his cabinet which may include professors and Senior Advocates as if he was an authority on electricity, engineering, medicine, hydro-dynamics and even molecular science. At that point in time, the governor sees himself as a compound of all those disciplines. He no longer sees himself as one person limited by the natural matter of being just a human being. One person!

Traditional rulers who see themselves as representatives of Deities on earth really behave as if they are individually more than just one individual. No single person is 2 persons whatever the enormity and scope of the powers possessed by that individual. The case of traditional rulers is very peculiar in the sense that but for a serious misdemeanour, a King knows that he may hold his inherited position for life. And because he is blind to a consideration that his exalted position may change, he continues to behave as if he is more than one person. In fact, because he is addressed in the third person, he himself is deluded to the extent that he uses the plural noun or pronoun for himself. In speeches he talks of himself as ‘We’.

I believe it is important for every mortal to carry out the following simple exercise every morning: Go into your bathroom and strip yourself naked. Look around you. What do you see? If there is a giant mirror in your bathroom, for those who worship vanity, look at every anatomical detail in your physique. Look at your belly. Look at your buttocks. Look at your legs that are either swollen or are like the legs of mosquito. Look at the structure of those legs. Now you know you are alone with your two eyes and two lobes of ears. See how lonesome you are. See how much alone you are. In that moment, you are stripped of power and importance. You are just a lump of flesh mounted on a collection of bones architecturally put together by the Almighty Supreme Intelligence. It is just you. The lone you. Let your mind quickly race through what you have done in the last 24 hours and what you intend to do in the next 24 hours. Remember how you came into the world stark naked. Remember how you are pulled out of the womb or got pushed out by your mother’s powerful breath. What do you see?

At the end of the day, that is all you are. One person in his natural ordinariness.

Nothing brings forth the reality of just being one person than the situation a 4-star General in the Military finds himself when he is retired or retires from active service. A once dreaded, heavily moustached fire-spitting top Military officer is now a powerless individual queuing up in the bank or at a gas station like every other common individual. At the time he was in service, he saw himself as a battalion. In fact if he was a General Officer commanding a Division, he might equate his power and his person to the entire officers and men of the Division.

It was like the situation of some Emperors of old who considered themselves to be the State. To them, they were the State, and the State was them.

But this was a false and self-serving idea. And by the time such Emperors crashed, it was too late for them to come to terms with the reality of their absurdity. Either they got their heads chopped off or got seriously disgraced and humiliated as they were cut to size.

There is eternal wisdom and attendant joy in realising that we are actually not more than what Nature meant us to be. Power, position, influence and affluence are mere decorations to the body. They are all temporary acquisitions that are not skin deep. They do not make a person to grow into two persons, left alone to make he feel that he is bigger than a whole city, community or country.

All those parading the corridors of power and those who actually occupy the bed-room of power should bear in mind at all times that the power they hold and wield is a mere gown which can be removed from their bodies by the same process that put the garment on them. And when the garment is removed, it is the naked lonesome man in the bathroom that you are.

This reality may even be made more pungent when you pay a visit to the mortuary. It is in the mortuary that you are confronted with the sight of great men and women of yesterday being tossed up and down in the frozen cubicles they are confined to in their lockers. Alone. Dead alone.

Now, the breath of life is still going in and out of your nostrils. You think you are god. You think the whole world is at your feet. And you behave as if you are a million persons rolled into one.

When power leaves you, and position relocates to the man next door, you will discover to your chagrin that the multitude milling round you, and which made you think that you were more than what you were, would disappear.

Have you seen some former Presidents lately? Have you seen some once powerful boxing world champions? Have you lately run into some former Military Governors? Have you run into some past richest men in their communities?

What did you see? One man or ‘four man’?

Popular Douyin streamer Kong Yufeng recently sparked controversy in China by eating pig feed on camera as part of a challenge to live on the cheapest food she could find.

On October 30, Kong Yufeng, aka ‘King Kong Liuke’, posted a controversial video on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, in which she announced a self-imposed challenge to live on the cheapest food she could find for at least one week. The popular streamer told her fans that she had browsed Zhihu, a Chinese forum known for sharing budget-friendly tips, and found pig feed to be the best option. A large bag of pig feed cost only 100 yuan (US$14) and was allegedly high in protein, low in fat, and “healthier than takeaway food,” so she decided to try it in front of her fans. According to Kong, the pig feed contained natural ingredients like soybeans, peanuts, sesame, corn, and added vitamins, but the taste was an acquired one.

“It’s so salty! A bit sour too! I cannot stand it; I need to drink more water,” Kong Yufeng told her viewers as she tried to swallow mouthfuls of pig feed mixed with hot water. Despite the milky oatmeal smell of the dry mix, the prepared version was not as pleasant. But the influencer didn’t let that stop her from telling viewers that she would try to live on it for at least a week.

Although Kong cautioned people not to follow her example unless they were “extremely poor,” her viral video was still met with a lot of criticism online. Many accused her of promoting food not meant for human consumption as a way to save money, while others accused her of doing anything for views.

“During times of famine, pig feed was a valuable resource. But today, with better living standards, why take such a risk?” one person commented.

“How can food designed for pigs meet safety standards for humans?” someone else asked.

One nutrition expert told Shangyou News that following Kong Yufeng’s example could have disastrous consequences because pig feed is not formulated for human digestion and relying on it for sustenance could create deficiencies in essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and iodine.

Kong Yufeng’s video got millions of views on Chinese social media, but all the attention came at a cost for the influencer, as her video was apparently taken down and her account is no longer searchable on Douyin.

Oddity Central

Overview of the Ruling

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has delivered a landmark judgment dismissing a challenge by 19 state governments against the constitutional validity of federal anti-corruption agencies - the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

Key Legal and Constitutional Issues

The States' Arguments

1. Constitutional Challenge

   - The states argued that the establishment of these agencies violated Nigeria's federal structure

   - They cited a 2004 Supreme Court precedent requiring international conventions to receive majority approval from state assemblies

   - The argument centered on the UN Convention against Corruption, which influenced the EFCC Act

The Court's Response

1. Constitutional Validity

   - The Court upheld the federal government's authority to establish anti-corruption agencies

   - Reaffirmed that state laws cannot override federal legislation in this domain

   - Referenced existing precedent (AG Ondo v. AG Federation) supporting federal anti-corruption powers

Implications for Nigerian Federalism

Balance of Power

1. Federal Supremacy

   - The ruling strengthens federal oversight of corruption matters

   - Establishes clear hierarchical relationship between federal and state anti-corruption laws

   - Reinforces the principle that states cannot legislate to diminish federal anti-corruption powers

2. State Authority

   - While states retain legislative powers, these must align with federal anti-corruption frameworks

   - The ruling limits states' ability to shield officials from federal investigation

   - Creates a more unified approach to fighting corruption

Impact on Anti-Corruption Efforts

Strengthened Framework

1. Institutional Authority

   - Validates and protects the operational mandate of EFCC, ICPC, and NFIU

   - Removes legal uncertainty about their investigative powers

   - Prevents potential balkanization of anti-corruption efforts

2. Political Implications

   - The Court's characterization of the suit as "selfish" sends a strong message

   - Demonstrates judicial support for centralized anti-corruption efforts

   - May deter future attempts to weaken federal anti-corruption agencies

Notable Political Fallout

1. Internal State Discord

   - Benue State's suspension of its Attorney General highlights political sensitivities

   - Multiple states withdrew from the suit, suggesting shifting political calculations

   - Reveals tensions between state executives and their legal officers

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's ruling represents a significant victory for Nigeria's anti-corruption framework. By dismissing the states' challenge and explicitly rebuking attempts to weaken federal oversight, the Court has:

- Reinforced the federal government's constitutional authority to fight corruption

- Protected the operational independence of anti-corruption agencies

- Demonstrated judicial commitment to maintaining strong anti-corruption mechanisms

- Created a clearer legal framework for federal-state cooperation in fighting corruption

The judgment strikes a balance between federalism and the need for coordinated anti-corruption efforts, ultimately strengthening Nigeria's institutional capacity to combat corruption.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed a N47.9 trillion budget for 2025, marking a substantial increase from the N28.7 trillion approved for the 2024 fiscal year.

During a press briefing following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, unveiled the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027. The new proposal represents a 67% increase from the 2024 budget, reflecting the government's expanded fiscal projections.

Key parameters for the 2025 budget include a crude oil benchmark price of $75 per barrel and projected oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day, compared to the 2024 budget's $77.96 per barrel and 1.78 million bpd. The significant change in exchange rate assumptions—from N750/$1 in 2024 to N1,400/$1 for 2025—reflects recent currency market realities.

The government's ambitious GDP growth target of 6.4% for 2025 shows increased optimism compared to the 3.76% projected for 2024. This comes as the administration continues to implement various economic reforms initiated in 2024, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification.

Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC said on Thursday it had increased oil production to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), with the possibility of getting to two million bpd by year-end.

Oil production at Africa's top crude exporter was estimated at 1.3 million bpd in October, according to producer group OPEC's latest report. Nigeria often counts condensate production of around 250,000 bpd as part of its production.

The NNPC said the increase was a result of collaborative efforts with its joint venture operators and its partners on production-sharing contracts, alongside security agencies and the government.

"The team has done a great job in driving this project of not just production recovery but also escalating production to expected levels that are in the short and long terms acceptable to our shareholders," NNPC CEO Mele Kyari told a press briefing.

Nigeria has been battling crude theft in its Niger Delta production region, sabotage, and local unrest, which has hampered output growth.

In June, NNPC set up a 'war room' to coordinate efforts of oil partners, the government and private security personnel to stem crude theft. Since then, several vessels used in stealing crude have been destroyed and some illegal refiners arrested.

Kyari said the interventions across every segment of the production chain, supported by rigorous pipeline monitoring from security agencies, had been critical to the recovery.

Reuters