A group, the Nigerian Transparency Initiative (NTI), has urged the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to openly address the corruption allegations leveled against him in recent months.

The group said the controversies trailing his leadership are too weighty to be ignored, insisting that silence would only deepen public suspicion and erode confidence in the national oil company.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Muyiwa Salami, cordinator of NTI, in a statement, said the controversies are capable of undermining the reputation of the NNPCL and the confidence of Nigerians in the oil sector.

“We call on Mr. Bayo Ojulari to answer these allegations in clear terms. Failure to do so will only suggest that there is something to hide,” Salami said.

The group also noted that while some groups have dismissed the allegations as political blackmail orchestrated by entrenched interests, the scale and consistency of the reports demand accountability.

“It is in Ojulari’s own interest and in the interest of the Nigerian people that he speaks up. Transparency is the only way to clear the air and preserve the integrity of his office,” the statement added.

The group further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies to intensify investigations into the allegations, stressing that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on matters that touch on billions of naira in public resources.

NNPP Chieftain Olufemi Ajadi writes a letter to President Trump over the stringent US visa rules for Nigerians

Ambassador Ajadi and Donald Trump – By Our Correspondent

A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has written an open letter to former United States President Donald J. Trump, advising to him to remove the stringent visa restrictions currently affecting Nigerians who wish to travel to the US.

In the strongly worded letter made available to journalists on Tuesday, Ajadi noted that Nigerians have long enjoyed cordial relations with the United States, and that the imposition of harsh visa rules undermines people-to-people ties, business collaborations, and educational opportunities.

According to him, many law-abiding Nigerians are unfairly denied access to the US due to policies that stereotype the country’s citizens, despite Nigeria’s significant contributions to global development and the large Nigerian diaspora community in America.

“Mr. President, Nigeria is a nation of hardworking and resourceful people,” Ajadi wrote. “Our citizens contribute positively to the US economy, academia, technology, medicine, and culture. It is therefore unfair to subject them to unnecessary bottlenecks and humiliating visa processes. I respectfully urge you to consider a review of these rules in the spirit of fairness, justice, and mutual respect.”

Ajadi, who is also a businessman and social activist, emphasized that easing visa restrictions would not only strengthen diplomatic ties but also create opportunities for trade, cultural exchange, and bilateral cooperation.

He called for fairer treatment of Nigerian travelers, while assuring that the government and people of Nigeria remain committed to international peace and collaboration.

READ ALSO: State Clear Reasons for U.S. Visa Denial -Ajadi’s Legal Team Demands CCTV, Audio Tape Review, Document Re-Examination

He further argued that many young Nigerians look up to the US as a destination for higher education and innovation, stressing that rigid visa hurdles discourage intellectual growth and international partnerships.

Ajadi concluded his letter by expressing optimism that President Trump, known for his bold decisions, would give fair consideration to the plight of millions of Nigerians who seek legitimate entry into the United States for studies, tourism, business, and family reunification.

The NNPP chieftain’s appeal adds to growing voices from civil society, political leaders, and the Nigerian diaspora calling for a review of immigration policies that affect the movement of Nigerians to the United States.

“Lagos is Africa’s foremost investment destination,” Speaker Obasa Declares

With a 20-million-strong population, $260 billion GDP, and status as West Africa’s maritime gateway, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa has once again declared Lagos as Africa’s premium business destination.

The Speaker reaffirmed this stance when he hosted a high-profile delegation from China’s Guangxi Province, led by Zhang Xiaoqin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi People’s Congress, on Monday at the Assembly complex.

While hailing the visit as a ‘watershed moment’ for cross-continental collaboration, Speaker Obasa lauded the delegation’s expression of interest in deepening bilateral ties between Nigeria and China, with Lagos as a focal point – saying it underscores the state’s growing geopolitical clout as Africa’s fifth-largest economy and a hub of innovation, commerce, and cultural dynamism.

He said, “Lagos is more than a city – it is a vision of progress. Lagos is the best place to invest in Africa because we have the population and the enabling laws for ease of doing business. Our economy is huge and vibrant, one of the biggest in Africa. Whatever you invest here, you will recoup your investment. In the area of tourism, we are still expanding, and every idea is welcome to make us harness our potential.”

Further, he declared the state’s readiness to welcome investments in infrastructure, citing the existing collaboration between Lagos and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in the construction and operation of the Red and Blue Rail lines.

The proposed engagement with Guangxi Province, the Speaker said, unlocks doors for mutual growth in trade, technology, and cultural exchange. Therefore, he continued, “Our Assembly is committed to crafting legislative frameworks that foster sustainable development and global partnerships, and collaborating in the area of legislation and exchange of ideas for good governance.

“Lawmaking is the bedrock of progress. We will ensure our statutes align with global best practices to secure win-win outcomes for Lagos and our partners.”

Earlier, Xiaoqin had described the visit as “a foundation for enduring friendship,” with plans for follow-up technical exchanges. He described Lagos as a “vibrant economic ecosystem” and said that it shares maritime advantages with Guangxi that could be leveraged to grow tourism. “We are looking forward to enhancing collaboration in the area of trade, economy, and tourism. We hope you will provide more care for the Chinese citizens in Lagos,” he said.

Indeed, Guangxi, a southern Chinese region bordering Vietnam and famed for its ASEAN trade corridors, shares synergies with Lagos in port logistics, agriculture, and tourism. Guangxi’s interest signals China’s broader strategy to expand its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) footprint in Nigeria, with Lagos positioned as a linchpin.

For Obasa, the engagement is both diplomatic and symbolic: a reaffirmation of Lagos’s legislative maturity and its readiness to shape Africa’s 21st-century narrative.