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APC National Convention hope dashed as committee secretary resigns
The Secretary of the National Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ben Nwajumogu, has resigned his appointment.
He confirmed earlier speculations that he quit the job late on Friday at a news conference with newsmen in Abuja on Saturday.
Nwajumogu cited domestic issues as the reasons for his decision explaining that although he was no longer the committe’s secretary, he remained a member of the 240-member panel.
In his place, the National Working Committee of the APC announced the appointment of the Chairman of the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, as his replacement. The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed this development in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH.
Abdullahi confirmed that the NWC had received and accepted Nwajumogu’s resignation and named Ndoma-Egba as his replacement.
However, findings by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that Nwajumoga was asked to step down following pressure from the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
A top-ranking party leader privy to what transpired behind the scenes told our correspondent in confidence that the governor “practically relocated to Abuja” to mount pressure on the party leaders and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
The source stated, “Rochas (Okorocha) was behind it. He went about calling for the man’s (Nwajumogu) removal. He went to the Vice President and came to our chairman to say the man is his problem.
“He put pressure on the VP and our chairman, insisting that the secretary, who he said had not hidden his dislike for him, should be removed. The governor even requested that he should be allowed to nominate someone else from Imo.
“The chairman put his feet down and said the position was not zoned to Imo State. Our chairman also insisted that the secretary be given a ‘dignified exit’ and be allowed to resign instead of an announcement of a replacement.
“The committee secretary agreed to step down in the interest of the party. That was how a quick search, which was done in consultation with relevant stakeholders, was carried out overnight and Senator Ndoma-Egba from Cross Rivers State was given the challenge.”
In response to a question as to whether, he was indeed asked to resign as part of an agreement to pacify Okorocha, Nwajumogu denied the charge.
He admitted that there was no love lost between him and the governor, saying it was nothing personal and that the governor had always threatened to leave the APC if things were not done his way.
Nwajumogu said, “I heard he threatened to leave the party if his position was not taken… This started more than two weeks ago and it is just a coincidence because I had made up my mind to leave.
“I am just hoping that now that I have left, my governor, Rochas Okorocha, returns to Imo and spend more time to attend to the various issues that he has created for himself.”
He said stakeholders of the APC in Imo State were opposed to Okorocha’s leadership style based on principles.
Nwajumogu stated, “Our opposition to that is something that is based on principle; based on the fact that 95 per cent of Imo citizens and indeed south-easterners are not happy with what is happening in Imo State.
“It is very clear today that this is no longer an Imo issue but a South-East issue. It is very clear now that the entire South-East has lost confidence in the leadership of Rochas Anayo Okorocha and all we are saying is that Nigerians should take note that we no longer have him as our leader.”
He also insisted that he left on his own volition because he took the decision to enable him to attend to his obligations to his family, adding that no one forced him to resign.
According to him, whatever decision a politician takes there are “political consequences.”
On his resignation, he stated, “Yesterday, I tendered my resignation as the Secretary of the APC Convention Planning Committee and the resignation was accepted last night by the national chairman of the party.
“The reason why I resigned primarily is that when I was appointed, the date for the national convention, as we were informed, was to be on May 14.
“Eventually, that date was moved to June 2 and there were hopes that the convention would hold between June 2 and 9. However, the date has now been moved to June 23 and it will conflict with my family activities and responsibilities.
“For example, two of my children are graduating from a university in England within this month and I have a responsibility to be there and I have some other jobs at hands too. So, I decided that since I won’t have the time for this convention, I should resign so that the position can be given to somebody who has the time.”
According to him, the committee has only received N13m from the party. This, according to him, was what was used to pay for hotel bills, office equipment for the secretariat and other activities so far carried out by the committee.
He described some media reports that he was sacked for misappropriation of funds as the handiwork of mischief makers.
In response to a question on controversies surrounding the membership of the committee, Nwajumogu said party stakeholders across board nominated some of the members of the committee.
He said, “We have a total of about 20 members for each committee and the committees are 12. That makes it 240 members. In that regard, the NWC sent about 108 people to the committee. We got nominations from different groups.
“The Buhari Support Organisation, the Buhari Campaign Organisation, the wife of the President and various interest groups in the APC, including the diaspora organisations, and of course, there is no way I will be a member and the Secretary of the National Convention Committee and I will not have nominees in the convention.
“I brought about 18 members of my own which was granted to me and approved by the national convention chairman. Some of my nominees are Yoruba, northerners and Igbo.
But Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the Chief Press Secretary to Okorocha, said the ex-convention secretary should look elsewhere for the reasons why he was removed.
He added, “What else would he (Nwajumogu) have said? He knows what removed him.
“They came from a political party that believes in manipulating everything; and certain offices require high level of decency. They are not meant for vampires.
“And if he insists that the governor did it, we won’t also regret that because the same governor took him to the Senate and he is today Eneke, the bird.”
Also speaking on the reasons behind Nwajumogu’s resignation, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it was the ex-secretary’s personal decision which he said must be respected.
He said, “To the best of my knowledge, the reasons he gave were personal and the National Working Committee has appointed somebody else, Senator. Victor Ndoma-Egba.”
The project ends decades search for investors, boosts Nigeria’s blue economy
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
Nigeria’s maritime sector is set for a major transformation following a landmark agreement involving the world’s largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which has secured a 45-year concession to build, manage and operate a modern container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos.
The project, to be developed in partnership with Nigerdock, marks one of the most significant private sector investments in Nigeria’s port infrastructure in recent decades and is expected to strengthen the country’s role as a major maritime gateway in West and Central Africa.
For Nigeria, the agreement brings to close decades of efforts to attract large-scale investors to develop Snake Island Port, a strategically located maritime asset in Lagos.
Long-standing concession history
Snake Island’s maritime facilities date back several decades. In 1992, the Federal Government granted a 99-year concession for the island’s port and industrial facilities to Nigerdock, a major maritime engineering and logistics company.
Nigerdock was later privatised and is currently operated by the Jagal Group owned by Nigerian industrialist Maher Jarmakani.
Over the years, the Island Container Terminal fell into disrepair, requiring major rehabilitation and modernization to meet modern global shipping standards.
The new partnership with MSC is expected to transform the port into a state-of-the-art container handling facility capable of attracting larger vessels and increasing Nigeria’s cargo throughput capacity.
Buhari administration approved the project.
The investment framework for the Snake Island development was approved in May 2023 by the Federal Executive Council under then President Muhammadu Buhari.
The approval authorised total private investment of approximately $974.1 million for the project under a Public-Private Partnership structure, including the 45-year concession period.
At the same time, the Federal Government also approved two other major maritime infrastructure projects:
• Development of the Ondo Multipurpose Port in Ilaje, Ondo State, with $1.48 billion in private investment and a 50-year concession.
• Expansion and development of the Burutu Sea Port in Delta State, involving $1.2 billion in private investment and a 40-year concession.
These projects form part of Nigeria’s broader effort to develop its blue economy and expand maritime trade capacity.
Construction partners
Engineering and construction of the Snake Island container terminal will be handled by:
• ITB Nigeria Limited
• DEME Group
ITB Nigeria Limited is part of the Chagoury Group and owned by the Chagoury family, while DEME Group is a globally recognised Belgian marine engineering and dredging company with extensive experience in port construction.
MSC profile
Founded in 1970 by Italian shipping entrepreneur Gianluigi Aponte and his wife Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, MSC has grown from a single cargo vessel into the largest container shipping company in the world.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the company operates in more than 155 countries and serves over 500 ports worldwide, with a fleet of roughly 900 container ships and over 200,000 employees globally.
The MSC Group also operates major logistics and maritime businesses including inland logistics through Medlog, cruise tourism through MSC Cruises, and port terminal operations across several continents.
According to Forbes, the estimated net worth of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte is about $43.9 billion as of February 2026, placing him among the world’s richest shipping magnates. The company remains privately owned by the Aponte family, with both founders holding equal ownership stakes.
Management comments
Speaking on the development, MSC Group President Diego Aponte said the company is committed to strengthening its operations in Nigeria and across Africa.
“We are proud to expand our presence in Nigeria through this important infrastructure project. The Snake Island terminal will enhance service delivery and improve port efficiency for our customers and partners in the region,”
Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani, described the agreement as a major milestone for the Nigerian maritime sector.
“We are delighted to partner with MSC in developing a world-class container terminal that will enhance Nigeria’s logistics capabilities and support economic growth,” he said.
Economic impact
Industry analysts say the project could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s maritime economy by expanding cargo handling capacity, reducing congestion at Lagos ports and attracting additional international shipping traffic.
The development is also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across maritime operations, logistics, transport services and port-related commercial activities.
Infrastructure expansion
Beyond the port development, plans are also underway for Nigeria’s first underwater tunnel, linking Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island through Snake Island and connecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway corridor through Badagry.
The tunnel project is expected to significantly improve freight movement and road connectivity between Lagos ports and national transport networks.
Strategic milestone
With the entry of MSC into the Snake Island development, industry observers say Nigeria is taking a significant step toward modernizing its maritime infrastructure and positioning itself as a regional hub for global shipping and trade.
For a project that has waited for decades for major international investors, the Snake Island concession represents a turning point in Nigeria’s port development strategy and a strong signal of global confidence in the country’s maritime future.
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
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From Construction Sites to Community Service: Temitope Akinyemi Emerges as a Model of Leadership and Impact
Energy experts in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector have defended the pricing structure of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing some fuel markers of attempting to blackmail the refinery and mislead the public over the recent increase in petrol prices.
The experts said reports suggesting that the refinery’s latest adjustment is solely responsible for the recent hike in fuel prices were misleading, noting that importers are also bringing in petrol at almost a N1,000 per litre, while the refinery’s coastal price is N948 and the gantry or ex-depot price stands at N995 per litre.
They stressed that public comparisons fail to consider the differences in pricing structures and supply channels.
According to the experts, N948 per litre represents the coastal delivery price, which refers to petroleum products transported by marine vessels or barges from the refinery to depots along the coastline. On the other hand, N995 per litre represents the gantry or ex-depot price, which is the rate paid by marketers who load petrol directly from the refinery into tanker trucks at the loading gantry for onward distribution across the country.
The experts explained that the two figures should not be interpreted as conflicting prices but rather as different logistics arrangements within the petroleum distribution chain.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, energy expert David Okon said the pricing adjustments were inevitable given prevailing market conditions.
According to him, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals operates in a deregulated market and procures crude at international prices, which have risen sharply due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“The refinery is already absorbing part of the cost to cushion the impact of the crisis on Nigerians. We can see what is happening in other parts of the world where shortages and scarcity are being reported despite higher prices, yet the Dangote Refinery has continued to guarantee domestic supply,” he said.
Okon explained that when the refinery previously sold petrol at N774 per litre, crude oil was landing at about $68 per barrel. However, with crude now arriving at roughly $95 per barrel, the cost difference of about $27 per barrel translates to nearly N40,000 per barrel when converted to Naira.
“You cannot expect a refinery to continue selling at the old rate under those circumstances,” he added.
“If imported products were truly cheaper, importers would still be selling at the previous prices.”
He warned that without local refining capacity, Nigeria could have faced severe fuel shortages, long queues at filling stations and a resurgence of black market sales.
“Without the Dangote Refinery, many filling stations would likely shut down, queues would return across the country and black market traders would exploit the situation, hawking four litres keg at N20,000 or more. The refinery has effectively prevented that scenario,” he said.
Another analyst, Mohammed Ibrahim, also faulted narratives circulating in some quarters suggesting that the refinery’s pricing adjustment was responsible for worsening economic hardship in the country.
Accusing some importers of attempting to manipulate public perception, he said, “What we are seeing is nothing but deliberate blackmail by some fuel importers who feel threatened by local refining.
“They are twisting the pricing structure to mislead Nigerians and create unnecessary panic in the market.
“By exaggerating the refinery’s gantry price and ignoring the comparable costs of imported fuel, they are trying to make it appear as though Dangote Refinery is the cause of rising prices and economic hardship. This is a calculated attempt to protect their import businesses and undermine local refining, which is meant to reduce our dependence on imported petrol.”
Ibrahim added that such narratives were aimed at portraying the refinery as the reason Nigerians were struggling with higher petrol prices.
He stressed that petrol pricing in Nigeria is largely influenced by global crude oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and distribution logistics, noting that these factors affect both locally refined and imported fuel in the country’s deregulated market.
Afolabi Olowookere, Managing Director and Chief Economist at Analysts’ Data Services and Resources (ADSR) Limited, explained that although Nigerians expect refined products from the refinery to be significantly cheaper, prevailing market realities such as global crude oil prices, the cost of crude supply and refining margins make substantial price reductions unlikely in the short term.
“Therefore, improving domestic crude allocation to the refinery would strengthen supply stability and enhance the long term benefits of local refining for the economy,” Olowookere noted.
Recent conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions along key shipping lanes have tightened global oil supply, pushing crude prices past $90 per barrel, a development that directly raises the cost of both imported and locally refined petrol in Nigeria.
The unrest has pushed up fuel costs and transportation in several countries, including Ghana, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, and Japan, as rising crude prices increase the cost of refining, distribution, and logistics globally.
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