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Osun has right to mining -Adeleke declares
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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has reiterated the state’s legal right to collect taxes from Thor Explorations Limited, insisting that the company’s operations fall under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and applicable laws.
Adeleke, however, welcomed the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Mines in resolving the tax dispute, emphasizing the state’s willingness to support foreign investments, provided they operate transparently and adhere to local regulations, including environmental standards.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, the governor disclosed that he had earlier reached out to the Minister of Mines, Dele Alake, regarding the ongoing dispute. He stressed that while Osun State is committed to encouraging Foreign Direct Investment, it must be on the condition that investors comply with local laws and take responsibility for environmental protection.
The governor lamented that since discussions with Thor Explorations began in 2023, no progress had been made, despite ongoing negotiations.
He revealed that Segilola Resources Operating Limited, a subsidiary of Thor Explorations, had accrued tax liabilities amounting to N3.25 billion, with a demand notice issued in April 2024.
Adeleke further alleged that Thor Explorations was operating six other companies on the same site without disclosing them to the state government for taxation and environmental accountability purposes.
The companies, according to the governor, include SINIC Engineering Limited, ATF Consulting Limited, Monument Nigeria Limited, Rabaa Cleaning Limited, Deep Rock Drilling Services, and CEFO Security Limited.
He also noted that Thor Explorations had confirmed Osun State holds 5,192,896 units of shares in Thor Exploration UK, and as such, the state is entitled to collect its financial benefits as a shareholder.
The governor expressed concern over the environmental degradation caused by the company’s mining activities and insisted that Thor Explorations must pay for the environmental reclamation of the affected areas, as required under Nigerian law.
“Osun State enjoys a strong partnership with the Federal Ministry of Mines. We hold several mining licenses and are key stakeholders in the sector with a deep understanding of both the laws and the constitution. Our actions are guided by the need to secure what is legally due to our state, as stipulated by existing laws and practices,” Adeleke stated.
He added, “We maintain a favorable business environment for investors across various sectors. However, we will not tolerate a lack of transparency and accountability in the mining sector. Local laws must be respected, just as they are in Europe and North America, and the environment must be properly reclaimed after mining activities.”
Adeleke further welcomed the visit of the Federal Government’s fact-finding team, stressing that Osun is prepared to present its case.
“Thor Explorations cannot use the exclusive legislative list as a shield to evade local taxes, deny shareholders their rights, and degrade our environment with impunity,” the governor concluded.
The United States House of Representatives has endorsed an amendment that would increase the withholding of certain US assistance to Nigeria from 50 percent to 100 percent until the country takes effective steps to address violence and improve the protection of its citizens.
The amendment, proposed by Representative Gregory Steube of Florida’s 17th Congressional District, was adopted by a voice vote on Wednesday.
The House had earlier proposed withholding 50 percent of funds appropriated for Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken “effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable”.
Under the new amendment, the withholding would increase to 100 percent, while retaining the same conditions for the release of the funds.
Speaking in support of his motion, Steube said withholding only 50 percent of the funds appeared to reward the Nigerian government “despite failure to meet its fundamental obligation to protect citizens”.
“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria, from 50 percent to 100 percent. While keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country.
“Nigeria has faced a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address.
“For years, and especially in recent months, Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria have been subjected to violence and terrorism at the hands of extremists operating with impunity.
“Christian women and girls continue to be abducted, assaulted, tortured, and killed. Their churches are burned, and entire communities are erased.
“If the aid conditions included in the bill are important enough to withhold half of all the funding to the Nigerian government, then they are important enough to withhold all of the funding.
“The generosity of our taxpayers is a reflection of the American values we hold so firmly.
“Never should we allow their hard earned tax dollars to be funnelled to corrupt regimes that fail to uphold religious freedom, fail to adequately confront terrorism, and fail to protect the innocent from persecution.
“So, why are we rewarding a government that fails to meet such a basic obligation?”
Steube said it is absurd to expend foreign aid to Nigeria in the face of rising insecurity, especially as America’s national debt approaches $40 trillion,” Gregory Steube stated.
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If Umahi’s daughter was found naked and dead in a poor man’s house Nigeria would’ve been on fire-Dalung
Ex- Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has criticised what he described as double standards in the investigation into the death of physiotherapist Mary Habila, saying the public response would have been entirely different if the victim had been the daughter of a government official
Dalung made the remark while reacting to the controversy surrounding Habila’s death at the country residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Speaking in a video shared on social media, the former minister questioned the pace and manner of the investigation, arguing that ordinary Nigerians are often subjected to harsher scrutiny than powerful public office holders.
“If Umahi’s daughter had been found naked in a poor man’s house, Nigeria would be burning,” Dalung said, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death would have attracted a different level of public outrage and official response if the roles had been reversed.
Mary Habila, a 26-year-old physiotherapist from Kaduna State, was found dead at Umahi’s residence on June 27, 2026. She was reportedly attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences and had been seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works.
Umahi has since confirmed the incident, describing Habila as a dedicated member of staff who had worked with him for about three years. He said emergency medical personnel were contacted immediately after she was found unresponsive and disclosed that he advised the family to consent to an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
The minister has repeatedly denied allegations of any cover-up, insisting that he has nothing to hide and supports a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the physiotherapist’s death.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force transferred the case to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation, as public interest in the incident continues to grow.
Dalung’s remarks add to the increasing calls for transparency and accountability in the investigation, with many Nigerians demanding that the case be thoroughly investigated and that its outcome be made public regardless of the status of those involved.
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Congress moves to halt US assistance to Nigeria over FG’s failure to protect citizens
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