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The Arewa Youth Council (AYC) has praised the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, following the commissioning of Nigeria’s first Smart Self-Service Filling Station in Abuja.

The youth body also welcomed the clear plan to establish between 50 and 70 similar modern energy hubs across the country within the next six months.

In a statementAmbassador Sidi Sani and Publicity Secretary Mallam Bilal Usman, the Council described the project as a progressive transformation of the nation’s downstream petroleum retail sector.

It noted that traditional filling stations are being converted into integrated energy and mobility hubs that combine fuel dispensing with digital and multi-energy services.

“This initiative marks a significant and progressive transformation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum retail sector,” the Council stated.

“By converting traditional filling stations into integrated energy and mobility hubs, NNPC Limited has introduced self-service fuel dispensing through a mobile application, digital payment systems, electric vehicle charging points, liquefied petroleum gas facilities, planned compressed natural gas services, solar-powered operations, and complementary customer amenities.

“The model prioritises convenience, accuracy, transparency, and round-the-clock accessibility,” the statement added.

“For Nigeria, the Smart Station programme represents a decisive shift toward technology-enabled energy retailing.”

The Arewa Youth Council emphasised that the programme strengthens national energy security while modernising service delivery.

It said the initiative positions the country to meet changing consumer demands and prepare for a multi-energy future that includes petrol, diesel, LPG, CNG, and electricity.

Direct benefits for citizens were highlighted as practical and immediate. Motorists, commercial transporters, and households stand to gain from shorter queues, greater control over transactions, and more reliable product delivery, according to the Council.

“Motorists, commercial transporters, and households will experience reduced waiting times, greater control over transactions, and improved reliability in product delivery,” the statement declared.

“Digital self-service options minimise disputes over quantity and enhance accountability.

“The inclusion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure anticipates the gradual expansion of cleaner mobility options, while solar power reduces operational dependence on the national grid,” it continued.

“These stations will deliver a more efficient, modern, and dignified retail experience for ordinary Nigerians.”

At the national level, the Council observed that the programme carries strategic value by supporting the expansion and modernisation of NNPC Limited’s retail network of about 900 outlets.

The transformation is expected to deepen market presence, create new value chains, and generate opportunities in technology support, infrastructure maintenance, and customer service.

Rather than displacing workers, the new model is expected to evolve existing roles and introduce new skill requirements, thereby contributing to sustainable employment across the sector.

“We specifically commend Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari for the strategic leadership that has made this possible,” the Arewa Youth Council said.

“Since assuming office, he has demonstrated a consistent commitment to performance, institutional reform, and national interest.

“Under his direction, NNPC Limited has maintained focus on production growth, critical infrastructure delivery, commercial discipline, and customer-oriented transformation,” the statement noted.

“The Smart Self-Service Station initiative is a tangible expression of that leadership—practical, measurable, and citizen-focused.”

While acknowledging NNPC Limited’s other achievements in upstream operations, gas development, and organisational efficiency, the Council chose to focus on the downstream innovation because of its direct impact on the daily lives of Nigerians.

Energy, it stressed, remains the lifeblood of economic activity and household wellbeing.
Making retail more efficient, transparent, and multi-dimensional is therefore a matter of national importance, the group maintained.

“The Arewa Youth Council urges accelerated and inclusive nationwide rollout, with deliberate attention to northern and underserved regions,” the statement read.

“We call on state governments, private sector partners, and technology providers to support the expansion.

“Continuous refinement of the customer experience and structured training for personnel supporting the new systems will be essential for long-term success,” it added.

“We congratulate Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Management and staff of NNPC Limited and NNPC Retail, and all collaborating partners.”

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The African Democratic Congress Senatorial Candidate for Ekiti North, Funso Ayeni, has condemned the attack and vandalisation of his campaign office, calling on law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter.

Ayeni spoke at Ido Ekiti, the headquarters of the senatorial district, on Saturday during an assessment visit to the damaged office.

The campaign office was inaugurated on Thursday last week.

The candidate condemned political violence and intimidation in any form in the state, as he urged that the 2027 elections should be remembered for ideas and accountability, and not destruction.

The campaign office after the attack.
He said, “Whatever the circumstances surrounding the damage to this office are, political disagreement must never become a pathway to destruction, intimidation or violence. I believe Ekiti must not walk the road of political violence.

“Ekiti State is too knowledgeable, too educated and too politically conscious to allow such a culture to take place. I, therefore, call on the relevant security and law enforcement authorities to investigate what happened here and establish the facts.

Political competition should be about ideas; it should be about programmes, it should be about records and the service we are about to offer our people, not destruction of one’s property or another person’s political office. I will continue to advocate for a peaceful, issue-based and responsible political environment in Ekiti North and across Ekiti State.

We can disagree without destroying; let us compete without violence and let us ensure that the 2027 political session is remembered for ideas, for accountability and not for intimidation nor destruction, and not for bloodshed.”

Ayeni appealed to his supporters across the senatorial district to remain calm and not take the law into their hands despite the provocation.

He said, “I am here today not only to merely inspect that damaged office, but to draw attention to a development that should concern every peace-loving citizen of Ekiti State and in particular Ekiti North Senatorial District.”

The senatorial candidate urged politicians in the state to learn from the recently conducted governorship election in Osun State, “where destruction of campaign materials and political property became part of a broader atmosphere of political tension and violence, with subsequent attacks and loss of lives reported. We must learn from Osun not to repeat the painful experience in Ekiti.”

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*****Stakeholders, CSOs Call For Sack Of NAICOM Commissioner

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has widened its probe into the controversial insurance industry recapitalisation exercise, with invitation letters now being issued to other operators beyond the initial petitioners.

A letter dated 3rd September 2026 and addressed to the Managing Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr Daniel Braie, at the company’s Abuja office, 29 Aswan Street, Wuse Zone 3, confirms the expansion.

Titled “Investigation activities letter of invitation – Re: capitalisation exercise in the insurance sector,” the correspondence from the EFCC’s Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Section requires Braie to report for an interview on Thursday, 24th September 2026.

The development comes amid growing pressure on Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), to step aside.

Industry stakeholders and civil society organisations have intensified calls for his immediate suspension or sack, arguing that his continued presence in office while the investigation deepens compromises the integrity of the process.

“The EFCC’s decision to invite other industry players shows this is no longer limited to one or two companies,” a senior insurance executive who preferred anonymity said.

“When the anti-graft agency starts calling in Managing Directors across the sector for clarification on the same capitalisation exercise, it means the net is widening.

“The man at the helm of NAICOM cannot continue to sit pretty as if nothing is happening.”

Another stakeholder, a former senior official in the industry, stated: “The allegations of unlawful one per cent capital injection fees, forced full-capital escrow demands contrary to the law, and questionable consultant payments are serious.

“Expanding the investigation to other operators only strengthens the case for Omosehin to step aside immediately so that the probe can proceed without any perception of interference.”

Civil society groups have been more direct, demanding Omosehin’s removal to sanitise the regulatory agency.

“Keeping the NAICOM Commissioner in office while the EFCC expands its investigation into the recapitalisation exercise is unacceptable,” Salisu Mohammed of the Coalition for Good Governance in Nigeria said.

“We call for his immediate suspension by the Minister of Finance. The regulatory house must be cleaned for public confidence to return.”

Another CSO activist added: “This is about accountability. The moment the EFCC begins inviting Managing Directors of other insurance companies for interviews on the capitalisation process, the Commissioner who superintended that process should no longer remain in charge.

%Suspension is the minimum requirement to sanitise NAICOM and protect the integrity of the investigation.”

As the September 24 interview date approaches, pressure continues to mount on the Presidency and the Ministry of Finance to act decisively.

Stakeholders insist that only the temporary removal of Omosehin will allow a thorough, credible investigation capable of restoring trust in the insurance regulatory framework.