From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Political activist and international affairs leader, Comrade Timi Frank, has welcomed the resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) but insisted that stepping aside should not bring closure to the matter.

“Resignation is not an admission of guilt, but it is only the first step. What must follow is a full investigation and, where necessary, arrest and prosecution,” Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and currently ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East as well as Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA,

said in a statement in Abuja.

He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)

to immediately investigate and prosecute Engr. Ahmed over allegations raised by Africa’s foremost industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote( the newest comrade in town).

Frank expressed concern that more than 72 hours after the allegations were made public, the relevant agencies had remained largely silent, apart from the ICPC which only acknowledged receipt of a petition.

“More than 72 hours after these weighty allegations were made public, the silence of our anti-corruption agencies is deeply troubling and unacceptable in a country that claims to operate under the rule of law,” Frank said.

He argued that allegations of such magnitude, especially when raised by a figure of Dangote’s standing, deserved swift and transparent action, warning that the continued silence could further erode public confidence in public institutions.

“If Aliko Dangote cannot get justice in a matter of this nature, then one must ask what hope is left for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

He drew attention to the gravity of the allegations, noting that the amount reportedly involved, about $7 million, estimated at roughly N10 billion, was significant in a country facing widespread economic hardship.

“This amount is more than enough to fund entire communities, yet Nigeria is constantly on strike over the inability of government to meet relatively small financial demands in the education sector,” Frank said.

He questioned how a public servant, allegedly earning about N50 million annually, could spend such a huge sum on the secondary school education of four children.

“What example is a public servant setting in a country where millions of parents cannot afford N100,000 in school fees?” he asked. “If public funds are indeed being used to fund personal excesses, then this must concern every Nigerian.”

Frank also warned that the unresolved allegations could affect Nigeria’s image and investor confidence.

“No serious investor will put money in a country where allegations of corruption involving a key regulator are left hanging without resolution,” he said.

He noted Engr. Ahmed’s expressed willingness to submit himself to investigation, urging the anti-corruption agencies to act without delay.

“Now that he has stepped aside and indicated willingness to cooperate, there should be no delay. The agencies must act fully, independently and without fear or favour,” Frank said.

He further called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene if the agencies fail to act promptly.

“A government that is serious about fighting corruption must show it through action, not prolonged silence,” he said.

Frank added that Nigerians deserved clarity and accountability, stressing that the case should not be swept under the carpet.

“This is one case Nigerians will not allow to be buried. Only transparent investigation and prosecution can restore confidence in our institutions and in the fight against corruption,” he said.

From Adeko Ukpa, Lafia

Former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna has disclosed that the rapid rise of lithium mining and processing in Nasarawa State has transformed the state into Nigeria’s epicentre of industrial development, with massive inflows of investment, jobs and infrastructure.
Prof. Haruna made this assertion while speaking at the 2025 Engineering Week and Award Night of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Lafia.
He lauded Governor Abdullahi Sule for championing the state’s industrialisation through technology and value addition.
He said Governor Sule’s “blueprint of progress” has turned Nasarawa into a reference point in the nation’s solid mineral revolution.
“He is an engineer who saw opportunity where others saw dust. His commitment has put Nasarawa on the global lithium supply chain,” Haruna said.

L-R: The Vice President, North-Central of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Rachel Serumum Ugye; the Chairman Nigeria Society of Engineers(NSE), Lafia Branch, Engr. Simon Obagu; a former Executive Vice Chairman/CE of NASENI, Prof. M. S. Haruna; and Engr. Mustapha Usman, Project Manager AMEDI Lafia during the 2025 Engineering week/Dinner/Award Night of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lafia Branch yesterday.

The scholar and industrialist said that Nasarawa holds the highest deposit of lithium in Nigeria, with purity grades between 2.0% and 8.4%, ranking among the best in Africa.
“Lithium from Gunduma, Saka and Unguwan Gwandara is of world-class quality,” he said.
Haruna disclosed that over $850 million in private investments have been committed to the state’s lithium sector by global and local firms, including Ganfeng Lithium Company, Avatar New Energy Materials, Can Max Technologies, and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining Company.
Haruna said: “When you sum up the commitments from Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited with about $250 million, Avatar New Energy Materials’ multimillion-dollar project, Can Max Technologies’ planned $200 million plant, and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining’s over $200 million investment, you are looking at more than $850 million in private capital already flowing into Nasarawa’s lithium sector.
“That is unprecedented in the history of this state’s industrial development. These plants will produce up to 22,000 tonnes of lithium annually.
“The Ganfeng facility alone will yield 16,000 tonnes, while the earlier plant has a 3,000-tonne capacity. Together, they are creating jobs, revenue and industrial linkages never seen before.”

He noted that Nasarawa’s lithium activities have already attracted national attention, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected to commission the Ganfeng plant soon.
“This is a milestone not just for Nasarawa but for Nigeria’s diversification agenda,” Haruna added.
The former Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI said the partnership between the state and NASENI has given rise to technology-driven initiatives like the Solid Mineral Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (SOMMEDI) in Nasarawa town.
He revealed that under the agreement with Ganfeng, the state will earn $15 million over ten years, while the host community in Endo will receive $500,000 for development projects.
“The governor insisted on transparency, community inclusion and environmental sustainability,” Haruna said.
He lauded Governor Sule’s refusal to rely on loans, opting instead for prudent management and innovation-driven growth.
“His discipline is a lesson in leadership by example,” Haruna said.
However, Haruna added a political twist, urging continuity of “engineering leadership” in the state.
“If an engineer took Nasarawa to this height, only another engineer can sustain it.
“It would be disastrous to hand this aircraft to a pilot who cannot read the dashboard of development,” he said.
The professor charged members of the NSE and all progressives in Nasarawa to “speak loudly and campaign boldly” for the preservation of Governor Sule’s industrial legacy.
“We must not allow politics to derail progress,” he said.
Haruna concluded that the lithium revolution was not merely an economic story but “a model for leadership driven by knowledge, discipline and innovation.”
“With engineering thinking at the helm,” he said, “Nasarawa will remain the pride of Nigeria’s solid mineral future.”

By Adeko Ukpa

The Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, in collaboration with Technoworld Community Foundation, has given skill tools worth N1m to youths in Galuywi village in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the President of the club, Rosemond Favour Uche the empowerment was part of a commitment to build capacity and resilience in underserved communities.

CAPTION; L-R: The District Governor-elect, Princess Joy Nky Okoro, the President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Rtn. Rosemond Favour Uche, a beneficiary and the Community Service Project Chair of the club, Rtn. Winifred Mngu Mbashall during the presentation of the N1m tools to the male artisans.She said the seven artisans received critical support to enhance their trades and become self-reliant.

She said the targeted intervention project was valued at approximately ₦1 million.
Uche said the initiative was designed not only to provide equipment but to “inspire a mindset of excellence, innovation, and responsibility among the recipients.”
“The future of the community lies in the hands of these young men. This project is about more than tools—it’s about unlocking potential, building peace, and creating pathways to prosperity,” the president said.
She said the beneficiaries, who represent a wide range of skilled professions—including plumbing, tailoring, masonry, baking, welding, barbing, and aluminium works—were carefully selected based on their passion, commitment, and potential to impact their community positively.
She said the support provided was tailored to their individual needs and specific craft, ensuring that they not only had the tools but also the knowledge and confidence to scale their businesses.
She said the initiative, aimed at promoting economic self-sufficiency among youth, also aligns with Rotary International’s Economic and Community Development area of focus, Rotary’s broader efforts to reduce unemployment and foster peace through productivity.
She said the empowerment project was also part of the club’s ongoing mission to build capacity at the grassroots, particularly among underserved male youths in rural areas.
She said by equipping the male artisans the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitaima seeks to stimulate local economy.
The District Governor-Elect (District 9127), Dame Princess Joy Nky Okoro described the project ” as a timely and practical solution to the challenges facing today’s youth.
She charged the beneficiaries to utilize the tools they have received judiciously and in turn train and educate others in their community.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Community Service Project Chair of the Club, Rotarian Winifred Mngu Mbashall explained the club’s deliberate shift to focus on male youths.
She added: “For many years, empowerment programmes have focused heavily on young girls, and rightly so. But we also recognize that young boys need just as much support, guidance, and opportunity to thrive.
“This project is our way of helping restore balance, and to remind young men that their dreams and potential matter, too.”
The Founder of Technoworld Community Foundation, Kazeem Abdulraheem also emphasized the organization’s long-standing passion for practical empowerment:
“At Technoworld Community Foundation, we are deeply committed to building and empowering male artisans—not just with equipment, but with a renewed sense of dignity and purpose. These young men are the backbone of practical development in our communities, and when they succeed, the entire community thrives.”
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude, pledging to put their new resources to good use.