A Non-governmental organization, Human Life Protection Advocacy Initiative, HLPAI, has called for the immediate sack of the Nigeria Minister for Environment, Mallam Lawal, over alleged acts of economic sabotage and tribal bias.

The demand was made public in a press statement issued by the Imo State group Coordinator, Prince Chukwudi Francis Maduba, following an alleged refusal of the Minister to approve Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, permits for qualified Igbo exporters despite on time payment for the bid.

He stated that the alleged refusal was a clear indication of tribal discrimination and a deliberate attempt to suppress the economic activities of a particular ethnic group.

Maduba, pointed out that the attitude of the Minister is not just a case of bureaucratic delay but a clear move for economic sabotage,

“Igbo businessmen who have met all requirements and paid for their permits are being unjustly denied access, while people from other ethnic backgrounds are given preferential treatment. This kind of tribal sentiment is dangerous and must not be allowed to continue under a Government that promises fairness and unity, ”he alleged.

The HLPAI coordinator went further to allege that the recent act is not the first time Mallam Lawal has targeted southeastern businessmen, citing previous instances involving wood exporters who also faced similar delay and refusal from the Ministry.

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked kwapre, a community in Hong Local Government Area, killing 10 vigilantes.

Ekwutosblog gathered Sunday evening that the gunmen had stormed Kwapre in large numbers and faced the usually fewer and less armed vigilantes, gunning down 10 and leaving many others seriously wounded.

Kwapre has been attacked severally by the Boko Haram elements in recent months, and the latest onslaught was in the evening of Saturday, April 26, 2025, when the gunmen descended on the village once more, this time straight against the hapless local security guards.

“We lost 10 brave men, and others are fighting for their lives at FMC Hong,” said a Kwapre indigene, Hyella Anthony who is a former councillor of Garaha Ward.

Anthony disclosed that some other vigilantes were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Hong for medical attention.

“These gunmen came in large numbers, heavily armed, and overpowered our vigilantes who were trying to protect the village,” Anthony added.

The District Head of Dugwaba, Simon Yakubu, expressing anguish over the recurring attacks, said this would be the fifth assault on villages around Kwapre within the past two weeks.

According to the district head, the frequency and ferocity of the raids, the sophistication of the attackers’ weaponry and their sheer numbers have always left the local people defenseless.

The Nigeria Oil and Gas Integrity Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to continue to support independent regulatory institutions like the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, noting that Nigeria must build strong institutions and not strong individuals.

The forum in a press statement also urged stakeholders across the sector to work hand-in-hand with the Commission to consolidate the gains achieved so far.

President of the forum, Vivian Okorafor, while noting the critical and patriotic role of NUPRC in steering the successful implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, said the law has become the nation’s saving grace in the oil and gas sector.

Okorafor claimed the PIA law would have meant little without the “visionary, competent and firm regulatory leadership” demonstrated by the NUPRC and its leadership.

“The PIA was a monumental achievement, but the real success story is what followed. Without the solid and transparent enforcement of the law by NUPRC, we would still be grappling with regulatory uncertainties, capital flight, and investor distrust. Today, because of strong leadership at the NUPRC, Nigeria’s upstream sector has regained the confidence of both local and international investors,” the statement reads.

“In the past, regulatory opacity drained our oil industry of investments. But NUPRC has reversed that trend. Transparent bid rounds, clear licensing processes, streamlined procedures — these have restored faith in Nigeria’s petroleum sector and placed us on a competitive global footing once again,” Okorafor said.

She also highlighted the Commission’s focus on promoting Nigerian content and encouraging indigenous companies, saying these steps were crucial for broad-based economic development.

“Technology is now being deployed smartly to plug leakages. Licensing, reporting, and monitoring are now largely digital, making it difficult for underhand dealings to thrive. This is part of the transformational thinking that the NUPRC leadership has brought into the regulatory ecosystem.” she added.

Okorafor noted that one of the most critical impacts of the PIA implementation has been the new fiscal regime that now makes Nigeria a more attractive destination for upstream investments compared to the pre-PIA era.

“Before the PIA and the new fiscal frameworks enforced by NUPRC, Nigeria was losing out to other African nations like Angola and Ghana,” she explained.

“We urge Mr President to shield institutions like the NUPRC from political interference. Nigeria must build strong institutions, not strong individuals. Komolafe and his team have shown what can happen when professionalism is allowed to lead. We must nurture and protect that.

“No law is perfect. No reform is ever completely painless. But with the firm handling of the PIA, Nigeria has a chance to write a new chapter in its oil and gas history — one marked by transparency, growth, and shared prosperity.”