By A folabi Oyekunle.  Ahead of the scheduled resumption of passenger services on the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) tomorrow Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Nigerian Railway Corporation  has opened the online ticketing  for payment. This is coming from NRC Chief Public Relations Officer,    Callistus Unyimadu. Passengers are encouraged to book their tickets online via https://nrc.tps.ng or visit any of the designated stations to purchase their tickets. Also In preparation for the resumption of services, the journey time has been reduced following a review of the Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR) to enhance operations. The new schedule is as follows: 🚆 New Timetable Abuja – Kaduna Idu: 8:45 AM Kubwa: 9:10 AM Rigasa (Arrive): 11:47 AM Kaduna – Abuja Rigasa: 2:30 PM Kubwa: 5:12 PM Idu (Arrive): 5:32 PM "NRC appreciates the patience and understanding of its esteemed passengers during the suspension period and assures the public that safety, com...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, today issued an interim order stopping the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from continuing with its nationwide industrial action against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE. Justice Emmanuel Sublim, in the ruling said the strike meant to disrupt the operations of the Refinery by cutting crude and gas supplies to it, was capable of causing serious damage to the nation’s economy and therefore the Association should stop forthwith. The decision of the court was sequel to an ex-parte application filed by the Refinery’s counsel, Mr. George Ibrahim, SAN. Besides, the court restrained key regulatory bodies, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from enforcing any directive by PENGASSAN to hal...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has expressed solidarity with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, (TUC) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (Pengassan) in condemning what it called unjust and anti- labour practices, by Dangote Refinery in sacking workers who were exercising  their fundamentals rights. In a press statement signed by the National President, Comrade Shehu Mohammed, today in Abuja the Association said the dismissal of workers for exercising their  rights to freely associate and belong to a trade union is a gross violation of section 40  of the Nigerian Constitution and a direct breach off Nigeria's obligation under International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention. ASCSN therefore called for the immediate recall of all affected workers. It also call for an Independent investigation into the refinery Anti-Workers practices Comrade Mohammed commended the...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Parts of All private and commercial jetties/terminals along the Five Cowries Creek in Lagos are to be temporarily restricted from Friday, 3rd October to Sunday, 5th October 2025 to give way for the E1 Championship..   According to a release by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) the  restriction is to facilitate the successful hosting of the E1 Championship, the world’s first all-electric powerboat racing tournament with the Lagos series scheduled to take place along the five cowries creek during this period.  LASWA says the waterways restriction is a vital safety and security measure to ensure seamless event operations, safeguard lives, and project Lagos as a world-class destination for international sporting events. LASWA GM. Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanue Normal operations at the affected jetties and terminals will resume on Monday, 6th October 2025.  The general public, ferry operators, passengers, and all stakehold...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The strike by Pengassan over its demands from Dangote Refinery to comply with Labour laws on treatment of workers enters Day 2 today as workers down tools from yesterday.          Dangote Refinery in Lagos Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has asked her members to cut crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery . Meanwhile , The refinery has described the directive as an act of economic sabotage that, if enforced, would disrupt the production and nationwide supply of critical petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and cooking gas. The company emphasized that these products are indispensable to daily life and the economy, warning that Nigerians at every level, from households to businesses and industries would bear the brunt of shortages.  It noted that a sudden disruption in supply will translate into insufferable hardship for millions of Nige...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has demanded the reinstatement of the 800 staff recently sacked by Dangote Refinery, failing which it will join the national strike declared by oil workers. Its Secretary General, Comrade N. A Toro  conveyed this in a press statement on Sunday, The union also demanded public apology from Dangote management with firm assurances against future victimization, independent investigation involving the Ministry of Labour, International Labour Organization and stakeholders into the refinery’s labour practices. It added:”The Congress hereby places all affiliates on stand-by for a national industrial action if Dangote management fails to comply with these demands within a reasonable time. “We stand in full solidarity with the affected workers and with their union, our affiliate PENGASSAN, whose members have been victimized merely for declaring membership. Such actions amount to a direct assault on Section 40 of the Nigerian...

By Afolabi Oyekunle  The much awaited resumption of suspended Abuja-Kaduna Train Services is to begin on Independence Day, October 1st. This is according to a  statement released by NRC Chief Public Relations Officer,   Callistus Unyimadu . The service was suspended following the incident of August 26, 2025 as a result of derailment of the train  NRC says the commercial service resumption is as a result of   the successful completion of all required safety, technical, and operational checks and   underscores the Corporation’s commitment to ensuring smooth, reliable, and secure train services for the traveling public. "In line with our priority on passenger welfare after the August 26, 2025 incident, NRC wishes to state that: Out of the 583 passengers on board, 530 passengers were contacted by phone, out of which 512 have successfully received refunds. All 22 injured passengers have been contacted, many visited by our medical team,...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has alerted all stakeholders, security agencies, the media, and the general public regarding the criminal and fraudulent activities of some faceless groups and individuals who are impersonating as leaders and elders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG. This  was contained in a statement signed by the National President COMRADE WILLIAMS AKPOREHA and General Secretary   COMRADE AFOLABI OLAWALE According to the statement  some unscrupulous elements are operating under the non-existent and illegitimate banner of “PTD Elders” or “PTD Leaders” to deceive, manipulate, mislead and create confusion within the oil and gas sector and the wider public.  "We wish to state clearly here, that these individuals are paid agents of unconscionable Capitalists with filthy wealth accumulated over the labour and sweat of workers who have been denied the right of freedom...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The Managing Director of Truck Transit Park Limited (TTP) Jamal Onwubuariri says  the infrastructure and technology deployment at Nigerian ports and border posts are still not sufficient for the volume of cargoes that comes into the country. Jamal stated this while speaking at the 2025 Transport Summit organized by the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) on the theme; Driving the Transport Logistics Value Chains for Economic Growth " held at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja Lagos last Wednesday.  In his goodwill messsge at the summit, the TTP boss revealed that "In July, I took a 6000Km road trip from Nigeria to Liberia to see what our road transport infrastructure is like, the challenges and the opportunities.  "We have infrastructure gaps, the roads we have, both here in Nigeria and across the West African region is not sufficient for the volume of road traffic.  The second challenge is that our ports in terms of their infrastructure an...

By  Afolabi Oyekunle.  The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train service is set to resume operations this week, following the successful completion of repair and safety checks on the affected section of track at Asham.           NRC MD Dr. Kayode Opeifa. This is according to a press release by Callistus Unyimadu the Corporation  Chief Public Relations Officer   The service was temporarily suspended after the incident of August 26, 2025. According to the release  the Corporation has worked tirelessly to ensure both the infrastructure and rolling stock are restored to the highest safety standards in line with global best practices. "As part of our commitment to passengers welfare, the NRC has refunded 512 passengers out of the 583 on board the affected train. Efforts are ongoing to reach and process refunds for the remaining passengers to ensure that no one is left behind." "The NRC appre...

GREEK GIFT GRACE IS OVER SO SOON: NUPENG LEADERSHIP, MEN WHO SAW TOMORROW By Solomon Ogunwo In an era saturated with the noise of paid propaganda and hollow promises, the clarity of truth often comes from those with their ears to the ground and their hands on the wheel of industry.  Barely a fortnight ago, when the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) raised a clarion call, they were not merely sounding an alarm; they were reading from a script whose tragic ending they had already foreseen. They were the Nostradamuses of our time, gazing into the crystal ball of corporate intent and seeing a tomorrow many refused to believe. The warning was unequivocal. NUPENG alerted the nation to the anti-union posture of Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s refinery empire, highlighting the fundamental denial of workers' rights to freedom of association. With prophetic precision, they labelled the much-touted claim of delivering fuel at no logistics cost what it truly was: a ‘Greek Gift...

Exposing the Anti-Worker Propaganda and Standing Firm on the Right to Unionize. By Johnson Ogunjimi The article "Standing up to the oil unions" published by the cable.ng on the 24th September 2025, is not an analysis; it is a poorly? disguised, paid hatchet job aimed at vilifying Nigerian workers and their legitimate representatives while performing a sycophantic dance for a capitalist monopoly.  The writer’s attempt to deflect from the core issue, Dangote Refinery’s blatant anti-union stance—by dredging up the failures of government-owned refineries is a classic, tired tactic that deserves nothing but contempt. Let us be unequivocally clear: the right of workers to freely associate and join trade unions is a fundamental human right, explicitly enshrined in Nigerian law and international labour conventions.  This is not up for debate. The management of Dangote Refinery’s resistance to this right is not "progress"; it is a dangerous and illegal regression into feudal...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in advancing pension reforms and ensuring greater compliance with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Ms. Oloworaran gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the TUC President, Comrade (Engr.) Festus Osifo, in Abuja recently.  She was accompanied by the Acting Commissioner, Technical, Hon. Hafiz Kawu Ibrahim, and other top management staff of the Commission. Speaking at the meeting, the PenCom DG acknowledged the invaluable role of the TUC as a member of the PenCom Governing Board and stressed that the relationship between the two organisations remained crucial to the sustainability of the CPS in Nigeria.  She proposed more structured stakeholder engagements between PenCom and TUC to further strengthen the CPS and ensure greater ...

By  Afolabi Oyekunle. There is a reliable assurance that the on-going  Kano-Maradi rail project will reach Katsina by December, 2025 and ready for completion by March 2027.  The Minister of Transportation, Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali said this yesterday   at the second transport summit of the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) in Lagos .    Alkali who was represented by the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, said the Kaduna-Kano and Kano-Maradi ongoing rail project has recorded appreciable execution progress from five per cent to 15 per cent at the inception of the  present administration to over 50 per cent and 60 per cent. Dr. Opeifa delivering the Minister's address. He said that the ongoing rail modernisation projects from Lagos-Kano, the rehabilitated Old Narrow Gauge from Lagos to Kano and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Old Narrow Gauge from PortHacourt-Maidugu...

B y Afolabi Oyekunle.  Minister in charge of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, have defended President Bola Tinubu’s policies in the transport industry, saying the country is on the right path.  Oyetotola said  that the National Marine and Blue Economy Policy is aimed at reducing logistics costs, enhancing trade competitiveness, and unlocking private sector investment in Nigeria’s maritime and transport sectors. Speaking at the 2025 Summit of the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) in Lagos on Wednesday, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, who was represented by Director of Maritime Services, Dr. Mercy Ilori said the policy lays the groundwork for seamless integration across road, rail, barge, and pipeline networks. “Our goal is to lower the cost of doing business, improve cargo turnaround times, and create a more attractive environment for...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has attributed the derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna ATKS train on August 26 at Asham to human error, and  excess speeding as well as misapplication of the emergency backup system. This is according to a statement signed by NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa. On efforts to bring back the train for normal services, Dr. Opeifa said all the coaches and the locomotives  have been  recovered and re-railed, assuring that service will resume as soon as technical tests and certification has been successfully concluded. He assured that the main line had been repaired to a safe level for operations, while work continues on the second track which remains closed until all repairs were completed. Dr Opeifa reassured members of the public of the commitment of NRC to safety. Meanwhile, NRC has contacted 512 of the passengers on the train, while 71 remain unreachable due to wrong contacts and unavailabilit...

By A folabi Oyekunle. Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has renovated Hausawa Model Primary School, Kano State, as part of its Adopt-A-School initiative. The initiative marks the ninth school to benefit from the organisation's commitment to educational development in Nigeria. Hausawa Model Primary School has undergone extensive upgrades, including the construction of a new 2-classrooms block with modern classrooms furniture, comprehensive upgrades to offices for school administration, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art computer laboratory equipped with ten computers and workstations.  The bank also constructed eight new toilet facilities, developed a mini football pitch, and established a mini library to foster reading culture among students. These improvements will benefit over 648 students and staff members. Acting Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Kunle Adedeji emphasised the long-term nature of the programme, saying that the initiative was part of its commitment to corpo...

By Afolabi Oyekunle.   The Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) is set to host its annual conference scheduled for October 10th 2025, at Golden Tulip Hotel, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State. The event will focus on the future of work in the era of Artificial Intelligence, and how  employers and the employees will explore and stay resilient amidst economic shift. In a press release signed by LAWAN Chairman,Comrade Toba Agboola and the Secretary,Comrade Adenike Ajiboye,  the conference with the theme: 'Future of Work in the Era' of Artificial Intelligence: A Wake-Up Call for Stakeholders', is intended to achieve a clear plan for securing successful mutual accountability and investment plans, crucial for Nigeria's economic growth and development, particularly in areas of technology innovations, workers' welfare, decent workplace and adoption of AI as  means of sustainable job in the face of numerous challenges from inaction and job security. According to ...

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Transport, Blue Economy Ministers, others for TCAN Summit Ministers of Transport, Marine and Blue Economy and key stakeholders have confirmed their readiness for the 2025 Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) summit holding on Wednesday September 24, 2025. The summit is an annual event that provides a platform for stakeholders’ interaction on pertinent issues affecting the nations transportation sector.  This would be the second edition of the summit, which was kick-started in 2024 amidst excitement and endorsement from stakeholders.  The second edition has as its theme, “Driving the Transport Logistics Value Chains for Economic Growth”. Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa will deliver a keynote address with a panel of discussants featuring topics like: Intermodal cargo evacuation from the ports, benefits and challenges; Waterways Transportation Code and challenges of enforcement; 100 y...

B y Afolabi Oyekunle. WITHDRAW 5% TAX ON PETROLEUM PRODUCTS WITHIN 14 DAYS OR FACE NATIONWIDE STRIKE ACTION. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on  the Federal Government to withdraw the  planned 5% tax on petroleum products within 15 days describing it as a reckless proposal and an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians. This is contained in a  release by TUC President General , Comrade Festus Osifo and  Secretary General N.A. Toro. TUC President General Comrade Osifo. The Congress said the increase is unjustifiable considering workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and a collapsing naira and to now introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty. "Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic e...

B y Afolabi Oyekunle. The suspended Port Harcourt - Aba train services will commence operation from Tuesday 9th of September 2025. The services were suspended following a breakdown of the train at Imo River on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025, at about 16:22 hrs. This is according to a statement signed by Dr. Onyedikachi S. Onovo District Public Relations Officer, Eastern District. According to NRC, The train, which was on its way from Aba to Port Harcourt, suddenly developed an unusual fault and stopped functioning. Despite the best efforts of our engineers to revive the locomotive, the fault persisted. Consequently, an alternative engine, Loco 2306, was quickly deployed to rescue the stranded train. "While some passengers chose to take alternative routes to their destinations, others were conveyed back safely."               NRC MD Dr. Kayode Opeifa. According to the statement the train was  returned to Port Harcourt and is currently un...