The Traffic

Ondo State and BINL Set Sights on $15 Billion Mega Refinery to Power Nigeria’s Energy Future

In a bold step toward redefining Nigeria’s energy landscape, Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (BINL), in collaboration with the Ondo State Government, has unveiled plans to build a massive 500,000 barrels-per-day oil refinery. The $15 billion facility will be located within the Sunshine Industrial Park and the Sunshine Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
This transformative project is a joint venture between BINL and the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), and is set to anchor Ondo as a major player in the oil refining sector. With the first phase slated for completion within 48 months, the refinery promises to be a game-changer in Nigeria’s quest for energy security and industrial expansion.
BINL revealed that talks are underway with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to strengthen the project through strategic partnerships and technical support. The move is expected to bolster both the operational backbone and supply chain of the refinery.
Speaking after a courtesy visit to the Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, BINL’s Vice President for Corporate Services, Mr. Wale Adekola, emphasized the project's significance. “This refinery will not only meet local demand for petroleum products, but also serve as a vital source of feedstock for domestic industries and exports,” Adekola said.
The project's blueprint includes much more than just refining facilities. Roads, storage tanks, loading bays, terminals, and handling equipment are all part of the infrastructure plan. The development of the Free Trade Zone will also include key facilities to ensure smooth operation and global competitiveness.
With Ondo’s coastline advantage, economic vision, and a committed private-sector partner in BINL, the state is gearing up to become a central hub for energy and industrial growth—one barrel at a time.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna

Storm Over UTME: JAMB Flags Suspicion Around 2025’s Top Scorer Chinedu Okeke
The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) may have crowned a top scorer, but controversy now clouds the spotlight.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised serious concerns over the legitimacy of the result posted by Chinedu Okeke, the candidate who emerged as the highest scorer in the 2025 UTME with a staggering 375.
Speaking during the Board’s annual policy meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that preliminary investigations have uncovered troubling discrepancies in Okeke’s academic records.
Okeke, who hails from Anambra State and applied to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos, is already a matriculated student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he was admitted last year to study Medicine. According to Oloyede, JAMB reached out to UNN for confirmation, and the university verified that Okeke is indeed one of their current students and is performing well.
“This presents a clear violation of academic policy,” said Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor. “The law prohibits double matriculation. Sitting for UTME as an already-matriculated undergraduate provides an unfair advantage over fresh candidates. We are looking into this as potential exam mercenarism.”
He also pointed out inconsistencies in Okeke’s data. “In one record, he is listed as being from the Southeast. In another, he claims Lagos State. These contradictions raise even more red flags.”
While investigations continue, JAMB released the list of other top scorers in the 2025 UTME:
John Ayuba from Gombe State – 374
Olayinka Jimoh from Kwara State – 373
Ayibo Roberts (Rivers), Chibueze Omonugbo (Enugu), Tunmise Olawepo (Kwara), and Leslie Afinotan (Delta) – all scored 373
Chukwuemeka Azoyenime (Delta), Emmanuel Oyebode (Ogun), and Cecil Omigie (Edo) – each scored 372
As JAMB investigates the integrity of the exam results, the case of Chinedu Okeke may serve as a critical test for the Board’s enforcement of fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s educational assessment system.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna

“Nigeria Has Moved On”: NSA Ribadu Says Security and Stability Have Improved Under Tinubu
Rewritten Article (Unique Voice and Engaging Style):
At the 2025 National Cybersecurity Conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, painted an optimistic picture of the nation’s security landscape, crediting the leadership of President Bola Tinubu for ushering in a new era of stability, safety, and economic promise.
“Forget the noise—Nigeria is safer, stronger, and more investment-ready than ever,” Ribadu declared to a packed audience, aiming at critics he referred to as “expired political actors” desperate for relevance in a changing Nigeria.
According to Ribadu, sweeping reforms and deliberate security policies introduced by President Tinubu’s administration are driving tangible improvements in areas once wracked by unrest. “The Niger Delta is now calm. The South-East is steadily returning to normalcy. We’re hunting down those inciting violence from abroad—they won’t derail our progress,” he asserted.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s national security is being reinforced through strategic collaborations with telecom providers and tech partners, laying the groundwork for a formidable cybersecurity infrastructure. “Our digital shield is strong. We’re not just fighting threats—we’re staying ahead of them,” Ribadu said.
He praised President Tinubu as a “digital, enlightened, and visionary leader” with the competence and foresight needed to steer Nigeria toward long-term growth. “We have quality leadership in this country now. Mr. President is not just informed—he’s strategic. Anyone underestimating him is making a grave mistake,” he warned.
Ribadu also addressed political detractors and media pundits clinging to outdated narratives. “These are people who once looted this country. Now they pretend to be patriots on television. But Nigerians are no longer fooled—we’ve grown wiser,” he added.
He closed with a strong appeal to global investors: “Nigeria is open for business. We are the heartbeat of Africa’s future. With strong leadership and a solid security framework, there’s no better time to invest in this country.”
Under Tinubu, Ribadu insists, Nigeria isn’t just changing—it’s rising.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna