Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerians to show greater love and solidarity, declaring that poverty is not a crime. Speaking from Rome after attending the funeral of Pope Francis, Akpabio reflected on the late pontiff’s humility and commitment to service.

Akpabio, who led a five-member federal delegation to the Vatican, emphasised that the Catholic Church’s global influence extends beyond religion, describing it as both a faith and a state.

“When you look at the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church is not just a church. The Vatican is also regarded as a state,” Akpabio said during an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) via Zoom.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Akpabio-led Nigerian delegation arrives Vatican for Pope Francis’ burial

“You have the head of state that died and was buried today… heading over 1.5 billion people around the world.”

Reflecting on Pope Francis’ modest personal wealth, Akpabio highlighted the pontiff’s example of selflessness.

“You have a man who died as a man today, the Pope, who was worth only $100, showing that we cannot worship God in splendour.

“The best way to worship God is through self-sacrifice for others,” he said.

READ ALSO: Pope Francis laid to rest as the world mourns man ‘with an open heart’

He urged Nigerians to take inspiration from the Pope’s life, emphasising that poverty should not be seen as shameful.

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“Poverty could sometimes be a virtue, a virtue of God. Whatever you have, you should be able to share with your brothers and sisters, especially during this Easter period,” Akpabio added.

“Poverty is not a crime, learn from Pope Francis who just passed on”

~ Senator Akpabio

pic.twitter.com/90Tgos2JvI

— Esen (@SemiNigerian) April 28, 2025

Pope Francis passed away last Monday, prompting tributes from leaders and faithful worldwide for his commitment to humility, compassion, and social justice.

The NHS England will test all children who believe they are transgender for autism following Baroness Cass’s review of gender identity for young people last year.  The move comes after the review by Cass found mental health conditions were significantly more likely to appear in children who say they have gender dysphoria.  According to The Telegraph, medics will evaluate each child’s mental health, their relationship with family, and their sexual development.  Part of the analysis is also said to include whether they are experiencing same-sex attraction.  The new guidance is set to be released for a public consultation before being implemented later this year.  It will be used by children’s gender clinics in London and Manchester after being given the green light by Cass at the start of 2025.  An NHS spokesman said: ‘As part of NHS England’s commitment to implement advice from the Cass Review, we have recently gone out to stakeholder testing on a proposed revised specification planned to replace the interim service specification for the Children and Young People’s Gender Service. ‘We will soon be going to full public consultation on this draft specification which sets out the new holistic assessment framework that was described by Cass in her report. ‘NHS England has recently changed the referral pathway so child patients can only access gender services that we commission if they’re referred by a paediatrician or a child and adolescent mental health worker.’  It comes after the news that women are set to be barred from female bathrooms and sport, an equality chief said this month – as lawyers suggested they could be asked to use disabled bathrooms at work.  The Supreme Court’s ruling that the definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if ‘proportionate’.  Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner described the ruling as ‘enormously consequential’ and she vowed to pursue organisations which do not update their policies.  The post NHS England to test all ‘children who are transgender for autism’ appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

Some stakeholders have lauded the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and its Chief Executive Officer, Gbenga Komolafe, for the critical and patriotic role they played in steering the successful implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The stakeholders, under the aegis of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Integrity Forum (NOAIF), gave the commendation in a statement by its president, Vivian Okorafor, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Describing the PIA as what many now consider the nation’s saving grace in the oil and gas sector, Okorafor said the passage of the law would have meant little without the “visionary, competent and firm regulatory leadership” demonstrated by the NUPRC and Komolafe.

“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.

ALSO READ: Tinubu, NUPRC under pressure as demand for more local refineries increase

The forum credited Komolafe for fostering an environment where regulation has become a catalyst for growth rather than a bureaucratic stumbling block, noting that since NUPRC took charge of the PIA implementation, key investment indicators in the sector have moved in a positive direction.

“In the past, regulatory opacity drained our oil industry of investments. But the NUPRC under Engr. Komolafe 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 stated.

Highlighting the Commission’s focus on promoting Nigerian content and encouraging indigenous companies, the forum said these steps were crucial for broad-based economic development.

“One of the quiet revolutions happening under the NUPRC is the deliberate empowerment of indigenous operators. For the first time in decades, we are seeing more Nigerian companies participating actively in the upstream space, thanks to policies that favour transparency, merit, and homegrown expertise,” she said.

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It also applauded NUPRC’s introduction of digital platforms, which have simplified regulatory compliance, boosted efficiency, and reduced corruption in the oil and gas sector.

“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.

PIA ushers in new fiscal regime

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

ALSO READ: Report urges NUPRC to enhance security, transparency in oil sector

“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.

“Today, our fiscal terms are competitive again, our procedures are predictable, and the regulatory environment is much more investment-friendly.”

The forum, while calling on President Bola Tinubu to continue supporting independent regulatory institutions like the NUPRC, urged stakeholders across the sector to work together with the Commission to consolidate the gains made so far.

“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.”

She concluded by noting that while challenges remain in the oil and gas industry, Nigeria is “finally on the right path,” thanks to the PIA and the leadership shown by NUPRC.

“No law is perfect. No reform is ever completely painless. But with the NUPRC’s 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.”

The Nigeria Oil and Gas Integrity Forum pledged to continue monitoring developments in the sector and supporting initiatives that deepen transparency, expand opportunities, and ensure Nigeria’s energy wealth benefits all citizens.