Edo State in southern Nigeria has halted plans for a major oil and gas conference and suspended a key official following allegations of unauthorized fundraising. Governor Monday Okpebholo ordered the indefinite postponement of the Edo Oil and Gas Summit, originally slated for August 7, and removed Felix Isere, his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, from office over claims he solicited funds without official approval.
The decision, announced Tuesday by the state’s Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, cited “unauthorised fundraising” as the reason for Isere’s immediate suspension. A official directive requires Isere to reimburse all contributions already secured for the event and bars further engagement with potential sponsors. “Prospective donors are hereby advised to stop all dealings with the suspended appointee,” read the statement, which emphasized the administration’s commitment to accountability.
While the exact sum collected remains undisclosed, the move underscores growing scrutiny of administrative conduct in one of Nigeria’s oil-producing regions. Edo State, though not among the nation’s top crude oil hubs, has sought to attract investment in energy infrastructure and related sectors. The now-suspended summit had been positioned as a platform to discuss regulatory frameworks, technology, and partnerships for the industry.
The governor’s swift action signals a crackdown on perceived financial irregularities within his administration. It follows a pattern of similar accountability measures across Nigerian states, including recent mass suspensions of officials in Ebonyi State over undisclosed infractions. Analysts note such steps often aim to demonstrate zero tolerance for graft, though critics caution that transparency in investigations remains critical to public trust.
Local stakeholders expressed mixed reactions. Some praised the suspension as necessary to safeguard governance standards, while others questioned the timing, given preparations already underway for the event. Industry groups had anticipated the summit would address challenges like outdated infrastructure and environmental concerns in the Niger Delta region.
No timeline has been provided for rescheduling the conference, leaving participants and sponsors awaiting further details. The Edo government has not yet named an interim replacement for Isere or clarified whether the fundraiser was linked to the summit’s organizing committee. Authorities declined to comment on whether legal proceedings might follow, stating only that the matter “is under review.”
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s public sector, where accusations of financial misconduct frequently dominate political discourse. For Edo, a state working to position itself as a destination for energy investment, the episode risks casting a shadow over its economic ambitions unless resolved with credible due process.
