Japan’s ruling coalition collapsed Friday as junior partner Komeito quit the alliance, putting in peril Sanae Takaichi’s bid to become the country’s first woman prime minister.

Takaichi became head of the Liberal Democratic Party less than a week ago and had been expected to be approved by parliament as premier this month.

But Komeito’s decision to end the alliance that has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for 25 years plunged Japan into a new political crisis.

The yen dropped against the dollar following the announcement, while the Nikkei closed down 1.0 per cent.

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“We want the LDP-Komeito coalition to go back to the drawing board for now and bring an end to our relationship,” Komeito party chief Tetsuo Saito told reporters after talks with the LDP.

“Given that we have not received clear and concrete cooperation from the LDP regarding our demands, and if these reforms prove impossible to achieve, I said (in the meeting) that it would be utterly impossible for us to write Sanae Takaichi’s name in the nomination,” he said.

In particular, Saito told Takaichi that her answers on the LDP’s recent slush fund scandal were unsatisfactory, media reports said.

Saito said, however, that Komeito would still support budget plans and other legislation that the two parties have prepared.

READ ALSO:Two Japanese Boxers Die From Brain Injuries At Same Event

Takaichi was due to replace Shigeru Ishiba, who took the reins last year, but whose coalition lost its majority in both houses of parliament, in part because of voter anger at inflation and the LDP slush fund scandal.

Komeito was reportedly also unhappy about Takaichi’s more conservative politics.

This includes her previous regular visits to the Yasukuni shrine honouring Japan’s war dead, including war criminals.

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The last visit to Yasukuni by a serving prime minister in 2013, by the late Shinzo Abe — Takaichi’s mentor — prompted fury from China and South Korea and disquiet from Washington.

Media reports this week said that Takaichi might skip going to the shrine during the upcoming autumn festival, which will be held from October 17 to 19.

Takaichi, 64, whose hero is Margaret Thatcher, had hailed a “new era” Saturday after becoming head of the LDP.

She had won a runoff leadership contest against the telegenic and more socially progressive Shinjiro Koizumi.

READ ALSO:Over 400 Earthquakes Rattle Japanese Island Chain

Koizumi, 44, would have been Japan’s youngest prime minister in the modern era and represented a generational change for the LDP.

The LDP has been haemorrhaging support as backing grows for smaller parties, including the anti-immigration Sanseito.

If Takaichi becomes premier, she faces a host of complex issues, including an ageing population, geopolitical upheaval, a faltering economy and growing unease about immigration.

One of Takaichi’s first official duties as premier will be receiving US President Donald Trump, who is reportedly set to make a stopover in Japan in late October.

AFP

Benin Recreation Club 1933 (BRC) has sympathised with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Command, over the painful demise of the state commandant, Agun Gbenga Joseph.

In a statement issued by the club’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, president of the club, Mr. Osayi Courage Osamuyi, described the death of commandant Gbenga as shocking and a painful loss to the security community and the state at large.

“The late Commandant’s death is indeed shocking and a painful loss. He was jovial, very accommodating, and an initiative-driven individual,” Mr. Osayi stated.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: NSCDC Commandant, Slumps, Dies In Edo

“I recall our Club’s visit to his office, where I led members of my Executive Committee to meet with him. We discussed areas of collaboration between Benin Recreation Club and the NSCDC, Edo State Command”, he said.

Osayi further urged the bereaved family and the NSCDC to draw strength from the late Commandant’s legacy of service, professionalism, and dedication to duty.

He prayed that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Recall that the Commandant reportedly slumped and died on Thursday, 2nd October 2025, while delivering a goodwill message at an event organised by the International Association of World Peace Advocates held at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre in Benin City.

The House of Representatives launched an investigation on Thursday into the compliance level of oil and gas companies with decommissioning and abandonment regulations in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

This comes against the backdrop of concerns over a staggering $20 billion compliance gap and spikes in environmental, fiscal, and social risks associated with outdated infrastructure.

This followed the presentation of a motion of urgent public importance by the Chairman, House Committee on Political Parties Matters, Mr Zakaria Nyampa, at Thursday’s plenary.

Speaking on the significance of the motion, the Adamawa lawmaker said, “Across oil-producing countries, operators are required to set aside funds during the productive phase of their assets to cover the future costs of dismantling, site remediation, and restoration.

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“This principle is clearly enshrined in Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the NUPRC/NMDPRA Decommissioning and Abandonment Regulations of 2022, yet compliance remains alarmingly poor.”

He argued that Sections 232 and 233 of the PIA mandate licensees and lessees to “Establish decommissioning programmes, maintain dedicated escrow accounts, obtain regulatory approvals, and pay penalties for non-compliance.

“Unfortunately, most operators in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors are flouting these provisions. In some cases, International Oil Companies have divested from assets in the Niger Delta without adequate D and A funding, effectively transferring future environmental and financial liabilities to the government and host communities.”

In his words, over 90 per cent of operators have failed to meet their mandatory D&A funding obligations, while regulatory agencies, particularly the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, have not shown the necessary enforcement commitment.

READ ALSO:Reps To Quiz Edun, Cardoso Over Non-compliance With Fiscal Responsibility Act

“We are witnessing a dangerous regulatory gap. The regulators must be held accountable for ensuring that every operator complies fully with decommissioning laws. Otherwise, Nigerians, especially host communities, will bear the brunt of environmental disasters,” he added.

He added that the cost of decommissioning in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is estimated between $500,000 and $1m per well, and up to $50 million per field, with total liabilities projected at $10bn to $15bn in the upstream sector alone.

“Less than 20 percent of operators have established properly funded escrow accounts. The total amount contributed so far is below $1bn, leaving a massive shortfall and compliance gap of about $15bn to $20bn across the industry,” he expressed.

Nyampa raised the alarm that the midstream and downstream sectors face huge risks, with decaying refineries, depots, gas plants, and pipeline infrastructure constituting potential remediation liabilities of up to $5bn.

READ ALSO:NNPP Expels Reps Member, Drags Him To Court

“If urgent action is not taken, Nigeria risks widespread environmental degradation, oil spills, toxic contamination, and safety hazards such as fires, gas leaks, and explosions, particularly in already vulnerable host communities.”

Following the adoption of his motion, the House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the level of compliance with decommissioning and abandonment provisions as spelt out in the PIA.

When constituted, the Committee is expected to invite relevant regulatory agencies and oil companies, scrutinise their D and A escrow accounts, and report back to the House within twelve weeks for further legislative action.