The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says the Port Harcourt refinery will begin operations in early August.

Mele Kyari, NNPC’s group chief executive officer (GCEO), said the operationalisation of the refinery is one of the emerging indicators in the energy and gas sector that Nigeria would become a net exporter of petroleum products by December.

Kyari spoke on Monday at the national assembly when economic stakeholders appeared before the senate committee on finance led by Sani Musa, a lawmaker.

The NNPC GCEO said in a few months time, oil production level for the country would hit 2 million barrels per day (bpd) as all enablement towards this has already been put in place.

The oil and gas industry, according to Kyari, is very critical in bringing a turnaround in the current economic situation and “we understand the importance of this”.

“We have already seen growth in our oil and gas production because of certain actions that Mr. President personally took, and also the very mere truth that we have also declared a war on production activities, and this is yielding the required results,” he said.

“The combination of these two has now seen us restoring production in our country, and we believe that, as the Honorable minister has said, we will soon hit the target of 2 million barrels oil production per day.

“Specific to NNPC refineries, we have spoken to a number of your committees, that it is impossible to have the Kaduna refinery come to operation before December, it will get to December, both Warri and Kaduna; but that of Portharcourt will commence production early August this year.”

Kyari had said the refinery would begin production by the end of March, but this has not happened.

TheCable had reported that president recently expressed concerns over the NNPC’s failure to deliver critical projects including the Port Harcourt refinery.

But Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said such projects often take time, adding that the refinery is at its final rehabilitation stage.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has expressed concerns over the scarcity of foreign exchange (FX) in Nigeria.

PMG-MAN spoke during a news conference in Lagos ahead of the 7th Edition of the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo (NPME).

According to the association, it is impossible for pharmaceutical companies to cope, adding that the forex scarcity led to the exit of several multinational pharmaceutical companies in the country.

Speaking at the conference, Patrick Ajah, chairman of the local organising committee for NPME 2024, said a stable exchange rate is crucial for the progress of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

Ajah, the managing director of May & Baker, also highlighted the challenges posed by the fluctuating value of the naira, which has deterred investment and planning within the industry.

“Unless the value of the naira is stabilised, achieving the country’s target of 70 percent local drug manufacturing will remain a mirage,” he said.

“The recent fluctuations in the value of the naira have made it difficult for companies to plan and invest.

“This is one major reason why multinational companies are leaving. It’s not the fear of subsidy removal.

“If we didn’t tamper with the currency, all the multinational companies would be here, and they would still be making more investments.”

Ajah added that the recent fluctuations have made it nearly impossible for companies to cope, forcing many multinationals to withdraw.

“Many companies are not able to cope. So, fixing our exchange rate is going to be the one single thing that will immediately reset where we are,” he added.

Ajah also highlighted the recently signed executive order by President Bola Tinubu, which removes tariffs and value-added tax (VAT) on pharmaceutical imports, which is yet to take effect.

He, however, called for the government to implement additional measures, including fixing the exchange rate, to attract and retain multinational investments.

On May 1, Frank Muonemeh, executive secretary of PMG-MAN, said the country should reduce its dependence on imported drugs.

Muonemeh said Nigeria must prioritise locally produced drugs over imported medicines.

He also said the production of local medicines must be taken as a national security issue.

In 2023, prominent pharmaceutical multinationals, such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Nigeria Limited stopped operations in the country, citing the forex crisis.

While GSK ended its 51-year presence in Nigeria in August 2023, Sanofi exited in November last year.

The detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, was on Tuesday, whisked into Federal High Court in Abuja in a wheelchair.

Gambaryan, who was dressed in a black T-shirt with blue jeans trousers, is facing a money laundering charge alongside the cryptocurrency firm.

When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that though the matter was scheduled for the continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho was not in court.

Ujam prayed the court to stand down the matter to enable Iheanacho to conduct the trial.

Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, who appeared for Binance (1st defendant) and Mark Mordi, SAN, who represented Gambaryan, did not oppose the application.

Justice Emeka Nwite stepped down the matter until noon.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Nwite had, on July 5, ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.

The judge gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mordi.

Mordi had prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.

NAN reports that Gambaryan had, on May 23, collapsed in the open court over alleged ill-health.

The defence law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, had also, on May 27, raised alarms that the cryptocurrency firm’s executive might die in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged deteriorating health.

NAN

The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Monday, said he never knew he would live to be 90.

Soyinka revealed this while answering questions from about 383 students who participated in the 2024 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme held at Prof. Soyinka’s ARI residence, Ijegba, Abeokuta.

This was as the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, announced scholarships and gifts of laptops to nine students who emerged best in an essay competition organised to mark Soyinka’s 90th birthday.

Born on July 13, 1934, the Nobel Laureate clocked 90 on Saturday.

While answering questions from children on his life experiences for the past 90 years, Soyinka said he did not envisage living up to 90, adding that he decided to be a writer to correct some anomalies from stories he listened to while growing up.

On why he broke into a radio station during the military era, he said: “I never broke into a radio station, but sneaked in. The radio station was holding on to something that belonged to the people, and I decided to retrieve it. If that item had been played, it would have demoralised the people and established the culture of brutality.”

He chided Nigerians for always criticising the state but unwilling to examine themselves.

Soyinka said crimes like kidnapping and robbery, among others, could not be blamed on poverty or inequality, but on selfishness and the desire to live a life of luxury.

He lauded Abiodun for helping to develop the environment around his abode and saving it from degradation, even as he emphasised that this has led to his not abandoning the country.

Speaking during the programme, Abiodun emphasised that the gifts of scholarships and laptops were to encourage the students to keep writing as well as motivate others to participate in the next edition of the competition.

Describing the Noble Laureate as the most celebrated black African, who had excelled in his chosen career, the governor noted that as the key to bringing about change and prosperity in Nigeria and around the world, it was imperative to engage the youth and ensure that their thinking and goals were oriented toward progress for the motherland and humanity.

He said the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange was established to honour the playwright’s legacy and reflect on his lifelong commitment to education, cultural exchange, and nurturing future leaders.

He added that the initiative underscored Soyinka’s values, which include justice, freedom, and the pursuit of excellence in the arts and humanities.

Abiodun said this year’s theme, “Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding Nation-Building,” perfectly encapsulated  Soyinka’s profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world. 

The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange focuses on essay competition,  advocacy, and performing arts, which include poetry, drama, and Spoken Word.

The governor said: “We celebrate a project that, for over 14 years, has upheld his ideals and vision. There is no doubt that the Nobel Laureate has optimally utilised the inherent values and wisdom of African culture and tradition in his global engagement as a world citizen of African descent.

“The mission and underlying objectives of WSICE are clear and commendable. They seek to create unity among mankind regardless of nationality, culture, or religion by focusing on youth as the future of humanity, in line with the thoughts and guiding principles of Professor Wole Soyinka.”

The 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme drew students from different parts of the country who participated in an essay competition on national and international topics.

About 383 students participated in the competition, 90 were chosen, while nine were selected with Alabi Oluwanifemi emerging as the best essayist, Okoye Collins John coming second, and Adebusi Adeoluwa, coming— third.

Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has said Northern politicians, past and present, are responsible for poverty in the region.

Senator Uba Sani said the number of unbanked northerners, out-of-school children and those living in poverty is scary.

He said the cause of insecurity and crisis in the region affecting Nigeria was because the northern politicians in the last 15 years put more northerners below the poverty line.

He said his administration had to open accounts for 2.1 million Kaduna residents to be able to support them. He added that throughout the North, 65 to 70 percent of northerners are financially excluded because they are unbanked.

“In the last six months, we opened accounts for 2.1 million in banks. That is why we can support them. In many parts of northern Nigeria, in some states, about 65 northerners are unbanked, that is why we are having crisis of poverty, crisis of insecurity.”

Governor Sani said this on Tuesday while speaking on NTA Good Morning programme.

“In North, we have millions of out-of-school children. Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the whole world, but 7o percent of that number are domiciled in North, for me that is scary.

He continued, “That is why when people are complaining about insecurity, about poverty, I ask everyone, all of us who are in who politics, who are in government, even some who are in private sector in Northern Nigeria, we need to look at ourselves in the mirror and tell ourselves the truth, all of us must be blamed.”

“In the last 15 years, the level of poverty in northern Nigeria is very scary. In 15 years ago, if you look at the poverty index, only about 35 percent of our people are below the poverty line.

“Today, 15 years, in some states about 70 states of our people are below the poverty line. so I believe all the politicians in northern Nigeria, whether you are former president, former vice president, whether you are a senator, a governor, a minister in the last 15 years you must be blamed for that.

“So we need to sit down and stop blaming everyone and blame ourselves and we need to find solution, that is unacceptable and we should also stop misinforming our people this time. we need to find solution,” he added.

The Kaduna State governor said his administration would ensure the resettlement of victims of banditry was done transparently. He said his administration had to include community leaders and affected families in the process to ensure transparency.

A prominent Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, known as Igboho, has reportedly issued a new eviction notice targeting notorious herders involved in kidnapping and robbery in the South West zone.

This latest directive was communicated through an audio message by his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, although its authenticity remains unconfirmed.

The call to action follows renewed hostilities in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, where locals have suffered increased violence, including kidnappings and killings by the herders.

According to a resident speaking to Vanguard, these criminal activities have also hindered farmers from accessing their fields, exacerbating tensions in the region.

Igboho previously warned these herders to vacate the area a few weeks ago and has suggested the establishment of local security outfits to protect farmers from ongoing intimidation and violence.

In the audio message, Koiki spoke in Yoruba, saying, “Today is the 15th of July, 2024. This breaking news is issued around 6pm. All Fulani people living in Oke Ogun, living inside the bushes there, who are kidnappers, that are killing the people, are immediately ordered to leave now. Sunday Igboho said he would continue his work at Oke-Ogun, in Kishi, and all communities that made up of Oke-Ogun. He said he would touch all those places remaining.

“All Fulanis should leave the bush in Oke-Ogun. The forest does not belong to you. The land belongs to us. He added that he is also waiting for the Obas in other parts of Yoruba land to speak up if they are witnessing attacks from Fulani people in their domains.”

As claimed in the audio, Igboho made it clear that he is not fighting any governor, but he’s ready to show the herders troubling his people out of the zone.

He added that his men would comb all the forests presently occupied by herders across the Yoruba lands after getting permission from kings in Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, and Osun states.

He said his men “are currently working on how to storm the forest in Oke Ogun land in Oyo State and warn all Fulani living there to vacate immediately.”

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday constituted a special technical and legal committee to review the recent supreme court judgement on local government financial autonomy.

The Attorney-General and commissioner for justice, Barrister Abiodun Aikomo in company of the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Hon Ademola Ojo disclosed this at a press briefing shortly after a consultative/advisory meeting.

Governor Seyi Makinde, had earlier before the close door meeting, berated the supreme court judgement and strategies by the federal government to usurp undue authority over the state and local government administration, thereby causing tension within that nation’s polity rather than focusing on other germane issues affecting the nation’s economy.

At the press briefing, Hon Ademola Ojo assured that Governor Seyi Makinde remained committed to the people’s well being and would protect and safeguard the interest of all stakeholders

Barrister Aikomo who explained that the terms of references which specifically hinged on review of the supreme court judgement, identifying challenges and proffering recommendations that would result in implementation plan for the benefit of all stakeholders, noted that the committee had been given a duration of 4 – 6 weeks.

The attendees at the meeting were drawn from various relevant groups and other stakeholders in the state, among whom were the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, and Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP and representative from the state house of assembly.

The Lagos State Task Force has arrested eight suspects for selling contaminated turkey seized by the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos State.

This was disclosed in a press statement released by the spokesman of the Lagos State Task Force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.

According to Abdulraheem, the suspects were arrested in the Epe area of the state during a raid on Sunday.

The agency discovered that “dozens of cartons filled with contaminated turkey seized by the Nigeria Customs Service and set ablaze at a dumpsite somehow found their way into the hands of unscrupulous elements trying to sell it to members of the public.”

The statement read, “I am glad this menace has been nipped in the bud before it blows out of proportion. The state is currently battling to contain the cholera outbreak in some parts of the metropolis, so we need not compound the issues. Rather, it’s our responsibility to the citizenry to ensure sinister forces do not plunge the state into crisis for their selfish gains.”

“The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who led the operation, said goods confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service must have failed at some point to meet the required health and safety standards before being deemed unfit for human consumption, which led to them being set ablaze at a dedicated dumpsite.

“We cannot allow some ignorant individuals to reintroduce products which have been condemned by a federal agency to find their way back into the market. Contaminated foods like this could cause cancer, lung or liver disease, and so on. Consumption is highly dangerous, and we are here to ensure that Lagosians are protected at all costs,” he said.

“Akerele noted that all contaminated goods were recovered and brought to the headquarters of the agency while the arrested suspects would be charged in court.”

Residents of Kuchi, an agricultural community in Munya Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, are enduring a prolonged crisis as 148 farmers remain in captivity fifty-three days after a brutal bandit raid on May 24, 2024.

The raid, carried out by over 100 bandits, resulted in the abduction of the farmers, including pregnant women and children. The captors have since demanded ransom for their release.

Abdulmalik Iliyasu, speaking with Daily Trust correspondent, shared the community’s distress, revealing that some farmers have died in captivity. He explained that the bandits collected ransom before notifying families of the deaths.

“The bandits are demanding N2 million and a Honda motorcycle for each captive. We are farmers, and without access to our farms, we have no means to raise such sums,” Iliyasu lamented.

Iliyasu also disclosed that informants within the communities have been sabotaging negotiation efforts by revealing wealthy families to the bandits, leading to increased ransom demands.

Communities such as Kapana, Wuloto, and Godan also have residents in captivity, exacerbating the region’s crisis. The district head of one affected community highlighted the pervasive fear among farmers, exacerbated by the bandits’ threats of further attacks and the loss of livestock during raids.

Residents are appealing for government intervention, particularly securing the Dan-Gunu riverbank, a known crossing point for bandits entering Munya LGA from Kaduna State.

They urged authorities to support their return to farming, essential for their livelihoods.

In response, SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, assured that ongoing efforts are being made in collaboration with the military to rescue the victims.

He emphasized the coordinated operation between Niger and Kaduna states