We are not involved in commercial activities — British Navy

CONTROVERSY is currently trailing the continuous issuance of bunkering permit by the Nigerian Navy, a development stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry have described as an aberration.

Speaking to Vanguard at the on-going Lagos International Maritime Week, Commodore Igbani Agwu, General Manager, Planning of the Nigerian Navy, said that the Navy had to come to issuance of bunkering permit because the space had to be regulated because of the unwholesome activities being experienced in that sector.

Agwu also said that the Navy had to come into the issuance of bunkering permit because Nigeria is the only country in the world where oil theft occurs, hence the Naval intervention.

However, some stakeholders who spoke to Vanguard debunked the claims by the Navy saying that crude oil theft occurs all over the world but that the Navies of other countries are not involved in the commercial activities of their shipping industries.

A member of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association, NISA, who pleaded anonymity,  said that Nigerian Navy’s involvement in the issuance of bunkering permit can only be permissible in Nigeria because of the entrenched interest the Navy as an institution has in commercial shipping activities.

The NISA member also said that oil theft takes place in Mexico, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Cameroon, Sudan and other parts of the world.

Also commenting, the President of the Nigerian Master Mariners Association, Capt Tajudeen Alao, argued that before the Nigerian Navy started the issuance of bunkering permit, the Nigeria Customs Service was solely in charge of such issuance.

Alao explained that the Navy got involved because of the abuse of the entire process of issuing bunkering permits and approvals adding that the Navy is also put in charge of economic breaches on the nation’s waters.

He said: “The process of issuing bunkering approval is not an easy procedure. The approval is first given to the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, who in turn sends the approval to the Headquarters of the Nigerian Navy in Abuja before permit is finally granted to the applicant,

“I agree that there is oil theft in some parts of the world but our own situation is worse than what is obtainable elsewhere. All those areas you just mention do not have creeks like we have in Nigeria. Even with the kind of measure the government has put in place, oil theft is still going on, oil pipelines are still being broken.

“Crude oil theft is an international crime, because it is big business and the people involved are ready to invest anything, money, blackmail in order to achieve their aim’’.

A British Navy officer, Commander Dan Wiskett told Vanguard that the British Navy is not in any way involved in the commercial activities of his country.

A senior official of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has reacted to reports that the Dangote Refinery will sell petrol at ₦766 per litre to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted that while the base price of ₦766 per litre is set by the refinery, marketers will need to factor in additional costs such as transportation, levies, and other operational margins.

This reaction comes amid emerging reports that the Dangote Refinery is gearing up to commence the sale of petrol at this price, following the arrival of at least 300 trucks from NNPC at the refinery.

The trucks are scheduled to begin loading petrol on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

According to the official, marketers may sell at ₦790 in Lagos and ₦820 per litre in far north, amidst high price purchase of petrol across the country.

Naija News understands that marketers are currently selling petrol for buyer at the rate of ₦1,005 per litre in some states in the country.

The official in his take said, “Give and take, we can sell at ₦790 in Lagos. In the far north, it may be ₦820 per litre because of the distance.”

The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria, Gillis-Harry, however, said his group was not aware of the price of fuel from the Dangote refinery.

“Well, it will be acceptable because now we are paying NNPC ₦870 for a litre, so if we see it at ₦766, it is cheaper and we will prefer to buy that.

“I cannot determine how much we will sell to Nigerians; we will work out the retail price. It is not one individual or one organisation’s prerogative to put a price, we will work it out and we will argue out our point.

“We are ready to support Dangote, but they are not talking to us. We are the people they need; I have over 6,000 retail outlets under my management, but Dangote is not talking to us”, he added.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised serious allegations against the Presidency, accusing it of orchestrating plans to rig the September 21 governorship election in Edo State in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement released by the PDP’s Edo State Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, the party claimed that the Presidency has disbursed $2 million to compromise officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security operatives, and to buy votes.

According to the PDP, the funds were also handed to APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

The PDP further alleged that the Presidency instructed the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to disrupt elections in the party’s strongholds, intending to manipulate the outcome in favor of the APC.

Responding to these accusations, the APC dismissed the claims as baseless, suggesting that the PDP might be delusional.

The APC described the allegations as unfounded and designed to distract from the election process.

The statement reads in part, “As part of the evil ploy, security chiefs have been ordered to make heavy deployments to the strongholds of the PDP, especially those of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and our party’s candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, with the plan to destabilise the voting process in those areas.

“Some of the polling unit, registration area, and ward electoral officials have been discovered to be card-carrying members of the APC. Their task, we have learned, is to delay the result of their respective units with the aim of inciting violence and creating an unfavourable atmosphere during the election to favour the APC candidate during the compilation of results.”

However, the PDP said it would win the governorship election in a peaceful and credible contest, stating that its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was poised for victory and would secure at least 70 per cent of the votes on election day.

The party called on President Bola Tinubu to live up to his responsibility as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and allow the will of the people to prevail by ensuring a free, fair, and credible election in Edo State.

“The President must realise that keeping Edo State and Nigeria safe and peaceful is his primary responsibility, and must therefore not allow the fear that his party will lose the forthcoming governorship poll in the state to lead him to disrupt peace and security, and set Edo State and Nigeria ablaze,” the party stated.

The National Deputy Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, while speaking with Sunday Punch, stated that the PDP was the party known for rigging elections.

He said, “I am hoping that it is not coming from their bad behaviour in the past when the security apparatus in the then PDP-led government of (Goodluck) Jonathan were said to have used state funds to support political endeavours.

“We hope that is not what is colouring whatever source or so-called intelligence they received. If they claim to have one, it must be something they must prove, and they are more than welcome to bring it to the public domain.

“But outside of that, it calls for concern that they are bringing up their bad behaviour, for which the party was known in the past.”

A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has claimed that the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu has decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said that Shaibu decamped to the APC out of the frustration he suffered in the hands of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Obaseki stated this at UNIBEN during the grand finale of the APC governorship campaign.

He accused Obaseki of diverting funds and allocations from the Federal Government meant for projects in the state into his private pocket.

Oshiomhole said, “It’s only under Obaseki that his deputy governor had to decamp to APC due to his frustration.

“Obaseki has refused to sign the Peace Accord. They killed the policeman attached to our governor in waiting but Obaseki warned that they should not be arrested.”

Obaseki and Shaibu have endured a troubled relationship.

The strife led to the impeachment of Shaibu by the Edo State House of Assembly.

But an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja reinstated Shaibu as deputy governor.

Naija News reports that on September 21, the people of Edo State will decide their next governor.

Frontrunners in Saturday’s governorship election are Monday Okpebholo of the APC, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a caution regarding any efforts to manipulate the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.

Naija News reports that next Saturday, September 21, Edo State residents are expected to troop out en mass to vote for their next governor.

Atiku, who was in the state today alongside other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to support the party’s candidate, emphasized that Edo is not like Lagos, where, as he claims, the All Progressives Congress (APC) can orchestrate electoral fraud.

The 2023 presidential candidate for the PDP made these remarks in the Ekenwan area of Edo State during the concluding event of the party’s campaign rally for the governorship election.

Atiku also encouraged the citizens of Edo to safeguard their votes to prevent any potential rigging.

He said: “If you remember, four years ago, they threatened us, didn’t they do that? They said they won’t allow us to win in Edo State.

“But what did we show them, ‘we showed them that Edo State no be Lagos,’ didn’t we do it?

“So this time again, we are going to show them that ‘Edo no be Lagos.’ They can’t steal votes here, therefore, protect, defend, escort your votes.

“Make sure your votes are entered, make sure your results are announced, of you do that no Jupiter will come and change your votes.

“You are winning next week, do you agree? ‘Edo no be Lagos.”

Next Saturday, residents of Edo State will head to the polls to elect their next governor.

The major candidates in the gubernatorial election include Asue Ighodalo from the PDP, Monday Okpebholo representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).

Popular Afrobeats superstar, Divine Ikubor, also known as Rema, has urged Nigerian leaders to implement effective measures to address the hardship in the country.

He asserted that temporary relief would not assuage the suffering of the people.

The singer encouraged Nigerian leaders to establish sustainable platforms to consistently provide for the masses.

He shared his thoughts during an appearance on The Breakfast Club.

Rema also stated that he has been advising Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on some of his policies whenever they meet.

He said, “It’s not about giving rice. Do you know if some kids have an allergy to rice? What about tomorrow? What are they going to eat tomorrow?

“It’s better to create a platform that would consistently provide. Create a platform that would consistently educate. Create a platform that would consistently clothe. Create a platform that would consistently shelter the hungry people.”

A woman from the United States, Rachel Bailey, 30, has revealed that she breastfeeds her husband.

According to Bailey, the practice has made them closer and also improved her husband, Alexander, health.

The couple started the act in 2017 and have not look back since then.

According to Daily Mail, Bailey’s husband initially began drinking Rachel’s breastmilk to help her when she was over-lactating while nursing their children.

The couple insist that it’s ‘not a kink for them’ and that they aren’t embarrassed by it because ‘nothing bad has come from it all’.

Bailey said, “It’s a bit of a taboo subject, but we wanted to share it because we don’t think it’s bad and we aren’t ashamed.

“When my middle child, Aria, now six, was breastfeeding, I went away on a cruise with Alexander.

“However, I forgot my breast pump and was badly engorged for two days.

“I was in so much pain and I was scared about getting an infection, so we decided that my husband was going to try drinking the milk to relieve me.

“We were nervous about the idea of him breastfeeding from me but as soon as we did it, we realized it was perfectly fine.”

Rachel said it was ‘an instant relief when Alexander latched on’.

“On top of that, it has also created a more special bond between us which we never would have had if we didn’t start this,” she added.

When she was producing the most milk shortly after giving birth, he was drinking her milk ‘three to four times a day’.

Emerging reports indicate that the Dangote Refinery is poised to sell petrol at ₦766 per litre to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

This development follows the arrival of at least 300 trucks from NNPC at the refinery.

Multiple sources within the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, and major energy marketers have confirmed that the agreement to supply crude oil to the Dangote refinery in naira has significantly influenced the pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, announced on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Saturday that the trucks have arrived and are set to begin loading petrol on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

A major marketer who spoke with Punch on the development said, “What we are going to see based on the deal between NNPC and Dangote is similar to the DSDP (Direct Sale of crude oil and Direct Purchase of petroleum products) transactions that used to exist between NNPC and foreign refineries in the past.

“And this has really impacted positively on the price of petrol that Dangote is selling to NNPC, because the cost is around ₦766/litre. But I can’t tell how much NNPC is going to sell to marketers now.”

Another senior aide to President Bola Tinubu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the petrol would be sold at ₦766/litre.

The UK government has announced a significant increase in the financial requirements for international students, effective from January 2nd, 2025. This marks the first adjustment to the financial thresholds since 2020, reflecting rising cost-of-living expenses across the UK. 

Under the new rules, international students will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses for up to nine months. The financial requirements vary depending on whether students plan to study in London or outside of the capital:

• Studying in London: Students will now need to show evidence of having £1,483 per month, up from the previous £1,334, representing an 11.2% increase.
• Studying Outside London: Students must prove they have £1,136 per month, up from £1,023, reflecting an 11.1% increase.

These adjustments aim to align the financial requirements for international students with the maintenance loans available to domestic students, with the last financial review taking place in 2020.

To meet the new financial threshold, students intending to study in London for nine months or more will need to show a total of £13,348 in savings, based on the new monthly requirement of £1,483.

Reports confirm that the UK government made these changes to keep pace with inflation and rising living costs. The increased financial requirements are intended to reflect the growing cost of living in the UK, ensuring that international students can support themselves during their studies.

The chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, has raised concerns about internal party loyalty, citing Senator Dino Melaye’s actions during the recent Kogi gubernatorial election.

In a recent interview with Daily Trust, Umar Iliya Damagum, addressed remarks made by Senator Dino Melaye, who had referred to the PDP as a "once upon a time party."

Damagum didn't mince words, squarely placing some of the responsibility for the party's challenges on Melaye's shoulders.

"Let me remind you about that statement credited to Dino. He's part of the problem," Damagum said, citing Melaye's run for governor in Kogi State, where, according to the chairman, the senator didn't even vote for himself. "Put that on record: he didn’t go out to vote in his own election," Damagum emphasised, highlighting what he viewed as a lack of commitment to the party.

The PDP Chairman went on to question Melaye's role in allegedly harming the party’s image, stating that anyone given the party’s platform has a responsibility to uplift its fortunes. He acknowledged that while winning or losing is part of the process, candidates owe it to the party to at least lose "credibly."

Senator Dino Melaye has been suspended by the PDP for alleged anti-party activities, further deepening internal rifts within the party.