Managing Director, Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa has described as tragic the boat mishap that claimed many lives in Patigi LGA of Kwara State.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the commission, Nura Tanko, the HYPPADEC boss said the incident was shocking and sad owing to the intensity of casualties recorded.
He said the Commission had already dispatched a team of experts from Kwara state office to assist in search operations while awaiting the comprehensive report on the mishap to be guided on the next line of action.
The incident, according to reports, occurred when a wooden boat carrying about 300 people returning to Ebbu after a wedding capsized, claiming about 150 lives.
The Kwara state police command through its spokesman, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed in Ilorin on Tuesday that 103 persons died in the boat mishap.
Abubakar, expressed sympathy to the family of the bereaved while praying for quick recovery of the survivors.
He also expressed heartfelt condolences to the Kwara State Government, Patigi Emirate and the families of the deceased.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told the new leadership of National Assembly that it is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria.
The president stated this on Tuesday in a message on the election of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Rt. Honourable Tajudeen Abbas as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly.
Tinubu, who described their election as a good development, congratulated them and rejoice with the new Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for their well-deserved victories.
He said being elected by their peers as presiding officers and assuming the leadership of the National Assembly remained a great honour that came with huge responsibility, adding that “I trust that you will justify the confidence reposed in you by your members and many Nigerians.”
He also wished Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Honourable member Idris Wase and Honourable Aminu Jaji who he said enriched the process with their participation in the leadership election the best and a successful tenure in the 10th National Assembly.
The president urged them to sustain the same level of enthusiasm they brought to the leadership contest in the discharge of their duties to their constituents and Nigeria.
“My congratulations to all members of the National Assembly, across party lines, who, today, enlisted into the service of the blessed people of our great country.
“We have all been called upon and accepted the responsibility to diligently and faithfully serve our fatherland with the oath we took. It is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria,” he added.
Tinubu expressed his preparedness to “transparently” work with the National Assembly, saying “Nigerians expect distinguished Senators and Honourable members to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes including improving their quality of life.”
The president said promises made during campaigns could only be fulfilled when both the executive and legislative arms of government worked “together in harmony but with respect for our respective prerogatives and in the best interest of our country.
“I will remain a partner in progress for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria. I count on the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and all members to work and walk with me on this governmental journey.
“Once again, I send my best wishes.”
A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima has disclosed that decisions taken so far by President Bola Tinubu are poised to make the country better.
This was made known on Monday by Galadima at the inauguration of the Nuite De-Paris Restaurant owned by Maria Namvar, an Iranian investor, in Abuja.
He said Tinubu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is starting well as president, adding that he hopes the tempo will be maintained.
“For those of us who have been in trenches in politics for the last 45 years, you will know that this time around the difference is clear,” he said.
“We do appreciate Mr President and so far he hasn’t disappointed us for having been on the right track so far.
“We do pray and hope that the action man will continue the work he is doing to make Nigeria a better place for us.”
Also speaking, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the iyaloja-general of Lagos and daughter of the president, said she will always support entrepreneurs who are striving to make available job opportunities for the youths.
On her part, Namvar said she is ready to invest more in Nigeria, adding that “there are plenty of opportunities” in the country.
The Nigerian Bar Association on Tuesday told the President, Bola Tinubu, that the determination of what “constitutes “illegal orders” still remains a matter within the exclusive preserve of the courts of law” and not the presidency.
The NBA made the clarification in a letter released by its president, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, in reaction to a statement by the President, during his Democracy Day address, “that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.”
Maikyau, in the letter, reaffirmed that the NBA will at all times “vehemently oppose any attempt by any person or group of persons to truncate or in any way abridge our democracy”, he, however, insisted that the president cannot ascribe to himself that role.
Maikyau further congratulated Tinubu on his swearing-in as the sixth democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and tasked the new government to focus on the immediate issues of national security, economy and administration of justice.
The letter read in part, “What Nigerians require is a well-thought-out, informed, all-inclusive and purposeful intervention, with as much information made available to the public, to the extent permitted within the parlance, so as to reassure Nigerians of the sincere commitment of the government in the area of security.
“Government must be transparent; the people must, by deliberate and conscious investment in manpower development and equipment purchase/procurement, be taken out of the state of fear, which decades of bloodshed and flourishing criminal activities have plunged the country into; the psyche of Nigerians must be recovered from the place of despair and despondency! The right people must be given the task of implementing security plans and policies.”
While admitting that the preponderance of views supports the removal of subsidy by the new government, Maikyau noted the need to ameliorate the effect of the removal on the citizens.
He said, “What remains, however, is the need to immediately deploy such measures that will address the ensuing difficulties associated with the withdrawal of the subsidy.”
“With the level of infrastructural deficits in many respects and the reliance on petroleum products as the primary source of power for most businesses, entrepreneurs, and private users, there is an urgent need to put in place policies that will help cushion the effect of this otherwise laudable decision before its positive impact will begin to be felt or noticed within our socio-economic space.”
On the issue of the administration of justice, the NBA President noted that “every aspect of our judicial infrastructure requires fundamental rethinking.”
“Our approaches to policing, adjudication, bail, sentencing, and imprisonment need changes in significant ways. Achieving the desired justice system will be a process, not an event.”
“Nevertheless, change must be accelerated to keep up with the expectations of Nigerians, particularly those of the poorest and most vulnerable communities. Such change must be thoughtfully planned and carefully managed. We are confident that under your able leadership, Nigeria will be able to respond effectively to these various challenges.”
Senator representing Borno South district, Ali Ndume has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu sneaked out to beg some lawmakers to support his preferred candidates for the 10th national assembly leadership positions.
This was made known on Tuesday by the Senator while speaking in an interview with Channels Television.
Ndume said the president deployed his “foot soldiers” to deliver his preferred candidates.
Recall that the Senator representing Akwa Ibom north-west, Godswill Akpabio was elected senate president after polling 63 votes to defeat his challenger, Abdulaziz Yari, who scored 46 votes.
Barau Jibrin, a senator from Kano, was declared deputy senate president.
Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker representing Zaria constituency in Kaduna, was elected speaker, while Benjamin Kalu from Abia state, was declared deputy.
The new leaders of the national assembly got the backing of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tinubu.
Reacting to the development, Ndume said the president is an “experienced” politician, adding that he convinced many lawmakers to support his preferred candidates.
“When I contested last time (2019), everybody was on the other side because the party and president endorsed Ahmad Lawan,” he said.
“It is almost a repetition of the same thing, the party and the president had a preferred candidate but this president (Tinubu) is an experienced politician who has played a lot of politics.
“He deployed his foot soldiers to complement our (campaign team of Akpabio) efforts and that made a difference. The vice president assisted us.
“He called some people. He even went to some people. It is politics. He sneaked out to visit some people and begged them to support. He has his reasons and there were convincing.”
Mahmood Yakubu May Testify At Tribunal After INEC, Tinubu’s Lawyers Counter PDP’s Video On BVAS
Admin…. Judges, Lawyers Watch Video Of EU Criticizing Presidential Election
Lawyers representing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress took their turn to cross-examine the People’s Democratic party Situation room National Coordinator,
Dr. Alex Adum Ter Esq, at the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja, after he tendered video evidence of the comments of the Commission’s head and the European Union Observer Mission to Nigeria on the polls.
The PDP as well informed the court of its subpoena against the INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood following the constant objection to certified true copies of electoral documents tendered at the PEPC by the electoral umpire’s lawyers.
At the resumption of sitting on Monday, PDP counsel, Chris Uche SAN,
presented before the court , his star witness, Dr Alex Adum Ter Esq who served as National Coordinator of the PDP Situation room during the 2023 election.
He adopted his witness statement on oath wherein he mentioned the video of the INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye as well as the European Union Election Observer Mission, as evidence including the certificate of authenticity of the videos in line with the Evidence Act 2011.
But the lawyers representing INEC, President Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress vehemently opposed the videos being tendered as evidence and played before the court.
But the five-man panel of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani noted their objections, reserved ruling till judgement but gave the PDP go ahead to play the video evidence.
The first video was where Mahmood said no going back on using BVAS for voter accreditation and transmission of election results in realtime.
The second video was where Okoye said there will be no incidence forms on election day and that if BVAS fails to work, the election at such polling unit will be rescheduled for the next day.
The third video showed the press briefing of the EU Observer Mission to Nigeria where its official, Barry Andrews, said there was a lack of critical planning and lack of transparency on the part of INEC regarding the transmission of scanned polling unit results to IREV.
After the videos ended, Uche applied to tender screenshots of the IREV portal of INEC as at March 18 and March 19, as mentioned by the witness.
He also tendered the INEC CTC IREV report showing 9403 polling units uploaded as of March 1, out of 176,000 polling units.
INEC lawyer A.B Mahmoud opposed the “so called” screenshots of IREV by the PDP while counsels to Tinubu and APC aligned with his objection, except for the one certified by the electoral umpire.
The court still admitted them while reserving ruling till judgement.
Under cross-examination by INEC lawyer, Mahmoud, Ter admitted he was not at the INEC National Collation Centre in Abuja.
The witness said he remained in Abuja on election day and the days following the election up until the declaration of result, adding that he voted.
“You are not an ICT expert?,” Mahmoud asked him.
“I am not an ICT expert,” he replied.
Mahmoud asked him why he made reference to certain calculation errors in the final results but did not specify details of such errors in his statement of oath.
The witness said he did not but added that statisticians the PDP engaged reviewed the IRev and had the actual figures.
He insisted there were no technical glitches on election day.
During cross examination by Tinubu’s lawyer, Akin Olujimi SAN, Ter said his statement on alleged corrupt practices were received from PDP state and local government collation agents.
When pressed further, he agreed that the polling unit result is the primary source of validating election results.
Asked how he knew that there was deliberate bypass of the BVAS machine during the presidential election, the witness said he got it from videos shared to the PDP situation room by party agents.
Asked if he had in his statement, any other final result different from the one announced by INEC.
The witness said he had none.
APC counsel, Benjamin Umoh SAN pressed further on the use of BVAS, saying it is used for accreditation and transmission of scanned result after poll result has been announced at polling unit.
He answered in the affirmative.
The star witness was then discharged from the testimony dock.
Uche subsequently called the 20th witness by the name Olatunji Shelle, a retired naval officer and politician who served as Lagos State PDP Collation agent.
He admitted he was not at his polling unit when counting was concluded and announced.
When asked by the INEC lawyer to substantiate his allegation about secret polling units in Lagos, the witness said he had an idea about them but did not visit any of them.
“As at today, Labour party won Presidential election in Lagos as declared by INEC?,” Tinubu’s lawyer Yusuf Ali SAN asked him.
“Yes,” he replied.
He was asked to confirm if the Labour party won the presidential election in Lagos state, to which he replied, saying “That is as announced by INEC.”
Uche subsequently called for adjournment of his matter till Tuesday.
He also informed the court that he has subpoenaed the INEC chairman and national Commissioner to appear in court and produce electoral documents, since their lawyers are busy objecting CTCs of documents from their Commission.
THE WHISTLER reports that before now, the PDP had brought 18 witnesses, largely state collation officers and INEC ad-hoc staff, to substantiate their claim that the election was rigged.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday, denied claims that it already gave a license to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, owner of the Dangote refinery to import the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol pending completion of his refinery.
The company stated that it is not within its jurisdiction to grant a license or permit for fuel import.
According to the report, published in a national daily, the writer alleged that the imported fuel would be discharged at the Dangote barge and pumped into tanks to be sold at a market-dictated price to marketers while work progresses at the refinery.
But reacting to the report, the media relations manager at the NNPCL, Onyi Sunday who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune over the phone, described the report as misleading stating that the company was not a regulatory organization.
Her words:” The report is misleading. We don’t grant licenses or permits because we are not a regulatory organization. The responsibility lies with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), not NNPCL. You should check with them. NNPCL has just a small stake of 20 per cent in the refinery.”
However, efforts to reach the NMDPRA Spokesperson, Mr. Kimchi Apollo failed as his phone line was off at the time of filing this report.
Ali Ndume, a senator from Borno South Senator senatorial district, has made it clear that he should not be held responsible if Godswill Akpabio does not live up to expectations in his new position as the Senate President.
Ndume was a significant supporter of both Akpabio and deputy speaker Barau Jibrin during their recent election.
Following the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, Senator Ndume appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today yesterday, where he addressed concerns about his endorsement of Akpabio and the potential repercussions on his own reputation.
When asked whether Akpabio’s performance would reflect on him as one of his endorsers, Ndume countered the notion, stating, “I don’t think that is right. I’m not Akpabio. Even before God, Akpabio will account for his own; I will account for mine.”
Ndume firmly believed that he should not bear any responsibility for Akpabio’s actions in his new position.
Acknowledging his endorsement, the Majority Leader of the ninth Senate admitted, “I said he’s the best. If he turns out to be the worst, I’m not going to be responsible. How can you hold me accountable? I didn’t force anybody to vote. I believe he’s the best, but I don’t know what he will do tomorrow. I can’t say that.”
Ndume emphasised that his expectation of Akpabio’s performance is based on their four-year acquaintance.
He highlighted Akpabio’s previous role as a minority leader while he served as the majority leader, emphasizing his intelligence, passion for certain issues, and his ability to transcend tribal affiliations.
He said with a background as a qualified lawyer, minister, and commissioner, he said Akpabio possesses the necessary qualifications to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
Kuje Prison Certifies Ibom Air Passenger Protesting Tinubu’s Inauguration As “Mentally Unstable’
AdminThe Kuje Correctional Centre has presented to the Zuba Magistrate Court, the medical report of the psychiatric evaluation of Obiajulu Ujah.
On March 31, the individual, who was thought to be a fan of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, created a commotion at the Abuja airport.
Ujah was ejected from a Lagos-bound Ibom Air flight after vociferously opposing the May 29 inauguration of President Bola Tinubu.
Upon his arraignment in April, he was sent to prison for one month to enable medical experts to determine the state of his mental health.
The medical report signed by the Kuje Prison Chief Medical Officer (CMO) suggests Ujah has a mental disorder, PRNigeria reported on Tuesday.
At the last sitting at the FCT Magistrate Court in Zuba, Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad subpoenaed the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Also summoned was the Kuje Correctional Centre CMO to “provide his opinion in writing as to the state of mind of Ujah, who is said to be mentally-challenged”.
With the report now tendered before the court, Ujah will know his fate at the next hearing in the matter adjourned to the 15th day of June, 2023.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has begun a 21-day medical leave abroad and transmitted power to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his deputy.
In a letter to the House of Assembly, Akeredolu said Aiyedatiwa would function in acting capacity pending the time his leave is over.
Olamide Oladiji, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who received the copy of the letter, revealed that Akeredolu shall resume work on July 6, 2023.
Mr Oladiji said, “The leave which commenced on the 7th of June, extends to the 6th of July, 2023 due to the Public Holidays on June 12 (Democracy Day) and Eid el Kabir (28th and 29th, June, 2023).
“The Governor, who had directed his Deputy, Hon.Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to act as the Governor while away, has assured of his resumption on the 6th of July, 2023.”
While describing the governor as a lover of peace and an apostle of rule of law, Mr Oladiji wished him a speedy recovery and a joyful vacation.
The continued absence of Akeredolu, particularly, at public functions, had attracted mixed reactions.
Some residents, especially critics, had attributed the governor’s long absence to an undisclosed ailment, but his aides had insisted that he was doing well.
They later admitted he was indisposed but sad the situation was under control.
The governor’s fragile health and absence from duty had also led to political intrigues and a split in the cabinet.
Recall that the opposition political parties in the state had demanded the whereabouts Akeredolu, asking him to transmit power to his deputy in line with the provisions of the Constitution due to his health challenge.
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The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Tuesday, commended the courage of some Igbo leaders in making a case for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu founded IPOB in his quest to liberate the people of the old Eastern Region from Nigeria’s structure. He is charged with running a proscribed group, jumping bail and treason. He is presently in the custody of the Department of the State Services after being brought to Nigeria from Kenya in a manner Nigeria’s Appeal Court described as ‘extraordinary rendition’.
Among personalities IPOB commended are Rev Father Ejike Mbaka, Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State, Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and Kanayo .O. Kanayo of the Nollywood fame.
The commendation was contained in a release by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful. Powerful claimed that Kanu is the only political prisoner incarcerated for being an Igbo man.
Quoting him, “The global family of Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, commend the efforts of Igbo sons and daughters, and other pro-Biafra groups, human rights defenders, and lovers of freedom who have called for the unconditional release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is illegally detained by the Nigeria government in the DSS solitary confinement for almost two years now.
“We wish to commend the persistent calls for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from persons like Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Anambra Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Barr. Kanayo .O. Kanayo, and others.
“Moreso, the recent call from Mbah and his personal visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is welcomed by the IPOB family worldwide.”
He said Kanu is the only political prisoner held unconstitutionally in custody without charge because he is an Igbo man, adding that, “The main reason for his persecution and illegal incarceration is because he is an Igbo Biafran fighting for the freedom and wellbeing of his people.”
He accused the federal government of ‘demonstrating hatred for Igbos’, noting that, “The Nigeria government has demonstrated hatred and disdain against Ndigbo by illegally holding onto this Igbo illustrious son without charge.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB members in various detentions, even after the Nigeria courts have ordered their release, are still being held without explanation from the Nigerian government.
“Therefore, it has become necessary for all Igbo sons and daughters to come out in unison to demand the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others from the DSS custody.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas has said that the House, which he would be presiding over, would stand to challenge the executive if it finds things are going against the interests of the public.
Abbas replied to critics who think his emergence as Speaker of the 10th National Assembly would serve the interest of the executive arm of government.
Abbas, who met with President Ahmed Tinubu shortly after his election at the National Assembly, on Tuesday told journalists that his victory which garnered votes across party lines, almost the entire PDP, SDP, ADC and all other minority parties speak of his acceptance from his colleagues.
While reacting to his emergence as Speaker, he said, “When we started this campaign, it was always good. But the impact of social media propaganda of some of the contestants distorted the entire picture of what was on the ground.
“But to God be the glory, today, people have seen our level of popularity and acceptance by our members. And it has put to shame those who always thought that we were imposed by the party and that we don’t have the numbers. Today, people have seen a record that has never been established in the past. 353 out of 359 members elected us. it is unprecedented, it has never ever happened in the history of Parliament”.
While commenting on the possibility of being a rubber stamp house, she said, “If you talk about rubber stamp? Look at the acceptance rate of those who have elected those across party lines, almost the entire PDP, SDP, ADC and all other minority parties voted for us. So if they feel that we are going to be rubber stamps, do you think they will elect us? no.
“They believe that we will safeguard the sanctity of the National Assembly, the legislators; we will always separate our independence and we will relate and be able to harmonize with the executive where necessary. But where there is a conflict of interest, we feel that the executive is or wants to do something that is not in the interest of the public. They know that we’ll stand up against that”.
Nigeria’s transportation industry will soon begin to see relief after the federal government’s petrol subsidy removal spiked exponential rise in the price of the product across the country.
The national president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, said the Association is 90 per cent ready to roll out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as alternative automotive fuel, which it is going to sell between N100 to N110 per litre before the end of June.
Okoronkwo, who confirmed said this on Channels Television’s Business Morning programme on Monday, stressed that CNG has come to serve as an alternative to petrol.
Okoronkwo, explained that CNG would help bring down the cost of energy in the country, adding, “Very soon, we will roll out. We are 90 per cent close to that, and that will also unveil many possibilities.”
He noted that fuel subsidy removal had reduced the speed with which Nigeria could have gotten another energy mix
“IPMAN has brought relief to a lot of families. We have got the usage of our natural energy, CNG, to power vehicles, generators, and even cooking,” the IPMAN president said.
The CNG is expected to reduce, to a large extent, the country’s exposure to fuel importation as natural gas would not be imported.
Okoronkwo noted that CNG-powered cars had started gaining momentum in the country because of increased awareness about its efficiency and affordability, compared to traditional fuels like diesel and petrol.
“If the government buys into what we are saying, it will act as an assistance, bring relief, and create job opportunities.
“What we need the government to do is create the market. The demand is there,” the IPMAN president said.
He added that IPMAN had gotten a lot of buy-in from companies overseas.
On what the CNG brings to the value-chain, he said, “I don’t know if you have seen what is trending this week where people with their I-pass-my- neighbour generators are beginning to use liquified petroleum gas. LPG is close to N700 per kilogramme, but this natural gas we are talking about is under N100 to N110.
“When you check what the impact will be, it will reduce the cost of food because people coming from the hinterlands bring food to the cities. From Kano, it takes them about N1.2 million to fuel trucks with diesel, but with this CNG, it will cost them about N150,000 to N200,000. About a million naira is saved that will translate to cheaper food and open up a lot of other businesses.
“It will provide cheaper energy to drive the processing zones like the agro-based industries, where the gas will also create a lot of impact.
“CNG does not replace PMS, but it is a choice. We are talking of something that will help your purse and not deepen it.”
The director of Gas Analytics and Solutions Limited, Shuaibu Bello, who also spoke at the Channels Television programme, said the CNG would be a game-changer for Nigerians.
“This is the best palliative you can give the nation. If you talk of palliative, it is not just sharing money with people, it is creating a system that will reach the rich and the poor.
“If you compare CNG price at N110 per litre with petrol now at N540 or its former price of N185, still you will have a reduction,” he said.
IPMAN had in April 2023 wrote to the Finance ministry to request that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) be mandated to release N250 billion intervention fund for the implementation of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).
IPMAN explained it asked for the fund to provide access to the Gas Expansion Fund for vehicle, commercial tricycle and truck owners to access loans to finance the acquisition of natural gas conversion kits.
At the time, IPMAN said that it had partnered with Gas Analytics & Solutions Limited to co-locate natural gas dispensers on their network of over 30,000 filling stations in Nigeria.
According to IPMAN, it controls over 80 per cent of the downstream oil sector, and as such, the collocation model would help to reduce the exposure in building new filling stations.
Similarly, the manager corporate Communications of NipCo, Biodun Lawal, speaking on the company’s desire to depeen investment in the gas sector, said the savings that will accrue from subsidy removal offers more vista of opportunities to fund the enormous gas infrastructure deficit in the nation .
“We are still investing more infrastructure with a proviso that clientele will improve sporadically
Some of the challenges in harnessing the abundant gas resources in the country includes – paucity of pipelines to transport gas across the country ,cost of conversion to use gas as auto fuel , access to gas through stations .
“With all modesty NIPCO gas Limited is the only company with over 12 CNG get to get gas for motorist” he said.
Continuing, Lawal, said motorist can now see the innate benefits in running their vehicles on gas rather than fossil fuels which government has in the past graciously subsidised even at the expense of the overall economic growth and other socio -economic development of the nation .
According to him, CNG as a preferred alternative to petrol is good for gas companies as the nation at large as or offered veritable opportunity of creating more employment opportunities ,better value creation in the Industry ,better utilisation of the endowed gas resources of the country .
He said, the benefits are enormous for motorist in terms of savings and life span of such automobiles and that the conversion cost should not be a drawback with support from government especially with fiscal policies to encourage investors to go into kits manufacturing and ancillary items like cylinders etc .
“In the interim policies can be put in place for exemption from levies of imported accessories pending when the environment will be made more conducive for it’s manufacturing in Nigeria CNG business has a good horizon in the country with the challenges tacked headlong
Lawal, said as pioneers NipCo gas, is looking forward to more inroads in the sector.
An Abuja-based sex therapist, Cecilia Agu, 40, was on Tuesday arraigned by the police before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State over an alleged N275m internet scam.
The defendant is facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, fraud, and obtaining by false pretence.
The police prosecutor, Samuel Eredia, told the court that the defendant and others at large, committed the offence on February 20, 2023, in the Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State.
Eredia said Agu defrauded one Babatunde Oyebode of N275m by sending an electronic message and misrepresenting herself that she would help him to verify, validate and authenticate his Instagram page with celebrities and other of his clients, which she did not do.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against her.
Following her plea of not guilty, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant to a correctional centre.
But the defendant’s counsel, Elvis Asia, told the court that he would be praying to the court for bail.
Consequently, Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in like sum, among other conditions.
The judge consequently remanded the defendant in the correctional centre pending when she is able to perfect her bail conditions.
The case was adjourned till October 18 for trial.