The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that the ongoing quick-fix project at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited, KRPC, will be back on stream by the end of 2024.
The Minister disclosed this during an inspection tour of Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemicals while assessing the progress of work on the ongoing quick-fix project of the Refinery in Kaduna on Saturday.
He was accompanied on the inspection by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari; NNPC Limited’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Adedapo Segun; Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; Managing Directors of the three refineries; and a host of other members of the Committee.
The inspection tour was preceded by the 14th Refineries Rehabilitation Steering Committee Meeting.
Lokpobiri said he is confident that the refinery will be restreamed by the end of 2024, considering the “significant level of progress” he has witnessed on the tour.
The Minister, who observed that he would continue to hold key players involved in the rehabilitation process of the nation’s refineries accountable, also pledged the Federal Government’s support in ensuring the timely delivery of the project.
According to the Minister, there is an urgent need to get the refinery back on stream for the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security, which are both paths to sustainable development.
Earlier in his remarks, Kyari, reassured the Minister that the fuel plant at the refinery will be delivered by the end of 2024.
Kyari said that all hands are on deck to bring the refinery back on stream, stressing that the contractor has since mobilized to the site and the needed equipment for the quick-fix activities is already in place.
“We are very confident that we will get the appropriate financing to get to the end of it, and ultimately, we will start to deliver value to Nigerians again.
“We plan the quick fix for 60,000 barrels per day so that we can start making money from this plant and we can continue the other part of the refinery to bring it up to its full-fledged capacity.
“This will also tally with the completion of the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) on the pipeline so as to have a reliable pipeline delivery infrastructure,” the GCEO stated.
The Kaduna Refinery was commissioned in 1980 to supply petroleum products to Northern Nigeria with a capacity of 50,000 Barrels Per Day.
In 1983, the capacity was expanded to 100,000 BPD by adding a second 50,000 BPD crude train dedicated to the production of lubricating oils (lubes).
In 1986, the capacity of the first crude train was expanded to 60,000 B/D. The expansions have increased the current nameplate capacity of the refinery to 110,000 B/D
The Kano State House of Assembly has approved Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s request to access a loan of N4 billion from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for the completion of Tiga and Challawa Hydro-electric power project.
The approval followed the adoption of a motion by Leader of the House, Lawan Hussaini (NNPP- Dala) at plenary.
Presenting the motion, Hussaini said that the loan has a single-digit interest and therefore not harmful to the economy of the state.
He said that the project when completed would help in revving ailing industries in the state.
The Tiga Independent Power Plant project was initiated by the administration of the former Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, to generate 35MW, using Challawa and Tiga dams.
Gov Abdullahi Ganduje who came into power in 2015 continued with the project.
Kabir-Yusuf had sent a letter of request to the house seeking for its approval which was read by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore at plenary.
The governor said the loan would be used for the completion of the project aimed at boosting the economy of the state through reviving industries, irrigation farming and powering street lights around the city. (NAN)
The Israeli military appears to have begun an invasion of Gaza without announcing it, sending troops into the enclave in what appears to be its longest and most ambitious ground incursion since Hamas carried out cross-border attacks on October 7, New York Times reports.
Troops advanced into the northern part of the enclave on Friday evening, accompanied by a massive aerial and artillery bombardment and remained there on Saturday evening, according to military officials.
However, the military has not publicly described the operation as an invasion. But its army posted videos showing Israeli forces targeting Hamas anti-tank positions.
“Starting early last night, the Israeli military, led by combined combat teams of armoured, engineering and infantry forces, is operating on the ground in the northern Gaza Strip,” the post stated.
The announcement came more than 24 hours after entering the Palestinian territory as the military expanded its war on Hamas.
As Israel presses a ground operation and continues to bombard Gaza, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has warned that there is the potential for thousands more civilians to die.
“Given the manner in which military operations have been conducted until now, in the context of the 56-year-old occupation, I am raising the alarm about the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilians to die,” he stated.
Saudi, Oman condemn invasion On its part, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has issued a statement condemning Israeli ground operations that threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians.
“The Kingdom warns of the danger of continuing to carry out these blatant and unjustified violations of international law against our brotherly Palestinians,” the statement noted after Israel announced expanded military operations in Gaza.
Oman has also voiced concern over the full Israeli incursion into Gaza, cautioning that it will have a ‘catastrophic consequences.’
Its foreign ministry warned that an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza would have “serious catastrophic consequences on the region and the world, and the prospects of achieving peace and stability.”
He called on the international community to immediately intervene to stop the Israel-Palestine war and to speed humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
The ministry added that Israel’s siege and bombardment of Gaza amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Int’l media, aid agencies lose contact with staff
Gazan internet connections and phone lines were down and the cutoff of most communications made it difficult to assess the extent of the military action. Hamas’s armed wing confirmed on Friday night and Saturday afternoon that its forces were fighting with Israeli soldiers inside Gaza.
Palestinian telecommunication networks blamed Israel’s bombardment for the wide-scale blackout, which left most people in Gaza unreachable by phone.
The blackout sparked fear and panic, according to residents who were able to reach the outside world as people struggled to get information or check on family and friends.
“The explosions were happening to our left, to our right – from all directions,” said Helmi Mousa, a Gaza City resident, who was able to use his cellphone, possibly because he had a foreign SIM card. “The anxiety has been devastating ever since the communications went black,” he added.
Following a widespread communication blackout in Gaza and a night of intensive bombing, UN chief, Antonio Guterres, said the ongoing situation “must be reversed” and repeated his calls for a ceasefire. He added that he was extremely concerned about UN staff in Gaza given the Israeli military’s blockade of communications, and that he was surprised by Israel’s unprecedented escalation of its bombardments in Gaza.
The UN chief added that he was encouraged by a growing international consensus for a humanitarian pause in the strip, where thousands of people have already been killed since October 7.
The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated on X that the blackout was “making it impossible for ambulances to reach the injured,” and international aid agencies said they had lost contact with their staff there.
A spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry said on Al Jazeera that Israeli strikes had killed nearly 400 Palestinians in the past several hours, raising its death toll in the Strip to over 7,700.
Previously, its updates came every few hours to their social media channels, but they have been silent since phone and internet connections were cut off.
Juliette Touma, the director of communication of UNRWA, said the blackout in Gaza had complicated an already difficult humanitarian operation for the UN agency.
“Today, we have only one line of communication with our director, who continues to be in southern Gaza, in Rafah. We have just been able to establish some communication with five of our area officers spread across the Gaza Strip. They are using satellite phones to communicate. But it is patchy and not always reliable.
“We received reports that the bombardments last night were believed to be some of the heaviest since the war started three weeks ago. We have already lost 53 of our colleagues in Gaza,” she told Al Jazeera, adding that it is highly likely that UNRWA could have lost more colleagues during the bombardments last night.
Touma stressed that right now, it is really important for the world to remember that across the Gaza Strip there are about 2.3million people who are very kind.
A Qatar broadcaster, Al Jazeera, said its correspondents in the Gaza Strip were able to provide sporadic updates via satellite but direct communication is often hampered due to the near-total communications blackout in the bombarded enclave.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent, in Khan Younis saïd the blackout had sent people into a devastating emotional state as some have family members in the northern part of Gaza; and are not able to get hold of them up to this moment.
“I also have family members at a hospital in Gaza, who are taking care of a patient but have not been able to reach them.
“The situation in the hospitals is still very difficult. One truck brought medical supplies to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis but that was just a drop in the ocean as the needs here are massive.
“Meanwhile, the hospital is keeping its gates open for people if they want to evacuate. It has been forced, however, to shut down major departments as it has only one power generator working due to the lack of fuel,” he added.
The United Arab Emirates asked the UN Security Council on Saturday to meet “as soon as possible” following Israel’s communication blackout across Gaza and its expanded ground operation.
The 15-member council could meet as early as Sunday, diplomats said, and the UAE has asked for UN aid chief Martin Griffiths and Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the UN agency providing aid to Palestinians, to brief, Reuters reports.
Nigeria, clerics urge end to killings
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria is reiterating its call for a quick de-escalation of hostilities by Israel against Palestine and a return to the negotiating table to continue the search for peaceful resolutions.
It also called for the implementation of the two-state solution as a permanent settlement of the inter-generational cycle of violence.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar, made the call in a statement he personally signed on Saturday.
The Nigerian government also called for an immediate durable and sustained humanitarian truce between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza and asked for the opening of a humanitarian corridor.
While noting that the situation in Gaza is dire and requires immediate attention as a result of the recent uptick in violence, he said women, children and other vulnerable groups were among innocent civilians who have suffered greatly as a result of the indiscriminate violence and are currently bearing the consequences.
Similarly, Nigerian Muslims and Christian clerics have jointly appealed to the international community to halt the killing of civilians in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes.
The clerics also expressed their concern about the number of civilian casualties in Gaza, which includes both Muslims and Christians.
This call for action was made during an interactive session with the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Abu Shawesh, organised by a Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Shaikh Ahmad Gumi.
Speaking at the forum, Pastor Yohanna Buru pleaded with religious leaders in Nigeria to understand the Palestine-Israel conflict to avoid speaking out of ignorance. He emphasized the existence of different interpretations and misinformation about the conflict that has led some individuals to overlook the atrocities being committed against the people in Gaza.
In his remarks, Nafiu Baba Ahmed, secretary to the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, noted that many Nigerian Christians did not fully understand the situation in Israel due to Western media propaganda.
[DailyTrust]
A paramount ruler in Kogi State, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Ado Ibrahim, has joined his ancestors
He died in the early hours of Sunday after a brief illness.
DAILY POST gathered that the prominent monarch, who died at the age of 95, will be buried according to Islamic rites.
It could be recalled that the late Ado Ibrahim was coronated in 1997 as the Ohinoyi of Ebira land by the then-Governor of Kogi State, late Prince Abubakar Audu.
He took over from the his predecessor Alhaji Sanni Omolorim who reigned between 1957 and 1997.
Born on February 7, 1929, late Ado Ibrahim attended both western nursery and Quranic schools, and went on to conclude his primary education in 1940 at the Native Authority (NA) primary school in Okene, Northern Region (now Kogi State).
He, began his secondary school education at Ondo Boys High School and later on moved to Oduduwa College, where he graduated in 1949.
In 1954, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and a master’s degree from Harvard Business School in 1959.
[DailyPost]
- Kogi Central stands still for APC as massive crowd converge on Okene
- We’ll deliver en bloc for Ododo – Ebira indigenes promise •Uzodimma promises to hand over to Owerri zone in 2O27
Less than 14 days to the off-cycle elections in three states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is still at the mercy of the court in Imo and Bayelsa states.
The polls will hold on November 11 in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
But two outstanding cases in Bayelsa and Imo states have created anxiety for political parties and propped up last-minute logistic challenges for INEC on the printing of ballot papers.
Following a court order on the inclusion of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the poll in Imo State, INEC has had to destroy 2.4 million ballot papers.
The ballot papers were printed a month ago and kept with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It was learnt that a case on the last governorship election in Imo State was still pending before the Supreme Court.
It could not be immediately ascertained if the apex court will deliver its judgment on or before November 11.
In Bayelsa State, INEC is still awaiting the decision of the Court of Appeal on the fate of the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva.
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “INEC is set for the off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, but the commission is at the mercy of court decisions.
“For instance, INEC had to destroy about 2.4 million ballot papers in order to abide by a court judgment which directed it to include the PRP governorship candidate in Imo State.
“INEC had a month ago printed and kept the ballot papers for Imo Governorship Election with the CBN. Imagine the loss to the nation with the destruction of the ballot papers.
“Again, there is an outstanding case in the Supreme Court on the last governorship poll in the state.
“Concerning Bayelsa State, INEC is waiting for the verdict of the Court of Appeal on APC candidate, Timipre Sylva, to wrap up its final preparations.
“In obedience to the order of a High Court, Sylva was removed from the list of governorship candidates pending the final judgment of the court.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “Unless there are new amendments to the Electoral Act, INEC will continue to be on the edge.
“Most of the cases involving INEC arise from pre-election matters of parties, including eligibility of candidates and the conduct of party primaries.
“We are handicapped; we have to obey court orders.”
Last week, while defending the credibility of the 2023 elections, INEC, in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, indicted parties and their members for resorting to litigations.
It said: “It is pertinent to note that the grounds for challenging the outcome of an election as provided in Section 134 of the Electoral Act, 2022 are not limited to the conduct of election by the commission.
“An election may be questioned on the grounds that the winner of the election was not qualified to contest the election by virtue of his academic qualifications, age, etc.
“Many of the petitioners did not challenge the conduct of the elections by INEC but the eligibility of candidates or their nomination by political parties.
“Under the law, INEC has no power to screen candidates. Similarly, only the courts can disqualify candidates.
“A report blames the pre-election cases arising from the conduct of primary elections by political parties on INEC.
“These are intra-party cases involving party members in which they join the commission and seek for reliefs binding on it.
“As everyone knows, INEC does not conduct primaries for political parties.
“Thirdly, in pursuit of their right under the law, many litigants in Nigeria unfortunately file election petitions over the most improbable cases and later withdraw them or they are dismissed by the tribunals.”
Kogi Central stands still for APC as massive crowd converge on Okene
The people of Kogi Central Senatorial District yesterday trooped out from all corners of the zone to declare their total support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Usman Ododo ahead of the November 11 governorship poll.
The unprecedented crowd that converged on Agassa Junction, Okene, some indigenes said, was a clear sign that Kogi Central would deliver votes en bloc for the ruling party in the election the state governor, Yahaya Bello, says will be free, fair and peaceful.
Various speakers at the rally described as the most attended in the history of the state, stressed that the massive turnout was an indication of pending resounding victory for the ruling party.
Addressing the excited supporters made up mainly of Ebira indigenes, the Minister of Steel Development and Director General, Kogi State APC Governorship Campaign Council, Shaibu Abubakar Audu, said: “The crowd gathered here today is unprecedented in the political history of Kogi State. In my years of following the politics of Kogi State, without mincing words, this is a game changer, a final nail on the aspiration of the opposition political parties in the state.
“The vision of Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, which has attracted this crowd, is to provide agricultural revolution across the state with massive crops produced across the senatorial district.
“We are here to pursue a Kogi agenda and not an ethnic agenda. The incoming administration will build on the legacies of Governor Yahaya Bello in massively providing infrastructure and empowerment for the people.”
Audu said the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is interested in the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant.
“He has asked that Ajaokuta be declared an industrial park. The President is also interested in ensuring that the free trade scheme across Nigeria is reviewed so that Ajaokuta can be declared a free trade zone.
“Once that is done, it would create massive jobs; 500,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created for our teeming youths. This is the reason the President is concerned and has said we cannot afford to outsource a critical State like Kogi State to a hostile opposition party.
“Kogi State will remain an APC state,” he declared.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mohammed Jamiu Asuku, said the people of Kogi Central had, by the mammoth crowd, testified to the great achievements of Governor Bello.
“The mammoth crowd is a testimony that indeed Governor Yahaya Bello has done more than enough for the people of the state. The mammoth crowd is a testimony that indeed the APC has chosen an acceptable candidate.
“The people of Kogi Central have, by today’s turnout, resolved to vote massively for Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo and Comr. Salifu Joel,” he said.
One of the key stakeholders of Kogi East Senatorial District, Hajia Halima Alfa, commended Governor Bello for bringing a new dimension to politics in the state, describing the governor as a prophet well respected at home.
Alfa said: “I have never seen this kind of crowd in Kogi State in my entire political life and since I started attending rallies in 1999. Kogi Central is no doubt APC. History will no doubt be made come November 11, as the district will produce the highest vote for the APC.”
Mohamed Idris, son of a former governor of Kogi State, Ibrahim Idris, who publicly declared his support for the APC candidate, urged the people of Kogi Central and the state at large to follow the man and party that know the road, insisting that there was no vacancy in Lugard House for opposition political parties.
Governor Yahaya Bello, who was visibly elated by the unprecedented turnout, described the sea of heads at the rally and the acceptance displayed as a show of love for the APC and appreciation of the party’s achievements under his watch.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his quality leadership and for his unflinching support for Kogi State, assuring that the party in the state would not disappoint the President and would win by a landslide in the coming election.
He said: “This unprecedented crowd is an indication that the APC has won. We have no opposition in Kogi Central and in Kogi State. We did it before, we will do it again come November 11.
“As an administration, we have done our best by uniting the people of the state. We met, on assumption of office, fault lines of disunity, ethnicity and injustice. But under our administration, we have been able to mend all the fault lines and Kogi State is now united.
“We have created employment. We built infrastructure. We empowered our women and youth like never before under any administration in the state since creation. We have made fairness, equity, justice our priority.
“I can assure you that we are leaving Kogi State better than we met it for the incoming administration. Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo is a capable hand. He is competence personified. Let’s support him to build on the legacies we have created.”
The governor assured the people that the elections would be violence-free, noting that the APC governorship candidate was not coming to learn on the job, not promoting ethnic agenda, and would hit the ground running with visible results in terms of building on the achievements of his administration.
He called on security agencies to continue the good job they had been doing in the state and clamp down on criminals before, during and after the elections.
The APC governorship candidate, Usman Ododo, expressed confidence that Kogi would remain an APC State after the November 11 governorship election.
“I will continue to deliver on the mandate of our party for the development of Kogi State and the wellbeing of our good people.
“We are serious about meeting the yearnings and aspirations of our people. We have been doing that under my mentor, Governor Yahaya Bello, and we will continue to do so,” he said.
The high point of the rally was the massive defection of members of the SDP, PDP and other political parties to APC.
Uzodimma reveals plan to hand over to zone in 2027
Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma has challenged the leaders in Owerri Zone of the state to unite and forge a common front to enable them succeed him in 2027 when he would serve out his second term.
The governor reiterated his determination to hand over to Owerri Zone at the end of his second term in 2027 based on the Imo Charter of Equity and the overwhelming support his administration has enjoyed from the zone for his re-election.
Governor Uzodimma gave the assurance at the Owerri Zone youth and women endorsement rally held at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, New Owerri, on Friday.
He recalled that the Imo Charter of Equity is for unity, peace and fairness to all the zones, adding that he will use his office and political networks to implement it.
Uzodimma urged the zone to unite for peace to attract local and foreign direct investments to the area, noting that “unity will bring prosperity, cure poverty, provide jobs that will engage the youths and reduce violence in the zone and Imo State in general.”
He called on the youths to shun violence, vandalism and destruction “because such behaviour will not bring anything good, rather it will bring destruction and stigmatisation to them.”
The Governor appealed to Owerri zone leaders, youths and women to tell those sponsoring violence in the state to stop and allow peace to reign.
“The youths should shun violence and those engaged in it because they are not our friends,” he said, pledging to continue to uphold the Nigerian project “because Nigeria is our heritage and Imo State will not abandon her heritage.”
He pleaded with everyone to unite in order to reap the gains of bigger Nigeria.
The governor recalled how he met the state in a shambles when he took office, “devastated and in turmoil” in 2020 before he “recovered it from the cemetery, revived it and today the narrative has changed.”
Governor Uzodimma further recalled how he recovered the state secretariat, reconstructed Owerri Relief Market Road in addition to the reconstruction of the three main road corridors leading in and out of Imo State when there was scarcity of funds to do that.
The governor hinted that his administration has reduced the debt profile of Imo State from N320 billion to N148 billion as well as increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N600 million to about N3 billion per month.
The Governor said he had discovered that the major problem of insecurity and youth restiveness was unemployment. Hence he decided to create both skilled and unskilled jobs for Imo youths.
He said that the first set of 15,000 unskilled jobs and 20,000 digital skilled jobs through the Cohort 1 and 2 Skill-Up Project had been created.
He also said his administration has transformed the health sector by rehabilitating the 305 primary healthcare centres, acquired mobile health clinics and built three brand-new general hospitals in the oil producing local government areas of the state.
He decried the reckless way land grabbing has been elevated to a religion and promised that by the end of the month, the IGIS will be activated and people whose lands were wrongly taken away would have them returned.
The governor thanked the people of Owerri zone, especially the youths and women, for their enormous support and appreciated them for coming out en masse to show their solidarity for his re-election.
Earlier, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Dr Macdonald Ebere, said that the “Governor has done well in all sectors of human endeavours in the state,” adding that “all local governments in Owerri Zone are standing up in his support because already, God is with the Governor and nobody will take it away from him.”
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Chief Henry Njoku (Haritex), told the governor that all youths and the women in Owerri Zone were with him, “especially as they have firm belief in the implementation of the Charter of Equity, which will guarantee the zone the Governor of Imo State by 2027.”
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Friday congratulated President Bola Tinubu over his Supreme Court victory.
Governor Eno noted that the victory has put an end to all the litigations against the President’s emergence at the February 25, 2023 elections.
The Governor who sent his congratulations at a “Thank You Meeting” by Christian Leaders in the state, on Friday, said although Akwa Ibom State is a Peoples Democratic Party state, his government would continue to align with the centre to attract developments to the state.
“I want to congratulate the president, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the supreme court. This has indeed ended all the litigations trailing the president’s emergence at the February 25, 2023 elections.”
Governor Eno noted that although the country is going through hardship occasioned by the removal of oil subsidy, his administration would make sure that every available resource is not wasted on frivolities but deployed for optimal benefits of the generality of the people
“When I say there is no money, I mean there is no money to throw around but there is money to do good things. There is money to do every good thing. Money to do investments will not be a problem in this state. Money by itself is a scarce commodity. If you throw money around like that, it will lose its value”.
He also thanked the clergymen for not allowing divisive ethnic sentiments to saturate the church community, urging them to strive to keep the church united, irrespective of political or ethnic affiliations, to be in sync with his administration’s disposition.
He reassured the group of his commitment to lead a united and prosperous Akwa Ibom State, to justify the confidence the church and entire people of the state reposed in him during the last gubernatorial election.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Christian Nyong, said the Church community was impressed with Pastor Umo Eno’s leadership strides
The CAN leader told the governor that the meeting was a representation of the various blocs that constitute the church community in the state and would engender greater support of Christians in the state toward the success of the present administration being led by one of their own.
The Lagos State Government has reopened Alaba International Market and some other markets at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, on Saturday. The state government shut the markets earlier because of improper waste management and other environmental infractions.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the markets were reopened after the environmental issues had been addressed.
Wahab dismissed claims in some quarters that political motives were behind the closure of the markets and stressed that the step was taken to ensure a clean and healthy environment around business facilities.
“I state emphatically that the closure of those markets had no ethnic or political motives as it was done to ensure cleanliness and environmental sustainability for the good of all residents. The decision to reopen the markets followed rigorous assessment and implementation of stringent environmental standards.
“These standards were set to guarantee that businesses in the state operate in a manner that is not detrimental to the environment and the well-being of the people,’’ Wahab said.
He reiterated the significance of maintaining a harmonious balance between commerce and environmental health. He said the enforcement would be continuous as the government would not hesitate to seal any market or corporate facility found wanting.
Commenting on the reopening of the markets, Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Authority, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said it worked with market officials to ensure the attainment of environmental standards.
He said it was important for markets to operate in a manner that was economically viable and environmentally responsible.
“We have standards that each market in the state has to comply with to make our business environment clean and healthy for buyers and sellers. These include proper waste management, zero tolerance for open burning of waste and zero tolerance for dumping of wastes in the drainage channels.
“Others are the engagement of market policing personnel to monitor market sanitation, observance of distance from road setbacks, medians and market surroundings to avoid indiscriminate dumping. We must also ensure the eradication of street trading and trading on road medians and shoulders, which obstruct the free flow of traffic.
“Tariffs must also be fully paid as any violation of the stated regulations would attract penalties and possible subsequent closure of offending markets,’’ he said.
Gbadegesin urged users and business owners to show commitment to environmental sustainability through proper waste disposal and adherence to environmental laws to prevent market closures. (NAN)
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused Nigerians of being too docile and ready to accept anything thrown at them.
Amaechi, who was actively involved in politics from 1999 to 2023, said this when he featured as a guest speaker at the 2023 TheNiche Annual Lecture held at Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday.
Although most of the things he said at the lecture have been reported, a 4-minute video is currently trending online.
In the video, the former speaker of Rivers House of Assembly and two-term governor of Rivers State, said he had been quiet for some reasons, including the advice of his publicist.
“There are so many television houses and individuals that approached me to speak on different issues since I left office and I declined. I declined for two reasons; one, my publicist advised me not to say anything; and he is very angry as I am speaking to you.”
“Secondly, Nigerians don’t react to anything. What is new to say, Nigerians don’t react to anything. Has any politician told you he is not a thief? Which politician told you he went to university? Which politician told you she served in NYSC, and which politician told you he has certificate?
“Nigerians know and still vote for them, so what is your problem? I say why should I speak when already there’s nothing new? Nigerians choose who to believe and who not to believe, Nigerians choose who to vote and who not to vote. Even if you come to a Nigerian man’s house and kill his mother, the father will continue his life. Nothing bothers you, nothing, so why should I waste my time?
“When we are talking about the Buhari government there is nothing that our chairman said that is new. People have said it several times, right from the Goodluck Jonathan government to the Buhari Government that I was a part of. If I was killed, what would have happened? Nothing, so you will lead a useless life. So, I chose to stay in my house quietly. Unfortunately for me I got admission to study in the Nigerian law school. And rule number one is that you are our property. You are not allowed to go anywhere. That is the rule. So anybody who says why we don’t see you; I am a student of the Nigerian law school. Until I graduate, I can’t disobey them.
“I chose not to speak because Nigerians will do absolutely nothing. If you say it’s a lie nothing will happen. Even if you are not committing any crime, Nigeria will say you are a thief and you go to prison for nothing. It’s a hopeless situation. Is it a lie? So, I will shock you that I want to talk about the Buhari government for two reasons and the Tinubu government. What moral standing do you have to criticize the Buhari government? I was a participant. That was the argument. If I will not say anything about the Buhari government, I will also say nothing about the Tinubu government because you know the problem. Instead of Nigerians finding solutions, they are committing suicide. I am praying so that you commit suicide so that by the time I wake up, I will benefit from your death by taking justice. What others resist like going on in Ghana and Kenya is what Nigerians.. no be four years. After four years, let him go. The man won another term whether magic or crook. No be eight years, he will soon go.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated his long-time ally, friend, and confidant, His Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos State, on the monarch’s 80th birthday.
The president, in a statement on Saturday by his spokeman, Ajuri Ngelale, described the revered monarch as a fountain of wisdom, knowledge, and a staunch custodian of the rich culture and traditions of Lagos.
“Oba Akiolu and I have come a long way. He is my confidant. He is a dear friend I hold in high esteem for his integrity, honour, and forthrightness. He is always generous with his wise counsel and always willing to offer his fatherly guidance.
“Baba is a defender of the truth and his people. My achievements as Lagos State Governor are partly due to his support and counsel. His Majesty’s reign has brought peace, progress, and development to the good people of Lagos,” President Tinubu said.
The president, who thanked the Eleko of Eko for his unceasing prayers and support, recalled his interventions over the years, even in trying times.
“Today, I celebrate an extraordinary monarch whose wit and foresight are peerless. May His Majesty live long, and may his reign on the throne of his fathers continue to be prosperous,” President Tinubu prayed.
“The Oba of Lagos is a monarch of many achievements. He rose to the pinnacle of his professional career, retiring as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police. The Oba is a fellow of the Nigerian Law School,” he added.
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The presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative Steering Committee has said on Friday said 7 CNG conversation centres have been established in the country.
Mr Zacch Adedeji,the Chairman of the Committee, made this known during the launch of the much awaited CNG initiative with the handing over of 2 CNG buses to the State House, Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusesan Adebiyi, at the presidential villa, Abuja.
Adedeji, who is also the acting Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), was represented by Mr Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)
He said the establishment of the CNG conversion centres symbolised the commitment of President Bola Tinubu administration to spearhead energy revolution in the country.
Adedeji said more CNG conversion centres would be established across the country, adding that the effort was a pivotal step in the country’s journey towards a cleaner and economically sound future.
He added that the project was not only about the conversation of vehicles but also creating employment opportunities.
According to him, FIRS would waive Value Added Tax on CNG purchases and seek duty waivers for the value chain.
He said that the aim was to build a sustainable future leveraging the nation’s cheap and clean energy source.
According to him, it also demonstrates Tinubu’s commitment to environmental sustainability and economic growth.
He said, “This CNG buses to be handed over to the State House are the vanguard of a future, where energy is cleaner and more economical.’’
Adedeji appreciated the President for his support and to all those who played a part in the project.
He said, “I’m pleased to announce that there are currently seven conversion centres in Nigeria and the government is actively working to establish more of them. These plans will be rolled out, starting this afternoon, by the initiative.
“This project is not only about conversion of vehicles but also about generating employment opportunities. It demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
“Moreover, it is my pleasure as your Chief Tax Officer, a position I hold alongside as Chairman of this initiative, to announce that we will be waiving the Value Added Tax on CNG purchases as well as seeking duty waivers for value-chain.
“The goal is to build a sustainable future, leveraging our own cheap and clean energy source; gas.’’
[Newsguru]
THE National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no favoured candidates in next month’s off-season governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
Ribadu made the declaration on Friday while speaking with newsmen after a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) comprising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the service chiefs.
Ribadu, who noted that the November election would be the first to be conducted on Tinubu’s watch, said his principal was determined to conduct free and transparent elections.
He said: “We are prepared and will be with you 100 percent and will work to meet the standard that you want us to meet. There is nothing as important as free and fair election in a democracy. This government is interested in that and Mr President has directed that he wants to see a free, fair and credible election. This is the first election that is going to be held under his watch.
“He said everything possible should be done to ensure that Nigerians witness free and fair elections. I want to assure Nigerians that these elections will be better than the previous ones. These elections are going to be without violence and a litmus test for us.”
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, revealed that certain candidates planning to instigate violence during and after the elections are under security watch and would be dealt with except they shelve their plot.
Egbetokun said: “We have just concluded the ICCES meeting with INEC. These elections are off-season elections and we are committed to making them free and fair elections. The security agencies are ready for these elections. We have received all necessary information from INEC which has informed us where to deploy to during these elections.
“We have carried out our threat assessment and that has informed us where to allocate our resources and the deployment of our men. All the security agencies are collaborating seriously to ensure that these elections are violence-free.
“My appeal to people who want to come out and make trouble during these elections is for them to stay away from the elections because there will be no place for them to operate.
“We are aware of mobilisation by supporters of some candidates. We are already monitoring them and we are ready for them during these elections. I appeal to those who just want to come out and disrupt these elections to stay away.
“I appeal to the electorate to come out en masse to cast their votes during these elections. We are committed to a peaceful election and there is no going back on that.”
The IGP, who said the security agencies took a position on volatile zones, was however silent on deployment.
“We have our figures and we are not going to make it public. We have given the detail of deployment at the meeting, but it is not for the media.
“All the states have challenges and we are taking care of the challenges,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Chris Musa, offered a clarification that other security agencies would only be on ground to assist the police to deliver credible elections.
He said: “We are here fully to show collaboration, cooperation and support for the police who are the lead agency in election security.
“The armed forces are going to provide full, comprehensive support to ensure that the police are able to do their job without any interference.”
[Tribune]
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the sole responsibility of determining the winners of elections in Nigeria and not the judiciary.
Falana stated this while answering questions on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday night.
His comments come a day after the Supreme Court upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 general election.
The apex court threw out the petitions from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
Falana has, however, noted that the country is yet to maintain a strong footing in the conduct of elections that are devoid of acrimony.
He said, “No doubt, the judgement of the Supreme Court ascended the electoral contestation as far as the presidential election conducted in February this year is concerned, but for sure, it is not a judicial endorsement of the conduct of the election by INEC.
“What I mean is that, even with the judgement, it is very clear that Nigeria has a long way to go in terms of ensuring that credible elections are conducted, elections that will be devoid of acrimony, elections that all of us will be proud of, but we are still a long way from there even with the judgement.
“Yes, for now, the presidential election is concluded; it should have been concluded in February, but it has just been concluded by the Supreme Court and it should not be so. The judiciary should not determine the winners of elections.”
[NewsPot]
…Chairman, 11 other members to resume Nov. 30
President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved the appointment of Prof. Tunji Olaopa as Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.
He also appointed 11 others to direct the affairs of the country’s civil service with effect from November 30, 2023.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement on Friday titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new Federal Civil Service Commission leadership team.’
The 11 others include members representing Adamawa, Gombe, and Taraba, Dr. Daudu Jalo, Gekpe Isu (Akwa Ibom and Cross River), Dr. Chamberlain Nwele (Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu), Rufus Godwins (Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa), Dr. Adamu Hussein ( Niger and the FCT) and Aminu Nabegu (Jigawa and Kano).
Others are Hindatu Abdullahi (Kaduna and Katsina), Shehu Aliyu (Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara), Odekunle Aduke (Kogi and Kwara), Jide Jimoh (Lagos and Ogun) and Dr. Festus Oyebade (Osun and Oyo).
“Upon confirmation, the new FCSC leadership is expected to commence work with effect from November 30, 2023, following the expiration of the tenure of the current Federal Civil Service Commission Chairman and membership on November 29, 2023,” Ngelale noted.
The President said he expects the new FCSC leadership to “competently facilitate the transformation, reorientation, and digitisation of the Federal Bureaucracy” to enable, and not stifle, growth.
He also expressed hope that the leaders would attract private sector participation in the development of the Nigerian economy, in full adherence to the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
Olaopa, born December 20, 1959, hails from Aáwé, Oyo State. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State in 1984. In 1987, he bagged a Master’s degree from the same course in the same institution.
Moving higher in his education achievements, Olaopa, in 2006, got a Doctorate degree in Public Administration from the Commonwealth Open University, United Kingdom. Olaopa is a seasoned Public Administrator, Political Scientist and Author. He served as the Chief Research Officer, Policy Analyst and Speech Writer at the State House, Abuja, in 1988.
He was also the Coordinator, Education Sector Analysis and Head, Policy Division, Office of the Minister in the Federal Ministry of Education. He was the Director of Programmes, Bureau of Public Service Reforms.
Olaopa also held the post of the Special Assistant on Reforms to the Head of Service of Nigeria on Public Service Reforms. In his professional career, Olaopa served as the Director, External Linkages and Reforms Department, Office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The new FCSC chairman was the Director, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Department, Bureau of Public Service Reforms.
Along the line, Olaopa became the Permanent Secretary of several government agencies including the Nigerian Civil Service, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology.
Following his retirement from the civil service, Olaopa established the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy in 2016.
In 2018, Olaopa was conferred a professorship in Public Policy at the Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Olaopa received the National Productivity Award in 2015, and the Thabo Mbeki Award for Public Service and Scholarship in 2018.
[Guardian]