The Delta State Government has issued a stern warning to medical personnel who provide family planning for underage girls to desist from such acts or face the wrath of the law.

The State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General (AG), Ohwovoriole Ekemejero SAN, gave the warning at the World Contraception Day held on Thursday in Asaba, the State capital.

Ohwovoriole, represented by the Director of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, Mrs Patricia Akanagwuna, said providing minor access to these facilities without the consent of the girl child’s parents or guardian is illegal in the eye of the law, and those involved must be punished accordingly.

“In the eye of the law, any medical doctor that provides family planning for minors will face prosecution. The law did not permit such, the doctor must seek the consent of the parents or guardians,” he stated.

He however advised the medical personnel that, as principles, “allow individual women to make informed choices about their reproductive health, free from coercion or judgment, in addition to Protecting their right to confidentiality when seeking contraceptive services.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, said the family planning town hall meeting which was held today’s World Contraceptive Day was to sensitise every individual’s right to make choices about themselves.

He urged women to adopt family planning for their benefit

Also, the Executive Director, State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr Paul U. called on stakeholders, including local government chairmen, to fund to support family planning.

The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, has said the increase in allowance for corps members aligned with the promise of President Bola Tinubu to give the best to the citizens.

Jamila Ibrahim said President Tinubu’s vision for Nigerian youths has always been clear, which is to improve their welfare.

Naija News reported that the federal government increased the monthly allowance of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, with effect from July 2024.

In a statement, the Minister of Youths stated that the increase in the allowance of corps members is a direct reflection of the commitment of her ministry’s effort to improve the welfare of youths in the country.

“The President’s vision for Nigerian youth has always been clear—he supports any initiative that improves their welfare and prospects. This allowance increase is a direct reflection of that commitment, and the Ministry is pleased that this has become a reality.

“The increase is not just a response to economic challenges; it is part of a strategic agenda to enhance the conditions of service for our youth, ensuring they are well-equipped to contribute to national development,” Ibrahim said.

The Minister added that the allowance increase is just “one of many initiatives the Ministry of Youth Development will continue to pursue to improve the lives of youths”.

Folakemi Falana, the daughter of renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, has denied allegations of bribery and corruption involving her father, her brother, Nigerian musician Falz, and popular socialite Bobrisky.

Taking to her Instagram page, Folakemi addressed the accusations head-on, clarifying that her father has never met nor communicated with Bobrisky.

She further explained that Bobrisky had reached out to Falz solely for financial assistance during his incarceration, specifically to secure a more comfortable position in the VIP section of the prison.

She stressed that there had been no discussions related to a presidential pardon.

To bolster her claims, Folakemi shared documents showing that Falana & Falana Chambers has, since 2016, provided free legal support for individuals seeking presidential pardons.

She highlighted that, in Nigeria, any citizen has the right to request a pardon for a convicted person, pointing out that her family’s efforts to assist in such cases have been transparent and at no cost.

Folakemi also expressed disappointment over the spread of false rumors, particularly those claiming that Falz is homosexual or involved in an affair with Bobrisky.

She criticised the tendency of some Nigerians to believe unsubstantiated claims, urging the public to be more discerning about the information they consume.

She wrote, “My Parents and our firm, Falana & Falana have been applying for presidential pardons for Nigerians FREE way before a lot of you were born or before you could talk. Slide 1 is from 2016 and Slide 2 is from 2022.

“It’s crazy that some Nigerians act like they can’t read or think for themselves. It’s unfortunate.

“It’s even crazier that all it takes is for a ridiculous character like VDM to accuse my dad and Falz of bribery, corruption and perversion of the course of Justice and you suddenly forget who they are and what they stand for. For him to have the audacity to go as far as even accusing Falz of being homosexual and having an affair with Bobrisky is wild. The fact that some of you believe it, is what is blowing my mind.

“For the record, anyone can write the president to request a pardon for any convicted person in Nigeria.

“To be crystal clear, the facts are as follows: 1) My dad has never met or talked to Bobrisky whether directly or via a proxy.

“2) Bobrisky reached out to Falz the same way he reached out to many other celebrities asking for money. The reason he gave was so that he could afford to stay in the VIP section of prison. He never discussed a presidential pardon with him. He said he was reaching out from prison Falz had no reason to believe otherwise.

“3) DO you think my dad or Falz need Bob’s money??? for what?.”

Folakemi condemned the accusations as baseless and threatened legal action against the accuser, VeryDarkMan (VDM), saying “Seeing as you have refused to do the needful, #verydarkblackman see you in court.”

Recall that VeryDarkMan shared audio recordings in which Bobrisky allegedly stated that both Femi Falana and his son, Falz, had reached out to him prior to his release from prison.

The recordings further implied that Femi Falana had negotiated a settlement of 10 million naira to settle the case.

In response to these claims, Falz issued a 24-hour ultimatum to VeryDarkMan, demanding the immediate retraction of all defamatory remarks

The landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol or fuel, has decreased to ₦981 per litre, as reported by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria on Thursday.

This reduction marks a decline of over ₦140 from the previous weeks, where the petrol landing cost was approximately ₦1,130, attributed to the recent fall in global crude oil prices as of September 25, 2024.

In August 2024, Brent crude, the global benchmark, was trading at an average of over $80 per barrel but has since fluctuated between $70 and $75 per barrel this month.

On Thursday, it was recorded at $71.41 per barrel, a decrease from the previous day’s price of $73.46 per barrel, according to industry data from the Petroleum Ministry.

Data from Statistica, a global statistical firm, indicated that the average price of a barrel of Brent in August 2024 was $80.36, reflecting a decline from the prior month due to reduced oil demand in China and indications from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries regarding potential production increases.

In light of the falling petrol landing cost and rising pump prices across the nation, major oil marketers have begun importing the product.

NNPCL

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) previously held the exclusive position of petrol importer into the nation before the recent increase in fuel prices and the initiation of production and distribution by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Recall that on September 18, 2024, three prominent oil marketers anticipated the arrival of vessels carrying imported petrol the previous week, contingent upon any unforeseen events.

The marketers indicated that approximately 141 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were being transported to Nigeria by these vessels following the federal government’s complete deregulation of the downstream oil sector.

They confirmed on Thursday that some of these vessels had indeed reached Nigerian shores.

This development coincides with the Dangote oil refinery increasing its local petrol production after more than twenty years of reliance on fuel imports.

According to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), the landing cost of petrol began to decline in mid-July, dropping below N950 in early September.

Notably, this decrease occurred despite the appreciation of the dollar against the naira, with the landing cost calculated at ₦1,667.22 per dollar.

As of Wednesday, MEMAN reported that the average ex-depot price of petrol ranged from ₦865 to N1,200 in Lagos, ₦980 to ₦1,400 in Calabar, and ₦1,200 to N1,400 in Port Harcourt.

The major marketers also revealed that the landing cost of diesel is currently N1,089 per litre, while aviation fuel is priced at ₦1,117.34.

It was noted that the average ex-depot price of diesel is approximately ₦1,165 in Lagos and ranges from ₦1,200 to ₦1,200 in both Calabar and Port Harcourt.

Furthermore, it was observed that the price difference between imported petrol and that produced by Dangote could be ₦83, assuming a purchase price of ₦898, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company claimed to have paid for Dangote’s fuel.

Although officials from the $20 billion refinery have denied selling their fuel at N898 to the NNPC, they have not provided an alternative figure for over a week.

It is worth mentioning that the NNPC raised petrol prices on the same day that the Dangote refinery launched its locally-produced fuel.

The NNPC has announced that it will offer petrol sourced from the Dangote refinery at prices exceeding ₦1,000 per litre in the northern regions of the country.

Recently, the NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, said the price could reach as high as ₦1,019 per litre in areas such as Borno State, while it may be set at ₦999.22 in cities like Abuja, Sokoto, and Kano.

In southern regions, including Oyo and Rivers, the price is expected to be N960 per litre.

The lowest recorded price, as indicated in an infographic shared by the NNPC, is ₦950 in Lagos and its surrounding areas.

However, it has been noted that petrol prices can soar to ₦1,200 or more in certain locations across Nigeria, while some major retailers continue to offer a litre for ₦910 in Lagos.

In a recent media discussion with prominent journalists, Dapo Segun, the Executive Vice President of Downstream at the NNPC, clarified that although an agreement has been established with managing the Dangote refinery, pricing will ultimately be determined by market conditions.

Segun also provided details regarding the negotiations between the NNPC and Aliko Dangote.

“Dangote said to us, ‘This is how much I want for it (PMS)’. And we say, ‘Hey, Dangote, if we go out there, we can get it for this much, so we won’t pay you this much for it‘. And we went into the negotiation. And that negotiation took us over a week to complete. They (Dangote officials) will come with their position, we’ll come with a counter; they’ll come with a revised position, and we’ll counter it.

“At the end of the day, we were able to reach an agreement on what to be the price to pay for it,” Segun said.

He emphasized a statement by Soneye that the company would lift Dangote PMS only if it was cheaper than imported one.

Meanwhile, the sale of PMS to NNPC continues at the Dangote refinery as Nigerians are hopeful that the price of PMS will crash when the naira crude sale begins on October 1, 2024.

The ongoing saga surrounding the sentencing of controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, continues to unfold, revealing new layers of intrigue and speculation.

According to reports from Naija News, the controversy intensified following the release of an audio clip by activist and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.

In this explosive audio, Bobrisky allegedly admitted to bribing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in exchange for dropping money laundering charges against him and facilitating his escape from imprisonment at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos State.

The revelations have sent shockwaves through social media, prompting users to question the integrity of the legal proceedings surrounding Bobrisky.

Additionally, many are left speculating about the identity of James Brown, another prominent cross-dresser, who, on June 8, announced a visit to Bobrisky at Kirikiri.

A source in James’ camp told FIJ on Thursday, “By the time James visited, Bobrisky was no longer in prison.

“James went there to see one guy called Vindicate who had invited her to join in recording a song from prison. The prison authorities liked the idea of a song recorded from prison, so they let her come.

“I don’t know why James lied that she went to see Bobrisky; maybe for clout. I will send you videos of James in prison with the people she went there to see. But have you ever seen just one photo of Bob and James in prison?”

A scholar from the University of Ibadan and Professor of Industrial Sociology, Professor Emeka Okafor, has stated that Nigeria’s high unemployment rates have led to the proliferation of cheap and surplus labour, which is often exploited by organisations across various sectors.

He stated this during his presentation at the University of Ibadan’s 562nd inaugural lecture, titled: “The Periphery of the Periphery: Exploring the Experiences of Non-Standard Workers.

Okafor highlighted that non-standard workers, such as casual employees, are particularly vulnerable due to their precarious employment status.

“These workers find themselves marginalized and exploited by employers, supervisors, and even regular employees within the organisational framework, especially when we view work organizations as systems with multiple actors,” he explained.

Professor Okafor emphasised that because casual or non-standard workers are unable to unionise, they endure severe and unstable working conditions in Nigeria.

He urged both federal and state governments to enforce labour laws designed to protect these workers from exploitation.

According to him, “The inability of non-standard workers to join trade unions hampers their capacity to negotiate for better working conditions, including fair pay.”

“They are also often denied access to other essential rights. Consequently, the concept of decent work, as advocated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), remains an ideal that is largely unattainable for most workers in non-standard employment situations.”

To address these issues, Professor Okafor called on the Nigerian government, the largest single employer of labour, to ensure that labour standards and regulations protecting workers’ rights are rigorously enforced.

He urged the government to regularise non-standard workers in ministries, departments, agencies, and parastatals, providing them with stable employment and career advancement opportunities as a model for other stakeholders.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of creatively generating job opportunities and implementing reforms aimed at revitalising the economy and attracting investment.

He also called for the need to strengthen labour inspection mechanisms to ensure compliance with safety standards and to provide timely compensation for workplace injuries and fatalities.

Professor Okafor advised the Ministry of Labour and Employment to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure occupational safety by enforcing existing labour laws and regulations.

This includes conducting regular workplace inspections to identify and rectify safety violations and combating corruption within the Inspectorate Department, which he said, may allow unscrupulous employers to bypass regulations concerning the treatment of non-standard workers.

Prof. Okafor asserted that labour unions must pressure employers to regularise non-standard workers and improve their working conditions through collective bargaining agreements.

The Tinubu Youth Network (TYN), a group in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked President Bola Tinubu to suspend Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence.

The group also implored the president to order a probe into Matawalle’s alleged links with bandits — a claim the minister has repeatedly denied.

Ali Gusau, a retired general, had accused Matawalle of working in cahoots with bandits for initiating dialogue with terrorists.

Last week, Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, said if he were Matawalle, he would resign and work towards clearing his name.

Lawal detailed how the government house was allegedly used to pay ransom for abducted permanent secretary’s children under Matawalle’s administration.

However, Matawalle dismissed the allegation, saying that the dialogues initiated with bandits freed abducted victims, including Lawal’s brother, without ransom payment.

The ex- governor defended his anti-banditry measures, citing “success” from “dialogues with bandits” during his tenure.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, Yusuf Muhammad, TYN secretary general, said the allegations leveled against Matawalle demand urgent investigation.

The group demanded the minister’s resignation for a “thorough” probe, adding that ignoring the allegations would harm the party long-term.

“These issues include the accusation of sponsoring bandits and misappropriation of state funds by his predecessor and the junior Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle,” the group said.

“These are serious matters that strike at the heart of governance, security, and the welfare of the people of Zamfara State and should not be handled lightly.

“We consider it our responsibility as youths to seek a thorough investigation into these serious claims to uphold the integrity of our party and our esteemed leader, the President.

“Failing to address these issues could hurt our party in the future. We want to emphasize that the issues at stake here are not just political problems.

“They encompass matters of life and death, economic survival, and the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Zamfara state, the Northwest, and Nigeria as a whole.”

Speaking further, Muhammad urged Tinubu not to ignore the claims made against his minister, adding that these allegations could tarnish his administration.

“The investigation we want the President to conduct is not to castigate the minister, but to safeguard the integrity of the APC and the President’s good image,” he said.

“It is imperative that Bello Matawalle be removed from his position for a panel to be set up to investigate the allegations against him”.

“The minister should clarify his connections with dangerous individuals like Bello Tagoji, Musa Kamarawa, and Ardon Zuru.

“The Tinubu Youth Network believes that where there is smoke, there is fire.

“In the interest of upholding transparency and fairness, we strongly urge Bello Matawalle to step down from his position and subject himself to a thorough investigation.”

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says outstanding revenues due to the federal government in the oil and gas industry rose to $6.071 billion and N66.4 billion, respectively, as of June 2024.

NEITI disclosed the outstanding in its ‘2022/2023 Independent Oil and Gas Industry Report’ unveiled in Abuja on Thursday. 

Breaking down the debt, NEITI said outstanding liabilities were $6.049 billion and N65.9 billion in unpaid royalties and gas flare penalties, due to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as of August 31. 

Also, outstanding petroleum profit taxes, company income taxes, withholding taxes, and value-added tax (VAT) amounting to $21.9 million and N492.8 million were due to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as of June 2024.

NEITI said among other key findings in the report, is a significant reduction in petrol importation — which fell from 23.54 billion litres in 2022 to 20.28 billion litres in 2023.

Also, NEITI said N15.87 trillion was claimed as under-recovery or price differentials between 2006 and 2023, with the highest amount, N4.71 trillion, recorded in 2022.

“On crude production, fiscalized crude production in 2022 stood at 490.945 million barrels, compared to 556.130 million barrels produced in 2021, representing an 11% decline,” the agency said.

“However, in 2023, NEITI’s independent report revealed total fiscalised production of 537.571 million barrels, a 46.626 million-barrel or 9.5 percent increase from total production recorded in 2022. 

“A 10-year trend (2014–2023) of fiscalised crude oil production in Nigeria shows the highest production volume of 798.542 million barrels was recorded in 2014, while the lowest, 490.945 million barrels, was recorded in 2022.”

According to NEITI’s data on crude lifting, in 2023, 534.159 million barrels were lifted, compared to 482.07 million barrels in 2022 and 551 million barrels in 2021.

“On oil theft and crude losses, a total of 7.68 million barrels of crude were either stolen or lost in 2023, representing a significant drop of 79% (29.02 million barrels) compared to 36.69 million barrels either stolen or lost in 2022,” the report said.

“On overall revenue generation in the oil and gas industry, the report showed that material companies accounted for US$15.549 billion (96%) and non-material companies for US$695.604 million (4%) in revenues generated in 2022.

“In 2023, material companies accounted for US$21.415 billion (95%), and non-material companies accounted for US$1.238 billion (5%). The revenues came from 17 identified revenue streams, including proceeds from taxes, oil and gas sales, dividends from NLNG, royalty payments, signature bonuses, gas flare penalties, and concessions.”

‘NEITI REPORT PROVIDES VALUABLE INSIGHTS TO GUIDE POLICY’

Speaking at the public presentation of the reports in Abuja, Ogbonnaya Orji, NEITI’s executive secretary, said the report provides valuable insights to guide policy, encourage public debate, and improve governance in managing Nigeria’s natural resources.

“The report remains a vital tool for identifying leakages, improving revenue collection, and promoting resource management reforms,” Orji said.

“It serves as an authoritative document that provides comprehensive data and information on revenues, governance structures, operations, and compliance within the oil and gas sector for the 2022/2023 period.”

In his remarks, George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and chairman of the NEITI board, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to NEITI’s principles.

“We consider the EITI not only as a global standard for promoting transparency in the management of revenues from natural resources but also as a tool to strengthen public trust, accountability, and economic growth,” Akume said.

He assured that the government will thoroughly study the report to ensure effective implementation.

On his part, Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), vowed to investigate and recover debts owed to the government, citing NEITI’s reports as crucial in the fight against corruption.

“Where NEITI’s work stops, EFCC’s begins,” Olukoyede said.

He said the EFCC will probe companies identified in the report.

“This demonstrates the effectiveness of NEITI’s reports in recovering public funds and promoting accountability,” Olukoyede said.

He also said as of Wednesday, over N1 billion has been approved for remittance to the federation account as a result of investigations sparked by NEITI’s previous report.

Olukoyede said additional investigations are ongoing and every recovered funds would be sent to the federation account.

In November 2023, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) said Nigeria may be suspended if it fails to meet requirements for validation commencing January 1, 2026.

NEITI, on April 24, said it had developed a corrective action plan to address issues identified in its validation report by the EITI.