All Posts in "Day: September 3, 2022"

Data Boys: A New Designed Career Path By Gov.AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

By Yusuf Babatunde

According to the data of the World Bank on development indicators, Nigeria’s workforce is about 700,000, a country of over 200 million people. This means we have a lot of jobless and uninformed youths population. When you sit and think of it, being a data boy is a very easy choice, the earnings may not be much and may irritate audience who see them constitute nuisance and circulate misinformation across social media.

If there is anything Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaqhas successfully borrowed from Ibrahim Babangida’s style of politics, it is giving people a sense of belonging and making them feel like the most important on earth during the moment they are together with him.

This, Governor AA has successfully done with the exploitable population of youths in the State. What is even more painful is that he created an atmosphere that this category of people have attained the peak of their potentials. Hence, they close eyes to learning and seeking opportunities.

When you engage them, they tell you that they are fulfilled and not driven by gains and ambitions; in contrary to what Nelson Mandela believes – that regret follows when we don’t attain the heights we should have attained by limiting ourselves. I’ve read brilliant works on Nation building from Kwara, statehood and philosophical expressions indicating that some sizeable number of people have a kind of future they envision for themselves and the state. These category of people are unfortunately very few in Kwara.

Since assumption of office, job creation has not been the focus of this government and the youth population are unworried, by the time the governor will leave government if he accidentally wins his second term though the political atmosphere and dynamics in the state doesn’t suggest that, and the perception by some that Saraki will die a natural political death after 2023, and by 2027.

Are these youths equally bearing in mind that a whole of us will be closed to, or be above 30 years by then. Years that could have been better invested into something else.

Do these people ever realise that writings can form part of a Résumé, the numerous publications they’ve had can constitute part of a CV. However, how many of them can sieve through their writings and attach it as part of a CV to seek job or appointment.

One of my friends from Kwara that HE, Dr. Bukola Saraki facilitated his appointment just 1 month ago was able to get better placement in his workplace; simply because he can write and the numerous publications in his CV wasn’t even about singing praises of Saraki, but nation building, national growth and development, policy implementation among others.

It is my humble advice to this population of teeming youths, whom Governor AA has not facilitated a single appointment of a Federal Ministry, Parastatal or Agency for; to have a rethink. Bukola Saraki may have even lost counts on people he has facilitated appointments for. It is even admirable that even though not as much as when he was in office, he still struggles to get one or two facilitated for his State.

How many place, or who can Governor AA put a call through to Abuja to assist Kwarans with appointments despite being with Federal Government and the ruling party? Even Professor Gambari, who is Buhari’s Chief of Staff has facilitated some appointments, while Oloriegbe was able to get few via his capacity as Chairman, Health Committee in the Senate. Go to other Northern States and see how Governors are using their office to ensure they push people up for national employments.

With all sense of honesty and God bearing me as witness, statistics show today that most Kwarans whose appointments were facilitated by Saraki or Professor Oba Abubakar (even though Bukola Saraki facilitated Prof. Abu’s appointment as Chairman of Federal Character) will become Directors across different Agencies in Nigeria in due time. That is what true leadership means, that is what it means to envision something for your people.

Our population of youths are better fit to use our energy in Kwara’s Civil Service and Federal Civil Service than arming us with mobile data and a stipend ahead of positioning Kwara and ensuring the State is not missing in efforts to strengthen Nigeria. Don’t make us “data boys bandits”, our Governor should make us “employable and useful boys” by using his office, not letting them admire him for carrying his own bag or wearing squeezed clothes around. What’s so special about that?

The “data boys” comment in the Governor’s interview means the place of the youths working with him has been cemented, they can be nothing more or less, their job and sole existence is built on laundering/promoting his image. Bolaji Abdullahi has records of policies and implementation, but these same set of data boys are asking him how much he has spent or how many people has he assisted in the past, but want people to clap for the Governor’s limited and not very impacting policies in addressing deficits in our social structures. How many of them, known and unknown has AA assisted with jobs in the State or Federal?

A wise population of youth seek opportunity, as their elevation and young age is an asset, a youth wasted can’t be gotten back. There is need for them to critically evaluate what impact the Governor has made in their life beyond the 30k stipend, or policies that create an environment to thrive on gifts and potentials (Not APCpreneur).

Those of us who can go into private sectors should seek opportunity there, those who can build businesses should commence immediately and dedicate our lives to building something and those who are aspiring to serve their country and state should seek opportunity and enrolment that will ensure everyone has a meaningful life.

It extended to some of us in opposition parties, we must envision something about our lives, service isn’t bad, but we must seek a stage and avenue that grows our talents and promotes our skills, not cement our fate as errand boys and social media activists for eternity.

When our mates who went out to seek opportunity or have already dedicated their lives to building something return to the scene and become successful in respective areas, where are we going to be? Honourable Muhammed Ajia Ibrahim and Mallam Saliu Mustapha (though not very bright) should teach us all a lesson, that being a major actor and impact maker in politics isn’t by being data boy or fake boy to politicians, not even Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq .

admin by — September 3, 2022 in Opinion 0
Energy Transition: Osinbajo Advocates Debt-For-Climate Swap Deal

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advocated a Debt For Climate DFC Swap deal in order to ensure a just energy transition for African countries.

Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Office of the Vice President disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja .

He is in Washington U S to seek global partnerships and support for Nigeria s recently inaugurated Energy Transition Plan ETP .

He delivered a lecture on Thursday explaining the DFC concept on a just and equitable energy transition for Africa at the Center for Global Development in Washington D C U S Debt for climate swaps is a type of debt swap where bilateral or multilateral debt is forgiven by creditors in exchange for a commitment by the debtor to use the outstanding debt service payments for national climate action programmes.

According to Osinbajo there are significant policy actions necessary to make the deal acceptable and sustainable.

He also proposed the greater participation of African countries in the Global Carbon Market while exploring financing options for energy transition.

He said there was a need to take a comprehensive approach in working jointly towards common goals including the market and environmental opportunities presented by the financing of clean energy assets in growing energy markets In addition to conventional capital flows both from public and private sources it is also essential that Africa can participate more fully in the global carbon finance market Currently direct carbon pricing systems through carbon taxes have largely been concentrated in high and middle income countries.

However carbon markets can play a significant role in catalysing sustainable energy deployment by directing private capital into climate action improving global energy security providing diversified incentive structures especially in developing countries and providing an impetus for clean energy markets when the price economics looks less compelling as is the case today Osinbajo encouraged developed countries to support Africa to develop into a global supplier of carbon credits ranging from bio diversity to energy based credits.

He said that the central thinking for most developing countries was the issue of a just transition with two not one existential crises the climate crisis and extreme poverty The clear implication of this reality is that our plans and commitments to carbon neutrality must include clear plans on energy access if we are to confront poverty.

This includes access to energy for consumptive and productive use and spanning across electricity heating cooking and other end use sectors Nearly 90 million people in Asia and Africa who had previously gained access to electricity can no longer afford to pay for their basic energy needs the inflationary pressures caused by the COVID 19 pandemic and other macroeconomic trends have been further exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

He cautioned that limiting financing of gas projects for domestic use would pose a severe challenge to economic development delivery of electricity access and clean cooking solutions and the scale up and integration of renewable energy into the energy mix.

The vice president said that ETP was designed to tackle the dual crises of energy poverty and climate change and deliver SDG 7 by 2030 and net zero by 2060 while concentrating on the provision of energy for development industrialization and economic growth.

Osinbajo identified some double standards evident in the response to the current energy crisis by many countries in the global North .

Today excluding South Africa the remaining one billion people in Sub Saharan Africa are serviced by an installed capacity of just 81 gigawatts Sub Saharan Africa has contributed based on information that is already out there less than one per cent of cumulative CO 2 2 emissions By comparison the U S has an installed capacity of 1 200 gigawatts to power a population of 331 million people while the UK has 76 gigawatts of installed capacity for its 67 million people .

The per capita energy capacity in the UK is almost fifteen times than in Sub Saharan Africa he said .

admin by — September 3, 2022 in Environment 0
NAPIMS Scores Shell’s Bonga High

The National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) has described the deep-water operations of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) as best in class.

The Group General Manager of NAPIMS, the investment arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC), Mr. Bala Wunti, gave this commendation when he led his leadership team on an inspection of the SNEPCo-operated Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel recently.

“One of the best companies on planet earth is called Shell,” Wunti said.

He added that NAPIMS would support the enhancement of accommodation provision for SNEPCo’s offshore personnel to reduce the time for the planned Turn Around Maintenance of the 225,000 barrels per day capacity vessel. This, he said, would reduce the production shutdown period.

He observed that “across the industry in Nigeria, there is a challenge of persons on board on FPSOs which impacts speed of execution.”

He added that there was a commendable alignment between Bonga operations and NNPC’s key values of safety, speed of execution, compliance and excellence. “Since there is alignment on these values, it should be easy at the leadership level to align quickly on the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ even if there may be differences of opinion on the ‘How’.”

He implored SNEPCo to remain open to technical suggestions from NNPC for greater collaboration and improved performance. “When these suggestions come, SNEPCo should take it, test it and if it doesn’t work, thrash it afterwards.”

Wunti advised further improvement in operations to achieve zero flare, noting that NNPC placed top priority on ISO certification, equipment inspections, disciplined execution and cost excellence.

SNEPCo’s Managing Director, Mrs. Elohor Aiboni, who conducted the NAPIMS team round the facility, said SNEPCo’s continuous improvement focus had helped to sustain high performance level for Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep offshore vessel.

“We are building a safe, simpler and cost-disciplined deep-water business that brings value to our partners, shareholders and Nigeria which remains a heartland for Shell,” Aiboni told the NAPIMS team.

SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deep-water oil and gas production at Bonga, a project that increased Nigeria’s oil capacity by 10% when it began producing in 2005. Bonga is located 120km offshore and lies in water more than 1,000 metres deep across an area of 60 square kilometres. It has the capacity to produce more than 200,000 barrels of oil a day and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas a day.

admin by — September 3, 2022 in Oil&Gas 0
I Kidnapped My Husband To Cater For Our Children – Wife Confesses

A suspect, Mrs Joy Emmanuel Sunday has confessed to the police that she kidnapped her husband to raise funds to sustain their children.

Mrs Sunday,40, was reported to have kidnapped her husband, Mr Emmanuel Sampson Ebong, an indigene of Ntak Obio Akpa in Oruk Anam local government area, Akwa Ibom State because he starved her of sex and abandoned their children.

The estranged wife, who had successfully negotiated N2000,000 as ransom from the deal, claimed her decision came after taking on series of menial jobs to singlehandedly fend for herself and their four children after being abandoned by the husband.

Mrs Sunday who was among 29 other persons paraded for various offences including kidnapping by the Police on Friday lamented that she was unfortunately not given her share of the ransom money, after the abduction was successful.

“I arranged for my husband’s kidnapping because for a long time, he had abandoned me with his children. Even when my father and mother in-laws were alive he abandoned me. He never cared for his children. I engaged in menial jobs such as weeding in people’s farm to feed his children and pay their school fees. One of the children finished from secondary school and I approached my husband to plan how to send the son to learn a trade since the father refused to send him to university, but my husband shunned me.

“But the major reason is that my husband refused to have sex with me and does not take care of me and the children. The kidnapper that collected the ransom of N2million never gave my share and I did not even see the money. It was when the kidnappers were appropriating the N2m that the police arrested them and they mentioned me. They did not give me any part of the ransom collected from my husband.

“The kidnap kingpin (now at large) known as Udo moji assured me that he would collect the money from my husband for me since my husband attacked me and poured away my soup in the pot. So, I agreed with him and he kidnapped my husband. I ran around to gather money to pay the kidnappers. The main suspect, Udo moji ran away,” she stated.

The husband, Emmanuel Sampson Ebong from Ntak Obio Akpa in Oruk Anam local government area, said he was kidnapped on July 21, 2022 in his compound.

He stated that he just returned from treating an ailment when the kidnappers entered his compound and took him away, adding that he was fortunate that the Police came to his rescue.

Ebong added: “I came back from treatment because I was weak. Around 8.30pm, I saw about six people enter into my compound. They struggled with me and released two gun shots into the atmosphere in my compound.They took me out of my compound in a mini bus and drove away. They kept me from that Thursday till Sunday and demanded N10m from me and later reduced it to N2m.

“They took me to Etinan where they caged me. I thank the Nigeria Police for the rescue operations because If not God, they would have killed me. I also thank my Village Head. I did not know the reason they kidnapped me.They collected N2m from me. The police later recovered over N500,000 from them.

admin by — September 3, 2022 in Crime/Metro 0
86 Princes’ Jostle For Alaafin Vacant Stool

Baba Iyaji,the head of princes in Oyo town, Chief Mukaila Afonja, has submitted names of 86 contestants for the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo to the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yussuf Ayoola.

The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, made this disclosure via a statement made available to journalists

The Basorun, has also summoned an emergency meeting of Oyo Mesi following the receipt of the names.

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Durojaiye in the statement stated that it was resolved at the meeting that all the contestants should attend a peace meeting on Saturday, 3rd of September, 2022, at the Agbala Ogun Hall, in the Palace.

He maintained that all the contestants would be screened between 4 and 8th of September, 2022.

“Thereafter, from next week Monday, the 4th till Thursday, the 8th of September, 2022, 10 contestants will appear for interview on a daily basis.There will be a break on Friday, as no interview will take place, to pave the way for the Jumat service.The interview will resume on Monday, the 12th and last till the 15th of September, 2022″.

admin by — September 3, 2022 in News 0
Most Nigerians Support Fuel Subsidy Removal- Rainoil Boss

The Group Managing Director, Rainoil Limited , Dr Gabriel Ogbechie ,has said that Nigerians are not averse to the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

He said fuel consumers only want some level of reassurance on the subject matter, and the cushioning effects by government after the subsidy is removed,adding that the petroleum industry act remains the silver bullet in growing the downstream sector.

The huge sum of money expended on fuel subsidy so far is unbearable,he said.

He s disclosed this while outlining the benefits of deregulation at the recent Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) Strategic International Conference in Lagos with the topic: “Energy Transition, PIA, Petroleum Pricing and the Way Forward for the Downstream Sector.”

He said Nigeria will save over 12 trillion naira, which could be channeled for other areas of development for the country if the downstream sector is fully deregulated

He said the global average price currently for PMS was N516 per litre, which was way higher than the N175 per litre it is being sold in Nigeria and called on government to not only deregulate but also initiate a petrol tax to fund maintenance and construction of critical infrastructure across the country

Speaking in one of the panelists sessions, Ogbechie noted that the subject issue of deregulation has come to stay, as a policy direction for the downstream petroleum sector, given the enormous benefits that comes with a deregulated petroleum environment .

He said Rainoil Limited presently has over forty LPG trucks in its business bank, with retail outlets scattered across the country.

‘’As a prominent player in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, Ogbechie said the company’s operations cut across the downstream value chain including petroleum product storage, haulage/distribution and retailsales. The company’s primary products he disclosed included petrol (PMS), Diesel (AGO), kerosene (DPK) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).’’

He said Rainoil just celebrated 25 years this year. According to him, the company which started from the scratch, today had been built to be one of the very prominent and very dominant players in the downstream sector of the Nigeria oil and gas industry.

“Today, Rainoil limited holds a 50m litres capacity of petroleum deport. We own another 50m litres capacity petroleum deport in Calabar, Cross River State. We own yet another 50m litres capacity deport in Lagos State. “Again, we own an 8000MT liquefied petroleum gas facility also in Lagos state.

‘’We have little more than 100 petrol stations spread across the country. We are also heavily into logistics. We have more than 150 tank trucks that distribute the petroleum products across the country,” he said. Ogbechie added that the company had provided direct employment to less than 1,200 Nigerians.

admin by — September 3, 2022 in Oil&Gas 0
Customs Boss Faults NNPC’s Data On Fuel Supply, Consumption

Retired Army Colonel and current Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, has disputed the figures emanating from Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited as the daily consumption volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) commonly known as petrol.

According to data allegedly supplied by the NNPC to the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, the volume of consumption of PMS per day stands at 60 million litres. But what is rather disturbing is actually figures of 98 million litres posted by the NNPC as daily volume of product pushed out into the market, for which subsidy is calculated and paid.

This revelation gave rise to the outright objection by Customs boss while addressing a question by the House Committee on the Customs effort in tackling the serially reported smuggling of PMS.

The NNPC had blamed the huge amount paid for subsidy on cross-border smuggling of PMS, a scheme the Customs boss described as “non-existing.”

The Committee had been engaging MDAs on the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) preparatory to the presentation of the 2023 budget estimates by the President before the joint session of the National Assembly.

Ali, in response to the question of daily consumption volume said if it is assumed that NNPC was correct on the 60 million litres claim, and it supplies 98 million litres daily, questions needed to be answered whether all vehicle owners in Nigeria buy full tank capacities of the product daily.

He also wondered how 38 million litres of PMS, which is the differential between the estimated consumption and the supplied quantity could be smuggled out of country daily since it would require at least 500 high capacity trucks to load.

“If we’re consuming 60 million litres daily, that’s their (NNPC) computation, why do you allow 98 million litres per day? That computation is not even anything to believe, that’s my problem. Let us assume that the actual figure is 98 million litres, and we consume 60 million litres, how many trucks can carry the remaining 38 million litres out daily? These things do not exist”, he said.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, agreed with the Customs CG, saying: “I think as a government, we’re not doing well. That amount of the product means about 500 trucks leaving our shores on a daily basis. We have the NigComsat, but there is never a day it has been reported that our satellite has captured any of them, and we’re paying over six trillion naira for something almost not existing.Monies which should go into social services for the people are being diverted into private pockets. This is not sustainable, and something must be done,” Hon. Abdullahi vowed.

admin by — September 3, 2022 in News 0
NDIC Publishes Final Dividend Declaration Notice To Depositors, Creditors Of 20 Failed Banks

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has published a final dividend declaration notice to depositors of 20 failed banks.

The corporation also published a final dividend declaration notice to creditors of five banks in liquidation.

The notice published on its website on Friday, listed the banks to include ABC Merchant Bank Ltd., Commercial Trust Bank Ltd. and Continental Merchant Bank Plc.

Others are Merchant Bank of Africa Ltd., Pan African Bank Ltd., Kapital Merchant Bank Ltd., Eagle Bank and Allied Bank of Nigeria, among others.

According to the corporation,the creditors’ banks include Cooperative & Commerce Bank, Nigerian Merchant Bank, Rims Merchant Bank, Alpha Merchant Bank and Continental Merchant Bank.

It said that the director would after the expiration of the date proceed to make a final dividend payment without regard to such claims.

It added:“NDIC, the official liquidator of the under-listed defunct banks (in-liquidation), hereby notifies the general public of the final call for dividend declaration to depositors, creditors of these banks.We, therefore, advise all eligible depositors and creditors of these banks to either meet NDIC officials in any of the NDIC Offices.They can also visit the claims page on NDIC website on www.ndic.gov.ng for the verification of their claims, commencing from Sept. 5 till Oct. 14’’

The corporation also said it was in the process of paying insured and uninsured deposits to depositors of Eurobanc Savings and Loans, Grace field Microfinance Bank and Okporo Microfinance Bank, MFB.

It revealed that it was also in the process of paying liquidation dividends to the depositors and ex-staff of MFBs.

admin by — September 3, 2022 in Insurance&Pension 0
N6.3b Fraud: EFCC To Appeal Jonah Jang, Pam’s Acquittal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has said, it will appeal the judgment of Justice C.L Dabup of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Friday, September 2, 2022 which discharged and acquitted former governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah David Jang and a former cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), Yusuf Pam, of embezzlement of public funds to the tune of N6.3 billion.

The spokesperson of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren in statement,said, it has “initiated the processes for an Appeal immediately.”

The Plateau High Court, in Jos, on Friday, discharged and acquitted a former governor of the state, Jonah Jang, of N6.3 billion corruption charges preferred against them by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court also acquitted his co-defendant, who is a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Mr Jang, a serving senator, and Yusuf Pam have been standing trial since 4 May, 2018.The EFCC had charged them with 17 counts on misappropriation of state funds.

The judge, Christen Dabup, who delivered the judgement, said that the court did not find Messrs Jang and Pam guilty of any of the charges.

“The court did not find the accused persons guilty of any of the charges and they are hereby discharged and acquitted,” she said.

admin by — September 3, 2022 in News 0
Kwara Governor’s Aide, Mohammed Seko Resigns

Honourable Mohammed Abdullahi Seko,the Senior Special Adviser on Poverty to Kwara state Governor,Friday,resigned his appointment for undisclosed reason.

His resignation letter,dated September 2, 2022,was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government ,Governor’s Office.

A copy of the letter seen by Premium News read in part:’’Please accept this letter as my notice of formal resignation from Senior Special Assistance on Poverty Alleviation to His Excellency,Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq,the Executive Governor of Kwara State,effective as of 2nd September,2022.

‘’I sincerely apologize for the abrupt timing of the announcement,however due to reason best known to me ,I have decided to resign.I thank His Excellency,the Executive Governor of Kwara State for the opportunities given to me to duly serve under his administration without hitches from my schedules/assignment.This prepared me well for the challenges ahead and I am grateful’’

admin by — September 3, 2022 in News 0