All Posts in "Day: August 27, 2024"

8 Eligible Varsities For Nigerian Undergraduates In Togo,Benin Republic-FG

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has identifird eight universities accredited to award degrees to Nigerians in Togo and Benin Republic respectively for Nigerian undergraduates.

The decision followed the embarrassment which Nigeria suffered when an undercover reporter procured a fake degree from Benin Republic and got mobilised to participate in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The Minister of Education,Tahir Mamman, disclosed the accredited institutions on Sunday night while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

The Minister had lamented that over 22,500 Nigerians obtained fake degree certificates from the two countries, hence such certificates would be cancelled.

The ugly cases of certificate racketeering also featured prominently at a recent Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu where a Committee was mandated to probe degrees emanating from Togo and Benin Republic especially.

Mammam said only three institutions is recognised in Togo and five in Benin Republic, labelling others outside those eight as illegal institutions.

He listed the public universities below as the federal government-approved institutions to offer degree programs in Togo for students from Nigeria. Universite De Lome, Universite De Kara and Catholic University of West Africa

For Benin Republic, students from Nigeria could attend Universite D’abomey-Calavi, Universite De Parakou, Universite Nationale Des Sciences, Technologis Ingenierie Et Mathematiques, Universite Nationale D’ Agriculture and Universite Africaine De Devlopment Cooperatif.

He insisted that there is no going back on the decision of the Federal Government to cancel about 22,700 certificates awarded to Nigerians by some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and Benin Republic.

He reiterated that the decision to invalidate the certificates was not harsh as Nigerians who obtained degree certificates from such “illegal” tertiary institutions dent the country’s image.

He said:“Most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad.

“The “fake universities” capitalised on the “gullibility” of Nigerians patronising such fake schools.

“The federal government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, would fish out those in the government’s employment with such fake certificates. I also urge the private sector to follow suit.”

admin by — August 27, 2024 in Education 0
Former WWE Champion,’Sycho’ Sid Eudy Dies

Legendary wrestler Sid Eudy, who wrestled under the nicknames of ‘Sycho Sid,’ and ‘Sid Justice’ in World Wrestling Entertainment, has died at the age of 63 on Monday.

He died after privately “battling cancer for several years,” his son, Gunnar, disclosed in a post shared on his Facebook account.

“I am deeply saddened to share that my father, Sid Eudy, has passed away after battling cancer for several years,” Gunnar wrote. “He was a man of strength, kindness, and love, and his presence will be greatly missed.

“We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we grieve this loss. Details for a memorial service will be shared soon.Thank you for your support.”

Eudy was born on December 16, 1960, and became a defining figure in the world of professional wrestling, leaving behind a legacy that spanned several decades.

Eudy began his wrestling career in the mid-1980s, quickly rising to prominence in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and later in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). His imposing physique, intense persona, and undeniable charisma made him a standout talent in an industry filled with larger-than-life characters.

Throughout his illustrious career, Eudy became a six-time world champion, capturing the WWF Championship twice and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice. He also claimed the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship on two occasions.

Beyond his world title reigns, Eudy’s achievements in wrestling include winning the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and headlining some of the biggest events in wrestling history. He was a main-event fixture, starring in the headline matches of WrestleMania VIII and WrestleMania 13, two of WWE’s most iconic events.

His memorable clash with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VIII in 1992 and his intense rivalry with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 13 in 1997 remain etched in the memories of wrestling fans worldwide.

Eudy also made a significant impact in WCW, where he headlined Starrcade in 2000, solidifying his reputation as one of the top draws in professional wrestling during the 1990s and early 2000s. His ability to seamlessly transition between hero and villain roles endeared him to fans and made him one of the most versatile performers of his era.

Despite his success, Eudy’s career was not without its challenges. He suffered a devastating leg injury during a WCW event in 2001, which effectively ended his full-time wrestling career.

admin by — August 27, 2024 in Sports 0
Nigeria Records 3.19% GDP Rise In Q2-NBS

Mohammed Shosanya

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.19% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2024,according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

This growth rate,the agency said,is higher than the 2.51% recorded in the second quarter of 2023 and higher than the 2.98% growth in the first quarter of 2024.

The GDP’s performance in the second quarter of 2024 was primarily fueled by the services sector, which saw a robust growth of 3.79% and contributed a substantial 58.76% to the total GDP,the agency’s report said.

It added that agriculture sector also saw growth, increasing by 1.41% from the previous year. The industry sector’s growth was 3.53%, a significant improvement from the previous year’s -1.94%.

In terms of share of the GDP, the industry and services sectors contributed more to the aggregate GDP in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023.

In the quarter under review, aggregate GDP at basic price stood at N60,930,000.58 million in nominal terms.

This performance is higher than that of the second quarter of 2023, which recorded an aggregate GDP of N52,103,927.13 million, indicating a 16.94% year-on-year nominal growth.

Crude production grew to 1.41 million barrels per day in the period, compared with 1.22 million barrels a year earlier, the statistics office said.

admin by — August 27, 2024 in News 0
African Energy Chamber Endorses Oando’s $783m Acquisition Of Agip

Mohammed Shosanya

The African Energy Chamber (AEC),has endorsed Oando Plc’s complete acquisition of 100% of the shareholding interest in the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from Italian multinational Eni.

In a statement on Monday,the group said the development underscores the growing role of local exploration companies in revitalizing Nigeria and Africa’s upstream landscape.

It said:”The $783-million transaction sees Oando’s participating interests in Oil Mining Licenses (OML) 60, 61, 62 and 63 increase from 20% to 40% and its total reserves grow by almost 100% to one billion barrels of oil equivalent.

“Oando’s ownership stake will also increase in NAOC’s joint venture assets, which include 40 discovered oil and gas fields – of which 24 are currently producing – 40 identified prospects and leads, 12 production stations, 1,490 km of pipelines, three gas processing plants, the Brass River Oil Terminal, the Kwale-Okpai Phase 1 & 2 power plants and associated infrastructure.

“With a diverse portfolio of on- and offshore assets in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Oando represents one of the leading indigenous explorers on the continent. Currently, its producing assets include Qua Iboe (OML 13) and the Ebendo Field (OML 56), in addition to the four OMLs acquired from NAOC.

“The company’s promising development pipeline includes OML 90 and OML 122, which hold tremendous potential for boosting Oando’s operational capacity, while its exploration prospects center around interests in several strategic assets, including OMLs 321 and 323, as well as Blocks 5 and 12, OML 131 and OML 145”.

The statement quoted that Oando PLC is well-positioned to harness the full potential of Africa’s energy resources and create long-term value for the company’s stakeholders.

With a diverse and robust array of assets, it said Oando Plc has established a firm foundation for its business operations, ensuring a strong and sustainable presence in the dynamic and ever-evolving oil and gas sector.

“Oando is delivering on its pledge to expand upstream investments and its position in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The AEC congratulates and supports Oando on the successful completion of this milestone transaction, as it affirms the influence of local exploration and production companies and their unwavering belief in harnessing the full scope of Africa’s energy resources. We look forward to unpacking this deal and its many implications for the sector at this year’s AEW,” says NJ Ayuk, AEC Executive Chairman.

admin by — August 27, 2024 in Oil&Gas 0
Oyo Commences Two Months Building Permit Grace For Property Owners

Mohammed Shosanya

The Oyo State government has commenced a 60-day Online Building Permit Amnesty (OYBPA) program, aimed at regularizing buildings that were constructed without proper government approval.

OYOBPA programme commenced officially on 26th August 2024 and ends on the 27th October 2024.

The programme will also regularize those in violation of building regulations in the state and process new approvals within this 60-days window.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, stated this on Monday, in Ibadan, the State capital.

He said the scheme is in line with Governor Seyi Makinde’s transformation and sustainable development agenda, designed to enable the government to improve urban planning and enhance the security and safety of lives and properties within our dear state.

He added that the government has also approved that property owners can now get or regularize their building permits within the sixty (60) days amnesty period at a 20% discounted rate.

“This is to allow the good people of Oyo State to get their building permits faster, easier, and cheaper as the government will embark on massive enforcement of building permits after the amnesty period.

“This amnesty period lasts for sixty (60) days, and it is advised that all property owners (residential, commercial, industrial, educational, health facilities, etc.) within the state who have no building permit and have engaged in unauthorized development or are currently planning to commence development should harness this opportunity”, he added.

The OYBPA,which is majorly an online process, will enable property owners to process their permits without falling victims to touts and middlemen.

He gave the guarantee of property owners getting an authentic permit which will prevent any further interference by the authority as regards their development as long as they adhere to the provisions of the approval.

Application process for the amnesty period has started online across the 33 LG.

“At the end of this exercise, an amnesty certificate will be issued to all who took advantage of this opportunity” he affirmed.

“In the same vein, we therefore plead with members of the public and our directors of zonal planning authorities to strictly adhere to the principle of granting building permits in the state”.

He said properties illegally occupying the state hovernment acquisition zone; properties within the circular road or circular road set back;properties directly under the power line zone; properties within the disallowable proximity to dam, stream will not be granted amnesty.

He added that properties built on the road; within pipeline setback; and properties under court / financial crimes matters will not be granted amnesty.

He said this scheme, like every other Seyi Makinde initiative, promises to be great, seamless, and a worthwhile investment for the good people of Oyo State.

He said, “Let’s support the government to make Oyo State better, safer, and more viable”.

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi said the scheme will regularise the database of properties in the state and ensure more security across all local governments in the State.

She enjoined owners of structures constructed without building plans to key into the initiative.

According to her, the process also allows property owners who are not currently within the state to take advantage of the online amnesty window to either regularize or get a fresh approval for their building and other forms of property development.

admin by — August 27, 2024 in Property 0
Tinubu Appoints New NIA,DSS Chiefs

Mohammed Shosanya

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed,following the voluntary retirement of Ahmed Abubakar as Director General of National Intelligence Agency.

Tinubu named Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin named Ajayi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) .

A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s media aide noted that Ambassador Mohammed has had an illustrious career in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995. He had served in various roles, culminating in his promotion to the rank of Director and his subsequent appointment as the head of the Nigerian mission to Libya.

The 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, had served in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and at the State House, Abuja.

The new DSS Director-General, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, rose through the ranks to attain his current post of Assistant Director-General of the Service. He had, at various times, served as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.

Ajuri said the President expects that the new security chiefs will work assiduously to reposition the two intelligence agencies for better results and charges them to bring their experience to bear in tackling the security challenges bedeviling the country through enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and in surgical alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“The President thanks the outgoing Directors-General of the two pivotal intelligence agencies for their services to the nation while wishing them success in their future endeavours,” Ajuri said in the statement .

admin by — August 27, 2024 in News 0
NNPC Begins Dispatch Of LNG Cargoes To Japan,China

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has commenced shipment of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargoes to Japan and China on Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) basis.

In a statement, Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, disclosed that the company achieved the milestone through the collaboration of two of its Downstream subsidiaries – NNPC LNG Ltd and NNPC Shipping Ltd – which delivered its first DES LNG cargo from the 174,000m³ LNG vessel Grazyna Gesicka at Futtsu, Japan, on 27th June, 2024.

Since then, it has expanded its footprint to China with the delivery of one LNG cargo on DES basis,it said

Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) is an international commercial term that requires the seller to deliver the products/goods at a specific port.

The seller takes responsibility for the shipping and insurance for the products/goods until they get to the specified port of delivery. It requires expertise and a higher level of efficiency to execute than the Free on Board (FOB) system.

According to the statement,NNPC Ltd has been involved in LNG trading since 2021 with its first LNG cargo sale in November of that year. It has since traded over 20 cargoes into the European and Asian markets on FOB basis, it said.

Speaking on the development, the Executive President, Downstream, Mr. Dapo Segun, said: “The DES system, apart from being more financially rewarding, allows NNPC Ltd inroads into the downstream segment of the LNG sector and positions it to capture more market shares while building in-house capacity and ensuring that global customers are familiar with the NNPC Ltd brand”.

The partnership between NNPC LNG Ltd and NNPC Shipping Ltd in executing the LNG supplies on DES basis has strengthened the latter’s position as a world class shipping provider in the LNG sector.

“NNPC Shipping intends to build a shipping portfolio (including owned vessels) so that we can provide our sister company and other clients all the shipping flexibilities they need”, Managing Director of NNPC Shipping”, Panos Gliatis, said.

NNPC LNG Ltd, in collaboration with NNPC Shipping Ltd, is scheduled to deliver at least two more LNG cargoes to the Asian market on DES basis by November.

Many more orders are expected before the end of year, the statement disclosed.

admin by — August 27, 2024 in Oil&Gas 0
Olubadan Woos Belgian Ambassador To Agriculture

Mohammed Shosanya

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, H.I.MOba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin Ige Olakulehin 1,says Ibadan has enough arable land suitable for agricultural production needing investors.

He said this when he received the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Pieter Leenknegt who paid him a courtesy visit at the new Olubadan Palace located at Oke Aremo in Ibadan on Monday.

The Belgian Ambassador,who was accompanied by the Advisor in Economic Diplomacy for Nigeria, Kingdom of Belgium, Genco Sanli and Manager, Resource Mobilisation, Protocol and External Liaison of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Florence Oluwatoyin Oke,had earlier disclosed the Belgian Government’s activities and interventions within Nigerian’s agricultural sector.

Oba Olakulehin,who spoke through the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, noted that there are vast hectares of arable land in Ibadan suitable and available for agricultural production which require international partnership funding and support to boost food production in the nation.

A statement on Monday,quoted him to have listed some locations of arable land including Egbeda, Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ido, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas where potentials for large scale production of agricultural products abound in Ibadan land.

He implored the Belgian Ambassador and other investors to tap from the these opportunities waiting to be tapped

“Kabiesi is happy to receive you and your team this morning. Ibadan is one of the largest cities in Africa.We have major resources here in Ibadan. We have vast arable land in Ibadan suitable for agricultural production in large scale quantity.

“Land is available abundantly in Oluyole, Egbeda, Ona Ara, Ido, Lagelu and Akinyele that are suitable for agricultural production. We want you to tap from the opportunity to boost food production especially at this point in our nation”.

In his address, Leenknegtsaid his visit was to tap from the experiences of the Olubadan and the council for a successful foray in Nigeria’s agricultural sector during his tenure in Nigeria.

He added that his visit was also aimed to enhance agricultural production, trade and finance between Nigeria and Belgium.

“We have spent some days at IITA. Agriculture is one of the areas we are working on which is in line with the agenda of the current administration in the country. Cocoa production. We have CRIN in Ibadan. Oyo state has been a major producer of cocoa.

“We want to see how we can boost cocoa production in Nigeria and through this we will enhance trade and finance. This brought me to Oyo state.

“So, I am very glad to be here and I will also be glad to have words of wisdom from you that will guide me for a successful tenure in the office.

admin by — August 27, 2024 in Agriculture 0