Mohammed Shosanya

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,has faulted reports that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in its holding facility.

Dele Oyewale,Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC, said in a statement that Bello is not in its custody.

He added:”Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest’

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA),has reassured residents that there is no imminent danger following the recent earth tremors that rattled parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The tremors, which occurred between September 13 and 17, 2024, were deemed minor, with intensities classified as weak to light on the Modified Mercalli Scale.

In a statement released by the Director-General of the NGSA, Professor Olusegun Ige, the agency confirmed that the tremors, though frequent, do not pose any threat to the environment or residents. “The Monitoring Station (NGSA-5) at Katampe has been capturing several significant ground motions with high moment magnitudes (Mw) in the past five days,” Ige disclosed. “Preliminary analysis of the waveforms showed that the sources of the ground motions are less than 5 km away from the monitoring station.”

The tremors, which started mildly on September 13, intensified over the following days. Six events were recorded on September 14, followed by 21 more on the 15th, and over 20 on the 16th. The NGSA team, which conducted on-the-ground assessments, linked the tremors to accumulated seismic stress along identified fault lines in the FCT.

Professor Ige clarified that while the tremors were noticeable, their impact was minimal. “The tremors can be generally described as low,” the statement said. “The intensities range from III to IV on the Modified Mercalli Scale, which indicates they are weak to light tremors.”

The affected areas include Mpape, Katampe, Maitama, and other surrounding locations. Residents who felt the tremors were urged not to panic, as the NGSA continues to monitor the seismic activity in real time.

“The NGSA is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as necessary. Our seismic stations are being monitored to ensure prompt alerts on any significant developments,” the Director-General added.

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory have expressed relief following the reassurances from the NGSA. “When the tremors started, I was concerned, but hearing from experts that there’s no real threat has helped ease the tension,” said Musa Oladele, a resident of Maitama.

The NGSA’s swift response highlights the agency’s commitment to public safety. In recent years, Nigeria has seen minor seismic activities, particularly in areas like Mpape and Katampe, which are known to lie near fault lines. However, experts emphasize that these tremors are not unusual for regions with such geological formations and typically do not escalate into significant earthquakes.

This event underscores the need for continued awareness and preparedness in Nigeria, as urban areas expand, and previously dormant fault lines may experience activity. The NGSA has also called for increased investment in monitoring infrastructure and public education on handling seismic events, ensuring that residents are better informed and equipped for any future occurrences.

As the agency continues its real-time surveillance, residents can take comfort in the fact that Nigeria’s geological experts remain vigilant, ready to provide updates and take action should there be any cause for concern.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Presidency announced on Tuesday,that the $550 million upstream gas project between the NNPC Ltd and TotalEnergies on the development of the Ubeta field has taken off.

Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, disclosed this during an inaugural US-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue, hosted by the U.S. State Department in Washington, DC.

In a statement, Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, noted that the signing ceremony of the 550 million USD Fina Investment Decision (FID) on the Ubeta Field Deveopment Project took place in Abuja in June, this year. The Ubeta field, which was discovered in 1964, is located northwest of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

At a luncheon organised as part of the inaugural US-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue, Verheijen said the upstream gas project woud deliver 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day when operational.

She added that major energy reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since June 2023 focused on improving energy security, attracting investments, and deepening collaboration with key partners, including the US government.

She said the key reforms had improved the viability of the gas to power value chain of the country.

The reforms,according to her, included initiatives to improve cash flows in electricity distribution through smart metering and the payment of outstanding debts owed investors and to reduce carbon emissions from gas production.

She added that the President issued five new executive orders to support the reform efforts, aimed at providing fiscal incentives for investment and reducing the cost and time of finalizing and implementing contracts to
develop and expand gas infrastructure.

The presidential aide said the directives are aimed to immediately unlock up to $2.5 billion in new oi and gas investments in the country.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, said the dialogue was apt and strategic.

“The inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue has set the stage for strengthened energy collaboration between the United States and Nigeria.

Together, we’re advancing shared energy security, decarbonisation, and economic growth goals,” he said.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, led the Nigerian delegation to the event. Officials from the Ministry of Power, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board, and NNPC Limited were also in attendance.

The U.S. delegation included representatives from the Bureau of African Affairs, USAID, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and the Export-Import Bank.

Mohammed Shosanya

A total sum of N 1.203 trillion August 2024 Federation Accounts Revenue has been shared to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils in Nigeria.

The revenue distribution was announced at the September 2024 meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), in Abuja,according to a statement by Bawa Mokwa,
Director of Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant General of the Federal,OAGF

The N1.203 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N186.636 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N533.895 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.017 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N468.245 billion.

Mokwa said a communiqué issued by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that total revenue of N2.278 trillion was available in the month of August 2024. Total deduction for cost of collection was N81.975 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N992.617 billion.

The communiqué said,gross statutory revenue of N1.221 trillion was received for the month of August 2024.

This was lower than the sum of N1.387 trillion received in the month of July 2024 by N165.994 billion.

Gross revenue of N573.341 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in August 2024. This was lower than the N625.329 billion available in the month of July 2024 by N51.988 billion.

The communiqué stated that from the N1.203 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received total sum of N374.925 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N422.861 billion. The Local Government Councils received total sum of N306.533 billion and a total sum of N99.474 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

On the N186.636 billion distributable statutory revenue,the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N71.624 billion and the State Governments received N36.329 billion. The Local Government Councils received N28.008 billion and the sum of N50.675 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

From the N533.895 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue,the Federal Government received N80.084 billion, the State Governments received N266.948 billion and the Local Government Councils received N186.863 billion

A total sum of N2.252 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N15.017 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N7.509 billion and the Local Government Councils received N5.256 billion.

From the N468.245 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N220.964 billion and the State Governments received N112.076 billion. The Local Government Councils received N86.406 billion, while the sum of N48.799 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

In August 2024, Oil and Gas Royalty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Import and Excise Duties, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), CET Levies and Companies Income Tax (CIT) all recorded decreases.

Residents of Mpape, a densely populated suburb in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been thrown into panic mode by panic following a series of earth tremors that have persisted for three consecutive days.

The event, which began on Saturday and continued through Sunday and Monday, has left many in fear as buildings shake and an ominous sound echoes through the community.

Mpape, located 10 minutes away from the upscale district of Maitama in Abuja, is home to both low-income earners and members of the middle class.

The tremor has been most noticeable in areas like the P.W. Neighbourhood and the Mopol 24 Barracks, two sections of Mpape bordered by the narrow road that leads into the community. The strange sound has also been reported near Katampe Junction, a spot connected to the Murtala Muhammad Expressway.

Obinna Ngozi, a local resident, described the situation as alarming, explaining that the buildings would shake with each tremor, causing widespread anxiety.

He experienced the earth shaking about 10 times on Saturday alone, starting around 4 p.m,adding that the frequency and intensity of the tremors increased the following day, Sunday.

Muhammad Ibrahim, another resident, initially mistook the sound for a bomb blast, noting that it differed from the typical sounds associated with quarry mining an activity Mpape is well-known for.

His confusion is echoed by Nasiru Ahmad, a former mining blaster in the area, who explained that while stone blasting is easy to identify, the origin of the tremor’s sound remains a mystery.

The recent tremor has brought back memories of a similar, more severe event that occurred three years ago.

According to Peter David, a local community chief, the previous incident had its origins near the Arab Road area in Mpape. That tremor was so strong it was felt in distant districts such as Gishiri, Jahi, Maitama, and AYA in Asokoro District.

Following the earlier tremor, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had suspended all mining activities in the community.

According to David, this ban was only enforced for about three months before quarry operators resumed their activities, potentially setting the stage for the current situation.

As the earth tremor continues, residents of Mpape are left in a state of uncertainty, with many calling for immediate intervention from authorities to address the potential dangers posed by both the tremors and ongoing mining activities in the area.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe executed air interdiction missions in Rivers State on 13 September 2024 as part of its intensified efforts to curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

Conducted in two separate missions, the missions targeted specific sites along the Imo River, including the areas of Owaza, Uzaku, Obuzor, Osuaku, and Obiaku, a statement signed by Group Captain Kabiru Ali,Deputy Director Public Relations and Information,Nigerian Air Force,said on Monday.

According to the statement,in the first mission, NAF aircraft were assigned to provide Close Air Support to ground troops near the Imo River.

Due to a discrepancy between the initial coordinates and the troops’ updated location, the aircrew proceeded to conduct Armed Reconnaissance (AR) in the areas of Owaza and Uzaku,it said.

It quoted that,during this operation, they identified an active illegal refining site at Uzaku,adding that the site was immediately engaged, resulting in the destruction of four IRS tanks and two canoes.

“In a second mission, originally intended to support troops northwest of Umuahia, adverse weather conditions forced the crew to divert and conduct further AR around the Obuzor section of the Imo River. During this mission, 12 IRS tanks, along with several jerrycans and other equipment used by the criminals were destroyed around Owaza, Obuzor, Osuaku, and Obiaku”,it added.

The statement further said NAF will continue to conduct air operations against the activities of oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta and in support of ground forces across the region.

It said:”The need for law-abiding citizens to key into the efforts of security agencies to deter the activities of these economic saboteurs would go a long way in checkmating their activities”.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has received 50 tons of humanitarian aid from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support those affected by recent floods.

The relief materials,delivered to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, were handed over by UAE Ambassador Salem Alshamsi.

He disclosed that the donation, initiated by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan, reflects the UAE’s ongoing commitment to assisting countries impacted by natural disasters.

Dr. Ahmed Dunoma, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed gratitude on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, while acknowledging existing the strong ties between Nigeria and the UAE.

Besides,the NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, also appreciated the government of UAE for the gesture,noting that this will certainly complement the bold efforts by the Federal Government to provide succour and assist flood affected persons to recover from the disaster.