We’re Monitoring Competition In Telecom Industry To Deliver Value – NCC Boss

December 8, 2023

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has made it clear that the Commission is monitoring competition in the telecommunication industry to ensure that customers get value for the service.
Dr. Maida, who spoke when he received a delegation of management of Airtel Networks Limited in Abuja, stressed that the Commission will give closer attention to managing the competition in the industry.
“We are more inclined to promote competition by creating a level-playing ground for all our licensees.
“Indeed, the rising cost of business is affecting every sector. We are also looking at a win-win regulatory approach, but we need to be careful to avoid over-regulation, as over-regulation is inimical to competition in the industry.
“The NCC has recently undertaken the review of all categories of licences, both class and individual, with a view to ensuring that our licensees are still able to work well within their capital and operating expenditure (COPEX).”
Dr. Maida said that, in line with regulatory approach, the Commission considers it critical to have a win-win strategies and regulatory framework in place to ensure sustainability of the telecom industry.
“It’s critical for the NCC and telcos to develop win-win strategies for the Nigerian telecom industry so that everybody gets value. The Minister has a blueprint, the President has the Renewed Hope Agenda, and they need to achieve it while telcos need to deliver value to the customers.”
The Airtel Network delegation was led by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Carl Cruz, who congratulated the EVC for his appointment by the President and confirmation by the Senate.
Cruz said that while the Commission deserves commendation for its competition regulatory policies and frameworks, which it has put in place over the years, such efforts must be sustained to ensure a healthy competitive environment for telecom licensees.

Judicial Council Sacks Osun High Court Judge Over Alleged Misconduct

Greenbarge Reporters

December 7, 2023

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of an Osun State High Court Judge, Justice S. O. Falola.
The recommendation was made sequel to the findings of an Investigation Committee over a petition against him.
The petition was written against Justice Falola by Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank complaining that the judge granted a Garnishee Order which was Absolute against the Bank for N283,174,000.00 in a questionable and strange manner and endorsement of the Order, attaching the account of the Garnishee with another garnishee, and not the account of the Judgment Debtor, who had the legal obligation to pay the supposed judgement sum.
They found that the Judge misconducted himself by entertaining Suit No HIK/41/2018 when there was no evidence of a judgement of the Kwara State High Court before him, nor was there a Certificate of Registration of same in Osun State to confer jurisdiction on him.
It further found the conduct of the Judge travelling to Lagos to visit the Counsel of the Bank in his Chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings unbecoming of the standard expected of a Judicial Officer.
Consequently, the Council resolved to recommend him to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for compulsory retirement with immediate effect.
In the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the NJC suspended Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by the Osun State Governor.
The case of Justice Falola was one of the decisions taken by the NJC, with the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as Chairman at its 104th Meeting between yesterday, December 6 and today, December 7.

Tinubu Sacks Simbi Wabote As Executive Secretary Of Content Development Board

Greenbarge Reporters

December 7, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has technically sacked the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engineer Simbi Kesiye Wabote, with the appointment of a new offer.
A statement today, December 7, by the Presidential Media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, named
Engineer Felix Omatsola Ogbe as the new Executive Secretary.
The statement, which said that the Minister of State for Petroleum resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri will serve as Chairman, named other members of the NCDMB as Oritsemyiwa Eyesan of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC; Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens; Nicolas Odinuwe; Rapheal Samuel; Sadiq Abubakar and Olorundare Sunday Thomas.
The statement said that the new appointments were in conformity with Sections 71(1), 72 and 73 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (2010).
It said that President Tinubu asked the appointees to discharge their duties with his patriotic resolve to significantly enhance indigenous industry participation in the energy sector as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s mandate to achieve the goal of 70% indigenous content and participation in the nation’s energy industry during the lifespan of this administration.

You Can’t Be Petroleum Minister Sir, Sanusi Tells President Tinubu

Greenbarge Reporters

December 7, 2023

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammad Sanusi II, popularly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has asked President Bola Tinubu to relinquish his position as minister of petroleum resources.
He also called for a proper auditing of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Sanusi, who spoke at The Bank Directors Summit holding at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, recalled that it was his call for the auditing of the NNPC account that cost him his job at the apex bank. He was CBN governor from June 2009 to February 2014.

Sanusi, who is also the former Emir of Kano, insisted that the President should not be the Minister of Petroleum resources.
In August, about three months after his inauguration, President Bola Tinubu split the Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the appointment of Ekperipe Ekpo as Minister of State, Gas Resources; and Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources.
In keeping with the tradition of his immediate predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, President Tinubu retained the position of the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources.
The former apex bank boss described the arrangement whereby the President would head the petroleum resources ministry as misnomer.
This was even as he said that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) should be allowed to remain until banks get together and pay up what they owe the system.
He said that the banking sector must shore up its trust deficit in the eyes of the public and that there is no need to amend the CBN Act to keep the apex bank free of political influences.
Source: Channels TV.

NNPC To Partner Global Bodies Towards Reducing Methane Emissions – Eyesan, EVP Upstream

Greenbarge Reporters

December 6, 2023

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. has expressed its commitment to work with global partners in the march towards reducing methane emissions in oil and gas operations.
On the sidelines of the just concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP28, taking place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter was released.
The Charter calls on the oil and gas sector to achieve the goal of reaching net-zero emissions for their own operations by 2050. It also includes commitments to achieve near-zero methane emissions and no routine flaring by 2030.
Speaking on the development during a Panel Session, titled: “Accelerating the Elimination of Methane Emissions & the Decarbonisation of Oil & Gas,” NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said that the Charter was a major opportunity not just for the NNPC Ltd, but for the African sub-region.
“Africa contributes three percent to emissions, but that does not exclude us from the consequences of the emissions. I think the decarbonisation drive and the charter are not just ethical but also a strategic imperative for a major African National Oil Company (NOC) like ours.
“We believe this charter is an important one. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver on that.”
Eyesan said that to achieve its near-zero methane emissions, Nigeria has since declared this decade as Decade of Gas, which is not only geared towards producing more gas for export, but also towards producing gas for local economy and that of the entire African sub-region.
“I assure you that we are open to working with our partners towards achieving zero-flare and methane emission reduction by 2030. This fits perfectly with our dreams, and we consider it achievable.”
She described finance and technology as the two major challenges in delivering on the provisions of the charter, noting that for the two problems to be solved, African countries need to work with partners who have the technology and finance.
She said that NNPC Ltd remains committed to expanding its alternative energy sources through investment in solar, wind, and other renewable sources.

Senate President, Akpabio, Threatens To Sue Blogger, Jackson Ude, Over Unfounded Allegation

Greenbarge Reporters

December 6, 2023

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has threatened to sue the publisher of Point-Blank online newspaper, Jackson Ude, whom he described as “itinerant literature of blackmail” for raising false narrative about him.
In a statement today, December 6, by his spokesman, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President expressed surprise at Jackson Ude’s imputation of bad motive on plans by his friends and well-wishers for his birthday.
Eseme Eyiboh said that Jackson Ude’s claims that the funding of the birthday is coming from the Senate and MDAs, has no iota of truth in it and challenged the author to show evidence “or else, gear himself for a date with the law for damaging the reputations of otherwise respectable persons in good standing in the society.
“Mr Jackson Ude should know by now that, being a fugitive cannot shield a serial blackmailer from the long arms of the law.
Eseme Eyiboh who identified himself as a pivot in the coordination of the birthday affirmed that it was a purely private initiative from the friends and associates of the President of the Senate who consistently over the years come together to celebrate the timeless legacies of Akpabio, the destiny child.
He said that Jackson Ude who is not a friend or associate could not have been privy to this yearly show of solidarity and uncommon brotherhood to a renaissance man.
“Mr Ude who is certainly not a friend nor an associate of the President of the Senate has cooked up imaginations that extend the bounds of fantasy to apparently buttress his ranking in fiction writing.
“Unfortunately, in pushing his story on the plans that friends have for the Senate President, Ude has in his write-up encroached on the personal confidentiality of some of the friends of Senator Akpabio. It is a regrettable act of indiscretion picking up names of genuine friends of the President of the Senate in the hatchet job of character assassination of the distinguished President of the Senate and his close associates.
“As one of the friends deeply associated with the plans of the birthday, I affirm that the assertions of Ude including the tale of mopping funds from the Senate for the birthday are a cocktail of fabricated lies for which no serious person should rivet attention to.
“The birthday plans of the President of the Senate are well thought out plans from friends and associates from within and outside the National Assembly and funded from private sources even without the input of the President of the President.”
Eseme Eyiboh called on all men of good reasoning to discountenance what he described as “the frivolities of Mr Ude” which he said were aimed at distracting from the plans to celebrate an uncommon man of destiny.

Kogi Election Tribunal Moved To Abuja For Fear Of “Thug” Attack

Greenbarge Reporters

December 6, 2023

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban -Mensem, has relocated the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from Lokoja to Abuja.
A statement today, December 6, by the Secretary of the Tribunal, David Umar Mike, said that the Tribunal’s sittings would now be at the National Judicial Institute on Umar Yar’Adua Way, Abuja.
It called on litigants to take note of the change in venue.
The statement was however silent on the reason behind the relocation, but a top source at the Tribunal hinted that the step was necessitated by “security reasons.”
The source said that members of staff of the Tribunal have been attacked on several occasions in Lokoja.
The source said: “Just last Monday, tribunal officials were attacked on the way to the office.
“Armed men just pounced on the officials. “They robbed them of everything. They took away all the documents that were in the car.
“Copies of petitions and personal belongings, official receipts, processes like subpoena, official stamps, were all stolen.
“Generally, thugs are frustrating the job and the lives of our officials are at stake, making it difficult to work there.”
The candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Ahmed Usman Ododo had won the November 11 off-cycle election, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Muritala Ajaka coming second and PDP candidate, Senator Dino Melaye coming a distant third.

My Visit To Kuje Prison Has No Connection With Detained Ex CBN Governor, Emefiele – Ooni Of Ife

Greenbarge Reporters

December 6, 2023

The Convener, Hope Alive Initiative for Africa, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has made it clear that his visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centres in Kuje, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had no link with the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele who is being detained there.

His spokesperson, Moses Olafare, in a statement, said that the visit was in commemoration of the Ooni’s 8th year Anniversary on the throne of his fathers.
Speaking against the background of reports in a section of the media, the spokesman said that Ooni of Ife was not at the prison to visit Godwin Emefiele, saying: “The intent of those spreading the news was to blackmail the monarch.
“There is nothing hidden about the event. In any case, the king never met Emefiale because it was an official event organised by the NGO in conjunction with the Kuje Correction Centre.
“The programme centres around giving hope to the inmate that, after serving out their terms, they still have hope to reintegrate back to the society. The Arole Ooni was invited to chair the event in commemoration of his eighth anniversary on the throne.
“What is exclusive about a public programme where different public figures spoke and representatives of the inmate also spoke? How then did the Ooni manage to meet Emefiele?
“We must be careful with how people spread falsehoods about people. The video of the event is available to the public. I am not even sure Emefiele attended the programme because he is only in detention and not an inmate yet, so why link the programme to Emefiele? It is simply to achieve blackmail.”
Source: VANGUARD.

Employers’ Association Honours Nigeria LNG Limited Over Corporate Social Responsibility

Greenbarge Reporters

December 6, 2023

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has honoured Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) with a award for its Investment in Societal Renewal and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The Association described the NLNG’s corporate social responsibility as unparalleled commitment initiatives in Nigeria.
At the 3rd Annual Employers’ Awards in Lagos, the Association also presented the NLNG with the Elimination of Child Labour in the Workplace Award and a recognition award for its contribution to the conference.
The association emphasised that NLNG clinched the awards after undergoing a rigorous evaluation process and surveys by the professional body. NECA described this annual award as a ground-breaking initiative to promote and laud best practices in Corporate Performance, People Management, and Industrial Relations among Nigerian employers.
Reacting to the awards, the NLNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, said that NLNG’s unwavering commitment to CSR and excellent human resources practices aligned with its vision of being a globally competitive LNG company, helping to build a better Nigeria. Dr. Mshelbila underscored NLNG’s role as an inspirational national success story and a significant contributor to the overall development of Nigeria.
According to Dr. Mshelbila, NLNG, driven by its core value of excellence and care, has pursued perfection and achieved remarkable feats in the realm of CSR.
“NLNG’s CSR drive is anchored on four pillars – health, education, infrastructure development, and empowerment – all geared towards supporting sustainable development. We see ourselves as exemplary corporate citizens, fully committed to investing in the advancement of a better Nigeria. Yet, to accomplish this, we require the unwavering support and collaboration of all stakeholders in the country.
“I earnestly urge increased support from these critical stakeholders to help us achieve the pinnacle of CSR excellence for the country.”
NLNG’s flagship CSR projects include the Hospital Support Programme (HSP) and the multi-billion-naira 34-kilometre Bonny-Bodo Road, supporting healthcare infrastructural development in 12 teaching hospitals across the country and socio-economic activities in the riverine parts of Rivers State respectively. These projects are ongoing.
In healthcare, NLNG is implementing its malaria elimination project on Bonny Island through the Bonny Island Malaria Elimination Project (BNYMEP) in collaboration with the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (US-PMI), the Rivers State government and the Grand Bonny Kingdom. The Company also established the Bonny Community Health Insurance Programme (BCHIP), a community-based health insurance partnership with the Rivers State Government and Bonny Kingdom, making healthcare services more accessible and affordable. It has over 12,000 subscribers on Bonny Island.
The Company’s dedication to education was evident in its scholarship programs, benefitting over 4,000 Nigerian students at post-primary, undergraduate, and post-graduate levels. Additionally, NLNG’s commitment to bridging the gap in technical education was exemplified by the construction and equipping of the Bonny Vocational Centre (BVC), which has trained some 920 Nigerians in various vocational and occupational areas.
Other CSR projects also include the completed University Support Programme (USP), where NLNG constructed or rehabilitated engineering laboratories in six universities across the country; and The Nigeria Prize for Science, The Nigeria Prize for Literature, and The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism, with cash rewards of $100,000 each for the science and literature prizes, further demonstrating NLNG’s commitment to fostering excellence in education.
In collaboration with industry partners, NLNG extended its CSR footprint by providing essential social amenities to residents in Bonny Kingdom, encompassing a round-the-clock electricity supply and piped water supply in the community.

N15 Billion Infraction: Senate Gives Lee Engineering Clean Bill Of Health

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2023

The Nigerian Senate has Exonerated Lee Engineering and Construction Company of any infraction in accessing N15 billion of the N250 billion fund set aside by the Federal Government in the development of gas infrastructure in the country.
The Senate Committee on Gas had last week investigated Delta State Government, Lee Engineering and Construction Company and 13 oil and gas companies that had accessed N135 billion out of the N250 billion set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to encourage investments in the gas sector.
In a letter today, December 5, signed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and addressed to the Executive Chairman of the Company Chief Leemon Ikpea, the Senate commended the company for its huge investments in the oil and gas sector and pledged to support the company in adding value to the oil and gas sector.
“The Committee’s investigation revealed that you have invested hugely in the Oil and Gas Industry, with a staff strength of over four thousand employees. We found no Infractions associated with your company. The Senate Committee on Gas writes to commend you on your activities in the Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria.”
He said that during the course of the Committee’s investigations, it found no infraction on the part of the company and particularly commended the management of the company for its sense of patriotism.
“The Committee commends you for your patriotism and pledge to support you in adding value and creating wealth for the Nation,” he further stated.”

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