Nigeria’s Minister Says In Canada: Nigeria Has 44 Minerals In Commercial Quantity

June 16, 2022

The Nigeria’s Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, has said that Nigeria is blessed with 44 different types of minerals in commercial quantity in over 500 locations in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking during the Nigerian Day at the 2022 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange in Toronto, Canada, the minister said that these minerals broadly cut across the various mineral spectrums, adding that these deposits are in five categories, according to their uses.

He said that they include baryte, kaolin, gypsum, feldspar, limestone, energy minerals such as coal, bitumen, lignite, uranium. Others are: metallic ore minerals, such as gold, cassiterite, columbite, iron ore, lead-zinc, copper; construction minerals such as granite, laterite and sand Under precious stones are: sapphire, tourmaline, emerald, topaz, amethyst, garnet among others.

“This clearly demonstrates the wide mineral spectrum we are endowed with, which offers limitless opportunities along the value chain, for job creation, revenue growth and among others. Nigeria provides one of the highest rates of return because its minerals are closer to the surface.”

He said that the first phase of mineral exploration project which was the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Programme (NIMEP), designed to rapidly generate bankable geoscientific data had been completed. He said the aim of the project was to de-risk the sector and attract high caliber investments, adding that target minerals under the first phase include gold, lead-zinc, iron ore, battery minerals, among others.

“The contractors have executed and completed the exploration works on Gold, Platinum Group of Elements (PGEs), Lead-Zinc, Iron Ore and Barites; results on Greenfields and Brownfields are on process to be declared for investment opportunities.” He said that the Federal Government of Nigeria had in its relentless commitment towards the sector provided support by putting up a strong policy and regulatory structure to attract development.

“That robust structure, line by line, is possibly our strongest argument today, for seeking to attract investment into Nigeria. Nigeria has been part of this event for several years because of our determination to see exponential growth of the mining sector’s contribution to our GDP more than it has done in the past forty years. We are here to collaborate and network with global leaders, professionals, investors, Chief Executives of junior, mid-tier and major mining companies.”

The minister said that the Federal Government had also commenced the process of retrieving Nigeria’s colonial geological data from the United Kingdom.

“We are engaging the British Geological Survey (BGS) to build a national electronic geo-data archiving management system to be called the Nigerian Geo-Data Center at the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). This will provide easy access to geoscience data for prospective investors on potential areas to target for exploration and mining within and outside Nigeria.

“Currently, there is an ongoing review of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007. The aimed of the review is to bring legislation into conformity with global best practices, limiting the role of government to that of regulation and creating space for the private sector to maintain a more expansive presence in the sector.”
The minister’s speech is titled: ”The Mechanisms of Transparency and Commitment in Mining Governance as Tool for Attracting Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria’’

Source: NAN.

Prof. Gambari Engages US Under Secretary In Aso Rock

Greenbarge Reporters

June 16, 2022

Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari meets with the United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ms Victoria Nuland at the Aso Rock Presidential villa, Abuja, today, June 16.

Prof. Gambari, Ms Victoria; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Mary Beth Leonard; Deputy Assistant Secretary, West Africa and Regional Peace and Security, Mr. Michael Gonzales and others at the meeting.

President Buhari Loses Family Religious Teacher, Imam Sani

Editorial staff

June 15, 2022

Spiritual and religious leader of the family of President Muhammadu Buhari, Imam Sani Liman Rigassa is dead.

He died in Kaduna today, June 15.

Reacting swiftly to the demise of his family religious leader, President Buhari dispatched a powerful delegate to Kaduna to commiserate with the family.

The delegation, which was led by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service and a long-time associate, retired Colonel Hamid Ali, included Senior Special Assistant to the President, Sarki Abba; Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu and the District Head of Dumurkul as well as the President’s nephew, Musa Haro Daura.

The deceased, who resided in the compound of President Buhari in Kaduna, also served as the religious instructor to his children.

Buhari described the deceased as “a natural versatile teacher,” who was fully integrated as a member of his family.

“He was an exceptional teacher and a kind soul,” President Buhari said, adding “we will greatly miss him, but Allah knows best.”

The President advised the family of the deceased to console themselves with the fact that the late Imam led a life worthy of emulation.

Malam Hussaini, who spoke on behalf of the family, thanked President Buhari for his generosity towards the late Imam and his family and prayed to Allah to give the administration a glorious end.

4 State House Operatives Emerge Outstanding Staff Of The Year

Greenbarge Reporters

June 15, 2022

Four operatives in the State House, otherwise known as Presidential Villa, described as exceptional workers, have been chosen as the best staff of the year.

They are Mohammed Khansila Ramalan, Deputy Director, Human Resource Management; Halima Shehu Kurra, Assistant Director, Accounts; John Okwori, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Accounts and Tanimu Loddo, Head Steward.

A statement today by the Director of Information in the Presidency, Abiodun Oladunjoye, said that the choice of the best staff came as part of activities marking the 2022 Civil Service week celebration.

The recipients, according to Oladunjoye, were chosen based on, among others, unusual patriotic commitment to the civil service; length of service; productivity; integrity in service delivery; efficiency in service delivery; commitment and dedication to schedule duty and responsibility; personal impact; adherence to core values; as well creativity and innovation.

He quoted the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Tijjani Umar commending the recipients as the outstanding Staff, who, through innovation, patriotic commitment to the civil service and exemplary conduct in their various departments, have contributed to effective service delivery in the seat of government.

The Permanent Secretary announced that one of the recipients will be nominated for the national award, organized by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, to culminate in the activities marking the 2022 Civil Service week.

Tijjani Umar congratulated the recipients, even as he reminded civil servants of their vital role in nation building.

According to him, the service expects the best and loyalty from them at all times.

Despite Desperation To Rope Me-In On OPL 245 Saga, Foreign Courts Continue To Exonerate Me – Adoke

Greenbarge Reporters

June 15, 2022

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke has expressed happiness that foreign courts have continued to exonerate him from wrong doing attributed to by the Nigerian government over the OPL 245 transaction between Nigeria and JP Morgan Chase Bank.

Adoke reacted to the ruling of a United Kingdom commercial Court which concluded that there is no evidence of fraud in the OPL 245 transaction between Nigeria and JP Morgan Chase Bank.

The Commercial Court of England and Wales, yesterday, June 14, 2022 ruled on the matter in Case No CL-2017-000730 as contained in its 137-paged judgement.

An Italian court in 2021 also dismissed all corruption charges in the OPL 245 deal, discharging and acquitting all the defendants.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) investigated the OPL 245 deal and brought it to a close in October 2019 without any charges.

In April 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it could not prove any allegations of fraud or corruption and decided to close the investigation into the transaction.

An excited Adoke said that although he was not expecting a contrary judgment knowing well that he did no wrong while serving Nigeria, the ruling by foreign courts would now put to rest, baseless allegations levelled against him on the OPL 245 deal.

“I served Nigeria with all honesty and every sense of duty and patriotism, it is very gratifying that foreign courts have declared over and over again that there were no fraudulent or corrupt practices involved in the OPL 245 Settlement Resolution.”

The former minister lameneted that although, he was not a party in the suit, the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, caused all manner of false depositions to be made against him to paint the transaction with the tar of corruption, in an attempt to justify the spurious criminal proceedings instituted against him in Nigeria.

“I am particularly pleased with the outcome of the suit because if it were to be Nigerian courts, I would have been accused of buying justice by my traducers, who are hell-bent on tarnishing my name and destroying me for political reasons.”

Adoke recalled that OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 1998 by the military government of Gen Sani Abacha.

Adoke explained that the contract was revoked by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2001, following which Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd went to court to challenge the action.

“In 2006, the administration of President Obasanjo opted for an Out-of-Court Settlement and returned OPL 245 to Malabu 100 per cent. This was the state of affairs when I was appointed Attorney-General and Minister of Justice by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010.

“President Jonathan asked me, as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, to give him legal advice on the validity and enforceability of the Out-of-Court Settlement entered by the Obasanjo Administration. After reviewing all the documents related to the oil block, I advised him that the Settlement Agreement dated 30th November 2006 had already been reduced into a subsisting Consent Judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“My involvement in the entire OPL 245 saga was carrying out the lawful directives/approvals of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to the effect that the Settlement Agreement was implemented.

“However, when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, some influential figures in his government deceived him into believing that Nigeria could get back the $1.1 billion that Shell/ENI paid to Malabu for OPL 245.

“But, as I have constantly reiterated, every action taken by me concerning the resolution of the controversies around OPL 245 and the eventual transfer of the oil block from Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd to Shell and ENI was done with the requisite Presidential Directives/Approvals and the best intentions for Nigeria.”

Collapse Of Stablecoin: Crypto Investor Sues Binance U.S. Exchange

Greenbarge Reporters

June 15, 2022

A U.S. investor, Jeffrey Lockhart has sued Binance U.S. and its CEO over allegation that the cryptocurrency exchange falsely marketed Terra USD as a safe asset ahead of the so-called stablecoin’s collapse in value last month.

Stablecoins are digital tokens pegged to the value of traditional assets, such as the U.S. dollar, and are popular as safe havens in times of turmoil in crypto markets.

But Terra USD’s value plunged last month, breaking its 1:1 dollar peg and contributing to a tumble in other crypto assets like Bitcoin.

In the lawsuit against Binance and Chief Executive Brian Shroder, Utah resident, Jeffrey Lockhart said Binance falsely advertised Terra USD as “safe” and backed by fiat currency, when in fact, it was an unregistered security.

Lockhart said Binance’s failure to register with the U.S. government as a securities exchange limits disclosure about assets traded on the platform, harming investors.

“Binance and other exchanges were critical enablers of this devastating failure to comply with the securities laws,” said Tibor Nagy of law firm Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig, which represents Lockhart.

“Crypto exchanges made massive profits by flouting securities laws and causing real harm to real people.”

A Binance spokesperson said the exchange is registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) – a unit of the U.S. Treasury Department – and complies with all applicable regulations.

“These assertions are without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the exchange will delist Terra USD, a decision made before the lawsuit was filed. Lockhart is seeking to have himself and other investors who bought Terra on Binance registered as a class.

In a separate lawsuit in 2020, investors accused Binance of selling unregistered tokens and failing to register as an exchange or broker-dealer.

A federal judge in Manhattan dismissed that case in March, stating that the investors had waited until too long after their losses to sue and that U.S. securities law did not apply because Binance was not a domestic exchange. The investors are appealing.

Lockhart’s lawsuit, by contrast, targets Binance’s U.S. unit and comes just weeks after Terra USD’s collapse.

His suit comes after a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators last week proposed legislation to have the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), not the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), play the primary role in regulating crypto.

The CFTC is generally seen as friendlier toward cryptocurrencies, as the SEC has found crypto assets should be seen as securities.Cryptocurrencies continued their slide on Monday, with Bitcoin touching an 18-month low and No. 2 token ether tumbling as much as 18 percent.

My Running Mate Will Be Northern Christian, Tinubu Clears Air

Greenbarge Reporters

June 15, 2022

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s 2023 presidential flag-bearer, Bola Tinubu has said that his running mate will be a Northern Christian.

“The VP slot belongs to the Northeastern region and particularly the Christians, but consultations are yet ongoing as to who will be decided.”

Tinubu, who spoke to newsmen at the APC governorship rally in Ekiti State yesterday, June 14, ahead of the state’s governorship election, described those who have been flying the news about his decision to go for a Muslim-Muslim ticket as ignorants, even as he made it clear that he intends to pick a Northern Christian as his running mate.

Tinubu also described the carriers of the claims as undemocratic elements.

The presidential hopeful said that the carriers of the untrue report were only being threatened by his imminent victory in the coming presidential election.

Tinubu assured Nigerians that no group, institution or person can impose a running mate on him.

What Igbos Need Is Presidency, Not Running Mate, Imo Gov, Uzodinma Insists

Greenbarge Reporters

June 15, 2022

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has said that at this point in the life of Nigeria, what Igbos in the Southeast need now is Presidency and not running mate to Northern Presidential candidate.

Uzodinma, who spoke to newsmen yesterday at the Presidential villa, Abuja after a private audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, condemned the excitement in the Southeast about who becomes a running mate to the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar after the Igbos had messed themselves up at the party’s Presidential primary in Abuja.

The Governor, who spoke extensively on where the running mate of Presidential candidate of the ruling All Pogressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should come from, said: “there are internal characteristics that the decision-maker may consider in the process of making his decision. The decision whether to choose Mr. A or Mr. B to be a running mate to a candidate is entirely that of the candidate.

“You started by saying the governors of the South-East are complaining of not having the opportunity of being a running mate anymore. But that is not the sole ambition of Southeasterners, let alone the governors. In the business of presidential primaries, there is no election for a vice-presidential candidate. The business there is just to elect a candidate.

“In that ballot paper, there is no room for delegates to vote for who will be your running mate. So, that explains why it is not a decision for the public. It is the decision of the candidate. The first thing to do is to let the candidate. Now a candidate has emerged.

“Now the candidate will factor into consideration some ideas and issues like how to create a spread. Spread is very important to be able to attract votes. So, the decision of who becomes your running mate, if I were the candidate, what will inform it is an action that will enable me to get the kind of votes I’m looking for, because the ultimate goal is to win the election.

“So, maybe I’ll start from the denomination, ethnicity, or followership. In this business of democracy, I think the number is what is very important. And there are certain things as a nation, we should not bring to the public discourse.

“Those things that are capable of creating divisiveness against national unity should not be encouraged. It does not mean that I will not remember that I come from a place but I must also be cautious about how to use where I come from in taking national decisions.

“The second question which is about a running mate, South-East is not meant for running mates. What we wanted as a zone was to be the president of Nigeria and I was convinced that it was proper for us to ask for it. But in this business, it is partisan democracy, the minority will have their view but the majority will have their way. In the wisdom of the delegates that elected the presidential candidate, a candidate has emerged, our party APC will come together, work for our candidate and produce the next president.”

When asked to comment on the alleged move by Tinubu to run with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the Imo governor argued that the Nigerian Constitution does not dwell on religion as a factor in the selection of a presidential running mate.

Source: Daily Post.

Middleage Woman Lands In Court For Alleged N4.5 Million Job Scam, Impersonation

Greenbarge Reporters

June 15, 2022

A middle age business woman, Mrs. Ramat Mercy Mba, has been charged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly defrauding job seekers of N4.5 million.

Mba, who was docked before Justice Ibrahim Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gwagwalada, was also accused of impersonating the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, with the intent to procure employments into the service of ICPC for two unsuspecting job seekers.

The Commission, in a 5-count charge, accused her of demanding and receiving N2 million from one Chimezie Akpata Terry and another N1.5 million from one Susan Jumai Daniel, in exchange for non-existing employments into government agencies, contrary to Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 68 of the same Act.

Counsel to ICPC, Mashkur Salisu, told the court that Mba committed the offence sometime in 2020 when she collected N4.5 million from several job seekers promising to secure jobs for them with ICPC and National Air Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

The court further heard how the defendant fraudulently forged the signature of the late Abba Kyari, with which she sent letter to the ICPC Chairman, requesting that the duo of Chimezie Akpata and Ismail Adewole Oladipopo be employed into the service of the Commission.

The late chief of Staff however distanced himself from the request prior to his death in 2020 as revealed by ICPC Counsel, Salisu.

Counsel to the defendant, Alozie Chigozie moved the bail application for the accused, praying the court to grant her bail on liberal terms.

Salisu, who did not oppose the bail application, however prayed the court to admit the accused to bail on reasonable terms that would ensure her attendance in court for trial.

Justice Mohammed thereafter admitted her to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety who must be an Assistant Director in the federal service and resident within the FCT. The case has been adjourned to 22nd September, 2022 for definite hearing.

U.S President, Biden, Scheduled To Meet Saudi Crown Prince On His M/East Trip In July

Editorial staff

June 14, 2022

American President, Joe Biden has scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman during a trip to the Middle East in July, in a break with his campaign pledge of making the kingdom a “pariah.”

Weeks after taking office, Biden shifted U.S. policy on Saudi Arabia, adopting a tougher stance over the kingdom’s human rights record and in particular the killing and dismembering of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in 2018. U.S. intelligence implicated the prince in the murder. The Saudi government has denied any involvement by him.

Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had a close relationship with the prince, the defacto ruler of the country. But while a presidential candidate in 2019, Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia “pay the price, and make them, in fact, the pariah that they are” over the killing of Khashoggi. The White House has said, as recently as this month, that Biden’s view has not changed.

The talks with the crown prince – part of Biden’s first trip to the region – are seen by rights advocates as at odds with his promise to put human rights at the heart of U.S. foreign policy. Biden’s trip from July 13 to July 16 will also include a stop in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if Biden “determines it’s in his interest to engage with any particular leader, and if such an engagement can deliver results, then he will do so.”

The official pointed to the crown prince’s role in helping secure an extension of a U.N.-brokered truce between Yemen’s warring parties as an example of what he said was a need to engage with Saudi Arabia as way to help bring peace and security to the region.

Biden’s July 15-16 visit to the kingdom comes after the OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations, led by Saudi Arabia, agreed to boost oil production to offset Russian losses – following Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine – and combat surging oil prices and inflation.

Washington’s desire to improve ties with Gulf monarchies has become more urgent following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which highlighted the relevance of Gulf oil producers as Europe looks to cut its energy dependence on Russia.

The United States is also trying to further isolate Russia over the Ukraine war, urging Gulf states to publicly condemn Moscow, three Western diplomats said. Gulf states have so far tried to maintain what they say is a neutral position, but some Western diplomats view that as siding with Moscow.

Biden will meet with regional leaders including Iraq, Egypt and Jordan in Saudi Arabia as part of a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the White House said. Washington has proposed an agenda that includes regional security, food security, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and energy issues, a Gulf source familiar with the matter said.

In Israel July 13-14, Biden will emphasize the U.S. commitment to the country, which includes billions of dollars in military support. He will hold a virtual summit with the leaders of Israel, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

Biden will also travel to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other leaders to reaffirm his commitment to a two-state solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the U.S. official said.

The visit will help “integrate Israel into the Middle East,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has signaled its backing for the so-called Abraham Accords under which the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain forged relations with Israel two years ago. But Riyadh has stopped short of formally recognizing neighboring Israel

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