Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, Malam Mele Kyari has named MRS, Oando and two other oil companies as the importers of the adulterated petrol into the country, causing a lot of havoc. Speaking to newsmen yesterday night, February 9, Kyari said that the adulterated petrol was imported into the country by the suppliers through four Premium Motor Spirit cargoes under its Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement. According to him, the DSDP arrangement is part of strategies by the NNPC to ensure sustained supply of petroleum products in the country. “We wish to update our customers and the public on the ongoing efforts by NNPC and other stakeholders to resolve the issues generated by the unfortunate supply and discharge of methanol blended gasoline (PMS) in some Nigerian depots. “On 20th January 2022, NNPC received a report from our quality inspector on the presence of emulsion particles in PMS cargoes shipped to Nigeria from Antwerp-Belgium. “NNPC investigation revealed the presence of Methanol in Four (4) PMS cargoes imported by the following DSDP suppliers namely MRS, , Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium, Oando, Duke Oil. “Cargoes quality certificates issued at loadport (Antwerp Belgium) by AmSpec Belgium indicate that the gasoline complied with Nigerian Specification. “The NNPC quality inspectors including GMO, SGS, GeoChem and G&G conducted tests before discharge also showed that the gasoline met Nigerian specification,’’ Kyari said. The DSDP is an arrangement that allows the NNPC to deliver monthly crude oil lifting on Free on Board (FOB) basis to supplier who shall in return, deliver petroleum products of Nigerian standard specification to NNPC on Delivered at Place (DAP) basis, at designated safe port(s) in Nigeria. The petroleum products to be delivered will be equivalent in value to the crude oil received from the NNPC subject to the general terms and conditions as would be advised to successful companies subsequently via Term Sheet (TS). The four companies that supplied the methanol blended petrol are MRS which made the importation through a vessel named MT Bow Pioneer, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium through vessel identified as MT Tom Hilde, Oando through a vessel named MT Elka Apollon, and Duke Oil through MT Nord Gainer vessel. Earlier, MRS had issued a statement claiming that the NNPC imported the bad petrol. In a statement, the Managing Director, Marco Storari, had said: “MRS will continue to work with NNPC and NMDPRA, for the evacuation of the contaminated product to NNPC, who is the sole supplier of the product. “The allegation reported against the Company that MRS imported contaminated products, is therefore mischievous, false and untrue. MRS is not an importer of this contaminated PMS into the country, nor does MRS sell substandard products.” But the NNPC boss said that all the suppliers of the contaminated petrol have been put on notice for “remedial actions.’’ “All defaulting suppliers have been put on notice for remedial actions and NNPC will work with the authority to take further necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations. “The NNPC will work with the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (MDPRA) to take further necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations. “As a standard practice for all PMS import to Nigeria, the cargoes were equally certified by inspection agent appointed by the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has met Nigerian specification. “It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors. “In order to prevent the distribution of the petrol, we have ordered the quarantine of all un-evacuated volumes and the holding back of all the affected products in transit (both truck & marine),’’ the NNPC boss said.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timiprey Sylvia has announced that Federal Government is investigating the companies that imported adulterated fuel into the country.
Answering reporters’ questions shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today, February 9, at the Presidential villa, Abuja, the Minister said that the government would not rush to conclusion yet.
“I don’t expect you to rush to any conclusions. You know, there will be a major investigation to unravel everything and then let’s really get to the bottom of it before we can come back and tell you what is going to happen to the corporates.”
Asked to give the identities of those involved in the importation, the Minister refused, saying: “I will not.
“I’m not in a position to disclose the identities of the companies. But there are some issues and we are actively tackling them.
“NNPC is very much up to the task. And I will also convey your question to NNPC, and maybe the midstream and downstream regulatory authority.
“But we are actively handling it. And I want to assure you that the problem will be a thing of the past very soon.”
Sylvia said that the government is aware that some people’s vehicles got damaged as a result of the bad fuel, saying: “that is also going to be taken into consideration in dealing with the situation.”
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Had I Sirika, on his part, said that he was not aware if the adulterated fuel affects aviation industry.
“There is none to my knowledge, as of now.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced $224.29 million profit from crude oil and gas export in August 2021 as against $191.26million in July 2021.
A statement today, February 9, by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC Limited, Garba Deen Muhammad said that the breakdown of the figures, captured in the August 2021 NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) indicates that export of crude oil amounted to $7.77million while gas and miscellaneous receipts stood at $65.26 million and $151.26million respectively.
He said that the total crude oil and gas export receipt for the period of August 2020 to August 2021 stood at $1.84billion.
According to Garbadeed, in the Gas Sector, a total of 233.57billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas was produced in the month of August 2021 translating to an average daily production of 7,534.67million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).
“For the period of August 2020 to August 2021, a total of 2,890.67bcf of gas was produced representing an average daily production of 7,303.61mmscfd during the period.
“Period-to-date production from Joint Ventures (JVs), Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) contributed about 57.51%, 20.88% and 21.62% respectively to the total national gas production.
The report also indicates that out of the 208.64bcf of gas supplied in August 2021, a total of 131.35bcf was commercialized, consisting of 40.22bcf and 91.13bcf for the domestic and export markets respectively.
This translates to an average total supply of 1,297.54mmscfd to the domestic market and 2,939.31mmscfd of gas to the export market for the month.
He said that the total gas supply for the period of August 2020 to August 2021 stood at 2,792.28bcf out of which 537.51bcf and 1,245.93bcf were commercialized for the domestic and export markets respectively.
“In the Downstream Sector, a total of 1.532billion litres of white products were sold and distributed by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a downstream subsidiary of the NNPC, in the month of August 2021.
“A breakdown of the figure indicates that petrol accounted for 99% of total sales, while Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, accounted for the rest.
“Total sale of white products for the period of August 2020 to August 2021 stood at 20.032billion with petrol accounting for 99.81%.
“In terms of value, a total sum of ₦203.43billion was made on the sale of white products by PPMC in the month of August 2021.
“Total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period of August 2020 to August 2021 stood at ₦2.619trillion with petrol contributing about 99.76% of the total sales with a value of ₦2.613trillion.
“In August 2021, 21 pipeline points were vandalized representing 50% decrease from the 42 points recorded in July 2021.”
According to the report, Port Harcourt area accounted for 10%, while Mosimi Area accounted for 90% of the vandalized points.
The August 2021 MFOR, the 73rd in the series, highlights NNPC’s activities for the period of August 2020 to August 2021.
In line with the Company’s commitment to the principles of accountability, transparency and performance excellence, the NNPC Ltd. has continued to sustain effective communication with stakeholders through the publication of the MFOR on its website, in national dailies, and on independent online news platforms.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has called for the establishment of an African Financial Stability Mechanism to protect Africa from future economic shocks. “It is now critical to establish an African Financial Stability Mechanism.” Dr. Adesina who spoke at the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union(AU) in Addis Ababa recently, regretted that Africa is the only region of the world that has no liquidity buffers to protect the continent against shocks. “Europe has, Asia has, Latin America has, The Middle East has. These regions had more protection from the economic effects of the pandemic. “Africa did not. This has led to widespread regional spill-over contagion effects, and instability. “African economies must be protected. The African Financial Stability Mechanism will protect African economies.” The AfDB boss stressed that Africa needs more resources to finance Africa’s low-income countries, especially those facing fragility. He said that The African Development Fund, the concessional institution of the African Development Bank Group, has helped to support these countries with $8.5 billion in the past five years. He added that the African Development Fund has delivered impressive results. “The Fund financed the landmark Senegambia bridge.”
Speaking specifically on “Mobilizing Financing for Africa’s Accelerated Economic Recovery, Development and Integration,” Dr. Adesina said that the topic becomes relevant in view of the fact that the AfDB has been given the mandate by a decision of the African Union to lead the mobilization of resources for Africa, to achieve Agenda 2063. Part of the speech is reproduced hereunder: As this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to address you since my re-election, Your Excellencies, I wish to express to you, individually and collectively, my deep appreciation for your strong and unanimous support, and those of your Ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs, for my re-election as President of the African Development Bank in August 2020. I thank H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari, my President, especially, for his trust, confidence, and unflinching support during this assignment which he sent me on to accomplish for Africa. I also wish to thank all our former heads of state for their steadfast support. As always, I will continue to serve our beloved continent, and work with you to relentlessly accelerate the achievement of Agenda 2063: the Africa we want. Your Excellencies, meeting today, physically, is itself an important milestone; a welcome relief following two years of the COVID-19 pandemic that has upended the world in an unprecedented manner. It has been a global economic cyclone. Africa witnessed a decline in GDP growth of 2.1% in 2020, its lowest in twenty years. Africa’s GDP fell by $165 billion. Over 30 million jobs were lost and over 26 million people fell into extreme poverty. I wish to commend the leadership efforts of the African Union, and our Heads of State and Government, for the critical roles you have played in dealing with the pandemic and the socio-economic challenges in its wake. Today, thanks to these efforts 11% of the population has been fully vaccinated, and another 16% has been partially vaccinated. However, while developed countries have moved to booster shots, Africa is still struggling with basic shots. Your Excellencies, we must learn from this experience. Africa can no longer outsource the security of the lives of its 1.4 billion people to the benevolence of others. We must secure African lives! It is time your Excellencies, to build Africa’s healthcare defense system. This must be based on three strategic priorities.
First, building Africa’s quality healthcare infrastructure. Second, building Africa’s pharmaceutical industry and Third, building Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity. Africa needs $600 million to $1.3 billion to meet its goal of attaining 60% vaccine production by 2040. Investing in health is investing in national security. The African Development Bank plans to invest $3 billion to support pharmaceutical and vaccines manufacturing capacity for Africa. To address the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic and support economic recovery, Africa will need some $484 billion over the next 3 years. To eliminate extreme poverty by 2030, the continent will need $414 – $784 billion per year. Africa will need $7-$15 billion a year to deal with climate change. The continent will also need between $68 – $108 billion per year to fix the infrastructure financing gap. Your Excellencies, we must drastically mobilize a lot more resources! The African Development Bank, as the premier development financing institution in Africa, has been mobilizing resources to meet this challenge. Thanks to your support, the general capital of the Bank was increased in 2019 by 125%, rising from $93 billion to $208 billion, the highest since its establishment in 1964. These resources have allowed the African Development Bank to scale up support to African economies to tackle the pandemic. The Board of Directors of the Bank approved a Crisis Response Facility of up to $10 Billion. The Bank also launched a $3 Billion Fight COVID-19 Social Bond on the international capital markets, which was the largest ever US-dollar denominated social bond in world history. The Bank provided $ 27 million as grants to the African Centers for Disease Control. Your Excellencies, over the past six years, the African Development Bank has provided about $39 billion in financing to the continent in support of its High5 priorities to: light up and power Africa; feed Africa; integrate Africa; industrialize Africa; and improve the quality of life of the people of Africa. These High5s are the accelerators for achieving Agenda 2063. An assessment of these High5s by the United Nations Development Program indicated that the High5s would lead to the achievement of 90% of the Agenda 2063 goals and 90% of the Sustainable Development Goals targets. Your Excellencies, so much has been achieved on the High5s. In the past five years, the work of the African Development Bank Group has impacted the lives of 335 million people – fast tracking the move towards achieving the Agenda 2063 goals. Close to 21 million people have gained access to electricity. Nearly 76 million people have benefitted from agricultural technologies for food security. More than 12 million people have gained access to finance through private sector investee companies. Over 69 million people have been provided with improved transport. And 50 million people have gained access to improved water and sanitation. Your Excellencies, Feeding Africa remains a top priority. Our Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation which we call TAAT, has provided drought tolerant technologies for 12 million farmers across Africa. The Bank is supporting the creation of special agro-industrial processing zones in 18 countries to help drive the transformation of agriculture as a major source of wealth and jobs. Your Excellencies, the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the African Union Commission launched the Facility for African Food Security and Nutrition at the UN Food Systems Summit. Now dubbed Mission 1 for 200, this financing facility will help to mobilize $1 billion, provide climate resilient and nutrition-rich technologies for 40 million farmers, produce 100 million metric tons of food, and feed 200 million people. This will help to reduce food insecurity in Africa by 80%. This is particularly crucial in 2022, the Year of Nutrition in Africa. Your Excellencies, the Bank is investing heavily in renewable energy. This includes the world’s largest concentrated solar power system in Morocco and the Lake Turkana energy project, the largest windfarm in Africa. Together with Africa50, we have co-financed the 3,000 MW Ben Ban solar power project in Egypt. The Bank is also implementing a $20 billion Desert-to-Power initiative to develop 10,000 MW of solar power for the Sahelian zone of Africa, in order to provide electricity for 250 million people. This will become the largest solar zone in the world. Your Excellencies, Africa faces a huge challenge with energy transition, and with climate change. The Bank is working to establish an African Just Energy Transition Facility that will support transition from coal and heavy fuel oil into clean energy. However, Africa will need an energy mix that includes natural gas, to ensure stability of its energy systems, power industries, and ensure competitiveness. Your Excellencies, we must go beyond “a just energy transition” to “a just energy system.” Africa cannot be poor in an environmentally sustainable manner. To support Africa’s adaption to climate change, the African Development Bank and the Global Centre for Adaptation have launched the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAA-P) with the goal of mobilizing $25 billion for climate adaptation for Africa. We must revive the Lake Chad Basin! We must save the Sahel from desertification! We must complete the Great Green Wall! The African Development Bank has committed $6.5 billion towards the Great Green Wall. I would like to thank UN secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and my dear sister, Amina Mohammed, Deputy UN Secretary General, for their exceptional support for this initiative. As we move from COP26 in Glasgow to COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, to be hosted by President El Sisi, developed countries need to meet their $100 billion commitment on climate finance to support developing countries. This will help Africa. Promises made must be promises kept. The issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) of $650 billion by the International Monetary Fund has helped substantially, but Africa only received $33 billion worth of SDRs. African Heads of State at the Paris Summit on African Economies, with the strong support of President Emmanuel Macron, called for a re-allocation of $100 billion to Africa. You also asked that the re-allocated SDRs pass through the African Development Bank, as a prescribed holder of SDRs. Your Excellencies, I will appreciate your continued strong support for this. Passing the re-allocated SDRs for Africa through the African Development Bank will serve Africa very well. First, as a AAA-rated financial institution, the African Development Bank will be able to leverage the SDRs by 3-4 times. For example, a $50 billion re-allocation through the African Development Bank will be leveraged to deliver $200 billion to African economies. Second, the African Development Bank will help to recapitalize other African financial institutions, many of which the Bank helped to establish, including the Afreximbank Bank, West Africa Development Bank, East Africa Development Bank, Central Africa Development Bank, the Africa Guarantee Fund, Africa-Reinsurance Company, Shelter Afrique, Trade and Development Bank, Africa50, as well as the Development Bank of Southern Africa. I wish to also use this platform to advocate for additional shareholder funding for these institutions to play their mandated roles. Your Excellencies, to protect Africa from future economic shocks, it is now critical to establish an African Financial Stability Mechanism. Africa is the only region of the world that has no liquidity buffers to protect the continent against shocks. Europe has … Asia has … Latin America has … The Middle East has. These regions had more protection from the economic effects of the pandemic. Africa did not. This has led to widespread regional spill-over contagion effects, and instability. African economies must be protected. The African Financial Stability Mechanism will protect African economies. Your Excellencies, we need more resources to finance Africa’s low-income countries, especially those facing fragility. The African Development Fund, the concessional institution of the African Development Bank Group, has helped to support these countries with $8.5 billion in the past five years. The African Development Fund has delivered impressive results. The Fund financed the landmark Senegambia bridge. It financed the Rosso bridge between Mauritania and Senegal. It financed Corridor 13 road between Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo. It financed the road network rehabilitation project for Comoros. It financed the Revenue Authority project for Togo. It financed the Bas Mangoky rice irrigation project for Madagascar. The Fund is also financing the Kandadji multipurpose dam project for Niger. However, more resources are needed to meet the rising needs of low-income countries. I wish to request the strong support of Your Excellencies, African Heads of State and Government, and of the African Union Commission, for the 16th Replenishment of the African Development Fund later this year. Your Excellencies, with its $25 billion in equity, the African Development Fund can leverage up to $33 billion of additional financing for low-income countries. To achieve this, we need your support to change the article in the charter of the African Development Fund that does not allow it to go to market to leverage resources. This is top priority. We are also leveraging private investments into Africa, in innovative ways. Your Excellencies, the Africa Investment Forum, established by the African Development Bank and its partners, has helped to secure investment interests worth more than $78 billion. This spectacular level of interest includes a $24 billion transaction for the liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique. We are proud that that this project will make Mozambique the third-largest producer of liquified natural gas in the world. The project experienced challenges from insecurity, but thanks to your collective leadership, all is now back on track. Your Excellencies, we must now link security, investment, growth, and development closely together. To enhance the security of Africa, the African Development Bank is currently developing Security Indexed Investment Bonds. Proceeds from these bonds, when developed, will support countries and regional economic communities to do four things. First, to upgrade security architecture. Second, to repair damaged infrastructure in conflict-affected zones. Third, to rebuild social infrastructure. And fourth, to protect zones with strategic investments. Your Excellencies, we must build a better future for our youth. It is time to create youth-based wealth all across Africa. To boost financial support for the businesses of our youth, the African Development Bank Group is exploring with countries the establishment of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks. They will be first rate financial institutions run by the youth for the youth. Your Excellencies, to unleash the business potential of women, the Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) is mobilizing $5 billion for women businesses. AFAWA is now working at scale. Over $425 million was disbursed in 2021 to banks for lending to women businesses. This year, we will disburse $500 million for women businesses. Our vision is clear: When women win, Africa wins! Your Excellencies, the African Continental Free Trade Area offers the continent incredible opportunities to accelerate Africa’s development. To achieve this goal, the African Development Bank has invested massively in infrastructure, from roads, transport corridors, airports, seaports, railways, and digital infrastructure. Over the past 10 years, we have invested over $40 billion in infrastructure. We are connecting nations, connecting businesses, connecting people. Your Excellencies, with Agenda 2063, Africa’s glorious future beckons ! Politically, we are ready. Financially, we are strong and prepared. Last year, the African Development Bank was ranked the Best Multilateral Financial Institution in the world by Global Finance, the leading US Financial Magazine. The sun is shining! Now let us surge forward, overcoming challenges in our way, with our eyes firmly focused on the goal: the Africa we want. An Africa prosperous, peaceful, and stable. An Africa where the youth thrive and prosper. An Africa where our women can reach their full potential. An Africa supported by strong financial institutions. An Africa that develops with pride, looking inwards to mobilize domestic resources, and ending illicit capital flows. Your Excellencies, with your bold and visionary leadership, a new Africa is emerging. Just as the eagle soars above the storms, so will Africa soar and achieve its destiny. Africa is destined for greatness! Thank you very much Your Excellencies.
How is it possible for anybody to design a birthday cake portraying the full and true picture of as giant and elegant as a palace of an elegant and unique King of, say Ebira land? Even Mrs. Nimatullahi Oyiza Salihu, who designed it for King Dr. Ado Ibrahim (CON), the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, who celebrated his 93rd birthday with pump and pageantry on February 7, 2022 admitted that she surprised herself: she thought she could not do it when a prominent title holder, His Highness, the Talba of Ebira land, Alhaji Hamza Usman approached her to do it. In this short interview she granted ebirareporters.com, Nimatullahi narrated how it all happened: Q: May we know you? Ans: Sure, I am by name Salihu Nimatullahi Oyiza (Mrs). I am the Creative Director of Cakes and Chills. I am a a final year undergraduate at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. I’m studying Chemical Engineering. I am Ebira by tribe and from Adavi Local Government Area of Okene, Kogi State.
Q: How long have you been in the baking business? Ans: Professionally, I have been in this baking business for just over two years.
Q: the Royal Ohinoyi’s cake sold out your creativity, tell us what inspired you to the style? Ans: in my wildest dream, I never imagined that I will make that so soon, but Alhaji Hamza Usman, the Talba of Ebiraland contacted me for the royal castle cake. I told him I will try, but he and I said: “No, Make It Happen!” He gave me the dimensions and specifications and also financed the project. So, I did make it. Alhaji Usman has been my mentor for a while now, and the first job I did for him was for Ohinoyi’s 92nd birthday last year, and I think I might have impressed him so much more that he contacted me again. Q: How long did it take to bake that cake? Ans: The modeling of sugar art started about four weeks to the event, and cakes were baked five days to the event. Q: Did you at any point have fears or doubt your ability to meet the expectations? Ans: Yes, I had doubts at every point of the process, even till the moment I set it up. I still felt I did not do justice to it, until I started seeing positive comments. Q: What was the reaction of the King and how did you feel about it? And: I could see and feel the joy on His Royal Majesty’s face, and that gave me a relief which kept me smiling uptil this very moment. Q: How do you feel seeing your work go viral on social media? Ans: It was not expected wallahi, I never thought of it, and I was not really prepared for it. I am still in shock, but Alhamdulillah. Q: Tell us about Cakes and Chills. Ans: Cakes and Chills is a baking industry that makes exquisite yummy cakes, deserts and chops for all occasions and events. Q: How can you be reached for works, and do you deliver only in Kogi state? Ans: I make deliveries to other states, and can be contacted via: WhatsApp: 08167367716 Instagram: CakesandChills Facebook: Nimatullah Bint Salihu Q: Any words for the new admirers of your work out there? Ans: Have absolute faith in God. Whatever one does, be your best and always remain humble, be outspoken and do not live in your fears.
Three Nigerians, adjudged to be outstanding in their fields of studies over the years, have been conferred with the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award for the years 2020 and 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The awardees, Dr. Oluyinka Olurotimi Olutoye, Medicine (2020); the late Professor Charles Ejike Chidume, Science (2020) and Professor Godwin O. Samuel Ekhaguere, Science (2021), went home with N10 million each.
According to citation, from the statement by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina today, February 8, Professor Olutoye, recipient of the 2020 NNOM Award for science, is credited to have led a team which performed ground-breaking surgical procedures on foetuses before they are born.
The statement said that in 2016, in a feat that has been hailed as the first by an African, Professor Olutoye performed a surgical procedure on a foetus with sacrococcygeal teratoma, which is a tumour that develops before birth and grows from a baby’s tailbone.
It said that Olutoye received his medical degree at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) in 1988 with distinctions in anatomy and pathology, interned at the Lagos State University, before proceeding to the United States for specialised training in surgery.
He is currently the Surgeon-in-Chief at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, United States.
The statement said that Prof Chidume, recipient of the 2020 NNOM posthumous Award for science, was the Acting President of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja before his demise on October 7, 2021.
It said that the works of the late Professor, a globally renowned Professor of Mathematics, encompass several fields, including Nonlinear Functional Analysis, Nonlinear Operator Theory and Differential Equations, Nonlinear Optimisation.
He bagged his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1973, M.Sc in Mathematics in 1977 from the Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Ph.D in Mathematics from the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
For Professor Ekhaguere, recipient of the 2021 NNOM Award for science, the statement said that he is a professor of Mathematical Physics.
It said that he created and pioneered the theory of Quantum Stochastic Differential Inclusion (QSDIs) that has greatly improved the entire Science Community’s understanding of those pathological quantum systems whose governing equation involves discontinuous coefficient.
Prof Ekhaguere holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from the University of Ibadan, 1971, DIC in Mathematics Physics from Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK in 1974 and Ph.D. in Mathematics Physics from University of London (Bedford College), London, UK in 1976.
The Chairman NNMA Governing Board, Professor Aku announced that recipients of the prestigious award bestowed by Nigeria on its citizens for creative, intellectual and academic contributions that are of national and global importance receive a cash reward of N10 million each.
The recipients of the award are divided into four areas- Medicine, Science, Engineering and Technology, and the Humanities, including Education and Culture, Prof Aku said.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a Bill seeking to raise educational qualifications for people seeking to be President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor, Federal and State Legislators in the country.
The document titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to Review the Qualifications for Certain Political Offices and For Related Matters’ is being sponsored by Omowumi Onanuga (APC, Ogun).
Presenting the general principles of the Bill, the sponsor said that the new legislation is not targeted at stifling interest of Nigerians in politics.
Onanuga said that the race for political offices in Nigeria has become very “fierce and intense,” due largely to low qualifications for such offices.
“If passed, the Bill will place more value for political offices. Offices affected by this Act are very strategic, with high influence in nature”, she said.
Onanuga argued that the proposed legislation will also place more value for the offices of President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governors and other political offices in the country.
“If a managing director of a company is required to possess a university degree, the occupant of a political office is also required to possess requisite qualifications.”
The House, presided over by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase, unanimously adopted the Bill through a voice vote and passed it for second reading.
King Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land in Kogi State, yesterday, February 7, 2022, formally received the first ever Standard Ebira-English Dictionary at his Azad Palace Okene, during the celebration of his 93rd birthday. The book was presented by the chairman of the production committee, Prince Emma Omadivi (backing the camera right), and the Author of the book, Yusuf Ozi Usman (backing the camera left), supporting him.
The first class Ohinoyi (King) of Ebira land in Kogi State turned 93 years old, celebrating it with unusual birthday cake.
Hundreds of Ebira people both at home and in Diaspora, including the Chief Imam of Ebira land, Sheikh Abere, thronged his Azad Palace, adjudged the best in Africa, in Okene, capital of Okene Local Government today, February 7, to pray, sing and dance for the longevity of the King.
– the birthday cake – The birthday cake was designed by a young lady, Miss Ni’imat, in the shape of his wonderful palace. Editor-In-Chief/CEO of the Greenbarge Media and Communications Ltd, publisher of Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper and hardcopy magazine, Yusuf Ozi Usman, reports that the Queen was so impressed with the birthday cake design that she gave N250,000 to the young lady. According to the Greenbarge Reporters online boss, all the traditional rulers around the local governments in Ebira land, including the ones from neighbouring states attended the ceremony.
– from right: Chief Imam Abere, Dr. Godwin and Yusuf Ozi Usman at the occasion- The Ohinoyi, who is the acting chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Kogi State, used the occasion to receive the first ever Standard Ebira-English Dictionary, which was authored by Yusuf Ozi Usman. The President of the Ebira sociocultural group across the world; Ebira Peoples Association (EPA), Dr. Oyibo Godwin, coordinator of Ebira studies at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Okene, Pastor Lawal Ozovehe; chairman and secretary of the production committee, Prince Emma Omadivi and Abdulrahman Salawu Adavize witnessed the formal presentation of the Dictionary to Ohinoyi. Ohinoyi Ado Ibrahim, whose father, King Atta Ibrahim Onoruioza was the first officially recognised central ruler of Ebira land, has been on the throne since June 2, 1997. He will be celebrating a silver jubilee this year.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has narrated the experience he went through for three weeks, when he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on December 31, 2021.
“I thank God Almighty that I took the first and second doses of the COVID vaccine, because on the 31st of December 2021, I was tested positive for COVID-19 and even though I was told it was mild, I know what I experienced.
“Although I was not hospitalized, I was quarantined in my residence for three weeks because subsequently, even after taking the medication, I tested positive twice.
“It was the third time that I got a negative result. If I had not taken the first and second doses, probably what has happened to many of my dear ones would have happened to me.
“I tell you, even the mildness of the disease was something else because it hits you in many directions.
“When I had it, no matter how strong I felt during the day, for about 15, 20 minutes around 6pm, when I’m seated, I just drop asleep and then after 15 minutes, I’m able to turn up again.
“This is aside of the sore throat, the headaches and all the weakness you get, especially in your joints. I had to change my course of medicine after the first 10 days.”
“For three weeks, I was not productive. I didn’t go out of the house, I never had a chance to do my work and the multiplier effect was tremendous because even now, I’m just trying to cope, to clear all those files that I was not able to handle when I was under quarantine.”
The Minister thanked the Federal Government for ensuring the availability of the vaccines for Nigerians, advising residents of the Federal Capital Territory to get vaccinated because the vaccines save lives.
“I tell you, from the figures I get from our Public Health Department, a hundred percent of the deaths that we experienced in the FCT during the last few weeks as a result of COVID-19 were from those who were not vaccinated. So, the thing is that for those that are vaccinated, chances are that their cases will be mild, like my own case.
“So, my message to us is let us all get vaccinated. For those who have been vaccinated for the first and second dose, I advise them to go for the booster.
“I will take all the recommended shots because I don’t want to go through what I went through again.”
The Secretary for Health and Human Services of the FCTA, Dr. Abubakar Tafida said that a total of 433,000 people in the FCT have taken the first dose and 286,000 have had the second dose and so far, about 12,000 have taken the booster shot.
Dr. Tafida said that since the 30th of November when he assumed office as the Secretary for Health, a total of 16 deaths had occurred as a result of COVID-19 and none of the victims had been vaccinated.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Othera Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has docked a former Secretary General of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Amaechi Akawu, over his alleged complicity in a $150,000 fraud.
Akawu was arraigned by the Commission before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court 5, sitting in Abuja, on allegations of corruption, bordering on money laundering and fraudulent diversion of public funds.
ICPC had filed a 10-counts charge before Justice Ekwo, in which it accused the former Secretary General of diverting monies released by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) for the successful hosting of the CAA Grand Prix Competition in Delta State, popularly known as 2017 Warri Relay Competition.
The offence was allegedly committed in July and August 2017, when Akawu, on multiple occasions, fraudulently diverted funds from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development into personal use. He is alleged to have had other fronts receive the money.
His actions, according to the Commission, violated Sections 1 (a) and 16 (1) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 and are punishable under relevant Sections of the same Act.
Akawo entered a not guilty plea when the charge was read to him. His counsel, Emmanuel Aghedo, moved his application, praying the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
Counsel to ICPC, Mashkur Salisu, who did not object to the bail application, however urged the court to grant him bail on stringent terms that will ensure he stands his trial.
Justice Ekwo, admitted him to bail in the sum of N15 million, with one surety in like sum.
The judge ordered that the surety must have landed property within the Federal Capital. And that the accused must deposit his international passport with the court registry.
The matter was then adjourned to 16th, 17th and 18th May, 2022 for hearing.
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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timiprey Sylvia has announced that Federal Government is investigating the companies that imported adulterated fuel into the country.
Three Nigerians, adjudged to be outstanding in their fields of studies over the years, have been conferred with the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award for the years 2020 and 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a Bill seeking to raise educational qualifications for people seeking to be President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor, Federal and State Legislators in the country.
