NNPC GMD Hosts Stakeholders In Oil Sector (Photo)

September 25, 2020

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NBPC), Mallam Mele Kyari (3rd from right), with the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Victor Usifo (2nd from right); Deputy National President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Matthew Duru (right); and President of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Williams Akporehe, after a Downstream Stakeholders’ Meeting at the NNPC Towers… Thursday.

Don’t Pander To Agents Of Anarchy In Nigeria, Presidency Tells UK

September 25, 2020

The Presidency has called on the United Kingdom’s lawmakers, legal experts and campaigners not to pander to agents of anarchy by playing on religious differences of the people in the country.

Reacting to challenge by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group working with the Commonwealth and all concerned parties on the herder-farmer clashes, and the threat posed to all Nigerians from Boko Haram terrorists and their allies, the Presidency asked the British lawmakers and lawyers to visit Nigeria, whether formally or informally to discuss all the points raised in their letter.

A statement by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that the government of Buhari is made up of Christian and Muslim cabinet members.

“Our Vice President is an Evangelical Pastor. We have everything to gain as a country through international cooperation with concerned, senior British parliamentarians and policymakers. The threat to civilians and peaceful co-existence between different ethnic and religious groups from Boko Haram, banditry and land disputes is of serious concern to the President and the government.”

Garba Shehu said that it is incorrect to assert that the government has or is doing nothing to address these intertwined threats.

“Firstly, there are on-going efforts for the establishment of cattle ranches to prevent or curtail open grazing, the practice that brings herders and farmers into conflict. This is an age-old problem facing Nigerian Governments since the colonial days. However, matters of land distribution are dealt with at state level. This means willingness has to be shown by state governors to drive the process forward. The Federal Government launched a plan last year to work with states to address these issues – together. Unfortunately, this has been lacking in some states.

“Secondly, with regards to the long and determined battle waged against Boko Haram, Nigerians are aware of the efforts made by this Government. When the government came to power, the terrorist group held and administered an area the size of Belgium. Now they hold none. The terrorists are hiding out amongst remote forests and across borders. This makes it difficult to extinguish the final flames of the insurgency, and the government has no illusions of the potent threat still posed. However, the progress made cannot be denied.

“Thirdly, in the face of rising crime and insecurity, the government’s new community policing initiative was launched this month. 10,000 new constables are being recruited from the areas they will safeguard – as opposed to past practice. The government hopes this will bring policing closer to local communities. N13 billion has been earmarked for this initiative.

“At the same time as we take note of the lawmakers’ letter, it is also important to stress to our partners and colleagues in the United Kingdom that not all who press them have the best interests of either democratic governance or peaceful coexistence in mind. For example, the former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, named and quoted in the letter as a source on military matters, relinquished that position some 40 years ago – in 1979. He was last in a government position 17 years ago in 2003 (as Minister of Defence). At that time, religious and ethnic riots erupted in two states of the federation, (2001 and 2002), these were violently and ruthlessly put down by the military under his authority, leading to the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of some further 50,000 persons. He is, therefore, not a natural source of pressure for good governance.

“Another, signatory to the letter, is well-known to be associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a Nigerian-blacklisted terrorist group. The IPOB are running a well-known (source-of-financing-unknown) international campaign intended to damage the reputation of Nigeria and its government in order to further their cause of “independence.”

“He jumped bail in Nigeria. He frequently travels on a Nigerian passport but urged his supporters to burn their passports! The IPOB barely mention their aims in their publicity; neither do they mention that their own leadership do not claim to be Christian. Yet, their media and lobbying campaign has focused near-exclusively on promoting matters related to Christianity in Nigeria, promulgating false claims that a government with 50 per cent of its cabinet and 50 per cent of its State Governors who are Christian somehow works against Christians. We call on our British friends and colleagues to join us in addressing genuine solutions not pander to agents of anarchy.”

Tony Elumelu, Africa’s Shining Star, By Dakuku Peterside

September 25, 2020

According to Napoleon Hill: “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”

There are no truer words than these about the life and times of Tony Elumelu who, without question, has journeyed through some of the greatest challenges in life and reached his destination so remarkably as if it were so easy.

Tony is perhaps the biggest success story in the Nigerian banking industry having taken the then nascent Standard Trust Bank to challenge the biggest names in the industry, culminating to an audacious merger with the United Bank for Africa (UBA). This merger saw Elumelu to the top echelons of corporate banking in Nigeria and Africa. The footprints he left in Nigeria’s banking sector is yet to be matched.

His recognition by the much-revered Time International Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People In The World is a fitting testimony and badge of honour for a man who has devoted his time, resources, being and comfort towards raising hundreds if not thousands of entrepreneurs across the African continent.

It is arguable that there has never been any initiative, policy or action across the continent that has challenged African entrepreneurs the way and manner the “Tony Elumelu Foundation” has touched lives, with reverberating effects that will endure for generations.

Whilst many countries are still struggling to have a breakthrough in a sustainable trajectory that can utilize the abundance of talents that straddle every corner of the continent, Tony’s profound and deepening challenge to young Africans will in the nearest future blossom to produce thinking and creative generations.

With interests that cut across power generation, healthcare, hospitality, and banking, Tony Elumelu continues to represent fresh frontiers, full of opportunities but available to only those who dare to chart a new course and brace the odds to succeed.

Being a Leadership Development Professional and a Turnaround Manager myself, I appreciate the enormous work Tony Elumelu has done in raising a new generation of entrepreneurs across Africa. This recognition will undoubtedly bolster his determination to alter the course of emerging Africa’s generations for the better and place them on a pedestal of prosperity, service to humanity, and above all, provide leadership for the continent. He is championing a new Africa that will take a prideful position in the comity of continents.

In the words of Sonia Johnson: “We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.”

Congratulations to Africa’s shining star.

Dakuku Peterside, Ph.D wrote in from Lagos.

How Africa Escaped Explosion In Coronavirus Cases – UN Health Agency

Editorial staff

September 25, 2020

The United Nations Health Agency has said that Africa has been able to escape what it called “exponential” rise in coronavirus cases seen elsewhere due to low population density and a hot and humid climate.

This came on the heels of the World Health Organization (WHO) statement that the transmission of coronavirus in Africa has been marked “by relatively fewer infections which have subsided in the last two months,”

It added: “iIn the last four weeks 77,147 new cases were recorded against 131,647 in the four preceding weeks.”

WHO said that some of the worst-hit countries such as Algeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa had seen infections steadily fall in the past two months.

South Africa is the continent’s worst-affected country. According to the latest official statistics on Friday, there 667,049 cases of which 16,283 were fatal.

The WHO said the “low population density, the hot and humid climate, the high level and the high percentage of youths combined” to probably contribute to the low infection rates.

“Around 91 percent of the infections in sub-Saharan Africa concerned people less than 60 and over 80 percent of these cases were asymptomatic,” it said.

The decline is a testimony to the decisive public health measures taken by all the governments in the region, the WHO’s Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said during a virtual meeting on Thursday.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, shuttered its borders at the start of a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 to limit the spread of the virus.

Restrictions on movement and business have been gradually eased since June, but borders stayed sealed to avoid importing the virus from abroad

Africa has so far recorded 34,706 deaths from 1,439,657 cases, according to an AFP tally on Friday, far behind the other continents. The United States alone has 202,827 deaths from 6,979,937 cases.

Source: AFP.

My Concern Is Safety Of Nigerians In Political Contest, Irrespective Of Who Wins – Buhari

Editorial staff

September 25, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his single desire is to make sure that innocent Nigerians don’t suffer in political struggle for office, regardless who eventually wins and under which party he wins.

President Buhari, who spoke today, September 25 when Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State led his Deputy, Philip Shuaibu and other party supporters to the State House on a thank-you-visit said: “I thank you for bringing your deputy and supporters to come and see me after beating my party. I am supposed to preside over all Nigerian interests whether I like it or not, but my single desire is to make sure that innocent people don’t suffer. That message I got across to the Inspector General of Police, that elections must be free and fair.”

“If contestants have too much money and they decide to spray, so be it. But what I insist is, nobody should go and raise a counter force to the government, arm heavily-drugged thugs to go and humiliate people.

“I want Nigerians to appreciate that I respect them as Nigerians and that I am bound by the oath I have taken, that their security is in the hands of God and in the hands of the government, which I am leading.”

President Buhari noted that as the leader of the governing party, and despite the fact that the party has lost some states in elections, he wished to leave behind a political culture based on integrity.

“We have lost states across the country. Now I do not like to escape the responsibility, seeing as the leader of the country, I am also the leader of my party, that I am not leading the party very well.

“I am trying to make sure that the party is built on a civilised basis, rule of law and respect for human rights and human beings, right from polling units to local governments, to states up to Abuja and that’s what I have been insisting as my contribution to the National Working Committee and executive of the party. I know we are a developing country, a developing economy and trying to develop our political culture. I want the development of political culture to be based on integrity and accountability. Let people work very hard and earn what they are looking for through their hard work and through fair competition.”

The President said jokingly that he was congratulating the Edo governor “reluctantly” because he defeated the candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress.

Governor Obaseki thanked the President for ensuring that fair play reigned during the election which saw him victorious.

“You would recall a couple of weeks before the election, I came to see you and you assured me that we were going to have a free, peaceful and credible election. That is what we had during the election of 19th September and the whole world has acclaimed that Edo election was perhaps one of the best conducted in recent times in Nigeria. This could not have been possible without your insistence that the right things be done, and for that, we want to say thank you very much.”

He also thanked the President for his congratulatory message, assuring him that the message “has been internalised, that it is God that made this election possible, therefore I should be humble about the election and also magnanimous in victory.”

He pledged his unalloyed loyalty and support and that of the people of Edo State to the President and the federal government.

God Fatherism In Democracy Is Worse Than Military Rule, Gov Obaseki Says

Editorial staff

September 25, 2020

The governor-elect under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has described the concept of Godfatherism in democracy as being worse than military rule.

Speaking to newmen today, September 25, shortly after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Obaseki said: “the godfather has no constitutional responsibility. The godfather acts outside the constitution and controls people who are constitutional players.

“So, if we allow that sort of situation to continue, it will be worse than military rule. When people who have nothing at stake, no checks and balances just arbitrarily decide that this is the way the constitution should be interpreted or constitutional players should operate, that’s why problems come in.”

Asked whether he would want to be godfather after his second-term tenure, the Governor, who crossed carpet from the All Progressives Congress (APC) a few weeks to the election, said: “God forbid that I become a godfather. I should be dealt with accordingly because it’s dangerous to the concept of democracy.

“I have said in several fora that the whole concept of godfatherism is very dangerous to our democracy. And that is why when we came into the political fray 2006/2007, the mantra then was to get rid of godfathers from our political life.”

Obaseki regretted that there was so much bitterness during the campaign leading to the election, saying: “I can assure that most of it did not come from my camp because. We were not desperate but that is neither here nor there.

“We also have to appreciate the role of the social media. The impact of social media technology is at all time high.

“So, it’s not that in the past such hurtful words, hateful speeches were not used but it was never at the level of proliferation and spread as it has had now because of social media. We will continue to try and heal the land.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t show that Edo people are divided; it shows essentially that Edo people have come together under one umbrella that is what the election has shown.

“We will continue appeal to those who are outside our umbrella to work with us for the benefit of our people, because, what is the purpose of election anyway? Is it not a contest for who will rule the people better? If the result of this election has shown that Edo people trust that I will, at this point in time, be able to govern Edo better, give them what they want at this time, then everybody should join me so as to be able to accomplish that goal.

On whether he would consider returning to the APC, Governor Obaseki said: “I couldn’t have contested one a party, won on that party and then consider moving to another party. It is not the kind of thing to do, it’s not the right thing to do and I am sure you will not encourage me to do that.”

He said that he learnt one thing from President when he was with him today, when the President said that he wanted to leave a democracy that is built on integrity, accountability and hard work. “Those were his words and I subscribe totally to that. It will not show integrity, it will not demonstrate somebody that has ethical or moral foundation to do what you asked about.”

President Buhari Renews Appointments Of PTDF, PEF, NCDMB Bosses

Editorial staff

September 25, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the appointments of Chief Executive Officers of agencies under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Following recommendations to the President by Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau gets another nod as the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF); Ahmed Bobboi as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), while Engineer Simbi Wabote is reappointed Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Dr Gusau is credited to have run the PTDF successfully in the past four years, keeping faith with the Seven Strategic Priorities he had introduced in January 2017. These are: Domestication, Cost cutting, Sustainable funding, Efficient internal processes, Linkages with the industry, Utilization of centers of excellence, and Pursuit of home-grown research.

Mr Ahmed Bobboi gets his reappointment for having run PEF in a way that made it a key and strategic player in the administration’s oil and gas reforms, especially in stabilizing the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, among others.

Engineer Wabote won his pips for managing the Nigerian Content Development Fund prudently, completing the headquarters building of NCDMB, and also initiating many landmark projects that are widely commended by industry players.

All the appointments take immediate effect.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

September 25, 2020

Court Stops Labour Unions From Embarking On Nationwide Strike

Greenbarge Reporters

September 25, 2020

The Abuja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has stopped the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) from holding their planned mass action fixed for September 28.

The two unions are quarrelling with the federal government over the recent increases in the petrol pump price and electricity tariff in the country. Subsequently, the Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors and one concerned citizen, Aliyu Audu, had on Thursday, September 24, approached the court seeking the stoppage of the planned protest.

The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Galadima, granted an interim injunction restraining the labour unions “from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing workers or ordinary Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

The court also granted an order compelling the Inspector-General of Police and the Director General, State Security Services, SSS, “to provide protection for workers engaged in their legitimate duties from any form of harassment, intimidation and bullying by the officers, agents or privies of the unions pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

High Profile Boko Haram Commander Surrenders, Along With His Family

Editorial staff

September 24, 2020

The Defence Headquarters hss announced that a high profile Boko Haram Commander has surrendered to Nigerian troops during clearance operations in their enclaves in Borno saying that the operations took place between Sept. 17 and 23.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major Geneneral John Enenche, in his weekly update today, September 24 on the operation of Armed Forces of Nigeria in Abuja, said the unnamed commander surrendered with his four wives.

He said that the success was as a result of a sustained offensive by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole through air and ground operations on terrorists’ enclaves at different locations in Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa.

According to him, the operations also led to the arrest of one Boko Haram fighter at Kamuya in Biu Local Government Area of (LGA) of Borno, while nine other criminals were arrested in Wukari LGA of Taraba.

“Caches of arms and ammunition, as well as equipment and motorcycles, were also recovered. “Meanwhile, troops repelled BHT/ISWAP attacks on civilians and own troops at Wajiroko in Damboa LGA of Borno on Sept. 17 and Sept. 20.

“The troops neutralised several of the terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition.”

In the North West, Enenche disclosed that the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Sahel Sanity had continued to dominate the general area leading to the killing of seven bandits and rescue of kidnapped victims during the week.

He said that the troops on Sept. 17, rescued eight kidnapped victims from suspected bandits at Fankama and Sabon Layi area of Faskari LGA of Katsina State.

The coordinator explained that the troops got information that bandits dressed in military camouflage were sighted with kidnapped victims and engaged the bandits forcing them to abandon the victims.

He also said that troops of Operation Sahel Sanity while on patrol at Chabas, responded to a distress call and rescued a truck driver with 11 women and children who were on their way to Batsari Market but were kidnapped by suspected bandits along Shimfida – Gurbi Road.

According to him, troops deployed at Dansadau arrested a suspected bandit on a motorcycle on his way to Dandalla village in Dansadau, Maru LGA of Zamfara with one Pump Action rifle and three live cartridges carefully concealed in a bag.

“Similarly, the Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike killed several bandits at their meeting venue in airstrikes executed at Kwaimbana forest area of Kaduna State.

“Also, two gunrunners were arrested in possession of 1,620 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in Kudaru Hill along Kaduna-Jos Road in Lere LGA of Kaduna State.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition was to be delivered to one bandit leader, at a location in Dansadau LGA of Zamfara. Equally, on Sept. 18, troops of Forward Operations Base Burukusuma patrol team killed seven armed bandits at Magira village of Zamfara.

“On Sept. 19, troops, in conjunction with vigilantes arrested two bandits in possession of N1.3 million at Baworaje village in Talata Mafara LGA of Zamfara”.

In North Central, the Coordinator disclosed the Troops of Operation Safe Haven between Sept. 17 and Sept. 20, raided suspected Sara-Suka criminals’ hideouts at Jenta Adamu, Rikkos, and Gangare Yan-Doya area of Jos North LGA of Plateau.

He said the raids led to arrest of 14 suspects while 12 knives, 4 daggers, 4 mobile phones, two swords, assorted charms, a large number of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, among other illicit drugs were recovered.

Enenche added that troops also raided another suspected drug peddlers’ hideout within Barkin Ladi LGA where a drug dealer was arrested with a large quantity of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.

According to him, all the arrested suspects and recovered exhibits have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action. Enenche further disclosed that the Headquarters Operation Safe Haven on Sept. 17, inaugurated the Rim Primary Healthcare Centre renovated by the Defence Headquarters in Riyom LGA of Plateau as part of its Civil-Military Cooperation.

He added that the DHQ medical team in conjunction with Operation Safe Haven medical team conducted a 2-day medical outreach in Ikulu Chiefdom of Zangon-Kataf LGA of Kaduna State.

Source: NAN.

Group Wants Justice Salami’s Panel To Leave Justice Minister Out Of Magu’s Case

Editorial staff

September 24, 2020

A group going by the name, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) has called for caution on plans to extend invitation to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, AbubKar Malami, SAN, to appear as witness before the Justice Isa Ayo Salami Panel, which is currently probing allegation of corruption against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu.

At a press conference today, September 24 in Abuja, GICN, explained why the AGF should not appear before the panel.Executive Director of the group, Barrister Edward Omaga, said it is needless for the AGF to appear before the panel because the panel has gathered evidence which were enough to do justice in its report.

He said since the proceedings at the panel began, the group decided not to dabble into the affairs of the panel, to enable the it come up with a report that cannot be faulted by Nigerians because ”we trust the integrity of the former president of the Court of Appeal.”

There were reports that the Attorney General of the federation and minister of justice (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), is to appear as witness before the panel and like we rightly stated earlier, we at GICN want the members of panel to be allowed to use their own wisdom in discharging their mandate without being teleguided by people who are supposed to be busy defending themselves by responding to allegations made against them.

”Already, the panel has gathered evidence which are enough to do substantial justice. In case those calling on the AGF to appear the before the panel do not know, the AGF has been playing a supervisory role on the EFCC and we make bold to say that the number one chief law officer of the Country has played this role creditably well, so there is no need to have him as witness before the panel.”

We at GICN also need to remind them that after the completion of the sitting of the panel, the report of the panel would be sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, who will in turn seek the legal view of the AGF, so, if he is invited to be a witness before the panel, he would be deprived from offering his constitutionaly recognized legal view when sort, having appeared as a witness at the panel.

”The handwriting of some mischievous elements is very clear. There may appear conflicting roles as AGF may be regarded as a witnessing party and someone offering legal advice on the matter to Mr. President. We envisage a situation where some individuals want use this as a bait to deprive the AGF of rendering his Constitutional responsibilities of offering legal advice on the matter as well as deprived Nigerians from benefiting from the AGF’s legal acumen.

”Therefore, we are calling on the Justice Isa Ayo Salami panel to ignore the call for Mr Malami to appear as a witness before it.”

He said that if the minister is allowed to appear as a witness before the panel, it would compromise his constitutional duty.

He said that in framing a charge, as is the case with all other proceedings, the office of the Attorney General is exercising a constitutional role of prosecution and not a role of testimony.

”Demanding the office of the Attorney General to testify in a witness capacity, in a facts findings enquiry, will have the effect of compromising on its constitutional role of the office of the AGF as it relates to the examination of the eventual discoveries within the context of its constitutional role.

”The constitution does not envisage the role of a witness in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation over a matter in which it stand in a prosecutorial and supervisory role.

”It can not therefore be placed in a compromise position making it impossible for the office to exercise its constitutional role of proffering a legal opinion or prosecuting the allegations when the report establishes a prima facile case justifying prosecution.”

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