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$1.5bn Repair: Doubts As FG Says Port Harcourt Refinery Ready Soon

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The federal government has disclosed that the Port Harcourt refinery will begin work in December.

Timipre Sylva, Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, made this known on Wednesday when briefing state house correspondents in Aso Rock, Nigeria’s Presidency.

The moribund refinery has been under rehabilitation since February. The Buhari administration had earlier in the year approved $1.5 billion for the repair of the refinery despite reservations from not a few Nigerians, that the country may never get a good value for the money.

This is not the first time the federal government had allocated a humungous fund for the repair of the refinery in a bid to refine crude oil locally for the benefit of Nigerians, so as to reduce the importation of petrol and the attendant huge subsidy payments.

Experts in the sector had therefore described the efforts as a waste of time and resources.

But the minister has now assured that the refinery will begin work in the next three months.

Silva said, “The rehabilitation of the refineries is ongoing. As we said earlier, the old refinery in Port Harcourt, which is about 60,000 barrels per day capacity, will be functional by December and, of course, we still have some time in the contracting time to conclude the rest of the Port Harcourt Refineries.

“Works in the Kaduna and Warri refineries are also in progressing very well. We will soon be embarking on an inspection visit and some of you journalists will be will be able to go with us to ascertain for yourselves what the extent of work is.”

The minister also hinted some efforts the government is making before next year’s removal of fuel subsidy.

“On the CNG development, it’s very much in progress. That is part of the promises we made, part of the things we want to put in place before the removal of subsidy.

“Subsidy has still not been removed because some of these conditions that were agreed upon have not been met and we’re definitely working assiduously to ensure that all the facilities are in place, the pumping stations and the conversion kits.

“I can assure you that work is going on very much in that regard. We may not be in a position to announce exactly what we are doing now or where we are, but I can assure you that work is very much ongoing.”

IPOB: Jubilation As Govt Frees 3 Militants

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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There is jubilation in the camp of the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB, security experts say following the release of three of its members held by the Nigerian government.

Amnesty International, AI announced the release of the three militants by the Nigerian Army which has held them for months on Wednesday.

The report by AI comes on the back of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the troubled region.

Buhari was in Imo state on Tuesday at the instance of Governor Hope Uzondinma to commission some projects executed by the administration.

The magazine learned that Igbo leaders discussed the IPOB matter with the president during the visit to the Governor Uzodinma-led state.

The report also comes a day after the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, reserved judgment on the case against the detained leader of the proscribed IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu who is being tried for terrorism by the federal government.

According to AI, the three persons suspected to be members of IPOB, had been held for two and half years at 14 Brigade Nigerian Army Ohafia, Abia State.

“Amnesty International welcomes the release today 14 September 2022, of Sunday Nwafor, 59 years, Uzonwanne Ejiofor 48 years, and Wilfred Dike, 36 years, who were arrested by officers of the Nigerian Army on 27 February 2020 at Imo River community in Abia state,” the right body said.

“They were held at 14 Brigade Nigerian Army Ohafia, Abia State for well over two and half years. Their release follows Amnesty International’s campaign and call for their freedom, including, as recently as two weeks ago.

“Amnesty International urges Nigerian authorities to provide information about the status of other victims of enforced disappearance and incommunicado detention, grant their families and lawyers access to them, charge them to court, or release them from detention.”

NIMASA Donates To Taraba Schools

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Bashir Jamoh

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, on Thursday, moved to improve the quality of teaching in Taraba and donated learning materials for pupils in basic schools in the state.

Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh who was represented by a Public Relations Officer from the Agency, Kefas Kubuza William while presenting the items to school children in Jalingo said the gesture was part of the agency’s efforts to support the education of children in the state.

Jamoh said the agency had procured medical equipment to also boost primary health care services in the state.

He advised benefiting clinics to make judicious use of the equipment to enhance health care services to indigent people.

“This is part of the Agency’s ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.

If we succeed in helping to ensure that some students improve academically, we would have made a difference.

“I want to appeal that the materials donated today be used judiciously to give the children the best,” he urged.

The Director of Relief, Taraba State Emergency Management Agency, Anthony Danu, in a remark said inadequate provision of teaching and learning equipment in public schools was a major challenge for basic education in the state.

Danu listed some of the equipment donated to include; desktop computers, printers, whiteboard, markers, assorted textbooks, writing materials, exercise books, food flasks, school bags, sandals and sucks, among others.

Headmaster of Howai Primary school, one of the benefiting schools, Mr. Sa’ad Yakubu thanked NIMASA for her support to education in the state.

Yakubu, who said the items would go a long way in supporting the school in its day-to-day teaching and learning,

assured that the school would judiciously utilize the items for the good of the pupils and educational development in the state.

Aside from education materials, the agency also donated medical equipment such as a stethoscope, clinical thermometer, pulse tester, delivery kits, hand sanitizers, beds and bedsheets, and a drip stand among others.

Buhari To Present Last Budget As President Next Month

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Buhari 2021 Budget Presentation

President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2023 appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in October, Femi Gbajabiamila, Nigeria’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said.

It will be Buhari’s last as Nigeria’s leader because he’s due to exit office next year after spending the mandatory eight years as President and Commander-in-Chief.

There are divergent views on whether the previous budgets passed by the administration have changed the lives of many Nigerians.

The complaint mainly is that a large portion of the budget had been used to fund recurrent expenditures rather than capital projects which have direct impacts on the lives of many Nigerians.

There are also complaints about the timely signing of the Budget by the president after it has been passed by the national assembly.

The consequence of all of these, many say, is that Nigerian’s don’t usually get much from the budget after serious efforts have been put into it by the executive arm of government and NASS. .

For instance, the 2022 Budget was signed by President Buhari after a long delay from the executive which alleged that the NASS has padded the monetary estimates.

Speaking On Wednesday during the inspection of the ongoing renovation work on the green chamber, as well as the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission office, Gbajabiamila said the president will present the proposed N19.76 trillion budget for the 2023 financial year in the first week of October to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The Speaker said the chamber is being renovated for the comfort of the lawmakers in preparation for the president’s arrival next month.

Gbajabiamila said, “You see that the old chamber has been ripped apart. The innovations are going to be like state of the art. We will at the end of the day be proud to have the chamber that match the best standard all over the world.

“I’m quite impressed with the work so far.  I will encourage them to double the pace. Because as it is, unfortunately or fortunately, this is not for the benefit of the 9th Assembly, it is for the benefit of the 10th Assembly.

“The old chamber is not going to be ready until sometime in August 2023 so we are talking about close to year. But so far so good, we are happy and this temporary site where we will be sitting for the next nine, 10 months is honestly a far cry from where we used to be but they have done well in adapting. This used to be hearing room to a legislative chamber. Adaptation – you made a lot of innovations. We are ready to work.

“The 10th Assembly is most likely (taking off here) unless work can be accelerated but we don’t want to accelerate work and compromise quality of work. So is better late but done well, everything worth doing is worth doing well.”

While One Abductor Slept, And The Other Went In Search Of Indian Hemp, Imo Traditional Ruler Escapes From Captivity

By
The Source
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By Charles Igbo

For a high profile Imo Traditional Ruler, Eze Joel Udenkwo, his escape from gunmen who kidnapped him a few days ago is a miracle.  It can only be God, a source close to him told this medium.

Eze Udenkwo, the Traditional Ruler of Umudi in Nkwerre Local Government Area was kidnapped in front of his Electronic Plaza located on No 63 Tetlow road, Owerri.

The incident took place at about 7pm. After 48 hours, the hoodlums, using his mobile phone, contacted his family, and demanded for the sum of N200m in ransom money.

This was later reduced to N12m.

While his distraught family ran around to assemble the sum, the Eze escaped from his abductors at about 10pm on Tuesday.

According to reports which quoted the Traditional Ruler, his abductors spirted him to a location in Okwu and tied him up.

On the fateful night of his escape, he was left with only two of the abductors. Perhaps, the others went abduction-hunting.

However while one of the abductors went out in search of Indian Hemp to smoke, the other one slept off – deeply. Not believing what was unfolding before him, he took a risk, quietly untied himself, and began a dangerous crawl in the bush.

His abductors, on return, and noticing that he was gone, went in hot pursuit, but he was far gone. He stumbled on a house, introduced himself and begged them to help him  call any Traditional Ruler nearby. The hoodlums were with his phone.

They succeeded in getting in touch with a Traditional Ruler, who got in touch with the Chairman of the Council,  Traditional Rulers, Imo State. He, it was, who contacted the State Government, which arranged for a contingent of  Operatives of the Police and Department of State who located him, and returned him to Owerri.

Udenkwo, is the owner of a chain of businesses, under the umbrella name of Udekings Ltd.

There is no statement yet from the Police.

Smith, Police Service Commission Chairman, Resigns

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Musiliu Smith - PSC Chairman

By Adesina Soyooye

Tha Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC,  Musiliu Smith, has resigned from office.

Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police resigned.on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, when he submitted his letter of resignation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President accepted the resignation letter on September 12.

Smith’s  retirement is a consequence of a number of issues that has bedeviled the Commission recently. But in his letter, he said he was resigning on health grounds.

There is the lingering power struggle between the PSC and the Force Headquarters  over whose responsibility it is to recruit Policemen. The Nigerian Constitution gave that responsibility to the PSC. But the leadership of the Police has always tried to grab that it.

The Commission also has the responsibility to promote and disciple Police Officers except the Inspector General of Police.

In previous administrations of the Commission, the Chairmen always put their feet down. During the tenure of the very effective Parry Osayande, a retired Inspector Deputy of Police, DIG, the Commission dragged the FHQs to Court and got judgement.

Smith, also, had to deal with the Staff of the Commission who have been on strike over the problem with the FHQs. The workers on Wednesday, embarked on a protest march carrying placards.

The situation is worsened by the crisis of confidence amongst members of the Commission’s Board. One of them, Najatu Muhammad, wrote a petition  against Smith, accusing him of  alleged monumental corruption. Smith denied the allegation to the letter.

With the resignation of Smith, Commissioner 1, the Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, a, retired Supreme Court Justice, and representative of the Judiciary on the Commission, will act until President Buhari appoints a new Chairman.

2023: INEC Reiterates Determination To Have A Successful, Free And Fair Election

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reiterated the determination of the Commission to be more organized, transparent in making the 2023 General Elections free and fair.

Yakubu said the Commission is leveraging on the successful Governorship Elections in Ekiti and Osun States where International observers and Nigerians applauded INEC for making the elections free and fair.

He added that the Commission is not resting on its oars to make the 2023 General Election a success, and is poised on improving and drawing vital lessons from the conduct of the Ekiti and Osun election.

The INEC boss made these remarks at a Retreat on the Ekiti and  Osun Off Circle Governorship Elections at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The aim of the retreat is for the Commission to identify areas where it is lagging behind and need to work on as the 2023 Polls gather momentum.

Yakubu said that the retreat is the Commission’s tradition of reviewing election to learn lessons for improvement of future elections, adding that in the last one decade, the conduct of elections in particular, and the management of the electoral process in general have become more complex.

He is, however, optimistic and assured Nigerians that the 2023 Polls will be the best ever election in the country.

He went further to say that Osun was an improvement on Ekiti,which gives the Commission confidence that working on the same principles, the General Election will also be successfully delivered.

He, therefore, stressed that the Commission will also intensify consultations and engagement across the country.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje in his welcome address said the retreat is geared towards a thorough and honest appraisal of the conduct of the off-circle Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States with a view to ensuring an improved performance in the conduct of a free,fair,credible and inclusive General Election in 2023.

He commended the Commission on the achievements recorded, so far, in the implementation of the 2022-2026 strategic programmes of actions, 2023 election project plan, expansion of voter access to polling units, and successful conclusion of continuous voter registration exercise.

In the same vein, Rudolf Elbking, the Team leader, Development Associates incorporated, DAI, one of the Commission’s Development Partners said that INEC has made progress over the years with an open innovative and transparency, that has seen it experience a remarkable progress.

The retreat which had in attendance National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners and Directors is expected to hold from 14th-16th September, 2022.

South West PDP Insists Ayu Must Resign As National Chairman, As Atiku Visits Ibadan

By
Ayodele Oni
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Atiku Abubakar at Ibadan

By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the South West has called for the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, spoke on behalf of the PDP South-West region at a meeting with the Presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Makinde said, “Eight years of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) has left us sharply divided. The issue is we must practice what we preach. If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify PDP first.

“If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to bring inclusivity to PDP. Do we have the capacity? The answer is resounding yes.”

Governor Seyi Makinde used the occasion of the visit of Atiku to Ibadan for consultations with stakeholders in the south west to reiterate the demand of his colleague from Rivers State, Nyesom Wike that the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu resign from the office since another northerner has emerged as the Presidential Candidate of the party.

According to him, the demand was to pave way for justice and equity among the regions of the country.

At the South-West Zonal Meeting of the PDP with Atiku,Governor Makinde was emphatic that the resignation of Ayu would greatly help the fortune of the party in next year’s election.

 “Our party wants to rescue Nigeria and our candidate is a unifier. He wants to restructure Nigeria.

“The message from the south-west PDP is that the south-west is asking that the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP should be restructured.

“We are asking the national chairman to step down so that the south will be fully included. That is the message.”

The meeting was attended by the the Vice presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and other top hierarchy of the party, such as Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Sen. Dino Melaye; Alhaji Babangida Aliyu; former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; Governorship Candidate of Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, Ademola Adeleke, the governor-elect of Osun State, former minister of State, FCT, Mrs Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a host it others.

PDP South west stakeholders including state chairmen from the zone had earlier in the week met in Ibadan to prepare the agenda and tone of the meeting with Atiku, who had earlier been hosted by Lagos chapter of the party.

Police Service Commission Staff Storm National Assembly, Protest Police Illegal Interference

By
Ayodele Oni
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Police Service Commission Staff Protest

By Ayodele Oni

The staff of the Police Service Commission have continued to press for free hand to implement the core mandates on which the commission was established

Last month, the workers embarked on three days strike over what it called usurpation of the commission’s functions by the Nigeria Police Force(NPF).

The workers did not stop there as they protested at the National Assembly, on Wednesday, insisting on restoration of the Commission’s three core mandates.

Carrying placards with different inscriptions, the workers said their agitation is simply usurpation of the mandates of the Commission by the Nigeria Police Force.

This has become a subject of litigation since 2019 up to the Court of Appeal and the workers are alleging contempt of court.

They identified Recruitment, Promotion, and Discipline as the three core mandates of the Commission stipulated in the Act establishing it.

Both the commission and the NPF

are expected to collaborate in the area of recruitment, while officers that are due for promotion are recommended to the commission for elevation by NPF.

The Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission, (PSC) had issued a notice of indefinite strike effective from Monday, August 29, 2022.

Chairman of the Joint Service Union, PSC chapter, Mr Adoyi Adoyi, announced in Abuja that the notice is coming amidst disagreement between workers of the commission, the Chairman of the commission, Mr Musiliu Smith, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on the functions of the commission.

PSC, according to statute establishing it is responsible for recruitment, promotion, and appointment of constables and officers.

This has led to the suspension of the exercise nationwide until further notice.

Adoyi  pointed out that the IGP and other police chiefs in connivance with the chairman of the PSC, have overruled the constitutional duty of the PSC.

The union leader added that the IGP has allegedly taken it upon himself to carry out the functions of the PSC in flagrant disregard of the Nigeria constitution, a verdict of the Appeal Court, and the authorities of the PSC.

 “We’re embarking on an indefinite strike from Monday, August 29, to show our discontent with the way the PSC is being run by the chairman of the commission, and the flagrant disregard for the constitution, the court of law, and the PSC by the IGP, Usman Baba.

“The duties of the PSC are spelt out in the constitution, but the IGP has disregarded all of that, and has taken over the duties of the commission.

“He appoints and promotes at will as opposed to what is stated in the constitution.

“According to the constitution, the appointment, promotion, and recruitment of police officers and constables are the prerogative of the PSC, not the IGP.”

I Have Turned Around Health Sector In Ondo – Akeredolu

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rotimi Akeredolu with NMA Leadership

By Ayodele Oni

Despite mass exodus which has hit health personnel in Ondo State due to delayed payment of salaries, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said he is proud of the achievements recorded by his administration in the health sector.

The Governor declared that the health sector in the state fared better under his administration since he assumed office in 2017.

Governor Akeredolu spoke in his office while receiving the new leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State Chapter, led by the Chairman, Dr. Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe.

The Governor stressed that the Mother and Child hospitals were only two before his administration came on board.

He said the hospitals were extended to seven across the three senatorial districts of the state by his government.

Governor Akeredolu also said the University of Medical Sciences had no accredited courses until when his administration facilitated the accreditation of many courses in the institution.

According to the Governor, there were dearth of equipment in the various hospitals in the state before his government intervened.

Governor Akeredolu noted that his administration is also constructing 250-bed facilities both at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospitals (UNIMEDTH) in Akure and Ondo town, respectively.

He further stated that more health workers including doctors and nurses have been employed by the Hospital Management Board, UNIMEDTH and the Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“When we came in, there were many things that were lacking but are now put in place. Will it be denied that when we came on board, the State Specialist hospital we met in Akure was not the same today. We are putting a 250-bedder both in Akure and Ondo.”

The Governor called on the NMA leadership to help propagate the state Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, adding that it will rebrand the state health sector and position it for optimum performance.

Earlier, the NMA chairman, Dr. Adeyemi-Osowe,  described the recruitment done by the Akeredolu administration at the Primary Healthcare Development Agency as the single largest employment done at the agency since the creation of the state.

“I will like to appreciate you for the security measures embraced by your administration to ensure peace in the State. Also, we appreciate you for the massive infrastructure in the state.

“We can see the road construction across the length and breadth of Ondo State. And this is in accordance with the REDEEMED Agenda of your administration.

“I will also commend you for the monthly salaries that we get. Also, the massive employment done last year into this body and it cut across Doctors, Pharmacists, community extension workers, community officers and other health workers.”

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