Worried that while oil producing countries globally are experiencing a boost in their revenue generation as a result of the increasing international prices of crude oil, Nigeria has continued to suffer decline in earnings, the Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has again called for the sack of the management team of the newly registered Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) urging President Muhammadu Buhari to replace them with prudent private sector players to save the country’s economy.
The CNPP in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, noted that “it will be impossible for Nigeria to continue with the ongoing corrupt fuel subsidy regime that mainly serves the economic interest of the individual members of the NNPC management team and our mono-economy will survive in coming months.”
The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country was reacting to the claims by NNPC Limited that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will cost consumers N462 per litre without the federal governments subsidy.
The CNPP said that “it is worrisome that despite the huge assets available to NNPC, both as a public corporation and now so-called commercial company, Nigeria has never at any time felt positive impact of the company due to endemic corruption in the oil industry, especially the high level looting of the treasury through scams like fuel subsidy payments and consistent ineffective turn around maintenance of outdated Nigerian refineries.
“For instance, turn around maintenance of the four refineries in Nigeria has remained a perpetual conduit pipe deployed by virtually every management team of the NNPP under successive administrations to siphon the country’s commonwealth.
“Till date, despite several billions of dollars invested in the turn around maintenance of the Nigerian refineries, none of them has ever worked optimally.
“Rather than pursue the construction of new refineries, the NNPC management will conveniently opt for endless renovation of the old refineries for personal economic gains.
“The current management of NNPP Limited has continued on the same path of pursuing another turn around maintenance projects at Nigeria’s moribund refineries rather than building new ones with modern refining technology.
“The only visible reason for the insistence on revamping the old refineries is because it affords successive NNPC management team an unfettered access to the country’s national treasury for personal corrupt enrichment.
“The CNPP will continue to insist that if the newly registered NNPC Limited will meet its full targets and become a truly commercially viable company, the current leadership of the company must be replaced by industry players from the private sector.
“Nigeria cannot afford to continue in this journey to nowhere called turn around maintenance of the country’s refineries and the endless looting by NNPC officials in the name of fuel subsidy.
“Unfortunately, Nigeria is unarguably the only oil producing country today that is not benefiting from the current high prices of crude oil in the international market such that Nigeria’s NNPC has been operating at a loss due to increasing subsidy claims and oil-theft under the watch of the Kyari-led NNPC management team.
“Recently, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), brought this national calamity to the fore when he categorically ascerted that NNPC Limited cannot justify the volume of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) being consumed in the country daily to warrant the over N6.34tn subsidy payment on the commodity annually.
“He unequivocally said that the NNPC cannot scientifically prove 98 million litres per day consumption it is claiming.
“The customs boss was clear that the nation’s oil company was supplying an excess of 38 million litres of PMS daily by the NNPC’s own claims.
“The customs boss’ argument is in tandem with the CNPP’s age-long position that NNPC is run by successive corrupt management team and now the subsidy fraud has been elevated to a new level by the current management team led by Mallam Mele Kyari.
“No sane person does a thing in the same way and expect a different result.
“To underscore the level of looting in NNPC under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in the guise of fuel subsidy as supervised by Mallam Kyari, inflating the daily domestic consumption of patrol has remained a norm in the NNPC.
“In the words of the Customs boss, Col. Ali, “If we are consuming 60 million litres of PMS per day, by their own (NNPC’s) computation, why would you allow the release of 98 million litres per day? If you know this is our consumption, why would you allow that release? Scientifically, you cannot tell me that if I fill my tank today, tomorrow, I will fill the same tank with the same quantity of fuel. If I am operating a fuel station today and I go to Minna depot, lift petrol and take it to Kaduna, I may get to Kaduna in the evening and offload that fuel. There is no way I would have sold off that petrol immediately to warrant another load. So, how did you get to 60 million litre per day?” as Col. Ali queried.
“This has remained the question CNPP is asking.
“Recall that the current NNPC boss, Mallam Mele Kyari has been part of the old system in the NNPC and he has not proved that anything can be done differently since he assumed office because he has been part of the corrupt NNPC system since 1998.
“It is imperative to note that Mallam Kyari started his career with the Department of Geological Survey of Nigeria as Field Geologist before working as an Exploration Geophysicist with the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) in 1998.
“By 2007, Kyari headed the Production Sharing Contracts Management in Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) and by 2014, he became the General Manager, Crude Oil Stock Management while in 2015 he was promoted to the post of Group General Manager of the Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC.
“Nigerians can see why NNPC under Mallam Kyari’s leadership, whether as a government owned corporation or government owned commercial company, will remain a big minus in the oil sector so long he remains at the helm of affairs alongside his inefficient management team”, the CNPP stated.
CNPP To Buhari: Replace NNPC Boss And Management Team, With Private Sector Players To Save Nigeria’s Economy
Jonathan Congratulates Kenya President-Elect, Tasks Ruto on Inclusive Govt
Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated Kenya’s President elect, Mr. William Ruto on his emergence as the winner of Kenya’s August 9, 2022 Presidential election, urging him to run an inclusive government and seek to unite Kenyans.
The former President of Nigeria who stated this in a goodwill message to Mr. Ruto shortly after the Kenyan Supreme Court affirmed his victory on Monday also charged him to be magnanimous in victory and leverage the pervading peaceful atmosphere to stabilise Kenya and establish the country on the path of sustainable economic growth.
Dr. Jonathan wrote: “I congratulate His Excellency William Ruto for his emergence as the winner of Kenya’s August 9, 2022 Presidential election, a victory that has just been affirmed by Kenyan Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya.
“I believe that your victory after the general elections is a testament to your resilience and service as a Vice President in the last ten years, and will contribute to the deepening of the roots of democracy in Kenya.
“Your Excellency, having led a pre-election assessment mission to Kenya and an election observation mission to the just-concluded elections, I am in a good position to note that we are all relieved that the peaceful election outcome has mitigated the tension, uncertainty and obvious division that had welled up in Kenya ahead of the polling.
“I urge you to be magnanimous in victory and leverage the pervading peaceful atmosphere to stabilise your nation by seeking to reassure Kenyans that you will run a government of national unity that will embrace, accommodate and heal all citizens and strongly establish Kenya on the path of sustainable economic growth.
“I believe that your leadership, guided by your rich experience, wisdom and sincere Pan-African spirit, will also bring about closer cooperation among African leaders to enhance the attainment of the desired political stability, peace and development on the continent. I wish you and the people of the Republic of Kenya a successful transition, peace and happiness under your tenure.”
Terrorism: FG Says The Battle Has Been Won, Remains Only Pockets Of Isolated Cases
By Ayodele Oni
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has again asserted that the Nigerian military is capable of confronting bandits, going by recent onslaught against terrorism.
The Minister, while briefing the Press in Abuja on Monday said peace and security are returning across Nigeria, noting that the worst of insecurity is over in Nigeria.
He stated that when many called for the use of foreign mercenaries to tackle the challenges, especially terrorism and banditry, President Muhammadu Buhari never wavered in his belief in the ability of our gallant men and women in uniform to rise to the occasion.
“Some said the security challenges have overwhelmed the military, but the military has now demonstrated that no group of ragtag criminals can ever overwhelm them.
“Terrorists and bandits and co can run but cannot hide, and this has been demonstrated by the arrest of those who attacked a church in Owo.
“These criminals can run but cannot hide, as we have seen in the decimation of the cowards who ambushed the Brigade of Guards troops in Abuja.
“I am sure you will hear from my colleagues how our Military and other Security Agencies have been decimating the top echelon of ISWAP and Boko Haram, how armed bandits camps and resources have been destroyed, and how the capacity of IPOB/ESN has been substantially degraded.”
According to him, while the country may still witness isolated attacks on soft targets by terrorists, the security agencies have battled the agents of darkness and recorded massive victory against the terrorists.
The information Minister was flanked at the press conference on the nation’s security situation by
the Ministers of Defence Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, rtd, Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as well as Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi.
Mohammed pointed out that the security forces are winning the fight against insecurity and terrorism, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime would stop at nothing in securing lives and property of Nigerians.
“As you are all aware, the issue of security has dominated our national discourse in recent times, against the background of the terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the North-East, North-West and North Central; separatist violence and crude oil theft in the South-East and South-South as well as cultism, armed robberry and sundry crimes in the South-West.
“Today, we are here to tell you that while we may not be there yet, our military and other security agencies have succeeded – and are succeeding – in substantially restoring security across the nation.
“As far as the daunting security challenges we face are concerned, we can tell you that the worst is over. Never again will terrorists and bandits and their cohorts hold sway in our country.
“The security challenges we have face, as an administration, have been daunting – from terrorism to banditry to kidnapping to separatist violence to crude oil theft to armed robbery and sundry crimes.
“It’s undoubtedly the greatest challenge to the peace and security of our great nation since the civil war from 1967 to 1970.
“It is the kind of challenge that would have overwhelmed many nations. But thanks to the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, we can say, I want to repeat, that the worst is over and peace and security are gradually returning to the land.
“Please don’t misunderstand or misrepresent this assertion. We may still witness isolated cases of security challenges here and there, but it will not be on the scale that we have witnessed in the past.
“We are therefore not saying the battle is over. No. What we are saying is that our military and other security agents have been able to contain the daunting security challenges we face, and that the worst is indeed over.
“We have now put the terrorists, bandits and their ilk on the run and we will not relent until they have been crushed.”
BREAKING: LAHA Passes Bill On DNA, Forensic Centre
By Akinwale Kasali
A Bill for a law establishing the Lagos State Deoxyribo-Nucleic Acid (DNA) and Forensic centre to support criminal investigations, law enforcement, preservation of evidence for the judicial system and for other connected purposes has been passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The Bill was passed by the House after it scaled the third reading at Plenary on Monday with all lawmakers in attendance giving their approvals.
The report on the Bill had been adopted at an earlier sitting presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Part of the objectives of the Centre includes to provide the use and regulation of DNA based technology in the Lagos State in order to carry out profiling or analysis.
The Centre is to also “carry out other forensic disciplines including, toxicology, drug chemistry, finger print examination, firearms examination, tool mark examination, ballistics, trace evidence analysis, questioned document examination and digital forensics to obtain evidence relevant to the investigation of criminal offences.
“Provide for the use of DNA profiles in the investigation of crime and the use of such profiles in proving the innocence or guilt of persons.
“Provide for the conditions under which the samples for DNA profiles may be retained or destroyed.
“Establish a DNA database and a DNA Index System in the State as well as establish a DNA bank for storage of reference DNA samples.”
The Bill gives powers to the Centre to take specified bodily samples from certain categories of persons for the purposes of DNA analysis;
collect, examine, document and preserve evidence which can later be used in the identification of offenders amongst others.
The Bill also allows the Centre to decode family ties and relationships of individuals in order to establish identity as well as the identification of abandoned or disputed children and other related issues.
The Centre is expected to recommend methods for optimum use of DNA techniques and technologies for administration of justice.
Lagos Building Collapse: Commissioner Forced To Resign
By James Orji
Dr Idris Salako, the Lagos state Commissioner for Physical and Urban Development, has resigned over Sunday’s building collapse at Sand field bus stop, in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
In a statement released on Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso said the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has accepted Salako’s resignation.
“This is a prelude to the restructuring of the Ministry and its agencies.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu thanks the Commissioner for his services to the state and wishes him success in his future endeavours.
“The Governor warns all players in the sector to respect the law or face the consequences of any indiscretion, no matter who the perpetrators are,” the statement read in part.
The magazine however learned that the commissioner was forced to resign following pressure and criticism from the members of the public.
No fewer than four people died when the uncompleted high-rise building collapsed. The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA Olufemi Oke-Osonyintolu, said three dead bodies have been evacuated from the rubbles.
Osantintolu said, “No injury sustained. However, about six people are reported to be trapped under the rubble of the collapsed structure.
“The agency’s heavy-duty equipment excavator will be required for the rescue of the trapped victims. We have activated the Lagos State Response plan. The operation is ongoing. More updates to follow.”
The state has been beset with many building collapses recently as the state government struggles to enforce building laws in Nigeria’s economic capital and most populous state.
Not a few Lagosians are angry that property owners are not held responsible for enabling building collapse despite the state’s strong town planning codes.
Critics of the government also insisted that officials of the ministry responsible must be held to account for allegedly conniving with developers to breach building laws.
Some have accused state officials of collecting bribes and looking the other way while crooked property developers circumvent the law.
“Take, for instance, the most recent, Oniru building collapse, the developer was said to have returned several times to the site after the property was sealed by town planning officials from the state government. The owner was said to have called on a higher authority to call the officials off whenever they want to enforce the law,’ a resident in the area said.
Enugu: Crisis Rocks APC; Stakeholders Says Party Not Ready For 2023 Election, Tackles Chairman, Agballa
By Akinwale Kasali
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, Enugu Chapter, is escalating day by day.
The leadership style of its Chairman, Ugochukwu Agballa has been a major issue that has polarized the Party in the State.
At the stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday, party chieftains reiterated their resolve to institute a Caretaker Committee to oversee the activities of the party.
The stakeholders said the Party in the State is not ready for the 2023 general election following Agballa’s style.
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, said the party did not seem attractive to prospective members due to the leadership of Agballa, which has been queried.
Nnamani said the Party Chairman has neglected party stalwarts and, through his conducts, leading the party to a disastrous end.
“We feel the party is not going the way it should go. There is danger ahead as people are leaving our party.
“For only one person to contest our party’s gubernatorial primaries shows we are not attractive and most of our flag bearers are those most unlikely to win elections.
“Candidates of other parties have been coming to us to appeal for our support but ours are not coming,” he said.
Nnamani said the chieftains would do everything possible to rescue the party and save it from implosion, adding that a fractured party would not do well in elections.
Also, former State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime, described Agballa as an “impostor” bent on destroying the party in the State.
Chime said he never supported the candidacy of Agballa as Party Chairman owing to his antecedents.
He said: “It is strange that I do not know any candidate from House of Assembly to Senate from my Constituency and Zone.
“I do not know who our candidates are. For the governorship candidate, I am hearing it as a rumour though it happens to be the person I knew from a distance.
“The last time I saw him was during Gov. Chimaroke Nnamani’s administration. I have not seen him since he emerged,” he said.
The former Governor said election was about electing those that would be useful to the party and the people.
“I do not think I will be part of any arrangement to vote for someone I do not know. It is very clear to me how our Presidential Candidate emerged and no one said he was imposed on us.
“Therefore, I have a duty to support him. I will not just vote for him but will talk about him when I have the opportunity but I do not know the others and how they emerged,” Chime said.
Another party chieftain, Gbazuagu Nweke, said they had already made their intentions known to the National Working Committee of the party.
“We are here to brief you on what we have done. Those who knew Agballa were opposed to him because they knew his conduct.
“Our leaders by accepting him made every efforts with good intentions but he started a systematic dismantling of every known structure after his emergence.
“We cannot leave the party for Agballa. Our position is that he must go. He has squandered the opportunity given to him. He has no respect and character,” Nweke said.
Also, the Ward Chairman of Udi/Agbudu Ward, Mr Ferdinand Aguma, said they had suspended and expelled Agballa from the party over gross misconduct and falsification of party membership card.
Aguma said the Ward Executives received a petition against the embattled Chairman.
“We set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the petition. Letters were sent to him but he did not honour the invitation.
“We eventually found out that he did not resign his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party before his romance with the APC. As we speak, Agballa is not registered with us,” he said.
Aguma said they acted in accordance with the APC Constitution in suspending and expelling Agballa.
In his reaction, Agballa said the party chieftains did not follow due process in their attempt to remove him, adding that there were laid down procedures to remove a sitting party chairman.
Also, the Governorship candidate of the party in the state, Mr Uche Nnaji, said those opposed to the Chairman were after the election fund accruable to the state.
Nnaji said he would advise the National Leadership of the party not to send any campaign and election money to the state.
The Governorship candidate said they would sponsor and fund the campaigns and ask for refund, thereafter.
NAN reported that among APC chieftains that attended the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the South-East representative in the Police Service Commission, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani.
Others were former Speaker of the State Assembly, Chief Eugene Odoh, Messers Vin-Marthins Ilo, Adolphus Udeh, Joe Mmamel, Iyke Ugwuegede and Adolphus Udeh.
Ekiti Cargo Airport Set For Operation, First Flight September
By Ayodele Oni
True to the promise of Governor Kayode Fayemi to ensure the completion of the Cargo Airport project before the October terminal exit of his administration, things are being put in place for a first flight to the airport before the end of September.
According to Mr Bunmi Awotiku, the Project Coordinator of Ekiti Cargo Airport, baring any last minute hitch, the feat will be achieved.
The Project Coordinator disclosed in Ado Ekiti that as part of preparations for the first flight, a team from the State will be at the Chinet Aviation and Cargo Conference taking place in Lagos to make a presentation of the new airport to the Aviation Stakeholders.
Awotiku expressed confidence that barring any last minute hindrance, the first flight into the airport will happen this month as all things needed for the flight are in place just the paper works.
Ekiti Cargo Airport will be another cargo airport engaging with Aviation Stakeholders at the Chinet Aviacargo Conference.
Another state, Ogun AgroCargo Airport will be returning to Chinet Aviacargo Conference to unveil the opportunities available to stakeholders.
The event scheduled to hold berween 7th and 8th September 2022 in Lagos is expected to have in attendance captains of industries in aviation, logistics, exports, transport and government agencies in export related field.
The conference also will discuss the Role of Cargo Airports, Insurance and Finance in the Development of a National Aviacargo Export Master Plan for Nigeria.
Cargo is the fastest growing sector of the aviation sector and the Cargo Airports promises to tap into this huge market.
Ogun and other state cargo airports are expected to join in the day two discussion at the 2022 edition of the event. The future of cargo airports and their viability will be the focus of Day 2 at Chinet 2022 event.
Captain John Okakpu an export guru and the driver of many agroexport projects in Nigeria will head the discussions on the viability of these airports and their utilisation for agroexports.
Thirteen Federal Airports have been designated as cargo airports and five have recently been listed for concessioning. About 10 state owned cargo airports are also coming on stream.
Among aviation experts expected to present papers at the conference are Akin Olateru, Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), and Captain Rabiu Yadudu, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (FAAN).
Regulators and operators of the aviacargo ecosystem in Nigeria are confirming their participation in the event. This includes the National Agency for Food and Drug Control NAFDAC led by the Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye. NAFDAC regulates Products and gives approval for Export of these Products.
Rigging 2023 Election Not In Our Plan – Ondo APC, Advises PDP To Put House In Order
By Ayodele Oni
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State says it is spurious and laughable, allegation of plans to rig the next year’s elections in the State, made against it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaye Ondo APC stated this in a statement on Monday, following PDP’s allegation that the party would rig the 2023 elections.
According to him, the allegation is very pathetic of the once vibrant opposition party that is currently suffering from self-inflicted political paralysis.
The Ondo APC wishes to sympathize with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its impending miserable outing during the general elections in 2023.
The statement adds “The woes of the PDP would be compounded by both its internal wranglings, lack of cohesion, and poor arrangements for the national exercise.
“While the APC has since commenced preparations at resolving issues that arose from its primaries, and moving, with all seriousness, to mobilize members ahead of proper and civilized campaigns, the PDP is still pouting, and plotting who to blackmail for its unavailable poor results.
“The APC led- government in Ondo State would remain focused on its responsibilities to the people. Emphasis on good governance is the crux of our decisions.
“Perhaps, it is imperative to remind the wobbling PDP that Ondo State is too enlightened to fall for lifeless propaganda.
“It is unbelievable that the PDP would take it upon itself to hold vigil for civil servants that have since collected their promotion letters, and prayed ceaselessly for Mr. Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for the gesture.
“For the first time in the history of the Sunshine State, primary school teachers are promoted to Grade Level 16.
“There existed a recent government in the State who never believed in the promotion of workers.
“The APC would bank on the support and understanding of the people, besides its uncommon level of performance in every sector, to secure landslide victory come 2023.
“We appeal to the opposition party to perish the thoughts of rigging during the elections. There would be no room for such manipulation.
“We are convinced that we have thus far served the Sunshine State well, despite all challenges, to garner their votes, and would never contemplate cutting corners.”
The PDP in a statement at the weekend alleged that there were plans by the ruling APC to manipulate results of next year’s general election.
BREAKING: Adamawa APC Chairman, Bilal, Removed, Replaced By His Deputy
By Akinwale Kasali
The All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairman, Adamawa State Chapter, Ibrahim Bilal has been removed as the State Chairman of the Party over an alleged violation of the party’s constitution.
The Executive Committee of the Party in the State announced the removal of Bilal and replaced with his Deputy, Ismaila Tadawus.
He was sworn in as the Party’s new Chairman after 24 out of 36 officers appended their signatures.
The plot to remove Bilal has been rife following the fallout of the party’s recent Governorship primaries in the State.
It would be recalled that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, who lost the Governorship ticket of the APC in the State to Senator Aishatu Binani, has gone to court to challenge the latter’s victory.
BREAKING: Liz Truss Emerges New UK Prime Minister
By James Orji
Liz Truss has emerged as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
A former Foreign Minister in the Boris Johnson Conservative government, she defeated her rival Rishi Sunak in the keenly contested election to become the new Conservative leader.
She is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday to replace Johnson, the outgoing British leader.
More to come………