The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has written a letter of complaint to the State Security Securitt (SSS) over what he called “false allegations and sustained campaign of calumny” against him.

The letter, addressed to the Director General of the SSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, which was sighted by our PREMIUM TIMES, indicated that other security agencies may have been directed to launch investigations as well.

Mr Gbajabiamila served in the House of Representatives for over 20 years, during which he was minority whip, minority leader (for eight years) and majority leader before becoming Speaker in 2019. He was appointed chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu days after the president was sworn into office on May 29, 2023.

In his letter to the SSS, the chief of staff lamented a sustained regime of smear campaigns against him. He therefore requested the security agency to investigate and fish out those spreading falsehood about him.

The letter was titled “Request for Investigation of False Allegations and Sustained Campaign of Calumny Against my Person by Unknown Elements.”

In the letter dated 9 January, 2023, Mr Gbajabiamila said: “Over the past six months, unknown individuals or groups have made a sustained effort using social media to spread unfounded allegations of corruption, malfeasance, and abuse of office against my person. This campaign of calumny has gotten progressively more aggressive in tone and content over the last month, thus necessitating this letter.

“I have served in the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the past two decades, first in the legislature, where I rose to the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and now in the executive as Chief of Staff to the President. In that time, my efforts to ensure probity in the management of public resources are well documented. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I presided over the national budget for all ministries, departments and agencies for four years without blemish.

“While it is my inclination to ignore these attacks as part of the usual mischief of politics, my position as Chief of Staff to the President compels me to act because falsehoods left unchallenged soon take on the toga of truth. Furthermore, the aggressive escalation of these attacks suggests that the perpetrators of these attacks will continue until they are held to account. For these reasons, the stoic silence I have maintained on this matter thus far will no longer suffice.

“I am satisfied that I have not acted in any way to warrant or justify these attacks. Therefore, I am requesting your office to investigate the sources and substance of these false allegations. Rather than hide behind the anonymity of the internet, let my accusers be unmasked to substantiate their claims or face the consequences of their libel against me.”

The chief of staff to the president, therefore, requested “prompt intervention” of security agencies in the matter.

The letter indicated that “a selection of some of the more egregious attacks of the past few months” were attached to aid security agencies in their investigations.

By Fatoye Bisola David


Owning a private jet in Nigeria isn’t just for convenience, but also a display of wealth and affluence as many Nigerians ranging from politicians, to artists and also pastors have been known to acquire private jets.

AMB Reports that on an average, the maintenance of a private jet costs about $500,000 to $1 million (approx. N290 million – N580 million) per year yet people still pay this huge sum.

There are also general checks that should be done on a private jet which include ‘C’ checks, software checks, fuel level, preflight, post-flight and weekly inspections etc. All of which are extremely important.

The types of private jets include Very Light Jets, Light Jets, Mid-Size Jets, Super Mid-Size Jets, Heavy Business Jets, Ultra-Long Range Jets, and Executive Airliners.

Here are Nigerians who own private jets along with their net worth:

1. Aliko Dangote – Founder of Dangote group – $19.6 billion
2. Mike Adenuga – CEO of Globacom Ltd – $7 billion
3. Allen Onyema – CEO of Airpeace – $3.1 billion
4. Arthur Eze – CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum – $5.8 billion
5. Igho Sanomi – Business man – $1 billion
6. Adedeji Adeleke -President of Adeleke university – $700 million
7. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto – CEO of The Ibeto Group – $3.8 billion
8. Apostle Johnson Suleman – General overseer of Omega Fire Ministries – $10.5 million
9. Dr. Bryant (ABC) Orjiako – Chairman and co-founder of SEPLAT – $1.2 billion
10. Femi Otedola – Businessman and Philantropist – $1.2 billion

11. Orji Uzor Kalu – Politician and businessman – $1.1 billion
12. President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu – Politician – $8.4 billion
13. Bishop David Oyedepo – General overseer of Living Faith Church – $200 million
14. Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide – Founder of Arik Air – $3 billion
15. Theophilus Danjuma – Nigerian politician – $1.1 billion
16. Pastor Adeboye – General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God – $65 million
17. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor – Former president of Christian Association of Nigeria – $32 million
18. Folorunsho Alakija – Businesswoman – $1.53 billion
19. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida – Nigerian retired general – $5 billion
20. Atiku Abubakar – Politician- $1.8 billion

21. Olusegun Obasanjo – Politician – $1.6 billion
22. Rochas Okorocha – Politician – $1.4 billion
23. Rotimi Amaechi – Politician – $780 million
24. Senator Ali Modu Sheriff – Politician – $1 million – $5 million (Speculated)
25. Godswill Akpabio – Politician – $20 million
26. Obi Cubana – Business man – $96 million
27. Tiwa Savage – Musician – $17 billion
28. Phyno – Musician – $12 million
29. Ned Nwoko – Politician and business man – $1.2 billion
30. Jide Omokore – Unavailable

31. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – General Overseer of Christ Embassy – $50 million
32. Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Funfeyin – Founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry – $35 million
33. Wizkid – Musician – $30 million
34. Don Jazzy – Musician – $10 million
35. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah – Politician – $1.7 billion
36. Jimoh Ibrahim – Business man – $1.1 billion
37. DJ Cuppy – Nigerian DJ – $3 million
38. Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi – Business man – $900 million
39. Olamide – Musician – $12 million
40. P-Square – Musician – $100 million (Speculated)
41. Late Prophet TB Joshua – General overseer SCOAN – $15 million

There are indications that the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, will be invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as his tenure ended on January 27, 2024, having lost his power of immunity.

On Saturday, Bello’s tenure ended as the then youngest governor in Kogi State at least for now.

Yahaya Adoza Bello, climbed to power after providence gave power him on a platter of gold in 2015, following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu.

Sunday Times sources say EFCC and other security agencies are set to pick Yahaya Bello, to account for his eight years of administration as the executive Governor of the Confluence State.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, filed an appeal, challenging the Wednesday, April 26, 2023 ruling of Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos that struck out its suit seeking the forfeiture of 14 properties as well as the sum of N400m linked to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, citing his immunity from prosecution under the 1999 constitution.

In the notice of appea filed by the Commission, it averred that Justice Oweibo erred in law when he struck out the suit as the immunity conferred on the Respondent against any civil or criminal proceedings during his incumbency as a governor of Kogi State does not extend to properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime traced to him

Also it stated that the court erred and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it refused to bind itself with the decision of the Court of Appeal in EFCC V Fayose (2018) LPELR 44131 CA and the decision of the Supreme Court in Fawehinmi V IGP (2002)7 NWLR (PT767)606, on the proper interpretation of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

The EFCC also stated that the learned trial court erred in law when it struck out a preservation order of properties reasonably suspected to have been derived from proceeds of unlawful activities notwithstanding its findings that the Respondent failed to show the genuine origin of funds used to acquire the properties under the preservation order.

Justice Oweibo had, on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, granted an interim forfeiture of the properties in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates and also ordered the preservation of the sum of N400, 000,000.00 (Four Hundred Million Naira) recovered from one Aminu Falala, which “is reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity and intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No. 1224 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island Lagos.”

Moving the application, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had stated that the properties, including “Hotel Apartment Community, Burj Khalifa lying, being and situate at, Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E.”, were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity.

In his ruling, Justice Oweibo had granted the application, as prayed, and also directed the Commission to publish the interim order within 14 days in any national newspaper and also adjourned to March 28, 2023.

During the proceedings on March 28, 2023, Oyedepo had informed the court that the Commission received a notice of intention to oppose the making of the preservation order, which it had equally responded to.

Responding, Bello, in an application through his counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, had sought to vacate the order of the court on the grounds that most of the properties sought to be forfeited were acquired by Bello before he became the Governor of the state.

Oyedepo, in opposition to the application, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the applicant failed to respond to the depositions in the counter-affidavit.

According to him, “In Usman against Garke, it was reported in 2003, LPLR 3431, Supreme Court and our submission is that failure to reply to the counter-affidavit has a single legal consequence that the despondent are agreeing to the application. We urge your lordship to hold that the failure to respond is deemed admitted.

“It is our submission that, where a statute describes a mode of doing a thing, it is that mode that must be followed.

“We have cited authorities to this effect, one of which is Patience Jonathan and the FGN, in paragraph 1.08 of our submission. The Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 prescribes the mode of challenging the preservation order of the court and the steps to be taken by the party challenging the making of the preservation order.”

Oyedepo had also submitted that one of the requirements that the application challenging a preservation order must contain is that the applicant must show his interest in the property concerned.

In his further submissions, he had said: “Apart from Paragraph 4H and I of the affidavit in support of the notice of intention, there is nothing before this Honourable court showing, by way of credible evidence, how the properties were acquired.

“In our counter-affidavit, we have established how the properties were acquired and there is nothing challenging how the properties were acquired.

“What was deposed is that most of the properties were got before he became Governor of Kogi State and the properties were not acquired through illegal means.

‘”Without establishing the interest of the applicant, the application is bound to fail. And having failed to show how the properties were acquired, the next thing the applicant sought to do was to tell the court that the prosecution had failed several court orders.”

In response to the immunity clause as contained in Section 308, Oyedepo had said: “the Provision of Section 308 will not and cannot be construed to a ridiculous extent of preventing the state from investigating the beneficiary of the section.

“As far back as 2002, in the case of Fawehinmi and IGP, the court mentioned that a person protected under Section 308 can be investigated; and the fact that someone is under immunity does not prevent the state from investigating.

“Where a state’s governor is reasonably suspected to have committed a financial crime, the state can investigate for evidence that will be used in prosecution when he no longer enjoys the immunity.”

Yesterday, Saturday 27, 2024, Bello lost his immunity after the expiration of his tenure and era as the executive Governor of the Kogi State. Now, without immunity, Bello may be picked up by the commission for the alleged money laundering and financial infractions as the ex governor of Kogi State.

The Federal Government has announced a 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage with a mandate to recommend a new National Minimum Wage for the country.

Director, Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen disclosed this in a statement issued Sunday night in Abuja.

He said; “The planned inauguration of the Committee is sequel to the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The inauguration is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 30th January, 2024 by 12:00 noon at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja.

“The Committee under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation which cut across Federal Government, State Government, Private Sector and the Organised Labour are as follows:

“From the Federal Government, the members include Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Employment (Representing Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment); Mr. Wale Edun, Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Hon. Minister of Budget Economic Planning; Dr. (Mrs) Yemi Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary, GSO. OSGF and Ekpo Nta, Esq, Chairman/CEO, NSIWC – Member/Secretary.

“Also from the State Government, Alh. Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor, Niger State- representative from North Central; Sen. Bala Mohammed, Governor Bauchi State- representative from North East; Alh. Umar Dikko Radda, Governor Katsina State- representative from North West; Prof. Charles Soludo, Governor, Anambra State- representative from the South East; Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Governor, Osun State- representative from South West; Mr. Otu Bassey Edet, Governor, Cross River State- representative from South West.

“From the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)- Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA; Mr. Chuma Nwankwo; Mr. Thompson Akpabio with also members from the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) include Asiwaju (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole, National President; Hon. (Dr) Ahmed Rabiu, National Vice President and Chief Humphrey Ngonadi (NPOM), National Life President.

“The membership from the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) are Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, President & Chairman of Council; Hon. Theophilus Nnorom Okwuchukwu, Private Sector representative; Dr. Muhammed Nura Bello, Zonal Vice President, North West and also from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) are Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, Human Resource Director, Nigerian Breweries; Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director-General, MAN; Lady Ada Chukwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited.

“From the organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero, President, NLC; Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni; Comrade Prince Adeyanju Adewale; Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji; Comrade Benjamin Anthony and Prof. Theophilius Ndukuba.

“Also, membership from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) include Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo, President, TUC; Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, PhD, Deputy President I, TUC; Comrade Kayode Surajudeen Alakija, Deputy President II; Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, Deputy President. III; Comrade Nuhu A. Toro, Secretary-General and Comrade Hafusatu Shuaib, Chairperson Women Comm.

“Accordingly, members are advised to be early to process their clearance at the Security Gate and should be seated at the Council Chamber by 11.30 am. In addition, a shuttle bus will be available at the Pilot Gate to convey members to the venue.

In addition, members of the Committee are to contact the Head of the Secretariat, Mr. Chiadi Adighiogu, Director (Compensation) in the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for information”.

By Seun Adeuyi


The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service has called on Abuja-based Nigerian businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, to fulfill her tax duties to the country by filing her annual returns.

Annual returns are a formal record of financial activities and operations over the past year, which are submitted to relevant government authorities. Filing annual returns is not only a legal requirement but also an essential part of maintaining transparency and good corporate practice.

While responding to a post on the seven-day party Achimugu organised to celebrate her 50th birthday, Abuja Revenue Service asked her to file her returns.

Recall that her birthday recently hit social media following the visit of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to the Nigerian entrepreneur cum socialite’s party.

Reports revealed that Sanwo-Olu travelled to Grenada, a Caribbean island country, to celebrate the extravagant birthday seven-party events with Achimugu.

However, the governor in his reaction said he was in Grenada to discuss developmental projects of Lagos with the country’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, but also attended some social events.

Sanwo-Olu said, “Last weekend in St. George’s, Grenada, I presented Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell with a miniature of the Blue Line Rail, and we engaged in extensive discussions on various aspects of our bilateral relations, focusing mainly on tourism, agriculture, and other economic interests that could benefit both our regions.

“Prime Minister Mitchell also shared exciting plans for Grenada’s upcoming 50th-anniversary celebrations in February. It was a productive and enriching exchange, setting the stage for deeper collaboration between our regions.

“Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend some social events, further strengthening the ties between our two nations.”

Meanwhile, while reacting to the extravagant Achimugu’s golden jubilee anniversary on Thursday via X, FCT-IRS sent wishes to her and urged to fulfill her tax duties as a Nigerian citizen.

“”The FCT-Internal Revenue Service extends our warmest birthday wishes to you! May this special day be filled with joy and blessings. Remember to fulfill your tax obligations by filing your annual tax returns,” the revenue agency wrote.

While the news of her birthday events have become the subject of controversies among netizens, the 50-year-old celebrated herself for being most popular recently after Israel-Hamas war.

Achimugu said, “Good evening, everyone, lovers of mine. This is not an official thank you for being there for me and coming to Grenada. It is a very tough time. It was a moment for me to thank everyone whom I should be concerned over the pleasant media help about this famous Aisha.

“And I want to congratulate myself for being the most popular person in the entire world, apart from the Gaza and Israeli fight, I guess something that’s most popular on the news globally. I give God the glory, and I thank God for my life. And for those who have genuinely shown concern over the media, I want to assure you that I’m well, I’m in a high spirit,

“I really don’t give a hoot. I’m doing me; I’ve always done me, a happy soul, doing what makes me happy.

“And again, celebrating people who love me, genuinely love me, who have always been there for me in the last 50 years and even less, but feels like they’ve known me all my life.”

“I thank you all. Thank you to everyone who has called me privately, those who have shown concern on the platform, and even those who have been quiet about it and praying in their own time. I want to say I’m extremely, extremely very grateful,” she added.

The year 2023 had come and gone with many downturns and hiccups that retarded economic growth. Experts said to reposition the economy, Nigeria must oil its industrial sector and propel a production-driven economy to strengthen the naira, reduce heavy reliance on foreign exchange and boost liquidity in the forex market.

As 2024 kicks off, Nigeria and Nigerians look forward to many corporate companies and individuals to drive the economic transformation of the country through local production in order to reduce inflation, which has reached the ceiling in recent times, as well as reduce the current multidimensional poverty through reduction in the cost of living.

Chronicled below are 10 companies whose business exploits are projected to make a huge difference in Nigeria’s economic landscape in the new near.


Dangote Refinery

Marwa asks NDLEA officers to shun temptations from drug traffickers
Ibadan runway excursion: NCAA suspends airline permit as NSIB begins probe
Excitement has greeted the commencement of operation at the $19billion Dangote Refinery. This is understandably so because of the hardship Nigerians have been enduring since the removal of petrol subsidy by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Dangote recently revealed that Agbami crude oil was delivered to his company via MT ALMI SUN, thus enabling the refinery to meet the stocks required to test-run its operations.

The refinery has started receiving its first one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO).

Dangote Oil Refining Company, where the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has 20 per cent stake, has started preparing for the test running of the plant.

The managing director of Dangote Ports Operations, Mr Akin Omole, had said:

“Once the 6million barrels are fully delivered, it will facilitate the initial run of the refinery, as well as kick-start the production of diesel, aviation fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) before subsequently progressing to the production of a premium motor spirit (PMS),”

Dangote Refinery is expected to producea 650,000 barrels of oil per day (BPD). It is an integrated refinery project under construction in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, Nigeria. It is expected to be Africa’s biggest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single-train facility.

Speaking on the development, the executive chairman, African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk said, “We were excited about the delivery of millions of barrels to Dangote Refinery. This is a significant milestone, both for the country and the West African region. With a capacity to produce 350,000 barrels per day, the refinery holds a particular significance for the country, where reliance on fuel imports has been a defining feature for decades despite its over 37billion barrels of proven reserves.”

Oil marketers are already planning to meet the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in order to ensure the seamless supply and distribution of refined petroleum products to be produced from the $20bn facility.


BUA

BUA’s additional 6m tonnes of cement capacity is being seen as a game changer. 2024 is especially a year that would hopefully ignite pleasant expectations because BUA Cement intends to bring an additional six million tonnes a year (t/y), of cement capacity online by the first quarter through the commissioning of new lines at its Obu and Sokoto factories. This, in addition, would increase the company’s total installed production capacity to 17million t/y.

The chairman of BUA Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said the additional capacity would help to alleviate the pressure on cement prices and availability in Nigeria.

“The completion of lines 3 and 5 in Obu and Sokoto respectively will empower us to offer better prices and more significant quantities of cement to the domestic market, thus strengthening our market share across Nigeria and Africa. I am confident in BUA Cement’s ability to play a role in reducing cement prices in Nigeria,” he said during the presentation of BUA Cement’s 2022 financial results on August 31.

The firm recorded a 40.3 per cent increase in revenue in 2022 to the tune of N361.9billion. Profit after tax grew by 12.1 per cent (N101.0bn).

In June, BUA Cement secured a $500million financing package from the IFC to fund the expansion of its Sokoto plant in northern Nigeria.

A pharmaceutical manufacturing company, May & Baker Nigeria, is one of the companies to look out for in 2024 because of the crucial gaps that need to be filled in the pharmaceutical sub-sector of the economy following the exit of GSK in 2023.

Prices of drugs have been reported to have hit the rooftop as a result of the exit, which has left the vacuum to importers, forcing prices out of the roof.

However, the managing director of May & Baker Nigeria, Patrick Ajah, disclosed that the company was making investments towards new product development across a broad range of therapeutic areas.

He sought the intervention of the federal government to make the importation of drug manufacturing machines duty-free, as well as the removal of customs tariff on some medical products so as to import them at a lower cost.

Ajah said the measures would encourage pharmaceutical companies operating in the country.

“I mentioned that we were going to launch seven. We actually have in our pipeline, over 20 products, but it is not easy to register all of them with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). We already have like seven that are concluded, which we can launch next year; and a whole lot of other things,” he said.


Seplat ANOH Gas

This company is expected to reduce Nigeria’s carbon intensity and increase energy supply to domestic market.

ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC), an incorporated joint venture between Seplat Energy and NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) Ltd, is delivering the ANOH gas plant with a phase one processing capacity of 300mmscfd.

Upon commencement of operation, the plant will deliver dry gas, condensate and LPG to customers. It is envisaged that AGPC would sell the gas and LPG domestically, and the condensates to the international market.

ANOH is one of Nigeria’s most strategic gas projects. It will help Nigeria to accelerate its transition away from small-scale diesel generators to cleaner, less expensive fuel, such as natural gas for power generation.

Other key steps to first gas as outlined in the company’s interim results announcement were the drilling and hook-up of the upstream wells and completion of essential third-party infrastructure: the OB3 pipeline river crossing and Spur Line connecting OB3 to the gas plant.

The completion of the third well (ASSN-05) was previously announced. The fourth and final well (ASSN-06) planned ahead of the first gas has also been completed by the upstream unit operator, SPDC.

Nigerians are now looking forward to the completion of the necessary plant pre-commissioning activities and essential third-party infrastructure, which will enable the commissioning of the gas plant and commencement of operations.

The chief executive officer of Seplat Energy, Roger Brown said, “ANOH is an important strategic project for Seplat. It will roughly double our gas production. And we are focused on the path to the first gas.

“ANOH’s gas will further reduce Seplat’s and Nigeria’s carbon intensity and increase the energy supplied to the Nigerian domestic market.”


NNPC to restart Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna refineries

Nigeria expects its four oil refineries to be operational by the end of 2024, with Port Harcourt plant starting as early as January.

In 2022, the government said the Port Harcourt refinery would start processing crude at the end of that year. However, successive oil ministers and NNPC Ltd executives had announced a series of unsuccessful plans to restart, revamp or expand the refineries.

The four state-owned refineries with a combined 450,000 barrels per day, 110,000 barrels Kaduna plant in the North and three units in the oil-rich Niger Delta, including the 125,000 barrels Warri refinery, have been shut down for years.

The Port Harcourt refinery is undergoing a $1.5billion upgrade after Italy’s Tecnimont was awarded the contract to carry out the work in 2021.

The country is now pinning its hopes of ending fuel imports on the combined efforts of a 650,000 barrels per day refinery by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and the 450,000 four state-owned refineries.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, in December 2023, inspected the ongoing refurbishment at the two-unit 210,000 Port Harcourt refinery.

Lokpobiri said, “From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt refinery will come on board by the end of the year. Our objective is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation,” Lokpobiri said, adding that two other facilities in Warri and Kaduna would start processing crude between the first quarter and the end of 2024.

Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, imports almost all its refined fuel needs due to inadequate capacity and poor maintenance.


APMT

APMT Terminals, Apapa, the biggest logistics terminal in Nigeria, specializes in handling containerised cargoes.

The terminal is part of AP Moller-Maersk and operates one of the world’s most comprehensive port networks that are unique and positioned to help both shipping and landside customers grow their businesses.

APM Terminals took on the concession for the Apapa container terminals in Nigeria about 17 years ago and has invested over $438million in facility upgrade in the country’s port system.

In June 2023, APMT received the largest container ship to ever call at the Lagos port complex, Apapa, the Singapore-flagged Kota Contik, a 6,606 TEU container ship.

It has also invested in both frontline and office-based employees, providing growth and career opportunities in and outside Nigeria.


Lekki Deep Seaport

The Lekki Deep Seaport is a multi-purpose deep port in the Lagos Free Zone and is the only currently operating deep seaport in the country, having started full commercial operation in April 2023. It is the largest seaport in Nigeria and one of the biggest in West Africa.

Lekki Port is to be expanded to have a capacity of handling around 6million TEUs of containers and a significant volume of liquid and dry bulk uncontainerised cargoes. The port is to be equipped with ships able to transport over 14,500 containers.

The port, referred to by many as the game changer, is financed by private investors and a consortium of banks that have funded the project with $1.5billion as at March 2021. The seaport is to occupy up to 90 hectares of land.The port started commercial operation in April 2023.

It mainstreamed in 2023, during which the Lagos State governor, Sanwo-Olu, promised to expand the roads to the port to six-lane highways to ensure seamless evacuation of cargoes.

The economic impact of the project would translate to revenue from duties, royalties and taxes at $201billion and also a direct/indirect business impact of $158bn, according to the ICRC.

The Nigerian government owns 5 per cent shares, while the Lagos owns 20 per cent and the Lekki Port Investment Holding Inc owns 75 per cent through the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV- Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited).

The project is built in a strategic location in Lagos. Its flexible and optimised layout and modern facilities give Lekki Port a competitive edge over any other port facility in the West African region.


Air Peace

Air Peace, which is currently the largest airline in West and Central Africa, is one of the companies to look up to in 2024, going by its ongoing expansion drive, which would see London coming on stream this year.

It has a network of 21 domestic routes, eight regional and six international destinations, with an increasing modern fleet of over 30 aircraft, including five brand new Embraer 195-E2s and a latest firm order for five brand new Embraer 175s.

The plan to expand into London is expected to be a big deal in the air transportation market in Nigeria as it would be the only Nigerian flight on the highly lucrative London route. Despite the busy nature of that route, Nigerians have been complaining about the high fares charged by the British carriers and other foreign airlines flying to London.

However, Air Peace’s entry into the route is expected to crash fares, while deepening competition.


Norrenberger Financial Group

Norrenberger is an industry-leading integrated financial services group that provides individuals and institutions with a wide range of financial products, including asset management, private equity, development finance, investment banking, pensions, security trading, insurance, digital banking, among others.

The financial group has eight subsidiaries – Norrenberger Securities Ltd; Norrenberger Pensions; Transkredit Finance Company Ltd; IEI Insurance Ltd; Fadeth Microfinance Bank; Norrenberger Investment and Capital Management Ltd; The Infrastructure Bank, and Norrenberger Advisory Partners Ltd.

The company, last year, launched its entrepreneurship fund, targeting 5,000 youths with a N500m start-up grant and intends to implement it in 2024 and expand the grant to N5bn in the coming years.

Also, the company launched the Turbo Fund as an open-ended collective investment scheme registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In 2024, the fund is targeted toward investors with the capacity to stay invested for a long period, institutional investors, including pension fund administrators, insurance companies, corporate entities, public sector agencies, and other asset managers who seek to diversify their portfolio holdings and earn attractive returns.


AA Rano

AA Rano is an oil and gas company in Nigeria known for retail distribution of PMS, DPK, AGO, LPG and lubricants.

The oil conglomerate was founded by a Kano-born businessman, Alhaji Awwalu Rano.

He built his first retail outlets in Kano State in 1996 and incorporated AA Rano Nigeria Limited in 2002.

The company has over 600 trucks servicing its over 115 retail outlets across the country.

The company has acquired a vessel, constructed a 56-million-litre tank farm facility and is also constructing a 20,000-metric-ton LPG plant in Lagos.

AA Rano has a broad plan of building its own 45,000 BPD crude oil refinery in the New Lekki Free Trade Zone Area of Lagos State.

The company has been experiencing an unprecedented growth in recent years, which is evident in the construction of its 60million litres tank farm in Lagos, Nigeria and commissioning of its newly acquired vessel (Mt. Hajara).

One of the subsidiaries of AA Rano is Rano Air, founded in 2019. It is one of the fastest growing airlines in Nigeria.

The airline acquired five of EMB 145 aircraft, with its operation base in Abuja; and it is intended to operate into different locations in Nigeria: Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Yola and Asaba.

Other subsidiaries of the company are Rano Gaz (LPG), Rano Lube and Rano Commodity.

BY CLAIRE MOM


Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, handed over the mantle of leadership to Usman Ododo on Saturday — and some grammatical errors to boot.

Ododo was sworn in after taking the oath of office at the inauguration ceremony in Lokoja, the state capital.

As is expected in a democratic setting, outgoing governors are expected to issue a handover note to their successors to ensure a smooth and uncontentious transition of power.

Although Bello fulfilled the requirements, his grammatical constructions fell short of being smooth.

In the handover note he posted on his X account, errors such as the misspelling of “tenure” and “constitutional” stood out.

“I, Yahaya Bello CON, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, hereby handover the Governance and Administration of Kogi State to you, Alh Ahmad Usman Ododo, after the Successful Completion of my Constitution 2nd Tenor in office, Today the 27th Day of January 2024,” the certificate reads.


“CONGRATULATIONS!!!”

“It is settled,” Bello captioned the post.


SPOT THE ERROR

To win the Kogi governorship election, Ododo polled 446, 237 votes to defeat Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who placed second with 259,052 votes.

Dino Melaye, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was in third position with 46,362 votes.

The Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations has called for the removal of the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cadoso, over the planned relocation of agencies they superintend.

A communiqué issued by the group on Thursday signed by its convener, Murtala Abubakar; Director of public Communication & Strategy, Hashim Tom Maiyashi; and Director, Gender Mobilization, Latifa Abdussalam, praised the Northern caucus of the Senate but urged the lawmakers to seek the sack of the two appointees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group, however, advised against the move to sue the president to rescind the decision but stated that the lawmakers should rather give the president a deadline to stop the relocation.

“Given the magnitude of the decisions by the CBN and FAAN that demonstrate the unsuitability of their chief executives to preside over federal institutions, we urge our representatives to demand the immediate removal of the Governor of the CBN and the Minister of Aviation from their positions.

“This is not a punitive measure but an urgent step to restore public trust, ensure accountability, and uphold the constitutional integrity of key institutions that significantly influence our nation’s economic and administrative landscape.”

They added that the decisions that impact on the country’s economic and administrative landscape must be made with competence, transparency and adherence to constitutional principles.

“We call on our representatives in the National Assembly to exercise their full legislative oversight functions. We urge them to set a definite deadline for the executive to rescind the decisions related to the relocation of CBN departments and FAAN headquarters as well as to take proactive corrective measures.

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has asked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to abandon the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) for the (APC).

Addressing newsmen after a stakeholders’ meeting in Kano, Ganduje said the meeting resolved to open APC doors to others who want to join the ruling party.

“We are appealing to those who want join APC to come. In particular, we are inviting the Governor of Kano and his NNPP to join APC,” Ganduje said.

The national chairman asked party members not to get discourage over the loss of the governorship election case at the supreme court.

He said as true democrats, members should thank God.

Some senators and members of the house of representatives, Ganduje said, have joined APC, assuring that very soon, some governors would defect to the ruling party,

He said Tinubu loves Kano and insisted that the state should produce the Deputy Senate president despite enormous pressure.

All former Commissioners and Chief executive of parastatals that served under Ganduje attended the meeting.

The National President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Dr Tommy Etim Okon has hinted that in the coming weeks, there will be serious agitation by the organised labour over delay in the announcement and implementation of new national minimum wage for workers by the Federal Government.

According to him, there would also be a lot of clamour by workers, most especially for the payment of N35,000 peculiar allowance, in all in view of the current harsh economic condition being faced by workers.

The Federal Government, however, called for continued partnership and synergy between government and the labour unions in Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for optimal performance and effective delivery of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

Director Overseeing, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare (SWO), in the Office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Dr. Comfort Adeosun made the call at the 4th Permanent Secretary’s Quarterly Forum with leaders of the Joint Union across MDAs in Abuja.

ASCSN National President, Dr Tommy Etim Okon, who doubles the Vice President, Joint Council, speaking at the event, said the meeting was timely as workers would soon begin agitation and clamour for the new national minimum wage and the N35,000 peculiar allowance.

He said information is key and that where “you congregate union leaders from MDAs, you are creating a way to ensuring that there is industrial peace and harmony”.

“Without industrial peace and harmony, there will be no progress. No policy thrives without it,” he said.

Okon also noted that the Head of Civil of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan was very strategic in her engagement with the union leaders.

While appreciating her dexterity and leadership style, he added that the Forum is the way to go, especially taking into cognizance that for “the next few months the issue of a new National Minimum Wage against the backdrop of present economic conditions, will be a reoccurring one”.

“There will be a lot of clamour by workers, most especially for the payment of N35,000 peculiar allowance,” he said.

He noted that the fora provides an opportunity to inform and enlighten union leaders about Government policies towards its workforce.

“This is 21st century strategy to ensure that workers are adequately informed and by so doing it will also encourage them to be more productive,” he added.

On her part, the Director Overseeing, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare (SWO), Dr. Comfort Adeosun, harped on the need for synergy and industrial harmony for enhanced service delivery in the country.

Director, Communications, Mr Mohammed Ahmed, in a statement on Thursday, quoted Adeosun, as explaining that the Forum was established to improve synergy that would stimulate a harmonious working relationship between the unions and Government for enhanced service delivery.

“It is equally to enlighten them on various initiatives of Government on issues relating to the general welfare of Public Servants and to create an enabling environment for easy implementation of staff-friendly policies that will improve the wellbeing and welfare of workers in the Service,” she added.

She also disclosed that the quarterly event has stalled since 2019 due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the Office.

She, however, hinted that the importance of resuscitating the meeting could not be overemphasised, given the significant role it plays in the resolution of conflict with regard to labour-related matters, anchored on a collective bargaining process through constant dialogue between the two parties.

Adeosun further said that the success of previous meetings had gone a long way in restoring the confidence of the organized labour in Government’s determination to improve the welfare of workers, birthing industrial peace and harmony.

She appreciated the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF) for her dogged commitment to the welfare and well-being of the Service.

“This commitment is expressed in the approval to resuscitate the Forum with a directive to ensure its sustenance, in order to consolidate on the existing harmonious working relationship between the Government and Labour in MDAS,” she stated.

The Director Overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary, disclosed that the OHCSF is committed to ensuring the continuity of the Forum for improvement of synergy and cohesion.

“It is an impetus for the progress of the Public Service, leveraging on conflict resolution mechanism to nip in the bud labour contentious issues, thereby forestalling the escalation of industrial unrest, which hinders national growth,” she said.

She assured the union members that Government would continue to do everything possible to improve the welfare of workers, as well as strengthen their capacities to deliver on their mandates. “It is important for us to be well informed on Government plans, policies, and programmes to guarantee healthy communication,” she added.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Director, Employee and Industrial Relations, Mr Dominic Chibueze Nwachuckwu stated that Government could not function as a critical component of nation-building without the cooperation of labour. “Government cannot deliver on its core mandates if a conducive environment for Civil Servants is not guaranteed and one element, which assures that is the workforce,” he added.

The Deputy Director, Employee Relations, Mr. Dangana Adamu Tende, further explained that the programme will foster synergy between government and labour.

The President of the Joint Union Negotiating Council/Chairman, ASCSN, OHCSF Chapter, Comrade Ameh Sylvester agreed that the meeting will go a long way in sensitizing workers about the policies of the OHCSF, which aims to enhance workflow and to secure buy-in from them concerning the innovative approach to work processes, as enshrined in FCSSIP-25.

He promised that they would disseminate the information gathered and decisions reached to the workers.

The eight ( Unions represented at the Forum are: Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processing and Allied Workers (NUPSTRAW), Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and Nigeria Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees (NUAAE).

Others were Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Nigeria Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW).

Legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola, has revealed some of the big legal fees he has charged from clients, saying on one occasion, he got $30million for helping the government recover $300m from banks.

In another instance, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State, said he charged Mobile $5m in an appeal case he handled for the company in the 80s.

Babalola, who revealed this in a recent interview with a radio talk show host, Ifedayo Olarinde aka Daddy Freeze, said Mobile initially rejected his asking fee and engaged another SAN in Lagos who charged them N500,000, but lost the case.

“Yes,” Babalola confirmed when Daddy Freeze said he learnt that he charged Mobile $5m.

He said, “….The client has a right to pay in dollars or (its naira) equivalent. This time I was in my office then a message came from Lagos that Mobile people from Netherlands, Scotland and America wanted to see me. I went there and met some directors there. They had a big case and I charged them $5m. They decided to negotiate but I said no; that was what I would charge for the case. They said, ‘Ok, you would hear from us.’ I went back to Ibadan. They never came back.

“About two years after, the same Mobile sent for me and I went. They told me that the last time we referred a case to you and you charged us $5m, but when you left, one of us said there was a senior advocate in Lagos who demanded less than N500,000 so we paid him. Now we have lost.

“From the way you addressed us and the confidence we want you to handle the appeal for us. Can you handle it for us? Why not, but my fee remains the same amount. They said don’t worry, we will pay this time. Not only did I collect the money, I also won the case for them. So they remain my client; I became the special adviser to the company.”

Asked about other bigger legal fees he had charged, he recalled striking a deal with the government to get a 10% commission upon recovery of the sum of $300m from some banks.

“I can remember one case where there was a syndicate of banks fighting the government over a certain matter. I said you would pay me 10% of what I collect from them. At the end of the day, I collected $300m for them and of course 10% for me,” he said.

By Samuel Bolaji


The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, said the construction of the long-awaited Fourth Mainland Bridge would begin in the first quarter of this year, “by the end of March or April.”

The governor disclosed this in his keynote address during the Lagos West Senatorial District Town Hall Meeting held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the bridge will be constructed in phases while promising that landlords and tenants of structures demolished during the construction will be duly compensated.

“We’ve done extensive work on the bridge. But we are at the crossroads of where to get the real financing for that kind of project. We’ll need to be very very creative,” he said.

“Our commitment is that within this first quarter, meaning that by the end of March or April, we should break grounds to start the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge,” Sanwo-Olu added.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has begun verification of political office holders and top government officials’ assets as part of renewed anti corruption crusade in the country.

The acting Chairman of the Bureau, Mr Murtala Aliyu-Kankia, stated this while monitoring the ongoing verification exercise on Monday in Katsina.

He said the exercise would cover senior public officers and civil servants including permanent secretaries, director-generals, directors and other top officials of government’s establishments.

“I briefed the governor on why we are in Katsina. He is also keen in fighting corruption,” he said.

According to him, the exercise is aimed at finding out the genuineness of assets declared by political office holders and other senior civil servants on assumption of office.

This, he said, would add value to the fight against corruption by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that after the exercise its personnel would go to the field to authenticate the assets declared by the officers.

“You know, some people have a tendency of under-declaration, anticipatory declaration and even non declaration of their assets.

“To detect these three aspects, we go to the field to find out where someone under-declared, or in anticipation of getting something declared he has a property.

“All these are offences. The person found wanting would be referred to the CCB tribunal for prosecution accordingly.

“The punishment is either for him to forfeit the property, banned from holding public office for 10 years or be asked to vacate the office he is occupying.

“We are on course, we are doing it for the good of the country and the people,” he said. (NAN)

Electricity consumers in Gombe and some parts of Yola and Bauchi states will experience power outage on Thursday and Friday as a result of scheduled maintenance of power facilities by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

The TCN announced that its “maintenance crew will carry out scheduled preventive maintenance on the bay of its T1A 150MVA, 330/132/33kV transformer bay” on Thursday and Friday, January 18 and 19, 2024.

According to a statement by the TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the maintenance will last eight hours, running from 9 am to 5 pm on each day.

Mbah disclosed that to commence the maintenance exercise, “TCN would transfer the load from T1A 150MVA transformer to its T2A 150MVA transformer in the same substation”.

She added that consequently, there would be “an interruption of bulk power supply to Jos and Yola DisCos through the T1A transformer”.

She clarified that the interruption would only affect bulk supply during the transfer period only, and not for the entire eight-hour period it would take to complete the maintenance exercise on both days.

“The short outage during the transfer period would affect supply to Gombe and some parts of Yola and Bauchi states only, during transfer time on both days.

“TCN will, however, restore bulk power supply through the transformer immediately after the maintenance exercise,” Mbah explained.

The transmission company regretted “any inconvenience this may cause electricity consumers within the affected areas”.

The TCN maintenance crew had on Saturday carried out scheduled preventive maintenance on the Jos-Lafia 330kV transmission lines, which it said had been redundant for some time.

Ace singer, Tiwa Savage, has been robbed in the United Kingdom, where she is currently.

The singer revealed this in a post via her Instagram story, on Thursday.

Although the Somebody’s Son crooner didn’t give much information regarding the robbery, she expressed pain over the incident.

“Damn London, una show me pepper o. Got robbed yesterday,” she wrote in a combination of pidgin and English..

Daily Trust reports that this comes days after she filed a petition to the police against her colleague and music star, Davido.

It all started after the duo unfollowed each other on Instagram at the weekend, leaving many to believe that Davido unfollowed Tiwa because of the latter’s friendship with his baby mama, Sophia Momodu, with whom he is currently not on talking terms.

Things turned for the worse when Tiwa Savage’s ex-husband Tee Billz threatened to teach Davido a lesson for “disrespecting his family.”

Narrating the cause of the incident in her petition, Tiwa recounted an Instagram story post on December 23 featuring herself and Sophia Momodu.

Tiwa Savage, in the petition addressed to the Lagos Commissioner of Police and dated January 9, alleged that Davido made a “direct threat to my rights to life, privacy and dignity of my person”.

Coincidentally, Davido has also been a victim of robbery abroad. He was once attacked in South Africa where he lost millions and expensive jewelery.

The Federal Government has assured workers that it will clear the arrears of the N35,000 wage award just as it also said the government had resumed the payment of the wage award.

The government also reiterated its commitment to addressing issues in the National Minimum Wage agreement reached with the Organised Labour in 2023.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, disclosed the government’s commitment towards implementing agreements with trade unions during separate meetings with the leaderships of the Trade Union Congress and Congress of University Academics, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Onyejeocha underscored the significance of her interactions with key trade unions, emphasising the intention to uphold open lines of communication, strengthen labour relations to mitigate the likelihood of future strikes, and actively contribute to cultivating a harmonious and friendly work environment for all employees.

Onyejeocha stated that the government appreciated the plight of the trade unions, noting that her visit was not only to reiterate the government’s readiness for partnership but to keep the channels of communication open.

“I am here specifically to reassure you that we have not forgotten about the agreements between the government and trade unions. Thank God that you have confirmed that the federal government has started paying the N35,000 wage award and I can assure you that the payment is on course and the outstanding will be paid within a short period,” she said.

Onyejeocha said, “I know that the President is focused on making sure that the issue of a new national minimum wage is addressed. The government will ensure that the committee starts working in earnest.

“I do not want to wait for any stakeholder to start agitating, that is why I have come to remind you that I am aware of those agreements, and we are working round the clock to make sure they are fulfilled. If there is any that we cannot fulfil now, including the past ones, we will continue our engagements on them.”

She commended the leadership of TUC for having faith in the government and assured the union of the government’s continued readiness to listen to them, as well as partner with them for the greater good of the people.

Previously, it was reported by The PUNCH that Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, put forth a suggestion for a wage adjustment to be granted to the Federal Government as a measure to alleviate the impacts of the fuel subsidy removal.

The Labour Unions and the Federal Government under President Bola Tunubu’s led administration had agreed to the payment of an N35,000 wage award for lower cadre workers for the next six months to cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy.

Speaking, the President of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo, commended the government for some of the major steps taken so far, specifically for fulfilling up to 80 per cent of the agreement with the management of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, and urged the government the fulfil the remaining 20 per cent of that agreement.

“We are not a union that waits for the government to fail to hold it to ransom. That is why we keep engaging,” Osifo said.

Nigeria is one of the four countries listed for a visit by the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, this month.
Blinken’s African tour is scheduled to take place between January 21 and 26, 2024.

The visit is a part of the US’s high-level engagement with Africa, with the Secretary of State planning to travel to Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola during this diplomatic mission.

A statement by the US embassy in Abuja stated that discussion on security partnership will be part of the items to be brought to the table.

The statement reads in part: “Throughout the trip, the Secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security.

“He will also emphasize our future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace.

“Additionally, the Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law.

“He will reaffirm U.S. commitment to our coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges, and U.S. efforts to support African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

Some social media accounts may have started organising a coordinated social media campaign to burnish the image of Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and get her back in government.

President Bola Tinubu approved the suspension of Edu on January 8 following a leaked memo showing that she approved the transfer of over N585 million into the personal account of Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

Her suspension has opened up a trail of controversial transactions since her appointment in August 2023. The president’s decision delighted many Nigerians who had lost confidence in the implementation of social intervention programmes by the ministry.

In a surprising turn of events, however, some of the tweeps who once welcomed Edu’s suspension have started backtracking and carrying out what looks like a coordinated social media influence operation on behalf of the minister.

FIJ has identified some of them and their reactions to Edu’s suspension, as well as their self-styled promotion of the minister. The motivation for influencers is usually money, jobs or the promise of appointments. While FIJ could not establish the motive behind the Edu campaign, our analysis shows a pattern of coordination.

REACTIONS TO EDU’S SUSPENSION

Sodiq Tade, an account suspected to be favourably disposed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed their happiness at the news of the Cross Rivers State-born minister’s suspension on January 8.

“I’m happy to read that Tinubu has suspended Betta Edu. It is good for accountability. I must say that I’m actually surprised tbh. Corruption has always been a requirement in making it big in APC, but it seems this particular corruption shocked Tinubu. Must be the time range,” Sodiq Tade stated.

The same account had posted in October 2023 about their lack of confidence in Tinubu’s government: “If you think Tinubu administration is going to achieve anything with the likes of Betta Edu, then you are not serious.”

Kawu Garba also posted on January 8 calling for the minister’s suspension the same way some other government officials were recently suspended in order to allow for an investigation. “The former CBN governor was suspended before he was investigated; the same with EFCC and others,” he said. Who are those shielding Betta Edu? Why does Tinubu want to suspend her?”

This post was accompanied by hashtags #BettaEduIsTheRealCulprit and #BettaEdumustbeprobed. In some posts on January 7, the account posted: “Tinubu is biased for suspending Halima Shehu and keeping Betta Edu while the investigation is going on.

“Tinubu should suspend Betta Edu first before directing the investigation. In the same way former minister Sadiya Farouk was detained by EFCC today, Betta Edu should also be detained with her make-up. Nobody should give her water to clean it up.

Abba SZN wrote: “Now the PBAT suspended the corrupt Betta Edu, EFCC should arrest her and make her pay for the Npower backlogs she hijacked. Now we believe that PBAT is serious about his fight against corruption.”

Other posts by Abba SZN were: “Betta Edu will soon overtake Diezeni as the most corrupted Minister under the PBAT renewed hope administration. PBAT should also suspend her if at all he’s serious about fighting corruption in Nigeria,” “Dear PBAT, with these developments regarding Betta Edu, we shall see whether your government has tolerance for corruption or not. Halima Shehu got suspended for what she didn’t do, why is Betta Edu still in charge?” and “Betta Edu is still in charge even after the serious allegations labeled against her. PBAT was swift in suspending Halima Shehu while Edu Betta, who has suspicious academic records still has a job. @officialEFCC should invite her for interrogation Asap.”


COORDINATED CAMPAIGN

These identified accounts appeared to be spearheading the campaign with their moderately large followings. Sodiq Tade has more than 74.6 thousand followers, Kawu Garba has over 22.4 thousand followers and Abba SZN boasts of over 16.1 thousand followers.

On Tuesday, these accounts started posting messages suspected to be an influence operation to shape their followers’ perception of the minister and the allegation against her.

Different from their posts in support of Edu’s suspension, Sodiq Tade posted on Tuesday: “I sincerely think Betta Edu should be returned as Minister. The suspension is pointless now that we know that she got approval from Gbajabiamila and, in extension, presidency. It will be unfair to her to take fall for something that the presidency is actively involved.”

In their recent posts, Kawu Garba claimed the minister did nothing wrong: “With the evidence showing Betta Edu got the approval of the N3 billion for national register verification, her suspension is unjust and should be reversed. She didn’t do anything wrong by doing what she got approval from the presidency for.”

The third account, Abba SZN, also posted a message to launder the minister’s image in an attempt to pin the responsibility for the attempted money diversion on the president: “With the new documents in circulation, I must say that Betta Edu was wrongly accused of something the President had full knowledge about. The N3B they were talking about was approved by PBAT, this shows that she followed all legal process of getting the funds.”

For clarity, the new document the posts quoted was a letter that surfaced on social media in the past week showing that Tinubu approved N3 billion for the verification of the national social register.

SIGNS OF COORDINATION

In the wake of the memo leak, the reactions by these influence campaigners pushing for the minister’s sack or suspension appeared strongly inorganic.

All their posts showed clear signs of systematic coordination. For instance, ‘Betta Edu’ appeared in most of their posts in bold fonts. This looks like an arrangement that had already taken place somewhere before making its way to social media.

In their latest posts, FIJ detected that these posts appeared with two major hashtags: #BettaEduIsTheRealCulprit and #BettaEdumustbeprobed. An in-depth look at these posts strongly indicated a one-way line of thought. These words also stood out in their posts: approval, new and presidency.

In each post, they consistently mentioned ‘Betta Edu’. In cyber influence operations, the conceptual goal is to influence people’s minds, and this is achieved by consistently creating a single keyword and compromising the social media algorithm in order to place the word on the trends table.

Aside from this, they all posted not too long after one another. @Abba_SZN and @KawuGarba posted a few minutes apart, between 4:39 pm and 5:01 pm, while @SodiqTade posted his message a few hours earlier at 12:17 pm. With this in mind and a variation in the way the posts were crafted, FIJ’s analysis showed a coordinated behaviour identified with inorganic operations and social media amplifications.

They also frequently referenced the word ‘approval’ as if it were a new discovery, but it is not. In the leaked memo, Edu herself said that she got approval from the president. However, the approval was not in contention, but she was requesting that the approved funds be sent into a civil servant’s bank account.

Based on the analysis of the posts, FIJ understands that the latest campaigns to launder the suspended minister’s image may be coordinated.

The Federal Government has warned against public crowdfunding to pay ransoms for kidnapped victims, saying it will only worsen the spate of abductions.

Minister of Defense, Abubakar Badaru, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

The warning comes amidst reports that Nigerians have raised over N50 million through crowdfunding to pay the ransom for the release of the remaining five daughters of Mansoor Al-Kadriya.

LEADERSHIP reports that six siblings were abducted from their father’s house in Bwari Council, Abuja, on December 26, 2023, alongside their father.

Although their father was later released to go and raise the ransom, the kidnappers killed one of his daughters, Nabeeha, last Friday for failing to raise the said ransom, leaving five alive.

However, Badaru said, while the government is deeply concerned about the kidnappings, paying ransoms through public donations will exacerbate the problem.

“We all know there’s an existing law against the payment of ransom. So, it is very sad for people to go over the internet, radio asking for donations to pay ransom. This will only worsen the situation; it will not help,” Badaru said.

Badaru urged Nigerians to refrain from responding to ransom demands publicly, noting that the government’s position is to starve kidnappers of the profits that drive abductions.

“If we stop, over time the kidnapping will not be profitable, and they will stop. It is not easy, though, but that is the law,” he said.

According to the minister, the recent kidnappings in the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are being perpetrated by bandits fleeing military operations in the North West and North Central zones.

He assured that security agencies are working round the clock to track down the bandits and prevent further abductions.

He said, “As you are aware, people are saying FCT, FCT, these kidnappings happen around the suburb, around now and locations that are bothering Kaduna and Niger.

“And this is as a result of the current operations going on in the northwest and some parts of the North Central.

“The bandits are fleeing and they are getting shelters around these areas, and the security agencies are working very hard to push them out, block the movement, and finish this thing once and for all.

“The president has given us the marching order and all the support that we need and what the security agencies need to end this thing.”

The minister also said investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The explosion killed two persons and wounded about 80 others. It also destroyed several buildings, vehicles, and other properties.

Badaru said while the state governor had indicated preliminary findings show the blast may have been caused by explosives owned by illegal miners in the area, the defence ministry is not ruling out other possibilities such as a gas explosion.

“Our team is there trying to find out what is the cause. We have seen that report but the council to be proactive has already set up a committee to look into how the control of explosive law is broken, if indeed there are explosives around the area where this incident happened,” the minister said.

He disclosed that the committee was constituted to scrutinise the existing laws regulating the movement, storage, and handling of explosives across the country.

This, he said, will help identify any loopholes and strengthen enforcement.

Badaru reiterated that Nigeria has strict regulations for explosives that are closely monitored.

“You all know that there’s strict law on the movement, storage, and ownership of explosives, and that is being monitored and if there’s any breakdown, we will find out and deal with it,” he affirmed.

ABUJA— INDICATIONS emerged on Wednesday that President Bola Tinubu is not happy over the delay in constituting the new Minimum wage committee.

The current minimum wage of N30,000 is expiring by March and it is expected that a new living wage would be in place first week of April.

Although President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero had recently told Vanguard that the labour has already constituted its committee to interface with the federal government team, the government is yet to constitute its team for the minimum wage review.

It was gathered that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, is saddled with the responsibility of setting up the committee.

A presidency source told Vanguard that President Tinubu was not happy during the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting that the committee to review the minimum wage was not yet constituted

According to the source, “The President was fuming that up till now the new Minimum Wage Committee is not constituted. But I am sure within one week the committee will be in place.”

Asked on the possibility that the committee will meet up with the April take off date of a new Minimum wage, the source said within one week the committee will be empanelled.

“The government will meet up with the April date. Government is making every effort that there is a cordial relationship between the government and labour.”

Reminded that labour has accused the government of not keeping to its promises with labour, The source said that there will be a new cooperation and wth the labour and all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that all the parties are on the same page to make sure that they work for the general interest of the working class.

President Bola Tinubu has said the illegal miners who caused the explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, must be brought to book.

Daily Trust reports that after the incident, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo blamed it on illegal miners who stored explosive devices in one of the buildings in the Bodija area of Ibadan.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, quoted his principal as saying: “It is worrisome that the cause of the blast is being attributed to the activities of illegal miners. Those behind the inexcusable and reckless behaviour that has created the conditions for the sad incident to occur must be fished out and punished.”

Tinubu, while expressing sadness over the devastating explosion, commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State.

The president called on all concerned agencies of government to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragedy with alacrity.

President Tinubu directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the Oyo State Government to offer immediate and comprehensive relief to the victims.

A survivor of the explosion that rocked Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday, has said it was foreigners, who engaged in illegal mining activities, that caused the explosion. He added that they ran out just before the blast.

The survivor, Alhaji Mohammed Musa, lived next to the epicentre (ground zero) of the explosion.

Though the official announcement of the casualty figure is yet to be made, Vanguard gathered that three people died in the explosion.


UK returnee dead

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that one of the deceased is a United Kingdom, UK, returnee.

A viral video credits one Honourable Ayode Jajaye as stating that the UK returnee is the son of one of the landlords in the Ibadan estate where the explosion occurred.

He said: “Look at the guy that just died. He just came from the UK about a week ago. He’s a son to a landlord in this estate.

“My conclusion is that the government should investigate this situation. The casualties are too much. Look at damages. We can’t just look away.

“There are so many collateral damages that have happened.”

At the scene of the explosion yesterday, a body was brought out of the rubble and put in a body bag.

Earlier, the Oyo State Government had announced that two people died in the unfortunate incident. Also, a survivor who was seriously injured was wheeled into a waiting ambulance.


How I survived — Mohammed

Speaking with Vanguard at the scene, Mohammed said he was rushed to the hospital and discharged this morning.

He said he escaped death by the whiskers because he offered to help his neighbor put out the fire that preceded the explosion.

Recall that his claim that foreign illegal miners caused the explosion was earlier voiced by Governor Seyi Makinde.

Narrating the events that preceded the explosion, Mohammed said: “Around 7 p.m. last night (Tuesday), I was going to pray.

“As I was standing to start the prayer, I noticed some fire burning in the next house. So, I stopped the prayer and quickly picked my fire extinguisher.

“I told my boys that the neighbor’s house is on fire, let’s go and help.

“I then came downstairs. One guy saw me and said the fire was beyond what an extinguisher can put out. I then picked my phone to call the fire brigade men.

“However, the next thing I heard was that blast. It threw me off the ground and landed me on the stairs. Part of the house had cracked. My boys advised that I should jump.

“Fire started just a metre away from that house and as of the time we came downstairs, there was no one on the premises.”


The foreigners

Also, speaking on the occupants of the house, he said: “The house where the fire started is occupied by a Senagalese or Namibian and they engage in mining activities.

“Definitely, they had explosives inside the building. The explosion was as a result of the explosives kept in the building.

“The foreigners have been living in here since 2013. They go in the morning and come back in the evening. I wouldn’t know if their immediate neighbour knows they are into mining.”

“The foreigners ran out before the explosion.”

Furthermore, he clarified that immediately after the foreigners saw the raging fire, they knew the implications because of what they kept inside.

Mohammed said: “They, including their children, ran out of the house and they didn’t alert us so that we could run away too.

“They knew the implications when they saw the fire. So they ran out without alerting us. Thank God I came down trying to help put out the fire. I would have been dead by now.

“The whole house would have collapsed on me. I wanted to save the house of my neighbor from being burnt. That’s what saved me. If anyone had been in the house, the person would have gone.”

Asked if he knew his neighbors were illegal miners he said: “We have them all over. They are also at Orogun. That’s their trade and that’s what they came to Nigeria to do. And explosives are part of the things they use in blasting. Definitely, they had kept them in the house.”


Explosion caused by illegal miners — Governor Makinde

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, also attributed the explosion to explosive devices stored by illegal miners.

He added that two persons died in the explosion, which occurred at about 7:44 p.m. on January 16. He added that about 77 persons were injured.

Recall that at about 7.44 pm, Tuesday, January 16, a loud explosion was heard in different parts of the state capital leading to panic and confusion.

In a press release shared on his verified X page on Wednesday morning, Makinde explained that the preliminary investigations revealed that illegal miners stored explosive devices in one of the houses in Bodija.

He said: “We visited the scene of the explosion in Bodija, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties.

“We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night.

“Earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident.


Welfare

“The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.

“In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and two fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

“I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government. We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected.

“I urge all residents to please call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time. They should remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident.”


… sets up emergency situation room

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr Suleiman Olanrewaju, he noted that “the State Government has set up an Emergency Situation Room for the Bodija incident led by Professor Temitope Alonge.

“Search and rescue efforts at the site of the incident continued overnight. Updates from the Emergency Situation Room will be publicised through official government accounts and media channels.

“The contact numbers for the Situation Room are 07049948057 and 08147672009.

“Residents are advised to stay away from the site of the incident and call 615 free of charge for emergencies in Oyo State.”


Bola Ige’s residence affected

Meanwhile, the residence of the late Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, was also affected by the Ibadan explosion.

His son, Architect Muyiwa Bola Ige spoke with Vanguard.

He said: “We thank God for life and for those who survived the unfortunate incident. The effect is that lives were lost.

“It affected my house we are just a few metres away from the epicenter and the gravity led to the damages we have here. We thank no life is lost here. The blast shattered the windows and roofs.

“Structurally, the building is intact. I have gone around to do the analysis.

“Yes, we are hearing that the explosion was caused by some illegal miners. That would be grossly unfortunate that someone could keep such dangerous things in the residential area. I have spoken to the leadership of this residents’ association to find out who the persons are.

“Do they have the inclination of what their activities are? We should not jump the gun. But it is evident because there is a crater at the epicenter. It’s unacceptable.

“Glasses were blown out, roof surfaces caved in. If they knew what they had and they kept it in a residential area, then they are suicidal.

“We must identify who they are. If they are still alive. And some people have died based on the consequences of what they had done, they should be brought to book.”

He said he had to rush back home when a friend told him about the explosion. He noted that he came to rescue the grandchildren of someone close to him.

Meanwhile, there were fears that some unexploded bombs could still be at the place. Security officers were warning thousands of people at the scene to move away as staying there could be risky.


Schools shut down

Two private schools in the area were shut. Barakat and the Educational Advancement Centre were locked. Their students came to resume only to be sent back home by their teachers.

When Vanguard got to the scene, there was gridlock as a result of the large crowds trooping to the scene of the explosion.

Also, security agents had a hectic time controlling the crowd that was bent on having a glimpse of the scene.

At the spot, rescue teams were working seriously in search victims under the rubble.

Meanwhile, Vanguard was reliably informed that several children of a popular school that is located at Idi Ishin were injured and taken to the hospital. They used the building opposite the epicenter as hostels.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Bayo Lawa, and Senator Sarafadeen Alli, representing Oyo South senatorial districts were early callers at the scene.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Adebola Hamzat; soldiers; Red Cross; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; Department of State Services, DSS; fire brigade men, bomb detectors, National Emergency Agency, NEMA, were all on ground.

happney65:


Have you confirmed it's Gas?

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has apologised for the tough decisions taken during his tenure while affirming his unwavering belief in the nation’s future.

The apology was contained in his address at the unveiling of books chronicling his presidency, one which was written by his former media aide, Femi Adesina.

The event, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, witnessed the launch of two significant publications: “Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, 2015 – 2023” and “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy (2015 – 2023).”

Buhari, speaking at his first public appearance since leaving office on May 29, 2023, expressed deep gratitude to those who supported him during his presidency, including current President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In a reflection of his time in office, Buhari highlighted the challenges and the tough choices faced by his administration.

Buhari acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Nigerian populace.

He extended an apology to those who felt the weight of the decisions, emphasising that they were never intended to cause pain or anguish.

He said, “with the cumulative achievements of government after government, I believe we will get there in no distant time.

“In our journey to the desired destination, there will be hard decisions taken, and the people would bear some costs. We can only seek their understanding, and state that there was no intention to deliberately inflict pain and anguish on anyone.

“This is why I apologized to such people at the end of our time in office. Sacrifices are still being made now, and will continue to be part of our national life and development.

“Governments will continually seek the understanding and support of the people they lead, for our ultimate good and goal.”

Buhari emphasised the importance of the publications in preserving the history of his administration.

“These books exemplify the sanctity of records, documenting the facts and figures, achievements and milestones of our nation,” he said.

In a conversation with Femi Adesina, his former Media Adviser and the author of one of the books, Buhari noted the significance of such documentation in providing a comprehensive account of their stewardship to the country.

He expressed similar sentiments about the contributions of Dr. Udu Yakubu and his colleagues.

“Without documentation, revisionism wins,” Buhari stated, emphasizing the importance of recorded history in countering attempts to distort or obliterate it.

He noted that his administration operated with transparency and accountability, always mindful of the judgment of posterity.

Reflecting on the nature of governance, Buhari described it as a continuum, akin to a relay race.

“You run your course, and hand over the baton to the next person,” he explained.

He expressed his support and confidence in President Tinubu’s administration and their shared vision for Nigeria.

The former president concluded his address by thanking General Yakubu Gowon, General I.B.M. Haruna, and Alhaji Muhammed Indimi for their support.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and expressed his faith in the strength, unity, and future of Nigeria.

Vice-President Kashima Shettima is currently in Davos, a town in Switzerland, for this year’s edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) with a small company.

TheCable understands that the number two citizen travelled with only five aides – his security detail and director of protocol – to Davos.

Previously — before President Bola Tinubu announced the downsizing of entourgage — the figure would have been double.

A week ago, Tinubu cut down the size of his entourage, the vice-president, the first lady, and ministers.

The president directed that his own entourage be cut down to 20 people for international and local trips, while the vice-president is limited to five people for trips abroad and 15 within the country.


OUTRAGE OVER NIGERIA’S COP28 DELEGATION

The decision to cut down the entourage for public officers holders came about a month after there was outrage over Nigeria’s delegation to COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Nigeria had the largest delegation in Africa after having a record number of 1,411. Nigeria and China with the same figure, had the third largest number of delegates after UAE and Brazil.

Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian businessman, was among the delegation and was listed as Tinubu’s “confidante”.

However, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says only 422 people out of the record 1,411-member delegation from Nigeria were sponsored by the federal government.


CONFLICTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, AI TO TOP WORLD DISCOURSE AT WEF

This year’s WEF meeting will focus on conflicts, climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) among other issues.

Over 70 heads of state and government will be holding public and private speaking events at Davos.

Stanley Nkwocha, media aide to the vice-president, announced that his principal will be at the launch of the Private Sector Action Plan for African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).

Nwocha said Shettima would also chair a roundtable dialogue on Nigeria’s economic path and attend a special session dedicated to building trust in the global energy transition programme.

The curtains on this year’s WEF will close on Friday.

Following announcement that the Dangote refinery had commenced production, investors have rushed to Nigerian Exchange to purchase stocks by Dangote Group which saw an appreciation of N514 billion.

Subsequently, three subsidiaries of Dangote Group listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) saw their combined market capitalisation rise by N513.69 billion on Monday, following production announcement by the Dangote refinery.

Recall that last Friday, a video surfaced on social media showing the 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery coming to life with subsequent announcement on Saturday that the refinery had commenced production

Speaking on the development, Aliko Dangote, president/chief executive of Dangote Group, described it as “a game changer” and “an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects”.

The statement answered the curiosity by Nigerians on when it will be in the market, adding that it will be in Nigeria’s oil market before the end of January once it receives regulatory approval.

It said the refinery had so far received six million barrels of crude oil at its two single point moorings located 25 kilometres from the shore. The first crude delivery was done on December 12, 2023, and the sixth cargo was delivered on January 8, 2024, it added.

“The refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries, and the products will conform to Euro V specifications. The refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and the country’s oil regulator’s emission/effluent norms, employing state-of-the-art technology,” the statement further explained.

Checks by the Nigerian Tribune has revealed that no single Nigerian shipping company participated in the six crude oil delivery process that took place at the $19.5bn Dangote Petro-chemicals Refinery located in Lagos. This is even as further findings revealed that Nigeria lost out due to the very large sizes of ships used in the delivery of crude oil products to the Dangote Refinery.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in an exclusive interview at the weekend, the President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mallam Aminu Umar explained that six different ships loaded crude products to the Dangote Refinery, with none owned or operating from Nigeria.

According to Mallam Aminu Umar, “There were two deliveries at the Dangote Refinery; the first was the test-running stage where Gas oil was brought in to flush and power the system; while the second stage was the Crude oil delivery stage where Crude oil products were brought in.

“My shipping company was one of the two companies that delivered the Gas oil that was used to flush and power the system at the Dangote Refinery. The Gas oil that we supplied was used in test-running and flushing the system at the Dangote Refinery. Our company was the only local shipping firm that participated in this process while the second company was an internationally owned shipping company.

“After the system was flushed, the refinery took delivery of six Crude oil products, but no Nigerian company participated in that stage. This is because currently, Nigeria does not have the kind of ships that were used to bring in Crude oil products to the Dangote Refinery.

“Six shipping companies brought in Crude oil products to the Dangote Refinery, and only one of them was from an African country; Angola to be precise. The other five were foreign shipping companies from outside Africa. No Nigerian currently has the size of vessels that were used to move Crude oil products to the Dangote Refinery. I am talking of vessels called Suez Max.

“A Suez Max is a type of vessel that can load a million barrel of Crude oil products which is equivalent to 150,000 deadweight vessels. As at today, there is no Nigerian that has a 150,000-deadweight vessel trading in crude oil.

“We were the only indigenous shipping company that participated in the first stage while there was no Nigerian company that participated in the second stage.”

On expectations of indigenous participation in the evacuation of Crude oil products out of the Dangote Refinery, the NCS President expressed optimism that more local players should get involved when the Diesel and Aviation products being produced needs to be shipped out.

“Now that the refinery has started processing Crude oil products and Diesel alongside Aviation Fuel, products are expected to be ready anytime soon. We at the Chamber of Shipping expects more indigenous ship-owners and investors to get involved in the evacuation of these products out of the Dangote Refinery.

“We are very excited that this is happening at this time in Nigeria. We congratulate Alhaji Aliko Dangote for making this a reality. On the next stage of operations which will include the logistic chain of how crude oil products will be shipped out of the refinery, we expect local investors to be more involved.

“Nigerian ship owners should be very excited because this will open-up a lot of opportunities for local investors to invest and participate in. indigenous ship-owners should look forward to participating in the evacuation of finished products from the refinery.” The Chamber of Shipping President told the Nigerian Tribune exclusively in Lagos.

Recall that the $19.5bn Dangote Refinery took delivery of its sixth batch of one million Agbami barrels of crude oil products supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) last Monday, to complete the scheduled six million barrels consignment delivered to the Lekki based refinery needed to commence operations.

Nigeria is making headway in finding customers for its January cargoes, with 10 to 12 cargoes left, out of an estimated 20 earlier in the week, a trader has told Reuters.
This is coming as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has said that Nigeria is poised to receive substantial support in its endeavour to mitigate methane emissions originating from the oil and gas sector.

However, at this stage of the trading cycle, this is still a considerable overhang, given the fact that there are February-loading cargoes also still on offer, while the country’s March programme is expected in the coming weeks, the report said.

Premiums for Nigerian crude oil have begun to fall, as competition from Saudi Arabia heats up.
Offers for the grade Qua Iboe are in the range of dated Brent plus $1.5 a barrel for January loading, while the same grade is being offered at dated Brent plus $1 a barrel for February loading, another trader added.

Also, the report added that only about 10 cargoes of Angola’s February-loading cargoes are left, out of the 32 scheduled for loading, a trader said earlier this week. Angola’s March programme is expected to emerge next week.

Also, a new report by Deloitte has projected that energy trends estimate global oil prices will be stuck at low levels for the next couple of years.

The analysis predicts an average West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price — typically regarded as the benchmark for crude oil — of $72 US per barrel this year.

That depression in price is because of cuts from major producers, record production in the United States and slowing growth in demand, according to the report.
Oil prices are at their lowest in two years, with prices hovering around 2021 levels.

“We do have a lot of production out there, and money spent by energy companies in 2023 is bringing lots of volumes out there, and maybe we’re a little bit more resource and supply-heavy than we were last year,” said a partner at Deloitte, Andrew Botterill, who leads the energy and chemicals file.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) recently decided to cut 2.2 million barrels a day in the first quarter of 2024.

Demand is forecast to increase by about 1 million barrels per day in 2024, compared with 1.6 million last year, per analysis by the US Energy Information Administration.

“It’s the pendulum of this energy industry. When prices are high, money is spent. And then, of course, when those volumes come on, things will soften a little bit. So I think this is a little to be expected from where we were,” he stressed.

Deloitte forecasts the average WTI price will remain low through 2026 before rebounding slightly in the years leading up to 2030 — however, prices still aren’t expected to climb over $80 a barrel.

While lower oil prices may leave the province readjusting its budget, Botterill said consumers can do a version of the same exercise.

Meanwhile, the NUPRC has said that Nigeria is poised to receive substantial support in its endeavour to mitigate methane emissions originating from the oil and gas sector.

Stressing that this will be partly achieved through a collaboration between the country and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, it stated that the partnership signifies a significant step towards addressing environmental challenges associated with the energy industry.

The industry regulator added that methane, a potent greenhouse gas, has been a growing concern globally, and the partnership was tailored to bolster Nigeria’s initiatives in curbing its impact on climate change.

“As a prime regulator in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the NUPRC is set to leverage the expertise and resources of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

“This collaboration that encompasses a multifaceted approach, including knowledge sharing, technological support, and joint research efforts, is aimed at devising effective methane mitigation strategies.

“The Climate and Clean Air Coalition, renowned for its dedication to air quality and climate-related initiatives, is bringing its wealth of experience to the partnership,” the NUPRC stated in a note.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is working towards the implementation of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai committee’s report on true federalism.

APC’s deputy national organising secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen at the weekend in Abuja.

Recall that the APC had set up a 23-man committee on true federalism, headed by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, which submitted its report on January 14, 2018.

The committee recommended that power be devolved to states on issues, such as policing and resource control, among many others. But the report was not implemented by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Following this, a former national vice chairman (North West), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, had in a statement titled, ‘Rebuilding the APC to Reform Nigerian Politics: Task Before President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’, attributed the failure to implement the report to the “existence of weak structures of the party.”

He argued that the failure to implement the report had affected the party negatively.
But Duru disclosed that there were internal moves by the Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led NWC to ensure the implementation of the report.

Duru, a member of the NWC from Anambra State, said, “It has become an article in the APC and for APC; in the ideology and philosophy of the party on the basis of which the current administration campaigned. The issue of devolution of power and restructuring is clearly embedded in that report.

“As much as we are making the efforts internally to throw up that report to hold the government to account and to implement five points on the basis of which we campaigned to Nigerians, I will charge the fourth estate of the realm to throw it as a Bible and article of faith on the face of our leaders to ensure that, that part of the report is implemented.

“It is good for Nigeria, it will work for Nigerians and it will be best for Nigeria because what that would have achieved is that the overhead cost in governance will be substantially removed, a level-playing field both in business and politics will be enhanced and Nigerians in their area of influence will have sense of belonging.”

The Federal Government has said it would launch an investigation into private universities to show if they have in place prescribed facilities, adequate management structure, and adequate funding of programmes, among others.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mammam took the decision in response to the recent media report by an undercover journalist who reportedly acquired a university degree certificate from Cotonou-based university in six weeks, and was also mobilised for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
LEADERSHIP however, observed that about 107 private Universities would be affected given that such institutions were established after 2009 and therefore, fall into the category in question.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), on its website indicated that Nigeria currently has a total of 147 private universities and 107 of them were established in the last 15 years.
However, in a twist of fate, only 40 private universities find themselves in the spotlight as they skillfully dodge the bullet of investigation.

The Universities are; African University of Science and Technology (2007), Achievers University, Owo (2007), Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (2009), Ajayi Crowther University, Ibadan (2005), Al-Hikma University (2005), Al-Qalam University, Katsina (2005), American University of Nigeria , Yola (2003), Babcock University, Illisan-Remo (1999), Bells University of Technology, Otta (2005), Benson Idahosa University, Benin City (2002), Bingham University, New Karu (2005).
Others are; Bowen University, Iwo (2001), Caleb University, Lagos (2007), Carnitas University Enugu (2005), Covenant University, Ota (2002), Crawford University, Igbesa (2005), Crescent University (2005), Fountain University, Osogbo (2007), Godfrey Okoye University (2009), Igbinedion University, Okada (1999), Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeyi (2006), Kwararafa Univery, Wukari (2005), Lead City University, Enugu (2005), Madonna University, Abuja (1999).

That’s notwithstanding, we have; Nile University, Abuja (2009), Novena University, Ogume (2005), Obong University, Obong Ntak (2007), Oduduwa University, Osun (2009), Pan-Athlantic University, Lagos (2002), Redeemer’s University, Ede (2005), Renaissance University, Enugu (2005), Rhema University, Akwa Ibom (2009), Paul University, Anambra (2009), Salem, Lokoja (2007), Tansian University, Umunya (2007), University of Mkar, Mkar (2005), Veritas, Abuja (2007), Wellspring University, Edo (2009), Wesley University, Ondo (2009) and Western Delta University (2007).

LEADERSHIP earlier reported how Mammam said the inter-ministerial committee set up to look into the activities of illegal universities would also examine “the veracity of the allegations of degree certificate racketeering within both foreign and local private universities in Nigeria.”
The ducation minister said the panel will also examine the procedures and processes for periodic accreditation of programmes in the universities by the NUC and examine their effectiveness in quality assurance of the programmes.

The panel will also, as part of its Terms of Reference, “review the role of any MDA or its officials (including identifying such officials) in the facilitation of the recognition and procurement of the fake certificate in question and examine the rules, procedures and processes for recognition and accreditation of foreign universities and programmes by the Federal Ministry of Education.”
Other terms of reference include to: “Establish if unapproved foreign institutions (degree mills) exist or not in Nigeria in whatever form with their identities and locations if any.
“Make other recommendations that will strengthen the system of recognitions, accreditations and quality assurance of degrees in Nigeria

“Examine the extant rules, procedures and processes for granting of provisional licences to new universities by the National Universities Commission.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said wherever he goes, every Nigerian wants to take a picture with him.

In an event recently aired by Channels Television, Wike stated that he went to Lagos for an event hosted by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, and immediately he entered the venue, “Every Nigerian wanted to snap with me. If I was collecting money every time this happened, do you know how much I will make?”

He stated that even his friend had to ask what was going on.

The FCT Minister added that this also happens in places like London where Nigerians always offer to help with his luggage.

“All of this tells me something, you must make impact on peoples lives. Whatever position you find yourself, just make impact.” he said.

The United Bank for Africa crossed the N1 trillion mark in market capitalisation at the close of trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Monday.

UBA’s market cap stood at N1.022tn from N990bn on Friday, signalling a N32bn gain in one day, thus emerging the third most-capitalised bank in Nigeria, behind Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc.

The shares of the financial institution were named as the highest-performing stock in the banking sector in 2023, which underscores the bank’s growth trajectory.

Between January 2023 and Monday, the price of UBA shares has appreciated by over 250 per cent from N7.60 per share to N29.90 per unit.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Chairman, UBA Group, Tony Elumelu, said that the bank’s remarkable journey in 2023 highlighted the bank’s strategic prowess and reflects its commitment to delivering unparalleled value to shareholders and stakeholders alike.

He said, “As UBA celebrates these significant milestones, we would like all our stakeholders to know that we remain steadfast in our mission to drive sustainable growth, foster innovation, and create value for its diverse clientele across Africa. We are witnessing the impact of the business transformation drive UBA embarked on years ago and executed well.

“Naturally, the market has taken note of and is duly rewarding our efforts. To our stakeholders, we promise that we will continue to work harder, deliver on what we know how to do well and create impacts across geographies where we currently operate.”

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, expressing delight at the bank’s performance in the past few months said, “Market participants have begun to appreciate the latent capacity in UBA’s business model as the bank unlocks enormous potentials in its pan African and international operations. Its unique competitive advantage lies in people, processes, and technology.

“With operations and offices in 24 countries and on four continents, UBA is the only African bank with deposit-taking license in the USA. The Bank’s fundamentals remain strong with impressive financial results that have continued to deliver sustainable value for its shareholders. At its current price, UBA trades at price-to-earning and price-to-book multiples of 2.27 and 0.59 which are a reflection of the market’s expectations of the Bank’s future growth potentials.”

In 2023, UBA’s Shareholders’ Fund grew from N992bn as of December 2022 to N1.8trn as of September 2023. UBA was also appointed as the Local Arranger and Local Depository Bank for the $3.3bn FX Liquidity support facility for Nigeria in partnership with the African Export and Import Bank.