₦airaland Forum

PlayMaker14:
Abba Kyari and his many side hustle... From being a renowned Obiomà to a drug dealer.... Now, he is somewhere in the NDLEA net eating watery beans for survival.


My dream is to visit Gen. M. Buhari in prison, and God willing, that dream will come to fulfilment.

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly for an amendment to the 2022 Appropriations Act, passed and assented to last December.

The request was contained in separate letters addressed to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and read at the commencement of plenary Tuesday.

President Buhari, in the letter, urged the lawmakers to roll back some of the N888 billion of projects they earlier inserted in the budget to accommodate the amendments.

He also said 139 out of the 254 projects in the 2022 budget totalling N13.2bn had been identified for deletion.

He noted that the capital projects were replicated in the 2022 fiscal document.

Buhari also requested that an additional provision for N2.557 trillion be appropriated to fund the petrol subsidy in the 2022 budget to fully provide for PMS subsidy.

Buhari had while assenting to the appropriations bill last year, expressed reservations on the ‘‘worrisome changes’’ made by the National Assembly to the 2022 budget.

In amending the Appropriations Act, the president asked the legislators to transfer the National Assembly’s expenditures totalling N16.59bn in the Service Wide Vote to the National Assembly Statutory Transfer provision.

“You will agree with me that the inclusion of National Assembly’s expenditures in the Executive Budget negates the principles of Separation of Powers and Financial Autonomy of the Legislature,” the president said.

“It is also absolutely necessary to remove all capital projects that are replicated in the 2022 Appropriation Act; 139 out of the 254 such projects totalling N13.2bn have been identified to be deleted from the budget,” he said.

Buhari also said the amendment should provide for capital expenditures in the sum of N106bn; and N43bn for recurrent expenditures.

He also stressed the need to reinstate four capital projects totalling N1.4bn in the Executive proposal for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and N22bn cut from the provision for the Sinking Fund to retire mature loans needed to meet government’s obligations under already issued bonds.

Buhari said there were several other projects that have been included by the National Assembly in the budgets of agencies that are outside their mandate areas.

He, therefore, requested the National Assembly to make the amendments without increasing the budget deficit.

He told the lawmakers that he had directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to work with their relevant committees to comprehensively identify and realign all such misplaced projects.

POLICE investigations have revealed how members of a syndicate led by international scammer, Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi paid N235, 120, 000 to a younger brother of a former Commander, Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari

The probe also indicates that Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, equally funnelled N44m to his brother’s bank account in multiple transactions.

However, the investigation report obtained by our correspondent on Monday, failed to disclose whether Kyari’s brother was acting as a proxy for his embattled elder brother who is currently in custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The DCP, who was suspended by the police last July for his alleged links to Hushpuppi, allegedly attempted to sell part of the cocaine which was seized from some drug dealers in Enugu, while he was on suspension.

The investigation report which was submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation disclosed that a total of N279.120m flowed to the younger Kyari’s bank account at various times from the cyber scam syndicate members-Efe Martins (lead coordinator), Sikiru Adekoya, Usman Ibrahim, and Hussaini Ala.

It stated, “Sikiru Adekoya has many times received money from Hushpuppi and Efe and has equally transferred money to Usman Ibrahim. Adekoya after initial denial of having any financial transaction with both Hushpuppi and Efe Martins eventually admitted receiving various sums of money through transfers into his GTBank.

‘’However, he could not offer reasonable explanations of what the sums were meant for and what he did with the monies. The network of Hushpuppi Internet fraud syndicate consists of Efe Martins as the lead coordinator who through his company, Efe Martins Integrated Concept Ltd., has at various times transferred different sums of money to Sikiru Adekoya, Usman Waziri Ibrahim, Hussaini Ala.

“A junior brother to DCP Kyari is a major beneficiary of funds from the Zenith Bank account of Hussaini Ala from where he at different times received various sums totaling N218, 120, 000. He also received the sum of N44m in multiple transactions from DCP Abba Kyari.’’

He was taken into custody by the NDLEA alongside four officers after he was indicted for dealing in drugs by the police.

His accomplices include Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. Another officer, ASP John Umoru, is said to be at large.

Curiously, the Special Investigation Panel which authored the report did not invite or interrogate Kyari’s brother about the huge sums of money deposited into his bank account by the fraud syndicate and the DCP.

In its recommendations, the Force Disciplinary Committee which reviewed the SIP investigation report indicted Kyari for violating the social media policy of the Nigeria Police Force by responding to the Federal Bureau of Intelligence’s indictment on his Facebook page without recourse to laid down procedures.

Committee accuses Kyari of hobnobbing with fraudulent characters, violating the police professional ethics

For hobnobbing with fraudulent characters and violating the police professional ethics, the committee awarded Kyari the punishment of reduction in rank from DCP to ACP, stating that “the evidence of (N8mn) bribe is circumstantial in that the bribe mainly was not paid into the officer’s account nor was any proceeds of the bribe traced by the panel much less linking the officer to any such proceeds.’’

The FDC further said there was no evidence of direct fund transfer from either Hushpuppi or Efe into any of Kyari’s accounts “but there were records of various funds transfers totaling N17m which originated from Efe Martins into the accounts of Usman Waziri, Hussaini Ala and brother to DCP Kyari.”

Meanwhile, the force has intensified investigations into Kyari’s links to criminal gangs and alleged involvement in money laundering as directed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Malami had in his legal advice to the police leadership said a prima facie case of money laundering had been established against the former IRT commander.

The advice read in part, “That there exists a prima facie case of conspiracy, collaboration, receipt, conversion, transfer and/or retention of proceeds of unlawful activities contrary to the provision of Section 15, 17 & 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Est) Act, Cap EI Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 against DCP Abba Kyari and other suspects in view of the overwhelming evidence showing the nature of his disguised financial transactions and activities with Abbas Hushpuppi, Efe Martins, Usman Ibrahim Waztiri, Sikiru Adekoya, Hussaini Ala and Sharon Festus who are all confirmed members of international internet fraud network.

“Although the facts and circumstances of this case as contained in the case fire are suggestive to money laundering offences against DCP Abba Kyari and his accomplices namely: Abbas Hushpuppi, Efe Martins, Usman Ibrahim Waziri, Sikiru Adekoya, Hussaini Ala and Sharon Festus; in order to successfully prosecute them, there is a need for a more thorough dissecting and tracing of the suspected 33 proceeds of crime received by DCP Abba Kyari directly or indirectly through the said accomplices.”

The AGF also ordered the police to trace the movement of money, withdrawals from the various accounts linked to Kyari and his suspected accomplices as well as the use of the funds in purchasing physical assets and properties in order to clearly expose ‘’the disguised nature of the suspected proceeds of crime.’’

Speaking to The PUNCH on Tuesday, the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said investigation into Kyari’s links to the drug gang was still ongoing as the DCP was being interrogated by detectives.

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has alleged that the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, had killed several innocent youths in the region while he was serving as the commander of the IGP Response Team in Imo State.

In a statement issued by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, the coalition, which is an umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South East geopolitical zone, said Nigerians had ignored the outcry of the Southeastern youths on alleged extrajudicial killings by the police.

COSEYL, while lauding the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, under the leadership of Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd) for uncovering the alleged criminal activities of Abba Kyari in Southeast, said the youths in the region have been vindicated.

DAILY POST recalls that Abba Kyari was arrested by the Nigeria Police on Monday after he was declared wanted by NDLEA over alleged drug trafficking.

Ibem said, “Before now, we had raised the alarm that DCP Abba Kyari was extrajudicially killing innocent Nigerian youths but the authority didn’t believe them, however, the credible intelligence conducted by NDLEA that led to his arrest, has vindicated us the Southeast youths”.

The coalition demanded that the Federal Government extradite Kyari to the United States of America after a probe by NDLEA to enable him face the allegations of ties with the internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

COSEYL also demanded that the damages by Abba Kyari in the region should be given considerable attention by relevant authorities.

“We call on the Police Service Commission, PSC, and other relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of dealing with erring police officers to probe all extrajudicial killings by Abba Kyari and other crimes he may have committed in the course of his service in Nigeria and other parts of the country.

“When Abba Kyari was deployed to Imo State to lead the IGP Response Team, he was very busy killing innocent Nigerians youths for gallantry and using the media to gain cheap popularity and posing as a hero which he is not.

“He has just proved to Nigerians that all these while, he was living a deceitful life and deceiving the general public. The so-called gallantry service he made us to believe was just to distract Nigerians from knowing his real person,” the statement added.

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has cautioned leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that if the party doesn’t get things right ahead of the 2023 general elections, Nigeria will be in trouble.

Lamido spoke on Monday, during a meeting of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC), of the party with past Governors and some zonal leaders of the party in Abuja.

The former Jigawa State Governor harped on the need for the party to be properly organized, saying “if we lose power, Nigeria may likely come to an end.”

Lamido noted that, “Since your (Ayu’s) election, there have been expectations by Nigerians as to which way forward, the only party with the capacity, networking and commitment in Nigerian politics is PDP.

He continued, “In 2023, PDP is being looked upon as to which way Nigeria will go. If we don’t get things right in 2023 Nigeria will be in trouble.

“A developed party is the only way in which a government is formed, a party that is not properly organised, directed cannot form a good government. That is why you see the APC, the party is not organized.

“A good party platform, organised, committed to Nigeria will produce a very good government.

“A party, which is in disarray and unorganized will spell doom for Nigeria like we are going through with the APC.”

He described PDP as a single-family and the only hope for Nigeria in 2023.

In his remark, the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, tasked past governors of the party and other leaders to help bring their colleagues and other chieftains who have left in anger, back to the party’s fold.

Ayu described PDP as the only party truly owned by the people and which will not fall apart, no matter who leaves.

The PDP National Chairman, while speaking at the meeting, said, “The first task I will give you (the former governors) immediately is to reach out to other of your colleagues who have benefited from this party, enormously and abandoned the party.

“Where they are, we know, they’re not happy. Some of them are grumbling in silence. Kindly reach out to them and bring them back home,” he said.

Ayu continued “We still regard them as our prodigal children. When they come, we’ll receive them, and they will continue to help to build the party and you who had interacted with them in the governors’ forum and other fora are the best people who can reach out to your colleagues to bring them back home.”

President Muhammadu Buhari will grant scholarships up to Doctorate level to three young Nigerians who emerged the best in the final exams of the 774 Young Nigeria Scientists Presidential Award for 2022.

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, STI, disclosed this at the 2022 edition of the 774 Young Nigerians Scientists Presidential Award (774-YONSPA) on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Onu said Buhari will receive and grant scholarships to the young pupils at the opening ceremony of the STI Expo 2022, starting on March 14, 2022.

The minister said the 774 YONSPA which he created at the inception of his tenure as minister and had been ongoing since 2017 is to inspire and prepare young minds to take up careers in the sciences.

He noted that the competition started at the local government levels where candidates competed in STEM subjects of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Mr Onu said it is imperative to nurture young pupils to come out the best because Nigeria needs the best hands and minds to solve national problems.

He maintained that Nigeria is anxious to produce a Nobel laureate in the field of sciences and that these young pupils needed all the encouragement the country could give.

According to him, their performances were extraordinary at the concluded examinations.

He also exhorted other candidates who emerged the best in their states to become the best in their university years.

Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for STI, said the programme was initiated to “Catch them young for the future’’.

“I am aware that all senior secondary schools in the 774 Local Government Areas of the federation competed at the local and state government levels and you emerged as champions,’’ Mr Abdullahi said.

Maryam Ogunbayo of Gombe state emerged first and the overall best in the competition.

Master Gbolahan Ayinde of Ogun state emerged second while Uchendu Judith from Edo state took the third position.

It’s not the best of times for motorists and residents of Katsina State as the scarcity of Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS) has forced the price of a litre to rise to N750.

The development has forced the major highways and streets that were busy with economic and social activities to be deserted.

All through the weekend, private and commercial vehicles’ owners as well as motor cycles’ operators spent their time queueing in a few filling stations dispensing the product.

Although fuel scarcity resurfaced in the state over a week ago, the situation deteriorated at the weekend as only a few stations had the product to sell.

A resident, Zacharia Shadrack, who was seen at Danmarna Filling Station in Katsina waiting to get the product, said: “Fuel scarcity in Katsina is worsening on a daily basis, unlike Kano and Kaduna States. I have been looking for fuel for the past three days without success. The government should do the needful by forcing the station owners to stop hoarding the product.”

A commercial tricyclist, Mubarak Salihu Yusuf said he had been looking for fuel for five days ago and got it to buy at the black market, popularly called “Yan Bumburutu” at N750 per litre.

He said: “I bought two litres of fuel five days ago at the cost of N800 and the following day I returned there only to discover that a litre was being sold for N600. In the evening of that same day, it went up to N750. if this is allowed to continue, fuel may soon be sell for over N1,000 per litre,” he lamented.

yanabasee:
Lol..... He's an agbero turn billionaire.....


Someone said that, this is what Nigeria will turn to if Tinubu grace the presidency.... He will make all the agberos in all the states billionaire, while sane people will be serving and getting orders from agberos ....


Anyway Sha, Tinubu is my candidate... He's a winner and I stand by his wisdom on politics ..

Kyase:
speculate easy easy sha
before dem locate you

Kyase:
yeye

I just dey observe una

Rugaria:
There we were, worrying real hard that we might end up electing a drug mull who will run for presidency with his walking stick as his vee pee..
Now, we have to worry of a possible president who will be shitting all over the podium while delivering speeches at The United Nations...

Imagine the worldwide headlines that will come with that:

"President of the biggest black nation on earth defecates repeatedly while delivering his speech at the united nations assembly".. CNN

"President Tinubu of Nigeria defecates on himself again while meeting the American president" BBC

Terrible days ahead..

seunmsg:
I have seen videos of the event without any wet agbada. The wet Agbada that I’ve seen so far so good are in pictures and it’s an obvious photoshop. If PG can get picture of wet agbada, they should be able to get video of the event with a wet agbada.

Apart from the usual haters from the SE, anybody that believes the poorly photoshopped picture from PG should have their heads examined. It’s absolute nonsense and I don’t want to waste my time talking about it.

TheRareGem1:
Photoshop as how? Nigerians are not mumu if you guys are . So the security guy behind him is also Photoshop to cover his nose too? Mumuism

There is no how you guys can defend this....from he seated on leather chair with stuffy room( a palace for that matter, a first class palace at that ) to now Photoshop [right]

seunmsg:
I have seen videos of the event without any wet agbada. The wet Agbada that I’ve seen so far so good are in pictures and it’s an obvious photoshop. If PG can get picture of wet agbada, they should be able to get video of the event with a wet agbada.

Apart from the usual haters from the SE, anybody that believes the poorly photoshopped picture from PG should have their heads examined. It’s absolute nonsense and I don’t want to waste my time talking about it.

PrinceOfLagos:
If you edit Tinubu pooped and peed on his body, did they also edited his security aide covering his nose ?

DrGoodman:
I think one mischievous person just poured water on his seat. That's what happened

Oghene1st:
Make dem nor impeach baba

Tochj:
Does ipob guys bear Aliyu Abdullah?

Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof Charles Soludo on Sunday called for applications from those who wants to serve in his government.

He said for any person to be appointed in his government, they must submit their applications with a Curriculum Vitae and do written, oral interviews. He also said that he had opened a date for the expression of interest and submission of credentials which would be done online.

According to a release from the office of the Chairperson of the eighty-man Transition Committee, Dr Oby Ezekwesili on Sunday, Soludo has approved the opening of the Database for employment.

According to the statement, Soludo has committed to giving everyone who has requisite competencies, capabilities, and relevant valuable contributions to make toward the good governance of Anambra State an opportunity to do so.

“Therefore, to enable an accessible, open, credible, and competitive process, the Governor-Elect has approved the launch of the online system to collect information on available competencies, experiences, and interests through a platform www.anambratalent.ng.

This platform is designed for indigenes of Anambra to “Express Interest” in volunteering or seeking a political appointment or career in paid public service positions. This Human Resources tool offers a transparent and level playing field for talent search and team selection processes consistent with the vision of the Governor-Elect.

We are delighted to publish this widely anticipated announcement of the public call for Expression of Interest from individuals who are interested in serving the people of Anambra State.

We hope to attract problem-solvers with passion, competence, capacity, and integrity who are interested in joining a team of other selfless public servants to build a livable and prosperous state.

The positions available range from advisory services, technical assistance, executive positions as commissioners and heads of departments and agencies, membership of commissions and boards of parastatals and agencies; local government administration; etc. (please refer to the current list of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of Anambra State, as well as the Manifesto of the Governor-Elect).

Please write and upload a Value Proposition that shows what problem(s) you would like to solve for Anambra, how you intend to do so, and what makes you the fit and proper person to do so on www.anambratalent.ng or send it to Talent@anambratalents.ng no later than February 28, 2022″ he said.

shilenji:

Op abeg calm down o, are you trying to tell me a python fvcked the cobra? because I don't understand how python babies were found inside a Cobra.


NO BE JUJU BE THAT!!.

Moony45:
These ones look like it was from the unhatched eggs removed from the mother's belly o

Following the circulation of adulterated petrol in Nigeria, which damaged vehicle engines last week, the federal government has turned back two tankers carrying petrol loaded in Antwerp, Belgium, and destined for Lagos, THISDAY learnt.

This is coming as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies have continued to produce crude oil below their production targets, with the group’s output falling by a record 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) below its collective quotas in January.

The off-specification fuel, it was learnt, was rejected amid the raging controversy over the bad fuel in circulation in the country, which led to the disruption of the country’s supply chain, resulting in long queues in filling stations across the country.

The current problematic supply of petrol, which grounded movements in Abuja, Lagos and some other parts of the country, was made worse by the shortage of inventory, according to the figures released by the sole importer, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

As at yesterday, majority of filling stations in Abuja were shut even as motorists spent hours in the sun struggling to buy from the few that were open.

The imported cargoes were said to have high methanol content, while marketers were advised not to sell to consumers, after over 100 million litres were said to have been in circulation.

But quoting Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking and other sources, Reuters reported that the two tankers, STI SYMPHONY and VELOS DIAMANTIS, were turned back by the federal government against the backdrop of other petrol cargoes loaded in Antwerp for containing too much methanol.

According to a fixture list from a ship broker and Refinitiv Eikon data, Litasco chartered the STI SYMPHONY for January 15 to take 90,000 tonnes of petrol to West Africa.

The STI SYMPHONY loaded petrol in Antwerp around January 22 before sailing to Lagos, but has now been turned back, according to the Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking.

However, the tanker did a U-turn off the coast of Guinea on February and is now heading back to the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp oil hub, Reuters reported.

According to the report, NNPC did not respond to a request for comment. Litasco had previously said it does not comment on trading activities and did not immediately respond to a query on the STI Symphony.

The VELOS DIAMANTIS, carrying 60,000 tonnes, and allegedly chartered by Mercuria, did a U-turn on February 4, after showing Lagos as its destination, Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking showed. A Mercuria source, however, said the company no longer owns the tanker’s cargo.

The NNPC had while labouring to absolve itself of complicity in the importation and distribution of millions of litres of the bad product into the country, named Belgium as the country of origin of the adulterated fuel.

Amid the damage done to vehicles in some states in the country, the federal government had vowed to investigate the matter with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, however, stated that from his investigation, the four petrol cargoes were imported by MRS, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium and Oando.

All the companies mentioned, aside Duke Oil, the NNPC’s trading arm, have since denied complicity.

Ironically, Kyari had maintained that the cargoes’ quality certificates issued at the loading port in Belgium, by AmSpec Belgium, indicated that the product complied with the Nigerian specification.

Furthermore, he said the NNPC quality inspectors including GMO, SGS, GeoChem and G&G conducted tests before discharge, which showed that the cargo also met the country’s standard.

He stated that all defaulting suppliers had been put on notice for remedial actions, stressing that the NNPC would work with other stakeholders to take further necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations.

He did not explain what “further necessary action” would be taken even after saying that there was no national standard for methanol in the fuel imported into Nigeria.

The decision to reject the cargoes also came days after President Muhammadu Buhari expressed anger over the importation and circulation of the contaminated petrol in the country.

THISDAY had exclusively reported that the President had therefore ordered that the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, be queried immediately.

NNPC had also in January announced that it received four tankers carrying unusable petrol that was loaded in Belgium by Litasco, the trading arm of Russia’s Lukoil, and sold to local traders.

The fuel was found to contain too much methanol and was removed from circulation, causing shortages nationwide.

Following the incident, the NNPC banned methanol content in future petrol deliveries. Previously, traders said Nigeria did not specify methanol content. Methanol is sometimes added to petrol in small amounts because it is a cheaper, and cleaner burning fuel that also optimises engine functioning.

Although methanol, in small amounts, is a regular petrol additive, the industry’s regulator said the supplier of the off-specification petrol was known but did not name the firm.

NNPC handles nearly all the imports through crude-for-fuel contracts, known as Direct Sale, direct Purchase (DSDP), with consortia of local and foreign oil firms.

Each consortia THISDAY learnt, receives some quantities of crude oil in exchange for petrol.

Embattled Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, during the week, stated that the NNPC had received a delivery of 300 million litres to close the supply gap created in the country by the withdrawal of the off-spec petrol.

The NMDPRA boss had further stated that the country currently has petrol that can last for 20 days, 10 days short of the usual 30-day reserve

OPEC’s Production Drops by 700,000bpd

Meanwhile, OPEC and its allies have continued to produce crude oil below their oil production targets, with the group’s output falling by a record 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) below its collective quotas in January.

An S&P Global Platts survey indicated that OPEC’s 13 countries raised output by 150,000 bpd from December, pumping 28.19 million bpd of crude, while the nine non-OPEC partners, led by Russia, only managed to add a meagre 10,000 bpd, producing 13.99 million bpd.

The cartel’s underperformance continued even as there appears to be no end in sight to the rising prices of oil occasioned by tightening supply and growing demand for the commodity, mainly on the back of growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

Oil traders have continued to be rattled by reports that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could take place within days and bid up oil prices to over $95 in large trading volumes.

Traders fear disruptions of oil and natural gas flows from Russia to Europe in case a war begins, either directly from blown-up pipelines or halted flows, or indirectly when energy trade gets caught up in sanctions.

Russia delivers Europe with one-third of its natural gas needs and exports around 2 million bpd of both crude oil and refined products to European nations.

According to the OPEC’s Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for January, released this week, Nigeria struggled to pump 1.399 million bpd out of the total allocation, quoting primary (direct) sources.

This was in contrast to December 2021, when it pumped 1.197 million barrels per day and November when it was only able to produce 1.275 million bpd.

The biggest increases in crude oil production came from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait, while output declined in OPEC’s second-largest producer Iraq, as well as in Venezuela and Libya.

But in all, S&P stated that 14 out of the 18 members with quotas underproduced their targets, pushing OPEC+ compliance to 120.8 per cent, the highest since the group instituted record output cuts in April 2020 to pull the oil market out of its pandemic crash.

Despite strong gains from the group’s core Gulf members and Russia, disruptions in several OPEC+ countries, including Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Libya and Iraq, limited the bloc’s growth in January, it stated.

A former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said this is the time for the North to support the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, Shettima, who was one of the three governors of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) that collapsed into the APC at the time of the merger with other political parties ahead of the 2015 general elections, insisted that it is a payback time for Tinubu, who did a lot in actualising the long-time ambition of President Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Buhari and Tinubu are believed to be the two most important men whose agreement to form the APC, in 2013, and subsequent collaboration led to the Buhari presidency.

The APC was formed following the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), ANPP, a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP).

Shettima said Tinubu had supported President Buhari through thick and thin, and one good turn always deserves another.

He said that before supporting Buhari, the former Lagos State governor shelved his ambition and supported two presidential aspirants from the North – former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, at different times although he had all it took to also vie for the presidency.

“Buhari is immensely popular in the North. He has a cult-like followership of nearly 15 million people. But that never took him to the presidency until we had a handshake across the Niger with the West. Wrongly, he was assumed to be a northern’ hegemonist’, a provincial politician, even a religious bigot by some of our compatriots in the southern part of the country. It was the South-West political machine that repackaged and resold the Buhari brand to Nigerians in 2015.

“It is pertinent to mention that when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was harassed, brutalised and chased out of the PDP, even some of our northern brothers were treating him as a pariah. It was Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that provided him with a sanctuary and platform to contest the 2007 presidential election.

“Again, four years later, he provided the same platform to another harassed northerner, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to contest for the presidency under the ACN.

“Without the block support of the South-West, it would have been difficult for President Buhari to emerge as the candidate of the APC. Tinubu worked for Buhari in 2015 and in 2019. This is why some of us find it utterly disgusting when some of the folks who vigorously worked against Buhari’s ambition in 2014 have done some political somersaults and are now members of what I called Buharist Church of Latter Day Saints, hectoring down on us and liberally dropping the president’s name,” he said.

On whether there was a pact between Buhari and Tinubu before he supported the president’s ambition, Shettima, who has openly declared support for the Jagaban Borgu, said, “In my view, Asiwaju is sophisticated enough to understand that no one can rely on a futuristic political pact, four or eight years ahead. Even a week can be a long time in politics. No one can predict what could happen between now and 2023, let alone predict it as at 2015. In politics you can only guarantee something that is within your immediate reach.”