₦airaland Forum

Full video of Alex Padilla cheating on Lamine yamal 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/7Wy7UN6EMz

— Dimeji 🇳🇬 (@ufound_miji) July 28, 2024

Ahead of the proposed nationwide protest, the Federal Capital Territory police command has deployed a total of 4,200 policemen across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital.

The command also announced the deployment of explosive ordinance device experts at various strategic locations.

The command in a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the deployment was to ensure public safety, protection of protesters and to prevent the protests from being hijacked by non-state actors.

She added that there would be raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, and stop and search operations among others in collaboration with sister security agencies.

She said, “The FCT Police Command, in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship, has proactively deployed material and human resources across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital.

“The proactive deployment, which is aimed at ensuring public safety, protecting protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors, is characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordnance device experts and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop-and-search operations, vehicular and foot patrols, and synergy with sister security agencies.”

Adeh noted that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, warned that the destruction of public and private properties would not be tolerated during the protest.

She said, “The Commissioner of Police FCT, while acknowledging the right of residents to protest, advises that it should be peaceful.

"The CP vows to resist all forms of violent protest and lawlessness, as the police will not be stampeded into allowing the destruction of public and private properties or loss of lives.”

Adeh urged residents to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines to report suspicious activities.
PUNCH online reports that the nationwide protest is scheduled to be held from August 1 to 10, 2024.
The protest is over the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.

“The recent conflicts between Dangote Industries and some government agencies are deeply troubling. This issue transcends political affiliations and personal grievances. It is fundamentally about Nigeria’s economy, future, and the well-being of its citizens. Given Alhaji Dangote's significant contributions to Nigeria, it is crucial that these disputes are resolved swiftly. Government agencies should be directed to offer the necessary support for the seamless launch and operation of the Dangote Refinery and its associated enterprises. The refinery has the potential to generate approximately $21 billion in annual revenue and create over 100,000 jobs, with numerous additional positive impacts on the economy.

“Its strategic importance in addressing Nigeria’s fuel crisis, boosting foreign exchange earnings, and fostering economic growth cannot be overstated. The refinery is too vital to fail and must not be hindered, considering its crucial role in our national welfare.

“The Federal Government and its agencies need to recognize the significance of Dangote’s contributions. Alhaji Dangote is not just a businessman; he is a national and African brand symbolizing patriotism, commitment, and impactful entrepreneurship.

“Despite operating in a challenging business environment, he has established a remarkable industrial hub in Nigeria, encompassing over 15 sectors, including cement, sugar, salt, fertilizer, infrastructure, tomatoes, automotive, energy, petrochemicals, rice, poly sacks, real estate, mining, logistics, and maritime. Alhaji Dangote’s unwavering dedication to Nigeria's industrialization, job creation, and economic growth, despite adversities, warrants full support and protection. With economic indicators like unemployment, inflation, forex scarcity, and debt worsening, every sensible and patriotic government should regard enterprises like Dangote Industries as national treasures, meriting robust support and protection.

“In the interest of Nigeria and its citizens, as well as Africans at large, I urge the Federal Government and its agencies to provide Dangote Industries, especially the refinery, with all necessary support.

“The success of Dangote is intrinsically linked to the success of Nigeria and Africa; conversely, its failure would be a significant setback for both Nigeria and the continent.”

Remman:
All of them (Tinubu men) don dey envy Dangote, because he's making billions legitimately and not a thief like them, if to say them allow our own refineries to work, Dangote for no even think about building one. Out of their envy they force him to import crude while we have it in abundance being shipped out of this country by mafias. Thank God for Dangote's refinery as its presence will make other refineries in Nigeria to function. It is now that i somewhat desire a northern president for we saw how Buhari supported Dangote, any northerner as president would do the same for right now it's now a government of Nepotism. Actually, price of fuel will come down in the future as long as we now have Dangote.

The Oyo state government is confident that the recently approved N70,000 minimum wage by the federal government will not be too challenging to implement.

Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the chief press secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, confirmed this to The Nation on Friday, July 19.

Olanrewaju recalled that during the 2024 Workers Day celebration, the governor had pledged to pay whatever the national minimum wage would be set at.

He emphasised that the governor’s promise remains firm and noted that the state currently pays a minimum wage of N30,000 plus a N25,000 wage award, totaling N55,000 without any outstanding payments.

He concluded that increasing the payment from N55,000 to N70,000 would not be too difficult for the state government.

Olanrewaju said: “At the event marking Workers’ Day on May 1, 2024, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, promised to pay whatever the national minimum wage is.

“That promise stands. So, Oyo will pay the new minimum wage.

“The current minimum wage in Oyo is N30,000 but since October 2023 the state has been paying N25,000 wage award.

“This means the state has been paying N55,000 minimum wage since October last year without owing a single month. Transiting from N55,000 to N70,000 will not be too herculean.”

The result of a medical examination conducted on the 17-year-old girl allegedly raped by a police officer at the Area H Command in the Ogudu area of the state has been concluded.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to PUNCH Online on Friday.

Hundeyin said the result had been handed over to the police for onward investigation into the incident.

He said, “The test result. It has been handed over to the police and the investigation has continued.”


Hundeyin who did not disclose the outcome of the test added, “There will be another update in no distant time.”

Checks by our correspondent revealed that the test was processed at the Mirabel Centre.

The police image maker, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the officer whose identity was yet to be disclosed had been taken into custody.

PUNCH City Round had reported on Saturday that the victim alleged that she was raped inside the Ogudu Police Station in the Ojota area of the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the officer had promised to help the teenager retrieve her phone, which had been taken by ‘one chance’ robbers on June 16 while she, her grandmother, and her siblings were returning from Ikeja.

The suspect reportedly overheard the teenager recounting her ordeal to her mother at her shop and offered to help track her missing phone and take her statement.

The victim also noted that she was invited into the suspect’s office in the guise of getting her phone but the suspect carried out the alleged act.

The mother of the victim, Aramide Olupona, had disclosed that her daughter began bleeding a day after the assault and was taken to the Mirabel Centre, adding that the incident was also reported to the authorities.

Olupona, however, accused the police of trying to bury the case, saying, “The suspect’s wife and the rest of his family have come to my shop to plead with me saying he would soon retire, but what about my daughter who was raped? Is it because I am a poor woman?”

Reacting, Hundeyin added that the alleged act contravened the code of conduct of the police and therefore assured the victim’s family and the general public that there was no attempt to cover up the incident.

He said, “The Lagos State Police Command has placed under arrest one of its personnel accused of defiling a 17-year-old girl. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has directed a full-scale and thorough investigation into the allegation.

"The command assures the public that there is no attempt at a cover-up as such hideous acts are at variance with the code of conduct and professional ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.

“To this end, CP Fayoade once again assures Nigerians that the officer will be dealt with under police regulations and the law if found culpable.”

At least a policeman reportedly died on Thursday when some gunmen attacked the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu's security details in Benin, Edo State.

The gun battle which was captured in a viral video seen on X by SaharaReporters was learnt to have occurred between the gunmen said to be the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and the deputy governor's convoy.

This was also confirmed in a press statement issued by Shaibu’s media team dated July 18, 2024.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, Thursday afternoon, escaped an assassination attempt on his life in Benin City the state capital.

“The attempt on the life of the deputy governor and other VIPs, including supporters who were at the Benin Airport to receive him, was carried out at the Airport exit gate roundabout, near Faith Mediplex.

“The attack orchestrated by state-sponsored thugs and members of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), witnessed sporadic shootings that left the cheering crowd who had come to welcome the reinstated deputy governor back to Benin, scampering for their dear lives seeking protection from the flying stray bullets.

“However, it took the effort and intervention of security officers to rescue the situation, leaving the state-sponsored thugs and local vilgiantees to run from the spot and allowing the rallying crowd to reconvene.

“Sadly, one gallant police officer attached to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, whose rode alongside the deputy governor's convoy, lost his life in the unprovoked brutal attack, with several officers and supporters wounded,” the statement added.

All efforts made by SaharaReporters to reach the Edo State Police Command for reaction to the incident were not successful. His phone number could not be reached despite several attempts made by our correspondent.

The leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced that they have accepted the N70,000 minimum wage approved for Nigerian workers by President Bola Tinubu.

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, indicated that President Tinubu also pledged to find ways to help the private sector and sub-national entities meet the minimum wage requirement.

Following the meeting, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, briefed the media and confirmed that the unions had accepted the offer.

Simi Ajaero, accompanied by Comrade Festus Usifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other representatives of Nigerian workers, stated that the unions had accepted the offer because there were other incentives attached.

Ajaero, who spoke to State House reporters after the meeting with the President, said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.

He said another reason for accepting the offer is because “ the President promised a review every three years as against what obtained in the past.”

President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.

“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”

DonEd:
Is Dangote group an exploration company?

Is total Energies operating a refinery?

What is then the correlation between the two?

Exploration companies are leaving in numbers and you are here expressing satisfaction.

Justifying failure of your favorite president.

Make una dey talk with sense all the time abeg

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) says it will follow to the end and ensure justice for the 17-year-old girl allegedly defiled by a police officer at Ogudu Police Station.

The agency’s spokesperson, Mrs Joke Ladenegan-Oginni, stated this in a post shared on its X handle at @LSdsva on Wednesday.

“The agency was notified of a distressing incident involving a police officer who was alleged to have defiled a child in a police station.

“Upon receiving the report, the DSVA immediately facilitated the necessary referrals for comprehensive medical and psychosocial support, which were promptly provided to the survivor.

“This matter was immediately escalated to the Gender Desk Department of the Lagos State Police Command, ” she said.

Ladenegan-Oginni said that a painstaking investigation was ongoing into the matter.

“We wish to assure the public that a meticulous investigation is currently underway.

“We trust in the leadership of the Lagos State Police Command to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into this incident.

“We believe that this is crucial in maintaining public trust.

“We reiterate the Lagos State Government’s Zero-Tolerance Policy for all forms of domestic and sexual violence and reaffirm our dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of all survivors, ” [/b]she said.

Ladenegan-Oginni appealed to the public to report any case of domestic and sexual violence to its toll-free line at 08000-333-333 or via direct message on its social media platforms @lagosdsva.

[b]The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported that the senior officer allegedly defiled the teenager at the Area H Command, Ogudu.

The girl was sexually assaulted while trying to recover her phone which was stolen by some suspected criminals.

The officer, who offered to help the girl retrieve her phone, tricked her to the station on the pretext that the phone had been recovered and the thief arrested.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Maitama yesterday declined request by the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who is facing trial, to be allowed to travel abroad for medical examination.

The court, in a ruling delivered by trial Justice Hamza Mu’azu, held that the erstwhile CBN boss failed to adduce any evidence to establish that he was suffering from any life-threatening ailment.

It further held that no medical report was produced to support the claim that the defendant was ill, noting that he was currently facing multiple charges before different courts.

“It is an exercise of the court’s discretion to allow the defendant to go on a medical trip. The defendant through his counsel undertook an affidavit to produce him in court, and his offences are bailable and where there is need for the court to grant him the application to travel, the court should do so, but as it is, I failed to see any letter of medication in the defendant’s applications.

"As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the defendant to travel out of the shores of the country, moreover he is also standing trial in three other courts, therefore the application has failed, and hereby dismissed,” Justice Mu’azu held.

Emefiele had through his team of lawyers, approached the court, begging it to permit him to visit the United Kingdom for medical check-up.

He specifically prayed the court to release to him, the international passport he surrendered as part of the conditions upon which be was released on bail.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which is prosecuting him, opposed the application.

The anti-graft agency, through its lawyer, Muhammad Omeiza, filed a counter-affidavit to challenge the request. It argued that no medical report was tendered before the court by the defendant.

More so, the prosecution contended that the defendant failed to show that no hospital in Nigeria could handle his medical needs.

It maintained that since Emefiele submitted his international passport to secure his freedom from detention, releasing same to him would amount to a variation of his bail condition.

While insisting that the ex-CBN governor posed a flight risk, the EFCC, added: “The defendant has co-conspirators all over the world.

“One Anita and Tony are all aides of the defendant who are currently in the UK. The defendant might be tempted to jump bail because he is standing trial in three different courts.”

However, Emefiele dismissed EFCC’s allegation as speculative, stressing that the agency had the capacity to secure his arrest from the UK should he refuse to return back for continuation of his trial.

The court, in its ruling, upheld EFCC’s position and dismissed the application as lacking in merit.

Emefiele is answering to a 20-count amended charges bordering on conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000.00.

The lead counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, has accused the Department of the State Services, DSS, of denying Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s doctor access to him.

Ejimakor who disclosed this on X Platform, sadly said that Kanu was ill with shortness of breath, low BP and general malaise.

His words: “Yesterday, during our visitation with MAZI NNAMDI KANU, we found him ill, with shortness of breath, low BP & general malaise. For this reason, he requested to see his Doctor & we submitted a letter in this regard. Today, the Doctor arrived the DSS but was denied access to #MNK.

“As a background, the DSS is well aware that MAZI NNAMDI KANU is susceptible to Potassium Deficiency which affects the function of the heart. This problem was diagnosed by DSS doctors some 3 years ago and they confessed to their lack of the expertise to treat the problem, which in all probability is the cause of #MNK’s current illness.

"This is no doubt very serious and deadly to boot. The readings of the electronic heart monitor supplied by the DSS have been recording low pressure levels for nearly 9 days in a row without any medical intervention to ascertain whether the blood potassium level is within the clinically acceptable range”.

The delivery date for the completion of the $700m Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline project, popularly called OB3, has been shifted from March 2024 to August, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced its readiness to complete the facility.

On February 28, 2024, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government had declared that the project would be completed in March this year, a project that commenced in 2016.

It announced this in February through the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, at the 7th Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, where the minister described the OB3 gas pipeline as one of the biggest gas transmission systems in both Nigeria and Africa.

“I am highly elated to announce that going by the contractor estimates, the OB3 pipeline will be completed by March 2024 and the 42” 127km pipeline will supply 2BCF (two billion standard cubic feet) per day,” Ekpo had stated.

But in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the spokesperson of NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, the oil firm declared that the project would be completed in August.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC, Mele Kyari, confirmed this during an inspection tour of the OB3 pipeline River Niger Crossing operation at Aboh, Delta State, on Saturday, according to the statement.

By design, the OB3 gas pipeline is the interconnector which links the Eastern gas pipeline network to the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System in the West and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline in the North.

The River Niger Crossing operation has been the major impediment to the completion of the strategic OB3 gas pipeline for over three years, NNPC stated.

This, it said, was due to the failure of the various technologies deployed to achieve the construction of the 48-inch pipe under the river bed between Ndoni in Rivers State and Aboh in Delta State.

It, however, noted that with the adoption of the Micro-Tunnelling/Direct Pipe Installation technology, the new contractors, Messrs HDD Thailand/Enikkom and Tunnelling Services Group (TSG), were making a headway with about 860mout of the 1,800m achieved so far.

Speaking after the inspection tour, Kyari expressed delight at the breakthrough, which signalled the imminent completion of the project.

He was quoted as saying, “This is a major project of monumental value to our country. What this means is that this is the only way we can deliver the gas revolution. I am very happy and convinced that, latest by the middle of August, we will complete this project. I have been assured of that by the project team.”

On the significance of the project, he said, “Once completed, we will see about 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas coming into our network. We believe that this will give our country a breathing space of demand, I am sure we can catch up with that kind of demand in the next one and a half years. We are happy that this will give us the platform to unleash the gas revolution in our country.”

Also speaking on the project during the tour, Ekpo expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the OB3 River Niger Crossing operation.

“I was here last year and I saw the work that was going on. There was a promise that it would be completed by December last year. I took it with a doubt. But today, from what I can see, I am confident that by July or August, it will be completed and it will be commissioned by the President,” the minister stated.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said she was looking forward to the completion of the project having been assured by the technical team that the right technology had been found to resolve the complex challenges of the River Niger Crossing.

“As the minister and other speakers have said, we are looking forward to having this project deliver prosperity to Nigerians in the form of electricity and other areas,” Verheijen said

The Managing Director, Tunnel Service Group, one of the contractors to the project, Ingo Justen, who was on the ground to supervise the project at the request of the NNPC boss, expressed confidence that the current technology being applied in the execution of the project would lead to its speedy conclusion.

In a presentation, the Managing Director, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, Seyi Omotowa, disclosed that at the rate of progress with the new technology deployed, the River Niger Crossing operation, which is the only aspect of the OB3 Gas Pipeline Project left, would be achieved on schedule.

The estimated cost for constructing the OB3 gas pipeline is $700m. The project started sometime in 2016 and is also known as the East-West Pipeline.

It connects the Obiafu-Obrikom gas plant near Omuku, Rivers State, to Oben, Edo State and is to transport over two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

The Dangote Refinery is set to export a shipment of low-sulfur straight-run fuel oil (LSSR) from Nigeria to Singapore this week. The information is based on ship tracking data and market sources, indicating that this is the first time Africa’s largest refinery is entering the Asian market.

The shipment initiates a new trade route from the new refinery to Aisa, which reportedly lacks the low-sulfur fuel oil required for powering ships at Singapore, the world’s largest bunker hub

The $20 billion refinery can process about 650,000 barrels of petroleum products daily and is poised to be Africa’s largest and the world’s biggest single-train refinery when it reaches total capacity. The refinery has been touted as the solution to Nigeria and Africa’s petroleum product imports, especially petrol.

Dangote makes bold promise to Nigerians:

Chairman of Dangote Industries Aliko Dangote promised that Nigeria would not need to import petrol when PMS production begins in mid-July.

Reports say the Dangote refinery has shored up its LSSR exports, sending shipments to the Americas and Europe, according to data from Kpler and Vortexa.

The first Asian-bound shipment will arrive on Wednesday, July 26, 2024, aboard the Glencore-chartered vessel Front Brage and will deliver about 124,000 metric tons of LSSR to Singapore.

Market sources say the cargo was redirected to Asia due to weaker European demand. LSSR products from the Dangote refinery are priced against Rotterdam’s 0.5% LSFO quotes on a free-on-board basis. There is currently no pricing differential for the shipment. Another LSSR shipment from the refinery, about 157,000 tons, is expected to reach Singapore in July aboard the Stena Suede vessel. LSSR is always mixed with other fuels to create low-sulfur oil (LSFO) for bunkering or used as feedstock in various refinery processes.

The refinery began exporting petroleum products in February 2024 and bought crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in December last year.

The National Troupe on Wednesday unveiled a large picture portrait of President Bola Tinubu.

The portrait was unveiled at the Eagles Square during the 2024 Democracy Day celebration parade.

It was announced at the 2024 Democracy Day event that the project was initiated by the Artefact Gallery, Best Theatre Company and the National Council for Arts and Culture.

The portrait has a painting of President Tinubu adorned in cultural attire and beads.

Opeyemi Alaba, the innovator of the painting, described it as a message of hope for Nigerians and Africa.

He said that the painting was created by 37 different painters representing the 36 states and FCT.

The portrait of the president is said to be the world’s largest painting portrait on canvas.

Africa’s largest oil refinery, Dangote Refinery, has moved the date of production of premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from June to the middle of July.

The President and CEO of the refinery, Aliko Dangote, confirmed the new production date to newsmen at the $20 billion facility in Lagos on Monday.

Dangote mentioned that the change in date was due to a slight delay, prompting the shift from the originally proposed June to mid-July.

The CEO said the refinery will commence production of petrol between 10 and 15 of July, while supply to local marketers will commence from the third week of the same month.

“We had a bit of delay, but PMS will start coming out by 10 to 15 of July. But then we want to keep it in tank to make sure that it settles. So by third week of July, we’ll be able coming out to take it into the market,” Dangote said.

Backstory
Earlier, the Dangote refinery was expected to begin production and supply of petrol this month, according to different reports.

For instance, analyst at the Standard and Poor’s’ Global (S&P Global) Commodities Insights predicted that the refinery will start supply of petrol in the fourth quarter of this year, particularly in the month of June.

“We are starting to see signs of activities, but all eyes are on when we’ll start to see gasoline production will commence from that project. There is a significant amount of pressure from the Nigerian government for significant volume of that supply to be sent to the domestic market.

“In reality, when we see that start scale up is still subject to debate. Dangote has recently been espousing some punchy timelines. They have most recently been saying that they are looking to produce gasoline by May. But in reality, our analyst expect that would be something like the fourth quarter of this year in a more realistic timeline,” the analysts said.

Exportation of Jet Fuel
Meanwhile, the refinery has begun the supply of jet fuel and diesel to domestic marketers in the country.

In addition, the $20 billion facility started exporting its first jet fuel cargo to Europe.

The first shipment, loaded onto the vessel “Doric Breeze,” left the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos on May 27th and is now on its way to Rotterdam, Netherlands, as per data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea.

More Insights
The Dangote refinery is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

Nigeria, despite being the most populous country in Africa and its top oil producer, ironically imports almost all of its fuel.

Primarily, this is attributed to the nation’s lack of sufficient refining infrastructure, a gap that the new refinery seeks to fill.

Dangote said the refinery is positioned to be one of the best petroleum refineries in the world.

“What we are doing is to be able to export petroleum products to anywhere and compete with any company. By next week, we’ll be producing about ten thousand ppm in terms of diesel which now what’s happening in that we import about 2 to 3 thousand. We will produce the best,” Dangote added.