₦airaland Forum

Pakute:
That Anambla guy be looking for trouble, that's what they do on Twitter, when we return it back, they start crying Ronu up and down. Look how Lord of Warri gave him a dressing down. Make I go follow that account on Twitter.

PS- it seems the name of Anambra1st-son no longer exists on Nairaland. How come?

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, has left Nigerians and social media users buzzing after sharing some photos of himself greeting some traditional rulers during the coronation ceremony of His Majesty Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to the photos shared on Instagram, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III was spotted in smile while greeting and shaking hands with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Sultan of Sokoto and the Soun of Ogbomoso.

Sharing photos of himself greeting some Nigerian traditional rulers during the coronation ceremony of the 46th Alaafin of Oyo in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Olu of Warri posted on Instagram.

gidgiddy:
Yes I can see how her returning to unstable power supply, hyper-inflation, insecurity, economic downturn, massive corruption and lawlessness is going to enrich her life in Nigeria

The only thing I agree with her is that money is not everything. It is often reported that the pursuit of money abroad can reduce people to 'zombies'

I just hope her decision to return gives her peace of mind, in a country that gives few peace of mind

PressMyButton:
Boss, this one don dey enter your eyes so?.

Judith Okoli, a Nigerian nurse, has made series of headlines after leaving her nursing job in the United States and relocating permanently to Nigeria in pursuit of a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Her decision comes at a time when many Nigerians are seeking greener pastures abroad but Okoli’s decision has stunned many Nigerian and generate an intent conversations about wealth, happiness, and the true meaning of a good life.

“Everyone is asking me, ‘Why did you leave America? Are you okay? You want to suffer in Nigeria?’” she said in Pidgin English in a heartfelt video shared online. “But I hope you guys know that money is not everything — at least, to some people. At least, to me as well.”

Okoli said her decision to relocate to Nigeria was not a bad one for her but born out of her deep reflection and an increasing awareness that wealth doesn’t always equate to wellness or fulfillment.

“Someone can make N100 but be miserable — insulted at work, restless, disconnected from life. Then another person makes just N50, but they are happy, they spend quality time with their family, they sleep well, they enjoy peace of mind. For me, it’s about quality of life that I wish.”

She emphasized on how the pursuit of economic gain overseas often strips people of the things that matter most — community, connection, and contentment.

“Look at what the Western world is doing to us,” she said. “Families are scattered. One child is in Germany, another in Canada, another in Dubai. Six siblings haven’t seen each other in three years — all in the name of seeking a better life, but forgetting about the quality of life.”

PressMyButton:
But I thought Natasha said Akpabio was angry that FG was locating NLG projects in Kogi, so they relocated the projects from the North to SS. And that was why she was removed as Chairman, Local Content Committee. I knew she was lying the moment she opened her mouth. I want to be very careful about anything Natasha, I want to know her daughters so that my sons will not make the mistakes of jamming them. Because I see her planting evil seeds into her kids heart.

As the battle to control market share in the downstream sector rages on, no fewer than 70 tank farm owners have been compelled to cease operations in the past two years, leaving their facilities abandoned and idle as retailers and station owners increasingly avoid utilising their services.

These dormant tank farms, representing 65 per cent of the total 120 approved facilities, now stand idle, with operators increasingly bypassing the storage facilities in favour of alternative trucking options.

The PUNCH also gathered that the business closure was primarily driven by the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which led to a significant 488 per cent increase in petrol prices and affected the purchasing power of fuel marketers.

A tank farm is an area used for the storage of oil and/or petrochemical products in large tanks and often installed in locations where marine tankers can discharge their products.

From the tank farm, petroleum products are distributed to end users or further storage facilities.

According to an engineering website, Plant Engineering, the purpose of tank farms is to provide a safe environment for storing chemicals.

Various raw materials such as gasoline, crude oil, liquefied natural gas, heavy oil, naphtha and other liquid chemicals are temporarily stored while they wait to be transported by ship, rail, tank truck or pipeline for further use or processing.

In Lagos State, these tank farms are widely spread in the Apapa, Ijegun, and Ojo axes, especially Satellite Town, a densely populated area.

Before the elimination of subsidy payments on refined products on May 29, 2023, by the current administration, tank farms served as a major economic necessity, as the country depended solely on fuel imports to meet its daily petroleum demands obligations.

The need to consistently meet this obligation and ensure energy security enticed many marketers to build storage farms to store refined products and guard against price fluctuations.

In 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the cost of petrol imports rose by 105.3 per cent to N15.42tn in 2024 from the N7.51tn recorded in 2023.

Our correspondent gathered that the proliferation of these storage facilities in 2012 and its attendant negative effects affected the livelihood of residents living in Ijegun.

A report by The PUNCH in 2023 highlighted complaints by residents as they lamented the environmental and social impact, making many relocate from the area.

It was also noted most tank farms had no parking bays, leading to road blockages by tankers and trucks and the dilapidation of road networks.

An analysis of functional tank farms using data from Petroleumprice.ng, which provides real-time petrol prices, revealed that there are over 120 storage facilities listed across Nigeria.

The document obtained on Tuesday revealed that out of over 120 depots listed across Nigeria, only about 50 farms, representing 45 per cent are functional, while 70 farms, representing 65 per cent are not closed and don’t have a single litre in their storage.

Checks showed that only 50 depots displayed real-time prices, product discharge details, quantity discharged, discharge date, and loading status, which serve as indicators of whether they are still operational.

A further breakdown revealed that the Lagos axis has about 30 functional depots, the Warri/Ogbara axis has 10, the Port Harcourt/Onne axis has six farms, and the Calabar axis has four storage facilities.

Further research on Petroleumprice.ng indicates that in 2025, key depots in each region lead in the regular inflow of products.

In the Lagos state, NIPCO, AITEO, RAINOIL, and A.A. Rano are prominent storage owners responsible for the regular inflow of PMS, AGO, and LPG. In the Warri axis, Matrix and AYM Shafa dominate with regular inflows of PMS, AGO, and LPG. In Port Harcourt, Bulk Strategic, SIGMUD, and Liquid Bulk lead in the inflow of PMS and AGO. In Calabar, Sobaz and Mainland are the primary leaders for PMS inflows.

Reacting, an oil and gas expert, Olatide Jeremiah, in a telephone conversation, affirmed that the functionality of tank farms across Nigeria has sharply declined.

According to him, this trend began after the removal of fuel subsidies and the full implementation of deregulation on May 29, 2023.

The expert said these changes caused a significant shift in the industry.

He said, “The decline in functionality of tank farms across Nigeria started on May 29, 2023, when the subsidy was removed and deregulation came into full effect; their capital base tripled, while profit dwindled.

“It became compounded in October 2024, when Dangote Refinery came into mainstream, plus the naira for crude policy, which gave Dangote Refinery an extraordinary competitive edge over oil importers and tank farm owners, leading to heavy bank debts; some shut down their depot, some placed their depot on lease and some have placed their depots on sale. Their capital base tripled, while profits dwindled.

He added that this combination gave the refinery an extraordinary competitive advantage over oil importers and tank farm owners, leading to heavy bank debts for many.

As a result, some tank farm owners have been forced to shut down their depots, while others have opted to lease or sell their facilities.

Jeremiah also pointed out that many depot owners continue to dispute Dangote refinery’s gantry loading practices at its terminals.

“Many depot owners are not happy with Dangote refinery because of its gantry loading at its terminals. I can categorically tell you Dangote’s gantry loading and his high ship prices are cogent reasons why some depot owners don’t patronise the refinery,” he said.

For a smoother and more conducive business environment, Jeremiah proposed a separation of functions in the downstream sector.

“Dangote Refinery should only refine and sell through ships to tank farm owners, who in turn will distribute to retail outlets via trucks,” he suggested, emphasising that this approach would create a balance in the sector.

Also speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, confirmed the scenario and blamed efforts to reduce petrol pricing.

Ukadike, speaking during a telephone interview, attributed the crisis to efforts aimed at reducing petrol prices, which have placed immense strain on tank farm operations.

He said, “The issue for the farms, whether they are working or not, is the source of their products. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited was given a pro forma invoice, and it was collected by tank farm owners, but since Dangote is now selling to other retailers.

Some owners are trying to buy from the refinery too. But the issue is that most of them don’t have the finances, and their distribution is based on tripute. Operators normally hire tank farms for tripute but all that is very low now because of the way the market is currently.

“And if you look at Dangote’s gantry price, most of them can’t cope and compete with that rate. They simply can’t compete if they are doing tripute against gantry price or retail price.

“These are issues that are inhibiting some of the tank farms. Some are working while some are not because of their logistics and their draft where they are. They can’t take heavy vessels to their tank farms.”

PressMyButton:
Just 90 days without pay, these ones are lucky, a child that is not trained at home, it is from outside he/she will collect home training. You're not the ones that forced the Government to make an announcement of 70,000. Civil service are collecting 70k, while the Govt generously increased your own to 77k, but you think you can arm twist the Government when to start paying you based on your own terms by inciting other corp members in a WhatsApp group to revolt.
These ill- trained GenZ allowing some devils from outside be pushing them foolishly. Now, you have to serve for extra 3months and you won't collect that 77k for the period. What would they even do with the 77k, aside buying wigs, buying data for TikTok, going to joints and all sorts, only a few of them have sense when it comes to money.
You see that spoilt brat serving in Lagos, insulting Lagos and doing 30 days rant challenge, that one go collect her own too after service. It will be another fresh one year service for her. I don't have pity for ill mannered, disrespectful and foolish kids.

Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday at Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State launched a Free Medical Outreach and inaugurated the renovated and upgraded Cottage Hospital and Community Secondary School in the community.

The projects, built and initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), according to the first lady, is to enhance healthcare delivery and education in Bayelsa State and other parts of the Niger Delta region.

The first lady, assisted by the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; the Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, and the NDDC board led by the Managing Director and CEO, Samuel Ogbuku, while inaugurating the projects, reiterated the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to provide accessible and affordable health care to rural communities in the Niger Delta region and other parts of the country which have suffered neglect for years.

Remind Tinubu added that the federal government focus is significantly to save lives and ensure that the various communities receive prompt medical attention when needed in order to reduce health mortality rate in the country.

The first lady, who also flag off the commencement of the NDDC 2025 free medical outreach and donation of medical equipment to some health facilities in the region, explained that the introduction of health insurance scheme was specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta and will provide thousands of family with access to affordable and reliable medical care.

She said: “I am honoured to be in Bayelsa State after my first visit, and it is a great delight for me to officially flag off the NDDC medical outreach programme, health insurance scheme and the distribution of school desks, benches and textbooks in collaboration with the Renewed Hope initiative.

The beneficiaries of this programme are the nine states of the Niger Delta region namely: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Abia and Ondo states, with Bayelsa State graciously hosting us today.

“The NDDC/RHI collaboration began in 2024 to provide further supports in critical areas of development by empowering communities and improving the quality of lives in the Niger Delta region in line with our renewed hope initiative modelled towards a better life for families.

“You may recalled that the NDDC earlier interventions in education provided over 45, 000 pre-loaded educational tablets and textbooks to primary schools, junior and senior secondary school students in both urban and rural communities in all the NDDC States.

“Also, the NDDC RHI internship scheme has begun disbursing N50,000 monthly stipends to 500 pre-identified beneficiaries for a period of one year in all the nine states, through the office of the state first ladies, this is more like a conditional cash transfer.

“Today, the medical outreach programme which I was told is conducted quarterly is aimed at delivering a special health services directly to the communities, it will address common health issues, provide preventive care and raise awareness about health concerns that is proportionately affecting rural residents, particularly in the area of maternal and child health.

In addition, the donation of 11 fully equipped Ambulances along with the supply of personal protective equipment to enhance healthcare delivery and emergency response, health facilities in each NDDC states, will be given one ambulance, while Bayelsa and Delta States will be given two ambulances each.”

She stated further that: “This contribution is significantly aid in saving lives and ensure that the various communities receive prompt medical attention when needed, also the introduction of health insurance scheme that is specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta will provide thousands of family with access to affordable and reliable medical care, that is why the distribution of thirty two thousand school desks and benches to public school will ensure that children learn in more comfortable and conducive environment.

“All these initiatives are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, particularly the priority area of education, health and social investment which aimed to build a healthier, more educated and empowered populace.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said the essence of the partnership between the Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC, is to make sure the commission delivers the dividends of development in the areas of health, education and other social services that affect women, children and the youths in the Niger Delta.

He said for the past one month, NDDC has been busy inaugurating road projects in the region initiated by the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu.

In his remark, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, appreciated the federal government for the several developmental projects executed in the state, especially the linking of roads to some coastal communities.

The governor called for collaboration between interventionist agencies and the state governors in the region to avoid unnecessary duplications of projects in the communities.

He lauded President Bola Tinubu for the recent award of the second phase of the Nembe-Brass road project, saying that the road was crucial to the development of the state.

Former Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, four ambassadors from different countries, alongside over 200 Canada-based Oyo indigenes are among the dignitaries expected at the coronation of the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade.

Other dignitaries are first-class traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo; the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III; Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, among others.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the coronation, Adekunle Ogunmola, announced this on Thursday during a press briefing, held at the Alaafin’s Palace in Oyo town.
Ogunmola said,

“Oba Owoade confirmed to the committee to prepare to host the former Canadian Prime Minister, Trudeau, and Ambassadors of Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Portugal are also coming.
“About 200 Oyo indigenes who are also based in Canada have signified their intentions to be part of epoch-making events.”

Ogunmola assured that adequate security measures were being planned to ensure safety of lives and property during the ceremony.

The coronation ceremony, which will hold on Saturday, April 5, 2025, will commence with a week-long activities beginning from Monday, March 31, 2025.

It will kick off with a cultural parade in the town on Monday, March 31 and end with a Christian thanksgiving service on Sunday, April 6.

There will be a public lecture/colloquium on Tuesday, which will be anchored by Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, Akin Alao and Siyan Oyeweso.

Thursday will witness command performance of Aremo Aderonmu (A stage play written by Gbemi Faleti) at Ajayi Crowther University.

While the actual coronation is slated for Saturday, there will be historic tree planting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday will be cultural heritage day while several projects will be inaugurated in honour of the new monarch.

The Niger Delta Development Agenda has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Oil Industry veteran and highly respected figure in the oil and gas sector, Austin Avuru as non-executive director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) representing south-south.

In a statement signed by its convener, Iteveh Nurudeen Ekpokpobe, the organisation expressed its gratitude to President Tinubu for the appointment of the Isoko-born Avuru as a board member of NNPCL.

“As an Isoko man, I commend the president for giving this consideration to the Isoko nation,” Iteveh said.

He further said: “This new management we hope will help to even the marginalization scale against the Isoko people and the Niger Delta region by extension. The appointment of Austin Avuru, a highly respected figure in the oil and gas sector who brings his extensive experience to the industry underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to assembling a team of seasoned professionals.”

The group also declared support for Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL GCEO, saying “with Ojulari’s appointment as the new GCEO, he is expected to use his extensive knowledge to direct and pilot NNPC by taking it to greater heights where it is expected to compete favorably well within the oil and gas sector across the world.

“We believe that these changes are anticipated to provide NNPC with a fresh perspective and assist in advancing the nation’s energy goals.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has stated that candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi is yet to recover from the “painful defeat” inflicted on him during the 2023 presidential poll.

In a post on his X page on Wednesday, Bwala said Obi’s commentary was devoid of facts and logical analysis.

Bwala’s was reacting to Obi’s interview with Arise TV on Tuesday where he threw in a slew of sarcastic remarks while appraising the President Bola Tinubu administration.

According to him, he said Nigeria dodged a bullet by not electing Obi president in 2023.

[l“As I listen to Peter Obi this evening struggling to play the opposition (oppose the government), I can’t help but shudder at his abysmal delivery.

“He was speaking devoid of facts, logical analysis, and almost sounded like a tinkling cymbal or a sounding brass.

“Mr Gregory has still not recovered from the painful defeat of the 2023 polls.

“But I can understand his confusion because as it stands today, he seems deserted in the banana republic of fantasy, wondering how he will convince his followers about his agreement to play second fiddle in the 2027 wild goose chase of the opposition. Nigeria dodged a bullet.”