₦airaland Forum

In December 2022, Nigeria recorded her highest oil production since April 2022, the latest Platts survey by S&P Global Commodity Insights has revealed.

The country’s oil production has been faced with oil theft that has hampered exports and resulted in significant oil spills and loss of millions of naira.

However, the survey released on Wednesday showed that Nigeria’s volumes rebounded to the highest since April of 2022, producing 1.33 million b/d in December, contributing significantly to OPEC’s increased oil production in the period.

OPEC and its allies increased crude oil production by 140,000 b/d as OPEC’s 13 countries pumped 28.98 million b/d in December, an increase of 110,000 b/d from November, led by Nigeria, while 10 non-OPEC partners including Russia added 13.73 million b/d, a rise of 30,000 b/d.




When combined, the alliance produced 42.71 million b/d in December alone.

The survey further highlighted that Nigeria saw major recoveries in its loadings of major grades Forcados and Brass River, while maintenance at the Bonga Field was completed in mid-November.

However, the report added that despite the overall increase, the alliance’s output still massively lags in its production targets, with the gap at 1.80 million b/d in December, adding that most members face technical or financial difficulties in sustaining output.

Meanwhile, recent data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission showed that Forcados had a crude oil production rate of 6,579,692, a condensate rate of 593,980, and a blended total of 7,173,672 barrels for December 2022, as opposed to a blended total of 6,856,88 recorded for November 2022.

Brass, on the other hand, had a crude oil production rate of 581,198, a condensate rate of 45,010 and a blended total of 626,208 for December 2022, as opposed to a blended total of 431,672 recorded for November 2022.

During a forum on January 11, 2023, however, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, said that the country could achieve a 2.2 million barrels per day crude oil production output in 2023.

He said, “For us, we see a trajectory of restoring production including condensates within the year. We believe we can hit a target of 2.2 mb/d but our budget target is 1.8 mb/d, but we know that it is practical to do 2.2 mb/d within 2023.”


https://punchng.com/nigeria-records-highest-oil-production-since-april-2022-report/

JoeNL22:
Check the real youths below

Are you sure!

Mynd44, Nlpfmod!

The leadership of the North-East Youth and Stakeholders Forum of the All Progressive Congress has threatened to withdraw their support for the APC vice presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The threat, which seems to have caused a stir in the camp of APC, is coming just 42 days before the 2023 presidential election.

The North-East APC group is arguably one of the dominant voices drumming support for the candidacy of Shettima in the wake of APC standard bearer, Bola Tinubu’s victory after the presidential primary.

Among other things, The PUNCH reported how the group lobbied Tinubu’s camp, the presidency and the leadership of the ruling party to consider zoning the position of running mate to the North East region.




The same political group has, however, made a U-turn at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, vowing that they would withdraw support for the former governor of Borno State for continually undermining its effort.

The Acting Chairman of the APC North-East Youth and Stakeholders Forum, Shaibu Tilde, told newsmen, that Shetima’s snub shortly after his victory has led to the loss of some foundational members of the structure including the Zonal Women Leader, Amina Manga of Bauchi, who defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party with over one million women.

Tilde lamented that another loyalist of Shettima and Treasurer of the group, Yusuf Banki, left for the PDP with over 500,000 youths.

He said, “We are saddened to be in the news for what others will interpret as a negative reason at this time, but we are also obligated by our love for our great party, the All Progressive Congress, to make this timely intervention before our party’s fortunes in the region sink.

“We do not need to emphasise that this is an injury time for the game because the general elections are less than two months away, leaving no room for error, but instead attention must be focused on tightening all loose ends, which is not the case with our party in the northeast.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with deep regret and concern that we report that the fortunes of our great party in the Northeast are on the verge of collapse due to the obstinate, careless, and exclusive leadership style of our Vice Presidential Candidate, Hon. Kashim Shettima.

“The Northeast APC Youth Forum has watched with tears as its many supporters continue to defect to the PDP. Unfortunately, the trend in the Northeast zone is worsening by the day, with Sen. Kashim seemingly turning a blind eye to these heinous developments in our party in the region.

“We the Youths in the Northeast have lost our Zonal Treasurer from his home state of Borno, Hon. Yusuf Shariff Banki, due to his failure to support youth in the region to launch massive mobilisation. It is worth noting, gentlemen, that Sheriff led over five hundred thousand youth to the PDP.

As if that wasn’t enough, our Zonal Organising Secretary, Hon. Murtala Gamji of Taraba led over two hundred youths to the NNPP, and our Zonal Women Leader, Amina Manga of Bauchi led one million women to the PDP.

“Out of the 8 million youth votes we have already mobilized for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our Presidential Candidate for the Presidential Polls, Sen. Kashim Shettime has already plundered over 3 million through his actions with the wave of defections from our party. This is simply unacceptable!


“In light of this, we urge our party’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Hon. Kashim Shettima, to immediately reverse his steps and correct his error for the sake of the party, the region, and the teaming youth.

“It is on record that this group, then led by its Current Acting Chairman, Hon. Shaibu Baffa Tilde, threw their support behind Sen. Kashim Shettima and committed massive resources, both human and financial, to ensure he emerged as the APC’s Vice Presidential Candidate.


We do not seek compensation from Sen. Shettima, but our resentment stems from Sen. Kashim’s failure to recognize a formidable Youth force of the party that stood by him through thick and thin after realising his ambition to become reality as Vice Presidential Candidate from the northeast region.

“As a result, the Northeast APC Youth Forum wishes to withdraw its unequivocal support for Sen. Shettima.

Our actions should not be misinterpreted, but rather judged by our affection for our dear party.

“While we intend to take our next steps regarding his candidacy in the coming days, we would like to express our unwavering support for our Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the APC. We will continue to work for the advancement and victory of our beloved party in the upcoming general elections.”

Reacting to the threat, the spokesman for Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, disclosed such misunderstanding is bound to happen in the build-up to a major election.

While contesting the alleged number of members who had dumped the party in the North East, Keyamo noted their grievances would be addressed.

He, however, cautioned that it would also be wrong for the support group to attempt to resort to subtle blackmail to have their way.

“It is an election season. Everybody is important. No doubt about that. We can assure them that whatever grievances they have will be addressed.

“However, there is a need to point out corrections on some things they said. There are so many support groups working for the party in the North East and we will try to give all equal attention. While I agree that we need everybody, we don’t see recognise some people as greater than others. Everybody is important.

“If some groups think they are the most important or deserve to be pampered more than others, we will not accept it. That would be subtle blackmail. The vice presidential candidate is the one who wants to treat all of them as equal as possible. He is obviously not going to pamper some over others. All groups are important.

“Again, the numbers quoted in their statement are over-exaggerated in order to draw attention. They don’t control those figures and no such numbers have left the party.

“Firstly, going by the APC register, how many registered members do we have in the North East as a party? So that means they are taking everybody at the party away, isn’t it?


“Nevertheless, we need the group and we are going to talk to them. But they should not overrate themselves,” he warned.

The APC Director of Media and Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, also told our correspondent that the issue will be addressed.

He stated, “I have brought their statement to the attention of the Vice Chairman of North East APC, Salihu Mustapha, who I think is in a better position to address their grievances. He knows them and understands the situation in the terrain.”

https://punchng.com/north-east-youths-threaten-to-dump-shettima-apc-kicks/

Manchester City can once again reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals tonight with a win away at Southampton.

Even amid all of their Premier League success. Pep Guardiola’s side have become synonymous with the competition since his landing in England, lifting the trophy on four separate occasions since 2018.

Dethroned last season, City look favourites to win it again this time around. In fantastic form and with holders Liverpool and Premier League leaders Arsenal knocked out, it’d be brave to bet against them.

Saints, meanwhile, got their first win under new manager Nathan Jones against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Saturday but remain unconvincing.

The former Luton boss is yet to convince supporters, who were heard to have criticised his brand of football at Selhurst Park. Still, a shock win against City would be some way into building support.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said that “God has helped” his regime to “clear Boko Haram” in the North-East.

The President noted that the threat of terrorism was the most critical security challenge inherited by his regime but expressed delight that normalcy had returned to affected states in the North-East.

Buhari, therefore, declared that he had fulfilled the commitment he made to Nigerians in his May 29, 2015 inaugural address to frontally and courageously tackle Boko Haram terrorists and stabilise the country.

This is as he said nobody could blackmail him on inexplicable wealth and illicit enrichment while in office, stating that he did not have “one square-inch outside Nigeria.”




These are contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday.

The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari says nobody can blackmail him on inexplicable wealth and illicit enrichment while in office, saying ‘’I do not have one square-inch outside Nigeria.’

“Speaking at a State banquet, Monday night, organised in his honour in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, the President restated his vow to serve God and Nigeria until his last day in office and beyond.

“He advised Nigerians to remain patriotic, saying ‘as I said more than 30 years ago, we have no other country than Nigeria, we must all stay here and salvage it together.’

“Noting that the most critical security challenge inherited by the administration nearly eight years ago was the potent and pervasive threat of terrorism, the President expressed delight that normalcy has returned to affected States in North-East Nigeria.

“He recounted that the threat was particularly pervasive across the North-East geopolitical zone with Yobe State as one of the most hit by the terrorists.

“He, therefore, declared that he has fulfilled the commitment made to Nigerians in his May 29, 2015 inaugural address to frontally and courageously tackle Boko Haram terrorists and stabilize the country.

“‘In the North-East, God has helped us to clear Boko Haram, the economy has picked up and some people are asking me about the achievements of my promise to fight corruption.

“‘Well, under this system fighting corruption is not easy. When I was in the military, as Head of State, I locked up some people because the Constitution says you must declare your assets and people who couldn’t explain the differences in their assets, I locked them up.

“‘In the end, I was also locked up. So, if you want to serve this country you must be prepared for the worst. But one thing that I am grateful to God for is that nobody can blackmail me. I do not have one-square inch outside Nigeria and I intend to stay in Nigeria when I retire from public office.’


“Reflecting on his journey to the presidency and re-election, the President said:

“‘Between 2003 and 2019, I visited all the local government areas in this country. In 2019 when I attempted a re-election, I visited every state and the number of people that came out to see who this Buhari is and was is more than what anybody can pay or force.

“‘So, I thank God that Nigerians understood me and I made a promise that I will serve God and Nigerians.’

“President Buhari commended Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State for taking advantage of the return of peace and security in the state to execute people-oriented projects.

“Describing the governor as very competent and courageous, the President said he was lucky to have him in the saddle as the political leader in the state, supporting the federal efforts to decimate Boko Haram terrorist group.

“The President also acknowledged the cooperation of Nigeria’s neighbours in the fight against insurgency, recalling that his first visit outside the country in 2015 was to Niger and Chad, to garner support on tackling the misguided sect.

“President Buhari thanked the Governor and people of Yobe State, including Senate President Ahmed Lawan, for their warm reception during the State visit.

“In his remarks, Governor Buni expressed delight at the President’s inauguration of landmark projects in the state, including the Yobe International Cargo Airport, Damaturu ultra-modern market, Maternal and Child Health Complex at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, the 2,600 Housing Estate in Potiskum and the Damaturu Mega School at new Bra-Bra.

“He appealed to the President to approve the takeover of the Yobe State International Cargo airport by the Federal Government and the refund of N38 billion expended by the State government on the project.

“Equally, he requested the takeover of the State University Teaching Hospital, including the Maternity and Child Health Complex.

“The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, thanked the President for inaugurating a purpose-built, ultra-modern, and fully furnished State Command Headquarters; Police Secondary School; and Tertiary Police Hospital during the State Visit.

“The IGP assured the President and Nigerians that the Nigeria Police are fully prepared for the upcoming 2023 general election and would remain apolitical in compliance with the presidential directive.

“He disclosed that newly passed out Constables are being posted on field operations to their Local Government Areas in line with Mr. President’s directives and ahead of their deployment for the general election.

“‘In furtherance to this, we have exposed our personnel to specialized election security management trainings, developed Code of Conduct Handbook to guide the Police and other national security agencies that will be involved in the exercise,’ he said.


“He added that the Force has also perfected the logistics and manpower mobilization framework, and fine-tuned the Election Security Operational Action Plan in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Military, Intelligence Community, and other Sister Security Agencies.

“The IGP thanked the President for the annual recruitment of ten thousand police Constables over a five-year period, adding that the Presidential consideration has significantly bridged the manpower gap in the Force and broadly strengthened their capacity to effectively police the electoral process.”

https://punchng.com/ive-fulfilled-my-promise-on-boko-haram-buhari/

Scores of security operatives were alleged to have been killed by bandits across two communities in the troubled Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, The PUNCH reports.

Among the security operatives killed were those of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, police, soldiers as well as members of vigilantes on Sunday, according to a source.

“The attacks were not only on Sunday but started four days ago. There was an attack along Funtua Birnin Gwari road where many securities were killed. But that of yesterday (Sunday), two vigilante members, one police and a soldier were killed,” the source said.

The two affected communities are Kubau and Ungwan Zakara.




It was learnt that trouble started when security operatives allegedly killed a boy who normally looked after cattle belonging to the bandits.

Angered by the incident, the terrorists in large numbers stormed a check-point known as Aka along Birnin-Gwari to Kakangi/Randagi road of the Western part of Birnin-Gwari LGA and sniffed life out of some security operatives.

A resident, Abubakar Kakangi, who spoke to journalists on Monday, said the bandits have an agreement with the members of the communities where they allowed the locals to farm.




He noted that the bandits usually passed through the villages to sell stolen cows which the security agencies frowned at before the boy who “was looking after their cattle” was allegedly killed three weeks ago.

Kakangi said, “Three weeks ago, the security killed a boy who was looking after their cattle. The bandits were not happy over the murder of the local boy.

“Thus yesterday (Sunday) the bandits stormed Aka security checkpoint along Birnin-Gwari to Kakangi/Randagi road of the Western part of Birnin-Gwari LGA

“The attack took place around 2:00 pm. The bandits divided themselves into two groups and carried out the attack simultaneously at the two villages where they killed scores of security personnel including the Civil Defence Corps, police, vigilante and soldiers.”

There was no official confirmation from either the Kaduna state Police Command or the State Government.

When contacted on the telephone, the command’s spokesman, Mohammad Jalige, promised to reach out to the Area Commander of the affected communities and get back to our correspondent.

However, as of the time of filing this report (9:09 pm), Jalige had yet to get back to our correspondent.

https://punchng.com/just-in-bandits-attack-kaduna-communities-security-operatives-feared-killed/

Freight forwarders have said there may be congestion of imported vehicles at the nation’s seaports following the Nigeria Customs Service’s decision to raise duty on imported vehicles by 10 per cent, The PUNCH has learnt.

The agents, in exclusive interview with our correspondent in Lagos on Sunday, accused the service of effecting 10 per cent duty increase but failed to apply the 10 per cent yearly depreciation value on imported used vehicles.

The Deputy President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Nnadi Ugochukwu, wondered why the NCS started a new financial calendar in January when this was meant to be done in April.

He said, “Importers have to pay based on 2014 model even if the vehicle is a 2008 model. So, It is true the NCS has raised duty to 2014, normally their new calendar is supposed to start by March.



This has made imported vehicles to become trapped at the port, Customs increased duty by 10 per cent, but refused to implement the 10 per cent annual depreciation.

So, if you look at it now, you have to pay 10 percent more. It refuses to implement the 10 per cent annual depreciation value on imported used vehicles; they are now making a 10 per cent increase every year”

Nnadi expressed fear that the move would lead to a drop in vehicle imports.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Port & Terminal Multipurpose Limited chapter of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, Geoffrey Nwosu, said,

He said, “The Customs has hiked their duty to 2014 baseline starting this January. Even when we wanted to clear 2008 we were paying for 2013. The depreciation on it should be automatic.”

.Meanwhile, a licensed Customs agent, Mr Timothy Adebowale, queried while the service failed to effect depreciation value rate on 2014 vehicles.

He said that the service was meant to effect yearly depreciation value on vehicles.

Reacting, the National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Timi Bomodi, said the development was based on government fiscal policy on age limit.

“Nothing has changed fundamentally from the age limit policy of the Federal Government. I don’t think it is necessary, these people know the rules. We don’t need to start this year like that, people are trying to see that things work out the way it should and if we are trying to see that things work out the way it should, we don’t need to be hitting ourselves over the head, we don’t need all those things. We just need to do our work and at the end of the day if it favors some people fine and if it doesn’t then they should know what the proper thing is” he concluded.


https://punchng.com/customs-hike-imported-vehicle-duty-agents-protest/

FA Cup.

Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points with victory over injury-ravaged Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The reigning champions struggled in the first half before two of manager Pep Guardiola's substitutes combined to break the deadlock after 63 minutes, Riyad Mahrez turning in Jack Grealish's low cross at the far post.

Chelsea enjoyed the better of the first half despite adding both former City forward Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic to a lengthening injury list, substitute Carney Chukwuemeka hitting the post from the edge of the area.

Graham Potter will justifiably point to Chelsea's ill-luck with absentees but the bottom line is this defeat leaves them in the unaccustomed position of 10th, 10 points off the Champions League places.

City, meanwhile, will be happy to get three points despite being nowhere near their best and on a rare night when scoring machine Erling Haaland failed to hit the target.

Beremx:
The rate at which these agberos have flooded Lagos roads ehn!
They will become another terrorist organization if Tinubu becomes president

LASG tools, see LASTMA defending it's men, even when it is obvious!

Suspected hoodlums said to be working with some officials of the Lagos State Management Traffic Authority have stabbed a commercial bus driver, Jamiu Alao, in the Costain area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Alao’s bus developed a fault and broke down on the road.

Some LASTMA officials were said to have attempted to tow the bus, a move that was resisted by the driver.

Shortly after, the hoodlums were said to have arrived at the scene and stabbed the victim with a broken bottle in the presence of the officials.

The driver, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said the incident occurred on December 22, 2022.

He said, “My conductor and I loaded our bus at Apongbon and when we got to Costain at the Nigerian Brewery, the bus developed a fault under the bridge. I discovered the gear was faulty.

“Some boys helped us to push the vehicle to a side of the road to avoid causing traffic. I paid the boys that helped us. We saw a mechanic and he was already fixing the vehicle when some LASTMA officials came with their vehicle and a towing van.

“They started harassing us and I told them that the vehicle was not on the road and I was properly parked, but they insisted that they wanted to seize my vehicle; I told them they couldn’t.

“After saying this, some boys who usually followed them, came and started pushing me. The next thing, one of them took a bottle from the LASTMA vehicle and hit it on my head. Before I could even see who broke the bottle on my head, another one hit me with the bottle again and they used the bottle to stab me in the forehead.

“The LASTMA officials watched the whole thing; they were already seated in my bus, wanting to take it. They didn’t say or do anything. It was when they saw the fracas was much that one of them beckoned on others to get down from the bus so they could leave. They took their vehicle and ran off. Those hoodlums injured me and my conductor badly.”

Alao said the following day, he called the spokesperson for the agency, Taofiq Adebayo, to complain about the attack on him.

He noted that the LASTMA official then summoned him to the agency’s headquarters at Oshodi.

“When we got there, they asked me for evidence. I told them that I only have the initial part of the LASTMA vehicle number, which is 216; one of the officials checked the number in their system and said their officials in Zone 3 use those vehicles.

“They were called on the phone and asked what transpired. One of them that was present that day said the area boys called their boss and when they got to Costain, I refused to drop the vehicle and it resulted in a fight.


“The PRO instructed that official to come to the head office that day, but we didn’t see him. Eventually, after some days, they brought the officials to us, but they kept defending themselves, saying before they came, we had been fighting with the area boys.

“Is it possible that I would have been fighting with them earlier and they wouldn’t have stolen my phones and other possessions? They didn’t let other witnesses that came with me enter the office and they told me to go out too because the investigation was ongoing, and since then, nothing has been done,” the driver added.

He noted that the incident was reported at the Iponri Police Station, adding that he struggled to raise money for his treatment.

“These LASTMA officials use these area boys to do their dirty work,” Alao said.

The President of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, Akintade Abiodun, stated that LASTMA officials usually worked in connivance with hoodlums.

He said, “The area boys have the phone numbers of all these officials and call them when they find an unsuspecting driver. They know that if any vehicle is towed and whether the driver commits an offence or not, they (the area boys) will have their own share. There should be an end to this. These boys will go as far as stabbing to overpower any driver, conductor, or anyone involved because they know the LASTMA officials will not give them anything if the vehicle is not towed.”

However, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Adebayo, said the agency had no hand in the incident.

Adebayo, in a statement, explained that during a fact-finding mission by the agency, Alao said the hoodlums attacked him because he refused to pay them money to allow a technician to work on his faulty vehicle.

The statement read, “Investigations revealed that the commercial driver, Jamiu Alao, and his boys were stabbed by area boys at Ijora because he refused to pay them money (owo oni-ile) before his technician could be allowed to work on his broken down coaster bus.

“The hot argument later turned into a serious fracas where some transport union members supported the driver and engaged those area boys with dangerous weapons.

“Unfortunately for the driver, he and his conductor got stabbed at different spots by these notorious area boys before the arrival of the police. LASTMA officials, with the towing vehicle operator, left the scene immediately and continued their official duties.”

https://punchng.com/hoodlums-stab-driver-conductor-victims-blame-lastma-officials/