In a significant development for Nigeria’s energy sector, Aliko Dangote, CEO of Dangote Refinery, announced on Sunday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has seen its stake in the refinery reduced from 20% to 7.2%.
Speaking at a press briefing held in Lagos, Dangote clarified that NNPC’s reduced ownership was a result of their failure to meet financial obligations.
“NNPC no longer holds a 20% stake in the Dangote Refinery,” stated Dangote, highlighting that the corporation had missed a payment deadline in June. “As a consequence of their inability to fulfill their financial commitments, their ownership in the refinery has been adjusted to 7.2%.”
The Dangote Refinery, touted as Africa’s largest single-train refinery, has been a focal point of Nigeria’s efforts to enhance its refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
Originally, NNPC had secured a 20% stake in the project, signaling a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering domestic energy production.
Read also: Abia workers issue ultimatum for indefinite strike
“We had initially welcomed NNPC as a key partner in this crucial venture,” Dangote remarked, reflecting on the earlier stages of the collaboration. “However, the delay in their payments has necessitated this adjustment in ownership structure.”
Despite the ownership adjustment, Dangote expressed confidence in the refinery’s operational readiness. The project, which has garnered attention for its scale and potential impact on Nigeria’s economy, represents a milestone in the nation’s quest for energy self-sufficiency.
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Dangote Refinery updates stake ownership, NNPC’s share reduced to 7.2%
Gunmen kill husband, kidnap wife, demand N7m ransom
Gunmen have reportedly held hostage two indigenes of the Abavo community, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State, insisting on full payment of a N7 million ransom fee earlier demanded for the release of a kidnapped victim.
Mrs. Anthonia Jegbefume was kidnapped a week ago at her Okpe-Abavo residence by the gunmen who also shot dead her 55-year-old husband, Mr. Friday Jegbefume.
The kidnappers, it was learnt, released the woman at the weekend and abducted the two persons who had brought the sum of N1.7 million, which the family was only able to raise, for failing to bring the full amount they demanded.
Sources said one of the persons currently being held hostage is a relative of the woman and the other is a member of the deceased husband’s family.
Speaking on the development, a notable leader of the Abavo Clan Union, who did not want his name mentioned, said the kidnappers are asking for the balance of N5.3 million.
He said, “The kidnappers released the woman and took the people that went to pay the ransom fee.
“They had asked for N7 million and the family was able to raise N1.7 million. When they gave the N1.7 million to them, they held those that brought the money and asked for the remaining N5.3 million.”
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, SP Bright Edafe, could not speak on the development at the time of filing this report.
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Those agitating for Nigeria’s division are dreamers -Buratai
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, has urged those wishing Nigeria disintegrate to perish the thought, predicting that the country would continue to remain a united nation.
Buratai spoke in Kuta, Osun State on Sunday at the 60th birthday celebration of Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, an event attended by dignitaries that include; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola among others.
The ex Army boss, who described Olowu Kuta as a detribalise Nigerian, who has shown love to people across all ethnic groups in the country, said those agitating that the country should disintegrate must be ready to carve out their own part and move it to the ocean.
Noting that the experience of civil war has taught Nigerians that agitation to divide the country would always fail, Buratai called for unity to further enhance Nigeria’s development.
“You know that Nigeria is one, unless you remove those people who are agitating, and drift (them) to the Atlantic. We will remain one Nigeria, anybody who wants to leave Nigeria should carry the part of the land and take it to the Atlantic; not within the Nigeria territory. It is very clear the level of integration.
“There are many Hausas here, there are many Yoruba and Igbo in the north. So, we should not allow politics to becloud our sense of unity and sovereignty.
“Anybody that says that he wants to leave Nigeria is a dreamer because we had bitter experience during the civil war. So it is not something that we will joke with,” Buratai said.
He advised Nigerians to embrace peace and focus on development, adding that the country should work more to further cement its unity by taking concrete action that would bring about development, and not by mere utterances.
In his remarks, Oba Oyelude, said he would continue to champion cause of unity and progress for Nigeria, and called on well meaning Nigerians to do for the country’s unity and progress.
Lagos shuts market over poor sanitation
Officials from the Lagos Waste Management Authority and the state Environmental Sanitation Corps have sealed the Oja Oba Market at Ile Epo area of the state over poor sanitary conditions.
The LAWMA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made this known in a statement on X.com on Sunday.
Gbadegesin wrote, “Following complaints from concerned members of the public, particularly #Freestuv1, Oja Oba market at Ile Epo was sealed this morning by a combined #ZeroToleranceLagos Task Force consisting of #Lawma_gov Monitoring and Compliance Team and men and women of #LAGESCOfficial.
“This market has become notorious for very poor sanitary conditions and failure to comply with set waste management regulations.”
He added that the action was taken to protect members of the public from food-borne and water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.
He also urged members of the public to raise the alarm anywhere they see poor sanitary practices in markets or other business outlets.
According reported in February that LAWMA officials similarly sealed Ire-Akari Market in the Isolo area of Lagos over poor sanitation.
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Delta poll: PDP sweeps all 25 LGs
The Peoples Democratic Party has won all seats in Saturday’s Local Government election conducted across 500 wards in the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State. The election was contested by ten political parties, who fielded candidates for chairmanship and councillorship positions. Declaring the results, the Chief Electoral Officer and Chairman of Delta State Independent
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Court disruption: APC, LP fault Edo govt’s claim
The Edo State Government, on Sunday, said the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party were mobilising mobs to besiege the Benin High Court on Monday to intimidate lawyers and judges on official duties. Briefing newsmen in Benin, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on
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Soldiers arrest terrorists, reunite lost child with family in Taraba
Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke have arrested two notorious terrorists after a fierce shootout at Geshi Village in Damisa Ward of Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State.
The Acting Assistant Director of the 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Oni Olubodunde, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Olubodunde stated that the operation, which took place on July 11, also led to the recovery of two motorcycles used by the criminals.
The statement partly read, “The operation, conducted by the troops deployed in Akate in Donga Local Government Area, occurred following intelligence reports that revealed an attack in Geshi Village by armed terrorists.
“Acting on this information, troops swiftly mobilised to the area and engaged the armed men in a fierce exchange of gun battle, ultimately overpowering the terrorists with superior fire power and subdued them forcing the criminals to flee in disarray into the bush with gun shot wounds.”
Two wounded terrorists were said to have been apprehended while trying to escape on motorcycles, which were also seized.
The statement added that the arrested suspects are undergoing interrogation.
In another development, troops of Headquarters 6 Brigade while on routine patrol within the Jalingo metropolis, were reported to have found a nine-year-old pupil identified as Dorothy Kwatsumen wandering around in her school uniform at Gongomaliki area in Yorro LGA of Taraba State.
The statement disclosed that initial attempts to locate her school and family were unsuccessful, hence, she was taken to the Brigade headquarters for custody to ensure her parents were located.
The statement added, “Eventually, she was later discovered to be a pupil of Glory Children Academy.
“Troops proceeded to the school location and met the headteacher who informed troops that they had been searching for about 24 hours and have reported the case to the Jalingo Police Division. The pupil was later reunited with her parents.”
According Online reported earlier in July that the Nigerian Army disclosed that its troops recovered ammunition and neutralised 177 terrorists while making 263 arrests during different operations carried out across the country in the space of one week.
Abia workers issue ultimatum for indefinite strike
Organised Labour in Abia State, on Sunday, issued a stern warning to the state government, declaring an impending indefinite strike if their demands are not met by July 28, 2024.
The ultimatum comes after a series of negotiations that have failed to resolve key issues concerning workers’ welfare.
Earlier threats of strike action on June 8, 2024, were temporarily averted when Governor Alex Otti intervened, instructing the state Accountant-General to engage with labour leaders on their grievances. The main points of contention include the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage, which were federally approved since October 2023.
Ogbonnaya Okoro, Chairman of Abia State’s NLC, highlighted disparities in wage payments, noting that while the state claims it pays the minimum wage, actual figures show discrepancies with workers receiving significantly less. Governor Otti, however, insists that official records reflect compliance with the N30,000 minimum wage requirement.
Read also: CONUA urges Tinubu to address hardships, calls for immediate action on policy reforms
In a press briefing held on Sunday, July 14, 2024, Okoro reiterated the union’s stance, emphasizing that the state government must honour the Memorandum of Understanding agreed upon during recent negotiations. This agreement encompasses not only wage issues but also the settlement of severance allowances for compulsorily retired Directors and Permanent Secretaries, as well as the prompt payment of leave allowances.
Echoing Okoro’s sentiments, Ihechi Eneogwe, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Abia State, expressed frustration over the prolonged discussions without concrete actions from the government. He emphasized the urgency for the state authorities to address these critical issues without further delay.
With the deadline looming, tensions are escalating between the state government and the labour unions, raising concerns about the potential disruptions an indefinite strike could cause across various sectors in Abia State. The fate of thousands of workers now hangs in the balance as both sides brace for a decisive period ahead.
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Delta LG election a complete sham, says Dafinone
The senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, has described the Delta State local government elections held on Saturday as “a complete sham and a mockery of democratic ideals and standards.”
Dafinone, while reacting to the outcome of the council poll said, “It is very unfortunate that people at the grassroots level are prevented from participating in our democratic process by state governors to freely elect their councillors and council chairmen.”
While applauding President Bola Tinubu for supporting financial autonomy for local governments across the country with the recent Supreme Court judgment, he noted that “Nigerians of goodwill must collectively work to amend the relevant sections of the constitution to rescue the local government system from the iron-fist of the state governors.”
Dafinone said, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta sensed that the electoral umpire, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), was not going to conduct credible elections as predicted, hence most of the party candidates withdrew from the polls.
“It’s very unfortunate and sad how low our people can go to acquire power. It’s even more troubling that after 25 years in our democratic experiment we can’t conduct what looks like an election at the local government level.
“What took place in Delta State on Saturday to all intents and purposes can’t be classified as an election. It’s a complete sham and an affront to all known democratic ideals.
“The state electoral umpire most probably acting on the instructions of the state Governor just allotted figures to candidates who took part in the shambolic process. It can at best be described as a mere coronation of all PDP-nominated candidates.
“As predicted by political watchers that the Delta State PDP-led government is incapable of conducting free, fair, and credible elections, DSIEC proved all of us right. Because there were reports across the state that electoral materials, particularly result sheets, were not supplied to many polling units, and in some cases, wards where they consider strongholds of the opposition, voting materials were not supplied at all.”
He further explained, “It’s disheartening that our governors, who are products of free and fair elections, can’t replicate the same in the local government areas of their state. If INEC were to conduct elections the way the governors purportedly teleguide SIEC to conduct local government polls, many of them would not be governors today.
“I think at this point in our national history and democratic journey, we have to put partisan politics aside and work collectively to amend the relevant sections of our constitution to rescue the local government system from the grips of our governors.
“I must commend the laudable effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the lead in this respect by ensuring financial autonomy for the local governments across the country.
“We must do likewise to enthrone democratic principles at the local government level by ensuring that a credible agency, possibly INEC, is charged with the conduct of local government elections across the country in order to guarantee our people’s participation in democratic governance.”
Melania Trump calls for unity after Donald Trump’s assassination attempt
Ex-first lady of the United States of America, Melania Trump, in her first public response since her husband, ex-President Donald Trump, was injured in a shooting at one of his rallies on Saturday, has called for unity despite the assassination attempt on her husband.
In a statement obtained from her X account on Sunday, she said, “Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.
“This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence. We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends. We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships, again.
“I am thinking of you, my fellow Americans.
“I am thinking of you, now, my fellow Americans.
“We have always been a unique union. America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one,” she said
She sympathised with the families of those who suffered from the incident as she encouraged them to summon strength.
“When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.
“To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy. Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me.
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion – his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration. The core facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.
“Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love. Our personal, structural, and life commitment – until death – is at serious risk. Political concepts are simple when compared to us, human beings.
“We are all humans, and fundamentally, instinctively, we want to help one another. American politics are only one vehicle that can uplift our communities. Love, compassion, kindness and empathy are necessities.
“And let us remember that when the time comes to look beyond the left and the right, beyond the red and the blue, we all come from families with the passion to fight for a better life together, while we are here, in this earthly realm.” she urged.
She said thanked Americans for their support as she urged them to reach out beyond the political divide and fight for a better life together.
“Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.
“This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence. We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends. We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships, again.
“I am thinking of you, my fellow Americans.
“The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide – thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.” she added.
