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Protesters demand El-Rufai’s trial for alleged N423bn theft

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Protesters demand El-Rufai’s trial for alleged N423bn theft

Protesters, on Thursday, stormed the Kaduna State Government House asking Governor Uba Sani to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant security agencies to arrest and prosecute his predecessor,  Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following his criminal indictment by the state House of Assembly.

The state Assembly in a recent probe report accused El-Rufai and some of his appointees of N423bn theft from the state coffers.

The protesters, in huge numbers under the aegis of Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance, gathered around 11 am and marched from the popular UTC Bus Stop along Sokoto Road to the main entrance into Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna in the state capital.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “We will occupy all MDAs to chase out all indicted persons in the report,” “Stop servicing all loans that did not follow due process before they were obtained,”  “Jimi Lawal almost killed Kaduna State the way he killed a bank some years ago,” among others.

The According reported that an ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under El-Rufai indicated the former governor, saying most of the loans obtained between 2015 and 2023 were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained.

The committee led by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Henry Zacharia, recommended the prosecution of El-Rufai, some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office and money laundering.

The probe by the state Assembly followed the lamentation by incumbent  Governor Sani that El-Rufai left him a huge debt profile.

Sani, who spoke during a town hall meeting in Kaduna in April, said he inherited a lean treasury, adding that he could not pay workers’ salaries.

Sani said, “Despite the huge debt burden of N587m, N85bn, and N115bn contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.

“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly.”

The revelation by Sani had generated reactions from several quarters, including El-Rufai’s son, Bashir, who took to his social media handle and accused his father’s successor of shying away from his responsibility.”

The leader of the protesters, Victor Duniya, while addressing newsmen shortly after arriving at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, called on the state governor to implement relevant sections of the House of Assembly ad hoc committee report on El-Rufai and other indicted that fell under his purview.

He also called on the governor to officially forward the findings of the House Committee report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant agencies for them to commence the process of recovering the N423bn allegedly misappropriated by the immediate-past governor and others indicted.

Duniya said, “We, Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance, appreciate your presence as we express our grievances today. Our state has endured financial mismanagement, abuse of power, and a growing debt burden for the past eight years.

“As concerned citizens, we condemn in the strongest terms possible the outright and merciless looting of our state, which has widened the poverty gap in the state by the immediate past administration.

“We commend Governor Uba Sani for holding on to the ideals of the democracy he worked for by not interfering in the activities of the Kaduna State House, as many people expected you to stop the legislative arm of government from doing their work, as it was done in the past.

“We commend Governor Uba Sani for running an open government, where regular consultations are carried out with various stakeholders, especially during town hall meetings.

“We commend the Kaduna State House of Assembly for the thorough work done in unravelling the financial atrocities committed against our state, despite blackmails and threats from the beneficiaries of the financial heist.

“We call on Governor Uba Sani to implement relevant sections of the report that fall under his purview.

“We call on the Governor to officially forward the findings of the committee report to relevant anti-corruption agencies to enable them to swing into action and recover our resources at their disposal.

“We assure you of our maximum support as we are aware that those who ought to be behind bars for looting our state now have the effrontery to dish out threats to the people-centered leadership of our dear state.

“We call on Security Agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute former governor Nasir El-Rufai and those he has incited to bring down the government of Senator Uba Sani.

“We appreciate your peaceful presence in our endeavor to bring positive change to our beloved state, despite the challenging weather conditions.”

Meanwhile, Duniya was later received on behalf of the protesters by the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Balarabe,  Secretary to the State Government, Abdulkadir Meyere, Deputy Chief of Staff, Umar Hassan Waziri, Private Personal Secretary, Prof. Bello Ayuba, among others.

The government officials appreciated the group’s peaceful protest, and assured them that their message would be forwarded to the governor who was unavoidably absent at the time the protesters arrived at the Government House.

Ekiti team understudies Lagos emergency services

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Ekiti team understudies Lagos emergency services

The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, and her management team, received the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Governor’s Office of Ekiti State, Michael Opeyemi, and his entourage at the agency’s headquarters in Alausa.

A Thursday statement by the state fire service deputy spokesperson, Ololade Agboola, noted that the team came to understudy the service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday.

Accompanying Opeyemi were LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, the General Manager of Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Oludare Asaolu and the Director of Fire Service in Ekiti, Famosaya Andrew.

According to the statement, Opeyemi expressed his admiration for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, stating, “We came to Lagos State to understudy LASEMA and the operations of the Fire Service. From the state-of-the-art equipment to the quick response times and the efficiency in their duties, we are highly impressed.”

Adeseye attributed the achievements of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to the support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

She said, “Governor Sanwo-Olu has provided the necessary facilities, an enabling environment, and international training for our staff, which has significantly enhanced our efficiency and diligence in saving lives and properties.”

The Lagos Fire Service recently announced its upcoming Lagos International Fire Safety Conference scheduled for June 25 to 27, which it noted aimed to bring stakeholders together to address the issues of incessant fire outbreaks.

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Lagos trains 60 engineers in bridge construction

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Lagos trains 60 engineers in bridge construction

The Office of Infrastructure, Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, on Thursday, began training of no fewer than 60 engineers in bridge construction.

The three-day training commenced at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo, Lagos State.

The training, with the theme: “Bridge Building: From Theory to Practice,” focused on the practical application of knowledge.

It is aimed at enhancing the skills and expertise of engineers in bridge and road construction.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the training covers various aspects of bridge building such as design, construction, and maintenance.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said the participants were drawn from the state’s Ministry of Works.

“The training is not just an event but a cornerstone in the state’s ongoing commitment towards enhancing infrastructure development,” Daramola said.

He urged the participants to listen attentively, ask questions, share perspectives, and tap into the wealth of experience of the resource persons.

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Protests as IG extends LG secretariats’ barricade

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Protests as IG extends LG secretariats’ barricade

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on Thursday, stated that his officers would remain at the Rivers State Local Government secretariats until the court rules on the local government chairmen tenure extension crisis in the state.

A clash occurred on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen, resulting in the deaths of a police officer and a vigilante member.

The three-year terms of the 23 LG chairmen ended on Monday, but they insisted on staying in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law 2024 enacted by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

This law, passed by 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital, Nyesom Wike, allows the chairmen to remain in office for six more months due to the failure of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to hold local government elections.

On Wednesday, Fubara swore in 23 caretaker committee chairmen in Port Harcourt to man LGs. This was after protesting youths dislodged the LG chairmen whose tenure expired on Monday.

However, the police denied Fubara caretaker chairmen access to their offices across the LGAs.

This was following an announcement by the state police command on Tuesday that it had taken control of all LG council headquarters to prevent further bloodshed and maintain law and order.

Speaking during a meeting with commanders in Abuja, the IGP stated that the barricades would remain until the court reached a decision on the matter.

The IG noted that this was to prevent further loss of lives.

He said, “You are all aware that in what happened two, three days ago, we lost a police inspector. We are sad about that. We don’t want to lose more men.

“We don’t want to lose more Nigerians. We don’t want to lose more citizens of Rivers State. So, we have a duty to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

“And that’s why we have our men taking over the secretariat while we await the outcome of the case in court. As soon as the court makes its pronouncement, we will remove the barricade.”

Rivers not under siege –Fubara

But Rivers Governor, Fubara, insisted on Thursday that there was no crisis in the state.

He said the narrative that Rivers was enmeshed in crisis was untrue.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara spoke to some newsmen in Egbelu Community, shortly after inspecting the progress of work on the 14.6km Omodu-Eberi Road project in Omuma Local Government Area on Thursday.

He stated: “And to also tell Nigerians that Rivers State is peaceful. You can see that we are moving about inspecting projects as against what you see on the screens of your television sets that police are everywhere, that we don’t move about anymore, and that Rivers State is under siege.

“We are not under siege. Our State is free and peaceful. If at all there is any problem in any part of the state, I know quite well that Nigerians know where the problem is coming from, not from us.”

He added, “We are a peace-loving people. It is already written all over us. Our actions and our deeds have confirmed that we are peace-loving people.

“We will continue to maintain the peace that we promised everyone, for the betterment of the good people of Rivers State.”

NULGE, CSOs fume

The President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, disagreed with the position of the IG that policemen would continue to man the LG secretariats.

Okaba said  “The IG directive that the police should be there, well maybe from one point of view you could say that the police has no business barricading the place particularly now that the governor has put in place a caretaker committee, which, though not in the constitution is almost a norm in Nigeria; other states have done the same thing as an interim measure before elections are conducted into councils.

“Yes, again this is why we have been talking about the independence of the police. The constitution says the governor is the Chief Security Officer of the place. The Commissioner of Police should have taken orders from the governor. Now he is taking orders from the IG which again defines the kind of democracy and separation of powers we operate in this country.

“So, in all, it is a misnomer, which is almost becoming a norm in the country we find ourselves. I feel we should be very careful with what is going on.

“It is very provocative if not properly managed can lead to bloodshed and all of that, and those are the things I have warned against. So it is now left for stakeholders at the state, federal levels to sit down together and look for a way out of all of this mess. I call it a very messy situation.

“If you barricade the councils and all that, the governor can institute any place and make it an office of the council. He can even create council areas within the Government House. So this show of force does not stop the governor from going ahead to do what he wants to do.”

Okaba called on the President to intervene in the Rivers crisis.

Similarly,  the Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Society Organisation, Enefaa Georgewill, said the stance of the IG showed that “the police have already put themselves in the arena by trying to be an interpreter of court judgments.”

He said, “Whether we like it or not, there is subsisting court judgment as of now by a high court that is yet to be reversed and the position of the high court is that the local government chairman’s tenure has expired and that the House of Assembly does not have the power to extend the constitutionally guaranteed tenure of LGA chairmen. That is the position of the court as of today, until it is reversed by any court.

“Furthermore, beyond what a court has even said, our laws are equally very clear, that the Rivers State House of Assembly or any other House of Assembly, for that matter in Nigeria, lacks the power to stretch the three-year tenure of any local government area. So, you begin to wonder where the IG or the Commissioner of Police now got their own power to say that they are creating a stalemate?

“We would want to warn that the police shouldn’t create situations where civil organisations like ours and other interest groups would have to move into the streets to demand that the police remove themselves from the political arena of Rivers state and obey a subsisting court judgment and equally respect our constitution that says that every local government chairman is supposed to stay for three years. Anything outside this, we will be left with no choice than to begin to mobilise our affiliates and other interest groups and to move to the streets of Port Harcourt and Abuja.”

In a similar vein, the River State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees said it had issued a four-day ultimatum for the police to vacate the LGA secretariats, saying its members would be forced to take to the streets afterwards.

The Rivers NULGE  President, Clifford Paul, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, said, “We have made a statement asking the Rivers State Police Command to reopen the gates for the workers because after the dissolution of the LG councils by the executive governor of the state, since then, all the gates of the 23 LG councils have been and there is no way my workers will be outside or will be absenting themselves from work.

“So, we are requesting that the needful has to be done. They should vacate the gates so that we can access our premises. We are giving them a four-day ultimatum and after the four days, as a union, I will reserve that comment.”

Also,  the Human Rights Advocacy Crusaders, on Thursday, called on law enforcement agents, particularly the Nigerian Police, not to get partisan in the Rivers situation.

In a statement on Thursday by its Convener, Jerry Nicholas, the group said taking sides could lead to further violence and clashes between supporters of different parties, resulting in deaths and destruction of property.

 Nicholas said, “The law is clear: The 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No 5 of 2018 provide for a three-year tenure for local government chairmen, with a possibility of a second term.

“We hereby inform the security agents that Law No.2 of 2024, which attempted to extend the tenure of the outgoing chairmen by six months has been expunged from the laws of Rivers State by Justice D.G. Kio of the state high court.

“This means that the outgoing chairmen cannot rely on a non-existent law to continue in office.

“We reiterate that security agents must remain neutral and not take sides with any party. They must also prevent violence and maintain peace in Rivers State while allowing the democratic process to unfold, and ensuring that the rule of law is upheld.”

Group holds concert on wildlife protection

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Group holds concert on wildlife protection

A wildlife conservation organisation, Wild Africa, in collaboration with OAS1SONE and Trace Naija, will launch a concert on Trace Naija this Friday.

The concert aims to raise awareness about protecting Africa’s wildlife.

The concert, ‘Music for Wildlife’ starting June 21, coincides with Trace’s 21st anniversary and will feature top African and international artists, using music to inspire conversations around wildlife conservation

The concert is in partnership with OAS1SONE, a premium live, on-demand content and live experiences network on Trace’s TV broadcast channels and streaming platform.

Produced by Wild Africa, Music for Wildlife aims to use the diverse creative talents in Africa to reach more than 350 million people in over 180 countries across 28 localised Trace TV channels and Trace+ global streaming platforms.

By infusing studio sessions, interviews, and wildlife content, the initiative seeks to leverage the emotional power of music to inspire action against wildlife-related issues like illegal bushmeat, deforestation, and the illegal wildlife trade

A statement by the Nigerian representative of the organisation, Festus Iyorah, on Friday said, “Through the intimate concert series, audiences will meet Africa’s finest musicians, including chart-topping stars such as Musa Keys, CKay, Focalistic, and a multitude of other stars as they tell the story of their music, lives, careers and inspirations, and express their passion for endangered species.

“Each concert will also include special features from African and international stars from film, music, sports, comedy, and television scenes like Davido, 2Baba, Jacky Chan, Boity, Alex Iwobi, Stonebwoy, Emmanuella, Yao Ming, Sir Richard Branson, Morgan Heritage, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Stephanie Linus, Djimon Hounsou, and many others.”

Through entertainment, these artists will take a stand against illegal bushmeat, deforestation, the illegal wildlife trade and promoting wildlife tourism.

Wild Africa CEO, Peter Knight, emphasised that,“This collaboration allows us to leverage the power of music to connect with a continent-wide and even global audience, turning up the volume on the issues that affect not only wildlife but the natural foundation on which human life depends.”

The Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Trace Group, Olivier Laouchez, said African artists are compelling voices and can make a difference in raising awareness for better wildlife protection in Africa.

Africa, home to a quarter of the world’s biodiversity, faces enormous challenges – from poaching to habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade to climate change and human-wildlife conflict. Wildlife populations that make the continent their home have plunged by 66 per cent in the last 50 years, a WWF’s Living Planet report found.

Nigeria faces a rapid loss of its biodiversity with the extinction of rhinos, giraffes, and cheetahs, Nigeria faces rapid biodiversity loss rates. With just 50 West African lions, about 100 Cross River gorillas, and a couple hundred elephants, many species stand on the brink.

FG plans electricity offences tribunal, activates 2.6 million meters

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FG plans electricity offences tribunal, activates 2.6 million meters

The Federal Government, on Thursday, declared that it was perfecting the process for the establishment of an electricity offences tribunal with an inbuilt appeal system to speedily tackle power-related offences.

It also declared that a total of 2,655,488 meters in the power sector had been tested and calibrated, as most of the equipment had been deployed for use by consumers across the country.

On June 2, 2024, The According exclusively reported that the latest update on metering by the Federal Government showed that 609,585 electricity consumers were metered in 2023, while the number of unmetered registered power users nationwide stood at 7,319,846.

The report stated that data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission indicated that out of the 13,162,572 registered consumers who get supply from the national grid, 5,842,726 have been metered.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, Aliyu Tahir, stated that in line with the mandate of the agency, NEMSA has tested and calibrated over 2.6 million meters.

According to Tahir, NEMSA, which is an agency of the Federal Government established in 2015, is still testing and calibrating more meters to ensure their functionality, durability and safety when in use.

He said, “A total of 21,681 electricity installation projects have been inspected and tested, out of which 13,154 have been certified. Also, a total of 16,624 electricity networks have been monitored by NEMSA.

“About 4,921 factories, hazardous installations and public places have been inspected, tested and certified fit, while 2,655,488 electricity meters have been tested and calibrated, as 487 incidences were investigated by the agency.”

He explained that the figures were based on data compiled by NEMSA as of the first quarter of 2024, adding that the Electricity Act 2023 had strengthened the enforcement powers and responsibilities of the agency.

Electricity tribunal

Tahir stated that based on the powers conferred on the agency in the Electricity Act, NEMSA had been working hard to establish a tribunal that would speedily try electricity-related offences.

“We are working on the establishment of an electricity offences tribunal with an in-built appeal system for faster dispensation of electricity-related offences. It is to vest NEMSA in-house counsel with powers to prosecute electricity offences,” he stated.

Providing further explanation about the tribunal, Tahir said the initiative would adequately electricity theft when implemented and that the National Assembly had been informed.

“We are looking at the establishment of this electricity tribunal to be able to enforce our mandates more. When you look at the enforcement, concerning sanctioning of violators in the Act, it is a very long process.

“So to fast-track the prosecution of offenders, the establishment of this tribunal solely for the power sector will go a long way in ensuring that we fast-track the process, carry out enforcements and sanction violators,” the NEMSA boss stated.

He noted that with the tribunal, issues of electricity theft would be addressed speedily and violators would be prosecuted as quickly as possible, adding that the agency was interfacing with the National Assembly on this.

“The establishment of this tribunal has been brought to the knowledge of the legislature and we’ve made submissions to them. We hope that they will amend the Electricity Act to include a provision for this,” Tahir stated.

Path to genuine democracy in Nigeria

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Path to genuine democracy in Nigeria

Despite its outward appearance, Nigeria’s democracy has consistently fallen short of true democratic principles. Reflecting on the events in our persistently perplexing political landscape over the past year compels me to reassess our fundamental understanding of democracy for the umpteenth time. If we all agree that democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, then its implementation in Nigeria starkly contradicts this definition.

Since shedding the mantle of militaristic rule 25 years ago, Nigeria’s brand of democracy has progressively sidelined the very people it was meant to serve. The focus has shifted towards a political class preoccupied with power struggles and the endless pursuit of office. These politicians, once in power, entrench themselves, prioritising their own interests over the urgent needs and aspirations of the Nigerian populace. The essence of democracy—active participation, representation, and responsiveness to the public needs—has been compromised. Instead, we witness a democracy that has become more about the sustenance of power than the provision of public service.

The consequences of this distorted democracy are far-reaching. It has led to a growing disconnect between the rulers and the ruled, fuelling disillusionment and apathy among the citizenry who feel alienated from the political process. The lack of accountability and transparency has allowed corruption to fester, further eroding public trust and hindering progress.

Today serves as a timely reminder that we must critically reevaluate our democracy and get back to the basics i.e. prioritising genuine leadership and the responsible exercise of political office in the best interest of the people. Our democracy should not be a battleground for political gamesmanship but a platform for servant leadership and public service. We must establish a democracy where the electoral process is inviolable, where the forceful imposition of candidates upon the populace is unequivocally prohibited. A democracy where the theft of billions in public funds for personal enrichment, stored up for generations unborn, is not merely discouraged, but is met with the full force of the law.

The hijacking of the electoral process, whether through violence, intimidation, or manipulation, undermines the very foundation of a representative government. It silences the voices of the people and replaces their will with the desires of a few. This cannot stand. Equally egregious is the embezzlement of public funds, resources meant to build schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, stolen to line the pockets of corrupt officials and their families. This is a betrayal of the public trust, a theft from the future of our nation. We cannot continue like this and pretend we are in a democracy – far from it.

Democracy, at its heart, is about leadership that prioritises the needs and aspirations of the people, not just the manoeuvring and manipulation of politics. In Nigeria, we have become adept at playing the game of democratic politics, but have fallen short of true leadership that genuinely uplifts and empowers our citizens. The time has come to shift our focus from mere politicking to active, transformative leadership. This means moving beyond empty promises and partisan bickering, and instead working collaboratively to address the pressing issues facing Nigerians, from economic development and infrastructure to education and healthcare, with sincerity and accountability. It means putting the interests of the people ahead of personal gains and political ambition.

Politicking may secure votes and win elections but it is principled, people-focused leadership that builds nations. We must move beyond the superficial trappings of political contests and dedicate ourselves to the serious work of governing.

May God protect our democracy and guide our leaders to prioritise people over politics.

 

  • Godman Akinlabi is an author and leadership expert

NNPC, TotalEnergies sign $550m gas production deal

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NNPC, TotalEnergies sign $550m gas production deal

TotalEnergies, operator of Oil Mining Lease 58 onshore licence in Nigeria with a 40 per cent interest, together with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (60 per cent), on Thursday, signed a $550m Final Investment Decision for the development of the Ubeta gas field.

Located about 80 km northwest of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, the OML 58 licence contains two fields currently in production, the Obagi oil field and the Ibewa gas and condensate field.

OML 58 gas production is processed in the Obite treatment centre and supplied to both the Nigerian domestic gas market and to the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas plant.

The Ubeta field discovered in 1964 in the eastern part of the Niger Delta will, once on stream, produce about 350MMScf/day of gas and 10,000 BBLS/day of associated liquids, tapping into the vast gas reserves and contributing towards securing gas supply to NLNG Limited.

At the FID signing ceremony held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Thursday, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari,  said, “We appreciate Mr President for supporting us with the appropriate fiscal environment. The Presidential Executive Order is instrumental to us getting to this significant milestone and we are now seeing the impact of the policy.”

The Senior Vice President of Africa, Exploration & Production, TotalEnergies, Mike Sangster, said, “Ubeta is the latest in a series of projects developed by TotalEnergies in Nigeria, most recently Ikike and Akpo West.

“I am pleased that we can launch this new gas project which has been made possible by the government’s recent incentives for non-associated gas developments. Ubeta fits perfectly with our strategy of developing low-cost and low-emission projects, and will contribute to the Nigerian economy through higher NLNG exports.”

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, said the government has rekindled investor confidence in the oil and gas industry, assuring Nigerians that more investments are on the way.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the project is a testament to the effectiveness of the government’s policies aimed at creating a conducive environment for investment in the gas sector.

The Ubeta gas condensate field in Port Harcourt, according to partners in the deal, will be developed with a new six-well cluster connected to the existing Obite facilities through an 11km buried pipeline.

Production start-up is expected in 2027, with a plateau of 300 million cubic feet per day (about 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day including condensates)

Gas from Ubeta will be supplied to NLNG, a liquefaction plant located in Bonny Island with an ongoing capacity expansion from 22 to 30 metric tonnes per annum, in which NNPC holds a 49 per cent interest.

Ubeta is a low-emission and low-cost development, leveraging OML 58 existing gas processing facilities. The carbon intensity of the project will be further reduced through a 5MW solar plant currently under construction at the Obite site and the electrification of the drilling rig.

TotalEnergies is working closely with NNPC to enhance local content, with more than 90 per cent of man-hours which will be worked locally.

“The Ubeta FID justifies the effort invested by NNPC, with unyielding executive support, into tackling the underlying reasons that have plagued the attractiveness of the Nigerian oil and gas industry to foreign investors in recent years.

“The Ubeta project has a robust Nigerian content plan and is poised to stimulate economic activities, create job opportunities, and create significant value for stakeholders,” NNPC stated.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said the Ubeta project is a prime example of the kind of investment that the government’s recent reforms aim to attract.

She stated that 76 per cent of Nigeria’s gas reserves remained underdeveloped and 50 per cent of this was described as non-associated has.

“We recognised the urgency of closing this gap through our assessment of the Petroleum Industry Act and the new directives, signed by President Bola Tinubu to strengthen the PIA.

“Our approach was to respond with data-driven policies, to reclaim Nigeria’s position as a top destination for returns on investment and ease of doing business, as well as attract new investments, revive dormant ones, and safeguard the industry while creating value for sustained impact for Nigerians.

“The Ubeta Final Investment Decision also aligns with Nigeria’s overall energy policy which emphasises the development of the gas sector to diversify the country’s energy mix, reduce flaring and promote cleaner energy sources. The project also has a strong focus on supplying gas to the domestic market and NLNG train 7.

“Additionally, this project will bring sustainable prosperity through strategic and structured community economic empowerment. Overall, we are positive that projects like this will boost confidence and bring more investments to the Nigerian oil & gas sector,” Verheijen stated.

She explained that the milestone FID was an affirmation of growing investors’ confidence in the economy and aligns with the recent Presidential Directives on Gas.

According to her, the project highlights a commitment of $550m to extract 900 billion cubic feet of non-associated natural gas from OML 58, adding that upon its completion, the Ubeta project would provide 350 million standard cubic feet per day of gas, primarily earmarked for Nigeria’s domestic market and to augment the operational capacity of NLNG Train 7.

In December 2023, Tinubu endorsed three presidential initiatives to revitalise investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, resulting in this $550m investment.

The directives include initiatives to promote fiscal incentives for gas utilisation projects, enhance the competitiveness of local content, and streamline contracting costs to global standards.

WTT Contender Lagos: Edem win excites Bello

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WTT Contender Lagos: Edem win excites Bello

African Games silver medallist Fatimo Bello is through to the second round of the ongoing WTT Contender Lagos after defeating compatriot Offiong Edem 3-2 in five thrilling sets inside the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Thursday.

It was one of the duels between Nigerians in the first round of the tournament and it lived up to expectations with the younger Bello prevailing 11-6, 11-13, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5) despite Edem’s higher rating.

“It’s good to be in Lagos. This is just the beginning but a good one for me. I’m willing to do more and put in my best. Defeating Edem is a good one for me. She’s one of my senior players, and I believe it would put me in more form to do better in the next game,” an excited Bello said.

Meanwhile, the 2024 WTT Contender Lagos witnessed impressive performances from top-seed players as they navigated the first round of the singles event.

German Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the number one seed, faced a tough challenge from South Korea’s Kim Minwoo but emerged victorious with a 3-0 win (12-10, 11-3, 11-6), securing his spot in the second round.

Indian legend Sharath Achanta also had a successful start, defeating Ghana’s Godwin Alabi 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-7).

In the women’s singles, defending champion Shin Yubin displayed her usual brilliance, defeating Indian Archana Kamath 3-0 (15-13, 11-7, 11-4).

Other Indian female players, including Manika Batra, progressed to the second round after dominant performances.

Chinese duo Yijie Ding and Zixuan Yao also advanced to the next stage of the competition.

Exciting matches are expected in the second round as the players compete for the $80,000 prize pool and ranking points.

Private jet owners must pay taxes

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Private jet owners must pay taxes

AFTER a long wait, the Federal Government has initiated a clampdown on private jet operators suspected of engaging in sundry shenanigans. This has deprived the treasury of much-needed funds while the affluent owners relish their jet-set lifestyles. Reports indicate that the Nigeria Customs Service has summoned about 80 private jet operators to its headquarters in Abuja to present their documents. The special aircraft import verification exercise is to last 30 days. This process must be transparent and concluded within the set timeframe.

According to the NCS, the exercise aims to identify imported aircraft without the necessary documentation, ensuring proper imports and maximum revenue collection.

Documents to be presented are the aircraft Certificate of Registration, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Flight Operation Compliance Certificate, Maintenance Compliance Certificate, Permit for Non-Commercial Flights, and Temporary Import Permit.

This is not the first time the government has descended on private jet operators. In 2021, the Customs asked aviation authorities to ground 91 aircraft suspected of not possessing proper documentation to recover an estimated N30 billion in unpaid import duties.

That did not happen as the agencies involved could not agree on what to do. The action was eventually suspended after some of the owners went to court using their offshore proxies and shell companies to challenge the appropriateness of duty payment on their aircraft.

This episode underscores the under-regulation of the aviation industry, which allows operators and some well-heeled and connected individuals to cheat the treasury.

In April, the Federal Government threatened sanctions against private jet owners who illegally use their planes for commercial purposes, including grounding the jets and revoking their licences.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, noted that such individuals obtained Permits for Non-Commercial Flights for their private jets but instead operate these aircraft for commercial flights, sometimes up to six to eight times a day.

It is appalling that jets worth millions of dollars operate in Nigeria without proper documentation when motorcycle and car owners are harassed daily and penalised for failure to obtain their documents. It is a travesty that people import aircraft and fail to pay import duties when vehicle importers are squeezed mercilessly by the Customs at the ports and even waylaid on highways for import document checks.

It highlights public perceptions that Nigeria’s laws are made for the poor.

A private jet is an ultra-luxury asset. It costs about $3.8 million to maintain a midsize Gulfstream G550 jet based on 400 flight hours a year per United States-based aviation consultants, Cocklin & De Decker. Previously owned ones cost between $13 million and $35 million. Owners should be made to bear the full costs of their choices and not freeload on the public purse by avoiding taxes and other charges associated with private jet ownership.

It is good that Customs has expressed its commitment to applying the relevant laws and regulations to ensure maximum revenue collection for the government. This should not be mere grandstanding. This behaviour associated with Nigerian private jet operators cannot be tolerated in the US, which boasts 15,000 registered private jets. It should not be tolerated here, too. Proper sanitisation of the aviation sector must include a thorough review of private jet operations to fish out cheats.

The government must not be seen as pampering billionaires notorious in Nigeria for paying a disproportionate share of taxes. They must not be allowed to violate the law and avoid payment of statutory taxes. The government must avoid giving the impression that it cannot hold billionaires to account due to political and business ties.

The authorities must ensure that things are done properly. The aircraft verification exercise presents an opportunity for the government to regain lost income and it must spare no measure, including impounding defaulting aircraft until all outstanding charges are settled.

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