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Subsidy removal: Nigerian government to offer palliatives – NNPC Boss

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Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited, has stated that he is aware of plans by Bola Tinubu, the Vice President of Nigeria, to provide palliative to citizens in order to reduce the amount of hardship that has been caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

This information was shared by Mr. Kyari while he was speaking to journalists immediately following a meeting with the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, the party currently in power.

Read Also: APC chairman, Adamu says Nigerians in difficult moment over fuel subsidy removal

The Group Managing Director of NNPC (GNPC GMD) stated that one of the Nigerian refineries will become operational this year, which will result in a reduction in the cost of importing fuel. He also stated that eventually, NNPC will no longer be the only importer of fuel in Nigeria.

“The creation of a flexible and single-effect regime is currently going through a gradual process. There is currently a transition taking place that will eventually make it possible for everyone to have access to foreign exchange. And NNPC cannot continue to be the sole importer. We are aware that this will go away, and the market will eventually establish a new equilibrium.

The process of rehabilitation is still going on, and one of the refineries is scheduled to start operating again this year. The second one will start operating the following year, and the third one won’t start until 2025.

“Of course, it should come as no surprise that we are no longer able to afford it. The bills for the subsidies have accumulated. The government of this country is unable to compensate NNPC for the amount of money that is being spent on subsidies. As a result, setting the prices of these petroleum products according to market conditions is the appropriate action to take at this time. Kyari stated that “we believed that this will benefit the country as a whole in the long run and in the long term”

He went on to say that the most recent administration did not allocate any funds for the purpose of subsidy.

There was a subsidy in the year 2022, but there was not one single naira provided in the year 2023 for the purpose of financing the subsidy.

“And ultimately, despite the fact that we avoided incurring additional fiscal obligations, we still have a net balance of more than N2.8 trillion that the federation ought to have returned to the NNPC.

Read Also: Gbajabiamila addresses Tinubu’s CoS appointment rumours

Kyari stated that it is impossible for a business to have receivables when the company’s net worth is negative N2.8 trillion because “there is no company in the whole of Africa that will lend to you, you cannot have receivables.”

 

Gbajabiamila addresses Tinubu’s CoS appointment rumours

On Thursday, Femi Gbajabiamila, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, addressed rumours that he had been appointed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chief of staff.

Since February 25, when Tinubu was declared the election’s winner, Gbajabiamila has been associated with the speakership contest.

After several hours of discussions and consultations, the president reportedly chose Gbajabiamila, according to reports that surfaced earlier on Thursday.

On Thursday, Gbajabiamila told reporters that people should let the system work after meeting with Senate President Ahmad Lawan and President Tinubu.

“Be patient; the system functions in its own way. He was asked why his widely publicised appointment had not been made official amid congrats, to which he replied, “Let’s let the system work.

Read Also: UN climate agency chooses Argentina’s Saulo

When asked if it would be revealed by day’s end, he responded, “We’ll see, we’ll see, we’ll see. I appreciate it very much.

For his part, Lawan said he was awaiting a formal announcement and added, “If that happens, Mr. President would have made a very wise decision.”

UN climate agency chooses Argentina’s Saulo

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The World Meteorological Organisation elected Celeste Saulo of Argentina as its first female leader on Thursday. She will lead the WMO’s crucial global role in monitoring climate change.

At the UN climate and weather agency’s congress in Geneva, Saulo, a WMO vice-president and the head of Argentina’s weather service since 2014, won with a resounding majority.

 

Saulo, 59, is likely to become a well-known spokesperson on this crucial global issue as the WMO’s involvement in climate change has grown.

“In these times when inequality and climate change are the greatest global threats, the WMO must contribute to strengthening the meteorological and hydrological services to protect populations and their economies, providing timely and effective services and early warning systems,” Saulo said after her election.

“My goal is to steer the WMO towards a situation where all members’ voices are heard equally, the needs of the most vulnerable are prioritised, and each member’s unique needs and characteristics are taken into account when determining the course of action.”

On January 1, she will replace departing secretary-general Petteri Taalas. The maximum second term of the Finnish meteorologist, which lasted four years, is about to expire.

The WMO coordinates global efforts to track greenhouse gases, sea levels, temperatures, glacier melt, and other indicators of climate change.

It uses thousands of weather stations and satellites to measure important aspects of the atmosphere, land, and ocean.
– Priority for early warning
The general assembly of the 193 WMO member states and territories, which occurs every four years, included the leadership election on the penultimate day of the congress.

By the end of 2027, the congress, which convened on May 22, passed a resolution mandating that early warning systems for dangerous weather events be available to everyone on Earth.

Given the growing effects of melting sea ice, glaciers, and permafrost on sea level rise, it elevated the cryosphere, or frozen world, to the top of the agenda.

Additionally, a new initiative was approved that aims to improve global greenhouse gas monitoring by combining observations from the surface and space.

The main objective, according to Saulo, is to work on behalf of the member nations and territories and bring their voice—the voice of the developing world, small island states, and the less developed world—in order to accomplish our priorities.

“Early warning for everyone is a key initiative, and we will work to make it a reality.

“I have faith. This outcome demonstrates that people are upbeat and that improvements are possible.
– The ‘pride’ of Argentina
Saulo, the head of Argentina’s National Meteorological Service, won the election by defeating three other WMO senior officials.

They were the third, Chinese assistant secretary-general Zhang Wenjian, the second vice-president Albert Martis of Curacao, and the current number two, Russian-Swiss deputy secretary-general Elena Manaenkova.

With 108 votes, Saulo received the necessary two-thirds majority on the first vote. Zhang, who was her main rival, got 37, a diplomatic source claimed.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez posted on Twitter, “Argentine science continues to be recognised in the world. What pride!”

Santiago Cafiero, Argentina’s foreign minister, was quoted in a statement as saying that Saulo “inspires us all with confidence” and that “for Argentina, the candidature is strategic, important, and relevant in the history of our country.”

She possessed “the proper professionalism — and a vision,” according to Cafiero.

Saulo’s appointment was hailed as “good news” by Amy Pope, who will take over as head of the UN Migration Agency, who cited female UN officials in Geneva who “are very focused, not on ego but on getting the work done.”

The International Organisation for Migration’s incoming director general wants to concentrate her leadership on the factors that are driving population movement in the twenty-first century, like climate change.

Pope stated, “WMO will have significant data that is pertinent to the work that we do… we can collaborate so that we get better results for more people.

Mbah declares no more Enugu sit-at-home

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With effect starting on Monday, June 6, 2023, Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Mbah has ruled that sit-at-home orders are no longer allowed in the state because they limit ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and productivity.

However, he stated that the government was “willing to engage in dialogue with people who have genuine grievances in order to bring lasting peace and security to Enugu State.”

Read Also: Two PDP Assembly candidates join APC: Kogi Guber elections

At the same time, he urged President Bola Tinubu to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in order to hasten Nigeria’s urgently needed healing process.

Mbah made the statement Thursday at the Government House in Enugu while outlining the decisions made following his first security council meeting with the heads of all security agencies.

The Governor reminded the citizens of Enugu that he had started off strong on the day of his inauguration by signing three executive orders for the state’s good governance, including Executive Order 002 for the removal of “Unauthorised Street Barriers Across the State Within 100 Days.” The Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, was also present at the meeting.

“Time is of the essence. The deadline for the mandate you gave me and the deliverables I pledged has passed, he said.

“A people must decide at some point in their lives whether they truly want to advance or stay confined to the circumstances of their underdevelopment.

“The Ndi Igbo’s creativity and work ethic are amazing. We are born with an aptitude for business and entrepreneurship.

If this is how we are perceived, it is inconsistent with reality to say that every Monday in our country, the spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce, and creativity is put to death. Our industry’s restless spirit detests complacency and indolence.

“It is abhorrent and contrary to greatness and the spirit of industry we claim to have inherited from our ancestors to sit at home on Monday, the first working and business day of the week. That cannot be us. (May God forbid) Tufiakwa. He continued, “It causes us enormous harm.

Mbah reminded the populace that the prosperity of the state’s economy was directly related to the lofty promises he had made to them.

“In order for us to transition from a public service economy to one that is driven by the private sector, we must free our markets from the chains of trade restrictions. If we really want to attract more private sector workers and investors to Enugu State, we must realise that this won’t happen if people see us as unproductive people.

Therefore, those who go on strike every Monday and stifle the creative spirit of the Igbo people cannot truly represent us. They actually destroy our spirit.

“We are aware of the commercial potential of our land. To succeed and generate revenue, businesses, entrepreneurs, and trade need a thriving workforce and sizable markets.

“There will, therefore, be no sit-at-home day observed starting on Monday, June 6, 2023, throughout the entirety of Enugu State.

“Government will use all of its resources to enforce this.

“My charge to all of you – market men and women, the corporate world, industries, schools, civil servants, and all strata of workers in Enugu State – is that we must reclaim our sense of industry, pride of place, and recreate our glorious past.

He continued, “By answering this call, you would have put us on the road to actualizing our mandate.”

Mbah disagreed, stating that the nation’s healing depended on Kanu’s release.

“I urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our recently sworn-in leader, to actively work for MazI Nnamdi Kanu’s release. We think that his release will hasten Nigeria’s current healing process.

It will also serve as a sign that his administration has extended brotherly fellowship to Ndigbo, he said.

Two PDP Assembly candidates join APC: Kogi Guber elections

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The candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Lokoja I and II State Constituency in the most recent general election, Hon. Ahmed Shehu Yabagi and Hon. Ishaiku Kashim Musa, have left the party and joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in advance of the November election for governor.

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was there to greet them when they arrived.

The decision of the politicians to join the ruling party has Governor Bello ecstatic, and he expressed his happiness about it.

He maintained that the capacity of an individual is what his administration respects and values, and not necessarily how long someone has been a member of the ruling party.

He admonished the politicians to make use of their vast experience and added that they should also encourage their supporters to work diligently for the victory of their party.

Read Also: From “baby factory” in Rivers, police manage to free six pregnant girls

The new members of the APC gave separate statements to the Governor in which they reaffirmed their intention to act in a manner that is consistent with the principles that guide their new political home.

In the meantime, Bashorun Moses Eseyin, who was running to represent the Accord party as the senatorial candidate for Kogi West in the general elections of 2023, has resigned his membership in the party.

Eseyin did not provide a justification for his departure from the Accord Party in his resignation letter.

His resignation was communicated in writing to the chairman of the party in Ward 6 of the Mopamuro Local Government Area in the state of Kogi.

The letter had the date of May 31st, 2023 on it.

Tinubu still committed to changing APC’s reward system: Marafa

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According to Senator Kabir Garba Marafa, who serves as the Zamfara State Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is putting machineries in place to strengthen the reward system of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This information was provided by Senator Kabir Garba Marafa.

Marafa stated that now that Tinubu is at the helm of the affairs of the country, the era of “monkey de work baboon de chop” is over. He emphasised that those who genuinely worked for Tinubu’s victory at the election on February 28 will be rewarded.

There are concerns within the APC that long-standing members who have laboured for the party do not get rewarded, while new entrants get desirable positions in government. These concerns stem from the fact that the APC has been in power for a longer period of time.

But while speaking to members of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council from Zamfara State on Wednesday night in Abuja, Marafa said that Tinubu values their contributions and will reward them for helping him win at the polls.

The event was planned to express gratitude to God for Tinubu’s victory and the smooth swearing-in ceremony that took place the previous Monday.

The event was attended by a large number of members of the Zamfara PCC, including women and young people, who travelled from each of the state’s 14 LGAs to be there.

Although Tinubu was victorious in Zamfara during the presidential election, the incumbent party was defeated in the state’s race for governor.

Marafa, on the other hand, blamed hypocrisy and activities against the party by some of the APC’s chieftains for the party’s loss in the election for governor of Zamfara State. He claimed that President Tinubu is aware of those who worked against him in the state.

He stated, “I am not good at sycophancy and hypocrisy, but Mr. President appreciates me; he obliged me immediately when the issue of inauguration came up, and I have reasons to complain.” He was referring to the fact that the President had shown his appreciation for him. There are those who would say that he has already begun.

Read Also: From “baby factory” in Rivers, police manage to free six pregnant girls

“We were given the responsibility of serving as test subjects for these activities in each of our respective states. We were given the mandate by the PCC central to have a state coordinator, three zonal coordinators, and like Zamfara fourteen local government coordinators, 147 ward coordinators, and over 3,500 polling unit coordinators. We gathered all of these personalities and worked together tirelessly day and night. However, now that it is time for the inauguration, we do not have any invitations extended to our people.

“Mr. President told Marafa to go and represent me, so please call them and thank them on my behalf. Let’s get started right away,” she said.

“Mr. President stated that he is still committed to his promise to alter the reward system that the government uses, and I have no doubt that he will carry out his promise. You, the fine citizens of Zamfara, have Mr. President’s gratitude and appreciation.

“Politics is about welcoming everyone, and politics is about the people. Therefore, what we were successful in accomplishing in Zamfara was due to the combined efforts of all of you. We gathered together in order to give. We are thankful to God because he has entrusted us with a responsibility, which we have successfully completed. God is the one in control, not us. We owe it all to God because He made it possible for each and every one of us.

“Pity is reserved for those who made no effort at all, while sympathy is extended to those who did their best but fell short. Failure is a necessary component of success; in the absence of failure, it is impossible to achieve one’s goals. This experience has taught us a great deal. We are grateful to those who share our sympathies.

“I am thankful to God for the mercy he has shown to us because we have won in the past, we have won again, and we have won yet again. So what exactly is the big deal if we end up losing this match? It is impossible to determine who is superior until there is some basis for comparison.

“Some people were given an assignment, and they failed miserably at it, whereas we were given an assignment, and we delivered triumphantly, so we thank God for his mercies upon us.” I want to reassure you that the president is thinking about Zamfara despite the fact that he is the president of the entire country and not just of Zamfara.

“We have informed him of everything; he is aware of the anti-party activity that was carried out in the state of Zamfara. And he gave us his word that the days of “monkey do the work and baboon do the chop” were behind us.

“I thank God because throughout my entire career in politics, up until the present day, even my adversaries can attest to the fact that I am not a hypocrite and I do not lie, and I thank God for that.

“Except for the women’s club, I don’t belong to any other so-called ‘clubs.'” They made up a significant portion of my electorate, and I will never stop valuing women and I will never stop identifying with them.

We are all aware of the hypocrites in this world. How did we end up losing the election for governor of the state? The actions of hypocrites are to blame, plain and simple.

Since the time that the president visited Zamfara State, we have noticed a pattern of hypocrisy in the state of Zamfara. That is when we first noticed the cracks in the wall.

“Thank God, we were able to identify them and put a stop to them in their tracks, and as a result, our president won by a very large margin. Praise be to God.”

Read Also: APC Chairman, Adamu Says Nigerians in difficult moment over fuel subsidy removal

During the event, several leaders of the party gave speeches in which they praised Bello Matawalle, who had served as governor of Zamfara State not too long ago, and expressed optimism that the party will be able to win back control of the state through the legal system.

They also prayed for Tinubu’s administration to be successful, saying that with God’s grace, the challenges that the country is currently facing will be overcome.

APC chairman, Adamu says Nigerians in difficult moment over fuel subsidy removal

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Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has admitted that the removal of fuel subsidies is creating a difficult and challenging situation for the people of Nigeria.

Yesterday, he made these remarks at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, during a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the governors, under the umbrella of the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), led by its newly elected Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State. The meeting was organized by the newly elected Chairman of the PGF, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

The 10 governors in attendance were Imo, Uzodimma, Yobe, Mai Mala Buni, Kogi, Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago, Kaduna, Ubah Sani, Gombe, Mohammed Inua Yahaya, and Kebbi, Nasir Idris.

Adamu told the governors that they have emerged at a very difficult time, confessing that the removal of the fuel subsidy will be very challenging for Nigerians, particularly the state governors where it matters the most. Adamu also admitted that the removal of the subsidy will be very challenging for the international community.

Read Also: Tinubu, head of EFCC meet in presidential villa

In addition, he assured them that the party will not only provide them with every necessary support that will help them succeed, but he also told them to be prepared to carry their crosses in their respective states. He said this at the same time that he told them to be ready to carry their crosses.

Adamu shared his thoughts by saying, “For us, anything that we want to say to you is adherence to the manifesto as much as you can.” You represent those who wave the flag of the party, and it is expected that whatever you do, you will keep in mind the manifesto that the party gives the country. We have a general framework for the governance of the country, and you represent those who fly the flag of the party.

“You, as the chief executive officers of the states, are required to implement this manifesto; however, there are certain peculiarities, there are certain priorities you are required to have set, and you are obligated to do as much as you can to live up to the expectations of those who voted for us.

“You have arrived at a very difficult time, and we are in the midst of a very difficult circumstance. Even with the timing so, of the lifting of the fuel subsidy, this is going to be a very special challenge for us, and particularly for you because you are where it matters the most. Even with the timing so, of the lifting of the fuel subsidy. As a result of national politics, you are the shock absorbers in the many different states that make up the federation. You are one of the community members. You share your morning routine with other people and go to work alongside them. It is expected of you that you will be able to have a better understanding of the difficulties they face as citizens of this country. As a result, as governors of the federating units of this great country, you will be held to a very high standard of accountability.

“Insofar as the party is concerned, we are prepared to provide you with any and all forms of cooperation you may require. Turn to us whenever you find yourself in a bind, and we will provide you with the most sound guidance we are able to muster. But regardless of what we decide to do with you, you are the one who will be walking around in those shoes and will know exactly where the pressure points are.

“The first two years will be dedicated to actual governance. You won’t even notice it, but before you know it, you’ll be done with the tribunals, it will be close to two years, and you’ll start to see flyers, posters, and billboards, as well as publications in newspapers. In our democratic system, this has been a long-standing tradition, which may or may not be a good thing. It is imperative that we be prepared for that. Therefore, you cannot afford to lose any more time.

“It is to your good fortune that you have a president who will pay attention to what you have to say. He has arrived with identical urgency and yearning to complete the delivery. So, you are lucky. But whatever you decide to do, you must not forget that you are the one who will carry your cross.

“As a political party, we will not stand in the way of a productive programme,” the speaker said. “I ask that if this happens, someone bring it to our attention so that we can put a stop to it,” he said.

Adamu explained the reason for the postponement of the meeting as follows: “It has been our intention to have the opportunity of receiving our governors immediately after the gubernatorial and states Houses of Assembly elections. However, the meeting was postponed.” However, almost immediately after those elections, our newly elected president left the country and was gone for approximately five weeks.

“Before we held such a significant meeting as the one with the governors and the party, we decided that it would be in everyone’s best interest if he were present on the ground. It took the wind out of our sails when the issue of power distribution in the National Assembly was already a hot topic by the time he got back, and by that point, the space was already buzzing with discussion about it.

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“So we got engaged trying to see how best we can reach some understanding and before we got over that, we had inaugural activities and we are better placed now to settle down, to invite our governors,” he said. “So we got engaged trying to see how best we can reach some understanding.”

NSA, NAFDAC will combat drug abuse

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In an effort to reduce the use of illegal drugs throughout the nation, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control partnered on Wednesday.

The National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre, ONSA, Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa (retd. ), claimed that the use of illegal drugs was “fueling insecurity” in the nation, according to a statement by the Director, Strategic Communications, ONSA, Ozoya Imohimi.

“Drug is one of those foods fueling insecurity in Nigeria and the need to strengthen collaborations among relevant government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, particularly NAFDAC, to tackle this menace, must be sustained for a safe and resilient society,” the statement said in part.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the director general of NAFDAC, urged all Nigerians to expose drug dealers, saying that drugs had destroyed many young people’s futures.

She pledged that her organization’s continued partnership with the NCTC in the ONSA would result in more advantageous outcomes for Nigeria.

We didn’t devalue Nigerian naira – CBN.

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Reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria, also known as the CBN, devalued the Naira have been refuted by the CBN.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had devalued the naira from N631 to the dollar to N461.60, which it had sold at the Importers and Exporters (I&E) window the day before.

On the other hand, the CBN stated unequivocally in a tweet that it sent out Thursday morning via its official Twitter handle that “CBN did not devalue the Naira!”

The rumoured currency devaluation comes just under 48 hours after President Bola Tinubu announced the plans of the federal government to unify Nigeria’s exchange rate in an effort to stimulate the economy of the country, which is currently in a state of decline.

Read Also: Tinubu, APC, INEC oppose admitting Atiku’s documents into evidence

You may recall that in his inaugural address, the President stated that “Monetary policy needs a thorough house cleaning.”

In light of the recent events, Tinubu met with Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, on Tuesday at the presidential villa.

It was speculated that the meeting was used to discuss the problem of the fluctuating exchange rate as well as the elimination of the government subsidy for petrol.

From “baby factory” in Rivers, police manage to free six pregnant girls

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In Aluu, which is located in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state of Rivers, the Rivers State Police Command has uncovered a “baby factory” that was being operated by a child trafficking ring.

Six pregnant women were rescued by the command from the facility that manufactured babies.

The women, who ranged in age from 20 to 23, were being held captive with the intention of trading their newborn children after the women had given birth to them.

Akudo Azoroh, the owner and operator of the child trafficking centre, as well as the pregnant women were all taken into custody on Tuesday, along with Azoroh, who admitted to running the illegal enterprise.

Azoroh explained that she does not give the babies to ritualists but rather to families that are childless due to their inability to have children of their own.

She mentioned that the women were already pregnant when they came to her, and she added that she pays off the girls as much as N800,000 to N900,00 depending on the stage of the pregnancy they were in when they came to her as well as the gender of the child they delivered.

According to her, “I have given out a total of six children throughout the course of my business, which was established three years ago.” They were already pregnant when they came to me; they came to me on their own accord. I do not have boys who are responsible for getting the girls pregnant.

“I give out the babies only to families that do not have children and not to ritualists; I give them out for between N1.4 and N1.5 million, depending on the sex of the baby, while I pay their mothers off depending on the stage of pregnancy at the time they came,” she said. “I give out the babies for between N1.4 and N1.5 million, depending on the sex of the baby.”

Some of the women who were pregnant admitted that they went to the factory while they were pregnant with the intention of giving the children away after they were born because they did not have the financial means to provide for the children after they were born.