Chairman of the Ad-hoc committee saddled with investigating alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum sector, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi has tasked stakeholders feuding over some practices in the petroleum sector to cease fire to enable the Committee carry out a discreet investigation.
Opeyemi stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, in his opening address at a one-day stakeholders’ interactive session to commence investigative activities after a month the Committee was inaugurated by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.
He said the Committee would work in the interest of the country, emphasizing that no one was under trial, hence, all stakeholders in the industry should be ready to cooperate which requires releasing some sensitive documents to the Committee for their perusal.
The allegation of economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, he said, has been in the public domain through the media with accusation and counteraccusation, stressing that such accusation was not in the public interest now that the Committee has commenced investigation.
He said: “I urge all parties to set aside the ongoing accusations and counter-accusations as we embark on a journey towards uncovering the truth behind these matters of economic importance.
“This Ad-Hoc Committee was set up by the Senate out of genuine concern for the well-being of our nation. I, therefore, assure you that we are all committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation across all areas outlined in the Senate Resolution of 3rd July 2024.”
Opeyemi outlined that it will be necessary for the Committee to look into, examining the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with a view to uncovering loopholes.
The lawmaker’s charge was at the behest of allegations of importation of toxic fuel and other oil-related substandard substances which he said, will be investigated.
He added: “Determine the level of compliance of the NNPCL’s Direct Sale and Direct Purchase arrangements in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, including the extent of transparency and accountability in the scheme.
“Beam legislative searchlight on the activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, including payments made to transporters in the last 10 years.
”Enquire from the NNPCL the state/status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC to eliminate road distribution of petroleum products.”
He said the Committee will engage with stakeholders within the oil and gas industry to identify possible gaps in regulating and strengthening the surveillance and monitoring structures in place, to enable Nigeria to detect violations of best practice standards in the importation of products before they enter into the domestic supply chains.
In his presentation, the Group Chief Executive Officer/CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari assured the Committee of cooperation, insisting that the Company does have a skeleton in its cupboard.
He lamented that he and the NNPCL management have been under media attack by those who did not mean well for the country, notwithstanding that the NNPCL is a company that belongs to over 250 million Nigerians.
According to him, the NNPCL under his leadership has grown tremendously compared to its past in oil and gas activities, while he canvassed that the proceeding of the Adhoc investigation be transmitted live on major television stations for Nigerians to be aware of happenings in the NNPCL.
He said: “Mr Chairman, we in the NNPCL are not criminals, we are not thieves as is portrayed in the media. The company belongs to over 250 million Nigerians and the company is our future; the company belongs to all Nigerians.
The interactive session was attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, the National Chairman of IPMAN; Dangote Refinery, Executive Secretary of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed and other stakeholders.
Alleged Economic Sabotage: Opeyemi urges feuding stakeholders to cease fire for Senate investigation
Alleged Economic Sabotage: Opeyemi urges feuding stakeholders to cease fire for Senate investigation
Nigerian sports officials rally behind D’Tigress ahead Olympics quarterfinal showdown
In a show of support and solidarity, top officials from the Federal Ministry of Sports Development visited the D’Tigress team, coaching staff, and Nigerian Basketball Federation President Musa Kidda yesterday.
This was made known in a statement by the Minister of Sports and Development, John Enoh on X.com on Wednesday. 
According to Enoh, the delegation led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Tinuke Watti and acting Director FEADS Mr. Olumide Bamiduro, aimed to motivate and inspire the team ahead of their highly anticipated Olympics quarterfinal match against Team USA today, August 7.
The statement said, “In a move to motivate and inspire D’Tigress ahead of their game later today, along with the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs Tinuke Watti, the acting Director FEADS, Mr Olumide Bamiduro, we paid a visit to the players, coach, technical crew of D’Tigress, and the President of the Federation, Musa Kidda.
“Notably, D’Tigress demonstrated exceptional performance at the Paris Olympics, defeating highly-ranked FIBA teams to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, thereby making history for Africa and Nigeria. Today, August 7th, D’Tigress will face Team USA in the quarterfinals.
“I extend my best wishes for their success in the game. Let us all send the best of wishes and stay rooting for them.”
The visit comes on the heels of D’Tigress’ historic performance at the Paris Olympics, where they stunned highly-ranked FIBA teams to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
The nation holds its breath as D’Tigress takes on Team USA in what promises to be an electrifying encounter.
Nnamdi Kanu: Karma not merciful, Kenya, Buhari, others disgraced – Ejimakor warns Tinubu
Aloy Ejimakor, the lead Counsel of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has told President Bola Tinubu that karma is not merciful.
Ejimakor warned Tinubu that all those involved in Kanu’s extraordinary rendition or continued detention have been disgraced, sacked, or facing resistance from their people.
He identified the crisis in Kenya, the alleged disgrace that former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson faced, and that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was rated the worst.
In 2021, Kanu was rearrested and subjected to extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria under Buhari’s administration.
However, Ejimakor reminded Tinubu that Nigerians are on the streets protesting against his government.
Posting on X, Ejimakor wrote: “Every regime or person that had a hand in the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu either left office in disgrace or was sacked or is facing resistance from his people. For example:
“Kenya has never known peace since it rubbished its sovereignty and allowed Nigeria to criminally kidnap MAZI NNAMDI KANU from Kenya. Since then, Kenya has murdered sleep and is still struggling to recover. And Uhuru Kenyatta may as yet have a date with the ICC.
“United Kingdom, under Prime Minister Boris Johnson who covertly sanctioned the kidnap of her own citizen, saw Johnson being disgraced out of office. In the same vein, the Conservative Party lost general elections to the Labour Party. Labour Party has towed the path of the Conservative Party and today their country is in turmoil.
“Nigeria: The Buhari regime that financed the rendition of #MNK from Kenya is on record as the worst government in the history of Nigeria. That regime will forever live in infamy for imposing intolerable levels of hardship and injustice which Nigerians are struggling to overcome.
“President Tinubu, like his British counterpart Keir Stammer, has declined to release MNK and surprise surprise, citizens are on the streets of Nigeria protesting in droves. The future remains ominous.
“The Bible says: Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm. Heaven is taking vengeance on those that kidnapped MNK and have refused to right their wrongs against him. God is in heaven for real. And Karma is not merciful.”
Nnamdi Kanu: Karma not merciful, Kenya, Buhari, others disgraced – Ejimakor warns Tinubu
BREAKING: I understand your pains, new dawn very near -Tinubu to Nigerians
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with his administration, assuring that the country is about to enter a new dawn.
Tinubu made this appeal on Wednesday, acknowledging the hardship Nigerians are going through as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
He also admitted that an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and his good and helpful plans compounded Nigerians’ pains.
“Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there’s no doubt that it is tough on us but I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work. Sadly, there was an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online,” he said.
The president assured that the measures his government has taken would get the country out of the lingering economic crisis, urging Nigerians to have faith in his administration.
“I plead with you, please, have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
“For example, we shall fulfill our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian students will have to abandon the higher education system because of lack of money.
“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter, I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women, that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. Now, I must get back to work to make this vision come true,: he added
This marks the second time the President would address Nigerians amid the lingering tension in some parts of the country.
BREAKING: I understand your pains, new dawn very near –Tinubu to Nigerians
Minister, FRSC boss laud retired deputy corps marshal
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has lauded a retired Deputy Corps Marshal, Training, Bisi Kazeem for his outstanding contributions to the Federal Road Safety Commission.
Tunji-Ojo hailed Kazeem during the 11th valedictory lecture series of the commission on Wednesday in Abuja.
In his 35-year career, Kazeem was credited with significantly enhancing the organisation, leaving it in a notably improved state from when he first joined.
The minister praised Kazeem’s dedication, saying, “You have created a legacy. You might think you are retired, but you are not tired.
“I am proud to call myself his brother because he has done well. Thank you so much for making the FRSC better than the way you met it.”
He also emphasised the continued importance of the corps within Nigeria’s internal security framework, noting the vital role that road safety plays in logistics and overall security.
“And for the Road Safety Commission, I sincerely believe you have a bigger role to play even within the internal security architecture of Nigeria,” he said.
In his remarks, the FRSC boss, Shehu Mohammed, echoed the minister’s sentiments during the event.
“Today, we honour and bid farewell to a dedicated and exemplary officer, Deputy Corps Marshal Olabisi Kazeem. Your unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions have left an indelible mark on our organisation and the nation,” Mohammed stated.
He highlighted Kazeem’s leadership and his efforts in setting new standards of excellence, noting, “It is clear that you consistently strive beyond the core of duty to set new standards of excellence and exemplary leadership in discharging your duties while in service.
“As you embark on this new chapter of your life, I have no doubt that your experiences in the federal receptacle will be brought to bear on your future engagements with greater impact.
“Meanwhile, remain assured that the corps will call on you any time we need your service, and I hope you will oblige us when we do.”
In his lecture titled, “Resilience, loyalty, and Grace: How I thrived working closely with three Corps Marshals in FRSC,” Kazeem expressed deep emotion as he reflected on his long tenure with the corps, which he described as a “home and family” for 35 years.
He recounted his experiences working under eight Corps Marshals and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work closely with three of them in his later years.
Kazeem emphasised the values of resilience, loyalty and grace that guided him throughout his career, and he vowed to continue mentoring future leaders as he transitions to retirement.
Reps earn N600,000 monthly, not N900,000
The spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Rotimi Akin, has stated that the monthly salary for the lawmakers is N600,000 as against the N900,000 as speculated.
Akin clarified in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja as he reaffirmed the commitment of the House members to the 50 per cent deduction in their salaries to reduce hardship.
He said, “The House of Representatives has been inundated by some media outlets reporting claims of discrepancies in the salaries of members, suggesting that we received 100 per cent of our July salaries.
“The report claimed that our salary amounted to N936,979.
“We wish to clarify that the actual monthly salary for members is N600,000, after deductions for advances such as housing, which are paid at the commencement of the tenure.”
He said that the member who displayed his salary on a Television programme was an exceptional case because he assumed office through a court decision many months after the onboarding process was concluded.
He said the House remained committed to the resolution passed on July 18, 2024, which mandated a 50 per cent reduction in the salaries of members for six months.
“We acknowledge and regret that this resolution was not implemented by the bureaucracy as intended for July.
“Resolutions of the House are ratified when the votes and proceedings of plenary are adopted on the next legislative day. Consequently, the bureaucracy was only formally instructed on July 23,” Akin said.
He added that the delay in the implementation was due to necessary administrative procedures and coordination with financial institutions.
He added that instructions for adjusting salaries had since been issued and would be enforced moving forward to ensure its pledge is fully realised.
“There is nothing to investigate, as some media houses reported, as the House’s position on this matter had been provided to some journalists who had reached out for clarification,” Akin said.
He called for patience and assured of the House’s steadfast adherence to its pledge, and sustained efforts to earn the trust and confidence of all Nigerians.
NAN
#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Military coup no longer acceptable in Nigeria
The former Chief Security Officer to the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, has condemned agitations for a military takeover in the country stressing that military coup is a thing of the past that no longer has a place in Nigeria.
Al-Mustapha stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing select journalists on the hardship being faced by many citizens occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
He described the call for a military takeover as a misplaced priority stressing that there was no longer room for military intervention in Nigeria’s political affairs.
He noted that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and advised that Nigeria pick a system of government best suitable for her people rather than being a copycat and adopting America or Britain’s system of government which were chosen because they were best suitable for them.
He also advised those calling for a military takeover to channel their energies into investing in military subordination to democracy, adding that military rule was no longer fashionable the world over.
He said he was now a democrat and would not subscribe to any insubordination to democracy in whatever guise, asking those calling for a coup to drop the idea and rather work to deepen the nation’s democracy.
“I am by definition today, a politician, I am looking at this country today from a democratic sense. We have invested in it and we are investing in it. Our researches are all towards the investment of democratic excellence in Nigeria.
“Military subordination to democracy is a clear direction as the world is today. But when you have democracy, the type that we are operating -presidential system,” he said.
He added, “In a debate, in our presentation in the past, I said I am against the presidential system in Nigeria and the examples I gave is the fact that two close countries, the closest to us, the United Kingdom and the United States, one is operating parliamentary system and the other is operating presidential system, all has to do with their historical backgrounds, with conveniences of the people and Nigeria is simply a copy cat.
“We copied the parliamentary system, we changed it to the presidential system! All the two are strange to our culture, to our history, to our background, to our understanding as a people. How can you bring the same system and adopt it as yours? It would not work, it would be repulsive.
“Some politicians came to me and said you need not say that in the open, allow us to continue to operate the way we are’, but I cannot form part of cheating.
“What did I say? I said the United States is a country where immigrants who became citizens, have laws protecting them and the question I asked was, in Nigeria, who is an immigrant and who is an indigene? How can you have more laws and a system of governance that is protective of immigrants? Who is an immigrant in Nigeria? We are all citizens. So, we need to chart our own course, we have to have a domestic type of democracy that will suit us and suit our future. That is what I am calling for but the issue of military is a no.”
Speaking further he urged the coup agitators to channel their energies towards military professionalism for the country.
“My advice to them is that military professionalism is what they should canvas for. Military subordination to democracy is what they should invest in and put all their energies there for,” he stated.
Our two officers are missing – NYSC raises alarm
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has raised alarm over the disappearance of two of its officers.
A statement signed by Eddy Megwa, Director of Information and Public Relations of the scheme, said the corps members went missing between Onitsha and Owerri Road on Monday, July 29, 2024.
“The Officers, Mr Okun Christopher, NYSC Akwa-Ibom State Coordinator and his driver, Mr Daniel Effiong Asibong were on transit to Uyo in Akwa-Ibom in a white official Hilux vehicle with registration number 27D31FG when they were last communicated with,” it said.
“It said all efforts to locate their whereabouts have yielded no result to date.
The Scheme called on anyone with useful information regarding their whereabouts to contact any of the 37 NYSC State Secretariats, Area Offices and the National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja or the nearest police station or other security agencies for prompt action.
Our two officers are missing – NYSC raises alarm
Look beyond present ‘temporary’ pains, Tinubu begs Nigerians
President Bola Tinubu has pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with his administration, assuring them that the country is transitioning from darkness to dawn.
In an official video released by the State House on Wednesday, Tinubu acknowledged the country’s ongoing hardships due to the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
He noted that Nigerians’ pain was compounded by what he described as an “avoidable lag” between the subsidy removal and his helpful plans for the country.
Details later…
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EndBadGovernance: Protest resumes in Ibadan despite Tinubu’s broadcast
The ongoing protest against widespread hunger and scarcity of essential commodities across the country resumed on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
This is coming a few days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed Nigerians in a national broadcast.
Tinubu, on Sunday during the national broadcast said that he had heard the messages of the protesters loud and clear.
Our correspondent however reports that a group of protesters assembled at the front of the University of Ibadan to continue with the protest on Wednesday.
The protesters who are mainly human rights activists and youths were seen around the main gate of the university Wednesday morning.
The protesters carried different placards to communicate their demands to the public.
A spokesman for the protesters, Solomon Emiola who spoke with TVN notes that the protesters resumed the protests because the national broadcast failed to address the yearnings of Nigerians.
Emiola said, “We are protesting because the President failed to address the needs of the Nigerian masses. He has failed to address the needs of the people.
“He said all the demands of the people, the solution to it is rice palliative. And we are tired of eating rice. A bag of rice now is ninety thousand naira.
“I as a person, don’t have a piece of rice in my house now, not to talk of having a congo or rice. That means we Nigerians, we are suffering.
“And with the high cost of living, we cannot go to school because the tuition fees have increased. The tuition fees are above minimum wage, where do they want us to see it?
“No employment, insecurity is there, all the problems keep ravaging and our president said he is not ready to address it”.
EndBadGovernance: Protest resumes in Ibadan despite Tinubu’s broadcast