The Zamfara State Government has urged the federal government to intensify efforts to address the severe security challenges bedeviling the entire state, which it stated is the major problem facing the region.
This was disclosed by the state governor, Dauda Lawal, who spoke through the State’s Commissioner of Project Implementation, Hon Nasiru Ibrahim Zurmi, during a town hall meeting organised in Gusau by the Office of the Personal Assistant to President Tinubu on Constituency Affairs, Ms Khadija Omotayo Kareem.
The governor further appealed to the Federal Government to construct the Gotawa Earth Dam in the Zurmi and Shinkafi axis, the Kwatarkwashi—Rawayya bypass, the Anka—Bagega—Mutunji federal roads, and other developmental projects in the state.
He explained that there was insufficient Federal Government presence in the state, apart from the ongoing construction of the Zaria—Sokoto road, which he said was initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“It is very clear that the people of Zamfara State contributed the highest number of votes to Tinubu in the last presidential election, more than any other state in the northwest zone,” the Governor added.
Recall that on Tuesday, while receiving Ms Khadija and her entourage in his office, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government (SSG), Malam Abubakar Mohammed Nakwada, on behalf of the government and people of Zamfara State, promised to compile some demands for onward submission to Mr President.
“The people of Zamfara have spoken, and you heard them loud and clear. The Zamfara State Government has aligned with the position of its people here,” he added.
“On our part, we have some projects that we require from the Federal Government because, apart from the Zaria—Sokoto road which was awarded by former President Buhari before he left office, we don’t have a single project that was initiated by this administration.
“For instance, the Federal Government has constructed many bypass roads in other states like Kaduna and Kano.
“Based on that, we made a proposal for the construction of a bypass road from Kwatarkwashi to Rawayya to link up with the Gusau—Kaura Namoda road. We also made a submission for the construction of a federal road that starts from Anka—Bagega—Mutunji.
“We equally made submissions for the construction of Gotawa Dam, which has the potential of irrigating 18,000 hectares of land for dry season farming and generating up to 100 megawatts of electricity.”
In her remarks earlier, the PA to Mr President on Constituency Affairs, Hon. Khadijat Omotayo, appreciated the Zamfara State Government for their hospitality, reaffirming that all the submissions would be escalated to Mr President who, according to her, has Zamfara State in mind.
Zamfara Govt urges FG to tackle insecurity, construct dam, more federal roads
Zamfara Govt urges FG to tackle insecurity, construct dam, more federal roads
Super Falcons face tough test against Brazil in Olympics opener
Nigeria’s Super Falcon will slug it out with Brazil in their first Women’s Olympic Football Tournament game on Thursday.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 6pm local time on Thursday at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France.
This opening clash promises to be a test of skill and strategy as the Super Falcons face one of the tournament’s strong contenders.
According Online reports that anticipation is high, with fans eager to see how the Super Falcons will perform against a formidable Brazilian side.
Super Falcon’s preparation has been intense, and they are determined to put up a robust fight in their Olympic campaign opener.
Officiating crew for the game was also obtained by our correspondent from the tournament website on Thursday.
The match will be overseen by referee Yu-Jeong Kim. She will be assisted by Mi-Suk Park as Assistant Referee 1 and Joanna Kate Charaktis as Assistant Referee 2. The fourth official for the game will be Jelena Cvetković.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) responsibilities will be handled by Kate Jacewicz, with Ivan Bebek serving as the Assistant VAR.
According Online reports that the two nations have faced each other twice in previous encounters, with Brazil emerging victorious in both matches at full time.
Spain and Japan, the other two teams in Group C, will play their match earlier at 4pm.
France v Colombia, Spain v Japan and Germany v Australia among mouthwatering opening-day clashes.
“All 12 teams will begin their campaigns on a blockbuster opening day of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024.
“Host nation France will take on Colombia, while world champions Spain will face off with Japan. That game represents a rematch of their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ group-stage meeting, which the Nadeshiko won 4-0.
“Germany will lock horns with Australia in another tantalising tussle, while USA, Brazil and Canada are also in action,” a Wednesday statement from the website read.
Protests: We don’t know what Nigerians want – Gov Uzodimma
The Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, has said that it is not clear what those supporting the forthcoming nationwide protests are protesting for.
Uzodimma also appealed to Nigerians to shelve the planned nationwide protest against President Bola Tinubu-led government slated for August 1 to August 10.
The governor made the appeal after a closed-door meeting with the governors in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, it was unwise at this moment in the country for any demonstration by any group.
Uzodimma said people were supporting or instigating groups of people to protest, adding “we don’t know what they are protesting for.’’
“We think it is not wise at this moment for any demonstration by any group of persons be it in whatever guise. This is so that we can manage the challenge of insecurity, the challenge of national minimum wage, the challenge of food security and then the struggle to come out of the current economic recession. We are using this opportunity to also advise our young boys and girls to desist from being instigated into causing crisis or chaos in the country.
“Already, Nigerians have suffered a lot; the global economic recession, the insecurity in Nigeria, the political tension occasioned by instigations and campaign of calumny by opposition parties, the social media attacks on various policies of the government. We want to advise for the interest of the country and as a show of patriotism, our citizens must take ownership of this country because we have no other country we can call our own outside Nigeria”
Uzodimma urged Nigerians to be patient with the government, noting that efforts were underway to ameliorate the economic hardship experienced in the country.
Protests: We don’t know what Nigerians want – Gov Uzodimma
Enterprise Development Centre and Mastercard Foundation Announce the Fifth Year of the Transforming Nigerian Youth Program
The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation is excited to announce the commencement of the fifth year of the Transforming Nigerian Youth (TNY) program. This innovative initiative has successfully empowered thousands of young female entrepreneurs and aspiring businesswomen across Nigeria, offering both online and in-person training sessions in various states and locations nationwide.
Since its inception, the Transforming Nigerian Youth program has significantly impacted women aged 18-35 years by fostering entrepreneurial skills and providing the necessary tools to succeed. With a focus on online accessibility and inclusivity, the program has already trained over 141,000 women and counting.
“We are incredibly proud of the impact the Transforming Nigerian Youth program has had over the past four years,” said Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director, the Enterprise Development Centre. “Our collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation has enabled us to reach and empower many young women, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in their entrepreneurial journeys.”
The fifth year of the program promises to build on past successes, offering an enhanced curriculum that covers critical areas such as business planning, financial management, marketing, and digital skills. Participants will also benefit from mentorship opportunities, networking events, and access to resources that can help turn their business ideas into reality.
For the first time, the program will offer an expanded suite of online resources, including virtual workshops, webinars, and an interactive community platform. This digital component ensures that women from even the most remote areas of Nigeria can participate, overcoming geographical barriers and allowing for greater flexibility in learning.
“We are calling on all female entrepreneurs and aspiring businesswomen between the ages of 18-35 to seize this opportunity and register for the Transforming Nigerian Youth program,” added Dr. Nneka. “This is a unique chance to join a community of like-minded individuals and gain the knowledge and support needed to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.”
Registration is now open, and interested participants are encouraged to visit [bit.ly/tnypapply] to apply and start learning immediately.
About Enterprise Development Centre (EDC):
The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) is committed to building and supporting the capacities of entrepreneurs across Nigeria. Through various initiatives, EDC aims to foster economic growth and development by empowering individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in business.
About Mastercard Foundation:
The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its partnerships and initiatives, the Foundation works to advance financial inclusion, education, and entrepreneurship, particularly for young people and women in Africa.
Man charged with attempted murder in UK soldier stabbing
A 24-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder over the stabbing of a British soldier earlier this week, UK police said on Thursday.
Detectives investigating the serious assault of a soldier in Gillingham have charged Anthony Esan in court.
This is according to a Thursday statement obtained from the Kent Police website.
It was titled, “Suspect charged with attempted murder of soldier in Gillingham.”
” Kent Police was called to Sally Port Gardens at around 5.55pm on Tuesday, 23 July 2024, to a report that the victim, a man in his 40s, had suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds.
“He was taken to a hospital for treatment, and his condition is currently described as serious but stable,” it read.
The statement noted that Esan was arrested the same day and is slated to appear in court on Thursday (today).
“Anthony Esan, 24, was arrested near his home address in Mooring Road, Rochester, at approximately 6.30pm the same day and has now been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
“He is due to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 25 July,” it further read.
According to Kent Police, the victim, a man in his forties, is in the hospital and currently described as being in a serious but stable condition.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed that he was “shocked and appalled” by the incident, which took place in Gillingham, approximately 40 miles (64 kilometres) southeast of London.
Taking to X on Wednesday, he posted, “I am shocked and appalled by the news that a soldier has been attacked in Kent.
“All our thoughts are with the soldier, his family, and our Armed Forces community, who serve to keep all of us safe.
“I wish him a swift recovery.”
Kent Police have yet to indicate any motive in the latest attack, but they are not thought to be treating it as terror-related.
The force had said it was “exploring the possibility that it may be mental health-related.”
According Online in a May report wrote about the recent stabbing to death of a 14-year-old British-Nigerian in London, Daniel Anjorin, and the challenge posed by the wave of knife-related crimes in the United Kingdom.
Customs reaffirm commitment to national security
Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Zonal Coordinator of Zone A, Saidu Yusuf, has emphasised the critical role of thorough cargo examination at Tincan Island Port in safeguarding national security.
During a recent visit to the command, ACG Yusuf highlighted the broader responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service beyond revenue collection.
“We also face issues with illicit and expired products. Beyond revenue collection, our role is to protect the lives and safety of the nation. Failure to do so could result in us becoming victims, directly or indirectly,” Yusuf stated in a statement on the Customs Facebook page on Thursday.
The ACG stressed the need for intensified cargo examinations, describing it as a main exercise for the Nigeria Customs Service. He called for thorough inspections at every stage, using the various parameters and tools provided by the service.
He said, “We need to intensify our examination of cargo, as this is a main exercise for the Nigeria Customs Service. There is a need for thorough inspections at every stage, using the various parameters and tools provided by the service.”
Yusuf praised the Tincan Island command, led by Comptroller Dera Nnadi, for its efficiency, particularly in intercepting and seizing illicit drugs, arms, and ammunition.
He also commended the implementation of new trade facilitation tools, including the Time Release Study and the Advance Ruling System.
Nnadi, in his address, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to its statutory obligations.
“We have been creating an enabling environment for stakeholders engaged in legitimate trade, and we declared this year as the year of stakeholders in the command,” he said.
Nnadi reported impressive revenue collection figures, stating that as of July 24, 2024, the command had collected N669,562,947,000. He assured that the command remains focused on meeting its revenue target for the year.
According to the statement, the visit also addressed operational challenges, with Nnadi highlighting the need for office infrastructure renovation. Both officials emphasised the importance of adherence to established procedures to ensure accountability and efficiency in customs operations.
Dangote, local refineries to end fuel importation
Owners of local refineries in Nigeria, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, say they can help the country stop the importation of refined petroleum products in 18 months if the Federal Government works with their plans.
The refiners, who spoke under the aegis of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, said there are other refineries at different stages of completion to join the 650,000-capacity Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In an interview, CORAN Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, told The According that the Dangote refinery and others in the country can satisfy the fuel needs of the nation.
Idoko’s comment is coming at a time when the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, said the country would not stop fuel importation to break the Dangote monopoly and ensure energy security.
The CORAN official argued that there was no way the government would tackle rising inflation if it did not address the high cost of fuel, especially by working with the local refiners.
“You can’t tackle inflation if you don’t address the pump price of petroleum products. You cannot say you have a plan to step down inflation and you are not involving the key sectors like the refineries; you have to involve us, let’s work together.
“And CORAN is saying that, in 18 months, if the Nigerian government will work with our programmes and plans, in 18 months, we can stop the importation of petroleum products completely. There are refineries in different stages of completion. In 18 months, we can produce what Nigeria will consume,” he stated.
Idoko said Nigeria has enough crude oil to feed Dangote and other refineries but noted that crude theft has been the major challenge to the upstream oil sector.
“We have the crude oil to feed these refineries and more fields are being licensed by the day. So, there will be crude to feed the refineries. Our production figure is dropping because of the crude that is being stolen daily.
“When we have local refineries, crude theft will be reduced. People steal crude through the pipelines and most of the refineries are located close to some of these fields. What this does is that the crude oil producers will no longer need to pump their crude through the pipelines to the terminal for export.
“The local refineries will just truck from the fields or get a short pipeline or barge from their fields to these places. We are losing heavily because unscrupulous elements are stealing crude from the long pipelines,” Idoko stated.
The CORAN official said the international oil companies are supposed to sell crude oil to local refineries at a price lower than the international price.
He asked the Federal Government to ensure that crude oil is sold in naira and not dollars, saying this would reduce the cost of fuel production and the pressure on the local currency.
He mentioned that ending the importation of fuel would strengthen the naira against the dollar, asking that the IOCs should start selling fuel directly to local refiners instead of referring them to their trading agents in Europe.
The NMDPRA boss had earlier warned that Nigeria could not rely heavily on the Dangote refinery for its fuel supply.
According to him, the refinery had requested the regulator to stop giving import licenses to other marketers to be the only fuel supplier in Nigeria.
“We cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop importation of all petroleum products, especially AGO and direct all marketers to the refinery, that is not good for the nation in terms of energy security. And that is not good for the market, because of monopoly,” Ahmed stressed.
However, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, denied the allegation, wondering how he could be a monopoly when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is renovating government-owned refineries with $4bn.
Many Nigerians have been calling on the Federal Government to support local refineries and stop the importation of fuel. They expressed hope that this would crash the pump price of petrol and diesel.
Dangote, who has been lamenting over the alleged refusal of the international oil companies to supply crude to his refineries, recently said he would begin the supply of petrol between August 10 and 12.
However, an official of the Dangote Group told our correspondent anonymously that the refinery might export its petrol if the current crude crisis persists.
Shareholders on Dangote
Meanwhile, shareholders have condemned the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, for saying the Dangote refinery was producing diesel with higher sulphur content than imported ones.
The group, under the aegis of Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, in a statement signed by their National Coordinator, Mrs Bisi Bakare, expressed dismay over the allegations from the regulator regarding the quality of diesel produced by Dangote.
Bakare commended Dangote for his visionary step in establishing one of the world’s largest refineries. She highlighted Dangote’s commitment to national development, stressing his patriotism and resolute character through substantial investments like the refinery.
“Dangote has ensured that the bulk of his business investments are local, contributing significantly to economic development through tax payments, extensive job creation, and consistent returns for shareholders,” she added.
The group condemned what it termed “unwarranted efforts to demarket the refinery” by regulatory bodies.
It cautioned that such actions could deter both local and international investors and undermine the government’s efforts to stabilise fuel prices and ensure availability.
“We must rally around Dangote refinery to provide crucial support such as crude oil allocation, cooperation from international oil companies, and regulatory agency collaboration,” she noted.
Bakare said the refinery has the potential to save Nigeria over 30 per cent in foreign exchange currently spent on offshore refining, which could significantly alleviate the country’s foreign exchange challenges.
“As shareholders, we remain steadfast in our support of Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s vision to bolster the nation’s economy and create more opportunities for our citizens,” she submitted.
IOCs called out
Last week, the Management of Dangote Group insisted that the IOCs were still frustrating crude supply to the 650,000-capacity refinery.
In a statement, the group alleged that the IOCs insisted on selling crude oil to its refinery through their foreign agents, saying the local price of crude will continue to increase because the trading arms offer cargoes at $2 to $4 per barrel, above NUPRC official price.
The group also alleged that the foreign oil producers seem to be prioritising Asian countries in selling the crude they produce in Nigeria.
The Vice President, Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr DVG Edwin, said: “If the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation guidelines are diligently implemented, this will ensure that we deal directly with the companies producing the crude oil in Nigeria as stipulated by the Petroleum Industry Act.”
Edwin insisted that IOCs operating in Nigeria have consistently frustrated the company’s requests for locally-produced crude as feedstock for its refining process.
He highlighted that when cargoes are offered to the oil company by the trading arms, it is sometimes at a $2 to $4 (per barrel) premium above the official price set by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
“As an example, we paid $96.23 per barrel for a cargo of Bonga crude grade in April (excluding transport). The price consisted of a $90.15 dated Brent price plus a $5.08 NNPC premium plus a $1 trader premium. In the same month, we were able to buy WTI at a dated Brent price of $90.15 + $0.93 trader premium including transport. When the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited subsequently lowered its premium based on market feedback that it was too high, some traders then started asking us for a premium of up to $4m over and above the NSP for a cargo of Bonny Light.
“Data on platforms like Platts and Argus shows that the price offered to us is way higher than the market prices tracked by these platforms. We recently had to escalate this to NUPRC,” Edwin said, urging the commission to take a second look at the issue of pricing.
Edwin was reacting to a statement by the Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, who in an interview on national television said, “It is ‘erroneous’ for one to say that the International Oil Companies are refusing to make crude oil available to domestic refiners, as the Petroleum Industry Act has a stipulation that calls for a willing-buyer, willing-seller relationship.”
While noting that the commission has been very supportive of the Dangote refinery as it has intervened several times to help secure crude supply, Edwin, however, insisted that the NUPRC boss might have been misquoted by some people hence his statement that IOCs did not refuse to sell to us.
Military helicopter crashes In Russia, crew dead
An Mi-28 military helicopter has crashed in an uninhabited area of southwestern Russia, killing the crew, two Russian news agencies said Thursday.
It crashed in a forest about 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the Ukrainian border, a local official said
An Mi-28 crashed in the Kaluga region… the crew died,” the TASS news agency said, quoting a source in the defence ministry.
“According to preliminary information, a technical malfunction caused the disaster,” the Interfax news agency said, citing a defence ministry statement.
It crashed in a forest about 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the Ukrainian border, a local official told TASS.
AFP
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Protest: Governors reiterate commitment to protecting lives, property
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has restated commitments towards enhancing the security of lives and property at the sub-national level.
The governors stated this in the wake of the nationwide planned protest by faceless organizers against hardship and inflation bedeviling Nigeria.
They spoke when the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu briefed them during the Wednesday meeting that entered into the early hours of Thursday.
Ribadu, on his part, promised to support the governors in improving security architecture at the sub-national level.
A communique signed by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, “The NGF received a briefing from the National Security Adviser’s (NSA) office on the current security situation in the country. The NSA noted the growing momentum for a planned protest demanding government attention.
“The NSA is committed to supporting the governors in improving security architecture at the subnational level. The governors thanked the NSA and reinstated its commitment to enhance the security of lives and properties at the subnational.”
Present at the meeting were Governors of Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Plateau, Yobe, Imo, Benue, Cross River, Ondo, Zamfara, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kano, Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Ogun and Gombe. Also were Deputy Governors of Enugu, Borno State.
Protest: Governors reiterate commitment to protecting lives, property
Lagos doctors threaten showdown over unpaid allowance
The Medical Guild of Lagos State has called on the government to pay the reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Structure allowance (living wage of Doctors) or prepare for crisis.
The Medical Guild is an association of doctors in Lagos State employment.
A statement signed by the Chairman, Medical Guild, Dr Moruf Abdulsalam, on Wednesday, said CONMESS was implemented for their federal counterparts with its accrued arrears from July 2023.
“The non-payment of the reviewed CONMESS allowance has already been implemented for our federal colleagues and in the states of Ekiti, Delta, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Katsina. This has worsened the salary parity between doctors in Lagos State and aggravated the already dire emigration of doctors to federal employment and out of the country.
“Moreover, the current economic starvation and stagflation in the country are biting harder on doctors too,” he said.
The guild also requested the demotion of specialist consultants as a result of incorrect step entry points into the public service, saying this had led to loss of income, low morale, and lack of interest from prospective specialists in joining the state health service.
“We seek employment of Medical Officers on grade level 12/2 and consultants at grade level 15/4 in line with national best practices. Immediate restoration and payment of contributory pension/NHF deductions for our resident doctors as enshrined in the Pension Reform Act of 2014. Full implementation of the September ‘23 Medical Guild position paper, as discussed and assented to by the government of Lagos State,” he stated.
Abdulsalam appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to avert an avoidable grand landscape crisis in the health sector and urgently implement the above-proposed incentives for the Health sector of Lagos State.
“In the build-up to the disputed issues with the government, we would like to place on record that we have and continue to employ all manners of advocacy and constructive persuasion, to avert this looming crisis. The government is yet to bulge. In the coming days, we shall call on the Association’s Congress to determine the next line of action, ” he added.