An oil and gas expert, Ademola Adigun, has waded into the controversy over the inability of the Dangote Refinery to access crude oil in Nigeria for its production.
According to Adigun, it was not Nigeria’s responsibility to provide crude oil for the Dangote Refinery.
TVN reports that Dangote Industries Limited had consistently accused International Oil Companies of frustrating crude oil supply obligations to its 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, re-echoed the claims in a statement on Wednesday, lamenting that the IOCs were still selling crude at $2 to $4 per barrel, above the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s official price.
He also alleged that IOCs preferred selling crude produced in Nigeria to Asian countries.
However, speaking on the developments while appearing on Channels Television’s morning programme, Sunrise Daily, Adigun declared that it was not the responsibility of Nigeria to provide crude oil for Dangote.
Adigun, the former team leader, Facility for Oil Sector Transformation, who is also an expert on Development, Partnership, Policy, Advocacy and Reform, emphasized that like all other business concerns, it was the primary duty of the refinery to secure its supply chain long before going into business.
He said, “I have heard that many times and I have asked people, is it our job to provide crude for Dangote Refinery that is owned by Dangote?
“If you were a land developer and you want to develop a land, would it be my job to provide you land?
“The first thing you do, the first thing any businessman does is take care of supply chain and security. It is not Nigeria’s job to provide him crude.
“I mean I see a lot of sentiments around the whole thing. A businessman must guarantee his supply chain before he goes into the business.”
On the perennial fuel scarcity, the oil and gas expert said it was caused by the recurrent disruption in the product’s supply chain, just as he described the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL), as a victim of government policy.
“I said it before elsewhere, NNPCL is a victim of policy…you know the law says NNPCL must be the importer of last resort to guarantee price and supply.
“NNPCL has no option. So NNPCL has the burden of ensuring that there is supply. Whether it is $10 or $25 they buy it and must sell at what the government’s policy. That’s why we have these complications,” he stated.
While explaining the country’s commitment to ensuring that local refineries get adequate supply of crude, Adigun disclosed that there is a policy within the framework of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, known as the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation, DCSO.
“We have what we call the DCSO Domestic Crude Supply Obligation, under the PIA. Under the PIA, the country must tell all crude sales people that we have domestic capacity supply.
“That is priority number one. Every year, the minister or commission announces what the DCSO is, everybody must get that first before taking anything out. Where we thinking locally that we need 7,000 barrels, that’s the thing everybody must follow, if the commission is not doing that properly, that’s another issue.This DCSO is part of the PIA and it must be done
“Dangote is not part technically of the DCSO, I want people to get this part clear. It is geographically located in Nigeria. But technically, it is not because it is located in an export processing zone.
“Even when you are buying crude from Dangote, buying products, petrol, diesel, you are going to pay in dollars, it doesn’t have supply in the Nigeria market. It can sell to anybody it chooses.”
Not Nigeria’s responsibility to provide crude oil for Dangote Refinery – Adigun
Not Nigeria’s responsibility to provide crude oil for Dangote Refinery – Adigun
Court rejects fresh bail request, upholds charges against suspended cop Kyari in drug trafficking trial
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fresh bail application by suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and four other officers.
The court also rejected a motion challenging the validity of the charges brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding over the case, ruled that the arguments presented by the defense lacked merit. This comes after previous denials of bail and dismissal of similar challenges to the charges in March 2023.
Dissatisfied with the dismissal of his objection to the trial, the former supercop took the matter before the appellate court where he also lost on Thursday.
In their judgement, a three-man panel of Justices led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, held that the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CR/516/2023, lacked merit.
Read Also: Reps to cut salaries by 50% for 6 months to fight hardship
The appellate court said it found no reason to tamper with the findings and conclusions that were reached on the issue by the trial judge.
“In conclusion, this court finds no reason to disturb the findings and conclusions reached by the learned trial judge of the Federal High Court, and in the ruling delivered on the 22nd day of March 2023 is affirmed.
“The learned trial judge is directed to continue and conclude the trial at the Federal High Court.
“The appeal is found unmeritorious and it is accordingly dismissed,” the appellate court held.
Other members of the panel that concurred with the judgement, were Justices Peter Obiora and Okon Abang.
The NDLEA accused Mr. Kyari and his co-defendants of involvement in a drug trafficking operation in January 2022. The charges include conspiracy to deal in cocaine, unlawful possession of illicit narcotics, and tampering with evidence.
Mr. Kyari, once celebrated for his achievements in crime fighting, has maintained his innocence since his arrest. His legal team has argued that the NDLEA’s case against him is fabricated.
The court’s decision paves the way for the continuation of the trial. No date has yet been set for the next hearing.
The post Court rejects fresh bail request, upholds charges against suspended cop Kyari in drug trafficking trial appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Niger youths will not join planned nationwide protest – Gov Bago
Ahead of the planned nationwide protest against hunger and economic difficulties being faced by Nigerians, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has distanced the youths of the state from the exercise.
Recall the mass protest is billed to hold from August 1 to 10 across the country.
The governor spoke at a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Minna on Thursday.
He noted that the youths in the state are peaceful and would , therefore, not be participate in any planned protest.
Bago stated, “To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end these agitation, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward. Therefore, we, as youths of Niger State, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquility.”
As part of measure to reduce the hardship, he disclosed, “We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50 per cent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food price by 90 per cent”.
“The food I am giving out at 50 per cent subsidy was originally meant for export but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed Nigerlites.
“We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50 per cent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food price by 90 per cent,” he added.
The governor while also expressing support for the autonomy of local governments, however, urged them to sit up as many of them currently can not pay salaries for a year.
Speaking, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alh. Abubakar Yahaya, noted that the planned protest is not the best option while calling on youths in the state not to be tempted in taking part in the the planned nationwide protest.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, while appealing to the youths to remain calm, disclose that the state government will organize programmes for them while others are protesting in other states.
Similarly, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Most Rev Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, in his address, noted the need for all children attending public schools to be given equal opportunity to learn about their religion, adding, “A child that is well brought up by parents and also through religious education will never be involved in act of violence”.
Niger youths will not join planned nationwide protest – Gov Bago
Soyinka @90: He can be compared to Nelson Mandela – Prof Siyan Oyeweso
Internationally acclaimed Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has been described as a human rights crusader and novelist who was larger than life and in the mould of Nelson Mandela.
This description was made by a Professor of History and Director, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Siyan Oyeweso, in his welcome address at the international colloquium held to celebrate the 90th birthday of Prof. Wole Soyinka in Osogbo.
Oyeweso noted that Prof Soyinka, “is larger than life and not only a legend. A literary sage
“He is being celebrated because he turned 90 on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
“The celebrations worldwide are because he is a UNESCO ambassador.”
Oyeweso also described Prof Soyinka as a socially active person who is always on the side of the people.
“He does see himself as great but in the context of the people.
“He is unarguably one of the greatest men of this generation in the likes of Nelson Mandela.
“He also risked his life for the sake of the nation and sought a negotiated solution to Nigeria’s crisis in 1967.
“He spent two years in prison during the General Yakubu Gowon administration.”
Oyeweso also revealed that Prof Soyinka was a founding member of the National Democracy Coalition, NADECO.
“The freedom Nigerians are enjoying was fought by some people because he was part of NADECO and Radio Kudirat.”
The theme of the colloquium is, “Wole Soyinka, culture, social activism and social justice”
The Chairman of the occasion, Orangun of Oke-Ila Orangun, Oba Adedokun Abolarinwa stated that nation-building is an exciting process.
He added that despite the shenanigans that go with it, Nigerians are doing well.
“Professor Wole Soyinka’s birthday is a bridge that will bring the ancient and the coming generation together and learn from our past.
“All we need to do is make it better than what our grandfathers did and to hand over a better Nigeria to those coming after us.”
Professor Awe, Dean, School of Tourism, Performing Arts and Cultural Studies, Lagos State University, LASU, called for a revisit of the reading culture and history among the youths.
“Through reading, they will understand a lot about Nigeria, humanity and culture. Prof Soyinka is one writer that I think every child should read to understand Nigerian culture, African culture, and the place of language in human development.”
He also said the renaming of the National Theatre in Prof Soyinka’s name is a befitting honour.
“What he has done in the area of theatre, culture, language and the literary world as a scholar, I don’t think naming the National Theatre after him is enough.
“It should just be the beginning of better things that Nigeria should do to commemorate and immortalise him. It is a very welcome development.”
Soyinka @90: He can be compared to Nelson Mandela – Prof Siyan Oyeweso
Dortmund sign Guinean striker Guirassy
Borussia Dortmund on Thursday said they had signed Serhou Guirassy from Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart, ending their long pursuit of the Guinean striker.
“Borussia Dortmund have strengthened their attack with the signing of 28-year-old Serhou Guirassy from VfB Stuttgart,” announced Dortmund on X.
The agreement with the striker was delayed after Guirassy’s initial medical at Dortmund revealed an injury that required “further investigation”, according to the club.
After additional tests, Dortmund established that a knock picked up by Guirassy in an international game towards the end of the season did “not need to be operated (on)”, the club said in a statement.
The striker, born in France, will follow a solo recovery programme before starting training with his new team.
Dortmund sealed Guirassy’s signing after meeting the 18-million-euro ($20 million) release clause in his contract, according to German media.
Guirassy’s contract with Dortmund will go to June 2028, the club said.
Guirassy had a break-out campaign with Stuttgart last season, scoring 28 goals in as many league games and propelling Stuttgart to a surprise second-place finish and a Champions League berth in his first season with the team.
Stuttgart beat Dortmund three times in all competitions in 2023-24, with Guirassy scoring in each game.
The striker is the second player Dortmund have signed from Stuttgart during this transfer window, following the transfer of German defender Waldemar Anton.
Dortmund now have four strikers on their books, with Guirassy joining Germany number nine Niclas Fuellkrug, Ivory Coast forward Sebastien Haller and teenager Youssoufa Moukoko.
Despite reaching the Champions League final last season, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid, Dortmund had a disappointing domestic campaign.
Just one season after losing the title on goal difference, Dortmund finished in fifth place last term – 27 points behind Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen.
At the end of the season just gone, Dortmund lost veterans Marco Reus and Mats Hummels and saw the departure of coach Edin Terzic.
Former Dortmund player Nuri Sahin was appointed to take the reins at the club.
AFP
JUST IN: Tinubu approves N70,000 new minimum wage for workers
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday approved the sum of N70,000 as new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
He also promised to review the minimum wage every three years.
More details coming…
The post JUST IN: Tinubu approves N70,000 new minimum wage for workers appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
AIG Okuma sounds alarm over insecurity in Katsina
Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 14, Idegwu Basil Okuma, has expressed shock at the level of banditry in Katsina State, vowing to make a big difference in reducing the menace.
“I have seen the level of crime in this place and I want to say that I’m shocked. It has equally given me the determination to ensure that within the time that I will be here, whether short or long time, I will make my impact felt.”
AIG Okuma disclosed this while on an official visit to the Katsina State Police Command to familiarise himself with the command’s operations and boost the morale of officers and men.
Describing the situation as “terrifying”, Okuma pledged to complement the Command’s efforts in taming the menace.
During the visit, the new Zone 14 AIG acknowledged the challenges faced by security personnel, including the loss of officers in the line of duty.
He called on all officers to be vigilant and share information to combat the menace effectively.
“We are losing officers. The very week I reported we lost four officers. These are things we face on a daily basis, and it is our duty and we will continue to put in our best to ensure that crime and criminality are brought down to the very minimum.”
On the way out, he emphasised the importance of community policing and intelligence gathering in addressing the crisis. “There’s a need to reach out to these communities to let them know that we are in it with them. Let them know that we are doing all things possible to ensure that the act of banditry is mitigated,” he said.
AIG Okuma further emphasised the need for continuous training and retraining of officers to keep pace with the evolving tactics of criminals.
He commended the Katsina State Commissioner of Police for ongoing training initiatives but urged for more robust capacity building.
“We need to do more. We need to have well-structured training. Trainings that will put these bandits off balance. “What do I mean? Trainings that will put us ahead of them, not behind them.”
Katsina Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, welcomed the AIG and briefed him on the command’s operations and achievements since the AIG’s assumption of office on June 2, 2024. These include the arrest of over 100 suspects, the rescue of 107 kidnapped victims, the neutralisation of over five suspected armed bandits, and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, stolen livestock, and other items.
CP Musa attributed the command’s recent success to AIG Okuma’s leadership, noting that under his watch, the command has witnessed a boost in operational capacity and morale.
AIG Okuma sounds alarm over insecurity in Katsina
Oyo clears air on Olubadan stool rumour
The Oyo State government has absolved itself from the rumoured plan to stop or scuttle the ambition of anyone to become the next Olubadan.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, said that the government believed that it was not only premature but also unfair and preemptive for anyone to start discussions on the next Olubadan when a new Olubadan has just been successfully installed.
The commissioner said, “It is embarrassing that a few days after the coronation and presentation of Staff of Office to the new Olubadan, HIM Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I, some citizens are already looking over the shoulders of the new Oba and ascribing the government gazette that implemented the recommendation of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Review Committee to a ploy to disqualify certain individuals.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the last Olubadan, Ọba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okumade II, set up the Ibadan Chieftaincy Review Committee to review and deliberate on the needed reforms of the Ibadan Chieftaincy, the extant chieftaincy declaration and composition of the Ibadan land and local government traditional councils and make the necessary recommendations.
“After extensive review and deliberations, the committee recommended among others that the eleven (11) high chiefs who are members of the Olubadan-In-Council be elevated and approved as beaded crown-wearing Obas.”
The commissioner revealed that the late Oba Balogun, Alli Okumade II, in a signed letter to the Governor of Oyo State, dated February 5, 2023, proposed that this reform be incorporated into the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957.
“Few months later on July 14, 2023, precisely, the amendments were gazetted.
“The Governor did this not only because it was a legitimate prayer from His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr (Sen.) Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okumade II, but also in deference to the tradition and culture of Ibadanland,” Oyelade said.
The state government therefore advised the people not to heat the polity as the government would continue to uphold what is right and the cherished tradition and culture of our people.
“Government wishes the Olubadan of Ibadanland, HIM Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I, good health and wisdom to pilot the affairs of Ibadanland,” Oyelade concluded.
CBN sells forex to BDCs at N1450/$
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday sold dollars to eligible Bureau De Change operators at the rate of N1450/dollars.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the acting director of the Trade and Exchange Department at the CBN, AA Mahdi, on Thursday.
This comes days after the apex bank sold $123m to authorised dealers.
The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria claimed that they were excluded in that tranche of forex sales.
The President of the ABCON, Aminu Gwadebe, in an interview with The According, said only banks got the forex intervention.
In the latest move, the CBN said it has “approved the sales of FX to eligible Bureau De Change to meet the demand for invisible transactions. The sum of $20,000 is to be sold to each BDC at the rate of N1,450/$ (representing the lower band of the trading rate at NAFEM in the previous trading day).”
Premising the move on the ongoing reforms in the foreign exchange market, the CBN said it “Has observed the continued distortions in the retail end of the market, which is feeding into the Parallel market and further widening the exchange rate premium.”
It warned the BDCs to sell to eligible end-users at a margin not more than 1.5 per cent above the purchase rate from CBN.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
Contact: [email protected]
Agency deploys sanitation marshals for regulation of environmental standards in Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) said it has deployed about 100 sanitation marshals to enforce environmental standards and apprehend those who engage in indiscriminate waste disposal in unauthorized places.
The chairman of the agency, Akpan Ikim, who disclosed this in Uyo on Thursday, said the successful marshals have been trained not only on environmental management best practices but also on basic character, discipline and public perception.
While presenting them to the senior magistrate, Amanda Effiom, the chairman said that in enforcing environmental standard as directed by the state governor, the role of the court could not be overemphasized.
He said, “The sanitation marshals will apprehend all defaulters of environmental standard including indiscriminate waste handling and disposal, waste disposal at unauthorized places/time.”
In his remarks, the magistrate said every apprehended culprit would immediately appear before the sanitation court for prosecution.
Effiom expressed optimism upon receiving the sanitation marshals, saying that environmental management in the state was poised for a positive transformation.
He noted that the development demonstrates the commitment of the state government to enhance environmental governance, promote sustainable practices and ensure accountability for environmental infractions.
Agency deploys sanitation marshals for regulation of environmental standards in Akwa Ibom