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Category: News

  • Dangote Refinery approaches two African countries for Crude oil import

    Dangote Refinery approaches two African countries for Crude oil import

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    The Dangote Refinery said it is seeking crude oil import from Libya and Angola amid a supply challenge in Nigeria.

    The Vice President of Dangote Industry Limited (DIL), Devakumar Edwin disclosed this in an interview with Reuters on Sunday.

    Edwin said outside Libya and Angola, the 650,000 barrels per day refinery would also look to other African countries for crude to increase production in its facility.

    “We are talking to Libya about importing crude.

    “We will talk to Angola, as well and some other countries in Africa,” Edwin told Reuters.

    The development comes after the firm had sought crude oil from the United States and Brazil.

    Recall that in the past days, the Dangote refinery had been at the center of discussion in Nigeria’s media discourse following a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed that its products are inferior.

    Ahmed’s has received a wide range of reactions from the public.

    Meanwhile, Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group has dismissed Ahmed’s statement, calling for an independent test.

  • World leaders react to Biden’s withdrawal from U.S. presidential race

    World leaders react to Biden’s withdrawal from U.S. presidential race

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    President Joe Biden’s decision on Sunday to end his campaign to seek reelection in November is generating reactions from foreign leaders.

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had known Mr Biden for years and that “he’s a great man.”

    Mr Trudeau added, “Everything he does is guided by his love for his country. As president, he is a partner to Canadians — and a true friend. To President Biden and the First Lady: thank you.”

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his reaction on X, said, “Joe Biden has achieved a great deal – for his country, for Europe, for the world. Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong, and the U.S. is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves recognition.”

    Reacting in a statement, new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “I respect President Biden’s decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency.”

    “I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, President Biden will have made his decision based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people.”

    Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant thanked Biden for his unwavering support of Israel over the years.

    “Your steadfast backing, especially during the war, has been invaluable. We are grateful for your leadership and friendship,” Mr Gallant stated.

    In his comments on X, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he admired “the brave and dignified decision” of the U.S. president.

    “Thanks to his determination and leadership. The U.S. overcame the economic crisis after the pandemic and the serious assault on the Capitol and has been exemplary in its support for Ukraine in the face of Putin’s Russian aggression. A great gesture from a great president who has always fought for democracy and freedom,” Mr Sanchez stated.

    Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said in a statement, “On behalf of the people and government of Ireland. I … would like to thank you, Mr President, for your global leadership and your friendship as you make your announcement that you will not stand in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

    “Joe Biden, in all the offices he has held, has always been an unwavering voice and passionate worker for peace on the island of Ireland, and our country owes him a great debt for this.”

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said, “The elections are still four months away. And that is a long period of time in which a lot can change. We need to be patient and carefully monitor what happens. The priority for us is the special military operation (the war in Ukraine).

    Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stoere and his Polish and Czech counterparts Donald Tusk and Petr Fiala, respectively, reacted to Mr Biden’s withdrawal from the U.S. presidential race.

  • We‘ll conduct credible LG polls in Kano soon, says Gov. Yusuf

    We‘ll conduct credible LG polls in Kano soon, says Gov. Yusuf

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano state, on Sunday, assured the people of his readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible local government elections in the state.

    Mr Yusuf spoke in Kano during a stakeholders’ meeting with the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party.

    The governor revealed plans to conduct the council polls in compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court that affirmed financial autonomy to the third tier of government.

    Mr Yusuf stressed the need for respect for the rule of law and commitment to financial prudence, accountability and transparency in governance at all tiers of government.

    The governor urged opposition parties to field candidates to test their popularity “because my government will not interfere with the electoral process.

    “Our administration has allowed the previous LG Executive Councils in the 44 LGAs to complete their tenure despite pressure from within: this is out of respect for the rule of law.”

    He said preparations by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for the conduct of the council polls were in top gear.

    “We will soon invite you again for selection of our party’s candidates to be fielded to contest for chairman, vice chairman and Councillor in their respective constituencies.

    “We shall run a peaceful campaign with the believe that the majority of Kano people will vote for NNPP,” he said.

  • 196 Ekiti indigenes in law school to get N150,000 each

    196 Ekiti indigenes in law school to get N150,000 each

    The Ekiti State government has approved the payment of N29,400,000 as bursary awards to 196 indigenes at the Nigeria Law School (Bar 1) for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.

    The Ekiti Scholarship Board’s secretary, Bukola Faluyi, released a statement on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti that included this information.

    Ms Faluyi said, ”The disbursement of the bursary award is in tandem with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s vision to encourage academic excellence among students of Ekiti State origin.

    ”It is on this note that the governor has graciously approved the payment of the bursary award, which is one of the several steps to support his shared prosperity agenda of human capital development.”

    According to her, each beneficiary will receive N150,000 on Tuesday, July 23, at the Ministry of Education.

    Ms Faluyi said the event would be presided over by Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Olabimpe Aderiye.

  • NEMA Lists 18 LGA To Experience Flood

    NEMA Lists 18 LGA To Experience Flood

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    Residents in 18 of Delta State’s 25 local government areas have been warned to brace for potential flooding.

    The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, issued this alert during a one-day Stakeholders Sensitisation Workshop in Asaba.

    The workshop, organised by NEMA in collaboration with the Delta State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), aimed to address waste management and flood preparation.

    The theme, “Proper Waste Management and Flood Preparation,” underscored the need for proper waste disposal practices to mitigate flood risks.

    Umar emphasized the workshop’s goal of raising awareness about sustainable waste management and flood mitigation strategies.

    She urged stakeholders to support NEMA’s efforts in promoting proper waste management and reducing flood impacts.

    The Delta State government had previously established flood committees and set up Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps at strategic locations to manage flooding impacts across the state.

  • Philip Shaibu defects from PDP to APC

    Philip Shaibu defects from PDP to APC

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    Philip Shaibu, reinstated deputy governor of Edo state, has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Shaibu made the announcement on Saturday in Benin City, the state capital,

    He was said to have rejoined the APC with leading members of the Dan Orbih-led Legacy Group of the PDP.

    “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC. We have come to add value to the party,” Shaibu said.

    “It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much because action will speak for us. We are not afraid. We are ready to move forward.

    “We, the homeboys, are ready to take our state back through the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa.

    “We are not troublemakers, but if it comes, we will use it to rub our body, and we move on.”

  • CBN addresses foreign exchange market pressures

    CBN addresses foreign exchange market pressures

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced recent fluctuations in the foreign exchange market are largely driven by corporate demand and seasonal summer uptick. 

    This was disclosed in a statement by CBN on Friday, July 19.

    The statement reads:”The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wishes to inform the general public that recent movements in the foreign exchange market are driven largely by demand pressure from corporate entities and the expected seasonal uptick during the summer period.

    “The CBN, therefore, wishes to assure the general public that it has commenced a regular sale of foreign exchange through Authorized Dealer Banks and licensed Bureaux De Change (BDCs) to improve supply in the foreign exchange market in line with its price stability mandate and its commitment to ensure a well-functioning and liquid market.

    “Over the next few weeks, the CBN will continue to support various segments of the official markets with liquidity.

    In line with the above, the CBN on Thursday, July 18 and Friday, July 19, 2024, sold a total sum of US$106,500,000.00 (One Hundred and Six Million and Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only) to 29 (Twenty-Nine) Authorized Dealer banks between an exchange rate range of N1,498.00/US$1 to N1,530.00/US$1.

    In addition, it bought US$9,500,000 (Nine Million and Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) from 4 (Four) Authorized Dealer banks at rates between N1,510.00/US$1 and N1,550.00/US$1. The value date for all the transactions is July 19, 2024.

    “Additionally, the CBN will continue closely monitoring compliance with existing trading rules and regulations by authorized dealer banks to promote ethical conduct and support the drive to achieve stability in the foreign exchange market.

    Therefore, the general public is advised to direct their foreign exchange demand to their banks and BDC operators in accordance with prevailing market regulations.”

  • APC women leader confesses to acting as bandits’ informant in Katsina state

    APC women leader confesses to acting as bandits’ informant in Katsina state

    Aisha Abubakar, a women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State, has confessed to acting as an informant for bandits and receiving only N5,000 from a N9 million ransom and a motorcycle paid for the release of kidnap victims.

    In a viral interrogatory video, Abubakar detailed her involvement in the kidnapping of five members of the family of Alhaji Sanusi, the Tsaiyaya Ward APC chairman.

    She disclosed that she was approached by Zainab, who is currently at large, to provide information on Alhaji Sanusi and the APC chairman’s family, enabling a successful kidnapping operation.

    “After the ransom, including N9 million and a motorcycle, was paid, I was given a share of N5,000, with a balance of N15,000 to be paid after I returned from a wedding ceremony in Zaria,” Abubakar revealed.

    She also confessed to participating in a cattle rustling operation in Tsaiyaya, for which she received N20,000.

    She said other key actors involved in the community’s criminal activities included Yahaya, Audu na Bani, and the children of Bashar.

  • NLC accepts N70,000 as new national minimum wage

    NLC accepts N70,000 as new national minimum wage

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accepted the offer of N70,000 as the new National Minimum Wage, as proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a meeting at the Presidential Villa on July 18, 2024. 

    This was disclosed in a statement via NLC’s X handle on Friday, July 19.

    This decision was made during an emergency treatment National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on July 19, 2024.

    The statement reads:”The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convened today in an emergency meeting in response to the outcomes of the Meeting with the federal government which held yesterday, the 18th of July, 2024 at the Presidential Villa with the new National Minimum Wage in focus.

    “The President of the Federation, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presided over the meeting.

    “The NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations, unanimously:
    1. Commended and applauded the doggedness of the leadership of the Congress on the courage and forthrightness with which they handled the National Minimum Wage fixing exercise
    2. Accepted the President’s offer of N70,000 (Seventy thousand Naira) as the new National Minimum Wage and the 3-yearly tenure for its review.
    3. Demanded full and strict compliance by all to the dictates of the National
    Minimum Wage 2024 when it becomes an Act.”

    “NEC-in-session concluded that this decision, though challenging and far from our initial demand, was made in the spirit of solidarity and sacrifice for Nigerian masses to avert a threatened further hike in the price of Petrol which would inflict more hardship on the already suffering masses.

    “Once again, NEC-in-session restates the commitment of the NLC to continue to stand resolutely in its mission to defend and advance the rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerian people at all times. It therefore calls on all Nigerians to unite in this cause and to hold our leaders accountable to the same standards of sacrifice and service.”

  • House of Reps leadership visits Dangote refinery

    House of Reps leadership visits Dangote refinery

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    The leadership of the House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, has visited the $ 20 billion Dangote Petroleum refinery in Lagos State.

    The lawmakers arrived at the refinery located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos around 11 am on Saturday and were received by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and top executives of the company.

    The lawmakers are expected to take a tour of the 650,000 barrels per day refinery during the visit and have a conversation about the plan to start the supply of petrol next month.

    The visit marks the second time federal lawmakers will visit the refinery this year following the visit of the Senate leadership, led by Senate President Godswill Akpaio, to the facility in June.

    The lawmaker’s visit comes days after the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, Farouk Ahmed, claimed that the diesel produced by Dangote refinery contains a high sulphur content of about 1,000 parts per million.

    Ahmed also stated that the Federal Government would not stop the importation of petroleum products, saying Nigeria cannot depend on one refinery to feed the nation.

    He revealed that the refinery, which has been selling diesel and aviation fuel in Nigeria for months, has not been licensed, stating that it is still at the pre-commissioning stage.

    “The claim by some media houses that there were steps to scuttle the Dangote refinery is not so. The Dangote refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licensed yet; we haven’t licensed them yet. They are still in the pre-commissioning. I think they have about 45 per cent completion,” he declared.