The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • NPDC extinguishes fire at OML 20 facility

    By John Ofikhenua, Abuja

    The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has announced that it successfully extinguished a fire at Well 18T, Egbema West in OML 20.

    A statement by the NNPC Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Samson Makoji, on Friday evening said the operation was executed with zero fatality.

    The release stated that the fire, triggered by activities of vandals on October 7, 2019, occurred in a terrain that was submerged in water, thereby posing difficulties for firefighters.

    “The resilience and professionalism of NPDC personnel and professional divers from indigenous contractors eventually paid off, as they were finally able to contain the inferno on October 23, 2019”, the statement explained.

    Speaking on behalf of NPDC Managing Director, Mr. Mansur Sambo, the General Manager, Health, Safety and Environment Division, Engr. Chris Ugwu, said that the feat was accomplished in record time, despite the challenging environment, with also zero damage to facilities and at a minimal cost to the company.

    Read Also: NNPC committed to drive positive change using internal talents – Kyari

    NPDC helmsman declared that the full support of the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari and the timely intervention of the NPDC ensured minimal impact on the environment, stressing that the localized nature of the incident and the condition of the immediate environment helped in mitigating the spread of the inferno.

    The release stated that Mallam Kyari had commended the performance of the team over the incident, even as the company assured that it was committed to the safety of the Abacheke community and its environs and would continue to monitor the vicinity.

    “Although the immediate environment of the affected well is currently stable, we will ensure that post operation exercise is carried out to ensure that the well-being of the environment and the host community is sustained,” Mr. Sambo assured.

    The company informed that the production at well would be restored shortly.

  • PHOTOS: TY Danjuma pays condolence visit to Mobolaji Johnson

     

     

    Retired Lt.-Gen. T.Y Danjuma, signing the condolence register yesterday at the Ilupeju, Lagos residence of the late Brig.-Gen, Mobolaji Johnson, former Governor of Lagos State from 1967 to 1975 who died on Wednesday, aged 83.

    TY Danjuma visit

  • Our monetary policy yielding good results – Emefiele

    Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele has said that the unconventional monetary policies adopted by the apex bank in steering the country’s economy are yielding good results.

    Emefiele said this during the 1st convocation lecture of the Edo University, Iyamho, entitled ‘Role of Monetary Policy: Towards Economic Growth in Nigeria’. delivered at the institution’s premises in Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, who led other members of the State Executive Council to the event, is pursuing a reform agenda for the state’s tertiary institutions that would put them at the forefront of teaching and research, nationally and globally.

    The convocation lecture was chaired by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed.

    Other dignitaries at the event include former Edo State Governor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, among others.

    According to Emefiele: “The favourable outcomes and strengthening outlook of the Nigerian economy is traceable to the timeous adoption of unconventional monetary policy tools.
    “The CBN has been able to reduce inflation, build our forex reserves and maintain forex market stability and foster real growth.

    “Nonetheless, challenges still remain. The pace of population growth at about 2.6 per cent still outstrips real growth rate while inflation is outside our tolerance band.

    “Unemployment rate and incidence of poverty remain at unacceptable levels. Our economy still faces headwinds from expected declines in global growth and its resulting impact on oil prices and capital flows to emerging market countries.

    “These challenges require that we strengthen our efforts at enhancing growth in productive sectors of the economy, which will help in insulating our economy from external shocks.”

    Read Also: CBN defends use of unconventional economic tools

    He noted that he was delighted that much of the success recorded in the economy is due to the adoption of unconventional micro-economic policies, adding “Within the CBN, our unconventional methods (especially in the management of the forex market and our development financing supported by the orthodox approaches of monetary rate) have been able to optimally balance the delicate objectives of price stability and real output growth.”

    Obaseki said the CBN has been instrumental to the economic growth being recorded in the state, especially in the areas of the industrialisation and agriculture.

    The governor said a $200 million deal has been struck with a reputable, world renowned textile company to establish a cotton-weaving and spinning industry at the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park, next year.

    Obaseki said the initiative was in line with the CBN’s plans to revamp the textile industry in the country with a view to reduce importation of textile.

    Noting that the state government was promoting investment and real growth in the agricultural sector so as to get people out of poverty, he said the CBN’s N5bn Commercial Agriculture Credit scheme has led to employment of about 5,000 people and cultivation of 5,000 hectares.

    He advised that the CBN’s monetary policies be followed up with investment in fiscal policies such as infrastructural development to ease movement of locally produced goods and services.

    He commended the CBN for having a specialised window to support the entertainment and tourism industry, adding that Edo state is solidly behind the apex bank’s policies.

  • Etebo awaits new boss as struggling Stoke sacks Manager

    By Julius Okorie

    Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo and his teammates are to await a new boss following the sacking of Stoke Manager Nathan Jones after barely 10 months in the saddle.

    The former Luton boss won only six of his 38 games in charge, having succeeded Gary Rowett in January.

    He leaves with the club second from bottom in the English Championship.
    Assistant manager Paul Hart and first-team coach Joaquin Gomez have also reportedly left the club.

    Etebo, who joined the Championship side in June 2018 from Portuguese side Feirense for €7.2million, has made over 45 appearances for the side with two goals to his credit.

    Read Also: Champions League: Genk Coach tasks Eagles duo over Liverpool visit

    Etebo, who has been left out in Gernot Rohr 23-man squad for the 2021 Nations cup qualifier against Benin Republic and Lesotho respectively, was in action for about 21 minutes in Stoke’s lone goal defeat by Sheffield Wednesday, was however not in action in the last match against Millwall that ended in another 2-0 defeat.

    The former Warri Wolves ace will however be hoping to be part of the team when Stoke host West Brom on Monday with team coach Nathan Jones and his assistants all missing from the technical bench.
    Stoke have only garnered eight points in 14 matches and remain in the relegation zone with Middlesbrough and Barnsley.

  • Kogi 2019: EU, ECES seek support for INEC

    From James Azania, Lokoja

    The European Union (EU) and the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) has called on Nigerians to join hands with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), towards the overall success of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State.

    Making the call on Friday, in Lokoja, the state capital, during the Election Monitoring Support Centre (EMSC) programme, hosted by INEC, the Programme Coordinator/ECES representative-Nigeria, Mauro Maria Teresa, asserted that the success of any electoral process is not unconnected with the support extended to the electoral umpire (INEC), by all concerned, before, during and after the exercise.

    Read Also: INEC: no falsehood will distract us

    She reiterated the commitment of the ECES and other international support organizations, including the EU, in the delivery of a seamless election in Kogi and other places, as the case may be.

    She explained that the conduct of a free, fair and credible election was in the overall interest of Nigeria as a democratic country.

    She noted that the implementation of the process were time bound, and hence, the need for all hands to be on deck.

  • Elders, others lobby senate for NDDC top job

    The elders forum, women and the youth councils of Mkpat Enin local government area of Akwa-Ibom State and the Buhari support group (south south) have launched intense lobbying to get the Nation Assembly to approve the appointment of one of their kinsmen, Engineer Otobong Ndem, as a board member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The groups, while thanking Mr. President for considering the former member of Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly for the position of Executive Director Project (NDDC), also urged the lawmakers ignore any moves by certain individual who may be working against the confirmation of Engineer Otobong’s appointment.

    In separate letters duly signed by their key officers, the groups explained that it is the first time, since the history of NDDC and OMPADEC, that an indigene of Mkpat Enin LGA would be considered for an executive position in the intervention agency.

    Speaking for the Elders forum, Chief Akpan Thompson assured the President and the lawmakers that Engr Otobong would make the nation and the Niger Delta proud, considering his antecedents as a public officer.

    He said: We urge the National Assembly to confirm Engr Otobong’s appointment because Nkpat Enin has contributed meaningfully to the national purse and it is one of the local governments that supported President Buhari in the last general election.

    “Even though we have oil, we have never given government any trouble, so this is a payback time to have one of our own on the board of the NDDC,” Thompson added.

    He, however, observed Engr Otobong had served at the House of Assembly, Akwa-Ibom state meritoriously adding: “We have the hope that he will not fail Mr. president, he will not fail the Niger Delta and he will not fail Nigerian people.”

    The women’s wing of Mkpat Enin said that people are jubilating, across the states and party line following the inclusion Otobong’s name on the President’s list of appointees.

    “This is because they know that Otobong is a performer who extended his good works to other local governments, gave scholarships, transformed the lives of so many people, built house for widows, empowered orphans and seen as the hope for the common people,” Regina Humphrey of Mkpat Enin women council said.

    The youth Coordinator of Buhari Support Group in the south south, Prince Aniekan Essen, added that Otobong was instrumental to rally the support of different youth associations across the Niger Delta States, which according to him made the emergency of Mr. President possible in 2019 election.

    Read Also: Senate screens Odubu, Okumagba, 12 others for NDDC Board

    “If the Senate confirms his appointments, the youth will be happy and we are very sure that he will carry the youth along, That will also be a plus for the oil producing communities, the oil companies and a plus for the federal government,” Prince Essen pointed out.

    The youth leader contended that Otobong will use his position to coordinate and ensure peace in the I’ll rich region pointing out that as a young man, he understands the language of the youths and will be able to reach out to youths across the Niger Delta region and enhance the peace in the region

    .For his own part, Dr. James Akpan, a prominent community leader said that the appeal to the law makers became necessary because the peaceful people of Mkpat Enin should not told their arms and watch mischief makers sabotage the chances of their illustrious son to make it to the top NDDC job.

    Dr. Akpan appealed to all the senators and house of reps members from Akwa-Ibom the Niger Delta to speak in one voice to secure the confirmation of Engr Otobong for position of NDDC Executive Director projects psaying “it is a position meant for all regardless of political affiliations.”

    “For the President to consider Otobong means that the president love us and we are ready to work with him and continue to pray for his success. We also thank The executive Governor of Akwa-Ibom, His Excellency Udom Emmanuel for his support and the good people of our state for not playing politics with this appointment,” Dr Akpan added.

  • Follow the law on new board for NDDC – Ex-militant

    Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

    A former leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to strictly follow the year 2000 Establishment Law of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to avoid anarchy.

    He made the call on Fridayin in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital in an interview with select reporters.

    The freedom fighter, who hails from Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state, kicked against the constitution of a new Interim Management Committee for the Federal Government’s interventionist agency (NDDC).

    The ex-“General” declared that some people were playing politics with NDDC.

    Law establishing NDDC states that the chairmanship must rotate among the nine crude oil and gas producing states in alphabetical order, with Cross River state just concluding the tenure, making it the turn of Delta state to produce the next chairman, but the chairmanship has been moved to Edo state, through the list sent to the National Assembly by President Buhari, with the nominees already screened by the Senators.

    Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on October 29, inaugurated in Abuja, NDDC’s three-member interim management committee: Acting Managing Director, Dr. Joi Nunieh (Rivers state); Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh (Delta state); and Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA), Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang (Akwa Ibom state), while the then Acting Managing Director, Dr. Akwagaga Enyia, handed over to Nunieh on October 30.

    Akpabio, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, during the inauguration, stated that the members of the interim management committee would be in office until the conclusion of the forensic audit of NDDC from 2001 to 2019, ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, before the screened members of the board of the commission would be inaugurated.

    Dokubo-Asari said: “NDDC is an interventionist agency to remedy years of deprivation of the people of the Niger Delta from the resources beneath their land and the effect is enormous. The commission came to ameliorate the problems and to try to find small palliatives, but people have been playing politics with NDDC.

    “NDDC has a law that established it. Disrespect for due process is a major problem. Everybody is trying to stab the other person and they say we are in control. You are in control where? How can President Buhari transmit a letter to the Senate, thereby submitting names of qualified people to be screened and a minister (Akpabio) under him, whose role even the law does not recognise, because NDDC is under the President, decided to illegally appoint another acting interim management committee, why?

    “President Buhari must put his house in order. He is supposed to be President of the country. He has the power of control over all the people working under him. President Buhari must abide by the laws setting up all the agencies, because what is happening in NDDC is very regrettable. So many people fought to make the commission to come to reality, but right before their eyes, NDDC is being destroyed. Putting in place the interim management committee is a very big insult on the Presidency. It is so shocking.

    “If I meet with Akpabio, I will tell him that there is no legal provision for what he has just done in NDDC. He is a lawyer. We were all together at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in Cross River State. He should know that the interim management committee is illegal, but today the law does not mean anything any longer. So, anybody can do whatever he likes. President Buhari transmitted a letter to the National Assembly, nominating people to be screened and confirmed. So, what is the big deal about setting up another interim management committee?”

    The former warlord, who is an ex-President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, also stated that the confusion in the Niger Delta was too much, with the peace-loving people getting tired.

    Read Also: Drama as Senate panel screens NDDC board nominees

     

    He said: “Akpabio is my very good friend. I know him and he knows me. I am not a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC). Any of our people that strays to the wrong ideological camp, associating with such a person becomes difficult.

    “The way forward is that people should have conscience. If there is a new board that represents all the states, that should take precedent over some handpicked people. I know the people that are there now, as members of interim management committee of NDDC. Maybe I will benefit, but I should not put my benefit over and above the interest of the generality of the people.

    “Since 2015, I have not gone to NDDC. Anything that is associated with these people, I do Ben Johnson. I do not want to be involved. Let the right thing be done. There is a new board that represents all the stakeholders and the members have been screened by the Senate. So, the needful should be done.”

    Dokubo-Asari also stated that the Niger Delta had been abandoned for Ijaw people, who had been fighting and taking the risk, with other Niger Deltans benefitting.

    He admonished people of the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta to come together and fight their battles holistically, with all hands to be on deck.

    The freedom fighter also expressed displeasure over the deplorable state of the strategic East-West Road, being supervised by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and activities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), while adding that NDDC could be redeemed by strictly following the establishment law, which he said would make all things to fall in place.

  • Kogi 2019: PDP accused of importing thugs from neighbouring states

    James Azania, Lokoja

    About two weeks to the Kogi State governorship election, the secretary of the Media and Publicity Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council, Dr Tom Ohikere has alleged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of importing and arming thugs ahead of the poll.

    He said that the importation of the thugs is to cause mayhem and to harm leading figures in the APC campaign.

    He said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday.

    According to him: “Report reaching us have it that the PDP in their desperation have resorted to extreme measures, such as recruiting, importing and arming thugs from neighboring states of Nasarawa, Toto in particular, with which they intend to prosecute their campaign; to unleash terror and intimidate the people of Kogi State. These thugs in large numbers are smuggled into the state under the cover of darkness.

    “These thugs have been seen at their campaigns, where they have been providing policing functions, engaging in reckless actions, harassing the people and undermining legitimately constituted authorities.

    “We also have it that myself, the campaign DG, Senator Smart Adeyemi and others are on the top of their list.

    “These hoodlums are here to intimidate, perpetrate violence and disrupt things. That is what they have been paid for.

    Read Also: Why Bayelsa will vote for APC candidate

    “I am not surprised. We have said it before. The PDP have been talking of fire for fire, in wholesome disregard of the rules of the game and the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “We are calling on our supporters to exercise restraint, but continue to remain vigilant and call the attention of the authorities when such situation becomes apparent.”

    He called on the police authorities and other law enforcement agencies to be on top of their game to pre-empt and arrest the hoodlums to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

    “The PDP have been casting aspersion on the whole process and blaming state institutions, here and there. All these are just distractions so that they can execute their clandestine machinations.

    “But, we are calling on the police and other security agencies to do the needful and investigate, apprehend and arraign where necessary. The desperate PDP wants to return Kogi State to the insecurity of their past rule,” he added.

  • Ijaw youths disown call for Akpabio’s sack

    By Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

    Ijaw youths have disowned the call for removal of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, following his efforts to sanitise the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The youths, under the auspices of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, said they were not part of the agitation as it was detrimental to the development of the Niger Delta region.

    IYC spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka, in a statement said the umbrella body of Ijaw youths was solidly behind Akpabio and had no reason to demand his removal.

    Dasimaka said: “The IYC is pleased with the moves Senator Akpabio has taken so far as Niger Delta Minister. We wholeheartedly welcome the call to audit the activities of the NDDC and to reposition the Commission and other MDAs saddled with responsibilities to develop our region.

    Read Also: Ex-militants urge Senate to confirm Buhari’s NDDC nominees

    “We are all aware of the uncommon transformation that the minister brought to Akwa Ibom in his eight years as Governor and desire to see him replicate same in the entire region.

    “There is, therefore, no way the IYC or any development-seeking youths from our region would call for the sack of an agent of positive change like Sen Akpabio.

    “The call for his sack is the handiwork of impostors who want to leverage on the influence and credibility of the IYC to push their own agenda. And for the avoidance of doubt, Barrister Pereotubo Oweilaemi is the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC)”.

  • ICT expert warns public against seeking loan online

    Agency Reporter

    An expert in Information Communication Technology ( ICT), Mr Frank Olarewaju, has warned the public against borrowing money online from unknown unions or clubs.

    Olarewaju, who gave the advice in Ilorin on Friday, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); said that seeking loan on line was unsafe and dangerous.

    He said most money lending clubs online were scammers and dangerous to transact or do business with.

    “Most of the online lenders are scammers. They disguise to scam you when you submit all your bank details.

    “Don’t be too desperate to borrow money from any online credit team. Stop submitting your financial details and pin numbers to unknown lenders.

    Read Also: Online mall hits cyberspace

     

    “Stop transacting with the invisibles. Go to recognised banks or cooperative society to avoid being duped.

    “When you start borrowing money online, your account is no more private.

    “It becomes public account and unsafe,” he said.

    The expert also advised the public to desist from being desperate to submit every of their details to online lenders for securing loan.(NAN)