Category: Society

Victor Olushola

Why are popular entertainers suddenly opening restaurants? Recently, actress Iyabo Ojo opened an ‘amala’ joint at Lekki, Lagos. News has also emerged that singer Oritsefemi has followed her example.

Social Circuit learnt that the ‘Double Wahala’ crooner recently opened a local restaurant in the Ajegunle area of Lagos where he spent his formative years.

Although the singer hails from the Itsekiri tribe of Warri, Delta State, he has spent many years in Lagos and this must have influenced his decision to invest in the local food.

Victor Olushola

It is rare to see former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience, and First Lady, Aisha Buhari, under one roof. That is understandable given their past political differences.

But for the 10 anniversary of the passing former military President Ibrahim Babaginda’s wife, Maryam, in Abuja, the two woman came together.

It seems the two powerful families have decided to put aside their political differences and work together. Recall that their husbands also met briefly on Thursday at Aso Rock.

Hosted by the current First Lady, the event was organised by daughter of Babangida, Aisha. Dolapo, wife of Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, Turai Yara’Adua and Justice Fati Lami Abubakar, were also in attendance.

Aisha Buhari shared some photos and a short video from the event on her verified Instagram handle.

Maryam Babangida died on December 27, 2009, after suffering from ovarian cancer.

Victor Olushola

Their love story might not have ended well but the two legends of Fuji and Waka music, Alhaji Kollington Ayinla, and his ex-wife, Queen Salawa Abeni, have found common ground to coexist, unlike in the past when they wouldn’t touch each other with a pole.

Real estate Company, Adron Homes and Property, has reunited the one-time lovebirds in its forthcoming Valentine promo for Nigerians. At the ceremony, the duo were spotted sharing cozy hugs and smiling at each other as if they never had a rough relationship.

The idea of using barricades to separate important persons from the crowd or ordinary persons is popular at Lagos/Nigerian events. But Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, didn’t buy this idea at the bank’s recent customers’ appreciation event held the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the event, he was spotted telling his staff to remove all the barricades, insisting that it was not a banking hall. Okonkwo reacted: “I don’t want to recognise dignitaries here today because everyone is important. When I found out that we had a barrier at the hall, I told them that it was not a banking hall where they would separate people. So, I led my team to dismantle the barricades.”

He appreciated everyone, noting that they didn’t hold the event for the sake of throwing a party. He added: “We do this because we know that without customers, there is no bank; without stakeholders, there is no bank. This is our way of appreciating you for being part of Fidelity.”

Victor Olushola

Sixty years is a long time for friendship, but that is what exists between Chairman of Eleganza, Aare Rasaq Okoya, and Chief Executive Officer, Doyin Group Of Companies, Prince Samuel Adedoyin.

Social Circuit gathered that the businessmen now describe each other as blood brothers, not friends any longer, and they have collaborated on many projects.

A family source stated: “They also have something in common – they have both tried to industrialise the country. They started as importers and exporters, and then diverted into the industry. Despite their closeness there are times they have different ideas and opinions. They quarrel, shout at each other, but they still resolve their differences amicably.”

Although they are from different religious backgrounds (Okoya is a Muslim while Adedoyin is a Christian), it has not affected their relationship as they respect each other’s faith and talk about it.

Mikky Attah

At stake for Nigeria had been the EGTL.  You probably might have seen EGTL recurring periodically in the news over the years, and vaguely  wondered what it stood for, before passing on to read other news. The EGTL debacle lasted through both the 6th and 7th Senate, without getting resolved.

You would likely know that it had something to do with Escravos, indeed EGTL is the Escravos Gas to Liquid project. Let me break everything down for you. What was the lingering dispute was particularly the NNPC/ Chevron EGTL Agreement.

Chevron, through its principal subsidiary in Nigeria, Chevron Nigeria Limited operates 8 concessions in the onshore parts of the Niger Delta under a joint venture agreement with the NNPC. Chevron is actually one of Nigeria’s biggest players in the oil and gas industry; in 2018 the company’s daily net production was- 6,000 barrels of LPG( liquefied petroleum gas), 194,000 barrels of crude oil and 233 million cubic feet of natural gas, on average. Chevron operates the multi-billion dollar EGTL project along with the NNPC, comprising a 33,000 barrels per day gas-to-liquid plant. The 2 operators have had a long-standing dispute over the sharing contract, that has lasted more  than a decade,  battling  over the actual EGLP operation.

The Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan was handed the leadership of the oversight of the nation’s gas sector when the 8th Senate, under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki made him Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources in 2015. In 2016,Senator Albert Akpan sponsored a motion  calling for the urgent need for a comprehensive review of joint venture cash call obligations between the federal government and the OICs( international oil companies). On Wednesday 13th April 2016  , Sen Albert Akpan’s motion titled “The urgent need for effective implementation of the Joint Venture Cash Calls Obligations by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in accordance with Appropriation Acts of National Assembly” was deliberated upon at the Senate sitting of the day. 3 months after, the then Senate President inaugurated a joint committee to conduct investigations into the operations of the Cash Call Obligations. The Joint Committee comprised the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, Petroleum Upstream and Committee on Gas. It was inaugurated on Wednesday July 20 2016 by Senate President Bukola Saraki, and the committee was headed by Sen Albert Akpan.

As at the time of that inauguration, the cash call arrears of the joint partners of the NNPC stood at over $6 billion! During the meetings  of the Joint Committee, Sen Tayo Alaosaodura of the Petroleum Downstream Committee described the cash call arrears as ‘a mystery that must be unravelled ‘.(Sen Alaosaodura is today the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs).

Activities of that committee led to a swift upsurge in cash call revenues for the nation.

The particular investigation into the EGTL plant deal involved several meetings with the joint venture partners, as well as an on- the -spot assessment visit to the EGTL Plant, Escravos in Delta State.  The investigations revealed a lot of unsavoury details, which were costing Nigeria billions of dollars in losses. Among the many things uncovered was the equity ratio in  the Joint Venture shareholding which had been unfairly altered, and stood  at 25% to NNPC; and skewered in favour of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) with 75%. Additionally, the project cost of the EGTL was discovered to have escalated from $2.95 billion that had been approved, to $10.3 billion. The Sen Albert Akpan- led committee called the management of Chevron to explain the almost 300% variation. The then Chairman/MD, Mr Clay Neff and his team were unconvincing in their explanation for the astronomical variation. That same project in Qatar cost $1.1 billion.

On January 1 2017, Mr Jeffrey Ewing was made the new Chairman and MD of CNL. What is also worthy of note is that in Nigeria’s current 9th Senate headed by Sen Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan ;Sen Akpan was appointed Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream. What is striking here is that the Senate President overlooked bipartisanship in appointing Sen Akpan as chairman (Sen Akpan is PDP; Senate President Lawan is of the majority APC). It must mean that Sen Akpan, a seasoned banker must have impressed with his diligence. The same Sen Akpan was previously made Chairman, Committee on Gas like I said, – by the APC Senate President Bukola Saraki, and he did not fail in that assignment, heading up a Grade A committee.

Today, the negotiations of Sen Albert Akpan have resulted  in several far reaching, mutually beneficial joint venture agreements. Amongst them is the reversal of the equity shareholding to 60%(NNPC) and 40% (CNL). The negotiations have also resulted in the addition of about $10 billion to the nation’s capital resources, with potential for an additional $2 billion annually. In all, 5 different agreements have been signed recently between CNL and NNPC. The Group MD of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari appended his signature on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria.

Also, of great consolation to the entire Niger Delta region and environmentalists alike, is the message from the CNL Chairman Ewing that, among other values of the EGTL is the provision of CLEAN and ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY. That is a welcome development from Chevron Nigeria, and commendable in entirety. Twitter @mikky_princess

Our Reporter

During his life time, Umar Aliyu Shinkafi was a Nigerian Intelligence officer and a former Federal Commissioner for Internal Affiars.

The Zamfara state born politician and former presidential aspirant graduated with a law degree at the University of Lagos before joining the Nigerian police force in 1959, after passing through the police college in Kaduna state.

Until his sudden demise 2016, in the United Kingdom, the Marafan of Sokoto has recieved several accolades for his contribution to National unity, most expecially after his presidential ambition suffered a setback during the Ibrahim Babangida military administration.

In recognition for his philanthropic work while he was alive most expecially for improvement in quality of education in the Northern region, the Federal University of Zamfara, Gusau on 25th of January, honoured him with a posthumous award for his contributions to national development.

Read Also: Ex-First Lady, Justice Fati Abubakar honoured

The posthumous award confered by the Governor of Zamfara state, Governor Bello Matawelle and Vice chancellor of the Institution was received by his eldest daughter; FirstLady of Kebbi State Dr. Zainab Bagudu and her husband Governor Of Kebbi State Atiku Bagudu.

They paid the kind gesture back by handing out 10 scholarships across various faculties and 5 annual female fully sponsored scholarship.

Our Reporter

The Chairman of Petrolex Oil and gas, Segun Adebutu is not your regular guy who loves attention. He is not often in the news. Anytime he appears in the news, its always for a good reason.

The last time his name went viral was when he launched the largest tank farm in West Africa located in Ibefun Ogun state.

Over the week, the news of his arrest by the Econonic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC broke after Premier Lotto, a company he oversees its affairs as Managing Director was petitioned by Senator Buruji Kashamu, founder of Western Lotto over an alleged tax fraud and economic sabotage.

According to sources, Segun was never arrested nor detained contrary to the rumour being peddled. He was invited and honoured the invitation by visiting the EFCC office in Lagos for few questioning  and answer.

“Those who were spreading the rumour that Segun was arrested and detained it’s pure lie. He was only invited for questioning over the said allegation that is yet to be substantiated. He spent like an hour at the EFCC office, answered all needed question with calmness and unusual composure before leaving the premises to hangout at a lounge located at Ikoyi in company of his friends. He was spotted that day unperturbed like nothing ever happened.”

People might be wondering why Senator Buruji Kashamu, who share filial relationship with the founder of Premier lotto, Chief Adebukola Adebutu Kesington would file such petition to the EFCC.

Read Also: Firm calls for use of steel drums in oil and gas sector

It would be recalled that; Sir Adebutu’s eldest son, Hon Ladi and Senator Buruji Kashamu were at loggerheads over who represent the Peoples Democratic Party PDP at the just concluded Governorship election in Ogun State.

After several court cases, Kashamu eventually won at the Supreme Court and was declared the PDP flagbearer.

Society Rendezvous gathered that; aggrieved Kashamu, might still angry with Baba Ijebu and his eldest son, Hon. Ladi Adebutu over his division of PDP’s block votes at the gubernatorial election in Ogun state thereby jeopardising his chances of becoming Governor. This might have lead to his petition to the EFCC.

A close source avered that; “Buruji Kashamu wants to burn down the entire industry to implement his selfish business interests.

The Lotto regulatory body in Nigeria, kicked against his petition, calling it an abuse of protocol and gross misconduct which is tantamount to sanction.

Sir Adebutu is doing a lot for Nigeria in terms of philanthropy and charity. He is currently renovating the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos and another stadium in Daura, Kastina State. All these gestures should have given him a tax waiver but he never opted for that.”